
Hello! It’s the podcast that can sit cross-legged all day long. Today, Katie criticizes all of society on her way through Assassin's Creed: Shadows. Then USWNT forward Midge Purce [8:07] joins Casuals to talk about recovering from her ACL tear and how a return to the pitch could be IMMINENT, ponder whether the NWSL is too nice, tease the next season of Offseason, explain how the fight for equal pay is being misunderstood, declare her love of spicy fiction novels and shopping on Canal Street, reveal just how rowdy Harvard dorm parties really get, and reminisce about "old" kids TV shows. But not "Pepper Ann" old. That's OLD.
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Unknown Speaker
Substance use disorder and addiction is so isolating. And so, as a black woman in recovery, hope must be loud. It grows louder when you ask for help and you're vulnerable. It is the thread that lets you know that no matter what happens, you will be okay.
Midge Purse
When we learn the power of hope.
Katie Nolan
Recovery is possible, find out how@startwithhope.com brought.
Midge Purse
To you by the National Council for Mental well Being, Shatterproof and the AD.
Katie Nolan
Council hello and welcome to Casuals, the podcast. The sports podcast that cares. The sports podcast that loves you back. The podcast that's about sports. I'm Kate Nolan. I'm your host, joined today by a incredible guest who I'm very excited to get to. So we're going to do it quickly. It's Midge Purse, former co host of mine of the 91st, a podcast about women's soccer, but current member of Gotham FC in the nwsl, coming back from an injury. We're all excited to see her. She's here to talk about the season and her reality show Off Season FC that she produced a couple years ago and and other stuff. So we're going to get to her very quickly. First, if you want to email us, we are Casuals with Katie Nolanma, our voicemail 646-801-0043 and on IG and tick tock, we are @casualsthepodcast. This little beginning part we call the app. It's where I get to kind of just talk to you about whatever's on my mind. And today, boy, is it out of left field. And I'm not even sure I even know what I'm gonna say to you here, but can I just walk you through mentally something that I that happened to me this weekend? I guess I started playing the new Assassin's Creed game. I think it's called Shadows. I've played a couple of them. They're not like my favorite franchise, but I like them. I like an open world that I can explore and I got it. And I and it's so this the theme of this one is Japan. It's based in Japan and it. I had recent. Not recently, I guess within the last few years. Ghost Tsushima is one of my favorite video games of all time. It's beautiful. It's a samurai game. Complicated fighting mechanics to learn. So I at first wasn't super into it, but once I learned how to fight, it was very rewarding. And I liked all the different stances that you could get into. It's tough because I was playing Assassin's Creed and I'm like, it's going to be tough to live up to how much I loved Ghost of Tsushima. It's a similar type of a theme. The. The fighting should be similar, but it's not. And I didn't really. The. The fighting mechanism isn't clicking with me. Okay, let me just say that. Get that out of the way. So I went. What I would normally do is I would search the video game on a social media site, usually Twitter, and I would just see what people are saying about it so that it could be like, okay, I'm not alone. Other people don't like this way of fighting or other people think that the hiding isn't working the way that it's supposed to or whatever it is. And I just, I'm so. I just. I'm mourning social media. I think. I think what I'm going through is a long mourning of social media because we're. When I typed in Assassin's Creed shadows into Twitter to search what people were saying about it, there were only two things people were saying about it. One was that it's go woke go broke because it features a black samurai. And that had people upset or people going, a win for. For wokeness. A lot of people are playing this video game. We win. And I. And I just.
Midge Purse
I'm so.
Katie Nolan
Am I the only person that feels this way? I am so sick of there being one conversation to be had about literally everything. It just feels like every single thing is now about this. A thing that's like, not everything comes back to this. Anything I tweet or anything I post on social media, someone will just reply with like, well, if you weren't such a dem. Have fun spraying swastikas on. On a cyber tr. And I'm like, hello, what are you talking about? Hello, I'm talk. This is a. This. I was talking about sports in this clip. What are you talking about? I just feel like online discourse has devolved into two. Two sides and that's. Nobody wants to talk about anything else. And I am so. I have, like, a million opinions on it, like, ideologically. But putting even all of that aside, I'm so just, like, bored with it. Like, when did we get to the point where every conversation is this same conversation? And now I can't find any information on if other people like or dislike this game based on its merits, because all anybody wants to talk about is if it's woke and if that's good or bad. And it's like, what. What it explained. It's not just like, it's a black samurai unexplained. The story tells why. This is the story. It's a. And so you could criticize the story for being good or bad, but why is everything automatically. I saw Discussing Film. You know that Twitter account that, like, talks about movies? They, like, had to turn their replies off when they tweeted about Disney plus's new Iron Heart series, which is a comic character that was created in 2016 inspired by Sky Jackson, a black woman. And it's a black woman who is, like, a child genius and goes to MIT and basically reverse engineers Iron man suit for herself. So she, like, has her own Iron man suit. It's a comic, and that has always been a black woman. And Discussing Film tweeted about it, and people were like, who wants a black female Iron Man? And it's like, I don't know. The guy that wrote the character thought it would be an interesting story. How could you not possibly just go, like, interesting? Let me hear how a black woman. How did a black woman Iron man come to be? That's called engaging with the content. Everyone just immediately. It's crazy to me that you see a black person, a. A woman, an Asian person, and all the replies are either about wokeness or dei, which has just come to replace slurs. I. And nobody can just engage with the content anymore. It's like something. It's not right. It's like a mental illness. You can, like, black people can do stuff. Asian people can do stuff. Women can do stuff. It's insane to me that every reply to anything featuring anybody who isn't white now is like, DEI wokeness. That's nuts and a problem. And so clean it up, folks. Clean it up. It's embarrassing. And I want to be able to talk negatively about a video game without it seeming like I'm mad that there's a black samurai. I love that it's a black samurai. I'd like to get to that part of the game. You have to start out as, like, a young woman. Who she mostly does hiding. And I'm like, great. And I love that. But I kind of want to slice some people up. I want to slice. I don't want to tiptoe. I want to slice. But if I say I don't love the game, everyone's like, yeah, Trump 2021. It's like, can we have. When did everything become politics? This is my favorite part is when I look up and I see the producers all just staring at me going, is that it? Are we done? And it is. That's it. And it's fine. It's not a fully formed thought, but am I crazy? I just feel like everything I see. Social media used to have, like a wealth of opinions from all over. It was the greatest part about it is you could figure out what anybody thought about anything, and now everything gets reduced to. You get backed into a corner to defend a side you never took in the first place because you're like, I just wanted to talk about a video game. What is this? What is this? Cut it out. Our guest today, a dear friend of mine, Midge Purse. I'm so excited for her to be here. I'm sorry that I screamed. Let's not waste any time. Let's get into it. Here's Midge Purse.
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Unknown Speaker
Substance use disorder and addiction is so isolating. And so, as a black woman in recovery, hope must be loud. It grows louder when you ask for help and you're vulnerable. It is the thread that lets you know that no matter what happens, you will be okay.
Midge Purse
When we learn the power of hope.
Katie Nolan
Recovery is possible, find out how@startwithhope.com brought.
Midge Purse
To you by the National Council for Mental well Being, Shatterproof and the AD Council.
Katie Nolan
Midge Purse is here. She bullied me out of wearing headphones. This is going to be the first episode where I don't have headphones on because Midge said we would look. What was the actual word you used?
Midge Purse
I think I called it loser. He looked like a loser.
Katie Nolan
Yeah, loser was the word. She said I look like a loser in all of my podcast clips.
Midge Purse
Well, yeah, I'm surprised.
Katie Nolan
I think they're just headphones. It's part of the biz. But you know what?
Midge Purse
They're like, huge.
Katie Nolan
Yeah, I know, I know.
Midge Purse
You look so much cuter like this. Thanks. They don't match your outfit, your vibe.
Katie Nolan
Yeah, I just, you know, I don't care.
Midge Purse
She doesn't.
Katie Nolan
No, I don't care.
Midge Purse
Speaking of not caring, that's not like a pick me thing from Katie. She actually doesn't care.
Katie Nolan
I'm old. I'm just old and I don't have time to care. You're above it all. Hi.
Midge Purse
Hi.
Katie Nolan
How are you?
Midge Purse
I'm good.
Katie Nolan
So much has happened since I saw you last.
Midge Purse
When did I see you last?
Katie Nolan
It was 2020. When was the World Cup? 22, 21.
Midge Purse
That's the last time I saw you.
Katie Nolan
I think so.
Midge Purse
You haven't aged a day.
Katie Nolan
Neither have you.
Midge Purse
Thank you.
Katie Nolan
Midge and I used to host a podcast called the 91st. It was about the Women's World Cup. Unfortunately, that was the year that we didn't go very far. Midge wasn't playing then because you had a hamstring. Was it your quad?
Midge Purse
I tore my quad, yeah. Last year I tore my acl.
Katie Nolan
And then you tore your acl. We sat. It was so surreal because we sat talking about the World cup, and you were like, there is this torn ACL epidemic going through women's soccer. And we talked about it, and then I remember getting the notification and I.
Midge Purse
Was like, no, wait, you got a notification?
Katie Nolan
I think so.
Midge Purse
I think I got pushed.
Katie Nolan
I just signed up for Midge Purse. Google Alerts. How is it? How's the rehab? You posted that you're back.
Midge Purse
Yes, I did.
Katie Nolan
But you haven't played yet.
Midge Purse
I know.
Katie Nolan
When are you gonna play?
Midge Purse
I don't know if I'm supposed to say.
Katie Nolan
Okay, why not?
Midge Purse
I don't know. Because my team, it's like. It's like those things. I'm, like, back in, like, the sports world. And you're, like, not supposed to tell everybody everything that's happening soon. Like, quite soon, so I'm really excited.
Katie Nolan
Quite soon.
Midge Purse
Like, really soon.
Katie Nolan
Like, within a week. Soon, Katie. Like, soon.
Midge Purse
Like, soon.
Katie Nolan
So. So soon.
Midge Purse
Yeah, like, soon.
Katie Nolan
Does the day start with, like, a T? Does it start with an F?
Midge Purse
Well, we don't have games on those days.
Katie Nolan
Okay. Does it start with an M?
Midge Purse
It starts with an S. Okay.
Katie Nolan
And it's this S. This upcoming S.
Midge Purse
I don't know if I can say.
Katie Nolan
I think it's.
Midge Purse
It's a day by day thing, too.
Katie Nolan
Sure. Anything can happen.
Midge Purse
Yeah.
Katie Nolan
We never know.
Midge Purse
Sports, man. Unpredictable. Ambigu.
Katie Nolan
But we're gonna see you this upcoming S. Potentially.
Midge Purse
There's an S. And I'll be in one of the S's.
Katie Nolan
Okay.
Midge Purse
Soon. Soon. Good.
Katie Nolan
I'll take that. Talk to me about recovery. What? That is like. Yeah.
Midge Purse
I don't even know where to begin because. Well, it's like, even now, like, you have this, like, man, like, recovery, but, like, I had a blast.
Katie Nolan
You had fun. I had a great. Well, you're a cool person. So you had, like, other stuff to do.
Midge Purse
I did, but it was like. I don't know. I think I've played this game since I was a child, and there has not been one year where I wasn't playing this game. And I had this year where it was like, okay, you're not playing soccer. I was like, whoa, a sabbatical. Like, a true sabbatical way. And I was like, this is kind of nice. Yeah, it was like. It was a cool, like, refresher. Still really painful. I think at times, mostly emotionally.
Katie Nolan
Oh.
Midge Purse
Physically, it was.
Katie Nolan
It doesn't hurt. Do you have to keep. Just stay off of it. No. Yes.
Midge Purse
Well, for times, like, I had surgery before, I thought I would always be one of those people who just never had surgery.
Katie Nolan
That was, like, your fun fact about you. And now you can't say it anymore.
Midge Purse
Still won't have surgery. And then it happened, and I was like. I was weird. And we're still like, you know, I had surgery. It's Crazy. But, no, I had a great time. Not to say that there weren't hard moments, and it wasn't a difficult process. You just to be in it. In that stage of my career, especially during the Olympics.
Katie Nolan
Yeah.
Midge Purse
But, you know, it happened, and I think I grew in different ways from it, and I also, like, enjoyed life from it. So I'm just. I'm really excited to be back. Like, if I had to choose, obviously, I would have chosen, of course, not to have my sabbatical.
Katie Nolan
Of course.
Midge Purse
But it is nice.
Katie Nolan
Like a forced break.
Midge Purse
Yeah, a forced break. I had, like, time to do things. I went. Where did I go? I went to Cannes. Yeah. I went to Paris. I went to Cannes. I went to Italy. Yeah.
Katie Nolan
I had traveled the world.
Midge Purse
I traveled the world.
Katie Nolan
Sounds really miserable. Yeah, sounds miserable and bad.
Midge Purse
Very blessed.
Katie Nolan
But you missed the Olympics.
Midge Purse
I did miss the Olympics, which really sucked. That was hard.
Katie Nolan
Is it, like, hard to watch your, like, team do it and you're like, I want to be doing it with you, for sure.
Midge Purse
It's. It's. It was hard to watch the World Cup. It was hard to watch.
Katie Nolan
Well, it was a little easier because we watched it together.
Midge Purse
Yeah. And because, as we all know, I didn't watch those games live.
Katie Nolan
No, she didn't.
Midge Purse
So I knew how they.
Katie Nolan
Which is crazy.
Midge Purse
No, it was. It was really hard. And I think people. What people forget about. When you're a part of a team or it's like a world tournament, you have the time leading up where everyone's, like, deciding the roster, Then you have the roster announcement, and then people are like, okay, it doesn't hurt after the roster announcement. But then you have to sit through the whole tournament, and you're like, oh, well, it doesn't hurt during the tournament. But then it's like, even after the tournament, it's like, we're still talking about it. So it's like, the whole time.
Katie Nolan
Yeah.
Midge Purse
That being said, it was really amazing to watch them win. Like, I was. I was really happy for them because you just know. I know how hard they all worked and, like, what they've been through to get there, but, yeah, it sucks.
Katie Nolan
Do you text them, or is that.
Midge Purse
Like, off, like, in tournament?
Katie Nolan
Yeah. Like, when they are at the Olympics, were you texting them, like, good game today?
Midge Purse
Or, like, I texted a few people for different reasons. Because even when you're winning and you're on that team, it's still really hard. You know, you, like, even if you're starting, like, you don't have a good game or you have a really great game, and you're just nervous about the next game. Like, it's. It's really hard. So I sent a few texts, but for the most part, you kind of. You know, they're like, let them be. They got it. They got to survive.
Katie Nolan
You're like the emotional support coach who's just like, hey, everybody, everybody. You're doing really well. Do you text them and tell them when they're not doing well? You're like, that's sucked. No, no, of course not.
Midge Purse
They're all, like. All of them are such elite athletes. And that's the thing I try to. I try to remind. Well, I didn't want to say that. I do remind some coaches. I'm like, we are smart enough to know when we did poorly. Like, I. I know that was bad. You know that was bad. Everyone else saw, and you know it's bad. You don't have to keep telling me how bad it is. You can if you want to.
Katie Nolan
What would you rather them say to you?
Midge Purse
It just depends on the context. Like, it's like, if I see it's bad and you see it's bad, you can just be silent. We can both just live in.
Katie Nolan
Yeah, we'll skip that part. We'll just look at each other and sort of acknowledge that we know.
Midge Purse
But it's like. It's almost like that. That's not it. Yeah, I know.
Katie Nolan
Here's the crazy thing.
Midge Purse
Yeah.
Katie Nolan
I also know it wasn't right.
Midge Purse
Or it's like, I'll, like, take a shot and they'll be like, on frame. No, I was trying to miss the frame. Like, that's why. That's why I'm here.
Katie Nolan
Good advice. You want me to shoot it in bed? Oh. Oh, Coach. It's all adding up now. Thank you. What else? Women's sports is having a moment.
Midge Purse
I've been hearing that.
Katie Nolan
I know. And it's like. It's the. It's the line. Everyone says, women's sports is having a moment.
Midge Purse
Having a moment. Are we.
Katie Nolan
Does it feel like.
Midge Purse
It feels like some women's sports are having a moment.
Katie Nolan
Namely women's basketball, probably.
Midge Purse
Oh, how'd you guess?
Katie Nolan
I don't know. Took a stab.
Midge Purse
Yeah. I feel like they're having a big moment. I feel like all women's sports is still progressing in the right way, and I think that there has been more investment across different industries. Like, I love seeing the fashion and beauty industry get more into it.
Katie Nolan
Yeah.
Midge Purse
Like, Revolve has been sponsoring looks. Like, more companies getting into it. That's cool. But I wouldn't call it a moment. I would call it a solid progression.
Katie Nolan
Like, it's been kind of time for this, and it's starting to sort of happen.
Midge Purse
Yeah. I think a moment would be kind of the Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark in, like, that was the moment.
Katie Nolan
Right.
Midge Purse
And since then, I feel like they've really built upon that moment and created, like, a strong drive in the industry.
Katie Nolan
Yeah. So what's the moment gonna be for nwsl?
Midge Purse
Ooh. You know, we don't have enough villains.
Katie Nolan
Yeah. I do think you guys need some. Yeah. Some just, like, Stone cold bitches.
Midge Purse
Yes.
Katie Nolan
Yeah.
Midge Purse
I try to be.
Katie Nolan
You can be. No, I. I can say she can be.
Midge Purse
I tried. I tried. I tried. The year we won 2023. Yeah.
Katie Nolan
MVP of the championship.
Midge Purse
I don't know if we mentioned I tried. When I think was that when Angel City came in, I tried to create a rivalry against Angel City. I tried so hard, and I tried to make Gotham. Because obviously Gotham City, like, it sounds like villains versus the Angels.
Katie Nolan
Yeah.
Midge Purse
I was like, this is easy, guys. La, New York.
Katie Nolan
Right.
Midge Purse
Perfect rivals. And it just never stuck.
Katie Nolan
Yeah.
Midge Purse
Yeah.
Katie Nolan
It's just too. Do you feel like it's too nice? Everybody is so supportive of each other that it's almost hard to be mad at each other because, like, you're happy with Angel City because it's like the league is growing.
Midge Purse
I'm not happy with Angel City, but.
Katie Nolan
I'm an athlete, and he was like, I hate this city.
Midge Purse
Yeah. I hate everybody. No, I just don't know how. How to create a authentic storyline. Villain in this league. Like, I almost feel like I have to backhand someone and, like, I'm not gonna.
Katie Nolan
I'm not gonna endorse it. I'm certainly not gonna endorse that on camera. But I do think that would help.
Midge Purse
Yeah.
Katie Nolan
No.
Midge Purse
Like, it's not worth the red card. I've gotten red cards. It's not worth it.
Katie Nolan
How many red cards have you gotten?
Midge Purse
I've gotten two. I've gotten one for fighting, and I got two from, like, double yellows and so.
Katie Nolan
Fighting.
Midge Purse
Yeah.
Katie Nolan
How? Like, throwing a punch? Yep. You threw a punch?
Midge Purse
Yes.
Katie Nolan
On the field? Yes.
Midge Purse
At high school.
Katie Nolan
Oh, high school.
Midge Purse
High school counts. High school counts.
Katie Nolan
High school doesn't count.
Midge Purse
High school does count.
Katie Nolan
I played softball in high school. Am I a softball player?
Midge Purse
No. Did you get in a fight?
Katie Nolan
No. No.
Midge Purse
Okay, but if you did, I would have been like, that counts.
Katie Nolan
Okay, fine.
Midge Purse
Maybe you had to see the fight.
Katie Nolan
I kind of wish we could see the fight.
Midge Purse
I'll ask my dad. He was there.
Katie Nolan
Oh, I thought you meant he recorded it. Because if you have video of this fight, it needs to be on the Internet.
Midge Purse
There might be Our lady of Good Counsel High School. Do you have footage of this?
Katie Nolan
Please send it to us.
Midge Purse
Suspended. After my red card, they called me. And what started the fight? We got into, like, a crazy tackle, and she hit me when we were on the ground. Like, literally just hit me across my face. And then we started fighting, and then I got a red card, she got a red card, and I went to school the next day. And then they were like, you're suspended. And I was like, okay, how long.
Katie Nolan
Does that go for?
Midge Purse
Five days. But my dad was so proud.
Katie Nolan
Another sabbatical, you get another forced.
Midge Purse
I was like, I don't do schoolwork.
Katie Nolan
Your first. Yeah, let me take five days off from school.
Midge Purse
Yeah. I was like, I don't care.
Katie Nolan
Your dad was proud.
Midge Purse
So he got me boxing gloves and was for, like, their whole week. Was like Rocky.
Katie Nolan
The whole week.
Midge Purse
He was so proud.
Katie Nolan
That's very funny.
Midge Purse
I didn't throw the first punch.
Katie Nolan
So we're all good, right? You just defended yourself.
Midge Purse
See, now someone's going to hit me in the. In the league.
Katie Nolan
And then we'll have our moment.
Midge Purse
And then we'll have our moment.
Katie Nolan
If you swing at Midge Purse first, she has every. She's well within her rights to swing back at you.
Midge Purse
Yeah. Here we go.
Katie Nolan
And start this rivalry that the NWSL needs.
Midge Purse
I'll be your villain.
Katie Nolan
Look, you have not. Not tried to help with the way the NWSL is marketed. You famously said that you think that it's derivative. Most marketing for women's sports is very derivative of men's sports, but it's like, is that famous? Yeah, everybody talks about it all the time in my group chats, period. But that's why you came up with Off Season fc, which is like a full show that you came up with, produced. Got like, real reality TV producers, 11 women in a house, training for. What was it, two weeks? Yeah, it felt longer in Miami. Yes. How did it go? How did. It's one season.
Midge Purse
One season.
Katie Nolan
How did it go?
Midge Purse
It went really well. Yeah, it got over. I think still now it's closer to, like, 295 million views.
Katie Nolan
Excuse me.
Midge Purse
Yeah.
Katie Nolan
So many views.
Midge Purse
I know. I was like, keep watching. Did really well. We put it on Twitter, obviously, because at the time when I was having all these discussions with different networks, they really wanted to take away my agency and my role in actually Producing it and kind of make the premise of what the show was very different.
Katie Nolan
In what way?
Midge Purse
I had a conversation with. I had a conversation with one network and they were like, okay, so we get that all of the women are athletes and stuff, but we don't understand why they're in the house together. And I was like, because they're training for the season. It's preseason. And they're like, yeah, nobody really wants to see that. Like, how about they realize that friendship is the. Is like, more. More important than sports. These are real conversations. A real conversation I had, like, with networks. And so it was like, okay, wow. Like, the entertainment industry on, like, the production side hasn't caught up with us, like, as athletes and on the club side of, like, where we are in our narrative of how we want to be, like, consumed.
Katie Nolan
Yeah.
Midge Purse
Marketed. And I was like, you guys are, like, so far off. And I. I really didn't trust any of the networks to take this on and have that kind of approval before I put something out.
Katie Nolan
Yeah.
Midge Purse
So I put it online because it was the only way I could get my version out in that time. And I'm really happy that it did. And I wish I could share with you what we're doing now, but, like.
Katie Nolan
But you can't. I can't. Why can't you?
Midge Purse
I can't because I signed an NDA and it's gonna be. It's gonna be announced really soon, so I'm really pumped. But there's gonna be new off season news, and it's a lot bigger than the first one.
Katie Nolan
This is exciting, I think, you know, I think it's exciting, you know, I wish I could know, you know, you.
Midge Purse
Know me, you know, like, it's going to be exciting.
Katie Nolan
I'm excited.
Midge Purse
I'm excited.
Katie Nolan
I'm excited for. What was your favorite moment from the first season of off season fc.
Midge Purse
Oh, no one's ever asked me that.
Katie Nolan
Really?
Midge Purse
No. Not once. Huh.
Katie Nolan
Huh.
Midge Purse
I don't know. I think maybe when. Truth. Truthfully, I think when we were all at the table and we found out that low contract was. Or that she didn't have an agent and that she wasn't getting paid what she was supposed to and everyone at the table was like, what, can I curse in here? No, I'm not gonna.
Katie Nolan
Yeah. Yes.
Midge Purse
No, no, it's too late.
Katie Nolan
No, you can. It's not authentic, but just know for the rest of the time that you can.
Midge Purse
Yeah, no, I'm not. I'm gonna try not to. Cursing's not great.
Katie Nolan
So she Won't curse and isn't gonna wear headphones. I don't know whose rules rule over this studio, but clearly not mine.
Midge Purse
Yeah, well, yeah. So that moment, I feel like, was really cool to see everybody. And then, oh, no, I lied. It didn't make it because we didn't have cameras on. I lost my phone on the yacht. I lost my phone on the yacht when I was swag surfing, and it just flew out of my hand. And we were all having so much fun, but as. As soon as it hit the water, everyone knew I was gonna be livid. And they turned off the music and we were just silent the whole ride home. That was fun.
Katie Nolan
And so you have to get a new phone.
Midge Purse
Yeah, I had to go to the Apple store and get a new phone.
Katie Nolan
You didn't dive in after it. You're an athlete.
Midge Purse
I tried, and the captain was like, no, and my foot was already over the railing. And then. Kelly. Kelly Hubley. I was like, kelly, can I use your phone to call Chris? She was like, yeah. She texted Chris and she was like, she's not really happy right now. He was like, okay.
Katie Nolan
Crazy good times. I lost my phone when swag surfing on a yacht. So relatable. This is such relatable content. Swag surfing, famously invented by Taylor Swift during the. I'm just kidding, Midge. Yeah, sure. You saw that.
Midge Purse
The Chiefs really, they were like, oh, look at her. They're really. I didn't see her swag surf, actually, but happy. Happy for her.
Katie Nolan
Yes, of course.
Midge Purse
When you get to be a part of, like, a true swag surfing crowd, it is intimate.
Katie Nolan
Yeah.
Midge Purse
And a really special moment.
Katie Nolan
Yeah. I don't know that she was a part of a real swag surfing.
Midge Purse
Was she alone?
Katie Nolan
No, she was just in a box where the box didn't really have the necessary swag to surf, one could say. But they did it and she invented it. We were vaguely kind of speaking about the men's game. So speaking of the men's game, they lost stunning loss to Panama last week and then lost to Canada this weekend. Why do you think that the women's team has been so successful and the men's team stinks?
Midge Purse
Um, wow.
Katie Nolan
I know.
Midge Purse
That's really.
Katie Nolan
Diagnose the problem and then fix it if you could.
Midge Purse
That's a huge question. Um, well, one. All over the world, I would say every country's best athletes play football. Soccer. Except for in the U.S. so, like, I mean, imagine if Soccer. Soccer. Soccer or football. What are we called?
Katie Nolan
Soccer. What do you mean? We call It. Of course we call it soccer.
Midge Purse
Okay. Soccer.
Katie Nolan
No one's gonna judge. Don't judge her for using whatever word. Soccer.
Midge Purse
I know. You know, in my sabbatical, I just was like, I was in Europe a lot, so, you know, of course.
Katie Nolan
Okay, so she' girl that comes back from studying abroad with an accent.
Midge Purse
Yeah. I was like, oh. I was like, I would be around. I'd be like, we. I'm sorry. Yes. I'm so sorry. I was just embarrassed.
Katie Nolan
I'm sorry. How do you say Hilaria Baldwin? How you say yes?
Midge Purse
How you say yes, exactly.
Katie Nolan
But soccer. We say soccer here.
Midge Purse
I'm so sorry. Soccer. Yeah. Where I grew up playing soccer. Right. I think, like, imagine if LeBron played soccer.
Katie Nolan
That really is. Everybody always says it's like, imagine if the athletes you see in the other sports played soccer. But we do still have talent.
Midge Purse
Yes. And I don't say that to discard the talent. Like, our men's national team is extremely talented, obviously. And I think they have recently been on an even more impressive run leading up to this World Cup. I don't know. I mean, they have a great coach, so I can't really speak ahead of him. I think the women have been successful because. Yeah, I don't know, actually, either.
Katie Nolan
Is it because you guys are, like, leaders in the. I mean, the. The world has kind of grown to meet the level that the U.S. women's National Team set for sure.
Midge Purse
We also have a way bigger player pool than most countries. Like, we're competing against, like, some of the top athletes, just, like, physically capable bodies in the United States, like, all women. That's a way bigger, like, population than most of these other countries where women are actually even able to play soccer. So I think that helps a lot.
Katie Nolan
Yeah.
Midge Purse
Yeah, We've. We were in it first. Like, we were kind of one of the first countries to really, really take it seriously. But, yeah, I really. I don't know. That's actually something. I can't speak to the actual why, but I've speculated sufficiently.
Katie Nolan
Everything's speculation. It's a podcast.
Midge Purse
Some of the things I feel like I. Not speculating. I feel like, no, I'm right.
Katie Nolan
Do you say that specifically? You're like, this isn't speculation.
Midge Purse
Yeah, I'll flag it.
Katie Nolan
Just so you know, this is actual fact. I don't want it. I'm sick of talking about equal pay. But in 2021, you and Megan Rapinoe went to the White House for Equal pay Day.
Midge Purse
We did.
Katie Nolan
Where are we at on this? Is progress being Made. Do you feel like there steps in the right direction being made in terms of equal pay and the fight for it? That feels like it's been going on for a very long time.
Midge Purse
I'm not skirting your question. Remember when I tried to be really cute instead of cross?
Katie Nolan
Yeah, I was gonna say with an acl. I don't know.
Midge Purse
It's not the acl. My foot's asleep and my Jordans are too big.
Katie Nolan
And it's just like, yeah, you can't handle it. True athletes. True athletes can stay like this for the whole podcast.
Midge Purse
Is that what the name is?
Katie Nolan
No, it's. I'm a couch potato. I sit for most of my day.
Midge Purse
I got tight hips. Yeah, it's no equal pay. Eagle Bay. Do I feel like we've made gains? Yeah, of course we've made progress. It would be. It would be glaringly embarrassing if we haven't made any progress in 2021. Since that's the trajectory of women's sports in the U.S. i don't think we're anywhere close to where we need to be. I know there was like a list of the top paid athletes in the entire world or something like that, and there was not one female. And even still, when we look at contracts of just like, US Players versus other men's US Players, it's not as ubiquitously spread out. When I say words with more than three syllables.
Katie Nolan
Ubiquitously.
Midge Purse
Ubiquitously.
Katie Nolan
I like when you use big words.
Midge Purse
I don't.
Katie Nolan
Okay. But they're so big.
Midge Purse
I don't think that one's that big.
Katie Nolan
Ubiquitously. That's. I bet there's people out there who pronounce that wrong. That's how you know it's big. Really?
Midge Purse
Yeah.
Katie Nolan
I bet somebody says, like.
Midge Purse
Ubiquitous.
Katie Nolan
Sorry, I just. You went to Harvard, so I. Every time you talk, I just am.
Midge Purse
Like, katie, thank you.
Katie Nolan
You're welcome. But keep going. You. The men are ubiquitous.
Midge Purse
I don't. Where.
Katie Nolan
What's next in the equal pay fight? What are the next steps? What's the.
Midge Purse
I mean, it's still getting more money. I mean, I think pay up. Yeah, it's paying up. It's like getting the. It's still getting the proper investment to be on the same level that the men's are. I like, I think a big misconception about the fight for equal pay is that people believe that women are just like, we're not going to get as many fans. We're not going to do the same work, but we expect to be paid the same amount as the athletes. Who are bringing in all of these fans. But that. That's what people hear. But that's literally not what any of us are saying. We're literally saying, can you invest in this sport the same way? Can you put it on primetime television, on primetime slots and see how many people come? Can you put it in the right stadiums and see how many people come? Can you put the right. The same marketing dollars that you put into the men's and see how many people come. Can you grow it the same way you would a men's business and then pay what is due? And I think that we're slowly getting to a place where we are getting more companies, networks to put in that type of, you know, correct value, and we'll see where it goes. And I think, honestly, Angel City, obviously, is a really good example of that.
Katie Nolan
Yeah.
Midge Purse
Shout out to Bob and Willow.
Katie Nolan
Always misunderstood. That's across women's sports.
Midge Purse
Yeah.
Katie Nolan
The conversation about equal pay. They're like, well, they don't have as many viewers. And you're like, that's not.
Midge Purse
Shut up.
Katie Nolan
Actually, the nuance of the argument.
Midge Purse
No, it's.
Katie Nolan
Which is basically like, you wouldn't expect. I think this is what you said at the White House. So you wouldn't expect a flower to just grow. Don't cover it. You have to provide an environment. So it's like, invest the money in and then see. And if you see that, like, it doesn't, then okay, we'll have that conversation then. But why is it always assuming that, like, they just don't have the same. It's like, you're not giving it the same treatment. It has been impossible to find NWSL games of, like, you have to know. I have to, like, write it down and follow it. And you guys have incredible fans, you're.
Midge Purse
On a safari who do this.
Katie Nolan
And they. And they all watch and support in any way they can. But I'm sure it would be a lot easier for them if it was just like, you turn on the TV and there it is.
Midge Purse
It's so true.
Katie Nolan
It feels like it's getting better.
Midge Purse
It is. And I think. I think you have less people being like, oh, I don't want to like, women's sports sucks and I don't want to watch women play soccer, blah, blah, blah. Which is so interesting to me because did you see that influencer charity game that they had in. Oh, they had it. It was in Europe, but basically it was like Speed and Kaiserna and, like, they sold out the stadium and none of them can play soccer. Like, it was like the worst football that you could absolutely watch, but everyone tuned in and it had so many viewers. And I'm like, you see what I'm saying? Like this? Like, you wanted to watch horrible football.
Katie Nolan
Yeah.
Midge Purse
Because you liked those people playing it. So it's like, you can't argue to me that it's like, oh, it's the qu. It's because the quality or the ability doesn't match the men. It's a completely different product.
Katie Nolan
Yeah.
Midge Purse
And you have to respect that product or not like, that product for whatever it is. But don't. Just like. People just don't like women is what I've learned.
Katie Nolan
Yeah. Because it's like, people. It's how I felt about college football, where people. I never grew up watching college sports. Cause I'm from, you know, the Northeast, and it wasn't like a big deal for us. And then I went to a school that got rid of its football program. But I felt like when people would watch college football, I was always like, that's people that aren't pros yet. And they. People are so passionate about it.
Midge Purse
Yeah.
Katie Nolan
So I'm like, you actually don't really care. It's a different. I think watching women's soccer is more interesting to me because I like the way women played soccer. I think it's a more interesting, visually, game to watch. It can be different, but that doesn't mean it's less than. It doesn't mean it's like a different less than skill. And I don't know why. Because people just hate. It's different women.
Midge Purse
It's like, it's like boxing. They have different weight classes. Mma. It's like, just because that guy's bigger doesn't mean, like, this other product. When they're smaller and they fight differently.
Katie Nolan
They fight differently.
Midge Purse
Yeah, but like, the prize pools are. Yeah, I don't. People just. Yeah, people just don't like women.
Katie Nolan
And it doesn't. Doesn't necessarily feel like even though women's sports is having a moment, it doesn't necessarily feel like the world's getting nicer to women at the current juncture.
Midge Purse
Oh, my gosh. Br. Football. Like, I love when they post because I'm like, yeah, post the girls. Like, yes, this is a sick highlight. But the comments, it's like, come on. I know. But sometimes.
Katie Nolan
Scroll past it. Not you, them.
Midge Purse
I know. Sometimes they're kind of funny, though.
Katie Nolan
There's so much like, what? No, they're just funny in what way?
Midge Purse
Well, like, I think there's one time I read. I actually think they might have posted me doing something. And I read it was like, something like, get back in the kitchen. And at that very moment, the oldest, hackiest joke, right? Like, grow up. But like, at that moment, I was literally in the kitchen, like, making a sandwich for myself.
Katie Nolan
I'm doing.
Midge Purse
And I was like, I'm doing it.
Katie Nolan
You can't just be in the kitchen all day.
Midge Purse
I can't do it all day. And can I do both? Like, can I leave the kitchen? Like, it's really okay. I'm like, why are you so angry?
Katie Nolan
I can't believe we're still doing kitchen. Of all the things that we've evolved out of. That comment lives forever on any woman doing any sport or talking about any sport.
Midge Purse
Which is strange because I feel like the role of women, we're getting really off topic. The role.
Katie Nolan
Do we have topic? No.
Midge Purse
The role of women in relationships has evolved to include or almost require so much more than like, typical domestic responsibilities. Like, there was a tick tock Trend about like 50, 50 relationships. And it's like women working like, da, da, da. And it's like, okay, so obviously we're out of the kitchen. A lot of us.
Katie Nolan
A lot of us.
Midge Purse
Yeah. So, like, can you update your dis. Yeah. Come up with not hitting.
Katie Nolan
That's the thing is like, you want to hate. I can understand being a hater about certain things, but at least be interesting.
Midge Purse
Hurt. Like hurt my feelings.
Katie Nolan
Hate me in a way that makes me go, you really got me there.
Midge Purse
Yeah. Ate me up.
Katie Nolan
But sandwich, kitchen, all this, I'm like, yawn. You guys have been hating for decades. Your game hasn't evolved at all. You can't come at me with something like, moderately more interesting than that. Just a little embarrassing. I'm hating on your ability to hate. It's embarrassing.
Midge Purse
The new comments next time I get posted are gonna.
Katie Nolan
They're gonna be elaborate. I tell you what, they're gonna take big swings. I don't know if they're gonna hit, but they will take big swings.
Midge Purse
Dad, Katie in them.
Katie Nolan
No, I can't take it. I gotta stay out of comment sections. Man, the Internet getting. Is the way they talk about women now.
Midge Purse
Does it get you?
Katie Nolan
Well, it's just watching it get worse is.
Midge Purse
Yeah.
Katie Nolan
Is like for a lady who battles depression every day, it's like, not. Yeah. It's like not a sick time to see the way people talk about women. You're like, what, this? Yeah, we're back here. Yeah, this is wild.
Midge Purse
Yeah.
Katie Nolan
Because of all those, you know, Influencers that are, like, in the cells teach you that masculinity is something that. I actually don't think that it is, like, I think an important aspect of masculine. Now we're way off topic.
Midge Purse
No, this is. This is the topic.
Katie Nolan
I think an important aspect of masculinity that's being, like, left out was like, the. The. The protector role, the, like, respecting of women role. The, like, you were strong and powerful, and also you cared to protect those weaker than you. Now it's like they're taught that being masculine is being antagonistic to a woman. And it's like, that's not. That was never a part of it.
Midge Purse
I recently learned what incels means.
Katie Nolan
Recently? Last year.
Midge Purse
Last year.
Katie Nolan
The luxury. Did you know what it meant last year? Known that people don't know what. They're voluntarily celibate. Yes, they do.
Midge Purse
No, they don't.
Katie Nolan
If you're as online as the. Most people who listen to podcasts, I think would.
Midge Purse
I'm not saying you have, like, a life. I listen to the Daily Barbero.
Katie Nolan
Shout out.
Midge Purse
Shout out. Michael.
Katie Nolan
So you just learned what incel is.
Midge Purse
No, like, a year ago.
Katie Nolan
No, that's okay. Sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel judged.
Midge Purse
Well, I just didn't know that's what it means. I was like, oh, that tracks. Yeah, that makes sense. And now I get it. But that also. Now I get why you hate women. Right.
Katie Nolan
Because you've been told that it's their fault, not your fault, and that it's like, a flaw of theirs, that they don't love you enough.
Midge Purse
Yes.
Katie Nolan
Which is an easy product to sell extreme to an audience looking for somebody to blame. I just wish we would use a little bit more scrutiny of, like. Well, that's. They're going the easiest route. They're selling.
Midge Purse
Scrutiny's a big word. I will say it's not scrutiny.
Katie Nolan
I guess it's three syllables.
Midge Purse
It's a big word. And I actually think it's a big word in the U.S. you know, it's not like a lot of people.
Katie Nolan
We're not scrutinizing a lot of things.
Midge Purse
No, no, no. I think that's something we're lacking.
Katie Nolan
Yeah.
Midge Purse
You know, critical thinking.
Katie Nolan
But everybody's talking all the time. Everyone has a comment on everything. Yeah, but they're not ever really taking the time to go. Let me ponder that.
Midge Purse
No, I mean, truly, we're in a literacy epidemic with our schools. Children can't read. Like, this is, like, actually a serious thing.
Katie Nolan
I know.
Midge Purse
So it doesn't shock me. That critical thinking and not being able to just. Or only being able to just regurgitate things that you hear other people say is kind of like the trend, like, the current times.
Katie Nolan
Are you reading?
Midge Purse
Can I read?
Katie Nolan
I know you can read.
Midge Purse
I am reading.
Katie Nolan
What are you reading?
Midge Purse
I can't tell you.
Katie Nolan
Spicy.
Midge Purse
Yeah. I love a spicy romance.
Katie Nolan
I need to get get ined. I need, like, my pipeline. Do you need to.
Midge Purse
Need a spicy romance? Okay, start. Do you like fantasy?
Katie Nolan
I guess it depends. That could mean a whole lot of things.
Midge Purse
What's your trope? Are you, like, friends to lovers, enemies to lovers? Forbidden love.
Katie Nolan
Forbidden how? Like, not in one of the bad ways.
Midge Purse
What's a bad way?
Katie Nolan
I don't know. Like something illegal. What? Forbidden.
Midge Purse
Forbidden.
Katie Nolan
Illegal.
Midge Purse
Those are things they can't be together.
Katie Nolan
Why? Who says?
Midge Purse
The king. Yes.
Katie Nolan
Okay. Okay. All right. I could do that.
Midge Purse
Yeah. Like, they're. They're from opposite sides of the country. Poor ones.
Katie Nolan
Rich or something.
Midge Purse
Yeah. Yes.
Katie Nolan
Romeo, Juliet.
Midge Purse
Yes.
Katie Nolan
People forget they were, like, 14.
Midge Purse
Romeo and Juliet. That was uncomfortable.
Katie Nolan
They were very young. Yeah. I could. I don't know my trope. I guess I have to discover. What's your trope?
Midge Purse
I don't want to share this, Katie. This is, like.
Katie Nolan
It's deeply into it.
Midge Purse
Yeah, that's like. Like asking.
Katie Nolan
Like telling everyone you're into. Yeah, like asking men what category they search is. Asking you what your trope is.
Midge Purse
What's my wrong. Yes. My spicy romance joke. I'm reading Never split the difference. It is about negotiating tactics from a really, really smart FBI agent. This is not.
Katie Nolan
That's not Chris Voss. I thought you were talking about a spicy. I was about to write it down.
Midge Purse
No, no, no.
Katie Nolan
Never Split the Difference. What could that be a euphemism for?
Midge Purse
No, that's like. I'm switching the subject to my latest nonfiction. Chris Voss. I'm pretty sure that's who wrote it. He's fantastic.
Katie Nolan
Are you a physical book or an E?
Midge Purse
I am. I do have a Kindle. Rose, actually.
Katie Nolan
Rosal Rose Lavelle. Famously.
Midge Purse
She actually gifted our whole team Kindles. So now I have two Kindles.
Katie Nolan
That's sick.
Midge Purse
I know she's a reader, but she won't really get into the spicy things with me, which I did.
Katie Nolan
Just, like, I don't know.
Midge Purse
Books.
Katie Nolan
Books?
Midge Purse
Yeah, just like normal fiction, good books. I'm, like, boring.
Katie Nolan
She's reading like grapes of Rap. Okay.
Midge Purse
I will say Husbands by Evelyn Huber.
Katie Nolan
I've heard that. Yeah. Yeah.
Midge Purse
You haven't read it?
Katie Nolan
No, no, I have not read It. But I've heard that it's good.
Midge Purse
I read it in one sitting coming back from a trip from San Diego. Like it was like a six hour flight. And I read it the whole time. I couldn't put it down. It was.
Katie Nolan
It was moving up my list.
Midge Purse
You need to read it.
Katie Nolan
Moving up my list.
Midge Purse
It was absolutely unreal. No. I tried to get Tierna, one of my teammates, to read a spicy romance book with me and it didn't go well. She didn't like it.
Katie Nolan
See, that's. I think I. I think I just. I don't like, Hear me out. I have a hard time reading because I have add, so I. It's hard for me to stay, like, focused and read. I end up reading the same paragraph a bunch of times and in a spicy. I worry that that's gonna get in the way of spice. I worry that I'm just gonna be reading and it's gonna. I'm gonna keep reading about his erect member or whatever. That weird language that gets used in that. Tell me that's not.
Midge Purse
That's not how it is when you have a good writer.
Katie Nolan
Okay.
Midge Purse
You can't read those horrible books.
Katie Nolan
Okay, but that's what I'm saying. I need guidance. I need to know how to find my trope.
Midge Purse
I actually have. So in my office, I have a like two bookshelves. And you can see the ones by my head are like my psychology books.
Katie Nolan
Your serious ones?
Midge Purse
Yeah. Then above, that's like the politics books.
Katie Nolan
Great.
Midge Purse
And then right below here where you can't see anything is a row. Just spicy row.
Katie Nolan
Just absolute smoke.
Midge Purse
Yeah, we're like. Saw what these were titled. You just be like. Oh, my gosh.
Katie Nolan
What?
Midge Purse
Yeah, but it's fine.
Katie Nolan
The title gives it away. What's the spiciest title that you own?
Midge Purse
No.
Katie Nolan
Yes, tell me. Yes, please. You can't tell me what's happening with off season fc. You can't tell me when you're gonna.
Midge Purse
Start playing off season because it's not called Offseason fc. No, it was Off Season fc.
Katie Nolan
I made that up.
Midge Purse
No, Offseason FC would just be soccer. But this is off season.
Katie Nolan
Okay, that's interesting. Okay, that's interesting to see what she did there. Okay. I loved that.
Midge Purse
I hope you did.
Katie Nolan
That was a morsel.
Midge Purse
A little. I'm being like a little cute now.
Katie Nolan
Give me one spicy book name.
Midge Purse
I can't think of one.
Katie Nolan
Okay.
Midge Purse
But I do really like Victorian aged romances as well.
Katie Nolan
Okay. Do you. Are you a Bridgerton girl?
Midge Purse
Did you like Bridgerton I never read those. I liked them.
Katie Nolan
I mean, watched.
Midge Purse
Yeah, I've watched them. I never read them, but I do. I really like the courting of the Victorian age and like, that. That whole cultural process. I like a slow burn.
Katie Nolan
Sure.
Midge Purse
Yearning. Like, bring back yearning. Do you know what I mean?
Katie Nolan
Let me yearn. Let a girl yearn.
Midge Purse
Yeah. Like that pain. Is it pain? I don't know what it is.
Katie Nolan
It's like. It's. It's like a. It's like a pang. Like it's. You feel those. Like it's like hunger.
Midge Purse
Yeah.
Katie Nolan
It's like you. Well, not.
Midge Purse
That was descriptive.
Katie Nolan
Chill out. Chill out.
Midge Purse
What diction.
Katie Nolan
I think it makes sense. You love a slow burn girl who's been in a relationship for seven, eight, nine. You had a boyfriend for seven, eight, nine years. The slowest possible burn.
Midge Purse
No, it's not a slow burn. With him.
Katie Nolan
You guys live together?
Midge Purse
No, actually.
Katie Nolan
Huh.
Midge Purse
Well, because. So we got together in college. He was a year older, and he left to go work in New York finance. And then I was picked up by Boston, so. Distance.
Katie Nolan
Oh, yeah. The breakers rip.
Midge Purse
I don't wanna talk about it. And then when they folded, I was like, m. Dang.
Katie Nolan
All right. I love it there.
Midge Purse
Then got. It was a poorly run club.
Katie Nolan
Well, probably why it's not with us anymore. Yeah.
Midge Purse
Yeah. But the fans were incredible. Love you guys. You guys amazing.
Katie Nolan
And I love you.
Midge Purse
You guys deserve. Oh, Are you gonna be a. I think so.
Katie Nolan
They're not Boss Nation anymore. Are you gonna be a Boss Nation anymore? Thank God.
Midge Purse
Girl Boss. I knew they were gonna have.
Katie Nolan
I was like, they're gonna put out merch that says Girl Boss Nation, and I'm gonna jump off a bridge.
Midge Purse
Well, let me ask you a question.
Katie Nolan
Okay.
Midge Purse
How did you feel about the ball? What?
Katie Nolan
Balls.
Midge Purse
You didn't see the.
Katie Nolan
Oh, yeah, the ad about balls. So Boss Nation FC announced they're the newest expansion team and they put out a promo ad that was all about sports without balls. Is that what it was?
Midge Purse
Yeah, I think I didn't.
Katie Nolan
From my memory, as a euphemism. Right.
Midge Purse
I'm going bun, by the way. I feel like we were getting too fancy.
Katie Nolan
It's okay. I'm just gonna put my headphones on. At some point, I should.
Midge Purse
Brought my glasses.
Katie Nolan
I hated it. I hated it. Because soccer famously has a ball. I hated it. Boston has a women's hockey team. That is pretty good. I. It was. It was a miss across the board. I'm happy they heard that. Very rarely do you see accountability at that level where they go like, okay, heard.
Midge Purse
No, we're going back. How could you not have heard it?
Katie Nolan
I don't know. I don't know. But I do think what I really love about women's sports on, like, a broader level is I think the fans are very demanding. I think they're very like, listen, we're not gonna let you. We don't want it that way.
Midge Purse
I'm not gonna let you get away with this.
Katie Nolan
We're gonna tell you how we'd like it to be, and then we'd like you to live up to that standard. I think a lot of people don't like that, especially ownership, who's like, well, I could really have used this.
Midge Purse
Well, who was the PR firm. That's who we really need to get to the bottom of. It's their fault. And this brings me back again where I say the entertainment industry hasn't caught up. Up to women's sports.
Katie Nolan
Yeah.
Midge Purse
But as I was saying, Chris went to Boston.
Katie Nolan
Oh, yeah.
Midge Purse
And then got traded or picked up in a distribution draft. Draft to Portland. So then I was in Portland for two years, and he was in New York. Yeah.
Katie Nolan
I love that you had to realize. You're like, that was kind of nice, actually.
Midge Purse
It was. Well, for me, I could focus. It was fun because I was, like, living in a new place kind of for the first time, and I was like, never lived West Coast. And I think it's really healthy, kind of to do a distance relationship with someone who you love and, like.
Katie Nolan
Yeah, well, yeah, if it's good.
Midge Purse
Well, you know, he's. He's, like, perfect.
Katie Nolan
The sweetie pie.
Midge Purse
Yeah, he's like, the kind, kindest soul. Have we talked about Chris?
Katie Nolan
No, barely.
Midge Purse
Oh, my gosh. Okay. Well, Chris is the kindest soul. Okay, tell me to the point where it's like, he just has this, like, energy that is so pure. Like, babies love him. Dogs, like, they. Him from across the way, and they're.
Katie Nolan
Like, who is that?
Midge Purse
They're like, want to get to him? And then, like, I'll turn the corner. And they're like, repel. They're like, what is that bad energy turning the corner.
Katie Nolan
So you guys are black cat, golden retriever.
Midge Purse
I wouldn't say he's a golden retriever. I just think he's just, like, the purest, like, kindest energy. Like, he's just like, you love him. I. Yeah.
Katie Nolan
You love him.
Midge Purse
I love. I'm in love with him.
Katie Nolan
I'm.
Midge Purse
I love him so much.
Katie Nolan
But you don't live together.
Midge Purse
No. So he look, he works in Connecticut for a hedge fund, okay? Oh, yeah. And I. I live in Jersey.
Katie Nolan
Yeah.
Midge Purse
Yeah. So it's kind of hard. It's like. Would be too much of a commute for either of us. I hate a commute to work. Hate it. Yeah, it does stink, but no, it's.
Katie Nolan
Like, read and stuff.
Midge Purse
Driving.
Katie Nolan
Oh. I was thinking of, like, my commute's like the subway, but clearly we talked about based off your footwear. Clearly that's not something you've interacted with. These were white at one point, too.
Midge Purse
I take the subway when I'm, like, in the city going to different places.
Katie Nolan
Not at. Not at night, you said.
Midge Purse
Why would I get on the subway at night?
Katie Nolan
Because it takes you home. People die. No, they don't.
Midge Purse
Yes, they do.
Katie Nolan
I mean, people die everywhere.
Midge Purse
People die on the subway.
Katie Nolan
People die everywhere.
Midge Purse
M. I'm. I.
Katie Nolan
People die in cars.
Midge Purse
Call me a car.
Katie Nolan
I'll be taking home a car service.
Midge Purse
When does it arrive?
Katie Nolan
It give me an ETA. That was when we were leaving the 91st. My favorite was. You would always be like, okay, when's my car gonna be here? Cause I'm gonna go down and grab a fake purse from.
Midge Purse
Shut up, Katie.
Katie Nolan
I'm gonna go downstairs and get one of those knockoffs. I walked by on my way into this studio.
Midge Purse
First of all, they were sunglasses.
Katie Nolan
Oh, sorry. I'm so sorry.
Midge Purse
It was something I would. Yeah, I would look to see. Some of them were good, some of them were not. But it was my first time on Canal, and I was a little overwhelmed.
Katie Nolan
Yeah, there's a lot. It's a lot there.
Midge Purse
I was like, what is that, Krana? What is going on? It's crazy.
Katie Nolan
You're a fashion icon now.
Midge Purse
Do you feel that Icon?
Katie Nolan
You've been to fashion weeks.
Midge Purse
I was.
Katie Nolan
You go to fashion weeks?
Midge Purse
I was until you announced that I have shopped on Canal Street. No, it's okay.
Katie Nolan
This was before. This was the. Before Midge. Now. Midge wouldn't dare.
Midge Purse
Yeah, I've shopped on Canal Street. I don't care. Whatever.
Katie Nolan
I feel like that makes it to me cooler. You know what to buy on Canal Street? I would buy the wrong thing. I'd get a knockoff of a bad bag.
Midge Purse
No, I bought a tote bag. And. And it was like, the tote bag. And I was in the car on the way home, and I was like, that E doesn't look right.
Katie Nolan
Is that backwards?
Midge Purse
I was like, I. I think they got me on this one. And that was what.
Katie Nolan
It fell off that. God, Damn nail.
Midge Purse
It's okay. Oh, I found it. That's, like, kind of a thing, though. What is one bad nail.
Katie Nolan
Well, it's. I'd be. I'd be queer baiting if you engaged.
Midge Purse
Last time I saw you.
Katie Nolan
Yeah, I think. I think I got engaged in 2022 or 2023. I think so. I think we were already there.
Midge Purse
That ring is looking kind of sparkly.
Katie Nolan
Do you want to look at it?
Midge Purse
Where's.
Katie Nolan
Let me see yours.
Midge Purse
Can I. Yeah.
Katie Nolan
When is this. Why do I have pen all over my fucking. I'm a child.
Midge Purse
It's okay.
Katie Nolan
When. Is that something you might be interested in?
Midge Purse
Marriage, family, or just getting engaged?
Katie Nolan
I mean, you don't have to be.
Midge Purse
If I put the fire. It's gonna get stuck.
Katie Nolan
It'd be very funny to have to explain to Dan that Midge Purse is gonna wear our ring until we can get it surgically removed. It's very pretty on you.
Midge Purse
I have. Okay, so I have, like, really pretty hands.
Katie Nolan
You do?
Midge Purse
Yeah. Yeah, it's really pretty. He did a good job, didn't he?
Katie Nolan
He did the best job. I update. I put my nail back on. It should last for a little bit longer. I really like these. They're all of in June, but they. But this one is being really stubborn.
Midge Purse
The one nail. This one nail you need to get. You need to apply new glue.
Katie Nolan
No, it's those little. It's like little stickers. And what happened is I applied new glue under it, and now it's, like, thick. It's too. I'll handle this in my spare. In my own time. We don't have to do this on the podcast. We were talking about you being at Fashion Week.
Midge Purse
Yes.
Katie Nolan
And what a fashionista you are.
Midge Purse
Thank you.
Katie Nolan
How did you find your personal style? That's. I didn't write that here, but that is a question I want to know for. Let's say, a lady who wears the same thing every day.
Midge Purse
Where did you hear that question?
Katie Nolan
Probably on a TikTok. When. What are you using? A capsule wardrobe? How do you know when to. Help me, dear Midge? Help me learn how to dress myself.
Midge Purse
I thought you looked. So what's the first thing I said to you?
Katie Nolan
You said, this is my color.
Midge Purse
You look so cute.
Katie Nolan
Thank you so much.
Midge Purse
I think the problem is this is.
Katie Nolan
We've now branded this. Isabella, branded this as Dodger Blue, and she keeps putting in my brain that I should be a Dodgers fan, something I would never even consider. So I'm disgusted that it keeps coming up. And I love this sweater. Now I feel I can't wear it.
Midge Purse
No. It's so cute on you.
Katie Nolan
Thanks, Mitch.
Midge Purse
My personal style, I guess it's been a bit of just an evolution. Did that sound good?
Katie Nolan
Yeah, that's really good. It's what everybody says and it doesn't help any of us who don't know what we're doing and who are looking for guidance.
Midge Purse
I don't know. I think, you know, I grew up, I went to a private Catholic school, so I had a uniform.
Katie Nolan
Yuck.
Midge Purse
I thought it was so cute. Loved putting on my.
Katie Nolan
Really?
Midge Purse
Yeah.
Katie Nolan
I would wear my love a uniform. I loved it because then you don't have to think loved it. But I would think that would set you back fashion wise because you'd be so used to not choosing your. Is it like when you were out of school, you would get nuts and wear some crazy.
Midge Purse
No, because I didn't go anywhere. Yeah. So it's like my whole kind of like childhood. All I wore or I guess is high school childhood.
Katie Nolan
I don't know.
Midge Purse
High school, I guess, kind of. Yeah. Childhood, all legally.
Katie Nolan
I think so.
Midge Purse
Yeah. Legally I only wore like teeth like this. This. T shirts and sweatpants.
Katie Nolan
This is stylish.
Midge Purse
You make. I didn't have Jordans. I didn't get Jordans until, you know, Tobin Heath actually gave me my per. My first pair of Jordans in Portland Flex. Yeah, that's actually.
Katie Nolan
Were they. What kind of Jordans were they?
Midge Purse
They were threes and I still wear them like quite a bit. I ah. She was like, do you wear Jordans? I was like, no. She's like, what's. What's your shoe size? And she was like, I don't wear these. I was like, give them here. And ever since I was like, oh, I like Jordans. Like, these are cool. So I think they like just. I have found things after I graduated from college more so and been like, oh, this looks cool. I like that. In college I wore T shirts and sweatpants everywhere.
Katie Nolan
Good. That's good to know.
Midge Purse
Yeah.
Katie Nolan
Because that's what you're supposed to do in college. The first time you put jeans on, you're supposed to go, oh, these don't fit like they used to. I've been wearing sweatpants for four weeks.
Midge Purse
Well, kinda. I used to. I used to get docked points from. Or at least I believe this is a theory. I like my. My lit professor. She used to grade my papers worse when I would wear sweatpants. What class? Yeah.
Katie Nolan
What?
Midge Purse
She definitely did actually. I hope you hear me. Yeah, I know You. I know you did. She definitely did. It was like. Like, I think to some professors, it's like, decorum. Yeah. And it's like, you don't care. You don't have enough respect to put on, like, nice clothes. I'm like, girl, I was up at 5am doing 5ams across the river training, and now I hustled all the way over here to get to your class, did my paper and everything. And you're mad about my sweatpants? Like, hand with you.
Katie Nolan
It's cold. Is it crazy to go to Harvard? Is it. Is it crazy to go to Harvard and be a student athlete? I feel like that's wild. Or do you not have to go to class sometimes?
Midge Purse
No, you have to go to class.
Katie Nolan
That's crazy.
Midge Purse
So Harvard prides themselves. This is controversial. They pride themselves on not giving extra help to their student athletes, which is cool. Yeah.
Katie Nolan
Thanks a lot.
Midge Purse
I remember when I got there, I was like, where's. Where's, like, the Athlete Student Center? Because, like, when I visited uva, they had. They had help. They had tutors and all these things.
Katie Nolan
The kid who does your homework.
Midge Purse
Yeah. And they were like, no. Like, here at Harvard, every student is the same. Oh, every student has the same resources. And I was like, yeah, it doesn't really help me. So. Yeah, I mean, it was difficult. I definitely. My first. My freshman year, like, that was a doozy. And then when I took. Or I was pre med, so when I took, like, Orgo.
Katie Nolan
Like, Orgo, I believe, is organic chemistry for the. For the layman.
Midge Purse
Organic chemistry brought me to tears.
Katie Nolan
Yeah. I took organic chemistry in college for no effing reason. The lady. The. Who do you meet with the advisor. Yeah. Was like, you took. You have to take a science and a math or whatever. And she's like, you. You took chemistry in high school. Did you like it? And I was like, yeah. And she was like, it's basically the same class.
Midge Purse
Oh, she hates you.
Katie Nolan
She hated me. I was in there with all premed.
Midge Purse
That's violent.
Katie Nolan
The first day, we had to go around and say our majors, our name, our major, and where we're from. And I was like, I'm Katie. I'm a PR major from Framingham, Massachusetts. And the whole class, like, whipped around like, why would you be in here? And my teacher pronounced nuclear. Nuclear. And I could not get past it. I was like, you're supposed to know more than me. That's not how you say that.
Midge Purse
Yeah. Or, yeah, I. That's actually violence. Oh, the labs.
Katie Nolan
Why am I doing This. I failed.
Midge Purse
Did you?
Katie Nolan
Full on failed. I got an F. I was like, good, get me out of here. I've never gotten an F in my life.
Midge Purse
Wait, why didn't you just drop it like in the beginning?
Katie Nolan
I don't know. Because. I don't know. I don't remember.
Midge Purse
No, it's actually. It's really hard.
Katie Nolan
It's very hard. And stupid.
Midge Purse
No, it's like I described it as learning a new language in that language. It's like you literally have to read different compounds and things and you have to figure out how to put them together and break them apart and which algorithms or formulas do that properly. And it's like a new language.
Katie Nolan
The building blocks of life.
Midge Purse
Yeah. It's so hard. I will never forget. I was in my. I was in my dorm room and I dramatically slid down my, my dorm room wall and called my dad. And I was like, I can't do it. And he was like, are you going to the extra sessions? Are you like doing everything? I was like, dad, I'm doing everything I can. I can't do it. And he was like, well, you need to find a way. And I was like, I. Yeah, I don't know. Thank God for curves because they curved.
Katie Nolan
Oh, grading. I thought you meant the women's gym. I was like, what the hell does that have to curve anything?
Midge Purse
What a horrible name.
Katie Nolan
I was like, thank God for curves. Would you find a community of women, like minded women there to help you with the orgo?
Midge Purse
A 17%. They curved that right up to 85. Okay.
Katie Nolan
What?
Midge Purse
It's. I. I never understood, like, why they would make the test so hard that.
Katie Nolan
Like, they had to give you extra.
Midge Purse
Points to the extent where it's like, literally if you got a D, that was an A minus.
Katie Nolan
Crazy.
Midge Purse
Like it's really wild.
Katie Nolan
But it was law in the, in the system. But at least it worked to your advantage.
Midge Purse
I guess. I didn't actually get a 17. That was just an example.
Katie Nolan
I did. Mine weren't lies. I failed. It's the only class I've ever failed. I failed. Did you party at all in college? You didn't have time?
Midge Purse
Yeah, I did.
Katie Nolan
You did?
Midge Purse
Yeah. As much as you party at like Harvard? They partied, kinda. We have finals clubs.
Katie Nolan
Yes.
Midge Purse
Which are like fraternities and sororities. And then when I was there, you could throw dorm parties. Chris and his roommates actually threw quite a few dorm parties. Yeah. I always found my way up there.
Katie Nolan
You love him.
Midge Purse
I do. He's the best. You have to meet him. He's like, literally the best.
Katie Nolan
But I have to meet him. I haven't met him. We've only heard about him.
Midge Purse
Yeah, you have to meet him and.
Katie Nolan
You have to meet Dan.
Midge Purse
Yes, well, I've seen him.
Katie Nolan
Yeah, I know. He's out there.
Midge Purse
Yeah, he's in the streets. He's in the streets in the best way. Yeah. No, I used to go to parties. I used to think I was cool because. Oh, gosh, now that I think about, I was such a pick. Me. Oh, not really.
Katie Nolan
You know what? We are proof you can grow out of it.
Midge Purse
Not really.
Katie Nolan
And evolve.
Midge Purse
Yes. Really. So, like, a lot of the BC girls and the BU girls would come to the Harvard finals parties and they would get, like, really, really dressed up. Up. And I'd be like, I'm too cool to do this.
Katie Nolan
So I would.
Midge Purse
I would go to, like, Tasty Burger, which is like, shout out down the street.
Katie Nolan
Yes.
Midge Purse
My dad loves Tasty.
Katie Nolan
So good.
Midge Purse
Me and my friend Leah, we would, like, go to Tasty Burger. We go to Felipe's and we'd, like, get a burrito and something. And we'd walk into the party with, like, burritos and burgers. Like, we're too cool for this. But it worked every time. Men are stupid.
Katie Nolan
They'd be like, oh, she's so cool.
Midge Purse
Like, oh, she doesn't care. Like, I'm like, yeah, I don't care.
Katie Nolan
Yeah, I'm just like one of the guys.
Midge Purse
I'm just like. I'm just like, yeah. Do you want a bite of my burger?
Katie Nolan
Yeah. The girl walks in, you're just like, wiping sauce off your face and, like, cute shoes. It worked. It worked.
Midge Purse
It works every time.
Katie Nolan
On your team, you have the youngest player in NWSL history, one of your teammates. McKenna, you are. Do you identify as, like, a young millennial? What do you identify as in the Gen Z versus Millennial war, we'll call it?
Midge Purse
I'm like, in the war, I identify as a millennial. I've been told that sometimes I'm Gen Z. I'm like, I'm not.
Katie Nolan
You're like, on the bubble.
Midge Purse
Yeah.
Katie Nolan
You're young.
Midge Purse
To me, I'm a millennial.
Katie Nolan
Yeah. To me, I'm a millennial. You're like a super millennial, probably.
Midge Purse
Yes, I'm a millennial with, like, ginsey skin.
Katie Nolan
Okay.
Midge Purse
To be that I would kill, I use Korean skincare.
Katie Nolan
Yeah. Like what? Using, like a serum and a lotion and a.
Midge Purse
The. I'm gonna butcher the name. The Arabian Face Oil.
Katie Nolan
Okay.
Midge Purse
Life changing.
Katie Nolan
I'm like staring at how nice your skin is now. Oh my gosh. God bless you, Arabian.
Midge Purse
Yeah, I'll send you the link. I'll send you the link. It's unreal.
Katie Nolan
Great.
Midge Purse
And I. Red light.
Katie Nolan
Great. I've read that Gen Z is. I like them. I'm sorry that we're leaving them. I'm getting defensive. I'm defensive towards them. Yeah. Stop yelling at me.
Midge Purse
Yelling at you.
Katie Nolan
TikTok, Tik Tok.
Midge Purse
What's your algorithm?
Katie Nolan
I. I didn't open. I haven't opened Tik Tok in like two days.
Midge Purse
Oh, how good is that algorithm, man?
Katie Nolan
It. What? It was better before. I know it was better before.
Midge Purse
I don't know what they did.
Katie Nolan
Getting a lot of ads and I'm getting a lot of stuff that.
Midge Purse
So many weird ads.
Katie Nolan
Yes. And like lives I don't care about. And the thing about an algorithm that sucks is you have to have self control because you can't just get sucked into the drama of something or it's going to be served to you over and over. So you have to be like, I really don't want to know about this. Or if I'm watching TikTok while I'm doing my makeup, which is normal when I just have it playing almost like a podcast. If I don't get there quick enough and it repeats a clip, I'm like, now this algorithm thinks I'm obsessed with this clip.
Midge Purse
Well, do you hit not interested?
Katie Nolan
No. Oh, I have to be doing that.
Midge Purse
You gotta hit not interested. I don't. I don't wanna see that.
Katie Nolan
Yeah.
Midge Purse
Ever again. Get it off my timeline.
Katie Nolan
What's in your algorithm?
Midge Purse
I get to do a lot of dance tiktoks and I make people do dances with me. A lot of romance things.
Katie Nolan
Yes.
Midge Purse
And then like pop culture stuff. I would say funny stuff. My TikTok's funny.
Katie Nolan
Like. Yeah.
Midge Purse
Kind of be in tears.
Katie Nolan
Yeah. Mine's pretty funny. I also, Dan, my fiance, does not have tick tock. He's too old and refuses. And I'm like, I kind of like that for him.
Midge Purse
He wants to protect his data. I guess it's pretty smart.
Katie Nolan
Whatever. I. Yeah, I guess I. So I have it and I'll save the tick tocks I think that he'll think are funny. And then when he comes home from the road, because he's a touring stand up comedian, when he comes home from the road, I'll just, we'll lay in bed and I'll scroll through all the funny and I'll make him laugh.
Midge Purse
What's the most Gen Z thing that you could be doing. First of all, it's called your. It's called the nighttime routine. I'm surprised you haven't gotten this on your actual TikTok. I do the same thing with Chris. When he gets home from work and he comes to see me after we get to bed, I'm like, okay, you need to see the TikToks that I think are really funny, and we have to go through all of them, and you have to laugh. I skip a Gen Z thing.
Katie Nolan
I skip the ones if I'm seeing. If I know it's, like, on the fence, and I'll see him. It's not getting. I'll go, we don't have to watch that one. I thought you might like that one.
Midge Purse
But not this one.
Katie Nolan
I'm not always right.
Midge Purse
Just wait, there's another one.
Katie Nolan
I'll scroll and I'll go, oh, sorry. I saved that one for me. That's not for you.
Midge Purse
When it's taking too long to get a reaction.
Katie Nolan
Yes. Where I'm like, okay. There's been times where I'm like, okay, you're not getting it. I think maybe we need to start this one over. I think maybe you're not getting it, because this is very funny.
Midge Purse
What's funny is I will send Chris maybe, like, 20 TikToks a day. And, like, he's at work.
Katie Nolan
Yeah, That's. He has a job. I'm trying to manage a hedge fund.
Midge Purse
Yeah. I mean, I have a job. I have two jobs, but, like, he has, like, a job. A job job.
Katie Nolan
Yeah, Like a. A boring job.
Midge Purse
Yeah. And if he doesn't watch my TikToks, I find it to be, like, a personal assault on my character.
Katie Nolan
Exactly. It's like, why are you mad at me?
Midge Purse
Yeah.
Katie Nolan
What did I do to you?
Midge Purse
He'll send me a TikTok. Haven't opened it for days.
Katie Nolan
I have my Instagram messages. It's always just like, dan Soder, Dan. Soder, Dan Sodor. And then he'll come home and he'll go, do you watch the Instagrams I sent you? And I'm like, no, but I probably saw them on TikTok three weeks ago. So it's. I don't. You can.
Midge Purse
You don't.
Katie Nolan
You.
Midge Purse
First of all, I know you see the notification, and you don't even look at it. You're just like, he's.
Katie Nolan
I'm like, I'm sure it's just a d. You.
Midge Purse
A message. Okay.
Katie Nolan
And I go to it, and I'M like, this was pretty funny. Yeah. Pretty funny and pretty cute.
Midge Purse
But there's some reason you don't feel, like, the urgency to open.
Katie Nolan
I think it's because I know he's pooping when he sends it.
Midge Purse
Okay.
Katie Nolan
I just know that I get a DM from him. I know he's pooping, and I'm like, I don't need to open your poop message with urgency.
Midge Purse
I can't relate to.
Katie Nolan
Oh, you have. Oh, your boyfriend doesn't poop. Of course. Of course.
Midge Purse
Honestly, I would say it's like something that's not really discussed. Discussed, acknowledged. Like, it's almost like you're one of those relationships. Yeah.
Katie Nolan
Where you don't fart or poop.
Midge Purse
I don't even know what that is, Katie. Wow. I don't even know what that is.
Katie Nolan
Wow. The pick me lives on in you, I fear.
Midge Purse
Is that pick me?
Katie Nolan
No. But it just felt funny. Yeah. It's like, I don't poop or fart. I'm just sweet and cute.
Midge Purse
Even those words, they're making.
Katie Nolan
I know. I'm saying I'm too much for even my life. I need to drive this point home. As soon as you guys live together, I think that this.
Midge Purse
I don't.
Katie Nolan
You breach the.
Midge Purse
I don't know. I kind of grew up in a household where it's just like, you don't. It's not, like, a thing.
Katie Nolan
You didn't have a fat dad?
Midge Purse
No, my dad's pretty fit.
Katie Nolan
Yeah.
Midge Purse
Pretty fit. My brother's fit.
Katie Nolan
Oh. Just a house of fit people, I guess.
Midge Purse
I just also think. I don't know, there's like, a. You know. You know how I told you I like yearning?
Katie Nolan
Yes.
Midge Purse
Yeah. I also, like, never forget, bring back yearning. I liked to be yearned for, of course. And that whole thing kind of disrupts.
Katie Nolan
Sure, sure. I get what you're saying. I get what you're saying. I'm not saying lead with it. I'm not saying don't leave the door open. I'm just saying Dan. Dan ripped the door off of that. He was very comfortable. Way too early, to the point where I was like, oh, this is how we're doing this.
Midge Purse
Where is he from?
Katie Nolan
From, like, originally. Yeah, he's from Denver area or Aurora, Colorado. But his dad and his mom got divorced, and his dad is from the Bay Area, so he spent a lot of his, like, childhood in the Bay Area. So he has some Bay Area teams, and he has some Denver teams.
Midge Purse
Okay. I was gonna say it feels pretty Boston of him.
Katie Nolan
Yeah. He's.
Midge Purse
He is.
Katie Nolan
He resonates with Boston, like, whatever he is. Harmonizes with Boston really well.
Midge Purse
Yeah. Chris is from Jersey.
Katie Nolan
Yeah.
Midge Purse
I'm from D.C. yeah.
Katie Nolan
Yeah. So what's the most D.C. thing about you still?
Midge Purse
About me still?
Katie Nolan
What? Where does D.C. live on. In you?
Midge Purse
Oh, my gosh. I hate that I'm not thinking of.
Katie Nolan
Something like, do you put Old Bay on everything?
Midge Purse
Yeah, I love Old Bay.
Katie Nolan
That works. Probably that counts if you want to take that. You can also even say it like you came up with it if you want.
Midge Purse
Yeah. Sometimes I still say skins on accident.
Katie Nolan
Work on that.
Midge Purse
Well, I heard that they're. Well, I heard that they're. I heard that they're having conversations about changing it back.
Katie Nolan
They are. Yeah.
Midge Purse
That's what I heard.
Katie Nolan
I had not heard that.
Midge Purse
Yeah. I'm an Os fan. Grew up in Camden Yard.
Katie Nolan
Great. I've never. One of the only. The one that's the top of my list that I have not been serious. Yeah. Yeah.
Midge Purse
Let me host you.
Katie Nolan
Okay.
Midge Purse
Hell, yeah. Oh, my gosh. So fun. I have pictures of me in kindergarten since I was, like, three.
Katie Nolan
Oh, that's cute.
Midge Purse
Upset. Yeah. My dad used to give me Basel games all the time.
Katie Nolan
I love that.
Midge Purse
The next Gnats. We're not really. I'm not really Nats fan, you know, could be. And I say Metro sometimes. I accidentally refer to the subway here as Metro.
Katie Nolan
You mean the thing you don't take?
Midge Purse
Yeah. Whenever I have to go down there.
Katie Nolan
Right.
Midge Purse
Depth.
Katie Nolan
Go down there. Whenever I have to really button up my coat and head down into the.
Midge Purse
Water when I use my maps, and I'm like, chris, I can't find the entrance. And he's like. He's like, baby, it's. It's right. Just follow it on the map. I'm like, I can't find it.
Katie Nolan
He sounds like an absolute saint.
Midge Purse
He's the best.
Katie Nolan
I was gonna ask you this question from a viewer, but now I feel like you have to probably go. You have, like, a light.
Midge Purse
I find it's an off day. Go ahead.
Katie Nolan
Okay.
Midge Purse
All right.
Katie Nolan
Sick. We got an email. We get emails every now and then. And this one, I thought maybe you could help advise this girl. Megan.
Midge Purse
Megan says, I hope this is relationship advice.
Katie Nolan
It's not. It's, like, kind of sporty. I know. Megan, I'm trying to decide if I should play in this rec tennis league. On one hand, the guaranteed court time and designated playing times each week is so nice. Nice. Plus, I get to play at nicer courts usually than my Regular courts. And it's a nice way to meet some new people and to find new people to play tennis with. However, the team I got assigned to is unique. This team likes everyone to bring food. Like a whole ass luncheon for after the matches. Someone has to bring a main dish, others bring drinks, others split the various snack topics for the home match weeks. This has brought up some reservations and questions for me about how rec sports operate. And I just want to play to tennis. I have never heard of this in rec sports. Help. What should I do? Is this weird? What would your meal of choice be after playing a rec sport in the dead of summer? And what is the strangest request you've had happen to you while playing in a rec sports league? I've never played in a rec sports league. That sounds horrible. Horrible.
Midge Purse
Is it okay? Is it like an actual mandate to be on the team or is it kind of like a culturally, like, pushed thing?
Katie Nolan
It feels like, like it is culture you have to buy into. Like, if you were the one that didn't buy into it, especially for rec sports, let me explain this to you because you've never just played sports for fun, but I think it would really dampen the community mood that they're clearly trying to build. I'd ask, you guys got trades in this league? Somebody trade me away. I don't want to have to cook for my game. I'm just here to play tennis.
Midge Purse
Like, could she bring like chips?
Katie Nolan
That's what I. I'd be like, tell.
Midge Purse
Them that you love chips and dip.
Katie Nolan
Or like, get those cookies from the bakery of your supermarket and put them on a platter and cover them in plastic and order a couple of pieces. Yeah, like, that's a. I think she should play.
Midge Purse
I think she should play because it sounds nicer courts. She listed a lot of really positive things and I think there are clever ways she can get around this like, food thing. And she. The thing is, I don't want to meet people. She mentioned she wanted to meet people. So this is a really good way to meet people. And it's one of those things where it's like, by the time you do it, you'll probably enjoy it. Do you know what I mean?
Katie Nolan
Yeah. I think if she can make it like her fun little quirk of her personality where she's like, I don't cook, but I do provide. And she brings chips or she brings pizza or whatever it is when it's her week, then people will learn to love her authentically, for she is. And then I think Once you get to that point, you can go and so we're done with the charade, right? I'm not bringing food anymore.
Midge Purse
Trader Joe's has a fantastic buffalo chicken dip. Yeah, you can heat it up or you can eat it cold.
Katie Nolan
Great.
Midge Purse
Try that.
Katie Nolan
What do you like eating after you work out?
Midge Purse
Workout? Like a game or like, workout?
Katie Nolan
I mean, it seems like a wreck if you were playing in a wreck. So, yeah, I guess after a game, what's your. Do you, like, wait a long time after you play or do you eat right away?
Midge Purse
I don't know. I haven't played in a minute. It.
Katie Nolan
That's so true.
Midge Purse
Actually, when you think about it, yesterday after Gotham's game, I had a five guys burger, but I didn't play.
Katie Nolan
I didn't play fair.
Midge Purse
Yeah, but they had five guys in the locker room. I said in the locker room. Tony. Give me that. Yeah, because we have, like, a meal after, so, like, people can eat. So. Yeah. Yeah.
Katie Nolan
So you get it.
Midge Purse
I don't know what I would want to eat after a game. I like to go home. I'm all. I will always be a chicken tender, honey mustard, Shirley Temple girl. Yeah, like, if it's on the menu.
Katie Nolan
I have to get it.
Midge Purse
Yeah, I don't think I can grow out of that. I have, like, Shirley Temples I exchange with a ginger beer. Oh, yeah.
Katie Nolan
You're growing up. You're maturing.
Midge Purse
A nice Fever Tree ginger beer really gets the job done. Okay, that is really good. After a workout, I will say a ginger beer. A ginger beer. It's not alcohol.
Katie Nolan
No, they know that. I think they know that.
Midge Purse
No, people don't know that.
Katie Nolan
They think there's alcohol in gingerbread.
Midge Purse
You assume a lot.
Katie Nolan
I know.
Midge Purse
Yeah.
Katie Nolan
Is that bad?
Midge Purse
No. No. It's like.
Katie Nolan
It feels like you're saying it's bad.
Midge Purse
No, it's like, you mad at me. What's that thing when people do something that's nice?
Katie Nolan
What?
Midge Purse
Like, it's like, nice of you. Like, you're giving a lot of credit.
Katie Nolan
Generous.
Midge Purse
Yeah, it's generous. Thank you. It's generous of you. No, people don't know that.
Katie Nolan
People don't know. Yeah, you're right. When I'm on the Internet, I'm like, wow. I think people know a lot more than they do. I just like to believe in the best in everyone.
Midge Purse
There it is.
Katie Nolan
Why not? True.
Midge Purse
You and Kelli O'Hara, both of you love her.
Katie Nolan
Love that bitch. She started a podcast. I gotta get her over here. Oh, a collab.
Midge Purse
Like Jimmy Neutron and fairly Oddparents.
Katie Nolan
Now, see, that feels Gen Z of you, Jimmy Neutron. It isn't. I guess that is us, Jimmy Neutron. Maybe I'm just. I was a little too old for it.
Midge Purse
What. What did you watch as a kid?
Katie Nolan
Watch? Recess. Rugrats. I'm like, rugrats is all you had, like. No, we had, like, Rugrats. We had Pepper Ann. We had. You don't know who Pepper Ann is?
Midge Purse
No, I know. Peppa the Pig.
Katie Nolan
No, Pepper Ann. Who is that much too cool for seventh grade? Oh, my God.
Midge Purse
Who's that?
Katie Nolan
Oh, my God. I don't look at it.
Midge Purse
Did you have Rocket?
Katie Nolan
Rocco's Modern? Modern Life.
Midge Purse
I don't know what that.
Katie Nolan
Rocco's Modern Life. You don't know what that is?
Midge Purse
I was talking about.
Katie Nolan
Do you ever watch Doug?
Midge Purse
Oh, he has, like, hair.
Katie Nolan
Oh, my God.
Midge Purse
Do you like. Do you know Otto and Rocket Girl? Rocket Power. Power.
Katie Nolan
I know of it, but I was older. I was out by then. Old. I was watching, like, Lizzie McGuire at that point.
Midge Purse
Oh, I liked Lizzie McGuire.
Katie Nolan
Yeah.
Midge Purse
The Backyardigans.
Katie Nolan
I don't know what that is.
Midge Purse
Blues House of Imaginary Friends.
Katie Nolan
Is that like Blues Clues?
Midge Purse
No, different.
Katie Nolan
Blue.
Midge Purse
Yeah.
Katie Nolan
Yeah. No, this was not for me.
Midge Purse
Did you have Blue's Clues?
Katie Nolan
Yeah, I think.
Midge Purse
Really? No. You had Mr. Rogers.
Katie Nolan
Okay. As a baby. I'm not ancient. Okay. A guy on Instagram. A guy on Instagram the other day, like, can women under 30. No. Women under 30 can say. Can go however long without saying the word like. And I was like, you think I'm under 30?
Midge Purse
Yeah, you gotta say period. I was like. Please, Katie, say.
Katie Nolan
I was like, oh, you're so. You're so right about us girls under 30, sir.
Midge Purse
Try it. Say period.
Katie Nolan
I'm not gonna do that.
Midge Purse
Say period.
Katie Nolan
I'm not gonna do that.
Midge Purse
You think I'm under 30?
Katie Nolan
Forcing me.
Midge Purse
You think I'm under 30? Period. Period. Say it.
Katie Nolan
It smells good. Because it sounds so cool and natural when other people say it.
Midge Purse
Just try it.
Katie Nolan
Just try it. No. You're gonna make me jump off of a bridge.
Midge Purse
No, out of your computer.
Katie Nolan
Gonna make me jump on.
Midge Purse
We can cut it. We can cut it.
Katie Nolan
Period. Leave it.
Midge Purse
Period.
Katie Nolan
Just leave it.
Midge Purse
I do.
Katie Nolan
I'll. Megan, thee stallion around our apartment with an abundance. Never asks, does Dan like that? He thinks it's so funny. He laughs every time. Cause I'll do it. After I do something annoying. He'll be like, did you leave this in the sink?
Midge Purse
And I'm like, that might be her biggest cultural contribution.
Katie Nolan
She's everything to me. I love her so much. I just think she's the prettiest.
Midge Purse
She's fabulous. I mean, if I could be a stallion, I would. I would have chosen to be a stallion.
Katie Nolan
What do you mean?
Midge Purse
Like, she's a stallion.
Katie Nolan
She's a human woman, though. No, she's a stallion and that's her name. But she's not. She has not transformed into a horse. No.
Midge Purse
So, like, stallion is like a type of woman.
Katie Nolan
Oh, meaning what?
Midge Purse
Like, she's built like. She's like a stallion.
Katie Nolan
Her in the gym. I'm like, I can't.
Midge Purse
Yeah. You know, I get in there. I have gains, but I'm not a stallion.
Katie Nolan
You're a stallion to me. Is that bad? No, I just.
Midge Purse
I'm not really a style.
Katie Nolan
What are you?
Midge Purse
I don't know enough.
Katie Nolan
A gazelle? No, no.
Midge Purse
I'm like a zebra above a gazelle. Honestly, like. And so in, like, sizing, like, gazelle is like, like, like Bambi.
Katie Nolan
That's a deer.
Midge Purse
Whatever.
Katie Nolan
Bambi's a deer. A baby deer, which is my body type. I have shaky legs. I'm unsure of myself on ice.
Midge Purse
Can I be like, I don't know what's Understown?
Katie Nolan
What's an okapi? You know, this would be a helpful time for us to have our headphones on because producers could be googling different types of. Is she going to do it stat?
Midge Purse
I need. I need another animal stat.
Katie Nolan
That something. That is. That is stallion.
Midge Purse
Like, Roger that. Mm. Mm. I got nothing. Yeah, it seems that nothing. Useless. The headphones were a bad idea.
Katie Nolan
We were right to not put them on.
Midge Purse
I think you're like a baby stallion.
Katie Nolan
Okay, sure. I think you're a new stallion to me.
Midge Purse
Have you seen Megan the stallion?
Katie Nolan
Yes, but, like, also, she's only focused on looking one way. You have to. You've got, like, your body has use that. It needs to be used.
Midge Purse
She has use.
Katie Nolan
It's different use.
Midge Purse
You can do a poll on this one is midget stallion. And then all the people from BR football can flame me under that. But I don't think we have a.
Katie Nolan
Lot of audience crossover. Us and BR football.
Midge Purse
Well, here's your time to call upon.
Katie Nolan
Yeah.
Midge Purse
Hey, everybody, expand.
Katie Nolan
Is this a stallion?
Midge Purse
I should stand up. I don't.
Katie Nolan
I'm looking at these. I think I asked you everything I needed to ask you. Do you feel fully. Fully asked questions?
Midge Purse
Yeah. I feel like we had a fabulous time.
Katie Nolan
Yeah, I do too. I missed you.
Midge Purse
I did, too.
Katie Nolan
I really did miss you. It was nice to podcast with you again.
Midge Purse
Thanks for inviting me.
Katie Nolan
Yeah, of course. As soon as you said you could come, I was like, yes.
Midge Purse
It's never. Of course.
Katie Nolan
I never knew if it was, like, I'd ask and you'd go, oh, we did our thing. But I don't.
Midge Purse
Are you serious?
Katie Nolan
Friends like that. That.
Midge Purse
Are you kidding me?
Katie Nolan
You know what we hadn't done before? I saw. Since I seen you last, I. When I was on Celebrity Jeopardy. Remember? I was getting ready to do it when we were doing.
Midge Purse
It was good.
Katie Nolan
I didn't win, but I made it to the finals.
Midge Purse
You made it to the finals?
Katie Nolan
I made it to the finals, but I didn't win.
Midge Purse
And you studied for it. Kitty, that's really cool.
Katie Nolan
Thanks.
Midge Purse
I didn't know Jeopardy. Still was, like, around.
Katie Nolan
Shut up. You immediately made it not cool. No. It's like.
Midge Purse
No, that's like. Honestly, I would put that on my resume.
Katie Nolan
I remember finding out, and then I had to go do the 91st. And I was like, you guys. And I wasn't supposed to tell anybody, and I was like, I'm gonna go do Jeopardy. And you were like, you are? Yeah.
Midge Purse
I'm gonna, like, go look it up. Like, Right.
Katie Nolan
They're long episodes, so you probably won't watch them, but they're.
Midge Purse
What was your best topic?
Katie Nolan
There was, like, anything that's wordplay. I'm good with, like. With, like, a word play. They did one that was like, what's it? An anagram when you take the first letter of everything and make a new word. They did, like, animal anagram things. Phrases or something. Or is an anagram when you switch the letters around? I get them confused. I'm not making a good case for it being my best category.
Midge Purse
I love this for you. If you like wordplay, you'll love these books I'm about to give you.
Katie Nolan
You're gonna give me books? Yeah. Sick.
Midge Purse
You're gonna love them.
Katie Nolan
I love words. I'm a dork for words. I love words. And playing with them and saying them. And when you say big ones.
Midge Purse
Ooh, just get you going.
Katie Nolan
It's a real. It's all of my interests. Alignment. Midge purse. Your 2023 NWSL championship MVP who's making her return to Gotham on a day that starts with S sometime soon. We are so excited. Stop getting hurt.
Midge Purse
Maybe I. I'm taking a protein.
Katie Nolan
Let's make sure that when you get. Because your injury happened at the beginning of a season. Did it not? So let's be careful out there, please. Cuidado with me, corazon. Okay. I took French, so don't come for me. You're the best.
Midge Purse
Thanks for having me.
Katie Nolan
Thank you for being here.
Midge Purse
All right, everybody.
Katie Nolan
That's it. That's podcast Casuals with kadenolanmail.com if you've got emails to send 646-801-0043. If you want to say something on IG and tick tock, we are CasualsThePodcast and we will see you on Tuesday for we're gonna run it back. We're gonna do the whole thing again twice, and then we'll do it again the next week twice. And then the next week twice. We love you and we mean it. Thank you for listening. Bye.
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Unknown Speaker
Substance use disorder and addiction is so isolating. And so, as a black woman in recovery, hope must be loud. It grows louder when you ask for help and you're vulnerable. It is the thread that lets you know that no matter what happens, you will be okay.
Midge Purse
When we learn the power of hope.
Katie Nolan
Recovery is possible, find out how at startwithhope.
Midge Purse
Com Brought to you by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Shatterproof and the AD Council.
Casuals with Katie Nolan: Episode Summary
Episode: The NWSL, Spicy Fiction, and Harvard Dorm Parties | with Midge Purce
Release Date: March 27, 2025
Katie Nolan welcomes former Mine of the 91st co-host and current Gotham FC member, Midge Purce, to discuss her return from injury, the state of women's soccer, and various personal anecdotes. This detailed summary captures the essence of their engaging conversation, complete with notable quotes and timestamps.
Midge Purce shares her experiences with injuries, including tearing her quad and ACL, and her journey towards recovery.
Midge Purce [12:20]:
"I tore my quad, yeah. Last year I tore my ACL."
Katie Nolan [12:23]:
"And then you tore your ACL. We sat. It was so surreal because we sat talking about the World Cup, and you were like, there is this torn ACL epidemic going through women's soccer."
Midge discusses taking a sabbatical from soccer, traveling to places like Cannes and Paris, and the emotional challenges of watching her team compete without her presence.
The conversation shifts to how women's sports are marketed, emphasizing authenticity and the need for relatable narratives.
Katie and Midge discuss the challenges of creating authentic rivalries in the NWSL to boost engagement.
They delve into the ongoing struggle for equal pay, highlighting the need for proper investment rather than merely expecting equal outcomes.
Katie emphasizes the importance of providing the right environment to foster growth in women's sports.
Katie expresses frustration with how social media discourse has become polarized, making it difficult to have genuine conversations about sports without political undertones.
Midge adds her perspective on online negativity towards diverse representations in media.
The duo shares humorous and relatable stories from their college days, including mishaps with dorm parties and academic challenges.
Midge Purce [56:33]:
"I didn't go anywhere. Yeah. So it's like my whole kind of like childhood. All I wore or I guess is high school childhood."
Katie Nolan [59:47]:
"I took organic chemistry in college for no effing reason. The teacher pronounced nuclear, and I could not get past it. You're supposed to know more than me."
Katie and Midge discuss their relationships, emphasizing support systems and personal growth.
Midge Purce [50:47]:
"He's the kindest soul. He's just like, you love him."
Katie Nolan [62:31]:
"You're a stallion to me."
The conversation veers into their favorite books and reading habits, with Midge recommending insightful reads.
Midge hints at upcoming projects and expresses excitement about returning to Gotham FC.
Katie wraps up by expressing her enthusiasm for Midge's return and the upcoming season.
Midge Purce [19:03]:
"I love seeing the fashion and beauty industry get more into it. Like, Revolve has been sponsoring looks. Like, more companies getting into it. That's cool."
Katie Nolan [34:22]:
"It's like something. It's not right. It's like a mental illness."
Midge Purce [74:16]:
"I love Old Bay."
This episode of Casuals with Katie Nolan offers an insightful look into the challenges and triumphs within women's soccer, the importance of authentic marketing, and the personal journeys of those who navigate both the sports and personal arenas. Midge Purce's candid discussions provide valuable perspectives on recovery, representation, and the evolving landscape of women's sports.
Connect with Casuals with Katie Nolan