My New Favorite Olympian and My New Favorite Paralympian

56 Episodes

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Sarah Adam: “Murderball” is for women, too

2024-08-2123:14

Sarah Adam, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, is attempting to become the first woman to ever represent Team USA at a Paralympics in wheelchair rugby, a sport so violent it is nicknamed “murderball.” Watch the video version of this episode HERE.Hear from:Sarah AdamDr. Kerri Morgan (Sarah’s mentor and Paralympic wheelchair track medalist)

Nick Mayhugh: Losing my best friends, my grandparents

2024-08-1426:06

Paralympic sprinter Nick Mayhugh shares the lessons he learned from his grandfather Bill Mayhugh, a popular radio host, and his grandmother Shirley Culpeper Mayhugh, a performer who was signed by the same agency that represented Marilyn Monroe. Watch the video version of this episode HERE.Hear from:Nick MayhughScott Mayhugh (Nick’s father)

Jennifer Lozano: What life in a border town is really like

2024-07-1725:23

Jennifer Lozano, nicknamed “the Troublemaker,” started boxing after experiencing bullying, racism and cartel violence splitting her time between Mexico and the border town of Laredo, Texas. Watch the video version of this episode HERE.Hear from:Jennifer LozanoYadhira Lozano (Jennifer’s mother)

Jesse Grupper: Helping climbers with disabilities reach new heights

2024-07-1022:24

Jesse Grupper, a climber who studied engineering at Tufts and Harvard, designs devices to help children with disabilities participate in climbing. Watch the video version of this episode HERE.Hear from:Jesse GrupperJonathan Grupper (Jesse’s father)Randi Goldberg (NJ Rock Gym)Andrew Chow (Former Peak Potential coach)

Kelly Cheng: Beach volleyball’s mental health champion

2024-06-2620:42

Kelly Cheng, who has been open about her mental health challenges, started a mentorship program to help the next generation of beach volleyball players prioritize their mental health. Watch the video version of this episode HERE.Hear from:Kelly ChengJordan Cheng (Kelly’s husband and coach)Grace Hong (USC beach volleyball and Kelly’s mentee)

Jordan Chiles: Brown girls can excel at gymnastics

2024-06-1823:19

Olympic silver medalist Jordan Chiles explains how the landscape has changed for women of color since she first started doing gymnastics — and what she’s doing to help with Brown Girls Do Gymnastics. Watch the video version of this episode HERE.Hear from:Jordan ChilesMargzetta Frazier (UCLA Gymnastics)Coach Derrin Moore (Founder, Brown Girls Do Gymnastics)

Lydia Jacoby: My battle with post-Olympic depression

2024-06-1222:00

Lydia Jacoby, who unexpectedly became an Olympic champion as a 17-year-old swimmer from Alaska, opens up about her battle with post-Olympic depression. Watch the video version of this episode HERE.Hear from:Lydia JacobyMissy Franklin (6-time Olympic medalist)Carol Capitani (Texas women’s swimming and diving head coach)Dr. Michael Gervais (Psychologist and founder of Finding Mastery)

Who should you root for at the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics?

2024-05-2901:20

My New Favorite Olympian will introduce you to some of Team USA's most inspiring athletes and the causes they champion. New episodes hosted by 12-time Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin and NBC's Zena Keita will drop June 12. And don't miss My New Favorite Paralympian beginning August 14! Watch the video version of the trailer HERE.

Meghan Klingenberg: Now is the time to invest in female athletes

2023-08-0437:36

As a bonus treat for our listeners, we're flipping the tables and having My New Favorite Futbolista host (and World Cup champion) Meghan Klingenberg answer questions from Andy Slavitt, the host of In the Bubble. Klingenberg discusses leading the charge along with other members of the USWNT to secure equal pay for all women competing in international sporting events, plus shares her thoughts on this year's World Cup, explains why it makes sense to invest in women’s sports and reveals how you can support women’s soccer year-round.

Lauren Holiday on Team USA’s World Cup mindset

2023-07-3106:48

How will Team USA handle the adversity they are facing at the Women’s World Cup? Olympic and World Cup champion Lauren Holiday discusses with soccer content creator Megan Reyes in this bonus episode of My New Favorite Futbolista recorded in front of a live audience at a Women’s World Cup watch party presented by our partners On Her Turf, TOGETHXR, Telemundo and Peacock.Watch the episode HERE.

How Team USA phenom Sophia Smith strengthens her mental health

2023-07-1922:01

Sophia Smith, the reigning NWSL MVP, has become an advocate for student-athlete mental health after losing her best friend and Stanford teammate Katie Meyer to suicide. Hear from:Sophia SmithMichael Wilson (Sophia’s boyfriend and Arizona Cardinals WR)Dr. Robin Scholefield (Associate Director of Clinical and Sport Psychology Services, USC)Victoria Garrick (Mental health advocate and host of Real Pod) Episode reporter:Abbey Fernández (NBC and Telemundo Bay Area) Read more about Sophia's story on NBC Bay Area, On Her Turf, TODAY and The Equalizer. Watch the episode HERE.

How teenage phenom Linda Caicedo overcame ovarian cancer

2023-07-1923:57

18-year-old Colombian forward Linda Caicedo, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when she was just 15, is now one of the sport’s most electric goal scorers. Hear from:Linda CaicedoHerlinda Alegría (Linda’s mother)Diego Vasquez (Linda’s former coach)Rafael Murillo (Linda’s former coach and lifelong mentor -president of Club Real Juanchito) Episode reporter:Jesús Quiñonez (NBC and Telemundo Boston)Watch the episode HERE.

Naomi Girma: Team USA’s first-gen trailblazer

2023-07-1221:42

Naomi Girma, the first player of Ethiopian descent on the U.S. Women’s National Team, hopes to make it easier for first-generation Americans to succeed. Hear from:Naomi GirmaSeble Demissie (Naomi’s mother)Girma Aweke (Naomi’s father) Episode reporter:Darnay Tripp (NBC San Diego)Rigo Villalobos (Telemundo San Diego)Read more about Naomi's story on NBC Bay Area, The Equalizer and On Her Turf.Watch the episode HERE.

Panama’s Marta Cox picks up the pieces after losing her mother

2023-07-1218:49

Panamanian midfielder Marta Cox, who recently lost her mother unexpectedly, finds ways to keep her mother’s memory alive on the pitch. Hear from:Marta CoxRaiza Gutiérrez (Marta’s longtime coach) Episode reporter:Roxanne Vargas (NBC and Telemundo Miami)Watch the episode HERE.

Team USA’s Sofia Huerta and Ashley Sanchez: Am I Mexican enough?

2023-06-2820:32

Sofia Huerta and Ashley Sanchez, who are poised to be the only two Mexican Americans to represent the U.S. at the World Cup, are grappling with their hybrid identities. Hear from:Sofia HuertaAshley SanchezKarina Rodríguez (Mexican national team and Ashley’s collegiate teammate)Ralph Sanchez (Ashley’s father) Episode reporter:Annabelle Sedano (NBC and Telemundo Los Angeles)Watch the episode HERE.

Call me Estefanía Banini, not the “female Messi”

2023-06-2831:42

Argentina’s Estefanía Banini, who is nicknamed the “female Messi,” is using her platform to advocate for equality for female soccer players in Latin America. Hear from:Estefanía BaniniAndrés Cantor (Telemundo Deportes)Eduardo Pérez (Estefanía’s former coach) Episode reporter:Isabella Echeverri (Colombian national team) Watch the episode HERE.

Becky Sauerbrunn: Team USA's "moral compass"

2023-06-2123:15

World Cup champion Becky Sauerbrunn, who due to injury will not feature in this year’s event, has an important story to tell. Sauerbrunn describes herself as an “introvert,” but she proudly steps out of her comfort zone to advocate for causes she finds important, from trans inclusion to gender equity.Hear from:Becky SauerbrunnChris Mosier (Trailblazing transgender athlete)Zola Short (Becky’s partner)Hudson Taylor (Athlete Ally founder) Episode reporter:Leila Rahimi (NBC Chicago)Watch the episode HERE.

Soccer’s silent superstar Christine Sinclair opens up

2023-06-2121:59

Canada’s Christine Sinclair, soccer’s all-time international goal scoring leader, has always let her stellar play do the talking for her...until now. Sinclair opens up about gender equity, multiple sclerosis and more. Hear from:Christine SinclairDiana Matheson (Two-time Olympic medalist, Canada)Steph Yang (The Athletic) Episode reporter:Tara Slone (NBC Sports Bay Area)Watch the episode HERE.

Crystal Dunn: Soccer's super mom

2023-06-1421:23

Team USA’s Crystal Dunn, who returned to competitive soccer less than four months after giving birth to her son Marcel Jean, shares how she juggles her career and motherhood.Hear from:Crystal DunnPierre Soubrier (Crystal’s husband)Dr. Stacy T. Sims (Exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist)Episode reporter:Ashley Chaparro (NBC New York and Telemundo 47)Read more about Crystal's story on NBC New York, On Her Turf and The Equalizer. Watch the episode HERE.

Rocky Rodriguez’s complicated American Dream

2023-06-1425:02

Costa Rica’s Raquel “Rocky” Rodríguez, the 2016 NWSL Rookie of the Year, faced unexpected obstacles when she decided to immigrate to the U.S.Hear from:Rocky RodríguezGrettel Cedeño (Rocky’s mother)Sivianni Rodriguez (Rocky’s father)Episode reporter:Valeria Aponte Feliciano (NBC and Telemundo Philadelphia)Read more about Rocky's story on NBC Philadelphia, The Equalizer and On Her Turf. Watch the episode HERE.

#box-pro-ellipsis-173530869136610{-webkit-line-clamp:2;}My New Favorite Olympian and My New Favorite Paralympian

My New Favorite Olympian and My New Favorite Paralympian