PEAC- Train Like a Girl: enhancing performance & wellbeing of GIRLS IN SPORT

Guest: Jody Gitelis | Track & Field Coach Jody Gitelis spent 36 years coaching track and field at Barrington High School in Barrington, IL, building one of the most decorated programs in Illinois history — 92 conference championships, 141 sectional championships, and 9 individual state championships. Jody coached the Barrington High School Fillies to two second-place State titles and 1 Team St...

About the Guest Audrey Grunst is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and founder of Simply Bee Counseling, a therapy practice focused on age 5+ through the lifespan, including therapy, dietician, medication management, and neuropsychological testing, located in Vernon Hills, IL, with a specialization in athletes. She is also a former Division I athlete and youth 3-sport athlete (softball, vol...

Episode Summary In this powerful episode, sisters Shania and Rianna Tandon sit down with hosts Carson and Annemarie to talk about injury comebacks, the recruiting process, identity in sport, and what it really means to show up for yourself when the path gets hard. Shania's Story — Comeback & Commitment Shania opens up about navigating a serious injury and the mental work required to trust the...

PEAC Train Like A Girl — Episode Show Notes Guest: Caley Chelios Vitale — ESPN, Big Ten lacrosse analyst; Northwestern Women's Lacrosse and Northwestern Women's Lacrosse National Champion; three-sport high school athlete Warm-up Quick list: Caley’s high school sports — lacrosse, volleyball, hockey (three-sport athlete, national-champion pedigree at Northwestern). Caley’s “Triple Threat” in high sc...

Finding Joy Under Pressure with Mental Performance Coach Matt  Guest: Matt — Mental Performance Coach, Center for Creative Growth; Girls Lacrosse Coach, Barrington High School Episode Summary: Matt shares his journey from falling in love with lacrosse as a youth to coaching girls’ lacrosse at Barrington. He discusses the learning curve coaching the girls’ game, the cultural differences between boy...

Guest: Katie — nutritionist, educator, former Division I tennis player (University of Vermont), former high school coach, now teaching Human Nutrition in Denver, CO. Episode summary: This episode feels like a conversation among friends. We celebrate Caitlin’s last day on the podcast and dive into food, fuel, and how nutrition supports both performance and everyday life. Katie shares her athletic a...

Guest: Alexa — Glenbard West High School (IL) senior, University of Wisconsin commit Episode summary: Alexa shares her running journey — starting with family fun runs, joining middle‑school track for the joy of the sport, and building a thoughtful high‑school cross country and track career. She opens up about recovering from an eating disorder and period loss, and credits a collaborative team (hig...

Episode Summary: Coach Nev,  born in Serbia, former DI All‑American Volleyball Center at UAB, and owner of Block-Out Academy,  joins us to talk fundamentals, mindset, and building the Total Athlete — mind, body, spirit. We cover why she developed a system that does not box athletes in too early, how she blends psychology and clinical nutrition into coaching, and practical ways coaches and parents...

Erin shares her journey from multi-sport kid to focused soccer player, raised in a competitive family environment that shaped her drive and mindset. We discuss the shift from high school to college athletics—greater freedom, higher responsibility, and the practical habits that keep her balanced: fueling, sleep, and scheduled study time. Key Topics Covered Early sports background & love of team...

PEAC — Train Like A Girl: Denise Smith — Show Notes Episode summary Physical therapist, educator, and multi-sport athlete Denise Smith discusses injury prevention, return-to-play, and smart training for female runners—especially adolescents. Emphasis on movement quality, sleep, nutrition, cross-training, barefoot training, and rebuilding the brain–body connection after injury. Guest bio Denise Smi...

PEAC — Train Like a Girl Podcast Episode: REDs-Informed Provider Guest: Kelly Holtz MS RD | Sports Dietitian Episode Snapshot In this episode we define REDs (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport) and explain why it matters for female athletes of all ages: REDs occurs when the body goes into “low power mode” because energy intake doesn’t match energy output. Guest story: As a young athlete the guest...

PEAC — Train Like A Girl Podcast Episode: Sheahen Dowling — Women’s Basketball Sheahen Dowling — Started her athletic career at Saint Josaphat Grade School in Chicago (where we met), Trinity High School (River Forest, IL), Class of 2017; played at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). Current Special Assistant to Head Coach Karl Smesko (WNBA Atlanta Dream). Episode Overview  Sheahen’s multi‑sport...

Guest: Hannah, Licensed Therapist specializing in Eating Disorders (ED) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Episode Summary: In this episode, we chat with Hannah, a licensed therapist with a focus on Eating Disorders and OCD. Hannah shares insights into the high comorbidity rate of these issues, especially among women who pursue perfectionism. She opens up about her personal journey in sports,...

Guest: Amy Muller, Executive Director of the Women's Sports & Health Expo (WSHE) Episode Summary: In this episode, we sit down with Amy Muller, the inspiring Executive Director of the Women's Sports & Health Expo, to discuss her journey in sports and her mission to celebrate, educate, and motivate women and girls. Amy shares her lifelong passion for athletics and how it has shaped her visi...

The Joy of the Game: How Discipline and Love for Sport Shape Us, with Mary Minogue, Flag Football, Wrestling, and Lacrosse. "If you want to be a disciplined person on the field, you have to be a disciplined person with class, family, and friends." In this inspiring episode, we talk with Mary, a high-performing multi-sport high school athlete whose energy, brightness, and joy fill every room she en...

Maddy Zarchin, Sports Performance Coach In this empowering episode, we welcome Maddy Zarchin, a former Division 1 swimmer turned Sports Performance Coach dedicated to helping girls maximize their athletic potential and build confidence in the gym—one session at a time. Maddy shares her journey of not understanding the vital connection between strength training and athletic performance during her h...

In this inspiring episode, we chat with Liv Asay, a dedicated college swimmer at the University of Iowa. Liv’s journey in sport was inspired by her mom, who played softball in high school and college. She realized early on that her true passion was in the pool, starting her swim career at Oak Park’s Team Millennium— her first experience was an exciting water park tryout, and from that moment, she...

BE BRAVECara Stawicki – World Champion Athlete, High-Performance Coach, & Owner of Be Brave In this episode, we sit down with Cara Stawicki, a remarkable world champion athlete, high-performance and leadership coach, and passionate founder of Be Brave. From her beginnings in the pool, growing up in an active family, Cara's love for sport and dedication has taken her to the top as a World Champ...

Podcast Episode: Unlocking Creativity and Mental Wellness with Danielle Beardsley In this inspiring episode, Danielle Beardsley, LCPC, CADC, ATR, shares her journey as a Clinical Art Therapist, Addictions Counselor, Sports Performance Coach, and founder of the Center for Creative Growth Inc. Danielle discusses the importance of empowerment, reminding clients they are in control of their lives, and...

Episode Summary: In this inspiring episode, mother-daughter runners Mary and Mia Sirois share their running journeys, insights, and the valuable lessons they've learned along the way. From Mia’s impressive performances at the IHSA Class 3A state meet and Nike Cross Nationals to Mary’s passion for the team aspect of cross country, this episode is filled with motivation, practical tips, and heartfel...

PEAC-Train Like a Girl Podcast Episode: Meet Sarah Hopkins — The Coach Making Waves at Minnesota! If you love running, sports, or just need a dose of girl power, you’ll want to listen to this episode. Meet Sarah Hopkins — the head coach of the Minnesota Gophers women’s cross country team and a total boss in the coaching world. Sarah’s gone from being a student-athlete to winning the USTFCCCA Midwe...

This week’s episode is a special conversation with the host of PEAC–Train like a Girl, Annemarie Sampson. AnneMarie, a seasoned coach with vast experience in sports, fitness, health, and wellness shares her journey through sport and and everything wellness.  Anne-Marie shares her story of navigating diet culture, discovering her passion for running, and her diverse certifications in exercise and w...

Meet Reagen Radke, an incredible athlete and coach whose journey through collegiate, professional, and international softball offers valuable insights for athletes, coaches, and parents alike. In this engaging episode, we discuss Reagen’s experiences playing at the NCAA levels—NAIA, D1, D2, and D3—and her time playing overseas for MSG Phoenix and with the Belgian National Team.   Reagen shares her...

Take a listen to our passionate and dedicated interns who are making a difference in empowering girls through sports and leadership. Introducing Roohee: Our newest team member, Roohee, shares her inspiring journey in sports. As a Black Belt in Martial Arts and a horseback rider from grade school through middle school, Roohee’s story is nothing short of unconventional. Her focus was always on acade...

PEAC-Train Like a Girl Podcast — Special Episode with Coach Teri Rodgers This week, I had the honor of sitting down with one of my coaching mentors, Coach Teri Rodgers, a trailblazer who has dedicated her life to empowering female athletes and fighting sexism in sports. Teri’s journey began playing sports alongside her older brother, and her passion for basketball was ignited early. Despite limite...