The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Unbreakable Episode 35 - Lindsey Vonn

Episode Date: May 10, 2023

Welcome to Unbreakable! A mental health podcast hosted by Fox NFL Insider Jay Glazer. On today’s episode, no better way to kick off Mental Health Awareness Month on this podcast than with American ���speed queen’ Lindsey Vonn. She opens up about her struggles with depression, overcoming challenges and shares her unbreakable moment. Follow, rate & review Unbreakable with Jay Glazer here!https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unbreakable-with-jay-glazer/id1641935224 #fsr #oddcouple #herdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes.

Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tauntons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith ruling. of two. Listen to Stuff to Bole Your Mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is Unbreakable with Jay Glaser, a mental health podcast, helping you out of the gray and into the blue. Now, here's Jay Glaser. It's happening, gang. Welcome to Unbreakable, a mental health podcast with Jay Glazer. I'm Jay

Glazer, and before we get to today's guest, you're all going to know today's guest. But if you're like many people, you may be surprised to learn that one in five adults in this country experienced mental illness last year. Yet far too many fellow receive the support they need. Carol on behavioral health is doing something about it. They understand that behavioral health is a key part of whole health, delivering compassionate care that treats physical, mental, emotional, and social needs in tandem. Carolyn Behavioral Health, Raising the Quality of Life through Empathy and Action.

This podcast allows me to bring on a lot of friends, but a lot of the greatest of the greats. And this person here is certainly in that category of one of the greatest athletes of all times, one of the greatest Olympians of all times. But I like to have people on who are also one of the greatest people I've ever met of all time. With that, I'm going to bring in a good friend of mine, who we respectfully call each one's besties. The one and only, Lindsay Vaughn. How are you, Bestie? Jay, how are you?

I'm doing great. I love the product placement there. Gee, are you a spokesman for somebody? I can't tell. I don't know if I could tell. But I mainly, I just got done skiing, so I've got helmet hair, and, you know, I wanted to be presentable. So this was my solution. That's still a thing for you, helmet air after all these years?

You still worry about helmet air? Well, yeah, it doesn't go away. Like, when you ski, it just happens. It's a natural side effect. Yeah. You're like, I'm fucking Lindsey Vaughn. I could have whatever kind of air I want. Are you shitting me?

By the way, as you can tell, it's my normal voice in this podcast, so you can, you know, I know. Well, there isn't any other voice other than your authentic J voice. I appreciate that. Now, listen, all right. So, Lindsay and I want to go back here. We were together with my baby sister, Michael Strand, when I was first starting to write this book. And you knew it was about depression, anxiety, and mental health.

But you never said anything about yourself during that period. You are so laser focused on writing an amazing book, what you did. And I didn't want to distract you from your timeline because you were, you're hammering that book out. But I, you know, you have your own story and I wanted it to be your story. And I didn't want to, you know, distract you with my own issues. It's not distracting me at all. That's the whole thing. Like we have to have teammates in this and walk this walk together.

So, you know, I do want to dive into that. I want to dive in a lot of stuff with you. but first, before we get into that, I see you have your medals up behind you and your trophies up behind you and have you always hung them up or has that been a recent thing? Because I know a lot of people kind of struggles

kind of celebrating themselves. I wouldn't say, yeah, I definitely don't celebrate myself. I've actually always had them in storage. I've never, I had some of them up when I lived in Colorado, but I still didn't have enough room. And I always have had my Olympic medals in my sock door. for some reason. And then my friend actually made this really a nice shadow box for my World

Championship medals. And then he did just my golden medal from the Olympics. And I have that in another location. But yeah, I just, I think after I retired, it was nice to reflect. And I actually look back at, you know, I've got like my 1994, you know, most improved from Buck Hill, Minnesota, like right next to my Laureas Award. And I think, you know, it's just nice to reflect and look back on what I've, you know, achieved. I never really did that when I was racing because you're always looking for the next

goal, you know, the next achievement that you want to get to. And so you're never really present and thinking about, you know, wow, I actually, I did a good job. So yeah, it's nice to, it's nice to see them all. I haven't seen them in a long time. So it's great that you can celebrate yourself now. It is. Like, I think it's, you know, like I try and tell our friends and people I talk to now, now that I'm so vocal about this, that you got to be your own hero. You got to view yourself as your own hero. Too many of us beat ourselves down and, you know, think that, oh, man, if you're giving yourself credit, that's too cocky. Or, you know, it's, oh, yeah.

We're going to jinx ourselves, right? Well, and also that's kind of like a social stigma as well. You know, I feel like a lot of people, I did one video. When I put them all up, I did one video. And everyone said, oh, well, you know, way to toot your own horn and way to gloat. And I'm like, why can't I be proud of what I achieved? and it's not cocky to just say, I'm proud of myself, you know, I've been through a lot. I've had so many surgeries and my career has been, you know, full of ups and downs.

And, yeah, I'm proud of myself for what I achieved. And I do think it's frustrating when people think that, you know, I'm arrogant or, you know, too confident. And I don't know. It's not who I am. I'm actually a pretty shy person. but I don't think it's a bad thing to, you know, finally recognize what I've achieved in my life thus far.

It ain't bragging if it's true. That's what I tell people. Just saying. Just saying. And that's, you know, and that is unfortunate that people, look, hurt people, hurt people. So everybody's hurt nowadays because of social media. So they're looking to attack anything, any of us put up, which sucks. You know, that lends into more of our mental health issues.

Tell me when in your life you realize you were different. And as far as different as an athlete, different than the rest of us, which you are? I was different all the way when I was a kid, you know, when I was seven years old. I was going to ski camps, you know, the first couple with my dad. And then I was just on my own and everyone looked at me funny. And, you know, I didn't really have a lot of friends. I went to Europe by myself when I was nine. And I just, I didn't fit in.

I, you know, I never did anything. I never went to any parties. I never, you know, I just always was on my own path. And again, I just didn't have any friends because of it. And I knew I always was different because I was always driven. And I always chose the path to success for my skiing career. And no one understood that. And even people that, you know, I grew up with and end up being racers, you know,

they didn't make the same choices that I did. And, you know, I think it showed definitely in the end. but I've always kind of walked my own path in that way. Did you do that because you knew I have to do this to be different standout, or is it more, oh, because I am different, I could walk a different path than everybody? I chose my path because I really wanted to be a ski racer. You know, I met my idol when I was nine years old at an autograph signing in Minnesota, Pigaboo Street.

And all I wanted to do from then on was be her. And, you know, whenever there was a decision, decision to be made, do I go to sleep at 8 o'clock or do I go hang with these kids and do God knows what? I always said, no, I'm going to go to bed. And oftentimes I would be in bed and, you know, my friends would come home at, you know, 11, 12, 1 a.m. and there's a race the next day and guess who won the race, you know? And so I always saw that whenever I made a sacrifice, it always paid off. And so that was the reason why I walked my own path because I was just committed to what I was focused on doing. And even if I wasn't cool, I didn't really care. You know, I just, this is what I

wanted to do, what I wanted to be, and I didn't listen to anyone else. What were you happiest in your career? I mean, I think I was happy every day I was on the mountain. I think when I was, you know, later in my career after my injuries, I think every injury gave me a different perspective. And I think I appreciated it more and more as time went on. I never took it for granted because I have been injured so many times. And even if I wasn't injured, you know, I crashed and I would know, you know, okay, that could have been my last run of my life. You know what I mean? So I think ski racing makes you really aware of how quickly your career could be over. And so I just always, I've always had fun. And I think, again, maybe later in my career, I appreciated a little bit more. And I was able to kind of

reflect and, you know, enjoy also, not just the racing, but the experience of racing, you know, being in amazing parts of the world and, you know, trying to experience a little bit more culture, you know, those things also brought me joy. But, you know, I wouldn't let myself kind of see those things until I was a little bit older and achieved enough of what I had set out to do to be able to, you know, open my blinders a little bit more. Obviously, I come from a different world than the football world and the fight world. The fight world may not look like it, but our whole crew, total fear walking down to that cage. different. If you don't have fear, you're an absolute psychopath. Do you have fear up there in your

sport when you're flying down that mountain? Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds, I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win.

A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined.

And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told,

and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking.

What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick you here, unpack what we. went down and tried to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack.

I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now, so. Thank you finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. really, yeah.

For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. No, it's kind of the opposite. I think if you have fear, you're not able to push yourself as far as you need to, to win.

You know, downhill is a unique sport. You know, you're risking a lot. You know, obviously when you're fighting, you're risking a lot as well. But you have to be able to, you know, be so on the limit. and not push yourself over, but you always have to be at that limit. And I think there's a lot of, especially women that don't agree with me on that topic, but I've never had fear.

And that's one thing that I think differentiates me is that I love to go fast. You know, I love the thrill. And that's one thing I really miss now in my life is that I don't have that. There's nothing that's pushing me to the edge of my limit, you know, with that risk and adrenaline and excitement. There's just nothing like it in the world. What victory are you most proud of? A lot of them, I mean, especially after injuries,

but I think what stands out to me is the Olympic gold medal more because of how much that meant to my family. You know, my family, I'm the oldest of five kids and my family sacrificed a lot to get there. And I felt like that was kind of the culmination of all of our hard work that equals, you know, something that I set out to do when I was nine years old, you know, that that's why it was so meaningful to me and my family.

Now I'm going to shift gears here with you because obviously this is a mental health podcast and I've been open that I have, you know, my mental health issues, their clinical depression, anxiety, ADD, might as well throw in a little bipolar. I mean, shit, you could probably diagnose me as that by now, right? I didn't say it. I didn't say it. Yeah, you probably like, he's tripolar. He's not bipolar.

What are your mental health issues and how do they feel for you? I have depression. and I've had it since I was a teenager. I think, you know, being on the road and away from any type of support system was really hard on me and not having an outlet or anyone to talk to. You know, I got really good at managing it in a way that, you know, I obviously didn't tell anyone about it. And as an athlete, depression, I think, is viewed as weakness. And that's not the case at all.

It's, you know, something that everyone deal, a lot of people deal with. And it's kind of like, I always feel like it's like an injury, you know, or a muscle strain. You know, it's something that you have to work on. And it's not like it goes away. You know, a lot of people when I, when I started talking about my depression in 2012, you know, the response was really interesting because no one was really talking about it at that time. And, you know, everyone's like, oh, how are you feeling today? Do you want a Tylenol?

Like, like, are you taking your medication today? Is that going to, you know, I'm like, it's not like I take a Tylenol every time I feel sad. you know, that's not, that's not how it works. And, you know, I think there's a lot more understanding around, you know, depression and just mental health in general, which is amazing. But, you know, I definitely found ways to cope with it and, you know, to manage it and, you know, to keep it my problem and not, you know, share it with anyone else. That's really brave for you to come out then because, again, I was able to hear people like you and Terry Bracho talk about it before I really came out. I'm just trying to give it words. So more of us could have.

the conversation. You know, you can lean into somebody and, all right, now I didn't have to talk to my son or daughter or husband or husband or husband or husband or husband or husband, and kids and grandkids what I've been going through. So that's really brave that you did it all the way back then. What propelled you to do? What got you to say, you know what? I'm going to come, I'm going to come out with this. I mean, it was a time in my life when I was kind of unpacking a lot of things and publicly tumultuous, you know, with my relationship that ended. And I felt like it was something that I needed to get off my shoulders. You know, I felt like I was carrying this weight around and I was sick of it. You know, I was sick of feeling like I didn't have anyone. And,

you know, I knew a lot of people that were struggling with it as well. I mean, a really good friend of mine is the reason why I even went to a doctor because, you know, he was like, I think this would really help you. And so for me, it was what I needed personally. And I think that I, the hope was that it would help others. But the main reason was myself and just my own journey and how do I become a better person. And in turn, hopefully that will help other people in their journey as well. It's amazing. Again, you keep it inside. I kept it inside for all these years, but like physically, right, we break our arm and you get a cast. Hey, everybody signs it. I know. That's the funny thing is that like, I think you are a really a shining example of, you know, how physically strong you can be.

And, you know, nothing phases you. You can get kicked in the face. And you're like, all right, do it again, you know. But, you know, mental health is something totally different. And it needs just as much care as, you know, again, like physical therapy or, you know, rehab from an injury. You know, it's very, very similar. But no one approaches it that way.

And I think, again, like, just because you're physically strong or. just because, you know, you're smiling, you know, on the outside or to your friends. Doesn't mean on the inside you're not dealing with something. Yeah. Listen, I thought, man, once I got to where I was in my career, it'd be all rainbows and unicorns and you find out, you know, you were always not an antidepressant. A lot of the other things are not antidepressants. You've got to learn out of love yourself up from the inside out.

I now, because I've gone this journey, now I have a lot of tools I could use when that beast is coming out of the box. And it probably comes out of the box more now than it had because I have. talk about it so much. It's so prevalent in my life, which is my choice, so I can be of service to people. But now I have things I do every morning when Beast gets out of the box later, before I go to bed. What are some of the practicing tools you use to kind of, you know, keep your, keep the roommates in your head talking nicely to each other? I have to physically exert myself almost every day. You know, I need that outlet. I need to like recenter and refocus, just, you know, feel confident

in myself and, you know, keep those thoughts away. Whenever I'm inactive, things creep in. And, you know, it's just a really slippery slope. So that's one of the reasons why, you know, the gym is so important to me. It's still after retirement. And one thing that always helped me keep it at bay when I was racing was that I was racing. You know, I had, I felt like honesty ski racing was always my therapist.

Right. And, you know, when I was when I was in the starting gate, It was always the most peaceful and clear-headed and happy that I was the entire day. Is that the same, you know, when you fight or like, what do you, what do you do to help? Yeah, no, I, so I need a team. So that's why I like, look, I'm going for another back cleanup. Jay. What?

I got to get a cleaned up. So send me back. Why are you, how are you shaming me for that? You, are you kidding me? No, I just, now I know where to send my Ben and Jerry's. That's, thank you. Yeah. I'm just getting a little clean out again.

And then, but Friday, I went and wrestled this football player, Eric Wilson, trained him. And the other guys in the gym were like, what the fuck are you doing? But my main head coach over there, Jason Borby, he's like, no, you're doing what you have to do. Like I, when I'm not around those guys and I'm not able to, you know, have that fight team, if you will, the rumens my head do not talk nicely each other. But what I've had to do as a result, too, is figure out other ways of having teams, you know, not just. just that. So now I, when I'm having bad days, I call four people to tell them I'm struggling. Our

friend, the Rock, is one of them, who literally stops everything when I'm like, oh, it's one of those days. Strayans one now, which I never did until came out with this book. So even though I wrote about it, we never talked vulnerable like this until one night. I was like, I fuck, I can't go out tonight.

And he was like, why? And I just told him for the first time. He was like, why have you never told me? Like, I could have been there a few years your best friend for 30 years. I'm like, I don't make it the rules. this shit. You know, with you, I felt change. It is what it is. Like, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Exactly. But you also have seen our dynamic.

We constantly get on each other. So it was like, right? Like, there was like shame with him, but then his reaction was like, but I could have been there for 30 years. So now I don't call like four people and tell them. And then I'll call four other people just to check up on them and not tell them what's happening with me. And that's my way of being of service. And that's my way of still having, you know, a team around me without having to go in a cage and have Brandon Couture, you know, tear my head off.

Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts. or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits,

the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes,

creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more about you.

behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English.

Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now.

Thank you finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Yeah, that's solid. I'm still really bad at sharing and communicating.

And like, I'll just kind of go silent and coop myself up. And then, you know, people are like, what is going on? That's the worst thing we could do. I know. It's so bad. You know, it's like I try to stay around people. I have a really great tendency of hibernating. And, you know, it's nice in the mountains to do that.

But then, again, that's a bad place for me to be. So I do have people that notice it. And then I also have my therapist, Dr. Mondo, that I always call up. I need him. But I still have a hard time sharing because I feel like, you know, I like telling my story because I think that I hope that it helps other people share their story. But I still have a hard time communicating when I'm having a hard time. Well, since I understand you, why don't we change some patterns?

here. Okay. All right. And I reach out to me and be like, Dusty, I'm fucking having one of those dark days. All right. I'll do it, Bethy. Because I list me up also. That helps me, you know, I'm able to be there for you.

And that's what we have to do. And that's what, like, I think we're in the majority, Lynn. I don't think we're in the minority. Oh, we're for sure in the majority. And that's the funny part is that, you know, it's like there's this huge stigma and, you know, everyone thinks that this bad thing. It's like everyone is dealing with it, whether you want to admit it to yourself or not, especially after COVID.

Right. And I think COVID was kind of an eye-opener for a lot of people because I think they were able to hide things maybe to themselves and to others, you know, what they were struggling with. But it, you know, became very clear for pretty much everyone, you know, when COVID hit that, you know, there's things that need to be addressed. And I think that it made everyone more empathetic because we all have issues, you know, we all have struggles. And it's a matter of supporting each other. That's the only way that we get through it. And I think the more we show people we're in the majority, the more people will be comfortable coming out and talking about it and leaning into each other.

And, you know, I go and speak to these sports teams. I'm like, look, there's just not enough therapists out there for us yet. So you have to do with each other's therapists and lean into each other. And that's where somebody like you and someone like myself can really help, I think, lead this next generation. I'm hoping. Yeah, absolutely. I also, when I'm, you know, like I said, I'm bad at communicating, I do journal a lot.

And that's kind of my way of like working through things. If I, if I don't have someone that I can talk to before I had Dr. Mondo, I was always journaling. I've been journaling since I was like 10, but I didn't really realize, you know, how helpful it was until, you know, later. But that's my process of like, what am I dealing with, you know, what can I do to make myself feel better? And even just the process of writing it down and acknowledging what I'm going through

is helpful. I just started it. I learned it. Really? Yeah. And I learned it. Well, the book is honestly, it's a way of journaling as well, to be honest. So the book comes out.

And this year, again, I have an anxiety attack. And I talk about it in the book every time I've been on TV from 2005 to now, even like scripted stuff. So it became like it just became habitual. And this year, first show, I didn't have one, a Fox and Iville Sunday. And then the second show, I didn't have a third show. And I was like, what? And I was talking to Lane Johnson.

from the Eagles who had his own issue and left the team. And he started talking about how journaling was helping him. And I was like, oh, wait, hold on a sec. I haven't had anxiety attacks these first three weeks. Wait, maybe, yes, journaling for me. Maybe this has helped me. So I started as a result, exactly what you're saying. I started as a result of that.

It was huge. And now every day, buddy. Thank you, bud. And now every day also I journal a wake up in the morning and write down 10 things I'm grateful for that happened the previous day. Yeah. I had this. There's actually a journal that says, like,

It's kind of the three things I'm grateful for, you know, my three goals for the day. And I used to do that at night, but then it really got my brain going. And then I had a hard, I have a really hard time sleeping. And so that did not help. So I instead, like, if I do the gratefulness exercise, I'll do it in the morning. And then at night, I'll do my regular journaling, which is helpful. Okay, I love that. Oh, that's actually good because I kind of lump them together.

I'm going to, I'm going to try that. I'm going to start doing that. Hey, a couple more things before I let you go. A, I want to talk about your foundation. So I have a foundation. I started in 2015, and we try to empower underserved girls through scholarships and programs. It's been one of the most rewarding things that I've done in my life. We've helped girls who, you know, struggled a lot with self-confidence, that they do self-harm.

And, you know, we've brought them through these camps. And they've all seen a huge change, especially their parents and their self-confidence levels. And then we also obviously do scholarships. which since COVID has been kind of the majority of what we've been doing with 50% sports-based scholarships and 50% educational-based scholarships. So I'm just trying to, you know, empower the next generation and it has nothing to do with skiing. It just has to do with, you know, telling girls that they can be whatever they dream of becoming.

This is not just for athletes, right? This is for all. No, no. It's for anyone. I mean, I have an aeronautical engineer who got a scholarship, you know. So, and she is a boss. You know, she's like this 14-year-old boss who wants to, you know, work for NASA. And I'm like, yes, I will help you.

I love that. Now, here's the thing. I just moved here to Malibu. So my old house, I had the bookshelf shop and Rise was right there behind my shoulder. But now you can see, I just got a janky set up over here because I haven't put a bookshel sheds yet. Tell everybody about your book. Thanks. It's just really about, you know, sharing my experiences in life.

It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with skiing. But, I mean, there is. is a lot of skiing in there. But mainly... What you're talking about? Yes, it does. But the moral of all my stories are inspirational stories and how I've overcome things and, you know, what I've experienced and more on the emotional side than, you know, it's not about, you know,

what I've won or how I got there. It's, you know, really about what I've overcome and how I got through it and, you know, what I've experienced in my 20 year of professional skiing life. By the way, do you remember our first dinner? I said to you, hi, let's go over our surgeries. How many surgeries you have? And because I was like, hey, you got to be proud of your scars. How many surgeries you have?

And you said, I don't know. I only count the big ones. I don't, nine. No, no. I think you said like 14 or something. Well, yeah, but if I count all the times I've been cut open. Yeah. Yes.

Yeah. But I don't generally count. But you should because those are things you still overcame. I can't be, there's no major or minor. If somebody cuts into your body, your body changes. forever. It's never going to be the same again, right? Yeah. So let's not discount it. So Lindsay says 14 and I just was like, fuck, I wasn't expecting that. So I said 17. She said what? And then Stray had immediately

said, you open that fucking 17 surgeries. Just pull that. I was like, holy crap, someone's got more surgeries than me. This is a first. I just didn't want to lose to Lindsey Bonner. Yeah, exactly, exactly. But you've got to be proud of your scars and that's a huge thing for everybody. Do you look at your scars now as a badge of honor? Do you look at them? Are you able to of things? Man, I've overcome this to have my dreams come true. I mean, I honestly don't notice them anymore because they're just a part of me. You know, that's my story. That's, you know, how I got to be where I am. Yeah, I mean, I think I always made very sure when I went to surgery, I said, listen, I don't know eff up these scars. Because they're

big and I don't want to look crazy and they did they always did a really good job they're like you know I spent next to 30 minutes making the scar look good I'm like thank you very much I have very much appreciate it but yeah they just that's a part of me it's a part of my life and you know there's no not enough mederma in the world to make my scars look better but you know that's I'm proud of it I you know again I I'm stronger because of what I've been through so makes you a beautiful gangster And it's also, I now try and tell teams and athletic trainers, and when you have a player comes in, let's say it's an ACL, don't just ask them, hey, how you doing? Like, they're not doing good.

No. So don't just throw it away. Hey, really find out how they're doing how you can help them as they're coming off this, year-long thing with when you're not able to do the thing that you love. I think especially in team sports, but generally, whenever you're professional athlete and you get injured, the phone stops ringing. People don't care anymore. how you're doing because you're not winning at something.

And I think that's the hardest thing to kind of overcome is that you're surrounded by this great team. And then the second you get injured, you're by yourself. You know, is it your family? You know, do you have a PT? There might be, you know, a friend or two. But, you know, the numbers aren't big. And so I think making sure and checking in on athletes that are injured is such a means so much.

You know, it's such a big deal. But everyone overlooks it because they're like, ah, you know, they're taking care of their. injury, like they'll be fine. They'll be back here in a year. But a year is a really long time. When you're learning how to walk again and you're on crutches, like, shit is no joke. So check in on your friends that are injured. It makes a big difference. A week is a big deal. Because again, you're right. You got like the NFL, you get, hey, you put to the side over here or a bike and you're not there, right? No, but team sports, you're. Yep, but over here, you go rehab, and the rest of us go practice. And that's lonely. And I don't think anyone's ever taken care of or even

starting to think about, hey, maybe we've got to take care of these athletes' mental health while we're rehabbing them physically as well. Yeah, 100%. Last question here for you is what I ask all my guests, your final question. Okay. Give me your unbreakable moment. The thing that should have broken you and didn't, and as a result, you came to the other side of that tunnel stronger for the rest of your life.

I mean, Jay, that list is really long. There's been many unbreakable moments. I think probably my second, when I blew out my knee in 2013, ACL, MCL, Tibuil Plateau fracture, and then 10 months later, I did it again, just no MCL. And basically the entire world wrote me off. And it almost broke me. It was close. Probably one of the hardest times of my life.

But I crawled my way out. I learned how to walk again. I learned how to, didn't run. Running was out of the question. But I won my second race back, and that was basically two years of being out of competition. And that was probably one of my proudest moments. I cried like a little baby. And I guarantee you that no one else would have been able to do what I did.

I love that. Are you about to make me cry? But that's okay. I'm secure with my manhood. Yes, you are, as you should be. Well, that is incredible. Just take me real quick before I do let you go. When you did win that, take me behind your eyes, like behind your ribcage.

How do that feel like for those of us who'll never experience that? I mean, it's like I took, when I crossed the finish line and saw number one, I let out, similar to what I did at the Olympics in 2010, just this like scream from my gut, you know, from so deep within me. And it just was like, let it all out. out, you know, it was so much hard work, so much sweat, so many tears. And I just kind of like emotionally imploded. And it felt so good. You know, it felt so good to let it out and, you know, to just acknowledge what I've been through and know that I'd come out on top despite it all.

And, you know, my team was crying. Everyone was crying. And it was one of the most amazing experiences. Second only it's Olympics, but a lot harder to do than the Olympics, to be honest. Amazing. Listen, Lynn, I appreciate your time. You're amazing in so many ways, but I'm most proud that you're my bestie. Thanks, Bestie. I'm proud that you're my bestie, too. Thank you. And now you're going to start calling me, right? Yeah. When you go through those dark days, good. I will. Absolutely. Lindsay Bob, thank you for joining us here on the Unbreakable Mental Health podcast. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite on humor me with Robert Smygel and friends, me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman

help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but in current. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential.

Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan,

so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tauntons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense

of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.