EP204 - Womens Soccer Pro on Failing Forward and Redefining What It Means to Win in Life and Sport

In this episode of The Tyler Dickerhoof Show, host Tyler Dickerhoof chats down with Joanna Lohman—former U.S. Women’s National Team soccer player, author, speaker, and faculty member of Limitless Minds—for an honest and deeply moving conversation about identity, failure, and the quiet power of showing up as your authentic self.

Joanna shares her raw journey from chasing greatness as the next Mia Hamm to redefining success on her own terms—after getting cut from teams, losing every championship she played in, and earning just $15,000 a year as a pro athlete. Together, they unpack what it means to lead from the shadows, the overlooked value of role players in teams and organizations, and why impact doesn’t require the spotlight. Joanna opens up about navigating life as a queer athlete, building resilience through adversity, and the transformative moment that made her realize she didn’t need to be the greatest to be great.

They also dive into what real authenticity looks like in leadership, how to meet the demands of the moment without losing yourself, and why letting go of comparison might just be the most liberating decision you’ll ever make. If you’ve ever felt like you were on the outside looking in—or like your contributions didn’t count—this episode will remind you just how powerful your role really is.

Follow Joanna:

https://joannalohman.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannalohman/

https://www.instagram.com/joannalohman15/

https://www.facebook.com/joanna.lohman

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What We Discussed:

00:00 Introduction

01:16 “Impact” as the word of the year

10:26 Too many leaders make it about themselves

13:20 Why some players feel completely worthless

16:25 You don’t have to be the star to be the leader

19:49 Authenticity starts with defiance

23:44 Toxic Authenticity vs. Healthy Authenticity

27:56 Gen Z isn’t the problem

32:57 The small moments that shape a confident kid

36:42 Own how you feel beautiful

42:16 Pushing against societal expectations

50:37 Trans Rights, Women’s Sports & the Search for Fairness

1:01:40 Does inclusion come at the cost of opportunity?

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