Life Outside Poker is a podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.

In the 34th episode, Connor talks with WSOP free-to-play app ambassador Sam Abernathy about growing up in Georgia, studying design, the similarities between gymnastics and poker, finishing third in the 2016 Aussie Millions Main Event, and a notorious slow roll that took place in that event.

Abernathy also talks about first getting into poker through the WSOP Play app before becoming an ambassador years later, motherhood and being married to fellow poker player Lautaro Guerra, who finished 15th in this year's WSOP Main Event for $450,000.

This interview was filmed at the 2025 WSOP at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.

The Life Outside Poker podcast is available on major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud and iHeartRadio. You can also watch the interview with Samantha Abernathy by heading to the PokerNews YouTube channel.

Be sure to follow Sam Abernathy and Connor Richards on X.

Learn More About Life Outside Poker!

Timestamps TIME TOPIC 0:00 Intro 0:34 Growing up in Georgia 1:12 Studying design 2:35 Finding poker through WSOP app 3:10 Gymnastics 4:56 Hollywood dream of poker 8:27 Transition from cash games to tournaments 9:44 Deep run in the 2016 Aussie Millions Main Event 11:15 Getting slow-rolled 14:04 Stepping back from poker 14:48 Being a mother 16:09 Being married to PLO crusher Lautaro Guerra 18:20 WSOP Main Event 21:08 Main Event advice 21:58 WSOP Play 24:29 Book recommendation 24:51 Advice for younger self 25:14 Favorite life lesson from poker