YNS Live with NFL Thread Draft Power Lunch

The NFL Thread NFL Draft Power Lunch led by business broker and leadership coach Angela Brown with YNS Live with NFL Thread there to dive into the lives and stories of some incredible NFL women. It is always an honor to bring together NFL women for the purpose of growth. To introduce them to @nflthread, The Playbook and The YNS Live with NFL Thread podcast. 

 

Thank you to @therumroomllc Kyla Glover for opening your heart and spoiling us with your rum cakes. Thank you to @beckyblades2 for showing us that the START is always gratifying. I can’t wait to read your books! Thank you to @janee_v_henderson for presenting us with your 🙌🏼 notebooks and journals. Thank you to @notestoselfsocks for making sure we all left the luncheon with a positive affirmation. To our swag sponsors @scoutandmollysleawood @aesthetics.salon @chucklcards @nicoletteventura  tanning @livinglibationsofficial @weego.portable.power @notestoselfsocks @nfllegacy @therumroomllc @beckyblades2

 

This event has been recorded live on Fireside.

 

Remarkable Quotes

 

“Expressing ourselves lets us know who we are. So we love ourselves more, we enjoy ourselves more.” - Becky Blades

 

“I’m a wife, I’m a mother, a God-fearing woman who just wants to love people, and essentially that’s kind of where it all started.” - Kyla Glover

 

“It's really important to bring light to the work that women are doing behind the scenes.” - Cynthia Zordich

 

Find Us Online!

• Fireside: Juliet Hahn | Cynthia Zordich
• Instagram: Juliet Hahn | Cynthia Zordich | NFL Thread
• LinkedIn: Juliet Hahn | Cynthia Zordich
• FB: Juliet Hahn | NFL Thread
• Clubhouse: Juliet Hahn
• YouTube: Juliet Hahn
• Twitter: Juliet Hahn | Cynthia Zordich | NFL Thread

Transcription:

00:00:00
Created live on fireside. Hello, my co host. Well, we have been getting some rave reviews. I mean, people are so happy to be there. They absolutely love what you're doing.

00:00:12
They are so appreciative that you put on these amazing events and are so excited to share their story. So take us a little bit through the live draft right now. Event. I mean, what's going on? What's the vibe?

00:00:24
What's the feel? You can hear the excitement. I know, it's incredible. Of course. I always feel like when the tables are full, my heart is so full we had to bring in chairs.

00:00:33
I love that. It means so much to me. I just feel like the sponsors are so heartfelt. They're here because they have a message. It just isn't about their brand, it's about their message.

00:00:45
And they're so excited to share that message. And I think they made such an impact, like with Becky Blades and Startists. Of course, I had to talk about Tina because oh, my God, tina is the epitome of starting something, and it being the most amazing thing you ever had. And then it's like, no, you can never have that again because she'll never do it again. It's over conversation.

00:01:09
I'm sure he did. She's really and then Kyla Gardner, her grandmother and her husband was the one who was really instrumental in her starting that. And I thought she was incredible. Angela Brown is ready to do her workshop. So this isn't just it's a lot of networking, it's a lot of fun, it's a lot of sharing information.

00:01:28
But it's really going to be the workshop, and we are going to start that pretty soon. Angela Brown is leading it. She's this amazing business leader. She has a playbook for the girls. And it's just really to talk about what's your mission, what's your vision, how can I help you get there, how can I help you get to that next thing that you want to do in business?

00:01:47
So she's excited, and I know she was on the podcast too, already, right? Yeah, she was. And we got to meet her daughter, who actually you're going to laugh. I cried. She made me cry.

00:01:57
She physically made me cry. Yeah. What she did in schools during COVID for kids that were struggling, she's like, we looked at the whole child, and that was like, when COVID happened. And because of my Dyslexia and my Montgomery's, he was older, so we were okay. Do you know what I mean?

00:02:19
I was like, just get through this, dude. But I just every day would say, oh, my gosh, mom, what about those little kids that are struggling? What is going to happen to them? And my mom was like, I can't this is like, breaking my heart. So when this woman came up and started talking about the whole child and how they approached these schools that she started, I literally just went and I was like, I love you for that.

00:02:42
I really miss you here. I do. I can see from where I'm sitting and standing and running around, every time somebody sits down, I see their face light up. I've got great photographs of the day of them sitting across from you, and then I can see them listening to you or talking to you, and it's really cute, but you're not here. But I love that you can still be here even though you're not here in person.

00:03:07
I think this is just incredible. No, it is. And it's really well received, and it's really worked out. But I have to say it's really funny because I have been like, oh, my gosh, I want to jump across and hug that woman because the store is amazing. I definitely miss you guys.

00:03:23
I'm glad that we were able to do that, the girls, because we're still capturing. Yeah, they're so busy. They're doing all these events between the Trust and the NFLPA and the Legends community and the Watch parties and professional football players, mothers association events. They're like, all busy. They're so busy here.

00:03:40
And I hope they all told you about that, and I hope they told you why they did, because nobody would even realize they had people come and speak in a panel to the new moms that are just coming into the draft from the older mom. Very cool. So smart just to kind of say, this is like, prepare for think about this. And this is good advice. And they're all very collaborative this year, which I think is fantastic.

00:04:08
And this is such a good group of coaches wives, players wives, Kansas City women that are just in the area, that are affiliated with the Chiefs or that are just loving the Chiefs. It's women in business, so it's a good group. You would love it. You fit right in. No, it really is.

00:04:25
I mean, it's great. And it's actually been fun because I've been able to talk to a couple of the women that have these businesses and talk about the storytelling aspect, right. How important and how we can connect so much with our stories and how that's why you and I started this whole thing, is because those stories are what's important. They can give you a little view into what's happening. And what's so important is that the outside world doesn't get to see all the work that the women are doing behind the scenes.

00:04:52
All the work and all the things that are important. So way to do another amazing event again. Everyone's just so happy to be a part of it. I just hope we don't run late, because it's just hard. It's just hard sometimes because you just do you don't want to cut people off.

00:05:10
You want to talk, you want to enjoy it. And then all of a sudden, it's 02:00. It bums me out. Can't do it longer, though, because that's crazy. But a lot of the girls said they're coming to the Super Bowl, so we'll see them at the Super Bowl.

00:05:21
That's what I said to them. I was like, I better be seeing you at the next event, so I can give you a hug. Hi, Becky Blade. So welcome to YNS. Live with NFL thread.

00:05:29
Live from the draft. We are so excited to have you here. I know you are a writer, you're an artist, you're a speaker, you're an entrepreneur, and your latest book is Start More Than You Can Finish, which I think is amazing. Thanks. Did your parents ever tell you, don't start more than you can finish?

00:05:47
No. So that's what's actually very interesting is because I am Dyslexic, and so I have always been like a very creative brain, even though when I was a child, I didn't think I was creative, but I always did a lot of things. And when I just read this title, I started laughing to myself because I have so many things in the works and I love it. I love that energy and kind of what that brings. I mean, one of the things that Cynthia and I do for these events at the Super Bowl, at the draft, at the hall of Fame, is that we highlight and we talk about people doing things that it feels good, the creative passion to follow, all these different things.

00:06:23
So I would love for you to introduce yourself. I know people can find you all over the social medias if you can just shout out, so people can kind of check it out and find where they can find the book. And then I just want to know a little bit more about you. Yes, so you can find [email protected]. That's my website.

00:06:39
This is my second book. My first one was called do Your Laundry or You'll Die Alone. So you can find me by googling. That too. I'm on Facebook at Becky Blades.

00:06:49
I'm on Instagram and Twitter at Instagram. Twitter as Becky Blades. Two and TikTok as Becky Blades starts. Wonderful. Yeah.

00:07:03
So I had a journalism degree. I started as a journalist, and then that was boring. So I went into the agency business and I started my own firm called Blades and Associates, which grew bigger than I thought it would imagine that I had imagined. And then about in my forty s, I decided I'd done enough of that. I sold it in a very good way that made me happy.

00:07:33
And I started all these other stages of life, including writing, doing the art that I wanted to do. I started some other companies. And so this book is kind of the culmination of realizing how great that was. So your example is near to my heart. I don't know.

00:07:57
If I was Dyslexic, I was certainly add.

00:08:03
They go together. And I don't know about you, but I got shamed for all the plates I had spinning in the air. People couldn't really relate to it. So in some way, that wasn't okay. And they wanted to know, what did you finish after I sold my first company?

00:08:20
What are you doing now? Like, you've been six months without a job. What have you finished? And that was mostly in my imagination, I must say. But I started studying.

00:08:34
I started, first of all, preparing myself for old age and started thinking about, what do I want to do for the rest of my life? How do I want to play out these years? Because I don't want to start a company that means a steady job. And I started realizing that the people I want to hang with, the places I had fun, were with people like you. People who are getting things done.

00:08:59
People are acting on their ideas because that is the best of who we are. Expressing ourselves lets us know who we are. So we love ourselves more, we enjoy ourselves more. And as I started hanging with these people, my curiosity got the best of me. I started studying them.

00:09:18
I started studying neuroscience, and I coined the term startist for people who successfully act on their ideas. And we are all stardists. We just have varying degrees of those strengths, right? And so I studied. How can we be better?

00:09:36
Stardusts and so this book is kind of the culmination of that. I'm going to hold one up. It's probably going to be in reverse. No, it's not. It's actually that was perfect.

00:09:47
So it really is my love letter to the women who come after me. I mean, all the people. What am I saying? Women. Women PS.

00:09:57
I think, are the most creative, and they are slower to act on their ideas. So there's a big love for me of events like this one where women with influence and access and motivation can act on their ideas and really make a difference.

00:10:21
It's really important because you brought up a couple of things. So my dad was also Dyslexic in ADHD. My mom was not. So my mom was a kindergarten teacher, was a kindergarten teacher. So very organized.

00:10:35
She let us be she let us be who we were. So I grew up, but I have to say, I was an athlete. I never thought I was creative because there was a whole story. My listeners know, basically in second grade, I had to go to special or third grade special reading, where the whole class went to Gifted and Talented, and they were doing art. So I coined myself, not creative.

00:10:53
However, as I got older and started doing things, I've created the podcast I'm Also a storytelling Consultant, where I help people be able to formulate their stories so they can connect deeper with audiences and grow their businesses, grow their books, connect with the people figuring out how to articulate. And one of the things that I talk about a lot is that I built on my weaknesses and weaknesses, not as a negative, but I compensated in school because school was really, really tough for me. So I learned to read people really, really well. So what I do now is what I've been practicing for my whole life. So being a podcast host, being a storytelling consultant, I know how to read.

00:11:29
I know how to read people's tones. I know how to read their body language. And it was all because I was compensating from a young age. Yes, I had teachers tell me, if you just focus like you did on the athletic field, you would be better off. I had a guidance counselor tell me I was never going to college.

00:11:43
I did have and I had many other stories, but I always had that self confidence because I was good at certain things. And I had parents that did tell me, you're good at this. And I'm raising a son that is also dyslexic, and he's 17. As I said, my dad, my sister, we have a lot of learning disabilities in my family, so they were never really even though there was times in our lives that you were hard on yourself, it was also like, okay, I can see what other people can do. I see that I can think out of the box.

00:12:13
I know what my strengths are because of my weaknesses, because of where I compensated. So I hear what you're saying, and I love that you did that. And I never beat myself up for starting things because what I always say is sometimes when you start something, something else comes out of it. So I really encourage my clients, I encourage my listeners to daydream. I call it daydreaming instead of meditation because I have to move.

00:12:35
So I do it when I walk my dogs and I come up with really great, fantastic ideas. And then I step I go out and look at them. Okay, what can come from this? What can come from that? And when doors open, I'm like, this is where I'm supposed to be flowing.

00:12:48
This is where I'm supposed to be moving when doors shut. Or I'm like, okay, go left or right. Okay. That was really fun to daydream and try that. But I don't beat myself up for not finishing it because it's like, I'm not doing that.

00:12:59
However, I do know people in my world with ADHD start projects, like home projects that they don't finish. I never had that kind of stuff, I have to say. So I know that there can be some negatives to all of that, but if someone doesn't put the negative to it, if they put the positive and see where that adventure went and maybe you starting that project was actually good for your mental health. Maybe that was something that you needed to do. So don't beat yourself up for finishing it.

00:13:24
Maybe clean it up so it doesn't look unfinished, but just kind of tie the bow on it and say, okay, that's something I started, and I maybe didn't see to the end, but it wasn't what I was supposed to do exactly. Oh, you and I could go on the road together. I mean, seriously, there are very few people who can relate so specifically, but you mentioned you've got to move, and that's when you come up with ideas. Well, my research showed me that we all respond to physical exercise. In fact, walking is one of the universally one of the rituals of the most creative people.

00:14:03
So if you're not feeling stuck for an idea and being an athlete, that's funny, too, because I really lamented that my daughters I have two girls weren't more creative in the way that I was, that they didn't go down and make a mess in my art studio. But they were both athletes, and now they both work in the comedy industry. I mean, they're always thinking they're funny. At least one has very severe Add, and that's how I found out I had it when she was getting diagnosed. Right?

00:14:35
Isn't that right? That happens to a lot of people I happen to know because of having family history, but really honing in on it more when my son got, like, the actual because he went to a neuropsych, because now he's 17. So he went through all of that. And I remember talking to the neuropsych I don't mean to cut you off there, but the neuropsych about like, hey, wait. Do you think he is this and this?

00:14:58
And the neuropsych almost spinning his water out, and he's like, yes, and you are, too. And I was like, oh, no. I knew I was, but I didn't think he was, because he's a little bit more like he's not as spazzy as I was, really. I always was, like, jumping up, being on, you know, climbing on refrigerators before I could walk. Like, I was really active.

00:15:14
Now my mom laughs because she's like, he's just as active as you are, and you just don't see it because that's how you are. So you got diagnosed when your daughter did. So continue. When your daughter got diagnosed, that's when you kind of found that you were. Yeah, but it was too late.

00:15:28
I mean, I'd already embraced it. I'd already claimed it and owned it. And just like you and maybe there's something here, because my parents my mom was just like you. My dad was Mia, but my mom said, oh, go play in my sewing room. Yes, you can make anything with the scraps.

00:15:49
And I never really heard, don't start more than you can finish until I was probably in high school. But here's the thing. Third grade, and I think there's something pivotal about those years. So I have total hearing loss in one ear, and every year, once they diagnosed it in first grade, I sat in the front row of class. Well, not front row behavior.

00:16:16
When you have Add, because everybody can see you acting out. So my third grade teacher, we didn't have special classes of any kind in my district. She assigned me to the bulletin board. She said, when you get done with your work early, get up and go to the bulletin board. It's all yours.

00:16:36
Here's the supplies. And for the whole year, I was a bulletin board queen. And that's where I realized, and that story is in the book of every idea I had had a place to go, and it quieted my mind. I mean, it didn't quiet my mind. It just kind of used that creativity.

00:16:53
I had an outlet. And what if people didn't shame me about not being done because the bulletin board is never done? I only did it in my spare time. But that creativity. And yes, for some people, at certain times, it feels like anxiousness and antsiness.

00:17:12
There is a place to take it. And mostly and when we get that kind of practice so you and I are stardists, as you say, because we were forced to be. And so now we live in a world where the world needs our ideas. I mean, we're all in a pickle. Here, let's just say it.

00:17:36
And women are known to act slower on our ideas. We don't think as big and we don't move as quickly. So what if everything we started, what if all the ideas we had, we at least began them? Yes. The point about it doesn't have to get finished.

00:18:00
Being afraid of the finish keeps us from starting. We're afraid it's too big and we can't do it, or we get too specific about it, and we want to figure it all out before we begin. That's not how creativity works. The creative process is we do a thing, we take the step that we know, and then it's all about what we do with what we did. And that's another start in the book.

00:18:27
I lay out a process to start in the very smallest way or to understand the processes that we go to. And you don't want to get down in those weeds now, but it's very simply, just like we make every change in our life, we imagine a future state, we think about how it's going to fit in our lives. We make a decision and we take action. And I do a party trick when I speak, where I have somebody start an idea that they've been thinking about for ten years in ten minutes, because it's really about pushing away the boundaries of the finish. Because we know, I mean, ask any creator, businesses included, a plan only works till you get through the first step.

00:19:17
And after that, you pretty much throw away the plan. Right? Yeah. And that's the thing. And people are always so afraid of I find a couple of different things they're afraid of the failure.

00:19:28
Like, what if what if I can't finish it, right? And as you said, they're worried about what if happens. And then I always find a lot of times, some of my clients that don't allow themselves to do that daydreaming because they're afraid of what's out there, and they're afraid that they won't be able to obtain it, and then they'll be disappointed in themselves. And I always say to them, no, think big. I will think of the biggest things.

00:19:54
I mean, sometimes my husband calls it the squirrel. He's like and he'll say, I love the squirrel. You need to go for a walk. He knows. He can tell.

00:20:03
Like, I come down in the morning. I don't drink coffee. This is how I am. I'm like boom. My energy is here.

00:20:09
And he will say, I think the squirrel is really acting today. And I'm like, oh, it totally is. So I will go for a walk, and I come back, and it helps me really focus. It helps me be able to be like, okay. And I use my notes in my phone, and I just dictate because of my Dyslexia.

00:20:27
I don't type. I don't frustrate myself that way. I just speak and I speak into my phone, and then I go back. I mean, I have thousands of notes of just little sometimes one or two sentences, but then I go back, and sometimes I don't even go back, right? It's just something I had to get off my chest or out of my mind.

00:20:42
And I have found that it has been such a game changer for me, because, again, for years, until I was in my 40s, told myself I was not creative. Even when my kids would come to me, I'd be like, oh, Mom's not creative. You do that art project with dad. I'm not creative because I couldn't draw. I have terrible, even stick figures.

00:21:01
But that's part of my Dyslexia. I don't have that artsy creative side. I can't sing all of that stuff. So I never said that I was creative, but I've been telling stories my whole life. I've been captivating people with my speech, and that's creative.

00:21:17
And then, as you said, I was an athlete. I played two sports in college, and that's where I really kind of expressed myself on the field, again, not thinking it was creative. So what I always kind of challenge people to do, especially women that are in midlife, right, is you have to find that creative passion. And even if you're like, I'm not creative. We all are creative.

00:21:37
And I will say that because people that know me, they're like, I can't even believe that this is who you are now. This little side of me that all of a sudden, I'm like and I've always been confident, but never, ever. And I started a podcast myself. I just came up with it, Walking the Dogs. And I remember I came home, and I said to my and I started in 2019 I said to my husband and my kids, I'm going to start a podcast.

00:21:58
And they were like, oh, do you know how to do that? And I was like, no, but I'm going to figure it out. And everyone supported me. They talked to me through names. And even if maybe in their minds, which they never shared, like, okay, maybe this is not going to go anywhere.

00:22:11
They had fun watching me get excited. They had fun watching me create something in my mind. And now they see where I am. And everyone's I mean, I have three teenagers, so you don't get a lot of compliments in these years. I would tell them, thank God, I like myself.

00:22:26
Jesus kill me. But every once in a while, they'll say, it's cool what you're doing. And I'm like, oh, that's it, right? That is it. The fact that you're doing that.

00:22:40
And I love when Cynthia told me about your book, we both giggled because she and I are very similar, where we just love starting things and finding out where they go, connecting, networking, and seeing where they go, what unfolds. And then if it's not again, if it's supposed to end, it's supposed to end. But I mean becky, this is amazing. Can you share again with everyone where they can find you? And then thank you so much for joining YNS live with NFL Thread, live from Kansas City at the Draft.

00:23:10
This is amazing. Yay. Thank you. Well, and yes, and I think about these women in the position that they're in and how what you just said about even your family, people supporting you, that's what we need to be for each other. I mean, we all need the biggest art supply is our cheering section.

00:23:27
And at the very least, we don't say, have you finished that? We don't say, what about that thing you were working on last week? I mean, in a supportive way, but we support, just like your family did, finding the joy in oh, my gosh, look what she did. I got to say, a podcast is a thing I have learned I never want to start. So God love you, because the setting up the guests and also storytelling is something I'm just not good at.

00:23:56
I tried to write fiction. Well, we can talk to the side. You and I need to talk more because I don't know that. Because this was very good. And I have ideas already because there's many different things.

00:24:10
Your story that you even just shared, connecting with people, hearing about, because there's so many women, there's so many men out there that are like, did you finish that? And it's so funny when you said that, though, just now, because I really have never gotten that. And it kind of is. I know people in my life that have not finished finished things. And I remember it being like, growing up, maybe there was times where it was like, I would hear, he started this, but he didn't finish this.

00:24:36
But until you just kind of articulate, I haven't thought about that in a long time. So, again, people can find your book. Start more than you can finish, wherever books are sold. And, Beckyblades.com, I have a newsletter. I did start a newsletter.

00:24:54
It's not on a schedule, but it's called Startistry, and it's on substac. So startistry on substac, and Beckyblades.com and go start something. Yes. Oh, my God. Thank you, Becky, so much for joining Y.

00:25:08
And thank you, Thread live at the Draft in Kansas City. And you and I will connect. I followed you on Instagram, so we will definitely talk, because this is fun. We're just getting started. Oh, we are just getting started.

00:25:24
All right, well, I will see you soon. Take care. Bye. Enjoy the event. Yes.

00:25:28
Bye. So welcome, Kyla, to YNS live with NFL Thread here. Live in Kansas City from the Draft rum room. LLC you can find Kyla there on Instagram. Please give us a little kind of background, a little bit about who you are, and then I want to get into how you started this wonderful business with Roy.

00:25:49
So born in Colorado, raised in Kansas City almost all of my life. Went back to Colorado, lived there for a while, then came back here. I'm a wife. I'm a mother, a guy, freeing woman who just wants to love people, and essentially, that's kind of where it all started. So rum cake in my family has always been, like, the holiday dessert.

00:26:10
And so when I was about 1516, my grandmother, who I was raised with, gave me the recipe. She's like, okay, is your time to shine. Take this over. And I'm just like, I don't want to. And she's like, It's not really a.

00:26:21
Suggestion, so you it's yours now. So I started baking it then, and then it was just a holiday kind of thing. My husband and I went to Montego Bay, Jamaica, in 2017 and had their offerings. Foods great, cakes pretty good. But he was like, you know, I.

00:26:39
Think we can compete with this. I'm like, maybe not. So, 2019, we went on a cruise to the Bahamas, and they have this really popular place called the Rum Cake Factory, which is right on the port when you cruise in, and it's very popular in place. Went, tried the cakes, and they were pretty good, but he's like, I think we can compete with this. And he's always pushing huge support.

00:27:03
So started playing with recipes, got kind of my base recipe down and started putting it out there, putting out my fillers to see kind of what people thought about the new recipes, and then from the base recipe started to build. I have a ton of flavors, and that's kind of where it came from. But essentially, I know that God has put me there to love people, and this is how he has for. Me to do that. And I know that with everything in my heart.

00:27:29
Oh, I love that. That is amazing. And how did you get involved with NFL Thread? Like, how did you hear about the event? Again, guys, my attorney asked me very randomly, like, what's your plan?

00:27:41
And I said, there's no way that I could even have understood that the life I live now was something that I had the capability or was like a possibility to dream. So I work at a law firm for my day job in Kansas City, and one of the partners at my firm was like, hey, come to this luncheon with me. At the luncheon, I met Angela Brown, who was a keynote speaker today, and just kind of talked for a little while. And then I got an email from Cynthia, the founder of NFL Threat, and she's like, hey, heard about you. Would love to kind of bring you on this opportunity.

00:28:19
So when I say that I never understood that this was a possibility to dream, I wouldn't have known. I also, as a side note, I do some baking for the Kansas City Royals as well. And after that initial meeting with the Royal Chef, I said, okay, we can pray about it. So I asked God, I said, okay, God, if you're going to give me things like, how about the Chiefs? I would love to beg for the Chiefs too.

00:28:46
And if I could have the Sporting KC, I'll take that as well. God said, I see your Chiefs, I'll raise you the NFL. And so everyone is just so welcoming and so kind and so nice, and I'm so excited and so blessed to be a part of the NFL Thread family now. It is. And I'm so happy that you're here with YNS live with NFL Thread.

00:29:07
I mean, we do this because we are here sharing these live stories. A lot of times people don't know we love bringing on women that their husbands were in the league, but finding out what they do, right? What do they do? And then also talk about the pivots of the players. How does that look?

00:29:23
Because that is something that's not talked about enough. When you play something and you have a passion and you've been doing it your whole life, and then all of a sudden you stop, there's going to be ramifications, and if you don't have that support, what is that going to look like? And this goes definitely all professional athletes, it's not talked about enough and there's not enough support on that exiting of it. So we feel that bringing these stories, these live stories about people that get involved. And so I just love that you got involved with the NFL Thread.

00:29:54
I know it's going to be a long list of things that you can do with them because we do the Super Bowl every year. We also have the hall of Fame, which is really fun because, again, it's people that are just their hearts. Every event that I have been a part of, every heart is big and bursting and just wants to support and network and help definitely. And connect. So welcome and thank you for being here with YNS Live with NFL Thread.

00:30:20
This work, I feel, is so important. When I was talking to Cynthia and she kind of talked about the same things. And I'm not an NFL player, obviously, but I would imagine that the accolades that come along and the praise and just the things that come along with being someone in the NFL, and then once that pivot happens, I would imagine mental health can take a hit. So having a support system as vast from someone, a group of people like Cynthia and her husband who understand what that looks like and just having that support, I would imagine is just life changing and I would beg to say may even save lives 100%. 100%.

00:30:56
Because it is all about feeling understood. Definitely. And being connected and knowing, okay, someone else is going through this. I'm having these feelings. Okay.

00:31:05
I'm talking to another former player. As I said, it doesn't matter how strong you are mentally, when you leave something that you've been doing for that long, but something that you love for that long, you're going to have some sort of down. I mean, you're going to get down. And if you don't have that support, it's really hard. So that's why we do.

00:31:24
That's why we share these stories. That's why we come live from these events, so people can kind of see from behind the scenes, people like you and how people can get involved. So. Kyla Glover the run. Kyla, right?

00:31:36
I said that, right? Yes. Kyla Glover, the Rum Room LLC. You can find her on the Socials, and if you have anything that you have in an event doing anything, reach out to Kyla so you can taste and get involved in The Rum Room. Definitely.

00:31:51
I want to thank you for the work that you do. I am on all socials TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, the Rum Room LLC for TikTok and Instagram, and then The Rum Room on Facebook. I am located in Kansas City, so I do local events. I do weddings, and I also don't ship across the United States and Canada. So I'm ready to feed the world.

00:32:12
I love it. Well, thank you so much again for joining YNS Live with NFL Thread, live from the Draft event in Kansas City. Thank you so much. Bye. How are you?

00:32:21
How are you? I'm well. How are you doing? I'm good. Welcome to YNS live with NFL Thread.

00:32:26
My name is Juliet Hahn, and I am the co host with Cynthia. And welcome to the Draft event. Can you introduce yourself, please? Absolutely, yes. My name is Kirsten Brown Persley, and I'm the founder and CEO of Persley Advisors, which is a consulting firm that works for organizations to help them ensure that their goals are met with an inclusive lens.

00:32:45
That is amazing. So how did you find out? NFL thread. Can you give us a little background of who you are and how you found? Absolutely.

00:32:52
So my mom is Angela Brown and so she was telling me about the amazing organization and just the camaraderie and one thing that we're really passionate about is making sure that we're helping to empower women. And so when I heard about this opportunity to meet and speak with the woman here, I was super excited. That's awesome. And so yes. So I was just talking about Angela.

00:33:12
I met Angela at the Super Bowl event. Wonderful. Amazing woman. And I love that you are kind of following in her entrepreneur footsteps. So tell us a little bit about how you kind of got involved in your company.

00:33:24
Where did it come from and give us a little background on that. Absolutely. So I was an educator for many years and was a teacher and had the opportunity to start a high school and be a founding principal of a high school. And we had a really great run where the district came to us and said, hey, we want you to found another school concept. So within two years founded two school concepts within Kansas City and did that was really fortunate to graduate our first class through the Pandemic, which was really challenging.

00:33:57
The school that I led and started was situated in the urban core and so within the Pandemic I think all the challenges that society faced really hit schools hard, especially in more underserved settings. And so used that as a launch pad to work for an organization where I led as an executive director called the Brand Lab, Kansas City, which helped ensure that there was more diverse representation of people of color within the marketing and advertising industry. And so was able to relaunch that market, make it really strong and restructured the board and might hire a new staff and got it to a really good place and decided to move into consulting because that's what a lot of people, these organizations I was working with these schools, just saying we know that our world is becoming more diverse, and we want to make sure that we are responsive to that reality. And our organizations are really embracing and making sure that there's a sense of belonging within organizations as diversity becomes more of a reality. And so I found a really good niche in supporting organizations and making sure that their ways of operating was more inclusive.

00:35:01
That's amazing. So I love the whole school concept. So I'm Dyslexic my older son's, dyslexic my dad, my sister. And so one of the things that during the Pandemic I thought about all the little kids that were missing that instruction and my heart just completely shattered. I was like, how can I help more?

00:35:20
How can I help more. And I do stuff with the foundation on Dyslexia doing that because it's those things that we don't think about or not we because I do, because I am Dyslexic, but others that don't maybe have that struggle or not in the school system about what it is, that early kind of thing that's missing. So when you had your two schools where you said they were in under privileged areas, what was the things that you were kind of focusing on to really help those students achieve and graduate? Yeah, so that's a great question. One thing that we saw, it was an utter need for wraparound services.

00:35:54
And so what you have oftentimes is students who are really committed and parents who are really committed. But when you don't know where you're going to get your next meal or there's instability with housing, it's really hard to focus on school. And so we really became a conversation about how do we leverage the community resources that existed to make sure that we were plugging in to support students and families where they need it. So it's really a holistic approach. And then you can kind of get to the academic piece around, hey, there may be some challenges with reading or with math.

00:36:27
How do we help identify what those gaps may be and provide supports, especially when it's virtual? And one thing that was really proud of the work that we did was if students had significant ways in which they learned differently, we would bring them into the school even when it wasn't open, because we knew that that gap would widen if we didn't make that choice. Okay, you just made my heart scream and almost cry, and I'm getting totally teary because that is what is so missed and so many of those students, as I said, it really hurt. I couldn't do anything. It was like, what do I do?

00:37:00
And I know that my son is struggling, but he is also older and he knows, okay, this just sucks. I'm going to have to step it up at a different time. But knowing those little people, that probably didn't. And so I love that you did that whole approach because that is one thing that is so important, because sometimes maybe with Dyslexia, you might be dysgraphic, you might be Dyscalculate, you might be ADHD. And if you're just focusing on one little thing, you're missing so many other parts.

00:37:26
And so the fact that you built, let's work with this child to make them feel good about themselves and then start tackling it. I preach all the time about the strengths, but also knowing the weaknesses and also being like, you're okay with the weakness because you know that kid's going to compensate and find something beautiful. I actually do what I do now so well because of my Dyslexia, because I had to learn to read people. I had to learn to communicate. I had to learn to kind of read and the tones of people's voices.

00:37:53
And so as I've gotten older, I realize, oh my gosh, I've been doing this since I was little because of the compensation I had to do in school and do other things. So oh my gosh, I just praise you. I think that is amazing. Again, I really could have let it flow, but I love the work that you're doing now. So where can people find you and if they want to reach out also?

00:38:17
Yeah, so our website is launching next week. It's persleyadvisors.com. So persle. Yadvisors.com. And I'm also on LinkedIn, so under.

00:38:27
Kirstenbrownpersley. Oh my gosh, kirsten, thank you so much again for joining. I feel like I have to get your contact later and we're going to have to because there's so many things that, as I said, with this foundation, with Dyslexia that we have ideas of doing for the underprivileged and we're just kind of scratching the surface there. So I would love to pick your brain on that. I would love that.

00:38:49
I'm defending my dissertation on Tuesday and I'm focused a lot on this work. And if students already have come from this place where they have these under resourced experiences, it makes it that much harder for them to get the support they need if they have Dyslexia, for example. And so I think that I just commend you. I think that's such a worthwhile and needed kind of issue to tackle and problem that we have. So I just am really grateful that you're doing that work.

00:39:13
Thank you. Well, welcome again and thank you for being on Winst Live with NFL Thread live at the Draft in Kansas City. So here's our keynote speaker, Angela Brown. Welcome to ynus live with NFL Thread. It's so good to see your face again.

00:39:27
How are you? You're one of my favorite people in the world and I love meeting you all over the country, doing this and talking with you in the audience. This is wonderful. Oh my God, I so appreciate it. And I just met your amazing daughter and actually she made me cry.

00:39:41
Literally, I started crying. Oh my God, I physically started crying. The work that she was doing with the kids and the principal because I'm Dyslexic, and during the pandemic, I just kept saying, oh my gosh, these kids that are young, I mean, my son's Dyslexic as well, but he was older, so we could kind of walk through like, honey, this is just going to suck. You're just going to have to get through it. We already kind of built those foundations, but the little ones, it just, oh my gosh.

00:40:06
When she was talking about the whole child, I literally go, oh my God, just started crying. She's amazing. She is amazing. She's launching her own consulting education, which is amazing, too. Yeah.

00:40:21
The thing is, I love that she's also following in your entrepreneur footsteps. So I'm going to have you introduce well, I already introduced you a couple of times, but Angela Brown, she is the keynote speaker. They're going to be doing some workshops. Angela, you can find her on Instagram at Angela the Coach. You can also find her all through LinkedIn.

00:40:39
That's another place that you really hang out on Facebook. Angela Brown and you do leadership and business consulting for people. So can you share a little bit about how you got involved in this? I know my listeners know they're going to be like, oh, Angela from the Super Bowl, but how you got then decided, you guys to do this workshop here at the Draft, live with these women in Kansas City? Juliet my passion has always been to empower and to inspire women and to really help people discover what their purpose, passion and mission is in life.

00:41:12
Because, as I said before, I've struggled at time to time in my life after having a fair amount of success, like, what am I going to do next? What's next on the horizon? And so you kind of throw the spaghetti up against the wall to see what sticks and not really knowing what a fit is. So I have made it my life's mission now to help people go through the process of kind of uncovering what their values are, their purpose, their mission, so they can be focused and intentional in their daily pursuits of their goals, which is amazing. And I love that.

00:41:38
And tell them a little bit how that kind of came about. I know we talked a little bit about on the podcast when we were at the Super Bowl, but a little bit of kind of like how you came about that. How did you nail that down? Like, okay, this is what I'm going to do. Because we know all as entrepreneurs, we have these ideas, which I love coming up with the ideas and then the ideas kind of sometimes sprout and then they get narrow, right?

00:42:02
It's like, okay, here I am, sprouting, sprouting, and now I'm getting narrow to really what I'm meant to do. When was that AHA moment for you? When you found that? Yes. So before you even begin to put a plan into place, I think what's missing oftentimes for business owners and for people looking to get into business is that they really haven't defined what it is you're trying to accomplish personally.

00:42:25
What are your values? What do you believe in? Why is that important to you? So I think by really uncovering your true values, you become to move into your purpose, right? So, in fact, today I'm going to be taking these ladies through this part one of the journey of really determining who you are, what you stand for, what you're willing to live and die for, what is the true impetus for you to move in any direction.

00:42:52
So I think that once we determine that, then opportunities become more clear. You can actually define what you're looking for because I went through a process where I knew I had some success. I knew I was at a crossroad, but I didn't know what that next iteration was. But I had no foundation. I had no core values that were defined that would make sure I was in alignment with those.

00:43:17
And so if we're not in alignment with our core values, then we tend to go off in a direction that we don't feel 100% fulfilled. We don't feel like it's really in our sweet spot. Maybe someone said, hey, that's a good idea, or maybe there's a lot of money over here in this direction, so I'm going to go in this direction. But it really doesn't feel all the void. There's something there that's missing.

00:43:38
Oftentimes in our careers, albeit very successful careers, sometimes there's a void that's missing. And I know that from personal experience that I went through that process. There was a void there and I was tired of just spinning the wheel. I wanted to really uncover what are my true values, why do I value these things? And what is my purpose and passion based on my values, right?

00:44:01
So that I'm not just out there willynilly going in a direction, then having to pivot after I spend a ton of money going down a path and feeling like, okay, this really isn't what I thought it would be. So that's what we're going to be going through today. I'm helping these women because I'm in my sweet spot right now. I've discovered that my mission and my purpose is to help people realize things about themselves I never knew were possible. That's my personal mission statement.

00:44:26
So we'll be talking with these women today about helping them to really gain clarity around their personal mission statement. So that whatever they choose to do. It'S going to be in alignment. It's going to feel good, it's going. To be in their sweet spot.

00:44:40
And so as a business consultant and business broker, I actually go through this process of matchmaking people with their ideal business or operator. It could be a nonprofit, it could be consulting, it could be a franchise, it could be whatever. But I help people really gain clarity and it gives confidence. Basically the net net is confidence in moving forward, boldly in your pursuits. No.

00:45:03
And it's so true. And we can talk more about this on the side, but part of my business that I really didn't even talk about when we were at the Super Bowl is I am a storytelling consultant. So I help people actually formulate their stories. I help them identify those parts of their stories all the way back and all their chapters of their life that are actually going to connect with audiences more, their target audience, where they're going to grab people because of their stories, because of their experiences, because we all have stories. And a lot of times people won't and I think it's with the work that you're doing, a lot of times, people don't think parts of their stories are significant, but they don't realize how significant they are.

00:45:39
That actually how impactful they can be.

00:45:43
Stories sell, right? Facts tell, stories sell. And stories connect us. And that's the thing. Stories connect us when we have these missions, when we have these things, and when people can really hone in on what their purpose is, as you said, and how they got there, and then their journey is just when things explode.

00:46:01
So I love that you're really helping people dive into that. And that the women at this live event in Kansas City at the Draft with YNS live with NFL Thread. I mean, Cynthia doing such a great job, as she always does, putting this on and pulling all these women together to be able to learn. That's what NFL thread is about. It's about the networking.

00:46:21
It's about getting like minded people together and maybe sometimes not always like minded, right? People that can network and work together and feel. So the fact that you're there being able to shine and show your true talents to these women and helping them learn is just beautiful. So I'm so excited that you're a part of this again, and it's so good for your beautiful face. Ms.

00:46:41
Angela Brown. Good to see. Listen, you and I need to do a co presentation because the storytelling is such an important part of all of this. And I'll be telling my story today, which really my purpose emanates from my story. So that's a big part of it.

00:46:58
And so, yeah, that's a big piece we talk about as well. I love that. Well, we'll talk on the side after this. We'll definitely talk about that and see how we can work together on that. I love it.

00:47:07
All right, angela, thank you so much again for joining YNS live with NFL Thread. You too. Thank you. Okay. Hello.

00:47:14
Hi. I can hear you guys. Welcome to YNS live with NFL Thread. My name is Juliet Hahn, and I am the host of co host with Cynthia Zordich. Live with NFL Thread.

00:47:24
We bring the podcasts and the stories to these events. So you guys are at the Draft right now. If you guys can introduce yourselves and let us know a little bit about yourself. Okay. My name is Kimberly Jenkins.

00:47:36
It's my business partner. I am Dr. Michaela Dartson, and we are with Pink Smoke. We are a cigar company, a female owned cigar company out of Dallas, Texas. How cool are you guys?

00:47:50
Some badass women. I love it. How did you guys get involved in that? Well, I live in Dallas, and I have a friend who told me that I'm a member of Alpha Cap Alpha sorority corporate. We both are.

00:48:03
And he told me one of my sorority sisters is a cigar smoker, and she's looking for the sorority sisters who, like, to smoke. So we just got together, and through that one sort of sister, I met Kimberly, and I decided, this is really fun, but we could create our own company. We can do our own thing. So I happened to be smoking at a place in Dallas on a rooftop, and someone gave me a cigar, and he said, hey, my friend lives in Louisiana and he blends his own tobacco, and he names them all after parishes in Louisiana. So the one I happen to smoke was the Slidell.

00:48:30
And it was so great, I hate for it to finish because it was such a smooth smoke. So I said, I have to meet this man. So we got with him, and just based on our taste, he created Blends, signature blends for our line, based on our taste, because I love cognacs and things like that. So he just created a heavy blend for me that I call Michaela in Your Mouth, named after me. And I have one called Red Bone.

00:48:51
So I chose nicknames that I had when I was growing up. Mine's. Red bone. Mine's more of a mild or medium, but we have different flavors. We have others in our lines, but those are specifically made for they're all signature blends.

00:49:04
But we do have a couple of sleepers. We have a chocolate and a cranberry in our line, but the other ones are medium to full body. And our blends come from Nicaraguagua, Ecuador, the Dominican, Colombia, and Mexico. So depending on which stick you buy, you'll get blends from all those from various regions of those countries. Yes.

00:49:19
And we also specialize in doing the NFL has been a blessing to us through our publicist, so it's been great. Super bowl. Of course, we're here this weekend, this week, for the draft. But we also target anyone that golf. So we have another part of our company.

00:49:34
It's called cigars on par. And we also have a podcast called Chicks and Sticks. And we're the chicks. You're the chicks and sticks. I love that.

00:49:41
Okay, so where can people find you on social media? So on. Instagram. We are pink smoke for the number four U. The letter U.

00:49:48
Pink smoke for you. Number four, letter U. I'm sorry. Yeah. And on Facebook.

00:49:55
We're pink smoke. Okay. And on Twitter as well. We're everywhere. And what do you guys talk about on your podcast?

00:50:04
Give us a little preview of that. A little bit of everything. So, like, we've had Ashley. She's part of the NFL Wives Club, right? So we had her on.

00:50:13
We've had comedians. We just talk. It's something people do when they sit down and you have a cigar. It's relaxing. We just chop it up with everybody and see what they're doing.

00:50:22
It kind of gives them a highlight of what other people's businesses are doing. What makes it unique is that it's. Us and that we do so many. Different things and we meet so many different people, and we just want to bring out what they're doing, and so it gives them exposure, but it helps us do it. So, yeah, we build relationships, celebrities, and we love to interview entrepreneurs because we love the network, so that's part of our focus.

00:50:45
Yeah, that's so funny because I have a number of different shows, and I can connect with you guys afterwards. Podcasting is it's networking? It's the stories. I am a storytelling consultant, and so I also like the stories are what just are so dear and close to my heart. I love hearing how people tick and what they do.

00:51:01
So you women are awesome, and you guys go follow them and listen to their podcast. Go subscribe rate and review. And thank you again for joining YNS live with NFL Thread. Live at the Draft. Yes.

00:51:13
Thank you so much. Thank you for having us. Good luck to you as well. Thank you so much. Hi.

00:51:17
So welcome to YNS live with NFL Thread. I am Juliet Hahn, and I am co host with Cynthia Zordich. Thank you for joining this live event here at the Draft in Kansas City. Can you guys introduce yourself, please? I'm sandra Kenny.

00:51:32
My husband was quarterback for ten years for the Chiefs, and we've lived here ever since. He's been with the Chiefs for over 30 years. Amazing. Well, it's nice to meet you, and. I'm Paula Page, and my husband played for Kansas City for nine years, and Bill was his quarterback while he was here.

00:51:50
Oh, how fun. A lot of passes to Stefan. Oh, that's amazing. So how did you guys hear about the NFL threat event? Well, I actually go to events whenever they're at Super Bowl or any event that's going on.

00:52:04
But I love Cynthia, so whenever I get those emails, I'm there. Right. She's the best, isn't she is. And I want to introduce Sandra to this simply because Sandra works so very hard with all the things she's doing in the community and her business. So I want her to get involved too, with the alumni so she can kind of see what the wives are doing.

00:52:23
So that's why she's here today. No. I love it. So, Sandra, can you tell us a little bit about what you do? This is why we have this podcast.

00:52:31
We talk to the women about what they do. We really get into some big stories when we do separate podcasts about the pivots of life and when your husband left the league. But I want to know about you. What do you do in the community? What is your business?

00:52:45
Let us all know. Okay, so I list and sell homes, and right now, we're managing a new home subdivision called Summit View Farms.

00:52:57
We've got five homes that are in the Parade of Homes, the Spring Parade of Homes. Have you heard of that? They have not before, no. Okay. Yes.

00:53:08
It's the second largest home parade. Like where it's over around 300 homes in the greater Kansas City region. Okay. So it's the second largest in the nation. So you just go and you look at different model homes all over the greater Kansas City region and it's pretty fun.

00:53:26
So the parade starts this Saturday, the 29th, and it goes through May 14, so I'll be working a lot of hours. And we just had one of our model homes judged this morning. So that and then I stage and list homes and sell them and help people remodel and stuff like that. It's really super fun, just to let. You know, she's playing it down a lot, but this young lady is amazing.

00:53:54
And they had her and her husband had a vision way back in the early 80s, could have been way before that. They had a vision and they purchased it was like 120 acres. 120 acres. Didn't know what they were going to do with it. It was soybeans at first, and they had farm animals.

00:54:10
I mean, this was a true farm to table person before farm to table was ever even a thought. So they had that vision, and now I'm telling you, they have the phase one, phase two, phase three of this development that is amazing and out of this world. Yeah, so we're having a lot of fun with that. And really back in the day when Paula and I and the guys were on the team, we all had a wonderful Bible study together. Paula and I are Christians, and we prayed a lot of yours for the team.

00:54:42
And the Lord did some amazing things. Oh, my gosh, that must be really fun. Oh, my gosh. I do want to ask you how you got into that, but I do want to also ask Paula.

00:54:56
It always fascinates me the pivots in life, where we go and what we do. So do you work outside the home as well? I've been actually in finances for over 30 years, and I just completed my Master's in January, so I'm going to be going to Arizona in January to walk and get my diploma. Look at you. That's amazing.

00:55:15
That's my little personal goal I've been working on for the past year and a half. So I'm so excited. Yes. Congratulations. And what made you decide that to get your Masters?

00:55:24
Because I found out that my company pays for it full, so I figured. I better do it. And that just brings up a really good point, because a lot of people don't utilize the tools that they have within the organizations. They are. I mean, even with the NFL and all different different organizations, all throughout school organizations, really, people don't ask those questions, and a lot of times they don't tell you because they don't want to do it.

00:55:47
So you have to be curious, right? You have to have that curious mind and ask those questions, especially if you're feeling, I believe in God. And I feel like God a lot of times, will throw things at you when he wants you to do something. And so that's what I always encourage people to do, is really listen and then start asking questions, start feeling it. So how did you get thank you for sharing that.

00:56:07
Sandra, how did you get into real estate? Like, what made you decide to do that? So I was a stay at home mom, and we actually home schooled our children. But during the time that we were in football, I kept on having dreams about land, and we felt like the Lord was speaking to us about that. And so I'd get in the plane because the dreams were so specific, and Phyllis and I did you get in the plane with me?

00:56:35
Yeah, Phyllis Lewis and I would get in the plane that's when she was married to Albert, and we'd be flying all around and eventually we bought a piece of land and then had a dream again, I believe, from the Lord that we were supposed to develop it. And now we're on our third subdivision. And it's something that I just love. When you love your job, when you love everything about designing and building and all that other stuff, it's really exciting. It is.

00:57:06
Well, is there a place that people can find you guys? Are you on the social media? So people can follow you? For Kansas city on the greater Kansas city area. It's Kennysalesteam.com.

00:57:17
Or you can also go to our you're all welcome to come to our subdivision through this Saturday through May 14, from eleven to six. And that summitviewfarms.org. And we buy to Facebook as well, so we post all kinds of really fun things. Yeah, amazing. Well, you guys, thank you so much for joining Wine this Live with NFL Thread.

00:57:43
Sorry we had a little technical difficulty there. But I so appreciate you guys joining and sharing your story and supporting these events. Being there, networking, giving your love, showing what you guys have achieved is so important for all different women, but also your women, the women that have also followed in your footsteps, that are spouses, that maybe are a little floundering, maybe they don't know what to do. Maybe their husband's ready to pivot and it's their time to kind of take the reins, and they don't know what to do. So having you guys here and supporting them and sharing who you are and what your story is, it's really important.

00:58:14
So, again, thank you so much for joining y in this Live with. Thank you. Because I get your emails on a regular, so I'm always reading all your little stories, but thank you. They're very inspiring. Thank you.

00:58:24
Thank you so much. Thank you. Ladies, I had something I wanted to bring up that I think would be a good conversation point, please, for people that are listening, for listeners. When Paula and I were on the team we would have. I think other people don't realize how hard it is on spouses sometimes when your husband is in the spotlight.

00:58:48
And we had a lot of women doing inappropriate things. I mean, I had somebody ask me if they could borrow my husband for a night. Can you believe that? I was pregnant at the time and not feeling really beautiful, but just coming up to restaurants, following you around. We couldn't even go shopping and stuff.

00:59:10
And I just wanted to and you had the same experience with and they. Still have it today, but now I think it's a little different now because the guys have security. It's really different when me and you were playing. Yeah, they have security, so they have more of a protection. Okay.

00:59:28
I didn't realize that, but I just wanted to encourage both men and women to admire at a distance and try not to be inappropriate and ask for kisses or ask inappropriate questions so people can feel respected. Because I think the players really want to and the wives really want to be out there. Be out there. They want to make Kansas City just shine. But it gets kind of hard when there's inappropriate things that go on.

01:00:02
No, and I appreciate that. This is why Cynthia and I started this podcast series, because it really is bringing light to the stories in the world. I was an athlete, but I wasn't in the professional athletic world. Neither is my husband. But we need to think of you guys are still people.

01:00:22
You still wake up and put your pants on the same way we do. Exactly. And we have children and feelings treat us like people, not like an idol or something, because we're not we're just. Normal people to get started. Right?

01:00:36
Yes. Okay. Well, thank you. Yes. We can go on and on and on, but yes.

01:00:41
Thank you for joining ynus live with NFL Thread. Hey, Juliet. How are you? So welcome to YNS live with NFL thread. How are you doing?

01:00:48
Good. How are you? I'm good. Can you introduce yourself, please? My name is Janae James.

01:00:54
I am not an NFL wife, but I do work in the industry. I work in sports and entertainment. I work with some artists, book for the biggest festivals, and then I'm also doing a lot of marketing. I am the director of client relations for Trifecta MMM in Philly. So we do a lot of cool stuff with athletes and entertainers.

01:01:17
Hey, fly. Go fly. Go burst. I'm a Casey right now, but always go burst. I grew up right outside of Philadelphia.

01:01:25
That's actually how Cynthia and I got connected. So what brings you to this event? Like, how did you hear about Thread and give us a little background on that? So, honestly, I just had a conversation with Cynthia. I was at Super Bowl and at the Nfly's fashion show.

01:01:42
I won the Louis bag that they. Gave away the Louis. I actually was like, I feel like I've met her because we were there. We were on the red carpet, but I felt like I was like, I totally know this woman. Why do I know her?

01:01:55
So I love that you just said that. Yes. You brought it here with me, too. Of course. Yeah, why not, right?

01:02:02
So you heard about Thread through that event. Was that the first time that you heard about Thread? Or have you heard about it before the rumblings of it? No, that was the first time I got connected with Thread because I used to work for CAA, and Cantu was a client, and Cantu was a sponsor for that event. So Cantu invited me to the Thread event, and then everything, we just kept going.

01:02:25
So awesome. So tell us a little bit about how you decided to get into sports and entertainment. Where was your path there? Was that always something that you wanted to do? So I went to Hampton University.

01:02:37
I majored in broadcast journalism. I was a sports management minor, and I wanted Pam Oliver's job when I first graduated. So sideline report. But I'm from Philly, and you know how Philly fans are, so I was way too biased to really take on that job. I started doing blog talk radio shows in the beginning, like, right after I graduated.

01:02:57
And Philly fans are way too sensitive, and it's a big bias there. That's very true. For grad school, I went to Berkeley College of Music. I studied abroad a year in Spain. So my first internship was actually with Michael Vicks publicist, and she had Thaddeus Young and Meek Mill all at the same time.

01:03:19
So I transitioned into music, and I'm just coming back into sports. I'm building a meditation studio in Atlanta, and I really want to franchise it within the NFL. So build onto player practice facilities so they have a space to come and get physical training, but also wellness and. Mental health, too, which is so important. So where can people find you?

01:03:40
My instagram is janae. J-A-N-A-Y. Marie. M-A-R-I-E. James.

01:03:46
J-A-M-E-S. Yeah, that's my IG. You can are you on LinkedIn or. Is that I'm in LinkedIn, too? Janae.

01:03:57
James. J-A-N-A-Y. Last name? James. J-A-M-E-S.

01:04:00
Like LeBron. Wonderful. Well, I'm so glad that you joined, and I'm so glad to see you again because I remember seeing you from across the way when they gave you that Louis bag, and I was like, oh, go. Oh, my God. Lucky, lucky.

01:04:11
That's amazing. Let's stay connected. Yes, please. And I hope to see you at the next event, whether it's the hall of Fame or the Super Bowl, where we're bringing YNS live with NFL Thread again. So it's so nice to see you again.

01:04:23
You too. You too. I'll reach out. I'll find you on LinkedIn. And reach out to you.

01:04:27
So welcome to Ins live with NFL thread. I'm Juliet Han, co host with Cynthia Zordich. Can you introduce yourself, please? Hi. I'm Sandra Lamar.

01:04:36
Sandra Atkins Lamar. And my son is a ten year he's retired NFL football player. He played for the Cincinnati Bengals. And I am also a second time around. My husband played for the New Orleans Saints in the late 80s, early 90s.

01:04:53
So I've done this twice and so I've been blessed. Yeah. And I'm also, as of last October, we're an NFLPA certified agent. So I'm doing the darn thing. You are in it.

01:05:06
So I have to ask you, what was the difference having your husband in the league versus having your son in the league? Yeah, I was just talking about that. It's different when you're watching, when you're watching your husband, you're a cheerleader and you're worth a lot of being hurt, but you're not. It's like you're more cheering. You're cheering for the team.

01:05:26
When you're watching your son, you're not a fan. You're basically their fan and you're looking your bated breath at everything that they do. So if they go down, you go down. And that's just the way it feels. So I told everybody it was a totally different experience, watching his game and watching my husband's game.

01:05:44
And he's your baby, so you're going to be more the buy in is actually more, I think, for a son than a husband. No, because it really gets you thinking. So I want people to think about this, is that when you're a parent, you have more of a protection, I feel like, and it's more my kids all play they're not even in college yet, but they play in high school. And I know when you see someone like my one son plays basketball, and when you see the kid, like, riding him and you kind of get like, mama Bear, what's this guy doing? Get him, honey.

01:06:22
But so I can imagine you do. And when they get to that level of having it, were you surprised at the way you kind of emotionally felt or because he was playing as long as he was, you kind of knew that that was going to be the next kind of progression? No, I mean, he was a big kid, always a big kid. His dad, he was bigger than his dad. His dad was a safety.

01:06:42
He ended up being a defensive tackle. So he was really big growing up, really goofy. And I was like, oh, Lord, what is he going to do? He didn't like football. He told me he didn't want to be a stinking football player.

01:06:55
He declared that at about seven. And I said, okay, you don't have to be one. But as he got older, he's like, well, I really do, I want to go to work every day. That was his thought process, he told me. I said, really?

01:07:08
And so he started playing in high school and going to the high school game, I saw that there was a difference. It's like, wait a minute, I'm watching football, but I'm watching it from a different perspective here. It's not like when your dad was playing, I was a fan jumping up and down and there you're kind of just sitting I don't know, usually most parents will yell and scream. I was one of those that's kind of just sat quietly with my I'm sitting on my hands or I'm standing up, like looking if he goes down. He went down in high school once and didn't get up.

01:07:37
And I stood up in the stands and started going down. I'm like, I don't know where I was going, but I was going down. Right? That's so interesting. So then how did you get involved with the NFL PA?

01:07:48
With the NFLPA. We're the professional football players mothers association. That's a group that started 25 years ago. We're actually coming back to Kansas City in July to celebrate our 25th year. We started by a group of about 28 mothers that saw in the 90s that there was a void.

01:08:06
There was no group that you can go to and call. Usually the issues that we have, everybody think your son is drafted, he's made it. You don't have any issues. But there are things that go on that with our sons and even with each other that you need to talk to someone that has that same experience. And so that's what the mom's organization is about.

01:08:25
We support each other, we support our sons. I lived in Miami at the time and someone maybe live in Atlanta, their son is a dolphin. They can pick up the phone and call me and say, sandra, my son is looking for a babysitter. He's trying to find somebody replicable. Do you have any referral?

01:08:39
Or My son is looking for this. And so we will be able to do that for each other. And so it became a very tight knit organization, like I said, celebrating our 25th year. And we're excited what the next 25 years is going to hold for us. And then just the NFL PA knowing that the PA is for the players, that was the thing that the NFL is all about, protecting the NFL brand and the NFL business.

01:09:05
The NFL PA is partnership with the players. All the benefits, all of those things, they're fighting for that for the young men. They have a bunch of stuff out there that a lot of players aren't taking advantage of. So as moms, we find out what that is and we're like, hey, did you go? They have a second career opportunity in the offseason.

01:09:23
You need to take this class. And so we can do that as moms. Whereas a wife, you're really not thinking about that. But as a mom, that's where our head is. And so we do a lot of things with NFLPA and then once I found out that they certify all the agents, I said, well, wait a minute, I can do this.

01:09:41
I've done this twice. This is over 22 years of being involved in this league. And so I went through, took the test, passed it, and now I'm an NFL PA certified agent. Congratulations. That's amazing.

01:09:52
And there's a saying out there and I'm probably going to get it wrong, but a mother that is worried can find more things out than an FBI agent. And it's so true. It is so true. I chuckled the first time I saw that, but I was like, oh no, it's point on because we have a vested interest, right? These are our babies, we birth them.

01:10:12
They are an extension of us in some way. So I love that you took all your experiences from your husband, your son, and now you're out there able to help others, help other mothers that maybe don't know the ropes. And so congratulations to what you're doing. Is there a place that people can find you if they have questions? Yes, I'm on Lincoln and also my website is www.henryapkinsports.com and I'm on Lincoln.

01:10:40
Sandra henry Lamar. I got remarried, so my last name is Lamar and I'm everywhere. I'm on IG the same name. Facebook. Sandra henry Lamar.

01:10:54
Same name. Thank you so much for joining YNS live with NFL Thread. I so appreciate what you're doing. Welcome to YNS live with NFL Thread. I'm Juliet Hahn.

01:11:02
I am co host with Cynthia Zordich. Welcome to the live draft event in Kansas City. I'm excited to be here. Yeah. So tell us, introduce yourself please, and give us a little bit of who you are.

01:11:14
I'm Wanda Lynn Hestlip and I am an educational consultant. So I work with kids across the country, high schoolers, especially when they're about to apply to college, apply to as many scholarships, make their family knowledgeable so they can attend school debt free. Look at that. I wish I knew about you six months ago because we have someone that we're using for my son right now who is a junior and wants to play college soccer. And so we are in that whole thing and he is Dyslexic.

01:11:46
So we have a little bit of another kind of thing that we have to think about. But I found actually not through the college person, through my own self, but found some really great schools that have support. So it's always great when people like you are doing this and helping because parents right now, it is hard and the guidance counselors don't always do what you kind of expect sometimes. So tell us how you got into doing educational support. So my daughter, this was in 2016, 2015.

01:12:15
She played soccer and she wanted to play at the D one level, but we were like, okay, figure out your criteria, what kind of school do you want to go to, what's your major, things like that. And then also obviously finance is a big part of that. And then to support, what kind of support do they have for students? Because you're always on the road. I mean, you get up at five, you got to practice, you go to class, but if you're struggling, what kind of support do they provide?

01:12:44
And so that's kind of like how it grew into my passion from helping her kind of helping her friends on the side, you know what I mean? Like Miss Presslet, I need help. And then now I just love it. I love helping kids and I love the parents having that AHA moment like, oh, thank God I don't have to put this bill all by myself, right? And it's also I mean, I know for myself.

01:13:10
So I am also Dyslexic and I knew and I have a growing business and I wanted to make sure that I was there giving him the support that he needed. But I also didn't want to be the person that was like, oh my gosh, we didn't do this. Now you have to be on top of it. You need to do this and kind of being that annoying pain in the butt, especially when you have teens and that's the last thing you want to do is annoy them about something else. But this is so important.

01:13:30
And so having that kind of where someone can help you break it down, that's what I found. Like what you guys do is so kind of helpful. It's like, this is what you need to do is break it down. We are here. We're here to help you.

01:13:42
And it's another person kind of right? And thinking about the things that we don't think about maybe all the time as parents, because we're missing especially being up on how things are different, right? When we went to college, it was very different. And so having that kind of support, that's wonderful. Where can people find you?

01:14:00
So I'm in the middle of kind of rebranding and revamping my website, but I can give my email. It's Jaheslop 92 [email protected] and then my phone number. You can call me anytime. 931-320-6210.

01:14:27
Guidance counselors have like ten minutes per student to give any kind of help. They're so swamp. So they appreciate me helping their students? No, they do. And our guidance counselor is the same.

01:14:38
She's like, I love that you have that support. I mean, because my son is Dyslexic, I do have a great relationship with our guidance counselor. She knows that if I feel like I don't hear from anyone, I'm in there. I advocate. I've always been his advocate, but he also advocates for himself.

01:14:54
But just to being like, wait, is this done? Is there anything that I'm missing? I will email her probably now that he's a junior. Every I think I've done it like three times. Have I missed anything?

01:15:05
Is there anything that the college person is not telling me also because he doesn't know him in the school setting. Right. He doesn't know certain things in certain states. So having both of them has been really helpful. But having that support where I know I can just email because we're financially with this other person, it kind of is, again, a little bit more incentive for them to help you and really step up.

01:15:27
And not that the guidance counselor is not doing that, but as you said, they have so many people that they have to also focus on, and you don't know what's going on in their own life at the time. Right. So you have to take it for that. So I love what you're doing. Thank you for joining YNS live with NFL Thread.

01:15:42
Thank you. Yeah, thank you for having me. I appreciate it. Have a good one. You too.

01:15:46
And enjoy the rest of the luncheon. Thank you. Hello, how are you? I'm doing fantastic. I hope I don't have anything in my seat.

01:15:53
No, you're good. It's so nice to see you. Welcome to mind us live yeah, welcome to mind us live with NFL threat I'm Juliet Hahn, and I'm co host with Cynthia Zordich. Can you introduce yourself? I am Angela Pride, and I am here today representing the professional football mothers association.

01:16:12
Football Players mothers association. I always forget the players, but anyway.

01:16:19
That'S amazing. Now, how did you come about learning about Thread? You know what? I stalk Thread on social media because I'm the PR coordinator for the Professional Football Players Mothers Association, and so I see what Thread does all the time. And a lot of times I think fifth month is tagged in a lot of events or a lot of things that you guys are doing.

01:16:39
Yes. No, I appreciate it. I feel like we have met at the Super Bowl event before, but I never know. It's like, a couple of times I'm like, wait, did I meet that person or did I meet that person? Fairly new, though.

01:16:51
I'm fairly new, so probably not me. All right. And I know what you guys do is really important. How did you decide to get involved with the Mothers Players Association? Oh, gosh.

01:17:02
Well, so by profession, I'm an author, speaker, trainer, and so I'm also a women's advocate. So I'm always looking for opportunities to get with other women, to network with other women, to build up other women. And I just felt like when I learned about Pifma, it was just a spot for me. I mean, coming in new to the NFL. My son was drafted in 2020, and so, as I stated, I'm fairly new, but just wanting to kind of learn the ropes, learn the different things that obviously I didn't know.

01:17:30
And so just connecting with other women has always been a passion of mine. So I'm just excited to be here. Yeah. And I think it's wonderful that you also found Thread, because, again, that's another kind of arm extension where you can just get more tools and thing. And I know, I'm sure you've heard Cynthia story, and maybe you haven't, but when her young son was in the league, she found like a pamphlet in the back of his truck and was like, he's not reading this.

01:17:56
You need to get this to the mothers. And so it was this whole thing that kind of came out because it is it's the mothers or the wives that really and no disrespect to the players and the men, but they're doing their job. They're not focused on the little details of other things. They are there to make sure that they're sleeping, they're eating well, they're playing well, and not doing the details. So the fact that there's organizations like this, which a lot of people don't know, that's one of the reasons why Cynthia and I do these events and have the podcast, because there's certain things that people don't know.

01:18:26
And if you don't know, you're not going to know. Right. So when people talk about it and they say about the supports and all the different things there are, that's what's important, because that's what makes the community tighter. Absolutely.

01:18:40
Is this your first thread event? It is my first thread event. And I'm just excited. I'm just excited to be here. And it's been wonderful so far.

01:18:50
State of the art. Yes. So I can't wait to meet you in person at some of the other events that we have because I know you're going to be there and just showing what you're doing. Where can people find you if they have questions? So if you have questions about Pifma, we are all over social media.

01:19:09
We're on IG Pifma PR. We're on Facebook. Pifma Inc. And we are on Twitter. Just under Pifma PFPMA.

01:19:20
Thank you so much. Now, also what you said, you're an author speaker, so tell us a little bit about what you do. I didn't set out to become an author, but I have published, self published three books. My first two books are encouraging Women, as I stated, in any sort of leadership role, because I do believe, as you stated, about threat. Like women.

01:19:39
We're just the core. We're the core of so many things. And so in corporate America, when I was there, I just learned that so many women were being suppressed. And my books are empowerment type of books, encouraging women to lead from wherever they are and to get to that level and to not settle for anything less. And then my last book is unconventional.

01:19:59
My entire life has been unconventional, from birth, to being raised by my grandparents, to publishing books, to going outside of corporate America to do my own training and things like that, to now where corporate invites me back in. So I'm also all over social media. I'm author Angela Pride on Facebook. I am on Twitter as my business name, which is Coach. With pride and I'm also on IG.

01:20:24
As coach with pride Well, I'm so glad, and I'm so glad that you said that, because this is why we do this. Because we all have stories. We all have something that we can share. I'm a storytelling consultant. I have a number of different podcasts.

01:20:38
But what I do is I help people be able to formulate their stories, pick out those important parts of their stories that are going to connect deeper with audiences. So what you're doing is so important because sharing our stories, someone's going to see a little bit of themselves in our stories and be like, you know what? I can do more. I can go out. I can go out of my comfort zone.

01:20:59
I can do something. And so many women, especially at certain times, which I talk about a lot, at some of our pivotal times when our kids are getting a little older or maybe when we've taken ourselves out of the workforce to raise our children, and then what happens when they get a little older? Where are we? And it doesn't matter how good your head is on your shoulders, you're going to go through some times. And having the support of other women, sharing their stories, talking about what they went through is so essential and important.

01:21:26
So thank you for doing what you're doing. Oh, absolutely. Thank you so much. Thanks for doing this. I mean, like I said, I'm just excited.

01:21:32
I've already learned a lot today just from the different speakers that I've spoken. I can't wait to hear Angela Brown. And when I met Cynthia, I was just excited. I just divide in this type of room is everything. It is everything.

01:21:46
Well, thank you again for joining and I'm looking forward to meeting you in person at the next event. Hello. Welcome to YNS live with NFL Thread. How are you? I am good.

01:21:57
Can you please introduce yourself? I am Lashirl Smith and I have a company, El Group PR. And I'm also the publicist for the NFL alumni health brand. Amazing. So I am Juliet Hahn.

01:22:11
I am the co host with Cynthia Zordich. And we love doing these events to be able to highlight the women that come to the event and support the players and the wives. So how did you get involved in what you're doing? By mistake, I started way back I'm really old. I started way back in the did a favor for one of my friends who actually played for the Cowboys, not knowing that that's what a publicist does.

01:22:38
And I moved to La for 30 years and figured out, oh, I am doing what a publicist does, and just kept doing it. So that's how I got started. That's amazing. And then how did you get involved with the other parts of your business? Was that something that kind of just evolved or was it something that you always had passionate about?

01:22:57
I wanted two jobs. When I grew up, I either wanted to work for the Cowboys in their publicity department or I always wanted to work for the NFL. One of my clients, Billy Davis, who's a two time Super Bowl champion, he is president of the alumni association. So he was like, hey, we're redoing stop it. We're redoing the alumni health.

01:23:20
I want to bring you on as publicist. So it actually just kind of fell into my lap. And now you got the two jobs like you did as a kid. Right? I know.

01:23:30
It's so funny because I am a storytelling consultant, and that's one thing. I always will challenge my clients to think back to some parts of their childhood, like what they wanted to be, state little things. Because sometimes you don't realize that little dreams that you had as a kid can sometimes become real life. And you have to see those strings and those threads that kind of tie it together, which is really fun. So can you tell people where they can find you?

01:23:55
Yes, you can find me on social media, on Instagram, at Lgroup PR or L Group. PR Co, twitter is the same. Lgroup PR. Facebook is Lgroup PR. So I'm lgroup PR across the board.

01:24:10
That makes it a lot easier. Well, thank you so much for joining YNS live with NFL Thread live at the Draft event in Kansas City. Thank you so much. I appreciate you. Yes, I appreciate you too.

01:24:21
Enjoy the rest of the luncheon. Hi. Welcome to YNS live with NFL Thread. I'm Juliet Hahn. I'm co host with Cynthia Zordich.

01:24:28
How are you? I'm doing well, thanks. How are you? My name is Nicole. I was just going to say, can you introduce yourself, please?

01:24:35
So, Nicole, what brings you to this draft event? So I am here with Sandra Atkins, who you spoke to earlier, but I'm affiliated with the NFL. My ex husband played football. We were married for 20 years, and. He'S a coach now, so I'm still.

01:24:47
Somewhat connected to the NFL. You are? Okay. From your friend Sandra, is that who you said? Sandra?

01:24:55
Yes. So she introduced you to the Threat event. Was that the first time that you heard what Cynthia is doing with these events? Yes, and I'm good friends with Erica Lasseter from off the field. I'm familiar with some of the affiliate organizations here, but, yeah, this is my first time hearing about threats.

01:25:10
Oh, wonderful. So tell us a little bit about yourself. What do you do? What is your profession? What is your living?

01:25:16
What is your passion? I am an educator. I am the director of Equity and Inclusive Education at an all girls private school. My passion is dei. I'm working on my doctorate in higher ed with a certificate in diversity, equity and inclusion.

01:25:27
So that's my passion, along with my three grown children and my beautiful daughter in law. They are my reason for getting up in the morning and trying to live a life that they're proud of. So those are my passions. Oh, I love it. Well, enjoy.

01:25:41
I know you guys are starting the workshop, so I want to let you go do that. But thank you so much for being here with YNS live with NFL thread and sharing a little bit about who you are. Can people find you? Is your school where people you have a little bit information that you can give them about the school? Yes.

01:25:55
It's st. Teresa's Academy in Kansas City, Missouri. It's the oldest school in Kansas City, Missouri. It is a private catholic school. Our motto is love the dear neighbor without distinction.

01:26:05
So, yeah, you can find it. The people at my table have different connections to Kansas City, but they've all heard about St. Teresa, so yes. Well, thank you so much for joining. Again.

01:26:13
Ynus live with NFL. Fred, enjoy the workshop. Thank you. Very nice to meet you. You too.

01:26:18
Take care.