These Packs Puck

This week, the Packers are all about Detroit. It's Madison’s hometown and the site that broke the record for US women's hockey attendance on the PWHL Takeover Tour. Anya and Madison recap that Takeover Tour — the highlights, the strategy behind it, and what it might mean for expansion in the league. Then they chat with their good friend Kris Smith: a Detroit local, pro trainer (to the Packers and Madison’s mom!), ...

Social media has become an essential part of our daily lives, from sports figures to parenting influencers. In this episode, bestselling author, podcast host of Under the Influence, and mom of three, Jo Piazza, shares her unique perspective on the powerful business women behind some of our favorite (and sometimes least favorite) social media accounts. Jo pulls back the curtain on the media empires these influencers have built, reve...

Women are breaking barriers on and off the ice — and sports journalists like Jamie Hersch are leading the charge in elevating women’s sports through powerful storytelling. In this episode, Jamie reflects on her early career as a trailblazer in a male-dominated field, where she had to prove her skills and passion as the only woman in the room. She, along with the Packers, discuss how women athletes often connect with fan...

Every mom needs her village, and Ali Krieger is a great example of someone committed to building community, both in sports and in her personal life. As a soccer star, she and her teammates fought for equal pay with U.S. Soccer--a move that helped women's sports as a whole. Off the field, Ali embraced the power of a supportive community after a very public divorce and remains dedicated to nurturing her relationships with mom friends...

If you’re anything like the Packers, Robin Arzón might have gotten you through the pandemic. Currently the VP of Fitness Programming and Head Instructor at Peloton, Robin’s rides are known to be uplifting and healing, which is definitely true for Anya who was saved by those rides in the thick of postpartum depression. Robin turned to running after a traumatic experience in college and has relied on physical stren...

Madison’s retirement introduced a whole new structure to the Packer household. While Anya used to bear the brunt of childcare, those roles are now swapped. This creates challenges on both ends that the couple hash out on air. Luckily, today’s guest, Eve Rodsky, can relieve the tension. Eve is dedicated to helping couples split domestic labor evenly–a mission she detailed in her NYT Bestselling book, Fair Play. She...

Women’s sports has a money problem--from funding and player salaries to wealth management post-career. Stephanie Dobbs Brown, former CMO at Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) and the New York Stock Exchange, is working to address this issue by promoting financial literacy and equity in women’s sports. She sat down with the Packers to discuss why this issue matters to her and how financial education empowers women. Plus, sh...

Kaleigh Fratkin and the Packers go way back. The story starts in high school, where Madison and Kaleigh threw hits on the ice and butted heads off of it. Later, fate brought Kaleigh and Anya together as college roommates in Boston, cementing them as lifelong friends. Now that Madison and Anya are married and all three have endured the highs and lows of storied hockey careers, they’re closer than ever. In this episode, Kaleigh...

One of the best pieces of representation for women’s hockey came out last year. It’s Inside Out 2, the sequel to the hugely popular Pixar movie beloved by children and adults alike for helping us understand the emotions whirling around in our minds. Its main character, 13-year-old Riley, is a hockey player, which means the Packers have feelings about this film. They chat about what it meant to see a woman’s hockey...

As 2024 wraps up, the Packers take a moment to reflect on a year like no other. From the groundbreaking inaugural season of the PWHL to the explosive growth of women’s sports, and the personal shifts following Madison’s retirement, it’s been a whirlwind. Madison and Anya look back on the highs and lows of the past year and share their resolutions, hopes, and dreams for 2025.

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In sports, the bond between teammates often goes beyond the game — you become family. In this episode, the Packers reunite with one of their own, Emma Woods, to reflect on the unforgettable moments of last season. Emma, who lived with Madison and Anya while playing for the Sirens, quickly became a "pseudo-mom" to their kids, forging deep and unexpected connections. Join us as we dive into life off the ice —...

Few topics are as important to the Packers as mental health. In this episode, they take a second to reflect on where this passion stems from. From Anya's initiative to bring a sports psychologist onto the Riveters team to Madison advocating for suicide prevention on the ice, they share how these moments fueled their commitment to change the hockey community for the better. They also open up about their own struggles wi...

To fans, three-time Olympian Natalie Spooner seamlessly transitioned back to the ice after giving birth, even earning honors as the 2024 PWHL Most Valuable Player and Forward of the Year. But in reality, there was a lot more going on behind the scenes. In this candid conversation, Natalie opens up to Madison and Anya about the challenges she faced — both on and off the ice — during her pre- and post-partum journey. She reveals how ...

After 146 games at the University of Wisconsin, two gold medals with Team USA, and 154 games over nine years in professional leagues, Madison has announced her retirement from pro hockey. Just after the news broke, she sat down with Anya to reflect on her remarkable career. Together, they explore Madison’s journey and how she came to realize that hockey is much more than just a game — from her early days with the Riveters to findin...

There’s no sugar-coating it, being a mom is hard. In this episode, the Packers talk to someone who truly understands this: Kirsten Ferguson, a Peloton instructor, single mom of two young girls, and self-proclaimed president of the Ratchet Moms Club, an online community that Kirsten started so moms can be upfront about the messiness that goes hand in hand with raising kids. Kirsten opens up about the miscarriages she endured before ...

Anyone who gets to the top of their sport has a very strong “why” that drove them to get there. For Ashlyn Harris, soccer was her way out of an unstable childhood. Her work ethic led to an enviable career which included 10 seasons playing in the NWSL and two World Cup wins on the US Women’s National Team. While playing, she was an advocate for players, fighting alongside her teammates for equal pay in women’s soccer. Post retiremen...

In this episode, the Packers call up their hockey mentor and go-to person for mom advice, Meghan Duggan. Meghan is a former pro hockey player, three time Olympian, and mom of three. She was captain to Madison at University of Wisconsin and to Anya in the CWHL, and continues to be an inspiring leader to all who know her in work and life. Meghan and her wife had their first kid just before Madison and Anya (during COVID no less), and...

It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for! Hockey players and married couple Madison and Anya Packer glide onto the podcast scene with their very own show. Their goal? To fill a gap in women’s sports content around what it’s like to be a professional athlete and a mom. They’ll do this by talking to other athletes about their unique experiences, but first, the Packers open up about their own lives to show just how chaotic and unpre...