More Than An Armband

Anja Koehler
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Sports

Leadership in sports goes far beyond the captain’s armband. It’s about stepping up, inspiring others, and making an impact—during and outside of competition. Welcome to More Than An Armband, the podcast that dives into how athletes lead during competition and how they carry those lessons into life beyond the game. From game-changing moments to navigating the next chapter of your life, we’re breaking down what it truly means to lead. Led by host and founder of Captain’s University, Anja Koehler.

  1. Oct 14

    Breaking Records, Building Leaders You'd Walk Through Fire For with Lilly King

    Lilly King — Fierce, Fun, and Fostering the Next Generation of Leaders In this episode of More Than an Armband, Anja sits down with seven-time Olympic medalist and Indiana University swimming legend Lilly King. Lilly traces her path from a competitive Evansville household to becoming one of the most outspoken leaders in American swimming — including the moment at age 12 that convinced her an Olympic career wasn't just a dream, but a plan. The conversation digs into what it actually means to lead an individual sport wrapped inside a team: how Lilly learned the hard way that being the fastest swimmer in the pool didn't automatically make her a good teammate, the pep talk she gave her Indiana team before Big Ten Championships that she credits with a mindset shift, and the moment she got disqualified mid-meet and had to compartmentalize her own disappointment to support five teammates racing their only event of the day. She also opens up about being the team's go-to spokeswoman on hard topics — including calling out doping — and what it meant to be voted captain by her peers again and again, even in years she wasn't wearing the title. The episode closes with Lilly's reflections on retiring at the IU Natatorium where her career began, her new chapter mentoring the next generation of swimmers with Lead Sports Co., and her one piece of advice for any young athlete stepping into leadership for the first time: trust yourself. In this episode: Building an Olympic dream from a competitive household Learning the difference between task-oriented and relationship-oriented leadership Holding a team accountable before a championship meet Compartmentalizing disappointment to support teammates Being the "spokeswoman" for hard conversations Closing a career full circle at home

  2. Sep 23

    BONUS! Angelina Anderson's Rapid Fire — Favorite Album, Japan & an Empty SoFi Stadium

    In this bonus drop from our episode with Angel City FC's Angelina Anderson, she runs through her rapid-fire favorites — her all-time favorite album, the country that stole her heart on a soccer trip, and the surreal moment standing in an empty SoFi Stadium the day before a USWNT game.

  3. Sep 9

    Angelina Anderson (Angel City FC) — Leading Vets, Handling Criticism & Life on the B-Side

    In this episode of More Than an Armband, Anja sits down with Angelina Anderson, goalkeeper and captain for Angel City FC in the NWSL. Angelina opens up about her path from Cal Berkeley, where she was named Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year and served as team captain, to the professional ranks and USWNT camp. They dig into what it actually takes to lead teammates who are older, more experienced, and sometimes your closest friends, including the story of learning to hold veteran captain Sarah Gordon accountable. Angelina also gets honest about a season where a critical teammate shook her confidence, and the mental reframe that helped her lead through it, plus a moment where a younger player held her to a higher standard instead. The conversation closes on life outside the sport: why Angelina believes having an identity beyond soccer actually makes her a better athlete, and the story behind B-Side, her passion project exploring the overlap between athletes and musicians. In this episode: Leading players older and more experienced than you Staying grounded when your confidence takes a hit Why accountability can come from anywhere on the team Building an identity outside of sport The origin story of B-Side Follow Angelina: @angelinaanderson_ | B-Side: @bsidebyangelina

  4. Aug 19

    Bonus Segment! Derek Waldeck's National Championship Experience

    Listen to this bonus segment where Derek Waldeck shares more about his national championship experience and what players he enjoys watching.

  5. Aug 12

    Derek Waldeck: From Stanford Championships to Pro Soccer — What the Armband Really Taught Him

    In this episode of More Than an Armband, Anja sits down with Derek Waldeck, a professional soccer player who has worn the armband at every level of the game — from back-to-back national championships at Stanford University to captaining professional locker rooms across the United States. Derek opens up about what it was like to learn from elite leaders as a freshman at Stanford, and how watching those around him shaped the kind of captain he would eventually become. He gets honest about the shell shock of transitioning from a championship-driven college program to professional locker rooms filled with players pulling in completely different directions — and how adaptability became his most important leadership tool. He also dives into the very real challenge of leading through adversity, imposter syndrome, and the ever-changing landscape of college athletics in the era of the transfer portal. Whether you're stepping into a captain role for the first time or looking to sharpen how you lead the people around you, Derek's perspective is grounded, honest, and packed with practical takeaways. Key Takeaways: Collective success leads to individual success, never the other way around Understanding people as humans first is the foundation of great leadership Adaptability is the most essential tool in a professional locker room Imposter syndrome is normal — no one is perfectly qualified before they start Your response to adversity speaks louder than anything else as a leader Leave behind the fear of failing — mistakes are how leaders grow

  6. Jul 22

    Bonus Segment! Rapid Fire with Celia

    Listen to this bonus segment of rapid fire questions with Celia Jiménez.

  7. Jul 8

    The Space Between the Stars: Celia Jiménez on World Cups & Captaincy

    In this episode of More Than an Armband, Anja sits down with Celia Jiménez — former Spanish national team captain, two-time World Cup veteran, NWSL champion with the Atlanta Pride, and now Founder and CEO of Nebula. Celia shares her remarkable journey from a small town in southern Spain where she fought for the right to compete at just six years old, all the way to the world's biggest stages in women's soccer. She opens up about what it truly means to wear the armband, how she navigated divided teams at the highest level, and why she believes peak performance is always a collective achievement — never an individual one. She also shares the leadership lessons that shaped her, from a veteran captain's pre-game pep talk before defending Marta at her first World Cup, to running fitness tests alongside a struggling teammate just to show her she wasn't alone. Now channeling everything she learned on the field into Nebula, Celia is on a mission to build better environments for women athletes everywhere.  Key Takeaways: Leadership is about filling gaps, not having all the answers Checking in on a teammate takes seconds and can change everything Great teams acknowledge adversity together rather than pointing fingers Speaking different languages as a leader is the key to reaching every player Collective growth is the foundation of peak performance

  8. Jun 24

    Bonus Segment! Why Michelle Voiland Loves Coaching

    Listen to this bonus segment with Michelle Voiland as she shares her favorite soccer memory and why she loves coaching.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Leadership in sports goes far beyond the captain’s armband. It’s about stepping up, inspiring others, and making an impact—during and outside of competition. Welcome to More Than An Armband, the podcast that dives into how athletes lead during competition and how they carry those lessons into life beyond the game. From game-changing moments to navigating the next chapter of your life, we’re breaking down what it truly means to lead. Led by host and founder of Captain’s University, Anja Koehler.

Information

  • Creator
    Anja Koehler
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    More Than An Armband