Beyond Her Game Podcast

The opportunities female athletes enjoy today were built by generations of women who fought for the chance to play. In this episode of Beyond Her Game, Tori Barker sits down with Karen Rudolph, former collegiate athlete, sports journalist, and author of Sideline No Longer , to explore the untold story behind women's college sports. Karen shares her firsthand experience as one of the early generati...

Women's sports are growing faster than ever, creating new opportunities for the next generation of female athletes. In this episode of Beyond Her Game, Tori Barker sits down with Jose Sanchez, founder of HERisUS and Women's Flag Football Head Coach at UC Davis, to discuss why the future looks different for today's young athletes and what it will take to help them thrive. Jose shares the personal s...

Who are you when the sport that shaped your identity comes to an end? In this episode of Beyond Her Game, Tori Barker sits down with former competitive swimmer, grief counselor, and founder of Whole Person Conversations, Melissa Douaire, for a powerful conversation about athlete identity, grief, and life after sports. Melissa shares her own experience of losing the identity she built through years...

Coaches shape far more than athletic performance. In this episode of Beyond Her Game, Tori Barker sits down with former Division I softball player, educator, and founder of The Positive Coach, Claire Rietmann-Grout, for a powerful conversation about the lasting impact coaches have on confidence, leadership, identity, and emotional safety for female athletes. Together, they explore what great coach...

What happens when strength becomes the thing that helps you rediscover who you are? In this episode of Beyond Her Game, Tori Barker sits down with Anne Marie Chaker — former Wall Street Journal reporter, professional bodybuilder, author of LIFT, and founder of LIFT Enterprises — for a powerful conversation around identity, reinvention, women’s strength, and rebuilding confidence after life transit...

What happens when the athlete identity never fully leaves? In this episode of Beyond Her Game, Tori Barker is joined by former college basketball player and national sports broadcaster Dominiqué Patrick for a real and honest conversation about identity beyond sports, athlete transition, visibility, and the pressure athletes face both on and off the court. Dominiqué shares her journey from athlete...

What happens when the money starts coming in… before you’re prepared to manage it? In this episode of Beyond Her Game , Tori Barker sits down with Shana DiMarco to talk about the financial side of being an athlete that often gets overlooked. From NIL deals to long-term planning, they break down: Why athletes need to start learning about money early The importance of building the right financial te...

What actually makes an athlete valuable beyond performance? In this episode of Beyond Her Game , Tori Barker sits down with Antoine Burrell, founder of B.E. Collective+, to break down what really drives opportunity in today’s NIL landscape. From marketability and visibility to brand building and identity beyond sport, Antoine shares why some athletes are landing deals while others are getting over...

Athletes are often defined by how they perform, but what happens when performance is no longer the focus? In this episode of Beyond Her Game , Tori Barker sits down with Tara Wells, LCSW and founder of Finish Line Mindset, to talk about mental health for athletes, identity beyond sport, and navigating the transition into life after competition. Together, they explore how performance-based environm...

What determines success at the highest level? In this episode of Beyond Her Game , Leah Amico shares the lesson that shaped her career as a 3x Olympic gold medalist, and how it applies to life beyond sports. From early moments of self-doubt to competing on the world stage, Leah opens up about the mindset required to handle failure, build resilience, and continue growing through every stage of your...

What happens when the season ends? For so many female athletes, the game shapes who you are; your identity, your routine, your purpose. But when the uniform comes off, no one really prepares you for what comes next. Beyond Her Game was created for that exact moment. Hosted by former Division I softball player and marketing strategist Tori Barker, this podcast is for current and former female athle...