Habits and Hustle - Episode 530: Lindsey Vonn: Building Mental Toughness Through Injury, Pressure, and Setbacks

Episode Date: February 20, 2026

Success at the highest level often hides a harder truth: discipline, sacrifice, and relentless pressure can coexist with loneliness, self doubt, and burnout. When winning becomes routine and falling is inevitable, mental toughness is no longer optional, it is survival. We dive deeper into this in the Habits & Hustle with Lindsey Vonn. We also chat about building resilience through failure, the real cost of elite performance, and redefining identity after retirement. Lindsey Vonn is an American former World Cup alpine ski racer on the US Ski Team. She won four World Cup overall championships and ranks third among female skiers behind Annemarie Moser Proll and Mikaela Shiffrin, with three consecutive titles in 2008, 2009, and 2010, plus another in 2012. What’s Discussed (05:48) Talent, work ethic, and the role of family in building drive (12:22) Early elite training and the mental toughness it demands (26:03) Career ending injuries and mental health after retirement (29:59) A pro athlete’s daily training balance of endurance, strength, and recovery (39:31) Entrepreneurship and social media’s mental toll (47:24) Red light therapy, recovery tools, and what actually helps injuries (53:45) Daily routines that support long term health (1:02:09) Building resilience and confidence through the Lindsey Vonn Foundation Thank you to our sponsors: Rho Nutrition: Try Rho Nutrition today and experience the difference of Liposomal Technology. Use code JEN20for 20% OFF everything at https://rhonutrition.com/discount/jen20. Prolon: Get 30% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program! Just visit https://prolonlife.com/JENNIFERCOHEN and use code JENNIFERCOHEN to claim your discount and your bonus gift. Therasage: Head over to therasage.com and use code Be Bold for 15% off  Air Doctor: Go to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code HUSTLE40 for up to $300 off and a 3-year warranty on air purifiers. Magic Mind: Head over to www.magicmind.com/jen and use code Jen at checkout. Momentous: Shop this link and use code Jen for 20% off  Manna Vitality: Visit mannavitality.com and use code JENNIFER20 for 20% off your order  Amp fit is the perfect balance of tech and training, designed for people who do it all and still want to feel strong doing it. Check it out at joinamp.com/jen  Find more from Jen:  Website: https://jennifercohen.com Instagram: @therealjencohen Books: https://jennifercohen.com/books Speaking: https://jennifercohen.com/speaking-engagement Find more from Lindsey Vonn: Website: https://lindseyvonn.com Instagram: @lindseyvonn Youtube: @LindseyVonn TikTok: @lindseyvonn Lindsey Vonn Foundation: https://lindseyvonnfoundation.org

Hi guys, it's Tony Robbins. You're listening to Habits and Hustle. Crush it. Before we dive into today's episode, I first want to thank our sponsor, Therasage. Their trite panel has become my favorite biohacking thing for healing my body. It's a portable red light panel that I simply cannot live without. I literally bring it with me everywhere I go. And I personally use their red light therapy to help reduce inflammations and places in my body where honestly, I have pain. You can use it on a sore back, stomach cramps, shoulder, ankle. Red light therapy is my go-to. Plus, it also has amazing anti-aging benefits, including reducing

signs of fine lines and wrinkles on your face, which I also use it for. I personally use Therisage trite everywhere at all the time. It's small, it's affordable, it's portable, and it's really effective. Head over to Therisage.com right now and use code be bold for 15% off. This code will work sitewide. Again, head over to Therisage, T-H-E-R-A-S-A-G-E dot com and use code be bold for 15% off any of their products. All right, guys, so today we have Lindsay Vaughn on the podcast. And by the way, I was yapping before, but I didn't even say how excited I am to have you here. Because, no, because talk about, like, we do all sorts of people on the, like, the best in

the world come on this podcast, but you are legit, like, the best in the world, come on this podcast. But you are legit, like, the best in the world at, like, downhill skiing. And I got to tell you, I don't know any other person that does what you do, like in the sport. Like, you've actually made it, I think, popular and famous. Like, I don't know. Am I the only one?

Because I don't know. Like, I really feel like, I know you, like, you're such an icon in your sport, like, an adrenaline junkie. Have you always had that type of, like, that adrenaline junkiness in it? Like, tell me, like, how you started, how you became you, really. I mean, I started skiing because I loved skiing, you know. I didn't get into racing because I was an adrenaline junkie. I just, I think I always pushed the limits. Like, I was always climbing trees when I was a kid. Like, you know, I was always forcing around and doing things that I was told not to do. And, you know, I think as I progressed in my life. And, you know, I think as I progressed in

my skiing career, you know, there's different disciplines in skiing. And as I grew older and started doing downhill, which was obviously the fastest in the sport, I loved it. The faster I went, the happier I was. And since then, you know, I'm especially now in retirement, like, I just do whatever adrenaline thing I can find, you know, whether it's wake surfing or e-foiling or like whatever, you know, jet skiing. I'm just like always trying to find something that, you know, gives me that adrenaline. But like nothing would ever come. You go down like what, 84 miles. I heard like your highest was 84 miles and out. Like that's that. That's been clocked. Yeah. That's crazy. It's awesome. It's fun. I'd say it's really fun. It's really, really fun.

I mean, like, how do you even work up to that? Like, I don't even know what can even compare. Like, if you are an adrenaline junkie, like going jet skiing is not even close to that. Like, I can go jet skiing. I can't go downhill skiing. I mean, it's kind of like driving a car, right? If you're always on the highway, you're used to driving fast, right? Yeah. And you see, you know, you see things coming and you can, you know, kind of anticipate what their drivers are doing. It's very similar to skiing. You know, if you're used to going fast, that's your natural speed.

And that's why training is important for downhill because you need to go fast. But that's just like, that's my natural habitat. It's going fast. It really is like your natural habitat. So, okay, can you start by telling, I mean, my audience, I mean, most people, if you're not living under a rock. But like if they are, how did you kind of begin this path? Like I started from, I think you were nine years old and you met like your role model. Yeah.

And then what happened? So I met Pekaboo Street who she's won, she won the Olympics in 98. And at that time, I think she'd won a silver medal from Lilla Humber, the Olympics before. But she was the only person that I really knew in skiing. And skiing wasn't on TV. So like we used to get the VHS tapes of like all the. winning runs, you know, of the season. And so, you know, to actually see someone from your sport live in person, like this kind of mythical, you know, superhero, it was amazing. And seeing her

made me want to be a skier. You know, it made it cool. It made it tangible. Made it something for me to look up to. And so after I met her, I came home from the ski shop. I was like an autograph signing. And I said, Dad, I want to be in the Olympics. And he, you know, straight face. He's He didn't even like smirk or laugh. He was like, okay, but you know, it's going to be really hard. Are you ready? And I'm like, I'm ready. Let's do it.

So he literally sat down with me and we made like a 10-year plan of like how it's going to make the Olympics. And because the next Olympics I would be eligible for would be Salt Lake City. 2002, I was 17 years old. So my family moved heaven and earth and we moved to Colorado so that I could, you know, pursue this crazy dream. And then I made it. And then it worked out. It worked out. So before you were nine, where you already skis up, if this person was, if this person

was your role model, your idol. Were you already skiing a lot? Yeah. At like three, four, when age did you actually put the first pair of skis on? It's like two and a half. And then before that, I was actually in a backpack that's probably illegal now, but I was in a backpack while my dad was coaching. Wow. Because he was going to law school and he was coaching on the side. So I would be like in his backpack, you know, he was skiing around. Really? Yeah. So I was like always on the mountain one way or the other. And then I started racing when I was about seven. Um, started traveling to actual ski camps in the summer when I was seven. When I was nine, I went to summer camp by myself in Austria with my team. Oh my gosh. Yeah. And that's when it kind of started

to take off. So did they know that you were kind of a prodigy already when you were six and seven, five? Or you're just like kind of like every other kid. No, it was like every other kid. I loved it. And I guess my dad tells a story that he came to one of my camps in Oregon. And it was raining and lightning and all the lifts had shut down because there was lightning. And I was out there on the mountain hiking, hiking up the mountain skiing down, hiking up the mountain skiing down, because no one was out there. I was like, this is perfect. I have a mountain to myself. I can train all day long and no one's here. And my dad says, you know, it was like, it was that moment that I thought maybe you have something because I'm nine years old, like out there. I mean, I literally

could ring like buckets of water out of my clothes after I was done. But I was happy. It was so happy being out there. So that's always like the question I always wonder and ask people, right? Like, is it something that's innate in you already or is it something that you can work on? Like, you already had that work ethic and passion, right? Like you did, because if you were doing that at six years old, I mean, everything else is kind of, it's easy to continue and be motivated when you have that. Yeah. What's your opinion? Do you think that someone could kind of create that type of drive or is it more innate in them? I think it's a combination. of, you know, environment cultivation and what you're innately given. You know, if you look at my

family, I'm the oldest of five kids. Right. We all turned out very differently, even though we had, you know, the same parents and, you know, relatively same upbringing, you know, I, my sister and I, who are closest to each other, were four years apart. My dad jokes that, you know, we wake up eating raw meat, like, we are, like, hungry. We're ready to go, you know, like, we're tenacious. You know, and the triplets don't have the same drive. They're very talented. They're very smart. But it's not that competitive drive. My sister has it more in business than in like she's not as physical as I am. I'm obviously more of an, I'm an athlete. But, you know, so if you think about the environment, we grew up the same, you know, the same opportunities. And I'm the only one that really became a skier. Like my brother loved it, but, you know, he never really truly pursued it. So, you know, I think it was, I was innately talented. Right. I had a drive within me.

I love doing it. And I was cultivated by my parents, by my grandparents, like, looking at my grandparents and parents as role models, you know, how hard they worked. And, you know, that, you know, there was so much available to me. There's never a, my family doesn't quit. You know, we're very driven, driven people. And I look at my grandfather and, you know, he would, I would spend every summer with them, my grandparents. and, you know, he was basically a construction worker and he left the house before I woke up and he got back. Yeah.

Right before we were going to bed and he just smelled of grease and sweat and he worked so hard. My grandmother would wait up for him every night and have a bowl of ice cream waiting for him, which is like the cutest. But just that type of work ethic, you know, you see that every day. And my siblings saw it, but it didn't really sink in the same way that did with me. So I don't know, I think it's a combination of everything, but you can't push, you can't, you can only lead someone to water. You know, you can't push someone into it. My siblings were all very, very talented, but I'm the only one that became a skier. So it's kind of. So that's really, that's, that's, that's so interesting because I mean, by the way, side note, do you know that you're, well, do you know, of course you know, you wrote a book called Strong is a New Beautiful? A year after I wrote a book called Strong is a New Skinny.

Oh, really? Yes. And they were both bestsellers. But yeah, and that's funny? And I never got a chance to tell you that. That's funny. I forgot to mention it when I saw you. Yes, isn't that funny? We'll have to like trade books. I know.

I was going to say like, and I keep on forgetting. And then like, again, when I was reading yourself, I'm like, oh my God, I totally forgot about that. And so I thought that was very funny. But I, and I know, it's not kind of really funny. But what I was going to say, I digress. But I was going to, I was going to say that I'm a big believer that talent is only a small piece. It really is what you do with it. There's a lot of people who are talented.

that basically waste it. There are a lot of people who are super smart, but they're not gritty enough and don't have the drive to go after it. So like it's, it's the people that you could have just a morsel of talent, but if you have the ethic and work ethic, you can go like to like crazy places like you did. Like you said, your family, like your sister. What do your brothers and sisters do now? Are they in business then? Or what do they do? My sister that's closest to me has her own social media branding company. Oh, okay. My other brother is an architect. My other brother is a paralegal, and my sister is a consultant for philanthropies. Oh, wow.

Yeah. So then your dad, you said, was also a downhouse skier. Yeah. And what happened to him? Did he never make it to as far as you, obviously? Yeah, he blew his knee out when he was 18. Yeah. Like, he was junior national champion.

He was on an amazing, you know, trajectory. And he blew his knee out. And at that time, you know, that was it. He went to the best guy at the time who was doing, like, all the Green Bay Packer surgeries. He was, you know, from Wisconsin. And, yeah, that's, you know, that's a career ender at that point. So he became a lawyer, a litigator, one of the best in the country. Really?

Yeah, he's, he's very driven, very driven. Definitely get that from him. Wow, so you definitely take after your dad. Is your mom like that then? My mom's very driven. I mean, she's incredibly smart. She actually was the reason why I said him won't, she actually was the reason why he did through law school.

She's, you know, she's incredibly smart. She's also very talented as well. physically like she was great at squash and tennis and you know she was just you know an amazing athlete but yeah i think i get my mom's positivity more so than anything else like how did you like okay so what was the training like back then like what was your day like when you were 10 11 12 going to before going to salt like walk me through a day in the life of a of you well i mean i didn't leave a normal life. I know. Well, when I'm, so 12, you know, my mom and I moved to Colorado. We had an apartment. Like, we just went out for the winter so I could train, train and veil. I went to an academy

kind of part-time. And the rest of my siblings were at home with my dad. And it was a really challenging time. And then eventually the next year, we moved out. Like, all of us moved out there together, except my dad was still working in Minnesota. So he was commuting almost every week back and forth from Minnesota to Colorado. I mean, I can't tell you how many, it's about 17 and a half hours from Minnesota to Colorado driving. We did that many, many times. My mom, like, raced back one night so I could make my middle school end of year party at the six flags. I mean part. Yeah, she drove through the night, like straight through the night. And we literally rolled up to six flags. Oh my God. That is so cute. And I got out of the car like, what all are like candy, no, like keeping us awake. And I rolled in. And I was,

My mom was the best. That's, so I always hear these stories about people like yourself who had a really supportive family that if it wasn't for the family unit being strong like that and do like sacrificing. Like it sounds like your family did for you. Like then you, then of course, thankfully it paid off for you. So what would happen? So you'd move there.

Like, what time would you have to wake up? How many hours are you skiing? Like what, how many hours are you spending on technique? Like, what is the tactical? I want to know like tacta. Like, what is the things that you're practically doing? daily to give people an idea like how much hard work went into it. Well, when I was a teenager, I mean, it was all still very strategic from like my dad's tenure plan. Right. It was about kind of

building up to the right races at the right time. So, you know, my preparation period was this, you know, summer. We would go to, you know, Mount Hood and Oregon. I would train for like six, seven weeks. I would ski. I would, we would literally be up before six o'clock every day, be on the mountain like seven, seven 30. And, train until the snow is too soft to ski. Then we'd have lunch. I take a nap. We do dry land training. So working out and we watch video. That's like, you know, wow. That's already what I was at nine years old. And that, so that's how many hours before the snow you said would go down? Like five hours, four hours? Yeah, probably five hours. Yeah. So five hours of skiing and then how long dry land

workouts? Um, yep, an hour, an hour to two hours. It depended. I mean, in summer camp, Like when I was a kid, we would go on hikes, you know, and like there's this really long hike that takes you up to a lake and, you know, we would do games and things like that. It wasn't, you know, incredibly difficult when I was a kid. But, you know, obviously as I progressed and got older, the physical training got quite a bit harder. You know, the on snow stuff was pretty similar. We're always working on technique, doing drills, doing training. That's all the same. But the physicality, you know, off the mountain got a lot harder. And one, when, when, When I was 15, I had to make the U.S. ski team, and there's a physical test. You have to pass. So my dad, you know, I had me doing 100 pushups and 100 sit-ups every day mandatory. And then on the weekends, I would go on the track, the high school next to the house. And I would run a mile. There's, like, different tests. I would do sprints, 440, you know, all those things. No, no, say what they are. I think this is like. It's like 40-yard dash, like the 100, the 400, you know, like.

For speed stuff. Yeah. It's like there was a, and they don't have it anymore, but it was kind of a, in some ways, rudimentary. you know, test. It was like, how many pushups can you do in 60 seconds? You know, like, it's kind of silly, but at that time, you know, I didn't, I didn't have any structured training. So, you know, it was, it was a hard thing for me to do. And at that point, you know, I realized I needed to shift gears and and do a lot more than I was to really make it to the next level. And then when I made the team, that's when it drastically changed because, changed because they gave me a program that was the same as like a 27-year-old. And I'm like, I don't know what I'm doing. I'm doing like,

power cleans and I don't know how to do. You were doing power cleans at 15? Yeah. Get out. Yeah. And I, I gained a lot of weight. I didn't, I didn't know, you know, there was a lot of new things that were going on. Totally. Yeah. And they also made me live in Park City, Utah, because it was right before the 2002 Olympics, and they kind of had everyone mandatory living out there. So it was, there was a lot going on and a lot of sacrifice and, you know, a lot of me being away. And, and also without your parents, So if you think about it, I've been traveling away from my parents since I was nine years old. Yeah. With a lot of unsupervised time.

So I kind of had to figure my way out through life, you know, on my own to a large degree. Yeah, like, you're independent, like, by yourself. Yeah. So then you had to, like, legit, like, give up everything in your life, like, social life. No friends. I never went to any proms or dances or, like, I never, I never, I, I, I, I, maybe had like three sleepovers my whole life like I never as a kid like I didn't have those same experiences but I also was traveling the world at nine years old you know I had like my little

wallet of you know all the different currencies and I was so proud of myself yeah the Italian lira and the German mark Australian Australian Schilling and I you know was like I was very independent and I was proud of that even though I missed a lot I still learned a lot I wouldn't trade it I think I get sad more so sometimes that I missed on the educational part of school. Not so much of socializing because, you know, you can do that anytime. You really can't. I mean, life is about choices, though, right? Like, you make choices and you and sacrifice.

Even like, you know, that's like, you know, that's a microcosm of everything in life, right? Like, if you want to have this, you have to sacrifice that. Like, nothing in life is just like free for all. Yeah. Especially at this level of what you were talking about. Yeah. What was the one quality that you think is why you were able to make it to the level that you did? Besides the work ethic and the drive and the grit.

I mean, there was a lot to do with grit. I think I also, my dad would say, mentally tough. Mm-hmm. You know, and he would say, he said that to me so many times as a kid. Like, you have to be mentally tough. And, you know, as a kid, you don't really know exactly what he's talking about. I'm like, yeah, okay, I'll do the push-ups. You know, I'll do the running, you know, and that's tough.

But you don't really know what that is until later in life when things really get tough. And then, you know, that's a quick way to separate yourself or not. Right. Or not. You know, so it's sink or swim. And so, you know, I had to figure my weight through it. And I think that mental component, like being mentally very strong was something that separated me from the pack. And also like that all the injuries that you endured and still had the resilience to come back.

and go. That's what I think makes you, like, forget about just in skiing in general. Like, I don't know anybody. Like, that's how I know you. Like, no of you, seriously, like, I don't know about skiing people, like, as much as I would other sports. Yeah. But, like, the fact, like, how do you even, like, train for that type of your, of that

stuff? Like, how do you teach people how to have that ability to fall and then have the confidence to get right back up again and try again and not let that deterior you from, from keep on trying and trying. I mean, listen, life is about falling and getting back up. That's what life is. And I think that's what sports teaches kids very well. It teaches them how to fail. It's not about the winning or being the best at something. It's about I failed at something, but that's okay. We're just going to pick ourselves back up and keep going, keep trying. And I felt a million times in skiing. Some of them were very bad. Some of them were not that bad. But it's about

that process of, you know, don't let it hold you back, you know, the ways you're never going to do anything in life. You know, if you're always afraid of falling, then you're not actually living. You're not skiing. You're just living in the past. So I'm very quick to forget about mistakes. I learn from them and I move on. Like, was there ever a time when, like, in all of that time that you fell and you were injured, that you had any self-doubt or that you're like, you know what, like, I can't do this again. It's too much. It's too hard. This injuries. Like, you had those neat, like, you had some crazy shit happen to you. Some nile stuff, yeah. And like, it didn't ever, but you're still up there doing it and then you win again. I mean, like, it's, like, it's

legit crazy. I never thought that I couldn't do it. I was worried that my injuries, when I blew out my knee for the second time, I was worried that my meniscus was too damaged and I wouldn't be able to ski the way I wanted to again. I never thought, I'm not capable of coming back. And once I'm on the snow, you know, that's my happy place. Right. You know, and that's why I work hard. I'm passionate about what I do. I love what I did. You know, I loved racing. There was no part about it that I didn't love, even the hard work, you know, it was not just about the winning, but the journey. Yeah. And it shaped me into who I am. And it's why I fought so. hard to keep what I love. You know, I would do anything, you know, work as hard as humanly possible

to come back from my injuries because I was being taken away from something I love doing. And like you just said, you just like said something that was, I think, very true. And I can invari, it's, it's for anybody. Like that's who you are, right? Like, how do you even separate like your Lindsay, like regular Lindsay, this normal person from like this like crazy, legendary skier? Like that is your identity, right? So if you're not doing it, And now you're not even doing it because you retire. Like I can't imagine on a like just on like a mental like level. How are you like how do you cope with that or how do you kind of transition from that to now?

It's been really hard. Yeah. It's been really hard. I mean, you know, I always knew that my career would end at some point. You know, every athlete their career comes to an end. But, you know, to not have something that you love doing so much, not having that there anymore is is really hard. And I had to figure out what is my identity outside of doing what I love. You know, for me, I had the analogy of skiing was my son and everything else revolved around it.

What time I woke up, what I ate, how many, you know, business deals I did or, you know, interviews I did, or how much, how many hours I spent in the gym, that all revolved around skiing. So every decision was actually really easy to make because skiing was always my number one priority. Wow. And so when that, when I literally went to bed and woke up and the next day, it was gone. And I'm like, whoa, okay, well, I have all these things. I have all these amazing opportunities. How do I, what do I do? How do I organize it? How do, you know, what's the priority? What's my passion? Who am I, you know, is a lot to take in. It took me like a year and a half to really get like my feet underneath me. Really? That's it. I thought it'd take way longer than that. Like that's, oh, that was a long time for me. I move at a fast page. Exactly. I'm going to say, like, I forgot who I was talking to. Right. Like, it's like dog years. Like a year and a half for you is like 12 and a half for most people. Literally. Yeah. I mean, literally, yeah. I'm all about finding sustainable ways to optimize performance, the kind of work that actually moves the needle on how you feel and function. And that's why I really need to tell you about Prolons five-day program. Most of us are chasing quick fixes that never get to the root of the problem.

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battles, no extreme restrictions, just a structured plan to let your body do what it's designed to do. repair, renew, and optimize. And right now, Prolon is offering 30% off site wide, plus a $40 bonus gift. When you subscribe to their five-day program, go to prolonlonlife.com slash Jennifer Cohen and use Jennifer Cohen to claim your discount and bonus. That's prolonlif.com slash Jennifer Cohen and use code Jennifer Cohen. So, like, what did you, what did you figure out? Like, who are you? Like, what is your identity without having that? Well, you know, a lot of people said I need to slow down. You know, it's not good to lead such a fast-paced life. And I realized why is it bad? Yeah. Why can't I work really hard and go after things that, you know, I want to achieve? Right. And so I've really leaned into that. You know, I felt I felt like I was being pushed, you know, to stop doing things that I loved. And now, you know, I realize that, again, that's who I am. That's my personality. And I also through, you know, therapy, I'm like, what is it about skiing?

What is the feeling that I get from skiing that makes me so happy? And I came to realize that it's the feeling that anything is possible. So when I sit on the starting gate, I look at it as this opportunity. I can do anything I set my mind to. And you know, when you work hard at something, like, you can do it. And that's what I miss. So I try to find that in things that I'm doing. And it's not my identity, but it's what drives me.

And I'm always the same person that I always have. been like, I'm just a girl from Minnesota who likes skiing fast, you know? Yeah. And skiing's not my identity, but it's also like part of me and I don't, I don't think that's a bad thing. You know what's so interesting because like when people were talk about you to me, like Brad or whoever, everyone said the same thing. Like she's so nice. She's so down to her. She's a girl from Minnesota, like a normal person, you know? And I wonder like, how do you keep your feet like on the ground? And it's authentic and it's real. I can vouch for it. Because when you've reached such highs like that and you've become like the best, literally in the world at doing something and you know, you don't know any different, right?

Because like you said, since you're nine years old, you were like doing all of this. You've never had like a regular life like most people in the world. Yeah. Right? Like how were you able to kind of be that way? Is it just because you had great parents? I mean, it has to be more than that. I think, you know, it's, it's my family. Like, my siblings definitely are like, I don't care how many times you've won. Like, I will always kick your ass, you know. Like, it's that type of, you know, love that we have. And I think, you know, I go back to Wisconsin with my family and my cousins and, you know, my aunts and uncles. And it's just, it's all the same. Like, we're all just, you know, roasting marshmallows on the fire pit and, you know, talking about life. And it's, it's all the same. Nothing. Nothing.

nothing changes like i'm not any more special than anyone else just because i want a ski race like we're all we're all the same and and you know again i think skiing i ski because i'm passionate about it because i love it not because i'm searching for fame or you know my priorities i think have always been in the right place and so i've i've never deviated from like my morals and values and who i am and you know i i don't know all those things things I think together have helped just just maintain who I am. Did you have to retire because of your injuries? Yeah, because I would have kept going. Yeah, like that was basically like you would have kept on going for sure, right? Oh yeah. The year I retired, I retired in February of 2019 and that was

my last race was the World Championships. I'd had three surgeries that summer and I crashed in November and I tore my LCL and I had three fractures in my civia. So I was skiing on. on like nothing. And it took me a month just to like of rehab just to get back to where I could ski like moderately okay. And then I had trained just to get back like that last race. And so it was I was, I felt like I was being held together by duct tape. Like I was, you know, it was hanging on by a thread.

Legit like a thread. Literally. Literally. So I knew when I crashed that last time in November, I was like I can't, I can't do this anymore. And that was in my documentary, that was kind of that moment when I'm in the hospital crying. And I like, realized then, I'm like, this is, this is it. I can't, I can't do this anymore. I mean, but so Lindsay has, it's a great, it's a great documentary, by the way, in HBO. It's great. And your last book was called Rise. And the first book was called Strong as the Do Beautiful.

Yeah. I think hilarious. I just wanted to say that, I guess, like, you can still, technically, that you can still ski leisurely, right? Like you're able to do all that. But you talk a lot about your like mental health and depression and anxiety. And I would imagine skiing was a really amazing outlet for that. Yeah. Right? And also it's a great distraction.

You have something to do. I'm great at distracting myself. Yeah. Well, yes. I would imagine. Would you distract yourself with now then? Just fitness stuff? Yeah.

Because you're a hardcore fitness person now too, right? Mainly. I mean, I still work out. as hard as I do because I need that kind of physical outlet. And, you know, again, like deep dive when I'm thinking about it, when you're racing, you're also very present. Like, there's no room for social media or, you know, what people are saying about you or what I have to do tomorrow or, like, what business deal I have. You are so present, there is no room for anything else. Otherwise, you literally could die. So for me, you know, I miss that as well, just being able to block out all the

noise. And when I'm in the gym, I have that same feeling. Like, I am just focused on me working really hard. And it's nice to shut. It's like my meditation almost. You know, everyone likes to do that Zen stuff. And I, I, I'm not me. Kicking my own ass. You know, that's, that's, and people, you know, again, it's like, I don't know, some people criticize me for it, but I really don't care. It's, this is what I need to do. I mean, that's, to me, this whole, it's such nonsense. Because you're, because I always say also, also, my meditation is like running because it, Zen. me out and I get my best ideas and I think really well. A lot of people say that.

Right? Yeah. And they're like, no, you have to sit there on a pillow and do this whole. I'm like, everyone's different. Everyone's different. Yeah. I think it's so ridiculous to think that every, that should be working for everyone across the board.

Correct. Are you able to run with the knees that you have? Absolutely not. No, you can't run. I haven't run. I've run once since 2013 and it was a horrible, horrible idea. Oh, I can only imagine. I, like, made it eight minutes and then I was like dragging my leg behind me.

I can't even know. imagine. So what do you do for cardio then now? Biking, elliptical. And how much would you do a day? I mean, I minimum do 30 minutes, biking, elliptical, minimum 20, and then I'll usually go an hour if I have the time. But I would rather do like 30 minutes and then do like a hot cold contrast than like an hour and no contrast. I think for me and like the inflammation that I get in my knees and my body, it's important for me.

me to do that. So do you do time management. Like I do as much as I can with the time I have. I was going to say, so like how much time are you dedicating to, I want to know all of that stuff. I want to know like exactly how your workout. Because this is like now, this is what I like to do. Right. So do you like how much you're working out of like what is your daily regimen now? And then, but before you tell me your daily regimen now, I want to work chronologically. You said what you were doing when you were 12. Okay. Then when you were like hardcore like in the midst of like really in it. Yeah. What was the day in the life? Like how much were you training? What were you doing? Were you working on balance? Were you working on like hand-eye coordination? Like I love all this.

Have you watched Formula One that, you know, these, um, I know those guys so well. I, I don't want to watch. You don't want to. It's like, it's going to ruin me. Yeah. I'm like, I'm the only person in the United States that's like watch Formula One since forever. But I, you know, I've watched like it's good for people to understand the drivers and like why it's so difficult. Yes. You know, the complexities with the team and it's very it's very interesting but yeah if you're talking about like me in my prime i was doing three workout sessions a day i would work out before breakfast um which is what time like i need the details okay details so i would work out usually eight to nine cardio and then i would have breakfast what kind of cardio at that would you do usually biking usually interval biking

so that i could get my metabolism going it was more of like a like a hit you know no workout. Hit training for an hour? Yeah. Okay. But not, you know, I was, all of my cardio workouts were very controlled by heart rates. So, you know, I did like steady states. So, you know, you're going five minute intervals at 150 to 155 bees per minute.

Or, you know, I was doing threshold workouts where it's a shorter time like two to three minutes at, you know, 170 to 180. You know, it was very, very specific and very specific reasons, you know, in ski racing, you're only actually skiing for about two minutes. Yeah. But you have to also sustain that type of endurance for the whole winter. So we obviously, you know, you train for three to four minutes, you know, at that same pace. So you can maintain that endurance throughout the season.

So, yeah, cardio in the morning for an hour usually breakfast, you know. What would you eat for breakfast? Usually eggs, some sort of, you know, vegetable, omelet, whatever. And fat, like, it's an almond butter and a banana as well, something like that. Now I do a lot of protein shakes after my workout. I still love working out in the morning. Okay. But protein shake right after.

Then I would take a little break. I would do weightlifting. Usually two hours of weight lifting, at least, or else athletic training. So I'd be on the track doing agility, uh, sprints, hill sprints, sled pushes, like kind of all that. Like functional stuff. Yeah. All that functional fitness.

So again, it would rotate between strength and functional fitness. And then I would have. another snack break, a nap, and then I would do another afternoon cardio session. And then after dinner, either I have a protein shake and massage or I would have dinner and then a massage. And what would you have for dinner? Protein. I tried not to have carbs at night. So I would always have carbs in the afternoon. In the morning, sometimes I had oatmeal as well.

Wow. Okay. So how about fruit? Were you a fruit person now? Not really. That was never your thing. I know. I like the bananas and almond butter thing, but it's not really my thing. So then how would you like fruits and vegetables? I know. Well, now do you eat the, but you look, I mean, listen, you're still like an amazing shape.

I mean, it's like you're probably not doing the three. I'm definitely not as regimented. I mean, why would you be, right? But wait a way and so I'm like so fascinated with this. So then you do these three like three workouts a day. Then you're eating very precisely. So even then, like you can't go out for dinners. can't do anything because it has to be. I do sometimes, but only on the weekend. So like, yeah,

but, okay, seven days, there's seven days in a week, obviously. So I would do those three sessions probably Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, half day, Thursday, Saturday, half day, Sunday off. Did you ever get tired? Like, was your body tired? Like, just- built up, like, you work out your whole life and you build into that. Like, you don't just wake up one day and say, I'm going to do three sessions today. No, of course not. But, like, you get, that there's a physical, you know, endurance level, you're able to sustain that type of, you know, working out. I think there was a point in which I was working out too much. Yeah, but I was just winning all the time. So I was like, why am I changing my routine if it's working? But then,

you know, obviously I got injured then and I had to change everything I did. So when you get injured, are you not able, like when you broke your ankle, like, I mean, that's a massive injury. Like, how long does that take you out for like months, right? Like, almost like six weeks. That's it? I mean, I'm in a ski boot, so it's kind of like a cast. It's kind of, yeah, you're right, so you can get away with it a little bit more. I like the push limits. It's always negotiation. This is amazing.

This is like the part that I find fascinating. I go into a doctor's office and like, okay, you tell me eight weeks, I tell you six weeks. You know, like that's, we go back and forth and every doctor knows that I'm going to push the limits. But I always know, like, I know my body well enough. And I also know medicine well enough. I can read. If you ever get hurt, I'll read your MRI. Really?

Okay. Good. I know. what I'm talking about. Like, I don't just, you know, blindly say, you know, I don't care what you say, I'm going to come back faster. Yeah, yeah. I know exactly what I'm doing and I will read the MRIs and I'll know. I've made mistakes in my life and I will not make that mistake again. Because you know, it's just saying like God, like, you know, you're very lucky because you did, as much as you've gotten hurt, nothing that was catastrophic, like going that fast. Yeah, I mean,

people have been paralyzed. People have lost their likes. I've seen it many times. And like nothing like that thankfully has ever happened to you. That's my perspective. It could always be worse. That's a great, that's a great mindset. No matter how bad of a day you're having, it can always be worse. That's a great mindset to have. And you really think this way all the time?

Yeah. I mean, I got that perspective from my mother. You know, she had a stroke when she gave birth to me and she was disabled with her ankle. So she couldn't, her balance was really bad. So she couldn't run. She never skied with me. Like she really struggled physically. and, you know, she was brilliant.

She's a lawyer. But, you know, because she couldn't do those physical things with us, you know, that didn't stop her from trying. And it also didn't stop her for being positive. She was always positive. And so, you know, when I get injured, I'm like, well, if I have surgery, if I work hard, I can come back. My mom doesn't have that luxury.

So I owe my mother and myself to push myself to get back. See, I love that. I love your attitude and your mindset. And it's also like it's because it's real, right? Like this is like, no, you're like a living proof of it. Like you actually live it. You're not just saying these words. Like a lot of people, like motivational people like, oh yeah, just la la, they've never

done a damn thing in their life, right? But you actually have. I mean, where did the depression and anxiety kind of start coming in? At what age and like, and it doesn't sound to me. I mean, I don't know you, right, that well. But it sounds like you're ready to train your brain to be very positive. to look at the glass, you know, half full. Yeah.

So, like, what was kind of happening that that was... It was when I was a teenager. You know, I was living in Park City by myself when I was 16 years old. And, you know, it was really hard. I had no support, really, and I was really depressed. And I was just pretty lost. And, you know, my depression, like, ebbed and flowed in my career. There are times when, no matter how successful I was, I felt extremely alone.

And, you know, also after so many injuries, you know, sitting at home in your bed by herself and pain, it's not a great place to be. Right. So I think I've, again, learned different coping mechanisms. And when I skied, skiing was an outlet for me. Like, I find so much joy in skiing also because eventually when I was older, I used it as a crutch. You know, that was like my, that was me dealing with everything that I had going on. Like any personal, the reason why I always still was successful despite all the shit that was happening around me is because I internalized it. I used it as fuel.

And then when I skied, I let it all out. Right. So that was my therapy. Totally. And then what is, and now is the therapy? And then do you feel like the anxiety has subsided because it sounds more circumstantial based on where you were in your life? I think it was pretty circumstantial. Yeah.

But again, like it ebbed and flow. And I think it's always, for me, I try to just have a balance. Yeah. You know, I've been, I've journaled since I was nine. And it's just a wave. I didn't have anyone really, you know, especially when I was on the road. So, yeah. It's like that was how I balanced everything and I still do it.

And so I think it's, everyone finds their, you know, their way of managing themselves. And so I've had different escapes in my life. But now I feel like I'm in a good place. where I really, I'm very, I'm pretty balanced, you know, even though, like, if I, if my mother had died and I wasn't in the place that I was, I don't know if I'd be functioning. Right. You know, so I, I'm happy with, you know, what I've learned in my life to get me to this place where I'm okay. And what, like, what is, like, where are, like, where are you now? Like, I mean, I don't mean, I don't mean, I don't mean physically, but I mean, you know, you, you know, you wrote, you write the books, you start a production company, you're, uh, invest in businesses. You're, you're, you're very entrepreneurial with the goggles. And what else do you have the goggles? I have my ski line. Um, yeah, I, I, I'm now an advisor to a, of sports fund, actually, with Avenue Capital. So there's, like, a lot of things that investment. That's amazing. Yeah. I'm really. Yeah. I'm really. Yeah. I'm, excited about like Michael Strayhan and Candace Parker and stuff green that's a great that's great yeah

really excited are you going to be doing like the sports vertical I guess of just we're solely sports so avenue is like you know such a successful group and we're just specifically on this sports fund wow so does that mean all investments that you do will go throughout avenue or yeah well at least for the sports side yeah for the sport side I still will have my individual you know investments like I invested in LASC and real salt lake and I saw that that that's so cool I I love that. I love investing in women. I love, you're also a great, I mean, like, legitimately a great role model for, for women, right? Because like I said, like, especially like here and with social media and there's so many people who are posers or like they say these, they talk a lot. They give a lot of advice, but they've never lived it, worked it, done it. I think it's hard for kids is also decipher, you know, what that means and there's so much disinformation and Instagram is not reality. And most people, you know, even like the last couple, days. I mean, like, oh, you're everywhere. You're doing everything. You're so, you know, you live such a great life. I'm like, I'm fucking tired. Yeah, exactly. You know, like, I'm so

tired. I've been, you know, traveling nonstop and I love it, but it's also not glamorous. You know, it's, I'm trying to get from point A to point B as fast as I can to get to something else. And, and I love that. I love that hustle. But it is not glamorous. And Instagram is not real. And so I, I, I don't envy kids these days because it's, is a very hard world. It's terrible. And especially even just talk about mental health, right? Like, mental health has gone, like, the- Mental health has gone, like, the- part of me as an adult to, like, mentally be okay reading the comments that come on my feet. And especially for kids, that's come, those bullies are coming from their inner circle. I, I at least can

pretend that some, you know, somebody living in their mother's basement, you know, 100%, you know, that's easy for me to pretend. But for kids, like, no, these are, that's actually my class that I thought I was friends with. A hundred percent. It's really, really awful and it's horrible. Do you spend a lot of time on social media, though, or not really? I try not to. I mean, I can't say that I'm immune to it.

I definitely have a lot thicker skin that I used to. I have to. But, you know, I try to use my platform in a positive way. You know, I try to show people like how hard I'm working and what you can do. And, you know, with my injuries, you know, there's, I get so many messages from. especially from teenagers who, you know, are in high school or college sports and they've blown their knee out and they're asking me for advice or help and even professional athletes that are asking me for help. And that's what I love. I think social media can connect you in amazing ways.

It's not all about, you know, people hating you, but sometimes those are the only comments that you see. Right. And it's hard to shut that out of your mind as well. I agree. Like it's always that way. Like you could have a million positive. You just see the one. You just see that one negative. And that can to spiral you out of control. I have like a filter on like things that if people say, I don't see it. Could you, how do you filter out just negative comments? It's just keywords. You have like a keyword filter. Really? Yeah. I didn't know you're able to do that. Oh my gosh. Get into that. I know. I know. I had no idea. I should really kind of, can you tell me afterwards how to do that? Show, show me. I will. I had no idea. Yeah. Because that would be so helpful. People swear, they say like,

I hope you die. But also some of this is this nonsense. Like these are people most of the time. There's some pretty fucked. There's pretty messed up people out there. That's actually dangerous more than anything. Like I find like you have to be super, super careful because now people are so much more, you're easier to, like it's easier to get.

So I have a defense dog. You what? I have a defense dog dog. You do? Yeah. I just, I feel safer. Because like with social media and like everyone knows where you are. and like it's just I feel safer.

That's amazing. Yeah. I love that. Yeah. I didn't know this. So wait. So she's not here. I don't feel threatened.

You don't feel. I don't, I don't think that I think that you could probably. She'd probably puddle with you. Okay. I was going to say, but I feel like faith that you could probably like, like demolish me yourself. Because like I, but okay, but what's okay.

What's your routine now then? You said like you, you don't, you're not as obviously as vigorous as you were. But you work out every morning for how, It's not every morning, but I mean, it's like, it depends on travel. Like, for example, this morning. How long are you away now this time? This, in this location, I'm here for two and a half days. Okay. I go another location for two days and then I'm home. God, Christmas, I'm so excited. Oh my gosh. That's crazy. It's good. I mean, like, I'm going to see my dad on the weekend until it'll be nice or on Monday. Forget what day the week it is. Good to see some kids. I'm going to stop by this. the ski school and said how to some kids. It'll be good. But like, for example, this morning. So I woke

up at 7.30. I was on the bike by 8. I did 40 minutes of cardio. I did 10 minutes of sauna. I jumped in the pool, which is not heated. It's really, really cold. Like a cold plunge then, basically. Basically. Yeah. And then I took a shower and I was on a board call and nine o'clock. I had hair and makeup come at 1015. I was on the board call while I was finishing hair makeup. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I left at 11 o'clock, went to my first TV show, and then I had another podcast, and then I had you. What podcast did you do before me? Doing Wade. Oh, okay. Not like it makes a difference. I'm just, I just wondering. I'm like, oh, okay. Let me share my daily routine game changer with you. It's the Momentus 3. I've been using their protein, their creatine, and Omega 3 combo for months now,

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Trust me, you'll be happy you did. Do you do the red light? Do you believe in the red light for like a, like a, what red light? Like in general. Infrared? No, just like red light therapy. Like would you ever, you know, I have a bad, whatever, like ultraviolet. No, just like a red light. Like infrared, I guess you would call it. Well, I have like an infrared light set, like sauna. Yeah, those, you know. Yeah, but I'm talking about a red light for your face. Like, do you ever do any red light for injuries for inflammation? Well, listen, I think there are some strong enough lasers or red lights, however you want to call them, that can stimulate healing.

Yeah. Is it going to fix you? Absolutely not. No. They're not going to fix you. No. Is it going to make it feel slightly better? Maybe. Is it worth it? Probably not. Probably not, right? Like, if, normally if you have a problem, like if you have, if you have pain somewhere, it's usually coming from somewhere else. So, and normally I would say most people can't figure out where that is, where is coming from. So you need to go to, that's a hard thing. I can't even recommend somebody or something because most people won't be able to figure it out. But chiropractors are pretty good at figuring it out.

Like when my rib goes out, it's because my right hip is too tight. It's pulling me. Yes. So, you know, but that to me is it, I agree with you. But you have to go to someone who's really good and knowledgeable. And that's the really hard part. So sometimes I just say, you know, manage it the best you can because your body will adapt. Unless you can really dig in and do the therapy to get it back, you're better off.

just kind of adapting to the way it is, unless it's pain. It's super painful. But like when my ribs go out, it's really painful. So I have to figure it out. That's really painful. Do you ever get sciatica? No. You ever get that? Do you prefer sata or the cold plunge? What do you think is a better, like a more, like a better modality if you have to pick one or the other? Well, so you're not supposed to do cold plunges after you weight lift. Right, right? Because it doesn't, it stops. So when you, you're actually tearing your muscle. Yeah. I think. So it stops your bleeding. So it restricts your, your veins. So like you're not, you're not able to recover. You're not able to repair. So it's like you're not building anymore. It stops.

Okay, wait, wait, wait. Say that again because that's interesting because I want to make that into a clip for people. I'm not a doctor. So you're probably no more than most doctors, by the way. But say that again. So if you, this is what my trainer told me and I believe everything he says. But if you go into a cold plunge after you weight lift, it's, it's, it's, When you weight left, your muscles are being torn apart. You're actually tearing your muscle. And then it rebuilds on top of itself to make it even stronger. So if you jump into a cold plunge right after, you're stopping, not only the tearing, it's bleeding, your muscle's bleeding.

It's not going to be able to repair itself. Like, it's not going to be better than what it was. Right, right, right, okay. It's going to stop the healing. So normally you should get in a cold plunge, you know, like after a cardio. Cardio's fine. You're not building anything besides. cardiovascular strength, totally fine,

a jump in the cold plunge. The sauna is good, but sometimes, like, for me, if I jump into the sauna without the cold plunge, I'll get too inflamed. Really? Yeah. If you jump into the sauna without the cold plunge? Yeah.

So I'm a little bit odd in that with all my surgeries, when I go into a hot tub, when I go into a sauna, my circulation gets going, and then my knee starts to blow up. Wow. So I have to be, like, really conscious of how long I'm in there and make sure I get into the cold plunge after. And, like, my body is a constant, like, it's a job. I have to work really hard just to maintain it.

And part of the reason, not only for my mental standing, do I go into the gym, but I also have to to not hurt. If I stop working out, I will literally fall apart. I mean, I totally understand what you're saying. I feel you on that. But at the same time, you have to be so careful with all that. You got to work around so many of these injuries. I know how to do that. Right.

So you try to be super conscious. Yeah. So I know what I have to do. What's, you know, if something's hurting, you know, where it's coming from, you know, when I am not able to work out enough, my back starts to hurt because I'm not doing the posterior chain work. You know, it's all correlated. And every cause has an effect. And when you understand your body better and, you know, through working out through therapy, you can self-heal yourself in a lot of ways.

Like you can figure out how to make things better on your own without therapy. And I have to do that because I don't have access all the time to therapists anymore. Right. But it's something that you learn. You know, it's not, I didn't just wake up and, you know, I'm a professional athlete, so I must know what I'm dealing with. A lot of professionalities don't know. Right. They couldn't tell you why something hurt.

or, you know, I have back pain and they have no idea that's coming from their hip flexors. There's a lot of athletes that's a lot of athletes. It's not just professional athletes. Everyone can learn more about their body and being more in tune with it and feel better because you understand it better. Is there anything that you can like tell us me that you found that works really well, that maybe is not so mainstream like a sauna or a cold plunge that or it's a different modality that like another type of Honestly, like, because when you sit all, like I sit a lot. I'm in planes a lot. You know, most people sit a lot in the office. Any type of like chest stretching, like open your thoracic is that changed my life. Because I'm always, and I'm hunched. I'm, you know, my hip flexors. So if I can do like, you know, lunge stretching with like my, you know, my arms, like getting like my, my, my, my, uh, my lats, my lats, my chest, like, like, my, my, my chest, like, my, my, my, my, my, my, my arms. Like my stretching my chest helps me so much. Really?

Which is I honestly never would have thought of that. But I have this amazing therapist, Lorenzo, and he's like a chiro pack. He's a freaking magician. But anyways, most of my problems come because my chest and hip flexors are too tight. I'm too tight. So like stretching, it's not like muscular stretching. It's like your mobility. Mobility.

Yeah. It's mobility stretching. Do you believe as supplements? I do take anything like collagen or, you know, omega-3s or... I feel like I'm so broken that, like, that's just not going to help me. Like, I'm not just like duct tape might eat again. Yeah. I mean, I do still take, like, collagen and I have protein powder.

And I do B-12 and, like, vitamin D3 just because in the winter I don't see the sun enough. But nothing like, nothing more than that. I could get more into it, but I honestly, and a lot of people, A lot of studies, a lot of doctors tell me that it does help, but I honestly just don't think it does. Yeah. You know, it's so interesting I find because I find the biohacking group of people, I speak to so many of these people. And they'll tell you 97 things that they do in their morning routine where it's such a long list where it's practically dinner time by the time they finish their morning routine. Most people don't have that kind of time.

I mean, that's what I'm saying. And it's so unrealistic. Yeah. But the people who are actually like you, let's say, it's like they're. don't buy into this. They don't believe in that, like, a lot of it's like a money maker, really. You know what I mean? Like, it's the basics that really work. Well, everyone wants to be young. Everyone wants to be young. There's a lot of money to be made, you know, people want to profit and, you know, use you for that. And honestly, it's like, you got to live your life.

What, there's a balance, you know, take care of yourself. Yes. Eat right. You know, do the things you can do, but also, like, have some ice cream. Do you eat ice cream? Yeah. You do? Yeah. Like how often are you eating ice cream. Like my friends for my birthday, they instacarded me like eight cans, containers of venigaries. Did you eat them all? Not all of them. But like I sit down, you know, and I'm like I have really bad day and I'll watch Law & Order and I'll just like go to town. Yeah. It was something like my family always did together. It was like both my parents were lawyers and it's the only thing we ever did was Law and Order Saturday Night Life. And for some reason, and makes me feel better.

Right. Like Olivia Benson, Mariska, now that we're friends, like, it literally makes me extremely happy. Wow. That, like, she makes me feel better. That is amazing. My family would have watched me and my sister or my mom, my dad never watched it, but golden girls.

And it's because of that, it's like, it's so nostalgic. If I see it on TV, now I still like, it makes me feel so much better. Yeah. Yes, exactly. Yeah. So you're not someone who's like, I'm a vegan. I won't eat this. I'm like an intermittent faster.

It's like balance, you know, like, are you an intermittent fast? No. Okay, good. No. The only thing I, I, I would highly recommend. Like, I did the, um, the glucose testing. I did a couple months of that just to like see, you know, what my, what my body was reacting to. One thing that I recommend not doing is eating any food on a plane ever.

Because of the high sodium or is it, I don't know what they're putting in it, but it is, it did not sit well with me. My, that is like, I could eat three gallons of ice cream and it wouldn't spike my insulin as much as like anything I ate on an airplane. Really? Like any, like, anything. So like, I don't know what they're putting in it. I don't know. Any airline, I'm not naming any, like, it was anything that I touched. And I don't know. Some people say it's because it's high altitude, which I think is totally BS. I think it's mainly just there's preservatives and and sugars and because they want to, they want to taste good. Of course. All these extra things. And my insulin just spiked so high. So I do not even plain. I always pack my own food that I carry with me, even if it's a short file, I also have some almonds, but I never eat on planes. That's a great tip, actually. That's a really great tip.

Lots of water. Yeah. And also, because you can feel it, right? Like, you feel when you eat that food. Oh, I feel so bad. Like, if something happens and I don't have my food and I'm starving and I have to eat something, I feel horrible. Yeah.

No, I totally agree. And it's like, you feel horrible for, like, days after, too. Yeah. It's not just like for like an hour. And my knee, like, my knee swells, you know. My knee is like, it's kind of like a little like health meter. I was going to say it must be, right? Yeah.

That's crazy. You travel too much, like any of the things, drink too much wine. It's like, do you drink alcohol often, not often? Only tequila. Lobos. Oh yeah. Okay, right. Only tequila, that's right.

Yeah. What's it called? Lobos. Yeah, and I'm an investor. You are? Mm-hmm. Okay. Is it a premium?

Tequila? It's premium. Yeah? Yeah. I mean, they have, you know, mescal and anjeho, extra neovin or Pasado. See, I'm not a drinker, but if I do drink, that's the only thing I'll do this. It doesn't make me swell.

I checked my insulin. Like, it's the only thing it doesn't spike me. I used to be a really heavy gin and tonic or gin and ginger ale. And gin, I love gin, but it's a pretty big depressant. More than, like, vodka? Yeah. Really? Vodka is just alcohol and water.

And so what is gin? Like, isn't that the same? I mean, I don't know. It's a longer fermentation. and there's also more sugar in it. So that's why it becomes more of a depressant. I think so. I'm pretty sure.

Really? I didn't know that. How about whiskey? I know nothing about that. Don't quote me on this podcast, but I might have to put it about whiskey, but I'm 99% sure that's accurate. Really? Okay. So you eat every meal, so you eat your breakfast, your lunch, your dinner.

You eat meat, you eat chicken, you eat everything. I eat vegan. Like, I have beyond meat, I have just eggs. I have a balance. Like, I'm not crazy about the food. No. Were you ever when you were. in your prime prime training like do you ever get body issues or body image issues?

Yeah for sure. I when I won the Olympics, I, you know, I was on, I started to be on like red carpets for things and I'm like, I look around me and like, I don't look like anyone else here. And, you know, I would go do fittings and they're like, yeah, this sample size doesn't fit you. And I'm like, okay, well, how do, what do I do? Can I wear something? Yeah.

You know, it was definitely apparent that I wasn't the norm. And I definitely had some body images, body image issues after that. But it was only like two-year stint. And I just was like, F it. I'm good. How did you get over it, though? That's like one thing that I would think. I lost the World Cup title by three points. And I got over it real quick. Really? Yeah. So do you think that was a, do you think that affected your really? I didn't eat as much as I should have. And I just, I was more. conscious of the way I looked instead of just working as hard as I could. And I definitely think it had an effect, especially on the beginning half of my season. And I lost by three points. And it was a tough pill to swallow, but I got over it pretty quick. And then ever since then, you're like, I'm not doing that anymore. I'm not, you know, my body has a purpose and I want to win. And, you know, if I don't look the same, that's fine. So you know, it's so interesting to hear you say that because I remember, like, the, The things that you know you kind of hear in the back is like you were known to be like the hottest like girl athlete. You don't you're looking at me like I'm crazy.

You were like, don't you're, you must know, you must have heard this. You were like sports illustrated swimsuit. You did the Maxillust. Yeah, but like no, Maxim stuff. I'm also like, I don't know. I'm not. I don't have like a. You never heard this before?

This could be the first time you're hearing this. No, I don't view myself in that way. But okay. I'm happy to be like, I'm happy that, you know, a strong athlete is in, like, swimsuit issue because I think that's important. A hundred percent agree with you. But I don't look at myself as like, ooh. But you don't remember, like, maybe it just because in the zeitist, you know, you hear these things. And it's because it's you.

You don't realize it's you. You know what I mean? Like, that was you. That's, that's you. Yeah. But that's how, it's interesting when you hear girls like yourself who had a bot, like, who had that body. or you had that like a little bit of that stint of insecurity with you how you looked when you're obviously so beautiful i mean you really are and that's it's all the eye of the beholder it's not obvious

yeah but that but i'm telling you like that's like that was like the you were like the hot like super hot girl athlete you don't remember this no but like am i this is also the problem am i like do you know me more for that or do you know me for winning i know i personally I remember you for being like the like a badass. Like if there's going to be a real female badass, it would be you. Like that's what I remember. Because this girl was like fear. Like that's how I remember you.

I can accept that. Fearless. Resilient. Because I remember you just kept on coming back for more, more, more like you would get hurt. Like I thought while this, if talked about a role model for women and for girls and for young girls, this is like there's no one better. because like you would show like, you know, it doesn't matter. Like if you got knocked down, you got injured, you got hurt, you got right back up. And not only did you get back up, you proved that you can still be a, you can still win.

You can still do all these things. Yeah. Like to me, that's what makes you legendary in my mind because, no, it's the truth. And so like I have a little girl. And funnily enough, I think that you're on, there's this app called, actually you have to get involved in this app now. It's called legends. And it's, oh my, you should be, I'm not even joking, you're perfect. The app is basically a confident app for kids.

No way. Yeah. And you do five minutes of these very specific training sessions. And it helps build children's confidence at a young age because it starts when you're young. Yeah, of course. And they have all the best, like, the people from Scholastic and all these people who have, put it together. And they, they start them by giving people these, like, very powerful stories of people like role models. Like they did a Michael Jordan one. I really believe that

you are, you were one of them. Well, I honestly, I want to, like, get in touch with them. No. I have my foundation. Like, our purpose is to help underserved girls and, like, empower them for scholarships and programs. So I've been trying to find a way to build a community of girls and empower them and I want to get this app. I'm telling you, like, you would be a perfect person to be partnered with them because, with your foundation especially, because you are like, like, you are the legend that they are talking about. But like, I will tell you because like my little girl, she's eight years old. And it gives her, like, she wants to be a dancer. Like, you know, she's eight years old. And she hears these stories from women and girls who've gone after their dreams

and actually like accomplish them. And it changes their mindset. It changes their brains. And she believes now that she can be a dancer. It's perspective. It's all perspective. I want to get you in touch with them. Okay.

I really want to do that. No, I'm not to be on it, but like I want to give that to my girls. You should. How big, so can you just tell me, I know it's probably like, I'm going to wrap this right after this, but I want to hear about your foundation because I think it's a really beautiful thing that you're doing. Thanks. Well, we have scholarships and empowerment programs for, underserved girls and we've given over a million dollars in scholarships. I'm in every camp. So we have

these like weekend camps where we have a curriculum, our own curriculum. We just developed our own curriculum and we just basically teach them about grit and like how to be confident and build good friendships. And we'll also talk a little bit about like financial literacy and cyberbullying. Like just giving them the tools to be able to navigate life and tell them that they can. You You wouldn't believe how many kids that I've spoken to where actually their parents told them they'll never be good at something. And they quit. They'll quit soccer because one person told them an offhanded comment. Like they're not good at it.

Totally. You know, and they're so sensitive and especially in this world with social media, like one little comment and they're done. And so I'm trying to get them the tools to be able to reframe that negativity and, you know, allow themselves to believe. in what they're doing and who they are. So I don't know, it's more than just scholarship. It's really about empowerment. What would be the one tip you would tell young girls, young people who have self-doubt? They didn't have a dad like yours who said, you know what, let's do this. Let's write out a 10-year plan. When my dad wasn't always there, and there are a lot of people that told me that I couldn't do it. And if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will.

So you have to believe in what you're doing. And it's easier said than done. but if you truly want something, then you have to believe in it and you have to go after it, which means working hard. A lot of kids, especially kids, expect that when they say they want to be something, it's going to be manifested and it magically appear. Nothing in life is easy. We just have to work hard to get to where we want to go. And if we fall and we get back up, then that's it. I love that. Thank you. My God, Lindsay, I'm so happy that you came with this podcast. No, seriously. I'm so glad we got introduced to each other. I really really, I'm like, I love, I think you're so inspirational.

And like, really, I really do for old women, too. I think it's amazing because you are, like, you're just such a great role model for someone who says they're going to do something, follows through, does it, shows people that they can. I really think, like, you're just, you should be very proud of yourself. I'm serious. It's amazing. I'm thankful that I had a good family teaching me. Yeah, but you know what?

Like, true. But you really, like, you really are. is super inspirational. And I've never really, I wouldn't say that if I didn't, I'm not just saying that because you're sitting on this podcast. I don't think you're the kind of person that would say that. I wouldn't. I wouldn't at all, at all. So I appreciate it. Thank you. No, it's amazing. Guys, you have to watch the HBO. I love all those kind of documentaries, but like yours is really great. And her book is rise. Of course, the other one's Strong is a New City. And the Strong is New City. And The Rhythm and Tanna. We should do like a buy them. We should do like, who's your publisher? Harper Collins. Okay, mine was random host.

But that is hilarious. It's really funny. And you know what I would always tell you? Oh, sorry. Guys, so get her books and we'll check you out. Oh, also on social media, what is your handle? It's just my name, Lindsay Vaughn. There you go.

Or Lindsay Vaughn Foundation. Oh, yes, the foundation, which is amazing. Thank you. With an E. Oh, with E. That's true because I always would, I spelled it with an A and I couldn't, I got screwed up. It's a thing. It's with an E.

It's a, I know. And two ends, right? Yes, V-O-N-N. Good. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.