Megan Rapinoe announced she is launching a new weekly interview podcast titled “Why Are You Like This?” during an appearance on The Daily Show.
The move signals Rapinoe's transition from professional athletics to a full-time role as a cultural commentator and media entrepreneur. By leveraging her global platform, she aims to sustain the momentum of her career-long advocacy for social justice.
Produced in partnership with Vox Media, the series will feature conversations with a diverse array of guests, including artists, athletes, and activists [1, 4]. The podcast is slated to launch later in 2026 [2, 3]. Rapinoe said the project is designed to provide a platform for culture shapers to discuss the mechanisms of societal change.
Throughout her career with the U.S. women’s national soccer team, Rapinoe became a prominent voice for LGBTQ+ rights and equal pay [1, 2]. This new venture allows her to continue that work through long-form dialogue rather than on-field activism. The weekly format [3] will focus on the intersection of personal identity and public influence.
Rapinoe spoke with Desi Lydic about her motivations for the series and her life following her retirement from professional soccer [1]. She said the podcast will explore the motivations and behaviors of people who challenge the status quo.
The announcement comes as Rapinoe expands her portfolio beyond sports, moving into the media space to address systemic inequalities. The partnership with Vox Media provides the infrastructure to distribute these conversations to a wide audience as the series debuts later this year [2, 4].
“The podcast is slated to launch later in 2026.”
Rapinoe's move into podcasting reflects a broader trend of elite athletes transitioning into media ownership to control their own narratives. By focusing on 'culture shapers,' she is positioning herself not just as a retired athlete, but as a curator of social activism, ensuring her influence on LGBTQ+ and gender equality issues persists outside of the sporting world.
