‘It’s UATL’ podcast: Hunkering down with the Hawks before their season opener
This week, the Atlanta Hawks suit up for the start of the 2025-2026 NBA Season.
As fans prepare to flock toward State Farm Arena, they’re expecting big things from this year’s roster. Before the season tipped off, UATL traveled downtown during one of the team’s open practices.
On the latest episode of the “It’s UATL” podcast, hosts Najja Parker and Brooke Howard teamed up with Atlanta Journal-Constitution Hawks beat reporter Lauren Williams for a live taping in the Player’s Club at State Farm Arena.
The trio interviewed the Hawks chief marketing officer, Melissa Proctor, about her unlikely journey into the sports world.
Proctor dropped plenty of gems, but also gave her thoughts on how the city and its culture fuels sports.
“I think we have an opportunity,” she said. “And a requirement as Atlanta teams to really take the culture and all the amazing things of this city and put it on the map for the rest of the world because it’s what we have.”
Want to share your experiences as a Hawks or Atlanta sports fan?
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About the Author
Natalie Mendenhall is an award-winning producer for the "Politically Georgia" podcast. She also steps in front of the mic, creating compelling segments for the show. Before joining the AJC, the Chicago native worked as a senior producer at Georgia Public Broadcasting.
