Podcast Summary

The Sage Steele Show

Episode: Levi's Former President Jen Sey: Exposing the Truth About "Woke Capitalism"
Host: Sage Steele
Guest: Jennifer Sey (Former President of Levi's, Author, Activist, Founder of XXXY Athletics)
Date: March 11, 2026

Main Theme

This episode is a deeply personal and candid conversation between Sage Steele and Jennifer Sey, former President of Levi's, about resilience, speaking truth in the face of "woke capitalism," the cost of nonconformity, parental lessons, women’s sports, and the cultural impacts of fear-driven silence. Sey recounts her elite gymnastics background, exposes abuses in the sport, discusses her COVID activism and subsequent "cancellation," and details her journey to launching XXXY Athletics—a brand rooted in truth and biological reality.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background and Early Grit

• Jennifer shares her journey from an elite gymnast—Member of the US national team, national champion, World Championships competitor—to a corporate executive.
• She details severe emotional and physical abuse in elite gymnastics (weight shaming, training on injuries, sexual predation by coaches), which instilled an enduring resilience:
  • “If I could get through that… you think calling me a grifter or a racist that’s going to hurt my feelings and make me stop? You got another thing coming.” ([06:24])
• She was among the first to expose gymnastics abuses in her book, "Chalked Up" ([10:01]).

2. Parental Reflections & Cultural Complicity

• Jen reflects on how her parents and many others trusted coaches/the system in pursuit of success but missed signs of harm.
• She notes the broader culture of obedience and silence in both sports and corporate life, and the painful legacy for her and her family ([14:18]).

3. State of Gymnastics Post-Nassar

• Discusses the SafeSport Act post-Larry Nassar scandal: while legal reforms exist, cultural changes lag and abuses persist ([19:31]).
  • “There’s so many reports…over four years behind. That says to me it hasn’t changed.” ([21:34])
• Tributes Senator Dianne Feinstein for legislating action, but stresses changing the culture is harder.

4. Corporate Ascent and Cancel Culture

• Jen describes her rise at Levi’s from “assistant marketing manager” to “brand president” and the boys’ club culture ([37:09]).
• Her public opposition to COVID lockdowns—especially closing schools—led to criticism, being “cancelled,” and ultimately her resignation.
  • “I was chased down the street. A lady got in my face… told me she wouldn’t care when my children died. It was terrible. But I didn’t stop because I was worried about children. It was wrong.” ([46:39])

5. Political Shifts & ‘Woke Capitalism’

• Sey’s left-wing identity (“super lefty, left of left of center”) shifted, as the Democratic party abandoned values she held dear (free speech, protecting the vulnerable, anti-war) ([39:32]).
• She targets ‘woke capitalism’—brands (notably Nike) touting social justice in public but acting hypocritically internally, especially toward women ([84:26]):
  • “They advertise their wokeness but inside, none of those values are actually acted upon… that’s woke capitalism.” ([85:25])

6. Trans Issues & Language

• Both host and guest express unapologetic positions on gender and sports, refusing to use “trans women” for males competing in women’s divisions:
  • “I’m not going to say transgender women.” ([03:21])
  • “It’s the dumbest thing on earth. This is the dumbest time.” ([69:43])
• Sey emphasizes the importance of accurate language:
  • “The terrible ideas were smuggled in through the language… I will not call a man any kind of woman.” ([78:26])

7. ‘Cancellation,’ Loneliness & Real Friendship

• Sey shares the personal cost of standing up: loss of almost all long-term friends, isolation, and the heartbreak of realizing friendship can hinge on political/ideological agreement ([54:36], [57:35]).
  • “We have this one disagreement, and now you can’t be anymore. F*ck is wrong with you?” ([60:58])
  • Finds solace in her husband’s support, and encouragement from strangers who appreciate her courage.

8. Building XXXY Athletics

• Cancelled from corporate America (unable to get interviews or required to apologize for COVID views), Sey started XXXY Athletics—an athletic brand embracing reality and resisting "woke" pressure.
  • Brands and media (NYT, WSJ, Fox Sports, etc.) won’t take their ad money unless they change their message ([74:56]).

9. Lessons, Confidence, and Advice

• Sey developed confidence in her own intellect and perception—moving past “imposter syndrome.”
  • “Now I’m like, no, I’m seeing this the right way. Even if the whole world is like, ‘no, men who say they’re women are women.’ I can stand it and go, you’re wrong…the three of us are right, and you’re all going to come around to see it.” ([79:39])
• Empowers others to:
  • Speak up: “The truth matters more than whatever name you might be called. You have to do it.” ([90:00])
  • Support the vocal few: “If you’re not ready yet to speak, support the people that do…you have no idea how much it means.” ([98:47])
  • Take risks at any age: “Who says you have to stop trying at 53 or 54 or 55? I’ve got a lot of life left.” ([90:32])
  • “You can do all those things. You can choose to see it as totally liberating.” ([73:08])

10. Legacy and Modeling Bravery for Kids

• Sey wants her kids to remember her as someone “who always says what she thinks,” modeling bravery and helping the next generation break cycles of people-pleasing and fear ([91:16]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you call me a grifter or a racist, that’s gonna hurt my feelings and make me stop? You got another thing coming.”
  — Jennifer Sey ([06:24])
• “This was the most egregious violation of our civil liberties. Not just in America, but internationally.”
  — Jennifer Sey ([49:22])
• “They’d rather talk about, like, demonstrate how to give blowjobs… But mine is offensive.”
  — Jennifer Sey on advertising bans ([76:02])
• “We have to take the culture back with the force that it was taken from us. We can be diplomatic… but I will not call a man any kind of woman.”
  — Jennifer Sey ([78:26])
• “Every corporate leader that reads from the script does exactly as they’re told so they can just take the money. That’s the grift.”
  — Jennifer Sey ([97:44])
• “If you’re not ready yet to support the people that do, you have no idea how much it means… Every time I get one, I cry.”
  — Jennifer Sey ([98:47])
• “I shudder at the thought of having stayed quiet, which is what I was told to do. Would’ve been smarter financially, smarter for who knows, maybe I’d still be working in network TV…But then I wasn’t being true.”
  — Sage Steele ([96:36])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:08 — Jennifer’s background and “cancellation” for COVID views.
• 06:24 — Abuses in elite gymnastics; genesis of resilience.
• 14:18 — Parent perspectives and cultural complicity.
• 19:31 — SafeSport Act and the limitations of legal reform in gymnastics.
• 37:09 — Jen’s corporate ascent and culture at Levi’s.
• 46:39 — Public and corporate backlash to COVID advocacy.
• 54:36 — Friendship lost due to ideological conformity.
• 69:43 — Gender realities and language in sports (“the dumbest time”).
• 74:56 — Mainstream media rejecting XXXY’s unapologetic messaging.
• 79:39 — Overcoming imposter syndrome, standing in truth.
• 90:00 — Advice to women: truth over comfort.
• 97:44 — “The grift is the person that keeps their mouth shut.”
• 98:47 — Encouragement: support those who speak up.
• 102:46 — Wearing the brand as a personal act of courage and encouragement.

Flow & Tone

The tone is candid, passionate, and empathetic—blending personal narrative, cultural critique, and practical encouragement. Both host and guest speak with warmth, humor, and occasional exasperation about the state of discourse around sex, truth, and “woke” culture. Their honest reflections on risk-taking, fear, and heartbreak make the episode both human and motivating.

For Listeners

This episode offers an unvarnished look at what it costs—and what you gain—to stand up for truth in the face of social and professional risk. For anyone thinking about speaking out, questioning cultural trends in sports, gender, or business, or for those concerned about the erosion of free speech and the loneliness of true dissent—Jennifer Sey and Sage Steele provide both a map and a lifeline.

“Wear the damn hat.” – Jennifer Sey ([103:18])