Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Today's podcast is sponsored by Sea Geek. If you didn't know,
see Geek is the official ticketing partner of the Brooklyns.
Whether you're trying to go to a Nets game, Liberty game, concert,
or any other event at Barclay Center, you really only
need Sea Geek. Welcome to Courtside Conversation. I'm your girl,
(00:31):
Ali Love. After years on the Heartwood as the in
arena host for the Brooklyn Nets, it's time for me
to take a courtside. We're here with artists, athletes, and
all of our favorite people to break down the game
called life. We're getting real about the grow up and
the glow up. So let's take a seat. Oh my gosh, everyone,
(00:58):
this is happening. It's going down, and I have to
tell you I'm a little nervous. Um. I've done now
quite a lot of podcast recordings. I'm familiar with conversation,
but this one in particular and special because I mean,
I'm talking to the one and only Robin Roberts. Robin,
you know, I'm obsessed with you, and I'm so grateful
that you're on Courtside Conversation. So thank you so much
for taking a seat court side and giving your time.
(01:21):
I think I'm a charter member of Love Squad. I'm
not sure. Well, that's how far I go back with you.
It is my pleasure, my absolute pleasure, to spend some
time with you. Well, we're gonna go through the fourth
quarters of a game, and we're gonna talk about the
game of life. And I have to tell you and
everyone that maybe not be watching on YouTube, but you're listening,
my palms are sweaty. They don't get sweaty offten. I
(01:43):
don't suffer from sweaty poms, but they are sweaty because
I'm just so excited. So let's jump right in. One
of the things that has been magnificent. Many things are
magnificent about you. But when I think of you and
I've watched your journey, I've watched your master class, all
these things, one of the things that's so special is
that you were able to create a career, and not
(02:04):
just any career, but a career where you affect millions
upon millions of people with positive energy, with good news.
But it hasn't always been the case for me. I know,
growing up, I didn't know what skill set was available,
what opportunity set was available for you. Your father was
an air force her mom was a social worker. Can
you just take us back as we step into the
first quarter of what influenced you to take the career
(02:25):
trajectory to t happen to sports? What we were your
influence is at a young aide to say this is
the outlets or these are the outlets that are available
to me. Oh my goodness. Going back to the first quarter,
mum m mmmm. I mean it brings a smile to
my face. And I have to say my initial dream
was to be a professional athlete. I mean, I just
(02:48):
was fascinated about everything when it came to athletics. How
fast I can run, how far I could throw a ball.
I was a bowling champ twelve years old, state bowling
champ in Mississippi. Tennis was my true passion. Dreamed of
being at Wimbledon one day. Um, but you gotta have
something called ability. You could wish and hope and pray,
(03:10):
and I really wanted that for myself. And thankfully, early
on that adage that you hear from people, will you
know whatever it is that you're passionate about, find a
way to get paid for it. I didn't care about
the pay aspect that never entered my mind. I just
wanted to I mean, why are we here if we're
(03:32):
not going to enjoy what it is that we're doing.
And so I was so grateful. My father was a
Tuskegee airman, first black flying Air Corps in the military.
Here mama met in college. They were the first in
their families to go to college. And they really taught
and I know your background can appreciate this, Ali, they
(03:52):
didn't teach their children the three rs. It was a
three DS discipline and I so from the first quarter,
I have been a discipline human being, being an Air
Force brat discipline determination. I mean I and for as
long as I can remember, especially to playing sports, I
was determined to be the best I could be for
(04:12):
myself and my team. And that third D dull Lord,
dull Lord. And so when you have those three D
but that really laid a very strong, a very strong
foundation for me. Um. But I I you know, some
people look back at their first quarter and they shudder.
(04:34):
I look back, and I do a little bit because
you think you know so much and you've got big
wide eyes and you know you're going for it, which
is great. But I'm so grateful, and I know we'll
get into it later. I talk about the seasons of life,
and I'm so grateful for this season that I'm in
right now, but have no regrets about that first quarter.
Bring it before we go into the second quarter. The
(04:56):
second d was determination. I know many folks that are
listening they have, you know, whether they they themselves are
in that season of their life where crossroad, turning point,
or maybe their children. They see their kids at this
day and age going through somethings that maybe they don't understand.
Can you give some insight and maybe share at any
point in the youth of your first quarter of growing
up saying like this was available to me. That's how
(05:17):
I was raised. While I was determined, there are moments
where you know, I second guessed myself. I looked at
for myself. It happened a lot like I didn't know
if I could at thirteen or fourteen step out in
the world and become a dancer. But I was determined.
What were some of those setbacks that you might have?
Oh my goodness, how much time do we have? I
mean seriously, I mean there were so many times, uh,
(05:41):
you know, especially through playing sports, and I thought I
could be all that and a baggage ships and I was,
you know, it was good enough to get the college scholarship.
But but that was about it. But um, I just remember,
um gosh, you don't remember this was a show called Zoom.
It's kind of like it was kind of like Sesame Street.
I tried out for that. I thought, Oh, I'm gonna
(06:01):
be a zoom kid. Come on a zoom zoom zooma zoom,
come on a zooma zoom zooma zoom girl. I felt
flat on my face. Those people are like, yeah, I
don't know what it is that you want to do,
but this isn't it. So you need to go back
and find something else. And I was the first time
because as an athlete I had experienced some success. But
(06:22):
that was that was a true blow. Um. But there
are so many times that I put myself out there.
But this is another thing, and this is why I
think we are kindred souls. Even then, first quarter, second
quarter never tried to be perfect progress progress. I just
(06:43):
wanted progression. And I'm glad that that was instilled in
me early because if you're striving for perfection as you are,
especially early on UM, because I remember when I did
do that. Oh, also track and field, I would because
we were in uh An area in Mississippi where the
(07:04):
on base kids. My father was a high ranking officer.
I was one of the few black kids in my
elementary school. I was the fastest one on the team.
Well hey, now, okay, we went to the city track
meet where you are exposed to all types of runners. Girl,
I got smoked. Okay, I here here from my little
(07:27):
Jeff Davis Elementary. You know, I'm like running on the
road runner and I think I'm all that I go.
And then when the playing field is even where it
didn't matter where you went to school, that you were
out there on that track. I mean, I got smoked.
I And that was another way of saying to me
or I I realized we all have we all have.
(07:50):
Opportunity is not the same. Talent can be the same,
but opportunity is not the same for everyone. And I
was so grateful that that opened my eyes and really
um took me down a peg or two that yes,
in my little small pond, I may have been doing well,
but there's a big world out there, and so I
would just always strive to just be a little bit better.
(08:13):
So just make progress and I'm not not strive for
that perfection because that just oh, let's go back to
that race, you know when you're like, I didn't do
very well and not at all. What was the conversation
like with your parents? My parents loved it, really, Oh
they loved that for because they thought because I think
I was probably getting little full of myself and it
(08:35):
was like a third grade, fourth grade. Um. Sports came
very naturally to me and and I was I was,
I was um experiencing some success. I think my parents really,
I mean, they were there. My parents, this is the
way they were alick. They did not want to prevent
me from falling. They wanted to be there to help
(08:55):
pick me back up. They wanted me to learn. And
this is something so that I learned through playing sports,
and maybe you and dance as well. You learned you
you know, there's competitions, and I learned how to win,
but it also learned how to handle loss. That you
could you could lose a competition. It didn't mean that
(09:16):
you were going to lose the overall competition. Might be
the early rounds that you lost in a dance competition.
It might be that you lost early games in the season,
but you could still come back and win the championship.
So my parents were very much about teachable moments. They
loved those times when their children could because they could
preach and teach all they want, but until their child
(09:39):
experiences for themselves and they're there to reinforce that lesson.
And I remember that from them, Alley, that they were
there to reinforce the things that I was learning. I
love that. It takes me back to your point of
our connection. My parents. They never limited my curiosity around
my greatness. I didn't know what. I couldn't articulate it
(10:00):
at the time because I was so young, but I
knew I wanted to do something. I knew I wanted
to be somebody. And I remember whispering to my mom
because growing up, you know again, as a Christian and
faith is a big part of the household. I used
to say, be careful what you say, because not only
can the angels and God hear you, but the devil
can hear you too, And so I remember hearing that
in church, and I used to get so nervous. So
one day we were driving home from a dance class
(10:22):
and I leaned over to my mom, and I was
really in my head and my mom was like, you know,
are you okay? And I remember being in my head
so much, and I whispered to her and I was like, Mom,
I just want to make something of myself. And I
was scared. I wasn't scared that it wouldn't happen or
if I said it, it it wouldn't come true. I was
scared that, you know, again growing up, that maybe the
devil's gonna hear me and then it's gonna be really,
really really hard for me to make something of myself.
(10:44):
But I thought about it for many years and I
whispered to my mom, I want to make something of myself.
And it was that experience of allowing both my parents
that curiosity, like, stay curious on what you want to do,
and let's go for it. You're not gonna be perfect,
you're not going to be the best, but just know
there's the reality that sets in no where you are,
and know what you want. And I was like, I
just want to be somebody girl. I'm rocking right now.
(11:06):
I'm rocking right now because my mama, and I told her,
I said, Mama, never admit this. In an interview if
you can interview. Do you never admit this, she said,
Robert Renee. From as long as I can remember, you said, Mama,
I'm gonna be somebody. I said that to her. I
said that to my mama. I said, I don't I'm
gonna get ALTERI out. I said, I don't know what
(11:27):
it is what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna be somebody.
I'm gonna make a difference. I said. She said that.
I said I'm gonna be famous one day like that,
And I was like, oh, I never said that. She goes, Yes,
you did. I said, MOMAA never say that to anybody
because because it gives the impression that which wasn't what
I meant. I meant I just wanted to have an impact.
(11:48):
That was a word. Again I've never and thank the
Good Lord, I'm so abutantly blessed and grateful monetarily where
I am. Don't get me wrong, but it was never
and hasn't ever been at the forefront of my thoughts.
And even when I was saying that to my mom
about being famous, it wasn't about being I didn't say
I wanted to be rich and famous. I just said
(12:08):
I wanted to be famous, and my mom I was like,
she loved that. She'd go, Okay, girl, oh what you
gonna do? I'll figure that out. I didn't know. I
didn't know the path, but I if you can't feel
that way when you are young, and then you have.
And we are very very fortunate, Alley, that we had.
(12:28):
And I hear you all the time talking about your
folks and talking about your family and talking about your
you know all, and we're we're very simpatico where that's concerned.
And I know there might be some people listening going, well,
that's great, Alley, that's great, Robin. I didn't have that.
It's as much as we had that, we still had
(12:50):
to want it for ourselves. And I say, the folks
who say I didn't have that, that upbringing, that that
kind of background, why not be that person in your
family's history that they can point back to and say, hey,
it started. It started here, plant that seed early on.
And I am so grateful I there. The roots are
(13:10):
very strong in our family and I am not going
to ever apologize for it. But at the same time,
what they did is said, Okay, yes, you have a
strong foundation, you still got to get out there and
do it for yourself with the help of others, and
thank the Good Lord received so much help along the
(13:30):
way and so grateful for it. I have to say
before we step into the second quarter that if my
mom has retold this story to me and the word
she used, she said that I said that I wanted
to be famous, I promise you, like I promise you,
this is the exact true that. I leaned over to
(13:51):
her and I said I was pretty sure. I said
I wanted to be somebody. And she was like, oh, no, no, no,
maybe that's what you meant, but you said you wanted
to be paid it. And I was like, well, the
Lord hurt us because I mean, on some level, like
to your point, the fame is it coming? Isn't just
being known? Like and I've been asked this before, especially
when I first started at Peloton and we started to
(14:11):
grow in press interviews, It's like, how does it feel
to be famous? And I said, I don't necessarily think
that I'm famous. I think famous people are recognized like, oh,
that's so and so, and that's it, Like they're recognized
for their name and maybe it's attached to some type
of appearance of some type I was like, I'm not
sure that it's a famous element. It's more of a
part of a community as a whole because and again
(14:31):
it's very much of unfortunate enough to be in this
position where it's like, that's Ali love and she said this,
And that's why I say, I wanted to be somebody
because I wanted to have an impact, a positive impact,
similar to you. I was like, we're just not known of, like, oh,
that's a famous person and you feel weird. It's like,
oh my gosh, I feel like I know that person
and that's and that's what's so that's how endearing to
(14:52):
me when somebody comes up and they really feel that
they know me. Um, that that is is something at um.
I just absolutely treasure, Absolutely treasure. Today's podcast is sponsored
by seat geek. If you didn't know, seek is the
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(15:16):
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web in one place to make buying simple, No good
story it's without struggle. So as we step into the
(15:37):
second quarter, we're gonna take it back and I will say,
of all the things you have done, you've done many
great things, and being an athlete Jersey being retired at
Southeastern Louisiana University, like the way that you've really navigated
your career has been an inspiration for me and to me.
But as someone who got hit by a car when
I was a nine years old, after telling my mom
at this point that you know, I want to be
(15:58):
I want to be known, trying to not hied it
from the devil, I met one of the greatest challenges
at that time in my life of almost losing that
life right. I couldn't walk. I wasn't a dancer at
that time. But it was a very tumultuous moment for
my family. It costs us a lot of money. We
didn't have a lot to begin with. It costs us
a lot of time. My mother had to leave her
job for a little bit. All those things, and then
(16:18):
obviously battling life. And again, no great story is without
some struggle for you. Two thousand and five, before we
even get to two thousand and seven, like Hurricane Katrina.
This is a pivotal moment, not only your career but
in your personal life being down there, and I remember
you talking, and I don't remember if I listened to
it on a podcast. I've consumed so much of you.
(16:39):
I'm not gonna lie in terms of like your your
podcast appearances, like all the things. But I just remember
hearing your story of Hurricane Katrina, and you were just like,
I gotta stay. Like you went down there to work,
and you're like, well, I have to stay here. You
have to make a call to stay. I have to
say in in two thousand and five, it was shortly
before or shortly after my father passed away. He passed
(17:00):
away in two thousand and four. He was a patriarch
in our family. And Hurricane Katrina comes blowing down south.
I had just been named a third co anchor with
the Charlie Gibson and the Diane Sawyer and having the
impostor syndrome that we as women often have making the
transition from sports to news. Sports was my comfort zone.
(17:23):
Now I'm gonna be the third anchor with Charlie and Diane.
Feeling a little insecure, Hurricane Katrina hits we are on
the air that morning, and it seems like the storm
is not as bad as it was projected. But later
in the day we realized how bad it really was.
I lost contact with my family. My mother was unable
to evacuate because of health reasons, and my sister and
(17:43):
her children stayed with Mama down on the coast. Lost contact.
I'm from the South. That happens during a storm. Didn't
panic too much. ABC says, We're gonna give you the
jet go down South. We want you to report. I'm
I'm taking your jets. I'm gonna find my mama. That's
why I take in the chip. But I'll let you
think I'm going down to work, So get down there.
(18:05):
The night of the storm, after the storm had passed, Ali,
this is my home. I knew it like the back
of my hand, and to see the destruction with my
own eyes, and still hadn't made contact with my mom
and my sister. The producer set up because the producer
got to do his job, and he said, I got
to set up for the live shot, and I was like,
(18:25):
I cannot go on the air until I know if
my mom. The condition of my mother and my family.
He understood I found the house. My mom knocked on
the door. I was so grateful because all that I've
seen in the house was damaged, but it was standing.
I knocked on the door, my sister answers. I go
running the back of the house and my mama is
(18:48):
She's singing gospel music. Oh what a family have in Jesus.
And I'm like going, I'm crying and balling and and
she's like, oh girl, what's the man. I'm like, oh, well,
you know, because she doesn't really know how bad it
is outside of the house. And I said, I don't
want to go back to report. I want to stay
with you, and she said, no, let people know how
(19:09):
bad the situation is. So I got back to the
live shot location and just the nick of time go
on the air and was very professional at first and
talking about this is the situation and just being you know,
the cup reporter and new anchor. And it was Charlie
after I wrapped up my initial report, who said, when
you left here, you didn't know the condition of your family.
Were you able to find them? I just I lost it.
(19:32):
The tears were of gratitude that my family was safe,
but also tears knowing that people were tuning in not
knowing about their loved ones, and I knew what that
felt like because that had been me. And then to
get on the plane after reporting, to get on the
plane and to come back to New York is when
I panted again and I was like, I can't how
do you just leave? I can't just I can't just
(19:55):
leave my family and others that are here. And it
was like they encouraged me to go back, to continue
to get that message out there, um to to let
people know. But it was something that I thought at
the time, Ali, I was gonna be fired because it's
two thousand and five news personalities journalists. You didn't really
(20:17):
let people in at that point. And to cry, I mean,
I mean ugly boo hoo tears, not that cute little
I was slabby, slobber crying and for people to respond
differently than I thought and saying thank you for being authentic.
I know you talked about this a lot. Authenticity. That's
(20:38):
what it's about. That's why your Love Squad is so powerful,
because it's about being bold, respect but also being authentic.
And people saw a girl from Mississippi who was crying
because she knew how hard. It was going to be
(20:58):
for so many people to pick up with their lives
after the destruction of Hurricane Countrie, and my family included.
I know for me, I've seen this clip a couple
of times. I know for me, it was that unexpected
element of humanity. And to your point, you know, back
at that time, when you report the news, it's almost
there was a disconnect, like the standard was, there's a
disconnect between what's actually happening and your emotions because you
(21:22):
wanted the role is to deliver it with like a
non bias in a sense, you know, since has things evolved,
But it was that level of humanity and you that's
honestly why I think for sure you're so successful, if
I could say so, and why I have been completely
i mean attracted to you right away of like I
want to model my career after this woman. She's incredible.
Is that that level of humanity You've never you've never
(21:44):
hit that or covered up that level of humanity. You've
lad with that level of humanity, and it was you
were in millions of people's homes at the time, and
that's exactly what they needed. They needed to see someone
like Robin Roberts understand not only the situation, but understand
it in the capacity that they could relate to. And
that's exactly what happened in that moment. And to me,
that was a pivotal shift being at that time like
(22:05):
it was a pivotal shift, and I was just like,
what how it really caught a lot of people. Thank
you so much, Ali, everything that you said, just that
means it means so much to me. And that was
my hope, and not even my hope. I didn't even
have a hope. I just was I was just being
in the moment, which we say so much now, but
again back then, it didn't. It wasn't something that was said.
(22:28):
And I think that's what helped me when two years
later I had a health crisis. Would probably have been
something that I would have kept to myself and I thought, Okay,
here we go again. Uh, this can be a teachable moment.
I'm not the only one that's ever been diagnosed with
breast cancer, but you know what, um, I can show
people what it's like to not only be diagnosed, but
(22:50):
to live with cancer, you know, to to show what
it's like to live and to work, see how colleagues,
how friends can come to your aid um. And that's
something that I've really teachable moments. I mean, I just
I just feel that why if we can't be here
and I was selling my gland fam. We have our
(23:11):
morning message in prayer that we post every day, and
sometimes someone will go preach, preach, and I'm like, I'm
not a preacher. I'm not a teacher. I feel like
I'm a mirror. I think I'm a big just want
to be a big reflection for people and saying a
lot of things that I talked about. You all you've
heard before. We're just kind of reminding you. Maybe you're
hearing it for the first time, but for the vast majority,
(23:33):
it's just like like, oh yeah, that's right. Oh yeah.
Walked by by faith, not by sight. I said that
today and there were some people who had never heard
that before and others who said, thank you for the reminder.
I'm always looking for that sign, always looking for the
macro when sometimes it could just be the micro. Oh
the sun came out this morning, hallelujah. I know that feeling.
(23:56):
You talk about breast cancer also being diagnosed with a
rare blood in merrial disease. I'd love for us to
to kind of tap into that moment. I remember your
annow and spent all Good Morning America. I had it
on the TV and um in two thousand and seven,
if you can take us back into the room when
you heard the news. As someone who has family members
(24:16):
who have been diagnosed with breast cancer over the years,
my two of my aunts going through that in high school,
taking her to her chemo hands turning black. I was
her designated driver, you know, at seventeen, at sixteen years old,
just to make sure she went to her treatment, because
they would happen in the middle of the day when
the rest of the family had to work. And then
going through it again with my sister and then seeing
(24:39):
you know, her keeping it a secret. We all all
of our family, we holiday together, my husband and my family,
he brings them together, He takes them on a holiday
and they all get to spend about a week or
a week and a half together. And she kept it
a secret. We had no idea would come back in
January and she alerts the family that at stage four,
its stage four breast cancer. And and so you know
(25:01):
again this is that is in Patrico. Like what we
talked about, this has been a part of your journey
and then to see how you handled it. I love
for us to first go back into you hearing the
news of this is cancer, this is breast cancer. Well,
first of all, my my heart goes out to you
and your family. Thank you Ali first and foremost. Um.
(25:21):
You know, my partner was al Um. Amber was diagnosed
at the end of last year. And there's one thing
when it's you, like when I I am, I have
been a much better patient than I am a caregiver
because as a family member, you just feel so helpless.
So my heart does go out to you because I know,
I know that feeling nothing can prepare you for those
(25:44):
words you have cancer. Nothing. I don't uh whether you
have thought, you have done the right things. Um, moderate drinker,
never have smoked, always athletic, uh no real stream it
in our family even that you're you're just not prepared.
(26:04):
You're And I do remember I was more concerned were
telling family and friends. I was okay because I was like,
ok cancer because it's that athlete and me, I'm like, oh,
oh it's all now you will, oh you won't pick
on me all okay, But knowing how my family, UM
(26:27):
and those who uh in my inner circle, knowing how
hard it was going to be on them. But I
have to say, because of the cancer, I'm not one
of those people. I do believe everything happens for a reason.
I believe in predestination, things happen for a reason. I
would have loved for the lessons that I learned. I
(26:49):
wish I could they could have been talked to me
in a different way, but that was a way that
was chosen for me to learn about myself and then learned, Um,
I'm not the same person I was before cancer. You
do not go through No one should go through a
life altering situation and come out exactly the same. There's
a lesson that's to be learned. The tragedy is not cancer.
(27:10):
The tragedy is not divorced. The tragedy is not um,
unemployment or anything like that. It's okay, why was this
place in my path? What am I supposed to learn?
And it took me a while. I didn't I didn't
write initially say Okay, God, what's the what's the plan here?
I was Um, I was shaken, and I was a
little upset, and I remember my mom was saying, uh,
(27:33):
it's Okay, you can get angry at him, just don't
stay mad. And I'm like, okay, because I'm a little
I'm a little upset because I kind of did everything
I was supposed to do. And and she was like, well,
do you ever feel that anybody who has gone through
cancer or something that there's something that they did wrong.
I was like no, and I was like, well, you
(27:54):
didn't do anything wrong either. It's just one of those
those things that has happened. But I am so grateful
that I have taken the time to understand the purpose
behind these things have been placed on my path and
to learn from them and more importantly, to share in
hopes of you family members that are going through it.
(28:17):
I love it when someone says, um, hey, thank you
my x, Y and Z going through the ailment that
I had, which was my logot plastic syndrome, had a
bow merrow transplant, and they'll say, look at Robin. I
feel I am a walking, breathing symbol to so many
that this too shall pass. And so I'm grateful that
(28:38):
I shared my stories so they can see the other
side of what it is that they're going through. The
four sepos at the halftime and have a little fun.
You said learnings. What were some of those you mentioned
macro and my level learnings for you, What were some
of those learnings in terms of like asking, I read
a book in college it was just like, I'm mad
(28:59):
at God because I used to get mad at God,
and you feel I used to have this juxtaposition of yeah,
I'm mad at God. I get a choice of being
mad at God, and then I'm like, I can't be
mad at God. Like then there's an irreconcilable difference I'm
having internally because I'm mad at God? But can I
be mad at God? Like asking this question? And I
remember reading a book of I'm Mad at God, and
a lot of the takeaway was some of Yeah, a
(29:20):
lot of the takeaway with some of the learnings like
this is you're entitled to your feelings, like no one
can take that away from you, and you want to
go through all the fields. But what is that? What
is that message or those messages? And so on a
macro level, you don't mind sharing what were some of
the changes that you saw when you were going through
that internal external struggle? But that internal struggle, why me?
(29:40):
Why now? Why at all? You know? And I would.
I would say that I at least I thought I
was a humble person to begin with. You know, I wasn't.
I wasn't someone that walked around thinking I was all
that in a bag of ship. So I have to
say that never, well you are you, Thank you very much.
But I'm telling you it was UM. It humbled me. UM,
(30:02):
It made me. UM. It brought out a depth in
me that I never really had. UM and my dad,
I mean, um, I'm not looking around going oh the
birds are chirping and not not kind of like that,
but just um, help me have a better understanding of
(30:25):
humanity and how fragile it is, because I think, especially
when you're a little bit younger, you think you're invincible. Um.
It really brought me to my knees and know that
we are here for a fine night, a mile in
a time, all of us, all of us. So what
are you gonna do during that time? And it made
(30:45):
me just take uh not to want to have an
impact before I just before I just want to do
you know, yeah, I want to be a storyteller. I
want to help people tell their stories and give them
a platform and blah blah. But it changed me in
wanting to have a true impact. You know the question that,
(31:07):
especially when you get to the season of my life,
what do you want your legacy to be? You know
that that legacy question, and I I've been asked that
quite a bit and and it's different from what it
would have been had I not gone through cancer. I
just want to make sure I can do whatever I
can to make someone's life better. That's it. That's all
(31:29):
I want. I just want And by that I mean
not because I gave them something other than my belief
in them. See, I want people to to do it
on their own. I don't want to be the one
to do it for them, but I want to be
able to help them tap into what I know we
all have inside of us. And that is different for me,
(31:52):
pre impost cancer, I didn't feel that way, and so
that's the macro. That's what really came out of it
and going like I am a messenger. I am here
to be a messenger, and that message is of hope,
and that get into habit being hopeful. I often talk
about optimism. It's like a muscle think it's stronger with use.
(32:13):
I want to be able to be a get the
message out to folks. I never thought of being hopeful
as a habit until just now. So you just said that.
It's that's right, yeah, because I think you just like say, well,
just be hopeful, like okay, I'm hoping. But then it's like, no,
you have to create, like you said, flex that muscle,
make it habitual. It's now a part of who you are.
And far back on it when you do that, because
(32:35):
you know, because we all got good habits and bad habits,
but you know what happening. It's automatic. So if you
make hope a habit, it becomes an aut It becomes
more automatic that you're going to see that silver lining.
It becomes more automatic that you're gonna, like my book
brighter by the day you got to see, you gotta
you gotta spot. It's gonna you're gonna be like one
(32:56):
of those people spotting silver linings here and there, like
boo boo boo, boo boo boo, whereas before you might
not have been able to see those silver linings that
are out there for all of us. I love that.
All right, let's step into halftime. Little rabbit fire I
call it fire wrappit because well this or that, you know,
whatever comes on the top of the head top of
(33:16):
the dome, and then I'll envi with one of my
favorite questions that I tend to ask some of our guests.
Are you ready for our halftime? Robin? I am ready
for halftime? Ali love all right, early mornings or evenings,
early mornings, singing or dancing? Dancing? Okay? Email or text?
(33:37):
Oh neither? Are you a phone call person? I am
Wait everyone. I love the voice. I love their personally.
I'm like, don't ever call me. Just you can send
me a voice note. I can listen to it on
my own time. You can text me, you can email me.
You can send me a d M slide in the
d M s. I don't know what I do that
(33:57):
with you from time to time. Yes, said you even
want voicemail. There are some people who won't even check.
Oh I see you, Okay. I don't even take my
mailbox like like an You know what it is is
that I haven't mastered the reason for when someone calls
I mastered the introduction. It's kind of like when you
host something right the intro when you you started the
morning show. If you nail the intro, you feel really
(34:19):
good about the show. Right, it sets the cadence boom,
your on a roll. The thing that I haven't been
great at in my career is the outro. I am
not the best. It's something that I practice every day,
you know, in a peloton class or even in the
podcast here courts that conversation or just anything like the outro.
And I know that I'm not good at it because
very early on, you know what I couldn't do, and
(34:40):
I still can't do very well. It's closed out a
conversation on the phone. So therefore I am talking to
you for an hour and I'm like, oh my gosh,
how do I get out of here? I gotta stop
this one. Oh love, like you you were saying this,
you you're some days with love and how you always
wrap it up like that and this. I mean, I'm
shocked that you feel that way. I'm not that strong.
So we were be on a phone call for like
(35:00):
an hour because I haven't said by it's just the thing,
you know, It's the thing, Okay, all right, on camera
or behind the scenes, on camera, beach or mountains, beach, beach, beach, beach,
all day ever, arner, earner, beach, beach, you can have
them in the background of the beach, but a lot
we got the beach were good? Okay running or walking? Walking? Yeah? Okay, Um,
(35:27):
let's get into this is the last question at halftime.
What has been one of the one of the funniest
moments on TV that we may have not seen, like
something that has happened at any point in your career
that was hilarious. But maybe someone doesn't know what happened.
Oh um, I'd have to go back to they didn't
(35:50):
see what happened, they saw the end result of it.
I was in Nashville, Tennessee top thirty market for the
first time after starting off in two places in Mississippi.
Thankful for those two places in Mississippi who gave this
girl a shot as a sports reporter and anchor big market.
The weekday sports guy takes the day off, They're going
(36:10):
to give me a shot to be the weekday fill
in sports reporter on the number one news station in
Nashville at the time. And so it was in this
old building and you had to get your own you know,
bring your own sports tapes down to the control room
for them the roll of the highlights as you did
(36:30):
the sportscast. So the news anchor says, oh, when we
come back, Robin Roberts with Tonight's sports back after this.
So I go sit down in the studio and I'm
already I've put my little mic on and the voice
of God the intercom goes, Robin, we don't have your
sports tapes. We need your sports tapes. I forgot them
(36:52):
in the office. So I have to go teared back
upstairs to the sports office, grab the tapes, run back
down stairs, give him to the tape operator, get back
and put my mic back onto like five four. I think,
oh good, I made it back in time. And then
the anchor goes and now Robin was sports. I can't breathe,
(37:17):
and people are wondering, like they think I'm nervous or whatever.
I'm like, no, no, let let me tell you. And
they're like, yeah, we're gonna take a commercial brand. And
everybody else is cracking up in the studio because they
knew what had happened. And then we'll be back right
after this. We go to a commercial break, and I think,
oh my goodness, and then of course the phone lines
are ringing and I'm hearing for the operating I'm like, oh,
(37:40):
once again, I'm gonna get fired on that. People love it.
You what of them? You know, I'm like, oh, thank you.
So they saw the end results, but they didn't understand
why I was the way I was. So that was
a very embarrassing slash funny moment that is hilarious where
you just have I don't think people really know what
happens before the countdown out. There's a lot of things
(38:01):
going on most times before the countdown, and even if
you get the three to like, even if they're rolling
for that extra like you know, effect of presegment and
you get the three to one, there's a lot that
happens right before that count It happens often, Yes, so
much happens. Whatever you go wrong, we'll go wrong. I
often tell folks that what they don't realize is that
(38:22):
there are so many of my classes that I have
taught with my pants on backwards. I'll be in the
middle of the class and I'll just be like, Wow,
this one is really hicking up, like, you know, because
I can't breathe because it's like compressing. Now it's all
the way up to my ribs in the front. So
I'm like, oh, I'm out of you know, I'm out
of shape or something. But it's because the band of
the tights are compressing in my ears, and then in
the back I'm like, wow, they're really low back here,
(38:42):
Oh my gosh. But the amount of times it happens
is more often than not, Like I just I don't
know why I'm looking for it now, I just go
with it too, like if I know to your point,
instead of running back and changing, I'm like, you know
what this is? Not like this, this is what it is.
You know it is what it is. Um, But we're
gonna step it to the third quarter because I have
(39:03):
to ask the most common question that many folks that
are listening are probably asking themselves is how do you
do all of this? You know, you have that balance
of home life. You and Amber you literally are like
balancing I mean a career that isn't easy. You're you
are not only delivering news at pivotal times that are
just emotionally draining when you have to wear it and
(39:23):
deliver it, You're also there giving some some point of
levity and encouragement. How are you doing at all? It
begins by knowing there's no such thing as balance. All right, Okay,
all right? And by that, I mean I'm all in
whatever it is that I'm doing. When I'm at work,
when I'm at home, when I'm on vacation, I'm all
(39:43):
in at that moment when you try and balance everything together,
and some people can do it and more more power
to you, more power to you. I have just found
when I've tried to do that, that something is always
something is always lacking. I'm always coming up short because
I'm trying to balance. So how I do it all.
It's like my mama used to say, you can have
(40:04):
it all, just not all at the same time. And
so that's how I look at it. I got it all,
I just don't have it all at the same time.
And I love my life with Amber. I love saying
good morning America. I've been doing it for decades now,
and each time I say it, I just saying it
right now. When we head to our happy place in
(40:26):
Key West, that's that's where we go. Um, I'm I'm there.
Don't try, don't try and reach me. But I think
it's so important to just be present whatever it is
that you're doing. And that's that's how I have found.
That's been my formula for success. Um, and knowing that
I'm gonna I'm gonna fall short in some ways, but
(40:46):
because as I said earlier, because I'm not striving for
perfection but rather progression. Having that in the back of
my mind helps, But just knowing that I can speak
in the moment where I am and enjoy it, be
done with it, and then move on to whatever the
next is. And I got a lot of next. I
got a lot of the wings going all right, I
(41:08):
can't wait for you to have my full attention because
it's raving over there saying okay, me next. But what
it's that when it is that next, I step up
and I'm fully present and whatever that next is. I
want to ask you this question. This is a personal question.
I've thought about it a lot, and the reason for
it is because at this point in my career, I'm
not suffering, but again at that cross worlds of wanting
(41:31):
more but also recognizing how to be good with where
I am. Right, I think that that's that's a fun
dance that I've done my whole life. I think I've
gotten to the point where I love teaching peloton, I
love love squad, I love having these conversations like I
really do love keynote speeches. When I get hired to,
I just it feels me up with joy. But I
(41:52):
do know that there are things out there that I
there are more things that I want to do. And
sometimes I get fearful. I get scared, like I really
do get scared and this fear and I'm not sure
if it's a result of just and you know, us
being in in a unique situation collectively when it comes
to struggling with the pandemic and covid um or just
(42:15):
where I am in my life, or a combination of
those things and a few more things. But I start
I've been dealing with like feeling debilitating fear of I'm
just not going to move, like I'm staying still. And
it's not the still where it's like listen to God,
we're open up. You're not that kind of still. So
I want to be really clear that it's not like
sit still and wait for the answer. It's almost like
I'm I'm immobile because I'm so nervous that what if
(42:39):
I fail, What if this is it? What if I'm
not even happy enough with what I have right and
and and it's it's like this vicious cycle. So I've
been I've been doing the internal work and I haven't
asked anyone in this question. And maybe a couple of people,
including my husband, a couple of people like meeting my
husband and my best friend even knows this part because
I don't share this story. But for me, you are
the right person to ask this too. Again selfishly everything
(43:02):
everyone who's listening, Um, you know, how have you doubt?
How if you're dealing with how do you deal with fear?
And you know what is maybe like that first step
that you that you take, Well, what's that first thing
you you know, that button that you push first when
you have been in this position to lead you to
(43:24):
kind of not necessarily getting out of it, but because
it's gonna be, it's gonna be. It's gonna take time,
but to get it, to get myself moving again, I
feel like I'm hearing myself at your age, when I
was at age. I know, honey, I know exactly what
you're feeling. Get a little weepy because I I know
(43:46):
that feeling and it's scary, and you're thinking, I have
these dreams, I have these goals. I I've often the
prayer of Jabez and increased my territory so I can
do more good, not because I want more cars and
worth this and worth that. I want to increase my
territory so I can do more good. And the fear,
(44:09):
the debilitating fear that is not going to happen, and
fear just needs the eye of a needle to get through,
and it just you start doubting yourself. You started. Am
I good enough? All those things? And what I say
to you, Ali love. God's delays are not his denials.
(44:30):
Delays are not denials that if you are and you
are a person of faith as I am. And it
is so true. There are so many times that I
wanted something so bad and it did not There's there's
a time it was before I was the co anchor
(44:51):
Good Morning America and I was told that I was
going to be the sports correspondent. I'm still at ESPM,
but I was to be a regular. It's like the
mid nineties. I mean, I was like, oh my gosh,
this is this is happening. This is happening with the
person that hired me. By the time I even got
to my first day, the person was no longer the EP.
(45:13):
And I walked into the office and then the new
EP and he was like yeah, and I was thinking
what I but but this was supposed to happen for me.
This is supposed to launch me to where I'm supposed
to go. What do you mean, the other guy said,
And it's the old three answers to prayer. Yes, not yet,
(45:34):
and I have something even better in mine. And so
I will say to you, as anybody who's listening, who
has those big dreams, and you're feeling and mobilize for
whatever reason, and even though you are a person of faith,
which I know that you are, don't let fear keep
you from your destiny. Mm hmm. Be patient, be persistent,
(45:59):
get ready for your suddenly, because you're gonna be sitting
right where I am, Ali, And I mean this. I
see this in you, and I know this in you,
and you're gonna be doing like I did and going
like wasted worry. Why did I spend all that energy
when you have already done so much. All of us
have done so much. All of us have in our
(46:21):
own respective ways climbed mountains, and that one in front
of us is a one that seems so insurmountable, and
we don't look back at all the ones we've already climbed.
Look at you, honey. Yeah, well, I mean I'm not
trying to preach to you. And I understand and I
know and I people would try and tell me this
at your age, when I was your age, and I would,
(46:45):
I would, I would listen, But I was like, but
you don't understand. You don't understand this fear that I have.
I understand, and you're not the only one who's ever
felt that way. Doesn't make it easier, but you know
you're not the only one. One small thing, how do
I how did I get past it? Action? I would
(47:05):
do just one, just one small thing every day. I
just just something that made me feel like I was
continuing to move forward. If if I sent out my
resume reel, which was a tape back in the day,
and make that call to the news director in Houston,
Texas who never hired me. And I'm not going to
call him out because I can still remember his name,
(47:29):
but I wanted that job. I thought it would be
the perfect place for me to be at that time.
But I took solace and I called him. Yeah, he
said no, but I picked up the phone and I
called him today. I've been dreading it and putting it
off for weeks, but I did it, finding those small
victories to help keep pushing you forward. Thank you. I
(47:50):
know I'd like over here trying not to cry as well,
because it was you know, that was just a vulnerable moment.
So thank you for allowing you that space. Thank you
for sharing. Thank you for being vulnerable. Vote more ability
as a strike not a weakness, and put it out
there to the universe as you did. And I understand.
I when when you were when you were talking, I
know you can see me because we're I was just
(48:13):
I was like, look, it was like looking at me.
It was like looking at me back in the day.
I feel like that is definitely solid. If if I
am you, then I feel really good about myself. That
was I feel really good. Um, but let's let's step
into the fourth quarter. You kind of seat it up
in terms of even the way you offered your advice.
You have your morning messages, and it's not something that
(48:35):
you do a part of the show. It's not it's
in isolation, something you offer your time, your energy, your insights,
your consideration, your thoughtfulness that you offer in the mornings.
And I when I wake up even this morning. Your
morning message will usually pop up on my on my
feed and and you know say blessed, be a blessing,
(48:55):
come on like you you really you really, I mean
dedic it to it. How did this start? Because it
wasn't always the case like this is. This wasn't always
something you have done. No, it was because of course,
you know, you don't talk about religion or spirituality. You go,
don't don't say the G word. Um. I remember the
first time that I said my morning prayer. Oh gosh,
(49:17):
it was years ago. I was just infrequent correspondent for
Good Morning America. And they said, we are trying to
we want to see what everybody's morning ritual is. We're
gonna do a piece on how because we started everybody's
morning people want to know how you start your morning.
And I said, okay, I say why I start with
the prayer protection, the live of God surrounds me, don't
love of God infolds me, the power God protects me,
(49:38):
The presence of God watches over me where I am,
God is. And I thought they're gonna cut that. They're
never gonna just because it wasn't live. It was a
tape piece. I'm like they're never gonna put that on.
This was the mid nineties. They actually did included in
the piece. And do you know, like for a decade,
the switchboard said they got calls at least wanted asking
(50:00):
for the prayer, asking could I could they repeat the prayer?
I mean for like a decade somebody would call in
to ABC Network asking about the prayer. That told me like,
oh you can, because again I was being authentic. You
asked me how I start my day. But still the
morning message and prayer that I post on social now
(50:22):
came about innocently. We would do it like once a
week we do Thankful Thursday, and DeAndre Tristan would kind
of just read the prayer part and he read it.
I didn't even all chime in. Then the pandemic, you know,
you alluded to this, this really challenged all of us.
And I remember being at home Amber and I, like Mandy,
(50:43):
sheltering in place at home, and I was like, I
gotta do something. I don't know, because everybody was trying
to find a way to connect. And so in the
kitchen with little Man Lucas, our dog, in my robe
and I started doing it on a more regular basis
and people were asking when I was going, when I
was going back to the studio about five months, six
(51:04):
months later, they were like, oh, are you going to
continue it? And it was because of the response, because
of people saying and I love when people would say,
how do you know how I was feeling today? How
did you know I needed to hear that? How did
And I'm like, I didn't know. I didn't know, I
didn't know someone else. And I'm just so grateful that
it's been so well received by so many people. It
(51:25):
is very much well received. And to your point, as
a person of faith, you know, doing Sundays with Love,
it took a toll because you know, with Peloton you
have about seven million members and you're opened up to
and again are were a line in that this is inclusivity.
Everybody's joining. We want people to feel like they belong here.
This is not in isolation like this or that. And
I remember it taking kind of a toll because it's
(51:48):
nerve racking because people started to question my belief That
was like, you don't they have the authority to question
my beliefs, right, this is not up for debate. Even
with Sundays with Love, it was like creating a space
that you can come, everyone can come, no matter what
you believe. But knowing that you can believe in what
your your capabilities, knowing that you are supported, knowing how
to have faith, or understanding what forgiveness is, or really
(52:10):
like breaking down and redefining those words was like the
entire mission. But you were very clear about you would
you would say that it was kind of like me saying, Okay, look,
you know, I don't I don't know what your faith
is or what not, that that's not what this is about.
To let you know there was a community here and
finding that Bob, because it's you know, religion versus spirituality.
(52:32):
You know, I don't care how you I don't care
how you want to say. It's a belief as Christians,
how we go about it. But I have to say
your Sundays with love man, and I look forward to Ms. Whitney.
That means, that means, that means I made it to
the end. It's like, oh, yes, give it to the
Higher love, give me yes, no, I love it all right. Um,
(52:53):
this is our last question because obviously, as the time said, don't, don't, don't, don't,
don't do to minutes too minutes to and and then
the heat does do minuto um writing a book. You
have so many things, A Peabody, you have awards. I mean,
(53:15):
you've done so much with your life, with your career,
your ability to touch so many people, not just in
the morning, not just on social but to your point,
like you have this spirit. When I saw you SPS
last year walking on stage, like everyone's like, oh my gosh,
that's Robin Roberts and just the infectious energy that you have.
Of all the things that God has blessed you with.
(53:36):
And I'm sure more to come right, but of all
the things that God has blessed you with, what do
you hold close to your heart? As parting words to
those that are listening, maybe struggling with what I talked about,
maybe not feeling like they're enough, or that they don't
have enough, or what they have isn't good enough. Of
all the things that are available to you and that
you've created, that you've been blessed with, what do you
(53:56):
hold close to your heart? Some parting advice, Oh my goodness,
what I hold close to my heart? And I remember
the space and oh my goodness, Ali love you were hosting. Okay,
I was I was as a presenter, you were, so
come on now, um, something I've had to really work
on is the self talk like I'm very good about. Oh, Ali,
(54:20):
I come on. I can give you your pep talk
and others the morning messages in prayer, But how I
was talking about myself to me m M. I'm getting
real mm hmm. The things that I would say about
my or feel about myself and not even would actually
say that. I would never say to a stranger, never
(54:43):
even think about saying. But I thought it was okay
to say and feel about myself. And so I want
everybody listening, check yourself. What are you saying to yourself?
What are you saying to yourself? M m? And I
(55:03):
am here to tell you and you've said it too.
You are enough. Everyone's enough. I just think of my
firm belief and so grateful of the three ds of
the the Lord that my parents, and because of that,
I know that we all have value and it shows
(55:24):
up differently, and we all have everybody's got something, and
by that it doesn't mean everybody's got something that they're
going through. Everybody's got something to give to help those
who are going through something. But that is the biggest thing,
and I feel you're guilty of it. My friend, you're
very good about motivating others. I you know, I'll follow
(55:45):
you and think about what you've been able to do
in such a relatively short amount of time. And all
the instructors phenomenal, but only a few like you have
been able. And I said, I know you won't say this,
but have been able to rise above, to rise from
(56:06):
that too, to be very grateful for it and not
trying to say it, say I'm not look using it
as a stepping stone, very sincere about but there's a
reason why you and a select few others have been
able to stand out. And so think about that when
you start tearing yourself down, my friend, Okay, promise me
(56:30):
that when you start, when you start having those doubts
and we all do, and those fears, just remember what
I and others have said about you. And for people
who are listening, who are not in the public eye
and don't have the benefit of knowing, which is not
always a benefit because we can always hear. Trust me, folks,
(56:52):
it's not always a benefit because we always we also
hear the other side of it. But more importantly, yourself
speak how you talk to yourself, what you say about yourself,
what you feel about yourself, that is, and I am
I'm as guilty as everybody else, and I have to
check myself with that. But I think if you can
(57:13):
find a way to just be, then I do this.
Sometimes I'll start my mind will start wandering, and I
will not physically, but I'll pick up the remote. I'll
change the channel in my mind. Just like if I'm
watching TV and there's something I really don't like, I
don't really want I want, I hit the remote. Yeah,
(57:33):
I do that in my mind too. If I if
I have an image or something like that, it's like
I I mystically hit the remote and find that image,
find that channel in my mind. That's more pleasing. Now
I'm really dating myself. Who has a remote anymore? Who
even like everybody streaming anything? What's that? As ash you
(57:55):
folks don't know what? Well, thank you? That is my commitment. It.
I am guilty for sure of that, of that negative
self talk and maybe not controlling the first or second thought,
but also being aware of that I do have control
of that third thought or that forethought, and trying to
reclaim that power for sure. Um, internal agency. Um, so
(58:16):
I do. That is my commitment. I am. I am
committed as I am struggling with you know, in my
current struggles, which are still in the words of Billy
jan King, pressure is a privilege. So this pressure, it
is a privilege. But in the midst of this pressure
is to kind of make sure that I'm taking that
narrative back internally, that intern good and you really touched
upon something. It's okay that you have that thought. Just
(58:37):
don't stay there. Don't beat yourself up, because we all do.
And it is kind of like when you you push
it away. It's kind of like my meditation that I
do t M, which I love, which has really helped
me a great deal. And it's just being comgnizant of
the thought that you're having about yourself and then just
kind of pushing it and going, okay, all right, you
got my attention for a metal bubilete. But but it's okay.
(59:01):
Don't don't feel that you can't have that there's something
wrong because you have those initial thoughts. Just don't stay there.
All right, I'm gonna shut up. All right, you're you're
now You're I'm getting a personal question from you. This
is remember the things everyone she said was waiting in
the wings. You didn't know that she's now. She's now
like a mental wellness coach, career coach, and I got
(59:22):
a personal session on the courtside conversation, which is I
will say, a great upside. That's why my palms are
still sweating, by the way, I know as I started,
but I don't think they're sweating for the same reasons
as like, Oh I was nervous, now I'm sweating with
like I have so much to write down after this conversation.
I mean, we talked about the discipline, the determination and
deloitte Andre we go. The Lord is there. And I
really appreciate your time and energy and all the positive
(59:45):
words that you share with me, because as I go
now into the studio to teach a glass, you know,
I'm doing a little coaching camera, I get to carry
this with me and so I really really want to
say thank you for what you do, the fact that
you get up every day, your morning message, your morning prayer,
what you you not just again not in front of
just in front of the cameras, but how you live
your life and that level of humanity that you bring
(01:00:05):
in every room, every zoom to every mic that you
are on, I really really really want to say thank
you so much. You have been You have been a
huge impact on my life, and I know we don't
always talk about it, and I'll share this last story
when I was hosting SPS and again Sweaty Palms during
that time as well, you came on stage and you
literally walked right up to me. You grabbed me on
my shoulders and you're like, you're doing great. You are
(01:00:26):
doing great, and you're destined for greatness. And you didn't
know I needed that, but of course I needed it.
It was the time in my life that I needed it,
because it's the imposter syndrome. Am I meant to be here?
Did they pick the right person? Am I doing okay?
Like you're the negative self talk? The questioning started to
kind of seep in in the middle of the show
because I got there was no immediate feedback to say
(01:00:47):
this was good. And it was you who came in
and you had no idea that in that moment I
needed to get grounded, and you were the force that
ground at me to continue that show. And I feel
really proud of what I was able to do. But
it was literally with your help. So thank you, m
thank you for sharing that. I had no idea. I
just just speaking the truth, just speaking the truth what
I see. Bless you, Ali, thank you so much. All Right, y'all,
(01:01:10):
Robin Roberts took a courtside seat and we had a
fantastic conversation. We hope you enjoyed it, because I can
say right now I am leaving because I did. Thank you, Robert,
Thank you,