Podcast Summary
Sunday Sports Club with Allison Kuch
Episode: An NFL Love Story (Guest: Whitney Risner)
Date: October 26, 2025
Host: Allison Kuch
Guest: Whitney Risner (entrepreneur, former college basketball player, wife of Cincinnati Bengals’ Dalton Risner)
Overview
This episode of Sunday Sports Club dives into the personal and professional journey of Whitney Risner, highlighting her experiences as an NFL wife, entrepreneur, and content creator. Host Allison Kuch (married to NFL player Isaac Rochell) and Whitney share candid conversations on navigating the chaos and opportunities of frequent NFL moves, building a strong marriage under unique pressures, and fostering community and independence through social media and business.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Life on the Move: Navigating the NFL Lifestyle
- Quick Relocations and Community Support
- Whitney recently relocated to Cincinnati (00:57).
- “Once you get the call, you’re gone. The guys are on the flight, you’re packing up the house. ... I’m literally moving across the country.” — Whitney (01:57)
- Bengals fans’ enthusiasm: Whitney recounts fans Venmoing her money and sending welcoming messages before the official move.
- Adapting to New Cities
- Each NFL city features its own traditions and quirks, from Minnesota’s cold to Cincinnati’s devotion to Skyline Chili (04:03).
- “What are people from Cincinnati most proud of? I want to get the full experience while we’re here.” — Whitney (04:03)
2. The Reality of NFL Moves and Minimalism
-
Changing Strategies Each Year
- Whitney and Dalton started with moving everything, quickly learned to embrace minimalism and furnished rentals (07:48).
- Packing priorities: She once moved their Christmas tree but forgot their kitchen supplies.
- “No furniture, none of that… This year was, like, nothing. Literally the essentials.” — Whitney (08:59)
-
Support Systems
- Whitney's parents help with every move: “We love parents. We absolutely do.” — Whitney (07:48)
- Travel logistics for their dog and cars, balancing flights and road trips with family help (09:27).
3. Love Story: Meeting Dalton and Growing Together
- How They Met
- Initially connected via DM in college; real-life meet-cute at Lake of the Ozarks (13:52-16:35).
- Describes Dalton’s approachable energy but also her skepticism: “He’s just, like, been drafted to Denver. Like, he thinks he’s hot stuff.” — Whitney (16:33)
- Hilarious “throat chop” flirtation and her “I’m leaving!” moment (17:09).
- Quick progression: Invited to meet Dalton’s family shortly after meeting.
- Long-Distance and Early Struggles
- Maintained long-distance during Dalton’s rookie year while Whitney finished college and nursing school.
- Early relationship was tough—“oil and water”—with several breakups and returns (20:58).
- “Dating was so hard… I don’t know if I could go back to those days.” — Whitney (22:31)
- Premarital counseling credited with giving them vital relationship tools: “Just having the tools to be able to work through those problems… I definitely highly recommend that.” — Whitney (28:34)
4. Addressing Misconceptions About NFL Couples
- Pressure and Expectations
- Pressure on NFL players goes beyond the glitz; family, financial planning, and performance anxiety are real (22:31-23:39).
- Misconception: Football players “don’t need” admiration at home. Actually, affirmation from loved ones is most meaningful (23:39).
- Building Their Own Lives
- Both Whitney and Allison emphasize the importance of fulfilling individual lives and not being defined solely as “NFL wives.”
5. Florida Off-Season: Creating Their Own Normal
- Random, Bold Move to Tampa
- After a series of transitions and feeling “it’s time to go,” Whitney and Dalton impulsively bought a home in Tampa for the off-season (29:47-33:36).
- “We move for my work all the time. Where do you want to go?” — Dalton (29:47, as relayed by Whitney)
- The charm of off-season quietude and balancing busy in-season life with peaceful months in Florida (33:48).
6. Social Media: From Viral Moments to Authentic Sharing
- TikTok Beginnings & Burnout
- Whitney’s first viral video: Dalton pulling her over a wall at a game (34:54).
- Initial focus on rapid growth, “rage-bait/clickbait,” and burnout after hitting milestones (37:36).
- Shift Toward Authenticity
- Now prioritizes intentional, genuine sharing: “It's not just trending sounds … I want people to feel like they know me and know who I am.” — Whitney (37:37)
- Challenges of Being Public
- Both discuss downsides of public scrutiny: “Now I feel like it’s attack mode when it comes to social media … it’s almost like protecting your piece.” — Allison (44:39)
- Mutual admiration for each other’s openness and content style (44:39-45:20).
7. Entrepreneurial Pursuits: Building ‘Wawee’s’ Jewelry
- Genesis and Growth
- Launched Wawee’s jewelry line three years ago, entirely self-funded from college savings (46:21).
- Sought to fill a gap: “Pieces that are affordable, but also, you can wear them for a year. They're not going to tarnish.” — Whitney (46:21)
- Pride in building her own business: “If we’re talking logistics and money, like, I did start this brand on my own, and I’m proud of that.” — Whitney (48:08)
- Logistics of Running a Business on the Move
- Moves 5,000+ pieces between homes each season: “If I had a clothing business, this would not be a thing… but jewelry is tiny!” — Whitney (49:07)
- The personal connection she feels seeing customers wear her designs (49:40).
8. Looking Ahead: What’s Next?
- Excitement for New Community and Season
- “Every community … it’s another opportunity for me to share things I love, to connect with people from Ohio.” — Whitney (51:45)
- Plans to host events and grow Wawee's presence locally in Cincinnati.
- Excited for Dalton’s upcoming season and new connections in Ohio.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “The parasocial relationship, when people, like, walk up to you and they act like they know about your life, I’m like, no, no. I definitely overshare.” — Allison (01:10)
- “I had all of the Christmas decorations. No kitchen stuff. Well, priorities.” — Whitney (08:01)
- “We were like oil and water… we loved each other so hard, but, like, we thought so hard.” — Whitney (20:58)
- “Premarital counseling absolutely changed our lives, gave us the tools to work through things.” — Whitney (22:31)
- “As a wife or girlfriend … a man needs admiration, and he wants it from you.” — Whitney (23:39)
- “I started Wawee’s about three years ago. … It was built on delusion, I think, because I was like, ‘Oh, I could do this.’” — Whitney (46:29)
- “If we're talking logistics and money, like, I did start this brand on my own, and I'm proud of that.” — Whitney (48:08)
- “If I had a clothing business, this would not be a thing. … but jewelry is tiny!” — Whitney (49:07)
- “I get to see girls go get that exact stack … it’s so fun to see, like, oh my gosh, they love what I’ve designed.” — Whitney (49:40)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:57 — Whitney describes the chaos of NFL moves and Bengals fan culture
- 04:03 — Trying Skyline Chili and experiencing unique city culture
- 13:52 — How Whitney and Dalton met and their first impressions
- 20:58 — Relationship struggles, premarital counseling, and overcoming challenges
- 29:47 — Decision to move to Florida, leaving Denver behind
- 34:54 — Start and evolution of Whitney’s social media journey
- 46:21 — Founding Wawee’s jewelry and challenges of entrepreneurship
- 49:07 — Moving the business with NFL relocations
- 51:45 — What Whitney’s most excited for in Cincinnati & upcoming events
- 52:22 — Fun rapid-fire ‘this or that’ questions
- 53:18 — Whitney’s pick for most exciting NFL player: “Dalton Reisner.”
Where to Find Whitney
- Instagram: @WhitneyMarieReisner
- TikTok: @WhitneyMarieReisnerr (with extra R)
Tone & Style Notes
- The conversation is warm, candid, sometimes self-deprecating, full of mutual admiration and genuine insights into the highs and lows of NFL life, love, and entrepreneurship.
- Both women are relatable and unapologetically honest about their unique lifestyles.
This summary covers all major points, memorable quotes, and timestamped moments for easy reference—offering a thorough, engaging glimpse into the episode for both NFL fans and newcomers.