All Episodes

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

Host Sky Stickney travels to Portland, Oregon to sit down with Central Catholic High School senior Robbie Long III.Robbie's day-to-day consists of unseen moments where habits are built, trust is formed, and leadership takes shape long before a game ever tips off. Through conversations with mentors, trainers, and those who have watched his development closely, a philosophy begins to take form — one rooted not in highlight plays, but in the details most people overlook.And on a Tuesday night rivalry game that had been circled on the calendar for months, that philosophy is tested in real time.Sometimes the moment that defines a game isn’t the shot everyone remembers.Sometimes it’s the quiet decision made in the margin.

On this episode, Sky Stickney sits down with Oregon girls basketball standout Taylor Donaldson of South Albany high school — a 2,167+ point scorer climbing into the top ranks in state history — to explore what true craftsmanship looks like.Off the court, Taylor is known for cookies and cake pops she makes for others. On the court, she’s built her game the same way she bakes — through repetition, precision, and care.Sky is joined by Karen Bornarth, Executive Director of the Bread Bakers Guild of America to unpack the discipline, vulnerability, and generosity behind mastering something...This isn’t just about the game. It’s about The Craft.

Host Sky Stickney travels to Prineville, Oregon to sit down with 6’10” senior Bryce Lowenbach and Crook County head coach Jason Mumm.After moving up from 4A to 5A, the Cowboys are ranked number one in the state of Oregon — but inside the program, the language is different. Coach Mumm doesn’t talk about “program changers.” He talks about “program continuers.”Bryce, a skilled and analytical big man, brings the ball up the floor and works through his progressions with quiet precision. No wasted movement. No unnecessary words. Just structure.In this episode, Sky explores what it means to build something that lasts — and the responsibility of being part of the framework that holds it all together.

Snow stacked along the sidewalks.Four-degree air.The kind of cold that settles into a city and stays there.In this special bonus episode, Sky travels to Syracuse, New York to sit down with two of the top high school basketball players in the state — Eli Prince of Westhill and Jahzar Greene of Bishop Ludden-Grimes.Same city. Same winter. Different rhythms.Eli moves with steadiness — shaped by structure, patience, and a long view of the game.Jahzar plays with urgency — forged through setbacks, ownership, and work.Through two individual conversations — no coaches, no panels — this episode explores how environment shapes athletes differently, how honesty reveals depth, and how two players can share a map without sharing the same road.Winter doesn’t form everyone the same way.

What does it look like to love the game without hesitation?In this episode, Sky sits down with Kaylor Buse of West Linn High School — a player whose joy is as undeniable as her talent.From the playground to packed gyms, her game carries something deeper than skill.Along the way, Coach Brooke Cates and legendary Oregon coach Eric Viuhkola weigh in on what makes her rare — and what it takes to protect joy in an environment that often asks athletes to shrink.This isn’t just a conversation about basketball.It’s about playing — and living — in the full measure.

Sky Stickney returns to Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon — a place defined by continuity, expectation, and people who never leave.Lucas LaBounty is the returning Midwestern League Player of the Year, but this episode isn’t about accolades. It’s about what it means to grow up inside a program where the standard is already set, where work is assumed, and where responsibility gets passed down long before it’s spoken out loud.Through conversations with Lucas and the coaches who shaped him, this episode explores how habits become culture, how loyalty is learned, and how players eventually realize they’re not just part of a program — they’re caretakers of it.

Host Sky Stickney travels to Canby, Oregon to sit down with reigning Northwest Oregon Conference Co-Player of the Year, senior Jaxon Lawson.What begins as a straightforward interview inside Canby High School quickly becomes something more. In the quiet moments, a pattern starts to emerge — a calm confidence, an observant way of moving through pressure, and a competitive edge that doesn’t announce itself.Through conversation and observation, Sky explores where that soft-spoken confidence comes from, and how the quiet edge shows up in performance, preparation, and presence. Once you learn to recognize it, you’ll start hearing it everywhere.