1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,280 Speaker 1: This show is independently created by iHeartMedia. Novarda's Pharmaceuticals Corp. 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 1: Is the exclusive advertising partner. It is intended for informational 3 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 1: and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. 4 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: Please speak with your healthcare professional before making any treatment decisions. 5 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:18,080 Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're taking 6 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:21,800 Speaker 1: you beyond parenthood. It's Wednesday, July ninth, and on today's show, 7 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: we're getting straight to my kick ass interview with legendary 8 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:27,479 Speaker 1: sprinter Alison Felix. I've been wanting to sit down with 9 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: this woman for years, and I finally got the chance 10 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:32,559 Speaker 1: to pick her brain. It's the latest installment of our 11 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: new series Life Beyond Living Beyond Labels, a powerful podcast 12 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:39,880 Speaker 1: campaign brought to you by iHeart Women's Sports. Our guest 13 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 1: today is the aforementioned Alison Felix, retired track star and 14 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: mom of two. 15 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 2: We talk about her. 16 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 1: Legendary career, the joys and challenges of parenthood while juggling 17 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: the demands of sports and business, her new documentary, her 18 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: new company, and more. Felix is a special sort of 19 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 1: advocate for women and mothers. She was the driving force 20 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 1: behind the Olympic Village's first ever nursery, and her battle. 21 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:03,520 Speaker 2: With Nike changed the game for moms in sport. 22 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:06,559 Speaker 1: She also makes it her mission to uplift folks, even 23 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 1: surprising a fan with breast cancer as part of The 24 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:12,679 Speaker 1: Today Show's Pink Power Today campaign in twenty seventeen. This 25 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 1: episode is the latest in Our Life Beyond series, showcasing 26 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:20,040 Speaker 1: the extraordinary resilience and strength of successful women diving deep 27 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 1: into their lives, highlighting their personal journeys, passions, and the 28 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 1: ways in which they're living beyond the labels they've been 29 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 1: given by others. My conversation with Alison is coming up 30 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:43,400 Speaker 1: right after this, joining us now. She's the most decorated 31 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: athlete in track and field history, with a combined Olympic 32 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 1: and World Championship total of thirty one medals, and the 33 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 1: most decorated American track and field athlete in Olympic history, 34 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: having earned eleven total medals from five consecutive Olympic Games, 35 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:58,559 Speaker 1: and the most decorated athlete in World Athletics Championships history 36 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 1: with twenty career medals. Her bravery and calling out Nike's 37 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 1: discriminatory policies against athlete mothers helped change standards across the 38 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 1: sports world and inspired her to launch her own footwear company, 39 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 1: says in June twenty twenty one, a Time magazine one 40 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: hundred most Influential People honore in twenty twenty and twenty 41 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: twenty one, number sixty three on ESPN's twenty twenty four 42 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 1: list of the one hundred Greatest Athletes of the twenty 43 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 1: first century. She recently launched Always Alpha, a talent management 44 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 1: firm fully focused on women's sports, and she'll be in 45 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:28,640 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty five class of the US Olympic and 46 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 1: Paralympic Hall of Fame this summer. It's Alison Felix. 47 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 3: Hi, Alison, Hi, thank you for that intro. That was 48 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 3: so nice. 49 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 2: Well, I want to know when you hear all that, 50 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:40,920 Speaker 2: what do you feel? Can you even grasp the enormity 51 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:41,359 Speaker 2: of it all? 52 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:43,679 Speaker 4: I think it's so weird because it's like, I never 53 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 4: really set out to do any of those things. 54 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: You know. 55 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 3: It was just a girl who loved to run. 56 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 4: So it's weird now to be like on the other 57 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 4: end of it and see, you know what I've been 58 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 4: able to do my career, But disgrateful for for the 59 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 4: whole you know, the whole journey. 60 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, I feel like when you look back at that 61 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 1: little girl that just wanted to run, if you tried 62 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 1: to pinpoint just one, maybe two qualities that most contributed 63 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 1: to your success on the track, what would they be. 64 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 4: I think the one I would probably go back to 65 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 4: is just a determination that was different and just all things. 66 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:22,600 Speaker 4: I think I was very just persistent and you know, 67 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:25,520 Speaker 4: I wouldn't let things go and I really enjoyed like 68 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:30,119 Speaker 4: getting better at something and not being deterred by failure 69 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 4: or you know, whatever the thing is. 70 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 3: So I think that really pushed persistent. 71 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, and that's necessary in track as a track 72 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 1: and field runner. In college myself, people would always basically 73 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 1: tell us your practice is our punishment. So being willing 74 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 1: to just punish yourself over and over again for the 75 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: love of the sport is it requires a special sort 76 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 1: of something. 77 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 3: It's a pretty crazy thing, you know it is. 78 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 4: It's like when you're talking about hundreds of a second 79 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 4: and you know, like what little you know biomechanics can 80 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 4: you change and. 81 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 3: You definitely have to love it and you have to 82 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 3: be in it for the long run. 83 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 2: Well, I've wanted to talk to for literally years now. 84 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 1: So I'm so grateful to have you join us to 85 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 1: talk about life beyond track, beyond parenting, and becoming this 86 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 1: new woman after your retirement. You just premiered your documentary, 87 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:22,839 Speaker 1: She Runs the World, at Tribeca. 88 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 2: Tell us about the film. 89 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 3: The film is really great. 90 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 4: It goes over my career and my journey. It talks 91 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 4: about the fight from internal protections. It also dives into 92 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 4: the maternal health crisis that women of color are facing 93 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:42,279 Speaker 4: here in America. So yeah, it kind of touches a 94 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 4: lot of passions of my heart. But yeah, I'm excited 95 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 4: that it's like out there and it was something very different, 96 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 4: you know, and I think, you know, it really pushed 97 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 4: on that level of being vulnerable and really kind of 98 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:58,359 Speaker 4: sharing more than most people really know. 99 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:00,800 Speaker 1: Well, you've been in the public spot like forever, but 100 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 1: most of the time when people are watching you, it's 101 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 1: either an interview or you're running. How different was it 102 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 1: to watch yourself in moments of being just like a 103 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: human or just being a parent, being a sister, being 104 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 1: a wife. 105 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was so different, you know. 106 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 4: I think just even the process of you know, following 107 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 4: me for a couple of years and going into some 108 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 4: of those like really personal moments and sharing that and 109 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:27,719 Speaker 4: then when I, you know, saw the film in its. 110 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:29,720 Speaker 3: Entirety, I really got it. 111 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 4: And also just like audience reaction of how much of 112 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 4: my journey is just resonates with people, because you know, 113 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 4: we all go through things, and we've all been through 114 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 4: you know, difficulties, and so I think for me, it's 115 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:46,839 Speaker 4: it's so much bigger than myself. I hope that this 116 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:50,359 Speaker 4: is a film that other women see themselves, and I 117 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 4: think it also is a message that to change things, 118 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 4: it really takes a collective effort. 119 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 1: I'm sure so many people will learn a lot from 120 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: the film and even feel inspired by feeling connected and 121 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:05,359 Speaker 1: relatable to someone as successful as you. Even you have 122 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 1: your own struggles, but I wonder what you learned about 123 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 1: yourself from making or watching it because I have a 124 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:15,960 Speaker 1: random example, but I remember my wedding taught me that 125 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:18,359 Speaker 1: I don't like to be looked at unless I can talk. 126 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:22,960 Speaker 1: I like being on stage. I love performing. I love 127 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 1: a crowd and an audience. I love attention. Except when 128 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 1: I was just walking down an aisle, I couldn't crack 129 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:31,599 Speaker 1: a joke. I just had people looking at me, and 130 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:34,719 Speaker 1: I was like I guess this is the best I'm. 131 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:35,600 Speaker 2: Supposed to look. I'm trying my heart, you know what 132 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:35,920 Speaker 2: I mean. 133 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 1: Like I realized that I have a thing with that 134 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 1: I like to be able to make a joke in 135 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:43,239 Speaker 1: moments like that, and I couldn't. Did you find anything 136 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:45,239 Speaker 1: that surprised you about yourself during the process? 137 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 4: I think maybe something I knew, but I think it 138 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 4: was just emphasized in the whole process and seeing the 139 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 4: film is that I don't really like to be the 140 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:57,280 Speaker 4: center of attention, you know, I don't really like all 141 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 4: eyes on me. And that felt a bit odd, you know, 142 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 4: especially because you know the whole film, like, you know, 143 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 4: sitting there and seeing kind of the ins and outs 144 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 4: of the journey away from you know, the field of 145 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 4: play all of those moments was like, Okay, it's probably 146 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 4: not my favorite thing, but I think the motivation behind 147 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 4: it was definitely like, Okay, this can have impact, and 148 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 4: you know a lot of other people go through these 149 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 4: same things, and that really kind of pushed me forward. 150 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 1: The filmmakers who made the movie went to your parents' 151 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:30,520 Speaker 1: house to see what kind of footage they could get 152 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 1: of the early years, and your dad came out with 153 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 1: boxes and boxes and boxes, four hundred hours of home 154 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 1: videos looking at your younger self, maybe seeing videos you'd 155 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 1: never seen before. 156 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:47,120 Speaker 4: What stood out to Yeah, I mean it's that's wild still, 157 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 4: Like I guess he was definitely before his time, like 158 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 4: all no cam horder, but it's just the joy, you know, 159 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 4: of childhood and just like being with my brother and 160 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 4: you know, playing in the backyard. I think that was 161 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 4: that was what was really cool to see, was just 162 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 4: growing and having fun and having no idea about sports 163 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 4: or anything like that, but just the foundation of being 164 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 4: with my family and so many of those lessons that 165 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:18,320 Speaker 4: I feel like now are monumental I come back to 166 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 4: all the time. But I think it was in those 167 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 4: years that my parents really, you know, taught me some 168 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:24,560 Speaker 4: of those really important things. 169 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 1: And it's got to be kind of wild seeing yourself 170 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:29,120 Speaker 1: very young, when you have young kids of your own, 171 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 1: that I'm considering what your parents were teaching you or 172 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 1: guiding you, or what's saying to you, and what you 173 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 1: might be repeating or doing the same. 174 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean, I just seeing myself at the age 175 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 4: I saw so much of my daughter Cammy, I was like, 176 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 4: oh my gosh, Yeah, okay, we kind of have the 177 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 4: same face all the things, so that was fun and 178 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:49,319 Speaker 4: for her to see that as well. And the relationship 179 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 4: with my brother Wes and I and then Cammy and 180 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 4: my son Tree. I saw so much of that, like 181 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 4: him trying to entertain me and her trying to entertain him. 182 00:08:58,440 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 3: So those kind of things were fun. 183 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 1: Also, Yeah, you also started Always Alpha. It's been around 184 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 1: less than a year. What inspired you to launch your 185 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 1: own management firm? 186 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:10,880 Speaker 4: It was really the thought of legacy, and I remember 187 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 4: having a conversation with my brother around I feel like 188 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:17,840 Speaker 4: I've learned so much and have had so much experience, 189 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:19,679 Speaker 4: almost like I wish I could do it again with 190 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 4: all this knowledge, and obviously not being able to do that, 191 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 4: I think the next best thing was saying, I want 192 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 4: to pass this on to you know, other women who 193 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 4: are at the peaks of their career, and I feel 194 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 4: like this could really be helpful. So that was really 195 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:37,160 Speaker 4: the idea behind it. And also just seeing you know, 196 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:41,760 Speaker 4: the momentum of women's sports and feeling like, you know, 197 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 4: women's sports marketing hasn't really existed and there hasn't been 198 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 4: this sole focus on marketing women in a different way, 199 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:51,439 Speaker 4: and I think that opportunity to do things a bit 200 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 4: differently really excited us. 201 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:57,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, what's been the most exciting part. 202 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 4: I think just working with a amazing clients and we 203 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 4: have athletes, we have coaches, broadcasters, and just yeah, interacting 204 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:09,959 Speaker 4: with them and hearing about things that they're passionate about 205 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:13,200 Speaker 4: on the field of play and off. I think, you know, 206 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 4: oftentimes when you're at the height of your career, you're 207 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 4: you're really thinking about, you know, the records and all 208 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:22,160 Speaker 4: of those things. But I think, you know, most people 209 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 4: have aspirations beyond that, and so to hear that early 210 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 4: on and to say like, okay, like how can we 211 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 4: put together a plan that includes that as well so 212 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 4: that you can really be your full self. I've really enjoyed, 213 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 4: you know, hearing all of those aspirations. 214 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 1: And that's really nice for the person involved who does 215 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:43,840 Speaker 1: need to focus on the task at hand, but knows 216 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 1: that they're not ignoring the future or putting aside something 217 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 1: that does need to get built over the course of time. 218 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 1: They just have other people to help them do it 219 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:52,880 Speaker 1: and start looking out for opportunities, which is great. 220 00:10:53,040 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 2: What's been the biggest challenge? This is a whole new 221 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:55,360 Speaker 2: thing for you. 222 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:58,200 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think being on the other side of it, 223 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 4: you know, I think I've been used to you know, 224 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 4: when you're an athlete, you're in control of everything, and 225 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:06,319 Speaker 4: you know it's really everything is on you. It's refreshing 226 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:08,720 Speaker 4: to have a team and to get to collaborate and 227 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:11,520 Speaker 4: work together. But I think also, you know, just releasing 228 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 4: that control sometimes is feels uncomfortable, but it's also I'm 229 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:22,040 Speaker 4: trying to just welcome it more. And then just the landscape, 230 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:24,960 Speaker 4: you know, we're really trying to do things differently, and 231 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:28,720 Speaker 4: so working with brands that probably haven't focused on women's 232 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 4: sports before and trying to like educate them and teach 233 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 4: them and get them in the space. You know, we're 234 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:35,520 Speaker 4: always going to be pushing forward in that sense. 235 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 1: We're going to take a quick break when we come 236 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:49,480 Speaker 1: back more with Alison Felix. You have been pushing for 237 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 1: yourself and others for quite some time. Notably, in May 238 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 1: of twenty nineteen, you pend an op ed for The 239 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:58,080 Speaker 1: New York Times accusing your longtime sponsored Nike of refusing 240 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:01,200 Speaker 1: to guarantee salary protections for FEEA athletes and the Monks 241 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 1: following their pregnancy. You were a star for Nike at 242 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 1: the time, but you also wanted to consider a family, 243 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 1: and you were seeing not only cuts in the contract offer, 244 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,960 Speaker 1: but no guarantees for what would happen after you came back. 245 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 1: So can you take us through the process and the 246 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:21,559 Speaker 1: feelings that you had leading up to that actually publishing 247 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 1: fear anger otherwise? 248 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 3: I was terrified. I think that was the biggest emotion. 249 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 4: You know, for the longest, I really wanted to like 250 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 4: fit in that perfect image and you know, head down, 251 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:36,480 Speaker 4: do the work. Like I'm an athlete. I'm just supposed to, 252 00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 4: you know, stay in my lane. And I had done 253 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 4: that really well for a long time, and it wasn't 254 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 4: until I was faced with this situation that that took 255 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:46,839 Speaker 4: everything up. 256 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:49,079 Speaker 3: And I think also just becoming a. 257 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 4: Mother, the mother to a daughter, really was like, Okay, 258 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 4: it's it's on me to do something about this. And 259 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 4: so I think that was the feelings, everything from rage 260 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:04,000 Speaker 4: that I'm even asking and pushing for this, to feeling 261 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 4: empowered to say I want to do something different and 262 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:11,600 Speaker 4: I'm going to speak up about this because it's been happening. 263 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:13,640 Speaker 3: For far too long. So it was really scary. 264 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 4: But I'm really grateful that I was supported in my 265 00:13:17,559 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 4: own family, with my friends and a lot of other 266 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 4: athletes who had been through something similar and who were 267 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:27,240 Speaker 4: under NDA's and felt like, you know, I have people 268 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 4: standing behind me. 269 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 1: Tell me more about why your daughter sort of gave 270 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 1: you that last little shove. 271 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 4: I remember, you know, really going back and forth of like, Okay, 272 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 4: is this something I'm going to do? 273 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:40,439 Speaker 3: Like am I going to put my name on this? 274 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:44,960 Speaker 4: And vividly there was this moment, you know, she I 275 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:48,040 Speaker 4: had a difficult birth experience. She came two months early, 276 00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 4: and I'm sitting in her nursery and just really you know, 277 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 4: contemplating this. And I think in those moments when she 278 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:58,840 Speaker 4: was home from the nicqu just seeing how she fought 279 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:01,960 Speaker 4: and then think about her growing up and the fight 280 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:04,600 Speaker 4: that I was taking on. It was like, there's no 281 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:06,800 Speaker 4: way that you and your generation are going to take 282 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 4: this fight on. At the time, I didn't know if 283 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 4: anything was going to come of it, but I just 284 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 4: felt deeply called to speak up, like I had a 285 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:16,320 Speaker 4: responsibility now as. 286 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:19,400 Speaker 3: A mother, and that's something I hadn't felt before. You know, 287 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 3: I think it just it was a game changer for me. 288 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:26,040 Speaker 1: You know, I think a lot of women say that 289 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:28,640 Speaker 1: that it sort of changes the perspective of who's first, 290 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:31,120 Speaker 1: and who comes first, and what's more important, And you 291 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 1: quite literally recognize that this was about your fight, but 292 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:36,760 Speaker 1: also changing the game for everyone that. 293 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:37,640 Speaker 2: Came after you. 294 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 1: And I think it's also hard to read you talking 295 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 1: about your relationship with Nike at that time and the 296 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 1: way they communicated to you what you meant to them, 297 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 1: and always using the phrasing we're a family. Yeah, and 298 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:53,480 Speaker 1: you felt like, my family is telling me that I 299 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 1: want to make this personal choice and they won't support 300 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 1: me in it, that they might not be there for 301 00:14:58,160 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 1: me when I come back, and that I have to 302 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 1: hit sir times and goals in order for them to 303 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 1: still treat me as a member of their family. What 304 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:08,480 Speaker 1: an interesting dichotomy to be creating an actual family and 305 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 1: find out at the same time that these promises made 306 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 1: to you were not true. And I think a lot 307 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:16,840 Speaker 1: of us go through the naivete of loyalty to something 308 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:18,600 Speaker 1: that we assume is reciprocal. 309 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 2: And when people tell you you're just a number, you're. 310 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 1: Just a cog in the wheel or whatever it is, 311 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:26,640 Speaker 1: you don't want to believe it because you put so 312 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 1: much time and effort and energy into it. So when 313 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 1: you do find out that that was true, what's that 314 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 1: emotion for you as you started to for the very 315 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 1: first time realize that Nike wasn't going to do right 316 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 1: by you. 317 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 4: It was just like a gut punch, because it is. 318 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 4: And it was a great lesson to learn that. So often, 319 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:48,160 Speaker 4: I think we do preach family in companies, and I 320 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:49,920 Speaker 4: think we talk about it a lot, and for me 321 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 4: it was a lesson, even in creating my own company, 322 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:56,720 Speaker 4: that it's not a family because there is a business 323 00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 4: aspect to it. And I think it's when you're an athlete. 324 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 4: You're going on this journey and you have these supporters 325 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 4: who are feeling like family, and you're going above and 326 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:08,120 Speaker 4: beyond and you're giving everything you have to this. 327 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 3: It's a weird thing, you know. 328 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 4: And so when I realized that, and you know, the 329 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 4: veil was lifted and it's like, oh, no, this is 330 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:19,920 Speaker 4: not family at all, it was hard. You know, it 331 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:23,880 Speaker 4: was hard to process that and understand at the same time, 332 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 4: you know, starting a family and all of those things. 333 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 4: But I just realized, you know, at the end of 334 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 4: the day, it is about you know, the numbers on 335 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 4: the paper and the bottom line and all of that, 336 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 4: but it was it was difficult in the in the 337 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 4: process of. 338 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 1: It, there is a freedom to learning that, and there 339 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 1: also is an opportunity for a spark of ingenuity because 340 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:50,200 Speaker 1: I feel like a lot of women figure out that 341 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 1: the system isn't built for us and then change it, 342 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 1: and it happens maybe less often with men because they're 343 00:16:56,960 --> 00:16:59,240 Speaker 1: very much served by the system that we're currently in. 344 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:02,560 Speaker 1: I think about Abi Wombach talks about in her book. 345 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 1: You know when they say if there's not a seat 346 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 1: at the table, pull up a chair, she says, screw 347 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:09,840 Speaker 1: pulling up a chair, build a new table. Yeah, if 348 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:11,280 Speaker 1: you're not going to have a seat for me at 349 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:13,159 Speaker 1: the table that exists, I don't want to pull up 350 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 1: a chair. I'm going to just create my own table. 351 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:17,400 Speaker 1: And it feels like that's very much what you did 352 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 1: in speaking out. And at the same time, that very 353 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 1: same month of May twenty nineteen, you testified before the 354 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:25,840 Speaker 1: US House Committee on Ways and Means on the Black 355 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:30,520 Speaker 1: maternal mortality crisis. You mentioned that your daughter's birth was difficult. 356 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 1: You had preeclampsia while pregnant, and then you had to 357 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:36,600 Speaker 1: have an emergency C section. You not only are fighting 358 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:39,359 Speaker 1: with your sponsor for the treatment that you deserve, but 359 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 1: now you're fighting on behalf of other mothers. Why did 360 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 1: that experience with your daughter, instead of wanting to stay 361 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:48,320 Speaker 1: at home and cocoon and just care for her, why 362 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:50,800 Speaker 1: were you so ready to get out and fight. 363 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:53,879 Speaker 4: I think once I had wrote that op ed and 364 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:56,879 Speaker 4: it came out and I saw the response, and I 365 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:00,399 Speaker 4: saw Nike other companies change their policy, I think for 366 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:03,919 Speaker 4: the first time I understood what speaking out had the 367 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 4: power to do, and when you are vulnerable and when 368 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:12,520 Speaker 4: you share that sometimes it can change things. And so 369 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 4: when I was going through the complicated birth of my daughter, 370 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:18,680 Speaker 4: and I just I felt like my eyes. 371 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 3: Were open to a whole new world. 372 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 4: I did not know the enormity of the crisis that 373 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:27,159 Speaker 4: women were facing, and so it was kind of that 374 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 4: same feeling like if I can do something about this, 375 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 4: even if it's just raise awareness, then I sign me up, 376 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:35,399 Speaker 4: like I want to be on board with that, And 377 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:38,919 Speaker 4: so that was kind of I remember leaving the hospital 378 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:41,359 Speaker 4: after a month of her being there and us leaving 379 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 4: as a family, and just feeling so much gratitude because 380 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:48,199 Speaker 4: I learned of so many stories where that's just not 381 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:51,720 Speaker 4: the case. And so that was the push to say, yeah, 382 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 4: I'm happy to testify. It's not something I probably would 383 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:56,679 Speaker 4: have wanted to do in my past and such a 384 00:18:56,680 --> 00:19:00,479 Speaker 4: private person, but if this has the potential to change 385 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:04,720 Speaker 4: the path forward, or you know, if someone learns about 386 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 4: signs of pre eclamsia, you know, through this process, then 387 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:09,280 Speaker 4: it's absolutely worth it. 388 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 1: You led me to my next question, which is you 389 00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:13,720 Speaker 1: start out by saying you don't love to be the 390 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 1: center of attention, and yet in all these moments you 391 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:19,879 Speaker 1: are saying, I have the voice and the agency to 392 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 1: do something about this. So it's on me to say something. 393 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:27,760 Speaker 1: What's your advice for folks listening who may think that 394 00:19:27,840 --> 00:19:30,560 Speaker 1: they're not built for that kind of fight or can't 395 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:33,880 Speaker 1: imagine walking into a room to testify, or speaking out 396 00:19:33,920 --> 00:19:37,399 Speaker 1: against a boss or something like that. Did you have 397 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:39,280 Speaker 1: to psych yourself up in the mirror? Did you have 398 00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:41,240 Speaker 1: to write down mantras? Did you have to eat a 399 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:43,720 Speaker 1: certain kind of breakfast? I feel like, real strong, like, 400 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:46,480 Speaker 1: what did you do to get yourself feeling ready for that? 401 00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:47,520 Speaker 2: If that's not natural for. 402 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:51,760 Speaker 4: You, I would say definitely been exactly there in those 403 00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:54,520 Speaker 4: shoes and I never got to this place where I 404 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:56,840 Speaker 4: was like I'm ready. You know, there was never this 405 00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 4: feeling of confidence of like, Okay, I'm going to do this. 406 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:03,359 Speaker 4: Like I was scared up to the very moments that 407 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:06,439 Speaker 4: I press send on the op ed that until I 408 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 4: walked and you know, to the Ways and Means Committee, 409 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:12,919 Speaker 4: like it never went away. So I think this illusion 410 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 4: that you have to feel so courageous and so powerful 411 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:19,240 Speaker 4: and ready for the moment, it's not the case. 412 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 3: I'll never forget. 413 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 4: When I was going through all this, my brother West said, 414 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:27,360 Speaker 4: you know, you can use your voice even if it shakes, 415 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:30,400 Speaker 4: and I just kind of kept repeating that because it's 416 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 4: like I'm never gonna I'm never gonna be that person 417 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:35,760 Speaker 4: that is like, you know, shouting from the rooftops and 418 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:40,200 Speaker 4: so confident like in moments like this, but that's okay, 419 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 4: Like you can still move forward through the fear, through 420 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:46,719 Speaker 4: the uncertainty, through all of that. And so that's what 421 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:48,879 Speaker 4: I would say, And also that you don't have to 422 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 4: do it on the biggest stage. You know, we can 423 00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:54,639 Speaker 4: all hold people accountable in our own circles. We can 424 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:58,919 Speaker 4: have conversation. So I think also, don't think you have 425 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:02,280 Speaker 4: to have a big platform, you know, to bring about change. 426 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:05,400 Speaker 4: I think we can all really bloom. We're exactly where 427 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:05,960 Speaker 4: we're planted. 428 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:06,960 Speaker 2: I love that. 429 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 1: I love that quote from your brother, and I love 430 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: the relationship you two have. Can you talk about what 431 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:14,920 Speaker 1: it's been like to have your brother sort of managing 432 00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:16,919 Speaker 1: your career and now embarking on a number of your 433 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:18,000 Speaker 1: other endeavors together. 434 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:19,480 Speaker 3: It's so much fun. 435 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:22,480 Speaker 4: I think people always just like, what is it like 436 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:25,480 Speaker 4: to like work with a sibling and I. 437 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:27,679 Speaker 1: Because we're all picturing our sibling that we fight with 438 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 1: all the time and that we can't imagine having to 439 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:32,000 Speaker 1: coordinate with, and then you two are out there just 440 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 1: crushing it. 441 00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:33,800 Speaker 3: Yeah. 442 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:36,720 Speaker 4: I mean we've always had a special relationship since our 443 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:38,960 Speaker 4: younger I mean we definitely did all the fighting also, 444 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:42,480 Speaker 4: But then I don't know we I think it was 445 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:45,239 Speaker 4: around middle school. We were at a new school, and 446 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:47,840 Speaker 4: I think something clicked where it was like, oh my gosh, 447 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:50,439 Speaker 4: we can be friends. And we've kind of been just 448 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:54,280 Speaker 4: like really thick a sieves since then. And it's so 449 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:57,359 Speaker 4: cool to be able to build with someone that you 450 00:21:57,480 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 4: love and that you trust. 451 00:21:58,480 --> 00:21:59,240 Speaker 3: One hundred percent. 452 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:04,159 Speaker 4: And I think our strengths and weaknesses are opposite, and 453 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:07,480 Speaker 4: so we have a really great dynamic together and we've 454 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:09,359 Speaker 4: been doing it for a really long time now, so 455 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 4: I think we're very secure in both of our roles 456 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:15,480 Speaker 4: and it's really a lot of fun. 457 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 2: Also, biggest fight you've ever gotten in. 458 00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:20,920 Speaker 3: I don't even remember anything as an adult. 459 00:22:21,119 --> 00:22:24,160 Speaker 4: I mean I remember just like wrestling with him as 460 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 4: a kid, and he could never my parents never let 461 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:30,800 Speaker 4: him like wrestle back with me, and I just took full. 462 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:32,560 Speaker 3: Advantage of that. So my mind. 463 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:35,879 Speaker 4: Immediately goes to like those those years where I was 464 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 4: just yeah, having my way. 465 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:41,159 Speaker 2: But nothing as adults. That's remarkable considering the stakes of 466 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:41,879 Speaker 2: the work you're in. 467 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:43,919 Speaker 3: Yeah nothing, nothing. 468 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:48,080 Speaker 4: I mean, we have good, honest, hard conversations all the time, 469 00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:51,840 Speaker 4: but I never leave those feeling like we are at 470 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:54,080 Speaker 4: odds because we're on the same team, Like you know, 471 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:57,000 Speaker 4: we want the same things and the end goal, and 472 00:22:57,080 --> 00:22:59,040 Speaker 4: so I think it's great that we can push each other, 473 00:23:00,359 --> 00:23:04,080 Speaker 4: but it never it never spills over into our brother 474 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:05,240 Speaker 4: sister relationship. 475 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:08,880 Speaker 1: So in addition to all of that advocacy, you also 476 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:12,040 Speaker 1: were the driving force behind the Olympic Villages first ever nursery. 477 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:14,600 Speaker 1: You were part of a twenty seventeen Today Show Pink 478 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 1: Power Today campaign. 479 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 2: You surprised a fan with breast cancer. Then you've fought. 480 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:21,600 Speaker 1: All these battles over and over for yourself and for others, 481 00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 1: and I wonder what you've learned from those battles. 482 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:30,199 Speaker 4: I think the biggest thing is that you can create change. 483 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:33,359 Speaker 4: And I think for the longest, I don't know when 484 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:37,399 Speaker 4: I thought about doing things differently or you know, a 485 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:39,760 Speaker 4: system that wasn't built for you. To me, I was like, well, 486 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 4: that's not my fight, Like that's gonna that's so big, 487 00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:45,359 Speaker 4: it's like so ambitious, you know, I how could just 488 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:49,040 Speaker 4: me have any role in that? And I think what 489 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:51,280 Speaker 4: I've seen is just there's power in the collective and 490 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:53,200 Speaker 4: we all have to do our part. And it may 491 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:55,520 Speaker 4: seem like it's really far off, or it may seem 492 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:58,280 Speaker 4: like this one little thing is it's not going to matter. 493 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:00,560 Speaker 4: And I think what I've learned is like every little 494 00:24:00,560 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 4: thing matters. You know, we all need to do, you know, 495 00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:06,600 Speaker 4: what we can. And sometimes you know that change is 496 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:09,199 Speaker 4: going to come fast, and sometimes you know maybe we 497 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:12,080 Speaker 4: won't even be here to benefit from it. But it's 498 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:15,280 Speaker 4: never about you. I think that's the biggest thing. Another 499 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:18,760 Speaker 4: thing that I've taken away is I think oftentimes when 500 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:21,080 Speaker 4: you're trying to change something, it might start with your 501 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:23,960 Speaker 4: scenario and you know what you've been through, and that's 502 00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 4: the motivation, But it's going to be somebody else. 503 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:27,119 Speaker 2: You know. 504 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:29,439 Speaker 4: Things are going to change when somebody else you know 505 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:32,119 Speaker 4: is able to benefit, and that's you have to be 506 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:35,040 Speaker 4: okay with that. That's the reward, is like, Okay, things 507 00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:36,719 Speaker 4: down the line are going to be different. 508 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, it does feel like sometimes you can feel worthy 509 00:24:41,119 --> 00:24:44,760 Speaker 1: in the most degrading and terrible moments if you choose 510 00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:47,359 Speaker 1: to take control of them and try to change them 511 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:49,919 Speaker 1: going forward, even if it won't benefit you, because then 512 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:52,719 Speaker 1: at least something comes out of it. It's so deflating 513 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:56,879 Speaker 1: to just be mistreated or not given the right resources, 514 00:24:56,960 --> 00:24:59,280 Speaker 1: or not invested in, or any number of things and 515 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:01,399 Speaker 1: not feel like they're there's anything you can do about it, 516 00:25:01,480 --> 00:25:03,560 Speaker 1: at least in your own small way, in your community, 517 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:05,760 Speaker 1: or in your own big way, like you have, trying 518 00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:07,800 Speaker 1: to do something about it so the next person doesn't 519 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 1: face it feels like a stronger conviction even than fixing 520 00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 1: it for yourself completely. 521 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:16,800 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's like taking ownership of that and saying yeah, 522 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:18,879 Speaker 4: I'm going to flip this around and it's going to 523 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:19,959 Speaker 4: be better for the next person. 524 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:22,800 Speaker 1: Well, and so much of your advice, of course applies 525 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:25,439 Speaker 1: to the battles you've taken on, but also just like 526 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:30,600 Speaker 1: current times, everything is so overwhelming and terrifying and awful 527 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:34,640 Speaker 1: and inhumane, and each of us, individually, I think, can 528 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:38,480 Speaker 1: feel very trapped in that. But remembering that the battles 529 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:41,119 Speaker 1: won at the lower levels, whether that's which judges are 530 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:45,120 Speaker 1: voted in, or which community systems and policies are in effect, 531 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:47,240 Speaker 1: and how that impacts the daily lives of the people 532 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:50,320 Speaker 1: around us can still be something in our control, even 533 00:25:50,320 --> 00:25:52,600 Speaker 1: if the decisions made at the very highest levels can't. 534 00:25:53,119 --> 00:25:55,439 Speaker 1: And so I love your advice to folks that they 535 00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:57,600 Speaker 1: don't have to First of all, they can use their 536 00:25:57,640 --> 00:25:59,600 Speaker 1: voice even if it shakes. And secondly, it doesn't have 537 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:02,159 Speaker 1: to be at the House committee. It can just be 538 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:05,240 Speaker 1: in their own neighborhood. You know, you've made such a 539 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:07,479 Speaker 1: name for yourself now as an advocate for moms. I 540 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:10,520 Speaker 1: wonder do you ever feel pigeonholed. At one point you were, Oh, 541 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:12,639 Speaker 1: she's an athlete, so we don't expect anything from her 542 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:15,040 Speaker 1: except for Run Fast and now well she's retired. Now 543 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:16,439 Speaker 1: she's a mom, so we're just going to talk to 544 00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:19,320 Speaker 1: her about all mom stuff all the time. Do you 545 00:26:19,359 --> 00:26:21,879 Speaker 1: try to get people to see that you contain multitudes 546 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:24,240 Speaker 1: and you're multifaceted and you want to, you know, have 547 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:26,480 Speaker 1: all sorts of things going on, or do you now 548 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:27,920 Speaker 1: feel like you're the mom? 549 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:32,479 Speaker 4: I definitely don't want to just be the mom, you know. 550 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:35,160 Speaker 4: I think there's so many things that I'm passionate about, 551 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:38,399 Speaker 4: and I think having moved away from the competition of 552 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:40,880 Speaker 4: it all, I think there's been more time to explore 553 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:45,360 Speaker 4: those things. And so yeah, I definitely want to dabble 554 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:48,119 Speaker 4: in all of the areas and show that, you know, 555 00:26:48,359 --> 00:26:51,520 Speaker 4: I am multifaceted, and I do there is so much 556 00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:53,960 Speaker 4: more to me. And even when I think about the 557 00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:56,720 Speaker 4: work that I do at Always Alpha, I want that 558 00:26:56,840 --> 00:26:59,359 Speaker 4: for our athletes as well, because I think you have 559 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:01,480 Speaker 4: to really start that early, and I think there's no 560 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:04,919 Speaker 4: better time than now. And we're seeing you know, just 561 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:08,720 Speaker 4: rich stories, you know, off of the field of play, 562 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:13,199 Speaker 4: other interests and passions and every person is like that, 563 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:15,440 Speaker 4: and so I think we, you know, we have to 564 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:19,359 Speaker 4: lean more into the holistic version than just yeah, putting 565 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:20,240 Speaker 4: people in boxes. 566 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:25,000 Speaker 1: You had a legendary track and field career, nothing left 567 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:28,119 Speaker 1: to win, nothing left to prove. But that doesn't mean 568 00:27:28,119 --> 00:27:31,400 Speaker 1: it's easy to walk away and find new passions and purposes. 569 00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:34,360 Speaker 1: What was the predominant emotion for you in the days 570 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:38,160 Speaker 1: after officially retiring and knowing you wouldn't be competing again. 571 00:27:39,080 --> 00:27:40,879 Speaker 3: I think there was a lot of grief. 572 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:44,760 Speaker 4: I had a lot of gratitude for my career because 573 00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:50,200 Speaker 4: it was incredible. I felt like, you know, not everybody 574 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:52,879 Speaker 4: gets to end on their own terms and all of 575 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:54,840 Speaker 4: those things, so so much gratitude. 576 00:27:54,359 --> 00:27:57,040 Speaker 3: But I think I had to grieve it. 577 00:27:57,040 --> 00:27:59,200 Speaker 4: It was like, you know, this thing that I've loved 578 00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 4: for so long, I've been able to do and pour 579 00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:05,200 Speaker 4: myself into, and then one day it's just over. And 580 00:28:05,280 --> 00:28:07,480 Speaker 4: I think there's this weird thing because it goes on 581 00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:10,120 Speaker 4: without you, and you know, now you're on the outside 582 00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:13,240 Speaker 4: like looking at it, and all of those things are 583 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:15,920 Speaker 4: challenging as you find your new path. But I think 584 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:19,200 Speaker 4: it was like giving myself space to say, like, yeah, 585 00:28:19,280 --> 00:28:21,560 Speaker 4: I feel sad that this is over, and you know, 586 00:28:21,800 --> 00:28:24,879 Speaker 4: I'm gonna miss it and I'm finding my new way, 587 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:29,040 Speaker 4: but my feelings are valid, and yeah, leaving room for that. 588 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:31,359 Speaker 2: Are you competing at everything else? 589 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:35,320 Speaker 1: Now? Board games starts Hopscotch, Like, can you shut it 590 00:28:35,359 --> 00:28:35,760 Speaker 1: off or not? 591 00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:36,080 Speaker 2: Really? 592 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 3: I think it's who I am. 593 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:40,880 Speaker 4: I've definitely tried to find like new things, you know, 594 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:43,160 Speaker 4: I'm trying to like not always be on a track somewhere, 595 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:47,600 Speaker 4: but like started learning tennis and just in areas that 596 00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:50,400 Speaker 4: like I have no business being competitive in. 597 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:53,760 Speaker 3: So it's like very humbling, but yeah, it's it's in me. 598 00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:57,080 Speaker 1: It's probably really good for you to be the very 599 00:28:57,120 --> 00:28:59,240 Speaker 1: best for a very long time and then start something 600 00:28:59,240 --> 00:29:01,400 Speaker 1: new and be like, oh oh this is tricky. 601 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 3: It's so humbling, like it it's like nothing has transferred. 602 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:08,320 Speaker 2: That's funny, you know what. It's really good though. 603 00:29:08,320 --> 00:29:10,480 Speaker 1: I read a whole book about how as adults we 604 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:13,760 Speaker 1: are so used to being proficient that we stop trying 605 00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:16,680 Speaker 1: new things because it's uncomfortable to be bad at things, 606 00:29:16,840 --> 00:29:19,720 Speaker 1: and that the gift in that is so worthy of 607 00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:24,040 Speaker 1: the frustration or the awkwardness that you have. And oftentimes 608 00:29:24,040 --> 00:29:26,480 Speaker 1: people get really stagnant because they're not willing to try 609 00:29:26,480 --> 00:29:28,360 Speaker 1: new things and there might be something that they would love, 610 00:29:28,760 --> 00:29:31,000 Speaker 1: and they never discover it because they're too embarrassed to 611 00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:31,480 Speaker 1: just try. 612 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:33,080 Speaker 2: So I love that you're out there. 613 00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:34,880 Speaker 3: I'm out there trying. 614 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:35,240 Speaker 2: Swinging away. 615 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:40,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, I did see you, though I didn't get to 616 00:29:40,160 --> 00:29:41,959 Speaker 1: go to a sport beach this year, which I'm very 617 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:45,000 Speaker 1: bummed about. I was watching obsessively from Afar, but I 618 00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:46,800 Speaker 1: saw a little video of you and Can just a 619 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:49,760 Speaker 1: couple of days ago. Everyone else probably drinking and apparel, 620 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:52,680 Speaker 1: sprints by the beach, noshing on some snacks on that 621 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:55,520 Speaker 1: great patio at the Carlton Hotel. You were running sprints 622 00:29:56,120 --> 00:30:01,480 Speaker 1: uphill during a very brief four forty eight hour trip 623 00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:05,840 Speaker 1: to France. When do you relax and when do you stop? 624 00:30:05,960 --> 00:30:06,240 Speaker 2: Ever? 625 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 4: You know, I see a good heal and I just 626 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:10,400 Speaker 4: feel like it needs to be run like this. 627 00:30:10,640 --> 00:30:15,000 Speaker 3: Oh I don't know, it's ingrained to me. And then also, 628 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:17,520 Speaker 3: you know, you gotta you gotta get it in where 629 00:30:17,520 --> 00:30:17,880 Speaker 3: you can. 630 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:21,040 Speaker 4: The travel schedule's crazy, and it's like, Okay, this is 631 00:30:21,040 --> 00:30:23,880 Speaker 4: a great this is my this is the workout area 632 00:30:23,920 --> 00:30:24,600 Speaker 4: that I have I'm. 633 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:26,280 Speaker 3: Gonna do and it's it's so fun. 634 00:30:26,680 --> 00:30:29,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, I actually have to admit before my body completely 635 00:30:29,480 --> 00:30:31,320 Speaker 1: fell apart. And my spine turned to dust because of 636 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:33,560 Speaker 1: an achilles tear and everything else. I used to go 637 00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:35,680 Speaker 1: to a park and do wind sprints. I used to 638 00:30:35,720 --> 00:30:40,240 Speaker 1: go do my hurdle drills and stadium stairs. I loved 639 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:43,080 Speaker 1: that feeling of like pushing myself to exhaust and just 640 00:30:43,120 --> 00:30:44,800 Speaker 1: like when I was practicing for something. 641 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:47,600 Speaker 2: So I don't blame you that you're still at it. 642 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:48,720 Speaker 3: There's nothing like it. 643 00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:51,000 Speaker 1: I hope your body holds up forever and you can 644 00:30:51,080 --> 00:30:54,880 Speaker 1: do that forever, because there's just so much joy in that. Right, 645 00:30:54,920 --> 00:30:57,200 Speaker 1: last question for you. If you look beyond the track 646 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:01,080 Speaker 1: and beyond the parenting at Alison Feel, what will you find. 647 00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:05,400 Speaker 4: I think just a person who cares for other people, 648 00:31:05,600 --> 00:31:10,560 Speaker 4: who loves family and friends, and just wants to do 649 00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:11,880 Speaker 4: something meaningful in the world. 650 00:31:12,280 --> 00:31:12,920 Speaker 3: Pretty simple. 651 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:17,200 Speaker 2: So far, so good. We're excited to see what happens next. 652 00:31:17,520 --> 00:31:19,760 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for the time, Thank you for having me. 653 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:24,880 Speaker 1: Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports 654 00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:27,960 Speaker 1: production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You 655 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:30,840 Speaker 1: could find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or 656 00:31:30,880 --> 00:31:34,360 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network, 657 00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:38,040 Speaker 1: our producers are alex Azzie and Misha Jones. Our executive 658 00:31:38,040 --> 00:31:42,080 Speaker 1: producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rutterer. 659 00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:45,640 Speaker 1: Our editors are Emily Rutterer, Britney Martinez, Grace Lynch and 660 00:31:45,680 --> 00:31:49,280 Speaker 1: Gianna Palmer. Our associate producer is Lucy Jones and I'm 661 00:31:49,320 --> 00:31:50,640 Speaker 1: Your Host Sarah Spain