Maria Sharapova

Summary

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Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson (Sometimes)

Guest: Maria Sharapova

Episode Date: July 15, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this engaging, candid episode, Ted Danson sits down with tennis icon, entrepreneur, and now podcaster Maria Sharapova. The two dive into Sharapova’s remarkable journey from her early days in Russia to international tennis stardom, her pivot to business and podcasting, the lessons learned from sport, and the nuanced realities of ambition, identity, motherhood, and resilience. Their conversation travels through vulnerability, discipline, what it means to stand out, and the double-edged sword of public perception for women in the spotlight.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Podcasting as a New Chapter

• Maria’s Move to Podcasting: Maria shares her excitement and apprehension about her new show, Pretty Tough, which spotlights high-achieving women and the complex realities behind their success.
  • “How do you like that? It's fun, isn't it?” (Ted Danson, 04:03)
  • “Tbd. No.” (Maria Sharapova, 04:06)
• Finding Her Voice: Sharapova discusses her growth as an interviewer and how she balances preparation with presence in the moment.
  • “There’s so much prep that goes into hosting a podcast...But then you sit across this person and eventually it’s—you’re in the moment with them.” (Maria, 07:41)
• Connection to Athletic Mindset: Ted draws parallels between the laser focus of acting, athletic competition, and live interviewing.
  • “The intensity of the focus for an hour...it’s intense. Cause I can’t sit down and look at my notes and ask you the next question.” (Ted, 05:46)

Timestamp: [04:00–11:00]

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2. Success, Preparation, and Letting Go

• ‘Pretty Tough’ Mentality: Maria explains the duality of her podcast’s title and how the balance between strength and vulnerability defines her approach to each area of life.
  • “I love this juxtaposition between being a fighter...but also having a side that is soft and motherly and that is vulnerable.” (Maria, 33:06)
• Letting Go of Control: Sharapova emphasizes that both in sports and motherhood, ultimate control is an illusion—and being able to surrender is a crucial skill from the court to the nursery.
  • “When you go on court to compete, you have to let go...you just have to trust the work that you put in.” (Maria, 12:42)
• Parallels Between Sport, Acting, and Life: Ted and Maria discuss the constant need to "show up" and be authentic, even after repeated takes or interviews.
  • “Take 10. Take 40. You still have to be there for the first time.” (Ted, 11:01)

Timestamp: [11:00–16:00; 33:00–35:00]

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3. Standing Out and Building Resilience

• Early Determination: Maria shares stories from her childhood—moving to Florida, living in dorms, and feeling different from her peers—but viewing her outsider status as strength.
  • “Looking back, it was hard, but it didn’t stop me from doing what I loved.” (Maria, 19:29)
• Sacrifice and Focus: She reflects on missing out on a ‘normal’ social life, but not regretting it—and the difficulty of making friends as a young, competitive athlete, especially with other competitors.
  • “It’s hard for me to identify with something I never experienced...But I never...felt like missing out was a negative.” (Maria, 27:07)
• Transferring Athletic Mindset to Business & Life: Maria and Ted discuss how the discipline and team-orientation of sports inform later successes and transitions.
  • “Those lessons just continue with you throughout your entire life.” (Maria, 25:14)

Timestamp: [19:00–29:00]

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4. Motherhood: The Great Equalizer

• Humbling Effect of Parenthood: Maria describes motherhood as the most humbling experience, teaching her to surrender control, face daily chaos, and embrace imperfection.
  • “When I became a mom...it’s just like going back to letting go...any control you thought you had, it goes in the trash so quickly.” (Maria, 44:41)
• Navigating Dual Heritage: She intentionally speaks Russian with her son, valuing the difficulty and richness it brings, but emphasizes communication is key—no matter the language.
  • “What’s most important is that I communicate with my sons. Communication is most important.” (Maria, 57:15)

Timestamp: [44:00–47:30; 56:23–58:36]

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5. Women in the Spotlight, Identity, and Agency

• Navigating Stereotypes: Maria opens up about being labeled as “aggressive” and the narrow roles available for women in public life, especially in sports and business.
  • “In the early days of my career, I felt like I had to choose one or the other...But you never allowed me to crack a joke. You never gave me that space.” (Maria, 34:10)
• On Mansplaining and the ‘Manosphere’: Ted self-reflects on his own blind spots and the realities of privilege, sparking Maria’s reflection on the pointlessness of comparison.
  • “It’s not about female versus male...It’s about finding the better version of yourself.” (Maria, 38:33)
• Supporting Other Women: Maria intentionally features only women in her podcast’s first season, aiming to amplify their stories.
  • “If I can bring my platform to other women, it’s the best gift that I can give.” (Maria, 41:32)

Timestamp: [33:00–42:00]

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6. Vulnerability, Trust, and Relationships

• Discussing Partnership: Maria shares how she met her partner, her initial guardedness, and the reasons behind her cautious social approach—all informed by early success and trust issues.
  • “I don’t trust a lot of people...when you gain success from a young age, a lot of people want things from you.” (Maria, 49:39)
• Difference in Disposition: Ted and Maria swap anecdotes on being “warm” versus “guarded,” and how their respective partners help balance them out.
  • “I want life to be rosy. It’s not always...but my spin on life is pretty great.” (Ted, 51:40)
• Family Support: Maria reveals the centrality of her parents in her journey—then and now.
  • “When things aren’t going well, I know that mom and dad...are the first people I want to call.” (Maria, 54:50)

Timestamp: [48:00–56:00]

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7. Career Longevity, Injury, and Transition

• Short Athletic Careers: Maria talks about the pressure on female athletes to accomplish all they can early—and the challenge of facing “what’s next” after retirement.
  • “You have to think about what's next—whether that is, you know, when you want to start a family, what you want to do in a second chapter.” (Maria, 60:07)
• Overcoming Injury: She recounts the psychological and practical toll of serious injury, and urges young athletes not to wallow but to explore new opportunities during recovery.
  • “Go do an internship, go take a class...Don’t wallow.” (Maria, 63:47)

Timestamp: [59:00–64:00]

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8. Memorable Moments & Humor

• Pilates and Sticky Socks: Ted exclaims about the transformative power of Pilates at any age, sparking banter over “sticky socks” and Speedos.
  • "Do you wear sticky socks?" (Maria, 31:41)
  • "You don't want any mental images of me at all, so just erase that thought." (Ted, 31:50)
• Pickleball vs. Tennis: A playful misunderstanding about Maria’s supposed pickleball fandom leads to laughs and a firm tennis preference.
  • "I don't play and I don't love." (Maria, 64:23)
• ‘Go the Fuck to Sleep’: Ted shares about narrating the humorous adult book, which Maria, as a mom, instantly relates to.

Timestamp: Throughout episode, favorites at [31:32–32:24], [64:00–66:00], [46:35–47:27]

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Notable Quotes

• Maria on letting go in competition:
  “When you go on and compete, you have to let go…you have to trust the work that you put in is great enough, you know, to trust a natural instinct.” (12:42)

• Ted on self-critique:
  “If I listen to it, I would judge myself and I'm a very judgmental dick at times. So I would much prefer to just have the joy of the moment of doing this.” (05:22)

• Maria on choosing one’s own path:
  “I think standing out and not having to apologize for standing out is also a very…It’s cool.” (27:07)

• Maria on intentional platforming:
  “If I can bring my platform to other women, it’s the best gift that I can give.” (41:32)

• Maria on motherhood:
  “It’s just like going back to letting go. Just letting go of any control that you thought or think you have…That’s so humbling in a wonderful way.” (44:41)

• Maria on injury recovery:
  “In that time, one of the things that I tell athletes to do…Go do an internship, go take a class…Don’t wallow.” (63:47)

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Important Timestamps

• 04:00 — Maria’s move to podcasting, podcast philosophy
• 11:00 — Letting go of perfection (sports, media, life)
• 19:00 — Childhood in Russia/Florida; focus and sacrifice
• 27:00 — Social trade-offs in competitive sport
• 33:00 — Explaining “Pretty Tough”; women’s public personas
• 44:40 — Humbling realities of motherhood
• 49:30 — Trust and authenticity in relationships
• 59:00 — Athlete career transitions; pressure of early retirement
• 63:45 — Advice for injured young athletes
• 64:20 — Maria sets the record straight on pickleball

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Tone and Language

The conversation is warm, witty, and introspective—true to both Ted Danson's trademark humor and Maria Sharapova’s thoughtful, direct clarity. Maria is candid about her vulnerabilities and disciplined mindset; Ted balances self-deprecating jokes with genuine curiosity and empathetic listening.

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This episode is essential listening for fans of sport, entrepreneurship, women’s stories, or anyone curious about the inner life behind world-stage success. Maria gives rare insight into her inner world, and Ted’s relaxed but probing style brings out both laughter and real wisdom.

Listen to Maria Sharapova’s podcast, Pretty Tough, for more deep dives into resilience, reinvention, and the stories behind ambitious women.

Transcript

[Ted Danson]

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[Maria Sharapova]

Can I interrupt you for a second?

[Ted Danson]

No, because I am the man and this is my podcast. My God, this is horrible. Welcome back to where everybody knows your name. My guest today is tennis great Maria Sharapova. Maria is a five time Grand Slam champion, founder of a confectionary company, and now a podcaster. Her new show is called Pretty Tough with Maria Sharapova, and on it she talks to successful women who defy societal expectations, much like herself. It's an honor to talk with her. Maria Sharapova, I've had the best morning with you already because you showed up an hour and a half early for a reason. And I show up an hour and a half early because I always like to sit down and prepare, which is. And it's horrible because I just. Anyway, preparing by yourself is like, that's

[Maria Sharapova]

all you need is 90 minutes.

[Ted Danson]

No, no, no, no. I've been looking at little videos of you for a while, but yes, that's when I get serious. But anyway, I show up and you were already here when I got here. So we talked for a little while, which was very sweet, very nice, but then you went off into your corner and you got your.

[Maria Sharapova]

I got my hair and makeup done.

[Ted Danson]

Hair and makeup done. I watched some more stuff about you and then chatted and then got bored. So I went downstairs while you were still getting your hair and makeup done, still 90 minutes later, just sat in front of you. So.

[Maria Sharapova]

But we couldn't really chat. It was kind of awkward because everything I'D ask you say, save it for the pod.

[Ted Danson]

No, no, no. Can't go there. Let's talk about your lipstick.

[Maria Sharapova]

I took you out.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah, you did.

[Maria Sharapova]

I said leave.

[Ted Danson]

So I was going to start with, what shade of lipstick is that, Marie?

[Maria Sharapova]

That's a good question. I didn't put it on, so I don't know.

[Ted Danson]

Okay, here's what. There's so much to talk about that I have nothing in common with you that we could talk about. Obviously. We will talk about tennis and Grand Slam winter.

[Maria Sharapova]

We don't have to.

[Ted Danson]

I do. I want to. Because. All right, you'll discover that I bounce around way too much. But my joy in life as a kid was basketball. And I won't go into the whole story, but athletes to me, athletes. As an actor, when you meet other actors, it's exciting. When you meet politicians, it can be exciting. When you meet athletes, you just become the. This little kid you're so excited to be around, a professional athlete. So I have that in common. And so we have tons to talk about. But let's jump to today, which is the today. Meaning you are a podcaster.

[Maria Sharapova]

I am.

[Ted Danson]

How do you like that? It's fun, isn't it?

[Maria Sharapova]

Tbd. No.

[Ted Danson]

Come on. How many have you done? Two or three.

[Maria Sharapova]

We've recorded several.

[Ted Danson]

How many?

[Maria Sharapova]

We have two out so far.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah. Zoe.

[Maria Sharapova]

We have Zoe Zoldana and Jeannie Buss, and we have. Well, depending when this comes out. But next week is Gabriella Hurst, who's a dear friend and an incredible fashion designer. So it's a really wide mix of incredibly high achieving women that have gotten to the top. And, you know, I'm. I'm deeply passionate about what it takes to get to anywhere in life. I had one way to get to number one in the world. And also, what is the definition of success for these women? And when they reach that success, what is the next vertical? How do they come to that conclusion? Are they deflated? Right. Because we talk about success in those few minutes, few seconds, but then, you know, we realize that. Is it that great up there in there as well? You have to keep striving for it. Right. Because it only lasts just. It's so quick, so brief.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah. And it's called pretty tough.

[Maria Sharapova]

It's called pretty tough. Yes. Thank you for reminding me.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah. Yeah. I love being a podcaster.

[Maria Sharapova]

Do you?

[Ted Danson]

I love it.

[Maria Sharapova]

When did you start the space?

[Ted Danson]

I love whatever this is I'm doing. Cause I don't listen to it. If I listen to it, I would judge myself and I'm a very judgmental dick at times, so I would much prefer to just have the joy of the moment of doing this.

[Maria Sharapova]

I love that honesty because I think that's what makes a success podcast, at least to the ones I've listened to.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah. Don't know.

[Maria Sharapova]

Is that they're. They don't hold back. They speak and they're honest.

[Ted Danson]

But it's truly what I love. And as far as. Isn't a connection, in a way to being an athlete and doing what we're doing, podcasting is. The intensity of the focus for an hour and a half or whatever it is is intense. Cause I can't, you know, I don't sit down and look at my notes and ask you the next question.

[Maria Sharapova]

That's the first thing I saw when we entered the room is an empty table with no notes. How do you do that?

[Ted Danson]

I put the screen behind you. I got all my questions. Made you luck. Made you luck.

[Maria Sharapova]

I did.

[Ted Danson]

I was like, but. But.

[Maria Sharapova]

Well, that's an art.

[Ted Danson]

I don't know if it's an art or it's lazy or it's. I'm not the academic and I. Whatever. But.

[Maria Sharapova]

So you prepare and it's. I prepare and you go into it and the questions are in your head.

[Ted Danson]

No, you'll find out when there's this big lull. Cause I have no more questions. No, I go through. My preparation is doing all the bad stuff. It's how I prepare as an actor, too. I make all the bad mistakes. And this sucks. This sucks. Until you go, ah, okay. My. Ah, okay. In podcasting is when I finally stop looking for the questions that'll make me seem like an interesting podcaster or, ooh, this will be an interesting question.

[Maria Sharapova]

And go, ted, so what's the opposite of that?

[Ted Danson]

That's being you. I will finally say, what are you genuinely curious about? And I go through all my bad, ha ha. Questions, and I finally go, oh, yeah, I really want to know that. So I start with some sort of curiosity and then trust that there will be a conversation.

[Maria Sharapova]

I'm learning so much already. I'm becoming a better podcaster by joining this podcast. I feel it. I feel it in my body.

[Ted Danson]

Okay. I don't know you well enough to see whether that's true.

[Maria Sharapova]

It's true.

[Ted Danson]

Okay, good. I'm gonna press you on that. Why? What?

[Maria Sharapova]

Because there's so much prep that goes into hosting a podcast, right? Whether it's how the set looks and how the guest is and preparation into the material and the guest itself. Cause Some guests, you know, and some guests you've yet to meet, you know, that you're curious about and so you wanna be prepared and then all goes into it. But then you sit across this person and eventually it' you're in the moment with them. So you wanna learn from them knowing that the audience also learning. But if I can just focus on this right here, that's the people.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah, but I've watched, by the way, I watched two, not even all of them.

[Maria Sharapova]

Good, I got two more views. Thank you very much.

[Ted Danson]

Oh, you'll all about the views, isn't it? Don't worry. And by the way, I heard that the way to increase your viewership is by doing other people's podcasts.

[Maria Sharapova]

Well, I am.

[Ted Danson]

I know. So the three people, you know, you'll get three more. Now, what was I going to say?

[Maria Sharapova]

Oh, so.

[Ted Danson]

But I watched and you do both because you are the professional athlete still that you were. So for you to do the kind of casual thing that I'm doing, I don't believe would be really you. I saw that you had cards and questions prepared, but then you asked it and you probably thought a great deal about it, so you read it. So it was exactly how you wanted to phrase it. But then you dropped that and you were totally engaged with them going and engaged and doing the same thing.

[Maria Sharapova]

So anyway, no, I feel like we've recorded 10 or 12. I forgot at this moment, but I've noticed how much I've grown since the first one. And we did a few mock up ones like I interviewed a few of my friends and just because it's a different skill, right? It's such a. We were just talking about it like when a work opportunity comes to, you know, to be on a panel and do a Q and A versus showing up and doing a speech, you're like, oh, the preparation. You're like, I'd much rather do a Q and A.

[Ted Danson]

This is why I'm an actor, so I don't have to do this.

[Maria Sharapova]

So our preference is Q and A because it's just we can show up and that's, you know, we've done that for so long. So to be on the other side of it and you know, knowing how much work goes into being an actor, an athlete, you want to prepare to do something. Well, because we have this identity of what good or great looks like on

[Ted Danson]

your side, then you also want to. And I could see that in what you're doing is make that other person you're talking to the best version of Them.

[Maria Sharapova]

Absolutely.

[Ted Danson]

That is your.

[Maria Sharapova]

I also want to feel like it's a safe place for them to share their stories. Cause we've both been around the this block of doing press and interviews and you're most of the time saying very similar things. But the perception I try to have is whoever's listening in this new. Whether it's on a podcast or a morning show, it's like, most likely they're hearing it for the first time. So even though you have said it several times, the audience is most likely a new audience that's hearing it for the first time. So you have to phrase it and you have to be just as excited as you said it for the first time, as you're saying it for the hundredth time.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Maria Sharapova]

So like being creative to make yourself sound just as good as when you said it the first time. I don't know if this makes sense.

[Ted Danson]

It does. Just the world of acting too. Take 10. Take 40. You still have to be there for the first time.

[Maria Sharapova]

That's why I love the photographer Patrick dimashier, who sadly passed recently. But he, when he knew that he had the shot, like he had a great image, he didn't need backups. It's like, I got the shot.

[Ted Danson]

Tell me about him a little bit. Cause I don't wanna fake like I know who that person is.

[Maria Sharapova]

So Patrick was. Well, he actually shot my first ever off court campaign that I ever did for a watch brand. And this was 2004. So after winning Wimbledon, Tag Corps was one of my first sponsors off the court. And it was my first, like, I don't know, entry into fashion. And I remember we shot this campaign in Malibu. And most of the time photographers like to take. Just like in film, they like to have several different versions, angles, just so when they're in the edit room, you know, they have options. But this was a photographer that when he knew that he had the shot, he didn't care what anyone thought. Like, that was it.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Maria Sharapova]

And it's so refreshing because as you know, someone that's on the other side of it, you're like, we're done. We know that was good. Why do we need to keep doing it? Right? It's kind of frustrating. So that's what I respect.

[Ted Danson]

Do you find yourself now going, actually, I think I bet we do have this. So let's stop. Do you do that when you're in a photo shoot?

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah, I don't have. It's like the art of letting go. I think sport teaches you that you train and train and you're so in control. But then when you go on court to compete, you have to let go. And it's been like one of the greatest lessons in life for me is like this.

[Ted Danson]

When you go on and compete, you have to let go of what.

[Maria Sharapova]

Just control you have. You know, the only thing you can control is like your serve. Cause that's the first shot. But everything else, like who says what in the crowd, what the audience thinks, you know, the weather, how even how you're playing. Like sometimes it's so dependent on your opponent and the conditions that you just have to let it. You have to trust the work that you put in is great enough, you know, to trust a natural instinct.

[Ted Danson]

And how about when you lose the first. Came set. Came set, you know, terribly. You still have to. And you still have to shake that off and have that mean nothing and come back and win. That's a huge discipline.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yes. I think, well, letting go of the fact that, yeah, I just got smoked in front of millions of people,

[Ted Danson]

it's a little bit like doing theater and getting, you know, opening night, you get a smoke. Sucko review. And, you know, and millions of people read it. What.

[Maria Sharapova]

Describe a sucko review.

[Ted Danson]

What is.

[Maria Sharapova]

What like, what is a. In your opinion, what is the wor. What can they say that is so good if you.

[Ted Danson]

The lead in the play and they rave about the play and then say the One drawback is Mr. Danson's performance. So.

[Maria Sharapova]

But what if you. But what if you felt good about the performance, would you. Would you be sensitive enough to take in someone else's thought of your performance?

[Ted Danson]

Oh, yeah, okay.

[Maria Sharapova]

No, it's a fair.

[Ted Danson]

No, that's why I'm not online. I will never go online because.

[Maria Sharapova]

So I think that's the biggest difference with your profession and athlete.

[Ted Danson]

I think it's also the biggest. That's the reason why you got to where you are, that level of discipline.

[Maria Sharapova]

No, I think it's a level of not giving a shit. Yeah. Because there's.

[Ted Danson]

But there are actors like that and I envy that. And I will get to. I don't give a shit, but I almost have to go, I don't give

[Maria Sharapova]

a shit if I believe that. What that my performance, win or loss, by the way, because you lose a lot, win or loss, was acceptable and was at a high level. And if I feel like it was, and my team does. Right. I'm not the only one in this world, then I'm satisfied.

[Ted Danson]

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[Maria Sharapova]

No, I think it's not something that I had when I was a teenager, but I had the determination. Cause I love being different than what the rest were doing. Like, I loved this idea. I lived in a dorm room in Florida for a couple of years. Cause my dad was working in nearby towns and I was in Bradenton, Florida. And I was one of the younger ones in the dorm room. And.

[Ted Danson]

Which is an all.

[Maria Sharapova]

All sporting school. But it was tennis. Tennis and voluntary. And. And I, you know, all the girls around me were creating like posters. Like we're. I mean, we're young, 10, 11. All tennis players, 10, 11, 12 years old. And you know, best friends and with glitter and. And I, like, I was never a part of that. And I don't remember, like, when you come to the room and you're like, you see all these posters and your name is like, not part of the pack. You're like, oh, okay. Well, I mean, I know that I'm here for a different reason, but I wasn't upset about it. So like, looking back at that, it was hard, but it didn't stop me from doing what I love to do, which was, you know, playing for six hours a day and training and competing over the weekends and just getting better and also realizing, like, I didn't have the means or the money that the rest of the girls in this, you know, dorm room had. So I had to find a way to make that money, right? To keep giving myself opportunities to stay in a dorm like that. Cause I was on a scholarship. So I just, I felt like what I was doing was, was unique and I didn't. And I say that now. I'm more aware of it now because I have a son that's three and a half years old. And I go to a lot of you Know, little gymnasiums and music classes, and they're like herds. And there's never really a place where, like, a kid can. You can really identify what does this kid really want to do? What are they good at? And I know he's still very young, but I always try to encourage. Like, when I am around him is like, just to guide him to a path which he loves. Right. An activity that he is passionate about. Not just because I'm taking him to a group. You know, football. He doesn't even like it, but whatever.

[Ted Danson]

Football. American football, soccer. Back up. So you lead. So I just wonder how much I'm gonna. Not that this was the thought process, but I am gonna go with my father, be uprooted from where I live. And my mom. Right, because your mom stayed behind for a couple years. I'm gonna go to another country, don't speak the language, and I'm gonna be. Well, not right away or right away in a dorm room. Did you immediately go to that school? Right off the bat, you are. By the way, you're sitting up so tall.

[Maria Sharapova]

I'm trying because this is like.

[Ted Danson]

Is my seat, like, way lower than hers? This is not fair.

[Maria Sharapova]

No. I'm trying to work on my posture.

[Ted Danson]

Me too. Especially now.

[Maria Sharapova]

You just got taller.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah, thanks. I can't.

[Maria Sharapova]

Leading by example.

[Ted Danson]

So you are already having to. You're already different. You are already. Not even that I'm better than or whatever than, but I am different. You must be holding yourself differently. This is harder. What I'm having to do, learning another language and leaving my home. That must give you a certain determination.

[Maria Sharapova]

Well, it was hard because we didn't. Well, we didn't have that much money. We had enough money for, you know, having food on the table and a roof over our heads and being healthy and happy, but we didn't have the means to go to an expensive training facility and then play tournaments and drive and fly everywhere. So that had to be. That wasn't given. That was earned. So that I recognized. And I think the thing that people recognized of my talent is a focus to keep doing one thing, like, to keep hitting this ball over and over again until you reach a certain level like that for a young girl or boy. And I see a lot of young girls and boys picking up different sports and seeing how they play is really hard because we have so many distractions. We are constantly given options, which in some ways is great because it builds all of our skill sets. And later in life, you choose what you want to do, but it also kind of takes you away from perhaps one path that you'd like to choose and that you want to lean into.

[Ted Danson]

I was. Basketball was my one moment. Not a moment. It was like until I went to Stanford and discovered, oh, I'm not in this league of basketball.

[Maria Sharapova]

So you were on the Stanford team?

[Ted Danson]

No, no, I was on a small private school, Kent School for Boys in Kent, Connecticut, and we won our championship. But any decent sized high school would have just wiped us. There were only 300 boys in the whole school, so. But it was my passion, it was my love. It was all I cared about. It was. My coach was the only person who really could communicate to me how cool

[Maria Sharapova]

you had that passion.

[Ted Danson]

Oh. Oh, the best. Totally the best.

[Maria Sharapova]

What did you learn?

[Ted Danson]

I learned that the team is the thing. It's not about you, it's about the team. And you're. You have a, you know, role to play and you need to be really good at it, but it's the team. I love to just. I just love the being in my body, using my body to later was to communicate as an actor, but, you know, feeling like an athlete, being in whatever shape that was. But then when I got to Stanford, I had to let that go because.

[Maria Sharapova]

Because you realized the, the level.

[Ted Danson]

Oh, I stepped on the. Yes, I. My level. It was just. It was a joke. It was not even the same game. It was the same year that Lou Al was a freshman.

[Maria Sharapova]

How beautiful, though, that you continuously go back to those years that informed your body and what you think of as a team. And this is something that, like when I like after retiring a lot of. When I talk about sport, especially in a business environment, so many people talk about, like, the similarities and comparisons and the qualities that you develop, you know, as a, as a young, you know, college student or professional, that those lessons just continue with you throughout your entire life. And I know so many women in C suite positions that hire fellow women that have had, you know, either professional background in sport, you know, or were incredible college athletes because they recognize that their mind has been, you know, informed by this craft. Right. Which is just constant resilience, overcoming difficulties with the sport itself or your body and just maturing on the job.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah, I do want to go back a second during those years of plan. How old were you when you retired, if I may?

[Maria Sharapova]

It's a great question. 32, I think.

[Ted Danson]

32, I forget. 7 to 32. You were.

[Maria Sharapova]

I could be wrong.

[Ted Danson]

I think it's 32 minus an injury here or there where you had to recuperate or Rehab. You were constantly on the high wire of being in perfect shape. Right?

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah.

[Ted Danson]

Did you ever off. Did you ever go, no, I want to rebel? No, I want to have a drink? No, actually I had drinks.

[Maria Sharapova]

Not many. Not as many as I can have now. Yes, that's for sure. I didn't have. I didn't really have that desire to go, you know, to go.

[Ted Danson]

Never jealous of other.

[Maria Sharapova]

No, no. I. I often get asked, like, what did you know, did you miss, like the school environment or this traditional schooling upbringing? And I don't know what to miss. It's hard for me to identify with something that I've never experienced. And I guess that question lean into the social aspect of, you know, you didn't have that many friends or. No. And the honest answer is, no, I didn't. Because people I would meet were usually in tennis and usually I'd be competing against them and. And that's tricky to make really strong friends, you know, when you're trying to be the best at something. I found it difficult personally, so. Yeah. But I never again. Going back to like feeling different about your path. That was always a positive, in my opinion. And I know that's often seen as a negative and people want to be part of this pack and do what others are doing. But I think standing out and not having to apologize for standing out is also a very. It's cool.

[Ted Danson]

Totally. I think people who ask you that question, including me, are people that have, you know, you haven't asked it yet. I feel like I'll just look at myself now because right now, in my age 78, I like to think of it as my professional athlete years. For real. It's different. But if I do not play at my maximum level, if I go off and have a drink before I come in and have this conversation, it's going to be.

[Maria Sharapova]

Oh, yeah. I remember the first year after retiring. Well, there was a little bit of COVID But then maybe it was the second. Whatever, timeline, doesn't matter. But I remember attending conferences and certain panels and people, you know, would talk during the day and they'd have all these meetings and then the evening they'd go out and like drink, right? They'd have these fabulous dinners and. And like stay up really late. Cause they're like in cool places and. And I just. I always thought, wait. But then the next stage, they gotta. The next day they have to be on stage. Like, how do they not think about that? And. And the answer is no. They really don't care.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Maria Sharapova]

Like, if I have A performance, or if I have to be on stage, or if I have, you know, if I'm interviewing someone for the podcast. Like, you know, we're been recording all over, but a lot of them have been in New York. Like, I mean, the night before. I'm not, because I have to, or I know I'm gonna go crazy, but, like, I'm in bed by 9. I am with my material, ordering room service. You know, I'm not, like, going out, even though I have many friends in the city. I'm not sitting there, you know, drinking champagne. I'm, like, ordering room service. Perhaps a glass of wine. But, like, I'm focused.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah. See? And that. I think the fact that you had this, you know, these 30, whatever, 20, whatever it is, years of playing at your peak and seeing what you can do, and it becoming kind of natural, and your body's used to that, and your mind, even more importantly, is used to that. Serves you for the rest of your life. Because I am now, you know, I didn't always play at that level, and now I have to play at that level. And there'll be times where I go, well, this isn't fair. And a week ago, we had a party for a sweet friend. 80th birthday celebration. Of course I'm gonna have a drink. Hadn't had one for three months. Cause I was into this new realization. I really need to become athletic about my life. And I, you know, had cake, I had champagne. I suffered hugely.

[Maria Sharapova]

The next day.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah. That night, the next day, just by

[Maria Sharapova]

one glass and a. And a piece of cake.

[Ted Danson]

It was a really. The glass was about a half a bottle of wine. It was a huge tumbler, you know, But. And it was fun. And da, da, da. I don't mean I'll never not do that again. But.

[Maria Sharapova]

Not worth it.

[Ted Danson]

But no, it's not, because I need all hands on deck in my head.

[Maria Sharapova]

I like that attitude.

[Ted Danson]

And I want to live longer. And if I'm. By the way, here's for people my age, if you're listening Pilates. You're in Pilates? Yes. Because I get to feel like an athlete.

[Maria Sharapova]

Your core.

[Ted Danson]

Yes.

[Maria Sharapova]

You get to feel your core muscles engage.

[Ted Danson]

And my feet. Who knew I had neglected my feet? Yes. But it truly has changed my life.

[Maria Sharapova]

Do you wear sticky socks?

[Ted Danson]

No, no, no.

[Maria Sharapova]

Does that mean just an image of you wearing, like, one of those sticky socks?

[Ted Danson]

You don't want any mental images of me at all, so just erase that thought.

[Maria Sharapova]

Sticky socks doing Pilates? I didn't think we'd get there so quickly.

[Ted Danson]

I do wear a Speedo.

[Maria Sharapova]

Ha.

[Ted Danson]

Suck it. Yeah, you're in trouble now. Ruined your life. Just a note on speedos. I used to wear Speedos in the 80s and my kids at the beach.

[Maria Sharapova]

We've officially gone off script.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah, we're off script now. We're trying to erase that horrible mental

[Maria Sharapova]

image I did with a Speedo.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah, yeah. By at least getting my kids off the hook. So, Mary, we meet when I'm 45 and the first time we go to a beach together and I'm wearing a Speedo, she goes, no, no, Good for her. My kids say, good for her. See her saying no, no. And they go, oh, thank God. Thank you for saying that. My poor kids.

[Maria Sharapova]

I love her already.

[Ted Danson]

Oh, you do? You don't know it because you haven't met.

[Maria Sharapova]

Started strong.

[Ted Danson]

She's strong.

[Maria Sharapova]

She's pretty tough.

[Ted Danson]

She is. She's amazing. She's an amazing woman. Pretty tough. Just break that down for a second. It's brilliant.

[Maria Sharapova]

But why pretty tough? Ultimately was a mentality that I carried for so many years of my life. I didn't quite know if that mentality would carry through for another chapter or whatever chapter it was. But now being a mother and being in boardrooms, it is very much still applicable. And I've also recognized that there are incredible women that have had to be pretty tough through their journeys and through their careers and through parenthood and through being partners. And I love, you know, this juxtaposition between being a fighter, a female that is owning her narrative, that is fighting. In my world, it was, you know, pumping my fist, believing in her work and her ability, but also having a side that is soft and that is motherly and that is vulnerable.

[Ted Danson]

Not just motherly. You are motherly.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah. But that it's. And pretty, you know, and in the early days of my career, I felt like I had to choose one or the other. I had to play into either. I was, you know, very aggressive on the court and I was the grunter and I wanted to win. And that was very visible from, you know, my performance. But then I'd get in a boardroom and I'd have something to say, or, you know, I'd get in a one to one interview and, you know, the journalist would say, oh, I didn't, you know, I didn't know Maria could crack a joke. And, you know, I look back at that and think, well, you never allowed me to crack a joke. You never gave me that space.

[Ted Danson]

And so it's much more fun for the Press to pigeonhole you as a person.

[Maria Sharapova]

And I want to give women the space to be both. You don't have to choose one or the other because someone told you so. Because over time, you start believing that, you know, you start playing into what others think of you. And ultimately, it's what is deep inside of you, what you believe you are, who you stand for.

[Ted Danson]

Right. I feel like I need to do a little parentheses around me because I'm a little suspect. Because for whatever reason, my family and my upbringing and my parents and all of that, my mode of seduction later in life was always to go, hey, it's me, Ted. I'm one of the girls. Relax, let's take our clothes off. You know, I was always coming at you with, hey, it's me, one of the girls. I didn't go. The alpha male macho. The result was the same, let's take off our clothes. But I was always one of the girls. So I know I'm not one of the girls. And I know I haven't earned the right to go, yeah, I'm with you. Pretty tough. Women shouldn't have to do this, that, and this, and men should do this and that, which I do believe, but I am. Then you also have to say, as a man, I am what? I'm an old, white, wealthy man. I'm the epitome of the people who are mansplaining to the world. And I am. And I sit down with Mary and I when the word mansplaining kind of came into not vulnerable.

[Maria Sharapova]

I've been hearing manosphere a lot, man.

[Ted Danson]

See, I don't even know what that is.

[Maria Sharapova]

I still don't know what it is. Well, they're saying, like, manosphere in the podcast space because so many.

[Ted Danson]

Did a man make that up?

[Maria Sharapova]

I don't know.

[Ted Danson]

I don't either.

[Maria Sharapova]

The media did.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah, probably some man.

[Maria Sharapova]

Somebody at the top.

[Ted Danson]

Because if you claim a whole sphere and it's a manosphere, it had to be a man that came up with,

[Maria Sharapova]

probably, he's the top performing podcast for male.

[Ted Danson]

I have no idea how much I don't realize what it means to have been a woman in making their way in this world today.

[Maria Sharapova]

What does your wife say about it?

[Ted Danson]

She points it out to me all the time how I am, actually. Oh, you need to explain this to me, you know, or, oh, you're giving me direction, you know, and it's with the love. No one loves me more than Mary does. It's so clear. So when she points things out or criticizes or Whatever. I'm very porous because I know how much she loves me, so I do hear it. But it's stunning how much in a day I will mansplain to my wife, who I adore and think should be the. You know, I don't think there should be any limits. I support her. Da, da, da, da. All of that. Just the fact that you say that I'm saying that. That I support her and don't think she should have any limits is a very man thing to say. It's kind of hopeless. So I surrender wanting you to think that I am one of the girls, one of the ladies are so enlightened, because I am, and I'm not.

[Maria Sharapova]

Can I interrupt you for a second?

[Ted Danson]

No. Because I am the man, and this is my podcast. My God, this is horrible. I love that. Please make that beautiful. Something for the, you know, sizzle reel. May I interrupt you for a minute?

[Maria Sharapova]

Just for a second? It's never about female versus male. And I take that back to when I'm in my. I'm in my early 20s and I'm sitting in a press conference and it's Wimbledon, and that's usually the time when we start talking about equal prize money.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Maria Sharapova]

And my answer, it was always the same. It is the same till today, is that it's not about, you know, there's always comparisons about the women playing three sets and the men playing five. At the end of the day, it's not about what a woman is compared to a man. It's about finding the better version of yourself. So if I'm a woman and I want to sell product, right, Whether that's a ticket to my match or, I don't know, funky merch, whatever it is, I want to be the best at it. And what does that entail? That entails doing better for myself. It's not about thinking what the men are doing or thinking what others are doing and what level they have and how physical they are and how many sets they're playing or how much money they're making. I've always wanted to focus on getting better, because if I was better, I would improve the prize money. And that's how I feel about the podcast space. It's the same thing. If my content, if my interviews are strong enough, doesn't matter who's leading the top charts, if it's, you know, eight of the top 10 podcasts and wellness space are hosted by men, doesn't matter. What matters is quality content. So if you can focus on yourself and just be a Improve. Right. As an athlete. Just improve by being better. Then that will take care of all those things. That will take care of money and charts and fame.

[Ted Danson]

I agree 100%. I think there are probably some women in, you know, in Hollywood that. Whose product is brilliant and is starting with a man whose product is also brilliant and is maybe getting less money.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah.

[Ted Danson]

As a result of. But here's what I mean. It's such a delicate balance to look outside of yourself and point at why something may not be working to me is I always spin things so that I'm in power. And maybe silly or wrong or whatever, but I don't feel like feeling victimized. I don't like feeling. Feeling like somebody did something. No. Who does? So I'm always spinning it to go, all right, what can I learn? And I'm not, you know, anyway. But I do think, why are you in. Pretty tough talking to. Is it only women or mostly women?

[Maria Sharapova]

The first season is only women.

[Ted Danson]

Why?

[Maria Sharapova]

Deliberate. Just being.

[Ted Danson]

I know. I mean, but yeah, because.

[Maria Sharapova]

Because it's. If I can bring my platform to other women, it's the best gift that I can give. Right. To other incredibly achieving women.

[Ted Danson]

Indeed. But I think it does. Doesn't it speak to a little bit that, you know, somebody who is as powerful, you know, as you are probably got called a lot of names on the way up, as opposed to, wow, he's aggressive. She's a, you know, kind of thing that women have to cut through.

[Maria Sharapova]

I think it was more about just being intentional and not being everything at the same time. And launching a podcast. I have a lot of men that I would like to interview, but in the first season, I was quite deliberate on. Cause, you know, when you sit in these meetings with the production companies, they're like, well, what's your target audience like? What's the age group?

[Ted Danson]

And nobody asked me that.

[Maria Sharapova]

You have more independence probably than I do to do whatever you want.

[Ted Danson]

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[Maria Sharapova]

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[Ted Danson]

I'm not trying to find this. So forgive the question, but where have you been humbled in life? I mean, you could say you get humbled when you lose a grand slam. You know, that's humbling, I'm assuming, but have you ever had a. Oh, and have to.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah, when I became a mom.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah, I heard you talk about it. But who. You know, we have grandkids that are. Your son's. How old is he? Yeah, not quite our grandkids. Well, some were. Yeah. Anyway, we have five. So I get to watch it.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah. And then say. And then say goodbye.

[Ted Danson]

Yes.

[Maria Sharapova]

Go home now.

[Ted Danson]

I do recall the not being able to say goodbye, but it is humbling. It's so humbling in a wonderful way.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah, it's just like it's going back to letting go. Just letting go of any control that you thought or think you have is just. It goes in the trash so quickly. It's just a reminder that, you know, you have to let people be who they are. Right. This. This individuality. And of course, there's a stage where they're vulnerable and you're there to, you know, give them those guardrails. But ultimately it's hard because I was so used to just control this element of knowing everything and how it's done and having a perfect. And seeing this perfect version. And you go into a playroom of a kid and you're like, that is. Wow. That is my idea of hell.

[Ted Danson]

The clutter, the chaos.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yes. And they change their mind all the time and want to, you know, want it now. They want a puzzle. And now all of a sudden the puzzle's terrible. And then, you know, they. They go to a party and there's a pony. And then the one I can't get off the pony. And you're like, what? The pony's not that great. Just get off of it.

[Ted Danson]

It's so wonderfully humbling. Have you gotten. Do you have to let go of. Oh, I'm so pissed off. I just want to swear.

[Maria Sharapova]

Well, yeah, that's all the time. Yeah, I try to keep it.

[Ted Danson]

I just narrated a book by this gentleman, has written several, but they're really for adults. But they're like children format. The first one was Go the fuck to sleep was the name of the book.

[Maria Sharapova]

Just.

[Ted Danson]

Please just Go the fuck to sleep.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah. And it's all these phases, you know, that come at you, that you're just like. In the beginning, it was the swaddle. And you know me. You're like, what? What the hell is a swaddle? Right? And then like, the nanny suggested you take. You don't just take them out of a swaddle. You have to progressively take them out of a swaddle. I'm like, what does that even mean? She's like, take one arm out and take the other arm out. So a few nights they like, in the swaddle with one arm out. So every time you get used to the certain swaddle, it has to change.

[Ted Danson]

Me too.

[Maria Sharapova]

And then they're in a sleep sack. Just like every week is something new. And now it's.

[Ted Danson]

I resisted solid foods too fast. Too fast? Yeah, too fast. Solid foods already? No, no, no. Too much too fast.

[Maria Sharapova]

Now we get it.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah, now you get. That's fun.

[Maria Sharapova]

It is fun.

[Ted Danson]

You're married. Not married. You're partnered.

[Maria Sharapova]

You're partnered.

[Ted Danson]

Alexander.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yes.

[Ted Danson]

How'd you meet?

[Maria Sharapova]

He was in the art world. We met in the art world. I collected art.

[Ted Danson]

Forgive my apologies to Alexander. What was his art? What is his.

[Maria Sharapova]

He. He had a. He had a company in the art world. It was an online auction site for art.

[Ted Danson]

Gotcha. And so we met Christie's Esque.

[Maria Sharapova]

Or Yes, a version of Christie Esque with a more affordable price point. Right. He'd probably correct me if I was. If he was here, but that's how I saw it.

[Ted Danson]

Is he one of the girls or. No. Not like me, huh? Probably not.

[Maria Sharapova]

No.

[Ted Danson]

Okay.

[Maria Sharapova]

No.

[Ted Danson]

Ah, manly men. Okay.

[Maria Sharapova]

He. Yeah. So we met in. We met through a friend in the art world. Yeah.

[Ted Danson]

Blind date. Come on, more. I want more.

[Maria Sharapova]

Not really. No. Not a blind. No.

[Ted Danson]

Well, kind of.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah, I guess you could say that.

[Ted Danson]

Never thought of it that way. First meeting a group with other people.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yes.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah. Okay, that's not a blind. That's a good one.

[Maria Sharapova]

But there was, like, intention of. Yeah.

[Ted Danson]

And your response was?

[Maria Sharapova]

Well, the next morning, I had to fly for a training block in California. So I was like. My mind was already.

[Ted Danson]

Wait, how long ago was this?

[Maria Sharapova]

Like, eight, nine years ago. Nine years ago.

[Ted Danson]

And his response, if he were here, what did.

[Maria Sharapova]

He was like, you were really cold.

[Ted Danson]

Really cold. Now, why do you think that is? Cause I bet you weren't cold at the dinner. Is that a reputation of your focus in your career?

[Maria Sharapova]

I think I was, yeah. Yeah.

[Ted Danson]

So do you have to deal with that still to some degree?

[Maria Sharapova]

It's an element of. I don't trust a lot of people.

[Ted Danson]

You.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah, because from a young age, a lot of. When you gain success from a young age, a lot of people want things from you.

[Ted Danson]

They want a piece of your fame.

[Maria Sharapova]

They want a piece of, you know, they want to coach you or they want, you know, some of your money or just. They just want to be in that spotlight with you.

[Ted Danson]

The ratings you bring to people's podcasts, shit like that.

[Maria Sharapova]

I did not say that. You did. And so I'm always like. When I meet people at first, I'm always. I don't know if it's just back to, like, kind of how I grew up is like, not expecting the best of people. And it takes me a while to kind of get to know people and warm up to them. But I think that's shifted over my life.

[Ted Danson]

Mary has a little bit of that different, you know, but a little bit of man. I'm just the opposite. I, you know, I. I'm.

[Maria Sharapova]

You're very warm.

[Ted Danson]

I vomit my life out on people. You know, people would rather probably say, oh, please don't. Don't share more.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah, no, you could have held back the Speedo. That's okay.

[Ted Danson]

No, no, not.

[Maria Sharapova]

You wanted it in the sizzle. I get it.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah. Speedos. I'm going to get a lot of merch. Speedo merch.

[Maria Sharapova]

I'm going to get you. I'm going to get you a water bottle with Speedos all over it.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah, I get that.

[Maria Sharapova]

A pretty tough Speedo.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah, Pretty. Pretty tough Speedo.

[Maria Sharapova]

No, I'm gonna get you a Speedo.

[Ted Danson]

Pretty. And Speedo.

[Maria Sharapova]

That says pretty tough.

[Ted Danson]

Pretty tough. Please send a note via my wife explaining why you're sending me a Speedo in the mail. Thank you. Thank you. No, but she's much more. It's not. Prove yourself to me, but she's much more real. I. I want life to Be rosy. It's not always.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah.

[Ted Danson]

But I. I kind of go, well, yeah, my spin on life is pretty great.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah.

[Ted Danson]

You know, and. And I'm not.

[Maria Sharapova]

I mean, my husband is very much that way, too.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Maria Sharapova]

It's like always. And that's something that I've learned from him, is like, you know, you don't need to go into a space or a room or a meeting, you know, thinking that someone always wants, you know, something of you or from you, you know, to kind of open your mind a little bit more.

[Ted Danson]

Or even if they do, it's not necessarily bad.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yes.

[Ted Danson]

No, I mean. I mean, you can see it and go, okay, that's what they want. Or, well, how do we want everything? Everybody in this room? I mean, to some degree, you do. Never mind. I'm spinning. Go. What were you about to say?

[Maria Sharapova]

I don't know. No, I was just. I was gonna say I'm more. I'm quite honest in my. And you kind of know, like, if I don't mesh with someone, like, it's pretty obvious, but because they're assholes.

[Ted Danson]

Maybe.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah. Maybe.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah. Mary. See, I can. I will be happy to hug an asshole. I don't.

[Maria Sharapova]

How does Mary handle it?

[Ted Danson]

Roof.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah. And she'll tell you later, right? We'll finish a dinner, and I'll be like, oh, they were not good. They were not good news. He's like, oh, it's okay. They have a nice lemon tree in their backyard. I'm like, what? That's how my husband. We were looking at properties, and, I mean, this house was a total shithole. And I was like, how is this the same house that we saw online? You know how sometimes you see this advertising, and then you go see something like a hotel? Hotels do a great job of that. And you're like, wait a second. This is not the place that was advertised to me. I just spent 30 minutes, wasted my time. And he is someone that comes out of it knowing that the house was terrible. But he'll say, but they had a lovely lemon garden.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Maria Sharapova]

And he will think of that house as the lemon garden and forces you. And I will think of it as I waste my time. Yeah. And I think of it as I wasted 30 minutes of my day.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah. That's me and Mary. I see the same thing. I see the house sucks, you know,

[Maria Sharapova]

but you will make a better version of it verbally.

[Ted Danson]

Yes. Because I want to be Christlike. That's true. But also, trying to be Christlike feels better in the body than being for me, for Me, my body doesn't do well with anger in it. I think people should have the choice to be angry or nice and see both at the same time. And they go, I'm kind of pissed, but I'll be nice. Or they can be both, or I'm nice and fuck you, Whatever. I didn't grow up with that choice. I had to be nice.

[Maria Sharapova]

I don't think I was going to

[Ted Danson]

say, tell Alexander to call me.

[Maria Sharapova]

I think we'll get along. Yeah.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah, I think so, too. That's pretty, girl. Your parents?

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah.

[Ted Danson]

Very much in your life.

[Maria Sharapova]

Very much.

[Ted Danson]

Very much in their grandson's life.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah, we were. When we came to the us, we were. I mean, I was still an only child, and so we were this little group, this little family without any contacts or friends in this country. So it's. It always felt like it was. It was us. It was just us. And so we've. It's. It's humbling. That's another thing that's humbling. Like, life has taken us in so many different directions because of, you know, success and the sport. But at the end of the day, like, when things aren't going well, I know that mom and dad are, you know, are there first people. You know, I think of first people I want to call very much because they will always have. I mean, my mom pretty much stays with us since I've had my son, and she's a big help as I work and travel, and both Alexander and I still do, but they're just so honest and real.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Maria Sharapova]

Like. And I think, you know, perhaps it's, you know, our. Our beginnings or, like, even if I have a business question and my dad is not familiar with the business or doesn't know all the intricacies of it, he's just so. Just so bluntly realistic. Like, there's no guardrails, and I just see a clear picture. And that doesn't mean it's, like, tough advice. It's just. It's advice as he sees it. Right. And. And that's so refreshing.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah. Do you speak Russian?

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah, I speak Russian to my son.

[Ted Danson]

So did you speak Russian and learn English and your parents kept talking Russian while you were learning English? Is that how you.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yep. I speak.

[Ted Danson]

Did you have. No discernible.

[Maria Sharapova]

I've been here since I was.

[Ted Danson]

Right. Seven.

[Maria Sharapova]

Seven. Yeah.

[Ted Danson]

Right.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah, I still speak. I speak it with my son. And, you know, I love. Like, we have a lot of books that, you know, I had when I was a young girl that I read

[Ted Danson]

to him and Go the fuck to sleep. Do you have that one?

[Maria Sharapova]

I don't have. We need to get it translated.

[Ted Danson]

So do you only. Does Alexander speak.

[Maria Sharapova]

He speaks English to him.

[Ted Danson]

English, yeah. But that's. So we have so many friends who did that with their kids, and they are bilingual effortlessly.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah. And what I like about it is that Russian is a challenging language to learn. And I can see, since he started going to preschool, like, you can see how much easier English it is and how he often chooses English words because they're just. It's quicker to get to the point in English than it is in Russian. But that watching him and seeing him and listening to him, like, go through, like, those little struggles of, like, picking up words in Russian is a real gift that I think now he doesn't yet recognize. Also for those different sounds and vocabulary and. But I spoke about this duality with Zoe Zeldana, who was our first guest on the podcast, and she speaks Spanish to her boys, but her husband's Italian, but she was born in America. And so she says, even though I want them to speak all these languages, what's most important is that I communicate with my sons. Communication is most important. I don't. It doesn't matter what language it is in. I want to make sure that what I'm saying and how I'm saying is clearly understood and felt by them in whatever language it is. So it was interesting finding that the dualities of languages.

[Ted Danson]

It's interesting. Naturally, I'm always bringing it back to myself. The joy of podcast.

[Maria Sharapova]

That's what actors do.

[Ted Danson]

Yes. Why yada? My career kind of. And the intensity of my career took off same time as children. It must be interesting. Not that your life isn't hugely full with business and podcasting and all the other things, but the intensity of your career came before children. I think that must be kind of a nice thing so that you can spend all the time you need without being distracted by having to choose between children or the intensity of a career. Is that so or not?

[Maria Sharapova]

It's a good observation. Yeah.

[Ted Danson]

Thank you.

[Maria Sharapova]

No, it's true, because you're unlike other professions. You know, as a young female athlete, you very quickly realize that you don't have until you're 60 or 65, until you're going to retire. And it's hard to think of that fact. Right, because you want to maximize your potential as quickly as possible, because you're going to be in your early 30s. I mean, if you're a ballerina in your mid-20s, you're already toward the end. In tennis, it's somewhere 30.

[Ted Danson]

Zoe, too, right?

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah.

[Ted Danson]

Right.

[Maria Sharapova]

Or Misty Copeland or.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Maria Sharapova]

So you're always thinking about. You're always. You have to think about what's next, whether that is, you know, when you want to start a family, what you want to do in a second chapter. I mean, how are you going to. If you don't make it, how are you going to make money? Right, right. How are you going to go about another life? Because that's ultimately what it is.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Maria Sharapova]

So I was. I mean, I. I like that observation because I. I allowed myself to pour so much of, you know, this rigor and discipline and hard work, and I missed out on a lot. I missed out on, you know, summer holidays. And I remember going on a date with someone before I met Alexander, and I said, oh, I've never been to Venice, Italy. You know, I've never been to this other island. And he's like, wow, that is such a great position to be in. You're already, you know, close to 30 and you haven't been to these incredible places and you'll get to see them for the first time. And I was like, wow, I think that's the only great thing that you've said. And I was like, I'm absolutely right. I still have. I gave up a lot and I sacrificed a lot, but look at all the things that I can look forward to.

[Ted Danson]

And a lot of people get to experience a lot of things, but their headlights aren't really on in life yet. Mine weren't.

[Maria Sharapova]

So, you know, in the moment, it's always. There are. There are times where I think, oh, I'm, you know, I could be here. I used to always fly out on, like, Christmas Eve to the Australian Open. Right. Because the Australian Open starts early January. And, you know, we'd have a little family celebration. And I know, you know, my friends are in the area and they're all having these extended breaks and into New Year's. And, you know, every year I'm like, oh, there's like a little piece of me that's like, I want to be there on Christmas morning, you know, just in my PJs, opening up gifts. But then I get on that plane and I'm like, wow, what I'm doing is so different. In two weeks time, I'm going to be playing on center court in Melbourne and I have a chance to be a champion of this tournament. Like, so. Even though those sacrifices were so hard, you realize, and when I speak to young athletes, that's what I Say is this time is so important. Give it everything.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah. Hey, to that young athlete you're talking to who has a shoulder injury or some kind of injury, what do you say to that? Because you had several. Several.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah.

[Ted Danson]

What was that like for you? I mean, was it, oh, dear, this could be the end. Or 100%.

[Maria Sharapova]

I mean, I. What did you do? I had a tendon tear in my shoulder right after I won my third Grand Slam. And when I was playing my best tennis several months later, I was in the operating room, and, I mean, no one's really come back from a shoulder surgery like that. And so I didn't really have much to lean on in that moment. You know, I did think that the end could be near. You know, I knew I had to change my serve, which was a disaster. You know, I had to make so many adjustments along the way just to get back. We're not even talking about winning. Just to get back on the court to compete at any type of level. And in that time, one of the things that I tell athletes to do, because injuries are gonna happen, you're gonna have several weeks where you are just in rehab, where you're just doing workouts. Go do an internship, go take a class. Go do a working experience. Use your network.

[Ted Danson]

Don't wallow.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah. Don't sit on the sofa.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Maria Sharapova]

Because you never know where that experience may take you.

[Ted Danson]

That's great advice. How long before you were competitive again, tennis wise?

[Maria Sharapova]

At least a year.

[Ted Danson]

Wow.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah. Long one.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Maria Sharapova]

And sometimes it's longer.

[Ted Danson]

We're moving fast. Now. Here's a, uh. Oh, here's a question that my wife Mary said. Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. And then I read that you love pickleball. She said, oh, no, no, don't bring up pickleball. I thought you loved. Or you play.

[Maria Sharapova]

I don't play and I don't love.

[Ted Danson]

Oh, my God. Well, of course you don't. Of course you don't. I don't know who possibly told me that I won't throw anybody who does research under the bus, but. Oh, of course not. She's in a. Mary's in a movie called the Dink, and it's all about the total disdain of the tennis world for pickleball.

[Maria Sharapova]

Is that out?

[Ted Danson]

No, it's coming out in July. July. You have to see it. It is so. Andy Roddick is in it.

[Maria Sharapova]

Oh, great.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Maria Sharapova]

Oh, great.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah. Who else?

[Maria Sharapova]

Podcast.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah. And it was just. It's just sweet, delightful, and funny, but it's like. So anyway, I'VE been.

[Maria Sharapova]

No, they didn't invite me on that one because.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah. You're just there for the game. No, but there was a lot of disdain being represented, I think people ask me about.

[Maria Sharapova]

I mean, there are so many, like, racket.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Maria Sharapova]

Sports. There's Padel and Padel.

[Ted Danson]

Padel.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yeah.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah. All these things.

[Maria Sharapova]

And I just. My answer is, I'd rather play tennis.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah.

[Maria Sharapova]

And I think everyone gets, like, no one under. Everyone thinks, oh, pickle or petal is so much easier on your body.

[Ted Danson]

And you're like, it is if you're 75.

[Maria Sharapova]

It isn't. That's the problem.

[Ted Danson]

Well, let me put it this way.

[Maria Sharapova]

You go to a game or whatever, and everyone's like, okay, let's play. And then someone throws you.

[Ted Danson]

You're in the hospital right away.

[Maria Sharapova]

Exactly.

[Ted Danson]

I know. It's where there's no warmup. Pickleball players are renowned for ending up in the emergency room. That's true. But I will say that you have to become pretty darn good at tennis before you can really enjoy the game.

[Maria Sharapova]

Yes. Because it's very frustrating.

[Ted Danson]

Yeah. And in pickleball, the good news, bad news is you don't. Anyway, I will drop the whole pickleball. That's so funny. My wife was instinctively right, as usual. But then I thought, I read, somehow that works. Yeah. Funny. Now it's not. Here's how we know that something is gonna be really good for our lives. Mary will suggest that Naga. Oh, no. No, no, no, no. And the more I say no, we both kind of realize, oh, this is gonna be big. This is gonna be good. I'm such a joke. I enjoyed both our pre podcast moment in the makeup and hair room, and I had the best time. I really appreciate this. I would never have had the opportunity to sit and talk to you, and here we are. So thank you.

[Maria Sharapova]

I never thought we'd cover Pilates.

[Ted Danson]

No Pilates. Pickleball.

[Maria Sharapova]

There's so many peasant choices that you've made in the past, but we did it, and we did it gracefully. Thank you.

[Ted Danson]

I didn't wear it gracefully, but that's okay.

[Maria Sharapova]

We spoke about it gracefully.

[Ted Danson]

Yes, we did.

[Maria Sharapova]

Because that's what we do now.

[Ted Danson]

Maria Sharapova. Everyone make sure and listen to her podcast. It's called Pretty Tough with Maria Sharapova. That's it for this week. Special thanks to Team Coco. If you've enjoyed this episode, please send it to a loved one rate and review on Apple Podcasts only if you're in a good mood once again. You can watch our full length video [e-mail] teamco see you next time. Where Everybody Knows. Been listening to Where Everybody Knows yous

[Maria Sharapova]

Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson Sometimes. The show is produced by me, Nick Liao. Our executive producers are Adam Sachs, Jeff Ross and myself. Sarah Fedorovich is our supervising producer.

[Ted Danson]

Engineering and mixing by Joanna Samuel with

[Maria Sharapova]

support from Eduardo Perez, research by Alyssa Grohl, talent booking by Paula Davis and Gina Bautista. Our theme music is by Woody Harrelson, Antony Gend, Mary Steenbergen and John Osborne. Hey, I'm Paul Scheer. I'm June Diane Rayfield.

[Ted Danson]

And I'm Jason Mantzoukas. And we're the host of how did this Get Made? A comedy podcast where we deconstruct, make fun of and celebrate the best worst movies ever made. Have you ever seen a movie that's so bad that it's actually good? That's what we're talking about.

[Maria Sharapova]

From blockbuster franchises and made for TV

[Ted Danson]

romances to bonkers 80s action flicks and obscure sci fi musicals, we cover it all. You can find how did this get Made? Wherever you get your podcasts and don't

[Maria Sharapova]

forget to follow the show so you

[Ted Danson]

never miss an episode.

[Maria Sharapova]

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[Ted Danson]

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[Maria Sharapova]

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[Ted Danson]

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[Maria Sharapova]

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[Ted Danson]

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[Maria Sharapova]

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[Ted Danson]

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