Pretty Tough with Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova sits down with Olympic skiing legend Lindsey Vonn for a raw, deeply honest conversation about ambition, aging, pain, and the relentless drive to push boundaries.

At 41, after years of injuries and a major knee replacement, Lindsey returned to competitive racing with one goal: another shot at Olympic gold. But just days before the Olympic Games began, a devastating crash and a ruptured ACL changed everything—forcing her to make the hard choice to race anyway, only to crash again on the Olympic downhill.

Maria and Lindsey dive deep into the harrowing physical and mental aftermath of that crash, how she is navigating grueling surgeries and recovery, and how she’s weighing whether or not she will ever race again.

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LISTEN:►Listen to every episode on your favorite podcast platform⁠: https://pod.link/1893437254

CHAPTERS

00:00 | Introduction: The Comeback, the Crash, and What Comes Next

02:13 | "Too Old to Do Anything, Expected to Do Everything"

04:00 | Training in Your 40s: Physical Evolution and Body Changes

06:10 | A Glutton for Pain: Why Hard Work Is Therapeutic

07:05 | Put Your Phone Away: Avoiding Social Media Scrutiny

09:55 | The Fantasy of a Perfect Ending vs. Reality

12:20 | Letting Go of Control: Navigating Delays and Uncertainty

15:10 | Why Are People Threatened by Ambitious Women?

18:50 | The Hospital Recovery, Vulnerability, and Journaling Publicly

26:45 | Fear, Severe Injury, and the Reality of Near-Tragedy

31:10 | Redefining Pain: Why Ligaments Have Nothing on Broken Bones

32:20 | Trading Adrenaline: From 100 MPH Downhill to Tennis

35:45 | Processing the Online Negativity and Finding Perspective

38:50 | The Science of Peak Fitness: Diet, Recovery, and the Glucose Goddess

42:30 | Using Doubt as Fuel: Why Haters Make the Best Motivation

46:30 | The Power of Self-Belief: Lessons From Coach Eric

50:00 | The Next Generation: Why Kids Need to Experience Adversity

52:45 | Looking Forward: The Path to Next Spring and Potential Closure

56:15 | Pretty Tough Rapid Fire: Unlearning Control, Misconceptions, and Feeling Pretty

FOLLOW THE SHOW

►Maria on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariasharapova/

►Maria on X: https://x.com/MariaSharapova

►Pretty Tough on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prettytough/?hl=en

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.

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Maria Sharapova sits down with Marie-Louise Sciò, CEO and creative director of the iconic Italian luxury hospitality company, the Pellicano Group.

Marie-Louise shares her remarkable journey from watching her mom’s hotel parties from behind the rosemary bushes to securing a $200 million investment and expanding across Italy.

Together, Maria and Marie-Louise laugh, drink Negronis, and ponder the true meaning of luxury. Tune in as they sip, share stories, and unpack what it really takes to build an unforgettable brand and customer experience.

SUBSCRIBE►Subscribe to Pretty Tough: https://www.youtube.com/@mariasharapova?sub_confirmation=1

LISTEN:►Listen to every episode on your favorite podcast platform⁠: https://pod.link/1893437254CHAPTERS

00:00 | Introduction: Negronis at Noon and Perfecting Italian Luxury

01:17 | The Quote: Why Sex, Fun, and Joy Never Go Out of Style

04:00 | Growing Up Il Pellicano: Hiding Behind Rosemary Bushes and Lobster Rescues

06:55 | Taking the Leap: Designing Bathrooms and Rethinking the Hotel Brand

10:45 | The Power of Details: Stolen Ashtrays and the Iconic Pellicano Book

12:00 | Launching ISSIMO: Bringing Italy's Cabinet of Curiosities Digital

14:40 | Breaking the Rules: Cold-Writing Birkenstock and Embracing Bold Risks

17:15 | Respecting Heritage: Evolving a Legacy Hotel Without Destroying Its DNA

21:05 | Scaling Up: Raising €200 Million and Acquiring New Tuscan Gems

26:40 | The Ultimate Taste Test: Comparing Cocktails with Hotel Il Pellicano’s Legendary Barman

28:30 | Disconnecting in Luxury: Why Phones Are the Enemy of Relaxation

33:20 | The Ultimate Hotel Checklist: Mattresses, Lighting, and Bathrooms

34:40 | Marie-Louise’s Top 3 Hidden-Gem Hotels Outside of Her Group

38:50 | Constant Growth: Finding Lessons and Inspiration in Everything

40:00 | Pretty Tough Tips: Moving at the Speed of Opportunity

43:10 | Pretty Tough Rapid Fire: Unlearning Control, Misconceptions, and What Makes Her Feel Pretty

FOLLOW THE SHOW►Maria on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariasharapova/►Maria on X: https://x.com/MariaSharapova►Pretty Tough on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prettytough/?hl=en

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.

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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.

Come see Maria live in New York. Tickets Here https://prettytoughlive.splashthat.com/SUBSCRIBE►Subscribe to Pretty Tough: https://www.youtube.com/@mariasharapova?sub_confirmation=1LISTEN:►Listen to every episode on your favorite podcast platform⁠: https://pod.link/1893437254CHAPTERS00:00 | Introduction: Finding More Women in the Boardroom & Owner's Box00:30 | Malala Yousafzai: Activist and Investor02:15 | Surviving the Hedge Maze of Life03:40 | Waking Up in Birmingham: The First Moments After the Attack06:00 | Losing Control of Your Own Narrative at 15 Years Old08:50 | The Reality of Activism: A Lifetime Commitment11:15 | Surviving and Thriving as a Student at Oxford14:50 | Shifting Perspectives on Marriage, Love, and Patriarchal Institutions16:30 | The Philosophy of Activism: Drawing Inspiration from Family19:40 | Why Sports? Malala’s Mental Health Journey and Running21:40 | Competitive Gym Sessions: Weightlifting with Her Husband25:00 | The Contrast of Winning a Nobel Prize vs. Losing Student Council28:10 | Fighting for the Afghan Women’s Soccer Team in Exile31:15 | Launching Recess Capital: Changing Women's Sports Ownership36:00 | The Caitlin Clark Effect and Shifting Public Narrative38:50 | Balancing Nonprofits and For-Profit Venture Funds for Financial Independence42:15 | Redesigning Sports for Women: Maternity Care, Apparel, and Equal Pay45:30 | Preparing for High-Stakes Meetings with Global Leaders49:00 | Owning Mistakes and Evolving Public Image54:30 | Prioritizing Mental Health, Therapy, and Self-Care00:59:00 | Lightning Round: Unlearning, Routines, and MisconceptionsFOLLOW THE SHOW►Maria on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariasharapova/►Maria on X: https://x.com/MariaSharapova►Pretty Tough on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prettytough/?hl=enAbout Pretty ToughPretty 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 SharapovaMaria 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 SharapovaFive-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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How do you bring a legendary brand back from the dead?

When Delphine Bellini joined Schiaparelli in 2014, the fashion house had been dormant for over 60 years. There were no customers, no modern business, and no blueprint for success—just the legacy of one of fashion's most visionary founders. A decade later, Schiaparelli has become one of the most influential and talked-about brands in luxury fashion.

In this conversation, Delphine shares with Maria what it actually took to pull off that transformation: convincing people to believe in a vision before the results existed, partnering with creative director Daniel Roseberry to redefine the house for a new generation, and resisting the pressure for quick wins in favor of building something exceptional.

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:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to every episode on your favorite podcast platform⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Maria on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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00:00:00 Intro: The unexpected journey to leadership
00:01:48 Dressing superstars: The experience behind the Golden Globes
00:03:00 Balancing legacy and the future of Schiaparelli
00:05:13 Elsa Schiaparelli’s avant-garde history and influence
00:06:23 Defining the brand identity without traditional logos
00:08:08 The collaborative design process: Creating "selfish details"
00:10:35 Building a dormant brand: The conviction to take time
00:13:28 Applying lessons from luxury cruises to haute couture
00:15:20 Performance, struggle, and the athlete-creative connection
00:16:33 Leading young talent through passion
00:17:35 The leader as a facilitator: Navigating collective roles
00:19:10 Discovering Daniel Roseberry’s creative vision
00:20:45 Aligning creative magic with business needs
00:22:27 The psychology of the showroom experience
00:23:55 Why Schiaparelli shows are deeply emotional
00:25:00 The CEO's role behind the scenes of a runway show
00:26:27 Managing controversy: The lion head show and beyond
00:28:35 Future expansion: Ready-to-wear, fragrance, and exclusivity
00:32:38 Maintaining personal balance, discipline, and routines
00:35:10 Lightning Round: Unlearning, perfectionism, and confidence
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As the Managing Director of F1 Academy, Susie Wolff is helping reshape the future of motorsport. Susie joins Maria to discuss navigating the high-stakes negotiations, the pressure of maximizing growth while F1 Racing is having its moment, and what its like holding her ground in rooms where she's often the only woman at the table.

Susie opens up about racing through injury, the power of saying no, and getting tough love from her husband, racing legend Toto Wolff.

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

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00:00 Introduction: Resilience in Business and Sports


02:00 Defining Calculated Risks


04:55 Childhood Influence: Equal Opportunity and Drive


06:50 The Reality of Racing: Noise, Gender, and Performance


10:07 Finding Comfort in the Uncomfortable


12:20 Navigating Career Setbacks and Injury


18:15 The Intuition Behind Career Pivots


21:30 Ambition, Motherhood, and Identity


24:25 The Power of Saying "No"


27:00 Life After Retirement: Self-Discovery


32:00 Challenging Perceptions: Femininity and the "Pink Car"


35:30 The Future of Women in F1


38:30 Taking the Helm at F1 Academy


43:10 The Strength in Asking for Help


46:30 Breaking Barriers in the Workplace


49:25 Working with Toto: Directness, Honesty, and Partnership


54:30 Raising a Son in the Motorsport World


57:20 What’s Next for Susie Wolff


58:15 Pretty Tough Tips: Resilience


1:01:15 Rapid Fire: Unlearning Selfishness and Finding Confidence

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