Toni Stone: The First Woman of the Negro Leagues (with Ruth Naomi Floyd)

Toni Stone wasn’t just breaking barriers—she was rewriting the story of baseball. As the first woman to play professional baseball in the Negro Leagues, she faced skepticism, challenges, and even legends like Satchel Paige. And through it all, she never lost her love for the game.

This episode of Unstoppable opens with a powerful, dramatic retelling of Toni’s journey onto the field—one that captures the grit, resilience, and courage she carried with every swing.

I’m joined by special guest Ruth Naomi Floyd, an acclaimed vocalist, composer, and historian whose insights bring Toni’s story into sharper focus. Together, we reflect on Toni’s incredible perseverance, her lasting impact, and the inspiration she continues to give to generations who dare to dream.

Listen now and celebrate the unstoppable spirit of Toni Stone—because history isn’t just made, it’s lived.

Ruth Naomi Floyd's website.

In this episode of Unstoppable, we tell the groundbreaking story of Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon, breaking barriers in sports. Lori is joined by Chicago author William Bike to explore this historic moment, dive deeper into the impact of Title IX, and uncover the rich, evolving history of women’s sports.

Ok. And we do spend a few minutes talking about my Chicago Cubs. 😉

Join us for an inspiring conversation that shines a light on resilience, perseverance!

We meet Heather Winkeljohn, a trailblazer in the world of adaptive MMA. As the President of IncredAble and co-owner of JacksonWink MMA Academy, Heather shares her inspiring story of empowering youth and teens with environmental, physical, and cognitive challenges through the benefits of Mixed Martial Arts. Get ready to be moved by her passion and dedication to creating opportunities for all athletes to thrive. Tune in for an immersive storytelling experience that will leave you feeling motivated and inspired!

IncredAble Adaptive MMA (link)

Jackson Wink Gym (link)

Smart Girl Women's Self-defense (link)

#AdaptiveMMA #IncredAble #WomenInSports #ImmersiveStorytelling #Inspiration #mma #jacksonwink #hollyholm #UnstoppablePodcast

This episode is all about trailblazers! We'll dive into the incredible story of Billie Jean King and the impact of Title IX, with a dramatic opening story and a conversation with Coach Ray Scott, the 1974 NBA Coach of the Year - a trailblazer himself as the first African-American to win this prestigious award.

You'll gain insights into the intersection of sports and culture, and be inspired by the determination and resilience of these two remarkable individuals.

#UnstoppablePodcast #WomenInSports #Inspiration #Trailblazers #NBA #tennis #billiejeanking

Check out Coach Ray Scott's book on Amazon (here)

In our first episode, we're taking a fun and nostalgic trip back to my childhood dreams of playing baseball for the Chicago Cubs. You'll get to hear my conversation with Chicago writer Vince Francone and relive the magic of Wrigley Field. Lori will explain the motivation behind this podcast and sharing stories about inspiring women athletes.