Episode 150: Chelsea Sodaro on Motherhood, Ambition, and Unlocking Yes

This week, Corrine Malcolm sits down with Chelsea Sodaro, Ironman World Champion, mother, and founder of Unlocking Yes, for an honest conversation about what happens when the things you want most in life seem to compete with one another. Chelsea traces her path from professional running to triathlon, the decision to become a mother at the height of her athletic career, and the uncertainty that came with wondering what pregnancy might mean for her future in sport.

They also dig into the much messier reality behind Chelsea’s remarkable postpartum return and 2022 Ironman World Championship win — from breastfeeding and childcare challenges to serious mental health struggles that existed alongside tremendous professional success. Chelsea shares what she learned about the support athletes actually need, why maternity policies are only the beginning, and how projects like Unlocking Yes are helping her turn her own experience into something bigger.

It’s a thoughtful conversation about motherhood, ambition, identity, and what sport could look like if women didn’t have to be extraordinary just to have the freedom to choose more than one thing.

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