Unexpected Curves

StellaChella: Shattering Records & The New Media Playbook

This past weekend at Coachella, Justin Bieber showed us the future of fame: raw, self-referential, and direct-to-consumer. It was a stark contrast to the "Hard Power" and superhuman sacrifice of Beyoncé’s legendary 2018 Homecoming performance. While the pop world was debating these generational shifts in the desert, a group of women were cracking the same code on a different field of play just a week earlier. In this episode, we go behind the scenes of Project Stella. The team took on The Speed Project (TSP) the unsanctioned 340-mile relay from the Santa Monica Pier to the Las Vegas sign. In a "no rules, no spectators" nonstop push through the heat of the Mojave Desert, they shattered the previous record by 2 hours and 54 minutes, finishing in 30 hours and 19 minutes at an average pace of 6:30 per mile. This all-women’s squad didn't just lower the record; they built their own digital Main Stage by providing live, raw updates across the entire record attempt on their Instagram feed. I sit down with project architect Hannah Jackson to discuss the "Bieber treatment" of live-streaming sport, the logistics of managing elite talent in the middle of the desert, and what the future of Project Stella holds. The StellaChella Squad: Sophie Manners (@sophmannerss) Hannah O'Connor (@oconnorrhanna) Ella Neyman (@ellaneym) Christina Welsh (@christinajwelsh) Maddy Ackerley (@maackerley) Kate Dickman (@kateedickman)

BONUS: Olympic & World Champion Tara Davis-Woodhall

A lot has to come together for an athlete to perform at their best. Coaches, physio, family, talent, work ethic, a little luck, and a lot of faith. Tara Woodhall Davis has all of that, but what sets her apart is her energy. Every time she steps onto the runway, there’s an expectation of performance, and it’s her unapologetic energy that continues to push her to the next level. I caught up with Tara in Tokyo at the World Championships to talk about what it means to bring a big personality to a small sport still fighting to make its name. We get into Athlos, the moment she almost walked away from the sport, her journey to becoming an Olympic and World champion, and why the long jump, in her eyes, represents all of track and field.

Lab Girl: Inside the Research Redefining Female Athlete Health

A new year often comes with a renewed focus on health. Setting routines, getting organized, and trying to “start fresh.” In sport, that mindset can be powerful, but it can also come with hidden risks, especially for women. In this episode, I’m joined by researcher and athlete Melissa Lodge [https://www.instagram.com/fed_collaborative/?hl=en] to unpack the realities of under-fueling and RED-S, why so many female athletes are affected, and how sport systems often miss the mark. From the lab to the lived experience, this conversation explores what it actually takes to create healthier starting lines, and why better support early on can change everything.

The Politics Behind The Pilates Boom

What does the rise of Pilates reveal about women, power, and the bodies we value most? This week, I’m joined by fitness instructor, creator, and writer Mary Beth [https://www.instagram.com/mb.mv/]to unpack how her viral New York Times feature [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/06/style/pilates-politics-trump.html] connects Pilates to larger political and cultural trends. We talk about going viral, desirability, privilege, and what the most radical future for fitness could look like.

Where Them Girls At: Fictional Portrayals of Women in Sport

This week we're talking about the fictional characters that made all the athletic girls feel validated, and gave women and girls a chance to see themselves on screen. I'm joined by filmmaker Jac'leen Smith [https://www.jacleensmith.com/]to discuss her short film Flex Venus, inspired by her experiences as a track athlete. Jac'leen is currently crowdfunding for her project. You can find out more about her film, and support her and her team here. [https://seedandspark.com/fund/flexvenus#]