With You: A Womxn’s Rugby Podcast
43 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 7 ratingsWhere womxn’s rugby meets nostalgia- a podcast for stories and memories from across the womxn’s rugby community. Please reach out if you’re interested in being on the show. Just like your first rugby practice- all ages and experience levels are welcome. 🏉⭐️💕🥳
🌎 www.withyoupodcast.co
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Episodes
S2E15: Smarto & National Collegiate Rugby (2/2)
June 11, 2022 11:00 - 25 minutes - 47.5 MBWelcome back for season 2’s finale! Episode 15 is the second of two episodes featuring Angela Smarto, NCR D1 director, Penn State alum, & head coach of Robert Morris University. In the first, we looked at collegiate restructuring post 2020 in regards to the USA Rugby bankruptcy & the global pandemic. Today, Smarto shares her joy & calls us to action - to support our local clubs & alumni collegiate teams alike. For more about NCR, upcoming tournaments & to get in touch visit ncrugby.org WIT...
S2E14: Smarto & National Collegiate Rugby
June 04, 2022 07:00 - 35 minutes - 64.2 MBEpisode 14 is one of two episodes featuring Angela Smarto, NCR women’s director, Penn State alum, & head coach of Robert Morris University. Not familiar with National Collegiate Rugby? You’re about to be. Smarto talks reorganizing after the 2020 break & IG stalking teams to get them reconnected. Tune in next week for part 2 of this episode featuring joy & ways to support our collegiate teams. For more about NCR, upcoming competitions & more visit ncrugby.org WITH YOU is a self run passion ...
S2E13: Bri & Greer Youth Rugby
May 28, 2022 10:00 - 30 minutes - 56.6 MBBri (she/they) brings the coaching perspective to episode 13 of season 2. Now settled outside Greenville NC, Bri shares how she came to coach for the Greer 76ers & how it’s been getting back into coaching after the pandemic. If you in the upstate of North Carolina & looking for youth rugby (middle & high school), check out Greer Youth Rugby! https://www.cityofgreer.org/958/Youth-and-High-School-Rugby WITH YOU is a self run passion project for Sus Kitchen, who can be found on IG @s.kitch or...
S2E12: Jess & the Colorado Gray Wolves
May 21, 2022 10:00 - 21 minutes - 40 MBEpisode 12 features Jess, former D1 captain & current starting WPL fullback for the Colorado Gray Wolves. We chat fall return to play & how she thought about giving up the sport, but what kept her coming back. Support the Wolves on their road to nationals & follow along on IG @cograywolves WITH YOU is a self run passion project for Sus Kitchen, who can be found on IG @s.kitch or visit the WITH YOU website for transcriptions & contact information at www.withyoupodcast.co
S2E11: Tink & the Colorado Gray Wolves
May 14, 2022 12:40 - 20 minutes - 37.1 MBEpisode 11 features Tink, winger and former co-captain of the Colorado Gray Wolves D1 side (FKA Glendale Merlins). We chat leadership & rebranding, as well as, Tink’s path to rugby & how she’s finding joy in rookies. Support the Wolves on their road to nationals & follow along on IG @cograywolves WITH YOU is a self run passion project for Sus Kitchen, who can be found on IG @s.kitch or visit the WITH YOU website for transcriptions & contact information at www.withyoupodcast.co
S2E10: Tamara & the Warriors
May 07, 2022 10:00 - 18 minutes - 33.3 MBEpisode 10 features Tamara, returning to play after raising a couple kids & excited to be part of a new social team practicing in Camp Pendleton, California. The Warriors were founded in January 2020 & even against the separation of covid, have built a social team & are back to the pitch. You can check out a Camp Pendleton Warriors game or boot up for practice by following along on IG @warriorswomensrugby_2020 WITH YOU is a self run passion project for Sus Kitchen, who can be found on IG @...
S2E9: Meg & Denver Black Ice
April 23, 2022 12:00 - 27 minutes - 51.3 MBMeg (they/them) captained the Denver Black Ice last fall & this spring. This episode serves as reflection into the past, as Meg & Sus talk fall RTP as Black Ice just finished up their spring season. Meg has so many great thoughts & reflections, I hope they prompt thought in you! Meg is a musician. You should give them a listen! You can find their work at unclemeg.com or on IG @unclemegmusic and listen along on Spotify under the artist name Uncle Meg If you’re in Denver & looking for an awes...
S2E8: ELDERS & FAMILY TIES
April 16, 2022 12:00 - 36 minutes - 66.3 MBEpisode 8 highlights four guests from Season 1 of WITH YOU. The first three are clips about family members who had a big impact of their rugby lives. The last is a clip from Pinto the Bean, one of our rugby elders, and someone who’s committed so much of her life to the game. Lina’s rugby origin story & coming out is available in Season 1 Episode 17. Sarah’s whole story can be heard in the back catalogue at Season 1 Episode 20 Katie Cross talks a lifetime of rugby on Season 1 Episode 13....
S2E7: Christina & the Columbia Black Sheep
April 09, 2022 17:26 - 36 minutes - 66.3 MBChristina joins us as rugby elder this week. She walks up through a stint with breast cancer & finding her home again in rugby, where she can’t believe she ever left. If you’re in the Columbia, Missouri area, reach out to the Black Sheep through their page https://m.facebook.com/MidMoRugby/ WITH YOU is a self run passion project for Sus Kitchen, who can be found on IG @s.kitch or visit the WITH YOU website for transcriptions & contact information at www.withyoupodcast.co
S2E6: Aadra & Eagan Rugby
April 02, 2022 13:35 - 28 minutes - 52.1 MBAadra joins the show as the youngest of WITH YOU guests. She play varsity rugby as a freshman at Eagan High School outside Minneapolis, moonlights as the Amazons water girl, & is committing her life to rugby. If you’re in the Twin Cities, check out a Eagan Rugby match & cheer Aadra on! https://www.eaasports.org/rugby WITH YOU is a self run passion project for Sus Kitchen, who can be found on IG @s.kitch or visit the WITH YOU website for transcriptions & contact information at www.withyoupo...
Grace & the Berkeley All Blues
March 26, 2022 12:00 - 35 minutes - 65 MBThis week Grace joins the podcast to talk return to play at Berkeley and about transgender rights, access, & boundaries. You can find her advocacy work on IG @rugbyforall.co If you’re in the Bay Area, check out the Berkeley All Blues or watch a match! https://www.berkeleyallblues.com IG: @allbluesrugby WITH YOU is a self run passion project for Sus Kitchen, who can be found on IG @s.kitch or visit the WITH YOU website for transcriptions & contact information at www.withyoupodcast.co
S2E5: Grace & the Berkeley All Blues
March 26, 2022 12:00 - 35 minutes - 65 MBThis week Grace joins the podcast to talk return to play at Berkeley and about transgender rights, access, & boundaries. You can find her advocacy work on IG @rugbyforall.co If you’re in the Bay Area, check out the Berkeley All Blues or watch a match! https://www.berkeleyallblues.com IG: @allbluesrugby WITH YOU is a self run passion project for Sus Kitchen, who can be found on IG @s.kitch or visit the WITH YOU website for transcriptions & contact information at www.withyoupodcast.co
S2E4: Mudge & the Berkeley All Blues
March 19, 2022 10:00 - 25 minutes - 47.1 MBMudge returns to WITH YOU for a convo about joining the Berkeley All Blues & on return to play protocols. Sus & Mudge also chat about taking care of our bodies as we age in rugby. If you want to hear more from Mudge, check out Season 1, Episode 2 for her rugby origin story. If you’re in the Bay Area, check out the Berkeley All Blues or watch a match! https://www.berkeleyallblues.com IG: @allbluesrugby WITH YOU is a self run passion project for Sus Kitchen, who can be found on IG @s.kitch...
S2E3: HAPPY WOMXN’S HISTORY MONTH
March 12, 2022 13:00 - 16 minutes - 29.7 MBEpisode 3 is an homage to women’s history month & in celebration of International Women’s Day. It features throwback clips from episode 10 of season 1 & a teaser from a future episode- both centering around women’s experiences in rugby as it’s become a space for their growth and expression. To hear more from Leslie, check out Episode 4 of Season 1 in the main feed of WITH YOU. For more about Grace’s experience, listen in for a future episode or check out her work for trans inclusion on IG @r...
S2E2: Jess Brown & the Pittsburgh Forge
March 05, 2022 13:00 - 27 minutes - 50 MBEpisode 2 features Jess Brown, scrum half at the Pittsburgh Forge & a professional fitness coach. With Sus, she reflects on return to play and the two examine how a healthy mindset & developing mindfulness skills can affect one’s performance on the rugby pitch. If you’re in the Pittsburgh area, and interested in a successful women’s club, check out the Forge! https://pghrugby.com/womens-club IG @pittsburghrugby Follow along with Jess Brown & inquire about coaching services on IG @jessbrownf...
S2E1: Patsy & the Pittsburgh Forge
February 26, 2022 11:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBEpisode 1 of Season 2 features Patsy’s return to play with the Pittsburgh Forge from a break before the covid era. Patsy’s found a new love in the Forge and has been examining and rebuilding her confidence on the rugby pitch. She was featured on episode 4 of Season 1, if you want to hear her rugby origin story. Cheers! If you’re in the Pittsburgh area, and interested in a successful women’s club, check out the Forge! https://pghrugby.com/womens-club IG @pittsburghrugby Follow along with Pat...
SEASON 2 TRAILER: Return to Play
February 19, 2022 13:00 - 1 minute - 2.16 MBBuckle up for a second season of WITH YOU, where guests join Sus to reflect on return to play in 2021.
S1E23: Alli wants you to HONOR YOU WEIRD! Also on mental health & injury, grief & belonging + more
August 07, 2021 12:00 - 56 minutes - 52.6 MBAlli is one of Sus’s favorite humans on this planet. She helped get WITH YOU off the ground & now shares her story to finish off Season 1 of the show. This conversation is tender & vulnerable, as Al tells about her experiences of loss & decline of her mental health until injuries forced her to step away from the pitch. She shares on discovering this correlation & how she’s taken steps more recently to prevent injury. Then, the two get into the curiosity that brought Alli back to the pitch & h...
S1E22: Lauren on D2 club, making herself uncomfortable to grow into WPL & ARPTC, & big bear energy
July 31, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 57.2 MBLauren helped make this first season of WITH YOU possible by sharing with her rugby communities & this week y’all get the treat of hearing her rugby story. As a college student, she found a local D2 women club to join, fell in love with rugby, & stuck around 7 years before seeking more competitive play. A tour to Australia gave Lauren the itch to make herself uncomfortable, so she joined WPL team Chicago North Shore & played 7s with the Chicago Lions. Lauren shares with Sus how she found “typ...
S1E21: Shevi on a rookie collegiate team, health & exercise science, & coming out
July 24, 2021 12:00 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MBShevi found herself on a rookie collegiate team that saved her from dropping out of school & allowed her to become familiar with her own identity. Shev shares with Sus what a life changing experience it was for her when she realized the rugby team could be her family away from home. She was introduced to cultures outside of the one she grew up in & formed important friendships along the way. She began to see exercise in a different light. Rugby was also her first introduction to the LGBTQIA+ ...
S1E20: How Sarah became Daddy, working with Olympians, coaching at Play Rugby USA, & so much more
July 18, 2021 04:36 - 1 hour - 66.4 MBSarah has been playing rugby since middle school but she’s been watching her older brothers play rugby since early elementary school. From the founding of a girls 7s team and moving into high school XVs, she found her best friend & an undying love for rugby. Plagued by injuries in college, she took some time away from the pitch, but didn’t want to let go. This led her to an internship with USA Rugby, working closely with the 2016 Men’s 7s National team on their road to the Rio Olympics. While...
S1E19: Sully on Australian rugby! + pitch talk, ACL recoveries, & wearing multiple hats
July 11, 2021 04:48 - 1 hour - 59.9 MBSully has spent the last decade of her life finding ways to stay involved in rugby. A collegiate ACL tear became a gateway into a Master’s thesis researching rugby, an internship for Rugby Illinois, and then a job with USA Rugby. In Episode 19, Sus & Sully jump around exploring what she’s learned along the way, her experiences coaching, changing teams, and then they dive into rugby in Australia. There’s lots of pitch talk sprinkled throughout & so much detail into rugby culture Down Under. Th...
S1E18: Pinto the Bean on 25 years of rugby, taking breaks, healing, & a fake retirement
July 04, 2021 03:09 - 1 hour - 59.5 MBPinto The Bean joins Sus on episode 18 to talk 25 years (!!!!!!!!!) of rugby. She “accidentally” wandered away from her debutante destiny and onto a rugby pitch in college & never looked back. She’s a founding member of both the collegiate women’s team at Northern Illinois University & the Fox Valley Vixens, and by design has never been a rookie. After a break from playing, Pinto was saved from a toxic relationship & pulled back to the pitch at an alumni game for NIU. From there, she funnele...
S1E17: Lina aka Hector on rugby as a pillar, finding chosen family & coming out!
June 26, 2021 12:00 - 56 minutes - 52.5 MBLina takes the stage on Episode 17, where she & Sus dive into her rugby career. Starting at UMBC, Lina transferred to University of Vermont her sophomore year, where she got the sweet nickname Hector, found a chosen family, & was able to fully embrace her queer identity. Sus & Lina chat details of playing all different positions on the field & how the confidence gained on the pitch reflects into real life. To close out the episode, Lina shares how grief prompted her coming out & how the rugby...
S1E16: IU college rugby changed Jordyn’s life! On mental health, accountability, & the Kinsey scale
June 21, 2021 17:08 - 1 hour - 56.4 MBEpisode 16 features Jordyn, who found rugby in college after choosing not to play in high school from the fear of injury. Sus & Jordyn look into her early athletic endeavors & how Jordyn built resilience through them (think being the only girl on a youth wrestling team) & then get into how she found herself at rugby practice sophomore year. Jordyn very bravely shares about her struggles with mental health & how rugby impacted her, as well as, how the rugby team became a safe place for her to ...
S1E15: Fatty aka Fati aka La Gorda on the urban zoo, Glendale WPL, & carrying rugby into real life
June 12, 2021 12:00 - 1 hour - 63 MBEpisode 15 is a deep dive between two best friends. Fati comes on the show to chat with Sus & they get into Fati’s rugby origin story, how she left soccer & found camaraderie in college rugby, & then left college & wandered onto the Glendale WPL team. The convo has a natural flow to it, exploring how Fati’s nickname (La Gorda) affected her perception of herself growing up & how she turned parts of it around through sports. The two chat for awhile about the environment at Glendale WPL & how it...
S1E14: Jaz on HS XVs, taking breaks, moving cross country, embracing her bisexuality, & coaching HS
June 05, 2021 12:00 - 55 minutes - 51.8 MBEpisode 14 features Jaz, who shares how she found rugby, proving her athleticism by doing both cheer & rugby in high school. She was almost run off from rugby by the conditioning, but it may have been tackling that kept her coming back. She took a break in college, but found her way back to the pitch junior year & on to the Indy women’s club after graduation & then WPL at Berkeley. Alongside her story, Jaz shares the ways she grew to accept & embrace her body, on moving cross country for WPL ...
S1E13: Katie Cross on rage mode, a father-daughter rugby bond, & recovery from burnout + pitch talk
May 29, 2021 12:00 - 57 minutes - 53.1 MBKatie Cross was born with rugby, likely in the womb first 😆 , but definitely since the spry young age of 5 when her Dad, an Irish scrum half himself, registered her for a tag rugby league. She played through her youth & into college, recovered from 2 major ankle injuries, & found herself burned out on rugby after college. When she rejoined at the women’s club level, her relationship to rugby changed completely & in a way that she’s dreaming the transition to coaching, following in her Dad’s f...
S1E12: Liz is in post-production for the film FURIOUS! She’s also a badass center with scoliosis.
May 22, 2021 12:00 - 1 hour - 64.2 MBLiz is a documentary filmmaker! Currently in post production, FURIOUS explores the legacy of the DC Furies Women’s Rugby Club, speaking to founders & players & on what it means on the women who have dedicated their lives to the Furies club. The trailer for the film can be found at https://vimeo.com/547215559 & more about the project can be found at http://furiousthefilm.com/ Liz made a short documentary film in college exploring rugby & feminist which can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/lSGD...
S1E12: Liz is in post-production for FURIOUS! She’s also a playmaker center with scoliosis.
May 22, 2021 12:00 - 1 hour - 64.2 MBLiz is a documentary filmmaker! Currently in post production, FURIOUS explores the legacy of the DC Furies Women’s Rugby Club, speaking to founders & players & on what it means on the women who have dedicated their lives to the Furies club. The trailer for the film can be found at https://vimeo.com/547215559 & more about the project can be found at http://furiousthefilm.com/ Liz made a short documentary film in college exploring rugby & feminist which can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/lSGD...
S1E11: Katie H is doing the most bc rugby keeps on giving! A PhD on concussion, reffing, + LOTS MORE
May 15, 2021 12:00 - 1 hour - 68.2 MBEpisode 11 features Katie H- retired fullback, scientist en route to a PhD via studies on rugby & concussion, rugby referee, S&C coach for USA rugby. She worked as the scientist on the open letter to USA rugby in support of the rights of trans athletes & is a member of the USA rugby’s T&D committee. She’s doing a lot, to say the least 😆 Sus & Katie dive into how rugby found her on the basketball court & even though she actively shunned rugby as part of her identity, it just kept giving her m...
S1E10: Leslie on UMBC rugby!!! & relationship to women, saving her bro’s life & life after rugby
May 08, 2021 16:48 - 47 minutes - 43.5 MBThis one’s for my UMBC alumni!! But also everyone who’s played collegiate club rugby.... ok, it’s for everyone else too 😆 Leslie (she/her) & Sus played rugby together in college at UMBC back in the mid 2000’s. They look back together, reflecting on the life changing bits of college rugby- how Leslie lost 60 pounds, learned how to be friends with women, & later how becoming the president of the club had its perks & its struggles. They wrap up with how Leslie left the pitch to save her baby br...
S1E9: Kayla on HS rugby, leadership, health, & how her life changed radically through residency camp
May 01, 2021 14:00 - 49 minutes - 45.6 MBKayla (she/her) is a High School athlete finishing her senior season, the first on the show so far! She gives Sus the rundown on how changing schools led her to rugby in the first place. Sus is totally impressed by the leadership skills she’s already developed & captaining her HS team, & the two share on the struggles of finding healthy eating & exercise habits & relationship to body image. The convo dives into how Kayla’s ARPTC residency marked a turning point in her life, finding her way ou...
S1E8: Fika on finding herself at fullback, the joy of being strong, & how she uses rugby skills IRL
April 24, 2021 14:00 - 50 minutes - 46.8 MBFika (she/her) found rugby in chemistry class, whoda thunk? But She didn’t find her happy place on the field until she volunteered to fill the fullback position a graduating senior left open and became aware of abilities she didn’t know she had. What opened up the fullback game to her even more? A combo of having fun making up plays with the wings, being an “Easter egg” (as she puts it), & reluctantly enjoying summer 7s. Now working as an athletic trainer, she’s carrying lessons of strength i...
S1E7: Judy didn’t like rugby but she kept coming back, how she pivots with help from ARPTC & ISO WPL
April 17, 2021 14:00 - 1 hour - 57.5 MBJudy (she/her) didn’t like rugby for her first few years but a group of (badass) teammates kept pulling her back in. An experience at Vegas 7s & moving to the back line completely changed her perspective & now she’s loving the game & imagining herself playing at higher & higher level. Along the way, Sus & Judy talk about how coaches can really make or break the game for individual players, letting her guard down over & over again, so much growth at ARPTC camp, & how she’s planning for returni...
S1E6: How rugby found Chef, finding mentors & friends, partnering with an IGR team & inclusion
April 10, 2021 14:22 - 1 hour - 63.6 MBChef (she/her/boss) is a Baltimore rugger & has been leading Chesapeake Women RFC via president & forwards captain for a number of years now. Sus learns how rugby found Chef during Pridefest, they chat coach/player mentorship, & establishing a relationship with the Baltimore Flamingos, an International Gay Rugby (IGR) team. The convo turns real when the two get to talking about inclusivity & the responsibility we all have to continue to learn & becoming more accepting. Enjoy! CW: this episod...
S1E5: On gender identity, relationship to self, & playing in the Netherlands with Nick (she/he/they)
April 03, 2021 14:00 - 49 minutes - 45.7 MBNick is a non-binary, gender fluid rugger who found womxn’s rugby when they were looking for a competitive sport after high school. Sus & Nick chat expression of identity in different spaces before getting into traveling moments, what playing in the Netherlands is like, & how rugby has become a centering place through life’s changes. Spoiler: rugby culture is rad everywhere! 🤪 TW/CW: general discussion of coming out/being out in various spaces & references to alcohol use As always, WITH YOU...
S1E4: HS to Women’s then Varsity rugby, coaching, & playing in New Zealand with Patsy!
March 27, 2021 14:00 - 50 minutes - 46.7 MBSus & Patsy, good friends, chat Patsy’s rugby origin story. Then, finding a Varsity program & jumping on board, and finally playing internationally in New Zealand! This one has the funnest closer yet: 2 truths & a lie. Do you think Sus will guess correctly? Listen to the end to find out 😉 PLEASE BE AWARE THERE ARE A FEW TECH GLITCHES IN THE FIRST 20 MINS OR SO but they don’t seem to make the convo incoherent. Hope you can still follow along! As always, WITH YOU is looking for more guests to ...
S1E4: HS to Women’s then Varsity rugby, coaching, & playing in New Zealand with Patsy! (she/her)
March 27, 2021 14:00 - 50 minutes - 46.7 MBSus & Patsy, good friends, chat Patsy’s rugby origin story. Then, finding a Varsity program & jumping on board, and finally playing internationally in New Zealand! This one has the funnest closer yet: 2 truths & a lie. Do you think Sus will guess correctly? Listen to the end to find out 😉 PLEASE BE AWARE THERE ARE A FEW TECH GLITCHES IN THE FIRST 20 MINS OR SO but they don’t seem to make the convo incoherent. Hope you can still follow along! As always, WITH YOU is looking for more guests to ...
S1E3: Pitch talk & the 7s game, a broken neck, & returning to play after giving birth, with Twiggs!
March 20, 2021 14:00 - 1 hour - 57.6 MBWow y’all. This one is PACKED with insights, laughs, and moments that stand still. Sus & Twiggs dive into her rugby origin story and how she fell in love with 7s. The pair digress into some proper positional shop talk here and there before coming around to a neck injury that left Twiggs bed bound and separate from her community. The realest nuance is how returning to play was a decision she had to make specifically for herself. Next, the biggest challenge of her rugby career yet- how motherho...
S1E2: Resilience, pride, and acceptance run throughout, with Mudge
March 13, 2021 15:00 - 53 minutes - 49.2 MBSus chats with an old teammate from Chesapeake, Mudge. They walk through changing sport in college and then transitioning into city life and a womxn’s team. Leadership, resilience, playing new positions, and team bonds come up, and the two end the chat with sports bra sprints to retrieve jerseys just minutes before kickoff. As always, WITH YOU is looking for more guests to come on the show! If you’ve ever been part of a womxn’s rugby program, I want to hear from you 🙃 Find a participation su...
S1E1: Finding Rugby in College with Maria
March 06, 2021 15:00 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBIn the PREMIER episode, Sus catches up with a dear old friend from college, Maria. They reflect on their beginning years, how fear can hinder you even after an injury is healed, and how one’s perspective changes in a community full of acceptance and overflowing with strength. TW/CW: discussion of body image and body shame. As always, WITH YOU is looking for more guests to come on the show! If you’ve ever been part of a womxn’s rugby program, I want to hear from you 🙃 Find a participation sur...
Season 1 Trailer
February 27, 2021 17:45 - 3 minutes - 3.15 MBA call to action- meet me in the middle for a conversation about how womxn’s rugby has changed your life and how you’ve grown along the way!