Advertise on podcast: On Her Mark

Emily Harrington has done what very few people who ever dream to do: free climb "Golden Gate" on El Capitan in under 24 hours. When she reached the summit in 2020, she became the first woman and fourth person ever to complete the route in under a day. A professional rock climber and 5-time national champion, Emily has also summited Mount Everest and joined an expedition to ascend an unclimbed mountain in Myanmar. Free climbing El Cap was always on her list, but it was far from easy. The gritty, challenging, and unglamorous journey was captured in Netflix's feature documentary "Girl Climber." Today we dive in to:  Mindset training that helped prepare her for this big climb and climbing in general Emily's introduction to the sport in Colorado with her dad The spectrum of risk -- how to measure & qualify it Learning to love failure Overcoming injury in training for the "Golden Gate" free climb Feeling "unready" for motherhood but wanting to fulfil the dream Adjusting to new chapters of life and pursuing new interests "Girl Climber" is streaming on Netflix now: watch here  Follow Emily Harrington on social: @emilyaharrington  Subscribe to Emily's family adventures on YouTube: DangerStikTV Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There's only one way to describe the success of Emilea Zingas and Zadym Kolesnik's 2026 season: METEORIC. Four years ago, they started skating together and immediately clicked. Now, they are the top ice dance duo in America. Just this year they placed fifth at the Milan Olympics, earned bronze at ISU Figure Skating World Championships just weeks later, and a gold at ISU Figure Skating Four Continents Championships before that! They simply love of skating together, taking risks, and chasing big dreams. Emilea thought she would be coming to Boston to attend university, now she's here as an Olympian chasing gold. Today we dive into:  Her reflections & reactions to their breakout season and rise to top American ice dance pair Why she fell in love with the sports as a kid Emilea's reluctance to ice dance & the realization that changed everything   How coaching has altered her perspective on competition Power of working with a sports psychologist to get an advantage over competitors Why her relationship off the ice with Vadym helps their relationship on the ice The strong role family has played in their success Emilea's definition of success & her pride in taking the risk to chase it Preview of this season's program with a BOLD music choice Emilea's interests away from the rink Follow Emilea on social: @emileazingas   Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

2026 has been a huge year for Shea Dolce. First, the Connecticut native wrapped up a stellar lacrosse career at Boston College. Then, she was selected second overall in the Women's Lacrosse League (WLL) Draft to the Boston Guard, won gold with Team USA at the World Lacrosse Women's Championships, named 'Player of the Game,' and scored a coaching gig at Dartmouth College! Shea is one of the best goalies in the sport -- she plays with precision and joy. She was hooked from the jump and has been chasing success ever since. Today we dive into:  Winning gold at the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship -- the team, the environment, and what the experience meant to her Privilege of continuing her playing career with the Boston Guard in an "electric, die-hard (sports) city" How the Boston College Women's Lacrosse Program has created such a special culture on and off the field  Excitement around WLL and Shea's hopes and predictions for the future  Why coaching at Dartmouth is an exciting opportunity to push the game forward and give back  Shea's unconventional introduction to the goalie position & special connection with her coach  The superstitions she's dropped to become more flexible for the WLL schedule and which she cannot let go  Follow Shea on social media: @sbdolce Follow the Boston Guard on social: @wllguard  Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After 4 years at Temple University, and a final year of eligibility at Boston College, defender Courtney Taylor wasn't ready to say goodbye to lacrosse, so, she found ways to keep playing. Courtney played three years with Athletes Unlimited, went on to bring home a gold medal for Team USA at the World Lacrosse Box Championships in 2024, and just wrapped up her second year with the Boston Guard in the Women’s Lacrosse League (WLL). Today we dive into:  Settling into year 2 with the Boston Guard in a city-based league What attracted her to Boston College (and the lacrosse program) for her master's degree How her lifelong competitiveness prepared her to chase lacrosse at the highest level What preparation looked like to play a key role in becoming the inaugural box lacrosse world champions The differences between box and field lacrosse (including training!) What a day-in-the-life looks like as she balances her corporate and athletics careers How shifting her mindset from "I have to" to "I get to" has helped her chase big dreams Predictions for what the league and sport will look like in 5 years Follow along with Courtney on social: @courtneyy.taylorrr Follow along with the Boston Guard on social: @wllguard Learn more about the WLL: thewll.com Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There's  new rowing discipline debuting at the LA 2028 Summer Olympic Games: beach sprints! It's completely different than traditional rowing (think Head of the Charles Regatta!) but exactly what Sera Moon Busse had always hoped for in the sport. Sera won silver at the 2025 World Rowing Beach Sprints and won back-to-back Canadian Henleys. She's started rowing her sophomore year at Tufts University and was hooked. As a speed and power athlete she was thrilled when beach sprints were introduced. You may also recognize her from Hydrow where she coaches athletes across the globe.  Today we dive into:  What beach sprints are -- how they work & how they differ immensely from classic rowing  Why Sera was excited to explore the new discipline after years of training on flat water  How she approaches goalsetting for BIG goals and the smaller ones along the way  Strategies she uses to navigate setbacks, physical and mental  How mental training has bolstered her physical training and competition performances  What a day in the life looks like in training camp  Follow Sera on social: @seramoonbusse Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Lauren Shehadi is one of the most recognizable voices covering Major League Baseball. The host and reporter has loved the sport since her Little League days, and now she gets to be a part of it at the professional level. Lauren is a co-host of 'MLB Central' on the MLB Network among other sports assignments (think: on-field during MLB post-season, March Madness, etc!) Earlier this year she was hired for Netflix's MLB coverage as their in-game reporter, giving her the opportunity to cover the MLB at Field of Dreams Game on Thursday, August 13th. Today we dive in to:  Her genuine excitement to cover the MLB at Field of Dreams Game for Netflix Balancing the entertainment and nostalgia of the game with the stakes of a regular season matchup between the Phillies and Twins How her humble beginnings in the industry prepared her for this moment  Why thorough prep work helps her gameday confidence & ability to roll with the inevitable unpredictability of sports "Blessing in the breaking"  Follow along with Lauren on social: @laurenshehadi  Watch the MLB at Field of Dreams Game on Netflix -- coverage begins at 6:30pm EST // game is scheduled for 7:30pm EST  Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts is the woman you want on your team when you're looking to find peace in our world's chaos. Chelsea is a highly sought-after yoga, meditation, and breathwork teacher (you probably know her from Peloton!) She found yoga first as a workout and quickly realized that it could (and would!) bring so much to her life. She is a graduate of Spellman College and went on to get her PhD in educational studies from Emory. It was there she coined the concept of "inner literacy," which she dives into today.  Now, Chelsea combines all of the lessons and life experiences to continue to learn, build community and help others find peace, presence and power. Today we dive into:  Her first yoga class; what drew her in and what made her stay going back  How she went from teaching 3rd grade to teaching yoga, meditation and mindfulness to millions across the globe  The transformative experience with girls and teens at Spellman College's Yoga, Literature & Art Camp  What it means to slow down and simplify the common cue of "take a deep breath"  Why embracing reality and coexistence opens the door for more opportunity in the yoga practice  What inner literary is and how it is important to understanding self and community  Power of truly being present  Why the opportunity to lead classes at The Residency in Martha's Vineyard makes her emotional & excited Follow along with Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts on social: @chelsealovesyoga  For more on The Residency: theresidencybybrandnew.com More on Peloton: onepeloton.com Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s not often that you find your passion and purpose at the same time. So, when Ednaija 'Nay' Lassiter did, she stepped into her power. Nay grew up playing basketball in Boston and went on to play through high school and college. It was during college when she started to struggle with her mental health, where she found help, and where she found her purpose. So, Nay founded "Heavy Hearted Convos" to ensure that youth today have easy access to the mental health resources, workshops, and mentorship.  She has not left her love of basketball behind, she is the head girls' basketball coach at Governor's Academy. She is changing people's lives and making them feel seen and valued. Today we dive into:  How she found strength in her story & took ownership of both the highs and lows  Her beginning days with basketball & her relentless desire to compete  Mental health struggles & support  Inspiration behind 'Heavy Hearted Convos,' the non-profit that makes mental wellness accessible, relatable & real Power, significance & joy she finds in relationship building  Why coaching teen girls is important to Nay & how it's been healing for her Non-negotiables for young athletes to be successful as individuals and a team  If you or someone you know is struggling, call 988 or find resources here.  For more information about Heavy Hearted Convos: heavyheartedconvos.com  Follow Heavy Hearted Convos on social: @heavyhconvos     Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Imagine a sports bra that doesn’t chafe, doesn’t dig into your shoulders or torso, or require a second one to provide adequate support. Basically, imagine a sports bra that fits! That’s exactly what Harvard engineer and Robyn Athletic founder Sara Falkson is after! You probably know her from her viral videos on social (or her first episode here on the podcast!) Now, Sara is taking all she worked on at Harvard and is developing the first Robyn sports bra set to release in Spring 2027.  Of course, Robyn started with the bra but is now so much more, including body confidence workshops.  Sara was inspired by her own story in sport – a former Dartmouth College field hockey captain – and the widely reported stat from a Dove study finding that nearly 50% of girls drop out of sports by the time they’re 14 years old. Today we dive into:  Why Sara decided to push forward with redesigning the sports bra (and beyond!) after graduating from Harvard in 2025 How the Robyn community has been vital in growing the mission and meaning of the brand  How using a 'design thinking approach' in body confidence workshops allows girls and teens to take ownership of opinions and feel valued for their ideas  Why Robyn's core product design factor is max adjustability  The design focuses: adjustability, padding, fabric, etc.  What she's learned from a year of designing a tech pack, building a team & more  How long you should keep a sports bra in your rotation  The Robyn Ambassador program with college and high school students  To learn more about Robyn: robynathletic.com Follow Robyn on social: @robyn_athletic  Follow Sara Falkson on social: @sfalkson   Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It didn't take long for goalkeeper Casey Murphy to become a fan favorite in Boston. The USWNT and NWSL veteran signed with the Boston Legacy FC last year after 5 years with the North Carolina Courage last summer. She quickly embraced a leadership role, helping lay the foundation for a championship culture in Title Town.  Murphy knows what it means to be successful. In her first start for the USWNT she recorded a clean sheet, becoming the seventh goalkeeper to accomplish the feat. She's also been on some of the world's biggest stages, including the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, and won an Olympic gold medal in 2024. Today we dive into:  What convinced Casey to sign with Boston Legacy FC  Why embracing a leadership role has felt like the next step in her career & what it's been like with a new team How she spent her first week off as a Bostonian  Casey's addiction to chasing improvement, especially after her USWNT debut shutout How she shows up as a teammate, captain and leader on the field and sideline on both the national and club level  Why she and her husband started one-day Casey Murphy Goalkeeping Academy clinics across the country  2024 Paris Summer Olympic experience & gold medal (and full circle feeling!) For more info on Casey Murphy Goalkeeping Academy: cmgksoccer.com Follow Casey on social: @caseymurphy11 Learn more about Boston Legacy FC & get tickets: bostonlegacyfc.com Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In 2016, competitive snowboarder Kelsey Boyer was on a mission in to qualify for the Olympic, competing as often as she could. She started the season with a knockout but kept at it. Eventually, she was rushed to the hospital by her friends and admitted for emergency brain surgery.  This set her on a path of re-learning, recovery and self-discovery. Four years into her recovery, she founded Save A Brain, a non-profit with the mission to provide education, encourage prevention, and spread awareness about the long-term medical and physical effects of TBIs and concussions. She has created a large community of survivors and friends eager for information, resources and support.  In June, she will run her first marathon, proving that there is life after TBIs. Today we dive in to:  Training her for her first marathon -- what has surprised her about herself & how her body is responding after a TBI  How she fell in love with snowboarding and what led her to move West and "put all her eggs in the basket"  The symptoms she experienced in 2016 to convinced her friends she needed to go to the hospital  Why the first four years of recovery were so challenging - mentally, physically, and emotionally - for her  The evolution of Save A Brain & how it is helping thousands of people across the country  Happy Helmets -- getting kids access to more helmets  How she was able to fall in love with snowboarding after surgery To follow Kelsey on socials: @kelseyboyer Learn more about Save A Brain & support Kelsey's marathon: saveabraininc.com Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If there’s anyone who embodies the saying, “a minor setback for a major comeback,” it’s Kate Boggs. The recent US Coast Guard Academy graduate first found the sport in college after never playing a ball sport before. It also happened to be the "thing" that kept her at USCGA after a rocky first year. She bounced back to find her footing in the classroom and on the field. Then, in the final 20 seconds of the 2025 Collegiate Rugby Championship, she broke her leg. After a tough recovery, she was back for her final season.  In 2026 she earned 'Division II National Collegiate Rugby Player of the Year', won the championship, and was named championship MVP. Then, she was drafted to the WER by the Boston Banshees. The whirlwind culminated with USCGA graduation and a move to Boston. Today we dive in to:  The whirlwind of graduation, moving to Boston, her new role with the USCG & playing in the WER  Her remarkable comeback from a broken leg in 2025 Collegiate Rugby Championship  How she first found rugby and how it kept her at the USCGA  Significance of being the first person to be named 'Division II National Collegiate Rugby Player of the Year' How she built a strong work ethic balancing two jobs in HS (without sports!)  The biggest adjustments to the professional level of women's rugby  Boston Banshee's traditions & pre-game rituals  The moment she is most proud of from her collegiate rugby career  To follow Kate: @k8_boggs  For more on the Boston Banshees: bostonbanshees.us     Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We talk a lot about sport-specific training, recovery, and mindset work, but not often about proper fueling. It’s a HUGE part of performance. And Laura Reece knows this from personal experience as an athlete and as a Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics. Laura is now the Director of Sports Nutrition at Women’s Health, Sports & Performance (WHSP) in Boston. She focuses on performance-based nutrition and the treatment of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs), disordered eating, and eating disorders in athletes. Today we dive in to: How WHSP's interdisciplinary approach is revolutionizing women's sports What led her to move from finance to fueling, specifically for athletes and athletes with disordered eating and eating disorders Power of language when it comes to coaching proper nutrition  Why it's important to turn to experts & not social media; "nutrition is a science, not an opinion" as Laura says  Importance of quality research for female athletes (and how WHSP is leading the charge with studies on women throughout the lifespan)  What Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) is and how it can impact day-t-day tasks and sport  How hormones impact performance and nutrition needs  To learn more about Women’s Health, Sports & Performance: whspmedical.com To follow Laura Reece on social: @laurareece.rd Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ali Truwit ran her first marathon in 2023, graduated from Yale University, and went on a celebratory trip with friends — that’s when her life came crashing down. While snorkeling in Turks and Caicos, she was attacked by a shark and ultimately suffered and suffered the loss of her foot and lower leg. Since then, Ali has been on a mission to turn her trauma into triumph. A year after the attack, Ali raced in the Paris Paralympics where she earned TWO silver medal. She also ran the 2025 NYC Marathon, modeled in the Sports Illustrated Swim issue, launched the 'Stronger Than You Think' non-profit, and released a documentary! As booked and busy as she is, she sat down with Hannah to dive in to:  Why being featured in the Sports Illustrated Swim issue was so special and important for representation  How her celebratory trip with friends changed her life in ways she never saw coming  Power of the Paralympic movement  Why fighting for life joys -- walking, running, swimming -- are worth fighting for  How mindset shifts helped her to see former challenges as privileges  The way the people around her saved her life, supported her recovery, and continue to be by her side  Why she wanted to launch the Stronger Than You Think non-profit & how they've helped more than 20 women and girls  What people can expect at the 2nd Annual Stronger Than You Think Swim-a-thon at Chelsea Piers (Stamford, CT)  Follow Ali on social: @alitruwit   Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sports can change lives; they teach resilience, grow leadership skills, build lasting friendships, and challenge us in all the right ways. It is these gifts and power that drive the work at Common Goal every day. Common Goal uses soccer to bring people together and drive society-wide change across the globe. This is something their new CEO Mary Connor believes to her core. She calls the sport her the "best friend" that's been through many chapters with her -- starting as a kid, playing professionally, and now in the non-profit world. When her playing career was done, Mary stayed connected to the sport and founded "Soccer Without Borders," (SWB) a program offering underserved youth with a toolkit to overcome obstacles to growth, inclusion, and personal success. Not long ago she transitioned to Common Goal, where SWB is just one of the hundreds of non-profits Mary gets to work with. Today we dive in to:  Mary's role with Common Goal and what drew her to the organization How soccer became her "best friend" and stayed with her through various chapters of life How a trip to Nicaragua shifted Mary's perspective on the sport & intention in programming Why we need to break glass ceilings and raise the floor simultaneously (thanks Becky Sauerbrunn!!) How sport can help fight for gender equity Lessons from soccer that have helped Mary in leadership positions The ways soccer can tear down walls and reveal a willingness to see commonalities across cultures The importance of World Football Giving Day (May 26) How purpose-centered investment and giving can make a huge impact Learn more about Common Goal's mission: common-goal.org  Follow along on social: @commongoalorg Get involved with World Football Giving Day: worldfootballgivingday.org  Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.