I Have Cool Friends

Sam welcomes to the podcast 1993 and 1994 world all-around champion, 1996 Olympic balance beam champion, 1995 Pan American Games all-around champion, and member of the gold-medal winning Magnificent Seven team at the 1996 Olympics, Shannon Miller. Shannon is the second most decorated gymnast in U.S history and the thirteenth most decorated gymnast from any country by her individual medal count. She is the only woman in any sport to be inducted into the US Olympic Hall of Fame twice, as an individual and as part of a team.

In this episode, Sam and Shannon chronicle Shannon’s Olympic career, from meeting the Dream Team and winning three bronze and two silver medals at the ’92 Games in Barcelona to winning two gold medals at the ’96 Games in Atlanta. Shannon speaks to the incredibly successful post-athletic career she’s had, which includes broadcasting, starting a business, and writing an autobiography. Shannon opens up about her diagnosis and subsequent battle with ovarian cancer. She shares how the lessons she learned as an Olympic athlete helped her through this difficult time in her life. Finally, Shannon talks about the importance of confidence and the valuable role it has played in her life.

Full show notes: http://ihavecoolfriends.show/s3e8

Sam welcomes to the podcast Olympic champion and eight-time American record holder in competitive swimming, Cody Miller. Cody is also a self-proclaimed movie buff, puppy enthusiast, food assassin, YouTuber and Water Jedi. In this episode, Sam and Cody chronicle Cody’s journey as an athlete, from overcoming a serious health condition when he was young to winning a gold medal alongside his lifelong idol, Michael Phelps. Cody shares his experiences as an elite Olympic athlete as well as life lessons he’s learned along the way. Among the most important things he’s learned, Cody stresses the importance of taking a moment to self-reflect and appreciate the moment. Finally, Cody shares the golden rule he tries to utilize every day.

Full show notes: http://ihavecoolfriends.show/s3e7

Sam welcomes to the podcast decorated professional volleyball player, Karsta Lowe. Karsta won bronze at the 2016 Olympic Games, playing a key reserve role. Coming off the bench, she provided 41 points, highlighted by a 13-point performance versus Serbia in semifinal and 12 points against Italy in pool play. Outside of her Olympic experience, Karsta was a member of the team that took gold at the FIVB World Grand Prix where she was awarded MVP. She currently plays for a professional team in Busto, Italy.

In this episode, Sam and Karsta talk about Karsta’s journey as an athlete, from walk-on at UCLA to qualifying and medaling at the Olympics. They discuss her time playing abroad in Italy and overcoming challenges like the language barrier. Karsta shares some of her fondest memories from the Olympic village the emotional experience of representing her country in 2016. Finally, Karsta speaks to her confidence level and the importance she places on aligning her thoughts and her actions to ensure success.

Full show notes: http://ihavecoolfriends.show/s3e6

Sam welcomes to the podcast two very special guests, Olympic swimmers and sisters, Alyssa and Haley Anderson. Alyssa became an Olympic gold medalist in 2012, and Haley was one of the first USA athletes who qualified for the upcoming Olympics Games in Tokyo for 2020. This will mark Haley’s third Olympic Games. Haley’s already won an Olympic silver medal in 2012 and was the first American to earn a medal in open water swimming. In this episode, Sam, Alyssa and Haley discuss the culture of USA Swimming, the mindset required to be a successful Olympian, and the power of resiliency. Alyssa and Haley break down the difference between open water and pool swimming competitions as well as how they get pumped up before big races. Finally, Alyssa and Haley talk about Imposter Syndrome and the importance of overcoming your own self-doubts to achieve greatness.

Full show notes: http://ihavecoolfriends.show/s3e5

Sam welcomes to the podcast three-time Olympian and four-time Olympic medalist, David Boudia. Perhaps the most impressive of David’s Olympic accolades, he was the first American male diver to win Olympic diving gold in the ten-meter platform competition since Greg Louganis in 1988. David has competed in the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games and plans to compete yet again at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. In this episode, David and Sam discuss fears, obstacles, and other challenges David had to overcome on his Olympic journey. They share some stories from their experiences at the Olympic village. David opens up about how his mindset and attitudes matured throughout his Olympic experience and humbled him to a new level. Finally, David talks about his goals for 2020 and beyond, including his desire to remain in Lafayette, Indiana and pursue a coaching career at Purdue University.

Full show notes: http://ihavecoolfriends.show/s3e4

Sam welcomes to the podcast All-Around Champion at the 2004 Olympic Games, Carly Patterson. Carly is truly a trailblazer for the United States as she was the first American woman in twenty years to win the All-Around Olympic Gold medal since Mary Lou Retton in 1984. Since her victory, the U.S. has won every consecutive all-around gold medal. In addition to her gymnastics accolades, Carly is a successful singer/songwriter and motivational speaker. In this episode, Carly discusses her journey to the Olympics and the unique factors that led to her success. Carly shares some stories from her own experiences the Olympics, including how Ashley Simpson got her pumped up before each competition. Sam and Carly open up about their identity struggles post-Olympic Games. Finally, Carly provides her insights on confidence, community, family and what it takes to become an Olympic champion.

Full show notes: http://ihavecoolfriends.show/s3e3

Sam welcomes to the podcast two-time Olympic medalist and decorated track and field hurdler, Dawn Harper. Dawn took home the gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, making history as a hurdler in the process. In this episode, Dawn recalls her journey to the 2008 Olympics, including stories of her inspiring coach, overcoming a knee injury, and the moment she realized she took home gold. Dawn speaks to her decision to step away from track and field (for now) to start a family and become a mother. She talks about her daughter, Harper, and her husband, Alonzo who has supported her career through all the ups and downs. Finally, Dawn touches on her decision to train and compete to represent the U.S. yet again in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Full show notes: http://ihavecoolfriends.show/s3e2

Sam welcomes to the podcast two-time Olympic gold medalist and World Cup Champion, Lauren Cheney. Among her stellar career accomplishments, Lauren was the first player in National Women’s Soccer League history to have her jersey retired by the league. She also set multiple school records at UCLA, including most points, most game-winning goals scored, and tied the school record for most goals scored. In this episode, Lauren talks about her journey to the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and the indescribable feeling of representing the United States. She shares her experience at the 2015 World Cup and recalls the moment she scored the third goal in the Final to help the United States claim back the title. Lauren opens up about her harrowing experience learning that she had a brain tumor while pregnant with her daughter. Finally, Lauren talks about her recovery from brain surgery and provides advice on how to gain and maintain confidence.

Full show notes: http://ihavecoolfriends.show/s3e1

Sam welcomes to the podcast decorated Olympic gymnast and former member of the University of Minnesota men’s gymnastics team, John Roethlisberger. In addition to being a three-time Olympian, John is a four-time U.S, National all-around champion and a four-time U.S. National pommel horse champion. He also won back-to-back American Cup titles in 2995 and 1996 and was named Sportsperson of the Year six times throughout his illustrious career. In this episode, Sam and John break down the performances of the Four on the Floor: Denver, UCLA, LSU and Oklahoma. They share their thoughts on scoring, individual champions, and the first year of the new postseason format. Finally, Sam and John discuss the retirements of two gymnastics legends, UCLA Head Coach Miss Val and Utah Head Coach Megan Marsden.

Full show notes: http://ihavecoolfriends.show/s2e17

Podcast production by FullCast: http://fullcast.co/cf

Sam welcomes to the podcast former University of Michigan gymnast Evan Heiter. Evan was also Sam’s co-host for the USAG Webcast for multiple years and is a huge NCAA gymnastics super fan. In this episode, Sam and Evan break down team performances from Regionals and look ahead to both upcoming Semi-Finals. They identify the secret weapons, keys to victory and storylines to watch for each team. Finally, Sam and Evan give their predictions on which teams they believe will be the Four on the Floor. 

Full show notes: http://ihavecoolfriends.show/s2e16

Podcast production by FullCast: http://fullcast.co/cf