Episode 26 of the Chi State Pod features Assistant Sports Performance Coach Steve Philpott, Jr.

At Chicago State, Philpott, Jr. prides himself on enabling student-athletes to perform to their highest mental and physical potential. He develops programs by evaluating current physical conditioning, tailoring strength programs for specific needs, demonstrating proper performance of exercises, monitoring progress, and assessing development through data.

Prior to CSU, Philpott, Jr. has worked at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Northwestern University, McKendree University, Parisi Speed School and multiple high schools across the Chicagoland area. 

Philpott, Jr. also served as an active-duty Marine in the United States Marine Corps prior to college.

On the podcast, Philpott, Jr. delves into his remarkable journey — from travels in the Marines to his exploits as a sports scientist. He also expounds on his training philosophy, which centers on the mental approach to performance.

Chi State Pod is hosted and produced by Sam Brief. Music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Episode 25 of the Chi State Pod features 11th year Chicago State head men’s and women’s tennis coach Jack Barton.

Barton is the next subject of our “Catching Up With” series, in which we check in on Chicago State student-athletes and coaches during the summer.

This past season, Barton’s teams earned eight all-Western Athletic Conference honorees, with freshman Pedro Alvarez highlighting the All-WAC First Team.

Before joining Chicago State, Barton was a four-year letterwinner and a starter for both singles and doubles on the men’s tennis team at St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, N.C.

On the podcast, Barton explains what his 11th offseason looks like, takes us inside his recruiting philosophy and describes honing the mental approach to tennis — both for him and his student-athletes.

Chi State Pod is hosted and produced by Sam Brief. Music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Episode 24 of the Chi State Pod brings on Chicago State women’s soccer player Hailey Stacey.

Stacey is the second subject of our “Catching Up With ____” series, in which we check in on Chicago State student-athletes who are plunging into all sorts of notable undertakings over the summer.

Stacey is a junior from Victorville, California who is playing this summer for Chicago KICS, a football club in the United Women’s Soccer league. A soccer diehard since she was five, Stacey is continuing to scratch her soccer itch during the “off” time.

On the podcast, Stacey explains why she’s playing more soccer during the summer. She also delves into how she landed at Chicago State, why she’s a gritty player and expands on a hidden talent.

Chi State Pod is hosted and produced by Sam Brief. Music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

In the first-ever edition of “Chatting with Charles,” Chicago State Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Elliott Charles bears all on the past, present and future of Chicago State athletics, answering your questions submitted via [email protected]. If you’d like your question answered on the next installment, feel free to email us at any time.

Chi State Pod is hosted and produced by Sam Brief. Music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Episode 22 of the Chi State Pod features Chicago State women’s tennis player Susie Andres.

Andres is the first subject of our “Catching Up With ____” series, in which we check in on Chicago State student-athletes who are plunging into all sorts of notable undertakings over the summer.

Andres is a rising senior from Spain interning with Fermilab remotely from her home in Madrid. Fermilab is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory that focuses on high-energy particle physics and is based near Batavia, Illinois.

On the podcast, Andres delves into her unique internship and also gives us a window into her home life in Madrid.

Chi State Pod is hosted and produced by Sam Brief. Music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Episode 21 of the Chi State Pod features former Chicago State men’s basketball star Melvin Buckley. 

Buckley played for the Cougars between 1980 and 1985, starring on the 1984 squad that reached the NAIA Final Four. The following season, with Buckley on the roster, Chicago State made its NCAA Division I debut. 

On the podcast, Buckley breaks down his journey to and at Chicago State and dishes on his business exploits, which include starting Chicago’s first-ever Steak ’n Shake.

Chi State Pod is hosted and produced by Sam Brief. Music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Episode 20 of the Chi State Pod brings on Dr. Olanipekun Laosebikan, coach of Chicago State’s Quizbowl team and a CSU Assistant Professor of Advanced Studies in Education.

For five years, Dr. O has guided the university’s trivia team, which competed in March in the annual Honda Campus All-Star Challenge national tournament, which features historically and primarily black colleges and universities.

Dr. O refers to the trivia team as Chicago State’s “best-kept secret,” and the squad features an eclectic mix: A music major, Jaylin Shelton, a physics major, Gabriel Brown (Physics) and Marshall Gibson, who majors in Communications, Media Arts and Theatre. Brandon Morgan serves as assistant coach.

On the podcast, Dr. O:

Note: If you enjoy trivia and would like to compete as a part of the team, contact Dr. O at [email protected] with questions.

Chi State Pod is hosted and produced by Sam Brief. Music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Episode 19 of the Chi State Pod features Barbara Castellanos, a sophomore on the Chicago State women’s soccer team. 

Castellanos was born in Guadalajara, Mexico but moved to Chicago at age three. Castellanos actually picked up soccer surprisingly late, and in a unique manner, which she explains on the podcast. After setting the West Chicago Community High School goals record, with 29, Castellanos joined Chicago State, where she’s paced the Cougars in scoring each year she’s played. 

On the podcast, Castellanos describes her funky soccer start, recaps her sophomore season, tells us some babysitting horror stories and explains why she doesn’t like a certain food that you probably love.

Chi State Pod is hosted and produced by Sam Brief. Music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Episode 18 of the Chi State Pod features Kevin Bullington, Chicago State senior men’s golfer. 

A Frankfort, Illinois native, Bullington is a lifelong Chicago sports fan who takes a great deal of pride in his roots.   

On the podcast, Bullington explains how he transformed from a “bad” high school golfer more focused on baseball into a Division I golfer. He also discusses the influence of his brother, Brian Bullington, who golfed at Iowa and now stands in the professional ranks.

Chi State Pod is hosted and produced by Sam Brief. Music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Episode 17 of the Chi State Pod features Brenda Jepkoech, Chicago State senior runner. 

Jepkoech grew up in Eldoret, Kenya, moving to America for college in 2017. At first, she attended Union University in Jackson, Tennessee before transferring to Chicago State.

On the podcast, Jepkoech discusses her eye-opening transition to America, including the concept of racism being completely new to her. She also delves into her running background, which started at an early age in the running hotbed of Kenya, where running is a way of life.

Chi State Pod is hosted and produced by Sam Brief. Music is courtesy of David Brief and Channel J. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.