Modern Love Podcast Summary
Episode: WNBA Star Natasha Cloud Doesn’t Play When It Comes to Love
Host: Anna Martin (The New York Times)
Guest: Natasha (Tosh) Cloud, WNBA New York Liberty
Date: October 29, 2025
Brief Overview
In this engaging episode of Modern Love, Anna Martin sits down with WNBA star Natasha Cloud for an intimate, wide-ranging conversation about family, identity, adversity, coming out, and what it means to love and be loved. Natasha’s journey unfolds from her unconventional upbringing in a white family as a mixed-race child, through her navigation of complex family truths, to coming into her own as a queer woman and a professional athlete. The episode also explores her relationship dynamics with her partner and teammate Izzy Harrison, and how authenticity on and off the court transformed her life.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Growing Up: On Family, Race, and Identity
[07:21 - 13:19]
- Natasha’s Blended Family: Tosh shares growing up in a white family in Broomall, PA, as the only mixed-race member. She discusses her deep bond with her stepfather, Emma Cloud, whom she considers her real dad.
- First Realization of Being Different: Natasha speaks candidly about her innocence as a child, not noticing any difference until around age 11 or 12.
- Memorable quote:
- “I was like 11 when I was like, oh, I'm blackity black.” (08:24)
- Memorable quote:
- Discovering the Truth: Natasha tells the story of learning about her biological father on a trip to Blockbuster, and how her mother handled the difficult conversation with honesty and openness.
- "My mom was just like—she kind of laid it out for me. …She was like, your dad was amazing because the moment I told him, yes, he's hurt. As a man, he's hurt." (09:54)
2. The Power of Love, Acceptance, and Chosen Family
[13:38 - 18:20]
- Compassion Over Anger: Tosh describes her reaction to family truths as rooted in love rather than resentment.
- “Even from a young time, I think, like, I've always been rooted in love. Even my dad, to take me in as his own, that's rooted in love." (13:53)
- Adulthood Perspective: With age, Tosh finds even more appreciation for her parents’ choices and her dad’s unwavering support.
- "What a good fucking man." (14:23)
- “He took me in…when you didn’t have to. And I think navigating a world full of men that aren’t of quality, it shows how rare he is.” (16:15)
- No Need to Seek Out Father: On learning how close her biological father was, Tosh felt satisfied just knowing and didn’t feel compelled to meet him.
- “You don't deserve to know me…you don't deserve that privilege to my energy and to who Emma Cloud raised me to be.” (12:14)
3. Coming Into Blackness & Navigating Identity in College
[20:27 - 24:45]
- Diversity at University: University of Maryland’s vibrant Black community helped Tosh connect with her Black identity for the first time.
- “It was the most amazing thing to me as a young mixed girl to finally just be engulfed in such beautiful blackness.” (21:24)
- “I’m really fucking proud to be a black woman.” (22:27)
- Returning Home: Coming home with new self-assurance occasionally resulted in tension, but her parents’ willingness to listen and adapt remained.
- “You might not understand my walk of life, but you understand that I'm yours. So it is your job to walk this life with me.” (24:15)
4. Coming Out & Authenticity in the League
[24:53 - 29:54]
- Faking Straightness: Tosh reflects on pretending to be straight into her early 20s and the pressure to downplay her queerness due to league and endorsement dynamics.
- "For years, I played the, 'oh, I'm bi'… knowing damn right well, that I wasn't ever gonna mess with a man again." (27:54)
- On league culture: "This league don't turn people gay. …It’s in you." (26:34)
- Empowerment & Performance: Coming out and being true to herself not only freed Tosh personally but improved her game.
- “I just felt really rooted in myself even when I came out. Like my play got better on the court. …It was almost like I was like the Hulk that just got his superpowers.” (29:09)
- “If I can't even be confident in who I am as a person, how the am I confident in who I am as a player?” (29:46)
5. Love on and off the Court: Relationship with Izzy Harrison
[31:47 - 39:28]
- How They Met: Anna and Tosh discuss how Tosh first DM'd Izzy, who initially declined. Respect for boundaries was key.
- “We respect a woman's no. …But I think you my fine ass friend, like, that's for sure.” (32:15)
- First Date & Realization: Their relationship blossomed after spending time together post-workouts.
- “I could have told you like three weeks in. …I feel fully fulfilled. It's the first time I've ever been fully reciprocated, too, in my relationship.” (33:28, 34:08)
- Strong Foundations: Tosh values Izzy’s independence and mutual respect—“having an equal partner that doesn’t need you but wants you.” (34:36)
- Relationship Dynamics as Teammates: Despite being on the same team, they keep professionalism front and center, having separate routines and apartments to maintain individuality and healthy boundaries.
- “We made it a priority for us not to be on the same team…so we have our own separate apartments now.” (36:07)
- "Our schedules are different. …we were adamant about just being Tasha and Izzy in that locker room." (37:24)
- Support and Pride: Watching each other succeed on the court is a source of deep attraction and pride.
- “There was, like, one game, the whole crowd started chanting Izzy. …I love Izzy in some basketball gear.” (38:36)
6. Learning to Love Herself
[39:40 - 40:18]
- Tosh’s journey culminates in self-love:
- “Man, I love myself. …I looked at myself, and I was like, I really fuck with who I am.” (39:40–40:01)
- “I love myself very thoroughly. I love my gay, masculine presenting, mixed blackady. A black, black, black. I just love. I love me.” (40:01)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Family:
- “What a good fucking man.” (14:23)
- “He took me in…when you didn’t have to.” (16:15)
- On Identity:
- “I'm really fucking proud to be a black woman.” (22:27)
- “Being a mixed kid and not fitting in with any other group is one of the hardest fucking kids to be.” (22:49)
- On Coming Out:
- “This league don't turn people gay. …It’s innately in you.” (26:34)
- “I felt like I was limiting myself for all those years by not just being out and confident in who I am.” (29:37)
- On Love:
- “Having an equal partner that doesn’t need you but wants you.” (34:36)
- “I love Izzy in some basketball gear. …I think you’re most beautiful when you don’t have no makeup on, when you’re wearing my clothes in the crib, like, that is it.” (38:36)
- On Self-Acceptance:
- “I really fuck with who I am… I love myself very thoroughly.” (40:00–40:01)
Important Timestamps
- [07:21] — Tosh recounts her family origins and her unique upbringing
- [09:43] — The Blockbuster car talk about her biological father
- [13:38] — Anna highlights Tosh’s remarkable capacity for compassion
- [21:24] — Tosh shares her awakening to Black identity at the University of Maryland
- [24:53] — First discussion of coming out and authenticity in the WNBA
- [29:09] — Tosh describes how coming out improved her performance on the court
- [33:28] — On meeting her partner, Izzy, and recognition of deep connection
- [36:07] — Tosh explains the dynamics of working/living with her partner
- [39:40 - 40:18] — Beautiful moment of self-love and acceptance
Overall Tone
Natasha is open, funny, and unfiltered, mixing profound honesty with humor and warmth. Anna Martin’s tone is supportive, gently probing, and celebratory of Tosh’s courage and perspective. The mood stays intimate, irreverent, and inspiring throughout.
Summary Takeaway
Natasha Cloud’s story is a powerful testament to the transformative power of love—in family, identity, partnership, and self. Her journey, marked by honesty, resilience, and joy, offers hope and validation for anyone navigating questions of identity or struggling to find a sense of belonging. Through her words, listeners see not just a star athlete, but a deeply authentic human who “doesn’t play when it comes to love.”