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Forging Gold: The Making of a Champion

Forging Gold: The Making of a Champion

Written by: iHeartPodcasts
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What does it really take to compete at the highest level of sport?

On Forging Gold, former pro tennis player Rennae Stubbs takes you inside the world of elite athletics– beyond the trophies and highlight reels, into the moments that define a career. The relentless early mornings. The injuries that almost end everything. The pressure when every eye is on you.

Join us each episode to uncover how champions push themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally– to reach the top of their game. From career-defining wins to moments of reinvention, these are the sacrifices that turn hard work into gold. Listen to Forging Gold: the Making of a Champion.

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Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Basketball Coaching Legend Becky Hammon
    May 7 2026

    Becky Hammon is one of the best basketball coaches in the world– full stop. The Las Vegas Aces head coach has built a modern dynasty, won multiple titles, and earned a reputation as one of the sharpest, toughest, and most respected minds in the game.

    In this episode of Forging Gold, Becky joins host Rennae Stubbs to break down what great coaching actually looks like. She shares how to earn trust, challenge elite players, manage pressure, and keep a championship team hungry year after year. From going undrafted as a player to becoming a history-making coach, Becky’s story is proof that greatness comes to those willing to outwork every obstacle in their path.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    32 mins
  • Hockey Captain Hilary Knight
    Apr 23 2026

    Hilary Knight wasn’t always a goal scorer. In fact, she couldn’t even lift the puck off the ice– until a coach bet her a Big Gulp she could hit a soda can off the top of the net. Years later, she’s a five-time Olympian, world champion, and one of the most dominant forces in women’s hockey.

    In this episode of Forging Gold, host Rennae Stubbs sits down with Hilary Knight to talk about the moments that shaped her path to greatness. From playing on the boys’ team as a kid, to the impact that a training week has on her mind and body, to the sting of the 2014 Sochi loss and what it taught her about leadership. Listen in as Hilary takes us inside the mindset of an elite competitor, as she shares the habits, superstitions, and discipline that keep her at the top of her game.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    31 mins
  • Swimming G.O.A.T Katie Ledecky
    Apr 9 2026

    Katie Ledecky is one of the most dominant athletes of her generation– a record-breaking force in the water and tied as the most decorated female swimmer of all time. But what actually goes into staying on top for more than a decade? On this episode of Forging Gold, Katie opens up about the system behind her success: the foundation, training, mindset, and even the rivalries that push her to excel in every race. From her famous “galloping kick” to the mental tricks that keep her focused lap after lap, she shares what it really takes to stay at the top. Listen in as Rennae and Katie dive into her proudest achievements, toughest challenges, and how she stays fired up to keep getting better—even when she’s already a champion.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    28 mins
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