The Most Dominant Team You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

Summary

Welcome to the Party: The Most Dominant Team You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

Podcast: Welcome to the Party
Host: Treat Media (Julie Foudy & Abby Wambach, regular appearance by Billie Jean King)
Episode Date: December 23, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode is a celebration and deep dive into the US Women’s Deaf National Soccer Team—a powerhouse program with a winning legacy, yet little mainstream recognition. Hosts Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy, joined by legendary teammate Billie Jean King, speak with guests Amy Griffin, Joy Fawcett, and current player Aaron Simbrail about the team’s undefeated record, the unique challenges faced, the fierce community they’ve built, and their battle for visibility and resources.

The episode aims to highlight not just the team’s success, but the resilience, innovation, and grassroots dedication that define women's sports and, especially, underserved communities like the Deaflympics athletes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Epic Legacy of the US Women’s Deaf National Team

[21:27] Julie Foudy:

• Since their inception 20 years ago, the team boasts 44 wins, zero losses, and one draw.
• Five Deaflympics gold medals, three World Cup titles, eight major international championships.
• Most recently: undefeated and unscored-upon in the Deaflympics, outscoring opponents 35–0.

Quote:

“In 20 years, 44 wins, zero losses, one draw. They’ve built all of this while fighting for visibility, for resources, for recognition, for every single inch. Their connection and their pride come from having to earn everything that they’ve achieved.” — Julie Foudy [21:27]

2. What is the Deaflympics?

[24:10] Aaron Simbrail:

• The Deaflympics is a multi-sport international event, like the Olympics, but designed for Deaf athletes.
• Unique because referees, organizing staff, and athletes are all Deaf.
• For many, it's the only time they get to live fully in a “Deaf world” for three weeks—authenticity, community, and connection.

Quote:

“It’s not just about competing for a medal... it’s about the opportunity to communicate and connect, to experience being with people who share your world.” — Aaron Simbrail [24:10]

3. Building a Dynasty with Zero Funding

[28:02] Amy Griffin & Joy Fawcett:

• The team started with no funding, no US Soccer support, and zero recognition.
• Players and staff self-funded (even putting costs on personal credit cards).
• Early camps included screen-printing T-shirts at home, using donated fields, and hand-written thank you notes to supporters (including Mia Hamm!).
• Despite lack of resources, the players were the linchpin: they raised money, found coaches, and built a culture of resilience.

Quote:

“Bring a light, a dark t-shirt, and your own ball. That’s kind of how far this team has come.” — Amy Griffin [28:02]

Quote:

“We trained at a dairy farm in Michigan once... These players do hard well.” — Amy Griffin [29:53]

4. Culture of Adaptation and Player-Driven Purpose

• The players are insistent on running youth clinics at every camp—even when coaches doubted they had time—because so many have been “that kid.”
• The team is built brick by brick, player by player, echoing the challenges of the early days of US women's soccer.

Quote:

“They do hard so well that imagine how much fun it is when things actually do work out. They don’t expect anything to work.” — Amy Griffin [29:53]

5. Deaf Soccer: Unique Rules and In-Game Experience

[38:37] Aaron Simbrail:

• All hearing devices (hearing aids, cochlear implants) must be removed to compete—guaranteeing level play for both Deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes.
• Referees use flags instead of whistles; universal hand signals replace verbal cues.
• Players are hyper-aware, using more visual information and sign language for on-field communication.

Quote:

“We take out our hearing aids, and then we just go play and fully feel free... you don’t have to hear, you just play the game you love. It’s like a free thing to do.” — Aaron Simbrail [39:02]

Memorable Moment:

“Hey, Loudy Fowdy, you try solving a problem without being able to communicate, right?... There are very few players and staff that can communicate with everyone freely... They just remain calm, they just flip and figure it out.” — Amy Griffin [41:29]

Anecdote:

• New keeper (not used to Deaf soccer) tries shouting tactical instructions—veteran keeper calmly points out “they can’t hear you.” Comic misunderstandings ensue as both realize how communication must adapt. [42:31]

6. Hard-Won Progress with US Soccer

[35:34] Amy Griffin:

• Only recently (late 2022/early 2023) did US Soccer bring the Deaf Women’s National Team under their official umbrella.
• Support now covers costs so players don’t need to pay thousands to participate (nor taxes on gold medals!).
• Ongoing need: fundraising for youth programs to build a pipeline, increase opportunity for Deaf girls nationwide.

7. The Power of Community, Identity, and Passing the Torch

• The Deaf Women’s National Team is now the only organized Deaf women’s soccer team in the country.
• Clinics for Deaf and hard-of-hearing youth are planting seeds for the future (mentoring, visibility, identity).
• Amy Griffin and Joy Fawcett announce stepping away from leadership, expressing pride in the team’s “player-driven” culture and excitement for the next generation to lead.

Quote:

“I got addicted to how I felt when I was with the team. I didn’t know what I needed, and for some reason, it’s time... the feeling of what it’s like to feel appreciated. And I get to coach a team that is the team like it was when we played... When was the last time anything was truly player-driven?” — Amy Griffin [45:46]

Quote:

“The culture is huge and it’s important, and everyone contributes to it... I’ll never leave it, I’ll keep pushing.” — Joy Fawcett [44:36]

• Aaron Simbrail, now a veteran, expresses bittersweet excitement for a new era, honoring mentors and paving the way for younger leaders.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This is the most dominant US Soccer team you’ve probably never heard of.” — Julie Foudy [21:27]
• “We’ve built all of this while fighting for visibility, resources, recognition—for every inch.” — Julie Foudy [21:27]
• “We adapt. And adapt. Like, we’re never really thriving... We keep adapting.” — Amy Griffin [30:55]
• “All the little boys and girls out there, there is a place for them—a home for them.” — Aaron Simbrail [32:20]
• “You’d be shocked how a little goes such a long way. Thank you.” — Amy Griffin [52:31]

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Important Timestamps & Segments

• Intro of Guests & Deaf Team’s Legacy — [21:12 – 23:00]
• Deaflympics Overview & Meaning in the Deaf Community — [24:10 – 25:50]
• Origins: No Funding, DIY Culture, Player-Driven Clinics — [28:02 – 32:20]
• Deaf Soccer Rules and On-field Adaptation — [38:37 – 41:29]
• Unique Communication & Problem-Solving in Deaf Soccer — [41:29 – 43:15]
• Youth Pipeline, Clinics, and Vision for the Future — [35:34 – 38:10]
• Amy & Joy on Stepping Down and Legacy — [44:36 – 48:54]
• Aaron: Looking Ahead to the Next Era — [48:54 – 50:08]
• Hosts Rally for Deaf World Cup in USA — [50:08 – 51:41]
• Closing Reflections: Inspiration & Continuing the Fight — [52:10 – End]

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Closing Thoughts & Calls to Action

• The US Women’s Deaf National Team stands as an icon of underrecognized excellence—one built on resilience, partnership, and the unshakeable belief that women and Deaf athletes belong at the highest levels of competition and visibility.
• Support the Team: Donations and awareness through USA Deaf Soccer Association (USA DSA) are crucial for growing the pipeline and ensuring future generations can play.
• Get on Board: The hosts (and listeners) are all-in for a Deaf World Cup in the US in 2031.
• Legacy Matters: The episode celebrates not just a winning streak, but a community where culture, identity, and heart matter as much as medals.

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Transcript

[Amy Griffin]

The mantra has always been, like, everyone's like, adapt and thrive. And Erin will tell you, we're like, nope, we adapt. And just what we.

[Aaron Simbrail]

And adapt with all the little boys and girls, like, just know that there is a place for them. Like, there is a home for them. We just take out our hearing aids and then we just kind of just go play and just fully feel free.

[Amy Griffin]

The biggest difference in deaf soccer is there's problems. I mean, hey, Loudy Fowdy, you try solving a problem.

[Julie Foudy]

I would be screwed.

[Amy Griffin]

Just move on. They're never gonna get it. And then the interpreter says, just move on. You're never. And I'm like, shut up.

[Abby Wambach]

Attention, 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 am Abby Wambach. Hey, Jules.

[Julie Foudy]

I love how you say that.

[Abby Wambach]

How are you?

[Julie Foudy]

You've got some exciting news you should share. I think you should tell the party people. This is really cool.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah. Okay. So a couple of years ago, we got a call from our friend Tig Notaro and comedian. She's so funny. We actually saw her perform last night at her holiday show. And. And she said because she understood and knew that we were friends with Andrea Gibson, the poet laureate of Colorado. And, and, and. And Tig proposed to us to potentially do a doc to follow Andrea. Now, Andrea was diagnosed with incurable cancer. And the process by which they went through their diagnosis and their treatment was different than, I think, the way a lot of people do. And so Glennon and I decided, like, yes, let's figure out how to do this. So we figured out how to do it. Tig found these incredible director, producer, dynamic duo, Ryan White and Jessica Hargreaves. And then we, Glennon and I, and Tig just reached out to all of our friends and was like, hey, would you guys want to be a part of this? So over the last couple of years, we had this film crew and Andrea and Meg. Meg is Meg F. Is Andrea's wife. And they let them in. They let the film crew into their lives for the whole year prior to Andrea passing away this last July. And this is this the be what you would think is the story of how they passed and how they died, but really it's a story of how they lived. And it's just so beautiful. It's called Come See Me in the Good Light. You can stream it on Apple TV right now. And it actually just got shortlisted for an Oscar last week. And so our little crew, we've just been like.

[Julie Foudy]

Shortlisted for an Oscar.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah. I.

[Julie Foudy]

Such a beautifully shot and done film. I told you, I cried for an hour and 40 minutes. It was so well done.

[Abby Wambach]

And the thing about this, this movie is every single person who wanted to be a part of it, when we asked, it was like, hell, yeah. Yes. Like this, this. Because with the world being the world and feeling so out of control, we wanted, like, this was a time that we could, like, focus our, like, creative endeavor and energy on this thing. And with all of us just bringing all of our.

[Aaron Simbrail]

Yes.

[Abby Wambach]

Energy and love. Energy.

[Joy Fawcett]

It.

[Abby Wambach]

It. It just is like this. I don't know, it's like. It's the most fulfilling creative project I've ever worked on and I've met some incredible human beings. So, yeah, really, really proud and excited. And you know me, I like awards. Like, for whatever reason, I was the kind of person born that, like, give me a trophy, give me. Get me on an awards list, and I'm a happy camper competitor in you. Yeah. Well, actually, one of the first meetings, I said to the director, Ryan White, I said, so how do we win? How do you win at documentary filmmaking?

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah.

[Abby Wambach]

And he's like, what do you mean?

[Julie Foudy]

Like, he's like, artists, Here come these athletes. Damn.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah, artists. Exactly. Artists. Don't think this way. I'm like, well, what? Like, what's the best award show that we could get to? And he's like, well, look, I mean, Sundance would be if we could get into Sundance, but, Abby, we're. That. That is so hard to. You don't understand how hard it is to. To get into Sundance. And I'm like, we're getting into Sundance. And he was like, trying to temper. Everybody's like, you know, hope you did. And I was like. I was like, no, we're getting into Sundance. And then we got into Sundance and I was like, I told you I knew this was gonna happen. So we are. We're really, really excited. And. And who knows, if we get nominated, the nominations will come out, I think, in mid January, so there's, like, more promotion and campaigning that. That the director and Meg F. Andrea Gibson's wife, will be going and continuing to go on for the next couple of weeks until those final nominations come out. But we're. We're pumped is what I'm saying.

[Julie Foudy]

It's such a great story.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

Go check it out, party people. Come see me in the good light. It's on Apple tv. It's now shortlisted for an Oscar. Let's go. Abigail.

[Abby Wambach]

What if. What if I won an Oscar. What if I was Oscar nominated? Who would have thought that? Not this guy. What?

[Julie Foudy]

All right, well, coming up, we also are going to be talking to the greatest team you've probably never heard of. But before we get to that, let's get this party started with the highlights and headlines you'll want to celebrate this week in women's sports. Our party starter is brought to you by Ally the Bank. That is your. Your Ally. Okay, first off, Abs, I know you were watching it, too. NCAA Women's Volleyball National Championship. Holy heck. Can we just talk about Texas A and M? They just rolled over every single. They were like the biggest giant killer out there. We'll go back. Round of 16. I'm going back first. Right. Texas A and M reverse sweeps. So they lost the first two. Two games, two sets against Louisville, the number two seed, and they then win the next three to beat Louisville in five. In the round of 16, elite eight, they take and they defeat in five sets, undefeated number one, Nebraska. We had Danny Busboom Kelly on the pod talking about their season. I mean, this is a team in Nebraska. They had lost one set in all of Big Ten, and Texas A and N M comes in and beats them in the Elite Eight. I mean, they had one game, but.

[Abby Wambach]

That game, that game.

[Julie Foudy]

Fourth set went 37, 35. Nebraska.

[Abby Wambach]

I got my wife. I got my wife Glennon to watch that game, y'. All. And we are now avid volleyball fans. Like, seriously, it was that game that sold my wife into wanting to become an investor in the LoveBeat San Francisco team. Seriously, that Nebraska versus Texan A and M game. She was like, I didn't know this could be so exciting. This is so exciting. And she. You want to know what Glennon loves about volleyball? She said, you want to know what I love about volleyball? Yeah. There's no contact between the teams. There's a net, no color separating, broken.

[Julie Foudy]

No injuries.

[Abby Wambach]

No injuries. I mean, maybe a stepped foot, a turned ankle, but, like. Yeah, there's no contact. It's so good.

[Julie Foudy]

Nebraska went 37. They beat. They beat a M in the fourth set, 37, 35, to force it to a fifth set, and then lost 15, 13 in that. In that fifth set. So.

[Abby Wambach]

And then this was in Nebraska. Yeah, this was at Nebraska's house. And if you know anything about Nebraska women's volleyball, they're very serious there. Their home crowd, it's been sold out there for 20 over, I think, 20 years or something.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah.

[Abby Wambach]

So come on.

[Julie Foudy]

And then they rolled into the Final Four, their first ever Final Four, Texas A and M never been to the Final Four and beat Pitt in a sweep. And Pitt had bit. This was their fifth consecutive Final Four for Pitt. So then they roll into the final against Kentucky and. And they sweep Kentucky as well after being down, what, seven points in that first. First set. I don't know what it was, but, yeah, they had nine seniors. They just kept talking about, why not us? We've been together. We've built this program up. Their. Their coach, Jamie Morrison, won coach of the year. So it's really.

[Abby Wambach]

You got to go back, folks, and listen to some of Jamie Morrison's pregame speeches to the girls. So good. So good.

[Julie Foudy]

And his demeanor on the sideline. So calm, smiling. Like you could see it in the way they played. They just. They had this calmness and confidence to them that was so fun to watch. Like, hey, yeah, we haven't been here before, but we've. We. Why not us? We can do this. It was great.

[Abby Wambach]

They loved each other. You could tell that they. They've been together for a lot of years and all these seniors, and I'm just so happy for them.

[Julie Foudy]

And this match ran on abc and we don't have the numbers out yet, but it's going to crush it because. And it was even going up against football, but it'll still crush it because the Nebraska, Texas A and M game, which was also on ABC, drew over a million viewers. 1.2 one of the most watched women's volleyball matches ever. And ESPN has reported that their 2025 regular season was the most watch ever, with a 36 increase in viewership from the 24 season. And I love putting it on the big. The Big Mama and abc. So, okay, that was. I loved it.

[Abby Wambach]

All right, so our second party starter here is the wnba. The strike news. Jules, did you see that over the weekend?

[Julie Foudy]

I did.

[Abby Wambach]

Okay, so the. The WNBA Players association, they have voted to authorize a strike when necessary as they continue their CBA talks. So this is an exciting time. 93% of eligible players were participating in the voting, while 98 in favor of g. Union leaders. The authority to call a work stoppage. I love this because this. This. This is a signal from the players that says, we're not effing around. We mean business. And if that does mean that we do have to go on strike, we will.

[Julie Foudy]

It's not saying we're going on strike. It's just saying if we need to. 98% of us are all in on saying yes. So the Players association says we will do necessary.

[Abby Wambach]

Exactly. This is not, this is not them going on a strike. This is authorizing the, the union leadership to pull that lever if they need to over the holidays. And also if you haven't watched the, we had NECA on last week discussing all that's happening. So give it a listen if you haven't.

[Amy Griffin]

Yeah.

[Abby Wambach]

And I think what's important is as we continue to report on this, I do love, you know, NECA and her ability to think critically and to be positive. Like it was just such a fresh breath of air to talk to somebody that really thinks that there is going to be a deal that gets done eventually. Now that doesn't mean that they won't have to go on strike or they might have to go on strike. But it's very exciting to know that these players are standing up for what they believe. Which leads us to the third party starter. Jules and I have something to say that relates to this. So go ahead.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay. So Forbes released its most valuable women's sports teams rankings and it was fascinating. It was the top 25 and the top five are all WNBA teams all valued at 300 million or more. And in the top spot. Drumroll please. It goes to New York Liberty, which came in at 400 million its valuation. Indiana fever number two, 370 million. We're have all this in the show. Notes. Seattle Storm came in at number three. Number four was Las Vegas Aces and number five, Phoenix Mercury at 300. So you've got all 300 and above. Phoenix Mercury was the fifth one at 300. The next five spots went to all women's soccer clubs. And the top women's soccer club in spot number six was Abigail.

[Abby Wambach]

Hey. Oh, Angel City.

[Julie Foudy]

That's right. Angel City came in at 280 million. And then Kansas City City Current. And then you had three teams from Europe, Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea come in for the 8th, 9th and 10th spot. And it's, it was super interesting because all 25 teams are either women's basketball or women's soccer teams. There were only five teams from outside the United States and all of them were soccer teams. So Arsenal, Chelsea, Barcelona. I just mentioned those through three. Also Man United and Real Madrid made that top 25. Forbes pointed out that the teams across the pond are growing for sure, but there's some uncertainty because financials are often opaque due to ties with the men's clubs. Many lack dedicated facilities for the women's teams, as we know. And the media rights markets are weaker than the United States.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah, it's hard to separate those financials in a way. There's a story to be told. When you look at the list, the story is the WNBA has been here longer, right? And so these teams have had longer time to establish themselves in these markets. And then you have the nwsl, right? And if you look at viewership, if you look at TV rights deals, you will see I think a direct connection. And I think that that's what the Forbes article is talking about, right, Is, is with those European teams there's less, there's less media rights deals and, and people, it's harder for people to actually see those games on television. So it'll be interesting to see how this, this list changes over the years. And one of the things I want to like, talk about too is I saw this, this post the other day about 10 of the top 15 women, female athletes, like the highest paid women athletes are tennis players. And I wonder what that's about, right? I think it's because of our dear friend and co host, Billie Jean King, having put, put her foot down getting those players together and starting their league right, so that they could get better.

[Julie Foudy]

Pay, equal pay for all their prize monies for their U.S. exactly. Wimbledon.

[Abby Wambach]

So it, yeah, it's like this stuff actually does matter. And I understand time is, is an important quantifier in terms of this stuff, but I just, I, I think that this list is so fascinating. There's like so many stories to be told just by looking at this list.

[Julie Foudy]

You know, and if you just look at like Las Vegas Aces purchased for 2 million in 2021.

[Abby Wambach]

Oh my God.

[Julie Foudy]

Now valued at, at 310 million.

[Abby Wambach]

Can you imagine being MGM? Because I think they're the ones that, that sold it to, to Davis.

[Julie Foudy]

Angel City came in to NWSL again in 2020 at 20 at 2 million. And as we know, it's now valued as we saw, at 280 million. So there is, there is some, some even the expansion fees, right, they reflect this frenzy. 165 million for the new NWSL team in Atlanta just to get in. 165 million. 250 million for upcoming WNBA franchises in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia. So all signs of the growth of women's sports. And we love to see it. That is your party starter. And thanks to Ally for sponsoring this segment. As we know, Ally is more than a bank. And their do it right approach helps customers unlock their economic potential and guides their efforts as a leading sponsor in women's sports. And just like us, Ally believes that when women in sports, when we all have a reason to party. Ally BANK MEMBER FDIC.

[Abby Wambach]

Okay, Jules, so here's the thing that nobody tells you when you start a business like we have. They say, you know, do it yourself, everything turns out great. But here's the thing. Doing it yourself means doing everything yourself. And it's hard and unsustainable, which is why QuickBooks has become literally a game changer for people like us. QuickBooks gives you an actual team, AI agents and trusted experts. So doing it yourself no longer means doing it alone. And I love that because it really does feel like finally get getting the support that you assumed everyone else has except you. The customer agent that finds leads, follows up and helps you bring in more sales. The accounting agent that automates and categorizes transactions and preps your books for tax time without you losing an entire weekend. And the best part, Jules, is that everything works together all in one. Connected data, accurate books. Real insight, Jules. You're not just juggling eight different tools and guessing. You're actually making informed decisions with confidence. And if you are like me, I was not trained in finance. I played soccer, right? Ditto QuickBooks. It saves my life. I swear. It's like every time we have to file taxes, I'm like, thank God for this service because I would have absolutely no idea. Outdoit with Intuit QuickBooks. Learn more about Intuit [e-mail] this episode is brought to you by our friends at Shipt. Thanks for sponsoring the pod, y'. All. Shipt makes the holiday season more joyful by helping you save time with same day delivery on everything you need. Groceries, decor, gifts, and so much more from your favorite local and national stores like Albertsons, Michaels, Target and Petsmart. Great stores. I love that shipped starts with groceries because let's be honest, no matter how many lists I make their Jules, there's always something I forget every single time. And it's not just groceries. Okay Shipped. It's just making gifting and hosting easy, easy, easy. No matter how many kids or what size army is trampling through your home this year. Plus, members get zero dollar delivery fees on orders over $35 and they offer same day delivery. So I'm not spending my special family time in checkout lines like you're not either to either Jules, right?

[Julie Foudy]

Hallelujah.

[Amy Griffin]

Yeah.

[Abby Wambach]

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[Julie Foudy]

We have three incredible guests with us. Amy Griffin, Joy Fawcett and Aaron Simbrail from the US Women's Deaf National Team, A team I have been, full disclosure, a total groupie of for a very long time.

[Abby Wambach]

Every single time, you're like, have you heard about the deaf women, The Deaf women's Olympic team? They're incredible. She's like giving.

[Julie Foudy]

Can we talk about the Deaf Women's.

[Abby Wambach]

National Team play by play updates? I'm like, this is amazing. It's so good. But, Julie. Yes. You are obsessed. Keep going.

[Julie Foudy]

I am.

[Amy Griffin]

I am.

[Julie Foudy]

I love them so much. And if you don't know their story, party people, buckle up. This is the most dominant US Soccer team you've probably never heard of. And since they began play 20 years ago, they. They've gotten 44 wins, zero losses, zero and one draw. Yeah. In 20 years, 44 wins, zero losses, one draw. They've won five Deaf Olympics gold medals, three World cup titles, eight major international championships, and they just stormed through the la. The latest Deaflympics undefeated and unscored upon, outscoring opponents 35 to nothing. Amy Griffin and Joy Fawcett have been central to building this dynasty since 2016. They've been shaping the culture, the identity and the standard that makes this program unlike anything else in the sport. I got to play with both of them, their teammates on the 1991 U.S. women's National Team in which we won a World cup. And Abby played with Joy as well. Joy is also a Hall of Famer and a two time Olympic gold medalist. So when we talk about legends building and guiding the program, we mean Aaron Simbriel represents the next wave of leaders carrying that legacy forward. But what makes this team so amazing isn't just the winning, is that they've built all of this while fighting for visibility, for resources, for recognition, for every single inch. And their connection and their pride come from having to earn everything that they've achieved. They've turned that fight into one of the most inspiring success stories in our sport. Aaron, Amy and Joy, welcome to the party.

[Abby Wambach]

Let's go. Welcome. Welcome to the party.

[Julie Foudy]

Let's go.

[Abby Wambach]

Oh, my gosh.

[Julie Foudy]

Oh, my gosh. Fresh off of your fifth straight Deaflympics gold medal. How was it, Aaron?

[Aaron Simbrail]

It was really fun. I had a really great time with everyone. I'm super grateful for Japan for hosting this tournament and everything. Experience there at the J Village was amazing. All the teams there. It was really great to see everybody again after Brazil because with the Deaf Olympics, we're able to see all the teams, and we got to go to the closing ceremony, too, which is really fun. And we get to, like, talk to them and just, like, see how their experience was. So I really had a great experience, and I'm really thankful for it.

[Abby Wambach]

I would love our listeners to understand what the Deaflympics are. Can you. Can you give our listeners, like, what I think a lot of them will understand, but I want you to describe what it is to our listeners.

[Aaron Simbrail]

So with the Deaf Olympics, we have all the sports. We have, like, basketball, volleyball, swimming, soccer, and it's just a way for everybody just have a chance to fight for a medal and everything. But I kind of look at it as, like, more opportunity to communicate with other teams in a way. Like, we got, like, we have, like, our community with everybody. Like, we get to see everybody without jville, be able to see other teams, talk to them, like, how their experience was as well. And it just for. And you get to, like, go see other games that we don't really get to see as well. Like, we can go watch basketball play, go support the women's and the men's national team play, and just. We got to go see the men's team play, too, which is really fun. Was going their historic tournament, which was really great to be there and experience with them because we're all super proud of them.

[Abby Wambach]

Is the men's team as good as the women's team?

[Amy Griffin]

They're not as good as the women's team. But this last. This last tournament, you could tell the last couple of years, and I'm sure it's. It's new staff, some new players, some new growth. The awareness that I think was led by the women's team, the awareness of deaf soccer in the United States and U.S. soccer's help has they dramatically improved and had much more success than they ever have in the past. And I think that culture that again, people like the staff fights to be on this team, like the US Soccer staff, because they're like, all we hear about is the culture. And I have to say, just from an outsider looking in on the deaf community, the best part about the Deaflympics is there's so many deaf athletes and referees are deaf, and organizing committees are deaf. So the athletes get to live in a deaf world, and it's probably the only time they ever get to do it. So. And it's not for a weekend, it's for three weeks where they get to. They get to be 100% authentic without having to try to fit into a hearing world. So it's really cool to watch.

[Abby Wambach]

What brought you all to want to coach this team? It's so cool.

[Amy Griffin]

Someone asked me. I have a cousin whose son became deaf. He had spinal meningitis and his fever was so high that he lost his hearing. And I was in college, and I took one deaf class that just happened to be the same time we were on the national team. And I loved the sign language class. And for some odd reason, I bought another paperback book and gave it to Joy when we were on the road. I don't know why. I still don't know why.

[Abby Wambach]

She.

[Joy Fawcett]

Amy came to me one day and said, hey, you want to coach the deaf women's soccer team with me? And I was like, sure. Like, I did not even think about it or what we were getting ourselves into.

[Aaron Simbrail]

I had no clue.

[Joy Fawcett]

And I'm like, yeah, we get to hang out more. Sure, why not? Let's do it. And, wow. It's been a huge journey and learning experience. And if it weren't for these players, I probably would not have done it because they were so kind and welcoming when we first arrived, because if it were any different, and I would have been scared shitless and would have left and ran fast. But they were so nice and they were willing to teach, and it was. It was awesome.

[Amy Griffin]

And I mean, we were so bad. We were so bad. Like, I mean, their story will be like, they're never coming back. And our story was like, they're never going to want us back. The first camp was so bad.

[Julie Foudy]

I go back to remembering how hard it was for you all to even get recognition with US soccer and get into the system. Joy and Amy, because I think this is probably before Aaron's time, tell us about what that was like and why it was so difficult. Give some perspective.

[Amy Griffin]

When I took the. The job, when I offered to volunteer and it was just to get through the Deaf World Championship, I was like, what do you need from us? And they said, well, we need funding. We have none. We pay for our own camps. And they're like, we need awareness. They said, you know, there's no deaf players. No one knows. They said, nobody's ever heard of us. And I was like. Thought that was sort of funny. I was like, well, duh, you know? And so that's where it started. And it literally, the first email kind of was, bring a light in a dark T shirt in your own ball. That's kind of how far this team has come.

[Aaron Simbrail]

Wow.

[Amy Griffin]

And you have to credit all the we, Joy And I get so much credit for the players and the culture they are. Our privilege was trying to keep it alive. And just to give you an idea, Australia used to be funded, and then when their funding dropped, their team stopped playing. This team was never funded. And they were like, let's just find a way to keep going. It was the players. Let's find a coach, let's raise some money, let's sell T shirts. We had national team players wearing the T shirts we were selling. You know, the players. Sydney sent thank you notes to everybody that bought a shirt. And the funny part was I bought one.

[Julie Foudy]

You were screen printing. Screen printing at your house?

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Amy Griffin]

Yes. And so was our athletic trainer. And the funny part was, is the story still lives on that somehow when Mia ordered a shirt that it said that Ham had ordered a shirt. So she wrote a thank you letter to Ham. And then someone's like, you know, that's Mia Hamm. And she was like, oh, my God.

[Julie Foudy]

Oh, my God.

[Aaron Simbrail]

Right?

[Amy Griffin]

And so.

[Julie Foudy]

Hey, Ham.

[Amy Griffin]

Yeah, so. So we started. Yeah, we started with, hey, show up at this field. And we use fields that people donated. And we said, here's your flight. And. And we put a lot of it on our credit cards so that people would commit because we had heard on the men's side that it was just like, here's the field and show up and last minute people like, I can't afford to come and wouldn't come. So we were like, you're staying together in this hotel? We, we trained at a, at a dairy farm in Michigan once. And in. Yeah, we just found a way. And that's like, these players do hard well. And I know you guys always talk about resiliency and that, you know, life isn't supposed to be easy, but they do hard so well that imagine how much fun it is when things actually do work out. They don't expect anything to work. They go in to every. Every situation with a solution just in case it doesn't work out. So the mantra has always been like, everyone's like, adapt and thrive. And Aaron will tell you, we're like, nope, we adapt and just. And adapt. Like, we're never really thriving.

[Julie Foudy]

We keep adapting.

[Amy Griffin]

Yeah. And so, so it was the players that kept showing up and kept training on their own, just like you guys. Like, we had to in 91. Like, we had, what, two camps a year? So what you did the other 350, 50 days was the important stuff. And through that, the players kept reaching. We do a free clinic for deaf and hard of hearing. Kids, every single camp. I mean, to the point where I'd say, you guys, we only have four days of training and we got to go win something. We're not doing this. And they're like, we're not coming if you're not doing it, because they've all been that kid. So it's all grassroots. It's all them for the clinics that.

[Julie Foudy]

They were doing because you were saying, we don't have time. And they were like, yes, we do.

[Amy Griffin]

Yeah. Oh, we're doing a clinic.

[Julie Foudy]

It's like you built it brick by brick, really, of okay now. And I can remember going back, you know, a decade or longer. I was actually looking through emails and, like, how it was always the players reaching out, saying, hey, you know, we really appreciate your support and this is our next step, and this is what we're trying for, and this is the recognition we need for U.S. soccer. And, like, so engaged. And that. That's what I think about when I think about our 91 team as well. Like, you had to or else it wasn't going to happen. And that's the thing, Aaron, what does that come from?

[Aaron Simbrail]

I think that we just really want everyone's support because, like, everyone said, like, we are the greatest team that we never heard of and everything. So we really fight for our way to get to the top. I mean, you see all of our accomplishments, but it really starts from the bottom. Everyone from the past, creating pathways for generation after generation to keep going in every way. So what we really want to do is just put our word out there. And also, just for, like, also the deaf community with all the little boys and girls, just know that there is a place for them, there is a home for them. The team is all about a community. Is literally like my home away from home. They're my family.

[Abby Wambach]

All we really want, truly, all we dream about and think about is comfortable clothes. Right, Julie? I don't think people understand that. And at the end of the day, that's kind of priority number one for me.

[Julie Foudy]

It's kind of the only priority. Priority number one through 1000.

[Abby Wambach]

Looking cute too, but, like, it's great, but it's not really the, like, the comfy clothes that I have for me is it's the most important thing in my day to day rotation.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay. Do you have there Vuori's Dream Knit Performance Jogger?

[Abby Wambach]

Yes. Okay.

[Julie Foudy]

Because I have it in, like seven different colors. Where do I even begin? Because one, it's lightweight, one, you can wear it to yoga, you could wear it running, you could Wear it to beach volleyball.

[Aaron Simbrail]

Yes.

[Julie Foudy]

I play a lot of that.

[Amy Griffin]

Right.

[Julie Foudy]

The fabric. I know. You're a fabric gal.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes.

[Julie Foudy]

Abs feels like butter. Ah. And so, I mean, and then I end up what I just end up doing because I think showering is overrated. You just stay in it all day. You stay in it all day and you. It could even be your pajamas.

[Aaron Simbrail]

It's that soft.

[Abby Wambach]

I think that that's hilarious. I usually shower and then get into another pair of Yori sweats. So that's like.

[Julie Foudy]

That's my.

[Abby Wambach]

I don't. All right. But Vori is an investment in your happiness, for sure. And for our listeners, they are offering 20% off your first purchase. Get yourself some of the most comfortable and versatile clothing on the [e-mail] WelcomeToTheParty. That's V-U-O-R-I.com. welcome to the party. Exclusions apply. Visit the website for full terms and conditions.

[Julie Foudy]

Not only will you receive 20% off your first purchase, but you get free shipping on any US orders over $75. And I like this because maybe it doesn't work out in the first. You get free returns. So go to Vuori.com welcome to the party and discover the versatility of Vuori Clothing exclusions apply. Visit the website for full terms and conditions.

[Abby Wambach]

When did you get affiliated with U.S. soccer and start to get funding and like. Our listeners are active in the world and in the community, especially the women's sports world. And I would love to know, like, how our community can help yours and give as much support as we possibly can to your team because this is such an incredible story.

[Amy Griffin]

It is incredible. I think we got under US Soccer's umbrella the very end of 2022 or the beginning of 2023. It hasn't been that long. And it's. The support's amazing. Like, I still was trying to learn how to manage the staff because I love managing the players. So now that that's off the player's plate, like raising $6,000 to go play in your own deaf Olympics, well, you know, was extremely difficult. And then having to pay taxes on your gold medal on the way home just added salt to the wound.

[Abby Wambach]

What?

[Julie Foudy]

What?

[Amy Griffin]

So it wasn't this time, but that has happened in the past. So. So now the best way to support is right now. This is the one team, like, I am certain that this is the only deaf team for women's soccer. Not even Gallaudet University right now has a women's soccer team. So the only. A lot of These players, the first time they've ever met another deaf person and been truly immersed into deaf culture and played deaf soccer, which is a completely different sport, is on this team. So when we have to. When we have to find new players, they just get inserted into the full national team camp because there's no other avenue for them to play. So all these clinics we've started to the players, not me, the players have started to build these small communities of players that keep coming back to these clinics across the country. Kate Ward, part of USA dsa, that's now where all their fundraising is going to go, is to provide opportunities for. For young kids to play. And then hopefully that's their avenue for kind of a feeder program to keep the success and the culture. We can find the players that belong and that fit and that are good enough or. Or lift them up so that so many more have. So that would be the thing is, like, that's where all the money now is going is national team. Yeah. Like a league or like ODT used to be.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah. Some teams underneath. So USA Deaf Soccer Association. USA dsa, you said is where what it is. Okay.

[Joy Fawcett]

Kind of like we. We all try it out for, like, state teams. I was talking to Kate and I'm like, we should just have regions where they could try out. The kids are also willing to travel when they come to the clinic. They're flying in from all over, and they love it so much that we see a lot of the same kids. Kids. So just to be able to have an open tryout and identify kids and then create those youth teams so that there is a feeder program would be awesome.

[Julie Foudy]

Amy, you mentioned deaf soccer is so different. And so, Erin, I'm curious on just telling us what the rules are, because you do wear cochlear implants, right. Like for a podcast. And when you're talking and communicating in. In normal life, I'm guessing, but when you're playing, you obviously cannot wear those. Right. Can you explain some of the rules that are different?

[Aaron Simbrail]

So, obviously, like, in a normal world, I'll wear my hearing aids just so I can hear with, like, my club teams and everything. But when I go to.

[Julie Foudy]

What's the difference between hearing aids and cochlear implants?

[Aaron Simbrail]

With cochlear, I believe it's 100% deaf. But with me, I wear hearing aids. I have like 55 to 60 of deaf, so I can only hear a little bit when I take people that have cochlear implant. When they take them out, they can't hear at all.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay, gotcha. Thank you.

[Aaron Simbrail]

Of course. So when I go to the team, we have to take them out every time. Like when we go on the training field, we take them out just so the level field is like, even because we do have some people that are fully deaf. So when the people that have hard of hearing, we take them out. And then when we go to the tournaments, we take them out for all the games. And then I know Amy for practices, like, she likes us to take him out just so we, like, fully, like, immerse ourselves into the environment. Like, you can't have them in the tournament. Like, we gotta learn to take them out and everything. And then with the refs, instead of having whistles, they use flags just so we can see. But everyone use like a universal sign. Like if you see something, like, you put your hands up immediately, and everyone know that just means stop. So we just take out our hearing aids and then we just kind of just go play and just fully feel free. Because, like, we don't have to hear. We can just play the game that we love and everything. It just. It's like a free thing to do because, like, when you're in a hearing world, you have to use your hearing aids, your cochlear, and it's just like really draining on your brain. So when you go to camp, you get to just relax the brain. Just relax. You have, like, interpreters and everything. Like, if you don't want to use your hearing aids, you don't have to. A lot of people can sign on.

[Abby Wambach]

The team, and so that's how you, Amy and Joy communicate with the girls. Do you have interpreters or have you all learned a little bit of good old sign language?

[Amy Griffin]

We started with one volunteer interpreter. And just me not being deaf, I didn't realize even the players with the cochlear implants, how much they. They didn't rely on her as much. And it was more because there was less access. There's one person for 20 people, plus staff. And then someone finally was like, you need more interpreters. So we found more interpreters. And all of a sudden people were looking beyond us. You know, they're always looking. We're coaching, and they're like, what the. And then I always know when an interpreter shows up and they're like, ah, we finally know what the heck. Heck is going on. So it's a. It's a. There are very few players and staff that can communicate with everyone freely. Like I keep saying, not every. No one's getting exactly what they need. But everybody is getting a little of what they need and that's kind of teamwork, right? And so they just, they just figure it out. But I think the biggest difference in deaf soccer is there's problems. I mean, hey, Loudy Fowdy, you try solving a problem.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Amy Griffin]

Without. Without being able to communicate, right. Like a player running behind you. There's no. I mean, my best example of this and I told the team one of the funniest 10 seconds in Japan was a new keeper that is not quite used to playing deaf soccer, but she was going to be starting and an older keeper, veteran keeper that was trying to help her, which is one awesome teamwork. Right? This is a player that's just taken her spot and she's like yelling, yelling. And the players can't hear, hear her. And I'm just happen to be in the back of the goal. And the older keeper goes. The veteran keeper goes, they can't hear you. And she goes, huh? They can't, they can't hear you. And she goes, I can't hear you. And she goes, they can't hear you. And she goes, they are not even listening to me. And I'm like, this is just pure gold. So times that by like 90 minute training session. And they just remain calm. Like you would be so frustrated that you're not doing, getting everything right. And they're just, they just flip and figure it out, you know?

[Joy Fawcett]

Remember our first training session.

[Julie Foudy]

Do tell.

[Joy Fawcett]

We're like, okay, freeze.

[Amy Griffin]

We want like freeze, freeze, freeze.

[Joy Fawcett]

Yeah, they're not, they're not, they're not stopping.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Amy Griffin]

Joy covers her mouth because I'm like, do you. The only sign I knew was like, do you understand? And I said that to every player. Do you understand? Do you understand?

[Aaron Simbrail]

Understand?

[Amy Griffin]

Because I knew that word. And Joy puts her hand over her mouth and goes, just move on. They're never gonna get it. And then the interpreter says, just move on. You're never. And I'm like, shut up. And she's like, I mean it was like. We were like. And then go on and on.

[Joy Fawcett]

And it was just. We learned.

[Julie Foudy]

I had a friend who was deaf and hard of hearing and her name is Tamika Catching. She's a legendary. Not. I shouldn't say had. I have a friend, not past tense. Tamika Catchings legendary basketball player, played at Tennessee USA Basketball hall of Famer. And she would talk about how.

[Amy Griffin]

When.

[Julie Foudy]

She was playing and she couldn't hear, how much it helped her actually, because she had to be that much more aware. It's like, you had to have eyes on the back of your head. I can imagine, Aaron, that it helps you a bit in your soccer as well, because you have to be so aware of everything around you. Is that true?

[Aaron Simbrail]

We can't hear behind us, so we, like, wouldn't be able to know who's behind us. So we always have to keep our head on the swivel and just, like, be like, okay, no one's coming. I can turn. But with the team, we also, like, also do sign language as well. Like, turn, pass the ball back like this. And just a way, like, we're all very aware of our surroundings, and it makes it way easier. When I go to, like, with my clubs, I'm like, ha, ha. I can do this better because I can actually see around me. And I do love Tamika touching them. She is my favorite.

[Julie Foudy]

For Joy and Amy, how has this program changed you? And what was the decision to step away about?

[Joy Fawcett]

Oh, I don't know. It's.

[Amy Griffin]

I don't know.

[Joy Fawcett]

It's changed me a lot. Just to raise awareness about everything. Like, one, about the deaf culture, just about people and how kind they can be, and also more. Even more validating about teamwork and how important a culture is to be successful. Whether it's on a team or in an environment, whatever it is, the culture is huge, and it's important, and everyone contributes to it. I'm going to be very. I'm very sad to leave, but I also think. I think it's kind of time. I think it's time for them to see and hear new ideas. I'll never leave it.

[Abby Wambach]

I love them.

[Joy Fawcett]

And we'll follow them. I'll be at the World cup, and they'll. They'll push some buttons to help keep moving them forward because you got.

[Julie Foudy]

They're stuck with you.

[Joy Fawcett]

Hold people accountable and stay on top of it to keep it moving forward. Otherwise, it won't. So just help them. I'll keep pushing.

[Amy Griffin]

Joy is right about what she's going to do as far as pushing things, like having a world championship here in the US and the people, the rooms she gets into, like, part of me thinks without anything, they'll go, and the bid goes to the United States. And just because people are like, oh, really? We are having it. And I'm like, no, we're not. But Joy keeps telling it to everyone. It has been what started out as, yeah, I'll help you. It's kind of been the other way around. They've given me so much, and I got addicted to how I felt when I was with the team, I got hooked. And it was. Maybe it was because of how I felt when I was a player with you guys and where it's just like, there's nowhere else you'd rather be. You know, people. People were like, oh, you've sacrificed when you were a player. I'm like, it didn't feel like it to me. Like, I know I miss my friends weddings, and I'm sorry about that. But this was more fun for me and this was more meaningful, and that's how I feel here. I didn't know what I needed, and for some reason, it's time, because way back when we started this, it was like, what do you need? You need awareness and funding. So that was our goal all along. And with that, you know, I've been given the feeling of what it's like to feel appreciated. These players, they show up for you. Like, they've. They've shown up for me all the time. And I get to coach a team that is the team like it was when we played again. They didn't want to get off the field. They weren't afraid of making mistakes. What you get out of it is what you put into it. And when you pay for everything and you show up and you train on your own, you show up on the field and you're like, I didn't just do this for nothing. Let's go win the fucking thing. And so it's been really meaningful. And like I said, we get a lot of credit, but I. We didn't do it. It was the players. And when was the last time anything was truly player driven? You know, now with all the access and all the things that people get, like, these guys earned it. And it was really. I'm so grateful to be a part of it. And like, it is. They will be so happy to see something new and something fresh, and they deserve that as well. But I keep telling the players I'm sticky so they can't get rid of me. And. And I'm excited for the new leadership. Right. I don't know how this has hung on. Who knows, right?

[Julie Foudy]

I don't know yet.

[Amy Griffin]

Yeah. But. And even players like, I'm excited that the era that has kind of held on for dear life to get the team where they are and to get the funding that they ended on such a high note. But I'm also excited for some players that, you know, how you guys were on the team for so long, that there was probably some budding leaders that were just waiting for their chance, but they just. It just wasn't their time yet. So I'm excited to see who sprouts up and takes the reins and what a huge job that's going to be to keep this ship going in the way that it's been going. But, yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah. Erin, what are you most excited about with this next era?

[Aaron Simbrail]

I'm just really excited about how the team will be able to be without them. I'm excited for the new adventure that we're going to have with the new coaches and everything. I am super sad that these two are leaving. They have been amazing. I'm super sad about Kate, Sid, and Emily leaving. Like, they have been a true leadership on and off the field, always being there for us at any time of the day, always putting out the word, like, hey, we have this team. Come support us, everything. Like, always being that person for us, for networking, for connections. Like, I'm gonna miss that. But I'm also super excited, like, for the new era with all the new players coming in, all of our young ones. Like, I'm excited to see the role that they take on and just us, like, our new veterans now, like, me and a couple of the younger ones that were, like, the old, like, the younger kids now we're, like, kind of the older kids, excited for us to see, like, how we will immerse ourselves into the new environment that we will be going into. But it will be a little sad. First cam into the new year will be a little. A little sad. We don't get to see Amy and Joy being together, having fun the whole time, just cracking jokes with us, making it such a fun environment to go into.

[Julie Foudy]

Well, you will be stuck with them, though, Aaron, as they said, you're not getting rid of Amy and Joy, nor. Nor the two of us groupies in Abby and Jules. We're. You're gonna have that consistency to look forward to. All right, we're gonna get on the bandwagon for a deaf World cup in USA 2031. Let's go. We're on that bandwagon. And Aaron, tell the new group as well that we are here to support and to help and to do anything we can to. To help with you with your amazing team.

[Abby Wambach]

Good luck. You're gonna do great.

[Amy Griffin]

Yeah.

[Abby Wambach]

I know that Amy and Joy will always be there for you.

[Amy Griffin]

Let's go.

[Joy Fawcett]

I didn't explain them video.

[Aaron Simbrail]

They were all like, oh, my gosh. It was a great surprise by the coaches that Danny Gard, like, let's go. And we're like, let's go. We.

[Julie Foudy]

We sent a video in to. For the Deaf Olympics, and it was. We were all at an event for NWSL Championship weekend. It was at Danielle Slayton's house. So it was Abby and me and Slayton and Cindy Cohn, Leslie Osborne, Brandy Chastity, Leslie. It was all of us, Laurie Fair. So it was. It was a slew. And we learned that this. It's your palm, and you're swiping off of it is. Let's go. So we sent a video to them as well.

[Abby Wambach]

It was awesome.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah.

[Amy Griffin]

There might have been a lot.

[Abby Wambach]

You guys brought home the gold, so well done.

[Amy Griffin]

There might have been a lot of that going on at the. The karaoke night.

[Joy Fawcett]

So.

[Aaron Simbrail]

Yeah.

[Amy Griffin]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

After.

[Aaron Simbrail]

Let's go.

[Julie Foudy]

I love. I do love that usually every event, I get a karaoke video from Joy and Amy and the team after they've won. I did not get one from Tokyo this year. Joy, you're failing. You're failing me.

[Amy Griffin]

On its way.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay.

[Amy Griffin]

On its way.

[Abby Wambach]

Well, thanks, you guys so much for coming on. We truly appreciate it. And we're going to gather whatever kind of information we can to share with our listeners so that they can stay educated, informed about all the goings on of the Deaf Olympics team. Your team, Team USA and good job. We're so proud of you. You did well.

[Amy Griffin]

Great job, Eric. Thanks for help supporting and spreading the word. You'd be shocked how a little goes such a long way. So thank you.

[Julie Foudy]

Thank you always. Oh, that was great, Jules. So fun.

[Abby Wambach]

I just. I mean, come on. Like, we need to. To. To get more informed. I'm so glad that US Soccer is now a part of this.

[Joy Fawcett]

Right.

[Abby Wambach]

This organization and the team. And I think it's actually really cool what Joy and Amy have done. Obviously, the players come on. Like, I want to have more of the players on.

[Amy Griffin]

Yeah.

[Abby Wambach]

I just feel so inspired. Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

And they really were the drivers in so many ways as Amy and. And Joy kept giving them credit for, which you love to see. Like, they've built this brick by brick, literally from the ground up. And I can't wait. What's. What's going to happen in this next phase? It's going to be. It'll be fabulous. It will be.

[Abby Wambach]

Bring the. Bring it the World cup to the U.S. let's just, like, start embedding it in our people's minds. Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

It will happen.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

If you build it, they will come. Okay. Don't forget to subscribe to the welcome to the party YouTube channel. Click that little bell icon so you get updates on when our episodes are up and running. We would greatly appreciate that and if.

[Abby Wambach]

You wouldn't mind taking a few seconds and we would have really appreciate it. Rate Leave a comment and subscribe we read all the comments on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts and be sure to follow us on TikTok and Instagram @. Welcome to the Party show where Julie, Billy and I will bring the party straight to your feed. Thank you so much Kate Diaz for our theme music. We love you so much, Jules. Bring in the pause. Here we go. Are you ready? 1, 2, 3. 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. Silvertribe 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.

[Julie Foudy]

TikTok. Party people, the party is officially.