Pretty Tough with Maria Sharapova http://podcasts.voxmedia.com en Five-time Grand Slam champion, entrepreneur, and bestselling author Maria Sharapova brings her trademark intensity and drive to a weekly podcast that challenges how female ambition is defined and discussed. In each episode of Pretty Tough, Sharapova sits down with high-achieving women across industries for candid, wide-ranging conversations about their pursuit of excellence without apology. Inspired by Sharapova’s own journey as a world-class athlete and entrepreneur, the show serves as a space where discussions about peak performance, career strategy, wellness, and leadership aren't diluted by gender-specific expectations and where being gritty and being female aren't seen as contradictory states of being. New episodes drop Wednesdays. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/1a2f82b6-22db-11f1-81bc-372e1a74b223/image/68c364b89291810451235cf78fd6de1c.jpg?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress Pretty Tough with Maria Sharapova http://podcasts.voxmedia.com no episodic Vox Media Five-time Grand Slam champion, entrepreneur, and bestselling author Maria Sharapova brings her trademark intensity and drive to a weekly podcast that challenges how female ambition is defined and discussed. In each episode of Pretty Tough, Sharapova sits down with high-achieving women across industries for candid, wide-ranging conversations about their pursuit of excellence without apology. Inspired by Sharapova’s own journey as a world-class athlete and entrepreneur, the show serves as a space where discussions about peak performance, career strategy, wellness, and leadership aren't diluted by gender-specific expectations and where being gritty and being female aren't seen as contradictory states of being. New episodes drop Wednesdays. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Five-time Grand Slam champion, entrepreneur, and bestselling author Maria Sharapova brings her trademark intensity and drive to a weekly podcast that challenges how female ambition is defined and discussed. In each episode of Pretty Tough, Sharapova sits down with high-achieving women across industries for candid, wide-ranging conversations about their pursuit of excellence without apology. Inspired by Sharapova’s own journey as a world-class athlete and entrepreneur, the show serves as a space where discussions about peak performance, career strategy, wellness, and leadership aren't diluted by gender-specific expectations and where being gritty and being female aren't seen as contradictory states of being.

New episodes drop Wednesdays. Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

]]> Vox Media podcasting+prettytough@voxmedia.com Willow Bay: Reimagining the Future of Women’s Sports Willow Bay has spent her career telling powerful stories. Now, she’s helping reshape who gets to be at the center of them. As a longtime journalist and now the dean of USC Annenberg, Willow has worked across nearly every major television network, building a career at the intersection of media, leadership, and storytelling. Alongside her husband, Disney CEO Bob Iger, she’s also the co-owner of Angel City FC, one of the most valuable teams in women’s sports. Willow also shares her perspective on why giving athletes the tools to tell their own stories may be the most powerful shift happening in sports today. Maria and Willow also discuss what it means to reimagine an entire sports ecosystem with women at the center, how to spot opportunity early, and the challenge of overcoming imposter syndrome at the highest levels.  All that and more on this episode of Pretty Tough. Pretty Tough is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA. Listen to every episode on your favorite podcast platform Follow Maria on Instagram  Follow Maria on X Follow Pretty Tough on Instagram Subscribe to Pretty Tough on Substack 00:00 – Intro: Beating Imposter Syndrome  01:14 – Welcome Willow Bay 02:49 – The Power of Listening More & Speaking Less 03:57 – Investing in Angel City FC: Why Now?  05:07 – Convincing Bob Iger to Buy into the NWSL  06:53 – The Business of Storytelling in Women's Sports  08:44 – Breaking Barriers in the Sports Boardroom  11:09 – Early Days: NBA Inside Stuff & Athlete Storytelling 13:58 – The Rise of Athlete-Owned Media Brands  17:16 – Closing the Gap for Women in Sports Media 18:24 – Reimagining the Sports Universe for Women  20:00 – Traditional Media vs. Athlete-Controlled Narratives  21:40 – The Enduring Power of Live Sports  23:45 – Maria Sharapova on Losing Control to the Press  26:26 – Dealing with Harsh Headlines & The "Banana" Story  30:54 – Standing on Your Skills to Beat Imposter Syndrome  32:45 – The Shaq & Suzy Shuster Story: Accountability in Journalism  35:48 – Dinner at the Iger-Bay Household 41:00 – Pretty Tough Questions: Erasing Self-Doubt  41:43 – The Morning Routine for a Resilient Mind  42:15 – Getting "Under the Hood" of Leadership  43:40 – Final Thoughts: What Makes Willow Bay Pretty Tough Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Wed, 13 May 2026 10:00:00 -0000 full Vox Media Willow Bay has spent her career telling powerful stories. Now, she’s helping reshape who gets to be at the center of them. As a longtime journalist and now the dean of USC Annenberg, Willow has worked across nearly every major television network, building a career at the intersection of media, leadership, and storytelling. Alongside her husband, Disney CEO Bob Iger, she’s also the co-owner of Angel City FC, one of the most valuable teams in women’s sports. Willow also shares her perspective on why giving athletes the tools to tell their own stories may be the most powerful shift happening in sports today. Maria and Willow also discuss what it means to reimagine an entire sports ecosystem with women at the center, how to spot opportunity early, and the challenge of overcoming imposter syndrome at the highest levels.  All that and more on this episode of Pretty Tough. Pretty Tough is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA. Listen to every episode on your favorite podcast platform Follow Maria on Instagram  Follow Maria on X Follow Pretty Tough on Instagram Subscribe to Pretty Tough on Substack 00:00 – Intro: Beating Imposter Syndrome  01:14 – Welcome Willow Bay 02:49 – The Power of Listening More & Speaking Less 03:57 – Investing in Angel City FC: Why Now?  05:07 – Convincing Bob Iger to Buy into the NWSL  06:53 – The Business of Storytelling in Women's Sports  08:44 – Breaking Barriers in the Sports Boardroom  11:09 – Early Days: NBA Inside Stuff & Athlete Storytelling 13:58 – The Rise of Athlete-Owned Media Brands  17:16 – Closing the Gap for Women in Sports Media 18:24 – Reimagining the Sports Universe for Women  20:00 – Traditional Media vs. Athlete-Controlled Narratives  21:40 – The Enduring Power of Live Sports  23:45 – Maria Sharapova on Losing Control to the Press  26:26 – Dealing with Harsh Headlines & The "Banana" Story  30:54 – Standing on Your Skills to Beat Imposter Syndrome  32:45 – The Shaq & Suzy Shuster Story: Accountability in Journalism  35:48 – Dinner at the Iger-Bay Household 41:00 – Pretty Tough Questions: Erasing Self-Doubt  41:43 – The Morning Routine for a Resilient Mind  42:15 – Getting "Under the Hood" of Leadership  43:40 – Final Thoughts: What Makes Willow Bay Pretty Tough Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Willow Bay has spent her career telling powerful stories. Now, she’s helping reshape who gets to be at the center of them.

As a longtime journalist and now the dean of USC Annenberg, Willow has worked across nearly every major television network, building a career at the intersection of media, leadership, and storytelling. Alongside her husband, Disney CEO Bob Iger, she’s also the co-owner of Angel City FC, one of the most valuable teams in women’s sports.

Willow also shares her perspective on why giving athletes the tools to tell their own stories may be the most powerful shift happening in sports today.

Maria and Willow also discuss what it means to reimagine an entire sports ecosystem with women at the center, how to spot opportunity early, and the challenge of overcoming imposter syndrome at the highest levels. 


All that and more on this episode of Pretty Tough.


Pretty Tough is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA.


Listen to every episode on your favorite podcast platform

Follow Maria on Instagram 

Follow Maria on X

Follow Pretty Tough on Instagram

Subscribe to Pretty Tough on Substack

00:00 – Intro: Beating Imposter Syndrome 

01:14 – Welcome Willow Bay

02:49 – The Power of Listening More & Speaking Less

03:57 – Investing in Angel City FC: Why Now? 

05:07 – Convincing Bob Iger to Buy into the NWSL 

06:53 – The Business of Storytelling in Women's Sports 

08:44 – Breaking Barriers in the Sports Boardroom 

11:09 – Early Days: NBA Inside Stuff & Athlete Storytelling

13:58 – The Rise of Athlete-Owned Media Brands 

17:16 – Closing the Gap for Women in Sports Media

18:24 – Reimagining the Sports Universe for Women 

20:00 – Traditional Media vs. Athlete-Controlled Narratives 

21:40 – The Enduring Power of Live Sports 

23:45 – Maria Sharapova on Losing Control to the Press 

26:26 – Dealing with Harsh Headlines & The "Banana" Story 

30:54 – Standing on Your Skills to Beat Imposter Syndrome 

32:45 – The Shaq & Suzy Shuster Story: Accountability in Journalism 

35:48 – Dinner at the Iger-Bay Household

41:00 – Pretty Tough Questions: Erasing Self-Doubt 

41:43 – The Morning Routine for a Resilient Mind 

42:15 – Getting "Under the Hood" of Leadership 

43:40 – Final Thoughts: What Makes Willow Bay Pretty Tough

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

]]> 2772 Gabriela Hearst: Redefining Luxury Without the Hype Gabriela Hearst is one of the most purpose-driven designers in fashion. She’s built her career slowly, intentionally, and entirely on her own terms. You may know her for dressing icons like Laura Dern, Jodie Foster, and Zoë Kravitz, or for redefining luxury through sustainability, from the first carbon-neutral runway show to creating a line made from 100% recycled cotton. But her story begins on a cattle ranch in Uruguay, where quality, durability, and respect for the land shaped everything she does today. In this conversation, Maria and Gabriela discuss the reality of the creative journey, why success rarely comes fast, how a chance elevator encounter with a design legend changed her life, and what it takes to stay grounded in an industry built on hype. She also shares how she approaches biohacking to maintain her mind and body in one of the most demanding industries in the world. All that and more on this episode of Pretty Tough. Pretty Tough is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA. Listen to every episode on your favorite podcast platform Follow Maria on Instagram  Follow Maria on X Follow Pretty Tough on Instagram Subscribe to Pretty Tough on Substack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Wed, 06 May 2026 10:01:00 -0000 full Vox Media Gabriela Hearst is one of the most purpose-driven designers in fashion. She’s built her career slowly, intentionally, and entirely on her own terms. You may know her for dressing icons like Laura Dern, Jodie Foster, and Zoë Kravitz, or for redefining luxury through sustainability, from the first carbon-neutral runway show to creating a line made from 100% recycled cotton. But her story begins on a cattle ranch in Uruguay, where quality, durability, and respect for the land shaped everything she does today. In this conversation, Maria and Gabriela discuss the reality of the creative journey, why success rarely comes fast, how a chance elevator encounter with a design legend changed her life, and what it takes to stay grounded in an industry built on hype. She also shares how she approaches biohacking to maintain her mind and body in one of the most demanding industries in the world. All that and more on this episode of Pretty Tough. Pretty Tough is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA. Listen to every episode on your favorite podcast platform Follow Maria on Instagram  Follow Maria on X Follow Pretty Tough on Instagram Subscribe to Pretty Tough on Substack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Gabriela Hearst is one of the most purpose-driven designers in fashion. She’s built her career slowly, intentionally, and entirely on her own terms. You may know her for dressing icons like Laura Dern, Jodie Foster, and Zoë Kravitz, or for redefining luxury through sustainability, from the first carbon-neutral runway show to creating a line made from 100% recycled cotton.


But her story begins on a cattle ranch in Uruguay, where quality, durability, and respect for the land shaped everything she does today.


In this conversation, Maria and Gabriela discuss the reality of the creative journey, why success rarely comes fast, how a chance elevator encounter with a design legend changed her life, and what it takes to stay grounded in an industry built on hype.


She also shares how she approaches biohacking to maintain her mind and body in one of the most demanding industries in the world.


All that and more on this episode of Pretty Tough.


Pretty Tough is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA.



Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

]]> 3141 Jeanie Buss: Inside the $10 billion Lakers sale Jeanie Buss is the most powerful woman in the NBA. As Governor and longtime controlling owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, she has protected one of the most valuable brands in sports through tragedy and transition. Now, she explains why, after all these years, her family decided to sell 85% of the team for $10 billion. On this episode of Pretty Tough, Jeanie sits down with Maria for one of her most candid conversations yet. She takes Maria behind the scenes of the secret Luka Dončić trade — kept hidden from LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Mark Cuban, and even Luka himself.  Jeanie also opens up about the people she's lost — her father, Dr. Jerry Buss, Kobe Bryant, and the 15-year relationship with Phil Jackson that shaped how she leads today.  All that and more on this episode of Pretty Tough. Pretty Tough is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA. Listen to every episode on your favorite podcast platform Follow Maria on Instagram  Follow Maria on X Follow Pretty Tough on Instagram Subscribe to Pretty Tough on Substack Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:46 - Jeanie’s opening quote on why being underestimated is an advantage 05:04 - Becoming the GM of a pro sports team at 19 years old 09:50 - What the legendary Dr. Jerry Buss saw in her 13:16 - The Lakers as a luxury brand or "beachfront property" 14:46 - Sports as entertainment and evolving with viewers 19:07 - Why she still sits with the fans 20:42 - What she learned from Phil Jackson 24:26 - How the Luka Doncic trade came together in secret 28:40 - Realizing Luka “left his heart in Dallas,” helping him acclimate to Lakers nation, and the Kobe/Gigi connection 32:50 - Selling 85% of the Lakers for $10 billion 36:51 - Working with family and firing her own brother 40:59 - The pain of selling the team 42:13 - Jeanie’s interests outside of the Lakers - Women of Wrestling, Running Point, and what's next 48:56 - What Kobe meant to Jeanie 51:06 - Maria’s little-known story about meeting with Kobe 54:40 - Jeanie Buss answers some Pretty Tough questions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0000 full Vox Media Jeanie Buss is the most powerful woman in the NBA. As Governor and longtime controlling owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, she has protected one of the most valuable brands in sports through tragedy and transition. Now, she explains why, after all these years, her family decided to sell 85% of the team for $10 billion. On this episode of Pretty Tough, Jeanie sits down with Maria for one of her most candid conversations yet. She takes Maria behind the scenes of the secret Luka Dončić trade — kept hidden from LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Mark Cuban, and even Luka himself.  Jeanie also opens up about the people she's lost — her father, Dr. Jerry Buss, Kobe Bryant, and the 15-year relationship with Phil Jackson that shaped how she leads today.  All that and more on this episode of Pretty Tough. Pretty Tough is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA. Listen to every episode on your favorite podcast platform Follow Maria on Instagram  Follow Maria on X Follow Pretty Tough on Instagram Subscribe to Pretty Tough on Substack Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:46 - Jeanie’s opening quote on why being underestimated is an advantage 05:04 - Becoming the GM of a pro sports team at 19 years old 09:50 - What the legendary Dr. Jerry Buss saw in her 13:16 - The Lakers as a luxury brand or "beachfront property" 14:46 - Sports as entertainment and evolving with viewers 19:07 - Why she still sits with the fans 20:42 - What she learned from Phil Jackson 24:26 - How the Luka Doncic trade came together in secret 28:40 - Realizing Luka “left his heart in Dallas,” helping him acclimate to Lakers nation, and the Kobe/Gigi connection 32:50 - Selling 85% of the Lakers for $10 billion 36:51 - Working with family and firing her own brother 40:59 - The pain of selling the team 42:13 - Jeanie’s interests outside of the Lakers - Women of Wrestling, Running Point, and what's next 48:56 - What Kobe meant to Jeanie 51:06 - Maria’s little-known story about meeting with Kobe 54:40 - Jeanie Buss answers some Pretty Tough questions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Jeanie Buss is the most powerful woman in the NBA. As Governor and longtime controlling owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, she has protected one of the most valuable brands in sports through tragedy and transition. Now, she explains why, after all these years, her family decided to sell 85% of the team for $10 billion.

On this episode of Pretty Tough, Jeanie sits down with Maria for one of her most candid conversations yet. She takes Maria behind the scenes of the secret Luka Dončić trade — kept hidden from LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Mark Cuban, and even Luka himself. 

Jeanie also opens up about the people she's lost — her father, Dr. Jerry Buss, Kobe Bryant, and the 15-year relationship with Phil Jackson that shaped how she leads today. 


All that and more on this episode of Pretty Tough.


Pretty Tough is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA.

Listen to every episode on your favorite podcast platform

Follow Maria on Instagram 

Follow Maria on X

Follow Pretty Tough on Instagram

Subscribe to Pretty Tough on Substack


Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

01:46 - Jeanie’s opening quote on why being underestimated is an advantage

05:04 - Becoming the GM of a pro sports team at 19 years old

09:50 - What the legendary Dr. Jerry Buss saw in her

13:16 - The Lakers as a luxury brand or "beachfront property"

14:46 - Sports as entertainment and evolving with viewers

19:07 - Why she still sits with the fans

20:42 - What she learned from Phil Jackson

24:26 - How the Luka Doncic trade came together in secret

28:40 - Realizing Luka “left his heart in Dallas,” helping him acclimate to Lakers nation, and the Kobe/Gigi connection

32:50 - Selling 85% of the Lakers for $10 billion

36:51 - Working with family and firing her own brother

40:59 - The pain of selling the team

42:13 - Jeanie’s interests outside of the Lakers - Women of Wrestling, Running Point, and what's next

48:56 - What Kobe meant to Jeanie

51:06 - Maria’s little-known story about meeting with Kobe

54:40 - Jeanie Buss answers some Pretty Tough questions


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

]]> 3622 Zoe Saldaña: How I Became the Highest-Grossing Actor of All Time Welcome to the very first episode of Pretty Tough with Maria Sharapova! For her debut interview, Maria sits down with Hollywood’s highest-grossing actor of all time, Academy Award winner Zoe Saldaña.  You probably know Zoe from starring in some of the most iconic movie franchises of our lifetimes — Avatar, Star Trek, and Guardians of the Galaxy. But she’s also taken on roles in indie films and different genres. Just last year, she won an Oscar for Emilia Pérez, becoming the first Dominican-American to do so. Maria and Zoe get into how she went from a little girl in Queens doing ballet to reaching Hollywood's greatest heights. All that and more on the inaugural episode of Pretty Tough. Pretty Tough is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA. You can watch Pretty Tough every week on YouTube at ⁠youtube.com/@mariasharapova⁠ or listen in your favorite podcast app. Follow us on Instagram @⁠prettytough⁠ and TikTok @⁠prettytough⁠ Subscribe to Pretty Tough on Substack at ⁠prettytough.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:01:00 -0000 full Vox Media Welcome to the very first episode of Pretty Tough with Maria Sharapova! For her debut interview, Maria sits down with Hollywood’s highest-grossing actor of all time, Academy Award winner Zoe Saldaña.  You probably know Zoe from starring in some of the most iconic movie franchises of our lifetimes — Avatar, Star Trek, and Guardians of the Galaxy. But she’s also taken on roles in indie films and different genres. Just last year, she won an Oscar for Emilia Pérez, becoming the first Dominican-American to do so. Maria and Zoe get into how she went from a little girl in Queens doing ballet to reaching Hollywood's greatest heights. All that and more on the inaugural episode of Pretty Tough. Pretty Tough is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA. You can watch Pretty Tough every week on YouTube at ⁠youtube.com/@mariasharapova⁠ or listen in your favorite podcast app. Follow us on Instagram @⁠prettytough⁠ and TikTok @⁠prettytough⁠ Subscribe to Pretty Tough on Substack at ⁠prettytough.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Welcome to the very first episode of Pretty Tough with Maria Sharapova! For her debut interview, Maria sits down with Hollywood’s highest-grossing actor of all time, Academy Award winner Zoe Saldaña. 

You probably know Zoe from starring in some of the most iconic movie franchises of our lifetimes — Avatar, Star Trek, and Guardians of the Galaxy. But she’s also taken on roles in indie films and different genres. Just last year, she won an Oscar for Emilia Pérez, becoming the first Dominican-American to do so.

Maria and Zoe get into how she went from a little girl in Queens doing ballet to reaching Hollywood's greatest heights.


All that and more on the inaugural episode of Pretty Tough.

Pretty Tough is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA.


You can watch Pretty Tough every week on YouTube at ⁠youtube.com/@mariasharapova⁠ or listen in your favorite podcast app.

Follow us on Instagram @⁠prettytough⁠ and TikTok @⁠prettytough⁠

Subscribe to Pretty Tough on Substack at ⁠prettytough.substack.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

]]> 3754 Introducing Pretty Tough with Maria Sharapova Why can't unapologetic ambition coexist with elegance and femininity? Maria Sharapova is ready to flip the script. On her new podcast, Pretty Tough with Maria Sharapova, the tennis champion and entrepreneur hosts conversations with high-achieving women like Zoe Saldana, Jeanie Buss, and Chelsea Handler about what it means to pursue excellence on their own terms.Pretty Tough drops Wednesday 4/22. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:39:00 -0000 trailer Vox Media Why can't unapologetic ambition coexist with elegance and femininity? Maria Sharapova is ready to flip the script. On her new podcast, Pretty Tough with Maria Sharapova, the tennis champion and entrepreneur hosts conversations with high-achieving women like Zoe Saldana, Jeanie Buss, and Chelsea Handler about what it means to pursue excellence on their own terms.Pretty Tough drops Wednesday 4/22. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Why can't unapologetic ambition coexist with elegance and femininity?

Maria Sharapova is ready to flip the script.


On her new podcast, Pretty Tough with Maria Sharapova, the tennis champion and entrepreneur hosts conversations with high-achieving women like Zoe Saldana, Jeanie Buss, and Chelsea Handler about what it means to pursue excellence on their own terms.
Pretty Tough drops Wednesday 4/22.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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