Skip to main content
Grin and Grind It

Grin and Grind It

By Jessica McWhirt

A podcast where I chat with fellow WTf (Women/trans/femme) athletes who are kicking ass and smiling through defeat and victory in their sport. My hope is that this podcast will encourage you to stray outside your comfort zone, to think about the world differently, and to accept people for who they are.
Available on
Apple Podcasts Logo
Castbox Logo
Google Podcasts Logo
Overcast Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

Ep. 8 | Don't be afraid to ask - Interview with Meredith Miller

Grin and Grind ItJan 01, 2019

00:00
01:06:42
Ep. 11 | All things bike commuting - Interview with Brittney Compton

Ep. 11 | All things bike commuting - Interview with Brittney Compton

I had the opportunity to speak with my teammate and friend, Brittney, who's been commuting to work for the past six years. We talk about all (okay, most) things bike commuting like:

-tips for commuting for the first time

-bike theft

-hybrid vs road bikes

-commuting in rain and light snow

-gear for commuting

-Brittney's favorite day of the year: Bike to Work Day

-speed limits on the path

Jun 26, 201939:26
Ep. 10 | Cycling is Community - Interview with Dawn Manfredonia

Ep. 10 | Cycling is Community - Interview with Dawn Manfredonia

Dawn is a Cat 4 cyclist in Colorado and Team Director of Revolution Women's Cycling. In this episode, we chat about her beginnings in bike racing and where she's at now. We discuss what it's like to put on a bike race as her team hosts the Denver Federal Center Crit in May and the Colorado Classic coming in August. Dawn is an inspiring cyclist and it was great to spend time talking to her about bike racing. 

Jun 03, 201952:10
Ep. 9 | Intrinsic Motivation
Jan 26, 201926:18
Ep. 8 | Don't be afraid to ask - Interview with Meredith Miller

Ep. 8 | Don't be afraid to ask - Interview with Meredith Miller

Welcome to episode 8. My guest is Meredith Miller, an ex-road and cyclocross racing "pro." I met Meredith during a Rapha club ride and I had no idea who I had the pleasure of riding with in the brutal Boulder winds. She raced for numerous teams and I learned a lot about professional bike racing during our conversation and I'm not so sure how bad I want that anymore. 

Jan 01, 201901:06:42
Ep. 7 | Start Small - Interview with Katie Macarelli

Ep. 7 | Start Small - Interview with Katie Macarelli

There’s no bad weather, just bad clothes. That’s what Katie Macarelli would say. Katie is a local Colorado hero in the cycling world and I spoke to her on today’s podcast episode. She was one of my inspirations to start commuting to work. I remember seeing the pictures she’d post on Instagram of her gear or being positioned on the bike, snow on the driveway, with s big smile on her face and thinking, “if Katie can commute to work, why can’t I?” In this episode Katie and I talk about how she started commuting to work, the gear she uses, and her proudest moment of commuting. If you’ve ever considered commuting by bike or are just curious how much fun it can be, give it a listen.
Nov 18, 201854:11
Ep. 6 | Performance Efficiency with Food - Interview with Heidi Strickler
Oct 28, 201801:09:17
Ep. 1 | Be Gracious When You Fail - Interview with Angela Pitzer

Ep. 1 | Be Gracious When You Fail - Interview with Angela Pitzer

In this interview, I speak with my teammate, Angela, about her successful virtual racing in the CVR World Cup. She was one of the Top 10 female Zwifters brought to California to compete in the final competition.
Oct 06, 201831:04
Ep. 5 | If You Build It, They Will Come - Interview with Ash Hall

Ep. 5 | If You Build It, They Will Come - Interview with Ash Hall

In Episode 5, I interviewed an old teammate, Ash Hall about their favorite kind of bike racing - alley cats. We learn why some people are given tables at checkpoints and how urban races are way more gender inclusive than any other race right now, like incorporating a WTf category. We also chatted about their experience racing under USAC/BRAC, having to choose between two sexes, and the bullying they endured at road races.
Sep 25, 201839:59
Ep. 4 | Learn to Suffer - Interview with Kate Bennett

Ep. 4 | Learn to Suffer - Interview with Kate Bennett

Dr. Bennett and I discuss how she got into sports psychology and the conversation really focuses on mindfulness and how developing that can help us perform better in athletics.
Aug 29, 201846:41
Ep. 3 | Race to Fail - Interview with Anna Dorovskikh

Ep. 3 | Race to Fail - Interview with Anna Dorovskikh

I sit down with Anna, a Cat 2 cyclist in Boulder, Colorado who's not just a friend, but my competition. She's humble, encouraging, and is a self-coached athlete. We chat about her moving from Russia to Colorado when she was 10, how she got into cycling, what her training consists of, and her favorite failure.
Jul 20, 201852:59
Ep. 2 | Give Yourself Grace - Interview with Stacey Richardson

Ep. 2 | Give Yourself Grace - Interview with Stacey Richardson

An honest discussion with Stacey Richardson about her mental health struggles and how she continues to excel as an athlete and individual.
Jun 27, 201832:35