Founding 4 Podcast

On International Podcast Day, I thought I'd take us back to the first-ever episode of the Founding 4 Podcast. As you will hear, this show was originally part of The Ice Garden and I worked with co-host Mike Murphy (@DigDeepBSB).

This was originally published on November 7, 2017. Check out the original logo made by Mike.

Here are the original show notes:
The Ice Garden is excited to finally present the first episode of the Founding 4 Podcast!

In our first episode, we cover the first week of NWHL action including the Riveters historic win at the Prudential Center and the Beauts holding on to defeat the Whale 3-2 back on October 28th. Yes, we know that we’re heading into the third week of NWHL action, but it took some doing to get this podcast off the ground. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get them out a little quicker moving forward!

Also we kinda sorta predicted that the Whale could upset the Pride last weekend. But no one will believe us because the podcast is coming out after the fact. But, just sayin’, we totally (almost kinda) called that.

Stay tuned for episode two which will cover last weekend’s NWHL action. Can you believe the Boston Pride is 0-2-0 to start the season? Because we can’t. Or can we? I guess you’ll have to listen in to find out (see what I did there?).

Please help us spread the word about the Founding 4 Podcast and let us know what you think of The Ice Garden’s first podcast!

Host Erica L. Ayala sat down with former board member Liz Knox and current board member Sarah Nurse to discuss the timing of the statement, Liz stepping down from the board, if Sarah feels this is a hollow "diversity hire", and much more. 

Read the full statement here:
https://pwhpa.com/our-statement-on-diversity-and-inclusiveness-in-hockey/ 

Read Emily Kaplan's story on the PWHPA announcement here: 
https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/29794679/women-hockey-players-association-adds-sarah-nurse-board-fix-blind-spot 

Watch Liz Knox on an earlier episode of Social Justice in Women's Hockey:
https://youtu.be/lOHjLuYvPbY

The final installment of #TheOriginalEight series features Riveters captain Madison Packer. The Wisconsin alumna discusses her decision to re-sign for her sixth NWHL season, her love of writing and guacamole, and what the next five years might look like for her. 

Here are a few links to referenced in the episode:

• The Packer's First Dance
• Read Madison's writing at Hockey Wilderness
• The Kyle Pavone Foundation

Follow Madison Packer on Twitter: @madison_packer_                                                                      

Follow The Founding 4 Podcast on Twitter @Founding4Pod
Follow Erica L. Ayala on Twitter @elindsay08

Music: Wallflowers & Caverns by Bad Snacks
Photo Credit: NWHL

                                                                                                    ***
The Founding 4 Podcast is an independent women's ice hockey podcast hosted by Erica L. Ayala. The podcast lives on Transistor.fm and is part of the Sports Talk with Erica L. Ayala podcast network. Please like, share, subscribe, comment, and rate our show. That is how we get more eyes/ears on women in sports.

Sports Talk with ELA is sponsor by our Patreon community. For the cost of a slice of NYC pizza a month, you help bring more coverage to women in and around sports. You can also make a one-time donation via PayPal. 

We are busting out the Founding 4 Pod archives. Originally posted November 30, 2017, this is an exclusive interview with (now former) HC Lugano defender Blake Bolden. These days, Bolden is working with the Los Angeles Kings as a scout and skating with the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA). 

Bolden played two seasons with the Boston Blades of the CWHL, and two seasons with the Boston Pride of the NWHL. She won back-to-back professional titles in Boston. First she won the Clarkson Cup with the Blades in 2015, then won the inaugural Isobel Cup with the Pride in 2016.

Now playing for HC Lugano in Switzerland, she hopes to win a third professional title. Listen to Bolden discuss the story behind her name, her decision to play overseas, how she remains cool, and her favorite sights in her new surroundings.

Follow Blake Bolden on Instagram: @SportBlake
Blake Bolden Athletics (www.blakebolden.com/about-me/)

Follow the Founding4Pod on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Founding4Pod
Follow Erica L. Ayala on Twitter: twitter.com/elindsay08

Connecticut Whale defender Jordan Brickner is the featured guest for the seventh installment of The Original Eight series. Brickner moved to Connecticut from Chicago for what she thought would be one season in the National Women's Hockey League. Today, she is one of eight players to suit up for all five seasons of the league.

Unfortunately, Brickner suffered an injury in December that cut her fifth season short. However, we spoke to her earlier this month and she seems to be in good spirits about the future of the Connecticut Whale.

Follow Jordan Brickner Gragnano on Twitter: @JustJordan26                                                                        

Follow The Founding 4 Podcast on Twitter @Founding4Pod
Follow Erica L. Ayala on Twitter @elindsay08

Music: Wallflowers & Caverns by Bad Snacks
Photo Credit: Matthew Raney

                                                                                                    ***
The Founding 4 Podcast is an independent women's ice hockey podcast hosted by Erica L. Ayala. The podcast lives on Transistor.fm and is part of the Sports Talk with Erica L. Ayala podcast network. Please like, share, subscribe, comment, and rate our show. That is how we get more eyes/ears on women in sports.

Sports Talk with ELA is sponsor by our Patreon community. For the cost of a slice of NYC pizza a month, you help bring more coverage to women in and around sports. You can also make a one-time donation via PayPal. 

The sixth episode of The Original Eight Series. This series features one-on-one interview with the eight players who've been with the NWHL since the inaugural season.

Kaleigh Fratkin began her NWHL journey in Connecticut. At the time, the Vancouver-native turned Boston-area standout decided to get a fresh perspective. Along with her college teammate Anya Battaglino, she signed with the Connecticut Whale.

After a rocky season, Fratkin was once again ready for a change of scenery. Enter Riveters head coach and general manager Chad Wiseman with the opportunity to reroute the Riveters franchise for Season 2. Hear Fratkin tell the story of signing with her third and (likely) final NWHL team, what she makes of the only two NWHL OGs she hasn't played with, and what the future holds for her in the NWHL and beyond.

Here are some additional links referenced in the chat with Fratty:
NWHL Open Ice: Anya Packer reveals Fratty is the mastermind behind her style.
Fratkin, Anya and other chat with Deadspin about the Season 2 salary cuts.
Fratkin finds a home in Boston.

Follow Kaleigh Fratkin on Twitter: @fratkin13                                                                               

Follow The Founding 4 Podcast on Twitter @Founding4Pod
Follow Erica L. Ayala on Twitter @elindsay08

Music: Wallflowers by Bad Snacks
Photo Credit: Michelle Jay

 
                                                                                                    ***
The Founding 4 Podcast is an independent women's ice hockey podcast hosted by Erica L. Ayala. The podcast lives on Transistor.fm and is part of the Sports Talk with Erica L. Ayala podcast network. Please like, share, subscribe, comment, and rate our show. That is how we get more eyes/ears on women in sports.

Sports Talk with ELA is sponsor by our Patreon community. For the cost of a slice of NYC pizza a month, you help bring more coverage to women in and around sports. You can also make a one-time donation via PayPal. 

Photo: Michelle Jay

We're still waiting to drop the puck for the 2020 Isobel Cup Final, but that hasn't stopped teams from re-signing players for season six. Host Erica L. Ayala recaps the most recent signings and other NWHL news (Note: Beauts forward Taylor Accursi re-signed after this episode was recorded).

Erica is later joined by Connecticut Whale general manager Bray Ketchum Peel. Bray's first day on the job was the day the #ForTheGame movement began. She navigated those early challenges and put together a team with lots of grit. Ketchum Peel discusses the bright spots & challenges of the 2019-20 season and her top priorities for Season 6.

Listeners will also get a clip of my interview with women's hockey pioneer Digit Murphy. The full 60-minute interview is available for patrons of Sports Talk with ELA. 

                                                                                               ***
The Founding 4 Podcast is an independent women's ice hockey podcast hosted by Erica L. Ayala. The podcast lives on Transistor.fm and is part of the Sports Talk with Erica L. Ayala podcast network. Please like, share, subscribe, comment, and rate our show. That is how we get more eyes/ears on women's sports.

Sports Talk with ELA is sponsor by our Patreon community. For the cost of a slice of NYC pizza a month, you help bring more coverage to women in and around sports. You can also make a one-time donation via PayPal.
 
Follow Bray Ketchum on Twitter @bdk27
Follow The Founding 4 Podcast on Twitter @Founding4Pod
Follow Erica L. Ayala on Twitter @elindsay08

Music:
Caverns & New York by Bad Snacks

The Original Eight Series features one-on-one interview with the eight players who've played in the NWHL since the inaugural season. This episode features Connecticut Whale defender and alternate captain Elena Orlando.

Elena Orlando started her NWHL career in Brooklyn with the New York Riveters, but is no stranger to the Nutmeg State. Orlando played hockey and rugby at Quinnipiac University. She played one season in Sweden before joining the Riveters for the 2015-16 season. In addition to being an NWHL veteran, Orlando is a nurse and youth hockey coach.

Lando reunited with Riveters teammate and All-Star captain Madison Packer during the 2020 NWHL All-Star Weekend. In 2017, she was honored with the NWHL Foundation Award, given to one player from each team who most actively applying the core values of hockey to her community as well as growing and improving hockey culture.

• #NWHLxWISS present NURSE AND ORIGINAL NWHLER ELENA ORLANDO
• WATCH Orlando join @GamerDoc on NWHL Open Ice
• THIS or THAT with Elena Orlando

As always, thank you for your support! This Patreon platform is growing and I'm excited for what the future holds!

Photo Credit: Erica L. Ayala

Follow Elena Orlando on Twitter: @e_orlando14                                                                              

Follow The Founding 4 Podcast on Twitter @Founding4Pod
Follow Erica L. Ayala on Twitter @elindsay08

Music: Caverns by Bad Snacks

 
                                                                                                 ***
The Founding 4 Podcast is an independent women's ice hockey podcast hosted by Erica L. Ayala. The podcast lives on Transistor.fm and is part of the Sports Talk with Erica L. Ayala podcast network. Please like, share, subscribe, comment, and rate our show. That is how we get more eyes/ears on women in sports.

Sports Talk with ELA is sponsor by our Patreon community. For the cost of a slice of NYC pizza a month, you help bring more coverage to women in and around sports. You can also make a one-time donation via PayPal. 
 

Here is the fourth episode of The Original Eight Series. This series will feature one-on-one interview with the eight players who've been with the NWHL since the inaugural season.

Jillian Dempsey hoisted the inaugural Isobel Cup as a member of the 2015-16 Boston Pride. Prior to her five season in the NWHL, Dempsey played for the Boston Blades and the Harvard women's hockey team. Dempsey discusses being able to work and play close to her hometown, her laser sharp hockey memory (unlike Kiira Dosdall-Arena, lol), and what she hopes for the NWHL in the coming years.

Dempsey and the Pride finished the season 23-1-0 and were set to host the 2020 Isobel Cup Final on March 13 at Warrior Ice Arena before the league postponed the game due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Dempsey and the Pride will take on the Minnesota Whitecaps for the 2020 Isobel Cup Championship once the league resumes play.

As always, thank you for your support! This Patreon platform is growing and I'm excited for what the future holds!

Photo Credit: Michelle Jay

Follow Jillian Dempsey on Twitter: @JillianTDempsey                                                                                   

Follow The Founding 4 Podcast on Twitter @Founding4Pod
Follow Erica L. Ayala on Twitter @elindsay08

Music: Caverns & Wallflowers by Bad Snacks

 
                                                          ***
The Founding 4 Podcast is an independent women's ice hockey podcast hosted by Erica L. Ayala. The podcast lives on Transistor.fm and is part of the Sports Talk with Erica L. Ayala podcast network. Please like, share, subscribe, comment, and rate our show. That is how we get more eyes/ears on women in sports.

Sports Talk with ELA is sponsor by our Patreon community. For the cost of a slice of NYC pizza a month, you help bring more coverage to women in and around sports. You can also make a one-time donation via PayPal. 
 

Greetings!

Here is the third episode of The Original Eight Series featuring two-time Isobel Cup champion & Buffalo Beauts captain.  We discuss what it takes to win an Isobel Cup, why Buie considers Buffalo her new home, and if she'd consider joining the Founding 4 Pod after finishing her most recent off-ice adventure. 

As always, thank you for your support! This Patreon platform is growing and I'm excited for what the future holds! Next up in this series in Jillian Dempsey of the Boston Pride. 

Photo Credit: Michael Hetzel/NWHL