The Breakfast Club - Naked: The Next Major American Sports League with Haleigh Washington

Episode Date: January 18, 2025

The Black Effect Presents... Naked with Cari Champion! In this episode of Naked Sports, host Cari Champion discusses her recent NAACP Image Award nomination, the devastating impact of wildfires in California, and the journey of a professional volleyball player, highlighting the importance of women's sports and community support.  Haleigh Washington Two-Time Olympic Medalist and Founding Athlete of LOVE Volleyball shares her journey through the world of volleyball, emphasizing the importance of humility, teamwork, and the challenges professional athletes face. She discusses her experiences playing overseas, creating a new volleyball league, and the impact of the Olympic experience on her career. The conversation also touches on the need for greater visibility and support for women's sports and personal anecdotes that highlight her personality and passion for the game. Connect @CariChampion @Hales__Storm Learn More LoveB.com Subscribe Cari Champion's YOUTUBE Channel  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joel, the holidays are a blast, but the financial hangover, that can be a huge bummer. If you are out there and you're dreading the new statement email that reveals the massive balance that you may have racked up, well, you could use our help. That's right. I'm Joel. And I am Matt. And we're from the How to Money Podcast. Our show is all about helping you make sense of your personal finances so you can ditch

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And with extended interviews and exclusive weekly headline roundups, this podcast gives you content you won't find anywhere else. Ready to laugh and stay informed? Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. You should probably keep your lights on for Nocturnal Tales from the Shadow. Join me, Danny Trejo, and step into the flames of fright. An anthology podcast of modern day horror stories inspired by the most terrifying legends

and lore of Latin America. Listen to Nocturnal on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You are cordially invited to the hottest party in professional sports. I'm Tisha Allen, former golf professional and the host of Welcome to the Party, your newest obsession about the wonderful world that is women's golf. Featuring interviews with top players on tour, tips to help improve your swing, and the craziest stories to come out

of your friendly neighborhood country club. Welcome to the Party with Tisha Allen is an iHeart Women's Sports Production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. Listen to Welcome to the Party, that's P-A-R-T-E-E on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everybody.

Welcome to Naked Sports. I'm your host, Keri Champion. And as I record this message, it's been an interesting 48 hours for me. We appreciate you. I always say this. We appreciate you for listening to the podcast and really supporting us. This week, your girl and her team of amazing producers were able to be nominated for an image award, an NAACP image award for outstanding podcasts, art, sports, culture.

We are up against Nightcap with Shannon Sharp and Chad Ochoa-Singal. Do not, I repeat, vote for them, vote for us. You have to go and vote on NAACP image awards.net. I'm posting it all on my feed. Please go vote for me. We're also up against another podcast called Two Mamas, Two Funny Mamas. That's Sherri Shepherd and Kim Whitley, I believe. I'm probably saying that last

name wrong, but please forgive me. Then there is, who else is in the category? Another fellow brand on the Black Effect Network, R&B Money. That's with Tank. But it doesn't matter. I want you to go and vote for me. That's what I'm saying in general I'm just being real selfish because this is the first time and if I'm being honest with you I've seen in a long time a woman in this in this space in this sports space be nominated for a podcast And an image award. I think my girl Jamel was nominated, but she wasn't living in a sports space. She won twice She won two image awards for her podcast unbothered, but she wasn't living in a sports space. She won twice.

She won two Image Awards for her podcast, Unbothered, but that wasn't necessarily a sports space. And so we need to support because it really means a lot to me. I, one of these few times where as a woman in this world, we're being recognized, a black woman more specifically in this world of sports, you're being recognized for your work ethic, not necessarily for, you know, what you look like, how you do, you know, all of that other stuff is great. But truly it was an honor just to be put in this category with all these greats. It means that the culture sees you. Um, they understand how hard, um, we are trying to be representatives, at least on this podcast of the culture and speak to issues

that matter, give a voice to the voiceless. And I think that it was really important for us this season to rebrand Naked, which is why it's Naked Sports. But I think the reason why I truly wanted to rebrand it because there were so many stories in the world of sports that weren't being told from a different lens. And that would be from a woman's lens, a black woman more specifically, my lens. And I'm just grateful that the NAACP Image Awards took the time to acknowledge what we are doing here. It's one of those things where you say I'm just I'm just honored to be nominated and I'm truly just honored to be nominated but that doesn't mean I don't want you to go vote for me.

Go vote for me. Little engine that could. Everybody else got two and three nominations. So that means you don't need to vote for Shannon Sharp. He already got three or four nominations. He gonna win those other three or four. He don't need to win this one, y'all. But I am very grateful.

So I got that news very funny on Monday morning, I had this text really early from Charlemagne and I said, congrats. And we normally text each other back and forth about silly things. And I didn't know what he was talking about, but he was the first to tell me and I was really truly just honored and blown away.

It really was a good day. But later on that day, so as the world changes so quickly, later on that day, and I think we are all aware now that California is dealing with some crazy wildfires, Southern California. And I live in Southern California, and I have a home in Southern California in the hills. And I wasn't so much worried about my space because I didn't live in Pacific Palisades, but as I was watching from New York City,

I was thinking, geez, this looks extremely dangerous. And I have had my fair share of wildfires. I've been there for most, because I'm born born and raised and I've seen what the Santa Ana winds do and I see how they keep these fires in play and I've seen the devastation, but this is different. These winds were and are currently, even as we film this podcast, are historically damaging in the sense that they were 90, 95 miles an hour. And you combine that with fire.

There's just no way it was a windstorm of fire. And I'm sure, I'm sure you all have seen those images, but then it got particularly scary when it started to, for me, get into neighborhoods with people that I know. Really close friends that I know. And it's sad because I know, one of my best friends lost her house. This morning she sent me a text and she was like, my house is gone.

Last night I was on the phone with my other best friend and she was like, my cousin lost both of her homes. She evacuated with her family and they didn't think that they were in danger. They just they were a part of the evacuation warning. And then their entire house burned down, their car, their belongings. They really didn't take much. And then she had a rental property, that burned down as well. And so here we are. And so the story now feels very, and I'm trying not to get emotional, the story now is more about,

are your family and your friends safe? And for me, I can't say that they are My in my neighborhood they have created this neighborhood watch a new neighborhood watch because we are in the warning zone and I don't I don't think I Would be I would be devastated. Yes if my house burned down But I think the more devastating issue that I'm starting to deal with

and even trying to comprehend is that when these people lose their homes, they're losing their American dream. They are losing something that they've built from the ground up. And I do hear the critics say, but these people have money. I don't want to hear about Hollywood people with money. I don't want to hear about a house on the

beach burning down. It has nothing to do with that. It has everything to do with the place that you call home. You have a home, I have a home. There's a sense of stability there. There is a place where you relax. You do all of these things because it means everything to you in your home. And when you don't have a home, burnt to the ground, ashes gone in an instant, you are displaced. Everything about your life feels off and displaced

and we're watching it in real time. your life feels off and displaced and we're watching it in real time. You know, and to add to all of this, personally, my 94-year-old grandmother is in the hospital, and she is in one of these evacuation warning zones. That particular hospital is in one of these warning zones. So I'm thinking about the things that are going on in my mind, and I haven't even lost my home. I'm thinking, I hope they don't have to evacuate my grandmother.

I hope that she can still get her surgery. I hope that that doesn't disturb her body. She's so delicate. I'm thinking of all the different things that are happening, and then I'm feeling an incredible amount of sadness for the people who lost their homes in the neighborhoods that I used to visit and travel in and call my day to day that are no longer there. Restaurants, grocery stores, vendors that I would see, all gone.

And so it's scary. So the last few days, while I started in this jovial day of being excited about our nomination here for Naked Sports, you know, the last few days have been hard to focus, hard to really keep the main thing the main thing, but we still have to work. I still have to work. I still had to do my podcast. I still have to do the things that pay the bills for the house that I live in. But at the same time, you know, I'm consumed with the coverage.

I'm on the phone with family members every five minutes, we're texting all the time, we don't see what's next. The feeling of uncertainty in these types of situations, it's horrific. And no one wants to wake up to a text that says, I lost my home. No one does. And I think that there are a lot of lessons to be learned.

If you're healthy, if you have your family and your friends and they are safe, that's great. Belongings can be replaced, but it is still incredibly difficult to process what's happening in Southern California right now. A world that feels very familiar, or at least it did feel familiar, feels very, very isolated and scary. Apocalyptic is the word that people have been using. These people leaving their cars in the middle of the road, leaving because they couldn't get out by car, they had to get out by foot.

And then you just see the cars just sitting in the middle of the road. Being bulldozed or burned down. The entire stretch of Pacific Coast Highway just burnt. I mean, it really is devastating. And there are organizations that are helping, and there are people that are helping. And I know that you can go online, and you can look and see. I know Airbnb is offering homes for people. I know

211, if you're in California, that number is in Los Angeles more specifically is the number to help you. And I know right now firefighters are trying to contain some of these fires. Right now they're about five or six and they're trying to be contained. And my hope is that we start to see some progress. I don't know who's to blame. We can blame anybody when it's all said and done. But right now people are trying to figure out what's next. So as I sit here and do this podcast, still grateful that it allows me to have a space of expression.

And I hope that you enjoy our podcast today. But I had to take some time out to talk about something that's truly devastating. And I'm not going to lie, I don't know if I'll still have my home by the time we air this, but I hope so, I think so. We are in a warning zone, but it looks like it's okay. So I'm gonna stay positive. I'm gonna, I'm going to adapt the same attitude

that I've seen people on television adapt who have lost everything If it is that is what it was supposed to meant supposed to be if it doesn't happen great. I'm grateful. I Am sending grace mercy and love to everyone who is dealing with this right now in real time Be safe. I'm sending so much love to my city. And I thank everyone who has called, who has reached out, who has checked on me, who has checked on family and friends. So with that being said, prayer's up. Thank you all for listening to the podcast. Welcome to Naked listening to the podcast. Welcome to Naked Sports, the podcast where we live at the intersection of sports, politics,

and culture. Our purpose? Reveal the common threads that bind them all. So what's happening in women's basketball right now is what we've been trying to get to for almost 30 years. From the stadiums where athletes break barriers and set records. Caitlin Clark broke the all time single game assist record. This is crazy for rookies to be doing.

To the polls where history is written. And now we have Kamala Harris. It feels more like women are sort of taking what they've always deserved as opposed to waiting on somebody to give them what they deserve. Our discussions will uncover the vital connections between these realms and the community we create. In each episode, we'll sit down with athletes, political analysts, and culture critics.

Because at the core of it all, how we see one issue shines a light on all others. Welcome to Naked Sports. I'm your host, Carrie Champion. Welcome to Naked Sports. I'm your host, Kari Champion. Hey, family. Thank you all for letting me share what I was feeling about the California wildfires. This is a safe space. I appreciate you. I know a lot of you have family and friends there who may have been affected as you listen to this podcast. My quick update as I am recording this yet again, home is intact. Things seem to be well. We're just praying for those who lost their homes, but most importantly, everyone who

is housing challenged at this moment, we want to make sure that they find some sort of resources. Please be a part of the community in which the world that we live in, whatever you hear about fires, if it can help someone, if it can perhaps maybe give someone some hope, share that information and whatever way you can do your small part. Nothing little is considered little in times like these. Okay. Now let's get to this week's podcast. I had the opportunity to travel to Atlanta for the first serve of the new professional

volleyball league, indoor professional volleyball league, League One Volleyball or LOVE as it's called. And I'm really excited because I said, hey, yes, I want to come down. I want to find a player to interview and I want to talk about this new league. Women's sports is really at a beautiful intersection in which everyone is interested in wants to invest. So they set me down with one of the league's stars. Her name is Haley Washington.

And I'm smiling already because Haley was extremely intelligent, funny, and smart. And I was like, this is it. This is how you get people to pay attention to a new league. You bring someone along who is, how would I describe her? She has her own personality. She's very unapologetic. I asked her who she felt as if she was similar to in terms of another sport, personality, playing style, and she said, Dennis Rodman.

But listen, Dennis Rodman was arguably one of the best players. Even if he didn't score points, he was in the game, he was making plays, he was always very invaluable. It's the intangibles that set him apart. And Hayley Washington has so many intangibles, one of which is she is extremely funny. She made me laugh and I kikied and I LOL'd and I invite you to do the same with us. Please enjoy this edition of Naked Sports.

Hayley, what is the biggest myth in volleyball? I'm so glad you asked. The biggest myth is that you hold your hands like you're praying. If there's one thing we can teach Americans about volleyball, it's hands are held like this. Pancake, pancake, sausage, sausage, wrists, kiss. That's how we wanna hold our hands.

Please break your fingers. Stop doing that. It makes you so angry. I just, cause I see people that are like, I played volleyball in high school. And then they hit me with that. I want to drop kick them in the teeth. I'm just like, just tell me you don't play volleyball. It's OK. Pancake, pancake, sausage, sausage, sausage,

riskus, riskus. See, it's a game of love. So beautiful. It's a game of love. It's a game of love. Your thumbs are hugging, your wrists are kissing. It's beautiful. See, I got it. Yeah. It's a game of love. It's a game of love. Your thumbs are hugging, your wrists are kissing. It's beautiful. See? I got it. Yeah. Okay.

I guess I'm ready to play tonight. Do me a favor. I know, right? Introduce yourself for us. Hi, I'm Healy Washington, two-time Olympic medalist, founding athlete for Love, BB. It's actually just love. They're going to hate that I said Love, BB. Founding athlete for love, Penn State alumni and just a lover of the game.

So today's an important day. And by that, I mean, this is the inaugural season of Love Volleyball. And I really appreciate you taking the time just to be here to explain what this all is. But I think we need a backstory because this is the first of its kind. It is an original, it is a professional volleyball league.

And as we know in women's sports, very few professional leagues get the attention of its kind. It is an original. It is a professional volleyball league. And as we know in women's sports, very few professional leagues get the attention that they deserve. But I think something is different in terms of how this will look. Talk to me about your journey to being a professional volleyball player. When'd you start playing?

Yeah, I started playing volleyball kind of at a later age for a lot of volleyball athletes. I started when I was 12 in middle school. A lot of volleyball players will get their start at six, seven, eight years old. And I was just a kid that was running around in the mountains. And so originally I started playing volleyball

when I was 12. So it was just something I wanted to do after school because middle school you could start doing extracurricular activities. And truth be told, I really wanted to play football. I was a tomboy growing up. I really wanted to be a football player. I was gonna be a great wide receiver.

And my dad looked at all six foot three of me, 70 pounds wet, and was like, you'll die. You get hit by playing football, you can't do that. So my football career was dashed within seconds and I ended up going to play volleyball and I just fell in love with it instantly. Why did you fall in love with it instantly? I wish I had like a moment that stood out that was why I fell in love with it, but it

really just, it just made sense to me. Like serving the ball over the net made sense to me and the footwork made sense to me. And it was so easy for me to get the concept of the game and why you would get competitive and the energy and the fire. Like it just, from day one, I was in love with it. I'm curious because most people normally look at someone or see some they can see someone who does what they do or does something that they want to do and they follow in that trajectory.

There was not one player in your high school and your middle school on television that you saw and said, I like what she's doing. Well, I had a neighbor who Whitney Du Bois and she played volleyball. Shout out to Whitney. But I would always want to go and play at their house when I was like a little annoying ankle biter. And then she'd be like, no, Whitney has a volleyball game. And I never had the concept of volleyball because I'd only ever seen a volleyball court outside of our old rec center. And it was just an old sand pit with a saggy net. Cause it was always winter when I was over there.

And so I was like, volleyball is people running around in the sand and they can't touch the ball with their hands. So they play with their head. Like that was my concept of volleyball. So yeah, I never really had a person that I followed. I never really watched the game. And it wasn't until I was at that tryout that I was like, Oh, this is what volleyball is it's pass at hit it's doing this footwork. It's transitioning. It's constant movement.

And really after that, my dad started to take me to volleyball games. We would watch the high schoolers play. And I started to play club and got introduced to kind of the more competitive side. But it was just, it really was love at first sight. Wow. Literally love at first sight. That's special. I think that what's so interesting about where we are in this world today specifically is about women's sports and we're amplifying it in so many different ways. I have met so many different athletes who have said they wish that they could play at home. They wish that they can play in front of their family outside of when you graduate from college.

That's it or at the Olympics for instance. That's your opportunity to really play for home, if you will. Your journey started obviously early on, but when you got to Penn State, what was that experience like? You knew that you were special. You knew you had something set apart, obviously. Recruited, full scholarship. Yes, ma'am. Congratulations. No debt?

No debt. No college debt. You don't have no college debt? No college debt. You have to pay for a book. Well, that was my when I was when I was growing up, actually, I decided that if I was going to go to college, it was on a full ride scholarship or not at all. And so I was 12 years old and having a little anxiety attack about my future.

You know, like most 12 year olds do. Of course. And I made a list of everything I loved of like volleyball, basketball, track, choir, theater. I played the trombone. So all these things that I could potentially want to work towards getting a full ride scholarship for. And I ended up falling on volleyball and worked my butt off to get a full ride to go to Penn State. And the rest kind of is history.

The rest is history. Tell us about the history because you didn't make history while you were there. Yeah, once or twice. I mean, Penn State was first of all, you said like I had gone to Penn State and a four night scholarship. I was special. Let's establish I was not special because I'm a kick in the teeth. Why do you say that? It's, it's a program that's not supposed to be about me. It's a program that's built around we like Russ was really big on we win as a team. You are who you need to be and you can play great volleyball and you can be great, but it's not about you. And you go from being this kind of big fish in a medium-sized pond, like a good volleyball player in Colorado, to Penn State University that has this tradition of excellence, this legacy of winning. I mean, they're one of the few programs that has won four

national championships back to back to back. They had just won in 2013 They had so many alumni that were Olympians and like their program was just historic and iconic And so you get there and you were humbled very quickly and I didn't even go there thinking that I could be great I was just like, you know, I'm just I'm glad I made it I got a full-ride scholarship school is paid for and I'm just here to work hard and do the best that I can. But it was grueling. It was a grueling four years. Penn State volleyball was the hardest thing I've ever been a part of in my career hands down. And not because it was like a negative heart. It was just it. Russ Rose believed in forging you in the fire and that was what we did. We were forged in the

fire at Penn State. And it really, I think, made me a mentally strong player and a mentally strong athlete. Also helped you find your voice. Yeah, more or less. Yeah, because you have it. And so when you get there and you realize that you are a smaller fish in a very big pond, how do you adjust? What does that feel like in that particular program?

I mean, I think obviously you have to recognize the things that are outside of your control. I think for a freshman, I'm still an idiot. Let's just stop. I'm still an idiot freshman coming to campus. I look at myself and try to see wisdom, but I really just see an idiot freshman. But you recognize the things that you can and can't control. And I was like, look, whether I get onto that starting spot or not, I can't control that. And I actually suffered a pretty devastating injury during preseason that cost me the first part of the season. And I just remember being like, well, there's nothing I can do. All I can do is get in, get my rehab workout, try to be strong and work my butt off. And I remember when I could finally play again, I was playing on the B side. And I was like, I don't

care that I'm on the B side. I'm going to play my hardest. I'm going to whoop A side's butt. Okay. So for those of us who don't know volleyball. Sorry. Yes. And when I say us, I mean me. What's the B side? Okay. So you have A side and B side. So you have your starting six that are on the court that are going to play in the game. And then you have your B side, which are the people that are coming into be game changers. They tend to be on the bench and they'll sub into serve or they'll sub in if an athlete's injured, but they're typically your bench players. So if you're A side is your starting side and your B side is your backup bench players. Okay. So you're on the B. So I was on the B side because I had been injured and I needed

to earn my starting spot, which I was absolutely necessary. But I was like, okay, if I'm going to be over here, they're gonna have to fight tooth and nail to shut me down because I'm gonna whoop their butt. Because if they can beat me, then they can probably beat the other athletes as they're gonna face the competition. And I remember we had a beast-sized whooped butt

because we had also two men's practice players and it was me and I was yelling and chirping and talking smack and- What? Shocking. I know. But I was, yeah, I was just chirping away, having a good old time. and chirping and talking smack and what I'm shocking. I know. But I was yeah, I was just chirping away.

I'm having a good old time. And we actually ended up winning the drill. We won most of the drills that day. And Russ at the end of practice always talked to the team and he was like, you can have all the energy you want but just remember that you're still on B side. Thank you. Thank you for the slice on a bowl pie.

Thank you. Thank you so much. But the following day I was on the thank you. Thank you for the slice on bull pie. Thank you. Thank you so much. But the following day. I was on East side. Really? Yeah. Okay. Hold on. Let's just, don't just, don't talk, don't talk over that.

What happened? You did, hello. So you, you were on the B side. It's one practice. It was one practice, yeah. And then- I'm sure if you ask other girls, they're gonna be like, uh, it was like a week and a half of practice.

Like, but in my mind, in my memory, it was the following day. Damn. Yeah. What'd that say to you? So that I that energy goes a long way, because I don't think I'm like, this stellar attacker, like, I have one of the highest hitting percentages in Penn State history. And like, I have, like a good hitting, like I was a great middle at the Tokyo Olympics and all this stuff. But but like that doesn't matter. I think my personality is kind of what makes me a decent-ish player

because I'm loud and I'm obnoxious and I'm in your face and I'm screaming and I'm cussing, I'm smacking butts and I'm talking about all your fans love. It's what you're what the game needs. You are it. If you if you were to describe yourself for folks for folks who aren't familiar with volleyball who would be your equivalent someone would say you remind me of Suss and Such in the NBA or the WNBA or in soccer who would who would your personality remind people okay personality not going off to Las Vegas for three days but personality I'm gonna say Dennis Rodman. Uh-huh. That I wanna be Rodman so bad. And I know maybe a little con like... Don't apologize about it. Just say what it is. We're talking about on the court. Dennis Rodman.

Okay. His flared hair, his obnoxious style, like his just kind of being loud and in your face, but also like just a good support player. Rodman would have games where he didn't score any points at all. But he was everywhere. He was everywhere. That was my motto for this past Olympics, was just do your job. Like, you don't got to be the star,

you don't got to score 20 points, you're going to blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Do your job. And I did it with high energy. And so I think Dennis Rodman, if I can say it, that's a bold statement, but I'm going to say it. When we come back, Haley shares more about her playing style

and what made her realize she was built for this sport. Back in a moment. 2025 is bound to be a fascinating year. It's going to be filled with money challenges and opportunities. I'm Joel. And I am Matt. And we're the hosts of How to Money. We want to be with you every step of the way in your financial journey this year, offering the information and insights you need to

thrive financially. Yeah, whether you find yourself up to your eyeballs in student loan debt or you've got a sky-high credit card balance because you went a little overboard with the holiday spending or maybe you're looking to optimize your retirement accounts so you can retire early. Well, how to money will help you to change your relationship with money so you can stress less and grow your net worth. That's right. How to money comes out three times a week, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for money advice without the judgment and jargon.

Listen to how to money on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. John Stewart is back at The Daily Show and he's bringing his signature wit and insight straight to your ears with The Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. Dive into John's unique take on the biggest topics in politics, entertainment, sports, and more. Joined by the sharp voices of the show's correspondents and contributors. And with extended interviews and exclusive weekly headline roundups,

this podcast gives you content you won't find anywhere else. Ready to laugh and stay informed? Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome, I'm Danny Trejo. Won't you join me at the fire and dare enter. Nocturnum, Tales from the Shadows, presented by I Heart and Sonora. An anthology of modern-day horror stories inspired by the legends of Latin America. From ghastly encounters with shapeshifters

to bone-chilling brushes with supernatural creatures. I know you. Take a trip and experience the horrors that have haunted Latin America since the beginning of time. Listen to Nocturnane Tales from the Shadows as part of my cultura podcast network available on the iHeart radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. So y'all this is Questlove and I'm here to tell you about a new

podcast I've been working on with the Story Pirates and John Glickman called Historical Records. It's a family-friendly podcast. Yeah, you heard that right. A podcast for all ages. One you can listen to and enjoy with your kids starting on September 27th. I'm going to toss it over to the host of Historical Records, Nimini, to tell you all about it. Make sure you check it out. Hey, y'all. Nimini here. I'm the host of a brand new history podcast for kids and families called Historical Records.

Historical Records brings history to life through hip hop. ["History Records"] Flash, slam, another one gone. Fast, bam, another one gone. The cracker, the bat, and another one gone. The tip of the cap, there's another one gone, bash bam, another one gone, the cracker to bat and another one gone, the tip of the cap, there's another one gone. Each episode is about a different inspiring figure from history, like this one about Claudette Colvin,

a 15 year old girl in Alabama who refused to give up her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Check it. And if you get with me, did you know, did you know, I wouldn't give up my seat? Nine months before Rosa, he was Claudette Goldman. Get the kids in your life excited about history

by tuning in to Historical Records, because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to Historical Records on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey everybody, welcome back to Naked Sports. So Hayley is in the middle of sharing a story and she talks about how she found out

that she was really a special player. Without bragging, I use the word special. one day during practice when she was in college. One day of practice, A-Side the next day you walk in, you're on A-Side. And what do you say to yourself? I say to myself, okay, don't blow it. Idiot. You know, positive self-talk. I'm a mentor.

I'm a role model. Sorry. Don't just touch my mic. Sorry. I have no, I pushed this mic around 20 times. Deal with it. No, I'm a mentor. I'm a role model. Sorry, I just touched my mic. Sorry, I know I pushed this mic around 20 times. Deal with it. No, I'm kidding. But no, still that aspect of humility. I'm like, okay, yes, I earned it. But let's not like just assume that that's it. Like you still got to do your job. Do your job. Idiot.

I wouldn't dare call you that. But yes. Yeah. Okay. So then you get in there, you do your job. And I work my butt off. I get, I think defensive player of the year, but yeah. I would call myself that. Okay, so then you get in there, you do your job. Mm-hmm. And I work my butt off. I get, I think, Defensive Player of the Year, some of the, all Big Ten, I don't know, something like that. I love the humble brag. I don't know, I just didn't think it was it. I'm not just saying humble brags.

I don't know, I just, I apologize for a day. No, I am fighting back. I got all Big Ten. Pete, I'm just kidding, I'm joking, cut that out. In, stays in. Don't take it out, producer. Okay, so you literally show up and you show out and you do your job.

How's that season end? We got a national championship actually. Okay, but truth be told, that was not a humble brag again. I just was saying a fact. We won a national championship that season. We had two starting freshmen, me and Ali Granti. And it sounds like this great accomplishment, but I played like trash the NCAA tournament.

Russ was even very kind enough to tell me that at the end of the tournament. He was like, Hey, you played like garbage all NCAA tournament. I said, thanks Russ. Appreciate you. And I, but the thing is I didn't need to play great. It was again, cause it's not about me. It's about we, so I did my job well enough. That's right. That the women around me could take care of business and

they could get the W and that's what we did. I just did my job. The sidebar, not even a sidebar, but actually what I am noticing as I listen to you talk and I've said this about women in sports, obviously it builds your self-esteem and your confidence. That's something that there's much more positivity about women who play sports than there is about women who don't. And it's not a knock. It's just what it is. But there is this thing about women in general, when we get into this world and we live in the world, it's hard for us to find our voice. It's hard for us to speak up and raise our hands. You don't have that problem.

But what I love is that you have the humility mixed with that. And that is a special, that's a yes and, and it's an invaluable trait that you don't get to see so much of. And it takes, it separates you from everyone else. It really does. And I think that helps, as Russ has pointed out, I love your energy, but you do your job, but I'm gonna do my job well,

and I'm gonna be everywhere. And I'm not trying to be the best, but I'm gonna be everywhere and do my job. Now, when you have that same mentality, and I know in 2017, you also went to the semi-finals, right? You guys did the semi-finals. Reverse swept by Nebraska in 2017. I don't want to talk about it, but Penn State just did that to them this year. So it's fine.

I guess we can talk about it. It's fine. We can't talk about it. The whole time that you're playing in college, do you think that there is a life after in terms of playing professional volleyball? I love this question. I remember my sophomore year being in the locker room and being asked, hey, will you go pro? And that was the first time that had ever been presented to me,

this idea of going pro. And I remember jokingly being like, shh, pro? My niece can barely handle college. There's no way I can handle pro. If I could go back and slap sophomore year me, be like, shut up, look how far we can go. I would.

But I never really thought that I could play pro, let alone do USA. I remember my senior year being asked, will you try out for the USA gym? And telling them, I just don't really think I'm a good enough blocker. I'm not offensive enough in front of the setter. So I just, I don't really think it's gonna be for me.

And that was just kind of my mentality. It was like, I'm gonna get through college. And I remember my senior year. Well, because I really wanted to stay in academics. I wanted to get why not go for pro? One, it was so far away. And like everybody that came back kind of told me these horror stories of being overseas, being isolated from your family.

You're far away for a long period of time. We're not really making big money. So I was like, this doesn't sound fun. But I remember talking to Russ again, Russ Rose, this guy influenced my whole life. I remember talking to Russ about going overseas because I had this idea that, okay, I'll go play pro for two years, save up enough money to pay for a little bit of my master's degree, and then I'll come back and get my master's in philosophy. And then I was going to be a critical race philosopher and then a librarian will work in the Library of Congress. That was the dream.

Sounds exciting. Yeah, volleyball is better. No, T.O.S.S.H. I still want to work in the Library of Congress, but volleyball has been way more exciting. Yeah. But Russ actually pulled me aside and he was like, if you're going to do this overseas thing, do it right. He's like, build yourself up, build a career, build a name for yourself. Don't just shut it out after two years. It's like commit to it. And I was like, this Russ guy, I'm telling you, man, he's a legend. He's a life coach as well.

Don't let him fall back into the pages of history. You guys, he is a gangster. Built the program. He coached Penn State for 43 years, built volleyball at that school. Was the reason they want Russ Rose, man. All right. Yeah. So he says, do it right.

Do it right. You get those orders. Then you think, why not? I do want to say this. You were going to give up on a dream because it was far away. It wasn't a dream for you though. It wasn't a dream. I wonder, is it a dream for others?

I definitely think they don't want to do it because they don't want to go overseas. That's a fear of mine is that worse. people do follow their dream and they go overseas. And I'm telling you, it's not a glamorous life. We're very spoiled in college sports here with our nice some of us have charter flights. And if we don't have charter flights, we at least why like domestic and it's comfortable. And we have these big fancy locker rooms. And now there's underwater treadmills at programs and dining halls with lots of fancy food and we have ice baths and hot tubs and we're spoiled in college sports and then you go overseas and

You're on a Greyhound bus for six hours to go to your next game Do you get to a hotel where you're sharing it where you're sharing a room and they're two twin size beds and the locker room that you have is leaking and you have to make sure that you have all your stuff and your equipment because nobody else is handling recent like it's a culture shock. And so you follow the stream to go overseas and to play pro and you're really fighting and fending for yourself. And it's not always like that. There are some definite good teams that have great resources.

So no tea, no shade to any of the international leagues. I was blessed at Italy. I had some really great opportunities and some great resources. Yeah, the side note, she's been playing overseas in Italy. Not a bad game.

Not a bad game. You like pasta? I do not like pasta. It's too carby. It's too carby. I gain weight like crazy. I can't enjoy pasta. I can have the occasional pasta. Is the pasta there bad? And look, I feel like I know it's so good. It's too carby. I gain weight like crazy. I can't enjoy pasta. I can have the

occasion. Is the pasta there bad? And like, I feel like I know it's so good. And I feel like you can't get problem is he just he can't eat it all the time. I like wine though. Okay. Italians gun. Let me tell you what I did learn. Overseas is the wine. So so there are presumably and this is why we are here today to talk about this professional league that is stateside, but there are presumably, and I don't want to make up numbers, but there are many women, maybe hundreds, maybe thousands of women who gave up the opportunity or perhaps thought about going overseas to play, but they just didn't want to do it because of what it required on them mentally and physically and personally. No holidays. No holidays. Nope, like no holidays with family. Thanksgiving, New Year's, Christmas. So if you're a national team athlete, the season can be anywhere from October

till May. But if you're not a national team athlete, if you're just coming out of college or if you're not doing national team, they usually ask you around like August. So you'll be out there August, September, October, November, December, January, February. It's like 10 months. Wow. It's a long season. And if you're in a higher tiered team, you have usually Champions League and then you have Cup Italia and Super Coppa and regular season. So you're playing two, three games a week. You're traveling constantly. Your off day is really your travel day.

So you're also seeing everybody. You never get a chance to be by yourself. It's... How much money do you make? It's decent. It's... I'm really crass. I'm going to talk numbers.

I think women in sports don't talk numbers. I hate that they don't talk numbers. Yeah. My last season I made $230,000, which is pretty high paying for a middle blocker. But I mean, there are girls that are making, I mean, there are some pro girls that are making millions and like in endorsement sponsorships. But I think on average, you're trying to make a six figure contract.

So League One was a downgrade from $230,000, but still six figures. I think I'm making somewhere from like $120,000 to $150,000. I have to look at my contract. I should know how much I make. But yeah, still six figures. And they offer decent money to most of the athletes as far as I know. Maybe not always six figures,

especially for girls that are coming out of college or for girls that have less experience overseas or in the pro world, but the money's decent, pays the bills. So it's 10 months overseas, somewhere in the twos, anywhere upwards to perhaps seven figures in the millions. That's for the oh One percent. Okay of athletes that's for like on average. Yeah on I would say on average if you're going if you're an American going overseas on average you're looking at

120 I think like the Olympic American athletes that go overseas were in the six figures But if you're just an average college girl, I mean, you're starting salaries, maybe a 21. So Russ gives you this advice and he says, do it and do it right. How'd that work out for you? I think I went into overseas with a good mentality of like, just say yes. Like whatever opportunities present yourself to them, say yes and work hard. And so it worked out well because I played on this really low level A2 team my first season only for a month and a half,

two months, because I came in for a half season. We didn't make playoffs. So I just kind of came in, but made enough of a statement that I got on the A1 team, the last place team in A1, which if you don't know volleyball, most professional leagues overseas have like an A1 team and an A2, an A1 league and an A2 league. Okay. It's like our NBA and the G league. Okay. Perfect. Yeah. And so I was on the last place team in A1, but then I managed to work my way up to the fourth place team in A1 and then I was in the top one or two teams for the rest of my career. So you did it right. Did it right. As Russ suggested. As Russ suggested. He's a very wise man.

Wise man. Wise man. When we return, what does the future of professional volleyball look like here in America? Back in a moment. 2025 is bound to be a fascinating year. It's going to be filled with money challenges and opportunities. I'm Joel. And I am Matt. And we're the hosts of How to Money. We want to be with you every step a sky-high credit card balance because you went a little overboard with the holiday spending.

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and a roundup of the week's top headlines. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome, I'm Danny Trejo. Won't you join me at the fire and dare enter Nocturnal, Tales from the Shadows, presented by iHeart and Sonora. An anthology of modern-day horror stories inspired by the legends of Latin America. From ghastly encounters with shape-shifters to bone-chilling brushes with supernatural creatures.

No. Take a trip and experience the horrors that have haunted Latin America since the beginning of time. Listen to Nocturne, Tales from the Shadows as part of my cultura podcast network available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Sup, y'all, this is Questlove, and I'm here to tell you about a new podcast I've been working on with the Story Pirates

and John Glickman called Historical Records. It's a family-friendly podcast. Yeah, you heard that right. A podcast for all ages. One you can listen to and enjoy with your kids, starting on September 27th. I'm going to toss it over to the host of Historical Records, Nymonee, to tell you all about it. Make sure you check it out. Hey y'all, Nymonee here. I'm the host of a brand new history podcast

for kids and families called Historical Records. Historical Records brings history to life through hip hop. Flash slam, another one gone. Bash bam, another one gone. The cracker, the bat, and another one gone. A tip, but a cap, cause another one gone. Each episode is about a different inspiring figure from history, like this one about Claudette Colvin, a 15 year old girl in Alabama who refused to give up

her seat on the city bus nine whole months before Rosa Parks did the same thing. Check it. And it began with me Did you know, did you know I wouldn't give up my seat Nine months before Rosa, it was Claudette Colvin Get the kids in your life excited about history

by tuning in to Historical Records because in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Listen to historical records on the iHeart radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back to Naked Sports. So just for context, I want to remind you, I am in Atlanta while doing this interview, and we are just hours away from the beginning of making history in professional volleyball. Take a listen.

I want you to talk to me about when you heard about this opportunity. There's been other professional volleyball leagues. There's been obviously beach volleyball that people have tried to do. And some of them have failed because there have been issues with finance. Money is always the issue. Money is always the issue. Money is always the issue. And I want to make this a negative, but when you were approached by Love,

what were you thinking? Is this real? Can I do this? And I know this has been in the works for some years now. But what were your initial thoughts? Yeah, I think my initial thoughts were excitement because I had been approached by a couple other leagues about how they wanted to kind of run American volleyball. So I've been approached by AU, which is another volleyball league that

we have here in the States, and it's super fun. It looks like the girls that go and play in it have a really great time. And again, it's a way to bring volleyball to America. So I love the AU as a thing. And I've been approached by them. And I didn't love kind of their format, though. Like, I just wanted it to be a regular volleyball league. And they rotate teams every week.

And I was like, I'm not as excited about that. And then I had been approached about another potential league that was all all stars and it was only for a couple of weekends. And it was just like all star showings and showcases. And I was like, I don't love that either. And so when league one kind of came up to me, when love approached me, they're like, Hey, we have this idea for a league and it's just a regular volleyball league, but it's a grassroots movement.

It's oriented in the community. We want to get youth athletes involved, youth sports involved. I was like that I'm interested in because I think that there's an untapped market in youth sports here stateside. I think that like youth sports are so big in America and we do a really good job of developing our younger athletes and sort of tap into that market while also funneling that excitement into a pro league and to provide just a regular old pro league is so exciting. And so I was, I was on board from the jump.

As soon as they presented the idea, I was like, yes, I'm in. Wow. And I think it was just, it was kind of that mentality of yes and, and then like, what do I have to lose? Like if it fails, whatever, at least I try. You have the opportunity to still go play overseas. That's still an option for you. Sure. This is a win-win. Absolutely. Like there was no...

Like Italy wasn't just going to disappear off the face of the earth because I did League One. And there are so many leagues in the world. There's France, there's Germany, there's Korea, there's Japan, there's Turkey. Like, so it was never gone. So I was like, why not take the time to invest in this? You look at the WNBA and you see what it is. You know, it's inception, right? And where it is now. Do you see that being the same vision for love? I think yes. I think I... Okay, where to begin? One, I don't love the comparison of, are you going to be like the WNBA or are you going to be like the fair NWSL because we're all different things and I think like they're all gonna have I think what makes volleyball fun is the intimate environments I think what makes

the WNBA fun is their big atmospheres and so they didn't always have big atmospheres and so like those are things that are like growing into so I think women's volleyball is gonna have its own kind of path and I think the start of the intimate atmosphere is gonna to be kind of our, what will set you apart. Yeah. What will set us apart is that intimate atmosphere can feel like a lot of fun. Whereas sometimes in the WNBA that intimate atmosphere can feel a little bit almost energy

sucking at least in their inception. I don't want to overstep. I don't want to say anything rude, but I think that intimate atmosphere can really be great for your. What we like about going to a love volleyball game. So so as we record this podcast Love's first serve will be on ESPN plus. Oh, it's huge, right? I think that's a huge start I I'm curious as to what you think will make this first game different You said you want your own path. You don't want to be compared.

And that's very fair. I think that the comparisons are also fair as well. Definitely. I'm sorry if that came across rude. No, no, no, no, no. But I think they're fair because people, what I think when I say that is, it started off with fanfare.

People are excited. It might have some growing pains as all things do. Yeah, always. But then there comes this moment where people understand its value and start to appreciate it. That's the truth. I was talking about. I think yes. I absolutely agree.

And- I'm sorry. No, no, go. No, no, go. I think the WNBA has kicked butt in kind of paving the way for women's sports also. And so I think like there's going to be that growing pain time where there's less engagement or maybe not as many people are watching for sure. But the WNBA and just women's sports in 2024 have really kind of put us on the map, have

helped with getting more exposure. Like the WNBA really came up for nothing. There really weren't meant there wasn't much excitement for women's sports when it was in like when it had its inaugural's sports when it was in like, when it had its inaugural season and when it was first starting up and they really had to kind of like build from somewhat nothing.

And so I think that they have done a great job kind of paving the way and getting people excited about women's sports. And so I think that's maybe what might make it easier for us to get people's attention and give people excitement. Well, yeah, because I can't remember a time where you got a professional women's league and they're like, let's just put it on ESPN in any capacity. Yeah.

Um, and you know, year to year, even the growth, the NCAA championships have, from my understanding, were 41% from year to year. And that's huge to actually tune in and see people are paying attention. Um, it's in the zeitgeist, if you will. I hate to use that word, but it is out there. But I'm interested in what you think the ceiling is, or is there no ceiling? What I think the ceiling is.

What is the world that you could imagine in your wildest dreams, or the world that you think will actually be? In my wildest dreams, I imagine every game is like the NCAA championship. Hmm. I know that that's that's a big dream. But I mean if you can get fans that excited for one game out of the year, I don't see

why you can't get them hype for every game kind of like that. And I mean, I just went like I went to a hockey game. Abs played Utah Hockey Club in Salt Lake City And I was like, this is so cool. And it's so possible for women's, like, I think it's impossible for women's volleyball to be in those big arenas, be in those spaces for people to be excited. We have to teach people how to be volleyball fans. We have to tell them it's okay to be loud. It's okay to make noises.

We're not, you're not going to scare us away. It's okay. Yeah. That's so interesting that you say that. Well, it's just cause volleyball is like tennis. So they assume it's like tennis or a fight during the serve. Yeah. So interesting that you say you have to teach people how to be fans. You have to teach people how to understand the sport. You have to teach them.

And that is the onus honestly is on the people who know the sport and the people who play it. Yeah, definitely. I'm just bringing you in and be like, Hey, come on. I don't know what we got to do. If it. Yeah, definitely. I'm just bringing you in and be like, hey, come on. I don't know what we got to do. If it's, I don't know, whatever it is, you're going to get you guys excited about this game. I do want to ask you a question about being an Olympian and that's the ultimate goal. And I'll find a way to put this back and I want to weave in. The ultimate, I think for many athletes, no matter who you are, even if you play professionally,

the goal is ultimately to represent your country. You have the opportunity to do that in a major way. You want a gold and you want a silver. Middle blocker, talk to me about those experiences for you. What does it feel like to actually take a sport? Because I believe during the Olympics, that's when volleyball gets more attention. Definitely. At the highest levels and it's global so people can pay attention and they understand the sport in a different way. What does that feel like for you for a sport that gets so

little attention states? I mean the Olympics you always get hype over sports that you don't usually get to see because there's just less coverage of it. Like track and field is one of the most watched events but outside of the Olympics like unless you're following an athlete on Instagram you're not really seeing what they're doing during a quad. And so I think every kind of sport, even gymnastics, gymnastics, track and field, rugby, although rugby now is picking up things.

It's huge. Yeah. Uh-huh, uh-huh. But I just think to be at that stage, to be at the Olympics and like know that kind of the world is watching, especially with the background of playing overseas, because internationally, volleyball is a big sport.

Turkish fans, Brazilian fans, Italian fans, they're big. It's big over there. And so you kind of feel all eyes on you in that moment, which is on the one hand scary and intimidating, but on the other hand, still just volleyball. Board's the same size and that's the same height. So all you have to do is, what my motto is, do your job. Yeah, do your job. Go out there. I'm telling you, that's the same height. So all you have to do is what my motto is do your job. Yeah, do your job out there.

I'm telling you, it's that's the name of this podcast. Do your job. Hey, this is do your job. It's so easy to just not be bad at life. Just do your job. Stop trying to be a star. Just do your job. Do your job. But yeah. OK, so I I'm going to say this and this is this.

This is just my projection. I do believe that this sport will do well. I agree. But it needs its characters. It needs people to correct. And I was like, you are illuminary. And I think that if people can understand who you are, where you come from, and your personality is absolutely A1.

So I think that if you have more stars, people can follow and be invested. I'm fully invested. I really am. I'm like stars people can follow and be invested. I'm fully invested Yeah, I want to I really am in that like I'm in love with her. I Mean in a completely platonic way, but I'm like, I really want to know Your favorite food my favorite food is rice I know it sounds super boring, but you can do so much with rice. You won't eat pasta, but you just like rice I know it sounds super boring, but you can do so much with rice. You won't eat pasta, but you just like rice.

I love rice. JoLoff rice, joLoff rice, cilantro, lime rice. You just make rice with eggs. No, with Parmesan. Risotto. Are you kidding me? Do you put meat in there? Just rice.

So if you were on an island, all you need is rice. You do so much with rice. You just find rice and spices. Rice is great. I love rice. Favorite song right now. Uh, Dodger blue by Kendrick Lamar. Favorite artist right now?

So good. So good. Favorite artist right now? The Beaches. They're Canadian bands. Okay, you threw me off with that one. I'm sorry. I appreciate that. All right. Favorite dance right now? What's your celebration dance? Oh, see, I'm not like, I just, I can't do that on this. Yeah.

I can't. I just step back, put it in side to side. You don't have to. No, see, I'm not like I just I can't do that on this. I can't. I just back to the side. It's like, you know, I don't know. Oh, shut up and do it. No, you can't do it. You're like, I'm not doing it. You're either putting tequila in me or you pay me for it. It's not something that we're doing. Hey, we drink. Oh, water. Stay hydrated. OK. Actually, of the Pomp and Mousse La Croix is Mike.

I love La Croix, dude. But if we're speaking in the more like adult beverage. Adult beverage. I love tequila. I did a tequila tasting when I went to Disney World with my boyfriend. And that was fire. Añejo tequila. That's it.

That's all we're doing. A big fan of tequila. Añejo is your thing. Añejo. Okay, I like it. Oh, what a good mez. A big fan of tequila. Big fan of tequila. And a-hill is your thing. On you a-hill. Okay, I like it. Oh, what a good mezcal. Oh, wait, I take it back. I'm going to be that pretentious a-hole.

Just like, a mezcal, that's me. I love a smoky mezcal. Any mix? You just mezcal on rocks? A mezcal, I'm just, I don't love mixed drinks. I don't like the sugar. So like a Mezcal, sunrise, that's easy. It's like orange juice. All sugar. Just Mezcal and rice. This is Mezcal and rice. Okay. That's real gangster. Favorite athlete. There's so many good ones to choose from.

Sha'Carri Richardson, Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky. I'm going to go Katie Ledecky right now. Why? She's a mermaid and I've always wanted to meet a mermaid. Or a lona man. Dang. Yeah, okay, I'm gonna go Katie Ledecky and I'm sick with the mermaid thing,

but she's around thin ice Katie, something cool. Yeah, she sued. She wrote a book, she's just like so smart. She loves La Croix, like I love La Croix. We're meant to be best friends. You're meant to be, does she like pop on this record? La Croix? She's a raspberry.

Okay. Okay. Um, crush at the moment. Adam Driver. Oh yeah. I was like, uh, uh, name. Adam Driver is your personal driver. So daddy, can I say that?

Yes. Yes. Call your daddy. Why? Cause he's, uh, he's got that like burly muscly, but also dorky kind of look. Or Leandra Earle. She's one of the artists in the beaches. She's awesome.

Okay. All right. There you go. Then when we get ready to get our mind right before a game, what are we listening to? What's your go-out song? Either Sweet Transvestite from the Rocky Horror Picture Show or Plagues from the Prince of Egypt. Both musicals.

Those musicals get you hyped to play. They get me. Have you heard Plagues? No, I have not. Girl, I need to get to it. You got to get on that. Okay. Well play it in the podcast.

Yeah, it's not. Okay. Don't play Sweet Transvestite. That's not for this kind of podcast, but. But that's what gets you right. Yeah. Every Sweet Transvestite. That's not for this kind of podcast. But. Okay. But that's what gets you right. Yeah. Every time you go out.

Yeah. I played that the entire Olympics before every game. What? Yeah. In your mind, locked in, zoned. Yeah, because it's like this slow build. And there's this one part in the plague song at least where it like really just hits and you're just like, oh, we're going.

I can't sing, so I'm not singing for you. I was hoping. I'm like, I'm quiet. I'm like, should we do it? Maybe we'll get her to sing. Yes, get out that mezcal and a girl does my. We're having some mezcal for the game. Your favorite saying. My favorite saying of one thing I am certain is that I know nothing. Pancake, pancake, sausage, sausage, risky.

It's love. It's love, man. Hey, Lee, I love sausage, risky. It's love. It's love, man. Hey, Leigh, I love you. Thank you for being here. This was so fun. It was great. Goodness, I surely enjoyed that young lady. We had a good time. So huge thank you, though.

Let me get these out of the way. To Stephanie Martin of League One Volleyball and everyone who made this possible. The first game was a huge success. Follow along on their site, League One Volleyball, as they play through their inaugural season. Remember, here's to everyone watching Women's Sports. I'll talk to you all next week.

Naked Sports, written and executive produced by me, Carrie Champion, produced by Jacquees Thomas, sound design and mastered by Dwayne Crawford, associate producer, Oluwusayo Shabby. Naked Sports is a part of the Black Effect Podcast Network and iHeart Media. Joel, the holidays are a blast, but the financial hangover, that can be a huge bummer.

If you are out there and you're dreading the new statement email that reveals the massive balance that you may have racked up, well, you could use our help. That's right. I'm Joel. And I am Matt. And we're from the How to Money Podcast. Our show is all about helping you make sense of your personal finances so you can ditch

your pesky credit card debt once and for all, make real progress on other crucial financial goals that you've got, and just feel more in control of your money in general. You know it. For money advice without the judgment and jargon. Listen to how to money on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Catch Jon Stewart back in action on The Daily Show and in your ears with The Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. From his hilarious satirical takes on today's politics and entertainment to the unique voices of correspondents and contributors, it's your perfect companion to stay on top of what's happening now. Plus, you'll get special content just for podcast listeners,

like in-depth interviews and a roundup of the week's top headlines. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You should probably keep your lights on for Nocturne Moon, Tales from the Shadow Breath. Join me, Danny Dreher, and step into the flames of fright. An anthology podcast of modern day horror stories inspired by the most terrifying legends and lore of Latin America. Listen to Nocturno on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You are cordially invited to the hottest party in professional sports. I'm Tisha Allen, former golf professional and the host of Welcome to the Party, your newest obsession about the wonderful world that is women's golf. Featuring interviews with top players on

tour, tips to help improve your swing, and the craziest stories to come out of your friendly neighborhood country club. Welcome to the Party with Tisha Allen is an iHeart woman's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. Listen to Welcome to the Party. That's P-A-R-T-E-E on the iHeart radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.