It started with a simple exercise — a wall of sticky notes and one question: Do you want the league to be competitive or fun?
What happened next revealed more than anyone expected. Behind each was a story — of why people skate, what they’re chasing, and what they’re afraid to lose. And why they leave when they're not getting what they want from a sport they are passionate about.
In this episode, we explore how many teams grapple with identity, ambition, and joy. From the thrill of winning to the sting of being benched, from those who push hard to improve to those who just want to play with their friends — it’s a look at what happens when a community sport asks itself what it truly values.
How do you balance the drive to win with the joy of playing? Because in the end, it’s not just about roller derby. It’s about how we define success, and whether being competitive and having fun can ever really coexist.
Photo by Jason Lome @lomeranger on Instagram
Podcast logo by Liz Mac Intyre
Would you like to sponsor this podcast and get your message out to our very smart and cool roller derby audience? Email me at power4thwhistle@gmail.com or DM on IG @power4thwhistle.
Follow our Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/powerthru4thwhistle
Follow us on Instagram: @Power4thWhistle