Broad Ideas with Rachel Bilson & Olivia Allen - Marion Jones on Humbling Moments, Second Chances, and Special Forces

Episode Date: January 27, 2025

Five time Olympic Gold Medalist Marion Jones joins Rachel and Olivia today where they discuss humbling moments, social media etiquette and her time on Special Forces which is now airing on Fox. Broad Ideas is sponsored by IQ Bar 20% of all IQ products, text IDEAS to 64000.Broad Ideas is sponsored by Quince. Go to Quince.com/ideas for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order!Broad Ideas is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/ideas to get 10% off your first month.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hax is back for its fifth and final season, and so is The Hacks podcast. Join the Hacks creators and showrunners, Lucia and Yellow, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky as they unpack the Emmy-winning comedy series. On each episode, hear stories from the set, what goes on in the writer's room, and how these beloved characters close out their final season. Watch Hax streaming exclusively on HBO Max and listen to The Hacks podcast on HBO Max, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to broad ideas.

Hello, Olivia Newton, Allen. Jeff calls me Olivia, Alan Eggler, Po. Oh, I love that. That's great. We have Marion Jones today. Just want everyone to know that we recorded this interview a long time ago. We also want to let you guys know that we will be back next week with our regular scheduled posts.

Thank you. to everyone who's reached out, checking in on us. We are all safe and deeply appreciated it. And we will get back to our post next week. Thanks, everyone. Let's talk to Marion Jones. Sometimes when the one's sick inside of Rachel's little brain, all these thoughts are swirling, round and round inside to join us on this. journey as we take a little ride. We'll talk about dogs and kids and things. We'll talk about chicks and tampon strings. We'll talk about boys.

Because people die. We don't do have enough room. I feel like this is like... You feel like my long legs. My daughter has long legs. And so, and I do not. Oh, there we go. I do not have that blessing.

How tall are you? I'm only five, too. Yeah. But my daughter's legs, like. They go for days. Yeah, they're really long. They're really long. Actually, I want to talk to you about it.

What is her projected height? I don't know. Do you think that's accurate? Yeah, do you think that's accurate? I mean, if they do it with your test. If they say 510, he's probably not going to be 5-2. Right. So I'm saying like, you find the average.

Not that 5-2. Oh, no. Hey, we all have our challenges. We all have our challenges. I have made my piece with it with my height. Guys, hi. Five two and a half. Okay.

You're probably. Every half care. Sure. But wait. You guys are still young. When I younger, I was 5.11, 6 feet. Oh, wow. And do you want to know what I am now? Like 5.9 and a half. No. For real. Oh, man. And I, it's not my posture. Like I do. And I listen to hear my mom in my ear. So just, I mean, five, two and a half. Okay. I'm going to be, I'm going to end up at 4.11. I am shorty. It's okay. It's fine. I just, my dog. daughter's going to surpass me very scared. She's already surpassing you. Well, no, she's still here. You guys, I went to the doctor. Latter's in the house, I hope. Stools. Oh, yes. I can't reach anything. I went to the doctor for my kids and they did the, you know, the projected height thing. And it was like, five, six. And I was like, oh, my God. I was like, really? Five, six, you think?

For you, Elliot? It was for, like, both of them. And what are your age, what are their ages? Five and nine. Okay. And they're little, you know, they're little. But I was just a little surprised because we have tall men in our family. So I was like, five, six. Really? I'm like, ah, short.

And the doctor's like, I'm five, six. Oh. And he goes, it's not short. Short is and like starts breaking it down. Oh, boy. You struck a complex right there. I wanted to die. Yeah, no, that's sad.

That's horrible. That's horrible. That's why you can't say the things that just come to your mind without thinking about it. Especially don't get a podcast. Yeah. Well, and not the doctor, you're going to find another doctor now. I know. I'd always be offended every time you walk. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I kissed his ass every time he came in the room after that. You're like, I baked you cookies. I'm like, you're just such a competent man. Oh, my God. So, you know, my daughter with her long legs, she loves to run, okay? Okay. She was like. She's 10. 10. She just turned 10. So this summer we tried

cross-country because she thought that would be her thing. But then she tried it and she didn't like that. It was like a big group. You start out. And she couldn't really find her place. But I don't want her to like lose her look because she goes, Mom, I love to run. I just feel so free. Like she's just like touching on all that. And she's been doing it for years. Does she have any like any natural speed? Yes. Okay. So what about her trying track? That's what I think we would do next. But she didn't want to do that because she doesn't like competing. solo. Like, she doesn't like the pressure if it's her going against people, if it's like a group. Oh, okay. Like, she felt like it was more of a group. So I don't really know how to guide her. Is she done team sports, individual sports, soccer, all that? Yeah, she does team sports. Yeah. So it's just interesting, you know, but I think she does have a natural talent for running. Yeah. I would encourage her, like, take her, just, you know, take her to some local high school meets. Like, so she sits there and sees it. So she can see, like, it's still a team. like they're still relays and they're out on the field and they're doing things and you get your moment to shine when it's the 100 to 200 and then you can go back with your people. Right. Right. So I

always tell people who say, my kid, I kind of want them exposed, but I don't want to, first of all, I don't want the time commitment until I know that he or she is ready. Two, I don't know, I don't want the financial commitment. Right. Just go and have them sit and watch. Right. If she has an interest in volleyball, like I have parents, I'm like, just go and sit. Yeah. And have the kid watch. And you don't say anything. You don't be like on Johnny, like let them naturally love it or hate it. For sure. And then move on.

But, yeah, it's too much time. And you just got to do something with her legs, you know? I am curious your take on that, having been a competitive athlete and then also raising children. What do you do in that situation when you have your child try these things and they don't like it? Yeah. But they're going to have to like something at some point, right? Or what do you do? Or was it like that for you?

So there's a lot of challenges involved when you have been an athlete, an elite athlete, and you are fairly knowledgeable, right? Yeah. And that's an understatement. But I say that when it comes to the kids because throughout them growing up, I didn't know how I was going to react, especially with my first one. They're all naturally gifted. Oh, okay.

Right? Like my oldest and my youngest, I have my oldest is 21. My youngest is a girl 15. and they're built more like me, like tall and they're lean. They're all naturally fast and all of that. And I didn't know if I was going to be, ah, but I told myself I'm not, right? I want them to find their own space, forge their own path. Yeah.

And I found the first challenge when they were growing up is that, and I didn't want to necessarily coach them, which is kind of controversial when it comes to my, fellow friends, teammates, who are also parents, who potentially have chosen to coach their kids. I chose not to, right? Like, I want to just be mom, right? And, but my kids now think that, and from they were young,

that their coach is God to that sport, right? Like, even when, and I had them start very mild, like the YMCA. Mm-hmm. Right. Where it's cheap. There's no real commitment. It's volunteer parents.

So I didn't think a lot. Like, there's no pressure. Right. I know that, you know, Tom, who's the basketball coach, probably only played junior highball, right? Cool. Let me just sit back. Let my kid be learning teams, skill. Anyways.

But when they come, when the kids come to me and say, and I say, well, you know, maybe you should, when you're shooting your free throw, just light stuff. Yeah. But Tom. Yeah. You're like, but did talk. Yeah. Because again, I put them in this league. So I know.

Yeah. So then they advance. And we put them in it differently, which is more time commitment, more skill level, more money. Yeah. You know, and the coach probably has a high school skill level of the sport. Right. But again, the kids come back. But Jenny.

Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Okay. So that's one of the biggest challenges. But just also knowing that they're not me, they're not their dad, right? They're them. Right.

Right. And there's obvious genetic stuff going on and they can do stuff with their body, like, get used to the other kids, like still letting them find their way, which is hard. Like, I'm sitting on my hands, trying to like, there are little things that I used to speak up and say, like, if they're not hustling. if they're not being a good team player, right? If they're, like, in essence, it came to my, if you're wasting your time and my time. Mm-hmm.

Right. But that's mom duty. Correct. That's not under the coach, because I'm doing that watching my kid play baseball. But there are just some things that, like, and I would pick my battles sometimes, and in the car ride.

I would pick the skill that probably need the most talking about, like your wall handling, right? like, hey, get it in your left hand sometimes, right, so that they even think that you have skill in both. Yeah. So I just kind of reverted to the idea of mom, they ask my opinion about it. Great. That's tough. Wow.

It is relinquishing a lot. It is relinquishing a lot, but it also, I think, has prepared me for, like, naturally, like, in school now. Yeah. I find that, like, from when I was. in high school to now, like parents, like, they don't give us any control anymore. First of all, everything's on the computer. Mm-hmm. Right?

Every, like, the kids are connected with the teachers. Like, I don't even know, I don't even know what assignment. I don't even know what classes they're taking. There's no communication with the parent. I mean, with the teachers. And I can remember, and maybe it's because I wasn't the best student, but my mom knew about all of my teachers. Right.

Right. And if there was a hiccup, my teachers were messaging my mom. Right. Right? If I wasn't turning in assignments. So it was really a village. And I find that it's not like that. I put my kids in public school purposefully too, right? So that they can just, I mean, my ideas that they're just exposed to everything because it's part of life, right? Like I had them in private school up to a certain age, a private Christian school, like good foundation stuff. Then I transitioned to a charter school. So a little more, a little more. but it's still tight. And then when they got to high school, I put them in public high school. I was like,

you got to learn how to, if there's bullying, I hate it, right? It sucks, but it's life. You got to figure out how to navigate it. You got all that stuff.

But man, losing control, and I'm a bit of a control. Like, it's tough for me, right? Like, Libra's like we, it's better when we have a hand in stuff.

Right. For sure. Right. Right. And just seeing them grow up and then losing that, I'm like, well, you guys will move out until I'm like, you might as move out now. You're 15. You got, like, and she's very independent. I'm like, what am I here for? Like, she comes down and makes her own, like, food. I'm like, what do you want to eat tonight?

Oh, I got it, Mom. Wow. Can I do something? Yeah, I am scared of that. Yeah. I'm scared of letting go of any of that. I'm like, I'm scared of the stove. But she will not. She will bake. Like, I, like, I'm scared. I did, what did I do for her last week? And I, and I, we swapped. I says, okay, y'all know she wanted to go to Hobby Lobby because Christmas stuff and pick up a few like seasonal things. I was like,

cool. But while I'm gone on like on this trip, can you bake some sugar cookies? And I'm ready when I come back. She's like, yeah. I want you. Have them ready when I come back. That's cute. I love it. I love it. So there's good things about the independent stuff, but also daughters. Daughters. Teenage. I love her. and she's a teenager. But you have to remind yourself that you love them sometimes. I know. I wonder what the teenagers are going to be like, you know, often.

Because I just have my one girl. And so, and we're so close. Yeah. And she's a pretty like mild-mannered child. But I'm like, when does it shift? Like, what happens? I think a lot of it also has to do with, like, I mean, are you homeschooling? Is she go to school?

Right. The friend's situation is like. Like how much influence do they play in her life? True. And like my daughter's just so independent. She's fierce and fire. And it's all qualities that you want in your girl. Like when they're out in the world.

Right. Like you're not in the in half. Not walking by you like, hey, I'm your mom. Like without even like looking at you. And if you happen on a certain minute of the day, like say something that she. I mean, she's like. I love her. We still do that.

We're better, but we've, we were hard on our moms. Okay, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it was tough. Like, so close to my mom. You were you tough on your mom?

Yeah. And I, you know, I don't, we were never like, like, close like that. Yeah. But then when I just, you know, life happened early for me. A lot of success when I graduated from college. And, like, one, I didn't, like, I had financial freedom. Like I had like the world's like was my oyster. You couldn't tell me anything.

But that's, you know, I get it. That's natural. But man, if I can get that like 10, even 15 years back after I graduated from college. I was a pill. I mean, I didn't reach out. Like I was traveling the world. I was making poor choices when it came to relationships. Financial decisions, all kinds of stuff.

I'm like, oh, man. And she was right there. like she's always right there and always like occasionally remind me like I'm hey hey and I just was just a pill oh yeah but those were your lessons to learn like you're right I mean reading about you yeah there's been a whole lot of life packed in yeah in a short amount of time and like there's no coincidence in that I don't believe like I think that there was so many just even reading it I'm like there's so many lessons. Yeah. Yeah, I just, you know, I like to, this is an example that I like to give, that I got caught in a wave, right? And a wave of success. It takes you further and further out.

It takes you away from like, kind of like reality, which I equate that as the shore, right? Like, solid footing. And the more success, the more fame, the more people that I chose, right? And I'm old enough to now to say that, that I chose to have around me. Yeah. Who would pet me on the back and tell me, oh, you're so great, you're so great. And all my yes people. Mm-hmm. Right.

And eliminate, you start to eliminate anybody that was a no person. Like, no, Marion, like, that's dumb. That's stupid. Like, come on. Like, yeah. And these are also people that, a lot of times there are people that you've known from a long time, your parents, your siblings, your friend from, you know, school.

he'll be like, Rachel, Olivia, like, that's stupid. Out of touch. Right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you will listen to them. You won't like it. But when you go back home or wherever, you'll be like, oh, yeah.

But I chose to remove those people from my life. Right. And I can definitely in my moments of reflection, like, that certainly was a red flag, Marion. And but getting a chance to see that. Like, I'm not even 50. yet, but I kind of know where I went wrong, right? And it's not too late to remedy, you know, clean up relationships. And, you know, if they love you, they love you. They love you and all your mess and all the good stuff. And my circle is very tight now. And again, I learned. Yeah. I have a

question about that because to me, it is fascinating that when you get successful, it's just a byproduct of success, people start saying yes. Yeah. Why do you think that is? I mean, for me, one of the obvious reasons was, you know, everybody benefits, right, from success, right? Even if they don't really want to, you have friends, right? Like, they're along for the trip. Right.

You know, you go overseas, you say you tell your team, I want my best friend or I want my boyfriend or all my husband, like, everybody goes along for the trip. Everything is taken care of, right? You want this car. You want X-A. There's no issue, right? So that's part of it. Also, people, some, are attracted to that life.

Fame. I want to be around the it person. I want to just dip my toe in that world. Yeah. And I, that's. And do you think there's? of fear, if I stand true to who I am, I will lose that or I won't have access to that. Because you said you start to eliminate the people that are knows. I do think it's something

that happens psychologically to the brain. Yeah. I think what happens is too with fame, and I don't think they talk about this enough, is the actual dopamine hits that people get from ego hits, from money, from success, from getting the win, from getting the attention, that it actually rewires your brain in a way where if you don't have those constant hits, you start to dip. Yeah. Right? And so then the brain is looking for more and more and more of those hits.

And I think that psychologically, it shifts to a point where when someone starts saying, no, you're like, I'm not getting my medicine. In a way, I mean, I use the examples of, like, it may be a surprise. far-reached example, but like rappers. Let's just use that example, whereby they, many of them will keep their loyalty is strong to their hood, to their people, like, to their crew, right? And you'll see a lot of, like, their friends from their childhood around, but I also find that they still stay true to themselves, right?

And so we can, you know, accuse them or say whatever about them. But there's something to be said in that. In that you keep your people who know you and who are not afraid to say, that's not right or that's not cool or that's not healthy, whatever that looks like. And I would definitely, like, if I could do things differently, I mean, obviously the mom's situation is a no-brainer. You know, and stay connected with her. But there are also a few people, friends that I distance myself from.

Right. Because they're like, come on, Marion. Right. Like that person is, like, stop. Just take a moment and stop, right? You're in love. Right? Like all these things, just stop.

Like, what are they getting out of the situation? And that's just one example if I could do things again. This episode is brought to you by IQ. bar, our exclusive snack sponsor. I start my morning really early, you know. Yeah. It's insane. Do you want to know how I do it? Yeah, please.

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365 day returns. Quince.com slash ideas. Yeah, I think there's like something to be said like just in general. And I think people struggle a lot with like the dopamine hits of like Instagram. Instagram likes. And like with like we have friends who to them, if it's not fame, it's like, well, I'm famous today because I got, you know, however many likes on an Instagram. You know, but people really pay attention to that. And I just think that's like the craziest thing in today's society, you know, and social media.

And we talk about it a lot with kids and social media and stuff. And I'm just curious, like, how that's been for you with your children. A whole other world. Well, let me just start by saying the whole social media climate is quite foreign to me, right? Like, again, I'm almost 50, didn't grow up in that world. Right. And even when it started to become a thing, I was like, I'm good, I'm good. And so you realize, like, you have to, right?

And I've been, because I discovered what I shared with you all just now about keeping things like really, really tight. When that became a necessary evil in my world, I was able to say, okay, nope, I'm not like filming everything. in my life, right? Although that would potentially get more followers, like there's a line that I will draw. But when it comes to my kids, oh my gosh, that's, that is this constant, right? Like, the big thing initially was the phone situation. Like, when do you get them one? When is it important? When do they need it? And you're like, okay, well, they do sports from an early age. I have other parents bringing them home, like, like, okay, so they need a phone. They need to coordinate. And then do you give them a phone where it has one number on it?

Like that limits them too because what if I'm busy and I get, right? So then you get them a regular phone. Yeah. And then what are, I mean, I don't know if you all are kind of in that world. No. No. No. Oh, well, of course.

You know, my daughter, we have had this talk. Kids her age have phones? They have Apple watches. That's the thing. But she, I said, you're going to get a dumb phone when you get a phone. We talk about it. Even last night we were talking about it. She said, well, can I play games on it?

I was like, I don't know if it has games. You can call and you can text. That much I know. And to who? To text. Well, like, you know, by the time she gets one, which will be years from now, I mean, calling and texting, I feel like, whatever. And then you're like, okay, well, how do you manage it? How do you monitor it?

How do you keep it tight? If they don't have it on their phone, like they'll be at a friend. Yes. Well, that's the thing is like the peers around them. When is it safe for them? Because also there's a part of our culture. I had a conversation with my husband yesterday and he was a little deflated because he's a doctor. And he was talking about, you know. He's not five, six. He's not a doctor. He's six foot. So I married that count. Yeah. Does you feel bad? I was like, well, yeah. Let me make it up to you.

But he was talking about writing a book and he was talking to someone that he really respected and was like, talk to me about the process. And, you know, she very casually said, you have to have a following. And he was like, ugh. Like, I don't, like, he's like, I practice medicine. Like, I don't want a social media following. And I've been trying to explain to him. I'm like, it's part of currency nowadays.

Yeah. It sucks. You had one day where he was like he never posts or anything and there was one day every like minute. Was it, did you get? He was saying you had his phone? I was like, this is so weird. Everyone, people wrote him like, wow, Jeff, you're really killing it on the gram.

And he's like, what? I was like, just firing off. Yeah, I will do it for you. Like, he's like, that's a last thing this human being wants to think about. But I'm like, okay. So then we raise kids and we're like, no, social media, it's toxic, it's back. Yet when you get to a certain age, no matter what profession you want to do. And you need to be efficient.

And you need to be efficient in it. Yeah. Right? Like, you want to be successful. You've got to know how to do it, when to do it. Right? Yeah, it's crazy. The way that what I would tell him, right?

And I'm sure you've told them already, right? Just budget that in. Like, get somebody. That's what I said. Outsource it. Yeah. Outsource it. All you've got to do is just keep your phone handy, which is a,

challenge for me, too, I'll tell you, right? Like, like my team, you're like, you know, just record everything. And we'll, we'll clean it up and we'll edit it and stuff. But like, I just don't feel comfortable. Yeah. I'll share this with you and I won't give names anything, but I, a friend of mine, um, I was on a plane recently and I was sitting and I'm about to eat something before the flight. And she's an influencer. Right. And she gets on the plane. And she has her phone. And it's recording, even when she's just getting on the plane. And she sees me and we acknowledge and she's so natural with it. Wow.

And before she, before the plane took off, you know, I'm scrolling. She's already posted something about. Oh, my God. That's how they do. It's just part of them. It's their job. It's on air, which has been a challenge for me because I'm like, I don't want, if I'm going to ask everybody in the room. Are you okay with me?

Yeah, exactly. Are you okay with me recording you? Right. Right. And both the, they're like, because I'm not. Right. Ask me. Ask me.

I'm not okay with it. They just think, they assume everybody's cool with it. Like, I mean, even looking at this post the other day, and I'm like, this person in this seat, they never okayed it. They never signed anything. That's where your mind goes. That's where my mind goes. Yeah.

So it's just so hard. I mean, have them get a second phone. Yeah. You know, I don't know how to. I know. I know. No, but maybe. Maybe.

Maybe. Maybe it's important to hear from people like you that have achieved success in fields that really don't have anything to do with social media yet still are being asked and like what you walk through with that I think is really interesting. And it's, and you know, again, choosing. And maybe another way to I kind of egg him on a little more is the route of just information to the masses, right? Like I'm sure he's confident in his craft, right?

And what he does. And the more people that can hear from him, what he does, the breakthroughs that he's studying, researching, like people want to know that stuff. Right. And the more that he can just record him talking about it. I'm sure if you get him in a room and he talks about what he loves, like he can go on and on and on. Right. Like just put that on his calendar.

Right. Once a week, two times a week, three times a week, for 20 minutes. I can do that. For 20 minutes, just have them just talk to the camera. Like today, these are my challenges with whatever that is. And then people do want to hear it. Especially him, like functional medicine too. It was like.

Yeah, they do want to hear. I saw a clip on something yesterday that was like, just to be clear, your social media is not for your friends and family. It is for the people that need to hear what you have to deliver to the world. Period. That's good. I think it's better. Did you share that with him? No, yeah.

I think it's actually better because I think the only time we hold ourselves back is when we're really judging what people are going to think of us, right? But the people out there in the world who want your advice are not going to, that's what they're coming for. Like if you took people through, here's. You think they're coming for my advice? They're coming for your fashion, yeah. 100%. And what you're doing for your skin. Like, they want to know all of it.

What you're doing as a mom, what you're coming. cooking, you know, they do. And how do you, yeah, how do you juggle all of this? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I would think the majority just record we trying to like focus all the kids set up this podcast. But again, but what I find, and this is a good like transition to like the more real you are. Right. Yeah. Right. Like people want to see that. Right. I know that there are a lot of people that are interested in me because I was able to run fast from here to there. Right. But I, but I, I think that at this point, I can't run fast from here to there, right? So why are people still interested, right?

Because I'm, like, I struggle with things, right? Like, I'm a mom, right? Like, I'm a businesswoman, right? I'm navigating this social media world. And I'm authentic about it. And everybody can relate to that. You're relatable in that you struggle with this stuff. I think when you see people who in there like, oh, no, I got it all together.

The camera, da da da, da, da, who cares? Peace. Yeah, that's not me. There's nothing about that world I can relate to. So let me keep scrolling to somebody else, whom I can relate to. Right. I had this problem last night because I couldn't sleep, so I'm just scrolling, right? And I found myself getting really depressed.

And I got so down. And I was like, why am I looking at all this shit that looks perfect? Yeah. And they're so happy. That's the greatest love the world has ever seen. It's perfect. You know, this child, like these accolades, like everything. And I'm like, fuck all of you.

You know what I mean? Like, I started to feel angry. I'm like, why am I sitting here scrolling? It is affecting my mental health. A hundred percent. A lot of it is smoke and mirrors. There's some truth to some of it. Absolutely.

But then I'm just fucking reading how perfect everyone's world is. Yes. And I was like, fuck all of you. Yeah. I hope that helped you to go to sleep then when you. When I let it go. Do you know what I do when I'm feeling like that? Because that happens to me too.

I'll be scrolling. I'll be like, ooh, I feel icky. I don't feel good. I'm feeling envy or I'm feeling these kind of feelings that don't feel good. I'll change my algorithm. How do you do that? Right. You type in.

I'll put like Esther Hicks or I'll put like self-help or Gabby Bernstein or, you know, positive things. And then I'll start the algorithm on positive psychology, brain health, mental health. And then I'll start to chew on that. I knew there's a reason I agree to do this. Yeah. By the end. That's so good. I just go to like real estate.

Yeah. Or that. Hey, that's good too. But real estate I might be like, I can't afford that house. I know. Or then you start looking at the markets. Exactly. Markets rough.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It could go another way. Yeah. So I go other place. To the learning and that very good. That's better. So much better. It helps. It's like a brain fence.

Yeah. Or it's like Etsy. online shopping, whatever. That's better. That can also go sell. We're saying not the shopping. All of my options are clearly not the way to go. I'm like, if you learn anything today, don't listen to me. Don't come to my page for advice. Don't listen to me on this podcast. But again, that's why she's going to get followers, right? Exactly. Just like most people in this world,

life is a shit show sometimes, right? People want to be around. They want to be around the fucking messes of the world. I'm here for you. Yes, exactly. It's true. It's true. Oh, my God. It is true. I know.

I know. Well, okay, I want to talk. Okay. I want to talk about special forces because, yeah. Holy shit, first of all, I haven't watched the show yet, but I've seen, like, clips,

and I know what it's about, and that looks so hardcore. I just, I want to know everything. All right. Oh, I know you can't say everything, but, like, I want to know about. What you can say.

Okay. I would definitely recommend, before you watch this season, the season that I'm on, watch the other seasons. Okay. Who won the first two seasons? Do you know?

Nick. Nick won, right? Vile. Oh, did he win? Yeah. Oh, wow. And he actually was, yesterday we taped the reunion.

Yeah. And he was the host. Oh, fine. So good. Yeah. But watch those first two seasons so you can really see how badass our season is.

Oh, like, no doubt. It's like they were tough and they were tough. But this. This was the toughest? So when they reached out to me, I had never seen the show. I kind of heard of it. So I did my research. And I was like, okay.

If it doesn't, if the one that I, if this season doesn't have a lot of like cold temperature, like I can. Oh my God. I love that. That's a good at my heart. Yeah. A hundred percent. Cold weather. No.

I am not a nice person. 100%. Okay. I live in Texas. Yeah. Okay. Okay. But I said, you know, I've never done some of the.

the challenges, but I'm a badass, right? Yeah. I do that stuff. And so I agreed to do it. And then to find out that it's in Wales. Oh, that's cold. In the UK. That's cool.

And they don't tell you the challenges, of course, beforehand. They give you a light recommendation on how to train. But again, I'm an athlete. I stay fairly fits, all right? And I did some specialized stuff. Like I did some training with the, with the, Burgen backpack, dare I not say backpack, because we got in trouble on the show for calling it to the staff, to the guys in charge. So we got in trouble.

Got it. Got it. It's a Bergen. Okay. And so I did some training with that and it's heavy. So getting it on and off. And I knew there were going to be some water challenges. And although I can swim, I swim not to drown.

and so that my kids didn't drown. Right. I'm not like going from here and here and here, right? So I worked a little bit on that, a little more confident. But then beyond that, like, let's just see. I mean, I'm also, I secretly, I've always had an affinity to special forces, training, that type of stuff. Because in a different world, I think, that I could have succeeded in that world.

Absolutely. And so that's also what intrigued me. And then of course, lastly, the idea of, like, I'm on a comeback of sorts myself. And the idea that not only I could prove to myself, like, that I'm almost 50, that I've been through some shit, right? That this is a – people need to see this, right? Like, yeah, again, they can't relate to being an Olympic champion. They can't relate to how fast I've run and this success. But they can relate to shit happening in life.

Yeah, right? And people need to see other people in that world. Most people know the story, right? Yeah. And they know that in a way there's a comeback of sorts. So let me, wow, she did all this and she's trying this. Okay, so that, you know, I signed my name. I'm doing it.

In Wales, in the cult. Well, yeah. Okay, and I thought, okay, come on, Mary. Tough enough. I was like, sorry. I'm hearing coaches in my ear, like, on all my almost 50 years of being around coaches. Come on, here you. Suck it up.

Right. I got it. Nothing that I could have done, trained, could have prepared me for it. Wow. And this is not me, like, being grilled by producers saying, say X, Y, and Z about how hard the show was. Them was. That's blanking intense experience I've ever been in my life. Truly.

Truly. Like. So we have, you know, I got an opportunity recently to be with the cast. And this was our first time that we'd been together since we'd all experienced this together. Yeah. And they do a really good job. Fox did a great job in putting together a cast of characters that are very different from all walks of life. With the hope, maybe one, that there's drama or you're that.

Of course. It's television. But what happened was when the survival mode kicks in and you realize that I have, have to depend on these people. I don't care who such and such is or who's this. Like, these are like my brothers and my sisters. And you forget that it's just, you signed up for this and that it's a show. Like, you literally forget that. Yeah. And they hope you to forget that. And it was real. It was real. They made it as real as you can. I mean, I, and it's not to take away anything from like our true special forces and the people who have to go through that.

But you're talking about people who have no background in military. Right. None. So usually when people get to the part of their career where they're training for special forces, they've already been in the military for a while. They know that world. They know a certain sacrifice and discipline and physical component. No, we have nothing, right?

And we are dumped into this situation and you have to figure it out. Wow. Tears, pain, fear. of things that I can't even, right? Like, obviously can't share details. But if you're not a fan of the show, I don't know about the show. I highly recommend that you watch this season.

And it'll give you a whole new perspective, not on just what your favorite celebrities were put through. But, like, truly what these individuals who sacrifice everything for our freedom around the world, like just a little taste of, what they have to go through on such a minor level. Wow. Such a minor level.

So that gave me a whole new respect for it all. Broad Ideas is sponsored by BetterHelp. Olivia. Yes. What do you want your 2025 story to be? I want it to be a really good one. Me too. The cool thing about January is it brings you 365 days a blank pages.

So we get to write what story we want. Yes. And I think of therapy as like an editorial partner helping write new chapters and create meaningful stories that we actually deserve to live. You know what? I'm such a fan of therapy. It has helped me so much, especially over the past. I guess it's five years now. It's been a very interesting ride. I really feel like it's helpful for learning positive coping skills and how to set boundaries. It empowers you to be the best version of yourself. And it's not only for those who have experienced major trauma. It's helpful no matter what. Write your story with better help. Visit betterhelp.com slash ideas to get 10% off your first month. That's better help, help.com slash ideas.

What does that do for you? Because, you know, you hear so often with personal growth, like you've got to put yourself outside of your comfort zone. You should scare yourself. You should. try things, take risks, all of that. On the other end of it, do you feel the rewards of putting yourself through that? Oh, yes. And everything that I just said in terms of it being intense and facing your fears, like, would I do it again? I would totally do it again, minus the cold.

Cold is a thing. Coal is a thing that you can't control. No. You don't know how your body's going to react and freeze up and when you're wet trying to put on stuff really quick. And again, stop. Think about that these individuals who are in this training, they have to figure that out. Right. And the enemy, somebody who is literally coming to annihilate them is 30 seconds behind them.

And you've got to get this stuff on. So I'm thinking, I'm shivering. I can't put on this. Stop all the belly aching, right? Like put yourself in that situation. You will figure it away to get on. to get it on. It might not be on perfectly. Yeah. But it's on. You get on your shoes. You got to go.

Like that type of stuff. So, just, yes. Like, there was so much, there was a lot of growth. There was a lot of just confirmation that life is not done when shit happens. Mm-hmm. I love that. Life can go on, right? And if you're searching, needing, looking for an example, like a living example of that, Like, watch the show, right?

Like, follow my journey. Like, like, you can reframe. You can rebrand, right? Like, people, a lot of people know me from track. Like, it's just a different world. Yeah. Yeah.

And so I'm so glad, like, like, I, it is an experience that is unforgettable. Wow. Yeah. Because I've never seen it, right? Yeah. And I want to watch you in it now, 100.

No, watch season one, season one, two and season two. And then watchers. So that you can see how. how bad ass this is. Got it. Okay. Okay, a hundred percent. She's like, don't miss. I would also, though, be careful watching it around your kids. Oh, I'm not watching.

Oh, no, no. Yeah. Or even, like, mine can watch it. Their kids, like, favorite movie at two years old was die hard, so like they're fine. Yeah. We're okay. Yeah. They're okay in that household.

But, yeah, I won't be watching. So is it, like, challenges? Is it teams or are you independently? It's like you going, you know, competing. There's both. There's teams. And we don't really compete against each other. You either like fail the mission or you pass the mission.

And so how you win the whole thing is just like basically winning every mission. And again, there's no technically there's no win. But if you survive all 10 days, right? And everybody survive and not tap out or not get injured. And you're able to experience it all. like you would be considered as special forces worthy. Like you would be considered to be part of the team. So can multiple people at the end be quote-unquote winners?

Yes. So don't you think you're, I want you to coach and your kids. I'm like, you would be the best coach to ever do it. I'm like, wait a minute. Having gone through everything you've gone through, the amount of effect, I know you do a lot of public speaking and all of that stuff, but I'm like... But I also... So part of, like, what I do now is I coach entrepreneurs.

Yeah. Like in their comeback story, right? Like if they, you know, had a passion to sell something on Etsy and I don't know. And it fell through and it didn't work out or there's a bankruptcy or there's a repositioning later in life. Or like, no, this is my passion. Like, I coach entrepreneurs on how to make a comeback. I love it. And so it's not particularly, I found even in dabbling in some coaching of sports that it's very hard for me.

Interesting. Because not, I mean, it was an intense like worker, like worker be, disciplined, all that. But I was also like, I'm really gifted physically, right? Like I figured like my body out early on what it can do, how fast it is, how strong it is. And a lot of that is just so natural that I, would find when I would coach young athletes that is hard. You're like, do this. And they're like, I'm trying. Right. And although like I have a, you know, I train people in fitness still virtually all that. I love that. I love the body and what it can do. And I know the science behind it all.

But sometimes I'm just like, just run faster. Yeah. Sometimes that's the answer, right? So, Sometimes it is, but in regards to, like, the mental part of it, that is what I wish that in regards to my own kids, right? Like, they were more accepting of, like, okay, physically I was gifted, but like the mental part of this, like, I am an expert at it. Right. Right. But again, I say that I'm parenting and teaching and loving on them in a way that they're getting it. They're absorbing it. Yeah.

For sure. Just seeing how I function and how I respond to, you know, stuff in my life and how I verbalize it or not, because there's a need for not verbalizing certain things sometimes. And that, I think, is a good way to parents. And what I share with my friends who are elite athletes, who are now parents and retired from their sport who have decided to coach their kids and when we have our discussions about it, like, that is my argument, right? Like, my kids are still getting what they need to out of it. And at the end of the day, they will never be able to say, oh, mom, like, push me into this sport. Right? If they're in the sport, it's because they chose it, right?

Yeah, they were exposed to the sport. I watch it. Like, different sports. And along the way, when they say, Mom, I have an interest. You know, it's just like your daughter. Okay. Let's go out and watch. You want to take it a next step further?

let's you and I and go for a run, right? Just you and I hang out. I'm like, uh-huh. Are you not a runner? Oh, no. No. I am like the most opposite of a runner. Okay.

Are you a risk walker? I can walk. I don't know that I call it risk. I thought you said risk walker. I said that's exactly what it is when she's walks. That's my middle name. Risk walker over here. But again, there are so many different ways to help them figure it out.

Yeah. When you're just like kind of holding their hand. And so they know, okay, mom, I'll be good. I'm safe. Or even if she decides to try the track thing, you'll be there. You'll make sure that the coach, knowledgeable, like all that stuff. The kids, it's a fun experience for her, which needs to be the basis, of course, of it all. Right.

She enjoys it. That's where I come from. Like, I want her to enjoy it and have fun, you know. Her dad is way more, like, mentally, like, athlete. Yeah. You're going to do the thing. You're going to practice the thing. But you need that, too.

You need both. So it's a balance. And it's a good balance because I'm totally the opposite. I'm like, honey, if you like it. If you're-filling it. If you're chasing butterflies on the soccer field, so be it. You know? Like, that's me.

If you're happy, great. He's like, you got to get your foot. Like, you know. Yeah. But it is, you do need that. You need the balance. I feel like you guys have that a little too. I'm actually more of the strict.

I am. I'm like, did you do any sports? No. Well, I did gymnastics. Okay, so did I. Yeah, I love gymnastics. So I got too tall. Oh, yeah.

I was like, Yeah. Was that your problem? Yeah. That was more a problem too. That was nice. Yes, yes. Yeah.

We got kicked out of gymnastics for being too tall. Yeah. I'm dead. That's so good. It's so good. But one of the things I also think, like, everybody knows your story. We don't need to go into it. Like, it's there.

The thing that's most inspiring to me is that so many people get broken for far less than what you've been through. And that is a story of, it is a comeback story, but it's not just a comeback. Like, you've been here the whole time doing it. Like, you've taken steps. You're not just like, I'm back. You know, I'm curious through everything you've been through what has been the most humbling. Hmm.

Tush on the question. You can imagine that throughout my years I've been asked. like everything. Yeah. That's very unique one. I would have to say, I would have to say friends that I maybe reconnected with from before my success, them sharing with me the level of, in essence, disappointment, right?

When I made poor choices and, of course, the consequences. and them having to tell their kids, right? It's like, you know, this is what my good friend, my former teammates, you know, this is what she did. Right? And these are the consequences and me in their household becoming like a life lesson. So that's been a little bit humbling, but I always kind of turn it sometimes now. I'm at a point where I'm like, enough tears have been cried. Yeah.

I turn it into a little bit of laughter. I'm like, well, at least I'm still a part of your household. And it's for the good now, right? But that was humbling. That has been humbling. And people that I meet who say, gosh, we, you know, we were with you every step of the way. And we believed you when you said certain things. and we were all about defending you, right?

And they were on my team. And then when you admitted to certain things, we felt just lost, right? And I don't know, like a lot of times I don't even know these people and I'm thinking, gosh. Don't make me or God. Yeah.

Right. But then you realize, then I just, like, rack that up to, man, like, I am really blessed. Yeah. to have been given this life. And that my story, I'm a believer. So my story I believe was already even written for me.

And the story of the comeback has also been written. Right. And my reach, my impact on the world, I think now is more significant than if I was just the gold medalist. Right. Right. I know there were a lot of fans that I had when I ran and when I won. But I think at the end of the day in this season of my life and the next season, hopefully, people are interested in my world and my journey because they see some sort of hope and inspiration. It's not just because of like my physical gifts. But you're cool. I'm not downplaying that. That's great. That's just awesome. But to be able to help people's lives be better, running fast from here to there doesn't make people's lives better. I mean, maybe it brings them some joy, temporary joy. But I think the testimony now is that, wow, like, she can do it. I can do it in my potentially smaller world, right?

If she can do this in front of the world. Yeah, like I can do it in my community, in my family. right right in my relationship i can do this yeah and so that's ultimately what people ask well you know what do you want to be remembered for then like that would that would be pretty cool to me that my legacy is one of um you can do hard stuff even when life doesn't it's not as it's like life it's lifey right life gets lifey so you brought up you know the most humbling being like your friend's kids right and like that's so beautiful and interesting and like it always for me too like goes to the kids now with your own

kids have there been like dialogue and conversations about what you've experienced oh yeah and I would imagine yeah yeah you know that when everything was going down my I have three my my boys were younger and was very strategic and when I decided to share certain things and then of course with social media and internet like you're like oh Mary and he's like I could have been born just like 20 years earlier. There wouldn't have been as much documentation of everything. But, you know, you just have to make the decision on when you think they're mature enough to understand. Yeah.

And once you share certain things with them, you know, you just know that potentially there could be hard moments in their life in school and especially in sports that, people know who their mother is and they could have potentially and probably an opinion one way over the other of the mother, right? Which then a lot of times then will seep into their opinion of the kid, which shouldn't happen. But I get it. Especially if they decide to participate in a sport that I participated in. But again, you teach, you mentor, you parent in a way where the child, and I'm grateful to have just wonderful kids, know that that's not their story. And they would be willing to say that to somebody if it comes up. And they haven't shared that it has come up.

People know who their mother is, their parents are and all that. I'll just cross that bridge when it comes to. I am that supportive parent. My two oldest boys, the oldest ran track. I'm successful for a little while. I decided to not do it. My middle son is an athlete at a Division I school close to where we live. He's pursuing his dream.

He decided that he wanted to pursue it later on in high school. Obviously gifted scholarship. all that is pursuing that. I have a daughter who loves volleyball and again is naturally gifted probably will run track. So you just cross that bridge in terms of any negative stuff when it happens. But again, they know the story. They know that poor choices were made. Severe consequences were dealt with.

And that is actually. That's the part. Right. And that is like always when they were growing up. And one of the biggest reasons why I made. the choice to, you know, come clean and say certain stuff because I was being reminded when I tell them and discipline them, okay, you know, you've made a poor choice. Now, what are you going to do about it? Are you going to continue to cover it up and see how long that gets you or how far

that gets you? Or you're just going to deal with the consequences? But I wasn't, I was a hypocrite. Like, I wasn't doing it. So that's one of the reasons I made the choice done, right? Yeah. Consequences are consequences. I'm going to face them. Certainly didn't think that they were going to be as severe as they were because it had never happened before. But again, what do you do about it? You deal with it. You deal with the consequences. If you make the choice, you deal with the consequences. And you figure it out along the way. So again, every decision I make now, whether it's special forces or podcast or travel here or speak here, everything is for them to be able to put the timeline together at some point in their lives. And they will later on like, okay, a lot of success.

mom's talented, a star, da-da-da, poor choices, consequences, right? But then she didn't give up, right? Right, right? So then she's crushing this show. She's here. She's there. She's sharing her story with the hopes of, like, hoping people find hope, hope, motivation when I am not talking usually about awesome stuff, right?

I'm talking about my hard life, hard story, which nobody wants to constantly do. Right. Right. So again, unless you know you're helping someone when you do. Right. Right. But again, like they will do the timeline and see, all right. Like this can be done.

So hopefully at some point when they go through a hiccup in life, and they will at some point, whatever that is, they can use mom, right, as an example. Like, come on. Right. Like, there's no, I think, more shining example of. somebody who's led the life that I live and is still like, I'm here. That's right. And filled with excitement still and life and it's just such a light.

It reminds me, I'm sober, so I'm part of a program, and I watch this happen with people on a daily basis. The difference is the world isn't watching. That's the only difference between people I come in contact with every day and you. There was choices, there was consequences, and now we get to live a life of living amends. And what we do, it's like when you share in a meeting, it's like what it was like, what happened, and what is it like now? And in those three pieces are exactly what you just explained. That's how we in our program help people.

That's the medicine. And I think about your choices and I think about all the choices of so many people I know. Some of them are way more dramatic that never, they always say, suffer the consequences, but they didn't have the world watching. And that's the part that, like, I bow down to you and not because that could crush the human spirit. Or it could gift you with the opportunity to live a life like you're living and make a living immense and show what it's like to actually have that. I think that's the way, like, in showing your kids that. Yeah. That is like huge, you know?

And, you know, to sit here and say that, like, it's all positive and I don't sit and reflect sometimes, you know, and stir and stew in my own mess, right, in terms of like, why, da-da-da. But just what you shared, knowing that people's lives now, like, are for the better because of knowing my story, because of seeing my journey. that allows me to catch my breath when I get in those moments, which is also people need to know that, right? Like even once you come out of the storm, right? Do not think that it's always going to be like California weather, right? Like there will be storms again, and there might be days and weeks and months. I don't know, where you feel like you're going a little bit backwards, right?

Whether it's struggling with mental health or mental health or whatever it is. But, and so I keep that real, right? Good. Like, the majority of my days are great, right? Like, I figure in stuff out, but there are days and moments, oh, right? Like, seeing every four years the Olympics come around. Right? As much as I love it, and I love sport, and I love, like, competitiveness of it all, and the athletes and that, there's always a moment.

Every four years that I'm reminded, oh, there are you. Yeah. Right? Which is tough. But I tell people that so that they prepare when they're on their comeback, right? So they prepare for it. They prepare for the little, like, I like to say, little speed bumps. Yeah, right? Little hiccups. Do not think. Ah, you know, it's so fast, it's clear, it's easy. Right. And hopefully it is for you, but probably there will be some triggers. Triggers are your gifts, right? Because that means that there's, that shows you where it means. to be healed. Yeah. Do you watch the Olympics or do avoid it? Oh, yeah. Oh, you do. I do now. I'll tell you. There were, there was a little while there after everything happened where I just stayed away from it. Mainly, well, one of the reasons was because my name was just dropped a lot during those times and it was negative. But now, like, my kids are athletes. We love sport. You know, it's a thing. And I pull for the athletes and I love watching it. I love watching it. I

I love watching it and pulling for the USA and all that. Yeah. That's great. That's huge growth. Well, I think so. We're going to love watching Special Forces. I'll tell you that much right now. Be rooting for you. It's so amazing.

Yeah. The experience was amazing. It's hard. It's tough. There's just a lot of drama. I feel like it's always cold. I've watched the commercials and it always looks cold every season. Well, because one of the seasons.

It wasn't cold. It was somewhere else. It wasn't cold. Okay. And you're also training for a triathlon. Right. It's like, okay, can I add another thing to my plate, right? Yeah, that's a lot.

So it's always been on my bucket list to do a try. I have so much respects for those athletes being able, like to train for one discipline is intense enough. To train for three disciplines, right? It's a whole other beast. And so I've very much respected those athletes for all. a long time and had always told myself that if I was able to like commit to it. It's like like and I don't do anything like like half as. If I do it, if I could say I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it.

And then life just happens, right? And I'm like, ah, I got my business. I'm traveling. I'm doing all this stuff. Where do I fit in any type of training? So let me continue to put that like on the back burner. And a business partner of mine, I competed in her first try this year. after just an incredible year of growth for her.

She lost, my business partner lost over 100 pounds. You know, I had a little part in helping her get there. And I surprised her and her sister, who was also competing in her first try. It showed up at the try. It was a small try in North Carolina. And I just surprised them. And I did know how much I was going to get out of it by seeing her in that moment. Oh, it makes me emotional.

It was amazing. It was amazing. And I left that competition saying to myself, tomorrow's not guaranteed for anybody. You need some type of physical challenge. Like, that's who I am. Like, I've been away from that for so long. Make time.

Make time, right? Like, I am blessed that I, you know, I have the resources that I can move things around. I can make it happen. Do it. Right? And so, yeah, I started the journey a few months back. I decided on a try that I'm going to compete in in 2025.

It's humbling. You talk about being humbled, right? Like, I don't consider myself a runner. I used to run fast from here to there. Not like long, yeah. Okay, so there is a challenge in the run aspect of the try. Again, I can swim, but as I shared with you all, I swim not to drown. and so my kids don't drown.

And so learning proper swimming technique at almost 50, what? Like how to breathe, your arm stroke? Right. There's a challenge. And then you talk about the bike situation. I know how to bike. I know how to bike with my kids around the block. Yeah, leisurely.

Right. You know, I'm not in a position for an hour plus with your back. And let's talk about the saddle or the seat situation. Ooh, whatever that is. It hurts. why? Why? Why can't they change it out? Like when I was a kid and I'm talking like, you know, my seat was big and wide. Of course it was comfortable. It was a banana seat. I could be on that all day. Oh my God. Yeah. What is up with that? They are the tiniest. It hurts. It hurts so bad. Until it doesn't. And that's where you get to a point. Yeah. Really? Do you wear the shorts that have the pad in them? You have to, right? Okay. But when you're out, now I'm to a point where I'm training on the bike for hour plus, right? You're on, and you, it, down there it just says, is this all you're going to give me?

Okay. Right? And it just becomes numb. Fun. After a while, until you hit a little, like, dip in the road. Oh. But why? I want to know the why.

Yeah, why? Why can't they put a pad on top of it? We're going to research it. I know there has to be a reason. I mean, there's like, there's a reason. But here's talking about. A reason. probably designed by a man.

I was going right there. Yeah. So when I was, when I was, when I was competing, I used to wear the shorts. Mm-hmm. Right? And you'll notice most of the women, even then and now,

wear the bikini briefs. Right. Right. And I'm just a conservative, you know, family. I just, that's like the pool. You jump the pool in that, right? Or you're home and underneath your clothes. Anyways, I used to tell people, if it was going to make you run faster, the men would be wearing it.

Right. Right. So why is it just the women wearing these little itty-bitty, like outfits? Hmm. And so, I mean, right. So we can, you know, let people own opinions. But I was like, no. Like, there's no.

I mean, is it more comfortable? Like, maybe their argument is that it's more comfortable for the women? No. I think I tried once in my career to wear and at the end of the race, like you couldn't see it anymore because it was in a yeah, right. And maybe it's because of my anatomy and I didn't have anything to keep it in place. Oh, yeah. No. But again, we get back to that like, I don't know why. But that's the way that it is. So yeah, I've been training now. I'm looking forward to kind of making. And I don't know where it's going to go. Right. Like yeah. Like I don't know. I have no real desire to to be like an Olympic triathlete?

No, this is for like me. Yeah. And I train hard. I'm, you know, blessed and talented. But also it doesn't rule my world. I want to enjoy it. I want to love it. I want to, I'm going to be competitive.

We'll see how that looks. Right. But I don't, I will do the best that I can. Right. And that to me doesn't necessarily mean first place. Right? It always has. Usually the best that Marion can give with something physically is usually first place. But I don't know. I'm going to be 50 years old. I'm going to be participating in a sport I never have doing disciplines. I never have in a foreign environment. Let's see. Let's see. I love it. I love that you're doing it. Really quick. What were your thoughts on Tyson fighting? Oh, my. Come on. Did you watch it? Of course. Yeah. Of course. I just want to know what your thoughts on the age gap, like what you're. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Elite athletes all have a common theme in our brains in that we can always be great at our discipline, at our sport.

Like, if you get, like, really, in the back of my mind, if you give me one year to train, like, I can be competitive in my sport again, right? It's not realistic, right? Like, I'm almost 50. Like, these girls are, no, it's not. But in here. In here it is. And so people are amazed like that, you know, these boxers, and usually you see it's in the boxing world that they come back and they do this. But I understand it, right? Now, are there other probable factors involved in terms of money in terms of whatever? Yes. But I truly feel that Mike truly feel that he could have done it.

Yeah. I mean, I thought in my head. I will tell you. I was telling you, though, and it's also because, you know, Mike is in my time frame. Like, I grew up watching him, right? So, hey, get Mike's going to go and destroy. But then when I saw the fight. Okay, first there's the Netflix thing, right?

Like, come on, Netflix, right? Were you not to think that the bandwidth is going to be crazy? Anyway, that's all the story. It just seemed really staged. To me, I was disappointed with that. I didn't watch it, so that's why I'm. I was disappointed in this. that. I was disappointed in seeing like some footage that I know of Mike training up to it and how

he looked compared to how he looked that night. Right. And right, like the character who fought him. Okay. The character who fought him is just, ah, so I was just disappointed in it. It's that if he was coming back, um, I like, you either go out. Like, you either go out. Like, like, you're just disappointed. Like, Like you go out, like if this is the last time you will ever fight, like you go out like that. Yeah. You get hit. Maybe you go down. But man, you go out fighting.

Yeah. For that to be probably the last time that we see him fight. I'm like hoping so. Right. You know, on one hand. But listen, on one hand, but then for that to be the lasting image, maybe not for you and I, because we've seen him in other fights so we know what he can do. But there's a generation that really never...

I mean, I've seen him. And for that to be the lasting image of arguably the greatest fighter ever besides Muhammad Ali, that makes me sad. Same. You think so bad to lose? I don't know. I don't work for them. I don't know. I don't watch it.

So I'm just like curious. It was kind of like treading water, right? Yeah. Like they were... They were... Like, dancing. You would have seen the girls before. Oh!

Oh, my Lanta. Yeah. That was, I mean, these women fought their heart out. That was next. Now I feel like I need to go back and watch that. You should want. Am I right? Those women? It was amazing. Oh, no. It was amazing. And it's just so perfect in this generation of women's sports. Yeah. Like that, that, that they stole the show. Oh, they stole the whole night. Oh, really? Oh, beyond. I mean, you talk about putting it all out there. I've never seen it by that. So it wasn't like, you know, when women's boxing first started, you know, there was a lot of this, right? And it was skilled.

Like, they knew what they were doing. They had so much heart, you know, it's controversial with the eye gash and the headbutting and stuff. But that's boxing. That's boxing. You know? And there's a little controversy at the end because who won, people didn't think she was supposed to win. But whatever. It was.

Right? For, I hope, kids. men, boys, girls to see that fight. Like, that is the lasting image of such a huge card that night. And you take away, okay, the mic situation. But did you see the women? That's everybody. How often, we're in a generation now that that's what's happening.

Yeah. But did you see the women's game? Did you see that tennis match? Did you see? Yes. Like, that is awesome to me. The mic situation was a disappointment. Yeah.

Yeah. But the women did win the night. Yeah. It was great. It was really something. Our day. Yeah, you won. You won.

You won broad ideas. Congratulations. You didn't even know it was a competition, but she won. It's always a competition. Yeah. But thank y'all. It has been so nice talking to you. Y'all as well.

Yeah, this has been amazing. You very well. We're really excited for special forces. Yeah, thank you. I can't wait. I know. We'll report back. Thank you so much.

That was a headgum podcast. Thank you.