Voice In Sport

Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S.—but the pathway to the top hasn’t always been clear, especially for women. In Episode 2, Team USA Flag Football athlete and Olympian Madison Fulford returns to the VOICEINSPORT Podcast to break down the evolution of the sport, the gaps in the development pipeline, and why representation and coaching matter more than ever.

Madison shares how she discovered flag football later in life, what it takes to compete at the elite level, and how she’s now giving back as a coach through MAD Skills Training—working with girls ages 7–18 to help build confidence, skills, and belief. From Olympic dreams to grassroots development, this episode explores how athletes can help shape the future of their sport.

Three-time Paralympian swimmer Lizzi Smith was born with amniotic band syndrome, which resulted in her losing her left hand. She spent years trying to make that part of herself invisible, but through swimming, the pool became the one place where she wasn't afraid to be seen. 

Lizzi encourages us to build confidence through adversity, and to find strength in the parts of ourselves we’re tempted to try and hide. She shares honest reflections on the heartbreak that comes with chasing Olympic dreams and the courage required to show up as a woman athlete with a disability, and reminds us how essential owning your space and finding your voice is  — especially when everything inside you wants to shrink.

Former elite gymnast and UCLA standout Katelyn Ohashi joins us to share her journey navigating body image, mental health, and rediscovering joy in gymnastics. From the pressure and perfectionism of the elite world to the freedom she found at UCLA, Katelyn opens up about how she learned to rebuild her confidence and love for the sport on her own terms.

In this episode, we also highlight excerpts from her new book, Every Time, I Always Would — a beautiful collection of poetry that reflects her growth from self-doubt to self-love. Katelyn’s story is a reminder that healing takes time, and that true confidence comes from embracing who you are, not who you think you’re supposed to be.

“Appreciate what your body is capable of and give yourself all the love because you deserve it.” — Katelyn Ohashi

Two-time Olympian, Team USA middle blocker, and VIS Mentor Chiaka Ogbogu opens up about her ongoing journey with perfectionism and the mindset shifts that helped her rediscover confidence and joy in sport. Chiaka shares how she learned to redefine success on her own terms, set goals that empower rather than pressure, and use tools like journaling and self-reflection to stay grounded. She also discusses how faith has shaped her mental performance journey, helping her navigate setbacks, silence self-doubt, and embrace progress over perfection. Her story is a reminder that true strength in sport comes not from being perfect, but from learning to evolve with purpose and grace. 

“I’m here for a reason… I’ve already done the hard to get here. I might as well see this through with the joy I had coming into it.” — Chiaka Ogbogu

Skylar Park, professional taekwondo athlete and Olympic bronze medalist for Team Canada, discusses how she manages family dynamics being coached by her father and growing up in a Taekwondo family. Skylar opens up on the difficulties in continuing finding love for the sport during the  Paris Olympics and how her family was able to help her through that. Skylar provides young women athletes with great advice for managing parents who are coaches and the importance of family support in sports.

Brittany Brown, Olympian, professional sprinter for Team USA, Adidas athlete, and VIS Mentor, takes us inside the world of track and field beyond race day. From her first memories on the track in Southern California to competing on the world’s biggest stage, Brittany opens up about the highs and lows of confidence, nerves, and performance.

She shares the evolution of her pre-race routine—from journaling and visualization to logging off social media and even smiling at the starting blocks—as tools to protect her energy and stay grounded. Brittany also reflects on moments of doubt early in her career, reminding young athletes that their talent deserves recognition, and that confidence can be built over time with awareness and self-belief.

Her story is a powerful reminder that success in sport isn’t just about speed—it’s about mindset, resilience, and finding joy in the journey.

“Your talent deserves to be seen. Don’t hide away from it—because the more you show up as yourself, the more it helps others.” – Brittany Brown

Morgan Hentz, professional volleyball player, three-time NCAA champion, three-time Pac 12 Libero of the year, and VIS mentor, gives us insight into the world of professional volleyball. She has experienced both overseas play and play within the United States and shares with our audience how to go about deciding if playing overseas is for you. Morgan breaks down the new United States pro volleyball leagues, discussing structure, prize money, culture, and benefits. While diving into what professional volleyball entails, Morgan offers great advice to girls looking to pursue playing volleyball professionally. 

“My biggest hope is that the sport continues to grow… there’s just such talent” -Morgan Hentz

While dominating in the pool as a 3-time Olympic medalist, Paige Madden has also been quietly fighting a different kind of battle— at age 13, she was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid. Behind the scenes of her athletic success, she has faced extreme fatigue, emotional lows, and the mental strain of managing a condition that can be as unpredictable as it is exhausting. Paige opens up about the hidden toll Hashimoto’s has taken—on her body, her mindset, and her identity as an athlete. She shares her lowest moments, what it took to keep pushing forward, and how learning to embrace vulnerability became one of her greatest strengths. Her story is a powerful reminder that even at the highest levels of sport, athletes are not immune to struggle—and no one has to face it alone.

“It'll pull you back if you let it pull you back.”-PaigeMadden

Skylar Park, professional taekwondo athlete, Olympic bronze medalist for Team Canada, and VIS mentor, discusses how she managed to embrace her feminine side as an athlete in a combative, male-dominated sport. Skylar debunks common combative sport myths by sharing her experiences and describes the strides the sport of Taekwondo has made towards equity for men and women athletes. Skylar provides young women athletes with great advice for embracing their athletic selves in sport.  

“Be confident in who you are and … believe in yourself wholeheartedly” -Sklyar Park 

Morgan Hentz, professional volleyball player, three-time NCAA National Champion, three-time Pac-12 Libero of the Year, and VIS Mentor, shares her best performance mindset tips. Morgan breaks down how working with a sports psychologist helped her develop new skills to overcome game-day performance anxiety. Morgan discusses strategies like breathwork, visualization, and communication with teammates, which have helped her to perform at her peak. Having access to mental health resources at Stanford helped Morgan balance her identity in and out of sport. Morgan wraps this episode with game-changing dos and don'ts—what coaches, parents, and teammates should (and shouldn't) say to athletes on game day.

“Effort, attitude, focus, being a great teammate—those four items you can always control" -Morgan Hentz