Inside The Play Call with Orange Arrow

In this episode, Bella Perkins, a recent Orange Arrow alum, shares her journey through sports, identity, and growth. From battling early injuries to playing in a national championship televised on ESPN and earning Gatorade State High School Player of the Year, Bella's path has been shaped by determination. She opens up about the college recruiting process, why she first chose USC, and how transfer...

In this episode of Inside The Play Call with Orange Arrow, Shawn Robinson shares the realities of building a nonprofit from the ground up. From the challenges of growth and sustainability to the complexities of relationships and support, he reflects on lessons learned, the weight of leadership, and the unwavering mission to serve.

On this episode of Inside the Play Call, Shawn is joined by Tommy — a runner, golfer, hunter, and recent Orange Arrow intern — who takes us through his unique journey on and off the track. A Pittsburgh native, Tommy shares how the pandemic disrupted his senior year of high school and shaped his path forward. From picking up golf during COVID to navigating college decisions after a lost application...

In this episode, Dr. Rosie Cheng shares how growing up in a sports-filled household sparked a lifelong connection to athletics. After high school sports injuries introduced her to athletic training, she found her calling at the intersection of sports and healthcare. From rotations with Pitt Football to leadership roles in higher ed, Rosie’s journey includes advocating for student-athlete wellness...

Dr. Rich Milner is the Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair of Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Vanderbilt Peabody College of Education and Human Development. In this role, he is not only a teacher, but also a researcher and leader in the fields of urban education and teacher education. Tune in to hear more about his journey to Vanderbilt, his time at Pitt - where he served as the dir...

Hank Poteat is the cornerbacks coach for the Iowa State Cyclones. In this role, he not only coaches but also mentors and develops his players to be more than just an athlete. Tune in to hear about his 10-year NFL career, which included a Super Bowl win, and the unique opportunity he had to play in the final game at two iconic Pittsburgh stadiums.

"We did it, ya'll, we did it." TEN for Orange Arrow was a great success! Tune in as Shawn reflects on our 10-year celebration event and everyone who made it possible.

Join Shawn and this week’s guest, Aimee Watters! Watters discusses her early beginning in sports, working her way up to playing soccer at Pitt while pursuing a degree in marketing and, later, an MBA. They also discuss her first job with Heinz and her eventual transition to DICK’S Sporting Goods, where she has played an integral role in the company’s growth, including through one of her favorite pr...

Alexander Dexter - aka Dexter - is a professional soccer player who has played for Loudoun United and Charleston Battery. Tune in to hear more about his childhood as a military kid who lived everywhere from a goat farm in Georgia to Germany, and how he came to attend Pitt, where he was a standout soccer student-athlete and OA volunteer.

In this episode, Acklin shares his journey from growing up in South Oakland to leading one of the NHL’s most iconic franchises, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, collaboration, and trust on and off the ice. He also discusses the value of consistently showing up and the leadership qualities that unite people in sports and beyond.

RJ Thompson is the driving force behind Orange Arrow’s “cool factor.” By day, he serves as the Manager of Digital Strategy in the Health Sciences at Pitt and teaches at Pitt, the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), Point Park University, and West Virginia University. A longtime supporter, RJ is the creative mind behind the evolution of the OA brand and various OA projects, including laun...

Get an inside look at the making of OASIS! In this episode, hear from several of our dynamic day one speakers, including Lousaka Polite and Doug Whaley, plus the can't-miss keynote conversation between OA Founder Shawn Robinson and legendary coach Jim Tressel.

Franco Harris was the epitome of what it meant to be more than an athlete. We are forever grateful for everything that he and his family have done for Orange Arrow and the community at large. The sports and greater community lost an icon when we heard of his passing. Orange Arrow will continue to do good work as part of his inimitable legacy.

Tune in as Shawn sits down with Monica McNeil, an academic counselor and learning specialist with Pitt Football! Listen to learn why Monica tells everyone that she’s “Not really from anywhere,” and how she made a gut decision to attend the University of Pittsburgh, even after moving in at Alabama. Monica also details her career-ending injury and how she relied on her community for support during h...

OA Vault: God's Plan (Episode 1) by Orange Arrow Players Association

Go Inside the Play Call with Shawn and Hope Utilities CEO Morgan O’Brien! The Outstanding CEOs Career Achievement winner, and former CEO of Duquesne Light & Peoples Natural Gas, O’Brien discusses the importance of hard work, from coming in early to staying late and everything in-between, including volunteering to take on more projects and always being willing to do what it takes to help the compan...

We're going back into the OA Vault to revisit our episode with Mike Pichette, Ohio native, standout swimmer, and Pitt grad. Listen as he talks about growing up a swimmer, his injury, finding structure through Orange Arrow, and how he prepared for life after graduation.

Join our host, Shawn Robinson, as he sits down with former Pitt football players and OA interns, Alex Kessman and Therran Coleman, to discuss everything from college recruitment to video games and finding balance as a student-athlete. These leaders also talk about learning how to deal with past failures both on and off the field, and how to turn criticism into motivation for success.

Today we’re talking about the news — OA news! Hear updates on our summer programming in McKeesport, how an event at Howard University led to an unexpected reconnection, our upcoming Training Table event, and key lessons in leadership and building winning cultures. Join our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/Ze2yv

Dr. Rich Milner is the Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair of Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Vanderbilt Peabody College of Education and Human Development. In this role, he is not only a teacher, but also a researcher and leader in the fields of urban education and teacher education. Tune in to hear more about his journey to Vanderbilt, his time at Pitt - where he served as the dir...

Matthew Goncalves is a former Pitt football athlete and Orange Arrow intern now playing professionally with the Indianapolis Colts. Tune in to hear about his experiences at Pitt and how he balanced his sport and extracurriculars. As always, stick around to the end to hear his advice for young student-athletes and why he supports the work of Orange Arrow.

Go Inside the Play Call with Shawn and one of the longest tenured members of the University of Pittsburgh Athletic Department, E.J. Borghetti! A Pitt man through and through, Borghetti has been at Pitt for nearly 30 years. Tune in as he discusses his own start in sports and how he always strived to both play and one day work at Pitt. He also reminisces on some of the most memorable players to come...

Today, Shawn sits down with DJ Moyer, a student-athlete and former OA intern, who shares his journey through college sports and academics. A first-generation college student, DJ opens up about balancing life as a student-athlete, offering tips for staying ahead of schoolwork and shedding light on the transfer portal experience. Our first football intern to manage his internship during the season,...

Pitt offensive lineman Ryan Baer shares his journey from Eastlake, OH, to college football, including a unique COVID-era recruiting process and why he ultimately chose Pitt. He reflects on finding a sense of home in Pittsburgh, interning with Orange Arrow, and why success beyond the field matters.

We’re continuing our inside look at the making of OASIS! In this episode, hear from several of our dynamic day one speakers, including Lousaka Polite and Doug Whaley, plus the can't-miss keynote conversation between OA Founder Shawn Robinson and legendary coach Jim Tressel.