Marnie Schneider is a CEO, inspirational speaker, author, and philanthropist. She is a Philadelphia native who now lives in the Carolinas, consistently devoting her time and resources to helping others achieve their victory. Marnie thinks of this as “showing up” on life’s playing field with positivity and energy, day in and day out.

From being brought by her grandfather to football games to writing stories about each football city she went to, today's guest continues to share her passion for sports through her book series in hopes of inspiring kids to read and impart lessons on family and friendship.

According to Marnie Schneider, being a female author in the male-dominated sports scene was more of a motivation than a challenge. It inspired her to consistently perform at her best and share the joy of being a sports fan with the kids that read her books.

In this episode of the Sports Up Podcast, Meredith Syms is joined by Marnie Schneider to talk about her first exposure to sports and what pushed her to pursue the pastime as her career. Marnie talks about her experience being a female author of a male-dominated scene and her goal of inspiring kids to find joy in reading. She also gives advice to the young generation interested in pursuing sports.

Professor Annie Gilbert Coleman is an Associate Professor of American Studies, the Concurrent Associate Professor of History, and the Director of Sport, Media, and Culture at the University of Notre Dame. She teaches and writes about outdoor sports and American culture.

She conducts research focused on sports studies, environmental history, public lands, the American West, and 20th-century American history.

Professor Coleman earned her BA in History from Williams College and her MA and PhD in History at the University of Colorado Boulder.

When talking about outdoor sports and recreation, people don’t always think of all the factors at play — access, environmental impact, gender, and race are just a few of the crucial but underrepresented aspects of the subject.

According to Professor Annie Gilbert Coleman, understanding how these factors intersect with outdoor sports and recreation is vital to improving the overall quality of those experiences. Knowing how outdoor recreation has grown into an industry also helps people understand the structural relationships to economies and tourism and how the dynamics of gender, class, and race come into play.

In this episode of the Sports Up Podcast, Meredith Syms is joined by Professor Annie Gilbert Coleman to talk about the intersection between outdoor sports and recreation, race, and gender. Professor Coleman talks about how she found herself in this particular area of study and why it’s important for people to learn about and understand the topic. She also shares what she hopes to achieve in teaching on the subject and what’s next with her research.

Leigh Wojtkiewicz is the Associate Athletic Director for Data, Analytics & Strategic Initiatives at the University of Notre Dame. She is also the Co-founder of the Sports Data, Analytics & Technology Association which includes an online community platform where aspiring athletes and professionals can connect and share ideas, best practices, and sports analytics.

Notre Dame’s renowned educational and athletic programs are only part of what makes them one of the most respected and elite institutions in the US. How do you build a recipe for success at such a high-profile university without losing focus?

Leigh Wojtkiewicz is determined to foster innovation through analytics that would drive Notre Dame Athletics to a new level. Her proven business intelligence and analytics skills have helped numerous other institutions improve efficiency. Now, as part of Notre Dame Athletics, Leigh has set out to revolutionize the analytics and strategy department to achieve excellence in all aspects of sports.

In this episode of the Sports Up Podcast, Meredith Syms welcomes Leigh Wojtkiewicz, Associate Athletic Director at the University of Notre Dame and Co-founder of the Sports Data, Analytics & Technology Association. They talk about key aspects of working in a male-dominated industry, the way faith can elevate athletes, and what the future holds for Notre Dame Athletics.