The Unplanned Podcast with Matt & Abby

Episode Summary: Reece & Will – Newlywed Life, 300% Pay Increase, and Accidentally Finding Fame

Air Date: November 19, 2025
Guests: Reese (Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader & Netflix's "America's Sweethearts" star) & Will (her husband)
Main Theme:
An open-hearted look into newlywed life under the spotlight, balancing marriage, sudden fame, brand management, and financial realities as told by Reese and Will, who unexpectedly rose to prominence with the success of "America's Sweethearts" on Netflix. The conversation captures their personal and relational growth, the impact of fame, transparency about earnings, the realities of being public figures, and the interplay between ambition, vulnerability, and intentional living.

Episode Overview

In this warm and deeply personal episode, Matt and Abby sit down with Reese—now the most-followed Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader—and her husband Will for an intimate look into their first year of marriage, life after accidental stardom, the nitty gritty of cheerleader pay, and the emotional balancing act of being newlyweds under a global spotlight.

The discussion moves fluidly from handling sudden recognition after Netflix fame, the stressors and rewards of marriage, and practical responses to new business opportunities, to honest talk about therapy, faith, friendship, finances, and future dreams. Throughout, Reese and Will maintain an authentic, down-to-earth tone that feels both relatable and inspiring.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Navigating Instant Fame & Adjusting to a New Normal

• Stardom Arrives Overnight:

  • The Netflix show dropped just two months into their marriage (04:02). "Wake up and it’s like, oh, wow. People know who we are and know more about us than I think we know." – Reese (04:08)
  • Will realizes the impact when "maybe 10 people recognized her" during a simple outing right after the show released (06:11).

• Emotional Fallout:

  • Reese: "I’m a people pleaser...when I do get overwhelmed or anxious or worried, I do shut down, and I do have to...think about it." (08:40)
  • They emphasize the anxiety of not knowing what footage would be shown and how they’d be perceived (09:25).

• Balancing Public and Private Life:

  • Reese is deliberate: "I never want someone’s interaction with me to be anything that’s different than what they see in the show…I hope that every interaction is genuine, it’s authentic, and people see me for me and nothing different." (07:29)

2. Marriage Under Pressure & Rediscovering Intimacy

• First Year Realities:

  • "We really struggled with juggling this new reality of life…because that was our first year of marriage, it was just like, a lot thrown at once." – Reese (12:46)
  • Will adds, "It felt more like a business partnership…It wasn’t good." (13:01–13:10)
  • Their only hour together each day became focused on business tasks, not connection.

• The Turning Point:

  • "I needed to prioritize my faith…and also our marriage.” – Reese shares her choice to leave a flower shop job (14:52)
  • Abby affirms: "Your twenties are your hustling years…to introduce a marriage into that, it can feel like ships passing at night." (14:52)

• Therapy, Faith & Communication:

  • Reese credits therapy, counseling, listening to John Deloney, and developing direct communication (15:39).
  • Will notes signing with a management agency (thanks to Matt’s advice!) dramatically reduced friction and increased Reese’s value (20:18–21:40).

3. Accidentally Finding Internet Fame

• Will’s TikTok Cooking Fame:
  • "I like to cook…I posted a parody, like, I’m cooking for Reese, and it kind of blew up, so I just kept going along." – Will (24:09)
  • Their cooking and playful home life has become part of their online identity.

4. Building a Life Together — New Home, Dog, and Family Plans

• Moving Forward:

  • New home with a backyard, new dog (Ruby, a fox red English Lab), and discussions about timing for having children (25:03–30:21).
  • Will: "We wanted to have a dog before kids so they can kind of grow up together." (29:55)

• Mentorship and Community:

  • Will recounts living with mentors during college, being present through pregnancies, and how exposure to family life built his desire for the same (31:29–33:53).

5. Business, Brand Management, and a 300% Pay Raise

• The Social Media Learning Curve:

  • They share stories of initial under-valuation ("our first one was $15 for that song" – Abby 22:09).
  • Signing with an agency led to a 3–4x increase in earnings (21:40).

• DCC Cheerleader Compensation:

  • The cast discusses pay transparency; media reports of a "400%" raise are clarified down to "more like 300%" (56:13).
  • Reese stresses the advocacy and teamwork that led to these gains for the benefit of future cheerleaders:
    "We didn’t want to just do this for ourselves. We wanted to do this for so many women across, like, corporate America…to feel inspired to recognize and see the cheerleaders for who they are." (55:02)
  • Will, wisely: "I'm going to respectfully decline to answer" about his pay opinions, adding, "I am the biggest Reese fan, and that's all that matters." (61:04–61:15)

6. Public Perception, Misconceptions & Staying Grounded

• Handling Criticism & Assumptions:

  • Reese discusses how exposure brings assumptions about "beliefs, morals," and how DMs can be critical:
    "People have so many assumptions about who you are, like your beliefs, your morals…you don't really know all sides to the story." (63:27)

• Staying Intentional & Authentic:

  • Reese (once again): "I just hope what I'm sharing is the same Reese you would have seen before all of this, and the same Reese you're seeing now." (49:11)

7. Fun & Candid Newlywed Moments (Rapid Fire Questions & Traditions)

• Household Chores:

  • Will cooks, Reese cleans, both laugh about impulse shopping and learning to buy gifts (36:09–40:15).

• Relationship Tidbits:

  • "Technically, she never said yes to marrying me either." – Will, laughing (44:37)
  • Reese delayed officially dating Will... until their mentor awkwardly announced it at church (41:08).

• Farting & Boundaries:

  • Yes, they fart in front of each other, with playful stories of bathroom awkwardness and still having a boundary for closed doors (84:23–85:21).

8. Looking Ahead — Future Plans and More

• Plans to Stay in Texas vs. Alabama Dream:

  • "Our forever home, I think, is going to be Alabama…there's just, like, so much community that's already built there." – Reese (78:22)
  • Will: "Out here (in Dallas), there’s such a lifestyle creep…very materialistic out here…and we want land and animals." (79:22)

• Show Update:

  • Season 3 of "America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders" on Netflix is confirmed (82:04).
  • Reese is taking DCC "year by year," noting the immense sacrifice but also the joy (82:54–83:20).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On marriage amid chaos:
  "There is this sweetness too. I get to go home to my best friend every day…it's just such a blessing." – Reese (02:53)

• On sudden fame:
  "I don't think you know how much actually…the coverage of us (is in the series)." – Reese (05:43)

• On managing business as a couple:
  "I don't want to be your secretary…You're, like, your manager, essentially." – Abby (21:09)

• On advocacy and pay:
  "If the water boy and people on the sidelines…are getting paid way more than the cheerleaders…this needs to happen." – Reese (59:17)

• On being a supportive spouse:
  "I'm going to respectfully decline to answer (about pay opinions)…I am the biggest Reese fan, and that's all that matters." – Will (61:04)

• On grounding in faith:
  "If this is the way that the Lord’s going to use me, then I’m just going to trust that he has a plan and I’m just going to walk within that…" – Reese (11:37)

• On teamwork:
  "We are just two human beings…trying to figure it out, and life is always throwing something at us…but what's so special is…I'm so grateful to have my biggest cheerleader—no pun intended." – Reese (87:13–87:59)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:34] – Juggling marriage and sudden fame
• [02:53] – Honest joys of newlywed life
• [04:02] – Realizing fame after Netflix debut
• [08:40] – Anxiety and people pleasing under scrutiny
• [12:46] – Relational struggles during year one
• [15:39] – Therapy, mentorship, and communication tools
• [20:18] – Transitioning away from DIY brand management
• [24:09] – Will's TikTok cooking journey
• [25:03] – New home, getting a dog, and family planning
• [29:55] – Dreaming of kids and why the dog came first
• [36:09] – Rapid fire: household roles and dating backstory
• [49:11] – Reaching a million followers and humility
• [55:02] – Pay raise and advocating for cheerleaders
• [63:27] – Biggest misconceptions and handling criticism
• [78:22] – Returning to Alabama and building generational roots
• [82:04] – Season 3 of "America's Sweethearts" confirmed
• [82:54] – How long will Reese stay with DCC?
• [84:23] – Fun candidness: farting, bathroom boundaries, and pimples

Final Thoughts

Reese and Will's candid discussion offers a rare, sincere window into the rollercoaster of young marriage under public scrutiny—a tightrope walk between career, fame, financial evolution, and personal growth, always grounded in love, humility, and faith. Their willingness to share struggles, laughter, and even occasional TMI moments will resonate with anyone navigating big life transitions or working to keep a marriage vibrant and grounded.

"We're just two human beings…trying to figure it out, and life is always throwing something at us." – Reese (87:13)

Follow Reese and Will on Instagram & TikTok for more.
Don't miss Season 3 of "America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders" on Netflix!