Laughter Permitted With Julie Foudy

Buckle up because this episode brings the laughs courtesy of play-by-play trailblazer Beth Mowins! Beth shares what it was like calling soccer with a young Julie Foudy as her color commentator. (A certain handwritten sign from Beth helped Julie to know when to -- ahem -- stop talking.) Find out when Beth knew she wanted to do play-by-play and how she has carved out her incredible career path. To test her skills, Beth is asked to do play-by-play of Julie eating a cinnamon roll, which leads to Beth joining the great “Is a cinnamon roll a donut” debate. In the close of the show, Julie puts it out into the universe that it's time for the pod to get a donut deal and Lynn takes over Questions Permitted to ask Julie about doing color commentary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seventeen-time Paralympic medalist Oksana Masters joins Laughter Permitted to share her powerful story of spending her childhood in Ukrainian orphanages before being adopted by her mother, Gay Masters, and moving to the United States. Oksana, who was born with birth defects believed to be caused by radiation from the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, talks about being introduced to sports in America and how trying adaptive rowing began her on a path to becoming the most decorated U.S. Winter Paralympian of all time. She also discusses competing in the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing while war began in Ukraine and how she found a way to give back to her home country.

Five-time Olympian, 10-time X Games gold medalist and snowboard cross star Lindsey Jacobellis joins Laughter Permitted to talk about winning two gold medals at the Beijing Games, her experience with the media over the years and how she adjusted her mindset at this past Olympics to focus on her own goals. The "Lynn Game" features questions about the 80's with another enthusiastic cameo by Swaggy, and in the close of the show, find out what Julie said to make Lynn snort. There's also bad singing (it may or may not be the Green Machine song)...

Five-time Olympic medalist, bobsledder and overall rad human Elana Meyers Taylor joins Laughter Permitted to talk about becoming the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympics history, how she dealt with a Covid diagnosis upon arriving at the Beijing Games -- the story is something else -- and how she went from being a college softball player to a top-level bobsledder. Elana also shares what it is like being a professional athlete while raising her son, Nico. In the close of the show, Julie shares a "Hacker-ism" Lynn hasn't heard before that applies to Elana's journey at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

WNBA All-Star Layshia Clarendon joins Laughter Permitted to talk about being the first openly non-binary and transgender player in the WNBA, the warm embrace they have received from the Minnesota Lynx franchise and what life was like inside the 2020 "Wubble" season. Layshia also discusses the freedom of living your truth (that's where the "gold" is), how she and her wife are raising their chid in gender expansiveness and why humanity needs to be considered when discussing transgender athletes. Such an important and enlightening conversation on so many levels. In the close of the show, Lynn takes over Questions Permitted to ask Julie about her recent visit to the White House for Equal Pay Day.

In the Season 7 premiere, NWSL and Danish national team star Dr. Nadia Nadim joins Laughter Permitted to talk about earning her medical degree while playing professional soccer and share a detailed account of how she fled Afghanistan and the Taliban as a child with her mother and four sisters. She also recalls her first encounter with soccer at a Danish refugee camp and how she fell in love with the game. Nadia then competes with Julie in a “Lynn Game” about random medical stuff, gives a taste of her ability to speak nine -- yes, nine! -- languages and blows Julie and Lynn away with her perspective on making progress in life. What a way to launch the season...enjoy!

Laughter Permitted is back! Julie and Lynn share highlights of Season 6 and hand out some Dopie Awards.

In the Season 6 finale, Dr. Colleen Hacker once again returns to the Laughter Permitted party to discuss aspirational challenges, the power of choice and what she'd like members of the Dope Village to take with them into 2022. As an authority on the psychology of peak performance, Dr. Hacker is a master of making complex concepts digestible, relatable and actionable. Turns out her mental skills expertise translates to a Lynn Game on The 99ers as Julie finds out firsthand. Stay tuned for the close of the show in which we get one final Toto toilet update. 

Award-winning sports journalist Malika Andrews joins Laughter Permitted to talk about her role as host of ESPN's NBA Today, reporting from inside the NBA bubble during the 2020 season and how the experience helped propel her career forward. Malika is also open about adversity she faced in her adolescence, and how she credits her college best friend with helping her find journalism. Things get competitive during a Lynn Game about coffee and Swaggy once again shines, despite initially being locked out of Julie’s office. And enjoy some really, really bad singing in the close of the show. 

South Carolina basketball coach Dawn Staley joins Laughter Permitted to talk about her new $22.4 million contract, her purpose as a coach and the story behind giving pieces of the 2017 national championship net to Black coaches across the country. Stay tuned as Dawn and Julie bond over a mutual love -- their dogs. Swaggy once again makes her presence known on the pod and we learn about Champ Staley's Instagram account and why he doesn't follow anyone. Plus, find out what goes into being a GOAT and who makes the Starbucks runs for the coaching staff at South Carolina.

Holocaust survivor, psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Edith Eger joins Laughter Permitted to talk about her life and bestselling book, "The Choice: Embrace the Possible." Dr. Eger, 94, recounts the words her mother told her that helped her survive the Auschwitz concentration camp, discusses her own healing journey and encourages everyone to consider their power of choice. Plus: Find out the go-to dish Dr. Eger makes her grandchildren, her favorite TV show and the unique way she ends every speech.

Happy Thanksgiving from Laughter Permitted! Julie and Lynn share a clip from a 2019 episode in which their favorite person, Amy Liss, shares her motto in life: "Live each day with an attitude of gratitude."

In a special bonus episode of Laughter Permitted, Julie talks with Meghann Burke, Executive Director of the National Women's Soccer League Players Association, and Andrea Brimmer, Chief Marketing and PR Officer of Ally, about the partnership they have formed to enact positive change for the players of the NWSL.

Get ready for a jolt of joy as Olympic gold medalist wrestler Tamyra Mensah Stock joins Laughter Permitted. Tamyra shares how she quickly rose in the sport of wrestling despite a late start, how tragedy has shaped her perspective on life and why fun is a key component to her success as an athlete. Julie’s dog Swaggy makes a strong showing during the Lynn Game, Tamyra explains the perks of winning a gold medal and how her coach encouraged her to bring a karaoke machine to the Olympics. In the close of the show, Julie and Lynn have deep thoughts on the topic of milk. 

Olympic gold medalist hockey player Hilary Knight joins Laughter Permitted to talk about the U.S. going for back-to-back gold at the upcoming Winter Olympics, her new NHL gig with ESPN and what she sees for the future of women's hockey. And get this. After building a home gym during quarantine, Hilary shares how she needed something else to pursue, so she decided to get her MBA! Last but not least, Hilary describes what a hockey locker room smells like, and Julie gives a highly anticipated update on her Toto dream toilet.

Get ready to be inspired to go after your big goal in life! NYC Marathon champion and Olympic medalist Shalane Flanagan joins Laughter Permitted to share the stories behind running six World Major Marathons in six weeks -- each in under three hours -- and what drove her to take on the challenge, dubbed "Project Eclipse." Shalane talks about the incredible journey the marathons have been, how she's doing something that "lights her soul on fire" and why she hopes she's proof positive that sport is for life. Also find out about her new cookbook with BFF Elyse Kopecky called "Rise and Run," learn what Oprah's middle name is (it will blow your mind) and Lynn shares a big hairy audacious goal for herself at the end of the interview.

Olympic gold medalists and beach volleyball team Alix Klineman and April Ross (a.k.a. The A-Team!) join Laughter Permitted to talk about the hilarious backstory of how they became partners (it involves Stagecoach and an errant text), the moment they knew their partnership could work and how their shared perfectionist mentality is effective for them. Recorded live at the espnW Women + Sports Summit, Alix and April also breakdown why they hug between every point during matches. Plus find out what comedian Amy Schumer DMd Alix before the gold medal match in Tokyo.

Olympic gold medalist volleyball player Jordan Larson and legendary college softball coach and high performance consultant Sue Enquist join Laughter Permitted to discuss how the U.S. national volleyball team developed its team culture en route to gold at the Tokyo Olympics. Jordan shares how Sue came to work with the team, and both talk about the secret sauce that went into building the Olympic volleyball team's chemistry. This episode also features Julie's viewpoint on hopping on the "Ted Lasso" fan train.

In the Season 6 premiere, two-time NCAA champion, four-time WNBA champion and five-time Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird joins the Laughter Permitted party. Sue shares what she did when she felt a plateau in her career, how she doesn’t set individual goals and lives by an 80/20 approach. She also talks about what it was like winning a fifth gold medal alongside BFF Diana Taurasi at the Tokyo Olympics and tells the story of how fiancé Megan Rapinoe found a way into the gold medal game. In the close of the show, Julie does a deep dive into her love affair with the Toto toilet.

Cue the crowd noise because Laughter Permitted is back! Julie and Lynn share highlights of Season 5 and hand out some Dopie Awards.