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Carissa Thompson
I grew up wanting to be a sports broadcaster. That was like the. There was no plan B. The same way you maybe wanted to be an actor or Matt wanted to be an athlete. Like, I didn't have a plan B. It was like, this either works or it doesn't. And so the first time I ever got to cover a Super Bowl, I was thinking to myself, like, holy shit, if I could go back and tell the younger me I get to stand on this field. I was standing on the field when Malcolm Butler intercepts Russell Wilson 11 years ago in that horrific mom.
Jerry
All right, welcome to another episode of Throwbacks. Do me, us. Do us a favor. Throw us a follow. Throw us a sub. Hit that subscribe button on YouTube Throwback Show. It's free. We love it. We need it. It's free. Just do it.
Matt
We appreciate all the love and support. It's a big week, Jer.
Carissa Thompson
It's a.
Matt
A big week.
Jerry
I mean, it. It is a huge week. I. I always get sad around this week, though, Matt, because it means it's over, you know? And I know, fortunately, the Knicks are, like, doing okay, but that's a long way to go till May to, like, playoff basketball even, too, so.
Matt
Yeah, I know. It is a. It is a bummer. We always talk about this. The fall is. Is the greatest time I think of sports. You got college football, you got football, you got baseball, World Series, then NBA starts, and now the culmination of the NFL. It's. Obviously, we're going to talk about the super bowl this whole episode, because it's going to be awesome, and it's always a fun weekend, but that's just not the biggest news that's happened in the world.
Jerry
Has something happened, Matt?
Matt
I mean, I don't know. I mean, do you care to.
Jerry
Yes, it has happened. The third Ferrara baby was born January 31, roughly 1:49 in the morning.
Matt
Yeah, baby, let's go.
Jerry
And you know, all this weight of, like, is it a boy? Is it a girl? We waited to find out. And when the baby was born, neither of us looked at that right away. Well, we kind of like.
Matt
I looked at it right away.
Jerry
I kind of, like, locked in with her, made sure she was all right. She just, like, grabbed the baby and, like, hugged it and did like. None of us, like, lifted a leg and did, like, what? So it was like a two minute delay, and then we were like, what is it? And it was this big reveal. And it was a boy.
Annie Agar
Yeah.
Matt
Listen, all you guys do are make boys, and I text you the Ferrara Name lives on for generations, bro. That's. That's a big. That's a big deal, dude. Think about that.
Jerry
Unfortunately, you know, Bree's doing really well. The baby's doing really well, and that's all you really want. But I did, like, 24 hours after the birth. I'm like, bri, if you want to just have this one's last name be reconnoice, that's fine. I felt. Not. Felt bad, but I'm like, you know, I got. I gotta give her something here. And another big reveal. We do not have a name yet, and that is not a joke, Matt. We do not.
Matt
Well, I think we should be taking bets on the name. I. I'm not gonna give up. I know what you guys are thinking, potentially. So I'm not gonna say that, but I feel like we should post this online and let. Let the fans vote. Let's let the fans gonna maybe get.
Jerry
To an online vote. The only thing I was trying to say, too, and this did not go over well, but I feel like you would understand at least where I'm coming from as a story. What if we just name this dude after the super bowl mvp? And then when you start looking at the odds, it's like, okay, Drake, Sam.
Carissa Thompson
Strong.
Jerry
Could be like, there's a Jackson up there. Super strong Jackson.
Matt
There's also. There's a. There's a Kenneth.
Jerry
Kenneth. Kenny.
Matt
Big Kenny.
Jerry
Come on, Kenny.
Matt
Stefan.
Jerry
Stefan.
Matt
Ferrar.
Jerry
Hunter. Hunter or Henry. Hunter or Henry. I think we should.
Matt
I think we should let the fans decide. I think you should post this tomorrow morning.
Jerry
Cooper.
Matt
Give them your. Give them your top. Give. Give the world yours and Breeze. Top three names that you're thinking. And let's see. Let's let it play out. Let's let it play out. Let's let the fans decide.
Jerry
I think one of the hardest things to do if you are a father out there, as all the either expecting or future fathers, is naming a boy. To me, it is. We had 100 great girl names, like the boy. I don't know, because there's so many.
Matt
Traditional, normal boy names, and you kind of want to go against the grain a little bit, but there aren't that many options.
Jerry
And, like, you start thinking, like, 20 years from now, do you want to name them something? Like a nicknamey kind of thing? And then, like, he walks in for a job interview, and it's like, hi, I'm. I'm Kid. I'm Cubby, you know?
Matt
Well, listen, buddy, I'm proud of you guys, man. I'M happy for you.
Jerry
Be proud of her. I didn't do.
Matt
I'm proud. I know, but I'm proud of you. You know, it was. I know this is a tough decision.
Jerry
You know what, Matt, I partially blame you for this because there was really not a whole lot of third.
Matt
I'm not sorry though.
Jerry
By the way. We're like catching up to some of these players who have like nine kid. We're catching up, bro. We're up there.
Matt
You should just do a whole segment on the guys who have the most kids from these.
Jerry
You got to be like middle to late of the pack. Like you're not on the top.
Matt
I have four. Four is bottom of the pile with some guys that I know. Buddy, you time, you multiply that by two or three. I mean, look at Philip Rivers. Philip Rivers got double digits.
Jerry
Golly.
Matt
He's a grandfather.
Jerry
I mean, Cromartie was peak Hard Knocks when he said that on Hard Knocks. I got like an 8 year old, a 7 year old, two 4 year old kids. You have twins? No.
Matt
Yeah. At that point it all just kind of like, like birthdays, they all just kind of fall together. Right. Like, do you really like, I. I have a hard time remembering my four kids birthdays in the years, let alone 14 or 10 of them.
Jerry
But at that point I think you just give up.
Matt
Listen, congratulations, buddy. It's awesome. I know Brie's doing well.
Jerry
She's doing great. And you know who else is doing really well? Because it is super bowl week and she kind of shines. This week we have a great guest. This week we have Carissa Thompson, someone you've worked along with.
Matt
I've known CT forever, man. She's awesome. Yeah. Gosh. When, when, when FS1 launched in like 2012 or 2013 and CT, Chris has been around a long time and she's a pro. She's done everything. She is, is. She is a. She's a, you know, she's kind of a trailblazer, I think for women in this industry. She's done it. She's done it at a high level professional. She continues to kick ass and she's a good friend. But when I first got into TV at FS1, there was like kind of an FS Live, which was like Fox's Fox Sports version of highlights and all that kind of stuff. And then I did a show and she would host a show like a kind of like a Players Player show. Players Only, I think it was called. And it was like Gary Payton and it was Donovan McNabb and it was Andy Roddick and it was just like.
Jerry
Right.
Matt
It was cool. So, like, that's where I first got my start. I was. I would do kind of guest spots and just do that and then. And then, yeah, then we did like, a little bit of a college football show together, and the rest is history. But, yeah, she's. She's. She knows football as well as anybody. You know, she does Amazon's pregame show Thursday night. She does our FOX NFL Sunday morning show, the Kick off the Sunday. So she's. She's an absolute beast. She's awesome. She's great. Which is. And she's hilarious. Dude, you gotta stick around for this because she's. She's the funniest storyteller as well.
Jerry
Yeah, I'm glad she was able to fit this in because I feel like her.
Matt
Oh, yeah.
Jerry
Super bowl week schedule, probably outside of the players and coaches, might be the busiest, so.
Matt
Oh, yeah, she fit us into, like, 20. She gave us 20.
Jerry
Solid 20.
Matt
Yeah. I appreciate that.
Jerry
All right, so before we bring on Carissa, this is gonna be a fun one because it's time for our Wendy's Fresh Take of the Week. Fresh Take of the Week's presented, of course, by Wendy's. Get yourself a four dollar Biggie Bites, six dollar Biggie Bag or eight dollar Biggie Bundle. That's where I would go with now at Wendy's. So, Matt, for this week, our fresh take's gonna be our favorite super bowl halftime performance. Our personal favorite. Not the public, our personal favorite. Would you like to go first or would you like me to dive in first?
Matt
I'm gonna go first because I. I really don't have. I really have no idea what you're gonna say to this.
Jerry
Okay.
Matt
Okay. I'm gonna give an honorable mention first. 2020, Shakira and Jlo. Just because. Just because they look good doing it. I'm a big Shakira fan. Big Shakira fan. But here, this one, I'm not really, like, going off a ledger with this pick, but it was my favorite because it was west coast and it was 2022 halftime show in LA with Dre, Snoop, Eminem.
Jerry
Don't forget about 50.
Matt
50, 50 made an appearance. Mary J. Blige made an appearance, but it opens up with. With Dre on the piano and doing his thing. And, like, you know, being a West coast guy, knowing Snoop kind of from back in the USC days, I just thought that halftime was like an ode to old school. And anyone that was born in the 80s or 90s just was like, standing up, bobbing their head, me like, oh, hell, yeah, let's do it. So that's.
Jerry
That.
Matt
That's the most memorable one for me. You know, there were great ones, obviously, probably when we were younger, like, you like Prince and Michael Jackson, all that. But one that I can remember that I was all. I was like, oh, yeah, I'm gonna rewind that and watch it again. It was a couple years ago, the LA halftime show.
Jerry
That's a great one especially, too. We're about the same age. I got a few years.
Matt
So, like, it was.
Jerry
That's just like, those are the dudes we, you know. So for like, the old head in me, it was like, oh, like, this is the one where, like, yeah, I.
Matt
Got no idea where you're gonna go with this one.
Jerry
Well, here's where I went with it. And I really thought about this for a while, and The Michael Jackson 1993 performance is my vote. This has nothing to do with anything around. I'm talking about just super bowl performance, because I think that's when everybody knew they got to step their game up.
Matt
It was.
Carissa Thompson
It was.
Matt
Yeah. I mean, he was.
Jerry
After that one, it was like, okay, no more of this Disney. Like, we have to step on.
Matt
She's the reason why people get excited for the halftime show.
Jerry
And to me, that I, I, that's like, kind of the first one I could really remember. I was like 12 years old. I mean, I remember one, but that's the first one that stuck out. And whatever your thoughts are on Michael Jackson, you cannot take away the fact that he did that performance 93. And everybody said, we better get in the line.
Matt
What about the. What about the nip slip?
Jerry
That's. Look, I thought that was a great one, too. Great one.
Matt
That's moment, not performance moment, for sure.
Jerry
And you could even like Prince. Famously.07 can't take that away from Prince. But again, I think you get Prince because you had MJ in 93, so. And who knows?
Matt
Thoughts on. Before we wrap it up, man, what are your thoughts on Bad Bunny? Are you. I mean, you're gonna look.
Jerry
I am. What?
Carissa Thompson
Hit.
Jerry
No, I enjoy the halftime shows. I really do enjoy the halftime shows. But for me, when I'm watching at home, like, I've only been to one Super Bowl. I mean, I've been to a bunch, but I went to the Usher performance in Vegas, right? And it was cool to be there. It was cool. I. Of course, I like Usher's music. I usually, when the halftime show goes, I get Up, I stretch my legs, I get a little food and I casually watch. So I, I'm like, I, it's probably going to be great. I, I'm gonna grab, I'm doing, I always do. I'm gonna get some food, have a drink and see what the man.
Matt
Yeah, it's created, it's created quite the stir amongst fans. So we'll see, we'll see what he brings to the table. But dude, it's gonna be fun, man.
Jerry
It's gonna be a good one, bro. And I think it's time now to get to the great and talented Carissa Thompson joining us.
Matt
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Jerry
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Matt
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Jerry
The choice is yours for a pretty Biggie deal. Gotta be Wendy's. U.S. price and participation may vary. Single items at regular price. Prices may be higher in Alaska, California and Hawaii.
Annie Agar
Guys, it's officially playoff season and we know what that means. Our weekends are booked and played around kickoffs. What spot on the couch is the lucky one and hoping your neighbors ignore.
Matt
The yelling when you're yelling at the tv, everybody can get it. Refs, the coach, even the quarterback. But while you're losing it and pacing during the first drive, you need something to keep you going. And Twisted Tea is the answer.
Jerry
And Twisted Tea is a refreshing hard iced tea made with real brewed tea and 5% alcohol. Which means it tastes like iced tea because it is iced tea.
Carissa Thompson
Just with a little kick, no carbonation.
Annie Agar
Super smooth, full of flavor. Perfect for that stressful moment when your kicker's lining up for a 44 yarder with the season on the line. Too soon?
Jerry
Yeah. Sorry Baltimore. It happens to all of us.
Matt
Twisted T keeps the good times going all postseason long. So crack one open, settle in and remember, your team might stress you out but your drink shouldn't.
Annie Agar
So grab a twisted tea today and keep the playoffs twisted.
Matt
All right, so we're joined by the host of Fox NFL Kickoff on Sunday mornings and Prime Videos Thursday Night Football tonight as well as the Calm down podcast alongside her best friend, E.A. aaron Andrews. I didn't know if this was true. A record setting high school javelin thrower. Is that accurate?
Carissa Thompson
Yes.
Matt
Okay, hold on. Before you. Before you answer that. And the face of Lee Johnson Chevrolet in the Northwest, Carissa Thompson. What's up? What's up?
Carissa Thompson
That is quite an intro. I mean, some would be embarrassed by that, but not me. Not me at all.
Matt
Are you a J? Were you. Did you throw the javelin?
Carissa Thompson
Yeah. The story behind that. Hi, Matt. Hi, Jerry. Thank you for having me on the story. But I tried to pride myself as an athlete. I made varsity as a sophomore. We were only a three year high school, so I was like, I'm killing it. The only other girl that made varsity as a sophomore was 6 5. So if she didn't make it, it's a problem. So I'm like, I am such an athlete, obviously, so I want to stay in shape for basketball. Year round, I'm playing aau, but for my high school team, I was. I was like, I'm gonna run track to stay in shape. First event, 300 hurdles. Knock them all over. The coach looks at me and he goes, hey, there's a field portion of this program. You go throw the javelin. Do something other than running. And I ended up loving it. Ironically, though, my boyfriend in high school also threw the javelin and we had broken up, so he thought it was like a whole scam to just like for me to be close to him. And I'm like, ew, get over yourself. Definitely needed Tommy John surgery. After throwing the javelin, I called Neil Ellidradge. I was like, yo, no, I'm kidding. But yeah, I held a record for a couple weeks. I'm sure it's been broken by now, but here we are.
Jerry
I feel like that's a whole rom com like Love and Basketball. Except the track and field version. That would be amazing.
Carissa Thompson
The soundtrack for that movie. Maxwell, Forget it. It's a way to weave in Matt's alma mater fight on. Because definitely the backdrop was sc. Got it.
Matt
Yeah.
Carissa Thompson
I mean, are you with us?
Matt
Love and Basketball.
Jerry
Basketball. I try to remake that movie every year.
Carissa Thompson
Yeah, they were. They played at Scott.
Matt
Oh, they played Alessi. Yeah. I was gonna say was. Was DiCaprio in that movie? No. Yes.
Jerry
No, you're thinking of Basketball Diaries.
Matt
Oh, Basketball Diaries. That's right. Loving basketball. I've seen it. It's at usc.
Jerry
Yes, I got it that way. How far back do you guys go? You feel like you guys know each other for a while. You guys go way back, right?
Carissa Thompson
Tell the story, Matt. So in college, I dated a USC baseball player. So I went to school at UC Santa Barbara. Go, Gauchos. And my boyfriend was on the baseball team. Well, I had a massive crush on Matt, and his wife Josie knows this. It's every. It's already been discovered because everyone in the country had a massive crush on Matt Leinert. You're the quarterback of usc, the national champions that you are. So my boyfriend even knew that I had a crush on him. So that's how.
Annie Agar
That's how it went.
Carissa Thompson
Anyways, I would see Matt at a Mexican restaurant that was near campus called El Cholo.
Matt
El Cholo.
Carissa Thompson
I would sit there and I would, like, stare at him awkwardly. And then my boyfriend's like, you're making this really weird. And I was like, oh, am I? Anyways, Matt and I didn't know each other then. I was just his stalker. And then we formally met when he started working at Fox. But, yeah, now I consider him more of a brother.
Matt
Listen, we. You know, we hung out. We were good friends, and I always tell Josie, I said, all of those experiences and things all lead to your significant other. So they all led me. My wife asked me all this shit all the time. I said, listen, babe, it doesn't matter if I dated her when I. Like, it all led me to you. Just, like it all.
Carissa Thompson
I wanted to date Matt, but he was very busy with, like, you know, Cindy Mancini, the captain of the cheerleaders, for those of you that get the reference you get.
Jerry
Heisman was probably weighing him down, too. Like, when he'd walk around with it.
Carissa Thompson
All the time, like his or whatever, he's got it on back there.
Matt
But I will say this about Carissa and who I just love. And you. You are awesome. We did. I was telling Jerry this. We did FS Live show together in, like, 20. Remember that? 2014. So it's my. Well, you're a pro. You've been doing it forever. That was my first year kind of getting to tv. And we did a show. It was. Who was on the show with us?
Carissa Thompson
It was so, Jerry, do you remember the show? The best damn sports show.
Jerry
I've been on it. I was fortunate enough to be on it before.
Carissa Thompson
Yeah, I wish this show could still exist today. This show was awesome. So it Was for those of you that don't know, it was a late. Basically like a late night sports sports talk show host. The host was Chris Rose, Rob Dibble. You had Rodney, Pete, Michael Strahan. That was the first place he used to come to. Actually. He was still playing for the Giants when he'd come on. Anyways, it was an awesome show. So they tried to recreate that idea, but in conjunction with highlights. So they had two guys, Dan and Jay, who came over down from Canada, tsn. They would do highlights and then we would do the like late night talk show roundtable vibe. So Matt, you would come on Gabe Kapler that, you know, we had Donovan McNabb, we had Gary Payton. Andy Roddick was also so great. Andy Roddick is so sneaky, funny, and he's so dry. It was great. Anyways, so Matt was new to television and you were great. You were such a team player because this was like local news. It was definitely not. Not our best moments, but we made.
Matt
The most of was so it was so fun too. And, and you probably saw this, but that's when I used to bring Cole around and Cole was like 6 or 7. And I remember we're in the green room and I have two. Two crazy stories. I remember the whole rock. Remember he painted you the. The rock or whatever. And I think you kept it forever. And then also we're in the green room and, and. And like I love Gary Payton growing up Jerry, as I'm sure. And I think we brought playing cards or trading cards. And he was sitting with Cole. I don't know if you remember this, Chris, that he was sitting with Cole and Cole was opening a pack of cards with them and he was just going like, oh, he was ass.
Jerry
Oh, commenting on every player.
Matt
It was just. I had a video of it on my old phone. I lost it, but it was so great. And now I just sent Cole off to college.
Carissa Thompson
So, you know, oh my gosh, he's in college. I know. Well, we're old. But Cole, I have to say your parent report card because this is important for me to say because my parents always talk about this thing called the parent report card. If somebody comes up to them and says, oh, your son or your daughter's so nice. And that gives them an A plus. Cole is such a kind, great mannered, look you in the eye, shake your hand, kid. So your parent report card on him is an A plus. Well done.
Matt
Well, I appreciate that. Thank you.
Carissa Thompson
It's true.
Matt
I've had a tough couple weeks over here.
Jerry
Matt's been crying since he dropped him off at college. He's using the. He's using those Bounty paper towels behind you to dry his tears.
Carissa Thompson
You only need one sheet, no matter how many tears you cry. They're so durable. Exactly. Well, before.
Matt
Yeah. What are you doing with Bounty? Before we get into. I wanted to talk about the super bowl, too.
Jerry
Yes.
Carissa Thompson
Yeah, yeah, yeah. We can talk about all of it because there's synergy here. As the host, I like to weave these things in. So the super bowl, of course, the New England Patriots. I'm from Seattle, so the Seattle Seahawks. So Rob Gronkowski. Even before we knew that we would be partnering up with such a great product like these Bounty paper towels behind me, Gronk and I get the privilege of spending every Sunday together in studio. Matt is very familiar with the green room. We call it the avocado room because we're fun at Fox. And Matt knows there's a massive spread in there. Everyone's eating, and throughout the day, I mean, we're there for 12 hours watching football. So Gronk and I will, like, be eating all the stuff. We'll spill it everywhere, and then people will remind us that we need to go back on national television. So get it together. So, luckily, we have Bounty to clean up the messes we spill on ourselves and on the counter or anything else. So, as we know that, you know, tailgating and Super Bowls also have a lot of parties, so you can't have football without wings, and you can't have wings without Bounty. So Rob Gronkowski is my wingman, and I'm his wing woman and just love him.
Jerry
I wanted to ask you, what is it like when Fox has the super bowl for you? Like, what is that entire, like, your preparation? You know, it's got to just be a little different, right? I mean, you could probably prepare the same way. I don't know. But the super bowl just. I get nervous thinking about, like, oh, I'm covering this Super Bowl.
Carissa Thompson
Are you kidding me? Like, I. Jerry, I don't know. Like, I grew up wanting to be a sports broadcaster. That was like the. There was no plan B. The same way you maybe wanted to be an actor or Matt wanted to be an athlete. Like, I didn't have a plan B. It was like, this either works or it doesn't. And so the first time I ever got to cover a Super Bowl, I was thinking to myself, like, holy, if I could go back and tell the younger me I get to stand on this field. I was standing on the Field when Malcolm Butler intercepts Russell Wilson. You know this now. The last time the Patriots and Seahawks met 11 years ago in that horrific moment. If you are a Seattle Seahawks fan, but like, being. I was there on the field when the perfect season for the Patriots was ruined by the New York jets and Randy Moss walks by me and off the field, remember? And they had to try to call them back because they left the field before the game was even over. So just sitting there in these iconic moments, as a fan of sports, wanting to always do this job, I never, ever, ever take it for granted. I've been lucky enough to do this for almost 20 years and just had incredible front row seats to these sporting events. But yes, to your point, I'm sad that Fox doesn't get to cover it this year. Obviously we have to, we have to share it equally with the other broadcasting partners like NBC and cbs, but. And then ESPN now is involved. But I love it. I love covering it. I'm bummed that I'm not going to actually have the credential to cover it this year, but I'm excited. What a great matchup. I mean, look, nobody predicted this at the beginning of the year and I don't need to tell you guys all the subplots and storylines for all of this. And Matt, I curious because I haven't talked to you yet since the NFC Championship game. Your Sam Darnold's opinion, love.
Matt
Yeah, I love Sam, but we nicknamed him the Red Rocket on this show. Or the Red Hammer.
Jerry
The Red Hammer because famously his great grandpa was like the Marble man and he was Richard Hammer. Yeah, his name, I think his name was Richard Hammer. Like his acting, stage name. Dick Hammer was his name actually.
Matt
What a great name.
Jerry
So Sam Darnold is the Red Hammer to us. We're the only people who call him the Raiders.
Matt
I'm just, I'm just so happy. Yeah, I'm so happy for him because obviously he's had such a. And I've. And I've, I've been a part of that where you just kind of get lost sometimes in organizations and he's been kind of just thrown around and for him to have the success that he's had is awesome. And playing for your hometown team, are you a. Obviously you're probably a diehard Seahawks fan, right? Growing up in the North Pacific Northwest.
Carissa Thompson
I will say, you know, admittingly, 10 years ago when, you know, with a legion of boom. And it was the first, like, yes. Albeit the Seahawks had been to the super bowl with Matt Hasselback and that game that ended up losing to the Steelers. But it was 10 years ago. Like, there wasn't anything like that group, the Richard Shermans, who obviously I now work with over at Amazon, but like that, the Cam Chancellors, the Earl Thomas, like that, that whole nickname for a defense, it was very special. Yeah. So I was like all in 10 years ago on saying I was a die hard fan. I'm now a fan of sports in Seattle for a couple different reasons. One, we lost the Sonics. And so like in Seattle, that was a shame. That should never happened. Should have never happened. And so sports in Seattle, you saw what happened even at the World Series. My mother is still. It will never get over it with the Mariners, but it's so amazing for the city. So I love it. Like my. I took my dad and my brother to the NFC championship game and they were thrilled. Like, it's just an awesome sports town. They deserve that. It's obviously been over a decade since they've been back, so I'm happy for them. But also, Matt, like, you know me well enough to like, you've developed relationships with ships with these guys in the league. And I didn't want anyone to lose. I mean, I met, I was introduced. Matt will attest, Jerry, I was terrible at picking men. I should not have been a GM ever. In terms of dating. Like, mine were all busts, all your.
Jerry
Draft picks, but did not work out.
Matt
You got a great man right now, though. You got a great man.
Carissa Thompson
Thank you. So Matt knows my terrible track record. And so I met my current boyfriend of three years, which is the longest relationship I've ever had because Matthew Stafford was like, yo, you suck at picking men. So here's a guy you should date. So when I'm now I'm with my new boyfriend because of the Stafford family. And so it's things like that where like during that game I was so torn because I'm like, I love the Staffords, but then also I want Seattle to win. So I'm happy that Seattle's in it. It's great for New England on the other side too, because imagine being Drake May, or the pressure that comes with trying to fill the shoes of Tom Brady and be that next dynasty. So good for that young man. And I don't know, Jerry, you're a massive sports fan. You're taking this game as well.
Jerry
Here's what I'm concerned because, like, obviously after watching the Seahawks and the Rams battle like they did, it's like, you want to assume that is probably going to be the champ. But I can't think of a team I'd want to give the no one believes in us thing to less than the Patriots and Mike Vrabel, because I'm sure he's going to take little bulletins and put it up saying, everyone thinks our schedule sucked. We didn't play a real defense, play a real quarterback. So, like, he's using all of that because he's such a good coach that if I'm Seattle, I'm like, every time someone in the media is like, the Patriots didn't beat anybody, I'd be like, stop saying that. Let this game play out. Because that scares me, having Vrabel. And like, no one believes we could win the super bowl with this team. That's scary for the Seahawks, I think.
Carissa Thompson
Well, and that's always, you know, any. On any. There's an expression for a reason on any given Sunday, right? I mean, now in sports, it's Monday, Thursday, Sunday, sometimes Saturday. But, yeah, I mean, it's why you play the game. So I. I'm just. I'm looking forward to all the subplots, the storylines, and it's still the Super Bowl. The NFL is the greatest sport, so it'll be good no matter what.
Matt
Chrissy, you. You. I always. I admire you. You know, we're close friends, but I've just admired you for all the stuff you've done. You're so versatile and a tough industry, I think. And as you said, you were kind of born and you wanted to be in this. I. I'd be curious of just what is your advice to young girls who aspire to be you or to. To do the things that you are getting to do. You're living out your dream as we speak.
Carissa Thompson
Thanks, Matt. That's very nice. I appreciate your endorsement as a friend, but as a colleague as well, I would say, you know, for me, it's always been about humility. Like, this is this thing, whether you're an athlete, whether you're a sports broadcaster, whether you're an actor. Like, all of this stuff is fleeting and it's. It's all taken away in two seconds if you don't appreciate it. And for me, it's always been, you know, appreciate your position, but remember how you got there. Like, never as cliche as it all sounds like, don't not do your homework, don't work hard, but also be nice along the way. Like, that kind of stuff for me is. I try to have that voice in the back of my head of, if my parents were here Right now and they saw me, would they be proud of the person that I was being? And I understand that sometimes the job comes with different stresses and things like that. But my advice to anybody that wants to get into a difficult industry is have humility, work hard and be a nice person and hope that those things can carry you through. But also, you know, so many times people say to me, like, oh, being a woman in sports, it's like a woman might open more doors because there's not as many of us, but also they can close quicker. So making sure that, hey, let's not try to pretend you know everything here and asking those questions and being like for you, you know, you've been such a good friend along the way. Like, I remember what I had to fill in on the college football shows right when Rob was gone. I think he was doing soccer or something. You know, you're only as good as your teammates. So if I sit on that desk and I come in as a fill in host, you guys could be complete jerks to me. And it will make it not an enjoyable show or it makes it harder for me. So for me, it's always been sitting in that host chair. I'm only as good as the people around me. And I've been so fortunate, fortunate in the two decades of doing this to have really good people around me at Fox and at Amazon. So, yeah, it's just, it's, it's a combination of all those things.
Jerry
Well, that's what I.
Carissa Thompson
Jazz music behind me.
Jerry
I mean, you got. I can't hear.
Carissa Thompson
This part of your writer that you want me to listen to jazz music in the background.
Matt
It's so.
Jerry
It's just. I was gonna, I was gonna say, like, I got really excited when you guys announced your podcast because I'm like, you know, rarely do we ever see two people. Usually kind of. We even see with players, right? Like, we have like active players who don't really say a whole lot unless Draymond Green says a lot of stuff. And then like the retired players kind of let stuff fly. And you and Aaron started the Calm down podcast while you're literally in the height of your careers. And I thought that was such a good move because you don't ever see the behind the scenes and the other side of what's going on in your life. We see you when you're doing your job and you're great and we all know you, but for me, I enjoyed that because, like, we don't. I really started thinking what people, whether it's Broadcast whatever their media positions are, who are currently doing it, who also are, like, having a show with their friend, and they're kind of just being themselves and talking. So was that. Was that like an easy yes for you to do that, or was that took a little more time for both of you?
Carissa Thompson
Well, to be honest, Sheri, I think a lot of it was that Erin and I have, you know, admittingly, there's been a lot of things that have happened to us personally, professionally stuff that you sit there and go, I'd like a do over on that. Or I'd like a. You know, Erin and I always lead with self deprecation. I think it's our way to disarm or, you know, be like, oh, look, I've got this massive zit on my face. And everyone's like, I didn't even notice it. But it's like, we need to come into the room and just say the things that we think that everybody else is already thinking. So now we're endearing to the audience. And I think at some point, and her and I can both work on that because we don't always have to do that. But I think professionally we got to a place where we were comfortable enough to be like, hey, not everyone's going to like us, and that's okay. But we are comfortable enough in who we are or professionally, what we've done to sit there and have conversations that maybe we wouldn't have had 10 years prior to that because we hadn't put. We hadn't built up enough equity in it. And Matt knows me well enough to know that, like, I'm the first to raise my hand and admit when I'm wrong on stuff. And hey, I could, you know, I'm the person that if I have that turnover in a basketball game, I run back down the court and I'm like, that's on my bad. You know, because I think that's so important to acknowledge that. So for us, in terms of a platform of calm down, it's an opportunity. Erin, in her role doesn't get as much time on TV as I have. I have the luxury of doing a pregame show that's an hour halftime show, a post game show that's an hour on, you know, Sundays, I get a whole other hour. So for Aaron, I think it's been at least just even as her friend, it's been nice to see other people see Aaron's personality, whereas they might not see that so much throughout a game because it's more X's and Nos and not really allowing her to show how funny. And, you know, it's self deprecating, but, yes, also successful. So all of those things. It's been a nice medium. And you guys, like, same for you. Like, don't you find, like, this platform is so fun to. To be able to talk?
Matt
Yeah.
Jerry
Especially when you enjoy the person that you're doing it with. Right. And you have a real friendship story.
Carissa Thompson
Sorry to interrupt you.
Jerry
Well, we're like reverse. We actually, like, met through this podcast, but then with the thoughts of, like, we easily in, like 03 04, like, beginnings of Entourage, for sure.
Matt
We're at the same party at some point.
Jerry
We definitely were at the same clubs.
Matt
We were like, we should have been boys. Like our, you know, like, kind of like their agents kind of came together. It's like Jerry was already pitching a show with our company.
Carissa Thompson
Such an LA thing of you. Our agents are.
Matt
Well, no, that's literally how it came about. And I'm like, I never got into the podcast space and kind of for the reason we're talking about. Just like, I never really felt comfortable enough just to like, hey, here's a mic. Let's just talk and, like, let people really know who I was. But anyway, they're like, hey, do you want to possibly do a show with Turtle for Montourage? That was it. I was like, jerry for arm.
Jerry
Like, I never met him, but he's. You're like, yeah.
Matt
And we called each other. We were on the phone for like three hours, and it was like, we have. We have kids the same age. Like, there are a lot of life parallels, and it's been awesome working with Jerry.
Jerry
My first thoughts, meeting Matt in person. I'm like, I didn't realize you were this tall. Yeah, I knew you were tall. I'm really short. I'm short, so I'm like, I knew you were tall because you're a court, but damn, I didn't know you were like, six, five. Bro. Be weird.
Carissa Thompson
You live in Cleveland. Is that right?
Jerry
Yes. Yeah, we got to get his frozen tundra of Cleveland. It's where my wife. My wife grew up. And we literally expecting our third baby. Any, like, could be, like, could be happening right now. But I. I'm here.
Carissa Thompson
Talk.
Annie Agar
Wow.
Carissa Thompson
Okay, you're. But you know what? The podcast must go on. Yeah. She's only 2cm dilated, but congratulations. That's very exciting.
Jerry
Thank you. Yeah.
Matt
Thank you, ct. Thanks for joining us. I know you're busy. Appreciate you.
Carissa Thompson
I'm never too busy. This is wonderful. It's so nice to catch up with you guys. Thank you for having me and let me. Do you know what you're having a girl or boy?
Jerry
No, this is the first one. We're just gonna say we'll see.
Carissa Thompson
Oh, my God. Well, when your wife goes into labor, bounty paper towels. We'll clean up the mess.
Jerry
We're gonna need them. We're gonna need them. Folks.
Carissa Thompson
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Carissa Thompson
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Jerry
All right, Joining us as she always does each and every week. Although this is a special week because it's super bowl week. Annie Agar joins the show courtesy of Twisted Tea. Grab a refreshing Twisted Tea today. Me and Matt. Well, Matt's gonna. Matt's gonna host again. Me versus you. I feel like if I get. If I get you again this week, I gotta go back against the big dog.
Annie Agar
Yeah, Big dog.
Matt
I appreciate it.
Annie Agar
That's only fair. It's the. Yeah, we're in the losers bracket, right? Isn't that what matters?
Matt
Sorry, guys. Hey, you guys still got a fighting chance. Let's go. We got some good ones. We got some good ones this week.
Annie Agar
I question for Jerry. Big new. And maybe we don't say this on air or not, but do we have a baby?
Jerry
We do have a Baby. We do have a baby. You know why? It makes me happy. Apparently on this little zoom that we. I don't look like I'm exhausted, but I am. So let's.
Matt
Let's have. Let's have Annie bet. What do you think? What do you think it was?
Annie Agar
Oh, yeah, we don't know. Okay, I'm. I'm gonna say I thought it was a boy. I thought it was gonna be a boy. Is it a boy?
Jerry
You are correct.
Annie Agar
Wow.
Jerry
So it is nameless. We were talking at the. On the A block because we're having a hard time with the name going back and forth. I think we should just let the Super Bowl MVP be the name.
Annie Agar
Oh, that's a great idea.
Jerry
I mean, and if it's Ramondre, then, like, hey, you're named after Super Bowl MVP Ramondre Stevenson.
Carissa Thompson
Right?
Matt
I. I feel like Brie probably wouldn't go for that, but, I mean, it's a good shot. It's a good try.
Annie Agar
Sam is a great name.
Matt
Sam.
Jerry
Oh, okay. Well, okay.
Matt
Before we could call him the Red Hammer, right?
Annie Agar
Because I'm sure he's going to have red hair. That's.
Jerry
Well, no, this is our Italian baby.
Annie Agar
Red hair. Jerry, you should have Italian conversation with.
Jerry
Your wife, because I'll send you a picture. And all our kids have been kind of blonde, but I'll. I'll send you a pic. This is the Italian baby.
Carissa Thompson
Oh, good.
Jerry
Like, hair on his shoulders. Hair on his head. So now you. You are not at your normal location. You are the advanced scout team over there in San Fran already. How has your first few days in San Francisco been?
Annie Agar
It is wild here.
Carissa Thompson
I.
Annie Agar
Radio Row was packed on a Tuesday, so yesterday was the first day I went on Radio Row, and that's obviously where all the media is and everything and usually doesn't pick up until Wednesday or, like, end of Wednesday, early Thursday. I've not ever seen that many people on Radio Row that early. Like, Cam Newton's walking around. I saw Brandon Marshall, Charles Woodson, I talked to for a little while. Like, all the big guys usually come in later. And it's just. It's amazing to me how busy it is. And it's a little bit more condensed than past year, so it just feels a lot busier, too. But, yeah, it was. It was wild today.
Matt
What does your schedule look like for. For this week?
Annie Agar
Yeah, so we're doing Radio Row all week, and I'll go, like, I'll try to do some content, but it's mostly just hopping on other people's Pods and stuff like that or their shows. Like tomorrow I'm going to be on Good Morning Football.
Carissa Thompson
So let's go for that.
Annie Agar
And people just grab you. Like, you guys probably know, right? I'm sure Matt's gone.
Matt
Come on the show. Come on the show. Yeah. You have no idea where you're going, but.
Annie Agar
And you can't get through it with that, which I'm so grateful for because obviously that means people want you on their shows and stuff. But it's just hard to get around because they constantly. Everybody wants to talk to everybody and everybody's got their little angle and their, you know, their thing. So, yeah, it was, it's wild. But that's kind of what we're doing this week. And then we'll be at like parties at night, you know. Cause that's also networking. Like, everybody thinks that you can take a break at night. Oh, no, no. There's parties till like 2am that you go network at. But as I was talking to you guys off air, it's kind of all spread out here. So people, I don't, I don't know if people are staying right downtown and not going to those or if they're venturing out. I don't, I don't know. But it's, it's very spread out in California, so that's interesting.
Matt
Well, welcome to the West Coast. Good weather.
Jerry
Yay. Yay.
Matt
80 degrees. Where I'm living right now.
Annie Agar
So people keep asking me the best Super Bowl I've been to. I think it was Vegas. Believe it or not.
Matt
Vegas was so fun.
Jerry
That was fun.
Carissa Thompson
So fun.
Annie Agar
And everything was right there.
Matt
Well, the city is built to host millions of people and entertain. It's. They should have it in Vegas every year, in my opinion.
Annie Agar
Oh, it was so fun.
Matt
Yeah.
Jerry
Do you guys want some fun trivia before we start the trivia?
Annie Agar
Oh, yeah.
Jerry
This show, Throwbacks, you could essentially say, speaking of births, was born at the Las Vegas Super Bowl. That is the first sit down dinner I had with Eric Wells.
Annie Agar
No way.
Jerry
Talking about, let's do a show, let's do. We got this whole network. I'm like, ah, that it was, it happened in Vegas. So, wow. Vegas birthing yet another child.
Annie Agar
I was going to say, I'm sure a lot of children are born.
Jerry
A lot of things were born in Vegas.
Matt
A lot of things happen in Vegas.
Jerry
Or at least.
Matt
All right, guys. I mean, listen, I'm, I'm in, I'm in the host chair. Do we want to start this now? We're going to do Twisted trivia. We're just going to do super bowl edition. All right. It's pretty vague.
Jerry
So any Super Bowl.
Matt
Yeah, I mean, yeah. I mean, for the questions, pretty much any Super Bowl. And then the pictures have to do with the two teams playing.
Jerry
Okay.
Matt
Okay.
Jerry
All right. Good luck.
Matt
All right, first question. Who holds the record for longest interception return in super bowl history?
Jerry
I think I know it.
Annie Agar
I. Yeah, I mean.
Jerry
James Harrison.
Matt
James Harrison is correct.
Jerry
Matt, you had a good look at that one, right?
Matt
I did. I was. Kurt, what are you doing, bro? Kurt, what are you throwing right to him?
Jerry
Kurt, that's game. Even though it wasn't game.
Matt
It was 99 yards. I mean, it had to be. It was the super bowl we were in against the Steelers. Right.
Carissa Thompson
Wasn't that like.
Matt
Yeah. Right before the half? Right before that.
Jerry
Yeah. That's such a distinct play.
Matt
Yeah. Okay. Number two. All right, 1 0, Jerry. Number two. Which player has the only opening play touchdown in super bowl history?
Jerry
Oh, Devin Hester.
Matt
Was that Esther?
Carissa Thompson
Yes.
Annie Agar
Dang it.
Jerry
Jerry is just on I'm guess for.
Carissa Thompson
The first one, and I knew it.
Annie Agar
Wasn'T right, but that was only.
Matt
We need. Annie, you need to step your game up. Let's go.
Jerry
I'm locked in right now.
Annie Agar
I've been up since 5am I'm really.
Matt
Come on, you got this. Let's go. Lock in.
Carissa Thompson
Lock in.
Matt
You have to wait. You have to win this one.
Annie Agar
I can always fall back on the pictures, but I have to get this one. K. Go.
Matt
All right, last question. Which team has the most super bowl appearances in NFL history?
Annie Agar
Patriots.
Matt
Yep. What a guess.
Jerry
I was like, going like Steelers or something. That was huge.
Matt
That was.
Annie Agar
That was.
Jerry
That's like scoring before the end of the half like James Harrison did to.
Annie Agar
Keep a little bit.
Matt
That was huge. All right, so Jerry's up two to one. We have two photos. As usual, we are going to close our eyes, and then when the picture is up, I will say open.
Jerry
Okay?
Matt
All right. Two, one. Annie, you need to get this one. All right, Close your eyes. Picture up, please. And open.
Annie Agar
Oh, no.
Jerry
It looks like.
Matt
Who does it look like?
Jerry
It's not Malcolm Butler, is it?
Annie Agar
That's. Is that who I'm going to say?
Carissa Thompson
Are you kidding me?
Annie Agar
I was going to say that. I'm not. I'm not.
Jerry
Is he a. Is he coaching?
Matt
Do I not know, bro? That's a pregame warmup. Dude, that's pregnant. Pregame.
Jerry
Oh, dude, he looks like a coach right there. I should have known. They're not wired in.
Matt
Listen I'm gonna give. I want to give Annie a. I want to give Annie a bonus here. Is that okay?
Annie Agar
Jerry not believe. I didn't say that.
Matt
So there's one more picture. But. But you get to guess this, Jerry. Annie has to guess the person, and then you have to guess the college in order for you to maybe step away with the tie. So I'm giving you a shot.
Jerry
But you.
Matt
But. But Jerry still can guess. If he guesses it, he wins. You have to at least get the guess, and then you have to get.
Jerry
I'm terrible at colleges, you guys.
Matt
It's.
Jerry
It's.
Matt
If you get it, you'll see. Okay. All right. Close your eyes and open your eyes.
Annie Agar
Oh, no.
Jerry
Is that.
Matt
I love how Jerry's always. Is that like. Like, is it a guess or. No?
Jerry
Well, what's it. I don't want to say, because if I'm raw. Is that Kenneth Walker?
Annie Agar
No.
Matt
Nope. Danny, you got a shot.
Annie Agar
Oh, no, I have no guess.
Matt
All right, Annie, do you want to hint?
Annie Agar
Seattle lore is, like, not my. Yeah, go ahead.
Matt
Let me give you a hint. He was super bowl mvp.
Annie Agar
Oh. Oh, gosh. Is it. Is it Malcolm Smith?
Matt
Yes.
Carissa Thompson
Let's go.
Jerry
Let's go.
Matt
All right.
Jerry
You better not know his school.
Matt
You have to name.
Annie Agar
Oh, no.
Matt
That college.
Annie Agar
Yes, for the tie. This will be a total guess because I. I do not remember. I don't even know what. What conference.
Matt
Come on.
Annie Agar
Malcolm Smith.
Matt
Don't overthink it.
Annie Agar
Oh, now you're making me overthink it more.
Jerry
Oh, boy.
Annie Agar
I'm just going to throw one out there. I. Oh, gosh.
Jerry
Don't do it. Don't.
Matt
Let me. Let me give you one hint.
Annie Agar
Okay.
Jerry
Oh, I just looked it up.
Matt
He's from. He's from California.
Annie Agar
Oh, no. Well, that changes things.
Matt
I'm trying. Jerry. I'm trying to give her some. A lifeline here.
Annie Agar
I'm. Okay, I'm gonna guess. Did he go to usc?
Matt
Yes, he did.
Jerry
Let's go.
Matt
We got her back. A tie is a tie. Look how. By the way, look how happy you are for getting a tie.
Carissa Thompson
That's.
Annie Agar
Oh, yeah. That's pretty pathetic. Hey, this is my second tie deal with Dallas and Green Bay.
Carissa Thompson
A tie.
Jerry
That's right.
Matt
That's true.
Jerry
Hey, teams make the playoffs off those ties.
Annie Agar
Not mine, but some, you know.
Jerry
All right, well, before we let you go, let's. Let's just do the thing everybody's doing. And I'm sure you maybe said it on radio Row, but for our audience, let's get Our super bowl picks in. You could do score if you want to, or you could just say who's going to win? We're going to start. And if you want to throw an mvp, just. We'll have the fun with it.
Annie Agar
Yeah.
Jerry
Annie Agar, who is your super bowl champion and who is your super bowl mvp?
Annie Agar
I'm going to say the Seattle Seahawks. I've not been giving score predictions this week, but I said by two scores and I. It's going to be Sam Darnold.
Matt
It's going to be the really going out. Really going out on a ledge there.
Annie Agar
Really on a whim here.
Carissa Thompson
But how funny would it be?
Matt
Because. Let me just follow that up.
Annie Agar
I want Minnesota fans to be fit. Oh, really?
Matt
Yeah. I think the Seahawks are gonna win. I think it's gonna be a little closer than two scores, but I do think they'll cover. I believe the spread's four and a half. Is that what it got up to?
Jerry
Yeah.
Matt
I like Seattle minus the points. And then I'll go. You know what? I'm gonna go. Jsn Jackson, Smith and Jigba. I'm gonna receiver in there.
Annie Agar
I would love.
Jerry
I think he.
Matt
I mean, he's. Yeah, he's the best receiver in the league outside of Puka. I think he's got a real shot. I think Sammy plays well. I think this kid has a big, big game and gets the mvp.
Jerry
You know, Matt, we were taught me, Annie and I were talking off the air when you stepped away earlier. And we're not trying to make this first take where someone has to disagree. This is my honest opinion. I went through a bunch of different versions of this game. I'm going the Patriots and I'm going the MVP should be Mike Vrabel. It won't be. I think Mike Vrabel. I don't. I'm not even buying this Drake May shoulder thing. Tom Brady was on every injury report for every Super Bowl. Dude was not injured ever. I'm going. Pat's very, very close game. I'm going. I'm gonna go defensive MVP Christian Gonzalez. But that's really hard as a defensive player. But I think that Von Miller snaps.
Annie Agar
Maybe he'll.
Jerry
And I'll give you my long shot MVP if it is the Seahawks and ain't gonna be same dart Sam Darnold. Watch your boy Shaheed. If they kick one to him, that is a big mistake. He might get a return touchdown and a receiving touchdown in a close game. But I'm going. Pats Christian Gonzalez.
Matt
Wow.
Annie Agar
All right, Jerry.
Jerry
I don't trust the Patriots and Vrabel. I just. They're up to something. I don't like it. Rabel already on busting with the boys, making penis jokes. Like, I. He's too calm.
Carissa Thompson
He's.
Annie Agar
Maybe. Maybe you should make a calm dude Brable. It's a great name.
Matt
Yeah.
Jerry
Something tells you Mike McDonald is not making penis jokes on busting with the boys five days before the super bowl, so.
Annie Agar
No, he's skimming up his defense, actually. You know, doing the Lord's work.
Jerry
Exact. All right, well, have fun, Annie, and. Yeah. Let's go. Super bowl, baby.
Annie Agar
Gonna be a great, great see you this week. Absolutely.
Jerry
Close your eyes.
Carissa Thompson
Exhale.
Matt
Feel your body relax.
Carissa Thompson
And let go of whatever you're carrying today. Well, I'm letting go of the worry that I wouldn't get my new contacts in time for this class. I got them delivered free from 1-800-contacts. Oh, my gosh. They're so fast.
Matt
And breathe.
Carissa Thompson
Oh, sorry. I almost couldn't breathe when I saw the discount they gave me on my first order. Oh, sorry. Namaste. Visit 1-800-contacts.com today to save on your first order, 1-800-contacts.
Date: February 5, 2026
Hosts: Matt Leinart, Jerry Ferrara
Guest: Charissa Thompson
This lively Super Bowl week edition brings broadcaster Charissa Thompson on for a candid, funny, and insightful conversation. The episode is filled with behind-the-scenes sports stories, reflections on career journeys, and a healthy dose of Super Bowl nostalgia and predictions. Matt and Jerry begin by celebrating Jerry’s new baby, then shift into a deep-dive on Super Bowl memories, halftime shows, Charissa’s rise in sports broadcasting, the origins of her friendship with Matt, and the dynamics behind her hit podcast with Erin Andrews. The episode rounds out with Super Bowl trivia and predictions.
Timestamps: 01:48 – 05:40
“We had 100 great girl names, like for boys ... you want to go against the grain a little but there aren’t that many options.” (04:01)
Timestamps: 07:26 – 11:18
"I think that's when everybody knew they got to step their game up." (09:25)
Timestamps: 13:19 – 14:52
Timestamps: 13:36 – 16:49
“Everyone in the country had a massive crush on Matt Leinart. You’re the quarterback of USC … The national champions that you are.” (16:03)
Timestamps: 17:04 – 18:35
Timestamps: 19:11 – 19:48
“Your parent report card on him is an A plus. Well done.” (19:18)
Timestamps: 21:08 – 26:01
“The first time I ever got to cover a Super Bowl, I was thinking to myself, like, holy [sh--], if I could go back and tell the younger me I get to stand on this field …” (21:25, paraphrased)
Timestamps: 23:03 – 26:45
Timestamps: 27:03 – 29:15
"Appreciate your position, but remember how you got there ... be nice along the way. That kind of stuff for me is ... if my parents were here right now ... would they be proud of the person that I was being?" (27:29) "A woman might open more doors because there's not as many of us, but also they can close quicker." (28:36)
Timestamps: 30:25 – 32:28
“At some point, ... we were comfortable enough to be like, hey, not everyone’s going to like us, and that’s okay. But we are comfortable enough in who we are ... to have conversations that maybe we wouldn’t have had 10 years prior ...” (30:25)
(with Annie Agar); Timestamps: 36:05 – 39:41
Timestamps: 40:33 – 45:15
Timestamps: 45:31 – 47:53
Charissa on chasing dreams:
"I grew up wanting to be a sports broadcaster. There was no plan B ... so the first time I ever got to cover a Super Bowl, I was thinking to myself, like, holy [sh--], if I could go back and tell the younger me I get to stand on this field ..." (00:00, 21:25)
Matt on Charissa’s trailblazing:
"...She’s a, you know, she’s kind of a trailblazer, I think for women in this industry. She’s done it. She’s done it at a high level ... she continues to kick ass and she's a good friend." (05:53)
Charissa on her college-era crush:
"Everyone in the country had a massive crush on Matt Leinart. ... I would see Matt at a Mexican restaurant that was near campus called El Cholo. ... I would sit there and ... stare at him awkwardly. And then my boyfriend’s like, you’re making this really weird." (16:03, 16:12)
Charissa on working in sports:
"Appreciate your position, but remember how you got there ... have humility, work hard and be a nice person and hope that those things can carry you through." (27:29)
On Calm Down podcast:
"We need to come into the room and just say the things we think everyone else is already thinking ... not everyone’s going to like us, and that’s okay. But we are comfortable enough in who we are ..." (30:25)
Super Bowl atmosphere on Radio Row:
Annie: “I've not ever seen that many people on Radio Row that early. ... Cam Newton's walking around, Brandon Marshall, Charles Woodson ..." (37:42)
The episode is conversational, self-deprecating, and full of inside jokes—true to the “Throwbacks” vibe. Charissa’s wit and openness blend with Matt and Jerry's playful banter, creating a broadcast that feels both like a reunion and an all-access pass to the personalities behind the sportscasting world.
For listeners:
Expect a fun, fast-paced tour through Super Bowl history, sports-media career advice, hilarious youthful crush confessions, and genuinely warm insights on perseverance and teamwork—with plenty of laughs and a little friendly competition thrown in.