The BIG LIFE

She's back where it all began! This week on The BIG LIFE, Paige Thompson (Alabama) and Jaiden Rodriguez (USC) welcome a very special guest: Sam Angel, the podcast's founding co-host, who launched the show alongside Michigan State's Jordyn Wickes and helped bring the first three seasons to life. Now a professional soccer player and cookbook author, Sam returns to share what life after college soccer has taught her about resilience, independence, nutrition, and finding her own path. From being drafted by Racing Louisville to playing professionally overseas, Sam opens up about the realities of the professional game, the lessons she couldn't have anticipated as a college athlete, and why working hard doesn't always mean things will go according to plan. The conversation also dives into Sam's new cookbook, The Long Game, which combines approximately 35 athlete-friendly recipes with personal stories and practical advice about fueling your body for performance and everyday life. Sam shares how cooking became a creative outlet during her college years, why planning ahead is one of the most important parts of eating well, and how young athletes can build healthier relationships with food without sacrificing the joy of eating. Plus, Paige and Jaiden get some practical cooking advice, including Sam's go-to honey garlic chicken recipe, and reflect on what it means to build a life beyond soccer. After Sam's visit, the hosts catch up on their own college soccer experiences. It's a full-circle conversation about growing up, chasing dreams, and learning that success — on and off the field — is a long game. Get Sam's cookbook, The Long Game, at girlssoccernetwork.com. The BIG LIFE is a Girls Soccer Network original podcast, bringing you inside the world of college soccer through the voices of the players living it.

What does it really take to make the jump from club soccer to Division I? This week on The BIG LIFE, Paige Thompson (Alabama) and Jaiden Rodriguez (USC) welcome University of Memphis freshman Abby Forsgren, who's already making her mark in college soccer. From California club soccer to competing in the American Athletic Conference, Abby shares what her first season has really been like. She talks about navigating a recruiting process complicated by roster changes, finding the right fit at Memphis, and discovering that college life is a whole lot busier (and more exhausting!) than she expected. The conversation gets into the realities of the freshman experience: adjusting to the speed and physicality of the college game, managing fatigue, finding confidence, and learning to put team success ahead of individual expectations. Abby also shares practical advice for younger players preparing for college soccer, while Paige and Jaiden reflect on lessons from their own freshman seasons. Plus, the hosts catch up on their latest games, the pressures of balancing school and soccer, and Paige's unexpected move into a new position. It's an honest, funny, and relatable look at the transition from youth soccer to the college game, told by three players who know exactly what it takes. 🎙️ The BIG LIFE is a Girls Soccer Network original podcast taking you inside the world of Division I women's soccer, straight from the players living it.

What happens when the sport you've built your life around suddenly gets taken away? This week on The BIG LIFE, Paige Thompson (Alabama) and Jaiden Rodriguez (USC) welcome USC midfielder Murphy Walsh for an honest conversation about injuries, recovery, and finding yourself beyond soccer. Seven months after ACL surgery, Murphy was working her way back toward the field when another setback hit: a fractured foot that forced her to start parts of her recovery all over again. Murphy opens up about the moment she knew something was wrong, the unexpected milestones that have kept her motivated, and how difficult it can be to ask for help when you're used to doing everything yourself. She also shares how being sidelined has changed her perspective on teammates, friendships, and her identity outside the game. The conversation starts with Murphy's recruiting journey and why USC ultimately felt like home, including some advice for younger players navigating the pressure of college recruiting. Then Paige and Jaiden catch up on their own seasons. Jaiden celebrates a much-needed USC win and getting back on the scoresheet, while Paige reflects on Alabama's recent games, limited minutes, and finding ways to make an impact whenever she steps onto the field. It's an episode about setbacks, perspective, and the reminder that being an athlete is only one part of who you are. 🎙️ Hosted by Paige Thompson (Alabama) and Jaiden Rodriguez (USC), with special guest Murphy Walsh (USC). The BIG LIFE is a Girls Soccer Network original podcast taking you inside the world of Division I women's soccer, straight from the players living it.

Welcome to Week 10 of The BIG LIFE, where Paige Thompson (Alabama) and Jaiden Rodriguez (USC) are joined by Jaiden's teammate and longtime friend Aly Hou! With conference season in full swing, the girls are discovering that life as a Division I soccer player can start to feel a little like Groundhog Day. Same routines, same exhaustion, different opponents. This week, they're talking about the reality of college soccer versus what they imagined before arriving on campus. From the pressure of playing time and the fear of making mistakes to the physical demands of the college game, the conversation gets surprisingly real. But don't worry, there's plenty of chaos, too. Paige may have overdone it on the pickleball court, Jaiden is celebrating being back on the field, and Aly is navigating the ups and downs of her season. Plus, procrastinated homework, sweet treat runs, video games, Halloween plans, and the very important question of whether the girls would survive a weekend visiting each other's campuses. It's an episode about finding the fun in the routine, managing expectations, and remembering that there's a whole life happening outside the soccer field. 🎙️ Hosted by Paige Thompson (Alabama) and Jaiden Rodriguez (USC), with special guest Aly Hou (USC). The BIG LIFE is a Girls Soccer Network original podcast bringing you inside the world of Division I women's soccer, straight from the players living it.

Jaiden is BACK! ⚽ After weeks of dealing with an injury, Jaiden Rodriguez is finally back on the field for USC — and she's already played a full 90 minutes. Meanwhile, Paige Thompson and Alabama are sitting at the top of the SEC, but Paige is still finding ways to push her game to another level. This week on The BIG LIFE, the two catch up on life in the middle of conference season, including what it's like to return from injury, why some losses hurt more than others, and how they reset mentally when the games just keep coming. And then there's the fun stuff: the unwritten rules of college soccer. Can you go out during the season? How late is TOO late when a friend says they're five minutes away? And is it ever okay to interrupt someone wearing headphones? Plus, Paige shares her surprisingly effective strategy for getting Alabama students to show up at soccer games. 😂 🎙️ The BIG LIFE takes you behind the scenes of Division I women's soccer with the players actually living it. Hosted by Paige Thompson (Alabama) and Jaiden Rodriguez (USC). Subscribe to Girls Soccer Network and follow along all season! #TheBIGLIFE #CollegeSoccer #WomensSoccer #USCSoccer #AlabamaSoccer

What happens when college soccer doesn’t go according to plan? This week, Paige and Jaiden are experiencing two very different sides of the season. Paige is in the middle of Alabama’s run, while Jaiden is working her way back from injury and finally starting to get limited minutes again. They talk travel, rehab, staying connected to their teams, and what they’re learning from seeing the game from a different perspective.  Then Paige welcomes Alabama teammate Melina Rebimbas to the pod. Melina opens up about starting her college career at UNC, why she ultimately entered the transfer portal, and what made Alabama feel like the right place for her—not only as a player, but as a person. She also gets candid about a series of difficult injuries, including hip surgery and an abdominal injury that forced her to spend significant time away from the game.  They also talk about her experiences with the U.S. Youth National Team, Alabama’s season, what could come next after college, and why, after having soccer taken away from her more than once, she’s approaching this season with a different mindset: being present, finding joy, and appreciating the chance to play.  It’s a really honest conversation about how much growth in college soccer happens off the field. 🎙️ Hosted by Paige Thompson (Alabama) and Jaiden Rodriguez (USC).

Conference play is here — and so are the highs, lows, injuries, rivalry games, and mental battles that come with it. This week, Paige Thompson and Jaiden Rodriguez catch up after two very different weeks. Jaiden opens up about partially tearing her MCL, the frustration of being sidelined just as conference play begins, and the mental spiral of replaying an injury and wondering what she could have done differently.  Meanwhile, Paige takes us inside Alabama's rivalry wins over Auburn and Arkansas, the intensity of SEC soccer, and what she's learning about managing her own mentality when games — and substitutions — don't go exactly as planned.  The conversation gets real about frustration, confidence, rehab, bench energy, and one of the hardest lessons for any athlete: figuring out what you can control and letting go of what you can't. Then they lighten things up with college-life talk and a rapid-fire round of soccer Would You Rather. Two players. Two very different weeks. And a reminder that sometimes the biggest part of the game is what happens inside your head. Show Notes Jaiden suffers a partial MCL tear and talks about the physical and mental aftermath of getting injured during conference play. TBL_ep7-8vui2h-Optimized Why replaying the moment of an injury over and over can be almost as difficult as the injury itself. TBL_ep7-8vui2h-Optimized Paige breaks down Alabama's rivalry wins over Auburn and Arkansas — and what makes SEC soccer such a different kind of game. TBL_ep7-8vui2h-Optimized The reality of getting subbed out, questioning why, and learning to refocus on the minutes still ahead. TBL_ep7-8vui2h-Optimized Jaiden gets candid about frustration, crying in training, and wanting better tools to manage the emotions that come with competing. TBL_ep7-8vui2h-Optimized What people don't see: classes, treatment, rehab, lifting, homework — and everything else packed into the life of a college athlete. TBL_ep7-8vui2h-Optimized Would You Rather: game-winning goal or assist? Hat trick or championship winner? Pouring rain or 100-degree heat? 8 AM or under the lights? TBL_ep7-8vui2h-Optimized Paige and Jaiden close with their words for the week: growth and discipline — and why both come back to focusing on what they can control. TBL_ep7-8vui2h-Optimized Hosts: Paige Thompson & Jaiden Rodriguez Presented by Girls Soccer Network

Conference play is here — and things are getting very real for Paige Thompson and Jaiden Rodriguez. Paige and Jaiden recap a wild week that included a first loss, a 10-goal game, a red card, a lightning delay and USC's 2–2 battle with No. 1 Stanford. They talk about the shrinking margin for error as conference play begins, dealing with playing-time decisions and learning not to let a coach's choices change the way you see yourself as a player. Then USC's Peyton Nakagawara joins the show with a comeback story that goes way beyond soccer. Peyton arrived at USC after tearing her ACL during her senior year of high school. She worked her way back, played an entire spring season — and then tore her other ACL in the final minutes of the final spring game. Suddenly, another fall season was gone. Peyton opens up about the mental side of going through the same devastating injury twice, watching teammates play while she rehabbed and finding parts of herself outside of soccer along the way. Now, more than two years later, Peyton is finally back on the field. In just her third game back, she started against Stanford — and scored. She takes Paige and Jaiden inside that moment, what kept her going through two long rehabs and what she'd tell the young player who just tore her ACL and is wondering whether her soccer dream is over. Her message? Take rehab one day at a time. Pour yourself into the work. Learn what the setback has to teach you. You can come back stronger. Also in this episode: Paige finally finds the back of the net, Jaiden reflects on one of her best individual performances despite a tough team result, the girls set their goals for conference play, and they talk leadership, composure, confidence and what their teams need to improve next. 🎙️ The BIG LIFE is college soccer from the girls actually living it. Follow Paige + Jaiden as they take you inside the games, pressure, friendships, setbacks and everything else that comes with Division I soccer.

September is here, conference play is around the corner, and Paige Thompson and Jaiden Rodriguez are checking in on where they really are both individually and with their teams. Paige and Jaiden talk rankings, results, the frustration of creating chances without scoring, what they wish they could replay from their latest games, and the specific parts of their own games they want to improve. Paige is focused on being more vocal and demanding the ball, while Jaiden has one very clear goal: find the back of the net. Then Paige's Alabama assistant coach Alyssa Deloice joins the show. A former Mississippi State midfielder and captain, Alyssa shares her own path from Texas Tech into the transfer portal and ultimately Mississippi State — and why finding coaches who saw her as a person, not just a player, became so important to her. They get into what young players don't always hear about the jump to Division I soccer: the speed of play, learning patience, balancing the physical demands, and understanding that freshmen don't have to constantly prove they belong. Alyssa also shares how playing through an ankle injury taught her the hard way that there's a difference between being sore and being hurt. They also talk leadership, Alyssa's transition from player to coach, what coaches actually see when they review film, and how players can take more ownership of their development. And for players going through recruiting, Alyssa has some particularly good advice: know your non-negotiables and talk to the players already inside the program. A coach is naturally going to tell you their culture is great. The players living it every day can tell you what it actually feels like. In this episode: Paige + Jaiden's weekly Rose, Bud & Thorn Rankings vs. focusing on the next game The start of conference play Honest self-evaluation as a college player The jump from club soccer to Division I Transfer portal lessons Playing through pain vs. soreness Why freshmen don't need to "prove" themselves Leadership without wearing the captain's armband Seeing the game from a coach's perspective Recruiting, ID camps + choosing the right program The questions recruits should actually be asking 🎙️ The BIG LIFE takes you inside Division I women's soccer with Alabama's Paige Thompson and USC's Jaiden Rodriguez — the games, travel, pressure, recruiting, friendships and everything that happens beyond the scoreboard.

Another week in the BIG LIFE means games, classes, sore legs and a whole lot happening at once. Paige and Jaiden catch up on Alabama’s 4–0 start, USC’s battle with BYU, the return to class and what they’re both thinking about life after college soccer. Then they welcome their first guest of Season 5, former Santa Clara and Cal player Alex Kloss, for an honest conversation about the transfer portal, playing time, confidence and knowing when it’s time to make a change. Alex shares why she walked away from a school and teammates she loved, gave up a significant scholarship and took a chance on Cal after being told she likely wouldn’t have a major role the following season. It was a risk that ultimately led to more playing time, a full scholarship and a new path toward playing professionally. They talk about trusting your gut, choosing the right college fit, rebuilding confidence, going pro and why there’s no single “right” path through soccer. The BIG LIFE is college soccer from the players actually living it. Follow the podcast and come along for the season.