We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle - WELCOME TO THE PARTY EP1 - Allyson Felix Took On Corporate Sports and Won
Episode Date: September 4, 2025Enjoy the FIRST EPISODE of Abby's new women's sports podcast co-hosted by Julie Foudy and Billie Jean King... WELCOME TO THE PARTY! In this first episode, track and field legend ALLYSON FELIX joins Ab...by, Julie, and Billie to get real about the Nike showdown that reset maternity protections, the women-first power plays behind Saysh and Always Alpha, and what’s next for track & field. Plus GOATs Ask the GOAT—Mia Hamm, Coco Gauff, and Mikaela Shiffrin pop in with surprise questions for “The Kinger” Subscribe to WELCOME TO THE PARTY on your podcast app and WATCH VIDEO EPISODES on YouTube! Follow @welcometothepartyshow on: YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@WelcomeToThePartyShow Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/welcometothepartyshow/ TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@welcometothepartyshow Go Deeper Saysh — Allyson’s women-first shoe brand: https://saysh.com/ Always Alpha — Allyson’s management company for women athletes and coaches: https://always-alpha.com/ She Runs the World — Allyson’s documentary (Tribeca): https://tribecafilm.com/films/she-runs-the-world-2025 The Next Day — by Melinda French Gates: https://www.melindafrenchgates.com/ Abby post-game interview vs. Japan: https://youtu.be/kwAMN1-1p_c?si=MZDQ0KkoamVOS6YR Julie’s Party Starter summer highlight: Marta’s two goals in Copa América Femenina — https://youtu.be/tiUWtL0vYVc?si=9Bt9FebPKDeEXwoX Billie’s Party Starter summer highlight: Mboko wins the Canadian Open - https://www.wtatennis.com/videos/4336505/champions-reel-how-victoria-mboko-won-montreal-2025 Abby’s Party Starter summer highlight: Katie’s 7th consecutive 800m freestyle gold — https://youtu.be/N1_h787R0_Q?si=SDGkKurSytqWtYiq
Transcript
Discussion (0)
Hey everyone, I've got to tell you about Viori if you haven't heard of them. You're missing out. And
we love this stuff. I've been living in this stuff for years. I recently got the performance
jogger from their dream knit collection. And let me just say, it's hands down the softest,
comfiest jogger I've ever worn. I use them for everything. Viori is an investment in your
happiness. I promise you. For our listeners, they are offering 20% off your first purchase. Get
yourself some of the most comfortable and versatile clothing on the planet at Viori.com
slash hard things. That's B-U-O-R-I-com slash hard things. Exclusions apply. Visit the website
for full terms and conditions. Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but enjoy
free shipping on any U.S. orders over $75 and free returns. Go to Viori.com slash hard
things and discover the versatility of Viori clothing.
Conclusions apply. Visit the website for full terms and conditions. I've realized that the smallest
parts of my day, waiting for water to boil, take a break between tasks, are the perfect moments
to learn something new. That's why I've been turning to Masterclass. It's a simple way to make
those in-between moments feel intentional. I've picked up insights from the world's best, chefs,
athletes, writers, entrepreneurs, all in just a few minutes at a time.
lesson that really made an impact, James Clear on habits. He said, you don't rise to the level of
your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. That completely reframed how I approach my
mornings. Now I've built a routine that actually sticks and works. What I love is that Masterclass isn't
just inspiring. It's practical. Right now, our listeners get an additional 15% off any annual
membership at masterclass.com slash hard things. That's 15% off at masterclass.com slash hard things.
Masterclass.com slash hard things. What's up party people? We are beyond excited. As you can see,
to get this party started. I'm Julie Fowdy. I'm Abby Wambach. And I'm Philly Jean King.
Yes, you are. Welcome to the party, everybody.
Perhaps you are wondering what is this party?
Well, this party is women's sports and everyone is invited.
Whether you've been here forever like the three of us have or maybe you're new to the party
or maybe you have some FOMO and like everybody's basically talking about women's sports right now.
So you're like, I want to be in that.
You all are invited.
Our missions to celebrate.
Elvay, come on.
Educate.
And that's about all of our women.
in sports, all of them.
You know, we just want to grow this community, and we need you guys out there because this
is going to be a party like nothing else.
We are no party like a women's sports party.
There ain't no party like a women's sports party.
No way.
I mean, we are the best at parties.
So join us.
There will be a mix of interviews across every sport, league, and era.
We will have commentary, as you know, we're not.
afraid of that around what is happening in women's sports. And we really, as Kinger just said,
want to bring out and build out this community of women's sports fans and you, the party
people who can give us your thoughts on what topics you want us to hit, what guests you want
to hear from. And we will be dropping two episodes a week. We are a podcast, video podcast,
but we also will be doing live events and watch with us parties and really any opportunity
to talk women's sports and wear ridiculous hats because I'm really good.
I'm really good at that. Oh, well, wait a minute. Wait a minute. Yeah, Kinger, get your hat on. Come on, sister. I can't put
I got a big fat head. I got a melon head. What do you expect? And most important right here,
that's what we're bringing. We're bringing Billy Jean King and her little crown. The King of Queens.
She will be a recurring host. And frankly, Kinger, you come on as much as you damn want. What about the
why? Why does you guys want to do this? Abbs? The biggest reason why I did it is the first Angel City game I went to
this year was the first time I had a giant exhale. It was the first time I felt any sense of
hope around kind of the state of our world right now. And that is why this is in my bones. I love
sports and I want to bring sports to everyone and I want this community to be and and thrive
in the most important ways. Yeah. I have that same reaction is it's there's affirmation when you are around
female athletes or at a women's sporting events and there's inspiration and all these things,
inclusivity that we love to see in this world. And so we will try and touch on all those things
with this party. What about you, Kinger? What's your why behind podcasting? Well, you know, I was
with you at that Angel City night. That was amazing to give us hope. You know, I waited my whole life
for this. So, but one thing, hey, I'm old, man. You guys are the babies here.
Anyway, I really, I think about it because I haven't done podcasts like you guys have.
So I really want us to be number one.
I hate losing.
I'm the worst finalist.
I have bad handshakes.
I'm not a good sport.
I'm terrible.
So I just want us to win.
Whatever that means, what does winning mean?
That's a whole nother discussion.
But I just want us to be really great.
And the people out there just having a party, having fun, but learning at the same time,
let's just go for it man give me the ball i mean bill you're speaking my language here and you ask
how do you win at this it's how we win at everything billy we have a shit ton of fun oh yes we do
are you ready to rock i love it attention the party is about to commence
Welcome to the party.
Okay, the first thing we are going to do as our party starter is we are going to give our favorite play or moment of the week to get the party started.
But because this is our first episode and we had an entire summer of good plays, we decided we're going to share our favorite play or moment from the summer.
So, Abbs, what do you got from the summer?
Okay, so you all know Katie Ledecki, right?
And earlier this summer, the funniest thing that ever happened, she broke her own 800 meter freestyle world record.
She clocked it at eight minutes, four seconds.
Well, I don't know how you read this.
Eight minutes, four point two seconds.
She did this at the tier pro sports meet in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
She broke her previous record that was set in Rio.
Honestly, this woman is a beast.
She's incredible.
And she's the most decorated American female Olympian with four.
14 medals, 9 gold, 4 silver, and one bronze.
And I just want to make a note that she was wearing the Gator swim caps.
I went to University of Florida, so go Gators.
But we're going to have to include this in the show clips.
She takes off the cap and then under it was another cap.
So we need to have Katie on here to discuss not just this play.
How many caps?
But why are you wearing two caps, Katie Ledecki?
Congratulations for breaking your own damn record.
cat party. That feels really hot at the cat party. That feels hot. And did you see by how many seconds
she actually, she was like a lap ahead. Yeah, it was like 20 seconds ahead of the next best one.
This is what I don't understand. How do you actually try really hard, so hard that you break a world record
when 20 seconds later, the next finisher finishes? How does that, how does that work? That blew my mind.
When I actually saw the video, because of course you heard about it, and I went watch
the video, I was like, where is it the rest of the pool?
Katie's amazing.
But she just keeps breaking her own record, but I think deep down probably she thinks, you
know what, I can do better.
So she does it better the next time.
Yeah.
I mean, when I met her, I just, it was great talking.
Katie, we need you at the party.
We have so many questions.
We need her to party.
Katie, we need you at the party.
She's a really, she's a great human being, though.
I like her a lot.
Yeah.
This summer was, boy, there's so many, but for me, probably.
Victoria and Boko.
Winning the Canadian,
of course, she's Canadian.
You have no idea.
Dave, we're going crazy to people.
She beat three grand slam people.
She beat Osaka in the final.
I mean, the place was going crazy.
You know, and now she's 19.
She was 18 when she won the tournament.
I just think she's so much fun to watch.
And she's, her footwork is amazing.
I love her backhand,
but particularly when she takes it from defense to offense.
and her serve is going to get better and better.
So I think she's the one to look for,
but it's when she speaks as well.
You know, you wonder why she's done so well.
She talks about process and how to stay in the process from the juniors.
Then you play ITF when you want to start being a pro.
And then she's won her first WTA tournament,
which is a women's tennis association tour, which is the biggie.
And, you know, she's just, her ranking just keeps going up and up and up.
But I just would tell everybody watch her.
She's fun to watch.
But as a human being in the way she speaks, she's just a total winner on and off the court.
How cool, too, that that, that, do I have this right, King or I think I do, that Naomi Osaka is her role model.
And that was her, like, person she grew up, you know, watching and wanting to be.
And then she beat her in that final, which is crazy.
Yeah, that was a tough final because Osaka had a challenge.
She didn't congratulate her at the end.
I mean, she did at the net, but not in her speech.
Of course, I personally, I think tennis is out to lunch when we have the finalists have to speak.
Let them get off the court.
Just talk to the winners.
It's ridiculous.
Listen to me.
I can't.
After we lost the World Cup finals in penalty kicks in 2011, I was, I went straight over to the Japanese team and I congratulated them.
And that was all I had it in me.
That's all I had in me in terms of my good sportsmanship.
In fact, I was just like so upset.
And in FIFA, when the championship moment happens at the time, they, they told the losing team to get in a line so that the winning team would parade through you to go onto the stage and capture your medals.
I was bereft.
I was like, I'm not doing that.
That's so embarrassing.
I was like actually outwardly having a tantrum privately.
And one of my teammates, thank you, Amy LaPelbitt.
I will never forget you for this.
She looked at me square in the eye.
She said, you're going to stand right next to me, and you're going to congratulate them as they walk by us.
They just beat us.
And I said, yes, Amy LaPelbitt, you are correct.
And I just needed a teammate because I was being such a poor sport.
I was so devastated.
Wait, wait.
I will add to that.
I was calling that game.
you had to do an interview with us right after all of that.
And you walked over, you had never won a World Cup yet.
You had yet to win a World Cup.
We had just before the World Cup, done a big, long interview about how you wanted to finish your career on a World Cup.
And you were so close.
It was in the palm of your hand.
It went to penalty kicks, Billy.
You did this interview on the sideline.
And I remember thinking, oh, my gosh, to have all this emotion in that moment, you were so classy and so nice about,
what Japan just did, given all that country had been through with the earthquake and tsunami
and everything else that had happened there, you did all of that. So you may remember it one way,
abs, but you handled it pretty well. It's because of Amy LaPelman. I got my shit together. Amy
made me get my shit together. So I understand Naomi may not have handled it right. No, but she
apologized. She knew she didn't. She apologized. And I don't know if she remembers, but she beat
Serena Williams a few years back. And that was a tough time too for everyone. Yep. Yep.
Yeah. All right. My play of the summer. I'm sure Abby probably saw it, Kanger, I'm not sure if you did, because it was soccer. There's a surprise. It was Marta. It was the Copa America final, which is kind of the continental championship, like similar to European championship. It's the South American championship, right? Brazil versus Columbia. Marta, of course, a legend and icon in the game, one and only. She's 39 years old. She retired.
from international soccer after the last Olympics and then unretired because Brazil is hosting
the next World Cup, 2027 Women's World Cup. So we're in this final, Kinger. It's two to two.
Okay? At 39 years old, Marta comes into the game off the bench as a sub in the 80 second minute.
She comes in. Let me just show you on a whiteboard what happens. Okay. Yes. I love it. I need this.
Colombia is yellow, Brazil is blue, okay? In red is Marta right here. Okay, so Brazil in blue
plays a ball in. There is no time left. This is 20 seconds left in the game. Brazil plays a
ball in. So here's the soccer ball. I drew it for you. It gets playing in. Columbia heads it out.
It bounces. It bounces. It falls on a half volley to Marta at 25 yards out, Billie Jean-King.
she cranks this ball on a half folly which a ball bouncing coming out to you that's ridiculous she put it on a close line it went upper corner to actually tie the game i lied because columbia was up by then three to two they tied the game to send it into extra time then she scores again sends it into penalty kicks martha all caps martha they win Brazil
wins on the two Marta goals and then in peddle kicks.
Right.
Whoa.
And I must say you did a great job on that announcing.
You got me in it, man.
I was living in it.
I was feeling like, wow.
I mean, I watched it.
Well, you can live it.
You can imagine doing it.
I have to just live it through you guys.
If you haven't seen this video, if you're not a soccer fan, that's fine.
I'm going to watch this.
I'm going to show notes because we're going to put a clip in there.
No, I'm not talking you.
I'm talking the party people.
I'm talking to the people.
All the party of people, they better.
It doesn't matter.
They got to go watch the clips.
It's so.
I mean, listen, I like to think about this moment a lot because people don't understand what it's like to be 30 plus, 35 plus or 39 years old.
And then you're sitting on the bench.
She unretires to play in this tournament for the internationals team, Brazil, to play in this tournament.
To play in this tournament.
And then at 39 to come off the bench.
when your team needed a goal
and then score in the 20 seconds left in the game
to be the one to score
in the way she scored it
it was just a chef's kiss
chef's kiss
half volley I love man
I love that half volley because that's like a drop kick
it's coming at you it's hard to keep them low
because they go flying on you
and she just lasered it from I was like
oh my God I would have run off the field
straight to the locker room and been like peace out I'm done
I'm retiring again.
That is all I got.
All right, there's our party summer.
We're going to start every episode with our favorite play or moments.
What does the future hold for business?
Ask nine experts and you'll get 10 answers.
Bull market, bear market.
Rates will rise or fall.
Inflation, up or down.
Can someone please invent a crystal ball?
Until then, over 40,000 businesses have future-proofed their business with NetSuite.
the number one AI cloud ERP, bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR into one fluid platform.
With one unified business management suite, there's one source of truth, giving you the visibility and control you need to make quick decisions.
With real-time insights and forecasting, you're peering into the future with actionable data.
When you're closing the books and days, not weeks, you're spending less time looking backwards and more time on what's next.
Whether your company is earning millions or even hundreds of millions,
NetSuite helps you respond to immediate challenges and seize your biggest opportunities.
I highly recommend it.
Speaking of opportunity,
download the CFO's guide to AI and Machine Learning at netsuite.com slash hard things.
The guide is free to you at net suite.com slash hard things.
NetSuite.com slash hard things.
Whether you are working remotely or in office,
many of us require collaborating with team members on projects, tasks, and outcomes.
Monday.com is one of our sponsors and a platform that our team at Treat Media has actually used
to coordinate our workflow. It is a platform that helps you from planning to execution,
thinks ahead to deadlines, assign owners and actions, and allows you to see progress as a team.
It actually helps us get some work done. There's a lot of AI out there, but not a lot actually moves
the needle. Monday.com's sidekick is different.
It can actually build workflows, spot risks, update the team.
You just say what you need, and you can consider it done.
Sidekick in Monday.com saves so much time using our sidekick integration,
help to update deadlines, brief teammates, re-sign tasks,
and it even helps us spot risks before they actually become problems.
Stop managing the busy work, let Monday sidekick handle it so you can focus on the real work.
Try Monday Sidekick AI you'll love to use on Monday.com.
You may have heard of Hello Fresh. They send chef-crafted recipes and fresh ingredients to your home,
but this summer they made their biggest menu upgrade yet. HelloFresh has doubled its menu. Now
you can choose from 100 options each week, including new seasonal dishes and recipes from around the world.
Feel great with an even healthier menu filled with high protein and veggie-packed recipes.
HelloFresh now helps you eat greener with new veggie-packed recipes that have two or more veggies.
It's also tastier. Get steak and seafood recipes delivered every week for no.
extra cost. There's three times more seafood on the menu now and new seasonal produce every week.
I use HelloFresh because it's the easiest way to cook dinner. We can do hard things,
but dinner doesn't have to be. Please remember to check out the Chick-Bitika masala. It's so good.
The best way to cook just got better. Go to hellofresh.com slash hard things 10 FM now to get
10 free meals and a free item for life. One per box with active subscription. Free meals applied as discount
on First Box and new subscribers only varies by plan. That's hellofresh.com slash hard things 10
FM and get 10 free meals and a free item for life.
All right, party people. Time to get to the partiest part of the party. Do you like my alliteration
there, Billy? Billy, I got a question for you because you have had the most incredible quotes
and one of the all-time best quotes of yours is about not settling.
You have an awesome, awesome message about not settling.
Can you share that with us?
Do not settle for the crumbs.
Do, do not.
I want people to think about having all the cake and icing and the sprinkles and the cherry on top.
Because girls are always taught, you know, be happy with whatever you get.
You don't ask for more.
Be careful.
No, no, no, no.
Do not settle for the crumbs.
In discussing who was going to be our first guest for the party, we knew we wanted it to be someone who didn't settle for those crumbs.
So we sent an invite to one of the most courageous and innovative athletes we know and love.
She is track and field legend Allison Felix because Allison looked at those crumbs.
And she was like, no, suckers, I am not taking this.
And went about enacting change.
And she is the most decorated American track and field athlete male or female of all time.
Get this, party people.
She competed in five Olympics.
She won 11 Olympic medals, seven of them.
Yes, seven of them gold.
And Allison has 20 world championship medals on top of that.
Also a record, no surprise.
Also, no surprise.
She was inducted over the summer into the U.S.
Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame.
Not only is Allison, as we know, in all caps legend on the track, her story as a mother,
a business entrepreneur, an advocate who grew to understand that.
Why, yes, I do want that whole damn cake, has inspired so many people.
And much of her incredible journey has been captured in a documentary.
She premiered at Tribeca Film Festival earlier in the summer called She Runs the World.
This woman, in fact, does run the world.
She's done it all.
Alison Felix, welcome to the party!
Thank you.
What an intro.
Thanks, guys.
Oh, this is gorgeous beginning.
Are you kidding?
I'm so happy to be here.
I mean, Alison, first of all, it's so amazing to have you here.
I have loved, absolutely love following your career.
And I admire you for so many reasons, one of which is how willing you are to take risks.
but here's the thing that stands out for me that I don't understand because I know what it
must feel like in your body like to be an athlete and to be in the blocks and then you the gun
goes off and you start running towards the line and every tendon of your body and muscle fiber
is twitching yet your face is completely calm. It is the wildest.
this thing like how do you in my family we call it fix your face if if the children are not having
good responses to the world how do you are you fixing your face like how do you stay calm under
pressure or do you just actually feel calm well we use fix your face on our family too so I love
that and also I have to say thank you guys for having me I mean it's like it's legendary like to
look on the screen in, let's see, Julie, Billy, like, I just, I can't. You guys are all such
inspirations. Okay, so my face, you know what? That's not the way that it feels. It feels like
you look a hot mess, like it's just crazy. And so I'm glad to hear that it appears to be
calm, because within, that is not what's happening. Wait, abs, you need to tell her what
your face was like when you were running fitness at University of Florida. Eighthundred
your last 800s. You want to tell Allison about how you had to fix your face? You just told me
the story the other day and I almost fell on the floor and wet my pants, Alison. I laughed so hard.
Yeah. I mean, so the way that it goes in soccer for preseason, you back in the day at the very
least, you had to run fitness tests. And we had this grueling fitness test. And it was an 800,
then a sprint, then a 400, then a sprint, then another 400, then a sprint, then another 800.
And the last 800, I was just completely suffering, but I needed to throw up.
And so I couldn't fix that part of my face.
And I just had to keep running because I had to pass a fitness test.
So, Jules, thanks for letting me tell that story on air.
But here we are.
I didn't fix my face.
She's like running.
And then she's just like, you know, like people usually stop and throw up.
This is so Abby, too.
She's just like, Kinger, you would be doing this too.
Abby just keeps running and throwing up as she's running.
I mean, whatever works.
I don't feel like anybody should have to run an 800.
Like, you shouldn't have to pass where you started.
I'm such a true sprinter.
Like, I do not like to go far.
So I understand the pain.
Oh, my God.
800 is the gut buster of the world.
I only had to run once.
And the women's sports superstars years, a thousand years ago.
And you could not do your own sport.
You had to do a sport you didn't know.
And that's what you chose?
You chose the 800 here?
I didn't have any other thing.
It's the last thing I could do that wasn't my sport.
And I'm like, oh, I can't never even run an 800.
It's against Kathy Wrigley, who's three feet, eight inches or something.
And our husband's running around the track, stay loose, smooth, smooth.
And I kept listening to him.
Oh, my God, I thought I was going to puke, actually.
We're going to find that video for sure, for sure.
I should have never told you, but I don't know how you do it.
But Allison. I don't do it for that long. I'm smart, you know, 22 seconds, 21 seconds, yeah.
Yeah, but the 400, come on. That's, oh, shit. Yeah. But another gut buster. The thing I love to,
Allison is not only are you common collected, as Abby pointed out, you're a total fighter. When Nike
threatened to cut your contract, when they found out you were pregnant by 70%. I love that. You didn't
just fight for you as an athlete with them. You said, listen,
Like, you need to take care of all of the female athletes as it relates, of course, to maternal protections.
And when they said, no, you said, okay, bye, bye, bye.
And not only did you say bye-bye, which is the thing that blows my mind is you started your own shoe company, as we know, called Seish.
And so where, my question is, where does one in the middle of their career, pregnant, going through all of this, you know, fighting to make it to the next Olympics, where do you?
have the courage to stand up to a billion dollar company and industry and say no i'm not taking the
crumbs honestly it didn't feel like i had courage at the time because it was just terrifying you know
i was i was so honestly i was so scared i didn't know what was on the other side of that
i just felt like i i deeply believed in it and like i had to and at the same time you know my
daughter was just born she had this stay in the niki and so honestly it was just looking at
and was like, I have to do this for her, for her generation. And so there was no part that felt
brave or courageous. It was just like, this is something that I, from deep within, I feel like
I have to do because we're just all going to be here again if I don't. Yeah. And by doing that,
you actually ended up changing policies at Nike, as we now know, and in the industry. And
you did it for Kami, as you mentioned. You also founded your own agency.
and Always Alpha, first management firm fully focused on women's sports. You also were just elected
last year to sit on the IOC board of directors, the International Olympic Committee. You also have
two kids now, both of them under six, Trey as well. And you've done this amazing advocacy work
around Black maternal health. What I want to know is what does it like to get an email from
Melinda Gates saying, hey, because of all the amazing work you've done, I would like to grant you
20 million dollars. It was shocking. But the coolest thing, you know, it really to me like
validated the work, the advocacy work that I'd been doing. It was like, wow, you know,
somebody like Melinda is paying attention. And so many organizations have been doing work in the
space, you know, long before my eyes were open to it. And so to be able to come alongside and
help fund these organizations is incredible. And a lot of organizations that typically would
wouldn't get funding. So for me, I mean, it's, it's really cool to be on this side of things
and get to do things I'm super passionate about and try to have an impact in these new spaces.
What are you most proud of? I think it's the theme kind of throughout. I think it's I'm most proud
that I found my voice. Because you guys knew probably me before, like very shy, introvert.
Like, I just focused on my sport. I did what I'm supposed to do. You know, I didn't want to ruffle
feathers. It just, it scared me to have an opinion on anything. And I think I'm just most proud
that finally, you know, I got to this place in my life where I could speak out and I could say
it's okay if people criticize this or if everybody doesn't like me. It's hard being a people
pleaser, you know, and to be able to break free from that and say like, okay, I'm going to try to
create some change. That has been the most freeing thing. And the thing I'm really proud that I was able to
come to this place and now it's like okay what else can we do like let's get stuff done how did
how did you finally say okay enough is enough i've had it i'm going to do this like you know there's
that moment where you're not and then there's something that happens and you are what are you most yeah
like what what was that specific moment for you for me it was being forced into it it was the nike
situation it was never having to i was good before then you know i i didn't have it was this real
life situation of saying, okay, you no longer are going to have a contract, you're not going to be
paid, like your value. I think it was just this slap in the face of like, you have no value.
You created life and you're no longer valuable to us. And to me, it was like, wow. I mean,
I think, you know, all of us, you know, we're athletes and we know, it's about performance and
it's about what have you done for me lately and all of those things. But it's hard to, you know,
separate your worth from the number that they're offering you. And I think when I was hit with that,
it really made me do some soul searching about like what is actually important and what is
actually real life. And I think when I face that, it was like, okay, if it all goes away,
it matters more to me about the next generation, about what they face, all of that. And so it was,
I didn't like go willingly. It was being.
forced into that situation and then getting to the other side of it and saying like, wow,
these companies, they changed their policy because I stood up, because other women stood up.
Like, we can do this.
There's like power in the collective.
And so I think all of those things like that move the needle.
I remember seeing you and you were talking about this exact thing.
You had just heard from Nike and it was just horrible for you.
And I felt so much for you that night we're talking.
I'll never forget it as long as I live.
And I'm so happy what you've done.
You're so courageous.
It's just, it makes me want to shout.
I have to say, Billy, thank you.
Because without trailblazers like yourself, I mean, you have been that real life example.
Like, I had to look and say, like, wow, you've done this on so many different levels.
Like, if you have done this, you know, we can follow behind you.
And so just thank you for paving the way.
because it continues, your legacy lives on and we continue to, you know, be able to stand up for
what we feel is right.
Oh, it's very sweet.
But every generation's got to keep it going.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Absolutely.
It's so true because Billy had, I mean, my moment, like your Nike moment was when
Billy said to me, to your point, Allison, like, obviously we know what she's done with tennis,
but what some people don't understand how she has gone to every sport and inspired them in a different
way. And Billy literally said, what are you going to do about it, Fowdy? You, the players. What are you
doing about it? And it was this moment we were like, what are we going to do about it? And when you realize
that when you do actually speak up in a collective way, in a unified way, to your point, you can change
policy, you can change laws, you can change things in a way that's meaningful. But until Billy had
that moment with me, I didn't, we weren't speaking up.
And so I love that that was, in some of the hardest times, you learned the most about yourself, for sure.
Yeah.
I love it.
Sometimes you have to give up something to get something.
You have to let go of something to get the better new thing.
And like you said, collectively doing it, getting everyone on the, or at least enough people on the same page.
And it's not about you.
Yeah, it's not.
I think that's something that I learned.
It's you're not going to be the one to benefit from it, you know?
And I know you know that.
And I know everybody, you know, here today knows that.
But it's, that's a hard thing when you're fighting for something that you'll never, you know,
experience a benefit from it.
But we know we're all, you know, trying to change sports so that the women behind us can
experience those benefits.
And I think they are.
I have a question for you, Alison.
Now that, did Melinda give you the $20 million yet to donate and give away?
Have you done the process?
Are you like, what has been like the most interesting thing around that process
to be able to like have access to that kind of money to make real change happen?
Yeah, I'm actively deploying funds now.
It's been fascinating.
I spent about a year just learning about organizations.
sitting back and understanding and seeing what's happening on the ground, who are those who are
being affected.
I chose to focus on maternal health.
And so really seeing that landscape, I've been familiar, but just really hearing, you know,
what it's going to take at every different level has been just fascinating.
And also other leaders who Melinda selected to deploy funds as well.
I think we're learning from each other.
and it's just been this incredible learning experience.
Yeah.
Melinda Gates is one of my she-rose.
I've had the privilege of getting to know her.
And she's fascinating, and she truly, truly cares as a human being.
I just think she's top drawer.
She's giving one billion to help advance women's power globally.
Yeah.
Is that incredible?
I learned she just wrote a book, too, not too long away.
Is it called The Next Day?
I think I've already read it.
Yes, it is.
And it's just, I love it.
I was underlining thing.
I mean, I'm, you know, I don't want to mark a book.
My parents always said, oh, no, don't do that.
I'm marking it with a pencil, so I got to erase it.
She had to return to the library.
I love that book.
But it's a really great book for those people out there.
Well, Alison, I got to know, like, we are going to have a community of people we call the
party people.
What can we do for you?
What can we do to help you in all?
all of the things you've got your hands in, what's top priority in your world right now that
the party people and ourselves, Billy, myself and Julie, can help with?
I love that. I appreciate that. I feel like, you know, it's great to get support. A lot of
these initiatives, a lot of these things that I'm building, they need support and they need,
especially, you know, in this time that women's sports is experiencing such momentum, support at
sache. You know, I'm trying to build a company that is specifically for women. We create shoes
to fit the form of the female foot. And so support there at Always Alpha. You know, we are representing
only female athletes, coaches, and broadcasters. And so really getting the word out there.
That's incredible. And then all the advocacy work, the work around the IOC, listening to athletes,
being the athlete voice, wanting to create, you know, a better Olympic path for athletes' journey
there and all my work around women's health as well just is more about awareness and
getting that word out. So I'm grateful to have the support. I did love, I love also as well that
at the last Olympics in Paris, you started the first ever nursery for all athletes, which, as we
know is so damn needed. So yeah. Yeah, super proud of that. And really happy that we could move it
forward. It was something that was like, okay, what do I want to see happen? That was it. But I thought
it was going to be like, okay, maybe by LA we could get it done. So now it's like, okay, let's grow it.
Let's make it bigger. Let's really think about how can we support athletes better? Like, what are
the things that they are needing? There was also a mental health space that was incredible in the
village. And so always looking to just support so that, you know, you could have your best
performances. Kinger, you brought up the other day. Yeah, about track and field. Yeah, I, I love
track and field. And my dad liked, he was, he did hurdles when he was a young guy. And I always
feel like there's not the continuity in track and field we need to understand it, to have a season.
I get so confused. I know O'Hanan started, what is it? Different leagues and all that. So,
what do you suggest that track and field do to help all of us stay you know i miss i know i miss
things sometimes because i don't really understand the landscape well enough yeah you are not alone
track and field is a hard sport to follow um and we have to do better with our product and so i think
it is going to take new energy like the league athlos that you're talking about new investment um new
ideas. I think that we've tried to do it the traditional way for a very long time. And in America,
it just has not worked. It hasn't taken off. And when we think about some of the names that are
household names of track and field, there are really names that go back to when we last had an Olympic
Games in the U.S. all the way to 96 in Atlanta, you know, names like Michael Johnson and
Jackie Jordan Cursey and Gail Dever, like all these incredible
athletes. And I think it's really exciting because we will have the LA games, you know, very soon
here. And I think it's a huge opportunity to put the sport, you know, really in focus and let people
see these incredible athletes and really create stars. I mean, there's such great personalities and
stories in track and field. But it's very hard to follow, like Billy said. And so we really have
to streamline that and come together to find a new path forward that is interesting and engaging
and easier to follow. Alison, what are the barriers? Like, what are the barricades or the roadblocks
that you have found in your career and now past your career that is like, is there like less
unity? Like, what are the reasons that it feels a little bit confused? I think the hardest thing is
that historically track and field seasons are, they're all overseas. And so that's what happens is we all go
overseas to compete. And so from anywhere from about May, all the way till September, we're
overseas, we're competing. And track and field thrives overseas. And, you know, it's a much
different experience than here. And so it's hard to then try to bring that to America. There's a lot less
opportunities. And so it's going to take, and there's a number of different initiatives that are
happening right now where, you know, investors and leagues and groups are coming in and they're
trying to fix that problem. And so I think we're going to have to come and support whether it's
Athlos that's, you know, happening, you know, Grand Slam is happening. You know, there's, there's
different things that are happening. And so we have to support them. And, but I think it is kind of a
different mentality. We're going to have to have a league, a team format where it's, you know who
to root for. You know, this person is either from Los Angeles or there's this other format,
you know, where they're running these various events. So something that's really engaging
that grips people to follow it away from just kind of the standard thing that we've been doing
in the past. And I want you to make lots of money. Yeah. And I was going to say, I imagine that's part
of it, right? Like how hard it is when you don't have a consistent presence, especially in the United States,
to get the sponsor backing outside of, obviously, those who have great success in the Olympics
every four years, but it's still every four years. So I imagine that is a constant struggle
for these athletes to stay competitive and afford to keep running. Absolutely. All the opportunities
have really been overseas, and you know, you can make a good living over there versus, you know,
here where there's not as many opportunities. But now we are starting to see, you know,
know, in kind of this shift of momentum right now that there are new things happening. And so
we're just going to have to be able to back them, support them, show up in the stadiums,
watch them on television and really get it going. Also, I love watching Netflix and Sprint.
And I watch everything I can on track and feel I loved it. Anyway, I know you did a special
interview on that show, too. That's the cool thing. You know, we have to get outside of, you know,
simply just the competition. I think sprint was great. It was really engaging. It brought you into some
of the behind-the-scenes stories of what's going on. And I think that's what it's going to take is not
just watching, you know, the 100, the 200, but learning the athletes and seeing what's happening
in their lives. And we know that the sport is engaging. We see it every four years. But how do we
translate that, you know, to be something sustainable throughout? What's next for you?
I mean, you've done all of this.
So if you said nothing, I would be like, yes, I get that.
But what I feel like everything you touch is golden.
So what is next for you?
I wish.
So continuing to grow my businesses, but yeah, I had my film premiered at Tribeca not too long ago.
And so continuing to get that out.
And then right now I'm working on my book.
And so I'm really excited for that to, to,
come in about another year. But working through the editing process of that is it's the worst.
The editing process of a book is the worst because the only person who can really edit your
own book because it's your life is you. So you got to read it and again read it. I do not envy you
right now. If any of you want to send me, yeah, send me tips. The publisher always takes something out
because it's too many pages, at least.
How are you finding that?
Did you have so many pages?
I had like 950 pages and like, I know that's not going to work.
I don't have that many pages, but.
She wants tips.
She wants tips.
If only we knew a few authors in the house.
I don't know.
Give me your gyms.
That's Glennon's department.
You can talk to Glennon.
Allison, you are a treat, my friend.
Thank you for everything you've done.
Abbs, you want to ask the most important question?
I mean, I think I do.
What is your party trick?
Do you have a party trick?
It's the most important question.
We need to know, do you have a party trick?
What do you do at a party?
Is there something that you could share with us?
What is a party trick exactly?
That's a really good question.
I love it.
What is the definition?
Well, we knew who goes to parties here and who doesn't.
Chachi, Beach, what is a party trick?
Some people have a real life and children and all these things.
I know some of you, I know you do too, Julie, but I don't know.
I'm not like Alice's as much as I used to me.
I'll give you an example of a party trick.
Yeah, what's your party trick?
This isn't my party trick, but I would like to steal this party trick if I could actually do this party trick.
At the ESPNW summit, there was these two women that used to come every year and they'd pull out a belt.
and they used to go to parties and they'd pull out a belt and they would bet people if they could limbo underneath the belt and they pretended like they couldn't really do it and then their party trick was they like literally could be parallel to the floor like five inches above the floor yeah they could limbo like i i was like oh my god i don't think my body could ever have done that what you're doing right now it hurts just watching you and so and the whole party gets into it but they basically pretend like they couldn't do it and then they
win every every contest i'm going to the wrong parties like i think alison you can run really fast
my my uh suggestion is you run really fast away from this yeah maybe maybe my party trick should be like
challenging people to embrace like yeah that's all that's where my talent lies yeah as soon as a guy
like starts to mansplain that's a good one as soon as a man starts to mansplain at a party you'd be like
let's go outside and race and see because that's where the that's where the ego gets just
blown out of the water with dudes like first one to the lamp post bro yeah let's take this back
to a good old street race uh well we just can't thank you enough because through all that you
do and as amazing and tiring and courageous as you are, as I imagine it can be.
Like, the thing that sticks with us is that you have this incredible grace to everything you do
and a humble way of just the way you are with everyone.
And it's so beautiful and inspiring.
And I feel like it is a light that just keeps shining on various dark places.
And I thank you for bringing that into this world, because we know we could use a lot more of that.
So thanks for always just coming with such grace and kindness.
Alison Felix.
I appreciate that.
And I appreciate you guys, inspirations, like each one of you, truly.
I think we should, I used to always finish everything with a power pose picture.
I think we should do a freeze frame party pose.
Are you ready on three, Alison, whatever your party pose is.
We're thinking this might be the way we end up, we end interviews.
Are you good with that? It has to be the craziest damn party pose you've ever given, though. Are you ready? Kinger, what you got? Party pose? Okay, ready? On three, three, two, one.
Allison, you are always welcome to the party. Yes, Allison, you are always welcome to the party.
August 2025 marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina changed.
New Orleans forever. There have been many accounts of the storm's devastation and what it took to
rebuild. But behind those headlines is another deeply important story, the story that impacted
the lives of thousands of children, which is why I'm excited to tell you about a new podcast
called Where the Schools Went. Where the Schools Went is a new five-part podcast series
hosted by former school principal Ravi Gupta about what happened to the city's school after
the levies broke, and how it led to the most radical education experiment in American history.
Where the schools went traces the decades of history before Katrina and how the high-stakes
decisions that followed transformed the entire school system. You'll hear from the voices of the people
who lived it, from veteran educators who lost their jobs, to the idealists and outsiders who rushed
in, to the students and families who lived through it all. Whether you're a parent, an educator,
or someone who cares about how communities and public systems can work together, where the schools went
is a story you need to hear. From the branch, in partnership with the 74 and Midas Touch,
where the schools went is out now. Find it wherever you get your podcasts and start listening today.
It's the beginning of a new school year and also the classroom sniffles and sneezes that go along
with it. From home to school and back, stock up with Kleenex ultra-soft tissues. Start the school
year off the right way by preparing for the messes that come with it. You don't want to be caught
without a tissue on hand to help.
Kleenex ultra-soft tissues are soft and absorbent to stand up against running noses
to keep you and your family clean and comforted as the school year starts.
This back-to-school season, make sure to get the classroom essential that teachers and students
can rely on.
For whatever happens next, grab Kleenex.
I think that I know more than anyone on this entire planet that having the right therapist
to talk to can make a life-changing difference.
That's why I think Alma is so cool.
Alma connects you with real therapists to understand your unique experience.
You can use their directory to search for someone who specializes in the areas that matter
most to you, whether that's anxiety, relationships, or anything else.
And what stands out to me about Alma is that 97% of people seeing a therapist through Alma
say their therapist made them feel seen and heard.
You know, I love that.
That level of connection isn't something you can get
from scrolling through online advice
or following social media.
It's about finding someone who truly understands your journey
and is dedicated to helping you make progress.
Better with people, better with Alma.
Visit helloalma.com slash hard things
to get started and schedule a free consultation today.
That's hello-a-l-m-a-com slash hard things.
Oh, I love her so much.
She's the best.
Yeah.
And when I told her at the end, like, how humble she is and the way she carries herself.
And I just, the kindness that just comes out of her, it's just, I love it.
The thing that stood out to me the most is this idea of her finding her voice and feeling like that.
personal pride in her voice like that to be doing that even having already accomplished so much
in your life like to do that in order to to to take that next step and make it to the next level
she's just awesome I love that I met her yeah because I met her when she was really young and
she was so shy and then see her a few years later and then especially after she talked to me about
the Nike deal and how bad it was.
She was really not sure what she was going to do.
And now we've heard her story.
And to you, what you said, Abby, about her finding her voice is just major accomplishment.
Yeah.
And I love when she thanked Kinger because we all should be thanking Kinger every damn day.
That's so sweet, did you.
I love being with you guys.
You're the best.
We should be.
I mean, she's spot on.
Like when you understand what you have done for this woman's sports space, my word.
I know you get uncomfortable when we talk, you know, just get started.
Kinger always gets uncomfortable when you start talking about her.
She's like, stop it.
Yeah, that's true.
Let's go.
Let's win.
All right, Kinger, before we end this party, we have a bit of surprise for you because we are going to do a recurring segment called Just Ask the Kinger.
because everyone is literally asking Billy Jean how to solve their problem.
And as I was saying with Allison, it happens in every single sport,
and I have watched this process play out for 30 years that I've known her,
where she sits down with people and listens and solves their problem.
So we thought we should just have a Just Ask the Kinger recurring segment.
This one is a little bit special, right?
This one is special because it's called Just Ask the Kinger,
the Goats Ask Goat Edition. So we put a back call out to a bunch of goats in women's sports
and ask them to ask the OG goat, yes, you, Billy, what, whatever they wanted. Rapid Fire.
Are you ready? I'm ready. I have to tell myself, no pressure. Pressure is a privilege.
Pressure is a privilege. Let's go. First up is U.S. Open and French Open champion Cocoa
my question for miss billy is what is your favorite sport to watch and you cannot choose tennis
great question cocoa i watched so many women's sports and men sports actually i watch sports
what's your favorite well i grew up probably basketball because i grew up with my dad he was a
basketball player and i watched that the most probably probably i'd have to say basketball right now
but you know it should say baseball because my younger brother you know played 12 years of professional
baseball and i used to watch him play kawanna's t-shirt league with the sun going down and they're
not finishing a game and they didn't have t-ball yet and oh my god the reason my brother randy became
a pitcher is because he's the only child on the team at seven they could kind of get the ball over the
you know over home play kind of kind of and that's why he became a pitcher because he should have
been a third base or left field and he has a great arm and he can hit and didn't let him hit
kinger i just want to remind you that you might have two people right next to you that played
not basketball nor baseball really played soccer yeah i played basketball i played basketball
i scored a thousand points in high school julie you did yes i was a basketball player don't take it away
I'm saying soccer. Soccer should have been your favorite sport.
What position?
I'll get that in.
I was a three guard, four guard, but, but, um, how many points did you score?
I scored over a thousand points in high school.
Oh, that's amazing.
I got college scholarships offers.
What?
Abby's a jock man.
She's a super jock.
Oh, see?
Because it was your favorite sport.
Because you guys were in the Olympics and won an Olympic gold medal and that was my dream.
So I was like, I'll go for soccer.
Oh.
Wow. Now you have to understand when I was growing up and you were talking about playing soccer
when you were a kid, we didn't have soccer in the United States of America. So soccer was not
in my, it wasn't around at all. Okay. Okay. So just so you can. Yeah. It's true.
Yeah. That's true. That's true. I know. I'm a old man. You get a pass there. All right,
Abbs, what you got is the next one. All right. The next goat is the most successful skier in
World Cup history and a two-time Olympic gold medalist. It's, of course, McCabe.
Akela Schifrin.
A question for Billy Jean.
I'm just wondering if you actually take a look around
and look at the momentum that women's sports has started to gather
and is gaining day by day.
I wonder if you look around at that and actually think, like,
I was at the forefront of this.
I started this.
I don't know.
I just, I wonder if you've ever been able to actually take a step back
and look at that big picture.
and see and truly feel
how much of a role you've played.
Your legacy is just so powerful
and you've really paved the way.
So we're very grateful to you for that.
What?
How am I supposed to answer that?
On a chairlift.
What? I know.
She's getting out of the way
and she's talking and she's talking.
She's very focused.
I'm going to cry.
This is the first time I've seen these.
This is so good.
I mean, that was,
It was so nonchalant.
Like most people are like, okay, I've got my poles.
I got to get off this chairlift.
They're freaking out.
And then she's like literally taking a video.
Michaela, you're the best.
I'm scared of heights.
She was killing me.
I said, don't look.
Don't look.
Yeah, Billy, like when you look out in women's sports spaces in the world of women's sports,
do you think I did this?
This is what I did with my life.
Look at what I did.
No, I don't think like that.
You should.
I would if I were you.
First of all, okay, okay, that you can do that for me.
it. No, what I think about is I'm not done yet. I'm not done yet. But I'm so grateful to still be
alive to see what's happening in women's sports. And as far as, you know, legacy is what other people
think about you. But what I care about is what contributions can I make while I'm on her. And I think
every athlete should think about that. And I want athletes to think about we instead of me. And
Julie and I've had this discussion before where the first two generations of, you know, a new sport that does really well.
Usually the first two generations say we, they think of themselves as a team together to make the sport better.
And then by the third generation, as it comes through the locker room, we start saying, I.
And then I go, oh, it's always been the same.
I think probably if you think about soccer, that some of these things came true, not all of them maybe,
that sometimes some of the players started thinking about i instead of we and i know they talk about
the team all the time you guys are taught to do that but in their heart of hearts i think a lot of
athletes whether they're in a team sport or non-team sport that they do think i a lot
hmm you always taught us the we're younger greater than the me yep but you guys know better
that because you're younger and you have a different perspective.
That's one thing about getting older is we have better and better, I think, perspective.
Yeah.
And nothing shocks you when you get older.
I think that, Billy, I love that you said that because I think that there's a part of me that
agrees with you.
And there's this other part of me that is also seeing the way that the guys do it, right?
And I don't, that's not, that's not a way that I wanted to do sport.
like I'm a very much a team first person, but I do think that there is something to be said about
getting and achieving the same kind of success that men have on this planet in terms of
sports, you know, leadership and sports popularity and the revenue that's coming in. And so there's
this thing that I'm like, yes, there's a purity in team sport that I'm like all here for. And,
And yet I totally understand why some athletes might think or might be led to think that the me first mentality is the way that they should probably do it because that's what they're seeing in the men's side.
It's not for me as fun to watch, but I also think that I understand it, right?
I understand the process of thought that brings them there.
oh i understand it because of the opportunities they have they don't then they don't have the past
history but that's why i like to read history i love history i mean even going back to college now
i'm i was a history major and i of course i'm going to finish up as a history major and i hope
i graduate next may please go out please oh that's going to be a party right there
yeah baby we're going to have a big one i've had to wait a long long time and king are you do
you just such a good job of reminding us that we're just standing on the shoulders of others
and helping, right?
Like, there's always someone that came before you that paved that way.
And it's such a great reminder, I love.
And we will do a segment on Know Your History because this is huge.
Well, but the history is, but people have to remember living isn't in the past.
It's living history.
It's living.
It's alive.
It's, you know, like I've got my Althea T-shirt on.
Yeah.
She's my first she wrote.
She, 75 years ago, she was the, she broke our color barrier in tennis.
She's our Jackie Robinson of tennis.
And this year we're celebrating like crazy, you know, this year.
They made it a U.S. Open thing.
So it has been unbelievable.
Finally, she's getting her dues.
No, they usually talk about male athletes.
They don't talk about, like without Althea, there wouldn't have been Arthur Ash, for instance, okay?
Or there wouldn't have been the players of color that we have now.
But even there wouldn't have been a player for this little white girl because I watched her when she was number one in the world.
I was 13 years old.
And she was my first table other than my parents.
And I'll never forget.
She taught me what it looks like to be number one and what it means.
And I went, oh, my God, I'm going to have to be better than that.
And I remember my parents saying, every generation gets better.
And I'm like, oh, my God, I have to be better than that.
But then I got to know her, but I got to know her throughout her life.
So, like, I'm amazing.
Love it. Love it. Love it. Love the shirt.
All right. Our final goat has a question.
Yeah, we got one more.
She is a two-time World Cup champion, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in soccer,
and one of the most iconic players ever to play the beautiful game.
It's Mariel, Margaret, Ham, better known as Mia Ham.
Hey there, Billy Jean.
You legend.
it's me a ham listen my one burning question for you is what is your best worst dance if you don't
understand that just ask jules she'll explain it to you yeah best worst you best you better explain to me
my worst and best dance oh this is so perfect so the way it works billy so the way that it works is
It's got to be the best, comma, the very worst dance you've ever danced, but the best one of them.
The best of your worst.
Yeah, the best of your worst dance.
This was something, Billy, we did in the locker room a lot.
So much so that right before we would go out for National Anthem, we would be doing like, you know, our best of our worst.
My generation?
My generation.
We're big on the twist, baby.
so no it's it's got to be bad though it's like the best of your bad it was terrible i was
so what is your best worst let's see it it's got to be a chair dance because that's all we can see i can't stand
up i don't have pants on today billy billy i don't have long pants on i have shorts on
no i can't get up that's why you just told me here you can do your best of your worst here okay
we'll save this for our next one how's that and i'll make sure it's in the chair watch abby goes
first. Abby.
Oh, I can go worse. I can go worse.
Ready? Boom, boom, boom.
Oh, yeah, go, Billy. Go. Go.
Lily did last the move. I am always good at turning so I can turn.
Julie Wids. This is scary.
Whatever Julie's doing is the worst of us.
Oh, this is ridiculous.
This is great.
Okay, round of applause for Cocoa, Michaela Schiff from Mia Hamm's slow clap.
Love you guys. Thanks for participating.
Thank you. You guys are the best thanks.
Hey, guess what?
I love you guys.
What, baby?
What, daddy, baby. First party in the books. First party in the books.
Okay, so a couple reminders to our party people, please don't forget to subscribe to the
Welcome to the Party YouTube channel. And you know, you can click that little bell icon so you get
updates when new episodes go live. So make sure you do that.
it. You need to rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever
you get your podcast. And it really does matter. So please review us, follow us. And be sure to
follow us on TikTok and Instagram at Welcome to the Party Show where Julie, Billy and I will
bring the party straight to your feed. Y'all, thank you to our launch partners and to Kate Diaz,
who composed our Welcome to the Party music. You're the best. We love our things.
song. And most of all, I think more than anything, we want this party to be yours. So we want to hear
from you once a month. We're going to do a give the power to the party people episode where we'll be
answering all your questions. We'd love your feedback on topics you want us to hit, themes you want
us to hit athletes you want us to talk to, sports that maybe aren't getting the recognition they
deserve. You get it. All these topics. We will try and get to all of them. And just a reminder as well,
please invite your friends or 500 to the party,
even those who are not big women's sports fans yet.
They're not there yet because everyone is welcome.
Billy, what do you think?
How should we close out this party every time?
Should we teach them our Usa, Usa, U.S. Women's National Team cheer?
You have to.
What is it?
Can you explain it really quick?
No brainer.
Okay, so going back to the very first national team,
they were playing over in Italy and the Italians were,
as they do in Europe, instead of calling us USA, they called us Usa in the stands. And they were
chanting, Usa, Usa, Usa. And we thought that was so funny. Like, wait, what are they saying?
So from day one, really early on in the national team lore, the pregame, we're going out onto the
field hands together is Usa, Usa, Usa, Usa, uh. They literally still do this cheer. This is the
U.S. Women's National Team cheer to this day. So I think we should close out every party. Party people,
everyone, wherever you are. If you're doing the dishes, right? Hands in. If you're walking your dog,
hands in. Put your paw in. And it's the most important part is it's on three, Usa, Usa, Usa, Usa,
but like the uh is from your soul. From your soul. Okay, Abby. All right, here we go. Usa on three.
One, two, three, Usa, Usa, Usa, Usa, Usa, Usa, uh. Give me the ball.
All right, party, people.
We'll see you next time.
Thanks for joining us.
Welcome to the party is an independent production.
Brought to you by Treat Media.
Treat Media makes art for humans who want to stay human.
Forever Dog is our production partner,
and you can watch our full conversations
on the Welcome to the Party YouTube channel
and follow us at Welcome to the Party show
on Instagram and TikTok.