Pro Cheerleading Podcast: The Truth Behind the Poms

Mhkeeba interviews Rodney McDaniel, former Washington Wizards Dancer, about his first sesason in the NBA on one of the first coed dance teams and his experience mixing music for the hottest choreographers in the pro cheer and dance industry.

Join me for Cheer Chat to discuss ideas of how we can structure the NBA Dance Team Playoffs to showcase the best performances of the various NBA dance teams throughout the past season.

Join me for Cheer Chat to discuss the latest leadership changes in NFL cheerleading teams, audition tips, showing facials and the request to host another NBA Dance Team Playoffs on the podcast.

Mhkeeba interviews Celine Edmondson, Assistant Coach and Choreographer of the Brooklynettes Dancers, about her experiences coaching, choreographing for performances with musical artists and her appearance on the Netflix Dance 100 reality show competition.

Mhkeeba interviews Kayla Cruz, a captain and five-year veteran of the Brooklynettes Dancers, about her experiences growing as a leader on the team and how the organization has shaped her career as a Professional Dancer, Model and Actress.

Mhkeeba interviews Ally Miller, a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and former NFL Cheerleader for the Washington Command Force, who helps dancers fuel like athletes to feel confident in their bodies, achieve optimal health, and perform at the highest levels–without dieting or restriction.

Cheer Chat: Recap of my trip to NYC to attend the New York Knicks game to see the Knicks City Dancers perform and also the Brooklyn Nets game to see the Brooklynettes and Nets Team Hype perform for Noche Latina theme night.

Listen in to Cheer Chat covering all these hot topics: 💖 New podcast platform 🖤 Trip to NYC to see Brooklynettes and Knicks City Dancers perform 💖 Upcoming interviews 🖤 Love is Blind with our very own Amber Desiree 💖 NYPD Dance Team controversy 🖤 Reflections on Black History Month in pro cheer and dance community

Mhkeeba introduces each of the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl Cheerleaders and shares her experiences and observations from her trip to Orlando, FL to see them in action!

Mhkeeba joyfully comes out of podcast retirement to interview Savannah Dunaway, a captain and three-year veteran on the Portland BlazerDancers team. Savannah shares her incredible journey of overcoming challenges with how body image is perceived in the pro dance industry.  She openly discusses how she dealt with criticism of her body type and pushed through rejection to accompilsh her dream of becoming an NBA dancer. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Mhkeeba interviews former Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders Quinton Peron and Mattie Lynch in an exciting bonus episode about their experiences competing on The Amazing Race reality TV show. They share some of the toughest challenges they have faced so far on the show and how their strong friendship and background as NFL cheerleaders helped them support each other throughout the competition.

In the Season 10 and Pro Cheerleading Podcast final episode, Mhkeeba shares her love letter to the pro cheer and dance industry of her reflections on how far things have progressed over the past four years as well as her hopes and plans for the future.

This week Mhkeeba invites Matt Montenegro, former captain of the Golden State Warriors Blue Crew, Phi VoBa, former Seahawks Dancer and Khayla Shipman, former member of the Phoenix Suns Solar Squad, to share their experiences dancing for NFL and NBA dance teams. They offer their perspectives on the shift in the pro cheer and dance industry toward more hip hop focused entertainment teams as well as how dancers and coaches can show respect and appreciation for hip hop culture in the way that they train and manage these teams.

Mhkeeba interviews Geralyn Joy Marcelino about her experiences auditioning and cheering professionally in the NHL for the Las Vegas Golden Knights, the San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush, and the Arena Football League San Jose Sabercats. Geralyn also shares how she used her pro cheerleading background and training to pursue modeling, acting and other opportunities as a professional dancer.

Mhkeeba interviews her "Carrie Bradshaw" of the pro cheer and dance community, Emily Leibert, who is a Writer for Jezebel and former Los Angeles Rams Cheerleader. Emily covers the intersection of gender and sport with a focus on effeminate sports including dance, cheerleading, and gymnastics. Her work has also been featured in Refinery 29, Teen Vogue, NBC News, Fast Company, allure, Men’s Health, and Bustle. Emily shares her experience as an NFL cheerleader and what inspired her to pursue a career merging her passions of dance, gender equality, and writing.

In this week's episode, Mhkeeba finally gets to sit down with Quinton Peron, one of the first male NFL cheerleaders for the Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders, who recently retired from the squad after cheering four seasons that ended with the Super Bowl LVI championship. Quinton shares his background as a dance teacher and choreographer, his journey making NFL history and changing the pro cheerleading and dance community to be more inclusive of male dancers, and his future plans coming out of retirement.

This week Mhkeeba interviews Kelsey Nicholson, a former Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleader, about her career as a Thyroid & Metabolism Nutritionist and how pro cheerleaders and dancers can benefit from increased awareness of how nutrition impacts overall wellness. Kelsey shares helpful insight on topics such as weight loss resistance, increasing metabolism, intermittent fasting and so much more!

In this week's episode Mhkeeba interviews Jackie Koegel, a prominent choreographer in the cheer and dance industry and the Owner & Founder of Dance Team Central that provides high school and college dance camps as well as a Creative Development Program and online business courses for choreographers. Jackie shares her story of building her career as a dancer and choreographer and how her tenacity opened up opportunities throughout her journey.

This week Mhkeeba interviews Jasmine Lee, a former NBA Dancer for over five years with the Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards and the Owner of Nxt Lvl Prep. Nxt Lvl Prep is an audition prep training program offering pro level dance classes in Atlanta, Charlotte, Denver and the DC/Maryland/Virginia area. Jasmine shares her experiences dancing in the NBA during her teams' transitions from all-female dance teams to coed teams and what it is like to feel unappreciated while dancing on a pro team. The ladies also discuss how Nxt Lvl Prep is helping dancers achieve their dreams of dancing for a professional team by teaching technique and the fundamentals necessary to succeed at pro auditions.

In this week's episode Mhkeeba interviews Tracey Hirsch, Director of the Austin Division of USA Cheerleaders and Brigitte Menard, a current USA Cheerleader about the mission, history and growth of the USA Cheerleaders organization. USA Cheerleaders is a volunteer-based cheerleading organization comprised of former professional cheerleaders and dancers who perform dances, community service and appearances to support the military, first responders, and their families. The ladies discuss the audition process, team commitment, and how the experience compares to the cheerleading and dance teams for the major sports leagues.

This week Mhkeeba interviews Shaniah Randall, the NFL Cheerleader selected for the 2022 and 2021 NFL Pro Bowl to represent the Las Vegas Raiders, about her pro cheerleading journey and recent Pro Bowl experience in Las Vegas. Shaniah is a seventh year veteran, three-time Captain, and recipient of the Wanetta Horton Award that is awarded to the Raiderette who is considered most inspirational. She shares her highs and lows of auditioning for teams, the confidence that came from owning her truth, and truly exemplifies inner beauty through her love for her teammates.

In this week's episode Mhkeeba interviews Madison Forsythe, a high school senior and former competitive cheerleader, about her experiences with racism from coaches and teammates and her inspiration to spread awareness and change competitive cheerleading to be a more positive experience for the younger generations of African American and other minority cheerleaders.

This week Mhkeeba interviews Haley Marie McClain Hill, a cheerleader for the San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush, a proud member of the United States Air Force, and Founder of Torch Warriorwear and Seek and Set Free. The ladies discuss Haley's background in dance and competitive cheerleading and how it prepared her to become an NFL cheerleader and how she balanced serving in the U.S. Air Force while cheering in college and professionally in the NFL. Haley also shares her latest entrepreneurial endeavors with Torch Warriorwear, a clothing line for women in the military, law enforcement, first responders and sports, and Seek and Set Free, an event planning business focused on women's wellness retreats.

Season 10 kicks off with an interview featuring Sabrina Ellison and Amira Mourad, the Co-Founders of The Cultivate Code pro dance mentorship program. Sabrina and Amira are current NBA dance team coaches who saw a gap in the industry to mentor and coach all aspiring pro dancers to make their dreams a reality with a growth mindset and self-love as the foundation. The ladies discuss their Learn Clean Set Clean & Confident program that is designed to dive deeper into developing as a dancer, performer, and teammate and building the skills necessary to succeed once you make your dream team.

In the Season 9 finale, Mhkeeba shares the winners of the inaugural Pro Cheerleading Podcast Awards for various categories including best uniform, social media trends, concept video, and team showmanship. She also honors the teams that invest the most in their dancers and that best challenge cheerleading stereotypes, recognizes up and coming choreographers and pro cheer programs, and selects the most inspirational director and her best game day experiences from the Pro Cheerleading Podcast Tour.

In this episode Mhkeeba interviews Jennifer DePaola, CEO and Founder of Doctors for Dancers, about her inspiration to create a nationwide network connecting dancers with targeted dance specialists and to provide dance medicine education and resources to the dance community. Jennifer also shares the advocacy and collaborative initiatives to help dancers at the high school, collegiate and professional levels receive access to health resources that are specialized for dancers.

This week Mhkeeba shares all of her favorite moments and observations from attending NFL and NBA games for the Pro Cheerleading Podcast tour over the past few months that would create the perfect game day experience for pro cheerleaders and dancers. She covers everything that would give them the ultimate spotlight from fan engagement activities, pre-game routines, intro videos and player tunnels, uniforms, leading cheers to game performances.

In this episode, Mhkeeba reflects on why there are so few pro cheerleading teams that outwardly celebrate the history and legacy of their programs, the role of pro cheerleader alumni organizations, and what legacy pro cheerleaders leave behind when they are no longer on the sidelines. She also shares her thoughts on the legacy she hopes the podcast will have built within the pro cheerleading community over time.

This week's episode features an interview with Dr. Chelsea Pierotti, Sports Psychologist and Host of the Passion for Dance Podcast created specifically for dancers and dance educators. Dr. Pierotti shares how she uses her background as a professional dancer and coach along with her expertise in sports psychology to teach tools that help dancers, coaches and dance educators develop confidence, resilience, growth mindset, passion, and perseverance.

Mhkeeba interviews Alicia Harrington and Nicolette Peloquin, former New England Patriots Cheerleaders and Owners of The Prep Talk, a personal development and branding company for aspiring professional cheerleaders. The ladies discuss their background as cheerleaders and ambassadors for the Patriots organization and the importance of presenting a well rounded dance resume and investing in interview preparation. Nicolette and Alicia share their inspiration for launching The Prep Talk and their favorite memories of their late beloved New England Patriots Cheerleading Director and Hall of Fame honoree, Tracy Sormanti.

In this week's episode, Mhkeeba connects with Samantha Popham, NBA dancer and creator of The Sideline Secrets - an exciting new platform covering the pro cheerleading and dance industry by dancers and for dancers on topics such as beauty, style, health and fitness, lifestyle and insider secrets. She shares her journey to becoming a professional dancer and what inspired her to curate content to capture all of the knowledge, experiences and insights to help aspiring pro dancers and cheerleaders also achieve their dream.

This week Mhkeeba interviews Andy Vaca, Professor of Dance at California State University, Long Beach and Pro Action Dance Instructor who shares the history of how some professional cheerleading and dance teams formed on the West coast. Andy also discusses his experiences performing and choreographing for pro teams during his career and his perspective on the progress that has been made over time for male dancers.

In this week's episode, Mhkeeba spends some one on one time with her audience to share the truth behind the poms of some of the ups and downs of running the podcast over the past three years as well as her goals and inspiration for the future.

In the Season 9 opener, Mhkeeba interviews Taja Riley, one of the most talented principal lead dance artists and choreographers in the entertainment industry. Taja spreads awareness of the issues facing dance artists and advocates for better working conditions while on production sets and tours, injury prevention and health resources, attribution for content, and improved representation by the unions.

In the Season 8 finale, Mhkeeba interviews Adrienne Lawrence, award winning author of Staying In The Game: The Playbook for Beating Workplace Sexual Harassment, about her experience overcoming sexual harassment, misogynoir and gender discrimination at her former employer ESPN. Adrienne shares some advice from her book and offers her perspective for pro cheerleaders to navigate sexual harassment in the workplace.

In this week's episode, Mhkeeba invites former and aspiring professional cheerleaders to share their experiences with diversity and inclusion while auditioning and cheering in the NBA and NFL. Kaitlin, a professional dancer, Bianca Calingo, former NFL cheerleader and NBA dancer, and Erika Quan, former Seahawks Dancer, also discuss their perspectives on what changes are needed to improve the representation of dancers from the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in professional cheerleading.

This week Mhkeeba interviews Sierra Martinez, former member of the Oakland Raiderettes and Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders, about her experience relocating and cheering for two NFL teams and launching her business, Mohita Mami Swimwear. Sierra also shares her positive mindset of pursuing goals and adding value to her life all while remaining open to opportunities that may not come as expected.

In this episode Mhkeeba interviews Jada Davis, Owner of Poms Up! Health & Fitness and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleader and The Roar Cheerleaders for the Jacksonville Jaguars.  Jada shares her inspirational journey becoming an NFL Pro Bowl Cheerleader and the amazing Poms Up! community she started  after retirement focused on helping former pro team cheerleaders and dancers look and feel like themselves again.

This week Mhkeeba interviews Nicole Dreher, a former NFL Cheerleader for the Cincinnati Ben Gals and current NHL Cheerleader about her journey auditioning for different NFL teams and her incredible experience as a Ben Gals Captain and performing at professional hockey games. Nicole also shares her latest venture as Owner and Choreographer of Dance With Dreher teaching pro style Sassy Sidelines and Master Classes.

In this episode Mhkeeba interviews former San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush cheerleaders, Erin and Jordan, who are now hosts of Breaking Formation: A Pomcast aiming to redefine the word "cheerleader" one episode at a time. The ladies discuss their time cheering in the NFL together and what inspired them to launch their platform to build connections in the pro cheer and dance community and break free from the negative stereotypes of professional cheerleaders.

Mhkeeba interviews Donivous Odom, Curator of Pro Dance Boyz, about his experience becoming a male cheerleader in the NFL and the inspiration behind creating a platform dedicated to showcasing and connecting the amazing male performers of the professional entertainment industry. They also discuss some of the dynamics of creating coed cheer and dance teams and how these changes are impacting the pro cheerleading industry.

In this week's episode, Mhkeeba interviews two former New York Jets Flight Crew Cheerleaders, Samantha Scarpa and Ashley Gonzalez, who launched 3 Cheers Dance & Fitness focused on teaching and building confidence through movement in cheer, dance, gymnastics and fitness for youth of all ages.

This week Mhkeeba interviews Jenn Padilla, a former NBA dancer and Host of the Life Unfiltered Podcast about her inspiration to share conversations through an unfiltered version of what life really looks like off our social media feeds and to normalize life's struggles particularly with mental health. In Part 1, Cheer Chat includes a robust discussion of diversity and inclusion in professional cheerleading in light of the Denver Broncos squad announcement. Part 2 launches into the interview with Jenn where she shares her journey as a professional dancer and how she overcame some very difficult struggles through therapy and her willingness to explore and redefine what mental health means in her life.

This week Mhkeeba interviews Jenn Padilla, a former NBA dancer and Host of the Life Unfiltered Podcast about her inspiration to share conversations through an unfiltered version of what life really looks like off our social media feeds and to normalize life's struggles particularly with mental health. In Part 1, Cheer Chat includes a robust discussion of diversity and inclusion in professional cheerleading in light of the Denver Broncos squad announcement. Part 2 launches into the interview with Jenn where she shares her journey as a professional dancer and how she overcame some very difficult struggles through therapy and her willingness to explore and redefine what mental health means in her life.

In the Season 8 launch, Mhkeeba shares feedback from listeners about episode ideas for the new season and reviews of the most popular and impactful audition prep programs that have helped dancers reach their goals of becoming a professional cheerleader. Mhkeeba also interviews Brandon Belmiro, a former NBA dancer and Coach of the DMV Lady Warriors about his experience auditioning for the new Washington Football Team co-ed entertainment team.

In the Season 7 finale episode, Mhkeeba is joined by a panel of outstanding women including Sara Blackwell, Yu Gu, and Amanda Ross to learn what a union is and how it works, the benefits and legal protections of having a union, some context and history of what happened when NFL cheerleaders tried to unionize in the past, and what are the next steps for NFL cheerleaders to come together to form a union and help shape the future of pro cheerleading.

This week Mhkeeba interviews Kurt A. David, an Emmy Award winning Executive Producer of the 'From Glory Days' TV Show, where he interviews Hall of Fame and World Champion former professional athletes about their successful transition into life after pro sports. Kurt is also an International Speaker on Sudden Change and shares his five keys for successfully navigating sudden change that pro cheerleaders can use in the transition from dancing professionally.

This week Mhkeeba interviews Marcus Sophus II, a former member of the Dallas Cowboys Rhythm & Blue Dancers and currently a professional dancer based in Los Angeles. A man of many talents, Marcus shares his experiences following his passion for dance and the challenges he overcame along the way.

In this week's episode, Mhkeeba discusses all of the feedback listeners wrote in about what they wish they could share with their directors of pro cheerleading and dance teams. Often the feedback received in pro cheerleading is a one-way street directed at the pro cheerleaders and dancers so this episode is an opportunity to share some constructive criticism for the directors from a different perspective. Mhkeeba covers everything including how directors select the team through the auditions process, how they manage the team with favoritism, how the team is marketed and overall how much of an impact they have over their team individually as well as within the broader pro cheerleading and dance community.

This week, Mhkeeba welcomes a very special panel of women to discuss all things hair for professional cheerleaders. Kira Dior, CEO of Kira Dior Hair, Mariah Lewis, Founder of Pro Hair Collection, and Rosemary Osondu, Owner of Rose Style Studio share their expertise as hair care entrepreneurs on beauty and hair and beauty standards in pro cheerleading, hair care tips and the latest hair style trends.

In this week's episode, Mhkeeba interviews Criscia Long, Director of Entertainment Marketing for the Brooklyn Nets about her role in creating the authentic brand and image of the Brooklynettes dance team and the other entertainment teams under her direction. Criscia also discusses her performance background as a professional dancer and former member of the Knicks City Dancers and her transition to coaching. She also shares details of the Brooklynettes audition process and her perspective of what qualities she seeks in entertainers.

This week Mhkeeba interviews Kayla Marie Jackson, Professional Dancer and former Atlanta Hawks Dancer, about her transition from dancing in the NBA to establishing herself in the commercial dance industry with a very impressive list of credits of TV/film roles, live performances, tours, music videos and commercials. In Part 1, Kayla shares her dance background and training, experience dancing for Mahogany N Motion while at Spelman College, and her time dancing in the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks. In Part 2, she shares amazing tips on how professional cheerleaders and dancers in the sports industry can successfully prepare for this bold yet challenging career move.

This week Mhkeeba interviews Kayla Marie Jackson, Professional Dancer and former Atlanta Hawks Dancer, about her transition from dancing in the NBA to establishing herself in the commercial dance industry with a very impressive list of credits of TV/film roles, live performances, tours, music videos and commercials. In Part 1, Kayla shares her dance background and training, experience dancing for Mahogany N Motion while at Spelman College, and her time dancing in the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks. In Part 2, she shares amazing tips on how professional cheerleaders and dancers in the sports industry can successfully prepare for this bold yet challenging career move.

In this episode, Mhkeeba interviews Sarah Yarbrough, the reigning 2019-2020 International Junior Ms Tennessee and former cheerleader at Austin Peay State University about her cheerleading and pageantry background. Sarah also bravely speaks about her experience as a survivor of domestic violence and her how she has been using her title to advocate for healthy relationships while educating others on the warning signs of an abusive relationship. During Cheer Chat, Mhkeeba shares the poll results on whether NFL cheerleading teams should still select a Pro Bowl Cheerleader representative even though the 2021 Pro Bowl is cancelled due to COVID-19. She also shares an update on NBA dance team auditions in light of the NBA season launching in late December.

In the Season 7 opener, Mhkeeba interviews Sabrina Ellison, Dance Team Director for the Golden State Warriors about how the Warriors organization supported the dance team members coming together to use their voices and platform to speak out against racial injustice. Sabrina also shares her personal journey as a professional cheerleader in the NFL and career as an NBA Dance Team Director.

In the Season 6 finale, Mhkeeba interviews Neeley Neal, former NFL cheerleader for the Arizona Cardinals and founder of Go Fit Win about reconnecting with her passion for cheer and dance after retirement. Neeley shares the vision of her Go Fit Win program to reclaim the joy of performing, dancing, learning challenging choreography, and staying fit through dance and cheer along with a group of like-minded community of former cheerleaders and dancers.

This week Mhkeeba interviews Vivian Ralena about her experience as a training camp candidate for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and how it negatively impacted her self esteem and body image. Vivian shares her story of how she learned to love herself again and truly embrace her body.

In this week's episode, Mhkeeba interviews Nicole R. Smith about her experiences going to over 20 professional cheerleading auditions and getting cut that led to her writing her book, Game On!: Relentlessly Pursue Your Dreams. She also discusses the pros and cons of virtual auditions shared by listeners and shares a special message to directors on behalf of veterans who are cut during auditions. During Cheer Chat, Mhkeeba goes off about the recent scandal involving the Philadelphia Sixers Dance Team member who racially targeted and bullied a Black woman on the team.

In this week's episode, Mhkeeba shares the most recent updates regarding how the risks of COVID-19 and the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement are weighing in on both college and pro athletes' decisions of whether to sit out the 2020-21 season. She raises the question of whether pro cheerleaders should sit this season out and what may be required of them if they decide to stick it out.

Mhkeeba shares her thoughts on how to get back to life as a pro cheerleader while continuing to get educated on the social and human rights issues, practicing self-reflection and self care, and keeping up the momentum from all of the social activism to make changes in their communities.

Mhkeeba invites Black former professional cheerleaders to share their experiences dealing with racial inequities and microaggressions while cheering in the NFL and what changes need to be made in the professional cheerleading community for people of color.

Mhkeeba shares her reflections on the Blackout Tuesday movement within the pro cheerleading community to show solidarity with the international protests in response to the murder of George Floyd by members of the Minneapolis Police Department.

Mhkeeba interviews Jonni Rogers, a former NFL Pro Bowl Cheerleader for the Oakland Raiderettes about her transition from pro cheerleading to being a professional choreographer and NCAA PAC-12 and ACC dance team coach.

Mhkeeba interviews the first male dancer to appear on the podcast, Durante Lambert, who is a choreographer and former member of the Portland Trailblazers all-male Rip City Crew. He shares his experience as part of the new hip-hop dance team and his outlook on future opportunities for male dancers for professional sports teams.

Season 6 launches in a two-part episode with Part 2 featuring a very special Mother's Day themed group interview of six fabulous women who balanced motherhood and being a professional cheerleader. Mhkeeba interviews two former Washington Redskins Cheerleaders - London Myrick and Lee Henggeler, two former Oakland Raiderettes - Emily Herrera and Summer Imamura, and two former NBA Dancers - Mariah Palmiter from the Sacramento Kings and Amayrani Smith from the New Orleans Pelicans. In this heartfelt episode, the ladies give the real truth behind the poms of all of the sacrifices, fears, concerns, and hopes they experienced in pursuing their dream to dance professionally while also being a great mother to their children.

Season 6 launches in a two-part episode with Part 1 catching up on all the virtual NFL cheerleading auditions that have taken place over the last two months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mhkeeba walks you through the virtual auditions process for each NFL team, including the requirements for submissions of video introductions, dance performances, and interviews. She also shares the status update of the auditions process for each NFL team that has started to build the 2020-21 squad. Despite the NFL's release of the 2020 team schedules, there is a lot uncertainty around the NFL season especially as it pertains to NFL cheerleaders. Mhkeeba discusses all of her open questions and concerns around how COVID-19 impacts whether NFL cheerleaders will even get to dance on the field this season.

In this special bonus episode, Mhkeeba interviews Terra Saunders, Owner of Dallaswear Uniforms, who recently repurposed her entire factory from making audition attire and NBA & NFL cheerleading uniforms to making personal protective equipment for American healthcare workers fighting the Coronavirus pandemic. Terra reveals the truth behind the poms about how her business had been impacted with the lockdowns on professional sports and cheerleading and how she quickly turned a crisis into an opportunity for her team to get involved and help source the the immense shortage of protective masks and gowns. She also shares her story of how she learned to overcome fear and build a successful business in the professional cheerleading industry. Terra finishes this inspirational video with a hilarious take on Drop It Like It's Hot!

The Pro Cheerleading Podcast is going on hiatus due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has impacted everyone's lives in the professional dance and cheerleading community. In this episode Mhkeeba reflects on quarantine life and shares what keeps her encouraged during these difficult times. She also shares some thoughts from listeners of what they appreciate and miss the most about dance. The podcast will resume as soon as NFL cheerleading auditions and other developments in the pro cheerleading industry unfold. Until then, follow the Pro Cheerleading Podcast on social media and participate in virtual happy hours that will take place on Wednesdays.

In this long awaited episode, Mhkeeba interviews Yu Gu, the award-winning Director of A Woman's Work: The NFL's Cheerleader Problem - a documentary that follows two former NFL cheerleaders who file class-action lawsuits against their teams and the NFL alleging wage theft and illegal employment practices. The ladies discuss the film's exploration of gender inequality and fair wages if based on the true value of a woman's worth in the pro cheerleading industry. Yu joins Mhkeeba for Cheer Chat to discuss how the coronavirus has impacted NFL cheerleading audition season and the remainder of the NBA and other sports leagues' seasons for pro dancers. In this week's Locker Talk, Yu shares a dance performance as a young child that thankfully didn't tarnish her desire to dance.

In this week's episode, Mhkeeba interviews Charles Smith Jr., a NYC-based professional choreographer, dancer, creative director, actor and singer. Charles is currently a contributing choreographer for the NBA Brooklynettes and other NFL and NBA dance teams. He shares his perspective of how professional cheerleaders and dancers from sports teams are prepared to make the transition to the commercial dance industry. During Cheer Chat, Mhkeeba recaps the weekend of NFL auditions and gives a preview of the last few episodes of the season. Charles ends the episode with a Locker Talk story of freestyling his choreography during an audition and plays along with the Drop It Like It's Hot segment.

This is the episode you've all been waiting for, especially for those who are getting ready to audition to become an NFL cheerleader. This week, Mhkeeba sits down with her dear friend and Personal Trainer, Kelsey Pesola, to discuss all things fitness, everything from having the right mindset to get your body on track for auditions to how to keep in shape during the season. Kelsey offers some amazing advice on how to break your fitness goals down to attainable small wins that will help deliver the results you are looking for to be the best version of yourself. During Cheer Chat, Mhkeeba talks about this insane coronavirus that's hit hard in Seattle, a belated shout out to Black History Month performances and celebrations by NBA dance teams, and a cool VIP fan vacation package the Patriots Cheerleaders are hosting during their fitness calendar shoot in Turks and Caicos. Kelsey shares a Locker Talk story of her infamous reputation of being late to final auditions!

In this week's episode, Mhkeeba shares her favorite pieces of advice from past guests of the podcast on pro cheerleading auditions and what teams are looking for in a professional cheerleader. The past guests include Michelle Burch - Performance Teams Manager for the Portland Trail Blazers, Derric Whitfield - Senior Director of Dance Teams for the Washington Wizards, Michelle Vaughn - NBA/NFL Choreographer, Patrisha Yabes - Former Golden State Warriors Dancer and Los Angeles Charger Girl, GeNienne Samuels - President & CEO of Sideline Prep, and Candess Carroll - Washington Redskins Cheerleader, NFL Pro Bowl Cheerleader & Captain. Each segment covers various topics from learning choreography quickly, what judges are looking for beyond dancing and how to handle the experience of being cut during auditions. During Cheer Chat, Mhkeeba discusses the only male member of the Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders, Kyle Tanguay, who auditioned on American Idol and made it to the Hollywood round and the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders recent UNIR dance showcase featuring pro, college and youth dancers and cheerleaders from South Florida.

In this week's episode, Mhkeeba interviews Bridget Case, a former San Diego Charger Girl and current sports journalist who created her own sports podcast, After Orange Slices, that focuses on life after the game for former athletes. Bridget discusses some of the challenges she faced balancing her career in sports journalism while meeting the expectations of being an NFL cheerleader. She also shares her thoughts on the freedom she has experienced establishing her voice on her own terms in the male dominated sports media industry.

Season 5 kicks off with a timely in-depth discussion with Dr. Kayla Shabre, a former 49ers Gold Rush Cheerleader, who focused her dissertation research on the impact of retirement on professional cheerleaders. Mhkeeba and Dr. Kayla Shabre share their personal experiences and explore the common themes revealed through her research of issues that former professional cheerleaders faced post retirement. During Cheer Chat, the ladies discuss the Super Bowl halftime performance with Shakira and Jennifer Lopez and Dr. Kayla Shabre shares some Locker Talk stories of her Super Bowl appearance while dancing for the San Francisco 49ers.

Join Brittany and Mhkeeba for the Season 4 Finale where they wrap up the season on a high from the motivational interview they have with GeNienne Samuels, President & CEO of Sideline Prep. GeNienne is a former professional cheerleader nad dancer with 11 years of experience with the Washington Redskins and Washington Wizards. She shares her experiences navigating her dance career and professional aspirations, all of which led her to become an in-arena host for the Washington Redskins and the American Football League's Baltimore Brigade and amazing entrepreneur of a highly successful audition prep program. During Cheer Chat, Mhkeeba and Brittany reminisce over the past season and all their guests who made each episode so special, The ladies also make an official announcement of their participation as Ambassadors for Sideline Prep so make sure you sign up for the Pro Cheer Playbook Program using the unique Pro Cheerleading Podcast link. Brittany and Mhkeeba truly want to see everyone's wish to become a pro cheerleader and dancer come true and thank all of their listeners for a fabulous year together!

In this week's episode, Mhkeeba and Brittany interview Adrienne Santoleri, a former NBA dancer for the Philadelphia Sixers for 12 amazing seasons and former Director of the Sixers Dance Team. Adrienne is also a long time friend and former coach during Mhkeeba's time on the Philadelphia Kixx Dance Team. The ladies discuss Adrienne's long tenure with the Sixers organization and her quick rise to success as captain, choreographer, NBA All-Star Dancer, and leader of the first Sixers Dance Team. Adrienne also shares her perspective on the recent changes in the pro cheerleading industry and gives the raw truth behind the poms style take on the nature of the entertainment business for pro dancers and cheerleaders. Brittany and Mhkeeba got some juicy Locker Talk stories from Adrienne about her time with the Sixers. During Cheer Chat, the ladies thank their listeners for helping them reach over 20,000 downloads and supporting their Cheerversary celebration. They also discuss the possibility of expanding the podcast to cover college cheerleading and dance teams since they are the incoming generation of the pro cheerleading industry. The ladies wrap Cheer Chat with the important topic of concussions in cheerleading and how the issue is pretty widespread but not getting the attention it deserves.

This special episode is a follow up to the interview with Kristan Ann Ware to dive a bit deeper into the emotional and mental toll that her experience had on her life. In this one-on-one conversation between Mhkeeba and Kristan, the ladies discuss how pro cheerleading can sometimes rock your self-confidence and intuition to understand boundaries or when you're being treated unfairly. The ladies also reflect on how to approach the challenging decision of whether to stick in there to fight through it or walk away from a toxic situation. This episode touches on the journey of self-discovery of how to heal from negative mental and emotional aspects of pro cheerleading with the sincere hope that it helps someone who may be experiencing challenges living the life of a pro cheerleader. The Pro Cheerleading Podcast Hotline is (513) 480-6714 and the ladies want you to know they are here for you!

In this week's episode Brittany and Mhkeeba take on the very difficult topic of the negative emotional and mental heath effects of pro cheerleading, especially if you are part of a team with a toxic environment. The ladies interview Kristan Ann Ware, a former Miami Dolphins Cheerleader who sued the Miami Dolphins for religious discrimination based on the targeted harassment she experienced because of her personal pledge to save herself for marriage. Kristan shares her experience during her last year on the squad and how it impacted her physical, emotional and mental health. During Cheer Chat, Mhkeeba and Brittany reflect on their interview with Kristan and the other NFL cheerleaders who sued the NFL teams for unpaid wages and discriminatory employment practices and question why these women have been ostracized from the pro cheerleading community. They also discuss the documentary directed by Yu Gu, A Woman's Work: The NFL's Cheerleader Problem, that follows former NFL cheerleaders who file class-action lawsuits against their teams and has recently been featured in film festivals across the country. Due to the sensitive nature of this week's topic, the ladies decide to break the episode into two parts to expand upon their conversation with Kristan.

This week's episode is very special for the Pro Cheerleading Podcast because it is the first time Mhkeeba and Brittany interview a pro cheerleader who is currently on a team! The ladies are so excited to get to know Candess Correll - the beautiful, intelligent, confident and personable Pro Bowl Cheerleader and Captain of the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders! Candess shares her humbling journey of becoming one of the First Ladies of Football and how she balances her career as a Software Engineer with the responsibilities of being a leader on her squad. The episode wraps with Candess in the hot seat for Drop It Like It's Hot! During Cheer Chat, Brittany and Mhkeeba discuss their weekend girls trip to Leavenworth, Washington for Oktoberfest, learning a Bollywood dance for the Diwali Celebration, NFL cheerleaders dancing in the rain and how the Dallas Rhythm & Blue Dancers deserve more shine! The ladies also remind listeners to tune in to their live podcast taping to celebrate their first Cheerversary on November 2nd!!

Brittany and Mhkeeba interview Michelle Vaughn, one of the hottest choreographers for several NBA dance teams and NFL cheerleading squads! The ladies learn all about her background as a professional dancer in Los Angeles performing with exciting artists like Nicki Minaj and Flo Rida, and her perspective on changes in the pro dance industry from influence of social media. Michelle also shares how she balances her career as a master teacher at pro dance training programs and dance conventions all over the U.S. and internationally at the pro, college and high school level! During this week's Cheer Chat, Mhkeeba and Brittany discuss the trend of branded video content on the various social media sites of pro cheerleading teams and wonder if this concern with re-branding the team image is getting a little bit overplayed. The ladies also discuss economic justice and pay equity for female athletes in sports as it pertains to professional dancers and cheerleaders. The ladies have fun getting to know Michelle with the Drop It Like It's Hot segment!

Mhkeeba's wish finally came true to interview a pro cheerleader from a historically Black college or university who danced with the marching band! The ladies interview Deanna Hazeley, a former Ooh La La Dancer for the Showtime Marching Band of Howard University, former Pro Bowl Cheerleader for the Cincinnati Ben Gals and now Team Development Coach for the Ben-Gals. Deanna shares everything about her experience as an Ooh La La Dancer, from auditions to halftime performances and the amazing bond she continues to hold with her teammates. Brittany and Mhkeeba follow her journey to become an NFL cheerleader with the Ben Gals and learn how she continues to fill a leadership role with the team as one of the squad coaches. This week's Cheer Chat is about the ladies' weekend in Yakima, Washington leading a youth cheerleading clinic, the NFL Crucial Catch games in October and the start of NBA preseason games. Deanna shares a couple Locker Talk stories from her Pro Bowl experience and performance overseas for the military.

Meet the amazing woman behind all of the glitzy and glamorous uniforms for the Seattle Sea Gals and Seahawks Dancers, Laurel Cancilla! Brittany and Mhkeeba interview Laurel to learn about her long tenure designing and creating the most beautiful handmade uniforms and audition attire. The ladies also get her perspective on some of the newer fashion trends in pro cheerleading uniforms. Laurel shares a shocking Locker Talk story that the ladies would have never guessed in a million years! During Cheer Chat, Mhkeeba and Brittany discuss the announcement of Jennifer Lopez and Shakira performing in the Super Bowl halftime show in Miami and the Arizona Sidewinders earning Best Dance Team Award by the Indoor Football League. In not so good news, the ladies discuss the decision by the professional club basketball team in German, Alba Berlin, to eliminate their pro cheerleading team, the Alba Dancers, with the explanation that the all female squad “is no longer appropriate to our time.” Mhkeeba and Brittany share their thoughts on how the trends they have been seeing in the U.S. to eliminate all female pro cheerleading and dance teams is making its way across the globe.

Mhkeeba and Brittany interview the amazingly talented and multi-faceted Jacie Scott, former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and Radio City Rockettes Dancer, writer, and founder of her very own foundation, Declare Hope! Listen in as Jacie shares her extensive dance background that took her from the Dallas Cowboys sidelines to the world famous stage of the New York Radio City Music Hall. Jacie inspires the ladies with her positive perspective and fearless decisions to pursue all of her passions instead of feeling forced to choose just one. During this week's Cheer Chat, Brittany and Mhkeeba give an update on the status of the newly formed coed NBA dance teams. Jacie gives the ladies a funny Locker Talk story of a show group solo performance gone wrong.

In this week's episode, Brittany and Mhkeeba interview the infamous Derric Whitfield, Sr. Director of Dance Teams for the Washington Wizards! Both ladies learned and performed his killer routines that he taught at the two biggest dance conventions in pro cheerleading and have been huge fans ever since. Listen in to hear all about his background as a college and pro dancer, pro cheerleading industry choreographer, and highly respected leader of all of the entertainment teams for the Washington Wizards. Derric ends the interview with Drop It Like It's Hot so everyone can get the chance to get to know him better! During Cheer Chat, Mhkeeba and Brittany discuss an article from The Dallas Morning News by Sharon Grigsby attacking the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders as outdated and overly sexualized along with the ultimate clap back article from Paige Skinner in the Dallas Observer pointing out its absurdity.

Join Mhkeeba and Brittany as they experiment recording Cheer Chat using Instagram Live to give listeners an inside look at how they record the Pro Cheerleading Podcast! During Cheer Chat the ladies discuss some new uniforms that debuted during Week 1 of the NFL regular season for a few teams that are changing the look of the traditional glamorous NFL uniforms. They also discuss some developments in a lawsuit brought by a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders against the team that resulted in a significant raise for the cheerleaders and a few inspirational stories that celebrate women on and off the playing field. In this week's episode, Brittany and Mhkeeba walk you through the entire game day experience while reminiscing on some of their most memorable moments on the sidelines. They wrap up the episode with Locker Talk about a little post-game mischief from lingering in the locker room too long after the game!

Jump right back into pro cheerleading with the launch of Season 4!! Join Mhkeeba and Brittany as they catch up on everything that has happened over the last half of the summer. During Cheer Chat, the ladies discuss their recent radio appearance on the Mike Check Show on KSER 90.7 FM and youth dance clinic in Yakima, WA. They also cover the NFL's 100th season kickoff and partnership with Jay-Z and the Good Morning America controversy surrounding males in dance with the #BoysDanceToo movement, During this episode, Brittany and Mhkeeba discuss the trend of disbanding female dance teams that has moved to the NHL with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals removing their Lightning Girls and Spirit Squad to replace them with coed fan interactive teams. The ladies also provide an update on NBA auditions and the NFL preseason game performances, including the new Seahawks Dancers! They end the episode with an exciting preview of upcoming interviews and episodes for Season 4!

Brittany and Mhkeeba had their very first appearance on The Mike Check Show on KSER 90.7 FM radio starring Mike Check and Trey on Sunday, August 25th. The Mike Check Show is an R&B variety show based in Everett, Washington that blends a combination of hot topics, music news and relationship issues while playing music from yesterday to tomorrow. The ladies join Co-Host Trey to talk about the Pro Cheerleading Podcast and the variety of topics and issues the podcast has covered in the pro cheerleading industry. Tune in to listen to the ladies interview!

Season 3 comes to an end with the best episode to wrap things up!! Listen in as the Pedestrians crew - Mhkeeba, Brittany, Lindsay, Gelly and Jalanda - come together over brunch and mimosas to give their fashion review of all 26 NFL team cheerleading team uniforms! Follow along with the deck of various pictures of each team's uniforms as they discuss all the stylish trends, new and iconic classic uniforms and themed costumes for Cancer Awareness, Military Appreciation and holiday games. The ladies reminisce on their various Seattle Sea Gals uniforms and share their top faves. During Cheer Chat Brittany and Mhkeeba share their final recap of Season 3 and a list of things to keep an eye out for during the break until Season 4 launches on September 4th!

Brittany and Mhkeeba take on the difficult, but very real, topic of mean girls on pro cheerleading teams. The ladies know all too well that it's not always peaches and cream in terms of squad dynamics. They explore what defines mean girl behavior and how it shows up in the pro cheerleading world based on their own experiences and those of their listeners who wrote in questions and topics for the episode. The ladies discuss why mean girls even exist in the first place and conclude with some sound advice for dancers, squad leaders and even directors on how to deal with mean girls on the squad. This week's Cheer Chat includes the latest update on NBA auditions and discuss a cool appearance by the Jacksonville Jaguars Roar cheerleaders performing with Sonny Kiss, a pro wrestler from All Elite Wrestling. Survey results have been steadily pouring in so Mhkeeba and Brittany share some of the highlights from the feedback from their listeners. During Locker Talk, the ladies bravely share their own mean girl confessions and give advice on how everyone can strive to do better to eliminate mean girl behavior in their lives.

Brittany and Mhkeeba interview Lisa Zaragoza, the Coach of the all male Rip City Crew for the Portland Trail Blazers and get the inside scoop on what it's like working with professional male dancers. Lisa shares her dance background and how she became one of the hottest choreographers for NBA, college and high school teams. The ladies learn about her experience as a BlazerDancer for the Portland Trail Blazers for five seasons and a member of the 2014 NBA All-Star Dance Team. Lisa explains how she balances it all and also finds time to be the Coach of her alma mater, Oregon Cheer! During Cheer Chat, Mhkeeba and Brittany give an update on NBA auditions and squad selections. They also discuss the number of NBA teams that have formed all male hip hop crews. The ladies get to know Lisa better during Drop It Like It's Hot!

Alright, you made it through auditions and became a pro cheerleader, now what?!? Join Brittany and Mhkeeba as they discuss the journey of rookie year that often times can be very difficult to navigate. The ladies begin with the typical squad business that happens when you first make the team - photo shoots, long practices to learn dance routines, boot camp, and promo appearances. They also discuss the biggest mistakes and lessons learned from their rookie year on the squad. Cheer Chat includes an NBA auditions update and discussion of some NFL cheerleading teams bio photo shoots, calendar magazines and squad mini camp. During this week's Locker Talk, Mhkeeba and Brittany share some scoop on mistakes they made rookie year.

Between managing a full-time job, school, time with friends and family, dance practices and games, when is there time for love?? Mhkeeba and Brittany invite their BFF of the show, Lindsay Rosenberg, to return for a deep dive into love and relationships. The ladies cover everything from insecurity, jealousy, first dates, marriage and your most important relationship - the one you have with yourself. Listen closely as the ladies share the truth behind the poms and discuss how difficult it can be to manage relationships while pursuing the dream of becoming a pro cheerleader. Cheer Chat includes a very important update and last call to action to elevate the voices of pro dancers about what is happening to female dance teams in the NBA. The ladies also discuss the P-R-O and Pro Action Dance professional dance conventions held every summer in Atlanta and Las Vegas. Lindsay turned the tables on Brittany and Mhkeeba for Drop It Like It's Hot to get to know them better!

This episode is full of good news for female athletes and dancers about ways to care for their bodies and feel more empowered about their overall health!! Brittany and Mhkeeba interview Dr. Brittany Krake, a Naturopathic Doctor and former NBA Dancer for the Portland BlazersDancers. Learn about how Dr. Krake completed medical school while dancing in the NBA and built her naturopathic medical practice to empower people to make informed decisions about their own health. Dr. Krake's background as a professional dancer gives her a unique understanding of the specific health risks and physical demands placed on pro cheerleaders and dancers. During Cheer Chat, Mhkeeba and Brittany discuss their self-care regimens (or lack thereof) during their time cheering in the NFL. They also discuss the Philadelphia Sixers' decision to change the Sixers Dancers female dance team to a coed hip hop dance team. The ladies also recap Mhkeeba's appearance on the Open Mike morning sports radio show hosted by Mike Bianchi from the Orlando Sentinel in response to his blog post about the Orlando Magic Dancers, Dr. Krake shares the funniest story involving hair extensions for this week's Locker Talk and plays along for Drop It Like It's Hot!

Escape the mid-week slump and tune in to Mhkeeba and Brittany as they discuss how they balanced their lives as pro cheerleaders with their careers - from the white lies they told to escape work to participate in promo appearances to not being taken seriously in their 9 to 5 roles. Whether balancing a few part-time jobs or tackling the corporate world, all pro cheerleaders and dancers need to have solid income to support their dreams of dancing. This episode explores how pro cheerleaders tackle difficult workplace issues such as sexual harassment and issues with difficult managers. Cheer Chat is a very unfortunate announcement of yet another team removing their female dance team to be replaced with a coed hip hop crew - the Orlando Magic. The day before this episode launched the Philadelphia Sixers also announced the elimination of the all female Sixers Dancers to be replaced by a coed hip hop team, which brings the grand total to six NBA teams including the San Antonio Spurs! During Locker Talk the ladies reminisce on some of the craziest things they have had to do at work in order to arrive at dance practice, a game or an appearance all glammed up!

Listen in as Brittany and Mhkeeba interview Lindsay Rosenberg about her illustrious career as a former NBA Dancer that led to so many wonderful opportunities. Don't let Lindsay's title fool you as she has worn so many exceptionally cool hats in the pro cheerleading industry. She shares her unique approach to photographing dancers in the NBA and NFL, the importance of head shots, and advice she gives when shooting with her clients. Lindsay gives the absolute coolest Locker Talk story about a Pro Bowl halftime show performance by Rachel Platten.

The NFL cheerleader auditions have wrapped up for the year, but the NBA dance auditions are just around the corner. Join Mhkeeba and Brittany as they interview Simmone Miller, the founder and owner of Simma Wear - an all-inclusive audition prep company providing all the needs for aspiring pro dancers, Learn about Simmone's background and the philosophy behind her amazing program. During Cheer Chat, Brittany and Mhkeeba cover the Cleveland Cavaliers who have joined the embarrassing list of NBA teams that removed their all-female dance teams. The ladies wrap up Cheer Chat with a very important call to action to all of the Pro Cheerleading Podcast listeners to spread the awareness of the injustice of the removal of these NBA dance teams by participating in a social media blitz sharing their Open Letter to NBA Teams On Behalf of Pro Dancers. #KeepProDancers The ladies end the episode with Simmone's Locker Talk of a stalker situation while she danced with the Golden State Warriors and a Drop it Like it's Hot session with Mhkeeba in the hot seat!

In this very important bonus episode, Brittany and Mhkeeba share the disturbing news of the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks terminating their pro dance teams in exchange for a hip-hop focused co-ed dance and entertainment crew. The ladies host four women from the Sacramento Kings Dancers - Ariana Hirschfield, Daphnie Coon, Kellie Jackson, and Mariah Palmiter - to share their stories of how this decision was poorly communicated to them and how it has impacted their lives. More importantly, the ladies discuss the overall negative message these teams are sending to the youth and aspiring pro dancers that their profession is not respected and that their voices do not matter. With this interview, Mhkeeba and Brittany want to ensure that their voices are heard loud and clear!

Season 3 launches with Mhkeeba and Brittany introducing the 2019-2020 cheerleaders who made it through the grueling and extensive auditions process for all 26 NFL teams. They discuss the hottest trends in the auditions process, from teams selecting more male NFL cheerleaders to adding stunting teams to the roster and everything in between to get down to the ladies and gentlemen that made the clique! During Cheer Chat, the ladies share feedback from listeners of what topics they want to hear more about for Season 3. Instead of Locker Talk, Brittany and Mhkeeba shake things up and introduce a new segment, Drop It Like It's Hot, which is a fun lightning round of questions to get to know the ladies and their guests. Brittany is up first in the hot seat!

In this bonus episode, Brittany and Mhkeeba recap their recent trip to experience the pro cheerleading scene in Washington, DC! Listen in as the ladies describe the game day entertainment for the Washington Wizards, including dance performances by the Wizards Dancers and the Washington Wizdom Dancers - the new senior dance team of dancers over the age of 50! Mhkeeba and Brittany also relive the thrilling Washington Redskins Cheerleaders Final Auditions Showcase and share the exciting news of some Pro Cheerleading Podcast listeners making the squad!