Shae O’Rourke — Tennessee’s playmaker up top — has fought through injuries and setbacks to find her moment on Rocky Top. 

From her New York roots to an ACL tear at Texas A&M and another surgery this past spring, the road hasn’t been easy. But every step has shaped the player she is today. 

In her debut, she scored both goals in the Vols’ upset over No. 1 North Carolina, setting the tone for a Tennessee team now ranked No. 1 for the first time in program history.

Arion Carter — Tennessee’s sophomore linebacker — wasted no time reminding Vol Nation why he’s one of the most dynamic defenders in college football.

From Smyrna, Tennessee, to leading the Vols with nine tackles in the season-opening win over Syracuse, Carter’s rise has been fueled by toughness, leadership, and pride in representing his home state.

We dive into the confidence this team gained from Week 1, the balance of veteran presence and young talent on defense, and what drives Carter as both a playmaker and leader heading into the 2024 season.

Joey Aguilar — Tennessee’s QB1 — has taken an untraditional road to Rocky Top, marked by grit, sacrifice, and perseverance.

From Antioch, California, through the JUCO grind and a stop at Appalachian State, his journey has been anything but easy — but each step shaped the leader he is today.

We dive into the challenges, the gratitude, and the mindset that brought Joey to Knoxville and what it means to be at the helm of the Vols’ offense.

Alex Pidgeon — captain of Tennessee Rowing — joins this episode of the Everything Orange podcast.

The Montreal native shares her journey from competitive swimming to rowing, starting on an erg at 16 before ever stepping into a boat — and how she went from resisting the sport to leading the Lady Vols through a historic third-place finish at the NCAA Championships.

Now in her senior season, Alex reflects on her transition from Canada to the SEC, what it means to wear the Orange and White, and how she’s helped shape a winning team culture under head coach Kim Cupini.

With the first-ever SEC Rowing Championship now in the books and NCAA Championships on deck, Alex talks leadership, legacy, and how the team is staying focused through the final push of the 2025 season.

Shunsuke Mitsui stands as one of the most distinguished players in Tennessee men’s tennis history, embodying resilience, consistency, and unwavering determination on Rocky Top. 

Born and raised in Shizuoka, Japan, Shunsuke took a leap of faith that brought him over 6,500 miles from home to Knoxville. Over four unforgettable years, he’s racked up over 100 wins in both singles and doubles, earned First Team All-SEC honors every season, and helped lead the Vols to national prominence.

We dive into his journey from junior Grand Slams to college tennis, the culture shock of moving to America, the legacy he hopes to leave behind, and the epic comeback win against Duke to send Tennessee to the NCAA Super Regionals .

Dave Parrington — the most decorated diving coach in SEC history, a former Olympian, and the driving force behind Tennessee’s decades-long diving success — is officially retiring.

After 35 years on Rocky Top, Dave is closing the chapter on a legendary coaching career that includes 9 NCAA champions, 47 SEC titles, 16 SEC Coach of the Year honors, and more than 300 divers mentored under his leadership. 

We look back on his incredible journey from Zimbabwe to the international stage, explore the legacy he built at Tennessee, and reflect on the moments, relationships, and philosophies that shaped his unmatched career.

From Olympic memories to heartfelt thank-yous, this conversation is a true celebration of a coach who made Rocky Top home.

He’s an NCAA champion, an Olympic finalist, a world champion, a world-record holder, and the fastest swimmer in NCAA history. But for this week, Jordan Crooks is also our guest on the Everything Orange podcast!

Holding every major sprinting record in Tennessee history and having already made a global name for himself, Jordan concluded his collegiate career this last winter as one of the most decorated swimmers to ever set foot on Rocky Top. We look at Jordan’s incredible four-year progression since his arrival from the Cayman Islands and examine the incredible legacy he leaves behind as he moves into the next stage of what has already been a remarkable swimming career.

Sarah Schmitt — the Lady Vols' pole vault record-holder — joins us in this episode of the Everything Orange Podcast.

The junior standout reflects on her journey from gymnastics to pole vault, her breakout 2023 season, and what it meant to break both the indoor (4.46m) and outdoor (4.38m) school records in the same year.

With another SEC medal under her belt and a top-6 finish at NCAA Indoors, Sarah shares how she balances mental and physical toughness, the unique mindset it takes to clear big bars under pressure, and what it’s like to compete on a national stage.

Karlyn Pickens — the record-holder for the fastest softball pitch ever thrown — joins us in this episode of the Everything Orange Podcast.

The Lady Vols star reflects on her historic 78.2 mph pitch, the support she’s received at Tennessee, and how her record has made an impact towards putting women's sports on the big stage.

With the team now entering the home stretch of the regular season, Karlyn also breaks down Tennessee’s momentum-building wins over Oklahoma and Mississippi State, the team's mindset heading into their top-ranked showdown with Texas, and how the team embraces the grind of SEC play.

Fresh off his NCAA Tournament debut Chaz Lanier — new Tennessee record-holder for three-pointers made in a season — joins us in this episode of the Everything Orange Podcast. The Nashville native reflects on his record-setting performances in Tennessee’s wins over Wofford and UCLA and the team’s relentless mindset heading into the Sweet 16 against Kentucky.

He shares insights on playing under Coach Rick Barnes, the team’s “It’s Not About Me” philosophy, and what it takes to keep pushing forward in March Madness. 

Don’t miss this exclusive conversation as the Vols continue their tournament run.