Soccer Star Midge Purce and Vox Media Launch New Show, ‘Confessions of an Elite Athlete’

Today, Vox Media launched Confessions of an Elite Athlete, a new biweekly podcast hosted by Gotham FC and U.S. Women's National Team star Midge Purce that sits at the intersection of sport, psychology, and culture. The show will feature candid, peer-to-peer conversations with some of the world's most accomplished athletes, executives, and performance experts, pulling back the curtain on the realities of competing at the highest level-from identity and ambition to resilience, sacrifice, and the often-unspoken challenges behind elite performance.

"The ultimate purpose of this show is to unveil the reality of sports-the conversations that are usually kept behind closed doors," said Purce. "I want to create a space where athletes can be honest about what it actually takes to perform at an elite level-how they handle the pressure, the doubt, the work-and where the next generation can see that they're not alone in what they're experiencing."

A Harvard graduate with a degree in psychology, Purce brings a deep curiosity about the athlete mindset to the show, guiding intimate conversations that go beyond wins and highlight reels to explore the mental and emotional realities of pursuing greatness. With new episodes out biweekly on Tuesdays, the show will center honest storytelling and shared experience, offering audiences a rare, inside look at the emotional and mental dimensions of elite competition. The first episode is out today, with Sam Rapoport joining to discuss her history-making tenure at the NFL, and how football saved her life as a young queer person growing up in Ottawa. Verizon Business is the show's launch sponsor.

Purce is a two-time National Women's Soccer League Champion, the 2023 NWSL Finals MVP, and U.S. Women's National Team Forward, who was recently named an official New York New Jersey FIFA World Cup Host City Ambassador. She has built a dynamic career both on and off the pitch, serving as the youngest member of Harvard University's Board of Overseers and a founding member of the Black Women's Player Collective (BWPC). She was part of the U.S. Women's National Team's CBA committee that successfully negotiated the landmark 2022 gender discrimination settlement. She has appeared on Broadway in Chicago and modeled for Sports Illustrated Swim.

"Midge's energy, drive, and curiosity are infectious," said Ray Chao, Vox Media's senior vice president and general manager of podcasts. "We're excited to partner with Midge to create a platform for elite athletes to have honest, unfiltered, and candid conversations that fans rarely get to see."

Vox Media will host a live taping of Confessions of an Elite Athlete on May 7 at NeueHouse in New York City, with tickets available here.

Confessions of an Elite Athlete joins the Vox Media Podcast Network, one of the largest podcast publishers in the U.S. and a leading destination for athlete-driven storytelling. The show expands Vox Media's growing slate of programming that includes standout franchises like Pivot, hosted by Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway; The Curiosity Shop, hosted by Brené Brown and Adam Grant; Where Should We Begin?, hosted by Esther Perel; Not Just Football, hosted by Cam Heyward, and many more.

Follow Confessions of an Elite Athlete on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and more.

About the Vox Media Podcast NetworkThe Vox Media Podcast Network is one of the largest U.S. podcast publishers, home to some of the most popular and influential shows. Reaching a monthly audience of tens of millions across audio, video, and social platforms, our podcasts spark conversations and shape culture, covering everything from politics, technology, and business to sports, entertainment, and more. The Vox Media Podcast Network is powered by Vox Media, the leader in modern media, and home to a prestigious portfolio of editorial brands including New York Magazine, Vox, The Verge, Eater, SB Nation, and more. Learn more about the network at podcasts.voxmedia.com.