RANKINGS
EVENTS
I COMMITTED
COLLEGE
ABOUT
It’s one thing to be a teenage softball player / media influencer and having the skills and talent to create, produce and run your own podcast and interview softball “dignitaries” such as UCLA legend Sue Enquist, Washington Husky great and The Packaged Deal co-founder Morgan Stuart, renowned pitching instructor Denny Tincher and mental edge expert Brian Cain.
It’s quite the other to have the courage to market and promote it by reaching out to established websites that share the same passion, but with perhaps a bit more reach (ahem, maybe like…well, possibly… Extra Inning Softball?).
Thus, I was quite impressed when I recently received the following email from a talented softball player from Virginia.
“My name is Charlie Quinn,” her written correspondence began, “and I am a 2021 player for Suzy Willemssen’s 16U Glory team.”
“I produce and host a podcast called Softball Nation with the mission to draw out the life lessons in the game we love. I have had guests like Sue Enquist, Morgan Stuart, and even my own teammates to get a very realistic lens into some of the issues young athletes face today.”
OK, I was intrigued… and I listened to several of the podcasts and was duly impressed.
A 2021 grad who is versatile as an infielder and outfielder, Charlie plays third base and shortstop and, behind the microphone, knows how to delve into relevant topics and conduct a darn good interview.
Her club coach, Suzy Willemssen of Glory Fastpitch Softball, says of her media savvy player: “Charlie is one incredible young lady. She does a super job and has interviewed some pretty cool peeps! She’s a young woman creating some pretty cool content and she does it all by herself—Charlie’s a really great kid. She works so hard with solid gold character!”
Click HERE to see Charlie receive the 2019 Champion of Character Award along with some hitting footage!
“I feel that it is so important to create greater awareness around the issues we talk about on the podcast,” the athlete continued, “like Performance Anxiety, for example, to help more young athletes. I feel the goal of Extra Inning Softball to share stories is very similar to mine.”
It may be a bit premature, but I know someone who has an internship waiting when she hits the college level!
On a serious note, Charlie hasn’t been afraid to touch on some sensitive subjects, including her 10th podcast which she just recorded and posted this week.
“My latest one,” Charlie reveals, “is an authentic conversation with black female student-athletes on ‘Unconscious Bias and Social Injustice.’”
Here’s is the complete list of her podcasts starting with the most recent going in reverse chronological order:
- Episode 10: Courtney’s Story: Unconscious Bias and Social Injustice
- Episode 9: Confidence: A Feeling or an Action?
- Episode 8: How Do You Want to Be Remembered? 4 Minute Insight with Brian Cain
- Episode 7: The Silent Killer
- Episode 6: Peer Pressure, College Camps and Standing Out
- Episode 5: Conversation with Coach Sue Enquist (Part 2)
- Episode 4: What Skiing, Swimming and Softball Have in Common
- Episode 3: From Father to Coach to Guru – A Conversation with Denny Tincher
- Episode 2: A Master Class with Sue Enquist (for Players, Coaches & Parents)
- Episode 1: Building a Strong Mental Game with Morgan Stuart
*****
I had a chance to “interview the interviewer” to learn more about Charlie’s interests… here’s the conversation:
Extra Insights – a Q&A with Charlie
Do you want to go into journalism or broadcasting? Any idea of what you want your major to be?
I love storytelling and particularly love how in crafting and sharing stories it can help others. My passion lies is in English and creative writing and would be areas of focus for me in college. My favorite book to date is To Kill A Mockingbird!
Who are you looking to bring on in the future for podcast guests? Do you have a set schedule for upcoming podcasts?
I would love to talk to high school and or college seniors to have an authentic conversation on how they dealt with having their season abruptly taken away. Other future episodes will include conversations on how to work on your mental toughness through COVID-19 and strategies for female athletes to curate confidence both on and off the field.
Who would you be most excited to interview?
I love my coach, Suzy Willemssen and would love to do a dedicated episode with her so that everyone can see what I see — how special she is!
What position do you primarily play or prefer to play and what is one of your most proud accomplishments?
My favorite position is shortstop or wherever the coach needs me. My proudest accomplishment is being recognized as the Champion of Character.
— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball