Stolen seasons

Summary

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Podcast Summary: "Stolen Seasons"

Podcast: The World and Everything in It
Date: January 24, 2026
Host: Mary Reichard, WORLD Radio
Guest: Peyton McNabb (Independent Women’s Ambassador, North Carolina)

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Episode Overview

In this special episode titled "Stolen seasons," host Mary Reichard interviews Peyton McNabb, a young woman from North Carolina who became nationally recognized after suffering serious injuries during a high school girls' volleyball game in 2022 involving a transgender athlete. Peyton discusses the physical and psychological impact of her experience, her advocacy for fair women's sports, criticism of policy-makers, and her hope for the future. The episode centers on the broader debate over the participation of transgender women (biological males) in female athletics, the impact on affected athletes, and the responsibilities of educational institutions and policy-makers.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Peyton’s Background and Injury (00:04–01:12)

• Incident Recap: Peyton recounts being knocked unconscious and seriously injured when a volleyball was powerfully spiked by a "male playing on the opposition's girls team." Her injuries included partial paralysis and a brain bleed.
• Impact on Future: Peyton explains that this injury derailed her dreams of playing collegiate softball and participation in all her sports.
  • “I wasn't going to be like a college volleyball player... Played college softball. But of course, that got taken away... I couldn't perform to my highest ability anymore because of the volleyball season, which was two seasons before the softball.” (02:18)

The Emotional and Psychological Effects (00:59–01:57)

• Fear and Responsibility: Peyton describes the fear of playing against biological males and her feeling of needing to protect younger or less experienced teammates.
  • "I was terrified... we need to just finish the game... I was scared because I didn't want to get hurt... I feel like it was better that it happened to me rather than a little freshman girl..." (01:11)
• Disillusionment with Adults: She voices disappointment in adults and elected officials who she feels failed to protect her and other girls.
  • “I never thought that the adults would allow that to happen… the people that have been elected to protect me are simply looking away because they don't want to get an uncomfortable conversation and they're putting me at risk...” (01:51)

Societal and Policy Critiques (02:33–04:26)

• Call to Action for Adults: Peyton urges adults and leaders to "stand up for these girls," highlighting that many use the risk of losing jobs or friends as an excuse to avoid action.
  • “It's way past time to be able to say what you truly believe and stand up for these girls… The excuse that you're afraid to speak up… that's been overly used. It doesn't really work for me anymore.” (03:00)
• Frustration at Policy-makers: She expresses frustration at having to explain “basic biology” to adults and being put in a position to testify at congressional hearings.
  • “I don't understand why me, at 20 years old, I have to sit in front of congressional hearings and explain that there's a biological difference between a man and a woman.” (03:57)

Public Opinion and Legal Developments (04:26–06:24)

• Growing Resistance: Peyton observes that while those in favor of transgender participation are "the loudest," public opinion is shifting as more people speak out.
  • "Majority of America agrees that a man is different than a woman, and they're just completely tired of seeing all this... our side has grown so much and it's gotten so big..." (04:43)
• On the Supreme Court: She expresses hope that the Supreme Court will recognize the biological differences between men and women.
  • “You're supposed to be the court that always chooses facts over feelings. And so I guess we'll see if that's still the case.” (06:21)

Message to Justice Gorsuch and Policymakers (06:24–07:27)

• Direct Message: Peyton addresses Justice Gorsuch directly, critiquing prior legal decisions regarding gender identity.
  • "Be a real man and, like, understand that that's not true. Delusion is not over facts. If you have to hurt someone's feelings to tell them the truth, that's just the way it is. It isn't loving to lie, and that's exactly what you're doing, and you know it." (06:59)

Advocacy and Legislative Action (07:27–08:54)

• Testifying and Legislative Success: Peyton describes advocating for and helping to pass North Carolina’s “Fairness, Women and Girls Sports Act” despite political resistance.
• Legislative Skepticism: She recalls the other side dismissing her case as a rare incident.
  • "They're saying, this just happened to that one girl in western North Carolina—like, way out there. This isn't going to happen again..." (08:07)
• Call for Proactivity: Peyton argues that lawmakers should not wait for harm to occur before acting to protect athletes.

Personal Cost and Resolve (09:02–10:26)

• Personal Sacrifice: She describes losing normal college experiences due to threats and national attention, but ultimately views her advocacy as a mission with meaning.
  • "I can't go to college normally and be with my friends because it got so bad. I had to move home because people were trying to find me at school... But it's okay, because I just try to see the good in it always." (09:19)

Vision for Safe and Fair Sports (10:31–11:30)

• Definition of Fairness: Peyton says true fairness means returning to a time when no adult would allow a biological male in girls' sports—so her younger sister and other girls feel safe again.
  • "Having that feeling that there's no way anyone would allow that—once we're back there, then they'll know that we won." (11:27)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I never thought that the adults would allow that to happen... they're putting me at risk because they don't want to hurt this guy's feelings."
  — Peyton McNabb (01:51)
• "It's way past time. These girls deserve better. And for all the women before us who have fought for us to even get here, and now we're simply regressing back because people can't understand... it's basic biology, it's basic knowledge, because it really is."
  — Peyton McNabb (03:33)
• "I have to sit in front of congressional hearings and explain that there's a biological difference between a man and a woman."
  — Peyton McNabb (03:57)
• “You're supposed to be the court that always chooses facts over feelings. And so I guess we'll see if that's still the case.”
  — Peyton McNabb (06:21)
• "Be a real man and... understand that that's not true. Delusion is not over facts... It isn't loving to lie, and that's exactly what you're doing, and you know it."
  — Peyton McNabb (06:59)
• "Why do you have to wait for something for my life to completely change and flip upside down? You shouldn't wait for someone to get personally affected. Like, you should just try to protect them because that's what you were elected to do. So do your job."
  — Peyton McNabb (08:31)
• "Having that feeling that there's no way anyone would allow that—once we're back there, then they'll know that we won."
  — Peyton McNabb (11:27)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:04 — Introduction and Peyton’s story
• 01:11 — Emotional and mental effects of encountering male players
• 02:18 — How her injuries ended her sports future
• 03:00 — Call for adult responsibility and action
• 03:57 — Critique of policy-makers and need for basic biological understanding
• 04:43 — Changing legal landscape and public opinion
• 06:59 — Message to Justice Gorsuch and policymakers
• 07:51 — Testimony in North Carolina and passing women’s sports legislation
• 09:02 — Personal cost of advocacy
• 10:31 — Vision for safe and fair women’s sports

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Tone and Closing Remarks

The conversation is earnest, urgent, and impassioned, blending personal narrative with public policy critique. Peyton’s candor, sense of mission, and faith-driven perspective define the tone, blending vulnerability (“I was terrified,” “public speaking was the only class I had ever failed”) with assertive calls for leadership (“It’s way past time. These girls deserve better,” “Do your job”).

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Summary Prepared for Listeners Who Missed the Episode
This episode features an unfiltered account from Peyton McNabb, whose firsthand experience with the dangers and policy implications of transgender participation in female sports has propelled her into national advocacy. The conversation covers her personal trauma, systemic failings, shifting public opinion, legislative struggles, and steadfast vision: restoring and safeguarding fair, biologically-based women’s sports for generations to come.

Transcript

[Mary Reichard]

Hello and thank you for joining us for a special edition of the World and everything in it. I'm Mary Reichard. I'm joined Today by Peyton McNabb. She's a young woman from North Carolina who's become a national figure since 2022. That's when she was hit by a volleyball spiked by a male playing on the opposition's girls team. She was knocked unconscious and suffered multiple injuries, including, including partial paralysis and a brain bleed. She's now an ambassador for Independent Women, an organization focused on public policy for women. Peyton joins us now to talk about her story and why she wants to make sure other girls and women don't endure the same indignity.

[Announcer]

Additional support comes from World Watch, a 10 minute video news broadcast that the whole family can agree on. A free month trial is available at Worldwatch News.

[Interviewer]

Well, Peyton, you went through the horrors of the physical dangers of men in women's sports, but there is a mental side to it as well. Describe for us the mental effects of knowing you're going up against a male.

[Peyton McNabb]

I was terrified.

I tried to play it cool because I, you know, I have younger girls looking up to me and we need to just finish the game. Like, I don't even care about the score. We just have to, like, get it over with. And I was scared because I didn't want to get hurt and I didn't want them to hit me or whatever. And in the end, I feel like it was better that it happened to me rather than like a little freshman girl or my cousins on the team. Like, if it would have happened to them, I don't know what I would have done. Like, I would have been so much more mad. And I felt like, this is not real. How is this happening to me? How is this allowed? There was a point in my life where I didn't think this would ever be allowed, that a guy could be on the other side of the court.

[Mary Reichard]

And.

[Peyton McNabb]

And I never thought that the adults would allow that to happen. Like, the people that have been elected to protect me are simply looking away because they don't want to get an uncomfortable conversation and they're putting me at risk because they don't want to hurt this guy's feelings.

[Interviewer]

Like, how is that real exactly? Now, you were in three different sports in high school, right? Volleyball, softball and basketball. Basketball. I assume your dreams of playing any of those sports in college were ended with the injuries you received.

[Peyton McNabb]

It was, yeah, I wasn't going to be like a college volleyball player whatsoever. Played college softball. But of course, that Got taken away because I couldn't perform to my highest ability anymore because of the volleyball season, which was two seasons before the softball.

[Interviewer]

You've called the adults around this whole issue enablers. People who let girls get hurt get their trophies and their accolades stolen from them. And I'm so sorry that girls have been put in the position of defending themselves from this newly asserted. You know. Right. That nobody ever heard of before. So what does Peyton McNabb say that schools and athletic associations and such need to do differently now?

[Peyton McNabb]

I think it's way past time to be able to say what you truly believe and be able to stand up for these girls who, you know, they're very vulnerable, they're young kids, and they're being put in these insane positions that most adults haven't even been put in. So I think it's far past time. You know, the excuse that you're afraid to speak up because you could lose your job or you could lose friends, that's been overly used. It doesn't really work for me anymore. I used to have a little bit of sympathy towards that, but it's like.

The amount of people that have spoken.

Up and lost way greater things, and they still were willing to say what was right. It's way past time. These girls deserve better. And for all the women before us who have fought for us to even get here, and now we're simply regressing back because people can't understand. Like, I know I say it so much. Like I'm always saying, it's basic biology, it's basic knowledge, because it really is.

And there's really no other way to put it.

And I don't understand why me? I'm 20 years old. I have to sit in front of congressional hearings and explain that there's a.

Biological difference between a man and a woman.

Like, why am I having to do that? You were grown and you were a policymaker, and you're in this position that you were elected to be in to protect me, and you're not doing it. So I shouldn't even be put in this position, but I shouldn't have to be explaining that a man is stronger than a woman.

[Interviewer]

Even if the Supreme Court rules that states can protect women's sports, it doesn't mean that they will. Why do you think this is so pervasive and something so many people are doubling down on, even though we know the majority of Americans are opposed to men in women's sports?

[Peyton McNabb]

I think that's very, very good point that you just made, especially that this is just if they can, this isn't even if they have to, which is really the important part here. There's been 27 states that have chose to protect their girls and their sports. And now this is ultimately gonna decide on if they can even do that. There are so many people opposing this. Obviously, majority of America agrees that a man is different than a woman, and they're just completely tired of seeing all this. And at first it seemed like so overwhelmingly on the other side just cause they're the loudest. But now our side has grown so much and it's gotten so big because people are just like, how is this still going on? If you would have said that this is where we would be 10 years ago, everyone would have laughed in your face. Like, why would the Supreme Court have to rule out if biological sex is real? You know what I mean? But that's where we're at. And it's really completely frustrating that we're even having to get to this point. But you also just have to be thankful that you are at this point and you are at the highest court in the land and who is taking on your issue. And that just shows how important it really is or they wouldn't have taken it on. So I think we've made enough noise that they're finally gonna talk about it and listen to us and hear us out. And I'm hoping that we have a Supreme Court that understands that there's a biological difference between a man and a woman. I mean, if you don't like, to me, that makes the Supreme Court lose all of its credibility. Because if you can't answer a basic fact, like a basic biological fact that has been a fact since the beginning of time, since Adam and Eve, then how are you going to make any more decisions for us? Like, you're supposed to be the court that always chooses facts over feelings. And so I guess we'll see if that's still the case.

[Interviewer]

I mean, Peyton, you were a kid when this opinion came out, but pretend that you're talking to Justice Neil Gorsuch. He's the one that wrote the majority opinion equating gender identity with race and that elevated it to a protected class under the law. And he had a line in that opinion that said, now this does not apply to women's sports. But then he went ahead and made gender identity a protected class. So this is getting into the legalities and things like that. If you were to talk to Justice Gorsuch today, what would you say?

[Peyton McNabb]

Be a real man and, like, understand that that's not true. Like, that is not true. Delusion is not over facts. If you have to hurt someone's feelings to tell them the truth, that's just.

The way it is.

It isn't loving to lie, and that's.

Exactly what you're doing, and you know it. It shouldn't hurt your image to say what's biologically true.

What's just a common fact that we all know. I really don't believe anyone that argues with us, because there's no way that you actually believe that.

[Interviewer]

You're put here for a reason is all I can say. Well, it was actually your testimony that helped pass North Carolina's Prot. For women. What was it called? Women's Sports Act.

[Peyton McNabb]

Yeah. Fairness, women and girls sports.

[Mary Reichard]

Okay.

[Interviewer]

And the governor vetoed it, but the General assembly overrode the veto, if I remember right.

[Peyton McNabb]

Yeah.

Correct.

[Interviewer]

Okay. So what surprised you most, speaking before your state's general Assembly?

[Peyton McNabb]

They're all saying, you know, this is making a problem out of nothing. I was there, had never spoken out before, and this issue got brought up, and I got to hear the other side's arguments before they even knew I was in there. And they're saying, this just happened to.

That one girl in western North Carolina, like, way out there. This isn't going to happen again. Like, that was just one girl. Like, it doesn't matter. Completely downplaying everything that I was going.

Through at the time. And then I got up there and spoke out, and it was just like.

They could not believe that I was.

There because I had never said anything before. But to me, I'm like, why not be proactive? Why do you have to wait for something for my life to completely change.

And flip upside down?

You shouldn't wait for someone to get personally affected. Like, you should just try to protect them because that's what you were elected to do. So do your job. And we shouldn't have to fight so hard to override vetoes from our governors because this is what was promised, that women deserve these equal, basic human rights. And if our governors can't see that, like, how are you the governor?

How are you the governor of North.

Carolina if you don't know what a woman is?

[Interviewer]

What's been the hardest part of speaking out on behalf of girls in women's sports for you?

[Peyton McNabb]

Well, at first, it was the public speaking in general. I was never a public speaker.

I was really, really shy.

Like, public speaking was the only class that I had ever failed. It was not my thing at all. So that was really scary for me. I did not want to sound like a victim or like I was complaining because I was never like that either. Like, I wasn't raised that way to feel sorry for myself whatsoever. I've discovered this confidence about myself, and I know that what I'm standing up for is. And I'm on the right side of it. And this is so much bigger than me. This is for my little sister. And if I get blessed enough to have daughters, like, I don't want them to ever think that a dude could be on the other side of the net. It's definitely been crazy. Like, you have the threats. You have all this other stuff. Like, I can't go to college normally and be with my friends because it got so bad. I had to move home because people were trying to find me at school. I would love to have a normal experience for once, but it's okay, because I just try to see, like, the good in it always. I'm getting to travel the country and speak out for these girls and do so many incredible things. So, of course there's so much good in it, too. But it was really hard for me to accept that at first. I was like, lord, could this not have happened to anyone else? But then I'm kind of glad it didn't, because I wouldn't want this to happen to anyone else. So it's just kind of, like, a hard thing to accept. But I think I've finally gotten to the place where I'm confident and have accepted that this is my mission now, and I'm gonna do it the best I can.

[Interviewer]

What does safe and fair look like for women's sports?

[Peyton McNabb]

So there was once a time in my life where I would have never, ever thought that the administration, the parents.

The coaches, the high school athletic association.

That they would have let this happen.

Like, I would have never thought they would allow this to happen.

I didn't think that the adults would let me go out there and there would even be the possibility of a.

Man being on the other side of the net.

So that's what it means to me. It means for my sister to have that feeling again, because now she doesn't. She thinks, like, you know, there could possibly be a man in a disguise, which is what it is on the other side of the net that would be allowed. I would be told that I just.

Have to shut up and accept it.

And be inclusive about it, be nice. Like, I'm tired of all that. That's not the case anymore. I think a majority of America is sick of it. They've been told how to act towards this for years now, and it's just gone to the point where that doesn't work anymore. So having that feeling that there's no way anyone would allow that once we're.

Back there, then they'll know that we won.

[Interviewer]

Peyton McNabb is an independent women's sports ambassador from North Carolina. Peyton, thanks so much.

[Peyton McNabb]

Thank you.

[Interviewer]

You've been listening to an extended interview.

[Mary Reichard]

With women's sports advocate Peyton McNabb. I'm Mary Reichert. Please let us know you're listening. You can email [e-mail] that's editorng.org you can also subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to this podcast. We'll talk to you Monday. Have a great weekend.