High-flying alley-oops, last-minute game-winning goals, walk-off home runs, and everything in between can be found in Division III athletics. However, while packing the same excitement you can find in Division I sports, Division III athletes don’t get the love and attention they deserve. In fact, despite making up 39 percent of the NCAA’s total membership as of 2025, Division III athletes get a lot less social media attention.
Sophomore sports communication major Damyon Traylor is hoping to fill that gap for Piedmont athletes as host of his weekly podcast “The Live Tap.”
“My main goal with ‘The Live Tap’ was to not only give our athletes a platform where they can be themselves but also let them show who they are not just as an athlete but as a person,” Traylor said. “While some teams get some recognition, many athletes here at Piedmont will not get the attention or recognition they deserve.”
Lions all around Piedmont grew excited with an opportunity to finally have a platform where they can be themselves and make a name for themselves and their team. Many athletes have even gone to YikYak and have asked to appear on the podcast. Traylor, who also helps announce Piedmont sports for athletic communications, said it was his friendships with several athletes that spurred the creation of the show.
“My idea for the podcast came from talking to a lot of my friends who are athletes and hearing their stories about what they go through, both mentally and physically.”
With more than 30 episodes of “The Live Tap” now published, the show has garnered a positive reputation amongst the athletes themselves with its 5-star rating on Spotify
Even among Piedmont athletes, Traylor notices a difference in recognition and support between more popular and less popular sports, and he wants help bridge that gap. Of published episodes of “The Live Tap,” more than two-thirds of the episodes are dedicated to less popular sports, like women’s golf, swimming, and track and field.
“Here at Piedmont certain sports get more support and recognition than others; for example, track and field doesn’t even have their own locker room, and they have to make a drive to get to a track because we don’t have one at the school,” he said. “That is compared to other sports who have all new locker rooms and get new equipment yearly.”
Traylor says he wishes to uplift and give a platform to Piedmont athletes and even athletes from other schools, something he is considering for episodes over the summer. “I have athletes and even coaches from other schools lined up that want to come on.”
Even by expanding the reach of the show, Traylor said his main goal will continue to be uplifting Piedmont athletes and giving them the recognition they deserve.
“Just being around these athletes and talking to them — I see what they go through physically and mentally — and they need to have a platform to share their stories and be able to get some of the recognition they deserve”.
“The Live Tap” can be followed on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
