More Than An Armband

Episódios

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  BONUS! Angelina Anderson's Rapid Fire — Favorite Album, Japan & an Empty SoFi Stadium 23.09.2026 2min

  In this bonus drop from our episode with Angel City FC's Angelina Anderson, she runs through her rapid-fire favorites — her all-time favorite album, the country that stole her heart on a soccer trip, and the surreal moment standing in an empty SoFi Stadium the day before a USWNT game. 
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  Angelina Anderson (Angel City FC) — Leading Vets, Handling Criticism & Life on the B-Side 09.09.2026 45min

  In this episode of More Than an Armband, Anja sits down with Angelina Anderson, goalkeeper and captain for Angel City FC in the NWSL. Angelina opens up about her path from Cal Berkeley, where she was named Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year and served as team captain, to the professional ranks and USWNT camp. They dig into what it actually takes to lead teammates who are older, more experienced, and sometimes your closest friends, including the story of learning to hold veteran captain Sarah Gordon accountable. Angelina also gets honest about a season where a critical teammate shook her confidence, and the mental reframe that helped her lead through it, plus a moment where a younger player held her to a higher standard instead. The conversation closes on life outside the sport: why Angelina believes having an identity beyond soccer actually makes her a better athlete, and the story behind B-Side, her passion project exploring the overlap between athletes and musicians. In this episode: Leading players older and more experienced than you Staying grounded when your confidence takes a hit Why accountability can come from anywhere on the team Building an identity outside of sport The origin story of B-Side Follow Angelina: @angelinaanderson_ | B-Side: @bsidebyangelina
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  Bonus Segment! Derek Waldeck's National Championship Experience 19.08.2026 3min

  Listen to this bonus segment where Derek Waldeck shares more about his national championship experience and what players he enjoys watching. 
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  Derek Waldeck: From Stanford Championships to Pro Soccer — What the Armband Really Taught Him 12.08.2026 38min

  In this episode of More Than an Armband, Anja sits down with Derek Waldeck, a professional soccer player who has worn the armband at every level of the game — from back-to-back national championships at Stanford University to captaining professional locker rooms across the United States. Derek opens up about what it was like to learn from elite leaders as a freshman at Stanford, and how watching those around him shaped the kind of captain he would eventually become. He gets honest about the shell shock of transitioning from a championship-driven college program to professional locker rooms filled with players pulling in completely different directions — and how adaptability became his most important leadership tool. He also dives into the very real challenge of leading through adversity, imposter syndrome, and the ever-changing landscape of college athletics in the era of the transfer portal. Whether you're stepping into a captain role for the first time or looking to sharpen how you lead the people around you, Derek's perspective is grounded, honest, and packed with practical takeaways. Key Takeaways: Collective success leads to individual success, never the other way around Understanding people as humans first is the foundation of great leadership Adaptability is the most essential tool in a professional locker room Imposter syndrome is normal — no one is perfectly qualified before they start Your response to adversity speaks louder than anything else as a leader Leave behind the fear of failing — mistakes are how leaders grow
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  Bonus Segment! Rapid Fire with Celia 22.07.2026 1min

  Listen to this bonus segment of rapid fire questions with Celia Jiménez.
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  The Space Between the Stars: Celia Jiménez on World Cups & Captaincy 08.07.2026 50min

  In this episode of More Than an Armband, Anja sits down with Celia Jiménez — former Spanish national team captain, two-time World Cup veteran, NWSL champion with the Atlanta Pride, and now Founder and CEO of Nebula. Celia shares her remarkable journey from a small town in southern Spain where she fought for the right to compete at just six years old, all the way to the world's biggest stages in women's soccer. She opens up about what it truly means to wear the armband, how she navigated divided teams at the highest level, and why she believes peak performance is always a collective achievement — never an individual one. She also shares the leadership lessons that shaped her, from a veteran captain's pre-game pep talk before defending Marta at her first World Cup, to running fitness tests alongside a struggling teammate just to show her she wasn't alone. Now channeling everything she learned on the field into Nebula, Celia is on a mission to build better environments for women athletes everywhere.  Key Takeaways: Leadership is about filling gaps, not having all the answers Checking in on a teammate takes seconds and can change everything Great teams acknowledge adversity together rather than pointing fingers Speaking different languages as a leader is the key to reaching every player Collective growth is the foundation of peak performance
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  Bonus Segment! Why Michelle Voiland Loves Coaching 24.06.2026 5min

  Listen to this bonus segment with Michelle Voiland as she shares her favorite soccer memory and why she loves coaching. 
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  The Bundesliga, Belonging & Building Leaders with Michelle Voiland 10.06.2026 56min

  In this episode, Anja sits down with Michelle Voiland — University of Portland goalkeeper, Bundesliga veteran, and head women's soccer coach at Whitman College — for a conversation that goes way deeper than the X's and O's. Michelle shares what it was like playing four years at the University of Portland under the legendary Clive Charles, graduating as the program's all-time leader in saves, and then packing her bags for Germany with almost no plan and no German. What followed was eight seasons in the Bundesliga, three seasons coaching the same club, and a masterclass in learning to perform under pressure far from home. From there, Michelle spent 11 seasons at Division I Oregon State before landing her the head coaching role at Whitman College in 2020 — where she's been building not just a soccer program, but a culture rooted in authentic leadership and genuine human connection. We get into the 10-minute rule, why being captain doesn't mean being "team police", the difference between a good leader and a transformational one, and why the most important conversation you'll ever have is the one you're having with yourself. If you work with athletes, lead a team, or are stepping into a leadership role for the first time, this episode is for you!
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  Bonus Segment! Be the Change in the World You Want to See 27.05.2026 4min

  Listen to this bonus segment where Madison Fisher shares more about her collegiate experience and leadership advice that has stuck with her beyond the game.
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  Two Sides of the Armband: Madison Fisher on Leading for Tracy Leone 13.05.2026 39min

  In this episode of More Than an Armband, host Anja Koehler sits down with Madison Fisher, a former midfielder and two-year captain at Colby College in Waterville, Maine.  Madison shares her soccer journey growing up in Pomfret, Connecticut in a family of athletes and coaches, and how a multi-sport high school experience shaped her as a competitor. She reflects on what drew her to Colby — a place where she felt she could make a real difference — and how leadership became just as important to her as performance on the field. Madison opens up about stepping into her captain role after being voted in by her teammates, navigating imposter syndrome, and the pod leader structure at Colby that gave every player — regardless of year or position — a chance to lead. She discusses how her natural communication style as a midfielder, combined with genuine care for her teammates, helped her earn trust early in her career. The conversation digs into some of the harder parts of leadership: having difficult conversations, walking the line between teammate confidant and coach communicator, and leading through adversity after tearing her ACL during her junior year. Madison reflects on how that injury forced her to redefine what showing up as a leader looked like. She also speaks warmly about her relationship with head coach Tracy Leone (a previous guest on the pod), describing how honest, consistent communication and shared vision created a foundation where Madison could lead with confidence and instinct rather than waiting to be told what to do. Madison's core message: real leadership doesn't live in a title or an armband. It lives in the daily check-ins, the intentional listening, the willingness to have hard conversations, and the authenticity you bring whether or not anyone is watching. Those are the skills she's carried into her graduate studies in social work, trauma, and neuroscience - and into life beyond the game.
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  Bonus Segment! Tracey Leone on Practicing Leadership Skills 22.04.2026 21min

  Listen as Tracey shares how coaches can incorporate learning opportunities into practice to support student-athlete confidence in leading. 
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  Calling People Up: Tracey Leone on Leadership Lessons from the Pitch to the Sideline 08.04.2026 1h 2min

  In this episode, Anja sits down with former US Women's National Team player and collegiate coach Tracey Leone to talk about what leadership truly looks like — on the field and off it. Tracey takes us back to the early days of women's soccer in America, sharing what it was like to be part of a pioneering generation that built the sport from the ground up. From playing under Anson Dorrance at UNC to coaching at the collegiate and national youth level, Tracey unpacks the leadership habits that shaped her career — including the one she struggled with most. She shares her philosophy on building trust, holding teammates accountable, and why the best leaders never take a moment off. Whether you're a first-time captain or a seasoned coach, this conversation is packed with lessons you can take straight to your team.
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  Bonus Segment! Grace Leer's Creative Leadership - Songwriting 25.03.2026 5min

  Listen to Grace describe the process of song writing and how it relates to leadership in sport. 
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  Grace Leer: From Cal Captain to Country Artist — Just Start 11.03.2026 48min

  In this episode of More Than an Armband, Anja sits down with Grace Leer (Cal soccer alum turned Nashville singer-songwriter) to unpack what leadership looks like when your “team” is your dream. Grace shares how growing up with the “three S’s” (school, soccer, singing) shaped her identity, and how the habits she built as an athlete still drive her as an independent artist today.From being voted captain at UC Berkeley after battling injury, self-doubt, and time on the bench, to navigating rejection on The Voice, Grace breaks down how resilience is built: start somewhere, learn fast, and keep moving. She walks through the behind-the-scenes reality of American Idol (90-second performances, exhaustion, pressure, and fan voting you can’t control) and explains how she relied on athlete mindset: control the controllables, stay prepared, and perform when it’s game time.Grace also opens up about what it means to lead creatively in Nashville writing rooms, how she protects her artistic vision with confidence and respect, and why her most defining leadership moment is happening right now: leaving a label to build her career independently, CEO-style. The conversation closes with grounding reminders Grace lives by, you’re right where you’re supposed to be, and your younger self would be proud.
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  Bonus Segment! Ali Hall on Being Authentic 25.02.2026 33min

  In this bonus segment, Ali Hall shares her advice to leaders both young and old. 
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  Be Yourself, Earn Respect: Ali Hall on Leadership, Accountability, and Beach Soccer 11.02.2026 33min

  In this episode of More Than an Armband, Anja sits down with Ali Hall, co-captain of the U.S. Women’s Beach Soccer National Team and a two-time FIFA Player of the Year, to talk about leadership, identity, and building something bigger than yourself. Ali shares how she rediscovered her love for the game through beach soccer, why the sport demands full accountability from every player, and what it means to lead without trying to fit a “captain” stereotype. The conversation also dives into her work to grow the sport, including advocacy for a Women’s Beach Soccer World Cup, and the mindset shift that helps leaders stay grounded, self-aware, and authentically themselves.
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  Bonus Segment! Why Shinya Enjoys Cooking 28.01.2026 3min

  Listen to Shinya's reason why he enjoyed cooking for others and how it helps him to fuel himself as he trains for his first marathon.
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  Shin's Journey: Resilience & Leadership 14.01.2026 39min

  In this episode of More Than an Armband, Anja Koehler sits down with Shinya Kadono, former professional soccer player, longtime captain, and creator of Shin’s Journey, to explore what leadership really looks like when the results are uncertain and the path forward is unclear. From growing up in Japan and immigrating to the U.S., to overcoming early setbacks, hard feedback, and self-doubt, Shinya shares the defining moments that shaped his resilience. He reflects on his time at the University of California, Berkeley, where he went from bench player to team captain, learning how consistency, personal accountability, and quiet leadership earn trust over time. The conversation dives deep into leading through adversity, navigating injuries, handling pressure when results don’t come, and what it means to be a captain who leads by example rather than volume. Shinya also discusses his professional career, captaining young teams, and why documenting his journey through YouTube became a way to lead beyond the locker room. This episode is a powerful reminder that leadership isn’t about status or titles. It’s about showing up, doing the work when no one is watching, and continuing to move forward even when the path is uncertain. Youtube: Shin's Journey TikTok Instagram
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  Bonus Segment! Cathy Helin on Entreprenuership 24.12.2025 5min

  Hear as Cathy describes how her previous entreprenuership experience supported the founding of BearCat Coaching. 
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  Believing in You - Lessons from Bearcat Coaching’s Cathy Helin 10.12.2025 41min

  Content Advisory: This episode contains brief discussion about eating disorders and mental health. Please listen with care and step away if needed. In this episode of More Than an Armband, Anja sits down with Cathy Helin - Hall of Famer, former elite athlete, business owner, and founder of Bearcat Coaching - for a powerful conversation about confidence, leadership, and the courage to be authentically yourself. Cathy shares her journey from growing up in a small Minnesota town to discovering her voice through basketball, overcoming adversity, and learning what it truly means to lead with integrity and heart. She and Anja reflect on their shared work with the University of Minnesota Crookston Women’s Basketball program and the importance of building trust, communication, and belief across an entire roster. This episode dives into: How adversity shapes confidence Why every athlete needs to understand their role The importance of connection and lifting others up What it takes to build a unified, resilient team culture Cathy’s mission to empower the next generation of female leaders Whether you’re an athlete, coach, parent, or leader, Cathy’s insights will challenge, inspire, and stay with you long after you listen.