Ep. 49: An Interview with Reign FC Forward Darian Jenkins

EQ: How has the explosive growth of professional women’s soccer changed the conversation about the game?

Guest: Darian Jenkins, #11, attacking forward for Reign FC 

From how she fell in love with soccer and how her degree in English Language & Literature helps her on the pitch to why she loves coaching young women as the Assistant Coach for Reign FC Academy, Darian shares insights into the game and life. We also discuss challenges young women (especially women of color) face in a superficial and beauty focused world.

Find out more about references in the show:

• Call My By Your Name

• The USWNT’s Equal Pay Lawsuit is a Fight For All Women’s Sports

• The USWNT Is Fighting for Greater Equity While Playing Their Fourth World Cup

• Revealed: $730,00 Pay Gap in US World Cup Bonuses

• International Women’s Day: the Diverse Culture of the NWSL

• When it Comes to Diversity, Is Women’s Soccer Making Progress?

• Book Recs: 

  • Educated by Tara Westover

  •  The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton

  • When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

Can’t get enough of Darian Jenkins, read some of the stories below:

• Seattle Reign Acquire Darian Jenkins from North Carolina

• Coffee and Valkyries

Check out these other soccer related podcasts in the Channel 253 Network:

• Women’s Soccer, Reign FC, the USWNT, and Life as a Pro-Athlete--Megan Oyster, Reign FC

• Watching the World Cup in France & Reign FC

• An Hour with Megan Rapinoe

Do Your Fudging Homework:

• Annie: Stop what you’re doing and go buy tickets for a Reign game. 

• Hope: Since recording--GO READ THE NATIONAL TEAM BY CAITLIN MURRAY

• Darian: White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

  • PS: go listen to the IWL interview with Robin DiAngelo

SHOUT OUT TO DARIAN’S MOM!!!!