In an era defined by movement — by the next opportunity, the better offer, the open portal — Keira Hanson did something quietly radical.She stayed.A four-year standout at the University of Vermont, Keira leaves Burlington as one of the most decorated players in program history — a thousand point scorer, a three-time conference champion, an American East All-Conference First Team selection, and a multiple-time NCAA Tournament participant. She arrived from Issaquah High School, where she remains the all-time leading assist leader. And if you know what to look for, that detail tells you everything.This episode is a conversation about what it means to choose a place. To build something slowly. To measure a career not just in points, but in people — in the teammates you elevated, the program you helped shape, the little sister who followed you across the country and now carries what you built.Joining the conversation is Ben Aguilar, Director of Operations at the Berry Center in Newcastle, Kentucky — the organization dedicated to putting the writings of farmer, poet, and essayist Wendell Berry to work in the world. Ben brings Berry's language of place, loyalty, and belonging into unexpected conversation with the modern landscape of college athletics.Together, they help us understand what's quietly being lost every time someone leaves — and what becomes possible for the ones who stay long enough to find out.The third episode of the collegiate mini series. 

Before the next episode drops — a pause. The transfer portal has thrown this mini-series for a loop, and rather than just explain the delay, this felt like the right moment to say something about it. The transfer portal has changed basketball. But this episode isn't really about basketball. It's about what gets lost when the exit is always available — and what gets found when you choose to stay. A personal reflection on identity, heartbreak, and the kind of development that only happens when you remain loyal to the soil.

EPISODE TWO OF THE COLLEGE MARCH MINI SERIES In this episode of The Bucket Podcast, Sky sits down with Fairfield University standout Kaety L’Amoreaux, 2026 MAAC Player of the Year, to explore the moments that shape a player beyond the stat line.From a small-town upbringing in upstate New York to becoming one of the top players in the country, Kaety reflects on the path that led her to the Division I level—navigating recruiting, adversity, and the transition into a leadership role on a team with championship expectations.The conversation moves through the realities of growth: learning how to respond to failure, finding confidence under pressure, and understanding what it takes to compete at the highest level while staying grounded in who you are off the court.At its core, this episode is about something harder to define—the space where preparation meets instinct… where the game slows down… and everything starts to connect.A conversation on flow, identity, and learning how to trust what you’ve built—when it matters most.

EPISODE ONE OF THE COLLEGE MARCH MINI SERIES Host Sky Stickney sits down with former Washington 4A Player of the Year Jo Lee from Glacier Peak High School, now a freshman at Le Moyne College.After a high school career defined by production, recognition, and deep postseason runs, Jo has arrived at the level so many chase — only to find himself in a new role.What follows isn’t frustration... In a season of waiting, Jo reflects on identity, faith, and what it means to stay grounded when the game stops giving back. As the conversation unfolds, a different kind of strength begins to take shape — one not tied to minutes, points, or recognition.This episode explores the space between who you were and who you’re becoming… and what holds you steady in between.

After the last two episodes reached more listeners than could have been anticipated, host Sky Stickney takes a moment to say THANK YOU, reflect on the growth, the messages arriving from around the country, and what it means to build something that resonates.This week creates space to revisit recent conversations while also looking ahead. With many previously featured athletes still competing deep into their postseason runs — and an announcement of new special mini-series focused on high-level collegiate transitions on the horizon — the story continues to unfold in real time.New episodes return next week.For inquiries and direct communication: hello@bucketpodcast.com