Laughter Permitted with Julie Foudy

Paralympic silver medalist Sarah Adam joins Laughter Permitted to talk about her experience of competing in wheelchair rugby at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, what it was like being the first woman on the U.S. wheelchair rugby team and how the sport came into her life. Sarah also shares how her identity as an athlete helped her cope with a multiple sclerosis diagnosis at the age of 25, how she embraced adaptive sports and how she views her role as a professor of occupational therapy. Plus, the Lynn Game has a unique tiebreak, and Sarah tells the hilarious story of her close call with smack talking. In the close, a listener suggests Julie try a new flavor of ice cream.

Email Julie and Lynn at [email protected]. They welcome questions, deep thoughts and jokes.

Producer’s Note: The Lynn Game is now three questions. The stakes have been raised!

Laughter Permitted is back! Julie and Lynn share highlights of Season 11 and hand out some Dopie Awards.

Do you have question you'd like to get answered during Questions Permitted or a general comment to share with the hosts? Email Julie and Lynn at [email protected]. They also take jokes.

In the final installment of the Laughter Permitted Olympics series, Julie blasts a Zoom link on the 99ers text thread after the U.S. wins gold at the Paris Games and Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, Cindy Parlow Cone, Brandi Chastain, Michelle Akers, Joy Fawcett, Sara Whalen Hess, Saskia Weber, Shannon MacMillan and Tish Venturni Hoch join the podcast to celebrate the victory together. Mia shares what it was like being at the game, Cindy calls in from a bus headed to the team’s party and Akers wants to suit up for Emma Hayes. Plus, Brandi joins the Zoom party a little late and then Julie's off to the postgame party to meet up with Mia and Cindy and hopefully karaoke.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Brandi Chastain and Julie dive into breaking down the USWNT’s 1-0 win over Germany, preview the gold medal game against Brazil and give their predictions for the final. Plus, Brandi has a nickname idea for the U.S.’s front three and Lynn gives her hot takes. Questions Permitted and Olympics Buzz are all about the fun, including ping pong, trampoline, Brandi's backyard Olympics, chocolate muffins in the Olympic Village and how Brandi and Julie once fought crime together.

After the USWNT's hard-fought 1-0 win over Japan, two-time Olympic gold medalist Briana Scurry and Julie talk about how a tough game is part of the process in a tournament like the Olympics, how winning has a way of making everyone forget about the difficult moments and Bri shares what she would say to the USWNT before its upcoming semifinal game. In Olympics Buzz, Julie tells the story of how she made it to Eiffel Tower Stadium to cheer on the U.S. beach volleyball team of Kristen Nuss and Taryn Kloth, and Lynn has stats on how the U.S. women are dominating at the Paris Games.

Do you have an Olympics questions? Email it to Julie and Lynn at [email protected].

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Shannon Boxx and Julie discuss what they like about the USWNT's start at the Olympics and give a full breakdown of the quarterfinals. As debate wages over a nickname for the frontline of Mallory Swanson, Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman, Lynn weighs in with what she considers to be the answer. Plus, the Canadian spying scandal continues to unfold. In Olympics Buzz, talk turns to the U.S. rugby team winning bronze, U.S. gymnastics taking gold and how U.S. basketball looks strong.

Have an Olympics questions? Send it to Julie and Lynn at [email protected]

In a Dope Village/ Pod Squad crossover episode, two-time Olympic gold medalist Abby Wambach and The Soccer expert Glennon Doyle join Laughter Permitted to discuss what they're loving about the USWNT's 4-1 win over Germany in the Olympics. Abby and Julie like the tactics and tenacity while Glennon praises the steadiness of new head coach Emma Hayes, who she'd follow out of a burning building. In Olympics Buzz, talk turns to Celine Dion, the U.S. beach volleyball team of Kristen Nuss and Taryn Kloth and how Simone Biles is everything.

With the Paris Games officially underway, three-time Olympic gold medalist Heather O'Reilly - a.k.a. HAO! - joins Laughter Permitted to talk all things Olympics, including winning gold with Julie at the 2004 Athens Games. Heather and Julie have a lively discussion about Team Canada's use of a drone to spy on opponents - yikes! - and then they dive into analysis of the USWNT's 3-0 win over Zambia. Plus, find out what Heather is manifesting these Olympics.

Producer's Note: This episode was recorded before news broke of Canada women's national soccer team head coach Bev Priestman being removed from the Canadian Olympic team.

With the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics about to get underway, Julie - live from France! - and Lynn talk about the storylines of the Games, including Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky, U.S. women’s basketball and U.S. women's soccer. Plus, they share the game plan for their Laughter Permitted "Olympics-style" episodes.

Have an Olympics-themed question? Email Julie and Lynn at [email protected].

Tonight we’re gonna party like it’s 1999! It’s officially 25 years since the U.S. women’s national team won the 1999 World Cup in front of a sold-out Rose Bowl and TV audience of 40 million people. That team, affectionately known as The 99ers, has a legacy that’s endured and two of its stars, Kristine Lilly and Tisha Venturini, join Laughter Permitted to talk all about how the team balanced competitiveness with having fun. Kristine, Tisha and Julie share stories of intense practices (and how teammates still hung out afterwards), how laughing became a way to alleviate the pressure of the World Cup (insert Julie here) and how the bench (led by Tisha) was key in creating team chemistry. Listen in to learn even more about the secret sauce of The 99ers.

Check out:

Episode 100: The 99ers

Episode 132: Brandi Chastain and Tiffany Sahaydak