Why Malala is Betting Big on Women's Sports

Maria Sharapova sits down with Nobel Peace Prize laureate, author, and activist Malala Yousafzai to discuss breaking out of public expectations, prioritizing mental health, and why she wants more women in ownership roles in women's sports.
Hear how Malala and her husband Asser are investing in women's sports through Recess Capital. They dive into how ‘the Caitlin Clark effect’ is changing the narrative, and why women's sports are the next profitable powerhouses.

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CHAPTERS
00:00 | Introduction: Finding More Women in the Boardroom & Owner's Box
00:30 | Malala Yousafzai: Activist and Investor
02:15 | Surviving the Hedge Maze of Life
03:40 | Waking Up in Birmingham: The First Moments After the Attack
06:00 | Losing Control of Your Own Narrative at 15 Years Old
08:50 | The Reality of Activism: A Lifetime Commitment
11:15 | Surviving and Thriving as a Student at Oxford
14:50 | Shifting Perspectives on Marriage, Love, and Patriarchal Institutions
16:30 | The Philosophy of Activism: Drawing Inspiration from Family
19:40 | Why Sports? Malala’s Mental Health Journey and Running
21:40 | Competitive Gym Sessions: Weightlifting with Her Husband
25:00 | The Contrast of Winning a Nobel Prize vs. Losing Student Council
28:10 | Fighting for the Afghan Women’s Soccer Team in Exile
31:15 | Launching Recess Capital: Changing Women's Sports Ownership
36:00 | The Caitlin Clark Effect and Shifting Public Narrative
38:50 | Balancing Nonprofits and For-Profit Venture Funds for Financial Independence
42:15 | Redesigning Sports for Women: Maternity Care, Apparel, and Equal Pay
45:30 | Preparing for High-Stakes Meetings with Global Leaders
49:00 | Owning Mistakes and Evolving Public Image
54:30 | Prioritizing Mental Health, Therapy, and Self-Care
00:59:00 | Lightning Round: Unlearning, Routines, and Misconceptions
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About Pretty Tough
Pretty Tough is the weekly interview podcast hosted by five-time Grand Slam champion, entrepreneur, and bestselling author Maria Sharapova. Each week, Maria sits down with founders, CEOs, athletes, creatives, investors, and other high achievers for candid conversations about leadership, ambition, decision-making, performance, entrepreneurship, wellness, and building exceptional careers.
Drawing from her own experience at the highest levels of sport and business, Maria explores what it really takes to succeed—from navigating failure and reinvention to scaling companies, leading teams, and pursuing excellence over the long term.
About Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova is a five-time Grand Slam champion, former World No. 1 tennis player, entrepreneur, investor, bestselling author, and one of the most recognizable athletes of her generation. Since retiring from professional tennis, she has built businesses, invested in consumer, technology, and lifestyle companies, and become a respected voice on leadership, performance, and entrepreneurship.YouTubeMaria Sharapova (youtube.com/@mariasharapova?sub_confirmation=1)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.

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