Chi State Pod

The 16th installment of the Chi State Pod features John Eskra, a 1985 Chicago State alum and Executive Sports Producer of FOX Chicago.

On the podcast, Eskra:

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 15 of the Chi State Pod features Jacob Ross, Chicago State’s Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Performance and Head Strength & Conditioning Coach. 

Prior to joining Chicago State, Ross was a private client personal trainer who previously worked at EFT Sports Performance, catering to top professional athletes, including NFL Pro-Bowlers (such as Devin Hester), NBA All-Stars (like Luol Deng) and Olympic Medalists (Aja Evans).

On the podcast, Ross breaks down how to train an NFL athlete, spills what you can learn from elite athletes and shares his vision for Chicago State 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 14 of the Chi State Pod brings aboard Chicago State Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Elliott Charles and Head Athletic Trainer Jose (Pepe) Alcantar. 

Charles and Alcantar reflect on the transcendent events of this week one year ago, when the COVID-19 pandemic began to change our lives. On March 3, nine days before the mass cancellations swept the world, Chicago State made the difficult decision to cancel its men’s basketball trip to face Seattle U. 

At the time, Charles said, “Chicago State athletics views our decision as a reaffirmation of our commitment to the well-being, health and safety of our student athletes.” 

On the podcast, Charles and Alcantar transport us back to early March 2020 and discuss the excruciating process that led to the cancellation decision. They also delve into how life for Chicago State changed so drastically in the months to come and discuss the lessons learned from the pandemic.

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 13 of the Chi State Pod features former Chicago State women’s basketball player and coach Loretta Soria. 

Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Soria trekked to Chicago, where she starred for the Cougars from 2000-04 and specialized as a sharpshooter. To this day, Soria holds Chicago State’s Division I single-season record for three-point percentage (46.1%). 

Soria returned to 95th and King as an Assistant Coach for the 2013-14 season and now lives in Northwest Indiana, where she is a teacher and coach. 

On the podcast, Soria dives into her Chicago State career, shift to coaching and some uncanny differences between life in Australia and life in the Windy City.

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 12 of the Chi State Pod features ESPN journalist Scoop Jackson. 

Jackson is a Chicago native who has been with ESPN since 2005, contributing to ESPN.com and appearing regularly on TV and radio platforms. 

In 2013, Jackson penned “Courting a Peaceful Alternative” on ESPN.com, explaining the Nike/Jordan Chi-League happening summer at Whitney Young High School. The games served as a modern-day renaissance of the Schlitz Malt Liquor Summer Basketball League that took place at Chicago State University in the 1980s. Guests of the old league included Isiah Thomas, Mark Aguirre and even Michael Jordan.

On the podcast, Jackson reminisces on both the 2013 and 1980s iterations of the league, painting the picture through the league’s impact, energy and highlights.

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.

Chicago State alum and former swimming national champion Fred Evans joins the fifth episode of our Chi State Pod Black History Month Series. 

Evans is recognized as the first Black swimmer to win a collegiate swimming championship. As a Chicago State swimmer, Evans won the 100-yard breaststroke NCAA Division II national titles in 1975, 1976 and 1977, earning record-setting times each year.

Upon graduating with a B.S. in Psychology and an M.S. in Guidance and Counseling, Evans kickstarted a longstanding career as a swim coach in the Chicago area. He also served as an advisor to the Swimming Hall of Fame’s African-American Outreach Swim Program. Evans has also since been inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. 

On the podcast, Evans reminisces on his transition to college life at Chicago State, hearkens back to his national titles and reflects on the meaning of becoming the first Black national swimming champion.

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.

The fourth installment of our Chi State Pod Black History Month Series features Chicago State alum Taneka Mackey. 

Mackey has served as an LPGA Tour caddie since 2017, working with golfer Amy Olson. Today, she is the only Black woman caddie on tour.

After becoming full-time with Olson, Mackey faced a health scare which led to a multiple sclerosis diagnosis. She has since battled back and now remains symptom-free.

On the podcast, Mackey and Olson reflect on their powerful bond, Mackey’s health journey and her inspiring outlook. Mackey's story was also recently featured in a gripping ESPN piece.

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 9 of the Chi State Pod features head volleyball coach Tanio Trifonov. 

Trifonov is set to embark on his first season running CSU’s volleyball program.

On the podcast, Trifonov highlights his key contributors, analyzes his team’s identity and compares the squad to a jungle beast.

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.

Our Black History Month podcast series rolls on: Episode 8 of the Chi State Pod features former Chicago State tennis player Rohan Wattley. 

Rohan hails from just outside of London, played at Chicago State from 2014-18 and now lives back in the U.K., where he has launched a business producing a black history trivia card game, Noire Historia. 

Wattley explains his inspiration for the game, takes us through the launch process and even plays a round on the air. You can follow Noire Historia on Instagram @noirehistora and visit them online at www.noirehistoria.com.

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 7 of the Chi State Pod features Titania Harris, former Chicago State women’s tennis star and coach. It is the next in our Black History Month podcast series.

Harris played for the legendary undefeated 1991 Chicago State women’s tennis team and shares stories of the grit, tenacious attitude and perfection of that team. Harris also coached Chicago State tennis from 1996-2007, and she reflects on her tenure and on the athletes she guided.

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.