Sunday Sports Club with Allison Kuch

Episode: Pregnant on the NFL Sidelines
Guest: Megan Olivi
Date: September 14, 2025
Host: Allison Kuch
Network: Dear Media

Overview

This episode of Sunday Sports Club dives into the realities of motherhood and professional life in sports, featuring Fox Sports and UFC reporter Megan Olivi. Both Allison and Megan candidly discuss their experiences navigating pregnancy, postpartum, and working the NFL sidelines. The episode is rich with insights on working in high-profile sports media while managing family, the challenges and joys of new motherhood, and behind-the-scenes prep work for sideline reporting. Rapid-fire sports predictions and reflections on the NFL and UFC seasons add to this engaging conversation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Realities of New Motherhood (00:00–07:40)

• Sleep & Newborn Challenges
  • Megan, eight weeks postpartum, shares: “He’s a great sleeper at night. He doesn’t love naps, so I’ll take the nighttime sleep though… But they are so loud—like, I sleep next to a pissed off truck driver.” (00:49)
  • Both discuss the "fog" of early motherhood, feeling terrified about responsibilities, and marveling at how parents of multiples manage.
• Identity Shift
  • "The first question you get asked is, are you sleeping? …Now I’m like, oh, that’s the first question I ask, ‘are you okay?’” – Allison (02:23)
  • Megan highlights surprise at how isolating, exhausting, and amnesic the newborn phase can be.

2. Returning to Work Postpartum (04:10–09:14)

• Mixed Emotions About Leaving Baby
  • Megan expresses excitement and apprehension: “Can I still do that? …I’m obviously terrified to leave him. Is he going to forget me?” (04:10)
  • She credits a supportive workplace at Fox and UFC: “They’ve always been like, ‘when you decide to have kids, we’re gonna make it work for you.’” (04:48)
• Efficiency & Parenthood
  • “What you can get done now in a 15-minute time period is like what you accomplished in an entire day before you had a baby.” —Allison (05:13)
  • Megan emphasizes the power of parental multitasking and finding role models among other working parents/reporters.

3. Pregnancy While Working in Sports (09:14–13:08)

• Navigating High-Energy Jobs While Pregnant
  • Megan worked up to a week before delivery. She found the structure and distraction of work mentally helpful, especially after struggling with infertility and pregnancy loss.
  • “When you live in that reality, it’s hard to think about anything else…if I didn’t have a job at all, genuinely, it would not be good for my mental health.” (09:46)
  • Support and encouragement from other women were unexpectedly powerful: “Seeing you made me feel better…or now I feel less guilty…there’s an example of being able to do it.” (11:45)

4. Transitioning Into Maternity Leave & Building Support (13:22–19:39)

• Letting Go of FOMO
  • Watching from home once baby arrived felt surprisingly satisfying—“I was watching with him in my arms, and I didn’t feel like I needed to be anywhere else.” (14:32)
• Support Systems
  • Megan’s husband was an equal partner during her difficult C-section recovery: “He had to do literally everything…” (15:15)
  • Hiring a postpartum doula meaningfully eased the transition: “She would teach us about him…there was never any judgment.” (16:06)
  • Megan and Allison both stress the importance of “building your own village” if you lack nearby family.

5. Sideline Reporting: Prep & Game Day Life (27:32–35:20)

• Behind the Scenes of Sideline Prep
  • Coverage is “very intensive” — “I am just trying to consume any and all media that I can…tons of reading, research…requesting players, talking to coaches, all in pursuit of the human story.” (27:46)
  • Emphasis on capturing not only stats but sharing athlete’s humanity: “For me, I want people to know about the human being…that’s always the way I approach it.” (29:55)
• Game Day Moments & Challenges
  • “Some coaches are a little more media savvy than others…you’re in this terrible position, trying to get something out of them.” (31:03)
  • Authenticity is key—“That’s also a story in itself. Like, hey, he didn’t want to talk, he ran right to the locker room.” (32:24)

6. NFL 2025 Season: Predictions & Hot Takes (35:20–40:49)

• MVP Race
  • Megan: “You have Lamar, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Jared Goff…throw Saquon in there…to be someone else, you’ll need the year of your life.” (36:00)
  • Allison picks Jared Goff for MVP: “He just had a daughter, so I think he’s going to have his little good luck charm.” (36:31)
• Under-the-Radar Team
  • Megan’s pick: “I love the Bucks right now…they’ve improved every year…they’re under the radar in the rest of the NFL.” (36:45)
• Super Bowl Matchup
  • Megan: “I would love to see the Bills…but I think the Eagles still have what it takes…they get the best out of their players.” (39:25)
  • Both hosts root for the Bills and Lions as sentimental favorites, praising organizational transformations. (40:09)

7. UFC Deep Dive & Comparisons with NFL (44:43–53:54)

• UFC 101
  • Megan describes the UFC as “the world’s best athletes competing in mixed martial arts…a test of skill…these are world-class athletes, some of whom don’t have the size for traditional pro sports.” (44:43)
  • She encourages “watching an hour of a broadcast” to understand the sport’s depth and humanity.
• NFL vs. UFC Atmosphere
  • “Saturday night at a fight is unlike anything else—it’s a sporting event plus a show…Sunday feels like you’re participating with the entire country…Saturday’s the party, Sunday is the family brunch.” (49:40–50:58)
• Perspective as a Fighter’s Spouse
  • “100%. …it’s not just that game or that fight. It’s the years of labor and focus…while some people might say, ‘oh, they just didn’t win,’ that changes their life forever.” (51:05)
  • Megan stresses empathy, compassion, and storytelling for athletes.

8. Infertility, Motherhood, and Achievements (54:17–58:45)

• The Infertility Journey
  • “It is the most heartbreaking, heart-wrenching thing you could ever imagine…part of me felt like, is this ever going to be my reality?” (54:31)
  • Megan advocates for open conversation, sharing how she managed her mental health: “I muted really good friends on Instagram who had kids because it was so hard for me to see. …I hope people make those choices if they feel like that’s what they need.” (55:26)
• Perspective and Gratitude
  • “Every dream I had came true. …I didn’t feel like any of that until my son was born. Then you just feel like you can do anything—you’ll do anything for them.” (56:35)
  • Both women express awe and gratitude for the "miracle" of becoming mothers.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Sideline Reporting Prep:
  “For me, I want people to know about the human being. …Here’s a reason to care aside from all of that.” – Megan (29:55)
• On Infertility:
  “It is the most heartbreaking, heart wrenching thing that you could ever imagine. …If you’ve lived it, you know.” – Megan (54:31)
• On Working Postpartum:
  “I feel like a better version of myself when I can remember what not only I love, but what I’m good at.” – Megan (08:28)
• On Moms in Sports:
  “No one can multitask better than a woman.” – Megan (09:14)
• On Father’s Support:
  “He had to do literally everything. …He has just been such an equal partner.” – Megan (15:15)
• On Asking for Help:
  “Asking for help is not necessarily something I've always done…now I realize it impacts more than just me.” – Megan (17:14)
• On Empathy with Athletes:
  “No matter who I am speaking to, I imagine that is my husband across from me. What would I want people to ask?” – Megan (52:05)

Useful Timestamps

• 00:49 – The reality of newborn sleep, the “truck driver” analogy
• 04:10 – Returning to football season post-baby & balancing work and motherhood
• 09:14 – Pregnancy at work, navigating mental health and public scrutiny
• 15:15 – Husband’s role and hiring a postpartum doula for support
• 27:46 – Detailed rundown of sideline reporter prep
• 36:00 – Early NFL 2025 MVP predictions
• 44:43 – UFC explained for newcomers
• 49:40 – Comparing NFL Sundays and UFC Fight Nights
• 51:05 – How marriage to a UFC fighter changed Megan's perspective
• 54:31 – Reflections on infertility and gratitude for motherhood
• 58:58 – Rapid fire: Snow vs. heat on the sidelines, favorite player to watch

Rapid Fire Questions & Fun Moments

• Sideline in snow or heat?
  Megan: “Oh, snow for sure.” (58:58)
• Favorite fellow sideline highlight reels?
  “His [husband’s] 100%. …I’m so proud of him.” (59:30)
• Fantasy football QB: Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson?
  “I’m going Lamar.” (60:06)
• Kelsey brothers or Manning brothers?
  “I’m going to go with Manning brothers…so funny.” (60:19)
• Most exciting NFL player to watch in 2025?
  Megan: “A safety from the Kansas City Chiefs named Jaden Hicks…watch out for number 21.” (61:48)

Summary Wrap-Up

This heartfelt and entertaining episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the intersection of pro sports, motherhood, and media. Megan Olivi and Allison Kuch are refreshingly candid about the joys and struggles of balancing career ambition and postpartum life. Listeners get valuable insider perspectives on reporting, mom-guilt, infertility, and what it really means to “do it all.” Fans of football and UFC—and especially women in sports—will find abundant inspiration and practical wisdom in this conversation.