Let’s get one thing straight: strength isn’t about pretending everything’s fine while you’re silently losing it behind the scenes. Strength is crying in the car before soccer practice, showing up anyway, and still managing to coach a killer meeting or cheer from the sidelines.
This week on Possibilities with Monique de Maio, I sat down with two powerhouse women in sports media: ESPN’s Emmy-winning play-by-play commentator Jenn Hildreth and Aimee Leone, SVP of Talent Relations at FOX Sports. They’re co-hosts of the Tough as a Mother podcast—and (trust me) that title isn’t just catchy, it’s a whole damn ethos.
Here’s the deal: If you’ve ever felt like you’re juggling too many balls in the air, this conversation is going to feel like someone finally turned the lights on.
Aimee said it best: “You can be strong and still be struggling.”
She’s worked with elite athletes and exhausted moms, and the truth is we’re all playing mental gymnastics. The difference? Most women are expected to do it with a smile, a snack bag, and perfectly applied mascara.
Jenn brought the perspective of being in the public eye in male-dominated sports broadcasting. Her biggest challenge? Not being the only woman in the room, but being expected to perform flawlessly because she was. These double standards? They don’t disappear once you’ve “made it.”
But neither of them came to whine. They came to show how being real—really real—about the chaos, pressure, and emotional swings is actually a power move.
We cracked open what strength actually looks like for women:
→ Saying “I can’t do this alone” and calling in support.
→ Taking breaks before the burnout hits.
→ Teaching your daughters that tears aren’t a weakness.
→ And yes, occasionally locking yourself in the pantry with a granola bar just to breathe.
Jenn told a story about calling a major soccer match with a toddler meltdown happening in the background. Aimee talked about helping a young athlete unlearn the belief that showing emotion meant she wasn’t “tough enough.”
We all agreed: the world’s definition of strong isn’t serving women. It’s time we rewrite it.
One of the most powerful things that came out of this episode was the reminder that we don’t have to do this alone.
Whether you’re raising athletes, leading teams, or just trying to keep your head above water, there’s strength in numbers. Strength in honesty. Strength in shared messiness.
So the next time you feel like you’re “too much” or “not enough,” remember: the strongest women are the ones who show up for each other.
Even when they’re falling apart.
Especially when they’re falling apart.
This episode wasn’t just about parenting or sports or business, it was about being human.
And being human is hard.
But also? It’s where the magic is.
→ Let your kids see you struggle and recover.
→ Let your team see you pause and pivot.
→ Let yourself off the damn hook.
Because being tough doesn’t mean going it alone. It means building a life that supports your full self (even the messy, complicated, beautiful parts)!
🎧 Listen to the full episode: Tough as a Mother: Resilience, Real Talk & Redefining What Strength Looks Like
Then text it to your group chat. You know the one.
~ Monique