Triangle Women's Sports Podcast

Bethany Michalak discovered her passion for running at an early age, but her transition from high school standout to collegiate performer is where her story truly takes off. She stops by to discuss her formative years running in Colorado, her immediate impact alongside her NC State cross country teammates, and the quiet drive powering her future Olympic aspirations.

On this episode of the Triangle Women’s Sports Podcast, we sit down with Duke soccer standout Mia Oliaro to talk about her journey from local youth soccer to ranking 6th all-time in assists for the Blue Devils. She breaks down playing on both sides of the Tobacco Road rivalry, pursuing a third consecutive College Cup run, and learning under legend Carla Overbeck. Plus, Mia shares her pre-game playlist, top Durham food spots, pro soccer aspirations, and much more!

In this episode, Jared sits down with NC State steeplechase sensation Angelina Napoleon to break down her rapid rise from small-town Allegany, New York, to lighting up the global track stage. She takes us behind the scenes of Wolfpack culture, her sports management major, and navigating the modern NIL landscape while chasing her ultimate Olympic dreams. Plus, Angelina shares some fun personal favorites, from her go-to pre-meet music tracks and post-race meals to her absolute favorite uniforms in the rotation. 

From the softball diamond to the Division I starting line, Campbell University’s Emelyn Lacour joins the show to share her incredible journey as an "accidental" distance star who discovered her talent through local 5Ks. Now a pre-med biology major and standout steeplechaser, Emelyn breaks down her year-round training grind, uniform style preferences, and how she navigates the intense psychological landscape of elite running.

Jared is tossing out the standard 1–10 list and building the ultimate Triangle sports pyramid to rank the top women's college programs from this past season. He breaks down the field by tier, moving from the steady foundation of rising programs all the way up to conference champion status and undisputed elite dominance. Tune in to find out exactly which local teams earned their spot at the absolute peak of the pyramid.

North Carolina Central graduate forward Morgan Callahan joins the show to discuss her historic career as the Eagles' all-time leading scorer in the Division I era. She opens up about overcoming a major hip injury early in her career, her intense passion for clinical research while earning her pharmaceutical science degrees, and her thoughts on the future of the program under new head coach Olivia Gaines. It’s an inspiring conversation detailing exactly what it means to truly dominate both on the court and in the lab.

In this episode, we’re digging through the back of the closet to find the most painful "almost" apparel in local sports history. From regular-season Shields to deep tournament runs that fell just short, we rank the worst runner-up shirts that Triangle fans are still holding onto. It’s a celebration of the milestones we’d rather forget and the gear that serves as a permanent reminder of "what could have been."

In this episode, Jared chats with NCCU outfielder Daiyah Bailey, who opens up about her move from Moreno Valley to Durham and how that transition sparked a period of rapid personal growth. She reflects on a pivotal moment at age 14 when she nearly walked away from softball entirely, only to have her passion reignited by a coach who placed immense trust in her defensive abilities. Daiyah also breaks down the keys to becoming an elite hitter, her role as the team’s designated eye black artist, the personal significance behind wearing the #1 jersey, and more.