Beyond the Big 5

We're back, kind of! This interview was recorded live on April 17, 2026 at University of Beer in Roseville, California, the night before US Quadball Cup. It features head coach Kennedy Murpy, USNT DA Assistant Coaches Max Havlin and Lulu Xu, Manager Hanna Reese, and Assistant Manager Joan Boyes. The USNT is sending its Developmental Academy to the Quadball Nations Cup this weekend, held in Sal...

I'm back, finally! Today’s episode is about the USA Ultimate D-I college championships, specifically the women’s division. The tournament took place May 23-26 in Burlington, Washington. Note: this is explicit because I swore a couple times Show Notes USA Ultimate Clip of trophy winning play in the finals from USAU Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/DKIoF7ZuMhQ /   Full results of women’s di...

This is a short recap of our watch guide from the previous week and a preview of what we’re paying attention to the following week. Today, we’re going to talk about quadball, softball, the Olympics, ultimate, and beach handball. Show Notes Major League Quadball QUEST analysis on game 3 of New Orleans Curse vs League City Legends by Leo Fried https://quadballest.com/2024/06/21/quest-2024-league-cit...

This is a short recap of our watch guide from the previous week and a preview of what we’re paying attention to the following week. Today, we’re going to talk about rugby, quadball, ultimate, softball, the Olympics, and the Paralympics. Show Notes: Wheelchair Rugby: Female players take spotlight in wheelchair rugby as record numbers take up sport, from 2023 https://www.paralympic.org/feature/femal...

For Pride Month, we’re trying out something new! This is a short recap of our watch guide from the previous week and a preview of what we’re paying attention to the following week. Show Notes Results from 2024 WUL season: https://westernultimateleague.com/2024-schedule PUL schedule: https://www.premierultimateleague.com/schedule MLQ schedule: https://www.mlquadball.com/schedule Coverage of rowing...

This is Episode 9, the US Quadball Cup 2024 Recap. USQ nationals took place a month and a half ago, April 13 and 14 in Round Rock, TX. It featured 58 teams competing in 5 divisions: 16 teams in college D1, 15 teams in college D2, 2 teams in college open, 19 teams in club championship, and 6 teams in club open.  For the recap, we’re joined by longtime players and coaches Michael Goldman of the Sili...

Episode 8 of the BB5 podcast, featuring quadball player and coach Lulu Xu. Hailing from the Northeast, Lulu is one of the sport’s more influential beaters. She’s been playing since 2011. She’s a 5x national champion and 2x international champion. This interview explores the context around which Lulu's club team, the Boston Pandas, was created in 2020, a team that was the leader in the US in th...

Please note that this podcast and the advice given are meant for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.  Host Mary Kimball first met Joanne Lam during QuidCon in 2021, a virtual event that US Quadball and Major League Quadball hosted during one of the waves of COVID lockdowns. She led a great home workout session. She started following Joanne online, and came to r...

Hear from players and US Quadball co-gameplay department managers Thomas Chang-Davidson and Sarah “Phantom” Kneiling about USQ’s transition to 3 max. They discuss how their own history has shaped their approach with policy making around gender (and other areas), how they started playing and got involved with USQ gameplay, and what changes they hope to see this weekend at USQ Cup in the club champi...

Hear from player and photographer Aubrey Johnson about her time on Salt Lake City Hive, based out of Utah. Besides talking about her own experiences playing on America’s sweetheart quadball team, Aubrey also gives some flowers to retiring players and teammates Katie Ely, Danika Liou, and Nathan Liou. This episode is part of our April 1, 2024 exclusive day of Bee-yond the Big 5 features on sports a...

In three weekends, USQ club team the Warriors takes the pitch at US Quadball Cup 2024 in Round Rock, TX to defend their national title. How prepared are they for the shift to 3 max? What is it like to train on this team? What makes the Warriors such a successful program? Learn the answers to these questions and more in our interview with Ryan Davis and Molly Potter, two players with significant ex...

Editor’s note: in the recording, Mary says that EQC is March 15-16. This is incorrect. It’s March 16-17. Also, regarding 3 max, only teams in D1 are required to play that. Teams in D2 were allowed to apply for a waiver; 5 teams in D2 elected not to and will be playing 3 max the entire tournament. European Quadball Cup 2024 takes place this weekend in Salou, Catalonia. This is Europe’s top club eve...

Join us for a conversation with two players and coaches from Chicago, Ally Manzella (she/her) and Kennedy Murphy (she/her) on gender and player development. From Fast Break News, Your Guide To Implementing Three-Max (Now, Not Later): https://www.fastbreaknews.com/articles/your-guide-to-implementing-three-max-now-not-later From Third Bludger Interference, the Kennedy Murphy Interview : https://podc...

Hear from nonbinary player Peter Lawrence about their time on Middlebury College, playing in the UK, joining the club team Bosnyan Bearsharks, and playing MLQ. Peter also discusses their experience coming out as nonbinary and playing quadball, and how the support of their team and friends have made a difference on and off the pitch. Episode cover photo by Kielan Donahue. Statement in support of no...

Welcome to Beyond the Big 5! This is episode 0: an introduction. Primer to quadball video: ⁠https://youtu.be/_YSx140Nujc?si=-_9CHlVt_kRO4Efb⁠ Subscribe to the BB5 newsletter: https://www.beyondthebig5.com/ Host/editor/producer: Mary Kimball Theme Music: Jeff McBride