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- [00:00]
Billy Jean King
80 is the new 60 probably. I don't know. It seems amazing what you're doing. You've got me so wound up now. Like, you're like, I'm ready to go.
- [00:08]
Abby Wambach
With this stumble as well. Like, it was one of the most inspiring things I have ever seen in my life.
- [00:14]
Natalie Grabo
I had a great year this year. I did three 70.3s, which are the half ironman distance. That's what they call that.
- [00:20]
Julie Foudy
God. On top of the full attention.
- [00:26]
The.
- [00:27]
Abby Wambach
Party is about to commence.
- [00:34]
Julie Foudy
Welcome to the party.
- [00:40]
What up, party people? I'm Julie Foudy.
- [00:42]
Abby Wambach
And I'm Abby Wambach. And guess what? The Kinger will be joining us a little bit later, so you're gonna want to stick around. Julie, I need to tell you something that I'm doing right now, and I'm very excited about it.
- [00:54]
Julie Foudy
Oh, tell. Okay, do tell.
- [00:57]
Abby Wambach
So mid-40s, perimenopause.
- [01:02]
Body's not responding like it normally used to. Can't do the things that I would do normally to get back to my self. Feeling good, being strong, being active. Like weights. Holding on in areas that they never were.
- [01:20]
On with me. So this weekend I went to this doctor and got on this. I'm now on the protocol of, like, trying to live long. Okay. And also.
- [01:35]
Julie Foudy
What's the protocol? Trying to live long.
- [01:38]
Abby Wambach
Yeah. Longevity. Longevity.
- [01:40]
Julie Foudy
Okay. That's.
- [01:41]
Abby Wambach
That's what I'm on right now. That's. That's the thing that I'm.
- [01:44]
Julie Foudy
That's a good protocol. I'm. I'm on board with that.
- [01:47]
Abby Wambach
But more than anything, I want to live long. Well, right. Like, I don't want to be. I'm afraid that the wear and tear we did on our bodies from all of our professional sport days, and maybe I should just speak for myself here, because it seems like you don't have any problems. So that's a sad.
- [02:10]
Julie Foudy
Oh, I got issues.
- [02:12]
Abby Wambach
But, like, you know, I've just got joints that are old and arthritic and ouchy and walking.
- [02:21]
Julie Foudy
Yeah. You have no problem beating me on a peloton every damn time, so. Okay.
- [02:26]
Abby Wambach
But it hurts. Like, I'll be limping for the rest of the day after our minute to win it. But the thing is that I'm a little bit, like, concerned with what my 50s, 60s, 70s, and hopefully 80s look like and feel like. And being in this, like, mid-40s period of time, I am trying to figure out how to. How food interacts in my body. So I actually have this. I have the Signos glucose monitor on.
- [02:58]
I've gone to this doctor. I'm gonna get supplements, peptides and whatnot. And also folks, consult your doctors. This is not doctor advice. This is just what I'm doing.
- [03:12]
Because I want to learn how my body works. Like, and I know that sounds wild because I do know in general how my body works. But I want to get into the granular details and I want to do all of the things that I possibly can so that my body can be able to maybe one day when I'm 80 years old. Julie. Be able to do some, some, some challenges or races or, or things just to be able to walk around at 80 is what I'm, I'm searching for.
- [03:45]
Julie Foudy
And so not like an iron man at 80.
- [03:48]
Abby Wambach
Exactly. Which is leading us into our, our, our conversation with Natalie Grabout. But I just, I'm feeling like really energized about it. We're coming into the end of the year. The holidays are approaching and that's like. Jules, I had six grapes last night, six green grapes.
- [04:09]
And my glucose spiked to 212. Yeah, ideally we want to stay I think below a hundred on average throughout the day. And like when you eat, it goes up because when you, when you consume something that you consume glucose or sugar or carbs, then, then your, your glucose goes up and you have to, you have to. Your body produces insulin and so then your body is always trying to achieve homeostasis. So anyways, I'm not trying to do a doctor's thing here. What I'm saying is I'm pretty excited, feeling excited and I'm gonna be doing stuff and I am going to be telling the party people about it and good. We're gonna go on this journey together.
- [04:52]
Julie Foudy
I'm coming with them. I. Because I, I'm not real good at that stuff. I mean, I pay attention to eating healthy and obviously I love sugary, stodgy. I mean donuts were my thing for years and I've tried to.
- [05:11]
Abby Wambach
Oh my God.
- [05:13]
Julie Foudy
To still. Like this morning I woke up and I was like, I would, I would give for a big donut bigger than my head.
- [05:21]
But I have learned that the stodgy, doughy, sugary stuff that I love is not great for my gut health and everything else that comes with that. So I've been better. Like less processed foods, a lot more vegetables, a lot more plant based stuff trying to do.
- [05:41]
Abby Wambach
I'm trying. It's hard and look, it's hard. And.
- [05:46]
I was told that gluten is not my friend on Saturday. And gluten really has been My best friend. But evidently it's also been my worst enemy. She'd be telling lies and she be, she be side eyeing me all the time, this gluten of mine. So I gotta be, I'm trying to figure my out because that's good. You know, I, I want to be able to like do like Natalie tell, tell the party people. I mean about now.
- [06:15]
Julie Foudy
Yeah, we, we've got coming up next 80 year old triathlete Natalie Grabow, who's my dream guest.
- [06:23]
Abby Wambach
My dream guest.
- [06:24]
Julie Foudy
Yeah, it was Abby's dream guest. She said it on the Today show. They're like who do you want? And she's like 80 year old Natalie Gravo.
- [06:33]
She is the record breaking iron man finisher. It should be Iron Woman finisher in like this incredible moment where she's the oldest woman to ever race in the Ironman. And mind you people, it's, it's long, it's 112 mile bike ride, a 2.5 mile swim or 2.4 mile swim.
- [06:57]
26 mile run. I did that in the wrong. 26.2 swim, 26.2 mile marathon run. All back to back to back. But she's amazing. We, we're gonna get to her but before we get to her. And the Kinger is back for that conversation, which is fantastic because the Kinger just turned 82. But before we get to Natalie, let's get this party started with the highlights and headlines you'll want to celebrate in women's sports. Our party starter is brought to you by Ally the bank. That's your Ally.
- [07:30]
All right abs. This one we're going to start with Emma Hayes.
- [07:35]
Abby Wambach
So good.
- [07:36]
Julie Foudy
Yeah, Drop dropped a goodie because she's been getting a lot of questions on free agents leaving for European teams. Trinity Rahman obviously being the biggest name that people have been talking about. So during NWSL championship weekend during the U.S. women's National Team Games, she's been fielding lots of questions on so on why so many of these players are choosing Europe or heading to Europe. And she shot back recently in a presser she did during the NWSL championship to a bunch of reporters that she wondered why U.S. men's coach. So U.S. men's national team coach Mauricio Pochettino is not asked about American players going overseas while she constantly is. And Emma said it almost feels like we always have to ask that question because it's women. It's almost like as women it's this sense of duty instead of let's celebrate the options that are in front of Them. She emphasized that women finally have a real choice in where they want to play and that this should be celebrated, not scrutinized. And she said, you know, you can have two things at once. The US can have a strong domestic league and elite US Players competing abroad. And a little context. Because years ago, as you know, well, labs, that pipeline for U.S. players was closely tied to playing and staying in the NWSL because U.S. soccer subsidized those salaries and controlled player availability. And today's landscape is very different. And Hays is urging people to update that conversation, which was a fabulous take.
- [09:23]
Abby Wambach
I love this conversation because I think it needs to be said. This is a both. And for me, I love what she's saying. The only thing I would definitely say as a. As an addition to what she is saying is that I think that the reason why we're not talking about it with the men's team is because the leagues over there are better. The leagues. The league here is better than the leagues over in Europe for the women's game. Hot take in the men's game. Yeah, the men's game, you know, the epl, La Liga. It's. It's doesn't compare to the mls. Right. And, and, and though the MLS is growing and it's getting better, I do think that overall, all the teams in the NWSL are better in comparison to all the teams in the foreign and European leagues. Would you agree with that, Jules, Or.
- [10:24]
Julie Foudy
Well, the hot take wasn't regarding the men's leagues, because that's not a hot take. Yes. Yeah, the hot take was. Was, is the NWSL better than the leagues over in Europe? I think the parody of the NWSLS is better. I think that the European players would argue that, like a WSL women's super league, although they don't have the parody of nwsl. The French league, for sure doesn't have the parody. The Spanish league, we know for sure doesn't have the parody. Their top teams possibly compete.
- [10:56]
Abby Wambach
Their top teams compete, no question.
- [10:57]
Julie Foudy
And they. And they have, you know, champions.
- [11:00]
Abby Wambach
But not the entirety of the league. Right, not the entirety of the league. And the problem is, is if we, if we keep losing some of these top US Players to those leagues, then it's going to diminish and dilute the quality of the teams of the nwsl. So, yes, and I hear it. And I think that, like, what she's saying is true, that these players, if there are the options and they want to go play and they want to go find the money. Wonderful. And also it's not just about the money. Like I had dreams and hopes of playing. And we're going to talk more about this. This is not, this is not the totality of the party starter, folks. We have more news. We're going to talk about this in a bigger episode coming up. I think it's really a good topic and an important one for us to keep because clearly we're just still working through some stuff right here, right now.
- [11:43]
Julie Foudy
Yeah.
- [11:44]
Abby Wambach
Next up on the topic block of the party starter. We've got no black female head coaches in the WNBA now. I think that this is a really important thing with all the changes that are happening in the wnba, all the new teams, the new investments, new leagues forming around women's basketball. Yeah. There's still a lot to figure out with the cba and there's a lot of excitement about the future of the sport. But one area that to me doesn't get the attention is who's holding the power right. In the coaching and in ownership and whether women, especially women of color, are being represented in those roles. Right. So after reading a piece by erica Ayala on CBSSports.com it felt really important to me to bring this up because Ayala shares that since the end of the 2023 season, 13 of the league's 15 teams have hired new coaches. And at the time of this recording.
- [12:53]
Julie Foudy
That'S in the last two years, hires.
- [12:55]
Abby Wambach
Yeah, exactly. 13 out of 15 teams in the last two years, none of those hires are black women.
- [13:04]
Let's just like let that sit, folks. I, I'm not even none now. With Noel Quinn not returning to Seattle, the league is heading into the 2026 without a single black woman in a head coaching role, something that only happened twice before. Ayala lays out why the gap matters in a league where most of the players are black women. And for us, part of supporting women's sports is continuing to talk about where representation is strong and also where it is missing. So to shine a light, to draw attention and hopefully to help push the game forward better, more inclusive leadership, we are hoping for that to widening the path, not narrowing it.
- [13:47]
Julie Foudy
All right, our next topic is.
- [13:50]
A women's sports betting app. Abby, this is so very conflicted on this. It's so interesting. So we wanted to talk about it, but I'm very conflicted. Another whole episode we could do on this one and I'm conflicted on it because I have a 16 year old son and I see how 16 year old boys bet all the time like this is very common and it irks the hell out of me. I have this conversation with my Declan, my son Declan, all the time, like, this is a bad, bad thing that is happening. Right? We do not want to get addicted to betting. The gist is reporting that a new app called Rival announced plans to become the first sports book built exclusively around women's sports. And they're aiming to launch in three US betting markets by 2026. And the platform would include wagering across NWSL, WNBA, NCD, NCAA, women's basketball, the WSL, so Women's Super League, the WTA, tennis, and more. And essentially, it's flipping the traditional model where women's sports are a smaller slice of a larger menu. And it's. It's interesting because it shows, obviously, the growth of women's sports. And I love that, that there's a market. But as I was just saying, I. Not sure it's an entirely healthy one. And especially when you're starting at 16.
- [15:23]
Abby Wambach
Do all the other apps and betting sites, do they allow for women's betting? Like, are there. Are you allowed to bet on women's sports on those sites? I wonder. I have no idea. I don't. I'm not in the betting. I.
- [15:36]
Julie Foudy
Yes, I'm not in the betting world either. I think you can. I think this one is exclusively built around women's sports.
- [15:44]
Abby Wambach
Just women. I see. Okay.
- [15:45]
Julie Foudy
Yeah.
- [15:46]
Abby Wambach
All right, next up, we've got makeup brands investing in women sports. To the party people, here's an interesting trend that the sports business is reporting on. Over the past two years, the beauty industry has become one of the fastest growing new investors in women's sports, with brands like Glossier, Elf and Elemis leading the charge. These partnerships are less about makeup ads and more about tapping into cultural relevance and younger audiences, who, research shows, are more loyal to brands that support women's sports. Deloitte projects revenue in women's sports to reach 2.35 billion by 2025. And sponsorships, yeah, much of it coming from the beauty industry is the biggest driver. That's wild. It's another sign that women's sports aren't just having a moment, Jules. They're becoming market leaders, finally being recognized for their commercial power. So that is your party starter, folks. And thanks to Ally for sponsoring this segment. As we know, Ally is more than a bank. And their do it right approach helps customers unlock their economic potential and guides their efforts As a leading sponsor in women's sports. Just like us, Ally believes that when women in sports win, we all have a reason to party. Ally bank member, fdic. And up next, do not forget, you're going to want to stick around. The Kinger is back with us. And we've got the guest that I have been manifesting for months, Natalie Grabow. Stay right here. Be right back.
- [17:29]
Julie Foudy
Abigail's.
- [17:30]
Abby Wambach
Yeah.
- [17:31]
Julie Foudy
Mary, you know, you know very well that we spent a lot of time on the road while we were. A lot of time. And, and yes, it was a gift for sure because we got to see all these amazing places and go to all these places I would have never gone to, which was so fun. But I learned quickly, like, where you stay makes a big difference. Huge difference, Right? So when I was playing with the national team and, and well beyond college, but our college friends would all get together still all the time, and they'd want to go to Tahoe all the time because Tahoe was, of course, who doesn't love Tahoe, right? And they would pick all these different hotels. And I was like, I can't do that anymore. So we got this Airbnb instead of a hotel. And it's amazing because one you all gather, it's all cozy. It's a place where you can actually sit together and cook together and hang out together. And then you have these huge windows overlooking the mountains and it just feels like home. It doesn't feel like you're on the road, which is the gift of Airbnb. And it's what I love most about booking homes through them is that just there's more space, there's more comfort, there's more rooms for Abby so she can quote. There's more connection loudly.
- [18:55]
Abby Wambach
There's more connection with your friends that you're there with. There's more connection. Yeah.
- [18:58]
Julie Foudy
And more rooms for you so you can sleep loudly.
- [19:03]
Snore. And here's what I know while here's what I also learned while I was traveling nonstop, I could have been hosting my own home on Airbnb.
- [19:13]
Abby Wambach
We should have been doing this all along. Yeah.
- [19:15]
Julie Foudy
And now it's easier than ever. Thanks to the co host network, you can literally hire a local co host to help manage everything. Your listing, your reservations, your guest messages, and if you wanted, they'll even give you design and styling tips. I mean, they handle everything so that you don't have to. So I highly recommend it. Find a co host@airbnb.com host. Go do it. Even now, off the field, I still, of course, want food that fuels me properly. And even better if it's got a good mission behind it, like mosh bars. After watching her Father struggle with Alzheimer's. Maria Shriver teamed up with her son Patrick Schwarzenegger to start Mosh. Their mission is to spark a conversation about brain health through food, education and research.
- [20:10]
Abby Wambach
And they're the first and only food brand boosted with Cognizine, a premium nootropic that supplies the brain with citicoline. Okay, and let me just say, Mosh bars taste amazing. My favorite right now is the chocolate chip cookie. It's plant based and it tastes like dessert, honestly, but it gives me the protein and nutrients I want.
- [20:32]
Julie Foudy
And if you want to find ways to give back to others and fuel your body and your brain at the same time, Mosh bars are the perfect choice for you. Head to moshlife.com welcome to the party. To save 20% off plus free shipping on the best sellers trial pack or the new plant based trial pack. That's 20% off plus free shipping on the either bestseller trial pack or the plant based trial pack@moshlife.com welcome to the party. Thank you, Mosh, for sponsoring this episode.
- [21:06]
Abby Wambach
This episode of welcome to the Party is brought to you by Ally Financial. We love that Ally is more than just a bank. They've got this do it right approach that shows up everywhere.
- [21:17]
Julie Foudy
That's right, because Ally actually helps customers unlock their economic potential, all while powering the growth of athletes, fandom, and leagues across women's sports. And as we know, it's been anchored by a historic commitment to increasing visibility by, get this. Spending equally on men's and women's sports media. Ally truly does it right. And they've had official partnerships across the nwsl, wnba, usga, unrivaled and drumroll, please. Beyond that, now that includes this podcast too. So welcome to the party.
- [21:59]
Abby Wambach
Ally an Ally consistently earns accolades as the best online bank, praised for its intuitive app, no monthly fees, smooth navigation, and competitive interest rates, even without minimum balances required.
- [22:15]
Julie Foudy
And here's what we truly love. The same way as Abby was talking about that Ally puts customers first in banking, they put women first in sports, and they are literally making history with equal spending on men's and women's sports media. And that's why they're the perfect partner for welcome to the Party. Visibility, equity, empowerment. It all connects party people.
- [22:41]
Abby Wambach
Whether you're here for the show or looking for a bank that truly has your back, Ally's got you covered. Ally the bank. That's your ally. Ally Bank Member fdic.
- [22:58]
Julie Foudy
Okay, and now to the party as well. Part of our party, there are athletes who inspire us. And then There are athletes who stop us in our tracks, who make us question what limits even are. And today's guest is absolutely one of those people. At 80 years old, Natalie Grabo became the oldest woman to ever finish the full distance Ironman world championship in Kona. And just a reminder, party people, that is 2.4 miles of swimming, a 112 mile bike ride, and same day, a 26.2 mile. That's a marathon run in the brutal heat and humidity, surrounded by athletes that are half, even a quarter her age. And Natalie, get this. Is a retired software engineer from New Jersey, a mother of four, a grandmother of two, and she only learned to swim at 59 years old. And since then, she's competed in 10 Ironman races, defying every silly expectation about age and endurance and instead proving what's possible when you just keep moving forward. She's been everywhere lately. The New York Times, npr, People magazine. But we're especially excited because this has been on our wish list for welcome to the party. Abby even shouted it out on the Today show recently.
- [24:25]
Abby Wambach
Okay. My dream guest right now is Natalie Grabow.
- [24:28]
Julie Foudy
So today we get to make Abby's wish come true and all of ours, too, because part of people we're talking to the unstoppable, unshakable, truly extraordinary Natalie Grabo. Natalie Grabo, welcome to the party. Welcome to the party.
- [24:45]
Natalie.
- [24:47]
Abby Wambach
Oh, my God.
- [24:48]
Billy Jean King
We got her.
- [24:49]
Natalie Grabo
It's my pleasure.
- [24:50]
Julie Foudy
Are you.
- [24:51]
Natalie Grabo
But I don't want my children to think that they have two siblings that are missing. So I have two children and four grandchildren.
- [24:59]
Abby Wambach
Oh.
- [25:02]
Julie Foudy
My bad, my bad. Okay, good.
- [25:05]
Billy Jean King
This is great.
- [25:06]
Julie Foudy
Three generations, two children, mother of two, grandmother of four. Correction.
- [25:11]
Natalie Grabo
We'll make it.
- [25:12]
Abby Wambach
Thank you.
- [25:12]
Billy Jean King
I keep trying to envision this triathlon and an 80 year old. Natalie. You doing it? I just. Why do you do it? How do you do it? I don't get it.
- [25:24]
Natalie Grabo
Well, there's a couple questions there. I do it because I love it. I love moving, I love training. I like that better than the race itself. I just need to do something every day. So that's why I love it. And this was a great challenge.
- [25:43]
For me because no one had ever completed it at 80. So the oldest woman was Cherie Gruenfeld at 78. And I had a great year this year. I did three 70.3s, which are the half Ironman distance. That's what they call that.
- [25:57]
Julie Foudy
God, on top of the full. You did three half Ironmans?
- [26:03]
Abby Wambach
Is it part of your training, Natalie?
- [26:07]
Natalie Grabo
Two of them were only two weeks apart. So I Was really, oh, happy to have. I did one in Maryland, one in Mont Tremblant, Canada, and then one in upstate New York. And I felt great after each of them. And I did really well in the mall. And so I went into this race with a lot of confidence.
- [26:25]
Billy Jean King
You keep saying, and I feel great after the race. I feel great after this race. And I'm like, how can you feel good after hours and hours?
- [26:34]
Natalie Grabo
Because you train killing yourself. You train for it. You don't just, you know, do it. You, of course, it's 21 years of training, really, of consistency. Consistency is the key to everything, you know, of staying on that fine line, the right side of the fine line, of not getting injured so that you can get up and do something each day. And the beauty of triathlon is that you have the three sports. So if you have a foot injury, you can bike or swim, and if you have a shoulder injury, you can bike and run. So that's the thing that I love about it, because I love to do something every day, at least one thing, preparing for my races. I do quite often two workouts a day.
- [27:19]
So I just eat a lot.
- [27:21]
Abby Wambach
Yeah. I mean, honestly, that might be the only reason why I would ever do this. So I could eat twice as much.
- [27:28]
Julie Foudy
Yeah, I get three times a day.
- [27:30]
Abby Wambach
Yes.
- [27:31]
Julie Foudy
Thank you.
- [27:31]
Abby Wambach
I'm curious about the mentality that goes into this. Like, was there something that switched when you started training for triathlons and you. You. You learned how to swim in your late 50s? Like, what mentally do you have to have in order to. Because the way that I think about this kind of training is there's a lot of suffering involved and a lot of, like, mental strength that you need to have. Is there a part of your training that. That you work on the mentality piece or, like, was there some sort of event that happened that you were like, this is now the person that I am? Like, what? How does this happen?
- [28:13]
Natalie Grabo
I think it happens when you're born. You're born with a competitive spirit. And I wasn't able to do anything as a girl. We had no sports. We wore dresses. We watched the boys in high school, I was a cheerleader. And you forget that I was born in 45. So it took a long time for Title IX and all that. And so when I had my girls, I played a little tennis. I wasn't real good king or gave her a yes, yeah, baby. And then when I went back to work, I started running because that was something I could do in a short time and get fit to go to your question, it's something that I've always been competitive. I've always wanted that outlet to compete. And so when I was running, I started entering 5Ks and 10Ks and I loved it and I did very well. I won my age group most of the time, so I was a very good runner. And so I've always loved competing and doing my best. And so it's not, I don't think anything is suffering. It's. I have a very strong mind. I can sit on the trainer, on a bike with just my music for five and a half or six hours and I can be fine because I love it. I know it sounds a little weird at my age now I get together with my high school girlfriends at least twice a year. And when we started getting together 25 years ago, they looked at me so strangely. You know, they watched what I ate and they couldn't figure it out. But they've come to accept it, which is, you know, very good because I don't have to explain myself while I, why I bring my bike and why I go out for my runs and stuff. So, you know, they've come to terms with it. But it's just a, it's just a love of mine for sports. I had, you know, my one daughter supports me in my big races. I couldn't. Well, I could do it, but she makes it so much more fun. She, she comes out and she just is such a wonderful. She, she rents a bike and she puts lights all over her and she's out there on the course. Mom, you're doing great, Mom. So it's just wonderful having her there.
- [30:31]
Abby Wambach
So can you explain to the pod squad? So we have our, our listeners, some of them, yeah, the party people. They may not be completely educated on what Ironmans and cutoffs and whatnot. Can you tell us a little bit about that?
- [30:46]
Natalie Grabo
Sure. And your money really affects this, you know, the slower people. But.
- [30:52]
You have to finish the swim in two hours and 20 minutes or you can't go on.
- [30:57]
Abby Wambach
Wow.
- [30:57]
Billy Jean King
Really?
- [30:59]
Natalie Grabo
You have to finish. There's a mid midway point on the bike, it's a turnaround point and you have to be there at a certain time or you can't go on. And then you have to finish the bike at a certain time or you can't go on to run. And then there's at least one or two cutoffs during the run where they look at your pace and say, okay, at that pace you're not going to finish under 17 hours. So. Because they need to Open up the roads and all that kind of thing. So it's not like some races that you can continue on forever, but. So there are cutoff times.
- [31:33]
Julie Foudy
How many people actually don't finish the race?
- [31:38]
Natalie Grabo
There are quite a number. I don't know how many, but there are some. And it's a very strict 17 hours. You could be one second over it. And no, really.
- [31:52]
When I think of.
- [31:54]
Julie Foudy
Like, I'm 54, and my body when I run too much is very clear about this is too much. I still love to run, but I can only do it a few days a week. And it's about, like, three miles, but it, like, is. Is very clear. Like your hip. My hip starts hurting, my back gets tight. So at 80, to do the mileage you do and the distance you do, how does your body and joints and all of that handle it?
- [32:26]
Natalie Grabo
Well, I have to tell you, I don't run that much. So my total mileage per week is never more than 20 miles total. So I do, like, maybe two or three short runs that are like 30 minutes, 30 or 45 minutes during the week in preparation for an ironman. And then I do a long run on Sunday, and that's a combination of a run walk. So that's a run for a mile, walk for a minute, run for a mile. Because that's basically what you do in a race at my age. You walk through the aid stations, and they're located about every mile on the run course. And that's when you get your hydration, your nutrition. Okay. It's every place you can put it. And. And because it's so hot and humid there, the trick is, you know, if you saw any of the pros this year, they overheated and they had to stop. They were leading, and they just couldn't go on because their bodies got so hot. For me, having been there 10 times before was so helpful because.
- [33:29]
I'm used to knowing what it's like. The heat, the wind, the humidity.
- [33:36]
It's just really hard. So, you know, I was familiar with that, and I think that really helped.
- [33:43]
Billy Jean King
You know, my mom and I used to talk about this. She'd go, you know, she was 80. She'd go, I have to talk to you. Just come and sit down. And she'd go, billy, I want you to know you just never stop moving. Because if you stop moving, it's over. And you're reminding me of that quote from my mom and how insistent she was to keep moving. And here at 80 years old, you're really teaching us to keep moving, to keep doing our thing. But I just. As a, as a person who was born in the same era, it's so interesting to hear how you went through, like, you didn't have the opportunities and now you're taking advantage of it, which is great. And I think the new 80, I think the 80 is the new 60, probably. I don't know. It seems amazing what you're doing and setting such a great example for us, though. I mean, you've got me so wound up now. Like, you're like, I'm ready to go. I mean, let's go. And so I think it's fantastic to listen to you at any age.
- [34:38]
Natalie Grabo
Well, I feel so lucky that I can do this. This is what, you know, when you watch, you know, a group of cyclists go and you, you haven't gotten there yet, or, you know, you're not allowed, or you haven't gotten a tri bike yet, and you say, oh, someday I'd like to do that. And you get to do this. You know, how lucky am I that I get to do this now? I just love it. I'll do it as long as I can. So maybe some of the women who had those opportunities young, maybe at certain ages, they, they say, okay, I've done that. You know, I'm going to move on to something else. But it's important to keep moving, I think, even if you don't, you know, compete or whatever.
- [35:22]
Abby Wambach
So, yeah, and talk about being.
- [35:28]
A North Star for all of us. That will be coming behind you. You had a bit of a North Star with your friend Sherry Grunfeld or Grunfield. And I'm curious because she was the one that you hugged when you crossed the finish line, which to me, it made me, it made me weep when I watched the video.
- [35:50]
Natalie Grabo
She was very, very generous with her comments and she had texted me, you know, when she found out I was there, because they don't publish who's competing. You don't really know who's going to show up. So I didn't even know whether she might be racing or not, but she just, you know, wished me a lot of luck and she was just very sweet at the end.
- [36:16]
Julie Foudy
Take us to the moment, Natalie, if you would of actually crossing that finish line in Kona. I mean, that was amazing to see. And that's that video just like to Abby's point of bringing us to tears like that, that brought me to tears. I was like, oh, my gosh, this woman has just done this.
- [36:38]
Natalie Grabo
That was embarrassing for me with my little Tumble. That was very.
- [36:44]
Julie Foudy
Explain that for people who haven't seen it and we'll put it in the.
- [36:47]
Natalie Grabo
It's a little uphill and there's carpeting. And I guess I just didn't see it, didn't pick up my foot, whatever. And I was just so surprised. How did I get on the ground here? And so I just wanted to get rid of that and get up and pretend it didn't happen. So that was. That was shocking. So anyway, then I just. The rest is a blur. And then Cherie was there and actually. Actually the guy who put the towel around me was my. My coach came and that was her husband who work in the finish line. So. And then it was just wonderful because so many people were so happy for me. And. And so that was. That was just a great feeling. And, you know, my daughter was there at the end then, and my coach and, you know, it was just. We have a lot of traditions, my daughter and I, for the, you know, going back to the house and then the next day. Day for breakfast. And so she's done this with me for so many years, so we have so much fun and a lot of laughs and a lot of traditions of what she gets me for breakfast and I stay in bed and eat my breakfast and have to rally for the awards dinner that night.
- [37:58]
Abby Wambach
You just said that you might have had a little embarrassment around that little stumble, but the truth is you've just covered 104, 40 miles through swim, bike and run. And there are such a few human beings on the planet that could get to that point in general without having collapsed or fallen. Like, you just tripped and that's fine. Like, but you. Then you just got right up and you still cross that finish line. And that to me, honestly, like, I was like, yes, keep going. Let's go. Yeah. And you finished. And I just, like, with this stumble as well. Like, that was like the most. It was just you. It was one of the most inspiring things I have ever seen in my life.
- [38:44]
Natalie Grabo
Thank you.
- [38:45]
Abby Wambach
And I'm so grateful to you for not only coming on here and having. Getting the chance to talk to you, because what you've done is.
- [38:57]
So rare.
- [38:58]
Natalie Grabo
There's so many wonderful, strong women who competed that day and did so well at their age group too, and they inspire me too. I mean, there's some great women coming up and they're going to compete at 80, I'm sure, and do well. So they'll, you know, you'll see more and more.
- [39:23]
Abby Wambach
Okay, let's be honest. Most bras Were designed by people who have never worn one. Okay. It was founded by women who were done settling for just good enough.
- [39:38]
Natalie Grabo
Yeah.
- [39:38]
Abby Wambach
Okay. These bra jewels actually solve real fit problems. Extra lift, no spillage, no digging, Just comfort that lasts all day. And they're made with high quality materials and even thermoregulating fabrics. So, Jules, you know us, we're getting towards that menopause.
- [39:57]
Julie Foudy
I just want to say I. Yeah, I am the ability to appreciate that.
- [40:02]
Abby Wambach
Yes.
- [40:02]
Julie Foudy
Thank you.
- [40:03]
Abby Wambach
Stay cool. And. And did you know that they have 60 plus sizes from double A to H, including the half cup sizes? Because, you know, our. Our boobs are just not the same size. Usually have one that's bigger than the other. It's, like, so weird, but that's just the way it is.
- [40:20]
Julie Foudy
And they invented lopsided.
- [40:24]
Abby Wambach
But they invented this for us in betweeners. Right? So, seriously, half cups? How has nobody thought of this before?
- [40:31]
Julie Foudy
I don't know.
- [40:31]
Abby Wambach
Seems kind of unfair that it's taken this long. Thank you, third Love, for thinking of all of our boob sizes. Okay, so mine, the ones that I'm reaching for without even thinking they are that good. And if you can see me out in the wild, I am 100% wearing one. And you can't see it because it's under my clothes. So I'm just going to tell you about it here instead. I promise. I'm wearing them. Stop settling for average bras. Get solutions made for your body. Get 15 off your first purchase@thirdlove.com with code podcast15. That is podcast15.
- [41:08]
Julie Foudy
Thank you for not flashing us. This show is sponsored by Midi Health. Thank you, Medi Health and Abs. I'll be honest, I used to think that I had my body down to a science, right? I knew what I needed, what it could handle, how to get back on track. And then. And then life threw at me. Perimenopause and menopause. And suddenly I was like, what is happening?
- [41:35]
Why did someone change the settings on me? I don't get it. Like, temperature settings changed everything. I had all these symptoms, these questions, a lot of fog and no clear places to turn. And that's why Midi Health becomes this absolutely game changer, because they're actually bringing real expertise to the phase of life. Most women are expected to just, like, figure it out. Figure it out.
- [42:01]
Abby Wambach
So annoying.
- [42:02]
Julie Foudy
Yeah. And I'm like, what do you mean? I don't even know what the hell this is. How am I supposed to figure it out exactly? With midi, you can meet online with clinicians who specialize in perimenopause and menopause. And they can actually explain, like, what's happening, why you're feeling that way, and how, most importantly, you can feel better. They support everything from hormone health to sleep to mood to energy and weight management. And it's all through personalized care that's covered by insurance, so. Good, because here's what we know. This stage of life is an ending, so you gotta wrap your arms around it. Party people. It's a transition that we're gonna handle just fine. And you deserve care that meets you right where you are. Ready to feel your best and write your second act script. Yes. Visit joinmitty.com today to book your personalized insurance covered virtual visit. That's joinmitty.com MIDI the care women deserve abs. Here's the thing about being a great gift giver. Well, I don't know if I could. No, I'm not a great gift giver. It's not my love language. Here's my problem. When you find something like that's perfect for someone on your list, you almost don't want to give it away. And that's where I fall into the problem of like, oh, well, I think I should just have this as well. That's exactly what happened with quints on my last order. Right. It's like so soft, so well made.
- [43:39]
I had a real moment of wanting to keep it for myself, so I did. Luckily, quints is so affordable. I can do that. And I can deck out my friends or family in like cashmere, for example, at the same time they have this Mongolian cashmere sweater. So their quince Mongolian cashmere sweater. It starts at $50 and literally you'd normally pay like 200 for something like that. And you can wear it on repeat, which is really nice. And then they've got denim that goes with everything, Beautiful silk tops if you want to get fancy. Even skirts want to look put together. Okay, let's go. Cashmere beanies. I could see you in those. And scarves down jackets actually keep you warm.
- [44:25]
Abby Wambach
Yeah. Yeah, let's go.
- [44:26]
Julie Foudy
So my Mongolian cashmere crudnik sweater and heather storm blue. I love Heather storm blue, by the way, is the ultimate closet staple. I. I literally practically sleep in this sweater. I love it so much. So find gifts so good you'll want to keep them. Like I do with quince. Go to quince.com welcome to the party for free shipping on Your order and 365 day returns now available in Canada as well. That's Quince.com Q-U-I-N C E.com welcome to the party. To get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quints.com. welcome to the party.
- [45:17]
Okay, we're gonna do our final segment, Natalie. It's party poppers and rapid fire questions that pop. Are you ready?
- [45:27]
Abby Wambach
Yes.
- [45:27]
Natalie Grabo
Yes, I'm ready.
- [45:28]
Julie Foudy
Okay, you're ready. She's like, yes. Okay.
- [45:31]
Abby Wambach
Yes.
- [45:31]
Julie Foudy
What's your favorite Born ready? What is your favorite pump up song or the music you listen to that inspires you when you're training?
- [45:40]
Natalie Grabo
Oh, gosh. I just turn on the radio and whatever comes on I listen to.
- [45:48]
I don't have a playlist.
- [45:49]
Billy Jean King
That's our generation, baby. Turn on the radio.
- [45:52]
Natalie Grabo
I just turn on the radio. It's so good.
- [45:55]
Abby Wambach
Okay, here's the second question. What would your 15 year old self be most surprised about with your 80 year old self?
- [46:03]
Natalie Grabo
Oh gosh, that I learned to swim.
- [46:06]
Billy Jean King
What about, what do you, what do you, what do you eat before you race on race day?
- [46:11]
Natalie Grabo
Cheerios and blueberries and with 2% milk and orange juice and coffee. It's what I eat every morning.
- [46:20]
Julie Foudy
There you have it, party people.
- [46:22]
Billy Jean King
We should talk about consistency, right? What could you tell us about misconceptions, you know, that people have about aging? What do you, what could you pass on to them? You know, like.
- [46:33]
Natalie Grabo
Well, it's hard to say. You know, I don't understand the mentality of being okay, getting older. I don't want to ever feel like I'm getting older and I don't understand why you would want to accept getting older. And so I, I think.
- [46:52]
Billy Jean King
Just, just.
- [46:54]
Natalie Grabo
Fight that. Just keep moving and doing things and being interested in things. I think moving your body is an important part of that.
- [47:05]
But also reading books or keeping your mind mentally active and all that, it's all part of it. But I think the physical part for me, it helps my mental state of mind as well. If I'm strong physically, my husband needs a lot of care. I'm his caretaker. If I weren't as strong mentally and physically, I couldn't help him like I do. Be the best that you can be. You know, not everybody is blessed with the same talents, but I've always just wanted to be as good as I can be. And that's what I try to tell my girls. You know, not everybody's going to be the best, but if you just take advantage of what you have and do the best and you can't ask for more than that, I think that is.
- [47:56]
Julie Foudy
The perfect note to end this on Natalie.
- [47:59]
Abby Wambach
Agree.
- [48:00]
Julie Foudy
So well said. And that's it. That's exactly it. Whatever you can do, be the best version of yourself. It doesn't have to be running an Iron man if that's not your thing, but like, just keep moving. Good things happen when you keep moving. And thank you for being a North Star for us for this and I know for so many other people and what you've been able to do.
- [48:21]
Natalie Grabo
It's been great to meet you all. Thank you.
- [48:23]
Billy Jean King
Thank you.
- [48:24]
Abby Wambach
It's so great to meet you too. You made this little. This girl over here wish come true. Thank you so much for coming on and joining us and just spreading your. Your attitude of gratitude. I mean, I really just, I think it is such a healing way to live. And as all of us, because we're all aging here. No matter what age you're at, party people, you can get out and go for a walk. You can do it. If Natalie can do it, we can.
- [48:53]
Billy Jean King
If you.
- [48:54]
Abby Wambach
If Natalie can. Can complete an Iron man, we can go for a walk.
- [48:58]
Julie Foudy
That's right. Last thing we do, Natalie, is we do a little party pose on three. Okay. So any fun little party pose you want. And it's like we take a picture at the end of the party. Are you ready?
- [49:13]
Natalie Grabo
Okay.
- [49:15]
Julie Foudy
Do you want to think about it? You don't need to think about it. Whatever comes to mind. Okay.
- [49:19]
Natalie Grabo
On three, I'm going to watch you guys and see what you do.
- [49:22]
Julie Foudy
Okay. You can wreck. One, two, three.
- [49:31]
I was trying to portray strength. That's what you are, Strong. I loved having her on. Oh, my goodness. Kinger, what resonated with you? Because I know everything probably, I think.
- [49:45]
Billy Jean King
Just explaining her life, like not having Title nine. She was born competitive. She's just the perfect person to listen to, to know what she's done in her later life. But when she was growing up, she didn't have all these opportunities that we have now. And I know the younger generations.
- [50:07]
I know they're not going to get it, but some of them, occasionally you get an athlete today that's young, that gets it and they really appreciate what came before them. I've always been indebted to like Title ix. I mean, I got to know Senator Birch Bayh really well and he's one of the co authors and how they decided to leave activity in the law because they kept taking it out, putting it back in. And he said, you know what? We finally said, just leave activity in. Let's see what happens. And then he saw what Title IX did for women's sports yeah, One quick.
- [50:42]
Julie Foudy
Note on that, which is so cool, is he said that they put it in a small thing font. Abby, I don't know if you've ever heard this story. The sports activity part of that, to Kinger's reference, they put it in a small font as, like a separate little thing. As part of it was because it was an educational amendment, because they didn't want to draw attention to it, because they felt if they drew attention to it, people would strike it and not vote for it. So they put it in a small font and kind of put it in there and said, okay, don't even mention that. That we put that in there. The activity.
- [51:15]
Natalie Grabo
It.
- [51:15]
Billy Jean King
Yeah, it was like an add on. Just like, oh, yeah. Just kind of like, oh, this little nothing.
- [51:19]
Abby Wambach
Well, the thing that I loved about Natalie, that I am forever changed about, is I think, this idea that as we age, we believe that we're supposed to just start doing less so as to avoid any kind of discomfort or doing hard things. Right. And I think what she does is turns towards, especially early in the day, to get your workout done early in the day. We call it eating the frog. In our family, do the worst thing first thing. But turning towards the difficult thing as we age, it doesn't mean that we're going to live an ease, free, you know, a difficult, free life, and just live a life of ease. Like turning towards that difficult thing for a period of your day just makes the day better. And. And I knew that as an athlete. I know that now as a retired athlete, but I want. I want to maybe turn towards something more difficult. Maybe we should think about training for something. Jules, Billy, What? Do you guys want to train for something?
- [52:20]
Natalie Grabo
Let's do it.
- [52:21]
Billy Jean King
I want to keep hitting. No, I just want to keep hitting tennis balls. I'm so excited. I can do about 50 minutes and I am finished. I am kaput.
- [52:30]
Julie Foudy
If it isn't running or if it isn't, like, if that's not making you feel good, fine. What makes you feel good? Go to a yoga class or go to another class, like, with a friend or go for a walk. Like, it's so true. Like, there are so many things that can keep you moving.
- [52:43]
Billy Jean King
I think some people need people with them they really love. Like, I know this one woman just loves cycling, and absolutely, she likes it because the people are there. It's about relationships.
- [52:53]
Natalie Grabo
Yeah.
- [52:54]
Julie Foudy
All right, party people, don't forget to subscribe to the welcome to the party YouTube channel. Right. So you can actually see us and see the Kinger click that little bell icon. So you get updates when new episodes go live?
- [53:09]
Abby Wambach
Yeah, I think that the rating and reviewing I read them. That is my new form of. Of of social media. I love it. Subscribe to this podcast wherever you get your podcasts, whether it's Apple podcasts, Spotify, and then also be sure to follow us on Instagram and Tick Tock at Welcome to the Party show. That's where Julie, Billy and I will bring this party straight to your feed. And again, thanks again to Kate Diaz for our theme music. We love it. Do you guys want to do usa usa. Usa.
- [53:40]
Julie Foudy
We are gonna do an usa usa, usa. Kinger. Kinger. Pause in. You want to lead us in on this or do you want me to?
- [53:47]
Billy Jean King
No, you lead because this is your thing. You own it. You guys own it.
- [53:51]
Julie Foudy
All right, we're doing.
- [53:55]
On three from the soul. One, two, three.
- [54:02]
Billy Jean King
Give me the ball.
- [54:03]
Abby Wambach
Welcome to the Party is an independent production brought to you by Treat Media. Treat Media makes art for humans who want to stay human. Silver Tribe is our production partner and you can also watch our full conversations on the welcome to the party YouTube channel and follow us at welcome to the Party show on Instagram and TikTok.