Shining Athletes Podcast

In this episode of the Shining Athletes Podcast, hosts Tyler Baum and Erin Molay welcome Tonya McKenzie, founder of Sand & Shores, for a powerful conversation on what truly defines a student-athlete’s brand in and out of sport. Tonya shares why a personal brand goes far beyond social media and highlight reels — it’s built through daily actions, communication, and character in and out of sport. Dra...

In this episode of the Shining Athletes Podcast, Tyler Baum and Erin Molay sit down with Macalester College softball player Maddie Molay to explore her athletic and academic journey. Maddie shares her high school accomplishments, her experience navigating the COVID-19 recruiting process, and what ultimately led her to choose Macalester for its strong culture and supportive environment. She also op...

In this episode of the Shining Athletes Podcast, host Tyler Baum welcomes Parker Zidel, a graduate assistant with the Arizona State University (ASU) Men’s Basketball program, to share his inspiring journey from high school player to college team manager — and now a key part of a Division I coaching staff. Parker opens up about how starting at the “bottom of the totem pole” as a student manager tau...

In this episode of the Shining Athletes Podcast, hosts Tyler Baum and Erin Molay sit down with Meghan Croyle, a standout hockey player at Stevenson University and Shining Athletes intern. Meghan shares her journey from Connecticut youth hockey to competing at the college level — reflecting on lessons in teamwork, leadership, and resilience along the way. She opens up about what it means to lead wi...

Former college basketball player and Shining Athletes intern Nyah Wilson joins Tyler Baum and Erin Molay to share her journey from Duncanville High School’s winning culture to the challenges of college athletics. She opens up about mental health, recruiting, character, and social media—offering valuable advice for athletes, parents, and coaches. For more information, visit shiningathletes.com

In this episode, Tyler Baum and Erin Molay sit down with Deerfield native and Illinois State captain Brandon Lieb to dive into his basketball journey. Brandon reflects on growing up in a tight-knit basketball community, navigating an unusual COVID-era recruiting process, and earning a spot at the University of Illinois before transferring to Illinois State in search of a bigger role. He shares wha...

In this episode of the Shining Athletes Podcast, hosts Tyler Baum and Erin Molay sit down with soccer standout and new Shining Athletes team member Allie Goerge. Allie opens up about the twists and turns of her recruiting journey, including making one of the latest commitment decisions you’ll ever hear, and how patience and perseverance shaped her path. She shares what it was really like competing...

In this episode of the Shining Athletes Podcast, hosts Tyler Baum (Co-Founder of Shining Athletes) and Erin Molay sit down with Max Dopp. A former Division III soccer player at Gettysburg College, Lane Tech High School alum, and club soccer competitor at TCU. Max’s story is about making the most of every opportunity, adapting through transitions, and continuing to compete at a high level both on a...

In this episode of the Shining Athletes Podcast, we sit down with Dylan Martin to talk about the real recruiting process—not the highlight-reel version, but the patient, resilient, and unconventional path that many athletes experience. From being a high school Shining Athlete and standout leader, to going overlooked in recruitment, to becoming Freshman of the Year and a national contender with Ari...

In our very first episode of the Shining Athletes Podcast, we sit down with Tatum Settelmyer—an Arizona State University graduate and former women’s basketball and tennis athlete—for a real, unfiltered look at the college athlete experience. Tatum shares her journey through different roles and transitions during her time as a student-athlete, opening up about time management, shifting priorities,...