Kick it with Kendall

mentoring, training, and recovery for footballers

  • About
  • services
    • Mentoring
    • Training
    • Recovery
    • The Whole Package
  • Words
    • My concussion story & resources
    • Personal stories
    • Athlete Stories
photo by Naomi Baker-FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

photo by Naomi Baker-FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

63-Becky Sauerbrunn, turning your weaknesses into strengths, having a presence, and believing in aliens

May 27, 2020 by Kendall Johnson in Podcast

In today’s episode I interview cat lover, sci-fi fantasy aficionado, 2x World Cup champion, Olympic gold medalist, Becky Sauerbrunn. 

Y'all, no two ways about it, Becky is a baller. She is one of the most consistent players in the game of soccer. But, one of my favorite things about Becky is how she just straight up does her. She doesn’t change who she is to fit in. She speaks her opinion, about sometimes difficult topics, And she stands up for others. She is one of those leaders who leads by example and treats everyone with respect. I think that’s why she’s admired so much by all of her teammates. 

Becky was born in St Louis Missouri. She played basketball and volleyball, but always knew soccer was her number one love. 

Becky played at the University of Virginia, then went to the pro level and currently represents the USWNT. 

She has played professionally for the Washington Freedom, magicJack, DC United, Utah Royals FC, Roa IL, FC Kansas City, where she won’t two NWSL championships. She is now a Portland Thorn, which is lovely because Portland is the place she calls home. 

In the NWSL, she has earned the NWSL best 11 every single year and is a 4x defender of the year. 

Becky is a regular call-up for the national team. Like I said, she is a  2x World Cup Champion and an Olympic gold medalist. She captained the team from 2016-2018 and is currently the president of USWNT Players Association. She is huge advocate for equal pay.  

And I just want to reiterate she is a freakin’ good human being. 

In today’s episode, Becky talks about

  • how, as an introvert, she has trained her whole life for this quarantine 

  • what sets national team players apart from other players (hint: not a lot) 

  • dealing with having a huge dream, but so much of it being out of your control

  • the story of a youth national team coach telling her she had no speed or presence, and how she turned those “weaknesses” into strengths 

  • why she named her cats Missy Elliott and Olive Oil

  • owning her nerdiness 

  • what it was like when she opened a letter from her idol, Ruth Bader Ginsburg 

  • her belief in aliens 

And more!

Listen on iTunes HERE 

Resources

Register for Free Webinar 

Mustard bath  

Burrito Folding Technique  

 Follow Becky on instagram

Follow Arrow Living on instagram

Be the first to know when a new podcast or article drops, and receive other magical content HERE 

A list of the 11 books that have had the biggest impact on my life as an athlete HERE

 

May 27, 2020 /Kendall Johnson
Becky Sauerbrunn, USWNT, NWSL, Womens soccer
Podcast
  • Newer
  • Older

Praise

“There isn’t anything Kendall does without pouring everything she has to offer into it. She cares enough to not be scared to say what you might not always want to hear. She’s already been a great mentor. She is someone I admire so much. She doesn’t make excuses and will achieve what she is after.”
— Allie Long, USWNT World Cup Champion
“Few people have positively impacted me on or off the field as much as Kendall. She has a unique ability to help elevate all of the lives she comes in contact with. Through her own pursuits, triumphs, and trials, she has accumulated a wealth of different approaches to professional and personal growth. It is impossible to spend time with her and not walk away as a better version of yourself.”
— Michelle Betos, NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year
“In the world of professional athletes, you are surrounded by self-motivated people who are all working to a varying degree of “obsessive” to push themselves as hard and far as they can physically, mentally, and psychologically go. This doesn’t even begin to describe Kendall’s approach to all aspects of life. She lets nothing slip through the cracks and has a natural ability to put her passion to practice. Anyone who sits down in a conversation with Kendall will leave smarter, challenged, and with their perspective on life considerably altered.”
— Emily Menges, NWSL Champion
“I met Kendall at a challenging time in my life, and from the start, I felt comfortable sharing those challenges with her. After I first opened up to her about it, it was easy from then on out because she always helped me see my feelings are valid; my experiences and my story are my own, and I can make them to be what I want. She helped me find the beauty in times of struggle and she somehow managed to respond to my life hurdles, and her own, with an open mind and a good laugh. She has helped me to believe life works for us, not against us, and my life has become better for that. She is an amazing teacher.”
— EJ Proctor, Duke goalkeeper

SCHEDULE A FREE DISCOVERY CALL

Learn more