I Hid My Pregnancy From Nike To Save My Career Allyson Felix
What happens next when your entire identity is tied to a gold medal, and you lose it by a tenth of a second? In this episode, we sit down with the most decorated track and field athlete in history. Holder of 31 world medals and 11 Olympic medals, but behind the historic medal counts lies a raw, rarely-told story of agonizing near-misses. Of intense media pressure as a high school phenom, and a crushing depression following the 2008 Beijing Olympics that almost made her walk away from the track forever. We pull back the curtain on the brutal reality of elite sports: the illusion of the "top of the mountain," the toxic perfectionism that paralyzes young athletes, and what it really feels like to face down your fiercest rival on the world stage. But her fiercest battle wasn’t on the track. It was in the boardroom. She reveals the truth behind her high-stakes fallout with Nike. Under the threat of total financial ruin and a life-threatening, emergency premature birth, she broke her NDA to fight for maternal protections, ultimately changing the landscape of professional sports for female athletes forever. This isn't just a story about running fast. It’s a masterclass on redefining success, navigating toxic friend groups as a teenager, finding your voice when it shakes, and discovering that the real magic never happens at the finish line, it happens in the dirt along the way. What Happens Next... The Dhar Mann Podcast is the latest venture produced by Dhar Mann Studios. Hosted by Dhar Mann, the NY Times proclaimed "Moral Philosopher" himself, this podcast will invite the audience in on exclusive conversations between Dhar and his high-profile guests so that they can listen to never before told stories of their shocking journeys on their paths to success. Through their challenges Dhar will reveal unknown twists, setbacks, and turning points that almost derailed them - and how instead these moments led to their success. Each episode will highlight never before heard moments that shaped who they are today - and the lessons we all can learn from them. Subscribe to the Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR9M5Nh-CftZxJZqfcNnIYw?sub_confirmation=1 Listen on Spotify/Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/WhatHappensNextwithDharMann Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhathappensnextpodcast/ Find us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@whathappensnextpodcast Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhatHappensNextDharMannPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices