 

In this week's episode, Jennifer welcomes Payton McNabb, a determined advocate for the elimination of biological males participating in women's sports and the protection and fairness of girls’ and women’s sports. Payton is a former three-sport high school athlete from rural North Carolina whose life changed abruptly, due to existing state policy at the time, after she suffered a traumatic brain injury during a volleyball game against a male player who spiked the volleyball onto Payton's head. Unable to continue athletic competition, Payton has since dedicated herself to speaking out for the protection of girls in sports, serving on the Stand for Women Advisory Board with the Independent Women’s Forum, and testifying across several states to inspire legislative changes.

Jennifer and Payton delve deeply into the controversial and headline-making topic of transgender participation in girls’ sports, raising urgent questions about safety, fairness, and the impact of policy on real lives. Payton reveals the physical and emotional aftermath of her injury—concussion, brain bleed, permanent whiplash, and PTSD—and recalls the lack of empathy shown by the opposing team, school administrators, and even the player involved. The conversation exposes how the egregious legislation once prioritized inclusion transgendered women (biological males) at the direct expense of the safety of all female athletes, and how Payton’s testimony contributed to the law changing in North Carolina. Payton emphasizes that stories like hers, often dismissed as rare, affect not just individual players but entire communities and families. She courageously shares her vision for a future where girls can compete without fear, calling for truth, common sense, and genuine compassion in the ongoing debate over the future of women’s sports.

“The protections of this one man overrode the protections of every girl and every parent.” ~Payton McNabb

This week on Political Contessa:
Payton McNabb’s journey from promising athlete to national advocate
The sports injury that ended her volleyball career and changed her life
Navigating the aftermath: medical diagnoses, PTSD, and the emotional toll
North Carolina’s previous policies allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports and how that changed
How teams, communities, and families are impacted by “just one” such injury
The lack of accountability and empathy from the schools and the athlete who caused her injury
Why Payton feels called to share her truth and stand up for other girls
Payton’s hope for a safer, fairer future for girls’ and women’s sports

 

Connect with Payton McNabb and Resources Mentioned:

Independent Women's Forum: https://www.iwf.org/

 

Awaken Your Inner Political Contessa

 

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Political Contessa. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

 

Spotify I Stitcher I Apple Podcasts I iHeart Radio I TuneIn I Google Podcasts

 

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media. And if you’ve ever considered running for office – or know a woman who should – head over to politicalcontessa.com to grab my quick guide, Secrets from the Campaign Trail. It will show you five signs to tell you you’re ready to enter the political arena.

&nbsp;
In this week's episode, Jennifer welcomes Payton McNabb, a determined advocate for the elimination of biological males participating in women's sports and the protection and fairness of girls&rsquo; and women&rsquo;s sports. Payton is a former three-sport high school athlete from rural North Carolina whose life changed abruptly, due to existing state policy at the time, after she suffered a traumatic brain injury during a volleyball game against a male player who spiked the volleyball onto Payton's head. Unable to continue athletic competition, Payton has since dedicated herself to speaking out for the protection of girls in sports, serving on the Stand for Women Advisory Board with the Independent Women&rsquo;s Forum, and testifying across several states to inspire legislative changes.
Jennifer and Payton delve deeply into the controversial and headline-making topic of transgender participation in girls&rsquo; sports, raising urgent questions about safety, fairness, and the impact of policy on real lives. Payton reveals the physical and emotional aftermath of her injury&mdash;concussion, brain bleed, permanent whiplash, and PTSD&mdash;and recalls the lack of empathy shown by the opposing team, school administrators, and even the player involved. The conversation exposes how the egregious legislation once prioritized inclusion transgendered women (biological males) at the direct expense of the safety of all female athletes, and how Payton&rsquo;s testimony contributed to the law changing in North Carolina. Payton emphasizes that stories like hers, often dismissed as rare, affect not just individual players but entire communities and families. She courageously shares her vision for a future where girls can compete without fear, calling for truth, common sense, and genuine compassion in the ongoing debate over the future of women&rsquo;s sports.
&ldquo;The protections of this one man overrode the protections of every girl and every parent.&rdquo; ~Payton McNabb
This week on Political Contessa:
<ul>
<li>Payton McNabb&rsquo;s journey from promising athlete to national advocate</li>
<li>The sports injury that ended her volleyball career and changed her life</li>
<li>Navigating the aftermath: medical diagnoses, PTSD, and the emotional toll</li>
<li>North Carolina&rsquo;s previous policies allowing biological males to compete in girls&rsquo; sports and how that changed</li>
<li>How teams, communities, and families are impacted by &ldquo;just one&rdquo; such injury</li>
<li>The lack of accountability and empathy from the schools and the athlete who caused her injury</li>
<li>Why Payton feels called to share her truth and stand up for other girls</li>
<li>Payton&rsquo;s hope for a safer, fairer future for girls&rsquo; and women&rsquo;s sports</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Connect with Payton McNabb and Resources Mentioned:
Independent Women's Forum: <a href="https://www.iwf.org/">https://www.iwf.org/</a>
&nbsp;
Awaken Your Inner Political Contessa
&nbsp;
Thanks for tuning into this week&rsquo;s episode of Political Contessa. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6ImzVp6n3MBUcMBP8jsZhu">Spotify</a> I <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=656529">Stitcher</a> I <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-contessa/id1588917810">Apple Podcasts</a> I <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1300-political-contessa-87658237/">iHeart Radio</a> I <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/Political-Contessa-p1531739/">TuneIn</a> I <a href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub21ueWNvbnRlbnQuY29tL2QvcGxheWxpc3QvZGFlMDZlNGItMGQ0YS00YmZjLTljZGEtYWRhMjAwZmFjMjNlL2Y5ODQwODQzLWIyNjUtNDI0Mi05MWFiLWFkYWYwMGFlODZmOC9jYzc1YWM1MS1hZGU1LTQwYmEtYmY5My1hZGFmMDBiMmM5NjMvcG9kY2FzdC5yc3M%3d">Google Podcasts</a>
&nbsp;
Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media. And if you&rsquo;ve ever considered running for office &ndash; or know a woman who should &ndash; head over to <a href="http://politicalcontessa.com/">politicalcontessa.com</a> to grab my quick guide, Secrets from the Campaign Trail. It will show you five signs to tell you you&rsquo;re ready to enter the political arena.

Women on the right need a safe space to discuss politics, policy, news, and ownership over the fact that it is ok to agree to disagree. It is our First Amendment right to free speech. Before we can even out the number of women in our local, state, & federal governments, we need to empower women to feel comfortable and confident discussing these and other topics.

My name is Jennifer. I’m a single mom of three girls living in Boston. I’m a lawyer with two political science degrees, and I have no problem talking politics with people who disagree with me.

I spent three years as the Chairman of the Massachusetts GOP and ran for the very liberal Boston City Council. I’m a frequent analyst on Newsmax, Fox News Radio, and Boston Media. As a Republican in a blue state, I know a few things about how to disagree agreeably.

Join me for fascinating conversations that engage and clarify every week. For more information and resources, visit Political Contessa.

Women on the right need a safe space to discuss politics, policy, news, and ownership over the fact that it is ok to agree to disagree. It is our First Amendment right to free speech. Before we can even out the number of women in our local, state, &amp; federal governments, we need to empower women to feel comfortable and confident discussing these and other topics.
My name is Jennifer. I’m a single mom of three girls living in Boston. I’m a lawyer with two political science degrees, and I have no problem talking politics with people who disagree with me.
I spent three years as the Chairman of the Massachusetts GOP and ran for the very liberal Boston City Council. I’m a frequent analyst on Newsmax, Fox News Radio, and Boston Media. As a Republican in a blue state, I know a few things about how to disagree agreeably.
Join me for fascinating conversations that engage and clarify every week. For more information and resources, visit <a href="https://www.politicalcontessa.com">Political Contessa.</a>

Women on the right need a safe space to discuss politics, policy, news, and ownership over the fact that it is ok to agree to disagree. It is our First Amendment right to free speech. Before we can even out the number of women in our local, state, & federal governments, we need to empower women to feel comfortable and confident discussing these and other topics.  My name is Jennifer. I’m a single mom of three girls living in Boston. I’m a lawyer with two political science degrees, and I have no problem talking politics with people who disagree with me.  I spent three years as the Chairman of the Massachusetts GOP and ran for the very liberal Boston City Council. I’m a frequent analyst on Newsmax, Fox News Radio, and Boston Media. As a Republican in a blue state, I know a few things about how to disagree agreeably.  Join me for fascinating conversations that engage and clarify every week. For more information and resources, visit Political Contessa.

Political Contessa

Women on the right need a safe space to discuss politics, policy and news, and ownership over the fact that it is ok to agree to disagree. It is our First Amendment right to free speech.

Before we can even out the number of women in our local, state, & federal governments, we need to empower women to feel comfortable and confident discussing these and other topics.

I’m Jennifer. I’m a single mom of 3 girls living in Boston. I’m a lawyer with 2 political science degrees and I have NO problem talking politics with people who disagree with me.

I spent 3 years as the Chairman of the Massachusetts GOP and ran for the very liberal Boston City Council. I’m a frequent analyst on Newsmax, Fox News Radio, and Boston media. And as a Republican in a blue state, I know a few things about how to disagree agreeably.

Join me for fascinating conversations that engage and clarify every week and for more information and resources visit Political Contessa.

Women on the right need a safe space to discuss politics, policy and news, and ownership over the fact that it is ok to agree to disagree. It is our First Amendment right to free speech.
Before we can even out the number of women in our local, state, &amp; federal governments, we need to empower women to feel comfortable and confident discussing these and other topics.
I&rsquo;m Jennifer. I&rsquo;m a single mom of 3 girls living in Boston. I&rsquo;m a lawyer with 2 political science degrees and I have NO problem talking politics with people who disagree with me.
I spent 3 years as the Chairman of the Massachusetts GOP and ran for the very liberal Boston City Council. I&rsquo;m a frequent analyst on Newsmax, Fox News Radio, and Boston media. And as a Republican in a blue state, I know a few things about how to disagree agreeably.
Join me for fascinating conversations that engage and clarify every week and for more information and resources visit <a href="https://www.politicalcontessa.com">Political Contessa.</a>