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The Excerpt: USA TODAY’s Women of the Year (Bonus Episode)

Introduction by Zulekha Nathoo

Hello, and welcome to The Excerpt. I’m Zulekha Nathoo, and you’re joining us for a special bonus episode. Today, we’re highlighting USA TODAY‘s Women of the Year, an initiative that celebrates women who are making truly significant contributions to their communities and across the nation. We’re incredibly excited to bring you excerpts from the stories of some of the 2025 honorees. We genuinely hope you find their journeys as inspiring as we do.

Hoda Kotb: A New Chapter

Our first honoree is someone many of you will recognize: Hoda Kotb, formerly a beloved host of the Today Show. Hoda talks about her recent decision to make a significant change, a move away from the anchor desk after an impressive career.

"Because I turned 60, I was like, ‘Well, what’s that decade going to be about?’ And I thought to myself, ‘Let’s make it something different.’"

With that sentiment, Hoda announced her departure from the Today Show after dedicating more than 25 years to NBC. It was a decision driven by a desire for a different focus and a recalibration of her priorities.

Hoda has always been refreshingly open about both the joys and the challenges life throws her way. She’s shared her struggles with fertility after battling cancer and has inspired countless women with her honesty and vulnerability.

"The idea of having kids came back a million times in my brain before things finally changed."

That pivotal change occurred more than a decade later when, in her 50s, Hoda adopted two beautiful daughters, Haley and Hope. Her experience challenges societal norms and celebrates the power of love and family.

"We come with knowledge and emotions and maturity that no 23-year-old has. I lost my dad when my dad was 53. Tomorrow’s not guaranteed. If you’re saying I’m not going to do it because maybe down the road I’ll be an older parent. So what. So what, you’re an older parent. Your heart’s ability to expand is beyond measure."

Now, with her mornings free to enjoy breakfast with her family and walk her daughters to school, Hoda is embracing this new chapter with open arms.

"I love you. We all have a time pie and you slice it up, and I decided that my kids needed more of my time pie. I imagined cuddling up at the end of the day and watching my kids dance around. I just imagine like a regular old Wednesday, just like that. I didn’t win the lottery that day. I didn’t get an award. I didn’t get honored. Nothing great, but it’s just like the perfect day."

Hoda’s story is a testament to the power of reinvention and the enduring importance of family.

Scout Bassett: Breaking Barriers on and off the Track

Our next honoree is US Paralympic track and field athlete, Scout Bassett. Scout’s journey to the international stage was a remarkable feat of perseverance. She recounts the significant risk she took, living out of her car and relying on the generosity of friends while diligently training to achieve her dreams.

"In that moment, it wasn’t tears of sadness, but of just incredible gratitude of like, ‘Oh my gosh, we’ve done it. We’ve made it, and how unlikely this story has been.’"

That moment of triumph came in 2016 when she competed in the Paralympics in Rio, a culmination of years of dedication and sacrifice.

Today, Scout holds the world record in the Women’s 400 meter T42 and the American record in the Women’s 200 meter T42. Her accomplishments speak volumes about her talent and unwavering commitment to excellence. Beyond the medals and records, Scout is passionate about challenging perceptions and advocating for inclusivity.

"One of the interesting things about disability and the narrative that has been told, in particular about women with disabilities, is that women with disabilities are perhaps less attractive or less desirable or not as beautiful because there is a very visible imperfection or a flawed deficiency. And for me, that’s something that I’m hoping to continue to change those perceptions and the stories that are told."

Outside of her athletic pursuits, Scout is dedicated to breaking down the barriers that prevent athletes with disabilities from reaching their full potential. She understands the power of representation and the importance of visibility.

"I know that just existing, just by being recognized in this way, that somebody else is going to see it and get a glimmer of hope, or some young girl is going to read it or see these photos and think, ‘Okay, I have a future. I’m going to be okay.’"

Scout’s unwavering determination and commitment to empowering others make her a true inspiration.

Kellie Gerardi: Reaching for the Stars, Inspiring the Next Generation

Our next honoree shares a similar motivation to Scout – the desire to inspire young people to pursue their dreams. Commercial astronaut, Kellie Gerardi, wants to demonstrate, especially to young girls, that they absolutely belong in STEM fields, including the exhilarating realm of space exploration.

"My entire career has been underpinned by this mission of wanting to open up access to space for the next generation, and especially for researchers to be able to use space as a laboratory to benefit humanity. I am someone who really personally believes that space is our shared past and our shared future as a species."

Kellie’s passion for space was ignited early on. Growing up in Jupiter, Florida, she watched launches from nearby Cape Canaveral, essentially from her own backyard.

"I felt like I had front row seats to the final frontier growing up, and it felt kind of inevitable that humanity would be moving in that direction. And I remember just wanting to be a part of that in any way."

Kellie is also an accomplished author, a fashion innovator, and a devoted mother. She openly documents her successes and challenges online, including her ongoing IVF journey.

"I’ve struggled with secondary infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss for the last seven years since I’ve had my daughter. And having my daughter was also a struggle seven years ago. I wanted to just share a little transparency around what that actually looks like for so many women, and hopefully bring a little less stigma and a little less isolation to an experience like that."

Her willingness to share such personal experiences is a testament to her commitment to authenticity and connection.

"I have an update. So I got the results today. Only one is genetically normal and compatible with life."

Despite the challenges, Kellie remains optimistic and resilient.

"I have a superpower to be willing to fail publicly, over and over and over, because I’m going to keep putting my dreams out there. I’m going to keep reaching for them. I might not get all of them, and I might fail along the way, multiple times, but that’s not going to stop me. And I think that is an underappreciated form of resilience for people who have big dreams."

Kellie’s message is clear: Embrace failure, persevere, and never stop reaching for your goals.

Ilona Maher: Strength, Authenticity, and Social Media

Two-time rugby Olympian, Ilona Maher, is another 2025 honoree who skillfully uses social media to share her authentic story, capturing both her victories and her struggles.

"I think a lot of times athletes, especially female athletes, are put in a box. I just think that’s wrong. I think women are so much more than the stereotype of the sports we play. What’s so special about rugby is that it is a sport that doesn’t want you to, in any way, tone down your strength, your speed, your skill. It wants you to be as powerful, as fast, as you can."

Ilona played various sports throughout her life, but rugby resonated with her in a unique and powerful way.

"I decided to try it out my senior year of high school, and I remember how I just understood it from the moment I got on the field. I kind of figured out and knew the spacing. I understood how to tackle, when to do what, and it just kind of fit my body like a glove. And I think I wanted to keep going with it because it felt so right."

Driven by her passion, Ilona relentlessly pursued her rugby career. She made it to her first Olympics in Tokyo, finishing 6th. A severe injury in 2023 could have sidelined her for the entire season, but she courageously fought her way back to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, earning a bronze medal for Team USA. Her athletic achievements are remarkable, but it’s her candid social media videos that have truly captured the world’s attention.

"I think it’s just so impactful that these girls see me in that way, that they also see that I struggled as well, and they understand that I was also somebody who didn’t always just love my body, but I’ve grown to love my body. And I think, hopefully this gives them the right or maybe the idea that they also can grow into that as well."

Ilona’s message of self-acceptance and empowerment resonates deeply with her followers.

Angela Williams: Mobilizing Communities for the Greater Good

Our final honoree in today’s bonus episode is United Way CEO, Angela Williams. She believes that knowing how to effectively mobilize communities for the greater good is deeply ingrained in her DNA.

"My parents worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. My dad was the head of the NAACP for the state of South Carolina, and he was pastor of a Baptist church. He wrote a letter to all of the clergy in Anderson, South Carolina in 1961, where he said, ‘Now is the time to be brave and to stand up for your neighbors.’ That lesson from 1961 stands true today."

Angela’s upbringing instilled in her a profound sense of justice and a commitment to serving others. She says her unwavering faith in justice and in the power of collective action is what sustains her when challenges arise.

"I don’t care how bad it gets, I always just have this smile on my face, and I’m hopeful. And the way I regenerate is through the quiet times, through my spirituality, by knowing that if we just all hang in there, we’re going to be okay. And if you just smile at somebody, they can’t help but smile back at you, and then that sparks that connectivity and building a relationship. And hopefully, as I smile and pass on joy, others will feel it and they’ll pass it along."

Angela’s leadership at United Way exemplifies her dedication to creating positive change on a large scale.

Conclusion by Zulekha Nathoo

Thank you for listening to this bonus episode featuring just a glimpse of USA TODAY‘s remarkable Women of the Year. To discover more about all of the inspiring honorees, please visit womenoftheyear.usatoday.com. I’m Zulekha Nathoo. Join us again tomorrow morning when Taylor Wilson will be back with another episode of The Excerpt.