Her Call Podcast

by MK McGee

A podcast for female sports officials.

hercall.substack.com

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22 episodes
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Avg 46 min
English

Episodes 22

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Thursday · 1 hr 17 min
Suzanne Lowry - Pro Volleyball Official
What a pleasure it was to talk with Pro Volleyball Official Suzanne Lowry! Her resume is long and impressive, but she is best known for her role in the Nebraska Stadium Match on August 30, 2023. Also known as “Volleyball Day in Nebraska”, this event made headlines around the world. Suzanne was the lead official on this match, and she tells the detailed story from her side of the whistle in this episode. We also talk about preparation and how to handle mistakes, and Suzanne’s wisdom is golden in these areas. But we couldn’t cover it all, so for more from Suzanne, I recommend that you listen to her interview on the From A to Zebra podcast. You can find the podcast on Apple Podcasts here, on Spotify here, and on YouTube here. ---------- Do you want to become a sports official? If you live in Nebraska, you can visit nsaahome.org for more information. To find contact information for a state association in another state, click here. You can subscribe to Her Call at hercall.substack.com (it's free!). Click the link to learn more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hercall.substack.com
September 10 · 20 min
Hillary Vanness - Volleyball Official
What a treat it was to interview this month’s guest on the podcast—Hillary Vanness from Omaha, Nebraska! In six short years, Hillary has gone from “line-judging for a few extra dollars” to manning the referee stand in the Pinnacle Arena for the Nebraska State Volleyball Tournament. Last year was Hillary’s first taste of the big stage as an official; the previous two years she got her feet wet as a line judge at the tournament. You’re going to love Hillary. She’s so kind, so positive, and, as I say, a “bright light” in the officiating world. She opens up about balancing being a mom to a toddler and officiating, and shares encouragement for those who might want to give officiating a try. As the saying goes, “the kids are alright”, and Hillary, an up-and-comer with a bright future, proves that point. Enjoy! ---------- Do you want to become a sports official? If you live in Nebraska, you can visit nsaahome.org for more information. To find contact information for a state association in another state, click here. You can subscribe to Her Call at hercall.substack.com (it's free!). Click the link to learn more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hercall.substack.com
August 13 · 29 min
Beth Nolz - Softball Umpire
Beth Nolz from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, joined me on the Her Call podcast this month. She is a softball umpire doing big things, both on the college scene and with USA Softball. I’m so glad to platform Beth’s experience with the National Umpire School and her biggest accomplishment (to date) with USA Softball. She is the real deal, and you will definitely learn something new from this one! I hope you enjoy. ---------- Do you want to become a sports official? If you live in Nebraska, you can visit nsaahome.org for more information. To find contact information for a state association in another state, click here. You can subscribe to Her Call at hercall.substack.com (it's free!). Click the link to learn more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hercall.substack.com
July 9 · 36 min
Leslie Tamayo - Wrestling Official
It is my pleasure to platform Leslie Tamayo, a wrestling official from Tucson, Arizona! Leslie has officiated matches at the collegiate and international levels and is a leader in her field. We had a great conversation about the nitty-gritty of moving up on the mat, as well as how Leslie meets the challenges of motherhood and her full-time job alongside the pressures of officiating. Leslie will be working at “Fargo”, otherwise known as the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals, July 9-18. She talks about the significance of this event and how she’s seen the number of women officials rise over the years. It’s a great convo! Enjoy :) ---------- Do you want to become a sports official? If you live in Nebraska, you can visit nsaahome.org for more information. To find contact information for a state association in another state, click here. You can subscribe to Her Call at hercall.substack.com (it's free!). Click the link to learn more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hercall.substack.com
June 11 · 42 min
Wendy Wortmann - Track Official
What a pleasure it was to talk with track official Wendy Wortmann from Hartington, NE, who is fresh off another Nebraska State Track Meet. After a storied track career as an athlete at Doane, Wendy started working as a track official and has logged 21 straight years at the annual championships in Nebraska. Wendy and I talk about what it takes to be a good track official, how to balance her love of track with her job and family, and what brings her joy in this avocation. It’s a great conversation, and I hope you enjoy. ---------- Do you want to become a sports official? If you live in Nebraska, you can visit nsaahome.org for more information. To find contact information for a state association in another state, click here. You can subscribe to Her Call at hercall.substack.com (it's free!). Click the link to learn more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hercall.substack.com
May 14 · 1 hr 18 min
Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling - NBA Official
I am thrilled to put this podcast into the world! Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling is a former NBA official with a pretty amazing officiating resume. But what strikes me even more is Lauren’s thoughtfulness and wisdom—and you will see what I mean when you listen in! Lauren worked in the NBA for 10 years, as the third female to ever don the stripes in the league. She talks about the journey that brought her into arenas with thousands, and you’ll find her start was not unlike so many who have wondered what it might be like to dip their toe into officiating. You will find Lauren relatable, and I guarantee you will learn something new through this conversation. It is my privilege to share this with you. Enjoy! Check out the Refmasters platform at https://www.refmasters.com/. Lauren runs the RefWell space! You can also find content at the RefMasters substack here: https://refmasters.substack.com/ ---------- Do you want to become a sports official? If you live in Nebraska, you can visit nsaahome.org for more information. To find contact information for a state association in another state, click here. You can subscribe to Her Call at hercall.substack.com (it's free!). Click the link to learn more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hercall.substack.com
April 9 · 39 min
Brittney Hageman - Soccer Official
On the podcast this month is Brittney Hageman from Omaha, Nebraska! Brittney is an accomplished soccer official who works both high school and NCAA Division I matches. Of her many accolades, none compares to her “soccer grand slam.” Listen in to learn more about this amazing achievement! Brittney also gives back to the game through her work with the Nebraska Referee Development Program, where she trains and mentors the next generation of soccer officials. We had a great conversation about communication on the pitch (or court), and Brittney shares her thoughts on what makes officiating such a gift. I loved talking with Brittney, and I’m so excited to share this with you—enjoy! ---------- Do you want to become a sports official? If you live in Nebraska, you can go to nsaahome.org to find more information. To find contact information for a state association in another state, click here. You can subscribe to Her Call at hercall.substack.com (it's free!). Click the link to learn more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hercall.substack.com
March 12 · 42 min
Greta Langhenry - Baseball Umpire
Greta Langhenry is a two-time honors graduate of the Wendelstedt Umpire School and the MiLB Advanced Course. In 2019, Greta became the first female umpire in history to work in the Coastal Plain League and the Florida Collegiate Summer League.1 That being said, Greta is, first and foremost, a flat-out good human being. Harry would be so proud. And I’m proud to know her as well. Muhammad Ali said, “Service to others is the rent you pay for room here on earth,” and I cannot think of anyone who exemplifies this more than Greta. She created Level Ump to serve aspiring female baseball umpires who “want to know they belong.” And she recognizes that baseball is a game that can transcend even the most heinous injustices with her Manzanar project. Take a listen. It will be 43 minutes you won’t regret. ---------- Do you want to become a sports official? If you live in Nebraska, you can go to nsaahome.org to find more information. To find contact information for a state association in another state, click here. You can subscribe to Her Call at hercall.substack.com (it's free!). Click the link to learn more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hercall.substack.com
February 12 · 40 min
Christin Benson - Wrestling Official
If there’s one thing I hope you’ve learned from this podcast, it’s that officiating takes grit, and Christin Benson is chock-full of it. Christin is a high school and college wrestling official from Omaha, Nebraska. Although she has worn the stripes for a short period, she brings insight and perspective well beyond her years of experience. Christin and I had a great discussion about overcoming doubt, the benefit of joining confidence with humility, and how she’s established her place in a male-dominated sport. This is a great listen, not just for aspiring female wrestling officials, but for any aspiring official from any sport. Christin is authentic, tough-minded, and deeply committed to her craft—you won’t regret spending time with this episode. Also, be sure to check out THIS piece I posted in August about Christin’s experience in “Fargo”. ---------- Do you want to become a sports official? If you live in Nebraska, you can go to nsaahome.org to find more information. To find contact information for a state association in another state, click here. You can subscribe to Her Call at hercall.substack.com (it's free!). Click the link to learn more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hercall.substack.com
#13
January 8 · 1 hr 8 min
The Zebra Sisters - Shannon Eggers, Brooke Schwartz, and Nicole Wagner
The Her Call Podcast is one year strong, and I couldn’t be more excited to celebrate this milestone with some of my favorite people and dearest friends. Shannon Eggers, Brooke Schwartz, and Nicole Wagner are basketball officials who have become my “tribe” — that small group of people who show up through thick and thin. Shannon, Brooke, and Nicole share their hard-earned wisdom about how to survive on the hardwood, and we discuss the value of female friendship in a male-dominated field. My friends are honest and funny, offering perspective and reassurance that none of us are meant to do this work alone. This episode is a celebration of growth, grit, and the power of finding your people. Enjoy! ---------- Do you want to become a sports official? If you live in Nebraska, you can go to nsaahome.org to find more information. To find contact information for a state association in another state, click here. You can subscribe to Her Call at hercall.substack.com (it's free!). Click the link to learn more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hercall.substack.com
Dec 11, 2025 · 32 min
Andrea Kelley - NCAA, NFHS, and USA Swim Official
When you meet a swim official, you are most likely meeting someone with a generous heart and the volunteer spirit. Andrea Kelley exemplifies this ethos to a T! Like so many swim officials, Andrea started officiating to help out at her kids’ swim meets. What began as an act of kindness has bloomed into, as Andrea calls it, an “expensive hobby”. Andrea is warm-hearted and generous. She is also quite accomplished, with experience officiating at the NCAA Division 1 level and internationally. You will learn a lot about swim officiating and officiating in general from her. Enjoy! ---------- Do you want to become a sports official? If you live in Nebraska, you can go to nsaahome.org to find more information. To find contact information for a state association in another state, click here. You can subscribe to Her Call at hercall.substack.com (it's free!). Click the link to learn more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hercall.substack.com
Nov 13, 2025 · 1 hr
Laura Praus, Volleyball Official and NWALA Board Member
Calling all moms, friends of moms, spouses of moms, kids of moms—do I have a podcast episode for you! This is an episode for anyone and everyone, because we all know a mom, and there are a lot of them in the officiating ranks. Laura Praus, a volleyball official from Nebraska, and I tackle our experience as reffing moms in this open, honest, and vulnerable conversation. Laura is also a board member of the Nebraska Women’s Athletic Leadership Alliance (NWALA) and has valuable insights to share as an athletic leader. She is so smart and so kind, and it was a delight to wade into this fun topic with her. I hope you enjoy! ---------- Do you want to become a sports official? If you live in Nebraska, you can go to nsaahome.org to find more information. To find contact information for a state association in another state, click here. You can subscribe to Her Call at hercall.substack.com (it's free!). Click the link to learn more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hercall.substack.com
Oct 16, 2025 · 41 min
Kelli Kaps & Heather Lee - Football Officials
I want to reintroduce two football officials to you on this month’s podcast! Kelli Kaps (Sutherland, NE) and Heather Lee (North Platte, NE) spoke with me recently about their seasons. We had a ton of fun chatting about how they got started as officials, what they’ve been surprised about, and how gosh dang hard it is to find a good pair of football officiating pants. Kelli and Heather are two football moms-turned-officials, and they will inspire you with their grit and humility as we discuss their experiences. And as a bonus, I will share a quick story about how Her Call is making a difference. Tune in! You won’t regret it :) P.S. I highlighted Kelli and Heather last fall in a series called “The One Percent”. Read Kelli’s story HERE and Heather’s story HERE. ---------- Do you want to become a sports official? If you live in Nebraska, you can go to nsaahome.org to find more information. To find contact information for a state association in another state, click here. You can subscribe to Her Call at hercall.substack.com (it's free!). Click the link to learn more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hercall.substack.com
Sep 25, 2025 · 45 min
Ron Higdon, NSAA Assistant Director
The purpose of Her Call is to advocate for greater female presence in sports officiating. Achieving that goal takes a village, and I’m glad to have Ron Higdon as a part of this village. Ron understands the benefit of adding females to the officiating ranks, and he is intentional toward advancing this goal. He brings a wealth of experience from his coaching days to his current position, and he has used this expertise to sanction girls’ wrestling in Nebraska. Ron is thoughtful and is always willing to lend a helping hand. I hope you enjoy this conversation! ---------- Do you want to become a sports official? If you live in Nebraska, you can go to nsaahome.org to find more information. To find contact information for a state association in another state, click here. You can subscribe to Her Call at hercall.substack.com (it's free!). Click the link to learn more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hercall.substack.com
Aug 28, 2025 · 39 min
Kim Kwapnioski - Volleyball Official and Evaluator
If you were around when Her Call launched in September 2024, you might remember my story about this week’s guest (read that story here). Kim Kwapnioski, a volleyball official from Columbus, Nebraska, joined me again in June to continue our conversation. We discussed her experience, spanning 32 years as a registered volleyball official, and her more recent roles as an NSAA Evaluator and NHSOA Board Member. Kim shares helpful tips for new and seasoned officials while also giving the backstory of Norfolk’s “Volleyball Day,” inaugurated in early June. Kim is focused, has high integrity, and loves to help people learn the game. I hope you enjoy this conversation! ---------- Do you want to become a sports official? If you live in Nebraska, you can go to nsaahome.org to find more information. To find contact information for a state association in another state, click here. You can subscribe to Her Call at hercall.substack.com (it's free!). Click the link to learn more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hercall.substack.com
Jul 24, 2025 · 33 min
Jennifer Schwartz - NSAA Executive Director
In this episode of the podcast, I speak with Jennifer Schwartz, Executive Director of the NSAA. Jennifer discusses her 25-year career with the organization, shares some of her proudest moments, and offers encouragement to officials. Jennifer is a seasoned professional, innovative, and kind-hearted. I so enjoyed this conversation, and I hope you do too! To sign up for the NSAA Officials Summit on August 2, please click HERE! ---------- Do you want to become a sports official? If you live in Nebraska, you can go to nsaahome.org to find more information. To find contact information for a state association in another state, click here. You can subscribe to Her Call at hercall.substack.com (it's free!). Click the link to learn more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hercall.substack.com
Jun 12, 2025 · 1 hr 21 min
Sandra Serafini - FIFA Soccer Referee and Trainer
Sandra Serafini is a former FIFA soccer referee and current evaluator and trainer of soccer referees around the world. She also enjoyed a 17-year career in academia at Duke University with an emphasis in neuroscience/neurosurgery. Simply put, Fini, as she is known by those around her, is, as they say, kind of a big deal. It was an honor to interview such an accomplished person, but talking with Sandra was like having coffee with a good friend. She is witty, personable, and smart as a whip. We had a lengthy conversation that covered a range of topics such as her start as an official, the strategies she used to slay the dragons on the pitch, and how she evaluates officials using clarity and compassion. You will learn some neuroscience as you listen, and might be amazed to learn how old Sandra was when she tossed her first coach! I think you will love this conversation! Thank you, Fini, for giving your time to our community! ---------- Do you want to become a sports official? If you live in Nebraska, you can go to nsaahome.org to find more information. To find contact information for a state association in another state, click here. You can subscribe to Her Call at hercall.substack.com (it's free!). Click the link to learn more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hercall.substack.com
S1 · E5
May 8, 2025 · 45 min
Sara Sinani - Track Official - Finding Balance
You are going to love this episode! Sara Sinani, a track official from Olathe, Kansas, talks about how starting a race is much more than just shooting a gun. We get into the nitty gritty of her craft and have a wonderful conversation about balancing our officiating lives with our relationships and careers. I highlighted Sara on the Her Call platform in March—you can read that piece here. Sara is thoughtful and wise, and is not afraid to tap into her emotional side to find joy in her work as a track starter. I hope you enjoy this discussion as much as I did! Do you want to become a sports official? If you live in Nebraska, you can go to nsaahome.org to find more information. To find contact information for a state association in another state, click here. You can subscribe to Her Call at hercall.substack.com (it's free!). Click the link to learn more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hercall.substack.com
S1 · E4
Apr 10, 2025 · 42 min
Megan Herz - Softball Umpire: Camps, Clinics and Learning the Game
I introduced Megan Herz to you on the Her Call Platform last week, and this week we will continue the conversation! In this episode, I talk with Megan about how she learns her game, and she gives some suggestions for networking. We also talk about officiating at the college level. We discuss camps and clinics, the challenges of working at this higher level, and how this challenge can make us better officials. This conversation is not just for softball umpires—any official can gain nuggets to help them make their best call! Megan has over 20 years of officiating experience, and she brings acquired wisdom to this conversation. She is enthusiastic about her craft—don’t miss this engaging conversation! Do you want to become a sports official? If you live in Nebraska you can go to nsaahome.org to find more information. To find contact information for a state association in another state, click here. You can subscribe to Her Call at hercall.substack.com (it's free!). Click the link to learn more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hercall.substack.com
S1 · E3
Mar 13, 2025 · 49 min
Jacque Tevis-Butler, Soccer Coach and founder of NWALA
Her Call is a community for female sports officials and those who support them. In this episode of the Her Call podcast, I interview Jacque Tevis-Butler! She is the head girls soccer coach at Millard West High School in Omaha, Nebraska, and the founder of the Nebraska Women’s Athletic Leadership Alliance (NWALA). Jacque talks about what makes a great sports official from her perspective as a coach, and also what frustrates her. She shares some great nuggets that can be helpful to sports officials in any sport. Jacque also talks about her brainchild, NWALA. She discusses the history of the effort and what this group aims to achieve for female athletic leaders in Nebraska. Jacque gets real about the isolation that so many female athletic leaders feel but also provides positive tips for navigating this challenge. We discuss implicit bias, networking, and so much more! Jacque is wise and passionate about providing support for female athletic leaders. Listen in to get to know Jacque and her impressive work! To join NWALA, go to https://www.nwala.org/membership. Membership is free! Do you want to become a sports official? If you live in Nebraska you can go to nsaahome.org to find more information. To find contact information for a state association in another state, click here. You can subscribe to Her Call at hercall.substack.com (it's free!). Click the link to learn more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hercall.substack.com

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