The GOAT: Serena Williams

Gender, identity, mental health, LGBTQ+ civil rights—these don’t have to be confusing, intimidating conversations. Everyone from your grandma to your best friend has an opinion on these issues, and Schuyler Bailar, the celebrated activist, author, and trailblazing transgender athlete (the first to compete in NCAA Division 1) is here for it. Each week, Dear Schuyler invites cultural movers to join him in provocative and personal conversations about how gender issues impact all of us. They include thought leaders like actress-activist Dylan Mulvaney, NCAA champion swimmer Lia Thomas, NFL Pro Bowler and Super Bowl Champion Brendon Ayanbadejo, Olympian Megan Rapino, and many others. Every episode focuses on a topical, listener-sourced question. You can submit your own question at DearSchuyler.com.

Sometimes the conversation is fun, other times it may get uncomfortable, but in the end, Schuyler and his guests give us the perspective and vocabulary to better understand each other in today’s evolving world. Would you like to better understand gender and identity? Want to explore what being an ally can really mean? However you define yourself — you’re in the right place. Dear Schuyler humanizes these conversations.

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In the season finale, we go behind the scenes of the making of The GOAT: Serena podcast. Hosts Zina Garrison and Chanda Rubin are joined by the show’s writer, veteran tennis journalist Pete Bodo, to discuss how the podcast came together, their perspectives on Serena Williams, the secret question they asked every guest, and much more. Special guests include Monica Seles, Andy Roddick, Rennae Stubbs, Isha Price, Pam Shriver, Rick Macci, Mary Jo Fernandez, and Mackie Shilstone.

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This episode explores Serena Williams, the wife, mother and GOAT. Hosts Chanda Rubin and Zina Garrison discuss how Serena has juggled all these things and still manages to operate at the highest level in professional tennis. They are also joined by Serena’s longtime agent, Jill Smoller, who provides rare, candid insight into Serena’s mindset and the determination and drive that has allowed her to still be the undisputed GOAT at the age of 40.

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In this special episode, hosts Chanda Rubin and Zina Garrison break from the typical format and share their thoughts on the two most magical words in tennis - Grand Slams. They discuss Serena Williams’ most memorable Grand Slam wins, detail what it’s like to face her on the court, and the highs and lows of some of Serena’s biggest matches, including her first major win at the 1999 US Open, the 2017 Australian Open, won while 8 weeks pregnant, and her crushing loss to Roberta Vinci at the 2015 US Open. Mary Carillo and Patrick Mouratoglou also provide some insight on the inner-thoughts of Serena Williams.

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In this episode, hosts Chanda Rubin and Zina Garrison discuss some of Serena Williams’ career highlights, including her best matches and her top rivals. Guests include a who's who of tennis royalty: Patrick Mouratoglou, Andy Roddick, Mary Carillo, Rick Macci, Mary Joe Fernandez, Rosie Casals, Benny Sims and broadcaster Robin Roberts. The conversation consists of in-depth analysis and breaking down some of Serena’s biggest matches against her sister Venus, Martina Hingis, Jennifer Capriati and Maria Sharapova over her more than 20 year career.

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Former tennis pros Pam Shriver and Rennae Stubbs, both still in the game as broadcasters, join hosts Chanda Rubin and Zina Garrison to explore the qualities that have enabled Serena Williams to withstand the stress of life at the top and the mental strength that’s kept her there for more than two decades. They also discuss mental health in sports in general and high profile athletes who’ve struggled, at times, with mental health in the public eye, such as tennis pros Naomi Osaka and Mardy Fish, along with Olympic gymnast Simone Biles. This is episode 2 of a 2-episode arc.

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Special guests Martina Navratilova, 18-time Grand Slam champion and tennis Hall-of-Famer, along with Mackie Shilstone, fitness trainer to Serena Williams, Peyton Manning, Roy Jones Jr. and many other professional athletes, join hosts Chanda Rubin and Zina Garrison to dive into the details on the longevity of Serena’s career. They discuss how Serena has remained in shape and relevant for over two decades, and detail some previously unheard stories about Serena’s strength and determination, as well as some priceless personal anecdotes. This is episode 1 of a 2-episode arc.

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Special guests Patrick Mouratoglou, Serena Williams’ coach since 2012, and Mary Carillo, award-winning tennis and Olympic Games TV correspondent, join hosts Chanda Rubin and Zina Garrison to examine the role of stress, conflict, and controversy in Serena’s career. From the amusing ones, like Serena’s denim skirt at the 2004 US Open and her infamous “biker boots” leg warmers, to the painful and difficult ones, like the 2018 US Open final between Serena and Naomi Osaka, and the others that sparked painful conversations around race, gender, and the fundamentals of fair play. Together these isolated incidents have helped shape Serena in the public eye.

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