December 23, 2025 • 20 mins
In this special holiday episode, AJ unwraps the ultimate gift: mindset. Kicking off a two-part series, AJ revisits some of her favorite affirmations and lessons from past guests, Skylar Wallace, Baylee Klingler, Carley Hoover, Kim NG, and Sharlize Palacios, that shaped the year and continue to give.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Dropping Diamonds with AJ Andrews is an iHeart women's sports
production in partnership with Athletes Unlimited Softball League and Deep
Blue Sports and Entertainment. Welcome to Dropping Diamonds with Me
aj Andrews, where we dive headfirst into the world of softball. Today,
(00:23):
we are switching things up a bit with a holiday
two part series highlighting some of my favorite affirmations of
the year. Affirmations are the first gift I like to
unwrapped every episode because mindset is something you don't just
open once. You keep coming back to it again and again,
(00:44):
and it is something that, once you open, it can
bring about a new mindset, a new perspective, and allow
you to be the gift that keeps on giving. And
speaking of gifts that keep giving, let's listen back to
the diamonds that were dropped this year. But before we
do so, I'm going to open up a gift, of course,
to start this episode with this holiday Christmas affirmation.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Holidays are here.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Filled with friends and family, but no matter the presence,
I'm still the best gift up under the tree. I'll
remember that fact tomorrow and today. Cassanta isn't the only
one that knows how to slay. Oh yeah, go out
and slay girly pops and guys, girls and goals. But
as we go on to some of my favorite quotes
and favorite affirmations this year, the first present we will
(01:35):
unwrap is with Skyler Wallace, who reminds us to always
be that girl. One of my favorite quotes that I
want to bring into this when a lead out really
strong is success is not final and failure is not fatal.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
I love that, and so the affirmation thanksgirl.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Now I want to pull from that quote that I
feel everybody can walk through today with hopefully is today
I won't be too high or too low. I will
ride success as far and as fast as it flows.
And so whether it flows fast or whether it flows, so,
keep riding the wave. Success is not final and failure
is not fatal for you, Skyl. When you think of
(02:18):
quotes or affirmations that really drive you throughout your career
or your day to day, do you have one really
sticks out to you.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
I think the biggest one I always kind of remind
myself and I go back to, is comparison is your
biggest thief of joy. And I think that just keeps
me in a place to stay in my own lane.
We'll focus about what I need to do handle my business,
and nothing outside of that is in my control. All
I can do is control my preparation, what I do
on the field, my energy, my mindset, my attitude, and
(02:47):
that's all I can do. So if I have, you know,
really good thoughts in a really good mind, then I'm
going to be successful and everything else is going to
fall into place as it should.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
I love that. That's been one of my favorites. Two
comparison is the thief of joy. I'll always talk about like,
when you compare yourself to other people, you put a
cap on your own success if you really think about it,
Because if I'm trying to make myself come this one
person or do all things that they're doing, I'm putting
a limit on how far I can actually go. Maybe
I'm supposed to be better, maybe I'm supposed to go further,
(03:15):
But if I'm only trying to compare and be what
they're doing, then I don't have the lessons I'm supposed
to learn and and excel the ways in which I'm
supposed to excel.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
Right, And I think the big thing to go off
that is. Everyone works at different paces, So just because
someone else looks really successful, that doesn't mean you're falling behind.
You just might do something at a different time and
you're going to end up in the same place. It
just might take you a little bit longer or not
as long as someone else. So just don't compare yourself
because you really never know where someone's at, and just
(03:43):
control what you can control, because you're destined for something
and you're a control of that.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
So just ride that out. Yeah, ride the waves. Yes,
ride the wave.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
As far and as fast as it's supposed to go.
Your wave is going to look a lot different than
anybody else's wave.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
What's an affirmation? And you can pull from that.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Quote for today, what do you think we could say
comparison to the thief of joy?
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Trying to like combine the two, like what's something?
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Don't compare, don't contrast. Go out and be the biggest
bad ass. Yeah, be that girl, be that girl.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
That's our affirmation. Be that girl, be that girl, be
your own girl. Whatever that girl looks like for you
that yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
No compare, no contrast, be that girl, your own badass.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
We did it.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Don't compare, don't contrast, be that girl, your own badass
look at us.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Actually that was actually so hard. Actually like it. I
like it a lot. Actually, hold on, I think we'll
have a new job.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
That reminder to stay in your own lane is one
of those lessons that doesn't expire with the season, and
as we head into a new year, sometimes protecting your
joy means choosing the energy you bring every single day
with that. Let's hear from Bailey Klinger, who lives all
of that out.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
So the quote that I like to jump off with.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
Is success isn't owned, it's least and rent is due
every day.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
And so an affirmation that I pull from that is
that if I look at the mirror and say, today,
I'm gonna pay off my rent of this.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Multimillion dollar mansion, exactly, meaning I gotta go hard today.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yeah, exactly. It's a lot of rent. I gotta pay today,
a lot of rent. That's a big rent. I got it.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
It's a big rent. So I'm going in for the
multimillion dollar mansion. Is there a quote that you like
to live by? Oh my gosh, that's such a good question.
I think it just depends on the vibe and the
energy of the day, Like if I'm feeling a little blah,
I'm like, I have great vibes today the energy is
up and like, yeah, I don't know, it depends.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
On the day. But I am a big affirmation girly.
So I love that I write my little journal.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
All the team okay, so what's like an affirmation we
can okay?
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Okay?
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Yeah, sorry together, don't be sorry? Yeah yeah sorry. Let
me think. Hmmm, I think I'm gonna go simple. I'm
living my best life.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
I'm exuding positive energy, yes, and I'm encouraging those around
me living her best life exuding positive energy and encouraging.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Those around Yes. That sounds like that's a multi million
dollar rent right there. It is, and I rent doing
the Lord's work. I love that Bailey.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Confidence keeps you standing tall, but expectation changes how you
show up.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
And Carly Hoover.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Reminds us what happens when winning isn't pressure, it's just
the mindset. That's how you become who you are, That's
how you become great. One of my favorites which I
had to resurface because I feel like I said this
all the time at LSU.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
At the end of the day, I'm still pretty, and
that like we need it too.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Anytime we had a bad game, went zero for three,
struck out, bases loaded, or if Carl gave up a
home run, which didn't happen often, and it was just like, hey,
at the end of the day, you're still pretty. Like
there's people who strike out with bases loaded that don't
look like you, you know, like they're having worse they're
having worse days. So just a little time, the little
(07:53):
pick me up, a little affirmation to give yourself whenever
you're feeling a little low. Also, what another one of
my favorites from the Bayou hit You're gonna hate and
there's absolutely nothing that you can do about it.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
You just gotta cupe going I was and that was
definitely my go to. Bianca Bell loved that one. She
loved that one.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Probably do you have an affirmation or quote that you
feel like really sticks with you that you still utilize today.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
So it's a little funny.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
I'm with Mizuno and I was creating my glove this
year and on the inner whatever you call palm liner,
my dad always says, like expect to win in every situation,
like no matter what, So I don't know. I mean
I think they kind of pushed me in the right direction,
Like there was a slight mix up and I got
a glove that said easy to win. So I really
like I get my glove, like, I love it. It's beautiful.
(08:44):
Here's like Terry Wolsom's on it. It's such a pretty glove.
And every time I see my gloves sit there, it's
just like easy to win. So I just I really
like that. I'm kind of adopting it. I'm gonna keep it.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
I love Wait, okay, so well with your dad, what
did your dad always say? Expect to win, expect to win,
and but easy to win is you know, it's like
the cousin of that look at Yeah, don't make it
harder than what it is.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
I like, like full count on the mound like faces
zer like easy to win.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Yeah, which, in my opinion, is the full embodiment of
you and your mentality, like whatever.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Like a little a little chocolate, Yeah, it's easy.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Like was there anything else I was gonna There's nothing
else that was going to happen.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Actually, let's take a quick break to hear a word
from our sponsor.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
When winning feels simple, it clears the noise, and sometimes
the best advice heading into a new year isn't complicated
at all. It's just about showing up and doing the work.
Let's listen to the commission in this episode with Kimmy.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
So thinking of dropping diamonds.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
I love to, especially as athletes and being in the
sports world, quotes or sayings that really resonated through with
us throughout time, and one of my favorite ones, especially
with you as a guest today, I definitely wanted to
make sure I put it out there was no one
can make you feel inferior without your consent and throughout
this with an affirmation I want to bring out with
(10:25):
that quote, it's.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
I'm a queen, I'm a dream. I do what I
want to do. I am who I want to be.
How do you feel like that one.
Speaker 5 (10:33):
Can check you out? I like that? God, I love that. Yeah. No,
it's absolutely amazing. And it makes sense that you are saying.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Thank you, thank you. What is a quote or saying
that you feel like has really resonated with you throughout
your career in sports?
Speaker 5 (10:49):
Just do it?
Speaker 1 (10:51):
You know?
Speaker 5 (10:52):
Yeah, I understand, I understand, But that is something that
came out probably twenty five years ago when I was
just starting out my career and it has always stuck
with me because that's always been my attitude, you know,
just put your nose to the grindstone and get it done,
you know. Being a woman in professional sports, Yeah, that's
a lot of what I've had to do, yes, particularly
(11:14):
being one of the only women in men's professional sports.
And you know, there's just been a lot of obstacles
and hurdles that we've had to overcome. But in the end,
all you have to do is just do it.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
I feel when you hear the words just do it,
it simplifies all of the thought process that could come along,
the overthinking, the self doubt. For you, in the moment
when you kind of came to the realization of I'm
going to just do it, when did you realize that
was the saying that you wanted to really live by.
Speaker 5 (11:43):
I can't say it was every single day, but it
made me. I mean, but that's sort of the reality
of it, you know, for us, you know, when we
were the only ones trying to pave that path, you know,
and there were not very many examples period, and so
everything that was in your face you weren't sure you
just go back to the simplicity. Don't think too much
(12:06):
about what's going on around you. You know you have
the ability, you know you're prepared, You've done your work,
and now it's just about getting it done. So that's
really it's been the one that has resonated throughout my
career for sure.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Just do it.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
Simplicity creates clarity, and real leadership starts when you're willing
to listen, learn and grow. Let's hear from Charlie's Pelasio's
who leads with heart and humility. As you know, we
got to talk to ourselves a lot in order to
(12:53):
maintain confidence, in order to stay pumped up for whether
it's long practice days or just game days, or just
longevity in the game of jem. So a quote I
thought about because you just I never got the chance
to play with you, but watching you, you just seem
like such a light and seem like someone that is
always willing to listen and learn, but also be there
(13:16):
for your teammates. So this is a quote that I
thought it was really cool and applied today, and it
says effective leadership starts with being coachable, Like in order
to be a great leader, you must first follow and
you must first learn. And I think that if we
were trying to drive an affirmation from effective leadership starts
(13:37):
with being coachable.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
What would be an affirmation you think we could be
conpuraged into that?
Speaker 6 (13:43):
Ooh, I would just say, like being a leader, like
it really shows your passion and like you play with
your heart and your sleeve. I feel like I think
that's probably one of the hardest things to you as
a leader. So I would say, like, I'm passionate, just
because no one wants to play for a leader that
doesn't think of what they love all the time. So
(14:04):
I would say I am passionate. Would be a good affirmation.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Okay, So I love to make it into like a
little rhyming stitch, so you have you know, you wake
up in the morning and.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
It's kind of like you're giving yourself a little wrap.
So we say.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Today I will listen more than I speak, pour out
my passion.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
Every day I get better. I'm nowhere near my peak.
Ad that was beautiful, Like that. I love that. I
love that.
Speaker 6 (14:31):
I'm gonna have to like, have you text that to me,
and I'm gonna say that every morning.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
I love that. I'm perfectly perfect perfect yea I'm happy
you haven't recorded. I can just send it to you too.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Yeah, okay, So our affirmation for today is today I
will listen more than I speak, pour out all my passion.
Every day I get better. I am nowhere near my peak,
and for at least for you, someone that is nowhere
near her peak continues to get better every single year
from college to pro When you first started, that excitement,
(15:02):
that joy that just exudes off you on the field,
It's been a part of you since you were little,
and because you were younger, you were referred to as
being the cheesepa.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Am I saying that correct?
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Yes, a little cheese a little cheese spa, which I
looked up the meaning of that.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
It means like wit or sparkle. Am I transling that correct? Like, yeah,
it's like a little spark. Yeah, yeah, she's a spark.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
And you were named that like Fernando Tatis, her favorite
team San Diego Padres, and so growing up I had
to make sure everybody did that one growing up and
attending many Padres games, What did watching Fernando impact how
you play and help you become the chiesepa, the little Chispa?
Speaker 6 (15:45):
Yeah, I think watching Tatis play and just watching like
the Padres play in general, especially in a platform that
a lot of people are able to see it. I
love how they're able to exude like their swag and
their own flavor to it. So in Spanish we call
it our sasa. That's like our little like little sprinkle
of like seasoning, as you will, like it's like our
(16:06):
little flavor, I guess you could say. So. I always
enjoyed like asking my dad how he would kind of
implement his like little swag and sasson, and he said
that he was very quiet, but also just like very
like exuded confidence. And I felt like my confidence came
from hyping up my teammates. So I felt like being
(16:27):
that spark and kind of like that light that would
kind of be quiet until needed to be spoken to
and just kind of would try to light up the
circle or light up like the dugout. I feel like
that was my swag. So then I kind of try
to lead into that just being a cheese spy. And
then I really felt like that resonated with Tatis because
I felt like every time he hit it was like
(16:47):
electric and it was like a spark. So I was like,
I need to do that too when I hit, so
anytime I felt like a clutch situation came down, I
was like, you have to be the cheese spy. You
have to like spark it, get the momentum back. So
that's kind of where that came from. And yeah, just
watching the Padres, I feel like they have a lot
of players that are of like Latin descent that give
that sason and that spark. So I want to play
(17:09):
like that just on the softball field.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
I feel like we need to add to affirmation, pour
out my passion, throw a little sasong.
Speaker 6 (17:17):
Sassong baby, Yeah, day I get better and spicier.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
I'm nowhere near my peak.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Yeah, I don't know if it flowed as well, but
we're gonna we're gonna find a way to add that
onto it.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Because we got to add some sassoon.
Speaker 6 (17:29):
It might be a little bit longer of an affirmation.
Speaker 5 (17:31):
It will be long, right, right.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
What's that song can I throw on today?
Speaker 1 (17:36):
That's you know, that's I feel like that's a great
question to ask yourself every day when you wake up.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
It's like, how can I add a little sas song
to the day? Exactly?
Speaker 6 (17:44):
You need to spice up your life, just because going
from practice to playing, and especially like in the format
that we had, it was a lot of back to
back games, back to back practice days, so you felt
the monotony of it. So it's like, how can I
make today fun? How how can I make my teammates better?
How can I make myself better?
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Like? What sess on?
Speaker 6 (18:03):
Are you gonna sprinkle in to your girls?
Speaker 4 (18:05):
You know?
Speaker 2 (18:07):
I love it? What's your favorite sessng to sprinkle in?
How how do you become.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
The spark How does one really muster up that energy
to be the spark plug?
Speaker 2 (18:17):
I think the easiest way. I say easiest because it's.
Speaker 6 (18:20):
Very easy for me to do is just making fun
of myself or making a joke and like making everyone
laugh and like loosening everything up, like making everyone realize
like we're on a softle field. It is so fun
to be out here, and it is fun to just
hang with your girls doing things that you guys are
really good at, you know what I mean. Like, so
I think that was probably my favorite thing. Is I
(18:41):
love making my girls laugh. That's like my biggest thing.
I learned that from my sister. She's so funny. The
show is hilarious. So I just like kind of like
keep files of like her jokes in my head and
I'll like throw them out there with different crowds and
be like, okay, here.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Here, see where this too?
Speaker 1 (18:58):
This is this hit here, it's like you need to
stand up, comic, you cling to save. If this one's
what crowd am I working with today?
Speaker 6 (19:07):
Looking around to seeing like who's laughing, I'll be late.
Speaker 4 (19:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
And then it's that you gravitating towards them. You're you're
my target audience. Come here, I have more.
Speaker 6 (19:17):
You get my humor.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Pashion has a way of lighting up everything around it
and every team, every space, everyone needs that spark. As
we move through this holiday season, take these affirmations with you,
revisit them, regive them, because the best wisdom, the kind
that truly changes you, is.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
Really the gift that keeps on giving.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
That's gonna do it for this first part of this
holiday series, make sure you tune back in next week
to hear my remaining gifts that keep on giving. As always,
thank you so much for listening to today's episode. Please
follow the pod on Instagram at Dropping Diamonds Pod, and
remember to have a merry Christmas.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
I'll meet you here next week back at the Diamond
Bye for now.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Dropping Diamonds with Aj Andrews is an iHeart women's sports
production in partnership with Athletes Unlimited Softball League and Deep
Blue Sports and Entertainment. I'm your host, AJ Andrews.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Our executive producer is Jesse Katz.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Tari Harrison is our supervising producer, and this episode was
mixed and mastered by Mary Do. Listen to Dropping Diamonds
with Aj Andrews on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or
wherever you get your podcasts
Dropping Diamonds with AJ Andrews is an iHeart women's sports
production in partnership with Athletes Unlimited Softball League and Deep
Blue Sports and Entertainment. Welcome to Dropping Diamonds with Me
aj Andrews, where we dive headfirst into the world of softball. Today,
(00:23):
we are switching things up a bit with a holiday
two part series highlighting some of my favorite affirmations of
the year. Affirmations are the first gift I like to
unwrapped every episode because mindset is something you don't just
open once. You keep coming back to it again and again,
(00:44):
and it is something that, once you open, it can
bring about a new mindset, a new perspective, and allow
you to be the gift that keeps on giving. And
speaking of gifts that keep giving, let's listen back to
the diamonds that were dropped this year. But before we
do so, I'm going to open up a gift, of course,
to start this episode with this holiday Christmas affirmation.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Holidays are here.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Filled with friends and family, but no matter the presence,
I'm still the best gift up under the tree. I'll
remember that fact tomorrow and today. Cassanta isn't the only
one that knows how to slay. Oh yeah, go out
and slay girly pops and guys, girls and goals. But
as we go on to some of my favorite quotes
and favorite affirmations this year, the first present we will
(01:35):
unwrap is with Skyler Wallace, who reminds us to always
be that girl. One of my favorite quotes that I
want to bring into this when a lead out really
strong is success is not final and failure is not fatal.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
I love that, and so the affirmation thanksgirl.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Now I want to pull from that quote that I
feel everybody can walk through today with hopefully is today
I won't be too high or too low. I will
ride success as far and as fast as it flows.
And so whether it flows fast or whether it flows, so,
keep riding the wave. Success is not final and failure
is not fatal for you, Skyl. When you think of
(02:18):
quotes or affirmations that really drive you throughout your career
or your day to day, do you have one really
sticks out to you.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
I think the biggest one I always kind of remind
myself and I go back to, is comparison is your
biggest thief of joy. And I think that just keeps
me in a place to stay in my own lane.
We'll focus about what I need to do handle my business,
and nothing outside of that is in my control. All
I can do is control my preparation, what I do
on the field, my energy, my mindset, my attitude, and
(02:47):
that's all I can do. So if I have, you know,
really good thoughts in a really good mind, then I'm
going to be successful and everything else is going to
fall into place as it should.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
I love that. That's been one of my favorites. Two
comparison is the thief of joy. I'll always talk about like,
when you compare yourself to other people, you put a
cap on your own success if you really think about it,
Because if I'm trying to make myself come this one
person or do all things that they're doing, I'm putting
a limit on how far I can actually go. Maybe
I'm supposed to be better, maybe I'm supposed to go further,
(03:15):
But if I'm only trying to compare and be what
they're doing, then I don't have the lessons I'm supposed
to learn and and excel the ways in which I'm
supposed to excel.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
Right, And I think the big thing to go off
that is. Everyone works at different paces, So just because
someone else looks really successful, that doesn't mean you're falling behind.
You just might do something at a different time and
you're going to end up in the same place. It
just might take you a little bit longer or not
as long as someone else. So just don't compare yourself
because you really never know where someone's at, and just
(03:43):
control what you can control, because you're destined for something
and you're a control of that.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
So just ride that out. Yeah, ride the waves. Yes,
ride the wave.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
As far and as fast as it's supposed to go.
Your wave is going to look a lot different than
anybody else's wave.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
What's an affirmation? And you can pull from that.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Quote for today, what do you think we could say
comparison to the thief of joy?
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Trying to like combine the two, like what's something?
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Don't compare, don't contrast. Go out and be the biggest
bad ass. Yeah, be that girl, be that girl.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
That's our affirmation. Be that girl, be that girl, be
your own girl. Whatever that girl looks like for you
that yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
No compare, no contrast, be that girl, your own badass.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
We did it.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Don't compare, don't contrast, be that girl, your own badass
look at us.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Actually that was actually so hard. Actually like it. I
like it a lot. Actually, hold on, I think we'll
have a new job.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
That reminder to stay in your own lane is one
of those lessons that doesn't expire with the season, and
as we head into a new year, sometimes protecting your
joy means choosing the energy you bring every single day
with that. Let's hear from Bailey Klinger, who lives all
of that out.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
So the quote that I like to jump off with.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
Is success isn't owned, it's least and rent is due
every day.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
And so an affirmation that I pull from that is
that if I look at the mirror and say, today,
I'm gonna pay off my rent of this.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Multimillion dollar mansion, exactly, meaning I gotta go hard today.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yeah, exactly. It's a lot of rent. I gotta pay today,
a lot of rent. That's a big rent. I got it.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
It's a big rent. So I'm going in for the
multimillion dollar mansion. Is there a quote that you like
to live by? Oh my gosh, that's such a good question.
I think it just depends on the vibe and the
energy of the day, Like if I'm feeling a little blah,
I'm like, I have great vibes today the energy is
up and like, yeah, I don't know, it depends.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
On the day. But I am a big affirmation girly.
So I love that I write my little journal.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
All the team okay, so what's like an affirmation we
can okay?
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Okay?
Speaker 2 (06:14):
Yeah, sorry together, don't be sorry? Yeah yeah sorry. Let
me think. Hmmm, I think I'm gonna go simple. I'm
living my best life.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
I'm exuding positive energy, yes, and I'm encouraging those around
me living her best life exuding positive energy and encouraging.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Those around Yes. That sounds like that's a multi million
dollar rent right there. It is, and I rent doing
the Lord's work. I love that Bailey.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Confidence keeps you standing tall, but expectation changes how you
show up.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
And Carly Hoover.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Reminds us what happens when winning isn't pressure, it's just
the mindset. That's how you become who you are, That's
how you become great. One of my favorites which I
had to resurface because I feel like I said this
all the time at LSU.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
At the end of the day, I'm still pretty, and
that like we need it too.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Anytime we had a bad game, went zero for three,
struck out, bases loaded, or if Carl gave up a
home run, which didn't happen often, and it was just like, hey,
at the end of the day, you're still pretty. Like
there's people who strike out with bases loaded that don't
look like you, you know, like they're having worse they're
having worse days. So just a little time, the little
(07:53):
pick me up, a little affirmation to give yourself whenever
you're feeling a little low. Also, what another one of
my favorites from the Bayou hit You're gonna hate and
there's absolutely nothing that you can do about it.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
You just gotta cupe going I was and that was
definitely my go to. Bianca Bell loved that one. She
loved that one.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Probably do you have an affirmation or quote that you
feel like really sticks with you that you still utilize today.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
So it's a little funny.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
I'm with Mizuno and I was creating my glove this
year and on the inner whatever you call palm liner,
my dad always says, like expect to win in every situation,
like no matter what, So I don't know. I mean
I think they kind of pushed me in the right direction,
Like there was a slight mix up and I got
a glove that said easy to win. So I really
like I get my glove, like, I love it. It's beautiful.
(08:44):
Here's like Terry Wolsom's on it. It's such a pretty glove.
And every time I see my gloves sit there, it's
just like easy to win. So I just I really
like that. I'm kind of adopting it. I'm gonna keep it.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
I love Wait, okay, so well with your dad, what
did your dad always say? Expect to win, expect to win,
and but easy to win is you know, it's like
the cousin of that look at Yeah, don't make it
harder than what it is.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
I like, like full count on the mound like faces
zer like easy to win.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Yeah, which, in my opinion, is the full embodiment of
you and your mentality, like whatever.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Like a little a little chocolate, Yeah, it's easy.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Like was there anything else I was gonna There's nothing
else that was going to happen.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Actually, let's take a quick break to hear a word
from our sponsor.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
When winning feels simple, it clears the noise, and sometimes
the best advice heading into a new year isn't complicated
at all. It's just about showing up and doing the work.
Let's listen to the commission in this episode with Kimmy.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
So thinking of dropping diamonds.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
I love to, especially as athletes and being in the
sports world, quotes or sayings that really resonated through with
us throughout time, and one of my favorite ones, especially
with you as a guest today, I definitely wanted to
make sure I put it out there was no one
can make you feel inferior without your consent and throughout
this with an affirmation I want to bring out with
(10:25):
that quote, it's.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
I'm a queen, I'm a dream. I do what I
want to do. I am who I want to be.
How do you feel like that one.
Speaker 5 (10:33):
Can check you out? I like that? God, I love that. Yeah. No,
it's absolutely amazing. And it makes sense that you are saying.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Thank you, thank you. What is a quote or saying
that you feel like has really resonated with you throughout
your career in sports?
Speaker 5 (10:49):
Just do it?
Speaker 1 (10:51):
You know?
Speaker 5 (10:52):
Yeah, I understand, I understand, But that is something that
came out probably twenty five years ago when I was
just starting out my career and it has always stuck
with me because that's always been my attitude, you know,
just put your nose to the grindstone and get it done,
you know. Being a woman in professional sports, Yeah, that's
a lot of what I've had to do, yes, particularly
(11:14):
being one of the only women in men's professional sports.
And you know, there's just been a lot of obstacles
and hurdles that we've had to overcome. But in the end,
all you have to do is just do it.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
I feel when you hear the words just do it,
it simplifies all of the thought process that could come along,
the overthinking, the self doubt. For you, in the moment
when you kind of came to the realization of I'm
going to just do it, when did you realize that
was the saying that you wanted to really live by.
Speaker 5 (11:43):
I can't say it was every single day, but it
made me. I mean, but that's sort of the reality
of it, you know, for us, you know, when we
were the only ones trying to pave that path, you know,
and there were not very many examples period, and so
everything that was in your face you weren't sure you
just go back to the simplicity. Don't think too much
(12:06):
about what's going on around you. You know you have
the ability, you know you're prepared, You've done your work,
and now it's just about getting it done. So that's
really it's been the one that has resonated throughout my
career for sure.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Just do it.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
Simplicity creates clarity, and real leadership starts when you're willing
to listen, learn and grow. Let's hear from Charlie's Pelasio's
who leads with heart and humility. As you know, we
got to talk to ourselves a lot in order to
(12:53):
maintain confidence, in order to stay pumped up for whether
it's long practice days or just game days, or just
longevity in the game of jem. So a quote I
thought about because you just I never got the chance
to play with you, but watching you, you just seem
like such a light and seem like someone that is
always willing to listen and learn, but also be there
(13:16):
for your teammates. So this is a quote that I
thought it was really cool and applied today, and it
says effective leadership starts with being coachable, Like in order
to be a great leader, you must first follow and
you must first learn. And I think that if we
were trying to drive an affirmation from effective leadership starts
(13:37):
with being coachable.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
What would be an affirmation you think we could be
conpuraged into that?
Speaker 6 (13:43):
Ooh, I would just say, like being a leader, like
it really shows your passion and like you play with
your heart and your sleeve. I feel like I think
that's probably one of the hardest things to you as
a leader. So I would say, like, I'm passionate, just
because no one wants to play for a leader that
doesn't think of what they love all the time. So
(14:04):
I would say I am passionate. Would be a good affirmation.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Okay, So I love to make it into like a
little rhyming stitch, so you have you know, you wake
up in the morning and.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
It's kind of like you're giving yourself a little wrap.
So we say.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Today I will listen more than I speak, pour out
my passion.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
Every day I get better. I'm nowhere near my peak.
Ad that was beautiful, Like that. I love that. I
love that.
Speaker 6 (14:31):
I'm gonna have to like, have you text that to me,
and I'm gonna say that every morning.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
I love that. I'm perfectly perfect perfect yea I'm happy
you haven't recorded. I can just send it to you too.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Yeah, okay, So our affirmation for today is today I
will listen more than I speak, pour out all my passion.
Every day I get better. I am nowhere near my peak,
and for at least for you, someone that is nowhere
near her peak continues to get better every single year
from college to pro When you first started, that excitement,
(15:02):
that joy that just exudes off you on the field,
It's been a part of you since you were little,
and because you were younger, you were referred to as
being the cheesepa.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Am I saying that correct?
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Yes, a little cheese a little cheese spa, which I
looked up the meaning of that.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
It means like wit or sparkle. Am I transling that correct? Like, yeah,
it's like a little spark. Yeah, yeah, she's a spark.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
And you were named that like Fernando Tatis, her favorite
team San Diego Padres, and so growing up I had
to make sure everybody did that one growing up and
attending many Padres games, What did watching Fernando impact how
you play and help you become the chiesepa, the little Chispa?
Speaker 6 (15:45):
Yeah, I think watching Tatis play and just watching like
the Padres play in general, especially in a platform that
a lot of people are able to see it. I
love how they're able to exude like their swag and
their own flavor to it. So in Spanish we call
it our sasa. That's like our little like little sprinkle
of like seasoning, as you will, like it's like our
(16:06):
little flavor, I guess you could say. So. I always
enjoyed like asking my dad how he would kind of
implement his like little swag and sasson, and he said
that he was very quiet, but also just like very
like exuded confidence. And I felt like my confidence came
from hyping up my teammates. So I felt like being
(16:27):
that spark and kind of like that light that would
kind of be quiet until needed to be spoken to
and just kind of would try to light up the
circle or light up like the dugout. I feel like
that was my swag. So then I kind of try
to lead into that just being a cheese spy. And
then I really felt like that resonated with Tatis because
I felt like every time he hit it was like
(16:47):
electric and it was like a spark. So I was like,
I need to do that too when I hit, so
anytime I felt like a clutch situation came down, I
was like, you have to be the cheese spy. You
have to like spark it, get the momentum back. So
that's kind of where that came from. And yeah, just
watching the Padres, I feel like they have a lot
of players that are of like Latin descent that give
that sason and that spark. So I want to play
(17:09):
like that just on the softball field.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
I feel like we need to add to affirmation, pour
out my passion, throw a little sasong.
Speaker 6 (17:17):
Sassong baby, Yeah, day I get better and spicier.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
I'm nowhere near my peak.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Yeah, I don't know if it flowed as well, but
we're gonna we're gonna find a way to add that
onto it.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Because we got to add some sassoon.
Speaker 6 (17:29):
It might be a little bit longer of an affirmation.
Speaker 5 (17:31):
It will be long, right, right.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
What's that song can I throw on today?
Speaker 1 (17:36):
That's you know, that's I feel like that's a great
question to ask yourself every day when you wake up.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
It's like, how can I add a little sas song
to the day? Exactly?
Speaker 6 (17:44):
You need to spice up your life, just because going
from practice to playing, and especially like in the format
that we had, it was a lot of back to
back games, back to back practice days, so you felt
the monotony of it. So it's like, how can I
make today fun? How how can I make my teammates better?
How can I make myself better?
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Like? What sess on?
Speaker 6 (18:03):
Are you gonna sprinkle in to your girls?
Speaker 4 (18:05):
You know?
Speaker 2 (18:07):
I love it? What's your favorite sessng to sprinkle in?
How how do you become.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
The spark How does one really muster up that energy
to be the spark plug?
Speaker 2 (18:17):
I think the easiest way. I say easiest because it's.
Speaker 6 (18:20):
Very easy for me to do is just making fun
of myself or making a joke and like making everyone
laugh and like loosening everything up, like making everyone realize
like we're on a softle field. It is so fun
to be out here, and it is fun to just
hang with your girls doing things that you guys are
really good at, you know what I mean. Like, so
I think that was probably my favorite thing. Is I
(18:41):
love making my girls laugh. That's like my biggest thing.
I learned that from my sister. She's so funny. The
show is hilarious. So I just like kind of like
keep files of like her jokes in my head and
I'll like throw them out there with different crowds and
be like, okay, here.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Here, see where this too?
Speaker 1 (18:58):
This is this hit here, it's like you need to
stand up, comic, you cling to save. If this one's
what crowd am I working with today?
Speaker 6 (19:07):
Looking around to seeing like who's laughing, I'll be late.
Speaker 4 (19:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
And then it's that you gravitating towards them. You're you're
my target audience. Come here, I have more.
Speaker 6 (19:17):
You get my humor.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Pashion has a way of lighting up everything around it
and every team, every space, everyone needs that spark. As
we move through this holiday season, take these affirmations with you,
revisit them, regive them, because the best wisdom, the kind
that truly changes you, is.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
Really the gift that keeps on giving.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
That's gonna do it for this first part of this
holiday series, make sure you tune back in next week
to hear my remaining gifts that keep on giving. As always,
thank you so much for listening to today's episode. Please
follow the pod on Instagram at Dropping Diamonds Pod, and
remember to have a merry Christmas.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
I'll meet you here next week back at the Diamond
Bye for now.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Dropping Diamonds with Aj Andrews is an iHeart women's sports
production in partnership with Athletes Unlimited Softball League and Deep
Blue Sports and Entertainment. I'm your host, AJ Andrews.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Our executive producer is Jesse Katz.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Tari Harrison is our supervising producer, and this episode was
mixed and mastered by Mary Do. Listen to Dropping Diamonds
with Aj Andrews on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or
wherever you get your podcasts
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