1 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 1: So why does servers come up to your table and say, 2 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:20,759 Speaker 1: have you dined with us before? When that happens, I 3 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: start to sweat. I get the hives. And if I'm 4 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: with someone who doesn't know the code, which is that 5 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 1: no matter where you are, if you are in an 6 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 1: Ethiopian Mexican pin Jada margarita parlor, you still say yes, 7 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:41,559 Speaker 1: why because they're gonna go through a whole litany of okay, 8 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 1: so um, the items on the top, those are smaller portions. 9 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:47,599 Speaker 1: You know you can the items over there that are 10 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:49,480 Speaker 1: on the second part that are a little more expensive, 11 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 1: those are for sharing, and these are the light bites 12 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:55,319 Speaker 1: over I'm like, let me fucking guess. There's a man 13 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:57,800 Speaker 1: in a white jacket and a hat with his presumably 14 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 1: cloggs and and his name on his on his jacket, 15 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 1: and he's going to create whatever we we we order 16 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:07,880 Speaker 1: from the scroll on this piece of paper, like and 17 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: we figure if it's price less, and if it's at 18 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,680 Speaker 1: the top, it's an appetizer, and if it's down down 19 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 1: in the middle and it's it's six or eight dollars 20 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:19,680 Speaker 1: for a stake, you're slice seeing a push or if 21 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 1: it says like serves to two to four people like 22 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 1: we're I don't want that five minutes of my life back. 23 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 1: I don't know why that bothers you so much. So 24 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 1: when someone says to you, have you dined with us 25 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 1: before you say yes, you're gonna fucking figure it out. 26 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:36,120 Speaker 1: I promise, like you're just gonna you're that smart. Yeah, 27 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:38,199 Speaker 1: I didn't go to have it, but you will figure 28 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:41,119 Speaker 1: out what they're talking about. And I don't know why 29 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:45,319 Speaker 1: that bothers me. Okay. Also, I don't like the water 30 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 1: preference question. Hi, um, what's your water preference? Um? What? 31 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 1: What if I'm taking clients out now, I'm cheap because 32 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 1: I don't order like the fancy water. I don't ever 33 00:01:57,880 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 1: want to fucking spend twelve dollars on a bottle of water. 34 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 1: I would rather drink water out of a toilet bowl. Okay, 35 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 1: I have bags that are thousands of dollars. I will 36 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: not pay for water. I've survived this long, okay. I 37 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 1: I don't know the goddamn difference. I do not know 38 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 1: the difference between any water I hate. I don't have 39 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 1: any water. Sarah, give me some water for real. I 40 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 1: do not care if it comes out of a Mexican 41 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 1: toilet bowl and just if it's wet and it's clear. 42 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 1: George Carlin did a bit on it a long time 43 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 1: ago about like now we're drinking water like we've just 44 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 1: hit the face of the sun. Water. We have our 45 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 1: own water bottles and and personal water supply, and I 46 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: just the whole water thing, and I will not I 47 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:35,519 Speaker 1: swear to god. I had a crew come here to 48 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 1: shoot something that um we're doing, like a Skinny Girl 49 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 1: apparel shoot, and they brought like they always bring, like 50 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 1: a case of like pollen, spring water or something. And 51 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 1: I assume it's like a dollar And if for some 52 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 1: reason I'm having people over or if I have to 53 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 1: have bottled water, it's the cheapest one. And when I 54 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: have a big case of water, and like I've said, 55 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 1: I have some expensive items, I have jewelry. If it's 56 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 1: like that twenty four bottle thing of water in my house, 57 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: I feel like rich. Like this is what rich people do, 58 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 1: like have like cases of water. I'm not that person. 59 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 1: I'm not even the person who has like that big 60 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 1: guzzling like poland spring thing. And I also I feel 61 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: rich if that somebody has a water dispenser on the 62 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:15,920 Speaker 1: front of the refrigerator. It's just like, wow, you're like 63 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 1: ice and water like that makes me feel rich. And 64 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:19,920 Speaker 1: someone comes over and they're like, do you have a 65 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:22,120 Speaker 1: bottle of water? Why don't you go funk yourself? What 66 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: do I look like somebody who was on the cover 67 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 1: of Forbes? I actually was, and that's the problem. That's 68 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 1: why they asked me. I'm like no, And then I'm like, brin, listen, 69 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 1: go get a glass and go get some ice and 70 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 1: sneaks and water that fucking tap because I'm like, I'm 71 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 1: not giving anybody any bottle water. If it's here, it's 72 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 1: here for company, I don't know, not like like there's 73 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 1: like sea level friends or like, no, the president's coming over, 74 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 1: I'll get I'll give the president. Well no, you know, 75 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: it depends on what president. But anyway, I digress. If 76 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 1: if if francois mitterran is coming to my house, I'm 77 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 1: going to give him a bottle of water, and then 78 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:53,840 Speaker 1: I'll be pulling spring and it won't be Evan and 79 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: that'll be wrong because not French, and that'll be a 80 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: whole other problem. But I just have a problem with water. 81 00:03:57,360 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 1: So when my crew came to do my photo shoot, 82 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 1: for my clothing. I took three or four bottles out 83 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 1: of their case because it's like crewel up, you know 84 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 1: what I mean, it's like, and put it in my 85 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 1: friendge because I was like, oh my god, there are 86 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 1: just certain things I'm cheap about. If I like sweetener, 87 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:17,160 Speaker 1: I would sooner buy a two thousand dollar jacket than 88 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 1: I would pay for sweetener. I'm born to be an 89 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:23,599 Speaker 1: old person. Like sweeteners, what you like, take and put 90 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:26,279 Speaker 1: in your purse when you're at Starbucks, or like, buy 91 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 1: a box of sweetener and some fucking suckers. What do 92 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 1: you think I am? It's everywhere. I wouldn't buy sweetener. Um, 93 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:34,719 Speaker 1: that's just one of the weird things. I don't believe 94 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 1: we should have to pay. I don't think we would 95 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:38,359 Speaker 1: have to pay for tampons. Tampons should be government issue. 96 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:41,160 Speaker 1: They're just absolutely too expensive. I think sampon would be 97 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 1: like seven to twelve dollars for a box. So I 98 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 1: didn't like my vagina, like did this itself? I didn't ask. 99 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 1: I didn't ask for this. I didn't like order the 100 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,040 Speaker 1: vagina bleeding program, So I why am I paying for it? 101 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:53,720 Speaker 1: Oh my god? Could you imagine what we like? To 102 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 1: go through life is me? Could you even imagine? Well, 103 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:05,920 Speaker 1: here we are. My guest today is Maria Sharapova. She 104 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:09,600 Speaker 1: just got engaged to someone that I know. Yea. She 105 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:13,599 Speaker 1: is so kind, so sweet, so she's so interesting. She 106 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 1: is obviously known for her incredible career as a professional 107 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: tennis player, having won five Grand Slams and many other 108 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 1: opens and tournaments over the years. She's also an entrepreneur 109 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:26,719 Speaker 1: and she has her own brand of candy called sugar Pova, 110 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:29,280 Speaker 1: which she launched in two thousand twelve and has been 111 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 1: building ever since. She's a wonderful person. She's got insight, 112 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 1: she's got a sense of humor. She's stunning. Her boyfriend's hot. 113 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 1: They're like living a fabulous life. She's into design. She's 114 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,159 Speaker 1: just sort of like that person that's kind of perfect, 115 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 1: sort of like Nicky Hilton, who is a friend of mine, 116 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 1: Nicki Rothschild, who just like always looks perfect and it's annoying, 117 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, Like every picture she looks 118 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 1: like a floral goddess and this one just looks like 119 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 1: she she looks like money. Okay, you know there's a 120 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:00,160 Speaker 1: movie called Swingers years ago. You some money and you 121 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 1: don't even know it. Maria Sharapova is so money and 122 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 1: she doesn't even know it. Okay, so humble and comes 123 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:09,840 Speaker 1: from humble beginnings and I currently have a hitting a 124 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:12,200 Speaker 1: sweatshirt on and looked like I was hit by a train. 125 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:15,960 Speaker 1: You are going to love this one. Let's get into 126 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 1: it with Maria. Hi, Bethany, Hi, how are you? Thank 127 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: you for having me? Well? Thank you, I appreciate being here. Uh, 128 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:29,160 Speaker 1: You're the only person I've had on who've actually looked 129 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 1: at their Instagram on the day. I don't know why. 130 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 1: I just wanted to look at your Instagram and I 131 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 1: saw that Are you in New York? Now? I am 132 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,360 Speaker 1: in New York. Yeah, I'm sure you saw a lot 133 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:41,479 Speaker 1: of eating, no working out and architectural photos. So you 134 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 1: take design and photography and are very seriously Is that 135 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 1: is that true? I do? I've ever since I was 136 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 1: very young, I was attracted to beautiful quality images, architecture, buildings, design, Um, 137 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 1: how one dress, how they would I was very interested 138 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 1: in individualism, so how people presented themselves, how they presented 139 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 1: their work? Um? I would you know? I met from 140 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 1: Gary many years ago when we were working on a 141 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 1: pair of earrings together when I was working with Tiffany 142 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 1: at the time, and I sat in his office and 143 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 1: I had been an admirer of his for years, and 144 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 1: I traveled the world and I would take photos of 145 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 1: It was my way of capturing my travels. I would 146 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: take photos of his buildings and I would send them 147 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: as little postcards back to my mom when she was 148 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 1: living in Florida at the time. And then I got 149 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 1: to meet him, and it was like everything that I 150 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 1: had seen and from Czech Republic to Russia to everything 151 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 1: that he's done in Spain in America, and he was 152 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: like sitting at the table and this meeting room doodling 153 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:53,920 Speaker 1: and he would doodle this like caricature, which you're like, 154 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 1: what what are you doing? What is this? And then 155 00:07:56,760 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 1: you realize that that's his artistic process, like he creates 156 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 1: something very complex and complicated. It's a figure, and then 157 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 1: in three or four or five years time, there's a 158 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 1: building that's only this idea came into life. And that's 159 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 1: how I've I've always loved to get to the bottom 160 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 1: of people and their ideas and how they really present themselves. 161 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 1: And that's why I do like clothes and I like 162 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 1: this element of photography, and as you say with this podcast, 163 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 1: you you know you essentially wanna you want to learn 164 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 1: more about the individual that you're speaking to, right, and 165 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 1: so the aesthetic of how they live and how they 166 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 1: dress and um and how they speak is really as 167 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 1: part of that. It's this art of unveiling who they 168 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 1: truly are. So is this going to be part of 169 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:40,439 Speaker 1: your business life or is this more of just your 170 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 1: personal life the evolution of you as as a human 171 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 1: being getting to be more of your authentic self because 172 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:47,040 Speaker 1: you're not defined by being on a court and and 173 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:50,080 Speaker 1: and being a champion and beating someone. Yeah, that that's 174 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 1: a fair point because I was I think, as especially 175 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:57,080 Speaker 1: as a female, you're always um put into certain buckets 176 00:08:57,080 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: in your life from what the exterior world, from what 177 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:04,199 Speaker 1: this outside perception is. And I've always I've always felt 178 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 1: that I not that I just wanted to be more 179 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:09,920 Speaker 1: than just a tennis player and only to lip trophies. 180 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:12,839 Speaker 1: I I felt like there were different interests that I 181 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:16,839 Speaker 1: appreciated art, and when I would post something about art, 182 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:19,720 Speaker 1: people would slightly be confused. And then I got into 183 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: business and I started my own candy company, and then 184 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 1: you know, people question, well, how how does business relate? 185 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:29,080 Speaker 1: And then as you start like going in depth and 186 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: all in the territory of a of someone that's been 187 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 1: in sport for years, you start understanding that there's so 188 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:38,720 Speaker 1: many different angles and things that you learn along the way, 189 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 1: such as business, such as you know, creating your own 190 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 1: individual form, your personality through these years of training, competing, 191 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:50,319 Speaker 1: presenting yourself in press conferences. UM. And I guess all 192 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:53,560 Speaker 1: that all that is to say that I've definitely developed 193 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:57,200 Speaker 1: a certain aesthetic and I appreciate beautiful things in life 194 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:00,280 Speaker 1: that are made with quality, that are elegant, um, that 195 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:03,560 Speaker 1: are really timeless, and that that goes through anything from 196 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 1: when I'm designing a package and sugar pova to when 197 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 1: I'm looking for a home, or when I'm redesigning something 198 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:14,440 Speaker 1: UM to a collection I'm working on interior design. I 199 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 1: think all those elements apply because I really do believe 200 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:22,400 Speaker 1: in timelessness. So you have extended from candy into other categories. 201 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:26,439 Speaker 1: You're you're building a brand with the same name or 202 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 1: it's your name. How are you approaching where you go 203 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:33,800 Speaker 1: next in business? So I retired back in February, and 204 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 1: let's do that's a very recent right before a pandemic. 205 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 1: That's so crazy and poetic in a weird way, crazy timing. 206 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 1: I made the decision in January, UM, I believe it 207 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:51,320 Speaker 1: was announced and in February. From what I remember, and 208 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 1: you know, obviously, life isn't what I had pictured it 209 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:58,320 Speaker 1: to be UM in this month and what I saw 210 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 1: it back in February, and I certainly had you know, 211 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:04,120 Speaker 1: I thought of travel. I mean, I've traveled the world 212 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:06,760 Speaker 1: for so many years, but I really traveled it from 213 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 1: the lens and perspective of an athlete, where you know, 214 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 1: you train, you you work, you play a match, and 215 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 1: then most of your time is spent on the comfort 216 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 1: of your hotel room or you know that the stadium 217 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 1: cord or the locker room. So I didn't really get 218 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 1: to see the world, UM from the eyes of a true, 219 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:29,800 Speaker 1: you know, deep tourist traveler perspective. And I there's I 220 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:32,760 Speaker 1: really crave that, UM. And that's been really hard and 221 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:35,840 Speaker 1: I think for many people during this time. But from business, 222 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 1: I formed incredible relationships UM along the way with my career, 223 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 1: and I think that's the true you know, that's the 224 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 1: true beginning of any project in life, is relationship building, 225 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 1: is getting to know people. Um. I really exposed myself 226 00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:56,760 Speaker 1: to two different avenues and in meetings in which I 227 00:11:56,840 --> 00:12:00,120 Speaker 1: wasn't the smartest person in the room, and I'm so 228 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 1: far from it, But I I loved asking questions. Like 229 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:08,079 Speaker 1: I grew up being very shy, so I never asked questions. 230 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:10,439 Speaker 1: I never wanted to raise my hand, and I would 231 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:13,160 Speaker 1: only show because I was so strong in my sport 232 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: and I really felt like I was improving, but in 233 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 1: everything else, I was shy. Like I I never went 234 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 1: to be first in line to something. Um, And I'm 235 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:25,520 Speaker 1: not sure why why that was. I was an only 236 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:28,640 Speaker 1: child that you know, my parents were very protective. But 237 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:30,680 Speaker 1: then as I grew up a little bit in my 238 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:33,720 Speaker 1: early twenties, I became very curious and I started questioning 239 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:37,080 Speaker 1: many things, and I asked to attend meetings where maybe 240 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:39,160 Speaker 1: I didn't necessarily need to be there, but I wanted 241 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:41,840 Speaker 1: to learn along the way. I took a few courses 242 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 1: in Harvard Business School. In the summer when I had 243 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 1: some time, I would put myself in in design meetings 244 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 1: in Portland when I was working with nikeon collections, and 245 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:55,360 Speaker 1: I just wanted to gather all this information and potentially 246 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 1: applied in different aspects of my of my business career. 247 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:02,440 Speaker 1: So you've been a spokesperson from major brands. You just 248 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 1: mentioned Tiffany, you you you you mentioned Nike, which which 249 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 1: I know because I and I saw it in your Instagram. 250 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:11,200 Speaker 1: And you were the highest paid female athlete for eleven 251 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:13,640 Speaker 1: years in a row. Do people know that? I mean, 252 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 1: that's pretty gangster. But I always laugh at at these 253 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:21,400 Speaker 1: lists and statistics, and although, um, you know, it's special 254 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:23,520 Speaker 1: to see your name on the top of something and 255 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:26,200 Speaker 1: to be a champion of something, when it came to 256 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:28,680 Speaker 1: a list that would come out on the internet or 257 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:32,680 Speaker 1: on paper, especially about finances, I would immediately send it 258 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:35,959 Speaker 1: to my business manager and I'm like, where has this 259 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 1: amount gone? Because I don't know where it is. Please 260 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 1: show it to me. I guess there's definitely I think 261 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:46,839 Speaker 1: there's a little flaw in that system because if you 262 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 1: really think about, like, who has any idea of how 263 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 1: much you are making from I mean, they know the 264 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:56,320 Speaker 1: basis of your salary and your you know, some of 265 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 1: the prize money that you make, but as far as 266 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 1: endorsement deals, like any type deals, no one truly knows 267 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:06,320 Speaker 1: like how much someone is earning, so I do. I 268 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:10,960 Speaker 1: will begin by saying that those lists are not always accurate, 269 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:14,959 Speaker 1: but I always came from this. When I was training 270 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 1: and I was very young, I never thought about money. 271 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:23,240 Speaker 1: My family always provided environment, although it wasn't full of 272 00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 1: rich items and luxuries, they always provided a very comfortable 273 00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:31,200 Speaker 1: environment for me and safety, and I always felt like 274 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 1: that was enough. And I never really knew what more 275 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 1: money would bring me because I was never exposed to 276 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 1: it and I was comfortable with what I had. So 277 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 1: while I was training, I didn't ask my mom, like 278 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:45,400 Speaker 1: what what would happen if we had more money? Like 279 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 1: would we have higher ceilings? Would we have a stronger roof? 280 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 1: Like I was comfortable? And but little by little you 281 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 1: you do. I mean, you're slightly naive and you're a 282 00:14:56,280 --> 00:14:59,600 Speaker 1: little green. But with every you know, prize mini check 283 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 1: that arround as in your account, you become a little 284 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 1: bit more significantly comfortable, and you're allowed access to two 285 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 1: more things. Right you're all of a sudden you can 286 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 1: buy and and overseas business class ticket when you're maybe 287 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 1: you know, eight nineteen years old. But I do essentially 288 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 1: think that once you build those comforts and you know, 289 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 1: you determine what those are. I think that that means 290 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 1: different things for many many different people. Um, then, like 291 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:29,320 Speaker 1: what else can money really buy? You know, to bring 292 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:32,240 Speaker 1: your true value and happiness? And I mean I hear 293 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:34,920 Speaker 1: it from everyone, it's not everything. Like it makes me 294 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: incredibly happy and secure that I can provide for my 295 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:41,040 Speaker 1: entire family and that I know my grandparents back in 296 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 1: Russia are safe and sound and they're getting older and 297 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 1: I can provide health care for them and I don't 298 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 1: have to worry for a second. Now, would that be 299 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 1: a major concern if I wasn't in this financial security? Absolutely, 300 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:56,280 Speaker 1: So that is a piece of happiness that I carry 301 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 1: and that I value, and I know that the financial 302 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 1: gain really helps with So you've had a lucrative business 303 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:15,120 Speaker 1: of being the face of other brands, and I'm sort 304 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:17,400 Speaker 1: of jealous in that way because I would never be 305 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 1: able to have like a big, massive, multimillion dollar contracts. 306 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 1: So I've started the business businesses from scratch, but it's 307 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 1: equally if not more, lucrative, and then you spend less 308 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 1: time to be the face of different brands. So has 309 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 1: this been a great model for you? Well, there's two 310 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 1: ways to look at that. One comes from when you're 311 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:38,520 Speaker 1: younger and you need that financial security. It's obviously a 312 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 1: great way for at the end of the year to 313 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 1: receive a solid chuck. On the other hand, once you 314 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:48,120 Speaker 1: build the confidence within your portfolio and and understand that 315 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 1: you have financial security in order to take a little 316 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: bit more risk, you then go into avenues that are 317 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:55,640 Speaker 1: a little bit more equity based. You know, it's been 318 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:58,160 Speaker 1: an amazing journey being an ambassador of brands, but I 319 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:00,680 Speaker 1: also I wanted to have for me. It was a 320 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 1: sense of I want to be the decision maker. I 321 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:05,440 Speaker 1: want to make the end of the day. I don't 322 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 1: just want to be one percent or five percent of 323 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:09,160 Speaker 1: a company. I don't just want to be the face 324 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:12,560 Speaker 1: of I really want to take responsibility and what I 325 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 1: was doing, and I want to create my own team 326 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:17,320 Speaker 1: like I did in my sport, and I want to 327 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:20,479 Speaker 1: dedicate my knowledge and the things that I knew. And 328 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:23,240 Speaker 1: at the time, I was still young and green and 329 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:25,399 Speaker 1: and I'm learning on the job. And that's when I 330 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:29,199 Speaker 1: started sugar Pova. And it's funny because people, you know, 331 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:32,479 Speaker 1: they say, well, Candy, you're you're an athlete, Like, how 332 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:36,199 Speaker 1: how did those two go together? And that was essentially 333 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 1: my point is that if there's anyone that knows how 334 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 1: to take care of their body every single day too, 335 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:43,920 Speaker 1: when from when you wake up and hydrate and drink 336 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 1: water to when you're going to sleep and making sure 337 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 1: you get at least eight hours or however however much 338 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:52,080 Speaker 1: your body needs. I also knew that there was a 339 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:56,720 Speaker 1: time for indulgence and for treating yourself and for rewarding yourself, 340 00:17:56,800 --> 00:17:59,200 Speaker 1: and that for me start at a very young age. 341 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:03,080 Speaker 1: And whether in your case a cocktail, for me, it 342 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 1: was a candy at chocolate bar, like I would finish 343 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 1: practice when I was young and I'd say, DoD, can 344 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:11,159 Speaker 1: I have a bounty bar? So that memory came to 345 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:13,000 Speaker 1: me and I said, you know what I want to apply. 346 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:17,080 Speaker 1: Started doing market research on gummies, um, started doing research 347 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:21,720 Speaker 1: on ingredients, packaging, logos, names, and that's how sugar Pobo 348 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 1: was born. Well that's amazing because for people at home, 349 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:26,800 Speaker 1: I have a brand called Skinny Girl. And but the 350 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:30,480 Speaker 1: premise is to know how to indulge. People think that 351 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:33,080 Speaker 1: it means, you know, to deprive, and people don't learn 352 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:36,560 Speaker 1: enough how to indulge doesn't mean binging, it doesn't mean 353 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 1: having a bad relationship with food. It means learning how 354 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:41,959 Speaker 1: to allow because in Christmas time is going to be 355 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:44,879 Speaker 1: a big container of caramel popcorn and cheese popcorn, and 356 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:46,800 Speaker 1: there's going to be a brownie and there's so if 357 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:50,560 Speaker 1: people have a very anxiety written I call it food noise, 358 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 1: then they feel like they have to eat binge totally 359 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:55,640 Speaker 1: and then tomorrow they're gonna be good. Where there's no good, 360 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 1: there's no bad. Food is not your best friend or 361 00:18:57,520 --> 00:19:00,159 Speaker 1: your enemy. It is just something that you should have 362 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:04,320 Speaker 1: a good relationship with. When you're constantly saying no to yourself, 363 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:06,639 Speaker 1: like if you see something that you either want to 364 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:08,560 Speaker 1: be a part of, if you have a drink in 365 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 1: front of you or a chocolate that you want to have, 366 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 1: and every single day you're saying no, no, no. You 367 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:17,880 Speaker 1: spent so much energy saying no to yourself and your 368 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:21,720 Speaker 1: body that you're wasting more energy on that than actually 369 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:26,480 Speaker 1: giving yourself an occasional comfort of saying, okay, well it's 370 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:29,639 Speaker 1: five o'clock. There are days of the week you just 371 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:33,200 Speaker 1: want to eat chocolate cake for breakfast and that's that's 372 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 1: what that day exactly. So you know, you're a beautiful woman, 373 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:50,479 Speaker 1: and um, you you have always been thought of as 374 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 1: an athlete. First, I want to ask being a woman 375 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:56,200 Speaker 1: in tennis. Are there positives to being a woman in tennis. 376 00:19:56,320 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 1: Has it been something where people don't take you seriously 377 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:02,560 Speaker 1: because you're utiful, or is it something where I just 378 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 1: want to know that the relationship to your femininity and 379 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 1: your physical appearance and the industry. That's a really great 380 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:16,959 Speaker 1: question because I never felt more comfortable when it was 381 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:20,480 Speaker 1: sweat and tears in the third hour of a match, 382 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 1: in the finals of a Grand Slam, and I couldn't 383 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 1: care less how my hair looked, if my skin was glowing, 384 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:34,480 Speaker 1: how my pigmentation was. I put all of that aside 385 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:39,959 Speaker 1: because what truly mattered was and what I loved bringing 386 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:43,719 Speaker 1: out and what I really genuinely believed was beautiful was 387 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:48,639 Speaker 1: showcasing strength from within, and that, you know, was my 388 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:51,920 Speaker 1: platform for I mean, I played tennis for twenty years 389 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:55,199 Speaker 1: of my life, and that to me was like the 390 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 1: definition of beauty. I was always mentally tough, and that 391 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 1: besides having some potential in the sport, I think that's 392 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:05,320 Speaker 1: what got me through and brought me championships and the 393 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:08,560 Speaker 1: Grand Slams that I want. I had to truly develop 394 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 1: my talent, and I did, and that was by working 395 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:14,720 Speaker 1: hard and having this horse blinder attitude on where I 396 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:16,800 Speaker 1: just saw straight, I had a mission. I was on 397 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:20,160 Speaker 1: a mission, and I just wanted to perform. And that 398 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:23,919 Speaker 1: that always always felt the proudest when I would showcase 399 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:26,600 Speaker 1: that strength, that inner mental strength, and that to me 400 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:31,199 Speaker 1: was beautiful. Now did I enjoy winning a championship and 401 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:35,919 Speaker 1: then doing a photograph with the trophy in a pretty dress? 402 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:39,320 Speaker 1: Of course, like I you know, had a hair and 403 00:21:39,359 --> 00:21:41,639 Speaker 1: makeup team that would, you know, make me feel like 404 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:44,679 Speaker 1: I was a princess. And I was so fortunate to 405 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:48,160 Speaker 1: work with amazing brands that would offer me pretty dresses 406 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 1: to take the photo in, you know, the iconic post 407 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:54,680 Speaker 1: championship trophy, and and yes, are those I mean, there's 408 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:56,879 Speaker 1: certainly moments that I'm going to miss because you do 409 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 1: feel like you're a top of the world. You have 410 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:01,240 Speaker 1: a you know, you've just the pomplished something in sport, 411 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 1: and then you're wearing a beautiful dress and it's kind 412 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:07,040 Speaker 1: of this, you know, I guess they're like two polar 413 00:22:07,080 --> 00:22:12,000 Speaker 1: opposites exactly. But that's I think what made me successful 414 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:17,399 Speaker 1: in that world is that my priority and what I 415 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:20,360 Speaker 1: really truly believed in was my mental strength, and that 416 00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:23,760 Speaker 1: was much more beautiful than than anything else I could 417 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:26,760 Speaker 1: have offered. I agree, and that was beautifully put to 418 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:33,720 Speaker 1: what is your relationship to tennis? Now? I I love 419 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:37,080 Speaker 1: the sport and I love so many aspects of it, 420 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 1: but I was really ready to let go, Like my 421 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:43,159 Speaker 1: body was ready, my mind was ready. And it's so 422 00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:47,840 Speaker 1: interesting because for as penetrating of a sport in my 423 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:51,639 Speaker 1: career as it was, and as consuming as it was, 424 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 1: like when you would enter my home and you'd go 425 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:57,879 Speaker 1: into any bedroom, there was no evidence of the sport. 426 00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:00,959 Speaker 1: There was no racket anyway, and not in a corner. 427 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 1: There was no trophy. There were no photographs of holding trophy. 428 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 1: Well that's business in a way, right, and it's a passion, 429 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:11,199 Speaker 1: but it's business. Yeah. I didn't do it consciously like 430 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:13,359 Speaker 1: because I mean, part of it was just I just 431 00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:16,359 Speaker 1: don't like a lot of crap playing around. I have 432 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:19,520 Speaker 1: very clean aesthetic and its minimal. It's a little like, 433 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 1: I don't know, it's it's a little straight like I 434 00:23:22,119 --> 00:23:25,520 Speaker 1: don't like a lot of stuff. And I never had 435 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:28,560 Speaker 1: a lot of photos or memories and you know, they 436 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:31,240 Speaker 1: were always kind of in my mind but never exposed, 437 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:33,480 Speaker 1: like I have the I have rackets with which I 438 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:36,399 Speaker 1: won my five Grand slams, and I have those Actually 439 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:39,680 Speaker 1: don't even know where they are, but I know so 440 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:43,680 Speaker 1: that I think it explains a little bit of my relationship. 441 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:45,960 Speaker 1: Like when I would exit my home and I get 442 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:48,040 Speaker 1: in the car, and I would get to the club, 443 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:49,880 Speaker 1: and I would get to the court and i'd close 444 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:52,959 Speaker 1: the gate of the court, it was all business. And 445 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:56,560 Speaker 1: this was like I just I put so much focus 446 00:23:56,560 --> 00:23:59,600 Speaker 1: in and that was my greatest strength, Like anything could 447 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:01,400 Speaker 1: be going on in the world, whether it was good 448 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:03,680 Speaker 1: or bad in my life, and when I would enter 449 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 1: that court, it was as if nothing existed because I 450 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 1: didn't have time to think like I had to. I 451 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:12,600 Speaker 1: had to be fast, I had to be sharp, I 452 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:15,439 Speaker 1: had to be smart. I had to be you know, 453 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:18,919 Speaker 1: around a team that would share feedback and information that 454 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:22,080 Speaker 1: I would have to you know, swallow. Sometimes it was critical, 455 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:24,919 Speaker 1: sometimes it was tough, so I didn't have time to 456 00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:28,280 Speaker 1: think about anything else like I was in it. And 457 00:24:28,280 --> 00:24:30,679 Speaker 1: then I would leave. And that's the time where I 458 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:34,680 Speaker 1: exposed myself to business and and to art, to architecture, 459 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:37,560 Speaker 1: where I would spend time with my friends, and I 460 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:39,880 Speaker 1: didn't you know, I didn't feel bad about all these 461 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:42,080 Speaker 1: other interests because I knew that when I would get 462 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:44,560 Speaker 1: to the court, that was important. And I still feel 463 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:47,320 Speaker 1: like that. That is my relationship so much. I mean, 464 00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 1: I know the sport like the back of my hand. 465 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:52,639 Speaker 1: There's nothing that I will know better. But I'm also 466 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:56,920 Speaker 1: happy putting it aside and saying, this was an incredibly 467 00:24:57,119 --> 00:25:01,439 Speaker 1: beautiful chapter in my life and there is like a 468 00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:08,560 Speaker 1: lot more things to come. Well, that's incredible, And I'm 469 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:10,479 Speaker 1: thinking I've read about this and I don't know if 470 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:12,720 Speaker 1: this is true. You've dealt with a lot of physical pain, 471 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:16,960 Speaker 1: which makes sense, and you were suspended because of a 472 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:19,440 Speaker 1: medication that you were taking for the pain or some 473 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:23,199 Speaker 1: sort of analgy sick or something, and and then you 474 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:27,720 Speaker 1: were suspended for fifteen months. That is that accurate? Yes, yeah, 475 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 1: I didn't play forteen months. Did you feel that was 476 00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:32,000 Speaker 1: like a stain on a perfect record? I mean, how 477 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:34,360 Speaker 1: do you emotionally feel about that? How did you feel then? 478 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:36,720 Speaker 1: Did it give you time to think about the fact 479 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:39,240 Speaker 1: that you would retire? I mean, how did you process that? 480 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:41,280 Speaker 1: Did you turn that into a place of yes, where 481 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:43,040 Speaker 1: you made it into a positive. I'm just curious how 482 00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:46,359 Speaker 1: you process that. I will say that nothing in a 483 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 1: sporting career is ever perfect, and just because I mean 484 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:54,439 Speaker 1: the perfect example of that is I want to my 485 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:57,040 Speaker 1: third Grand Slam. I was twenty one years old and 486 00:25:57,040 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 1: I had been playing the best tennis of my life, 487 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:04,800 Speaker 1: and four months later I was on the operations table 488 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:09,600 Speaker 1: getting shoulder surgery, and I felt like, I mean literally 489 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:12,800 Speaker 1: that I could accomplish so much more because I was producing. 490 00:26:13,400 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 1: The game that I was producing was better and better 491 00:26:16,359 --> 00:26:18,800 Speaker 1: with every event that I was playing, And at that 492 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:21,480 Speaker 1: age is really where you mean, it's kind of a 493 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:24,120 Speaker 1: beginning of a peak in a tennis career. So that 494 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:27,840 Speaker 1: was that was taken away from me with this injury, 495 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:33,520 Speaker 1: and that was really physically mentally challenging. Like I went 496 00:26:33,560 --> 00:26:36,640 Speaker 1: through some dark moments where I just I didn't know 497 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:39,480 Speaker 1: if I'd ever be able to hit a serve again 498 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:44,560 Speaker 1: without excruciating pain. Now that pain came back again, uh 499 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:47,640 Speaker 1: six seven, eight years later, just because of the way 500 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:51,440 Speaker 1: that my the looseness of my shoulder and the motions 501 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:55,320 Speaker 1: of my strokes. So I've always been, you know, ready 502 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:58,760 Speaker 1: for those challenges and ups and downs. But being away 503 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:01,760 Speaker 1: from from a sport for fifteen months, but being at 504 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:05,639 Speaker 1: a completely different age is it is also slightly different 505 00:27:05,640 --> 00:27:07,520 Speaker 1: because at that point, you know, I was already thinking 506 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:11,760 Speaker 1: about family, I was already thinking about retirement. I never 507 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:14,199 Speaker 1: thought i'd play past thirty. So it's just a different 508 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:18,520 Speaker 1: I mean, two very different experiences, but both incredibly challenging 509 00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:23,359 Speaker 1: and instances that I learned a lot from. Well, now 510 00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:26,080 Speaker 1: it's been nine months, So how does your body feel now? 511 00:27:26,359 --> 00:27:29,439 Speaker 1: Do you feel like you're having a cleanse from just 512 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:34,000 Speaker 1: sleeping and detoxing from being in that journey and that sport. 513 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:36,880 Speaker 1: I mean, it must feel very like you're like you're 514 00:27:36,920 --> 00:27:41,320 Speaker 1: releasing something. I wouldn't say it's been a cleanse because 515 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:43,919 Speaker 1: I did, and I had a phenomenal team, Like I 516 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:47,000 Speaker 1: had a physio that would work on my shoulder. I 517 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 1: mean for probably more than the amount of time I 518 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:51,640 Speaker 1: spent on the court in the last couple of years, 519 00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:53,400 Speaker 1: because that's how much it took for me to get 520 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:56,719 Speaker 1: on the court. So I realized the importance of you know, 521 00:27:56,800 --> 00:27:59,800 Speaker 1: having my body worked on for you know, which was 522 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:04,400 Speaker 1: But it's also excruciating because you're constantly thinking you wake 523 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:06,480 Speaker 1: up and you're constantly thinking what you need to be 524 00:28:06,560 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 1: doing for your shoulder. You know what. It was just 525 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:14,240 Speaker 1: like constant maintenance. So that's been that's been nice. But 526 00:28:14,320 --> 00:28:17,520 Speaker 1: that's more mental because you can just like go and 527 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:20,840 Speaker 1: not not constantly be on edge that if you have 528 00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:23,160 Speaker 1: an hour off, that means you're doing something wrong because 529 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:26,200 Speaker 1: you're not taking care of it. God, that that sounds 530 00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:29,280 Speaker 1: like a tremendous amount of anxiety and noise. Just like yeah, 531 00:28:29,359 --> 00:28:31,480 Speaker 1: and also just I mean there are days where you 532 00:28:31,480 --> 00:28:34,359 Speaker 1: you you can't even get through practice and you know, 533 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:36,320 Speaker 1: you have this team that you employ if three to 534 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:39,960 Speaker 1: four sometimes five people that are there in the practice court, 535 00:28:40,040 --> 00:28:43,440 Speaker 1: and you know your body occasionally let's go and breaks 536 00:28:43,440 --> 00:28:47,080 Speaker 1: down and you can't even finish practice. And that sounds dreful. 537 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:49,440 Speaker 1: I have to tell you you had an incredible career, 538 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:54,080 Speaker 1: but that sounds like that sounds like mental torture. Not 539 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:58,920 Speaker 1: even just physical. That sounds like mental torture. It's it's definitely. 540 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:02,479 Speaker 1: I mean, I like the people that I worked with. 541 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:07,120 Speaker 1: I I chose them and I hired them because they 542 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:10,240 Speaker 1: were like their values were so strong, and I knew 543 00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:13,760 Speaker 1: that they were the people that I wanted to that. 544 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:16,880 Speaker 1: I felt comfortable like being vulnerable, and I felt comfortable 545 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:19,560 Speaker 1: having those injuries, and I felt comfortable losing in. I 546 00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:23,560 Speaker 1: always say, no matter what profession and you're in, it's 547 00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:27,240 Speaker 1: so important to choose team members that you're you would 548 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:30,520 Speaker 1: rather be comfortable losing in because you can win with 549 00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:33,160 Speaker 1: any like you win, everyone's going to be happy. Everyone 550 00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:36,640 Speaker 1: knows how to celebrate. But it's the team when you're 551 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:39,840 Speaker 1: down and when you're going through hardship, it's that team 552 00:29:39,920 --> 00:29:42,120 Speaker 1: that you need at that time for you to be 553 00:29:42,200 --> 00:29:45,280 Speaker 1: comfortable in their just in their presence, right, like when 554 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:48,040 Speaker 1: when no one is saying anything and this is this 555 00:29:48,360 --> 00:29:51,480 Speaker 1: comfortable silence, Like that's when you know that you have 556 00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:54,920 Speaker 1: really good people. Um. And so I did surround myself 557 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:58,600 Speaker 1: with individuals that supported me along the way, but it 558 00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:00,280 Speaker 1: was still, you know, it's hard to make a call 559 00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:02,120 Speaker 1: to your mom and say, you know, I just I 560 00:30:02,160 --> 00:30:05,200 Speaker 1: can't practice for the next three days because I just can't. 561 00:30:05,280 --> 00:30:08,600 Speaker 1: I can't serve like I have to do something about it. 562 00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:10,800 Speaker 1: And you know that that stuff on the family and 563 00:30:10,840 --> 00:30:13,840 Speaker 1: then kind of trickles down. So those elements in the 564 00:30:13,960 --> 00:30:18,360 Speaker 1: last couple of years, we're just starting to add up. Um. 565 00:30:18,440 --> 00:30:21,880 Speaker 1: And you know, I've always been fairly stubborn in my sport, 566 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:24,600 Speaker 1: and I think that's got me to wonderful places. But 567 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:28,520 Speaker 1: in the end, I think it sometimes can become, UM, 568 00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:32,240 Speaker 1: I don't know, a detriment because you you're so stubborn 569 00:30:32,320 --> 00:30:34,480 Speaker 1: to keep going that you lose sight of the new 570 00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:37,920 Speaker 1: things and new opportunities that that could be in front 571 00:30:37,920 --> 00:30:39,960 Speaker 1: of you, right, that could be right in front of 572 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:43,880 Speaker 1: your eyes. So now you have time, more free time, 573 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:47,600 Speaker 1: I mean presumably. And I think I have a name 574 00:30:47,760 --> 00:30:50,920 Speaker 1: for your homeline. I just thought of it while we 575 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:57,280 Speaker 1: were talking home home court or court, home court or courthouse, 576 00:30:57,360 --> 00:30:59,440 Speaker 1: So those are those two are free. The next one 577 00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:03,000 Speaker 1: you didn't have to for courthouse sounds a little official. 578 00:31:03,040 --> 00:31:05,959 Speaker 1: Home Court's cute. Um, it would be a little more 579 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:08,600 Speaker 1: upscale in that. Um. So what would you have been 580 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:11,440 Speaker 1: if you were not a tennis player? I would probably 581 00:31:11,440 --> 00:31:15,040 Speaker 1: have been an architect because I love I love the 582 00:31:15,280 --> 00:31:20,320 Speaker 1: engineering side. I love concepts and execution. I love seeing 583 00:31:20,360 --> 00:31:25,040 Speaker 1: people put together an idea and watching it, um just 584 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:28,640 Speaker 1: come to life. Whether that's um. For me, It's been 585 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:33,040 Speaker 1: through like clothing through shoes, and then eventually it went 586 00:31:33,080 --> 00:31:36,320 Speaker 1: into I built my own home UM from scratch, and 587 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:40,640 Speaker 1: I was really involved in the entire process UM in California, 588 00:31:40,680 --> 00:31:43,040 Speaker 1: and I finished it and I said, wow, I would 589 00:31:43,080 --> 00:31:45,560 Speaker 1: do this again tomorrow. Now I didn't have the time 590 00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:49,600 Speaker 1: for it, but eventually that is something that I'm deeply 591 00:31:49,640 --> 00:31:53,680 Speaker 1: interested in and currently have a few architectural projects UM 592 00:31:53,680 --> 00:31:56,680 Speaker 1: in the works, particularly in the health and wellness space 593 00:31:57,200 --> 00:32:01,160 Speaker 1: UM within with an architect because I love I have 594 00:32:01,200 --> 00:32:04,959 Speaker 1: a good understanding of space and utilizing it and making 595 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:08,800 Speaker 1: sure that when you either you're you're working out or 596 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:13,360 Speaker 1: you're going UM to a social event, that it feels cohesive, 597 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:17,040 Speaker 1: that it works with UM, that it's authentic to what 598 00:32:17,080 --> 00:32:19,440 Speaker 1: people are doing and what they're now attracted to. So 599 00:32:19,440 --> 00:32:21,920 Speaker 1: so many spaces are not utilized in a in a 600 00:32:22,240 --> 00:32:25,080 Speaker 1: whether it's a home, whether it's a gym UM. So 601 00:32:25,120 --> 00:32:28,880 Speaker 1: I love putting those ideas together and and creating cool concepts. Well, 602 00:32:28,920 --> 00:32:30,960 Speaker 1: you could do it. I mean in five years from now, 603 00:32:31,160 --> 00:32:33,200 Speaker 1: you'll you would be thirty eight, and that was when 604 00:32:33,240 --> 00:32:36,200 Speaker 1: I first started to achieve success. So you already your 605 00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:39,680 Speaker 1: way ahead of people. You could have five careers. UM. 606 00:32:39,800 --> 00:32:43,160 Speaker 1: So who do you think is the greatest athlete of 607 00:32:43,240 --> 00:32:45,160 Speaker 1: all time. It could be in any sort. I'm just 608 00:32:45,200 --> 00:32:48,040 Speaker 1: curious who your opinion. I have my eye have an 609 00:32:48,040 --> 00:32:50,400 Speaker 1: opinion about about what I think, but I'm curious about 610 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:53,760 Speaker 1: what you think. UM. Well, I do think Serena will 611 00:32:53,800 --> 00:32:57,800 Speaker 1: definitely be UM somewhere on top of that list, no doubt. 612 00:32:58,520 --> 00:33:04,400 Speaker 1: Her achievements are incredible and over twenty grand slams UM 613 00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:11,000 Speaker 1: and still competing for more. UM. Wow, there are so many. 614 00:33:11,080 --> 00:33:14,360 Speaker 1: I mean, I have really value my relationship with Billy 615 00:33:14,440 --> 00:33:17,960 Speaker 1: gene King, and I think of her as an example 616 00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:23,000 Speaker 1: of someone that is so selfless and just helped. I mean, 617 00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:27,800 Speaker 1: she helped each and every single tennis player UM become 618 00:33:27,840 --> 00:33:33,520 Speaker 1: who they are, financially secure, successful, UM. She created a 619 00:33:33,760 --> 00:33:37,040 Speaker 1: space in which we we all competed and played at 620 00:33:37,080 --> 00:33:39,680 Speaker 1: and made and made great money. So I always think 621 00:33:39,680 --> 00:33:42,240 Speaker 1: of her when I think of the best athletes of 622 00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:44,920 Speaker 1: all time. Well, the most important thing is that I 623 00:33:44,960 --> 00:33:47,800 Speaker 1: know that your time is valuable. And I loved talking 624 00:33:47,840 --> 00:33:50,400 Speaker 1: to you. Thank you very much, Bethany. I love the 625 00:33:50,440 --> 00:34:01,360 Speaker 1: conversation myself. What an elegant, poised, smart, thoughtful person who 626 00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:06,200 Speaker 1: really cares, who definitely revealed herself in different ways. And 627 00:34:06,200 --> 00:34:09,719 Speaker 1: you know again not the sense of who Maria Sharapova 628 00:34:10,280 --> 00:34:13,879 Speaker 1: really is, and to leave every interview and just feel 629 00:34:13,920 --> 00:34:16,279 Speaker 1: like there's nothing else that I needed to ask, Like 630 00:34:16,440 --> 00:34:18,840 Speaker 1: there's nothing else I need to know. I understand who's 631 00:34:18,920 --> 00:34:23,160 Speaker 1: Who's Maria Sharapova is, And I'm just so grateful. You know, 632 00:34:23,200 --> 00:34:25,560 Speaker 1: we move so quickly, and we're driving through to get 633 00:34:25,560 --> 00:34:28,640 Speaker 1: our coffee, and we're just rushing out of check out 634 00:34:28,920 --> 00:34:31,279 Speaker 1: boxes in online and it's just like to sit and 635 00:34:31,320 --> 00:34:34,480 Speaker 1: have a living, breathing conversation and learn about someone who's 636 00:34:34,520 --> 00:34:37,919 Speaker 1: really done it at such a young age and accomplished 637 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:42,120 Speaker 1: so much with such a discipline and focus and passion 638 00:34:42,239 --> 00:34:47,520 Speaker 1: and drive and success is incredible. So keep listening and 639 00:34:47,960 --> 00:34:52,600 Speaker 1: keep continuing to rate, review and subscribe. It's just proving 640 00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:55,439 Speaker 1: the basic rule if you love what you do, you'll 641 00:34:55,480 --> 00:34:57,680 Speaker 1: be successful at it. Because I love doing this more 642 00:34:57,680 --> 00:35:07,080 Speaker 1: than anything else that I'm doing. Just Be is hosted 643 00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:11,319 Speaker 1: an executive produced by me Bethany Frankel, Brail Productions and 644 00:35:11,600 --> 00:35:15,640 Speaker 1: Endeavor Content. Our managing producer is Samantha Allison, and our 645 00:35:15,640 --> 00:35:20,280 Speaker 1: producer is Caroline Hamilton's. Corey Proventer is our consulting producer 646 00:35:20,320 --> 00:35:23,920 Speaker 1: with the Ever Faithful. Sarah Katanac as our assistant producer. 647 00:35:24,160 --> 00:35:27,920 Speaker 1: Our development executive is naintre Roy. Just Be as a 648 00:35:27,920 --> 00:35:32,080 Speaker 1: production of Endeavor Content and Spoke Media. This episode was 649 00:35:32,120 --> 00:35:36,120 Speaker 1: mixed by Sam Bear and To catch more moments from 650 00:35:36,160 --> 00:35:39,279 Speaker 1: the show, follow us on Instagram that Just Be with 651 00:35:39,320 --> 00:35:39,640 Speaker 1: Bethan