Coach Jackie J built a women's sports community. Now she's launching a podcast.

If you follow women’s sports on social media, chances are you’ve seen Jackie Johnston. Now, fans will be able to hear more of her takes in longform.

Better known as “Coach Jackie J,” Johnston has amassed a dedicated following of over 1.45 million across Instagram and TikTok. She’s nicknamed “The People’s Coach” by all types of fans who engage with her content, which includes breakdowns of major headlines, overlooked stories and loud appreciation women athletes from across the globe. 

Recently named to the 2026 TIME100 Creators List, Johnston is adding another title: podcaster. 

Her new show, titled “Is She Game?” is set to launch Oct. 9. It’s advertised as a blend of sports, entertainment and pop culture, that will bring fans “inside the stories and personalities defining women’s sports.”  

In an interview on the USA TODAY Sports Seriously Studio IX vodcast, Johnston described the podcast as a series of segments that will be similar to what fans see on her social media channels. 

“The women’s sports podcast space is, I think from the outside, not a super big thing. There’s not as many as there could be with the amount of people who care about this,” Johnston told USA TODAY. “So I think there’s room for a bunch of opinions, and many, many more people to have all the shows.” 

“Is She Game” will be released every Friday on every podcast platform, presented by Higher Ground, the media company founded by former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, along with REIGN, which is Run-A-Muck’s women’s sports vertical. 

“I’ve met them both now, and they’re so wonderful and nice. It’s a pinch me moment. Mrs. Obama, she knows her stuff when it comes to women’s sports and is, like, fun to talk ball with, as is the former president,” Johnston said. 

Many of the guests on Johnston’s show will be part of the LGBTQ+ community, like the host herself, who has made a point to advocate for transgender athletes. 

USA TODAY obtained a clip from the premiere episode, which will feature tennis legend and women’s sports icon Billie Jean King.

“It just felt right to start with Billie Jean King, and to be able to tell her that I wouldn’t have a job talking about women’s sports if she didn’t stand up for what she did years ago,” Johnson told USA TODAY. “I’m indebted to her, and to so many incredible legends in women’s sports that I hope I get to talk to on the show.” 

Johnston is careful to distinguish her role from that of a traditional journalist. Instead, she describes herself as a fan and creator with a goal to help people engage more deeply with women’s sports

The difference between content creators, journalists and influencers was pushed to the forefront of social discussion during the U.S. Open this year.

“I started making content because I was a fan and I wanted to talk about what I loved, and I try to just stay in that lane. I think that sometimes that means I’m explaining things. Sometimes that means I’m giving my opinion on things, but I never think I’m giving it in an authoritative way,” Johnston said.

“I have a platform because I’m authentically sharing what I enjoy, and I never want to stop doing that. And if I start to try and present things as if I’m a journalist, then I would lose that piece of myself in it, and not to say that journalists can’t have that piece, but you have to navigate things. I couldn’t do a brand deal and be a journalist.”

As women’s sports continue to grow, Johnston sees her podcast as another way to bring fans deeper into the conversation. And if her social media success is any indication, plenty of listeners will follow along.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coach Jackie J built a women’s sports community. Now she’s launching a podcast.