In this episode of the Femme FC Podcast, Nicole is joined by Nichola Renwick, Senior Research Associate at the University of Portsmouth, whose work focuses on breast biomechanics and sports bra design.

Nichola breaks down what breast biomechanics actually is, how breasts move during sport, and why breast support should be considered a performance, health, and injury risk issue rather than just a comfort concern. She explains how breast movement changes during running, cutting, and jumping, and how inadequate support can alter stride length, running efficiency, breathing, ground reaction forces, and even joint loading.

This conversation also explores how breast pain and discomfort influence athlete behavior, confidence, and movement patterns, as well as how cultural norms in women's soccer can shape sports bra choices in ways that do not always align with performance needs.

Topics include:

• What breast biomechanics means and how breast movement is measured

• How breasts move in three directions during sport

• Why larger breast mass increases forces and acceleration

• How poor breast support reduces stride length and running efficiency

• The link between breast support, ground reaction forces, and joint loading

• Psychological and cultural factors influencing sports bra choices

• Compression vs encapsulation vs combination sports bras

• Key design features of high support sports bras

• How clubs can better educate players and staff about breast support

This episode is essential listening for medical staff, performance practitioners, coaches, and anyone working to improve athlete health and performance in women's soccer.

In this episode of the Femme FC Podcast, Nicole is joined by Jon Drezner, one of the world's leading experts in sports cardiology, to discuss sudden cardiac arrest in athletes and why preparedness is a responsibility shared by every member of the support staff.

Dr. Drezner is the Director of the University of Washington Center for Sports Cardiology, Editor in Chief of the British Journal of Sports Medicine, and a team physician in professional sport. In this conversation, he breaks down what sudden cardiac arrest actually is, how often it occurs, and why the idea that it is "rare" is both inaccurate and dangerous.

The episode walks through cardiac screening, ECG interpretation in athletes, and what support staff should do in the moment when an athlete collapses. Dr. Drezner also explains why emergency action planning, role clarity, and regular rehearsal are critical for survival.

Topics include:

• What sudden cardiac arrest is and how it differs from a heart attack

• How common sudden cardiac arrest actually is in athletes

• The most common causes in youth, collegiate, and professional sport

• Why ECG screening is essential for identifying at risk athletes

• How to recognize sudden cardiac arrest on the field

• Why seizure like activity and abnormal breathing can be misleading

• What an ideal emergency response looks like on the sideline

• How teams should practice and rehearse emergency action plans

• Return to play considerations after sudden cardiac arrest

This episode is essential listening for physical therapists, athletic trainers, strength coaches, sport scientists, physicians, and anyone working with athletes at any level.

In this episode of the Femme FC Podcast, Nicole is joined by Scott Epsley, Director of Player Health and Performance at NJ NY Gotham FC, to explore how medical and performance departments should be structured to support collaboration, staff development, and ultimately player care in women's soccer.

Drawing on more than 25 years of experience across professional, collegiate, and international sport, Scott explains why there is no single "right" org chart and why medical and performance teams should be viewed as living, breathing ecosystems that evolve over time. He shares lessons from the NBA, NCAA, and NWSL on how leadership decisions, role clarity, and communication pathways can either strengthen or fracture collaboration.

This conversation goes beyond job titles and reporting lines and dives into how leaders can build environments where staff feel empowered, supported, and accountable, even as teams grow and resources change.

Topics include:

• Why organizational structure should evolve with the needs of the team

• Collaboration versus role clarity and why both matter

• How leadership maturity shapes medical and performance culture

• Signs that an org chart is not working and needs to be adjusted

• Developing staff skills in resource constrained environments

• Why bigger teams are not always better teams

• Using women's soccer as a space to innovate rather than copy other sports

This episode is essential listening for medical and performance leaders working in women's soccer and for anyone stepping into a leadership role in elite sport.

Learn more from Scott at the Soccer Performance Support Summit this summer in New Jersey!

More info and registration can be found here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/soccer-performance-support-summit-tickets-1625338644639?aff=oddtdtcreator