Athing Mu, a professional track & field athlete and 2x Olympic gold medalist in the 800m and 4x400m relay in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, shares her journey of having success in running at an early age, and the transition to becoming a pro athlete. In this episode she takes us through growing up in a Sudanese family in New Jersey and the impact her seven siblings have had on her passion for running. Athing discusses her time as a high school and college athlete and what it was like turning pro, landing Nike as a sponsor and winning a gold medal all before the age of 20. After a disappointing result at Worlds in Budapest - she takes us through how she managed the pressure and disappointment and the steps she took to build a strong support system around her and climb back to the top of the 800m podium at the Diamond League Championship by setting a new World Record. While running is a huge part of Athing’s identity she emphasizes the importance of having hobbies and passions outside of sport and surrounding yourself with inspirational teammates that help keep the joy of sport front and center. ““Pressure’s always going to be there. It’s about how to take that pressure and use it to fire you up for what you need to do and accomplish””. - Athing Mu

CLIF endurance athlete and a leader in the space of ski-mountaineering and endurance sports, Caroline Gleich shares with us how she has built her career and broken barriers as a woman and as an activist. She began her ski career while attending University of Utah and then went on to become the first woman to ski all 90 lines of the Chuting Gallery, climb Mount Everest and has competed in several ultra-marathons. Carolines legacy extends beyond her expeditions as she combines her passion for sport and advocacy as an activist for gender equity and environmental policy, traveling to Washington DC to testify in front of the House and Senate and organize climate rallies. Today she shares with us the pros and cons of social media, how to best protect yourself as a woman when faced with online harassment and how to build your brand with a powerful community of women and mentors. Caroline explores with us the path to becoming a pro and how to tear down the harmful narratives in sport around the “ideal” woman's body type. "Sometimes I feel like if I fail on an expedition that I'm not just failing for myself, I'm failing for all women and that's just simply not true.” - Caroline Gleich

Emma Schieck, Paralympic sitting volleyball player and gold medalist in the 2021 Tokyo Paralympic Games, shares her journey into adaptive sport and the challenges, relationships, and unforgettable rewards within it. She takes us through her childhood growing up without a knowledge of paralympic sports. She gives us an inside look at what it felt like to serve in the match point of a gold medal game. She emphasizes the importance of honoring our passions, never giving up, and believing in ourselves against all odds. Emma expresses hope for a future where paralympic sports gain more viewership and respect. She is such an inspiration for all female athletes and especially those with disabilities who dream of achieving their own goals. “They're challenging and competitive. No matter what your disability is, no matter what your sports background is, playing a paralympic sport is going to push you and it's going to be different.” -Emma Schieck

Kaitlin Hawayek is Team USA Ice Dancer and a 2022 Pyeongchang Olympian. She is a 5x Bronze Medalist at the National Figure Skating Championship, 2018 Four Continents Champion, 2018 NHK Trophy Champion, and 2014 World Junior Champion. Kaitlin takes us through her junior career, highlighting the lessons she learned in competing in a multitude of environments at a young age. She shares her journey struggling with an eating disorder and how she grew into a healthy relationship with her body image. Later in her career, facing near career ending injuries, Katilin discusses how she took a pause from sport in order to take care of her physical and mental health. Through her journey, Kaitlin shares incredible advice for women athletes on how to take care of our bodies and minds, to advocate for our needs, and to find and develop resources for both our personal and athletic success and longevity. "I am limitless. I am neither who I was or who I want to be, but I am who I am right now. I am a human that has so many values beyond sport. Sport is what I do. Art is what I share. But I love myself because of my kindness, because of my resilience, and because of my passion and creativity." - Kaitlin Hawayek

Sasha Digiulian, professional rock climber and CEO of Send Bars is a key figure in the world of climbing. She has won the World Championships for Female Overall and has placed Silver in the Bouldering World Championships, as well as Bronze in the Duel. Sasha has been the undefeated PanAmerican Champion from 2004 to the present, and also a three-time US National champion. She joins us to share her journey in the world of climbing, the mindset of a risk-taker, and how she navigates body image and scrutiny in the age of social media. Sasha also teaches us how she manages fear and self-doubt when performing her difficult climbs, and the lessons she’s learned from becoming a champion in climbing - which she also writes in her new upcoming book “Take the Lead: Hanging On, Letting Go, and Conquering Life's Hardest Climbs” available September 26, 2023. Sasha’s impact reaches far beyond climbing, she is an example to many young women to embrace their own potential and carve out their own paths. “It's women achieving something that opens the floodgates to other women seeing inspiration and possibility.” - Sasha DiGiulian

Dr. Allison Brager, an Army Neurobiologist who specializes in sleep and circadian rhythms, shares her college athletic journey as a track and field athlete and how she got into studying sleep and its importance for athletics. Brager graduated from Brown and Kent State with a Ph.D of psychology, and also serves as a VIS Expert, where she conducts sessions about sleep. She shares with us the science behind sleep and gives us tips for how to create a sleep routine that benefits our mental, physical, and emotional health. Allison dives into her role on the NCAA advisory board and the importance of athletes finding hobbies outside of sports to realize they are more than just an athlete. She reminds girls that sleep is the secret weapon in athletic performance. “This [sleep] is how the pros got to how they are, starting out at your age and doing the same things you were.”- Dr. Allison Brager

Ali Riley, captain of Angel City FC in NWSL and captain of the New Zealand women’s national soccer team, joins us to share her journey in women’s soccer. She has represented her country in four Olympic Games and five FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments, most recently helping New Zealand to secure their historic first World Cup win against Norway in this year's FIFA Women's World Cup. Ali has gathered a host of experiences playing professional soccer, both in the United States and around the world. Most importantly, Ali’s impact is reflected in her work off the pitch as she is a champion for empowerment and equality, using her platform to advocate for women athletes and for marginalized communities everywhere. In this week’s episode, we dive into her resilience in facing and overcoming obstacles in her career, the importance of representation, and her hopes for the future of women’s sports—from visibility to equal pay. For more information on equal pay, the Voice In Sport Foundation, and its initiatives, head to https://www.voiceinsport.com/press/side-of-equity “You don't have to have thousands of followers. If you just are yourself and confident and do something that you love and are passionate about, it's going to make an impression on someone younger than you.” - Ali Riley

Becky Sauerbrunn, 2x World Cup Champion, 2x Olympian, 3x NWSL Champion, and former captain of the U.S. Women’s National Team, joins us as we unpack her journey to becoming a leader in the world of women’s soccer. She speaks candidly about her time with the youth national teams, her collegiate soccer career at the University of Virginia, as well as her professional career—highlighting how she gradually grew into her role as a leader over many years. We dive into how Becky has channeled this leadership as captain of the USWNT and the intricacies of how her leadership manifested itself in the fight for equal pay for women’s soccer players. Becky challenges us to both reconsider our preconceived notions of what a leader is, and to channel the leadership within us to advocate for gender equity and accessibility of sport for all. For more information on equal pay, the Voice In Sport Foundation, and its initiatives, head to https://www.voiceinsport.com/press/side-of-equity “It's gonna get better, but we need everyone to own and feel responsible for where women are going in this country when it comes to sport.” - Becky Sauerbrunn

Julie Foudy, former captain of the U.S. Women’s National Team, 2x World Cup Champion, 2x Olympian, National Soccer Hall of Fame member, and espnW Writer and Commentator, joins us as we unpack her experiences in the soccer world. She shares with us her journey in finding joy in sport and building confidence and how this not only led her to an incredible career with the USWNT from 1987-2004, but it also led to the eventual foundation of the leadership academy that she runs today for young women athletes. In our conversation, Julie emphasizes the importance of leadership that transcends the sports field; we see this in her discussion of the ongoing fight for equal pay in sport and her partnership with CLIF that supports her activism efforts. Julie Foudy is an inspiration to young women athletes everywhere, and her confidence, joy, and determination are truly gifts that we all can learn from. For more information on equal pay, the Voice In Sport Foundation, and its initiatives, head to https://www.voiceinsport.com/press/side-of-equity. “If we can teach these women to be amazing athletes, that's great. But most importantly, let's create amazing humans who wanna give back into their communities and realize that every single one of them is a leader.” - Julie Foudy

2022 Olympic All Around Gold Medalist and decorated NCAA Division 1 gymnast Suni Lee, shares her journey growing up as a Hmong American gymnast. She shares with us her experience at the Tokyo Olympics and her transition to competing at Auburn University, delving into the differences of the collegiate and elite competition levels. Suni guides us through her pre-meet rituals and training tips. She emphasizes the importance of visualization, repetition, and confidence. Suni shares why her partnership with CLIF and VOICEINSPORT Foundation help her to pursue her advocacy efforts towards building mentorship and representation. Suni's inspiring journey exemplifies dedication, hard work, visibility, and believing in oneself.

Adrienne Smith, a professional football player, serial entrepreneur, and VIS mentor shares her journey in sports and business. A 5 time WFA champion, 2 time gold medalist with the US Women’s Tackle National team, WFA career leader in reviewing yards, and 9 time WFA all-star, Adrienne shares how she mentally and physically trains and performs as an elite athlete. She discusses the importance of discipline, recovery, and mindset. Off the field, Adrienne discusses the inspiration behind her numerous entrepreneurial projects: Harlem Hip-Hop Tours, Gridiron Queendom, and Blitz Champz. She reminds us to pursue our dreams no matter what anyone else says. “If you think you can be something, you can be. That's it. Regardless of what the world is saying to you in that moment. If you think you can achieve it, then I got my money on you. You can achieve it.” -Adrienne Smith

Toni Breidinger is a Professional NASCAR Race Car Driver for Venturi Motorsports where she drives a number 25 Toyota Camry. She has the most wins for women in United States Auto Club history with 19 wins! Toni shares her journey in the sport of race car driving beginning with how she entered the world of motorsports at the age of nine. Toni talks about her new partnership with Victoria’s Secret while working with the company to spread body positivity and shift the narrative around beauty ideals . She talks about how to deal with performance anxiety, lifting other women up in sport, and encourages other young girls to compete in motorsports. “Your body isn't a trend. You don't need to look at all these people who probably Photoshop their photos and everything like that. I think if you're just strong and you're healthy, like that's the most important thing and your body's beautiful.” - Toni Breidinger

Sheera Goren is the co-founder of Zygo, the first submersible headset for swimmers that receives radio frequencies from a poolside FM transmitter which is paired with your smartphone - enabling athletes to listen to music underwater, receive coaching and of course listen to the VOICEINSPORT Podcast. Sheera graduated from UCLA with an undergraduate degree in Communications. She reminds young women that the degree you achieve is just one part of your story - and never limit yourself to go a different direction after graduation. We love the inspiring conversation of rolling with your mistakes, and using them as learning experiences. It’s never too late to start something new and as Sheer Goren shares with the VIS community “I think failing is not ever starting something.”

Jenny Nguyen, entrepreneur, chef, and founder of The Sports Bra shares with us her journey in starting her own business. With a culinary background and love for women’s sports, Jenny took her passions into the restaurant and business industry. Inspired to create a sports bar that was centered around women's sports and more inclusive, The Sports Bra was born. Jenny emphasizes the importance of community as seen through her partnerships with local woman owned and operated businesses. “Have you ever felt like you didn't belong at a sports bar? And why? Because those are the reasons why I opened The Sports Bra.” -Jenny Nguyen

On today’s special Entrepreneur Series, we are chatting with Jordan Robbins, Founder of Revly Sport. REVLY Sport is a swimwear brand designed for women with active lifestyles. Their goal is to take the stress out of swimwear so that women athletes who wear it can confidently live and enjoy their lives. Jordan is a former volleyball player for UCLA and UWisconsin, who overcame severe scoliosis to compete in college. Her sports and entrepreneurship story is incredible.

Welcome to the 100th episode of the VOICEINSPORT Podcast! Thank you for being on this journey with us, we are so excited to be able to share the stories of so many incredible women athletes, experts, and advocates. In this 100th episode, we are celebrating the highlights of the Voice in Sport podcast around the four core VIS topics; MIND, NUTRITION, ADVOCACY, and BODY. Our producers, Zosia, Elizabeth, and Kate, have put together a compilation of their favourite quotes and will introduce and explain why these quotes resonated with them! Before we get started, we wanted to share some of the amazing statistics of the guests we’ve had on the podcast. In the past 99 episodes, we’ve hosted 48 Olympians, 20 Olympic Medalists across 20 different sports. We hope that as you’re listening to today's episode you’re inspired to check some of those great episodes out! Enjoy!

2-time Olympian and VIS League Mentor, Rosie Brennan is a professional cross country skier who has had multiple top 15 performances at the 2022 winter olympics in Beijing. Previously, Rosie attended Dartmouth college where she competed on the ski team. Rosie has had multiple ups and downs in her career including being cut from the National team twice, suffering two freak accidents including a bike and a car crash, and coming down with mono during her first Olympic Games. While Rosie may have thought about quitting, she never did and always came back with an even stronger fire. Today, she talks about her resilience and gives advice to young girls who may be going through similar obstacles. “It made me realise that part of the joy of competing is to have that feeling of being so immersed in something that you can have that many emotions and one of my biggest takeaways from the Olympics was how lucky I am to have had this experience that allows me to feel so much.” - Rosie Brennan

VIS Expert, Dr. Paige Roberts, a sports psychotherapist, athlete mental health advocate and a peak performance expert speaks about trauma injuries and how to recover from them. Paige specializes in helping athletes overcome performance anxiety, recover fully from sports injuries or failures, and rebound from performance slumps or blocks. As a high school and college athlete, Paige faced numerous challenges including overuse injuries, an eating disorder, addiction and multiple concussions. Today Paige shares the neuroscience behind overcoming all of them, and dives deep into the technique she uses called Performance Neuro Training, which is a combination of sports psychology, brainspotting, and hot & cold photobiomodulation laser-light therapy. This draws upon techniques from clinical social work, exercise and neuroscience along with health and wellness lifestyle coaching. “When we look at the results of Performance Neuro Training, athletes are loving sport again. They're energised, they're sleeping well, they're not having as intense anxiety.” - Dr. Paige Roberts

Lexi DuPont, professional big mountain skier, bush pilot, and entrepreneur talks about an exciting new event, the Sister Summit! The Sister Summit brings women snowboarders and skiers together to build a community, create more visibility for the sports, and learn about mindfulness and nutrition, much like the mission of VOICEINSPORT! Lexi also dives deep into her relationship with nature. She shares how she cultivates confidence as a love for yourself, for life, and for the people around you. Finally, Lexi’s journey with her mental coach highlights how beneficial it can be to learn to let go. “When we drop in on the mountain and we're going, we are unstoppable. I am unstoppable. I am fierce and I am going to charge down this mountain.” - Lexi DuPont

Andi Sullivan, professional soccer player, captain of the Washington Spirit, collegiate national champion, and Hermann trophy winner shares her journey in soccer. She takes us through her experience through the US Women’s National team programs from her early teens and then as only one of six players to land a spot on the women’s world cup roster before attending college. Andi highlights the importance of prioritizing mental health as she shares her recruitment process at a young age and how she overcame injuries. Andi shares important advice on how to build confidence through value-driven progress rather than result or statistic based metrics. Andi urges us to focus on our individual narratives, all the while bringing up the people around us to create stronger communities and teams! “Even when things were difficult and frustrating… every day I’d drive to the facility and say: I can control my attitude and my effort”. -Andi Sullivan