Two UNL students aim to empower women in the sports industry

Hailey Ryerson and Megan Cook attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. They started a podcast for women to share their experiences working in sports.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Hailey Ryerson and Megan Cook know what it’s like to be women working in sports.

“Sometimes when I go to the press box, and I’m there to do play-by-play or live tweeting, whatever it is, you know you kind of get some of those faces,” Ryerson said.

Ryerson is a Sports Media major, while Cook is a Hospitality major. Both women attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and have a desires to someday pursue a career in sports. They both know that being a woman in the sports field can bring challenges. It’s a male-dominated industry and can be intimidating.

They decided to create a podcast for women to share their challenges and accomplishments in the business.

“We came up with “Small Town Girls,” Ryerson said. “I’m from a small town in Iowa and she’s from Nebraska. We just thought we could connect through one another through there and just sharpen up our tools too.”

The show started in August 2020.  Ryerson and Cook bring on a variety of guests including athletes, reporters and even editors who talk about life in the industry and give out advice. Cook said they don’t want women to feel like their alone.

They even spoke with Emmy-award winning and one of the longest tenured NFL sideline reporters, Laura Okmin.

“It was just a surreal experience,” Cook said. “We were taking to someone who has made it in what we want to do.”

Ryerson and Cook say it’s been incredible to see women and men who have supported them on the journey.

“We know we’re connecting one person,” Ryerson said. “If one person is touched by our podcast, they feel inspired, have joy, that’s what it’s all about. I know some little girl, or if they’re listening in the car with their mother, that’s what it means to us.”