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- [00:02]
Gwyneth Paltrow
Travel has always been where I feel most curious and most alive. It's where GOOP began, in the little details of beautiful places, thoughtful hosts and experiences that stayed with me long after I returned home. It's also why I think hosting on Airbnb makes so much sense. Your home could be that place for someone else. Hosting on Airbnb is a great way to make the most of your time away. It's a wonderful option if you have extra space, own a seasonal home, or tend to travel at the same time every year. Hosting is incredibly flexible. You set the dates, welcome guests on your terms, and create memorable stays that reflect the warmth and uniqueness you seek in your own travels. If you've ever thought about hosting, your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much@airbnb.com host@goop, we talk a lot about healing, how we pursue it, how we hold space for it, and the people who make that possible. Our obs, our dentists, our acupuncturists, our estheticians. These are the people we trust with our bodies, our stories, our care. So it matters what they wear while doing that work. That's why we partnered with figs. They make scrubs that feel as intentional as the people who wear them. Thoughtfully designed to support healthcare professionals while they support all of us, the fabrics are beautiful, lightweight, high performance and made to last. They come in elevated essentials like black and navy and limited edition colors that are playful, fresh and just really lovely to wear. And the fit? It's flattering, comfortable and made to feel good in. If you work in healthcare or wellness or love someone who does, these are the Scrubs use code FIGSRX for 15% off your first order@wearfigs.com.
- [02:07]
Venus Williams
When you are pioneering anything or introducing new ideas to the culture, you get criticized. You do? Yeah, did you hear about that?
- [02:15]
Unknown
I didn't find the one. I found someone I respected and we.
- [02:19]
Venus Williams
Made it the one. In the sort of longing kind of view of love, people understand each other as if by magic. Nothing in itself is addictive on the one hand. On the other hand, everything could be addictive if there's an emptiness in that person that needs to be filled. I now know that nobody changes until they change their energy. And when you change your energy, you change your life.
- [02:40]
Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth I'm Gwyneth Paltrow. This is the GOOP podcast, bringing together thought leaders, culture changers, creatives, founders and CEOs, scientists, doctors, healers and seekers here to start conversations because simply asking questions and Listening has the power to change the way we see the world. Here we go. This week we're sharing a gem from the GOOP podcast archives. I recently had the honor of talking to Venus Williams on the heels of the French Open. It was interesting to hear her perspective on competition and to learn more about where her drive comes from. I loved the stories she told me about her childhood and the values that her parents instilled in her at such a young age.
- [03:29]
Unknown
And I had a lot of business.
- [03:30]
Gwyneth Paltrow
Questions for Venus about her many ventures, which include an interior design firm, lifestyle and activewear brand, personal care products, and even a plant based protein company. I'm excited for you to hear what she had to say.
- [03:47]
Unknown
I'm so happy to have you on the podcast. You're so incredibly inspirational and amazing and you need, I think, very little by way of introduction, especially in terms of your incredible tennis career. You're an iconoclast. You've broken all these boundaries. And you also are a fashion icon on the court, which I love, and you started breaking the rules there. You're kind of a punk rock rule breaker, which I love about you from afar. And then now you've parlayed your incredible strength and your platform into doing all of these super cool businesses. And that's what's really fascinating to me because I guess I did a similar thing, right? I had one career and then I had a really hard time kind of giving myself permission to start this business when I started it, you know, 13 years ago. And did you feel like you had the permission and the latitude to just kind of pursue all of these different interests? Did you feel at any point like, I don't know, trepidation about doing it or were you just like, you felt like, I'm just going into all these things?
- [04:56]
Venus Williams
Yeah, I kind of had a different upbringing. My parents encouraged us to be more than just athletes because we started young. I started at 4 and now I'm 40, so I'm going on 30 years of this. So they encouraged us to know what we were, who we were off of the court. And how did they do that? Get your education, have good grades. And my dad really wanted us to be entrepreneurs. And we would be riding to the tennis or tournaments or wherever, and he would put in like this tape and it was about foreclosures. I was like 10 years old. He had high expectations and I don't know how to do a foreclosure to this day. But just this thinking, you know, of how to think outside the box and think for yourself. So, yeah, definitely, my parents empowered us to, like, be those kind of women.
- [05:49]
Unknown
What were the other tools that they implemented to get you to really connect with yourself or understand yourself?
- [05:58]
Venus Williams
Yeah, just everything. I think about that now because Serena has a daughter, and I think about how my parents made a lesson out of everything, you know? And, yeah, my dad said, growing up, always have an answer, even if it's the wrong answer. So we grew up always having to have an answer. And it helps you to think on your feet. It helps you to be able to adjust no matter the situation.
- [06:24]
Unknown
Did he have any particular pearls of wisdom that you always remember?
- [06:31]
Venus Williams
Yeah, absolutely. He was. Oh, my gosh, so many. One of my favorites is a slow walker, is a slow thinker. So we weren't allowed to walk slow.
- [06:42]
Unknown
I agree with him.
- [06:44]
Venus Williams
Right, right.
- [06:46]
Unknown
I agree.
- [06:47]
Venus Williams
Slow walker, slow talker, slow thinker. And so now, to this day, it annoys me when someone walks slow. You know, you got to walk fast. You got to have a purp, you know? And I think that makes sense, though, because when you start with, you know, a physical presence, that will also go to your mind as well. So that one's interesting. He had a lot of them, but that was one.
- [07:06]
Unknown
I like that one. I think Slow driver, too. Can I add that to the list?
- [07:11]
Venus Williams
I might. You might hate me. I don't drive too fast.
- [07:14]
Unknown
I grew up in New York City, and I drive like a taxi driver.
- [07:18]
Venus Williams
I've never driven the city. I never want to.
- [07:21]
Unknown
I wouldn't recommend it, actually.
- [07:23]
Venus Williams
Okay, so you've driven in the city before?
- [07:25]
Unknown
Oh, yeah. I learned how to. I cut my teeth driving in New York City. So I. My friends say I drive like a maniac. I think I'm a great driver.
- [07:33]
Venus Williams
But you think you can handle, like, the driving in Paris, like, around. Like, the Arc de Triome for In Rome, where. It's really crazy.
- [07:41]
Unknown
Definitely. I've done it. I've done it. I lived in London for years. Like 12 years or something like that. I drove in London on the wrong side of the road. I had a Vespa. Whenever I go to Europe, I rent a car. I bomb around all over the place.
- [07:57]
Venus Williams
Oh, my gosh. One time we were driving in Wimbledon. We had a car, and we could drive ourselves to Wimbledon. Parking. Parking lot. And Serena, she hit the curb, and we had a flat, and we had a couple match, and we didn't know what to do. We had a match. We were like, what do we do? We had to figure that situation out quick because you can't just not show up to the match. So that was. That was interesting. She's never driven again since that time, like in Australia or London. She won't. She killed it for her.
- [08:27]
Unknown
Oh, my God, that's so great. How fun, though, to be able to be with your sister. I was thinking, I don't have a sister. I have a brother who I. Whom I adore. But I was thinking about this, like, how fun for you to be able to go through life. I mean, I imagine. I don't know, maybe it's a real pain in the ass, but is it amazing to go through a career with a sister?
- [08:50]
Venus Williams
It is. And I can't imagine doing it without her, because that's all I know. And then when I look at a different perspective that every other. Most other athletes, they do do it alone, but I've never had to do this alone. And especially in an individual sport, you are alone. You walk out there and that's it. You know, you can't have someone get in. You can't sit on the bench for a second. So it is amazing to be able to have walked, you know, the same road with her.
- [09:19]
Unknown
And I know people, you know, they always ask you, like, what's it like to be your sister? And what's it like to lose to your sister? But I just wonder if, like, there's. Because I imagine you love your sister and so much, and it almost sounds like the way you describe it, almost as if you're twins, like, going through something together, you know? And so is there, like, anything particularly more vulnerable, do you think about losing or winning to someone that you love? Like, it's. It. Does it feel more vulnerable when you win or lose to her than someone who's a stranger?
- [09:57]
Venus Williams
Yeah, actually. Because no matter what happens on the court, Serena's my sister, so the match is just the match. But for me, when I play other people, it's not just a match. It's like, I lost what I can't. You know? You know, it just becomes personal. Whereas with her, it actually doesn't matter. Become personal because that's my sister. So we court, we go, and then off of the court, and that's over. And oftentimes we, like, played each other in a final and then have to, like, get ready for a doubles final the same day, and, like, two hours later, we're walking on a court to play, like, that final. You know, we've done that many times. So. Yeah.
- [10:35]
Unknown
So this drive that you describe and have, which I also see manifest across your many businesses, like, I'm Always curious about people who have drive like that. I always try to help myself understand this. But where do you think drive like that comes from? Like, that singularity of focus with that level of, like, ambition and heat behind it. Is it. Do you think it comes from, like, sadness somewhere or it's just like your constitution or the way that you're parents raised you to play with that mindset?
- [11:11]
Venus Williams
I would say for me, it comes from a place of giving, because I feel like I have something to give, so that drives me. Yeah. If I feel like I have nothing to give, then I'm not driven. So on the court, off of the court, the things that I pursue is because I feel like I have something to give to it. And in that sense, it also gives something to me. So I think tennis has given me so much more than I've given tennis. You know, I don't think that's true.
- [11:39]
Unknown
With all the, like, pay, equality, work you've done, and I think you've done a lot.
- [11:45]
Venus Williams
Well, I guess it's been, you know, symbiote, you know, we go hand in hand together with that. Yeah. So I think the day when I don't have anything left to give, that's when I know I have to move on. But that's what drives me.
- [11:57]
Unknown
Right.
- [11:58]
Venus Williams
And you don't want to wake up with no regrets. And waking up with no regrets for me doesn't mean that you never failed. It just means you gave everything, even on those times you failed. And that is something you can be proud of.
- [12:10]
Unknown
Or that, like, you've. It doesn't mean that you've never done anything that you would do differently or that, you know, like, you could still feel bad about something that you've done, but it doesn't necessarily mean that you regret it. For me, anyway, those things that I look back on and I feel like I wish that had been different. I wouldn't change it still, you know, even though. Even if I get like a pang of shame or guilt or whatever, because I feel like the recognition of those things then become a building block. And you can shape who you are from those things.
- [12:44]
Venus Williams
Absolutely learning from it. Some things you. Sometimes you just don't know until you learn it or have those experiences. And it's part of growing up. And I think in a way, we're never done growing up. If you're done learning, then where are you in life? So I agree with that.
- [13:10]
Unknown
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- [13:40]
I wanted to ask you because when Naomi Osaka the other day, she said she withdrew because she didn't want to talk to the press, I thought your response, which kind of went viral, was so great and so both protective of her and so strong in your own framework of how you. You deal with stuff. Like, I don't think that people fully understand the energy exchange that the press on that level, like, how much they can take from a public figure. I know that there's, of course, the argument that, well, without the media, you know, a public figure can't have, then the impact that they have, which I totally understand. But when the press wants something out of you, like, it's an energetic exchange. Right. Like, you can feel really depleted from it. And there can be a ton of negativity when you read or saw that she had done that. What was your feeling about that?
- [14:36]
Venus Williams
Honestly, I was proud of her doing what she needed to do for herself. And as a young person or as a person who is in demand or popular, it can. People can want a lot of things from you, and you can fail to take care of yourself. And I learned early on to only do the things that I wanted to do. And it doesn't mean that you don't always do the things you don't want to do. I have to plank every day. I hate planking. But, you know. But you know what I mean? Like, you can get pushed into situations that you didn't.
- [15:08]
Unknown
Boundaries.
- [15:09]
Venus Williams
Yeah. So you're creating boundaries. That's the word. Thank you. So I was really proud of her for standing up for herself and recognizing that, hey, I have to take care of me. Lots of people are asking things from me that I can't give. So she took that moment. I was proud of her for that. And, yeah, press can really tear you down. I don't read anything about myself ever either.
- [15:35]
Unknown
Me neither.
- [15:36]
Venus Williams
Because you're just one person, and then there's all these other people, and you can't deal with all those opinions, no matter how strong a person you are. I don't think it's possible. And I feel like I'm a pretty strong person. I can't deal with it. So you just have to just. Yeah, I think they say that some people argue. Yes. Press is a part of it. But at the same time, as a young kid, you're out there training to win a tournament. You're not really training to go win, press or be famous. I mean, for me personally, as an athlete, I wanted to win. I wasn't going to go have fanfare. So there's definitely two sides to it.
- [16:16]
Unknown
And you have been in the media since you were so young. Like there's been so much focus on you. How did you learn over time to create those boundaries for yourself? Or how did you learn to not let that theater of public opinion seep in?
- [16:36]
Venus Williams
I think definitely mom and dad, again, they encourage us never read anything about yourself. So that way you can avoid the issues before it even gets there. Just knowing who you are, you really have to know who you are are, because if you don't, you're going to be out for a wild ride. So I think our parents helped us to know who we were. They encouraged you to be strong, confident, know yourself, know your history, all those different things help you to be firmly planted and also to have a belief system and have some values. If you don't have any values, then you might do anything and you might believe anything. So I think just having that strong set of values that, a strong spiritual background, all that stuff like kept my feet on the ground, myself, Serena, my family, an opportunity to just kind of be calm in the storm. Right.
- [17:28]
Unknown
I'm just wondering as a parent, like how, what are the things that you say to a kid so that they are not emulating you or taking on your value system or what you think is right and wrong. But like, how are, how can you encourage a child to really look inward and create their own value system?
- [17:50]
Venus Williams
I don't know about that because my parents gave me my value system and I'm just like them, I love it. So it worked for me.
- [17:59]
Unknown
Their value system resonated with you.
- [18:01]
Venus Williams
Yeah. And I think, you know, as a young person, you need, you need a strong start. You got to know, you got to have some, some sort of values and then later on if you decide to make your own, you know, freebie to it. But yeah, their value system really helped me and I stuck to it. So yeah, I think every kid's gotta make their choice at some point. And I think also you were asking, how do you know how to weather that? Is kind of just encouraging your kids to telling them they're great without, you know, making them, you know, big headed or anything. Like praise them, encourage them the things that they do well and it starts to make them feel good about themselves, too. And I got a lot of that. I still get that with my court, with my dad. He comes on the court, still picks up balls, and, you know, he says, you're doing great. You really did that well. And, you know, there's just been different moments in my life where I thought maybe I wasn't doing great. And there was always just this cheerleader behind me. Tell me when I wasn't, you know, obviously when I wasn't doing my best or needed some corrections. But also, you're also doing well, and I think that's important for parents to do, to find that balance, for sure.
- [19:12]
Unknown
And, you know, it's interesting for me as a parent to talk to you because your parents raised two such incredibly successful, amazing women. And I'd actually. I actually need to get your dad on my podcast. I can have a parenting interview with him.
- [19:29]
Venus Williams
Oh, my God. Well, we could get my mom out here. She is. She is something. Because she said you have to have mental training, too, as a kid, and you have to train your mind.
- [19:40]
Unknown
How did they do that?
- [19:42]
Venus Williams
I just heard her say that last year. So why didn't. She never told me she was giving me mental training. But you train your mind also to be ready to deal with what's happening in the world. Life is beautiful, but it can be challenging. Right. And if you don't have your mind ready to face those challenges, it might be a problem. So she also said that mental training is important for kids, too. And I guess it's. You can do that in each lesson without telling them, because Asher didn't know she was mentally.
- [20:10]
Unknown
I need to.
- [20:11]
Venus Williams
I was drinking Kool Aid without knowing it.
- [20:15]
Unknown
I need her to write this manual or I need to get her on this podcast. What do you think has kept you persevering the way that you have, you know, through all these years of tennis and injuries and successes and failures and, you know, like, this incredible career. And you just. I mean, you said you're 40 and you're still, like, doing all these big tournaments. I mean, it's pretty amazing.
- [20:42]
Venus Williams
You know, it's an opportunity. That's how I see it. I love what I do. It's a lot of fun. I love the challenge that comes with it. I think in life, if you have the opportunity to find something you love and that challenges you, it's the most beautiful thing. So I always encourage people to do that, because it's just like falling in love every day. You get to do something that just makes you so happy and I love that part. So I absolutely love that I was. I feel like I was meant to play tennis. I'm a big girl. You can't see this, but I'm 6:1. I have ridiculously long arms. I needed to play a sport, so I'm unfortunate I get to do this. And there's only, you know, at the French Open, there's 100 people that get to play that, and there's so many millions that would love to be in that position. And when I see. Sometimes I think, wow, I get. I get to do this, you know? And you're like. It's surreal at times. Of course, you deserve to be there because you put in the work, but at the same time, it's just so surreal. How lucky am I that everything worked out, that I get to be here at this moment and kind of try to take that gratitude on the court with you?
- [21:50]
Unknown
I think a lot of people get when they've been doing something for a long time, and there's a grind aspect, you know, if you're not coming from a place of gratitude of, like, the drag of whatever. And it's just so nice to hear that, especially because you also have. I was reading that you have an autoimmune condition, and you've managed to still succeed at this level. Will you tell me a little bit about it?
- [22:13]
Venus Williams
Well, it's called Sjogren's, and it's an autoimmune disease. And it's, you know, some of the hallmark symptoms are dry eye and dry mouth, but also joint pain, fatigue, and all sorts of other things that can come with it. You know, all autoimmune diseases, like, no one's the same. Everyone kind of has different symptoms. So that's definitely a challenge because it's not something that goes away. It's something I have to manage on a daily basis. But I try to manage it my best through. Through my health, health and my diet and how I treat myself. Getting enough rest. Once I got diagnosed, I really. I had to slow down for me, because I used to like to work until like, two or three in the morning. Like, I can't do that anymore. I have to go to bed early. So there were. There were changes I had to make in my life. And to be honest, I feel like I'm still learning about it and how to. How to protect it and still, like, reach my optimum with, you know, a condition that, like, takes you down, like, how to bring yourself back up.
- [23:09]
Unknown
How old were you when you received the diagnosis?
- [23:12]
Venus Williams
I was 31. When I had that diagnosis for me, and that's another thing with autoimmune disease, a lot of times people aren't diagnosed. I had to get to a point where I was so ill that I couldn't play anymore that I finally got a diagnosis. So you have to definitely be your own best advocate as a patient, that's for sure.
- [23:33]
Unknown
And I was wondering if, because I think there are just across autoimmune, there are certain things that you can do from a lifestyle perspective which really help. Right. And you just touched on those. So could you tell me a little bit about how you manage it? Like specifically with your diet? Let's start there.
- [23:51]
Venus Williams
Yes. So specifically with the diet, I find that a gluten free diet really helps, especially with joint pain. I find if I can get myself to stay off gluten, I'm honest about my life. I am not perfect. I have ups, I have downs and I have rounds.
- [24:06]
Unknown
Especially if you're in Paris, like you got to have a croissant or baguette.
- [24:10]
Venus Williams
In the French toast here.
- [24:12]
Unknown
You got to.
- [24:14]
Venus Williams
So yeah, getting rid of joint pain, really going gluten free really helped simple things. Getting enough sleep helps a lot. If you do not get enough sleep, if you wear yourself in the ground, you're going to get a flare up. You're going to not be able to be your best. I find iron works a lot. Sometimes when you have this constant inflammation, it works. Or autoimmune disease, you can have low iron levels which also contributes to not feeling well.
- [24:42]
Unknown
I have that too.
- [24:43]
Venus Williams
Yeah, your iron up helps a lot. Sugar free I think helps too, unfortunately, which is a sad, sad thing, honestly.
- [24:52]
Unknown
What about alcohol?
- [24:54]
Venus Williams
Alcohol is okay.
- [24:59]
Unknown
I need your nutritionist number.
- [25:01]
Venus Williams
What the fuck? Two thumbs up to alcohol. I mean I, I have my splurges. I don't drink often, but I love my champagnes and I love my wines nowadays. And so I, when I have an opportunity, you just, you do have to live sub. I think when you really clean like it can, it can make you feel bad if you stay off of it. But I think we all have to find that balance. Yeah.
- [25:27]
Unknown
Yeah, me too. And do you have any like specific supplementation or anything that you take besides iron?
- [25:34]
Venus Williams
Yes, definitely paying attention to your gut health.
- [25:38]
Unknown
Yes.
- [25:39]
Venus Williams
So for me, some of my favorites are glutamine for that also. What's another? Glutathione. So other different things, adaptogens, you know, mushroom complexes. Also magnesium can be really important as well as vitamin D. Yeah, I have some different things that I Do.
- [25:57]
Unknown
And then, and what about, do you eat dairy? Do you eat meat? Are you more plant based? Because you have it. Don't you have a plant based protein?
- [26:07]
Venus Williams
Right, Happy Viking.
- [26:08]
Unknown
Yes, Happy Viking. Tell me about that.
- [26:12]
Venus Williams
Well, it's about bringing out your inner warrior, but for your well being and for your own health. You know, a lot of times we don't always put our health first, so it's about fueling that. And it's just the most amazing thing because it's not just for like your body, but it's also for your mind. So it kind of has the complete body mind, macronutrients, and so it has DHA Omega, sunflower oil and fiber and then all the nine amino acids that are for protein synthesis and nutrient absorption. That's a sentence. So it's, it's kind of, it's for your mind and it's also for your body because you have to treat both. Right. So I really, really love the triple chocolate I'm traveling with. Like.
- [27:03]
Unknown
What kind of protein is it?
- [27:07]
Venus Williams
It's plant based protein like pea or. Yes, it's brown rice.
- [27:12]
Unknown
Nice. I mean, I was looking like you have so many. You are such an entrepreneur. You have. First of all, I'm obsessed with your interior design that I did a deep dive into because I love interior design.
- [27:27]
Venus Williams
So you have, I mean, you have.
- [27:29]
Unknown
A full interior design business going. You have your lifestyle platform, which is, you know, apparel. And that's 11, right? 11 by Venus, happy Viking, which we touched on. And then a brand that I love, a sutra that's so I love it. I love their, the bath thing and it's great. I really so. And then I don't know, you've got all this, It's. So how are you? How do you spend your time? Like it, like if someone is like, wow, I want to design a house and I want Venus to do it. Like, are you available to go design a house?
- [28:10]
Venus Williams
Absolutely. To be honest. And I think you probably know this too. You have to have great teams, right? And you have to know where you sit in those teams and what your strong points are. So that's how I do all of those things. It's just knowing where I sit, knowing where my strong points are and having people that I, I trust, I can also do their part.
- [28:30]
Unknown
So where do you sit, for example, in the interior design company for interior design?
- [28:36]
Venus Williams
I strangely, I love doing business development. It sounds boring, but I like that. I really love doing the concept and working through the concept and then working, you know, on the follow through on the different phases. And I do a lot of the culture work for our team. That's super important. Culture is first for us. So making sure.
- [28:57]
Unknown
How do you do that?
- [28:59]
Venus Williams
Really by talking about it. You know, you can write things down on paper and you've got a culture, but if you aren't talking about it, if you aren't practicing it, then there goes. So really just by talking about it, making it part of our language and being the leader in that part. So those are definitely the areas that I, I don't like to do management. I've definitely stopped the management part as much now, especially this year. It's just, it's very time consuming. So that part I've. I've left to those who are better at it than I or maybe have a little more time than I do.
- [29:33]
Unknown
Right.
- [29:33]
Venus Williams
I'm gonna say. And then.
- [29:36]
Unknown
So 11, will you tell me a little bit about that platform? Because you know, I love a lifestyle brand. I'm all about it.
- [29:44]
Venus Williams
So 11, why it's called 11 is that it's about bringing your pursuit of your best self. And so you should really go past the 10. You shouldn't just stop. You should continue past it to 11 so you can get more out of yourself than you think. And there have been moments where I've gotten more out of myself that I just thought, I don't know how that happened. I didn't think I ever could do it, but I did it. So that's what it's about. And it's definitely a lifestyle brand because you are. There's so many ways to get the best out of yourself and especially living a lifestyle that's mostly plant based. And I'm just. I love hair. Skin. That's my hobby. I mix my own things at home. My family and friends come to me with all their skin and hair problems and I solve them. So I have a small thing on the side. It's just your friends and family. But I wanted to represent a lifestyle of health in so many different ways. And that's not just what you wear. You know, you can put some clothes on, but what else? How are you correcting your thinking? You know, what are you putting in your body? All those different things contribute to health. So that's what. What health. What 11 stands for. And we also partner with Credo to create a sun serum too. And it's. I saw that beauty and we just came out with the lip balm. So that has my name on it because I'm in the sun and I for the first 35 years. I didn't think I needed sunscreen. Like, I built in sunscreen. And it didn't dawn on me until one day I just looked over at Serena and she's got long sleeves, sunscreen on, long pants, and I'm like, what am I doing? I'm ruining. And I've been nervous ever since. I'm gonna, like, start to see this horrible damage that I did to myself. So.
- [31:30]
Unknown
Yeah.
- [31:31]
Venus Williams
Yeah. So I'm pretty passionate about protecting your skin too, because you lead with your skin. It's so important.
- [31:39]
Unknown
It's true.
- [31:44]
I've never felt like this before. It's like, you just get me. I feel like my true self with you. Does that sound crazy? And it doesn't hurt that you're gorgeous. Okay, that's it. I'm taking you home with me. I mean, you can't find shoes this good just anywhere. Find a shoe for every you from brands you love, like Birkenstock, Nike, Adidas, and more at your DSW store or dsw dot com.
- [32:17]
You just said that you. The business development part is exciting to you. Do you. Can you say more about that? Like, what is it? Why is that the part that's, like, thrilling?
- [32:28]
Venus Williams
Because it feels like I'm on the court. Because on the court at the end, right, you work, you work, you work. You get the win. But a lot of times that work starts before you can get to the match. Well, not a lot of times it does. So, you know, when we're doing business development, we want to work at vstar, for example, with a developer, because our projects are usually like buildings or condominiums or things like that. And we do residential as well, but not. Not as much. So having an opportunity to work and, like, you know, make those deals happen, it feels like a match. And I feel like I just kind of won, you know, and I like that adrenaline. So, yeah, it's interesting that I. I like that part.
- [33:12]
Unknown
Does a match feel like a negotiation on some level?
- [33:17]
Venus Williams
A tennis match?
- [33:18]
Unknown
Yeah. No, it's sheer will.
- [33:22]
Venus Williams
It's just an all out, like, fight. That's the best way to put it. It's a fist fight. Yeah.
- [33:31]
Unknown
I was wondering if there's, like, anything that's more strategic. Like, I've always wondered, are you just, like, balls to the wall as hard as you can, or are you like, oh, well, if she does that, then I'll do that. Like, it's. If there's any chess aspect to it of, like, strategy?
- [33:47]
Venus Williams
Oh, yeah, absolutely. In tennis, you train to the point where you hopefully are thinking too much because it's going too fast. Especially about your technique. You can't think about the technique and the strategy. Yes. You're watching what they do. And tennis is a lot of percentages, too. So the percentage. You already know the percentage of what shot they're going to play, depending on where they're standing in the court or how high or how low the ball is. There's only so many plays they can make. So. Because that's how we get to the ball. Because we don't have a head start because of the percentages. So you're trained to know the percentages. And then if somebody can create things outside of the percentages, that's where you start to get great players. Like, for example, Serena, she can create shots out of nowhere. And so then that's someone you're, like, afraid of because you. Who knows what's going to happen, you know?
- [34:37]
Unknown
That's so cool. I was reading, too, about your serve and how you have one of the fastest serves ever of all time in women's tennis.
- [34:46]
Venus Williams
I love serving.
- [34:49]
Unknown
I mean, like 130 miles an hour. That's insane. How does that even happen?
- [34:54]
Venus Williams
I don't know. I really don't know because I was just playing once, and then I started serving big, Literally in a match. I didn't know where it came from.
- [35:03]
Unknown
Wow.
- [35:04]
Venus Williams
How did that happen? And just serving big. So I love serving. It's fun. I would say it's one of the hardest shots in sports in general to learn. It's very difficult. And even as professionals, our serves go off and it's a horrible day when that happens. It's like, you know, the pitcher. And when. If the pitcher's not pitching right, the whole game goes off. Right. That's the serve is.
- [35:27]
Unknown
And are there just days where it's just not happening and you don't know why? What?
- [35:33]
Venus Williams
I don't know. I wish I knew. It's like. And it's like yesterday it felt great. Everything's working. And now suddenly I'm in the match and I can't feel anything. And I'm just. I can't get the ball in.
- [35:45]
Unknown
Is there. So if you're in a real groove, like with a serve, for example, and you're just, you know, point after point just nailing it. Do you notice that there's a common denominator when that happens of, like, a certain feeling? Like, what does it feel like to be in the groove that way? Is it beyond your comprehension?
- [36:08]
Venus Williams
Yeah, I think that's called the zone, right? Yeah, and the zone is a beautiful thing, and I don't think it happens that often. And when you start to be in the zone, it's just. You can. You can do no wrong. So that's. The athlete's dream, is to zone, but.
- [36:24]
Unknown
You can't control it. Right. It sort of hits you and it leaves you.
- [36:27]
Venus Williams
Yeah, I mean, I think there's only moments of zoning, in my opinion, in my sport. There can be also. There can be, you know, a set where you zone, and it's great, but I think you can take that concept of zone in life to being focused and prepared and in that zone, you know, and. Yeah.
- [36:46]
Unknown
So, yeah, it's funny. I think it was. I can't remember what artist said this, but they said that, like, whatever that thing is, the zone, like the inspiration, the muse, that when it comes to you, you. You better already be drawing or painting. So it's like such an interesting thing for. For those of us who. Not me, but, you know, you have a specific skill and you're performing at, like, that, you better already be playing tennis when the muse comes, you know, to put you in the zone.
- [37:20]
Venus Williams
Well, I mean, I think. I'm sure you know about the zone because, for example, I refuse to do anything on camera because I'm the world's worst actress. How do you know this? I know, I know. And I don't want to embarrass myself. And it's just, I am not a camera. I'm an athlete, so that's what I'll stick with. But I'm sure, you know, there have been moments where you felt like, wow, I've really personified this role, and I'm really flowing with it in other days where you probably can't remember your lines and, oh, yeah, you know what I mean? So I'm sure you've had that zone, too.
- [37:54]
Unknown
Oh, yeah, yeah, sure. For sure. It's very frustrating when you don't have it. I think if you're an artist or an athlete, like, if you're a channel for that kind of thing, and it doesn't come. It's. It feels pretty demoralizing.
- [38:08]
Venus Williams
I agree. And then I try to trick myself, you know, this is an emotion. Like, I don't think I'm playing well. That's just an emotion. Just let it go. Like, just play, you know? So I try to, like those moments, try to mentally work around that feeling, because then once you're out of the zone, then it starts to all become mental, you know?
- [38:29]
Unknown
Is that dangerous when it starts to Become mental. Does that affect performance?
- [38:33]
Venus Williams
Absolutely. Absolutely. And I mean, it's all mental because especially in sport or whichever, everybody's good. And what's great about the great players is their mind, you know, who can be stronger mentally for the longest amount of time. Everyone good at practice? Let me tell you, I've seen a lot of great people in practice match fall apart, you know, the pressure.
- [39:00]
Unknown
Right.
- [39:01]
Venus Williams
Or what we perceive as pressure. Just a game, right?
- [39:05]
Unknown
Yes. With the whole world watching you.
- [39:15]
Venus Williams
Who.
- [39:15]
Unknown
Is your support system? Like, besides your parents and Serena, who. Who get you through life? Who do you lean on the most?
- [39:24]
Venus Williams
Yeah, definitely my sisters. I have older sisters, too, and they are just the best. You know those moments where you're just on the ground, worst loss ever, you can't believe it happened. That's the first text you get, you know, right after, you're great, you're going to be, you know, you'll get the next one, you know, and you're like, I do feel better. And like, you know, the air comes back into you. So they're definitely my biggest support. And growing up with four sisters, it's. There's always someone. So, you know, you call. It's always someone you can call. There's always someone there for you. Yeah. Growing up, I didn't. My parents told us that your sisters are your best friends. So they're like, you don't need best friends. Your sisters are your best friends. And that was the rule. So that's what we did. And I like that because now, you know, we were even closer and. But at the same time, you know, you do have to go out there in the world and meet other people. And I've done that too. But no.
- [40:27]
Unknown
Do you have. Are you married? Do you have a life partner or anything?
- [40:31]
Venus Williams
No. Single mingle?
- [40:33]
Gwyneth Paltrow
Single.
- [40:33]
Unknown
Do you want to?
- [40:36]
Venus Williams
I don't know. It's a lot of work. I don't know. And then people are like, it just gets harder. So you have to really make sure you have commonalities. I'm like, this gets harder as you go along. I mean, why would I ever do that if it's just getting harder? So, especially now, like I said, I'm 40 and my life is great, and I would not change my life for just anything, you know?
- [41:00]
Unknown
Right.
- [41:01]
Venus Williams
So I don't know what the future is for me, but I've always just been a person who's happy where I am.
- [41:06]
Unknown
That's so inspiring. It really is. Because that's. I think that's very hard for a lot of us. You know, to be content with. With where we are in time and space.
- [41:17]
Venus Williams
Yeah. It sometimes is as we. And I think about that sometimes you're, like, looking forward to the. Even when you're looking forward to the future, what about enjoying your now? You know, I'm looking forward to this. X, Y, this. And it's like, okay, just be in this moment. And I think. I think with COVID I. I was able to, like, start to appreciate that. But now that it's starting to pass, you go back into your old habits, you know?
- [41:38]
Unknown
Yeah. Yeah. It's true. I had this the other day where I was like, gosh, I. I'm not ready for this. I'm not ready for small talk and traffic. And, like, I was like, this is. I wonder what we'll think as we look back on that year. Okay, I have one last question for you, which is, it's so amazing to see you so in the present and fully embodying yourself and doing all of these incredible ventures. So is there something that you haven't done yet that you still want to do?
- [42:18]
Venus Williams
Something I still want to do.
- [42:21]
Unknown
Do you want to learn a language? Do you want to start a totally different kind of business? Do you want to ret.
- [42:28]
Venus Williams
I do want to retire at some point and get a life. You know, my tour is 10 months out of the year, so you're always on. There's no stopping as a tennis player. So I think, though, I just. I like teaching. I like teaching beginners, and I would just like to help people, and that would make me happy. So I would love to just help young people who want to learn and maybe who don't have that many advantages and help them their best and find their way. And that's what I'd like to do. But also, Serena said the other day she'd like to go to every Michelin restaurant in the world, and can you.
- [43:09]
Unknown
Guys bring me on that mission when you do that?
- [43:12]
Venus Williams
Yes, we will. She panicked. She was like, I don't want to get fat. I don't want to. I was like, I have to do it all in one year. And she goes, oh. It's like, relax. So I think that could be really fun to just go eat.
- [43:28]
Unknown
I'm coming. Seriously, bring me.
- [43:30]
Venus Williams
That's.
- [43:31]
Unknown
That sounds like a dream.
- [43:32]
Venus Williams
You can work out in the morning. So that way we can eat all, you know, work off what we're going.
- [43:36]
Unknown
To eat that night. Exactly. And then you could. In between, you know, when you're traveling to the next one, we could do just, like, a Greens Juice day.
- [43:44]
Venus Williams
Yes.
- [43:45]
Unknown
And then go to the next one and indulge.
- [43:48]
Venus Williams
I agree. All right, we'll do it.
- [43:52]
Unknown
It's a plan. Thank you so much for talking to us today. You're just an amazing woman, so inspirational and I just wish you all the best.
- [44:04]
Gwyneth Paltrow
Thank you for listening to my chat with Venus Williams. What an incredible athlete, creative and leader. I hope you enjoyed her insights as much as I did. Thanks for tuning in. This has been a presentation of Cadence 13 Studios. I hope you'll listen, follow rate and review all of our episodes, which are available for free on Apple Payment Podcasts, Spotify, Odyssey, or wherever you get your podcasts.