Champions of Active Women

Dr. Lauren Whitehurst received her B.S. in Psychology and an M.A. in Experimental Psychology from James Madison University in 2011 and 2013, respectively and her PhD in Psychology from the University of California, Riverside in 2018. She completed a Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Center for Health and Community and the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Fran...

This is the sixth and final episode in this special series of encore episodes from the Champions of Active Women podcast. This Trailblazing Women in Sport Series is shining a spotlight on some of our favorite episodes with women who led the way in sports and their careers to increase opportunities for the next generation of girls and women.  This episode features Dr. Holly Sheilley, Vice President...

This is the fifth episode in this special series of encore episodes from the Champions of Active Women podcast. This Trailblazing Women in Sport Series is shining a spotlight on some of our favorite episodes with women who led the way in sports and their careers to increase opportunities for the next generation of girls and women.  This episode features Bettie Lou Evans, University of Kentucky Ath...

This is the fourth episode in this special series of encore episodes from the Champions of Active Women podcast. This T railblazing Women in Sport Series is shining a spotlight on some of our favorite episodes with women who led the way in sports and their careers to increase opportunities for the next generation of girls and women.  This episode features Kathy DeBoer,  Executive Director of the A...

Trailblazing Women in Sport Series This is the third episode in this special series of encore episodes from the Champions of Active Women podcast. This Trailblazing Women in Sport Series is shining a spotlight on some of our favorite episodes with women who led the way in sports and their careers to increase opportunities for the next generation of girls and women.  This episode features Brigid De...

Trailblazing Women in Sport Series Welcome to our special Trailblazing Women in Sport Series of the Champions of Active Women podcast. To celebrate the 50 th Anniversary of Title IX, we are re-releasing some of our favorite episodes with women who paved the way for new opportunities in sport and careers for the next generation of girls and women. This episode features Chris Plonsky ,  Chief of Sta...

Trailblazing Women in Sport Series Welcome to our special Trailblazing Women in Sport Series of the Champions of Active Women podcast. To celebrate the 50 th Anniversary of Title IX, we will be re-releasing some of our favorite episodes with women who paved the way for new opportunities in sport and careers for the next generation of girls and women. First up in this series is Dr. Mary Lloyd Irela...

Today's episode features two University of Kentucky students who are members of the Ultimate Frisbee Team – Maggie Blair and Molly Merchant. Maggie Blair is a rising senior, studying mechanical engineering. She has been playing ultimate frisbee for almost 4 years and has been part of leadership for several teams, including the University of Kentucky's women's team, Monarchy. Maggie is also preside...

Today's episode features two mountain biking enthusiasts who are passionate about getting more girls and women on bikes through the Girls Riding Together (GRiT) program with the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA). My guests are Emily Green, the National GRiT Program Manager and Christine Vaughan, the Kentucky Interscholastic League GRiT Coordinator. Emily has a lifelong passion fo...

Sheila Kalas is the owner/founder of Fitness Plus, Inc., a personal training and wellness company, established in Lexington, KY in 1995. She has her Masters degree in exercise physiology from the University of Kentucky. In addition to running her company, Sheila is a personal trainer herself, specializing in clients over 50.  She has been a contributor to several fitness/wellness publications, inc...

Marni Sumbal is a Board Certified Sport Dietitian holding a Master of Science degree in Exercise Physiology. She is the author of Athlete to Triathlete, The 365-Day Running Journal and Essential Sports Nutrition. Marni is the owner of Trimarni Coaching and Nutrition, a coaching and nutrition business aimed to help endurance athletes excel in sport without compromising physical and mental health. M...

Georgena Terry is a pioneer in the biking industry as the first person to design and market bicycles built for women. Georgena tailored her bike designs to the unique needs of women's bodies. She began building bicycles in her basement more than 30 years ago and continues to build custom bikes today for customers. Georgena earned a BA from Chatham University and a second Bachelor's Degree in Mecha...

Jo A. Hannafin MD, PhD is board certified in orthopedic surgery/sports medicine. She is an Attending Orthopedic Surgeon and Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. She retired her clinical practice on May 31, 2021 and now serves as the Vice Chair of the Hospital for Special Surgery Institutional Review Board. She was a Clinician-Scientist with a focus on basic and transla...

Dr. Roberts is a Family Medicine physician with specialized training in Primary Care Sports Medicine. She received her medical degree from West Virginia University School of Medicine and completed Family Medicine residency and Primary Care Sports Medicine fellowship training at the University of Kentucky. As an Assistant Professor in both the Family and Community Medicine Department and the Depart...

Bri McCulley is a physical education teacher at Rise STEM Academy and head coach of the girls lacrosse team at Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Kentucky. Bri graduated from Transylvania University in 2020 with a degree in Health and Exercise Science and a double minor in Psychology and Spanish. Bri was a 4-year member of the Transylvania lacrosse team that won two conference championships and...

Asia Seidt, a Louisville, KY native, is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a degree in Kinesiology and a long list of swimming accolades. To name a few, Asia is a 21-time All-America honoree, a 2-time member of the World University Games Team, and a gold and silver medalist at the USA Swimming National Championships. In 2020, Asia was named NCAA Woman of the Year, a nationally competiti...

Today's guest is Lee Kiefer, a Lexington, Kentucky native with a decorated fencing career who is pursuing a medical degree at the University of Kentucky. Lee is a three-time Olympian and became the first American to win a gold medal in an individual foil event at the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021. Lee is currently ranked second in the world and was a five-time NCAA Champion while competing for Notre...

Breanne Smedley, is a certified female athlete Confidence Coach who works to empower and enable female athletes to cultivate true confidence, unlock their potential, and level up their performance across all aspects of their lives. Breanne played collegiate volleyball at Western Washington University where she earned a degree in Physical Education/Health and a Masters in Special Education. As a fo...

Regina Lewis currently serves as a Project Manager, in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, and conducts research evaluating the impact of policy on physical activity and nutrition programing outcomes in childcare settings. She earned her BS in Human Nutrition, MS in Nutritional Sciences, and is pursuing her Ph. D. at the Martin School of Public Policy and Administration at the Unive...

Lora Gralheer is currently an assistant coach with Centre Women's Soccer and a Technical Director with Commonwealth Soccer Club. A native of Lexington, Ky., Lora played soccer at Centre College in 2007 & 2008 before graduating in 2011. Lora has coached club soccer across the state of Kentucky for the past decade. In 2018, she was presented with the prestigious 30 Under 30 award by United Soccer Co...

Jess Hogan earned a scholarship to play soccer at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Animal Science. Jess played with the U-19 and U-21 United States National Teams and the Women's Premier Soccer League. After relocating to Lexington, she began her coaching career in youth soccer. She is a National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and...

Dr. Cady Brown is a native Lexingtonian who has been in private practice primary care for the past three years. She earned her undergraduate degree in East Asian History from Davidson College where she was a varsity soccer athlete. During a study abroad trip to China, Dr. Brown studied Traditional Chinese Medicine that led her to apply to medical school at the University of Kentucky. She then comp...

Ashley Grigsby is the Ticket Sales Manager for the Lexington Legends. She is from San Antonio, Texas and moved to Lexington in 2005 to attend the University of Kentucky where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science. Ashley is committed to giving back to the Lexington community. She is currently serving as the Immediate Past President for The Nest, Center for Women Children and Families...

Prior to starting her own equity, inclusion, and wellness advocacy firm, Jon'a was a successful corporate communications leader, where she led strategic initiatives such as healthcare, wellness and belonging communications, oversight of business resource groups, and equity and inclusion programming for a multi-brand franchise system. Today, Jon'a spends her time engaging and educating leaders on t...

Nicole Stork-Hestad earned her Master's degree in Family Science and is working towards her PhD in Personal Finance and Family Economics with certifications in Financial Counseling and Financial Therapy from the University of Kentucky. She is the owner of NSH Money Coaching where she works with clients to create new money management systems that offer financial freedom, reduce stress, and build fa...