Power Through the 4th Whistle Roller Derby Podcast

The Black Derby Collective has made history. Murda and Blaque Jac join the podcast this week to share the incredible story behind their new WFTDA charter team—and their whirlwind journey from a couple of conversations at the 2025 Roller Derby World Cup to winning their playoff and being invited to 2026 WFTDA Championships in Malmö, Sweden. Murda and BJ discuss how Black Derby Collective came toget...

From practicing under a highway in Buenos Aires to earning a spot on roller derby's biggest stage, 2x4 Roller Derby Team Osom's journey is one of resilience, determination, and community. In this episode, I spoke with Obrero, Ladrillo, and Persefone of Team Osom as they prepare to compete at the WFTDA Championships in Malmö, Sweden. They share what it's like building a world-class team...

The Santa Cruz Derby Groms Legacy team was created in November 2024 to give aged-out junior skaters a place to continue competing together as a WFTDA Charter team—fast forward to the summer of 2026, they have earned a bronze medal at playoffs and qualified for Global Championships in Malmö, Sweden, succeeding beyond their wildest hopes. Legacy Captain KROM Bomb, Legacy jammer Alice in Thunderland...

Six years after his last appearance on the podcast, Optimus Grime returns to discuss the state of jammer development in modern roller derby. Drawing on 12 years of international derby experience, Grime shares his 8-skill framework for jammer growth, breaks down the most common habits holding jammers back, and explains the coaching gaps that have emerged across the sport. The conversation explores...

How fired up should you be during a roller derby game? As athletes, it's easy to believe that more intensity will equal better performance...but only to a point. In this episode, we're talking about emotional regulation and finding your ideal place on the "hype meter." Too low, and you may struggle with energy, engagement, and hustle. Too high, and the boost of adrenaline can lea...

The WFTDA North America Playoffs in Lansing, Michigan are over, but the story isn't. This week, I recap an incredible weekend of roller derby, share some of my favorite moments from the tournament, and explore a theme that kept appearing throughout the event: celebrating your victories. Not every victory comes with a medal or a trophy or champagne. Sometimes the most important wins are the les...

Ann Arbor Roller Derby is heading to WFTDA North America Northeast Playoffs in Lansing, Michigan and are excited to have a home field advantage for the first time! In this episode, we hear from A2 skaters “Arnie” (Terminate Her), “Syd” (Sydney Bean”, and “Slam” (Slamlet) as they share their “Whip It” inspired origin stories, their rivalry and friendship with neighboring league Detroit Roller Derby...

The Windy City Rollers are back in the playoff conversation — and they’re coming in smarter, deeper, and more connected than ever than ever on their way to WFTDA North America Northeast Playoffs in Lansing, Michigan. In this episode, we sit down with Windy City skaters Nasty Al, Shake N Bake, D. Ride, and Nicolas Rage to talk about the evolution of one of roller derby’s most cerebral and creativel...

We're continuing the road to WFTDA North America Northeast Regional Playoffs in Lansing Michigan and are joined by four voices from Gotham Roller Derby: Yeti Or Not Here I Come (Captain) and Kill Valentine from the All Stars and Lone Scar "Tex" (Captain) and Real Quick from the B team, the Wall Street Traitors. Gotham Roller Derby opens up about what it really takes to keep elite rol...

Minnesota Roller Derby is heading into the 2026 WFTDA Playoffs in Lansing, Michigan with a rebuilt leadership core, a roster stacked with veteran wisdom and rising stars, and one goal in mind: “We want to go to Malmö.” This week, we’re joined by captains Primm Reaper and Lexi Cuter alongside longtime MNRD veteran Hurtrude Stein for a deep dive into one of roller derby’s most iconic leagues. We als...

This episode dives deep into the culture, chemistry, and competitive fire behind Arch Rival Roller Derby on the road to the 2026 WFTDA North America Northeast Playoffs in Lansing, Michigan coming up May 29th-31st. I’m joined by Cloak N’ Dragher (“Draggie”) and Annie Swanson — two longtime pillars of the team who have skated together since 2014 — to talk about the Revenge Tour era, what it took to...

It's tournament season! Let's continue on the road to the 2026 WFTDA North America Northeast Playoffs in Lansing, Michigan coming up May 29th-31st. In this episode, we head to Detroit to dive deep into the grit, growth, and heart behind one of roller derby’s most resilient teams. In this interview with Hawaiian Blaze and longtime leader Jenn Price, this conversation explores what it really takes t...

It's tournament season! In this episode, we preview the road to the 2026 WFTDA North America Northeast Playoffs in Lansing, Michigan coming up May 29th-31st with a deep dive into the Black Rose Rollers. The Black Rose Rollers aren’t supposed to be here—at least not by conventional standards. Hailing from a small Pennsylvania borough instead of a major derby hub, they’ve fought their way into W...

It's tournament season! In this episode, we preview the road to the 2026 WFTDA North America Northeast Playoffs in Lansing, Michigan coming up May 29th-31st with a deep dive into Boston Roller Derby. Coming off the Altitude Adjuster tournament in Denver a month ago, Boston is battle-tested with a mix of longtime veterans and rising stars. I talk with jammer Mare and coach Rager about roster co...

In this episode, we dig into a powerful mindset shift inspired by Duke basketball coach Kara Lawson: it never gets easier—you just get better at handling hard. Watch Kara Lawson: Handle Hard Better full video: https://youtu.be/oDzfZOfNki4?si=5XSrviqaS000MKqM From rookie clinics to high-level gameplay, we break down what “handling hard better” really looks like in roller derby. Whether you’re plann...

Your thoughts aren’t always telling you the truth—and when you believe every negative one, it’s easy to spiral. Which can be a real distraction in team sports like roller derby. In this episode, we break down what’s really happening when your mind jumps to worst-case scenarios, from “What if I fail?” to “What if I don’t belong?” to "I can't do this!" These thoughts feel real, but the...

In this episode, we’re joined by special guests, Miss Tea Maven from Denver Roller Derby and Merry Khaos from Harrisburg Area Roller Derby. Both are members of the Divergence Roller Derby Collective team and dive into the realities, challenges, and strengths of neurodivergence in roller derby. We explore how teams can create more inclusive, effective environments not just built for golden retrieve...

What if the real secret to a strong team isn’t talent—but mattering? In this episode, we break down how making people feel seen, valued, and appreciated can transform leagues, teams, and organizations from the inside out. From supporting officials and volunteers, to rethinking training structures, to creating meaningful moments of recognition—this is a deep dive into the culture shifts that actual...

In this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of Alysa Liu—one of figure skating’s most compelling comeback stories. Once a teenage prodigy who captured the attention of the skating world, Alysa rose quickly through the ranks before the intense pressure of elite competition led her to step away from the sport due to burnout. After retiring and spending two years away from the ice, Alysa made...

Listen to this episode and learn the power of chocolate! A sweet special guest this week -- Lily Gaskell! Lily steered away from sports as a young person and found roller derby at age 19 following her sister's lead into the sport. Lily has skated for Sheffield Roller Derby, Rainy City Roller Derby, and as co-captain of Team England at the Roller Derby World Cup last year. Lily's lessons of...

Today's episode asks big questions. Are there ways to have less blowout games in roller derby? Is lead jammer overpowered? Should we change starts? How has clockwise blocking changed the game? Is roller derby...boring? Code Adam from Arch Rival Roller Derby joins the podcast today to generate more discussion and curiosity about ways to improve the game of roller derby. He has been presenting l...

Our heroes become gods...and then sometimes, our gods become human. This week we’re diving into the Olympics, figure skating, the Quad God, and the brutal beauty of performing under pressure. The journey of the seemingly unbeatable Ilia Malinin is one of the biggest stories of this Winter Olympics. Let's explore what happens when the gold feels inevitable… and then suddenly isn’t. Why is it easier...

Runback episode!! The podcast is back and we're starting by looking back on this conversation from 2020 with Erin Jackson. Since this interview, Erin Jackson won a Gold Medal in the 500 meter event in Beijing, China in 2022 and now in 2026 is competing in Italy at the Olympics in the 500 meter event as well as the 1000 meter event for the first time. Listen and learn about the inspirational jo...

Burnout doesn’t show up all at once — it creeps in slowly, disguised as exhaustion, irritability, or the sinking feeling that you’re no longer doing anything well. In this episode, we dig into what burnout looks like in roller derby and in leadership roles, how to recognize when you’re hitting your limits, and why stepping away might be the most powerful move you can make. If you’ve been feeling d...

It started with a simple exercise — a wall of sticky notes and one question: Do you want the league to be competitive or fun? What happened next revealed more than anyone expected. Behind each was a story — of why people skate, what they’re chasing, and what they’re afraid to lose. And why they leave when they're not getting what they want from a sport they are passionate about. In this episod...