Courtside Coffee Catch-Up

Kerry Waller

Why C3? Courtside - Basketball has been my life Coffee - Is life at this point Catch-Up - I LOVE a chat and connecting The concept is simple, organic and authentic conversations with great people across the sporting landscape.

  1. Charlotte Whittaker - C3 x Adelaide Lightning 25/26 Season

    4일 전

    Charlotte Whittaker - C3 x Adelaide Lightning 25/26 Season

    Some special people stay with you… and Char is one of them. When I sat down with Charlotte Whittaker, it felt a little full circle for me. I first met Char back in 2018 at the inaugural Steven Adams High School Invitational Camp… where she was being mentored by Penina Davidson — someone she’d later go on to share the court with as a Tall Fern. Since then, I’ve followed her journey and quietly cheered her on from afar. So to see her arrive here in Adelaide for her WNBL debut with the Adelaide Lightning — and then get the chance to actually sit down and have this conversation — it was pretty special. Because when you look at her journey, it’s taken her everywhere. From a small town in North Canterbury to representing New Zealand as a Junior Tall Fern… to five years with the Colorado Buffaloes women’s basketball, building a 114-game Division I career… to winning a championship in France. On the surface, it looks like a journey that just kept building. But that’s not the full story. Because in the middle of it all, Charlotte was diagnosed with degenerative hip dysplasia — and suddenly, the game she’d built her life around was at risk of being taken away. We’re talking about a choice between walking away… or going through multiple major surgeries for a 15 percent chance of ever playing again. And still… she chose to back herself. That part of the conversation — the honesty, the uncertainty, the resilience — that’s what stayed with me. And now, reflecting on her choice to return home to New Zealand… suiting up for Mainland Pouākai in the Tauihi league, making her Tall Ferns debut alongside her sister… before stepping into the WNBL — it just adds another layer to her story. Full circle — but earned. This is what resilience looks like.This is what perspective sounds like. And this is what a role model for the next generation looks like. Charlotte Whittaker — this is a really special one.

    15분
  2. Aja Parham - Ammar - C3 x Adelaide Lightning 25/26 Season

    3월 21일

    Aja Parham - Ammar - C3 x Adelaide Lightning 25/26 Season

    Just four weeks into her interim role this past season, I sat down with newly announced Adelaide Lightning Head Coach, Aja Parham-Ammar. Aja’s journey in the game spans continents, roles, and experiences — from her days as a Boston College athlete, to earning opportunities at Seattle Storm training camp, and building a decorated playing career here in Australia. Her transition from NBL1 player to coach came under the guidance of Australian Basketball Hall of Famer CJ Bruton at the Southern District Spartans, with further encouragement at the Queensland state level from now COE Women’s Head Coach, Mel Downer. Since then, Aja has led the Logan Thunder to the 2025 NBL1 North Championship, coached across both women’s and men’s NBL1 North programs — including becoming one of the few women to lead an NBL1 men’s team — and was recognised as Basketball Queensland’s 2023 Female Coach of the Year. Off the court, she’s a mum to Ziya and Sanaa, wife to Thomas, and the founder of The Sports Mindset, where she’s been helping athletes develop mentally for over 15 years. This is a conversation about resilience, perspective, and the moments that don’t go to plan — but shape everything that comes next. I hope you enjoy this catch-up as much as we did. Below is the link to the interview mentioned in this chat; The Healing Power of Basketball - Lexi Partell & Aja Parham Ammar | NBA INGRAINED EP3 - of a six-part docuseries created by Matthew Adekponya for NBA Australia, aired in 2022.

    12분
  3. C3 with Marial Machar, Rams Sports Group

    2월 28일

    C3 with Marial Machar, Rams Sports Group

    In this episode, I’m joined by Marial Machar — founder of the Eastside Rams Basketball Club, now Rams Sports Group. What started as a team of friends playing in a local carnival, quickly grew to an interstate road trip and well attended trial saw the Rams grow by 80 literally over night At 18, while studying law, Marial formally founded the Rams — becoming one of South Australia’s youngest CEOs. Today, the organisation supports hundreds of young people, has expanded into Queensland, and operates under a powerful for the youth, by the youth model led by peer educators and lived-experience mentors. In July, the Rams will partner with the Adelaide Junior Basketball League (AJBL) to host the South Sudanese Australian National Basketball Association (SSNBA) Classic at St Clair Recreation Centre — another example of community and culture coming together through the game. Marial is currently overseas as a recipient of the Winston Churchill Fellowship — specifically the Donald Mackay Churchill Fellowship — exploring global responses to antisocial behaviour and gang issues affecting East African youth. I really enjoyed not only hearing more about the beginnings of the Rams but getting to know Marial himself. This impressive young man is different — thoughtful, intentional, and deeply committed to creating opportunity for others. This is a conversation about leadership, purpose, and what can happen when you see a gap and decide to step into it. I hope you enjoy this catch-up as much as we did.

    43분

소개

Why C3? Courtside - Basketball has been my life Coffee - Is life at this point Catch-Up - I LOVE a chat and connecting The concept is simple, organic and authentic conversations with great people across the sporting landscape.