Athlete Insights

Ball State to the Cincinnati Cyclones: Alicia Barnachea’s Journey in Sport | Ep. 79

In this episode of Athlete Insights, I sit down with Alicia Barnachea, Game Presentation/Operations and Community Relations Manager for the Cincinnati Cyclones, to talk about her journey from Ball State University to building a career in professional sports.Alicia shares her experiences breaking into the sport industry, lessons learned along the way, and what it’s really like working behind the scenes in professional hockey. We also reflect on our time at Ball State, the importance of networking, gaining hands-on experience, and advice for students and young professionals looking to work in sports.In this episode, we discuss: * Alicia’s path from Ball State to the Cincinnati Cyclones * What game presentation & sport operations look like behind the scenes * Community relations and fan engagement in professional sports * Breaking into the competitive sport industry * Career advice for aspiring women in sport * Lessons learned from the journey so far + more! Like & Subscribe to Athlete Insights for more conversations with athletes, coaches, and sport industry professionals sharing their journeys and insights!

From Ball State to Northwestern Football | Coach Jacob White on Coaching, Recruiting & NIL | Ep. 78

In this episode of Athlete Insights, we sit down with Jacob White, Assistant Linebackers Coach at Northwestern University, to discuss his journey from his early days in football to playing at Ball State University and building his career in college coaching.Coach White shares insights on leadership, player development, recruiting in today’s college football landscape, and how NIL and the transfer portal have completely changed the game for coaches and student-athletes.We also dive into what separates great linebackers, the importance of team culture, and advice for young people looking to break into football coaching and operations.If you're interested in college football, coaching, NIL, recruiting, or leadership in sports—this is an episode you won’t want to miss.Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more conversations with athletes, coaches, and leaders across the sports industry.

Behind the Scenes of Golf Communications with Tennessee Golf Association's Josh Shelton | Ep. 77

In this episode of Athlete Insights, I sit down with Josh Shelton, Communications Manager for the Tennessee Golf Association, to dive into the world of sports communications in golf.Josh shares his journey into the industry, what it takes to effectively tell the story of the game, and how communications plays a critical role in growing golf at the amateur level. We also discuss the day-to-day responsibilities behind managing media, branding, and digital content for a state association.Whether you're interested in sports media, golf, or building a career in athletics, this episode provides valuable insights and practical advice for students and aspiring professionals.Josh and I talked about: Breaking into sports communicationsThe role of media in growing the game of golfBehind-the-scenes of the Tennessee Golf AssociationCareer advice for sport management studentsDon’t forget to subscribe for more episodes of Athlete Insights!

Kaylan Makan on Playing for Tennessee Basketball, His Journey & Advice for Athletes | Ep. 76

In this episode of Athlete Insights, we sit down with Kaylan Makan, former Tennessee Basketball player, alongside guest host Dave Patel.Kaylan shares his journey from his early beginnings to competing at the Division I level with Tennessee Basketball. We also dive into his experience as an Indian-American athlete in college sports, the challenges he faced, and how his identity shaped his path.This episode is packed with insight for athletes, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, as Kaylan provides real advice on what it takes to succeed at the next level—both on and off the court.Social Media links to follow: Kaylan Makan:Twitter (X): @Kaylan_MakanInstagram: @kaylanmakan1Dave Patel: Twitter (X): @davep2024Instagram: @davep2024Yash Padhye:Twitter (X): @PadhyeYashInstagram: @TheYashPadhyeIf you’re an aspiring athlete or just love hearing real stories from high-level competitors, this episode is for you.Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more athlete stories!

The Teleri Hughes Story: From Farragut to Teleri Athletics | Athlete Insights Ep. 75

In this episode of Athlete Insights, we dive into The Teleri Hughes Story: From Farragut to Teleri Athletics.Former Tennessee Lady Vol golfer Teleri Hughes shares her journey from youth golf and Farragut High School to competing at the collegiate level for Tennessee. She opens up about the transition out of competitive golf and how that experience inspired her to launch Teleri Athletics, a women’s golf apparel brand focused on elevating and supporting the women’s game.Teleri discusses:Her youth and high school golf developmentWhat it was like playing for the Tennessee Lady VolsThe challenges of life after college athleticsHow and why she built Teleri AthleticsHer mission to grow and support women’s golfWhether you're a student-athlete, sport management professional, or fan of women’s golf, this episode provides valuable insight into athlete transition and sport entrepreneurship.