44. Taylor Gilmore: A Woman who helped run San Francisco for Super Bowl LX

26:03And that there's security at every single checkpoint of that venue so that you're not putting anyone, whether it be the most average person who's not even going to the Super Bowl, but who's just curious and bought a ticket to the experience. like they're safe, but then also like players and people who are essentially the show are also safe and making sure that everybody is like comfortable and that the flow of traffic works well for every event. It's like, yeah. I mean, from what I saw, you guys did an incredible, incredible job at that. Even we, we went to, okay, what's the, oh my gosh. It's by the water.

26:44you have a view of the golden great no okay so you have a view of the golden gate bridge and then there's like this thing and it's like really tall columns it's a venue the ferry building no it's it's more bridge yeah more closer oh the palace of fine arts yes okay where were they honors oh is that where honors was okay because we were walking around like deciding what to do We'd just gotten like donuts from this great donut spot. And I'd never been. And so we were like, oh, let's go to the Palace of Fine Arts. Just like walk around. There's like gardens. There's very beautiful. Honestly, kind of quiet.

27:23I think it's because the event like turned a lot of people off, even from like walking around the outside. We were like, whatever, we'll just walk around. And but even that, like, I think we probably were there maybe like an hour before the event. It was like the afternoon maybe. but they were like having security meetings outside and like, but then there was music going on inside. Honestly, I don't know. But even that, like it seemed very secure. Like it didn't seem too crowded. There was nothing around there that was like raised any flags to me as someone who's an average person, but like aware of what's going on, which is cool.

27:59Okay. Can you tell me, tell us about planning for the highest profile events versus the events for just anyone who wants to enjoy a Superbowl event and like how you go about those two. Yeah. I would say for both groups, right? Like what we just talked about safety security, number one, of course there's varying levels, right? Like we had some guests that were attending our events that have their own security details, right? So it's managing like access points for them and maybe they're not going into the main entrance, right? Like when you're, when you're thinking about, especially these events that have both intermingling, right?

28:41Like Super Bowl experience, you've had so many VIPs that were just going through the space. So there's all, you have to think about all the different back entrances, right? Like how are they getting as close to the building as possible for drop-off? You care a little bit more about the, I'll say, I'll say VIP I mean, we're all VIP, but you know what I'm saying? Like some of our special guests, we have to ensure that like drop off and pickup are as smooth as they possibly can. No issues that they just walk out the door and they're able to get into their car. Right now, Super Bowl experience guests, the typical guests, right?

29:15They probably did not drive there. Or if they did, they parked very far away because parking was just like not a thing for, you know, the average attendee. They probably took public transit. it. They probably, you know what I mean? Like the arrival experience, arrival and departure experience is probably like one of the biggest differentiators between those two groups. Because one, you're worried about getting as close as possible. And one, you're more so just worried about getting them in as like quickly as possible, but you're not necessarily like, you're just informing them like, Hey, you cannot park on site.

29:47So like figure it out. Like here's some other options or like, we suggest public transit. Like that was a big push on our end because, you know, you could walk from a lot of the public transit stations to Super Bowl experience. So like on our side, we were pushing that because that's just, you know, that's the more sustainable option, but also easier. And we're like no vehicles, like keep the car in the way. But for our talent, like that's not an option, right? So you have to make sure if they're a black car, you have to make sure that they have a holding area because, you know, they may not be parking, but they technically are right.

30:22They're just waiting for their assigned person to be done and then they swoop them in and they go, right? So I would say like the arrival departure experience is like very crucial, especially for our VIPs. I would say like check-in and registration process too, because most of the like VIP events that we had were more of a check-in process versus a ticket, you know? So making sure that whoever's working at your check-in, right, like that they are professional, that they are, they are kind, they are quick, they are efficient. Like there's not a lot of waiting, you know? And we talked about this, like obviously in Superbowl experience, the lines were forever, but like for a VIP or for talent, like lines can't really be a thing, you know?

31:05Like they need to be, it just has to be efficient, right? So even if it's like, you know, of course you have some parties that require RCP and naturally some people don't RCP. Like that's just how it works. And they may be someone of stature, right. That come up and they're like, they, they check in and they expect to be on the list. And then it's on the check-in staff to just handle that quickly and smoothly without seeming like, Oh, you're not there. You know what I mean? You're not on the list. You're not on the list. Who do you know here? You know, like it's not an option for some people. Yeah.

31:35Some people it is. Some people you can have that kind of response in terms of like, you know, I just need to know like who or, you know, where you're coming from, but some, right. Like, you know them, you just need to get them in quickly. So I'd say that's another one. And then I think, you know, the details when it comes to some of our events, like one, one of mine, that was like one of my favorites of the week. We had a kickoff party, like our host committee kickoff party with our partners at Dolby. So Dolby headquarters is in San Francisco, kind of close to city hall. And it's incredible. Like, I don't know, have you ever seen a movie in Dolby cinema in a Dolby cinema theater?

32:13Okay. Add it to your list because they have, you know, like their Dolby at most, they have all this technology, right. And you would never know in this random building in the middle of downtown San Francisco that like their original Dolby cinema is in there. They have all of this like technology and innovation hub just in this, like their offices. So they host for our kickoff party and it was beautiful. Like it was honestly one that the Dolby team really took over in terms of like executing, like Like we kind of shared what our ideas were and what we wanted it to be. And they executed it into their, in their offices.

32:45Like our big thing is celebrating the Bay, right? We wanted all nine regions of the Bay area. We kept technically count 10 because like Santa Cruz and along the coast, we wanted all of that represented in some like tangible way. And so they created this culinary experience where it was like, for example, like, well, Napa, we had Napa Valley Vintners, one of our partners, like pouring wine tasting. So we had that. We had Sonoma cheese in like a grilled cheese station. They had oyster shucking, like girls walking around, like shucking oysters live right in front. You know, just different things like that that were so fun.

33:23But like the food and beverage experiences, my point was like that just becomes even more elevated depending on like the guests and the nature of your audience. Because these are the things that people remember. Like anytime you've gone to an event, you probably remember, A, if the food was bad, like that's just, unfortunately you always remember that and that's not great. But also if there was something super cool and experiential, but also food, like that's what people love. And I think that's what we really focus on creating when it comes to some of our higher, you know, VIP attended events.

33:57Not saying that, it's just usually a different level of service depending on who your audience is, right? So for our little fan zone and Super Bowl experience, it was more so just being able to offer some of these like different local vibes. Like that was, that was more so it, but it was your traditional, right? Like you walk up, you ask what you want, then you order, you pay, et cetera. But depending on the nature of the event, like the service and like the experiential element that you put together, like that's what people remember. So depending on our guest list, I think that's another thing, right?

34:27It's just truly the, the level, the quality. I I don't want to say quality of hospitality because I think it's very important still like for our guests in our fan zone that people working there are kind and welcoming and are helpful. Like that's very important to us. So I don't want to say that different, but I think there's just certain details, certain elevated details that you add depending on, you know, the nature of the event. Does that make sense? Yeah, no, for sure. I think, I think that when I asked the question, I anticipated it to be a bigger difference, but I do feel like the difference between an elevated event and elevated outfit, something that like anything that seems effortless, the difference is never the largest thing.

35:14It's like the fine details. Oh, that's what it's all about. And I, I just like kind of forgot that when I asked the question, I was like, Oh, there must be like different considerations, but like you, you searched for all of the venues and regardless of who the person was, you wanted the venue to be cool and you wanted the venue to be able to host the amount of people that it needed to host and you want it to be interesting and you want it the location to be good and that's going to be the same for everyone you want to give the best venue that you can possibly get within the budget that you guys have and then but you can go to a wet two weddings in the same spot and one wedding is the most glamorous elegant affair you've ever been to and another one could be the tackiest.

35:55And it's all because of like the fine details. And that doesn't necessarily always mean expensive either. You know, it's just like, were they thought out well, do the things flow nicely? Yeah. That's really, really interesting. I'm glad that I asked that question because it's such a good reminder that like things don't have to necessarily be like massively different to elevate them in, in some way. It's just like, can you update like one or two little details that make a big difference and can that enhance like an entire experience. Exactly. It's that time in the episode to talk to you about our sponsors.

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37:59So since summer is coming up, can't recommend these enough to get a 10 % discount on your order. Use code the game at checkout or head to kusocuts.com slash the game. Thanks again to Kusos for sponsoring us here at the game. Back to the episode. Okay. So we've talked a lot about like what went right. Yeah. Was there anything that like any fires that you had to put out that you can talk about? Yeah. I mean, some, one big thing that I work on that's like not glamorous in any sense of the word is workforce, like making sure all of our events are staffed appropriately. And so I think naturally, right, when you're relying on temporary workforce, right, that you don't know, right, because they're just, these are people that just signed up for shifts.

38:48Naturally, there is attrition or no shows. And so it's like on the fly trying to figure out where to place people to make sure you still have coverage. I think that's what, like, I honestly just assumed everyone would show up like that. And that's wild for me. Like that's one big learning for me is like, never assume, you can never assume in this world or in this industry. So you assume that people are going to show up and they don't. So you have like half the numbers and then you're just like, okay, where do I put these people? Right. And like, how do I make sure everyone's still getting their breaks, but also that we still have coverage in this space.

39:22And, you know, so that was one thing that like every day it may have been like a little bit different, but the idea was the same and that you didn't know who was going to show up. So like we would pick them up at like three or something for an event that starts at four and you just don't know who you're getting until you show up kind of thing. And so for the most part, we had fantastic people because they're the people that make that experience, right? Like the people that are saying that are welcomers, are kind, are educated in the terms of like what's going on here? Because people would come in and be like, how do I get to this?

39:50Or like, how do I find this? Where is this? And the experience does change. If the person that you ask wearing the shirt that they're supposed to be wearing says, I hear it is, or I don't know, go find someone else. Yes. A thousand percent. So that was like, it's an important detail that I think a lot of people don't necessarily think about. And of course on my end, right. It like we recruited them, we staff, we credentialed them, we staff them, right. Like there's all these different steps to making sure we had enough coverage across everything. So I would say like, it wasn't by any means like complete fire drill, but it's one of those things that like you have to adjust on the fly.

40:27You're kind of like, oh, shit. Yeah, you're like, geez, like I just wish people showed up to work, you know? Yeah. And you know, that just happens. So that was one that like throughout the week, like each day, I think it got easier and better, right? As we figured out the flow and where we needed people. And we had some repeat people that would come back each day, which were great because then they like you have a second set of hands like leadership right where they're like okay this worked really well for us and this didn't so like it was awesome to kind of like see those returners come back and help us out like help us create the experience a lot of these people work like so many super bowls i don't know if you've heard of like the nfl teammates program but some of these people have worked like eight plus super bowls in a row like they this is what they do they like book because you have to it's not like the nfl covers your travel like so They pay to travel and stay every Superbowl and they just work like that's what they like to do.

41:22So it was just funny because these people have had all of these different experiences and, you know, some of them let you know if your experience does not match with the other one, which you're like, whatever. But it's fascinating to me how many people do this every single year. And it's not just like, it's very, I'd say it's a very diverse group of people who do that from like older, retired, like are just looking for something fun. And then like younger crews, like student groups that do this every year. It's fascinating. I didn't really realize that a lot of people over and over and over and over again.

41:56And I'm like, how do you afford to like stay in San Francisco? I mean, San Francisco was, you know, probably one of the most expensive that they've done. New Orleans, you know what I mean? Like it's, but yeah, that was one thing that was also crazy. So we had some people that are like, this, this is what we do every year, you know? And you're like, okay, great. Just do your thing. So that was one. Another one just was like, you know, technology is great, but sometimes like I'm talking like registration platforms, right? Like the RCP that we were talking about, but there's just a couple of platforms, right?

42:33That we use where, you know, the really only way to know is to do, and naturally you like find some just inconsistencies or some kinks in the setup, right? That just don't necessarily create the most efficient flow later on, right? So like, of course, as we're trying to figure out, you know, people, like we had an event that Friday, right? Before the Superbowl. And it was one of those that was like tight timelines, right? Like it was a lot of VIP guests who like, sometimes you're working through their EAs, right? Like you don't have direct contact with these people. And so that can often, you know, you don't know if the information is actually getting to people, right?

43:12Because you want to make sure everyone has know before you go information prior to the event. But you also, I'm like, are you coming? Like, do you have a plus one? What is the plus one? Right. So it's like, it's, it was one of those where just, you know, there was some fire drills in terms of making sure we knew who was actually showing up for this event, who needed to get know before you go information, like just things like that. And, you know, we love, we love technology, but like part of when you try something new, it's naturally like the two systems I'm thinking in my head were both new for us.

43:40And so naturally, right. Like that, that's just the process. Yeah. But of course when you're like 48 hours from an event, like it turns into a fire or it feels like a fire. Yeah. You know what I mean? Yeah. I mean, good too. But like, honestly, I say good too, because it means a, you guys planned well and be nothing really that crazy happened. Right. Like everyone was safe. That's my thing. Every time I'm like, yes, it's generally safe and that's all we can ask and everything we, we solved for it. Right. That's what you do. You just find sleep. What was, and you can answer this like on the logistics side or just on like the fun side, what was your favorite Superbowl event of the entire week?

44:28Like What is your highlight? Good question. I'd say one is honestly that kickoff party that I was talking about at Dolby. Because it was just so fun to like see that concept come to life and people really loved it. So I'd say that one for sure. We had a concert that night. So the host committee hosted three nights of concerts. So Thursday was Shabuzi and Benson Boone. And so I was able to like go over there for a little bit. And Benson Boone is so talented, first of all. I like liked his songs, right? I just didn't know much about him. He gives Freddie Mercury vibes. He was so fun, like so entertaining.

45:03And it was just like, I wasn't directly a part of like our concert setup. So I have to shout out our team that put that together. They had awesome, like kind of like VIP boost. They tried to create this almost like bottle service experience. Like a club. Yeah. Like a VIP mezzanine kind of level that was like adjacent to the floor. It was awesome. And they were on risers. It was, it looked so good. The branding looked so good. Again, you know, the branding, that's what you see. Like that's what you noticed. And our venue was right across the street from city hall and they had city hall lit up in like the Superbowl colors.

45:34Yeah, that was, it was great. So I would say that. And then a fun one I got to sneak away and do Friday night was the Uber one party where it was Shaboozy again, but Olivia Dean and Olivia Dean. It's a dream. There is never been an event in my life that I wish I didn't know about more because I am obsessed with Olivia Dean. I can never meet her because I wouldn't be able to talk to her because I'm just like, she came out with her most recent album like right after, or like I came to it. I don't know if she came out with it. Yeah. Like very close to a breakup that like I didn't really see coming.

46:12And then while I was building the game and starting to get great guests on and get traction and build the community, like she's been like the background music to a lot of it. And so then it's the Super Bowl and I'm like, I should have figured out a way to get a media pass. And then everybody's posting on their Instagram story. And I'm just like, I have to put my phone down because I think Olivia Dean is like just such a queen to me. And she's been everywhere. And whoever her stylist is, like, I'm going to, I don't know. Like, anyway, I'm so glad you got to go. You're probably one of the stories that I was like just chucking my phone across the room.

46:54For real, for real. Yeah, it was, and they had it at one of the piers. So by Oracle Park, which is where the Giants play, they have a couple of piers, which they are like empty warehouses, okay? And I have been to them so many times on like venue tours, right? And taking clients through them. But I hadn't actually attended an event there. Uber did a fantastic job. Like they transformed this warehouse, right? From like the flooring, they kind of had, I mean, obviously it was like a football, like sports theme. So they had like lockers and they kind of just turned, I mean, I was just in awe because I'm like, this looks nothing.

47:28They built out bars. They had like a VIP area and it was a free party. Like it was for Uber one. I don't know the exact process. It was for Uber one members, which I don't exactly, I know that's their like next level of membership. I don't know exactly what you get, but that's how people initially got access. And I guess people were waiting in line starting at like 1 PM. I don't think doors opened until like maybe seven or eight. So people were waiting until 1 p.m. to get into this thing. I mean, once you were inside, like FNV was free. Like it was like an all-inclusive event. And then you get Shabuzi and Libby Dean.

48:06Like it was so well done. And it ended up being that party that everyone wanted to be at. But I don't think people necessarily thought that it would be. You know, usually it's like Fanatics or, you know, like one of those parties. But they killed it. they absolutely yeah I feel like my mistake with this Super Bowl was that I just I didn't know what I didn't know and so I kind of went up and was like we'll just see what's up yeah not the move no you you have to have like I would say but you learn right because every like oh I learned Now you're ready for LA, which is a great one. Yes. Right. Closer.

48:49Way closer. Yeah. I learned. And like, honestly, it ended up, I think it's one of those like burnt toast theory things because I got to hang out with three of my best friends from my entire life. And we all went to a bar in San Francisco and watched the game. and it was perfect because I have a really hard time disconnecting from like work and everything that I'm trying to build and growing this and planning for it and trying to like make it a space where women want to come and share their stories. And like, I just have a really hard time disconnecting because I'm like so passionate about what I'm doing.

49:27And I've never had this experience where I feel like genuinely in my gut, like this matters as much to me. And so I have a of those events to go to or to know about. Like I went to school at UC Davis. So a lot of my friends are in the Bay. And so I got to see friends that I haven't seen. And I got to just like experience it as a very average person who like almost happened upon the Superbowl. And yes, it was like burnt toast that like I got to have this great time with close friends. But now I know for LA, like you got, you got to know, you got to know what's up. You can't just show up. Yeah. Yeah.

50:07Yeah. A level of planning will do you well, like in terms of like, you know, getting ahead of some things, but it's also fun to be able to bounce around because Super Bowl is a very like bounce around type event. Now in LA, I feel like it'll be different, right? Cause it'll be, you know, I feel like the parties will be a bit more spread out than in San Francisco, right? Because that's where majority of people were activating. But in LA, like, you know, you have Santa Monica and you've been in, you have, you know, Beverly Hills. Like, I feel like, I don't know exactly how they will do it there.

50:36But I want to go too, because now I'm like, I don't need to go to the game. Of course, unless my fiance's team is in it. I don't need to go to the game. I just want to go to the parties, like the events and the parties and the branding. Like it's so fun. Like that's what I just love about it. And so like, I've had a thought like, okay, I did the bay. How do I go to LA and get into some of these things? Yeah. We can elaborate on that. we should and also I will be at the game next year because I like watching my friends I like almost could cry because I like when you grow up and you like you've moved you've moved a lot and you know that you collect friends along the way and you don't always get to see them and you don't always get to take full weekends and two of my best friends are moms and so they can like very rarely find hours and hours and hours on end to like come into the city and drink.

51:30Right. And so like, like what a blessing, honestly, not going was, but based on having this show and everything that I'm building, like I want to go to the game. And so next year I will be at the Superbowl. I'm already budgeting for it. We're already planning for it. Like it's, I will be there, but I will also be in LA for sure. I mean, I grew up in San Diego, so I'll be in LA a hundred percent the week before. And we'll, yeah, we'll have to figure out what we need to do. What we need to do. We'll figure out our schedule. Yeah. We'll look at our calendar. That's how many people are going to want us at their stuff.

52:05Yeah. I mean, listen, it's going to be great. Can't wait. We have a year to figure it out. 11 months. I'm not worried about us. No. We'll finesse. We'll finesse. Yeah. And we'll just keep doing cool things and then we'll end up in cool places with nice people because we're nice. Okay. Speaking of your fiance's team, we have a couple questions for him in logistics. So he works at the 49ers in recruiting. Scouting, recruiting. Scouting, recruiting. Okay. And I, okay. I don't know anything about what actually a recruiter for a sports team does because we see the GM and the head coach making all of the decisions, but we know that other things are happening behind the scenes and that teams have hundreds to thousands of people working for them.

52:55Yeah. So can you just like give us any general idea of like, what is a scout actually do? And when is their busiest season? Yeah. So I'm going to preface this by saying, this is my interpretation. I try my best to know about everything that he does and the front office does. So here we go. he did start from, well, okay. In general scouting, right. The front office personnel, they are building the team. They are building the team that hypothetically, then you give to the coaching staff, they coach and you know, hopefully you win. Right. Like that's, that's the point. It is very much a collaborative process or it should be a collaborative process, right.

53:36Between coaching and front office, because naturally, you know, in, in college, right. Like where they're actually recruiting, I mean, NIL, let's just take that out of there. When you're in college, when you're actually recruiting, right, it's usually like the coaching staff doing the recruiting. Now I know like front office, like GM roles are more of a thing in college because of like the money management piece. But in NFL, right, you have like full staffs on each side, kind of like what you were saying. So it's really a team effort in finding the players. That could be in college, right? Like finding them out of college.

54:09but also like pro scouts who are, when you're talking about trades and free agency, they are just, and advancing. So like every, there's so much, every time like you guys have an away game, right? Like let's say the Niners play Seattle, right? And then in a couple of weeks, like before they will send scouts out to advance the team that you're playing next. so they put up these they put together the most detailed reports right of like this team that you're playing next right so the team is maybe they're in cincinnati right but some of the scouts are in seattle watching seattle putting together that advanced scouting report then they're delivering that right to the team for the next week once you guys are actually playing seattle right like there's so many different like details and levels to it and that's more of like the pro side, right?

55:01Josh scouting for plays and strategy of the other team, not just players. Right. Yeah. So that one is like a mix of both. Embarrassingly, I genuinely did not know that. Like even at all. No, that's okay. You're like truly just advancing how this team plays period. right? Like any information that you can try to obtain, you know, and there's obviously certain rules as to like access of these advanced scouts, right? Like it's not like they're all up in everyone's business, but they're truly just going there to watch, watch the game, right? And report back. What a crazy job. Yeah. Right. And it is just, I wish I could like show you, it's just like the most detailed reports.

55:52And like, even my dad remembered, like when he was coaching for the Raiders, he remembers the, the like advanced scouting reports that they would get. And he was like, it was like the most granular information. Like they just have to be so diligent and put so much into these reports. And that's just like one piece. Right. But Josh's journey, he actually started in finance. I can't remember if we like talked about this, but when he graduated college, he didn't necessarily think that sports was the route. He played football college, but then went into finance in New York and was doing that for like a year or two.

56:25And then this opportunity arose for a scouting assistant position with the Niners, which, you know, that's kind of like your, your start, right? Like baseline level and that's a finance to scouting assistant. You can imagine what the pay cut was there, but he was like, I'm interested, you know, like finance. It's like, I don't think this is like long-term for me. Yeah. He's like, I can do this and make some money and be comfortable and happy. Yeah. Yeah. And so he was like, let me just try it. Right. Like the Bayless home. He's like, let me just try it. And so he's been with the Niners ever since.

56:56I think we're going on season 15 that he's been with the Niners, which is like also from my perspective as like a coach's kid, like so rare. I'm like, how do you stay with one team for that? Like that just was not in my brain because I never did that. I think we stayed at one team, like five to six seasons at most. So that's just like wild to me, but he went from like scouting assistant to areas. Like, I think this is the path, right? Watch me get this wrong, but like area scouts. So they have scouts that work for the team, but don't live anywhere near the Bay. So like if your region, like at the time his region was the Southeast.

57:33So he lived in Atlanta, but he worked for the Niners. Right. And he was responsible for the schools in that general area. So they kind of have like regional and areas scouts spread across the country that work for the Niners. And then they have like the level after that is national scout, which is when him and I met like our little meet queue. He was yeah. And I think there was only a couple at the time. So he kind of had like half the country and the other guy, like the other half. I mean, it didn't perfectly line up that way, but hypothetically, right. Yeah. On top of all the area scouts, right.

58:07So there's just new brains assigned to this. And so that one, I can't remember what I said in our initial conversation, but he was in hotels like 250 nights of the year as a national scout. So he didn't travel with a team, right? Like he wasn't in office. He just needed to live near a large airport because literally it was like two weeks of travel on one week off, like year round. Right. And so when you're asking like, is it college? Is it pro? Like at that time, the real focus or like, you know, his specific focus was more so college. Right. So going to all of the schools and it's all about like learning the player.

58:47Like it's, I mean, it's like glorified dating. I like give him a hard time because I was in a sorority. Were you in a sorority? Yeah. Okay. So like rush crush, like, did you guys ever use the term rush? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I have turned it into like draft crush and you know he does not he's like okay but I'm like have you found your draft crush like are you going to the draft no no yeah no we he doesn't go like they stay here right because they're like in their war rooms so it's like not really are you I'm pretty sure it's in Pittsburgh right yeah okay that'll be fun I'm like 95 yeah because I've never been to a draft before and I, yeah, like just want to go and meet more women and do interviews and.

59:30Oh, and it was in Detroit. I was, honestly, I was barely a fan. Like I didn't, I didn't know what I was doing. That was after it was in Detroit at the end of my very first season as a football fan. Okay. Okay. Yeah. And then last year I just didn't care. Like the draft is caring about the draft is very new to me, to be honest. That's fair. Yeah. So, I mean, I was, you know, before meeting Josh, like the first round was fun. Like when you got to really like know the player or there was just more spotlight on the players and then you get to see the reactions. Like that's the part that I love. Right.

1:00:06And now obviously being on like the side where my partner is, is doing that, like draft feels like a bigger deal. Like that's what they do all year. And you asked about like your busiest season, which I always am like, always with the spam. Yeah. It's literally always, it's all the time. So I'm just like right now, of course, like for the front office, they just had the combine. Then they had, what was that? That was last week, two weeks ago. I think it was last week. Combine was last week. Now it's like free agency time. Right. So you were asking like college, right. So they're in free agency meetings like all the time, all day long trying to figure out like if there's pathways to that.

1:00:45And that's, what's like interesting with free agency and like even trades. Right. Because I feel like last year, honestly, there were some pretty big ones, but typically like the good, like the incredible star players typically don't like leave their teams. Right. So it's like, you know, some people are like, well, why don't we just get this person? And you're like, well, cause it would cost literally a fortune of your draft capital of your money to like get, you know what I mean? Like some people like think it's like so obvious to like go get this one person you want. And you're like, but what are you giving up?

1:01:18Because I'm even, I'm even that, like I'm that person sometimes where I'm like, well, why can't we go get this person? And he's like, do you think they're worth like three first round picks? I'm like, oh, that's tough. You know, you're like, you're like, well, if I think about it, I'm going to need approximately five days. I guess when you put it that way. Right. So it's like, it's totally like the negotiation process too is wild when it's like the free agency time and like trading time because you have to obviously give up things like that movie draft day which is one of my favorite movies have you seen it no with kevin costner no and jennifer garnett okay so you have to go watch i'll watch it tonight i'm it's i'm in denver and it's like dumping buckets of snow so my plans are to open a bottle of wine i got in napa after the super bowl because we stopped in napa to see friends and got a bottle of wine and it was like my moving celebration bottle.

1:02:12And I did. Oh my gosh. I thought you were still in California. Nope. I moved to Denver two weeks ago. Do you like it? Oh my God. I'm living the dream. I moved in with one of my best friends from high school for a couple months as I like get settled, find an apartment, figure out where I want to live. If you can live with your, like, okay, this is one of the blessings of being unmarried at 31. How many 31 year old women get to live with their best friend in the house that she owns when you both have jobs and passions and are like, have taken care of yourself? Your best life. Yeah. Like you never, very few people get this experience.

1:02:58And I'm like, it's the best. Like I came here, we've been going to Pilates. We went to, I have like a new thing where I do saunas on Wednesday. So we go to the sauna. We walk her dog. We like, like the best thing ever. It's yeah. So I'm, I'm loving it. Yeah. Okay. We only have like three to four more minutes. So I got to ask you our closing question. Yeah. Okay. Who is, well, do you have any conclusions on like Superbowl things like that, that you want to like wrap it up with a bow? Oh gosh. I mean, I think it was just such a cool experience to be a part of when you're in the middle of something like that, it just feels wild.

1:03:35And you're like, I'm just going day by day. I'm surviving here. And then when you look back and like, you see, like for us, the media coverage and all the stories that came out of it and the lives that were affected from like a business perspective. And you're just like, that was really fricking cool outside of the game, right? Like has nothing to do with the game itself. Yeah. But I think just seeing people enjoy something that you are a part of, I think it's just the best. So it was so fun and shout out to the San Francisco Sun. Yeah. And congratulations. And we're so honored to like know you.

1:04:11And I think I texted you during it and I was like, I'm just, I, you've absolutely crushed this and you and your team have done such a good job. And it is really, it was so special to me to have gotten to interview you and chat and listen to everything that you were planning and then to go and experience it. And I was like, I know someone who made this happen. And it was really special just to see like what a great job you guys did. And it felt really cool to like know you and have you be like a friend of the show. And we appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you for visiting us. I know it was wild. Yeah.

1:04:44I mean, I love San Francisco. I love San Francisco. It was an easy visit for sure. I'm glad. I'm glad. Yeah. Okay. So who is your favorite sports team at the moment? I'd have to say the San Francisco 49ers. Yes. For obvious reasons. Yeah. 49ers, like players and wags, especially the Kittles are like going off right now. They have so many business ventures going on. It is crazy. Yeah. Yeah. They're all, they're all females. Yeah. They're, they're doing things over there. They're kind of out there. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Who's your favorite athlete at the moment? I have to go gymnastics because I was a gymnast.

1:05:27I think we talked about that so briefly. You said that you were a gymnast, right? Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So I have to go gymnast. I mean, obvious answer. I actually am going to say this because tomorrow I'm going to go see her as Jordan Childs. They are competing at Stanford tomorrow, UCLA is. And I just think she is so cool. I think when I was growing up with gymnastics, right. And you can probably attest to this. It was like very like the model of a gymnast was very much more like Nastia Lucan like ballerina like super thin like long legs like that was just like the vision and I feel like Jordan I mean obviously Simone right but Jordan since she's actively competing right now I just love her like edge to it like the tattoos like it's just so nails personality he does that with the nails but you know she figures it out a tukache with nails is wild to catch it i would never not even my nails now like my balls i haven't heard that word in so long oh my gosh can you imagine learning any bar release with nails or like oh no wait what level did you compete at 10 oh okay great yeah can you imagine learning to twist your yurchenko with nails can you imagine a yurchenko So one single.

1:06:40I couldn't even do. I was so bad at all. I was so bad at all. So no. But I'm excited to see her live. And I just think she just brings a different image to gymnastics that I appreciate. And I love her on Dancing with the Stars. Okay. Can you, can you like send me pictures? Okay. I will. Great. I'm like, wait, I'm like, she should be competing, right? I'm like, I haven't heard anything. I think she just. Yeah. Yeah. So I'll refer back. Oh my God. So fun. Okay. And then last question. who is one woman that in sports, not in sports that the world needs to know more about? I would say, and she was kind of a mentor to me.

1:07:16I'm like making sure I don't butcher her title because she just got a new job. Her name is Sheridan Blanford and she is the chief social impact officer for the Seattle storm, but she was with university of Washington before, like on the side, but where I met her, she kind of helped me figure out my, I was between like two schools when I was taking my college and she was working for university of Wisconsin at the time. So I was debating Wisconsin or I was debating Arizona state. And literally the question was like, do I go sports management focus or do I go like wider business? And she just helped me through that process.

1:07:52And she's, you know, another biracial woman and I don't have a sister. So it was like one of those roles. I think she's just so cool. And I actually, I need to catch up with her if she sees this Sheridan, but you just need to go listen to her speak. I just think she's the most polished human being. Like she is killing it. It's the storm's first like person in this role, which I think is really cool. Um, but just go look her up. I just think she could do anything she wanted to, but she is killing the game and is definitely a role model of mine. So great answer. I love, I'm going to go follow her right now.

1:08:25I think she's, I haven't listened. She was just on a different podcast and I need to listen to it because even my mom was like, She's so good. Sheridan is so good. She is. Amazing. She's so beautiful and fun. Yeah. I love her. And this is good timing because like women's sports are hotter than ever right now. Yes. After the Olympics. Insane. Well, Taylor, thank you for coming back on the game. Such a pleasure to have you for the recap. I mean, I'm sure this will not be our last time. Congrats on your gorgeous bachelorette party. If you guys follow me on Instagram and look at all of her bachelorette content, it's gorgeous.

1:09:02And to FIFA to wedding. That's the path. Yes. Yeah. And yeah, follow along because she is now doing logistics for FIFA also coming to the Bay area. Sure is. Great. Thank you for having me. I appreciate it. I love chatting with Taylor one, because obviously she's fantastic, but I feel like I always learn something when we talk, whether that be about football or logistics or something think I was completely random, but she's such a pleasure. And I'm so grateful to have her be a friend of show. If you haven't already follow us on Instagram and Tik TOK at the game, the podcast I'm at Hey Victoria Henderson.

1:09:43If there is a woman that you want us to interview or amplify on the show, please send us a DM. If you want to join that March madness bracket for women's and men's NCAA March madness tournament, it's completely free and it's fun. We'll chat about it in the Substack Girls group chat. So make sure you head over to our socials. We will have the links there. Thanks so much for listening. I will talk to you next week where we interview Adriana from Black Girls Love Football. That's all for today. Love you. Bye.