The Squeeze – "Kristin Juszczyk: Behind the Seams"

Date: October 1, 2025
Host: Taylor Lautner
Guest: Kristin Juszczyk

Episode Overview

This heartfelt, lively episode brings fashion designer Kristin Juszczyk to the table for an in-depth conversation with host Taylor Lautner and friends. The episode explores Kristin’s extraordinary journey: from NFL “plus-one” to viral fashion entrepreneur, blending her love of sports, creative passion, and mental resilience. Rich in personal stories—from meeting her husband, NFL player Kyle Juszczyk, supporting him through football’s grind, to her meteoric rise in the world of sports fashion—the discussion dwells also on personal loss, perseverance, and the bonds of friendship and family. The group also highlights mental health, the realities of NFL life, and the importance of asking for help.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The NFL Life – Love, Support, and Adaptation

[00:51–13:00]

• Kristin describes the structure and challenges of football season, debunking the "bye husband" myth and explaining the NFL’s relentless "9 to 5" rhythm.
  • "There's no days off during season, but he goes in probably at like 7am every day. And then he's home around like 4... I work a whole day too, so it's fine." – Kristin [05:12]
• Training camp is described as particularly tough: "...they can't sleep at home, so they sleep in a hotel. For probably a month...we're really not seeing each other that much." – Kristin [05:42]
• Despite the grind, Kristin travels to every game, savoring the adventure and camaraderie: "I go to every single game...our families are now, like, literally family with each other. So we all go as a pack." [06:31–06:43]

Favorite Stadiums and Fan Culture

[07:08–13:00]

• Kristin’s favorites: Lambeau Field for its iconic, snowy charm; Buffalo’s wild tailgates; and SoFi Stadium’s vibe.
• She notes cultural contrasts: East Coast football feeling "gritty" vs. West Coast’s more relaxed nature.
• Surviving away games: Kristin laughs off heckling and even unpleasant encounters ("blown glitter in the face" in Minnesota), highlighting resilience.
  • "If this is the worst thing that happens to you today, then you’re lucky. And I was like, what is this, the purge?" – Kristin [12:34]

2. Meeting Kyle & Early Relationship

[19:32–24:46]

• Kristin met Kyle Juszczyk on Facebook, after spotting him at a Ravens game. The beginning had a charming, awkward social media dance, fueled by mutual photo likes and eventual direct messaging.
• Their first dinner date lasted four hours: "I remember leaving and being like, wow, I think I just met my husband." – Kristin [23:25]
• The couple quickly became inseparable; Kyle met her large Italian family just two months in.

3. Finding Identity and Independence Post-Move

[31:22–37:49]

• After moving to California for Kyle's career, Kristin faced a major identity shift, leaving behind her job and friends: "I now was like, so engulfed in, like, the NFL life where before it was really like, his job...then it became our lifestyle." [32:19]
• She sought independence, working front desk at SoulCycle ("I need to get out of the house") and launching a clothing boutique (Origin), driven by her family's entrepreneurial background.

4. The Birth of a Business – Fashion, Necessity, and Hustle

[42:12–47:07]

• Kristin taught herself to sew through YouTube, initially for Halloween costumes ("delusionally" confident she could make the Britney & Justin denim look).
• Bored with the limited, generic NFL apparel available to women, she created her own game-day outfits—which sparked requests from others.
• A pivotal creation: the "jersey puffer vest"—a unique, upcycled statement piece.
  • "I texted it to Kyle's sports agent...this is revolutionary." [44:00]
• The leap: Despite licensing obstacles and risk of idea theft, Kristin boldly shared her designs on social media, tagging big brands: "I added Fanatics, and I added Nike. And I was like, hit me up." [46:51]
• Viral momentum arrived after athletes and celebrities—including Debo Samuel and Simone Biles—wore her designs.

5. The FedEx "Super Bowl" Saga: When Fashion Goes Viral

[48:32–57:27]

• A dramatic retelling of a crucial playoff weekend in which Kristin worked for days to finish custom jackets for Taylor and Brittany Lautner and others, only for the package to be delayed by a snowstorm.
• Kristin mobilized contacts, social media, and sheer will to hunt down the missing package—tracing it, battling a broken-down delivery truck, and orchestrating a stadium hand-off minutes before kickoff.
  • "I will not let this be the reason why. I will fly to Detroit, open up every single FedEx office to get him this jacket." [51:02]
  • "Everybody on the sideline and in the stands behind us were invested in this." – Dave [56:30]
• The story’s moral: "You have to ask for help. Like, all the time. You can’t do everything on your own." – Kristin [57:05]

6. Loss, Grief, and Inner Strength: Kristin's Mother

[61:22–69:43]

• Kristin’s advocacy for breast cancer awareness is rooted in losing her mother at 18 after a lifelong battle.
• She details the hidden pain of childhood with a sick parent, the complicated aftermath of loss, and how grief reshapes life milestones.
  • "She never let anybody feel her pain...she would never want anyone to know." [62:49]
• The emotional wisdom grief imparts: "Grief is really just an I miss you and I love you...biggest moments are always a little bit of your saddest." [66:59–68:18]
• Kristin’s perspective: She’s less sensitive to life’s small hardships, prioritizes health and cherishes loved ones, motivated by what she’s lost.

7. Offseason: Expanding Her Brand and Vision

[70:49–74:53]

• Kristin discusses growing Offseason, her officially licensed sports fashion brand:
  • Launched new puffer jackets (now for 13 NFL teams and the WNBA); aims to expand to all leagues and even develop a non-sports line.
  • The ultimate thrill: seeing a fan in the wild wearing one of her designs—"that was always the dream."
• Aspirations: To be the "go-to spot for sports fashion for anything you can think of" and beyond [73:50].

8. What Kristin Is Most Proud Of

[75:09–76:27]

• "Who I chose as a partner...to be proud of your partner is everything...we've been able to grow together, and I just think your family is everything, so I'm most proud of that." – Kristin [75:09–76:27]

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On NFL Season Structure:
  "Football is the most like 9 to 5 sport in comparison to the other types of leagues...no days off during season." – Kristin [05:12]

• On Away Game Heckling:
  "If this is the worst thing that happens to you today, then you’re lucky. And I was like, what is this, the purge?" – Kristin [12:34]

• On Building The Brand:
  "I was knocking on everyone's door, you guys...No one was really willing to collaborate...But when I made the puffer vest...this is revolutionary." – Kristin [45:10–45:14]

• On FedEx Drama:
  "I will not let this be the reason why. I will fly to Detroit, open up every single FedEx office to get him this jacket." – Kristin [51:02]

• Lesson from the FedEx Story:
  "You have to ask for help. Like, all the time...You can’t do everything on your own." – Kristin [57:05]

• On Grief:
  "Grief is really just an I miss you and I love you...your biggest moments are always a little bit of your saddest." – Kristin [66:59–68:18]

• On Pride and Partnership:
  "Who I chose as a partner...to be proud of your partner is everything...we've been able to grow together." – Kristin [75:09–76:27]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:51–13:00 | NFL life, routines, stadiums, and traveling | | 19:32–24:46 | How Kristin met Kyle and their early relationship | | 31:22–37:49 | Moving, identity, and finding independence | | 42:12–47:07 | Self-taught sewing, first big fashion break | | 48:32–57:27 | Jacket/fedex saga: creativity, persistence, viral fame | | 61:22–69:43 | Losing her mom, grief, perspective, and values | | 70:49–74:53 | Expanding Offseason, future vision | | 75:09–76:27 | What Kristin is most proud of |

Conclusion

This episode offers a spirited inside look at life as an NFL spouse, the relentless grind of building a business from the ground up, and the deeply personal motivations that drive Kristin Juszczyk’s work. Listeners will find inspiration in Kristin’s candor about loss, self-doubt, resilience, and her belief in both the power of community (never be afraid to ask for help!) and the importance of choosing your family wisely. Her journey from hand-sewn costume to the NFL’s most-watched fashion entrepreneur proves that sometimes, when life gives you lemons, you make puffer vests—and bring a whole new game to the field.

Final Quote:
"Your health is your wealth. It really taught me to just look at things from a bigger picture." – Kristin [69:31]