Episode Overview

Podcast: Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce
Episode: Kylie & Wanda Sykes on Welcome to NFL Wife Life, Wild Fan Requests & Not Being A Cool Mom | Ep. 35
Date: September 11, 2025
Guest: Wanda Sykes (comedian, actress, writer, Philly sports fan, mom of twins)

In this vibrant and often hilarious episode, Kylie Kelce welcomes Emmy-winning comedian Wanda Sykes to dive into life as an NFL wife, parenthood in the digital age, wild celebrity encounters, the fight for a Philly WNBA team, and what it means to decidedly not be a “cool mom.” Kylie offers her trademark candor, responding to listener questions and setting boundaries on “family gossip,” while Wanda brings sharp comedic insight, anecdotes about Philly life, and real talk about parenting teens.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Kylie’s NFL Wife Reflections & Listener Feedback

[01:00–12:55]

• Kylie reminisces about her years as the "oldest Eagles wife," recounting the culture-shaping importance of spouse kickoff parties within the NFL community.
• She humorously reacts to listener feedback loving her solo episodes, despite her own self-deprecating stance:

  "Fudging. No, I. Nobody needs more of me, right? No." — Kylie Kelce [04:10]

• Touches on the running "Mom, Mommy, Mom" chorus in her house, exploring fun ideas for new mom nicknames inspired by pop culture (“Cabs are here!”).

Travis & Taylor Engagement Boundaries

[08:12–11:37]

• Kylie addresses the elephant in the room—questions about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement:

  "I have made a very conscious effort to not discuss Taylor and Travis on this podcast because...I don't need you to clickbait my shit." — Kylie Kelce [09:18]

• Emphasizes the private nature of her relationship with them:

  "The girls are so excited to get another aunt...But it's our private relationship." — Kylie [10:28]

“Can I Be Honest?” – NFL Spouse Culture

[11:37–15:05]

• Explains how the tradition of NFL spouse gatherings builds inclusivity and community, particularly praising the Eagles women:

  "It's cool to see these bonding moments...continuing this culture of inclusivity and making sure everyone feels...an opportunity for community." — Kylie [13:50]

• Shares her “Welcome to the NFL” moment—the awkwardness of first introductions and learning the scene.

Modern Mom Burnout (“No One Needs Me” Time)

[15:05–17:03]

• Reacting to a viral TikTok, Kylie discusses how modern “me time” fantasies are really about wanting no one to need her—relatable for any parent:

  "Me time to me says, I have things that I want to do for me...I want no one to need me. I don't want to open a snack...I don't want to wipe a butt..." — Kylie [16:20]

• Admits the contradiction: after 30 minutes alone, she misses her kids, only for the feeling to reverse once they’re back.

Spiders, DIY, and Mom Life

[17:03–19:04]

• Shares her soft spot for spiders—including handling them with her bare hands—and endearing family bug stories:

  "If you don't think spiders are cute, I want you to look up jumping spiders...Their little eyes are so cute. Oh, I love it." — Kylie [18:15]

• Tells how her daughter calls roly-polies “loli polis,” and why she refuses to correct it.

Wanda Sykes: Philadelphia, WNBA, and Philly Sports Culture

[19:04–25:08]

Philly Sports Love

• Wanda, a passionate Philly sports fan, quickly asserts her Eagles loyalty:

  "Eagles." — Wanda Sykes, on her favorite team [19:19]

• They share laughs over the fierce pride and honesty of Eagles fans:

  "They're gonna throw batteries at Santa Claus...but it's out of love." — Wanda [19:47]

Philly Vernacular & Identity

• Wanda adores the universal Philly word “jawn,” and the pair discuss how it can mean anything—a true local badge of honor.

Bringing the WNBA to Philadelphia

• Wanda details her years-long advocacy (with her wife and friends) to secure a Philly WNBA team, and the moment they finally succeeded:

  "We were just overwhelmed and so excited...Everyone we talked to was like, 'Yes, Philly needs this...How do we get overlooked?'" — Wanda [21:39]

• Highlights the vital role of the Sixers and continued community push.

Future Involvement

• Wanda is not (yet) part of the WNBA ownership group, "but we're having conversations."
• Kylie jokes they'll be ready to invest with "bags of nickels."

Comedy, Parenting, and Wild Fan Requests

Performing in Philly

[25:08–27:31]

• Wanda on Philly audiences:

  "They want you to do good, but if you do a joke that's not working, they'll let you know, 'Come on, Wanda.'" — Wanda [26:00]

• Kylie's fascination with Philly’s relentless, honest energy.

Parenting & Comedy

• Wanda’s kids begged her to stop using them as material:

  "'Hey, can you, like, not talk about us? ...Their parents let them see things that you do, and then, you know, they joke on us.'" — Wanda [26:41] Her answer:
  "'Well, you want a car, right? Mama's got to buy that car.'" — Wanda [27:31]

• She jokes her wife only complains if she’s "too hard" on her from the stage, with Wanda retorting:

  "'Don't you want a place in France?'" [27:45]

Iconic Roles & Fan Interactions

[28:39–30:17]

• “Curb Your Enthusiasm” is the #1 show fans mention; people even ask Wanda to curse them out in person or voicemail.
• Recalls a surreal flight where the captain wanted her to insult him:

  "He goes, 'call me an a--hole.' I'm like, 'You just flew me!'" — Wanda [29:23]

“No Business Being Here” Moments

• Wanda’s most surreal career moments:

  "Co-hosting the Oscars with Regina Hall and Amy Schumer...We walked out, and I'm like, what the hell am I doing here?" — Wanda [32:10] ...and sitting next to the Obamas at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner: "I'm sitting next to Michelle Obama...What the fuck?" — Wanda [32:28]

Celebrity & Parenting Crossover

Starstruck Encounters

[38:07–39:17]

• Wanda recounts her only true “starstruck” moment: meeting George Clooney, and the palpable shift in the room’s energy:

  "My publicist goes, 'get ready.' And here comes George Clooney...You can just feel the air just shifting..." — Wanda [38:54]

Raising Kids in the Digital Age

[39:36–48:38]

• Wanda’s twins are turning 16 and learning to drive:

  "I'm gonna send her to a class where somebody has a car with a brake or...another wheel on their side..." — Wanda [40:12]

• Discuss “losing aura” (Gen Z/Alpha slang for losing social capital) and modern teenage rules (“It’s not cool to run for the bus!”).

“Not Cool Moms”

• Both moms embrace being uncool:

  "I ask a lot of questions, you know, I want to know, you know, where you're going and all that..." — Wanda [44:56]

• Wanda's kids didn’t get phones until 13, and only then because of school/teacher pressure.
• Kylie advocates for “kitchen phones”—cell phones that stay in the common area—and laments how kids’ social skills suffer from personal devices.
• Both agree:

  "Do we even want to be cool moms? ...That’s part of our rite of passage. We get to embarrass you." — Kylie [48:39]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Keeping Family Private:

  "I don't always have to comment on what they're doing in their lives because I can just text them and talk to them about it." — Kylie Kelce [11:37]

• On Philly Sports Fandom:

  "Piece of..." — Wanda Sykes, describing the Cowboys in three words or less [20:18]

• On Parenting Teens:

  "Mama's got to buy that car." — Wanda Sykes, justifying her comedy content to her kids [27:31]

• On Modern Tech and Kids:

  "You know that these kids...are going to surpass us in our technology knowledge by fifth grade..." — Kylie [48:05]

• On Parenting Philosophy:

  "We get to embarrass you." — Kylie [48:44]
  "I don't want to be the cool mom." — Wanda [48:47]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Time | |-----------------------------------|--------------| | Listener feedback & solo episode | 01:00–04:50 | | Travis & Taylor engagement chat | 08:12–11:37 | | Can I Be Honest? NFL Wife Life | 11:37–15:05 | | Doomscroll/Modern Mom Burnout | 15:05–17:03 | | DIY Spider Talk | 17:03–19:04 | | Wanda Sykes Interview (start) | 19:04 | | Philly Sports & WNBA Moves | 19:16–25:08 | | Comedy, Family, & Curb Fans | 25:27–30:17 | | “No Business Being Here Moments” | 32:01–33:32 | | Starstruck by George Clooney | 38:07–39:17 | | Parenting Teens: Phones & Coolness| 39:36–48:39 | | “Not Cool Moms” | 44:47–49:19 |

Final Thoughts

This episode brings together two unapologetically honest, witty moms with Philly ties. Whether tackling whirlwind NFL wife life, the generational quirks of parenting, or driving grassroots change for women in sports, Kylie and Wanda deliver laughter and real-life lessons. They remind listeners that true coolness is doing things your own (unfiltered) way—and that raising kids, cursing on stage, or bringing a WNBA team to your city is all fair game.

For more clips, check out Kylie's YouTube channel and tune in next week on "Not Gonna Lie."