On this episode of Confessions of an Elite Athlete, Midge Purce sits down with her own surgeon, Dr. Riley Williams—Chief of Sports Medicine at HSS and Medical Director for the Brooklyn Nets, New York Liberty, and New York Red Bulls.

Known across professional sports as "Mr. ACL," Dr. Williams performs nearly 600 surgeries a year, among which are world-class athletes. Together, they discuss why ACL tears are surging among female athletes, and what is the riskiest thing an athlete can do after an ACL surgery. They also break down the truth behind playing on turf versus grass, the risks of early youth sports specialization, and a definitive tier ranking of the absolute worst lower-limb injuries. They also discuss the question on everyone’s mind: is it possible to prevent these injuries?  

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Two days after Ali Truwit graduated from Yale University, she was attacked by a shark, fought it off and won. She lost her foot and part of her leg, yet still, somehow, swam 75 yards back to her boat.

Just sixteen months later she was standing on a Paralympic podium in Paris with two silver medals.

In this episode, Midge Purce sits down with Ali to discuss her path from trauma, to radical self-acceptance, to the Paralympic podium. They dive deep into how our minds can be the biggest barrier to accomplishment, overcoming negative brain loops with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and why we are all far stronger than we think. Ali and Midge also talk about how they met at Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Runway Show in Miami, overcoming body dissatisfaction, and why Ali is embracing a multi-hyphenate identify.

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What if the moments when everything clicks—when time disappears, focus sharpens, and your best work seems to happen effortlessly—are actually governed by a set of biological rules?

Steven Kotler has spent decades studying flow, the altered state of consciousness shared by elite athletes, entrepreneurs, artists, military operators, and high performers across every field. According to Steven, flow isn't a rare gift reserved for extraordinary people. It's a trainable skill built into human biology.

In this episode of Confessions of an Elite Athlete, Steven breaks down the neuroscience behind flow, why it dramatically improves performance, and how everyday habits—from constant notifications to cluttered workspaces—can quietly destroy your ability to access it.

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We are LIVE from Fanatics Fest for a special episode of Confessions of an Elite Athlete. Midge Purce sits down with US Soccer legends Ali Krieger (Two-Time World Cup Champion, NWSL Champion & ESPN Pundit) and Charlie Davies (Former USMNT Player & CBS Sports Pundit) to talk about the best and most controversial moments of World Cup 2026.

Ali and Charlie give their expert takes on the harsh realities of VAR, which red cards they thought were fair, and what goes through a player's head when they get a red card.

All three weigh in on Folarin Balogun’s Red Card and President Trump’s intervention, Cape Verde’s Lopez Cabral’s stunning goal and precedent-setting celebration, the unmatched greatness of Lionel Messi, and Erling Haaland’s off-field personality and supernatural presence on the field.

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When Ida Zetterström was a kid growing up around the racetrack in Sweden, she believed something simple: work harder than everyone else, and you'll make it. So that's exactly what she did.
She became an electrician to fund her racing career. She poured her own money into the sport. She won championships. She became the first woman ever to win her class on a drag bike. She earned a reputation as one of the fastest and most talented drivers in the world. And then she learned a difficult truth: Success isn't always enough.
In this episode of Confessions of an Elite Athlete, Ida shares what it's really like to compete in one of the most extreme sports on Earth—driving 12,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragsters that accelerate faster than fighter jets and rocket ships.

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At 18 years old, Sue Bird was a top prospect at UConn — until she tore her ACL and thought her basketball career might be over before it ever really began.

Instead, the setback became the foundation for one of the greatest careers in sports history: 4 WNBA championships, 5 Olympic gold medals, and a professional career that lasted nearly two decades.
In this conversation, Sue opens up about the injuries that shaped her, the pressure of aging in professional sports, and why balance—not obsession—became her greatest competitive advantage.

Sue also shares her approach to confidence, why perfectionism can quietly hold athletes back, and the simple phrase she used to break out of slumps when overthinking took over.

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Demario Davis just signed a 2-year contract at age 37, closing in on a record-setting career for a linebacker in the NFL. This week on Confessions of an Elite Athlete, Midge sits down with Demario to talk about how his life taught him the keys to being excellent long after the world has decided you should be declining.

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Todd Gurley tells how he went from quitting football in high school to becoming the highest paid running back of all-time in 2018. This week on Confessions of an Elite Athlete, Midge sits down with Todd to talk about growing up with hoop dreams, getting drafted 10th overall with a torn ACL, and his legendary Gurleywood Halloween Parties.

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Randy Foye is proof that the most decorated players aren't always on the highlight reel. This week on Confessions of an Elite Athlete Live, Midge sits down with the man who showed up every single day, earned every single minute, and never once forgot where he came from. Sometimes the greatest story in the locker room is the quietest one.

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From the Vox Media Podcast Network.

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Sam Rapoport joins the show to discuss her history-making tenure at the NFL, and how football saved her life as a young queer person growing up in Ottawa.

Get tickets to COA Live on 5/7: confessionspodlive.com

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