Laughter Permitted with Julie Foudy

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 Pressing Questions that rivals the Mia Hamm Split Pants story (you've been warned...). In Questions Permitted, Julie and Lynn offer advice to an aspiring sports journalist.Send Julie and Lynn an email at laughterpermitted@gmail.com!

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.

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 close of the show, Julie offers ideas on how to help high schoolers become leaders (she could have gone on for days).Email Julie and Lynn your thoughts, questions and favorite Becky Sauerbrunn nicknames at laughterpermitted@gmail.com.

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.

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes OBE joins Laughter Permitted to discuss the joy she experienced covering the Euros for ESPN (a fire pit is involved!), her winding path to Chelsea (a clairvoyant is involved!) and how she finds time to recharge amidst the overstimulating profession of coaching (a Beyonce concert is on the calendar!). Plus, Emma does a deep dive into her emphasis on understanding the menstrual cycles of her players to improve their performance and keep them healthy (this is beyond fascinating!). In the close of the show, a listener inspires Julie to get after it.Email Julie and Lynn at laughterpermitted@gmail.com!

In honor of Laughter Permitted's 103rd episode, 103-year-old and Loyola University men's basketball team chaplain Sister Jean joins Laughter Permitted to share the secret to her longevity, the excitement she experienced during the Ramblers run to the Final Four in 2018 and why she finally decided to write her book, "Wake Up with Purpose: What I’ve Learned in My First 100 Years.” Sister Jean also discusses her love of working with college students and why she believes that talking with people ultimately shows us how much we have in common. Stay tuned for a blessing Sister Jean offers our Dope Village.

Legendary sports journalist and author Sally Jenkins joins Laughter Permitted to discuss how she crafts her columns, the importance of exploring "what's bugging you" and the advice she gives to up-and-coming journalists. Sally also shares the impact Billie Jean King and Pat Summitt have had on her life and delves into stories from her latest book, "What Sports Teach Us about Work and Life," out June 6. In the close of the show, find out what happened when Julie played a round of golf with Mia Hamm and friends.Send your questions to Julie and Lynn at laughterpermitted@gmail.com!

Soccer legend and Olympic gold medalist Christine Sinclair joins Laughter Permitted to discuss her historic career, and how she and her fellow Canadian national team members are in a bitter fight with Canadian Soccer for support. Julie shares the PTSD and empathy she feels as she watches Christine and her teammates go through their battle. Christine also explains why she chose to get way out of her comfort zone to write her book "Playing the Long Game," and in "high, low, cheer" we learn the influence Christine's parents had on her athletic career. Stick around for the close of the show where Julie answers a question about The 99ers because there's no such thing as too much 99ers.Send Julie and Lynn a question at laughterpermitted@gmail.com.

In the 100th episode of Laughter Permitted, members of the 1999 World Cup champion team come together to swap stories from their playing days, including pranks, the impact head coach Tony DiCicco had on them and how they stay in touch to this day thanks to a text chain. Also, a "Know Your 99ers with The 99ers" Lynn Game goes a bit off the rails and The 99ers answer questions submitted by fans. Most importantly, it’s the first time in a long time that 18 of these 99ers got to laugh, toast and roast each other over a happy hour. Guaranteed it will not be the last, but maybe just the last RECORDED one.Producer's Notes: If this episode sounds like a Zoom call with 19 people on it, that's because it is, but we promise laughs! Also, Saskia Webber was not in the Lynn Game because she had to duck out early to catch a flight.Email Julie and Lynn at laughterpermitted@gmail.com.

NWSL Rookie of the Year and Defender of the Year Naomi Girma joins Laughter Permitted to share her reaction to high praise from Megan Rapinoe, what she has learned from veterans on the USWNT and how she was introduced to the game of soccer by her dad and the Ethiopian community in the Bay Area, where she grew up. Plus Naomi and Julie swap stories about their moms and Naomi discusses her Stanford degree in Symbolic Systems. Stayed tuned for a HUGE announcement in the close of the show about plans for Laughter Permitted's 100th episode. Spoiler alert: 99ers might be involved...and you can ask them anything! Listen in to find out how.Send us an email at: laughterpermitted@gmail.com