The Most Inspiring Graduation Story You’ll Ever Hear

Summary

Podcast Summary: Welcome to the Party

Episode: The Most Inspiring Graduation Story You’ll Ever Hear

Host: Treat Media (Julie Foudy & Abby Wambach)
Guest: Billie Jean King
Date: May 26, 2026

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Episode Overview

This vibrant episode is a celebration of legendary tennis icon Billie Jean King's extraordinary achievement: graduating from college at age 82, more than six decades after she first enrolled. Hosts Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach, along with Billie Jean herself, recount the joyous, inspiring, and at times hilarious moments of the graduation day. The conversation explores themes of perseverance, the significance of finishing what you start, the ongoing quest for equality, and the power of living authentically—capped with wisdom from Billie Jean King’s commencement speech and some reflective banter about graduation memories.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Billie Jean King Graduates—A 61-Year Journey

Timestamps: 00:00–07:19

• Billie Jean King finally obtained her college degree from Cal State University, Los Angeles, having originally enrolled in 1961.
  • Julie: “At 82, y’all. She graduated from Cal State University, Los Angeles. It took her more than 60 years after first enrolling in 1961.” (01:40)
• Her pursuit of tennis success paused her studies—she won Wimbledon as a freshman and went on to become a sports icon before circling back to academics.
• After learning she only had one year left to complete her degree via remote learning, she dove back in and finished.

Notable & Lighthearted Moments:

• The hosts wore child-size graduation caps in celebration:
  • Abby: “Look at our hats.” (01:12)
  • Julie: “Maybe they're for 2-year-olds, but can you see in class of 2026?” (01:18)
• Julie nearly caught a tennis ball that Billie Jean hit into the crowd, but broke her graduation tassel in the process.
  • Julie: “We have a video of this. It's so good. I almost caught it with her face… ended up breaking her little tassel.” (04:09)

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2. Why It Matters—The Message of Perseverance

Timestamps: 07:19–11:41

• Abby highlights the emotional core:
  • “It is never too late to finish something that you started. And that really resonates with me…” (04:51)
• Billie Jean King’s personal story was genuinely inspiring for both her co-hosts and listeners, especially those who may have put dreams on hold.

Billie Jean's Commencement Speech Highlights:

• “I am the first member of my immediate family to graduate from college. Like many of you, At 12 years old, I had an epiphany. … From that day forward, I committed my life to equality and inclusion for all.” (08:53)
• “And it is important to me to finish what I started. I like completing things. It’s like shaking hands at the net after a match.” (11:07)

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3. Humorous & Human Moments

Timestamps: 11:47–12:53

• In the middle of Billie Jean's speech, a baby started crying, leading to a perfectly timed Billie Jean quip:
  • Billie Jean: “…all three. [pause, baby crying] … Is it that bad? So sweet.” (12:22)
  • Abby: “Is it that bad? So funny.” (12:45)

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4. Impactful Advice & Final Words from Billie Jean

Timestamps: 13:10–13:36, 16:08–17:25

• She closed her speech quoting Dolores Huerta:
  • “Have fun, be fearless and make history. I will leave you with the inspiring words… Dolores Herota. Si se puede. Yes, you can. That’s it. Yes, you can.” (13:10)
• Additional wisdom from past speeches included:
  • “Pressure is a privilege.”
  • “You never really understand inclusion unless you’ve been excluded.” (16:08)
  • “It is not what we can get out of life. It is what we can give to life that matters.”

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5. The Graduation Experience—In Billie Jean’s Words

Timestamps: 23:34–27:38

• On the hardest part of returning to school at 82:
  • “Finding time to read. Yeah, I’m a history major. You gotta read and read, and you gotta ask questions.” (23:46)
• On virtual learning and connecting with other students:
  • “A lot of these people at Cal State, a lot of these people are working… This is not an easy little road.” (25:08)
• On encountering inaccuracies in textbooks about Title IX:
  • “I didn’t want to call him wrong, but I needed to tell them this is not accurate. And the professor was like, what? She was like, no, it’s not accurate. I was there.” (07:30 & expanded at 24:17)

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6. Memories, Reflections, and Life Lessons

Timestamps: 27:46–33:49

• Julie and Abby share their own graduation stories, including missed ceremonies and wild celebrations.
• Abby discusses possibly returning to finish her own college degree one day, reflecting on how adult perspectives shift priorities and the desire to learn for its own sake.

Notable Quotes:

• Abby: "What you do will never define you. Who you are always will." (33:49)
• Julie: “I had to go ask all my Stanford buddies, like, does anyone have pictures from graduation? Because I don’t have any. I found one, and this is it. It’s so sad. It is like, me half asleep. I’m holding...a huge water gun, because it was my way of keeping me awake.” (28:21)

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7. The “Wolf Pack” Metaphor & Power of Women in Community

Timestamps: 35:49–39:10

• Abby recounts the story at the heart of her Barnard College commencement address and subsequent book “Wolfpack,” comparing women in society to the vital role wolves play in a healthy ecosystem:
  • "We women are the wolves...and we have to get into our world and make a gigantic difference and to claim our space and do what's necessary because the ecosystem needs our help." (37:26)
• Julie adds the science: “The plant ecosystem regenerated. The animal ecosystem regenerated. … And you made the whole leap then that that’s what women are in society. We are the wolves. We're the wolf pack." (38:53, 39:04, 39:10)

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8. Inspirational “Graduation Books” & Commencement Speeches

Timestamps: 39:41–41:10

• Abby and Julie recommend inspirational graduation books, such as Abby’s “Wolfpack.”
• They discuss the impact of notable commencement speeches, including Eric Church’s at UNC and Abby’s own at Barnard and LMU.

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Most Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Billie Jean King:
  • “No one is perfect and no one can be brave all the time. We are in this world together. We need each other. Relationships are everything… It is not a he thing. It’s not a she thing. It’s not a me thing. It is a we thing.” (16:08)
  • "Have fun, be fearless, and make history." (13:10)
• Abby Wambach:
  • "It is never too late to finish something that you started." (04:51)
  • "What you do will never define you. Who you are always will." (33:49)
• Julie Foudy:
  • “At 82, y’all. She graduated… It took her more than 60 years after first enrolling in 1961.” (01:40)
  • “That wolf pack moment blew my mind. I had never heard that story. Tell it real quick. It’s so good, y’all.” (35:49)

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Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Opening and Celebration | 00:00–03:36 | | Graduation Day Highlights | 03:36–07:19 | | Billie Jean’s Graduation Story | 07:19–11:07 | | Speech Highlights & Lessons | 11:07–13:36 | | Party Starter Reflections | 13:36–17:25 | | Billie Jean’s Reflections | 23:34–27:38 | | Hosts' Graduation Reflections | 27:46–33:49 | | Commencement Quotes and Wolfpack Metaphor | 33:49–39:10 | | Books, Advice, and Final Reflections | 39:41–41:10 |

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Episode Tone

• Celebratory, cheeky, heartfelt, and deeply inspirational.
• The hosts' chemistry offers fun camaraderie, while Billie Jean King brings humility and wisdom.

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Takeaways for Listeners

• Perseverance has no age limit—finishing what you start is its own reward.
• Real impact comes from community, inclusion, and staying true to your values.
• Everyone can (and should) make history in their own way, at any stage of life.
• The power of women as a “wolf pack”—together, small actions can create transformational change.

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Closing

The episode wraps on a high, with well-wishers congratulating Billie Jean King, and hosts encouraging everyone to join the celebration—of women’s sports, of graduation season, and of daring to finish what you start, no matter how long it takes.

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For more, follow Welcome to the Party on YouTube, Instagram, and their new Substack.

Transcript

[Julie Foudy]

You did it, Kinger.

[Abby Wambach]

Billie Jean King. She graduated college last week. Jules.

[Julie Foudy]

At 82, y'. All. Billie Jean.

[Billie Jean King]

Yeah, baby. Only 61 years. What is going on? Go flip your tassel. Okay, I'll go flip it.

[Julie Foudy]

You gotta go flip it. She's hitting tennis balls out with her racket. And we're like. With our fat heads, we're like, ker,

[Billie Jean King]

give us the ball. Send us the ball. Yes, you can. Yes, you can. Welcome to the party.

[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'm Abby Wambach. Hi, Jules. BJK Graduated college. She graduated college last week. Jules, what is going on? I mean, look at our hats.

[Julie Foudy]

Look at our graduation hats. Maybe they're for 2 year olds, but can you see in class of 2026?

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah, they are. And I can't. I will not put it around my chin because it's too little.

[Julie Foudy]

Look at how cute they look at her jewels. So cute.

[Abby Wambach]

So cute. So cute. Well done. And making them. And we got the honor of actually being in the audience to watch Billie Jean King graduate from college.

[Julie Foudy]

Oh, my gosh. At 82, y', all. She graduated from Cal State University, Los Angeles. It took her more than 60 years after first enrolling in 1961.

[Abby Wambach]

Okay.

[Julie Foudy]

I'm so proud. I'm so proud.

[Abby Wambach]

There's so much to unpack about all of this, and I'm so excited for this episode because, Jules, you know this. But I love me a graduation. I love graduation season so much, and I think that more than anything, it's a time of celebration. And I'm a big celebrator of, you know, big events, putting in effort. I've never actually graduated from college.

[Julie Foudy]

That's the best part.

[Abby Wambach]

And so I think probably that might be a part of it. So when I see other people do it, I'm like, oh, my gosh. And then I am. I'm an obsessive graduation commencement speaker, listener. Like, I love listening to people's. The things that they want to tell the younger generation, the things that they've learned. You know, when you write a commencement speech, you kind of, like, really drudge up, like, all of your wisdom, and it's not easy to do. But before we go deep into my favorite time of year, this time of year, party people. We want to get you excited, giving you, give you exciting news. If you haven't heard, we have a sub stack now. What is going on?

[Billie Jean King]

Welcome to the substack party.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes. Sign up to follow us on welcome to the partyshow. Subscribe substack.com we're very excited. It's essentially going to be, you know, behind the scenes clips, fun things that you don't get on. On the actual recording. Julie and I and Billy will, will be adding to it weekly. It's very, very exciting. Very exciting. Very exciting.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay, back to Billy's graduation. What were some of your highlights? Abs of the, of the graduation? Because actually, I'm gonna start with me.

[Billie Jean King]

Forget you.

[Julie Foudy]

Let's talk about me. Okay, one of my highlights was when after she finished giving the speech, right? She's hitting tennis balls out with her racket. And we're like, with our fat heads, we're like, kinger, give us the ball.

[Billie Jean King]

Send us the ball. Come on, Kinger.

[Julie Foudy]

We have a video of this. It's so good. I almost caught it with her face because I'm filming with one hand. I got this in the other hand. And then we almost caught it. So much so that I ended up breaking her little tassel.

[Abby Wambach]

We were really obnoxious. Okay, so here's a few things about the tennis ball hitting out into the crowd. We were obnoxious because we wanted Kinger to hit the tennis ball to us.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah.

[Abby Wambach]

And I've been thinking about it, Jules. She was trying to hit it to the graduates.

[Julie Foudy]

I know we wanted one, though.

[Abby Wambach]

We were like, kegar, hand it to us.

[Julie Foudy]

Hey, forget the graduates. Who cares about them? Hand it to us.

[Abby Wambach]

I mean, I just. The whole event, her whole friends and family came. There was like, plus 20 people that were in her entourage. It was like so awesome. I think my favorite thing about it though is the message that she was leaving the graduates with during the speech. And the message for me is like, it is never too late to finish something that you started. And that really resonates with me around all these little dreams or ideas that I have or things that I want to do. Maybe I've not had enough time or maybe I didn't complete it or maybe I didn't finish it college. So she's. And she's just such a. She was so fun. I think she was really, really happy that on her graduation day, it was really something.

[Julie Foudy]

And for those of you wondering why it's taken her this long to finish, like when she was attending Cal State LA, she was there from 61 to 64 and she ended up leaving school to go pursue her tennis career. So she won the Wimbledon while she was a freshman and then one the doubles title at 17. So she did a lot of it through remote learning. She said too, in this, in this last year, she did actually say she thought she had two years left, she had to finish. And then so that was like kind of overwhelming to her. But when she found out she actually had completed three years and only had one year to do remotely, that she's like, oh, okay, I can do this.

[Abby Wambach]

Okay, Jules, some fun facts. Cal State la. Other things that I loved learning is the number one college in the nation in social mobility.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah.

[Abby Wambach]

Billie Jean King, she got a bachelor's of arts degree in history, which, you know, she, we all know this. She loves, she loves her. Some history. And when she first attended the school, it was, I think what she said was it was only open for 14 years or something. It was called Los Angeles State College before later becoming Cal State University Los Angeles. Yeah, I just think that that's unbelievable, y'.

[Billie Jean King]

All.

[Abby Wambach]

She attended there in 1961.

[Julie Foudy]

I know.

[Abby Wambach]

Like, we were doing the math. I was like, I broke out the calculator. I was like, how many years? And it's over 60 years later. She's like, yes, let me go back and get my degree. Yes.

[Julie Foudy]

And how about she. She actually had like a class on Title 9 in inequality in sports. I was like, shut up.

[Abby Wambach]

And.

[Julie Foudy]

And she called out the professor for like the, the book they were reading as being inaccurate. And she's like, I didn't want to call him wrong, but I needed to tell them this is not accurate. And the professor was like, what? She was like, no, it's not accurate. I was there.

[Abby Wambach]

I was in the room.

[Julie Foudy]

I was the one who helped create this law, by the way. Oh my gosh. Let's actually get into our party starter because it's based around that theme. The highlights, shake ups and headlines. You'll want to celebrate this week in women's sports. This party starter is brought to you by Ally the bank that is your Ally. Okay, so abs, since as we've been talking about, this is our special edition BJK graduation celebration party starter as well, we figured instead of the usual sports updates like we normally do, we decided to go the inspirational route and share our favorite moments from the Kingers commencement speech last week. So here we go.

[Abby Wambach]

All right, I'll start it off. I'm going to start with this clip because Billy BJK Kinger revealed she reveals a reason for like so much of who she is and why she does what she does and how being the first to do something in your family can actually change everything.

[Billie Jean King]

I am the first member of my immediate family to graduate from college. Like many of you, At 12 years old, I had an epiphany. I was sitting at the Los Angeles Tennis Club. I noticed that everyone who played tennis wore white clothes, played with white balls, and everyone who played was white. I asked myself, where's everybody else? From that day forward, I committed my life to equality and inclusion for all. Tennis is a global sport and it became my platform. But equality was my dream to make the world a better place.

[Julie Foudy]

Yes, Kinger, and you've done that for

[Abby Wambach]

her to share that, like, I don't know, it was just one of the most moving things that I felt throughout that whole day. Like it was so generous to be like, I also am the first person to graduate my immediate family and like, we are the same. Even though I'm Billie Jean King and have done all of these things and have had this whole life, we are the same. And that is such an important message right now, that we are so much more alike than we are different. And, and her whole fight for equality, it will continue on, but it's just, it's, it's been this way for her her whole life. And I'm just so grateful to be able to like, work alongside her. I'm so grateful for all the work she's put in for equality. Because honestly, I, I, my life is in part due to her. Like, truly.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah. And the other message that I loved, what she hit on is the importance of finishing what you started. So as we know, as we've Talked about, in 1961 she started working toward her degree when she went to Cal State la. But then she went, she won that Wimbledon doubles title that, that first year as a freshman. And she decides through three years later to go on the tennis tour. So I think for most of us that would be the end of our college education. But not Kinger.

[Billie Jean King]

No more than 60 years have passed since I returned to the classroom last year to complete my degree in history. Talk about delayed gratification. And I came back with a purpose. I had unfinished business as president mentioned in my life. And it is important to me to finish what I started. I like completing things. It's like shaking hands at the net after a match.

[Julie Foudy]

She does like completing things.

[Abby Wambach]

That's true.

[Julie Foudy]

Kinger gets it done. All right, what else did you like in this abs?

[Abby Wambach]

In the middle of her speech. In the middle of her speech, a baby was having a full on meltdown. And she handled it so well and making Julie and I laugh pretty hard with her. I mean, truly, this is like the most amazingly well timed and pulled off joke.

[Billie Jean King]

Seeing their world through their eyes was life changing for me. After speaking with these students and learning their stories, all three.

[Abby Wambach]

All right.

[Billie Jean King]

I was reminded that wherever we are in life, we can connect. Is it that bad? So sweet.

[Abby Wambach]

Is it that bad? It's. Come on. Is it that bad? So funny.

[Julie Foudy]

That was good. Our final BJK party starter grad moment is one when. And this one abs, as I was telling you after like gave me goosebumps because this is how she closed out her speech.

[Billie Jean King]

Have fun, be fearless and make history. I will leave you with the inspiring words of one of my favorite all time sheroes, Dolores Herota. Si se puede. Yes you can. That's it. Yes you can.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay.

[Billie Jean King]

Yes. C.

[Abby Wambach]

Okay. See. Yes.

[Julie Foudy]

That's a wrap on our party starter and thanks to Ally for sponsoring this 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. And just like us, Ally believes that when women in sports win and when Kinger gives graduation speeches, we all have a reason to party. Ally Bank Member FDIC okay, quick reminder

[Abby Wambach]

for the golf lovers. I'm speaking to myself. I Love Golf. The U.S. women's Open presented by Ally is coming to Riviera Country Club. One of the biggest stages in golf. Major championship happening. Best players in the world. It's going to be a huge week for for women's sports.

[Julie Foudy]

So fun.

[Abby Wambach]

It's so exciting. And if you're going to be anywhere near the action, Ally is giving fans a place to celebrate. The Ally house is happening June 4th from 5pm to 9pm at 1212 Santa Monica in Santa Monica. And it's going to be a one of a kind fan experience around the tournament. We'll be there. We will be there. Julie and I live for an exclusive fan experience. Special conversations, meet and greets, photo ops and a full welcome to the party moment. We are very excited. So whether you're heading to Riviera, watching from nearby or just want to be part of the women's sports energy that week, this is your invite. RSVPs are open now at ally.com ally-house space is limited folks so get on that and Ally customers get priority access. So don't wait. Come hang with us. Celebrate the U.S. women's Open and bring the welcome to the party energy because that is what we will be bringing again. RSVP [e-mail] ally-house We will see you in Santa Monica on June 4th.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay, and we are not done. We grabbed the new college grad literally moments after Kinger was up on stage and she got her diploma because we wanted to get her reflections on finishing up what she started more than 60 years after she first enrolled in in college. So that and that conversation is coming up next. But first, as we head to break, we're going to share some of our favorite Kinger commencement speech moments through the years. And yes, party people, sit back, relax, and allow yourself to be inspired.

[Billie Jean King]

No one is perfect and no one can be brave all the time. We are in this world together. We need each other. Relationships are everything with yourself, your loved ones, your family, faith and friends. It is not a he thing. It's not a she thing. It's not a me thing. It is a we thing. And mistakes are not failures. Do not ever perceive a mistake as a failure. Perceive it as feedback. Everything is feedback. To all the young people watching at home. Don't waste any time trying to be like anybody else. Because the things that make you strange are the things that make you powerful. Pressure is a privilege. It really is. Because if you can see it, you can be it. If you can see it, you can be it. You never really understand inclusion unless you've been excluded. It is not what we can get out of life. It is what we can give to life that matters. This is the century of women.

[Julie Foudy]

Abs. Any good travel coming up for y'?

[Abby Wambach]

All? 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 time to put your place to work. Listing your space on Airbnb is an easy way to bring in some extra cash or while the city's buzzing. Jules.

[Julie Foudy]

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[Abby Wambach]

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[Julie Foudy]

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[Abby Wambach]

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[Julie Foudy]

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[Abby Wambach]

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[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, good.

[Abby Wambach]

Er, mine have been gooder.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, same.

[Abby Wambach]

It is. They are the glasses that. That I wear every single day. I. I buy them ten at a time. This is not a joke. I buy them.

[Julie Foudy]

There's so many fun colors and shapes and sizes. Yeah.

[Abby Wambach]

And they're just really fun sunglasses. They also happen to be, for me, like, really functional. Like they do. They serve every purpose that I need. And I love that Gooder sunglasses don't have the super intense, like, hardcore athlete look. Um, like, they actually look stylish. And there's so many different colors and so many now different frame styles, and they somehow work equally well, whether you're just gonna go on a walk or if you're running errands or meeting friends for dinner. Sincerely, these are my favorite in the history, and I'm a sunglass person. They are my favorite sunglasses that I have ever put on my face. Ready to upgrade your eyewear to something functional, fashionable, fun, and affordable? Head to gooder.com. welcome to the party to $10 off your first order, folks. That's like a third off of your order. Go. That's G O O D R dot com. Welcome to the party. Billy jean king.

[Julie Foudy]

60 plus years.

[Billie Jean King]

65. Everybody's telling me, you know, at 65, it's 65 years.

[Julie Foudy]

It's been since you've been in school.

[Billie Jean King]

Okay.

[Julie Foudy]

What was the. What was the hardest thing during all of this?

[Billie Jean King]

Finding time to read. Yeah, I'm a history major. You got to read and read, and you got to ask questions. Then sometimes the professor. You talk to the professor virtually, but you talk to them. And I remember with the Latin American women, she kept, how do they empower themselves in the 1700s, 1800s? And I had this discussion with her. I said, I think it's. It's terrible. You know, it's just terrible. I don't see any empowerment. Can you tell the story about the

[Abby Wambach]

professor who was doing a women's rights class?

[Billie Jean King]

And the textbook had some inaccuracies in it on title IX on title I. Yeah, they do, but. Or who started an organization or who did this. Can you tell the story about when you went in and talked to the professor? No, no, because I don't like secret. No, because certain people didn't tell the truth. And so I'm not gonna. I'm not gonna help them, right? No, there's certain people said they did certain things and they didn't, you know, but that means I think I'm honest, which I think I am.

[Abby Wambach]

Well, it's just got to be interesting reading a history book, but having actually lived the history.

[Billie Jean King]

Right.

[Abby Wambach]

That is written to see some factual inaccuracy.

[Billie Jean King]

I have Inequality to win the sports. It was a class, I think, and I had about seven books.

[Julie Foudy]

You actually had a class called Inequality in Women's Sports?

[Abby Wambach]

I think so.

[Billie Jean King]

I think that's what it was. I have to look it up exactly. But that's basically.

[Julie Foudy]

Did anyone know, like.

[Billie Jean King]

Like these young students, did they know

[Julie Foudy]

that they could have just been talking

[Billie Jean King]

to you for this class? I don't think so, because we did a lot. So much. Virtually, you're not in a classroom, so. And a lot of these people, you know, Cal State, a lot of these people are working like. One of the women had a bait, just had a baby. This other guy had a job. I mean, it's really hard. Larry, my former husband, when he was. I met him at Cal State L. A and he was a biochemist major and then he became an economics major. But he was working 40 hours a week at night. I used to take him lunch at 2:00 in the morning. So people, this is not an easy little road. That was so great when you said

[Julie Foudy]

that about you being the first from

[Billie Jean King]

your family to graduate. Yeah, I am. Yeah. I wanted to because my parents always talk about education and Randy and me, you have to get your education. So mom and Dad. I did it. My dad went to City College, played basketball. In fact, he played against Jackie Robinson. My mother did cosmetology, but they didn't really ever. My dad had a full scholarship to Whittier for basketball, and he couldn't do it. He got appendicitis. So he came home. I mean, it was just after the war. No, they had it so tough in those days, considered compared to us. I am also on the honorary doctorate track. How many honorary doctorates do you have? Do you know? Not too many. Okay. They'll give. They'll give you honorary doctors a lot, though.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah. And I. That's what I was hoping for.

[Billie Jean King]

Instead of A real one. It's not the same feeling, but this

[Abby Wambach]

is what I'm trying to get at.

[Billie Jean King]

You earn it this way. And when you get the honorary, it's wonderful to be acknowledged for your accomplishments, but that's what we're getting acknowledged for. But to go through the process of actually going to, you know, going through the process, the professors and. And even if it is virtual now a lot of times, but you did it. You did it.

[Julie Foudy]

Kinger.

[Billie Jean King]

Could you see.

[Julie Foudy]

Could you see yourself out there?

[Billie Jean King]

Yeah, I can.

[Julie Foudy]

You could.

[Abby Wambach]

We almost caught. We almost caught one of those tennis balls.

[Billie Jean King]

We broke your tassel. I couldn't.

[Julie Foudy]

You got it to us. You did.

[Billie Jean King]

It hit your head.

[Julie Foudy]

It broke my tassel because I didn't have a hand.

[Billie Jean King]

And I told me, I. I knew where you guys were. I checked you out to my left. Remember where I was going? I saw you guys. I go try and. It's hard to get the ball there, though.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, you got it there. Go get your tassel.

[Billie Jean King]

It was so narrow.

[Julie Foudy]

I know.

[Billie Jean King]

I got to flip. You got to flip your tassel. You got to get the Masters. They already had their flipped over because they've already graduated from college. I'm like, I'm so jealous. Go flip your tassel. Okay, I'll go flip it.

[Julie Foudy]

You got to go flip it.

[Billie Jean King]

Welcome to the party.

[Julie Foudy]

Oh, my gosh.

[Abby Wambach]

Wow. Talk about real chill. We have some real chill. I was so excited, though.

[Julie Foudy]

I know. We were pumped for her.

[Abby Wambach]

Okay. So, Jules, you know, graduations are such a weird. I think they're a mix of excitement and feel fear, some pressure, and also possibility. Now, when you go back to that moment in your own life or that period of your life, what do you remember feeling the most and would like? What would your 21 year old self think of who you've become since then?

[Julie Foudy]

I don't think I was thinking a lot, Abby. It wasn't my finest day. Full disclosure, I had stayed up all night partying before graduation, and I actually had to go. I have no graduation pictures that I am aware of. And I missed my high school graduation because I was away with the U.S. men's National Team. They wanted me to miss my college graduation as well because we had a tournament. I was like, no, I'm not doing that. I'm making my college graduation because I already missed my high school one. And I had to go ask all my Stanford buddies, like, does anyone have pictures from graduation? Because I don't have any. I found one, and this is it. It's so sad. It Is like, me half asleep. I'm holding. I'm like, what am I holding? I'm holding a water gun. A huge water gun, because it was my way of keeping me awake. People would squirt me with a water gun because I hadn't slept all night. Because I'd been out having fun. I hadn't slept all night. Dianne Feinstein was our speaker. I just fell asleep the whole graduation. So they kept squirting me with the water gun.

[Abby Wambach]

That is. Is it amazing?

[Julie Foudy]

No, it's not. It's not amazing. I didn't even go to my biology graduation. There was a separate biology graduation because I was so tired. Cause I hadn't slept. I went to bed, and I'm like, what did my parents think? Who were there?

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Billie Jean King]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

I might have. I might have been a little upset if I was a parent. I think they were very chill about it, actually.

[Abby Wambach]

I think you probably were better than you think.

[Julie Foudy]

I was like, oh, my gosh.

[Abby Wambach]

I also think, like, you know, you just freaking did four years at Stanford, also juggling being on the Women's national team, flying in and out of camps, and there's just a lot. So, like, come on, like, you're allowed to. You're allowed to celebrate. The celebration is true and real and important. I don't. I don't hate it because.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay, but when. When abs. Are. Are you thinking, like, did. Did this moment with Billie Jean? Because I know we've. You haven't gotten your actual degree. You have a lot of honorary degrees.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

But did this moment go, oh, maybe I should go back or not?

[Abby Wambach]

Not yet. It didn't make me go, oh, I'm going to get my degree soon. It made me go, I'm going to get my degree someday. And I do have. I have a feeling that at some point in the next 20 years, Glennon might want to go teach a class on a college campus somewhere. And I thought if that were to happen.

[Julie Foudy]

That's interesting.

[Abby Wambach]

And I would go. And I'm like. Because I'm the kind of person, I can't do online. I just can't do it. Like, I'm the person that I need to go to a workout class. I need somebody to, like, hold me accountable. I need to be in person, and I know that about myself. So I think, like, if and when Glennon were to ever want to go teach some sort of college course somewhere on a campus, that I would take classes and try to get my degree then. But because smart. Here's the thing. I actually didn't do so well when I went, like, I finished a couple years, but there were bad grades. And so I will want to just maybe start over. Like, can I can. Is there a way to like, scratch the. Erase the, the, the slate and make it clean and just begin again? Because I actually have things that I would want to learn now that I was not present to when I in. When I was 18, you know?

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, that's the thing. You go. I mean, even with our kids now, as they're still, you know, learning, I'm like, oh, my gosh, I really want to go retake world history or, you know, u. S. History even.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes. Gosh, yes.

[Julie Foudy]

Right.

[Abby Wambach]

All of that. And you know what it is, it is a shame and a travesty that they don't teach people how like to do their money better because that is a certainty that every adult has to figure out. And I think that during high school, during college, you should be required to take like, a personal finance class to know what a mortgage is, to know what taxes are, to know how to do that stuff. Because it's like you're just learning on the fly and you're making mistakes, and sometimes those mistakes are costly. Like, to not pay your credit card bill is a big mistake and a cost, but you don't. Nobody tells you and makes you read the little fine print that if you don't pay this and you carry a. A a balance on your credit card, you're paying like 50, sometimes 70%. It's crazy.

[Julie Foudy]

I know, I know.

[Abby Wambach]

Anyways.

[Julie Foudy]

And yet we know how to do trigonometry.

[Abby Wambach]

Exactly. Come on, come on. I mean.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay, well, whether you do or you don't, right? Go back. You, as we know, have amassed a. A treasure trove of life experiences. So here are a favorite. A few of our. I don't know if you knew we were going to do this. Few of our favorite pearls of wisdom from some of your past commencement speeches. Your past commencement speeches.

[Abby Wambach]

Oh, my gosh, I wonder if I'll get goosebumps for myself. What you do will never define you. Who you are always will. Forget about the big world, but don't you dare abandon the small worlds. The office you're in, the relationship you're in, the Uber you're in, the dinner table you're at and the community in which you live. I need to spend my life letting the feelings and lessons of failure transform into my power failure. Fuel. Fuel is power. I was a little gay girl in Catholic schools and churches, and while there was much about it, I Loved. I didn't always feel loved back. When you are the one at the table with the least privilege, speak up. And when you are the one at the table with the most privilege, please shut up. I saw a father holding the hand of his daughter, maybe four years old, pointed at his little girl and then to the sold out crowd and yelled to me above the roar, this is the only world she'll ever know. Thank you.

[Julie Foudy]

We don't even get into the wolf pack stuff, which is my favorite.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah, yeah. Ah, those are so good. It's.

[Julie Foudy]

Wait, what was the one with the greenery? Was that lmu?

[Abby Wambach]

The one in the daylight that was outside?

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah.

[Abby Wambach]

Is lmu. And then the other one is Barnard.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, because it had Barnard, but the other one didn't have like a little. I started rereading it.

[Abby Wambach]

What? What do you like? What are you doing? You're so silly. That's. I know.

[Julie Foudy]

Because it was so good because I. That's. That wolf pack moment blew my mind. I had never heard that story. Tell it real quick. It's so good, y'. All.

[Abby Wambach]

About the wolves in Yellowstone. Yes.

[Julie Foudy]

And bringing them back in Yellowstone. Do you want me to read from this or do you recall it?

[Abby Wambach]

I recall it. In 1995, they reintroduce wolves into the Yellowstone ecosystem.

[Julie Foudy]

This was part of her Barnard speech.

[Abby Wambach]

Exactly. And so what the scientists of the area were feeling was that there was deer that were overpopulating the entire ecosystem of Yellowstone and they were eating the vegetation on the riverbeds of the rivers. So it was eroding the riverbeds, making the rivers not running as. As. Well.

[Julie Foudy]

Right.

[Abby Wambach]

And so what ended up happening is they put.

[Julie Foudy]

Because there were no wolves to kill the deer, because.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes. And so the deer or the wolves come back into the Yellowstone ecosystem, which

[Julie Foudy]

was kind of like, oh, I don't know if this is going to work. Right.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

They were like, oh, this is a big risk, but let's try it.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes. And. And so the wolves came back, it displaced the. The. The deer, the riverbeds grew back stronger, and then the river started to run. And when I saw this video for the first time I had. I was like in. I was sobbing. I was like, oh, my gosh. Like, all of these, like, like small events can have massive impact. And it just made me feel like, we women are the wolves.

[Julie Foudy]

Right.

[Abby Wambach]

And we have to get in to our world and make a gigantic difference and to claim our space and. And to do what's necessary because the ecosystem needs our help.

[Julie Foudy]

Right. It was so good, Jules.

[Abby Wambach]

Thanks. And by the way, and this is not to. I swear to you, this is not. Because I think that I want you to buy this book. There are an incredible amount of awesome graduation books that you can give just graduated seniors.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah.

[Abby Wambach]

This book, Wolf Pack is. Is one of them.

[Julie Foudy]

And I made it up. If you're.

[Abby Wambach]

I made it very short. Yeah, I made it very short. And. And so you can read it within like 45 minutes to an hour if you're a fast reader. 45 slow, like me. An hour.

[Julie Foudy]

Well, so when. I'm just going to give a little more detail from the book.

[Billie Jean King]

When.

[Julie Foudy]

When the wolves came back, as we said was like, I don't know if this is going to work. Right. The deers left because of course, they're fearing for their life. Right. And immediately. Right. So the deer started avoiding the places where they were. The wolves. War. The height of the trees quintupled in just six years. Birds and beavers started moving in. The beavers built river dams which provided habitats for otters and ducks and fish. Ravens and bald eagles returned to eat the carry on left by the wolves. It's like all these things.

[Abby Wambach]

So good.

[Julie Foudy]

Bears came back because berries started growing again. But the river actually changed. The plant ecosystem regenerated. The animal ecosystem regenerated.

[Abby Wambach]

It's so good.

[Julie Foudy]

And you made the whole leap then that. That's what women are in society. We are the wolves.

[Abby Wambach]

We're the wolf pack. Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

So good.

[Abby Wambach]

It's so good. We are the wolves. And then it makes you wonder, who are the deer? Who are the deer?

[Julie Foudy]

Graduation time. See, it's starting to wear on me now. I'm starting to become like you like, okay. I love it. I did like rereading a lot of these commencement speeches. Very emotional.

[Abby Wambach]

I love that you read them. I like. I am a listener. I like. Yeah, YouTube it all day long.

[Julie Foudy]

I just saw an Instagram. You were talking about this the other day. Eric Churches at UNC when he strums with his guitar.

[Abby Wambach]

If anybody. If you have 15 or 17 minutes. I don't know exactly how long it is. Take the time to go watch Eric Church's UNC commencement speech this last couple weeks ago. It was so beautiful. It was so creative. It was so specific and also universal. It was just chef's kiss to me. I just was like, well done, Eric. Well done.

[Julie Foudy]

Well, I. I have watched your wolf pack speech lots of times, but then I was like, oh, I remember. I have the book right here. This is like the actual. I think it's like a Draft of it, an advanced reading copy.

[Abby Wambach]

Oh, I sent that to you.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, you must have sent to me. And I've kept it and I love it because it's succinct, right? And like it's, it's, it's, it's an easy read. It's a powerful read. So anyways, do that. If you guys want to be inspired, go read some of those commencement books. Books like Abby mentioned. Okay, party people, the graduation party sadly has to end.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

But the party rolls on every week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so don't forget to subscribe to our welcome to the Party YouTube channel. We drop a new episode live every Tuesday and Thursday. Click that little bell icon so you can get new updates when episodes go live.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah. And if you just take a second, we would appreciate it to rate, leave a comment and subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast. We love your comments.

[Julie Foudy]

We do love your comments. We do all the time. But please just keep commenting. We love that.

[Abby Wambach]

And be sure to follow us on Instagram, YouTube or wherever you get your socials at. Welcome to the party show where Julie, Billy and I will bring the party straight to your feed and you can also email us at Party party people. Questions gmail.com Shout out to Kate Diaz for our theme music. And also if just as a reminder to sign up to follow us on our sub stack channel and go to. Welcome to the partyshow.substack.com that's awesome, party people.

[Julie Foudy]

We hope this episode inspired you because person personally, I'm now feeling like I can do anything. I could even beat Abby on the peloton in a minute to win it.

[Abby Wambach]

Let's go.

[Julie Foudy]

Put your P in. Usa. Usa. USA on three abs. Are you ready?

[Abby Wambach]

Yes.

[Julie Foudy]

One, two, three. Usa. Also, congratulations, Billy. We're closing out this graduation episode with a few more well wishers. Give me the ball.

[Abby Wambach]

Give me the ball.

[Julie Foudy]

Give me the ball.

[Billie Jean King]

Congratulations.

[Abby Wambach]

I mean, that's amazing. I don't know, I just think it's crazy and I'm in awe.

[Billie Jean King]

So congrats.

[Abby Wambach]

Congratulations, Billie Jean King, on another amazing accomplishment. And you first Inspired me in 1973 when you took on Bobby Riggs in the battle of the sexes. And you continue to inspire me today. Billie Jean King, what a legend. Congrats on another amazing accomplishment. This is so cool.

[Billie Jean King]

I would like to congratulate you for finishing college because that's a champion's mentality. Finishing what you have started.

[Abby Wambach]

I'm sure for me and Minnie we are very proud of you. And congratulations once again. If you needed one more reason to be a hero, like, here we go, here's another one. I think when I hear this, I'm

[Julie Foudy]

not at all surprised.

[Abby Wambach]

Like, you finish what you start, but I think going back to school and getting your degree at 81 80, I don't know how young you are is like just the most badass thing in the world. And you are an inspiration in so many ways. But, like, this is just another way that you are once. So congratulations. We're so proud of you. You are a legend in every sense of the word. 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 can also watch our full conversations on the welcome to the party YouTube channel and follow us at welcome to the Party show on Instagram and Tik Tok. Thanks for listening.