USWNT World Cup Week on Julie Foudy’s Laughter Permitted podcast
Get your soccer fix by learning more about your favorite USWNT World Cup champs through Julie Foudy’s podcast, Laughter Permitted.
Julie Foudy is a soccer legend. She’s a two-time World Cup champion, a two time Olympic gold medalist, and most importantly to me, a fellow Stanford Women’s Soccer alum.
She’s now an ESPN reporter and analyst and has her own podcast called Laughter Permitted where she interviews some of the most amazing women in sports.
As a former USWNT player who understands the pressure and demands of playing a sport at the highest level, she is the perfect host. Beyond that, she’s a thoughtful, well-spoken human being.
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With these interviews, she digs deeper into the lives of these athletes, beyond what we see watching them in a stadium or on TV. There’s also plenty of donut eating and laughter involved.
As the USWNT finished up their post World Cup victory tour, Julie conducted 5 fascinating interviews with a select group of players and staff. Here’s a look at what you’ll have the pleasure of listening to.
Episode 16: Kelley O’Hara and Alex Morgan
Kelley O’Hara and Alex Morgan‘s friendship proves it’s apparently possible for a Stanford Cardinal and a Cal Berkeley Golden Bear to be friends. The two veterans of the USWNT are dominant on the field and a barrel of laughs off the field.
The interview ranges from donut choices and nicknames to battling injuries and helping each other get through the crazy demands of being in a World Cup. They also talk about actively trying to help and connect with the younger players on the team.
To top it all off, the interview was conducted in the Ritz Carlton bathroom. A “Pod on the Pot” as Julie called it.
Episode 17: Carli Lloyd
This interview takes on a far more serious tone than any of the others. As the oldest player on the team at 37, Lloyd speaks about her journey with the USWNT.
She’s had a remarkably successful career as a two time World Cup champion, two time Olympic gold medalist, and two time FIFA Women’s Player of the Year, and yet she’s always striving for more.
Even as her body slows down she’s adapted her game to be dominant in other ways. As a result, she continues to expect to play and make huge contributions. It’s unclear what her role will be heading into the next Olympics but she’s certainly determined to be a part of the starting 11 that takes the field in game one.
Episode 18: Julie Ertz and Crystal Dunn
Ertz and Dunn lie somewhere in the middle of the team in terms of experience and age. The two are best friends and share a unique bond having risen through the USWNT ranks together. They even have husbands who are buddies as well.
They talk about closing in on their 100th USWNT cap and the ups and downs it took to get there. You’ll be amused by the description of a young Julie in high socks and headbands and impressed by Crystal’s reputation as a top-notch dancer.
They were grateful to share the 2019 World Cup victory together and as dominant members of the USWNT’s starting line up they no doubt have many victories still to come.
Episode 19: Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle
This is perhaps the most fun interview of them all. These two young superstars have an infectious energy about them that their teammates love and embrace. Their downtime seems to be filled with pranks, jokes and a lot of laughs.
As they continue to figure out how to handle the pressures of playing for the USWNT, they’re intent on enjoying every moment along the way. Dog lovers will appreciate Rose’s obsession with checking up on her dog through a pet cam, and her struggle to not feed the dog too much through the device’s treat dispenser.
This episode is a well-balanced mix of laughter and seriousness and it’ll leave you excited to watch these two continue to succeed.
Episode 20: Jill Ellis
This episode is particularly interesting as the Victory Tour marked the end of Jill Ellis’ tenure as the USWNT coach. As her impressive coaching career came to a close, she seemed excited about her upcoming life changes.
She was plenty happy however to dive into some of her favorite and most challenging coaching moments. The differences between leading the team at the 2015 versus 2019 World Cup are particularly interesting.
It’s also refreshing to hear bits and pieces about her life away from the USWNT with her wife Betsy and daughter Lily, as well as stories about growing up in England, her move to the U.S., her pre-coaching job as a technical writer, and her love of video games.
Next. Cindy Parlow Cone becomes U.S. Soccer President. dark
It’s rare that you get to see how players exist off the field including their mental and physical battles, their journeys to the world stage, and the many life moments that have nothing to do with soccer at all. Laughter Permitted is a much-appreciated glimpse into the humans behind the well-oiled athletic machines.