Katie Nolan (2:24)

I like that Flex.

Isabella (2:25)

Yeah, flex it more. She has an Emmy.

Katie Nolan (2:27)

I sure do. My name on it and my name is on the other people who won it with me. It's on theirs too, because the show was called Garbage Time with Katie Nolan. So they all technically say Katie Nolan.

Louis Tomlinson (2:37)

On them.

Katie Nolan (2:37)

Just a little fact, you know. Joined today briefly by my casualties, we have Isabella, our sports newbie.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (2:43)

Hi.

Katie Nolan (2:44)

Brady's here as well.

Brady (2:45)

Factually accurate.

Katie Nolan (2:46)

Hello. And Chris.

Chris (2:48)

Hi.

Katie Nolan (2:49)

It's just, you know, we have a guest today. So you guys aren't the. So I didn't write a little. These are my friends, they produced the show with me and we're gonna discuss a little bit of stuff up top here. We have a guest today, an incredible guest, my dear LG Red, Lauren Gardner. You may know her from MLB Network, NHL Network. We're gonna talk about both of those things, baseball and hockey and a little bit about her also. I was able to sit down with a former member of One Direction by the name of Louis Tomlinson. Pause for screams. We had a really, really quick chat. It was on the day that the Sox played game one of their series against the Yankees. And it was a. An interview opportunity that came through very quickly, short notice. I'm saying all of this because it's a very brief appearance from Louis Tomilson, but we did get some interesting sports related tidbits out of him and he is a global superstar. And so I think maybe somewhere at the end of the show we'll put in some of the gold from that. Chris, does that work for you? Our. Our dear editor works for me. Yeah. We'll put. It was. I was flustered at one point. I was like, well, I have to let you go. And he was like, it seems like you have somewhere you need to be because I was asking him about the Sox and if he thought they'd beat the Yankees. And he's like, I don't follow baseball, so I don't know why you. And I was like, listen, Louie Tomlinson from One Direction, are my socks going to pull it off? It wasn't my best, but we got some fun sound bites from him. So that's coming up. So two big guests today and we will get to all of that in a moment. But first, if you want to reach us, Casuals with Katie Nolan. Gmail.com is our email. 646-801-0043 is our voicemail on IG and Tik Tok. We are at Casuals, the podcast. Of course, what we have to start out talking about today is, is what may be a, a sea change moment in the wnba. It is. Even if you're not a WNBA fan, you probably heard rumbles of what happened yesterday. And I'm not talking about the fact that Brady fact check me as we go here. The Aces Beat the Fever and are going to the WNBA Finals. Check.

Brady (4:54)

That happened great.

Katie Nolan (4:55)

And that's not even the big news because the Lynx who were eliminated have given their exit interviews where they talk about their seat and not everybody does this. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. They don't always make news. This one clearly did. Nafisa Collier, who is the star of the links, it's the woman who we discussed was injured by a non call in the second to last game of their season. She's also the vice president of the wnbpa, the Players Association. She is also one of the founders of of Unrivaled, the three on three league that happens in the off season of the wnba. Nafisa Collier went basically scorched earth on the WNBA and most specifically Commissioner Kathy Engelbert, who you may know from such hits as Dancing to Knuck if you buck on the Stud Buds livestream or being at the end of the Spirit tunnel to give what was it? Was it rookie of the Year to Paige? I believe she's. You've seen her, she's been popping up, she's everywhere. Basically. Nafisa showed up to the exit interview with a pre written statement that she delivered. And look, as a, as a sports fan who has watched a lot of athletes give a lot of statements throughout the years, I will say this is one of the wilder ones. She really did not hold back in her criticism of the league at what a lot of people know is a moment of growth that the league is experiencing. We are also on the cusp of what may be a lockout and it feels like after this speech it seems as though we've heard before during the All Star break that both sides are really not close to a deal. And obviously hearing this now at the end of the season, it seems like they're not closer than they were before. She takes issue with a number of things, one of which being the officiating. She actually even mentions that she's brought this up to Kathy in the past and in their conversations Kathy has said something along, along the lines of only losers complain about the refs, which I think is certainly a statement. It's a statement that rings true with sports fans in the sense that that's, you know, the team that comes out and says hey, it was the ref's fault. Usually it's like you can point to something else your team did where they lost a game that they could have won, but I don't think when a player comes to you and says I have some real concerns about the quality of officiating in our league. I don't think that the best thing to do there is to answer in a way that says, losers only complain about the refs. That doesn't feel like where that phrase rings its truest. So I just want to challenge anybody listening to this that goes like, yeah, that does ring true to me. I don't know if it rings true necessarily when we're talking about a conversation between an athlete and the commissioner of the sport that they play in a couple. A lot of interesting stuff to say about what Fee had to say. We don't have a ton of time, so I just want to say can we play the quote audio number three marked down here in the rundown? Can we play that quote for everybody? Let's take a listen.

Nafisa Collier (8:09)

For too long, I have tried to have these conversations in private, but it's clear there is no intention of accepting there's a problem. The league has made it clear it isn't about innovation. It isn't about collaboration. It's about control and power. Our leadership's answer to being held accountable is to suppress everyone's voices by handing out fines. I'm not concerned about a fine. I'm concerned about the future of our sport. We have the best players in the world. We have the best fans in the world. But right now, we have the worst leadership in the world.

Katie Nolan (8:39)

That is, as I said, a strong statement. Worst leadership in the world. I also want to say, on behalf of Phi, she mentions this when she sits down to read the letter that she typed. She's injured. She walked to this press conference in a boot and is clearly out of breath. And I think she at one point was like, hey, sorry, I walked here in a boot. So that's why I am not breathing properly. So when you hear her, if it were me and someone played a clip of it on their podcast, I want them to go like, she doesn't normally breathe like that. That's just.

Isabella (9:09)

Oh, no. The same thing. Because my first thought was, like, maybe she's a little nervous because I would be.

Katie Nolan (9:13)

Which also, it could be that. But she says, like, I walked here and she's hurt, so that's why she's breathing that way. She's also taking a stand against a league at a time when people. I think one of the smartest things about what Fi had to say for me is when she included Caitlin Clark in this conversation. I think it's been a difficult thing to discuss as an. As a WNBA casual. We've talked about it a little bit on this podcast that with the influx of fandom to the WNBA in this moment of growth, a lot of it has happened behind Caitlin Clark, a standout, incredible player, shoots logo threes, had a great college career. She's exciting and she's interesting and she's incredibly talented. I also think that there has been like a bit of a she is a white player in a predominantly black league. And I think there's been a lot of complicated conversations around that fandom that has been a little divisive among WNBA fans in this moment. What's most important is to align the players and the players supporters, all on one side, against the league and their ownership. And I think it was very smart of fear to bring up a conversation that she had with Kathy in regards to Caitlin. I believe we have a clip of that. Can we play that? Chris?

Nafisa Collier (10:35)

I also asked how she planned to fix the fact that players like Caitlin, angel and Paige, who are clearly driving massive revenue for the league, are making so little for their first four years. Her response was, caitlin should be grateful she makes 16 million off the court because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn't make anything. And in that same conversation, she told me players should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars for the meteorites deal that I got them.

Katie Nolan (11:00)

Okay, first of all, you're the head of a women's league on their knees thanking. I don't think even just having the awareness to know that's not necessarily a phrasing I'd go with. That's asking too much, maybe you could say, but what can I say? I ask too much. Aside from that Caitlin should be grateful she made 60 million off the court because without the platform the WNBA gives her, she wouldn't make anything. Is a crazy statement to make in general, but to make during the era of nil is just factually inaccurate. It's the wnba. It's funny because in the past, WNBA players have had to spend their off seasons working their bodies extra in foreign countries in order to make enough money to live. Now, for the WNBA commissioner to say that if it weren't for the wnba, you'd have no way to make money as a women's basketball star. Just feels like she's not paying attention. That's not true. It is. I should say that Is Nafisa quoting Kathy, what Kathy said to her. We have gotten a response from Kathy Engelbert. We don't have it. It's not a great statement. She basically was just like, I hear what she had to say. I think it's important to listen to players and we'll work together. She didn't direct address anything and you would think if she was being misquoted, I don't know, but you'd think she'd come out and go like I never said that. And she didn't. So I would say I have no reason to doubt that Fee is at least paraphrasing what was said to her accurately. I'm interested to know your guys thoughts on this casualties because there's a, a lot of ways that this can go. I think my main takeaway is that we are at a, an inflection point for this league. Obviously something's going to give one way or the other and growth will hopefully come out of that. But I'm curious to know how this was received. The.

Chris (13:03)

The Caitlin Clark portion of what Fee said was the one that surprised me the most. I guess what Cathy was saying about Caitlin Clark and all these players should be grateful to the WNBA for what the WNBA has been able to give to them. That's just outstandingly dumb. The. The fact that players like Caitlin Clark and Paige and Angel Reese, they all made their name in college, they had fantastic college careers. They have brought the game of women's basketball to the forefront in this culture over the last couple years because what they are able to do predominantly on the college court, they became a brand before they even stepped foot onto a WNBA floor. The fact that Kathy's trying to take credit for what they have been able to do by themselves at their schools is just mind blowing to me. I can't really believe that that was something that the WNBA commissioner was able to take credit for or thought that she was, you know, right in taking credit for. It's ridiculous.

Brady (14:14)

Never seen this aggressive of a statement from a player of this magnitude, this directly towards the commissioner of a league. And it's the way she delivered it. Also, you can't write it off as, you know, emotional. You can't write it off as off the cuff. I mean, it was deliberate, it was well written out. It was, you know, direct and did not pull punches and went straight to, I am quoting, conversations I had with her. She made this as harsh as possible with as large of a crowd as she was going to get for it and as many people listening and as little chance of anything being misconstrued. It was so just cutting in a way we've never seen from an athlete of that level or any athlete. Because who else has the power to do it in any sport? Just like Just jaw on the floor at how harsh these words were and how bad things have to be to get to this point during a sports postseason.

Katie Nolan (15:21)

Yeah, we're talking about a league that, you know, a few short years ago were flying like commercial to their games. There were teams that missed games because their flights got delayed. It's. There's a lot of growth that has been necessary for the W. And I know people get really weird when women get out there and ask for stuff that they feel they deserve. And so I imagine this conversation is gonna get, you know, hairier before it gets less hair. Before it gets shaved. I don't know.

Brady (15:52)

Before it gets balder.

Katie Nolan (15:54)

Yeah.

Isabella (15:54)

Before it has laser hair removal.

Katie Nolan (15:56)

Exactly, Exactly. I will say several other NBA WNBA players voiced their support for her on social media. Paige Beckers posted an Instagram story with a photo of her and Nafisa with the caption Queen Fee Angel Reese on X posted 10 out of 10, no notes. NECA, who is the president of the players association tweet, posted, time is ticking and Fee speaks for me. Derica Hamby from the Sparks said feces. Oh, feces pieces. Okay, that's her at handle. Feces pieces. Thank you for your bravery with a thousand exclamation points. Feces pieces. I get it how you like that. I get it. I.

Isabella (16:41)

Do you think it should have been feces cups?

Katie Nolan (16:43)

No.

Brady (16:43)

What? No, that's. That's equally same thing.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (16:47)

Sorry, guys.

Katie Nolan (16:48)

No, I think the problem is that a lot of people used to say Reese's PC's. And if you were to say this that way, that first word means poop. It's feces pieces. So I don't. But I don't. But that's. Again, that's user error because we all know now it's Reese's Pieces. We're all grown, we're all adults. And. And it's feces pieces. I love when an athlete has a handle that is not like just their name. And you have to say like cut on dime one says. And then you have to say who it is because you can't.

Chris (17:20)

Especially a start to the caliber of.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (17:22)

Right.

Katie Nolan (17:23)

Right. And I guess the capitalized phee does make sense. Like it does help me know that it's Fee, but I do just partially wish it was her name. Asia Wilson in her post game press conference after the Aces Fever game five. I'm gonna ride with Fee always. Obviously she's a business girly and she has her own stuff going on. But moving forward, we gotta continue to stand on business as we talk about this CBA negotiation. So. So it seems like we should brace for potentially a lockout, maybe brace for a potential leadership change. The WNBA has not had a lot of luck in the commissioner position. Not that I'm, like, looking at other commissioners across sports and going like, gimme, gimme. It's not like I love a commissioner anywhere.

Isabella (18:11)

You don't have a favorite, commish?

Katie Nolan (18:13)

No, no, no. Least favorite would be a tough. Would be a tough one. I would say it's probably between Bettman and Goodell, but I feel like Adam.

Brady (18:23)

Silver had a number one seed locked up until, like, two weeks ago.

Katie Nolan (18:27)

Yeah, yeah. I just think, like, the commissioner's job, as I understand it, has always been like, you take the heat for the owners, you work for the owners, and you take any heat for things off of them. So we don't look into where their money came from and how they spend it. And you sort of just, you know, are a. An ambassador for the league, essentially. Well paid, though. And I saw that conversation come up that nobody knows how much Kathy makes. And, you know, we have a lot of information on other people's salaries. And when you're in a league that's fining people $500, when they say something bad about the refs because they can't afford to find them more, because they can't, quote, unquote, afford to pay them more, then you do start to go, well, how much is the commissioner making? Because if it's a lot more than the stars of the Spanish sport, that certainly feels backwards to be profiting this much off of the hard work of women who you then say you can't afford to pay and who should be grateful on their knees for what you do give them. So, look, it's complex, and I certainly do not envy whoever's job it is to figure all of this out. I hate business. The business of sport is enough to make me not like sport. So I, you know, will be anxiously waiting to see what happens here. I feel like this puts Unrivaled in an interesting position, Chris, don't you think?

Chris (19:49)

Yeah, they.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (19:50)

Well, we.

Chris (19:51)

We saw the success of Unrivaled in the last off season. What Fee and Stewie have been able to accomplish when it comes to that competition, if there's a WNBA lockout, that. That has the room to grow. But it also shows just the creation of Unrivaled in the first place. It shows that Fee is just willing to do things other than just talk. Right. She's not just coming out here spewing words without really having any sort of drive behind it, any sort of purpose behind it, she is getting out there and actively trying to do whatever she can to improve the careers of women's basketball players across the country. And so these. I think that just makes her words so much more powerful. She is someone who is in a position to change the landscape of women's basketball in the country and she's doing a fantastic job. It's going to be a very interesting next 12 months or however long this thing is going to draw out for.

Katie Nolan (20:49)

I think I saw somewhere that there's. They're making an announcement tomorrow. Unrivaled is making a big announcement in Philly on. Well, today, actually, because this comes out on Thursday. So by the time you listen to this, it might have been announced, but I don't know what it is. And I didn't find any hints I felt comfortable sharing. I don't know. So we'll see what that is. But like you said, Chris, an interesting time for the league. Isabelle, I don't wanna put you on the spot. Do you have any thoughts on any of this? Is any of this meaning anything to you?

Isabella (21:18)

I guess the main takeaway is kind of just like it's clearly people within this league are unhappy and I just don't understand how you could respond in that way.

Katie Nolan (21:28)

Yeah. Not the response you want from a commish.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (21:31)

Yeah.

Isabella (21:31)

And even if they're. Is for whatever reason, obviously I don't know the business of sports that well. For whatever reason, there's some reason why there needs to be some kind of pushback. It's like why you don't say it like that.

Katie Nolan (21:44)

Yeah. An interesting choice of words for a lady who it seems, is paid to just choose her words properly. So I'm not really sure why Kathy Engelbert wouldn't be better at that. But we will wait and see what happens. And we, as always, stand with the athletes. I think it's so fascinating as somebody who's observed a lot of men's leagues throughout the years, and we're talking about athlete empowerment and athletes. And it's always like, yeah, it's kind of empowerment, but they're not fully taking back the. And this feels like the W, as with most female athletes, like they're not around. They know that other leagues have functioned this one way, but they don't accept that that's the way that every league has to function. And so I feel like pushing back like this, while groundbreaking in the world of sport, does not surprise me at all that it's coming from a W league. And as always, we stand with those athletes and hope that they get, you know, the things that they need in order to be able to play their sport, in order for us to be able to watch it grow and enjoy it. So that being said, the finals are set. When do Those start?

Chris (22:45)

Game one is on Friday at 8pm.

Katie Nolan (22:47)

Okay, so something to look forward to. It's Aces Mercury, and it should be good. So tune into that and also stay tuned into what's happening in.

Isabella (22:59)

Do you have a rooting interest for this final?

Katie Nolan (23:01)

You know, I don't, but I'm rooting for good games. I think I would. I love Asia Wilson, so I think I would, you know, if the Aces won, I wouldn't be. But either way, I mean, the Mercury fought a hard fight to get here, and I don't want to be dismissive of them. So I. It could, you know, I don't have a rooting interest, just rooting for some good basketball.

Isabella (23:22)

Mercury's not like in retrograde right now, right? Because that's like so poorly, like time. Why would they schedule it?

Katie Nolan (23:29)

You know, can I say something, Isabella? I feel like Mercury's been in retrograde for like four years. There was a period there where they were like, Mercury's in retrograde and it's not going into regular grade until like two years from now. So I don't know if we ever came out of.

Isabella (23:43)

I think we're good. I mean, based on the Old Farmer's Almanac, the Mercury retrograde will begin once again on November 9th.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (23:49)

Oh, my God.

Katie Nolan (23:50)

It's coming back to going back.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (23:52)

I don't know.

Isabella (23:53)

Fact check me.

Brady (23:55)

According to ismercury in retrograde.com? no. Something else must be bumming you out.

Katie Nolan (24:03)

Ain't that the truth. All right, so Mercury's not in retrograde, but they are moving forward into the finals, which start on Friday. So we'll take a look at that. Okay, let's go ahead and get into our first guest for today. We're going to get into this after the break. She works in at the MLB Network studios. You'll see her through across their studio shows throughout the month of October. Lauren Gardner. She's got beautiful red hair. We call her LG Red. Her. I think her Instagram is LG2 underscores red. It's one of those ones that's hard to say out loud. You can't just go lgred, you got to go LG underscore, underscore red. But as a follow, very valuable. And you should do it. She also works with the NHL. She hosts NHL now weekdays at 5pm on NHL Network. Now, I have to say a little bit of a trigger warning here. LG has had a tough year and I haven't seen her in a while. She just came back to work. And so we do talk about some complicated topics, specifically child loss. Chris, I will ask that you put in the description of this episode a time code for anybody who wants to skip ahead to the baseball part if that's not something they're comfortable listening to right now. And please don't skip her as a guest because, my God, she's a wealth of information. She loves baseball and that comes through hockey as well. But I just wanted to give you guys a heads up so that nobody's confronted by something they weren't ready to listen to when they tuned into a sports podcast today. So we're going to take a quick break and when we come back, we'll be here with my girl, LG Red. I am so excited to be wearing fall clothes again, to be able to put on more than two articles of clothing and not sweat through it. Macy's Fall Fashion Guide is your one stop shop for the season's biggest trends curated by Macy's style experts. Think Weekend in the country, the new boho and statement luxury. For her, that means romantic flowy dresses from cc, Sheer looks from Inc. Luxe leather by Donna Karan and Karl Lagerfeld and bold animal prints from Anne Klein, Steve Madden and more. And for him, Levi's bomber jackets, vintage inspired denim statement loafers and relaxed suiting from Hugo Boss and Michael Kors. Shop now@macy's.com or in store today.

Andy Cohen (26:10)

Hey everyone, it's me, Andy Cohen. Buckle up because I have a podcast called Daddy Diaries where I take my listeners on an as it happened recount of life as a daddy to two kids, dozens of housewives and the occasional fella. Listen to the Daddy Diaries to hear about my high highs and low lows of parenting, housewives, drama, and so much more. Daddy Diaries available wherever you listen to podcasts. If you're a maintenance supervisor at a manufacturing facility and your machinery isn't working right, Granger knows you need to understand what's wrong as soon as possible. So when a conveyor motor falters, Grainger offers diagnostic tools like calibration kits and multimeters to help you identify and finish fix the problem. With Grainger, you can be confident you have everything you need to keep your facility running smoothly. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickgranger.com. or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.

Katie Nolan (27:02)

For a.

Andy Cohen (27:02)

Limited time at McDonald's, get a Big Mac Extra Value meal for $8.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (27:07)

That means two all beef patties, special.

Katie Nolan (27:09)

Sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun, and medium fries.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (27:13)

And a drink.

Katie Nolan (27:14)

We may need to change that jingle. Prices and participation may vary. LG Red, my girl, LG Red is here. We've met in person.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (27:22)

Only one time blows my mind. I feel like I know you.

Katie Nolan (27:24)

I know my dear friend. Yes. Have followed you, Love you. And the energy that you bring to everything that you touch. Mostly baseball and hockey. You're just a pillar of the industry to me personally.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (27:38)

Wow. I feel the same exact way. It's crazy hearing those words come out of your mouth because I've been a huge fan of yours for a very long time. Like, the way you approach sports is the way I think we all should. And it's just so relatable and so fun. And I just like, I felt like you've been my friend well before you and I met. So to hear those words come from your mouth, I'm like, fangirling. I appreciate it. Shut up. Same.

Katie Nolan (27:59)

We met, I think it was right after I was done with my season of baseball. It was, I think, our last game. Yes. And we all went out for drinks afterwards. And I just remember coming up to you, very relieved to be done with a season, if I can paint the picture. But I also was just like, I was like, I just want to meet you and say, hi, I'm Katie. And we just had this lovely moment that I was like, okay, so that's my friend for life.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (28:19)

Yes.

Katie Nolan (28:20)

So I'm happy to have you and to have you here. I do want to say you've had a very tough year. Yes. And I'm so sorry. But I wanted to give you space to talk about what you've been through, because I know it's something that women go through quite a bit. And I think there's value in hearing from a successful woman who's going through it right now, your personal experience.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (28:40)

That is so kind of you to ask and to give space, especially on a platform that is for, you know, like, all our girlies are out there. Everyone who identifies as, you know, whatever gender, but it's primarily men watching. But there are a lot of fathers out there, brothers, you know, husbands and, you know, their significant others go through this a lot more often than we think. And my husband Patrick and I, I didn't think I would get Emotional. But we probably will hear how we start this off. But we. We were pregnant until June. We were almost nine months pregnant with our beautiful baby. We called him Poppy. We didn't know the gender because we wanted to be surprised. So it was a little poppy seed on the app, and it compares it to, like, you know, a piece of fruit or a vegetable. So that was. We called the kid poppy seed for a while and became poppy. And it was just such a beautiful, healthy pregnancy. And it was actually my first ever pregnancy. We'd been trying for about 11 months. We were about to undergo fertility treatments. And I know that's a journey in and of itself, self having, you know, just full transparency here, but I think it's important to be an open book. I had frozen my eggs a few years ago, so I was like, well, you know, well, on this journey, and I had met Patrick, and we just decided we wanted a family. We're at that point in our lives, and we had a beautiful, very healthy pregnancy. Worked throughout the entire thing. Every single appointment, every single scan. Like the doctors use the words perfect. Like, everything was perfect. So we were expecting to have Poppy in. In July. Mid July was a due date. I was getting big, so I was thinking he was going to come early. Yeah. I was like, this kid is coming early. And sadly, one night after work, I went home, and I was like, you know, I haven't felt Poppy in a while. And, you know, they tell you to count kicks sometimes, but for the most part, you talk to other moms, you talk to your ob, they just say, as long as you feel them in the morning and at night, you're good, because, you know, baby's schedules change. They get bigger, they rest. Something just felt off. So we decided, out of abundance of caution, to go to the emergency room and the hospital where the L and D floor was located. So this is where we were going to be delivering Poppy. So I was like, okay, we'll go in. They're going to tell us, like, everything's fine. Go home. Worst case, you know, at 34 and a half weeks, we were almost, you know, eight and a half. Almost nine months, like. And Poppy was five and a half pounds. Like, he could have, you know, we could have gotten him out, and he would have been okay at the, like, very worst. And we go in, and sadly, there was no heartbeat. And, like, it was such a surreal moment, Katie. Like, it just, like my whole world just, like, completely shattered, and so did my heart. And so, you know, immediately, like, you're in shock, and you Want to ask if you can just, like, can you put me under and can we just perform a C section and, like, be as far away from this as possible? And they're like, no, you need to, like, we're going to induce you and you have to deliver. Sorry, I know this is like, in the weeds and feel free to edit out whatever you want.

Katie Nolan (31:26)

No, no, I didn't. I didn't know that part. And that I can't imagine.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (31:32)

It was. The whole thing was surreal. And it felt like, you know, you're kind of like spiraling into the absolute worst case scenario scenario I didn't even know was possible. Like, I thought once we got to 20, 22 weeks, we were like, totally out of the woods. And, you know, literally the worst case scenario was presented. And, you know, we eventually, the next morning, this was like midnight. So, you know, my parents hopped on the first flight from Colorado. They are saints. But Patrick, my husband's sister, came. You know, she has three kids. She like, 3am she was there for us, like, just an absolute saint. And so, yeah, we were induced and we had 48 hours of labor. My body was like. There were no other signs, Katie. No other signs. So my body was not ready. This was like. My body was like, this is your child. Like, I don't know what plans you have, but we were holding onto this kid. So eventually, like, you know, things progressed. We didn't have to perform a C section. They were worried about that. You know, the safest thing at this point for mom is to deliver the old fashioned way. And finally we got to that point, it got a little scary. They were thinking they had to take other measures, medical measures to expedite the whole process. So it was enough drugs and other things, they were able to get us to that point. And it was really hauntingly beautiful. But we were able to deliver him. And they offered opportunities to spend time with your baby, which is heartbreaking in and of itself, but it's also really beautiful. Really beautiful and really healing. And he was so beautiful. And our family was there. And the care team. I cannot say enough good things about the care team at the hospital. The nurses, the doctors, like, they just made us feel so comfortable and so loved and comforted, and they offered all the resources. I was like, bring the rabbi, the chaplain, the psychiatrist, the social worker.

Katie Nolan (33:24)

Check every box.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (33:25)

Jesse. Yeah, we will talk to you.

Katie Nolan (33:26)

All of it.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (33:26)

All of them.

Katie Nolan (33:27)

Oh, my go.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (33:28)

And they offer to take photos and just all these things, like, you're preparing for the complete opposite of what you're experiencing. And, you know, they come in, they ask you these questions like, do you have a funeral home? Of course I don't have a funeral home. What are you talking about? So it was really beautiful in its own way to get to meet him and go through that experience. And I guess my mindfulness and meditation and spiritual practice was so strong leading up to this that I truly believe, like, there was purpose to his passing. I think there's purpose to his life. It was 240 days and he did live. And we had, like, our own private little family funeral for him. And, yeah, had him cremated. And it just, like, it's so heartbreaking. There were no warning signs. And it turns out it was so sad because when I wanted to be really open about it, I was on TV almost every day while I was pregnant. And I wasn't small, so it wasn't.

Katie Nolan (34:23)

Like we didn't notice.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (34:24)

Yeah. And he was like our mascot. So it was something I eventually had to come out and tell the world. But I also wanted to because so many people came out and said either something similar had happened to them or to a family member or someone they knew. And even when I posted on social media, it was really beautiful, but also heartbreaking to hear how many people had gone through something similar and felt less alone. And it happens to about 1 in 170 people in the US annually. It blows my mind. A 1 in 4 pregnancies end in a miscarriage. So at some point, sadly, sadly, I wish no one ever had to go through anything similar to this. Someone's affected by that and to their credit, like, our community. That's why I love working in sports. Like, you just told the story about how you and I are basically friends just based off of one meeting, but it's just like, we knew each other, but the whole community just rallied. And they were so kind. Like, everyone from when I was back in the day, Denver Broncos cheerleader. Like, they all rallied and they were so kind and sent, you know, messages and gifts. It was just like a flood of love. Mlb, NHL, Apple. Like, everyone was just so incredibly kind and loving. And the sad thing is, at the federal and state level, you don't get paid maternity leave now. I'm one of the lucky ones.

Katie Nolan (35:40)

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (35:41)

They gave me. They just. They took care of us. They said, take. You know, MLB is like, take all the time you need. We got you. And they truly did. But there is. There is a woman out there that is helping as, like, an ambassador and spokesperson for a bill that's with the New Jersey state legislature right now to give that paid leave, depending on, you know, what took place. But it will be some form of paid leave. And I think that is probably part of the purpose to Poppy's passing is to get behind this. And I don't want to. I want to raise awareness and helping people feel less alone. I also don't want to be, like, the sad person because this will not define us. If anything, Poppy's joy will live through us, but I just to know they're not alone and this does happen to people. It's a lot more common than we think, which is really sad. And I guess all we can do is be there for them, love them, and, you know, try and take as many measures as we can to take care of ourselves and take care of each other.

Katie Nolan (36:35)

Yeah, man. To imagine going through that, I can't even put myself in your shoes. But to know, like you said, that there could be women going through this that don't have the support system around them and the ability to come back to work, which, again, in and of itself, is incredible, to come back to work the way that you have. And I know we were all so excited to see you back.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (36:57)

Thank you.

Katie Nolan (36:58)

Yeah. Myself very much included. Just so happy. And so, like you said, there is a purpose to Poppy's life. He was here for a reason, and we'll learn that reason more as your life goes on. You can't know it all right now.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (37:13)

We cannot.

Katie Nolan (37:14)

Couldn't possibly know right now. But I'm so sorry.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (37:19)

Thank you.

Katie Nolan (37:19)

You went through that, that you experienced that loss.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (37:22)

And thanks for letting us share.

Katie Nolan (37:23)

Yeah.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (37:24)

Thank you for sharing me, Cher. But Poppy's always with us.

Katie Nolan (37:26)

No, it's us. It's. It's for. On behalf of your whole family and on behalf of Poppy. So rest in peace. To Poppy. And thank you for coming in. I didn't want to make you come. I wanted to see you so bad, but I was like, I don't want to make her. She must be so busy coming back to work in the middle of a post season for baseball and not to pivot fully.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (37:45)

But I do transition the best I could do. Possible task.

Katie Nolan (37:49)

I want to distract from any pain you're feeling. But b, I feel like this was a. A, like you said, one of my biggest takeaways from working in baseball was how much of a family it feels like behind the scenes, from managers to players to, like, support staff in a team. The relationships that they have with people who cover this sport ran a lot deeper than I Realized when I bopped into there for a year.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (38:13)

You did an incredible job, by the way. I loved having you.

Katie Nolan (38:16)

It was very. I think, ultimately I'll look back on it and think it was very fun. I'm so grateful for the people that I got to meet and know through this, and it's reignited my love for this incredible sport. So for all of that, it was worth it. But I feel like coming back for you. Of all the sports that I've worked, I feel like this is a good community to come back to and feel supported. And everybody I've talked to has been like, lg's back. Aw.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (38:40)

I love you. It's like a warm hug.

Katie Nolan (38:42)

Good. And you deserve it. God, we all should just be hugging you.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (38:45)

Thank you. Hold your hand. You gave me, like, the best hug when I walked in this room, and that love was so received.

Katie Nolan (38:51)

Thank you, sweet angel. Let's talk about the baseball. I should say. I should say for our listeners, we are recording this on Wednesday, which is usually a convenient day. It's inconvenient for this because we're in the middle of the wild card series. So for the sake of this episode being valuable to a listener, we're gonna mostly kind of skim over what happens in the wild card series. Cause we don't know. We don't know. We know right now who has won one game. And we also know that everybody who's won the first game has won in this format.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (39:25)

It's so.

Katie Nolan (39:26)

It's, like, positive pun intended.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (39:27)

It is actually wild how that's, like, come to fruition. Right.

Katie Nolan (39:31)

So we could assume, but we won't assume.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (39:34)

I mean, that's certain. I feel like you're putting good juju out there for your team.

Katie Nolan (39:37)

I just don't see what happens as I sit here in my Red Sox shirt. But Garrett Crochet, I mean, incredible.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (39:43)

He didn't break a sweat.

Katie Nolan (39:45)

17 pitches. Crazy.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (39:46)

That last pitch was triple digits. I was like, who are you? Are you like, he looks like he bails hay in the off season. Like, what is he doing? It's like old hamstring.

Katie Nolan (39:54)

And can you pitch every game? Could you just pitch every game?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (39:57)

It was so fun to watch.

Katie Nolan (39:58)

I don't see why not. It was fun, thrilling, and absolutely thrilling. It was like 17 retired. 17 batters in a row after the home run. It was a fantastic game. That, again, we're not going to focus on. Because we can't. Maybe I should start here. Maybe we should start broader postseason. Baseball being the best.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (40:17)

Yes.

Katie Nolan (40:19)

Do you have A favorite postseason memory from either your time working in it or even just as a child like anything that is your.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (40:25)

You're a. I'm a Rockies fan.

Katie Nolan (40:27)

Right.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (40:27)

So yeah, I mean, go rocks. It's a great. Have you ever been to the ballpark? The ballpark's great. Okay.

Katie Nolan (40:33)

So you saw that pitchers duel in that ballpark and I was like, what the hell is this? This is not what was happening.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (40:38)

You should have bought a lottery ticket.

Katie Nolan (40:40)

Where I'm here for a dinger off.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (40:43)

And only so 5,280. You're a mile high. That's amazing that you saw a pitcher's duel at Coors Field. So I. I guess not too many memories. But growing up, I mean, I was a huge Larry Walker fan because I grew up playing competitive softball and I was, you know, he was a lefty. I'm a lefty. I don't know what I was thinking. But I started off as a catcher, as a lefty. That didn't make any sense.

Katie Nolan (41:03)

Okay.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (41:03)

So then eventually out to first and then I. I retired my illustrious high school.

Katie Nolan (41:08)

You hung it up as a center fielder.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (41:10)

But I loved watching Larry Walker. So anytime going out to watch like the Blake Street Bombers, like my dad knew, I'm like, we have to get tickets in right field. We're going to watch Larry Walker. He's going to throw a rope and get somebody out at third at some point in time. It was so fun to watch. And of course in 07 against your red Sox. Thanks for the sweep.

Katie Nolan (41:26)

You're welcome.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (41:26)

I mean I was just happy to be there. So we didn't care that we made it to the World Series. It was magical. But covering baseball, Katie 2022, without a doubt covering the Phillies. We started off wild card round. It was like the first year, I believe with that format. They were down by six in the ninth in game one. And they like, you know how it goes when you're like covering a sport and you're getting ready to do post game and they like basically like you. You kind of like all corral behind home plate only there was a brick wall so we couldn't see anything. All I could, the crack of the bat and the reaction of the fans in St. Louis and they're like, I just watched their like world fall apart as the Phillies came back. They won game one, they swept that and they eventually went on to the World Series. And I was covering them for the majority of the post season. And it was, you know, they called it group like Phillies daycare. But you also had like Kyle Schwaber and Bryce Harper, who were kind of like, you know, the galvanizing, like elder forces that kept everyone in line. It was such a fun group. They finally, you know, like, advanced onto the World Series over the Padres in game. I believe it was game five of the cs and like Bryce Harper standing there in the middle of Citizens bank park, you know, like this place had just completely erupted. He, I think, hit the go ahead home run and I had an opportunity to interview him. And he gets emotional. I'm getting emotional, like trying to be as, I guess unbiased as possible. But you just like the fans in Philly. That's a different, different breed of people.

Katie Nolan (42:47)

Amazing.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (42:47)

It was so much fun. Like, I just, I love everything about Philly sports and I never thought I would say that, but I really do.

Katie Nolan (42:53)

So that I don't know if this is just. Maybe baseball's the thing that does it best. My opinion of Phil Phillies sports fans changed completely through baseball. They're right. Phillies fans are passionate, of course, loud and opinionated. Of course they're not going to let you get away with a lot, but they're like informed and supportive in a way that I think they don't get enough credit for.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (43:17)

And they're smart and hilarious.

Katie Nolan (43:18)

Yes. And they're just a very. They're probably one of the funniest fan bases I think that we have. But they're so. I don't know. Philly is just so maligned in sports media as like these terrible fans. And I'm not absolving Eagles fans entirely. Some of them are different brand. Right. But I do think, like, yeah, Phillies fans kind of made me go like, hey, I think this city's getting a bad rap. And these passionate fans really do, like, love their team.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (43:42)

Love, love.

Katie Nolan (43:43)

They just want them to win. They love their team and they have.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (43:45)

The fun relationships with their players. Like Alec Booms, like I blanking hate this place. And they all got T shirts. They gave them standing ovations like Trey Turner with the billboard when he was struggling and instead of booing him, they just gave him a standing ovation. He bought a billboard to thank them.

Katie Nolan (43:59)

Fantastic.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (44:00)

It's great. So, yeah, Phillies 2022. But mean they went on to lose to Houston. It's just, it's hard to pick one. But I would say that was definitely.

Katie Nolan (44:08)

It was a great run.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (44:08)

It was a great one.

Katie Nolan (44:09)

And it's also gives us a good jumping off point to talk about. The Phillies are back. They've. They're on a buy so they'll be playing the winner of Reds Dodgers in the next round. Kyle Schwarber having his first MVP caliber season at 32. Bryce Harper's now been there for longer than he's been with the Nationals than he was with the Nationals. Mind to right. It just feels like that can't be right. And yet it is.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (44:33)

Yeah.

Katie Nolan (44:35)

Still no ring. I'm curious to know, is this like do or die? You know, people talk about windows closing. Is this the moment for this Phillies team?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (44:46)

I want to say last year felt like it. This year definitely does. I just was reading like part of an article that you know, president baseball OPS Dave Dombrowski is like yeah, shouts out love Dave, he's great. But like keeping, he wants to keep that core together moving forward. No Aaron Nola, no Zach Wheeler, but they have Christopher Sanchez. So he gives me faith. Like listen, I understand the Dodgers are no joke. Even when they were they had all the injury issues last year they still went on to win. It's just they always find a way and it's such a likable group. Like you want to be like, oh, it's like the evil Empire, but they really aren't. It's just like when you have Shohei Ohtani, like how can you not like them?

Katie Nolan (45:21)

You keep her. How could you call him evil Empire? Like he's so sweet. But at the same time they are evil and an empire.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (45:31)

Yes, they are.

Katie Nolan (45:31)

They're adorable and I love. So some of them individually.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (45:34)

Yes. And Dave Roberts, like what's not to like about him? Like Doc's amazing. So to answer your question, I think this is, this is Philly's year. This is it. And by the way like if, if we want to talk like the casual sports fan twist like we know they had Phillies daycare. I think they're all like all in middle school by now because few years removed. Like it's time we got to grow up a little bit. Which I think they are. They have but they, they have the power in the lineup and it's the back end that they brought in Jordan Romano in the off season from Toronto and that didn't really work out. But then they guy by the name of Johan Duran and this dude's like his walk up or his like intro music in like the whole video presentation by the endgame crew at Citizens Bank Park. Like they're so talented. Kudos to them. But he's. His nickname is the tarantula and it's a big tarantula coming in and this dude is lights out. I'M sure it's terrifying.

Katie Nolan (46:26)

Great spiders. And when they show that clip of him coming out and you just see the big fire spider, I don't like it. I get why people like it. I know it gets people. I don't like it. Get that spider out of my game. I'm scared.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (46:40)

Yes, I understand. You're right. It does. It feels like it's their year.

Katie Nolan (46:44)

Yeah. I need them to do it. I feel like every year, Dan and I, my fiance, we go up to this house where we got engaged. We got engaged when the Phillies were engaged. Thank you so much. We've been engaged for many years. I should probably do something about it.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (46:55)

You get to speak French and say fiance.

Katie Nolan (46:57)

Exactly. Exactly. And what else? What more could I need? Who needs a wedding? But we are always, like. I feel like we're always watching Philly in the public from this house and, like, rooting for them. And it's like, it's time.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (47:09)

It's time.

Katie Nolan (47:10)

It's time. Unless it's Red Sox time, obviously, that goes without.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (47:14)

That would be a fun World Series.

Katie Nolan (47:16)

I mean.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (47:16)

I mean, you have my cousin Gritty behind you, so that might be a sign.

Isabella (47:20)

That's my boy.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (47:21)

I love that he makes noise.

Katie Nolan (47:24)

That's incredible. You have one behind you. Not to scare you, but you also have one behind you. Yeah.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (47:28)

Can you get gritty on the podcast? How does that work in a podcast?

Katie Nolan (47:31)

See, here's the thing. I would love to.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (47:32)

Right?

Katie Nolan (47:32)

But I think they can't talk. Like, I think legally, they're not allowed.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (47:35)

To talk or, like, use boards. Or maybe you could get a translator.

Katie Nolan (47:39)

Yeah, you could probably do boards. I remember when the Astros mascot came into the booth when we were doing a game for Apple tv, and I just kept going like, and what do you do here? There's nothing.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (47:48)

Yeah. Interaction is limited.

Katie Nolan (47:51)

There's nothing we can do with you. You can't talk Orbit, by the way.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (47:55)

I accidentally called him Blooper.

Katie Nolan (47:57)

Oh, no.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (47:57)

During pregame last year.

Katie Nolan (47:59)

What? Who Braves mascot is Blooper?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (48:01)

I mean, to be fair, they're kind of similar. They're very, like, did a double take. Xavier Scruggs, my analyst, threw me under the bus and was like, did you.

Katie Nolan (48:09)

Just call him Blooper?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (48:10)

And I was like, xnay on the blue bay. And, yeah. Orbit was not thrilled.

Katie Nolan (48:15)

Well, Orbit deserved it. When Orbit. I was not a fiance yet when I met Orbit. And when he came up into the booth and I was like, how is he gonna talk to us? He just kept pointing at his faint ring finger and Pointing at mine and going like this.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (48:28)

You're like. I was like, okay. Are we taking it to that level?

Katie Nolan (48:31)

I was like, okay. I think he's buying it. I don't think we need to be like, bullying me over. I'm not single, Dick, but obviously I just hate the Astros. All right, moving on to the other National League team that awaits a. An opponent, the Brewers. What a season for them. Free burgers at one point for brewers fans because the win streak. So they're feeding America, technically. What are you. What have you seen with their run? You know, obviously, Bob Euchre passed away earlier this year, so this could be very symbolic for them in that way. Um, what are you feeling about the brewers and their upcoming series, which will be against either the Padres or the Cubs?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (49:11)

Yeah. Not going to be an easy task, I guess. If you have to be on one side of the bracket, though, at least you're not on LA or Phillies, so you're not going to run into that meat grinder. If there was ever something or someone to just rally around. And a season like this, it is, of course, Bob Ucher. The late Bob Ucher. And then, you know, their second year skipper, Pat Murphy, He's. He's taken advantage of that. He's like, let's do it. He's a. He has pancakes. He's pocket pancakes. He's like, all over the place. He's so funny.

Katie Nolan (49:38)

Can we talk about the pocket pancake?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (49:40)

I think it's the season of the pocket pancakes. Have you ever heard of that?

Katie Nolan (49:44)

No. And here's why. Lg because there's so much stray lint and debris. I never thought about that in my pocket. There's never a moment. Maybe I'm buying the wrong jeans. That's fair enough. I hate pants. As a woman in her late 30s, pants have become very complicated very quickly. I just wanted shoes.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (50:02)

Do you wear with the pants?

Katie Nolan (50:03)

Dude, look, today I tried on six different pants to try to make this outfit work. And only it does work. It doesn't. I love you, but it doesn't. I had to leave. I was like, I'm gonna be late and I can't with the pants. It's very stressful.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (50:16)

I love the same thing, but the fact.

Katie Nolan (50:18)

I mean, you look fantastic.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (50:19)

Thank you.

Katie Nolan (50:19)

The fact that we're keeping pancakes, which are a somewhat wet food.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (50:24)

Yeah.

Katie Nolan (50:25)

There's. If it's a good pancake, it's a little moist in a linty pocket. I just. I wanna. I need more info before I sign off on it. I can't have people going around here putting pancakes. No.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (50:37)

I don't know if you want to endorse that here on casuals. Aside from the pocket pancakes, I don't really know how that's working. Maybe the clubbies like making sure that is a lint free pocket.

Katie Nolan (50:47)

Maybe. Maybe they're just. And they. And look, they keep their jerseys clean. They get dirt stains out of stuff like those. The clubhouse staff are.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (50:55)

How do you get the grass stains out?

Katie Nolan (50:56)

They say. I feel like there was a detergent company that tried to say it was them a few years ago in an ad campaign. And I'm like, it doesn't work.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (51:02)

That same elbow grease. Or if they're in a pinch, they just buy new pants for them.

Katie Nolan (51:05)

Yes, probably that. Especially now that they're so.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (51:08)

Yes.

Katie Nolan (51:09)

You know, cheap.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (51:10)

Transparent. We are. We believe in full transparency.

Katie Nolan (51:13)

Yes. Even on our pants.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (51:15)

Yeah, exactly. It's just a fun team. I don't know if there's. I think that's beauty of the this club. I mean aside from Peralta, like they are just a fun team this year and they're playing baseball. You know what I mean? Like, you know, like it feels like fun to watch this real baseball. Like, you know, it's such a nuanced sport. But when you're really getting into it, like I want to see someone lay down a bun.

Katie Nolan (51:38)

Yeah, give me small ball. Yes. Chicks dig the long ball. Sure. But chicks also dig small ball. We really do. And we do. We dig strong D always. I love to see bare handed play over it like the hot corner. I love that. I know people love home runs and. I know. But you got the Dodgers for that. Those get everything just all the time play baseball. This is kind of goes along with what you're saying. The only everyday player with an OPS of over.800 this year was their first baseman, Andrew Vaughn, his old name. 64 games he played after the White Sox game away. So it's like that's a. It's an interesting team for sure. It's like scrappy. We'll see how far they can get. I mean the number one seed in the National League. Like they put together quite a season.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (52:24)

They earned it. They earned it. So say what you want. Like, I don't. I mean they're not the odds on favorite. A lot of people aren't picking them in the bracket, which I love the bracket format. Everything in life should be a bracket.

Katie Nolan (52:36)

I agree.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (52:36)

I truly believe that people are.

Katie Nolan (52:38)

Some people don't like it. I love it.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (52:39)

I do too it helps. It's so fun to follow.

Katie Nolan (52:41)

It helps to keep track of. It helps. And like, there's. Maybe this is a good time to talk about this. There's some debate about this wildcard format, if it works. And like you said, they started it this way in 2022. I have liked it up until now. The socks have not been involved. So it's just been baseball, baseball, baseball, baseball all day. Like, I love day playoff baseball. I can see why people wouldn't if they have day jobs that aren't like ours that allow us to watch them. But I love the way it's just like baseball all day, high stakes, no travel days. It's just getting it all done. You like it too, because some people want it to be different. I've heard a lot of criticism of it. I think I like it.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (53:21)

Okay. I do. I really do. I understand what people are saying. I think the counter is you're missing 163, which. My counter to that counter, because I agreed with that. But then last year. Is your fiance a Mets fan?

Katie Nolan (53:35)

No. Okay. No. San Francisco Giants fan.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (53:37)

Oh, fun. Okay, well, we can unpack that.

Katie Nolan (53:39)

But Isabella is a Mets fan.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (53:41)

I. I don't. Isabella, I'm sorry they made you a Mets fan. The voice of God.

Isabella (53:45)

I'm gonna remember that.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (53:47)

Isabella, don't do that to yourself or anyone that you know.

Katie Nolan (53:51)

See, she's helping you. She cares about you.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (53:53)

Do not do it. I have too many friends that are Mets fans, and they didn't have a choice. And it is a. A character defining experience. Sure is a lifelong one, but they had 161last year. It was a double header against the Braves. 161. I remember being at work and we have. You've been to MLB Network Studios, have you?

Katie Nolan (54:09)

Yeah, once, a long time ago. It's awesome. Huge wall.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (54:11)

It's so cool. It's literally like the sports fans dream. And they have a huge wall of all these monitors. We put up the one game on there, and, you know, they won. They, like, punched their ticket to the post season and they went on kind of like that magical run. So that kind of solves that problem. So161.162 can be its own 163. So I understand why, like, people who aren't on board with the new format are like, yeah, but it takes away the excitement. It's another, like, win or go home, one game format for the wild card. But now you get a full series, which in a lot of ways, like, here we are going into I know we're, like, trying to, like, make more evergreen. Yeah, exactly. But, like, one game or however long into these wild card series, and it is win or go home again. So I think it almost, like, raises the stakes, and I think it also fosters rivalries, even though we do have a lot of division rivals playing in the wild card right now against one another. But in my opinion. And it also gives teams a little bit more wiggle room. So, you know, if you worked so hard to win your division and you're not one of the top two seeds, you're unfortunately in the wild card round, and maybe you just have a rough start or a rough game, you get another shot at it. Well, another two shots. So I like the new format. I think it breeds more excitement. It's more daytime baseball. You get 12 teams in, and ultimately, that's what I love. I want more teams in the postseason.

Katie Nolan (55:28)

Yeah. And also, you hit the ground running. It's like, we're in the wild card. It's three games. Boom, boom, boom. Three days in a row. And then we'll get that settled, and then we'll get started on the weekend. I think it's. I love it now. If the Sox lose to the Yankees in the first round, I reserve the right to go. I hate it. I think it's stupid, and I don't think we should do this.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (55:46)

Any good fan would say that.

Katie Nolan (55:47)

Yeah. Thank you. If so, the winner of that series. Sox, Yankees. Will go on to play Toronto. This is Toronto's first division title since 2015. They went 8 and 5 against both of those teams, the Yankees and the Red Sox, this year. And they are rolling with three veterans in their rotation in the postseason in Kevin Gossman, Shane Bieber, and Max Scherzer. What do you think is Toronto's. Do you think. Do you think Toronto will win? I don't know the question that's such a good.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (56:15)

Yeah, but it's a great question, and it's. It's an impossible question. You know, like you said, you just mentioned the regular season records head to head in Toronto. Speaking of being due and like, their window with that core. Especially like Vlad Jr. And Vlad Jr. It's really cool. And I have to credit my really good friend and colleague Xavier Scruggs for pointing this out on our podcast. Off base. But he did a breakdown. And of course, it's like these, like, advanced, like, metrics, like, kind of like AI Analytics. Stick figure, man. Yeah. Casual.

Katie Nolan (56:46)

I understand completely.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (56:48)

They don't have a head. These figures don't Have a head.

Katie Nolan (56:50)

I'm like, x.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (56:50)

Where's the head? And he's like, lg, that's not the point. Like, look at the angle. Like, the launch angle on the shoulders. I'm like, I'm so distracted by the fact that there's no head.

Katie Nolan (56:57)

We just put a head on the body. A head on the body. Would it kill you?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (57:01)

It really is distracting. But aside from that, he did point out the fact that Vlad is not just hitting for power this year, like number one. He's. He's more disciplined at the plate, and that's what's made Juan Soto so good and earned him all that money. I digress what happened with the Mets this season. But he did show up, and he showed out eventually and had, like, the season everyone expected him to have. Vladdy's also just hitting to get on base, and I think that's making a huge difference. And then everything, you know, kind of just. You just. They all follow suit, essentially. And then you're right. Their rotation is really strong. And it's been fun to see Shane Bieber come back from injury and do what he's done. I don't know how Cleveland feels about that right now since they're currently in the mix. But, yeah, I don't want to answer this question because I think it's an impossible question to answer. And there's always the issue of rest versus running.

Katie Nolan (57:52)

That's right.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (57:53)

In this particular situation. I also want to pander to the host here. Yes, I want to say the Red Sox are going to win it all on that side of the bracket. But I will say with care, crochet, if you get an automatic win out of him. And Max Freed in game one, tail off.

Katie Nolan (58:11)

It's funny because if the game. If the series goes to three between the Sox and Yankees, and again, listener, you'll already know. So isn't that fun? That's where I get worried of, like, who's pitching?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (58:22)

What are we doing?

Katie Nolan (58:22)

What does it look like?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (58:23)

What's happening?

Katie Nolan (58:23)

How are we. And then it's so dependent on the bats to get going. Yes. That it's like, if they don't, then I'm me at home starting to spiral, and I'll just start panicking.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (58:33)

I totally understand. You have the X factor, though, in Alex Bregman. I think his leadership, his experience. He has two rings to his name, and that guy is like a cage rat. Even just talking to him, even in college, that's all he did. Everyone else is like, we're gonna go out, have a Good time. Go party. He was in the batting cage. He was studying film. Like, he gets it.

Katie Nolan (58:52)

Well, good.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (58:53)

He could be the catalyst.

Katie Nolan (58:54)

I miss Raffy Devers.

Louis Tomlinson (58:55)

I know.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (58:55)

Personally, I'm sorry.

Katie Nolan (58:56)

I really love Raffy Devers. Especially when you play against the Yankees. Yes, my Yankee Killer. We are in Yankee Stadium. I need my Yankee Killer and I miss him, but I know that's just me being emotional.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (59:08)

Sports is romantic.

Katie Nolan (59:09)

I know. Rest versus rest for a casual fan.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (59:12)

Yes.

Katie Nolan (59:13)

Break it down. Oh, I love that.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (59:14)

This is so fun.

Katie Nolan (59:15)

Just in case.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (59:15)

I love the premise of this podcast. Rest vs. Rust applies to really anything in life, but especially in sports. So if you have the buy, which means you have time off because you played really well, you did good things, and you're rewarded with a later. What would you call it? A buy means you get to wait. Basically, you have to watch your opponents play.

Katie Nolan (59:34)

Yeah, you get to watch while they figure it out.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (59:36)

Yeah, they figure it out. Then it's like, bring it on. So if you're rested, that could be a good thing. Obviously we say in sports, like, the rest could be beneficial. You could rest up your starters, you can rest up everyone in the bullpen. They get like some extra practice days, kind of get their ducks in a row, so to speak, and everything's ready to go. However, there could be a downside in that you're rusty because you're used to playing 162 game season, used to playing every single day, and it could be detrimental to your squad. So rust versus Rust. I did a great job. Percher's dictionary.

Katie Nolan (60:08)

Absolutely perfect. And it's just one of those things that does come up every post season. And then I think about the person at home that's like, what are they talking about?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (60:15)

I appreciate you pointing that out, but.

Katie Nolan (60:16)

It'S a fascinating thing because there is no definitive answer. Some people feel one way or the other about it, and you'll see it with different teams. Sometimes it'll be like, yeah, just taking that week screwed up their rhythm.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (60:27)

Absolutely.

Katie Nolan (60:28)

Sometimes. Especially if you're a team that's rolling at the end of the season and then all of a sudden you stop and you take a break. Well, that's great if you had an injured person who needed some extra. But there was something to that invisible force of we were winning, winning, winning, stacking wins. And then we got a big break and now we can't pull a win out. So.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (60:45)

Very well said.

Katie Nolan (60:46)

Something to look at in the postseason for a newer fan is rest verse. And then if you say that in conversations with people, if you say, you.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (60:53)

Know exactly what you're talking, they're like.

Katie Nolan (60:55)

Oh, my gosh, she brought up rest versus rest. Like, that's sick. She must watch a lot of baseball. And you'll just be there going.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (61:00)

You're like, yeah, obviously.

Katie Nolan (61:03)

All right, the last one then. And the most exciting, I think we've got the Mariners. The Seattle Mariners. Big Dumper.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (61:08)

Best nickname in all of baseball.

Katie Nolan (61:10)

My mvp. I don't want to put pressure on you to make a pick. My MVP is Cal Rawley. Just because he. All of the intangibles, all the stuff that doesn't show up in stats, it's the fact that his position as a catcher doesn't is hard to quantify by stats of the value, especially as we're going to this ABS system next season, which they say might devalue some of the skills that a catcher has. What a great way for him to have a season like this and like, show everybody that catchers are the real deal and they're an important part of the game. The fact that in the off season he gave this team a speed, like he came out and said, being critical of the team, being like, we need to put together a roster that can bring these fans the World Series that they deserve. And then they did. The team went at the deadline and got players that you want to see that can hit, that can produce for this team. I just. Cal Raleigh. For me, when I think back to the 2025 baseball season, I'm going to think about Cal Raleigh. And for that I love to hear that reason. He's my mvp.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (62:10)

It is such a difficult decision. I don't envy any of the voters. I don't know if there's a wrong answer. I mean, there. There was one year in which we had CO MVPs. Now we had.

Katie Nolan (62:21)

When was that?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (62:22)

Dustin Nickerson, I believe it was, was 79.

Katie Nolan (62:25)

Keith Hernandez.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (62:26)

Yeah, it was. Obviously we were totally around. We're like, oh, I don't know about that.

Katie Nolan (62:31)

A great year.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (62:32)

But we had Dustin Nickerson on our podcast, who's a comedian and he's from Seattle. So, like, die hard Mariners fan has like lived and died by. Well, a lot of the negative things that have happened.

Katie Nolan (62:43)

He's mostly died.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (62:44)

And yeah, he makes the argument that, like, if. If he was in New York or LA or a bigger market, it wouldn't even be a contest. But it's. It's such a difficult, difficult decision. Yeah, it really is. He's not on board with the co, though. He's like, I don't want a co. Mvp.

Katie Nolan (62:57)

Yeah.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (62:57)

I think either MVP or bust.

Katie Nolan (62:59)

It's very mean girls of, like, breaking up the crown and handing it to. It's like, I do want. And I think in the WNBA this year, they did. They had, like, co defensive mvp and it was like, okay, but you're like, I want it who wins. The point is about the winner who wins.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (63:14)

No ties in this sport.

Katie Nolan (63:15)

Right. I think the V in MVP is what makes the debate so interesting every year and that, like, a lot of it can be quantified in numbers, of course. But I think there is something to a guy with a great nickname, a funny nickname, who just, like, is fun to talk about. Who, like, you know, seen him hit 60. I mean, 59 was a moonshot.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (63:38)

Yes.

Katie Nolan (63:38)

And then to see as his home crowd is chanting MVP after they've already clinched in the postseason, like, they're. It's. They weren't playing necessarily for. I mean, you know, obviously you always want to win, but they're chanting MVP and he hits 60, and it's just like, how is this not.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (63:57)

It's something out of the moment.

Katie Nolan (63:59)

Like, this is the moment you want to go back and watch and go like, can't believe he did that. That moment is different. If he doesn't win mvp. To me, I feel like I get that.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (64:07)

I get that. I have no idea how this is going to shake out.

Katie Nolan (64:10)

When do we find out? November. So, yeah, we're going to have to wait.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (64:15)

I know it's going to take forever. And then on the flip, like, you just can't discount the consistency of Aaron Judge in his numbers, like, ops, like, head and shoulders. I told. I totally understand. But as you know, a former middle school catcher, I can understand what it's like. You get it to, like, know everything with, you know, not just like your pitching staff, but you have to study the opposing lineup each and every day. You have to know everything about the.

Katie Nolan (64:38)

Participant in every pitch in every play. Like, yes, it's automatic for an MLB catcher to catch a ball, but you still have to do it every single time. There's a margin. There's a way you could screw up.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (64:50)

Absolutely.

Katie Nolan (64:51)

Every single play. Absolutely.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (64:53)

Yeah. So I did hear the argument, though. It's like, if it's a baseball award, it should be given to the person who plays the most baseball. So if you look at it through that lens, it's Cal's award to win.

Katie Nolan (65:03)

He's playing a lot of baseball.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (65:04)

He's playing a lot of baseball.

Katie Nolan (65:06)

He's Playing a lot of baseball. The Mariners will face off against the either Tigers or Guardians, which actually is probably the series. I most feel like I don't know who's gonna come out of the Tigers because of the way the Guardians handled them and the way the Tigers just felt off a cliff. What happened at the end of the season, it was just like that was. They made it in.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (65:29)

That was epic. It wasn't. Yeah. I was going to say the Mets are on the outside looking in and they definitely take that trophy home for the season. So sorry, Mets fans, we love you. And I think there's a support group, probably many support groups out there for Mets fans.

Katie Nolan (65:42)

Have to be at this point. There has to. You guys have to get together and share your feelings.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (65:47)

God, I feel so bad for. I really do. But you're right. In AL Central Division, like a wild card matchup is, is so fun in that like these two teams, like this rivalry has, as was like born recently, but you have two, like very dynamic managers and Stephen VO and AJ Hinch, and they're doing great things with their team. I don't know what happened with the Tigers. It seemed like they had all their ducks in a row. Tarek Skubal, though, is the exception. Unbelievable. Game one wild card on Tuesday, like watching that guy pitch, it's. It's a clinic. And, and I was sitting next to Jake Peavey at work. Cause I was just doing the bridge shows, the post game shows, and like watching a game with a Cy Young Award winner and a World Series champion. Like whether it's him or during the World Series, I had the honor of sitting in the trailer just giving people behind the scenes look for the casual fans. So you think you're at the World Series, which is like the pinnacle of the sport every year, and you're like, oh, will you get great seats? Right? No. We are in a trailer in the parking lot behind the stadium watching on a small tv, all crowded around. Yeah. And it's like all the analysts for the post game shows and the reporters and we're all packed in there and we have a research crew who like that team is unbelievable. Tip of the cap. But watching a sport with someone who has done it at the highest level and achieved the highest accolades is unbelievable. But yeah, talking to, to, to Peevey about the way Tarek school pitches, he's like, that guy pitches. He doesn't just throw gas. Like he knows what he's doing and probably want another Cy Young or crochet. I know he's in the mix too. But yeah, it's. It's a lot of fun. And I don't know who I want to take out of that series, but the fact that the Tigers, I know we're taping this on Wednesday, won game one, I think that may have tipped the scales. But who knows?

Katie Nolan (67:39)

We will absolutely see. Also credit to Skubal for his last time on the mound. Is it David Fry? There's multiple fries. I don't want to get the wrong Fry. There really are. I mean to hit him in the face and react the way that he did and then like, then he threw a wild pitch and then I think he. But just to come back last night to us, but it was two nights ago to when you're listening to this and pitch dominantly again without any sign of like still being shaken up. Like, look, I know he's a professional pitcher. I know it's what he does for a living. But I imagine you're still human. Thrilling someone in the face with a ball going 99 miles an hour, watching it affect them, visiting them in the hospital after. It's got to stay with you a little. What a bounce back performance that could have completely gone. Would have reasonably could have gone another.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (68:28)

Way, derailed him completely. I. And it's understandable. It's a very human reaction to have to that situation. He credits his breath work to his poison on the mound. Oh yeah. Mindfulness and meditation. It is working its way into sports. I don't think it's anything new, but yeah, he's like.

Katie Nolan (68:43)

Does he have like a pre game routine or while he's on the mound?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (68:46)

He was, I think he was referring to like while he was actually in the middle of the game pitching on the mound. Like I think he really focuses on his breath and I'm sure he has some sort of pregame routine. We need to get into that.

Katie Nolan (68:57)

The pitchers pregame routines are fascinating to me. Fascinating.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (69:01)

So long.

Katie Nolan (69:02)

Do you remember the year that Garrett Cole was like annoyed because I want to say Billy Crystal or something and it took a little bit longer than it was supposed to and he like threw a little hissy fit on the mouth. So entertaining. He's like, get out of here.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (69:14)

You're interrupting my routine.

Katie Nolan (69:15)

I have a way. I have to do things.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (69:17)

Baseball players in their routine is fascinating. Don't get in the way.

Katie Nolan (69:21)

They're nuts.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (69:21)

Hilarious.

Katie Nolan (69:22)

They're nuts. We had Vinnie Pasquantino on the show this year. What a guy.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (69:26)

Pasquat.

Katie Nolan (69:27)

We love Pasquat. And he was on like a. He was on the Cus of doing something like a team record or something for consecutive games with a home run, I think is what it was. And I like had a moment where I was like, should I be like, go, Vinnie. Like, should I message him and say. But then I'm like, don't mess up his route.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (69:44)

Don't, don't.

Katie Nolan (69:45)

In any way. If you say nothing, you can't be blamed. And so that was sort of where we netted up. Do you ever feel that way?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (69:51)

Like, if people say, like, I don't know, I get more nervous when people wish me luck or like, you know, tell me to go break a leg or like I'm just like, now people are paying attention, it feels like there's more pressure.

Katie Nolan (70:01)

Yes.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (70:01)

It's. Well, I mean, the intentions are good.

Katie Nolan (70:03)

I know. Or they're bad. Like today I had a lot of people go like, well, well, it's already over. Congrats to your socks. And I was like, don't say that to me. Don't say that to me. Don't you dare jinx me like that.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (70:14)

Not until the last out it is recorded. It is not even close to over.

Katie Nolan (70:19)

Anything can happen to put a bow on baseball. What do you think was the best story of the 2025 season so far? Pre post season? Just the regular season. To you, what stands out?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (70:33)

Okay, such a great question. There are so many things to choose from and I don't want to go back to the low hanging fruit, but it's Big Dumper. How can you not love the story of Cal Raleigh in Seattle and the love affair they have with him? And I think he had like the platinum dumper, like bobblehead come out at the beginning of the season.

Katie Nolan (70:53)

Like, he's just the best. He's the best.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (70:55)

He's so likable. He's like one what sports should be and that like, it transcends all walks of life and it just brings people together. Like just so they can all root for their players, so they can all root for their team. And that's. I think that's why you and I love this job. Like we get to help bring people together, help distract them from the craziness of the world. Like we're, we're doing something silly. But it's also amazing because it just, it unites people and. Yeah, I just think, I think the Cal Rawley story this season, like you said 2025 will always remind you of the Big Dumper. Like, what's not to love about it?

Katie Nolan (71:29)

What is it to me?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (71:30)

I know I Wish I could, like, find some more, like, a more obscure story, but that was it. It's been the season of Cal.

Katie Nolan (71:37)

This. I mean, this is me learning live as I look at this, that a record seven players had 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases this year in the 30. 30.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (71:46)

It's a good club.

Katie Nolan (71:47)

Yeah. Corbin Carroll, Jazz. Chisholm Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez. Shout out. Even though he has that little mistake at third base last night. Juan Soto, Pete Crowe, Armstrong and Julio Rodriguez. That's. That's great. I didn't know that.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (72:01)

Pca. Pete Crowe, Armstrong, the hair, the whole.

Katie Nolan (72:03)

Situation, the fact that his mom was in. Which one is it? Which baseball movie is it not? It's not Rookie of the Year.

Brady (72:12)

Little Big League.

Katie Nolan (72:12)

Thank you. His mom is in Little Big League.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (72:15)

No, I didn't know that.

Katie Nolan (72:16)

Isn't that crazy?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (72:16)

That is so cool.

Katie Nolan (72:17)

Oh, that's awesome. The fact that you don't know that makes me feel like it's me up. Makes me feel like we made that up, because that feels like a thing that you would.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (72:27)

I should know these things.

Katie Nolan (72:28)

No, you shouldn't know them.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (72:29)

I just wouldn't know them. They know. It's good. I'm happy to be informed.

Katie Nolan (72:32)

So now we know.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (72:33)

Now I want to go watch the movie.

Katie Nolan (72:34)

I know. Me, too. I. Actually, that's probably one I haven't watched in a while. Like, I know. That's when he, like, breaks his arm.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (72:42)

Is that Little Big League?

Katie Nolan (72:43)

Little Big League is when the kid takes over owning the team.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (72:46)

Oh, that one.

Katie Nolan (72:47)

Okay. So breaks his arm is Rookie of the Year.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (72:48)

That's Rookie of the Year. A lot of rookie movies.

Katie Nolan (72:51)

Also great. I don't think Rookie of the Year gets enough credit for being the reason why we throw balls back when the opposing team hits it.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (72:59)

The genesis of.

Katie Nolan (73:01)

Well, I believe it was a Chicago tradition.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (73:04)

Yes.

Katie Nolan (73:05)

But because we all, as kids, watched that movie, it became, like, learned behavior of, like, when the other team hits it, you throw it back. And then now it's kind of. That's just a theory I have.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (73:14)

That's a great theory. And I will. Did you, like, after watching that, did you just, like, wish the same thing would happen to you? Yes, I was, like, out, like, falling down, trying to, like.

Katie Nolan (73:23)

Yes. I was like, look at me.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (73:24)

It would become, like, an elite athlete. Put me in.

Katie Nolan (73:27)

Don't you want me? Obviously, I'm selling out for the catch.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (73:30)

I'm nine years old.

Katie Nolan (73:31)

Do something about it. Yeah. I'm a girl. We can do it. I got a short haircut back then. I had a little short haircut. Me too. And I could have gotten away with it. You did?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (73:38)

Yeah.

Katie Nolan (73:39)

How short did you go?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (73:40)

Like mullet style? It was tragic.

Katie Nolan (73:43)

My sister in arms. I did not know as a ginger. Why is that the thing? What were our parents doing? I think my mom thought she was growing a personality for me by keeping me from being seen in any way as an attractive child.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (73:56)

And look at your personality. It was character building.

Katie Nolan (73:59)

Can't say it didn't work. You know, maybe it worked, but yeah, it was a tough. Certainly a rough go.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (74:04)

Oh, man.

Katie Nolan (74:05)

Certainly a rough go.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (74:06)

I feel you. I feel you.

Katie Nolan (74:08)

All right, so that's baseball. Do you have who's winning the World Series? I'm not gonna look at you so you don't have to.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (74:13)

Phillies.

Katie Nolan (74:14)

Okay.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (74:14)

I'm sorry.

Katie Nolan (74:15)

Okay.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (74:15)

I'm going. Yeah.

Katie Nolan (74:16)

Is my NL team, so I would be fine with it, I guess.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (74:19)

Okay, perfect.

Katie Nolan (74:21)

But we'll see. We'll see. I don't have a lot of faith in the longevity of the Red Sox. I would have if, like, Roman Anthony were around and didn't get hurt or if we had, like, if a couple other things went differently than they went. I could see this being the team now. If they win, I'll delete this from the history of the Internet. You'll never know that I had any doubts. But while we're being honest in a safe space, I don't have, like huge hopes.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (74:42)

Your hot takes are the only. Like, the ones that are right are the ones that hit. You just put them back out. How many wrong hot takes have we all had in this industry? You just throw them against the wall.

Katie Nolan (74:53)

The beauty of this podcast only being video for clips is that we only clip the stuff that's like good, brilliant, brilliant. The rest of it goes straight in the bin. You know what I'm saying? Lg, you are not just a baseball lady, you are an NHL lady. And as a born and raised hockey kid, if my family were presented the option to only be able to watch and root for one sport for the rest of their lives, I'm pretty confident they would pick hockey. Hardcore beast. Yes. Season ticket holders to the GD Boston Bruins who have been driving me nuts. I recruited my fiance. He is from. He was like. Spent his childhood in Denver and so he was like tenuously related to. He like kind of liked the Avalanche. And then when he. But he didn't follow hockey and when he became part of our family, he was like, I'll root for the Bruins.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (75:46)

Get indoctrinated at the, the year that.

Katie Nolan (75:49)

They start like you know, doing well and then eliminated early by the Panthers. Then again they run into the Panthers and like he has been had a miserable experience as a Bruins fan. So I want to slightly briefly give a look ahead to the NHL season, but I would like to start with if that's okay. Any words of hope for Boston Bruins fans for this season? Do you have anything?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (76:16)

I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, Katie. It's rough. Our lead researcher at NHL Network who is a genius is his. His name is Lawrence Goldstein. So he's like the OG LG around there. So anytime someone says LG in like our bullpen area, everyone's like. We're both like what? And they're like not you. And I'm like, oh cool. Okay. I'll just go back into my hole over here. He is a die hard Bruins fan and he doesn't seem that optimistic about this season.

Katie Nolan (76:44)

The guy who knows everything doesn't seem optimistic.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (76:48)

I think just like the kicker was Marshand not signing, like re signing. He told me the story about his little girl was like dad, do you think Brad. Brad first name basis is coming back? And he's like, no, honey, he's going back to Florida. It's not looking good. I'm really sorry.

Katie Nolan (77:07)

It's possible. The heart of the team, this scrappy little face licker. And he grows in himself and as a player at your team, he becomes an actual captain. Like a captain, an offensive threat. He's a difference maker. Yeah. And then you just send him to the effing team that has come from out of nowhere.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (77:33)

Yes.

Katie Nolan (77:34)

All just cause there's no taxes in Florida now they've got this super team and my best friend, I think you.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (77:43)

Should tell us how you really feel. Not passionate at all about this situation.

Katie Nolan (77:46)

Devastating. As a lady trying to fight for national sports media to care more about hockey. The Bruins are really difficult.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (77:54)

Great advocate and a wonderful spokesperson and ambassador. We're really grateful to have you. Hockey is like I, I want it to be more of a casual fan.

Katie Nolan (78:03)

Sport because it's, it's action. It's playoff hockey especially is just the greatest.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (78:08)

Nothing better.

Katie Nolan (78:09)

But it's just action. But I understand it's difficult to follow the puck sometimes and, and it's. People are confused by offsides and if.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (78:16)

You can't just go to a game.

Katie Nolan (78:18)

Just go to a game, sit right above the glass center. I mean that's going to at this point cost you a million dollars. Tickets are so expensive now it really.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (78:25)

They really are. Go to a minor league cocky game. Those are so fun. I used to cover minor league cocky. Like, one of my first jobs.

Katie Nolan (78:30)

That's badass.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (78:31)

It was so fun. It was so fun. All they did was fight.

Katie Nolan (78:33)

Yeah. And the chirping, like, snapshot.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (78:35)

Oh, it was hilarious. It was so funny.

Katie Nolan (78:38)

Are the Panthers going to be good again this year? Two time defending champion Stanley Kansas cup, you know, no.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (78:44)

Barkov. Kachuk is out for a little while, but other than that, they're running it back.

Katie Nolan (78:50)

Barkov's out for the season, though, right?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (78:52)

The whole season. Even if it's like the shortest. Like, if it's on the, like, short end of the timeline, he could be back maybe towards the end of the regular season, postseason. But he won't even be, like, 100%.

Katie Nolan (79:05)

Yeah.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (79:05)

I think even without him. And then eventually Kachuk will come back. You have the Olympics in play. So what's going to happen with that? Like, we were four nations. That was so fun. And the Tkachuk brothers, Team usa, same side. Dropping the gloves. So good.

Katie Nolan (79:19)

I didn't root for a Kachuk. I can't do it.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (79:22)

Can't even. Even four nations.

Katie Nolan (79:24)

I was like, I understand.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (79:26)

But no, I get it. I totally get it.

Katie Nolan (79:28)

On principle so much.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (79:30)

My dad was rooting for Team Canada for that very reason. As an absent, he's like, I can't.

Katie Nolan (79:35)

Keep the fucking mouth guard in your mouth. Okay? You're chomping on it. Put it in your mouth. There's a reason for it.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (79:43)

I talked to one of the dads who's a dentist, and every time he would see his kid on the ice with his mouth guard out, he's like, put that in. Put it in.

Katie Nolan (79:49)

What are you doing? Otherwise, don't wear it.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (79:51)

You lost two teeth.

Katie Nolan (79:53)

The Oilers last year. Runner up, Connor McDavid, unsigned beyond this year.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (79:58)

What is going on?

Katie Nolan (79:59)

I don't know what is going on. What is going on?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (80:02)

I want it so badly for him. I want it so badly for the sport, for the nation of Canada.

Katie Nolan (80:07)

Yeah.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (80:07)

I mean, we do have a friend that says Canada wins the cup every year, which is pretty cool. Technically.

Katie Nolan (80:12)

Technically, going by the ballot, I get that. But also, they haven't in a long time. They haven't.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (80:18)

And it's like they keep wanting to run it back. They have some goaltending issues. It's hard to bet against them. Like, two years ago, they had, you know, the coaching change, and then they just went off. And Connor McDavid is such a likable character. And he's so insanely talented. So I'm really, really grateful that, you know, unlike a Mike Trout, if we're making a baseball comparison, which. Why not for the casuals, watching, like, arguably the player in baseball for a long time, you know, multiple MVPs to his name, but has only played in, like, a handful of playoff games. So we're getting the gift of watching McDavid play in the postseason. I think they'll make it back, but it's. The good thing is there's so much competitive balance. I don't know what's going to happen.

Katie Nolan (80:56)

It's crazy. They are.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (80:57)

There are, like three teams that are the odds on favorite right now going into the season. They are one of them. They're at the top of the list.

Katie Nolan (81:03)

Who else?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (81:03)

We'll see what happens. My Avalanche. Ah, I know. They're running it back. We got knocked out in the first round by the Stars. We lost Miko Rantanen mid season. We traded him to Carolina, and then he came back to our division like nine days later at the deadline and beat us in the first round.

Katie Nolan (81:18)

What a postseason he had. That was wild last year.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (81:22)

So fun. And like, when I was covering the Colorado Avalanche before I came out here, that kid was in, like, technically his rookie season. And we, like, drove with him to the rink on his season debut. And he's the sweetest guy. He's not a kid anymore. But we listened to Justin Bieber the way in. That was like his song of choice.

Katie Nolan (81:38)

Wow.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (81:39)

Sorry, Ranc. You might be mad at me for.

Katie Nolan (81:42)

Saying that, but he was a long time ago. I know.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (81:45)

I was just so sad to lose him. And then he came back. It's like your ex. You're in LA and your ex moves to New York and you think, like, I'm not gonna have to see him ever again. Suddenly they're like, back in the neighborhood and they're worn up in me doing here.

Katie Nolan (81:57)

Get out. The Avalanche, the Oilers, and I assume the Panthers are the other ones. That's.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (82:01)

Panthers are up there. And Dallas. Dallas. Oh, yeah, Dallas. Yeah, I know.

Katie Nolan (82:05)

How about the Winnipeg Jets?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (82:06)

Winnipeg jets looking really good going into the season.

Katie Nolan (82:10)

Yeah.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (82:10)

Kyle Conner is so fun to watch play hockey. I don't know, I just. I love that team. And I don't think you should put Winnipeg on your bucket list of places to travel.

Katie Nolan (82:19)

But a hockey game there. But if you end up there for some other reason.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (82:23)

Exactly. Go to a hockey game. I can't imagine. The games there are so much fun. The fans are on top of you. And they are so passionate. And to make it even more exciting, there's like this, like, system of tunnels that, like, they. They connect you to the rink in, like, a small mall, and there's like a little tunnel.

Katie Nolan (82:42)

I don't know what it is.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (82:43)

The tunnels are amazing because you don't want to go outside, especially in the winter.

Katie Nolan (82:46)

Especially in Winnipeg. Yeah.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (82:47)

Yeah, it's awful. But for whatever reason, we were in the same division with the Ave, so that was always our off day was in Winnipeg in, like, mid February. And I was like, well, I guess we're going to the same bar as we always go.

Katie Nolan (82:57)

That's so funny.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (82:58)

But it's so fun. I think Winnipeg has a good shot. It's. It's. Again, it's so fun. The Central Division is. Is a gauntlet. And that's, I guess, what makes hockey so much fun, because each and every game, each and every point is so important.

Katie Nolan (83:10)

Yeah. It really feels like a. Like you said before, like the parody within the league, you're just like, anything can really happen at any time. Do you have a potential dark horse team that people aren't talking about?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (83:20)

I love this question. I don't know if they're a dark horse, but they're kind of like my darling at the LA Kings.

Katie Nolan (83:26)

Kings. Okay.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (83:27)

The LA Kings are like, they're there. They just need to, like, get over that hump. Like, it's so close.

Katie Nolan (83:35)

Just. So put a couple extra.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (83:37)

Yeah. If they're not on your radar, like, pay attention. And I know, like, their division's getting better and the west has so much to offer and their games are later, especially around the east coast, so. I understand. But, like, keep your eye on the kinks. I just have a feeling about them.

Katie Nolan (83:50)

Yeah. Don't turn your back on the Kings. Something could happen. And if not, we'll delete this from ever having existed. Never happened. I've never even heard of the Kings. You talk about Sacramento, the basketball.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (83:58)

Yes, exactly.

Katie Nolan (84:00)

Lg, thank you so much for being here and for talking to our casual fans. If you love her like I do, which I know you do, at this point, you can find Lauren throughout the post season on MLB Network studio shows. You can also watch NHL now, weekdays at 5pm on NHL Network.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (84:16)

Yes.

Katie Nolan (84:16)

And then the podcast off base. When does that drop? Are those what, day of the week?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (84:20)

Oh, amazing timing. We actually just wrapped for the season.

Katie Nolan (84:23)

Nevermind.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (84:23)

But we'll be back next year.

Katie Nolan (84:24)

Nevermind Mind. Free subscribe now for next season.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (84:29)

Love it.

Katie Nolan (84:29)

It won't clog up your feed and then it'll pop up and you'll go, oh, that's right, it's LG Red. I'll listen to this podcast. It's only half an hour.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (84:35)

It's really fun.

Katie Nolan (84:36)

Thank you so much for being here.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (84:37)

Thank you for having me.

Katie Nolan (84:38)

I love you so much. I'm so happy that you're back. I'm so sorry for the year that you've had, but I I appreciate you coming here and talking about it and raising awareness for what you've been through. And I hope that you continue to grow through this moment and find the meaning that you deserve to have from it. On side the other other side.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (84:52)

Thank you. This is soul food. Thank you for everything you're doing for this sport and for the casuals. We love you.

Katie Nolan (84:57)

You're the best. Vori delivers a new perspective on performance apparel with pieces designed to look great beyond the gym. Whether you're running errands, heading to the office, or meeting up with friends, Vuori is perfect for whatever your day brings. Take the Vuori Performance Jogger. They're great for fitness, but they're also stylish enough for everyday wear and comfortable enough for lounging around around as part of the dream knit connection. They are made of Viori's softest premium stretch fabric. They're lightweight, moisture wicking and feature a four way performance stretch. Mine, I got them in like a teal green color. What I really love about them is that they're thin. So in this time of the year, sometimes when you put on like a bulky sweatpant, it's too much. These are perfect, they're lightweight, they wick away sweat, so they're very good for wearing even in like a hot month. We're allowed to be comfortable in hot months, guys, and you should do that with the Vuori Performance Jogger. It's an investment in your happiness. For our listeners. They are offering 20 off of your first Vuori purchase. Get yourself some of the most comfortable and versatile clothing on the planet@vuori.com casuals. That's V-U-O-R-I.com casuals exclusions apply. Visit the website for full terms and conditions. Oh baby, it's fall and everyone knows best fashion and best flavors. Are you stocking up on all things pumpkin or grabbing some ingredients for your favorite fall recipe? Let instacart help to deliver what you need need so you don't have to add another errand to your day. You can order fresh groceries and household essentials online or through the app and they can arrive at your door in as fast as 30 minutes. With Instacart, accurate orders, timely service and experienced shoppers make quality and convenience possible. It is so convenient. As a football fan, I use Instacart to get everything I need for game day. Chips, wings, drinks delivered straight to my door. Because if you know me, I'm waking up like pretty close to game time. It's just how it is. And Instacart helps me have all the food and accoutrements that I need without having to take up my time. I also love that I can use Instacart's filtering tool to search for gluten free or nut free items. If you know I'm having friends over and they have allergies, download the Instacart app and use code CASUITS20 to get $20 off your first order of $80 or more. That's code CASUITS20 to get$20 off your first order of $80 or more. Offer valid for a limited time. Excludes restaurants. Additional terms apply.

Andy Cohen (87:07)

Hey everyone, it's me, Andy Cohen. Buckle up because I have a podcast called Daddy Diaries where I take my listeners on an as it happened recount of life as a daddy to two kids, dozens of housewives, and the occasional personal fella. Listen to the Daddy Diaries to hear about my high highs and low lows of parenting, housewives, drama, and so much more. Daddy Diaries available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (87:30)

If you're a custodial supervisor at a local high school, you know that cleanliness is key and that the best place to get cleaning supplies is from Grainger. Grainger helps you stay fully stocked on the products you trust, from paper towels and disinfectants to FL floor scrubbers. Plus, you can rely on Grainger for easy reordering, so you never run out.

Katie Nolan (87:49)

Of what you need.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (87:50)

Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.

Katie Nolan (88:00)

Big thanks to lg. That was so fun. She's the best. We love her. Lgred on Instagram, give her a follow and check her out on MLB Network and NHL Network. Okay, we I told you we got another micro get and it's a big name. Isabella, were you ever a One Direction fan?

Isabella (88:17)

I wasn't, but I did like a couple of their songs.

Katie Nolan (88:20)

Same, same. I wasn't. Listen, I respect passionate fandoms. We've had this conversation about Taylor Swift. I respect them. I also fear them. Going into this interview I was like there are massive amounts of People who know every single thing about this man. And I, I. The train missed me.

Isabella (88:37)

I know part of me was envious.

Katie Nolan (88:38)

The One Direction train misses missed me. And so I, I didn't. I wasn't going in with as much knowledge. I was terrified to piss somebody off who loves this man. But I had heard how much he loves soccer, and I really wanted to talk to him about it, especially because he just announced he'll be doing an arena tour here in the United States, conveniently during the months that the World cup is going to be here in the United States. So I got like seven minutes with Louis Tomlinson from One Direction and here are my favorite parts from that interview. Please don't be mad at me if you love this band. And I got something wrong. So exciting today to be joined by international superstar, former member of One Direction. You may know him from his 2020 solo debut, Walls, or the follow up Faith in the Future, or today, a new album announcing in January of 2026.

Louis Tomlinson (89:30)

Correct the day I couldn't tell you. Sounds about right.

Katie Nolan (89:33)

Sounds right.

Louis Tomlinson (89:34)

Not very good at logistics. Troopy Tom.

Katie Nolan (89:36)

How did I get here? It's Louis Tomlinson. Thank you so much for being here on Casuals.

Louis Tomlinson (89:41)

Thank you. Lovely introduction.

Katie Nolan (89:42)

Yeah, we. We're a sports podcast, but we are a sports podcast for people who are just casual fans. I mean, it's for anybody. But the whole point of it is to help people get more into sports.

Louis Tomlinson (89:53)

You can help me then. Cause I'm not overly, well, adverse in American sports. Basketball is my choice of the American sports.

Katie Nolan (89:59)

Of all the American sports.

Louis Tomlinson (90:00)

Yeah. But. But I'm, I'm. I'm willing to learn.

Katie Nolan (90:03)

Do you have a team that you root for?

Louis Tomlinson (90:04)

Not really. I went to watch the Celtics and. Good choice.

Katie Nolan (90:09)

Yes.

Louis Tomlinson (90:09)

There you go.

Katie Nolan (90:09)

That would be a good choice for you.

Louis Tomlinson (90:11)

Okay.

Katie Nolan (90:12)

Yeah. Well, maybe.

Louis Tomlinson (90:12)

Maybe it's the Celtics then. I like Tatum.

Katie Nolan (90:14)

Look at that. I did it. I did it. He's a Celtics fan now.

Louis Tomlinson (90:17)

It's on your team.

Katie Nolan (90:18)

It's on tape.

Louis Tomlinson (90:19)

Yeah, there you go. I did my research.

Katie Nolan (90:21)

Now explain this. The reason I say we're a casuals podcast, so, you know, we don't. America and soccer.

Louis Tomlinson (90:29)

It's getting there. It's getting there, though.

Katie Nolan (90:30)

Is it?

Louis Tomlinson (90:31)

I will say. I will say from my time in One Direction coming over to America, nobody gave a. About football. Soccer. Nobody gave a. About soccer. Now I definitely. I definitely think things are changing. It does feel. I'm obviously the World cup coming up as well. It feels like this people care a little bit more they do. Catching up. Trying the best game in the world now.

Katie Nolan (90:51)

The caring and the playing well that we need them to play well.

Louis Tomlinson (90:56)

Yes.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (90:56)

Okay.

Katie Nolan (90:57)

We do struggle as a team with that.

Louis Tomlinson (90:59)

Got some good names coming through.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (91:00)

They were.

Louis Tomlinson (91:01)

What's Pulisic up to these days?

Katie Nolan (91:03)

He's still around. Yeah. Theoretically, we could see him do some stuff. Maybe he's no Harry Kane. No.

Louis Tomlinson (91:11)

But who is?

Katie Nolan (91:12)

That's so true. Harry Kane is.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (91:13)

Yeah.

Katie Nolan (91:15)

So explain to me. I know you have a team that you've rooted for since you were younger. That's a smaller team. They won the League two. I've tried to explain the championship. League one. League two. But they won League two last year.

Louis Tomlinson (91:29)

Yes, we did. Yeah.

Katie Nolan (91:30)

And are now at League one. Yes. Yet.

Louis Tomlinson (91:31)

And got off to a good start in. In League one.

Katie Nolan (91:34)

Yeah. Yeah.

Louis Tomlinson (91:34)

I've been following Doncaster over as the cord. I've been following them since being a young lad. I had a bigger team when I was younger. I used to follow Man United, Manchester United. But as I got older, there was no real reason for me to follow him, really. I also timed it pretty well. They started getting.

Katie Nolan (91:49)

I was going to say, I was sort of hoping you would tell me today that you are still a Manchester United fan because I have so many questions.

Louis Tomlinson (91:55)

No, I. I just. It really, really. There was no real reason for me to be a Man United fan. So I just. All my love went in Stoncaster, which. It's kind of. It's fun because you get like. Like last season, you get the rare moments of glory, but they don't come around very often for a team the size of Doncaster. So when they do, it makes it extra special. Definitely.

Katie Nolan (92:13)

And so is that typical? It isn't like you have a lower team and then you also have a big club. Is this or.

Louis Tomlinson (92:19)

I think it depends on the person, to be honest, but I think so. I think some people have a lower team and. And a more successful one, I think. But I. I kind of. A lot of. In fact, a lot of lower league football fans go in a bit harder on the national team because that's where you find your glory.

Katie Nolan (92:35)

Yeah.

Louis Tomlinson (92:36)

Because you don't get a lot club level, you know.

Katie Nolan (92:38)

Yeah. Clubbing country. I think sports are the best. I think they bring people together and I also think that, like sports media does a good job of breaking down sports X's and O's wise, but they don't really talk to the people who are trying to get into it, but don't care about, like numbers. And so the goal for this is to be like. Especially with the World cup coming up next year, I want people to be like, thinking about soccer more. What would be helpful is if they heard a handsome famous guy tell them what they love so much about soccer.

Louis Tomlinson (93:09)

For me, it's like, it's like any sport, right? Like, you don't. Like, you don't have to know all the intricacies to really deeply enjoy it. I think the fluidity, a bit like basketball, how fluid the game is in football, means that it's pretty watchable. But. But I think things like the World Cup, I know a lot of people that really are not that bothered about football bracket soccer. But once the World cup comes around or international comes around, it kind of gives everyone an excuse to. To start watching and, and, you know, like, even just in the name of a little bit of fun, patriotism, it's kind of fun just to. To back your country. So. So I feel like even if you're not a massive fan of football, just, just try and get into the World cup because it's like a proper fever. Like, once you're into it, like, I go all in. I absolutely love.

Katie Nolan (93:54)

And all in would mean what you like wearing. Fully decking your. Are you painting your face?

Louis Tomlinson (93:58)

I'm not quite painting the face.

Katie Nolan (94:00)

Okay, all right.

Louis Tomlinson (94:01)

I will. I will wear a shirt. Not this short, though. You can't go as a full kit.

Katie Nolan (94:06)

No, no, no.

Louis Tomlinson (94:08)

That's a little fault. Although I do see, see that it's quite common over here. Soccer fans over here love to wear the full kit. You know, the socks pulled off, they're only missing the shin pads at this point.

Katie Nolan (94:18)

Yeah, some of them wear those.

Louis Tomlinson (94:19)

Okay.

Katie Nolan (94:21)

In case you need to be ready. In case your team needs you.

Louis Tomlinson (94:24)

There you go.

Katie Nolan (94:24)

You gotta be ready to step up. So you won't wear the full kit, but you do play soccer?

Louis Tomlinson (94:29)

I do play, yeah. Well, I played a bit in a charity game a couple of months ago. I used to play a lot more. These days, I'm quite unfit.

Katie Nolan (94:35)

So.

Louis Tomlinson (94:35)

So it takes a bit of energy.

Katie Nolan (94:37)

To run unfit to that standard, maybe, but you seem quite fit and fine.

Louis Tomlinson (94:41)

I'm sure you should see me run, but I'll take it.

Katie Nolan (94:43)

And then my. I guess, like, my question is this world tour that you're announcing or the US Tour that you're announcing?

Louis Tomlinson (94:49)

We can call it World Tour.

Katie Nolan (94:50)

It's. Yeah, it's coinciding quite a bit with that World Cup. Did you do that on purpose?

Louis Tomlinson (94:56)

No, but it worked out perfect.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (94:57)

Perfectly perfect.

Louis Tomlinson (94:58)

Yeah, yeah, that, that, that I did I looked at that just recently. Yes. This will be one of those things that if.

Katie Nolan (95:05)

That.

Louis Tomlinson (95:05)

I don't think there will be. But if there is a clash with one of my shows in an England game and my fans will be aware and know that this is going to happen. The screens that normally have my face on and nice shots of me and the band, that will be the England game. So I can chip in and out of it during the show. But I don't think there'll be. Because it'll be in the day. Right.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (95:23)

I have no idea.

Katie Nolan (95:24)

It's going to be a mess.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (95:25)

We have no idea, but we'll see.

Katie Nolan (95:27)

Okay.

Louis Tomlinson (95:27)

It's going to be good, though. This certainly an amazing country to have post something like that.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (95:30)

Yeah, sure.

Katie Nolan (95:31)

It's gonna be very interesting.

Louis Tomlinson (95:32)

Guys love an event to get dressed.

Katie Nolan (95:34)

We love a red carpet. There's gonna be random red carpets at soccer games for no reason, and I can't wait. Nice of you to say, though, that you will still do the show. You're gonna have the game on, but you'll still do the show. You're not canceling every charity. I feel like I would cancel and say I have to go watch my team. Have you ever written a song about sports but pretended that it wasn't about sports?

Louis Tomlinson (95:56)

It's funny you say that because.

Katie Nolan (96:00)

You'Re like, it's a love song for sure, but in the back of your mind.

Louis Tomlinson (96:02)

You know, actually really terrible for this question. There is something in the back of my mind. I just can't put my finger on it. There might have been something. I just can't put my finger on exactly what it was. Sometimes. Sometimes I write about Doncaster. I write about the feeling of, like, you know, of home and all that. And actually, yeah, occasionally a bit. Little metaphor in there, I suppose, for, like, sport.

Katie Nolan (96:23)

Yeah.

Louis Tomlinson (96:24)

You know, togetherness.

Katie Nolan (96:25)

Yeah. I feel like sports are emotions, but nobody in sports media likes to talk about it that way because they have to take it really seriously. Yeah.

Louis Tomlinson (96:31)

It might say all the numbers and the stats.

Katie Nolan (96:32)

Yeah. And you're not obviously gonna write a song about, you know, how many goals somebody had in a match or whatever, but I'm just curious if, like, the cell, like, the feeling of celebration or the feeling of togetherness and connectedness that sports gives, if any of that's ever, like, inspired you musically.

Louis Tomlinson (96:48)

I'm sure some countries, I'm sure. Subconsciously. Definitely. I mean, to be honest, when you come off stage after a live gig and you're all, you know, kind of celebrating what just happens, it really kind of feels like after a football game when you've just won, it's kind of similar, kind of vibrant.

Katie Nolan (97:00)

Yeah. So that counts. Sports can take credit for that. We've inspired you.

Louis Tomlinson (97:04)

Yes.

Katie Nolan (97:04)

To the greatness that you've achieved. Yes.

Louis Tomlinson (97:07)

This podcast alone.

Katie Nolan (97:08)

Yeah. I wasn't gonna say it, but I'm glad that you did. England national team. You feel good about it?

Louis Tomlinson (97:13)

Do I feel good about the World Cup?

Katie Nolan (97:14)

Yeah.

Louis Tomlinson (97:14)

I am. I am such a cliche when it comes to being an England fan. We are known around the world. World for sheer arrogance when it comes to supporting our country and in football. And I will say, yeah, I get swept up in it every single time. At the end of each tournament, I think, no, you know, maybe coming to the next one with a little bit more realism. But I mean, if you look at our team, it's a pretty good team. Defense we've got. We maybe need to sort a few things out in defense, but like, certainly at the front six, look. Yeah, I think we can hang around with anyone at that level.

Katie Nolan (97:46)

Certainly with us, I mean, that goes without saying. All right, Louie, thank you so much. Thank you for being here and good luck with the tour and with the album and we're going to be bumping lemonade for the rest of the day.

Louis Tomlinson (97:57)

Appreciate that.

Katie Nolan (97:58)

Big thank you to LG and to Louis Tomlinson. We have now arrived at the part of the podcast where we talk about football. Crazy. I know because we're at the end, but this is where we discuss the league and the greater implications of it through the lens of Isabella, a brand new fantasy football player. Fantasy football team that she drafted here on the podcast. Isabella, you coming into this week were undefeated. Week four here. What happened in week four? Did you win?

Isabella (98:26)

I did. What the fuck?

Katie Nolan (98:29)

How does this keep happening? We are not teaching the lesson that we set out to teach, which is that fantasy football is hard.

Isabella (98:37)

I was kind of hoping I would lose too. I was like seeing with Cuz I wanted to have a little bit of an experience of like, oh, man, what can I do for next time? And I was looking at the score.

Katie Nolan (98:47)

She's not getting the full experience.

Isabella (98:49)

I'm not. And I was looking at my score and I was actually down. But then I forgot that the good chunk of games are on Sunday, so that made sense.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (98:57)

Why? Shut up.

Katie Nolan (99:02)

Didn't you say that there's a game.

Isabella (99:03)

On like Thursday too or something?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (99:04)

Yes, there's one.

Brady (99:05)

One game on Thursday.

Katie Nolan (99:06)

Okay. Ooh, I don't know anything. Sorry. Let me control myself. So it Was a close win at least. What was the score?

Isabella (99:16)

It was Brady. You have this here.

Brady (99:18)

You won by 20, and you know you won by 20.

Katie Nolan (99:22)

That's not close at all. Ugh. Who did you start? You started Caleb Williams.

Isabella (99:27)

Yes.

Katie Nolan (99:28)

Okay. And Puka, I assume.

Isabella (99:30)

Puka. DeVonta, Christian McCaffrey.

Katie Nolan (99:33)

Yeah.

Isabella (99:33)

I did take Mina's advice, though.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (99:35)

Okay.

Isabella (99:36)

I took. I benched Higgins and put Devonta Smith.

Katie Nolan (99:40)

And how did that work out? Was that the right call?

Isabella (99:42)

It was. It was the right call. So shout out Mina for that.

Katie Nolan (99:45)

Wow.

Brady (99:45)

Because the Bengals had like 38ft of passing and. Yeah, of course you bench T. Higgins.

Katie Nolan (99:50)

The rumor now is Joe Flacco to Cincinnati. People are talking. The buzz is starting to generate. It's like, okay, can the guy just retire? Can the poor guy just go on a vacation? Maybe play a little golf? All right, so I. I'm afraid to ask about a team name. This was your homework last week.

Louis Tomlinson (100:09)

Hold on.

Katie Nolan (100:09)

Before we.

Brady (100:09)

Before we get to team name, there's an important roster decision that needs to be made.

Isabella (100:12)

Oh, yeah, there is.

Louis Tomlinson (100:13)

For this week.

Isabella (100:13)

I need help. I need help.

Brady (100:15)

It's Isabella's first bye week and Caleb Williams is on bye.

Katie Nolan (100:18)

Oh, that's right. The Bears are off.

Isabella (100:21)

So I don't know how to approach picking another quarterback.

Katie Nolan (100:26)

Well, you're four enough know. So tell us what you think and maybe it'll be the right thing.

Isabella (100:30)

So I think I'm gonna pick you.

Brady (100:31)

Tell us.

Katie Nolan (100:32)

Yeah, right. Please. What do we know? We don't know shit. Except that the games are mostly on Sunday.

Isabella (100:37)

You know, shut up. Whatever.

Katie Nolan (100:42)

Aren't.

Isabella (100:42)

Isn't there one on Monday too?

Katie Nolan (100:44)

Yes, and sometimes two. So you're absolutely right.

Isabella (100:46)

Okay, so you guys need to like.

Katie Nolan (100:48)

You aren't wrong.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (100:49)

You know what? I don't like this segment anymore.

Brady (100:51)

This is what happens when you're four and.

Katie Nolan (100:52)

Oh, that we have to humble you a little bit somehow. Talk to me. Who's available right now in your league at quarterback? Brady? Maybe you could also be checking because I don't know how to for. I haven't opened up the app. I can't give her just in good directions on how to.

Brady (101:09)

I wrote them out. It was, I believe Drake May was just picked up in the league. Daniel Jones was cut. So that leaves Daniel Jones, Matthew Stafford, Geno Smith, Tuatanga Violoa, Trevor Lawrence, Bo Nix, and Sam Darnold as the most appealing quarterback options. It's not a bad list.

Katie Nolan (101:29)

So what, Daniel Jones cut from the.

Chris (101:34)

League, I assume, and not from.

Katie Nolan (101:35)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, sorry. From A team from somebody in your league. Oh, did he have a bad week? I mean, there was that dropped touchdown pass. It really a nightmare.

Brady (101:47)

It would have made his week look better. It would have been four more points for Daniel Jones.

Katie Nolan (101:51)

Who do they play this week?

Brady (101:53)

They have the Raiders who don't really stop anyone.

Katie Nolan (101:56)

So I don't see why that wouldn't be my worst. Just for the. For the plot. Imagine Daniel Jones carrying you through your bye week. I wouldn't have guessed. I never would have guessed.

Brady (102:06)

The problem is he's now on waivers, so she is gonna have to wait a couple days to pick up Daniel Jones.

Katie Nolan (102:11)

Oh, that's not.

Isabella (102:11)

Oh, I can't do that.

Katie Nolan (102:12)

That. Okay, well, who do we like best of the other remaining options? I wouldn't go with Tua.

Isabella (102:18)

Oh, no?

Katie Nolan (102:19)

Why? Well, you could, but it's just that he.

Brady (102:23)

Well, he lost Tyreek Hill.

Katie Nolan (102:25)

Lost Tyreek Hill. And also has been hit a lot and isn't necessarily doing a lot of passing beyond the line of scrimmage. That makes you go, wow, that's electric. That's the nicest way to put what I'm to trying.

Isabella (102:39)

Yeah. Yeah.

Katie Nolan (102:40)

Okay. What about Matthew Stafford? Okay. And, and, and do you like older men?

Isabella (102:50)

No.

Katie Nolan (102:51)

Well, that's how old we're talking. You know, old enough to need a van to help him through.

Brady (102:58)

Stafford is the one throwing to puka. So if you really want to invest in the.

Katie Nolan (103:04)

You could double down on. And if it's just for a week, like if you're happy with Caleb Williams and it's just for a week. But then again, you know what, these are just decisions you need to be making on your own. I'd like you to now work through your thoughts and let our listeners know what you are going to choose.

Isabella (103:19)

Well, I'm not going to tell you guys now. I don't want to give you guys any insight.

Chris (103:23)

We're on your team.

Isabella (103:24)

Oh, I thought you meant like. I meant like to the listeners. I don't want anyone knowing my strategy.

Chris (103:27)

Well, you make the decision before this episode gets posted.

Brady (103:30)

The people in the league are gonna see who you took.

Isabella (103:31)

Oh, yeah, that's right. There's notifications every time someone drops someone or trade someone.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (103:37)

I don't know.

Isabella (103:37)

Honestly, I'm probably just gonna examine which players are playing which team.

Katie Nolan (103:44)

Okay. Smart. Really smart.

Isabella (103:46)

And then kind of compare numbers to the other team.

Katie Nolan (103:50)

I think that's a really great strategy.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (103:52)

Perfect.

Katie Nolan (103:52)

Are you leaning any way?

Isabella (103:54)

I'm kind of leaning towards Daniel Jones.

Katie Nolan (103:59)

But you would have to pick him up on waivers, which gets a little complicated is the only thing. I'm sorry. It's my fault. I brought it up. I shouldn't.

Isabella (104:05)

Is Geno so Smith good?

Brady (104:09)

Smith is all right. Indianapolis hasn't really stopped the pass a whole lot.

Katie Nolan (104:13)

He could have a good game.

Isabella (104:15)

I do like this idea, though. Three, Picking Stafford. If he's the one who always throws the Puka. Puka never lets me down every week.

Katie Nolan (104:23)

True. But then you've got to consider, if Puka lets you down, Stafford would also be letting you down. It would be. It would suck. Twice is the only thing you have to consider. But it just seems to put out.

Chris (104:35)

Some good numbers, though.

Katie Nolan (104:36)

He has. What's he projecting this week? Does it say there in your app.

Brady (104:38)

15.89 projected this week?

Chris (104:43)

Bonix is another one that I like, but he's facing the Eagles. Yeah, I've got a decent defense, so that might be a little bit tough.

Isabella (104:49)

How consistent is Dak Prescott? That's the quarterback I'm going up against.

Brady (104:54)

Really good. Because their defense doesn't stop everybody.

Katie Nolan (104:56)

He's all they have.

Brady (104:58)

And every game they play is 40 to 40.

Katie Nolan (105:00)

Yeah, they tie a lot. Okay, just something to think about. Now to the more important thing.

Isabella (105:07)

Oh, yes.

Katie Nolan (105:09)

Last week, you. Your dog ate your homework. I think my dog ate your homework. Somehow.

Isabella (105:14)

Yeah, Somehow it got into Myrtle's digestive system.

Katie Nolan (105:18)

Yeah. And it cost me a ton at the vet. So thanks for that. Getting that out. What. What? Have you come up with names for your fantasy team? I did. We did four, by the way. Yeah.

Isabella (105:28)

Yeah, I did. I did. Okay. And I. Okay. What do I have here? I think I maybe have like 13.

Katie Nolan (105:33)

What? Whoa. Overachiever.

Isabella (105:36)

I got a good chunk because I was like, no, I can try to figure it out. I'm just the type of person that I need a lot of time to think about stuff like this. So I'm gonna tell you from what I think are like the like, lamest ones to what I think what I want want.

Katie Nolan (105:49)

Okay, so the last one you say is going to be the one you feel the best about?

Isabella (105:53)

Yeah, I think so.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (105:54)

Great.

Brady (105:55)

Okay, so we're doing this Letterman style. I like it.

Isabella (105:57)

Okay, so first one, Caleb's nails and puka shells.

Katie Nolan (106:03)

Okay. I don't think that's gonna fit. That's a lot of. I think there's a character limit.

Isabella (106:09)

Oh, then this one's definitely not getting this next one. Where there's a Caleb Williams, there's a way.

Katie Nolan (106:17)

Oh, my God. Okay. Wow.

Isabella (106:19)

This one. This one's more Shout out to you, Katie. Because, like, I don't even.

Katie Nolan (106:24)

Okay.

Isabella (106:25)

The Caleb Attard show.

Katie Nolan (106:29)

Okay. It's not really a shout out to me. Listen, I said I'm gonna start off, I don't know, kind of a shout out to.

Chris (106:37)

So none of these so far, I think it's safe to say.

Katie Nolan (106:39)

Yeah.

Isabella (106:40)

I told you I'm starting off with the worst ones.

Katie Nolan (106:42)

Yeah. Good thing we're at the bottom of the list.

Isabella (106:43)

Okay, let's hope it gets real quick.

Katie Nolan (106:46)

You're probably not gonna think.

Isabella (106:47)

Okay, and the next one is Linger by the Caleb Berries.

Katie Nolan (106:52)

Okay, that feels like you just wanted to bring up Linger by the Cranberries. Caleb doesn't sound like.

Isabella (106:57)

Listen, I spent a lot of time on Google looking up words that have elib and uk.

Katie Nolan (107:05)

Great.

Isabella (107:06)

And this is really good.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (107:08)

Okay.

Isabella (107:08)

And the next one is. Is Poo Karaoke bar.

Katie Nolan (107:12)

Okay. Okay.

Brady (107:14)

Well, that just becomes Pooh Karaoke bar.

Katie Nolan (107:16)

Yeah, I don't think that's good. Okay.

Isabella (107:18)

And then the next one is so True with Caleb Williams.

Katie Nolan (107:21)

I get it. I get it. Because it's so True with Caleb Heron. But he did cancel on this podcast and never reschedule, so I won't be naming your team after him.

Isabella (107:30)

And then the next one. God bless Ameripuka.

Katie Nolan (107:34)

I mean, that one kind of fits.

Isabella (107:36)

Okay, Caleb will.

Katie Nolan (107:38)

I am. Okay, a little Black Eyed Peas reference.

Isabella (107:44)

Aretha Pooklin.

Katie Nolan (107:46)

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. In what way?

Isabella (107:53)

Aretha Franklin.

Katie Nolan (107:54)

Right. But we get where it came from. But I was trying to find something.

Isabella (107:57)

With a K in it.

Katie Nolan (107:58)

I don't know.

Isabella (107:59)

I was trying to like Frank.

Katie Nolan (108:00)

Find. Was Pook. Like puka.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (108:02)

Like puka.

Isabella (108:04)

Pookaling.

Katie Nolan (108:05)

Pookaling. You can keep saying it. It's not gonna fit.

Isabella (108:09)

Okay, the next one is Caleb xcx.

Katie Nolan (108:12)

Okay, I don't.

Chris (108:13)

Okay, I don't hate that. That one's my favorite so far.

Katie Nolan (108:15)

So far. And it'll fit.

Isabella (108:17)

Next one is covered in polka dots.

Katie Nolan (108:20)

Okay.

Isabella (108:21)

Like polka dots.

Katie Nolan (108:22)

No, we got.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (108:22)

We got it.

Katie Nolan (108:23)

Do you think we are the dumbest people alive?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (108:27)

Hey, quick question.

Katie Nolan (108:28)

Do you think we're stupid?

Isabella (108:31)

I just wan. We're on the same wavelength. Okay, this one. I love this one.

Katie Nolan (108:36)

Okay. Boo. It's Spooka season.

Chris (108:44)

Does it work in December?

Isabella (108:47)

No, but it's spooky season right now, so why.

Chris (108:50)

So then you're gonna have to come up with another name once.

Katie Nolan (108:52)

Oh, you mean we'd have to do this again?

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (108:56)

Okay, wait.

Isabella (108:57)

Pukkalicious Definition.

Katie Nolan (108:59)

Make Them boys go crazy. I like that one.

Isabella (109:02)

That's a good one, right?

Katie Nolan (109:03)

Okay.

Isabella (109:04)

And then last one that I really liked because I was like, it's simple. Gets the point across. I got a puka full of sunshine.

Katie Nolan (109:11)

I got a puka Got a puka full of Sunshine. I got 11 is all mine now.

Isabella (109:15)

So what do we think?

Katie Nolan (109:16)

Okay. I like pukalicious definition.

Isabella (109:19)

That one was good, right?

Brady (109:20)

That one feels good.

Katie Nolan (109:20)

Yeah. That one was probably my favorite. I'm kind of into that.

Isabella (109:25)

Do Chris and Brady have any thoughts or did you hate all of them?

Brady (109:27)

Pukalicious definition make them boys go loco. Like, I hear it in my mind. I want to keep going.

Katie Nolan (109:33)

They want my treasures, so they get they pleasures from my photo.

Brady (109:37)

It's provocative.

Chris (109:38)

I think it's you. It's very Isabella.

Brady (109:40)

Sorry, that line just resonated to me.

Katie Nolan (109:42)

Yeah, good.

Brady (109:44)

Figuring that one out mentally for the first time. Did not like.

Katie Nolan (109:47)

Yeah, well, it is what it is. Pukkalicious definition. You feel good locking that in.

Isabella (109:52)

You guys didn't like I got a puka full of sunshine.

Katie Nolan (109:54)

No, you know what, Isabella? That makes you happier. And it fits. Go for it.

Isabella (109:59)

Is it too long or what if it's just puka full of sunshine?

Chris (110:02)

That's better.

Brady (110:03)

That should fit.

Katie Nolan (110:04)

Yeah, try it. And then if it doesn't fit, you can go with the other one.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (110:07)

Okay.

Isabella (110:08)

Actually, Brady does have to put this in because I tried to put it in and apparently I'm not. I don't have enough power.

Katie Nolan (110:13)

Damn. I don't like that. I don't like that. I like empowering women. Brady, why have you taken the power from her?

Isabella (110:21)

I think is technically he has like the ultra mana manager.

Katie Nolan (110:25)

I think what's happening is it could potentially be user error. But what we will do because of the patriarchy is blame it on Brady.

Brady (110:35)

For the sake of not spoiling this. To the nine listeners in this league, I will not change it right now. I will change it.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (110:41)

Okay.

Brady (110:41)

After the episode drops.

Katie Nolan (110:42)

I thought you were gonna say the nine listeners who are stick around this long into this podcast. And that also, I do think rings true. So on that note, I think that's a. That's a podcast, folks. A big one, A jam packed one Big thanks to our guests and to Isabella for doing her homework and. And to you for listening and to the. And to the baseball team I love the most, hopefully. Because by the time you guys are listening to this, you know, if we've they or you might know or it might be game three. I don't know. I'M stressed about it, but I love baseball so much and I hope everybody's enjoying basema and email us or call us or whatever, and we'll see you back here next week. Right? That's everything. Love you. Mean it. Bye. Hey, everyone, it's Nikki and Bri, and.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (111:32)

We'Re here to let you know that we have a podcast, the Nikki and Bri Show. Yes. And we've got new episodes every Monday and Thursday. We're serving up real deal conversations that go beyond the cat cameras. Think motherhood, confessions, sisterhood vibes, boss business energy and tv. Live tea.

Katie Nolan (111:51)

Need a laugh? We got you craving inspo.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (111:54)

We got inspiration and affirmations on deck.

Katie Nolan (111:57)

Want a little cry or a big? Heck yes.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (112:00)

That's our jam. Whether we're breaking down pop culture, sharing, parenting wins or fails, unpacking personal growth, or just riffing on everyday chaos, nothing is off limitless limits. Plus, we welcome incredible guests, play our favorite games, and do what only sisters can. Keep it 100 while raising a glass together.

Katie Nolan (112:23)

So pop a bottle, hit play, and.

Lauren Gardner (LG Red) (112:25)

Come hang with us. Listen to the Nikki and Brie show wherever you get your podcast.

Andy Cohen (112:31)

Sometimes an identity threat is a ring of professional hackers. And sometimes it's an overworked accountant who forgot to encrypt their connection while sending bank details.

Katie Nolan (112:39)

I need a coffee.

Andy Cohen (112:41)

And you need Lifelock. Because your info is an end places. It only takes one mistake to expose you to identity theft. Lifelock monitors hundreds of millions of data points a second. If your identity is stolen, we'll fix it, guaranteed, or your money back. Save up to 40% your first year at LifeLock. Com. SpecialOffer Terms apply.