Women's Motorsports Network Podcast

Melinda Russell

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Women's Motorsports Network Podcast

Women's Motorsports Network Podcast shares the stories of women involved in motorsports from around the world. My first episode was in 2018 and I continue to add new episodes each week. Feel free to suggest potential guests to me at iwmanation@gmail.comMelinda Russell

3H AGO

Little Racer, Big Impact: Lizzie Vogel's Inspiring Journey

Send us a text Lizzie Vogel, an eight-year-old fourth-generation quarter midget racer, shares her inspiring journey from beginning in go-karts at age five to becoming a Hoosier Hero award winner while managing multiple surgeries for her cleft palate and lip. Her remarkable story encompasses the highs and lows of her racing career, her cleft palate awareness initiatives, and her compassionate work creating care packages for children undergoing similar surgeries. • Started racing go-karts at age five, now races quarter midgets in Blue Rookie class • Competes with car number 83E, matching her father's racing number • Entire family races - her father in E-mods, mother in flat carts, and six-year-old sister • Born with a cleft palate and lip, has undergone approximately 12 surgeries • Creates care packages with blankets, teddy bears, and books for children having cleft surgeries • Recognized as a Hoosier Hero at PRI for her racing accomplishments and community work • Selected as a Young Gun driver for Nicole's Dream supporting childhood cancer awareness • Dreams of becoming a doctor to help children with medical challenges • Shows remarkable empathy and maturity beyond her years • Demonstrates that motorsports provides valuable life lessons about resilience and compassion Support the show FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/womensmotorsportsnetworki/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/womensmotorsportsnetwork/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ TIKTOK: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ X: https://x.com/IWMANation FACEBOOK Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/melinda.ann.russell

31 min
2D AGO

Finding Your Lane: Balancing School, Racing, and Growing Up with Ella Wu-Heilman

Send us a text When Ella Wu Heilman climbed onto her first PW50 motorcycle at just two years old, no one could have predicted the remarkable journey ahead. Now fifteen and speaking with the wisdom of a veteran racer, Ella shares her extraordinary thirteen-year motorsports journey that's taken her from backyard dirt tracks to competing on a Kawasaki Ninja 400. The Pacific Northwest teenager reveals how her father's passion for dirt bikes sparked her own enduring love for racing, creating a foundation that would carry her through multiple disciplines of motorcycle competition. From early days riding in fields to her current racing schedule that spans Washington and Oregon, Ella articulates the unique progression that's shaped her identity both on and off the track. What stands out most in this conversation is Ella's profound understanding of what makes motorsports special: "The community is so strong. You learn so much from other people and their experiences... it creates this bond with people that you can't find in everyday life." This sense of belonging drives her forward even when balancing the demands of high school, friendships, and competitive racing becomes challenging. Her thoughtful approach to managing these competing priorities demonstrates a maturity that belies her fifteen years. Particularly fascinating is Ella's experience as often the only teenage girl competing against adult men in their 20s and 40s. Rather than being intimidated, she's embraced the challenge: "I keep up with them. There's been times where I've beaten them." This quiet confidence, coupled with her grandmother's trackside support (leading to a heartwarming story about beating another grandmother's grandson), showcases the changing landscape for women in motorsports and the intergenerational connections racing can foster. Subscribe to hear more inspiring stories from women changing the landscape of motorsports, and follow Ella's journey on Instagram as she continues breaking barriers on two wheels. What racing memories have shaped your own journey? Support the show FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/womensmotorsportsnetworki/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/womensmotorsportsnetwork/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ TIKTOK: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ X: https://x.com/IWMANation FACEBOOK Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/melinda.ann.russell

34 min
5D AGO

Racing Beyond Limits: Lena Chin's Journey in Gridlife

Send us a text When six-year-old Lena Chin attended her first race at Sebring, something clicked—the sights, sounds, and energy of motorsport captured her imagination completely. Nearly two decades later, she's become a competitive force in the Gridlife Touring Cup Series, piloting her Honda S2000 against some of the best amateur racers in the country. In this illuminating conversation, Lena pulls back the curtain on the unique world of Gridlife racing—a grassroots series that blends competitive motorsports with music festival energy at iconic tracks across America. Far from the polished corporate atmosphere of professional racing, Gridlife offers an accessible yet fiercely competitive environment where drivers compete on street tires while building a tight-knit community that feels like family. Lena's journey reveals the evolution of success in racing—from chasing trophies to measuring growth through consistent improvement, rising from 20th place to consistent top-10 finishes against fields of 50 cars. Her Honda S2000, built by AD Smedgard Motorsports with a transplanted K24 engine and full racing modifications, represents the technical side of the sport, while her interactions with young female fans highlight the human impact of representation in a traditionally male-dominated space. Beyond the adrenaline of wheel-to-wheel competition, Lena shares how she balances racing with career and personal life, finding renewal through time spent at Chicago's lakefront and exploring the city's diverse neighborhoods. She offers listeners a glimpse into memorable racing moments—from night racing at Daytona to recent podium finishes at Mid-Ohio—and announces an upcoming women-only track day at Gingerman Raceway designed to welcome newcomers to the sport. Whether you're a seasoned racing enthusiast or simply curious about the human stories behind motorsport, Lena's perspective offers a refreshing look at modern grassroots racing and the women proving they belong on track. Follow her journey on Instagram @oneLenaChin and YouTube at Lena Chin Racing, and discover why more fans and competitors are calling Gridlife racing home. Support the show FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/womensmotorsportsnetworki/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/womensmotorsportsnetwork/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ TIKTOK: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ X: https://x.com/IWMANation FACEBOOK Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/melinda.ann.russell

34 min
6D AGO

Beyond the Finish Line: Finding Balance in Speed and Life with Karyl Bell

Send us a text Karyl Bell's motorsports journey is the perfect blend of family legacy, entrepreneurial spirit, and unwavering determination. From her earliest memories at Lebanon Valley Dragway in upstate New York, where her mother serves as assistant track manager and her father races, Karyl has turned a childhood passion into both a competitive career and innovative business ventures. Beginning in junior dragsters at age eight, Karyl quickly proved her talent by capturing a track championship in just her second year. Today, she competes at the highest levels of bracket racing, seamlessly switching between Super Pro and Super Comp divisions - sometimes within the same weekend. Her mechanical knowledge runs deep, working alongside her father to maintain their race cars and understand every aspect of vehicle performance. What truly sets Karyl apart is her response to adversity. After surviving a dramatic barrel-roll crash that destroyed her Nova, she returned to racing with renewed perspective rather than fear. This experience directly influenced her decision to establish KB Performance Center, a trackside business at Lebanon Valley Dragway selling essential safety equipment from helmets to fire jackets. This brilliant innovation means racers who fail technical inspection can purchase required safety gear immediately rather than missing competition. Perhaps most remarkably, Karyl balances her racing life with owning a dance studio - two worlds that couldn't seem more different yet complement each other perfectly through their seasonal schedules. This diversity in her professional life reveals a multi-faceted woman who refuses to be limited by conventional expectations. Throughout her career, Karyl has encountered gender discrimination but transformed these challenges into motivation. When a professional racer once dismissed her with "girls don't race," she responded by proving him wrong repeatedly on the track. Her racing philosophy combines strategic planning with mental discipline: "Don't overthink" and "Always have plans A, B, and C" for each run down the quarter-mile. Follow Karyl's continuing journey on Instagram @buckwild198 or Facebook as she pursues her passion for racing while building businesses that support and strengthen the motorsports community. Her story reminds us that with dedication and perseverance, we create our own definitions of success both on and off the track. Support the show FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/womensmotorsportsnetworki/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/womensmotorsportsnetwork/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ TIKTOK: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ X: https://x.com/IWMANation FACEBOOK Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/melinda.ann.russell

41 min
JUL 3

From Music Studio to Dragstrip: Nancy Matter's Remarkable Journey

Send us a text Nancy Matter's resilience burns brighter than nitromethane in this powerful conversation about perseverance, passion, and breaking barriers in motorsports. From her childhood days at San Fernando Raceway to becoming the first female owner-driver of a Top Fuel Funny Car in this century, Nancy's journey exemplifies the never-quit attitude that defines championship racers. What makes Nancy's story exceptional isn't just her accomplishments on the track, but how she's navigated life's most challenging turns. At just 13, she was taken under wing by the legendary Gasparelli family, helping on their funny car despite her youth. Though marriage and motherhood temporarily pulled her from racing, Nancy channeled her creativity into a music career that yielded 70 gold and platinum records. But the call of nitro never faded. After returning to the sport following a 21-year hiatus, Nancy methodically climbed the racing ladder – from Super Comp to alcohol funny car to nostalgia funny car, setting records and becoming nearly unbeatable in first-round eliminations. Just as she acquired a Top Fuel funny car in 2022, life threw its cruelest curve. A devastating personal and professional crisis nearly destroyed everything she'd built, forcing her to put racing aside while focusing on survival. Lesser souls might have surrendered, but Nancy refused to give up. Slowly, methodically, she rebuilt both her life and her race car, replacing virtually everything except the middle chassis section. Throughout these dark years, select sponsors remained loyal despite her inability to represent them on track – a testament to the respect she's earned throughout the industry. Today, Nancy stands ready to make history, proudly partnered with the American Valor Foundation honoring Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield. Rather than seeing herself as a "woman of power," Nancy identifies as an "empowered woman" serving as a beacon of inspiration regardless of gender. Her message resonates beyond motorsports: "Anybody that thinks they can't, I'm here to tell you right now you can." Ready to witness motorsports history? Follow Nancy Matter Racing on social media as she prepares to unleash this beautiful red beast on the quarter-mile. Her comeback story might just inspire your own. Support the show FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/womensmotorsportsnetworki/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/womensmotorsportsnetwork/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ TIKTOK: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ X: https://x.com/IWMANation FACEBOOK Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/melinda.ann.russell

33 min
JUN 30

The Middle Child Who Chose Ground Over Air with Charlotte Traynor

Send us a text What happens when you're born into a family of aviators but feel drawn to conquer the ground instead? For 18-year-old Charlotte Traynor, the answer came through motorsports, sparked simply by watching in-car camera footage on television that ignited something within her. Charlotte takes us through her unconventional journey into racing, beginning at age 13 with no family connections to the sport. From indoor karting centers to professional go-karts and now competing in the Mazda MX-5 Cup Series, her path illustrates the complex landscape young drivers must navigate to build a career in motorsports. The financial realities led her to Mazda's development ladder—a relatively affordable pathway that still offers substantial opportunities, including a $100,000 Rookie of the Year prize and significant payouts for female competitors. Beyond the technical aspects of driving, Charlotte reveals how racing transformed her from a shy teenager into someone comfortable initiating conversations and representing herself professionally. Her mental approach to the sport—maintaining "short-term memory" after setbacks and always keeping her "eyes up"—provides wisdom that extends far beyond the track. Perhaps most poignantly, she shares her experience racing at Daytona for the first time: "I was probably feeling every single emotion you could feel inside the car... It was one of those things like, okay, I'm making it, I am doing this." As motorsports evolves in the social media age, Charlotte discusses the surprising reality that teams now often ask about follower counts before race results. Her authentic perspective offers valuable insights for aspiring racers while reminding us all that perseverance matters: "You're never gonna know if you never even try... don't let anyone or anything hold you back." Ready to support the next generation of female racers? Follow Charlotte's journey and discover how passion combined with determination can open doors in even the most challenging environments. Support the show FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/womensmotorsportsnetworki/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/womensmotorsportsnetwork/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ TIKTOK: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ X: https://x.com/IWMANation FACEBOOK Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/melinda.ann.russell

55 min
JUN 28

Fast Lane Futures: Beylea Kronseder's Racing Journey

Send us a text Beylea Kronseder shares her journey from racing RC cars to competing in quarter midget nationals at just 11 years old, discussing how motorsports has transformed her from shy kid to confident racer and mentor. • Began racing at age 9 after previously racing RC cars, following a family tradition of motorsports • Currently races in Senior Honda class, moving to Heavy Honda, and building a Heavy 160 car • Helps her father build and set up her race cars, gaining valuable technical knowledge • Has multiple sponsors supporting her racing career including Tom Steffens Racing and Living Like Outlaws • Focuses on NASCAR youth national races, traveling to tracks across multiple states • Particularly enjoys introducing new people to motorsports and encouraging younger drivers • Names NASCAR Truck Series driver Natalie Decker as her racing role model • Racing has significantly boosted her confidence, transforming her from "super duper shy" to outgoing • Pre-race ritual includes stopping for Wawa breakfast sandwiches before heading to the track • Goal for this season is to win one of her national races Find Beylea on Facebook and Instagram at Beylea Kronseder Racing to follow her racing journey. Support the show FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/womensmotorsportsnetworki/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/womensmotorsportsnetwork/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ TIKTOK: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ X: https://x.com/IWMANation FACEBOOK Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/melinda.ann.russell

32 min
JUN 28

From Figure Skater to Drag Racing Champion: Dina Parisi's Journey

Send us a text Former IHRA Pro Mod World Champion Dina Parisi shares her journey from professional figure skater to drag racer and advocates for prioritizing safety in motorsports. • Dina discusses her unusual career path from Ice Capades figure skater to drag racer, noting surprising parallels between both performance careers • Racing fans get direct access to drivers in drag racing, creating meaningful connections unlike other motorsports • Dina emphasizes the importance of proactive safety measures, including proper protective gear regardless of rule requirements • Critical safety equipment like neck protection, gloves, and proper helmets are non-negotiable regardless of your racing class • "Fire burns at zero miles per hour" - accidents don't just happen at high speeds • Common safety oversights include crews turning their backs to moving vehicles and excessive personnel on starting lines • Junior racers need consistent safety education from parents and race organizers throughout the season • Complacency is a major safety risk even for experienced racers • Dina recommends walking the racetrack before races to familiarize yourself with exits and turnoffs • Understanding proper fire suppression system preparation and chute packing is essential knowledge for all racers Find Dina Parisi on social media: @DinaParisi or visit DinaParisiVentures.com to learn more about racing safety. Support the show FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/womensmotorsportsnetworki/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/womensmotorsportsnetwork/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ TIKTOK: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindarussell/ X: https://x.com/IWMANation FACEBOOK Personal Page: https://www.facebook.com/melinda.ann.russell

38 min

5

out of 5

5 Ratings

Women's Motorsports Network Podcast shares the stories of women involved in motorsports from around the world. My first episode was in 2018 and I continue to add new episodes each week. Feel free to suggest potential guests to me at iwmanation@gmail.comMelinda Russell

Creator

Melinda Russell
Years Active

2019 - 2025
Episodes

350
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2025 Women's Motorsports Network Podcast
Show Website

Women's Motorsports Network Podcast