Power Through the 4th Whistle Roller Derby Podcast

The Santa Cruz Derby Groms Legacy team was created in November 2024 to give aged-out junior skaters a place to continue competing together as a WFTDA Charter team—fast forward to the summer of 2026, they have earned a bronze medal at playoffs and qualified for Global Championships in Malmö, Sweden, succeeding beyond their wildest hopes.Legacy Captain KROM Bomb, Legacy jammer Alice in Thunderland (the leading overall scorer of all of playoffs so far!), and President of the league and Head Coach Ima HotMess are guests in this episode and share the story behind their team's rapid rise through elite competition, their shared challenges, the playoff run that punched their ticket to Sweden, and the junior derby culture that continues to fuel their success.If you think you already know everything you need to know about this team, think again. This episode is for you. https://www.santacruzderbygroms.com/history.htmlhttps://www.santacruzderbygroms.com/alumni.htmlPhoto from Santa Cruz Derby Groms LegacyFollow Santa Cruz Derby Groms IG @scderbygromsFacebook https://www.facebook.com/santacruzderbygromsPodcast logo by Liz Mac Intyre ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lizzyluscious⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow our Facebook page at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/powerthru4thwhistle/⁠⁠⁠⁠And on IG @power4thwhistle ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠power4thwhistle@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

How fired up should you be during a roller derby game? As athletes, it's easy to believe that more intensity will equal better performance...but only to a point. In this episode, we're talking about emotional regulation and finding your ideal place on the "hype meter." Too low, and you may struggle with energy, engagement, and hustle. Too high, and the boost of adrenaline can lead to tunnel vision, reckless play, poor decision-making, and costly penalties.Let's explore why every skater has a different optimal performance zone, how to recognize when you're over- or under-activated, and practical strategies for bringing yourself to the level where you play your best.Photo by Lost Creek StudioPodcast logo by Liz Mac Intyre ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lizzyluscious⁠⁠ Follow our facebook page at ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/powerthru4thwhistle/⁠⁠And on IG ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/power4thwhistle/⁠⁠Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Email ⁠⁠power4thwhistle@gmail.com⁠⁠.

Ann Arbor Roller Derby is heading to WFTDA North America Northeast Playoffs in Lansing, Michigan and are excited to have a home field advantage for the first time!In this episode, we hear from A2 skaters “Arnie” (Terminate Her), “Syd” (Sydney Bean”, and “Slam” (Slamlet) as they share their “Whip It” inspired origin stories, their rivalry and friendship with neighboring league Detroit Roller Derby, and the highs and lows of being located in a college town and attracting skaters from the University of Michigan…who then graduate and move away. This team has champagne fueled goals and RAT energy (better listen to find out what that stands for ;-) ). Let’s get a behind-the-scenes look at one of Michigan’s most resilient teams as they’ve taken on 50% charter turnover, the impact of their new coaching duo, coming back from injuries, and what makes this season’s squad special coming into playoffs. Photo by teammatesFollow Ann Arbor Roller Derby https://www.instagram.com/a2rollerderby/And https://www.facebook.com/A2RollerDerbyPodcast logo by Liz Mac Intyre ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lizzyluscious Follow our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/powerthru4thwhistle/And on IG https://www.instagram.com/power4thwhistle/Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Email power4thwhistle@gmail.com.

We're continuing the road to WFTDA North America Northeast Regional Playoffs in Lansing Michigan and are joined by four voices from Gotham Roller Derby: Yeti Or Not Here I Come (Captain) and Kill Valentine from the All Stars and Lone Scar "Tex" (Captain) and Real Quick from the B team, the Wall Street Traitors. Gotham Roller Derby opens up about what it really takes to keep elite roller derby alive in New York City. From the massive roster turnover that reshaped Gotham after 2019 and losing their home practice space during the pandemic to the rise of aged-up junior skaters and rebuilding their competitive culture from the ground up. The league now rotates between multiple practice venues across boroughs, with skaters commuting two hours each way for a single session — all while effectively losing five months of on-skates training every winter and operating on a shoestring budget. The team reflects on their recent breakthrough win over Montreal and how years of trust, resilience, and rebuilding have shaped this new era of Gotham roller derby. The league’s “hive mind” mentality has evolved, and this version of Gotham feels more cohesive than any team they’ve fielded in years. Watch out, the Gotham All Stars have their eyes set on Champs. Follow Gotham Roller Derby @gothamderbyand ⁠https://www.facebook.com/gothamderbyPodcast logo by Liz Mac Intyre ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lizzyluscious⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow our Facebook page at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/powerthru4thwhistle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Power4thWhistle ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This episode dives deep into the culture, chemistry, and competitive fire behind Arch Rival Roller Derby on the road to the 2026 WFTDA North America Northeast Playoffs in Lansing, Michigan coming up May 29th-31st.I’m joined by Cloak N’ Dragher (“Draggie”) and Annie Swanson — two longtime pillars of the team who have skated together since 2014 — to talk about the Revenge Tour era, what it took to finally conquer Rose City at Tinsel Town Showdown, surviving Covid as a team, and why “sparkles” might secretly be the foundation of sustained success.They may not be perfect, but they aim to "touch perfect" as often as possible (and aim to touch the Hydra trophy too). Follow Arch Rival Roller Derby @archrivalrollerderby and Arch Rival All Stars @archrivalallstars ⁠and check out their Starch Rival tees!Photo by Shear-Ra PowersThis episode was sponsored by Straps by Crash. Find ⁠@StrapsbyCRASH⁠ on Instagram and Facebook at ⁠StrapsbyCRASH⁠Email: Strapsbycrash@gmail.comDM to order or ask about custom optionsPodcast logo by Liz Mac Intyre ⁠⁠⁠@lizzyluscious⁠⁠⁠Follow our Facebook page at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/powerthru4thwhistle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Power4thWhistle ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

It's tournament season! In this episode, we preview the road to the 2026 WFTDA North America Northeast Playoffs in Lansing, Michigan coming up May 29th-31st with a deep dive into the Black Rose Rollers.The Black Rose Rollers aren’t supposed to be here—at least not by conventional standards. Hailing from a small Pennsylvania borough instead of a major derby hub, they’ve fought their way into WFTDA Playoffs with a climb that’s been anything but accidental.In this episode, Olive Havoc, Tree, and D-Wrex share the story behind that rise: a shift to intentional, strategy-driven coaching, a roster built on commitment (even when it means hours-long drives to practice), and a culture that thrives on trust, accountability, and checking egos at the door. “Black Rose Who?” may have started as a running joke, but it has become a team identity—and a challenge to anyone still asking.From their “Mom’s Spaghetti” mindset to the moments that defined their breakthrough, this conversation offers a glimpse into how a tight-knit team from an unlikely place turned belief into results.They’ve got one shot. One opportunity.Listen to hear how they got here—and what they plan to do next.Follow Black Rose Rollers @blackroserollersPhoto by ⁠Andrew KeyesPodcast logo by Liz Mac Intyre ⁠@lizzyluscious⁠Follow our Facebook page at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/powerthru4thwhistle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Power4thWhistle ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

It started with a simple exercise — a wall of sticky notes and one question: Do you want the league to be competitive or fun? What happened next revealed more than anyone expected. Behind each was a story — of why people skate, what they’re chasing, and what they’re afraid to lose. And why they leave when they're not getting what they want from a sport they are passionate about. In this episode, we explore how many teams grapple with identity, ambition, and joy. From the thrill of winning to the sting of being benched, from those who push hard to improve to those who just want to play with their friends — it’s a look at what happens when a community sport asks itself what it truly values.How do you balance the drive to win with the joy of playing? Because in the end, it’s not just about roller derby. It’s about how we define success, and whether being competitive and having fun can ever really coexist.Photo by ⁠⁠Jason Lome @lomeranger on InstagramPodcast logo by Liz Mac IntyreWould you like to sponsor this podcast and get your message out to our very smart and cool roller derby audience? Email me at power4thwhistle@gmail.com or DM on IG @power4thwhistle.Follow our Facebook page at:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/powerthru4thwhistle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Power4thWhistle ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

"We could be freeeee....." This episode is for the perfectionists out there and how we can break ourselves out of cycle of the trap of perfectionism. After injury and self-doubt left me questioning everything, I found myself wrestling with perfectionism, shame, and the fear of not being “enough.” In this episode, I share how I learned to let go of perfection, reconnect with my team, and find strength in imperfection — with a little help from a movie about K-Pop Demon Hunters (maybe you've heard of it ;-) ). Because sometimes, the beauty really is in the broken glass.Photo by ⁠⁠⁠Jason Lome @lomeranger on IGPodcast logo by Liz Mac IntyreWould you like to sponsor this podcast and get your message out to our very smart and cool roller derby audience? Email me at power4thwhistle@gmail.com or DM on IG @power4thwhistle.Follow our Facebook page at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.facebook.com/powerthru4thwhistle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Power4thWhistle ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠