Throughout Lisa Byington’s career, she has made history. As a female play-by-play announcer, she was the first to call a football game on the Big Ten Network, the first to do television play-by-play for the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament for CBS and Turner Sports, and the first to be a full-time television play-by-play for an NBA team. Yet while her career has been filled with firsts, she hopes that the sports world just considers her a good broadcaster, and the fact she’s a female becomes rather irrelevant.
 
In this episode of Locker Room Talk, Lisa, who has worked for Fox Sports, FS1, CBS, Turner Sports, ESPN and several other major networks, as well as the Milwaukee Bucks, shares the insights and lessons learned throughout her journey. From sideline reporter to play-by-play announcer to producer, she’s worked some of sports most notable events, like the Olympics and the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Mentioning that her most memorable sports moment to date is hearing her voice in one of college basketball’s most beloved traditions, “One Shining Moment.”  
 
What does it take to obtain the level of success that Lisa Byington has achieved thus far? She tells Locker Room Talk hosts Julie Alexandria and Jennifer Mercedes that you can't be afraid to hear the “no,” and you can't then be afraid to continuously make the ask. And for her, she admits that navigating the noes can be challenging, but believing that nothing is gender defined is what allows her to move forward. Lisa attributes her parents for encouraging her that she can be anything she wants to be, and that gender should never hold someone back.
 
For more conversations like this, check out Locker Room Talk on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. Future episodes will include Khristina Williams founder of Girls Talk Sports TV and Claudia Romo Edelman who is a Mexican-Swiss diplomat and founder of We Are All Human.

Lisa Byington || Milwaukee Bucks TV Play-by-Play Announcer

Founder of Girls Talk Sports TV, Khristina Williams talks about creating content and blazing her own path in sports journalism. When it comes to independent voices in sports broadcasting, very few are able to stand out from the crowd, especially amongst credentialed and reliable sources that have network or corporate platform ties. Very few can forge their own path, stand out amongst the constant noise of social media, and make a difference. Williams has managed to do just that. Williams started her platform Girls Talk Sports TV from scratch. She has no producers, no editors or a team of assistants doing the busy work. She produces, hosts and podcasts all on her own. She is a one-woman voice and an emerging powerhouse in the world of WNBA and sports content. Williams sits down with Locker Room Talk hosts Jennifer Mercedes and Julie Alexandria to talk about how she started her own platform, how she builds and nurtures relationships within the industry, and how her determined spirit has helped to get her to where she is today. Williams was recently featured in Forbes Magazine, and she continues to be a presence in the sports journalism landscape.

Khristina Williams || Founder of Girls Talk Sports TV

No one becomes an accidental millionaire, and compliments don’t pay the rent. Some words of wisdom from Wager, a salary conversation service, Founder/CEO Cynthia Medina Carson.  As a self-described "transparency maven," Cynthia isn't afraid to speak common cents. In an unprecedented time of the "gig economy" and the new normal of work-from-home to office hybrid, Cynthia details ways in which you can make yourself hard to replace and turn your freelancer status into prominence as a key player. When it comes to diversity and inclusion - it's not just a trend, it's the future, and the reality of business. Cynthia breaks down exactly how the industry is evolving and taking notice. 
 
Why do women - statistically speaking- have such a hard time asking for what they want when it comes to salary? Cynthia, explains. Locker Room Talk hosts Jennifer Mercedes and Julie Alexandria join Cynthia, as she uncovers the taboos of talking about money, and encourages women to be confident in asking for what they want. Cynthia speaks to the power of being an "A-player,” and she gives advice on how to position oneself to co-workers and how to ask for what you want in the workplace. Always be prepared to walk away, and know your worth, Cynthia gives her best advice to Jennifer, Julie, and all women in the workplace.
 
For more conversations like this, check out Locker Room Talk on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. Future episodes will include Claudia Romo Edelman, Mexican-Swiss diplomat and founder of We Are All Human, and Bleacher Report Senior Producer Lakia Holmes.

Cynthia Medina Carson || Founder and CEO of Wager

Lakia Holmes is the Senior Producer of Diversified Content at Turner Sports and Bleacher Report. A life-long New York Mets fan, Lakia’s sports media career began in college, having the opportunity to work as a sideline reporter for her university, then as a ESPNU Campus Connection reporter and as a studio production intern for ESPN’s Baseball Tonight and SportsCenter. 
In this episode of Locker Room Talk,  Lakia, whose passion for storytelling has set her apart in the sports industry, tells hosts Jennifer Mercedes and Julie Alexandria how her early experiences as a young professional shaped who she is today.  Lakia also shares some of the challenges she has faced being a woman in sports. One of those was choosing whether to be a mom, have a career, or both. She opens up about her fertility journey and why she felt like she had to wait before starting it.  
And do you want to know what Lakia’s superpower is? Tune in, and for more conversations like this, check out Locker Room Talk on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. Future episodes will include Claudia Romo Edelman, Mexican-Swiss diplomat and founder of We Are All Human, and Ishwara Glassman Chrein, President at Chicago Fire FC.

Lakia Holmes || Senior Producer of Diversified Content at Turner Sports and Bleacher Report

Claudia Romo Edelman is an activist for equity, diversity, and inclusion, and she is also the founder of We Are All Human. Claudia tells Locker Room Talk hosts Julie Alexandria and Jennifer Mercedes what inspires her work, and how she sees the future of social justice. From an early age, after a life-changing experience working alongside rescuers after a devastating earthquake that rocked her native Mexico City, it became clear to Claudia what her life's mission would entail. Fighting for human rights, amplifying the Latinx community and championing women everywhere. Whatever cause or platform she is supporting, Claudia does it with all her might. Hear what the Mexican-Swiss diplomat, speaker and media contributor, who has more than 25 years of experience leading marketing and advocacy for global organizations including UNICEF, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations and the World Economic Forum has to say about the future of the Latinx community. 
 
Claudia talks about why and how she founded We Are All Human…to remind people of this very simple truth. She also answers questions around society’s readiness to move forward and have those hard conversations. To her, she says the process has already begun. Julie, Jennifer and Claudia also discuss Hispanic Heritage Month, and Claudia makes it clear that it’s more than just margaritas and tacos. Companies and industries have an amazing opportunity, they just have to take it, says Claudia!
 
Finally, Jennifer and Julie ask, "Do players need to speak English in order to succeed?” Many Latino baseball players use interpreters, but they have been chastised in the media for doing so. How can baseball be a conduit for Latino culture? Claudia explains. These conversations and more can be found on Locker Room Talk YouTube, Instagram and Facebook platforms. Future episodes will include Ishwara Glassman Chrein, President at Chicago Fire FC and Alana Meraz, Founder of Latinx In Sports.

Claudia Romo Edelman, Founder of We Are All Human | Locker Room Talk

In this special episode, we look back at the first season of Locker Room Talk. Julie Alexandria and Jennifer Mercedes celebrate their favorite moments from their conversations with trailblazing women who are carving new paths across the sports and business industry. Jennifer and Julie discuss why they created Locker Room Talk and explain their motivation and passion for hosting unfiltered conversations about everything and anything in a way that women want to have these discussions. This episode features Jessica Mendoza, MJ Acosta-Ruiz, Sarah Spain, and Joy Taylor.     
For more conversations like this, check out Locker Room Talk on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Future episodes will include Alana Meraz, Fan Experience Coordinator at U.S. Soccer Federation, and Ishwara Glassman Chrein, President at Chicago Fire FC.

2021 Favorite Moments || Locker Room Talk

Alana Meraz is the founder of Latinx in Sports, a platform aimed to foster relationships and forge connections within the Latinx community and the world of professional sports. The first of its kind, Alana and her partner set forth to create a platform that connects working Latinx professionals with young students and aspiring talent in the sports space, as Latinx in Sports helps the next generation of Latinx job seekers navigate the landscape. Alana talks about the first time she got the inkling of an idea to launch her social and career-minded platform, Latinx in Sports. As she describes to Locker Room Talk hosts Julie Alexandria and Jennifer Mercedes, it all started with just one networking call, and the power of networking proved to be the catalyst that launched it all. She also shares how and why she came up with the idea to create Latinx in Sports during Hispanic Heritage Month.
 
For more conversations like this, check out Locker Room Talk on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Future episodes include Ishwara Glassman Chrein, President at Chicago Fire FC, and be sure to dive into the archives for conversations with Jessica Mendoza of ESPN and the NFL Network’s MJ Acosta-Ruiz.

La Vida Baseball is a Latino media and lifestyle brand that covers stories at the intersection of Latino culture and baseball. To see more Latino béisbol content subscribe to our YouTube channel and give us a follow!

Alana Meraz, Founder of Latinx in Sports | Locker Room Talk | Episode 23

Ishwara Glassman Chrein, President of Chicago Fire FC, is blazing a trail in the sports world. With a background in sports business from some big names like Yahoo, Verizon and IMG, paired with the fact that she is a die-hard sports fan, the fit couldn't be much better. While she faces numerous challenges to get the team to where she would like it to be, from marketing players, growing an audience and playing on the iconic Soldier Field, Glassman Chrein has never been one to back away from a challenge. Proud to now call Chicago home, she took this job at the beginning of the pandemic and never thought twice and never looked back.
 
She talks with Locker Room Talk hosts Julie Alexandria and Jennifer Mercedes about some of the biggest challenges, as well as the importance of what one brings to the job - even if that doesn't include expertise or experience. She encourages us to never underestimate your own power to learn. What you bring to the table is more than half the battle when signing up for a new job or position or taking on a new challenge. For more conversations like this, including interviews with the NFL Networks’ MJ Acosta-Ruiz and ESPN’s Jessica Mendoza and Sarah Spain, check out Locker Room Talk on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.

Ishwara Glassman Chrein | President, Chicago Fire FC

Women have always been at the forefront of challenging cultural norms. This show was created as a platform for the incredible community of trail blazers who continue to redefine our industry. Jennifer Mercedes and Julie Alexandria are leading important conversations with industry leaders. With LRT, Julie and Jennifer have created a space where Womxn can share their stories, experiences and of course their triumphs. 
Locker Room Talk is a La Vida Baseball Podcast.

Alana Meraz, Founder of Latinx in Sports | Locker Room Talk | Episode 23

Locker Room Talk

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