Don’t Let Them Eat the Baby: A Roller Derby Journey | Erica Vanstone

What does it take to find your voice and hold onto it? In this episode, we sit down with writer, filmmaker, and former executive director of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association, Erica Vanstone. From growing up in rural Massachusetts to helping shape the modern era of roller derby, Erica’s journey is anything but conventional. She shares how curiosity led her from announcing bouts to skating, refereeing, and ultimately leading a global organization through one of its most challenging moments. Along the way, she reflects on the explosive growth of the sport, the realities of building something community-driven at scale, and the tension between staying authentic and gaining mainstream visibility. We also dive into her new book, Don’t Let Them Eat the Baby, a deeply personal and wide-ranging look at roller derby, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive and grow. Through vivid storytelling and hard-earned insight, Erica explores what it means to carve out space for yourself in a world that doesn’t always make it easy. This conversation blends humor, honesty, and sharp perspective, touching on derby culture, unforgettable moments on the track, and the deeper truth at the center of Erica’s work: the cost of being yourself is high, but the cost of not being yourself is even higher. Learn more at: ericavanstone.com