International Student-Athlete Podcast
The International Student-Athlete Podcast exists to give voice and a platform to international student-athletes in the United States. We are dedicated to sharing stories, exchanging advice, and providing insights that make the college journey more manageable, rewarding, and empowering. Through honest conversations and practical guidance, we aim to support international student-athletes in navigating academics, athletics, and life away from home.
Our vision is to build a connected community of international student-athletes in the U.S. — a space where experiences are celebrated, resources are shared, and challenges are transformed into opportunities. By amplifying diverse voices and fostering connection, we aspire to become a trusted resource that helps international student-athletes thrive on campus and create the life they dream about.
Episodes
30 episodes
#26 - From Australia to Kansas: Izzy’s Freshman Mindset - Staying Grounded, Growing Daily
Izzy is only a few months into her journey as an international student-athlete, but her mindset is already setting her apart.After arriving from Australia in January 2026, she joined the University of Kansas rowing team with a clear unde...
#25 - From Player to Advocate: Sofia Hiort-Wright on Thriving Beyond the Game
What does it really take for international student-athletes to thrive?Dr. Sofia Hiort-Wright - a former Swedish national-team tennis player and international tennis student-athlete at VCU, and now VCU’s Deputy Director of Athletic...
#24 - From Small Town to International Volleyball Star: Rupia Inck's Journey
In this inspiring interview, Rupia Inck shares her journey from a small town in Brazil to playing professional volleyball across the world, highlighting the importance of mindset, self-talk, and resilience. Discover how her experiences shaped h...
#23 - Tim Bryson on Purpose, Policy & Shaping College Athletics Globally
Timothy Ford Bryson - Founder & CEO of Walk With TFB and Student-Athlete Career Preparedness and Alumni Mentorship Coach at Stanford University, joins us to unpack what it really means to s...
#22 - Kim Marsh on Navigating Your First Steps as an International Student
What does it really take to successfully begin your journey in the U.S. as an international student? In this episode, Barbora sits down with Kim Marsh, a former International Student Services Coordinator at Jacksonville University, to go beyond...
#21 - The Championship Mentality with Oliveira Neto: Lessons from a 5x Olympian
What does it take to reach the Olympic stage — not once, but five times — and win gold at the 2024 Paris Games? In this episode, I sit down with a volleyball coach who has competed in five Olympic Games with Brazilian National Team ...
#20 - Atina Kamasi: Dream Big and Pivot Smart
In this episode, Atina Kamasi shares her journey from Serbia to the U.S. as an international student-athlete, opening up about the challenges of injuries, identity beyond sport, and adapting to life far from home. She talks about the importance...
#19 - Maira Ogata Returns: Missing Home but Chasing Dreams
Maira is back on our channel!In this episode, we welcome back Maira Ogata, a mental performance coach and soccer/goalkeeper coach.We dive into the challenges of returning to the United States after the Christmas break and w...
#18 - More Than Hockey: Embracing the Unknown with Marek Korencik
At just 15 years old, Marek Korencik left Slovakia, taking a leap that would change both his hockey career and his life. What followed was a journey through new countries, new languages, and new challenges — from adapting to life in Swed...
#17 - All Things Coaching International Student-Athletes with Suzana Andrade
In this episode, we welcome back Suzana Andrade for a powerful conversation on the coaching experience of international student-athletes and what it truly takes to build healthy, sustainable coach–athlete relationships. Drawing from her perspec...
Guest #16 - A Journey from Local Courts to D1 Arenas with Konstantina Mantziori
In this podcast episode, we dig into the inspiring journey of Konstantina Mantziori, a talented basketball player from Greece who made the bold decision to pursue her dreams in the United States. From navigating the challenges of high school ba...
#15 - How You Can Set Yourself Up to Win
In this solo episode, Barbora breaks down the four themes that keep showing up in conversations with international student-athletes: doing your research, using your resources, knowing your priorities, and planning strategically. Whether you're ...
Guest #14 - Finding Yourself in the US with Marta Rossenova
In this episode, we dive into the inspiring journey of Marta, an international student-athlete from Bulgaria, who is currently a senior at Rollins College and a player on the volleyball team. Marta shares her experiences of moving to the US, th...
Guest #13 – The Power of Priorities with Flaubert Akepeu: Balancing Chemical Engineering, D1 Football, and Frat Life
Can you imagine walking across your college campus and being approached by a coach who changes the course of your life? That’s how Flaubert Akepeu’s football journey began at the University of South Florida. Originally from Brazil, Flaubert fir...
Guest #12 - Maximizing Your Mental Performance with Maira Ogata
In this episode, we’re joined by Maira Ogata, a Mental Performance professional and soccer coach, who shares insightful and practical tips on how student-athletes can take care of themselves both mentally and emotionally. D...
Guest #11 - Lyndsay Michel
In this episode, we are joined by Lyndsay Michel, Head Volleyball Coach at Indian Hills Community College, to talk all things recruiting. She shares valuable tips for both international and domestic athletes, insights on navigating transfers, a...
Guest #10 – Academic Success with Andy Heston: Seizing the Opportunities in Front of You
In this episode, we sit down with Andy Heston, Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Services at Jacksonville University, a NCAA Division I program in Florida. With years of experience supporting student-athletes, Andy h...
Guest #9 - Anja Kujundžić
Anja, a junior libero from Serbia, has inspired many by taking a leap of faith and building her path from a small hometown to playing Division I volleyball at the University of Texas. She shares her recruiting journey, the challenges of transfe...
Guest #8 - Where Opportunity Meets Commitment with Emma Heikkilä
In this episode, we introduce Emma Heikkilä, a former soccer student-athlete from Finland! Emma shares her story of how playing for her national team led her to be spotted by an American coach and ultimately brought her to the U.S. She also tal...
Guest #7 - Suzana Andrade
Suzana, a former indoor and sand volleyball student-athlete, has inspired many by leading through example and sharing her journey from high school to junior college and eventually to a Division I university. Now serving as a Division II sand vo...
New Podcast Co-host & Flipping the Script
Welcome to a new chapter of the International Student-Athlete Podcast! By starting a new series of episodes, I have the pleasure of introducing Nikoleta Kandić, a previous guest of this podcast and a good friend, as a new co-host of...
Guest #6 - Denis Petro
In this episode, I chat with Denis Petro, a former international soccer student-athlete from Slovakia. He talks about what it was like coming to the U.S. for college, how he balanced school and sport, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and...
Guest #5 - Stepping Into Leadership with Lana Tererina
In this episode, Barbora sits down with Lana Tererina to talk about her journey from Sweden to earning a college scholarship in the U.S. Lana shares insights on adapting to life as an international student-athlete, navigating cultural shifts, a...
Guest #4 - Growing Through the Transition with Nikoleta Kandić
What a great conversation with Nikoleta Kandić, a former volleyball student-athlete from Belgrade, Serbia! Niki shares her inspiring story of coming to the U.S. as a high schooler, overcoming language barriers, and navigating college life. We a...
Reflecting on Grad School
In this episode, I reflect on my journey as a grad student and generally these past 2 years. I open up about overcoming perfectionism, and the challenges and growth. I also dive into the importance of building genuine relationships, managing ti...
