Sophie Cunningham & West Wilson on dating rules, emotional cheating & Fever offseason plans

Summary

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Show Me Something

Episode: Sophie Cunningham & Wes Wilson on Dating Rules, Emotional Cheating & Fever Offseason Plans
Date: October 17, 2025 | iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

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Overview

This episode of "Show Me Something" features WNBA and Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham and her charismatic longtime best friend, reality TV personality Wes Wilson, diving into a lively, candid mailbag edition. The pair field listener questions about everything from dating age rules and emotional cheating, to Fever offseason plans, self-talk in tough times, collecting keepsakes, hypothetical inventions to erase, youth sports advice, locker room drama, and more. With their signature mix of humor, heartfelt honesty, and Midwestern friendliness, Sophie and Wes offer insight into their personal lives, sports experiences, and values, making this episode both entertaining and revealing.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fever Offseason Plans & Sophie's Recovery

(03:10 – 05:54)

• Caller Melanie (Nashville) asks Sophie about her offseason routine and mentions a shared St. Louis connection with Bravo’s Andy Cohen.
• Sophie shares she’s currently focused on injury rehab—“The injury is going good. I’m getting stronger, slowly but surely. I’m a weak piece of shit right now, let me tell you. Getting my ass kicked, but it’s fine.” (04:05)
• Usually, Sophie blends training with broadcasting, but this offseason she’s “just gonna train”—a chance to really focus, regain her strength, and, she jokes, “work on my tan a little bit too.”
• Wes compliments Sophie’s efforts to build a life beyond basketball: “You do a good job of not, like, only being a basketball player. Like, you do so many other things.” (04:45)
• Sophie values having a life in and outside the gym, advocating for “balance” over obsession.

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2. Dating, Emotional Cheating & Relationship Rules

(05:56 – 08:12; 12:40 – 16:14)

Handling Emotional Cheating

• Caller Zach (Upstate NY) seeks advice on dealing with emotional cheating.
• Sophie is unequivocal: “I am not a fan of any type of cheating. If I were to catch that, I would say something to my person and if it, like, continued, then I’d be done.” (06:22)
• Wes sees emotional cheating as “a little grayer” than physical cheating: “I don’t like the word cheating. It sounds like such a backstab, when I don’t think people always do that on purpose.” (07:05)
• Both agree communication is crucial; if someone continues problematic behavior after discussion, walking away is justified.

Dating Age Ranges & Poetry

• Caller asks about acceptable dating age ranges and whether they write poetry.
• Wes shares he keeps his age gap to a “pretty tight” five years younger, reasoning: “My brother is five years younger than me and... no one younger than my brother would I ever date.” (13:02)
• He jokes older is open-ended: “Older, there’s no ceiling. Give me 85.” (14:26)
• Sophie says she’s only dated older, and notes, “I do not write poetry or anything like that, but I do journal...so many fun things happen and I forget.” (15:36)
• Wes’s “poetry” is more freestyling, preferably after two beers.

Memorable Exchange:

• Sophie, on dating someone much older: “No, ew. Ew. No.” (14:30)
• Wes: “She’s probably experienced.” (14:33)

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3. Coping With Setbacks & Self-Talk After Failure

(08:18 – 11:16)

• Caller Dana (California) seeks advice on recovering after major setbacks.
• Wes’s personal mantra: “Am I going to die? No. Do I have family and friends who love me? Yes. As long as you have that base level... you can get through everything.” (08:47)
• Sophie reminds listeners that “everyone goes through struggles,” social media perfection is an illusion, and “That’s where you grow. There’s so many benefits and beauty when there’s trials.” (09:57)
• Wes likens resilience to developing calluses: “Every time some shit’s really tough, it breaks you down and then you’re like a callus. You grow tougher and stronger, and you’ll just callous your way through life.” (10:52)

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4. Life After the League: Sophie’s Future Plans

(11:36 – 12:32)

• Caller Gerald wonders if Sophie plans to coach after her playing career.
• Sophie is open-ended, expressing interest in coaching, broadcasting, entertainment—or “being on a yacht, not doing anything.” (11:50)
• She’s focused on “being where my two feet are at right now.”

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5. Collecting Keepsakes & WNBA Jersey Swaps

(16:16 – 23:38, 22:25 – 23:38)

• Josh asks if they collect cards or jerseys.
• Sophie: “I don’t like having a lot of stuff...my biggest collection would be my swimsuits.” (16:42)
• Wes enjoys collecting jerseys, hats, shirts from diners/bars: “I have like 14 [Shakespeare’s Pizza cups].” (22:32)
• Wes even has a custom “Big Westie” Topps card from his time covering the McDonald’s All-American Game.
• On WNBA jersey swaps: Sophie reveals, “We legit get like two or three jerseys...If you mess it up, you are screwed. So no.” (23:17)

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6. Martial Arts & Childhood Training

(23:44 – 26:13)

• They reminisce about childhood martial arts, confirming neither currently trains.
• Sophie: “I stopped at age 6. I got my black belt and I was done.” (24:40)
• She shares how her team tried Krav Maga for self-defense in college: “It is hard, but super cool.” (25:41)
• Wes and Sophie joke about their signature martial arts moves: “Tiger!” “Bear!” “Eagle!” (24:08–24:29)

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7. Inventions They’d Erase From History

(26:43 – 30:34)

• Wes’s pick: The cell phone—“I think we had a golden age...now they’re not good for us. If that invention never happened, seeing what society would look like today would be incredibly interesting.” (27:05)
• Sophie agrees, musing about increased authentic connection without phones, and cherishes handwritten notes and letters.
• Sophie would eliminate Botox/plastic surgery: “It would allow people to authentically be themselves and love themselves...Why is our culture chasing something that’s not even real?” (28:37)
• Wes also nominates dishwashers, but admits their usefulness for larger families after Sophie’s pushback.

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8. Youth Sports Advice & Avoiding Burnout

(30:52 – 36:04)

• Maddie, a basketball player from NJ, seeks tips on evolving her game.
• Wes advocates multi-sport participation: “Don’t just stick to basketball. Soccer helps with footwork, softball with hand-eye coordination...lock in and commit in high school, but don’t specialize early.” (31:36)
• Sophie stresses hard work and mastering basics: “Even in the WNBA, we still do layup lines, figure-8 ball handling, defensive slides...do the most basic things really, really well.” (32:46)
• Wes’s college coach’s mantra: “There’s only two things you can control: your attitude and your effort.” (34:05)
• Both reflect on how playing many sports growing up helped their skills and avoided burnout.

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9. Locker Room Drama & On-Court Conflicts

(36:06 – 38:37)

• Josh (Iowa grad) asks about post-game fights in the WNBA.
• Sophie dispels the myth: “That never happens. It barely even happens on the court.” (36:32)
• She praises the Fever’s communication, and says locker room maturity comes from listening to the message, not the tone.
• Wes shares a football memory—his coach made any two teammates who fought walk around holding hands: “Best post-fight punishment you could ever have.” (37:25)
• Both agree the locker room is a “sacred place”—fighting isn’t normal and would be a serious issue.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Sophie on recovery: “I’m a weak piece of shit right now, let me tell you. Getting my ass kicked, but it’s fine.” (04:05)
• Wes on emotional cheating: “I don’t like the word cheating. It sounds like such a backstab, when I don’t think people always do that on purpose.” (07:05)
• Sophie on setbacks: “Everyone goes through struggles...That’s where you grow. There’s so many benefits and beauty when there’s trials.” (09:57)
• Wes on resilience: “You grow tougher and stronger, and you’ll just callous your way through life.” (10:52)
• Wes on age gaps in dating: “My brother is five years younger than me...no one younger than my brother would I ever date.” (13:02)
• Sophie on collection: “My biggest collection would be my swimsuits.” (16:42)
• Wes (joking): “Older, there’s no ceiling. Give me 85.” (14:26)
• Wes on multi-sport youth: “If you do one sport from an early age, you can burn out on that sport like so fast.” (34:05)
• Sophie on jersey swaps in WNBA: “We legit get like two or three jerseys...If you mess it up, you are screwed. So no.” (23:17)
• Wes’s post-fight anecdote: “If two players got in a fight, they’d have to hold hands and walk around the football field once.” (37:25)

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Episode Flow: Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:10] Sophie on Offseason Routine & Injury
• [05:56] Emotional Cheating — Discussion
• [08:18] Catchphrases & Self-Talk for Setbacks
• [11:36] Sophie on Post-WNBA Plans
• [12:40] Dating Age Gaps & Poetry
• [16:16] Collecting Jerseys & Memorabilia
• [23:44] Martial Arts Memories
• [26:43] Inventions to Erase
• [30:52] Evolving as an Athlete, Burnout
• [36:06] WNBA Locker Room Fights — No, Really
• [38:53] Outro banter and encouragement to leave more questions

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Overall Tone & Vibe

• Playful, honest, and unfiltered—Sophie’s athletic grit and Wes’s reality-TV wit shine throughout.
• The mailbag format brings out candid, sometimes vulnerable, and always humorous responses.
• They offer relatable advice, occasionally poke fun at each other, and let slip bits of real-life locker room and behind-the-scenes reality.

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Summary
Whether you’re a fan of the WNBA, reality TV, or just enjoy authentic conversations about sports, love, adversity, and life’s oddities, this episode brims with wisdom and laughs. Sophie and Wes’s chemistry makes even familiar topics like cheating, collecting, and teamwork feel fresh and personal, while the listener questions draw out stories and insights you won’t hear anywhere else.

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Transcript

[Sophie]

This is an I Heart podcast.

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[Sophie]

I did Taekwondo and karate when I was little, but I Me too. Oh, I don't remember this move.

[Wes]

Tiger. And then you do this Bear.

[Sophie]

No.

[Wes]

What?

[Sophie]

Where did you go?

[Wes]

It was in north. It was like in northern Columbia. You know where Sam's is? Like off the highway dude, it was like this little studio there. Tiger.

[Sophie]

What?

[Wes]

Eagle like, stuff like that.

[Sophie]

How old were you?

[Wes]

Young. I don't think I got past being like a tangerine belt or something like that. Episode 13. This is a. We're double dipping.

[Sophie]

Double dipping, baby.

[Wes]

Halfway through October. So we're just going to do a mailbag. These questions are gnarly and it's just fun for us. Let's go.

[Caller]

Hi, this is Melanie from Nashville, Tennessee, and I have a question. Sophie, what does a typical off season look like? And then lastly, you know, Andy Cohen is a Bravo connection with you guys, and he's from St. Louis. I thought that was neat. Anyway, Sophie, I hope you have a speedy recovery. Thanks, guys. Enjoy your podcast. Bye. Bye.

[Wes]

What a sweet lady.

[Sophie]

I didn't know that andy was from St. Louis.

[Wes]

Yeah, I'm going to a blues game with him in November.

[Sophie]

Oh, nice.

[Wes]

He's the first time I met Andy. He came into my green room and gave me a big hug and said, hello, Missouri. And gave me a big squeeze. Typical. His whole. If you ever watch, watch, it happens live, Sophie. It's like the after show, like his studio. Yeah, Everything is. Is like the Arch are like Cardinals. Everything.

[Caller]

So.

[Wes]

So he's like, very.

[Sophie]

Oh, shoot.

[Wes]

Like, loyal to St. Louis.

[Sophie]

I like that. So I spend my off season, I guess, right now rehabbing. So the injury is going good. I'm getting stronger slowly but surely. I'm a weak piece of shit right now, let me tell you. Getting my ass kicked, but it's fine. But typically, in an off season for me, I would do, like, maybe some broadcasting for a team. But this year I'm just gonna train, so I'm just gonna be lifting. That includes just, like, becoming stronger cardio and then just like, training on the basketball court. So this is a good year for me to dial in and focus. And hopefully I can work on my tan a little bit too, you know, in my free time. So that's what my off season looks like.

[Wes]

You do a good job of not, like, only being a basketball player. Like, you do so many other things.

[Sophie]

Yeah, well, thanks.

[Wes]

I deserve that credit.

[Sophie]

Well, thank you. Because I think. I think I need that balance, though. Like, there's some people who can just, like, be in the gym 24 hours a day, 365 days a week. And, like, that is just, like, not me at all. Like, I want to work out for, like, three or four hours, and then I want to get the heck away from it. Like, I need the balance of both. Do I need it? Yeah.

[Wes]

But I mean, even professionally, like, when you. When you were doing your, like, broadcasting stuff for the Suns and stuff, that's cool. Like, a lot of people are fine. Hooping and that. Like, oh, you've. You've opened so many doors for yourself. I think that's the smartest thing, you know?

[Sophie]

Thanks.

[Wes]

And so, yeah, good.

[Sophie]

But. But it also allows me to, like, do cool things like this or, like, go do events or go even go back home and stuff. Actually doing stuff with the Suns last year, I. I was actually here a lot more because I was like, I didn't actually get to do as much as I wanted to do in the off season. So this. This time I'm just rehabbing and training, and I think it's gonna be kind of fun, to be honest. We'll see.

[Wes]

Hell, yeah. That's a sweet question. It's very kind.

[Sophie]

It was.

[Host]

All right, guys, next one coming up.

[Caller]

For you here, you guys. Zach from upstate New York had a quick relationship question. How would you handle emotional cheating? I'm going through it right now. I'm just curious how you guys, if you guys have ever dealt with it. Anyway, love the pod. Keep it up. You both are amazing. Have a good night.

[Wes]

You go first.

[Sophie]

I am not a fan of any type of cheating. So I just think that, like, if you are. If you're in a relationship with someone, then you should be open enough to have communication. Even if, like, things change. It's like you. It's a respect type of thing. It's communication. And so you're always evolving. You're always growing. So is your. The person you're dating. So, like, things going to change. But I think the biggest thing is you need to communicate. And I feel like a lot of people stop communicating and stop dating each other. And so once you kind of stop doing that, people need that type of stuff. So maybe there is emotional cheating, but I am not a fan of that. I think if I were to catch that, I would say something to my person and if it, like, continued, then I'd be done.

[Wes]

Okay. I think you and I agree. I was going to say, unlike physical cheating, where I think you're allowed to, like, walk away, no explanation, I think emotional cheating a little grayer and, like, deserves a conversation because technically it's so gray and like, a lot, like, for me, I'm a very flirty person. I'm also a very, like, touchy person. And there's a lot of things that, like, I subconsciously do that are just, like, kind of part of my personality. But also in a long time that are just like, built into how I interact with people that I'm sure if I was dating someone they like wouldn't appreciate, therefore, conversations are super important. But I don't think, I think emotional cheating, I wouldn't. I don't like the word cheating as it sounds like. So, like, it sounds like such a backstab when I don't think people always necessarily do that on purpose. But yeah, if someone is like, you know, like doing it to you after the conversations and after you've asked for things to stop, then, like, yeah, then you can walk away from that.

[Sophie]

But yeah, good question. I agree.

[Wes]

Good question.

[Host]

All right, guys, thanks for the advice there. Moving on to number three.

[Caller]

Ah, sugar, I forgot what I was gonna say.

[Sophie]

Oh, yeah.

[Caller]

Okay, so this is Dana from California. Anyways, I have a question for you. So if you're ever in a situation, feel like you just got like knocked off your horse, so to speak, like you just kind of like got a really huge setback, is there anything that you can, like, that you depend on or some kind of catchphrase? All. Thank you for your podcast. You're both very delightful. Bye.

[Host]

All right, Any positive, self sufficient, self supporting mantras you guys got?

[Wes]

That's a really good question. A specific saying I don't have, but I've. I've always told myself, like, this sounds maybe like kind of shallow, but like, am I. Am I going to die? No. And do I have family and friends around me who always love me? And that that answer is yes. And I think as long as you know, you have that base level, I do think you can get through everything. And kind of back to our last episode, we had a question about, like, moving away from home. I think if you've been through, subjected yourself to a lot of hardships and you've made it through those, for me personally, I use the times that I have been in shitty situations. Whether that was like, laid off, ran out of money, I like, you know, like shitty on a depth chart. Like all those things, everything has worked itself out. And now that I've done it so many times, I know to just be patient and trust myself to get through it. So, Dana, you will get through this and you're going to be okay. And then that will make this next time some shit happens to you that much easier and you'll be that much more confident in yourself. So keep grinding, mamacita.

[Sophie]

That's. That was actually really great. Because my biggest thing is I think people forget in life, especially with social Media nowadays, everyone thinks that everyone's life is so easy and rainbow and butterflies and it's just, you know, it's so perfect on the other side, but it's really not. Like, everyone goes through struggles, everyone goes through trials. And, like, my biggest thing is that's where you learn a lot about yourself. That's, like, where you grow. Right. And so I think that if you don't have those things, even, like, with an injury, like, I don't really know what she's going through, but, like, if it's physical health, if it's mental health, if it's all that type of stuff, like, sometimes that's when maybe you're more grateful. Your perspective shifts and changes, and on the other side of it, you're a lot more happy and you're a lot more grateful that you went through it because you learned so much more about yourself or around. About the people around you. Like, there's so many benefits and beauty when there's trials. I think it's hard, don't get me wrong, but you're always going to come out on the other side of it.

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Yeah.

[Wes]

Yeah. So, Dana, right now, it sucks, but you're going to be so. You're going to be a fucking beast afterwards. And you just got to know that. And you got to know that. It's like, I love to say that you. You callous as a human. Every time some shit's, like, really tough, it. It breaks you down and then you're like a callus. You grow tougher and stronger, and you'll just callous your way through life. That's a very good question.

[Sophie]

It is. Stay positive, though.

[Wes]

Yeah.

[Host]

Very inspirational. Very motivational, guys. I like the metaphor of being a callous. It makes me look at calluses in a different way now.

[Wes]

Dude, calluses are beautiful.

[Sophie]

Dude, they're good for you. Not the ones on my feet.

[Wes]

No, we don't want those.

[Sophie]

That's all I need.

[Host]

The palace of life. All right, next one for you guys. Here, number. Number four. Here we go.

[Caller]

Say Sophie West. It's a question for Sophie. Are you thinking that you get out of the league? I mean, what do you see yourself doing it? Are you the type that's going to be coaching? Just kind of wondering. Thanks. Name is Gerald, by the way.

[Sophie]

Gerald. Yeah. Well, hello, Gerald. You know, I don't really know what I want to do when I'm done playing. I feel like I want to play as long as I can. Maybe another eight to ten years, who knows? I would love to coach, but I also think, like, I want to get married and I want to have a family and the life of coaching is not so ideal for all that. So there's that. I'd love to do broadcast. I would love to be in the entertainment space. So who knows? Like, I would also love to be on a yacht, not doing anything. So we have a lot of options. I don't know yet. So just kind of being where my two feet are at right now.

[Host]

All right, so thanks for sharing. Next question here. Number five, the dating question. So we're going to need both you guys for this one.

[Caller]

Two questions. One, what is your baseline for dating? Age wise, youngest and oldest for both of you? And a second question. Do either of you write poetry? And if you do, what's that about? Or what's that like for you? Thanks. Bye.

[Wes]

I don't write poetry per se, but I loved rhyming a lot of my childhood and would, like, write like, Quest.

[Sophie]

Is actually a rapper.

[Wes]

Lyrics. Yeah. So not poetry per se, but if you gimme two beers, I'll freestyle for you.

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If that's.

[Wes]

If that's what we're looking for. The age thing.

[Host]

Do Old west raps exist? Are they out there?

[Wes]

West, Yeah. I have a song called.

[Sophie]

Oh.

[Wes]

It was a geometry song that we made in 9th grade.

[Sophie]

Could be pretty good.

[Wes]

And we got like a B plus, which was so whack. Okay. Age wise, I think it's so weird when the age gap is huge that I would always, like, I will always keep it, like, pretty tight. And I would advise other people to just like, like, also keep it tight. My brother is five years younger than me, and I've always thought that he was like. I like, looked out for him and he's. He'll always be a pup. So I think I've just kind of. As I moved through life, I've always thought no one younger than my brother would I ever date, which is five years. So for me right now it would be 26. And I'm 30. 25.

[Sophie]

It's not that bad. I feel like the older you get, it's not that bad.

[Wes]

I agree. But like, now I just think it people. It just is like, so people are so weird. I wouldn't even tempt it. Even if you think it's normal.

[Sophie]

Okay, so say.

[Wes]

And then older, there's no ceiling. Give me 85.

[Sophie]

Oh, no. Ew. Ew. No.

[Wes]

She's probably experienced.

[Sophie]

So you're saying that if you were in New York and there was this really pretty girl. Cool vibe, Great job. Well, for herself and you turn out, she's. She turns out to be like 26. You would say no, but she's like, you're tight everything.

[Wes]

26, four years younger. I don't think crazy, but like, yeah, I would. I don't think I'd. I would especially date. I don't think I'd go, oh yeah.

[Sophie]

Because I feel like the maturity level is still just different.

[Wes]

I just. I just know when I meet a couple and the dude is like 30 and the. And the girlfriend is 25, I'm like, you're a weirdo. Like, I. I always think those dudes are whack. You know what I'm saying? Like that couple where the guys like, like drives a truck and she's like, way younger. You're just like, I don't. I. You guys are. You guys are weirding me out. You guys weird me out, but not.

[Sophie]

You and your 85 year old wife.

[Wes]

All right, that's fine.

[Sophie]

You have the handicap sticker.

[Wes]

Yeah, that's why you do it.

[Sophie]

Facts. I do not write poetry or anything like that, but I do journal. I do like to journal because I feel like so many fun things happen and I forget, like, little moments that are either like, good, bad, funny, dumb. And so like, I like to write all that stuff down, especially during season or if like something cool happened or I get to go do something fun.

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I don't know.

[Sophie]

It's kind of fun to look back on. But I'm right there with you. I think. Only older. I've only dated older.

[Wes]

That's more typical though, for girl. Like, I feel like the age gap is usually older guy, younger girl. I'd love to date like a divorcee for like a second. Anyways, next question.

[Host]

Question number six here. Here we go.

[Caller]

Hi, this message is actually for Sophie, but Wes, I would love your opinion as well. My name is Josh and my question is about collecting. Do you have any personal collections of any, you know, players cards or jerseys? Please let me know and thanks and keep putting out great shows. We really appreciate it. All right, thanks again. Bye.

[Sophie]

All right, Josh. Well, Wes left, so. Oh, here he is. I'm not a big collector of things, so I. I don't like having a lot of stuff and so I haven't been a big collector of things. I think my biggest collection would be my swimsuits.

[Wes]

That's good. Yeah, I love collecting jerseys. When I was in like junior high, that was like such a cool thing. However, Josh, DM me and may I interest you in a big Westy card. This is a Big Westie collector's edition from the McDonald's All American Game in Houston, Texas. It says, Big Westie, height, 6 foot weight to 10 High School, Rockbridge High School, College of Montana State. And then my bio says, no left hand, but scrappy wants to have fun. It's tops. It's literally a Topps card. So if anyone needs a Big Westie card, Josh, I'll send you one that's actually.

[Sophie]

Who made those tops?

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Oh.

[Sophie]

Oh, so some tops just made one for you?

[Wes]

Well, I was there covering the McDonald's All American game, and they were like, like, we make the tops cards for the players. And I was just there and I was like, o. I was like, guys, say less.

[Sophie]

Wait, so did you put your own description on the back?

[Wes]

Yeah. They're like, what do you want to say? And I was like, I think this works. I love that.

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Love, love, love.

[Wes]

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[Wes]

Actually, can I add one more thing for Josh? I love collecting shirts and hats or like sweatshirts from like dive bars or like diners or cafes and places I've visited. I think those are so classic and like just a great representation of whatever like little town you were visiting or like ones from home or ones from where you went to school. I think anything that's like the diner. Columbia, Missouri. Like, that shit's so sick and it's timeless and it. And it'll always be like a conversation starter. Yeah, so that's like. That's one of mine favorite. Oh, also like Shakespeare's pizza cup. So. Yep, like, I have like four. I have like 14 of those.

[Sophie]

My dude, I have like five of them in here too. Yeah, I always have that.

[Host]

So if I feel like a lot of NBA players do like the jersey swap. Do w girlies do that? Like you ever do?

[Sophie]

We don't get to do jersey swaps because we legit get like two or three jerseys and we wear that same one every game. So like they kind of get like multiple. Like, if they were going to do that, they would have another one that they could have. We don't get that option because we literally get like three jerseys. But if you mess it up, you are screwed. So no.

[Host]

All right, good to know, Good to know. Okay, here goes. Question number seven.

[Caller]

Hello there. So my question is, do you still train martial arts? And if so, how often? A week or a month. Does your schedule allow you to train? Thank you so much.

[Wes]

Well, did you train martial arts?

[Sophie]

No, I was. I did taekwondo and karate when I was little, but I. Oh, I don't remember this move.

[Wes]

Tiger. And then you do this.

[Sophie]

Bear. No.

[Wes]

What?

[Sophie]

Where did you go?

[Wes]

It was in north. It was like in northern Columbia. You know where Sam's is, like off the highway. Dude, it was like this little studio there. Tiger.

[Sophie]

What?

[Wes]

Eagle. Like, stuff like that.

[Sophie]

How old were you?

[Wes]

Young. I don't think I got past being like a tangerine belt or something like that.

[Sophie]

But no, we were. We did taekwondo with Mr. Hawkman. Ata and I.

[Wes]

How do I know that name? Mr. Hawkman.

[Sophie]

You know, he's awesome. Like, he. They produce like, badasses, like, they go do, like, tournaments and stuff around the world, like with taekwondo and stuff like that. But I stopped at age 6. I got my black belt and I was done. So it was fun.

[Wes]

I wrestled. My dad was big, and my dad had me wrestle for a long time.

[Sophie]

I was like, junior high.

[Wes]

I quit wrestling probably fifth or sixth grade. But it's good to learn to, like. Like, you and I have played team sports our whole lives. Playing a sport where you're by yourself on a mat kind of, you got to, like, learn to grow some balls and, like, go get after it. So wrestling's a good sport if you want to get your kids, like, aggressive.

[Sophie]

Wait, have you ever tried Kramega? No.

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What?

[Sophie]

Dude, you need to go do that. So it's like a self defense class, but it is. It is hard, but super cool. So I did that in college. Like, our team did that during the summer.

[Wes]

Between your finger.

[Sophie]

Yeah. Yeah. So when someone says eagle or bear balls. Brainstem. Brainstem. Brainstem.

[Wes]

I gouge. I gouge.

[Sophie]

The answer is no. We haven't done that in so long.

[Wes]

Yeah, sorry. No martial arts here.

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That's good.

[Wes]

Bear spray.

[Sophie]

Yeah, it's all your. Your sound effects with everything. Yeah.

[Wes]

Oh, God.

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[Host]

Getting carried away right out.

[Sophie]

Literally.

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Yeah.

[Wes]

Sorry, I'm getting sweaty.

[Host]

These questions. This actually ended up being a great informative. Let's say we've learned some pretty good moves here. Thanks, guys. All right, here's question number eight.

[Caller]

All right, here's my wild question. If you had to remove one invention from all of history, which would it be and why? Thanks, guys. Love the content. Have a good one.

[Sophie]

Wow, that is a great question. I don't even know.

[Wes]

For the sake of, like, entertainment. If cell phones were not invented, our entire personalities, interactions, relationships, existence, society would be so different. And like, it was, I think that we had a golden age of cell phones being beneficial. And I would imagine at this point they're not good for us. And I think everything pendulum. So, like, we'll go back in 10 years to, like, people will, like, detach from their phones a little once we're. Once all of our brains melt. But, like, for the sake of this question, I think, like, if that invention never happened, seeing what society would look like today would be incredibly interesting, don't you think?

[Sophie]

A thousand percent. And I. I just think that, like, you would have to be more friendly and more outgoing and, like, people would get along more. People would have good conversations. People would be more inviting and more welcoming. So I'm So there with you.

[Wes]

Yeah. Yeah. But I mean, people, like, society thrived without phones. Like, it would be fine.

[Sophie]

And I do like how. I think it's writing letters and, like, cards with letters. Handwritten stuff is like. So I like, those are cherishable to me because, like, no, you don't get that anymore. Everyone just texts and calls. And so I think I do like the phone for, like, if you need something, call. But everything else, I think it's kind of ruined. Just saying.

[Wes]

Do you have one?

[Sophie]

I do. And this one's, like, kind of superficial, but I kind of wish, like, Botox, injections, implants, all that. That wasn't a thing.

[Wes]

Because I just think. Because why?

[Sophie]

I just think that it would allow people to, like, authentically be themselves and love themselves. And, like, there wouldn't be a standard to look a certain way because those standard people are all full of plastic. So, like, why are. Why is our society and culture chasing something that's not even real?

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Yeah.

[Wes]

Sort of. To what I was saying earlier, my guess is again, 10, 15 years from now, we pendulum back, and then that look is, like, not in. I'm gonna add one more.

[Sophie]

Oh, yeah, go for it.

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Oh.

[Wes]

Because I live in New York City, I didn't have a dishwasher for the last seven years, and then I just moved into an apartment with a dishwasher, and I'm kind of like, there's no need for this at all. Like, hand washing your dishes is actually more efficient. And then you hand wash them, and then you put them away. Dishwasher you just, like, put in there and kind of wait until you fill up your dishwasher and then clean them. I don't think dishwashers are. I don't think we need them.

[Sophie]

Pause, pause. What? What if once you get married and have a family and say you have four or five kids and there's a.

[Wes]

Lot of plates and a lot of bowls. Could call. Good. Great call. Great call out.

[Sophie]

But I do. Okay. I do. I do get what you're saying, though. Like, if you're just like, by yourself, like, just do it yourself. But I'm thinking, like, big families or all that type of stuff. I'm like, it could come in handy. It does come in handy.

[Wes]

Good call. Yeah, Well, I will. I won't know until that day.

[Sophie]

Go. Yeah. Facts.

[Host]

As someone with a family in a household of four. Actually, when I heard cell phone versus dishwasher, it made dishwasher sound pretty good. This just for future.

[Wes]

Yeah.

[Host]

For future reference. All right, guys, here is question Nine.

[Caller]

Hi, my name is Maddie and a basketball player from New Jersey, and I want to ask how, how can I involve. Evolve my game?

[Wes]

She got the question off. Got the question off. Maddie, I was going to say, so be evolved in high school because her student section was so loud and involved that it made playing defense easier. And we hyped her up so much that it helped grow her game just from the pure. Any energy standpoint at Rockford Tyson.

[Sophie]

Energy, confidence, everything.

[Wes]

Yeah, it depends on, like, what.

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Age you are.

[Wes]

It, like, totally changes how you want to, like, become better your sport athletically. I think football is weird because people put a lot of emphasis on weight training and like, getting stronger. Oh, wait, also, Maddie, you're. I mean, you're probably not playing football if I had to guess. So you probably don't care what I'm saying. I, I believe in playing more than one sport if you're still young. Like, yes, I think don't, don't just stick to basketball if that's what you're playing. I think soccer is going to help you with footwork. I think softball will help you with hand eye coordination. And once you get to high school and you know what you're good at, I think lock in and commit to that one sport. But like, a lot of kids, like, stop or like, isolate what sports they play, like, from a really young age now. And I don't think that's good for growing athletically because you're still growing and learning, like, about your body. And I think you'll, like, be able to hone in, like, so many different skills from kind of testing yourself with different, like, athletic activities. So that would be my advice. And Maddie, for your dad, but your dad, that don't. Yeah, don't let him lock you into something.

[Sophie]

No, literally, I think that's the biggest thing is, like, it's almost the parents and really the coacher, the coaching, who is like, forcing these kids to pick one sport when they're in third grade. And it's like, no, like, play as many sports as long as you can. Because just repeating what you said, it helps in so many different ways. But I think for me specifically with basketball, I think that so many kids think you have to do something special, but really it's doing the most simple, basic things. And so that's like, even in the wnba, we still do layup lines. We still work on Figure 8 ball handling, we still work on defensive slides. Like, we do the most basic things even at the highest level. And so it's just like learning how to do those and don't getting, not getting bored with them. I think always being the hardest worker on any team that you are on is always a really, really good thing. Being a great teammate is huge. But at the end of the day, I think if you are the hardest worker that remember to have fun, like smile, laugh, enjoy what you are doing because you're getting your butt kicked to practice. So when it's game time, like go out there and enjoy it with your teammates, like, that's, that's the fun part. But be the hardest worker and do the, the basic, simple things really, really well.

[Wes]

My special teams coach in college always said there's only two things you can control. Your attitude and your effort.

[Sophie]

Yep.

[Wes]

And I've. I think about that quote every single day that I'm alive. The only things I can control are my attitude. I'm going to have a good time, I'm going to have fun, I'm going to be positive and my effort and I'm going to give it my all and try my hardest and then everything else will fall into place. Love, Wait. Also, the other thing I want to say, if you, like, if you do one sport from an early age, you can burn out on that sport like so fast. And this is also for, like, if parents are listening. Like, if you, if you're in a basketball family, but like you get to play soccer or run track or like do whatever while you're growing up, then you like have time to do other things and it makes you love, love basketball more. If you're doing basketball drills for 12 months of the year and like you're going to burn out so, so, so hard, like just like Wesley travel, baseball. Those families, those families are like never home. And it's for like seventh graders.

[Sophie]

How many sports did you play growing up?

[Wes]

I mean, I, I graduated high school and still played football and ran track and then played like Columbia basketball, like rec basketball. So I was never like, only playing football, but I ran track in high school too. Yeah, my dad's big thing was playing soccer because organized football is not worth, like, it's pretty crazy to have like first graders trying to like run offense. You know what I mean?

[Sophie]

Oh, yeah.

[Wes]

So my, my dad had us play soccer so that we could learn how to use our feet and have good footwork. And then when, when football gets like somewhat more organized, then we switch over to football.

[Sophie]

Yeah, smart. That's, that's what I was going to say. We did swimming, gymnastics, softball, golf, basketball, volleyball, track. Like, we did all we did all of it. Because it all helps. So if anyone's listening, like, let your kids play as many as they can. So as long as they can.

[Host]

All right, cool, cool. All right, last one here for you guys.

[Sophie]

Last one, best one.

[Caller]

Hey, Sophie. My name is Josh and I have just grabbe graduated the University of Iowa. I got a little question for you. How often does stuff like that go on in the WNBA where like something happens on the court that's obviously disrespectful and you guys kind of pick up your fists and take care of it in the locker room after the game? Is that something that happens quite a lot?

[Sophie]

No, honestly, that. That never happens. Literally never happens. And like it barely even happens on the court. I think probably what I did this year is the most that's been done in years. But yeah, that's just not how we roll on our side. But I will say there are a lot of like, I actually know what, this team was so good this year with Indiana that like, we would just talk it out. Like it like everyone was very understanding. Everyone just wanted to do their best to grow. And sometimes part of being elite level athlete is you can't always listen to the tone of people because everyone's competing at such a high level that you just have to listen to the message. And so that's on you to mature, to grow, to know that like everyone's in it for the same reason you're trying to win. But no, there's, there's never fights. And I say that there's a massive fight next year, but there's never fights in the locker rooms.

[Wes]

My little brother went to Iowa, so shout out, brother. Go Hawks. And I again, I don't play in the wnba, but I've played sports for a long time. Most athletes are very confident people, very smart people and used to playing a sport at like a very high energy level and then going to class or going home to their family. Like athletes who have played sports for a long time are very capable of compartmentalizing, like such high energy when they're playing their sport. And like, I have seen so many football fights where dudes are punching each other in the head and literally 10 seconds later on the same football field dab each other up and hug it. And then we like, everything's good. Funny story, my head football coach, my junior senior year, if two players got in a fight, they'd have to hold hands and walk around the football field once. It was the best, the best post fight, like punishment you could ever have. And it's like kind of funny because everyone would do it and you just like laugh about it. But yeah, it's a good question.

[Sophie]

No, that is the locker room is.

[Wes]

Like kind of a sacred place and fighting in the locker room is like not a good thing to do.

[Sophie]

No. If that's happening, someone's probably getting kicked off. Like that just doesn't happen. Well, we are 10 for 10. We appreciate you guys calling in. These are like our most fun segment, I feel like, because we just never know what's going to happen. And so, so you guys are getting our honest, authentic opinions.

[Wes]

That's it. Just a little Thursday mailbag might do this again. If it does well, if you like it and share it and post it on your Facebook page for your mom and aunt to comment on, we'll do.

[Sophie]

This again and call in, have your have your and mom call in and leave voicemails. Thanks, guys. Later.

[Caller]

Foreign.

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[Wes]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway.

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[Wes]

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[Sophie]

This is an iHeart podcast.