1 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:11,559 Speaker 1: Hey y'all, we're back with another episode of tvgu I'm 2 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 1: your host, doctor Joyhard and Bradford, and today we have 3 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:17,599 Speaker 1: a very special guest. Can't wait to get into it 4 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: with her right after our break. Have you heard the news? 5 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: Therapy for Black Girls is launching our community on Patreon. 6 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: It's your space to be seen, heard, and understood in 7 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:35,239 Speaker 1: an even more connected way. We're excited to bring you 8 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 1: new segments like so my Therapist Said, where we break 9 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:42,560 Speaker 1: down viral therapy, hot takes with real mental health professionals, 10 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: TBG community chats where we unpack trending pop culture topics 11 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:49,879 Speaker 1: that have us all in our feelings, and opportunities to 12 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: connect with other sisters all over the world. Sign up 13 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: now at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com slash join Patreon 14 00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: for all the details about what we're planning and to 15 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 1: be the first to know when the doors are open. 16 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 1: We can't wait to see you inside. Kirston Johnson is 17 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 1: a talented gymnast at Temple University known for her dedication, resilience, 18 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 1: and passion for the sport. After transferring to Temple, she 19 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 1: quickly became a standout athlete, consistently pushing the boundaries of 20 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 1: her performance while balancing the physical and mental demands of 21 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:28,760 Speaker 1: being a college gymnast. Beyond her impressive athletic abilities, Kirsten 22 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 1: is deeply committed to mental health advocacy, recognizing the importance 23 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:36,319 Speaker 1: of managing anxiety and prioritizing well being as much as 24 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: physical discipline in sports. As a black woman in gymnastics, 25 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 1: she remains determined to break through barriers, handling unjust rulings 26 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: with grace and continuing to push for representation and fairness 27 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:51,520 Speaker 1: in the sport. With aspirations to make a long lasting 28 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 1: impact both in gymnastics and in her community. Kirston serves 29 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 1: as an inspiration to younger athletes, showing that strength comes 30 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: from both perseverance and self care. Today we discuss her 31 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 1: transferring from an HBCU to a PWI and learn how 32 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 1: she has learned to deal with stressors that come with 33 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:12,000 Speaker 1: competing in a sport that is still grappling with how 34 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 1: to make space for black women within it. I'm very 35 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 1: excited for you to hear this conversation. If something resonates 36 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 1: with you while enjoying our conversation, please share with us 37 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 1: on social media using the hashtag TVG in session. Here's 38 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 1: our conversation. Well, thank you so much for joining me today, Kirson. 39 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having me. 40 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm very excited to chat with you. So for 41 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:37,920 Speaker 1: those who may not be familiar, can you give us 42 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:39,839 Speaker 1: a little bit of an introduction to who you are? 43 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 2: Sure? 44 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 3: Well, my name is Kristen Johnson. I am nineteen years 45 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 3: old or from Baltimore, Maryland. I was originally a gymnast 46 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 3: at Talladega College. I was the first commit to the 47 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 3: second HBCU with the Tynasis team and stay at Alabama. 48 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,359 Speaker 3: I'm also a first team four time All American vault champion, 49 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 3: and the program got cut after year due to funds 50 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 3: and I transferred to Temple and now I'm a sophomore 51 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 3: at Temple University. 52 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 1: Yeah okay, And you have been going viral all across 53 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:11,799 Speaker 1: social media with this incredible room and that she did 54 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 1: to like us. But how did you first get started 55 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:18,919 Speaker 1: in gymnastics? What inspired you to go down the road 56 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 1: of gymnastics. 57 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:24,679 Speaker 3: Well, it's actually it's all because of my parents, and 58 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 3: I was a late starter. I started gymnastics at the 59 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:32,800 Speaker 3: age of ten, which is usually not I mean the 60 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 3: usually like little girls start at two or like three 61 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 3: in my case, very late. It was the type of 62 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 3: kid that would slip all around the house, like I 63 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 3: was doing cartwheels at the age of two, and my 64 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 3: parents were actually considering putting me in gymnastics early. But 65 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 3: I had a cousin that did gymnastics and her parents 66 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 3: were telling my parents, Nah, don't put her in the sport, 67 00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 3: like it's too expensive. I'm going to take up majority 68 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 3: of your time. So my parents was just dodging gymnastics anything. 69 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 3: They were putting me in anything besides gymnastics. So they 70 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 3: put me in vallet. At first, it wasn't really like 71 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 3: my thing, so they put me in cheerleading. And in cheerlead, 72 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 3: I mean it was fun, you know. I was still 73 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 3: able to do all like the flips and stuff, be 74 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:19,719 Speaker 3: the flyer and whatnot. But I was still out doing 75 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 3: flips and stuff in places possibly where I should not 76 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 3: have been, like grocery stores and malls. But there was 77 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 3: like this one particular time, I was like at this 78 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:30,720 Speaker 3: jungle gym for kids called like Port Discovery, and I 79 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:33,159 Speaker 3: was doing flips in air and there was like this 80 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 3: other little kid that was doing flips and it's almost 81 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 3: kind of a competition thing like if I did a 82 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 3: car wheel, she would do a car wheel, kind of 83 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:41,480 Speaker 3: like tip for tag going back and forth. And I 84 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:44,480 Speaker 3: had chucked a backflip out of nowhere, and my parents 85 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 3: just looked at me, and they looked at each other 86 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 3: and they're just like, yeah, let's go ahead and put 87 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:49,600 Speaker 3: in gymnastics. 88 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 2: They finally did. 89 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 3: So I tried out, I did wreck for a little bit, 90 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:58,279 Speaker 3: and I started gymnastics at the age of ten, Level four, 91 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:01,839 Speaker 3: skipped five and six with to seven and so on, 92 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 3: and here I am college. 93 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:08,040 Speaker 1: Wow, Okay, so when you're teaching me so much right now, 94 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:11,280 Speaker 1: because to hear that ten is like a late start 95 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:14,159 Speaker 1: for gym nasty And so most kids who are like 96 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:16,720 Speaker 1: competitive and like reach the levels that you have reached 97 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 1: typically would have started much earlier in their life. 98 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 2: It sounds like, yes, yes, to three years old. 99 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, so at the time when I was during cartwheels 100 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 3: is the time they possibly should have started putting me 101 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 3: in gymnastics. 102 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 2: So yeah, got it. 103 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 1: And you mentioned level four, five, six, So how many 104 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 1: levels are there in gymnastics, and like what distinguishes each 105 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 1: level from. 106 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 3: The next, Well, usually I think it kind of like 107 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:45,840 Speaker 3: depends on the gym like sometimes so be from like 108 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:49,159 Speaker 3: lovel two to like ten, so it kind of like 109 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 3: really varies, like some gyms will only like reach to 110 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:54,840 Speaker 3: like seven or like eight. I'm gonna say just from 111 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 3: two to like level ten and then from there, I 112 00:05:58,120 --> 00:05:59,680 Speaker 3: guess you can really decide like if you want to 113 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 3: go elite or just go to college, go to the Olympics. 114 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 3: So usually like level ten is kind of like where 115 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 3: it's like you're just signing, like where you're just signing 116 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 3: factor is what you want to do? 117 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 1: So got it? And do the levels differ in how 118 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 1: difficult the stunts are that you're doing or whether they 119 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 1: have certain apparatuses and that kind of thing. 120 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 3: Yes, literally what you just said, For like level four, 121 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 3: I'm just like throwing something out there. You'll do like 122 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 3: a cartwheel, and then for like level five you'll start 123 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 3: doing like black walkovers, and six like by can spring. 124 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 3: So like the level that you're in, that's when the 125 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:38,040 Speaker 3: still start to progress, it start to get harder. 126 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: Got it? Okay, so you started at ten, So at 127 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 1: what point did somebody recognize I don't know if it 128 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 1: was your parents or a coach, at what point did 129 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:49,479 Speaker 1: someone recognize, like, oh, she really has some serious skills, 130 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 1: like we think she can go beyond just like maybe 131 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:54,480 Speaker 1: high school, like she has a career in this, even 132 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: for college. At what point did that happen? 133 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:57,840 Speaker 2: It was definitely my parents. 134 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 3: I think it was possibly when I really started doing 135 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:06,280 Speaker 3: just crazy flips, like in my backyard and just all 136 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 3: on the grass, because luckily I was also fortunate to 137 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 3: have a trampoline as well, and whenever I was bored, 138 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 3: I just loved being outside, so I would always go 139 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 3: on like the side of my house and just flip 140 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 3: in the grass and tease myself like backflips, by cancering 141 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:24,119 Speaker 3: areals and just. 142 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 2: Just crazy stuff like front tucks. 143 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 3: And that's when like my parents were just like, Okay, yeah, 144 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 3: she has a gift, because there's just no way the 145 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 3: fact that she's able. 146 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 2: To teach herself these things is crazy. 147 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 3: And there was like one point in time where I 148 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 3: was actually put into like WREC classes, and the coaches 149 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 3: were telling my parents like, there's really nothing else that 150 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 3: we can teach her. 151 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 2: She kind of already taught herself to do these things. 152 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 3: So that's when my dad was just like, Okay, we 153 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 3: need to look into figure out how to get her 154 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 3: into competing on an actual team. And that's where it 155 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:57,240 Speaker 3: all began. 156 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 1: When you say you were teaching yourself, who are some 157 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: of your inspirations in the field? Were you kind of 158 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 1: looking at past performances? Were you looking at YouTube videos? 159 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 1: Like how are you teaching yourself? And who are you 160 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 1: looking up to? 161 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 2: You really looked up to Yappie Douglas. She was seriously 162 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 2: like my inspiration. 163 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 3: It was like the fact that I was able to 164 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 3: see another gymnast look like me and I was doing 165 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 3: like the craziest things that she was doing that it 166 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 3: was so cool. Like I was obsessed with her movie 167 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 3: on Netflix. I used to watch it all the time. 168 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 3: But when it came to just doing flips, I never 169 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 3: really looked at anything. 170 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:36,080 Speaker 2: To just I just did them. It like I literally 171 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 2: was just just put my hands up and just go and. 172 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 3: Be like, let's try this. You know what I'm gonna 173 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 3: do this. Now I think about it, I think not 174 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 3: only did I just do that, I would also see 175 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 3: like these little girls like on YouTube as well, some 176 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 3: girls who were actually like in gymnastics, probably like level 177 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:58,960 Speaker 3: sevens or maybe like level six's, and I would see 178 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 3: them doing like side aerials or like a round off 179 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:05,719 Speaker 3: by cantrying by Tuck, and I would probably watch that 180 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:07,960 Speaker 3: and be like, let me try this. And I would 181 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 3: even look at their form as well and be like, oh, 182 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:11,760 Speaker 3: I'm supposed to keep my legs together. My legs shouldn't 183 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:14,439 Speaker 3: be a part. So I would kind of just nitpick 184 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 3: and be like, Okay, this is what I should do. 185 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 3: So I'm also like a like visual learner too, so 186 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:22,679 Speaker 3: I guess that also helped as well. M M. 187 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:26,720 Speaker 1: So what role has mentorship played in your life? 188 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 3: Like? 189 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 1: Who have been some people that have been important and 190 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:31,200 Speaker 1: kind of shaping what your career has been up to 191 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:33,439 Speaker 1: this point. 192 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 2: Who has to say? 193 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 3: See, that's that's almost like a very hard question for me. 194 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 3: But not at the same time, my parents have been 195 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 3: my number one supporters from day one. It has always 196 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 3: just been me and my parents. Every time when I 197 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:56,000 Speaker 3: would have like a bad day or just anything, always 198 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 3: felt like I could go and talk to them and 199 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:01,199 Speaker 3: they would always just definitely my mom, she was definitely 200 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 3: like my biggest supporter and just giving me advice basically 201 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:08,679 Speaker 3: tell me to just never give up, to always keep 202 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:13,040 Speaker 3: my head up because there are gonna be some bad days. 203 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:15,840 Speaker 3: They're not always gonna be like good days and gymnastics, 204 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:19,320 Speaker 3: and he's really what helped me like hold everything together. 205 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 3: And then for my dad, he was definitely always just 206 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 3: all about like make sure I rest, make sure like 207 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 3: I eat right, and just sometimes definitely when I really 208 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 3: just needed like that push, when I really really needed it. 209 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 3: And also he was able to really understand gymnastics faster 210 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:41,040 Speaker 3: than my mom too, So if I ever just wanted 211 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:43,360 Speaker 3: to talk about like certain skills to him, he would 212 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 3: like understand. But I think my parents was really what 213 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 3: helped me throughout this whole journey because in gymnastics, like 214 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 3: I was the gymnasts who always felt alone. Actually, it 215 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 3: was hard for me to connect with my teammates including 216 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:02,920 Speaker 3: coaches as well. And because of that, one of the 217 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:05,960 Speaker 3: reasons is one of the reasons why, like my parents, 218 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 3: I need to move gyms as well. So I was 219 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 3: also that gymast for the little girls out there listening, 220 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:14,680 Speaker 3: like if you're like probably one of the people who 221 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 3: also had to like skip gyms and try to feel like, 222 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:19,200 Speaker 3: oh my gosh, am I going to fit into like 223 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 3: this new atmosphere like these new team, new coaches. 224 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 2: I went through that. 225 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 3: Too, so they have really helped me keep everything together, 226 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 3: like in the whole process. And honestly, I really would 227 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 3: to change a thing because I wouldn't be who I 228 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 3: am today. 229 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:46,400 Speaker 1: So h more from our conversation after the break, So, 230 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:48,600 Speaker 1: what kinds of things do you think have made it 231 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:51,959 Speaker 1: so that you have felt maybe alone at some gyms 232 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:53,440 Speaker 1: or I felt like you needed to kind of move 233 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 1: gyms to find a place that was a better fit 234 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:55,760 Speaker 1: for you. 235 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:58,439 Speaker 3: Well, with some of my teammates, I have been bullied. 236 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:02,640 Speaker 3: So it came to a point to where I would 237 00:12:02,679 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 3: always have to be in a zone. I always felt 238 00:12:06,679 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 3: like I was on an island by myself to where 239 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 3: I just had to focus on just competing. 240 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:12,680 Speaker 2: There was no. 241 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:18,960 Speaker 3: Friendships or like having sleepovers after practice came something to 242 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 3: eat after practice, and it was always just gymnastics in school, 243 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:25,080 Speaker 3: gymnastics in school. 244 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:29,880 Speaker 2: Growing up, I didn't really have like a normal shood. 245 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 3: And when it came to coaches, when I would tell 246 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 3: coaches about these things, they wouldn't really listen. 247 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:42,080 Speaker 2: They kind of just let things kind of swept on 248 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:42,440 Speaker 2: the rug. 249 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 3: And also also I also have add by the way, 250 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:50,040 Speaker 3: so like when I would tell the coaches, like, hey, 251 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:51,560 Speaker 3: I have a add they would be like. 252 00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 2: Oh yes, I understand. 253 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:55,320 Speaker 3: We also have gymnasts in here that have add but 254 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 3: when it actually came to the time to where I 255 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:01,760 Speaker 3: needed or they were giving me like a correction and 256 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 3: I didn't really understand it. 257 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:04,320 Speaker 2: Sometimes it will be frustration. 258 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:07,840 Speaker 3: So it was kind of like always like a communication 259 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:10,680 Speaker 3: like barrier there stay like if I had like aches 260 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:13,480 Speaker 3: and pains, it was also hard to talk to them. 261 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:14,199 Speaker 2: About that as well. 262 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 3: So almost throughout my whole career, it's just been trying 263 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 3: to figure things out on my own. 264 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:23,120 Speaker 2: So I've always just had a bubble. 265 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 3: And I always kept my I don't know how do 266 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:30,319 Speaker 3: you like say it, but I almost kind of kept 267 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:33,760 Speaker 3: like my circle small as well, So like it's just 268 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:35,840 Speaker 3: been a journey, was just like me and my parents. 269 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 3: And that's when I would also have like mindset coaches 270 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 3: or like therapists so I can actually talk about it 271 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:45,080 Speaker 3: so I wouldn't always have to keep it in all 272 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:48,960 Speaker 3: the time, so I could also receive like advice for 273 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:51,120 Speaker 3: me to get over mental blocks that I was having 274 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:52,559 Speaker 3: because like I said, I couldn't really talk to my 275 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:56,080 Speaker 3: teammates about it nor my coaches. So that's how I 276 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:58,440 Speaker 3: was kind of able to deal with those things and 277 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:01,680 Speaker 3: why I also had to moved to different gyms to 278 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 3: see where I would fit and to also help me 279 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:07,439 Speaker 3: reach the goals that I wanted to achieve, because at 280 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:09,319 Speaker 3: one point I did want to go to the Olympics 281 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 3: and I was trying to get into the leite track, 282 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 3: so I actually had to move gyms for that, and 283 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 3: that only lasted for so long because I had like 284 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 3: a back injury. 285 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 2: So I moved gyms. After that. 286 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 3: It was another gym and I finished out the rest 287 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 3: of my jail career there and that's when Talladega came 288 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 3: along with to Talladega. 289 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 2: And so on. 290 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 3: But in Jao, it was rocky. There was ups and downs, 291 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:41,040 Speaker 3: but I definitely learned some things there and luckily I 292 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 3: met the people that did meet that helped me get 293 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:46,160 Speaker 3: through my struggles, because obviously I would not have been 294 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 3: able to get through it on my own. 295 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:52,440 Speaker 1: So yeah, I'm really glad to hear you talk about 296 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 1: like mindset coaches and therapists because I think, you know, 297 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:59,200 Speaker 1: we're learning now more about how much mental health and 298 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaker 1: like mindset it plays a huge and I think sports 299 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:05,560 Speaker 1: in general, but I think in particular related to gymnastics. 300 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:07,640 Speaker 1: Can you talk a little bit more about like what 301 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 1: the mindset needs to be like, and like what kinds 302 00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 1: of things are you managing in terms of your mental 303 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:14,520 Speaker 1: health to be able to perform at the level that 304 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:14,840 Speaker 1: you do. 305 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 3: It would have to say to this day, I still journal, 306 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 3: and I think that's one of the things that I've 307 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:23,360 Speaker 3: I really put on the top of my pyramid. It's 308 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 3: just like the fact that you are able to write 309 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 3: out what you're feeling and what you're thinking, you really 310 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 3: get to see it, and then once you write it out, 311 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:33,080 Speaker 3: you get to like let it go. After that you 312 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 3: get to move on. It's mindset, your mindset, and gymnastics 313 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 3: literally has to be right because if not, things will 314 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:48,480 Speaker 3: fall apart. And I think people really don't realize how 315 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 3: mental gymnastics is. I would have to say, like it's 316 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 3: I'm just gonna throw something out there, like ten percent 317 00:15:56,360 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 3: physical ninety like mental, big jump. But you kind of 318 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:03,160 Speaker 3: like get the point. There's so many things that you 319 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 3: have to worry about, so many things that we do 320 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:08,640 Speaker 3: worry about, possibly that we shouldn't. Sometimes you put unnecessary 321 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 3: pressure on ourselves because we are a perfectionist. And I've 322 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:16,680 Speaker 3: been telling myself lately that pressure is not a thing. 323 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:20,479 Speaker 3: Pressure is something that you make up in your mind, 324 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:25,920 Speaker 3: because at this point, some people at competitions they are 325 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:29,280 Speaker 3: just amazed by whatever you do because they can't even 326 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 3: do what you're doing. So this point, you seriously just 327 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 3: should just be going out there, just having fun and 328 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 3: just showing off. I know that you don't want to 329 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:43,640 Speaker 3: fall because it's embarrassing. You feel like you're you probably 330 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 3: let your parents down, probably let your teammates down, your coaches, 331 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:51,200 Speaker 3: But it is part of the journey and sometimes you 332 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:53,920 Speaker 3: seriously just have to take that and use that as 333 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:59,320 Speaker 3: motivation for the next competition and move on. And in gymnastics, 334 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 3: you are always being judged, and at the end of 335 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:06,200 Speaker 3: the day, when you're getting judged by the judges, is 336 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:10,600 Speaker 3: still an opinion of someone else, whether they think your 337 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:15,960 Speaker 3: routine is perfect or not. And sometimes when you receive 338 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 3: a score, you'll just be like, oh, man, like the 339 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 3: best score thought was going to be higher. Sometimes yes, 340 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 3: you should be worried about the score, but sometimes not, 341 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 3: because at the end of the day, your score does 342 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 3: not determine who you are as a gymnast and what 343 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:34,120 Speaker 3: you do at the end of the day, Like if 344 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:38,280 Speaker 3: you know that you accomplish your goal if you made 345 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:40,760 Speaker 3: the correction that you were supposed to make, that is 346 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 3: all that matters. 347 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:43,800 Speaker 2: I've still been. 348 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:48,560 Speaker 3: Learning as I've been going the transition from going from 349 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:52,800 Speaker 3: Talladega to Temple. It has been hard. It has put 350 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:55,120 Speaker 3: a little bit of a toll, but you know what, 351 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 3: I am all for the ride. I feel like it's 352 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:03,439 Speaker 3: been a blessing in disguise, and I think that my 353 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 3: coaches actually really realize how much I was going through 354 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:09,240 Speaker 3: more than I did myself. 355 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:11,200 Speaker 2: And they really opened up. 356 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:13,879 Speaker 3: My eyes about that they had to commit to a 357 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:18,840 Speaker 3: school in just a span of like three weeks, and 358 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:20,960 Speaker 3: then I came from a place to where I was 359 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:22,200 Speaker 3: not paying for tuition. 360 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:23,040 Speaker 2: Now I am. 361 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 3: Now I have to get used to my new coaches, 362 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 3: new teammates, and my teammates brought me in what's not 363 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:36,040 Speaker 3: used to that to where in the beginning I was 364 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:38,159 Speaker 3: just like, well, this is going to be short lived, 365 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 3: It's going to have to go back into AJ's bubble. 366 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:45,480 Speaker 2: When ashi reality not the case. 367 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 3: I love my teammates and they love me, and I'm 368 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 3: actually able to be myself around them. So now I'm 369 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:57,560 Speaker 3: in a good environment, a healthy environment at that coaches classes. 370 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 3: It was a lot, so my mental all over the place, 371 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:04,480 Speaker 3: and I was thinking that now I'm at you know, 372 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:08,160 Speaker 3: a d one. I was like, I have to be perfect, 373 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:10,000 Speaker 3: I have to do these things like I'm not going 374 00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 3: to make it into lineups. Needed to stop just for 375 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 3: a second and just take it like day by day 376 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:19,440 Speaker 3: and take everything in. Just be like fun, girl, You've 377 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:21,320 Speaker 3: already made it into college. 378 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 2: This is your sophomore year. You did what you did 379 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:27,239 Speaker 2: last year. This is like a whole new year. Just 380 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:27,720 Speaker 2: have fun. 381 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:30,240 Speaker 3: Like you have your teammates back, they have your back. 382 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 3: You are with coaches that you know that you can 383 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:36,840 Speaker 3: communicate with them. There is a lot that I have 384 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:40,679 Speaker 3: here that I've not had before. I'm putting like resources, 385 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:44,920 Speaker 3: but I'm really enjoying it here at Temple, and I 386 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:48,800 Speaker 3: am still going through things mentally like every other gymnast. 387 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 3: But I'm also in a better space as well, because 388 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:56,200 Speaker 3: I'm starting to understand things and I'm able to accept things. 389 00:19:56,760 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 3: And that's one of the things that I really tried 390 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:01,320 Speaker 3: to show my social media is that I tried to 391 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:03,320 Speaker 3: be vulnerable to let other girls know that they are 392 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:05,679 Speaker 3: not alone, because I didn't have that because I always 393 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 3: thought like, am one of the only one that's just 394 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:10,720 Speaker 3: going through these things. Like I see all these other 395 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 3: gymnasts and they're just perfect all the time, when in reality, 396 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:17,840 Speaker 3: like those gymnasts are not perfect either. They have their moments, 397 00:20:18,119 --> 00:20:20,880 Speaker 3: they're just not always shown. So I try to show 398 00:20:20,880 --> 00:20:23,720 Speaker 3: those things. But anyway, yeah, yes. 399 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:25,920 Speaker 2: No, you have to have a good mindset. 400 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:29,560 Speaker 1: I appreciate that, and I would love to actually hear 401 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:33,000 Speaker 1: more about the transition. So it sounds like your decision 402 00:20:33,040 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: to leave Helladega was not of your own choosing, right, 403 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:38,120 Speaker 1: So it sounds like funding was pulled correct from the program, 404 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 1: and so you're saying that you had to make a 405 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:43,200 Speaker 1: decision in three weeks. So what were you deciding about? 406 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:46,320 Speaker 1: And like how did the move to Temple all come about? 407 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:50,720 Speaker 3: There was a fundraiser to try and save the program, 408 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:55,520 Speaker 3: So looking into another school that was not like in 409 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:59,920 Speaker 3: my head like at all. And even when the program 410 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 3: got shut down, I knew I had to look into 411 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:05,520 Speaker 3: a school, but I wasn't really looking because I was 412 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:08,119 Speaker 3: still hanging on to the hope of going back to 413 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:09,440 Speaker 3: Talladega and the staging the program. 414 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:12,919 Speaker 2: But Temple reached out. 415 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 3: And they were telling me everything that they had to offer, 416 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:16,879 Speaker 3: and I was liking everything that I heard, and plus 417 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:19,359 Speaker 3: I was making a good connection with the coaches. I 418 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:21,760 Speaker 3: knew that I was going to get everything I needed 419 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:27,000 Speaker 3: health wise and academically. So that's how I knew. I 420 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:32,400 Speaker 3: was like, okay, that's actually think for a second and 421 00:21:33,119 --> 00:21:37,040 Speaker 3: do what is best for you. And Temple was it. 422 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:41,919 Speaker 3: And definitely when I knew that telg dynastics was just 423 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 3: not going to be a thing anymore. So that's actually 424 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:50,520 Speaker 3: how it all came about. And yeah, that's how a 425 00:21:50,600 --> 00:21:53,640 Speaker 3: decision was made and went to Temple and yeah, very 426 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:56,400 Speaker 3: quick decision, very quick decision. Yeah. 427 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:58,040 Speaker 1: So was there ever a thought for you, Kreson that 428 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:00,320 Speaker 1: you might just give up on gymnastics altogether? They're like, 429 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:02,600 Speaker 1: did you think about, like, okay else stay at No, 430 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:05,520 Speaker 1: absolutely not. 431 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:08,159 Speaker 2: Absolutely not, absolutely not. 432 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:11,880 Speaker 3: Gymnastic exists my passion and I'm gonna finish out these 433 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 3: four years. Maybe a fifth year, we'll never know, but 434 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:17,720 Speaker 3: I'm gonna finish out these four years in college. I 435 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:20,360 Speaker 3: knew I was going to figure out some way wherever. 436 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 3: But yeah, no, that was never a thought. 437 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:28,160 Speaker 1: Got it? Got it? Okay, So you know, someone Boles 438 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:30,800 Speaker 1: and Jordan Chown's. I mean, so many black gymnists have 439 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:34,399 Speaker 1: been very talkative and vocal about like their experiences and 440 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:37,720 Speaker 1: like the experiences of racism within the gymnastics field. Can 441 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:40,480 Speaker 1: you talk baby about like how you've navigated that, because 442 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:42,440 Speaker 1: we know that there are still just very few black 443 00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:45,280 Speaker 1: girls in the sports, So how have you been able 444 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:46,680 Speaker 1: to navigate these spaces? 445 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:53,080 Speaker 3: I could relate to some of the things that they 446 00:22:53,119 --> 00:22:57,119 Speaker 3: were saying or they had felt, because I've been through 447 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:01,600 Speaker 3: those things. And it's actually one of the reasons why 448 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:06,560 Speaker 3: I actually wasn't sure where I was going to go first, 449 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:11,480 Speaker 3: because Talladega wasn't that even announced their program yet, so 450 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:13,560 Speaker 3: I was worried. I was just like, where am I 451 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:16,119 Speaker 3: going to go? Am I going to be able to 452 00:23:16,119 --> 00:23:18,960 Speaker 3: fit in? Because in Jao that was always like my worry, 453 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:23,159 Speaker 3: like it's not really fit in anywhere. So I was 454 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:24,720 Speaker 3: just like in college, I was like, am I gonna 455 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:29,360 Speaker 3: fit in anywhere? Then Talladega announced their program. I did 456 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:32,480 Speaker 3: look into FISK at first. I did verbally commit to 457 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:38,080 Speaker 3: them at first, but coach Asia, which was the former 458 00:23:38,119 --> 00:23:41,680 Speaker 3: head coach at Talladega, she reached out and I listened 459 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:44,200 Speaker 3: to everything that she had to say, and I was 460 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:47,200 Speaker 3: at me like, yes, I want to go here because 461 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:50,159 Speaker 3: I really wanted to know what it felt like to 462 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:54,399 Speaker 3: actually be around people who looked like me, because in 463 00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:57,080 Speaker 3: jail is there's only like so many like what she. 464 00:23:57,080 --> 00:23:59,760 Speaker 1: Just said, what is Jayo Houston? 465 00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:03,840 Speaker 2: I think I think it's like Junior Olympics and who stands? 466 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:04,399 Speaker 1: Okay? 467 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:08,359 Speaker 3: Yeah, kind of like like club that's where everybody like 468 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 3: starts before they started getting to college and all the 469 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:13,520 Speaker 3: other jazz Yeah. 470 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:16,120 Speaker 1: Got it, Okay. 471 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:19,040 Speaker 3: I think that people's eyes are really starting to open 472 00:24:19,119 --> 00:24:23,000 Speaker 3: and they're starting to be more inclusive. So I'm really 473 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 3: starting to think that Genastis is starting to turn its 474 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:29,679 Speaker 3: way around. And I think Simone Biles and Jordan Child's 475 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:32,760 Speaker 3: are They've really been paving the way for all of us, 476 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:35,679 Speaker 3: definitely in this generation. I think it was kind of 477 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:38,879 Speaker 3: cool that in the Olympics we were able to see 478 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:41,679 Speaker 3: like all women of color on the podium. That that 479 00:24:41,720 --> 00:24:45,080 Speaker 3: was really cool, very nice to see something different. But 480 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:48,439 Speaker 3: I have been able to relate to some of the 481 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:50,879 Speaker 3: things that the girls have said. I even watched the 482 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:54,439 Speaker 3: Simone Biles documentary. I could really relate to everything that 483 00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:57,800 Speaker 3: she said in there too. When it came to pressure 484 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:02,160 Speaker 3: in mental blocks and the twisties like all of that. 485 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:05,320 Speaker 3: It's like surreal things. It's a big deal. No one 486 00:25:05,359 --> 00:25:07,600 Speaker 3: really talks about it, so I thought that was really cool, 487 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:10,480 Speaker 3: very empowering for her to actually come out about that 488 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:13,520 Speaker 3: and really talk about it, because sometimes it is scary 489 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:16,280 Speaker 3: to talk about. Definitely too, like, admit, you know that 490 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:19,920 Speaker 3: that's something that's happened to you, but no, I think 491 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:22,240 Speaker 3: people are starting to become more inclusive. I think that 492 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:27,040 Speaker 3: gymnastics is changing in a very good way. I can't 493 00:25:27,040 --> 00:25:29,239 Speaker 3: wait to see how everything is going to go like 494 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:32,920 Speaker 3: in the future too, including when I retire from gymnastics. 495 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:34,640 Speaker 2: I think it's going to be very exciting. 496 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:46,080 Speaker 1: More from our conversation after the break, So, how do 497 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:49,200 Speaker 1: you feel about women in sports overall? Like, I definitely 498 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:53,720 Speaker 1: think we're seeing more conversation, more attention to women in 499 00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:56,800 Speaker 1: the sports landscape in general. What kinds of things do 500 00:25:56,840 --> 00:25:58,960 Speaker 1: you think need to happen for it to be a 501 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:03,160 Speaker 1: more inclusive space for women in sports to be more celebrated. 502 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:07,800 Speaker 3: For people to understand that women can do just as 503 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:10,720 Speaker 3: much that men can, that we are not weak, that 504 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:16,359 Speaker 3: we are strong, independent, powerful women, that we could do 505 00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:21,600 Speaker 3: whatever we put our minds to. Just don't underestimate us ever, 506 00:26:22,160 --> 00:26:24,280 Speaker 3: because we will show up and show out when the 507 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:28,080 Speaker 3: time comes, when it is needed. We will always prove 508 00:26:28,119 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 3: you wrong no matter what. 509 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:29,680 Speaker 2: I think. 510 00:26:29,720 --> 00:26:32,960 Speaker 3: We're really seeing a lot of that, which is really 511 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:35,199 Speaker 3: cool because there's always gonna be one person that's going 512 00:26:35,240 --> 00:26:37,160 Speaker 3: to be like nah, like she's not gonna be able 513 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:39,200 Speaker 3: to do that, and then when they do it, they're 514 00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:42,400 Speaker 3: just like, oh, yeah, what were you saying, So. 515 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:47,480 Speaker 2: Oh okay, oh okay. 516 00:26:48,119 --> 00:26:50,800 Speaker 3: I think at the same time, like, you know what, 517 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:53,200 Speaker 3: underestimate us because at the same time, like I said, 518 00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:55,520 Speaker 3: we're gonna put in the work and we're gonna show 519 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:56,879 Speaker 3: you like that we can do it. 520 00:26:57,760 --> 00:26:58,960 Speaker 2: So it's almost kind. 521 00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:01,880 Speaker 3: Of just like oh you hate oh you you feel 522 00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:03,399 Speaker 3: this type of way, you know what, Give me all 523 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:05,720 Speaker 3: of that, because it's just giving me motivation just to 524 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:07,919 Speaker 3: push more and more and more to prove you wrong. 525 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:10,640 Speaker 3: So as long as we all of us just stick 526 00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:15,320 Speaker 3: together and we do our thing, that we're unstoppable and 527 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:16,840 Speaker 3: we're can continue to be unstoppable. 528 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:20,520 Speaker 2: And it has shown over the years and it's going 529 00:27:20,560 --> 00:27:22,760 Speaker 2: to show some more. 530 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:27,119 Speaker 1: So yes, I love it, love it so kids, and 531 00:27:27,119 --> 00:27:29,240 Speaker 1: I want to talk a little bit about this viral routine. 532 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:32,000 Speaker 1: So I have been everybody who's watched gymnastics for a while, 533 00:27:32,359 --> 00:27:34,920 Speaker 1: and it feels like, you know, probably five to ten 534 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:38,359 Speaker 1: and definitely more than that. I don't remember floor routines 535 00:27:38,440 --> 00:27:41,399 Speaker 1: having like music you could recognize, like I feel like 536 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:45,280 Speaker 1: it was always like instrumental or something like random melodies, 537 00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:47,800 Speaker 1: and so it feels like your routine. And then Jordan 538 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:50,680 Speaker 1: and I know, has had several kind of Beyonce inspired routines. 539 00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:53,080 Speaker 1: So talk to me about the process and the support 540 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:55,720 Speaker 1: or maybe lack of support you've gotten from coaches to 541 00:27:55,840 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 1: kind of craft a routine using music that is much 542 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:01,760 Speaker 1: more recognizable, much more kind of with the times. How 543 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:02,679 Speaker 1: does that process go? 544 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:06,360 Speaker 2: I actually I've never had any lack of support at all. 545 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:09,440 Speaker 3: Everyone's actually been all for it because they know it's 546 00:28:09,440 --> 00:28:13,439 Speaker 3: a good change, just something different. But the process in itself, 547 00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:16,159 Speaker 3: I mean, it's pretty cool. I just really wanted to 548 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:19,840 Speaker 3: put music that I knew that everyone knew, definitely like 549 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:23,679 Speaker 3: my generation, something that's went viral, something that I know 550 00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:26,040 Speaker 3: I could really groove to you, something that the audience 551 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:27,600 Speaker 3: could groove to you. That was really what I was 552 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:32,080 Speaker 3: aiming for, and I also wanted to let myself know, like, hey, like, 553 00:28:32,119 --> 00:28:35,199 Speaker 3: even though you're not going to like another HBCU, you 554 00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:38,040 Speaker 3: can bring HBCU with you. And that's what I did. 555 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 3: So I was just like, I don't want Kendrick Lamar 556 00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:44,720 Speaker 3: as the first song, not like us. That's always just 557 00:28:44,760 --> 00:28:47,600 Speaker 3: been my number one song on my playlist. And then 558 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:51,640 Speaker 3: we had Silk City, which is which was very popular, 559 00:28:52,040 --> 00:28:54,400 Speaker 3: was going viral on TikTok. Also it's like that's something 560 00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:57,360 Speaker 3: that my generation could really groove to, something I could. 561 00:28:57,200 --> 00:28:57,720 Speaker 2: Really groove to. 562 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:01,280 Speaker 3: And I didn't really know what the third song could 563 00:29:01,280 --> 00:29:03,800 Speaker 3: have been. So we were all so I was sitting 564 00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:07,520 Speaker 3: in my truck, my dad's truck, sorry, and my mom 565 00:29:07,600 --> 00:29:10,000 Speaker 3: was there as well, and I was like, I gotta 566 00:29:10,040 --> 00:29:12,480 Speaker 3: come up with a third song in my routine, like 567 00:29:12,520 --> 00:29:15,200 Speaker 3: I don't know what it's going to be. And then 568 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:20,160 Speaker 3: all of a sudden, Lorilla Songs on the radio. TGIF 569 00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:23,720 Speaker 3: is seven pm Friday, It's night I withoot. 570 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:24,080 Speaker 2: My mom. 571 00:29:24,160 --> 00:29:27,040 Speaker 3: She looked at me, she was like this song this 572 00:29:27,680 --> 00:29:31,960 Speaker 3: was like I was like, we got it, we got them. 573 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:37,120 Speaker 3: So we put all three songs together and I was 574 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:42,120 Speaker 3: kind of telling the person who put my songs together. 575 00:29:42,200 --> 00:29:47,960 Speaker 2: Their is also the coach on the dance team at Temple. 576 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:50,480 Speaker 3: I'm not one undred percent sure, don't quote me on that, 577 00:29:51,640 --> 00:29:54,040 Speaker 3: but she really helped me with that. So I was like, 578 00:29:54,120 --> 00:29:56,880 Speaker 3: I want this here, I want this there, and she 579 00:29:56,960 --> 00:29:59,920 Speaker 3: put it all together and I met the choreographer she 580 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:02,800 Speaker 3: he actually on the dance team, Christina Elliott, and I 581 00:30:02,840 --> 00:30:05,240 Speaker 3: was just like, I want something not only that I 582 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:07,120 Speaker 3: can groove to, but also the crowd can groove two, 583 00:30:07,560 --> 00:30:11,400 Speaker 3: because in jail they try to give me violence and 584 00:30:11,440 --> 00:30:14,760 Speaker 3: they try to give me something classical, and I wasn't 585 00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:17,120 Speaker 3: really grooving with that. I could never really dance like 586 00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:18,800 Speaker 3: show off to it, which just wasn't me. Like I 587 00:30:18,840 --> 00:30:22,920 Speaker 3: was always just like stiff and I needed something the 588 00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:25,520 Speaker 3: toll opposite of that. When I really started branching out 589 00:30:25,520 --> 00:30:27,760 Speaker 3: into like doing hip hop, was probably like my senior 590 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:30,600 Speaker 3: year in high school, and I really got into it 591 00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:35,520 Speaker 3: my freshman year of college, and then my sophomore year 592 00:30:35,640 --> 00:30:37,560 Speaker 3: was just like I need something better than last year, 593 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:39,000 Speaker 3: Like I need some more movement, like I need some 594 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:40,840 Speaker 3: hip hop hip hop, I need to break it down, 595 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:44,000 Speaker 3: And she gave me exactly that. When I tell you 596 00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:46,440 Speaker 3: I didn't have to tell her one thing. I didn't 597 00:30:46,480 --> 00:30:49,000 Speaker 3: have to put in any pointers because before with my 598 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:50,840 Speaker 3: past routines, I'll be like, can. 599 00:30:50,720 --> 00:30:57,280 Speaker 2: We change this, can we do this? Nothing? She nailed it. 600 00:30:57,680 --> 00:31:00,840 Speaker 3: So when I finally did a routine, finally got it down, 601 00:31:00,920 --> 00:31:04,240 Speaker 3: it only took me like fifteen thirty minutes to learn it, 602 00:31:04,320 --> 00:31:07,560 Speaker 3: which is crazy. But once I finally I got it down, 603 00:31:07,560 --> 00:31:09,920 Speaker 3: I got the passes in there, I was just like, Uh, 604 00:31:09,960 --> 00:31:11,040 Speaker 3: I was like, this is going to be a hit. 605 00:31:11,080 --> 00:31:12,520 Speaker 3: I can't wait to like show me one and like, 606 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:16,840 Speaker 3: but it is crazy though, because I wasn't going to post. 607 00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:19,560 Speaker 2: My floratine on social media, but I did. 608 00:31:20,440 --> 00:31:24,440 Speaker 3: And the only reason why I did is because before 609 00:31:24,520 --> 00:31:26,840 Speaker 3: I posted my floratine, there was a video before that 610 00:31:27,040 --> 00:31:30,080 Speaker 3: and I did a split screen of how I performed 611 00:31:30,200 --> 00:31:31,920 Speaker 3: at the Inner Squad and how I performed like my 612 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:34,800 Speaker 3: first competition. My first competition was not the best, and 613 00:31:34,880 --> 00:31:36,640 Speaker 3: I was kind of like showing like the difference, like 614 00:31:36,680 --> 00:31:38,720 Speaker 3: how I did so get the inter Squad and how 615 00:31:38,760 --> 00:31:42,760 Speaker 3: I flopped like my first competition, and I remember showing 616 00:31:42,760 --> 00:31:44,000 Speaker 3: like a little snippet of my floratines. 617 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:45,840 Speaker 2: So I was just like, you know, what dom not 618 00:31:45,960 --> 00:31:48,120 Speaker 2: just show the whole thing. And I did. 619 00:31:49,720 --> 00:31:51,200 Speaker 3: My thought it was only going to get like a 620 00:31:51,240 --> 00:31:56,000 Speaker 3: good like amount of life, Like oh, it just went viral. 621 00:31:56,400 --> 00:32:01,000 Speaker 3: That was not expecting that. And I remember like that 622 00:32:01,200 --> 00:32:03,000 Speaker 3: night that my phone just kept on going off. There's 623 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:05,440 Speaker 3: nothing but notification, not vacational notplications, and I was just like, 624 00:32:05,560 --> 00:32:09,040 Speaker 3: oh my gosh. So I'm glad everyone is enjoying it 625 00:32:09,120 --> 00:32:10,000 Speaker 3: as much as I am. 626 00:32:10,320 --> 00:32:13,200 Speaker 2: I think it's a blessing. I think it's just so cool. 627 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:15,240 Speaker 3: But yeah, I kind of just want to show, like, 628 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:18,080 Speaker 3: you know, you can bring HPC wherever you're going. It 629 00:32:18,160 --> 00:32:21,480 Speaker 3: doesn't have to be at an HPCU. So I kind 630 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:23,480 Speaker 3: of like taught myself that as well, because I was 631 00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:25,480 Speaker 3: just like, oh my gosh, I'm going from one thing 632 00:32:25,520 --> 00:32:27,440 Speaker 3: and now I'm going to something else different. 633 00:32:27,720 --> 00:32:30,280 Speaker 2: So that was the whole process of that. 634 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:31,680 Speaker 3: You love that. 635 00:32:31,920 --> 00:32:34,880 Speaker 1: I love that. So you've already mentioned journaling as being 636 00:32:34,880 --> 00:32:37,400 Speaker 1: an important part of your process. Are there any other 637 00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:40,600 Speaker 1: like wellness rituals that you engage in on days of 638 00:32:40,640 --> 00:32:43,080 Speaker 1: matches or just as a part of your training. 639 00:32:44,360 --> 00:32:45,120 Speaker 2: I do meditate. 640 00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:50,760 Speaker 3: I will even do like these breeding exercises so I 641 00:32:50,760 --> 00:32:55,800 Speaker 3: can calm down sometimes like when my heart just starts racing. Oh, 642 00:32:56,080 --> 00:32:59,520 Speaker 3: I just started giving myself like more like positive like 643 00:32:59,520 --> 00:33:04,520 Speaker 3: affirmation too, to like cancel out any negative ones. So 644 00:33:04,720 --> 00:33:07,120 Speaker 3: I've kind of just been really just like exercising my 645 00:33:07,160 --> 00:33:09,800 Speaker 3: mind to be like, look, there's no reason for you 646 00:33:09,840 --> 00:33:10,600 Speaker 3: to think this way. 647 00:33:10,920 --> 00:33:11,880 Speaker 2: You can think this. 648 00:33:11,840 --> 00:33:15,880 Speaker 3: Way and kind of just going back to like pressure 649 00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:19,480 Speaker 3: is not a thing, and just have fun, like you know, 650 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:22,760 Speaker 3: like this is your time, Okay, It's just you and 651 00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:24,400 Speaker 3: your team, no one. 652 00:33:24,240 --> 00:33:25,760 Speaker 2: Else do it for you. 653 00:33:27,000 --> 00:33:28,480 Speaker 3: So that's kind of like what I've just been doing, 654 00:33:28,520 --> 00:33:32,520 Speaker 3: Like yeah, meditating sometimes I'll even like listen to music 655 00:33:32,560 --> 00:33:35,520 Speaker 3: on my own before like a competition, just to kind 656 00:33:35,520 --> 00:33:37,600 Speaker 3: of get myself like in that mindset tha, get myself 657 00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:38,320 Speaker 3: hiped a little bit. 658 00:33:39,120 --> 00:33:40,600 Speaker 2: That's kind of like what I do, Okay. 659 00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:43,480 Speaker 1: And so you've already mentioned that you know you're planning 660 00:33:43,480 --> 00:33:46,280 Speaker 1: to finish out your college career with gymnasty. As you 661 00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:49,480 Speaker 1: think beyond that for your career, what are some goals 662 00:33:49,480 --> 00:33:50,920 Speaker 1: that you have set for yourself. 663 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:54,520 Speaker 3: Well, I want to become a Venarian. My major is psychology. 664 00:33:55,040 --> 00:33:57,920 Speaker 3: I would love to get into veninary school, possibly look 665 00:33:57,960 --> 00:34:02,240 Speaker 3: into some internships as well. Always just loved pets growing up. 666 00:34:02,280 --> 00:34:06,080 Speaker 3: I've had two dogs. Luckily one is still living. She 667 00:34:06,360 --> 00:34:08,320 Speaker 3: is an old girl, but she still has like a puppy. 668 00:34:08,640 --> 00:34:11,400 Speaker 3: I love her to death. But yes, I would love 669 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:14,600 Speaker 3: to become a veterinarian baby. Still do some things for 670 00:34:14,680 --> 00:34:18,280 Speaker 3: like social media and ils whatever like the future holds, 671 00:34:18,360 --> 00:34:21,040 Speaker 3: but like career wise veterinarian. 672 00:34:21,920 --> 00:34:24,759 Speaker 1: Yeah, I got it. Okay, So I feel like you 673 00:34:24,800 --> 00:34:27,640 Speaker 1: have sprinkled this throughout our conversation. But what advice do 674 00:34:27,719 --> 00:34:30,960 Speaker 1: you have for young girls or women we're maybe interested 675 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:33,600 Speaker 1: in competitive gymnastics and thinking through you know, how do 676 00:34:33,640 --> 00:34:34,840 Speaker 1: you navigate that space? 677 00:34:36,040 --> 00:34:37,520 Speaker 3: Just do whatever you want to do. I mean, like 678 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:42,719 Speaker 3: life is short. If you want to do gymnastics and 679 00:34:42,760 --> 00:34:45,160 Speaker 3: do it, try it out. And if you are in 680 00:34:45,239 --> 00:34:49,000 Speaker 3: gymnastics and you are if you are a late starter, 681 00:34:50,680 --> 00:34:53,280 Speaker 3: just know that there are going to be bad days, 682 00:34:53,360 --> 00:34:55,600 Speaker 3: but you really have to focus. 683 00:34:55,239 --> 00:34:57,120 Speaker 2: On the good ones. 684 00:34:58,200 --> 00:35:02,279 Speaker 3: And also for parents if they have put in their 685 00:35:03,080 --> 00:35:06,000 Speaker 3: gymnasts late, there are also going to be some bad 686 00:35:06,040 --> 00:35:08,640 Speaker 3: days too. You also have to stay focused on the 687 00:35:08,640 --> 00:35:11,640 Speaker 3: positive ones. And just for you and the gymnasts to 688 00:35:11,800 --> 00:35:15,200 Speaker 3: just never give up ever, ever, ever, ever. It has 689 00:35:15,280 --> 00:35:17,920 Speaker 3: been challenging for me and my parents as well, like 690 00:35:17,960 --> 00:35:22,680 Speaker 3: they've really been in this journey with me. But yeah, 691 00:35:22,800 --> 00:35:26,480 Speaker 3: just go out there, fine, do you be yourself. Do 692 00:35:26,600 --> 00:35:30,399 Speaker 3: not change yourself for anybody. If they don't like you, 693 00:35:30,600 --> 00:35:32,839 Speaker 3: that's not your problem. I wish I could go back 694 00:35:32,880 --> 00:35:35,560 Speaker 3: and tell myself that because I felt like it did 695 00:35:36,280 --> 00:35:39,200 Speaker 3: anything and everything to try to fit in when I 696 00:35:39,239 --> 00:35:40,720 Speaker 3: really did not have to do any. 697 00:35:40,600 --> 00:35:44,520 Speaker 2: Of that at all. And also set goals for yourself. 698 00:35:45,040 --> 00:35:50,360 Speaker 3: It might really help yourself to probably fix like little 699 00:35:50,560 --> 00:35:54,160 Speaker 3: details that you need to fix to to really really 700 00:35:54,239 --> 00:35:56,919 Speaker 3: reach those goals. But yet to never just never give up, 701 00:35:57,880 --> 00:36:02,680 Speaker 3: focus on the positive, be yourself fun, do it for you. 702 00:36:03,719 --> 00:36:04,480 Speaker 2: That is my advice. 703 00:36:06,120 --> 00:36:09,880 Speaker 1: That beautiful words. Kirsten. What is your social media channels? 704 00:36:09,920 --> 00:36:09,960 Speaker 3: Like? 705 00:36:09,960 --> 00:36:11,360 Speaker 1: Which ones are you most active on? 706 00:36:11,680 --> 00:36:15,800 Speaker 3: Our most active on Twitter and Instagram and to talk 707 00:36:16,520 --> 00:36:20,680 Speaker 3: all through those platforms are Kirsten Underscore Johnson find me 708 00:36:20,719 --> 00:36:22,280 Speaker 3: there also on Facebook. 709 00:36:21,920 --> 00:36:25,879 Speaker 1: Too, Okay, so you're all over all over, I'm all over. 710 00:36:27,520 --> 00:36:27,759 Speaker 3: Yes. 711 00:36:29,600 --> 00:36:31,640 Speaker 1: It has been so lovely to chat with you. Thank 712 00:36:31,640 --> 00:36:33,680 Speaker 1: you so much for spending some time with me today, Kirston. 713 00:36:33,680 --> 00:36:34,520 Speaker 1: I appreciate it. 714 00:36:34,600 --> 00:36:35,799 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having me. 715 00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:42,040 Speaker 1: I'm so glad Kirsten was able to join me for 716 00:36:42,080 --> 00:36:45,200 Speaker 1: this conversation. To learn more about her, be sure to 717 00:36:45,280 --> 00:36:47,440 Speaker 1: visit the show notes at Therapy for Black Girls dot 718 00:36:47,480 --> 00:36:51,160 Speaker 1: com slash TVGU and don't forget to text this episode 719 00:36:51,160 --> 00:36:53,040 Speaker 1: to two of your girls right now and tell them 720 00:36:53,040 --> 00:36:55,560 Speaker 1: to check it out. Did you know? You can leave 721 00:36:55,640 --> 00:36:58,560 Speaker 1: us a voicemail with your questions or thoughts for the podcast. 722 00:36:59,160 --> 00:37:01,320 Speaker 1: If you have a that you want to suggest or 723 00:37:01,320 --> 00:37:03,600 Speaker 1: a book for us a review, please send it to 724 00:37:03,760 --> 00:37:05,839 Speaker 1: us and you just might hear it on the podcast. 725 00:37:06,320 --> 00:37:09,160 Speaker 1: Drop us a message at Memo dot fm slash Therapy 726 00:37:09,200 --> 00:37:12,080 Speaker 1: for Black Girls. If you're looking for a therapists in 727 00:37:12,120 --> 00:37:15,680 Speaker 1: your area, visit our therapist directory at Therapy for Blackgirls 728 00:37:15,680 --> 00:37:21,200 Speaker 1: dot com slash directory. This episode was produced by Alice Ellis, Indaychubu, 729 00:37:21,440 --> 00:37:25,439 Speaker 1: and Tyree Rush. Editing was done by Dennison Bradford. Thank 730 00:37:25,520 --> 00:37:28,160 Speaker 1: y'all so much for joining me for this episode of TVGU. 731 00:37:28,560 --> 00:37:31,040 Speaker 1: I look forward to continuing this conversation with you all 732 00:37:31,239 --> 00:37:35,400 Speaker 1: real soon. Take good care. Have you heard the news 733 00:37:35,760 --> 00:37:39,040 Speaker 1: Therapy for Black Girls is launching our community on Patreon. 734 00:37:39,600 --> 00:37:43,200 Speaker 1: It's your space to be seen, heard and understood in 735 00:37:43,239 --> 00:37:46,360 Speaker 1: an even more connected way. We're excited to bring you 736 00:37:46,440 --> 00:37:49,959 Speaker 1: new segments like so my Therapist Said, where we break 737 00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:53,680 Speaker 1: down viral therapy, hot takes with real mental health professionals, 738 00:37:53,920 --> 00:37:57,800 Speaker 1: TBG community chats where we unpack trending pop culture topics 739 00:37:57,800 --> 00:38:01,040 Speaker 1: that have us all in our feelings, and opportunities to 740 00:38:01,080 --> 00:38:04,560 Speaker 1: connect with other sisters all over the world. Sign up 741 00:38:04,600 --> 00:38:07,920 Speaker 1: now at Therapy for Blackgirls dot com, slash join Patreon 742 00:38:08,360 --> 00:38:10,799 Speaker 1: for all the details about what we're planning and to 743 00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:12,920 Speaker 1: be the first to know when the doors are open. 744 00:38:13,400 --> 00:38:15,080 Speaker 1: We can't wait to see you inside.