1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: Welcome to a good game with Sarah Spain, where we're 2 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:06,519 Speaker 1: slamming our laptop shot until the New year. Holiday Hazy 3 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:10,720 Speaker 1: lazy days here we come. It's Tuesday, December twenty third, 4 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:12,959 Speaker 1: and on today Show, Little Citrus is back to serve 5 00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:16,599 Speaker 1: up some more holiday hot takes Christmas edition. We share 6 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: some takes from some of your favorite NWSL stars too, 7 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 1: and we start looking ahead to twenty twenty six plus 8 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:24,640 Speaker 1: the number three pummels some number ones, when the student 9 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 1: becomes the teacher, and protecting the money maker ahead of 10 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: the big day. It's all coming up right after this 11 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 1: welcome back slices. Here's what you need to know today. 12 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,840 Speaker 1: Let's start with college volleyball and Texas and M winning 13 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty five NCAA Championship game on Sunday with 14 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:49,280 Speaker 1: the number three seed teams sweeping Kentucky in the final 15 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: match of the season. The Aggies had to overcome three 16 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 1: number one seeds en route to taking home the trophy, 17 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 1: the undefeated Nebraska Huskers in the Elite eight, pitt in 18 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 1: the semi finals, and finally can Entucky in the championship game. 19 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: Redchard tophomore Kendall Stowers recorded ten kills and was named 20 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 1: most Outstanding Player of the match. You might recall that Stours, 21 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:12,039 Speaker 1: a transfer from Baylor, had previously medically retired from volleyball 22 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:14,959 Speaker 1: after sustaining multiple concussions, but she managed to make it 23 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:18,119 Speaker 1: back to the court after a long rehab process. After 24 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 1: a regular season that had so many folks taken Nebraska 25 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 1: over the field, we were reminded again that anything can 26 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 1: happen come playoff time, even a program winning it all 27 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:30,680 Speaker 1: for the very first time. Congrats to the Aggies and 28 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:33,760 Speaker 1: congrats to Cavphos, the winner of our good Game with 29 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 1: Sarah Spain ESPN Bracket Challenge. No one in the group 30 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: had the Aggi's winning, but Cavpos did pick Kentucky, so 31 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:44,319 Speaker 1: they win on an almost for the Wildcats to the WNBA. 32 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 1: ESPN has reported that the mnba's Houston Rockets ownership group 33 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:51,960 Speaker 1: is in quote unquote substantive talks with the Connecticut Suns 34 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 1: ownership to potentially purchase and relocate the team. Now a 35 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: quick refresher on the ongoing saga involving the Sun's sale. 36 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 1: The team has been owned by the Mohegan Tribe since 37 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 1: two thousand and three, but over the summer the team 38 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 1: reached a deal with former Celtics minority owner Steve Paliuca, 39 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: who offered to buy the team for three hundred and 40 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:12,080 Speaker 1: twenty five million dollars and relocate the franchise to Boston, 41 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 1: but the WNBA effectively blocked that sale, noting that it's 42 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 1: up to the league to approve relocation bids and adding 43 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 1: the cities that went through the recent expansion process had 44 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 1: priority over Boston. Now, the league went on to offer 45 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 1: to buy the Sun themselves for two hundred and fifty million, 46 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 1: the same amount expansion teams in Cleveland, Philly and Detroit 47 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 1: paid earlier this year, but seventy five million dollars less 48 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 1: than what Paleuca had offered. Now, we hadn't heard much 49 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 1: in recent months about where things stood till now. Per 50 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:42,679 Speaker 1: ESPN story quote, the discussions have been described as positive, 51 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 1: and Rocket's ownership has improved its offer to a number 52 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:47,680 Speaker 1: the Sun might find acceptable, a source close to the 53 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 1: situation said, end quote. Now, Connecticut fans would certainly be 54 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 1: devastated to see their team leave the area, but many 55 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: OGW fans would love to see the return of the 56 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 1: Houston Comets, the original dynasty in the WNA We're just 57 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 1: unclear as to the rules for this sale, rules that 58 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 1: the league appears to be making up as they go. 59 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 1: After the most recent trio of expansion teams were named, 60 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: Commission Kathy Engelbert said that Houston and owner Tillman Fertita 61 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: are quote unquote up next for an expansion team. But 62 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 1: does the league really have the authority to dictate sale 63 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 1: terms for an existing team sending them to an expansion market? 64 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:24,679 Speaker 1: And is the WNBA really allowed to say that the 65 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 1: Rocket's ownership group can buy and relocate the team, but 66 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: a Boston based group can't. Even though the Sun agreed 67 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 1: to a deal with Palauka. We imagine the details of 68 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: the WNBA's involvement in this sale will continue to be 69 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:38,760 Speaker 1: reported out and will keep you updated on how the 70 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 1: saga unfolds to the PWHL. Chicago played host to the 71 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 1: second stop of the PWHL's takeover Tour neutral site games 72 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 1: and cities that don't currently have a team. The Ottawa 73 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 1: Charge defeated the two time defending champion Minnesota Frost three 74 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 1: to two in overtime. The game was a rematch of 75 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 1: last year's PWHL Finals series, which saw the Frost defeat 76 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:00,840 Speaker 1: the Charge in four games. I had the honor of 77 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 1: doing the ceremonial puck drop with two Illinois natives skating 78 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 1: to the center of the ice for it, Kendel QoD 79 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:09,119 Speaker 1: Schofield of the Frost and Taylor House of the Charge. Now, 80 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: before I went on the ice, I asked, is there 81 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 1: going to be a cue for me to know that 82 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 1: the pictures are all taken and I should actually drop 83 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:16,280 Speaker 1: the puck? And they were like, no, yield, just know 84 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 1: one and the que ended up being Kendall saying, Sarah, 85 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: you gotta actually drop it, So thanks for the assist front. 86 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 1: Speaking of friends, the atmosphere at the game was fantastic 87 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 1: and I ran into a handful of slices and friends, 88 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:31,360 Speaker 1: including front of the Show Chris Moser. The game itself 89 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 1: was a great one. It was super chippy, full of 90 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:36,039 Speaker 1: action and suspense, but there were a couple of things 91 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:37,720 Speaker 1: to work out when it came to the league's big 92 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 1: Chicago debut, like struggles with the JumboTron and camera options, 93 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 1: so there were no goal replays and it really made 94 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:47,040 Speaker 1: connecting with the crowd tough. For instance, the dance cam 95 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:50,279 Speaker 1: couldn't actually feature dancing fans from around the stadium just 96 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 1: the prompt to dance. The announced crowd of two hundred 97 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 1: and thirty eight is one of the smaller crowds for 98 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 1: a Takeover Tour game, which is a bummer and it 99 00:04:57,920 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 1: does make me wonder how the league is going to 100 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:02,200 Speaker 1: use Chicago a potential landing site for an expansion team. 101 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:05,840 Speaker 1: I do wonder though, how the timing affected attendance. It 102 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: was the Sunday before Christmas, with lots of folks potentially 103 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 1: heading out of town for the week and many many 104 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 1: holiday activities in and around Chicago. Also, the site, All 105 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 1: State Arena isn't in the city and isn't the home 106 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: of an NHL team, so the PWHL couldn't use in 107 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 1: house ticket sales teams and other established apartments to help 108 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: with promotion and sales. Now Chicago has another shot to 109 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: show up and show out when the tour returns in March, 110 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:31,280 Speaker 1: so we'll see if the crowd is bigger for that one. 111 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:34,279 Speaker 1: Big thanks to the PWHL for including me. Either way, 112 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 1: I was so happy to be a part of the 113 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 1: inaugural Chicago game. More PWHL the Boston Fleet's undefeated run 114 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 1: to start the season ended on Friday with a five 115 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 1: to two loss to the aforementioned Frost, but on Sunday, 116 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 1: the Fleet got back in the win column with a 117 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 1: three to one victory over the Seattle Torrent Boston's first 118 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 1: meeting with former captain Hillary Knight, who's now leading Seattle 119 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:58,159 Speaker 1: after Boston left her unprotected in the expansion draft. The 120 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 1: Fleet are sitting pretty without to America this season there 121 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,719 Speaker 1: atop the PWHL standings at eighteen points, well ahead of 122 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 1: the next closest team, the Montreal Victoire, sitting at eleven. 123 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: Seattle currently in sixth place with seven points. To college hoops, 124 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 1: a few highlights from this weekend's slate of games, including 125 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: Saturday's Women's Champions Classic at the Barclay Center in New York. 126 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 1: Number sixteen Louisville routed seventeenth ranked Tennessee eighty nine to 127 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:24,599 Speaker 1: sixty five in the first game of the doubleheader behind 128 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 1: eighteen points from Taj Roberts. Then number one Yukon continued 129 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 1: its dominance with a ninety to sixty four win over 130 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 1: number eleven Iowa, behind twenty seven points from Azy Fud 131 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 1: and twenty three points, seven rebounds and six deals from 132 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:41,599 Speaker 1: Sarah strong More College Hoops. The nation's leading scorer, Audie Crooks, 133 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:43,919 Speaker 1: returned to action on Sunday after missing a game to 134 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:47,239 Speaker 1: an undisclosed injury. Crooks wasted no time in her return, 135 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:50,160 Speaker 1: scoring forty one points to lead tenth ranked Iowa State 136 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 1: to a seventy nine seventy six win over Kansas Kenzi 137 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:55,720 Speaker 1: Hare hit the game winning three pointer as time expired 138 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: for Iowa State, her only points of the game. More 139 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 1: College who Olivia Miles scored twenty nine points to lift 140 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:05,400 Speaker 1: number nine TCU passed Kansas State seventy seven to fifty 141 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 1: five on Saturday. Miles had recorded three straight triple doubles 142 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 1: heading into the game, but came up short of a 143 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 1: record fourth, recording eight rebounds and four assists on the night. 144 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: The victory was the Horned Frog's thirty fourth consecutive home win, 145 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 1: so at least one streak is still alive. Still More 146 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 1: Hoops and the very unique story of Sydney Summers, a 147 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 1: junior hooper who transferred to UNLV from San Jose State 148 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 1: in the off season. During a doctor's appointment to receive 149 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 1: vaccines required to enroll at UNLV, Summers discovered she was 150 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 1: five and a half months pregnant. She gave birth to 151 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 1: baby Naziah Summers on September twenty eighth, and made her 152 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 1: debut for the Lady Rebels in their eighty nine to 153 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 1: seventy one win over New Mexico on Saturday. Summers played 154 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 1: just one minute in her return to the court, but 155 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:50,680 Speaker 1: still had a big reason to celebrate with family after 156 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 1: the game, including her baby daughter. Six months ago, she 157 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: wasn't sure she'd ever play again. Ahead of her debut, 158 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: she told the Athletics Eden Loss quote, having a baby 159 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:01,800 Speaker 1: doesn't have to ruin your life. It will be different, 160 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 1: and it will be hard, but it can also be 161 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,679 Speaker 1: a blessing end quote. We'll link to that Athletic article 162 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 1: all about Summer's learning of her pregnancy, her worries about 163 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 1: losing her scholarship. We're going to get back out on 164 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 1: the court and more. One more piece of hoopsnoos I 165 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 1: saw ahead at the start of season two of Unrivaled 166 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:20,679 Speaker 1: in early January. You might remember LA's Sparks standout Cameron 167 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 1: Brink broke her nose in the Spark's final game of 168 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 1: the season on September eleventh. Well after getting it fixed, 169 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 1: She's not taking any chances while playing with Breeze BC 170 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:32,439 Speaker 1: and unrivaled, not with her wedding just three months away. 171 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 1: We'll link to a video Brink posted getting fitted for 172 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 1: a face mask to protect her face ahead of the 173 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 1: big day to alpine skiing, where Lindsay Vaughn was back 174 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:43,440 Speaker 1: on the podium. Over the weekend, the forty one year 175 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 1: old competed in two races at the World Cup Stop 176 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:48,679 Speaker 1: and Val de ser France, finishing third in the downhill 177 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 1: on Saturday, behind winter Cornelia Hooter of Austria, and third 178 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:55,079 Speaker 1: in Sunday's Super G, this time behind her good friend 179 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 1: Italy Sophia Goggia, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson finishing second. 180 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:01,960 Speaker 1: Actually has a fun connection with the twenty four year 181 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 1: old Robinson, who's had most of her success in the 182 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 1: giant slalom but has broken through this season in the 183 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:10,280 Speaker 1: Super G as well. Vaughn's foundation sponsored Robinson when she 184 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 1: was just sixteen, and Von trained with her back in 185 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:16,199 Speaker 1: the day after Sunday's podium finishing just behind Robinson, Von 186 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:18,200 Speaker 1: joked that maybe she shouldn't have given her quite so 187 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 1: many tips back then to pro vibs Love announced at 188 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:23,800 Speaker 1: the end of last week that the league is expanding 189 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:26,079 Speaker 1: to San Francisco, as the number of teams is set 190 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:29,200 Speaker 1: to increase to nine by twenty twenty seven, and you 191 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:31,200 Speaker 1: can add the Bay Area to the ever growing list 192 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:33,400 Speaker 1: of markets that will feature both a Love and a 193 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: Major League Volleyball team. You remember the MLV announced a 194 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 1: Nork Hall team earlier this month. The San Francisco Love 195 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:42,360 Speaker 1: Team will have a woman led ownership group featuring a 196 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 1: lot of athletes and sport adjacent folks, including soccer legends 197 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:48,440 Speaker 1: and friends of the show, Abby Wambach and Brandy Chastain, 198 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 1: and notably volleyball star Kelsey Robinson Cook, a founding Love 199 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 1: athlete who played for Atlanta in the league's inaugural season. 200 00:09:57,600 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 1: All right, slices, we're taking a much needed break for 201 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 1: the h holidays, but we're not going away entirely. We're 202 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:04,559 Speaker 1: going to be bringing you some of our favorite episodes 203 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 1: of the year, And while you wait patiently for the 204 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 1: next Need to Know in twenty twenty six, here are a 205 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,079 Speaker 1: few events to make sure you keep tabs on over 206 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 1: the next couple weeks. First, the PWHL will be playing 207 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 1: throughout the holidays, with at least one game almost every 208 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 1: day over the next few weeks. We'll link to the 209 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 1: full PWHL schedule in the show notes. There's also lots 210 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:26,080 Speaker 1: of college hoops, college hockey, and just after the new year, 211 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:29,559 Speaker 1: the college gymnastics season gets underway. We'll throw links to 212 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 1: all of those schedules in the show notes as well. 213 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:34,679 Speaker 1: Then there's plenty to look forward to in January, including 214 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:37,679 Speaker 1: the second season of both Unrivaled and Love. It's going 215 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 1: to be a very busy twenty twenty six. Don't forget. 216 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 1: Alex and I will also be traveling to Italy in 217 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 1: February to cover the Olympics in person. So psyched for that. 218 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:49,200 Speaker 1: We got to take a quick break when we come back. 219 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 1: Christmas time, miss here, Time for some holiday hot takes. 220 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 1: All right, we're back for the Alex. That's Sarah Holiday 221 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 1: Hot Takes Speed Round the sequel, this time Christmas, Hanukah, 222 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 1: New Year's Eve, all of the holidays that we're celebrating 223 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 1: in the next two weeks. Alex, are you ready for this? 224 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 2: Absolutely, let's do it. 225 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 1: Before we get to the speed Round. Are there any 226 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:20,679 Speaker 1: just go to holiday takes that you always find yourself repeating. 227 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 3: I just don't care about other people's holiday decorations. Like 228 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:26,680 Speaker 3: nosy neighbors that get all up in other people's business 229 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 3: about the blow ups or how long they're up or 230 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 3: what hours they're on. 231 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:33,200 Speaker 2: Just let people do their thing. 232 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 3: Like to me, it's just so joyful to see people 233 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 3: express themselves in different ways. Get out of here, hoa. 234 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 1: I completely agree on the hoa things. I do have 235 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 1: to say that as I've gotten older, I've softened a 236 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:51,120 Speaker 1: lot of my very hardest hot take stances, uh, because 237 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:53,200 Speaker 1: I feel like when the world is on fire, if 238 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 1: somebody needs to bring join to their lives with Christmas 239 00:11:56,160 --> 00:12:00,200 Speaker 1: decorations in freaking September, just do it, like whatever you 240 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:01,720 Speaker 1: need to do, is how I feel. 241 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 3: Now, we have a neighbor that leaves their holiday lights 242 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:07,640 Speaker 3: up all year long in July, and it brings me 243 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 3: joy to drive by in July and see their tree 244 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:11,800 Speaker 3: lit up in blue and pink lights. 245 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:14,520 Speaker 1: So fun. I'm not gonna lie to you that would 246 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 1: not bring me joy, but I'm glad it does for you. 247 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 1: That would infuriate me, and then I would keep my 248 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 1: opinion to myself. Okay, speaking of not keeping opinions to ourselves, 249 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 1: let's do a little hot take speed round and let's 250 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:27,439 Speaker 1: start right there. Alex, When should the Christmas tree inside 251 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 1: the house go up? 252 00:12:30,559 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 3: I'm worried that so many of my opinions on these 253 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:34,560 Speaker 3: are going to be so lax. A days could because 254 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:38,400 Speaker 3: I just literally don't care for my family. Any time 255 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:41,040 Speaker 3: before Christmas Day is a win. I would say that 256 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 3: we actually struggle usually more with decorating the tree than 257 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 3: we do with getting it in the house. This year, 258 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 3: we are pretty early mid December, great for us, and 259 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 3: then it stays up through January. 260 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 1: No regrets, Okay, I am glad you said that. I 261 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 1: thought last time you said it stays up through March 262 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:57,959 Speaker 1: or that's just how long you want it to stay up. 263 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:00,679 Speaker 3: No, the candles in the windows stay up until March 264 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 3: in line with the beginning of daylight saving time. The 265 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:06,079 Speaker 3: tree has to come down before that, only because it's 266 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 3: a fire hazard. 267 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 4: Though. 268 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, that makes me I had an artificial tree, 269 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:11,280 Speaker 3: I never get into this, then it would stay up longer. 270 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 1: As for me, I always wait until after Thanksgiving to 271 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:18,400 Speaker 1: put my tree up, and with each year the amount 272 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 1: of work I put into my Christmas decorations of always 273 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 1: like I should start doing this earlier so I can 274 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 1: enjoy them for more than one month. But I'm still 275 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: a stickler with tradition, and I right after Thanksgiving is 276 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 1: when my tree goes up, which every year up until 277 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 1: this year has been real. And I do have a 278 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:35,200 Speaker 1: real tree this year that my husband still did take 279 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:38,520 Speaker 1: a horse drawn sled out and chop down ourselves with 280 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 1: a saw, which is our go to tradition. But a 281 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 1: friend actually also had a company she was working with, 282 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 1: send me an artificial tree. And this thing is so 283 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:51,959 Speaker 1: pretty and so easy that I think, from here and 284 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 1: I'm always gonna have two trees, Like I don't think 285 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:55,600 Speaker 1: I could say goodbye to the real tree, but I'm 286 00:13:55,679 --> 00:13:58,560 Speaker 1: always just going to have two trees. And one of 287 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:00,320 Speaker 1: them can be fake and very easy. One of them 288 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:02,439 Speaker 1: can be a real bitch, but worth it for the 289 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 1: sake of tradition. 290 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 2: I love it. I love it. You're simplifying but not 291 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:07,960 Speaker 2: simplifying all at the same time. 292 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:10,480 Speaker 1: The story of my life. What about you? 293 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:13,120 Speaker 2: So I've always been a real tree girly. 294 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 3: We actually used to go and cut our own down, 295 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 3: but kind of from like this realgue guy who lived 296 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 3: in town, and his trees were shit. 297 00:14:19,280 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 2: Like they literally the needles on the trees. 298 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 3: I understand why they're called needles because I would cut 299 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 3: myself multiple times a year, so much so that I 300 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 3: refuse to decorate the thing. And then we started going 301 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 3: to like a legit tree cellar instead. 302 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, we don't want a shot in the tree. Yeah. 303 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 1: What about the lights on both the tree and on 304 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:38,000 Speaker 1: the outside of the house. Do you have any preferences 305 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 1: on white or multicolored? Are there rules about tree versus 306 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 1: outside lights? 307 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:45,120 Speaker 3: So my tree always has to have multicolored lights on it, 308 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 3: but I would say more so than even the color 309 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 3: of the lights. Is the incandescent versus LED? I hardcore 310 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 3: stand incandescent lights. Yes, I know they use more energy, 311 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:58,440 Speaker 3: but the LED lights still have a weird flicker to them. 312 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:01,600 Speaker 3: They'd make my eyes hurt. They're also usually like a 313 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 3: cool blue temperature, and I want my environment during the 314 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 3: Christmas season to have that. 315 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:10,720 Speaker 2: Like nice warm, yellowish white light. I don't want it 316 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 2: to feel cold. 317 00:15:11,880 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 3: So yeah, I don't care if you have colorful lights 318 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 3: or white lights, but I really hope they're incandescent that. 319 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 1: Has very specific elks. I have to tell you, I've 320 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:22,920 Speaker 1: never been walking around anywhere and been like, man, I 321 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 1: really wish these lights were incandescent, or I really wish 322 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 1: these lights were LEDs. I used to feel like multicolored 323 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 1: on the tree and white outside. I do think if 324 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:35,120 Speaker 1: you have like a really dramatic, beautiful house with wreaths 325 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 1: and red bows and white lights, it just looks so 326 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 1: stunning and traditional. But I also feel like when you're 327 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 1: driving around and someone just blasts the out of their 328 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 1: house full of colored lights, it's also very joyful. So 329 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 1: once again in my old age, I am being much 330 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 1: less judgy than I used to be. These whatever color 331 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:55,560 Speaker 1: you like? What about this when all presents should be 332 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 1: opened on Christmas Day or do you do one or 333 00:15:58,160 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 1: several the night before? 334 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:02,920 Speaker 2: Okay, so my family goes real rogue with this. 335 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:06,280 Speaker 3: If anyone is doubting my fucking weird upbringing this question 336 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:07,960 Speaker 3: is surely going to shine a light on just how 337 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:12,600 Speaker 3: weird it was. But we never open presents the day 338 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 3: before Christmas, and sometimes we didn't even open presents on 339 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 3: Christmas Day like we do like days after Christmas. Yes, 340 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 3: we had like a tradition where we would open like 341 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:24,600 Speaker 3: it was almost like we were doing Hanukkah, but for Christmas. 342 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:26,720 Speaker 2: Like we would open like one gift to day. 343 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: Are any of your family members Jewish? 344 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 2: No? 345 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:30,320 Speaker 5: No. 346 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 3: As I think I mentioned on the Thanksgiving episode, Thanksgiving 347 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 3: morning is usually us frantically cleaning to have people come over, 348 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 3: and Christmas morning is kind of the same way, and 349 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 3: so a lot of times, like I wake up to 350 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:46,240 Speaker 3: people like cleaning and I'm like, hey, hello, let's sit 351 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 3: around open stockings. 352 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:48,880 Speaker 2: It's a little bit tough. 353 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 3: I think COVID Year twenty twenty was the only time 354 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 3: we opened gifts on Christmas because like, we didn't have 355 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:54,920 Speaker 3: to prepare the house for anyone. 356 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 1: You're you need to write a book, Alex. You frankly, 357 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:01,400 Speaker 1: I need to learn more about this quirky family of yours. 358 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 1: We usually used to when we were all in the 359 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:06,359 Speaker 1: same place for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, do the 360 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 1: one present the night before. But my husband and I 361 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:11,200 Speaker 1: are always running around now, going to Wisconsin for the 362 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:14,359 Speaker 1: couple days before Christmas, and then Christmas Eve night we 363 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:17,840 Speaker 1: leave his uncles, get together and drive back home to Illinois. 364 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:21,199 Speaker 1: This year actually Michigan where my parents' weekend houses. So 365 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:24,439 Speaker 1: we don't get to do both parts of Christmas with 366 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:27,360 Speaker 1: my family. We just do the Christmas Day stuff, so 367 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 1: we save all of our gifts for Christmas Day. Now, 368 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 1: all right, this is a tough one. Is giving gift 369 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:34,400 Speaker 1: cards a cop out that proves you don't really love 370 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:36,800 Speaker 1: and care about someone? Or is it just like, hey, 371 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:38,080 Speaker 1: I already know that this is what you want and 372 00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:39,160 Speaker 1: it's basically money, so. 373 00:17:39,119 --> 00:17:40,679 Speaker 2: Here, okay. 374 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 3: So I think it very much depends on the relationship 375 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 3: between the two people and also the age. So I 376 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:49,280 Speaker 3: think two adults giving gift cards to each other is weird, Like, 377 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:52,040 Speaker 3: especially if they're generic gift cards, like I'm getting you 378 00:17:52,080 --> 00:17:54,520 Speaker 3: a thirty dollars Best Buy gift card and you're getting 379 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:56,919 Speaker 3: me a thirty dollars Barnes and Noble gift card, Like 380 00:17:57,160 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 3: why are we even exchanging things if the same amount? 381 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:02,439 Speaker 3: The money is just passing back and forth, except that 382 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:05,399 Speaker 3: ultimately we're going to end up with five dollars on 383 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 3: the gift card, never use it, and we just lose 384 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:10,440 Speaker 3: out on that money. So yeah, I think for adults, 385 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 3: unless it's somebody that like clearly needs something and you 386 00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 3: want to treat them to something that they wouldn't treat themselves, 387 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 3: like if it's like a SPA gift card or like 388 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:22,040 Speaker 3: an experienced gift card that to me is different versus 389 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:24,600 Speaker 3: like a place where you go buy stuff. But I 390 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 3: do think for like teenagers, it's okay to buy them 391 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:31,879 Speaker 3: a gift card because as a teen I remember getting 392 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:34,639 Speaker 3: some weird Christmas gifts and being like, I don't know 393 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 3: how to say, I'm never gonna wear this or use this, 394 00:18:37,359 --> 00:18:38,920 Speaker 3: and so it was nice at an age when I 395 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:39,600 Speaker 3: didn't have money. 396 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:41,879 Speaker 1: Yeah, when you don't have any money, it's nice to 397 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 1: get the ability to get the thing you want instead 398 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:46,960 Speaker 1: of having other people guess at it. Whereas when you 399 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 1: get to be an adult, it's like I can buy 400 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 1: what I want when I need it, so it's not 401 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 1: quite as bad. And I agree with you. So like 402 00:18:53,760 --> 00:18:55,879 Speaker 1: in my family, sometimes my parents run out of ideas 403 00:18:55,880 --> 00:18:58,200 Speaker 1: and they get me gift cards for the massage place, 404 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:00,359 Speaker 1: dear me, and I love it because sometimes I wouldn't 405 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:02,639 Speaker 1: go unless I have the gift card, and then it 406 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 1: reminds me or I think again, like you mentioned experiences, 407 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:07,919 Speaker 1: it sort of is like, we have this thing, so 408 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:10,040 Speaker 1: we need to use it and go do this, which 409 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:12,919 Speaker 1: we otherwise might not make the time for. So I 410 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 1: agree with that. I do think sometimes it's a little 411 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 1: bit of a cop out. But also, if your brother's 412 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: fifth girlfriend that you've met in six years is showing 413 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:23,600 Speaker 1: up and you're supposed to get her something and you 414 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:26,439 Speaker 1: don't know goddamn thing about her, You're fine just getting 415 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:29,639 Speaker 1: a gift card. Like that's just like it's gonna be 416 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:32,359 Speaker 1: that or a candle every time, right, So mix it 417 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: up a little bit. Yeah, Okay, Hallmark movies terrible or 418 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:38,440 Speaker 1: terribly good. 419 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:41,359 Speaker 3: In contemplating this question, I'm realizing I don't even know 420 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 3: if we get Hallmark Channel, and I feel like my 421 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:49,400 Speaker 3: only association with Hallmark movies is like thirty Rocks interpretation 422 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:52,520 Speaker 3: of Hallmark movies regurgitated, and so I don't know if 423 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:54,960 Speaker 3: I can actually answer this based on that. I would 424 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:57,159 Speaker 3: say terribly bad, but in a way that you have 425 00:19:57,240 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 3: to keep watching them because they're like reality TV in 426 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:00,600 Speaker 3: that you can and look away. 427 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:02,680 Speaker 2: But that's an un educated opinion. 428 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 1: I haven't watched enough of them to give an informed opinion, 429 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:07,159 Speaker 1: but I will give one anyway, and it is that 430 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:12,760 Speaker 1: they are terrible. I only like this satirical sketch comedy, 431 00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:15,679 Speaker 1: you know, send ups of them. Amy Schumer did a 432 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:20,119 Speaker 1: great one. SNL has done them. I prefer the ones 433 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:22,639 Speaker 1: that make fun of them to the real movies. But 434 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 1: I do have a friend that was in a Hallmark movie, 435 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:27,360 Speaker 1: and I do have a friend's mom who loves them 436 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:31,159 Speaker 1: so much she will go to conventions to meet the 437 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:35,800 Speaker 1: stars that are repeatedly appearing on Hallmark movies, which is 438 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:38,280 Speaker 1: a dedication that I don't understand, but tells me there 439 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 1: must be some sort of magic in them for some people. 440 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 1: And I guess it's probably that feeling of like the 441 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 1: idyllic sort of world where you could go back to 442 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:49,960 Speaker 1: your hometown and fall in love with the local tree man, 443 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:52,879 Speaker 1: as opposed to going back home and finding out that 444 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:55,800 Speaker 1: everybody there is maga and you left for a good reason. 445 00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:57,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, which it is more likely. 446 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:02,120 Speaker 1: Die hard Christmas movie. 447 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:05,080 Speaker 3: Okay, So funny story about this question. The improv troup 448 00:21:05,160 --> 00:21:07,160 Speaker 3: that I'm in, we do a bunch of shows around 449 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:09,480 Speaker 3: the holidays. We actually do our own version of a 450 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:13,040 Speaker 3: Christmas Carol. We call it What the Dickens, But ahead 451 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:15,119 Speaker 3: of that we do one half of short form and 452 00:21:15,119 --> 00:21:17,600 Speaker 3: then one half which is What the Dickens. And so 453 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:19,199 Speaker 3: a couple weeks ago, I was at a show and 454 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 3: my prompt for the audience was I need somebody to 455 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:23,800 Speaker 3: give me their holiday hot take, and someone shouts out, 456 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:26,440 Speaker 3: die Hard is a Christmas movie, and I was like, yes, 457 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:28,280 Speaker 3: thank you, let's go. And then I was like, I 458 00:21:28,359 --> 00:21:30,879 Speaker 3: know absolutely nothing about die Hard. I've never seen it. 459 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:34,280 Speaker 3: My only references to it are Andy Samberg in Brooklyn 460 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:34,880 Speaker 3: nine nine. 461 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 2: And I was like, I really am so happy that I. 462 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:42,639 Speaker 3: Took this and cannot do the suggestion justice, but in 463 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:44,800 Speaker 3: honor of that audience member, I'm gonna say yes. 464 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 1: So that's funny that you ended up. I would have 465 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:49,640 Speaker 1: liked to see the sketch that resulted from that where 466 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:53,119 Speaker 1: you had no idea, probably even the most obvious of 467 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:56,720 Speaker 1: things like welcome to the Party, pal. I will tell 468 00:21:56,760 --> 00:21:59,960 Speaker 1: you that Jake Tapper, the Newsman, once wrote a length 469 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 1: the poem about all the different connections to Christmas that 470 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:08,800 Speaker 1: Diehard has, and it is a very impressive number of them. 471 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:13,639 Speaker 1: There's references throughout the film all the time. But the 472 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:16,919 Speaker 1: question is is a movie set at Christmas a Christmas movie? 473 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:19,840 Speaker 1: Or do we think a Christmas movie must somehow have 474 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:23,199 Speaker 1: the spirit of the season. And I think my answer 475 00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:26,199 Speaker 1: is very semantics, which is basically like Diehard is a 476 00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:28,879 Speaker 1: movie set at Christmas? But that doesn't make it a 477 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 1: Christmas movie. 478 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:32,840 Speaker 2: Yeah. Well, it almost reminds me. 479 00:22:33,080 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 3: Certain streaming platforms now give people the option where they 480 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:39,880 Speaker 3: have like The Office and it's all of the Christmas 481 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:43,240 Speaker 3: episodes of the Office, And I love that because sometimes 482 00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:44,879 Speaker 3: you just want to watch an episode of something but 483 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:46,920 Speaker 3: still feel like you're in the spirit of the holiday. 484 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:51,159 Speaker 1: Yeah. I watched every single Frasier Christmas episode, and my 485 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:53,639 Speaker 1: husband and I watched two mad Men Christmas episodes, one 486 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:55,840 Speaker 1: of which had almost nothing to do with Christmas but 487 00:22:56,119 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 1: was set during Christmas and there was a tree in 488 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:00,960 Speaker 1: the background a couple of times. So it I do 489 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 1: that a lot pretty much every Christmas. I go find 490 00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:03,960 Speaker 1: some of my favorite episodes. 491 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:06,840 Speaker 3: It's like the Bechdel test, but for Christmas, Like, is 492 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:09,600 Speaker 3: there the episode does it talk to anyone exactly? 493 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:14,920 Speaker 1: Nightmare before Christmas? Christmas movie or Halloween movie. 494 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 3: Sarah, I don't even think I've seen Nightmare before Christmas. 495 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:18,679 Speaker 3: I really should have done more homework before. 496 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:20,520 Speaker 1: The sash Alex get it together. 497 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:24,479 Speaker 3: I'm adding them all to the list based on like 498 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:29,440 Speaker 3: the image. I'm gonna just say Halloween movie. 499 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:31,120 Speaker 1: I agree with you, but I've actually done the research 500 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:33,560 Speaker 1: instead of looking at a photo and deciding. 501 00:23:33,119 --> 00:23:34,880 Speaker 2: That if I've done the research, you mean you actually 502 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:35,480 Speaker 2: watch the movie. 503 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:37,640 Speaker 1: Watch the movie. Yes, I've watched the movie. The source 504 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:40,520 Speaker 1: material for the question is something I have seen. It 505 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 1: is a Halloween movie, all right. Finally, telling your children 506 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:45,280 Speaker 1: about Santa is teaching them to lie. 507 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:48,760 Speaker 3: No, it's not teaching them how to lie. Telling them 508 00:23:48,760 --> 00:23:51,760 Speaker 3: about Sanna is giving them a joy in this world 509 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:55,720 Speaker 3: of possibility. But I will say that my parents, when 510 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:58,119 Speaker 3: I was a kid, they hired some dude to come 511 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:00,760 Speaker 3: and be Santa, Like he came to my house on 512 00:24:00,880 --> 00:24:05,720 Speaker 3: Christmas Eve twice WHOA And I have asked them in 513 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:09,360 Speaker 3: the thirty years since then, Hey, who was that that 514 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:10,240 Speaker 3: came to our house? 515 00:24:10,359 --> 00:24:13,400 Speaker 2: And they will not tell me to this day. 516 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:15,040 Speaker 1: Weird. Why won't they tell you? 517 00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:17,160 Speaker 2: I think they just want to keep it a mystery. 518 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:20,520 Speaker 2: They're like, it's Santa. They still sign some of my 519 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 2: gifts from Santa too. 520 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:25,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, my parents still sign things from Santa as well. 521 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:29,439 Speaker 1: I understand the logic behind saying it is teaching your 522 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:32,879 Speaker 1: children to lie. I think that there are white lies 523 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:35,679 Speaker 1: as children that contribute to the joy of the season, 524 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:40,320 Speaker 1: to fairy Santa, etc. I think The key is if 525 00:24:40,359 --> 00:24:42,119 Speaker 1: you feel like they're starting to pick up on it, 526 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:46,000 Speaker 1: go ahead and tell them. Don't reject their instinct by 527 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:48,800 Speaker 1: telling them they're wrong. If they start to figure it out, 528 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 1: even if it's earlier than you wish, you kind of 529 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:53,320 Speaker 1: got to tell them what's going on because you don't 530 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:56,520 Speaker 1: want them to stop trusting their gut and their instinct 531 00:24:56,600 --> 00:25:00,560 Speaker 1: about things and basically gaslight your children. So I think 532 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:02,960 Speaker 1: you know, keep it going for as long as it'll stick, 533 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:07,240 Speaker 1: all right, Alex, Are there any quirky, memorable or sweet 534 00:25:07,320 --> 00:25:10,320 Speaker 1: Christmas family traditions that your family has other than going 535 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:12,600 Speaker 1: to the expense to pay for a Santa to come 536 00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:15,880 Speaker 1: and then not opening any gifts thereby rejecting regular traditions 537 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:17,200 Speaker 1: in favor of weird ones. 538 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:20,160 Speaker 2: Well, we have a new tradition these last few years. 539 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:21,920 Speaker 3: We're planning to do it for a third straight year, 540 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:26,080 Speaker 3: so it's officially in tradition territory where on Christmas Eve, 541 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:29,520 Speaker 3: me and some of my cousins and there are kids, 542 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:32,960 Speaker 3: we walk around this really beautiful farm that has millions 543 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:35,320 Speaker 3: of Christmas lights and it's just a really lovely way 544 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 3: to get outside, spend some time with each other, drink 545 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:39,720 Speaker 3: cut cocoa and look at Christmas lights. 546 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:42,200 Speaker 1: That sounds lovely. Have you ever seen those glasses you 547 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:44,919 Speaker 1: can put on that make the lights look like different things? 548 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:48,000 Speaker 3: My god, that immediately makes me think I'd get really 549 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:49,960 Speaker 3: emotion sick, like I can't watch three D movies, so 550 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:51,359 Speaker 3: maybe I'll investigate it. 551 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:53,359 Speaker 1: You should give them to your cousins. But they're great. 552 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:56,920 Speaker 1: There'll be anything from like little minisantas to stars to trees, 553 00:25:56,960 --> 00:25:59,160 Speaker 1: and it turns every single light that you see into 554 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:03,480 Speaker 1: those and it's like extremely magical. You do not have 555 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:06,800 Speaker 1: to drink or have a gummy, but I would say 556 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:08,879 Speaker 1: that sometimes if you do those things and then you 557 00:26:08,920 --> 00:26:11,840 Speaker 1: wear the glasses and walk around your neighborhood, it's pretty fun. 558 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:14,840 Speaker 1: But it works whether or not you are in an 559 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:17,240 Speaker 1: altered state, and they are cheap and delightful. 560 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:20,320 Speaker 3: I'm like all the alternatives for trips here, like put 561 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:22,760 Speaker 3: on the glasses, have a stigmatism. 562 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:24,840 Speaker 1: Squid a little bit. There you go have motion sickness. 563 00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:29,680 Speaker 1: There you go. That's great. We don't have any major traditions. 564 00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:31,399 Speaker 1: Back when we used to go to my aunt's and 565 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 1: there was a big group of people, there was always 566 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:35,639 Speaker 1: a tool and so all the guys would get some 567 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:38,119 Speaker 1: specific tool and then all the women would get in. 568 00:26:38,119 --> 00:26:40,080 Speaker 1: It was, you know, a little bit gendered, but in 569 00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:42,240 Speaker 1: a funny way. There was also a box that was 570 00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:45,560 Speaker 1: from a department store in the nineteen seventies and somebody's 571 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:47,480 Speaker 1: grandma had gifted them something in the box, and the 572 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:49,560 Speaker 1: next year they just reused it, and then the next 573 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:51,560 Speaker 1: year that person reused it, and when they realized it 574 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:55,560 Speaker 1: was this same box, it became tradition that somebody was 575 00:26:55,640 --> 00:26:57,840 Speaker 1: given the box with a gift and then they had 576 00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:01,320 Speaker 1: to protect it for the year before were wrapping something 577 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:02,919 Speaker 1: else in it and giving it to someone else. And 578 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:04,960 Speaker 1: then the box was trying to fall apart because it 579 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:08,080 Speaker 1: was literally from the seventies. So my uncle, who does woodworking, 580 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:11,280 Speaker 1: built a wood in the box that said the box 581 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:13,520 Speaker 1: in it in wood and put the other box in 582 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:16,320 Speaker 1: it to protect the nineteen seventies box. And now if 583 00:27:16,359 --> 00:27:18,439 Speaker 1: you get gifted the box, it's the box inside the 584 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:20,120 Speaker 1: wooden box, and then you have to put another something 585 00:27:20,119 --> 00:27:22,040 Speaker 1: inside that is the gift, and again protect it for 586 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:23,879 Speaker 1: the year until you can gift it again. And this 587 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:26,400 Speaker 1: year we're getting that group together for the first time 588 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 1: in years since my aunt passed away, and so I'm 589 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:31,880 Speaker 1: very interested to see if the box makes its triumphant returned. 590 00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:36,200 Speaker 3: How many times during that history have you been gifted 591 00:27:36,280 --> 00:27:36,720 Speaker 3: the box? 592 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:40,159 Speaker 1: And I never got the box. I was never trusted 593 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:43,080 Speaker 1: with the box. I think, I think though that's not 594 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:47,280 Speaker 1: my side of the family. It's like my uncle's family 595 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:52,240 Speaker 1: side that goes to this event. And technically I'm not 596 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:54,119 Speaker 1: related to any of them because it was my aunt 597 00:27:54,320 --> 00:27:56,200 Speaker 1: that I was related to. So I think they trust 598 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:59,480 Speaker 1: each other more with the box than you know us. 599 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:01,479 Speaker 2: You need to start dropping some hints. 600 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:03,640 Speaker 1: I know maybe this year, maybe it's my year. 601 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:05,440 Speaker 2: Talk about the things in your life that you've owned 602 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:06,040 Speaker 2: the longest. 603 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:09,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, exactly, I'm very good at keeping things. 604 00:28:09,280 --> 00:28:11,960 Speaker 3: It reminds me of an SNL sketch about a baby 605 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:14,600 Speaker 3: shower and it's seven women. It's called the cut. We'll 606 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:16,439 Speaker 3: link to it in the show notes. But realizing that 607 00:28:16,440 --> 00:28:20,240 Speaker 3: there are only seven bags in the entire countess state 608 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:22,560 Speaker 3: and they all just get passed from one place to another. 609 00:28:22,840 --> 00:28:25,480 Speaker 3: And while unloading Christmas decorations a couple of weeks ago, 610 00:28:26,359 --> 00:28:29,440 Speaker 3: I discovered just a bag full of bags and I 611 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:29,720 Speaker 3: was like. 612 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:32,040 Speaker 2: We've been saving them, but not actually reusing them. 613 00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:34,199 Speaker 3: So maybe that's how everyone's gift is going to ge 614 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:35,040 Speaker 3: wrapped up this year. 615 00:28:35,560 --> 00:28:40,640 Speaker 1: My garage is full of paper, ribbons, bags, all to 616 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:43,080 Speaker 1: be reused. I refuse to buy a new paper every year. 617 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:45,320 Speaker 1: I just reuse it unless I get the kind of 618 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 1: custom paper where like my dogs are on it or 619 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:50,960 Speaker 1: my family members are put into scenes from famous movies, 620 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:53,080 Speaker 1: and then it's worth the giggle and I'll buy a 621 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:57,080 Speaker 1: little bit of it. So cash Yeah, Okay, speaking of traditions, 622 00:28:57,160 --> 00:28:59,920 Speaker 1: the Christmas movies that you rewatch every single year, no. 623 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 3: Exception, okay, Elf, Love Actually and a Christmas Story. I know, 624 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:12,040 Speaker 3: Love Actually is problematic watching it these days. I'm like, 625 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:16,160 Speaker 3: I can't believe I ever loved this on ironic and 626 00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:18,880 Speaker 3: yet there's still so much of it that I really love. 627 00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:22,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, there's a lot of nostalgia connected to it. So 628 00:29:22,560 --> 00:29:24,640 Speaker 1: even though I watch it, I'm like, holy cow, how 629 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:27,480 Speaker 1: did I not think this was problematic? I'm still like 630 00:29:27,680 --> 00:29:29,280 Speaker 1: and I'm still going to watch it every year, So 631 00:29:29,520 --> 00:29:32,440 Speaker 1: that's just the that's the way it goes. Mine are 632 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:38,560 Speaker 1: the Holiday Home Alone, Love Actually, and National Lampoon's Christmas. 633 00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:41,400 Speaker 2: Vacation and Home Alone, The Original. 634 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:42,880 Speaker 1: Home Alone the original. I still have not seen Home 635 00:29:42,920 --> 00:29:45,040 Speaker 1: Alone too. I would like to, but I would I 636 00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:47,600 Speaker 1: would have to fast forward through that one scene so 637 00:29:47,640 --> 00:29:48,800 Speaker 1: as to not ruin my Christmas. 638 00:29:48,800 --> 00:29:51,320 Speaker 3: There are some good memes out right now where Trump 639 00:29:51,440 --> 00:29:53,880 Speaker 3: is redacted from Yes one, I've seen that, as he 640 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:55,920 Speaker 3: is from other documents. 641 00:29:55,480 --> 00:30:00,360 Speaker 1: Other documents and historical events. What are the top three 642 00:30:01,440 --> 00:30:03,200 Speaker 1: Christmas songs in your opinion? 643 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:06,800 Speaker 3: Okay, so number one has to be anything from the 644 00:30:06,880 --> 00:30:09,640 Speaker 3: Charlie Brown Christmas Album. I just think it's so beautiful 645 00:30:09,640 --> 00:30:11,160 Speaker 3: and nothing gets me in the spirit more than that. 646 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:14,800 Speaker 3: Mariah Carey has to go up there, I think, especially 647 00:30:14,840 --> 00:30:17,400 Speaker 3: the longevity of that song, like it hit the number 648 00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:19,720 Speaker 3: one spot in the Billboard Top list like several years 649 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:22,720 Speaker 3: in a row, and I just think, like, go Mariah. 650 00:30:22,760 --> 00:30:25,960 Speaker 3: And then because I have to be my weird self there. 651 00:30:26,680 --> 00:30:29,600 Speaker 3: There was a fun Christmas album that came out back 652 00:30:29,600 --> 00:30:31,440 Speaker 3: in the day, probably around two thousand and eight called 653 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:34,000 Speaker 3: Jingle Spells, and it was a bunch of Harry Potter 654 00:30:34,080 --> 00:30:39,080 Speaker 3: Wizard rock bands doing Christmas songs and anything off of 655 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:40,800 Speaker 3: that album immediately. 656 00:30:40,280 --> 00:30:41,560 Speaker 2: Makes me feel nostalgic. 657 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:44,240 Speaker 3: What I was thinking the other day, like when you 658 00:30:44,280 --> 00:30:46,560 Speaker 3: turn on the radio and listen to Christmas music, like 659 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:48,240 Speaker 3: there hasn't been a new Christmas song. 660 00:30:48,320 --> 00:30:49,719 Speaker 2: I don't know, maybe in thirty years. 661 00:30:50,280 --> 00:30:52,440 Speaker 1: That's not true. You're just not keeping up. There's some 662 00:30:52,560 --> 00:30:58,320 Speaker 1: great ones, okay, Brande Santa tell Me are You Relieve Me? 663 00:30:59,440 --> 00:30:59,800 Speaker 5: Minute? 664 00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:04,760 Speaker 1: And then Kelly Clarkson Underneath the Christmas Tree banger. 665 00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:07,680 Speaker 3: Hey, I just don't think that those maybe have arrived 666 00:31:07,680 --> 00:31:09,440 Speaker 3: in New Hampshire. Like I've heard those songs, but not 667 00:31:09,520 --> 00:31:10,760 Speaker 3: on the Christmas radio station. 668 00:31:12,280 --> 00:31:13,800 Speaker 1: They've not arrived in New Hampshire. 669 00:31:14,120 --> 00:31:14,720 Speaker 2: It's like the same. 670 00:31:15,960 --> 00:31:19,800 Speaker 1: My three are Darlene Love, Christmas Baby, Please Come Home. 671 00:31:20,160 --> 00:31:22,800 Speaker 1: I'm obsessed with Darling Love. But that song, in particular 672 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:26,040 Speaker 1: Bing Crosby I'll be Home for Christmas is like the 673 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:30,160 Speaker 1: most classic, like warming the cockles of your Heart. I 674 00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:32,080 Speaker 1: don't know what the cockles are, but they are warmed. 675 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:34,400 Speaker 1: And then Mariah Carey all I Want for Christmas. And 676 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:36,040 Speaker 1: I mentioned at a previous show that there is a 677 00:31:36,080 --> 00:31:39,320 Speaker 1: remix going around on TikTok with the sexy read lyrics 678 00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:41,920 Speaker 1: from Rich Baby Daddy remixed into it where she's like 679 00:31:42,080 --> 00:31:44,479 Speaker 1: and that ass over, let that koochie breathe, and it 680 00:31:44,520 --> 00:31:46,560 Speaker 1: is a new wrinkle to the Christmas spirit that I 681 00:31:46,600 --> 00:31:49,880 Speaker 1: feel when listening to Mariah Carey. I also always have 682 00:31:49,960 --> 00:31:53,440 Speaker 1: to mention that my honorable mention because it's a parody 683 00:31:53,480 --> 00:31:55,440 Speaker 1: song and not real, but it's still such a good song. 684 00:31:55,800 --> 00:31:58,000 Speaker 1: Is Darlene Love doing Christmas Time for the Jews for 685 00:31:58,160 --> 00:32:02,120 Speaker 1: SNL because it's just so well written and she sings 686 00:32:02,120 --> 00:32:05,160 Speaker 1: it so beautifully, and it's just a hilarious send up 687 00:32:05,160 --> 00:32:07,280 Speaker 1: of the idea that on Christmas Eve, when all the 688 00:32:07,520 --> 00:32:09,680 Speaker 1: you know, Christians are at home, the Jews get to 689 00:32:09,720 --> 00:32:12,080 Speaker 1: run the world. And the cartoon with it is the 690 00:32:12,120 --> 00:32:16,120 Speaker 1: Stop like clay Stop animation, and if you haven't seen it, 691 00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:18,320 Speaker 1: you need to go watch it. It's so so good. 692 00:32:18,880 --> 00:32:20,880 Speaker 3: I feel like one of my core memories as a 693 00:32:20,960 --> 00:32:24,880 Speaker 3: child was Darlene Love's annual appearance on David Letterman, and 694 00:32:24,920 --> 00:32:27,120 Speaker 3: it was like my mom would yell from the other room, like. 695 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:33,200 Speaker 1: Come on, it's Darling in tradition, so special. All right, 696 00:32:33,240 --> 00:32:36,080 Speaker 1: what's something sports related you're looking forward to in twenty 697 00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:36,640 Speaker 1: twenty six. 698 00:32:37,320 --> 00:32:41,160 Speaker 2: Hmmm, I don't know. Maybe going to the Empics. 699 00:32:41,880 --> 00:32:42,560 Speaker 1: That's mine too. 700 00:32:43,240 --> 00:32:46,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm really excited, I think, especially like I've been 701 00:32:46,040 --> 00:32:49,280 Speaker 3: to the Olympics before, I've covered a lot of them, 702 00:32:49,640 --> 00:32:54,160 Speaker 3: and yet come Olympics time, my job often just had 703 00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:59,080 Speaker 3: me like inside the studio at the broadcast center without windows, 704 00:32:59,280 --> 00:33:02,120 Speaker 3: and so I was watching things but not in person, 705 00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:03,640 Speaker 3: and I would be able to like make it out 706 00:33:03,640 --> 00:33:05,800 Speaker 3: of there sometimes to like catch a race or two, 707 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:08,040 Speaker 3: but it wasn't part of my job that I was 708 00:33:08,080 --> 00:33:10,240 Speaker 3: then watching it for. And so I think to be 709 00:33:10,240 --> 00:33:12,880 Speaker 3: able to like go and see different stuff and actually 710 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:15,040 Speaker 3: be able to define what we want to do and 711 00:33:15,080 --> 00:33:16,840 Speaker 3: what we want to cover during the games, I'm really 712 00:33:16,840 --> 00:33:18,400 Speaker 3: excited about that me too. 713 00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:22,080 Speaker 1: And when I was watching Kendall Coy and Taylor Heisei 714 00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:24,880 Speaker 1: and all the other Olympians on the ice at the 715 00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:28,520 Speaker 1: PWHL game on Sunday, it was getting me really, really 716 00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:31,840 Speaker 1: really excited because the USA Canada hockey rival is one 717 00:33:31,840 --> 00:33:34,320 Speaker 1: of my favorite things in all of sports. So getting 718 00:33:34,360 --> 00:33:36,240 Speaker 1: the chance to hopefully see that in person in a 719 00:33:36,240 --> 00:33:40,600 Speaker 1: gold medal game just ooh, super pumped for that last 720 00:33:40,680 --> 00:33:42,680 Speaker 1: question for you. Since we're on twenty twenty six New 721 00:33:42,760 --> 00:33:47,800 Speaker 1: Year's Resolutions, helpful goal setting or guilt producing stressors, I. 722 00:33:47,720 --> 00:33:49,440 Speaker 2: Think kind of a combination of two. 723 00:33:49,840 --> 00:33:54,520 Speaker 3: I really like having some type of timed element to 724 00:33:54,680 --> 00:33:57,360 Speaker 3: like give yourself a goal as long as it's not 725 00:33:57,560 --> 00:34:00,680 Speaker 3: stress or guilt inducing. So like, for this, I tried 726 00:34:00,760 --> 00:34:02,880 Speaker 3: to do that thing where you like film one second 727 00:34:02,960 --> 00:34:05,640 Speaker 3: of each day and then compile it into a nice 728 00:34:05,640 --> 00:34:07,960 Speaker 3: long video. Back in the day, I used to do 729 00:34:08,040 --> 00:34:10,839 Speaker 3: like a journal entree every day, writing down at least 730 00:34:10,880 --> 00:34:13,239 Speaker 3: like one thing that I had done that day. That 731 00:34:13,280 --> 00:34:16,439 Speaker 3: one eventually became guilt inducing and stressful, so I gave 732 00:34:16,440 --> 00:34:18,759 Speaker 3: it up. I like having that fresh slate where you 733 00:34:18,760 --> 00:34:19,720 Speaker 3: can try something new. 734 00:34:20,040 --> 00:34:20,520 Speaker 2: How about you? 735 00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:23,560 Speaker 1: I completely agree. I do think that if you're the 736 00:34:23,640 --> 00:34:25,880 Speaker 1: kind of person that you know you'll make a resolution, 737 00:34:26,040 --> 00:34:27,879 Speaker 1: break it, and then be really hard on yourself, then 738 00:34:27,880 --> 00:34:30,960 Speaker 1: don't do that. Make a suggestion for yourself instead, or 739 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:32,759 Speaker 1: try to figure out why is it that I keep 740 00:34:32,840 --> 00:34:36,400 Speaker 1: making the same intention or resolution and I'm never actually 741 00:34:36,440 --> 00:34:39,479 Speaker 1: doing it, and like really get down and like drill 742 00:34:39,520 --> 00:34:41,239 Speaker 1: down and figure out what's standing in your way. Because 743 00:34:41,239 --> 00:34:43,080 Speaker 1: if it's something that you care about enough that every 744 00:34:43,160 --> 00:34:44,960 Speaker 1: year you make an intention to change it or do 745 00:34:45,040 --> 00:34:47,680 Speaker 1: it and you never do, then like you got to 746 00:34:47,680 --> 00:34:49,719 Speaker 1: figure out what those barriers are and break through them, 747 00:34:49,840 --> 00:34:51,760 Speaker 1: or you have to find a way to like go 748 00:34:51,840 --> 00:34:54,120 Speaker 1: to therapy and figure out how to let go of 749 00:34:54,239 --> 00:34:56,920 Speaker 1: that desire for that thing if you're never going to 750 00:34:57,000 --> 00:35:00,640 Speaker 1: actually go after it. And I think that's like a 751 00:35:00,719 --> 00:35:05,320 Speaker 1: maturity and an awareness that comes with time, because in general, 752 00:35:05,440 --> 00:35:07,360 Speaker 1: I love setting goals and I tend to be a 753 00:35:07,400 --> 00:35:10,200 Speaker 1: fresh late person. I like a new week, a new month, 754 00:35:10,239 --> 00:35:12,680 Speaker 1: a new year. I like, you know, being able to 755 00:35:12,760 --> 00:35:15,960 Speaker 1: like pull out a new calendar or something to like 756 00:35:16,040 --> 00:35:18,920 Speaker 1: set goals, but I understand that the ones that actually 757 00:35:18,920 --> 00:35:21,040 Speaker 1: get done tend not to be linked to a specific 758 00:35:21,120 --> 00:35:23,040 Speaker 1: day or time. They tend to happen when you actually 759 00:35:23,080 --> 00:35:26,000 Speaker 1: put into place the everyday things that help you reach 760 00:35:26,080 --> 00:35:29,040 Speaker 1: that goal instead of like getting a new pretty notebook 761 00:35:29,080 --> 00:35:30,759 Speaker 1: in order to make that goal happen. 762 00:35:31,239 --> 00:35:32,000 Speaker 2: One hundred percent. 763 00:35:32,040 --> 00:35:34,600 Speaker 3: And I think too it is a prime example of 764 00:35:34,719 --> 00:35:37,560 Speaker 3: like blaming the person instead of the system. Like when 765 00:35:37,600 --> 00:35:39,239 Speaker 3: you have people who are like I want to save 766 00:35:39,280 --> 00:35:41,080 Speaker 3: more money, I want to get to the gym, I 767 00:35:41,120 --> 00:35:43,040 Speaker 3: want to get a new job, and yet don't have 768 00:35:43,160 --> 00:35:46,000 Speaker 3: the tools to be able to do those things and 769 00:35:46,080 --> 00:35:48,319 Speaker 3: instead have a lot of barriers that are placed in 770 00:35:48,360 --> 00:35:51,560 Speaker 3: their way. I kind of hate, like the marketing that's 771 00:35:51,560 --> 00:35:54,239 Speaker 3: associated with the holiday of New Year's where it's like 772 00:35:54,560 --> 00:35:57,040 Speaker 3: this is your year, like you better get your shit 773 00:35:57,080 --> 00:35:58,760 Speaker 3: together otherwise it's your fault. 774 00:35:59,040 --> 00:36:00,799 Speaker 1: I mean I kind of agree, but I also think 775 00:36:00,840 --> 00:36:03,400 Speaker 1: there's endless examples of people who figure out, if they 776 00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:05,800 Speaker 1: really care about something, how to get it done despite 777 00:36:05,800 --> 00:36:07,759 Speaker 1: the barriers. And there are a lot of people who 778 00:36:07,760 --> 00:36:09,960 Speaker 1: will use barriers and as an excuse to not actually 779 00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:12,960 Speaker 1: be accountable for the thing that they want. So it's 780 00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:16,600 Speaker 1: always a bit of both. It's both systemic and individual, 781 00:36:16,840 --> 00:36:19,440 Speaker 1: depending on the goal. All Right, we got to take 782 00:36:19,440 --> 00:36:23,439 Speaker 1: a break when we come back. The Gift has opinions 783 00:36:30,520 --> 00:36:32,879 Speaker 1: welcome back slices. Alex and I aren't the only ones 784 00:36:32,880 --> 00:36:35,080 Speaker 1: with opinions about the holiday season. We actually asked a 785 00:36:35,120 --> 00:36:37,439 Speaker 1: few of our favorite soccer players for their takes during 786 00:36:37,520 --> 00:36:40,600 Speaker 1: media day at the NWSL Championship, and we got a 787 00:36:40,600 --> 00:36:44,440 Speaker 1: couple opinions about the Christmas season. First up, the Washington 788 00:36:44,440 --> 00:36:48,359 Speaker 1: Spirits Gift Monday has very strong thoughts about the Christmas meal. 789 00:36:49,120 --> 00:36:51,919 Speaker 4: I mean, I grew up in Angilia and we said 790 00:36:51,960 --> 00:36:55,600 Speaker 4: it with most of I'm Christian, so every year we 791 00:36:55,600 --> 00:36:58,560 Speaker 4: said its Christmas. It's a big thing for us, and 792 00:36:58,800 --> 00:37:03,600 Speaker 4: it was especially dish. We always cook like norm rise 793 00:37:04,239 --> 00:37:07,279 Speaker 4: and we call it stew over Yeah, they call it 794 00:37:07,320 --> 00:37:10,200 Speaker 4: like tomato sauce. Yeah, but we call it stew because 795 00:37:10,200 --> 00:37:11,920 Speaker 4: there's a special way they make this stew. 796 00:37:12,320 --> 00:37:13,640 Speaker 1: And then there is this chicken. 797 00:37:14,280 --> 00:37:16,759 Speaker 4: So there's always a chicken because without the chicken, the 798 00:37:16,840 --> 00:37:18,240 Speaker 4: Christmas food is not complete. 799 00:37:18,320 --> 00:37:20,640 Speaker 1: So yeah, so that's your heartache. You have to have 800 00:37:20,760 --> 00:37:24,120 Speaker 1: the chicken at Christmas. Is it jella rice or something else? 801 00:37:24,360 --> 00:37:28,000 Speaker 4: Oh yeah, it's white rise and stew with chicken. Okay, 802 00:37:28,440 --> 00:37:33,600 Speaker 4: jellaflies can be maybe for Ista white vie for Christmas. 803 00:37:33,840 --> 00:37:36,239 Speaker 1: Next up Gotham, I've seized Jayde and Shaw chimed in 804 00:37:36,280 --> 00:37:38,480 Speaker 1: with her take on Christmas decorations. 805 00:37:38,840 --> 00:37:40,719 Speaker 5: You can put up your decorations as always you want you. 806 00:37:40,800 --> 00:37:43,359 Speaker 5: I love Christmas, so like put up that tree right 807 00:37:43,400 --> 00:37:46,640 Speaker 5: after Halloween for all I care. I feel like that's 808 00:37:46,760 --> 00:37:50,520 Speaker 5: like a thing. So yeah, I honestly don't think I 809 00:37:50,560 --> 00:37:52,279 Speaker 5: have a heartache. I'm like, do what you want. 810 00:37:52,600 --> 00:37:55,880 Speaker 1: And Gotham's Emily Sonnet has the Ghost of Christmas music 811 00:37:56,000 --> 00:38:00,000 Speaker 1: past aka DJ Aubrey Kingsbury to blame for her version 812 00:38:00,120 --> 00:38:02,279 Speaker 1: to holiday tunes in Australia. 813 00:38:02,360 --> 00:38:06,400 Speaker 6: I was roommate with Auby Bludsoe and she in the beginning, 814 00:38:06,920 --> 00:38:09,040 Speaker 6: I think it was all of November, no, starting December 815 00:38:09,080 --> 00:38:11,120 Speaker 6: one is just like only Christmas musuic in the car. 816 00:38:11,840 --> 00:38:12,600 Speaker 1: It that was it. 817 00:38:12,680 --> 00:38:15,600 Speaker 6: So I say my hot take after that three months 818 00:38:15,600 --> 00:38:19,080 Speaker 6: living with Aubrey Bloods was like, I don't do Christmas 819 00:38:19,160 --> 00:38:22,800 Speaker 6: music until maybe the week before, like maybe, and Mariah. 820 00:38:22,400 --> 00:38:26,360 Speaker 1: I mean she even Mariah. Mariah is the only exception 821 00:38:26,960 --> 00:38:27,520 Speaker 1: on FI. 822 00:38:28,239 --> 00:38:31,000 Speaker 6: But I would say I definitely dialed back after having 823 00:38:31,000 --> 00:38:33,759 Speaker 6: an incredible roommate experience with Aubie blood So in Australia. 824 00:38:33,760 --> 00:38:36,319 Speaker 6: But she's someone who cranks it out, loves it. That's 825 00:38:36,360 --> 00:38:38,320 Speaker 6: definitely not her hot take, but it is mine. 826 00:38:38,560 --> 00:38:40,719 Speaker 1: We also had Slice Matt Hickey chime in with his 827 00:38:40,760 --> 00:38:44,000 Speaker 1: own musical hot take. He said, quote, wonderful Christmas time 828 00:38:44,080 --> 00:38:46,600 Speaker 1: is trash and I challenge myself every year to avoid 829 00:38:46,640 --> 00:38:49,080 Speaker 1: hearing it. The airport ruins it for me, as does 830 00:38:49,120 --> 00:38:52,720 Speaker 1: a miniature golf course or a restaurant. And super Slice 831 00:38:52,760 --> 00:38:56,480 Speaker 1: Amanda Vallo wrote in with several holiday hot takes quote, 832 00:38:56,840 --> 00:38:59,520 Speaker 1: I think the debate starter is diehard a Christmas movie 833 00:38:59,600 --> 00:39:02,279 Speaker 1: is the question what we should be asking is why 834 00:39:02,280 --> 00:39:04,959 Speaker 1: are they having a work holiday party on Christmas Eve? 835 00:39:06,320 --> 00:39:09,840 Speaker 1: White lights, blinking lights, colored lights. It doesn't matter. We 836 00:39:09,880 --> 00:39:11,960 Speaker 1: should all just be happy we're no longer putting lit 837 00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:17,080 Speaker 1: candles on live trees. And finally, the mule tide doesn't 838 00:39:17,120 --> 00:39:20,080 Speaker 1: have to be gay. Let it be curious in questioning 839 00:39:20,560 --> 00:39:23,040 Speaker 1: end quote, Amanda's got to have a side gig as 840 00:39:23,040 --> 00:39:25,799 Speaker 1: a comedy writer, right, or maybe a main gig. We 841 00:39:25,880 --> 00:39:27,839 Speaker 1: never really know what you slices are up to out there. 842 00:39:28,760 --> 00:39:30,480 Speaker 1: We do always love that you're listing, but we want 843 00:39:30,520 --> 00:39:31,920 Speaker 1: to get you in the game every day too, So 844 00:39:32,000 --> 00:39:34,400 Speaker 1: here's our good game play of the day. Vote for 845 00:39:34,480 --> 00:39:36,839 Speaker 1: the slices if you haven't already. We're going to link 846 00:39:36,840 --> 00:39:39,360 Speaker 1: to the voting form in the show notes and reveal 847 00:39:39,440 --> 00:39:42,120 Speaker 1: the winners in the new year. Also check out some 848 00:39:42,160 --> 00:39:45,359 Speaker 1: interesting women's sports research from the team at Parody. They 849 00:39:45,400 --> 00:39:48,600 Speaker 1: compiled their wrapped collection for the top women's sports research 850 00:39:48,640 --> 00:39:51,040 Speaker 1: of twenty twenty five, with reports that looked at everything 851 00:39:51,040 --> 00:39:54,600 Speaker 1: from sponsorship to fan behavior to investment across different leagues. 852 00:39:54,920 --> 00:39:57,520 Speaker 1: We've linked to the collection in the show notes, and 853 00:39:57,600 --> 00:39:59,000 Speaker 1: we always love to hear from you, so hit us 854 00:39:59,080 --> 00:40:02,359 Speaker 1: up on email. Game at wondermedianetwork dot com or leave 855 00:40:02,400 --> 00:40:05,320 Speaker 1: us a voicemail at eight seven two two four fifty seventy, 856 00:40:05,760 --> 00:40:08,760 Speaker 1: and don't forget to subscribe. Rate and review It's easy. 857 00:40:08,920 --> 00:40:12,360 Speaker 1: Watch a last minute Christmas gift for your favorite sports 858 00:40:12,360 --> 00:40:15,880 Speaker 1: fan rating ten out of ten. Side eyes from Uncle 859 00:40:15,960 --> 00:40:19,960 Speaker 1: Bart review. Want to get the family talking at Christmas 860 00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:21,960 Speaker 1: and give your favorite sports fan a gift that'll make 861 00:40:21,960 --> 00:40:26,160 Speaker 1: them a hit at every PWHL, WNBA and NWSL game 862 00:40:26,200 --> 00:40:29,920 Speaker 1: they attend. Well. Shouts to Gotham FCCFO carry Fleishower for 863 00:40:30,040 --> 00:40:32,799 Speaker 1: passing this one along. It's a hat from the Good 864 00:40:32,880 --> 00:40:36,200 Speaker 1: Shirts dot com that reads, I just hope both teams 865 00:40:36,200 --> 00:40:38,959 Speaker 1: have fun and that the two best players secretly kiss 866 00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:43,320 Speaker 1: each other after the game. Honestly, secretly or not secretly. 867 00:40:43,520 --> 00:40:47,799 Speaker 1: We're into it. Sports and gayshit forever. Speaking of have 868 00:40:47,880 --> 00:40:50,920 Speaker 1: y'all been watching Heated Rivalry? I have been hearing a 869 00:40:50,960 --> 00:40:53,200 Speaker 1: lot about this show and it is queued up and 870 00:40:53,400 --> 00:40:55,800 Speaker 1: ready for me during the Christmas to New Year lazy days. 871 00:40:56,040 --> 00:40:57,480 Speaker 1: I can't wait to chat about it with y'all in 872 00:40:57,480 --> 00:41:01,640 Speaker 1: the new year. Now it's your turn. Rate, Thanks for listening, 873 00:41:01,920 --> 00:41:05,080 Speaker 1: See you soon. Good game. Darlene Love Good Game doing 874 00:41:05,120 --> 00:41:07,000 Speaker 1: whatever the fuck you want at the holidays, as long 875 00:41:07,000 --> 00:41:10,080 Speaker 1: as it makes you happy. You every time they call 876 00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:18,120 Speaker 1: Natalie plumpy and love Actually. Good Game with Sarah Spain 877 00:41:18,239 --> 00:41:20,879 Speaker 1: is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep 878 00:41:20,880 --> 00:41:23,400 Speaker 1: Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the 879 00:41:23,440 --> 00:41:26,759 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 880 00:41:26,920 --> 00:41:30,400 Speaker 1: Production by Wonder Media Network, our producers are alex Azzie 881 00:41:30,440 --> 00:41:34,360 Speaker 1: Grace Lynch, Taylor Williamson, and Lucy Jones. Our executive producers 882 00:41:34,400 --> 00:41:37,800 Speaker 1: are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder. 883 00:41:38,080 --> 00:41:41,480 Speaker 1: Our editors are Emily Rudder, Britney Martinez and Gianna Palmer. 884 00:41:41,760 --> 00:41:45,360 Speaker 1: Production assistants from Avery Loftus and I'm Your Host Sarah 885 00:41:45,400 --> 00:41:45,720 Speaker 1: Spain