Conversations with Jessica Pace

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Pace

Hi Jessica, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As far as basketball goes, when my playing career wrapped up in college, I started coaching. I coached on the collegiate level for 4 years and then realized that it wasn’t truly what I was passionate about but I still wanted to be involved in the sport. I saw the need for a youth basketball league and decided to start it in order to be able to really grow the game! My vision for providing that space only expanded from there. For social media, my wife and I started sharing our story on Youtube in 2016, after we got married. We aimed to show the normalcy of a lesbian relationship and just be that representation that we felt we always needed growing up. Our first video which just so happened to be our wedding video went viral, and we received so much love. In between that love though was also a good deal of hate. That only fueled our why behind sharing even more. No we have a community of followers on Instagram and TikTok that we are able to share the ins and outs of lesbian life, motherhood, and marriage with on a daily basis.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has definitely been far from smooth. When we first started creating and running the basketball leagues, there were countless hurdles to overcome. Securing gym space, finding sponsors to help us grow our mission, and simply getting people to take notice and buy in—those were just a few of the obstacles. Nashville is a bustling city with so much happening, so standing out and building a loyal following felt like an uphill climb at times. But what truly set us apart was the heart behind what we do—the vibes, the culture, the sense of family we create for everyone who joins us. That’s been the key to making an impact.

On a more personal note, my wife and I faced a long, challenging journey to conceive our first child. After 10 unsuccessful rounds of IUI, we finally had a successful IVF transfer, but it was emotionally and mentally draining. Through all of that, the desire to start our family and create something bigger than ourselves kept us going. Now, we’re building the family we’ve always dreamed of, and that’s a beautiful thing.

Social media became an important tool for us to share our journey. We realized so many people go through similar struggles but often do so in silence, and we wanted to be a voice for that. Building the communities on each platform has taken time, but it’s the intentionality behind every post and the meaningful conversations we have in our DMs that have kept us motivated to keep sharing our story and connecting with others. The support we’ve received has been incredible and continues to fuel our drive.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
In Nashville, I’m pretty well known for my involvement in basketball, particularly in women’s basketball. There’s not much going on in the city in that space that I’m not aware of or don’t know who is involved with it. I ran a high school girls’ basketball league for three years and a women’s basketball league for five seasons before stepping aside to focus on the pregnancy and birth of my son. Currently, I’m working with AU Pro Basketball, a professional women’s league, as a consultant and Assistant Director of Sport for its inaugural season here in Nashville. My expertise is in basketball operations, and I love working behind the scenes to ensure everything runs smoothly. Looking back, I’m really proud of the steady progress I’ve made, especially considering the roadblocks I’ve had to push through to stay connected to my passion for the game.

In addition to my work in basketball, I’m also known in the LGBTQ+ community through the social media platform @callusthepaces, where my wife and I share our journey of family building, motherhood as two working moms, and marriage. We keep it real with a dose of humor, allowing others to relate to our experiences while not taking ourselves too seriously. It’s this authenticity that I think truly sets me apart, whether it’s on the basketball court or online. What you see is what you get, and I’m committed to doing things the right way, making sure people feel valued and taken care of in every interaction.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can follow me on all social media platforms at @callusthepaces and reach me by email at jessicapacetn@gmail.com. Following and connecting plus reaching out is the best way to collaborate with me! Whether that’s by getting involved as a sponsor for some upcoming basketball events that I’m working on, or collaborating on some social media initiatives – I’m always down to work!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/callusthepaces
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/callusthepaces
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-pace-mses/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/callusthepaces