The True Price of Being a Legend
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy, and Billie Jean King open up in one of the most vulnerable and honest conversations we’ve ever had on the show.
Abby shares the deeply personal story of her journey to sobriety, reflecting on the pressure of elite sports, the identity crisis that followed success, and the moment a DUI arrest changed the course of her life forever. Billie Jean King opens up about her decades-long battle with disordered eating, the emotional toll of hiding her sexuality while building women’s tennis, and why therapy has remained a cornerstone of her life for more than 30 years.
The conversation also explores the mental and emotional challenges athletes face behind the scenes, from burnout and anxiety to shame, perfectionism, and learning how to ask for help. Plus, the crew reflects on how stars like Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka, and Lauren Betts are helping redefine what strength looks like for the next generation of athletes.
This episode is about so much more than sports. It’s about healing, vulnerability, recovery, and the reminder that asking for help is one of the strongest things a person can do.
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Keep the Party Going:
Voice in Sport (VIS) [https://%E2%81%A0https://www.voiceinsport.com/%E2%81%A0]: Created for female athletes, this platform provides access to experts in sport psychology, mentorship, and community to advocate for girls and women.
Kevin Love Fund: [https://%E2%81%A0https://kevinlovefund.org/%E2%81%A0] The Kevin Love Fund works to inspire people to live their healthiest lives by creating equity between mental and physical health. As an evidence-based organization, they focus on research, education, and narrative change to break the stigma around mental health.
The Hidden Opponent [https://%E2%81%A0https://www.thehiddenopponent.org/%E2%81%A0]: the leading non-profit organization for athlete mental health advocacy, education, and support. They provide accessible resources and unite a global community to empower athletes to prioritize their mental health and shatter the stigma within sports culture. Idea began in 2017 with founder Victoria Garrick Browne giving a TEDx talk gaining 647,000 views on Youtube. Official nonprofit partner of Adidas.
The Jed Foundation [https://jedfoundation.org/%E2%81%A0%C2%A0]: Founded in 2000 after the loss of their son, Jed, to suicide, JED is a leading nonprofit dedicated to protecting teen and young adult mental health. Through school partnerships, community education, and digital resources, JED helps young people build life skills, strengthen connections, and access mental health support.
Active Minds [https://activeminds.org/%E2%81%A0%C2%A0]: Active Minds was founded by Alison Malmon when she was a junior at the University of Pennsylvania following the suicide of her older brother, and only sibling, Brian. Through their presence in more than 1,000 high schools, colleges, and communities, they reach more than 8+ million young adults with mental health information, training, and leadership opportunities each year over the last 20 Years.
Born This Way Foundation [https://bornthisway.foundation/%E2%81%A0%C2%A0]: Born This Way Foundation, co-founded and led by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Bissett Germanotta, empowers and inspires young people to build a kinder, braver world that supports their mental health and wellbeing. Based on the scientific link between kindness and mental health and built in partnership with young people, the Foundation leverages research, programs, grantmaking, and partnerships to engage young people and connect them with accessible mental health resources.
Hope for Athletes [https://%E2%81%A0https://www.hopeforathletes.com/%E2%81%A0]: The mission of Hope for Athletes is to break the stigma of mental health in sports through storytelling and faith. The vision of Hope for Athletes is that every student athlete will know they are not alone, dearly loved, and worthy of support and help.
Athletes for Hope [https://%E2%81%A0https://www.athletesforhope.org/%E2%81%A0]: Educating athletes on their potential to make a positive impact on the world, connecting them with the causes they care about & inspiring others to do the same. Athletes for Hope was founded in 2006 by a group of elite athletes who all share a common bond – a deep commitment to helping others. These Founders included Muhammad Ali, Warrick Dunn, Mia Hamm, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Jeff Gordon, Andre Agassi, and Alonzo Mourning, among others.
Alston for Athletes [https://%E2%81%A0https://www.alstonforathletes.org/%E2%81%A0]: Alston for Athletes (AFA) is a fiscally sponsored project of Players Philanthropy Fund, we are dedicated to providing mental health resources to athletic directors, coaches, and student-athletes across the country. Marcus Alston founded AFA in September of 2019 with one major goal: he didn't want student athletes to go through what he endured without a support system. He built a team of motivated individuals to help spread the message of promoting emotional, and mental well-being.
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