Malala Took a Bullet. Now She’s Building Women’s Sports

Summary

Podcast Summary – Welcome to the Party (May 5, 2026)

Episode Title: “Malala Took a Bullet. Now She’s Building Women’s Sports”

Episode Theme

In this episode, soccer legends Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy, along with trailblazer Billie Jean King, bring Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai to the "Welcome to the Party" women’s sports podcast. The conversation centers on Malala’s journey from surviving an assassination attempt as a young activist for girls’ education to her new mission: empowering women globally, now with a focus on the transformative power of women’s sports. The hosts and guest delve into the impact of sports for girls and women, systemic barriers, cross-continental challenges, Malala’s latest projects, and the critical importance of joy, community, and leadership.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Malala’s Origins & Courage

• [00:00 – 01:01] Julie Foudy recounts Malala’s childhood activism, surviving the attack, and her ongoing fight for girls’ rights.
  • Quote: “To have the courage to say, this is my life's work is changing the very thing they tried to kill me for.” – Julie Foudy (00:00)
• Malala shares her vision of the future:
  • Quote: “Women are like already changing the game. So I'm thinking about the next 20, 30 years.” – Malala Yousafzai (00:13)

2. Celebrations & Party Culture

• [01:48 – 05:10] The hosts share personal anecdotes and celebratory moments (Asia’s birthday, new merch for women’s sports, funny behind-the-scenes stories), creating a sense of camaraderie and accessibility.

3. Women’s Sports Headlines

a. PWHL Playoffs

• [09:58 – 13:16] Deep dive into Pro Women’s Hockey League semifinals, highlighting key games, firsts in postseason history, and massive growth in global viewership and participation.
  • Stats:
    • Merchandise sales up 190% post-Olympics.
    • Corporate partnerships up 35%.
    • YouTube viewership up 77% (154 countries).
    • 500% increase in demand for youth/adult programming.
  • Quote: “How about that? Global effect.” – Julie Foudy (13:14)

b. Soccer Hall of Fame & USWNT

• [13:24 – 16:10] Celebrating Heather O’Reilly and Tobin Heath’s induction, and joyful moments from players’ lives off the pitch, including adorable baby meetups.

c. Kentucky Derby Breakthrough

• [16:10 – 20:39] The hosts discuss Sherry Devoe as the first female trainer to win the Derby – a testament to women breaking barriers in all sports.

d. Other Sports Highlights

• [20:38 – 22:36] Marta Kostyuk’s backflip at the Madrid Open, NCAA beach volleyball, water polo championships, and the celebration of fun-driven, joyous team cultures.

4. Interview: Malala Yousafzai

a. Meeting Billie Jean King & Origin Story

• [33:14 – 36:50] Malala and Billie Jean King recall their first meeting and reflect on mutual admiration.
  • Quote: “I just talked to George Clooney, and I saw you, and I went, Malala!” – Billie Jean King (35:30)

b. Personal Reflections & New Book

• [36:24 – 38:25] Malala reads from her memoir, “Finding My Way,” discussing the complexities of identity, fame, and vulnerability.
  • Quote: “At 15 years old, I hadn't had time to figure out who I wanted to be, when suddenly everyone wanted to tell me who I was… the hardest thing to be was myself.” – Malala Yousafzai (36:52)

c. Mental Health & Sports

• [39:50 – 41:50] Malala connects her mental health healing with discovering sports — emphasizing the link between physical activity, confidence, and personal growth, especially important for girls.
  • Quote: “It has helped me get out of my comfort zone... when I think about the role that sports has played in my life... I can imagine what it does for girls out there.” – Malala (41:15)

d. Community at Women’s Sporting Events

• [43:15 – 44:56] Malala expresses how empowering it feels to witness sold-out stadiums and diverse audiences for women's events.
  • Quote: “It feels surreal. We're living the change we've been talking about for so long… women's sports is attracting a whole new audience.” – Malala (43:15)
  • Focus on generational shift: “There’s going to be a whole new generation who will find it completely normal to see women playing games.” – Malala (44:39)

e. Recess: Investing in Women’s Sports

• [46:02 – 47:42] Malala discusses her platform “Recess” — born from her own childhood experiences of exclusion. The goal is to spark collective action for equitable access and investment.
  • Quote: “It doesn't happen itself… It requires the collective work of all of us to come together.” – Malala (47:18)

f. Global Perspective & Afghan Women’s Team

• [48:25 – 53:53] Malala laments sports restrictions under oppressive regimes, explains advocacy for the Afghan Women’s Soccer Team, and the vital role of international organizations like FIFA.
  • Quote: “For those women and girls who have risked their lives, the best way for them to resist the Taliban is to be themselves… play music, express themselves.” – Malala (51:33)
  • Action: Advocacy, exposure, and pushing for visible, symbolic games at global events.

g. Why She Still Fights

• [54:42 – 56:57] Malala shares what motivates her — global inequality, the unfinished work for girls’ access and rights, and her support for the Afghan women’s advocacy movement.
  • Quote: “If it can happen in one part of the world, it can happen anywhere… We still have a long way to go.” – Malala (55:04)

h. How Listeners Can Support

• [57:14 – 59:29] Malala outlines concrete actions:
  • Support refugees and exiled female athletes.
  • Pressure leaders and institutions.
  • Invest in girls’ education and women’s sports.
  • Use the power of showing — not just telling — for changing perceptions.
  • Quote: “Sometimes, if you can sit down and explain for three hours, or just take them to a women’s game… their perspective changes.” – Malala (58:41)

i. The Next 10 Years & Leadership

• [59:47 – 62:53] Hopes for a halved number of out-of-school girls, more girls empowered — and legal codification of gender apartheid as an international crime.
  • Quote: “We have to stay ambitious. We have to dream big. I don’t believe in dreaming small. Ambition is really important.” – Malala (61:20)

j. Women in Leadership

• [62:56 – 64:41] The panel agrees on the importance of women in decision-making (“on the cap table”). Malala references Ted Lasso’s Rebecca as a leadership model.
  • Quote: “The way women lead and the way that we think about things comes from a place of total understanding what it feels like not to have it.” – Abby Wambach (63:02)

k. Sports Fandom & Fun

• [65:40 – 66:39] Fun moments: Malala reveals she grew up loving WWE wrestling (“John Cena!”), much to everyone’s delight.
  • Quote: “Till I was 17... I thought it was a serious competition.” – Malala (66:52)

l. Practical Inspiration

• [68:45 – 69:39] Malala urges listeners to watch “Champions of the Golden Valley” on Olympics.com, a doc she executive produced, to witness the power of sports as resistance and hope in Afghanistan.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Speaker | Notable Quote | |-----------|---------|---------------| | 00:00 | Julie Foudy | “To have the courage to say, this is my life's work is changing the very thing they tried to kill me for.” | | 13:14 | Julie Foudy | “How about that? Global effect.” (on women’s hockey explosion) | | 36:52 | Malala | “At 15 years old... the hardest thing to be was myself.” (reading from her memoir) | | 41:15 | Malala | “It has helped me get out of my comfort zone... I can imagine what it does for girls out there.” | | 43:15 | Malala | “It feels surreal... We're living the change we've been talking about for so long.” | | 47:18 | Malala | “I love working with others. I love bringing people together... it requires the collective work of all of us.” | | 51:33 | Malala | “For those women and girls who have risked their lives, the best way for them to resist... is to be themselves... play music, express themselves.” | | 55:04 | Malala | “If it can happen in one part of the world, it can happen anywhere... We still have a long way to go.” | | 58:41 | Malala | “If you... take them to a women's game... their perspective changes.” | | 61:20 | Malala | "We have to stay ambitious. We have to dream big. I don’t believe in dreaming small. Ambition is really important." | | 66:25 | Malala | “John Cena.” (on her favorite wrestler) | | 68:45 | Malala | “...go and watch Champions of the Golden Valley on olympics.com and you will be truly inspired...” |

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Memorable & Light-hearted Moments

• Wardrobe Fails: Billie Jean King: “I can't stand up. I don't have any pants on.” (06:00)
• Prom & Parenting: The hosts hilariously debate the necessity of corsages and boutonnieres.
• WWE Fandom: Malala confesses her devotion to wrestling and John Cena, to the hosts’ delight.
• Dancing & Joy: The USC Women’s Water Polo team credits dance parties and joy for their championship.
• Party Poses: Group playful “party pose” before signing off (70:22).

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Noteworthy Impact & Follow-Up

• Direct Action: Post-episode, Julie Foudy and team immediately began collaborating on ideas for exhibition matches supporting exiled Afghan women athletes. “She [Malala] does the work.” (74:41)
• Leadership Model: The episode serves as a living template for how direct action, community, and leadership can genuinely drive opportunity for women and girls in sports, education, and activism.

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Engaging Takeaways

• The transformative power of sports isn’t just in play, but in building confidence, shattering societal roles, and acting as resistance where women’s rights are restricted.
• Leadership and investment by women—backed by allies—shapes opportunity and equity for the future.
• Activism paired with joy, humor, and community is essential to sustained change.
• Malala’s unwavering activism serves as a grounding call: when systems fail girls and women, it takes personal courage, collective action, and global platforms to shift the future.

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Essential Timestamps

• 00:00 – 01:01: Julie Foudy context on Malala
• 33:14 – 36:50: Malala meets Billie Jean King, personal reflections
• 36:52 – 38:25: Malala reads memoir, discusses identity
• 39:50 – 41:50: Malala on mental health & sports
• 43:15 – 44:56: The feeling at women’s sporting events
• 46:02 – 47:42: Recess platform genesis
• 48:25 – 53:53: Afghan women’s soccer team advocacy
• 54:42 – 56:57: What keeps Malala going
• 57:14 – 59:29: How to support Malala’s causes
• 66:25: Malala reveals wrestling fandom

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Episode In a Nutshell

This invigorating, globe-spanning episode fuses humor, champion-level sports talk, and deep activism. Malala Yousafzai inspires by example: after surviving violence meant to silence her, she’s putting her energy, organization, and heart into growing women’s sports as a path to freedom and equality, both in the US and places where gender barriers are life-threatening. She calls listeners to support, invest, and believe—reminding us all that “when the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.”

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For more, watch the episode on YouTube or connect with the Welcome to the Party crew across socials.

Transcript

[Julie Foudy]

They literally walked on the bus, the Taliban, and said, where is Malala? And then walked over and tried to kill her. To have the courage to say this is my life's work is changing the very thing they tried to kill me for.

[Malala Yousafzai]

I mean, women are like already changing the game. So I'm thinking about the next 20, 30 years.

[Abby Wambach]

I think it is really cool that you've wanted to step into the women's sports space. Change that really make difference is in girls lives.

[Julie Foudy]

When I hear you talk, there's a calmness that comes over me. If Malala's around, we're just gonna be okay.

[Billie Jean King]

I can listen to Malala all day. I've got 10 new ideas I want to talk to you about.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Okay, that's.

[Billie Jean King]

No, no. I just sit there and am I going? Attention,

[Abby Wambach]

the party is about to commence.

[Julie Foudy]

Welcome to the party. What's up party people? I'm Julie Foudy.

[Abby Wambach]

And I'm Abby Wambach.

[Billie Jean King]

And I'm Billie Jean King.

[Julie Foudy]

Coming up later in the show. At just 11 years old, she started speaking out. And by 15, get this, the Taliban got on her bus, asked for her name and tried to silence her by shooting her point blank. She survived and chose to spend her life fighting for the very thing they tried to take. Now she's turning to sports as a way to help solve some of the world's biggest challenges. And we love her for that. Malala, she needs no last name. She is coming up later on the pod. We cannot wait for you to hear from her. But first, we're making this transition. Cuz guess what? On Cinco de Mayo, it is Asia's birthday. So we're having a little birthday party.

[Billie Jean King]

Happy birthday, Asia. Happy birthday.

[Julie Foudy]

Amazing producer, our amazing producer.

[Billie Jean King]

Happy birthday.

[Abby Wambach]

Asia.

[Julie Foudy]

Asia.

[Abby Wambach]

Asia.

[Julie Foudy]

Asia. Did you not even see your sign? I didn't want to have to put it up in the middle, but I was like, oh, what if?

[Abby Wambach]

To our party people, we have. We have quite the team behind this show. And I think that every single team member does their job so well. And Asia gets all of our lives together and organizes us. So Asia, we love you. Happy birthday. We are so glad you were born.

[Julie Foudy]

Kinger, why are you in Chicago? What's happening?

[Billie Jean King]

Yeah, lots of reasons. We used to live here. Our apartment's getting redone. But I also had a documentary at Davis Theater, which was Y doc. What is it called? Give me the Ball.

[Abby Wambach]

It's called I Hope I Only get It.

[Billie Jean King]

I guess I say that. I say that all the time. And then everybody says, we gotta Call it that. Give me the ball. But anyway, it was really great. Laura Ricketts. Laura Ricketts. I don't know you. She's part of the Cubs, but more importantly for us with the stars, Chicago Stars. So I wore something that was kind of red. That was for the stars. And then I had my blue shoes that are coming out in August on and we had a blast. But it was sold out. People couldn't get in. I felt bad. But this David's theater is just beautiful. It's in the, I think, Lincoln Square area. Anyway, it was just a really great evening and people were so. It was great to see people I haven't seen for years. It was really wonderful.

[Julie Foudy]

So this is for the screening for the Doc?

[Billie Jean King]

Yes. They're showing it at different festivals all over the world. So this one was in Chicago and I can't go to all of them, but I wanted to come to this one because we lived here for so many years. Julie, I guess you stayed. You said you stayed over at the apartment once when you're applying.

[Julie Foudy]

I've been to the. The Chicago pimped up apartment over there.

[Billie Jean King]

Anyway, yeah, we're seeing old friends. We're having a great time, but we're working hard, too. At the same time.

[Julie Foudy]

Other exciting news. Look at what came out this week. We got our own merch. Citizens of humanity. And we did a collab and a capsule with them to benefit all proceeds, 100% goes to Bossi Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative, which is this amazing nonprofit that I support in Northern California. Marlene Bjornsrud founded the whole thing. When the first women's pro soccer league collapsed, Brandi and I sat with a bunch of other women, Brandi Chastain and I, about how we could do more around women's sports. And it was founded over 20 years ago, and so look it. And we did this whole collab to help them. And we're going to do this more than just with Bossi. We're going to do it with other nonprofits we support. So it's really cool. And on the back, the back goes through the whole. So the front is welcome to the party. The back is like, it's kind of a concert tee. Looks like a concert. But it's all the big moments in women's sports history. So Kinger's on there. Title nine's on there. Women's Nebraska volleyball game that drew like 92,000 is on there. It's really cool.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah. And for the party people listening, we will have an update soon. But we are going to be. We are creating and finalizing our welcome to the party merch that you could. You could order online. We're very excited about that. So stay tuned for. For more updates on that as well.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah. Wow.

[Billie Jean King]

Give us more stuff to wear. I can't wait. The more he's going, what should I put on? What should I put?

[Abby Wambach]

Two episodes a week is a lot of decisions to figure out what you're wearing.

[Julie Foudy]

You know, a lot of wardrobe on top, on the bottom, pajamas. Okay.

[Billie Jean King]

At least you had your pants on.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Billie Jean King]

The first show I did, I only had shorts on, and you guys did stand up. I go, I can't stand up. I don't have my pants on my trousers.

[Julie Foudy]

It's still my favorite podcast line so far.

[Abby Wambach]

I think so too. Me too.

[Julie Foudy]

I can't stand up. I don't have any pants on.

[Billie Jean King]

I had. I had shorts on, but I wasn't gonna stand up.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay. Abs. You also had a prom. Hello. How did it go? Senior prom.

[Abby Wambach]

Oh, I didn't have a prom. Emma had a prom.

[Julie Foudy]

Yes.

[Abby Wambach]

You know, it's so sweet. They're all. So we forgot to bring the corsage and the boutonniere to the. The prom picture party.

[Julie Foudy]

Wait, Tio. Tio. I've given up on corsages and boutonnieres. I told my kids I'm not doing that anymore.

[Abby Wambach]

Yep. Well, here's the deal. I was like that, too. And then the last one we went to, Emma comes over, and she's like, do you have a. Do you have the flower thingies? She doesn't know what they're called. Yeah. And I was like, no, we decided we're not gonna do that. And she was like, oh, because everybody else had them.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah.

[Abby Wambach]

And so.

[Julie Foudy]

It's so stupid. They rarely wear them. It comes on for two seconds for the picture, and then they're gone. And they cost 50 bucks each.

[Abby Wambach]

I agree with you. I agree with you.

[Julie Foudy]

We're not doing this.

[Abby Wambach]

But here's what happened. So. So I was, like, looking around. I'm like. And I went up to another mom, and I was like, do you have an extra boutonniere and an extra corsage? She says, I buy one extra every time.

[Julie Foudy]

Shush up that mom.

[Abby Wambach]

And so that is what I do now.

[Billie Jean King]

You got an extra one?

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah. So I bought. I brought extras.

[Julie Foudy]

So now you're not just buying one, you're buying two.

[Abby Wambach]

Buying four things. Two corsages, two boutonnieres. Just because somebody saved me. I'm like, I'm In. I'm like, yes, that's karma. But it was great. They're so sweet, and they're all, you know, so to see them all dressed up and to be excited, you know, they're just had their last day of classes on Friday, and then Saturday was the actual prom. They have APS coming up this week. And so basically she's done with school, essentially, which is like, this was a big, big weekend. And it was also Beach Life Festival, music festival here this weekend in Southern California. And so they all went on Friday and Sunday night. So it was a big weekend for the 18 year old. She had a great time, and she came home, she, you know, halfway through the night, she was like, can I come home a little bit later than I normally. Because we're. We're pretty strict on her coming home. We just don't believe anything good happens after midnight.

[Julie Foudy]

Exactly the phrase I say to Declan. Yes, 100%.

[Abby Wambach]

Nothing good.

[Billie Jean King]

You know, my dad. My dad was a firefighter, and that's the first thing he would always tell my brother and me. He'd go, nothing good after midnight. And if you're drinking.

[Abby Wambach]

Yep. It's just. That's how everything.

[Billie Jean King]

He saw some.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, exactly. He saw it.

[Abby Wambach]

It devolves. It evolves. But on these big nights, we do. We do give in a little. And so she came home pretty late, but she had a great time and was in one piece, and that's all I care about.

[Julie Foudy]

Good.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

Good. Well, I would say that I'm happy you went. I had a. I had a love hate relationship with dances in high school with the girls. I stopped going to all photo shoots before dances because I'm like, they don't want me there, and I am so uncomfortable. And this just drives me nuts. So why am I going there? And so I stopped going until Izzy, senior prom. She's like, mom, can you come with a nice camera and take pictures? I was like, okay. But still no corsage. Brutonier. Yeah, but I did take pictures, but it makes me so uncomfortable. It's so posy. I'm like, just put your arms around each other and be normal. Like, stop posing. I don't like. I don't like that.

[Abby Wambach]

Yep, the posing thing gets me, but it's there. It's their generation, man. That. That's what they do with tick tocks and all their social media. So what are we gonna do?

[Julie Foudy]

I was like, I don't want any part of this. So I stopped going. How's that for parenting? I'm done with that.

[Abby Wambach]

Look, it's your own little protest.

[Billie Jean King]

I can just see your kids.

[Julie Foudy]

I'm like, okay, let's get into the party starter, shall we? The highlights, shake ups and headlines. You'll want to celebrate this week in women's sports. Party starter is brought to you by Ally the bank. That is your Ally. Topic number one, Kinger pwl semifinals underway. Let's go. Okay, so game one was last Thursday. Boston who's playing Ottawa. Boston Fleet playing Ottawa Charge. Um, that, that was. Boston won that one two to one. And then game two, Ottawa responds. That was Saturday. Ottawa responds with a three one win. So that series is all tied one to one. Gwyneth Phillips, let's go. Comes up big, big 30 saves. Unreal. And then game three is going to happen on Friday in Ottawa.

[Abby Wambach]

Is it? Best of three. Best of three games.

[Julie Foudy]

Best of five.

[Abby Wambach]

Best of five.

[Billie Jean King]

Okay, five.

[Julie Foudy]

And then in the other semifinal, Minnesota Frost is playing Montreal Victoire. The game was on Saturday and that was their first game. This was a crazy one because the Frost pulled it out. So Minnesota, who's won back to back titles, pulled it out in a 5, 4 overtime thriller. And just a little reminder, Victoire went in, went in as the number one seed. So they get to choose who they want to play, either the three or the four. They chose the back to back champion.

[Billie Jean King]

And I do not understand this. I do not understand.

[Julie Foudy]

I know, I want, I want to,

[Billie Jean King]

I, I want them to explain because I know they have good reasons, but I'm like, why would you play against the team that won the first two seasons of the league? You know, 1 1, the Walter Cup?

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah. Well, Montreal, Laura Stacy had the first hat trick in PWHL postseason history on Saturday. But Gency rose. How about this for your first goal ever with the Frost, the dramatic game winner 4 minutes and 30 seconds into overtime. So. And of course our own party person, Kendall Coyne Schofield got on the board with a goal in the first period. So game two is Tuesday, May 5, back at place Bell in Laval, Quebec. And yes, those games have been amazing. And I hope all of them, all of our party people are checking them out. But here's what we also love. And I got this info from a post on the skim. And I don't know if you guys follow the scam. We all follow the skin. But party people, if you don't follow the skim, you should. It's a really good little newsletter that comes out all the time and this is going to blow your mind. They gave these stats following the 2026 Olympics, which, of course, USA Hockey women's ice hockey won. Yes. Merchandise sales in the pwhl grew nearly 190%.

[Abby Wambach]

Let's go.

[Julie Foudy]

Corporate partnerships are up 35%.

[Abby Wambach]

Nice.

[Julie Foudy]

And during the 202526 season, which is right now live, YouTube viewership increased 77% with fans tuning in from 154 countries. How about that? Global effect.

[Billie Jean King]

154 countries.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah. And the league saw a 500% increase in demand for programming, including youth and adult hockey opportunities.

[Abby Wambach]

My next topic is we're going to talk about the Soccer hall of Fame. The induction ceremony happened last weekend, and two of my great friends from the U.S. women's National Team are now officially hall of famers. Heather O'Reilly and Tobin Heath inducted into the National Soccer hall of fame on May 1st. Congrats, you two. I was so sad to not be able to go in person. I really wanted to be there. But of course, like we said earlier at the top of the show, I had prom for our youngest. But Heather and Tobin both were inducted as first year being eligible, which. Which is a big deal. First time selection is a big deal. So Heather O'Reilly, three time Olympic gold medalist, she won a World cup badass, now has two children. Her speech was amazing. Tobin Heath, two time World cup champion, two time Olympic gold medalist, is a fellow podcaster. And, you know, just doing. They're both just incredible people. And I think that that's the thing that I was, like, so incredibly amazed at. Like, they both really love the game more than I ever loved the game. They're both like soccer heads. Yeah, they're like nerds. Tobin, like, wants to break the game down even while watching on the sidelines. Heather is, like, still so heavily involved with, with her TST team and now with. With the team in. In Italy, Lake Como. They're just. They're just such great ambassadors of the game. And not only were they incredible athletes, but they're just like some of my actual favorite people on the planet. So I just want to congratulate both of them so much because it's such a well deserved honor. In other U.S. women's national team news, I think that this still does, and maybe you should. You guys could disagree. This does count as soccer news.

[Julie Foudy]

I think it's the biggest soccer news.

[Abby Wambach]

But there is something even more pressing we need to discuss, and it is the Gigi and Josie meeting. Have you guys seen this? It is the cutest thing we've got. Sophie, I always wanted to say Smith, and it's just not that anymore. It's Sophia Wilson.

[Julie Foudy]

Sophia Wilson.

[Abby Wambach]

Sophia Wilson. And Mal and Mal Pugh. See, here I go again.

[Julie Foudy]

Thank you. I do the same thing, and that makes me feel so much better. Mal Swanson now.

[Abby Wambach]

Just so cute. Their babies meeting up. And that was just the cutest thing I've ever seen.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay, Kinger, I know you watched the Kentucky. Kentucky Derby, right?

[Billie Jean King]

I finally watched it after the fact. Yes, but I watched it. But the most fun was watching the trainer watch the race.

[Julie Foudy]

Oh, my gosh.

[Billie Jean King]

Could you believe that? This is insane.

[Julie Foudy]

I watched it live and I. I don't watch a lot of horse races. If anything, it's the Kentucky.

[Billie Jean King]

Right?

[Julie Foudy]

I can't even say it. Kentucky Derby. And this one was insane. I got excited. Yeah. Yeah. Sherry Devoe is the first female trainer ever to win the Derby. And so on Saturday, Golden Tempo, that was the horse, wins the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in front of 150,000 plus people. And I went berserk, honestly, at 23 to 1 odds. And here's why. Golden Tempo, I reround this, like five times.

[Abby Wambach]

I had to go back same.

[Julie Foudy]

Golden Tempo was in last place, y'. All.

[Billie Jean King]

Totally.

[Julie Foudy]

My husband was like, yeah, that happens in horse racing. I'm like, not that often. Okay. Stop being my buzzkill. I. I couldn't even find the horse. You know, when they show the frame, there's like 20 some horses for the Kentucky Derby. I see the frame. There's no. Cuz I don't know what they call them helmets or caps the jockeys wear. This jockey, Jose Ortiz, was wearing a bright red helmet or cap. And so I couldn't find it. I'm like, he's not even in the mix. Last place, he's out of frame. All of a sudden on the last turn, too little. Golden Tempo comes, like, just starting, weaving

[Abby Wambach]

through people on the outside, by the way, on the outside.

[Julie Foudy]

The only angle he can take is the outside. Ang. My God.

[Billie Jean King]

Well, nobody's in his way. That way he doesn't have to go through anybody. He's on the outside, so he's got clear path. Go if you have the speed.

[Abby Wambach]

Fun fact.

[Billie Jean King]

More distance a little bit.

[Abby Wambach]

Exactly. Fun fact. His brother came in second. Can you imagine that? Rivalry.

[Julie Foudy]

Renegade. His brother was on Renegade. The two of them, nose and nose. Golden Tempo. See here, Golden Tempo. If this is Golden Tempo, this is the nose and this is Renegade. His brother, like, this close.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah. Photo finish.

[Julie Foudy]

First female trainer ever to win the Kentucky Derby. And the cool thing Is she was going to go to pre med. I related so much to this. I read about her in the athletics.

[Billie Jean King]

Sounds like she was going.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, exactly. She was going to go pre med and was like, what the hell am I doing? Like, I did, like what? I don't want to do this. And then she started pursuing training. She had, you know, these amazing trainers take her under her wing and. And then started her own stable in 2018. Her horses now have a lifetime earnings of over 36 million.

[Abby Wambach]

Nice.

[Julie Foudy]

So not a bad decision for her because those trainers, they earn about 10% of the purse money won by their horses. So for Kentucky Derby, which had a 3.1. It's not all about the money, people, but this is kind of cool. The Kentucky Derby, which had a $3.1 million first place prize, she'll net about three hundred and ten hundred thousand.

[Abby Wambach]

Okay.

[Billie Jean King]

Go girl.

[Abby Wambach]

This is so annoying, because horse racing, I don't know if it's a female or a male horse. Do we know what Golden Tempo was?

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, I think.

[Billie Jean King]

I think it can be either or though, right? Don't they race against each other?

[Julie Foudy]

I think it was a boy. It was. That's a. Philly's a girl.

[Abby Wambach]

Philly is a girl.

[Billie Jean King]

But anyway, Secretary. It's Secretary. It's genealogy, though. Secretariat was the athlete of the year, the horse, by the way, in 1973. I was around. I can tell you all about it. Big deal. And in the genealogy or whatever you call it, all these horses who keep winning have some of Secretariat. I'm telling you, it's amazing. Secretariat is just.

[Abby Wambach]

Well, here's the thing. I'm just thinking about this $3.1 million first place prize, which is great. The studying on that horse is now going to be that they like total, right?

[Billie Jean King]

It.

[Abby Wambach]

That that horse owner is going to make hundred million dollars, right?

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah.

[Abby Wambach]

And the trainer, that's where they make

[Billie Jean King]

the big buckaroos in. You're right.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay, that was cool. I got, I got very amped about that. That was fun to watch. So.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

Thank you. Okay, bonus topic. Kinger. I know you were watching this too. Madrid Open, which was really cool. So Marta Kostek wins one of the biggest titles of her career, beating Mira Andreeva. Did I say that right? Mira Andreva. I think so.

[Billie Jean King]

Excellent.

[Julie Foudy]

Six, three. Thank you. 6375. And then tell, tell, tell the party people what she did, which is so cute.

[Billie Jean King]

After, after her speech, she goes out on the court and she looks around and she does a backflip. You see, you guys can see it on social media. It's great. I saw it. And then she says, oh, I used to do gymnastics. And she's big, you guys. She's not like a little, like, you know, five foot two kid. No, she's big, strong, and she's from the Ukraine, which always makes me happy when they win because they're going through so much hell with their families. And she has a foundation. All the players have foundations. Trying to help, you know, families, everything, and also keep tennis going. It's very interesting. I mean, it's really rough, but it's. They. Boy, they play their heart out by representing their country.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, well, good for Marta. That's awesome. That's a wrap on our party starter, and thanks to Ally for sponsoring the segment. 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 coming up. She is funny. My kids follow her on TikTok. She's brilliant, a total force of nature. Now she's turning her attention to women's sports, and we cannot wait to talk to her. Malala is coming up next, and we have a little surprise for you. We got a few national champions stopping by the party. Abs. Mm. Any good travel coming up for y'? All?

[Abby Wambach]

A lot. A lot of travel. This summer, we're gonna be booking Airbnb with our whole team.

[Julie Foudy]

Even with kids, amazingly, it feels so much more laid back to travel now compared to traveling, I guess. No surprise with the team back in the day, right?

[Abby Wambach]

Being on the road and playing for your country, it's not easy. It's not an easy thing. So when you're jet lagged and you're tired and then you gotta go play, it's intense.

[Julie Foudy]

This year, if you're traveling even for a few days, it could be a chance to earn some extra income. So as we know, when big tournaments or events come to your city, it's such a great opportunity to list your space on Airbnb.

[Abby Wambach]

If you're in a city hosting big events, tournaments, concerts, all that you already know, thousands of fans are about to roll in, right? And it's the perfect to put your place to work. Listing your space on Airbnb is an easy way to bring in some extra cash while the city's buzzing jewels.

[Julie Foudy]

And guess what? Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how [e-mail] host.

[Abby Wambach]

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.

[Julie Foudy]

Love it.

[Abby Wambach]

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

[Julie Foudy]

And let me tell you, I have to fight the family to get on the pel. The Peloton Cross Training Tread plus lately, yeah, everyone is on it. They're all doing the swivel, they're doing the cross training. I'm like, listen, yo, this is mine. Get off. 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.

[Abby Wambach]

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] Foreign.

[Julie Foudy]

A lot of NCAA sports wrapped up this week and a special shout out to the UCLA women's beach volleyball team who beat my Stanford card this weekend. Also super excited about this because the USC water polo team. I don't know if you saw this. Beat Berkeley. I'm sorry, Tish. Ten to nine to win the 2026 Women's Water Polo NCAA Championship. It's their eighth national title in program history, their first one since 2021. We had soft sophomore Emily Osmos, who was the tournament MVP. She had 15 goals, 6 assists. Goalkeeper Anna Reed delivered with a career high 14 saves in the final. So it is our great honor. USC Women's Division 1 Water Polo Champions. Welcome to the party.

[Abby Wambach]

You are national champions. You are national champions. Congratulations.

[Julie Foudy]

Champions. Yo.

[Abby Wambach]

Wow.

[Julie Foudy]

Wow.

[Abby Wambach]

So how's it all feeling? Like, how are you all feeling today? It still feels, like, unreal and not.

[Julie Foudy]

I don't know. It happened a week ago and it still doesn't. It hasn't set in yet. Oh, yeah.

[Billie Jean King]

Sunday was the best day of our lives. Seriously.

[Abby Wambach]

So you're in the Pool.

[Julie Foudy]

You.

[Malala Yousafzai]

You.

[Julie Foudy]

You're.

[Abby Wambach]

You win. How do you celebrate in the water? What's happening?

[Billie Jean King]

Oh, well, funny enough, you would think

[Abby Wambach]

that we would know how to jump into a pool, because that's usually what we do for, you know, if you win national championship, you jump into the pool. But I don't know if you guys saw the video. We. We had some tumblers.

[Julie Foudy]

I did.

[Abby Wambach]

One of our teammates got tripped, and she fell into the pool.

[Billie Jean King]

Hannah over here got yanked backwards.

[Abby Wambach]

It's a great video.

[Julie Foudy]

So it's dangerous to celebrate in pools is what I'm hearing.

[Abby Wambach]

It's more dangerous than you would think. I mean, nobody really thought that that was gonna happen, so I think that was a little unexpected.

[Julie Foudy]

But, yeah, especially since you spend your

[Billie Jean King]

lives in pools and you're cheering like, you'll get pushed underwater. So maybe we thought that would be,

[Abby Wambach]

like, the dangerous part. But, no, actually, the jumping in was anyone who.

[Julie Foudy]

And everyone who talked about your team. The words were fun, joy, and dance parties thrown around a lot. So Abby and I, we talk about this a lot on the pod. We knew right away. We're like, oh, this team's got it, then you're going to be just fine. Tell us about that. Is. Is that a part of who you are?

[Abby Wambach]

Oh, yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

Before games were huge dance parties while we're warming up. And I think, like, going into the fourth quarter, we were only up by one, and I think we felt a lot of nervous energy in our huddle. And then we just started dancing, and

[Abby Wambach]

it kind of like, that's so good.

[Julie Foudy]

It was pretty epic. So I think that was really the key for us was joy and just, like, appreciating the fun of it. I know. That's it. That's everything. We try and say that all the time. I'm like, can you just channel more joy? And good things happen and good things follow, especially in those moments of stress, like you just said, hey, Coach Moon. Also, I know, first off, huge congrats because you've spent 19 seasons with the USC water polo programs. You've contributed already as an assistant coach to a total of 12 national championships. Six men, six women. How sweet. Is this one your first as a head coach?

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Coach Moon]

No, I appreciate it. It's so hard for me to kind of wrap my head around this. It's so surreal. But I'm so fortunate. Grateful for our team, you know, for me to be with them. You know, I tell everybody I'm just along for the ride. You know, we really, you know, really focus on our. On our on our season as a journey. And I've really kept it as this mountain climb. And if I don't have these 22 women with us, obviously with my two assistants, you know, something like this just doesn't happen, you know, so I'm really grateful for them. And just kind of reiterate this aspect of joy. That's who we are going into this semifinal game. You know, we played ucla, which is a great team, talented, incredible coaching staff. But pre game, you know, I walk out of the pool deck and again, you know, we have our little carry on roll away speaker and they're dancing. Right. This is just kind of who we are. That is just kind of their mentality. And if you watch us play, you know, just smiles left and right. And that really carried us. That really carried us. And we're so, you know, grateful for one another. Yeah. This is obviously my first, but it's. It's not about me. It's not about me. It's about my players. And I want to. And I appreciate you both taking the time and celebrating. You know, obviously USC women's water polo, women's sport for sure, but celebrating my athletes, I think it's really special. So I really appreciate it.

[Julie Foudy]

Well, I just want to say before Abby jumps in, like, that joy in dancing and all those things is because you allow it. Like, there's a lot of coaches who would be like, hey, tighten up. We gotta lock in. Right? And they don't get that, like. No, actually this is helping us lock in. So big kudos to you for creating that type of culture and atmosphere is all I wanted to say.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah, agreed. And I just need to. Anna, I see you there. I know that we. We've met before. Incredible. This is crazy. I'm so grateful to be able to have inspired you at such a young age. How old are you in this picture that I'm looking at right now? I honestly have no idea. I think I was like 6. You were like 7, 8 years old, maybe 6.

[Julie Foudy]

Abby was like 12.

[Abby Wambach]

We're both babies in this picture. Such an incredible day in my life. I. My mom was so excited to share that with me when I told her we were doing this, so. No way. That's so fun.

[Billie Jean King]

And I still have.

[Abby Wambach]

You do nice. Not with me today, but I do have it.

[Julie Foudy]

Well, this is awesome for you guys. We are so pumped for you. Congratulations. I hope that we can rock your hat one day as well. Those are sweet. And, and, and that you actually get a moment to soak it in because what you did was really cool. And congratulations as well to Coach Moon also.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah. Thank you all for coming on and awesome job. Congrats. Thank you.

[Billie Jean King]

Thank you.

[Abby Wambach]

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. So, Jules may is mental health awareness month. And it is honestly a great time for all of us to pause, to take a step back and to ask how we're doing right now. Truly, Jules, you party people, you are not the only one. Those feelings are a lot more common than we think and you don't have to navigate them alone. BetterHelp is online therapy, so you can connect with a licensed therapist from anywhere. Jules, it's pretty incredible. You fill out a quick questionnaire. They match you based on your needs. Needs. And if you're not the right fit, you can switch at any time. No pressure. You don't have to be on this journey alone. Find support and have someone with you in therapy. Sign up and get 10% [e-mail] welcome to the party. That's better. H L P.com welcome to the party.

[Julie Foudy]

What's up, party people? I'm Julie Foudy.

[Abby Wambach]

And I'm Abby Wambach.

[Billie Jean King]

And I'm Billie Jean King.

[Malala Yousafzai]

And I'm Malala. And we're here for the show.

[Julie Foudy]

We are here for the show, party people. We have. We're going straight to the party's part of the party because Malala is actually with the Kinger in her house. So if you are not watching on video, I highly suggest you turn to video and a little context. If you don't know who Malala is, obviously you should because she began speaking out for girls education at just 11 years old, writing a blog for the BBC about life under Taliban rule in Pakistan. And at 15 years old, because of her activism around girls being educated, the Taliban attempted to assassinate her. They boarded her bus and shot her. But Malala survived. And what followed? Addressing the United nations at 16 years old, becoming the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate in history. Let me say that again. Becoming the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate in history. Graduating from Oxford. Building the Malala Fund has made her one of the most influential voices in the world on girls rights. And get this, now she's putting some of that focus on women's sports. She co founded Recess, an investment platform built to support and and grow women's sports. So on the field and in the ownership spaces behind it. With her husband, Asser Malik, they launched Recess last summer at none other than the Billie Jean King Power of Women's Sports Summit in London with the Kinger Malala. Welcome to the party.

[Billie Jean King]

You can do anything here.

[Abby Wambach]

Thank you for.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Can I be here?

[Billie Jean King]

Go for it. I should have given that to you anyway.

[Julie Foudy]

Shoot.

[Billie Jean King]

I forgot. We used to have a. We had, like, all kinds of goodies.

[Julie Foudy]

Did you give her some party tools? What do you got?

[Billie Jean King]

We only have. I only have this left. I started with four. I don't know what's happened to him.

[Julie Foudy]

I'm also excited that you get to actually sit with Malala, which is amazing. You two have a relationship that goes back a while. How did you both meet?

[Billie Jean King]

Yeah, how did we meet?

[Malala Yousafzai]

I don't. I don't remember. Malala.

[Billie Jean King]

I remember we Met in Washington, D.C. yes. I remember you walking towards me. I walking towards you. I just talked to George Clooney, and I saw you, and I went, malala.

[Malala Yousafzai]

I remember that now.

[Billie Jean King]

Remember now?

[Malala Yousafzai]

Yes. This was before. I don't even remember what year that was. But it was a few years ago.

[Billie Jean King]

No, it was a long time ago.

[Malala Yousafzai]

It was a long time ago. But. Wow. That was such a moment.

[Billie Jean King]

I couldn't believe you were standing there. I know her.

[Malala Yousafzai]

I couldn't believe it was you. It was, you know, like that moment. You are too cute, King. That was.

[Billie Jean King]

Well, I was thinking you're Molal. I didn't think. I didn't think you would know who I am. I just figured it's a great time to introduce myself and then we can maybe get to know each other. And. This has been unbelievable. You know, I was in shock. Eventually, Ilana and I met again, and then they're doing women's sports. I'm like, holy moly. This is amazing. Yeah. And this is her. This is her old new book. Is this your latest one?

[Malala Yousafzai]

This is my latest.

[Billie Jean King]

The latest one. It's Finding My Way. It's absolutely amazing. You have to read it. Let me just read something quickly.

[Julie Foudy]

I need to read it. Yeah, read me. I want to get it.

[Billie Jean King]

This might be helpful. On a mild October afternoon, a bullet changed the trajectory of my life, cutting me off from my home. Maybe you should read it, my friends. And here we go.

[Abby Wambach]

That's where I am

[Malala Yousafzai]

and everything I love. Spinning me into an unfamiliar world. At 15 years old, I hadn't had time to figure out who I wanted to be, when suddenly everyone wanted to tell me who I was. An inspiration, a hero, an activist. But also a wallflower, a punching bag, a paycheck. To my parents, I was an obedient daughter. To my friends, a good listener. And when I was alone, I unraveled. Because the hardest thing to be Was myself.

[Billie Jean King]

That should get you. That should pique your interest.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Yeah. This is like the most personal reflections I have ever shared. And this is about my story, how I have grown into being this young woman who I am today. Of course, the world got to know my story because of what happened to me, which was the Taliban attack. But there's been so much more to my life, how I was navigating my way through college, trying to make friends, trying to just be a normal person, and trying to find love and carry on the work that I believe in, which is to ensure that every girl gets to go to school. I talk about how I felt when the Taliban took control over Afghanistan and girls education is banned for girls in the country for more than five years. So it's all of those thoughts and reflections and people will get to, like, know me as the real me and as, you know, truly the person who I am. So. And there's a funny side of me as well that I reflect in this book that I have a good sense of humor as well.

[Billie Jean King]

You should see Asser and her together. They. They are hilarious. Okay. They like a show. Because he talks a lot, right?

[Malala Yousafzai]

He does talk a lot.

[Billie Jean King]

And you?

[Malala Yousafzai]

I like to take some time off from talking, so sometimes I'm just sitting there resting and he can talk forever, like non stop.

[Billie Jean King]

He's great.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Yes.

[Abby Wambach]

I think something around what you just read in the book, it's so interesting because you're worldwide famous and I can understand how in some moments that can feel really lonely and to not understand who you are because you have millions and for you, billions of people kind of projecting onto you what they perceive of you. And so I'm. I'm pleasantly surprised by how you're even doing that kind of personal work inside of you. I wonder why, though, you wanted to get into women's sports and how it's kind of related. Because I feel like that there is an interesting thread that runs through your life and why it's important for you to invest in women's sports in your venture. Recess.

[Malala Yousafzai]

I think, of course, there is the business side of women's sports and how important it is for women's empowerment. But I also have a personal story for why I am so keen on supporting women's sports. In my new book, I talk about my mental health journey. And it took me more than seven years after the attack to finally get therapy. And in therapy, I realized that I need to look after myself. Of course the work is important, but if I am not taking care of my sleep and My health, I am not doing my best job in the work that I do. And that then took me to sports. So I started exploring golf, I started going to more games. I have been going to the gym. I love running. Now I am skiing, I am learning paddle tennis and pickleball. It's not that I'm the best athlete in these sports. I mean, like, nobody could ever be like you guys. I mean, a lot of pressure here. I'm not, you know, I should not be bragging about how good I am at these sports, but it has helped me get out of my comfort zone. It has helped me ensure that I look after my physical health and that has helped me in my mental health journey as well. So when I think about the role that sports has played in my life, helping me build more confidence and just ensure that I am in just the best state of myself and then I can do my job better, I can imagine what it does for girls out there. I know that sports can help build confidence and self esteem among girls, especially when they are at that point. Adolescents age, they really need that. And sports can also help in breaking stereotypes that we have around gender. And when we see women on the field, when we see women on our screens kicking a ball, it is telling something more than just that it's a sport that women are playing. It is shattering all those gender stereotypes that societies for centuries have been telling girls that they can't do it, they can't be on the field. So I know that it is such a powerful way to move towards gender equity.

[Abby Wambach]

Wow.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Yeah. So that's why I'm just so thrilled to be a part of it now.

[Julie Foudy]

What do you, when you're at these events? Because, Malala, I see you on Instagram and my kids talk about you all the time. I don't do TikTok, but they do TikTok. They're 17 and 19 and they're like, Malala is the best. She's so funny. That's the first thing they said, by the way. She's so funny.

[Malala Yousafzai]

That's the biggest compliment. She's amazing, by the way. Gen Alpha giving you a compliment.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah.

[Malala Yousafzai]

That's a compliment.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

But what do you. Because this is the interesting thing that we talk about a lot on this podcast is. And I'm interested in how you feel at a women's sporting events, because there's a. There's something about women's sporting events and the community surrounding it that we love. And I'm wondering what's the feeling like for you when you're at all these, like. We were just last week together when I met Malala at the Denver Summit FC opening game inaugural match for them, this expansion team in the NWSL. And they had 63,000 people at mile House Stadium. And Malala's on the field. We're on the sideline together. Brandi Chastain and myself and Malala and Ali Raisman and Bryce Young. It was. It was just so cool for you to be there. But what's the feeling you get in those moments around women's sports?

[Malala Yousafzai]

It feels surreal. I'm like, we are living the change that we have been talking about for so long. People are filling stadiums to show their support for women's sports and sports. Women's sports is attracting a whole new audience, which is something I really love. I think we're not really here to compare it with men's sports. I think it is opening new doors and just new crowd. I am personally attracted to women's sports more. I have been to more women's games. I have seen women's rugby games and women's soccer games and tennis and netball and basketball. And I still. I want to see more women's games. I'm, you know, men's, sure, I'll see one or two here and there, but, you know, I think it's going to bring in a much bigger, wider audience and I love how it's ensuring that it's the true reflections of the diversity that's out there. I have seen how the stadium is filled with people from different backgrounds. We have a lot of young people as well. And then we have boys, little boys, cheering for women athletes. I believe that this next generation and the generation after that will find it completely normal to see women playing games. We are going through a shift in how women's sports is perceived. And for some people, it's new. For some people, it's something. They're like, wow, this should have happened a long time ago. But there's going to be a whole new generation who will be like, yeah, anyone can play sports. Women's sports is entertaining. They love watching it. So I'm excited for the generational change that's going to happen. How do you find it?

[Billie Jean King]

How do I find it?

[Malala Yousafzai]

Yeah, like exactly what you said.

[Billie Jean King]

No, you said it just right. But you are the future. Your generation is the future. So I'm always wondering what you feel, what Julie feels, what Abby feels, what their children feel. No, because we got to keep perpetuating and keep working all the time. You can't let up because I don't want it to go backwards. That's the one thing I don't want. So I want to keep. And I want girls know they can do anything, be anything. We just need each other to help each other and connect and. And really help make it go forward.

[Julie Foudy]

It's so interesting, Malala, that you mentioned that too, that the perception around women playing is changing. And I love that. The reason. And tell me if this is correct. The reason you named Recess this investment platform into women's sports was because there was this reality that lived on of, in your day when you were younger, of the girls not playing. And so you would stand on the sidelines at recess while the boys would all be playing cricket. Is that right?

[Malala Yousafzai]

Yeah, exactly. I mean, growing up as a girl in Pakistan, in our part of the country, we had many challenges, including access to education. And then at school recess time, we would see the boys go to the local cricket ground and girls had to stay back. And I always used to wonder if that would ever change for us. Of course, you know, we are seeing. Things have changed a lot. We are seeing incredible athletes from Pakistan and from all over the world. I mean, women are, like, already changing the game. So I'm thinking about the next 20, 30 years. Can recess look different for girls too? Where girls can go and decide and, you know, pick up a ball and a bat and play any sport or go to the local cricket ground. And I think we can make that happen by investing in women's sports opportunities. Right now, I do believe that change is inevitable. We will be moving towards that, but that requires us to act. It doesn't happen itself. So I love working with others. I love bringing people together. And I don't believe that it's the part of one person to come and fix it. I don't think that's how it works. I think one person can spark a conversation, they can ignite it, but it requires the collective work of all of us to come together. So with a platform like Recess and then working together with incredible investors and partners and athletes, we will be investing in women's teams and leagues and the sports adjacencies to really help take the women's sports ecosystem to the next level. It's already growing. And I think with the right strategy, right investments and platform and brand building, you know, like, the future looks very bright.

[Julie Foudy]

You've seen so much of the world globally, and we talk about a lot of sports in the United States because of this incredible law called Title 9 gave us a leg up in The United States, with the numbers of girls playing and access and opportunity to play sports. And we are clearly not there yet, but we have had that advantage since 1972. And in large part, the amazing work of the woman sitting next to you, Malala, as you know, has played such a huge part in all of us being able to participate. But what I love most about recess as well is you are obviously looking at the ownership side of things.

[Malala Yousafzai]

I think it's an opportunity for women and girls globally. And I'm already supporting women's soccer in Pakistan. I've also been supporting the Afghan women's soccer team, who are in exile. They are in Australia, and I met them in 2022. That's when the women's soccer World cup was happening. And I just saw these incredible girls, so talented. They were practicing football, and they just simply wanted to play. But when I asked them, like, you know, what's the process? Can they go and, like, represent their team? Can they be part of the games? And they said no, because the FIFA rules don't allow that. And it just put me in a complete shock that why are the rules not in favor of the players, and why are the rules sort of in favor of some country rules and all of that. And we know that the Taliban are controlling Afghanistan. They don't allow girls to learn. They don't allow women to work. They would never allow women to play sports. So institutions like FIFA need to figure out a way to help these athletes play when they are facing the biggest threat of their life. So after, like, a few years of advocacy, you know, even at the Olympics, like, Natalie Portman hosted a conversation between me and the Afghan women's team's former captain, Khaleeda, and we highlighted this issue, and then there was somebody from, you know, FIFA there, and they got the attention. So after these conversations, it was just last year that FIFA announced that they would be helping the Afghan women's soccer team. And, you know, it's a big win. It's a big advocacy win. And I hope that they get to represent their country as well one day, like, you know, as sort of the national team. But at least they can play friendly games now.

[Billie Jean King]

Yeah, this makes us appreciate. Allows us to appreciate how hard it is in other areas of the world. Also, it shows you how without engagement, things don't change. Like, you engaging with Natalie, and the FIFA person was there to hear your story. So engagement is really, really important. So, in fact, you've got me thinking, just listening now, I'm going crazy. I've got A list in my head already. I'm crazy.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Yeah, I mean, some of it happens like behind the scenes, private conversation, public conversations. We wrote an op ed together, we have been writing letters together. And then like these kinds of opportunities where you just happened to be at a conference and thankfully someone from FIFA was there and that made that connection and still took like many months for anything to move forward. I just hope that it is a wake up call to institutions like FIFA to ensure that they reflect on their rules and they are always on the side of the players and they are figuring out a way to help, you know, a team like the Afghan women's team play. You know, there's. We might feel helpless. We are like, you know, there's nothing, there's not much we can do inside the country. But for those women and girls who have risked their lives, the best way for them to resist the Taliban is to be themselves, is to read, learn, write, play, kick a ball, play music, express themselves. I think, you know, there's. This is just like the least that, you know, FIFA can do is just like support the Afghan women's team who have gone through so much, who have sacrificed so much.

[Billie Jean King]

Malawi think it actually, I mean, this is a stretch. My brain's thinking, why don't they just let him be a wildcard? I mean, come on, just let them experience FIFA. Let them experience it. Everyone knows they're not going to win it. Who cares? It's the participation of being there with so many other people. Also, it always helps people to engage with each other. As far as teams like the athletes talk to each other, so the Afghan women or Pakistani women, whatever, start talking to the rest of the athletes. And so the rest of the athletes understand then they can go out and affect the world too, through their stories. I mean, it's just, it's vital that they get the chances to meet other people. And I was just thinking, why not do a wild card or do something extra around the World cup or something? I don't know. I'm sure Julia and Abs are already thinking and we'll be talking about it. You said this.

[Malala Yousafzai]

The World cup is happening next year, right? So even if it's a game where symbolically, athletes from all these different countries come together and play with the Afghan women, how amazing. Would you.

[Billie Jean King]

That's what I'm talking about.

[Malala Yousafzai]

To say that we actually care that there are women and girls just like us who have the same dreams as us, who want to play football. You know, why can't they play? And we are here to Support them, we care. It's this message of sisterhood. I think it would really mean so much to the Afghan women's team and anything that we do for them, it means so much to them. It, it gives them hope, so much hope.

[Billie Jean King]

Why can't they play in some of these friendlies or anything like that? Come on, let's go. Let's figure this out.

[Malala Yousafzai]

It's a challenge for us.

[Julie Foudy]

What are you doing about it?

[Billie Jean King]

Isn't that great?

[Julie Foudy]

You're not doing enough. And there's so many different levers you have to push when you talk about it publicly, but privately, the back channeling, the importance of you being able to push.

[Malala Yousafzai]

All of, we are here to clap for FIFA if they take the right steps. We're here to support them and cheer for them. We are like, just engage with the Afghan women's team, listen to them and do the right thing.

[Abby Wambach]

It feels like you've done everything a person could do prior to even turning 30 years old. What is the thing that gets you up out of bed in the morning? You have survived what could have been a fatal injury. You've gotten the Nobel Peace Prize. Like, it feels like you've done. You've done it right. I think about this with Billy too. Like, you both have been such inspirations, but really, what gets you out of bed in the morning today?

[Malala Yousafzai]

I always think about the girls who still do not have equal opportunities as us. And I know we have come a long way and there's so much to celebrate, but I think about the 120 million girls who do not have access to education. It makes me think about the 11 year old girl once I was who simply wanted to be in school, but education was banned for her. And in the past five years, it has been the stories of Afghan women and girls that keep me up at night. Because, you know, what's happening in Afghanistan is also like a wake up call to all of us that if it can happen in one part of the world, it can happen anywhere. An extremist group like the Taliban are punishing and you know, they're like putting women in prison for daring to speak out. And they are banning girls from attending schools. They do not allow women to be in professions like these women who five years ago were doctors, politicians, engineers, artists, they were scientists, they were soccer players, are not allowed to be in university or pursue a career and be themselves. They're risking their lives because they're advocating, they're protesting, they're learning in secret, they are providing education on radios and they're providing education through underground secret schools. I had a conversation with one Afghan girl and she told me that even reading a book alone in her room is an act of resistance for her. So it is their bravery and courage. But it's also just a reminder to me that we still have a long way to go. And I'm joining the Afghan Women's, you know, this activist group who are doing a whole campaign to push leaders to ensure that, you know, that they're doing more for the women. They're not just talking about them, but they make women's rights a non negotiable condition in any conversation. Like, we cannot make compromises on women's education and their rights. So I'm supporting them in this work and I think, you know, if we can protect and if we can do something for Afghan women, it will give me hope that we will have a better future for women in every part of the world.

[Abby Wambach]

Okay, quick follow up. What can our listeners do to support you? What are the ways in which everybody listening? Because I'm like, fired up. I'm like, I want to. Yes, how. How do we help?

[Malala Yousafzai]

I think there's a lot we all can do. You know, sometimes it is the people in our own community. We just need to look around. Do you know anyone who is here as a refugee from Afghanistan? Do you know anyone on your social media platforms, support the Afghan women's soccer team, the robotics team. There are Afghan women activists who we have been supporting through Malala Fund. You could like, support the Afghan Women's Advocacy through Malala Fund platform as well. And, you know, just ask your leaders, ask your representatives what are they doing, because they have a role and responsibility in the international politics as well. They should not be normalizing relationships with the Taliban. They should be prioritizing like, you know, the protection of women's rights. And what's, you know, the situation in Afghanistan is. Is a gender apartheid. That's what Afghan women activists are calling it. That it is, you know, it's a legal and a systemic form of discrimination and segregation against women. So we need to call it what it is. It's very much systemic. And sometimes, you know, if it happens in one place, what does it mean for the, you know, this whole fight for women's rights everywhere? Initiatives like investing in education is a very powerful way to see the change in the long term because you can raise awareness, you can make girls aware of their rights and you can help them to reach towards financial independence. And the second thing is initiatives like sports, because sports can help build Confidence among girls. It can empower them. And it can also challenge the stereotypes around gender as well. Sometimes I think that, you know, if you can sit down with a community for, like, three hours and explain to them why, you know, girls should have equal rights, or you just take them to a women's game, and when they see women playing on the field, it's. Their perspective changes. You don't have to lecture them, just, like, show them. So I believe in these other platforms that we have, from storytelling to TV shows, movies, documentaries, to also then sports as well. I think it can do a lot.

[Julie Foudy]

When I hear you talk, there's a calmness that comes over me of like, okay, like, if Malala's around, we're just gonna be okay. What I need to know what you're doing in the next 10 years and how you can just run this whole world, please.

[Malala Yousafzai]

You know what? I think we just need more and more girls empowered. I think, you know, I hope that we have. We have more opportunities for girls. I think we'll be in a better place in the next 10 years. I want to see the number of girls out of school reduced by half. I, you know, and I'm like, when is this number going to go down to zero where there's no girl out of school? And I'm like, I wish I can see it, like, tomorrow. But we are on this journey, like, you know, we will make it happen. And I believe in us trusting the leadership.

[Billie Jean King]

See, Malal is exactly what the world needs more of.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Billie Jean King and Elana have been supporting me on this journey for a very long time. We have been to a lot of games together, including women's ice hockey games, which I loved. I mean, I love women's ice hockey and also women's vlog basketball. That's when.

[Billie Jean King]

Yeah, yeah, right.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Yes. Which I also been a big fan of. And it's been your mentorship and support that has meant so much to us. And you are officially advisors to recess, which we are really excited about. I think collaboration, supporting each other in these different spaces really matters. I believe in the power of collective work towards seeing change. I have been in this space of activism for literally my whole life because I started when I was 11, so I don't remember much before that. And this is what I have learned,

[Abby Wambach]

that

[Malala Yousafzai]

it is joining hands with others that can help us see a real transformation. And we have to stay ambitious. We have to dream big. I don't believe in dreaming small. Ambition is really important. The work that I'm doing for protecting the rights of women in this Afghanistan initiative. It is about this vision that there is protection for women in the international system. And I know it sounds like, you know, too complicated, but we want to ensure that gender apartheid is recognized in the Crime Against Humanity treaty at the UN because there's no recognition for it. There's no way to hold perpetrators like the Taliban accountable. And just think about it like, you know, when it happens to women, we just don't have a name for it. When it happens to women, systemically as a whole, there's just like, oh, well, domestic issue, a cultural issue, a local issue, and we don't want to address it. And I'm like, if it happened to me, you know, when I was 11 years old, we were banned from education. If it happened to Afghan women back in, like, 1996, 1997, those years, and now it's happening once again in 2021. It is telling us something that there is no legal protection, no international law protection for women. And that's why codifying gender apartheid is so important, because this is about the safety and protection of women, not just now, but in the future. Not just in Afghanistan, but every part of the world.

[Billie Jean King]

I'm ready. Are you? Sign me up. Right.

[Abby Wambach]

Julie and I and Billie talk a lot on this show about how important it is for women to be in leadership positions, in positions where decisions are made on the cap table. And I think it is important. It is so important because the way that women lead and the way that we think about things comes from a place of total understanding what it feels. Feels like to not have it. And I think that the way women process through these complicated issues and the way that we want to build some of these teams comes from understanding what it feels like not to have all of the, you know, whether it's resources or finances or support that that's necessary. And I think. I think it is really cool that you've wanted to step into the women's sports space, but mostly to step into leadership position. Right? To step into positions that change, that really make difference in girls lives, girls and women around the world. So I just am so grateful to you, to not just your lived experience, but also now you're creating a platform where your lived experience will then have legs and a life of its own. It's very cool.

[Malala Yousafzai]

I often give the example of Ted Lasso. I know he gets all the credit, but Rebecca, who is the team owner, she actually creates room for someone like Ted Lasso to come in and set the culture and really invest in the Talent. So we need more Rebecca's, basically.

[Billie Jean King]

She's great. We love her. I love. Oh, my gosh.

[Julie Foudy]

Such a good point.

[Billie Jean King]

We binged on that so badly. That's great.

[Malala Yousafzai]

They could rename the show and just call it Rebecca.

[Billie Jean King]

Rebecca. That would be good, actually. Why don't they? They're going to do another show. Isn't. Aren't they going to do women's football? Soccer?

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah, Next season.

[Billie Jean King]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

They're adding the women's team in.

[Billie Jean King]

I could listen to Malala all day because she's. Now I'm all wound up. I've got 10 new ideas I want to talk to you about.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Okay.

[Billie Jean King]

No, I just sit there. Am I going to wait?

[Julie Foudy]

What's the rest of the day look like for you two? Come on. I hope you get.

[Billie Jean King]

I'm supposed to play tennis today, but I don't know. Maybe I'm going to cancel now.

[Malala Yousafzai]

We will be discussing all the ideas that we like.

[Billie Jean King]

Yeah, we need to discuss. No, we actually do need to discuss ideas. That's what we haven't done.

[Julie Foudy]

Well, you can discuss them on the tennis court while Malala is hitting some balls with you.

[Malala Yousafzai]

We'll be just playing it closer to the net.

[Julie Foudy]

Yes. The biggest problem, right on her racket, though. Can you put it right on her racket?

[Billie Jean King]

Oh, Lana's so accurate. She. Boom, guy. She always has been king.

[Julie Foudy]

Are you gonna have to talk to Malala today? This is what I learned about her in Denver, the sport that she grew up watching. Cricket was your favorite sport, Malala. You grew up watching. This is gonna surprise you.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Cricket?

[Julie Foudy]

No, besides cricket. Besides cricket.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Oh. Oh, yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

Golfer.

[Malala Yousafzai]

I. Shall I say it?

[Billie Jean King]

Do not say golf.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes.

[Billie Jean King]

You couldn't say golf.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Wrestling.

[Billie Jean King]

Oh, wrestling. That's right. I said that. I. I was gonna ask Wrestling.

[Julie Foudy]

Not just any wrestling. What kind of wrestling?

[Billie Jean King]

Malala.

[Malala Yousafzai]

I used to watch wwe.

[Billie Jean King]

I know. You thought it was real. She thought that was real. Yeah. Don't you love it?

[Julie Foudy]

Wait, who was your favorite wrestler? Malala.

[Malala Yousafzai]

John Cena.

[Julie Foudy]

Oh, my.

[Billie Jean King]

I don't even know the names. This is good.

[Malala Yousafzai]

I actually know quite a lot. There was Triple H, Rey Mysterio, Randy Orton. There's quite a few. I mean, the Undertaker.

[Billie Jean King]

Matisse.

[Abby Wambach]

Undertaker.

[Billie Jean King]

This is great. You're gonna have to teach this. Yes.

[Abby Wambach]

Savage, Hulk.

[Julie Foudy]

Oh, my God. To Sim. On the bed with her brothers. All the different moves. I just was like, this is the best.

[Billie Jean King]

And you thought it was real?

[Malala Yousafzai]

Yeah, till I was 17. It's when we moved to the UK. I was talking about it. I thought it was a serious, you know, competition. And they were like, you know it's scripted, right? And I'm like, no, it's not. What are you talking about?

[Billie Jean King]

I think it's hilarious.

[Abby Wambach]

What?

[Billie Jean King]

Do you know that women girls wrestling in the United States is one of the fastest growing sports in all the schools in the country and colleges. It's huge.

[Julie Foudy]

It's one.

[Abby Wambach]

But the real wrestling.

[Billie Jean King]

Women's wrestling? No, that's the real one. But I'm like, really? Okay. I'm such a wimp. You know, I go, oh, you win.

[Malala Yousafzai]

I think I would be a good wrestler.

[Billie Jean King]

You'd be horrible. She'd be great. I mean, horrible. Baby, you'd be in there. You think she's competitive? Squeeze me.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Yeah, I'll call my brothers, you know, so I can start practicing.

[Billie Jean King]

She had brothers. That helps.

[Abby Wambach]

What do they call it, getting into this?

[Billie Jean King]

Isn't this hilarious?

[Abby Wambach]

I'd go against Scrum.

[Billie Jean King]

Oh, my God.

[Abby Wambach]

What do you think Malala versus Abby would go?

[Billie Jean King]

Abby would be it.

[Julie Foudy]

Our next minute to win it. Malala v. Abby in wwe.

[Billie Jean King]

Here we go.

[Malala Yousafzai]

On it.

[Billie Jean King]

Just hit her in the ankle.

[Julie Foudy]

On it. Malala, you have lived of life, my friend, and just 20. What are you at? You said 28 years old.

[Malala Yousafzai]

28.

[Billie Jean King]

She'll be 29 in July, and next year she'll be 20. Did I get that right?

[Julie Foudy]

You have lived a life, and thank you for what you continue to keep doing and keep giving and keep talking about. I know, like. Like, Billy, go back and forth from London to the United States, to all parts of the world, but what you're doing in women's sport, in the women's sports space is so important right now. I actually wore this for you because it says, girls who play become women who lead. And that is what we're doing.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Thank you. Thank you so much. And sometimes we need a reminder on how sports can help bring communities together and give them hope for peace. I became a part of this documentary called Champions of the Golden Valley. It's about skiing in Afghanistan, and it shows how men and women in Afghanistan are resisting the Taliban's oppression. And it's now acquired by Olympics, so everyone can watch it on olympics.com and, you know, sometimes you just need a moment, just hear a story to really remind ourselves how powerful sports can be. So, yeah, just go and watch Champions of the golden valley on olympics.com and you will be truly inspired by the story.

[Abby Wambach]

We will watch that tonight.

[Billie Jean King]

She's a fountain of information, huh?

[Abby Wambach]

This is great.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah.

[Malala Yousafzai]

And I. And I'm the executive producer. Yes.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah.

[Billie Jean King]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

Champions of the Golden Valley.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Yes.

[Billie Jean King]

Yeah. Champions of the Golden Valley.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Yes.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay, I'm gonna watch it. We'll put it in our show notes. Party people go watch it as well. This has been a treat. You are a treat, Malala. Thank you.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Oh, it was so wonderful speaking with you all. And you are amazing. And Billie Jean King, you are amazing.

[Billie Jean King]

Thank you.

[Malala Yousafzai]

Truly an honor for me to be here. And thank you for what you do for women's sports, the legacy that you have set. Because you have been in this space, we look up to you. You have told us that we could do it, and we will be telling many more girls and young women in the coming generations that they can do it, too. So you are role models. Thank you.

[Abby Wambach]

Okay.

[Julie Foudy]

Party pose, Malala. Any. Anything you want. That's like a good party pose. Party pose with Malala on three. One, two, three.

[Abby Wambach]

Oh, my.

[Julie Foudy]

They went off to. To do and change the world. Kinger was already talking about Malala. I got to talk to you. What you said made me think about 10 new things. I wanted to. I could hear her saying that to her when she was signing off. I think this is what I love about Kinger. Like, that woman never stops.

[Abby Wambach]

She never stops. She never stops. But this podcast had to stop. And so here we are, closing it out. I feel so impressed by that woman.

[Julie Foudy]

Yes.

[Abby Wambach]

There's just an immense amount of impressed in my body right now. And I'm like, what am I doing with my life? I need to do more with my life.

[Julie Foudy]

We have this podcast called welcome to the Party. I mean, what she's lived through and to have the courage to say after an incident like that happens, where someone tries to assassinate you on a bus. They literally walked on the bus, the Taliban, and said, where is Malala? And then walked over and tried to kill her. To have the courage to say, this is my life's work is changing the very thing they tried to kill me for. And I'm going to do it on a daily basis for the rest of my life. I cannot wait to read Finding My Way.

[Abby Wambach]

Me too.

[Julie Foudy]

I'm getting that right now.

[Abby Wambach]

Because you can imagine having the. Not just the life experience, but then putting. There's got to be so many people around her that are telling her who she is. Right? The world, the people. And it's got to be so hard to know and how to figure out who you are and what you want, you know, Like, I believe that her heart is so pure. And I also know that you can have a Lot of people around you that might not think that way or feel that way or be honoring of you. So I just. I think it's really cool. She seems cool. I want to know her more. I want to be friends with her.

[Julie Foudy]

And. And here, Abby, is what we should know about Malala, because obviously, one, we can see how amazing she is, but it is so not performative. And literally, this woman does the work. I don't know if you saw one of her famous quotes, but she once said, when the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful. And here is a perfect example of how powerful her voice is, because literally, in this conversation, we're talking about how we can help this Afghanistan national team, and they're exiled in Australia because, as she mentioned, these players are fearful for their lives as female athletes under Taliban rule. And so shortly after we had the conversation, she reaches out with a list of things she said, Jules. So Alana Kloss, Billy's wife, and her, reached out with Khalida Papal, who she was talking about in. In the episode, the former captain of the Afghan Women's national team. And they said, jules, can you help with this list of things that we want to do to possibly do an exhibition game or something around the Women's World cup in Brazil? So I immediately text Cindy Parlo Cohn, who is the president of U.S. soccer, who cares deeply about these kind of situations, and said, what do you think? Here's the list of what they have. Can we get on a call with them? And she wrote back, I am so in, and I have so many ideas. So we have a call tomorrow with them to go over, and who knows what's going to happen? But now you've got the president of U.S. soccer because the Afghanistan Federation isn't helping them at all. Right. Because they're under the Taliban. So hopefully we can do something that gives these women the proper recognition they deserve. And it's a cool game, and it further elevates what they've done and how brave they are to continue to play. So I just. I just love that so much. And I wanted people to be aware that this is a woman who does the work, for sure. All right, party people, don't forget to subscribe to the welcome to the party YouTube channel. Click that little bell icon so you can actually watch Kinger and Malala live together and you'll know when that episode goes live.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah. And if you can take a second, we would appreciate it to rate, leave a comment and subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. And also be sure to follow us on Instagram or YouTube, wherever you get your socials at. Welcome to the party show where Julie, Billy, I. And maybe we'll just keep bringing Malala back.

[Julie Foudy]

I know. And I'm Malala. That was so cute. And I'm Malala.

[Abby Wambach]

And then we'll just keep bringing that party straight to your feed. So just also email us at party people questions gmail.com. thanks.

[Julie Foudy]

K. Tell us what you think about this episode. This was a cool one. We do cool. We get to call this a job. Abby, how amazing is this? I'm like, oh, what'd you do today? Oh, I just chatted with Malala and Billy Jean King for an hour. Come on.

[Abby Wambach]

After every other Monday morning, because, folks, that's when we do this podcast. I go upstairs and Glennon's like, how was it? And I was like, I just can't believe I do this for a job. This is so.

[Malala Yousafzai]

I know.

[Abby Wambach]

Weird.

[Julie Foudy]

Ian, my husband, says he can hear me downstairs with my antics and excitement about all that we're doing. And he's like, Honey, it's 7:30. And you're like, oh, my God. I know, because I get to talk to all these rad women who are in it, doing amazing things every day and be like, oh, that's my job.

[Billie Jean King]

That's my job.

[Abby Wambach]

We're doing good things here. I love working with you, Jules. And I'm so happy we are building this little party people fandom. Keep following us, folks, because we love what we're doing and we're ain't quitting anytime soon, so.

[Julie Foudy]

So wherever you are, party people, put your paws in. I want you too, to shout it. We get these great notes of people walking their dog, and they think people. People think they're insane because they're. They're hollering with us. Yes. I love that. I want more stories of that. All right, USA on three. One, two, three. Usa. Oh, Abs, I'm so upset. We should have had Malala do USA with us.

[Billie Jean King]

Oh, what a movie.

[Abby Wambach]

That was a bozo move on our part.

[Julie Foudy]

What a Miss Malala.

[Abby Wambach]

See you next time, folks.

[Julie Foudy]

She's gonna have to come back.

[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. 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 TikTok. Thanks for listening.