Madisen Skinner has won everywhere she’s played, but winning isn’t the whole story. A national champion at University of Kentucky women’s volleyball and a two-time NCAA champion with University of Texas women’s volleyball, the LOVB Austin star opens up about pressure, mental health, and learning to build a life beyond volleyball while still chasing championships. From sisterhood with Avery Skinner to the future of women’s pro volleyball, this is a real conversation about success, balance, and staying human at the top.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

Keep the Party Going:

LOVB Schedule: https://www.lovb.com/2026/schedule

Madisen Skinner ESPN Article detailing her mental health struggles: https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/42737670/ncaa-volleyball-madisen-skinner-texas-longhorns-three-peat

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

Chapters

00:00 Start

05:34 Madisen Skinner joins the party

07:38 LOVB Austin’s turnaround 

11:05 The Pressure of being Madisen Skinner

11:54 Abby shares her mental health story

15:32 How playing for UT helped Madisen’s mental health

18:34 Growing up with Dance and Music

20:09 Discovering Volleyball

21:16 Her relationship with her sister

23:50 What to expect this season

27:03 Joining forces with MLV

29:55 How difficult beach volleyball is 

Julie and Abby return to kick off the year with the biggest wins and headlines in women’s sports, from record-breaking winter performances and Olympic qualifiers to buzzy moments in college basketball. They celebrate athletes making history, dig into major storylines shaping the landscape, and share firsthand highlights from a packed UCLA/USC showdown. Then hoops insider Jordan Robinson joins the party to break down Unrivaled season two, the player-led league redefining the WNBA offseason, plus what’s next for women’s basketball at every level. New year, new energy, let’s get this party started.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

Keep the Party Going:

Unrivaled opening day results: https://www.unrivaled.basketball/

Pre-order Jordan’s Book Court Queens:https://www.amazon.com/Court-Queens-Celebrate-Players-Basketball/dp/B0FGX73CKW

Follow Jordan: https://www.instagram.com/jordanligons/

And https://www.tiktok.com/@heyjordanrobinson

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

-Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ at onepeloton.com 

-Athletic Greens has their best offer ever. For $126 in free gifts. Head to: https://drinkag1.com/partner/general-partnerships?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partnerships&utm_campaign=welcometotheparty_d35ct__a10727__o27&utm_term=cac__a10727__o27&utm_content=__a10727__o27

-Get your business data all in one place using Intuit Quickbooks. Visit https://quickbooks.intuit.com/ to learn more.

-Get 40% off your first order today at hungryroot.com/wttp. 

What does it really take to build a gold medal mindset and how do those lessons show up in everyday life? Julie and Abby welcome one of the most influential sports psychologists of all time, Dr. Colleen Hacker, whose work helped shape generations of champions, including multiple U.S. Olympic gold medal teams.

In this wisdom-packed conversation, Dr. Hacker shares the psychology behind championship cultures, mental toughness, and sustained excellence. From confidence and communication to handling pressure and self doubt, she offers practical, relatable tools you can use far beyond sports.

This episode is all about the gold medal mentality and the life lessons that come with it. Whether you are leading a team, chasing a goal, or navigating everyday challenges, this is a conversation that will stick with you.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

Chapters:

00:00 Begin

Billie Jean King Surprise + Battle of the Sexes “Before/After”

Abby’s Anxiety: “How Do You Win Without a Scoreboard?”

Stop Juggling: The Skeeball Rule for Adult Life

The “Suffering = Self-Esteem” Trap (And Resetting It)

Don’t Kill the Butterflies—Teach Them to Fly in Formation

Boys vs. Girls Under Pressure: What’s Real, What’s Culture

Parenting Without Ego: Autonomy, Mastery, Connectedness

“They Want It”… or They Want Your Approval?

When Kids Truly Want It, You Can’t Keep Them Away

It’s our final episode of 2025, and we’re closing the year the only way we know how — big. Julie, Abby, and Billie step onto the Party Podium for a snake draft of the moments that defined women’s sports in 2025, with the year delivering no shortage of contenders — from Coco Gauff’s French Open triumph and UConn reclaiming the NCAA title to England’s historic runs in soccer and rugby and a WNBA season flipped on its head behind A’ja Wilson and the Aces. These aren’t just championships or box scores — they’re the moments that shifted the conversation, changed the game, and stuck with us long after the final whistle. Three rounds. Nine picks. Plenty of debate.

And because no draft is ever complete, we turn it over to you: what did we miss, and whose draft deserves the top spot? Draft day. The moments of 2025. Let’s get this party started.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

Keep the Party Going:

-Birch Bayh - Making a Difference - By Robert Blaemire: https://www.amazon.com/Birch-Bayh-Difference-Robert-Blaemire/dp/0253039177

-Good Game with Sarah Spain:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-game-with-sarah-spain/id1752100672

-The Women’s Game - Sam Mewis:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-womens-game/id1733926389-Coach Jackie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSvACYzkUPM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

-The Recap Show:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-re-cap-show-with-tobin-heath-and-christen-press/id1698132164

-Sports Are Fun:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-are-fun/id1522055041

-A touch More:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-touch-more-with-sue-bird-megan-rapinoe/id1510142364

'-Birds Eye View:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/birds-eye-view-with-sue-bird/id1812530040

-Post Moves:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/post-moves-with-candace-parker-aliyah-boston/id1825485084

-Bawsi: https://www.bawsi.org -Top Women’s Sports Moments of 2025:https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2025/12/29/ranking-top-10-womens-sports-moments-of-2025/87897430007/

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

-Shop deals and member-exclusive savings all season long at https://www.shipt.com/

Chapters:

00:00 Billie Jean King’s Safari and Mercedes Benz $500 Million WTA Partnership

07:30 Our hosts shine the party spotlight on the organizations, authors, and influencers that matter to them.

20:50 Our top three women’s sports moments of 2025

Consider this our holiday gift to you. For this special Christmas episode, Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach pull back the curtain and serve up the funniest bloopers of the year. From technical malfunctions and verbal slip ups to unexpected background chaos and cameras falling at exactly the wrong moment, nothing is off limits.

As they relive the moments that did not go according to plan, the laughs keep coming, including one brand new live blooper from Julie that absolutely steals the show. It is unfiltered, unscripted, and guaranteed to make you laugh out loud.

Happy Holidays and welcome to the messiest party of the year.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

-Find a host or co-host at https://www.airbnb.com/host/homes

We shine our party spotlight on one of the most dominant dynasties in sports you’ve probably never heard of: the U.S. Women’s Deaf National Soccer Team. Julie and Abby are joined by legends Amy Griffin and Joy Fawcett, alongside current star Erin Cembrale, to break down the team’s unbelievable record—44 wins, zero losses, five Deaflympics gold medals, multiple world titles, and a culture built brick by brick through grit, fundraising, and community. They also chat the massive week in women’s sports, including Texas A&M’s historic NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship run and record-breaking viewership, WNBA Players Association strike authorization amid ongoing CBA negotiations, and the soaring franchise valuations revealed in Forbes’ most valuable women’s sports teams rankings.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

Keep the Party Going:

Come See Me in the Good Light:

https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/come-see-me-in-the-good-light/umc.cmc.27uh51l7oh3ghql2gxb6xvb1s

Forbes releases the Most Valuable Women’s Sports Teams rankings: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brettknight/2025/12/17/the-worlds-most-valuable-womens-sports-teams-2025/

Our Chat with Nneka Ogwumike, WNBAPA on the WNBA CBA negotiations:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/welcome-to-the-party/id1835504451?i=1000741514338

How to Support the Women’s Deaflympics Team:

https://usdeafsoccer.com/get-involved/

https://www.facebook.com/USADeafSoccerWnt/

https://www.instagram.com/usdeaf_wnt/?hl=en

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

-Get 20% off your first order at https://vuoriclothing.com/pages/pod_f

-Get your business data all in one place using Intuit Quickbooks. Visit https://quickbooks.intuit.com/ to learn more.

-Shop tons of deals, including member-exclusive savings, all season long during the Season of Savings at https://www.shipt.com/

It’s a defining moment for the NWSL—and one that raises some big, important questions about the future of the league and its players. Abby and Julie are joined by NWSL Players Association executive director Meghann Burke to get straight into the on-going breaking news around the salary cap, the NWSLPA grievance, and the board-approved High Impact Player rule that players are now reviewing. With Trinity Rodman’s contract situation at the center of it all, what does this moment really mean for free agency, player trust, and how the league navigates growth in an increasingly competitive global soccer market.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

Keep the Party Going:

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

-Visit https://www.wayfair.com/ to get your go to items for game day. 

-Athletic Greens best offer ever. For $126 in free gifts. Head to: https://drinkag1.com/partner/general-partnerships?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=partnerships&utm_campaign=welcometotheparty_d35ct__a10727__o27&utm_term=cac__a10727__o27&utm_content=__a10727__o27

-Ready to feel your best and write your second act script? Visit https://www.joinmidi.com/ today to book your personalized, insurance-covered virtual visit for perimenopause and menopause support. 

-Find the perfect for you - visit https://www.thirdlove.com/

WNBA superstar and Players Association president Nneka Ogwumike joins Welcome to the Party at a pivotal moment for women’s basketball, with the league’s CBA set to expire on January 9 and real questions swirling about revenue sharing, housing, trust, and the future of the WNBA. Nneka pulls back the curtain on what’s actually happening inside negotiations, why this moment feels different than past CBAs, and what’s truly at stake for players across the league. She also explains her headline-making decision to sign with Project B, the new global league offering equity and expanded opportunity—raising bigger questions about power, ownership, and where women’s basketball is headed next.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

-Visit https://www.wayfair.com/ to get your go to items for game day. 

-Go to https://im8health.com/WTTP for a free welcome kit, five free travel sachets, and 10% off your order.

-Shop tons of deals, including member-exclusive savings, all season long during the Season of Savings at https://www.shipt.com/

-Ready to feel your best and write your second act script? Visit -https://www.joinmidi.com/ today to book your personalized, insurance-covered virtual visit for perimenopause and menopause support. 

-Find the perfect for you - visit www.thirdlove.com! 

-Getting contacts doesn’t have to be a hassle. Let 1-800Contacts get you the contact lenses you need right now. Order online at https://www.1800contacts.com or download the free 1-800 Contacts app today.  

Chapters: 

00:00 Begin

04:43 Party Starter: Lindsay Vonn’s 83 World Cup Win, USA Women’s Hockey dominates Canada, NCAA Women’s Volleyball, NWSL Trinity Rodman update.

25:46 CBA and Project B explained

31:19 Nneka Ogwumike joins the party 

44:12 Nneka Explains Revenue Share

46:52 Nneka on CBA Deadlines 

55:20 Nneka on ProjectB

59:10 Nneka for President

A busted New York hotel water main and an emergency beanie situation set the scene before Julie reveals the one person she’s ever truly fangirled over — and Abby relives the night Shannon Boxx knocked on her door, sat at the end of her bed, and said the words that would change her forever. From there, the conversation digs into how much of a team’s success really comes down to the coach — and the intensifying youth movement, with girls barely in high school now departing for the pros.

Party on, party people — this one’s for you. A special Power to the Party People episode, built around your questions… so keep them coming!

Join the Party:

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

Thank you to our sponsors:

Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

Find a host or co-host at https://www.airbnb.com/host/homes

Shop tons of deals, including member-exclusive savings, all season long during the Season of Savings at https://www.shipt.com/

Ready to feel your best and write your second act script? Visit https://www.joinmidi.com/ today to book your personalized, insurance-covered virtual visit for perimenopause and menopause support. 

Find the perfect for you - visit www.thirdlove.com!

At the Ironman World Championship in Kona, competitors face one of the most demanding tests in sport: a 2.4-mile ocean swim, a 112-mile bike ride through scorching winds, and a 26.2-mile marathon to finish. At 80 years old, Natalie Grabow became the oldest woman ever to complete a full Ironman. Natalie joins Abby, Julie, and Billie Jean King to reflect on a journey that began long before Kona—growing up before Title IX, cheering from the sidelines because girls weren’t allowed to play, and later teaching herself to swim at 59 and of course that unforgettable moment in Kona.

Join the Party:

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

Keep the Party Going:

No Black Coaches in the WNBA: https://www.cbssports.com/wnba/news/wnba-no-black-women-head-coaches-nba-experience-trend/

Makeup brands supporting women’s sports: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ4BKFViL9Q/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Natalie Crossing the Finish Line at Kona: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPtIpl_EQIe/?hl=en

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

Find a host or co-host at https://www.airbnb.com/host/homes

Head to https://moshlife.com/welcometotheparty to save 20% off plus free shipping. 

Ready to feel your best and write your second act script? Visit https://www.joinmidi.com/ today to book your personalized, insurance-covered virtual visit for perimenopause and menopause support. 

Find the perfect fit for you - https://www.thirdlove.com/

Head to https://www.quince.com/Welcometotheparty for free shipping and 365-day returns!