Episodios

  • Megan Faraimo On Growing Softball Globally, Playing For Team USA, Pitching Mindset & Journaling

    Megan Faraimo On Growing Softball Globally, Playing For Team USA, Pitching Mindset & Journaling
    Jan 10 2026
    First episode of 2026 — and we’re kicking it off with Megan “Meg” Faraimo. 🔥 UCLA alum, Team USA pitcher, pro standout (AU/AUSL), and an international hooper who’s played overseas (Japan + Mexico). In this episode, Meg breaks down what it actually feels like to wear USA on your chest, why international softball matters, and the mindset tools she uses to stay locked in — including her journaling system for processing performance without spiraling. If you’re a pitcher (or just trying to level up mentally in sports + life), this one’s for you. 🎧 Topics we cover: Team USA trip to Australia + the mission to grow softball ahead of 2032 Olympics Why global softball needs support (and why “Team USA is too dominant” misses the point) Meg’s mental prep for high-pressure moments in the circle Vulnerability vs. “oversharing” — how to build team chemistry fast The journaling routine Meg uses after games to learn without guilt Curiosity, focus, and how she’s learned what works for her Playing overseas + how Japan changed her perspective AUSL culture… including the book club 👀 ⏱️ Chapters 0:00 Intro + Megan’s resume 1:30 Meg’s path (UCLA, pro, overseas, Team USA) 2:00 Team USA in Australia + growing the game for 2032 6:30 Why international softball matters 9:10 Wearing “USA” + handling pressure 13:00 Team chemistry + vulnerability (without oversharing) 15:10 Guilt, reflection, and the postgame journaling system 22:30 Curiosity + learning yourself as an athlete 30:00 Family, culture, and community 40:20 Game day routine + staying locked in 46:00 Playing overseas + perspective shift 47:45 Kindle story + AUSL book club 52:05 One piece of advice: “Bet on yourself” Subscribe for more unfiltered softball conversations, athlete mindset, and pro + Team USA stories. 👇 Drop a comment: What part of Meg’s routine are you stealing? #Softball #AUSL #TeamUSA #Pitching #WomensSports #UCLAsoftball #Fastpitch
    Más Menos
    52 m
  • Jadelyn Allchin On The AUSL Reserve Pool, UCLA Softball & Being Drafted By The Talons

    Jadelyn Allchin On The AUSL Reserve Pool, UCLA Softball & Being Drafted By The Talons
    Dec 18 2025
    Jadelyn Allchin’s softball journey is one every athlete — and parent — needs to hear. In this episode of Out of Left Field, host Abby Alonzo sits down with professional softball player Jadelyn Allchin to unpack one of the most powerful stories in the modern game. From starring at Washington, transferring home to UCLA Softball, navigating the transfer portal, and grinding through the AUSL reserve pool, Jadelyn’s path to becoming a drafted professional athlete was anything but linear. She opens up about: -The real reason she transferred from Washington to UCLA -Why the transfer portal isn’t just about NIL money -What it’s like to play professional softball without a guaranteed roster spot -Competing for weeks with her name Velcroed onto her jersey -Playing through a broken rib during the AUSL season -Going from reserve pool to officially drafted — “Velcro to stitches” -Mental toughness, pressure moments, and betting on yourself -Why community, family, and teammates matter more than ever -How pro softball is growing — and why young athletes belong in this sport This episode is a raw, honest look at professional softball, athlete development, and the mental side of chasing a dream when nothing is guaranteed. If you’re a young softball player, a parent navigating the current youth sports landscape, or someone who believes in growing the game, this conversation is for you. 🎧 Subscribe for more athlete stories, behind-the-scenes pro softball conversations, and real talk about the business and future of women’s sports. #OutOfLeftField #AUSL #JadelynAllchin
    Más Menos
    57 m
  • Tori Vidales on AUSL Draft, Team Mexico & Being An ESPN Analyst While Playing Professionally

    Tori Vidales on AUSL Draft, Team Mexico & Being An ESPN Analyst While Playing Professionally
    Dec 11 2025
    Welcome back to Out of Left Field — today I’m joined by one of the most impactful voices in softball, Team Mexico Olympian, AUSL veteran, and ESPN/SEC Network analyst, Tori Vidales. In this episode, Tori opens up about:
    • Her rise from Texas A&M to international softball
    • Playing for Team Mexico, battles behind the scenes, and qualifying for the Olympics
    • The wild early years of Athletes Unlimited/AUSL, the “Buy In or Retire” era
    • What really happens in the AUSL draft room
    • The mental side of softball: pressure, identity, confidence, and resilience
    • Why she believes softball is finally in its breakthrough era
    • How being an analyst makes her a better player (and vice versa)
    • The importance of athletes building their own brand
    • Her message to the next generation of softball players
    This is one of the most insightful and honest conversations we’ve ever had on OLF — and if you’re a softball fan, player, parent, or coach, this one will stick with you.

    FOLLOW US
    ➡️ Abby Alonzo
    Instagram: @abbigailalonzo
    TikTok: @aalonz0
    ➡️ Tori Vidales
    Instagram: @vidalestori
    ➡️ Out of Left Field (OLF)
    Instagram: @olfmedia
    TikTok: @outofleftfieldmedia

    CHAPTERS 00:00 – Intro
    00:32 – Who Is Tori Vidales?
    02:00 – Identity Beyond Softball
    02:50 – Tori’s Origin Story
    05:40 – Travel Ball, Impact Gold & Recruiting at 14
    08:40 – Committing to Texas A&M
    10:50 – Building A&M Back to the Women’s College World Series
    12:40 – Going Undrafted & Finding Pro Softball
    14:50 – Team Mexico, Behind-the-Scenes Turmoil & Olympic Qualifying
    18:40 – COVID Season, AU Year One & “Buy In or Retire”
    23:20 – Playing Without Fans & Creating Team Culture
    26:40 – AUSL Growth, Media, & What Makes This League Different
    31:30 – Media Team Appreciation + Why Storytelling Matters
    35:00 – Tori’s Life as an ESPN/SEC Network Analyst
    37:40 – Balancing Broadcast & Being a Pro Athlete
    41:00 – The Mental Side of Broadcasting
    45:00 – Mentoring Younger Players
    47:00 – Draft Night, Being Selected by the Cascade
    52:00 – Leaving the Talons & Building Something New
    55:30 – The Mindset That Saved Her Career
    01:00:20 – Tori’s Message to Young Athletes
    01:02:30 – Closing, Gratitude, and Next Steps
    Más Menos
    1 h y 3 m
  • Michaela Edenfield On Her FSU Roots, Confidence, Identity, Mental Health & AUSL Expansion

    Michaela Edenfield On Her FSU Roots, Confidence, Identity, Mental Health & AUSL Expansion
    Nov 21 2025
    AUSL catcher and former Florida State standout Michaela Edenfield sits down for one of the most honest conversations Abby Alonzo has had on Out of Left Field. We dive into topics athletes rarely feel safe talking about publicly: • confidence vs. insecurity • bullying and identity • balancing femininity (makeup, beauty) and elite performance • mental health, emotional regulation, vulnerability • the pressure of early recruiting • NIL chaos and the modern athlete experience • how FSU’s culture shaped her • the AUSL expansion, the Spark joining, and what Kim Ng brings to the sport • why this era is different for women’s softball • how Michaela finally decided she was good enough to play professionally This conversation goes far beyond softball — it’s about growth, self-worth, and learning how to become yourself in a world that tries to shape you. If you care about women’s sports, athlete mental health, softball development, or the future of the AUSL, this episode is a must-watch. New episodes every Thursday. Subscribe for more interviews with AUSL players, NCAA stars, and leaders shaping the future of women’s softball - https://www.youtube.com/@OutOfLeftFieldOfficial?sub_confirmation=1 FOLLOW OLF: Instagram — @olfmedia TikTok — @outofleftfieldmedia YouTube — Out of Left Field FOLLOW ABBY ALONZO: Instagram -- @abbigailalonzo Tiktok -- @abbyalonz0 CONTACT: outofleftfieldmedia@gmail.com #AUSL #MichaelaEdenfield #Softball
    Más Menos
    1 h y 6 m
  • Payton Gottshall On Pro Softball Life, Mexico League, AUSL ESPN Deal & Tennessee Softball Culture

    Payton Gottshall On Pro Softball Life, Mexico League, AUSL ESPN Deal & Tennessee Softball Culture
    Nov 7 2025
    Former Tennessee Lady Vol Payton Gottshall pulls back the curtain on what professional softball actually looks like: bouncing between leagues and countries (Mexico, Netherlands, Taiwan), 60-hour travel days, and why Mexico’s fan culture is unmatched. We also dive into the AUSL x ESPN/ABC deal and what city-based teams mean for players and fans in 2026. Plus: how the transfer from Bowling Green to Tennessee changed her career, team culture, 1,000 Ks, and the mental switch that unlocked her best pitching. What we cover: -How pro softball works when the U.S. season is short -Playing in Mexico, the Netherlands, and Taiwan (and surviving 60 hours of travel) -Why Mexico’s stadium crowds feel different -AUSL is moving to city-based teams + ESPN multi-year deal (Championship on ABC) -Transferring to Tennessee: culture, “the program,” and hitting 1,000 strikeouts -Advice to the next generation: trust your identity About OLF: Out of Left Field is “softball, unfiltered.” Weekly interviews with the athletes, coaches, and creators growing the game. Subscribe for more: https://www.youtube.com/@OutOfLeftFieldOfficial?sub_confirmation=1 Follow Payton Gottshall on IG: @P.Gott Follow Abby Alonzo on IG: @AbbigailAlonzo #AUSL #PaytonGottshall #Softball
    Más Menos
    35 m
  • UCLA National Champion Paige Halstead Being Present & Teaching Athletes to Grow Their Brand

    UCLA National Champion Paige Halstead Being Present & Teaching Athletes to Grow Their Brand
    Oct 30 2025
    UCLA national champion, Team USA alum, and entrepreneur Paige Halstead joins Out of Left Field to talk about her journey from winning a natty at UCLA to building her own lane in softball — as a broadcaster, creator, and business owner. Paige opens up about how she helped design gear for All-Star Catching, the company redefining equipment for female athletes, and why she and her fiancé started PrepBranding, a platform teaching athletes how to use social media to build their personal brands and create opportunities beyond the field. Hosted by Abby Alonzo, this episode dives into how today’s players can think like pros — on the business side of softball and beyond. 🎙 Topics Covered: UCLA’s national championship run Paige’s journey from player to entrepreneur The creation of All-Star Catching gear How PrepBranding empowers athletes through social media Balancing identity, purpose, and business after softball #OutOfLeftField #PaigeHalstead #Softball #WomensSports #UCLA #AthleteBranding #AllStarCatching #PrepBranding #SportsBusiness #NIL #FemaleAthletes #SportsMedia
    Más Menos
    32 m
  • Tennessee Softball’s Karlyn Pickens on Breaking The College Softball Velo Records & Team USA

    Tennessee Softball’s Karlyn Pickens on Breaking The College Softball Velo Records & Team USA
    Oct 23 2025
    Tennessee Softball star Karlyn Pickens — the two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year, Team USA athlete, and owner of the fastest pitch in college softball (79.4 MPH) — joins Abby Alonzo on Out of Left Field to talk about breaking records, leadership, NIL, and finding her “why.” Recorded inside Tennessee’s Sherri Parker Lee Stadium, Karlyn opens up about growing up in North Carolina, choosing the Lady Vols, working with Aubrey Leach, joining Team USA Softball, and learning how to play free and inspire the next generation of athletes. 🎙️ Out of Left Field dives into the stories and mindsets shaping softball and women’s sports — featuring the game’s biggest names and rising stars. Chapters 00:00 Intro — Knoxville & Tennessee softball vibes 01:02 Growing up in North Carolina & multi-sport roots 02:20 Travel ball memories & dad on the bucket 03:48 Becoming a pitcher & meeting her first coach 05:00 Recruiting through COVID & why Tennessee 07:24 NIL & social media — protecting your peace 09:20 Finding her why & inspiring young players 10:20 Breaking her own velocity record (79.4 MPH) 12:52 Pitching mechanics & control for young arms 13:59 Senior season goals & leadership growth 15:38 Team USA Softball with Aubrey Leach 17:37 Advice for young softball players — play free Follow @olfmedia on Instagram! #KarlynPickens #TennesseeSoftball #CollegeSoftball
    Más Menos
    19 m
  • Olympic Medalist Natalie Wideman on Fear, Authenticity & the Future of Women’s Softball

    Olympic Medalist Natalie Wideman on Fear, Authenticity & the Future of Women’s Softball
    Oct 11 2025
    Team Canada catcher Natalie Wideman joins Abby Alonzo for a powerful, unfiltered conversation on Out of Left Field.

    A 14-year veteran, Olympic medalist, and founder of Unedited Self Co, Natalie opens up about:
    -The early days of chasing an Olympic dream
    -Overcoming fear and self-doubt as a female athlete -Building her brand and community through vulnerability
    -The growth of women’s softball and MLB’s investment in AUSL
    -Balancing entrepreneurship, marriage, and Team Canada life
    -Her upcoming journey to play pro ball in Mexico

    This episode is about more than softball. It’s about self-belief, balance, and embracing the uncomfortable to become your best self.

    Hosted by Abby Alonzo, Editor-in-Chief of Business of Ball and founder of Out of Left Field.

    📍 Watch more episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_WhvD442iLTgIRgR6NfbVJX5R7tEURRM&si=RbNSINI53sQulwhl
    Follow Natalie: @nataliewideman
    Follow Abby: @abbigailalonzo
    Follow Out of Left Field: @olfmedia
    #OutOfLeftField #Softball #WomenInSports #NatalieWideman #TeamCanada #AUSL #MLB #WomenEmpowerment #UneditedSelf #Fearless #SportsMedia #AthleteMindset
    Más Menos
    37 m
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_DT_webcro_1694_expandible_banner_T1