Tucker Center Talks

In this episode of Tucker Center Talks, Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi sits down with Dr. Sarah Kaja to explore her work on increasing youth sport participation and improving the quality of organized programs. They examine how intersecting identities shape sport access and discuss her community‑engaged research designed to support adolescent health.Learn more about The Equitable Sport & Physical Activity Innovations (ESPI) LabTopics covered include:What intersectional findings from the Minnesota Student Survey tell us about disparities in participation.How weight‑based bullying and body image affect girls’ involvement in sport.How her lab is working with families and providers to design a socially connected sport program for trans and gender‑diverse youth.

In this episode of Tucker Center Talks, Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi reconnects with returning guest Dr. Akilah R. Carter-Francique—Scholar, Activist, and Advocate for Sport Diversity & Education. They reflect on the unique role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in shaping the student-athlete experience, examine the ongoing gaps in belonging and representation for Black women in sport, and emphasize the power of affirming worthiness and voice in educational and athletic spaces.

In this episode of Tucker Center Talks, Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi talks with sport ecologist and author Dr. Madeleine Orr—founder of the Sport Ecology Group and lead author of the UN’s Sport for Nature report—about how sport is both impacted by and contributing to climate change. They discuss the science behind sport disruptions, the limits of current adaptation strategies, and why reimagining major sporting events is key to meaningful climate action across all levels of sport.Topics Covered:How climate change is already disrupting youth, collegiate, and pro sportThe difference between greenwashing and genuine climate adaptation in sportWhy it's time to rethink how, when, and where major sporting events are held

In this episode of Tucker Center Talks, Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi and Anna Goorevich speak with Dr. Sarah Zipp, a global leader in sport, gender, and menstrual health. They discuss how her research and collaboration with the Tucker Center led to the development of two new ⁠Coaching HER®⁠ modules on menstrual health.Topics covered include:What are the key takeaways from the new Coaching HER® menstrual health modules?What is “menstrual health education” and why does it matter in sport?What did coaches say after using the modules?Follow the work of Dr. Zipp at ⁠PowerToPlayPeriod⁠.

In this episode of Tucker Center Talks, Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi speaks with Dr. Julie McCleery, Co-Director of the UW Center for Leadership in Athletics, about her impactful translational research and advocacy work. Together, they explore how applied scholarship and coach education can drive meaningful change for girls and women in sport.Topics covered include:• What coaching behaviors best support positive youth sport experiences?• How do gendered expectations and male-dominated systems affect women coaches?• What do elite female athletes say they need from sport science research?

In this episode of Tucker Center Talks, Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi speaks with Dr. Alix Krahn about her feminist sport scholarship examining how gender shapes the professional and emotional labor of women coaches. They discuss power, time, burnout, and the challenges coaches face navigating relational boundaries and organizational expectations.

In this episode of Tucker Center Talks, Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi and Anna Goorevich talk with Angela Bruzina, a registered dietitian and certified sports nutritionist, currently serving as the team dietitian for Bay FC in the NWSL. They discuss Bruzina’s career journey from working in MLS to advancing female athlete health, her PhD research at the University of Minnesota on metabolic responses to injury, and her insights into strategies for addressing RED-S in women’s team sports.

In this episode of Tucker Center Talks, Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi reconnects with Dr. Erin Morris, Associate Professor at SUNY Cortland, to discuss her research on the professionalization of women’s ice hockey, how women access and navigate sport spaces, and the origin story of the Tucker Center summer internship. Dr. Morris also shares her experience navigating the pressures of publishing and teaching, and why she values staying grounded in meaningful research.

Join Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi as she discusses with Dr. Jo Line their transformative concept of co-action in sports teams. This episode covers how Dr. Line’s research and practical applications challenge traditional leadership models, aiming to cultivate equity and collaboration within sports teams.Dr. Jo Line Website (Link) & Hiram College Profile (Link)Athlete Ally (Link)

In this episode of Tucker Center Talks, Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi engages Dr. Erica Tibbetts and her student Anna Gunning from Smith College. They explore how sports can serve as a powerful medium for social change and inclusivity, particularly focusing on their joint research into the media portrayal of trans athletes and its implications for policy and public perception.