Best of Special | Shaped with Ash Barty
About this episode
Ash Barty shares her journey and insights on identity, success, and mental health in a powerful conversation with Trent Cotchin.
To celebrate the Australian Open, we’re revisiting one of our most powerful conversations on Shaped - our special best of episode with Ash Barty , one year on. Ash Barty is one of Australia’s most loved champions - a former World No. 1, three time Grand Slam winner, and a proud Indigenous woman who shocked the world by stepping away from tennis while still at the top. In this special Best Of episode, Ash sits down with Trent Cotchin to share the real story behind the milestones: the foggy headspace, the pressure, the homesickness, and the moment she realised she’d attached her worth to results and public opinion. This conversation goes far beyond tennis. Ash opens up about the lonely years between 14 and 18, why she walked away the first time at 18, and how her “2.0” comeback was built on courage, boundaries, and a strict no dickhead policy. Together, they unpack identity beyond sport, learning to separate the athlete from the person, and what success looks like when you choose happiness, family, and values over endless achievement. Ash also shares the purpose behind the Ash Barty Foundation, and why helping young Australians find their own “lightbulb moment” matters most now…
People in this episode
Host: Trent Cotchin
Guest: Ash Barty
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Ash Barty Foundation
Places: Australia
More episodes of Shaped by Trent Cotchin
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- Shaped with Lydia Lassila
- Shaped with Pat Rafter
- Shaped with Rennae Stubbs
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