Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson (sometimes) - Maria Sharapova

Episode Date: July 15, 2026

This week Ted Danson faces off with tennis legend and entrepreneur Maria Sharapova! They discuss the relationship between podcasting and athletics, dealing with criticism and societal expectations, Maria's childhood experience of adjusting to life in America, her thoughts on pickleball, and much more.    Check out Maria’s new podcast with Vox Media, “Pretty Tough.”   Like watching your podcasts?  Visit http://youtube.com/teamcoco to see full episodes.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Can I interrupt you for saying? No, because I am the man, and this is my podcast. My God, this is horrible. Welcome back to where everybody knows your name. My guest today is tennis great Maria Sharapova. Maria is a five-time Grand Slam champion, founder of a confectionary company, and now a podcaster. Her new show is called Pretty Tough with Maria Sheripova,

and on it, she talks to successful women who defy societal expectations. much like her so. It's an honor to talk with her, Maria Sharapola. I've had the best morning with you already because you showed up an hour and a half early for a reason and I show up an hour and a half early because I always like to sit down and prepare, which is, and it's horrible because I just, anyway, preparing by yourself is like, that's all you need is 90 minutes? No, no, no, I've been looking little videos of you for a while. But yes, that's when I get serious. But anyway, I show up to, and you were already here when I got here.

So we talked for a little while, which was very sweet, very nice. But then you went off into your corner and you got hair and makeup done. Yeah. I watched some more stuff about you and then chatted and then got bored. So I went downstairs while you were sticking into your hair and makeup done. Still 90 minutes later. Just sat in front of you. But we couldn't really chat.

It was a little awkward because everything I'd ask, you say, save it for the pause. No, no, no, can't go there. Let's talk about your lipstick. Yeah, you did. I said leave. So I was going to start with, what shade of lipstick is that, Marie? That's a good question. I didn't put it on, so I don't know.

Okay, here's what, there's so much to talk about that I have nothing in common with you that we could talk about. obviously we will talk about tennis and grand slam winner. We don't have to. I do. I want to because, all right, you'll discover that I bounce around way too much. I like it. But my joy in life as a kid was basketball. And I won't go into the whole story, but athletes to me, athletes, as an actor, when you meet other actors, it's exciting.

When you meet politicians, it can be exciting. When you meet athletes, you just become this little kid. You're so excited to be around a professional athlete. So I have that in common. So we have tons to talk about. But let's jump to today, which is the today, meaning you are a podcaster. I am. How do you like that?

It's fun, isn't it? TVD. No, come on. How many of you done? Two or three? We've recorded several. How many? We have two out so far.

Yeah, Zoe. We have Zoe Zaldana and Jeannie Buzz. And we have, well, depending on this comes out, but next week is Gabriella Hurst, who's a dear friend and an incredible fashion designer. So it's a really wide mix of incredibly high-achieving women that have gotten to the top. And, you know, I'm deeply passionate about what it takes to get to anywhere in life. I had one way to get to number one in the world. And also, what is the definition of success for these women? And when they reach that success, what does it?

is the next vertical, how do they come to that conclusion? Are they deflated, right? Because we talk about success in those few minutes, few seconds, but then, you know, we realize that, is it that great up there? Is it? Well, you have to keep striving for it, right? Because it only lasts, just, it's so quick, so brief. Yeah. And it's called Pretty Tough. It's called Pretty Tough, yes. Thank you for reminding me. Yeah, yeah. I love being a podcast through. Do you? I love it. When did you start the space?

I love whatever this is I'm doing because I don't listen to it. If I listen to it, I would judge myself and I'm a very judgmental dick at times. So I would much prefer to just have the joy of the moment of doing this. I love that honesty. Yeah, but it's true. I think that's what makes a successful podcast, at least to the ones I listen to. Yeah, don't know. Is that they're, they don't hold back.

They speak and they're honest. But it is truly what I love. And as far as. isn't a connection in a way to being an athlete and doing what we're doing podcasting is the intensity of the focus for an hour and a half or whatever it is, is intense.

Because I can't, you know, I don't sit down and look at my notes and ask you the next question. That's the first thing I saw when we entered the room is an empty table with no notes. How do you do that? There's a screen behind you. I got all my questions.

Made you luck. I did. I was like, But, but, that's an art. I don't know if it's an art or it's lazy or it's, I'm not the academic and I, whatever. So you prepare and it's, and you go into it and the questions are in your head. No, I prepare. You'll find out when there's this big lull.

Because I have no more questions. No, I go through, my preparation is doing all the bad stuff. It's how I prepare as an actor too. I make all the bad mistakes in this. This sucks until you go, ah, okay. My ah, okay in podcasting is when I finally stop looking for the questions that will make me seem like an interesting podcaster. This will be an interesting question and go, Ted. So what's the opposite of that?

That's just being you. I will finally say, what are you genuinely curious about? And I go through all my bad, you know, ah-ha-ha questions. and I finally go, oh, yeah, I really want to know that. So I start with some sort of curiosity and then trust that there will be a conversation. I'm learning so much already. I'm becoming a better podcaster by joining this podcast. I feel it.

I feel it in my body. Okay, I don't know you well enough to see whether that's true. It's true. Okay, good. No. I'm going to press you on that. Why? What?

Because there's so much prep that goes into hosting a podcast, right? Whether it's how the set looks and how the guest is. and preparation into the material and the guest itself. Because some guests you know and some guests you've yet to meet, you know, that you're curious about. And so you want to be prepared. And then all goes into it. But then you sit across this person and eventually it's,

you're in the moment with them. So you want to learn from them knowing that the audience also learning. But if I can just focus on this, right, right here. Yeah, but I've watched your brother. I watched two. not even all of them good I got two more views thank you very much

oh you'll it's all about the views isn't it no worry and by the way I heard that the way to increase your viewership is by doing other people's podcasts well here I am

I know so yeah the three people you know you'll get three more no well I was against oh so but I watched and you do both

because you you are the professional athlete still that you were. So for you to do the kind of casual thing that I'm doing, I don't believe would be really you. I saw that you had cards and questions prepared. But then you asked it and you probably thought a great deal about it. So you read it. So it was exactly how you wanted to phrase it.

But then you dropped that and you were totally with them going and engaged and doing the same thing. So, anyway. No, I feel like we've recorded 10 or 12. I forgot at this moment. But I've noticed how much I've grown since the first one. And we did a few mock-up ones. I interviewed a few of my friends. Just because it's a different skill.

It is. We were just talking about it, like, when a work opportunity comes to, you know, to be on a panel and do a Q&A versus showing up and doing a speech, you're like, oh, God, the preparation. You're like, I'd much rather do a Q&A for a format. This is why I'm an actor, so I don't have to do this. So our preference is Q&A because it's just we can show up and that's, you know, we've done that for so long. So to be on the other side of it and, you know, knowing how much work goes into being an actor, an athlete,

you want to prepare to do something well because we have this identity of what good or great looks like. On your side, then you also want to, and I could see that in what you're doing, is make that other person you're talking to, the best version of them. Absolutely. I also want to feel like it's a safe place for them to share their stories. Because we've both been around this block of doing press and interviews and you're most of the time saying very similar things. But the perception I try to have is whoever's listening in this new, whether it's on a podcast or a morning show, it's like most likely they're hearing it for the first time. So even though you have said it several times, the audience is most likely a new audience that's hearing it for the first time.

So you have to phrase it and you have to be just as excited as you said it for the first time as you're saying it for the hundredth time. So like being creative to make yourself sound just as good as when you said it the first time. I don't know if this makes sense. It does. It's the world of acting too. Take 10, take 40. You still have to be there for the first time.

That's why I love the photographer Patrick Demonsier, who sadly passed recently. but when he knew that he had the shot, like he had a great image, he didn't need backups. He's like, I got the shot. Tell me about him a little bit because I don't want to fake like I know that person is. So Patrick was, well, he actually shot my first ever off-court campaign that I ever did for a watch brand. And this was 2004. So after winning Wimbledon, Tag Quere was one of my first sponsors off the court. And it was my first like, I don't know, entry into fashion.

And I remember we shot this campaign in Malibu, and most of the time photographers like to take, just like in film, they like to have several different versions, angles, just so when they're in the edit room, you know, they have options. But this was a photographer that when he knew that he had the shot, he didn't care what anyone thought. Like, that was it. And it's so refreshing because as someone that's on the other side of it, you're like, we're done. We know that was good. Why do we need to keep doing it? right? It's kind of frustrating. So that's what I respect it. Do you find yourself now going, actually, I think I bet we do have this. So let's stop. Do you do that when you're in a photo show?

I do. I don't have, I'm, it's like the art of letting go. I think sport teaches you that you can, you train and train and you're so in control. But then when you go on court to compete, you have to let go. And it's been like one of the greatest lessons in life for me. is like this. When you go on and compete, you have to let go of what? Just control. You have, you know,

the only thing you can control is like your serve because that's the first shot. But everything else, like who says what in the crowd, what the audience thinks, you know, the weather, how, even how you're playing.

Like sometimes it's so dependent on your opponent and the conditions that you just have to let it. You have to trust the work that you put in is great enough, you know, to trust an, a natural instinct. And how about

when you lose the first game? Set? Yeah. Game set. You know, terribly. You still have to, and you still have to shake that off and have that mean nothing and come back and win. That's a huge discipline.

Yes. I think, well, letting go of the fact that yeah, I just got smoked in front of millions of people. It's a little bit like doing theater and getting, you know, opening night, you get a sucko review and, you know, and millions of people read it.

What describe a sucko review? What is what? Like, what is a, in your opinion, what is the word? What can they say that is so bad? If you were the lead in the play and they rave about the play and then say the one drawback is Mr. Banson's performance. So. But what if you, but what if you felt good about the performance?

Would you, would you be sensitive enough to take in someone else's, thought of your performance? Oh, yeah. Okay, no, it's a fair. No, that's why I'm not online. I will never go online because. So I think that's the biggest difference with your profession and an athlete. No, I think it's also the biggest, that's the reason why you got to where you are, that level of discipline. No, I think it's a level of like not giving a shit. Yeah. Because there's so. But they're actors like that. And I envy that. And I, uh, I, I, uh, I, I, um, I, will get to, I don't give a shit. But I almost have to go.

I don't give a shit if I believe that my performance, win or loss, by the way, because you lose a lot, win or loss was acceptable and was at a high level. And if I feel like it was, and my team does, right? I'm not the only one in this world. Then I'm satisfied. Okay, let's go backwards this for a second. You probably didn't get, that's not a genetic thing. That was something that was taught to you.

And you pick up a rack at age four. By seven, you're really, oh, we're going to move because she's that good, Florida, that kind of thing. So who taught you? Was that a learned skill of, you know what? If you think that determination and self-confidence that if I think it's good, it's good, and whatever. No, I think it's not something that I had when I was a teenager, but I had the determination because I love being different

than what the rest were doing. Like I loved this idea. You know, I lived in a dorm room in Florida for a couple of years because my dad was working in nearby towns. And, you know, I was in Bradenton, Florida, and I was one of the younger ones in the dorm room. Which is in all us. All sporting school for tennis.

Tennis. Involuntary. And I, you know, all the girls around me were creating like posters. Like, we're, I mean, we're young. Also tennis players? 10, 11, 12 years old. And, you know, best friends and with glitter. And I like, I was never a part of that.

And I don't remember, like, when you come to the room and you're like, you see all these posters and your name is like, like not part of the pack. You're like, oh, okay, well, I mean, I know that I'm here for a different reason, but I wasn't upset about it. So like looking back at that, it was hard, but it didn't stop me from doing what I love to do, which was, you know, playing for six hours a day and training and competing over the weekends and just getting better. And also realizing, like, I didn't have the means or the money that the rest of the girls in this, you know, dorm room had. So I had to find a way to make that money, right, to keep giving myself opportunities to stay in a dorm like

that because I was on a scholarship. So I just, I felt like what I was doing was unique and I didn't, and I say that now, I'm more aware of it now because I have a son that's three and a half years old and I go to a lot of, you know, little gymnasiums and music classes and they're like herds. And there's never really a place where, like, a kid can, you can really identify what is, what does this kid really want to do? What are they good at? And I know he's still very young. But I always try to encourage, like, when I am around him is like just to guide him to a path which he loves, right? An activity that he is passionate about, not just because I'm taking him to a group, you know, football. He doesn't even like it, but whatever. Football, American football, soccer. No, soccer. Back up. So you lead.

So I just wonder how much I'm going to, not that this was the thought process, but I am going to go with my father, be uprooted from where I live, and my mom, right? Because your mom stayed behind for a couple of years. I'm going to go to another country, don't speak the language, and I'm going to be, well, not right away, or right away in a dorm room. Did you immediately go to that school? right off the bat, you are, by the way, you're sitting up so tall. I'm trying because this is like.

My seat like way lower than hers. This is not fair. No, I'm trying to work on my posture. Me too. Especially now. You just got taller. Yeah, thanks. I can't.

Just leading by example. So you are already having to, you're already different. You all already, not even that I'm better than or whatever than, but I am different. You're holding, you must be holding yourself differently. This is harder. What I'm having to do learning another language and leaving my home, that must give you a certain determination. Well, it was hard because we didn't, well, we didn't have that much money. We had enough money for, you know, having food on the table and roof over our heads and being healthy and happy, but we didn't have the means to go to an expensive training facility and then play tournaments and drive and fly everywhere. So that had to be, that wasn't

given, that was earned. So that I recognized. And I think the thing that people have recognized of my talent is, is a focus to keep doing one thing, like to keep hitting this ball over and over again until you reach a certain level. Like that, for a young, girl or boy, and I see a lot of young girls and boys picking up different sports and seeing how they play is really hard because we have so many distractions. We are constantly given options, which in some ways is great because it builds all of our skill sets and later in life you choose what you want to do. But it also kind of takes you away from perhaps one path that you'd like to choose and that you want to lean into. I was basketball. So was my one, you know,

moment, not a moment. It was like, until I went to Stanford and discovered, oh, I'm not in this league, you know, of basketball. So you were on the Stanford team? No, no, I was on a small private school, Kent School for Boys in Kent, Connecticut, and we won our championship. But any decent-sized high school would have just wiped us. There were only 300 boys in the whole school. So, but it was my passion is my love is all I cared about. It was my coach was the only person who really could communicate to me. How cool. You had that passion. Oh, oh, the best. Totally the best. What did you learn? I learned that the team is the thing. It's not about you. It's about the team and you're, you have a, you know, role to play and you need to be really good at it, but it's the team.

I love to just, I just loved the, being in my body, using my body to, later it was to communicate as an actor, but, you know, feeling like an athlete, being in whatever shape that was. But then when I got to Stanford, I had to let that go. Because you realize the level was not. Yes, I had my level. It was just, it was a joke. It was not even the same game. It was the same year that Lou Alson was a freshman. How beautiful, though, that you continuously go back to those years that informed your body and what you think of as a team.

And this is something that, like, when I, like, after retiring a lot of, when I talk about sport, especially in a business environment, so many people talk about, like, the similarities and comparisons and the qualities that you develop, you know, as a. as a young college student or professional, that those lessons just continue with you throughout your entire life. And I know so many women in C-suite positions that hire fellow women that have had, you know, either professional background in sport, you know, or were incredible college athletes

because they recognize that their mind has been, you know, informed by this craft. right, which is just constant resilience, overcoming difficulties with the sport itself or your body, and just maturing on the job. Yeah. I do want to go back a second during those years. How old were you when you retired? I mean?

It's a great question. 32, I think. 32. From 7 to 32, you were. It could be wrong. I think it's 32. Minus an injury here or there. where you had to recuperate or rehab,

you were constantly on the high wire of being in perfect shape, right? Yeah. Did you ever fuck off? Did you ever go, no, I want to rebel, no, I want to have a drink. No, actually. Oh, I had drinks.

Not as many as I can have now. Yes. That's for sure. I didn't have, I didn't really have that desire to go, you know, to go. No, I often get asked, like, what did, you know, did you miss, like, the school environment or this traditional schooling upbringing? And I don't know what to miss. It's hard for me to identify with something that I've never experienced. And I guess that question lean into the social aspect of, you know, you didn't have that many friends or, no. And the honest answers, no, I didn't. Because people I would meet were usually in tennis and usually I'd be competing against. them and that's tricky to make really strong friends, you know, when you're trying to be the best at something. I found it difficult personally. So, yeah, but I never, again, going back to

like feeling different about your path, that was always a positive in my opinion. And I know that's often seen as a negative and people want to be part of this pack and do what others are doing. But I think standing out and not having to apologize for standing. out is also a very, it's cool. Totally. I think people who ask you those questions, including me, are people that have, you know. You haven't asked it yet. I feel like I'll just look at myself now, because right now in my age 78, I like to think

of it as my professional athlete years, for real. It's different. Yeah. But if I do not play at my maximum level, if I go off and have a drink before I come in and have this conversation, it's going to be. Oh, yeah. I remember the first year after retiring, well, there's a little bit of COVID, but then maybe it was the second, whatever. Timeline doesn't matter. But I remember attending, like, conferences and, you know, certain panels.

And people, you know, would talk during the day and they'd have all these meetings. And then the evening, they'd go out and, like, drink, right? they'd have these fabulous dinners and like stay up really late because they're like in cool places. And I just, I always thought, wait, but then the next stage they got to, the next day they have to be on stage. Like, how do they not think about that? And the answer is no, they really don't care. Like, if I have a performance or if I have to be on stage or if I have, you know, if I'm interviewing somewhere for the podcast, like, you know, we've been recording all over. but a lot of them have been in New York. Like, I mean, the night before, I'm not because I have to or I know I'm going to go crazy,

but like I'm in bed by nine. I am with my material ordering room service. You know, I'm not like going out, even though I have many friends in the city. Not sitting there, you know, drinking champagne. I'm like ordering room service, perhaps a glass of wine. But like, I'm focused. Yeah. See, and that, I think the fact that you had this.

you know, these 30, whatever, 20, whatever it is, years of playing at your peak and seeing what you can do and it becoming kind of natural and your body's used to that and your mind even more importantly is used to that, serves you for the rest of your life because I am now, you know, I didn't always play at that level. And now I have to play at that level. And there'll be times where I go, well, this isn't fair. A week ago, we had a party for a sweet friend, 80th birthday celebration. Of course, I'm going to have a drink. Hadn't had one for three months because I was into this new realization I really need to become athletic about my life. And I, you know, had cake.

I had champagne. I suffered hugely. The next day. Yeah, that night, the next day. Just by one glass and a piece of cake. It was a really, the glass was about a half a bottle of wine. And it was a huge tumbler. You know, and it was fun.

And da-da-da, I don't mean I'll never not do that again. Not worth it. But no, it's not because I need all hands on deck in my head. See, I like that attitude. And I want to live longer. And if I'm, by the way, here's for people my age, if you're listening, Pilates. Is that a Pallades? Yes, because I get to feel like an athlete.

Your core. Yes. You get to feel your core muscles. Yes. And my feet. Who knew I had neglected my feet? Yes. But it truly has changed my life.

Do you wear sticky socks? No. No. No. Is that, does that mean I'm not scared? Just an image of you wearing like one of those sticky socks. You don't want any mental images of me at all. So just erase that thought.

Sticky socks doing Pilates. Oh. I didn't think we'd get there. So quickly. I do wear a speedo. Ha! Suck. See you.

You're in trouble now. Ruined your life. Just a note on speedos. I used to wear speedos in the 80s and my kids at the beach. We've officially gone off script. Yeah, we're off script now. We're trying to erase that horrible mental image. With a speedo?

Yeah, yeah. By at least getting my kids up the hook. So Mary, we. we meet when I'm 45 and the first time we go to a beach together and I'm wearing a speedo, she goes, no, no. Good for her.

My kids say, good for her. See her saying no, no. And they go, oh, thank God. Thank you for saying that. My poor kids. I love her already. Oh, you do.

You don't know it because you haven't met. She started strong. She's strong. She's, yeah. She's pretty tough. She is. She's a, She's an amazing woman.

Pretty tough. Just break that down for a second. It's brilliant, but why? Pretty tough ultimately was a mentality that I carried for so many years of my life. I didn't quite know if that mentality would carry through for another chapter or whatever chapter it was. But now being a mother and being in boardrooms, it is very much still a problem. applicable. And I've also recognized that there are incredible women that have had to be pretty tough through their journeys and through their careers and through parenthood and through being

partners. And I love, you know, this juxtaposition between being a fighter, a female that is owning her narrative, that is fighting in my world. It was, you know, pumping my fist. believing in her work and her ability, but also having a side that is soft and that is motherly and that is vulnerable. Not just motherly. You are mother. Yeah, but that it's and pretty, you know, and in the early days of my career, I felt like I had to choose one or the other.

I had to play into either I was, you know, very aggressive on the court and I, I was the grunter and I wanted to win and that was very visible from, you know, my performance. But then I'd get in a boardroom and I'd have something to say or, you know, I'd get in a one-to-one interview and, you know, the journalist would say, oh, I didn't, you know, I didn't know, I didn't know, I didn't know, Maria could crack a joke. And, you know, I looked back at that and think, well, you never allowed me to crack a joke. You never gave me that space. No. And so I'm...

It's much more fun for the press, the pigeonhole to you. as a person. And I want to give women the space to be both. You don't have to choose one or the other because someone told you so. Because over time, you start believing that. You know, you start playing into what others think of you. Okay. And ultimately, it's what is deep inside of you, what you believe you are, who you stand for.

Right. I feel like I need to do little parentheses around me because I'm a little suspect because I am, for whatever reason, my family and my upbringing and my parents and all of that, my mode of seduction later in life was always to go, hey, it's me, Ted, I'm one of the girls. Relax. Let's take our clothes off. You know, I was always coming as to you with, hey, it's me, one of the girls. I didn't go to, you know, alpha male, macho. The result was the same. Let's take or close, but I was always one of the girls. So I know I'm not one of the girls,

and I know I haven't earned the right to go, yeah, I'm with you, pretty tough. Women shouldn't have to do this, that, and this, and men should do this and that, which I do believe, but I am, then you also have to say as a man, I am, I am what, I'm an old, white, wealthy man. I'm the epitome of the people who are mansplained,

to the world. And I am, and I sit down with Mary, and I, when the word mansplaining kind of came into, not vote, but. I've been hearing manosphere a lot. See, I don't even know what that is. I don't know what it is. Well, they're saying like manosphere in the podcast space, because so many. Did a man make that up? I don't know. I don't either. The media did. Yeah, probably some man in the media. Because if you claim a whole sphere, and it's a manosphere, it had to be a, man that came up with that. Probably. Because the top performing podcast a male. I have no idea how much I don't realize what it means to have been a woman

in making their way in this world today. What does your wife say about it? She points it out to me all the time, how I am actually, oh, you need to explain this to me, you know, or, oh, you're giving me direction. You know, and it's with, no one loves me more. and Mary does. It's so clear. So when she points things out or criticizes or whatever, I'm very porous because I know how much she loves me. So I do hear it. But it's stunning how much in a day I will mansplain to my wife, who I adore and think should be, you know, I don't think there should be any limits. I support her, da-da-da-da, all of that. Just the fact that you say, that I'm saying that I support her and don't think she should have any limits.

is a very man thing to say. It's kind of hopeless. So I surrender wanting you to think that I am one of the girls, one of the ladies are so enlightened because I am and I'm not. Can I interrupt you for saying? No, because I am the man and this is my podcast.

My God, this is horrible. I love that. Please make that be something. for the, you know, sizzle wheel. May I interrupt you for a minute? Just for a second. It's never about female versus male. And I take that back to when I'm in my,

I'm in my early 20s and I'm sitting in a press conference and it's Wimbledon and that's usually the time when we start talking about equal prize money. Yeah. And my answer, it was always the same. It is the same till today is that, It's not about, you know, there's always comparisons about the women playing three sets and the men playing five. At the end of the day, it's not about what a woman is compared to a men.

It's about finding the better version of yourself. So if I'm a woman and I want to sell product, right, whether that's a ticket to my match or, I don't know, funky merch, whatever it is, I want to be the best at it. And what does that entail? That entails doing better for myself. It's not about thinking what the men are doing or thinking what others are doing and what level they have and how physical they are and how many sets they're playing or how much money they're making. I've always wanted to focus on getting better because if I was better, I would improve the prize money. And that's how I feel about the podcast space. It's the same thing. If my content, if my interviews are strong enough, It doesn't matter who's leading the top charts, if it's eight, eight of the top ten podcasts and wellness space are hosted by men.

It doesn't matter. What matters is quality content. So if you can focus on yourself and just be improved, right, as an athlete, just improve by being better, then that will take care of all those things. That will take care of money and charts and fame. I agree 100%. I think there are probably some women in, you know, in Hollywood that, whose product is brilliant and is starring with a man whose product is also brilliant and is maybe getting less money. Yeah. As a result of, but here's what I, I mean, it's such a delicate balance.

To look outside of yourself and point at why something may not be. working to me is I always spin things so that I'm in power and may be silly or wrong or whatever but I don't feel like feeling victimized I don't like feeling like somebody did something. No, who does?

So I'm always spinning it to go all right what can I learn and I'm not you know anyway but I do think why are you is in pretty tough talking to, is it only women or mostly women? The first season is only women. Why?

Deliberate, just being... I know, I mean, but the thought... Because it's, if I can bring my platform to other women, it's the best gift that I can give, right? To other incredibly achieving women. Indeed, but I think it does, doesn't it speak to a little bit that, you know, somebody who is as powerful, you know, as you are, probably got called a lot of names on the way up, as opposed to, wow, he's aggressive, she's a bitch, you know, kind of thing that women have to cut through.

I think there was more about just being intentional and not being everything at the same time in launching a podcast. I'm, there's, I have a lot of men that I would like to interview, but in the first, first season where I was quite deliberate on. Yeah. Because, you know, when you sit in these meetings with the production companies, you're like, well, what's your target audience? Like, what's the age group? Nobody asked me that. Well, you have more independence probably than I do to do whatever you want. They know it's hopeless that I ramble and so to have any focus is crazy. I'm not trying to find this. So forgive the question, but do you, where have you been humbled? In life. I mean, you could say you get humbled when you lose a grand slam. You know, that's humbling, I'm assuming. But have you ever had a, oh, I have to.

Yeah, when I became a mom. Yeah. I heard you talk about it. But who, you know, we have, we have grandkids that are your son's. How old is he? Yeah. Not quite. Our grandkids are. Well, some were. Yeah. Anyway, we have five. So I get to watch it. Yeah. And it is humble. and then say goodbye. Yes, yes. But having parented, I do recall the not being able to say goodbye. But it is humbling.

It's so humbling. In a wonderful way. Yeah, it's just like, it's going back to letting go. Just letting go of any control that you thought or think you have is just, it goes in the trash.

So quickly. It's just a reminder that, you know, you have to let people be who they are. Right, this individuality. And of course, there's a stage where they're vulnerable and you're there to, you know, give them those guardrails. But ultimately, it's hard because I was so used to just control this element of knowing everything

and how it's done and seeing this perfect version. And you go into a playroom of a kid and you're like, that is, wow, that is my idea of hell. The clutter, the chaos. Yes, and they change their mind all the time. And they want it now. They want a puzzle, and now all of a sudden the puzzle's terrible. And then, you know, they go to a party and there's a pony. And then the one I can't get off the pony.

And you're like, the pony's not that great. Just get off of it. It's so wonderfully humbling. Have you got me? You have to let go of. oh, I'm so pissed off. I just want to swear. Well, yeah, that's all the time. Yeah. I try to keep it together. I just narrated a book by this gentleman has written several, but they're really for adults, but they're like children format.

The first one was go the fuck to sleep. Just do it. Was the name of the book. Just please. Go the fuck to sleep. Yeah. And it's all these phases. you know, that come at you, that you're just, like, in the beginning it was the swaddle. And, you know, you're like, what the hell is a swaddle? Right. And then, like, the nanny suggested you take, you don't just take them out of a swaddle.

You have to progressively take them out of a swaddle. I'm like, what does that even mean? Just like, take one arm out. Yeah. Take the other arm out. So a few nights, they, like, in the swaddle with one arm out. Yeah. So every time you get used to the certain swaddle, it has to change.

Me too. And then they're in a sleep sack. Like, every week is something new. I resisted solid foods. Too fast. Too fast. Yeah. Too fast.

Solid foods already? No, no, no. Too much. Too fast. Now we get it. Yeah. Now you get it. That's fun.

It is fun. You're married, not married. You're partnered. Partnered. Alexander. Yes. How'd you meet? He was.

in the art world. We met in the art world. I collected art. Forgive my apologies to Alexander. What was his art? He had a, he had a company in the art world. It was an online auction site for art. Gotcha. And so we met through. Christy's ask or? Yes, a version of Christy's ask with a more affordable price point. Right. He'd probably correct me if he was, if he was here, but that's how I saw it. Is he one of the girls? No, not like me. Probably not. No. No. No. Okay. No.

Manly, man. Okay. He, uh, yeah, so we met in, we met through a friend in, and the art world. Yeah. Blind date? Come on. More. More. No, no. No? No. No. No. No. Well, I guess you could say that. Never thought of it that way. Was it the first meeting a group? With other people, yes. Yeah.

Okay, that's not a blind. But there was like intention of the, yeah. And your response was? Well, the next morning I had to fly for a training block in California. So I was like my mind was already. Wait, how long ago was this? Like eight, nine years ago, nine years ago. And his response of he were here.

He was like, you were really cold. Really cold? Now, why do you think that is? Because I bet you weren't cold at the dinner. Is that a reputation of your focus in your career? Yeah, I think I was, yeah, yeah. So do you have to deal with that still to some degree? It's an element of I don't trust a lot of people.

You? Yeah. Because from a young age, a lot of when you gain success from a young age, age, a lot of people want things from you. They want a piece of your fame. They want a piece of, you know, they want to coach you or they want, you know, some of your money or just they just want to be in that spotlight with you. The ratings you bring to people's podcasts, shit like that.

I did not say that. You did. And so I'm always like when I meet people at first, I'm always, I don't know if it's just back to like kind of how I grew up. was like not expecting the best of people. And it takes me a while to kind of get to know people and warm up to them. But I think that's shifted over my life. Mary has a little bit of that, different, you know, but a little bit of, man, I'm just the opposite.

I, you know, I'm, I vomit my life out on people. You know, people would rather probably say, oh, please, don't, don't share more. You could have helped bag the speedo. Yeah, that's okay. No, no, not. You wanted it in the sizzle. I get it. Yeah.

Speedos. I'm going to get a lot of merch, speedo merch. I'm going to get you a water bottle with speedos all over it. Yeah, I get that. The pretty tough speedo. Yeah. Pretty tough speedo. No, I'm going to get you a speedo.

Pretty in speedos. That says pretty tough on it. Please send a note via my wife. explaining why you're sending me a spito in the mail. Thank you. Thank you. No, but she's much more, it's not prove yourself to me, but she's much more real. I want life to be rosy.

It's not always. But I kind of go, well, yeah, my spin on life is pretty great, you know. And I'm non-confirre. My husband is very much that way, too. Yeah. It's like always, and that's something that I've learned from him is like, you know, you don't need to go into a space or a room or a meeting, you know, thinking that someone always wants, you know, something of you or from you, you know, to kind of open your mind a little bit more. Or even if they do, it's not necessarily bad.

Yes. No, I mean, I mean, you can see it and go, okay, that's what they want. I'm kind of quite honest. Everybody in this room, I mean, to some degree, you do, never mind, I'm spinning, go. What were you about to say? I don't know. No, I was just, I was going to say, I'm more, I'm quite honest in my, and you kind of know, like, if I don't mess with someone, like, it's pretty obvious. But because they're assholes.

Maybe. Yeah, maybe. Yeah, Mary, see, I can, I will be happy to hug an asshole. I don't. How does Mary handle it? Well, yeah. Yeah. And she'll tell you later, right? Like I'll, like, we'll finish a dinner and I'll be like, oh, they were not good. They were not good news. He's like, oh, it's okay. You know, they have a nice lemon tree in their backyard. I'm like, what? Yeah. That's how my husband, like, we were looking at properties. And I mean, this house was a total shithole. And I was like, how does this, how is this same house that we saw online? Like, you know how sometimes you see this advertising online? And then you go see something like a hotel. Hotels do a great job. with that. And you're like, wait a second, this is not the place that was advertised to me. I just spent

30 minutes, wasted my time. And like, he is someone that comes out of it knowing that the house was terrible. Yeah. But he'll say, but they had a lovely lemon garden. See? Yeah. And he will think of that house as the lemon garden. And forces you. And I will think of it as I wasted my time. Yeah. And I think of it as I wasted 30 minutes of of my day. Yeah, that's me and Mary. I see the same thing. I see the house sucks. Right. You know. But you will make a better version of it, verbally. Yes, because I want to be Christ-like. That's true. But also, trying to be Christ-like feels better in the body than being, for me, for me, my body doesn't do well with anger in it. I think people should have the choice to be angry or nice and see, both at the same time and they go, I'm kind of pissed, but I'll be nice.

Or I'm nice and fuck you, you know, whatever. I didn't grow up with that choice. I had to be nice. I don't think I was getting a choice. Tell Alexander to call me. I think we'll get along. Yeah. Yeah, I think so too.

That's pretty cool. Your parents. Yeah. Very much in your life. Very much. Very much in their grandson's. son's life. Yeah, we were, when we came to the U.S., we were, I mean, I was still an only child.

And so we were this little group, this little family without any contacts or friends in this country. So it always felt like it was us. It was just us. And so we've, it's humbling. That's another thing that's humbling. Like life has taken us in so many different directions because of, you know, success and the sport. but at the end of the day, like, when things aren't going well, I know that mom and dad are, you know, are there. First people, you know, I think of first people I want to call.

Yeah. Very much. Because they will always have, I mean, my mom pretty much stays with us since I've had my son and she's a big help as I work and travel and both Alexander and I still do. But they're just so honest and real. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I think, you know, perhaps it's, you know, our beginnings or like even if I have a business question and my dad is not not familiar with the business or doesn't know all the intricacies of it. He's just so just so bluntly realistic. Like there's no guardrails and I just see a clear picture.

And that doesn't mean it's like tough advice. It's just it's advice as he sees it. Yeah. Right. And that's so refreshing. Yeah. Do you speak Russian? Yeah, I speak Russian to my son.

So did you speak Russian and learn English and your parents kept talking Russian while you were learning English? Is that how you? Yeah. Because you have no discernible. Well, I've been here since I was. Right. Seven. Seven.

Yeah. Right. Yeah. I still speak it with my son. And, you know, I love, like, we have a lot of books that, you know, I had when I was a young girl that I read to him. Go the fuck to sleep. Do you have that one? We need to get it translated.

So do you only, does Alexander speak? He speaks English to him. English. Yeah. But that's so, we have so many friends who did that with their kids and they are bilingual, effortlessly. Yeah, and what I like about it is that Russian is a challenging language to learn. And I can see since he started going to preschool, like you can see how much easier English it is and how he often chooses English words because it's quicker to get to the point in English than it is in Russian. But that watching him and seeing him and listening to him like go through like those little struggles of like picking up words in Russian is a real gift that I think now he doesn't yet recognize.

also for those different sounds and vocabulary. But I spoke about this duality with Zoe Zaldana, who's our first guest on the podcast. And she speaks Spanish to her boys, but her husband's Italian, but she was born in America. And so, you know, she says, even though I want them to speak all these languages, what's most important is that I communicate with my son.

communication is most important. It doesn't matter what language it is in. I want to make sure that what I'm saying and how I'm saying is clearly understood and felt by them in whatever language it is. So it was interesting finding that, the dualities of languages. It's interesting. Naturally, I'm always bringing it back to myself. The joy of podcast thing. That's what actors do.

Yes. Why, I yada. My career, kind of in the intensity of my career took off at the same time as children. It must be interesting, not that your life isn't hugely full with business and podcasting and all the other things, but the intensity of your career came before children. I think that must be kind of a nice thing so that you can spend all the time you need without being distracted by having to choose between children or the intensity of a career. Is that so or not?

It's a good observation, yeah. Thank you. No, it's true because you're unlike other professions. Yeah. You know, as a young female athlete, you very quickly realize that you don't have until you're 60 or 65 until you're going to retire. And it's hard to think of that fact, right? Because you want to maximize your potential as quickly as possible

because you're going to be in your early 30s. I mean, if you're a ballerina, you know, in your mid-20s, you're already toward the end. You know, in tennis, it's somewhere 30s. Which was kind of Zoe too, right? Yeah, right. Or Misty Copeland or. Yeah.

So you're always thinking about, you're always, You have to think about what's next, whether that is when you want to start a family, what you want to do in a second chapter. I mean, how are you going to, if you don't make it, how are you going to make money? Right. Right. How are you going to go about another life? Because that's ultimately what it is.

Yeah. So I was. I mean, I like that observation because I allowed myself to pour so much of, you know, of this rigor and discipline and hard work. And I missed out on a lot. I missed out on summer holidays. And I remember going on a date with someone before I met Alexander. And I said, oh, I've never been to Venice, Italy.

You know, I've never been to the Southern Island. And he's like, wow, that is such a great position to be in. You're already, you know, close to 30. And you haven't been to these incredible places. And you'll get to see them for the first time. And I was like, wow, I think that's the only great thing that you've said. And I was like, I'm absolutely right. I still have, I gave up a lot and I sacrificed a lot, but look at all the things that I can look forward to.

And a lot of people get to experience a lot of things, but their headlights aren't really on in life yet. Mindward. So, you know, in the moment, it's always, there are times where I think, oh, I'm, you know, I could be here. I used to always fly out on like Christmas Eve to the Australian Open, right? because the Australian Open starts early January and, you know, we'd have a little family celebration. And I know, you know, my friends are in the area and they're all having these extended breaks and into New Year's.

And, you know, every year I'm like, oh, there's like a little piece of me that's like, I want to be there on Christmas morning, you know, just in my PJ's opening up gifts. But then I get on that plane and I'm like, wow, what I'm doing is so different. In two weeks' time, I'm going to be playing on Center court in Melbourne, and I have a chance to be a champion of this tournament. So even though those

sacrifices were so hard, you realize, and when I speak to young athletes, that's what I say, this time is so important. Give it everything. Yeah. Hey, to that young athlete you're talking to who has a shoulder injury or some kind of injury, what do you say to that? Because you had several. Several. Yeah. What was that like for you? I mean, was it, oh dear, this could be the end? 100%. I mean, I had to have, I had a tendon tear in my shoulder right after I won my third grand slam.

And when I was playing my best tennis, several months later, I was in the operating room. And, I mean, no one's really come back from a shoulder surgery like that. And so I didn't really have much to lean on. in that moment. You know, I did think that the end could be near. You know, I knew I had to change my serve, which was a disaster. You know, I had to make so many adjustments along the way just to get back. We're not even talking about winning.

Just to get back on a court to compete at any type of level. And in that time, one of the things that I tell athletes to do, because injuries are going to happen. You're going to have several weeks where you're just in rehab, where you're just doing workouts, go do an internship. go take a class, go do a working experience, use your network. Don't wallow. Yeah. Don't sit on the sofa. Yeah.

Because you never know where that experience may take you. That's great advice. How long before you were competitive again, tennis-wise? At least a year. Wow. Yeah. Long one. Yeah.

And sometimes it's longer. We're moving fast now. Okay. Here's a question that my wife Mary said, oh, no, no, no, no, no. And then I read that you love pickleball. She said, oh, no, no, don't bring up pickleball. I thought loved or you play? I don't play, and I don't love.

Oh, my God. Well, of course you don't. Of course you don't. I don't know who possibly told me that. I won't throw anybody who does research under the bus. But, oh, of course not. She's in a, Mary's in a movie called The Dink. Oh.

And it's all about the total disdain of the tennis world for pickleball. Is that out? No, it's coming out in July. Oh, I have to see that. It is so, Andy Roddick is in it. Oh, great. Yeah. Oh, great.

Yeah, who else? Somebody else. Yeah. And it was just, it's just sweet, delightful, and funny. But it's like, so anyway, I've been a... No, they didn't invite me on that one because... Yeah.

You're disdain for the game. No, but there was a lot of disdain being represented. When people ask me about, I mean, there are so many, like, racket. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Sports. There's paddle and... Padet. Paddle?

Paddle. Yeah, all these things. And I just... My answer is I'd rather play tennis. Yeah. And I think everyone gets, like, no one under... Everyone thinks, oh, pickle or pedal is so much easier on your body. And you're like, it is if you're 75.

It isn't. That's the problem. Well, let me put it this one. Because you go to a game or whatever and everyone's like, okay, let's play. And then someone throws you. You're in the hospital right away. Exactly. I know.

There's no warm up. Pickle ball players are renowned for ending up in the emergency room. That's true. But, but I will say that you have to be. become pretty darn good at tennis before you can really enjoy the game. Yes, because it's very frustrating. Yeah. And in Pickaball, the good news, bad news is you don't. Anyway, I will drop the whole pickleball. That's so funny, my wife was instinctively right, as usual. But then I thought I read something. Funny how that works. Yeah, funny. No, it's not. Hey, here's how we know that

something is going to be really good for our lives. Mary will suggest that and I'll go, oh, no, no, no, no, no. And the more I say no, we both kind of realize, oh, this is going to be big.

This is going to be good. I'm such a joke. I enjoyed both our pre-podcast moment in the makeup and hair room. And I had the best time. I really appreciate this. I would never have had the opportunity to talk to you.

And here we are. So thank you. I never thought we'd, cover Pilates. No. Blatis, pickleball. There's so many peas. Swimsuit choices that you've made in the past. But we did it. We did it gracefully. Thank you. I didn't wear it gracefully. That's okay. We spoke about it gracefully. Yes, we did. Because that's what we do now. Maria Sharipova, everyone. Make sure and listen to her podcast. It's called Pretty Tough with Maria Sharapova. That's it for this week. Special thanks to Team Coco. If you've been

enjoy this episode, please send it to a loved one. Rate and review on Apple Podcasts only if you're in a good mood. Once again, you can watch our full-length video episodes at YouTube.com slash Team Coco. See you next time. Where Everybody Knows Your Name. You've been listening to Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson sometimes.

is produced by me, Nick Leow. Our executive producers are Adam Sacks, Jeff Ross, and myself. Sarah Federovich is our supervising producer, engineering remixing by Joanna Samuel with support from Eduardo Perez. Research by Alyssa Grail. Talent booking by Paula Davis and Gina Batista. Our theme music is by Woody Harrelson, Anthony Jen, Mary Steenbergin, and John Osborne.