BFFR with Sydney Leroux & Ali Riley

• Alyssa Naeher on USWNT Retirement, World Cup Pressure, Penalty Shootouts & Her First NWSL Goal

  Ali Riley talks with 2x World Cup Champion, Olympian, U.S. Soccer Player of the Year, and NWSL icon, Alyssa Naeher, fresh off getting iced at NWSL Championship weekend and her big retirement celebrations. Alyssa gets real about all the emotions, gratitude, and perspective that come with closing one chapter and stepping into whatever’s next. The two dive into Alyssa’s 10-year career in Chicago, what the future might look like with the Red Stars, and how she checks in with her body and her mindset as she figures out next moves. Alyssa also gets into her excitement for Boston’s return to the NWSL and why the city is a blueprint for sports culture. Later, they talk U.S. Women’s National Team journey, what it was really like taking over the starting goalkeeper role after Hope Solo, the pressure that came with it, and the trust from teammates that kept her locked in. And don’t go anywhere, because Alyssa breaks down the strategy behind her legendary penalty shootout performances, and relieves the moment of scoring her first NWSL goal this year. New episodes of BFFR drop every Monday! Subscribe on YouTube, follow wherever you get your podcasts, and stalk us @BFFRshow on all socials. Chapters (0:00) – Intro (1:48) - Alyssa Naeher joins the show (3:25) - Getting iced by Ali (7:33) - NWSL Championship weekend recap (11:49) - Retirement celebrations (15:53) - Playing pro without USWNT responsibilities (20:07) - Future with Chicago Red Stars (23:22) - 10-year career in Chicago (25:54) - Boston Legacy FC loading (27:15) - The Alyssa Naeh-ERA (35:58) - Penalty shootout prep (41:06) - GKU (45:30) - Scoring her first NWSL goal (49:28) - Gifting to twins Thanks to our sponsors. -Shop at https://www.macys.com/

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• Lynn Biyendolo talks Gotham Championship, Winning 4 NWSL Titles, Pregnancy & Changing Her Last Name

  This week on BFFR, Ali Riley is joined by the one and only Lynn Biyendolo, Olympic Gold medalist, 4x NWSL Champion, the leagues leading goal scorer, and 2016 MVP & Golden Boot winner. Fresh off the NWSL Championship weekend, Lynn breaks down the energy behind Gotham FC’s celebrations, Temwa Chawinga’s MVP season, and what it truly takes to win a NWSL championship. The two go beyond the pitch, as Lynn opens up about motherhood, the decision to become a mom mid-career, the moms’ group chat, and how the NWSL is continuing to evolve in the support it offers mothers. She also shares stories from her wedding, the making of her dress, the emotional journey of changing her last name, and updating her signature. New episodes of BFFR drop every Monday! Subscribe on YouTube, follow wherever you get your podcasts, and stalk us @BFFRshow on all socials. Chapters (0:00) – Intro (1:50) – Lynn Biyendolo joins the show (3:16) – NWSL Championship weekend highlights (6:35) – Gotham FC’s championship celebrations (11:35) – Navigating motherhood (13:33) – “First of many” (18:45) – Winning four NWSL Championships (21:30) – Temwa Chawinga takes MVP honors (23:28) – Inside the moms’ group chat (25:32) – NWSL supporting moms in the league (28:18) – Making the decision to become a mom (39:59) – Her hand-made wedding dress story (37:40) – Off-Season weddings & busy schedules (40:54) – Changing the last name (43:43) – Updating her signature Thanks to our sponsors. -Shop at https://www.macys.com/

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• Duda Pavão reacts to 2025 NWSL Awards, Growth of the League & Marta's influence

  Ali Riley sits down with close friend and colleague Duda Pavão, beloved across the soccer world for her electric hosting, live event presenting, and iconic social media presence. The two rewind to their Orlando Pride days and catch up on everything from the latest NWSL season to life in the media industry. Ali and Duda break down the 2025 NWSL Awards, including standout fashion moment from Trinity Rodman, this year’s nominees, top winners like Temwa Chawinga (MVP), Tara McKeown (Defender of the Year), Bev Yanez (Coach of the Year), and their favorite behind-the-scenes moments from the show. They also shares thoughts on the impact Brazilian players like Marta and many Japanese players have had on the league. Duda dives into her journey as a freelancer and content creator, sharing highlights from her many projects, especially her unforgettable experience working with Worlds Seven Football in Portugal. Before wrapping up, the duo make their 2025 NWSL Final predictions, Ali gives an update on her first broadcasting experience with CBS Golazo, and Duda shares her manifestations and intentions for the year ahead. New episodes of BFFR drop every Monday! Subscribe on YouTube, follow wherever you get your podcasts, and stalk us @BFFRshow on all socials. Chapter (0:00) – Intro (1:16) – Duda Pavão joins the show (2:09) – Presenting at the NSWL Final & growth of the game (4:11) – 2025 NWSL Award Show (15:33) – Japanese & Brazilians players impact (16:34) – Marta’s draw to the NWSL (19:14) – 2025 NWSL season in 1 WORD (20:11) – Duda...the host and influencer (23:18) – Final predictions (25:52) – Ali’s CBS broadcasting update (29:10) – Birthday brigadeiro & Hollywood hike (32:28) – New year manifestations Thanks to our sponsors. -Shop at https://www.macys.com/

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• Eli Rallo’s NYT Bestseller, Quarter-Life Crisis Survival Guide & Wedding Plus-One Truth Bomb

  Ali Riley is back, and this week she’s joined by content creator, author, and certified internet Carrie Bradshaw, Eli Rallo. Eli is the bestselling author of Does Anyone Else Feel This Way?—and is bringing all her candid, hilarious, and heartfelt takes on relationships, adulthood, and self-growth. From the spontaneous jar video that launched her career to her book-writing success, Eli has become a voice for anyone trying to decode the chaos of growing up. In this episode, Ali and Eli get into everything about the pressure cooker of being a creator, setting boundaries when the internet gets too close, the power of journaling, and what adulthood really feels like in your 20s and 30s. Plus, Eli shares her elite hotel bar wisdom and gives the real talk on wedding guest lists and plus ones. New episodes of BFFR drop every Monday! Subscribe on YouTube, follow wherever you get your podcasts, and stalk us @BFFRshow on all socials. Chapters (0:00) – Intro (1:23) – Eli Rallo joins the show (1:52) – Becoming a bestselling author (11:45) – The VIRAL video (14:06) – Eli’s relationship with the internet (17:33) – Notebook November & journaling tidbits (22:07) – Truths about the quarter-life crisis (26:16) – Being a good friend (29:31) – Getting ready for the holidays (35:09) - Staying present while building a career (36:43) – Pressures of the internet (40:17) – Wedding invites and plus ones (46:23) – Rapid fire (49:45) – Eli’s advice for women in their 20s & 30s Thanks to our sponsors. -Shop at https://www.macys.com/

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• Haley Rosen on Founding Just Women’s Sports, How Ali “Saved” the Account & New Era of Women's Sports

  In this special episode of BFFR, Ali Riley sits down with Just Women’s Sports founder and CEO — and fellow Stanford alum — Haley Rosen to talk all things women’s sports, navigating the highs and lows of media, and balancing life’s biggest transitions. To start things off, Ali opens up about her own embryo-transfer journey and how her show "Off the Ball with Ali Riley" first connected her to the early days of Just Women’s Sports — and to Haley herself. Haley gets real about building JWS from scratch, why she created it, and the wild story of how the JWS Instagram was almost lost (until Ali literally saved the day). Together, they dive into how far women’s sports coverage has come, what it means to finally have doors opening, and the urgency to keep pushing it forward. To wrap things up, Haley reveals who she thinks are the top three biggest female athletes in the world right now— and shares what she sees as the most exciting shifts happening in women’s sports. With authentic conversations about handling criticism, owning mistakes, and keeping coverage real (and sometimes funny), this episode captures what it truly means to be a women’s sports fan! New episodes of BFFR drop every Monday! Subscribe on YouTube, follow wherever you get your podcasts, and stalk us @BFFRshow on all socials. Got a BFFR moment? Call 833-898-2337 — we might just put you on blast. Chapters (0:00) - Intro (01:08) - Labubu reveal (05:59) - Haley Rosen joins the show (09:05) - Starting families (13:11) - Just Women’s Sports early days (15:24) - How Ali saved Just Women's Sports (23:30) - Biggest changes (28:00) - New era (31:30) - Media coverage & criticizing female athletes (39:30) - Handling backlash (43:34) - Sponsors entering women's sports (45:35) - Most influential women in sports Thanks to our sponsors. -Shop at https://www.macys.com/ -Go to https://ritual.com/BFFR for 40% off your first month

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