Jordan Thompson Opens Up About Her Mental Health Journey

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Welcome to the Party

Episode: Jordan Thompson Opens Up About Her Mental Health Journey
Date: June 11, 2026
Host: Treat Media
Featuring: Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy, Billie Jean King (regular contributor), and guest Jordan Thompson

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Overview

In this episode, Olympic volleyball star Jordan Thompson joins Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy for a live, energetic discussion about her mental health journey, the ups and downs of elite sport, leadership, self-belief, and the power of community in women’s sports. The episode is a celebration of vulnerability, resilience, and the importance of finding joy—both on and off the court.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Reality Behind the Highlight Reels

[06:21–08:03]

• Jordan describes how her journey to becoming an Olympic gold medalist is filled with ups and downs.
• The highlight reels on social feel great, but "It has been a journey, and I think that's really kept me grounded."
• The support system—coaches, friends, mentors—is essential to surviving tough moments.
• Notable moment: The gold medal wasn’t just a personal victory, but the culmination of collective effort:

  "In that moment, I felt like, holy crap, we did it. Like, not just the team, but every single community and group of people that helped us get to that point." (Jordan Thompson, 07:11)

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2. Building Your Support Network

[08:03–10:40]

• Abby prompts a reflection on how young athletes can find their "people."
• Jordan credits not just parents, but teachers and other trusted adults for checking in and caring.
• As an adult, seeking help (like hiring someone to assist with organization) is key.
• Admission of weaknesses is healthy:

  "Sometimes it's just like, the acknowledgement of, like, this is just not what I'm good at. Like, I'm great on the volleyball court ... but as an adult, you have to take care of fricking taxes!" (Jordan Thompson, 09:39)

• The importance of "trial and error" in finding support.

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3. Speaking Openly About Mental Health and Therapy

[10:40–11:54]

• Jordan openly discusses her lifelong experience with therapy:

  "I've been in and out of therapy my whole life. ... It's helped me so much with my mental health." (Jordan Thompson, 10:40)

• Being on medication and seeking professional help should be normalized, not stigmatized.
• Vulnerability is re-framed as a source of strength.
• Abby and Julie echo the change from past athlete generations:

  "Professional athletes are not immortal and we are not robots." (Abby Wambach, 11:54)

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4. Burnout, Breaks, and Self-Advocacy

[13:20–14:51]

• Jordan insists that it’s not just OK—it's necessary to take breaks, even from things you love.
• Self-care for her might mean no social media after tough games, quiet weekends, or simply downtime.
• Jordan gives permission to all young athletes:

  "We're humans too at the end of the day, so we need to take a beat when we need to and that's fine." (Jordan Thompson, 14:51)

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5. Finding Joy in Sport

[16:08–17:13]

• Joy, not just achievement, is paramount—on and off the court.
• Jordan’s overseas stints in Indonesia, and being part of Athletes Unlimited, rekindled her sense of fun and community.
• "It kind of goes back to ... looking at the whole human and how can we make this experience positive and enjoyable and joyful?" (Jordan Thompson, 16:23)
• Athletes Unlimited's intentional focus on team-building and off-court events is highlighted as a model.

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6. Leadership: Being Liked vs. Setting Higher Standards

[19:13–23:05]

• Abby raises the classic captain’s dilemma: How do you balance the need to be liked with the need to hold teammates accountable?
• Jordan:

  "I think about the captains and leaders that have really made an impact on my life ... making those connections ... building that trust. ... So then when you do have to have those hard conversations, they know that it's coming from a place of love and care." (Jordan Thompson, 20:00)

• Julie delivers a core mantra:

  "People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care." (Julie Foudy, 22:28)

• Simple check-ins matter—even a "Hey, what's up?" builds trust and empathy that fuel effective leadership.

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7. Motivation and Self-Belief

[29:57–33:33]

• Jordan’s motivation is intrinsic; she wants to see how good she can be.
• Support from coaches was key to uncovering her own potential.
• On self-confidence:

  "I know what I'm capable of. ... It's almost like building this portfolio of like, okay, I know I'm capable. ... I can freaking do this." (Jordan Thompson, 31:24)

• A pre-Tokyo Olympics mantra, given by Sue Enquist, helped her re-center under pressure:

  "I have greatness inside of me." (Jordan Thompson, 32:10)

• Self-belief is a process—it's built over time, can waver, and needs reinforcement.

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8. Advice for Young Athletes: Wisdom from the Panel

[41:35–45:14]

• Each athlete and host shares what they wish someone had told them as a teenager. Highlights:
  • Jordan Thompson: "Caring is cool. Loving people, well, is the whole point." (41:54)
  • Scout Bassett: "You are not defined by where you come from, what's happened to you, or what you look like. But you are only defined by who you are, what you become. You, your character and your integrity." (42:20)
  • Sierra Briggs: "That it's okay to fail. And it doesn't define you. And you're more than your sport." (42:49)
  • Jade Lynn Och: "It's okay to sit with your emotions and not rush on to the next thing." (43:33)
  • Julie Foudy: "Just be you ... I'm gonna be gloriously me, and whether they like me or not, I'm gonna be me." (43:51)
  • Abby Wambach: Share your dream and then dream bigger; sports and opportunities for women keep expanding beyond what you can currently imagine. (45:06)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jordan Thompson reflecting on success and community

  "When we won gold and the national anthem is playing, and I'm bawling my eyes out. ... Like, there was so much time and energy and love poured into that moment." (07:11)

• Julie Foudy on changing attitudes toward mental health

  "I find it fantastic that you guys are all here together ... back in my day ... you keep that inside. Which was so unhealthy, as we know." (01:19)

• Jordan Thompson on vulnerability and therapy

  "I found so much strength in being vulnerable and getting help and figuring out what support I need in my life, because I think we're all humans, we're dealing with different stuff." (11:10)

• Julie Foudy on the importance of joy

  "If you are not finding the joy in playing in a sport, then we're switching to another sport. ... Let's find something where you can find some joy." (15:23)

• Abby Wambach on the nature of women's sports

  "The reason why it's so special ... it's never been about the money, it's been about the people." (18:05)

• Jordan Thompson on her personal mantra

  "In those moments where ... my confidence could waver ... I know I have greatness inside of me." (32:10)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [06:21] Thompson on grounding herself amid highs and lows
• [10:40] Jordan opens up about therapy and mental health care
• [13:20] On taking breaks, boundaries, and self-care
• [16:08] Finding and prioritizing joy in volleyball (and Athletes Unlimited)
• [19:32] Navigating leadership, trust, and accountability as a captain
• [29:14] What motivates Jordan now and the role of self-belief
• [32:10] Learning and using personal mantras to get through tough moments
• [41:35] Roundtable: What they wish they had known as teenagers

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Tone & Atmosphere

Joyful, honest, vulnerable, supportive, and celebratory. The co-hosts and guest, through their candid sharing and humor, foster an open environment where talking about mental health and seeking help is not just OK, but encouraged and celebrated. The episode empowers young athletes to seek joy, advocate for themselves, build supportive communities, and to not chase perfection but embrace the full journey.

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Takeaway:
This episode reinforces that even Olympic champions face struggles and self-doubt. Prioritizing mental health, building genuine connections, leading with empathy, seeking joy, and nurturing self-belief are universal and critical—on the field and in life.

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Transcript

[Jordan Thompson]

When we won gold and the national anthem is playing, and I'm bawling my eyes out. And in that moment, I felt like, holy crap, we did it.

[Abby Wambach]

Have you ever taken an actual break?

[Jordan Thompson]

Short answer.

[Julie Foudy]

Yes. See, kids? It is allowed.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes.

[Jordan Thompson]

What's really interesting is when I was younger, I had no idea of my potential. Like, I could not see it. I was like, I'm trying my best, but it's not looking great. Okay. Now I'm like, I want to. Yeah. Like, I want to see how good I can get. Attention. The party is about to come.

[Julie Foudy]

Welcome to the party. What's up, party people?

[Abby Wambach]

Yes. Whoa.

[Julie Foudy]

We got a crowd.

[Scout Bassett]

Abby.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes.

[Julie Foudy]

Oh, I love it. I love it. I love it. I'm Julie Foudy.

[Abby Wambach]

And I am Abby Wambach.

[Julie Foudy]

And we are so pumped to be here. Girls in Motion. Her story, Athletes Unlimited. This is a rad event, y'. All. I hope you guys realize. Yeah. How cool this is. I know we look hip. Ooh, maybe we have teenagers, but, like, we didn't have this. Did you have this when you were growing up? No, I never had this. Like, to be able to get together and talk and share and talk about your mental health. I mean, back in my day, it was like, what is mental health? We don't talk about that stuff. You keep that inside. Which was so unhealthy, as we know. So I just find it fantastic that you guys are all here together, getting to go through this whole day long with all these different athletes. We're gonna bring some of them up later as well as Jordan, but it's very cool.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah. You know, I think that having the chance to be in community with other people who want to be a part of not just women's sports, but the entire ecosystem of what women's sports offers all of us. Yes. The playing of the sport, it's incredible. We did it for many years. But the reality also is Julie and I, we didn't have everything figured out. And the truth is. And I'm going to truth bomb you right now, nobody really knows what they're doing. No adults, your parents. We're all just figuring it out as we go along. There is no single person on this planet that has it all figured out. You, yourself, me, myself. And we're just trying the best that we can. Some days, we're going to get it right, and some days we're going to get it wrong. But today, you all showed up here, and. Which makes me know deep in my bones that it's about the trying that's where I think especially we have children, teenagers, and vulnerability is a very difficult thing for our teenagers these days, whether it's because of social media use. Everything is being filmed. And so you're afraid to be yourself, you're afraid to dance because it's going to get filmed. And so the fact that you all are here makes me know and makes me have hope for the next generation.

[Julie Foudy]

Yep.

[Abby Wambach]

Well done.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah. Love it. Love it, abs. All right, should we get to the partiest part of the party? I think we should. All right. Our guest is a baller, y'. All.

[Abby Wambach]

Yep.

[Julie Foudy]

Honestly, she is an Olympic gold medalist. That's right. She's also. We don't say silver medalist in our house. We say white gold medalist. Hey, so she's an Olympic gold medalist from the Tokyo game. She's a white gold medalist from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. She also was voted best player out of all the Athletes Unlimited volleyball players this year. She also was voted MVP, Most Valuable Player of League1 volleyball's professional league. Yes, she did the double. And she is a League1 volleyball founding player and she led the league in kills and points for two consecutive seasons and years. And if you haven't seen her play, you all need to go watch her play because she just flies through the air. It's pure joy and it's grace in action. And she also, which we love, cares deeply about giving back and her number one priority, of course, is her mental health. So without further ado, we cannot wait to catch up with this superstar, Jordan Thompson. Welcome to the Thompson.

[Abby Wambach]

Jordan Thompson, welcome to the party.

[Julie Foudy]

Yes.

[Jordan Thompson]

That was the sweetest intro.

[Abby Wambach]

Am I in the middle? Yes, you are. Oh, gosh.

[Julie Foudy]

Yes, you are. Tall people in the house today. Yeah. Woo. Jordan, what's up?

[Jordan Thompson]

Hello.

[Julie Foudy]

How are we?

[Jordan Thompson]

I'm good.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, I'm excited. Aw.

[Abby Wambach]

Jordan, you have obviously had incredible couple of years with the Olympics and Love and Athletes Unlimited. With all of this success that you've had, how do you find the time or the space or the energy to really deal with your mental health in a way. Right. Because I was actually listening to a podcast, driving here while you were on it because I was like, I like to over prepare and I find you to be really fascinating in that you're very conscious of the way that you think about the game and yourself and your mental health and that you're not just monomaniacal athlete only. How are you so successful yet so grounded?

[Julie Foudy]

We're going to question one.

[Jordan Thompson]

Yeah, no, I love that question. I mean, I think I've had a great last couple years, or I guess, you know, maybe the last year of my career so far. But it has been so up and down, and I think it's really cool to, you know, see the highlight reels and what's posted on social media and the medals and. But it has been a journey, and I think that's really kept me grounded. I've had so many amazing people in my life who have really held me in those moments where I'm like, maybe I don't have the confidence, or maybe I'm dealing with an injury, or maybe my mental health is a little bit rocky, and my support system has been huge. And I think I've been really fortunate and blessed with the people in my life, especially along the rocky moments of my journey, who have really just kept me and encouraged me, because I think, you know, I remember being on the podium when we won gold, and the national anthem is playing, and I'm bawling my eyes out. And in that moment, I felt like, holy crap, we did it. Like, not just the team, but every single community and group of people that helped us get to that point. Like, there was so much time and energy and love poured into that moment and to be able to reach that goal. And I thought of everyone in my life who helped me get there, and my first coach in high school who believed in me and put me on varsity, and I had no idea what the heck I was doing, and everybody along the way who really poured into me, and I think those are the people who have helped me to kind of ride out the waves of the journey.

[Abby Wambach]

Okay, follow up. I think that that is such an important thing. And for the kids that are listening to this, I want you to really understand how important it is the network of people that you spend your time with matters. How did you craft and create? Because it takes a long time to find your people and who they are. How did you elect or hire or meet or gather the people that helped you get to that podium? Because when we're talking to teenagers, their small community is like their classmate or their best friend or their teammate. How did you determine who those people were?

[Jordan Thompson]

Yeah, you know, I think I leaned a lot on the adults in my life, and I think a lot of times people think like, oh, it's your parents. But for me, you know, I had great teachers. Like, there were teachers that I think I really connected with, and they supported me, and they were able to see maybe, okay, I was having a tough day, or maybe I was showing up late for class. Or maybe I missed a couple days in a row and they would check in with me. And I think I really trusted different adults in my life. And as I've become an adult myself, it's been sort of this trial and error of like, okay, crap, I suck at responding to emails. I can't manage my schedule.

[Abby Wambach]

What do I do?

[Jordan Thompson]

And so I asked my agent. I was like, do you have anybody who could help me, like, stay organized? Like, it's just not my strong suit. I'm sorry.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes, me neither.

[Jordan Thompson]

So enter Michelle.

[Julie Foudy]

I knew all of it.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes. Me too. And I just figured this out myself.

[Julie Foudy]

So there.

[Abby Wambach]

There is hope down the road.

[Jordan Thompson]

Yes. And sometimes it's just like, the acknowledgement of, like, this is just not what I'm good at. Like, I'm great on the volleyball court. Like, yes, I can get my schoolwork done, but as an adult, you have to take care of fricking taxes and,

[Abby Wambach]

like, your bank note.

[Jordan Thompson]

Like, what the heck?

[Julie Foudy]

The adulting part of it is a lot.

[Jordan Thompson]

It's a lot.

[Julie Foudy]

It's a lot.

[Jordan Thompson]

It's a lot to keep track of. So, anyways, thank you, Michelle.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, we all need a Michelle. I love, too. The first thing that Jordan said. I don't know if you caught that. First thing she said is there's ups and downs to it. Right. It's not what you see on social media with all the medals, all the glory, all the MVPs, all the things. Like, it's hard. Right. And I think that's important for people to hear, for you to say out loud. So I'm interested. As your career is evolving and you're going through those ups and downs, how has it evolved in terms of the mental health side? And what was it that was the trigger for you that you went, ah, this is the piece that I've been missing, maybe. And I need.

[Jordan Thompson]

I'm gonna be honest. I've been in and out of therapy my whole life.

[Julie Foudy]

Yay.

[Abby Wambach]

Me too.

[Jordan Thompson]

And I think it's a huge. It's just. It's helped me so much with my mental health because I think especially in the times where maybe I'm just having a down period or maybe, you know, when I was going through different injuries, I'm like, I need to go back to therapy and just have somebody to talk through things with, because it's nice to have your friends and vent about stuff, but sometimes you need a professional to help you navigate those ups and downs. And, you know, like, for me, like, I'm on medication, you know, like, there's different things. And I think sometimes people look at that as. It can be very intimidating. Like, you have to go to therapy, you have to share your life story all over again and go through all this stuff and maybe deal with different diagnoses and. But for me, I found so much strength in being vulnerable and getting help and figuring out what support I need in my life, because I think we're all humans, we're dealing with different stuff and we're trying to excel at whatever we're doing, and sometimes we need the extra support. And I love that. I think I'm a huge advocate for therapy, and I think it's been a really made a positive impact in my life.

[Abby Wambach]

And it's so important as a professional athlete, especially the story we were sold when we were young, that professional athletes are immortal and we are stone and nothing affects us and we are robots in a way. Like, we can replicate something over and over again over the course of our career. And in some ways, the physical and the tactical. Yes. But when Julie and I played, the mental and the emotional was never something that was really focused on. And so I think that it is important that nowadays in professional sport, we are talking and treating the entire person. And I think that especially in women's sports, especially with social media, especially with the fact that women's volleyball is having this moment, like women's sports is having this moment, and you're being more seen on TV and you're going to be doing more events and more appearances and hopefully making more money and finding more resources and security for yourself. I wonder, you know, is there. Is there a moment or are there moments in your. In your training that you have to say to yourself and get really honest that, you know what? I need a moment. I need a break. And have you ever taken an actual break?

[Jordan Thompson]

Yes. Short answer?

[Julie Foudy]

Yes, I think, see, kids, it is allowed.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes.

[Julie Foudy]

Good to know.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes.

[Jordan Thompson]

And I think it can be a lot. And even when it's like, the good, fun stuff and different opportunities and partnerships and all this stuff, there are times where even I tell Michelle, like, maybe I don't text her back for a day or two, and she's like, okay, I can tell, like, you're overwhelmed. And like, I'm going to be 29 years old on Tuesday and I still have those feelings. And I think there's so many positive things and I have so many blessings in my life. I love playing volleyball. It doesn't feel like a job. It's so cool. The amazing opportunities. I mean, even doing this, like this is a dream. This is so cool. But like, there are times where it's still overwhelming and it's still like, whoa, I love all this, but at the same time I gotta take a step back. And so I think for me that's literally just like, okay, I have to kind of go into my little cocoon, take some time for myself. Maybe like a self care day or maybe I don't plan anything for a whole weekend and I'm just kind of chilling at home. Maybe it's staying off of social media, especially after a bad game. The last thing I want to do is see people talk about how poorly I played. And so I think being able to recognize those moments and give myself grace and allow myself the downtime, because it is easy to get caught up in this lifestyle. Everything's fast. We have to do more, do this, do that, capitalize on stuff. And it's like we're humans too at the end of the day, so we need to take a beat when we need to and that's fine.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, I love that so much because especially you all are living it right now in the audience. Right. Like, it's a lot. It's a lot of pressure. It's a lot of practices and training and sports can be a lot. And we have to remind ourselves, parents have to remind our kids. Y' all have to actually self advocate for yourselves and learn that early about reminding yourselves to take a break and talk about when you're burnout or when it's too much, because it's understandably so. And so I just want to stress the importance. One of the things Abby and I talk to our kids a lot about is if you are not finding the joy in playing in a sport, then we're switching to another sport. I won't let them get out of sports. Right. It's not like we're giving up sports altogether, but like, let's find something where you can find some joy. Or we play at a different level or we play with a different team. And I read something in the journey that you've had that was so interesting, Jordan, about really finding joy in Indonesia. And I want the kids to hear that story because I just think the North Star always has to be. Where is our joy coming from when we're doing this?

[Jordan Thompson]

Yeah, I mean, it's been interesting over the past few years with volleyball changing and professional volleyball coming to the States, with Athletes Unlimited and League one and different leagues and kind of opening up opportunities for me to play in different countries as well. And so last year I went and played in Indonesia and just got to experience another culture and how excited they were about volleyball. And I also think about my time with Athletes Unlimited and just the joy that I felt played playing with all of those women. And I think it kind of goes back to what you were saying of like, I think what's special with Athletes Unlimited is they're looking at the whole human and how can we make this experience positive and enjoyable and joyful? And I think Athletes Unlimited does that really well because they're planning different outings and events for us. There are different things that we get to do to connect with each other off the court. And I think that's what makes sport's so much fun for me. Like it's always been the people. And so to have those times of connection off the court makes the on the court more fun.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah. And I think that that is a big reason why I personally believe people love watching women's sports. Because as we continue to get more professional leagues and teams and more professional women athletes paid money to play their sport, we have to actually be very careful as a culture not to just over corporatize it and turn it into this only money making machine. Because the reason why it's so special and the reason why it's always been so special, because it's never been about the money, it's been about the people. Yes, we deserve to get paid for sure. We deserve benefits for sure. But I think that the reason why, it's not just the reason why I love playing it, it's also the reason why I love now watching it, is because I know all that goes into every bit of it. And this is why it's so important to have women owners, women in leadership positions of these leagues so that you don't lose that stardust quality to what makes women's sports so special. I want to switch gears just a little because as I was listening to this podcast that you were just on, you were talking a lot about the difference between being an athlete that is loved and respected versus one that needs to hold accountability. And I want to talk a little bit about that difference because I do think that the kids in the room have to understand, especially with women's sports. And Julie and I were captains. I'm sure you're a leader and captain on all the teams you played on. Having the desire to be liked versus holding the standard because that is a difficult thing for young girls is to. I want my teammates to like me, but I'm also a competitor. Yeah.

[Jules]

How do how do you manage that

[Abby Wambach]

now as a professional? And has, how has that journey been for you throughout your career?

[Jordan Thompson]

That is a great question because I think that's something that's been prevalent throughout my journey. And I think back to college and just being voted as a captain and struggling because my coach would be like, go have a conversation with her. I'm like, I'm scared of confrontation.

[Abby Wambach]

What do you mean you talk to her?

[Julie Foudy]

That's not my job.

[Abby Wambach]

Anybody here non confrontational? I don't like confrontation either. This is why I asked this question.

[Jordan Thompson]

But it's hard, but it's also necessary. And I think, I think about the captains and leaders that have really made an impact on my life. And I think the biggest thing is making those connections with your teammates and building that trust. You know, maybe you're not the best of friends, but you're having little conversations, you're checking in, asking them questions and being genuinely interested in what's going on with their life. And I think when you can build those relationships, the trust follows. And so then when you do have to have those hard conversations, they know that it's coming from a place of love and care because no one likes a person who comes in, wants to tell everybody what to do. And it's like, whoa, like you don't even know like us and what we're doing. And I think when you have a captain or a leader and they truly care about the team and you know that they're putting the team first, like, those are the leaders I want to follow. And so I've really tried to implement that into how I lead. And I think a lot of it is just really trying to lead by example. And there are times where we have to have the tough conversations. Or maybe it's in practice of like acknowledging, hey, things aren't looking too great right now, but like, let's kind of rally it in, get it together. But I think with that underlying trust, then people are more everything. They're willing to reciprocate everything.

[Julie Foudy]

I say this to my kids and tell me if you think I'm weird. I'm like, you know, you're weird. I say, as Jordan said, like, it's just showing a little curiosity, right? Like, are you checking in? I say to my 17 year old boy, hey, did you check in with Preston about his injury? And he goes, no. And I'll say, why not like check in with him? He goes, bro, what am I supposed to say? And I'm like, how are you? Are you good? How is that weird? Right. He says it's weird. He goes, we don't do that kind of stuff, Mom. Maybe that's a guy. Gals, right? Check in, check in with people and say. And it doesn't. It's not. I say to my daughter, it doesn't have to be that you go out and have a meal for four hours. Right. It's literally checking in and saying, hey, what's up? Is everything good? Right. I saw this happen the other day. Or whatever. Whatever, whatever. Like, people do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.

[Abby Wambach]

That's right.

[Julie Foudy]

That is absolutely everything in life. I'll say it again. People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care. And it's those little touch points that you just take a little bit of extra time. You don't have to be best buddies with the entire team, which can be energy zapping. And no one wants that. But it's just like, hey, you good? Jordan? How was, you know, if you come back from break. How was break? What'd you do? Just be curious. Be empathetic, Be a kind soul. And then you're going to be a teammate that when everything goes wrong and you're saying, hey, I got some advice for you. They're going to take it because they know you care.

[Jordan Thompson]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

And so I love that. I love that. And I hope that it's something. And it's the gift of sport really, is that this isn't just something we use with our soccer team or our volleyball team or our basketball team. Like, this is going to be something you carry with you for the rest of your life in any team. Our podcast team now, we're constantly checking in on people that we learn from playing sports. It's the gift that keeps on giving, for sure. So.

[Jules]

Okay, Jules. So I try to be pretty intentional about the products that I buy for my family. So when it comes to laundry, I really, I. I choose all free clear detergent.

[Scout Bassett]

I love this.

[Jules]

Yeah.

[Scout Bassett]

Because we're always talking about being mindful with what we eat or what we put into our bodies, but I actually never really thought about laundry detergent in the same way.

[Jules]

Yeah, I know. Same. And. And when you really think about it, you're wearing these clothes all day, you're working out in them, you're traveling in them, sleeping in them, and then drying off after the shower with them on. So I do think it matters. That's why I like that. All Free Clear uses only essential ingredients that Jules tackle tough stains and tough odors. We've got teenagers.

[Julie Foudy]

I was gonna say.

[Jules]

And you need that.

[Jordan Thompson]

It's exactly.

[Jules]

It's gentle on the skin, so it's.

[Abby Wambach]

It's also soft.

[Scout Bassett]

Yeah. And it's 100 free from dyes and perfumes and parabens. And I feel that once you know that, you can't unknow it, which is a good thing.

[Jules]

Totally. I know. And for me, between our kids and sports gear and just life, there's just always stains. Always stains. Like there's always something happening.

[Scout Bassett]

Yeah, always.

[Abby Wambach]

And.

[Scout Bassett]

And honestly, I do feel like workout clothes and watch washing them and especially Declan's, like layers of workout clothes and how many he puts on a day is a full time job.

[Abby Wambach]

Exactly. But.

[Jules]

But that's what's great, right? Cause it actually works on all of that. But I still feel good about using it for everyone in the house and myself too.

[Scout Bassett]

Yeah. I love that you can look at the back of the bottle and actually see what's in it and what each ingredient actually does. That level of transparency, by the way, is not just something you usually get with laundry detergent. Plus, my son Declan has really sensitive skin. He has some allergies, so I love that. As I was saying, there's no dyes or perfumes since those can be irritating to his skin. And as we know, skin is an organ, we worry about what we put on the inside of our bodies, so. So we should also care about what touches our skin too, with clothes and what we wash them in.

[Jules]

I know. And that is why it makes it such an easy choice. Jules.

[Scout Bassett]

It works. And it's a clean you can feel good about.

[Jules]

Pick up a bottle of all free clear detergent for your next laundry day. You guys know how much we love the Peloton cross training Tread plus powered by Peloton iq. Peloton helps you unlock all the expansive, joyful feeling one gets through movement. Truly, it's not just running. You can literally go from a walk or run straight into strength training with like the swivel screen that, you know, that we all love. It just feels so seamless.

[Abby Wambach]

Love it.

[Jules]

It's. There's no stopping, no overthinking without losing any momentum. And my goodness, if I lose. Lose momentum, I'm gone.

[Scout Bassett]

And let me tell you, I have to fight the family to get on the peloton cross training Tread plus lately. Yeah, everyone is on it. They're all doing the swivel, they're doing the cross training.

[Julie Foudy]

I'm like, listen, yo, this is mine. Get off.

[Scout Bassett]

It's built around you. Too. Your pace, your energy, what you need that day. It's like having a roadmap, which we all want, but without the pressure. So Peloton IQ gives you the level of support you deserve. And let's be clear, us women deserve tools, support, and experiences built for us and around us. And, of course, our potential.

[Jules]

Exactly. So whether you're running or lifting or just trying something new, or, Jules, even feeling a little along the way, you're still moving forward. Let yourself run, lift, fail, try and go again. Explore the new peloton cross training tread [e-mail] this episode is brought to you by Levi's.

[Scout Bassett]

One of the things we love about this partnership is what Levi's actually stands for. Celebrating people out in the world who are shifting the status quo, whether in a big way or a small way, and bringing together originals from every walk of life, every background, every expression, and giving them the space to take risks and write their own stories, which we love. And with Levi's right there with them. So, again, the most exciting part, Levi's is teaming up with some of those most iconic federations, of course, the United States, Mexico, England and France.

[Julie Foudy]

And because it's not just about the

[Scout Bassett]

game, it's about identity. It's about how fans show up, how they express themselves, and how they tell their story on and off the field.

[Jules]

This is going to be the uniform of the fandom.

[Scout Bassett]

Show the back of your jacket real quick. Yeah, I don't have that on the red one.

[Abby Wambach]

Look at this.

[Scout Bassett]

That's what I love about Levi's. It's not just about looking good. It's about being part of something bigger. Learn [e-mail].

[Abby Wambach]

I think it's really important to talk a little bit about how the fact that you medaled in two olympics, you've won MVPs of pro, of two pro leagues here, you've played abroad. What is motivating you now?

[Jordan Thompson]

I think it's pretty much the same thing that has motivated me from the beginning. I want to see how good I can get. And I think what's really interesting is when I was younger, I had no idea of my potential. Like, I could not see it. I was like, I'm trying my best, but it's not looking great. Okay. But I had some great coaches, coaches who were like, dude, you're going to be so good one day. Like, keep working. And they really invested time and energy into me. And so I think now I'm like, I want to. Yeah, Like, I want to see how good I can get and I want to, you know, take advantage of this gift that I was given. And I think part of me also feels that, like there have been so many people who have invested time into me. So I also feel like I owe it to them in a sense of like, I want to make them proud and show them. Like, I'm still chasing after this dream and I'm still trying to see how far I can go with this.

[Abby Wambach]

How much does your own self belief play into the way that you go about your business? Because part of me has always said the reason why I was able to play soccer for so many years at the level that I did was because the very first thing that needed to be for sure is that I had to believe that it was possible first before I took a single step to do a sprint or lift off a weight or go into training or whatever it is. How is that self belief true to you and has it wavered over your career? Because I also think that that's important to talk about with young kids as well.

[Jordan Thompson]

Yeah, I think that belief and confidence for me has gone hand in hand a little bit. And it's something that's grown over time, but at the same time, it hasn't necessarily been at the same level always. And I think that's where again, I lean on my support system. But to what you're saying is just like, I, I know what I'm capable of. And I think when you keep going to practice and you keep doing the reps and you keep doing everything, it's almost like building this portfolio of like, okay, I know I'm capable. And so anytime I face a hard moment, I look back and I'm like, okay, look at my resume. I can freaking do this. Like, I am capable. I believe in myself, I have confidence. And in the tough moments, there's something. This was, I think, before Tokyo, our team consultant, Sue Enquist, she's amazing and I credit her for basically the gold medal. But she had us create a mantra for ourselves. And so it was supposed to be some sort of self talk that we use when we're in these difficult moments in games. And so for me, mine was, I have greatness inside of me. And so I would tell myself that in those moments where, okay, crap, I just got blocked two times in a row, like, my confidence could waver in this moment, but I know I have greatness inside of me, even if it doesn't feel like it right now, I can look back at my resume, I can look back at all the time I'VE poured into this sport and everything I've accomplished. And I can have confidence in that to keep trying because I know I'm capable. And so I think having those mantras and that continued belief in yourself is so important.

[Julie Foudy]

That is so good. I love that in Jordan. I hope you hear that this woman has had all the success, yet it has not been easy yet it is still something that is a journey that you have to navigate, that you constantly have to keep going to. Your mantra and reminding yourself about it is a process. It takes time. And so if you ever feel like I'm not there, I hope you remember this conversation to say, yeah, and so are other people also not there. And we also feel like that, as Abby said from the very top, none of us know entirely what we're doing. And so you're not alone. Ask for help always, because there will always be help around you. I know that if you ask, there will be help for sure. Can we give a huge round of applause to Jordan Thompson for coming to our party?

[Jordan Thompson]

Hey.

[Scout Bassett]

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[Jules]

welcome to the Party is brought to you by Alloy Health. What is frustrating about menopause? It's how many women end up feeling like they're supposed to just quietly deal with it. And I think a lot of people, myself, my wife, spend years trying to push through symptoms before they even realize that there's a treatment options that are available to them.

[Scout Bassett]

Okay, that was me, too.

[Jules]

And that is a huge part of why Alloy stands out to me. They've built an entire online platform specifically focused on menopause care where you can connect with doctors who actually specialize in this stage of life.

[Abby Wambach]

Okay.

[Jules]

And then understand what you're dealing with. You fill out an intake a a physician reviews your symptoms and creates a personalized treatment plan. And then if the treatment is prescribed, it gets shipped directly to to your door. Jules. With automatic refills. Okay. The biggest thing for me is just feeling honestly, like, acknowledged in this moment, in this period of our lives where so many of us feel invisible. That kind of support can make such a difference. So join the 95% of women who tried Alloy and saw relief in the first two weeks. Head to myalloy.com and use the code 1 welcome to the party and tell them all about your symptoms and you'll get a fully customized treatment plan and unlimited messaging with your doctor. Plus, you'll get $20 off your first order today. Head to my a l l o y.com and use code welcome to the party to get $20 off your first order. This message is brought to you by Apple Card. Apple Card is designed with your iPhone in mind, making it easy to get started and even easier to use. Take it from me, I've got one. Apple Card is a no fee credit card you can apply for right from the wallet app on your iPhone. Apple Card has no annual fees, no late fees, and no foreign transaction fees. No fees, period. Every credit card should be this easy. Okay, Jules, get started in the Wallet app today. Subject to credit approval, variable APRs for Apple Card range from 17.49% to 27.74% based on credit worthiness rates as of January 1, 2026. Existing customers can view their variable APR in the Wallet app [e-mail] Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City Branch terms and [e-mail] One of the things that I think is kind of funny about getting older is coming to the realization that my parents are people who have lived full on long entire lives. And every time I talk to my dad, some random story comes out that I've never heard. Somehow same. It's so weird. I'm like, who are you? Like, I feel like I'm talking to an alien. Maybe it's like a trip he took or a new, like family story that nobody has ever told me. So I feel like I'm learning something completely new and I'm seeing him in this like, new light. And if that's you, I think you should check out Remento because I first heard about Remento on Shark Tank. I don't know if you've seen this, Jules, but it's such a simple idea.

[Abby Wambach]

Okay.

[Jules]

Remento sends them a question each week by text or email, and they just answer by talking like they're telling a story to a friend, which is amazing, so they don't have to type it out. Then Remento takes those recordings and then turns them into a beautiful hardcover book. So this Father's Day, give your dad something that becomes more meaningful every single year. Go to www.remento.co and use code welcome to save $20 through Father's Day. That's remento.co. like remember and memento and. And use code welcome for $20 off fromento the life story book with dad's voice inside.

[Julie Foudy]

We're going to bring a couple of the athletes who have been with you all today back up to the stage to say some closing words. So in our typical welcome to the party style, you are going to welcome them with a loud cheer after I give all of their information. First up, one of my dear friends, Scout Bassett. Paralympian, one of the most dominant figures in women's Paralympic track and field, an author and advocate, and the former president of the Women's Sports Foundation, Scout Bassett.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes, Scout.

[Julie Foudy]

Yes.

[Abby Wambach]

All right, next up, we've got Sierra Briggs. Start walking up here, Sierra. Sierra made history by becoming the first player in NCAA Division 1 softball to win back to back rolling gold gloves awards for her defense in 2022 and 2023 while at LSU. Currently is with Athletes Unlimited Texas Volts team. Sierra Briggs.

[Julie Foudy]

All right, we've got another softball player. She played at University of Washington and UCLA. She led Team USA to a gold medal at the 2019 Under 19 Women's Softball World cup where she hit 4. 21. Oh, my gosh. Who does that with Athletes Unlimited? Salt Lake City Talons, please welcome Jade Lynn Och.

[Abby Wambach]

We've got Molly McCage. Get up here. Sister Julie and I just had the unique privilege of going to the finals and the championships to watch Molly play. It was the most incredible game. Molly has won an NCAA title with the University of Texas and now two love volleyball titles in the first two seasons of Love with Love Austin. As she does it. All she does is win, win, win, win.

[Julie Foudy]

All right, I'm going to start with Molly. Okay, we're going to give you guys one question each to give some advice back to these fabulous women in the audience. I wish someone had told me as a teenager that

[Abby Wambach]

that it's okay to just, you know, have fun and not

[Jordan Thompson]

take everything too seriously.

[Abby Wambach]

Fun.

[Julie Foudy]

I Like that.

[Abby Wambach]

That's very good. Okay, you're up.

[Jordan Thompson]

Oh, same question. Same question.

[Abby Wambach]

I wish somebody had told me as a teenager that,

[Jordan Thompson]

Ooh, I didn't know I was gonna get the same question. Caring is cool. Loving people, well, is the whole point.

[Julie Foudy]

Loving people, well, is the whole point.

[Scout Bassett]

I love that.

[Julie Foudy]

That's. That's another mantra. Yes. Okay, Scout, what do you got?

[Jordan Thompson]

Oh, gosh.

[Julie Foudy]

Remember the question.

[Scout Bassett]

Yes.

[Abby Wambach]

Okay.

[Julie Foudy]

I wish someone had told me when I was a teenager that you are

[Jordan Thompson]

not defined by where you come from, what's happened to you, or what you look like. But you are only defined by who you are, what you become. You, your character and your integrity. Yeah, seriously.

[Julie Foudy]

And a moment to think about that, Sierra.

[Scout Bassett]

Go on.

[Jordan Thompson]

Don't make me go after that.

[Abby Wambach]

Are you kidding?

[Jordan Thompson]

Can I repeat the question, please?

[Julie Foudy]

Yes.

[Abby Wambach]

I wish somebody had told me as a teenager that. That it's okay to fail. And it doesn't define you. And you're more than your spirit sport, and it's okay. And it's not a bad thing to ask questions or for help because people are only there to help you.

[Julie Foudy]

So, yes, I firmly believe that that's such a good.

[Abby Wambach]

Failure is fuel. Failure is fuel.

[Julie Foudy]

And I love that. Like, you're not just an athlete. You are so much more than an athlete. We get stuck in the cycle of, oh, I'm a soccer player. What am I going to do when I stop playing soccer? There's millions of things we can do. We are not just athletes. Athletes are going to be. The gift of athletics is it's going to be teaching us how to be our next person. Okay, Jaden, for me, I would have

[Jordan Thompson]

told myself that it's okay to sit with your emotions and not rush on

[Abby Wambach]

to the next thing.

[Jordan Thompson]

I feel like it's okay to allow

[Abby Wambach]

yourself to sit with that emotion.

[Scout Bassett]

Yeah.

[Abby Wambach]

Julie, what would you say? I wish someone had told me as

[Julie Foudy]

a teenager that, yeah, I was very self conscious as a teenager because I had short hair. And people in True Story, in the grocery store or wherever I went, they'd be like, do you need anything, sir? Or a little boy? And I'd be like, I am not a boy. I just have short hair. And I was like, why was I so self conscious about that? Like, who cares? So how you look, what people think of you? And so it took me into college to realize, like, I'm just gonna be gloriously me, and whether they like me or not, I'm gonna be me. And that it took me actually longer than that to get to that But I would have said, just be you. I love that, Abby.

[Abby Wambach]

Okay, well. Okay, so I just have to give this a little background, a little context. When I was in eighth grade, we had an English teacher that they gave us a composition notebook that we would have to journal in before English class. Every single class. So five, 10 minutes. And I decided to take that time to write one phrase, and it was, abby Wambach, you will win a gold medal playing women's soccer one day. Now, at the time.

[Julie Foudy]

Wait, what grade was this?

[Abby Wambach]

I was in eighth grade. Okay, so this is 1993. Which. Women's soccer was not in the Olympics. So I would go back. I wish somebody had told me as a teenager that I should have kept dreaming bigger and bigger and bigger, because, yes, I played on the national team, and that was amazing. But we still have so much more work to do. This is not just about women's soccer or even women's volleyball or softball or whatever. We have so much work to do. And if you're in the audience, who knows what is not created yet? There's women's professional baseball coming. There's women's rugby that there's a league on. There might be other leagues in sports that you've never played before, because there might not be a professional league yet. So what have we not dreamt of? And that's all I'm going to say about that.

[Julie Foudy]

I love it. I'm so grateful for these women coming on stage with us, for Jordan sitting down to talk with us. The final two things we do on our podcast is we always do a party pose at the end of an interview. And so we thought, wouldn't it be fun to do it with everyone? So can you all stand up? We're gonna do a 0.5. You guys, do not fall off the stage. Okay. Whatever you do, you're gonna be, like, kind of on the front. I'm gonna move this out of the way so you're not at the edge, and then I'm gonna. Do you guys know what a 0.5 is? Right? Because you're teenagers. Bet. Okay, so do you all know what a party pose is?

[Abby Wambach]

Julie's arm is not gonna make it over these volleyball players heads.

[Julie Foudy]

I know that's true.

[Abby Wambach]

Maybe you can stand on a chair.

[Julie Foudy]

True. I'm gonna stand on the chair. Okay. You guys know what a party pose is? Whatever your party pose is, it can be anything fun. It's a 0.5. I don't know if it will go. You guys got it? Yeah.

[Jordan Thompson]

You got it.

[Abby Wambach]

Over there.

[Jordan Thompson]

There you go.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay, are you ready? 1, 2, 3. It works. God, I love when it works.

[Abby Wambach]

So on behalf of her story, Girls In Motion, Athletes Unlimited, and our podcast, welcome to the party. We want to thank you all who came to support these kids and these organizations.

[Julie Foudy]

All right, we're going to now teach you the. So the last thing we do, Scout, you're gonna leave the chair. Come on in over here. Scout's gonna leave the chair. Everyone's gonna gather in. Y' all put your paws in the middle.

[Abby Wambach]

Like a huddle.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, like a huddle.

[Abby Wambach]

Like a huddle.

[Julie Foudy]

This is what we used to do on the US women's national team. For 40 years, we've done this. It started back in 1985 with the very first US women's soccer team. Women's national team. They were playing in Italy. True story. And they couldn't understand why the crowd was chanting, usa. Usa. And it was because of USA In Europe, they call us Oosa. And they were like, that's amazing. That should be our cheer. So for 40 years to this day, when the U.S. women's National Team huddles up right before they go out, they do usa. Usa usa O. That's what they do. All right, so this is how we close out every podcast. But here's the thing. Scout's going to count us in, and it's Oosa. Usa. Usa. And the, uh, is, like, from the soul. Ugh. Like, let it out. Okay. Just don't kick anyone next to you. All right, Scout, you're going to count us in on three.

[Scout Bassett]

Okay?

[Julie Foudy]

Wait, no, no.

[Abby Wambach]

One, two, three.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay, you're going to say, we're going to ousa it out on three. One, two, three.

[Abby Wambach]

Okay.

[Julie Foudy]

All right. One, two, three. Three.

[Jules]

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. Initial Digital 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 Tik Tok.

[Abby Wambach]

Thanks for listening.