WHOA That's Good Podcast - What It’s Like When Your Spouse Is Famous | Sadie, Christian, Reece & Will

Episode Date: November 4, 2024

Sadie and Christian sit down for a follow up with Reece Weaver of “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders,” and her husband, Will. The couples explore what it’s like to be married to someone who’s on television and the difficulties that come along with it. Will and Reece were blessed to have help from an older couple who mentored them, and Sadie is proud of their boldness for Jesus on camera and in a difficult industry. This Episode of WHOA That's Good is Sponsored by: https://www.12vc.com/sister — Commit to the 12 Verse Challenge and help fund 12 Verses of Scripture a year for people who have little to no access to Scripture! https://www.trymiracle.com/whoa — Get 40% off + 3 FREE towels with code WHOA at checkout! https://www.drinklmnt.com/whoa — Try LMNT Hot and get your FREE LMNT Sample Pack with any drink mix purchase! - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's up sisters and friends? Happy Monday everybody. I hope you're having a great week, but it's about to get so much better. You're going to say that. Well, I'm going to say it's the consistency people like Steve Harvey says the tone on Family Feud. It's about to get so much better. It is because It literally is.

This is not a joke or a drill. Because last week we had Reese on the podcast, and this week we actually have her husband joining us, Will. So I'm so excited. Welcome to the podcast. I love the jazz hands. You get it, Will. It's like he knows.

Hey. Keep it on the down low, but I'm a better dancer. Oh, sure. Here we go. Christian can say the same, huh? No, I'm terrible. But I do think I could be like a good support system for a dancer. A good jazz hand? It's all about the energy.

I could be like, you know, like lifting people up. Oh, that's actually true. Yeah. He got inspired when we just went to Dance With The Stars and he saw Danny, what's his last name? Dwight. Danny Amidola. Yeah, and he like lifted Whitney up at the end.

I think it was like the first time you saw like, I might could be on Dancing with the Stars. Yeah, but that's like one week that I would be good out of the whole show. I'm sure he was like, hey, you wanna try that lift? Yeah, can we try that? Like, can we do that? I think I could do it.

So yeah, you did see potential for your dancing future. I saw potential for one dance that I could possibly do. Contemporary. Will, where do you find your dancing skills? I don't know if leaving inspired would be the word. Where do you find that? You know, a little this, a little that. A little shimmy shake of the shoulders? Mostly weddings. Mostly weddings. Do y'all do good at weddings? Because that's like one of our biggest, like, we're polar opposites at weddings. Oh, see. We're on the dance floor. I'm pulling her on the dance floor. Oh, I love that.

At our wedding, it was like we had 225-ish people there and at one point there was like 200 people on the dance floor. That's the best. See? It was amazing. This was our first, this was like one of our first big fights because we went to a wedding like two months before our wedding and it was our first wedding to go to together actually and it's too much for us so you know when you go to a wedding before your wedding and you're like so

excited you're getting in your feels and like you're like oh this is gonna be us and blah blah okay so everything was going great until the dance floor hit and this is something we never really talked about because like why would we've talked about that I didn't realize you could be so different. So I love the wedding dance floor. I live for those moments. That's my favorite moment. Let's get to the dancing part. That's the best.

Christian hates the wedding dance floor. He's like, I'll go. Do you need a smile? I think the only wedding I've danced at was our own wedding. Well, no. Since then, you've become a wedding dancer. I've become more open to... Well there was one wedding we were at that I wasn't on the dance floor and he was and

I was like we made it. This is like a huge turn. But it is funny because... But the first one it was kind of a fiasco. Yeah because then I was like oh no, like I didn't even consider this could be like an option. Like I didn't know you were just not gonna dance with me. This is like, what in the world? But I have to say, I give it to you because, you know, there are some things where you both have to just, you know, come together on something. But I feel like you've really stepped into dancing more instead of me having to give that up.

Like, you just do it, even though it's not like the thing you're most comfortable with. It's not like the thing that you love, but you do it. And I love you for it and people do too. And I've gotten really good, so it helps. Yeah, that's true too. Oh my gosh. Enough about your dancing. Enough about your dancing. We are truly so thrilled to have you both on the podcast. So it was kind of last minute. I DM'd you literally yesterday. I was like, hey, this is what I want to be on. I'd love to have them on because I just thought it really is so special that one,

the Netflix show showed your relationship so much and just the things I've heard about your relationship. It's so beautiful how y'all pursued the Lord together to pursue each other. And so I just want to hear more about that. But first, let's just start with telling everybody how you guys met. Yeah, so we met at the University of Alabama.

And- I knew you were going to say real bad. Yes, we had to start there. We had to start there. I knew it. Yikes, yikes. It's okay, I'm not offended. And I, so I was on the dance team at Alabama

and this was my freshman year. Will was actually a sophomore. Actually, you might need to share the story because this is kind of your story. Yeah, okay. Well, our story, but. You want like the backstory backstory? Yeah, we want the backstory backstory. Okay.

Big, big, big Alabama basketball fan. Tide hoops all the way. I get there and Tennessee's in the middle of shooting free throws and it's just a complete come apart. Like we're just like, like fouling, like possession after possession, fouls. And I'm upset, easily upset. And there's this little kid that comes down the stairs

and he wants to get Big Al's attention, who's the mascot. And- We're all one spirit program. So it's like all girl cheer coed dance team and big out So I knew who the big out was that day. Yeah, and I was like, hey big out big out just getting the attention of him for The little kid and like I just looked at Reese and couldn't stop So I went and stalked and followed her on Instagram that night and then a couple weeks later she slept in the e.m.

Oh dang! What? I was gonna finish with that. Wait, so did you notice? Wait, you were getting big outs since you were getting it? So I was- Kind of like a help. I didn't know who it was, but she knew who big out was that game. I was like, oh this little boy like really wants to see Big Al, so I was like, well, let me

get back home. Just get him real quick. And we kind of had this little interaction, the three of us did, the little boy, Big Al and I. And we were just having a good time, and I didn't really know, but Will was watching that encounter the whole time. Wait, that's so sweet. Until you told me, but yeah.

And I remember it vividly because I remember it was so chaotic. There was a lot going on. And I was like, well, this is kind of scary. Let me get big out and we'll just talk around. Wow. Okay, so you follow her, but then do you notice he follows you and you're kind of like...

So I did. I did, I did. Because I saw a lot of mutual friends that both followed me and Will. And I saw at the church that I attended at I did, I did, because I saw a lot of mutual friends that both followed me and Will, and I saw at the church that I attended at the time, he was in a freshman Bible study class with a few of the guys that I knew that I went to the church with. And so, yeah, and I was like, well, you know, where's come source? I wasn't looking for a boyfriend.

I had never dated anyone. So I was like, I'm just gonna keep doing my thing whatever but you know, maybe I'll have a have another guy friend. So Say you say you follow him back A song was it he waits for me. Yes, and I Slid up with like hard ice at the time this was like, gosh, five years ago now. And my response was... And Instagram hasn't been updated yet, so it was just like the Hearteyes... It's a bop.

It's a bop. It's a bop was my response. Did you reply to that? I felt so weird saying that, because that's not me. Isn't that so funny? Oh, one time that just brought me back to this moment where I was messaging this girl That was so cool, and she lives in California, and so I was like what did I say? Oh, I was meant to say I'm so stoked which I don't say and I said I'm so stopped

You couldn't edit it like it was before the editing see Instagram has made some clutch It moves really have like not just the heart eyes And you can edit what you said, or you can even unsend if you want to. No, I'm so stocked. And I remember after I sent that being like, see, that's why you always stay true to who you are, because you try to be so different,

and it traps you. Well, you could've just said, stoked with like the little star emoji, and just been like, I meant to say stuck. Oh, I know, I could've, but then I was, I didn't notice till later, and she replied, all I had to say that's just so funny You said it's a bop because I've so been there where you try to say something that sounds kind of cooler than what you

would normally say. And I'm like I have never heard you say that ever before. That's so funny. Did all of them win that game? No. Y'all came back and lost? No we did not. But you won because you saw Reese. Yes that was the night that I met Reese. That was the night you became the winner. So y'all started DMing, I'm assuming? Yes, we did. But this was right before, we went on our first date

right before COVID. February 29th, 2020. Yep, we went to another Broken Egg and just met up with each other. And then from there, this was right around the SEC basketball tournament in Nashville. And I was actually gonna go to that game.

A few of us were, and then on the bus ride there, SEC said, oh, we're canceling it. So only probably more uniforms in my bag than actual clothes. I Was like, okay. Well, no worries We'll just figure out what this is. My parents were actually on their way there I was about to be on my way there. He was about to be there and then everything just like

changed and so Went back home for six months with like I said more uniforms than actual clothes So went back home for six months with, like I said, more uniforms than actual clothes. Wow. And... The dorms were shut down. She couldn't get into anything. Dorms were shut down. Wow.

Yeah. And so we just kind of kept in contact throughout that time. Just back and forth, we just had updates, I feel like almost maybe every other day. Did y'all live in the same place or no? No. So I went back home in Florida, because that's where I'm originally from. And we just kept in contact and once

School was finally open. This was the next season We met on Arby's and we were like, hey so We kind of know each other a lot more now because we we kept in contact, but yeah, the rest is history contact, but yeah, the rest is history. Friends, something that I care so much about, many of you guys know this, is sharing God's Word all over the world. And I want to invite you to join the Scripture Translation Movement with Illuminations 12 Verse Challenge. There are more than 3,000 people groups, which is about a billion people, so that is a ton

of people who don't have access to Scripture in their own language. And there are more than 1,000 groups without any Scripture at all, which is honestly really hard to imagine if you really let that sink in. So we are partnering with Illuminations for the 12 Verse Challenge. Illuminations is an alliance of 11 leading Bible translation agencies who are working together to end Bible poverty in our generation. They used to think that this would take over 150 years to complete, but actually now it's projected to be finished in 2033, which is a major win for the kingdom, honestly so wild.

And here's where y'all come in. Take the 12 Verse Challenge. For $35 a month, you'll help fund 12 verses of Scripture a year for people with little or no access to it. Our first goal was to fund the equivalent of the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John for a people group that doesn't have it in their heart language.

And since my Woe That's Good family is so amazing, I'm so proud to say we've actually met our first goal, which is so cool. So now let's do it again so that we can bless other people with the word of God all over the world. One of my favorite things about Illuminations is that it is 11 different groups of these Bible agencies that have come together to unite on something to accomplish it in rapid speed. And I think what they have done sets the tone for all of us.

It takes all of us coming together and putting our money towards something and seeing what God can do with that. I mean, it really is just absolutely incredible what we can do when we come together as a church. So how do you join the movement? Well, pull out your phone right now, click the link in the show notes, or go to 12vc.com slash sister and commit to the 12-verse challenge. That's the number one, the number two, vc.com slash sister. We are all in this until everyone everywhere has access to God's Word. Visit the number 12vc.com slash sister to join the movement today. So at Arby's that day, were you like, at that point, did y'all know y'all liked each other?

Or was that like a DTR moment? Not really. I mean, we're just kind of like trying to feel out. Yeah. Like, what has happened? Then with COVID and the pandemic, I mean. So weird. Yeah.

I had no idea what was going on really. And so I feel like after the Arby's is when we, we started hanging out more and getting to know each other a lot more. But fun fact on that, I would even say it was a date because it was like, I went to the wrong Arby's. Will was at another Arby's. He was like, you stay right there, I'll go to that one.

And I was actually about to prep for the athletic physical test that we have to take at Bama. And I was like, well, Arby's isn't really the thing that I think I need at the moment before I run gassers, but I'll meet up with you there. And then he had been living with his mentors, our mentors, at the time. And so most of our time spending together were at their house and getting to be poured into and-

That's cool. Yeah. That was something that I thought was so unique, because I listened to you tell your story on another interview, and you were talking about living with your mentors, which I always thought, man, that's so cool. What a blessing to live under mentors and then date under mentors. How much better would every relationship be if you were dating in the house of your mentors? Talk about accountability and just someone giving you such a good example.

So I want to ask you about your mentors. How did you get to know them and how did you get to the point of living with them? So my eighth and ninth grade year, Taylor was my youth pastor in Morris, Alabama. And he got a job in Tuscaloosa. And it was like really sad when he left Enon. But senior year, we had a Fourth of July party and he was a speaker and he was like, hey, I'm losing my youth intern. You want to come be the youth intern? And I was like, absolutely. I know how fun Taylor is. I know how ADHD he is.

He's a lot of fun. So I accept that job and then COVID hits from March to August. Really? End of August, yeah. Yeah. From March to end August, I was paying rent on my house in Tuscaloosa. And I was like, I'm living in Morris. I don't want to do that again. So I scheduled it to where I would work Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and school from 8 to 5 o'clock

Alabama on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Well. Don't recommend. But Taylor, he was like, hey, just come stay with us on Wednesday nights and Monday nights before you have to drive on Tuesdays and Thursdays. And then the second semester hit and the classes that I had to take just couldn't line up to do it in two days. So I started living with them like pretty much full time.

Lindley is pregnant at this time. We helped them with the move. That was kind of when Reese kind of like... Really, really bonded. I mean, I have never met two people who have just welcomed me. I mean, obviously they knew Will, loved Will, have poured into him over the years, but it was like I'd grown up with them. Wow.

And so, yeah. How do y'all think that that shaped y'all's relationship? Oh my God. I look at where we are today and then before we met, and I feel like our relationship wouldn't be where it is today if it wasn't for them, just because they were such a godly example of what a godly marriage should look like. And they were starting their family, and so it was just so sweet where they were still so connected to the college life and feeling like they were just students and then entering

in newlywed life. And obviously we wanted to pursue marriage and a relationship. We didn't want to just date just to date. And so to see them start their family and just be an example was such a blessing. That's so cool. That's like amazing. And you hadn't dated before, so. Right, I was like, Lindley?

I know, I was gonna say. What am I doing? Were you like leaning into that mentor and just like. Absolutely. Getting to know how to even date? Were you nervous to date Will? I was a little bit, just because I've said this a few times and then on the show you could, you'll see this, but Will put his arm around me for the first time

and I was like, uh Shaking cuz I'm like New like I don't know what to do. The office was on the TV or something like that. It wasn't It wasn't anything romantic or anything like that I was like put the arm around her and I have two older brothers too So like I'm not around like I didn't have a another sister who had a boyfriend and brought him to the house it was a lot of like guy friends and big brothers. And I'm over here like, whoa, he just put his arm around me. Like that's new.

That is so cute though. And I also did know about your love for the office because Christian shares in that love of the office. Huge office. And I hadn't really gotten into it, but like tried to get into it for Christian. So I could relate to that. That's literally me. Will was like, do you want to watch Harry Potter? And I'm like. She's never gotten into it, but tried to get into it for Christian, so I could relate to that. That's literally me.

Will was like, do you wanna watch Harry Potter? And I'm like. She's never gotten into it. I'm like, how can you not get into the office? Office, I'm more of a friends girl. That's my personality. This is the funniest thing of all time. I know, it'll be so bad, because he'll be dying laughing, and I'm like.

Well, I'm the kind of person that's like. What does that mean? I'm like dying laughing before the thing happens Like ruins it for her it does he's like oh wait for this part so funny and he's like melding it with the But that's just so funny and so sweet so yeah you like had not dated But you got to have this mentor in the house like what kind of what kind of advice was she giving you at the time? Do you remember? Honestly, I feel like I was trying to form this relationship

with Lindley too, and then I've had so many big sisters that I call and that are my mentors, but she truly was like the example of what a disciple should look like. And so I felt like my eyes were more open to, you know, I want to be like that for others. And so I feel like that's where I pressed into, but she was always there when I had questions and like just thoughts and I don't know, I never had like weird feelings, but anything that was, everything was just so new.

And so I really pressed into her with wanting to be a role model for other people, but then also her just being a big sister in the sense of like, yeah, let's talk about things. And it was good because I felt so like I could just be myself, I could be authentic, I could be real, and she made it so comfortable. I love that.

Well, I think it's so good because I think a lot of people, especially in dating, you almost get secretive about it sometimes and hidden about it, and people don't know what your relationship is like, but having mentorship and discipleship in that season is such a huge blessing, especially from a married couple. Christian's pastor, Miles and Courtney were so great for us even, like, right when we got married because we lived in Auburn and were

around them. And I just remember asking, like, so many questions to them and just being so encouraged. And we have such great parents that we looked up to, too, but there's something different about having just a couple who's a little bit older than you and a little bit a step ahead of you who pursued it in, like like a godly way, but you know, isn't afraid to say we messed up in some things, we weren't perfect in every way and be honest with you about that, like that is such a gift.

And so for those listening, not everyone might live with their mentor, have that access, but like if you can have anyone in your life where you can just bring them into your relationship and get advice, man, it goes such a long way. So I just love that part of your story and think it's so cool. So now, you're obviously known for being a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader and everything, which that's so epic and so surreal.

I feel like it would be one thing if you were pursuing her in the season she's in now where it's like, she's a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader, are you intimidated? But at the time, you were a dancer at Alabama, so you had a lot going for you. You're so stunning, so beautiful. Were you intimidated to pursue Reese? Absolutely. When she responded to that, it's a bop.

I was shaking in my boots when I saw that response, and I didn't open it for two days. We did the same thing. When me and Sadie met. We were DMing for a couple weeks and it would be like, because at the time we didn't have any numbers or anything. So if she opened it and didn't, it was like a big three hours and I'd be like, oh my gosh, like it's over.

Yeah. Like we're done. It'd be like red, you know, three hours ago. Then I'd be like, well, this was fun while it lasted. He was always so nervous. I wasn't going to respond because like it is hard in the DMs because you're like this isn't really anything but it's like potential, you know, you have like the hope for it but you got to get out of those DMs and so the way Christian got out was the funniest thing ever.

I would like not read it for a little bit and you know just all the different things. It's so funny. Also in my head. But he, the way he got my number was so funny. He was like, hey, I want to send you this sermon, but I can't send the link through DMs. Can you send me your number? That's the way to do it. He really thought that was true. I know he did. How can I sound super spiritual? And then, no, we weren't talking about this. And then it was so so extra too because the sermon he sent me

in text, it's like literally our first text message and it's single dating engaged married by Ben Stewart and he's like, you got to listen to this, which you weren't really meaning it like we're going to get married. We had been talking about, I guess we had been talking about Ben Stewart or something and you're like, oh, have you listened to this series? I was like, I haven't. He's like, oh, I want to send it to you. Oh wait, I can't through DMs. So our first sex is like single dating engaged married. I'm like, wow, that was bold.

That was bold. That was bold, but it worked. It did work. But yeah, you must have been a little intimidated, but how did you go about gaining the confidence? Because I remember Christian was like intimidated whenever we started dating just because people knew who I was at the time. And I remember your best friend was such a core person in our relationship because he was helping you get the confidence to pursue. And I was just wondering what that looks like for you.

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Virtually, yeah. Which was awful. Such a crazy time of life. I just started talking to my sister a little bit about her. I'm not like, I don't talk to my sister like a ton of ton. And I like accidentally mentioned it one time and she was like, all this stuff. And like, so I wanted to go to Alabama basketball game and it was at Mississippi State. And my mom didn't let me go unless I had someone with me because it was like an eight o'clock game. And my sister was in college and she was like, if you take college, she can go.

And I was like, I you take college, she can go. And I was like, I don't want to go. And I was like, I'll tell you a secret if you go. And that was the secret. That's so cute. I love that. I'll remember last night game too. But yeah, so I just talked to her about her for a little bit and she was like, yeah, she

seems like a girl. And then I talked to Taylor and Lindley about her too. And it just flourished from there. I feel like they were the people that we'll always went to. Especially, I feel like we have our sweet moments with I'll have one with Taylor or I'll have one with Lindley. Whereas I feel like this was kind of Lindley's, you and Lindley's,'s, I don't know,

personal connection in that way. Because I maybe dated someone for a month in high school and that was it. So I didn't take anybody to prom, nobody at home coming. So I was asking Lindley all the things too. I had no clue what I was doing. I love that though, just leaning into the people around you.

It's so important because people don't get that opinion as much from the ones around them and that is so valuable, especially your family because I feel because people don't get that opinion as much from the ones around them. And that is so valuable, especially your family, because I feel like people don't think about this when you're dating, but that is going to be like, Christian is the uncle to my sibling's kids. You know? So it's so important your siblings like that person and that you can do life with that person because those are going to be on your family vacations and your holidays and all those things. And sometimes you don't think about that when you're younger. I remember in high school, not even crossing my mind when I was dating people, you know?

And then when you're older, you're like, man, it's so valuable that your family really does love this person because they are in your family. So they either add to your family dynamic or take away from your family dynamic. And so to have someone add to you is like such a huge blessing. And I know for those listening, there's a ton of dynamics out there. There's a lot of hard things to navigate. I'm not saying that's easy. A lot of times it is hard.

A lot of times it does take both people, like the family and the person, just accepting that you're going to be different and all those things. But to from the start get that input and let your family be included in that is so, so, so valuable. We were reminiscing on just the other day about how my brother, it took him a while to get to know Christian because he, I had just dated other people that I didn't really welcome into the family as much. I didn't try to introduce people. I didn't make effort to make relationships good. So my brother John Luke was like, I just didn't know if

this was serious or not. And then whenever they got to know Christian and love him so much, it was so special and that made me feel confident that he was right, seeing him around my family. What was it for y'all that made you guys realize like this is the one? I mean you go from not dating anyone to dating and then being like this is the person I'm gonna marry. What did you see in each other that made you realize this is the right thing? I felt like for me I look at Will and I'm like that's gonna that's my best friend and so I think you know know, there's always this... People are always going to think like, oh, like this is temporary or this is, you know,

make sure you think about this and this and this. But when you get down to the bottom line, like this is my best friend and I wouldn't want to live a life without him. And then also, too, his love for the Lord, of course. That's number one priority. But also I just, everything just was so natural and just so easy. And I wanted Will to be a part of everything that I was doing. And I wanted to be a part of everything Will was doing. That's so true. It should feel natural and easy. And I think so many people overcomplicate

it and you're looking for signs and all this stuff I'm like you don't even need to look for signs like you'll just know because this really is your best friend and I think a lot of girls they like call their boyfriend their best friend because they think like oh it's supposed to be your best friend but unless that person is truly like your best friend the person you go to you want to tell everything to you're laughing with you're crying with they're the person you call when you're stressed out. Like, unless they're actually your best friend, like, don't just say it, like, mean it, because you really do want that person to be the person that is your go-to, and obviously it has to do with the Lord, but it should just feel natural.

And I remember people asking Christian and I, like, how'd you know that they were the one? And we were like, well, we just never really even thought about breaking up. Like, that wasn't even a thought. It was just like we were just together. And it was effortless and it was fun and it was natural. And it's just interesting. And I love that I'm asking all this right now, because I think last week we did this Q&A on Instagram, really asked me anything.

And I was overwhelmed by how many people asked me, how did you know He was the one? I'm scared I'm going to mess it up. And it was like, I'm in a relationship, how can I know He's the one? I'm scared I'm going to pick the wrong person. It was like this stress and this confusion on like how to figure out if the person is the one out of fear that you're going to mess it up. And I just don't believe that there will be that much confusion. You know, I don't, God is a God of peace, and He is, I think He has a lot of clarity when it comes to things like that, through peace. And I just feel like when it's the one, you're not going to be confused. And I remember in past relationships, before Christian, wondering if that person was the

one, and having a lot of fear, and having a lot of confusion, and worried I was going to mess it up. But I really did not feel that with Christian. There was such a confidence in knowing absolutely he's the one, and not because he's perfect and our relationship is perfect, but because I remember Matt Chandler said in Mingling of Souls, it's not that you're not going to argue with anyone, it's who do you want to argue with for the rest of your life. It's like kind of just pick the person that even in the highs and lows you wanna be with, and there's a confidence that you have when you do that.

And so, I just love that I'm asking y'all, because y'all are such a godly example to so many people of what a couple and a fun couple is like. You guys are both just so joyful and so fun. And with people being so stressed out and anxious, I'm like, I love hearing just the simplicity of your answer. Like, he's my best friend, it was easy and it was natural. What was the thing that you saw in Reese that was like, yep, she's the one for sure.

You hear people say if you can make it through a move, you can make it through anything. Well, we helped Taylor and Lindley move. It was in November, like right before Thanksgiving, I think. And I think right after they started getting settled in, it was the first time I said, I love you at their new house. Seeing her and all the stress that happened with the moving, me helping Taylor with the big stuff and her helping Lindley with the small stuff, keeping in mind Lindley's pregnant and sitting in a chair and like directing everybody.

Wow. But, like, making it through those stressful times was like nothing. It just, it was just a breeze. Like, I don't even remember them honestly now. And it just ended up being a lot of fun when it was stressful in the moment. Yeah. So that's a life partner you want to go with whenever they can make it fun in a stressful moment. So tell me, y'all were getting married in a stressful time because you were like full on, full sin, Dallas Culver and cheerleaders when y'all were engaged, right?

Right, right. So throughout my rookie season, I was planning a wedding and then I feel like the stress of, obviously I knew about the show, we were filming, no one else knew. So that was like causing, I don't want to say anxiety, but there was just a lot happening with that. It was very foreign. It was very new. There was a lot going on. And then moved to a new state, never been to Texas before. Just graduated with spending four years at Alabama. And then just there I'm engaged doing wedding planning

from states away, because I got married in Florida. So there was just like a lot happening. And it was like, whoa, real world very very quickly and then rookie season is just hard enough because you're constantly learning. Almost every day it seems like and it's like, oh gosh, am I ever gonna get to the other side of this? And so there was just a lot that I had to face right off the bat.

But Will was in, during the time he was looking for a job and finally found a job, but it was just still so hard because I was just so busy and I had no idea really what I was getting myself into because there was a lot happening. But yeah, that's kind of what it all looks like. That is crazy. Well, wedding planning alone is a lot.

Full-time job. Yes, and then add rookie season, auditions, all the things that seem so incredibly stressful if you watch the show. Then filming a show, and prior to that, not being on TV, so not knowing that side of things. You know, your Instagram blowing up, and people knowing who you are and what you look like and y'all's relationship all in the midst of figuring out who y'all are as a couple without the commentary of who the world says you are.

And like, there's just a lot of dynamics there that no one can really prepare you for until you're in it. And being in that alongside of like so many other big life decisions, I can't imagine what a whirlwind that must have been for you guys both. And you were not living there, right? So y'all were long distance?

Yeah, for about two months, roughly. Yeah. Wow. It wasn't fun. And you moved to Dallas after y'all's wedding in Florida? And I think what's crazy is like so many of my friends have done long distance. We're talking years. It was just pretty much two months, but it is eye-opening to see how strong my friends

are in relationships because I'm not too sure if we were given that gift because it's hard. It is hard. Especially just like a vacation, like a week trip or something, and I'm like, oh, I need my person back. I know, it's so sad, but I think it builds your relationship so much because we were long distance our

whole relationship besides the summer before we got married because he came here and built Duck Calls for Duck Commander which was so awesome. I came back this summer to like be around because we wanted to have like at least one time to live in the same place before we got married so we both came here in the summer because I was living in Nashville He was living in Auburn. So he really said earlier I had I did my classes on Tuesday Thursday Yeah, and so then I go to Nashville like Friday the week Friday through Monday for the weekend Yeah, and then you would leave so like late. It was crazy. I'll drive through the night Really it took a lot of like like, I feel like, pursuit.

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a wide variety. All of them are good, but you can actually try them all by their sample pack. So be sure to try new element hot and you can get a free sample pack with any element purchase at drinkelement.com slash woe. It's a great way to get to try everyone and see what your favorite is. That's drinkelement.com. That's the thing that's cool about long distance was, yeah, it was just, because even for me, looking back at that, it'd be like a four hour drive from Auburn to Nashville. And just the time that I had in the car to myself, and just praying and just having that alone time for me, I feel like was such a strong foundation for our relationship.

I've been able to prepare myself for when I do see you, then when I leave, and all the different things. But I do think that long distance, it helped us for sure. It helped us for sure. I think it set us up to have the relationship we did because I think you grow so much in communication, you know, and, you know, that's without like the physical aspect of things like being in person, being like all touchy and like seeing each other,

bouncing off one another, but like actually just like being on phone and listening and like hearing your heart and what you love and I'll never forget like our first phone call because I did not have like expectation that this was gonna be a relationship. I was not looking to be in a relationship I just got out of one. I was thinking I need to just have some time and My friends were like so mad at me that I was gonna go talk on the phone with Christian because they're like you don't need To be in a relationship. I was like, this is literally nothing because they're like, you don't need to be in a relationship. I was like, this is literally nothing.

I'm gonna call him, just get to know him. And it was like hours later, I walk inside, I'm like, okay, so about that. Because just hearing his heart and the things that he loves, and he was like, I just never had a guy talk the way I talked, speak the language that I speak in the sense of like, he's like,

oh, have you ever listened to this sermon? It was like three years ago by Matt Schaerler. And I would in the sense of like, it's like, oh, have you ever listened to this sermon? It was like three years ago by Matt Chandler. And I would be like, oh yes, like, because I'm into that kind of stuff. And I feel like maybe, I don't know, I didn't even expect to find that in someone because it's something that's like, I don't know, not a lot of people are into,

like watching just random sermons on YouTube or like, hey, have you listened to this podcast, this song, that, like we just related on so many things that night. And then there were so many that he was saying that I hadn't heard. And I was like, I just felt like, man, we have a lot in common. But two, I felt like he could actually lead me, which was amazing because sometimes I would just like naturally take that position because I just had like a big personality. But I wanted somebody who would like help me grow.

And so he was saying things I had never heard of. And his perspective on it was so cool, and his opinion on it. He wasn't saying things that sound good for me. I could tell he really has a relationship with the Lord that I'm so interested in, and I want to learn from. And it was just so cool. So I feel like we had so much to talk about long distance. We had a lot. And I feel like, too, the foundation of long distance, at least for us early on, it does build trust. Because if you're in two different places, I mean, if you're together all the time,

then you know what the other person's doing and where they're going and all those different things. But long distance, you do have to trust the other person's not like your partner or your boyfriend, girlfriend, whatever, like they're not there with you. They are who they say they are. Yeah, so like I could go be doing all these different things and then hiding it from you because you would never know but like

But obviously I didn't do that But you know you build the trust of like I trust that this person is doing the things that they say that they're doing And all those things it was a cool Yeah, the base foundation for us so it does it long distance makes your break seat for sure and y'all were doing long distance It's like a hard time because it's like right before you get married You're going through like a whole new life change. Y'all are about to move, like that's obviously so hard, but I feel like you probably anchored y'all in some ways,

because once you get past something like that, you're like, okay, we can do this. Like, kind of like the move was a foreshadowing of that, like in a stressful time, getting through it, and then coming out of their side more solid. When y'all got married and moved to Texas, what was that beginning of your marriage like with such a big move being on TV? How did that feel? Jared Ranere So the episode, the season dropped on our two month anniversary.

Courtney Johnson Yeah. And so we were like, whoa, this is very abnormal. And I feel like, honestly, we didn't have anyone to relate to in a way, because this was such a huge life change. And we had just gotten married, which is already a huge life change. And so it was pretty hard to navigate. I'm not gonna lie. I would be lying if I said it was just easy,

nothing to it, you know, but yeah, it was a lot. No, that's hard. Listen, our, when we first got married in a completely different way, it was like two months, okay, three months, what was it for? When COVID happened. I think it was three months into our marriage COVID hit. And so I went from always traveling, always being like our plans and we got married, like the next year we were gonna be gone. Like it was like this place, that place, we were gonna live in London for a little while

doing this Europe tour. Like it was just gonna be this crazy year. And we were like geared up for that. We had prepared for that. We were excited for that. And then everything canceled. And so it was like everything we thought was gonna be our year of marriage and like our life

just canceled along with the rest of the world. And so then we're like went from being long distance to quarantine together and so. It was like. Wow, how, how did people's. It was an adjustment. So trust me. It was an adjustment. Yeah, we feel that and like, wow, how could people do this? It was an adjustment. So trust me. It was an adjustment.

Yeah, we feel that. And like the opposite, it was like, we thought we were gonna have all this stuff, and that's where we were prepared for, and kind of dated like, and then it was like, actually you have nothing going on, and you're gonna live, just you two, in a house, always be together 24 seven, and it was an adjustment.

It was like two weeks into COVID, I'm like, should we call our marriage counselor back up? And we did. We did like a Zoom. We did like a Zoom. We were like, so yeah, everything you gave us in pre-marital was great. I think we need a little like refresh.

Refresh. So yeah, totally. Y'all are not the only ones. It's okay to say it was hard. It was hard for us. Cause we just realized, I don't know, our differences really fast. And it is one thing when you plan your life to be a certain way and then it's like, screw it, it's actually going to be completely different.

And you guys didn't prepare for it. So then you're like thrown into it together. And yeah, that's, that's a challenge. So it was, I'll, I'll say this too, like obviously we started to get an idea that maybe our story is really going to be followed and it's going to be highlighted a lot in the docu-series. And at the time it was like right before the wedding. So my, I mean, my focus is wedding, everything with that in preparation for it. But at the time it was like, okay, this is coming out,

but that's kind of the least of my worries at the moment. We anticipated as a team that it would do well, but it's not until you're actually in it where you're like, oh my gosh, whoa, this has done really well. So I guess we prepared as best as we could, what is this gonna look like if this happens, what are we gonna do in this situation? But I mean, we are learning so much throughout it all

because it's constantly changing and there's more to it every single day, but it's just day by day. We're taking it honestly hour by hour, I guess. There's times where we look at each other and we're like, what have we gotten into? Like, this is insane. I was gonna ask Will,

because you don't strike me as an insecure or jealous person, but how have you navigated just going through it? Because we're kind of in a similar boat. Our wives are well known and you know, there are times where I have certain thoughts that I typically don't have, but you know, but sometimes you have them. Yeah, just human.

So how have you kind of navigated going from just being a student at Alabama to now kind of being in a different spot in season? Yeah, it's, I get more jealous of like Tom and like not being able to share enough time with her more than anything. Cause I mean, I work from seven to four, don't get home till five. And then she goes practice sometimes at six. If it's practices in Arlington, she leaves at five as soon as I get home.

And then it's not 10, 10.30 sometimes before she gets home. So I'm more jealous of like the time that she gets with like other things at the moment, but that's just a season. So just got to get through it and off season's coming. Yeah, it's real. That's so real. Being a kid is all about having fun and learning. So my friends at KiwiCo are launching KiwiCo clubs to take kids on a journey of fun and learning that will inspire them for a lifetime. KiwiCo clubs is a comprehensive learning journey where kids will learn fundamentals through hands-on projects and progressively build their skills with each new challenge.

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and made to be played over and over again. So they definitely won't be sitting on a shelf forgotten anytime soon, which is, let's be real, how most toys become. It can be a struggle to find screen-free ways to engage your kids, but it's more important now than ever to do so. KiwiCo does the legwork so that you can just watch your child build new skills and gain the confidence that they're growing in to innovate and create without a screen. There's no commitment, so you can pause this or cancel it anytime you need. Honey's Club is called KiwiCo's Sprout and it's all about learning through play. Honey got a crate that had a cake baking toy recently and while she played pretend serving up cakes for me and Christian,

she was casually learning about fractions as she added and removed slices of cake from the plate. She loves her little cake and right now it's just a cake to her but it's really cool how even now they're starting to integrate learning into the things that they're playing with. She also loves art and so I love that that's also a crate that you can get involved with. Tinker, create, and innovate with KiwiCo. Get up to 50% off your first crate at KiwiCo.com with the promo code SadieRobb. That's 50% off your first crate at Kiwico, K-I-W-I-C-O.com with the promo code SadieRobb. Well, yeah, well, I feel like we do relate in the sense because it's like even our relationship,

it's so funny. Like on Tuesday, Thursdays, I'm in college. So I'm in econ class or whatever. Nobody knows who I am. And then on the weekends, I'm in Nashville with you and like we're taking all these pictures. And then I go back to school. It was such a funny like dynamic of like,

not that it was a double life, but it was like, I'm in class, no one knows who I am or could care less. Then on the weekends, it's like everywhere we go together, it's like, can be kind of crazy. Then it's like, all right, I'm just gonna drive back to school and go to chemistry in the morning. So it was so funny and I'm saying that to say. Balancing like different lives.

Having a real job, but then also like being married to a Dallas California cheerleader. And it's like, just all the different nuances of that. Has a Netflix show. It's not just like, it's like just all the different nuances of that. Like, it has a Netflix show. It's not just like, that's culturally, it's like, and the added fame and that side of things. So people recognizing you and taking pictures and like, you were on the show too, so now people know you and then you're at your job.

Like, that is such an interesting thing in life to navigate that we have. Yeah. And saying that you're taking it day by day and hour by hour is so real and season by season is so real. There are some seasons that are just a little bit easier than others. We were just talking about this today because this summer, I was just hitting a wall. I was like, this is hard. Everything just felt hard.

You know where all of a sudden, it's just like everything's piling up. You're like, okay, every angle is feeling hard right now. And you're like, what needs to give? What needs to go? And I was having just a really vulnerable moment with Christian where I was just like, we're on the porch. This is such a pivotal moment. I was like thinking about this.

It's like, I don't want to ever forget that night on the porch. Sometimes when you're just looking up at the stars and the moon, perspective hits, you know? And I was just like kind of talking to the Lord, talking to Christian. I was like, I just feel like I want to quit right now, but I know I don't really want to. I just feel that way. And I was like, I feel like I'm going to look back in life and say like, summer 2024

was so hard and I wanted to quit and I almost quit, but then look what God had around the corner. And it's so amazing because here we are in October. That was like July. And I already feel just such a shift and like such a weight off of me. And I'm so glad I did not quit when it felt just hard and I like kept going because now I feel like God has been doing so much in those areas that felt so just like still for so long.

All of a sudden they're just like coming to life. And I just had that feeling this summer. I was like, I know everything in me feels this way, but I know deeper than that, the truth of what God has called me to, who He says I am. And I really do think if I stay in it and stick with it, I'm gonna see on the other side that He was here the whole time.

It was just a hard season. And this morning, I was talking to one of my friends about it, and I was like, it's so crazy. I'm so grateful and so thankful that here I am in October and just have just such a different perspective. And, you know, sometimes time doesn't work like that. It's not always like three months later. Sometimes it's three years later.

Sometimes it's 30 years later. You know, you hear these stories from people who are like, yeah, we went through 10 hard years and you're like, dang, 10, you know, you know, that's a lot. But I think that's what's so important to have that foundation in the Lord as a couple. And individually, because no matter what you go through, no matter what season's changed, no matter how the wind blows

and things feel hard or whatever, there's an anchor so deep that you know who you are, you know who you're called to be, that does not shift no matter what the season might look like. But it is seasonal, it is day by day, it is reminding yourself of that truth and thank God you have a partner to help you through it. Because it would be hard to do alone for sure. And it was hard to do alone for me for a little while, just the navigating fame side of things. And I was so grateful to have Christian in that with me. I think it's a blessing that you guys did it together.

It was probably hard at the time, maybe still, but it's a blessing. It is. I could not imagine doing this by myself. I would be a mess. I'm already a mess. So just to do it solo would just, I don't even want to know.

It's crazy. So I would say like the month leading up to it was probably like the most anxious time because they had seen like maybe a couple episodes. I hadn't seen anything, maybe like a week or two before. But like her seeing the first two episodes and realizing what was going on. I was like, oh so so this is how it's gonna look and I know you haven't seen it yet but it's gonna be a lot. Wow. And I still couldn't comprehend because I didn't know what it looked like because it was only the team

that had seen it and like I just like don't know like what didn't know what it looked like because it was only the team that had seen it and like I just like don't know like what didn't know what was going on in her head, but I was trying to be there and comfort and Say the right words, which most of them didn't happen But sometimes they don't land hearts But it does get stressful, like now in hindsight, but I feel like those first two months were... The enemy.

It's the tech. Oh, yeah. Spiritual warfare is not a joke. It is not just something people say. It is something that is very real and extremely timely. It hits you at the right and the wrong times. It hits you when you should expect it, but don't expect it. And then it's just like, whew. And so, yeah, it can look one way to the whole outside world, but people don't understand the spiritual attack on the other side.

You gotta have your prayer warriors, for sure. There's a whole element of that. Especially, you're not shy away from your faith at all on the show, which is what I love so much. I said this earlier, but it's one thing to be a Christian and to have it in your bio and to just be that but not talk about it. It's another thing to, in the camera lens, on a Netflix documentary, say, my salvation is in the Lord Jesus Christ. That is a bold claim for the gospel, which is absolutely amazing. It's what made us fall in love with who you are and what y'all are about because you were

so bold in your stance for the Lord, but so loving and kind and gracious, not pushy. It's just, this is who I am. This is who I will always be. I cannot hide it. This is where my faith is. But with that, there's an attack. There's this other side to it. And so, again, it might have been hard to go through together the start of marriage,

but what a blessing you have each other at the start of it because you have that anchor to just be with you in it and praying for all those things. What do you guys like now y'all are kind of still in that, you know, like you're still newlywed, you're still like newly super famous, like you're still like, it's all so new in Texas, maybe what a year and a half, another season,

like all the newness. How do y'all feel right now and going towards the future? and a half, you're another season, like all the newness. How do y'all feel right now and going towards the future? What are you guys excited about? Yeah, I'm, hmm, that's a good question. I'm excited about a lot of things, but I think overall I'm just excited to do it alongside with him, because I feel like we have faced

in our first almost six months of marriage some very, very tough things like nearly weds do. But I know we chatted about this, but it's been very unique and very abnormal, I feel like. And so I think one of the things is there are times where mountains are just in our way and it's been so, it's been hard, but it's been so beautiful to do it with someone who loves you, who prays for you,

who is like, you're rocking those times where seems like the world is just caving in. So I'm most looking forward to all of that and like what the Lord has in store because I know that He is doing what He does best. He is moving. But that comes a lot of responsibility, and so it's really special to do it with Him. That's awesome. Yeah.

I'm looking forward to all of our experiences that we're going to get. Those too. Yeah, all the things. I'm so excited. There's so much. We've been to Bama games and stuff before, but like, it's with people and like, now we're married and we can get our own place or something like that. That's really cool too.

Yeah. It's the best. We can book an Airbnb or a hotel. Like, that's so fun. Yeah. It's wild. And like, the honeymoon. Did y'all get to go on a honeymoon?

I know it was a crazy time. Yes. That's like the best. You're like, when we went to Cabo and we were like in another country another country just me and you Thing I was like We're we're about to get on a plane together Somewhere and make decisions like that's so cool. I know it's like you got the passport like Everything all the responsibility on you and it's like so fun. It's so much fun. I love it.

Even still, like, I mean, we're five years in, and still whenever we travel with just our kids, we're like, I can't believe it's like us and our kids. Like, you just like pinch me moments. Like, oh man, this stage of life, it's so fun. And you always like dream of that stage in life, and then you get to it. And it is a dream. Like, it's such a blessing. It's so fun. It is. Definitely the highlights. It is. It is.

It's awesome. Christian, you have any final questions? I don't. No, I mean, I thought that was awesome. I think that, yeah, just being a light in any kind of sense of having people following you, you have to be bold and there is going to be difficult things that come from it. We fully understand the spiritual warfare side of it. And I think the biggest thing, even you living with your mentors when you're already dating, I think having people around that even if they can't relate to it in a sense, because

we're the same, there's not a lot of people that can relate to certain things, but people can relate to anxiety and people can relate to being insecure at a moment or being jealous or being confused at a certain thing. So I think having people that you can talk to, like your mentors, if you call them up and say, Hey, I need help with this, even if they can't relate to the broad sense of it, they can relate to the human side of it. So yeah, I think if you're listening to this and you don't have people, if you are married or single or whatever,

I think you need to get mentors and people that you can, yeah, just bounce things off of and you can confess things to and you can repent things of. And I think that's cool that you guys have that. And it was cool how that was part of the base of the y'all's foundation. Yeah, God set y'all up.

Yeah, so beautifully. It's so cool when you look back hindsight and you're like, man, I didn't even know you were doing that for me. And you did that, you know, like bringing that person in at that time or me doing this, that felt so random. That was so intentional, you know, to creating just the person that you are. It's so cool to look back and especially y'all individually

and then coming together, how I set y'all up for the future. You guys are such an inspiration to so many people, and I just want to encourage you, don't let that be a pressure thing. Just let it be an invitation that God chose the two of y'all to be elevated into this fame, and that does not mean that you guys need to be a different version of yourself, a better version of yourself, a perfect version of yourself. That just means you don you get to be you. You get to be who you are.

And in the falls, in all of it, people are going to learn from just your anchor in Christ. And so, I'm grateful that we know y'all, and I'm grateful that y'all came on the podcast to share. Y'all are really incredible. So, thank you. We are so, so honored to be here. I'm geeking out. Yeah.

So honored to be here. I'm freaking out. Yeah. So honored to be here. And like you said, he is always in the details. And on the ride here, we sat in the parking lot, we did a prayer and I just like had a moment. I was like 16 year old Reese is like freaking out. But then 23 year old Reese is really trying to play it cool. I was wondering where Mrs. K's boot and truck was. Well, you did get to see Uncle Si. I did yeah. And for the record we did give you

the Duck Commander shirt to wear. You didn't come fanboy but we would have respected it. It was so awesome. Y'all are the best. I would have never known you were geeking out that you played it really cool. Oh gosh. 23 year old Reese had her swag on. Oh well she was trying but deep down I'm over here like, oh, this is crazy. Y'all are awesome. I love that so much.