Women's Motorsports Network Podcast

Melinda Russell

5.0 (5)
Sports
Updated Weekly

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. https://www.facebook.com/womensmotorsportsnetworkandpodcastMelinda Russell

2h ago

Kelly Anderson: Fill Your Joy Tank And Quit Overthinking It

Send us Fan Mail A lot of people think you have to start racing young, have the “right” connections, and already know what you’re doing. Kelly Barr Anderson proves the opposite. She started drag racing at 51, fell in love on her first pass, and found a community that welcomed her in, taught her, and changed her life for the better. We talk about what 2026 looks like when the track that shaped your routine closes down, your car is waiting on a new motor, and family needs rise to the top. Kelly shares how Irwindale’s closure hit hard, why shifting toward family time can still be a gift, and how racers learn to live through different seasons without losing who they are. If you’ve ever felt pulled between passion and responsibility, you’ll recognize the push and pull immediately. Then we get into the heart of her work: Mavics Community Outreach in Glendora, California. Kelly and her partner Maria support foster youth and underprivileged kids through events, mentoring, school visits, and hands-on exposure to motorsports. We dig into why simply showing up matters, how a race car can spark hope, and the real career paths in motorsports that don’t require being the driver, from welding and fabrication to media, tech, and trucking. This is a story about women in motorsports, nonprofit leadership, foster care support, and building purpose through service. If this conversation hits you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a nudge to “go for it,” and leave a review so more listeners can find it. What’s one new thing you’ve been putting off trying? 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

34 min
4d ago

The Jernigans: A Michigan Short Track Family That Races Together

Send us Fan Mail A mom climbs into a race car, hates it, swears they must be the worst parents ever for letting their teen do this… then takes one more run and falls in love with racing. That turn is the heartbeat of our conversation with Bobby Joe Jernigan and her daughter Riley, part of a Michigan short track family where mom and daughters compete in the sport compact division and push each other to get better. We talk about what it’s really like racing under the same banner when you’re also raising kids, running a business, working a full-time job, and still trying to keep cars prepped for the next green flag. Bobby Joe shares why Owosso Speedway is their home track, what makes high-banked asphalt oval racing so addictive, and how their “all hands on deck” approach works, with her husband handling setups, performance, and even sponsor materials. Riley opens up about being sidelined during her senior year after a series of knee surgeries, including an OATS procedure and a long recovery window. Instead of checking out, she leans in, focusing on physical therapy, staying involved as “team boss,” and keeping her eyes on getting back in the seat the right way. We also dig into women in motorsports, how respect is earned at the track, and how social media, sponsors, and fan connections help a family race team grow. If you care about women’s racing, racing sponsorship, short track culture, or the grit it takes to come back stronger, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a racing friend, and leave a review so more people 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

38 min
Jun 8

Sprint Car Driver Natalie Waters Uses Racing to Fight Bullying

Send us Fan Mail A sprint car at 150 mph is loud, fast, and impossible to ignore and that’s exactly why Natalie Waters uses racing to start conversations most adults avoid. Natalie races 410 wing sprint cars on asphalt, grew up in quarter midgets, and now balances life on the road with a mission that reaches far beyond the track: preventing bullying before it turns into something tragic. We dig into how her racing journey was built through family, grit, and constant learning, from early ranks to touring big events like Race For The Million. Then the story shifts to the Race To End Bullying Foundation, created after heartbreak in her Utah community and fueled by a simple idea: show up early, tell the truth, and make kindness practical. Natalie explains why she speaks directly to the kids doing the bullying, how she teaches the difference between conflict and bullying, and why “mean friend” behavior in middle school can be just as damaging as the obvious stuff. You’ll also hear how she makes school assemblies unforgettable by bringing the race car, letting students sit in it, and turning inspiration into action with backpacks awarded for being an ally and daily challenges like giving genuine compliments. If you care about women in motorsports, sprint car racing, youth mental health, bullying prevention, or building a culture of sportsmanship in competitive spaces, this conversation delivers real tools and a lot of hope. Subscribe for more stories at the intersection of racing and impact, share this with a parent or educator, and leave a review so more listeners can find it. What’s one kindness habit you wish every school taught on purpose? 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

47 min
Jun 4

Amber Eberspeaker: From Go Karts To Street Stocks In Michigan

Send us Fan Mail She loved speed before she could spell it, and she’s still chasing it as a mom, a competitor, and a hands-on racer from Greenville, Michigan. We sit down with Amber Eberspeaker to hear how a childhood around go-kart tracks and family racing stories turned into a life built on dirt track racing, street stocks, and four-cylinder battles, with all the real-world trade-offs that come with grassroots motorsports. Amber walks us through the turning points: stepping into a modified, the terrifying crash that totaled the car, and the decision to keep going anyway. We also get into what racing looks like when you’re sharing a car with your kid, choosing a home track like I-96 Speedway, and focusing on seat time and learning instead of points. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to develop racecraft, she breaks down the hardest lesson of all: patience, plus why setup knowledge matters as much as bravery on the throttle. We also talk about the part that rarely makes the highlight reels: being a woman in motorsports while juggling parenting, travel, and the unpredictable curveballs of life. Amber shares how “race family” support shows up in the pits, why sponsorship can be both help and pressure, and what it felt like to finally win a big check after years of grinding. If you love Michigan racing, dirt tracks, and honest stories from the driver’s seat, listen now. Subscribe, share this with a racing friend, and leave us a review so more fans can find the Women’s Motor Sports Network podcast. 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

36 min
May 30

Ariel Bayarski Explains How She Balances School Work And National Racing

Send us Fan Mail A 20-year-old college student lines up on a national short course off-road grid, straps into a Can-Am X3, and expects herself to perform like a pro, because she is one. We talk with Ariel Bayarski about how she got pulled into motorsports as a kid, why one trip to the track can change everything, and what it takes to move from local racing to Champ Off-Road’s pro side-by-side class. We also get into the parts of racing most highlight reels skip: the travel schedule that eats weeks at a time, the pressure of being competitive and a perfectionist, and the reality of bouncing back after mistakes and crashes. Ariel shares what race weekends really feel like, how she stays grounded, and why friendships at the track can become your strongest support network even when people live states away. Then we go deep on sponsorship and personal branding in motorsports. Ariel breaks down how she uses social media to keep fans updated, how she thanks and promotes partners, and why relationship building beats cold asks for cash every time. If you care about women in motorsports, off-road racing, and the business side of building a racing career, this one delivers. Subscribe, share this with a racing friend, 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

40 min
May 28

Linzi Theobald Meserve: From Junior Dragsters To A 1968 Barracuda Legacy

Send us Fan Mail A family buys a junior dragster thinking it will be a short-lived hobby. A few years later, it has become a full-blown way of life, and for Lindsay Meserve, it starts with a seven-year-old’s first pass and never really lets go. I talk with Lindsay about growing up in St. George, Utah, being the only girl with four brothers, and how drag racing turns into the place where her family hangs out, works, travels, and competes together. We also dig into the part people do not see on race day: the mental load of being a mom and a driver at the same time. Lindsay shares how she thinks about safety, what happens when a rough first round shakes your confidence, and why a quick reset, sometimes as simple as stepping away for a kids’ soccer game, can bring you back sharper. If you have ever tried to balance a demanding passion with parenting, her perspective will feel familiar and surprisingly practical. Then we get into the cars and the history that makes drag racing so personal. Lindsay tells the incredible story of her 1968 Barracuda, from showroom floor to junkyard rescue to a nine-year build, and why winning a Wally in that particular car would mean everything. Along the way, we clear up a major misconception about drag racing: bracket and index racing is not just “go fast,” it is precision, dial-ins, and strategy. If you enjoy women in motorsports stories, NHRA sportsman racing, junior dragster culture, or the real behind-the-scenes of grassroots racing families, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a racing friend, and leave a review with the moment that stuck with you most. 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

34 min
May 25

Gina Schild-Knowles: Short Track Racing Survives When Communities Show Up

Send us Fan Mail Short tracks aren’t just where racing happens. They’re where careers start, families gather, and a whole town learns what a Saturday night feels like. I’m joined by Gina Schild Knowles, a lifelong motorsports pro whose path runs through Texas racing roots, sponsorship sales, and the high-wire act of keeping racetracks alive when the math doesn’t always work on paper. We talk about what it really takes to run and revive tracks like Houston Motor Sports Park and Mobile International Speedway, and what Gina focuses on today at Hickory Motor Speedway: social media that actually connects, community outreach that brings people back, and building an intern pipeline that helps the next generation learn the good, the bad, and the ugly of racetrack operations. If you care about grassroots racing, racing promotion, and the business of motorsports, this conversation gets practical fast. We also dig into Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and why politics, money, and perception can decide a track’s future as much as the racing itself. Gina shares straight talk on motorsports sponsorship, including the most common mistake racers make when pitching partners, why young drivers need to learn to ask early, and how to keep sponsors by delivering real value beyond a logo on a quarter panel. Finally, Gina lays out her vision for strengthening NASCAR’s Weekly Series and short track program so it produces champions and keeps local racing healthy. If this hits home, subscribe, share the episode with a racing friend, and leave a review so more fans can find the stories that keep short track racing alive. 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

1h 8m
May 22

SPECIAL MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND PODCAST--RIDE SAFE FOUNDATION--What If The Most Dangerous Machine On The Farm Is The One That Feels Like A Toy

Send us Fan Mail A kid on an ATV can look like pure summer fun, right up until it becomes an emergency. We sit down with Kristen Almer of the Ride Safe Foundation to talk about the reality most families never see: the repeat patterns behind youth ATV and UTV crashes, the heartbreaking cost of “dumb luck,” and the simple decisions that prevent tragedy. Kristen shares the loss of her 11-year-old nephew, Logan, and how that moment led her to spend years researching fatalities, working with agencies and trauma experts, and turning data into plain-language safety rules families can actually use. We dig into what Kristen calls the five red flag warnings, including adult-sized machines, lack of safety certification, no helmet, riding in the right-of-way, and rollover risks that make seatbelts and helmets essential even in side-by-sides. Along the way, we talk farm safety, holiday riding habits, why kids often ride without gear at grandparents’ homes, and why the danger spikes when people assume these vehicles are “just tools” instead of powerful off-highway machines. If you care about child safety, powersports safety training, and practical prevention, this conversation is for you. We also focus on solutions, not blame: bringing kids to tracks, creating try and ride programs, learning from professional athletes, and using scalable tools like virtual reality training to teach the core risks early. Memorial Day weekend comes with an urgent reminder, and Kristen offers clear guidance on rules, key control, and modeling helmet use so kids copy the right habits. Subscribe for more conversations that protect riders and strengthen the motorsports community, then share this episode with one parent, coach, or track organizer and leave us a review. 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

1h 8m

5

out of 5

5 Ratings

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. https://www.facebook.com/womensmotorsportsnetworkandpodcastMelinda Russell

Creator

Melinda Russell
Years Active

2019 - 2026
Episodes

423
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2026 Women's Motorsports Network Podcast
Show Website

Women's Motorsports Network Podcast