1 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 1: Welcome to Playmakers. I'm your host, Haley Allwood, and I'm 2 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:16,600 Speaker 1: super excited about today's show because Joining Me is NFL 3 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:19,639 Speaker 1: Networks Kimmy checks Now. Kimmy is a host from multiple 4 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 1: platforms on NFL Media. She does a great job with 5 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: fantasy and covering some of the league's biggest events, but 6 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: she also has a really interesting career path and she 7 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: has become a great voice for social justice at the network. So, Kimmy, 8 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 1: thank you so much for joining me. Thank you so much, Haley. 9 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: I was so excited when you reached out about joining 10 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 1: your podcast. I'm so incredibly excited about you. It's going 11 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: to work you do, and also just seeing fellow amazing 12 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:45,159 Speaker 1: women in the field. It's something that we're getting more 13 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 1: used to, right, Yes, more of us. We're pulling our 14 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 1: own seats up to the table. So thank you for 15 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: pulling a seat up to your table with me. Today. 16 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 1: You wrote a piece for NFL dot Com titled if 17 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: you think the fight for equality distracts from sports, You're 18 00:00:57,800 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: missing the point. Why did you want to write a 19 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 1: piece like that? So obviously, twenty twenty has been a year, right, 20 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: like we have all heard the word unprecedented so many 21 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:09,319 Speaker 1: times that I'm like, I want to go back to 22 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: precedent at times, let's get back to some normalcy. But 23 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:14,959 Speaker 1: I think also what twenty twenty has taught us is 24 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 1: that we have to stop brushing over the larger issues 25 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 1: that face our nation. Right the unfortunate death of George Floyd, 26 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 1: of Brianna Taylor, of the countless other black men and 27 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 1: women across our country at the hands of police officers, 28 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: but also at the hands of racism is something that 29 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 1: we have to stop brushing over. So for me, as 30 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 1: a young black woman who works in this space and 31 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 1: who has a platform, it's so incredibly important for me 32 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: to use my voice when necessary and right now it 33 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:46,360 Speaker 1: is so incredibly necessary. And I think even this offseason, 34 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 1: as we were looking to get the season started right, 35 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 1: we had the concerns over COVID nineteen, We had the 36 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: concerns over the civil unrust happening across our nation. It 37 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 1: was hard for me to go to work at times 38 00:01:56,400 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 1: and be that smiley, happy, bubbly face that talks about 39 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 1: the future and talks about fantasy and talks about all 40 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: these things when there's so many other things happening around us. 41 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: So for me, if anyone who watches the NFL Network 42 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:12,639 Speaker 1: or watches any NFL content on our platforms, I want 43 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 1: them to understand that though you're coming to me for 44 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 1: football advice, you have to see me as a person. 45 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 1: And I'm a black woman and I am always unapologetic 46 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 1: about that. So it was so incredibly important to lend 47 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 1: my voice to a topic that I'm passionate about, to 48 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 1: let people know this is not about sports, it's about 49 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: human rights. If you want to watch our players who 50 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 1: go out on Sundays, on Mondays and on Thursdays and 51 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 1: put their body on the line for our entertainment and 52 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 1: for us to kind of step away from reality and 53 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 1: be zoned into the game, you have to see who 54 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 1: they are. So that's why it was so important for 55 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: me to do, and I hope that people realize that 56 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 1: sports and politics, we don't need to try to separate 57 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:51,639 Speaker 1: the two. Right need to see people as human beings. 58 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 1: And I think sometimes too with athletes. They're covered, they 59 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 1: have a helmet, they were a uniform. You forget that 60 00:02:57,080 --> 00:02:58,639 Speaker 1: at the end of the day they take that off 61 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 1: and they go out into society and it can be 62 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 1: very different from stories that they've told compared to what 63 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,800 Speaker 1: happens in the game on Sundays right exactly. So I 64 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 1: don't know. I think for me, it was incredible to 65 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 1: see the outpouring of support after that article came out, 66 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 1: you know, once it was published and it was released, 67 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:20,240 Speaker 1: I was on my phone, I was on Twitter, and 68 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:23,800 Speaker 1: my heart was racing because anytime you talk about social justice, 69 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: you're always met with two very different sides, right, people 70 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 1: who get it and understand where you're coming from, and 71 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:31,920 Speaker 1: some people who may not get where you're coming from. 72 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:34,079 Speaker 1: So I was so nervous. But I think seeing the 73 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: outpour of support of not only my colleagues people within 74 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: the industry, but also some players have reached out and 75 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 1: but hey, I really appreciate you speaking up and using 76 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 1: your platform. Other fans from not even in the United States, 77 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 1: people from other countries have said, we see what you're doing, 78 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: we see the stance that you're making at the NFL, 79 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: and that means a lot to us. So it was 80 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 1: really positive and it made me happy. And it just 81 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 1: goes to show that people are understanding that this is 82 00:03:56,840 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: a necessary conversation and it's necessary for US football fans 83 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 1: to understand why the NFL's taking such a stance on it. Well, 84 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 1: and yeah, I mean you mention that you hear the 85 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: stick to sports narrative all the time, and we are 86 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 1: so far past that now. It's a conversation that I 87 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 1: think a lot of people just get uncomfortable about. There 88 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:17,359 Speaker 1: could be ignorance there, whatever it is. But when you 89 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 1: talk about the necessity to have conversations like this, is 90 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:22,839 Speaker 1: it really just to be able to evolve and to 91 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 1: push things forward? Right? It absolutely is. And I'm not 92 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 1: saying that these conversations we're all going to agree on 93 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 1: every single subject matter, right, that's just absolutely impossible. I 94 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 1: wish we could do that, then we'd have the world 95 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:38,799 Speaker 1: piece that everybody wants so badly. But these conversations push 96 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:42,279 Speaker 1: us to evolve as people. It pushes us to see 97 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 1: new perspectives. You and I we may agree on some things, 98 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 1: we may not agree on other things. You bring a 99 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 1: whole different perspective to the table than I bring. And 100 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:51,919 Speaker 1: that's why it's important, and it's necessary to have diversity 101 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 1: of thought. It's necessary to have conversations that kind of 102 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 1: push the envelope and question each other to say, hey, 103 00:04:57,600 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 1: I love that perspective, but have you ever seen it 104 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 1: through disciplines or Hey, your perspective is so incredibly different. 105 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:05,919 Speaker 1: I never realized that you had to go through that 106 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,719 Speaker 1: to get where you get where you've gotten to, right, Like, 107 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:12,360 Speaker 1: That's a part of why it's necessary to talk. It's 108 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:15,720 Speaker 1: necessary to broaden your horizons and not be so insular 109 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:18,359 Speaker 1: in your thinking, in your conversations, and in the people 110 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 1: that you surround yourselves with. So you mentioned twenty twenty. Obviously, 111 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:24,479 Speaker 1: so much has happened this year, but things have been 112 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 1: happening and been developing over time, not just when Colin 113 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 1: Kaepernick started kneeling four years ago, but for decades, for centuries, 114 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: whatever it is. Why do you think people though, have 115 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 1: been paying so much more attention to it this year? 116 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:39,920 Speaker 1: And I will say charges running back Justin Jackson has 117 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:41,839 Speaker 1: said he feels the pandemic has a lot to do 118 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:44,719 Speaker 1: with that because people have been at home for a while. 119 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 1: We didn't have sports. There weren't distractions that we're taking 120 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:52,040 Speaker 1: away from really focusing on important social issues. I think 121 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 1: that's exactly it. I mean, in my lifetime, and I'm young, 122 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:58,280 Speaker 1: right and I always relished on that. I'm so excited 123 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 1: about that. But I remember being in high school and 124 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 1: seeing the death of Michael Brown and grew up in 125 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 1: Kansas City in Missouri. He was murdered in Ferguson, Missouri, 126 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 1: so a little outside of Saint Louis, a little over 127 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:11,920 Speaker 1: three hours away. Back then, even though I was so young, 128 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:14,920 Speaker 1: I remember thinking this must be the breaking point. Is 129 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:17,480 Speaker 1: this is a thing that's going to change. And then 130 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: it didn't happen. And then we see yet another police 131 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 1: involved shooting and murder, and then another and another, And 132 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 1: at a certain point you've become so disengaged and so 133 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 1: disenfranchise in the system itself because you continually see, I 134 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 1: don't matter our legal system, the way that our police 135 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 1: forces are run. Right now, there is such a risk 136 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:39,279 Speaker 1: with being black in America. Now fast forward to twenty twenty, 137 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:41,719 Speaker 1: it's the pandemic because all of us were forced to 138 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 1: be at home and we were forced to sit and 139 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 1: our thoughts enforced to see what is happening. There was 140 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 1: no distraction, there was nothing else that could possibly consume 141 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:53,719 Speaker 1: our conversation, and everyone was itching for positivity. Right this 142 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 1: pandemic is unlike anything we've ever experienced. No one knew 143 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 1: what that was going to bring. And then we saw 144 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 1: the unfortunate murder of George Floyd, and we saw it 145 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: on camera. We got to sit with that for almost 146 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 1: eight minutes. We saw him die. And you can't look 147 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 1: at that and not realize something is wrong and something 148 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 1: must change. And I also give a huge kudos to 149 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 1: all of our athletes and all of the public figures 150 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 1: who really spoke out. Athletes have been involved before. Right, 151 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 1: we can go back to Colin Kaepernick, who can go 152 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 1: back to when the Rams were We're in Saint Louis 153 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: and they walked out, hands up, don't shoot. Right. There's 154 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 1: so many instances where our players have spoken out, but 155 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 1: I've never seen anyone speak out as much as they have. 156 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 1: Now the onus is on all of us to make 157 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:40,320 Speaker 1: the difference. People are looking at the NFL, people are 158 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:43,239 Speaker 1: looking at the NBA, people are looking at professional sports 159 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:45,560 Speaker 1: leaks and celebrities to say, in this moment, what are 160 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 1: you doing? Because people are fed up and people realize, 161 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 1: if we're going to put our money, if we're going 162 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 1: to put our heart, if we're going to put anything 163 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 1: into a brand or into a company, you have to 164 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: mirror our values. So now the time was to step 165 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 1: up and make people make it clear and make it 166 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 1: abundantly clear to people that black lives matter, not just now, 167 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 1: but every single day, and we need to completely eradicate 168 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: racism and continue to evolve and grow so that black 169 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 1: people can walk down the street and not fear for 170 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 1: their lives. It's just that simple. You talked a lot 171 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:17,680 Speaker 1: about ally ship in the past and getting away from 172 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 1: performative allyship, But how can white people persons not of 173 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:25,679 Speaker 1: color be better allies in this moment and also moving forward. 174 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: I think a lot of it is just listening and understanding, 175 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 1: because I think it's human nature to sometimes get defensive 176 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:34,319 Speaker 1: about things and to feel like you're being roped into 177 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 1: a big group and you're being accused of something, and 178 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: that's not at all what anyone is saying. If you're white, 179 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 1: if you're a non person of color, you're not the enemy. 180 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 1: But we make that very very clear. All we're asking 181 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 1: for is to just listen and here our perspective for once, 182 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 1: because we have been the minority for our entire lives. 183 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:54,200 Speaker 1: We've been the minority ever since slavery, right, There's always 184 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:56,720 Speaker 1: been the system of oppression around black people and people 185 00:08:56,720 --> 00:08:59,440 Speaker 1: of color, and all we're asking for is just realize 186 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 1: that the case. Realize that this is systemic, this is 187 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:08,200 Speaker 1: systematic racism. There's systemic things that that limit our opportunities, 188 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:11,320 Speaker 1: our barriers to entry. That's all. That's all we're asking for. 189 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 1: Just listen and also have an open heart, want to 190 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 1: have these dialogues, want to have these conversations, and also 191 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:19,200 Speaker 1: challenge his status quo. If you see something, if you 192 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 1: hear something that can be ignorant, if you hear something 193 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:25,280 Speaker 1: that could be taken as racist, speak up and say, hey, 194 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:27,560 Speaker 1: that's not cool. I don't think any of this is 195 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 1: rocket science. It's just having an open heart. It's it's 196 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:33,559 Speaker 1: listening and it's understanding. All we want to do is 197 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:36,679 Speaker 1: be treated equal. We're not asking for anything more. We're 198 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:39,360 Speaker 1: we're not trying to suppress anyone else. All we want 199 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 1: to do is be seen equally. So you had a 200 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:44,720 Speaker 1: show over the summer Real Talk, which focused on the 201 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 1: NFL social justice initiatives. You talk about how people are 202 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:51,920 Speaker 1: looking to sports leagues, looking to leagues like the NBA, 203 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:54,960 Speaker 1: the NFL. Certainly, how would you categorize the sort of 204 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 1: awakening as you put it in your article that the 205 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:01,680 Speaker 1: NFL has gone through. Now, I mean I never thought 206 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:03,559 Speaker 1: that it would get to a point where a Commissioner 207 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:07,319 Speaker 1: Goodell and the league would say black lives matter. Right. 208 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: I remember when that video came out, all of us 209 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 1: were so shocked because it was kind of a sigh 210 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:15,199 Speaker 1: of relief of finally, yeah. And I think because the 211 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 1: conversation around police brutality and around protesting in the NFL 212 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:23,600 Speaker 1: got mixed into the political conversation and got mixed into 213 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 1: the military the message which was deluded, and a lot 214 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:30,320 Speaker 1: of people were confused on what people were protesting. Was 215 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:33,319 Speaker 1: it the flag, was it the anthem? Is it police brutality? 216 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 1: What exactly was it? And I think this summer we 217 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 1: had a really unique opportunity to really break down exactly 218 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:42,920 Speaker 1: what it meant to say that black lives matter, and 219 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 1: exactly what it meant to show we can peacefully protest 220 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:49,600 Speaker 1: as athlete, so we can peacefully protest as a league, 221 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 1: and that's okay. We're not going to lose fans. It's 222 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 1: okay to make a stance on something that's not a 223 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: political intrusion. None of this is political. It's all human. 224 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:00,560 Speaker 1: And I feel like I'm like, I just keep hitting 225 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 1: the nail on the head because it's like it's human. 226 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 1: It's human. It's human, it's human. And for Commissioner Goodell, 227 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:09,199 Speaker 1: I think it was a huge away beginning to listen 228 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 1: to our players, not that he didn't listen before, but 229 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 1: to see the pain and the hurt coming from our 230 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 1: community right now and not recognize that it's inhumane. And 231 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 1: he heard the calls for change, he heard the calls 232 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 1: to action, and he stepped up and said, we as 233 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 1: a league are going to do better. We're going to 234 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 1: right our wrongs. We're going to have these conversations. We're 235 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:31,080 Speaker 1: gonna put our money where our mouth is. We're going 236 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 1: to give monetary donations and really put resources into funding 237 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:38,400 Speaker 1: communities of color and making sure that there are resources 238 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:41,560 Speaker 1: so that these communities can succeed. And now we see 239 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 1: a whole new NFL. And it's incredible to see even 240 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:47,960 Speaker 1: at kickoff right the Black National Anthem was sung. To 241 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 1: see it takes all of us to end racism in 242 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:53,079 Speaker 1: the end zones. This is something that a few years ago, 243 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 1: when Colin Kaepernick was nearly none of us thought would 244 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 1: be possible. But we've gotten to this moment because of 245 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 1: him and because of the countless other black men who 246 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 1: raise their fists, who got on a knee and said 247 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:05,960 Speaker 1: this must end. So you take it from the NFL 248 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 1: to teams. The Chargers are one of three teams in 249 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 1: this league with a blackhead coach. They cancel the scrimmage 250 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:14,680 Speaker 1: a few weeks ago to have conversations about social justice. 251 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:17,920 Speaker 1: They're working with local partners, national partners, and they're also 252 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 1: looking at their long time programs now through this lens. 253 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 1: So how encouraging is it to see teams really tackle 254 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:27,520 Speaker 1: this now head on. I think it's incredibly encouraging, and 255 00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:30,680 Speaker 1: I think even in the past, we've seen teams kind 256 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 1: of take a more holistic approach to it than even 257 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 1: the league itself has because teams kind of have that 258 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 1: autonomy that, yes, we're a team, We're going to make 259 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 1: those decisions ourselves. Especially as a head coach, you can 260 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 1: invigorate your team and lead your team way differently than 261 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 1: we can at a league level. So it's incredibly inspiring, 262 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:48,560 Speaker 1: and I think again there's a lot of credit to 263 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:50,679 Speaker 1: our players for speaking up and saying, you know what, 264 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 1: I don't want to practice today, because they are larger 265 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:55,440 Speaker 1: conversations that need to happen. There are bigger things that 266 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 1: need to happen, and it's not football, and that's so 267 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:02,560 Speaker 1: encouraging to realize that they are willing to risk and 268 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:05,080 Speaker 1: put things on the line so that we can have 269 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 1: this larger conversation. So I don't know, I give all 270 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:09,439 Speaker 1: of the kudos story team. I give all of the 271 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:11,920 Speaker 1: kudos story players. Without our players, we would not have 272 00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:14,280 Speaker 1: a league, and without their help this summer, we would 273 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:16,400 Speaker 1: not be having these conversations, and I truly don't think 274 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:18,440 Speaker 1: we would have pushed the needle forward. Again, we have 275 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:20,839 Speaker 1: to remember all this kind of started from that player 276 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 1: led video that came out earlier this summer where they said, 277 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:26,080 Speaker 1: what if I was George Floyd? What if I was 278 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 1: Brianna Taylor? What if you know you talked about our 279 00:13:28,559 --> 00:13:30,200 Speaker 1: guys have on their helmets all the time, they have 280 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:32,240 Speaker 1: on their pads, it's hard to really see who they were. 281 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 1: Once those pads come off, you can't help but see 282 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:38,280 Speaker 1: their brown skin, and you can't help let's see, this 283 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:41,680 Speaker 1: could be their reality too. So then last one on 284 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:44,640 Speaker 1: this topic, ending racism and social injustice. It's a fight 285 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:46,800 Speaker 1: and it's not going to happen overnight. But where do 286 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 1: you think we go from here? I think from here 287 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:52,520 Speaker 1: we continue the conversation. I think that we're not done 288 00:13:52,559 --> 00:13:56,960 Speaker 1: making people uncomfortable. Right. My friend Emmanuel Acho, former NFL player, 289 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 1: he has a whole series called Uncomfortable Conversations with a 290 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:02,440 Speaker 1: Black Man. It's incredible. We have to have these conversations 291 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:05,200 Speaker 1: and they're not going anywhere anytime soon. This isn't just 292 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 1: going to be a twenty twenty league issue. This isn't 293 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 1: going to be just a twenty twenty league initiative. This 294 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 1: goes so far beyond football, and we have to continue 295 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 1: to put our foot on the gas and say we're 296 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:19,040 Speaker 1: not letting up until we eradicate racism. We're not letting 297 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:21,840 Speaker 1: up until black people fully feel equal. And I feel 298 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 1: like our players in our league they're not letting up either. 299 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 1: So getting to your story, you were the youngest on 300 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 1: their talent at NFL Network. Congratulations for that. How did 301 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:32,280 Speaker 1: you get your start within the league? Because I know 302 00:14:32,320 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 1: it's a little atypical. I know it's a little different, right, 303 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:38,360 Speaker 1: it's so atypical. So I grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. 304 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 1: I went to perform in ours high school there where 305 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:43,520 Speaker 1: I actually studied broadcast journalism and TV production. So I 306 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 1: had to have a major in high school, and I 307 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 1: fell in love with broadcast journalism. I was like, I 308 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:49,400 Speaker 1: want to tell stories. I want to be a storyteller. 309 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 1: I want to bring in a community of people. It's 310 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 1: gonna be awesome. So I did that in high school 311 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 1: and knew that it was gonna be amazing. But I 312 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 1: have had big dreams of being a political commentator. Obviously, 313 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 1: that's big surprise, because I love talking about social justice. 314 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 1: I loved talking about the tough stuffs stop part of 315 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:07,240 Speaker 1: that like fuels me. Some people shy away from them, 316 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 1: and I'm like, let me drive into it and really 317 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 1: have this conversation. So when I went to college, I 318 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:15,040 Speaker 1: studied broadcast journalism, but I started out with also studying 319 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,960 Speaker 1: political science because I was like, I'm going to work 320 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:21,280 Speaker 1: on Capitol Hill and B and DC and foster these conversations. 321 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 1: I then went and worked in DC the summer after 322 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 1: my freshman year and very quickly was like, that was fun, 323 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 1: But I never want to do that again. I don't. 324 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:29,840 Speaker 1: I don't think politics is for me. This is a 325 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 1: little too crazy. And even in high school I had 326 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 1: done some color commentary and some play by play for 327 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:38,040 Speaker 1: our high school sports, and I was like, gosh, I've 328 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 1: always loved sports. Again. I grew up in Kansas City. 329 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:42,400 Speaker 1: We had season tickets to the Kansas City Chiefs, so 330 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:44,680 Speaker 1: I was a huge football fan. We didn't have the NBA, 331 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 1: so I always liked basketball, but it was football for me. 332 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:49,640 Speaker 1: So once I was in college, after my freshman year, 333 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:51,040 Speaker 1: my sophomore year, I was like, I think I want 334 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:53,040 Speaker 1: to get way more on the sports side of things. 335 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:56,400 Speaker 1: From there, I was approached by our football team to 336 00:15:56,440 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 1: start helping out. They had known me from at the 337 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:01,640 Speaker 1: admissions office and they said, hey, we have some student 338 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 1: job opportunities open up. Would you be interested. I originally 339 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 1: said no because I went to the University of Iowa 340 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 1: and we had a huge tailgate culture. And I was like, no, no, no, 341 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 1: I don't want to work for you guys because that 342 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: means I can't tellgate and Saturday Saturdays. Yeah, I'm like no, 343 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 1: I'm no, we're not doing that. I was like, I 344 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:20,040 Speaker 1: want to go have fun and be in the stands 345 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:22,720 Speaker 1: and you know, go downtown with my friends. I don't 346 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 1: want to work for a football team, Like what are 347 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 1: you guys talking about? But they said, why don't you 348 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 1: come and you just do it for one week, see 349 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 1: if you like it, meet our coaching staff, see what 350 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 1: the opportunities are, and then we'll go from there. So 351 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:35,400 Speaker 1: I did it and I never ended up leaving. I 352 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 1: had so much fun working for the Iowa football program, 353 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 1: and from there they'd known that I'd had this on 354 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 1: their experience, and we had this idea to start a 355 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 1: series called between the Tiger Hawks. In the state of Iowa. 356 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 1: We obviously do not have an NFL team, so that 357 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 1: means our college football teams are like the NFL. We 358 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:53,120 Speaker 1: see seventy five thousand people just come into Iowa City 359 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:55,800 Speaker 1: on Saturdays who don't even live there, just to be 360 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 1: in the city for the games. So a lot of 361 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 1: times they treat our players like players, not realizing these 362 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 1: are eighteen, nineteen, twenty year old guys like these are 363 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 1: still kind of kids in a sense. So we wanted 364 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 1: to do a series that took the home and off 365 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: like we were talking about earlier, and it normalized them 366 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:12,199 Speaker 1: and it humanized them, and we did fun things. We 367 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:14,960 Speaker 1: did silly things. So that's when I started kind of 368 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 1: to do some content for the team and realizing, like, 369 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:19,960 Speaker 1: holy cow, this is fun. I can have a voice, 370 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:22,120 Speaker 1: I can bring a new perspective, like let's let's see 371 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:24,439 Speaker 1: what this house in store. So for the rest of 372 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:26,520 Speaker 1: college I worked for the Iowa football program, and then 373 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:28,959 Speaker 1: it was time to figure out my career, like what 374 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:31,480 Speaker 1: did I want to do? I had toyed around with 375 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:34,199 Speaker 1: wanting to stay in college athletics, and I originally had 376 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:37,880 Speaker 1: gotten a job offer with ESPN. Towards my senior year 377 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:41,400 Speaker 1: of college, I started freelancing with them on their college 378 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:44,280 Speaker 1: football crew with Steve Lyde, Bryan Greasy, and Todd McShay. 379 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:46,560 Speaker 1: We all had such a good chemistry. They were the 380 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:49,720 Speaker 1: most incredible crew ever. So I originally was going to 381 00:17:49,760 --> 00:17:51,879 Speaker 1: work for them, but it was kind of like a 382 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:54,200 Speaker 1: part time role. Of it was college football season. I'd 383 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:56,960 Speaker 1: be on the road like Thursday through Saturday slash Sunday, 384 00:17:57,160 --> 00:17:59,480 Speaker 1: and then I can kind of do whatever else i'd wanted. 385 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 1: So I applied around and I saw a role at 386 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:06,119 Speaker 1: the NFL that was called the Junior Rotational Program. I 387 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:07,960 Speaker 1: have no idea what it was, but I was bored 388 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 1: and I was like, shark, I'll applied. After six months 389 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:13,119 Speaker 1: of interviews, I ended up getting the position and the 390 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:16,680 Speaker 1: JRP program as they choose seven to ten college graduates 391 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:20,720 Speaker 1: every single year for a two year multidisciplinary program. So 392 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:24,640 Speaker 1: for two years, we rotate departments every single six months 393 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:27,200 Speaker 1: so that we can learn league operations and understand how 394 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:29,640 Speaker 1: the league works and kind of where we fit into 395 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:32,879 Speaker 1: the picture. So after I graduated college, I moved right 396 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 1: to New York City and I joined the NFL League's 397 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:37,639 Speaker 1: office where I spent a little over a year. They're 398 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:41,320 Speaker 1: working across three departments, and this was very like business crick, 399 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:44,439 Speaker 1: very business heavy. I was a business business analyst. I 400 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:47,440 Speaker 1: worked across international media and business development. I did fans 401 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:49,720 Speaker 1: and tric database marketing, and then I worked on the 402 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:52,440 Speaker 1: event revenue and strategy side of things. So like very 403 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:55,840 Speaker 1: in the weeds, I had an absolute blast. But I 404 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:57,879 Speaker 1: was so kind of itching to get closer to the 405 00:18:57,920 --> 00:18:59,879 Speaker 1: content side of things because that's always where my Pa 406 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:02,159 Speaker 1: and led like, I want to be a storyteller. I 407 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 1: want to help create these stories in these visions for 408 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:06,760 Speaker 1: our players and for our leagues. So went too HR 409 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:09,200 Speaker 1: and I said, can you get send me to Los 410 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 1: Angeles because I know that's where the NFL network is, 411 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 1: And when you're part of the program, you have the 412 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:16,399 Speaker 1: option of being in the New York League office. You 413 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:18,399 Speaker 1: can go to NFL Films, you can go to the 414 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 1: NFL Network in LA, you can go to our UK 415 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:22,720 Speaker 1: office out in London. So you kind of have an 416 00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:25,199 Speaker 1: opportunity to kind of take and choose where you want 417 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 1: to go. So I somehow convinced them to let me 418 00:19:27,359 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 1: go to Los Angeles, so exactly like a year ago, 419 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 1: a year ago right now. I moved to LA just 420 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:35,360 Speaker 1: for a six month rotation and I joined the Fantasy 421 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 1: football content department in the LA Media Group, and it 422 00:19:38,359 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 1: was like love at first sight for all of us. 423 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 1: We had so much fun. We're just rolling out what 424 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 1: the content side of fantasy was, you know, making sure 425 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:47,480 Speaker 1: that we had content within our apps, making sure that 426 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:49,960 Speaker 1: our fantasy shows were fun and spoke to different audiences. 427 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:51,639 Speaker 1: So I got in on the ground floor of that. 428 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:54,800 Speaker 1: A part of that is we bought in this amazing 429 00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:58,399 Speaker 1: new producer named Justin Harvey, and he saw something in 430 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:00,040 Speaker 1: me and him and I got really close and it 431 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:01,960 Speaker 1: was like such a nice guy, and he'd worked in 432 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:03,800 Speaker 1: production for so long and he had said, hey, like 433 00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:06,639 Speaker 1: you should like try your hand at some of the stuff. 434 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:07,960 Speaker 1: Let's see if we can kind of get you in 435 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:10,160 Speaker 1: on some things and see what will happen. I'm like, absolutely, 436 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:12,520 Speaker 1: sign me up. So one of our talent for one 437 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:14,359 Speaker 1: of our shows and went to London for three weeks 438 00:20:14,359 --> 00:20:16,679 Speaker 1: to cover the London Games, meaning that there was a 439 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:19,560 Speaker 1: hole on the show and her absence. So one crazy 440 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:21,440 Speaker 1: day he was like, why don't we, like, why don't 441 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 1: we have you tested out? You can just try it 442 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:25,080 Speaker 1: out one time. It's a thirty minute show, it's quick, 443 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 1: it's easy, it's a cross digital so you know, no 444 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 1: crazy pressure, Let's see how you do. So I did 445 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:34,800 Speaker 1: it once and then I never stopped doing it. They 446 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:36,960 Speaker 1: gave me the incredible opportunity to sit in on the 447 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:38,879 Speaker 1: show for the rest of the season, and it was 448 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:40,880 Speaker 1: really fun because there really aren't a lot of black 449 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:43,159 Speaker 1: women who talk fantasy football, like it's a very like 450 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:47,000 Speaker 1: white dude thing. And even before joining the fantasy group, 451 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:49,440 Speaker 1: like NAC football was very daunty to me. It was 452 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:52,120 Speaker 1: like I have been a football fan of my entire life, 453 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:53,760 Speaker 1: but like, what are we talking about? How do we 454 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 1: do this? Like this is scary and you know, waiver wire, 455 00:20:56,600 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 1: what is this? What are all these things? And then 456 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:00,520 Speaker 1: I realized like, we can have fun on and you 457 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:02,880 Speaker 1: can make this a fun young game. So that's kind 458 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:06,840 Speaker 1: of the perspective that I drew in. So in February, 459 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:09,720 Speaker 1: right after the Super Bowl, I ended up leaving the 460 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:13,199 Speaker 1: Junior Rotational program seven months early, and I signed a 461 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 1: on our contract with the NFL Network, And now I'm here, 462 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:19,040 Speaker 1: which is so exciting. So sitting across all of our 463 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:22,360 Speaker 1: fantasy shows, doing some fun red carpet and some social 464 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 1: coverage at all of our big tin full events, and 465 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:27,879 Speaker 1: then obviously also tackling some of these social justice things. 466 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:30,679 Speaker 1: We have our weekly show Real Talk with the NFL 467 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:32,720 Speaker 1: that you mentioned earlier as well. Starting to write a 468 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:35,040 Speaker 1: little bit. So I'm trying to get my toes and 469 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:37,879 Speaker 1: hands and all the waters and really try to solidify 470 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:40,160 Speaker 1: and figure out what does long term me look like. 471 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 1: What is the best way that I can use my 472 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:44,720 Speaker 1: voice in my platform for good? I love your story 473 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:47,760 Speaker 1: so much, partly selfishly because when I was growing up, 474 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:50,560 Speaker 1: I was always into Polysi too, and then I was like, well, 475 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:52,440 Speaker 1: I don't want to be a lawyer. I'm like where 476 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:53,840 Speaker 1: do I go? So then I ditched it for the 477 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:56,479 Speaker 1: Calm Major and did the very broad general thing. But like, 478 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 1: I feel you on that because as we know sports 479 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 1: to be sort of the ultimate reality show, politics is 480 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:04,399 Speaker 1: certainly its own beast in that sense, and I cannot 481 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:06,439 Speaker 1: speak to working in it. You did it, and you 482 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:09,480 Speaker 1: were like, thanks, thanks, but no thanks. That was a 483 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:12,359 Speaker 1: really good lesson. That was really fun for a few months. 484 00:22:12,359 --> 00:22:15,400 Speaker 1: But I'm going to go and never do that again. Yeah, 485 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:17,560 Speaker 1: so you had the broadcast background, but when you talk 486 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:20,119 Speaker 1: about the Junior Rotational program and working in all the 487 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:23,240 Speaker 1: different departments, how did that sort of make you more 488 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:26,040 Speaker 1: well rounded if you will to be able to take 489 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:29,719 Speaker 1: all of that experience and use it now? Right, So, 490 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:33,400 Speaker 1: I think the Junior Rotational Program, I'm like, I want 491 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:36,040 Speaker 1: to be at JRAP forever because I seriously got to 492 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:39,000 Speaker 1: understand every single part of the NFL's business. I think 493 00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 1: for me, when I was looking at my rotations and 494 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:43,360 Speaker 1: what departments I wanted to touch and kind of get into, 495 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:45,800 Speaker 1: I wanted to understand the revenue side of things. I 496 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:48,200 Speaker 1: was a journalism major. I did not take math classes. 497 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:50,480 Speaker 1: I stayed away from math classon. I've never wanted to 498 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:53,000 Speaker 1: take a math class. But for me it was really 499 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:56,160 Speaker 1: really important to realize, like, how do we generate revenue, 500 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:58,359 Speaker 1: what does that look like, What does our business model 501 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:00,439 Speaker 1: look like? What do our rights look like? How do 502 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:02,520 Speaker 1: we leverage those not only in the United States, but 503 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:06,600 Speaker 1: how do we leverage those internationally? How do we you know, 504 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:09,960 Speaker 1: segment out our audiences. How do our fans engage with 505 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:13,719 Speaker 1: our marketing materials? I understand now, like when I get 506 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:15,920 Speaker 1: an email about the Kansas City Chiefs just because they're 507 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:18,360 Speaker 1: my favorite team, I'm like, that goes through a rigorous 508 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:21,639 Speaker 1: kind of data system understanding who I am as a consumer. 509 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:24,600 Speaker 1: So it was incredible to kind of get into those 510 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 1: finite details of all of those things. Because now when 511 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:30,359 Speaker 1: I talk about content or when I talk about, you know, 512 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:33,800 Speaker 1: producing content or doing shows, I understand in all the 513 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:35,639 Speaker 1: background work that goes into it and how we can 514 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:37,920 Speaker 1: leverage that of saying, oh, well, let's could play really 515 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:40,639 Speaker 1: good to an international audience because of X, Y and Z, 516 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:43,199 Speaker 1: or oh, when we bring this to media sales and 517 00:23:43,240 --> 00:23:45,480 Speaker 1: we're looking for a sponsor or our partner, why don't 518 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:48,119 Speaker 1: we look with one that aligns with our values on X, 519 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:50,919 Speaker 1: Y and Z. When we go to Super Bowl or 520 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:54,880 Speaker 1: Pro Bowl or the Draft, I understand these events spaces 521 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:57,280 Speaker 1: I understand who helped leverage these events. So why don't 522 00:23:57,280 --> 00:23:59,119 Speaker 1: we team up with one of those huge sponsors that 523 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:01,879 Speaker 1: are putting revenue towards the event to do an activation 524 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:03,960 Speaker 1: where we can produce our own content, where we can 525 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:06,160 Speaker 1: make good on our content, we can get fantasy out there. 526 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:08,359 Speaker 1: But then we can also a partner and have a 527 00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:11,080 Speaker 1: sponsor at such a large, tempole event. So I think 528 00:24:11,119 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 1: for me, it's like so fun to go into these 529 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:15,520 Speaker 1: medias in the conversations because I can bring a whole 530 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:18,040 Speaker 1: different lens in perspective. It's not just me walking in 531 00:24:18,119 --> 00:24:20,639 Speaker 1: its talent. It's me walking in as like I'm talent, 532 00:24:20,680 --> 00:24:22,640 Speaker 1: but I also understand the business and I still love 533 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:24,320 Speaker 1: that side of the business and I want to still 534 00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 1: be a part of it. So it's kind of like 535 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 1: making it all work and come together as one. So 536 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 1: you mentioned obviously being a young woman in this industry. 537 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 1: There's so many young women who are trying to find 538 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:37,159 Speaker 1: their spot, working at you know, trying to make it happen. 539 00:24:37,240 --> 00:24:38,760 Speaker 1: I guess you could say, I know that there's a 540 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:41,920 Speaker 1: really fabulous LinkedIn group a seat at the table. Could 541 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:43,920 Speaker 1: you just speak to that a little bit and maybe 542 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:45,760 Speaker 1: for those who are listening, who would want to join, 543 00:24:45,920 --> 00:24:48,040 Speaker 1: what they would get out of it? Right? So A 544 00:24:48,119 --> 00:24:50,879 Speaker 1: Seat at the Table was started by Mja Costa Ruiz 545 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:53,520 Speaker 1: and Christina who works at our league office in New 546 00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:57,320 Speaker 1: York City. She works and community relations, and they wanted 547 00:24:57,359 --> 00:24:59,239 Speaker 1: to start a forum and a group for women who 548 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:01,920 Speaker 1: want to work sports because it can be really daunting 549 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:04,400 Speaker 1: to try to break into the industry. I always feel 550 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:06,440 Speaker 1: like I had like these lucky, pinch me moments where 551 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:08,159 Speaker 1: I worked my butt off in high school, college. Not 552 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:10,119 Speaker 1: get me wrong, I brind it, I got good grades. 553 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:12,879 Speaker 1: I tried to do every single internship possible, every single 554 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:17,000 Speaker 1: job possible, just to get that opportunity. And so many 555 00:25:17,040 --> 00:25:18,680 Speaker 1: women do that. But it's really hard to kind of 556 00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:21,200 Speaker 1: get that breakthrough moment because this is a sport where 557 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 1: every not a sport, this is a career that so 558 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:28,040 Speaker 1: many people want to get into. Working in football and entertainment. 559 00:25:28,080 --> 00:25:30,719 Speaker 1: That's like everybody's stream job, everybody in my fancy all 560 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:32,520 Speaker 1: the times like you have the coolest job in the world. 561 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:35,720 Speaker 1: And because of that, it can be really competitive, and 562 00:25:35,840 --> 00:25:39,120 Speaker 1: especially as a woman, you really start to question yourself 563 00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:41,240 Speaker 1: and your value and your worth, and then at times 564 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:43,680 Speaker 1: you can see another woman and sometimes want to pay 565 00:25:43,720 --> 00:25:47,080 Speaker 1: yourself against her, just because there are so few seats 566 00:25:47,080 --> 00:25:49,080 Speaker 1: at the table that once you get one, you can 567 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:51,560 Speaker 1: be so protected and say like, no, this is my 568 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:53,960 Speaker 1: space and no one else can infiltrate it. The seat 569 00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:55,919 Speaker 1: at the table completely flips that on the head to 570 00:25:55,960 --> 00:25:59,040 Speaker 1: say no. We are a community of women who uplift 571 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:01,959 Speaker 1: one and we want to help one another. We can 572 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:04,440 Speaker 1: go through people's resumes, we can go through people's cover letters. 573 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:06,960 Speaker 1: We can suggest, Hey, this job opening just popped up. 574 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:09,159 Speaker 1: Are you interested in If you are, can I connect 575 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:11,600 Speaker 1: you with the hiring manager? What are words of wisdom? 576 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:14,080 Speaker 1: What are words of advias? Hey, I have all these 577 00:26:14,119 --> 00:26:16,880 Speaker 1: extra addresses and clothes that I used for vodocast journalism 578 00:26:16,880 --> 00:26:19,000 Speaker 1: that I don't want anymore. Could I send them to you? 579 00:26:19,040 --> 00:26:20,600 Speaker 1: I know you're in college and maybe you need them. 580 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:23,240 Speaker 1: It's just this really fun community of women coming together 581 00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:26,160 Speaker 1: from one common goal and one common good and uplifting 582 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:28,480 Speaker 1: and supporting each other every single step of the way. 583 00:26:28,600 --> 00:26:31,000 Speaker 1: And for me, like the women that I've had in 584 00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:33,160 Speaker 1: my life that have supported me in my career, that's 585 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:35,359 Speaker 1: why I am where I am today. Because we have 586 00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:37,840 Speaker 1: to stop the stigma that there can only be one 587 00:26:37,880 --> 00:26:40,160 Speaker 1: of us, or there will only be a few of us. 588 00:26:40,280 --> 00:26:42,199 Speaker 1: We have to have these candid conversations. We need to 589 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:44,240 Speaker 1: talk about our salaries. We need to talk about how 590 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:46,760 Speaker 1: to negotiate our salaries. Because if I know you're making 591 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:48,680 Speaker 1: X and you know I'm making X, and there's a 592 00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:51,679 Speaker 1: discrepancy and we're on the same level, let's advocate for 593 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:53,720 Speaker 1: one another and help each other get to that equal 594 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:55,720 Speaker 1: playing field, because that's what men do. So we're just 595 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:57,800 Speaker 1: trying to equal the playing field and pull our own 596 00:26:57,800 --> 00:27:00,560 Speaker 1: seats up to the table. I love that so much. Okay, 597 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:03,280 Speaker 1: before we go, just a couple quick fantasy questions here. 598 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:05,760 Speaker 1: You have a new show with Adam Rank Fantasy bites. 599 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:08,880 Speaker 1: Chargers play the Panthers this week. When you're looking at 600 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:12,400 Speaker 1: maybe wide receiver or flex physicians, are guys like Keenan 601 00:27:12,480 --> 00:27:15,639 Speaker 1: Allen and Hunter Henry should be starts essentially here in 602 00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:18,600 Speaker 1: week three? Oh, they absolutely should be starts. I think 603 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:20,840 Speaker 1: for me, as a Kansas City san, you just say 604 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:24,920 Speaker 1: to go, look, yeah, what happened on game I mean, yes, okay, 605 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:27,959 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, guys, but regardless, you guys played incredibly and 606 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:29,719 Speaker 1: we're a very tough team, and I think for us, 607 00:27:29,720 --> 00:27:31,080 Speaker 1: we kind of came in with a chip on our 608 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:33,239 Speaker 1: shoulder of like, all right, let's let's stunt and do 609 00:27:33,280 --> 00:27:35,000 Speaker 1: what we do. We just want a super Bowl, and 610 00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:36,679 Speaker 1: you guys are like, no, no, no, hold on, let 611 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:39,240 Speaker 1: us let us welcome you into SOFI Stadium and show 612 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:42,840 Speaker 1: show you why we are the Los Angeles Chargers. So 613 00:27:42,840 --> 00:27:45,399 Speaker 1: absolutely they should be flex starts, you know, Fantasy right now, 614 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:47,600 Speaker 1: if we look at what happened last Sunday, a lot 615 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 1: of injuries across the board, right, A lot of guys, 616 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:51,480 Speaker 1: big name players who went down. So you want to 617 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 1: make sure those flex spots are good. Absolutely, Keenan, Allen, Hunter, 618 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:57,760 Speaker 1: Henry get them in your lineup. And then last one 619 00:27:58,119 --> 00:28:00,720 Speaker 1: current two headed monster running back right now with Austin 620 00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:04,760 Speaker 1: Eckler and Joshua Kelly rookie at a UCLA. Do either 621 00:28:04,840 --> 00:28:08,280 Speaker 1: of those strike you as Fantasy options for this week? Absolutely? 622 00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:10,600 Speaker 1: I actually went on Total Access yesterday and Fantasy Live 623 00:28:10,680 --> 00:28:13,200 Speaker 1: yesterday and said, guys, look at Joshua Kelly. You guys 624 00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:16,120 Speaker 1: have always kind of had a two headed monster backfield, right. 625 00:28:16,520 --> 00:28:18,600 Speaker 1: It works, and that's why it works. It can kind 626 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:20,800 Speaker 1: of be a headache for fantasy managers because you're like, Okay, 627 00:28:20,840 --> 00:28:22,640 Speaker 1: but which guy do I want to start? Yeah? Who's 628 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:24,280 Speaker 1: in there? Start both of them. I know this kind 629 00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:26,359 Speaker 1: of is like a this helps No one's scenario, but 630 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:28,280 Speaker 1: I think they're going to see fifty fifty slit time. 631 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:31,160 Speaker 1: I think there's nothing but opportunity for either running back 632 00:28:31,280 --> 00:28:33,640 Speaker 1: and regardless, if you want to go grab Joshua Kelly, 633 00:28:33,680 --> 00:28:35,800 Speaker 1: he's most likely on the waiver wire and you can 634 00:28:35,880 --> 00:28:38,240 Speaker 1: get them for a low class with high upside. So 635 00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:40,640 Speaker 1: either one of those guys. Again, this is a help, 636 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:43,640 Speaker 1: This helps No one's scenario, but please get them in 637 00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:45,680 Speaker 1: your lineups. Two had to be get them. Come on, 638 00:28:45,720 --> 00:28:46,920 Speaker 1: you want you want to get them all? They're low 639 00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:49,400 Speaker 1: there we go. Love it. Kimmy, thank you so much 640 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:51,520 Speaker 1: for coming on. This was such a great conversation. I 641 00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:53,960 Speaker 1: loved having you. I've been so inspired by you watching 642 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:56,400 Speaker 1: from watching you from Afar. It's been so great to 643 00:28:56,440 --> 00:28:58,640 Speaker 1: actually connect with you and just thank you again. We 644 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:01,480 Speaker 1: really appreciate it. No, thank you, Haley, Thank you for 645 00:29:01,560 --> 00:29:03,720 Speaker 1: all that you do. Thank you for bringing us young 646 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:06,960 Speaker 1: woman to the table and giving us a platform to speak. 647 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:09,440 Speaker 1: I think when you look at idols and people that 648 00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:11,440 Speaker 1: I look up to in the industry. You're absolutely one 649 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:13,480 Speaker 1: of those names. You have been nothing but kindness. You've 650 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:15,680 Speaker 1: been nothing but supported, and I see you not only 651 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:17,920 Speaker 1: support me, but you support so many other women, and 652 00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:20,280 Speaker 1: that is what truly matters. So thank you for all 653 00:29:20,280 --> 00:29:20,680 Speaker 1: that you do.