Women on the Mic Kaavya Narayan

In this episode, Kaavya talks with the amazing Sam Thomas, who just finished her 5th year playing basketball for Coach Adia Barnes at the University of Arizona. They chat about growing up in a basketball playing family, choosing Arizona, and Tiktoking with her team. They also dive into Arizona's amazing story as a program that grew under Coach Barnes and made it to their first Final Four and Championship appearance in 2021. Sam recollects some of the pivotal moments from last season (including beating UConn) as well as playing her sister in the first round of this tournament. She talks about why Coach Adia Barnes is so special as well as the leader she is for her team--especially these last couple of seasons. They also talk about what is next for Sam--WNBA? Coaching? School? She's also going to a concert very soon--listen to find out which one!! 

In this episode, Kaavya talks with Reshanda Gray--a professional basketball player overseas in Italy and the WNBA. They dive into her unconventional and impactful upbringing in South Central LA, as well as her involvement in LA After School All-Stars. She reminisces on the time she met Kobe in middle school and the impact of his advice on the trajectory of her career. Moreover, she talks about the uncertain nature of playing in the WNBA and how she bounced back from being cut and making it back to the league. She details the importance of giving back to the community through her own foundation--No Gray Areas. Through mentorship, she hopes to motivate undecided young girls in LA to find their passions and become empowered academically, socially, and athletically. 

Check out No Gray Areas! https://www.nograyareas.org

In this episode, Kaavya talks with Jasmyne Spencer, a professional soccer player for Angel City FC of the NWSL. Angel City is the new NWSL expansion team founded in 2020 (starting play in 2022) with a star-studded lineup of founders and investors such as Natalie Portman, Alexis Ohanian, Abby Wambach, Mia Hamm, Candace Parker, and more! Jasmyne talks about her collegiate journey at UMD, being apart of the inaugural NWSL season, and being selected in the expansion draft to Angel City FC. They also dive into the growth of the NWSL and the necessary tools needed to grow the league further. Jasmyne is also passionate about the environment, and has channeled this passion into a fashion business called "Jas It Up" (https://www.jasitupofficial.com). Jasmyne also provides her advice on injuries, change, and self-confidence. Check out her website and don't forget to tune into the 2022 NWSL season!

In this episode, Kaavya talks with Derrian Gobourne--a gymnast at Auburn University. Derrian was the first ever gymnastics national champion at Auburn in 2019 (as a freshman!!). She details winning the national championship in vault, competing against Olympians, and how she gets ready to shine in big moments. Many people admire Derrian’s bright and confident nature, so she gives her advice on what it takes to love yourself. Of course, they chat about her teammate at Auburn--Suni Lee--and what it was like to watch her win Gold in Tokyo. With respect to Tokyo, Derrian explains how important mental health and the mind are in gymnastics and praises Simone Biles for setting a precedent for everyone to put their mental health first. Kaavya and Derrian also go into NIL as it relates to the NCAA and Derrian’s new partnership with Salute Leos as well as her own clothing line. Finally, they discuss the importance of diversity in gymnastics, the work Derrian is doing with Brown Girls Do Gymnastics, and implementing gymnastics programs at HBCUs.

In this episode, Kaavya chats with Torrey Van Winden who played indoor and beach volleyball at Cal Poly SLO and beach volleyball at Florida State University. Torrey dives deep into her volleyball journey and how she was influenced by her parents’ professional sports careers. After a successful club and high school career, Torrey attended UCLA before she transferred to Cal Poly. She describes what went into her transfer choice as well as her advice for making important life decisions. Through her time playing two Division I sports in college to competing in multiple national tournaments, she’s been able to better understand herself and her values. She also comments on the state of the NCAA as it relates to their most recent beach volleyball championships. Torrey drops some great insights on this episode, so give it a listen!

In this episode, Kaavya chats with Morgan Alexander who played lacrosse for Syracuse University. Morgan recently graduated with a degree in Sports Broadcasting from Syracuse; however, her time there was filled with multiple injuries. After tearing her MCL, ACL, lateral meniscus, and dislocating her kneecap, she thought she would never play again. However, she fought back and returned her junior year only to tear her meniscus. She’s had five knee surgeries and battled with mental health through her recovery process. Morgan dives deep into her journey with mental health and body image as well as her advice for those struggling. They also talk about the recent events with Naomi Osaka pulling out of the French Open and the rise of social media setting unrealistic body standards. Filled with great insight, you don’t want to miss this episode and the resilience and courage of Morgan. You’ll also hear what TV show we are both excited to see come back to Netflix soon! Check it out!