THE ED MYLETT SHOW - The Home Run Trailblazer

Episode Date: February 7, 2019

This history-making trailblazer and hall-of-famer is igniting the path for female athletes as one of the most powerful women in major league baseball! She is a 4 time All-American Athlete, Professional Softball Player, hall-of-famer, and Olympic Gold Medalist! She's the first female commentator for a Major League Baseball game in the history of ESPN AND the first female commentator in MLB postseason history. It is my pleasure to share with you the trailblazer herself, Jessica Mendoza. "I WANT TO WIN!" These are the words of Jessica as she expressed her passion to achieve in every area of her life. In this interview, we dive into what it really takes to win, whether that be in business, in sports, in raising children, in your faith... EVERYTHING! Find out what this Olympian Trailblazer is made of as we venture through her journey of crossing cultural barriers at the Olympics to how she has changed the trajectory of baseball forever! What does it really take to be a trailblazer? Find out how Jessica was able to overcome the criticism that could have crippled her spirits and ruined her career. Watch now to find out how she has maintained her confidence, her strength and her ability to WIN and MAXOUT her life! We DEMYSTIFY the pursuit of work/life balance, DEFINE the value of teamwork and HUMANIZE the insecurities that stare us in the face. Join us on this journey of finding strength, standing out and waving your flag!

This is the Edm Mylich Show. Hi everybody, it's Ed Mylich. Welcome back to Max Out. I am so fired up about today's program. I'm a chasing this lady to get on the show for... Jason. Jason, for many, many, with a new heart to catch. In fact, so hard to catch, I had to drive all the way to your house to do this today.

So you know this is a great pad and getting it's a family home, which is reflective of YouTube. But you know this is important to me today because we didn't shoot it at my house. I came to you. And this lady, most of you recognize her, but if you don't, she's a trailblazer. And she's an incredible mother. She's an author. She's one of the greatest college softball players of all time She's an Olympic gold medalist and she is many many other things, but she's also Really the first female baseball announcer in the history of ESPN And she is also the host of Sunday night baseball with my friend Alex Rodriguez and so we got all kind of stuff to cover today So thank you for being here. Good to have you here. Thank you.

Yeah, thanks for coming. I'm glad you're in my house. I know. I'm pretty honored. It's cool. And we're sober today, guys. No alcohol in today's show. Alfred Scott.

She did. She did. I wanted to keep it real. So thank you again for doing this. And I don't know if you realize it, but you're making history. Does it feel like it to you? I mean, that you've broken through all of these barriers. I mean, you're the first woman ever to do what you do in terms of the broadcasting room.

Do you ever think about that? I don't, I mean, I don't think about it like history. I think, I guess when you do stuff like that, it's for history. It's for when 30, 40 years from now, and I got grandkids, and we're sitting around the table and you look back. That's how I think of it.

I think what hits me more is that there's more responsibility. So I recognize that this is more than just about me. But this isn't just me doing my job. But there are a lot of women, there's men, fathers, daughters that depend on me to not screw up. I've recognized that from day one. Yeah, it's true. When women knew that I was finally

had booked you, I'm going to tell you I was struck by the kind of the level of emotion from some of the women about how much they're rooting for you and you're so great at it so they don't really need to worry about that. But it's interesting to me, I think when you're making history you don't know it. It's not until you're done making it that you go, wow, that was profound. But in, you know, the 50 50, 80 year history of the sport, and then all the television time,

you're the first woman to do this. And so it's pretty significant. I had Christine Simmons on my show who's the president of the LA Sparks and she's an African-American woman. And she said to me, she says, I'm conscious of the fact that I'm the first. And I want to do a good enough job,

so that I'm not the last. Yeah, no. And that was honestly one of the fact that I'm the first and I want to do a good enough job so that I'm not the last. Yeah, no, and that was honestly one of the biggest things I talked to John Skipper, who's then president of ESPN, and him giving me the opportunity to be on Sunday, and everybody's always like, look, like I just don't want this to be the, hey, we'll put her on for a couple games, like don't put me on unless it's something that we want to sustain. And not just with me, but just as far as opening the door to a lot of women. And that's where the responsibility kicks in. Because I screw up that door closes. I want to knock the damn door down and just like, come on everybody. Well, you're doing it because just recently you just signed up multi-year

deal with them. So it doesn't seem like it's going to end anytime soon, right? So I'm excited. Yeah, I get to stay. Congratulations. That's because you've done such an amazing job. And Alex is constantly telling me how incredible you are. And frankly, before you and I had met, I was familiar with you. But I must tell you, he raved about you and our private conversations about you. He thinks the world of you. But I want to go back because I want people to, you know, you're not the after.

You're in progress. But I want people to kind of know a little bit more because I think they know you as the broadcaster. But if you really dig deeper, you're an incredible athlete as well, right? So this one, we want a gold medal and a silver medal in the Olympics. And at Stanford and softball, right off camera, I said, you're one of the greatest college softball players of all time. You know, no, I'm not. And I said, well, at Stanford, she says, no, no, I'm not. And I said, well, let's stand for it. She says, no, I'm not.

But the truth is, you were a great athlete. Were you always a great athlete growing up? Oh, oh my gosh. And I wish we had a real, I could just show you me. Around the holidays, especially my parents will break out, old videos of me as a kid, me playing softball. I mean, I played all sports, but I was completely uncoordinated. Oh gosh, me and T-Ball, right?

The ball's on a stick, okay? It's how I'm moving. I would strike out. But I'm like, I mean, my personality too. Like, I'm like all into it. Like, taking these huge hacks, trying to swing out of my shoes, and the ball's still sitting there on the stick.

And you can run it out of the first baseline. It looks like Phoebe from Friends. Like, are you serious? Like when did you get good? I mean my dad was, you know, he's a legendary in this area, football, baseball coach. And I grew up on the sidelines, I grew up on the dugout. Coach's kid, you're, oh yeah, you're only just always practicing. My dad didn't see the uncoordination or just the total like, you know, wow, like, he saw the

athlete always and he saw the potential. And so especially my younger sister and I, we worked all the time. Before you could eat dinner, you had the weight program. Seriously. Like when your, your, your coaches came, like, I have friends to this day that said, I hate it coming to dinner at your house because my, your dad would make us work out. No way. He'd be like, oh, he made you do that too. And that was just the norm. I was like, is that not what you do? He was like, he was called military workouts and he had like a military press bar.

Then we'd have to do this full workout before you could eat dinner. Whoa. Yeah, no, he was intense. It's funny because a lot of the athletes I have on my show, not all of them, but usually one of the two parents instilled some sort of kind of crazy work ethic that they think is normal that nobody else in the world

does when they were young, so it was your dad. And your dad played college football at Fresno State, right? Yes, dang, you did do your homework. I did do my homework. And I've also told through a mutual friend of ours that your dad is a central figure in the sense that he's a huge fan of yours, but he'll also let you know what's up, both when you played and in broadcasting.

Oh, yeah. And that your mom is more just a support and a fan. So describe the dynamic. You just, people, I think people that have children want to know, how do you make something like this, right? So what was that, what was that dynamic like or is? The balance is key. And I think understanding your kid, I mean, I got two boys now.

And my sister and I were super different and so just understanding the personality like I mean my dad pushed me but my mom was there to also she was incredibly intelligent so she pushed the school end of it but then with softer on the athlete she was always just like you're doing a great job no matter what on the sports side when I came to school was like you can do better okay whereas my dad was like school ah, school work, like, just get after, and so they balanced each other. And we could kind of find that happy medium.

They both weren't hardcore all the time. Which your dad let you know after a game that something wasn't acceptable or you didn't play well? Oh, he'd never let me know. The opposite. It was, I mean, you, okay, go ahead. I can't remember until I got to college and I remember like the first moment but until I got to college I don't remember him ever saying like good job

and I don't mean that in like a bad way I just the coach in him I could be three for four with three home runs and we talk about the one at Badad and Gamba and that mentality still inside of me of you know even in broadcasting, it's like, okay, like you can work and work, but there's always something you can get better. And it's not looking at it like you're bad, or he never was like you're awful, or he was never negative.

He was just always trying to give that constructive criticism of like, okay, but what are we trying to do to get better? I think sometimes, I'm that way a little bit too, and I think sometimes it says something to you that's powerful, which is like, we know you're to get better. I think sometimes, I'm that way a little bit too. And I think sometimes it says something to you that's powerful, which is like, we know you're better than this. I know you can be better than this.

I think if you're willing to break the negative part down, even with your kids, because we're in this sort of positive PC, where like everything has to be. Everyone gets a trophy. Everyone gets a trophy. We're all great. But you said you remember the first time

he validated something you did. What was that? I was like, it's yesterday. So it's funny, it's like such an emotional moment You said you remember the first time he validated something you did. What was that? It's like yesterday. It's funny. It's like such an emotional moment because it hit me like a lightning rod. And I'll never forget. We're in my parents' van.

I was playing in internaments. I was at Stanford. Freshman year. Preseason tournament. We're in San Diego. And we just played Cal State North Ridge. I was up to bat with the bases loaded. I'm batting third as a freshman.

So I'm feeling pressure. In my mind, I'm like, this is who you want it to bat with the basses loaded. I'm batting third as a freshman. So I'm feeling pressure in my mind. I'm like, this is who you want up to bat. You want the number three batter basses loaded. This is a team that we should beat, and I struck out on a change-up. Like, I remember the pitch. And it was pretty fat change-up too. And I don't know, like, just didn't see it, whatever.

Like, missed it. Gamens. We had it like a break, so my parents took me to lunch before we had to be back for the next game. And I remember sitting in the back seat behind my dad and mom's over here and I'm just like, I mean, as down as they come and I'm ready for it. Like tell me what I did wrong, like, you know, but I'm already like, I know I'm awful. Like, you know, he pulled the car over and he turned around. And he's like, Jesse, don't you know that you're the best

athlete that our family has ever seen? And I was just like, head up, he's like my dad played sports, he's like, I played in college, he's like, we had athletes. And he's like, I mean, he turned around to look at me and he was so emotional and proud. And he had never even come close and all of a sudden it went from like that to like,

don't you know? Like you're this down on a straight, don't you know who you are? Like you're the best damn athlete this family has seen. And to come from the coach, like my dad and like, massive moment. It literally like changed me because it helped me see me for like the first time.

Up until the point, it was like just, you know, he had done just that constant. How can I be better? I'm not good enough. And all of a sudden I was like, wait, you think I'm like, you know, it was, it sounds cheesy, but it was, and for that moment on, it was like it shifted.

Yeah, yeah. He till this day, like it's my biggest fan, I'm him and my mom, but it was, and from that moment on, it was like it shifted. He till this day, like, is my biggest fan, him and my mom, but like, his ability now to say, I'm proud of you, and you are accomplishing more than I could have ever imagined. And sometimes it strikes him that it was a female in the family, and he said that too. You know, he's just like, of all the men that we have in our family and the jocks, and he's like, I never would have thought it would have been a woman. It would be in our family that would do the things and now he sold like on women's athletics and so amazing. It's cool. I can just see your whole being changes when you talk about it. So that's wonderful. I thank you for

sharing that. I appreciate that. Yeah. Very much. It was definitely one of those. You have them that sprinkled throughout your life and that was one that literally was like the heavens opened up and I was just like, wait, what? What? Wow. Do you think you still, like, when you're doing really well, you do something as like, like even this new deli side,

do you still kind of think of like your dad as one of the first people when you do something good? I'm like, Ed, it's like, I become, and I'm Daddy's girl, and I'm close to my mom's my best friend. I feel like she doesn't get enough Kennedy there. She's my best friend, but it's an easy relationship. I was always daddy's girl just vying for that attention constantly. It was never enough.

And till this day, if he tells me he's proud of me, I'm like the 10-year-old girl. He's like, really? Are you proud of me? And it's funny because of all the social media and likes and all the things that you can get for whatever you might need, it comes back to my own father just saying, you know, four words. Me too, by the way. Isn't that amazing?

I'm in the exact same way. I have millions of people liking your stuff. If my dad's proud of me, everything else is amazing. By the way, millions of people are nodding their heads right now. Some of them are crying and they're in total agreeance with you. So let's just finish this piece though, because it's pretty incredible. This is such an accomplished woman.

The title of the show is maxed out, but you've really maxed out multiple areas. When I look at you, I'm like, I'm in your home. You can feel the spirit in your home and the love. And we're talking about your son's off camera and your husband, and I can feel this is such a loving family. And you were this, you've got this unbelievable pioneering career that we're really going to get into the teeth of in a minute.

It's just, it's trailblazing. It's changing something forever potentially. And it's you. It's probably got to blow your mind that it's you. But you were also an amazing athlete. And so don't be humble about this. You were, were you a four-time all-American? Yeah. Four-time all-American?

Yeah. Four-time all-American. Then you make the Olympic team and win a gold. What is winning a gold medal like? Oh. What's cool is, OK, so we hear the national anthem. How many times in your lifetime is growing up as a kid, a home room, games that you've played.

I think what hit me with the Olympics, and this is a bit of my personality coming in. I mean, clearly I've loved the game of softball, dedicated most of my life to playing it. So there's that passion, right? Then you go to the Olympics, and to me, in 2004, we had just gone in Iraq, so our political place in our country was very interesting at the time.

That's me. I'm someone that's very aware of a lot of that. And I remember getting into the dining hall, the cool thing about the Olympics is the Olympic Village. You get 10,000 athletes. You have more countries represented in the Olympic Village than you do in the United Nations. So my favorite piece of the Olympics besides the On the Field was actually our meals.

Really? Beyond the fact that I love to eat, but the fact that I would actually not sit with our team, I would go and I remember clearly I wanted to sit down with the Iraqi soccer team. And none of them that I had met in line getting food spoke English, I had met this Egyptian hijumper that was able to help me translate. And so I went down and sat with Iraqi software team with this new friend that I met on the Egyptian track team and literally just sat down and had conversations

about what was happening between our two countries. Oh my gosh, what a great story. No, but it was like, what did you get out of that? Just like, well, honestly, how like upset they were. And but yet here we are. And they were so just like taken aback by the fact that I wanted to talk politics in the middle of it's like, entire,

you know, they ended up inviting me back to their side of the village. And we just hung out. We spent like hours just kind of talking and getting into stuff. And, you know, and it didn't stop there. You meet athletes from all over but the point is when you have USA across your chest like I wanted to know what that really meant and when you win a gold medal and now the anthem is playing it brought such a sense of pride

for our country that I don't want to say, and I was always proud to be an American, but you know, you grow up here, you don't really realize. And for me, talking to not just Iraqi athletes, but honestly, athletes that, you know, finding out that they don't have any female representatives from their entire country. So knowing here that I grew up and I had opportunities galore from the age that I could first walk, like throwing a ball and playing with other kids. And so to answer your question, like, you get a gold medal, but like honestly, like I lost it and I'm not like very emotional like crying very much. I lost it. When we got up on that podium and our flag was raising and you have USA across your chest and it's like you combine that like of course all the hard work to win that gold,

your teammates, your sisters, that love. But there was this whole huge hit me in Athens. How proud I was to be from the country I was from, and to understand what that meant too, not just but warfare and all the different things that make it complicated. Sometimes you're not proud of, but at the end of the day, it's USA.

This is who I am. Wow. What an amazing story. Like that is an amazing story. I can just picture you sitting there talking to this Iraqi player. Like what an amazing experience. And it was funny because my teammates were like,

what are you doing? Right, right. Right. And I wouldn't give up because they were looking, even when I first started to try, I was like trying to converse with them and it wasn't working. And they're just looking at me, like, what are you trying? Like, you know, and so then I finally got a friend of mine

that I was able, okay, can you help me? And so then I went back to their table and they're like, she's back. Like, I was really good. And I was like, I'm gonna do this. And I'm glad I did because my first impression, I'm sure there would just been like, crazy American, you know?

But we ended up getting to know each other. What a wonderful story. As much as you could, you know, and I love that because I couldn't fly over to Iraq. You can talk to people. And yet we have this huge ability and I know it sounds I guess cheesy, but within the Olympic arena to cross any border and have like real conversations. Yeah I don't think it's

cheesy and I actually also think it's kind of a metaphor for who you are which is that when there's an opportunity presented to you you jump all over it in every aspect and not everybody listening to this has the opportunity to go when a gold medal or on there being the Olympics but they do have a chance to get out of their comfort zone and go explore experiences and do something extraordinary. This is no knock on the rest of your teammates because they obviously want a gold medal, so there's something you share with them forever. But you were the one who went and did that, right?

That really is important. People, there's experiences all around you every year, there's something where you could step into an uncomfortable space and just have an experience. Well, going up to a stranger. When you talk about uncomfortable, like, yeah, that's extreme, like, that's someone from another country, but like, I think all the time of times

that I've gone up to someone that makes you uncomfortable because, and I do, I tell you, I get that look a lot. Like, what, like, are you? Because Elstana stumble through, like, I'm not the most, like, I come up to a con. I was like, I really want to talk to you. You know, and it hasn't always worked out too. I've had people that literally have just walked away

and been like, you're crazy. But the point is, it's like, I'll never know. And more of my doors have opened because I've gone up to complete strength. Really? By myself, and just jumped. And I don't even know where I'm going. I'm like, I just know I need to talk to you.

So I'm gonna start kind of bubbling through this. This is very good. Awkwardly talking to you. And then hopefully at some point, we find like a conversation and connect. Oh my gosh, that's so good. But I think people appreciate that. They do appreciate that.

I do the same thing and I have awkward at it and it's gone weird for me a few times too. But like I have, I want a rich life. Like I want experiences. I don't want everybody else's life. And that's what I love about you. You haven't done that. You have this standard where you want to dominate.

And you did. She's one of the greatest softball players that's ever played that sport before. And it gets lost because you've become this pioneering broadcaster, I think, for a lot of people too. And you're so great at that. And I'm curious, you went and played professionally after that.

But I want to go into this tie, because I think people can relate to this, where your initial dream ends. So you maxed out that dream, but it kind of ends. And so there's a lot of people that relate to this where you're initial dream ends, right? So you maxed out that dream, but it kind of ends. And so there's a lot of people that listen to this. Their first dream didn't work. Their first business didn't work. Their first marriage didn't work, right? There's things they've had where they're in that transitional period.

Like, how do I put myself back together? How do I step into this space? Did you think you were going to be a baseball broadcaster? And what did you do during that window when that dream ended? What does that kind of window of time look like for you? And I feel like the biggest thing for me, I mean, you can ask my husband, I always have my hand in multiple things.

Like I've never been able, even just in general, like I can't do just one thing. And so even while I was playing, to be honest, going back to why I chose to go to Stanford was like, even though there were huge softball schools, and I know to someone sitting there, like, why would you want to go to a softball school? It's not like I'm some football player

who's going to sign with me in a foul, or, you know? But when you're 17, 16 years old, you want to go to the big name schools that are still good schools, but they're like, they're going to win a national championship, and all of your favorite players went there. I chose Stanford because my whole plan was like, I'm not going to play softball after college. I need to make sure that I'm thinking about like, what this degree is going to do versus just a great softball place. You have a big life. I always say that to people, many of my friends and I have this too,

I just have a big life, meaning just have a lot of things going on at any given time. And if you don't learn to navigate that when you're not successful, just having a lot of things going on, it's very difficult to navigate having a big life once you are successful. That's why a lot of people get to a level of success, they can't maintain it because you've always juggled lots of stuff and had crazy hours, I assume, true for you. Yeah, yeah. And the bad part is, is I don't know how to not do that. So there is a negative that can come with it, like it.

And by no means is my path been perfect in the sense, like I've juggled too many things and it's gone way out of control. Me too. Now my off season, so you can relate, I literally plan stuff. Because like if I'm not working space while season isn't going on, I dream my husband crazy. So I'm like, let's fly here. Let's do this. It's because the kids involve with that and like I'm just like over planning because I

can't just like. How do you balance that people? I'd be really remiss if I didn't ask you then we'll get back in. How are you at balancing all this stuff? Mother, wife, you know, broadcaster, author. How do you do that? I've learned that like even the word balance is a bad word for me.

Me too. I just put a video out before I pulled up here today. I don't even believe in the concept. I think seeking is good, but you can't get it. Because I get that question a lot. Like how do you balance especially family and work, like being a mom and literally that word like makes me cringe because especially I feel like and I'm not saying that men don't have it too, but I feel like for women that are moms, there's this idea that working mom, I can

be hair done, go out and save the world, come home, apron on, dinner served, house is clean, kids are sitting neatly with a little heck no, I mean you should see my kids are in school right now, otherwise they'd be hanging all over crazy, like, you know, wrestling you and, you know, it's crazy and it's not perfect and there isn't a balance. What I've learned and accepted is that there's times when I'm on the road and I'm missing stuff at home.

So the balance is not, like I'm all in on work and I'm not all in at home. And that's hard to swallow. Yes. There's times I'm at home and I'm with the kids work and I'm not all in at home. And that's hard to swallow. There's times I'm at home and I'm with the kids and I blow off a conference call and I'm like, you know what? I wanna be in this moment.

And honestly, my work suffers for it. How do you navigate? How do you, you know, it's definitely imperfect and the biggest message I just constantly wanna get out there, especially for women that are considering having children. Can I do it all? It's not about doing it all.

It's doing what you're doing in the moment the best that you can. And being okay, like, swollen, like, and that's where it, because I get it all the time, the guilt, and this image that I have to be like the PTA mom and the, no, I'm me. And I think for every female out there is, I just had a friend of mine who just was debate, she's in broadcasting, was trying to say if she should have a child. And I was like, our kids will adapt to who we are and the life that we create. Not the life of society said, you know what, this is what children have to do. This is the book on every family.

This is just our family. I like, I'm so thrilled you said that because for you to say it's better than the way that I would say it and because you give permission to a whole gender of people who are the ones who most of the time are the most criticized for that. For some reason it seems more acceptable for a man to have certain areas of his life spiking and that's what I say to. There's any given time, different areas of your life are what I'd call spiking and take your attention. And you're exactly the right way you even described it

with your hands. But it seems as if it's somewhat acceptable when a male does it, and I want to over cook the pie here, but it does seem like women take more criticism often times, or maybe feel more guilt about certain areas spiking in any given time. It's both. Because I work with a man.

And it's amazing to me how I even had a manager once asked me the question, I think where it's spring training. He was like, oh, how long you here? I'm like, oh, like 10 days, I'm going around all the camps. And he's like, you have two kids. And I was like, yeah, he's like, how do you do it? How are you away? And I was like, how many kids do you have?

He was like, two. I'm like, how do you do it? You're here for three months. And I didn't mean it. And I know this person well, it was just trying, and he was just like, oh, like, I'm like, it's a saint, you're a dad, like a dad just isn't born as a mom,

like we're parents, right? Like it's not perfect, but like 100%, and there is guilt for sure that I throw on myself, but 100%, like I never see men, even an interviewer, they never get asked, like how do you be a dad And you're working like I've never even heard that question before I get it all the time. Yeah, it's so true by the way judge by it. Yeah very very very compelianc That's so true. So there's this time your dream ended you're juggling multiple things at once

You get into broadcasting through the softball space first, right? Is that's how it ends up happening? Well, you don't be humble, though. I'm really curious because you said you weren't a good softball player at first, right? You had to work at that. Did this come more natural? Were you pretty good at this in the very beginning? Would you say?

I think I was just, what surprised me, because when I first got asked to audition, because it was a need, you know, Stop-O was exploding on television, and they just needed more people. I remember my agent called, and I just started laughing. And I was like, you imagine a viking for an amino filter? Like, I'd be fired for a stay. Like, there's no way. And he's like, just go and try.

Like, it's not gonna hurt. No one's watching, it's an audition. So I did, and I flew out there, and I was just, I was nervous, I didn't understand. I had called a few friends, watched some games, but that was about it. Show up Beth Moens, who's now my broadcast partner, like for life on softball, had flown in for it, never had met her before. And we sit down and they show a game, you know, and we basically jump in on it. I can't tell you how natural it felt. So I can't say like, I don't, I don't have video

of that early phase, but I recognize right away, oh, I can do this. It's like kicking out on the couch with your friends and stuff that I realized I was already doing. Like, oh, did you see her backflip? Like on that, you know, and that passion and excitement that just genuinely I have, plus the like knowledge of being a coach's kid my whole life and literally every night breaking down video. What the hell he did. It's so weird to me, but that's so cool. No, I know.

That's awesome. It's actually beautiful because it's part of this story that explains you, like this work ethic and that extra stuff and the extra stuff. And it's what people need to hear. It's like this is the true story of how you become special. And you'll never, even when we're off-cares,

like you just don't accept that you're, when I say special, I don't mean like someone else can't replicate it. I mean like unique in that you've kept pushing past levels where most people said, my will to wins over. Like okay, I want that's enough. And that's most people in life they do that. Eventually their will to win kind of gets bought.

Do you know what I mean? Like, you can buy them with enough accolades or enough money or enough success or enough acknowledgement. And the really unique people in life, Alex is this way too, is that there's no destination at which place they want to stop growing. Yeah. Their will is not for sale.

I hope that I think I'm that way. Well, there's a screwed up, I can speak for myself, so I don't want to speak for you or Alex, but there's a screwed up insecurity that comes with it. Yes. And for me, it's not the best trait either. There's a part of me that just, I've learned to be able to look myself in the mirror and see a strong, athletic, beautiful, like all these positives, but for a very long time, there's that sense of like, I'm not good enough.

I have to be better. I gotta work hard. And I know now, even in my own space, I have to work double, triple as hard, just to prove, unfortunately, that I know you don't think I belong, but I'm gonna kick your butt in like just proving like. Like being great.

Just that I'm prepared and that I'm saying my points and I'm who I am. I'm really glad you said that. Like I'm loving this because I am insecure too. And most successful people, I've had this insecurity that they're not good enough and it doesn't always come from just a place of confidence or identity.

Like I have a really high identity, so do you. I have self-confidence. Self-confidence were like self-trust. So I really trust myself, but it doesn't mean I'm not insecure, but I'm not measuring up. And I also think really successful people hold themselves as such a high standard that there's always this power that's pulling them to another place compared to where they are to where they know they could be. Do you know what I'm saying?

And I think you have that. But the way you became a baseball, I mean, you really got the seat. As I understand the story, this is another example sort of, you had done some gains, but there's another example of an opportunity opened up and like, you jumped.

And so, we don't need to say who or what it was, but isn't it accurate that there was somebody who had been suspended another, there was a role. And if I'm wrong, correct me until the right way. But part of it is someone had you ended up getting a shot for a very short window in the main seat because of an issue with somebody else and you seized the day seize the moment is that about right at that at some point I mean I would already yes and for son and baseball right which is what I'm

doing now and you're right it was the timing of all of it because I had done my first ever national baseball game and it was kind of like hidden, not that ESPN had hidden. It was just the time of year, it was in August. I was replacing so on and ESPN2 on a Monday and it wasn't a great game at all. It was for us teams and markets. So it was like, yeah, let's have your first game beyond this like easier stage and that was on a Monday.

Okay. The suspension happened on Wednesday and I got a call Thursday asking me to be on that Sunday night. So I'd just done my first ever Major League Baseball game. So the training wheels are off quick. Right. Right. Right. Let's try this. And we had lots of on airtime, lots of softball time, lots of lots of stuff. Yeah. And I covered baseball. Right. Like'd done features and more reporting. Yes. And I think for people that don't understand like the nuances of broadcasting, reporting

and being an analyst, it all sounds the same, but it's totally different. And changing geography. Because I'd actually been an analyst for the men's college world series called baseball from the sideline. So I was doing the same job. But Phil Orland's who's actually my co-ordinate producer of my boss now, he said the point to me. He's like, I'd love for you to continue being an analyst,

but until we put you in the booth, that geographical change of maybe 60 yards will change how people see you forever. And I had never, I was actually satisfied as long as I could get my content in of not, I don't wanna say just being a reporter, but like really like breaking down swings and doing that I didn't care where I was I was gonna do it from the sideline yeah and that was so

accepted there because at the end of the day even if I was breaking down a swing perv like oh yeah she's a female on the sideline that's where she belongs they've seen female sidalopores in the NFL all the NBA yeah that she can stay there that's good we're no matter what she's saying like as long as she's there we're good. Whoa, yeah. And it's literally just going up the stairs and sitting in a booth that changed everything. Whoa. So Monday, get to call Wednesday? Thursday.

Okay. The suspension happened Wednesday. Thursday, they needed a replacement, so I get a call and they still weren't even sure. They were just kind of like, we're thinking about using you. And I'm like, oh, what Sunday? They're like, oh, like two days? And I was like, I need to fly somewhere and like, for that Monday game ad just to give you like my nerdy-ness, I probably prepared three and a half months for that one Monday game. Cause I had known I was doing it. So I'd flown all over the country, I'm out with the team,

I was like, okay, I'm ready. And I was like, oh, who's playing? What's going on? I just fly, and I live here in LA and it was a Dodger home game against the Cubs and it was the game that Jake Arietta threw a no-hitter which was the first ever no-hitter on Sunday night baseball come on decades so God's God's God is handing a little bit here then right like come on so your first that game is a no-hitter the only no-hitter to ever be on Sunday baseball. That's like my first game.

Look at that. My hairless arm has chills on it. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha game and the I like and you're so right with like They're being a hand for sure because I remember Buster only who's the reporter works on the game Who I didn't know well at that point Sunday morning, so I come in I you know I live in LA I know the Dodgers like thank goodness, and I'm off and subminded so I'm all about hitting So I came in with like tons of Dodgers tons of hitting Yeah, so you know what happens for those that don't understand what a no-hitter is. There's no offense from the Dodgers being a soccer game. But that, oh no, a Saturday I'd come over to the game

and Buster introduced me to Jake Arietta. He was gonna be the pitcher for the Cubs. It was obviously no one of us know this at the time. And just walked over, recognized that this is her first day on the job. She knows nobody. Let me just be a good dude. Really? And introduce her to the starting picture tomorrow because that'll probably just help her a

little bit. He introduces me, kind of breaks the ice to like, I'd never met Jake and I'm nervous and plus you're in a clubhouse. It's just a different environment. And then I say, I know Jake and I start talking. He's super, I mean, him and clicked right away, because he, I mean his brain is understanding of his body, we ended up talking for 45 minutes. I got more information on Jake already than I could ever, and they even ran anything down. It was just like you connect with someone. Did you use it during the game?

Well then that's what allowed me to. That's all you had, right? That's what your stuff was. Yeah, but I would have gone in with just like Dodgers office, like yes, with no hits. And instead I could dive into Jake, because I'd just spoken to him the day before about just like how he throws a slider,

why he gets his body in the certain positions and it was like amazing stuff. You guys have to understand something, this is the first time Sunday night baseball, right? Like it's, and you step in here and it's a dad gum no hitter. It's like history making game. But you crushed, you crushed. And what happens from there, because guys,

in the history of the sport, there's been one female to sit and also happens to be a Latina, by the way, who sits in that seat, right? What happens? Do you do another one and then another one, they're like, hey, we think you're gonna come back or what happens? Well, it was just supposed to be the game. And then the suspension ended up getting worse.

And so it ended up carrying out to the rest of the regular season. But it was just supposed to be the one game. And then it just, it kept, it literally, it was crazy because it was like, okay, that was awesome. Now I'm going to go back to like you know And the amount of media that came after that was incredible just because it was a no hitter So there's so many people like finally tuning in they're like wait, is that a woman's voice? Yeah, so just the like all these events happening and then they kept me on for them

And this was early September by this point So it was another like four or five games. It wasn't like a ton. Yeah. But I got to finish off the season and then do our wild card game, which is the first postseason game. You need a postseason game too. That year. Yeah. Astro's Yankees. Okay. And then they asked me to come back and they signed me on to continue. And now I'm going in into year four. That's unreal. And I got to tell you, I told you, we met in a gym by the way, in St. Louis through Alex. And I told you this when we met and I'm not I mean this is like perfect that I saw you in a gym because you can't just like blended right it I didn't had no idea and then here you are in a gym because you're so buff I was just like you're like a fixture of like the Whatever they start to go you kiss in his biceps like

Well what you guys went to that yoga room, like, I gotta go. I know that you were gonna do the workout with us. I left her in the yoga, but I gotta tell you, I told you this then and I say this to you now, I was a broadcast major, I have a show, I also played baseball and I think you're incredible at what you do. You are my favorite broadcaster and whether you are a man or a woman, and the reason is that your content preparations off the charts, but people that are great at something bring up particular energy to it.

And this is a lesson for everybody watching this no matter what you do. Influences energy, persuasion, is energy, attraction, is energy. And there's, you have the ability to transfer energy through a camera, visually, you also do it with your voice. I think you're unbelievable at what you do. And also the way you break down the game

is obviously very scientific, but you're incredible at what you do, whether you were a male or a female, I just think you're ex-lice, wanna tell you that. You really are. And I enjoy watching you and I watched you for so long. And then obviously at Morphsen too, I just a couple questions about this too,

because now it's changed the dynamic now. Now there's like three of you in this box now, right? There's three people in there. Then sitting next to you is one of now, one of the five greatest people I think ever took, you could argue even the best, but certainly in the top five, ever to actually play that sport.

How did that impact you at all? I'm wondering that dynamic of working with Alex, the fact that he was such an incredible player, did that cause any thoughts, changes, the way you delivered things, anything like that? I mean, so who I'd worked previously with was Aaron Boone, who was a hitter, wasn't nearly the hitter, obviously, of Alex, but was off into my,

I didn't work with the pitcher. And it's now also by the way, the manager of the Yankees. He was now the manager of the Yankees. Who is now the manager of the Yankees. And so that was like for Aaron and I, like learning how when we're both hitting minded, more so neither one of us would have a pitcher to kind of figure out that balance. And we would talk and kind of, to be honest, like you just get to know what gets people excited. Because we're a team.

So what's going to make a great podcast? Like I could say the perfect thing, Alex would say the perfect thing, but if we're not all on the same page and Matt Veskertian, or play by play, it doesn't make for a good broadcast. So what's gonna get you like? So that was my thing with Alex was finding out

what gets you excited. Like obviously we know how your records, everything you wear as a player, but then there's this whole knowledge side to him that you recognize which you don't see a lot and super talented players because, I mean, let's be real, they're five years old and they just can hit, so they never really learn it.

Exactly, right. It's why many of them make the worst coaches. Yes, they can't teach because they're just like, just do it. Exactly, that's what I did. Right, exactly. Alex is the exact opposite. Like, he not only is incredibly talented,

but then he does his homework and his research and just understands and dives in and just, it's endless, like the amount of knowledge he wants to learn. And even as a broadcaster now. So what was interesting and what we had to learn was just like, okay, what gets, I never wanted to let to step on him. I wanted him to like our broadcast to make sure,

someone hits a home run, like I realized this. And as much as we can say, like I'm great at all these things, like I want to hear from Alex, so many times. You know what I mean? Well, because he's Alex, like I want, when we're breaking down, like whatever it is, anything honestly in the game, I want, when we're breaking down, whatever it is, anything, honestly, in the game. I want to hear what Alex Rodriguez would do.

Because that's, I mean, he's another level within the game that we're covering. And I can read him now and feel his body sitting next to me so I can tell when he's still thinking, so, okay, I can jump in and he can always follow. But then there's time and now, like, we can tap and it's almost just like, I got this. I will always take a back seat to Alex with as far as when he is excited and he has that energy Because when he does that I feel like he's one of the best broadcasters out there

Yeah, there's team dynamics and everything that people are listening to here So it's like you can't just nobody wins in business or anything like solo There's people around you all the time one thing he tells me about you all the time is like, you have no idea how hard this lady works and how prepared she is. Those are the things about you. The other thing that he's told me is like, she always is thinking about how to put me in the best position to win. This is what he says about you.

That's a lesson for everyone with any company, any business. You have to be in a broadcast booth. It's your work ethic, it's your preparation, and it's putting the people around you in the best position to win, which you need to get credit for, because not only are you great on your own, but you're great also,

and your knowledge level of the game is just through the roof. But that also helps you. Like I just, I don't know, and this is playing team sports your whole entire life, but like if you want to win, I want to win. And I'm competitive. Like, yeah, I get it.

If it's me and Irina, like, Boxy match, me versus you, like, there ain't no team, like, I'm kicking your butt. Like, let's go. But when you're talking about success and pretty much anything you do, even when you're working on a project, it takes a team, raising children. And not just my husband and I,

I mean, we got like lots of people that help us and support us. Like, and I've learned that like, I can't do it myself. And I learned that as a teammate. Like when I played on teams where I could be the best hitter, the best athlete, hit a home run every time and we lose. I don't wanna lose.

I love that. I wanna win. So you win by figuring out your teammates. Because of the role you're in, not everyone's going to love you. You got haters and detractors, right? How do you deal with that? Because people out there have them too.

If you're gonna do anything great in your life, get ready, someone's coming at you. Do you not care, does it bother you? What do you do with it? I mean, I don't know. I guess I'd love to sit here and be like, does bother me, screw all you haters. Like, I think I tried that for a little bit.

That they do, they get to you. Not all of them. I've changed my relationship with social media and not reading because you talk about your focus on the losses. I also focus on the negative. People could come and say overly positive things over and over and over and I just glossed over it. I read it, but I don't let it sink in. Someone comes at me with something negative, and I reread it, and I reread it, and it's like, and then I find out they have five followers, or like, you know, and I'm like, why am I focused in on this egg head?

Cause it's like not even a real avatar. Yeah. I don't know if you're feeling, and here I am, and they're gonna affect my day. They're gonna affect, and my early years, like three years ago, a Sunday night baseball, yeah, I'm in a day. A Sunday night baseball, I get on air,

and all of a sudden, their words would come in my head. Like, shut up, you're not good enough, shut up, you didn't play, shut up, and I would start talking and I would stop talking. My goodness. And that's when I realized, Jess, you gotta stop. You gotta figure out, because they're not going away. And so you can't let them affect the way that you go about doing what you do. Thank you for saying that.

I'm amazed that you said that. What did you how did you do it? I just I what I learned is so Twitter is like the worst of them even though I I use Twitter and I love it for other reasons. I don't look at my mentions for like 24 to 40 hours after a Sunday baseball game because that's when they're strong. And they're strong positive and they're strong. Everyone has a strong reaction to me. And it was just like, oh, it's unfortunately, like, no, it's a female, no big deal. It's a big deal. So everyone has some sort of reaction. And so I just don't read them. And when I come back on there, it's die down. If anyone has anything to say, it's not like crazy.

And if someone really wants to come up and say something to me to my face, or I've found that that is always constructive. Like whoever has the balls, to actually come up to me and be like, I didn't think you did a good job with it. And I've had people come up and say that we can actually have a conversation. Right. And to be honest, I'm so relieved because that means you listen to me. Yeah.

I mean, half the time it's like, you're a woman. I'm like, does anyone like, you're me? Yeah, right. I know I'm a female. I'm pretty sure I've been this way for a while. Yeah, thank you for making me realize my gender. But it's literally when it's something that's like, oh, you listen to me.

Yeah. Because that I can take. And we might even still disagree. I might still argue, but no, his back foot wasn't that position. But now we're having a real human conversation. Not an egghead, I hate you, go away. I really appreciate you talking about it

because I think people need to know that is part of what you face. It's part of what everybody will face if they're going to do anything great in their life that's just different. Like if you're the first entrepreneur, you're the first person trying to make six figures, you're the first person trying to go to college. You're going to switch through a career, your whole family thought you should be in, but you do face that. And so I've always wondered how, because they affect me even, it's really strange. Like I'm in this mental toughness position, I'm supposed to be in.

And even yesterday, there was a video out and someone made a criticism. But I've also distinguished between, you know, what I think is legitimate criticism and just one of these blank avatars who just hates people, you know? But I appreciate you. But it's still like, that's the thing is like,

and I've gotten better, and I think our skin gets thicker the more of it. We get, I mean, I come from a sport in softball where everyone's pretty much like positive and maybe little things here and there but everyone's just lifting you up. Right. Just lifting you up. So in the beginning it was hard. Yeah. Just hear a lot of just read and my thing is it's like I don't know my husband makes fun of me because I'm very naive and that like I really believe like I don't know like there's something good in like everybody

and so when people it's it's not that it's more like I can feel their hatred and so I've said this I'm like I just want to sit down with them and you're like why do you hate me? right and you hate me and you can hate me after this and we just talk about it like I found so angry yeah but what I found overall is that for the most part they and I don't mean to to hurt anybody's feelings, they hate them. Like the time that takes to type something like that.

And by the way, it always isn't more negative than positive because when you do something very well, people aren't likely to go, you did this very well. It's usually you're gonna get an overwhelming majority of the people who type something to you that's negative, but typically they're projecting upon you something that's bothering them in their own life. And I remind myself of that all the time and I actually try to help them.

If I'm going to respond, I usually try to respond by helping them. So, but everybody listen to her. Everybody listen to her because that is one of the things when you're pioneering, when you're trailblazing, there's more of this than you can imagine with her. And you deal with it very well. The way you're dealing with it is you're winning. And so, all of you that are like, how do I deal with it? If you're fixing it, you got to win. You're winning. And so all of you that are like, how do I deal with it if it's, you got to win.

You're winning. She's freaking winning. Like she just renewed. She's so great at what she does. You know, the 1% of the people out there decide to type something. Obviously, everybody else thinks you're going pretty damn good because you just renewed, right?

And I think finding, I was tested for the first time in my life since probably like high school when you're battling through like awkwardness, like who am I I like you know your insecurities are an all-time high and then you know through my life I found this very confident like I wait like I can kick ass in life like I'm gonna do this you know and I found this very confident person and all of a sudden we think you got it like you know I was right back to being 15 again I know and so I had to like really look inside me and find out like, why is this affected me?

What about me, what are the weaker parts and how to get strong again? I thought I was so strong and I preached, I mean, all my whole life before this, all I did was speak to young girls about like being an Olympic athlete and finding strength and standing out. And here I am not even listening to my own words.

And so that like, it was like a slap in the face of like, how do I find that strong person? Again, apparently I've been not faking, but like thinking this whole time, like I'm so strong and then one person comes, or not one person, but- I know what you mean. And they come and attack you and the next day,

I know I'm like, oh wow, and I start doubting myself. And I'm stopping in the middle of a broadcast what I'm saying because I've heard so many people tell me to shut up. And so I'm like, you know what, I need, and I really had to find myself again. Wow. And I'd lost her.

Like, I don't know, you know, I thought that she was always there, but it was actually kind of cool because I thought once you graduate high school, all the awkwardness of like figuring all that stuff out, but it can come at any age and I learned that. And I, there's a lot of reasons why we did that day, but for me, like this is the reason,

because it's interesting. This is so good for everyone to hear, like they're listening in on me and you on this, but I'm in the space, so of teaching people how to win, and be mentally tough and change their confidence, their identity and all these things, but talking about it forever, typically in front of favorable audiences all the time, right? And I was that insecure, shy, very unconfident young guy too, and it's amazing even the way that you worded it.

That dude's still there, and I didn't know he was still there until I went in this and I got some criticism for a thing or two here. And I, I should say even me, that sounds arrogant, but I went back like, oh, maybe I don't wanna do this. That's not worth it, you know? And I went back to that guy for a while too. I'm like, oh, you've been like full of shit for a while here.

Like you aren't this completely strong, studly, completely have all the answers, guy, exactly the same thing. And I had to kind of rediscover that in myself too. Like, I need to practice what I'm preaching. And I think for everyone to know this, there's gonna be moments where you do step back that I don't think that dude like completely ever goes away

from who I used to be. No. And you have to work like hell to keep him away. Like once you think he's away, he's still there, or she's still there. So. But it makes you human. Like, that's what I realize is like, I'd be talking to these girls and I've learned the more I share that that I say, there's times I look myself in the mirror and I don't see what I want. I don't see. I see all the things that I could be doing better and it's real, it's relatable. And so then I have to find that strength now every day.

I got to figure out and it's easy to have the cover. You know, because I do, I am a strong person. That person is there. But there also is the other. Yes. And it isn't until the haters come out or even honestly my own... Your own criticism of me is so. Yeah, like that's actually what comes out the most.

My own little Twitter handle. No, or something. Yeah, like that's actually what it comes out of the most. Me too. My own little Twitter handle in my head. No, me too. It's the worst one. I gave it speech a while ago that wasn't good by my standards. Yeah. For a lot of people, maybe like 30,000 people. And these guys filmed me afterwards on my jet.

And I think I almost look like the verge of tears. You know, like, how do you feel like you did today? I said, honestly, terrible. You know, and it's, that's, I'm back to that guy again. But I actually think it's a little bit healthy like you said because it's I'm looking for improvement in me when I do those things So really really grateful that you that you shared that with everybody because everyone's going through that and you go through it to a large extent So I'm glad that you said it that way a couple more things then yeah

Your book yeah, it's right here. It's been here the whole time Hi book high book so What is there's no base like home? You and your sister wrote this book, right? Who's it for and what is it about? Talk about a busy woman. So. Well, came out this year.

And oh my gosh, I never realized me. You know, like, writing a book. I don't know what I thought. Like, oh yeah, I'm sure. It took years. Yes. And thank, I mean, honestly, my sister wasn't a part of it at first.

It was just me. They were going to kind of get like a ghost writer that kind of helped navigate you. And I just, you know, struggling to get through it because my life had changed, all this stuff was happening. And then they decided, you know what, your sister, who's, she's a loving, great English teacher, Alana, do San.

And they were like, has she ever written anything? I'm like, no, what if you guys did this together? I mean, the book was always about two softball sisters, two basically girls growing up trying to navigate everything. Right? Trying to navigate life, trying to navigate cultural. There's definitely a little bit of the Hispanic, but it's not even the Hispanics.

More of just like your family, all you've known, but now you're getting pressured by friends to believe and think other things. And then the sport aspect, which is what I love, because it's got the softball in there, but then two sisters. And so, to write this with my sister. How cool. And even though it's definitely a fiction, it is my family. Really?

And it just turned out that way. Based in truth. The stories there, I mean, I cried when I finished it. And it was really cool because my dad, and we had talked about my father earlier, when my dad who doesn't read books, no offense dad, which doesn't read books. When he read this book, I mean, he got emotional. He did.

And it's because, I mean, even the illustrations, like he's told he's got a big fumanshu mustache, big Mexican, like, and so even the illustrator, like nailed it. Getting his idea, but yeah, it's our family. But there's so much reality in there. Okay. Who should read it? What age would you say?

I mean, it's geared towards eight to 12 year olds. Okay. But I don't know. I have so many people that have read it, like honestly women that I'm friends with, that gone and read the book. And it just dives into so many different things. And like I said, you might think it's eight to 12 year old stuff.

It's adult stuff too. I mean, we wrote it as adults with the mindset of what was like then, but it definitely, I felt myself get in here. And just how you kind of battle and find yourself. That sounds so like, you know, but it really is a constant, and what we talked about, a constant battle, and just getting back to like being different.

Like, and you said that, you said special, like what was special. My thing is, everyone has something about them, that's different. That's right. And like it comes in all these different forms, but we're so pressured and I feel like I can only speak as women, but to fit in, you know, to look like everyone else, to act like everyone else, to have the cool, like whatever it is to fit in. But standing out is where it's at. Yes. And standing out is literally finding the things that make you different,

and owning them, and waving that flag, and being like, literally finding the things that make you different and owning them and waving that flag and being like This is who I am. I already know where you're gonna be eventually just so you know like this is the space You're gonna be an eventually because that your stuff is so good and it's so true And the people that I know that are the happiest and most successful are the most self-aware And that's what you are and that's what we're talking about today's about being self-aware But the things that you're strong at your struggles, the little girl that's still in there. You're just a very self-aware woman and that's why you're so powerful.

How do they find the book? Like now I want one. You told me there's one here for me somewhere. Yes, I know. I know. No, I want it. It's my son's version. This is your son's version.

What's cool is he bookmarked. So all these pages, he bent the pages. Oh, wow. So that he goes back and he reads his names in here too, so he loves that. Oh wonderful. But I went and read it at a school. And so he's got like 17 pages. That's so cool.

He earmarked. So if someone comes over and they ask him, he has like, well, this is my favorite part. This is my favorite part. And. Wonderful. How do they get it? Like you get an Amazon?

Amazon. But like Indy bookstores. OK. But yeah, all the usual spots. Congratulations on that. Thank you. Yeah, we'll put it on the usual spots. Congratulations on that. Thank you. Yeah, we'll put it on my Instagram too. We'll promote it for you.

So, a couple more things real quick, because we're taking up a bunch of your time. Do you have a mentor? I'm just curious. I mean, I have a lot. I mean, I honestly, like, I mean, listening to you talk, you could put in a mentor in a bunch of different ways. There's probably people that you continuously go back to,

but I find that like I Love learning from people. Like the reason I got excited about this is that I started to really learn about you Oh, thank you. No, but like the more you can surround yourself with people that are like saying the things that you want to Hear in yourself. Yeah, like that to me is like that's how mentorship happens. Just surrounding yourself and it I mean even when I was younger, I would literally gravitate to the varsity high school shortstop, Julie Bortjard. Like I would literally follow her around everywhere. And she was like my, I mean, idol.

It was a local person. It was a 12 year old girl. She was going to college, she had a four-rowed scholarship. Like, she was baytime. And I tried to emulate and learn and figure out who she was. One of the coolest things in life, if everyone has experiences, it turns a couple of your heroes into your friends.

It's like the most miraculous, amazing experience, you know. I'm conscious of that myself, is like, if I'm ever that role for somebody, I always want to be available and accessible to people that are, that's why we do this, right? Here what we're doing. So, what would you say to somebody, even though you wouldn't acknowledge any of that?

Someone says, hey, I want to turn my life around. It's not where I want it. I want it better. I want to make my dreams happen. Is there any advice you would give to somebody, man or woman who, they go, I watch the whole show, I'm fascinated, like, what steps are any advice at all, tactic, thought, idea, would you give me to improve my life? I think it's, it's like literally, you touched on this earlier, but finding what makes you different. And I see that I knew in your work is you're not afraid to put out there like the real, the unique, we're all different, we all are.

And I think what people are craving now more than ever is finding out, so if you're whatever it is, that you're in whatever age you are, whatever point you are in your life, whether it's personal, whether it's business, is like figuring out who the heck you are. And there's definitely something in there that's like, I don't recognize this to anyone else.

And normally, I think our instinct is to be like, okay, push that back. I don't know where you came from, but like, that's not gonna fit in this room. Don't fit in, don't fit in. came from, but that's not gonna fit in this room. Don't fit in. Don't fit in. Just like totally stand out. And when I think about standing out, that's like what successful people do.

They stand out whether it's because they're smart in a certain way, but I really believe in the person and what allows you to continue that success is just to own whoever it is when you know everyone knows that part of you. Yes. Walks into a room and is like this, it ain't like any of you. Yes. And just own that. And you're going to get some weird looks sometimes.

Yeah. You're going to get people that are going to be like, she's weird. Yes. And kind of be okay with that too. I love that because I, it's gosh, like I love that because I think through that gift you have is also where your purpose is and your passion. So what you said is like I wouldn't I could not answer that any better differently. Like I honestly believe every human being was born with some unique blessing or gift or multiple ones to them. It could be your

communication skills, your intensity, your math skills, nurturing, humor, beauty, kindness, listening skills, but you have them. And when you can just get quiet and allow yourself a little bit of credit, go, you know, that's one thing I'm good at. You know, because people have this long list of stuff, I'm not any good at this. But you were born with a gift, you were born with some blessings. And one of the great joys of your life is when you discover that. And then if you really want to be happy, you take that gift and that blessing,

and you use it towards doing good work for other people. And now you've got a formula for being fulfilled. And so, and not just for them, but like connecting with them. And that's what you do is it's not just, I want to use this for you. It's like taking that and being like, I'm going to use this so that we can just meet in this like way. And then you take whatever you created there and you take that to the next level.

And you just, you meet all these amazing people and then you end up like, just spreading that, whatever that is, whatever you just there and you take that to the next level. And you just, do you mean all these amazing people? And then you end up like just spreading that, whatever that is, whatever you just found together. Yeah. Instead of just being like me giving this to you, it's like, no, we're giving each other. I think you just described you. Better than you described me. I think that's literally what you've been doing

all your life all the way from, in the Olympics, walking over there to the Iraqi athlete, all the way to the way you describe your relationship and the booth with your family, and then with the book, and then here today, I think you're amazing. Like I'm so really glad we did this. I knew this was gonna be really good from watching you and admiring you on TV.

Then we met, I knew it would be good, and things Alex said, but this exceeded what I thought it would be today. Like I really, I love this. Thank you so much. You helped so many people today. So, hey everybody well you can follow Jessica on Instagram. Where's that where they should find you?

Jess Mendosa too. Jess Mendosa too on Instagram. You're already following me probably but what you need to do is you need to make sure you're subscribed to this podcast or you're listening to the audio or subscribed to the YouTube version as well. And remember every day on Instagram I do the max out two-minute drill which means if you make a comment on my Instagram in the first two minutes with that hashtag maxout next to it in the main post, we do a drawing every day and you get gear from me, books, coaching calls with me and my guests.

Today was miraculously amazingly awesomeness. So thank you so much. Right, I love all the additives. It was all wonderful. It was amazingly awesomeness. That's the name of this. I'm gonna trademark that. Well thank you for having me in your home, too.

So thank you so much. Max out. God bless you, everybody. you