1 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 1: Hi, everyone, Welcome back to another week of Wide Open 2 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:18,920 Speaker 1: with Ashlyn Harris. Our guest today, which is the one 3 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:23,080 Speaker 1: and only Ari Chambers. Welcome to Wide Open, Honey. It's 4 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 1: so good to have you. 5 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 2: I can't wait to get wide open with you. 6 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 1: You are my favorite, honestly. Your energy. I mean no 7 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:33,959 Speaker 1: wonder You're so successful. You're so sweet, kind, warm, and 8 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 1: everything in between. And I always every time I'm around you, 9 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:40,360 Speaker 1: I'm just like so attracted to your energy. 10 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 2: Thank you everyone. 11 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 1: It's interesting that energy off. 12 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 2: It's it's nothing to be warm, and it's such a 13 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 2: cold world. It's cold weather, cold people, cold instances. Why 14 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 2: not get warm? 15 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 1: I love that about you, which is probably why you've 16 00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 1: been so successful in everything that you do. So I'm 17 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: just gonna broaden your freaking CVS grocery list hilarious things 18 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:07,680 Speaker 1: you do, honey, because I tell you what you do 19 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 1: it all. There's there is no one that I know 20 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:13,399 Speaker 1: can be in so many places at one time. I'm like, 21 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 1: how do you? But do you sleep? 22 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 2: I can sleep like a baby on a plane. Everybody's 23 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:21,399 Speaker 2: like I sleep like fifteen hours a day, stuff like 24 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 2: I will. I will knock out before boarding even ends. 25 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 1: So for people, the people who are watching and listening 26 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:33,120 Speaker 1: who don't know you, Ari. You are a women's sports 27 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 1: multimedia journal. Yes, so unpack that a little bit for 28 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: you know, the viewers and the listeners who may not 29 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 1: know exactly what that means and what you do, What 30 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 1: are you doing, what's going on in your life right now? 31 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 1: Let's just break the ice there. 32 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 2: My passion is amplification of women period here and so 33 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 2: whatever the vehicle for that is is where I go. So, 34 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 2: whether that's storytelling, whether that's now my job has me 35 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 2: in the analyst seat, which is like a push for me. 36 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 2: But I'm learning and I'm continuing to be a student 37 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 2: of the game no matter which game it is. I 38 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 2: love being a part of the game on the field, 39 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 2: in the studio. And I marry myself to that passion 40 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 2: instead of a job title or instead of a network 41 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 2: Say that again, I marry myself to my passion. I 42 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 2: marry myself to my passion. It is true because everything 43 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 2: else is so disposable, right, But something that gets you 44 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 2: out of bed in the morning, something that really pulls 45 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:29,520 Speaker 2: up your heartstrings, you can't really get rid of that, 46 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:33,920 Speaker 2: and it makes you be able to fall forward and 47 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:36,640 Speaker 2: fall on your feet when you walk the path that 48 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 2: you're supposed to walk. So that's where I'm at with work. 49 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:43,799 Speaker 2: My official title, I work at ESPN. I'm a commentator 50 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 2: and an analyst and host. But I also love being 51 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 2: out in the community. I love bridging the gap between 52 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 2: youth sports and pro sports. I love, you know, working 53 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 2: with different leagues to help them with their reach of 54 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 2: women and other demographics that have been underserved. I love 55 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 2: giving back to my school. I took the w n 56 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:06,959 Speaker 2: B A to my high school two years ago, a 57 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 2: sponsored by Wilson, and I had a signature ball with them. 58 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 2: And so just being able to go back to my 59 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:13,800 Speaker 2: community and and build up the foundation that built me 60 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 2: up is most important to me. 61 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 1: That's so special and I think we all see that 62 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 1: in your work, and I think that's such a gift. 63 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 1: You are such a gift to women's sports. And before 64 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 1: we dive in to that drive and that passion, and 65 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 1: I consider it like you're disruptor, girl. That's why we are. 66 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 1: We do what we got we got because we're not 67 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: here following in line, following the order like we are. 68 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 2: Disruptors will never be not one to fall in line exactly. 69 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 1: But before we dive in, because I want to know 70 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 1: your like your origin story. I want to know why 71 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: you tick this way. I want to know why you 72 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 1: chose this path. And there's so much about your childhood 73 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: that has shaped you into this person who continues to elevate, amplify, 74 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: disrupt women's sports. But before we do that on this show, 75 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 1: before we do that, where's my wine? 76 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:15,839 Speaker 2: Honey? Up, she's right here. 77 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: Before we do that on this show, is that she 78 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: likes to just you know, get the party started. 79 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:29,599 Speaker 2: Turn because if she knows me, she knows that comes straight, 80 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 2: you know. So we've got I come strap. 81 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 1: Well that's a heavy pore. I would ask you if 82 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:39,279 Speaker 1: you want some, but I know you're in like hardcore training. 83 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 1: So you're adering for the boat. 84 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:41,919 Speaker 2: And you run a five k and people think you 85 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 2: can run. 86 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:48,360 Speaker 1: It's like, girl, I'm not running unless someone's chasing me. 87 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:51,720 Speaker 2: So that's right. I'm just trying to get a participation, 88 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:54,600 Speaker 2: and nowadays I'm trying to get a participation. 89 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:58,920 Speaker 1: We don't do participation trophies around here. We'll cheers, my love, 90 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 1: thank you, Okay, welcome to Wide Open. 91 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:05,479 Speaker 2: It's funny because when you were before our toast you said, 92 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 2: why did you choose it? I don't think I chose this. 93 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 2: I was. It's that nature verse nurture thing, and I 94 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 2: think that I was nurtured to love everything about myself 95 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 2: and the strong woman who raised me, and so I 96 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,799 Speaker 2: always had an affinity of women, in appreciation of women, 97 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 2: and I never was placed under a circumstance where we 98 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:30,599 Speaker 2: were without or we didn't deserve to be at the 99 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 2: top position. I grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, and 100 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:36,040 Speaker 2: so if you know anything about right you're nine one night. 101 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 2: First of all basketball, yes, but soccer too, like I 102 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:43,040 Speaker 2: was able to witness the greatest of the great between 103 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:47,600 Speaker 2: NC State Duke and uncle, you know what it is. 104 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 2: And then my cheer gym was on Western Boulevard, which 105 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 2: is there's a huge soccer field, and so just being 106 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 2: able to grow up next to the game, whether that 107 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 2: be cheerleading in the highest level. Because Kathy Bucky owned 108 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 2: my cheer gym, and she is a historic figure in cheerleading. 109 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 2: She invented the wolf wall. They mentioned him even though 110 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:10,720 Speaker 2: the level four pyramid and had level six, but that's 111 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:14,480 Speaker 2: his store for so we did that. And then I 112 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:17,520 Speaker 2: took field trips to NC State women's basketball games, and 113 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 2: so I saw coach k Yao and I saw the 114 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 2: legacy that she was leaving. She was building actually at 115 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 2: that time, and the basketball team was so nice to me, 116 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:29,000 Speaker 2: and I remember them signing. Back then you could get 117 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:31,680 Speaker 2: physical trading cards when you walk through the door and 118 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,920 Speaker 2: just give them to the two athletes they signed it, 119 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:37,920 Speaker 2: and I was able to be on the player tunnel, 120 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:39,479 Speaker 2: and so I did a couple of those and it 121 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 2: was it was a lasting impression on me, how nice 122 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 2: they were to me, and it had nothing to do 123 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:46,359 Speaker 2: with the sport of basketball. I fell in love with 124 00:06:46,360 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 2: the athletes right. So fast forward, my best friend, one 125 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 2: of my best friends was a professional jumper. She ran 126 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:57,160 Speaker 2: track at U and C but she ended up jumping professional. 127 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 2: I can never finish that. I went to intated around 128 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 2: It's always a. 129 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:06,039 Speaker 3: But. 130 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 2: And then my other best friend played professional basketball, but 131 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 2: she played undergrad at WEAK and I was just seeing 132 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 2: how they were coming up in a place where their 133 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 2: stories weren't being told. Then I get to my professional 134 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 2: career and we're going to get to that. But I 135 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:23,760 Speaker 2: was a professional cheerleader and did not see the same 136 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 2: coverage for the Liberty as I did the Knicks, and 137 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 2: I just thought that was completely inappropriate. So as I'm 138 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 2: looking back on my life into a little Ari who 139 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 2: grew up around nothing but women's greatness. I grew up 140 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 2: in a very comfortable upbringing, so it wasn't like I 141 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 2: was without so I always knew within me that I 142 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 2: had enough to be at the highest position. Because I 143 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 2: only saw women in super high positions. 144 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: It just shows you representation matter. It's so important for 145 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 1: you as a child. Me as a child, all of 146 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 1: us young women who look very different, were able to 147 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: see ourselves in these women so we can achieve the 148 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 1: same greatness. And I really admire that because I grew 149 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 1: up in a really small town satellite Beach, Florida, and 150 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 1: I didn't see people like me. I didn't get to 151 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 1: see women on TV. I didn't have college campuses like 152 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 1: close where I could go see women's sports. So it 153 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:29,200 Speaker 1: is so important that you had that at an age. 154 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 1: And now I fast forward to these young girls growing 155 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:37,600 Speaker 1: up now and women's sports is really heating up and 156 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 1: will definitely get to that, but they get to turn that. 157 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 1: They get to turn the TV on and see people 158 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 1: like yourself, people like me. 159 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:54,319 Speaker 2: Access is the key factor. And it's funny because I am, 160 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 2: to my core a cheerleaders, so I love to cheer 161 00:08:56,800 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 2: other people on. But the representation factor, I like to 162 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 2: decenter myself because I think that athlete storytelling is about 163 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 2: the athlete, but I will assume the responsibility the role 164 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 2: that I am being a representation for somebody out there 165 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 2: that needs it. And so it's a it's a beautiful 166 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 2: dichotomy when you when you look at both sides of it, 167 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:18,880 Speaker 2: being able to remove yourself because it's not about me, right, 168 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:22,199 Speaker 2: it's about it's about you all stories. It's about the 169 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 2: people who are really grinding it out there on every 170 00:09:24,840 --> 00:09:30,240 Speaker 2: level who are unheard. But there's also a different part 171 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:32,640 Speaker 2: of it where it's like it's my responsibility to show 172 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:36,480 Speaker 2: up and be a little bit front facing, even a 173 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 2: lot of bit front facing, to show, hey, if you 174 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:42,120 Speaker 2: love sports, you can find other avenues to stay in 175 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 2: it through a professional lens and still have that reward. 176 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 2: And the reward to me looks like seeing the smiles 177 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 2: of people who haven't had their story being told, or 178 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 2: seeing the audience say I didn't know that about them, 179 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:58,320 Speaker 2: or having a player really stripped down to their most 180 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:00,199 Speaker 2: vulnerable self and like even get a mo she know 181 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:01,959 Speaker 2: when they're talking to me. That's a beautiful thing. 182 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:05,200 Speaker 1: And I think that that's so special because we're just 183 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:08,839 Speaker 1: now twenty twenty five. You know, twenty twenty four was 184 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 1: a huge breakthrough for us in women's sports, but like 185 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:16,680 Speaker 1: we're really just seeing it take off, and it's taken 186 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:17,320 Speaker 1: this long. 187 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:20,199 Speaker 2: I just when I walk into games and I see 188 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:23,719 Speaker 2: Val Ackerman there, I don't understand how everybody doesn't fangirl off. 189 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 2: Lachina Robinson has been somebody who if I didn't have 190 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 2: a Lachina on my side, I don't know where I 191 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 2: would be. She is the one who is like, women's 192 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:37,800 Speaker 2: basketball needs you, women's basketball needs us, and she has. 193 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 2: I guarantee you ninety percent of the young talent that 194 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:46,680 Speaker 2: you see on TV right now are children of Lachina. 195 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 2: Yes right, we all come from La China. And even 196 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:52,960 Speaker 2: when I first started my platform, I'm thankful for you 197 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:55,800 Speaker 2: who came in didn't know, like we didn't know each 198 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:57,960 Speaker 2: other like we were. We didn't know each other, but 199 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 2: you believed in what I was doing enough that you 200 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 2: open up space for me to tell your story or 201 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 2: for me to showcase a part of your story, and 202 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 2: I'm thankful for athletes like that who you know, might 203 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:14,680 Speaker 2: not be as familiar but are willing to be open 204 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:18,319 Speaker 2: and be accepting of new faces in this and so 205 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 2: that we can be the building blocks for the next generation. 206 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 2: I'm thankful for every iteration with the like the basketball 207 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:28,440 Speaker 2: players of the WBL from like nineteen seventy two, the 208 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 2: title nine like pioneers. There obviously Women's Sports Foundation, Billy 209 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:36,560 Speaker 2: jing King, but everybody around that who's been pushing the 210 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 2: game forward. We owe it to. Billy came up to 211 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:41,480 Speaker 2: me and said, here's the baton, take it and run. 212 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 2: And when Billy jin King tells you to take a 213 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:45,680 Speaker 2: baton and run, you run. She tells me to swing 214 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 2: the record. I don't know about it, but she told 215 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:49,120 Speaker 2: me to take a baton and run. And I have 216 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:52,839 Speaker 2: the responsibility. We have the responsibility to make the ones 217 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 2: who came before us proud. We have the responsibility to 218 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:58,040 Speaker 2: look at the landscape of women's sports and know that 219 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 2: now we have the platform and the power to continue 220 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 2: to push it forward because we're not where we need 221 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 2: to be. There's a really big facade Ashland, and I 222 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 2: don't know if you've seen the discussion around women's sports 223 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:09,760 Speaker 2: about like we've made it. No we haven't. 224 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 1: No, we have. 225 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 2: Like even even on the basketball side, one of the 226 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 2: most popular women's sports arguably commercially, I go outside of 227 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:20,480 Speaker 2: the top programs of the Power five, like the top 228 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:22,760 Speaker 2: of the Power five. When you leave that, it can 229 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:26,319 Speaker 2: still be in the Power five. I'm looking, like, where's 230 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 2: the audience we have to fill these seats? And this 231 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:32,680 Speaker 2: is Power five basketball, Like just imagine all the other 232 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,959 Speaker 2: women's sports introduced that are fighting for equality or fighting 233 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:39,720 Speaker 2: for equity, or fighting for coverage, fighting for visibility, fighting 234 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:42,080 Speaker 2: for just any type of intention behind them. We have 235 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:42,679 Speaker 2: so much to do. 236 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:47,400 Speaker 1: So yeah, we have, and that's yes we do, I think, 237 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 1: but we don't stop because we're so used to fighting 238 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 1: because we're so used to struggle. We've gotten so comfortable 239 00:12:54,600 --> 00:13:01,400 Speaker 1: and struggle that we don't celebrate the small when but 240 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 1: we do have to celebrate that perspective. 241 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:06,439 Speaker 2: I mean, we got year over year, like a lot 242 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:08,560 Speaker 2: of sports are in the millions. We love that here 243 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:11,200 Speaker 2: and then we see that like even at major major networks, 244 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:13,120 Speaker 2: they're starting to pay attention. There's starting to be show 245 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 2: development around so many women's sports leagues. And I'm not 246 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 2: denying that, like the social media impact, the network impact, 247 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 2: just players understanding their own brands now and being able 248 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 2: to be bold enough to put themselves out of there. 249 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:30,080 Speaker 2: I remember when we were we were worried about outing 250 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 2: SUPERB you know what I mean, we were like v 251 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:37,680 Speaker 2: vocal at ESPN. We had to talk about like should 252 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:40,440 Speaker 2: it be released? And I'm like the protectiveness that we've 253 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 2: had over women athletes. Now everybody can exhale because every 254 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 2: can be themselves and that's a beautiful thing. So yeah, 255 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:48,960 Speaker 2: growth and vulnerability and openness is. 256 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:52,560 Speaker 1: And with that, I'll say this. We always on this 257 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 1: show start with a very very important question. What is 258 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 1: the moment, Like there has to be this one moment 259 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 1: that split you wide open that changed everything for you. 260 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 2: This is layered. I have I have two so steep too. Yeah. Three, 261 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 2: So my moment of purpose that must like just completely 262 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 2: split me wide open and really changed the trajectory I 263 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 2: would argue of my entire career. And why I do 264 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 2: it is Liliana. She was this little girl who went 265 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 2: viral for standing in front of the Maya War poster 266 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 2: for Jordan Brand with her arms out stretched, and she 267 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 2: got invited to the twenty eighteen WNBA All Star Game 268 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 2: in Minnesota, and I met her and she put my 269 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:41,840 Speaker 2: media pass around her neck. And then the next day 270 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:44,680 Speaker 2: I saw her dad at the mall and he said, 271 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 2: all Lilliana can say is daddy, she has hair just 272 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 2: like mine. Oh, and I still can't tell that story 273 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 2: without getting choked up. It's literally been seven years now. 274 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 2: So that reaffirmed my purpose of representation. As far as 275 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:06,600 Speaker 2: purpose of storytelling, twenty twenty was hard for everybody. And 276 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 2: there was this one moment with the Jacob Blake shooting 277 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 2: and I had to do it an Alison Felix's interview 278 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 2: and she was a mom of a baby at the time, 279 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 2: and I just just kept thinking about her child and 280 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 2: how she had raised a black child in this world, 281 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 2: and I just couldn't make it through the interview, and 282 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:27,600 Speaker 2: she was so graceful with it. I'm like, you're the 283 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 2: one who's having to raise it, but I broke down, 284 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:34,520 Speaker 2: and it just it showed that these stories these athletes 285 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 2: are are beyond just athletes. They they have real life things. 286 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 2: And Allison showed up during that time to do the 287 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 2: interview knowing that she is a mother to a black 288 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 2: child in this world and so that that's wide open, 289 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:56,200 Speaker 2: wide open. And another situation from that year was Tierra 290 00:15:56,240 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 2: Ruff and Pratt. She played for the sparks of the time. 291 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:03,560 Speaker 2: She was talking to me about police brutality and her 292 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:05,680 Speaker 2: cousin got murdered at the hands of the police on 293 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 2: her draft night, and I think that was one of 294 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 2: the first times she's ever shared that story, and so 295 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:12,480 Speaker 2: we were able to show the importance and how it's 296 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:15,400 Speaker 2: not just some far fetched narrative that's happening. I'm just 297 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 2: thankful for those moments because it just showed that the 298 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 2: storytelling is important, and it was almost cathartic to everybody involved, 299 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:25,920 Speaker 2: who were able to just say, this is what happened 300 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 2: to me, this is why this moment in culture matters 301 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 2: to me, and this is how I'm having to show 302 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 2: up in a world that doesn't always appreciate me. 303 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:45,200 Speaker 1: That's powerful and that's heavy. And I think in my 304 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 1: truth of knowing you now for the short amount of 305 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 1: time I do, I really find that you have a 306 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:58,160 Speaker 1: special gift to see people and make them feel safe. 307 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:01,240 Speaker 1: You know, when I think back to your childhood and 308 00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:08,199 Speaker 1: you're a cheerleader, what part of because it's such a 309 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 1: technical sport, right, and it's a team sport, but also 310 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 1: you're very alone in a lot of ways, and so 311 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:20,240 Speaker 1: much of the energy is synced with the people around you. 312 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:26,159 Speaker 1: How has that really affected who you are now in 313 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:27,160 Speaker 1: this profession? 314 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 2: So cheerleading, I only did competitive cheerleading until later in life. 315 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 2: Then I started cheering four people. But cheerleading teaches you teamwork, discipline, 316 00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 2: goal orientation. So if you're a stunting there are three 317 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:46,440 Speaker 2: people under one person, right, And we had this one 318 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 2: rule at my cheer gym. The flyer does not hit 319 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 2: the ground. And if even her pinky hit the ground, 320 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:54,480 Speaker 2: we would be outside on Western Boulevard, running up and 321 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 2: down the street, bear crawling on the mat. It's crazy, 322 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 2: but that just showed me that in order for something 323 00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:03,560 Speaker 2: that we all have a goal to keep up top 324 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 2: to hit the ground, all three of us would have 325 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:09,639 Speaker 2: had to not do our jobs. And so it just 326 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 2: makes you hold it like yourself accountable for keeping something up. 327 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 2: And the flyer up top is not just coasting there. 328 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:20,560 Speaker 2: They have to hold their weight. And so it taught 329 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 2: me as a leader, if you're the top girl, you 330 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 2: have to hold your weight. Still, you have to make 331 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:27,200 Speaker 2: it easier for the people who are holding you up. 332 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 2: And so that was a good lesson for me in 333 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:36,800 Speaker 2: how to keep something together, keep a team together, and 334 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:40,119 Speaker 2: if we drop, that's a disappointment to the whole team. Again, 335 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 2: all people would have to do their job wrong in 336 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:45,760 Speaker 2: order for that stunt to fall. And I just I 337 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:48,399 Speaker 2: don't believe in that. It's funny because I was so 338 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:52,520 Speaker 2: early coming here, and I was telling our girl that 339 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:58,639 Speaker 2: I think lateness is a character flaw, and that's from cheerleading. 340 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:01,640 Speaker 2: If we were second late, we'd be up and down 341 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:04,680 Speaker 2: the street. Yeah, resolutely, And sports teaches you that and 342 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 2: cheerleading you're not going to get a hundred. You're not 343 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:09,480 Speaker 2: gonna get a score of one hundred. I'm not gonna 344 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:11,760 Speaker 2: go down how they are scored. But even if you 345 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:14,760 Speaker 2: hit zero, even if everything is technically sound, you're not 346 00:19:14,800 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 2: going to get that one hundred. And so it's just 347 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:20,840 Speaker 2: do the best you can in the most prestine way, 348 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 2: in the most precise way, and just aim for your best. 349 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:27,359 Speaker 2: And so it taught me to aim for the best 350 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 2: that you can do the best execution. It taught me 351 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:33,359 Speaker 2: that you can't do the small things wrong because it 352 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:36,840 Speaker 2: will result in a fall or in just a tumble bust. 353 00:19:37,359 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 2: It taught me teamwork. It taught me, Hey, if you 354 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:43,760 Speaker 2: see your teammates having a bad day again, it goes 355 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:46,480 Speaker 2: back to the stunt groups. Something's gonna go haywire. If 356 00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:49,960 Speaker 2: they're like not focused in the tumbling section, you could 357 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:53,359 Speaker 2: collide and literally die. And it's a very dangerous sport. 358 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:57,320 Speaker 2: So the detail, orientation and just the discipline really which 359 00:19:57,320 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 2: all is together you to a t. 360 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:04,080 Speaker 1: So people don't know Ari that you were a professional 361 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:08,480 Speaker 1: cheerleader for the NIXT and that opened the door to 362 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:12,520 Speaker 1: the liberty. Tell me about that. Tell me what that 363 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:15,600 Speaker 1: was like when you had a front row seat to 364 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:24,720 Speaker 1: watching the inequities and the gap between watching men play 365 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:28,720 Speaker 1: basketball and cheering for them and they're you know, probably 366 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:35,120 Speaker 1: where were you Madison Square Garden. And now you get 367 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 1: the opportunity to see the w n b A, which 368 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 1: is the longest standing professional like Women's league. Am I correct? 369 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:44,640 Speaker 2: It is great? 370 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:51,520 Speaker 1: It is Come on me, So I just what was 371 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 1: that like for you? 372 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:56,760 Speaker 2: Okay, So everybody tries to over strategize this. I literally 373 00:20:56,800 --> 00:20:59,480 Speaker 2: went to a game with my friend, a Connecticut versus 374 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 2: New York game at MSG in twenty fourteen, I saw 375 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:03,680 Speaker 2: that they had cheerleaders. I was like, I really want 376 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:05,480 Speaker 2: to be on torch patrol. I reached out to the 377 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:07,560 Speaker 2: entertainment director. She made me do a full season of 378 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:11,560 Speaker 2: The Knicks first. Ye who knows why, but anyway, because 379 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:13,320 Speaker 2: that was not what I wanted to do, but I 380 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:15,399 Speaker 2: did it so I can do Liberty because I wanted 381 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:17,400 Speaker 2: to see my friends who played in the league all 382 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:18,960 Speaker 2: the time, like I wanted to cheer for them. Like 383 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 2: it was that simple. But then Madison Square Garden is 384 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:25,399 Speaker 2: the world's most famous arena. Yes, and you have the 385 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:27,639 Speaker 2: top one hundred and forty four athletes going in and 386 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:30,640 Speaker 2: out of the world's most famous arena, and there are 387 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 2: five media members you can count on hand. It was 388 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:39,399 Speaker 2: like Doug Feinberg, Erica, Ala Vocal, and Lauren from Beyond 389 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:41,960 Speaker 2: the W and then like one or two others, right, 390 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:46,400 Speaker 2: Howard mcdoll. Yeah, And I was like, is thatybody good? 391 00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:49,120 Speaker 2: Like I remember there was an Olympic showcase there and 392 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:51,560 Speaker 2: I just did not understand why people didn't want to 393 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:54,119 Speaker 2: talk about my friends. That's it, Like that's where it 394 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:55,880 Speaker 2: was right there. It wasn't like a oh my God, 395 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:58,439 Speaker 2: I must push this, this women's sports forward. I was like, 396 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:00,720 Speaker 2: why is nobody caring about my friends? And so what 397 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:03,119 Speaker 2: I would do When I made the decision, I was like, Okay, 398 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 2: I can talk about them. I have a phone, I 399 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:07,640 Speaker 2: can post online about it. And so I would meet 400 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:11,240 Speaker 2: them at their hotel room before the game or after 401 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:14,000 Speaker 2: and I would record. I don't know if I should 402 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:16,159 Speaker 2: be telling people for advice, but like, I mean, if 403 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:18,480 Speaker 2: you have a relationship to do it, yeah, But I 404 00:22:18,520 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 2: would put my phone up in a conference room and 405 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:24,000 Speaker 2: record and they would open up. Like Lasa Clarendon was 406 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:27,959 Speaker 2: one of the first ones that really shared their story 407 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:31,439 Speaker 2: with me and posting them. They picked up traction and 408 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:33,280 Speaker 2: I did it for more and more people, and I 409 00:22:33,359 --> 00:22:36,400 Speaker 2: made a lot more friends. And there was a lot 410 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:39,560 Speaker 2: of distrust between like the league in pr and things 411 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:41,320 Speaker 2: like that going in because they're like, who is this 412 00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:43,879 Speaker 2: girl just infiltrating and then she's over here doing T 413 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:50,120 Speaker 2: shirt tosses during the time I imagine consuming and I'm 414 00:22:50,119 --> 00:22:50,879 Speaker 2: like throwing. 415 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:53,240 Speaker 1: A shirt girls seventeen Bear. 416 00:22:53,119 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 2: Hated when I threw the shirt over the anyway, I 417 00:22:56,119 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 2: love it anyway, But they started taking me more and 418 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:01,240 Speaker 2: more seriously because I continue to do it, and there's 419 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:03,440 Speaker 2: a lot of proving yourself and I would never want 420 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 2: somebody to go through the links that I had to 421 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:10,119 Speaker 2: go through to prove myself and having to Like I 422 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:12,919 Speaker 2: started off on camera, then I had to write because 423 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:14,800 Speaker 2: people needed to know that I knew about the game. 424 00:23:15,359 --> 00:23:18,600 Speaker 2: And then I like I would do a lot of 425 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:22,560 Speaker 2: film setting I sold like instruments to get to where 426 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:25,320 Speaker 2: I needed to go, like I couldn't afford anything, Like 427 00:23:25,359 --> 00:23:29,640 Speaker 2: I would take the pregame meals home just to eat, 428 00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:32,600 Speaker 2: like just so I can fund my way to different 429 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 2: things because I was independent. And then Howard Megdal gave 430 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:38,399 Speaker 2: me an opportunity. It was called the Summon at the 431 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:40,639 Speaker 2: time some of hoops and now it's the next and 432 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:43,480 Speaker 2: then La China Robinson guided me. But outside of like 433 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:47,360 Speaker 2: a few of them, nobody helped. And then I crowdsourced 434 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:51,280 Speaker 2: my way to the final four. Finally in what twenty seventeen, 435 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:55,480 Speaker 2: twenty eighteen, and Corey Close, UCLA women's basketball head coach, 436 00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:59,480 Speaker 2: actually gave me quite a bit of money. And one 437 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:02,679 Speaker 2: of my favorite Twitter family, pretty Rikibu, gave me a 438 00:24:02,760 --> 00:24:05,040 Speaker 2: nice chunk of change to go and that was my 439 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:08,119 Speaker 2: first time knowing that people are believing in my mission. 440 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:09,879 Speaker 2: But again, this was four years of work before I 441 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:12,480 Speaker 2: even got to be able to crowdsource to get there. Wow, 442 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:16,399 Speaker 2: And so people don't see that part. But I didn't choose. 443 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 2: I didn't strategically choose. I was like, nobody's talking about 444 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:21,119 Speaker 2: my people, why not? And then the way I started 445 00:24:21,119 --> 00:24:23,760 Speaker 2: talking about other women's sports and having a call in 446 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:27,200 Speaker 2: with that is I was complaining to somebody, my girl, 447 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 2: she plays softball, about WNBA salary and she literally laughed 448 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:33,800 Speaker 2: at me and she said, we make five thousand a 449 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:36,040 Speaker 2: year and I said, oh my god, we have so 450 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:38,160 Speaker 2: much more to go. And then I was like, what's 451 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:40,200 Speaker 2: soccer talking about? Y'all over here on the front lines 452 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:42,720 Speaker 2: of everything, what's soccer talking about? And I have candidly 453 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:45,720 Speaker 2: never really been big on soccer outside of like idolizing 454 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:48,080 Speaker 2: the ones that like played in North Carolina. Obviously you 455 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:52,280 Speaker 2: and Cee whatever Go Health was a powerhouse. 456 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:56,840 Speaker 1: Still I'm glad we're still friends anyway, it still is. 457 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,920 Speaker 2: But like, outside of that admiration and the courage Admira, 458 00:25:00,359 --> 00:25:02,960 Speaker 2: I never really got into soccer like that. But the 459 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:05,640 Speaker 2: soccer community opened up their arms to me and then 460 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:07,720 Speaker 2: I found different levels of advocacy there and so I 461 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 2: was like, oh, this is this is so much work 462 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:11,760 Speaker 2: to do, but let's let's stay fueled doing it. 463 00:25:12,040 --> 00:25:16,560 Speaker 1: I love that this is wide open and I'm your host, 464 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:31,800 Speaker 1: Ashlyn Harris. We'll be right back. So you were the 465 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:38,479 Speaker 1: founder of Highlighter and that became a big deal. It 466 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:41,680 Speaker 1: really did. Like it was everywhere your content was, everywhere 467 00:25:42,119 --> 00:25:45,560 Speaker 1: social media was taking off. You were taking off. You 468 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:50,040 Speaker 1: started to go viral based on a tweet you put out, 469 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:51,800 Speaker 1: and what was that tweet? 470 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:54,920 Speaker 2: So the tweet had actually nothing to do with Highlighter. 471 00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:57,840 Speaker 2: It was before that. The WNBA is so important because 472 00:25:58,160 --> 00:26:01,439 Speaker 2: no over strategy. I just said exactly what I was thinking. 473 00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:05,240 Speaker 2: And then it just became a repeated occurrence because the 474 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:07,760 Speaker 2: w WA never stopped being important, and then I needed 475 00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:10,560 Speaker 2: to widen it. And so when I saw something dope 476 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:12,520 Speaker 2: happened in another sport, I was like energy with four 477 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:14,880 Speaker 2: wise and it just it just stuck, right, So these 478 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:19,399 Speaker 2: things just stuck with Highlighter. I created it to be 479 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:22,359 Speaker 2: a community to uplift and empower girls and women in sport, 480 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:24,919 Speaker 2: no matter the age level, ability your sport, and I 481 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:27,600 Speaker 2: wanted it to make it so that the ash On 482 00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:29,680 Speaker 2: Harrises of the world could be showcased, but also your 483 00:26:29,720 --> 00:26:32,440 Speaker 2: next door neighbor who does dope stuff. I wanted to 484 00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:35,720 Speaker 2: make it so that your favorite athlete is great, but 485 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:38,359 Speaker 2: your upcoming rapper is on it too. I wanted it 486 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:40,679 Speaker 2: to be a space for all girls and all women 487 00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:44,080 Speaker 2: and all non binary people to feel great, which is 488 00:26:44,240 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 2: you know, question why I named it highlighter, but neither 489 00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:50,200 Speaker 2: here nor there. But I wanted to be a space 490 00:26:50,240 --> 00:26:54,960 Speaker 2: where people felt seen the Hattan before and very intentional 491 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:57,560 Speaker 2: on not just the top names. Like the top names 492 00:26:57,640 --> 00:26:59,840 Speaker 2: y'all are great, love y'all so much, I got a look, 493 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:04,040 Speaker 2: but like also the ones who get overlooked. So as 494 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:08,120 Speaker 2: we're talking about, you know, a high D one power five, 495 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:10,800 Speaker 2: I'm also talking about my girl over here who goes 496 00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:13,640 Speaker 2: to HBCU that's averaging a quadruple double. So there are 497 00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:16,840 Speaker 2: things like that that I wanted to sprinkle in and 498 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:18,960 Speaker 2: and it I had a great run there. 499 00:27:19,119 --> 00:27:21,120 Speaker 1: I love that for you, though, but it really it 500 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:24,480 Speaker 1: was it created the foundation for you to take off 501 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:30,160 Speaker 1: and to really have this level of I would say, 502 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:33,280 Speaker 1: like fame and your life has changed quite a bit. 503 00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:36,359 Speaker 2: Changed so significantly. I never could have imagined. No, I 504 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:39,000 Speaker 2: never could have imagine. But what I love that you 505 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:42,560 Speaker 2: said about that is it kickstarted it. But like Highlighter, 506 00:27:42,600 --> 00:27:44,359 Speaker 2: was never about me. It was about the community, right, 507 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:47,800 Speaker 2: So I am okay with leaving it in the hands. 508 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:51,479 Speaker 2: I hired my best friend candidly, because guys do it, 509 00:27:51,560 --> 00:27:53,480 Speaker 2: why not, like it's the girls club. Who I hired 510 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:55,720 Speaker 2: my best friend, And I hired another girl, Jasmine, who 511 00:27:56,960 --> 00:28:00,199 Speaker 2: she had been working in the women's sports space with 512 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 2: me when I used to go down and cover the mystics, 513 00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:03,439 Speaker 2: and I saw how hard she worked on the ground too. 514 00:28:03,520 --> 00:28:05,440 Speaker 2: So between Krishan, Jason and me, it was a three 515 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:08,359 Speaker 2: person team for a long time. Well first it was 516 00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:09,720 Speaker 2: me for two and a half years, and then I 517 00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:11,520 Speaker 2: got to hire two and I hired the people I 518 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:13,440 Speaker 2: knew and I loved, and so I was able to 519 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:16,359 Speaker 2: leave it with them. I love that, and it just 520 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:18,720 Speaker 2: became the basis for other people to take it and 521 00:28:18,800 --> 00:28:21,239 Speaker 2: interpret it how they wanted to. But again, I like 522 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:23,960 Speaker 2: whatever said at the beginning, I marry myself to my passion. 523 00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:27,800 Speaker 2: I'm not married to a singular platform or place. I'm 524 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:31,040 Speaker 2: married to the cause. I love that, and I'm going 525 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:33,520 Speaker 2: to continue to build. And everybody says, oh, do you 526 00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:35,440 Speaker 2: feel like you made it? No, I'm nowhere near where 527 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:39,960 Speaker 2: I made it. I'll appreciate the small wins, but there's 528 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:41,840 Speaker 2: no making it. When it comes to this, it won't 529 00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:44,680 Speaker 2: be in my lifetime. But if I can just continue 530 00:28:44,680 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 2: to add every single day until the end of my time, 531 00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:48,719 Speaker 2: that's what I want to do. 532 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:52,120 Speaker 1: I love that. So you are the founder of Highlighter, 533 00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:55,440 Speaker 1: you get to pick the stories you get. You are 534 00:28:55,480 --> 00:29:00,960 Speaker 1: the boss, and now you're working with ESPN. Like that's 535 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:04,120 Speaker 1: a big difference. You're not the boss anymore. You're not 536 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:05,160 Speaker 1: You're not picking. 537 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:07,680 Speaker 2: You're not, No, you. 538 00:29:07,600 --> 00:29:10,080 Speaker 1: Are You're not picking the stories, You're not picking the 539 00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:12,440 Speaker 1: Like what is that transition? 540 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:12,760 Speaker 2: Like? 541 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:18,840 Speaker 1: Because you're the ownership to choose what you what stories 542 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:21,760 Speaker 1: you want that are meaningful, that you think are important. 543 00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 1: Now you're with you know, a big gun like ESPN. 544 00:29:27,080 --> 00:29:30,600 Speaker 1: How has that shifted? Like? Is that hard? Is that 545 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:33,600 Speaker 1: you know, pushing you outside of your comfort zone now 546 00:29:33,600 --> 00:29:36,040 Speaker 1: because you have so many other things you have to 547 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:39,240 Speaker 1: do that you probably don't necessarily always get a choice 548 00:29:39,280 --> 00:29:41,160 Speaker 1: in what what does it? 549 00:29:41,200 --> 00:29:43,680 Speaker 2: How is that I have never lived in a comfort zone. 550 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:47,120 Speaker 2: I don't even know what company comfort fact. No, it 551 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:51,440 Speaker 2: was the most jarring adjustment ever. But I am thankful 552 00:29:51,480 --> 00:29:54,280 Speaker 2: that ESPN has a respect for me to listen to 553 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:57,360 Speaker 2: my opinion when I do have them. I have great producers, 554 00:29:57,400 --> 00:30:02,040 Speaker 2: great assignment editors to know my intention. It was very 555 00:30:02,040 --> 00:30:04,920 Speaker 2: clear when I signed I only wanted to do women's sports. 556 00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:06,240 Speaker 2: I made it very clear. 557 00:30:06,320 --> 00:30:07,360 Speaker 1: You always make that clear. 558 00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:10,920 Speaker 2: Like football, I'm like, no, absolutely not. 559 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:12,480 Speaker 1: They're okay over there, trust me. 560 00:30:13,480 --> 00:30:18,360 Speaker 2: So it's it's it's teaching me to slow down and 561 00:30:18,520 --> 00:30:21,400 Speaker 2: when I do get opportunities, make the biggest punch out 562 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:24,600 Speaker 2: of them. I had unlimited opportunity at my former employer, 563 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:30,239 Speaker 2: but the scale that you can deliver a message just 564 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:32,479 Speaker 2: is just exponentially more when it comes to ESPN. It's 565 00:30:32,520 --> 00:30:35,240 Speaker 2: a worldwide leader of sports, so like it just becomes 566 00:30:35,560 --> 00:30:39,440 Speaker 2: so much grander. And the opportunities that I've gotten, Like 567 00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:43,240 Speaker 2: my first sideline rep for ESPN was or for basketball 568 00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:48,160 Speaker 2: at ESPN was playoffs Game one at Barclays, Like that 569 00:30:48,280 --> 00:30:50,920 Speaker 2: was my first opportunity. So there's no comfort zone here. 570 00:30:50,960 --> 00:30:53,920 Speaker 2: They're just gonna be like here, And it teaches me, like, hey, 571 00:30:53,960 --> 00:30:55,880 Speaker 2: you got to be prepared. You got to stay prepared. 572 00:30:55,960 --> 00:30:58,400 Speaker 2: This is not an innovative space in the way that 573 00:30:58,440 --> 00:31:01,120 Speaker 2: you have created for yourself. Now you have to challenge 574 00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:04,080 Speaker 2: yourself to like study in ways that you haven't before. 575 00:31:04,360 --> 00:31:06,800 Speaker 2: Not saying I wasn't studying before. I was absolutely studying, 576 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:10,840 Speaker 2: but like in something that is not supernatural to me. 577 00:31:11,840 --> 00:31:14,560 Speaker 2: I'm a special features girl. I love sit down storytelling, 578 00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:19,160 Speaker 2: and they're like, okay, great analyst in studio. My first 579 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:23,160 Speaker 2: w NBA accountdown was ABC right after or right before 580 00:31:23,320 --> 00:31:27,760 Speaker 2: Indiana Seattle. We don't want to we don't want to ESPN. 581 00:31:27,560 --> 00:31:36,520 Speaker 3: News million years, but like, but it teaches you a 582 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:39,360 Speaker 3: lot about what you're willing to do to be successful. 583 00:31:39,560 --> 00:31:42,840 Speaker 2: Everybody is so hard on us as front facing people. 584 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:47,160 Speaker 2: The world doesn't realize that y'all are watching us practice. 585 00:31:47,520 --> 00:31:51,120 Speaker 2: We don't get to practice in a comfortable small space. 586 00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:54,640 Speaker 2: We practice on the biggest stages, and we fail on 587 00:31:54,680 --> 00:31:56,880 Speaker 2: the biggest stages. We succeed on the biggest stages too, 588 00:31:56,880 --> 00:31:59,720 Speaker 2: But people see when I don't do well and they'll 589 00:31:59,720 --> 00:32:02,080 Speaker 2: tell you, no, tweet at you. Yeah, they'll tell you 590 00:32:02,120 --> 00:32:05,440 Speaker 2: every single time. And I've had to learn. Andre Carter 591 00:32:05,560 --> 00:32:09,240 Speaker 2: actually says this all the time. It's never as good 592 00:32:09,320 --> 00:32:10,720 Speaker 2: as you think it is, and it's never as bad 593 00:32:10,760 --> 00:32:12,520 Speaker 2: as you think it is. I think Dorisbourger told her that, 594 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:15,200 Speaker 2: and then she what she gave me the advice of 595 00:32:15,360 --> 00:32:17,320 Speaker 2: is call your friends up and asked did I sound 596 00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:20,640 Speaker 2: like myself? And that's where you love that, like did 597 00:32:20,640 --> 00:32:23,600 Speaker 2: I sound like me? Did I make sense? Did I? 598 00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:27,000 Speaker 2: And that's what I that's the only opinion that I 599 00:32:27,040 --> 00:32:29,240 Speaker 2: take a new account. And I like to give myself grades, 600 00:32:29,280 --> 00:32:31,760 Speaker 2: and I literally have never given myself over a B. 601 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:34,000 Speaker 2: So that's you know, internal work. 602 00:32:34,080 --> 00:32:37,400 Speaker 1: But I are all so critical on our. 603 00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:40,120 Speaker 2: SR but ESPN has pushed me completely out of my 604 00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:41,920 Speaker 2: comfort zone. And I'm so thankful for the growth that 605 00:32:41,960 --> 00:32:44,720 Speaker 2: I've been able to have, and I hope that I 606 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:47,680 Speaker 2: will continue to grow and be better. 607 00:32:48,160 --> 00:32:53,240 Speaker 1: What You're great, You're fantastic. You don't get to where 608 00:32:53,360 --> 00:32:57,360 Speaker 1: you are right now without being incredibly good at what 609 00:32:57,440 --> 00:32:57,760 Speaker 1: you do. 610 00:32:57,920 --> 00:32:58,520 Speaker 2: Thank you. 611 00:32:58,520 --> 00:33:04,160 Speaker 1: You dedicate your life to telling other people's stories. 612 00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:06,760 Speaker 2: What about you? What about you like? 613 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:08,760 Speaker 1: What what about your like? 614 00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:09,160 Speaker 2: Do you? 615 00:33:09,680 --> 00:33:11,040 Speaker 1: How do you take care of yourself? 616 00:33:11,320 --> 00:33:14,560 Speaker 2: I love doing like circ fitness, I love like the 617 00:33:14,600 --> 00:33:17,880 Speaker 2: anti gravity yoga and let us going upside down. I 618 00:33:17,880 --> 00:33:20,120 Speaker 2: am inherently upside down. It used to be playing with 619 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:22,920 Speaker 2: my dog, but he just passed, and it's really really 620 00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:24,760 Speaker 2: hard for me because he's been there since college. He 621 00:33:24,800 --> 00:33:27,360 Speaker 2: was fifteen, wow, and so I mean he was there 622 00:33:27,400 --> 00:33:29,840 Speaker 2: from like the dorm days, and it was hard for 623 00:33:29,880 --> 00:33:32,440 Speaker 2: a lot of people from college, like you. Tiger had 624 00:33:32,440 --> 00:33:36,000 Speaker 2: an impact. But I'm rediscovering what it looks like to 625 00:33:36,040 --> 00:33:38,240 Speaker 2: pour into me now because I, first of all, I 626 00:33:38,240 --> 00:33:40,479 Speaker 2: have never been great with it, but I'm still figuring 627 00:33:40,520 --> 00:33:43,040 Speaker 2: it out. I am now taking up running because I'm 628 00:33:43,080 --> 00:33:48,480 Speaker 2: clearly a masochist and I clearly want to be in pain. 629 00:33:48,840 --> 00:33:52,720 Speaker 2: But distance running is something that I picked up in 630 00:33:52,760 --> 00:33:55,720 Speaker 2: the pandemic and kind of stopped and let go of 631 00:33:55,800 --> 00:33:59,440 Speaker 2: myself because of different life situations. But now picking back 632 00:33:59,480 --> 00:34:02,040 Speaker 2: up in twenty twenty five and end of you know 633 00:34:02,080 --> 00:34:04,240 Speaker 2: the month, I'll be at what four or five k's 634 00:34:04,240 --> 00:34:08,320 Speaker 2: which is ridiculous, wow, but I love it. I guess 635 00:34:08,640 --> 00:34:12,040 Speaker 2: two of them were under thirty degree weather. 636 00:34:12,160 --> 00:34:14,560 Speaker 1: So well, are you finding time to date? Are you 637 00:34:14,640 --> 00:34:15,799 Speaker 1: finding time to we. 638 00:34:15,800 --> 00:34:16,879 Speaker 2: Keep our personal person? 639 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:17,680 Speaker 1: Oh? 640 00:34:17,840 --> 00:34:20,239 Speaker 2: Do we my personal personal? I love it? 641 00:34:20,520 --> 00:34:26,560 Speaker 1: But are you finding time to really like live life 642 00:34:26,960 --> 00:34:31,759 Speaker 1: and not through the lens of interviewing other people, but yourself. 643 00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:35,359 Speaker 2: I don't think so. And well, I'll find it. I'll 644 00:34:35,400 --> 00:34:38,839 Speaker 2: find it, and I am not. I am doing the 645 00:34:38,840 --> 00:34:42,440 Speaker 2: best I can with the perspective that I have on life. 646 00:34:42,560 --> 00:34:49,799 Speaker 2: And I moved into my dream apartment now show and 647 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:52,200 Speaker 2: that's a that's a culmination of my hard work. My 648 00:34:52,239 --> 00:34:53,600 Speaker 2: agent told me I needed to spend my money, and 649 00:34:53,640 --> 00:34:56,799 Speaker 2: I don't necessarily spend all flashy things, and so I 650 00:34:56,880 --> 00:34:58,640 Speaker 2: spent it on my home. And I have a good 651 00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:01,359 Speaker 2: home and and I have people that care a lot 652 00:35:01,400 --> 00:35:04,480 Speaker 2: about me. My goal for twenty twenty four sounds so minute. 653 00:35:04,640 --> 00:35:06,239 Speaker 2: No it doesn't. I'm not going to diminish it. But 654 00:35:06,239 --> 00:35:08,120 Speaker 2: I said, I want to pour into my friends more so, 655 00:35:08,160 --> 00:35:09,960 Speaker 2: I was able to go to my friend's weddings, like 656 00:35:10,200 --> 00:35:12,440 Speaker 2: Kelsey trainor Monica McNutt. I was able to go to 657 00:35:12,480 --> 00:35:14,879 Speaker 2: their weddings. And Monica is the first one. I keep 658 00:35:14,880 --> 00:35:17,200 Speaker 2: a great tribe around me. Monica's like, have you rested? 659 00:35:17,239 --> 00:35:19,040 Speaker 2: Did you take time off? Are you on vacation while 660 00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:21,000 Speaker 2: you aren't? You by water and she literally forced a 661 00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:23,400 Speaker 2: vacation on me. All the time. I'm like, you need 662 00:35:23,480 --> 00:35:25,239 Speaker 2: frends like that, actually don't work. 663 00:35:25,400 --> 00:35:26,160 Speaker 1: I need friends, like. 664 00:35:26,160 --> 00:35:27,840 Speaker 2: And we went to Miami and we stepped out a 665 00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:29,520 Speaker 2: little bit. We did like a couple of days in 666 00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:31,400 Speaker 2: that basil, but then both of us were like, we're 667 00:35:31,440 --> 00:35:35,759 Speaker 2: gonna actually leave early. I texted you, I saw you. 668 00:35:35,760 --> 00:35:38,080 Speaker 2: You were there and you were like thirty six hours 669 00:35:39,040 --> 00:35:41,560 Speaker 2: but it was it was it. I need to keep 670 00:35:41,560 --> 00:35:44,600 Speaker 2: people around like that because they make it. No, like 671 00:35:44,600 --> 00:35:46,200 Speaker 2: I need to keep you around and to keep Monica 672 00:35:46,239 --> 00:35:49,239 Speaker 2: around because rest is important. It's just important and it 673 00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:49,960 Speaker 2: is productive. 674 00:35:50,920 --> 00:35:51,759 Speaker 1: Are you gonna burn out? 675 00:35:52,120 --> 00:35:55,280 Speaker 2: I've burnt out years ago. I keep getting fueled because 676 00:35:55,400 --> 00:35:57,279 Speaker 2: there's so much work to do. But I should be 677 00:35:57,280 --> 00:36:00,000 Speaker 2: work driven. I'm trying. I'm trying to be more balanced 678 00:36:00,200 --> 00:36:01,759 Speaker 2: driven and like pouring into my friends. 679 00:36:01,800 --> 00:36:04,560 Speaker 1: Like I just what the fuck is balance? I don't know, child, 680 00:36:04,560 --> 00:36:07,520 Speaker 1: but everyone always talked about balance. I'm like, what is balance? 681 00:36:07,600 --> 00:36:11,080 Speaker 2: No? But I was really proud because in December I 682 00:36:11,120 --> 00:36:13,800 Speaker 2: was able to spend three days with my best friend 683 00:36:13,880 --> 00:36:17,880 Speaker 2: Laki via boy Kid for the first time since high school, 684 00:36:18,440 --> 00:36:20,440 Speaker 2: three days straight for the first time since high school. 685 00:36:20,640 --> 00:36:24,239 Speaker 2: That's great. I graduated fifteen years ago, so like, what 686 00:36:24,280 --> 00:36:27,600 Speaker 2: am I doing? But that happened, and then every year 687 00:36:27,640 --> 00:36:31,000 Speaker 2: I have a Christmas party with like my friend Krishan Williams. 688 00:36:31,040 --> 00:36:32,560 Speaker 2: She was my best friends or she still is my 689 00:36:32,600 --> 00:36:34,879 Speaker 2: best friend since we were five, and so me, her 690 00:36:34,960 --> 00:36:37,480 Speaker 2: and Jasmine, we all come together. 691 00:36:40,360 --> 00:36:43,080 Speaker 1: And you need it, you need you need time away 692 00:36:43,080 --> 00:36:45,080 Speaker 1: from the game. And I I've had to learn that 693 00:36:45,120 --> 00:36:47,920 Speaker 1: the hard way because I wrapped so much of my 694 00:36:48,080 --> 00:36:52,840 Speaker 1: identity and who I was into the sport I played, 695 00:36:53,760 --> 00:36:57,680 Speaker 1: and it's I am so much more than what I did, 696 00:36:58,200 --> 00:37:02,040 Speaker 1: and I'm having to relearn so much of life through 697 00:37:02,120 --> 00:37:08,320 Speaker 1: another lens of not suffering and not I have this complex. 698 00:37:08,360 --> 00:37:11,600 Speaker 1: I always think someone's working harder than me, so it's 699 00:37:11,640 --> 00:37:15,000 Speaker 1: like I never rest. Like joy doesn't come easy for 700 00:37:15,239 --> 00:37:18,600 Speaker 1: people like us. It just doesn't, because the second you 701 00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:23,560 Speaker 1: stop and enjoy your environment and what you're doing, someone's 702 00:37:23,600 --> 00:37:27,439 Speaker 1: already passed you. So we have this mindset of when 703 00:37:27,480 --> 00:37:32,240 Speaker 1: we do have these beautiful milestones or successes in our life, 704 00:37:32,600 --> 00:37:34,279 Speaker 1: the next day we wake up, we're like, great, we 705 00:37:34,320 --> 00:37:35,200 Speaker 1: did that, what's next? 706 00:37:35,320 --> 00:37:35,520 Speaker 2: Yep? 707 00:37:36,560 --> 00:37:40,359 Speaker 1: And it's a really not so great way to live 708 00:37:40,440 --> 00:37:44,920 Speaker 1: life because you get to a point where it's past 709 00:37:45,080 --> 00:37:48,759 Speaker 1: you and you're like, but did I enjoy it. This 710 00:37:48,920 --> 00:37:52,200 Speaker 1: is wide open and I'm your host, Ashlyn Harris. We'll 711 00:37:52,200 --> 00:37:52,879 Speaker 1: be right back. 712 00:38:05,000 --> 00:38:08,240 Speaker 2: I have two stories. The first one we were in Atlanta. 713 00:38:08,600 --> 00:38:10,279 Speaker 2: I was getting my makeup done and I just got 714 00:38:10,280 --> 00:38:13,560 Speaker 2: to spread this huge, like eight page spread about the 715 00:38:13,719 --> 00:38:15,520 Speaker 2: WB is so important. It was like a huge feature, 716 00:38:15,960 --> 00:38:18,040 Speaker 2: and my makeup or was like, that's great, and then 717 00:38:18,040 --> 00:38:19,880 Speaker 2: I was just like, oh, this is great, Like I 718 00:38:19,960 --> 00:38:21,600 Speaker 2: thought that I was celebrating it, and he was like, 719 00:38:22,120 --> 00:38:24,319 Speaker 2: it's so sad because you get so down but you 720 00:38:24,400 --> 00:38:26,960 Speaker 2: never get so high. He's like, I feel bad for you, 721 00:38:27,320 --> 00:38:28,920 Speaker 2: and that like stuck with me. And it was like, 722 00:38:28,960 --> 00:38:31,640 Speaker 2: you can get so low, but you never get so high. 723 00:38:31,760 --> 00:38:34,600 Speaker 2: And I just that sticks with me. But also your 724 00:38:34,640 --> 00:38:37,560 Speaker 2: bou thing told me that people like us are so 725 00:38:37,719 --> 00:38:41,000 Speaker 2: used to pain when it comes to like athletics and 726 00:38:41,080 --> 00:38:44,600 Speaker 2: like just overexertion and just being able to take a 727 00:38:44,680 --> 00:38:48,040 Speaker 2: hit and having to keep going through the pain and 728 00:38:48,080 --> 00:38:52,480 Speaker 2: through the suffering and through the conditioning, when life shouldn't 729 00:38:52,520 --> 00:38:55,239 Speaker 2: be like that. You shouldn't have to push through the 730 00:38:55,280 --> 00:38:57,200 Speaker 2: pain all the time. You shouldn't have to take the 731 00:38:57,239 --> 00:38:59,960 Speaker 2: pain all the time. And so that that really stuck, 732 00:39:00,080 --> 00:39:02,040 Speaker 2: I mean, shout out to love somebody. 733 00:39:02,040 --> 00:39:03,920 Speaker 1: I mean, Sofia is so wide, and. 734 00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:07,480 Speaker 2: She was like, you should not as former athletes or 735 00:39:07,520 --> 00:39:10,640 Speaker 2: as humans in general, be so accustomed to pain all 736 00:39:10,719 --> 00:39:13,439 Speaker 2: the time and having to perform under pain all the time. 737 00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:17,680 Speaker 1: It's true, and not only has she lived it in 738 00:39:17,719 --> 00:39:22,439 Speaker 1: her profession, she's experiencing it through my lens. So I'll 739 00:39:22,480 --> 00:39:25,920 Speaker 1: be like, let's go work out at the gym and 740 00:39:25,960 --> 00:39:28,560 Speaker 1: then we'll finish the warm up. I said, Okay, that's 741 00:39:28,600 --> 00:39:30,840 Speaker 1: the warm up, and she's like, that's a full lass workout. 742 00:39:31,600 --> 00:39:35,440 Speaker 1: You She's like, you don't have to suffer anymore. You 743 00:39:35,520 --> 00:39:37,759 Speaker 1: don't have to move at this speed. You don't have 744 00:39:37,840 --> 00:39:43,399 Speaker 1: to punish yourself, Like, just go for a fifteen minute walk, go, 745 00:39:43,760 --> 00:39:46,160 Speaker 1: you know, get your body moving like I'm we are. 746 00:39:46,320 --> 00:39:49,840 Speaker 1: So if I don't feel like shit the next day. 747 00:39:49,800 --> 00:39:50,680 Speaker 2: I'm not swe nothing. 748 00:39:50,719 --> 00:39:53,440 Speaker 3: I did nothing, it doesn't matter nothing. 749 00:39:53,600 --> 00:39:56,400 Speaker 1: But it's it's a you really have to relearn the 750 00:39:56,400 --> 00:39:57,960 Speaker 1: way you move in the world. And so if he 751 00:39:58,080 --> 00:40:00,600 Speaker 1: is right, and she says this to me all the time, 752 00:40:01,120 --> 00:40:04,279 Speaker 1: it's like all or nothing for me, Like if I'm 753 00:40:04,320 --> 00:40:07,239 Speaker 1: not going all in, I'm not wasting my fucking time 754 00:40:07,320 --> 00:40:07,880 Speaker 1: doing it. 755 00:40:07,880 --> 00:40:10,600 Speaker 2: It's just that if I get it, I'm not. 756 00:40:10,800 --> 00:40:15,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's just it is. It's it's a really great 757 00:40:15,600 --> 00:40:19,040 Speaker 1: perspective on life. And now I'm really like, Oh, this 758 00:40:19,280 --> 00:40:21,840 Speaker 1: is what it feels to be happy. You know. We've 759 00:40:21,880 --> 00:40:24,760 Speaker 1: talked about this before. It's not about winning and losing. 760 00:40:24,880 --> 00:40:28,640 Speaker 1: It's about winning and learning, Like I am learning so 761 00:40:28,880 --> 00:40:33,120 Speaker 1: much right now, and I love that about our growth 762 00:40:33,160 --> 00:40:36,400 Speaker 1: and seeing us together and we have so many great conversations. 763 00:40:36,440 --> 00:40:39,319 Speaker 1: We had a panel not too long ago together, and 764 00:40:39,800 --> 00:40:42,200 Speaker 1: I think it's it's so important, and we have such 765 00:40:42,200 --> 00:40:46,400 Speaker 1: an obligation and a duty to not only tell the 766 00:40:46,440 --> 00:40:51,600 Speaker 1: stories of women in sports, but tell it correctly and 767 00:40:51,719 --> 00:40:55,440 Speaker 1: tell it in a way where we're not making it 768 00:40:55,480 --> 00:40:58,080 Speaker 1: about the way women look. We're making it about the 769 00:40:58,080 --> 00:41:02,240 Speaker 1: way women perform. And as much as it's about women's sports, 770 00:41:02,280 --> 00:41:06,239 Speaker 1: it's about sports like these are the best athletes in 771 00:41:06,280 --> 00:41:08,680 Speaker 1: the world that we get to sit in rooms with, 772 00:41:09,320 --> 00:41:12,880 Speaker 1: and how we decide to pick them apart in media 773 00:41:13,560 --> 00:41:16,520 Speaker 1: with a microphone in our mouth matters. 774 00:41:16,800 --> 00:41:19,000 Speaker 2: I love that you brought this up. 775 00:41:19,400 --> 00:41:23,120 Speaker 1: Let's talk, let's think because we have them going to 776 00:41:23,160 --> 00:41:23,839 Speaker 1: talk about this. 777 00:41:23,960 --> 00:41:28,400 Speaker 2: Who I'm gonna really like, hone down on this specific 778 00:41:28,480 --> 00:41:32,839 Speaker 2: topic because there I covered gymnastics to gymnastics is one 779 00:41:32,880 --> 00:41:35,840 Speaker 2: of my I would I would argue that's my favorite sports. 780 00:41:36,080 --> 00:41:41,520 Speaker 2: But yes, there's this this recurring theme of when you're 781 00:41:41,560 --> 00:41:46,359 Speaker 2: describing black gymnasts, everybody says powerful athletic things like those 782 00:41:46,400 --> 00:41:49,120 Speaker 2: type of words. When it when it when it's not 783 00:41:49,640 --> 00:41:51,799 Speaker 2: that they're any more powerful or anymore athletic, it's like 784 00:41:51,920 --> 00:41:54,160 Speaker 2: that's the only words that you used to describe them. 785 00:41:54,160 --> 00:41:59,000 Speaker 2: There's intentionality missing behind how people describe, or a laziness 786 00:41:59,360 --> 00:42:03,520 Speaker 2: behind people how people describe certain athletes. And so when 787 00:42:03,520 --> 00:42:05,280 Speaker 2: I get to be in rooms where I can listen 788 00:42:05,280 --> 00:42:08,040 Speaker 2: and learn about how athletes want to be presented, whether 789 00:42:08,080 --> 00:42:10,359 Speaker 2: that is about their parents, not about their parents, about 790 00:42:10,360 --> 00:42:12,200 Speaker 2: their skill set, how they want their skill set to 791 00:42:12,200 --> 00:42:16,799 Speaker 2: be discussed, I am so thankful that, like both of us, 792 00:42:16,840 --> 00:42:20,080 Speaker 2: we are so open to shifting our perspectives and taking 793 00:42:20,120 --> 00:42:23,560 Speaker 2: our bias, whether we know it or not, away from 794 00:42:23,680 --> 00:42:26,720 Speaker 2: our coverage and providing a new perspective to the entire 795 00:42:26,800 --> 00:42:31,719 Speaker 2: world about how these athletes feel like they're doing, feel 796 00:42:31,760 --> 00:42:34,000 Speaker 2: like they want to be represented in the stories that 797 00:42:34,040 --> 00:42:36,360 Speaker 2: are possible because if you go in there with a 798 00:42:36,560 --> 00:42:41,800 Speaker 2: certain rigid expectation or rigid perspective, you're not going to 799 00:42:41,800 --> 00:42:43,640 Speaker 2: get the richest story. And I think that we've been 800 00:42:43,640 --> 00:42:46,200 Speaker 2: able to get rich stories over the years, and rich 801 00:42:48,239 --> 00:42:54,040 Speaker 2: just spaces in this because we're open to hearing what 802 00:42:54,080 --> 00:42:57,759 Speaker 2: the athletes actually want and we're open to changing our 803 00:42:58,320 --> 00:42:59,719 Speaker 2: narratives that we're trying to push to. 804 00:43:00,960 --> 00:43:05,800 Speaker 1: I completely agree because I hear the way people are, 805 00:43:06,040 --> 00:43:09,960 Speaker 1: you know, talking about a lot of women in the 806 00:43:10,080 --> 00:43:15,439 Speaker 1: w n b A, and it's it's always so superficial. 807 00:43:15,520 --> 00:43:20,240 Speaker 1: It's always picking apart what they wore in the tunnel 808 00:43:20,640 --> 00:43:23,960 Speaker 1: or what they did outside of the game and how 809 00:43:24,000 --> 00:43:27,120 Speaker 1: their hair looked toward this And I'm like, Kaitlin Clark 810 00:43:27,239 --> 00:43:29,799 Speaker 1: is literally hitting threes from a fucking logo and you're 811 00:43:29,840 --> 00:43:33,080 Speaker 1: worried about her mini skirt she walked in, Like, but 812 00:43:33,160 --> 00:43:35,319 Speaker 1: honestly are we are we talking about? 813 00:43:35,400 --> 00:43:38,360 Speaker 2: There's space for both. But I also think that there's harmful, 814 00:43:38,560 --> 00:43:44,400 Speaker 2: like harm when it comes to you centering sexualized sexualized 815 00:43:45,360 --> 00:43:50,080 Speaker 2: athletes in well, sexualizing athletes period period, but like and 816 00:43:50,160 --> 00:43:53,960 Speaker 2: also centralizing trivial things when it relates to their game. 817 00:43:54,280 --> 00:43:57,600 Speaker 2: I think that there is space for a fashion situation 818 00:43:57,640 --> 00:43:59,320 Speaker 2: because like, obviously tunnel. 819 00:43:59,560 --> 00:44:03,359 Speaker 1: Sport is it's the center of culture, man, absolutely, but 820 00:44:03,520 --> 00:44:04,080 Speaker 1: we need to. 821 00:44:05,800 --> 00:44:09,879 Speaker 2: Just more intentionality between media members and things as little 822 00:44:09,920 --> 00:44:12,000 Speaker 2: as don't call it girls basketball if they're over eighteen, 823 00:44:12,080 --> 00:44:13,080 Speaker 2: like just it's women. 824 00:44:13,040 --> 00:44:15,160 Speaker 1: It's women, it's women. Like even some of the shit, 825 00:44:15,239 --> 00:44:18,799 Speaker 1: Like I heard Shack say something the other I was like, Bro, 826 00:44:19,120 --> 00:44:21,680 Speaker 1: you've been around too long to be saying shit like that, 827 00:44:22,000 --> 00:44:22,680 Speaker 1: Like you've been around. 828 00:44:22,840 --> 00:44:24,880 Speaker 2: You can't write it off as it's the old head. 829 00:44:25,040 --> 00:44:28,719 Speaker 1: No, y'all have to be better. Stop stop. And I 830 00:44:28,760 --> 00:44:31,359 Speaker 1: know they advocate for women's sports, but they still. 831 00:44:32,320 --> 00:44:36,280 Speaker 2: It's it's And it's confusing because you want to believe 832 00:44:36,320 --> 00:44:39,239 Speaker 2: that the activism is rooted in like altruism, and I 833 00:44:39,280 --> 00:44:41,759 Speaker 2: think it is. I just think that it's so like, oh, 834 00:44:41,760 --> 00:44:43,480 Speaker 2: this is how old heads talked and that was the 835 00:44:43,480 --> 00:44:45,400 Speaker 2: culture of back in the time. But there has to 836 00:44:45,440 --> 00:44:49,919 Speaker 2: be a growth element to how you speak about women now, 837 00:44:50,160 --> 00:44:51,520 Speaker 2: Like there just has to be. This is not the 838 00:44:51,600 --> 00:44:54,439 Speaker 2: nineties anymore. I mean just even listen to the music 839 00:44:54,440 --> 00:44:58,480 Speaker 2: back in the nineties. It was very uh, it was rapey. 840 00:44:58,560 --> 00:45:01,440 Speaker 2: It was very problem and we were jamming to we 841 00:45:01,480 --> 00:45:03,240 Speaker 2: didn't see anything wrong with it. But as you grow 842 00:45:03,480 --> 00:45:07,080 Speaker 2: as you know what's out there, what is right and 843 00:45:07,120 --> 00:45:08,640 Speaker 2: what's wrong. You have to you have to grow with 844 00:45:08,680 --> 00:45:10,080 Speaker 2: the times. And I think that a lot of these 845 00:45:10,120 --> 00:45:12,319 Speaker 2: old talking heads have to grow with the times. They 846 00:45:12,360 --> 00:45:15,440 Speaker 2: need to realize this is inappropriate, This is actually a problem, 847 00:45:15,440 --> 00:45:18,720 Speaker 2: This is actually inappropriate, And the power that you hold 848 00:45:19,040 --> 00:45:21,480 Speaker 2: you have to recognize. And so you're not shaving the 849 00:45:21,520 --> 00:45:24,960 Speaker 2: next generation to set them up to disrespect women and 850 00:45:25,000 --> 00:45:25,920 Speaker 2: women in sports. 851 00:45:26,280 --> 00:45:29,680 Speaker 1: I love that, and it it starts also with us. 852 00:45:30,120 --> 00:45:32,919 Speaker 1: It starts because we're in those rooms. And I think 853 00:45:33,040 --> 00:45:36,879 Speaker 1: for so long, when I've heard coaches say things and 854 00:45:36,960 --> 00:45:39,040 Speaker 1: things in the locker room, and when I'm in a 855 00:45:39,040 --> 00:45:42,280 Speaker 1: press conference and someone asked me some wild asked question 856 00:45:43,120 --> 00:45:46,040 Speaker 1: that is so ridiculous and has nothing to do with 857 00:45:46,080 --> 00:45:50,080 Speaker 1: the game or the performance, we just for so long 858 00:45:50,120 --> 00:45:52,040 Speaker 1: sat back and we're like, oh, we got to take that. 859 00:45:52,040 --> 00:45:54,279 Speaker 1: That's a part of it. And I love that now. 860 00:45:54,400 --> 00:45:57,600 Speaker 1: You know, even women in press conferences, if they get 861 00:45:57,640 --> 00:46:02,440 Speaker 1: some wild ask question that sexist or has something to 862 00:46:02,480 --> 00:46:04,680 Speaker 1: do with something that doesn't matter about the game they 863 00:46:04,760 --> 00:46:07,160 Speaker 1: just played, they're like, is that really what? Like they're 864 00:46:07,160 --> 00:46:10,200 Speaker 1: getting called out and it really and I love it 865 00:46:10,280 --> 00:46:13,080 Speaker 1: because it is. It is so important, Like I'm not 866 00:46:13,120 --> 00:46:16,000 Speaker 1: going to answer that bullshit question you're asking me, or 867 00:46:16,120 --> 00:46:19,759 Speaker 1: you're roping me into saying something that's I'm going to 868 00:46:19,800 --> 00:46:23,479 Speaker 1: take a ton of backlash for or normalizing that type 869 00:46:23,520 --> 00:46:25,920 Speaker 1: of behavior. And I think what we're seeing now is 870 00:46:26,160 --> 00:46:30,080 Speaker 1: not only are you, people are being held accountable for it. 871 00:46:30,080 --> 00:46:33,040 Speaker 1: It really is is going to help the longevity of 872 00:46:33,040 --> 00:46:37,240 Speaker 1: our sport because there's some bad ass women completely changing 873 00:46:37,320 --> 00:46:40,799 Speaker 1: the landscape of the game. And who is it on 874 00:46:40,840 --> 00:46:48,160 Speaker 1: the backs of women? Women? Honestly women, And I love that. 875 00:46:48,200 --> 00:46:53,160 Speaker 1: We're really we're no longer having a moment. We're in 876 00:46:53,200 --> 00:46:55,400 Speaker 1: the thick of it right now, right think of it. 877 00:46:55,400 --> 00:46:59,160 Speaker 1: It's literally we're in a place we've been dreaming about 878 00:46:59,200 --> 00:47:00,240 Speaker 1: for a long time. 879 00:47:01,160 --> 00:47:01,480 Speaker 2: Now. 880 00:47:02,400 --> 00:47:05,560 Speaker 1: Serious question to wrap everything up, how do we keep 881 00:47:05,560 --> 00:47:09,160 Speaker 1: it here? How do we keep people coming? I mean 882 00:47:09,200 --> 00:47:11,719 Speaker 1: we go to the Liberty game every week that ship 883 00:47:12,520 --> 00:47:15,680 Speaker 1: yeah and listen, court in court seats. 884 00:47:17,280 --> 00:47:20,280 Speaker 2: We do not get them camps. They are not camped. 885 00:47:20,440 --> 00:47:22,880 Speaker 1: I'm like, am I going to have to have. 886 00:47:24,480 --> 00:47:27,000 Speaker 2: A women? Yeah? 887 00:47:27,040 --> 00:47:31,399 Speaker 1: Listen, But it's good, it's good. I love it. How 888 00:47:31,440 --> 00:47:33,920 Speaker 1: do we keep like I go to Liberty games now 889 00:47:33,960 --> 00:47:35,440 Speaker 1: and I see you all the time when when we 890 00:47:35,480 --> 00:47:40,280 Speaker 1: freak out, and I love it because the stadiums are complete. 891 00:47:39,960 --> 00:47:42,759 Speaker 2: Like it is packed, there's a waiting list for it 892 00:47:42,840 --> 00:47:43,880 Speaker 2: is popping. 893 00:47:44,280 --> 00:47:47,200 Speaker 1: We go back into that Crown room. We got that, 894 00:47:47,280 --> 00:47:52,200 Speaker 1: you know, we got that carbone pasta. I'm like, what 895 00:47:52,640 --> 00:47:53,920 Speaker 1: this is luxury? 896 00:47:53,960 --> 00:47:54,319 Speaker 2: It is? 897 00:47:54,400 --> 00:47:56,839 Speaker 1: This is these men have been getting this for how 898 00:47:56,880 --> 00:47:59,000 Speaker 1: many decades and we're just getting a taste of it. 899 00:47:59,040 --> 00:48:01,520 Speaker 1: I'm like, hello, of course, well if we had this 900 00:48:01,560 --> 00:48:04,560 Speaker 1: the whole damn time, we got a concert outside. Okay, 901 00:48:04,920 --> 00:48:06,880 Speaker 1: we've got luxury dying. 902 00:48:07,400 --> 00:48:09,760 Speaker 2: Any given day. We don't know exactly. 903 00:48:09,880 --> 00:48:17,040 Speaker 1: I'm like, this is fun and the talent is absolutely incredible, 904 00:48:17,480 --> 00:48:20,120 Speaker 1: which is making the atmosphere so dynamic. 905 00:48:20,320 --> 00:48:22,680 Speaker 2: How do we keep it for us? 906 00:48:22,719 --> 00:48:24,160 Speaker 1: How do we keep them on us? 907 00:48:24,320 --> 00:48:27,880 Speaker 2: We continue to storytell right, We're continuing to tell intentional 908 00:48:27,920 --> 00:48:32,120 Speaker 2: stories to people who don't always get that. We continue 909 00:48:32,160 --> 00:48:35,080 Speaker 2: to sprinkle our magic. We hold the next generation accountable. 910 00:48:35,320 --> 00:48:37,440 Speaker 2: I love my mentees and I'm going to hold them 911 00:48:37,440 --> 00:48:40,439 Speaker 2: accountable to all their goals because if China didn't hold 912 00:48:40,440 --> 00:48:42,640 Speaker 2: me accountable, I wouldn't be here and I wouldn't be 913 00:48:42,640 --> 00:48:44,440 Speaker 2: a part of the building blocks. So I'm holding the 914 00:48:44,440 --> 00:48:50,239 Speaker 2: next generation accountable to storyteller as well putting pressure in 915 00:48:50,719 --> 00:48:52,959 Speaker 2: the people in the rooms that we're in. We don't 916 00:48:53,000 --> 00:48:55,560 Speaker 2: get calls to the table to be quiet. Ever, if 917 00:48:55,560 --> 00:48:59,359 Speaker 2: you're not eating, you're on the menu. So we just 918 00:48:59,360 --> 00:49:01,800 Speaker 2: have to continue to sound out and show the importance 919 00:49:01,960 --> 00:49:06,320 Speaker 2: of why women's sports should be visible and accessible and 920 00:49:06,719 --> 00:49:10,279 Speaker 2: everywhere because they're great. Continue to just make it cool. 921 00:49:10,520 --> 00:49:13,360 Speaker 2: We're cool people, and I think that people look to 922 00:49:13,440 --> 00:49:16,040 Speaker 2: us and say, like, oh they like it, We're gonna 923 00:49:16,080 --> 00:49:19,320 Speaker 2: like it too. So continue to be the influential people 924 00:49:19,880 --> 00:49:22,680 Speaker 2: and in showcase like hey, women's sports are dope. And 925 00:49:23,000 --> 00:49:25,479 Speaker 2: as long as we continue the intentionality and we pass 926 00:49:25,520 --> 00:49:28,399 Speaker 2: it on, the next thing will pass it on. Even 927 00:49:28,400 --> 00:49:32,120 Speaker 2: our peers will pass it on mutual inspiration and then 928 00:49:32,840 --> 00:49:37,880 Speaker 2: amplify online or in both in real life. Your favorite 929 00:49:37,880 --> 00:49:40,760 Speaker 2: athletes continue to do it. I tell all my mentees, 930 00:49:40,960 --> 00:49:42,120 Speaker 2: don't wait for your yes. 931 00:49:42,800 --> 00:49:43,000 Speaker 1: Yes. 932 00:49:43,080 --> 00:49:44,399 Speaker 2: If I would have waited for my yes, I would 933 00:49:44,400 --> 00:49:47,600 Speaker 2: have still been waiting. So anybody out there who wants 934 00:49:47,600 --> 00:49:50,400 Speaker 2: to go into sports broadcasting, as long as you have 935 00:49:50,440 --> 00:49:53,759 Speaker 2: a phone, you have everything you need. There's a teleprompter 936 00:49:53,760 --> 00:49:55,840 Speaker 2: app if you want to get sharp with your recording skills. 937 00:49:55,840 --> 00:49:58,239 Speaker 2: But like also, you have a camera and you have 938 00:49:58,280 --> 00:50:02,520 Speaker 2: a social media platform hopefully, so post on it whatever 939 00:50:02,600 --> 00:50:05,600 Speaker 2: you think that is missing Phil in the blank space, 940 00:50:05,760 --> 00:50:08,080 Speaker 2: fill in the blank space, and don't wait for your guests, 941 00:50:08,400 --> 00:50:12,759 Speaker 2: and continue to be present in a fan of the game, 942 00:50:12,840 --> 00:50:13,719 Speaker 2: in a student of the game. 943 00:50:13,800 --> 00:50:15,839 Speaker 1: I love that, and I think what people can learn 944 00:50:15,880 --> 00:50:22,320 Speaker 1: from you, Ari is the way you amplify other people's 945 00:50:22,440 --> 00:50:29,799 Speaker 1: messages matter and you do it in such a selfless, kind, 946 00:50:30,600 --> 00:50:35,480 Speaker 1: caring way, because I think you and I know that 947 00:50:36,000 --> 00:50:38,880 Speaker 1: even though social media is so wonderful, it has given 948 00:50:39,000 --> 00:50:41,560 Speaker 1: us both so much at the click of a button 949 00:50:41,920 --> 00:50:45,520 Speaker 1: to be able to push ourselves out into the masses. 950 00:50:46,600 --> 00:50:49,759 Speaker 1: Tearing people down also, is not it. I think we 951 00:50:49,920 --> 00:50:54,360 Speaker 1: have been so saturated with hate for so long that 952 00:50:54,480 --> 00:50:57,960 Speaker 1: I do think like so many women now are taking 953 00:50:58,000 --> 00:51:01,279 Speaker 1: so much abuse online and that they're just doing a 954 00:51:01,320 --> 00:51:05,439 Speaker 1: way with social media during competition. So as much as 955 00:51:05,640 --> 00:51:08,440 Speaker 1: I think people can take a lesson out of your book, 956 00:51:08,760 --> 00:51:11,920 Speaker 1: You've dedicated your life to serve other people and amplify 957 00:51:11,960 --> 00:51:17,640 Speaker 1: their message in an honorable way, and I'm grateful for that. 958 00:51:17,800 --> 00:51:21,640 Speaker 1: You've been around since I was a player and now 959 00:51:21,680 --> 00:51:26,279 Speaker 1: that I'm retired, You're always you. I just want you 960 00:51:26,320 --> 00:51:31,360 Speaker 1: to know you're special and we are better. Women's sports 961 00:51:31,440 --> 00:51:32,880 Speaker 1: is better because of you. 962 00:51:33,160 --> 00:51:36,120 Speaker 2: That makes me really emotional. But as much as a 963 00:51:36,239 --> 00:51:40,120 Speaker 2: gift that I am to you, I am forever and 964 00:51:40,160 --> 00:51:43,480 Speaker 2: did to the game. I think that every time somebody 965 00:51:43,480 --> 00:51:46,560 Speaker 2: feels comfortable with me is a gift to me. And 966 00:51:47,120 --> 00:51:48,880 Speaker 2: everybody's like, how do you not get burnt out? I 967 00:51:48,880 --> 00:51:51,120 Speaker 2: don't get burnt out what I do, but like, I 968 00:51:51,280 --> 00:51:55,680 Speaker 2: stay going because every single person I get to come 969 00:51:55,719 --> 00:51:58,920 Speaker 2: across is a gift to me, and I'm thankful. So 970 00:51:58,960 --> 00:51:59,760 Speaker 2: before we break. 971 00:51:59,640 --> 00:52:02,480 Speaker 1: Up crying, dude, no, this is this is literally it. 972 00:52:02,680 --> 00:52:03,799 Speaker 2: This is this is. 973 00:52:03,800 --> 00:52:08,160 Speaker 1: It, and I appreciate your vulnerability. I appreciate appreciate you 974 00:52:08,280 --> 00:52:11,959 Speaker 1: taking the time to come share your experiences that led 975 00:52:12,000 --> 00:52:14,719 Speaker 1: you to this moment. So thanks for being on the show, 976 00:52:14,760 --> 00:52:18,120 Speaker 1: Thanks for being on Wide Open, and thanks for everything 977 00:52:18,239 --> 00:52:20,839 Speaker 1: you do and choose to do and women's. 978 00:52:20,520 --> 00:52:24,759 Speaker 2: Sports having me, I would. 979 00:52:24,600 --> 00:52:32,360 Speaker 1: Not And you're always welcome. Come anytime. It's if you 980 00:52:32,360 --> 00:52:34,839 Speaker 1: you know you want to just pop on by. 981 00:52:34,920 --> 00:52:39,280 Speaker 2: We're here. I'm grow cheers. 982 00:52:39,600 --> 00:52:44,239 Speaker 1: Thanks everyone, We'll see you next week. Wide Open with 983 00:52:44,320 --> 00:52:48,319 Speaker 1: Ashland Harris is an iHeart women's sports production. You can 984 00:52:48,360 --> 00:52:52,320 Speaker 1: find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever 985 00:52:52,360 --> 00:52:56,800 Speaker 1: you get your podcasts. Our producers are Carmen Borca Careo, 986 00:52:57,360 --> 00:53:03,440 Speaker 1: Emily Maronov, and Lucy Jones. Production assistants from Malia Aguidello. 987 00:53:03,760 --> 00:53:08,720 Speaker 1: Our executive producers are Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder. 988 00:53:09,120 --> 00:53:12,759 Speaker 1: Our editors are Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder and I'm 989 00:53:12,800 --> 00:53:14,600 Speaker 1: your Host Ashlyn Harris