Speak Up Sports

Welcome to Season 3 of the Speak Up Sports Podcast! Happy New Year! To kick off this season, host Anna Laible is joined with Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer, Mary Carillo. Mary is a former professional tennis player who has been in the sports broadcasting world for over 4 decades. After covering 15 Olympics, she can call anything and everything from winter sports to tennis to dog shows. I had th...

On the Season 2 finale of the Speak Up Sports Podcast, I am joined with 3x Olympic Medalist, Cat Osterman. Cat, a lefty pitcher, was a 4x NFCA All-American, 4x Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, and 3x National Player of the Year in her collegiate career as a Texas Longhorn. She retired in 2015, but then decided to come out of retirement to compete in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Now that she is retired f...

On this week's episode of the podcast, I am joined with Team USA's softball shortstop, Delaney Spaulding. Delaney was an All-PAC softball player at  UCLA, a two time World Cup Medalist, and an Olympic Silver Medalist. We will be talking about how she got into sports as a kid, what it was like when she suffered an injury close to the Olympics, and her entire Olympic experience in Tokyo.

This week on the podcast, I am joined with MLB reporter, Jenny Cavnar. Jenny is a reporter for the Rockies, who covered the All Star Game in Denver and the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cooperstown, NY this season. We will be talking about how she got interested in sports reporting, how she juggled her crazy MLB season that included having a baby, and so much more!

On this episode of the Speak Up Sports Podcast, I am joined with Alyssa Nakken, who became the first full-time female coach in the MLB last year for the San Francisco Giants. She is a trailblazer, and will be coaching the National League #1 seed Giants this postseason to make even more history! We will be talking about her journey from collegiate softball player to Major League Coach, what her fir...

This week, I am joined alongside 19 year-old professional baseball coach, Madison Femia. Madison is currently working on earning her Associate's Degree while also coaching the Joliet Slammers. She was the youngest female to be a part of MLB's "Take the Field program" this past December. We talk about what it was like playing baseball with the boys growing up, her career goals, and much more!

On this special episode of the Speak Up Sports Podcast, I will be sharing highlights from interviews that I had covering my first sporting event for the podcast. From talking with 2020 Hall of Fame inductees Derek Jeter and Larry Walker to talking with Jeter's former teammate Jorge Posada and the chairman of the Players Association, Tony Clark - everything about covering the Hall of Fame Induction...

On this episode of the Speak Up Sports Podcast, I am joined with freshman Vanderbilt baseball player, Kenny Mallory. Kenny, one of the top baseball players in the Class of 2025, is continuing his baseball dream by starting his collegiate career at Vanderbilt. We will be talking about how he developed a passion for sports as a young kid, what its been like playing with other top athletes, and what...

On the Speak Up Sports Podcast this week, I am talking with Ella Bruning, who just finished competing in Williamsport for the Little League World Series. She starred there with her great defensive catching skills, after become only the 20th girl to ever play in the world's biggest baseball tournament for kids! Today, we will be talking about how she got into sports, what she enjoys most about catc...

This week, I am joined with Karl Ravech, a broadcaster who covers almost every major baseball event - from regular season games to MLB playoffs and the Little League World Series to the College World Series. Currently, he is in Williamsport calling multiple Little League games daily. Today, we will be talking about how he got into journalism and reporting, what it has been like calling games in th...

On the Speak Up Sports Podcast this week, I am talking with ESPN side-line reporter and host of the NBA pre-game TV show, "Hoopstreams," Cassidy Hubbarth. Cassidy is a trailblazing female basketball reporter in the sports media world. We will be talking about her journey into sports, how she became interested in reporting, and what her experiences have been like pre-COVID and during COVID with int...

This week on the Speak Up Sports Podcast, I am talking with former LSU outfielder, Aliyah Andrews. While Aliyah earned some incredible honors like 2021 First Team All-SEC, 2021 SEC All-Defensive Team, NCAA Female Athlete Finalist, she also racked up a career .353 batting average and holds the second all time record in stolen bases at LSU with 145. Not only is she an incredible athlete, but she is...

On this episode of the Speak Up Sports Podcast, I am joined with former collegiate and professional women's basketball player, Morgan Jones. Morgan was a standout in high school, played at Northwestern and Florida State, and even played a little pro ball. Now she started her own business called "Athletes To Visionaries" with the goal to help female athletes find their voice and passion. Today, we...

On the Speak Up Sports Podcast this week, I am joined with former softball player from the University of Georgia, Kendall Burton. Kendall has had to not only overcome injuries from softball, but she has had over 20 surgeries in her life since being born with cleft lip and palate. Today, we will be talking about how she has overcome all of her health issues, and so much more, to still excel in life...

This week, I am talking with the Little League International President, CEO, and Commissioner, Steve Keener. The Little League World Series is an annual event every year in Williamsport, PA where the top 8 teams across the world come to compete against one another. Sadly, due to COVID, the tournament will only be between U.S. teams in August. Today, I will be talking about how the MLB Little Leagu...

Welcome to Season 2 of the Speak Up Sports Podcast! Thank you to everyone who came on as a guest for Season 1, and to all of the listeners. I am thrilled to be starting a new season that is going to be filled with incredible guests. Today, I am joined with Major League Baseball Commissioner, Mr. Manfred. I first met him at the Little League World Series in 2019, and I am excited that he wants to c...

On the Season 1 finale of the Speak Up Sports Podcast, Anna is joined with amazing journalist, side-line reporter, and host of the NBA TV show  "The Jump" - Rachel Nichols! Rachel has been a part of all different sports - from reporting for Sports Center and the NFL on Monday and Sunday night football games, to working for TNT, CNN, and ESPN. She recently was nominated as an outstanding sport...

Get ready to hear some softball talk! Today, Anna is joined with former University of Washington softball player, Morgan Stuart. Morgan was part of the Washington Championship team in 2009, and she earned Women's College World Series honors for having a .476 batting average during their title run in Oklahoma City. Also, she helped start The Packaged Deal, which includes a group of former softball...

Today, we are back with part two of the interview with Jon Morosi. Anna had so much fun talking with him that it had to be broken into two different episodes! On this episode, they will be talking about how he got involved with MLB Network, and what some of his fun things to do with his family are. 

This week's podcast episode will be the first of two featuring MLB Network reporter, Jon Morosi. Jon is a former Harvard alum. He now is a writer in the baseball world. He reports for MLB, Fox, and MLB Network. One of his favorite events to cover is the WBC (World Baseball Classic), since he communicates with athletes in their native languages - both English and Spanish. Today, Anna will be diving...

On this episode of the Speak Up Sports Podcast, Anna is joined with SI Kids writer, Ayesha Badiola. Ayesha and Anna are both Kid Reporters on the SI Kids 2019 - 2020 team and have become friends through texting and calling, even though they live in different countries. Ayesha is a aspiring side-line reporter, and she hopes to report for the Toronto Raptors one day. Today, we will be talking about...

Today, Anna is joined with IBWAA (Internet Baseball Writers Association of America) Co-Director, Dan Epstein. Dan is a baseball writer for Baseball Prospectus and Off the Bench Baseball. As a new IBWAA member herself, Anna will be talking with him about his sports writing journey and his involvement with the IBWAA.

This week's podcast episode will be featuring 3-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and former pro softball player, Ashley Burkhardt. Ashley had a .335 career D1 hitting average. She holds the runs and stolen bases records at Purdue. As a 1st baseman, Ashley was selected for the 1st team All-Midwest in 2015. After playing for Purdue, Ashley continued her softball career at the professional level. No...

This week's podcast episode is featuring Olympic gymnast hopeful, Konnor McClain. Konnor is a 3x National Team Member, 2019 U.S. Classic Junior All-Around Champion, and silver medalist at the U.S. National Championships in 2019. As a 16 year old, Konnor became eligible for this summer's Tokyo Olympic Games when they were postponed due to COVID. Anna will be talking with her about what it is like b...

On this episode of the Speak Up Sports Podcast, Anna is joined along with mental game coach, Paige Tonz. Paige is a former Division 1 athlete, Academic All-American, and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. Now, Paige is helping girls all across the country work on their mental game for both sports, but also for school, relationships, and more throughout their lives. Join us today as we discuss Paige'...