From All-American to Team Owner: Chelsea CJ Is Changing Women’s Football

From All-American to Team Owner: Chelsea CJ Is Changing Women’s Football

What does it take to go from athlete to owner—and build a football team from the ground up? This week on No Permission Needed, Brandee J sits down with Chelsea “CJ”, owner and head coach of the Columbus Chaos, to talk about her incredible journey from All-American athlete to one of the women leading the future of football. CJ opens up about the challenges of launching and growing a women’s football organization, balancing leadership roles on and off the field, and why representation matters for the next generation of girls in sports. In this episode, you’ll hear: • CJ’s transition from athlete to owner and coach • The vision behind building the Columbus Chaos • Lessons in leadership, resilience, and betting on yourself • The realities of running a women’s football organization • Why creating opportunities for women and girls in sports matters now more than ever Whether you’re an athlete, entrepreneur, coach, or someone chasing a dream that others don’t yet understand, this conversation is packed with inspiration and real-world leadership lessons. Because at No Permission Needed, we don’t wait for opportunities—we create them.

No Queen Plays Alone: Inside Women’s Tackle Football with the DMV Queens

They strap on pads, take real hits, and build real community — and they’re doing it without a fraction of the recognition they deserve. This week on No Permission Needed, Brandee sits down with DMV Queens player Rachon Harris and Coach Ash Carothers to get raw and real about what it actually takes to play women’s tackle football. They break down the landscape of the sport — three different leagues, three different rule books, one mission — and talk about why unity across those leagues matters more than competition between them. From the grind of practice to the brotherhood (sisterhood) of the game, this conversation is about women who showed up, suited up, and refused to be an afterthought in America’s most popular sport. Say it anyway. Play anyway. No permission needed.

From Setbacks to All-Pro: Sabrina “Pook” Kessler’s Journey Through Football, Motherhood & Mental Health

In this episode of No Permission Needed, Brandee J sits down with Sabrina “Pook” Kessler — 2x WNFC All-Pro player, San Diego Rebellion co-captain, mother of two, and powerhouse both on and off the field. From growing up in Compton/Long Beach and serving in the Army to walking away from nursing school for a successful career in high-voltage construction, Pook shares the real story behind her journey. We dive into her transition from Cali War to the San Diego Rebellion, navigating co-parenting, overcoming injuries, mental health, leadership in women’s football, and what it truly takes to keep pushing forward when life hits hard. This conversation is raw, inspiring, honest, and exactly what No Permission Needed is about.

Leading with Purpose in Sports ft. Coach Patty Medina

This week on No Permission Needed, Brandee J sits down with Coach Patty Medina — Associate Athletics Director of Student-Athlete Development & Inclusive Excellence at American University — for a powerful conversation on leadership, representation, and building real impact in sports. Born in Mexico and immigrating to the United States at age 9, Patty’s journey is one of resilience, purpose, and breaking barriers. With over 17 years in higher education and athletics, she’s leading initiatives that focus on student-athlete development, career readiness, inclusive excellence, and enhancing the game-day experience. As the founder of Latinx En Athletics and the Hooper Mentality Foundation, Patty is creating pathways for Latinos and Latinas in sports while advocating for mental health, leadership, and long-term success beyond the game. In this episode, we dive into: • Building leadership within student-athletes • Creating access and representation in sports • The importance of mental health and career development • What it takes to lead with purpose and intention This is more than a conversation , it’s a blueprint for impact. Tap in. Listen now. And remember , you don’t need permission to lead.

No Permission Needed: Media, Access & Women Changing the Game

In this episode of No Permission Needed, we sit down with Dee Loves Sports, a media personality who’s actively shaping the conversation across sports culture. From the WNBA to women’s soccer to football, we dive into how media is evolving, the importance of visibility, and what it really takes to create access in an industry that hasn’t always made space for women. This conversation goes beyond the game — it’s about influence, storytelling, and the power of showing up and owning your voice. If you care about where sports media is headed and who’s leading that change… this episode is for you.  No Permission Needed — where we don’t wait for opportunities, we create them