UVA and NOVA Legends Podcasts®

Zena Howard is a distinguished architect celebrated for her contributions to some of the most iconic cultural landmarks of our time, including the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. She returns to the conversation to discuss recent developments involving proposed changes by the Trump administration that could impact how Black history is represented in the museum a...

Today, I caught up with Washington-Liberty Coach Mike Woods to discuss his return to his alma mater to lead the girls' varsity team. With extensive experience coaching both girls' and boys' teams, Coach shares his insights on the differences in the games and the structure of their respective leagues. We also explore the contrasts between coaching high school and club teams, and how he’...

Betsy Andreu was one of the first to speak out against doping in cycling, a practice that played a crucial role in Lance Armstrong's Tour de France victories and ultimately shattered the sport’s credibility. Married to Lance’s trusted teammate, Frankie Andreu, Betsy courageously testified about Lance’s admission to using performance-enhancing drugs, facing intense backlash from both Lance and the...

Coach Will Robinson enjoyed a highly successful coaching career at Woodbridge and Cumberland high schools, and he has been one of the most influential coaches in my life. Born in rural Cumberland County, Virginia, about 60 miles west of Richmond, Coach Rob was a standout three-sport athlete at Cumberland High. He continued his athletic career at Ferrum Junior College and later at Mansfield (Pa.) S...

Riverside High has kicked off the 2025 soccer season with an impressive 4-0 record, earning the Rams the top spot in the current Washington Post rankings. Coach Kieran Harris joins me to discuss his highly skilled and seasoned roster, as well as the crucial elements needed to secure this year's state title. We also dive into his playing days at Park View High, along with a conversation about L...

In this episode, I’m joined by a group of elite NOVA high school soccer coaches to discuss the upcoming 2025 season. Joining me are: Dan Drickey from Hayfield, Sean Patrick Burke from Woodson, Bo Amato from Langley, and John Millward from Lewis. Contents:00:00 - Intros; Cursing on the pitch14:18 - MLS Next vs. high school soccer; Why more players should represent their school32:48 - New coaching h...

In this episode, I sit down with Spencer Nusbaum, the Washington Post's Nationals beat reporter, to discuss his first year covering Major League Baseball and get an in-depth look at the 2025 Nationals. We explore everything from the differences between covering high school sports and the pros, to the impact of rule changes, modern statistics, and much more. Contents:00:00 Covering High School Spor...

Today, I sat down with my high school basketball teammate, Tim Larkin, to discuss his fascinating life journey. Tim was a standout midfielder at Robinson and went on to have a successful career at William & Mary, where he served as team captain in his senior year. After college, Tim transitioned into big event planning and logistics, working on the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He is now a principal at...

In this episode, I’m joined by two exceptional workplace experts: Liz Bentley, a top executive coach, and Beth Ridley, a consultant specializing in wholeness and workplace dynamics. We discuss the impact of recent political changes on their work and share strategies for navigating the challenges of today's uncertain environment. We dive into the ongoing effects of AI and the post-lockdown world on...

Tonight, I’m joined by the starting five of the 2024-2025 South Lakes High School basketball team to discuss their recent defense of the Virginia state championship. With me are: Jordan Scott, F, Sr., Merrick Rillstone, F, Sr., Toshi Elston, F, Sr., Alec Saunders, G, Sr., and CJ Kemmerer, G, Sr. We explore their thoughts on what the championship means to them, their admiration for the excellent Co...

In this episode, I revisit how the VHSL is eroding interest in Virginia high school basketball and explore ways we can improve the management of the game, as well as other sports, particularly football. I discuss how top programs like Princess Anne and John Marshall should be competing at the highest classification and suggest reducing the number of classifications to make grouping more manageable...

In her first season at Heritage, Coach Tayler Cook has led the Pride to the state final showdown against Salem this week. She previously guided Tuscarora to the state playoffs for the past two seasons and has quickly turned around the fortunes of her young team. A former Virginia HS Player of the Year and daughter of a coach at Spotswood HS, Tayler is also one of the career leaders in rebounds and...

Martinsville graduate Michael Barrows ('67) was a key player on a state championship-winning Bulldog team under the guidance of the legendary Coach Robert "Husky" Hall. After playing college basketball at Maryville College (TN), Michael returned to the Martinsville area to coach at Drewry Mason for two years, securing a Piedmont District title. In this episode, Michael joins me to sh...

Hayfield graduate Carlos Poindexter has guided his alma mater to two state titles and is now aiming for a third with the 24-5 Hawks, who will face defending champion South Lakes this week. In this episode, Coach Poindexter talks about this year's team, their journey to the state quarterfinals, and the keys to advancing further in the tournament. We wrap up with Coach's analysis of the othe...

Gordon Austin ('83) is one of the greatest players in American University history, leading the Eagles to some of their most memorable victories, including an iconic win over Patrick Ewing and #5 Georgetown on the Hoyas' home court. Gordon joins me to reflect on those golden years of DC college basketball and his time playing for the legendary Coach Gary Williams. We also discuss Gordon&#39...

McLean’s Mike O'Brien had a week that every coach dreams of: defeating three higher-seeded teams on the road to capture a district championship. As the Northern Region tournament kicks off this week, Coach O'Brien sits down with me to talk about the Highlanders' surprising post-season run and the keys to succeeding in regionals. His passion for the game and his players shines through,...

Coach Ben Farquhar is a relatively new addition to the NOVA coaching scene, but he recently led Heritage (Leesburg) to its first district title since 2017. Coach joins me to talk about the Pride’s incredible turnaround this season and the young players who’ve helped surprise local basketball followers. We wrap up by diving into the key factors for this week’s Broad Run matchup and the prospect of...

In college, Daniel "The Flea" Dixon once said he never thought he would even graduate high school, convinced he was destined to be another statistic. Today, he’s remembered as one of the most compelling players in NOVA history, not only for his exceptional basketball talent but for his inspiring life story. Raised by a mother struggling with legal troubles and an unstable father, Daniel...

Broad Run Coach Jacob Krogh has led the Spartans to their first regular-season district championship in over 20 years. Coach Jake joins me to share his journey from Western Michigan to becoming the young head coach at the Ashburn school. We explore his coaching philosophy, break down this year’s team strengths, and discuss the keys to success moving forward. With the post-season underway, it was e...

Brittany Batts had an outstanding career at Loudoun County HS, becoming the school's all-time leading scorer, helping the team secure a state title, and earning first team all-state honors twice. Now a top assistant coach at Gannon University, where she once played guard and ranks second all-time in three-pointers, Brittany joins me to talk about her journey to coaching at a nationally-ranked...

Today I sat down with local high school football experts Jason Sterling and Brian Westhoff to talk about the latest off-season developments in the area. Contents:00:00 Intro and final thoughts on the Madison/Oscar Smith matchup02:30 Coach Overton at St. James and Coach O's lasting local legacy; Fairfax County Times and it's white whale18:50 Petition for Coach Pannoni; Should he still be th...

In this episode, I’m joined by the following panel of top Northern Virginia high school basketball coaches to break down the current season and dive into some of the key issues affecting the local hoops scene: Tony Bentley, Wakefield Doug Craig, Woodson Mike Desmond, South Lakes David Houston, West Potomac Konstantine Papastergiou, Woodgrove Carlos Poindexter, Hayfield Sherman Rivers, Patriot Cont...

In this episode, I’m joined by Merrick Rillstone, a 6'6" powerhouse for the defending champions, South Lakes High School. With his long wingspan and standout play alongside four-star recruit Jordan Scott, Merrick has helped lead the Seahawks to a 10-2 start this season. Merrick takes us on a journey from his roots in New Zealand, where he first learned the game of basketball, to leaving h...

In this episode, American University sophomore forward Greg Jones joins me to discuss the Eagles' impressive start to Patriot Conference play and the keys to thriving in a competitive, wide-open league. We explore the strong team chemistry and how Coach Simpkins has helped each player unlock their full potential. Greg also reflects on his time at Hayfield High, praising his coach Carlos Poinde...

In this episode, we’re joined by Mark Seidenberg, a name many of us recognize as the crafty boys’ basketball coach at Mills Godwin, where his Eagles made a name for themselves as giant killers over the years. But recently, Coach Seidenberg has received well-deserved recognition for his incredible success as a tennis coach, earning a spot in the 2025 VHSL Hall of Fame class. His tenure at Godwin in...