Behind the Blocks Chris Stafford

It has been a true pleasure to watch our next guest blossom, mature, and leave her mark in the sport. Kaitlin first met Ella Eastin when she was just nine years old and she has played a small part of her massive career. Ella was special, both in the pool and out, from a very young age, and is not done yet. She broke numerous national age group and high school records and began her record-breaking college career at Stanford in 2015. She was a member of three Pac-12 and NCAA championship teams, 12 time national champion and first woman to win four NCAA titles in the 400 IM. Ella is a 20 time All-American, 2018 NCAA Championships Swimmer of the Meet, four American and NCAA records and a long list of other accolades.


Host: Kaitlin Sandeno

For more conversations from the world of women’s sport including articles, blogs, videos and podcasts visit wispsports.com. WiSP Sports is the World’s Largest Podcast Network for Women’s Sport with more than 25 hosts, 1200+ episodes across 45 shows and a global audience of over 6 million. WiSP Sports is on all major podcast players. Follow WiSP Sports on social media @WiSPsports. Contact us at info@wispsports.com.

As a Midland, Texas native, Natalie Hinds was CollegeSwimming.com’s No. 1 recruit out of the Lone Star State in 2012. She then went on to become an All-American sprinter at the University of Florida on multiple occasions. As a Florida freshman, Natalie finished 3rd in the 100-yard free at NCAA's. She was named the SEC Female Freshman of the Year after finishing top eight in all her events. Natalie continued a successful college career having been a 20-Time All-American, 3x SEC champ, 3x SEC academic Honor roll selection and First team All-SEC.  She qualified for Olympic trials in 2012 and 2016. Natalie trains with the post-grad group at UGA.  She qualified to compete at the 2020 Summer Olympics in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay as part of the 2020 U.S. Olympic swimming team, placing 4th at the US Olympic Team Trials. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Natalie won a bronze medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay, swimming in both the prelims and the finals.

Host: Kaitlin Sandeno

For more conversations from the world of women’s sport including articles, blogs, videos and podcasts visit wispsports.com. WiSP Sports is the World’s Largest Podcast Network for Women’s Sport with more than 25 hosts, 1200+ episodes across 45 shows and a global audience of over 6 million. WiSP Sports is on all major podcast players. Follow WiSP Sports on social media @WiSPsports. Contact us at info@wispsports.com.

Amanda Beard was just 14 years-old when she qualified for her first Olympic Games and walked away as the second youngest swimmer in history to medal with one gold and two silvers. That was just the beginning to a very successful career, in the pool and out. She went on to make the next three Olympic games, competing in a total of four Olympics where she earned seven Olympic medals (two gold, four silver, one bronze).  She has collected a total of twenty-one medals in major international competitions, a former World and American recorder holder, NCAA champ,  received the American Swimmer of the Year Award not once, but twice, eight U.S. National Titles and served as Team USA's Olympic Swim Team Captain twice. Not only did she shine in the water, she graced the pages of countless sports and lifestyle magazine as a model, brand representative also as a nonprofit advisor. Nowadays Amanda is a mother of two, wife, motivational speaker, businesswoman and author of New York Times Bestseller In the Water They Can't See You Cry, and is co-founder of Beard Swim Co.
Host: Kaitlin Sandeno
Podcast length: 51 mins.
For more information, links and resources plus other conversations from the world of women’s sport including articles, blogs, videos and podcasts visit wispsports.com. WiSP Sports is the World’s Largest Podcast Network for Women’s Sport with more than 25 hosts, 1200+ episodes across 45 shows and a global audience of over 6 million. WiSP Sports is on all major podcast players. Follow WiSP Sports on social media @WiSPsports. Contact us at info@wispsports.com.

On episode 3, Kaitlin Sandeno’s guest is Amy Bilquist, five time national champion, American record holder, NCAA record holder, five time international medalist, and 2016 Olympic trials finalist.  They have a candid discussion about her career and aspirations and Amy pulls no punches as she passionately shares her journey which has been plagued by injuries. Amy announced her retirement on August 22, 2021.

Host: Kaitlin Sandeno


For more conversations from the world of women’s sport including articles, blogs, videos and podcasts visit wispsports.com. WiSP Sports is the World’s Largest Podcast Network for Women’s Sport with more than 25 hosts, 1200+ episodes across 45 shows and a global audience of over 6 million. WiSP Sports is on all major podcast players. Follow WiSP Sports on social media @WiSPsports. Contact us at info@wispsports.com.

Kaitlin’s guest this week is reigning NCAA 2019 Swimmer of the Year, 21 year old Beata Nelson. Beata had a very impressive club career before heading to University of Wisconsin where she had an outstanding college reign but with an unfortunate ending as her final NCAA’s were canceled due to COVID-19.  Nevertheless, her impressive accolades consist of three-time NCAA champ, 7X all-American, 5 BIG Ten champion titles, American, US Open, NCAA record holder and she the only American to break 50 seconds in the 100 yard backstroke not just once but six times. We hear how Beata is coping with land training and what her expectations are for life beyond college.

Host: Kaitlin Sandeno


For more conversations from the world of women’s sport including articles, blogs, videos and podcasts visit wispsports.com. WiSP Sports is the World’s Largest Podcast Network for Women’s Sport with more than 25 hosts, 1200+ episodes across 45 shows and a global audience of over 6 million. WiSP Sports is on all major podcast players. Follow WiSP Sports on social media @WiSPsports. Contact us at info@wispsports.com.

Kaitlin's first guest on this new swimming podcast is Cyndi Gallagher who has been head coach for UCLA Women's Swimming and Diving team for 31 years of the 38 years consisting of head coach, assistant coach and student-athlete. A graduate of UCLA, Cyndi had an impressive career in the water before becoming one of the few coaches in the nation who coached at their alma mater. She set several school records, earned All-American honors and recognized as the university's "Most Valuable Athlete”; not to mention a USA National team member as well. She competed at the Olympic Trials in 1976 and 1980 and was a bronze medalist in the 800-meter Freestyle at the 1979 World University Games in Mexico City. As a coach at UCLA, Cyndi produced 11 Olympians, 21 Pac-10/12 Champions, and 91 All-Americans. Gallagher was one of only three female head coaches of Division I top-25 schools nationwide. Cyndi is currently the head coach for DC Trident, 1 of 10 teams in the International Swim League, the first professional swim league.

Host: Kaitlin Sandeno

Podcast length: 35 mins

For more conversations from the world of women’s sport including articles, blogs, videos and podcasts visit wispsports.com. WiSP Sports is the World’s Largest Podcast Network for Women’s Sport with more than 25 hosts, 1200+ episodes across 45 shows and a global audience of over 6 million. WiSP Sports is on all major podcast players. Follow WiSP Sports on social media @WiSPsports. Contact us at info@wispsports.com.