More Than a Penalty Kick: Brandi Chastain’s Lasting Soccer Legacy

**SPEAKER_1** (0:00)
With the Men's FIFA World Cup capturing fans around the globe, we're revisiting our conversation with Brandi Chastain, a pioneer whose impact on soccer extends far beyond one unforgettable penalty kick.
Brandi reflects on the resilience, teamwork and determination that defined her career, from overcoming setbacks to helping inspire a new generation of athletes. Her story is a reminder that lasting success isn't built on a single moment. It's built on years of preparation, perseverance and believing in something bigger than yourself.

**Guy Kawasaki** (0:42)
I'm Guy Kawasaki and this is Remarkable People. Today's remarkable guest is Brandi Chastain. She represents the highest level of achievement in sports.
Her accomplishments are truly remarkable. She won a gold medal in the 1996 Olympics for women's soccer. She won the Women's World Cup Championships in 1991 and 1999
She was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame and the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.
She may be best remembered for a remarkable moment in the 1999 World Cup. First, she inadvertently scored against her own goalkeeper in the game against Germany. This was the mistake. Later in the game, she tied the score. This was the redemption. Then in overtime, she won the game with the penalty kick. But wait, the best and most visually memorable part happened right after. She whipped off her jersey and waved it around her head in celebration. This was one of the greatest displays of joy in the history of sports. Not just for her team, but for her country, women's soccer and women's empowerment in general.
The iconic image was on the cover of Newsweek and Sports Illustrated. This episode of Remarkable People is brought to you by Remarkable, the paper tablet company. Yes, you got that right. Remarkable is sponsored by Remarkable. I have version two in my hot little hands and it's so good. A very impressive upgrade. Here's how I use it. One, taking notes while I'm interviewing a podcast guest. Two, taking notes while being brief about speaking gigs. Three, drafting the structure of keynote speeches. Four, storing manuals for the gizmos that I buy. Five, roughing out drawings for things like surfboards, surfboard sheds and office layouts. Six, wrapping my head around complex ideas with diagrams and flow charts. This is a remarkably well thought out product. It doesn't try to be all things to all people, but it takes notes better than anything I've used. Check out the recent reviews of the latest version.
I'm Guy Kawasaki, and this is Remarkable People. And now, here is the remarkable Brandi Chastain.
What is it like to coach soccer at an all-boys school?

**Brandi Chastain** (3:06)
I absolutely am delighted by the opportunity to coach an all-boys team in an all-boys school. I'm a mom of two boys, I should say, one man and one young man. And, you know, I really get a good balance between all the female coaching I get to do. So it really keeps me in check with, am I thinking about things in the right space? What works over here? What doesn't work over here? Can I bridge the gap between the two entities? And what communication style seems to work best? So and you know what? They're fun. They're so fun.
They are as wonderful and as sensitive and personable as my girls team. So I really enjoy coaching the boys a lot.

**Guy Kawasaki** (4:04)
Are there any key differences in coaching that is necessary for boys versus girls?

**Brandi Chastain** (4:10)
Well, one thing I will say is that what I noticed right away is that the majority and this, of course, I don't want to generalize because they're all very unique, special people in their own right. But the majority have this wonderful confidence that I wish my girls had. They come to the field with this bravado and this, I've got this kind of mentality, which is spectacular. But then they sometimes hold the ball too long and then they lose the ball. And it's like, well, just share, you know, share. And my girls, of course, are like, they overshare.
And they don't want to step on anybody's toes. They don't want to make anybody feel like they don't fit in. And so they are kind of polar opposites in the general sense. But then there's people who blur the lines. They fit in the middle. So, what I love about coaching boys or girls, men or women, is that I've come to the realization that they're all unique.
And they all need special attention in their own way. And as the coach, that's my job is to figure it out.

**Guy Kawasaki** (5:22)
I've interviewed many female CEOs for this podcast. And almost every one of them brings up that they had to overcome the imposter syndrome, where they didn't feel like they deserved it or something like that. And I think it's related to what you just said. I guarantee you, no man ever said, I don't really deserve this raise. I don't deserve this $5 million investment. I don't deserve this honor.