Bleav in Softball

Jenna is joined by recently retired Head Coach at the University of Pacific for 32 years, Stockton Athletics Hall of Famer, and member of the USA Softball coaching pool and NCAA Division I Committee, Brian Kolze! They talk about when he recruited her, reflections on his career, his expansive and elite coaching tree, retirement and what’s next, international experience, Selection Sunday, what reall...

Jenna is joined by Stanford catcher, Rawlings Gold Glove winner, and All Pac-12 honoree, Aly Kaneshiro! They talk about her family, why she chose softball, rebuilding the Cardinal program, bullpen antics, managing a pitching staff (and catching Nijaree Canady), throwing runners out, why they call her “Biggie”, her recruiting process, playing in the WCWS, Senior Day celebrations, the Pac-12 tournam...

Jenna is joined by ACC Network analyst, North Carolina alum, and retired catcher, Brittany McKinney! They talk about the landscape of ACC softball, Stanford and Cal joining next year, her career path from firefighting to broadcasting, playing at UNC and in the pros, catching elite pitchers (and being married to one like Taryne Mowatt), takes on some current hot topics, and much more. 00:00:00-00:1...

Jenna is joined by Fresno State Head Coach, 2X NPF champion and MVP, international medalist with Team USA, and 3X All Big Ten player at Iowa, Stacy May-Johnson! They talk about the Bulldogs’ history and program, the Mountain West landscape, The Valley community and fan base, her Chicago Bandits and USA experience, the grind of pro softball, how to live in the middle emotionally, what real toughnes...

Jenna and current Arizona State Head Coach, retired pro, and Notre Dame All American, Megan Bartlett, finish their conversation. In part 2, they talk about fostering a family dynamic, her biggest takeaways and learnings, different types of inspiration and leadership, coaching in today’s age, preparing for conference competition, and playing the last year of the Pac-12, as well as her personal path...

Jenna is joined by Arizona State Head Coach, retired pro, and All American player at Notre Dame, Megan Bartlett! In part 1, they talk about coaching, her vision and philosophy, rebuilding the Sun Devils, the impact of the alumni and staff on the program, playing at Club Farrington, team personalities, getting ready to play their next Pac-12 series at Stanford, her career path, and more. 00:00:00-0...

Jenna is joined by Loyola Marymount Head Coach, 2X Olympic medalist with Team USA, NCAA national champion and All American at UCLA, and Hall of Fame Bruin, Tairia Flowers! They talk about making an impact as a player and a coach, her experience as both in college and the Olympics, memories that stick out, parity in today’s game, the health of the Lions’ program, her family and support system, choo...

Jenna is joined by the Northwestern Heach Coach of over two decades, Wildcats’ wins leader, and 5X Big Ten Coach of the Year, Kate Drohan! They talk about why she continues to choose Evanston, the culture and alumni, twinning with her sister Caryl, being mentored by the namesake of Sharon Drysdale Field (and new stadium coming!), passion after all this time, the 2024 team, all women head coaches i...

Jenna is joined by national champion and 3X All American at Florida State, Rawlings Gold Glove winner, and current Athletes Unlimited pro, Jessi Warren! They talk about the WCWS with the Seminoles, growing ACC softball, why everyone loves Coacha, the real life of a professional player, taking pride in defense, life and career aspirations, vulnerability as a strength, fun facts from being ambidextr...

Jenna is joined by 3X Olympic gold medalist, 3X national champion and All American at Arizona, USA Softball Hall of Famer, and speaker, Leah Amico! They talk about her college and international legacy, playing for Mike Candrea in both, what the gold standard actually is, the importance of taking action, not letting limiting beliefs hold you back, expanding comfort zones, growing the game globally...

Jenna is joined by UCLA catcher, 3X All Pac-12 honoree, 2X WCWS participant, and Team USA member, Sharlize Palacios! They talk about her family, having a softball sister like Sashel, playing internationally, Latina representation, the art of catching, the Bruin bubble, playing for the most historic programs in NCAA softball, the last year of the Pac-12 as we know it, the 2024 season and team’s per...

Jenna is joined by 2X NFCA Division I Assistant Coach of the Year, Oklahoma pitching and associate head coach, and Sooner alum, Jen Rocha! They talk about her championship coaching career, the Gassos, the evolution of OU softball, the new stadium, developing talent, managing a staff of P1s, bullpen culture, mound visits, how to handle pressure, dealing with failure, what she’s most excited for thi...

Jenna is joined by longtime ESPN and SEC Network TV analyst, NCAA national champion, 3X All American, and Assistant Coach at Alabama, Kayla Braud! They talk about wearing #1, playing each other in Supers, the first SEC natty, being on the wall at Rhoads, broadcasting, answering the call to coach at her alma mater, Patrick Murphy, support from Bama legends like Nick Saban, the value of triple threa...

This offseason, we’re re-airing some of the best interviews of Bleav in Softball Season 4! Enjoy. Jenna is joined by Stanford freshman pitcher, the nation’s lowest ERA holder, Top 25 USA Softball National POY Finalist, Top 10 NFCA Freshman of the Year finalist, All Pac-12 First and Freshman Team member, and much more to come, Nijaree Canady! They talk about her mindset in the circle, Cardinal bull...

This offseason, we’re re-airing some of the best interviews of Bleav in Softball Season 4! Enjoy. Jenna is joined by retired Team USA pitcher, 2X Olympic silver medalist, 16 year pro, 6x Japan Softball League Champion, 5X NPF league Champion, Tennessee Hall of Famer, 4X All-American, and NCAA record holder - the legendary lefty, Monica Abbott! They talk about reflecting on her career from beginnin...

This offseason, we’re re-airing some of the best interviews of Bleav in Softball Season 4! Enjoy. Jenna is joined by UCF Head Coach, 2022 Extra Inning Softball National Coach of the Year, Hall of Fame pitcher at Pacific, new WCC Hall of Honor inductee, and fellow Ventura County native, Cindy Ball-Malone! They talk about the growth of the Knights, redefining what’s possible, going beyond “mid major...

This offseason, we’re re-airing some of the best interviews of Bleav in Softball Season 4! Enjoy. Jenna is joined by 3X Olympic gold medalist, USA Softball and UCLA Hall of Famer, 4X All American, and the Bruins’ Associate Head Coach, Lisa Fernandez! They talk about her reaction to being called the GOAT, the UCLA legacy of pitchers who hit, champ camps and the Lisa Fernandez stat, defining intensi...

The season 4 finale is here! Jenna looks back and highlights the greatest hits from the Safe or Out segment, where each guest gives their hot takes on all things softball - from bat flips, NIL and conference realignments, to rules, outfits, dugout culture, signals, strategy, and more. Plus, she breaks down the 2023 softball year in review and shares the final Foul Tip of the Week.   00:00:00-00:11...

Jenna is joined by Executive at Athletes Unlimited, former Commissioner of National Pro Fastpitch, longtime broadcaster and instructor, and Hall of Fame player, Cheri Kempf! They talk about AU softball season 4, the growth and business strategy behind the women’s pro league, how they measure success, making history, the pro softball landscape, elevating women’s sports, her experience from player t...

Jenna and 50 year coaching veteran, longtime travel ball leader, hitting instructor, and one of her old coaches, Phil Bruder, finish their conversation. In part 2, they talk about stories of his former players, his relationships with college coaches, the recruiting process, balancing mental health and mental toughness, fun memories, his impressive longevity, hot takes, and more. 00:00:00-00:12:09...

Jenna is joined by former longtime leader of the California Raiders organization, coach of a dozen ASA national champions, over 400 college scholarship winners, 130+ All-Americans, and multiple Olympians, and one of her travel ball coaches, Phil Bruder! In part 1, they talk about his coaching career, stories from when she played for him, college recruiting, how the game has evolved, the hot topics...

Jenna is joined by broadcaster and co-host of the In the Circle podcast, Victor Anderson! They talk about his softball coverage over the past 20+ years, the ins and outs of broadcasting and podcasting, takeaways from the inaugural WPF season, the investment in pro softball, why highlighting all college levels from Division II and III to NAIA is important, what kids and parents should actually care...

Jenna is joined by Head Coach of the Great Britain women’s national team, Managing Editor at D1Softball, and NCAA national champion at UCLA, Tara Henry! They talk about international softball, the World Cup, what we need to do to stay in the Olympics, British culture, how to really grow the game, going from player to journalist, her media coverage, why relationships are the best part, meeting in p...

Jenna is joined by Washington assistant coach, newly retired Athletes Unlimited player, former Team USA member, All Pac-12 UW alum, and badass mom, Courtney Gano! They talk about reflecting on her playing career, retirement, her transition to coaching, the Husky program and alumni base, her community of support, what her dad and son mean to her, being where she’s meant to be, and more. 00:00:00-00...

Jenna is joined by Big Ten Network analyst, Northwestern Softball alum, and Academic All-Big Ten catcher, Samantha Nettling! They talked about Big Ten softball, the national landscape of college softball, the transfer portal and the Jordy Bahl effect, transitioning to the media side, covering her alma mater and her conference, working and being a fan at the WCWS, her experience with the Wildcats,...