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A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith: Where Significance Blooms in Athletics and Sports Business. A Chat in the Garden is a nationally recognized, weekly, interview-style podcast...
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A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith: Where Significance Blooms in Athletics and Sports Business. A Chat in the Garden is a nationally recognized, weekly, interview-style podcast where women of color in athletic administration and sports business are spotlighted. Each guest shares her career journey, advice for others and current initiatives.
Fall 2024 marked the show's 11th season, with a listener base that has grown to 1.7K members in our private Facebook community: A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Seasons 1- 10 and season 11 (through December 2025) can be found on 200plus.expert.
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Fall 2024 marked the show's 11th season, with a listener base that has grown to 1.7K members in our private Facebook community: A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Seasons 1- 10 and season 11 (through December 2025) can be found on 200plus.expert.
A Chat in the Garden with Monique AJ Smith
A Chat in the Garden with Monique AJ Smith
A Chat in the GardenEpisodes & Posts
Episodes
Posts
10 JUN 2026 · This episode is a replay from Season 4 (Oct 2017). Dr. Monique Carroll was Associate AD for External Operations at Chicago State University at the time of this interview. She is currently Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics for Chicago State.
Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or http://www.chatinthegarden.com/. This is Season 12. Seasons 1 - 11 can be found on 200plus.expert.
3 JUN 2026 · This episode is a replay from Season 8 (April 2022). Toni-Ann Derby was Assistant Director, Championships, Sport Operations and Governance for the West Coast Conference when this interview aired. She is currently Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Chief of Staff at Austin Peay State University.
Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or http://www.chatinthegarden.com/. This is Season 12. Seasons 1 - 11 can be found on 200plus.expert.
27 MAY 2026 · Ashley Danielle is the Founder and Executive Director of ABC Sports Foundation, which provides nonprofit creation, program management, branding, PR, and event logistics services to high school, collegiate and current and former professional athletes, supporting them in making an impact in their communities. She is also the newest member of the HPSS Department as an Associate Professor and a graduate of Tennessee State University.
As a Nashville native, her career spans professional dance, including roles as a Nashville Predators dancer and Titans Cheerleader. With over a decade in the sports industry, Ashley has worked with organizations like ESPN Radio and A3 Athletics, excelling in community relations and marketing.
Holding a law degree and a Master’s in Sport Management from TSU, she leverages her expertise in marketing strategies, event management, and fan engagement to shape a dynamic career bridging arts and sports.
Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or http://www.chatinthegarden.com/. This is Season 12. Seasons 1 - 11 can be found on 200plus.expert.
20 MAY 2026 · This episode is a replay. Dr. Jolisa Williams, former Asst. AD of Media Relations and current Interim VP of Athletics & Recreation for Bowie State University, joins A Chat in the Garden.
Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or http://www.chatinthegarden.com/. This is Season 12. Seasons 1 - 11 can be found on 200plus.expert.
13 MAY 2026 · Vanessa Hale is a Certified Athletic Trainer who has been certified since July 2020 and is in her fifth year as a clinician.
Originally from Los Angeles California, Vanessa’s interest in athletic training began in high school. She attended Culver City High School all four years and graduated in June 2012. Vanessa started her tenure as a student aide her sophomore year working with football and track & field. After graduating, she attended the University of Oregon at the start of her college career.
Vanessa transferred to Howard University in August 2014, after two years at the University of Oregon. During her three and a half years at Howard, she worked with football, track & field, and men's & women's tennis on occasion, as a student athletic trainer. She graduated from Howard with a B.S. in Human Performance December 2017. After graduating, Vanessa began her Master’s program at the University of Houston in June 2018. During her time in the program, she worked with UH football and men’s basketball. In addition, she expanded her experience to volleyball, baseball, and men's & women's soccer through a year-round clinical rotation at the University of St. Thomas (Houston). Rice football and surgical observation were notable experiences through other clinical rotations.Â
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After graduating with a Master’s in Athletic Training in May 2020, she faced some of the challenges COVID-19 presented among athletics. Her first position as a certified athletic trainer was with Clark Atlanta University as the Associate Athletic Trainer in August 2021. Her tenure at CAU included working primarily with football, men's and women's basketball, and softball. During her second year she restarted the student aide program. After three years and a '23-'24 MBB conference championship, she left as the Associate Head Athletic Trainer to continue her journey as the Head Football Athletic Trainer at Norfolk State University in July 2024.Â
In her current role, Vanessa has revitalized the student aide program at NSU and helped reshape the Sports Medicine department as a whole.
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She also holds Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES), and Functional Dry Needling Level 1 (FDN1) certifications, along with her national certification and state licensure. She looks to further her knowledge though obtaining certifications in manual therapy and performance enhancement.
Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or http://www.chatinthegarden.com/. This is Season 12. Seasons 1 - 11 can be found on 200plus.expert.
6 MAY 2026 · This episode is a replay from Season 2. At the time of the interview, Angie Torain was Deputy AD at Immaculate Word. She went on to become the Athletics Director at University of Chicago. She is currently the Senior Business Development Executive for Teamworks.
Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or http://www.chatinthegarden.com/. This is Season 12. Seasons 1 - 11 can be found on 200plus.expert.
28 APR 2026 · This episode is a replay from Season 3. Dr. Melody Webb, Director of Athletics for Norfolk State University, joins Monique A. J. Smith for A Chat in the Garden.
Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or http://www.chatinthegarden.com/. This is Season 12. Seasons 1 - 11 can be found on 200plus.expert.
22 APR 2026 · This episode is a replay from Season 3 (April 2017). Neema Connor, Former UMES Athletics Administrator and Current MEAC Associate Commissioner, joined Monique A. J. Smith for A Chat in the Garden.
Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or http://www.chatinthegarden.com/. This is Season 12. Seasons 1 - 11 can be found on 200plus.expert.
15 APR 2026 · Mercedes Erhahon Vice President of Sales of the RESWealthy Team and a nationally recognized Real Estate Advisor known for guiding high-performing professionals—including athletes, entertainers, and business leaders—through strategic real estate decisions that support long-term stability, ownership, and legacy.
She is recognized as one of the top 1% of Black real estate agents in the country and serves as Director of the REALTIST Magazine for the California Association of Real Estate Brokers (CAREB), where she leads conversations with athletes, entertainers, and leaders who are using real estate to build wealth, develop communities, and create lasting impact.
She also serves on several California Association of REALTORS® committees, including Fair Housing, Local Government Policy, and Professional Standards.
At the core of her work is a commitment to advocacy, access, and accountability. Mercedes is passionate about helping her clients move intentionally in real estate—whether purchasing a home, expanding a portfolio, or exploring opportunities in community development and affordable housing.
Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or http://www.chatinthegarden.com/. This is Season 12. Seasons 1 - 11 can be found on 200plus.expert.
1 APR 2026 · This episode is a replay from Season 2. Dr. Adrianne Swinney, former Athletic Administrator for UConn, now Assistant Professor at Jackson State University, joins Monique A. J. Smith for A Chat in the Garden.
Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or http://www.chatinthegarden.com/. This is Season 12. Seasons 1 - 11 can be found on 200plus.expert.
A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith: Where Significance Blooms in Athletics and Sports Business. A Chat in the Garden is a nationally recognized, weekly, interview-style podcast...
show more
A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith: Where Significance Blooms in Athletics and Sports Business. A Chat in the Garden is a nationally recognized, weekly, interview-style podcast where women of color in athletic administration and sports business are spotlighted. Each guest shares her career journey, advice for others and current initiatives.
Fall 2024 marked the show's 11th season, with a listener base that has grown to 1.7K members in our private Facebook community: A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Seasons 1- 10 and season 11 (through December 2025) can be found on 200plus.expert.
show less
Fall 2024 marked the show's 11th season, with a listener base that has grown to 1.7K members in our private Facebook community: A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Seasons 1- 10 and season 11 (through December 2025) can be found on 200plus.expert.
Information
| Author | A Chat in the Garden |
| Organization | A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith |
| Categories | How To , Careers , Management |
| Website | chatinthegarden.com |
| moniqueajsmith@seedsofempowerment.info |
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