Women's Motorsports Network Podcast----Fuel Her Future Podcast

Melinda Russell
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Sports
  • Updated Semiweekly

Women's Motorsports Network Podcast shares the stories of women involved in motorsports from around the world. The first episode was in 2018 and new episodes are added each week. Feel free to suggest potential guests to Melinda at melinda@wmnnation.com. Fuel Her Future with Melinda Russell  is a solo podcast that began in June of 2026, Fueling Your Future with Inspiration, Encouragement, Courage, Confidence, and Community. https://www.facebook.com/womensmotorsportsnetworkandpodcast www.womensmotorsportsnetwork.comBased in Kalamazoo, MI

  1. 5d ago

    Maddy Brook: Fat Duck Racing And The Need To Feel It

    Send us Fan Mail Dirt tracks have a way of revealing who you are the moment you turn in. Maddy Brook is only 17, but she already talks like someone who has learned that speed is equal parts courage, composure, and community. She joins us from Western Sydney to share how her life as a zookeeper at the Wildcat Conservation Center pairs surprisingly well with weekend competition in Australian speedway racing. Maddy walks us through her start in dirt go-kart racing, from growing up around the pits at Parramatta Speedway to the accidental come-and-try sign-up that pulled her family deeper into motorsports. We get into what it’s like chasing SKAA events and Australian titles, traveling long hours by car, and learning to adapt when weather, track conditions, and pressure change the plan. If you care about women in motorsports, youth racing development, or how drivers actually get their start, her story is as practical as it is inspiring. Then we shift to her newest challenge: lightning sprint cars (leader cars). Maddy opens up about a rookie season interrupted by an appendectomy, the nerves that come after a tip-over, and the moment she finally “trusts it” enough to start passing cars and land a top-10 finish. We also talk sponsorship, social media, and the very memorable team identity behind Fat Duck Racing, plus why she wants more girls to see themselves on the fence and then in the seat. Subscribe for more stories from women and girls in racing, share this with a future driver, and leave a review so more fans can find the show.  Support the show FACEBOOK: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/womensmotorsportsnetwork/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ TIKTOK: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ https://www.patreon.com/posts/womens-network-144773298 X: https://x.com/IWMANation FACEBOOK Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/melinda.ann.russell

    Maddy Brook: Fat Duck Racing And The Need To Feel It

  2. Jul 8

    Racing Made Me Confident Even When I Was Shy with Jillian Cole

    Send us Fan Mail A rear tire flies off on the last lap and you still take the win by crossing the finish line backwards. That’s the kind of real-world racing story we love, and teen driver Jillian Cole brings it with honesty, humor, and a clear look at what youth motorsports actually demands. We sit down with Jillian, a racer from Rio Linda, California, to talk about her path from local track nights and Power Wheels races into seven years of quarter midgets, and now into a 250 outlaw kart. She explains the biggest shock of moving up: the speed jumps, the driving gets more aggressive, and one small mistake can drop you straight to the back. If you’ve ever wondered about quarter midgets vs outlaw karts, Jillian lays out what changes and what skills carry over when the stakes feel higher. We also get into what happens off the track. Jillian shares what race day looks like with her parents as her pit crew, how mechanical work and prep are part of the sport, and why she’s focused this season on steady improvement instead of instant wins. She talks about being a girl in motorsports, gaining confidence, and learning to speak up after dealing with bullying both at school and at the track. Finally, we touch on building a racing presence on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube as her team keeps growing. If you care about grassroots racing, youth karting, women in motorsports, and the confidence that comes from doing hard things, you’ll get a lot from this conversation. Subscribe to the podcast, share this with a racing parent or young driver, and leave a review so more listeners can find these stories. Support the show FACEBOOK: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/womensmotorsportsnetwork/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ TIKTOK: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ https://www.patreon.com/posts/womens-network-144773298 X: https://x.com/IWMANation FACEBOOK Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/melinda.ann.russell

    Racing Made Me Confident Even When I Was Shy with Jillian Cole

  3. Jul 6

    Lauri Eberhart: How To Get Hired In Motorsports Without A Pit Pass

    Send us Fan Mail A $5 an hour summer job at a racetrack doesn’t sound like the start of a major motorsports career, but that’s exactly where Lauri Eberhart begins. From Michigan International Speedway to Nazareth Speedway to the NASCAR hub in North Carolina, Lori shows how motorsports careers are built in real time: by taking the work seriously, earning trust, and staying close to where the action and the people are.  We trace her journey through sports law and speedway leadership, including internships at Charlotte Motor Speedway, trademark and licensing work, and a pivotal leap into being corporate counsel and then general counsel as Speedway Motorsports goes public. Lauri  shares what it’s like to learn capital markets on the fly, manage regulated investor communications, and help grow a company through major acquisitions. If you’re curious about the business side of racing, this is a rare look at how speedways expand, operate, and handle the legal realities of motorsports risk.  Then we shift to what the future can look like when more people feel welcomed into the sport. Lauri , now the national president of Women in Motorsports North America (Wimna), tells the Indy 500 pit road moment that inspired the organization and walks through practical programs like Electrify Your Career, local chapters, mentoring, membership, and the upcoming Wimna Career Connect job platform. If you want a clearer path into motorsports jobs, or you want to help someone else find theirs, this conversation is packed with real steps. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Support the show FACEBOOK: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/womensmotorsportsnetwork/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ TIKTOK: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ https://www.patreon.com/posts/womens-network-144773298 X: https://x.com/IWMANation FACEBOOK Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/melinda.ann.russell

    Lauri Eberhart: How To Get Hired In Motorsports Without A Pit Pass

  4. Jul 3

    Why A 10-Year-Old Has More Sponsors Than You-Laci Mitchell

    Send us Fan Mail A 10-year-old with a trophy shelf behind her sounds adorable until you realize she’s also a serious driver with a clear head for speed, strategy, and safety. We sit down with Laci Mitchell from Victoria, Australia, a fourth-generation racer who started at five and now races both quarter midgets and a junior sedan. Listening to her talk about racing feels like a masterclass in what kids can learn early when they’re given the right support, equipment, and seat time.   Laci walks us through what a junior sedan is, why it feels so different from a quarter midget, and what really changes when the car gets wider, the track feels bigger, and the pace picks up. We dig into confidence and racecraft, including one of the toughest skills for any new driver: making a clean pass on the outside when you can’t control what the other driver does. She also shares why the racetrack keeps pulling her back, from hanging out with friends and family to the thrill of chasing better results in points racing.  We also get practical about motorsports sponsorship and how it actually happens at the grassroots level.  Laci lists her sponsors and says it plainly: she asked them to help and to be part of her program. And when the conversation turns serious, she describes rolling over in night shows and walking away fine, a powerful reminder of why racing safety equipment and good routines matter for every youth racing family.  If you care about women in motorsports, youth racing development, quarter midget racing, junior sedan racing, or building confident young drivers, you’ll get a lot from this one. Subscribe to the Women’s Motorsports Network Podcast, share this with a racing parent or young driver, and leave us a review with your favorite takeaway. Support the show FACEBOOK: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/womensmotorsportsnetwork/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ TIKTOK: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ https://www.patreon.com/posts/womens-network-144773298 X: https://x.com/IWMANation FACEBOOK Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/melinda.ann.russell

    Why A 10-Year-Old Has More Sponsors Than You-Laci Mitchell

  5. Jul 1

    Katrina Gray: Racing Across the United Kingdom

    Send us Fan Mail Most racing stories start with childhood karting, but Katrina “Kat” Gray takes a route that feels a lot more like real life. Kat joins us from Lincolnshire in the UK, where she teaches people to drive for a living and still finds time to chase lap times on some of the most iconic road racing circuits in the country. Her path into motorsport begins with under-17 driver training on a circuit, a uniquely British workaround since learners can’t drive on public roads before 17, and it quickly turns into a full-on obsession with track days and racing.  We get into the details of grassroots UK racing, including Kat’s current ride, a supercharged Mini Cooper R53, and what it’s like competing in Track Action where multiple classes share the same race. Kat walks through her nine-year progression from Citroën C1 endurance and sprint racing to the Focus Cup Championship, then finally into the Mini she always wanted. Along the way, she names the tracks that shaped her as a driver, from Silverstone and Donington to Cadwell Park, Knockhill, Oulton Park, and Brands Hatch, and explains why the paddock vibe keeps pulling her back.  We also talk honestly about women in motorsports, sponsorship challenges, and why visibility matters when you’re often the only woman on the grid. Kat shares what she loves most: meeting fans up close, welcoming young girls into the car for photos, and showing that this sport can be a long-term passion at any age. If you care about UK motorsport, club racing, Mini Cooper racing, driver confidence, or building a more welcoming paddock, this conversation will stick with you.  Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a nudge to start, and leave a review so more listeners can find these stories. What part of Kat’s journey feels most familiar to you? Support the show FACEBOOK: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/womensmotorsportsnetwork/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ TIKTOK: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ https://www.patreon.com/posts/womens-network-144773298 X: https://x.com/IWMANation FACEBOOK Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/melinda.ann.russell

    Katrina Gray: Racing Across the United Kingdom

  6. Jun 29

    Kim Estep: I Bought The Porsche After Two Laps

    Send us Fan Mail You don’t need to start racing at five years old to belong on a racetrack. Melinda Russell sits down with Kim Estep, a Porsche racer who didn’t take her first laps until her 30s, and still built a path into real competition through coaching, club racing, and the kind of community that pulls you forward when you’re ready for more. Kim shares the moments that changed everything: learning at Lime Rock Park, discovering she had a real feel for the car, and the wild “break it you buy it” story that ended with her in a Porsche 996 GT3. From there we get into what it actually takes to progress, from finding a race shop and choosing the right car to racing a Porsche Cayman in a spec-style series and earning trophies. If you’ve ever wondered how amateur motorsports works, this conversation makes the ladder visible and doable. We also talk about the bigger picture: why racing can be oddly calming when your day job is high-pressure, what an empty-nester move near Road Atlanta unlocks, and why endurance racing series like ChampCar and WRL keep calling when teams need drivers who are fast, predictable, and safe. Along the way, we dig into safety and access, from lift and jack safety in the paddock to the modern gear and barriers that help drivers walk away. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to try autocross, book a track day, or simply visit your local racetrack and ask questions, this is it. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a push, and leave a review with the age you’d like to take your first laps. Support the show FACEBOOK: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/womensmotorsportsnetwork/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ TIKTOK: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ https://www.patreon.com/posts/womens-network-144773298 X: https://x.com/IWMANation FACEBOOK Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/melinda.ann.russell

    Kim Estep: I Bought The Porsche After Two Laps

  7. Jun 27

    Racing Through Anxiety: Danika Miles Inspires Young Racers

    Send us Fan Mail Drag racing taught Danika Miles how to perform under pressure, but dirt racing forced her to rebuild everything she thought she knew. Danika is 18, already nine years into motorsports, and she’s not sugarcoating what it takes to grow up around racing, sponsors, and serious expectations while still figuring out who you are off the track. If you’ve ever wondered what real mental toughness looks like, her story lands hard because it starts with anxiety that once made everyday places feel impossible.  We walk through her path from junior dragster racing in the PDRA to a full switch into dirt track racing at Lancaster Motor Speedway. Danika explains why the move happened, what surprised her about the dirt racing culture, and how different it feels to race wheel-to-wheel at speed while managing traffic, split-second decisions, and the reality that contact can happen even when you’re trying to race clean. She also shares the leap into becoming an owner-driver with Danika Miles Motorsports, paying for parts, learning in the shop, and chasing that first big win after years of coming close.  A big part of this conversation is confidence, safety, and identity. Danika opens up about being the only girl at the track on many nights, dealing with online hate, and still choosing accountability when things go wrong. We also talk about authentic social media for race teams, how Instagram and Facebook can attract sponsors, and why fans respond to real behind-the-scenes work more than polished highlight reels. Danika shares what it’s like to race while managing ulcerative colitis, fatigue, and the ongoing work of keeping anxiety in check.  If you care about women in motorsports, dirt track racing, junior drag racing, racing mindset, or finding confidence through hard things, you’ll take a lot from Danica’s honesty. Subscribe for more stories like this, share the episode with a racing friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. Support the show FACEBOOK: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/womensmotorsportsnetwork/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ TIKTOK: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ https://www.patreon.com/posts/womens-network-144773298 X: https://x.com/IWMANation FACEBOOK Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/melinda.ann.russell

    Racing Through Anxiety: Danika Miles Inspires Young Racers

  8. Jun 26

    Katlyn Calhoun Explains Why Racing Is A Way Of Life

    Send us Fan Mail A dirt sprint car doesn’t reward you for playing it safe, it rewards you for understanding chaos. We’re joined by 17-year-old Florida racer Katlyn Calhoun, who’s making the leap from quarter midgets to a 600 micro sprint and a winged 360 sprint car, and she tells us the real skill that took the longest to learn: trusting the car when the rear starts to slide. If you’ve ever wondered what separates “holding the wheel” from actually driving, her explanation of dirt technique, throttle control, and confidence under pressure makes it click fast.  We also get into what fans don’t always see, the shop work and the family teamwork. Katlyn shares how she and her dad split responsibilities, why learning maintenance makes you a better driver, and how a scary flip turned into a lesson in resilience and preparation. Along the way, we talk race day routines, those butterflies while waiting on the grid, and how she thinks about starting position differently depending on class and experience level.  This conversation is also about representation and momentum. Katlyn explains why women in motorsports matter, not as a slogan, but because one young girl watching from the stands can decide to race when she sees someone who looks like her climb out of the car. We wrap with grounded, usable advice on budgeting for racing, approaching sponsorship, and using social media like TikTok and Instagram to build support without losing your voice. If you care about dirt racing, sprint cars, and driver development, hit subscribe, share this with a racing family, and leave us a review so more listeners can find the show. Support the show FACEBOOK: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/womensmotorsportsnetwork/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ TIKTOK: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ https://www.patreon.com/posts/womens-network-144773298 X: https://x.com/IWMANation FACEBOOK Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/melinda.ann.russell

    Katlyn Calhoun Explains Why Racing Is A Way Of Life
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About

Women's Motorsports Network Podcast shares the stories of women involved in motorsports from around the world. The first episode was in 2018 and new episodes are added each week. Feel free to suggest potential guests to Melinda at melinda@wmnnation.com. Fuel Her Future with Melinda Russell  is a solo podcast that began in June of 2026, Fueling Your Future with Inspiration, Encouragement, Courage, Confidence, and Community. https://www.facebook.com/womensmotorsportsnetworkandpodcast www.womensmotorsportsnetwork.comBased in Kalamazoo, MI

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