Welcome to the Party: “Allyson Felix Took On Corporate Sports—and Won”

Podcast: Welcome to the Party
Hosts: Julie Foudy (“A”), Abby Wambach (“B”), Billie Jean King (“C”)
Guest: Allyson Felix (“D”)
Date: September 4, 2025

Episode Overview

The debut episode of "Welcome to the Party" launches with a celebration of women’s sports and an impassioned mission: build a vibrant, supportive community for fans and athletes alike. Hosts Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy, and Billie Jean King set the stage for a fun, inclusive show, featuring change-makers and athletes across eras and sports. The party’s first honored guest is track and field legend Allyson Felix, whose courageous stand against Nike reshaped the industry’s treatment of female athletes and mothers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Show’s Mission and Format

• Celebrating Women’s Sports: The hosts hail from different generations and backgrounds but share a passion for amplifying women's achievements and stories (00:15–03:49).
  • Quote: “Our mission’s to celebrate, elevate, come on, educate. And that's about all of our women's sports, all of them.”
    — Billie Jean King [00:41]
• Community Invitation: All listeners, new or long-term fans, are welcome; listeners are invited to contribute ideas for topics and guests.
• Format: Regular segments include “favorite play/moment of the week,” interviews, live events, and audience Q&A.

2. Favorite Moments of the Summer

Each host shares a highlight from women’s sports over the summer, setting a tone of celebration.

Abby: Katie Ledecky’s New World Record

• Ledecky shattered her own 800m freestyle world record, finishing 20 seconds ahead of the next swimmer.
• Quote: “How do you actually try really hard, so hard that you break a world record when 20 seconds later, the next finisher finishes?”
  — Abby Wambach [05:59]

Billie Jean King: Victoria Imboko’s Breakthrough

• Rising Canadian tennis star Victoria Imboko won the Canadian Open, beating Naomi Osaka in the final at age 18.
• Praised her on-court skills and her off-court composure.

Julie: Marta’s Copa America Heroics

• Marta comes off the bench at 39 and scores twice for Brazil—game-tying and match-winning goals—proving the enduring impact of legends.
• Quote: “She cranks this ball on a half volley… that’s ridiculous. She put it on a clothesline. It went upper quarter to actually tie the game.”
  — Julie Foudy [11:42]

3. Billie Jean King’s Motto: “Don’t Settle for the Crumbs” [18:36]

• Kinger’s signature advice: “Do not settle. I want people to think about having all the cake and icing and the sprinkles and the cherry on top… Do not settle for the crumbs.”

4. Interview: Allyson Felix's Journey and Impact

A. Calm Under Pressure and Athlete Mindset

• Abby marvels at Allyson’s game face: “Every tendon of your body and muscle fiber is twitching, yet your face is completely calm.” [21:04]

• Allyson jokes: “It feels like you look a hot mess… I’m glad to hear it appears to be calm, because within, that is not what’s happening.” [21:39]

B. Taking on Nike and Changing Industry Policy

• Nike threatened a 70% pay cut when they learned Felix was pregnant; she demanded maternal protection for all sponsored athletes.

• When Nike refused, she left and started her own shoe company, Seiche.

• Source of Courage:

  • “There was no part that felt brave or courageous. It was just like, from deep within, I have to do this for her [my daughter], for her generation.”
    — Allyson Felix [25:20]

• Felix’s actions led Nike to change their pregnancy policies and influenced industry-wide reform.

• Became a beacon for advocacy, starting a women-focused sports agency and championing Black maternal health.

C. Finding Her Voice

• Felix describes her transformation from introverted, rules-following athlete to outspoken advocate.
  • “I’m most proud that I found my voice… It scared me to have an opinion on anything. But I finally got to this place in my life where I could speak out and say, it’s okay if people criticize this.”
    — Allyson Felix [27:26]
• Billie Jean King and Julie Foudy relate, discussing how hard moments push athletes and advocates to use their voices for real change.
• “There’s power in the collective… these companies changed their policy because I stood up, because other women stood up.”
  — Allyson Felix [29:08]

D. Power of Mentorship and Trailblazing

• Billie Jean King celebrates Felix’s courage, noting the importance of generations building on each other’s efforts.
• Felix in turn credits King’s example for inspiring her to take bold action.

E. $20 Million Melinda Gates Grant and Ongoing Advocacy

• On receiving a transformative grant for advocacy work: “It really, to me, validated the work… a lot of organizations that wouldn’t typically get funding.”
  — Allyson Felix [26:45]
• Focused primarily on maternal health and deploying those funds for maximum impact.
• “What can we do for you?” The hosts ask how their community can support Felix’s ventures: Seiche sneakers (designed for women’s feet), her female athlete-focused agency Always Alpha, Olympic Committee initiatives, and Black maternal health advocacy.
  • “It’s more about awareness and getting that word out.”
    — Allyson Felix [34:43]

F. Olympic Athlete Nursery

• Felix started the first-ever nursery at the Olympics in Paris for athlete parents.
• Now focused on expanding that model and supporting athlete families.

G. The Future of Track & Field

• Billie Jean King and Felix discuss the fragmentation of track and field, lack of a clear season, and need for new formats and investment (Athlos, Grand Slam league models, etc.).
• Felix is hopeful the LA 2028 Olympics will provide a spark for American track and field.

H. What’s Next for Allyson Felix?

• Continuing to grow businesses, release a book, and promote her recent documentary “She Runs the World.”
• Editing a book: “It’s the worst… If any of you want to send me tips…” [42:15]

5. Highlights and Memorable Exchanges

On the Power of the Collective

• “Sometimes you have to give up something to get the better new thing… And like you said, collectively doing it, getting everyone on… the same page.”
  — Billie Jean King [31:47]

On Legacy

• King reflects: “Legacy is what other people think about you. But what I care about is what contributions can I make while I’m on Earth?” [56:44]
• On generations lifting each other up:
  • “We’re just standing on the shoulders of others… there’s always someone that came before you that paved that way."
    — Julie Foudy [60:05]

Community-Building Spirit

• Hosts emphasize that every listener is invited to the party—women’s sports are for everyone.
  • “Everyone is welcome… Invite your friends or 500 to the party, even those who are not big women's sports fans yet. They're not there yet because everyone is welcome.”
    — Julie Foudy [65:20]

6. The Goats Ask the Goat: “Just Ask the Kinger” [52:42–64:00]

A recurring segment where top female athletes “ask the OG goat” (Billie Jean King) their burning questions:

• Coco Gauff (Tennis): What’s your favorite sport to watch (besides tennis)?
  King: “Probably basketball. My dad was a basketball player… but I should say baseball, because of my brother.” [53:15]

• Mikaela Shiffrin (Skiing): Do you reflect on your impact in women’s sports?
  King: “No, I don’t think like that… I’m not done yet. I want athletes to think about ‘we’ instead of ‘me’.” [56:44]

• Mia Hamm (Soccer): What’s your best-worst dance?
  Leads to laughter and chair-dancing. “I can’t stand up—I don’t have pants on today!” — Billie Jean King [63:08].

7. Tone and Fun Moments

• The show is humorous, energetic, and deeply supportive. From stories of puking in sprints to hosts' competitive replay of locker-room antics, the tone is playful and full of camaraderie.
• Each segment closes with party poses, power cheers, and an open invitation to all.

Timestamps for Core Segments

• Mission & intro to the show: 00:00–04:30
• Summer sports moments: 04:43–14:06
• Billie Jean King’s “Don’t settle for crumbs” philosophy: 18:36
• Allyson Felix interview: 20:26–46:44
• Goats Ask the Kinger: 52:42–64:00
• Closing party cheer and invitation to listeners: 65:33–66:50

Notable Quotes

• “Do not settle for the crumbs. …Don’t ask for more. Be careful. No, no, no, no. Do not settle for the crumbs.”
  — Billie Jean King [18:36]

• “There was no part that felt brave or courageous… I had to do this for her [my daughter], for her generation.”
  — Allyson Felix [25:20]

• “I’m most proud that I found my voice ... to say it’s okay if people criticize this.”
  — Allyson Felix [27:26]

• “Legacy is what other people think about you. But what I care about is what contributions can I make while I’m on Earth?”
  — Billie Jean King [56:44]

Final Thoughts

The inaugural episode sets a high-energy, deeply thoughtful tone for the series. It uses humor, candor, and inspiration to build bridges across generations and sports. Allyson Felix’s story stands as a case study in the power of courage, collective action, and the impact of refusing to “settle for crumbs.” Throughout, the hosts demonstrate that women’s sports thrive on community, advocacy, and a relentless commitment to fun. Everyone is not just invited—the party can’t happen without you.