Podcasts · Business · Society & Culture

Pretty Tough with Maria Sharapova

Vox Media

24 episodes

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.

More about the show

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

Episodes

  1. NYT Bestselling Author Marie Forleo on Burnout, Taking a Break & Starting Over

    · 55 min

    Are you feeling stuck? Maria Sharapova sits down with New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur, and life coach Marie Forleo to discuss building a successful life and career on your own terms. Together they…

  2. Vera Wang: Inside Her Journey From Olympic Dreamer to Fashion Icon

    · 58 min

    Maria Sharapova sits down with celebrity designer Vera Wang. Before becoming one of the most recognized names in fashion, Vera trained as a competitive figure skater with dreams of making the Olympic team. When that…

  3. Alex Eala Was Raised to Be a Champion

    · 1 h 06 min

    In this episode of Pretty Tough, host Maria Sharapova sits down with tennis sensation Alex Eala. At just 21 years old, Alex has carved her name in history as the first Filipino to ever win a WTA tour title, rocketing…

  4. Milk Bar Founder Christina Tosi on Building, Burnout and Resetting

    · 1 h 10 min

    Maria Sharapova sits down with Milk Bar founder, chef, and entrepreneur Christina Tosi. From getting her start writing food safety plans for David Chang to breaking the internet with Compost Cookies and cereal milk…

  5. Supermodel Carolyn Murphy: 73 Vogue Covers, Walking Away from Fame, and Finding Yourself at 53

    · 1 h 05 min

    Supermodel icon Carolyn Murphy sits down with Maria Sharapova to reflect on three decades in fashion, shooting 73 Vogue covers (and counting), and the pivotal moment she walked away from fame to live quietly in Costa…

  6. Emmy Rossum on making Furious and Surviving an FBI Boot Camp

    · 54 min

    Acclaimed actress, director, and producer Emmy Rossum joins Maria Sharapova for a candid conversation on building a 30-year career on her own terms. From getting her start in the Metropolitan Opera Children's Chorus…

  7. Jenna Lyons on Leaving J.Crew and The Real Housewives to Reinvent Herself

    · 1 h 05 min

    It’s New York Fashion Week, and who better to speak with than fashion icon and entrepreneur Jenna Lyons? Maria and Jenna discuss everything from her meteoric rise at J. Crew, from assistant designer to president and…

  8. Hannah Berner: Leaving Reality TV, Starting Giggly Squad & Finding Her Confidence

    · 59 min

    Comedian and Giggly Squad host Hannah Berner joins Maria Sharapova for a special live episode of Pretty Tough in New York City! Hannah opens up about her lifelong obsession with tennis, playing on the junior circuit,…

  9. Lindsey Vonn Was #1 in the World When She Crashed. Will She Ever Race Again?

    · 1 h 03 min

    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…

  10. Redefining Luxury: How Marie-Louise Sciò is Building A Resort Empire

    · 51 min

    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…

  11. Why Malala is Betting Big on Women's Sports

    · 1 h 09 min

    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…

  12. Delphine Bellini on Reviving A Sleeping Beauty Into Fashion's Hottest Brand

    · 44 min

    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…

  13. How Susie Wolff Took F1 Academy from Empty Tracks to Global Partnerships

    · 1 h 09 min

    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…

  14. Misty Copeland Never Wanted to Stand Out. Then She Changed Ballet Forever

    · 1 h 23 min

    Legendary ballerina Misty Copeland pulls back the curtain on the most pivotal moments of her career. From performing on the Oscars stage alongside the cast of Sinners—and addressing Timothée Chalamet’s infamous…

  15. Christine Dorfler: From Army Captain to the NFL’s CFO

    · 50 min

    What does it take to manage the finances of the world’s most powerful sports league? In this episode, Maria sits down with Christine Dorfler, the CFO of the NFL, for an unfiltered look at the business behind the game.…

  16. Amy Astley on Working Alongside Anna Wintour and Building Brands

    · 1 h 15 min

    This week on the show, editor-in-chief of Architectural Digest Amy Astley reflects on her path from aspiring ballerina to journalist to leading some of the most influential publications in fashion and design, including…

  17. Ashley Graham: How AI, Plastic Surgery, and GLP-1s Are Changing Beauty Standards

    · 52 min

    This week on the show, model and entrepreneur Ashley Graham joins Maria for a conversation about confidence, body image, ambition, and self-worth. Ashley opens up about navigating criticism in the fashion industry and…

  18. Dr. Becky: Raising Resilient Kids in an Overwhelming World

    · 1 h 23 min

    Clinical psychologist Becky Kennedy — better known as Dr. Becky — joins Maria for a conversation about parenting, resilience, confidence, and emotional growth. Dr. Becky shares why she believes struggle is an…

  19. Chelsea Handler: Unfiltered, Independent, and Always Evolving

    · 41 min

    Comedian and best-selling author Chelsea Handler has built a career on saying exactly what she thinks, regardless of the consequences. From stand-up comedy and bestselling books to hit television shows, she’s never…

  20. Willow Bay: Reimagining the Future of Women’s Sports

    · 46 min

    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…

  21. Gabriela Hearst: Redefining Luxury Without the Hype

    · 52 min

    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,…

  22. Jeanie Buss: Inside the $10 billion Lakers sale

    · 1 h 00 min

    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,…

  23. Zoe Saldaña: How I Became the Highest-Grossing Actor of All Time

    · 1 h 03 min

    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…

  24. Introducing Pretty Tough with Maria Sharapova

    · 0:56 · Trailer

    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…

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