September 22, 2025 • 46 mins
Gia’s not the only one who returned from Morocco a changed person.
Married couple Eric and Jessie James Decker talk about being transformed after doing ‘Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.’
Hear how the competition tested their marriage, the injuries they endured, and why they didn’t go straight home after the show!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hey guys, and welcome back to another week of Casual Chaos. Today,
I have two of my Special Forces cast Bades Jesse
and Eric Decker. Welcome to Casual Chaos.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
I'm so excited to be here with you guys. We
had a full blown reunion this week and it was
so fun. We bonded a lot during Special Forces, so
I'm excited to have you guys here. Wait. I didn't
know you had that brand called kit Ish. That's amazing
and I was just like researching it and looking at it.
(00:33):
When did you establish that?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
I started that in twenty nineteen.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Oh wow.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
I started with my store. I have a store in
Nashville in the Gulch, and then we expanded to online
and it has just been honestly a business. I never
thought I it would like grow to the place that
it is.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Yeah, it's wild.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
A lot of like ath leisure, a lot of everything
we've you know, I'm all over the place. I'm a
super creative person and so I always have all these ideas.
So we've done everything from swim suits to bras and
panties to denim jumpsuits and jackets and athleisure. Like we
are all over the place. But it's because I feel
like all girls need a variety of everything.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
So yeah, no, I love that. Yeah, I need to
come to the store.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Then, I really when you go to Nashville, going to
take you?
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Yeah, no, I'm We're already planning our trips to Nashville.
And Eric, you were an NFL player. You were on
the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, and Tennessee Titans. Is
that what made you guys land and stay in Nashville.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
No, so me and just met twenty eleven, and she
was already in Nashville. She moved there, what seven?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
I moved there in two thousand and seven, So two
months after I graduated, not too much. Two weeks after
I graduated high school, I moved to Nashville because I
got a record deal, so I started there.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
I started going to Nashville when.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
I was fifteen, doing music, doing you know, rights and
producers and all the things, and so I knew I
was going to move there right after, and so that's
where I lived.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
I had a record deal, was.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Signed an Island Duff jam was traveling all over the place,
and that was introduced to Eric.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
In twenty and.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Eleven, Nashville just became a second home for us. I'm
from Minnesota. Definitely wasn't a place I wanted to go
in the off season. Yeah, And so when we I
made a move to Denver three months after we met
in twenty.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Eleven, so snatched me up real quick.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
We would go from Denver or New York to Nashville
and the off seasons, and I just fell in love
with Nashville. It was obviously home for her with her work,
and so.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
It didn't take much convincing like he was. It wasn't
like do you I don't even feel like we had
the conversation of like do you where do you want
to live?
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (02:43):
It was do you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Yeah, really think about that right now, We've never even
had this conversation. I don't think in the beginning of
our relationship we ever sat there going like where are
we going to live?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
It was always we just would go to Nashville.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Yeah. Well, we kind of built the community there, and
this is before Nashville became like the Broadway. Yeah yeah,
and so we loved it.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Well, it's funny because half of our Special Forces cast.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Is literally from Nashville.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
I know, I need to like understand the hype now
about Nashville. Yeah, because whenever I've gone, it's just Broadway,
So I have to explore.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
I know that you are looking. Let me just say this.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
I know you were looking to like plant some roots
down where you are.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
You know what I mean, because it's time. But I
have a feeling knowing her, if.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
You came to Nashville for a visit, you'd be like, shoot,
this is throwing me. I might think about moving to Nashville.
I mean, I'm telling you even like I.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Just had a girl she recently, she was on my
podcast Mercedes Northup. Like she lives in Nashville.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Yeah, like I.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
After Special Forces, I feel like everyone that I meet,
they live in Nashville. It's crazy.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
You heard about Nashville too, is like me, You're from
the Northeast, so it's an easy flight to get to
New York. So yeah, you know, you don't have the
big city, you don't have as many options that New
York offers, but yeah, it's an easy flight away. And
Nashville is a good place young.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
It's a young city, so it's like.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Yeah, it's a good place to raise a family though too,
And just like kind of slow down a little bit.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Yeah, you guys probably just feel like at peace.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Yeah, we do as soon as I mean, we do
it every time we land in Nashville. It's only fifteen
minute drive to our home and our drive that you
get to come down our street. It's like the greenery,
the trees are like overlapping over the street, and it's like.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
We roll the windows down and we're like, we're just
back in the country. It truly is it truly is?
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Yeah, Oh my god, that's great. Let's talk about Special Forces.
We landed in Morocco. What was your first impression? Honestly,
I guess about because we first landed in Marrakesh. Yeah,
did you guys like it? I had a very hard
time adapting same.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
I don't know that Morocco was ever on like my
list of travels, Like, it wasn't ever a place I
think I was super obsessed with visiting. Yeah, but I
was curious, you know, when we knew that was going
to be the location. Was curious what it was all about.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
I just some heavy searchery, and I feel like she's
trying to figure out where exactly we were going to be. Yeah,
based off like where bases are.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
And yeah, I looked at all, we're all like the military,
US military.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Baby as well. I thought we were going to be
in Marrakesh, and then all of a sudden we kept
getting switched and further and further away from Marrakesh. Yeah,
I was like, where the hell are we going?
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Yeah, I'm one of those when I travel or go anywhere,
I do as much research as possible.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
I want to know anything and everything.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Like when we took our kids to Greece, I made
him learn at least like ten words so that we
could be respectful of the country. Like I just I
love that, you know. But you know, Morocco was beautiful,
but it was also I had a feeling of sadness
a lot because of what a poor country it was,
and all the sweet babies, all the children.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
I just I wanted to hug everybody.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
That was the part of feeling sad, but then also
having such gratitude for our country and just knowing how
good we have it seeing how very little these people have.
I mean, it's a very We drove through some pretty
poor places.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Oh yeah, even when we were doing some of our challenges,
there were people living in those in homes that were
just completely destroyed. Really nowhere where we were had electricity,
running water.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
All the little children that kept coming up making like
the signal for like food, food, food.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
I mean, it was just it was so it was
so sweet how the ds.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Were constantly giving them anything, bars, anything they had in
their pockets, giving them waters.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
They were so sweet constantly. I constantly saw Billy running
across the street to giving a little kids bars and food,
and it was I mean, they've probably seen.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
It all, Oh of course I am.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
It really showed us that, like I felt like we
were at war.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
They always ask how we adapted after, and I honestly
have just had weird dreams, not even like PTSD. But
I'm going back in, I'm going back into training, I'm
going back into selection.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
It's something that will live with all of us, and
for those that were there for even the longer periods
of time, it's something that will live with all of
us forever. This is a once in a lifetime experience,
but it's also unlike anything that we will ever do again.
You cannot prepare for something like this, and I'm glad
(07:25):
we all did it. Yeah, it's a life changing experience
for sure.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
It really is even Jeff Lewis said, he asked me
and my mom today if we would do Special Courses again,
and I'm like sitting there like she said yeah, And
I was like, okay.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Yes, your mom did.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
Yeah, And I was like, you know what, if we
had the same cast, I would do it again with
all of us, Yeah, because I feel like some people,
you know, regretted leaving after they left and there was
everyone now would want to go all the way through
and really finish it. Yeah. Oh, I feel like just
having us all back together, we would have we honestly
would probably have fun doing it.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
How did this opportunity come to you? Guys?
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Eric was asked to do Special Forces a few seasons ago.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Season one.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Actually, they called and asked him to do it, and
I was on tour so he couldn't, And you know,
we didn't really have any watch the kids.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
It was just not good timing.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
But because they had asked Eric, we were so curious
what the show was, and so we fell in love
with the show and started watching it, and as a family,
it became a family show for us, where even the kids,
we'd all sit together on the couch and talk about scenarios.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Like could we could your dad do this?
Speaker 3 (08:49):
It was always about Eric doing I never ever ever
talked about me doing it if I could. It was
always a joke like yeah, mom could never. Mom could
never do it.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Meanwhile, your kids probably have no idea how tough you are.
She is a different level. And I said that on
Jeff Lewis today. I was like, Jesse was one of
the people that surprised me the most. I mean, she's solid,
her body is insane. But how tough you actually are
and how you pushed through it was it was awesome.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
We thank you.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
But yeah, So we got a call again and it
was does Eric want to do Special Forces? Like, we
have an opportunity for him to do it this season,
And of course I immediately his agent called me. They all
call because he doesn't answer the phone half the time,
so of course they called me, and I'm dealing with it, and.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
I said absolutely. She goes, well, there's a catch, you
have to go with.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Them, and I was like what, no, no, no, no,
Like I don't want to go.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
This is for him, Like I'm going to stay home
and rooting him on.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
And they're like no, no, no, there's another married couple
and they really want the married couple dynamic, like if
you don't go, he can't go.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
This season.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
There's not a there's not an opportunity. They were really
fixated on this, this couple's things. Yeah, and I just
I immediately said no, you were not. I said no,
and that was the end of it. And then they
went on to another couple and that couple ended up passing.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
I think I know who it was. Was it maybe
someone from Bachelor Nation? Yeah, okay, I don't even know
who it is.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
I have a feeling I know who it was, and
I think that they were unable to okay, And so
then they came back and they're like, we need an answer.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Can you guys do this? And so Eric and I
we sat.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
With it back and forth.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Yeah, because the kids Number one, why yeah you were?
And I have a brand new baby, he's one years old. Like,
I don't leave babies.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
I just don't do that. Yeah, my older kids can understand.
But that was hard.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
And then it was just my own personal battle inside
of me going I've never had interest in doing this, Like,
I don't why would I put myself through this? I
know the hell that it's going to be, am I
ready for this. Am I going to like is it
going to mess me up? I need to be great
for my kids. You know, It's just that whole thought process.
(11:13):
And and then I had this feeling of if I
say no, I feel like I'm already failing.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
I've already failed. And I hate the feeling of failure.
So we jumped in jumped and he you tell him
your perspective, but you always wanted to do this. It
was something you always wanted to do.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
Yeah, for sure, Well, Jesse, you kept always reminding us.
She was like, I'm here for him. She was like,
I'm doing this every day. I'm sure everybody knew, which.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
I appreciate because you know, and the perspective of going
through it was like you said, like, wow, she's you
got like that grit and that like dog in her too,
because I never expect Yeah, really came out and just
was awesome to see in such a different perspective for me.
(12:05):
But yeah, they I always loved the military. I always
loved physical challenges and you know, something I wanted to do.
Being retired really didn't have anything that was challenging me
in that sense. So some convincing, I know, we had
tough time with the kids, but it's convincing to get
her to go so I could get that experience.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Your kids are going to say they have the coolest
parents ever there. I feel like if, especially because they
didn't know, if they think they thought that you weren't
going to be able to do it. Our son cried alone, our.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
Son cried, our second. We have our two oldest you know,
little Eric Eric Jr. He cried the night before we left.
He was like, Mom, you can't do it. You're going
to get hurt. You're not prepared for this. You're too small.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
He was so broke.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
He's very emotional. He is this guy.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Like they are cut from the same old same personality,
same everything.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
And he's our sweet guy.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
He's like the one when I was pregnant holding my
hand when I'm going up and down the stairs because
he didn't want me to fall, or not letting me
carry anything heavy groceries like he was.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
He's such a little gentleman.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
He's just like his daddy, and he really struggled with
us leaving. And then our daughter on the other hand,
is like, don't you dare come home. Don't you embarrass me?
You better go out the way she was just this
tough little like, don't you dare?
Speaker 2 (13:30):
But you know, we went, we.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Did it.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
I'm proud that we did it.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
I knew he was going to be amazing. Yeah, not
even a question. And I think everyone, I think everyone
expected him to be great.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
You know, well, I mean even just you know me,
Brionna Mark. As the influencers and of the group, we
were up against NFL players, NBA players, we were like,
we have no.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Chance, which and you know, it's never really at the
athletes are the most physically fit, that's not ever what
it is. You know, people are going their minds are
going to be blown when they see what a badass
you are they are, they are going to fall even
more in love with you.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Truly. You were so impressive and you were such a
good teammate.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
True, so you guys always looked out for me, and
I felt as the youngest recruit, I felt like all
of your guys is little sister. So you were constantly
looking out for me, especially when I was really sad
at times, and you were always there and it was
just always a little note we all kind of did
to each other, okay, Yeah, and you know it was
(14:39):
when all of us struggled even when I know, like
how guys are sometimes not as vulnerable, but you could
tell when someone was hurting. Oh yeah, because it was.
It was so obvious. It was all over our faces.
We were disconnected from the outside world, so we only
had each other and the ones who you know, made
it far. We really all connected a lot.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Yeah for sure.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
And you know, it's wild to think what a short
period of time it was, because it felt so long.
We all got close. I feel like by day three
we were all like family, really, you know. I mean
you're sharing beds, showers, well, like our underwear around each other.
I mean I think I was borrowing breeze razor at one.
I mean we were like that's just how.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
It was, me taking dumps in front of each other.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Literally, I don't think it can get worse than that.
It was crazy.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
It was crazy.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
It was nuts. Did anyone tell you, guys that you
shouldn't have done this show? I'm sure you had so
many NFL like friends I told you not to do.
Speaker 4 (15:39):
There are some people that have done it previously, like
Golden Tate just you know, I think the challenges he
had when he came back home, like the adjustment was
tough for him, is for some and for some others
just because.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Well his experience.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
You know, he went all the way, but yeah, didn't pass,
and so I think for him it felt very you know,
imagine going through all of that and then being told
you didn't pass that. I mean, that can't feel good
because you're thinking, I just went through this hell these
last twenty four hours and I didn't even get like
(16:13):
the golden ticket here at the end of like knowing
that I passed.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
So we think he struggled that. He kind of gave
us a warning of.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Like, listen, this is the best experience of my life,
but let me tell you, the last twenty four hours
were like the most intense, scary experience of my life
and I'm still like trying to figure it out. So
we were definitely warned about interrogation, warned about how tough
that could be.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
And it was no joke. I mean I watched season three,
watched a couple a couple episodes of season one and two,
but we really I don't even think the show does
it justice of it. It's like, yeah, of what it's.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Like, Yeah, yeah, you only have to see the full
spectrum obviously it's you know, they edited for TV and
the thrill of it. But I think a lot of
the stuff that's missed, you know, leading up to all
that is what's tough to Like you sit around for
a while, boom, all of a sudden, you gotta go.
That's that's hardest to turn them on mentally, but then
also physically go from zero to a hundred in a
(17:16):
matter of seconds.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
And just the unknown of not knowing it knowing. I
don't think Jesse slept at all.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
I did not sleep.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Yeah, no, I don't.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
You were always I just feel like it's a hard Yeah, you.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Were always so on. I felt like you never were
I mean we all, you know, we had our days,
but you were always with it. But the first twenty
four hours, I don't think you slept.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
I didn't know.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
I didn't because I like to know what's coming.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
I like to be prepared.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
I like to know what I'm walking into in all
scenarios of my life, you know. And I think that
this show taught me a lot about my childhood and
like the things that you go through and why you
do what you do as an adult.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
We all have had things as children.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
We've all had like, you know, whatever has molded us
to be the adults that we are today, and so
it was interesting to really learn that, even more so
about myself, that I don't like the unknown and I
want to make sure I'm always prepared so I can
handle what's coming my way. And so I felt that
with this experience of I was always the one standing
(18:22):
at the door with my arms folded looking out so
I could keep the watch to figure out if something,
if trouble was coming, so I could warn everybody. Like
it was like I felt like I had this duty
even though no one asked me to do that.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
I just felt it.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
You know, I was always the bathroom buddy because I
was always awake.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
You were always you were always watching. But I felt
a lot of people were saying that my mom did
give a mom role, but I felt that from you
so much too. As much as my mom was mom
and bear like you really were too. And it was
just that feeling of comfort, you know, you always felt safe.
And all the guys were incredible too, the way that
(19:03):
they lifted us up. My mom has said it on
every podcast so far, every press outlet. You were all
such gentlemen and it makes sense now why you Randall
and Andrew are so close, because you guys really are
so alike. You see the love that you guys have
for your wives, like I think when people watch Special
(19:24):
Forces too. Just watching you guys and watching the East Family,
you guys are such an amazing couple, and you really,
I feel like, are going to show America like how
you guys like persevered and pushed through because people are
going to really look up to you guys. You guys
are a beautiful, beautiful couple.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
Thank you appreciate.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
That it was you know, I do think it's rare
and it's it was really cool to see, like you said,
these three men, they really are good men. They are
and it does make sense why they're all friends back
in Nashville. They're It's really cool that it's going to
be highlighted. I hope that it's highlighted. But yes, Randall,
Andrew and Eric there amazing husbands and I'm great friends
(20:07):
with their wives and they're just it's it's a great
example I think for those watching.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
It really is what did you guys do to physically
and mentally prepare for Morocco?
Speaker 3 (20:18):
We were not We were asked very like last minute.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
Yeah, so there was no time to prepare.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Yeah, we were all kind of talking about that. I
think I knew maybe a month out.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Well that's nice.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
I love something to think about.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
You know.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
I was in Italy though, I was eating pasta. Yeah,
I mean it showed it my cardio. I was a
little winded.
Speaker 5 (20:40):
So yeah, we I think we had like ten days
maybe seven days, seven days.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Oh way, seven days. We were asked okay, I'll say this.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
We were asked ten days and we said no, and
then three days went by, so it was like, oh over, goodbye, done,
we're not doing the show.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Okay, and then before was that was the two times
that they asked you within those ten days that It's crazy.
Speaker 4 (21:01):
Yes, I really was like, all right, let's goal for
a job and see what our cardio.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
Is, how we can do it.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
We ran.
Speaker 4 (21:07):
It was a little nervous actually going into because we
our miles.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Were pretty good.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
It was good, Yeah, for sure mile and there wasn't
like much preparation, you know. I think I was hello, Yeah,
next day, I was like, there's no doubt.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
How sore was I remember I could barely walk. I
didn't think, you know, I think I'm like still eighteen.
I was in track in high school. Like, I was
a pretty decent runner, and so in my mind, I'm like, oh, yeah,
I used to be like my daughter. I would outrun
everyone in the mile. I would boys and girls like
always outran everyone. And so in my mind, I'm like, oh,
I can do the mile. So I just get out
there like nothing, throw a book bag on first time
(21:41):
I've ran in probably ten years, And I run the mile,
and girl, I couldn't walk for four days. Oh yeah,
I'm like, how is this happening? How am I this
sore from just running? Yeah, I'm in for it.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
One advantage we did have, though was having a one
year old were you know, used to hard sleep? Yeah,
kind of had that now where just the unknown waking
up the middle of the night, like all those things
that go into what the Special Forces training was. Was
a year of training we had with our last Yeah, we.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
Didn't sleep at all with Denver, so we were kind
of prepared for the sleeping part.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Yeah, I mean I think no, regardless, there was nothing
that we could have really done to mentally prepare us
for Special Forces. Physically. I wish I would have maybe
ran with a weighted best on because the Burgans killed me.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
That was hard.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
And you know the thing that I struggled was that
how heavy they were for us being petite like you,
me and Sean especially, we're like the petite girls of
the group. And then my six to four husband having
the same weight like I just I and like the
book bag is over my head, like you looked.
Speaker 5 (22:51):
It was.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Make memes of us because we are so tiny and
they're caring for people.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
Yes, and there's so much bigger than I remember thinking
like this doesn't feel fair. You know, they're so big
they could carry all of this. But you know, Rudy
made good points. He was like, listen, I know what
you're saying. He's like, but the men, like your husband
and like Andrew, like they naturally took on more constantly
(23:19):
and gave more.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Because they knew their size.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
So think about how much they helped extra, carried extra things,
you know, because they knew they had to help. So
it took out a different kind of energy from them,
which truly was fair, Like Eric was always looking up
for everyone, helping the book bags when.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Girls were falling behind, or like it very.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Crazy because when they did that to us, it saved
the day. I was like, pleased, on't stop.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
It'd saved the day. Yeah, he did that. He helped
me out with the stairs. Oh my god, this we
were the first day of the stairs.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
My mom. That was so hard. She was that was
so hard.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
She keeps saying it to me. She goes, do you
they're gonna play my noises? I go one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
Your mom is a trip.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
She sounded like you were dying, Like don are you?
Speaker 3 (24:08):
Y'all were so cute together. I loved y'all's dynamic. I
came home and I told Eric after, I'm like, you know,
their mother daughter relationship was so beautiful. You guys were
always grooming each other, brushing each other's hair. Y'all were
so sweet. And your mother has truly perfected not treating
(24:29):
you like a sister or a best friend. She treats
you like you're her daughter. But but the love that
she feels, it's like she's nurturing, she's loving, she's caring.
She is mothering you, but you're still best friends. You
get what I'm saying, Like she's mothering you, but your
best friends. And I was so impressed by what a
(24:50):
beautiful mother she was to you, Like she loved on
you so good, and you were so amazing to her.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
It was very so.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
It reminded me of me and my mom, It truly did.
We would have been very simil and and and that.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
You know, yeah, well you.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
And your daughter are going to have that too. She's
a Miniu. She is a trip.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
Babby's a trip. Vivvy probably would have been even more
so the way you were. Come on, mom, you got it.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
You got out like bybbe I can't.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
I know. And that's why when we got home and
I would like brush her hair and just try to
like make her feel calm. But it really, you know,
it was true, like throughout the whole thing, I'm sure
you were constantly worried about Jesse the whole time. Jesse
was constantly worried about you the whole time. And even
the DS they kept saying that to us. They were like,
you're worrying about your other person who's there with you.
(25:39):
That's exerting so much energy. You were worried about your mother,
but that's going to be natural. I can't even imagine.
I truly think a.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
Mother and daughter would worry more about each other than
even a husband and a wife because I really wasn't
that worried about him.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Yeah, And I don't think you were that worried about me.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
I think it's like it is what it is, but
a mother and a daughter, that's a different kind of
worry I would have.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
I would be waking up the middle of the night wondering
if fifty was okay.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
There's just that's that's a whole other level of mental toughness.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
When we were watching you guys during the first up,
during the first day, saying the first episode, but the
first day, watching you guys come out of that helicopter,
Did you guys have to watch us?
Speaker 2 (26:17):
No, so I couldn't see you.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
It was torture. We were watching you guys from the
other side of the mountain, watching like we watched that hole.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
We watched them. We were in the bottom of the
of the of the cliff. We saw it during the
whole fiah, but.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
It would look like teeny tiny ants, like you couldn't
really see what was going on. I was there.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
We didn't know who it was, you guys.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
So when you guys ran out, I knew it was
you because you were so tall and you were so little.
And then when it was Nick and my mom. I
knew it was my mom because I she got like
stuck at first, and.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
I keep playing that proo. Dun't they?
Speaker 1 (26:55):
Oh my god, I like I And we were there
for hours. So watching you guys, it was like it
was instilled in my brain. And we were there for hours.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
That was That was a really long day.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
So and then joining you guys, all of our hearts
were like sinking because you were like, did I die
your bed eye? No, I thought you.
Speaker 3 (27:17):
I thought something bad. I cannot believe I didn't have
more injuries from that. The helmet obviously saved me. I
cannot believe.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
I caught I remember.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
Eric's like, sorry, like this guy, I cannot I remember
falling and catching myself barely catching myself like I put
my hands in front of me when I fell, and
it was like my hands hit it. And then I've
grazed my nose onto the rock. And I just know
(27:54):
if I wouldn't have caught myself like that, I would
have busted my face up. And even it was a scratch,
but I had caught myself at the right time of like, oh,
like a like a push up almost, and it was like, well,
just because of.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
The terrain that we were on, Like if the fact
that you were even on kind of a flat surface,
like you could have hurt yourself so bad. What was
the most challenging part for you, Eric, Well, I'll say
that I do feel like I'm classrophobic.
Speaker 4 (28:21):
So some of the exercises that were in tight quarters,
were the tunnels were overwhelming at.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
Like this was the best thing ever.
Speaker 4 (28:32):
That was that was the worst experience.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
That was my hardest.
Speaker 4 (28:36):
Was so crazy because like you have that prep time
before we're kind of putting a game plan together. We
felt really good about how we were going to execute
our plan and then boom, you get thrown to a
one eighty environment of not expecting it and so that
alone was like crazy, and then you had just just
being stuck in tight cores was miserable. But I think it's,
(28:57):
you know, really the unknown. Like in my life, I
feel like everything's kind of structured in a sense you
kind of know what's coming next and you kind of
prepare for Well, in this experience, you really had no idea.
He's just kind of like at will of what's coming,
and so that was definitely a challenge. As the days
got longer and you kind of stacked days together. Just
(29:17):
it was kind of like exhausting.
Speaker 1 (29:20):
Yeah, definitely, who do you think handled the challenge is better?
Speaker 4 (29:25):
Between us?
Speaker 2 (29:27):
Eric was a rock star.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
He is like an elite person, Like he is so
incredibly athletic, but on top of that, he's incredibly smart.
I just feel like this was the perfect challenge for
him altogether.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
This was like his speed.
Speaker 3 (29:42):
He seemed so even killed, Like he never seemed thrown
by anything. You never seemed afraid of anything. He just
had this same temperament, had such a great attitude the
whole time.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
It was just so needed in the group. You really
were like.
Speaker 4 (29:56):
Probably we all had roles. That was what was unique
about this this cast is like we all really brought
something to the table. And that's I think why we bonded.
Those that made it you could tell because they bonded
and we all had something about it that brought to
the table. And you know, I thought you were unbelievable
every experience as well. I mean, you know, I know
(30:17):
waters it can be a fear of yours, but outside
of that, like and you were very nurturing and and
I think everyone felt that. And so it's just a
beautiful thing. To kind of like shine a light on
what our shrinks were, I guess, you know, and it
really blended.
Speaker 1 (30:33):
Well, Yeah, were you guys surprised? Did you shock yourself
at all to like see how tough you were?
Speaker 4 (30:41):
Yeah, it's I I've been retired seven years now, so
it was like I didn't know what to expect of
how my body was going to react to it, or
where I was at mentally, and so it was it
was fun, like I said earlier, just to be challenged
again and like be outside my comfort zone and kind
(31:01):
of like push myself. And I just I felt like
I missed parts of that aspect of competitive sports, especially
the camaraderie, Like that was so cool, Like crappy living conditions,
but so cool to spend that time together and laugh
about our experiences or talk about, you know, just the
crazy stuff we were doing because we were in it together.
Like you said, I mean, we're no outside world, It's
(31:23):
just us in you know, this hot desert surviving.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
What did you guys discover about yourself during this course
that you didn't know before?
Speaker 2 (31:41):
Personally?
Speaker 3 (31:41):
What I discovered was I still have that fight in me,
because when I was younger, I definitely did like, if
I would have done this at twenty two, yeah, I
think it would have been even more different because I
was a scrappy, little feisty girl at.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
Twenty two, let me tell you. But you know, I
didn't know if I still have.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
Had four children. I'm in my late thirties. You know,
I'm so blessed, and I have such a I have
such a comfortable lifestyle now that I didn't know that
I still had that grit and fight in me, and
so doing this experience showed me. It really brought me
back to my childhood.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
You know. It brought me back to a lot of experiences.
Speaker 3 (32:23):
That I had growing up, which I think I was
able to kind of really really pull from in order
to get through this challenge and this experience. But it
made me feel like I still have that fight in me,
and I just I hope our kids are proud when
they watch it.
Speaker 2 (32:37):
And when they see their parents.
Speaker 3 (32:39):
And it also though, made me like fall in love
with him even more.
Speaker 1 (32:43):
I was going to say, because going into Special Force
as a couple, it could test your marriage, Like even
Andrew and Sean just knowing how competitive Sean was, they
were like selections going to either make or bring our marriage. Yeah,
but I just felt like watching you both as a cop,
you saw that it was because everything that we did
(33:04):
every single day was so admiring. So watching you and
watching him, like you guys were probably like, wow, my husband,
our wife was pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
Just going through something so traumatic too together. It's just
it was just a special thing to go through as
a married couple.
Speaker 2 (33:21):
And I just once it was all said and done
and it was.
Speaker 3 (33:23):
Over and we were able to like get in bed
together and just like a real bed and just kind
of decompressed and we just kind of rolled over and
looked at each other.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
It was just like, you know, it's just that cozy feeling.
Speaker 1 (33:34):
We did it.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
We went through this together. But it's my best friend.
Speaker 5 (33:37):
You know.
Speaker 4 (33:37):
You don't know if I necessarily took something away I
learned about myself. I think I've deep in like my
appreciation or perspective of not only like the military and
what they go through and you know, being appreciative of
like the life that we lead and the opportunities that
we get. Obviously my appreciation for Es. I saw her
(33:58):
a whole different light, you know, like to be kind
of in that nitty gritty environment, and to see her,
you know, just kind of ball and just like do awesome.
Was really really cool to see that. But I think
I also really appreciate just like the team aspect, like
community is so important. Like when I retire for football,
I had a hard time. I think I realized that,
(34:19):
like I need people. I need I need a team,
I need a community. I need you know, someone you know,
especially like men need other men to be vulnerable with
and be able to like share life with. And obviously
I have my partner for life, but like that was
something I know that I miss And then I got
a little taste of that and think, all right, I
got to somehow create that which we have created in
(34:42):
our community. But just to speak upon like for those
like that need people, like it's okay to to struggle
and have each other's back, because that's like that that's
the true definition of what we went through is is
like is life you know likes going be hard, but
if you have each other, you can get through anything.
Speaker 1 (34:59):
Yeah, we brought you back to the field a little
bit too, because you would never leave one of your
teammates behind. And that was kind of the motto we
always went by, never leave a man behind. So do
you think you guys could have done this alone? Yes,
he could have. No on my part because I don't.
(35:21):
I don't honestly seem I wouldn't have done it. Felt
comforted with having my mom there. It just felt so comforting. Yeah,
knowing that you have someone with you because going in alone,
we didn't have those relationships yet.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
You don't know anyone, so.
Speaker 1 (35:35):
I didn't know anyone. So then once we started getting
to know each other, then I thought to myself, Okay,
obviously if my mom decides to tap out, I'll be
okay because now I have all of you guys to
lean on and we'll be able to work through this.
But at first I would have I was like freaking out.
I was like, I don't know if I would have
been able to do this by myself.
Speaker 2 (35:54):
He was gonna do it, he wanted to do. But
I would have. I just wouldn't have said yes, Like
I would have been like, no way.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
Yeah. What was the first thing that you guys did
when you got back from Morocco?
Speaker 4 (36:03):
We stopped in London.
Speaker 2 (36:05):
Hay Over was in London.
Speaker 1 (36:06):
Did you did you spend a night there?
Speaker 4 (36:07):
We did. We took a little break but it was awesome.
We got love that some sushi. We just had the
best sleep ever. A little shopping thing was that we
got like a solid eighteen hours I guess to like
spend together and compress.
Speaker 2 (36:25):
I felt like that was the good move.
Speaker 3 (36:27):
You know, after it was done, they were trying to
get us on the first flight home. You know, we
could have been home that following day, but I knew
for us and like needing that probably good chunk of
time to decompress because of what we had gone through,
that we needed to have like take a beat before
we went home. I wanted to be in good and
(36:48):
a good headspace for our children. I wanted us to
be rested enough and in a good place to be
there for them because they're young and they needed their
mommy and daddy back.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
We can't go back and then just be sloths.
Speaker 1 (36:57):
Yeah, plain, they don't care. You're full of time, yes.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
And so that was It was good to get that time.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
And it was honestly one of the most special nights
I think Eric and I have ever had together. It
was so beautiful and we just we were just so
appreciative and grateful to me in a real bed and
things that we've taken for granted and eat a meal.
Speaker 1 (37:20):
And that's honestly, that's so smart. I wish I ran
to a body scrub the next morning.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
Oh I bet you did. We were so dirty.
Speaker 1 (37:28):
It was so dirty. I was disgusting. I ran straight
to a body scrub. I was like, maybe I should have,
you know, had a night somewhere and relaxed for We
definitely had a wild mix this season of reality stars, athletes,
some controversial celebrities. Who would you say that you bonded
with the most from this season?
Speaker 3 (37:50):
Well, I feel like my answer is not really fair
because I already knew first. I guess, well, Sean was
already one of my girlfriends, and so I feel like
Sean was my girl. You know, we already knew each other.
She has been a mentor to our daughter.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
And so she's a gymnastic.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
Our daughter's a gymnast, and Sean has really been a
huge man. I mean, she has come into Vivvy's gymnastics
and given guidance and support and actually.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
Made her move.
Speaker 3 (38:21):
Gems like, she has really been a big part of
Viby's gymnastics.
Speaker 4 (38:27):
You know.
Speaker 3 (38:28):
But we already loved Sean. But I would say that
our friendship is deeper now. We were friends before, but
it is much deeper now. And I just love her
so much as a person, and she's such a great
mother and teammate, and I you know, I'm glad we
had this experience to deepen our friendship.
Speaker 1 (38:48):
You know, she's amazing, and that's so sweet that she
does that for your daughter, what about you. Honestly, I
got really close with Brie.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
That's what I thought you were going to say.
Speaker 1 (38:57):
Yeah, I did know Brie, but it was very, very
surface level, Like she came to Rutgers when she was
doing the crazy Drinking Vendor tour that she was doing,
and so I met her when I was in college
a little bit. She came on actually my podcast, Casual Chaos,
But you know, we're also busy with life. When we
do these things for work, it's very surface level. You're
(39:19):
just like, even sitting here right now, I'm like listening
to you guys, and I'm smiling because I genuinely have
such a love for you guys. Like when Bree came
on Casual Chaos a couple months ago, Yeah, it was
just like I was interviewing anybody else, Like obviously thought
she was super cool, loved her career, loved what she
did with her life, but it was again surface level
and life goes on kind of like Andrew said last
(39:42):
week at dinner, and now once going through this experience
and we actually got to know each other and I
got to know such a deeper side of her that
I didn't know. I was like, wow, like she's super cool.
And I loved that because again, you know, who knows
you have different images people, You think certain things, and
(40:03):
that's why I like, you know, or you don't even
give people a shot because you're just running through life
and worried about yourself. So during this course, like we
didn't have an opportunity to do that, so it was
it was cool to just, you know, get to know
her and get to know everybody. You know. I look
at you guys as just like an inspiration. You're older
than me, and I'm just like you guys really just
(40:24):
led such a good example me, Mark and Brie. We
were sitting there like we got to prove ourselves like
oh or like the underdogs here. It was definitely cool.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
Did you bond it? I mean you already knew some
of the guys too.
Speaker 4 (40:36):
I did yeah, I may say the same thing about Ange.
Just felt like I've got to know him on a
deeper level. But Revey like I didn't know.
Speaker 2 (40:43):
Oh yeah, that's a good example for sure.
Speaker 4 (40:46):
And got to like, you know, spend some time with him.
And now after the show he's been coming over playing
pick a ball and it comes over. Now you're working out.
Speaker 2 (40:55):
He like shows up at the front door and I'm like,
what are you doing here? He's like, I'm not here
for you.
Speaker 1 (41:00):
He's a hisser. He kept saying to me, like over
and over again. When we were at Craigs. He goes,
I really hope my stupid remarks.
Speaker 4 (41:08):
Don't come on.
Speaker 2 (41:11):
They're not going such a smart but you did bond
with him.
Speaker 4 (41:16):
It's just nice to have because I feel like my
personality comes off well, I know, I'm more like stoics.
So it's nice to have people that have this like comedic,
you know, personality, like kind of pulled out of me
or enjoyable to be around.
Speaker 1 (41:31):
So being around him and Nick Young, we were all dying.
We were on our every day, so that's what kept
us going to We needed that like humor and just
something to lighten up the mood. Because like after wanted
to literally just die. Every time we come back from
(41:52):
a challenge. I was like, I want a shower, and
then it was just everyone we need did that light.
Speaker 2 (42:01):
You were the shower girl. You loved your showers. You did,
you did shower. It was you. I feel like Chanell
liked to shower too.
Speaker 1 (42:09):
She did me and Janelle. Actually, I see I kept
saying I took the longest showers. Maybe it was Chanel.
Speaker 2 (42:14):
Could have been a tie or a tie.
Speaker 4 (42:17):
Because we ran a lot pretty quick. The first couple
of days long.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
Show long showers, I was like, I just was washing
in the sink At that point, I'm like, just forget it.
Speaker 5 (42:28):
You know.
Speaker 1 (42:28):
There were some days where I would wash my hair
in the sink so that I wouldn't be as long
in the shower. I was like, I need to like
do something. Yes, who out of the ds intimidated you
guys the most.
Speaker 2 (42:39):
I would say, Billy was pretty intimidating.
Speaker 1 (42:42):
He was.
Speaker 3 (42:42):
I started to understand him a little bit more as
we got closer.
Speaker 2 (42:45):
He's pretty funny, very quick witted.
Speaker 1 (42:48):
Yeah, so smart.
Speaker 3 (42:49):
He's really smart. I'll never forget him calling me tiny Tempa,
which was hysterical I had a temper.
Speaker 2 (42:58):
I guess tiny timber.
Speaker 3 (43:01):
He was scarier though, he was the scariest one, and
I also felt like Fox.
Speaker 2 (43:05):
He was kind of scary.
Speaker 1 (43:06):
He was, he was my He intimidated me most.
Speaker 3 (43:10):
I felt like he was hard on me. Yeah, and
you probably feel that way too, that he was hard
on you.
Speaker 1 (43:15):
Yeah, the hardest on me. He said, like, you didn't
say much, but when he said something to me, he
was so mean, guppy, guppy guppy.
Speaker 2 (43:24):
Yeah, so he was kind of mean.
Speaker 3 (43:26):
My favorite was C though I loved Qque to me
felt like home and gave me the comfort of like,
trust me. He was still a heart and he was
still super in tense, but there was still something about
him that felt like.
Speaker 2 (43:45):
Home, you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (43:47):
Yeah, And I felt like he really wasn't mean when
he was motivating us. Yes, it was hard, but it
was like you could tell he was really like come on, push,
like get there.
Speaker 3 (43:57):
He was a motivator, motivator, and I I do feel
like he had such a big heart and he really
did care.
Speaker 2 (44:04):
And he was also funny. He also was, Oh, he
was so funny.
Speaker 1 (44:08):
He like always caught my little comments because I didn't
think we were I didn't think like this was a
big deal. But he comes in from the gates and
I was like, heck you Like I said, like something,
and he goes, what do you do with number eighteen?
I was like, can we drop this act for a minute?
I go, can we just be normal? And he starts
dying laughing, and I was like, I got you. Oh
(44:31):
he goes go to the barracks.
Speaker 4 (44:33):
It's like, okay, see I feel like he show a
glimpse of personality. So it started be like okay, like
obviously this experience is tough, but he is a real
person as well.
Speaker 2 (44:43):
He also liked all of us quite a bit.
Speaker 1 (44:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (44:46):
I don't think that was totally his character for a
lot of the other seasons. I think he just really
bonded with a lot of us and liked a lot
of us.
Speaker 6 (44:54):
He like couldn't help it. Yeah, in some moments, no
breaking Carria a little bit. It was so fun when
they broke here though. I was like, finally we're seeing
some human like human life. Before you guys came to Morocco,
who did you think was gonna take it home? What
were your predictions?
Speaker 3 (45:09):
I said, Sean and Andrew, Yeah, yeah, I agree. I said,
definitely agree. I just I know her well enough to
know Sean is a winner. Yeah, she wins everything she does,
and I know she's my friend, but I just bet
on her.
Speaker 5 (45:22):
I'm like, yeah, I got this, No, definitely, what about Yeah, yeah,
I think Nashally Sean because being an elite athlete, to
be an Olympian is really ex especially especially like a
young athlete like she was.
Speaker 4 (45:36):
I mean at sixteen, like you got to be super
disciplined and just a different switch.
Speaker 1 (45:41):
You could just tell anything she did. She was like solid. Yeah,
like attention at all times.
Speaker 4 (45:49):
So my money was on her just because yeah I
knew her background or you know, obviously I have bias
to athletes, but.
Speaker 1 (45:55):
You thought you were going to take it home?
Speaker 4 (45:57):
She just yeah, she just seemed to be like solid.
Speaker 2 (46:00):
Yeah, she was a big factor of me doing this.
Speaker 1 (46:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (46:03):
As soon as I knew Sean was doing it, I
called her. She's like, yeah, why they ask you?
Speaker 1 (46:08):
I was like yep.
Speaker 2 (46:09):
She's like, let's go, come on, Sean. I don't think so, girl,
I can't. Are you crazy? Like what are we doing here?
Speaker 1 (46:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (46:15):
She's like you got to come, you're coming, Let's do this.
Speaker 1 (46:18):
She was so excited for it. You could tell she
was in it. Oh, she was so in it.
Speaker 3 (46:22):
She loves to be competitive, she loves challenges. That's just
I mean, but that is how a lot of athletes are.
Speaker 1 (46:28):
Well. I can't wait for you guys to show your
kids this season of Special Forces, and I can't wait
for everybody to tune into Special Forces. Special Forces World's
Toughest Test premiers Thursday, September twenty fifth, at nine eighth
Central on Fox. Thank you guys for coming on Casual Chaos.
Speaker 2 (46:45):
Thanks girlfriend, We love you.
Hey guys, and welcome back to another week of Casual Chaos. Today,
I have two of my Special Forces cast Bades Jesse
and Eric Decker. Welcome to Casual Chaos.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
I'm so excited to be here with you guys. We
had a full blown reunion this week and it was
so fun. We bonded a lot during Special Forces, so
I'm excited to have you guys here. Wait. I didn't
know you had that brand called kit Ish. That's amazing
and I was just like researching it and looking at it.
(00:33):
When did you establish that?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
I started that in twenty nineteen.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Oh wow.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
I started with my store. I have a store in
Nashville in the Gulch, and then we expanded to online
and it has just been honestly a business. I never
thought I it would like grow to the place that
it is.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Yeah, it's wild.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
A lot of like ath leisure, a lot of everything
we've you know, I'm all over the place. I'm a
super creative person and so I always have all these ideas.
So we've done everything from swim suits to bras and
panties to denim jumpsuits and jackets and athleisure. Like we
are all over the place. But it's because I feel
like all girls need a variety of everything.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
So yeah, no, I love that. Yeah, I need to
come to the store.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Then, I really when you go to Nashville, going to
take you?
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Yeah, no, I'm We're already planning our trips to Nashville.
And Eric, you were an NFL player. You were on
the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, and Tennessee Titans. Is
that what made you guys land and stay in Nashville.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
No, so me and just met twenty eleven, and she
was already in Nashville. She moved there, what seven?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
I moved there in two thousand and seven, So two
months after I graduated, not too much. Two weeks after
I graduated high school, I moved to Nashville because I
got a record deal, so I started there.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
I started going to Nashville when.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
I was fifteen, doing music, doing you know, rights and
producers and all the things, and so I knew I
was going to move there right after, and so that's
where I lived.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
I had a record deal, was.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Signed an Island Duff jam was traveling all over the place,
and that was introduced to Eric.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
In twenty and.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Eleven, Nashville just became a second home for us. I'm
from Minnesota. Definitely wasn't a place I wanted to go
in the off season. Yeah, And so when we I
made a move to Denver three months after we met
in twenty.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Eleven, so snatched me up real quick.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
We would go from Denver or New York to Nashville
and the off seasons, and I just fell in love
with Nashville. It was obviously home for her with her work,
and so.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
It didn't take much convincing like he was. It wasn't
like do you I don't even feel like we had
the conversation of like do you where do you want
to live?
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (02:43):
It was do you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Yeah, really think about that right now, We've never even
had this conversation. I don't think in the beginning of
our relationship we ever sat there going like where are
we going to live?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
It was always we just would go to Nashville.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Yeah. Well, we kind of built the community there, and
this is before Nashville became like the Broadway. Yeah yeah,
and so we loved it.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Well, it's funny because half of our Special Forces cast.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Is literally from Nashville.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
I know, I need to like understand the hype now
about Nashville. Yeah, because whenever I've gone, it's just Broadway,
So I have to explore.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
I know that you are looking. Let me just say this.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
I know you were looking to like plant some roots
down where you are.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
You know what I mean, because it's time. But I
have a feeling knowing her, if.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
You came to Nashville for a visit, you'd be like, shoot,
this is throwing me. I might think about moving to Nashville.
I mean, I'm telling you even like I.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Just had a girl she recently, she was on my
podcast Mercedes Northup. Like she lives in Nashville.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Yeah, like I.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
After Special Forces, I feel like everyone that I meet,
they live in Nashville. It's crazy.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
You heard about Nashville too, is like me, You're from
the Northeast, so it's an easy flight to get to
New York. So yeah, you know, you don't have the
big city, you don't have as many options that New
York offers, but yeah, it's an easy flight away. And
Nashville is a good place young.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
It's a young city, so it's like.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Yeah, it's a good place to raise a family though too,
And just like kind of slow down a little bit.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Yeah, you guys probably just feel like at peace.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Yeah, we do as soon as I mean, we do
it every time we land in Nashville. It's only fifteen
minute drive to our home and our drive that you
get to come down our street. It's like the greenery,
the trees are like overlapping over the street, and it's like.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
We roll the windows down and we're like, we're just
back in the country. It truly is it truly is?
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Yeah, Oh my god, that's great. Let's talk about Special Forces.
We landed in Morocco. What was your first impression? Honestly,
I guess about because we first landed in Marrakesh. Yeah,
did you guys like it? I had a very hard
time adapting same.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
I don't know that Morocco was ever on like my
list of travels, Like, it wasn't ever a place I
think I was super obsessed with visiting. Yeah, but I
was curious, you know, when we knew that was going
to be the location. Was curious what it was all about.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
I just some heavy searchery, and I feel like she's
trying to figure out where exactly we were going to be. Yeah,
based off like where bases are.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
And yeah, I looked at all, we're all like the military,
US military.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Baby as well. I thought we were going to be
in Marrakesh, and then all of a sudden we kept
getting switched and further and further away from Marrakesh. Yeah,
I was like, where the hell are we going?
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Yeah, I'm one of those when I travel or go anywhere,
I do as much research as possible.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
I want to know anything and everything.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Like when we took our kids to Greece, I made
him learn at least like ten words so that we
could be respectful of the country. Like I just I
love that, you know. But you know, Morocco was beautiful,
but it was also I had a feeling of sadness
a lot because of what a poor country it was,
and all the sweet babies, all the children.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
I just I wanted to hug everybody.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
That was the part of feeling sad, but then also
having such gratitude for our country and just knowing how
good we have it seeing how very little these people have.
I mean, it's a very We drove through some pretty
poor places.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Oh yeah, even when we were doing some of our challenges,
there were people living in those in homes that were
just completely destroyed. Really nowhere where we were had electricity,
running water.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
All the little children that kept coming up making like
the signal for like food, food, food.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
I mean, it was just it was so it was
so sweet how the ds.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Were constantly giving them anything, bars, anything they had in
their pockets, giving them waters.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
They were so sweet constantly. I constantly saw Billy running
across the street to giving a little kids bars and food,
and it was I mean, they've probably seen.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
It all, Oh of course I am.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
It really showed us that, like I felt like we
were at war.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
They always ask how we adapted after, and I honestly
have just had weird dreams, not even like PTSD. But
I'm going back in, I'm going back into training, I'm
going back into selection.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
It's something that will live with all of us, and
for those that were there for even the longer periods
of time, it's something that will live with all of
us forever. This is a once in a lifetime experience,
but it's also unlike anything that we will ever do again.
You cannot prepare for something like this, and I'm glad
(07:25):
we all did it. Yeah, it's a life changing experience
for sure.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
It really is even Jeff Lewis said, he asked me
and my mom today if we would do Special Courses again,
and I'm like sitting there like she said yeah, And
I was like, okay.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Yes, your mom did.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
Yeah, And I was like, you know what, if we
had the same cast, I would do it again with
all of us, Yeah, because I feel like some people,
you know, regretted leaving after they left and there was
everyone now would want to go all the way through
and really finish it. Yeah. Oh, I feel like just
having us all back together, we would have we honestly
would probably have fun doing it.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
How did this opportunity come to you? Guys?
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Eric was asked to do Special Forces a few seasons ago.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Season one.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Actually, they called and asked him to do it, and
I was on tour so he couldn't, And you know,
we didn't really have any watch the kids.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
It was just not good timing.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
But because they had asked Eric, we were so curious
what the show was, and so we fell in love
with the show and started watching it, and as a family,
it became a family show for us, where even the kids,
we'd all sit together on the couch and talk about scenarios.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Like could we could your dad do this?
Speaker 3 (08:49):
It was always about Eric doing I never ever ever
talked about me doing it if I could. It was
always a joke like yeah, mom could never. Mom could
never do it.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Meanwhile, your kids probably have no idea how tough you are.
She is a different level. And I said that on
Jeff Lewis today. I was like, Jesse was one of
the people that surprised me the most. I mean, she's solid,
her body is insane. But how tough you actually are
and how you pushed through it was it was awesome.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
We thank you.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
But yeah, So we got a call again and it
was does Eric want to do Special Forces? Like, we
have an opportunity for him to do it this season,
And of course I immediately his agent called me. They all
call because he doesn't answer the phone half the time,
so of course they called me, and I'm dealing with it, and.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
I said absolutely. She goes, well, there's a catch, you
have to go with.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Them, and I was like what, no, no, no, no,
Like I don't want to go.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
This is for him, Like I'm going to stay home
and rooting him on.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
And they're like no, no, no, there's another married couple
and they really want the married couple dynamic, like if
you don't go, he can't go.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
This season.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
There's not a there's not an opportunity. They were really
fixated on this, this couple's things. Yeah, and I just
I immediately said no, you were not. I said no,
and that was the end of it. And then they
went on to another couple and that couple ended up passing.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
I think I know who it was. Was it maybe
someone from Bachelor Nation? Yeah, okay, I don't even know
who it is.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
I have a feeling I know who it was, and
I think that they were unable to okay, And so
then they came back and they're like, we need an answer.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Can you guys do this? And so Eric and I
we sat.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
With it back and forth.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Yeah, because the kids Number one, why yeah you were?
And I have a brand new baby, he's one years old. Like,
I don't leave babies.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
I just don't do that. Yeah, my older kids can understand.
But that was hard.
Speaker 3 (10:53):
And then it was just my own personal battle inside
of me going I've never had interest in doing this, Like,
I don't why would I put myself through this? I
know the hell that it's going to be, am I
ready for this. Am I going to like is it
going to mess me up? I need to be great
for my kids. You know, It's just that whole thought process.
(11:13):
And and then I had this feeling of if I
say no, I feel like I'm already failing.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
I've already failed. And I hate the feeling of failure.
So we jumped in jumped and he you tell him
your perspective, but you always wanted to do this. It
was something you always wanted to do.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
Yeah, for sure, Well, Jesse, you kept always reminding us.
She was like, I'm here for him. She was like,
I'm doing this every day. I'm sure everybody knew, which.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
I appreciate because you know, and the perspective of going
through it was like you said, like, wow, she's you
got like that grit and that like dog in her too,
because I never expect Yeah, really came out and just
was awesome to see in such a different perspective for me.
(12:05):
But yeah, they I always loved the military. I always
loved physical challenges and you know, something I wanted to do.
Being retired really didn't have anything that was challenging me
in that sense. So some convincing, I know, we had
tough time with the kids, but it's convincing to get
her to go so I could get that experience.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Your kids are going to say they have the coolest
parents ever there. I feel like if, especially because they
didn't know, if they think they thought that you weren't
going to be able to do it. Our son cried alone, our.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
Son cried, our second. We have our two oldest you know,
little Eric Eric Jr. He cried the night before we left.
He was like, Mom, you can't do it. You're going
to get hurt. You're not prepared for this. You're too small.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
He was so broke.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
He's very emotional. He is this guy.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Like they are cut from the same old same personality,
same everything.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
And he's our sweet guy.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
He's like the one when I was pregnant holding my
hand when I'm going up and down the stairs because
he didn't want me to fall, or not letting me
carry anything heavy groceries like he was.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
He's such a little gentleman.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
He's just like his daddy, and he really struggled with
us leaving. And then our daughter on the other hand,
is like, don't you dare come home. Don't you embarrass me?
You better go out the way she was just this
tough little like, don't you dare?
Speaker 2 (13:30):
But you know, we went, we.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Did it.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
I'm proud that we did it.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
I knew he was going to be amazing. Yeah, not
even a question. And I think everyone, I think everyone
expected him to be great.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
You know, well, I mean even just you know me,
Brionna Mark. As the influencers and of the group, we
were up against NFL players, NBA players, we were like,
we have no.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Chance, which and you know, it's never really at the
athletes are the most physically fit, that's not ever what
it is. You know, people are going their minds are
going to be blown when they see what a badass
you are they are, they are going to fall even
more in love with you.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
Truly. You were so impressive and you were such a
good teammate.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
True, so you guys always looked out for me, and
I felt as the youngest recruit, I felt like all
of your guys is little sister. So you were constantly
looking out for me, especially when I was really sad
at times, and you were always there and it was
just always a little note we all kind of did
to each other, okay, Yeah, and you know it was
(14:39):
when all of us struggled even when I know, like
how guys are sometimes not as vulnerable, but you could
tell when someone was hurting. Oh yeah, because it was.
It was so obvious. It was all over our faces.
We were disconnected from the outside world, so we only
had each other and the ones who you know, made
it far. We really all connected a lot.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Yeah for sure.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
And you know, it's wild to think what a short
period of time it was, because it felt so long.
We all got close. I feel like by day three
we were all like family, really, you know. I mean
you're sharing beds, showers, well, like our underwear around each other.
I mean I think I was borrowing breeze razor at one.
I mean we were like that's just how.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
It was, me taking dumps in front of each other.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Literally, I don't think it can get worse than that.
It was crazy.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
It was crazy.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
It was nuts. Did anyone tell you, guys that you
shouldn't have done this show? I'm sure you had so
many NFL like friends I told you not to do.
Speaker 4 (15:39):
There are some people that have done it previously, like
Golden Tate just you know, I think the challenges he
had when he came back home, like the adjustment was
tough for him, is for some and for some others
just because.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Well his experience.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
You know, he went all the way, but yeah, didn't pass,
and so I think for him it felt very you know,
imagine going through all of that and then being told
you didn't pass that. I mean, that can't feel good
because you're thinking, I just went through this hell these
last twenty four hours and I didn't even get like
(16:13):
the golden ticket here at the end of like knowing
that I passed.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
So we think he struggled that. He kind of gave
us a warning of.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Like, listen, this is the best experience of my life,
but let me tell you, the last twenty four hours
were like the most intense, scary experience of my life
and I'm still like trying to figure it out. So
we were definitely warned about interrogation, warned about how tough
that could be.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
And it was no joke. I mean I watched season three,
watched a couple a couple episodes of season one and two,
but we really I don't even think the show does
it justice of it. It's like, yeah, of what it's.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
Like, Yeah, yeah, you only have to see the full
spectrum obviously it's you know, they edited for TV and
the thrill of it. But I think a lot of
the stuff that's missed, you know, leading up to all
that is what's tough to Like you sit around for
a while, boom, all of a sudden, you gotta go.
That's that's hardest to turn them on mentally, but then
also physically go from zero to a hundred in a
(17:16):
matter of seconds.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
And just the unknown of not knowing it knowing. I
don't think Jesse slept at all.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
I did not sleep.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Yeah, no, I don't.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
You were always I just feel like it's a hard Yeah, you.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Were always so on. I felt like you never were
I mean we all, you know, we had our days,
but you were always with it. But the first twenty
four hours, I don't think you slept.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
I didn't know.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
I didn't because I like to know what's coming.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
I like to be prepared.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
I like to know what I'm walking into in all
scenarios of my life, you know. And I think that
this show taught me a lot about my childhood and
like the things that you go through and why you
do what you do as an adult.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
We all have had things as children.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
We've all had like, you know, whatever has molded us
to be the adults that we are today, and so
it was interesting to really learn that, even more so
about myself, that I don't like the unknown and I
want to make sure I'm always prepared so I can
handle what's coming my way. And so I felt that
with this experience of I was always the one standing
(18:22):
at the door with my arms folded looking out so
I could keep the watch to figure out if something,
if trouble was coming, so I could warn everybody. Like
it was like I felt like I had this duty
even though no one asked me to do that.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
I just felt it.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
You know, I was always the bathroom buddy because I
was always awake.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
You were always you were always watching. But I felt
a lot of people were saying that my mom did
give a mom role, but I felt that from you
so much too. As much as my mom was mom
and bear like you really were too. And it was
just that feeling of comfort, you know, you always felt safe.
And all the guys were incredible too, the way that
(19:03):
they lifted us up. My mom has said it on
every podcast so far, every press outlet. You were all
such gentlemen and it makes sense now why you Randall
and Andrew are so close, because you guys really are
so alike. You see the love that you guys have
for your wives, like I think when people watch Special
(19:24):
Forces too. Just watching you guys and watching the East Family,
you guys are such an amazing couple, and you really,
I feel like, are going to show America like how
you guys like persevered and pushed through because people are
going to really look up to you guys. You guys
are a beautiful, beautiful couple.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
Thank you appreciate.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
That it was you know, I do think it's rare
and it's it was really cool to see, like you said,
these three men, they really are good men. They are
and it does make sense why they're all friends back
in Nashville. They're It's really cool that it's going to
be highlighted. I hope that it's highlighted. But yes, Randall,
Andrew and Eric there amazing husbands and I'm great friends
(20:07):
with their wives and they're just it's it's a great
example I think for those watching.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
It really is what did you guys do to physically
and mentally prepare for Morocco?
Speaker 3 (20:18):
We were not We were asked very like last minute.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
Yeah, so there was no time to prepare.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Yeah, we were all kind of talking about that. I
think I knew maybe a month out.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Well that's nice.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
I love something to think about.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
You know.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
I was in Italy though, I was eating pasta. Yeah,
I mean it showed it my cardio. I was a
little winded.
Speaker 5 (20:40):
So yeah, we I think we had like ten days
maybe seven days, seven days.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Oh way, seven days. We were asked okay, I'll say this.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
We were asked ten days and we said no, and
then three days went by, so it was like, oh over, goodbye, done,
we're not doing the show.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Okay, and then before was that was the two times
that they asked you within those ten days that It's crazy.
Speaker 4 (21:01):
Yes, I really was like, all right, let's goal for
a job and see what our cardio.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
Is, how we can do it.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
We ran.
Speaker 4 (21:07):
It was a little nervous actually going into because we
our miles.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Were pretty good.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
It was good, Yeah, for sure mile and there wasn't
like much preparation, you know. I think I was hello, Yeah,
next day, I was like, there's no doubt.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
How sore was I remember I could barely walk. I
didn't think, you know, I think I'm like still eighteen.
I was in track in high school. Like, I was
a pretty decent runner, and so in my mind, I'm like, oh, yeah,
I used to be like my daughter. I would outrun
everyone in the mile. I would boys and girls like
always outran everyone. And so in my mind, I'm like, oh,
I can do the mile. So I just get out
there like nothing, throw a book bag on first time
(21:41):
I've ran in probably ten years, And I run the mile,
and girl, I couldn't walk for four days. Oh yeah,
I'm like, how is this happening? How am I this
sore from just running? Yeah, I'm in for it.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
One advantage we did have, though was having a one
year old were you know, used to hard sleep? Yeah,
kind of had that now where just the unknown waking
up the middle of the night, like all those things
that go into what the Special Forces training was. Was
a year of training we had with our last Yeah, we.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
Didn't sleep at all with Denver, so we were kind
of prepared for the sleeping part.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Yeah, I mean I think no, regardless, there was nothing
that we could have really done to mentally prepare us
for Special Forces. Physically. I wish I would have maybe
ran with a weighted best on because the Burgans killed me.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
That was hard.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
And you know the thing that I struggled was that
how heavy they were for us being petite like you,
me and Sean especially, we're like the petite girls of
the group. And then my six to four husband having
the same weight like I just I and like the
book bag is over my head, like you looked.
Speaker 5 (22:51):
It was.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Make memes of us because we are so tiny and
they're caring for people.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
Yes, and there's so much bigger than I remember thinking
like this doesn't feel fair. You know, they're so big
they could carry all of this. But you know, Rudy
made good points. He was like, listen, I know what
you're saying. He's like, but the men, like your husband
and like Andrew, like they naturally took on more constantly
(23:19):
and gave more.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Because they knew their size.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
So think about how much they helped extra, carried extra things,
you know, because they knew they had to help. So
it took out a different kind of energy from them,
which truly was fair, Like Eric was always looking up
for everyone, helping the book bags when.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Girls were falling behind, or like it very.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Crazy because when they did that to us, it saved
the day. I was like, pleased, on't stop.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
It'd saved the day. Yeah, he did that. He helped
me out with the stairs. Oh my god, this we
were the first day of the stairs.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
My mom. That was so hard. She was that was
so hard.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
She keeps saying it to me. She goes, do you
they're gonna play my noises? I go one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
Your mom is a trip.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
She sounded like you were dying, Like don are you?
Speaker 3 (24:08):
Y'all were so cute together. I loved y'all's dynamic. I
came home and I told Eric after, I'm like, you know,
their mother daughter relationship was so beautiful. You guys were
always grooming each other, brushing each other's hair. Y'all were
so sweet. And your mother has truly perfected not treating
(24:29):
you like a sister or a best friend. She treats
you like you're her daughter. But but the love that
she feels, it's like she's nurturing, she's loving, she's caring.
She is mothering you, but you're still best friends. You
get what I'm saying, Like she's mothering you, but your
best friends. And I was so impressed by what a
(24:50):
beautiful mother she was to you, Like she loved on
you so good, and you were so amazing to her.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
It was very so.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
It reminded me of me and my mom, It truly did.
We would have been very simil and and and that.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
You know, yeah, well you.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
And your daughter are going to have that too. She's
a Miniu. She is a trip.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
Babby's a trip. Vivvy probably would have been even more
so the way you were. Come on, mom, you got it.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
You got out like bybbe I can't.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
I know. And that's why when we got home and
I would like brush her hair and just try to
like make her feel calm. But it really, you know,
it was true, like throughout the whole thing, I'm sure
you were constantly worried about Jesse the whole time. Jesse
was constantly worried about you the whole time. And even
the DS they kept saying that to us. They were like,
you're worrying about your other person who's there with you.
(25:39):
That's exerting so much energy. You were worried about your mother,
but that's going to be natural. I can't even imagine.
I truly think a.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
Mother and daughter would worry more about each other than
even a husband and a wife because I really wasn't
that worried about him.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Yeah, And I don't think you were that worried about me.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
I think it's like it is what it is, but
a mother and a daughter, that's a different kind of
worry I would have.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
I would be waking up the middle of the night wondering
if fifty was okay.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
There's just that's that's a whole other level of mental toughness.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
When we were watching you guys during the first up,
during the first day, saying the first episode, but the
first day, watching you guys come out of that helicopter,
Did you guys have to watch us?
Speaker 2 (26:17):
No, so I couldn't see you.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
It was torture. We were watching you guys from the
other side of the mountain, watching like we watched that hole.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
We watched them. We were in the bottom of the
of the of the cliff. We saw it during the
whole fiah, but.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
It would look like teeny tiny ants, like you couldn't
really see what was going on. I was there.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
We didn't know who it was, you guys.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
So when you guys ran out, I knew it was
you because you were so tall and you were so little.
And then when it was Nick and my mom. I
knew it was my mom because I she got like
stuck at first, and.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
I keep playing that proo. Dun't they?
Speaker 1 (26:55):
Oh my god, I like I And we were there
for hours. So watching you guys, it was like it
was instilled in my brain. And we were there for hours.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
That was That was a really long day.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
So and then joining you guys, all of our hearts
were like sinking because you were like, did I die
your bed eye? No, I thought you.
Speaker 3 (27:17):
I thought something bad. I cannot believe I didn't have
more injuries from that. The helmet obviously saved me. I
cannot believe.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
I caught I remember.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
Eric's like, sorry, like this guy, I cannot I remember
falling and catching myself barely catching myself like I put
my hands in front of me when I fell, and
it was like my hands hit it. And then I've
grazed my nose onto the rock. And I just know
(27:54):
if I wouldn't have caught myself like that, I would
have busted my face up. And even it was a scratch,
but I had caught myself at the right time of like, oh,
like a like a push up almost, and it was like, well,
just because of.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
The terrain that we were on, Like if the fact
that you were even on kind of a flat surface,
like you could have hurt yourself so bad. What was
the most challenging part for you, Eric, Well, I'll say
that I do feel like I'm classrophobic.
Speaker 4 (28:21):
So some of the exercises that were in tight quarters,
were the tunnels were overwhelming at.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
Like this was the best thing ever.
Speaker 4 (28:32):
That was that was the worst experience.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
That was my hardest.
Speaker 4 (28:36):
Was so crazy because like you have that prep time
before we're kind of putting a game plan together. We
felt really good about how we were going to execute
our plan and then boom, you get thrown to a
one eighty environment of not expecting it and so that
alone was like crazy, and then you had just just
being stuck in tight cores was miserable. But I think it's,
(28:57):
you know, really the unknown. Like in my life, I
feel like everything's kind of structured in a sense you
kind of know what's coming next and you kind of
prepare for Well, in this experience, you really had no idea.
He's just kind of like at will of what's coming,
and so that was definitely a challenge. As the days
got longer and you kind of stacked days together. Just
(29:17):
it was kind of like exhausting.
Speaker 1 (29:20):
Yeah, definitely, who do you think handled the challenge is better?
Speaker 4 (29:25):
Between us?
Speaker 2 (29:27):
Eric was a rock star.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
He is like an elite person, Like he is so
incredibly athletic, but on top of that, he's incredibly smart.
I just feel like this was the perfect challenge for
him altogether.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
This was like his speed.
Speaker 3 (29:42):
He seemed so even killed, Like he never seemed thrown
by anything. You never seemed afraid of anything. He just
had this same temperament, had such a great attitude the
whole time.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
It was just so needed in the group. You really
were like.
Speaker 4 (29:56):
Probably we all had roles. That was what was unique
about this this cast is like we all really brought
something to the table. And that's I think why we bonded.
Those that made it you could tell because they bonded
and we all had something about it that brought to
the table. And you know, I thought you were unbelievable
every experience as well. I mean, you know, I know
(30:17):
waters it can be a fear of yours, but outside
of that, like and you were very nurturing and and
I think everyone felt that. And so it's just a
beautiful thing. To kind of like shine a light on
what our shrinks were, I guess, you know, and it
really blended.
Speaker 1 (30:33):
Well, Yeah, were you guys surprised? Did you shock yourself
at all to like see how tough you were?
Speaker 4 (30:41):
Yeah, it's I I've been retired seven years now, so
it was like I didn't know what to expect of
how my body was going to react to it, or
where I was at mentally, and so it was it
was fun, like I said earlier, just to be challenged
again and like be outside my comfort zone and kind
(31:01):
of like push myself. And I just I felt like
I missed parts of that aspect of competitive sports, especially
the camaraderie, Like that was so cool, Like crappy living conditions,
but so cool to spend that time together and laugh
about our experiences or talk about, you know, just the
crazy stuff we were doing because we were in it together.
Like you said, I mean, we're no outside world, It's
(31:23):
just us in you know, this hot desert surviving.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
What did you guys discover about yourself during this course
that you didn't know before?
Speaker 2 (31:41):
Personally?
Speaker 3 (31:41):
What I discovered was I still have that fight in me,
because when I was younger, I definitely did like, if
I would have done this at twenty two, yeah, I
think it would have been even more different because I
was a scrappy, little feisty girl at.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
Twenty two, let me tell you. But you know, I
didn't know if I still have.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
Had four children. I'm in my late thirties. You know,
I'm so blessed, and I have such a I have
such a comfortable lifestyle now that I didn't know that
I still had that grit and fight in me, and
so doing this experience showed me. It really brought me
back to my childhood.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
You know. It brought me back to a lot of experiences.
Speaker 3 (32:23):
That I had growing up, which I think I was
able to kind of really really pull from in order
to get through this challenge and this experience. But it
made me feel like I still have that fight in me,
and I just I hope our kids are proud when
they watch it.
Speaker 2 (32:37):
And when they see their parents.
Speaker 3 (32:39):
And it also though, made me like fall in love
with him even more.
Speaker 1 (32:43):
I was going to say, because going into Special Force
as a couple, it could test your marriage, Like even
Andrew and Sean just knowing how competitive Sean was, they
were like selections going to either make or bring our marriage. Yeah,
but I just felt like watching you both as a cop,
you saw that it was because everything that we did
(33:04):
every single day was so admiring. So watching you and
watching him, like you guys were probably like, wow, my husband,
our wife was pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (33:12):
Just going through something so traumatic too together. It's just
it was just a special thing to go through as
a married couple.
Speaker 2 (33:21):
And I just once it was all said and done
and it was.
Speaker 3 (33:23):
Over and we were able to like get in bed
together and just like a real bed and just kind
of decompressed and we just kind of rolled over and
looked at each other.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
It was just like, you know, it's just that cozy feeling.
Speaker 1 (33:34):
We did it.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
We went through this together. But it's my best friend.
Speaker 5 (33:37):
You know.
Speaker 4 (33:37):
You don't know if I necessarily took something away I
learned about myself. I think I've deep in like my
appreciation or perspective of not only like the military and
what they go through and you know, being appreciative of
like the life that we lead and the opportunities that
we get. Obviously my appreciation for Es. I saw her
(33:58):
a whole different light, you know, like to be kind
of in that nitty gritty environment, and to see her,
you know, just kind of ball and just like do awesome.
Was really really cool to see that. But I think
I also really appreciate just like the team aspect, like
community is so important. Like when I retire for football,
I had a hard time. I think I realized that,
(34:19):
like I need people. I need I need a team,
I need a community. I need you know, someone you know,
especially like men need other men to be vulnerable with
and be able to like share life with. And obviously
I have my partner for life, but like that was
something I know that I miss And then I got
a little taste of that and think, all right, I
got to somehow create that which we have created in
(34:42):
our community. But just to speak upon like for those
like that need people, like it's okay to to struggle
and have each other's back, because that's like that that's
the true definition of what we went through is is
like is life you know likes going be hard, but
if you have each other, you can get through anything.
Speaker 1 (34:59):
Yeah, we brought you back to the field a little
bit too, because you would never leave one of your
teammates behind. And that was kind of the motto we
always went by, never leave a man behind. So do
you think you guys could have done this alone? Yes,
he could have. No on my part because I don't.
(35:21):
I don't honestly seem I wouldn't have done it. Felt
comforted with having my mom there. It just felt so comforting. Yeah,
knowing that you have someone with you because going in alone,
we didn't have those relationships yet.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
You don't know anyone, so.
Speaker 1 (35:35):
I didn't know anyone. So then once we started getting
to know each other, then I thought to myself, Okay,
obviously if my mom decides to tap out, I'll be
okay because now I have all of you guys to
lean on and we'll be able to work through this.
But at first I would have I was like freaking out.
I was like, I don't know if I would have
been able to do this by myself.
Speaker 2 (35:54):
He was gonna do it, he wanted to do. But
I would have. I just wouldn't have said yes, Like
I would have been like, no way.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
Yeah. What was the first thing that you guys did
when you got back from Morocco?
Speaker 4 (36:03):
We stopped in London.
Speaker 2 (36:05):
Hay Over was in London.
Speaker 1 (36:06):
Did you did you spend a night there?
Speaker 4 (36:07):
We did. We took a little break but it was awesome.
We got love that some sushi. We just had the
best sleep ever. A little shopping thing was that we
got like a solid eighteen hours I guess to like
spend together and compress.
Speaker 2 (36:25):
I felt like that was the good move.
Speaker 3 (36:27):
You know, after it was done, they were trying to
get us on the first flight home. You know, we
could have been home that following day, but I knew
for us and like needing that probably good chunk of
time to decompress because of what we had gone through,
that we needed to have like take a beat before
we went home. I wanted to be in good and
(36:48):
a good headspace for our children. I wanted us to
be rested enough and in a good place to be
there for them because they're young and they needed their
mommy and daddy back.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
We can't go back and then just be sloths.
Speaker 1 (36:57):
Yeah, plain, they don't care. You're full of time, yes.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
And so that was It was good to get that time.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
And it was honestly one of the most special nights
I think Eric and I have ever had together. It
was so beautiful and we just we were just so
appreciative and grateful to me in a real bed and
things that we've taken for granted and eat a meal.
Speaker 1 (37:20):
And that's honestly, that's so smart. I wish I ran
to a body scrub the next morning.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
Oh I bet you did. We were so dirty.
Speaker 1 (37:28):
It was so dirty. I was disgusting. I ran straight
to a body scrub. I was like, maybe I should have,
you know, had a night somewhere and relaxed for We
definitely had a wild mix this season of reality stars, athletes,
some controversial celebrities. Who would you say that you bonded
with the most from this season?
Speaker 3 (37:50):
Well, I feel like my answer is not really fair
because I already knew first. I guess, well, Sean was
already one of my girlfriends, and so I feel like
Sean was my girl. You know, we already knew each other.
She has been a mentor to our daughter.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
And so she's a gymnastic.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
Our daughter's a gymnast, and Sean has really been a
huge man. I mean, she has come into Vivvy's gymnastics
and given guidance and support and actually.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
Made her move.
Speaker 3 (38:21):
Gems like, she has really been a big part of
Viby's gymnastics.
Speaker 4 (38:27):
You know.
Speaker 3 (38:28):
But we already loved Sean. But I would say that
our friendship is deeper now. We were friends before, but
it is much deeper now. And I just love her
so much as a person, and she's such a great
mother and teammate, and I you know, I'm glad we
had this experience to deepen our friendship.
Speaker 1 (38:48):
You know, she's amazing, and that's so sweet that she
does that for your daughter, what about you. Honestly, I
got really close with Brie.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
That's what I thought you were going to say.
Speaker 1 (38:57):
Yeah, I did know Brie, but it was very, very
surface level, Like she came to Rutgers when she was
doing the crazy Drinking Vendor tour that she was doing,
and so I met her when I was in college
a little bit. She came on actually my podcast, Casual Chaos,
But you know, we're also busy with life. When we
do these things for work, it's very surface level. You're
(39:19):
just like, even sitting here right now, I'm like listening
to you guys, and I'm smiling because I genuinely have
such a love for you guys. Like when Bree came
on Casual Chaos a couple months ago, Yeah, it was
just like I was interviewing anybody else, Like obviously thought
she was super cool, loved her career, loved what she
did with her life, but it was again surface level
and life goes on kind of like Andrew said last
(39:42):
week at dinner, and now once going through this experience
and we actually got to know each other and I
got to know such a deeper side of her that
I didn't know. I was like, wow, like she's super cool.
And I loved that because again, you know, who knows
you have different images people, You think certain things, and
(40:03):
that's why I like, you know, or you don't even
give people a shot because you're just running through life
and worried about yourself. So during this course, like we
didn't have an opportunity to do that, so it was
it was cool to just, you know, get to know
her and get to know everybody. You know. I look
at you guys as just like an inspiration. You're older
than me, and I'm just like you guys really just
(40:24):
led such a good example me, Mark and Brie. We
were sitting there like we got to prove ourselves like
oh or like the underdogs here. It was definitely cool.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
Did you bond it? I mean you already knew some
of the guys too.
Speaker 4 (40:36):
I did yeah, I may say the same thing about Ange.
Just felt like I've got to know him on a
deeper level. But Revey like I didn't know.
Speaker 2 (40:43):
Oh yeah, that's a good example for sure.
Speaker 4 (40:46):
And got to like, you know, spend some time with him.
And now after the show he's been coming over playing
pick a ball and it comes over. Now you're working out.
Speaker 2 (40:55):
He like shows up at the front door and I'm like,
what are you doing here? He's like, I'm not here
for you.
Speaker 1 (41:00):
He's a hisser. He kept saying to me, like over
and over again. When we were at Craigs. He goes,
I really hope my stupid remarks.
Speaker 4 (41:08):
Don't come on.
Speaker 2 (41:11):
They're not going such a smart but you did bond
with him.
Speaker 4 (41:16):
It's just nice to have because I feel like my
personality comes off well, I know, I'm more like stoics.
So it's nice to have people that have this like comedic,
you know, personality, like kind of pulled out of me
or enjoyable to be around.
Speaker 1 (41:31):
So being around him and Nick Young, we were all dying.
We were on our every day, so that's what kept
us going to We needed that like humor and just
something to lighten up the mood. Because like after wanted
to literally just die. Every time we come back from
(41:52):
a challenge. I was like, I want a shower, and
then it was just everyone we need did that light.
Speaker 2 (42:01):
You were the shower girl. You loved your showers. You did,
you did shower. It was you. I feel like Chanell
liked to shower too.
Speaker 1 (42:09):
She did me and Janelle. Actually, I see I kept
saying I took the longest showers. Maybe it was Chanel.
Speaker 2 (42:14):
Could have been a tie or a tie.
Speaker 4 (42:17):
Because we ran a lot pretty quick. The first couple
of days long.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
Show long showers, I was like, I just was washing
in the sink At that point, I'm like, just forget it.
Speaker 5 (42:28):
You know.
Speaker 1 (42:28):
There were some days where I would wash my hair
in the sink so that I wouldn't be as long
in the shower. I was like, I need to like
do something. Yes, who out of the ds intimidated you
guys the most.
Speaker 2 (42:39):
I would say, Billy was pretty intimidating.
Speaker 1 (42:42):
He was.
Speaker 3 (42:42):
I started to understand him a little bit more as
we got closer.
Speaker 2 (42:45):
He's pretty funny, very quick witted.
Speaker 1 (42:48):
Yeah, so smart.
Speaker 3 (42:49):
He's really smart. I'll never forget him calling me tiny Tempa,
which was hysterical I had a temper.
Speaker 2 (42:58):
I guess tiny timber.
Speaker 3 (43:01):
He was scarier though, he was the scariest one, and
I also felt like Fox.
Speaker 2 (43:05):
He was kind of scary.
Speaker 1 (43:06):
He was, he was my He intimidated me most.
Speaker 3 (43:10):
I felt like he was hard on me. Yeah, and
you probably feel that way too, that he was hard
on you.
Speaker 1 (43:15):
Yeah, the hardest on me. He said, like, you didn't
say much, but when he said something to me, he
was so mean, guppy, guppy guppy.
Speaker 2 (43:24):
Yeah, so he was kind of mean.
Speaker 3 (43:26):
My favorite was C though I loved Qque to me
felt like home and gave me the comfort of like,
trust me. He was still a heart and he was
still super in tense, but there was still something about
him that felt like.
Speaker 2 (43:45):
Home, you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (43:47):
Yeah, And I felt like he really wasn't mean when
he was motivating us. Yes, it was hard, but it
was like you could tell he was really like come on, push,
like get there.
Speaker 3 (43:57):
He was a motivator, motivator, and I I do feel
like he had such a big heart and he really
did care.
Speaker 2 (44:04):
And he was also funny. He also was, Oh, he
was so funny.
Speaker 1 (44:08):
He like always caught my little comments because I didn't
think we were I didn't think like this was a
big deal. But he comes in from the gates and
I was like, heck you Like I said, like something,
and he goes, what do you do with number eighteen?
I was like, can we drop this act for a minute?
I go, can we just be normal? And he starts
dying laughing, and I was like, I got you. Oh
(44:31):
he goes go to the barracks.
Speaker 4 (44:33):
It's like, okay, see I feel like he show a
glimpse of personality. So it started be like okay, like
obviously this experience is tough, but he is a real
person as well.
Speaker 2 (44:43):
He also liked all of us quite a bit.
Speaker 1 (44:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (44:46):
I don't think that was totally his character for a
lot of the other seasons. I think he just really
bonded with a lot of us and liked a lot
of us.
Speaker 6 (44:54):
He like couldn't help it. Yeah, in some moments, no
breaking Carria a little bit. It was so fun when
they broke here though. I was like, finally we're seeing
some human like human life. Before you guys came to Morocco,
who did you think was gonna take it home? What
were your predictions?
Speaker 3 (45:09):
I said, Sean and Andrew, Yeah, yeah, I agree. I said,
definitely agree. I just I know her well enough to
know Sean is a winner. Yeah, she wins everything she does,
and I know she's my friend, but I just bet
on her.
Speaker 5 (45:22):
I'm like, yeah, I got this, No, definitely, what about Yeah, yeah,
I think Nashally Sean because being an elite athlete, to
be an Olympian is really ex especially especially like a
young athlete like she was.
Speaker 4 (45:36):
I mean at sixteen, like you got to be super
disciplined and just a different switch.
Speaker 1 (45:41):
You could just tell anything she did. She was like solid. Yeah,
like attention at all times.
Speaker 4 (45:49):
So my money was on her just because yeah I
knew her background or you know, obviously I have bias
to athletes, but.
Speaker 1 (45:55):
You thought you were going to take it home?
Speaker 4 (45:57):
She just yeah, she just seemed to be like solid.
Speaker 2 (46:00):
Yeah, she was a big factor of me doing this.
Speaker 1 (46:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (46:03):
As soon as I knew Sean was doing it, I
called her. She's like, yeah, why they ask you?
Speaker 1 (46:08):
I was like yep.
Speaker 2 (46:09):
She's like, let's go, come on, Sean. I don't think so, girl,
I can't. Are you crazy? Like what are we doing here?
Speaker 1 (46:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (46:15):
She's like you got to come, you're coming, Let's do this.
Speaker 1 (46:18):
She was so excited for it. You could tell she
was in it. Oh, she was so in it.
Speaker 3 (46:22):
She loves to be competitive, she loves challenges. That's just
I mean, but that is how a lot of athletes are.
Speaker 1 (46:28):
Well. I can't wait for you guys to show your
kids this season of Special Forces, and I can't wait
for everybody to tune into Special Forces. Special Forces World's
Toughest Test premiers Thursday, September twenty fifth, at nine eighth
Central on Fox. Thank you guys for coming on Casual Chaos.
Speaker 2 (46:45):
Thanks girlfriend, We love you.
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