Smart Girl

Just two (or more nerds) talking about about all things first-gen in pop culture and mass media. The title comes from La'Tonya's memoir, which is all about fandoms and finding your passion in education. Sam, her bestie, talked her into this podcast.

This podcast is brought to you by My Tribe Media.

https://adeii.health/ahf-mtm

More about Smart Girl (the book):

https://www.smartgirlbook.com/

Podcasting since 2025 • 23 episodes

Smart Girl

Latest Episodes

From Pro Basketball To CEO feat Anthony Ireland

We sit down with Hall of Fame athlete Anthony Ireland to trace his path from Waterbury, Connecticut to Loyola Marymount University to pro basketball in Europe and back home as a YMCA CEO. We talk honestly about being first-gen, getting mislabel...

September 18, 2026 • Season 2 • Episode 10 • 40:16

Raising An Elite Athlete feat Craig Young

We talk with fellow UCLA Bruin Craig Young about the unseen work behind raising an elite athlete and why protecting the parent-child bond matters more than chasing a highlight reel. We also get real about bias against Black quarterbacks, NIL-er...

September 03, 2026 • Season 2 • Episode 9 • 44:33

Reframing W.E.B. Du Bois Through A Black First-Gen Lens feat George Turner

We use a new W.E.B. Du Bois documentary as a reason to rethink him as a Black first-gen student whose path runs through family responsibility, church support, Fisk College, and elite gatekeeping. We pull out what his story teaches about the hid...

August 21, 2026 • Season 2 • Episode 8 • 55:40

Breaking Rules And Leading The Band In Alexandria feat. Thea James

Part 2 of the Virginia Humanities series about Alexandria, Virginia. LT and Sam talk with Dr. Thea James about growing up in Alexandria and learning to lead by questioning rules, from winning a drum major audition to buildin...

August 07, 2026 • Season 2 • Episode 7 • 39:27

"I'm the drum major in a different way" feat William Patterson

What stories did Remember the Titans leave out? In part two of a special three-part Smart Girl series, La’Tonya “LT” Rease Miles and Sam Pinto sit down with William “Slinky” Patterson, a longtime family friend, T.C. Williams a...

July 24, 2026 • Season 2 • Episode 6 • 43:09

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Fan Mail

Just loved your interview with Linda Lewis Pickett one the First Ladies of Cheer I also thank you for plugging my we page. Go get Frankie Glascoe and interview him

Georgetown, Delaware