How did Ronda Rousey's father pass away?

Ronda's father died by suicide when she was eight years old. He suffered from a rare blood disorder (Bardet-Biedl Syndrome) and a crumbling spine after a sledding accident, in chronic pain, and chose to end his life to spare his family from seeing him suffer.

What impact did losing her father have on Ronda Rousey?

Losing her father left Ronda with a persistent feeling that everything could come crashing down at any moment, eroding her sense of security. It also intensified her pursuit of validation and pushed her towards athletic achievement.

What role did Ronda's mother play in her Judo career?

Ronda's mother, a Judo World Champion herself, acted as the 'architect' of Ronda's career. She ensured Ronda trained with the right people but avoided being an overbearing coach herself, prioritizing their mother-daughter relationship.

Did Ronda Rousey struggle with an eating disorder?

Yes, Ronda struggled with bulimia from age 16, due to immense pressure to maintain an unhealthy weight for Judo competitions. This led to an unhealthy relationship with food, including hoarding and gorging.

What secret did Ronda Rousey keep about concussions during her MMA career?

Ronda suffered dozens of concussions during her Judo career that compounded, making her highly susceptible in MMA. She kept this a secret from everyone, including coaches and promotors, to continue fighting, developing a style to finish opponents quickly to avoid damage.

How did Ronda Rousey cope after her first UFC loss to Holly Holm?

After her loss to Holly Holm, Ronda experienced severe depression and suicidal ideation. She withdrew from public life, spent time playing video games, eating crepes, and grieving with the support of her husband, Travis Browne, for over a year.

Why did Ronda Rousey transition from UFC to WWE?

Ronda transitioned to WWE initially for fun, joining friends who were already involved. She found joy in the collaborative, storytelling aspect of pro wrestling, which felt like the 'purest form of combat storytelling,' rather than a cutthroat competition.

What is Ronda Rousey's view on WWE management?

Ronda believes WWE operates under a 'fundamentally sick environment' created by Vince McMahon, with his influence still remaining despite his resignation through 'cronies' like Bruce Prichard. She found athletes felt expendable and that last-minute script changes led to needless injuries.

What was Ronda Rousey's experience with fertility and IVF?

Ronda had two miscarriages before undergoing four cycles of IVF to secure embryos. She describes the IVF process as a difficult mental and physical 'grind,' exacerbated by hormonal changes and public scrutiny. She now has one daughter and is trying for more children.

How has Ronda Rousey redefined her happiness post-retirement?

Ronda now finds happiness daily with her family and through new passions like screenwriting and regenerative farming. She focuses on activities that bring intrinsic joy and mastery, rather than external validation or financial gain, seeing tangible results of her efforts like healing degraded land.

Ronda Rousey: I Kept This A Secret My Entire Career! WWE Is A Mess!

The Diary Of A CEO

People & Blogs4 min read97 min video

Apr 8, 2024|1,216,419 views|29,021|3,072

The Diary Of A CEO steven bartlett steve bartlett podcast the diary of a CEO podcast life lessons CEO

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Ronda Rousey details early trauma, athletic struggles, concussion secrets, and WWE/UFC realities.

Key Insights

Rousey's life was profoundly shaped by her father's suicide and a childhood speech disorder, which fueled her drive for mastery and success.

She endured numerous concussions throughout her Judo and MMA careers, often concealing them due to pressure and a desire to avoid being stopped.

Her athletic achievements were driven by a deep need for validation and a desire to prove herself, which later had to be managed for personal happiness.

Rousey experienced significant emotional and physical abuse from coaches in both Judo and WWE, highlighting systemic issues in coaching environments.

The loss of her undefeated streak in the UFC led to severe depression and suicidal ideation, but also a re-evaluation of happiness beyond external validation.

She candidly discusses the challenges of IVF and miscarriage, emphasizing the need for open conversations about fertility struggles.

Rousey criticizes the WWE environment under Vince McMahon, citing a 'sick environment' and the company's disregard for wrestler safety and well-being.

EARLY LIFE AND THE SHAPING OF INTENSITY

Ronda Rousey's early life was marked by significant trauma, beginning with being born with the umbilical cord around her neck, leading to neurological damage and a speech disorder. This was compounded by her father's suicide when she was eight, a secret he kept from the family due to chronic pain from an accident. These profound early experiences instilled in her a deep-seated insecurity and a relentless drive to prove her worth, which would become a powerful, albeit double-edged, motivator throughout her life and athletic career.

THE PURSUIT OF MASTERY AND ITS COSTS

Driven by a need for mastery and validation, Rousey channeled her energy into sports, particularly Judo, excelling from a young age. Her intense dedication, characterized by 'opposite add' where she could fixate on training for hours, made her a prodigy. However, this relentless pursuit came at a significant cost. She experienced struggles with bulimia due to weight-cutting demands and faced bullying for her muscular physique, experiences that were formative but also isolating and damaging to her self-esteem.

CONCEALED BATTLES: CONCUSSIONS AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES

A critical secret Rousey kept throughout her Judo and MMA careers was the extent of her concussions. Enduring dozens of hits to the head, she was often told to 'stop being a [expletive]' and continue training despite experiencing persistent symptoms. This pattern of ignoring head injuries led to a heightened sensitivity to impacts, forcing her to adopt an immediate, high-risk fighting style to avoid damage. The long-term effects of these concussions have been a significant concern, leading to her eventual departure from fighting.

THE TRIUMPH AND THE CRASH: UFC AND BEYOND

Rousey's UFC career was meteoric, breaking records and redefining women's fighting. Despite her success, her victory was often fueled by the need to avoid damage, a direct consequence of her undisclosed concussion issues. Her ultimate defeat to Holly Holm was a devastating turning point, triggering severe depression and suicidal ideation. This period forced her to confront her identity beyond being a champion and to re-evaluate the source of true happiness, realizing external validation was unsustainable.

NAVIGATING THE WWE AND SYSTEMIC ISSUES

Transitioning to the WWE, Rousey found a different set of challenges. She describes the environment under Vince McMahon as fundamentally 'sick,' characterized by last-minute script changes, unnecessary risks, and a sense of expendability among performers. Despite her enjoyment of the storytelling aspect of pro wrestling, she criticizes the lack of safety protocols and the company's historical disregard for the well-being of its athletes, many of whom are contractors with limited benefits.

FINDING PEACE: FAMILY, WRITING, AND REGENERATION

Following her demanding career, Rousey has found a new sense of fulfillment in her family life, focusing on her children and husband. She has also channeled her energy into creative pursuits, including writing screenplays and a memoir, using these as outlets for self-destructive thought patterns. Her work in regenerative agriculture on their ranch in Oregon has become a deeply rewarding endeavor, offering a sense of purpose and connection to the earth distinct from the high-stakes world of professional sports.

THE COMPLEXITIES OF MODERN MOTHERHOOD AND FERTILITY

Rousey openly shares her challenging journey with fertility, including two miscarriages and multiple IVF cycles. She highlights the emotional and physical toll of this process, advocating for more open discussions about infertility and IVF to support others experiencing similar struggles. This journey has reinforced the importance of prioritizing personal well-being and accepting that life, like fertility, doesn't always follow a predictable or easy path.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Products

●Software & Apps

●Organizations

●Books

●Concepts

●People Referenced

Common Questions

Ronda Rousey was born with a motor speech disorder called Apraxia, making it difficult for her brain and mouth to connect, resulting in delayed speech development. She underwent years of speech therapy to overcome it.

Topics

Ronda Rousey Judo WWE Concussions CTE Suicide Bulimia Coaching Ethics Power Imbalances Regenerative Agriculture

Mentioned in this video

bookBlink

A book by Malcolm Gladwell mentioned by the host, which Ronda confirms she hasn't read but notes it discusses the statistical success of children who lose a parent before age 10.

personTim Grover

Kobe Bryant and LeBron James' trainer, who discussed the interconnectedness of dark and light sides/trauma and greatness with the interviewer.

personTravis Browne

Ronda's husband, who supported her through her depression post-UFC and helped her through her fertility journey. He also has a background in fighting.

personHolly Holm

The opponent who defeated Ronda Rousey at UFC 193, marking a significant turning point in Ronda's career.

personBruce Prichard

Head of creative at WWE, described by Ronda as Vince McMahon's 'avatar,' still taking orders and running the company informally for Vince.

organizationWME

An organization related to the entertainment industry, where Ronda is interning in the story department to learn screenwriting and coverage writing.

conceptApraxia

A motor speech disorder Ronda was born with, causing a disconnect between her brain and mouth, requiring years of speech therapy. It pushed her towards physical communication in sports like Judo.

conceptBardet-Biedl Syndrome

A rare blood disorder Ronda's father had, which made it difficult for his blood to clot and heal from a broken back, eventually leading to his suicide.

personVince McMahon

Former head of WWE, accused of creating a 'fundamentally sick environment' and still influencing the company through his 'cronies' like Bruce Prichard despite formal resignation.

conceptJudo

The sport Ronda pursued from a young age, becoming a World Champion and Olympic medalist. It was a conduit for her to connect with others due to her speech impediment.

conceptBulimia

An eating disorder Ronda struggled with from age 16 due to constant pressure to make weight for Judo competitions.

productThe Expendables

Another film Ronda Rousey featured in during her acting career.

toolIVF