Lunch Break with Olympian Laurie Hernandez at the Mara in the Four Seasons Hotel

Welcome to Lunch Break, my exciting interview series where I chat with fascinating people over lunch!

Today's episode is available to everyone, but starting with the next episode of "Lunch Break," we'll return to our regular schedule. To ensure you don't miss a single moment, consider becoming a paid subscriber. I release new episodes of this series every other week, and our next guest is a true jawns enthusiast—you won't want to miss it! 😊

If you listened to last week’s episode of “Lunch Break” (and if you haven’t, what are you waiting for?!), you know that a few weekends ago, I had the honor of attending the US Olympic Gymnastic Trials in Minneapolis! The day after the trials and the team announcement, I had the pleasure of speaking with gold medalist and member of the Final Five, Laurie Hernandez. Talking to Laurie felt like chatting with an old friend, and I know we could have talked for hours (I also left the conversation fully obsessed with her mom!).

Here’s a little background on Laurie before we dive into the interview: Her breakthrough came in 2016 when she made the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team, known as the "Final Five." At the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, she won a gold medal in the team event and a silver medal on the balance beam. That same year, she competed on and won the 23rd season of “Dancing with the Stars,” further showcasing her versatility and talent. Laurie is now channeling that same energy into her studies at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University (NYU), my alma mater (Go Violets!)! She is also the author of the book “I Got This: To Gold and Beyond,” which details her journey to becoming an Olympic gold medalist, the role her family plays in her life, and her advocacy for mental health and body positivity, among other topics. It was truly an honor to speak with her about the gymnastics trials, her time at NYU, and Mamma Mia!

P.S: In the transcription below you will not only find pictures, but also links to items mentioned.

Jalil Johnson: So with Mamma Mia! ... I guess we're just going to get started. With Mamma Mia!, I watched it on the plane-

Laurie Hernandez: Well, yes.

JJ: I saw it on your Instagram that you did a rendition of one of the songs with a headstand. It was-

LH: Oh. Yeah.

JJ: Also, I have not seen Mamma Mia! in years, and I literally was crying on the plane.

LH: Oh. That movie. Every time I hear Meryl Streep sing “Slipping Through My Fingers,” immediately, the instinct to call my mom and be like, "Mom, I'm sorry. I don't mean to be grown up so fast." That movie makes me weep.

JJ: I didn't realize the impact of so many of the songs, and so it's a really fantastic movie.

LH: Yeah. I mean, it seems like a lot of fun, and it seems like everyone on set was having a good time. But when you actually listen to what's going on, even though the plot is ... There's a little bit of suspending your own belief for it, but that's also just theater and musicals in general.

JJ: Did you watch Mom Mamma Mia! 2?

LH: Heck yeah, I did.

JJ: I've never seen it. How was it?

LH: I personally loved it. I mean, Lily James was just phenomenal as young Meryl, but it just, I liked it. I liked it. I prefer the first one, but I did love the second one.

JJ: Was the second one more of like a campy, "We're just doing it for the fans."

LH: They're like, "We're going to give her some background story. We're going to give the trio a little bit of history. We'll see them as youngins," and I thought it was worth it.

JJ: Oh. Fantastic.

LH: Yeah.

JJ: Well, before we dive any further into the Mamma Mia! lore, could you please introduce yourself and tell everyone where we are?

LH: Heck yeah. Hello. My name is Laurie Hernandez. I am an Olympic gold medalist and part of the Final Five women's gymnastics team in Rio 2016. Currently, we are in Minneapolis and are at Mara.

JJ: Oh. Thanks. Fantastic. Well, I'm so excited to talk with you. Last night was amazing, wasn't it?

LH: Oh. Last night was just, it was thrilling, and in my head, the team that I had for Paris this year at the beginning of the week was just a complete shift come day two. But it also just goes to show the experience and the courage that it takes to show up as a team when you see your teammates getting injured and whatnot. To have a repeat team, to have four out of ... Well, at the time, the teams, it was a long story, but to have pretty much a repeat Tokyo team come on back and to hit the routines as best as they could ... Sure, there were some mistakes, but they showed up on the events that they needed to. It was really a thrilling launch.

JJ: It was an amazing ... That was my first time also seeing a gymnast perform in person.

LH: Oh my gosh. Yeah. Very different than TV.

JJ: Very different than TV, but also, so emotional. We were sitting down, and we were all kind of crying. No. We were literally crying, actually.

LH: Yeah. No. I was on air, and into my mic, I can hear my own sniffles for broadcasting. I was like oof.

JJ: So for the audience, could you just describe, what does this moment mean, and how do these gymnasts feel? You were in their shoes.

LH: I mean, each athlete has their own goals and aspirations for this coming games, but if we look at everyone's individual journey, we could start with Simone, recognizing her journey of not only dominating in 2016, but then also the competition that she had in Tokyo, having to pull out of team finals due to the twisties. Now, she gets to come back with those same teammates and almost have a bit of a redemption in a sense, not that she necessarily needs one, but I think a lot of her feel for coming back is that feeling of, "Let me go out there, and let me prove to myself what I can do." So that's a really fun energy and also someone who's the best in the world.

JJ: Also, somewhat, she's shepherding this new group.

LH: She is. Yeah.

JJ: She's like your mother.

LH: She is mother. She's mothering.

JJ: She's mother.

LH: She's serving mother. Absolutely. She is absolutely serving, and then we look at Suni Lee, who has been through two kidney issues, is currently in remission, has been working so hard, and just, at the end of the competition, sobbed into the mic, saying, "A year ago, I did not think this was going to happen for me."

JJ: I broke down, and yeah. It was really-

LH: Yeah. That was a lot. With Jordan Chiles being, already, teammates with Simone, I'm sure it feels really good to see someone that not only she looks up to, but she once again gets to be a part of that team with her. For Jade Carey, she had a really big mistake on individual vault finals. Not only is it exciting that she gets to go back and hopefully compete vault again, but as a part of Tokyo, she was invited onto Team USA as an individual specialist. This is her first time being a part of the team itself.

So now, she gets to go ahead, and compete, and hopefully get that team medal with the squad. I have full faith they'll be able to do that, and then Hezly Rivera, new, up and coming, 16 years old, from New Jersey. This is her first Olympic Games, first World Championships, because she'd be too young to compete anytime before this year. Oh. Thanks. I just got my little... ASMR my little oat milk latte.

JJ: We love all the sounds, as many sounds as you ...

LH: Thanks.

JJ: And so you were saying the newcomer on the block?

LH: Yeah.

JJ: From New Jersey.

LH: She's kind of like a little puppy coming in, and it's, especially when you have four athletes who have already been to either ... well, have already been to an Olympic Games and World Championships ... All of them have, except for Hezly. I do believe that they are the best ones to walk her through the experience and to let her know, "Yes. It's scary. We've all had our first times before, and the first time for anything can be scary." But if anything, Hezly Rivera's performances these last two competitions have just shown that she can show up when it counts, and that's huge for a 16-year-old.

JJ: It's amazing. It's like really, this new class of girls is really fantastic, like women.

LH:Yeah.

JJ: Do you get to go to Paris with them?

LH: I do get to go to Paris, not with them, but with NBC Sports and the broadcasting team. I'll be doing live coverage out there, which will be so much fun. They've never done live before. It's always been prime time. So everybody gets both. We get double the amount of gymnastics everyone gets to watch.

JJ: Oh. That's amazing. Well, I have two questions for Paris. The first question, selfishly, are you going to be doing any shopping?

LH: Absolutely. I'm not even sure where, but the goal is to just go out there and serve, as per usual.

JJ: Serve. Serve. Serve mother.

LH: Serve mother. Thank you.

JJ: Well, because you're also going, I think, during the best time, which is sales season, which-

LH: Oh. I didn't even realize. I've never been to Paris before. I was hoping to sneak in for a competition or two back in my day. Apparently, I'm retired now, whatever that means. Me, 24 years old, retired the same year as my father. That was so Draco Malfoy of me. Sorry. Anyways.

JJ: Are you a Slytherin?

LH: It depends who you ask. I think I'm Gryffindor, but some people were like, "Oh. You're Hufflepuff," and I was like, "You're a silly goose." But to each their own.

JJ: Do you feel like a Gryffindor?

LH: I do. I think, well, I have the word brave-

JJ: Did ever you ever take that test on-

LH: I did, and I got almost an equal amount for all of them, but Gryffindor was my highest.

JJ: Got it.

LH: So I have the word brave tattooed on me, which is a little bit millennial of me, even though I'm Gen Z. But that's very Gryffindor.

JJ: It is very Gryffindor. You're a leader. It makes sense.

LH: Yeah. Yeah. I also think there's a lot of bravery and courage, and I'm like, I'm scared all the time, but I still do scary things anyways. So that feels very-

JJ: It feels-

LH: ... feels very Potter of me.

JJ: So with Paris, you're going to try to find time to shop probably. Are you into shirting?

LH: Shirting? Oh my gosh. Don't tell me I'm uncultured. What's shirting?

JJ: Like a shirt, like a button-down shirt.

LH: Oh. Well, yes.

JJ: Yes.

LH: Well, yes.

JJ: Well, yes. Well, I've never been to Paris either, but this is the first place I'm going on my list, I'm going September, Charvet.

LH: Okay. I'm writing that down.

JJ: They make custom shirts. [the appropriate term to use here was made-to-measure, but c’est la vie.]

LH: Mom, if you wouldn't mind writing this. No. I'm kidding.

JJ: Charvet, and slippers. They're known for their shirting and their slippers.

LH: Okay. That's going to be a lot of fun. I wouldn't be shocked if I am in polos and whatnot, but I think one of the most exciting things-

JJ: They have polos, too.

LH: I feel like my style definitely leans towards sporty. I don't know if that has to do with me being a professional athlete for 15 years, but it definitely leans towards business sporty. I mean, I'm in slacks and a Nike shirt right now, which feels fun and very meta, if you will.

JJ: It kind of feels meta.

LH: I was like, if you told me I had to be in Divergent right now, I think I'd be totally fine.

JJ: Yes. Well, this leads me to the next question attached to Paris, is, what is your travel outfit? What are you? Are you business casual, sporty casual?

LH: Actually, you're kind of looking at it.

JJ: Okay. Well, describe....

LH: Swap trousers for joggers, but I've got some just Nike running sneakers. Because I feel like airport floors are so hard, and I already have arthritis, which is so fun and funky.

JJ: Yeah.

LH: Let's get that trending.

JJ: Everyone get arthritis.

LH: Everyone get arthritis. Kidding. Let's not romanticize arthritis, but let's make it cool. Because those who already have arthritis, at least you can have cool shoes with it.

JJ: Yes.

LH: So I got some nice running shoes, and then I'm wearing trousers right now. Because I've had a lot of press this morning before heading to the airport, but I do plan on swapping them for some just casual Nike joggers. I love when they cuff at the ankle, because I'm so short. So anything that shows a nice ankle makes me feel a little tall, even though I'm a whopping five one and a half. I'm doing my best. Then, I have a crop top, kind of curves where my ribs are.

JJ: It's a really nice ... It really defines.

LH: Yeah, and I feel like, I don't know, it just, it makes me feel really strong. It's cropped at the shoulders, as well. It's completely sleeveless, but it's a turtleneck.

JJ: It's décolletage.

LH: So I feel like things that show a little décolletage, a little collar, in a sense, because it cuts so high up over here, even though it is a turtleneck, yeah, I really like that. Anything that makes me feel like my posture has to be rod straight, that makes me feel really confident. So I feel like when I'm wearing sportswear, especially when I'm wearing Nike, I automatically have to sit up and start flexing, which ... I love knowing if I have to throw a punch, I will.

JJ: You're prepared.

LH: I'm strong enough. Yeah.

JJ: So Nike, how long have you been with Nike, and how did that relationship come about?

LH: Oh my goodness. I've been with Nike for quite a few years now, and I started off as a Nike athlete. Now, I'm part of their think tank initiative, where they just really want to listen to the voices of athletes, retired or not, which just felt really good. Because when you're in sport, it's like all the attention and the eyes are on you, and then, for me, being retired, there is this feeling of like, "Okay. Well, what do I do now?" It's been nice to be a part of the Nike family continuing in my journey outside of sport.

Whether that's speaking events or getting to talk on past experiences, I feel like I've gotten to get together with my cohort. They have a tier of cohorts. I think I'm number three, or not tier. But there's different times that everyone gets to coordinate, and just being able to not only connect with other athletes, but share our different experiences and things that we've either been insecure about, or, "Hey. When I'm wearing this, it doesn't really make me feel good in this part of my body, because I'm so short." Then, someone who's much taller might say, "Oh yeah. I have the same issue, but in a different location," and Nike's just there to listen and to listen to the athlete and just to the person. It's been really nice to be a part of that.

JJ: It's amazing. It truly does sound like it's a family.

LH: Yeah, and I'm like, "Oh. Yay. Just because I'm an athlete doesn't mean that I don't get to be a part of things." So that feels really good.

JJ: Yeah, and then, another thing that I found out was that we have something in common.

LH: Oh my gosh.

JJ: Well, you're currently-

LH: Go Violets.

JJ: Go Violets.

LH: I know it. I was like, "This energy, this energy."

JJ: Yeah.

LH: I'm sorry.

JJ: Well, do you know what school I went to? What school do you think I was in?

LH: I mean, it's giving Tisch, but I don't know.

JJ: Really?

LH: Yeah. I swear if you're about to say Stern, I'm so sorry, because-

JJ: Oh. No, no, no, no. They would not have let me into Stern.

LH: No. Oh. They would have.

JJ: I don't know. Would they? Wait. I will not slander Stern. They were-

LH: I will not slander Stern. We'll talk about it when we take our mics off.

JJ: That's a off ... But I went to Gallatin.

LH: Oh. Okay.

JJ: Which is basically Tisch.

LH: Yeah. That's-

JJ: We're in the same building.

LH: It was either Gallatin or CAS. I was like, "Yeah....

JJ: I started out in CAS. Well, I started in the liberal arts program, and I thought I wanted to go into journalism. Anderson Cooper-

(This is a piece I did for the university newspaper where I interviewed a group of guys that started a SnapChat group that went somewhat viral on campus. I would also like to mention that when it came to editing the video I was very adament about featuring Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.”)

LH: Which, that makes sense.

JJ: We're kind of doing this.

LH: Look at us.

JJ: I fulfilled-

LH: In the journalism.

JJ: Well, Anderson Cooper came to our class, and he was like, "Well, you don't need a degree to be a journalist." I was like, "Well, thank you, Anderson," because I-

LH: That's correct.

JJ: So I went to Gallatin, and I got to do whatever. So Tisch. Have you always wanted to go to NYU Tisch?

LH: So I didn't really realize that I had wanted to go to NYU. I knew at a really young age that I wanted to get into entertainment and acting, and I always was imitating people as a kid. I loved watching SNL. I loved animation and voice acting, and my parents are characters. Two Puerto Rican parents, please. There's a lot of energy going on in this house. I am the youngest of three.

JJ: Oh.

LH: The whole point is I want my parents' attention, and I'm funny.

JJ: You have to perform.

LH: I got it. So are my siblings, hilarious. No. My parents are great.

JJ: Are you the funniest?

LH: Yeah. Well, me and my brother.

JJ: You can be honest. Just say you're-

LH: My brother rivals, I suppose, but no. I think I can be really funny, but yeah.

JJ: Are you the Meryl Streep of your household?

LH: Yes. Whatever that means. Take what you will from that statement, whatever that ... Yes.

JJ: Lead actress, Oscar winner, mother.

LH: Oh my God. Well, that would ... I don't think I can get anywhere. One time I shook Meryl Streep's hand, and she was ... I think about it.

JJ: Really?

LH: I think about it often.

JJ: How was it? Was there-

LH: She is so nice.

JJ: Really?

LH: So nice. So funny. It was very crowded, and there was a lot happening. She was like, "You," and I was like, "Me."

JJ: She knew you.

LH: "You." So yeah. No. But everyone who's in my inner circle had already known that I wanted to get into entertainment in whatever aspect that looked like. So when I had auditioned to get into NYU and got into their Tisch program, a lot of people who didn't know me were really shocked by the gymnastics to acting pipeline. But people who knew me were like, "No. This is really exciting." Because we were just trying to figure out when this was going to happen, not if."

JJ: We got to wrap up soon, but I just want to say, how has it been at NYU? Then, I have three final questions.

LH: Heck yeah. It's been great at NYU. I'm, for the most part, a straight-A student. I have a B that's thrown in there from one of my movement classes, which-

JJ: Neither here nor there.

LH: It's fine. It's not like it's my job or anything, whatever. No. Actually, my notes for that made a lot of sense, but for the most part, have been straight A's. That's been shocking, because I was homeschooled from the-

JJ: Oh really?

LH: Yeah, from the third grade all the way up until I graduated high school. So it definitely was a bit of a culture shock to go in, and to be at classes in person, and to kind of train, or trade this rigorous gymnastics training for rigorous acting training. I really swapped one for the other. But now, I don't have to crunch my ankles on tumbling passes anymore, and I still get to perform.

JJ: Yes. You're performing with talent beyond compare. It's an amazing school.

LH: Yeah, and everyone around me has been so phenomenal. I've seen just such incredible art. I know that sounds so cheesy, but-

JJ: But no. It's truly ... Spike Lee is there, Anne Hathaway, the roster's-

LH: Yeah. You name it. The roster's crazy. Elizabeth Olsen. I mean, it was so exciting to be a part of my cohort for the last two years. Even though I'm four years older than some of my classmates, there has been some incredible talent. They've all been so kind and patient in knowing that this is new for me, too. So yeah. It's good.

JJ: I feel like we could talk about NYU. We will have to connect and share notes for sure.

LH: Yes. I would love to.

JJ: But so I have three final questions for you.

LH: Yes.

JJ: So my Substack is called Consider Yourself Cultured, so they-

LH: Mm-hmm. I'm so scared.

JJ: Don't be scared.

LH: I'm about to get canceled. It's fine.

JJ: No. You're not going to be canceled. It's going to be fantastic. So the three questions all deal with culture. So the first question is, who is the most cultured person you know?

LH: Who is the most cultured person I know? This is really specific, but dare I say, my mother. My mom, during this weekend, during Olympic trials, has been going out and enjoying the Minneapolis Pride Parade and brought back some flags for me. Because what can I say? Little fruit basket over here.

JJ: Yeah.

LH: So it's been really sweet, and she, even growing up religious and being in kind of a Christian, Catholic household, that was such an experience for me, personally. For her, she has held onto her faith, and just allowed so much room, and did not question me at all, was not, funny, she's a social worker, was not shocked or surprised when I told her just my preferences and my experiences, and was just so loving, supportive. Her being a woman of color and just giving me that breathing room to be a woman of color was just like ... I'd say that's a really cultured person.

JJ: That's very cultured.

LH: Yeah.

JJ: That's amazing.

LH: The other day, she said, "You're serving," and I was like, "That's culture, mom."

JJ: You made a mark. That's the culture.

LH: That's culture, so ...

JJ: That's fantastic.

LH: Yeah.

JJ: So the next question is, what is your latest cultural obsession?

LH: My latest cultural obsession? Oh my gosh. Now, I'm like, let me think about this. I don't like the fact that low-rise jeans are back, but I understand.

JJ: You understand.

LH: I understand. I understand, and I get it. Let me think. I mean, does TikTok count as a cultural obsession?

JJ: Yes.

LH: Because I do feel like the rise of social media, especially in Gen Z, has been like, it is trend after every single week. The only way that I can keep up with the world is by scrolling on TikTok, which is very telling. I don't recognize it, but-

JJ: Is there a specific thing on TikTok that you're obsessed with, like a specific ...

LH: Drew Afualo has been a really fun one to watch. I do feel like watching her just talk about men in general has been really funny. But at the end of the day, it's, for the most part, in jest, and I think it allows women and non-binary folk, those who identify, just to look at that and be like, "You know what? Wait a second. I do think we should start valuing ourselves more."

JJ: Yes.

LH: "I think this is something we should be paying attention to." It's all wrapped up in comedy, because that is just what makes it bite-sized for the audience to take in what's actually being said. So any comedians out there on TikTok who are tackling cultural issues with comedy, I love that. I love that.

JJ: Comedy is like the most important.

LH: The best way to breach me is comedy.

JJ: Comedy is like the most important art form there is.

LH: It is. I agree with that.

JJ: Without it, where are we?

LH: Where are we?

JJ: There is no culture. The last question I have is, what should everyone read, listen to, and watch to consider themselves cultured?

LH: Read So You Want to Talk About Race. I know that's really jamming in there, but that was a really important-

JJ: Who's that by?

LH: It is by ... Wait. Hold on. This is important. I want to pull it up. I want to make sure that I'm pronouncing her name correctly. Ijeoma Oluo. So You Want to Talk About Race, and it just, it talks about microaggression and the feelings of, "Okay. Well, this thing wasn't explicitly racist, but there's something in there that made me unsettled and uneasy." The author just talks about where that comes from and what that's like as a culture and as an experience in being people of color, but especially for Black people. What is that like, and how can we understand? I don't know. That book, everyone needs to read it. I don't care who you are. Read that damn book. Then, for podcast, Call Her Daddy.

JJ: Oh my gosh. I mean-

LH: Whiplash. I'm sorry. The book versus podcast. But Alex just really gets, whether it's Simone Biles, or it's entertainment, or it's ... It doesn't matter who it is. We get so many different insights for so many different people, and that's really exciting. Then, what was the last one?

JJ: Watch.

LH: Watch.

JJ: I feel like I have an answer for you.

LH: You have an answer for me?

JJ: Mamma Mia!

LH: Well, yes. Mamma Mia!, of course.

JJ: But you out-

LH: Mamma Mia! kind of feels like a given. I'm trying to think. I've recently been watching Bridgerton, so getting to that Regency era.

JJ: Oh. Yes. That's-

LH: Why not? I'm waiting for a little Latina to pop in there and then play Gasolina in violin, instrumental.

JJ: Maybe it'll be you, maybe, because you're kind entering into acting.

LH: Shonda Rhimes, call me. I'm in.

JJ: Yes. We're-

LH: Let me audition. I'm begging. I'm actually, I'm on my knees.

JJ: Well, thank you so much. This was amazing, and have a fantastic time in Paris.

LH: Thank you.

JJ: Please let me know what you're shopping.

LH: Thanks so much. Yeah. I'm going to have to get all your store recommendations.

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