UNGUARDED

Host Jori Davis is joined by co-host L’oreal Gamble and guest Ike Udanoh to discuss a the changes and challenges for pro athletes making their living overseas. The trio talk everything from motivations in going pro overseas, the mentality needed, asking for help from those around you, standing together as an athlete community, the function of players’ unions, how social media has changed, the benefits and problems with new athlete-led leagues, and whether L’oreal and Ike would let their kids play in a high school pro league in the future. Unguarded is brought to you by Wevolv. Edited by Kayla Kamil.

Jori Davis is a pro basketball player and founder of Wevolv, a platform empowering elite athletes around the globe to manage their own careers and ways of life.

L’oreal Gamble is a former pro basketball player now taking on the challenge of motherhood abroad while also opening her own consulting firm for expats and athletes, Crossover the Net Consulting.

Ike Udanoh is a 9-year pro basketball veteran currently playing for SIG Strasbourg in Strasbourg, France. 

Host Jori Davis is joined by co-host L’oreal Gamble to introduce and discuss a brand new season of the Unguarded Podcast: Unguarded Phone Calls. The duo talk everything from the challenges of moving and playing overseas to current events, social media, and plans for the upcoming season. Unguarded is brought to you by Wevolv. Edited by Kayla Kamil.

Jori Davis is a pro basketball player and founder of Wevolv, a platform empowering elite athletes around the globe to manage their own careers and ways of life.

L’oreal Gamble is a former pro basketball player now taking on the challenge of motherhood abroad while also opening her own consulting firm for expats and athletes, Crossover the Net Consulting.

NATALIE VAN DEN ADEL gets Unguarded about working with a psychologist to work on her self-esteem and learning how to love herself. She talks about finding herself unmotivated after playing non-stop for different teams, leagues, and tournaments and how working with a mental health professional allowed her to let go of her perfectionist and self-critical ways. She played one year at Colorado State before playing pro in Holland, France, Australia, and Spain. She has also played for the Dutch National Team. Episode features guest host Hyun Kim.

POKEY CHATMAN gets Unguarded about her thoughts, experiences, and feelings about the past, present, and future of women's basketball as well. The Louisiana-native talks to us about how she was able to re-center herself during her time in Russia when she was the coach of the Spartak Moscow team. She is a legend who has achieved success as a player and coach of the LSU Lady Tigers, as well as the head coach in the WNBA for the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky, where she was also a GM. 

TAMARA SEDA gets Unguarded about the importance of having a positive attitude and staying focused on her goals during different transitions in her life and career. She had never traveled outside of her native Mozambique until she flew to Liberal, Kansas to attend a community college. Although she'd only played volleyball until she was 17, she blossomed into a basketball star and was able to transfer to UTEP. Since graduation she has played pro in Spain and has also played for the Mozambique National Team. Episode features guest host Hyun Kim. 

IKE UDANOH gets Unguarded about how he was able to use jealousy, envy, and anger to further his career while admitting that it got in his way at times. The graduate of Wayne State, a DII school, started his pro career playing in Uruguay and Qatar and always felt like he could compete at a higher level while comparing himself to other players who were already doing so. In addition to those two countries he has played in Austria, Finland, France, Kazakhstan, Italy and is currently playing in France. The Detroit-native of Nigerian-descent is based in Milan where he lives with his wife and daughter. Catch up on his life and funny antics on YouTube and TikTok. Episode features guest host Hyun Kim. 

Valeriya Berezhynska gets Unguarded about her past struggles with self-confidence and how that's motivated her to apply her life coach certification to help pre-teen girls with their sense of self-worth. She talks to us about growing up in Ukraine and later adjusting to life in America as a high school student. She has played professional basketball in France, Poland, Turkey, and is currently in Spain. The 13 year pro is a graduate of Rice University. Episode features guest host, Hyun Kim. 

Esther Wallace gets Unguarded about the importance of vulnerability in her life and career. She talks about her struggles with admitting that she was suffering from injuries such as concussions and her need to always have things in perfect order. A former overseas baller who played and coached in England, she is the founder of Playa Society, a successful clothing brand celebrating women that has been worn by stars from the WNBA, NBA, USWNT and more. The Springfield, MA native played and graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson, has a Masters from England and previously worked at MIT.