In this episode, Folarin is joined by Nigerian international footballer Michelle Alozie. They discuss her journey from Yale to professional soccer, navigating setbacks like going undrafted and playing in Kazakhstan, and how a cold email led to her opportunity with the Houston Dash. Michelle shares her experience joining the Super Falcons, playing in the World Cup, Olympics, and winning WAFCON, including her game-winning semifinal goal. They also get into her life off the pitch, balancing cancer research, brand partnerships, and her growing interest in fashion, and much more!!
TIME STAMPS:
0:00 – Michelle Intro
3:22 – Getting into soccer + early career
4:18 – Choosing Yale + Ivy League vs SEC
5:42 – ACL injury + going undrafted
8:10 – Kazakhstan experience
11:36 – Houston trial + cold email story
13:27 – “Shoot your shot” mindset
15:21 – Houston Dash journey
18:56 – Getting called up to Nigeria
22:38 – First cap + early Super Falcons experience
24:32 – World Cup + Olympics experiences
32:09 – WAFCON run + game-winning goal
38:19 – Life off the field (research, media, fashion)
51:18 – Reflection + betting on yourself
56:00 – Outro
CREDITS:
Hosted by Folarin Okulaja
Produced by Folarin Okulaja
Engineered by Folarin Okulaja
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