Bethany Balcer on her unorthodox path to pro, destigmatizing mental health, and becoming a veteran 

Wow Sammy! You were built for this job. Incredible interview from such an underrated player and human. Incredible interview. So much respect💚👑

What a great interview. My wife is a psychotherapist and she has saved and restored so many souls. This interview almost made me cry . So candid, so sincere, and so courageous.

This is such a great series! BB is so humble- such a great human off the field and on!

I'm a huge Reign fan and soccer fan in general, and as such I've watched Bethany play for years, but this interview was so insightful. It's refreshing to hear Bethany's journey and love both your honesty and Bethany's. I love the sincerity between the two of you .

Wonderful to really get to know one of the more unsung stars of the NWSL. I'm even more of a Boats fan now. Keep these fabulous interviews coming.

Wow that was an amazing interview. I have to admit I didn’t know much about Balcer but wow she is an impressive human.

Bethany balder is such an amazing person I love here in seattle and been to so many games she is truly amazing I have seen such great goals and celebrations for her! And I hope she will be one of the next faces of the reign! GOOD LUCK TO USA IN THE FINAL!!!

I love this. These amazing humans are great. Balcer is a great player to interview! And she’s just so amazing ❤❤❤❤❤

What a wonderful interview, I long admired and followed "Boats" entry into the pro- and international scene and the intelligence she shows on the pitch. This is the first interview long form I have seen where she was relaxed and just seemed herself and -wow-impressed by you, young woman. (Old fossil 60yo WoSo fan since the 90's, see y'all as kids I secretly root for as I watch your careers evolve and just as importantly want your lives to grow and expand beyond soccer.)

Hello Sam. What a great character. I watch women's football because of this, which seems lacking on the men's game these days, whatever those "guys behind screens" say. Those distances in US are strange quoted in hours. It took me three months to get round your country and I missed huge parts and only had a day in most places. Keep liking those Yorkshire puddings and try left over bun size ones with treacle. Note, here in Yorkshire we make pancakes with the same mix, like thick crepes, not like the fluffy US ones. They are also great with treacle. I loved the bit about big shoes, since as a kid of 13 I was already in size 11. In the local corner shop they joked that I had to watch not to knock things down as I had the turning circle of a supertanker.

I started following Balcer because she is from Michigan, but it's her character that has made me a devoted fan.

wow, loved the interview! new found respect for Bethany,, Reign fan/live in Seattle and as chill as she seemed, i loved hearing her open up on your cast. Good talk on mental health, and all those details about her humble upbrining. thx Sam!!💚

We were so fortunate to watch Bethany on our local women’s team in Grand Rapids, MI (GRFC) where she scored goals at a ridiculous pace. She was so much fun to watch and it’s been awesome to see her success since then. A Twitter queen.

Great interview 😊

Brilliant interview again Sam what surprised me was the fact which school you go to can make a difference in the US where I know here in the UK a lot of the national team players have played through the age groups together the spine of the lionesses have played for there country since they were about 13 Toone Russo Stanway and Walsh have played since they were about 13 in a national team environment and has this made the transition easier as for the fan girl part I suggest talking to Georgia Stanway about that as from what the England players who came back from the 2015 World Cup to Man City she was the biggest fan girl after joining City at 16 after watching the World Cup

Great Interview Sammy! Bethany is a super cool lady and a friend to the gays. I’m an even bigger fan of hers now! It was quite special that Le Sommer played at Reign, along with Maroszan and Bouhaddi. Good times!

BB8 is the reason I became a soccer fan four years ago. I also suggest her Episode 29 interview at Two Washups One Pro. Dave P

Hey Sam! Loved the interview with Bethany! Would be amazing to get / see Cat Macario for an interview 👀

I hope a movie with be made for her journey to NWSL.

I too remember Boats' first year in the league and how big of a splash she made. I had just started getting into the NWSL that year. I love watching her play but it's really her character that makes her shine so bright. (And i'm a Thorns fan even!)

Loved this interview. When I attended SAU in the 80s we sold pizzas to pay for softball spring training in FL and stayed in cabins at a church camp. Huge respect for Bethany although as Portland Thorns season ticket holder I’m not nuts about her favorite goal.

Can you do a player--->coach series with Amy Rodriguez and Bev Yanez? Their careers have come full circle and I think that really speaks to not only them as people/coaches/players, but also the success of the NWSL.

Love watching Bethany play! So fun when fellow (Western) Michigan girls make it big. What an amazing role model. So much ❤!

success for me is being kind to myself.

BB8!!!!

What a fantastic player and a great interview. It's a shame that Bethany is trapped on such a terrible and nasty team. I hope she can one day be freed of this hardship so that she can move on to play for a team more deserving of her talents, something like the Portland Thorns 🌹. 😉

YOUNG LIFE