Women’s League Podcast

Ep. 3 with Marney Gellner

Abby Chin and Naoko Funayama chat with Minnesota sports broadcasting legend Marney Gellner, who covers the Timberwolves, Twins, and Lynx. From lugging heavy camera gear in her early TV days to balancing motherhood and a demanding travel schedule, Marney shares the realities behind building a lasting sports media career.She opens up about aging gracefully on-air, advocating for herself at work, battling breast cancer, and why family ultimately reshaped her priorities. Marney’s candid insights will inspire aspiring broadcasters, women navigating careers in sports, and anyone interested in the behind-the-scenes world of sports media.🎧 Subscribe for more honest conversations from women in sports broadcasting:👉 https://www.youtube.com/@thewomensleague🔔 Got questions or topics you want us to cover next? Drop them in the comments!#MarneyGellner #WomensLeaguePodcast #WomenInSports #SportsBroadcasting #CareerAdvice #SportsMedia #WorkingMoms #BehindTheScenes #BreastCancerAwareness

Ep. 2 with Heidi Watney

Veteran MLB reporter Heidi Watney joins the Women's League Podcast to discuss her career transition, balancing work and family, and the evolving role of women in sports media.
In this episode of the Women's League Podcast, hosts Abby and Naoko sit down with longtime Major League Baseball reporter Heidi Watney to discuss her journey from network television to Apple TV’s MLB package. Heidi opens up about the challenges of stepping away from the grind of traditional sports broadcasting, the joys of spending more time with her family, and how her perspective on career and legacy has evolved.
This candid conversation touches on the struggles and triumphs of balancing a high-profile career with motherhood, the pressures of the sports media industry, and the importance of community for women in the field. If you're navigating career transitions, work-life balance, or just love hearing behind-the-scenes stories from sports journalists, this episode is for you!
Topics Covered:✅Transitioning from network TV to Apple TV+’s MLB package✅The emotional challenges of leaving a high-intensity career✅Advice for working moms and women in sports media
📢 We’d love to hear from you! Drop a comment below or send us a message with your thoughts on today’s episode.
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Ep. 1 with Michele Steele

Abby Chin and Naoko Funayama chat with ESPN's Michele Steele, one of the most versatile journalists in sports media. Michele shares candid insights on building confidence, breaking from norms, and overcoming challenges she's faced on her journey from Bloomberg to SportsCenter. Learn how Michele became one of ESPN's most dynamic broadcast journalists and hear her advice for navigating your own career path.
In this premiere episode of the Women's League Podcast, hosts Abby and Naoko welcome the incredibly insightful Michele Steele, who has covered a wide range of sports from the sidelines, worked as a podcast host, anchored SportsCenter, and brought a fresh perspective from her early career at Bloomberg. Michele is kind enough to share her journey from a job offer at the CIA to the World Wide Leader, her confidence-building strategies, and advice for longevity in media.
Michele Steele opens up about:✅ Reinventing yourself professionally✅ The power of confidence and what that looks like to her✅ Lessons from working with top executives✅ How to build longevity in a competitive industry
Michele’s wisdom, humor, and experience make this a must-listen for anyone in journalism, broadcasting, or looking for career inspiration.
🔹 Join the conversation! Drop your questions or comments below, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more episodes.📢 Follow us for more exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes insights!#WomensLeaguePodcast #MicheleSteele #WomenInSports #SportsMedia #CareerGrowth

Welcome to Women's League! Ep. 0 with Abby Chin & Naoko Funayama

Welcome to Women's League!
🎙️Abby Chin and Naoko Funayama achieved the dream. Two women who worked their way up to cover professional sports for more than a decade while building families in Boston — and they both have championship rings to show for it. Now they’re sharing the journey with you by launching Women’s League. The goal is to create a space for real conversations about sports and media while balancing career and family.
Sports broadcasting is without a doubt one of the coolest jobs out there. But, like in sports, it’s not all win streaks and duck boat parades. You have to get creative to make work and life fit. Women’s League features authentic conversations touching on both the triumphs and the struggles, taking you behind the scenes of a fast-paced, high-stakes industry.
Make no mistake, Abby and Naoko aren’t alone. The community of women in sports may be small, but it is mighty. Every woman you see in front of the camera, and working behind it, has a remarkable story of determination, dedication, and perseverance.
Every other week, Abby and Naoko are talking to top women in sports, media, and beyond, sharing untold, behind the scenes stories and valuable insights. In this premiere episode, Abby and Naoko introduce themselves, their vision for the show and a preview of what's to come.
What You'll Hear in This Episode:
✅ Abby & Naoko’s journey in sports broadcasting✅ The challenges of balancing career and motherhood in the industry✅ Why they started this podcast & who it’s for✅ A preview of the conversations to come
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