BFFR with Sydney Leroux & Ali Riley

Episode: Sam Mewis Gets Real on Retirement, Catching Syd’s Bouquet & Why Rookies Have It Easy
Release Date: July 28, 2025

Introduction and Recent Updates

The episode kicks off with hosts Sydney Leroux ("Sid") and Ali Riley sharing light-hearted banter about potential leadership roles, setting the casual and humorous tone of the show. They briefly discuss their recent activities during the NWSL's mandated break, highlighting how they've spent their downtime away from the field.

• Ali Riley: "I went home to Canada and was just like a little, you know, country girly." [01:45]
• Sid Leroux: "Lucas and I decided that having the house burned down after our honeymoon canceled out the honeymoon. So we deserved a second honeymoon." [03:12]

Guest Introduction: Sam Mewis

The hosts introduce their special guest, Sam Mewis— a legendary figure in women's soccer who has transitioned into a significant role within the sport post-retirement. Sam joins them to discuss her experiences with retirement, her new role as Editor in Chief of the women's game, and personal anecdotes that highlight her journey both on and off the field.

• Sid Leroux: "She is a world champion, three times NWSL champ. The Editor in chief of the women's game, it's the Tower of Power herself. Welcome, Sam Nu." [07:13]

Transition from Player to Media

Sam delves into her transition from professional soccer to her current role in media. She emphasizes the importance of branching out and preparing for life after retirement, especially when unexpected injuries force early retirement.

• Sam Mewis: "Having this thing that I had already dipped my toes into was super helpful." [18:23]
• Sam Mewis: "It's a full-time job, which I find crazy. But yes, very cool, very grateful and like I'm excited about it." [18:23]

Reflections on Retirement

Sam opens up about the emotional and psychological challenges of retiring from professional soccer. She shares her struggles with her knee injury, the difficult decision to retire, and how she has been navigating life post-retirement, finding new purposes and maintaining her identity outside of the sport.

• Sam Mewis: "I was stuck in that place for a long time. It took me two or three years to, like, then say, hey, everybody, I'm retiring." [23:21]
• Sam Mewis: "I already did this. I already was really depressed about this for a couple of years, and I don't have to keep doing it so I'm just, like, able to dig myself out now." [25:02]

Personal Relationships and Past Friendships

The conversation shifts to the long-standing friendships between Sid, Ali, and Sam from their school days and early careers. Sam reminisces about her initial impressions of Sid and Ally, highlighting the evolution of their relationships from rivalry to deep friendship.

• Sam Mewis: "Sid was definitely, like, older sister vibes because she was friends with my sister." [09:32]
• Ali Riley: "When you and Christy hated each other, I was in that." [10:45]

BFFR Moments: Embarrassing and Candid Stories

A highlight of the episode is the "BFFR Moments" segment, where the hosts and Sam share personal and often embarrassing stories, showcasing their authentic and unfiltered personalities.

• Sam Mewis: "I just scored a straight own goal and I was like, did that just go off of me?" [42:35]
• Ali Riley: "I was freaking out. I thought I was gonna have to pull over and be sick." [52:22]

Listener Interaction: Voicemail Story

The hosts engage with their audience by playing a voicemail from a listener named Araya, who shares her experience of discovering her situationship had a girlfriend, adding a relatable and heartfelt element to the conversation.

• Voicemail Voice: "My BFFR moment of the week is when I found out my situationship, who I've been talking to for three months, has had a girlfriend for two years." [57:00]
• Ally Riley: "I need a drink before we get into." [58:56]

Conclusion and Future Content Tease

As the episode wraps up, Sid and Ally reflect on the meaningful conversations they've had with Sam, expressing their gratitude and excitement for future episodes. They tease upcoming stories from listeners, promising more laughter and real talk in the weeks to come.

• Sid Leroux: "We have honestly loved hearing from you. Everyone who sent in their BFFR stories about sports, parents, and coaches." [63:22]
• Ally Riley: "Let the margarita." [64:21]

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Ali Riley on Picking Up the Bouquet:
  "I was trying to get a hold of you, and I looked at your location, and it said water slide. I'm like, okay, I know what she's doing now." [05:29]

• Sam Mewis on Media Transition:
  "It's a full-time job, which I find crazy. But yes, very cool, very grateful and like I'm excited about it." [18:23]

• Sid Leroux on Navigating Retirement:
  "This has happened to me as well, has it?" [59:25]

• Ali Riley on Sam's Embarrassing Moment:
  "I was about to go in the ocean, and then, like, he and his girlfriend were going in the ocean. So I was like, oh, wait, I'll wait." [56:54]

• Sam Mewis on Own Goal Incident:
  "I just scored a straight own goal and I, like, turned to my teammate and was like, did that just go off of me?" [42:35]

Key Takeaways

1. Life After Soccer: Sam Mewis provides an insightful look into the challenges and opportunities that come with retiring from professional sports. Her role in media serves as an inspiring example for athletes transitioning to new careers.

2. Importance of Friendships: The deep bond between Sid, Ally, and Sam underscores the value of supportive relationships in navigating personal and professional challenges.

3. Authenticity and Vulnerability: The candid sharing of personal stories, both embarrassing and heartfelt, highlights the podcast's commitment to authenticity, making it relatable to listeners.

4. Support and Community: Engaging with listener stories fosters a sense of community and support, reinforcing the podcast's mission to be real and unfiltered in discussing the highs and lows of life in and out of soccer.

For those who haven't listened, this episode offers a compelling blend of personal anecdotes, professional insights, and genuine camaraderie, making it a must-listen for fans of women's soccer and anyone interested in the personal journeys of professional athletes.