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Pretty Tough with Maria Sharapova

Vox Media 7 Episodes Oct 14, 2026

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, 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. New episodes drop Wednesdays as part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Episodes

Vera Wang: Inside Her Journey From Olympic Dreamer to Fashion Icon Oct 14, 2026 3494 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 dream fell short, she pivoted to fashion.  Vera opens up about her years at Vogue and Ralph Lauren, and the search for her own wedding dress that inspired her bridal business a

Alex Eala Was Raised to Be a Champion Oct 7, 2026 3953 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 into the world top 20 after unforgettable runs at Wimbledon and DC. Alex opens up about what it’s really like to be in the middle of a massive breakout moment under the global micro

Milk Bar Founder Christina Tosi on Building, Burnout and Resetting Sep 30, 2026 4187 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 soft serve, Christina shares the raw, unfiltered reality of building a massive dessert empire. They dive deep into the power of her "cannonball" mindset, embracing failure out loud, na

Supermodel Carolyn Murphy: 73 Vogue Covers, Walking Away from Fame, and Finding Yourself at 53 Sep 23, 2026 3913 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 Rica with her daughter. Carolyn opens up about the power of intuition, breaking up with perfectionism, navigating single motherhood, and why dedication always beats discipline. SUB

Emmy Rossum on making Furious and Surviving an FBI Boot Camp Sep 16, 2026 3226 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 to holding her own alongside legends like Sean Penn at age 16, to spending nine transformative years on the hit show Shameless where she famously advocated for equal pay, Emmy has c

Jenna Lyons on Leaving J.Crew and The Real Housewives to Reinvent Herself Sep 9, 2026 3904 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 executive creative director to her advice on developing personal style, why she decided to walk away from the Housewives, to complete career reinvention. 0:00 – Intro: Stepping

Hannah Berner: Leaving Reality TV, Starting Giggly Squad & Finding Her Confidence Sep 2, 2026 3552 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, and why her ultimate childhood dream was to win Wimbledon before pivoting to stand-up comedy. Hannah and Maria dive into the pressure of competitive sports, meeting her heroes, sur

Lindsey Vonn Was #1 in the World When She Crashed. Will She Ever Race Again? Aug 26, 2026 3808 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 rupt

Redefining Luxury: How Marie-Louise Sciò is Building A Resort Empire Aug 19, 2026 3037 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,

Why Malala is Betting Big on Women's Sports Aug 12, 2026 4131 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 narra

Delphine Bellini on Reviving A Sleeping Beauty Into Fashion's Hottest Brand Jul 15, 2026 2667 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 fa

How Susie Wolff Took F1 Academy from Empty Tracks to Global Partnerships Jul 8, 2026 4139 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,

Misty Copeland Never Wanted to Stand Out. Then She Changed Ballet Forever Jun 24, 2026 4998 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 comments—to the unique experience of collaborating with icons like Prince and Taylor Swift, Misty shares it all. Misty and Maria also dive into the reality of performing through injury:

Christine Dorfler: From Army Captain to the NFL’s CFO Jun 17, 2026 2993 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. From her journey as an Army Captain to navigating the complex financial landscape of the NFL, Christine shares the leadership lessons and high-stakes decision-making that keep the l

Amy Astley on Working Alongside Anna Wintour and Building Brands Jun 10, 2026 4508 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 Architectural Digest and Teen Vogue. She opens up working alongside Anna Wintour, navigating high-pressure creative environments, learning to trust her instincts, and her thoughts o

Ashley Graham: How AI, Plastic Surgery, and GLP-1s Are Changing Beauty Standards Jun 3, 2026 3148 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 impossible standards placed on women — especially in industries built around image. Together, Maria and Ashley talk about perfectionism, motherhood, changing bodies, identity, re

Dr. Becky: Raising Resilient Kids in an Overwhelming World May 27, 2026 4989 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 essential part of development, how parents can stay grounded during emotional moments, and why perfectionism often starts much earlier than we think. Together, she and Maria talk about sel

Chelsea Handler: Unfiltered, Independent, and Always Evolving May 20, 2026 2430 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 played by anyone else’s rules. Maria and Chelsea first connected at the 2012 Olympics and have been friends ever since. Maria explores what drives Chelsea’s independence across e

Willow Bay: Reimagining the Future of Women’s Sports May 13, 2026 2772 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 Ang

Gabriela Hearst: Redefining Luxury Without the Hype May 6, 2026 3141 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 o

Jeanie Buss: Inside the $10 billion Lakers sale Apr 29, 2026 3622 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

Zoe Saldaña: How I Became the Highest-Grossing Actor of All Time Apr 22, 2026 3754 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 di

Introducing Pretty Tough with Maria Sharapova Apr 14, 2026 56 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.

Pretty Tough with Maria Sharapova

Episodes

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