44- My mom, Ann Johnson- On parenting a female athlete, supporting your child’s obsession, and feeding the team

In today’s episode, I interview my mother,  Ann Johnson. I often get asked by parents about what their kid needs to do to make it to the next level. I believe the driving force must come from the kid, but parents can have a huge impact on a child’s well-being. My mom is one of my biggest supporters and is a big reason I am where I am today. She’s also a freak of nature athlete and can kick my butt in workouts.In our conversation we talk about-her favorite type of workouts, including one that can easily be done at home -why she didn’t get involved with coaches decisions, even if she disagreed  -the most challenging aspect of parenting a female athlete    -her stance on kids playing multiple sports vs specializing on one -why parenting athletes is like being a full time chauffeur    -the delicious meals she cooked for my teammates and the crazy games she had us play while w/ the Portland Pilots, Sky Blue FC, and the Portland Thorns  And more. Enjoy my conversation with my favorite mother in the whole wide world.  Share the loveFollow Ann Johnson:On Instagram:   @annclairejIf you haven’t already, I would be so very grateful if you rated and left me a review of the podcast. It takes two minutes! Here’s what to do.

1. Click HERE
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ResourcesClick HERE to become a part of Friday FeelzClick HERE for a list of the 10 books I believe ever female athlete MUST read.Click HERE  to be the first to know when a new podcast or article drops, and receive other exclusive content

43- Elli Reed- On using her sport to give back, veganism, and dancing with the mayor of Vicos, Peru

In today’s episode, I interview former professional soccer player and humanitarian Elli Reed.  Throughout her career, Elli played seasons in Boston, Seattle, Sweden, Germany and Australia. Over the years, Elli’s passion for giving back to her community has strengthened. She continues to use her platform to support causes she believes in. Elli and I recently partook in a trip with the nonprofit Crooked Trails to help construct a soccer field in the remote village of Vicos, Peru. In our conversation talk about:-how this Peru trip changed her outlook on life and her future aspirations-why she thinks Vicos, Peru completely curbed her anxiety about everyday worries -Schooling little boys in pick-up soccer on the street -Dealing with the ups and downs of athletics and her ever-changing relationship with soccer -The documentary she watched that influenced her decision to go vegan -Her go-to artists that get her to drop it low on the dance floor  And more. Enjoy my conversation with the nature-loving, traveler Elli Reed.Shownotes::46              Who is Elli Reed?2:42             Crooked Trails7:21              Miraflores, Lima Peru and playing soccer in the town square14:23            Experience of building a soccer field in Vicos, Peru15:37             expectations of non-profit trip17:15              Typical day for Crooked Trails trip18:57              First experience of playing on manure high altitude field23:23              Pachamama ceremonial dinner26:24              Elli's feeling about retirement27:39               What contributed to her peace about retirement28:09               Has Elli always been involved in volunteering?29:50                Elli's vegan restaurant searching skills and why she chooses the vegan lifestyle32:45                Racing Extinction33:36                 Did Elli always have a connection with nature?35:05                  How soccer obsessed was Elli as a child?36:07                  How has Elli's relationship with soccer changed over her career?38:15                   Has the volunteering in Peru changed her perspective on her future?42:45                   Elli's morning routine43:47                    The best advice Elli's ever been given.45:45                     Elli's favorite song45:54                    One belief other's think is crazy46:12                     Elli's favorite app46:33                     Her favorite failure47:49                      One tip for female athletes Share the loveFollow Elli Reed On Twitter:  @ellireedOn Instagram:  @ellireedIf you haven’t already, I would be so very grateful if you rated and left me a review of the podcast. It takes two minutes! Here’s what to do.

1. Click HERE
2. Click “view in itunes”
3. Click the “ratings and reviews” tab
4. Click “write a review” and show me love <3

ResourcesClick HERE to become a part of Friday FeelzClick HERE for a list of the 10 books I believe ever female athlete MUST read.Click HERE  to be the first to know when a new podcast or article drops, and receive other exclusive content

42- Keeley Tillotson and Erika Welsh - On dropping out of college, appearing on Shark Tank, and building a 7 million dollar business

In today’s episode I interview Wild Friends cofounders Keeley Tillotson and Erika Welsh. Keeley and Erika’s nut butter company was born one afternoon, in their University of Oregon dorm room. As life-long athletes, Keeley and Erika shared an affinity for peanut butter’s convenient, healthy, and delicious profile. One day, they decided to concoct their own peanut butter with the addition of unique flavors like coconut, cinnamon and raisins. Keeley and Erika shared this creation with their hungry athlete friends and they devoured it. They rode this hype,  tried out selling their product at the Eugene farmers market, and then moved onto local stores. After an appearance on the television show Shark Tank, the decided to drop out of college and focus all their efforts on their business. Six years later,  Wild Friends is now one of the fastest growing nut butters in the nation, raking in 7 million dollars in sales. In 2017, they were featured on Forbes 30 under 30 for food and drink. In our conversation we talk about-how being athletes has greatly influenced their business decisions-why they chose to drop-out of college-the advantage of having absolutely no idea what you are doing -what it’s really like to be on Shark Tank-their vow to fulfill my dream of swimming in a pool of nut butter (yup, I’m weird) -Portland’s November Project, a free fitness movement led by Keeley (if you’re in the Portland I highly recommend checkingAnd more. Wild Friends’ nut butters, are legit my fave nut butter (particularly the peanut butter cashew superbutter) This isn’t an ad. I just love them. The nut butters. And Keeley and Erika. But mostly the nut butters (jk). Enjoy my conversation with the badass nut butter bosses Keeley and Erika.  :46           Who are Erika and Keely?5:29             What are the new products...Super Butters?11:19            Portland's November Project movement15:37            What sports did Keely and Erika participate in during their childhood?19:45            Forbes 30 under 30 award20:55           How did being an athlete help in running a business?24:54           How did the two choose to make nut butters?28:54            When and how did they take the passion for nut butter and make it a business?31:30             Crazy food processor stories and the neighborhood squirrels33:45             How did they come up with the brand name Wild Friends?34:16             How did the two expand their business?37:07            What training or background did Erika and Keely have in becoming an entrepreneur?38:11             Did they just follow their gut or did they formulate a business plan?40:19             Their philosophy of "it doesn't hurt to ask"41:45              "If you want advice, ask for money.   If you want money, ask for advice"  and the art of beingspecific.47:08             The Shark Tank experience54:25              How did the business grow after being on the Shark Tank?55:20              Their method of trusting their gut and being able to accept their mistakes57:20               The plane ride home and the decision to drop out of school1:01:17             What is their ultimate goal for Wild Friends?1:03:27             Erika's morning routine1:04:32             Keely's crazy belief1:01:05:56        Biggest misconception that people have about Erika1:06:38              Keely's favorite failure1:07:55               One simple tip to help female athletes1:09.28               Where can you buy Wild Friends products and learn more about the biz?Share the loveFollow Wild Friends, Keely, and Erika:On Twitter:  @2wildfriends , @KeelyTillotson On Instagram: @wildfriends,  @keely_t , @erikawelsh12If you haven’t already, I would be so very grateful if you rated and left me a review of the podcast. It takes two minutes! Here’s what to do.

1. Click HERE
2. Click “view in itunes”
3. Click the “ratings and reviews” tab
4. Click “write a review” and show me love <3

ResourcesClick HERE to become a part of Friday FeelzClick HERE for a list of the 10 books I believe ever female athlete MUST read.Click HERE  to be the first to know when a new podcast or article drops, and receive other exclusive content

Why Portland is the Best City for Women's Soccer in the World-a reflection on what it meant to play for Thorns FC as a Rose City native

I shuffle through the post-game signature line, scribbling on scarves, jerseys, and pamphlets  when a red rose face-painted girl asks me what it’s like to play in front of a sold-out stadium at Providence Park.“Can you hear us!?” Do you get nervous?” her eyes beam. ___________________________________________________________________When I was her age, I stood in that exact spot (far too shy to ask questions) anxiously awaiting signatures from the Portland Timbers. At the time, the Timbers were still a USL team. There was no women’s team.Even then, I knew I was going to be a professional soccer player. My maturing brain had not worked out the logistics, but I was far too obsessed to pursue anything otherwise.In 2003, the Women’s World Cup qualifiers were held at the same stadium. I sat in the stands, eyes glued to Tiffany Milbrett, Brandi Chastain, and Mia Hamm. My idols were playing in my own backyard! For a Portlander, aside from the national team, University of Portland was the pinnacle of women’s soccer. I watched Christine Sinclair and her teammates bring home two NCAA championships, with Clive Charles as coach. I set my sights on becoming a Pilot.My junior year at University of Portland, the National Women’s Soccer League came into fruition. I opted to forgo my final season and enter the college draft. I secretly hoped to get selected by Portland.I was acquired by Sky Blue FC, in New Jersey. For two years, I got a taste of the east coast lifestyle; enough time to deepen my appreciation for Douglas Firs, quality coffee, and people who let you veer into their lane without flipping you the bird.In 2015, I was traded home to Portland.___________________________________________________________________ Before home games, the national anthem singer walks onto the field to perform. I always close my eyes. I take this time to give thanks for where I am today.  I reflect back to when I was the red rose face-painted girl’s age; waking up at 3am to watch the US women team play China; spending hours kicking the ball against the racquetball courts-a mere 100 yards away at the adjacent Multnomah Athletic Club; winning my first state championship for my high school across the street. I think about my club coach, who told me I was going to make it.  And the other one, who told me I wasn’t. I thank the people who supported me through all my setbacks. If it weren't for them, I wouldn’t be here. And if it weren’t for the setbacks, I wouldn’t fully grasp how special it is to play for my hometown, in a city that embraces women’s soccer.I make sure to open my eyes before the anthem ends to witness the thousands of scarves  twirling above their owners’ heads, as if helicopters in support of female equality. Immediately after, I dart my eyes over to the Rose City Riveter section. The gigantic tifo unravels from the rafters. Every single time, (even if, at first the concepts are too sophisticated for me to understand) my jaw drops. The fans dedicate countless hours for the banner’s one minute of fame.___________________________________________________________________ The final whistle blows, and we stride a lap around the stadium to thank our supporters.  My favorite section to greet is the Multnomah Athletic Club balcony. I look up and see my grandma, whom I call Goggie. She’s easy to spy because the club designated her a specific seat.“I don’t even have to pay!” Goggie boasts.She waves down at me as if she is performing the “Y”  in the “YMCA” dance.I blow her a kiss. She sends me one back.We turn the corner again. My mom, dad, uncle, brother and family friends are smiling down at me. Whether I play or not, they are always there.On the final section, we stand in front of the Rose City Riveters. Talk about a P-A-R-T-Y. Even after the game, they’re jumping and chanting like kids who just chugged eleven Red Bulls.I am convinced the Riveters expend more energy during a match than us players.We join hands, and swing them up and down to praise their unparalleled support.We finish the revolution, by shuffling through the autograph line.___________________________________________________________________ “Can you hear us!?” Do you get nervous?” the red rose face-painted girl asks.___________________________________________________________________ When you’re a competitor and play sports for a living, you get accustomed to getting in the zone. It’s as if you’re wearing a pair of goggles that tune out the crowd and only get taken off during special moments. Like, when we score a goal at Providence Park. I chuck the glasses aside, hands flail in the air, smoke bombs ignite, and I allow myself to rumble with the roar of the crowd.Shortly after, it’s back to business. But in Portland. even when the goggles are on, it’s not enough to tune out the crowd.Despite the chronic rain, Portland has this sunny energy that seeps through your bloodstream.It’s where my teammates and I coached a Girls Inc. clinic, and a squad of 8-year-old girls screamed “I am fierce!!!” with enough conviction to make the hair on my arms stand up. It’s where the lead capo and flag crew coordinator, Sunday and Heidi White, invited me to their home, showed me their scarf collection and the hundreds of patches the Riveters sell to each other during games to support one another. It’s where Sinead Farrelly finished a season with the Thorns, didn’t want to leave, sent out a tweet, and a few days later was taken in by a selfless couple as if she was their own.It’s where hundreds of supporters greeted and chanted "Build a Bonfire!" with us at the Portland International Airport after winning the NWSL championship.[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT9FXG5fV2g&feature=youtu.be[/embed] For me, the city resembles my family, my dreams, my sacrifices. My place.___________________________________________________________________“Can you hear us!?” Do you get nervous?” asks the red rose face-painted girl.We can’t necessarily hear the crowd, but we can feel it. It’s this quiet assurance that the entire city is behind us. That the game means as much to you as it does to us. We are in this together.Even if I’m no longer a Thorn. Even if I’m thousands of miles away from you. Even if, when I visit, I’m wearing another jersey, I will always feel you Portland.Thank you for making me proud to call The Rose City home.

ACCOMPANIED PODCAST:

In this episode, I reflect upon my experience playing for my hometown team (one of the best women’s club teams in the world), Portland Thorns FC. I read and expand upon this piece, and let you know how to enter into the giveaway of my old and new Thorns gear. Representing the Rose City will always hold a special place in my heart and I’ll remember it forever and ever and ever. Thanks to everyone who has been a part of my journey thus far. Much love Portland!

Listen below or listen via iTunes here: Episode 40-Why Portland is City for Women's Soccer in the World 

Share the love If you haven’t already, I would be so very grateful if you rated and left me a review of the podcast. It takes two minutes! Here’s what to do.

1. Click HERE
2. Click “view in itunes”
3. Click the “ratings and reviews” tab
4. Click “write a review” and show me love <3

ResourcesClick HERE to become a part of Friday FeelzClick HERE for a list of the 10 books I believe ever female athlete MUST read.Click HERE  to be the first to know when a new podcast or article drops, and receive other exclusive content

39-Caitlin Foord-on sacrificing the “little parties in between for the bigger party at the end”

In today’s episode, I interview Australian national soccer team member, Caitlin Foord. Caitlin grew up a 2 minute walk from the beach in Lake Illawarra, New South Wales, Australia. Before Caitlin took up soccer, she participated in athletics, touch football, and surf life saving. At age 9, Caitlin played in her first soccer game at age and scored 6 goals. She hasn’t stopped netting goals since. Caitlin scored a goal in her first appearance with the Matildas. At 16,, she was the youngest Australian player to play in a World Cup and was voted the Best Young Player of the tournament. Caitlin has played in the the Australian W-league with Sydney FC and Perth Glory, in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) with Sky Blue FC, and is is currently playing in the Japan Women’s Football League  with the Vengalta Sendai Ladies. In our conversation, we talk about-the biggest differences between playing in Japan, USA, and Australia-the times she had to sell chocolate bars at school to afford to go to soccer tournaments-the sacrifices her mom, a single parent, made to help Caitlin pursue soccer-why Caitlin hates warming-up-her experience with being burned-out from soccer, and the strategy she used to fall back in love with her sport-why she thinks the Matildas' world ranking has continued to rise-her love affair with music festivals, her dog Peach, and ChipotleAnd more.Enjoy, my conversation with Caitlin Foord!  Show Notes:48 Who is Caitlin Foord  Sky Blue FC2:50 Caitlin’s adjusting to the Japanese culture6:40 Caitlin’s Japanese team - Vegalta Sendal7:24 How does Japanese soccer style compare to US/Australian?11:40 Cailtin’s early soccer travel and struggles of homesickness16:00 Cailtlin’s childhood home,  Illawarra17:40 Cailtin’s young star in soccer v. touch football21:55 Her mom’s single parent support and selling chocolate bars to pay for      tournaments27:23 Australian Nat’l team call up at 16 years old.32:10 Cailtin’s favorite game35:38 Her ability to separate soccer from other aspects of her life40:29 Has she ever been burnt out from soccer?43:20 Are their training things that Cailtin doesn’t like?45:29 Caitlin’s morning routineBrittney Cameron@bcam0047:01 Caitlin’s free time activities48:15 Caitlin’s biggest misconception about herself50:28 Is Caitlin a go with the flow athlete or an overthinker?51:50 Her biggest accomplishment52:45 What does she want to accomplish before she retires? And how does she want to be remembered?53:45 Caitlin’s pregame body and mental prep54:30 How does she deal with a bad game?56:13 Best opponent and best teammateChristie Rampone@christieramponeSam Kerr@samkerr159:38 Best game day chants1:00:39 Biggest life lesson from playing soccer1:01:55 How does Caitlin eat a taco?1:02:58 One simple tip for female athletes1:04:22 Caitlin Foord Follow Caitlin:On Twitter: @CaitlinFoordOn Instagram: @CaitlinFoordCaitlin’s obsession with her dog Peach (Instagram: @BrindlePeachShare the loveIf you haven’t already, I would be so very grateful if you rated and left me a review of the podcast. It takes two minutes! Here’s what to do.

1. Click HERE
2. Click “view in itunes”
3. Click the “ratings and reviews” tab
4. Click “write a review” and show me love <3

ResourcesClick HERE to become a part of Friday FeelzClick HERE for a list of the 10 books I believe ever female athlete MUST read.Click HERE  to be the first to know when a new podcast or article drops, and receive other exclusive content

38 Paige Pattillo- On 100 miles races, running with poisonous snakes, and her motto “just don’t do it”

In today’s episode, I interview ultra-runner Paige Pattillo. Paige grew up running in her hometown Bothell, Washington. She ran cross country at the University of Portland. Two years ago, at the age of 26, Paige ventured into the ultra-running racing scene. Paige recently completed in the Gorge Waterfall 100k, and because of her finish, was one of just ten people to receive a golden ticket to the Western States, one of the most competitive and prestigious 100 mile races in the world.Who in their right mind would want to run 100 miles? I did not understand it, until I did some investigation. After talking with Paige, it’s clear why people catcha the ultra-running bug.Paige is a very inquisitive soul and we go deep into her mindset during her races.In our conversation we talk about:-why Paige and her wife, former Seattle Reign FC Player Keelin Winters Pattillo, lived in a camper van for over 3 months in Australia for their honeymoon-Paige’s counter-cultural motto “just don’t do it” and how training less improved her performance.-Her experience with  “runner’s high” and how she loses sense of time.-How she deals with the negativity during the lowest point of her races.-Her training regimen for the Western States 100 mile race-Why she believes every human, physiologically, was made perfectly for long distance runningAnd more.Here’s the the 100 mile Western States documentary Paige shared with me. Be prepared to get me amped up on life! LIFE IN A DAY | The Western States 100 Mile Endurance RunI hope this interview gets you inspired as well. Enjoy, my conversation with Paige Patillo.    Show Notes:54                             Who is Paige Pattillo?1:30                            What type of person wants to run 100 miles?4:38                            Paige’s Honeymoon in Australia6:32                            Her experience WWOOFING down under9:24                            Paige’s encounter with deadly snakes12:00                   The most prestigious and oldest 100 mile race13:08                   Did Paige always have a goal of running the “Western States”?14:03                   How does one qualify for the Western States race?15:44                   Paige’s 1st qualifying race17:44                   What is the “gap the chase pack” strategy?22:40                   The power of letting go23:08                   What is Paige’s training regimen?24:38                   Are the majority of elite runner sponsored or working full time?25:38                   How does Paige balance her life?27:13                   Typical Ultra runner compared to Paige29:00                   Paige’s approach of less training mileage32:07                   Paige’s motto: “Just Don’t Do It”32:50                   Paige’s alternative training - yoga, strength, cycling34:40                   Comfort in Discomfort37:25                   Arrow Living Article: When Two Competitive Athletes Fall In Love37:43                   Paige’s running mindset and why she would choose to run 100 miles40:27                   Advice to  “non-runners”44:44                   Paige’s race mindset - the runner’s high and lows53:00                   How to get out of negative thoughts on a run and her mental strategies57:15                   How is running a metaphor for life?100:40                  What is a safety runner?1:01:10                 Paige’s replenishment choices101:59                  What is Paige’s goal time?1:03:13                 Paige’s morning routine1:03:50                 One belief that other people think is crazy1:06:50                 Biggest misconception about Paige1:07:19                 What non-athlete does Paige look up to?1:08:45                 Paige’s favorite failure1:09:54                 Greatest accomplishment1:10:11                 What mental & body prep does Paige do before a race?1:11:04                 Post race movement activities1:11:25                 One simple tip for female athletes  Share the loveIf you haven’t already, I would be so very grateful if you rated and left me a review of the podcast. It takes two minutes! Here’s what to do.

1. Click HERE
2. Click “view in itunes”
3. Click the “ratings and reviews” tab
4. Click “write a review” and show me love <3

ResourcesPaige and Keelin’s love story: When Two Competitive Athletes Fall in Love Watch this to get amped on life! LIFE IN A DAY | The Western States 100 Mile Endurance RunClick HERE to become a part of Friday FeelzClick HERE for a list of the 10 books I believe ever female athlete MUST read.Click HERE  to be the first to know when a new podcast or article drops, and receive other exclusive content 

37-Amandine Henry-On moving to the US, mistranslations, and fake tans

In today’s conversation I interview French national team footballer Amandine Henry. Amandine signed her first professional contract at 17 years old. She’s competed in 3 UEFA Women’s Champions League finals, was the recipient of the Silver Ball award in 2015, awarded to the the second best player at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. She’s played most of her professional career with Lyon in France, but recently finished her second season with the Portland Thorns, helping the team win the 2017 NWSL Championship.Amandine arrived in Portland hardly being able to speak English, but after two season’s abroad, she was able to do this entire interview in English, with only a few misunderstandings.In our conversation we talk about:

• how Amandine learned english, and the funniest mis-translations with the team

• the experience playing with boys teams up until age 13

• the time during her career when she thought about quitting soccer

• why Amandine doesn’t believe in setting goals

• how she cooks all of her meals at home with a robot

• why coming to Portland was the best experience of her entire soccer career, even moreso than playing in a World Cup and winning champions league

• and she answers several fan questions, both in English and in French

Did you enjoy my conversation with Amandine? Let me know the favorite thing you learned in the comments! Share the loveIf you haven’t already, I would be so very grateful if you rated and left me a review of the podcast. It takes two minutes! Here’s what to do.

1. Click HERE

2. Click “view in itunes”

3. Click the “ratings and reviews” tab

4. Click “write a review” and show me love <3

ResourcesClick HERE to become a part of Friday FeelzClick HERE for a list of the 10 books I believe ever female athlete MUST read.Click HERE  to be the first to know when a new podcast or article drops, and receive other exclusive contentFollow Amandine:On Instagram: @henry_amandine6On Twitter: @amandinehenry6 NOTES::46                     Amandine the French soccer legend1:25                    her non english background and her funniest mistranslations2:22                   Subscribe to arrowliving.com for chance to win Amandine’s cleats3:03                    Bonjour Mandy!3:58                    Amandine’s final english test and how she learned the language5:45                    How and why did she decide to play out of France?6:22                    Biggest difference between her hometown and Portland8:42                    Weirdest clothing she has seen in Portland9:08                    What is Amandine’s style of play?10:30           Pregame routines10:56           Favorite song11:34           Why does she write her number on every teammate?12:12           Kendall’s bet with Amandine’s goal scoring13:20           Her St. Tropez obsession13:44           Amandine’s love of fashion15:08           When did she start playing on boys soccer teams?19:24           Her transition to women’s teams20:25           When did Amandine sign contract with Lyon?21:10           Does she feel it’s important to set goals?22:20           How did Amandine handle her first injury?24:01           What does she like to do outside of training?25:30           What’s the hardest thing about being away from her home country?26:24           Favorite part of her career27:42           First thought this morning28:09           Her morning routine29:55           Funniest mistranslation32:03           What is a kitchen robot?33:25           Most rewarding accomplishment34:04           What does she wish she knew as a kid?35:24           Favorite school subject35:50           Has she ever gotten tired of soccer?36:44           Dream meal37:45           What 3 people would she choose as dinner companions?38:10           Most interesting thing she’s learned38:37           Why does she change her socks after a game?40:49           What Portland restaurant reminds her of home?41:40           What advice would she give her daughter?42:50           What will she miss about playing in Portland?43:20           Favorite TIFO43:45           Sinc, Angerer & Tobin - playing against and as teammates44:45           Favorite english phrase45:55           Who are her funniest teammates?48:20           Best memory as a Porttand Thorn

36-Christine Sinclair- On how to be a leader and her recovery from perfectionism

In today’s episode, I interview the captain of the women’s Canadian national soccer team and Portland Thorns FC striker Christine Sinclair. Christine is a Legend with a capital L. She attended University of Portland (Go Pilots!) While there she was a Mac Hermann trophy recipient and a  2x NCAA champion.  She has received countless other accolades throughout her career including being the a 12x recipient of Canada’s Soccer Player of the Year, 2x bronze Olympic medalist, she’s been short listed for fifa player of the year 7 times, and is the second leading goal scorer in the world, just behind Abby Wambach.But even more admirable than her accolades, is who Christine is as a human. Despite being one of the top players in the world, she is incredibly down to earth. Christine despises being in the spotlight and is a private person in general, but in our discussion she opens up and explains in her own words, she’s actually not a “hermit.”  You’ll see that she’s a little bit weird and quite funny.In our conversation we talk about 

• How everyone can be a leader, and what it takes to become one

what it was like surpassing her idol Mia Hamm in all-time goals-scored-The impromptu speech she gave in the locker room to her distraught teammates during the Olympics-How the loss of multiple family members completely change her perspective on soccer, and allowed her to take her game to the next level-Why she slurps mustard before and during the half-time of games with Emily Menges  (Emily also makes a guest appearance!)-The method she uses to become a world-class finisher-Why she named her achilles tendon “Clarence” I’d love to hear what you learned from this episode. Please leave a message in the comments! Show Notes:57 Who is Christine Sinclair?3:45 Charlie, the love of her life!5:15 How did Christine choose University of Portland9:00 How was winning the NCAA women’s soccer championships?10:05 What is Sinc’s top moment in her career?11:15 Other sports played by Christine11:45 When did she know soccer was her main sport?13:25 Was she always a standout player?14:04 Did she have goals from the beginning of her career?14:35 What players did she idolize?15:32 When did she know she would play in a world cup?15:44 What did it feel like to surpass Mia Hamm’s goal scoring record?18:02 Why is Christine so well liked by teammates?19:45 Does Sinc like being a leader?21:05 Can everyone be a leader?22:32 What is Christine’s memories of the 2012 London Olympics26:57 Why doesn’t Christine like being in the spotlight?28:15   Her perspective on social media30:28 How does she deal with her competitiveness?31:40 The importance of team bonding36:29 Her battle with being a recovering perfectionist37:55 How has Sinc learned to play more freely?40:10 What would she tell her 18 year old self?42:14 Sinc’s favorite coffee shop43:42 Favorite restaurant44:38 How has she dealt with body pain?50:40 Christine’s stats & records55:03 What does Sinc like about Portland, Oregon56:31 Her morning routine58:34 What is the biggest misconception about Christine?59:31 What one belief does Christine have that others think is crazy?1:00:20 Favorite failure1:02:21 Greatest accomplishment1:04:32 How has she developed her amazing finishing skills?1:06:00 What is Sinc’s one simple tip for female athletes1:07:30 Favorite downtime activity1:08:15 What does Christine enjoy most about scoring goals1:08:45 pregame rituals & superstitions1:09:57 What 3 Thorns players would she choose to be with on a deserted island?1:10:24 Has there ever been a moment when she wanted to quit soccer? Share the loveIf you haven’t already, I would be so very grateful if you rated and left me a review of the podcast. It takes two minutes! Here’s what to do.

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4. Click “write a review” and show me love <3

ResourcesClick HERE to become a part of Friday FeelzClick HERE for a list of the 10 books I believe ever female athlete MUST read.Click HERE  to be the first to know when a new podcast or article drops, and receive other exclusive content  

Why Mana Shim cops people’s digits while pursuing her dreams

Today is the Hawaiian hibiscus’, sunflower soul Melana Shim’s  birthday. Awhile back, we ventured out to the Oregon Coast to surf. Mana’s a ripper, and I’m a Grade A wannabe, novice. But I was stoked because Mana told me she’d give me some pointers once we got out in the water. We paddled together past the break, and less than a minute later,  Mana rode a wave into the shore like a princess galloping off into the distance. We never reunited in the water again, as Mana was fully engulfed in catching the biggest breaks, and I couldn’t keep up with Mana’s ravenous paddling. No hard feelings though, I became best buds with the whitewash.Three and a half hours later, Mana came running out of the water, with a jack-o-lantern sized smile on her face. She apologized for losing track of time and said she invited some new friends over for a bonfire. I asked how they were going to come over. She pointed to her red board. The person’s phone number was etched into the front of it with wax.[embed]http://youtu.be/r0bx-XqiJWI[/embed]Classic Mana, always living for connection. The people came over, and we indeed had wonderful conversation amongst a bonfire. This type of scenario is standard protocol for Mana, who claims she can tell from the first few minutes of interaction if she’ll vibe with the person. Playing sports competitively, it’s so easy to get caught up in grinding and doing whatever it takes to reach our dreams. But, once our body breaks down or we decide we want to pursue other passions, we will only be left with the memories. And the ones we tend to remember, are the ones with strong emotional ties. Mostly involving other humans. And sometimes teammate’s dogs (shoutout to Christine’s Sinclairs dog, Charlie. Such a stud). A few weeks ago, Mana made the choice to leave Thorns FC to pursue a opportunity to play in Sweden. This decision is difficult for any player, but especially for someone who cherishes relationships as much as Mana. But sometimes you gotta do the scary thing and take a leap of faith. In conjunction with chasing our dreams, we always have the choice to slow down and take in the in the sunflowers, the waves, the people. For more Mana Shim: Click HERE for an exclusive podcast interview.Click HERE for an exclusive written interview.Share the loveIf you haven’t already, I would be so very grateful if you rated and left me a review of the podcast. It takes two minutes! Here’s what to do.

1. Click HERE
2. Click “view in itunes”
3. Click the “ratings and reviews” tab
4. Click “write a review” and show me love <3

ResourcesClick HERE to become a part of Friday FeelzClick HERE for a list of the 10 books I believe ever female athlete MUST read.Click HERE  to be the first to know when a new podcast or article drops, and receive other exclusive content

What do Peter Baum and Andrew Wiggins Have in Common? A Lot and a Little.

Andrew Wiggins and Peter Baum are both undeniably talented professional athletes with promising careers ahead of them. In high school, they were All-Americans. Their impressive in-game performances led them to become top college recruits. Their continued dominance throughout college earned them each the # 1 overall draft pick in their respective professional leagues. And they play for their country’s respective National Team programs. With nearly identical athletic accomplishments, it would make sense for their lifestyles to be similar as well. But this is not the case.

Because Andrew Wiggins is a National Basketball Association (NBA) player and Peter Baum is a Major Lacrosse League (MLL) player.

Take for instance, their living situation.  Andrew just purchased himself a 6,000 square foot home in Minnesota, complete with a customized indoor basketball court. Peter on the other hand, just moved into an apartment in Greenwich Village so he could simultaneously work for a sports marketing firm in New York City while playing for a professional lacrosse team in Ohio. How is that physically possible?

 I didn’t understand it at first either.

Unlike the NBA, the MLL is still at its beginning stages of development. The league has been around since 2001 and now consists of 8 teams. Players earn around $10,000-25,000 and teams average just over 6,000 fans. Compare that to the NBA, where the average salary is over 2 million and the average attendance is 17,000.

The MLL is taking growth very slowly to ensure that the league remains sustainable. Consequently, they can only afford to pay the players a certain amount. The league understands that salaries are not substantial enough to live off of and have built a schedule that allows players to find other jobs if they desire. The teams usually train just one or two days before their game, and then the players are on their own for the rest of the week.

“Ask 30 players what their day-to-day schedules look like and you’ll get thirty different answers” Peter remarks. Some players focus solely on lacrosse. They coach, shoot the ball around, hang out, and then go to practice. On the other end of the spectrum are players who have full-time, suit-and-tie jobs. One of Peter’s teammates is a financial analyst. Few players can make a living solely off of lacrosse, and even then, it’s mainly  through endorsement deals and sponsorships, thus making it difficult to sustain over time.

Peter’s first year out of college, he worked for Adrenaline, a top lacrosse brand based in San Diego. He traveled frequently, making appearances on behalf of his sponsors, and teaching the game to younger players.  He had a lot of fun, but Peter knew he wanted a long-term job for after his lacrosse career.

Having many friends in New York City and a zest for the fast-paced lifestyle, Peter sought out a job in the Big Apple. He connected with Foxrock Partners, a sports & entertainment marketing firm. When the firm told Peter they’d allow him to work, continue endorsing his sponsors (Adrenaline, STX, and TRX) and continue playing lacrosse, he knew it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

In September, Peter said goodbye to laid-back San Diego and packed his bags for lively New York City.

Peter’s marketing firm works directly with other professional leagues such as the NFL, NBA, and MLS, as well as various athletes and entertainment properties.. Often he will be at a meeting and his boss will somehow bring up that Peter plays lacrosse professionally. Their clients are always confused and ask how it’s possible for him to be in NYC working and playing professionally for a team in Ohio.  Usually Peter just laughs it off and says it’s complicated. He doesn’t go into the details.

The details are many and self-imposed.  For him, this entails waking up at 5:45am to meet his personal trainer for a grueling 2.5 hour strength and conditioning session. Afterwards, Peter takes a quick shower, refuels, and is walking into the office by 9:00am.

Finding a place and the time to play lacrosse in the city is an even more difficult task.  Peter often resorts to practicing at nearby park after work, using a cement wall to throw and catch against.

On top of training, Peter has to make sure his body is optimally healthy. He is currently nursing a hamstring injury, which means he has to leave the office mid-day for physical therapy.

“It’s really hard to do work and lacrosse if you don’t have a boss that is supportive of it. I feel very, very fortunate to have one” says Peter.Peter’s boss understands that lacrosse is a top priority and works with him to accommodate his hectic traveling schedule. Peter has to fly to every one of his games, including his home games. He’ll fly out on a Friday, practice that night, train again Saturday morning, play in a game Saturday night, and then catch a flight back in time for work on Monday. And then there’s his Adrenaline and STX work, where he travels across the country for weeks at a time to coach lacrosse clinics and appear in photoshoots. With the limited training schedule and salary, Peter says “lacrosse for me is a hobby that I work really hard at.” But he hopes that future players will be able to view the sport differently.“It’s definitely a grind, but that’s one of the reasons I love it. I’m living this hectic lifestyle so that players coming after me don’t have to. I want college players to be excited about playing in the MLL, and be able to make professional lacrosse their full-time profession.”Andrew Wiggins and Peter Baum are both professional athletes on the rise. Peter has the same accomplishments as Andrew. He’s even been a two-time all-star in his first two seasons in the MLL, a feat not yet accomplished by Andrew.  Plus he has a 9-5 job, travels 548 miles to play in home games, and coaches clinics across the country.

With lacrosse still in its infancy, Peter isn’t likely to become a household name like Andrew Wiggins. But every sport needs to start somewhere.  Peter and his teammates are enduring this grinding lifestyle so that future lacrosse stars will be mentioned in the same breath as an Andrew Wiggins.

Peter is arrow living.

Big Changes

182.621 days. 264,974 minutes. 15,778,000 seconds. 6 months is a long time. Enough time to make some serious changes in life. Enough time to fall in love and elope (a la Sydney Leroux). Enough time to consume 85 pounds of refined sugar (a la the average American). Enough time to begin the process of a gender transformation (a la Bruce Jenner). I can’t say I’ve found my one and only, I like to think I am a healthy eater, and I’m pretty confident in my decision to remain a woman (100% respect Jenner and her bravery) , but I have had a busy and life-changing 6 months. During this time, I took the approach of upgrading numerous areas of my game. As a result, my half-year long offseason training consisted of a smorgasbord of training environments- playing overseas in Australia, working on my speed and agility, increasing my strength, and practicing with boys teams. And in the midst of this hodge podge of events, I found out some life changing news: I was traded to the Portland Thorns.Being traded from one team to another is an unusual concept for me to grasp.At age 10, I joined my first club soccer team. From that moment on I remained loyal to my chosen team, until I was graduating or it was necessary to move on. For me, my team is family. We have each other’s back no matter what. We mess up together, learn together, grow together. Creating these meaningful relationships is one of my favorite things about playing a team sport. The stories away from the ball make playing on the field together substantially more rewarding. It’s moments like when Elizabeth Eddy gave our team a surfing lesson at Point Pleasant beach on our day off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uucBr2GGRwcWhen Maddie Thompson and I gave our Japanese assistant coach Taka english lessons.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWkhqpxkFTQWhen Christie Rampone’s daughter got revenge after Brittany Cameron smashed a cupcake in her face.All of these memories collectively created a strong bond, which makes me feel as though I’m leaving part of my family behind. I’m grateful to have played with such special people, and to Sky Blue for fulfilling my childhood dream of becoming a professional soccer player.With that said, I’m beyond excited for the opportunity to represent my hometown and play for such a highly regarded club in the Portland Thorns.We’re now two weeks deep into preseason and are coming in hotter than Sriracha sauce with double days, practice games, strength training and the works. Settling into preseason, always takes at least a few days, but the transition into this new team has been smooth sailing so far. For the most part, everyone has been super welcoming and generous. In fact, I can only think of one time in these past few weeks in which I’ve been verbally assaulted by a teammate. And this incident did not take place on the soccer field, but rather in determining who gets which room in our apartment.This season I’m living with Kat Williamson and Sarah Robbins. Having lived in the same apartment complex before, Kat informed me that there are two regular sized bedrooms and one master bedroom. We decided that the fairest way to solve who gets the big room was to flip a coin. We eliminated Sarah from the toss for the obvious reasons that a) a coin only has two sides and b) she wasn’t arriving for a couple days, so you snooze, you lose. Sorry Sarah, it’s an unfair world out there. Kat and I had come to terms with this agreement via text, and were both eager to get the flippage over with as soon as possible. Sinead Farrelly graciously agreed to be our official virtual coin flipper. She took a video and sent it to us.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl2sTg2fsgQBefore I could even watch the footage, I saw Kat’s response “Nooooooo”Victory is always sweet, but honestly, this room is unnecessarily massive. My walk-in closet could be a room in itself. Out of respect to Kat, I feel obligated to put my closet to good use. I’ve contemplated my options throughout this past week and have settled upon a few front runners:

1. buy a miniature pig, turn it into a little barn
2. make my own zen meditation center filled with fresh, live greenery and a water feature
3. get a strobe light, blast the tunes, make a miniature club out of the joint.

As of now, I’m leaning towards the zen meditation center, but any other ideas are greatly appreciated.A few hours after the coin flip, Kat informed me that she had gotten us wifi and had created our wifi name/password in honor of me. I was tickled, until I saw her wifi username choice. Take a guess at which one is ours….Someone is still a little bitter. Kat if you are reading this, I want you to know that you are always welcome to come down and use my meditation center anytime you like to let off some steam. All I ask is that you remove your shoes and negativity before entering.It’s stories as simple as deciding who gets what room in an apartment that make playing for a team, regardless of the team, so rewarding. My past teammates all played a special part in making me who I am today, and I’m excited for the memorable times ahead with my new Portland teammates.March 9th marked the start of preparation for our 6 month season. 6 months is a lot of time. Enough time to complete 128 practices. Enough time to play 20 regular season games. Enough time to get my mind fully right in in my zen meditation closet. Enough time to form a new family. And if all that goes well, enough time to win a championship.

How Not to Prepare for a Colonoscopy

They say colonoscopies are for old people. First off, that’s extremely offensive. The American Cancer Society recommends getting a colonoscopy beginning at age 50. My mom is in her 50’s and she has made it very clear that she is not old. She radiates wisdom, beauty, and youthfulness. Don’t worry mom I got your back. Secondly, I would still consider myself a spring chicken, and I had to get a colonoscopy the other day. And despite my optimism and best effort to prepare properly, things don’t always turn out as planned.

With my appendicitis issue in Australia (If you missed that drama read here:https://medium.com/@kendelish/my-hospital-visit-and-lessons-from-the-legendary-lillypad-fb12dc0b95ea) my doctor encouraged me to get a colonoscopy to make sure that nothing conspicuous is going on up in there. About a week ago, I met with the doctor and scheduled my colonoscopy for the next Monday. Before I left the office, the receptionist sat me down in her cubicle to go over some details of the exam.“Discontinue any herbs and supplements you are currently taking. No nuts or seeds, for five days. This includes fruits and veggies such as tomatoes, strawberries…”Being a nut fiend, my mind went spastic. No more almond butter!? No more roasted hazelnuts!? No more trail mix!? You might as well slice off my right arm while you’re at it! After 10 seconds of rapid psychotic thoughts, I realized this was only for a few days. I gained back my focus while the receptionist was in the midst of saying something about a clear liquid diet. She then went on to explain that I needed to pop some pills, buy 10 fl ounces of some magnesium potion, and mix an entire container of Miralax in 64 fl ounces of gatorade. I was to drink half of this torturous concoction beginning at 6pm on Sunday for the next two hours. Then, consume the other half at 1:30 am for two hours, followed by 24 more ounces of clear liquids. Uncontrollable bowel movements would naturally follow.I left the office uninspired and already missing my nuts. But then, a brilliant thought struck my brain. I’ve been on the Whole30 diet (essentially paleo with a few exceptions) for the past two months to help relieve some digestion issues. I have refrained from sweets for 2 months. This is a pretty large feat for me. I normally eat healthy and enjoy it, but I also have a massive sweet tooth. Like tyrannosaurus rex sized. Leave me unsupervised in the kitchen, and I become an uncontrollable sugar-craving monster, devouring anything sweet in my path. With that said, I believe everyone should indulge in what they love. I love food and if I’m going to have to clean out my entire system in three days, then now is the perfect opportunity to treat myself. So treat myself I did.The few days of fro-yo, burgers, and chocolate went by faster than a McDonalds drive-in. Before I knew it, it was Sunday, the day leading up to my big day. I was on the coast surfing with my friends (side note, surfing is my new obsession. I’ve only been a few times, but if I could have a do-over, I would highly contemplate devoting my life to surfing. I suck, but it’s just so much fun. I’ll save surfing for another post).We spent the day shreddin’ the gnar, which for them meant catching waves, for me it meant getting tossed countless times in mother nature’s washing machine. My friends packed along peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch, which was off limits for me. I began simultaneously salivating and shaking (unclear whether or not this was due to nut withdrawals or my cold, ocean-wet body) as I watched them down their pb and j’s. The only thing that kept me from socking them all in the face was the knowledge that I’d be forcing them to make a pitstop at Dairy Queen on the way home. It had been on my mind all weekend. In terms of desserts, it doesn’t get much better than a blizzard (a pizookie from BJs, Peach Wave fro-yo with ample toppings, and Salt N Straw snickerdoodle ice cream on a waffle cone are the only rivals I can think of). A Silk Pie Blizzard would be my last supper.We wrapped up surfing and were on our way to DQ at around 5:00. I was supposed to begin drinking my magic potions at 6:00, and we had only just began our 90 minute drive home. I was a smidge behind schedule, but it wasn’t a big deal.As I cherished each bite of my Blizzard, I decided to look up the colonoscopy prep details to get myself mentally prepared for the eventful night ahead of me. As I was looking up the information I had a sudden recollection of the receptionist mentioning something about a clear liquid diet. As this thought popped into my head, I inhaled another heaping spoonful of my Blizzard. At this exact moment, my mom called.“Kendall have you been on the clear liquid diet you are supposed to be on today?” Oops.I immediately called my doctor to confess my inability to follow directions. He informed me that I was the third person to call him today in regards to messing up the preparation diet. I think that fact was meant to make me feel better, but really it just made me question the intelligence of our country. He explained that young and healthy people, like myself, are usually fine if they falter on the preparation because our inner-workings function quite wonderfully. He then instructed me to drink twice as much Magnesium Citrate. That wasn’t exactly what I wanted to hear, but if I can bypass an entire day of not eating, then by golly I’d bathe myself in 10 gallons of that stuff.When I arrived home, it was game time. No messing around. I went to the store, bought my extra substances, then began the production. Multiple friends had warned me how awful this preparation is. This all-nighter would surely be a bit different than the the ones I had back in middle school with my soccer team, but my competitive nature propelled me to prove my friends wrong. This was going to be a euphoric occasion, a right of passage, if you will.I chugged my first bout of Magnesium Citrate, whose taste can only be described as Sour Patch Kids gone terribly wrong. Next, I mixed my gatorade and Miralax concoction into the most elegant glass vase I could find. I popped my pills, then headed to my lavatory. I adorned my feet with my fuzziest pair of cotton socks, lit a lemon verbena scented candle, turned on some Norah Jones, gathered my Kindle, situated myself atop my throne, and the rest is history.The night wasn’t nearly as bad as my wussypants friends had conveyed. Not only did I clear my internal passageways, I also performed a deep cleaning of my room, closet, and iTunes library. If anyone wants an all-around purifying experience, I highly recommend scheduling a colonoscopy.It was now time to finish the last and easiest piece of the puzzle; a trip to the clinic, a quick sedation, a peaceful nap, and I’d wake up feeling like a new woman. My mother graciously drove me to my appointment. We strolled into the office, checked in, and within a matter of minutes the nurse was there to begin the final act. This was all too easy. Before the nurse took my vitals, he asked to take a gander at my bowels. A peculiar question, but there’s a first for everything. I complied and the nurse came back with an unsettling look on his face.Apparently, I wasn’t cleared out enough, so they could not do the procedure today. I was instructed to go home and start the entire preparation process over again. No nuts, no seeds, no food for the rest of the day. And then I had to go to the store, stock up on massive amount of laxatives, chug them, and spend the night once again on my throne.As much as I wanted to be mad at the nurse, I couldn’t. This was 100% my fault. Ever since kindergarten, teachers and the like have told us to carefully read all of the instructions. This was a very unfortunate circumstance to disregard such advice.It’s my sincerest wish that this story saves future colonoscopers from making the same mistake. However, if you are the rebel type and want to follow in my footsteps, then I definitely understand. You’ll walk away having consumed the best Blizzard of your life, have a spotless clean room, a renewed appreciation for reading instructions, and become a member of the elite group who can say they’ve guzzled down two whole bottles of Miralax in two days. Now if that’s not a feat to be proud of, then I don’t know what is. Cheers to feeling more purified than ever before!