1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:03,640 Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where our translucent 2 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:06,480 Speaker 1: winner body is finally starting to get a little tan. 3 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:10,840 Speaker 1: This Arizona sun is doing wonders for our vibes. It's Friday, 4 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 1: February twenty eighth. On today's show, you'll hear from a 5 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: true legend, one of the best Bob's letters in the world, 6 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 1: Alana Meyers Taylor. We spoke a few weeks ago when 7 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: she was fresh off a World Cup Monobob Race victory 8 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:24,080 Speaker 1: and preparing for the upcoming IBSF bob Sled and Skeleton 9 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 1: World Championships in Lake Placid. We talked winning after forty, 10 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: racing after babies, two of them, meddling in a men's event, 11 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:35,240 Speaker 1: racism and sliding sports, and so much more. Now before 12 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:37,199 Speaker 1: we get to that interview, no length they need to 13 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 1: knowe today, but we know we can't leave you hanging 14 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:41,879 Speaker 1: without a speed round of what to look forward to 15 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 1: over the weekend. So in college hoops, we've got a 16 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 1: big one Saturday night with number two UCLA hosting number 17 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 1: four USC. The two teams met in early February, with 18 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: USC sophomore Juju Watkins scoring a massive thirty eight points 19 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:57,800 Speaker 1: to hand UCLA it's first loss of the season. Both 20 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 1: teams are undefeated since so Saturday night, its contest is 21 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 1: sure to be a good one. In Vib's Love has 22 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:06,319 Speaker 1: one game tonight and to tomorrow, and the PVF has 23 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:09,200 Speaker 1: double headers both Saturday and Sunday on the ice. The 24 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:13,399 Speaker 1: PWHL's inaction on Saturday. In Pro Hoops Unrivals got a 25 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:16,200 Speaker 1: double header tonight with two more games tomorrow, and it's 26 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 1: championship weekend for Athletes Unlimited. They'll crown the twenty twenty 27 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 1: five AU Pro Basketball champion in Nashville, Tennessee on Sunday. 28 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 1: We'll throw all those schedules. In our show notes, we 29 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:29,319 Speaker 1: got to take a quick break. Alana Meyers Taylor and 30 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:43,480 Speaker 1: Moore coming up next welcome back slices before our conversation 31 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:45,959 Speaker 1: with Alana Meyers Taylor, a black woman who is one 32 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 1: of the best Bob's letters on the planet. Did you 33 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 1: know that one of the first Bob's letters to put 34 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 1: Team USA on the map was also a black woman. 35 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 1: That's right, y'all. It's time for an epic mashup of segments, 36 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 1: not just our latest Black History Months Spotlight, but also 37 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:07,560 Speaker 1: the latest edition of Yes and okay, let's set the scene. 38 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:09,959 Speaker 1: Back in the early two thousands, the US had never 39 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:12,640 Speaker 1: won a women's bob sled medal. In fact, no country 40 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 1: had because it was one of the few Olympic sports 41 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 1: left without a women's event. Then, ahead of the two 42 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 1: thousand and two Winter Games in Salt Lake City, the 43 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 1: International Olympic Committee added women's bobsled aka bob slay. Tomato 44 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 1: Tomato Abiza Abitha enter Vanetta Flowers. She had an extensive 45 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 1: track and field background as a sprinter and long jumper 46 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 1: and earned NCAA All American honors seven times at the 47 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: University of Alabama, Birmingham. Flowers actually qualified for the US 48 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 1: Olympic Trials twice, first in one hundred meters in ninety six, 49 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:43,639 Speaker 1: then in long jump in two thousand, but she never 50 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 1: made Team USA and was just about ready to retire 51 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 1: from competition when her husband Johnny, convinced her to try 52 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 1: out for the bob sled team. She made that cut, 53 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 1: became the top US breakwoman, and raced with teammate Jill 54 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 1: Bachin in the two thousand and two Games. The pair 55 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 1: went on to win the first women's bob sled gold 56 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:04,640 Speaker 1: medal ever. Awarded. Flowers also became the first black athlete 57 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 1: to win gold in an Olympic Winner Games. She actually 58 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:09,080 Speaker 1: didn't know that until a reporter asked her about it 59 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: after finishing the race. She said, quote, I hope this 60 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: won't be the end of it. I hope you'll see 61 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 1: other African American girls and boys who want to give 62 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: winter sports a try, because there are not a lot 63 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: out there. End quote. Flowers continued competing in bob's led events, 64 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 1: winning a bronze medal at the four World Championships and 65 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:27,360 Speaker 1: finishing sixth that the six Olympics in turn in Italy. 66 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 1: After six she retired from the sport. Flowers made a 67 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:33,359 Speaker 1: mark that can't be erased, and to this day, half 68 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 1: of the US women's bob sled medalists have been black 69 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 1: athletes like Alana Meyers Taylor. So yes to new friend 70 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 1: of the show, Alana, and to Vanetta Flowers, who paved 71 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: or should I say plowed the way. 72 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 2: Yes and. 73 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: All right, y'all, now that you know some of the 74 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 1: history of the bob sled, let's get back to the present. 75 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 1: Here's my conversation with Alana Meyers Taylor joining us. Now 76 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: she's one of the best bob's sled in the world, 77 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 1: hot off the heels of her first World Cup Mono 78 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 1: bob race victory two. Actually, she's a five time Olympic medalist, 79 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 1: winning three silvers and two bronze across four different Olympics, 80 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 1: a nine time World Championship medalist, owning four golds, two 81 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 1: silvers and three bronze, and she's won twenty one World 82 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 1: Cup races as of this recording. She's a graduate of 83 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: George Washington University, where she was a member of the 84 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:22,720 Speaker 1: softball team. She's the most decorated black athlete in the 85 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 1: history of the Winter Olympics, an activist, a former president 86 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 1: of the Women's Sports Foundation, Mom Tanico and Noah, and 87 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 1: a former bride on say Yes to the Dress it's 88 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 1: the money aka Alana Meyers Taylor. What's up a lotta 89 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: that much? 90 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 2: So I find it very funny you brought to say 91 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 2: yes to the dress. That's something most people miss. It's 92 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 2: something I don't talk about much, but that was a 93 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 2: good fine So I got. 94 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,479 Speaker 1: To find that episode. When I was getting ready for 95 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 1: my wedding, I became obsessive about say yes to the dress. 96 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 1: And then of course as soon as I got married. 97 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 1: I was like, I'm good now, but I've watched it 98 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: a ton when I was getting ready. 99 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, so did I before I was audit and ever 100 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:58,360 Speaker 2: since I was audit up like, I'm okay, that's good. 101 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:05,360 Speaker 1: You're scarred from fourteen ou Clineman's okay. Most important question. First, 102 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:07,719 Speaker 1: are you a Bob Sled or a Bob Sleigh kind 103 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 1: of gal? 104 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 2: Bob Sled for sure. I mean, the rest of the 105 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:13,359 Speaker 2: world says Bob Sleigh. But we're American. We make up 106 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 2: our own stuff all the time, So Bob Sled it is. 107 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, we're sticking with feet. Screw your meters exactly. We're 108 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: going to do it our way. 109 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 2: I prefer the meters, though, the meters. We've been doing 110 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:27,360 Speaker 2: this for so long Kilograham's meters. All the metric systems works. 111 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 1: For me now, well, for sports, it's kind of necessary. 112 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:31,800 Speaker 1: You know. I did track, so of course we ran 113 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 1: in meters and all the throws were in meters, so 114 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 1: like all that stuff, it's hard to fight that one. 115 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 1: But I like that you're sticking with Bob Sled. That's 116 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 1: very American of you. Let's talk about those most recent 117 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:45,480 Speaker 1: World Cup wins I mentioned You've had so much success 118 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 1: across the Olympics and World championships, you've pretty much done 119 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: it all. But you hadn't won an international mono bob 120 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:54,719 Speaker 1: race that's the one person bob sledding event for female athletes, 121 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 1: until just a few weeks ago in Saint Mort's when 122 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: you won twice. Was that on a checklist? Was it 123 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 1: sort of hanging over your head? Is something you hadn't done? 124 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 2: No? Actually, because when I started monobob, and I didn't 125 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 2: start monobob until after I had Nico, so I think 126 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 2: twenty twenty twenty twenty one was my first season doing it, 127 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 2: so it was a world series, it was just called 128 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 2: something differently. So I had won event on that series, 129 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 2: the World Series, but never won a World Cup. And 130 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 2: actually I didn't even know I hadn't never won a 131 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 2: World Cup, Like, I didn't really even understand the distinction. 132 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:28,359 Speaker 2: So for that to be a stat and for that 133 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 2: to get announced last week, I was like, Oh, that's 134 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:33,279 Speaker 2: pretty cool. But also I think it's just pretty cool 135 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 2: because of how old I am, you know, to be 136 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 2: able to do the solo monobob, you know, rely so 137 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 2: much on your athleticism on top of your driving. So 138 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 2: to be able to be forty years old and show 139 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 2: that I could still win by myself was pretty cool. 140 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: Feat that is pretty cool, and we love as we 141 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:51,279 Speaker 1: say on this show, we quote Diana Tarassi, old people 142 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:56,360 Speaker 1: have dreams too. What were the feelings heading in then, 143 00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:59,279 Speaker 1: if it wasn't something you were aware you needed to 144 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 1: check off, was it just another race or was there 145 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 1: this element of like, Okay, I'm over forty now I've 146 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:07,080 Speaker 1: got two kids, like this is every race is sort 147 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:08,919 Speaker 1: of an opportunity to continue to prove myself. 148 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 2: It was a little bit of both, because I had 149 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 2: been so close, Like it just seemed like all season long, 150 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 2: things just weren't going right. And I knew I could 151 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 2: win races still, I knew I could be at the 152 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 2: top of the podium, and it just felt like, you know, 153 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 2: whether it was bad weather or bad circumstances or it 154 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 2: just it felt like all the pieces just weren't coming together. 155 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 2: So I was eager and I was frustrated. I've been 156 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 2: frustrated the whole season. I was like, this luck's got 157 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 2: to give eventually. And even in that track in State Moritz, 158 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 2: like I had been driving really well, I'd been doing 159 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:40,120 Speaker 2: really well at training, and then the first week they 160 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 2: were there, they actually canceled the race, and I was like, oh, 161 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 2: I've actually been doing really well on this track. So 162 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 2: I was really eager to get back there and be 163 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 2: able to have those opportunities to race Mono Bob again 164 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 2: because I knew I could be successful on that track. 165 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 2: In particular, I knew like it was only a matter 166 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 2: of time before the pieces came together and I could 167 00:07:57,760 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 2: show that I could win again. 168 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 1: Talk about the monobob. It was just added a few 169 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:04,720 Speaker 1: years ago for those who aren't familiar with the sort 170 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 1: of ins and outs of Bob's led. For nearly a century, 171 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 1: men have competed in the two man and the four 172 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:12,280 Speaker 1: man events, and women just got their first Olympic bobsled 173 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 1: event the two women in two thousand and two, and 174 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 1: then the second the monobob was added twenty twenty two. 175 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 1: Or did you start in twenty twenty one? 176 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 2: Actually they started doing it on the lower level circuit 177 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 2: in after the twenty eighteen Olympics, so right after that 178 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 2: year they'd started, but not on the highest level. So 179 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 2: I was competing on the highest level with two man, 180 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 2: so I just never had the opportunity until it finally 181 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 2: got added to the World Cup or World Series circuit 182 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 2: in the twenty twenty season, twenty twenty one. 183 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:42,439 Speaker 1: Seasons, and then the Olympics in twenty twenty two. 184 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 2: Yep, yep, but it they'd always been around as like 185 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 2: development sleds, so people will learn how to drive in 186 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:51,000 Speaker 2: it and then you just go and get into two man. 187 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:53,280 Speaker 2: But I had never actually driven a monobob, So it's 188 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 2: funny when I started driving a monobob there were younger 189 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:58,680 Speaker 2: drivers who had way more experience in it than I had, 190 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 2: even though I'd been driving at that for twelve years already. 191 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:04,959 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's annoying. That's like when they introduced a new 192 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:07,640 Speaker 1: technology that young people immediately understand and I'm like, no, 193 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 1: I've already learned all the other technologies. This is bullshit. Okay, 194 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:14,720 Speaker 1: So you had long campaign for the for Women event, 195 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:17,840 Speaker 1: but the people in charge decided instead to add the 196 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 1: monobob to the Olympics instead. So what was the rationale 197 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 1: given for that decision. 198 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:25,080 Speaker 2: So there's quite a few different reasons that were given. 199 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:28,080 Speaker 2: Whether or not they're all true, who knows. But one 200 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:31,240 Speaker 2: of it was because they thought having the monobob would 201 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:34,840 Speaker 2: allow more nations to get involved than more small nations. 202 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 2: The problem with the monobob though, is you still need 203 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 2: two people because you still have the person driving it, 204 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:42,240 Speaker 2: but you still need people to move the equipment, to 205 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 2: prepare the equipment, and all this kind of stuff. So 206 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 2: you still need a breakman, whether or not you have 207 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 2: it or not. So it has allowed more nations to 208 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:52,120 Speaker 2: get involved, but just not as the levels they thought 209 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 2: it would. And also they just said, oh, four men 210 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 2: would be too expensive and all this kind of stuff. 211 00:09:56,440 --> 00:09:59,080 Speaker 2: But the problem is with monobob you also have to 212 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:02,319 Speaker 2: buy new sleds. Like nobody had all these competitive monolbobs 213 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 2: sitting around, so people had to buy new sleds versus 214 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 2: a foe man. There were plenty of four man sleds 215 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 2: sitting around. All you had to do was pick one up. 216 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:12,679 Speaker 2: And as TMOSA, we had tons and tons of sleds. 217 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 2: But now we're buying monobob sleds every year, which is 218 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:16,920 Speaker 2: something we might have to do as a foreman. So 219 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 2: there's a little ins and out. But at the same time, 220 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:22,680 Speaker 2: like I was grateful to have an opportunity to even 221 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:24,960 Speaker 2: have two chances to medal, So it's like a double 222 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 2: edged sword. I wanted it for women because I believe 223 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 2: it gave more opportunities for more women to win a medal. 224 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:33,440 Speaker 2: And I'm a team sport athlete coming from softball, like 225 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:36,640 Speaker 2: I wanted to have that team atmosphere versus the monobob. 226 00:10:36,679 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 2: It just really gives the drivers another opportunity to meddle, 227 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 2: which you know, the brakemen just have to do all 228 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:42,720 Speaker 2: the work on a monobob day but getting none of 229 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:45,000 Speaker 2: the glory, which is seems kind of backwards to me. 230 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 1: Okay, I have some follow ups for us non bob 231 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:50,559 Speaker 1: sled experts. First of all, men and women use the 232 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:52,560 Speaker 1: same sled so when you say that there's four men 233 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:55,079 Speaker 1: sleds popping around everywhere, the women could have used the 234 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:57,080 Speaker 1: same ones that are used for those Yep. 235 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:59,920 Speaker 2: In twenty twenty two Olympics meet and a driver free 236 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:02,839 Speaker 2: del Duca actually use exact same sled in those games. 237 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 2: So yeah, we use we used to say same sleds 238 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 2: all the time. 239 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 1: A lot of pressure not to wreck someone's ride. 240 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 2: We actually wrecked each other's sleds. So he wrecked mine, 241 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 2: I got him back, borrowed his, and wrecked his. Uh 242 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 2: not intentional. Nobody ever wants to crash course sometimes. 243 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 1: Okay, second follow up. Then, so the mono bob they 244 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 1: they thought that it'd be easier for there to be 245 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:29,719 Speaker 1: this less expensive sled and for more people to participate 246 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:34,080 Speaker 1: because across the world there might be more single folks 247 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 1: who wanted to do this as opposed to amassing a 248 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 1: four person team paying for a four person sled. But 249 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 1: ultimately the onus is then on that one athlete to 250 00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:44,839 Speaker 1: pay for things and to do things. Tell us more 251 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 1: about the brakeman and why they are so involved even 252 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:49,200 Speaker 1: if they're not actually in the sled. 253 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, so the monobob, it's the same exact runners which 254 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:56,559 Speaker 2: are blades as the two person sled. So before a 255 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 2: race you have to prepare those You have to stand 256 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:01,439 Speaker 2: them down, make sure there is frictionless as possible, get 257 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:05,080 Speaker 2: out any scratches, and one runner alone could take an 258 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 2: hour at least, so you're talking four runners in four 259 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 2: hours of just on your feet preparing those runners. You 260 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 2: have to move the sled back and forth, and so 261 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 2: the brakemen are doing all that work on race days, 262 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:18,439 Speaker 2: even in a two man competition, like we don't move 263 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:21,320 Speaker 2: our own sleds. The brakemen and the coaches and everything. 264 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:24,000 Speaker 2: All the staff do that for us. So if you 265 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:26,240 Speaker 2: could imagine then on race days and a mono bob, 266 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:28,840 Speaker 2: all the brakemen, all from around the world are doing 267 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:31,559 Speaker 2: all the work, moving all the sleds. But like I said, 268 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 2: we come down and win a medal and they just 269 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:36,200 Speaker 2: cheer for us because they don't get one themselves, which 270 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:39,680 Speaker 2: is like I said, it's always felt backwards to me, and. 271 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 1: That's a totally different skill set. It's not something that 272 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 1: a driver would also learn. 273 00:12:43,559 --> 00:12:45,960 Speaker 2: No drivers, we've learned all that, so we do it too, 274 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 2: but and especially me, I spent three years as a brakemen, 275 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 2: so we do it too, but not to the same 276 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:55,480 Speaker 2: extent as the brakemen do. The brakemen are like the workhorses, 277 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 2: literally the workhorses, because they're responsible for so much of 278 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 2: the push at the beginning regards to monopop has caused 279 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:03,560 Speaker 2: drivers to get in better shape because we have to 280 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 2: push the slide by ourselves. But in other regards, like 281 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 2: it's just a lot of more work for breakmen who 282 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:10,200 Speaker 2: don't get to participate in it. 283 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, I read about you recruiting a breakman by finding 284 00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 1: out that she could like deadlift a certain amount, and 285 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:17,560 Speaker 1: you were like, why don't you give it a shot? 286 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:21,959 Speaker 1: Come on over, I'll teach how okay, is getting a 287 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 1: four women event in the Olympics program something you'd still 288 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:26,560 Speaker 1: like to see or that other Bob's letters are still 289 00:13:26,559 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 1: pushing for. 290 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:30,280 Speaker 2: I would like to see it. However, I've had this 291 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:32,960 Speaker 2: conversation now with the younger pilots and said, hey, look, 292 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 2: this is your game now, like I'm done after these games, 293 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 2: Like I've had my time. I think four man is 294 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:40,960 Speaker 2: a way to go. By the end of the day, 295 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:43,200 Speaker 2: If you guys decide you want to stick with monobob 296 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:45,240 Speaker 2: and that's what you want to see the future of 297 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 2: a sport look like, then I'm going to support you 298 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 2: in any way possible, Like it's time for you guys 299 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:52,679 Speaker 2: to step up and take over this, and like, I'm 300 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 2: going to do whatever I can to support you. But 301 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 2: you know, I might disagree with you, but at the 302 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 2: end of the day, I'm not going to be the 303 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:00,719 Speaker 2: one controlling direction of the sports. You guys to take 304 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:02,280 Speaker 2: the mantle and decide where you want to go. 305 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:06,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, that, Saint Marit's victory was your first win since 306 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 1: the birth of your second child. Noah in November of 307 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:12,560 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two. What were you feeling. Was it relief 308 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 1: that you made it back on top of the podium 309 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 1: or was it calm because you were certain you'd be back. 310 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:21,400 Speaker 2: It was relief relief because, like I said, this season 311 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 2: had been so much struggle from that point and just 312 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:28,240 Speaker 2: there's been so many times where I've been close, Like 313 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:30,480 Speaker 2: in Aldenberg, Germany, our first race of the year, I 314 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 2: came down and I was in the top three, I 315 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 2: was in metal position and then came down and crashed, 316 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 2: and like to start the season off of that and 317 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 2: then just to go in every week knowing I could 318 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 2: win and just not putting the piece together, it was 319 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 2: just frustrating. So when I finally did it, it was just 320 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 2: relief and it was like, Okay, now we're ready to 321 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 2: do something. Now we're ready to get back in the 322 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 2: swing of things, and now we can move forward and 323 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 2: go into this the rest of the season and into 324 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:57,640 Speaker 2: the Olympic season knowing that we saw the potential to win. 325 00:14:57,680 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 2: So it was really good feeling though. 326 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, So the first mono Bob Gold, first since Noah, 327 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 1: first after turning forty and Saint Moritz is where your 328 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:11,840 Speaker 1: husband Nick proposed to you at the metal podium at 329 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 1: the twenty thirteen World Championships after you won gold and 330 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 1: mixed team. So this is kind of a special place 331 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 1: for you. 332 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 2: Huh yeah, it's it's like one of my favorite tracks 333 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 2: in the world, one of my favorite places in the world. 334 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 2: Like I could easily spend the rest of my life 335 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 2: in Saint Marit's move there and be happy and drive 336 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 2: taxi bobs forever. I don't know if that will actually happen. 337 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 2: My husband still got a job to do and stuff. 338 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 2: Somebody's got to afford all this, so yep, so we'll see. 339 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:37,440 Speaker 2: But I just absolutely love it there, and if you 340 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:39,240 Speaker 2: have never gotten a chance to go and do it 341 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 2: every time you go there, like last year, I had 342 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 2: a different nanny than I do this year, I made 343 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:46,520 Speaker 2: sure they take Bob said rides down it, get past 344 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 2: your rides and all that kind of stuff. So it's 345 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:50,800 Speaker 2: just one of the coolest places in the world. And 346 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:52,840 Speaker 2: it's the birth of Bob said. So you know you 347 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 2: can't help but like love it there. 348 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:59,400 Speaker 1: I've been to Switzerland, which I loved, but not Saint Maritz, 349 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:01,120 Speaker 1: so I got to add it to the list. I've 350 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:03,720 Speaker 1: always wondered, And I've never spoken to someone who got 351 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 1: that proposal like on top of another joyful event, end 352 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 1: of a race, after a title game, all that stuff. 353 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:11,480 Speaker 1: So what were the emotions. Was it like, oh my 354 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 1: god that now I'm celebrating the race, or is it 355 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 1: like whoa, this is so cool? 356 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:17,520 Speaker 2: Well, initially I told him because I thought he was 357 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:19,720 Speaker 2: going to propose at Christmas, like you know, a normal 358 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 2: Christmas proposal. So I told him. I was like, absolutely, 359 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:25,040 Speaker 2: do not propose it world championships, Like, don't do it. 360 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 2: I want World Championships to be about worlds. I wanted 361 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 2: my proposal to be about by proposal. But it ended 362 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 2: up being really cool, and I'm glad you didn't listen 363 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:34,360 Speaker 2: to me, because it was just like to have that 364 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 2: moment and it'll be on the podium and get down 365 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:39,320 Speaker 2: on one knee and be freezing cold, and to have 366 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 2: the memories and the video that will last last time, 367 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 2: Like it's a really cool thing to look back on. 368 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 2: And you know, we've got we've got a newspaper coverings 369 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 2: of it in like Zech Republic covering and all over 370 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:53,120 Speaker 2: the world people covering it. So that's a memory that 371 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 2: we'll have forever, and it's pretty cool to go back 372 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:57,280 Speaker 2: there now with my two sons, and he was able 373 00:16:57,280 --> 00:16:59,320 Speaker 2: to join us for that weekend too with the mono. 374 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 2: Bab wins to have the whole family there again and 375 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:04,840 Speaker 2: look back and be like, oh my gosh, that was 376 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 2: twenty thirteen. That was been in this sport a long time, 377 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:09,120 Speaker 2: twelve years ago. 378 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:09,399 Speaker 1: You know. 379 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 2: To have that moment of humfortable circle is really cool. 380 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 1: Quite a precedent to set for the marriage though, that 381 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:18,200 Speaker 1: you told him not to and he did it anyway. Yeah, yeah, 382 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:20,760 Speaker 1: you got to look out for that. We're going to 383 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:22,679 Speaker 1: take a quick break when we come back more with 384 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 1: Alana Meyers Taylor. I've got an internet friend named Ken Childs. 385 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:42,399 Speaker 1: He covers all things Bob's leed and skeleton and luge, 386 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 1: so shout out his sight sliding on ice dot com. 387 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:46,479 Speaker 1: And I asked him what he'd want to ask you 388 00:17:46,560 --> 00:17:48,720 Speaker 1: if he sat down with you, and he said, he's 389 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:51,520 Speaker 1: interested in how you mentally handled coming back from maternity 390 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 1: leave and not being as strong as a starter when 391 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:55,760 Speaker 1: you first came back, Like, what was the work you 392 00:17:55,840 --> 00:17:58,400 Speaker 1: did to be patient getting your push start back? 393 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:01,359 Speaker 2: Oh, I'm still not the most patient person. That's the 394 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:04,440 Speaker 2: hardest thing, and I'm still harder on myself, and actually 395 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:07,120 Speaker 2: coming back from Noah has been much harder than coming 396 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:10,959 Speaker 2: back from Nico, like both kids, unfortunately. I say unfortunately 397 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:14,600 Speaker 2: because I really had wanted to have a non sea 398 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:16,600 Speaker 2: section birth and I had sea sections both of them 399 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:18,720 Speaker 2: after laboring for two days with both of them, so. 400 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:21,159 Speaker 1: Oh, man, rest in both worlds. 401 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, So Noah was really really tough recovery. It took 402 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:28,080 Speaker 2: me a long time to run. It took me a 403 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 2: long time to get back, and I still am not 404 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:32,520 Speaker 2: at the peak physical fitness that I was, like even 405 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:36,120 Speaker 2: eight months after having Nico, So it's been a much 406 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:39,439 Speaker 2: longer road and it is frustrating, like some days I 407 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 2: just won't have it. And it's very frustrating as an 408 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:44,200 Speaker 2: elite athlete to know that you still have the capability 409 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:47,840 Speaker 2: inside you, but it's so dependent on like what else 410 00:18:47,880 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 2: I've got going on, like whether or not I got 411 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:51,720 Speaker 2: a good night's sleep, or whether or not I've been 412 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:53,879 Speaker 2: able to get enough water or all this kind of stuff. 413 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 2: And it's always been that way as an athlete, but 414 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:57,919 Speaker 2: now it's even more so so, like if I have 415 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:02,320 Speaker 2: a rough night with the kids, I'm now what a 416 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:05,199 Speaker 2: tenth behind the fastest pushers, where if I have a 417 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:07,959 Speaker 2: great night and if youthing goes well, then I can 418 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:10,920 Speaker 2: be even closer. So it's just going in there day 419 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:13,359 Speaker 2: after day and just putting in the work, but also 420 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:16,600 Speaker 2: realizing that, you know, I've accomplished so much in my 421 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 2: career and all of this is opportunity. Like I've got 422 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:21,720 Speaker 2: the opportunity to go out there and do something cool, 423 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:23,959 Speaker 2: do something special, and some days it's going to work 424 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 2: out and some days it's not. And just keeping that perspective. 425 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 2: It's like, this is a really cool experience. Not many 426 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:31,560 Speaker 2: people say they've been able to compete in elite sport 427 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:33,840 Speaker 2: at the age of forty with two kids. So I 428 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:35,760 Speaker 2: just go out there and do what I can every day. 429 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:39,920 Speaker 1: Gratitude practice. That's good. It's very smart. Keeps you grounded. 430 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 1: Fellow Bob's letter Fellow tam Usa Bob's letter. Kaylie Humphries 431 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:46,960 Speaker 1: is currently in the middle of that journey. She's coming 432 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:49,159 Speaker 1: back from baby. Have you spoken to her, given her 433 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:51,560 Speaker 1: any advice, maybe about some potential speed bumps she might 434 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 1: not have thought of. 435 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:55,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's funny. I just encourage her and try to 436 00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:58,120 Speaker 2: encourage her. And then recently we raced in a track 437 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:00,360 Speaker 2: at Eagles, Austria, and it really is one of those 438 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:02,560 Speaker 2: tracks like this is the worst track to come back 439 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 2: from postpartum because it's what we call a pusher's track 440 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 2: and the start time matters so much there. And so 441 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:10,680 Speaker 2: I just congratulated her on getting through that race because 442 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:13,400 Speaker 2: that was the race like you dread postpartum because you're like, ah, 443 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 2: I'm not in I'm not in the bus shape yet, 444 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 2: I'm really going to take a hit on the rankings, 445 00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:20,399 Speaker 2: and you know, she came back and competed, and you know, 446 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 2: we share stories sometimes about what it's like for the 447 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 2: kids to be up at night and things like that, 448 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:27,359 Speaker 2: and now having been through that experience twice, you know, 449 00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:29,120 Speaker 2: just trying to help her in any way I can, 450 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 2: because I know how difficult it is just to come 451 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 2: back and just to figure out like the day to 452 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 2: day of what it's like. And even for us, you know, 453 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:40,680 Speaker 2: we're traveling all a different place every week with our kids, 454 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 2: driving sometimes eight hours in the car with a baby, 455 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:45,159 Speaker 2: stopping for breastfeeding, all this kind of stuff. So I 456 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:47,280 Speaker 2: try to share as many tips as possible with her 457 00:20:47,560 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 2: and just try and encourage her. Like some days it's 458 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:51,800 Speaker 2: just going to suck, but it will be OK. 459 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:56,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, you mentioned your nanny. In some women's sports in 460 00:20:56,600 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 1: like the major leagues WNBA and WSL childcare cover just 461 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:02,399 Speaker 1: because I'm a part of player compensation. How does it 462 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:04,920 Speaker 1: work for bob'slod Is that your personal expense? Does USA 463 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:08,359 Speaker 1: bob sut help cover the cost for traveling and other things. 464 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:11,600 Speaker 2: But it's a personal expense, USA Bobs I can't even 465 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:15,000 Speaker 2: afford to cover its whole team, let alone a nanny, 466 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:17,640 Speaker 2: So it is a personal expense and it's big personal expense, 467 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:20,160 Speaker 2: but it's the same, like you find ways to make 468 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:22,760 Speaker 2: it work. Unfortunately, like I knew this was a possibility 469 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:25,720 Speaker 2: after twenty towy two games because I was pregnant in 470 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:29,480 Speaker 2: those games, so surprise, surprise, didn't know that, but I 471 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:31,840 Speaker 2: knew it was a possibility after the twenty twenty two games. 472 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:34,280 Speaker 2: So basically it just saved prize money that I had 473 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 2: from those games to try and stretch it out to 474 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 2: make it work. And you know, it's just it is 475 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:40,560 Speaker 2: a big expense, but at the same time, my kids 476 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:41,879 Speaker 2: are worth it, and I want them to have an 477 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:44,119 Speaker 2: opportunity to see the world and to travel with me, 478 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:46,520 Speaker 2: and also to see what it looks like for not 479 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:48,600 Speaker 2: only me, but all the women to compete at a 480 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:50,480 Speaker 2: high level. You know, I'm raising two boys, and it's 481 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:53,639 Speaker 2: so important for me that they have strong female role models. 482 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:56,040 Speaker 2: You know, they're going to have strong male role models. 483 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:58,480 Speaker 2: My husband's one of them, like my father. They're going 484 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 2: to have so many strong male models. It's important for 485 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:03,880 Speaker 2: me that they also see women going out there being 486 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 2: professional athletes, being the elite at their sport, and doing 487 00:22:06,880 --> 00:22:08,560 Speaker 2: it while being a mother as well. 488 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:12,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, you made history in twenty fifteen when you became 489 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:14,600 Speaker 1: the first woman to earn a spot on the US 490 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:17,320 Speaker 1: national team competing with the men as a four man 491 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 1: pop sled pilot, and then you went on to become 492 00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:22,080 Speaker 1: the first woman to win a medal in international competition 493 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:24,120 Speaker 1: in a men's event. You did so on a team 494 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:26,720 Speaker 1: with your husband, Nick, who's a fellow Bob's letter. Tell 495 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:28,919 Speaker 1: us about that. What did you learn, What did you 496 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:30,520 Speaker 1: get from the experience. Why did you want to do it? 497 00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:33,080 Speaker 2: Well, first, I just wanted to do it because it 498 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:35,600 Speaker 2: just never made sense to me why women couldn't drive 499 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 2: a fore man I mean, you had me as an 500 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:42,240 Speaker 2: Olympic medalist at the time, and there's so much opposition 501 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:44,440 Speaker 2: in Kille Humphries too trying to drive these for me 502 00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:47,000 Speaker 2: and like, no, no, no, you can't. Women can't do it. 503 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:49,600 Speaker 2: Stop possible, you can't drive these sleds. And then you're 504 00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:53,200 Speaker 2: just letting any guy, random guy who's driven a bob 505 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:55,560 Speaker 2: sled maybe once track a Horman down the hill. It 506 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:57,560 Speaker 2: just didn't make sense to me, like that whole adage 507 00:22:57,600 --> 00:22:59,520 Speaker 2: about women not being able to drive. So part of 508 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:02,080 Speaker 2: it was like my almost stubbornness and my own ego 509 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:05,280 Speaker 2: being like this cannot be that hard, Like this cannot 510 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:07,640 Speaker 2: be that hard. Of course, want to try it. But 511 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:09,600 Speaker 2: then it became so much more than that, Like it 512 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:12,399 Speaker 2: became an opportunity to do something and to compete at 513 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:15,600 Speaker 2: the highest level against guys, and it's so rare in 514 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:17,440 Speaker 2: our sports that were able to do that. But also 515 00:23:18,280 --> 00:23:21,160 Speaker 2: it was an opportunity to compete in the highlight sport, 516 00:23:21,320 --> 00:23:23,840 Speaker 2: the highlight discipline of our sport, Like for a bob 517 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 2: sled is the show, Like it's one woman and three 518 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:29,719 Speaker 2: guys jumping in this tiny sled, getting it together, and 519 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:31,840 Speaker 2: it's the fastest sport on ice, and I just want 520 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 2: an opportunity. The competitor in me was like chomping at 521 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 2: the bit to give it a try. So when I 522 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 2: had the opportunity, even though I couldn't get any guys 523 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 2: to initially slide with me, I could give my husband 524 00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:44,120 Speaker 2: because he didn't have a choice, so he was kind 525 00:23:44,119 --> 00:23:44,719 Speaker 2: of a ringer. 526 00:23:45,400 --> 00:23:47,119 Speaker 1: Why wouldn't they participate with you? 527 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:55,360 Speaker 2: Basically sexism, garden misogyny. Yeah, I even got asked, can 528 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:57,320 Speaker 2: you even drive a bob sled? And here I am 529 00:23:57,359 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 2: coming off of a silver medal, you know, and it's 530 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:01,960 Speaker 2: just like you're going to get in this random person 531 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:04,040 Speaker 2: sled who's never driven a bob side, but you won't 532 00:24:04,040 --> 00:24:06,320 Speaker 2: get in mind. And fortunately I had two guys, Dustin 533 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:09,040 Speaker 2: Greenwood and a g Adams that agreed to push me. 534 00:24:09,119 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 2: And you know, they made a national team because of it, 535 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:13,760 Speaker 2: you know, so it worked out for them. 536 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:17,440 Speaker 1: Well you look at that, Yeah, yeah, that works out. 537 00:24:17,960 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 2: It's crazy. 538 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:20,800 Speaker 1: But did you hear from any of them that turns 539 00:24:20,840 --> 00:24:21,520 Speaker 1: you down after that? 540 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:23,919 Speaker 2: Oh? Of course, because they're still on the team and 541 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 2: still talk to them, and yeah, now it's like a joke. 542 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:29,640 Speaker 2: Now it's like funny and stuff like that. But years 543 00:24:29,720 --> 00:24:31,720 Speaker 2: later people would be asking me to compete in poor 544 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:34,679 Speaker 2: Man just because they wanted a competitive chance. They wanted 545 00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:37,880 Speaker 2: to be compete against the top guys in the US 546 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 2: and the top guys in the world, and they wanted 547 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:41,359 Speaker 2: a driver who could do it. And I'm like, well, guys, 548 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:43,840 Speaker 2: guess what, I'm out of the game now, so you 549 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:46,640 Speaker 2: better find somebody else. But I love competing in a poor Man. 550 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:49,520 Speaker 2: It was so much fun, and I thought about specializing 551 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 2: in it and just going after it and just trying 552 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:54,960 Speaker 2: to do Foreman and compete against guys and make an Olympics. 553 00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:58,960 Speaker 2: But now the way the rankings work, like women have 554 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:01,600 Speaker 2: to qualify for the Olympics in both the monobob and 555 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:04,080 Speaker 2: the two men, whereas men can qualify in just the 556 00:25:04,119 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 2: two men or just the four man, So our ranking 557 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:09,719 Speaker 2: is combined, so they make you do both disciplines. 558 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:10,600 Speaker 1: That's bullshit. 559 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:13,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, if you want to do four me, and you'd 560 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:15,639 Speaker 2: have to add in a four man on top of 561 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:18,760 Speaker 2: every weekend, so you'd be racing three times every single weekend, 562 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:21,640 Speaker 2: and it's just would be way too much. So it's 563 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:22,600 Speaker 2: kind of cut us out. 564 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:25,879 Speaker 1: What's the rationale for that for making the women do both. 565 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:29,960 Speaker 2: Good question. I'm not really sure you can do just 566 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:31,720 Speaker 2: the mono bob or just the two men. If you're 567 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:34,760 Speaker 2: from a smaller nation, if you're from a Nigeria, or 568 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:36,919 Speaker 2: if you're from an Australia or something like that, you 569 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:38,879 Speaker 2: could do it. But because our team's so big and 570 00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:42,119 Speaker 2: because we're so competitive, there's just no you need the 571 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:45,439 Speaker 2: combined ranking. I don't really know what the rationale is. 572 00:25:45,520 --> 00:25:47,879 Speaker 2: I guess it's just the drive up participation numbers. 573 00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:49,640 Speaker 1: But is this a team USA rule? 574 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:53,359 Speaker 2: No, it's an international rule. Yeah, yeah, team say our 575 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:56,320 Speaker 2: rules still allow women to compete in for mean, and 576 00:25:56,359 --> 00:25:58,919 Speaker 2: so does the international rooms. I mean, that's what's kind 577 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:00,920 Speaker 2: of cool about Bob side is our four man discipline 578 00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:03,439 Speaker 2: is actually an open gender category. It's one of the 579 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:05,879 Speaker 2: few sports that is actually open gender, which you know, 580 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:08,399 Speaker 2: people ask me all the time about trans rights and 581 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:11,320 Speaker 2: trans issues, and I was like, look, in our sport, 582 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:13,159 Speaker 2: it wouldn't make sense for somebody to come down and 583 00:26:13,200 --> 00:26:15,920 Speaker 2: decide who can compete because we have an open gender 584 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:21,080 Speaker 2: category and to decide, oh, trans athletes are banned across 585 00:26:21,119 --> 00:26:22,879 Speaker 2: the board just doesn't make sense when we have this 586 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:27,120 Speaker 2: discipline that's completely open to it. So yeah, I digress. 587 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:29,480 Speaker 2: But it's just one of those kinds of things where 588 00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:33,840 Speaker 2: fore men is the king of our sport, sport, and 589 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 2: it's just something that I've always wanted to compete in, 590 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 2: and it's something that I think more and more people 591 00:26:38,280 --> 00:26:39,679 Speaker 2: should have the opportunity to compete in. 592 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:43,920 Speaker 1: You've been an advocate for women in sports. You've talked 593 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:47,000 Speaker 1: about a number of issues, and specifically you've also talked 594 00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:49,560 Speaker 1: about racism that you've faced in the sport despite all 595 00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:52,600 Speaker 1: of your success, including a coach from another federation saying 596 00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:54,119 Speaker 1: black athletes need to stay in the back of the 597 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:56,720 Speaker 1: sled because they don't have the mental capacity to be drivers, 598 00:26:57,320 --> 00:26:59,760 Speaker 1: and a manufacturer of one of the fastest sleds on 599 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:03,000 Speaker 1: tour refusing to sell to black pilots has been quoted 600 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:04,760 Speaker 1: as saying, if I wanted to see a monkey drive 601 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:06,800 Speaker 1: a sled, I'd go to the zoo. It is hard 602 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:08,920 Speaker 1: to imagine making more of a case for your place 603 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:11,439 Speaker 1: in the sport than everything you've accomplished. How do you 604 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:14,919 Speaker 1: reconcile the reality of your talent with the opinions of 605 00:27:14,960 --> 00:27:15,600 Speaker 1: those people? 606 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:19,119 Speaker 2: You know? I think it's still something that I have 607 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:21,600 Speaker 2: to work on, and it's still something that I think 608 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:23,840 Speaker 2: a lot of black athletes in our sport do struggle 609 00:27:23,840 --> 00:27:26,200 Speaker 2: with because still to this day, a lot of times 610 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:28,679 Speaker 2: when we're talked about, we're talked about for athleticism and 611 00:27:28,720 --> 00:27:31,919 Speaker 2: not our driving prowess. It wasn't actually until after the 612 00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:34,040 Speaker 2: birth of my sons and I slowed down at the 613 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:36,040 Speaker 2: push that I started to get talking about as my 614 00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:39,119 Speaker 2: ability to drive a sled. So it's hard as an 615 00:27:39,119 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 2: athlete to not internalize that and to think, oh, I'm 616 00:27:42,280 --> 00:27:44,920 Speaker 2: just a fat, pushing athlete that could bang my way 617 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:48,440 Speaker 2: down a track and not take that personal. But at 618 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:50,400 Speaker 2: the end of the day, like I've won the medals, 619 00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:52,399 Speaker 2: I have to have confidence in the fact that I 620 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:55,480 Speaker 2: had to drive halfway decent to do it. Couldn't just 621 00:27:55,560 --> 00:27:57,960 Speaker 2: all ben athleticism, But at the end of the day, also, 622 00:27:58,640 --> 00:28:00,960 Speaker 2: who the heck cares, Oh, I won the medals. The 623 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:02,960 Speaker 2: fact that my time was faster than your time is 624 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:05,000 Speaker 2: all that matters. And so I try to have those 625 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:08,600 Speaker 2: conversations too with other black athletes and with other different 626 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:11,080 Speaker 2: athlete groups who are marginalized in this sport and just 627 00:28:11,119 --> 00:28:13,159 Speaker 2: tell them, like, you know, win's a win, take it. 628 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:15,080 Speaker 2: Every race is only one by one hundred of the 629 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:17,919 Speaker 2: support who cares how you get there. And there is 630 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:20,080 Speaker 2: still some racism that exists in the sport, I mean, 631 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:23,600 Speaker 2: especially on the men's side, the lack of diversity within 632 00:28:23,640 --> 00:28:26,320 Speaker 2: the driver's seat. I think the only people of color 633 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:29,040 Speaker 2: drivers you see are the Korean team or the Chinese team, 634 00:28:29,080 --> 00:28:32,040 Speaker 2: and that's it. Like internationally there's not much at all. 635 00:28:32,119 --> 00:28:34,720 Speaker 2: So you just like it's one of those kinds of 636 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:37,080 Speaker 2: things where we need to continue to push it and 637 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:39,719 Speaker 2: continue to get more and more people within this sport 638 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:43,000 Speaker 2: and yeah, show people that it's even possible to do 639 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:45,320 Speaker 2: these winter sports as a person of color. 640 00:28:45,920 --> 00:28:50,480 Speaker 1: Yeah. You've also talked about black maternal health, deaf awareness, 641 00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:53,200 Speaker 1: down syndrome awareness. When your racing career does come to 642 00:28:53,240 --> 00:28:55,920 Speaker 1: an end, do you have plans to continue your advocacy. 643 00:28:56,400 --> 00:28:59,560 Speaker 2: Absolutely. I thought through the longest time that I wanted 644 00:28:59,600 --> 00:29:02,320 Speaker 2: to go work for the USOPC and to be in 645 00:29:02,360 --> 00:29:05,680 Speaker 2: that line of work and to you know, become the 646 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:08,000 Speaker 2: CEO of the USOPC, Like that was my dream goal 647 00:29:08,040 --> 00:29:11,120 Speaker 2: for the longest enough time. But now having my children 648 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:13,520 Speaker 2: who are deaf and now being so much more in 649 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:16,920 Speaker 2: the deaf world and the disability space and things like that. 650 00:29:17,080 --> 00:29:19,400 Speaker 2: Like I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do 651 00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:22,440 Speaker 2: after Bob said now, but I know it's become so 652 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:25,160 Speaker 2: important to advocate for my children and so important to 653 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:28,040 Speaker 2: advocate for those with disabilities. You know, I don't have 654 00:29:28,080 --> 00:29:31,040 Speaker 2: a disability, so obviously I can't. I'm not the voice 655 00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:33,520 Speaker 2: of disabled folks or anything like that. I would never 656 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:36,080 Speaker 2: try to speak over them. But if I could use 657 00:29:36,120 --> 00:29:38,440 Speaker 2: my platform in any way, if the only purpose of 658 00:29:38,440 --> 00:29:41,040 Speaker 2: me winning these medals was to spread death awareness, then 659 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:43,560 Speaker 2: that's pretty cool. And that's a greater honor than I 660 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:46,360 Speaker 2: could ever think of. So yeah, my kids are my world, 661 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:49,280 Speaker 2: and you know, my world is completely changed. Like I 662 00:29:49,720 --> 00:29:53,440 Speaker 2: wasn't in these communities beforehand, I wasn't involved with them. 663 00:29:53,440 --> 00:29:56,160 Speaker 2: But I've come to this whole new world and it's 664 00:29:56,200 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 2: a beautiful world. And I never could have known how 665 00:29:59,280 --> 00:30:02,520 Speaker 2: beautiful ner diversity is and how beautiful deaf culture is 666 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:04,880 Speaker 2: without being ingrained in it. And so I could share 667 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:08,360 Speaker 2: that with other people that I'm going to I'm. 668 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:11,120 Speaker 1: A decade plus into a charity I started with a 669 00:30:11,160 --> 00:30:14,400 Speaker 1: young girl who has hearing AIDS, and it's called Here 670 00:30:14,480 --> 00:30:18,560 Speaker 1: the cheers. We raise money for equipment and audiology services 671 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:22,040 Speaker 1: for kids so they can stay in sports, because most 672 00:30:22,040 --> 00:30:25,040 Speaker 1: people don't know that insurance doesn't cover hearing aids and 673 00:30:25,120 --> 00:30:28,440 Speaker 1: audiology equipment, which is wild. But thankfully some of the 674 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:31,440 Speaker 1: policies and bills around that are being challenged now, so 675 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:33,920 Speaker 1: hopefully that'll change soon. But I'll have to wrangle you 676 00:30:33,960 --> 00:30:36,240 Speaker 1: in for our next campaign and get you involved in 677 00:30:36,760 --> 00:30:39,720 Speaker 1: some of our fundraising because it is such a beautiful 678 00:30:39,720 --> 00:30:42,280 Speaker 1: space to work in. Next big thing for you, World 679 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:45,200 Speaker 1: Championships in March and Lake Placid. So what's your focus 680 00:30:45,280 --> 00:30:47,000 Speaker 1: leading up to that event? What are you working on. 681 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:50,880 Speaker 2: When in false disciplines two man monobob and going after it? 682 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:53,240 Speaker 2: You know, this is gonna be my last opportunity to 683 00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:55,960 Speaker 2: win a World championship, and it's all my home ice, 684 00:30:56,120 --> 00:30:59,320 Speaker 2: and I think it's a great opportunity. You know, also though, 685 00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:01,640 Speaker 2: because it is to be my last World championship, I'm 686 00:31:01,680 --> 00:31:04,920 Speaker 2: really looking forward to enjoying it. I'm really looking forward 687 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:07,280 Speaker 2: to having my friends and family there, and you know, 688 00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:09,520 Speaker 2: we didn't get to in Beijing, so being able to 689 00:31:09,520 --> 00:31:12,200 Speaker 2: have my friends and family there and everyone there at 690 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:15,080 Speaker 2: a home event like I'm really looking forward to it. 691 00:31:15,120 --> 00:31:16,880 Speaker 2: And you know, there's still a chance we might be 692 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:19,280 Speaker 2: in Lake Classic for the Olympics, so you just don't know. 693 00:31:19,440 --> 00:31:22,200 Speaker 2: But it's just gonna be a lot of fun, and 694 00:31:22,760 --> 00:31:25,680 Speaker 2: it's it's one more opportunity that I have to really 695 00:31:25,720 --> 00:31:27,600 Speaker 2: throw down against the best in the world. And when 696 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:30,240 Speaker 2: you have that opportunity, especially like now, like I think 697 00:31:30,280 --> 00:31:32,000 Speaker 2: you take it for granted when you're younger, when you're 698 00:31:32,040 --> 00:31:35,080 Speaker 2: twenty five, you're like, oh, yeah, another World Championships or whatever. 699 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:38,000 Speaker 2: But now looking back, like this is one last time 700 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:40,200 Speaker 2: to show what I could do. This is one last 701 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:42,240 Speaker 2: time to put on a good show and give a 702 00:31:42,240 --> 00:31:44,680 Speaker 2: good race. And that's what I really like. I like 703 00:31:44,760 --> 00:31:47,040 Speaker 2: to put on a good show. Like my races are 704 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:51,080 Speaker 2: always close, they're always exciting, they're always intense, and I 705 00:31:51,120 --> 00:31:53,920 Speaker 2: have there's no greater feeling than being on that line 706 00:31:53,960 --> 00:31:56,920 Speaker 2: and like hearing the fans and hearing everyone cheer for you, 707 00:31:56,960 --> 00:31:59,520 Speaker 2: and knowing that this is a great opportunity to just 708 00:31:59,560 --> 00:32:01,440 Speaker 2: go out there and show what you've worked for all 709 00:32:01,440 --> 00:32:02,200 Speaker 2: these years. 710 00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:07,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, further ahead, you've got twenty twenty six Milan Courtina Olympics. 711 00:32:07,560 --> 00:32:09,440 Speaker 1: If you make the team, it would be your fifth 712 00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:12,760 Speaker 1: Olympics and you're currently tied for fourth on the US 713 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:15,920 Speaker 1: career Winter Olympic medals list for all sports, which is incredible. 714 00:32:16,040 --> 00:32:19,080 Speaker 1: But you've never won gold. How important is that to you? 715 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:19,840 Speaker 1: Before you retire. 716 00:32:20,960 --> 00:32:23,040 Speaker 2: It's important to have the opportunity to go after it. 717 00:32:23,720 --> 00:32:25,680 Speaker 2: I used to think the gold medal was the only 718 00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:29,760 Speaker 2: thing that mattered. I want every opportunity and I'm going 719 00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:33,640 Speaker 2: to do everything I can to get there. Everything like 720 00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:36,160 Speaker 2: no hold bar. I already told my husband's like, get 721 00:32:36,160 --> 00:32:38,280 Speaker 2: the credit cards ready, because we're spending every dollar we 722 00:32:38,360 --> 00:32:40,640 Speaker 2: have to next year to try and make this happen. 723 00:32:40,720 --> 00:32:43,080 Speaker 2: Like whether it's bringing in a different nanny every week, 724 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:45,320 Speaker 2: or bringing in my kids or whoever to get me 725 00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:45,840 Speaker 2: some sleep. 726 00:32:45,880 --> 00:32:48,560 Speaker 1: Those kids are not keeping you up in that week, 727 00:32:48,600 --> 00:32:50,000 Speaker 1: that month, whatever it is. 728 00:32:50,120 --> 00:32:52,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, nope. So we're going to do everything we can 729 00:32:52,960 --> 00:32:54,640 Speaker 2: to get there. But at the end of the day, 730 00:32:55,120 --> 00:32:57,520 Speaker 2: I think how I compete is more important. How I 731 00:32:57,560 --> 00:33:00,360 Speaker 2: go out there and show that it's possible to be 732 00:33:00,480 --> 00:33:03,560 Speaker 2: forty forty one next year and put on this show 733 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:05,080 Speaker 2: and to be a mom and to go out there 734 00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:07,240 Speaker 2: and to stand for so much more than just sport. 735 00:33:07,320 --> 00:33:10,560 Speaker 2: To stand for disability, awareness, for women's rights, for different things, 736 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:13,440 Speaker 2: like it's important to show who I am in those 737 00:33:13,480 --> 00:33:16,280 Speaker 2: competitive moments more so than to win a gold medal. 738 00:33:16,400 --> 00:33:18,880 Speaker 2: That doesn't take anything away from win that gold medal, 739 00:33:18,920 --> 00:33:21,000 Speaker 2: Like I want it and I feel like it's like 740 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:23,400 Speaker 2: one thing missing off my resume. By the end of 741 00:33:23,400 --> 00:33:24,960 Speaker 2: the day, if I don't get it, I'm going to 742 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:25,440 Speaker 2: be fine. 743 00:33:25,480 --> 00:33:27,480 Speaker 1: I love that if it sounds like you've done the 744 00:33:27,520 --> 00:33:30,920 Speaker 1: work to understand the gravity of your career, the worth 745 00:33:30,960 --> 00:33:34,840 Speaker 1: of your career, even without that gold, because there are 746 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:37,400 Speaker 1: so many studies about people who get that gold and 747 00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:40,040 Speaker 1: then realize that wasn't really what they were looking for. 748 00:33:40,240 --> 00:33:43,000 Speaker 1: It wasn't solving their problems, it wasn't filling the hole 749 00:33:43,080 --> 00:33:45,000 Speaker 1: that they had for whatever reason, and there was so 750 00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:46,560 Speaker 1: much more that they had to go work on to 751 00:33:46,600 --> 00:33:48,760 Speaker 1: figure out what made them happy. And it feels like 752 00:33:48,800 --> 00:33:50,520 Speaker 1: you've already kind of got that, Like how do you 753 00:33:50,560 --> 00:33:54,520 Speaker 1: balance that great perspective that you have with having the 754 00:33:54,640 --> 00:33:57,480 Speaker 1: hunger and the mindset that you need to go try 755 00:33:57,480 --> 00:33:58,280 Speaker 1: your hardest to win it. 756 00:33:59,040 --> 00:34:01,560 Speaker 2: Well, it was kind of in a ways, you know, 757 00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:04,080 Speaker 2: the stuff I've been through with my sons, the stuff 758 00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:06,160 Speaker 2: I've been through already as a parent and with my 759 00:34:06,240 --> 00:34:09,920 Speaker 2: husband and whatnot, And like realizing that, you know, no 760 00:34:10,040 --> 00:34:12,239 Speaker 2: amount of gold medals or no amount of metals is 761 00:34:12,239 --> 00:34:14,880 Speaker 2: going to get my son the early intervention services he needed. 762 00:34:14,920 --> 00:34:17,200 Speaker 2: I was like, what what how was all this for? Then? 763 00:34:17,320 --> 00:34:19,840 Speaker 2: Like I can't get the services I needed, if I 764 00:34:19,880 --> 00:34:21,880 Speaker 2: can't take care of my family, then what is this 765 00:34:21,960 --> 00:34:25,120 Speaker 2: all for? So I'm actually at the point, which is 766 00:34:25,160 --> 00:34:27,320 Speaker 2: pretty cool, is that the only reason I'm here is 767 00:34:27,320 --> 00:34:29,920 Speaker 2: because I genuinely want to be here, Like, there's plenty 768 00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:31,919 Speaker 2: other things that I could be doing with my time. 769 00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:33,960 Speaker 2: There's plenty of the things that my children could be 770 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:36,120 Speaker 2: doing that time, Like I'm dragging them all away around 771 00:34:36,120 --> 00:34:38,600 Speaker 2: the world. I'm sure they'd just rather be staying at 772 00:34:38,600 --> 00:34:42,080 Speaker 2: home watching Sesame Streight, you know, right. So the fact 773 00:34:42,080 --> 00:34:44,480 Speaker 2: that I'm here is generally because I want to be here, 774 00:34:44,560 --> 00:34:47,360 Speaker 2: And me and my husband decided that if I was 775 00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:49,520 Speaker 2: going to do this, that it had to be worth 776 00:34:49,560 --> 00:34:51,319 Speaker 2: my time, that it had to make sure that every 777 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:53,440 Speaker 2: moment was going to be worth it, and to take 778 00:34:53,480 --> 00:34:55,880 Speaker 2: away moments from my kids that I could be upstairs 779 00:34:55,920 --> 00:34:57,880 Speaker 2: playing with them, or I could be doing different things 780 00:34:58,000 --> 00:34:59,480 Speaker 2: that I had to make it worth it. So every 781 00:34:59,480 --> 00:35:01,680 Speaker 2: time I said on the ice, there has to be 782 00:35:01,680 --> 00:35:03,480 Speaker 2: for a reason, and that reason is to try and 783 00:35:03,480 --> 00:35:06,080 Speaker 2: win that gold medal. However, when I'm off the ice, 784 00:35:06,280 --> 00:35:08,239 Speaker 2: I'm off the ice. When I'm outside of the Bob side, 785 00:35:08,239 --> 00:35:10,080 Speaker 2: I'm outside of Bob side. So that kind of gives 786 00:35:10,080 --> 00:35:14,080 Speaker 2: you the perspective that you know there's more things going on. 787 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:17,120 Speaker 2: And also you know, in the US, as much as 788 00:35:17,160 --> 00:35:19,600 Speaker 2: we love our Olympics, we love our gold medals and 789 00:35:19,640 --> 00:35:21,279 Speaker 2: things like that, but the end of the day, like 790 00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:24,120 Speaker 2: when I'm walking around Costco, nobody knows that I'm a 791 00:35:24,120 --> 00:35:27,040 Speaker 2: Bob Slidder. When I'm doing my ticket target, the kid's 792 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:29,359 Speaker 2: throwing a temper Tanta or whatever, nobody knows that I'm 793 00:35:29,400 --> 00:35:31,480 Speaker 2: a Bob Slader. So that keeps you in perspective too. 794 00:35:31,520 --> 00:35:34,160 Speaker 2: It's like very humbling to be in the US and 795 00:35:34,200 --> 00:35:37,160 Speaker 2: the country where we rain medals that you just one 796 00:35:37,200 --> 00:35:39,600 Speaker 2: of one of those faces. So I think winning a 797 00:35:39,600 --> 00:35:42,080 Speaker 2: gold medal is very important to me and my family 798 00:35:42,200 --> 00:35:44,239 Speaker 2: and what we're trying to accomplish. By at the end 799 00:35:44,280 --> 00:35:46,239 Speaker 2: of the day, like my life's going to go on 800 00:35:46,320 --> 00:35:49,279 Speaker 2: whether I win, whether I lose, whether anything happens, like 801 00:35:50,040 --> 00:35:52,320 Speaker 2: I hope to god I could win those gold medals, 802 00:35:52,320 --> 00:35:53,920 Speaker 2: but at the end of the day, they're probably just 803 00:35:53,960 --> 00:35:56,440 Speaker 2: gonna once I do, they're going to just go in 804 00:35:56,480 --> 00:35:58,680 Speaker 2: a sack jur with the rest of them and we 805 00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:00,759 Speaker 2: won't see them until the next time I do, when 806 00:36:00,760 --> 00:36:02,520 Speaker 2: the banner appears or anything like that. 807 00:36:02,680 --> 00:36:05,720 Speaker 1: So I refuse to allow that. We're when the career 808 00:36:05,760 --> 00:36:07,600 Speaker 1: is over, we're putting them up. They're not going in 809 00:36:07,600 --> 00:36:09,840 Speaker 1: a soctar. I will not allow that. I don't know 810 00:36:09,880 --> 00:36:12,439 Speaker 1: where you live, but I'll find out. Okay, last question 811 00:36:12,560 --> 00:36:15,360 Speaker 1: for you. You mentioned that Lake Placid might be the 812 00:36:15,480 --> 00:36:18,839 Speaker 1: spot for the Olympics despite it being a technically an 813 00:36:18,920 --> 00:36:22,120 Speaker 1: Italian Olympics. In February, the IOC said the track is 814 00:36:22,120 --> 00:36:25,000 Speaker 1: supposed to go through a testing process in March. And 815 00:36:25,360 --> 00:36:28,840 Speaker 1: you know, in some sports maybe the venue is not 816 00:36:28,960 --> 00:36:31,120 Speaker 1: as important, but getting used to the ice and knowing 817 00:36:31,120 --> 00:36:33,439 Speaker 1: where you're going to race is really important. So what's 818 00:36:33,480 --> 00:36:35,600 Speaker 1: it been like dealing with the level of uncertainty that 819 00:36:35,680 --> 00:36:38,440 Speaker 1: still exists in the lead up to those Olympics. 820 00:36:38,840 --> 00:36:42,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's most difficult things because number one, you want 821 00:36:42,560 --> 00:36:45,759 Speaker 2: the course to be safe and without a without it 822 00:36:45,800 --> 00:36:48,439 Speaker 2: being done with right now, they're supposed to do test 823 00:36:48,480 --> 00:36:51,240 Speaker 2: runs in March. Without being done without the proper testing, 824 00:36:51,280 --> 00:36:53,719 Speaker 2: then you never really know how safe it's going to be. 825 00:36:53,880 --> 00:36:57,360 Speaker 2: And so normally, ideally before an Olympics, you know a 826 00:36:57,400 --> 00:37:00,400 Speaker 2: track has done at least two years beforehands plenty of 827 00:37:00,440 --> 00:37:02,840 Speaker 2: times to get runs and to test the safety of 828 00:37:02,880 --> 00:37:06,000 Speaker 2: it first and foremost, because it's one thing going fast 829 00:37:06,040 --> 00:37:07,839 Speaker 2: on a track, it's a whole other thing just making 830 00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:10,440 Speaker 2: it down. And we've had problems. We've had problems with tracks, 831 00:37:10,440 --> 00:37:14,000 Speaker 2: whether it's Whistler in Vancouver Olympics, where whether it's even Beijing. 832 00:37:14,040 --> 00:37:16,200 Speaker 2: It's not a skeleton athletes. I mean you're talking about 833 00:37:16,320 --> 00:37:18,799 Speaker 2: some of the tracks athletes have gone down and had 834 00:37:19,040 --> 00:37:21,799 Speaker 2: liked altering injuries because we haven't had time to check 835 00:37:21,840 --> 00:37:24,719 Speaker 2: the safety or the safety precautions weren't in place or 836 00:37:24,719 --> 00:37:28,120 Speaker 2: something like that. Like our sports signing sports are extremely dangerous. 837 00:37:28,239 --> 00:37:30,319 Speaker 2: So it is very much a concern that the track 838 00:37:30,400 --> 00:37:33,520 Speaker 2: isn't done yet. So I hope everything goes well. I mean, 839 00:37:33,520 --> 00:37:35,920 Speaker 2: my mom's Italian, you know, she wanted me to go 840 00:37:35,960 --> 00:37:37,800 Speaker 2: to these Olympics. I wanted to go to the Olympics 841 00:37:37,800 --> 00:37:40,600 Speaker 2: and have a big Italian family celebration at the end 842 00:37:40,600 --> 00:37:43,080 Speaker 2: of it. You know, it was really important for us 843 00:37:43,160 --> 00:37:44,880 Speaker 2: historically to do it, But at the end of the 844 00:37:44,960 --> 00:37:47,040 Speaker 2: day it's not safe, then I don't want to be 845 00:37:47,080 --> 00:37:50,160 Speaker 2: anywhere near it, and that's the biggest concern for all 846 00:37:50,200 --> 00:37:51,560 Speaker 2: of us, is the safety of it. 847 00:37:51,520 --> 00:37:54,040 Speaker 1: Well, and it's so frustrating. It reminds me of the 848 00:37:54,160 --> 00:37:56,879 Speaker 1: events in the Seine at the Paris Olympics, like this 849 00:37:56,920 --> 00:37:59,960 Speaker 1: is someone's entire life's work and money and time and effort, 850 00:38:00,440 --> 00:38:02,200 Speaker 1: and to have people have to pull out or have 851 00:38:02,280 --> 00:38:04,399 Speaker 1: the race be delayed, and then the timing of your 852 00:38:04,400 --> 00:38:07,439 Speaker 1: preparation is affected because they can't figure out if there's 853 00:38:07,480 --> 00:38:10,560 Speaker 1: ego lie in the fricking sin. That kind of stuff 854 00:38:10,600 --> 00:38:12,279 Speaker 1: infuriates me. So I hope they figure it out and 855 00:38:12,320 --> 00:38:14,279 Speaker 1: they get it sorted in time for you to make 856 00:38:14,320 --> 00:38:17,120 Speaker 1: a plan and stick with it. I've just been so 857 00:38:17,239 --> 00:38:19,400 Speaker 1: fun to watch your success from Afar for such a 858 00:38:19,440 --> 00:38:21,239 Speaker 1: long time. It's great to get to talk to you. 859 00:38:21,280 --> 00:38:22,600 Speaker 1: Good luck with the upcoming events. 860 00:38:22,920 --> 00:38:25,480 Speaker 2: Thanks, I really appreciate it. And hopefully we're in Italy, 861 00:38:25,520 --> 00:38:26,880 Speaker 2: and if we're not, it's still going to be a 862 00:38:26,920 --> 00:38:29,200 Speaker 2: heck of Olympics in Lake Placids, So that'll be fun too. 863 00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:34,040 Speaker 1: We have to take another quick break when we return 864 00:38:34,239 --> 00:38:54,000 Speaker 1: prepared to be edified. Welcome back, y'all. Some edification come 865 00:38:54,040 --> 00:38:56,760 Speaker 1: in your way because it's time for another What the fact. 866 00:38:58,200 --> 00:39:00,400 Speaker 1: So we talked to a lot about gender dis termination 867 00:39:00,480 --> 00:39:03,879 Speaker 1: in Bob's Led, but its sister sport, skeleton, has its 868 00:39:03,920 --> 00:39:07,080 Speaker 1: own history of backwards policies. Now, before we dig into that, 869 00:39:07,120 --> 00:39:09,759 Speaker 1: here's a brief on how skeleton works. So, one at 870 00:39:09,760 --> 00:39:13,080 Speaker 1: a time, individual competitors run as fast as they can 871 00:39:13,400 --> 00:39:16,319 Speaker 1: pushing a small sled down a frozen track. Then they 872 00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:20,160 Speaker 1: hurled their bodies onto it, face down, headfirst and try 873 00:39:20,160 --> 00:39:22,760 Speaker 1: to finish their run down the track faster than their opponents. 874 00:39:23,120 --> 00:39:26,960 Speaker 1: Some scary shit. So the sport originated in Saint Maritz, Switzerland, 875 00:39:27,000 --> 00:39:29,600 Speaker 1: on the first and oldest natural ice track in the world, 876 00:39:29,680 --> 00:39:32,040 Speaker 1: the Cresta Run. It was built in eighteen eighty five, 877 00:39:32,040 --> 00:39:34,319 Speaker 1: and back then both men and women competed in an 878 00:39:34,320 --> 00:39:37,640 Speaker 1: annual skeleton race called the Grand Nationals, But in nineteen 879 00:39:37,680 --> 00:39:40,960 Speaker 1: twenty one, the Saint Murritz Toboggaining Club, which decides who 880 00:39:41,080 --> 00:39:44,040 Speaker 1: is and isn't permitted to race the track banned female 881 00:39:44,080 --> 00:39:47,719 Speaker 1: racers from competition. Eight years later, women were expelled from 882 00:39:47,719 --> 00:39:51,879 Speaker 1: the club entirely to boggining. Club president James Suddenley told 883 00:39:51,880 --> 00:39:55,040 Speaker 1: the BBC that concerns were initially about skeleton and a 884 00:39:55,120 --> 00:39:57,960 Speaker 1: link to breast cancer, but it was eventually understood that 885 00:39:57,960 --> 00:40:00,399 Speaker 1: folks were just concerned that women were getting too good 886 00:40:00,719 --> 00:40:04,960 Speaker 1: and too fast. That's some certified hatershit. But in twenty eighteen, 887 00:40:05,120 --> 00:40:08,120 Speaker 1: wrongs were righted. In December of that year, Saint Murritz 888 00:40:08,160 --> 00:40:10,880 Speaker 1: Tobognan club members voted to nix the band on women 889 00:40:11,120 --> 00:40:13,759 Speaker 1: and in February twenty twenty four women raced in the 890 00:40:13,800 --> 00:40:17,319 Speaker 1: Cresta Runs Ladies Grand National Event once more. English writer 891 00:40:17,440 --> 00:40:21,200 Speaker 1: Karina Evans won, becoming the first Ladies Grand National winner 892 00:40:21,280 --> 00:40:23,920 Speaker 1: in one hundred and three years. This is what the 893 00:40:23,920 --> 00:40:26,960 Speaker 1: fact brought to you by elf Beauty. And here's another fact. 894 00:40:27,239 --> 00:40:30,439 Speaker 1: Elf Beauty's recent report shows that gender diverse boards lead 895 00:40:30,440 --> 00:40:33,680 Speaker 1: to positive business results. S and P five hundred companies 896 00:40:33,680 --> 00:40:36,440 Speaker 1: with above average gender diversity on their boards saw a 897 00:40:36,520 --> 00:40:39,520 Speaker 1: fifteen percent boost in return on equity and a fifty 898 00:40:39,560 --> 00:40:42,480 Speaker 1: percent drop in earning's risk over a year. You can 899 00:40:42,520 --> 00:40:45,480 Speaker 1: read the full report at Elfbauty dot com slash not 900 00:40:45,600 --> 00:40:48,840 Speaker 1: So White Paper. We love that you're listening, but we 901 00:40:48,880 --> 00:40:50,399 Speaker 1: want you to get in the game every day too, 902 00:40:50,480 --> 00:40:52,800 Speaker 1: So here's our good game play of the day. Follow 903 00:40:52,880 --> 00:40:55,759 Speaker 1: Alana's journey to the twenty twenty six Winter Olympics. She's 904 00:40:55,800 --> 00:40:59,279 Speaker 1: on Instagram at Alana Meers Taylor And if you've never 905 00:40:59,320 --> 00:41:02,480 Speaker 1: seen it before, go watch Vanetta Flowers and Jill Bochin's 906 00:41:02,480 --> 00:41:05,400 Speaker 1: gold medal winning run from O two. Watching that sled 907 00:41:05,440 --> 00:41:08,440 Speaker 1: pickup speed. It's a thing of beauty. We'll link to 908 00:41:08,480 --> 00:41:10,680 Speaker 1: it in our show notes. We love to hear from yours. 909 00:41:10,719 --> 00:41:13,040 Speaker 1: To hit us up on email good game at wondermedianetwork 910 00:41:13,080 --> 00:41:15,319 Speaker 1: dot com or leave us a voicemail at eight seven 911 00:41:15,360 --> 00:41:18,920 Speaker 1: two two oh four fifty seventy and don't forget to subscribe. 912 00:41:19,000 --> 00:41:23,960 Speaker 1: Rate and review slices. It's easy. Watch Sunshine and Beer 913 00:41:24,040 --> 00:41:27,200 Speaker 1: and Barbecue and Thunder Drunk and Baseball and Africa by 914 00:41:27,239 --> 00:41:30,799 Speaker 1: Toto and Sunset, rating twenty out of twenty years of 915 00:41:30,840 --> 00:41:35,799 Speaker 1: fun review. This weekend marks the twentieth and final the 916 00:41:35,880 --> 00:41:38,759 Speaker 1: Heckler spring training trip to Arizona. So I got a 917 00:41:38,760 --> 00:41:42,120 Speaker 1: shout out my super slice husband Brad aka the Heckler 918 00:41:42,400 --> 00:41:45,000 Speaker 1: for twenty years of bringing folks together. It's hard to 919 00:41:45,000 --> 00:41:48,960 Speaker 1: get adults to drop everything, whether it's kids, jobs, responsibilities, 920 00:41:49,200 --> 00:41:51,960 Speaker 1: But every single year a wild pack of hyaenas aged 921 00:41:51,960 --> 00:41:54,840 Speaker 1: about twenty five to sixty five would somehow make it 922 00:41:54,880 --> 00:41:58,960 Speaker 1: work because Brad created something truly special. Old friends partying 923 00:41:58,960 --> 00:42:01,960 Speaker 1: alongside new friends, partying alongside folks who signed up for 924 00:42:01,960 --> 00:42:04,840 Speaker 1: the trip solo, not knowing a soul, and found that 925 00:42:04,880 --> 00:42:08,040 Speaker 1: they immediately became part of the family. You're a gem, Brad, 926 00:42:08,080 --> 00:42:09,719 Speaker 1: and your trips were the highlight of the year for 927 00:42:09,760 --> 00:42:11,920 Speaker 1: a whole lot of folks. You should be very proud. 928 00:42:12,080 --> 00:42:14,360 Speaker 1: So here's to one last round of sunshine and beer 929 00:42:14,400 --> 00:42:17,760 Speaker 1: and barbecue and thunderdrug and baseball and Africa by Toto 930 00:42:17,840 --> 00:42:20,920 Speaker 1: and Sunset. May every single slice out there find a 931 00:42:20,920 --> 00:42:24,160 Speaker 1: community and a tradition as amazing as this one. Now 932 00:42:24,160 --> 00:42:27,400 Speaker 1: it's your turn, Slices, rate and review. Thanks for listening, y'all, 933 00:42:27,440 --> 00:42:30,760 Speaker 1: See you next week. Good game, Milana, Good game, Vanetta. 934 00:42:31,600 --> 00:42:34,600 Speaker 1: Few Olympic sports without a women's event of equal standing 935 00:42:34,719 --> 00:42:40,879 Speaker 1: or caliber. Looking at you to Cathalina Nordic combined Good 936 00:42:40,920 --> 00:42:43,720 Speaker 1: Game with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports production 937 00:42:43,840 --> 00:42:46,680 Speaker 1: in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can 938 00:42:46,719 --> 00:42:49,720 Speaker 1: find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever 939 00:42:49,800 --> 00:42:53,080 Speaker 1: you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network, our 940 00:42:53,080 --> 00:42:56,400 Speaker 1: producers are Alex Azzie and Misha Jones. Our executive producers 941 00:42:56,440 --> 00:42:59,720 Speaker 1: are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan, and Emily Rudder. 942 00:43:00,000 --> 00:43:02,960 Speaker 1: Our editors are Emily Rutter, Britney Martinez, and Grace Lynch. 943 00:43:03,239 --> 00:43:06,240 Speaker 1: Our associate producer is Lucy Jones and I'm Your Host 944 00:43:06,440 --> 00:43:07,080 Speaker 1: Sarah Spain