The Sports Refuge Podcast

Jenny Hopkinson has two passions – journalism and ice hockey, both of which she became interested in at a young age. Starting out creating her own newspaper that she would distribute to family members, Hopkinson parlayed that into a decade-long career that included nearly five years at The Politico before ultimately stepping away from journalism a few years ago. Hopkinson’s on-ice exploits alternated over several periods of her life, including her youth, in college at the University of Maryland to the present as a member of the Washington Wolves C Team. In this episode, Hopkinson drops in to talk with host Earl Holland about her path in journalism, her departure from the medium, and what it’s like being a recovering journalist. Jenny also discusses her hockey influences, the relationships she’s been able to establish through the game while also giving her take on what makes the Olympics so great. For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.

Running can be a painful endeavor if you ask Vanessa Junkin. The wear and tear Junkin accrued training for marathons has led to running injuries ranging from the traditional shin splints up to the fracture of her ribs. But one of Vanessa’s most painful experiences stemmed from being struck by a car while on an evening run late last year. In this episode, Junkin joins host Earl Holland to discuss that harrowing moment and how the rest of her 2020 running goals were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Vanessa will also discuss her experiences as a journalist and how she found an interest in writing. For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard.

In the heat of battle, the ones who are standing to your left and right are not just your battle buddies but your compatriots. During his days of playing in the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge competition, Earl Holland competed alongside several teammates and eventual friends as they took part in the fast-paced battle of wits among members of 64 historically black colleges and universities. And as the years go by, the memories from those experiences remain, often as colorful as the instanced occurred. In this episode, Holland talks with a panel of former HCASC competitors from the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore’s academic team to talk about what led them to UMES, how they became part of the team, their memorable experiences playing at the National Championship Tournament, and more. Panelists include: Elden Hawkes, player (1996-2001) and coach (2002 to 2008) Mumbi Thandi-Kamiru, player (2000-2004) Matthew Lang, player (2000-2004) Janiece Blackmon, player (2003-2006) Mark DeMorra, player (2004-2007) Christina (Sutton) Junior, player (2005-2009) Fred Stephens, player (2005-2009) For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.

Victoria Robinson and Scott Johnson are from two different worlds – one is from Washington D.C. area, and the other is a native New Yorker. Those two worlds collided one faithful day in a freshman class at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. The two have been close ever since while forming a sibling-like bond and remaining in constant contact. In this episode, Robinson and Johnson discuss their friendship, how they arrived at UMES, and their experiences at the historically black college. Victoria and Scott will also discuss how their interest in sports was impacted by the pandemic and other factors. Other topics include Robinson's interest in painting, the story of Johnson's destination wedding, and much more. For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.

It's said that variety is the spice of life. Whoever said that surely hasn't done a taste test of 10 different hot sauces in one setting. That's what Earl Holland and his guest, Edward Holland Sr., did in this episode as they put their taste buds (and common sense) on the line by running the gamut of spicy sauces. Topics of conversation include sports, life, and their thresholds of spiciness. Sauces in the taste test include: Dawson's Hot Sauce Shaquanda's West Indian Curry Hot Sauce Satan's Rage Angry Goat Hell Fire Detroit Da Bomb Evolution Elijah's Xtreme Regret DaBomb Beyond Insanity Pucker Butt Hot Ones: The Last Dab Apollo For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.

Matthew Lang has a passion for many things, including basketball, literature, and the pursuit of knowledge. But one of his greatest ambitions is to become a published author. In this episode, Lang and host Earl Holland discuss Lang’s basketball experiences, including his time as a camp counselor for future NBA MVP and world champion Kevin Durant as well as his participation in the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, the competition featuring Historically Black Colleges and Universities in a battle of wits. Matt will also share his aspirations on being a published author, his thoughts on the former Washington Redskins name controversy as well as his advice for the graduated high school class of 2020. For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.

How do you get to be on an MLB field without playing, umpiring, or illegally trespassing? By becoming a member of a major league groundskeeping crew, like Jeff Fleetwood has. Fleetwood, a teacher, and baseball coach at Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria, Virginia, is living the dream as he takes the field with the Washington Nationals grounds crew. His forays into coaching and as a grounds crew member are a continuation of a diamond dream starting from playing baseball at both the high school and Division I college levels. Fleetwood and Earl Holland discuss Fleetwood's baseball journey, what it's like being a baseball coach, and what it's like to attend the Army-Navy Game and how it's different from any other college football game. For more on the Sports Refuge Podcast, follow @TheSportsRefuge on Twitter. You can also follow host Earl Holland @TheEarlHolland on Twitter. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio and wherever else podcasts are heard. You can also visit the Sports Refuge on Facebook. For previous episodes, go to the Sports Refuge Podcast landing page.