Olympian Shawn Johnson East on Building a Life Beyond Medals, Body Image Battles & Overcoming Her Biggest Failure

24 Sep 2025 • 59 min • EN
59 min
00:00
59:35
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She’s one of the most beloved gymnasts with millions of followers online: Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson East is here to open up like never before! Shawn shares the fears and near-death experiences she faced competing alongside her husband, Andrew, on the upcoming season of Fox’s Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test and how it compares to the Olympics. She opens up about the career failure that might have led to her Olympic gold medal, the secret body image struggles she battled as one of the world’s top gymnasts, and how she ultimately healed her relationship with her body. Plus, Shawn reveals her advice for learning to love the grind so fulfillment comes from the process (not just the outcome), the three practices that keep her marriage strong, and her best tips for hosting and building community. Tune in to see a whole new side of one of the world’s greatest athletes, get inspired to try new things, and take your relationships to the next level. Instagram: @shawnjohnson YouTube: Andrew & Shawn Podcast: Couple Things  // SPONSORS // BetterHelp: Visit betterhelp.com/realpod today to get 10% off your first month.  LMNT: LMNT is offering a free sample pack with any purchase, that’s 8 single serving packets FREE with any LMNT order. This is a great way to try all 8 flavors or share LMNT with a friend. Get yours at DrinkLMNT.com/realpod. Quince: Go to quince.com/realpod for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Asics: Visit asics.com and use codeREALPODat checkout for 10% off your first purchase. Exclusions may apply. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode. Produced by Dear Media. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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