1 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: This is the OTP presented by Farm Bureau Health Plans. 2 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: Get the home field advantage with healthcare coverage from Farm 3 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:22,800 Speaker 1: Bureau Health Plans. They've been protecting Tennesseeans since nineteen forty seven. 4 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 1: I'm Amy Wells. Welcome to the OTP. We are so 5 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: excited to have you here. We're joined by none other 6 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:33,319 Speaker 1: Coach Mac. Dave McGinnis is also here with me. Coach Mac, 7 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:35,879 Speaker 1: how are you hey, Amy Wells. It's great to be 8 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 1: with you, and especially it's great to be with our 9 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: special guest, one of my all time favorites ever. And 10 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 1: I know a lot of people, so that's at the 11 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:48,160 Speaker 1: top of the list. It absolutely is. And Mac, this 12 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 1: is a good day for a variety of reasons. I've 13 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 1: really been feeling like on this podcast, specifically, I need 14 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: some backup, and I need backup in terms of more 15 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 1: female involved on this show. I've been holding it down 16 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:05,559 Speaker 1: for too long. I need a buddy now. And so 17 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 1: we're gonna start a female revolution on this podcast because 18 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:11,760 Speaker 1: I'm in charge today and what I say goes, and 19 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 1: so I'm bringing in the best possible person to help 20 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 1: me lead this revolution. Laura Oakman, you know her, You 21 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 1: love her. You've seen her everywhere in the sports world. 22 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 1: And if you think you don't know who Laura Oakman is, 23 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 1: you're wrong because you do because she is everywhere. Laura, 24 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 1: I am so so excited to have you on the OTP. 25 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: You're the perfect person to help me bring the women 26 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 1: vibe onto this show. Well, as you were saying the 27 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:45,199 Speaker 1: most lovely introduction both of you, all I kept thinking, 28 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 1: is what a waste to be doing this with Coach 29 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: Mat because he doesn't need it. Like, there's so many 30 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 1: men I'd be like, yeah, love me helpe with this revolution, 31 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 1: but he is one of our greatest allies. So it's 32 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 1: hard to be like, yeah, let's go, sister, let's do this. 33 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 1: What I'm like, Oh, the Coachmack is right here along 34 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: with us. He's an honorary sister. So I feel like 35 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: this is going to be a warm, wonderful, inviting podcast 36 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 1: to that. It absolutely is. And so just with that, 37 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: we've got to start by talking about the Laura Coach 38 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 1: Mac relationship. You guys are buddies that have gone back 39 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 1: for a long time. Give me the origin story of 40 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:25,240 Speaker 1: Coachmac and Laura Oakman. Laura, let me talk first, please, 41 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 1: It goes it goes back to the to the Camelot 42 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 1: days in Chicago. I mean it really does, because you know, 43 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 1: I was with the Bears in Mike Dica and Camelot 44 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: is a great word to describe it, because there have 45 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 1: been a lot of great eras in professional sports history 46 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:44,960 Speaker 1: with cities, but that that Camelot era in Chicago with 47 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: the Bears and the Bulls, the way things were rolling there, 48 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 1: and then Laura Oakman was right in the middle of 49 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 1: all those great Chicago bull runs. And look, I mean 50 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: her professionalism has spanned a whole lot of sports, but 51 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: when she was with Sports Channel Chicago and was covering 52 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 1: was covering the Bulls, I mean, she won an Emmy 53 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 1: for it, and and rightfully so, because she was outstanding. 54 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:09,080 Speaker 1: And then you know she was she was around the 55 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 1: Bears quite a bit too. But the thing, the thing 56 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 1: about Laura Oakman was and and here let me just 57 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:17,360 Speaker 1: say this that that's important and she and she talks 58 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 1: to me about being an advocate. The only way I'm 59 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 1: an advocate for females in this business is ones that 60 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 1: get it, and ones that are serious about it, and 61 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 1: ones that truly love it. You cannot manufact your respect 62 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 1: nor experience. In this business, you have to earn it, 63 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 1: and Laura Oakman earned it and she was She was 64 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: somebody that as a coach, and I've done it all 65 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 1: coaching in the National Football League of an assistant coach, 66 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: I've been an assistant head coach, I've been a coordinator, 67 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: I've been a head coach, and through all of those times, 68 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 1: you find out really quick those people that you can 69 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 1: trust and those people you can trust with information that 70 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 1: is vital, you know, for a broadcaster to be able 71 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: to do their job, but also you have to be 72 00:03:57,240 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 1: able to have an innate trust with them. Laura Oakman 73 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 1: all of that in spades. She's one of my favorite 74 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:06,640 Speaker 1: human beings, not only as a professional, but just because 75 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 1: she is the best example for somebody that wants to 76 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: get into this business, male or female, that has worked 77 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 1: for it and has earned every accolade she's ever gotten. 78 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:20,840 Speaker 1: But the biggest thing she's earned is the trust of 79 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 1: people in this business. That's hard to come by. I 80 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 1: would like to record this and make it on my ringtone, 81 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 1: so when anyone calls me up to hear, including myself, 82 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 1: I would call it every hour to hear this. So 83 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 1: there's a million things. I love what you just said, 84 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 1: Coach mec and how much I appreciate it. But here's 85 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 1: the biggest thing I'd say. I was so young and 86 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 1: dumb when I met you. I was so intimidated in 87 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:46,480 Speaker 1: that world, in that Camelot world. I'm a Chicago girl, 88 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: and so I got that opportunity at Sports Channel before 89 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 1: I was ready for it, and so I made every 90 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 1: mistake I questioned myself. I didn't believe in myself, and 91 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: so to have kindness at that age and at that 92 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:05,599 Speaker 1: stage was everything. I was so intimidated every day going 93 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 1: into Hollis Hall, which is where the Bears practice, and 94 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 1: at that time it was I mean, gosh, comparing it 95 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 1: to even the Titans building, you could have put Hollis 96 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:18,040 Speaker 1: Hall like in the lobby. It was so little, and 97 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 1: so what would happen is the reporters would all just 98 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:25,280 Speaker 1: be lumped into basically a hallway, and we would wait 99 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 1: and the coaches would have to walk through this tiny 100 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 1: little hallway to go to the offices from practice, right 101 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 1: like from practice, And I just always remember a coachback 102 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 1: was one of the ones that stopped and said hello 103 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:40,239 Speaker 1: and treated not just me, but everybody was such respect, 104 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 1: and I was at an age where I didn't even 105 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:45,360 Speaker 1: know how to build a relationship with the coach yet, 106 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 1: because I was so intimidated and I was so scared, 107 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 1: and so I remember that was you were one of 108 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 1: the first coaches that I had that human interaction with. 109 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 1: And it wasn't about the story and it wasn't about 110 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 1: practice that day. It really was you checking in how 111 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 1: are you and asking where was I living, and just 112 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 1: questions getting to know me. And that was huge for 113 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 1: a young woman, for you, for a young reporter who 114 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 1: was just learning about building trust and learning how to 115 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 1: build relationships. You gave me a huge glimpse into that. 116 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 1: Because I love what you just said. I say the 117 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 1: same thing. People ask us all the time amy about 118 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 1: sexism and sports, and I always say, the locker rooms 119 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:25,160 Speaker 1: are the easiest. The coaches and the players are the easiest. 120 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:28,719 Speaker 1: If they respect you, you're in that gender does not matter. 121 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:31,760 Speaker 1: You have to earn the respect, and once you're in, 122 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 1: you're in. The industry is a whole different thing, but 123 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 1: the world of sports in that bubble is the most 124 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:41,159 Speaker 1: welcoming one once you prove you belong. And Coach Mac 125 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 1: was truly one of the first people that made me 126 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:46,600 Speaker 1: feel like I might belong in this well, Laura, and 127 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 1: that's that's kind of you to say, but let me 128 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:50,839 Speaker 1: just say this. I mean, you understand I was a 129 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 1: very I mean I was the youngest coach on that 130 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: staff by a long ways. If you I mean you 131 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 1: know this. You talk about the small building, Well, we 132 00:06:57,560 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 1: were a small staff. There was only eight of us. 133 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 1: And you had long time historic coaches there, Johnny Rowland, 134 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:06,720 Speaker 1: the Dick Stanfell's Hall of Fame coaches, you know that 135 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 1: that that that were there. And I was brand new 136 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 1: to the league. And when Mike Dickon gave me that chance. 137 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 1: Let me say this, when I had thirteen years of 138 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 1: major college football and when I was hired, they one 139 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 1: of the things that some of those professional coaches told 140 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 1: me was, look, you cannot be as close to these 141 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 1: players as you were to your college players. We understand 142 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 1: that you were. You were a really top notch recruiter. 143 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 1: People say that you're this. He said, this is a business. 144 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:34,280 Speaker 1: You can't get very close. You can't get you do this. 145 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 1: And so you know I took I absorbed that for 146 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 1: a minute, and then when I got there, I said, no, 147 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 1: that's not true, because it's a people business and so 148 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 1: I felt so blessed to be there and I just 149 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 1: loved every minute of it. And part of it was 150 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 1: meeting people like yourself that were there. You never gave 151 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 1: off a vibe like you were nervous. You never, but 152 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 1: but what you did give the vibe off was is 153 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 1: that I am here to do a job, and I 154 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 1: am also here to be able to, you know, to 155 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 1: earn your trust, and I'm serious about what I'm doing. 156 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 1: I mean, that's the vibe that I got. But believe me, 157 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 1: I mean I was a young coach too. Here's what 158 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 1: I knew when I took that job at Chicago. Nothing 159 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 1: zero I knew. I knew. I knew absolutely zero. I 160 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 1: mean the first thing I did, Laura, I called Mike 161 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:21,560 Speaker 1: Singletary and said, please, let's go to dinner, you know, 162 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 1: introduced myself and said, I need to find out what 163 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 1: I need to do to earn these guys respect, because 164 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 1: you're talking about you know, the Super Bowl shuffle Bears. 165 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 1: You're talking about the most iconic team in the nation 166 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 1: at the time. The three things that he told me, 167 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:37,560 Speaker 1: and I think you'll you'll substantiate this, you know, in 168 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:39,960 Speaker 1: your career, he said. He said, coach, Mike, let me 169 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 1: just tell you something. Three things. First of all, always 170 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:45,560 Speaker 1: tell us the truth. And he said, number two is 171 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 1: if you don't know, just say you don't know. Don't 172 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 1: try to be essens. We'll figure it out together. And 173 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 1: he said, the third and most important thing is let 174 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 1: us feel and let us know not just out of 175 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 1: your mouth, but from your heart that you value us 176 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 1: at people as much as you do that number on 177 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 1: our back. And so that's what I did, and it 178 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 1: worked because I'm thirty five years into this league and 179 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 1: still going. And here's what I'd say to that is 180 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:14,960 Speaker 1: you were one of the pioneers of that. Because now 181 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 1: we're big on get to know your players as people, 182 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 1: right Like now every coach will say that, you know, 183 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:22,320 Speaker 1: if they do it, that's another thing. But it's just 184 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 1: get to know your players as people, make sure that 185 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 1: they know you care, and all of those things that 186 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 1: a lot of these coaches have to get coach to 187 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:33,559 Speaker 1: do now and have to shift their brain and their 188 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: way of thinking because they've never done that before. You've 189 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 1: always embodied that, You've always exemplified that that's who you are. 190 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 1: So I could see when you got in where so 191 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 1: many coaches would try to turn that shift the other way. 192 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:48,199 Speaker 1: It doesn't work here. They don't want you to get 193 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 1: to know them as people. They're not going to you know. 194 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:52,559 Speaker 1: And then all of a sudden you find out it 195 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 1: doesn't matter if you're a coaching college or broadcasting college, 196 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:59,719 Speaker 1: or NFL or basketball or sports, or you're an engineering 197 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:02,840 Speaker 1: or you're in marketing, or it does not matter. It's 198 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 1: always about people. It always is about people. And I 199 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:08,959 Speaker 1: think you're one of the first ones that really understood 200 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:10,960 Speaker 1: that there's certain people in this business. And I've talked 201 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:12,600 Speaker 1: about this a bunch, and I always say it behind 202 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 1: your bath players and coaches. There's just certain people you 203 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:18,679 Speaker 1: name and you go, if someone is a problem with them, 204 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 1: you're the problem. And it kind of gives you a light, 205 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 1: right like if you have a problem with coach Matt, 206 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 1: then I know to stay away from me. Like you 207 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:27,839 Speaker 1: get there's a light shining on you that you are 208 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:31,040 Speaker 1: not the right person in here. And in all these years, 209 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:33,920 Speaker 1: if you could find one person to say anything bad 210 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:36,440 Speaker 1: about Dave McGinnis, and it will be the first person 211 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 1: that you find and the person you should run away 212 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 1: from because it's definitely not the kind of person you 213 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 1: want to be around. And that's all because everybody knows 214 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:47,320 Speaker 1: who you are, from broadcasters to players to other coaches. 215 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 1: There's just not an inauthentic bone in your body, and 216 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 1: everybody feels that when they're around you. But don't you think, Laura, 217 00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 1: and again you know Andy could jump in here. But 218 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 1: the honesty, it's what's so important, because that the professional 219 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:06,320 Speaker 1: sports world can be such a superficial world. It's it's magnified, 220 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:09,760 Speaker 1: it's glorified, but at the end result it's still it's 221 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:12,599 Speaker 1: still a people business. And to me, that's one of 222 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 1: the most important things. And there are some great coaches 223 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:17,560 Speaker 1: that have been able to do that. I mean, Mike Dicka, 224 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 1: his players even for the way Mike Dicka was, his 225 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 1: players loved him because they knew that he knew who 226 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 1: they were and what they were going through. And the 227 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:28,560 Speaker 1: same way with I mean, I worked for Jeff Fisher 228 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:32,559 Speaker 1: for fifteen years and he was involved with his players, 229 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 1: I mean, and so those things are extremely, extremely important, 230 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 1: and it's even more so nowadays. And as you said 231 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:41,559 Speaker 1: that to me, and that just that kind of dovetails 232 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:43,760 Speaker 1: into some of the things that you are doing that 233 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 1: I think are so essential. I just have to say, 234 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:49,200 Speaker 1: this is the most important lesson I ever learned from 235 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:51,760 Speaker 1: a player. And I teach us to the direction you 236 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:53,679 Speaker 1: were going coach back of the women that I coach. 237 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 1: It was, you know, probably before I met you, So 238 00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:00,200 Speaker 1: I was even younger and dumber. But I think I 239 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 1: was in my first job or my second job, and 240 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 1: I called Charles Barkley for something. And I knew Charles 241 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:08,319 Speaker 1: because I was in Montgomery, Alabama, and Charles was from 242 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:10,440 Speaker 1: a town close by so he would come through, and 243 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:11,959 Speaker 1: so I met him at a young age. He was 244 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:14,320 Speaker 1: still playing then, so this is how long ago it was. 245 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:17,160 Speaker 1: And I called him once and he answered the phone 246 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 1: and he said, well, well, well, Laura Oakman, what do 247 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 1: you need? And I was like, can a girl just 248 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:25,920 Speaker 1: call and say hello? And he said, a girl? Can 249 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:28,600 Speaker 1: you just never do? And he's like, I'm not trying 250 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 1: to make you feel bad, I just know when you 251 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:33,719 Speaker 1: call you need something, So what do you need? And 252 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 1: that crushed me because who wants to be that person 253 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 1: that the phone rings and it's like, uh, Laura, like 254 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 1: what does she need? But in my mind I was like, well, 255 00:12:42,559 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 1: why else would I call, I'm not going to call 256 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:47,080 Speaker 1: or reach out and before texting, but I'm not going 257 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 1: to call and say great game or how was your weekend? 258 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:53,720 Speaker 1: So I just didn't call because I thought, I thought, well, 259 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 1: that's not my place. But at the end of the day, 260 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:57,839 Speaker 1: in my side of the world and Amy's side of 261 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 1: the world, it's a very one side did relationship if 262 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:04,439 Speaker 1: you allow it. It's us always say I need, I need, 263 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:07,040 Speaker 1: I need, And at some point, if you don't find 264 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 1: a way to have a real relationship, then it's going 265 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 1: to be a really hard business and a lonely business 266 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 1: to navigate because suddenly you look around and go, I 267 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 1: have a lot of contexts, and I have a lot 268 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:19,840 Speaker 1: of sources, but I have no friends and I have 269 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 1: no relationships. And that's on all of our sides, you know, 270 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:25,680 Speaker 1: of figuring that out together, but it is. It's a 271 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:28,720 Speaker 1: relationship business, and sometimes I think we have to remind 272 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 1: ourselves of that well, and how do you utilize those 273 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 1: relationships and really cultivate them, because on one hand, of 274 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 1: course you're reaching out to these people you do need 275 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:42,640 Speaker 1: something from them for your business. On the other hand, 276 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 1: you want to be engaged in creating a meaningful relationship 277 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:50,440 Speaker 1: that matters, but you want to keep it professional. There's 278 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 1: a lot of lines and it seems like you're balancing. 279 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: You have done that very well, and I know that 280 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:58,080 Speaker 1: over and over again. You've said, I don't have sources. 281 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 1: I have relationships with people. How do you cultivate those 282 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 1: and keep them in a place where you're really working 283 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:09,440 Speaker 1: on that relationship and you're not going to one extreme 284 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:11,760 Speaker 1: or the other. What I always say is it's the 285 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:14,440 Speaker 1: most important part of my job, and it is a job, 286 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 1: So people understand, I legitimately have Tuesday every week that's 287 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 1: called relationship Tuesday, and that's my day where I sit 288 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 1: and I text, and I email and I call and 289 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:29,080 Speaker 1: I reach out with no agenda. I'm constantly making sure 290 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 1: that I don't text every single time that coach mac 291 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 1: hears for me. It's what does Laura need? And so 292 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 1: I know I've implemented that. On Sunday's postgame, you know, 293 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 1: you have a long day on the field. We all do. 294 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:43,760 Speaker 1: And then I get in my car and we have 295 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:45,840 Speaker 1: about an hour or an hour and a half to 296 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:47,760 Speaker 1: get to the airport, and I look at every single 297 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:51,840 Speaker 1: score real quickly, an update, and I start texting everybody 298 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 1: you know, congratulations on the wind, I'm so sorry about 299 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:57,120 Speaker 1: the loss, sending healing dot your way, I'm so sorry 300 00:14:57,120 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 1: about the injury. That's the second most important part of 301 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: my job, which is not asking a question, not asking 302 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 1: anyone to reach back, but constantly making sure that I'm 303 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 1: showing up when I don't need something, and I have 304 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 1: a big white board. I don't do this anymore, but 305 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:16,280 Speaker 1: when I was younger, it would say, all these people 306 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: every week, who did I reach out to? When did 307 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 1: I say I'd reach back out? Did they need something 308 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 1: from me? Because I wanted to make sure that it 309 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:26,520 Speaker 1: wasn't a one sided relationship. When I first got into 310 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 1: this and players and coaches would ask to go to 311 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 1: a golf tournament, I would say no because I thought 312 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: that was a line, and I was like, I don't 313 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 1: want to make it look like and friends, I don't 314 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:37,080 Speaker 1: want to make it look like as you said, Amy, 315 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 1: that you as a woman, there's some tough navigation. So 316 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 1: I just said no to everything, and then at some 317 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:45,080 Speaker 1: point finally had enough faith in myself and trust in 318 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:48,480 Speaker 1: myself and understood relationships to go How can I keep 319 00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:51,320 Speaker 1: asking for things if I'm not taking part in this, 320 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: and so I guess they went from context to relationships 321 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 1: when suddenly I got to know their foundations and their 322 00:15:57,640 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 1: wives and their mothers and their chilled in and started 323 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 1: being a part of this community versus somebody on the 324 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 1: outside of the bubble doing stories. And that's when my 325 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:09,840 Speaker 1: life change. That just my job changed my life. And 326 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:13,239 Speaker 1: mac when you see someone who's really cultivating those relationships 327 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: as a coach, someone on the other side, gosh, it 328 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 1: must make you feel so good to get a text 329 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: message like that that says, hey, congratulations on the wind. 330 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 1: I don't need anything from you, that's just it. Well, absolutely, 331 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 1: but the thing about it has to be genuine because 332 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:30,040 Speaker 1: you don't have to. It comes across as they're not 333 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:34,160 Speaker 1: cultivating anything. They are just generally, you know, involved in 334 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:36,600 Speaker 1: what's going on, and you know you're not the only one. 335 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 1: But the fact that you know that they are paying attention, Okay, 336 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:43,640 Speaker 1: paying attention because in this business as a coach, you 337 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 1: know the space as a head coach in this league, 338 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:47,920 Speaker 1: you've got people pulling at you from all different directions 339 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:49,920 Speaker 1: and most of it you know they're they're pulling at 340 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:52,440 Speaker 1: you just like players. You know, for selfish reasons, and 341 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 1: then once they're done with you, they're done with you. 342 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:57,440 Speaker 1: But as I said, there are certain people that you 343 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:00,520 Speaker 1: that you realize are in it for the the reason 344 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 1: that they generally they are generally interested in what you're doing, 345 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: not for any ulterior motive because guess what, their careers 346 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:09,639 Speaker 1: are going along just fine. They're checking in with you 347 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:12,360 Speaker 1: and what that gives you as a coach. Every now 348 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 1: and then, you can pick up the phone and say, hey, Laura, look, 349 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:16,359 Speaker 1: I know you're going to be here in a couple 350 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 1: of weeks. Let me tell you a little bit about 351 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,359 Speaker 1: what's going on here, you know, And I don't know 352 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:22,239 Speaker 1: if it'll be the story when you get here, but 353 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:24,879 Speaker 1: I'm just giving you a little background. And here's here's 354 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:26,480 Speaker 1: what I can let you know when you get here, 355 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:30,320 Speaker 1: and if it changes, I'll tell you that because that's important. 356 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:34,240 Speaker 1: I mean, those types of things are very, very important 357 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:36,960 Speaker 1: in this business. And here's the thing that I think, 358 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:39,160 Speaker 1: and Laura, you can help me with this. Back when 359 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 1: the league was a little bit more i'd say mom 360 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:47,960 Speaker 1: and pop type league, it was different, it really was. 361 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:52,240 Speaker 1: So you really have to work now because it's a corporation. 362 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 1: It's corporate, but you can still do it. And as 363 00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 1: I said, the seminars that you do, which I've been to, 364 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:01,640 Speaker 1: you know it, we'll get into those and we'll get 365 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:05,760 Speaker 1: into galvanized. I've seen that work. But what happens is 366 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:08,240 Speaker 1: is it's not just it's not something that you're doing 367 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:12,880 Speaker 1: for the fluff of it. You're telling them real issues 368 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:15,720 Speaker 1: that will come up and how to navigate it, because 369 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:18,440 Speaker 1: being a female in this business is not easy. Now 370 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:22,120 Speaker 1: the inclusion of it is getting better and better, and 371 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:24,600 Speaker 1: I love it. I absolutely love it. I mean I 372 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:27,120 Speaker 1: was so happy for Low Locust when they won down 373 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:30,480 Speaker 1: there at Tampa Bay. I know Low you know very well. 374 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 1: She was the assistant defensive line coach at the Birmingham Iron. 375 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:36,680 Speaker 1: I used to drive over there to watch their games, 376 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 1: you know. And then when she got that chance to go, 377 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:41,479 Speaker 1: you know with BA and then plus just you know, 378 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:44,720 Speaker 1: to win it. Those types of things matter. I mean 379 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:47,479 Speaker 1: they really, they really do matter, and not not because 380 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:51,159 Speaker 1: she's a female, but because she's spent thirty years chasing 381 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:54,760 Speaker 1: a dream and those things are extremely important and now 382 00:18:54,840 --> 00:18:57,080 Speaker 1: for her to be able to be on that stage, 383 00:18:57,119 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, I mean, I think it's just 384 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 1: so so important that people like yourself that have a 385 00:19:03,359 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 1: platform now because I mean, you know, let's admit it, 386 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:08,719 Speaker 1: you're a big deal now, but you hadn't work. You 387 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 1: had to work to be a big deal. And so 388 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:13,720 Speaker 1: and the way that you did it. But as I said, 389 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:16,600 Speaker 1: we'll talk about your seminars, we'll talk about Galvin eyes, 390 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:18,679 Speaker 1: but the way you portray it and the way you 391 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:21,440 Speaker 1: get it across you know, although I think those those 392 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:25,760 Speaker 1: those those females that are entering into it, they say, whoa, 393 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:29,000 Speaker 1: this is a job. This is work, and it's you know, 394 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: it's not all about just you know, the bright lights 395 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:34,880 Speaker 1: and everything else that goes on because it is a business. 396 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:38,160 Speaker 1: It's a business, but it doesn't have to be an 397 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 1: impersonal business. And I hope this is one of the 398 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 1: most important things I can say to Amy right now, 399 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 1: because I know the dream was checking boxes. Right. I 400 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 1: want to do this, I want to do I want 401 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:49,760 Speaker 1: to cover Super Bowl, I want to host an Olympics. 402 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:52,560 Speaker 1: I want to work for a network. Check check. And 403 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 1: all of a sudden you check boxes and you realize 404 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 1: how lonely that can be, because everything about us is 405 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 1: the job is the job, the boxes, the box and 406 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:06,720 Speaker 1: I just know that at some point you really do 407 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:08,920 Speaker 1: look around at a lot of check boxes, at a 408 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:12,680 Speaker 1: lot of check boxes, and go, what else is there? 409 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:16,200 Speaker 1: I've been doing sidelines for a long time, but if 410 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 1: I look at my Sunday, I work just as hard 411 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 1: as my play by play partner, I work just as 412 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:24,320 Speaker 1: hard as my analysts. We're watching the same film, we're 413 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 1: reading the same articles, wearing the same interviews and conversations, 414 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 1: and I'm probably having more conversations with more players and coaches. 415 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:34,639 Speaker 1: And yet if you boil down my Sunday, maybe I 416 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:36,880 Speaker 1: have two and a half minutes if you put down 417 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:40,640 Speaker 1: like all of my stuff, and what happens is eventually 418 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:43,400 Speaker 1: you leave Sunday and your guys feel great. They've had 419 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:46,720 Speaker 1: three hours to pontificate and to show off their knowledge 420 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:49,560 Speaker 1: and to show how awesome they are. And you walk 421 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:52,359 Speaker 1: into your car with a notebook of stories that never 422 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:55,320 Speaker 1: made air and all your opinions and all your insight 423 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:58,840 Speaker 1: and all these nuggets and nothing made air, and you 424 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:01,160 Speaker 1: can feel like you have no value, and you can 425 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:04,280 Speaker 1: have no worth. And at some point, as a woman, 426 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:07,320 Speaker 1: at least on the sidelines, I had to figure out 427 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 1: what's my value? What's my worth because it cannot be 428 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:12,400 Speaker 1: two and a half minutes on a Sunday. That took 429 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 1: me a long time. I hope Amy figures that out 430 00:21:15,840 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 1: a whole lot younger than I did. That's why we 431 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 1: started this podcast, because I had more to say. I 432 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:24,639 Speaker 1: love it like that makes me want to cry. I 433 00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:27,800 Speaker 1: love that so much, one hundred percent. That's I love that. 434 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:29,560 Speaker 1: I would have never had the confidence to use my 435 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:31,720 Speaker 1: voice as you're doing at your age. You have a 436 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:34,120 Speaker 1: great thing. Now, just look what's going on in the league. Look, 437 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:36,440 Speaker 1: I mean, look right here at the Tennessee tits Amy 438 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 1: Adams Strunk, I mean, one of the absolute best. I mean, 439 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:42,800 Speaker 1: when I came back from LA and I came here 440 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:44,200 Speaker 1: and met her, you know, when I was going to 441 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 1: start doing the broadcast here. I came away from that 442 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:50,440 Speaker 1: first meeting going, WHOA. I've been in the league a 443 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:53,720 Speaker 1: long time. I know good from bad real quick. I mean, 444 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:57,680 Speaker 1: that is excellent. Look at she La fort Hamp, what's 445 00:21:57,680 --> 00:22:00,159 Speaker 1: going on there at Detroit, how much she's involved at 446 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 1: Camp Pagudo. To me, those things are extremely extremely important, 447 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 1: and our league is better for that. It is better 448 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:10,560 Speaker 1: for that, in my humble opinion. Now, Laura, we have 449 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 1: to talk about galvanize. We've kind of alluded to it, 450 00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:15,320 Speaker 1: and it is so much bigger than everything that we've 451 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:17,919 Speaker 1: alluded to. Give me a minute to just kind of 452 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:22,280 Speaker 1: break down galvanize, what it is and why it's so important. 453 00:22:22,359 --> 00:22:25,560 Speaker 1: People always think galvanize is about being better on camera, 454 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:29,800 Speaker 1: because originally how the genesis of Galvanize was. I started 455 00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:33,520 Speaker 1: seeing all these young women getting thrown into these awesome opportunities. 456 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:37,000 Speaker 1: But I thought, that's fast, that's fast, and that's hard, 457 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 1: you know, and high up, I was watching them struggle, 458 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:43,080 Speaker 1: and I knew that they weren't struggling on a Sunday 459 00:22:43,280 --> 00:22:44,720 Speaker 1: or on a Saturday. I knew they were going to 460 00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:47,000 Speaker 1: struggle for years. When you all of a sudden walk 461 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:50,159 Speaker 1: with a coach at halftime, and I've had coaches say this. 462 00:22:50,280 --> 00:22:53,119 Speaker 1: They've said, Hey, I was with an adorable young girl 463 00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:55,879 Speaker 1: at halftime, and I was trying to help, but I 464 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:58,240 Speaker 1: didn't know what she was talking about. And when I 465 00:22:58,359 --> 00:23:01,800 Speaker 1: tried to tell her something so I could help her, 466 00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:03,760 Speaker 1: I knew she didn't know what I was talking about. 467 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:07,320 Speaker 1: And that was told to me when I was twenty seven. 468 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:09,639 Speaker 1: I would have been very judgmental. Of the women and 469 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:11,960 Speaker 1: been like, well, they don't belong and why are they here? 470 00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:15,119 Speaker 1: But I was luckily old enough and motherly enough to 471 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:18,760 Speaker 1: go These women are being crushed, not on a Sunday, 472 00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:22,600 Speaker 1: but their confidence is now crushed. And so I was 473 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:26,160 Speaker 1: very thankful that I got my start in Montgomery, Alabama, 474 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:29,120 Speaker 1: and made my mistake small in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I had 475 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 1: to work my way up to get to the network level, 476 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:34,359 Speaker 1: and I was watching so many young women not get 477 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:37,680 Speaker 1: that trajectory, and so I knew I couldn't help change that, 478 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:40,440 Speaker 1: but I did think, well, I probably could help them 479 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:43,960 Speaker 1: get ready for the opportunity. And so Galvin I started 480 00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:47,119 Speaker 1: about twelve years ago, and I just thought, how can 481 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:49,040 Speaker 1: I help? And I didn't know anything more than that. 482 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:51,560 Speaker 1: It wasn't a company, it wasn't a name, it wasn't anything. 483 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:54,119 Speaker 1: But it took about four months to find twenty women 484 00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:56,600 Speaker 1: who were like, sure, I'll be a part of it. 485 00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:02,800 Speaker 1: And then twelve years later, about women later, it's turned 486 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:05,600 Speaker 1: into it just an incredible network of women and something 487 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:08,160 Speaker 1: I would have killed for, which was just a group 488 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:10,880 Speaker 1: of women to help me navigate all of this going 489 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:12,920 Speaker 1: through it. There's no black and white. In this business, 490 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:15,480 Speaker 1: it's all gray. And I didn't have a single woman 491 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:18,240 Speaker 1: who helped me through that. I didn't have a woman mentor. 492 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:21,120 Speaker 1: I didn't have friends who were doing this business, so 493 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:24,480 Speaker 1: I peers. I didn't have friends, and I just thought, 494 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 1: how can I how can I give them this? And 495 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:30,040 Speaker 1: it's grown not just in size, but we have boot 496 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:32,760 Speaker 1: camps and workshops now that are for women, not on camera. 497 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:35,360 Speaker 1: We have everybody behind the scenes. We have women who 498 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:39,480 Speaker 1: are agents and marketing and pr and we're from twenty 499 00:24:39,560 --> 00:24:42,720 Speaker 1: years old to forty. So it's just it's just this 500 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:46,240 Speaker 1: incredible group of women who are looking for a network 501 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:49,639 Speaker 1: of other women to support, to be supported by. And 502 00:24:49,920 --> 00:24:52,199 Speaker 1: it's been a life changer. I would have killed for 503 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:55,280 Speaker 1: it at your age, Amy, But I also know that 504 00:24:55,359 --> 00:24:58,320 Speaker 1: I probably if I had it, I wouldn't have created 505 00:24:58,359 --> 00:25:00,720 Speaker 1: it because I didn't know the import in the need 506 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:03,199 Speaker 1: of it, So I guess I probably wasn't supposed to 507 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:06,400 Speaker 1: have it. And now I just know watching these young 508 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:10,600 Speaker 1: women and older women but succeed and grow and struggle 509 00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:14,520 Speaker 1: has grown my heart in sizes. I didn't know my 510 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:16,800 Speaker 1: heart could grow because I don't have children, so I 511 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:19,320 Speaker 1: didn't understand what it was like to be a mother. 512 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:21,840 Speaker 1: And now I feel like I'm a mother to a 513 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:26,919 Speaker 1: couple of thousand women, and feel like every day I'm like, 514 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:28,719 Speaker 1: I didn't know I could be any prouder than I've 515 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:31,360 Speaker 1: already thought I would be. But it's been. It's been magical. 516 00:25:31,359 --> 00:25:34,280 Speaker 1: It's been absolutely magical. Let me interject here. I mean, 517 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:36,600 Speaker 1: you know, when we went to la you know, Laura, 518 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:39,880 Speaker 1: of course, you know, ask Jeff Fisher and myself if 519 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:42,479 Speaker 1: she could, you know, bring you know, a group of 520 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:45,359 Speaker 1: her Galvinized people to training camp. You know, it was 521 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:46,919 Speaker 1: our first year out there. Of course it was a 522 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:49,400 Speaker 1: big deal everybody, and of course, you know, Jeff Fisher 523 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:53,080 Speaker 1: you know, told me that that Laura. I said, oh absolutely, 524 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:56,600 Speaker 1: let's do this fish. And when she showed up and 525 00:25:57,080 --> 00:26:01,160 Speaker 1: you know, and the things that she was imparting to them, 526 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:04,760 Speaker 1: I mean, they weren't just at practice just to be 527 00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:07,479 Speaker 1: you know, being able to stand inside the ropes and 528 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:10,199 Speaker 1: to say to all the people around, look at us 529 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 1: were inside the ropes. They were actually digging in and 530 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:16,719 Speaker 1: learning something about what really makes this thing work. And 531 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:19,040 Speaker 1: then Jeff talked to the group, I talked to the group, 532 00:26:19,080 --> 00:26:22,240 Speaker 1: but you could tell that they were all invested, and 533 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:25,840 Speaker 1: they weren't invested at a surface level. They were invested 534 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:28,439 Speaker 1: at a level like I am getting a leg up 535 00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 1: here and I'm going to take full advantage of it. 536 00:26:31,359 --> 00:26:34,600 Speaker 1: I was so impressed, so impressed with it, and I 537 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:38,400 Speaker 1: can see why it worked, and you will forever, forever 538 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:41,320 Speaker 1: be one of the greatest gifts to galvanize because that 539 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:45,440 Speaker 1: was so young and it was galvanized infancy. But it 540 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:49,399 Speaker 1: was galvanized. Is exactly how you were with the women. 541 00:26:50,240 --> 00:26:52,960 Speaker 1: We talk a little about being on camera. We talked 542 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:56,840 Speaker 1: so little about the actual interview. We practice small talk. Well, 543 00:26:56,880 --> 00:26:58,760 Speaker 1: you know that you're all of a sudden walking up 544 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:01,040 Speaker 1: to a coach and you're only two years old, and 545 00:27:01,080 --> 00:27:04,200 Speaker 1: you're intimidated and you're scared. How do you connect? How 546 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:07,119 Speaker 1: do you let Coach Mac know that I might be 547 00:27:07,359 --> 00:27:09,439 Speaker 1: twenty three years old, but you can trust me in 548 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:12,760 Speaker 1: this conversation if it's on camera or imprint and follow 549 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:15,720 Speaker 1: me or if you're producing this. And Coach Mac talked 550 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:18,200 Speaker 1: to them like they were professionals, not like they were 551 00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:20,560 Speaker 1: young girls, you know, and like how cute there's a 552 00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:24,080 Speaker 1: bunch of girls at practice, But like that he gave them. 553 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:26,800 Speaker 1: The imparted the wisdom that he imparts on everyone who's 554 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:30,520 Speaker 1: in his orbit, which was invaluable. But it's all the 555 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:33,119 Speaker 1: things I would have killed to know. I would have 556 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:36,199 Speaker 1: I didn't need to get coached on being on camera 557 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:38,520 Speaker 1: because I was going to get better on camera with 558 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:41,080 Speaker 1: reps and I was going to get better with experience, 559 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:43,600 Speaker 1: and that's going to happen. But the things that will 560 00:27:43,640 --> 00:27:47,560 Speaker 1: stunt your growth about your confidence, and about relationships and 561 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:50,119 Speaker 1: about how to build them, and about how to believe 562 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:53,399 Speaker 1: in yourself, how to empower other women when you've been 563 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:56,680 Speaker 1: told that's your competition. All those things to be able 564 00:27:56,720 --> 00:28:00,960 Speaker 1: to sit and talk about that's galvanized and being better 565 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:03,480 Speaker 1: on camera or being better you know, at your job 566 00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:06,280 Speaker 1: is so miniscool to me. I think the first couple 567 00:28:06,280 --> 00:28:08,760 Speaker 1: of boot camps, I didn't get that, and I focused 568 00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:10,760 Speaker 1: a lot on what you do, and now I don't 569 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:13,160 Speaker 1: think we ever talk about what you do. It's all 570 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:16,320 Speaker 1: who you are. Same with athletes, same with coaches. And now, 571 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:18,360 Speaker 1: by the way, coach Mack knows this. I have clients, 572 00:28:18,359 --> 00:28:20,919 Speaker 1: you know, I do a lot of advising with communications. 573 00:28:20,920 --> 00:28:23,800 Speaker 1: I have had coaches and I work with an almost 574 00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:26,760 Speaker 1: two hundred of the top professional women hockey players in 575 00:28:26,760 --> 00:28:30,000 Speaker 1: the world. So I'm in a different world now where 576 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:32,560 Speaker 1: I'm trusted in a different way with these incredible people. 577 00:28:33,080 --> 00:28:35,400 Speaker 1: It's the same thing. We don't talk about their job. 578 00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:38,560 Speaker 1: We talk about who they are, and that doesn't matter 579 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:41,280 Speaker 1: what you do for a job. If you tap into that, 580 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:43,720 Speaker 1: then it goes right back to what Coach Max's talking about, 581 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:47,240 Speaker 1: is the authenticity and the truth of who you are. 582 00:28:47,320 --> 00:28:49,880 Speaker 1: And that's how you build relationships and trusts. You know. 583 00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:52,680 Speaker 1: Of course Amy Wells, you know, and Ashley Ferrell, who's 584 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:55,520 Speaker 1: behind who's behind the camera recording this. Let me let 585 00:28:55,560 --> 00:28:57,479 Speaker 1: me just tell you what they did, Laura when I 586 00:28:57,520 --> 00:29:01,400 Speaker 1: came in here. Yeah, yeah, when they realized they didn't 587 00:29:01,440 --> 00:29:04,000 Speaker 1: have to be scared of me, they you know, they 588 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:06,720 Speaker 1: asked me, and they both asked me, Coach Mack, would 589 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 1: you spend time with us in this offseason teaching us 590 00:29:10,840 --> 00:29:15,520 Speaker 1: some football, teaching us what is really going on? Because 591 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:18,920 Speaker 1: we're at practice every day, we're here all of these terms, 592 00:29:19,200 --> 00:29:21,959 Speaker 1: we see these things. Will you help us? And I 593 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:24,440 Speaker 1: told them, I said, look, if you guys are serious 594 00:29:24,520 --> 00:29:27,520 Speaker 1: about this, because I don't need to practice my coaching. 595 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:30,160 Speaker 1: I said I don't need to do that. But if 596 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:33,040 Speaker 1: you'll get a notebook and we'll get and we'll start 597 00:29:33,080 --> 00:29:36,320 Speaker 1: looking at tape, and if you'll spend two and a 598 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:39,280 Speaker 1: half months and we'll dedicate time to do this, you know, 599 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:41,600 Speaker 1: a couple of hours a day when we can do this. 600 00:29:41,680 --> 00:29:44,160 Speaker 1: If you'll set that aside, I'll be more than happy 601 00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:46,640 Speaker 1: to do it. And we did that for two and 602 00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:49,520 Speaker 1: a half months, and to me, that was one of 603 00:29:49,520 --> 00:29:53,240 Speaker 1: the greatest things because they both legitimately wanted to learn, 604 00:29:53,680 --> 00:29:55,400 Speaker 1: and not because they were going to go out there 605 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:57,920 Speaker 1: and coach a position, but they wanted to know so 606 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:00,720 Speaker 1: that when they were asking questions, are they were, you know, 607 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:04,120 Speaker 1: are they were filming a game like Ashley does, what's 608 00:30:04,160 --> 00:30:06,440 Speaker 1: going to happen? I mean, you know, telling them, hey, 609 00:30:06,480 --> 00:30:08,719 Speaker 1: look look at the safeties, look at their Look at 610 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:11,040 Speaker 1: the middle of fields open, middle of field closed. It'll 611 00:30:11,080 --> 00:30:13,080 Speaker 1: tell you if it's manners own. You can kind of 612 00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:15,840 Speaker 1: tell what's coming here with these splits. Let me teach 613 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:18,560 Speaker 1: you what personnel groups mean. When you see those signs 614 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:21,200 Speaker 1: on the sideline, let's say eleven and twelve and thirteen. 615 00:30:21,480 --> 00:30:25,040 Speaker 1: Let me get you underneath the layers so you'll understand 616 00:30:25,080 --> 00:30:28,280 Speaker 1: what's going on. So it's not all just one big 617 00:30:28,360 --> 00:30:30,640 Speaker 1: huge picture. Let me teach you what to look at. 618 00:30:30,840 --> 00:30:34,560 Speaker 1: And they killed it. They crushed it, and to this 619 00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:36,800 Speaker 1: day I can still get them and I'll do it 620 00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:39,240 Speaker 1: every now and then. You know when when when we're 621 00:30:39,280 --> 00:30:41,520 Speaker 1: doing you know, now with COVID, we couldn't do it, 622 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:44,160 Speaker 1: But when we're at with season ticket holders, I'll stop 623 00:30:44,160 --> 00:30:46,080 Speaker 1: the whole thing because they'll always ask me, Coach Mac. 624 00:30:46,120 --> 00:30:48,600 Speaker 1: Will hear you're on the broadcast talking about eleven personnel, 625 00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:51,880 Speaker 1: I said, stop, Amy, what's eleven personnel? It's just say 626 00:30:51,880 --> 00:30:54,280 Speaker 1: one tight, one runner back, three whites. I said, there 627 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:57,720 Speaker 1: you go, let's do this and that that to me 628 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:00,840 Speaker 1: is so important. I love that's so much and know 629 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:03,240 Speaker 1: that I would I would have killed. I still would 630 00:31:03,280 --> 00:31:04,920 Speaker 1: kill to do that with you now, but I would 631 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:08,720 Speaker 1: have killed at third age. And I know I didn't 632 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:10,800 Speaker 1: have a Coach Mac, but I did have somebody when 633 00:31:10,840 --> 00:31:13,160 Speaker 1: I was young, and that was before the Internet, and 634 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:16,200 Speaker 1: that was before football for dummies, all of that. And 635 00:31:16,720 --> 00:31:19,440 Speaker 1: I was a Chicago girl who got thrown into Alabama 636 00:31:19,480 --> 00:31:21,840 Speaker 1: and I didn't know the SEC, I didn't know Nascar. 637 00:31:22,160 --> 00:31:25,040 Speaker 1: I went to Kansas and football really was at my jam, 638 00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:28,440 Speaker 1: and so I needed to find coaches at each sport 639 00:31:28,800 --> 00:31:32,240 Speaker 1: who I trusted that wouldn't say I was stupid, and 640 00:31:32,280 --> 00:31:34,680 Speaker 1: who wouldn't go up exactly a girl that doesn't know 641 00:31:34,760 --> 00:31:37,600 Speaker 1: the sport, but would sit and want to teach. And 642 00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:40,200 Speaker 1: I know that that's one of the things that I'm 643 00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:42,760 Speaker 1: so proud of you too. I'm so proud of you Amy, 644 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:44,680 Speaker 1: and I'm so proud of you Ashley for doing that, 645 00:31:44,680 --> 00:31:47,520 Speaker 1: because that's not a gender thing. I promise you. There's 646 00:31:47,520 --> 00:31:49,360 Speaker 1: a whole lot of men in our industry that should 647 00:31:49,400 --> 00:31:52,640 Speaker 1: sit down with coach Mac and who have also never 648 00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:56,040 Speaker 1: played the game and who are scared to ask because 649 00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:58,600 Speaker 1: they're supposed to assume or just do assume that they 650 00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:01,240 Speaker 1: know what they're talking about. It is so important when 651 00:32:01,280 --> 00:32:03,560 Speaker 1: you're early on in this business to find a coach 652 00:32:03,680 --> 00:32:06,320 Speaker 1: who you can trust to sit with you and watch 653 00:32:06,360 --> 00:32:10,080 Speaker 1: film and just say, can I ask questions? Not dumb questions, 654 00:32:10,120 --> 00:32:13,680 Speaker 1: Those are really important questions, so we can ask questions 655 00:32:13,720 --> 00:32:16,479 Speaker 1: of players and know what they're saying back to us. 656 00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:19,760 Speaker 1: But it's not always easy to find a coach Mac 657 00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:22,440 Speaker 1: everywhere you go. But the most important thing is to 658 00:32:22,480 --> 00:32:25,600 Speaker 1: find someone who will do that versus feeling like I 659 00:32:25,720 --> 00:32:28,800 Speaker 1: know for I'm sure the conversations with you two originally 660 00:32:28,800 --> 00:32:31,080 Speaker 1: were can we ask that, does it show that we 661 00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:33,560 Speaker 1: don't know things? And can that look bad on us? 662 00:32:33,840 --> 00:32:36,080 Speaker 1: And you have to put your pride away to say 663 00:32:36,320 --> 00:32:38,440 Speaker 1: I want to be better and I want to learn more. 664 00:32:38,920 --> 00:32:41,880 Speaker 1: So let's do this together. And I love love, love 665 00:32:41,960 --> 00:32:43,960 Speaker 1: that you guys did that, Love that you guys did that, 666 00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:46,240 Speaker 1: and love Coach Mack that. Of course he took the 667 00:32:46,280 --> 00:32:48,480 Speaker 1: time to do it. Well, Laura, you're welcome to come 668 00:32:48,520 --> 00:32:51,160 Speaker 1: watch tape with us anytime. I don't cry near as 669 00:32:51,280 --> 00:32:54,760 Speaker 1: much as I used to. I'm much better at using 670 00:32:54,800 --> 00:32:57,280 Speaker 1: that clicker now. It took me some time, but I 671 00:32:57,360 --> 00:33:00,280 Speaker 1: got there. We had some late nights filled with lots 672 00:33:00,280 --> 00:33:02,880 Speaker 1: of I don't know where rewind is, Coach, please help me. 673 00:33:04,120 --> 00:33:07,880 Speaker 1: So I stopped listening to you don't know the click 674 00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:11,000 Speaker 1: there's a laser pointer. I don't know how it got there. 675 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:13,360 Speaker 1: I can't turn it off. Let's just keep your rolling. 676 00:33:13,960 --> 00:33:16,080 Speaker 1: You have me. I was going to jump into yes, 677 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:18,400 Speaker 1: and then as soon as you said running the clicker, 678 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:20,440 Speaker 1: I was like, I don't want to do that. Yeah, No, 679 00:33:20,600 --> 00:33:23,320 Speaker 1: I can do it. I've learned. I'm a professional now 680 00:33:23,440 --> 00:33:26,160 Speaker 1: I can handle it. Gosh, Laura, I could talk to 681 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:28,240 Speaker 1: you forever. I know we've got to let you go. 682 00:33:28,280 --> 00:33:30,520 Speaker 1: You're the busiest woman in all of sports. But before 683 00:33:30,520 --> 00:33:32,760 Speaker 1: you go, I want to be sure to ask you 684 00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:35,720 Speaker 1: what advice you might have, Not even just for girls 685 00:33:35,720 --> 00:33:38,360 Speaker 1: who want to get into this industry, but anyone who 686 00:33:38,400 --> 00:33:41,920 Speaker 1: wants to have some sort of role in sports, whether 687 00:33:41,920 --> 00:33:44,640 Speaker 1: it be in media or otherwise, what advice would you 688 00:33:44,640 --> 00:33:47,680 Speaker 1: give to them. I think the first thing is, I know, 689 00:33:47,760 --> 00:33:50,360 Speaker 1: for years and years I was told that a girl 690 00:33:50,440 --> 00:33:53,800 Speaker 1: talking sports was crazy, and so that was in my 691 00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:57,640 Speaker 1: head for a long time, and everyone would say, what's 692 00:33:57,640 --> 00:33:59,640 Speaker 1: your plan B, what's your plan be? And I would 693 00:33:59,640 --> 00:34:01,680 Speaker 1: always say, my plan B is to make sure my 694 00:34:01,800 --> 00:34:05,920 Speaker 1: Plan A is working. And after I've proved that a 695 00:34:05,960 --> 00:34:11,400 Speaker 1: girl talking sports wasn't crazy, the narrative change too. Okay, 696 00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:13,799 Speaker 1: that's great, you can talk sports, but you better do 697 00:34:13,880 --> 00:34:16,840 Speaker 1: it fast because you can't age on camera. So you 698 00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:20,920 Speaker 1: better have another plan in place, because once you hit forty, 699 00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:23,520 Speaker 1: everyone's going to tell you that you've aged out of 700 00:34:23,560 --> 00:34:25,919 Speaker 1: this business. And that's not what this business wants. So 701 00:34:26,239 --> 00:34:29,440 Speaker 1: I think for so long in my career, I feared 702 00:34:29,480 --> 00:34:31,440 Speaker 1: a lot of things, and I believed a lot of 703 00:34:31,480 --> 00:34:34,920 Speaker 1: things that people told me. And when you're told that constantly, 704 00:34:35,480 --> 00:34:38,600 Speaker 1: your voice starts sounding like all their voices, and so 705 00:34:38,760 --> 00:34:41,520 Speaker 1: you start telling yourself you don't belong, or better have 706 00:34:41,560 --> 00:34:44,440 Speaker 1: a plan B, you don't belong. And I think the 707 00:34:44,440 --> 00:34:46,319 Speaker 1: biggest thing I try to impart, I love that you 708 00:34:46,360 --> 00:34:48,480 Speaker 1: said not just young girls and young women, this is 709 00:34:48,600 --> 00:34:51,399 Speaker 1: young boys and young men. But to make sure your 710 00:34:51,480 --> 00:34:54,719 Speaker 1: voice is the loudest, because this business is tough, and 711 00:34:54,760 --> 00:34:56,600 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter what side of it. You will be 712 00:34:56,640 --> 00:34:59,080 Speaker 1: told how competitive it is. You will be told there 713 00:34:59,120 --> 00:35:00,840 Speaker 1: is no room for you. You will be told a 714 00:35:00,880 --> 00:35:03,800 Speaker 1: million reasons why you won't belong or you can't belong. 715 00:35:04,239 --> 00:35:06,719 Speaker 1: And I think the most important thing that changed my 716 00:35:06,840 --> 00:35:10,760 Speaker 1: trajectory and change my life was when my voice started saying, 717 00:35:10,760 --> 00:35:13,680 Speaker 1: you're good at this, you belong here, you know, keep 718 00:35:13,719 --> 00:35:17,040 Speaker 1: crushing it, you're kicking ass. And suddenly all those other 719 00:35:17,120 --> 00:35:20,000 Speaker 1: voices just weren't as important anymore, and then suddenly were 720 00:35:20,040 --> 00:35:23,799 Speaker 1: an important period. So I think that I hadn't learned 721 00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:26,800 Speaker 1: that until forty. So I sometimes say, here's my advice 722 00:35:26,840 --> 00:35:28,680 Speaker 1: to young women or young men, and then I think, 723 00:35:28,680 --> 00:35:30,480 Speaker 1: you know what, this is probably for all of us, 724 00:35:30,840 --> 00:35:33,160 Speaker 1: because I think at different stages that we're all in 725 00:35:33,320 --> 00:35:35,919 Speaker 1: our voices change, and I just know that the voice 726 00:35:35,920 --> 00:35:38,600 Speaker 1: in my head has never been more supportive and it's 727 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:42,640 Speaker 1: never been more empowering, and I know that's changed my life, 728 00:35:42,719 --> 00:35:45,799 Speaker 1: not just my job. So that's probably my favorite thing 729 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:48,400 Speaker 1: is when I watch these young women to galvanize. I 730 00:35:48,440 --> 00:35:51,719 Speaker 1: see their voices literally change, and I watch how they 731 00:35:51,760 --> 00:35:55,120 Speaker 1: all of a sudden go from doubting themselves to believing 732 00:35:55,120 --> 00:35:57,640 Speaker 1: in themselves and then believing in each other. And that's 733 00:35:57,680 --> 00:36:00,439 Speaker 1: where the magic is, that's where the growth is, and 734 00:36:00,600 --> 00:36:02,879 Speaker 1: that's my favorite thing to watch. People grab a hold 735 00:36:02,880 --> 00:36:06,359 Speaker 1: of Laura Oakman. I cannot thank you enough for being 736 00:36:06,520 --> 00:36:08,959 Speaker 1: on the show with us today. This has been such 737 00:36:08,960 --> 00:36:11,960 Speaker 1: a blast. You have to come back sometime soon do 738 00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:16,960 Speaker 1: this with us again. Weekly. Yeah, like yes, monthly. But 739 00:36:18,160 --> 00:36:21,600 Speaker 1: you guys, listen, I would have already come into this knowing. 740 00:36:21,680 --> 00:36:24,440 Speaker 1: I know, any conversation with Coach Mac is a meaningful 741 00:36:24,480 --> 00:36:27,640 Speaker 1: one and is a purposeful one and is a wonderful one. 742 00:36:27,680 --> 00:36:32,000 Speaker 1: But my sister, you are outstanding, and sometimes when you're 743 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:33,759 Speaker 1: in the middle of two people who know each other 744 00:36:33,840 --> 00:36:36,239 Speaker 1: and start a conversation and it's like goes to a 745 00:36:36,280 --> 00:36:39,440 Speaker 1: sideline feeling right like, wait a minute, I had twenty 746 00:36:39,440 --> 00:36:42,760 Speaker 1: five questions and they monopolized it and I asked two. 747 00:36:43,080 --> 00:36:46,319 Speaker 1: But it takes a really good point guard to make 748 00:36:46,360 --> 00:36:49,160 Speaker 1: sure that everybody's involved and to get this this whole 749 00:36:49,160 --> 00:36:52,279 Speaker 1: flow going. So you are magnificent. So thank you for 750 00:36:52,360 --> 00:36:55,319 Speaker 1: being such a great point guard and coach Mac, I 751 00:36:55,360 --> 00:36:57,520 Speaker 1: can do this with you every day. You're the best, 752 00:36:57,520 --> 00:37:00,320 Speaker 1: and you know that you're the best. But yes, because 753 00:37:00,320 --> 00:37:02,279 Speaker 1: my voice tells me that I am the best, like 754 00:37:02,360 --> 00:37:04,720 Speaker 1: your voice tells you that you are the best. Well 755 00:37:04,880 --> 00:37:07,920 Speaker 1: and again you know you know. The feelings mutual. I mean, 756 00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:09,719 Speaker 1: it makes me so happy at a game to be 757 00:37:09,760 --> 00:37:11,960 Speaker 1: able to because to lean out of the press box 758 00:37:12,000 --> 00:37:14,160 Speaker 1: before the game and yell at you down there on 759 00:37:14,160 --> 00:37:17,480 Speaker 1: the sideline. It just makes me feel so happy to 760 00:37:17,520 --> 00:37:19,799 Speaker 1: be able to do that and connect with you. And 761 00:37:20,120 --> 00:37:22,839 Speaker 1: we need to get together in nash Vegas soon with 762 00:37:22,920 --> 00:37:26,600 Speaker 1: Amy Wells, with Ashley Farrell, with you with your husband 763 00:37:26,760 --> 00:37:29,560 Speaker 1: at the Standard. We need to do that. Yes, yes, yes, 764 00:37:29,800 --> 00:37:32,359 Speaker 1: confirmed and booked and if we can all seek our 765 00:37:32,400 --> 00:37:36,319 Speaker 1: dogs in even better, I would love that too, for 766 00:37:36,960 --> 00:37:40,160 Speaker 1: Coach Mac, for Laura Oakman, I'm Amy. Well, this has 767 00:37:40,200 --> 00:37:42,839 Speaker 1: been the OTP. Thank you to all of the ot 768 00:37:43,080 --> 00:37:45,600 Speaker 1: people to subscribe. We want to be in next row 769 00:37:46,160 --> 00:37:54,160 Speaker 1: where the legends going. Everybody knows it's our house. Greatness 770 00:37:54,239 --> 00:37:59,360 Speaker 1: is meant to be. Now we got Sighting Boodle running 771 00:37:59,400 --> 00:38:00,400 Speaker 1: through a bit eight