Couple Things with Shawn and Andrew - 158 | a room full of olympic gold medalists with missy franklin + hayes johnson

Episode Date: April 19, 2023

In today’s episode we got to interview the incredible 5x Olympic Gold Medalist, Missy Franklin Johnson, and her husband, world champion and the president of Swimmingly LLC, Hayes Johnson! We talked about their life in and out of their athletic careers, how they met, their marriage story and more! We loved getting to hang out with this couple in person for this interview and we’re honored to call them new friends! This episode is brought to you by Better Help ▶ Visit https://www.BetterHelp.com/EASTFAM today to get 10% off your first month! To learn more about Missy, check out her website below! https://www.missyfranklin.com/ Check out Swimmingly here! https://swimmingly.app/ This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/EASTFAM and get on your way to being your best self. Love you guys! Shawn and Andrew Follow My Instagram ▶ https://www.instagram.com/ShawnJohnson Follow My TikTok ▶ https://www.tiktok.com/@shawnjohnson Like the Facebook page! ▶ https://www.facebook.com/ShawnJohnson Follow Andrew’s Instagram ▶ https://www.instagram.com/AndrewDEast Andrew’s Tik Tok ▶ https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewdeast?lang=en Like the Facebook page! ▶ https://www.facebook.com/AndrewDEast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's up everybody? Welcome back to a couple things with Sean and Andrew a podcast all about couples and the things they go through. Today we have Missy Franklin and Hayes Johnson or Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. That's right. I like these two a lot. I know. There's a lot of laughs, almost some tears. Yes. Learned a lot. Yes. And I feel like the vibes were high as they say. This might be Andrew's like biggest bro crush. But they're good friends of ours. They live here in Nashville with us. We love them. We're so honored. We're so honored. and excited to have them on a pod our podcast um i have met missy quite a few times over the years in the athletic world she actually even showed a picture of us from 2012 together yeah this one's really special you may remember missy franklin's name from the 2012 2016 olympics she's a five-time olympic gold medalist yes two-time olympian that's right which is amazing yeah and haze it's a boss swimmer as well her husband yeah won a national championship in swimming swimming at the University of Texas, which is amazing. He now has a company called Swimmingly,

and she just launched a swimwear line with JCPenney. So we'll link information on both those things down below, as well as their social information. But I think you'll like these two. So let's go ahead and roll into this with Missy and Hayes. This is by far my favorite outfit that's ever been on set. Wow. Thank you.

Yeah. That is a huge honor. It was my favorite outfit overalls. actually bought me overalls for Christmas one year he went to the gap the gap the gap and he bought he bought me overall quality yeah with some converse all-stars was the most surprising gift I've ever gotten in my life I do actually I love there yeah I just got my first pair of overalls yep you have overalls I don't have overall their car heart oh nice oh like the full I'm a big fan they're like so when

So we live out in the woods. Yeah. We're on like 10 and a half acres. And first storm, the tree went down. I was like, all right, I'm going to go saw this thing down. So he just like walks. I'm like looking outside and he's like walking past in his overall with the chains on. I'm just standing at our door like, like, do you need someone to watch you?

Wow. It's heating up in here, man. It's heating up. overalls is their thing that's their thing that's all we need to know I gotta say I'm so pleasantly surprised we've only known you

for what like maybe a month I think so and I'm just like I'm so hyped for what our friendship's gonna be because Hayes is the I was like Hayes could go the distance

you know what I'm saying we could be here 40 years for now that's old man on the rock I will say going into this interview I was telling you miss you this your guys is like

we have like the production list of who we reach out to for interviews and your guys's names came up like organically not because we have started hanging out and I told our team was like we cannot ask them to do this they are new friends we could ruin it we like you too much let me text hey I said I said you have a better bromance with him I'm working on miss you I'm getting there okay guys no we're so happy oh thank you all this is awesome any day Gosh. There's a lot going on too in your life. First of all, congrats. Today's a big day, right? Yeah, yeah. Today's fun. Well, it's kind of crazy. Hayes and I were talking about it. It's been like two years in the making. And so I feel like when something's been happening for that long, he's looked at me today. We were sitting having lunch to go and he was like, are you, are you excited? And I was like, yeah. Like I am. And he's like, you haven't really talked about it. I was like, I just think like it's sort of surreal. But I did a swimsuit line in collaboration with Sports Illustrator. and it's being sold at J.C. Penny. And so that has been just like so much fun because they gave

me a ton of autonomy over it, which I feel like is just such a blessing where they really listened to my ideas and my thoughts and what I thought this line should look like and what I thought the market needed. And they just came back to me and listened to me the whole time. And the result is just a line that I love and I'm super proud of. And to do it at this stage of life too, I think is really special because I don't think I could have created something like this even five years ago, but now being in motherhood, like it was so cool thinking about not just the suits and how they fit body types, but are these breastfeeding friendly, you know, our nursing mom's going to be able to wear these at the pool with their kids? Are they going to be able to ride down a slide without

it riding up their butt? Like all the things, like I'm in just such a different place where I'm like, I was thinking about all these different aspects and was able to create something around that. And Yeah, now it's out in the world. That's really cool. Thank you. It's fun watching her creative side come out too. She has a slideshow ready with all the color palettes. And I'm like, man, this is legit.

He's normally the creative one. Like, his mind is brilliant and he's constantly turning out ideas. And so, yeah, it's a little bit more scary for me and a bit of a challenge to, like, step into that side. But it's a good challenge. I really enjoy it. How did you guys mean? in the swimming world? Of course.

When would we have time for anything else? Yep, go for it, babe. It's a great story. So swimming has this event. It's so funny. So instead of the golden globes, it's called the golden goggles. Oh, wow.

Yes, we're very clever. Yes. But it is actually really fun. So every year we have it, and it essentially celebrates the best of the best from that year. So like the best event, the best relay, the best coach, the best athlete, all of that.

But it gives, and you guys will both totally understand this, it gives everyone a chance to just, like, dress up and celebrate, which even in life, but especially I think in elite athletics, we're so focused on the next goal and the next step that sometimes we forget to, like, take a moment and appreciate how far we've come and what we've achieved. And so I kind of love that we do this every year because it really gives people a chance to, like, celebrate themselves and each other.

as a team and what they've accomplished. And so it was in 2010. And I was 15 and he was 20. Oh my gosh. Okay. And he was actually dating one of my mentors on the team who we both still adore more than anything. She's amazing. And everyone there who knew us separately was like, you guys, like you have to meet.

Like you're so similar. You're both really good dancers. We both love to dance. Okay. What? I'm sorry. I didn't know it. Yeah.

He's like getting on a dance floor. Are you like 100%? Ballroom. No, like just put us in a wedding. Oh, wow. We'll just,

I mean, we'll start it, we'll end it. The whole thing. Yeah, swing dance in. Like, he's so composed.

I can't tell him. I can't tell. Is he kidding? No, he's like one of the best dancers I've ever seen in my life. Oh, my goodness. And so that.

We have to throw a party now. Oh, we'll be there. Was it like a dance contest for game night? That's our next game night. But that year, I think it was world championships and you have to do rookie skits. And for my rookie skit, I did a dance to OMG by Usher. I was 16 years old in front of the entire team.

I'm such a dweep. Were you like down for it or were you embarrassed? Oh, no. So it was technically karaoke. So we all did karaoke. And then people had remembered that I could dance. And so they all started chanting my name to get me up there to do a dance. And naturally, I was like, okay.

And I went up there and did it. But so that was why I had golden goggles. People were like, oh my gosh, Missy. Like, Hayes is such a good dancer. Like, you should go talk to him. So 15-year-old me walks up to 20-year-old that. Like, are you kidding? And literally challenge him to a dance off.

Oh, my God. Up at the bar. She walks up. You know, Hayes, nice to meet you. I'd challenge you to do a dance off. He's like, who are you? Like, what is this thing in front of the night? So we just started laughing and talking.

And then with swimming, again, you know, you guys are familiar to this. Boy, was there a dance off? Not, no, not that night. I'm sorry, just have to close that loop. Yeah, it's, we've had, well, then we were together. So it was never a dance off after that. It was just to dance together. But it's fun because that was, that was,

Literally, the start, first conversations of our relationship. Yeah. And after that, it was, we would see each other in passing on the pool decks at nationals, Olympic trials, all this stuff. Every couple months or so. And we just stayed close, you know. And then the last time we saw each other was Olympic trials in 2012. And then we didn't talk for. And you were five years.

I was 17. 22. Yep. Yep. Had, you know, our own paths that God had laid out for us that we walked on. And then in 2017, in the spring, he reached out because my Olympics in 2016 were really, really tough. And so I went through just like a massive transition period after that, really struggled with mental health and just, you know, trying to find self-worth and purpose and all of that. And he reached out to me after five years.

And he knew that I was going through a hard time. He just said, hey, if you ever want to talk, I'm here. And that night we FaceTime for two and a half hours. And then two weeks later, we had flights booked to see each other. and we did like the airport scene like he flew to Denver which is where I was at the time and I like went in he came up the escalator and we did like the run jump kiss and we hadn't seen each we didn't even talk except on FaceTime for five years oh my gosh and like that moment we were just like you just like knew we knew yeah it's it's for life it's cliche ask but it was one of those things

where you always dream of having something like that. And after all of our conversations, you know, she loves her people so much. She love, her love is so strong. And you can just feel it. And I was like, man, this is truly incredible. Like, it is something that I've never felt. And talking to her, hearing her relationship with her parents,

it is truly something special. And it was all the things that I loved so much. And obviously the things that I had grown to, love about her and it was just so organic at the airport it was it was kind of built up it was just i i knew that i i truly knew that i was going to marry this girl and seeing her in the airport it was like solidified for sure oh yeah it was epic i had the jills we we did what's that movie we just finished i finished last night after you fell asleep but you're playing that's me too I can't not finish

a movie I'll see on the couch fairly live yeah I'm gonna finish it but it's called your place are mine with Ashton

Cutcher and Reese That is your story That one was really cute It's cute I love that But I also love Reese and anything That she does so

And I love Ashton Cutch I know I know But oh it's the sweetest Yeah And then we got engaged in

2018 married in 2019 in September. This will be year four. That's my lucky number. I'm curious with both of you being athletes and you going through like the transition in 2016, you reaching out, that's a very hard thing for anybody outside of athletics,

especially elite athletics to understand. The whole mental health side of it, you devote your entire life, every decision you make on a daily basis to like transitioning out of that is very challenging and a lot of people can't do that. I fortunately got to be way removed from my career and kind of had been healed and stuff when Andrew went through his. How did you guys like process that together on both sides? Yeah, that's a great question. 2012 I my career did not end

the way I wanted it to. I had like many right. I had a eye injury that took me out for a few months, my senior year, which was also 2012 Olympics, Olympic trials. And I thought I was at peace with it. Um, had it taken me out. I worked my ass off getting back in and trying to get back in shape. Again, didn't turn out the way I wanted it to. And so I retired after that was my, really my last meet. I swam a couple, uh, professional meets, some circuit type stuff over in Europe, but I was like, I'm done. And it definitely hit me hard. Um, um, I guess you can kind of call it a depression cycle. And I did not seek out help.

I wish I had. It definitely affected me, but I learned to speak to my parents about it, my friends about it eventually. And I wish I had done more, but again, I learned whether it was hard, easy, whatever. And then I think when it hit me really hard for some reason when she had posted, after the Olympics and she posted a video crying and for some reason something was just poking me and it was like just reach out to her man like see how she's doing because I'd never really touched base with others that had retired and her video really struck some sort of cord and so I just

reached out and I was like you know I feel it if you ever want to talk I'm here I'm an open ear promise I'm a good listener and then that's yeah I think having him in my life during my transition into retirement was just the greatest blessing in the world because I had had really hard 2016 Olympics and then was determined to fight my way back from the depths literally and I just couldn't couldn't get there so I injured my shoulder in April before Olympic trials in 2016 and as you guys know like it's not something that you advertise going into an Olympics like at that point when you're that close to it it's just suck it up like and do whatever you can to get through it and so having to go competing in Rio was just like the hardest eight days

of my life especially compared to London which is a 17 year old was like literally the dream Olympics like everything went according to plan which is just such a rare beautiful thing to happen and then having my second Olympic games be so different I feel like I went through what many athletes go through when they retire after 2016 because that was when I was really struggling with self-worth with what do I have to give to the world other than going a 20406 and a 200 backstroke you know what am I going to do after this like what is my purpose besides this and and that was again when Hayes came into my life I did seek out professional help I was at a point where I really needed it so I was working with a sports psychologist I was working with a

therapist and they just helped me so much get through that time and so we ended up moving to Athens and he joined me down there and I started working with a new coach and a new team at the University of Georgia and that's where I finished up my degree too and fought so hard for a year and a half and found out I was going to need another bilateral shoulder surgery that only had a 50% chance of working in six-month recovery period and at that point we were you know that was to put me six months out from what would have been Tokyo if it was in 2020. And thankfully, with all the work that I had done, I just knew that that was not the decision for me to put myself through that and know going into a third Olympics that I wasn't going to be at my best. I'd done that

before and I just knew I couldn't do it again. And so made the decision to retire and sounds so crazy. But again, I know you can relate to be retired at 23. But having him Like, he helped me see that there was so many incredible things behind me, but so many better things lay ahead, him being number one. Like, he was my future, but then seeing everything that came along with that and the inspiration that he gave me and the dreams of, again, not just him and our family, but of the ways that I could still do the thing that I love to do as a swimmer, which was inspire and be a role model. He helped show me that you don't have to be in the pool swimming backstroke to

be doing that. You guys are both great at that. Yeah. You mentioned the injury in 2016. What else about that like what about the Olympics was hard? Oh my gosh. So I remained amateur after 2012 because I really wanted to swim in college. Like that was something that I being on a team for me was always like my favorite part and I think for Hayes too like the team aspect was just amazing and when it comes to swimming college swimming is like I mean there's no comparison when it comes to team like your team is your end-all be-all your family like you will do anything for each other and I think a lot of college sports are like that but swimming it's a lot of people view it as an individual sport and I think if you ask any swimer and see if they would want to swim by themselves for four hours a day versus

with teammates like they'd look at you like they're crazy and so I remained amateur so I didn't accept any money any endorsements after 2012 because I wanted to swim in college and I told all the coaches beforehand I'll just be competing two years collegiately because as I look at my career from the big picture I do need to be a professional going into 2016 because I can't go through two Olympics not making any money if I do want this to be my career and everyone totally agreed and understood So everyone knew I was just going to do two years. So I swam for two years at Cal Berkeley and had a wonderful experience. And then made the decision to go back to Colorado and train with my old coach, who I was with before London,

who I had actually been with since I was seven years old, for Rio. And I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. But I think what happened for the first time in my life is I just lost balance. like swimming was always an important part of my life but it was a part of my life it wasn't my life and going into Rio it was my life like that was it I had left all my friends I had left my team in Berkeley I'd come back I wasn't the newcomer anymore I wasn't you know this naive little 17 year old that people weren't paying attention to I was a four-time Olympic gold medalist that people now not only had expectations of me to do the same thing but to do better and to have

that bar of five gold medals hanging over your shoulder going into an Olympic Games was just so much weight so much weight and I was still just 21 at the time so I think going through all of that I was back living with my parents I was literally living in my parents basement um and it just I got so lost in it and I started listening to the expectations of other people and I think for the first time in my life I stopped swimming out of love for the sport and started swimming out of fear of disappointing people and that just took all the fun out of it for me and if you know me at all I do my best when I'm having fun and that's just when I'm when I'm thriving and and I wasn't having fun I wasn't having fun at all I just lost all of that and so that was mainly what I was trying to get back afterwards like of course it would have been

nice to to end my career on a high but I think at the end of the day when I was coming back from Rio and post my shoulder surgeries I just was trying to find the fun again it's so interesting because I feel like that imbalance that's required to like go to the olympics period or like play collegiate sports or do collegiate athletics. By the way, national champion, right? You're a national champion? Yes. What a dog. Geez. Why am I always the freaking least impressive person? Oh, stop. Oh, my gosh. Get out of here. We have a rule within the company now, which is bad, that Andrew's not allowed to self-deprecate himself because he does it so much. I like that rule. That's a good rule. But it's like, obviously, if you're going to something extraordinary you have to do extraordinary things to get there right like different things to get

there which i think inherently comes with imbalance but it's such a fine line between like pushing yourself to like train as many hours as it takes to train or with the intensity that you need to to train it away and not lose your like identity or like the self-awareness like i'm i'm more than just this Totally. And I feel like there's so many athletes, the deeper you get into the sport, the deeper that intensity gets and is required. And then it's harder to like see outside of that box, right? Yeah. And so then the transition is harder.

You guys have both done so well with the transition. I love the swimline. We went through it. We did. It's always easier said than done, right? Yeah. It's one of those things that could last a year for someone and then forever for another. Yeah.

But that is the cool part is now that we. been through it is now we feel like and we feel called to I think help others go through it too which in that broader sense as well I feel like we we go through everything that we go through in life no matter how hard it is I always why is always my biggest question when I come across like the really hard issues and the answer that I don't think we're always meant to be given an answer but for me like in my heart just knowing that because I've been through it now I can help someone else go through it like that for me is like my rock and getting through hard times now because I remember before Rio like having you know young summers come up to me and like I was

known when I was you know 17 eight when I was kind of in my prime for being the happy one the bubbly one like to the point where people thought it was an act for the camera like they thought I was just putting it on and then they would tell me like I still have people come up to me that we thought you were faking it like but now that we know you like you actually really loved it yeah I did but you know I would have young kids come up to me and be like you know what do you do when you don't want to go to practice or what do you do when you're plateauing and it's really hard and I hadn't been through that yet like I hadn't had a day where I didn't want to go to practice I loved it and I loved waking up and I hadn't had a time where I wasn't hitting times that I wanted

to go. I hadn't had a period where I was failing. And so when I had young athletes come up and ask me these questions, I always felt so bad because authenticity is so important to me. And I couldn't really think of something to tell them that was authentic because I hadn't been through it myself. And now I feel comfortable talking about just about anything. When was it hardest for you guys? I feel like you shared my exact story. I, mine was only different that Like I tried to make 2012, I retired a week before Olympic trials because I got so far and I hated it. I hated it. Every ounce of my life.

I was just like, this is all pushing against the wrong thing. Retired, went to the Olympics as a correspondent, you know, in any way, shape, or form to get there. And a funny story was, since I wasn't competing, I got to go to all the different events. Actually be at the Olympics. I went to a track cycling final where I met his oldest brother that set us up on a blind date. Wow. And now we're here. And now we're here.

How amazing we got. But I would say that was my hardest point. It was the same. I loved gymnastics. I did it because I loved it. And when I finally started doing it for a job, I hated everything about it. Yeah. It just totally changes.

Yeah. And that's when I got hurt and went through mental health issues. and everything. My family dynamics fell apart. It just, you could tell I was like pushing against something. Yeah. But,

but athletics are great, to be honest. I mean, it's like, of course. Yeah. I came out of college and I was like the number one rated

long snapper, which, whatever that means. I was supposed to get drafted, the whole thing, which would have been, you know, fun. But got picked up by the chiefs, and I was like, bro this is the next 15 years of my life man like here we are done you got it we got it and i got cut like three months later and i was like okay and then it started like this five-year journey of me just metaphorically getting punched in the face time after time by NFL teams like just got went through

the ringer which was really good like it hurt but you're like okay now i have to figure something else out like i can't just long snap a football and get a paycheck for that it's like what else to Andrew is there like oh and he likes editing videos he likes YouTube and like now this has been really fun but I do want to say to like Sean told me this as I was like working through all this and getting cut time after time and I'll pay it forward too not that you need to hear it but like she's like you're so much more than just who you are in the field or who you are in the pool it's like one when missy and Hayes came over to game night and it's like seeing the warmth with which you both greeted our friends who are strangers to you.

When you first came over and you were playing with the babies, it was like, that's what I was like, oh man, I like them. Like you guys just, the parenting thing seems to be your role, like that you were built for,

which is crazy to say because one, we're also gifted here because we found the athletics, which was something that I think we were uniquely built for. But now like the parents, thing is like a second thing and now we have like careers outside of it it's like we've kind of been struck by these fortunate uh opportunities to like settle into something we're excited about multiple times i feel like if you just find that once in life you're lucky but now we have several opportunities so anyway i couldn't agree more sport teaches you so much yeah yeah in every

aspect of life yeah to your point before i mean of course we've been through some hard times but like we wouldn't change a thing you know like i don't think any of us would be the people that we are today sitting here in these shares had we not learned the lessons that we did from our sports I mean they brought us to each other right and the things that we went through whether they were wonderful or whether they were hard like one changing for anything no way yeah I'm surprised I wish there was like a mandatory like retirement program right that athletes would have to go through. I'm working on it. Yeah, I'm working on it.

Please. It should be required. It should. We agree. We have this conversation all the time. Too frequently. Too frequently. But I think having it is just the most important thing, right? And it doesn't matter what level. You don't need to be an Olympian. It can be a high school athlete no longer going to play in college. It can be a collegiate athlete no longer playing because I kind of say it's a very similar transition to parenthood.

we're like becoming parents isn't like all right we're going to give you a baby for like four days and then take three days off and see how you like it and like we're just going to slowly increase your time like that's not how it works and same with retirement it's not like hey you can keep swimming for like a few days a week maybe do a competition and like there's no weaning process like when you retire you're done and this thing that you have dedicated your entire life to like is now over so I mean it would be weird to not go through something right like and so i think just to continue being open and vulnerable about it but also like listen to the stories of people that really struggle but also the people that did it right you know that were kind of had that wherewithal to look into the future and say all right

i know plans don't always go according to what we have in our minds but if i want to compete for this long what looks what does my day-to-day life look like after that who should i be talking to right now. What kind of networking should I be doing? What do I want to get into? What company should I start talking? Like, because I think it's so inspiring when you do have the athletes that retire. And then, and I'm sure that they're still going through some things emotionally and internally, but fairly seamlessly go into a new career that they love, that they're really excited about. Like, I think there's so much to draw from that too. So yeah, I think I agree. I think there needs to be something in place. Do you have examples of that? Who comes in mind?

One of them for me is Maya Dorado. She's a swimmer. She was an Olympic gold medalist in 2016. She swam at Stanford. And after she literally had a job already. And then she made the team in 2016, which people weren't expecting. And then she went on to win multiple medals. But they just like held her job for her.

And they were like, yeah, okay, we'll hold that. Like go compete at the Olympics. She's been preparing for this for sure. Yeah, when you get back. But then she just came back from the Olympics and started her new job and retired. And again, right, not everything is that happy, right? Where you end at, like, the best top of your game, like, you know. And she's amazing.

She's the kindest person. She's brilliant, but, like, she really thought about. Thought it through. Yeah, what's coming after this. Madison Cox is, you know, I just know summer's better, but Madison Cox is another one. She was doing so, so, so well and had plans for med school after. So she was retired as she got accepted into med school and like went on and is now starting this brand new chapter. And I just think things like that and they don't have to be as lofty as that, right?

But I think if we can just encourage people to just start thinking about what else it is that they are apart from who they are as an athlete, do they like editing videos? Do they like YouTube? Okay, great. Like how can you spend even just a little bit of time right now maybe preparing for something like that in the future? So that way it doesn't just kind of hit you like a truck when you retire. I remember the morning after the Olympics rate, which is like my first retirement before I came back and whatever. I remember feeling like I didn't know how to eat breakfast. Yeah.

I was like, I didn't work out for eight hours before. I was like, I don't understand. Like, can I eat those pancakes? Like, I don't get it. I literally felt to a certain extent, like, paralyzed. I was like, I don't know how to be a human. How do I do this? And it was like 4.30, which is usually like my training time.

And I was like, I don't know what the city looks like. Like, I was driving around. I was like, this is what it looks like at 5. Wow, it's beautiful. It was the strangest, most surreal feeling. Yeah. It is hard, though. My coaches in the NFL, they were always like, you know, in order to make it in this league,

you can't have a plan B. This has to be your plan, A, B, and C. I was always a plan B guy, fortunately. but like then you're like okay well maybe if I was more bought in to plan A like the NFL maybe I would have made it it's like it's so hard to like hedge your bets but it's I don't know maybe the healthier thing to do I'm not sure I don't know I think everyone's different too right yeah I think that might work better for some people and but I think I'd wished I had prepared myself a little bit more likewise hey's how did you propose and how long after the the airport

seen. Did you propose there? It was there that day at the airport. So gosh, we had we had dated for a year later, married a year later, had a kid pregnant a year later. That's an athlete. We were pretty up of that. Yeah. So we work with this company called swim across America. Amazing foundation. They raise money for pediatric cancer research. Because it's not funded by the government. You guys did not know that. Yeah, did not know that. And so we would frequent those events. They have them all over the country.

And they go to the hospitals. They meet with the doctors. They meet with all the kids that have cancer. They bring Olympians who walk around and share their gold medals. They're medals with all these kids. It's truly amazing. And this one was in Atlanta. And it was close.

My family, her family was going to be there. And I was thinking, I was like, man, this would be a great time to do it. And it's at this really cool resort, Lanier Island. Yeah, Lake Lanier. And they, I had called the resort and I was like, hey, I know you guys have venues. Could I use one of the smaller venues I'm going to propose? And they were like, oh my gosh, absolutely. I feel like everyone always gets so excited about her.

I love that. And so it was this really, it was a point on the island. and gorgeous, and it had a walkway all the way down to it. You can totally see how it's a wedding venue. And the best part about it, you know, I'd asked her parents, and we had, you know, crying, it was awesome, told my parents, invited them down, and I was like, everyone wanted to help.

And so my mom, my mom love her dearly. She plans everything with all the lights and the streamers and the hanging and the candles, all this stuff, right? I'm not very good at all that stuff. And so she comes down with all of, literally everything. And my entire family, her entire family, are setting up this beautiful scene. And I had nothing to really say, and they all took it. And I just literally sat back and watched how amazing is this.

And my family is like decking this place out, making it look gorgeous. And Katie Hoff and Carolyn Joyce were there. So I spoke to them and I was like All right girls I'm gonna need you to take Missy out for a couple hours And they're like oh yeah no problem I was like well make it seem like chill And so I told them the plan and they were like oh so a nice dinner So she can dress up and I was like sure you know that'd be great And so they take her away for a couple hours and like when the girls come in handy right

And they're like okay no we need to tell her it's a nice dinner so that I'm not just the show up from the case it's like an open water swim just like and uh swim cap and yeah cap and goggles

um and we had said yeah we're going to go watch fireworks after on the beach down there there were no fireworks um

that was the only disappointment yeah and so they're walking back and how she walked back where the beach was it was walking right past this venue

and so I had our our song playing and all the lights were on, it was dark, you know, and she walks down and tears, waterworks, all that good stuff. She walks down, say my thing, and propose then. It was awesome. Yeah, it was Oliver Point, and that is our dog's name. Oh, and then I realized I wasted a perfectly good little boy's name.

Oh, my gosh. That'd be really cute. I know. And then we came up after that, and we, like, rounded the corner, and all of our families were there. Yeah, and she didn't know any of them were there either. Yeah. And then they took, like they did, they were taking pictures of the whole setup. So, like, afterwards, I got to go back and watch that, essentially, like, see all of our families lining up the candles.

Did you know at dinner that he was doing it? I had no idea. Oh, no. I think I got it. I got the surprise. I was honestly so excited because Karen and Katie just kept ordering more sushi because we needed to delay it. So I was just really happy. I was like, okay.

Like, hold on. Yeah, we're not quite ready. Like, this is a long dinner. Sure. Like, I'm fine with it. Aw. But it was so special. It was so beautiful. What's your song?

What's the song? I like me better when you. Is that the song? That's awesome. I mean, see, I like to sing. I like to dance. It's out there now. I like that.

You just went straight into song. I know. I love it. But that was, I think we were like three days into talking after that, like, two hour long face time. And he would always send me all these different songs. that was one that he sent me and we both just loved it because we were long distance for the first year and so we would play that song like all the time and that ended up being our um our song

that we danced yeah the band crushed it we had a great band at our wedding miss is hayes not talented at any specific thing uh he'll get so mad at me you're saying oh no he is literally perfect at everything there is not Nothing that he cannot do. It is like, I still, to this day, I'm just so impressed by it. But I, it's a mix. I think it's natural ability, but I also think he just has one of those minds that is, like, so determined to just be the best he can absolutely be at anything that he sets out to do. Which, like, I just am in awe of every single day.

But there is nothing he is not good at. I thought he was, I thought she was going to say something. No. And there was, like, one thing. Yeah. Four years. Not a thing. I asked that question because we had hyped up ping pong the first night we met you.

So good. We had this conversation. As Missy and Hayes are leaving, Missy pulls me aside, she's like, I would love for Hayes to take you up on that challenge for ping pong because he's really, really good. And then she like walks out the door. And I was like, what just happened? You can't just drop that bomb on me and like. Just like a little like side note warning. Like if you think this was going to be a cute little game of ping pong, you are very mistaken.

Maybe that's the next game night. Ping pong tournament. I'm good with that. Dance off slash ping pong. Yes. Both. You just do all sorts of games. Dang.

I. Like an Olympic, we can do a bunch of games. Yes. We love it. We love it. We love it. We love it. I'd be fun.

I do really want to get, like, a group of guys, more specifically you, Todd, Andrew. I want to get you into a gym. Like a gymnastics gym. I would love that. I am. so curious. I would love that. I am so on board for this idea. Yes, we're doing this. So on board. As long as you could coach us. Oh, 100%. You don't want her to coach you, bro. No? No, it's different with your spouse. You don't listen. I don't need a fun coach. No, Andrew and I get in knock down,

drive-out fights. Because he's like, I want to learn a flip. And I'm like, great, I can teach you. And say it's like a 10 learning, like a 10-step process. We'll get to like. Tell me steps and To tell me steps nine and ten I'll get like level two and I'll be like We need to work on this We'll come back tomorrow and he'll just throw it And I'm like don't And then he gets mad at me

Whatever Sean has one One speed and that's full throttle With you That's it So you guys have a baby Beautiful How did parenthood

Well first How was the first few months But how did parenthood kind of change the elite athlete mindset? Because I feel like for me, it took time for me to work on kind of toning that down as a parent and not being the perfectionist. But it also gave me like a completely new identity, which I loved. Give me a new purpose in life. Couldn't agree more. And resonate with that a million percent.

Yeah, it's so funny. I know you're a reader and I'm a big reader as well. Well, our daughter will say our daughter's name is Caitlin. she's 19 months almost 20 months old yes yes just for reference yep um and i'd read all these books to try and prepare for this um none of them prepared me for anything nothing can no the one book there was one book that was great it was walking through every um trimester yeah and how she's feeling things that i could do to help dude you're going to be a dad uh no it wasn't that one gosh i've

I forget the name of it. But that one really helped. Yeah. You know, she's probably feeling really tired and she might be sick today. Go get her some flowers. And that was proactive too, which I feel like for you, you really like things that are proactive that you can actually do, like, in the moment. For sure.

And then everything after those books, you know, toss them out of fire. But, yeah, I mean, it was wild. She carried Caitlin so well. I loved being pregnant and I was I had it the easiest pregnancy so like I let's preface that I wasn't sick a day of my pregnancy like I just was so fortunate like it was just easy and so I was one of those pregnant women that all the other pregnant women hate they're like because I'm just walking around like oh this is amazing and they're all like stop talking I can't complain I had an easy pregnancy but carrying his kids aren't I was just in pain

The whole time, I think the, I think probably, and we talk about this still, the biggest shock for us, we are both so routine-oriented, very routine-oriented. And, you know, when you have a baby, that is gone. Gone, gone. And so I think that was probably the biggest shock to us, wouldn't you say? Yeah, I think for us, first two and three months were good. like we really enjoyed the newborn phase like we we were really lucky he works from home but he was able to do like some actual paternity leave too so like we i feel like really enjoyed that time for me i feel like months three through seven were the hardest for me because then it just i think the repetition of being the cycle of like wake eat play sleep wake eat play sleep day after day after day I was like, there's just a point where I was like, oh my gosh, like, what am we doing? And Caitlin was, she always was really good at sleeping through the night or sleeping like good

chunks of the night, but she didn't nap during the day. And so from those like months, she took two 30 minute naps a day. And so that was really tough on both of us because I was having a really hard time with it. And he was, I think, really worried about me and really worried about her. and then we ended up working with a sleep consultant who was wonderful and helped us so much and that was just the right decision for us and our family and I feel like after that it definitely got a little bit easier but you just like you have to I think it takes time like for us it just took time to learn how to find that balance again which is something that we had practice with

from sport right of okay how do we balance all of these things and it was so similar how do we balance now taking care of ourselves, taking care of each other, and taking care of our baby. And what does that look like? And some weeks are going to be different. And I feel like that's still the case. Some weeks, we have to focus on her. Maybe she's sick. Maybe there's something going on. And really, we don't have that time or energy to take care of ourselves or each other. It's just all on her. But then we try and bring that balance. And when she's back and she's feeling better, it's like, okay, now maybe we should plan a date night. Let's go out and let's take care of ourselves. Let's take care of one another. And so I think it's all just about being flexible. And your priorities,

I always say this, the same with sport. Your priorities are always going to change. But your top priorities, like those are set in stone. And for us, it's each other and it's our family. And so even though within that, things might have been flow, depending on who needs something the most at that time, those are always going to be the things that matter the most to us and the things that both of us will just drop anything we're doing at the moment's notice to make sure that we're there for each other or for our daughter. Talk to us about Swimmingly. Yeah, so Swimmingly is our company. It is, so long story short, it's kind of cool story. My business partner, Charlie Houchon was on the Olympic team with her in 2012. I had a job right out of college

working with Lance Armstrong's company called Capital Sports and Entertainment. And went a different direction when everything happened there all was good yeah one a different direction such a polite way to say yeah so Charlie Charlie had posted he's like starting this business in the swimming world which we are both obviously very passionate about And essentially swim meets at the grassroots level, so think country clubs, neighborhood pools, they're all still run with paper and stopwatches still to this day. Yep. Been run since 1960. So Charlie wrote this business plan in college at University of Michigan.

And I was like, oh my gosh, this is brilliant. It's an app that time swim meets scores it, puts results in parents' pockets. So, you know, if your kid's up in two events, ding ding, Katelyn's up in two events. get down to the pool. So it's really educating the market. And so we started that back in 2013, so 10 years later, that's awesome. Yeah, we're having a great time. And I think you love it so much, because it is so fun going back to your sport at the grassroots level. Like, there's just something about working with kids that are shoving fun dip in their faces and then running up to the blocks. Going a best time. Yeah, the good old days. You know, but it's just, it's so pure. It's so pure. And it's so

fun. I think, I mean, it's rewarding for me, so I can't even imagine for you, but just seeing the difference of the parents and the volunteers, like, because people always ask us if Caitlin's going to be a summer and we're always like, we hope not. Like, I get three day long swim meet versus an hour long soccer game. But it's sort of like you have parents that, you know, are used to sitting behind the block, you know, that need three parents behind each lane that are sitting there, stopwatches, everything. And then they limit the number of volunteers. They make the meets faster. Like, there's just so much. So it's so great to see the parents loving it and being so grateful for it.

And then the kids just enjoying so much of it and just doing it out of the love. Just really making a fun community out of, you know, a lot of people look at so me, it's like, man, they're so long and boring. It's like, yeah, they are. How can we make them better? And they're with technology. You can certainly take those steps forward. So it's been fun.

It's awesome. What's your favorite part about the whole part of that life? honestly the team is incredible like i've we she kind of mentioned it um team having the right people on the bus is the most important thing and when you get those people on the bus the company just runs and it's so much fun but really just developing no one had done this before and so developing this technology from start to finish was wild it was fun um took really three and a half years for it to actually work. So our customer service was helped a lot for the first three years.

Yeah, but I mean, honestly, I think, and really the ability to work from home has been fantastic. My parents got divorced when I was 18, I think. And I had kind of looked at that and I was like, you know, there were things in their relationship that I saw that I don't want. And there was a point in college where, you know, my motto is, love what you're doing, love her you're doing it with, and love who you're doing it for. And when we got together, my priority since day one, I write it in my planner every single day, MJ number one, and her middle name is Jeanette.

But now it also works because my last name is Johnson. Yeah, it works. And so working from home, I truly do. get to prioritize her and Caitlin and almost to a fault like there's some days where I'm literally like honey like you need to get out of the house because like if she whimpers he like pops out of his office he's like is she okay do you need me and I'm like honey we're fine go work but it's I mean going back to having the right people on the team they get it they understand my values and my priorities which is incredible and you know she might pop in and she might need

something and Charlie's like go go go I'm like thank you like this is really cool it's a really good culture amazing company and yeah just being able to prioritize them is most important maybe I don't know this but Hayes is also really good at like managing a team I have a lot to learn from him in that regard they'll go on like a work retreats and everything I know quarterly work retreats I know quarterly yeah yeah so pick a spot said your expectation lower yeah no it's it's fantastic so we do uh we do morning huddles for 15 minutes we do Thursday meetings that are two hours we cap it at two hours but each department kind of goes through the weekly milestones um big wins stuff like that and then quarterly retreats because we're

remote yeah so i mean you guys see each other every day right every day yeah and so so ours is Artists might be a little different. I mean, we use that as a team bonding. How many people come together for your quarterly retreats? Five. That's awesome. Yeah. That's a good group.

Yeah. That's a good time. What are you most excited about in life right now? I see. Right now, on a personal or on a professional note? In general. In general. In general, just watching your.

baby grow into a human being is like just the most insane thing ever. I mean just like I think that was the thing that surprised me the most about becoming a parent which obviously we have a responsibility like to to to raise them in the best way that we can but I think when Caitlin literally came out of the womb with her own full personality I was like oh my gosh like she is already exactly who she's meant to be like we just have to foster it you know like we just need to be there for her and help her but like she knows who she is like she is already that person and so every day seeing that come out more and more is just the best thing in the whole world and then on a professional note I think one of the great things about sport is it does give you the opportunity to make a difference and to

give back but when you are still competing you don't actually have have the time to really do it. It opens all these doors for you. But while you're an athlete, you can't take any of those opportunities because your number one priority is training and competing. And so it's been so fun now that I have more time to actually pursue some of those doors that were open, specifically on the more philanthropic side of things. But one thing that I've been spending a lot of time with that I'm really passionate about, it's called Lorious. And it was founded by Nelson Mandela. And a lot of people in the States haven't heard about it, which is we're working on it.

But it's kind of crazy to me because it is just this massive global organization. And it's all about using sport for good. And so we're in over 250 countries and we support all these projects that are using a sport to make a difference in their community, whether that is diversity, whether that is gender, you know, giving girls equal opportunity, whether it is disadvantaged communities, giving them more opportunity, but they're using programs like baseball or soccer or football or surfing to essentially take kids in communities that are struggling and giving them opportunity and chances and helping them learn lessons. And it's just so beautiful. And there's so many of these projects. And we just help fund them. And we support, you know, professional athletes in their endeavors as well. And once a

year we do like a massive world sports awards that recognizes like the best and the best at what they do which is always so fun but the sport for good foundation piece to me is just amazing and so i was just made um vice chair of the board and um it has just been so educational and amazing and definitely feel like i have imposter syndrome sometimes but every meeting i feel like that goes away more and more which is a really cool feeling too. So it's just awesome to have the time and the opportunity now to really like spend on things like that that I wanted to so bad when I was competing. But couldn't. Hayes, what do you love most about Missy?

Honestly, how much she loves. And I mentioned this earlier. I love love. Yeah, it's her love is so strong. And, you know, watching her love. her relationship with her parents has been something that's very unique to me. I'm one of five, large family. My dad was traveling most of my life.

My mom was there doing her best to corral all the kids. And so the dynamic is very different. And when I met her, you could sense this foundation of just such strong love and friendship. And I thought that was so cool. And then as I learned, you know, about their relationship on our calls, and then when we were falling in love it was the same and it was just like how she speaks to you how every part of her communication her touch her just everything it's just there's so much love and it's very i mean it's just so warm i think that's probably it's very loving yeah

yeah i love your love it's so loving yeah what how would you describe your relationship with your parents i'm so it's pretty special it's pretty special it's pretty so I'm an only child and we have a really just unique story. So my parents were married for 24 years before they had me the surrogate. So my parents were in their 50s before they had me. And I am so grateful for that. It is so hard because I know that I'm going to get so much less time with my parents. Um, but again, you guys know anything can happen and nothing is guaranteed. But they had done everything they wanted to do in life when they had me. Like my dad had climbed the corporate ladder. He had achieved everything you wanted to do. My mom had done everything she wanted

to do in medical practice. And so when I came around, it was just three of us. And we did everything together all the time. And so they were just there every single step of the way. And, and, And they always included me in decision making for the family, which is something that I want to bring to our family that I love so much. It was never where the parents. I mean, I think there's, of course, certain situations where that's necessary, but it was, okay, we are going to talk about this as a family. And even though we might decide on doing what mom and dad thinks is best, we still want to hear your thoughts and we still want to see what you think about this. And I always just loved that. And again, even if we didn't go with what I was thinking, just the fact that they took the time to listen to me and respected my opinions as an 11-year-old.

You know, like, it's just that gives you so much faith and respect and love. And, yeah, I mean, I talk to my mom on the phone. I mean, she now lives 10 minutes away. We still talk on the phone every single day. Multiple times. Multiple times a day. Like, they're just, they're my best friends. Like, I just, I love them more than anything in the whole world.

And now that we're kind of going through a lot of health stuff with them, you know, it's just you just appreciate every second that you have with them. And we appreciate every second they're able to spend with Caitlin. And they are, they're very special. They're very special. And they just moved to Nashville in November. So we were very grateful that they were willing to do that and to be close to us. That was, we know, a huge sacrifice for them.

So now we have everyone here, which is the best. It's Rona Week. Now until Wednesday, rain or shine, you can always be building yourself a better summer. So head on over to Rona and save 35% on cans of 3.78 liter Rona interior paint. Give that room you keep saying needs a fresh coat of paint, a fresh coat of paint. Build it right, build it Rona. Conditions apply, details in store and more offers at Rona. it on CA we sell buckets too yeah I never realized that I'm an only child too

Andrew's one of five in the middle of five second oh dude the second oldest I'm closest to my family oh my gosh I feel like and he's like I love you even more yeah wait hold on I don't know tell me now if you need to but the tattoo story is that something you've shared is that like a thing Yeah, I mean, I'm working on it. No, no, no, it's, no, it's okay. Seriously, like, I think it's, it's just one of those things. And if I tear up, it's just, I'm an emotional guy.

So July, we were at a cousin's wedding, and Missy was supposed to be there. Yeah, it was a God thing. Very much so a God thing. And I'd struggled to find my faith. I grew up Catholic. And I think I just struggled to find it a little bit. And this was very much a God thing. But we're checking into our hotel and Missy, you know, chose, or where were you?

We couldn't come last minute. Our child's care ended up falling through. So we were going to go together. And then I ended up having to stay home with Caitlin. And so he decided to room with his mom. Yeah. So we're checking in. And I'm like, hey, you know, mom, let's room together.

Save the cost of a room. Be frugal. Yeah, and it was a good time, just some good time to spend with my mom. And the first night was rehearsal dinner. And she had gone to it. A bunch of the kids went out, went to the casino, had a good time. And so I'd come back in. She wasn't feeling great.

Went in early that night. And in the morning, you know, I was probably up there by 1.32. And then in the morning, she, I hear my mom fall. And so I'm like. Okay, that's strange. And it's right around the corner from where I was sleeping. And I gave it a minute. And I was like, oh, maybe she just tripped over something.

And so I walked over, non-responsive. And so put her back on my chest. My mom, stay awake, stay awake, stay awake. And so I was like, oh, shit. I'm like, something that's going on here. And so she starts to kind of doze off. And so I pick her up. And as soon as I pick her up, total dead weight.

gone and so I'm like all I wanted I was like I wish missy was here I wish my siblings were with me I have no idea what to do and so it was one of those times where everything like the weight and trying to remember everything to do and oh my gosh this is the last time I'm going to see my mom and so I stopped and I was like okay do I remember CPR and lifeguard training way back in the day and so I put my mom down And I just slowed down, took a breath. And I was like, okay, check for breathing. Nothing. Check for heart rate, nothing.

So like, okay, here we go. Like, this is real. So CPR, I did CPR for three and a half minutes, got her back, called everybody. I was like, get down here now. Like, I'm freaking out. Which is like an act of God that he was able to bring her back to CPR alone to begin with. Like that is so rare. Yeah.

And so got her back. My little brother comes hauling down. I'm like keep her up keep her up Call 911 They had people on premise which was great They got up there real quick Called her let her know what was going on But to you know the tattoo thing

It was one of those things where Our word Really foundation of our relationship is just be present Really be present And as athletes it's hard And so together We've really worked on being present with each other and I was like you know this is a good time I was I thought that I did a

pretty good job of being present in that type of scenario and so I just got this tattoo on um my leg and it's you know three triangles bottom one's open top one's open past present future they're all connected um the past is open because you're always pulling from the past to make the present and the future better and the future's open because obviously it's not here yet um and then the present triangle is closed and it's just a reminder to be present and i put it that way just keep moving forward no matter what happens good bad ugly keep moving forward all will be good and so that's the tattoo story dude i like made like a joking comment about a tattoo in the sauna he was like yeah he was like new tattoo and he shares his story and i was like oh

Oh, my gosh. Yeah. Thanks for sharing that. Oh, yeah. No, it's, I mean, it's one of those things where talking about earlier, it took a lot for me to find out my identity post-swimming. And I wasn't on the Olympic team or anything like that, but to her point, it's still the same. And, yeah, like, I don't know where I was going with this. but working on talking to people and finding therapists

and because I had always kind of been against it. I didn't know why. I had seen, you know, we had tried it with our parents getting divorced, didn't help any of the kids, didn't really result in anything super positive with my parents. So I was like, uh, not for me. And then he met me and I'm like, oh, therapy. it's the best

yeah so it's you know traumatizing for sure but I think it was just very much a God thing and glad I was there to help her and being present my goodness you never know

I know gotta be in the moment and appreciate all that you have you have it I feel like we could talk to you guys for hours because we're friends but thank you guys

for sharing so much Missy didn't say her favorite thing about that. I'm trying to let them go. I want to stay here as long as possible. That's not up to you. I brought a sleeping bag. Okay, Missy, closing question. Yes.

What do you love the most about Hayes? I was hoping you were going to ask it, too. There's so many things, but I think my favorite thing about you, the thing that I love the most is, your actions and your words are always in alignment. And I think that's something that is really hard to do, especially because your words are very powerful. Like you tell me every day that you are going to make Caitlin and I your priority,

and you work so hard, I know, with your company and everything that you do to support our family, and you set goals for that and yourself. You make goals to compete in an Iron Man, and you are training for that, but you back it up every single time and it's just it just leads to this like unending trust you know that I know whenever you say something not only do you mean it but you're going to follow through 100% every time I love you okay you guys are amazing just make that a clip right there I just watch that

over well yeah I mean thank you guys so much it's awesome having you you guys in Nashville and setting a good foundation with you all I'm sorry it took us so long to connect don't be we're here now we're in the present and thank you guys for I know you do so much and you understand as parents and as people that are working hard like it's hard to get out there and make new friends especially people that are in the same stage of life and you said this at last game night but huge reason of why you guys do that is to just bring people together and you're You guys are inspiring. You're doing it.

Thank you. It's just wonderful. So thank you. You're helping make Nashville a home for a lot of us. Now, everybody go to JCPenney's. Now run. Buy all of it. Is there somewhere we could check it out online?

I mean, I literally just posted everything on my socials today, but it's, it's on JCPenney. So if you just go to Women's Slim, it's on there, you'll see the collection. I think there's an Easter sale going on to that too. Yeah. So I'm really excited. Dang. Our kids' favorite thing ever is to swim, so.

I know, so we'll just, we'll bring them, we'll just get, I'll get you some suits. We'll come on over and we'll spend all the time in the pool. I will catch jet time and time again with him jumping off the side. I live for that. Oh, my God. No fear of that one. No fear. The look on the face, the soaking wet diaper, and just the big smile as he just flies in.

Whether or not I'm there, I know he'd jump. Oh, my God. No, yeah. that's the scary part thank you guys thank you i'm so excited just to close i'm like when i think about people that i want to no i was just that was a close i just no no it's okay this is about how it goes yeah that's our marriage right there's no i'm just i'm just excited because when i think about a friend that not only understands what we've been through like you two have this deep understanding of each other's experiences right

but also challenges us in all aspects of life business family friends like hobbies uh despite the fact that i'm way better at you than ping pong i think i think the understanding and the challenge uh is something that i just think like there's going to be a long friendship here so for sure. Agreed. You extended the clothes to get the ping pong statement in, didn't you? No. It was a heartfelt part.

Yeah. Anyway, we're a big fan to you guys. Thanks. Likewise. Very mutual.