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- [00:00]
A
The following podcast is a Dear Media Production.
- [00:03]
B
What's up, guys? Welcome back to Sunday Sports Club Podcast, a podcast all about sports told by a woman. And that woman is me. Surprise, surprise. I'm Alison Cooch. Welcome or welcome back to Sunday Sports Club Podcast. Today we have on a very special guest. Her name is Mina Kimes. As you guys know, football season is here, and I'm actually wearing something from Nuuly. When it comes to football games, I love switching up my fashion, and Nuuly is huge for that because it is a clothing rental subscription service. So each month you get to pick out a few pieces for whatever you have going on, whether that be a wedding or vacation or. In my head, I'm thinking about football games and looking cute, and I'm gonna try and step outside my comfort zone. Usually I wear a lot of beige. What I'm wearing right now is not beige. It's actually colorful stripes. So I'm all here for it. Um, huge fan of Nuuly. But with that being said, let's go ahead and jump into today's episode to talk more about football season. So welcome to the show. I'm so excited to have you on. How are you doing today? How are you feeling?
- [01:10]
A
I'm feeling good. Yeah. This is a kind of crazy time of year for me. It's sort of like the calm before the storm going to Chicago on. I think this comes out on Sunday. So Sunday night for Monday Night Football, my show, NFL Live, is on site on Mondays in, like, the cities where Monday Night Football are. So it's. Yeah, it feels like. I can't believe summer's over. It was so nice because I have kind of. It's almost like a teacher schedule for me. Right. Where, like, the summer. And you're familiar with this as well. Like, the summers are really chill, and then the falls are very unchill. And it's about to be very unchill.
- [01:43]
B
Absolutely. I kind of love the calm before the storm, and then I love the first few weeks of football because I feel like there's a lot of stories developing. You're kind of getting to know, like, your teams, some of the new players, the different faces in new uniforms. The beginning of football season is, like, my favorite. But I don't know, it also doesn't compare to the chaos of Week 17, when teams are battling to try and get into the playoffs.
- [02:10]
A
Yeah, I think you nailed it. The beginning is really fun. It's kind of like the first day of school. It's really exciting. And then the end is really exciting. Sometimes though, when it's week 16 and you're flying to Pittsburgh and you miss your flight, you're just like, what is my life right now is when you start questioning things. But yeah, I think this is my favorite time of year. It's always been my favorite time of year, honestly, because I've been lifelong football fan and it's for fans too. Like, your team could be anything, right? Maybe not if you're a Browns fan, but you can, you can be optimistic at this time of year. So I think that's fun too.
- [02:44]
B
I was a Browns fan for one year of my entire life and it was, it was hard to be a Browns fan. So I feel for those kind of fan bases out there. I also grew up a Lions fan, so I'm, I'm used to rooting for the underdog at all times. But Mina, you are a. An award winning journalist, senior NFL analyst at espn, host of the Mina Kimes show featuring Lenny, and you are a wife and mother. Did I miss anything?
- [03:11]
A
No, that's it. I also have a television podcast where I talk about mostly trashy TV shows. That's kind of like my passion side project with my friend David Dennis Jr. When we both realized we watched Love is Blind and Love island, so we started covering it on there. So if you're listening to this and you're interested in that and you like Love is Blind, I think the new season comes out in a few weeks. Go check that. It's called viewer discretion, but that's the.
- [03:36]
B
Only thing I do. Trashy TV is like my favorite thing to just binge at night when I'm like, okay, there's a pound of laundry that I have to get through. I, you know, don't really feel like watching anything. I actually have to like fully pay attention to. And then somehow I end up paying attention to like the trashy TV and like, the launcher's definitely not done.
- [03:54]
A
Have you gotten your husband into it as well or are you on your own?
- [03:58]
B
Oh, no, sometimes he gets me into it. We used to have back in quarantine, that's how we made some of our friends is we would have bachelor watch parties at our apartment complex.
- [04:08]
A
I feel like the bachelor is. I kind of fell off. I used to watch it every season, but I haven't watched the last two or three, I think. So I don't know what's going on in that world anymore.
- [04:18]
B
I'm not gonna lie. You're not missing much. I think football might be a little bit more interesting than that. These Days. No offense to all the bachelor fans out there. Um, okay. How are you feeling about football season starting back up? Are you sad that the off season is over?
- [04:31]
A
I think no and yes. Like, I am just so excited we actually have real football to talk about because so much of the off season.
- [04:38]
B
Is just who are the 10 best.
- [04:40]
A
Quarterbacks and who's on the hot seat. And, you know, I like analyzing the games and doing matchup reports and actually having tape to watch. And so from a work perspective, I am not unhappy that football is here. I'm very happy. But, you know, from, like, a work life perspective, I do travel a fair amount for work. And this is my first, not my first year with a kid. My kid was actually born during the football season, which was crazy, but he's turning 2 in three weeks, and he's kind of in, like, a mommy phase. And he's also, like, now more, much more aware. Right. Like, when he was a baby and I would go away for a few days, I didn't really feel like he noticed or cared maybe. But now it's like, I don't know what your experience has been, but, like, now I'm, I, I, it is a lot harder to leave him. It's harder on both of us, I think, than it was when he was just a little baby.
- [05:31]
B
Oh, my gosh. I quite literally just filmed an episode earlier this morning, and she's eight weeks postpartum. She's a signline reporter for Fox. And she was like, yeah. I'm like, it's really going to be sad. And I was like, I hate to say this, but it's going to get harder.
- [05:46]
A
I know, I know. He was just like a little meatball before, and.
- [05:50]
B
Yeah. So you don't really know that you're gone.
- [05:52]
A
Yeah. And I. Because your kid is around the same age, right?
- [05:55]
B
Yeah. So she's, she's 21 months.
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A
Okay. Wow. So I'm 23 months. So we're like, right.
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B
Yes.
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A
I don't know if you're. You do the mama data phases, but right now, like, it's a lot of, like, you know, if I leave the room, Mama.
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B
Mama. Where?
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A
Mama? And it's like, that's just like a dagger to my heart. Now imagine you're leaving with a suitcase and you hear a little voice go, mama. Oh, no.
- [06:17]
B
It's a dagger to my husband's heart.
- [06:19]
A
The poor. There's a little part of you, like, treasure it, though. Like, there's a little part of you, like, oh, no.
- [06:25]
B
A huge part of me. I'M like, you know what? This is probably not going to be forever. Like she is going to eventually be a teenager. And I remember as a teenager my relationship with my mom and how it looked to her and you know, I'm going to savor this as long as I can.
- [06:39]
A
Completely. Yeah. When I, when we both come home and he runs to me and hug. Hugs me, I like really try to hide the satisfaction I get from being chosen. But yeah, it is very gratifying. But it's. Yeah, I. We FaceTime too with when I'm gone. And I get, I think earlier when we FaceTimed he didn't really quite understand what was going on and now he definitely does. And that's just it. It breaks my heart. Yeah.
- [07:04]
B
Sometimes I feel like I'm, I'm like, I know the FaceTime is like selfish for me.
- [07:08]
A
Yeah.
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B
Because when they hang up the phone, whoever is watching her is going to have to deal with like a little mini meltdown. But I selfishly just need for me.
- [07:17]
A
Yeah. We used to FaceTime my dog. Like a lot of people, I had a dog for a really long time before I had a kid and I acted like the dog was my kid. And I always remember being like so upset that like dogs just don't understand FaceTime. And you'd be like, hey, hey buddy. And you'd be like, what is. I don't understand this at all. I'm getting nothing out of this. And so it is gratifying to actually like feel like, okay, there's another person on the other line. He understands it's me. He's happy to see me. So. So yeah, I'm gonna try to get him presents in places that I go and stuff, but.
- [07:46]
B
Oh, that's cute.
- [07:47]
A
Yeah, we'll see.
- [07:48]
B
He will love that. I know for sure. Okay. Well, you kind of described it earlier as like the calm before the storm. So what is your day to day going into football? Being back?
- [07:58]
A
It's crazy. During the season, it's very front loaded in the week. On Sundays, a show that I'm on NFL Live, we're in constant communication about the games we're going to focus on on Monday. So it's kind of managing my time to make sure I have eyes on as much of those games as possible before we get the tape on Sunday morning. Monday morning, pardon me. But also throughout the week I have to catch up on the rest of the tape for the games that I am planning on discussing as the week goes on. And then I'm on TV Monday for two Hours Tuesday for one hour. I do my podcast also an hour on Tuesday. So it's a lot of just, just trying to fit in the study and stuff in between getting my hair, makeup done, being on tv, traveling. And then as the week goes on, it gets kind of quieter because, you know, just I'm not. I've already. Already watched it and whatnot. So I'm just being on tv, right.
- [08:50]
B
I feel like it's definitely a job where you can't really fake it till you make it. Like, you have to have the knowledge of these, like, storylines. You have to know the names, you have to know these, the big picture and, and some of the small intricacies as well. So it's kind of just like you have to build off of the knowledge you already have. And if you get behind, it's like you don't. You have to like, really make up for that.
- [09:11]
A
Oh, man, I don't know if I like took a year off football. I mean, the league turn is, you know, all too well. Like, it turns over constantly. It's not like basketball or baseball where you're really kind of talking about the same guys every year and you got. It's just so different. Seat rosters are so different. Coaching, strategy, statistics, scheme, it changes constantly. Which was like a concern of my. When I was out, I took a two month maternity leave during the season and everybody was like, just like, you know, take a break, don't watch. I mean, I didn't skip. Like, I watched it all and I was constant. Like, even though I wasn't on TV for two months, I was like, I can't go back to being on tv when I returned from my leave ahead of the playoffs and just not have been dialed in to what's going on because, yeah, it's just. It's like a treadmill. You have to stay on it.
- [09:58]
B
Yeah, that's kind of crazy you say that. Well, how do you balance work, motherhood, your relationship, alone time? Like, how does that all look?
- [10:07]
A
Girl, I got a nanny. So it started as my first answer. Always, I feel like I hate it when. No, I don't hate it.
- [10:14]
B
That's.
- [10:14]
A
But like, it's like a working mom. Like, I feel like I have to emphasize efforts. I would. My life would be impossible if I didn't have help. And, um, you know, she's been there with me since the beginning, which is why I was able to work that first season. And I feel like I also, like, learned how to be a mom from my dad. So literally, like, I also just Like I wasn't someone, I didn't have like younger siblings. I didn't babysit that much. So I didn't know like how to give a baby a bath. Like just the dumbest stuff. So she's awesome. And then, you know, my husband and I like really are partners in that in terms of like making sure we are scheduling everything he knows when I'm gone so that we can, if we need extra help, we also, you know, my, my schedule is such were like five to seven. Every day, even during the season is family time except for on Sundays. So it's like pencils down and then unfortunately it's often pencils right back up once he goes to bed. But yeah, it's just being, I feel, I find, and I'm sure you can relate to this, that I'm just much more intentional about my time than I was before I had a family like a poor headed kid. Like it used to be more like, I don't know, let's see where this Saturday goes. And now it's like, nope, everything is like scheduled. I, I just have to be much more deliberate. And then when I am working, I gotta work. I can't like fuck around the same way that I did before.
- [11:35]
B
Absolutely. It's crazy. I mentioned this in another interview as well. Is that the 15 minutes, like what I can get done in 15 minutes now versus what I could get done in 15 minutes before I had a daughter are vastly different. It's like it would have taken my entire day to do now what I can accomplish in such a short period of time. And I don't know what I ever thought was keeping me so busy, but I was never busy.
- [11:58]
A
It's the pressure. Like you have to do stuff like I, I, I. If you have a child that's just like you have to be done by a certain time, you have to use the that time to get stuff done because there's no other choice.
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B
Right.
- [12:11]
A
And it's just you're living on their schedule now. I mean that's, that's the, that's the bargain that you make.
- [12:17]
B
Your boss is now a two year old and he doesn't care about what you have going on.
- [12:21]
A
He is absolutely the boss of our household and it is very funny. Luckily he's a good boss.
- [12:28]
B
Like he gives me some time off every once in a while. I am so excited to talk about this new Coterie product. You guys. I've left Coterie diapers and wipes for my daughter and you know, I'll be using them in the future. And I'm so excited because now they're taking baby care from top to bottom with their new skincare line that I am able to use for my daughter as well. It's designed for sensitive skin from day one. So like newborn to toddlers, baby skin is so delicate and their microbiome, their skin barrier, it's all developing. And I'm a big believer that long complicated skincare routines can potentially give more unbalance. And Coterie developed a minimalist routine with a gentle less is more philosophy in mind. And in the name of making parents lives easier, all the products are multitasking. First Wash is a tear free hair and body wash that leaves everything so silky soft cream lightly but so effectively moisturizes both face and body. And Bun Balm is this gorgeous occlusive balm that I love not only for diaper changes but also for dry patches all over you guys. It comes in the cutest container as well and not like that matters but like it looks cute sitting on my daughter's dresser. And another thing is I love that these take out a lot of that guesswork by being hypoallergenic. Dermatologist tested, made without food fragrance or parabens. Cruelty free vegan, microbiome friendly and ph balanced. You all know I'm an ingredient list checker and so picky about what products I trust for my daughter. And I can't wait to continue using the Coterie's new skincare for my daughter from day one all the way into the toddler years. And I'll admit I also might use it for myself. So be sure to head to coterie.com and use code SUNDAY20 at checkout for 20 off your first order@coterie.com foreign and with that I need to increase my water intake and make sure that I'm also getting in all of my electrolytes because I be sweating. I'd be sweating a lot. So I want to take a second to talk about cure. Cure is a clean plant based electrolyte drink mix formulated with pediatricians and made just for kids. But it's also heavily enjoyed by me. So there's no added sugar, no artificial sweeteners, no fake colors, just real hydration you and your kids will love. My daughter just started dipping her toes into, you know, tasting some juices, some other drinks besides water and we found Cure and I'm not turning back. Cure is clean kid approved hydration, no added sugar, no artificial sweeteners, flavors or colors and it's Safe for Kids 1 and older. Made from premium plant based ingredients and developed with pediatricians and backed by Science, Cure has delicious flavors for the whole family. So they have fruit punch, pink lemonade and mixed berry and they come in easy stick packs. So just mix with water and literally that's it. It's perfect for lunch boxes, soccer games or just getting your kids to drink more water. And Cure is also a female founded brand mom made for moms. So so such a big fan of this and I also love that my daughter is getting a little increase into her hydration because this girl does not like the taste of water just like her home mom. So you know what, a little, a little bit of this and she's good to go. And I also love it as well. So if you want to feel good about giving your kids something that's actually good for them, go to cure hydration.comsundae for 20% off your first order. That's cure hydration.coms sundae for 20% off clean hydration the whole family will love whether you're here for touchdowns, the tailgate or just good times with friends. DraftKings sportsbook an official sports betting partner of the NFL adds extra excitement to game day. Even if you're new to betting, it's simple and fun. Just pick a team or your favorite player or the cutest one. Here's the best part. 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See sports draftkings.com promos NFL Sunday Ticket offer for new subscribers only and auto renews until canceled. Digital games and commercial use Excluded restrictions apply additional NFL Sunday ticket terms at YouTube.com go/NFL Sunday ticket/terms limited time offer. Well, you've had this incredible career arc from investigative business journalism to becoming one of the sharpest NFL voices. What verse pulled you towards sports and football in particular?
- [18:15]
A
So I was a football fan my whole life. Like a lot of people who grew up with it, it was through my dad just being obsessed with it, and it was a hobby for me, and I never thought I would work in it. Certainly didn't think I would do what I do, which wasn't something that women did growing up. Still not something that women really do, to be honest. But it was just a passion. And I was a writer for a long time and I was a business writer, and then I was a sports writer, but never again thought it was something I could do. Other people kind of thought of it for me. When I was a business writer, I wrote something personal about football, and someone at ESPN reached out to me and said, hey, it seems like you really like football. You know, you have this, like, hardcore business investigative job. But you posted this essay and also you are, like, constantly just shitposting about football on the Internet. So, like, maybe you should do that. So I did. So, yeah, you can shitpost your way into a job, ladies. But. So I took that and then I was a writer for a while, but then I started getting invitations to talk about sports exos type stuff on tv, and then I switched full time to doing that around, like, 2019 or so. So it's been a little bit now. But yeah, it was, you know, like a bit of a risk on the part of espn because, you know, in my field, we have women in sideline jobs and hosting, and that in itself is like a whole other craft. But opinionators or analysts are typically the province of former players. So it was unusual for, like, a litany of reasons for me to do.
- [19:50]
B
It, which I kind of love. I'm huge of stepping outside of the common. What is to be expected. You mentioned your dad was a huge football fan while you were growing up.
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A
Is.
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B
Does he think you have, like, the.
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A
Coolest job in the world? No, he's just bummed because I don't give him free tickets. Everybody's always like, yeah, you must be able to get everyone to read tickets. I'm like, no, I don't work for a team. I work for espn.
- [20:11]
B
Like, you don't even get free tickets if your husband's playing for the team.
- [20:14]
A
I know, right? It's actually a lot harder than people like, no, he's stoked. It is, I think. I mean, my parents. I don't know what your family's like. They watch literally everything. I do. I don't watch anything. I do. And they're like, we saw you, like, filling in on PTI and ESPN2 on Thursday. And I'm like, damn, I didn't even know that was airing. Like, great, thanks. I don't know how they keep track of it all. They're like, my biggest stands.
- [20:37]
B
No, I love that. Oh, my gosh. I love when parents are like, yeah, like, I found this one article. I'm like, I did. I've never seen that article. I don't know what that you're talking about, but it's always good to have, like, people rooting for you and rooting for everything that you've got going on. What are your feelings about the rise in social media and sports coverage?
- [20:56]
A
I think it's great. I mean, I think for me, with football especially, again, being someone who's like, an outsider and in many ways covering the game, the game and its fan base, which is already, like, kind of like the closest thing we have to, like, a monoculture outside of, like, maybe Taylor Swift in America. Like, everybody watches football, right? It's not niche, but you can't grow fandom unless you reach new and different kinds of fans. And a big thing for football was fantasy football. For years, so many women got into the game through so many. Not just women, people who weren't interested or casually got into it because of fantasy about a lot of women, which I thought was really cool, but even more so can be reached if you have different voices talking about the sport. Obviously, I was joking about Taylor Swift, but, like, that's been massive for the game just in terms of bringing women in like that. I have a friend who's a sports writer whose daughter got into it, got to the Chiefs because of Taylor Swift, and now she's like, asking her dad, like, are they going to start throwing it deep this year? You know, because last year the average death of Target was low. And I'm like, this. That is the best. I love hearing stuff like that. So I think, like, with creators or just people in different media, the more you have new people talking about the game and being curious about it and also covering it in different ways, there's no one right way to talk about football. There's a million ways into it. It's only good to keep expanding the tent in my mind. So, yeah, I'm a huge, huge fan.
- [22:26]
B
Of new people Talking about it, I couldn't agree more. I think that that was the frustrating part. Two years ago, when Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey went public, everybody was so frustrated. They're like, well, they're fake fans. I'm like, any reason to get interested into football shouldn't be a bad thing. It doesn't mean, like, they're taking a slice of pizza and you can't have it. Like, football's not a pizza. Like, there's enough for everybody to go around, and everybody can be a fan, and it should be that much more fun. And so I feel like any reason for people that get interested in sports or even start, like, you know, asking questions or watching games, who cares? Who cares if they. They're like, yeah, yeah. Huge fan of the Baltimore Ravens because I like the Color Purple. Like, there are so many reasons.
- [23:08]
A
So on that note, I have a friend who is a friend from college who's gay guy, lives in Tennessee, does not give a shit about football. He joined. He has, like, a corporate fantasy league, and they all had to join. So he drafted his entire team based on who he thought the hottest players were, but he ended up with, like, a super team because he got Saquon. He drafted, like, lad McConkey with the Chargers, and he just started winning early on because he, like, inadvertently drafted this, like, monster team. And then he just got really into it. So he started texting me, like, okay, lads, out this week. Do you think I should start this player? This player? And he actually started watching some of the games. He was like, literally, like. He was like, I. He's like, I need as many points from, like, you know, Saquon this week, and this many from Malik neighbors, like, do you know what time they're playing? And by the end of the season, I swear to God, he knew more about football than, like, anyone in his little corporate league. And he won the whole damn league. And I feel like, what a great example of how the silliest, like, goofiest way in can actually convert you into being a fan of the sport now. He's still obsessed with lab. And cocky, by the way.
- [24:17]
B
Exactly. I'm just like, anybody can be a fan. It's like, it's not some secret club. It's just, like, find your entryway in and then get interested, and you'll start learning more and more. And I think I just love it because football can be so juicy. It can kind of be, like, trashy tv. If you think about it, like, there's so many different storylines happening outside of the game of Football. And I think that's my favorite part is. And it's. What makes it interesting for me is, like, the full picture of, like, some of these players. What are they doing in the off season? What is their home life look like? Look, what adversity have they overcame? And that's my favorite.
- [24:51]
A
Yeah, there's, like, a guy who does these funny bits on TikTok where he, like, talks to his girlfriend about football storylines, like, their tea. Like.
- [25:00]
B
I haven't seen that, but I want it so funny.
- [25:02]
A
I forget his name, but he's like. And then da, da, da. And she gets really into it, and I'm like, you know what? It really is like housewives for her bad mostly. Like, you can make. Yeah, you're right. They're. They're. They're real people. They've got personal drama, personal, like, lives that affect how they play honestly, where they want to play. And it is. It is fun to try to paint a fuller picture for people.
- [25:29]
B
Exactly. So how did ESPN and your colleagues support you through pregnancy, the postpartum period, and what do they make sure to do, like, to support you?
- [25:42]
A
I love that question so much, I don't think I've ever been asked it. I am very blessed to be on a show with, like, a group of people who I've been now working with for six years who are, like, my family. So it's three guys who all have kids at different ages. Like, we have one with adult kids, one with teenage kids, one with, like, very young kids. And then a host. Laura Rutledge is our host of our show who has very young children. And so one. They've all given me, like, tons of advice. I think Laura was one of the first people in the world I told was pregnant because I was so apprehensive about, like, not timing it out well because he's being born during the football season. And I was so nervous about how they would react. Like, oh, she's missing, like, two months during the season. But literally just every to a man, including the producers, they were all so excited for me. You know, I'm an older mom. So thrilled for me to, like, have this journey and so supportive. And, I mean, Laura and I, like, she had her. Her second kid not long before mine. So we were, like, trying to figure out how to send milk back home during the super bowl together, like, carrying these boxes to, like, a FedEx, just, like, super bonding experiences, I would say. But. And it really goes showed by the importance of, like, having another woman in the workplace who you can talk to about that stuff, you just feel so much less alone and like, so more supported. And my male colleagues were super supportive as well. But yeah, nobody, everybody was just like, take as much time as you need. We got you. When you come back, you're not going to be in any. There's no diminishment whatsoever. Just that constant reinforcement. I was the one who was like, I gotta come back. Like, ah, you know, like a psycho. But they were just the absolute best.
- [27:23]
B
Oh my God, that's so good to hear. I know that. So you hear of like the horror stories of how it affects like colleagues relationships or like people get fired from their jobs, which I don't think is legal. But you hear of all these like horror stories and it's so nice to hear something like, totally opposite where it's supportive and it's like, hey, we're gonna be waiting for you when you get back and we're excited for you. And it feels more like a family. And I think that's kind of like what I also love about sports. And like, anybody in and around, like any like, dip of your toe into the sports world, I feel like it's more family oriented in some way.
- [27:59]
A
You know what the other thing I love about being a mom now in my world is not even just my teammates, but talking to players. And I'm sure, like, I feel like everyone, this is such a universal experience. You just have something to talk about with everybody, right? Like there'll be volunteers are like, so they switched from a 43 to 3 4. What do you think about that? But I swear to God, it's made it so much easier for me to relate to, to players just casually. I never forget I was at the super bowl this year. I was at a party late at night and I ran into Derrick Henry, who, for those who are watching, don't know, is like the biggest badass running back in the league. Just this gigantic behemoth of a guy. So we were just like talking a little football and then I don't know, I came up that I like had a two year old and he had a kid who's almost the exact same age as me. And we just ended up talking for like a half an hour about how, like just trying to, how do you, like, all right, traveling with a kid, how you entertain them. He had so many. He was like, you know, talking about trying to entertain his kid to keep them from freaking out on a flight. I was like, imagine being on a plane and seeing Derek Henry in first class, like trying to entertain his baby. And, and I was like, you know, Derek, like, do you ever. You're just so tired at the end of the day and you're, you're just like, please get me to bedtime. Please get to bedtime. And then you put your kid to sleep and then you and your husband or your partner just look at pictures of the kid and you're like, wow, I miss them. And he's like, my wife and I do that all the time. He couldn't believe that somebody else does that. It was so cute. But I was thinking, like, this experience is just so universal. Like we all have the same experiences once we have children. And it just creates a little bit of a bond that didn't exist before.
- [29:30]
B
Yeah. Well, that's funny because it kind of brings me to my next question that I was going to ask. Have you found that becoming a mom has changed the way you view stories that you're drawn to?
- [29:40]
A
I think it's made me, it's humanized guys. For me, our generation, like men are so into being dads. I feel like not universally, obviously it's a mom. Aren't into me moms. And I don't mean to like, paint a broad picture.
- [29:58]
B
Right.
- [29:59]
A
I do feel like so many players that I meet, like Derrick Henry, just love being dads and they're really passionate about it and they're super involved. And I mean, I don't think people see that on the. It's private, obviously, but it really, it makes me like, like them a lot, if I'm being honest. It does. Like, so, you know, in my job, I don't really get to tell those stories because I'm just more like drilled into what's happening on the field. But it definitely has given me like a newfound appreciation for who they are and everything that they do off the field as well.
- [30:31]
B
I always found it like, so admirable. I think that might be the word I want to use is that I would see these like big, rough and tough guys who are like, terrifying. And I would, I would run into them and they'd be, you know, like, nice, but like, I'm still kind of scared. And then you see them interact with their kids on like an NFL training camp day where all their kids come. And it's the sweetest thing because you're like, wow, this guy is literally like knocking a guy out and then here he is, like picking up his little two year old daughter and like wearing a tutu. Like, this is adorable. So I do love that you say it humanized some of these players because it is crazy that they're so different on the field and what they're capable of and then put them in their home life and they're like, yeah, we had a tough night last night.
- [31:16]
A
She woke up a few times, man. I've had some players tell me in the past back when I was a writer that almost had to learn how to switch and turn it off. Like, I can't remember who I was talking. Maybe it was Vaughn Miller. I can't remember. Somebody's telling me like, you know, they almost like had to develop a routine where they had to drive home by themselves and like take a lap around their house just to be like, I have to like be a completely like different person now from who I just was for three hours where I was trying to kill people. Like not. But you know what I mean? Like. And I, yeah, it is quite a contrast, but I think it, you know, it's really lovely.
- [31:51]
B
Yeah, no, I love that. I think we can all agree that the wellness space is crowded with gimmicks and quick fixes. But long term performance takes the right foundation. And that's why I was so excited to find the woman's three from Momentous. It's a simple science backed system created with Dr. Stacy Sims, one of the world's leading experts in female physiology. Together, they didn't just create another product. They addressed what most women actually need across every stage of life. The system focuses on iron, calcium and vitamin D3, three nutrients that are often overlooked but critical for energy, bone health recovery and resilience. And the way it's delivered matters because they have AM and PM doses that are optimized to avoid nutrient interference and also to boost absorption. So every ingredient in the Woman's three is NSF certified for sport, which is the gold standard in independent testing. It's not the industry norm, it's the momentous standard. 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And that's where David protein bars are made for these exact moments. If you guys are new to David, David is the least calories for the most protein that you'll ever find in a bar. They have more protein and fewer calories, and it'll help you increase muscle and decrease body fat. Most protein bars are packed with sugar and excess calories. And David bars are different because they're packed with 28 grams of protein and only 150 calories, zero grams of sugar. Huge fan of that. So they're great for staying full and hitting your protein goals without all that added junk. And they're ideal for people who are looking to increase their protein, cut the sugar, and manage calorie intake. I also think they're ideal for people who are on the go, probably people who are moms or parents or, I don't know, people who live very busy lives like me. David also has a high protein to calorie ratio, so 75% of its calorie comes from protein, 50% higher than any other bar. 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Honestly, I just hope to complete the marathon because it's been a huge goal of mine. And when it comes to running the Biggest game changer are shoes. And so I've been looking into like getting a new pair of shoes and what's comfortable. I have fallen in love with Asics and not just for running, but also for like lifestyle because we also know that I also have a toddler. So running in my day to day life is a very common theme and it's not for just fitness, it's honestly just to keep up with my toddler as well. So Asics has been my go to shoe these days. I actually have sitting here a new shoe that I just got gel 1130s. They're so cute. It's so simple to just throw this on with like a pair of jeans, a pair of shorts and you're going to look put together and they're so comfortable. I feel like it's just like hugging my foot in the perfect way. And I don't need shoes that are uncomfortable when I'm running after a toddler because I don't want to have to be running barefoot. So Asics again has been such a game changer for not only my running journey, but also for motherhood. And we all know movement is power and this aligns year round with mental health and wellness trends. Whether it's your daily run, recovery run or casual stride, Asics shoes are engineered to support your growing mileage. There is ready for a fast 5k as they are for convenience of day to day life. And that's why I'm constantly reaching for my Asics. Movement is what brings us together. Each step forward becomes a journey towards something more. More community, more connection, more miles. It's not just about the number of miles you go, it's about the miles you share. Move your body, move your mind. With ASICS. Visit ASICS.com and use code Sunday at checkout for $10 off of your order of $100 or more. Exclusions may apply. Well, let's get a little bit more into football and how you're staying up to date during football. What are some tricks that you have during football season to stay up to date on all the football news?
- [37:42]
A
Man, it's so entrenched with me, I don't even like think about it anymore. I'm a big podcast person at my own show, which is like pretty nerdy. But if anyone here listening is a hardcore football fan, check that out. But you know, I think sometimes I'll do if I'm like, if I'm trying to listen, like learn more about certain teams or like team specific podcasts that I'll stay sort of Keyed in on. I would say what else I am constantly. Do I. So I do a lot of my own stats work, which is really nerdy. But that is something I do, like, on an ongoing basis. I'm always, like, going through and figuring out who's the best at this right now. How is it changing? Who's become good at this, what things are changing. And then I would say just like, yeah, reading, like, the athletic does a great job covering football for. People are tuned at espn, obviously, we cover it nationally. I think actually, like, reading is an easier way to stay up on things than just, like, watching, because that way you get, like, coverage of all of the teams instead of just, you know, the ones we talk about on TV the most.
- [38:48]
B
Absolutely. It's one. You mentioned it earlier, too, is that, like, the beginning of a football season is crazy because you have different coaches and coordinators and so many twists and turns. My husband was on a few episodes of Good Morning Football this off season, and he was making note cards for some of the head coaches. And, I mean, he played in the league for seven years, so, like, he knows these guys. But there's so many changes that are constantly happening, and it goes above and beyond. Just like watching a football game on Sundays. It's like reading about it, like, learning all the intricacies. It goes, like, so much more. It goes deeper than that.
- [39:27]
A
It's so different, too, from playing because I work with former players and also, like, ones who have been doing TV forever and ones who are really new to TV or, like, you know, trying things out, like. Or doing the camps, like the NFL Network camps and like that, or, you know, kind of what your husband did this offseason. And I think they come in and it's like, whoa. Like, they know so much about the game and they're so knee deep in it. You almost have to take a step back and see it more broadly. When you start doing media, it's a totally different. And the other thing is, I think people don't realize is when you play a position, you're focused on that position. Right? Like, so if you're wider zero, that's what you're thinking about. If you're a defensive end, that's what you're thinking about. And again, when you're in media, it's like, no, no, we actually have. We need to, like, talk about the entire team. We have to talk about. It's not how you think as a player. I don't think people realize that, like, you are. You have a job to do it, it's a really hard job, but it's a very focused job. And so in some ways, like they're so much deeper in knowledge than your fan, but they actually have to become more casual to talk about it on tv.
- [40:29]
B
Exactly. No, it's a, it's very different. When I saw my husband with no cards, I was like, you've never done this before in your life. Like, how do you do? No. So I love it. You've talked about your fantasy league. Any spicy fantasy football hot takes heading into the season?
- [40:47]
A
Spicy ones. I like some of the rookies. I love Brock Bowers. That's spicy though. In Vegas. I like Kyler Murray. Maybe I'll throw that out. I, I'm not a fan of taking a quarterback early, which is pretty common fantasy wisdom. But I love taking quarterbacks later who are threats to run and I really think he's going to run more this year. So I think that's gonna be a good offense to Arizona. So I'll go with Kyler Murray.
- [41:14]
B
Love that. Some people have said that the NFL is in a little transition era. Do you agree with that take? And like, what era is it in?
- [41:24]
A
Ooh, I don't know if it's a transition. I think right now we are living in an era where there's four, like truly elite quarterbacks. And that would be Mahomes, Lamar, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow. The big four. You got Justin Herbert and Jane Daniels are like just outside of that for me. And that's been kind of the case now for three years. So I think it's actually a great time for the NFL because like they're all really exciting, fun players to root for, you know, like, and they all seem like pretty good dudes, honestly. So like, I think it's such a quarterback driven league and to have the best four quarterbacks be so fun, so young and so exciting, I think is the NFL is really lucky.
- [42:07]
B
Well, you mentioned those top four. So I have to ask, even though football season has yet to begin, who do you think is going to win MVP this year?
- [42:15]
A
I picked Lamar, who I actually voted for last year. I'm a MVP voter. I just thought he, him and Joshua was really close last season. I just think his team is. The Braves are so stacked this season, so it's hard for me to imagine him not having another great season. And he's developed so much. Every year he's gotten better, it feels like. So yeah, I'll go with Lamar.
- [42:38]
B
Okay. I love that. Well, and then I also have to, I have to Ask the question, who's your super bowl matchup?
- [42:44]
A
I have. I actually just changed this because the Micah Parsons trade, so I have Ravens, packers in the super bowl, which would be really fun because a little bit of a change. Yeah, right.
- [42:53]
B
Finally some change.
- [42:55]
A
I know, right? I still think Chiefs are gonna be really good. I think the Bills are gonna be really good. I just think the Ravens are the best team in the afc. And then on the NFC side, like, the person's trade is that big. I mean, and again, to, like, go back to, like, things that could be t. I mean, it really is. It seems to be a case of, like, hurt feelings and.
- [43:17]
B
Yep.
- [43:17]
A
Billionaire is getting in their. Their feels and making bad decisions and. Yeah, you do. I guess again, for folks who are newish, players like that don't get traded. Like, this does not happen. They asked me about all summer, and I was just like, no way. This will never happen. So crazy. So stupid. And then it happened. It actually happened. And he got treated to a good team. So it's crazy. Really fun. So crazy that it happened.
- [43:40]
B
I'm. I'm kind of excited to see how that develops over the football season and how everyone else tends to feel about that. If you could ask the. The players any question you wanted, what would you ask?
- [43:53]
A
Ooh, different players. I would ask different things, but I think I would love to be able to just talk to players more, like, honestly about what they think of their coaches and, like, whether or not they think they're putting them in positions to succeed, because that's something that a player will never throw their own. Very rarely will criticize their coach in public. And. And that's something that's very. I mean, it's not just football, but I would say football is maybe more so than any other sport. It's like, you really got to walk the line.
- [44:20]
B
That's crazy, because you kind of hit the nail on the head there. My. My husband, in his career, never once spoke negatively about a coach. But definitely as his wife, I saw, like, the fluctuations and, like, wow, I really love this coaching staff and. Oh, my effing. Okay, this is happening.
- [44:39]
A
Yeah.
- [44:40]
B
And it is crazy because a lot more politics go into football than I think some fans and people realize is that politics plays a huge role in, like, keeping owners happy, keeping the head coaches happy. It's crazy.
- [44:53]
A
Everybody has different incentives to, like, some coaches are trying to save their jobs. Some coaches are trying to do what's best long term. Some coaches and gm. Some coaches are just doing what the GM wants them to do. It is a lot of thing. And the other thing is this isn't just politics, but like I think people don't understand, like they're just workplaces, like any workplace. So like sometimes guys get traded. This isn't the case with Parsons, but sometimes guys get traded because people just don't like them.
- [45:18]
B
Like they're, you know, like locker room guy.
- [45:20]
A
It's a big deal. A big deal. Or sometimes keep their jobs because people do like them. Like it's just, it is like any other workplace in that regard.
- [45:27]
B
Yeah, you're fully replaceable. When it comes to the NFL. What do they say? And not for long is what the NFL stands for. Well, before we wrap up and we, we get into some rapid fire questions, what's going to keep you grounded during the chaos of this football season?
- [45:42]
A
I mean my son keeps me pretty, pretty dang humble when he does things like oh my God, he's really physically like chaotic right now. He's such a boy. He like hurts like he, he will just like throw his body at me and I'm just like oh my God, like he'll just knock me over or just like swing things around. So that getting hit in the face by a two year old and having like a bruise definitely keeps me grounded and yeah, just like. But it's such a good reminder too. And I think I, I'm sure you experience this, you know, if you're down because of something you see on the Internet or something someone said to you. It's such a good reminder to have a person in your life who is just completely unaware of that stuff and is like, it's a great touch grass moment where it's like, oh right, like that's fake and this is real. I have a 2 year old who is actually in my world right now and I think it's so helpful.
- [46:41]
B
Oh yeah. And they think you're their entire world as well. So it always helps. It's like, yeah, well my two year old disagrees with the people on the Internet. Do you have any advice for somebody who's just getting into football for the first time this year?
- [46:55]
A
Yeah, I think just read everything you can and if you're reading something and you don't understand it, take a moment to like be like, oh, what, what exactly do they mean by this? Like you're reading an article and it says 12 personnel and maybe you don't know what that is, just Google it and it'll explain. Oh, it's when you know two tight ends are in the field and, and, and Two wide receivers. And then try to apply that knowledge to when you're watching the game like you're watching it and think sometimes actually ESPN will put that on screen. But you'll start to notice things if you spend time reading and actually like, instead of just being like, oh, I don't understand that, but I'm going to breeze by it, just take a moment, be like, hey, let me learn what this is. It's a sport that is like unbelievably complicated. I work with people who have been coaching, playing for a lifetime and still are learning stuff. So there's, you know, there's no shame in having to learn stuff about football. We're all doing it constantly. Even at espn.
- [47:43]
B
Absolutely. No, I love that. And then I have a social question. Who is your pick for the most exciting NFL player to watch this football season?
- [47:53]
A
I mean, it's gotta be Travis Hunter because he's about to do something that's never been done in the NFL, which he's going to try to. Well, not to the scale that he's doing it anyways. He's trying to play both offense and defense. This was the, those don't know the, the Heisman Award winner. He was an unbelievable wide receiver and cornerback at Colorado. The Jags moved mountains to draft him and they have said he is going to do both. That is very hard. It's very hard to do in the NFL where the athletes are a different caliber from college and it's just a whole other level. So I'm just excited to see if he could pull it off and what it looks. Because it's cool to see things done that have never been done before.
- [48:27]
B
Yeah, absolutely. I'm all for trying new things. All right, let's jump into some rapid fire questions. Question number one. College football Saturdays or NFL Sundays?
- [48:39]
A
NFL Sundays. It's a better sport. I love college football, but like, you know.
- [48:43]
B
Agreed. Pregame analysis or post game breakdown?
- [48:47]
A
Oh, this is. That's a good one. I would say post game because I like to talk about what happened and why rather than trying to predict the future.
- [48:58]
B
Love that. Coaching your kids team or cheering from the sidelines.
- [49:03]
A
I cannot wait to be a psychotic coach for my kid.
- [49:07]
B
The parents are going to be terrified.
- [49:09]
A
Oh my God, I'm going to be an animal. Every sport too. I played soccer growing up. I cannot wait for him to play soccer and just to be a freak on the sidelines. I can't wait.
- [49:17]
B
Love that. Fantasy football quarterback Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson.
- [49:22]
A
O, they're right there. I'll Go Josh. Earlier I was really high on Lamar. I just think Josh is such a touchdown machine.
- [49:33]
B
Love that. Kelsey Brothers or Manning Brothers?
- [49:36]
A
Oh, that's hard because I. So my podcast is actually produced. The Manning Brothers company puts it out, but I work with one of the Kelsey brothers. I'll go Manning. I'm going to go Manning Brothers because, you know, that's. That's where the check's coming from.
- [49:50]
B
Week one hope, or the chaos of week 17?
- [49:54]
A
Week one hope. Because everybody gets to be excited and happy.
- [49:57]
B
Oh, I love that. All right, well, thank you so much for joining. Where can the people find you on socials?
- [50:03]
A
Yeah, it's just by name everywhere. If you're interested in football, be in a kind show featuring Lenny. We've been going for, like seven years now. And if you're interested in Love is Blind and Love island breakdowns, you can check out my TV pod. Viewer discretion. It's all@YouTube.com perfect.
- [50:21]
B
All right, well, thank you so much for tuning in. I hope you guys enjoyed listening. Be sure to tune in every Sunday wherever you get your podcast. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.