67-Amy Rodriguez, on juggling being a mom and a pro athlete

In today’s episode, I interview mom of two, pro soccer player, World Cup champion, and 2x Olympic gold medalist Amy Rodriguez.

If you’ve ever seen Amy play, she’s a feisty, sneakyyy mom (said in the tone of the kid from that viral Jimmy Kimmel youtube video).  She’s got a special fire every time she steps on the pitch. 

In highschool, Amy was a top recruit and was named the Gatorade player of the year. Her senior year, she made her first appearance for the US National team.She went on to play at USC, where she played a vital role in helping them win their first NCAA championship. 

After college, her career continued to flourish. She won gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. The next year she gave birth to her first child, missed the entire year, then made a quick comeback to help the US win the World Cup in 2015. 

Since then, Amy has brought another beautiful child into the world, but upon her comeback she tore her ACL. Being the resilient sneaky mom that she is, Amy made a full comeback and now currently plays for and captains the Utah Royals FC. She fulfills all of her team duties,  while also being a mom to a 6 and 3 year-old boy. Talk about Superrrr mom! 

In today’s episode, Amy talks about:

• her crazy, unconventional lifestyle of balancing being a mom and a professional soccer player 

• how having kids has benefited her both on the field and off 

• the childhood setback that pushed her to the next level

• personal stories from being one of the best players in the US

• the mantra that has helped her through the highest pressure moments in her career

• the characteristics that she believes allowed her to thrive in her sport

And more!

Listen on iTunes HERE 

Resources:

Follow Amy on instagram

Follow Arrow Living on instagram

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

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

66-Emily Kruger, on white privilege and culture in sports

In today’s episode I interview former Portland Thorns goalkeeper and racial justice activist Emily Kruger. 

Emily is someone I really admire because as a pro athlete, she went all in on the social causes that she  was passionate about, even if it wasn’t “popular.” I am constantly learning from Emily about how I can be of better service to the world and educate myself about my privilege. 

Emily attended UC Berkeley, where she first became really aware of her privilege. From there, she unexpectedly joined the Portland Thorns and continued learning and standing up for social issues. 

In today’s episode, Emily talks about: 

• The backlash she received from teammates and coaches when she proposed linking arms during the national anthem

• How our unwillingness to be uncomfortable or feel like a “bad” person prevents us from dealing with problems like racism

• How to expand sports to be more inclusive

• How her interactions with police officers was very different than black people in the same city

• Advice for someone to take when they’re first unpacking their white privilege

• Race being the “great connector” of so many other important issues (LGBTQ, capitalism, climate change)

and more!

Listen on iTunes HERE 

Resources:

Follow Emily 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

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

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

60-Yael Averbuch, on the process of mastery

In today’s podcast, I interview the technical soccer goddess, Yael Averbuch. 

I first knew of Yael from afar, as I watched her YouTube videos that she posted of her dribbling and juggling drills. And I was like ‘damnnnn this girl is a hard ass worker and she’s got silky smooth touches that make me feel things.’ 

We recently got to know each other through a mutual friend and we bonded over the fact that we are both, what I like to call, “semi psycho obsessive human beings.” Or fully psycho, depending on who you’re talking to. People who are obsessive about their dreams are my kind of people. 

If you’re one of those people, I know this episode will resonate. Come join the club. 

Yael won two NCAA college cups with the North Carolina Tarheels. She has won three championships during her pro career with Sky Blue FC, Western New York flash, and FC Kansas City. She’s also played overseas in Russia, Sweden, and Cyprus. 

Yael has played for US at at every level of the youth national teams and represented the full team from 2007 to 2013.

In 2018, Yael was forced to step away from playing due to ulcerative colitis. Despite not currently being on the pitch, she is still heavily involved in the game. She is the executive director of the NWSL Players Association.  She is also the founder of Techne Futbol, a soccer training app that provides personal training for soccer players. I highly recommend checking the app out…like I said her touches make me feel things.

In our conversation, Yael talks about: 

• her addiction to being productive 

• how positive things done in excess, can go to far

• why she enjoys not being good at things 

• her process of mastery 

• the one thing she would do differently, if she could go back and redo her national team career again 

• the intimate details of her battle with ulcerative colitis and what this illness has taught her about herself

And more. 

Enjoy this episode with the insightful, master seeking, tech goddess Yael Averbuch. 

Listen on iTunes HERE 

Resources

Yael's instagram

Techen Futbol's instagram 

1 on 1 Mentoring w/ Kendall Johnson

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

Share the love

If you feel compelled, I would be so very grateful if you took two minutes to leave me a review of the podcast. Here’s what to do.

1. Click HERE

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3. Click the “ratings and reviews” tab

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

   Thanks for being here <3

58-Keelin Winters Pattillo, on dealing with pressure, overcoming burn-out, and living in a campervan while playing pro soccer

In this episode, I interview firefighter, former professional soccer player, and farmer Keelin Winters Pattillo. 

Keelin is a force of nature. It appears as though everything she touches turns into a success. I believe Keelin accomplishes whatever she puts her mind to because she’s one the most disciplined people I know. 

Keelin grew up living in a multitude of cities around the US, as her father was a NBA coach and was constantly on the move. Although her 5 siblings chose to dedicate themselves to basketball, the sport wasn’t physical enough for Keelin. So, she chose to play soccer. 

Keelin went on to play at University of Portland, earning West Coast Conference Player of the Year. She won a goal medal in the U-20 World Cup. She was drafted 6th overall in the WPS to the Boston Breakers. She’s played overseas with FFC Turbine Potsdam in Germany and the Western Sydney Wanderers in Australia. She played four years with Seattle Reign FC, winning two NWSL Shields, for finishing 1st in regular season play. She also earned a contract with full US national team. 

On most of those teams, she wore the captains armband, a testament to Keelin’s supreme focus and leadership skills. 

In this episode we talk about:

• why she chose to spend her honeymoon with her wife Paige living in a camper van while playing in Australia

• what it was like having five siblings, a disciplinarian mom, and an NBA-coaching dad

• how she’s in even better shape than when she was playing professionally because of living on a farm

• her decision to get dreadlocks in college and how they helped her find herself 

• the make-you or break-you pressure of US national team camp 

• why she retired even though she was in her prime

• the advice her sports psychologist gave her that helped immensely when she was feeling burnt out 

And more! 

Listen on iTunes HERE 

Resources

Follow Keelin on instagram HERE

Join Friday Feelz HERE

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

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

Share the love

If you feel compelled, I would be so very grateful if you took two minutes to leave me a review of the podcast. 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

   Thanks for being here <3

56-Britt Eckerstrom-on the power of being uncomfortable and seeking adventure

In today’s episode I interview Portland Thorns goalkeeper Britt Eckerstrom. 

Britt is a really special soul. If you ever meet her, you’ll instantly feel her positive vibes. She is someone who is always down for adventure and incredibly open and accepting of everyone she meets. Britt grew up in Maryland. In high school, she ran cross country and played soccer. She then committed to Penn State. Britt captained the team her senior year and led them to win an NCAA championship-which she considers the greatest accomplishment of her career thus far.  Britt was then drafted to the Western New York Flash, and later traded to the Portland Thorns, where she won an NWSL championship.  She’s also played overseas in Australia with the Newcastle Jets, where she was a nominee for the leagues Player of The year. 

In our convo we talk about:

• why she likes putting herself in uncomfortable situations 

• her newfound competitive ping pong career

• the wild story of how the day before she was leaving for her first professional season, her family house burnt down. She reflects on how she dealt with losing nearly everything she owned

• why spending her off days hiking is one of the best things for her playing career

• what it means to be in a flow state

• the reason she always drives with her windows rolled down, regardless of the weather 

And lots more! 

Enjoy my conversation with the good-vibed, adventuring Britt Eckerstrom.

Listen on iTunes HERE 

Resources

Join Friday Feelz HERE

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

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

Share the love

If you feel compelled, I would be so very grateful if you took two minutes to leave 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

   Thanks for being here <3