Five-time Paralympian and 3-time Paralympic gold medalist Alana Nichols joins Laughter Permitted to talk about how a snowboarding accident as a teenager led to her being paralyzed from the waist down, the serendipitous moment in college she discovered wheelchair basketball and how adaptive sports gave her a renewed sense purpose. Alana shares her approach to taking on challenges and why she's willing to set ridiculously big dreams. Plus, Julie totally geeks out over Alana getting barreled...

It's "Story Time with Tara!" Legendary Stanford women's basketball coach Tara VanDerveer joins Laughter Permitted to tell stories from her 45-year coaching career. Tara shares how she was once a mascot, what she said to her team after becoming the winningest coach in NCAA basketball history, what it was like coaching the 1996 gold medal-winning Olympic team and how she's drawn inspiration from her players. Plus, three former Stanford stars join the fun and ask Tara for behind-the-scenes...

In the Season 11 premiere, two-time World Cup champion and NWSL champion Ali Krieger joins Laughter Permitted to talk about her life in the early days of retirement from professional soccer, the incredible ride Gotham FC took to win last year's NWSL title and how her teammates rallied around her in spectacular fashion the day news broke of her divorce. Ali shares how she's approaching retirement by trying new ventures, including broadcasting, and she and Julie discuss the future of the USWNT....

Laughter Permitted is back! Julie and Lynn share highlights of Season 10 and hand out some Dopie Awards. Do you have a question for Julie and Lynn? Send them an email at [email protected].

Class with Flash is in session! Mental skills expert Dr. Colleen "Flash" Hacker returns to Laughter Permitted to talk about the importance of wins in life. Dr. Hacker shares how celebrating wins impacts the neuroplasticity of our brains, washes our brains in neurochemicals and creates a habit loop. Dr. Hacker, Julie and Lynn then celebrate wins of their own from 2023, and Dr. Hacker gives tips on how to do this in your life, particularly if you're reticent to do so. Stay tuned for Julie's...

Field hockey superstar Erin Matson joins Laughter Permitted to talk about what it was like winning a national championship in her first year as head coach at her alma mater, the University of North Carolina, and how she had the confidence to pursue the job directly out of college. At 23 years old, Erin became the youngest Division 1 head coach to ever win a national championship, and she shares how she approached coaching players she called teammates the previous season. Find out how Erin...

Paralympic track and field star Scout Bassett joins Laughter Permitted to talk about her journey from a government-run orphanage in Nanjng, China to representing the United States in the Paralympics. Scout shares what it was like being adopted and moving to the United States as a child, why she was initially hesitant to wear a prosthetic leg that would allow her to compete in track and field and how sports ultimately transformed her life. Plus, learn the meaning behind the title of Scout's...

Two-time WNBA MVP and two-time WNBA champion Breanna Stewart returns to Laughter Permitted and begins the episode by telling one of the best stories in the history of the podcast about the birth of her second child. (It's up there with the Mia Hamm Split Pants Story.) Stewie goes on to share what her first season with the New York Liberty was like, how she continues to evolve her game and what she wants to see for the future of women's sports. Plus, find out Stewie's thoughts on trash...

Three-time Olympic gold medalist bobsledder Kaillie Humphries joins Laughter Permitted to talk about how she got into the sport of bobsleigh and the experience of leaving her home country of Canada to compete for the United States at the 2022 Winter Olympics. Kaillie also candidly shares the challenges she's faced with endometriosis and fertility. In Most Pressing Questions, learn about Kaillie's tattoos and the love she has for her dog. Questions Permitted features emails from listeners...

WNBA Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston joins Laughter Permitted to talk about her stellar first season with the Indiana Fever, how she carved out a path of her own at the University of South Carolina and the intention behind her hair. Aliyah also shares why she's so comfortable being herself and Aliyah and Lynn bond over being tall. In Questions Permitted, Julie delves deep into whether fake plants in the house are a “no no.” Have a comment or question for Julie and Lynn? Email them at...

Ultramarathon trailblazer Courtney Dauwalter joins Laughter Permitted to talk about how she got into running ultras, what went into winning three 100-mile races in the span of 10 weeks and how she reframed the "pain cave" in her mind. Courtney also shares how her training schedule is completely dependent on what her body and brain are telling her. Plus, we learn what it actually feels like crossing the finish line of a 100-mile race, and perhaps most importantly, what Courtney's donut of...

In a live recording of Laughter Permitted in New York City, tennis legend and equal rights icon Billie Jean King returns to the podcast to talk about her life, how she's been fighting for equal pay since the early 1970s and what her hopes are for the future of women's sports. Julie and Billie Jean share the story of how they met and how BJK helped Julie and the USWNT in their equitable support battle with U.S. Soccer. Plus, Billie Jean gives a call to action to women everywhere and implores...

Two-time NCAA women’s cross country coach of the year Laurie Henes joins Laughter Permitted to share how fun and joy are key elements to the success of her NC State cross country and track & field programs. Laurie talks about how she encourages a team atmosphere in the individual sport of running, how she helps her runners find a way to succeed without spending too much time in the "pain cave" and how she creates an environment where her athletes feel empowered. In the close of the...

In the Season 10 premiere, Olympic bronze medalist and U.S. women’s national team player Lynn Williams joins Laughter Permitted to talk about her experience at the 2023 World Cup, what she hopes for the USWNT going into the Olympics and what qualities she’d like in a new head coach. Plus, Lynn discusses the resiliency she has had throughout her career and how setbacks and injuries have helped shape her perspective on the role soccer plays in her life. Other topics discussed include: Lynn's...

Laughter Permitted is back! Julie and Lynn share highlights of Season 9 and hand out some Dopie Awards. Have an idea for a guest for Season 10 or a question to ask Julie and Lynn? Send them an email at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All-time U.S. women’s national team greats Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach join Laughter Permitted once again to discuss the World Cup, give their overall thoughts on the USWNT’s run in the tournament and consider what the future holds for the team. Mia, Abby and Julie talk about how the USWNT has the opportunity to turn its current heartbreak into future success at the upcoming Olympics and beyond. You will want to run through a wall after hearing what Abby has to say on the topic. Have an idea...

Julie continues to process the USWNT's loss in the World Cup, discusses the team's immediate future and previews the semifinals. Plus, Julie answers several questions about the World Cup from the Dope Village. Be sure to find out Lynn's latest t-shirt -- it was a gift from a friend! Send an email to Julie and Lynn at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After many deep sighs and guttural noises, Julie and two-time World Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brandi Chastain give a full rundown of the U.S. women's national team's early exit from the Women's World Cup at the hands of Sweden and a penalty shootout. The former teammates discuss the nuanced ins and outs of what happened at this World Cup for the U.S. and talk over head coach Vlatko Andonovski's inability to produce results in big tournaments. Plus, Julie and Brandi share...

Just moments after the U.S. women’s national team's draw against Portugal to advance in the Women’s World Cup, Julie and two-time World Cup champion and USWNT legend Kristine Lilly give their raw and real thoughts on what’s amiss on the field and what needs to happen in the upcoming game. Julie would like the USWNT’s “kick the shit out of you muscle” to kick in, Kristine wants to see improved chemistry and both want the team to play with more freedom to allow the players' creativity to shine....

Direct from a cozy corner of a suite at the Wellington Regional Stadium in New Zealand, Julie and two-time World Cup champion and U.S. women's national team legend Carla Overbeck give their immediate reactions to the USWNT’s 1-1 tie with Netherlands. While Julie would like to see more subs and less clunky play, Carla remains relentlessly optimistic that the U.S. team will be just fine in its upcoming game against Portugal. The Mia Hamm bobblehead once again makes a special appearance and Lynn...

Laughter Permitted kicks off its 2023 Women's World Cup episodes with Julie breaking down the U.S. women's national team's 3-0 win over Vietnam while also looking ahead to the USWNT's next match against the Netherlands. In Questions Permitted, Lynn asks Julie what Game 1 of a World Cup is like (messy is expected), her thoughts on the USWNT's pregame custom suits (Julie once got a windbreaker) and what the chatter has been like on The 99ers text thread (lots of ALL CAPS and exclamation...

In the Season 9 finale, Astronaut Nicole Mann joins Laughter Permitted to talk all about her experience living and working aboard the International Space Station. Nicole shares everything from what it was like reentering the Earth’s atmosphere to how she slept in space to the importance of being a good teammate. Plus, she describes the vantage point she had of Earth while in space and what it was like coming home with her newfound perspective of the planet. Nicole also tells a story in Most...

Julie and Lynn are joined by Chief Marketing and PR officer of Ally Financial, Andrea Brimmer, to discuss how Ally is at the forefront of supporting and investing in women's sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist Becky Sauerbrunn joins Laughter Permitted to share what being a team player means to her (there's a great story involving the flute), the difference between a floor raiser and ceiling raiser and the leadership advice she received from Carla Overbeck. Becky also talks about the current state of the Portland Thorns in the wake of the Sally Yates report and what it will take for the USWNT to be successful in the upcoming World Cup. In the...

Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Carolyn Peck shares hilarious stories about her mom at her basketball games, her thoughts on what coaches are wearing on the sidelines these days (Kim Mulkey might come up) and why she turned down Pat Summitt to attend Vanderbilt University. Carolyn also discusses being the first Black coach to win an NCAA women's basketball championship with Purdue in 1999 and tells the amazing backstory to the piece of net she gave to Dawn Staley. Learn more about...