Erin & Charissa on Sideline Mishaps, Best Kelce Convo, Girl Dad Advice & Being a Plus One | EP 166

24:21Is it the haircut? I got to start playing with the games. Is that the key?

24:27Doctor, barbershop. Yeah. School. Just centered around. So they don't, they're not interested in football. I think they're so, they're so young. Wyatt, I think she would do it now. She usually wants to watch some Disney movie or like. I got it. I'm not going to get it yet, but hopefully I'm hopeful that it's going to start to happen. you're coming up i gotta start coming up with a game i think i think that that's the way i gotta figure out some way that we're we're doing something and playing while the game's happening because the attention span is not there these kids this day they can't sit down and watch no they just want the screen to be changing continually stimuli yeah crack

25:10um about you know aaron and i have talked about it like with women and young viewership, like Taylor's impact cannot be overlooked. Like those little girls that maybe didn't have an interest in football and then sit down because it's her like that, the commercials and the different like little videos that you see that now all of a sudden, the dads have a bond with their daughter or her, like is so special again, as two women who have made a career out of this because of their dads to have those moments, like who knows what kind of impact that will have later on in their lives in a myriad of different ways.

25:44But it's really special to see. That was just it for me was just having that time with my dad because my dad worked the weekends. He was, you know, at on TV at night. So I didn't get to see him. So that was like our special time to do that. So maybe you carve that out as your special time with your kids. I don't know. I like that free time. I mean, listen, I'd rather watch football than some of the other things we're doing. I think also you just mentioned Taylor and how much she's gotten girls into the sport. And dads and daughters together, which that's one of the coolest things I get when people talk about Taylor and Travis and hearing from dads or hearing from daughters about that.

26:19It's an awesome thing. But also, like, how much do you guys think about how many women you've been impacted that watch sports? Like, Kylie was a communications major. She raved about both of you guys and how much she's loved, like, the platform that you've put women on in sports. Do you guys often think about that and how many women look to you guys as like role models for being involved in sports? Thank you for saying that. Thank you, Kylie. That's high praise from you. But there was a young lady. Her name is Alexandra. She works as a Patriots reporter. She has for the last five years. She's been in the industry for 10 years.

26:55And as I was walking out on Thursday night, she handed me a handwritten note and wrote the nicest thing about Aaron and I. And I don't ever like to think like, oh, inspiration, whatever. But it was so well said that, you know, she watched Aaron and I do this over the last few years and kind of were, you know, behind the scenes, I guess, a motivation for her to do it as well. And now she's doing it and she's doing it on a big stage. And that's and again, Aaron and I have been in this industry for 20 years. So when I have moments like that or even get anyone recognizing that maybe we might have, you know, I don't know, dare I say, inspired them like that's really special.

27:28And I don't ever, ever, ever take that for granted because I'll be honest. And I told your wife this on, on her podcast, there was some women that were not so nice to me coming through, uh, as I was surprising to me, you know,

27:44I'll just say, I mean, women can be catty and look, and men can be catty too. It's not just limited to the female, female, um, gender, but it, it, you know, jealousy or, um, you know, these are few and far between these are very coveted positions. And so look, there's a competitiveness that unfortunately turns into cattiness. And I always made it a point because I will never forget those people, the individuals that were not so nice. And I was like, if there's anyone, I understand that this seat is, is a special privilege to sit in, but there will be a time and a place where I have to pass that on.

28:17You guys know in the industry and the positions that you play and the sport that you play, there comes a time where there's going to be the next younger, faster, bigger, stronger person. And so it's like, yeah, you don't want to give up the seat, but it, but at least help that person along the way. So I'm grateful of the women that were nice to me, but the ones that I will always remember the ones that were not so nice. So. Yeah. I think for the longest time I, well, even now I just, I was Tom Rinaldi the other day, we were talking, he said to me, you're not a tourist with how much you love this sport.

28:46You, I live and breathe it. Not like you guys. I mean, believe me, I get that. That's a different kind of lifestyle and dedication, but I'm obsessed with it because it's the only thing I love talking about besides my family. Um, I look up to you guys so much. I look up to your families, what you've been through. And a lot of that is because of who I ended up marrying and watching his journey and knowing what it takes behind the scenes, especially when you're not a superstar or anything like that, but you love the game so much. Um, I love football and I, there's nothing more I want to do than be out there.

29:20And so I feel like when people come up to me, especially dads, and they say, I want my little girl to do this. I want her to be like you. That's, I think, what's breaking me down a lot more than it used to, especially now that I have Mac. Because I want my kids to be you. I do. I want them to attack life like both of you did and, or do. And so I think that's the thing that's like hitting me harder than ever, you know? And, And also, I'll echo that about Kylie as well. When she had me on the podcast and she just mentioned that, Kylie's no bullshit. Like she knows what's real and what's not. And when she just said, hey, you know, you've done this and I've looked, that hit me.

29:58Like I got, you know, tears in my eyes because she knows the people that care and love it and respect the players and the coaches and the organizations like Carissa and I do. So that means a lot to me when you're kind of stopped. And like Carissa got that note the other day. Those are nice reminders. Absolutely. I bet. That's the best. Do you guys remember your first broadcast? You've done so many. Welcome to broadcasting moment. Were you proud of it? Did you black out? Do you remember exactly what you said? I remember my first ESPN one. I worked with the Tampa Bay Lightning. That was my first real gig out of college.

30:33I was the sideline reporter. I mean, Jarrett loves to watch those. If they're showing the Stanley Cup and he's like, look at Green Machine. I thought it was so great. The Tampa Bay Lightning were playing the Calgary Flames in the Stanley Cup final. I worked for ABC. I got to do it. It's game seven back in Tampa. Like the team I got my first job with. And you know what? My mom and dad and I, we went to the West Shore Mall and we went to Ann Taylor and I picked out a green top that I thought would be fire for game seven. Let's go. So Jarrett loves when they start playing that. He's like, look at the green machine there.

31:10with the brown lip liner and all that. Oh my gosh. My first ESPN game, they threw me, after I got, you know, I did that for ESPN, they threw me on Saturday Night Football, which was, you know, such a huge deal. And I think it was Virginia Tech, USC, and it was not, it was somewhere, it wasn't even at their stadium. It was such a big night for those two teams. And I remember we had a jib cam, Jason, you know the one, because I think you guys use it. They had a jib cam and I was gripping that microphone so hard, but I also was standing with my legs like this. Like I was bracing myself like a cheerleader, like the old producer, after I nailed my hit goes, Hey, great job.

31:56So next time we do this, close your legs. I needed a good base. I needed a good base. CT. What about you? When I, you know, worked in HR, then I moved into production and I was like, I want to, you know, be in sports broadcasting. they're like cool uh good luck with that production and so i took whatever job was available in the production because it was all the remember all the rsn's like the fox sports rocky mound or fox sports pittsburgh all the time so i moved i moved to denver and i became a production assistant and i just worked behind the scenes and i did anything i could to learn the trade and all that kind of stuff and so then they were like well we're going to send you out to like local bars and you know kind of interview fans and all that kind of stuff so like those that was my first on-air experience was in a bar and i was like well this is weird so natural in this environment yeah these are my people in here so then that got parlayed into they let the girl go that was on air their rockies reporter the colorado rockies and so they they were like we'll give you a shot and if you're okay then we'll give you another shot and then they kept giving me shots.

33:02And so that turned into a two year contract, which was awesome. Anyways. So that was my first on-air experience, but my first welcome to TV moment, TV in a cold environment moment was I'm working for the big 10 network. It is a golden gophers game. We are outside, you know, the one, you know, the one microphone. All right. Coach says, and the play cock. I mean, my mouth is frozen oh yeah i can't correct myself so finally i just go tom

33:39you guys got it from here and that's the worst jason i don't know if you feel this way on air it's like once you stumble it's like and then you try to correct it it's almost like lying the cover-up the just the continues like i don't know my mouth was frozen it was just a rap. Oh, that's funny. Do you think it's easier to get into sports broadcasting now or verse when you guys first started? What do you, what do you think of the current landscape? I think the one thing that's cool is there's a lot of avenues. Like these teams have their own, like digital social production studios that are nicer than what I was ever, you know, introduced to before I got to Fox or ESPN.

34:15So I think there's a lot more opportunities in terms of how you get into the industry. But I will say this, Leslie Visser gave me this piece of advice, you know, and I don't know if you're just talking about being a female in the industry, but you know, you, I say this to young girls, I kind of copy her, but being a female helps you get your foot in the door. But in order for you to stay, you have to work your tail off. And I think that's because of being a female, right. And I, that's the chip I have on my shoulder, but yeah, I do think there's a lot more opportunities. What do you think CT? Yeah.

34:48I mean, in the, in the digital age that we live in, I mean, there's so many different platforms. I mean, you could start your own channel. You could say, you know, whether it's a podcast, whether it's YouTube channel, any of those things, there's so many, like, whereas for us, I mean, 20 years ago, it was, you know, the CBS, the ABC, the, you know, Fox. I mean, there was only a couple. And like, as I mentioned, those regional channels as well, or like your local news. I remember my, you know, when I was working my way through production, somebody said to me, a news director, And he was like, you send a resume reel.

35:17And, you know, for me, it was like on this, I took it from a beta and a DVC and I put it on a CD. And he's like, there's going to be different news directors that are going to put this, this tape in for all of five seconds. So if you don't capture their attention in the first five seconds, it's a wrap. You're going to be thrown in this pile with a bunch of other tapes of people that want to do this. And so when I was younger and I knew I wanted to do it, I took a paper towel roll and a tennis ball and I taped it together and I made a microphone. and I took my parents you know old camcorder thing and I set it up on my brother my brother to be Jay Buhner I was like can you please be Jay Buhner so I can interview you and I made this like whole thing and he got like a free bat you know like when you go to the Mariners games like oh it's batting you know helmet night or like you know whatever so he puts you older than me and he's like like oh this is so stupid Carissa like so stupid and I was like please I'll do whatever you want to just please can you please just do this so he's like fine so he stands there and i interview him yeah i mean i was like you can't be ken griffey i mean unfortunately that video would have been epic using that on my resume reel that's on your re that was on your reel yeah because i was like how am i going to get these news directors attention in the first five seconds and so it was like a 10 year old, you know, little girl interviewing my brother.

36:40So anyways, those were the things that we had to do. Nowadays with social media, you don't have to, you know, you just have to get followers and you have to do all of that stuff where it's like, there's a following, there's a whole different avenue that you can approach it from, which is great. I mean, the more the merrier. That's what I say. I mean, here's my thing about that too. And welcoming in everybody, there's room at the table for everybody. And if there isn't, then get another table and build a group over there. So yeah, I think it's awesome that if anybody wants to do this job, there's opportunities.

37:11But again, as you work your way up, there's those coveted ones that are few and far between. CT, do you remember any of your features or packages that were on your resume reel? I can only think of one that I know. And I remember I was editing it and I was trying to do Phil Collins in the air. Do you remember one of yours? Oh yeah. Not as dramatic as a Phil calling from the air to me. You had to do the recording and the editing and this wasn't just like, yeah, that's crazy. And mine was awful. Chasey, could you imagine if we had to edit this show? Oh my gosh. Edit, carry the tripod, you had to set up the shot, you had to do voiceovers, you had to do all of that, but I think that's good to be able to learn all facets of it.

37:57But let's go back to you guys editing this show. Okay, yeah. They would never get out by Wednesday. I don't even know what application they're using. I can't find the print button on this fucking computer. I would have no chance. I don't know how to work any of this stuff. If you told me to print something on the printer right here, I would kind of. Do you guys have a favorite sport that you like covering? Oh, that's a good one. Doing it. The NFL. NFL for sure. Yeah, I was a part of college forever, even, you know, doing college game day and it was great. And I loved it so much. And I'm grateful of it really just formed me.

38:40It taught me a lot. I mean, it did. And I made great relationships with the guys that I worked with, but I knew, and this was a big thing when I left ESPN to go to Fox, it was a, I was like, am I doing the right thing? Should I not? I mean, I called, I talked to coach K. I talked to Chip Kelly. I talked to a lot of people that I worked with. And I was like, is this the right thing to do? it's the best sport to cover it is awesome and it's because of you guys it is it's just our football players the best nfl players are the best to cover you think hockey's pretty fun too hockey's a time the athletes that play in the nhl are by far the wildest they are like the disparity of them oh yeah their party their fun time yeah they will say more outlandish things.

39:26I feel like NFL guys are more buttoned up and kind of toe the line mostly. Whereas I feel like NHL guys, you'll get like some great soundbites out of these dudes. There's a little bit of that protect the shield from the NFL where hockey, because I covered hockey for a couple years when it was versus. It became part of NBC's package, but I love playoff hockey. There is nothing better. I got to say, yes, of course, playoff, you know, the NFL, that's my number one, but right below that is playoff hockey. I'll never forget the Montreal Canadians were an eight seed. They knocked off the Capitals. Then they knocked off the Penguins.

39:59Then they took the Flyers. I think it was to four. And just going and working a game at the Bell Center in Montreal. And like that is, yeah, it was an awesome experience. And I don't need to tell Erin because she's been to more hockey games than she can ever remember. Jarrett winning two Stanley Cups and like that whole experience. But like hockey is incredible. I love college. My first ever college football game I worked was Michigan App State. You know the one, you guys. Oh, yeah. Block Hill. That's a fun one. And I remember I was standing there and I was like, I mean, I'm obviously like, I understand the game enough.

40:35This is a D3 school. This is, you know, this big upset. And so I remember my opening standup. You could rob a bank in Boone today because no one is watching. Everyone's watching this game. Right. And then it ended up being a big upset. We got in the car afterwards and Tom Brenneman and Charles Davis were the play-by-play and analysts. And they go, well, how does that rank of all the games you've worked? And I was like, well, this was my first one. It's all downhill from here. And this is very odd. There were three banks robbed. Exactly. Boone, North Carolina had a lot of bank robberies that day.

41:17But no, it was college football school. the jump around at Camp Randall. I mean, Aaron got to work SEC. I'm so jealous. I never got to work an SEC football game. Yeah, I want to go back to these SEC places. I've never even been. I've only played in one. Neither has Jarrett. He's never gotten to see any of it. I'm like, dude, you have no idea. It's like Toronto Maple Leafs. It's the next level. So seriously, I know you went to Florida. What's the best environment, in all honesty, on game day? because I've heard one like routinely and I want to know if it matches up. When I was, you know, working college game day, Saban, Alabama, it was the end all be all.

41:59I was like, I'm getting my kid. I'm going, I'm giving him to Saban. It's going to be like Simba, the circle of life. He's going to make my kid go to the national championship and get him in the league. So Alabama is fire. LSU at night. That is what everyone says. Death Valley, everyone unanimously. level. It's rocking. It's shaking. Those people have been in the parking lot over the weekend. They are marinated perfectly. It is shrimp a two fade. You know how much shrimp a two fade I had working at ESPN. That's fire. Ole Miss is fun for, you know, a three o 'clock game, but LSU is, is amazing. It's really great.

42:39People just park in the middle of the street and they just take their car, their keys with them. Like what is happening? Jesse Palmer, who I also worked Thursday night football with, he used to talk about when he played for Florida, I don't know, it was a big matchup. It was like one versus whatever Florida rolls into a death Valley. And he said, you know, they're on the bus with coach Spurrier and people are just shaking the Gators bus. And he said, there's Gators hanging from the trees. And coach Spurrier was like, hold on y 'all. Hold days like that. Those stories so much fun. Yeah. College football.

43:13It was, Yeah, it was fun to cover, but I like going to Arrowhead. With the NIL and conference realignment, it feels different. It's different. It's still an awesome game. The sport is still great. It just felt different when the Pac-10 was the Pac-10. I don't know. There's just a different vibe to it. Yeah, it's definitely in a weird state right now with the conferences and the NIL stuff. Now it has 20 teams. I couldn't even name all the teams. I know. It's just different. Kids are like playing for like three different schools. Like it's nuts. It's driving. Yeah. But the plus ones, you, Jared, Steve, you guys have to go to LSU together when everybody is like done with their playing.

43:55That would, you guys would crush it. Yes. CT, I was going to ask you when you covered NHL and we both did, was there ever a time because the injuries with those guys are so different from, I mean, hockey players will come and do an interview with half their face hanging off and I did it I did a game Jeremy Roenick that shows how old I am half his face was off like he had gotten it all stitched up and was yeah he had to wear that chin guard for a while I remember this and I looked at him and I go oh my god and then I just blanked out on making you talk yeah I go does that hurt and he was like yes really interviews because it was like half his face was hanging off but you did you ever do one where you're like holy shit no i didn't have that experience but when you said jeremy roman ronick i remember i worked in a i worked in olympics with him in vancouver nobody nobody i repeat and i could out drink jeremy ronick he is a fucking maniac in the best way possible i oh my god i want to play golf with ronick i've heard he's just a blast on the course but what they all are.

45:04They're so much fun. Speaking of good people, which was a really, really fun story. We had a chance to, and Casey hang out, um, with Wayne and Janet, um, and you guys all together. And it was, I guess I wasn't really paying attention to my husband in the moment. Like he has, you know, hung out with Wayne a little bit, but not anything to like that personal of that night. And my husband was glowing. I mean, it was like, and I was, Oh my God. And, and it was so cool, Chris. I don't know what you think, but like the boys that we were with just asking Wayne, all the questions, like seeing somebody like Greg Olson, just Wayne, let me ask you something.

45:43So this three tight end formation, no, I'm kidding. But you know what? Like Greg, it was just so, so cool. And what's so great about Wayne. And I think the NHL is just a normal dude. We'll talk and said, I told Marissa what a great job she does and Greg and just really, really just awesome to be around. I mean, it's Wayne Gretzky. It's, I mean, full stop, Wayne Gretzky. I mean, you're just down. But that just reminds me of the text chain that we're on. And Greg Olson does not care if we tell this story ever. Wayne, I don't know who's on the text. There's a couple of us, including Greg, Aaron and I, myself.

46:19Dean, Kevin. Okay, Kevin. and after that night it was a couple days later like last week I guess Wayne had texted Greg he got his phone number and he just wrote hey this is 99 okay there's only one 99 there's only one it's not JJ one he actually said hey I just want to tell you it was great hanging out with you and I just was watching you and you do a really good job and he also gave a little bit of a hint he said janet and i really enjoyed getting to know you so greg sends a picture of the text to all of us on this chain and greg's response is i'm sorry who is this he wrote who is this what oh my god he's had to be joking no he wasn't i mean he had a few ones that night i think we all had a few ones that night that was a good one my guy came in from dallas he was working a game in dallas and came in just to just to get some uh some food over at 1587 had no idea he was gonna to run into the great world that's amazing remember that that was the back and forth like that was the giants dallas game i went back and forth a hundred different times and he was like oh i'm not missing he is such an animal greg what what a time the best that's awesome yeah wayne is i had two uh posters on my wall as a kid i had wayne gretzky and mark mcguire from uh when he broke the record for the home very odd i was not fans of either the team sounds like a 90s kid right there that's bring steroids back baby hey i had a brian dodgwick poster yeah the boss you gotta do just take steroids and you get up on the wall kids

48:01aaron you just touched on the like hockey players there is like this just being like regular guys i feel like there's a beautiful culture with hockey we're like if you even start to get a big head your teammates will rip you apart like ruthlessly oh immediately And that's something I've always loved. Just chop you down one by one. And then like Ronit with the cut, they like brag about their teeth being missing. They'll take their teeth out at the bar and set it down on like a can. It's a badge of honor at being marred for life for those guys. And I mean, I can see this because I married one. They're some of the best looking dudes you've ever seen.

48:36Like they are gorgeous. Manly's man, dude. All our friends. And then they take their teeth out and you're like, ooh. Well, on the Kings and our friends, we walk around with gold prongs hanging down in the front because they're like, what's the point? It's just going to get, you know, bashed in during the season. I'll wait to the end of the year to get the veneers put in. But fun fact, we have incredible, incredible health insurance with the NHL. We still have it. You want to know what we don't have good insurance on? Dental? Yes. Oh, no way. Of course. They lobbied for it. The players were like, no.

49:09The owners are like, yeah, we're not agreeing to dental for life. No, no chance. I'd love to ask you guys about some of your current coworkers. What former player has gone into the broadcasting world that has surprised you guys the most? Former player? You know, I had a really – I'll just start while Aaron thinks. I had a really unique situation with Amazon because everybody except for Tony had just come from playing. So Derm just finished playing, just finished playing and Fitz finished playing. So they had never done TV before. I remember we were in our first production meeting in the rundown.

49:50Yeah. It said banter in the rundown and they all look at me and they go, what does that mean? And I go, oh Jesus. I was like, what do you mean? Out of the glass. You don't know what banter is? Come on. Pretty self-explanatory, guys. Just start talking. Just shoot the shit, boys. But it was, I have been so impressed with how, I mean, they have been unbelievable. They have, you know, we're now in our fourth year. And you would never know that these guys had never done television before we started Amazon. So that was an awesome, you know, it speaks to, you know, do your homework and it shows. and also the personality.

50:31And also, you know, Amazon allows you very much like Fox says. It's why we love working for these companies. It's like, be you. They don't try to make you someone you're not. So if Fitz wants to rip his shirt off or wear a Hawaiian shirt, he can do that. If Whit wants to have his hoodie on under his jacket, he can do that. Anyways, it's just I was very impressed with those guys' ability to jump in so quickly after, Jason, as you know, you're done playing. Because it looks easier than it actually is on TV. Everyone's like, oh, anyone can do it. And you're like, okay, then come try it. It's not as easy as it looks.

51:01So, yeah. And I think we saw that with Tom Brady. I mean, I think he was the most scrutinized person to get into a booth, especially last year. Right. Um, and I'm proud of him. I, I really thought, you know, like you said, you get in, you think you can do it. And it's like, and I'm not saying that about Tom, but everyone has their opinion and, and they let it be known what they thought of him. And it was funny. We were, um, I think we were doing Tampa, maybe it was Eagles, Tampa Eagles week four. and I was sitting in my hotel room and they were playing last year's Eagles-Bucks game. And I texted TB and I just said, wow, listening to you in this game, which was your fourth game of the season versus now, it's just night and day and that's a testament.

51:41And I'm not surprised because I think all of us know what his work ethic was going to be heading into the job. I think I'm more annoyed about how good he's gotten and how quickly. I'm like, come on, do you do everything well? this is crazy and you look fantastic he looks so good why do i need to figure out what he's doing his hair his skin he's not going to bars jason is that what the he doesn't go to bars he doesn't go to bars i'm not willing to give that up we're never in it i don't know if he's embracing the grays jason i think you embrace the grays you guys know this you've been around enough of us and and you've been around enough guys in the locker room you can tell when you sit down with players that you're like you'd be really good at this by the way i mean jason we were telling you that non-stop when we would deal with you in philadelphia and travel and your air about it as well i mean you can just tell the guys that'll be able to shine jason's been killing it one of my favorite segments jason's ever done is his uh his uh piece on the uh veteran uh he did last week yeah yeah kept it together that was awesome you're the best all right that was just a little bit of a brother bragging.

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54:08That's it. Instead of wrestling with a turkey all season long, grab KFC's$25 Extra Crispy Feast. Thank you to our sponsor, Allstate. You know what's smart? What? Checking Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds on car insurance. Do you know what's not smart? Not checking Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds on car insurance? You're so close. That is also that, but not checking your lucky jersey is clean before game day. Okay, yeah, that makes sense. Wearing last week's nacho stains isn't a good look charm always. sometimes yes we got to be careful eating nachos yeah checking first is smart so check all state first for a quote they could save you hundreds you're in good hands with all state potential savings vary subject to terms conditions and availability all state north american insurance company and affiliates northbrook illinois i think we can keep this thing moving to uh our last segment which is we gotta ask you guys don't have to answer but um it's uh you guys should tell us the fuck off but i think these are fun questions to ask and i'll start it off with uh who is the hardest coach that you have ever had a sideline interview with lloyd carr i'll just start right here when they were mission they were losing and that michigan app state game he blew me off he didn't stop he was like peace out at halftime yeah at halftime and remember this was my first ever game so i was like oh shit like i right and then i'm like the me now i would have ran his ass down and tackled and been like, um, Lloyd Carr was my, was my, yeah.

55:50I mean, that stands out for sure. Um, I would say coach Belichick. I just, and not because he was ever disrespectful, but you knew what you were get, you would get, even if they were up by 30 and I love a challenge. And I remember just asking Jared, even texting him during the game. I'm like, shit, I'm in my head about this. Like I want coach this to go well. And Jarrett would always say, it's not about you. This has nothing to do with you. This is how it is. Like this is, you know, his demeanor on the field. And because off the field, I would say to coach, Hey, how do I get you to like me? And he's like, what are you talking about?

56:22That was just how he handled things. So I took it as a mission coach Saban early in his career when I was doing college, I was very like, cause he was very direct, but then you know similar yeah yeah but uh yeah i cracked him a bit so what about what about the opposite favorite coach like who's like somebody where you're like i get to talk to him and he's just gonna kill it this is gonna be great yeah happy or sad or pissed off kyle shanahan is freaking great at halftime because he will tell you everything and he doesn't candy coat it chris and i have talked about it a lot and he'll also do it with a full-blown sprint so it's like your bra better be supportive you better have great shoes like i'm like ducking in and out of you guys sorry sorry sorry jason you know like you don't and because he's going and you better have two ready to go because that's all you're gonna get yeah yeah yeah i i mean we just talked about it i was so grateful that mike vrabel came up to set i i never ever take for granted you guys have just played a game and you know the you've got you want to go take a shower you got you know for him he's got the post-game podium stuff and all this kind of stuff so um coming up and doing an interview from him sean payton's always been great the best we worked that one year together at fox but although my man i gotta work with him he he you ask him a question and it's 40 minutes later and he has not answered the question and i'm like sean what is happening we're gonna work on him being more succinct but we love sean um mike vrabel yeah i don't know mike tomlin's another og that's always like he the lines he delivers are so he was great uh just this past week he's a classic yeah we've had an idea on the show for a boyfriend whistle what do you think of this idea like almost like a boy like a whistle like you're the coach like take the trash out Like, what are you doing without it?

58:16I don't know. The idea is that men are coachable. So if you need chores done around the house, you get a whistle to get their attention to snap into line and do it. Or if you just mention it to them while they're doing something else, it won't register. So the idea was to get a boyfriend whistle. Whenever they need to coach up their husband. Oh, my God. I'm not mad at it. I'm ordering a whistle right now off Amazon. Steve, you're going to have a long night ahead of you, sweetheart.

58:54I mean, Steve is very coachable. I will say he always just tells me to write down what I want him to do. He's like, I will do whatever you want me to do. You just have to write it down. Cause if you just tell me while I'm doing other things, I'm going to forget. And then you're going to say to me, you weren't listening to me because I wasn't listening to you because I was doing other things. So if I just write it down, but I'm now all in on the, and we'll even play a little blow the whistle in the background.

59:19See, I don't need that for chores in my house. Cause mine is on me about staying, uh, keeping it tight. So yeah, yeah, yeah. Big time. But yeah, other things I'm, I'm down for it. Let us know when we can pick that up. We got to get a new Heights whistle. Um, all right. When traveling with friends, what makes a good travel plus one keeping track of the passport i don't want to be responsible for it i i am i'm i'm way more responsible than me so when i since we all travel a lot for work every single person on here when i travel recreationally i am at that airport bar or that airport lounge and i am ready to get in the mix so i don't want to be responsible for having to get to the gate on time.

1:00:07I don't want to deal with the passport. Like I'm already on my vacation the second I get in that Uber to go to the airport. So like, please just be responsible for me while we're at the airport. And that makes a good travel partner. But I think Steve and Jared are the same with this, Carissa, with our vacations we've gone on, like they deal with, I know Jared deals with the reservations. He deals with the cars that are picking us up. Like he's very big into the schedule and Hey guys, we're going to do this. and sometimes a little too much. Like, hey, babe, Clark Griswold, relax. We don't need to have the whole trip planned out.

1:00:39Maybe one day we sleep in. I don't know. So yeah, he's really good with that. And I think when he's not around, I kind of panic. Like, wait, I have to plug in my gloves myself and heat them myself and bring our stuff down to the lockers? What are you talking about? So this past season, Aaron and I and Steve and Jared did a Griswold European vacation. so we were yes almost 10 days or yeah two weeks we were in europe together and the boys the guys planned it all they did everything so aaron and i had a talking with one another before this trip started like we are not allowed to fucking complain about a goddamn thing because the plan so there we go but the one night we did complain was when jared asked a teammate um former teammate who was European of where to go to dinner one night.

1:01:32Oh no. We were in Monaco and there was these guys. There were these guys that were there on a bike. They were on a cycling trip with a bunch of dudes. Okay. Prostitutes that showed up. Yeah. Yeah. There they were. Not a lot better. There they were. Yep. And so as we're asking these guys about their cycling trip, they're like, oh yeah. I'm like, so do you bring your own bike? And they're like, no. and I'm like, definitely a cover-up on the old cycling trip. Oh, my God. I don't even know where to go, Jason. It's on you. As a girl dad of four, at some point, I will have four teenage girls living under one roof.

1:02:12Is there any advice that you guys have? What is just... I would remember this vividly, where I saved up my babysitting money and Janko jeans were like really in then. And so I came down the stairs in these Janko jeans and my dad looked at me and goes, what the fuck are you wearing? And I go, I'll be wearing new jeans. And he goes, not in this house, you're not. And I was devastated that he wasn't going to let me dress like the skater that I wanted to dress like and whatever. But he always had the thing like, it's my house, my rules. And he was like, you are not, that's not, we're not doing that.

1:02:49And so I would say along those same lines where it's like, you know, my dad also said, had this expression. It's not my job to be your friend. It's my job to be your parent. And then when you turn 18, you get to decide if you want to be friends with me. So it's like as hard as it is, I'm sure because girls will like, you know, butter you up and all this stuff. It's like, you just stay. And I know you and Kylie are very aligned on this. I've heard you say like, we don't want to raise brats and you won't because, and I loved that because it's like, it's your, I mean, to send these children out into the world and be good human beings, it starts at home and that is a thankless job.

1:03:22I don't have kids. I won't pretend, but I just know like for me that growing up in a household with discipline, but a lot of love, like I knew what the rules were. I knew that my parents, you know, like had the best intentions and like kids want boundaries. They want to know like what the rules are. So I would say like, just even if they're girls and you feel like you got to like be a little bit lenient because they're don't, it will help them later on to not just always like give them the out because they're, you know, little girls. See, it's crazy. I'm running into this at my house. I, I didn't grow up with boys.

1:03:55I mean, it was my sister and you know, I, but I know Jared and obviously had structure throughout his whole life. He moved away from home when he was 14 to go play junior hockey. Jared is easier on Mac than I am. And Mac's only two, but like prime example, you know, he's kind of acting up yesterday and I said, Jared, now's your time. And he blows my mind because I am very much like, and I loved when you talked about Disney world and your daughter and you just said, I don't want to raise that because yesterday I decided, Hey, let's pull. No, you have half of it. I love that. Because that's how I feel.

1:04:34And so it is a real balance here, but now I'm today. I felt like before he left for the rink, I was like, wow, our parenting skills, like we need to get on the same, you know, level here. But so when does that happen, Jason? I'm curious about that. We're on the same page almost all the time. I would say very routinely. We're both pretty disciplinary. And when it comes to the girls, I've seen you, you're amazing. Yeah. I will say the girls the only girl I grew up with is Travis so this is new territory to a certain extent for me as well how did I catch this story in this? how did I catch this story?

1:05:15when I first found out I was having Wyatt I was like okay I'm not going to raise her any different than how I would raise a boy like I'm going to make her tough and like disciplined and I'm not going to be like this like daddy's daughter who's getting everything she wants and then like the moment she came out It was like very hard to not be that. It becomes very obvious exactly what you're talking about, Carissa, where it's like it is very difficult when they look at me a certain way to not cave like instantaneously. And especially those eyes on your girls. My God. And I will say Kylie is better at resisting that than I am.

1:05:47A hundred percent. So I'm, I could still though, listen, like, like the waffle story, if they, if there's anything where it's out cave for like a treat or like something innocuous, but if it's like either being selfish or mean or lying or like any of like the, the big top of like, we're not going to put up with this. I'll for sure like put my foot down. And I think in our house with the two girls, and I feel bad now for my mom with this, my dad was always like, you know, he, cause we knew, you know, dad wasn't at home during the day. It was always mom. And so we acted differently for dad. And I feel bad that I did that to my mom now.

1:06:27So obviously our relationships are, you know, I'm so sorry, mom, because now Mac does that to me, but, um, yeah, no, I, I, I feel like you'll always be a different role with daddy. So yeah, that's interesting when you have to figure out to be the disciplinarian. I was just thinking about, and I know we all grew up in the same era where it was like, you know, we didn't have cell phones and our parents weren't like, when they would leave during summer vacation, they would leave that note, the proverbial note on the counter that was like, these were the chores for the day. And if you didn't get that shit done by the time you're in trouble.

1:06:56And it's like, I miss those days where it's like those, those, you know, again, you understood what the rules were. And I'll never forget the garage door open. And I was like, my dad was home and I was like, we're all running around, you know, do all the chores. But it was like, it was the, the rules were pretty clear cut. It's like, yeah, a simpler time guys. It'll be crazy. I mean, even in the next 10 years, what our kids will be doing with, I know like AI and all that stuff. It's kind of hard to even like comprehend. I'm trying to push off the phones. Yeah. I was just thinking, even when I went to college, phones weren't a big thing.

1:07:33It was like, you were real rich if you had a phone in college. And I used to drive, I mean, that's not even that far, but two and a half hours to go from Tampa to Gainesville and my parents were good with it. I didn't have a phone. Now you don't want your kid like, you know, going down the street without a phone. It's wild how things have changed. Our dad used to give us a calling card. Did you ever have those for the pay phones? Of course. So whenever we went out to play baseball at the field, if we ever needed a ride or anything like that, we would pull out the card that dad gave us just so we could call for the pay phone.

1:08:03It started off though. I was calling him collect. Just before he gave us the card i would walk home from school in like elementary school middle school and i'd call my dad collect on a 1-800 number and he would be like stop calling me and get your ass home i'm not paying for all of these calls stop asking me you come straight home and then he started thinking about it he's like i mean it kind of is convenient to have a little calling card so uh so that they could reach me if they need me can you still call people collect I don't know. I don't even know pay phones. Where's the last time I saw a pay phone?

1:08:41I don't know. Would star 69 still work? Oh, yeah. We did that, too. When you wanted to prank people or find out who was calling. Star 67. So they couldn't star 69 you? We're talking to some pros here. Did you guys ever have girls, like, prank call you? Like, any prank stories? Of course they did. Well, I know. But I mean, like, one that's, like, because we would prank call, like, all the cute boys in school. And that's, like, they knew we were doing it. But prank calling. I don't remember ever getting prank calls. I just remember listening in on all of Jason's calls, just being the shitty little brother.

1:09:12What's the best journey you've had? Nothing. It was never anything exciting. It was just me feeling like I was like being a spy. My sister was five years older than me and she was dating the high school quarterback. And I remember I was, I played with Barbies until I was way too old. Like somebody, my dad should have stepped in and been like, I think you're a little too old for this. This is getting weird. in the Barbie convertible in the dream house. And I was like in ninth grade. He's like, that's enough. But I remember, I think I was in, I'm not kidding, seventh grade and the high school quarterback walked in my house and I was mortified.

1:09:47I like threw the Barbie and I was like, hi, Brad. I was like, these are the neighbor's Barbies, not mine. All right. I'm so embarrassed that he taught me. I think the last one is we're giving you guys the floor Since we have acclaimed journalists on the pod, we want to give you guys the chance to maybe ask Jason a question. Or Travis, say that. Okay, so I always think about in an interview, you know, Aaron and I love doing sit-down interviews for a lot of different reasons. Get to, you know, learn more about you guys. Just have that like one-on-one because sometimes in games and post-game, it's just a different vibe when you actually get a sit-down interview.

1:10:27But I always want to ask this question. Is there a question that you wish somebody would have asked you and they never did? Go Carissa. God damn it. And it could be about anything. It's like, you know, because sometimes when those interviews are over and you're like, this is to get in our brains, we're like, oh God, did we ask the right questions? Did we do enough? Did we ask too much? Like, you know, did we whatever? And then I always think like maybe there was a question they wanted me to ask and I didn't. I love that. I feel like I've never had that come across my mind, but I've always been appreciative of when I get asked about my family.

1:11:05Yeah. I think that shining light on my mom, my dad, Jason, our supporting cast around Cleveland Heights. I feel like I've always been like, those are the questions I want to answer more than anything else about football because that's what's at the core of it all. yeah i think similar to what travis saying a lot of the times you're getting you're answering questions about yourself and it feels a little bit weird when you're kind of doing that i guess you yeah like we did we had a great uh interview like that aaron when we uh we did the whole line in philadelphia is one of my favorite interviews it was one of my favorite because it was with the guys it was like i know so i fell in love with all of you that day that was so special all?

1:11:50I think, yeah, maybe the best answer is kind of what Travis saying, either the family or like about a teammate or something like that. Those are always the ones that I really enjoy the most as like an interviewer or interviewee. I'm going to bring some humor to it. When I started in this industry, I had a lot of athletes tell me about people that interviewed them that had really bad breath. And that always stayed in my mind. I am a psycho when it comes to breath and interviews so much so that in my pants, any of my pants that I'm wearing during a game, there are two Listerine like containers and even the spray.

1:12:29And if I don't have them, I am like begging the trainers for something. I am begging the guys, the camera guys, anything in my nose teeth and then i have a story i interviewed ryan howard one time and i took in the listerine thing there they were stuck together so i think there was like four of them in and i took it and my breath was so fresh it hit him in the eyes and i said to him oh my god are you crying and he goes no but your breath is so fresh i think we've all had that experience it's a bad breath and it is it's difficult to carry on a conversation there's definitely some guys i could throw under the bus i won't do it but yeah i think of opposing players when you guys are talking so close that's my one thing i'm like oh god their breath must be tough um but yeah you don't think about it during the game huh have you noticed it ever on the field i've more noticed my own teammates you're sitting next to somebody in meetings and then all of a sudden it's like god damn it he's having he's having a day today like nothing worse than somebody ripping ass in the huddle though you know it happens like three or four times like all right listen man you got to get this under control this is ridiculous sitting right next to you this is the um like the difference of sometimes not all because aaron and i are very honest with each other but the difference between men and women is two guys walk into a party with the same shirt on and they come up to each other and like look fucking great man look at that shirt what a great shirt you look awesome yeah two women walk into a party with the same dress and they're on opposite ends going that bitch looks terrible in this dress god damn it's so bad and it's just making this dress look so bad it's so different it's like yeah men would be like bro your breath is awful so here's a man and women would just like skirt around it and be like anyone want a mint no you're talking to to Sarah over here.

1:14:19Clarissa, you guys are the fucking best. My face hurts so bad from laughing so goddamn hard. This was so much fun. I can't tell you. We laughed more here than we've laughed in a long time. Exactly. You guys are the best. Seriously, and congrats on the success. I mean, we, you know, us, you know, as Aaron and I having come from this world from a long time ago sitting with you guys in that random warehouse in Cleveland, like we just were your biggest fans. So, love you guys. You're the best. Bye, you guys. Thank you. And that wraps up another episode of New Heights. That's right. Thank you to Carissa Thompson and Aaron Andrews.

1:14:56And also, make sure you subscribe to the New Heights channel on YouTube and follow New Heights on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes of New Heights ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts. I'd be remiss if I didn't give my Jimmies a shout-out. Shout-out to Jared and Steve, baby. My brothers for life, man. And once again, New Heights is a wonder show brought to you by KFC. Go down the street. It's right down the street, ladies and gentlemen. Get you a famous pole. Get you some fried chicken and enjoy a nice meal.

1:15:26Follow the show on all social media at New Heights Show with one. As for fun clips throughout the week, we're going to have plenty of them from this one. Shout out to Carissa. Shout out EA. Appreciate you guys. Thank you to the New Heights production for always making this look way better than what we are and making this life easy for us. And thank you to the 92 Percenters. We'll see you guys in a few days. Yeah. Sounds good.