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

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Follow Ann Johnson:

On Instagram:   @annclairej

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

Resources

Click HERE to become a part of Friday Feelz

Click HERE for a list of the 10 books I believe ever female athlete MUST read.

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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 Chipotle

And more.

Enjoy, my conversation with Caitlin Foord!

Show Notes

:48 Who is Caitlin Foord  Sky Blue FC

2:50 Caitlin’s adjusting to the Japanese culture

6:40 Caitlin’s Japanese team – Vegalta Sendal

7:24 How does Japanese soccer style compare to US/Australian?

11:40 Cailtin’s early soccer travel and struggles of homesickness

16:00 Cailtlin’s childhood home,  Illawarra

17:40 Cailtin’s young star in soccer v. touch football

21:55 Her mom’s single parent support and selling chocolate bars to pay for      tournaments

27:23 Australian Nat’l team call up at 16 years old.

32:10 Cailtin’s favorite game

35:38 Her ability to separate soccer from other aspects of her life

40:29 Has she ever been burnt out from soccer?

43:20 Are their training things that Cailtin doesn’t like?

45:29 Caitlin’s morning routine

Brittney Cameron

@bcam00

47:01 Caitlin’s free time activities

48:15 Caitlin’s biggest misconception about herself

50:28 Is Caitlin a go with the flow athlete or an overthinker?

51:50 Her biggest accomplishment

52:45 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 prep

54:30 How does she deal with a bad game?

56:13 Best opponent and best teammate

Christie Rampone

@christierampone

Sam Kerr

@samkerr1

59:38 Best game day chants

1:00:39 Biggest life lesson from playing soccer

1:01:55 How does Caitlin eat a taco?

1:02:58 One simple tip for female athletes

1:04:22 Caitlin Foord

Follow Caitlin:

On Twitter: @CaitlinFoord

On Instagram: @CaitlinFoord

Caitlin’s obsession with her dog Peach (Instagram: @BrindlePeach

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

Resources

Click HERE to become a part of Friday Feelz

Click 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

EP 15- Jill Loyden: Former USWNT Goalkeeper, The Keeper Institute Coach- On Overcoming Adversity and Becoming a Bouncy Ball

Former USWNT goalkeeper and founder of The Keeper Institute, Jill Loyden, has been an underdog her entire life. Growing up, Jill was one of three kids raised by a single mom, in Vineland, New Jersey. She was cut from several teams, laughed at when she told her grandma her dreams, and recruited by only two colleges.

But deep down, Jill,  has always known that only she controls her destiny, and has used this stubbornness to find a way through adversity.

Jill fought her way onto the US Women’s National team, but just months before the Olympics, she received the worst call she could have ever imagined. She lost her sister due to domestic violence.

Instead of allowing this tragedy to break her, Jill discovered an even greater purpose in her life. She continued playing in the Olympics, and started in a game on the day of her sister’s birthday, an accomplishment that meant far more than just a soccer game.

She’s since retired, coaches for Sky Blue FC and is the founder at the The Keeper Institute,which hosts the only facility in the country specifically catered towards goalkeepers.

In our conversation we talk about why Jill thrives being an underdog, why she views herself as a bouncy ball, how the loss of her sister changed her perspective on soccer and life, what to do if you our someone you know is involved in a domestic violence dispute, the one trait all the Greats possess, and she gives us  a simple yet highly effective exercise to get you through the most difficult times.

Jill’s a very inspiring human, and once you’re done listening to our interview, if you’re like me, you’ll want to head out into the world and take names!

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

Resources

Click HERE to become a part of Friday Feelz

Click 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