Episodes

Send us a text Karyl Bell's motorsports journey is the perfect blend of family legacy, entrepreneurial spirit, and unwavering determination. From her earliest memories at Lebanon Valley Dragway in upstate New York, where her mother serves as assistant track manager and her father races, Karyl has turned a childhood passion into both a competitive career and innovative business ventures. Beginning in junior dragsters at age eight, Karyl quickly proved her talent by capturing a track cha...

Send us a text Nancy Matter's resilience burns brighter than nitromethane in this powerful conversation about perseverance, passion, and breaking barriers in motorsports. From her childhood days at San Fernando Raceway to becoming the first female owner-driver of a Top Fuel Funny Car in this century, Nancy's journey exemplifies the never-quit attitude that defines championship racers. What makes Nancy's story exceptional isn't just her accomplishments on the track, but how she's navigated li...

Send us a text What happens when you're born into a family of aviators but feel drawn to conquer the ground instead? For 18-year-old Charlotte Traynor, the answer came through motorsports, sparked simply by watching in-car camera footage on television that ignited something within her. Charlotte takes us through her unconventional journey into racing, beginning at age 13 with no family connections to the sport. From indoor karting centers to professional go-karts and now competing in the Maz...

Send us a text Baylea Kronseder shares her journey from racing RC cars to competing in quarter midget nationals at just 11 years old, discussing how motorsports has transformed her from shy kid to confident racer and mentor. • Began racing at age 9 after previously racing RC cars, following a family tradition of motorsports • Currently races in Senior Honda class, moving to Heavy Honda, and building a Heavy 160 car • Helps her father build and set up her race cars, gaining valuable technical...

Send us a text Former IHRA Pro Mod World Champion Dina Parisi shares her journey from professional figure skater to drag racer and advocates for prioritizing safety in motorsports. • Dina discusses her unusual career path from Ice Capades figure skater to drag racer, noting surprising parallels between both performance careers • Racing fans get direct access to drivers in drag racing, creating meaningful connections unlike other motorsports • Dina emphasizes the importance of proactive safet...

Send us a text Kelly Anderson shares her extraordinary journey from a 51-year-old grandmother to a wheelie-popping drag racer with a mission to help foster children through motorsports. Her passion for racing ignited when she scribbled "I want to drag race" on a napkin at a coaching event, leading to her first race in October 2019 and eventually developing into a nonprofit organization helping foster youth. • Recovery from alcoholism gave Kelly the confidence to pursue new dreams at age 51 •...

Send us a text In this week’s Women’s Motorsports Network podcast, we sit down with Angie Parrish — a true motorsports trailblazer from Tennessee. Angie’s journey takes us from working on her first car at 16 to becoming an instructor, champion, and respected leader in autocross, rallycross, road course racing, and more. Her story is filled with passion, resilience, and a whole lot of horsepower. If you need a little inspiration this week, this is the episode for you! Support the show FACEBOOK:...

Send us a text In this inspiring episode, Melinda Russell interviews Laura Butcher, an off-road motorsports leader from northern Nevada whose journey into racing was deeply influenced by her late brother, Mike, an off-road racer himself. Laura shares how her initial involvement in motorsports began as pit support and co-driving with her brother before his passing in 2014. After stepping away from her career as a paramedic, Laura unexpectedly took over leadership of the Valley Off-Road Racing Ass...

Send us a text In this inspiring episode of the Women's Motorsports Network Podcast , host Melinda Russell welcomes professional race car driver and mechanical engineer Sabre Cook. Based in Indianapolis, Sabre currently competes in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America and shares her fascinating journey from childhood karting to international racing success. Support the show FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/womensmotorsportsnetworki/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/womensmotorsports...

Send us a text In this inspiring episode, host Melinda Russell interviews MaKenna Long, a young woman who grew up in the racing world and is now building her career in motorsports. MaKenna started racing quarter midgets at seven and a half years old at Little Kalamazoo Speedway in Michigan, thanks to her grandfather’s curiosity about a new track being built nearby. What started as a family hobby quickly became a family passion, with her parents, sister, and grandparents heavily involved in eve...

Send us a text In this inspiring episode, host Melinda Russell sits down with Haily Unferdorfer, a dynamic force in motorsports marketing and a passionate advocate for women in racing. Haily shares her journey from growing up in a motorsports family to working behind the scenes with Lucas Oil, MAVTV, and now Racer Network, where she plays a key role in marketing and rebranding efforts. Her love for storytelling and connecting people shines through as she talks about working events, building s...

Send us a text In this episode, host Melinda Russell interviews 8-year-old junior dragster racer Karter Platt, who shares her early start and growing passion for motorsports. Karter, from Texas, began racing at just 4 years old after attending the Amarillo Dragway with her Gigi and Papa. Racing quickly became a family affair, with her mom, Gigi, and Papa supporting her at every event. Karter races a lime green, purple, and pink half-scale Junior Dragster in the 11.90 class, running primarily ...

Send us a text A Lifestyle Post - Things I want My Kids To Know 1. Happiness is a lot of work. You can’t be lazy or entitled to achieve it. 2. You will make mistakes, and they will only define you if you give it that kind of power. If the lesson is learned, the mistake is worth it. It’s your choice whether or not it wins. You are not a prisoner to your past and you are allowed to grow. 3. The world owes you...

Send us a text Granfluencers — Redefining Influence at Any Age Welcome back to the show! Today, we’re diving into a powerful and inspiring trend that's flipping the script on social media marketing — Granfluencers. So, who are Granfluencers? Granfluencers are social media stars typically aged 60 and above, who have built massive, loyal followings on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Their content spans everything from fashion and fitness to humor and life advice — all delivered with authen...

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Send us a text In this episode, Melinda Russell sits down with 22-year-old Carolyn Fitzgerald, a rising star in the Formula 4 West Coast Pro Series. Carolyn shares her unique path into motorsports, beginning with indoor karting and quickly progressing through racing school, licensing, and now competing at California’s most iconic road courses. Off the track, she holds a culinary degree and works in a restaurant to support her racing dreams. Carolyn opens up about challenges, mental preparatio...

Send us a text On this episode of the Women's Motorsports Network Podcast, host Melinda Russell sits down with Mara Henderson—a third-generation racer, UNOH alum, and current admissions representative for the University of Northwestern Ohio. From her childhood days racing modified go-karts in Michigan to her work today helping students break into motorsports careers, Mara shares her journey of grit, horsepower, and heart. Mara talks about growing up in a multi-generational racing family, her ...

Send us a text Wendy Dickson – A Life Fueled by Racing In this heartfelt episode of the Women’s Motorsports Network Podcast, host Melinda Russell chats with longtime Arizona racing fan, former driver, and shop helper Wendy Dickson (Harrington). Wendy shares her deep roots in motorsports, starting from childhood weekends at Tucson Raceway to helping build racecars, managing a race team, and even working on hook trucks at major events like the Duel in the Desert and Bristol Dirt Nationals. Wend...

Send us a text Calendar Full? Phone full of text messages to return? A list of "Things to Do" as long as your arm? Listen to this episode--- The Art of Slowing Down. Support the show

Send us a text A message for busy moms! Support the show

Send us a text In this heartfelt and revealing episode, Melinda Russell sits down with Dell Hamilton, a serial entrepreneur, former NASCAR team owner, and longtime supporter of women in racing. Dell shares how he used NASCAR not just for the thrill of the sport, but as a powerful tool to build lasting business relationships, honor the military, and support ethical and talented female drivers. From humble beginnings watching race traffic from his church parking lot in Charlotte, NC, Dell walks...

Send us a text Episode Summary: Meet 16-year-old Paiten Burnham, the fearless driver behind the purple quarter midgets lighting up the USAC NASCAR Youth Series. In this episode, Paiten shares how her mom’s racing legacy, her dad’s deployment, and her own fierce determination shaped her path in motorsports. From winning at Charlotte to mentoring younger drivers, Paiten opens up about racing as a girl in a male-dominated sport, what it’s like traveling to national races, and why family is at the h...

Send us a text In this powerful episode, Melinda Russell sits down with trailblazer Julie Giese, President of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race and a 25-year veteran of the motorsports industry. From her early days on a Wisconsin dairy farm to her leadership roles at Daytona, Phoenix, and now Chicago, Julie shares how she turned bold ideas into history-making events. She opens up about the massive effort it took to bring a NASCAR Cup Series race to downtown Chicago—from working with the city, navi...

Send us a text In this episode, host Melinda Russell welcomes Jacqueline Rumley, a lifelong motorsports enthusiast, educator, and industry professional, to the show. Jacqueline shares her journey from growing up immersed in dirt track racing in Ontario, Canada, to building a successful career in motorsports in North Carolina. Influenced by her parents' deep involvement in racing, Jacqueline developed a love for the sport at an early age, eventually choosing it over her initial interest in veteri...