The Dumb Zone FREE - DZ 11-7-25 PREVIEW | Brandon Aubrey explains the 68 yard field goal and Jared Sandler's fertility update

Episode Date: November 7, 2025

Subscribe to the show to hear the full episode! DumbZone.com or Patreon.com/TheDumbZoneTexas Rangers broadcaster, Jared Sandler, updates us on his fertility journey with some good and bad news. Then Cowboys all-pro kicker, Brandon Aubrey, joins us for his weekly appearanceThe Brandon Aubrey Show sponsored by Community Mechanical. Sign up for preventative maintenance and get $50 in DZ merch as well as 10% off all equipment and labor costs! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hey now, what you're about to hear is a free preview of one of this week's premium episodes of the Dumbzone. If you would like to hear this program in full with the archive of all of our past episodes, you can subscribe at DumbZone.com. Bear is a cool football name. What did you want to name Joe again? Well, I had a couple. I had Rock Brutus. Like, can you imagine Rock Kemp? He would have probably...

Rock Kemp. He'd probably be in the league right now. now his name was rock camp yep i like it man i like it a lot that's sad hey jared while we're here obvious uh grab the wheel here different topic but um we haven't talked to you in about a month or so about the topic of your uh journey to fatherhood which i have been very interested in just because we went through something sort of similar but then your situation with fertility has been 10 orders above that, including flipping through pamphlets and looking at Madden ratings of potential eggs.

But you announced something on social media, so it's not like I'm prying here. And I know it's something you like to talk about. So I'd like to hear about where you guys are. Yeah. Well, so my wife, Emily, is actually 23 weeks today. So she is pregnant. We have a baby girl on the way, which we are incredibly excited about.

But we did initially post on Instagram that we were expecting two babies, one from my wife and then our surrogate. And unfortunately, a couple weeks after that, we found out that our surrogate miscarried, which was a huge surprise because she had, without going into too much detail, but she's had four successful pregnancies, one as a surrogate, and, you know, they give us all the percentages. And, you know, I don't know if it's supposed to make us feel better or not, but, you know, basically it was like a 2% chance of this happening and all this stuff. So it was really, it was an interesting, and she was carrying a boy. So, you know, we were super excited. We were going to have a girl and a boy. The girl was going to be about a month older. I was.

was going to have an incredibly chaotic spring. Emily's due right at the beginning of March and then our surrogate would be due right at the beginning of April in Bakersfield. And, you know, we kind of got to the point mentally. We allowed ourselves to sort of envision, you know, having these twins. And so, you know, that news was really tough. But it was also like, you know, I, we felt so confused like, like, how to feel because here we are.

We've been trying just to become parents for the last five and a half years. We've lost, you know, now I guess, you know, double digits in terms of, you know, our attempts. And we've got a healthy, you know, knock on wood, you know, as of now, a very healthy baby girl on the way. And like, that's, we just want to be parents. And so we're incredibly excited and grateful for that.

But we also, you know, we lost this baby boy. And so it was tough. I'll be honest, I think, you know, my wife handled it way better than I did. I think she's just, you know, so focused on being pregnant and doing everything she can to take care of, you know, the baby she's caring. And so I think that was a good distraction for her not to say that she didn't feel it emotionally as well. But so now we're in a position. It's actually, I don't know, I share this. I was listening to y'all talk about the Logan Wilson podcast,

and it is kind of funny when they talk about things that just aren't relatable to anybody. So I'm only sharing this with that in mind because maybe this is relatable to someone out there. But our surrogate, we've got to basically make the decision whether or not we want to, because we do want multiple kids, do we want to try again with the surrogate, even though the tests that we got back didn't give us any real direction

as to why it didn't happen, which could be good, but is also kind of not good because maybe you could identify something and then you just make a change and all right, you feel good about it. Or because Emily, knock on wood, is successfully carrying a baby, do we just say, hey, you know, we aren't going to spend all the money with a surrogate because it is not cheap and wait however long until, you know, we decide that we're ready and Emily's ready to go through IVF again and and have another transfer and carry a baby with the understanding that, hey, she's now one for, you know, whatever. Maybe you could have broke the dam.

Right. Is she on a hot street? Do you ride the hot hand here? Keep feeding her. Yeah. She's due for a couple. We don't have the ability to necessarily wait until Emily gives birth because we also owe it to our surrogate to let her know whether or not we want to

use her again or if she needs to kind of, you know, market her services to other. other, you know, people who desire to become parents. So that's where we are. And I'd say two things, dumb zone related. One, the amount of people who reached out to us after Emily posted that was overwhelming. People we knew, of course, but then so many people we didn't know. And I think I went to a Stars game shortly thereafter. And I had, and I know I say this, and maybe people roll their eyes,

the amount of like dumb zone listeners who will come up and talk about. you know whatever it is related to the show but people who uh are aware of what we have gone through through you know these conversations and so for anyone out there listening uh you know who has come up or made comments about that you know it means a lot we really do appreciate it and then the other thing i know eat sees is a big part of the dumb zone i think uh my wife her her pregnancy craving and it got her through when we found out about the surrogate i think we have eat sees every single day at least once a day.

So we're just, you know, we're doing our part to keep ETSIs afloak. Because I know, you know, they're struggling. But, no, I'm just kidding. That place is the best, but. It's made for pregnant women. It is made. And then never got to experience ETSs during a pregnancy, but you would have been there twice a day instead of once because.

It is, it is, yeah, like, unbelievable. But, so yeah, I don't know. I just kind of rambled there. No, no. I think it's, I wanted to give you the, the forum. But also, I just, I appreciate that you're able to talk about this confidently, and it doesn't feel weird. It feels like you have a very good grasp on all of it. You have some interesting decisions to make.

I would say this. Aren't you concerned? Why? Because it's been, like you said, one for whatever, she's been in a slump. Are you concerned about, like, even making it public now? Why not wait? Wait about what? just to tell the world that you're uh well at some point this is a this is let me try it's uh it's

as i understand at some point going to be obvious well yeah but then you can tell people who you actually interact with and see then you can that's not the game yeah i think dan to the honest of you um and and the real shitty thing is given what we know now when we had the pictures taking the maternity pictures, our surrogate, she didn't know this at the time, but based on what the baby was measuring at and whatnot, you know, we didn't realize we're taking these pictures thinking we've got, you know, two on the way and our son, his heart had already stopped. But, Dan, I think a part of it is we've kind of broken, he used the phrase broken the dam. You know, we have now been more open over the last year about what we've been going

through with the purpose of, you know, being a resource or just a voice to people who feel like, you know, they're going through this alone, whether they reach out or they don't, just knowing that there are other people out there. And I think a part of that is just dropping the fear of what could go wrong. And my wife and I've had these conversations and there are days where I'm the one who's like kind of uneasy about this because of what you're suggesting and same with my wife. but you know the other the other part of it is we wanted to go through the experience as if it was our first time and if it was our first time then we would announce and we would share and we would celebrate with people and we would have that excitement and even though we can't change how we feel based on our past experiences we want to celebrate it and the reality is I I mean I probably will dig a hole for weeks maybe a month if we find out that we've you know we lose the daughter that my my wife's caring. I'm not afraid to admit that. And I'm not afraid to be vulnerable in that way and share with people and set ourselves up for that possibility. So I just, I think fertility,

what we've learned is that there are so many people out there and everyone makes their own decisions on this. But there's such a stigma behind the whole fertility process and specifically the loss part of it. And there are people who are ashamed and embarrassed. And I get it. because it's kind of like that's how people are made to feel like they should feel but we're just beyond that at this point we've lost you know like I said 10 10 babies and I wear a necklace I've shared this to you guys I wear a necklace that hangs right at my heart that kind of carries all them with me they are a part of our life and in our experience and if you know it takes a wrong turn it takes a wrong turn but we're not we just don't want to live in the fear of that and if it happens it happens but we're just I think what's helped us get through the last couple years, what we've learned is just, and it's going to sound corny, but like choosing the positive option

or just trying to fight the urge to be negative or cautious when we don't really need to be. And so I think that's why we haven't hesitated in sharing, you know, this time around. I just don't know how to not be negative, I guess. Due date? So she's due March 6, but they won't let her get to 40 weeks because she's high risk, and so it'll probably be about a week or so before that.

So we're pretty fired up. Let me tell you, the stroller industry is a big racket. My goodness, you got to, they try sell, you got to get this one, but only for this purpose. So if you get this one, then you got to get this and then these other two inserts or whatever. Get it to do now. I was like blown away. You got to get it, do now. You have to.

No, that's what everyone says. What's it common? But like that one's only for like one specific purpose, right? That it can't be your like. It's not your long term. No, but it helps. You know a little one too. Like you don't, you don't want like just a car seat and just a stroller.

There's too much. The Duna is two and one. Oh, okay. It'll get you through the rough time. So I couldn't recommend that enough. Off topic. Somebody email me yesterday said they saw somebody pushing a dog in a stroller. Oh, yeah.

Have we seen this? I have it's not you've seen it in like big cities yeah you see it over here really really these guys are saying over here everybody's raising her hand okay how have I never seen a dog in a stroller apparently our dog isn't our dog's older and isn't able to go on walks anymore so to get that disability waiver man you got force shields all over the place I can't have any fun with you was the dog in the military I'm just being honest we have a stroller that we take him outside so we can get some fresh air yeah my dog stands up when they ask the military to stand up and pause your hat off and you've you've told us too your wife is okay with the winner of picks gets to name the baby right fantastic yeah all right brutus sandler no uh altouvae altouvae sandler i did we had a conversation when we first met that i was like pretty dead set that i if i had a boy i really wanted her to consider dirk as a first or middle name but uh dude when you started this process i bet luca was in play luca lucca wasn't so much in play uh not that dirk is a very jewish name and not that the names we like are jewish name luca's more

not so much uh it sounds way more yeah i know what you mean is sandler i don't i don't associate names with being jewish like is sandler i guess like rothstein or something maybe right but Sandler for sure. Is Sandler? I think Sandler is only because of Adam Sandler. Because I know some Sandler's who are not Jewish, but I think because the most famous Sandler is very, like, outwardly Jewish. I think people think that Sandler, yes, for now, is, is a,

but I don't think of it as in that way, but maybe, I don't know. So, like, does the first name have to be Jewish is what I'm saying? No, I think in the Jewish religion. What's a real Jewish first name? I don't want to do this. You can. I have found that John with no H is a much more common thing in the tribe. How about Rock?

Rock is not a Jewish name, is it? I don't know about that, yeah. Although that's all David Head. Jeez. Ball. So biblical. So the Jewish religion, you are supposed to, either the first middle or Hebrew name

you usually use the similar first letter as a family member who has passed away but you don't do like junior like so you would never do and not that I would do this but like Jared Jr. Dan Jr., but you would like if my grandfather my dad's dad's name was Dave so maybe you would pick a name that begins with a D type of thing. That's more common than like a quote unquote

like Dan or Daniel like Dan. Like Dan. Or Daniel. Like Dano My wife's My wife's grandfather Who basically raised her So that's D is very much in play

Oh wow That's what she said Yeah D is very much Uh Okay Well It's been in play

The last five and a half months Hey Hell yeah Sex bros All right Well way to go Way to go Way to go

We'll talk to you guys We'll talk to you guys Next Friday There they go Chappie's lock of the week Why is he flexing on the camera? I love it. All right.

Go to bed. No, look, Bruce. Go. All right. Yeah, we'll see you, Chappie. Okay. So right now, it is time to visit with Brandon Aubrey. Our man is kicking hauling bombs with his foot down on the gas.

Homey kick it off the turf. Papa kick it off the grass. Community mechanical make old. Blue Baby, Baby Buckle-Love and stuff. Brandon Aubrey's show. who is joining us before jumping on a plane to, I'm guessing. South Bend. Going to South Bend.

That's your break? Yeah, we'll go to Chicago for a bit. Cabo, man. What about? I don't know. Yeah, beaches don't sound great. We can go to a beach any time, but you can't go to a Notre Dame football game anytime. You cannot.

Is the whole family going? No, just me and Jen and the, The in-laws will stick around, watch the house, and Colton. You're not letting Marist third wheel it? Oh, we invited Marist. He was going to come with Sonia, the WMBA superstar, but they're going up to see her family instead. Maris is a partner.

I don't know what married situation. What are we talking about? Maris is a Golden Domer. Oh, okay. Yep. Brandon. Brandon. He's dating at WNBA?

What are we doing? That part I didn't know, yeah. But you can step aside. quick on this part brandon um but when you see a pacific islander in the NFL dan particularly a linebacker nutter dame or b yu are good guesses okay that's fair it's a really good guess and uh i didn't know about the wnba part yeah uh sonia she was a NBA or sorry uh college basketball player at nutter dame i think she was drafted like third overall out to the washington team um i don't know a lot of details but I think she had a good rookie year.

Season is over from what I understand and not starting up anytime soon. We always think like there's always a WNBA draft or the finals or like every other week. It seems to jump up on us quite often. It seems like they have seven seasons a year. Is Maris a – I mean, I guess this is probably an obvious one, but he feels like a guy who in film gets a lot of reaction from the room like the movie had the other night was it was insane he crashed into a lead blocker uh it seems like he'd be a fun guy to be in the film room with yeah he's he's awesome and off the field

nice soft-spoken smart uh genuine guy and then on the field he plays like his pants are on fire like he's got somewhere to go and anybody that gets in between him is kind of going to end up on the floor which we love our uh special teams coordinator breaks every meeting with speed violence finish, which he really embodies in the way he plays, especially on kickoff. It's just fun to watch him, knowing that if there's someone in his way, he's going to run him over and go make the play. So I love having him on my kickoff coverage team. I don't have to make very many tackles.

I haven't made a single one. So I love having guys like him. So the trade deadline was yesterday. Was there any concern about yourself getting traded? No. Not that I'm aware of. Should I have been worried? No, I know a couple of media people were throwing out like they should trade Brandon Aubrey for whatever.

And we immediately rejected that notion, of course. Yeah, who said that? There's a guy, well, I mean, to be honest with you, yeah, it's a dude who people read. And it wasn't like he was saying I'm hearing things. He's not a reporter. Yeah, it was Bill Barnwell. I think he was more just saying you hear about like GP too of like, hey, this is put him over. the top value yeah this is great value he's not making a lot of money as you know and he's the

best kicker in the NFL and if you can get that for a top top contender that thinks they are just you know a little bit away from the Super Bowl and who knows maybe the cowboys think that now as well because they just acquired a couple players buyer mode buddy yeah yeah what's that due to the room when i i because i would imagine it would be deflating if you are selling off your parts. Yeah, I've never been on a team that has been a seller. You know, I've only been on the Cowboys for three years, and it always feels like we're pushing to do anything we possibly can to get into that playoff picture, and from there, anything can happen. So, yeah, it gives the team a bolt of energy, knowing that front office still believes in our opportunity to make the

playoffs and they're going to do their part so we got to do our part so um nice to have uh some some fresh bodies and um the belief in the room kind of starts to hopefully go up um so that's just it's just nice to have that vote of confidence it seems like a vote of confidence coming in from upstairs saying hey we believe in you guys if we keep adding to this then um you have every opportunity in the world do make the playoffs i've never understood how baseball players do it like it's two-thirds or less of the way through the year and they're like we're not we're not trying the rest of the year we're going to trade half the team you got 70 more of these so go make it work that just seems that just seems very difficult to me i don't know how you do it you get up and do your job every day like that yeah i've never been in that situation so to be in a locker room like the jets i don't know what that feels like right now but i can't imagine it's a good feeling but at the end of the day we're professionals we got a job to go do no matter who's next to us, you want to go put on good tape so you have your job next year and you're not one being walked out the door. So it's going to feel a lot more like a business than a family in

that locker room, which Schottenheimer and the Cowboys in general do a good job of trying to make the team feel like a family. And when you ship off parts that are big parts of that family for draft picks that, you know, it's just a, it's not even a person. It's not even a person. just a number on a paper yeah right so like it doesn't it doesn't feel great so to have to give up the piece of paper for another body to bring in and especially when it's a first and a second round pick you expect expect him to come make an impact so hopefully hopefully he does the NFL is kind of turning the NBA now just with trades and or MLB like as I recall even a few years ago you would just never get this like kind of activity right at the trade deadline yeah it's it's fun

to see um as as a fan looking into it um you have these splash moves um it seems like eagles are always doing something like that um you know the stafford golf trade was super exciting worked out for for both teams um and yeah it's fun it's fun to see players get second opportunities or maybe just different situations and see how well they do. Teams don't value what they have in their own locker room sometimes, or they're just in a bad situation for you mentally, whatever it could be. Just the change of scenery sometimes sparks a new life in a player's career, which is fun to see as a fan. Are you guys talking about? What was the most shocking trade or surprising? No. For us, every time Eagles make a trade, you kind of roll your eyes and like, again, where do they get all these picks from? And then when you see us jump into the fray and get a big name like that, you get really excited. So really just talking about the additions we made, which are exciting for us.