November 17, 2025 • 47 mins
From the truth about her medical emergency, to the scene that could be considered a reality TV foul, Christie Pearce Rampone talks about what you DIDN’T see on Special Forces! Plus, how she handles issues with her ex, and why she feels she scored BIG in her new relationship!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hey guys, and welcome back to another episode of Casual Chaos.
This week, I have one of my Special Forces castmates,
Christy Pierce.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Welcome to Casual Chaos.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
I'm so excited.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
So we went through Special Forces together and it was
probably one of the most intense things I think any
of us have ever done. How are you doing post
Special Forces?
Speaker 3 (00:26):
I'm doing good, you know, I think realizing I faced
all my fears and got through it. You know, No, definitely,
it's hard to watch. I'll say, like, I enjoyed being there,
but like when you have to reflect back and watch
it over and watch yourself fail miserably, that's hard to watch.
But no, I got through it. I'm okay.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Honestly, I feel like, out of everybody, you and Sean
were really tough on yourselves, and I think that has
to do with being in the Olympics and being a
part of such a competitive sport. So I think you guys,
you guys were amazing, Like you killed it, you inspired.
I think all of us you were just so tough
(01:07):
and got through every challenge. But I think due to
what your line of work was and what you did
with your career, it made you guys so tough on yourselves. Meanwhile,
I was just happy to get through the day. I
was like, no, thank god.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
No, We've draw something from each other. Like I am
hard on myself, like I'm disappointing myself if I'm like
not finishing the task the way I wanted to. But
then just seeing how you're getting through it and how
you're like just always like had a smile on her
face and was like onto the next Like I was
just appreciative of that because I pulled that energy to
(01:45):
help me get through. Like we all bring something different,
So I definitely did appreciate how you and about it
and I pulled stuff from you to get me through.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Oh you're so sweet to give our listeners a little
bit of a background on who you are. I feel
like you should give your introduction because it's just so badass.
I don't want to be like, Okay, guys, this is Christy.
I mean, you guys should know who she is. She
was a captain of the US woman's national soccer team.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
But I'll let you take it away.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Yeah, it was a long career, very nineteen year career
playing for the.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
US the longest standing by the way, guys.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
It's a crazy time. But I was able to compete
in five World Cups and I went two of them.
And I competed in four Olympics, winning three gold medals
and one silver. And I also was able to have
two children along the way, So I have two beautiful daughters,
Riley and Reese, who are nineteen and fifteen now. So
it's definitely a great journey, a great career that is
(02:43):
able to have that work life balance and also being
a mom. So it was an awesome experience, definitely.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
So going through that and then going onto Special Forces.
How was leading a national soccer team for eight years
undergoing Special Forces training in Morocco for ten days different?
Speaker 3 (03:04):
It was so different because I was playing sports is
my comfort zone. You know, I've been doing it my
whole life, and you know, when you're preparing for something,
you know, I was always preparing for a World Cup,
I was always preparing for Olympics, and it's a four
year process and you're training both on the mental and
physical side. I was ready. I was not ready for
Special Forces in any means.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
You know.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Yeah, you have a little bit of that background, but
it's always that fear of the unknown. We had no
idea what was going to happen next, and that is
a mental challenge within itself.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
So you would say Special Forces was more mentally challenging
than playing on the US olympere.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Per Yeah, because I knew it was coming. Yeah, a
game plan may not work out, but you know how
to adjust an adapt, Like, I had no idea what
was going to be thrown at me? You know, I
had no idea. Am I afraid of heights? I had
no idea? Can I you know, I know I couldn't swim.
You know, I knew I wasn't comfortable in water.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
But I'm like, can imagine you passed that? Well? Uh,
you you passed.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
But again you're just like, how do you like? You
don't know. We're thrown into these situations we've never been
put into, and then you're getting screamed and yelled at
and you're trying to like assess what's going on around
see if all these distractions those it was different. I
think being an athlete helps you push through those situations.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Well, I mean you guys, the athletes on the course,
you guys were just so physically fit, and I think
that's just like your muscle memory, that drive that you
guys always have to push through. So all of the
athletes on Special Forces, like you guys, I'm sure inspired me, Bree,
you know Mark, just all of us who because I mean,
(04:48):
you guys could outrun me for miles.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
I'm like, I'm like trying to.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Keep up in the back. You were mentally tough, though
you don't. You have to give yourself more credit. Yeah,
because as many times as you may have wanted to tap,
I was in the same mindset at times where I'm
like my knee is not going to make it, or
like I'm just exhausted. What am I doing here? You
know those that inner voice starts talking to you, but
you know you find a way to keep going forward.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
No, definitely.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Do you think people actually realize how tough Special Forces
was by just watching it? No?
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Absolutely, not, like even people I talked to.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
No.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
No, And I thought it was so funny because even
in our group chat when Randall was like they had
they didn't show half this we went through.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Oh yeah, and like, honestly it was it was.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
It was day six, episode six when we had to
do the tightrope, and I gave Foxy some attitude and
he was not happy with that. And then as a
team we all had a I thought for sure they
were going to put that in.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Because how we were all dying.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Me and Brie are crying looking back at each other
being like, are we quitting right now?
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Like we did? We had.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
We probably did about ten to twelve suicides up and
down that steep hill, holding the thirty pound bergains on
our backs and holding the planks. I don't think my
body was ever more fatigued in my life. And that
also showed like what they did to us if somebody
was disrespectful or somebody did something out of line and
(06:27):
they didn't even show that, and I was like, that's crazy.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Yeah. I was tapped out on that one too, because
midway through that challenge, they made me drop my back,
like Rudy was like drop your bag and I'm like, okay,
listen to him or he's gonna you know, God knows
what's gonna happen next.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Yeah, And then I.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Started doing lunches at my bag or get off, and
he's like, go get your bag now, I'm last, and
I was like and he's like, we're dropping. We're pulling
two numbers. If you're if you're second to last or
last or getting pulled, you know, so all that mental
stuff they don't show, and I'm like, now I'm in
a full sprint trying to kid you and everybody. Like
I was like, I'm going to be out on this,
(07:06):
like this is crazy.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
They didn't show any of that, no, none of it,
And it was like that was so mentally tough for
me because I felt like I put us all in
that situation. So then I felt so bad because I
was like I should have been the one running the sprints,
not any of you, and.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
I just felt so bad.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Then at the same time, I felt like I was
gonna quite literally die.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
But I was like like I don't know which way
to turn. I was like, this is so hard, and
it really was. It was just so challenging.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
I got super emotional during this show, and I think
there were times when you did too. Did it bring
up anything from your past that you hadn't really dealt
with before?
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Yeah, I think all encompassing with I felt when you're
vulnerable like that and you're facing your fears, Like my
biggest fear I think is I'm like a pretty private person,
really truly knows about what goes on behind the scenes.
So my biggest fear is like telling my story and
using my voice, you know. And I was like, okay,
(08:08):
I got over the fear of water and all this stuff.
And when we had that time together, I felt so
close to everybody, like I felt everyone supporting each other.
And so then I was like, it's time, Like it's
time for me to do this. And I'm not a crier.
I'd like probably have cried three times in my life.
I don't even know how to cry.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
That's not good. Christy, you need to let your emotions go.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
That is not good.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
But I was trying to even talk to you guys.
I was like, I don't even how to cry, Like
this is all coming out, this is real, like this
is pure emotion. I'm like, it needs to be done.
So I am happy that I, you know, got my
story out and like, you know, as embarrassed as I was,
and it was really hard to watch back is all
(08:54):
that emotion, but you know, the story had to be
told of you know, what I dealt with behind the
scenes and still was able to be a strong female
and get through it. And hopefully I help other people.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
On Special Forces because you were able to really use
your voice. Has that given you more confidence?
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Now, yes, it's giving me confidence, but still everything's baby steps.
You know, It's like I couldn't watch it, you know,
it was just like I had to leave the room
when I went to the mirror room, like it wasn't
quite ready to like embrace it. I guess I'm watching
myself in that uncomfortable positions. I've never really witnessed that,
(09:40):
so I just kind of moved away. And then my
daughter and I sat down later and watched it and
just you know, had a good talk about it, and
you know, it's getting through it together as a family.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
And how do you know now that your daughter's watched that.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
I'm sure you brought them along with you throughout your
entire life, so they're your rock, They're like you're best
they're your best friends, as they should be watching that.
And you know, actually hearing you say like I had
to put a restraining order and there were things put
in place, Like how do your daughters react to that?
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Do they support you?
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Do they understand that, does this ever like make them
nervous about finding love or finding their person or do
they realize like, like how do you help them cope
through that.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Just truth and honesty, you know, talking it out, you know,
and not exposing too much. But you know, when you
have a whole restraining order on your ex husband that's
also the father of your children, it's very sensitive. So
you're trying to make sure that they still have their
own personal relationship with him, but like moms not included,
you know. So and then just seeing the signs of
(10:48):
you know, what I saw and what I didn't do,
and what I enabled and allowed to happen for so
long that I just can make sure I'm communicating constantly
with them about how you're supposed to be treated as
a as a female, and not getting in and being
confident because I wasn't the most confident person off the field.
On the field, I was like I was in my element,
(11:09):
Like I loved who I was when I was competing.
I never liked who I was off the field, you know,
it wasn't that confident, strong person. I should have been
allowed too much to happen, and so I learned, you know,
and I stayed in something way too long. And I
just constantly communicate with them to make sure they're in
a happy place.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
And I'm sure they appreciate that so much.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
I mean, honestly, I think even just from a mother's
standpoint talking to their daughters, My mom does that same thing,
like just tells us everything, even if it's oversharing. Yeah,
just so that we're prepared for anything in life. And
I feel like that's the best way to be because
(11:54):
it really sets you up for your future.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
Yeah, I mean, honestly, is the first way to go. Like,
I can't hide from it, you know. I just wanted
to make sure that they understand what I went through
and how I handled it and what I didn't handle
make sure that they're not putting that same situation.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
Definitely, so they still have a relationship with their father, Yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Mean it's minimal. They live with me full time.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Yeah, that's what I thought.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Yeah, what goes on. You know, I only got the
full restraining order. I mean it was eight years after
I was divorced, so there's been a lot going on,
still a lot going on, but you know, and it's
almost been a year now that I've had the full
restraining order and it's you know, it's it's touching because
you know, my younger my younger daughter, we still play
sports and I still have to be in the kind
(12:40):
of the same area, so you know that brings up,
you know, a lot of triggers for me that I'm
working on. So yeah, they're they're with me majority of
the time, and they see them when they feel comfortable
enough to see them to see him.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Yeah, definitely. What age did you start talking to your
daughters about that?
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Yes, it was later, to be honest, you know, it
was just because when I divorced, they were ten and six,
so they were young. So I was just making sure
that they had I didn't want to like influence them
or like steer them in the wrong direction, and they
were young and I was protecting them, so I kept
a lot quiet because I didn't.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Want That's very like, that's very big of you, though,
because you you probably felt like, I want, I want
to protect them. But even though they were ten and six,
they were still very young. When you're young, I feel
like you're smarter than even when you're older, and you
observe so many things when you're younger, and you like
hold that with you when you are older. So it's
(13:43):
such a tricky situation. But it's like I remember things
from when I was younger, and I was like, wow,
I was actually right about that. Like I called this
when I was three years old.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
So there's certain things where it's like when is the
right time?
Speaker 1 (13:58):
But we actually observe a lot more when we're younger
than we even realize.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Yeah, you know, and you get torn. You know. I
felt bad because it's like I never wanted to put
them in the middle, so I tried not letting it
come into the household, you know, and then you keep
trying to keep it nice and calm. But once I
filed for the restraining order, like they obviously understood anew
and then you know, more and more came out of
(14:25):
you know, details and stuff I've been storing and just
like years and years and years of that abuse that
you know, they eventually had to listen about, you know,
and and understand. But I thought they were old enough
to digest that, yeah, to you know, understand what was
going on and how to move forward from there. I
(14:48):
mean it's tough, tough and okay, especially living in a
small community, you know, being you know, the face of
soccer for so long, you know, and being in that position,
Like I just wanted to make sure that they had
a journey of their own life that wasn't always getting
looked down upon, you know, because kids are mean, you know,
it's like high school years, you know, now into college.
(15:10):
Riley's in college, so she doesn't get it as much.
But my younger one she's in she's in high school,
so it's hard to navigate when you're in the public eye.
As you know, you've you've grown up that way, so
you understand definitely.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
And I mean that's also very big of you though,
to always kind of show them to have respect of
their father and you know, and that's great that you
still that they still even have a relationship with him
and can do that, and that just shows like how
good of a mother you are, because some parents, you know,
would brainwash their kids and tell them, you know, you're
(15:47):
with me and not him, and it's you know, it
shows a lot about yourself too.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
Yeah, they both made the choice at their own age
when they wanted to live with me full time. You know,
it was like fifty to fifty, but it turned quickly
both of them decided to move in full time. And
you know, it's it's part of it, and it's their father,
you know, it's like they have to have their own
relationship and they have to learn for themselves, and I
just want to make sure that they're treated correctly from
(16:12):
their father too, and not making sure that my name's
constantly being brought up. It's like, have a relationship and
make sure that's the way your relationship is with him.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
Definitely, you had to medically withdraw on day seven, Christy.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
I didn't know how upset you were.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
My heart was breaking when I saw that, because I mean,
for anyone who's listening, Christy was taking it home. Christy
was taken it to the end. She was incredible. But
that day was really emotional for you. And how did
it feel to be forced out like that before because
(16:51):
you weren't ready?
Speaker 3 (16:52):
You were it was like heartbroken and you know, but
it was it was hard because I was just so
sick and I.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
Was like, and I don't think anyone knows this, but
I mean, if you want to explain kind of what
happened to you when you got home from Special Forces,
because I think that's what shocked me even even the
most honestly, because we heard you coughing and we knew
it was really bad, and that's why we knew you
didn't want to go to medical. But we were like, Christy,
(17:20):
you got to go like it was it was bad, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
No, it was. I mean you and Shaw when you're
like you have to see medical clothes, like I don't
want to get new He was going to pull me.
But at the same time, I'm like, it is my health,
you know, I need to take care of this. But
I fought for like four days there of you know,
trying to with this cough and the exhaustion and like fatigue,
and I was starting to get a little bit delirious,
not to lie like it just at some point we
(17:45):
didn't know where even was.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
But like the cough also that it kept you up
all night, you were not you were not sleeping.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
No, I was like at some points pacing because I
was like, just drink water because I felt then I
was keeping everybody else up. I was like, it's terrible.
It's just terrible. But my journey home, I don't even
know how I got home, to be honest, because you know,
once you're done, it's like, okay, you're on the plane.
I would say like Istanbul, Istanbul home. I had no
(18:14):
idea if I was even on the right plane. I
didn't eat for probably five days because I just was
so exhausted. I literally just laid in bed. Took my
daughter to school. I I don't even know how I
did it, but I took my dogs for like a
thirty minute walk, and I was just done. I was
so tired, so fatigued. I didn't have like I lost
like fifteen pounds because I just was nauseous, no appetite, coughing.
(18:39):
My kids didn't even know who I was. Like, they're
a little scared when they saw me because of how
depleted I looked and then the cough. But you know,
I just you know, rest in. After like ten days,
I started kind of getting back to myself.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
And then but you went to the hospital when you
got home, right.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
I wanted to, but I didn't like when you Christy,
you told me you did.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
You told me you got antibiotics.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
No, they gave me some meds when I left, and
then I came home on the third day, I was like,
I have to go to the hospital. I can't function,
like this is something's wrong. And then I just was
like I'm going to sleep it off, like I'm just
gonna keep with these meds.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Oh my gosh, never do that again.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
I know it was bad. I probably should have gone,
but I can't. I'm like, and then I kept saying, well,
I'm gonna tell them like I was in Morocco, like
eating dirt pretty much and pretty much, I'm just like,
let me see if I could just whether this storm.
I was a disaster, to be honest, but I'm better.
(19:42):
I'm better now. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
I mean, it was definitely scary just seeing you medically
withdraw because you were just you were so tough, and
it was just scary to see. Like, I think it
was weird because I didn't really understand, like, Okay, how
are we going to get an infection out here? I mean,
obviously there were multiple ways of how we could have
(20:06):
gotten an infection. We were swimming in the grossest water
and inhaling so much dust and dirt. But then it's
like to see it actually happened to you. It was like, wow, okay,
so this can happen, and this is happening.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
And that's what was the freakiest part about.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
It, because when I was breathing, I felt the crackling,
like I felt my chest crackling, as like every task
we did that was anything with running, I was just
like trying to do short breasts so that I could
like keep up with you guys, because I just couldn't breathe.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
But I was like, and you obviously never had any
medical issues like this prior to Special Forces.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
No, like not gun Wood, I'm very healthy. I'm usually not.
That's why I was like, is this really going to
this happening to me? I'm leaving because I'm sick, Like,
how can I not push through this? Like I was
just really you know, second guessing everything. When I got home,
I was like really disappointed that, you know, I'm like,
did I make the right decisions that I just pushed
through until I passed out? Like I was just like, what,
(21:07):
you know, that's usually how headstrong I am, you know,
so I definitely knew I made the right choice because
I was really sick. You were, you know, I was
you know what if you know, I always think of
this stuff, like what if I just kept going?
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Yeah? I mean I and I said this.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
I feel like we all talked about this too when
we whenever anyone left, I it's not And that's why
medic being medically withdrawn is like the hardest way to
leave because you don't want to. But even for the
people who tapped out, it's like you were, you regret
it instantly.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
You wish you stayed.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
So, and it's weird because it was such a mind
altering thing, like we just wanted at the end of
the day. Yes, it was so challenging and we all
wanted to tap out, probably every day at some point.
But then it was like a mental thing, like you
got to keep going. You got to keep going, like
you're almost there.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
Yeah there, Like just get to the next meal, You're
almost there.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Like where's lunch? Because I never ate dinner. I only
ate lunch.
Speaker 3 (22:16):
I barely ate because I was just like couldn't. I
was so tired, tired, and it was so hot, and
the last thing I want to do was like eat that.
I just wanted a bar. I was like, just give me.
I could just have bars.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
Oh those bars saved all of us. Yeah, all of us.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
Give me that. Like I don't even eat the food. No.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
Literally, I feel like Special Forces cast everyone for a reason.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
And everyone got their own angle.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Or story, which I thought Fox did a really good job.
Did you feel like they really told your story and
the way you would have wanted them to.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
Absolutely?
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Yeah, I mean I just I just felt like they
were so respectful, like they really did it really good.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
Yeah, I agree. I think they definitely are looking out
for each and every one of us and wanted us
to find our purpose on coming on this show. And
they you know, I don't think they truly embarrassed anybody.
They just showed personalities. I think they really do a
good job of the editing part because as much as
I wanted them to show a lot more, like we
said earlier, how hard it was, they really truly are
(23:24):
there for each and every one of us.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
They really are. How did they approach you?
Speaker 3 (23:29):
I just got my agent go to call like two
weeks prior to the show, two weeks two weeks prior,
and I was like, are you kidding me? Like I
have no training, I had no idea, like you know,
like I can't swim. That's my first reactions. I can't swim, Like.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
My mom said the same thing.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
And then I was like why not, you know, like
why not? Like I love challenges, you know, that's the
part I missed, the whole locker room feel like I
haven't I wasn't competing anymore, and I was like, well,
this is a lifetime and opportunity to meet people like
you and you know, just be around amazing people in
a locker room type feel facing your biggest challenges like
(24:09):
what's better once in a lifetime.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Definitely, did you kind of have a feeling of what
they were expecting from you on this show or a
kind of like a sense of why they wanted you
on this season.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
No, I'll be honest, I really didn't watch too many episodes,
so I knew, like because one of my former teammates,
Carly was on the show in the first season, and
I remember, you know, when they when she got submerged
under water. I couldn't watch it anymore because I'm like,
that's like watching her Panic. Yeah, so watching her Panic,
I was like, I can't see her in that stace.
I never watched the show. I knew about it obviously,
(24:48):
and then I started watching like clips, and I was like, yeah,
I can't watch anywhere. I will not go on the show, Like, yeah,
you know. I didn't really want to have too much information,
so when I I was like, wow, this is legit.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
No, so legit?
Speaker 1 (25:04):
I mean I binge watched the third season, and I
watched a little bit of season one and two, so
I kind of knew, like what some of the challenges
we're gonna.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
Be, like watching it and actually doing it.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Please, it's like you can't even compare it.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
Yeah, because I remember Sean watching's like I watched everything,
So I was kind of that annoying little kid next
to her. I was like, next, what's next? She's like, well,
we probably have three or formal workouts. I was like, okay,
I'm not not gonna.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Ask you right, Like are you kidding me? It was
so funny.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
Yeah, like everything she did, I was like, okay, I'm
just gonna follow on your footsteps.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Oh yeah no, literally everyone was following Sean.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
But you and Sean had a very like the way
that you guys moved it was very and it was
funny because the DA said it too very robotic, like
you guys were just attentive like did everything that they said,
and it was like it was almost like like yeah,
like mechanical like you guys just like did it and
(26:12):
that definitely comes from your both of your backgrounds. But
it was so like inspiring and amazing to watch you
guys because I was like that like like due diligence
and like determination like has to come from just all
the training that you guys have been through.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Oh. Absolutely. I think Sean and I are so used
to that discipline too, of like what you ever has
been where you're told to do, you do it or
there'll be consequences. So I'm like, I don't want to
do anything extra, like even to what we brought.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Yes, I don't want to do anything extra like if
you if you screw up.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Then you're gonna have to do ten hundreds friends.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
Like even we were even talking about what we brought
in with us, like in our bag, like the two
of us had like barely anything. I had like a
travel bottle of shampoo and conditioner that obviously lasted one day,
you know, but we were just like My whole fear
was like I don't want to get caught with anything,
you know. And that was just the upbringing. It's like
you're told what to do, you do it, you know.
(27:07):
I'm like, I think we both thrive and with discipline.
Speaker 1 (27:11):
I know. You guys were so funny, Sean and Christy.
They would use my hair brush. They literally brought nothing.
I was like, guys, yeah, I was like I told
them that I'm on accutane.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
I needed my moisturizer my awka before and.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
I'm like, I need that shampoo.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
I brought everything that I could everything. I was like,
they can't do this to me. This is crazy.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
Yeah, we were definitely tapping into your stuff.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
Oh no please, We were all sharing it. And then
it was funny because it was like and my mom
was like in her mind it was like when she
was in prison, like every time somebody left, we would
get all their stuff. Eva left, she gave us all
her stuff. Like every time someone left, it was like
all the commissary they had, they.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Gave it to us.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
Absolutely, It's like, what do you got in that bag?
Speaker 1 (28:00):
So funny, it's like about something a little brighter now.
But you've been with someone new for a while now,
and how is this relationship different and what feels better
or healthier this time around?
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Yeah? To see you understands me, like he understands my stubbornness,
you know, like my mentality and you know everything I've
been through, you know, because he witnessed some parts of
what wasn't so great in my relationship and you know,
helped me get out of it. So I feel like
I'm I feel safe with him, you know, And He's
(28:34):
just really really supportive of me and my dreams and
my you know how I see my future. So like
it's just refreshing knowing that someone's not trying to live
through me, that someone's there on a journey with me
and wants to be part of my journey. I love
that doing it together.
Speaker 1 (28:54):
He's awesome, And I mean, I know this is always
so hard because I you know, you went through your
divorce and people said things about that, and no matter what,
people are always going to have something to say. Do
you feel like sometimes the public does not understand who
you're with right.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
Now hundred percent? You know, the public always has their
own viewpoints on things, because you know, I met him
through soccer, right I met him through like he was
my coach at one point, but he was also in
my friend circle, you know, because he was friends with
my ex and I didn't really get to know him
all that well until he became my coach, you know,
(29:34):
because I didn't really hang out. I wasn't allowed to
hang out with the boys when I was with my
ex husband, So the relationship just developed and he witnessed
some stuff when I was allowed to hang out, and
you know, unfortunately he saw the worst and kind of switch.
He went from not really liking me to supporting me
(29:54):
and helping me. And you know, people just look at
it as headlines. As you know, I started, you know,
a relationship with my coach, but I was in my
forties and you really truly helped support me get out
of an abusive relationship. And I couldn't thank him enough.
And then, of course, you know when you become really
close to someone friends, you know, I fell for him,
(30:15):
I fell in love.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
With them, and you know I do that through a
really I couldn't.
Speaker 3 (30:19):
Yeah, there's nothing I could do about it. You know,
it's like you can't help them you fall in love
with and you know, and we started a relationship. And
he's been in the girls' lives for a long time
and you know, the respects and it has been a
great step father to the girls. So you know, like,
did I want it to happen that way? Obviously not
like you know, but in the end of the day,
(30:42):
like I have this supporting, loving husband that you know,
I know what happened. I don't need to, Like I said,
I'm a private person, I really haven't. I'm starting to
now tell my story you know, and everyone's going to
have their own opinion, and that's all what I have
no idea what I went through and how everything ended
(31:05):
up working out the way it probably should have been
for me, Like I finally got my path in life,
and I finally found my happiness a little bit later
in life.
Speaker 1 (31:15):
And you know, as long as he is amazing to
you and amazing to your daughters, that is all that matters.
Speaker 3 (31:21):
It is, it truly is. It's like I'm living my
own life. Like people can have their opinions in my view,
but they don't see my day to day. They don't
see what I have to go through and what I
have to deal with. And you know, they can have
your own opinions, but like I know, deep down I
can sleep good at night because I've made the right
decisions for myself and my.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
Family one thousand percent.
Speaker 1 (31:52):
Let's get into a little bit of your time as
captain of the women's national team. What's part of women's
soccer much less being the captain that people don't see.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
I think people don't see all the stuff that you
do behind the scenes, you know, I think they see
what is on TV. You know, they see game days,
they see social media, but you know there's a lot
that goes on behind the scenes. And I think what
helped me be a be a good captain is that
I was a mom. You know, the girls were on
the road with me majority of the time, so.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
You homeschooled them right for Yeah, pretty much.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
They Riley, my oldest, started going to school full time,
like second grade, but they allowed her to miss a
good chunk of kindergarten first because they felt like being
on the road in that culture and you know, seeing it,
you know, in person, was just as an education experience
as you know, being in school. So you know, she
(32:53):
was able to travel a lot longer. And then Reese,
she was six when my career was over with the
national team, so she went right on to kindergarten. Yeah,
so you know it was it was a great experience.
They were around amazing female role models. It couldn't have
been a better exper I'm sure.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
You know, they probably just owned so much. I mean
traveling and seeing the world like that. I feel like
that's the best way to just learn and experience everything.
Speaker 3 (33:19):
Yeah, I mean both of them. At six weeks I
was back with the team, you know, traveling and you know,
three months I was back on the field competing, so
I was just like, you know, like no time wasting,
Let's go, Let's get.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Back out you know.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
It was like my mentality is like I'm not losing
my position. I want to get it back out there.
I want to you know, give what I can. Even
if it wasn't one hundred percent on the field, it
was going to be off the field as a leader,
you know, and making sure that you know, playing on
the best team in the world, like it's very competitive,
so you know, I wanted to make sure that if
I wasn't there physically, I could be there, you know,
(33:54):
mentally and supporting and helping, whether it was players trying
to build confidence or even the coaching staff giving them confidence.
Sometimes you know, media is rough, so as a good
balance as a captain, trying to keep that whole locker
room together.
Speaker 1 (34:10):
Definitely, when you look how women's sports are treated today,
do you ever feel bitter about what you didn't get?
Speaker 3 (34:18):
I mean yes and no, but knowing where they are
now to where we began, because it's like it was
tough when I first started. I was you know, my
first contract was six thousand dollars, you know, and you know,
working a couple of different jobs and you know, trying
to fend for yourself, and then you know where they
are now. I mean when I when I retired professionally
(34:39):
in twenty seventeen, I was making thirty five thousand dollars
a year, you know, So that's and you look at it,
that's not too long ago. And now these girls professionally
in the NWSL are making you know, some decent money.
Not where they could be, but it's growing and it's
getting better. But we just you know, still need those
those same opportunities to you need to push to make
(35:01):
those salaries a lot more.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
Definitely. Wow, that's crazy, all that work you guys put in.
God my gosh, that's the national team is there?
Speaker 3 (35:11):
Like the national team level is getting better, Like the
money is getting better through sponsors, you know, and US
Soccer and you know, and fighting against FIFA and doing
all that stuff off the field has helped a ton.
It's just now professionally within her own country, we need
to still have the backing of the sponsors and the
support of the fans to keep growing it so these
(35:32):
girls can get paid what they deserve to get paid.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
Definitely, who do you think is the future of women's
sports today.
Speaker 3 (35:41):
Wow, in soccer, we're just all around.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
And I guess soccer because yeah, I we'll say soccer.
Speaker 3 (35:47):
Yeah, because I mean, like I say, like the Caitlin
Clark for basketball, like she was a big buzz which
I think helped just people want to watch sports, you know,
not even just basketball, but then within soccer. But you know,
there's a younger generation now up and coming for soccer
because it would say all the household names you know
have retired or which I'm loving. There's so many of
(36:11):
them that are getting pregnant, you know, and starting the
families and then wanting to like get back after it.
So yeah, this new younger generation is is going to
be a good test to continue to push, you know,
and and lead the ones behind them to take over.
Speaker 1 (36:29):
Definitely, you've spent your career dealing with so much pressure, expectations,
and criticism. What's something that you still struggle with mentally today?
Speaker 3 (36:40):
I think always being judged, you know, I think trying
to get that out of my head is because my
whole life, you know, I was being judged even when
I was I even feel like when I was five,
because I was a great player, Like, you know, everybody
was always looking at me. Everybody was always talking about
this girl. Yeah, it's like a little jealousy. So I
think always being judged when you step out into the
(37:02):
real world, just off the field. I think that's what
I'm really working on on the mental side of it,
is like that I'm not being judged all the time
when I think people are constantly judging me, and it's
you know, people aren't. People don't care as much as
you think they do. So it's just again taking that
deep breath to get out and just like live your life,
you know, and not worry so much about what people
(37:25):
think of you.
Speaker 1 (37:26):
You know.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
It's hard.
Speaker 3 (37:27):
That's how I was, Like, It's what was always, you know,
I'm always getting critiqued, whether it's film, whether it was
like you know, sports and like and then you know,
I got into commentating. You know, I wrote a book.
I could wrote a book with you know, with a
good friend of mine, you know. So it's just like
you're I was always dabbling. But it's just that pressure
(37:49):
of people always judging, I think is the hardest thing
when you transition into that next part of my life.
I'm just tired of being judged. But that's part of
my ear voice saying keep moving forward.
Speaker 1 (38:03):
No, and that's all you have to do because obviously
soccer was your love and your passion, and then when
that ended, life goes on.
Speaker 2 (38:13):
You have to figure out what your next passion is.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
And I know that's definitely probably a really difficult transition.
But no matter what the public, they're gonna say what
they want to say. But honestly, their opinion is this
big compared to what you can build, So just think
about it. It's probably some ugly troll behind their phone and.
Speaker 2 (38:35):
It doesn't even matter. You're doing way bigger and better things.
All right, I want to talk I mean I want
to talk to.
Speaker 1 (38:44):
You about episode eight a little bit before we wrap
up this episode. Yes, so we basically it was actually
probably the hardest physical challenge we ever we ever did.
It was basically like this mountin that reminded me of
like an ice cream cone. So it just kept going
up and up and up and up, and like each
(39:07):
every time you made it around one circle, you had
to grab another piece of equipment. So it was like
we made it up the one circle, we had to
grab a tire. Okay, bring the tires to the one spot.
Then we had to bring sandbags to another spot. Then
the last stretch were chains.
Speaker 3 (39:27):
I've seen them, like, yeah, oh.
Speaker 1 (39:29):
You had chains wrapped around us, like fully wrapped around us.
And that challenge, I don't know what it was, Christy,
and I think it was because we really didn't have to,
like we couldn't run like you, like you could run
as much as you wanted, but like you were really
just like lunging and pulling yourself up this mountain because
(39:52):
it was so steep.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
And I was honestly.
Speaker 1 (39:57):
Really proud of myself that day because I I felt
like I always kind of finished last. But even though
I finished, I finished last. I was the first one
out of the out of the girls to finish that challenge.
Speaker 3 (40:12):
Well done.
Speaker 1 (40:13):
And I was like, see, I'm getting stronger as this
is goner.
Speaker 3 (40:17):
You were, though, because you think you were like saying
you weren't maybe as fit as you'd like to be.
Speaker 2 (40:22):
Yeah, no, doub well. I was in Italy. I just
did not prepare for this properly.
Speaker 3 (40:26):
But you were getting fit as you were getting through
those days. You know, I was a day you said
day it was day you were already lifting every day
and yeah, getting fitter and fitter, so well done.
Speaker 1 (40:39):
No, yeah, so that was that was crazy though.
Speaker 2 (40:41):
It was like nuts. And then Sean and Bree obviously
made it through that.
Speaker 1 (40:48):
They were awesome, but it was it was a little
scary though, because the ds were being rough with the chains,
so like I got we got, I finally got my
chains off of me, and Sean's were at actually wrapped
around her neck and Andrew like that was the first
time I ever saw Andrew like get a little annoyed,
you know, and he was like.
Speaker 2 (41:08):
Oh my god, like why were these around her neck?
Speaker 1 (41:11):
And I think it was just like not even realizing it,
but they were so heavy, Like me, Sean and Jesse
were the shortest ones on the course and it was
just like crazy.
Speaker 2 (41:22):
So that it was the first time I was.
Speaker 1 (41:25):
Like, oh, I was like, but it's okay, Andrew, that
is your wife as you should.
Speaker 2 (41:29):
You should be passed right now. I was like, I'm
trying to catch my breath, but.
Speaker 3 (41:32):
Yeah, there shall be so mad here.
Speaker 2 (41:37):
But yeah, and.
Speaker 1 (41:38):
Then after that challenge that night we went on our mission.
Speaker 3 (41:45):
So that's when you go on the they kotya wow.
Speaker 1 (41:49):
So that was crazy because they just kind of dropped
us off. I think it was actually close to where
the damn was. Oh okay, around there you were okay,
but we were in like a town, like there was
little convenience stores.
Speaker 3 (42:08):
Like hiding, trying to hide.
Speaker 2 (42:09):
Hide. But then there was like a map and we
had to.
Speaker 1 (42:17):
Basically find the safe house, okay, and each like destination
we would get closer and closer.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
But then eventually, how long.
Speaker 3 (42:29):
Do you think you guys were on the run for
before they caught you?
Speaker 1 (42:38):
It was laid out, it was yeah. I think we
probably started the mission around five or six, okay, and
we were on our feet until like twelve a like
twelve or one, just.
Speaker 2 (42:55):
Like running through it.
Speaker 1 (42:57):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (42:58):
And then it came to the point where.
Speaker 1 (43:00):
They were like, okay, like you're about to get captured.
Speaker 2 (43:04):
So just like.
Speaker 1 (43:05):
Because we were like getting close to like the safe house,
but I don't think like the safe house really existed
because they had to capture us. But then it basically
came to the point where they were like, okay, guys,
like prepare yourselves, you're about to get captured. And even
though they said that, it was like there was no
(43:26):
way of preparing yourself. Like the dogs were barking, like
screaming at you. We had those the black things over
our heads again, and it was just like.
Speaker 2 (43:39):
Like trembling, like it was so story.
Speaker 3 (43:42):
Yeah, see you don't know where you're going. You don't know.
Speaker 1 (43:45):
And it was like, you know at the end of
the day, yeah, you have the DS's, but like everyone
else was like these random people just like oh like
these random dogs and these random people like growing you
around and it's like who are you?
Speaker 3 (44:00):
Where am I going? When they brought you back, you
still had no idea where you do you know you're
back in the compound.
Speaker 1 (44:07):
You like, yeah, you kind of put it together, especially
when like you were getting out of the car and
then like just kind of like but it was crazy,
like obviously we'll see the rest of the days.
Speaker 3 (44:23):
But you hear their voices.
Speaker 1 (44:26):
You kind of figured it out because then once we
got back to the compound and went into interrogation, you
were like, okay, this is our dorm.
Speaker 2 (44:34):
Okay, like all of our beds were gone.
Speaker 3 (44:37):
Oh god.
Speaker 1 (44:38):
So it was like little things and we were allowed
to go to the bathroom and get a glass of water.
But like so when we went to the bathroom, I
was like, Okay, clearly I'm sitting in the piece of
plywood right now, But like then you would put it
together a little by little.
Speaker 3 (44:58):
You still couldn't. Couldn't at this point.
Speaker 1 (45:01):
No the bag, no, yeah, they put They kept the
bag over our head until we reached the bathroom, so
like they like directed you, like your hands were like
this in front of you, and it was like this
directing you.
Speaker 2 (45:14):
Wow, it was terrible. It was like we were talking
to the ds is twenty four to seven.
Speaker 1 (45:19):
But I kept asking for water because I'm like, oh,
I need.
Speaker 2 (45:23):
Water, just so like a breathe, because I was like
I'm dying.
Speaker 1 (45:27):
Yeah, I'm excited for you to watch the rest of it,
even though I wish you were there with us.
Speaker 3 (45:34):
I know it's fun because I'm like, oh, I wish
I could.
Speaker 1 (45:36):
Be doing that.
Speaker 2 (45:36):
You don't know, but you were like so close, literally
so close, I know.
Speaker 3 (45:43):
Because you're like passing and like all activity, like like
physical physical, physical stuff after.
Speaker 1 (45:48):
That, well, and that's why like when you left that morning,
the gas would have.
Speaker 2 (45:53):
Oh probably taken you out, like with your lungs.
Speaker 1 (45:56):
And then day eight, how it was so physically challenging,
like you you probably wouldn't have been able to breathe now,
it would have been too rough. But I mean, I
think everyone knows how tough you are, and the DS
we're definitely really disappointed to see you go.
Speaker 3 (46:13):
I was, Yeah, I was disappointed, you know. Even when
they came in, they're like, you do cry.
Speaker 2 (46:20):
You're not a robot. This is not good to know.
Speaker 3 (46:23):
Yes, I do not often, but I am crying right now.
Speaker 1 (46:30):
Chrissy, Well, thank you so much for coming on Casual Chaos.
It was so good to see you, and I can't
wait for you to watch the rest of Special Forces
live your journey and just keep building your confidence and strength.
Speaker 3 (46:44):
Thank you. I'm so happy our paths crossed.
Speaker 1 (46:48):
I know we have to hang out down the shore
this summer. We need a little Special Forces reunion me,
you and Chanelle because we're all in the Jersey area.
Speaker 3 (46:58):
Yes, I watched one of the episodes with Chanel was
so much fun.
Speaker 2 (47:01):
Well, I saw that that was so cute.
Speaker 3 (47:04):
She's awesome. Yeah, we'll pick it back together.
Speaker 2 (47:06):
Yes, definitely. All right. Well, thank you, Christy, all right,
see you soon.
Hey guys, and welcome back to another episode of Casual Chaos.
This week, I have one of my Special Forces castmates,
Christy Pierce.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Welcome to Casual Chaos.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
I'm so excited.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
So we went through Special Forces together and it was
probably one of the most intense things I think any
of us have ever done. How are you doing post
Special Forces?
Speaker 3 (00:26):
I'm doing good, you know, I think realizing I faced
all my fears and got through it. You know, No, definitely,
it's hard to watch. I'll say, like, I enjoyed being there,
but like when you have to reflect back and watch
it over and watch yourself fail miserably, that's hard to watch.
But no, I got through it. I'm okay.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Honestly, I feel like, out of everybody, you and Sean
were really tough on yourselves, and I think that has
to do with being in the Olympics and being a
part of such a competitive sport. So I think you guys,
you guys were amazing, Like you killed it, you inspired.
I think all of us you were just so tough
(01:07):
and got through every challenge. But I think due to
what your line of work was and what you did
with your career, it made you guys so tough on yourselves. Meanwhile,
I was just happy to get through the day. I
was like, no, thank god.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
No, We've draw something from each other. Like I am
hard on myself, like I'm disappointing myself if I'm like
not finishing the task the way I wanted to. But
then just seeing how you're getting through it and how
you're like just always like had a smile on her
face and was like onto the next Like I was
just appreciative of that because I pulled that energy to
(01:45):
help me get through. Like we all bring something different,
So I definitely did appreciate how you and about it
and I pulled stuff from you to get me through.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Oh you're so sweet to give our listeners a little
bit of a background on who you are. I feel
like you should give your introduction because it's just so badass.
I don't want to be like, Okay, guys, this is Christy.
I mean, you guys should know who she is. She
was a captain of the US woman's national soccer team.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
But I'll let you take it away.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Yeah, it was a long career, very nineteen year career
playing for the.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
US the longest standing by the way, guys.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
It's a crazy time. But I was able to compete
in five World Cups and I went two of them.
And I competed in four Olympics, winning three gold medals
and one silver. And I also was able to have
two children along the way, So I have two beautiful daughters,
Riley and Reese, who are nineteen and fifteen now. So
it's definitely a great journey, a great career that is
(02:43):
able to have that work life balance and also being
a mom. So it was an awesome experience, definitely.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
So going through that and then going onto Special Forces.
How was leading a national soccer team for eight years
undergoing Special Forces training in Morocco for ten days different?
Speaker 3 (03:04):
It was so different because I was playing sports is
my comfort zone. You know, I've been doing it my
whole life, and you know, when you're preparing for something,
you know, I was always preparing for a World Cup,
I was always preparing for Olympics, and it's a four
year process and you're training both on the mental and
physical side. I was ready. I was not ready for
Special Forces in any means.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
You know.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Yeah, you have a little bit of that background, but
it's always that fear of the unknown. We had no
idea what was going to happen next, and that is
a mental challenge within itself.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
So you would say Special Forces was more mentally challenging
than playing on the US olympere.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Per Yeah, because I knew it was coming. Yeah, a
game plan may not work out, but you know how
to adjust an adapt, Like, I had no idea what
was going to be thrown at me? You know, I
had no idea. Am I afraid of heights? I had
no idea? Can I you know, I know I couldn't swim.
You know, I knew I wasn't comfortable in water.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
But I'm like, can imagine you passed that? Well? Uh,
you you passed.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
But again you're just like, how do you like? You
don't know. We're thrown into these situations we've never been
put into, and then you're getting screamed and yelled at
and you're trying to like assess what's going on around
see if all these distractions those it was different. I
think being an athlete helps you push through those situations.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Well, I mean you guys, the athletes on the course,
you guys were just so physically fit, and I think
that's just like your muscle memory, that drive that you
guys always have to push through. So all of the
athletes on Special Forces, like you guys, I'm sure inspired me, Bree,
you know Mark, just all of us who because I mean,
(04:48):
you guys could outrun me for miles.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
I'm like, I'm like trying to.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Keep up in the back. You were mentally tough, though
you don't. You have to give yourself more credit. Yeah,
because as many times as you may have wanted to tap,
I was in the same mindset at times where I'm
like my knee is not going to make it, or
like I'm just exhausted. What am I doing here? You
know those that inner voice starts talking to you, but
you know you find a way to keep going forward.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
No, definitely.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Do you think people actually realize how tough Special Forces
was by just watching it? No?
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Absolutely, not, like even people I talked to.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
No.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
No, And I thought it was so funny because even
in our group chat when Randall was like they had
they didn't show half this we went through.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Oh yeah, and like, honestly it was it was.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
It was day six, episode six when we had to
do the tightrope, and I gave Foxy some attitude and
he was not happy with that. And then as a
team we all had a I thought for sure they
were going to put that in.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Because how we were all dying.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Me and Brie are crying looking back at each other
being like, are we quitting right now?
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Like we did? We had.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
We probably did about ten to twelve suicides up and
down that steep hill, holding the thirty pound bergains on
our backs and holding the planks. I don't think my
body was ever more fatigued in my life. And that
also showed like what they did to us if somebody
was disrespectful or somebody did something out of line and
(06:27):
they didn't even show that, and I was like, that's crazy.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Yeah. I was tapped out on that one too, because
midway through that challenge, they made me drop my back,
like Rudy was like drop your bag and I'm like, okay,
listen to him or he's gonna you know, God knows
what's gonna happen next.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Yeah, And then I.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Started doing lunches at my bag or get off, and
he's like, go get your bag now, I'm last, and
I was like and he's like, we're dropping. We're pulling
two numbers. If you're if you're second to last or
last or getting pulled, you know, so all that mental
stuff they don't show, and I'm like, now I'm in
a full sprint trying to kid you and everybody. Like
I was like, I'm going to be out on this,
(07:06):
like this is crazy.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
They didn't show any of that, no, none of it,
And it was like that was so mentally tough for
me because I felt like I put us all in
that situation. So then I felt so bad because I
was like I should have been the one running the sprints,
not any of you, and.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
I just felt so bad.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Then at the same time, I felt like I was
gonna quite literally die.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
But I was like like I don't know which way
to turn. I was like, this is so hard, and
it really was. It was just so challenging.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
I got super emotional during this show, and I think
there were times when you did too. Did it bring
up anything from your past that you hadn't really dealt
with before?
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Yeah, I think all encompassing with I felt when you're
vulnerable like that and you're facing your fears, Like my
biggest fear I think is I'm like a pretty private person,
really truly knows about what goes on behind the scenes.
So my biggest fear is like telling my story and
using my voice, you know. And I was like, okay,
(08:08):
I got over the fear of water and all this stuff.
And when we had that time together, I felt so
close to everybody, like I felt everyone supporting each other.
And so then I was like, it's time, Like it's
time for me to do this. And I'm not a crier.
I'd like probably have cried three times in my life.
I don't even know how to cry.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
That's not good. Christy, you need to let your emotions go.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
That is not good.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
But I was trying to even talk to you guys.
I was like, I don't even how to cry, Like
this is all coming out, this is real, like this
is pure emotion. I'm like, it needs to be done.
So I am happy that I, you know, got my
story out and like, you know, as embarrassed as I was,
and it was really hard to watch back is all
(08:54):
that emotion, but you know, the story had to be
told of you know, what I dealt with behind the
scenes and still was able to be a strong female
and get through it. And hopefully I help other people.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
On Special Forces because you were able to really use
your voice. Has that given you more confidence?
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Now, yes, it's giving me confidence, but still everything's baby steps.
You know, It's like I couldn't watch it, you know,
it was just like I had to leave the room
when I went to the mirror room, like it wasn't
quite ready to like embrace it. I guess I'm watching
myself in that uncomfortable positions. I've never really witnessed that,
(09:40):
so I just kind of moved away. And then my
daughter and I sat down later and watched it and
just you know, had a good talk about it, and
you know, it's getting through it together as a family.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
And how do you know now that your daughter's watched that.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
I'm sure you brought them along with you throughout your
entire life, so they're your rock, They're like you're best
they're your best friends, as they should be watching that.
And you know, actually hearing you say like I had
to put a restraining order and there were things put
in place, Like how do your daughters react to that?
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Do they support you?
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Do they understand that, does this ever like make them
nervous about finding love or finding their person or do
they realize like, like how do you help them cope
through that.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Just truth and honesty, you know, talking it out, you know,
and not exposing too much. But you know, when you
have a whole restraining order on your ex husband that's
also the father of your children, it's very sensitive. So
you're trying to make sure that they still have their
own personal relationship with him, but like moms not included,
you know. So and then just seeing the signs of
(10:48):
you know, what I saw and what I didn't do,
and what I enabled and allowed to happen for so
long that I just can make sure I'm communicating constantly
with them about how you're supposed to be treated as
a as a female, and not getting in and being
confident because I wasn't the most confident person off the field.
On the field, I was like I was in my element,
(11:09):
Like I loved who I was when I was competing.
I never liked who I was off the field, you know,
it wasn't that confident, strong person. I should have been
allowed too much to happen, and so I learned, you know,
and I stayed in something way too long. And I
just constantly communicate with them to make sure they're in
a happy place.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
And I'm sure they appreciate that so much.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
I mean, honestly, I think even just from a mother's
standpoint talking to their daughters, My mom does that same thing,
like just tells us everything, even if it's oversharing. Yeah,
just so that we're prepared for anything in life. And
I feel like that's the best way to be because
(11:54):
it really sets you up for your future.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
Yeah, I mean, honestly, is the first way to go. Like,
I can't hide from it, you know. I just wanted
to make sure that they understand what I went through
and how I handled it and what I didn't handle
make sure that they're not putting that same situation.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
Definitely, so they still have a relationship with their father, Yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Mean it's minimal. They live with me full time.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Yeah, that's what I thought.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Yeah, what goes on. You know, I only got the
full restraining order. I mean it was eight years after
I was divorced, so there's been a lot going on,
still a lot going on, but you know, and it's
almost been a year now that I've had the full
restraining order and it's you know, it's it's touching because
you know, my younger my younger daughter, we still play
sports and I still have to be in the kind
(12:40):
of the same area, so you know that brings up,
you know, a lot of triggers for me that I'm
working on. So yeah, they're they're with me majority of
the time, and they see them when they feel comfortable
enough to see them to see him.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Yeah, definitely. What age did you start talking to your
daughters about that?
Speaker 3 (13:00):
Yes, it was later, to be honest, you know, it
was just because when I divorced, they were ten and six,
so they were young. So I was just making sure
that they had I didn't want to like influence them
or like steer them in the wrong direction, and they
were young and I was protecting them, so I kept
a lot quiet because I didn't.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Want That's very like, that's very big of you, though,
because you you probably felt like, I want, I want
to protect them. But even though they were ten and six,
they were still very young. When you're young, I feel
like you're smarter than even when you're older, and you
observe so many things when you're younger, and you like
hold that with you when you are older. So it's
(13:43):
such a tricky situation. But it's like I remember things
from when I was younger, and I was like, wow,
I was actually right about that. Like I called this
when I was three years old.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
So there's certain things where it's like when is the
right time?
Speaker 1 (13:58):
But we actually observe a lot more when we're younger
than we even realize.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Yeah, you know, and you get torn. You know. I
felt bad because it's like I never wanted to put
them in the middle, so I tried not letting it
come into the household, you know, and then you keep
trying to keep it nice and calm. But once I
filed for the restraining order, like they obviously understood anew
and then you know, more and more came out of
(14:25):
you know, details and stuff I've been storing and just
like years and years and years of that abuse that
you know, they eventually had to listen about, you know,
and and understand. But I thought they were old enough
to digest that, yeah, to you know, understand what was
going on and how to move forward from there. I
(14:48):
mean it's tough, tough and okay, especially living in a
small community, you know, being you know, the face of
soccer for so long, you know, and being in that position,
Like I just wanted to make sure that they had
a journey of their own life that wasn't always getting
looked down upon, you know, because kids are mean, you know,
it's like high school years, you know, now into college.
(15:10):
Riley's in college, so she doesn't get it as much.
But my younger one she's in she's in high school,
so it's hard to navigate when you're in the public eye.
As you know, you've you've grown up that way, so
you understand definitely.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
And I mean that's also very big of you though,
to always kind of show them to have respect of
their father and you know, and that's great that you
still that they still even have a relationship with him
and can do that, and that just shows like how
good of a mother you are, because some parents, you know,
would brainwash their kids and tell them, you know, you're
(15:47):
with me and not him, and it's you know, it
shows a lot about yourself too.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
Yeah, they both made the choice at their own age
when they wanted to live with me full time. You know,
it was like fifty to fifty, but it turned quickly
both of them decided to move in full time. And
you know, it's it's part of it, and it's their father,
you know, it's like they have to have their own
relationship and they have to learn for themselves, and I
just want to make sure that they're treated correctly from
(16:12):
their father too, and not making sure that my name's
constantly being brought up. It's like, have a relationship and
make sure that's the way your relationship is with him.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
Definitely, you had to medically withdraw on day seven, Christy.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
I didn't know how upset you were.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
My heart was breaking when I saw that, because I mean,
for anyone who's listening, Christy was taking it home. Christy
was taken it to the end. She was incredible. But
that day was really emotional for you. And how did
it feel to be forced out like that before because
(16:51):
you weren't ready?
Speaker 3 (16:52):
You were it was like heartbroken and you know, but
it was it was hard because I was just so
sick and I.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
Was like, and I don't think anyone knows this, but
I mean, if you want to explain kind of what
happened to you when you got home from Special Forces,
because I think that's what shocked me even even the
most honestly, because we heard you coughing and we knew
it was really bad, and that's why we knew you
didn't want to go to medical. But we were like, Christy,
(17:20):
you got to go like it was it was bad, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
No, it was. I mean you and Shaw when you're
like you have to see medical clothes, like I don't
want to get new He was going to pull me.
But at the same time, I'm like, it is my health,
you know, I need to take care of this. But
I fought for like four days there of you know,
trying to with this cough and the exhaustion and like fatigue,
and I was starting to get a little bit delirious,
not to lie like it just at some point we
(17:45):
didn't know where even was.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
But like the cough also that it kept you up
all night, you were not you were not sleeping.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
No, I was like at some points pacing because I
was like, just drink water because I felt then I
was keeping everybody else up. I was like, it's terrible.
It's just terrible. But my journey home, I don't even
know how I got home, to be honest, because you know,
once you're done, it's like, okay, you're on the plane.
I would say like Istanbul, Istanbul home. I had no
(18:14):
idea if I was even on the right plane. I
didn't eat for probably five days because I just was
so exhausted. I literally just laid in bed. Took my
daughter to school. I I don't even know how I
did it, but I took my dogs for like a
thirty minute walk, and I was just done. I was
so tired, so fatigued. I didn't have like I lost
like fifteen pounds because I just was nauseous, no appetite, coughing.
(18:39):
My kids didn't even know who I was. Like, they're
a little scared when they saw me because of how
depleted I looked and then the cough. But you know,
I just you know, rest in. After like ten days,
I started kind of getting back to myself.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
And then but you went to the hospital when you
got home, right.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
I wanted to, but I didn't like when you Christy,
you told me you did.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
You told me you got antibiotics.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
No, they gave me some meds when I left, and
then I came home on the third day, I was like,
I have to go to the hospital. I can't function,
like this is something's wrong. And then I just was
like I'm going to sleep it off, like I'm just
gonna keep with these meds.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Oh my gosh, never do that again.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
I know it was bad. I probably should have gone,
but I can't. I'm like, and then I kept saying, well,
I'm gonna tell them like I was in Morocco, like
eating dirt pretty much and pretty much, I'm just like,
let me see if I could just whether this storm.
I was a disaster, to be honest, but I'm better.
(19:42):
I'm better now. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
I mean, it was definitely scary just seeing you medically
withdraw because you were just you were so tough, and
it was just scary to see. Like, I think it
was weird because I didn't really understand, like, Okay, how
are we going to get an infection out here? I mean,
obviously there were multiple ways of how we could have
(20:06):
gotten an infection. We were swimming in the grossest water
and inhaling so much dust and dirt. But then it's
like to see it actually happened to you. It was like, wow, okay,
so this can happen, and this is happening.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
And that's what was the freakiest part about.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
It, because when I was breathing, I felt the crackling,
like I felt my chest crackling, as like every task
we did that was anything with running, I was just
like trying to do short breasts so that I could
like keep up with you guys, because I just couldn't breathe.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
But I was like, and you obviously never had any
medical issues like this prior to Special Forces.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
No, like not gun Wood, I'm very healthy. I'm usually not.
That's why I was like, is this really going to
this happening to me? I'm leaving because I'm sick, Like,
how can I not push through this? Like I was
just really you know, second guessing everything. When I got home,
I was like really disappointed that, you know, I'm like,
did I make the right decisions that I just pushed
through until I passed out? Like I was just like, what,
(21:07):
you know, that's usually how headstrong I am, you know,
so I definitely knew I made the right choice because
I was really sick. You were, you know, I was
you know what if you know, I always think of
this stuff, like what if I just kept going?
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Yeah? I mean I and I said this.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
I feel like we all talked about this too when
we whenever anyone left, I it's not And that's why
medic being medically withdrawn is like the hardest way to
leave because you don't want to. But even for the
people who tapped out, it's like you were, you regret
it instantly.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
You wish you stayed.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
So, and it's weird because it was such a mind
altering thing, like we just wanted at the end of
the day. Yes, it was so challenging and we all
wanted to tap out, probably every day at some point.
But then it was like a mental thing, like you
got to keep going. You got to keep going, like
you're almost there.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
Yeah there, Like just get to the next meal, You're
almost there.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Like where's lunch? Because I never ate dinner. I only
ate lunch.
Speaker 3 (22:16):
I barely ate because I was just like couldn't. I
was so tired, tired, and it was so hot, and
the last thing I want to do was like eat that.
I just wanted a bar. I was like, just give me.
I could just have bars.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
Oh those bars saved all of us. Yeah, all of us.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
Give me that. Like I don't even eat the food. No.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
Literally, I feel like Special Forces cast everyone for a reason.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
And everyone got their own angle.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Or story, which I thought Fox did a really good job.
Did you feel like they really told your story and
the way you would have wanted them to.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
Absolutely?
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Yeah, I mean I just I just felt like they
were so respectful, like they really did it really good.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
Yeah, I agree. I think they definitely are looking out
for each and every one of us and wanted us
to find our purpose on coming on this show. And
they you know, I don't think they truly embarrassed anybody.
They just showed personalities. I think they really do a
good job of the editing part because as much as
I wanted them to show a lot more, like we
said earlier, how hard it was, they really truly are
(23:24):
there for each and every one of us.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
They really are. How did they approach you?
Speaker 3 (23:29):
I just got my agent go to call like two
weeks prior to the show, two weeks two weeks prior,
and I was like, are you kidding me? Like I
have no training, I had no idea, like you know,
like I can't swim. That's my first reactions. I can't swim, Like.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
My mom said the same thing.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
And then I was like why not, you know, like
why not? Like I love challenges, you know, that's the
part I missed, the whole locker room feel like I
haven't I wasn't competing anymore, and I was like, well,
this is a lifetime and opportunity to meet people like
you and you know, just be around amazing people in
a locker room type feel facing your biggest challenges like
(24:09):
what's better once in a lifetime.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Definitely, did you kind of have a feeling of what
they were expecting from you on this show or a
kind of like a sense of why they wanted you
on this season.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
No, I'll be honest, I really didn't watch too many episodes,
so I knew, like because one of my former teammates,
Carly was on the show in the first season, and
I remember, you know, when they when she got submerged
under water. I couldn't watch it anymore because I'm like,
that's like watching her Panic. Yeah, so watching her Panic,
I was like, I can't see her in that stace.
I never watched the show. I knew about it obviously,
(24:48):
and then I started watching like clips, and I was like, yeah,
I can't watch anywhere. I will not go on the show, Like, yeah,
you know. I didn't really want to have too much information,
so when I I was like, wow, this is legit.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
No, so legit?
Speaker 1 (25:04):
I mean I binge watched the third season, and I
watched a little bit of season one and two, so
I kind of knew, like what some of the challenges
we're gonna.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
Be, like watching it and actually doing it.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Please, it's like you can't even compare it.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
Yeah, because I remember Sean watching's like I watched everything,
So I was kind of that annoying little kid next
to her. I was like, next, what's next? She's like, well,
we probably have three or formal workouts. I was like, okay,
I'm not not gonna.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Ask you right, Like are you kidding me? It was
so funny.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
Yeah, like everything she did, I was like, okay, I'm
just gonna follow on your footsteps.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Oh yeah no, literally everyone was following Sean.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
But you and Sean had a very like the way
that you guys moved it was very and it was
funny because the DA said it too very robotic, like
you guys were just attentive like did everything that they said,
and it was like it was almost like like yeah,
like mechanical like you guys just like did it and
(26:12):
that definitely comes from your both of your backgrounds. But
it was so like inspiring and amazing to watch you
guys because I was like that like like due diligence
and like determination like has to come from just all
the training that you guys have been through.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Oh. Absolutely. I think Sean and I are so used
to that discipline too, of like what you ever has
been where you're told to do, you do it or
there'll be consequences. So I'm like, I don't want to
do anything extra, like even to what we brought.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Yes, I don't want to do anything extra like if
you if you screw up.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
Then you're gonna have to do ten hundreds friends.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
Like even we were even talking about what we brought
in with us, like in our bag, like the two
of us had like barely anything. I had like a
travel bottle of shampoo and conditioner that obviously lasted one day,
you know, but we were just like My whole fear
was like I don't want to get caught with anything,
you know. And that was just the upbringing. It's like
you're told what to do, you do it, you know.
(27:07):
I'm like, I think we both thrive and with discipline.
Speaker 1 (27:11):
I know. You guys were so funny, Sean and Christy.
They would use my hair brush. They literally brought nothing.
I was like, guys, yeah, I was like I told
them that I'm on accutane.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
I needed my moisturizer my awka before and.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
I'm like, I need that shampoo.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
I brought everything that I could everything. I was like,
they can't do this to me. This is crazy.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
Yeah, we were definitely tapping into your stuff.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
Oh no please, We were all sharing it. And then
it was funny because it was like and my mom
was like in her mind it was like when she
was in prison, like every time somebody left, we would
get all their stuff. Eva left, she gave us all
her stuff. Like every time someone left, it was like
all the commissary they had, they.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Gave it to us.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
Absolutely, It's like, what do you got in that bag?
Speaker 1 (28:00):
So funny, it's like about something a little brighter now.
But you've been with someone new for a while now,
and how is this relationship different and what feels better
or healthier this time around?
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Yeah? To see you understands me, like he understands my stubbornness,
you know, like my mentality and you know everything I've
been through, you know, because he witnessed some parts of
what wasn't so great in my relationship and you know,
helped me get out of it. So I feel like
I'm I feel safe with him, you know, And He's
(28:34):
just really really supportive of me and my dreams and
my you know how I see my future. So like
it's just refreshing knowing that someone's not trying to live
through me, that someone's there on a journey with me
and wants to be part of my journey. I love
that doing it together.
Speaker 1 (28:54):
He's awesome, And I mean, I know this is always
so hard because I you know, you went through your
divorce and people said things about that, and no matter what,
people are always going to have something to say. Do
you feel like sometimes the public does not understand who
you're with right.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
Now hundred percent? You know, the public always has their
own viewpoints on things, because you know, I met him
through soccer, right I met him through like he was
my coach at one point, but he was also in
my friend circle, you know, because he was friends with
my ex and I didn't really get to know him
all that well until he became my coach, you know,
(29:34):
because I didn't really hang out. I wasn't allowed to
hang out with the boys when I was with my
ex husband, So the relationship just developed and he witnessed
some stuff when I was allowed to hang out, and
you know, unfortunately he saw the worst and kind of switch.
He went from not really liking me to supporting me
(29:54):
and helping me. And you know, people just look at
it as headlines. As you know, I started, you know,
a relationship with my coach, but I was in my
forties and you really truly helped support me get out
of an abusive relationship. And I couldn't thank him enough.
And then, of course, you know when you become really
close to someone friends, you know, I fell for him,
(30:15):
I fell in love.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
With them, and you know I do that through a
really I couldn't.
Speaker 3 (30:19):
Yeah, there's nothing I could do about it. You know,
it's like you can't help them you fall in love
with and you know, and we started a relationship. And
he's been in the girls' lives for a long time
and you know, the respects and it has been a
great step father to the girls. So you know, like,
did I want it to happen that way? Obviously not
like you know, but in the end of the day,
(30:42):
like I have this supporting, loving husband that you know,
I know what happened. I don't need to, Like I said,
I'm a private person, I really haven't. I'm starting to
now tell my story you know, and everyone's going to
have their own opinion, and that's all what I have
no idea what I went through and how everything ended
(31:05):
up working out the way it probably should have been
for me, Like I finally got my path in life,
and I finally found my happiness a little bit later
in life.
Speaker 1 (31:15):
And you know, as long as he is amazing to
you and amazing to your daughters, that is all that matters.
Speaker 3 (31:21):
It is, it truly is. It's like I'm living my
own life. Like people can have their opinions in my view,
but they don't see my day to day. They don't
see what I have to go through and what I
have to deal with. And you know, they can have
your own opinions, but like I know, deep down I
can sleep good at night because I've made the right
decisions for myself and my.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
Family one thousand percent.
Speaker 1 (31:52):
Let's get into a little bit of your time as
captain of the women's national team. What's part of women's
soccer much less being the captain that people don't see.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
I think people don't see all the stuff that you
do behind the scenes, you know, I think they see
what is on TV. You know, they see game days,
they see social media, but you know there's a lot
that goes on behind the scenes. And I think what
helped me be a be a good captain is that
I was a mom. You know, the girls were on
the road with me majority of the time, so.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
You homeschooled them right for Yeah, pretty much.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
They Riley, my oldest, started going to school full time,
like second grade, but they allowed her to miss a
good chunk of kindergarten first because they felt like being
on the road in that culture and you know, seeing it,
you know, in person, was just as an education experience
as you know, being in school. So you know, she
(32:53):
was able to travel a lot longer. And then Reese,
she was six when my career was over with the
national team, so she went right on to kindergarten. Yeah,
so you know it was it was a great experience.
They were around amazing female role models. It couldn't have
been a better exper I'm sure.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
You know, they probably just owned so much. I mean
traveling and seeing the world like that. I feel like
that's the best way to just learn and experience everything.
Speaker 3 (33:19):
Yeah, I mean both of them. At six weeks I
was back with the team, you know, traveling and you know,
three months I was back on the field competing, so
I was just like, you know, like no time wasting,
Let's go, Let's get.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Back out you know.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
It was like my mentality is like I'm not losing
my position. I want to get it back out there.
I want to you know, give what I can. Even
if it wasn't one hundred percent on the field, it
was going to be off the field as a leader,
you know, and making sure that you know, playing on
the best team in the world, like it's very competitive,
so you know, I wanted to make sure that if
I wasn't there physically, I could be there, you know,
(33:54):
mentally and supporting and helping, whether it was players trying
to build confidence or even the coaching staff giving them confidence.
Sometimes you know, media is rough, so as a good
balance as a captain, trying to keep that whole locker
room together.
Speaker 1 (34:10):
Definitely, when you look how women's sports are treated today,
do you ever feel bitter about what you didn't get?
Speaker 3 (34:18):
I mean yes and no, but knowing where they are
now to where we began, because it's like it was
tough when I first started. I was you know, my
first contract was six thousand dollars, you know, and you know,
working a couple of different jobs and you know, trying
to fend for yourself, and then you know where they
are now. I mean when I when I retired professionally
(34:39):
in twenty seventeen, I was making thirty five thousand dollars
a year, you know, So that's and you look at it,
that's not too long ago. And now these girls professionally
in the NWSL are making you know, some decent money.
Not where they could be, but it's growing and it's
getting better. But we just you know, still need those
those same opportunities to you need to push to make
(35:01):
those salaries a lot more.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
Definitely. Wow, that's crazy, all that work you guys put in.
God my gosh, that's the national team is there?
Speaker 3 (35:11):
Like the national team level is getting better, Like the
money is getting better through sponsors, you know, and US
Soccer and you know, and fighting against FIFA and doing
all that stuff off the field has helped a ton.
It's just now professionally within her own country, we need
to still have the backing of the sponsors and the
support of the fans to keep growing it so these
(35:32):
girls can get paid what they deserve to get paid.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
Definitely, who do you think is the future of women's
sports today.
Speaker 3 (35:41):
Wow, in soccer, we're just all around.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
And I guess soccer because yeah, I we'll say soccer.
Speaker 3 (35:47):
Yeah, because I mean, like I say, like the Caitlin
Clark for basketball, like she was a big buzz which
I think helped just people want to watch sports, you know,
not even just basketball, but then within soccer. But you know,
there's a younger generation now up and coming for soccer
because it would say all the household names you know
have retired or which I'm loving. There's so many of
(36:11):
them that are getting pregnant, you know, and starting the
families and then wanting to like get back after it.
So yeah, this new younger generation is is going to
be a good test to continue to push, you know,
and and lead the ones behind them to take over.
Speaker 1 (36:29):
Definitely, you've spent your career dealing with so much pressure, expectations,
and criticism. What's something that you still struggle with mentally today?
Speaker 3 (36:40):
I think always being judged, you know, I think trying
to get that out of my head is because my
whole life, you know, I was being judged even when
I was I even feel like when I was five,
because I was a great player, Like, you know, everybody
was always looking at me. Everybody was always talking about
this girl. Yeah, it's like a little jealousy. So I
think always being judged when you step out into the
(37:02):
real world, just off the field. I think that's what
I'm really working on on the mental side of it,
is like that I'm not being judged all the time
when I think people are constantly judging me, and it's
you know, people aren't. People don't care as much as
you think they do. So it's just again taking that
deep breath to get out and just like live your life,
you know, and not worry so much about what people
(37:25):
think of you.
Speaker 1 (37:26):
You know.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
It's hard.
Speaker 3 (37:27):
That's how I was, Like, It's what was always, you know,
I'm always getting critiqued, whether it's film, whether it was
like you know, sports and like and then you know,
I got into commentating. You know, I wrote a book.
I could wrote a book with you know, with a
good friend of mine, you know. So it's just like
you're I was always dabbling. But it's just that pressure
(37:49):
of people always judging, I think is the hardest thing
when you transition into that next part of my life.
I'm just tired of being judged. But that's part of
my ear voice saying keep moving forward.
Speaker 1 (38:03):
No, and that's all you have to do because obviously
soccer was your love and your passion, and then when
that ended, life goes on.
Speaker 2 (38:13):
You have to figure out what your next passion is.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
And I know that's definitely probably a really difficult transition.
But no matter what the public, they're gonna say what
they want to say. But honestly, their opinion is this
big compared to what you can build, So just think
about it. It's probably some ugly troll behind their phone and.
Speaker 2 (38:35):
It doesn't even matter. You're doing way bigger and better things.
All right, I want to talk I mean I want
to talk to.
Speaker 1 (38:44):
You about episode eight a little bit before we wrap
up this episode. Yes, so we basically it was actually
probably the hardest physical challenge we ever we ever did.
It was basically like this mountin that reminded me of
like an ice cream cone. So it just kept going
up and up and up and up, and like each
(39:07):
every time you made it around one circle, you had
to grab another piece of equipment. So it was like
we made it up the one circle, we had to
grab a tire. Okay, bring the tires to the one spot.
Then we had to bring sandbags to another spot. Then
the last stretch were chains.
Speaker 3 (39:27):
I've seen them, like, yeah, oh.
Speaker 1 (39:29):
You had chains wrapped around us, like fully wrapped around us.
And that challenge, I don't know what it was, Christy,
and I think it was because we really didn't have to,
like we couldn't run like you, like you could run
as much as you wanted, but like you were really
just like lunging and pulling yourself up this mountain because
(39:52):
it was so steep.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
And I was honestly.
Speaker 1 (39:57):
Really proud of myself that day because I I felt
like I always kind of finished last. But even though
I finished, I finished last. I was the first one
out of the out of the girls to finish that challenge.
Speaker 3 (40:12):
Well done.
Speaker 1 (40:13):
And I was like, see, I'm getting stronger as this
is goner.
Speaker 3 (40:17):
You were, though, because you think you were like saying
you weren't maybe as fit as you'd like to be.
Speaker 2 (40:22):
Yeah, no, doub well. I was in Italy. I just
did not prepare for this properly.
Speaker 3 (40:26):
But you were getting fit as you were getting through
those days. You know, I was a day you said
day it was day you were already lifting every day
and yeah, getting fitter and fitter, so well done.
Speaker 1 (40:39):
No, yeah, so that was that was crazy though.
Speaker 2 (40:41):
It was like nuts. And then Sean and Bree obviously
made it through that.
Speaker 1 (40:48):
They were awesome, but it was it was a little
scary though, because the ds were being rough with the chains,
so like I got we got, I finally got my
chains off of me, and Sean's were at actually wrapped
around her neck and Andrew like that was the first
time I ever saw Andrew like get a little annoyed,
you know, and he was like.
Speaker 2 (41:08):
Oh my god, like why were these around her neck?
Speaker 1 (41:11):
And I think it was just like not even realizing it,
but they were so heavy, Like me, Sean and Jesse
were the shortest ones on the course and it was
just like crazy.
Speaker 2 (41:22):
So that it was the first time I was.
Speaker 1 (41:25):
Like, oh, I was like, but it's okay, Andrew, that
is your wife as you should.
Speaker 2 (41:29):
You should be passed right now. I was like, I'm
trying to catch my breath, but.
Speaker 3 (41:32):
Yeah, there shall be so mad here.
Speaker 2 (41:37):
But yeah, and.
Speaker 1 (41:38):
Then after that challenge that night we went on our mission.
Speaker 3 (41:45):
So that's when you go on the they kotya wow.
Speaker 1 (41:49):
So that was crazy because they just kind of dropped
us off. I think it was actually close to where
the damn was. Oh okay, around there you were okay,
but we were in like a town, like there was
little convenience stores.
Speaker 3 (42:08):
Like hiding, trying to hide.
Speaker 2 (42:09):
Hide. But then there was like a map and we
had to.
Speaker 1 (42:17):
Basically find the safe house, okay, and each like destination
we would get closer and closer.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
But then eventually, how long.
Speaker 3 (42:29):
Do you think you guys were on the run for
before they caught you?
Speaker 1 (42:38):
It was laid out, it was yeah. I think we
probably started the mission around five or six, okay, and
we were on our feet until like twelve a like
twelve or one, just.
Speaker 2 (42:55):
Like running through it.
Speaker 1 (42:57):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (42:58):
And then it came to the point where.
Speaker 1 (43:00):
They were like, okay, like you're about to get captured.
Speaker 2 (43:04):
So just like.
Speaker 1 (43:05):
Because we were like getting close to like the safe house,
but I don't think like the safe house really existed
because they had to capture us. But then it basically
came to the point where they were like, okay, guys,
like prepare yourselves, you're about to get captured. And even
though they said that, it was like there was no
(43:26):
way of preparing yourself. Like the dogs were barking, like
screaming at you. We had those the black things over
our heads again, and it was just like.
Speaker 2 (43:39):
Like trembling, like it was so story.
Speaker 3 (43:42):
Yeah, see you don't know where you're going. You don't know.
Speaker 1 (43:45):
And it was like, you know at the end of
the day, yeah, you have the DS's, but like everyone
else was like these random people just like oh like
these random dogs and these random people like growing you
around and it's like who are you?
Speaker 3 (44:00):
Where am I going? When they brought you back, you
still had no idea where you do you know you're
back in the compound.
Speaker 1 (44:07):
You like, yeah, you kind of put it together, especially
when like you were getting out of the car and
then like just kind of like but it was crazy,
like obviously we'll see the rest of the days.
Speaker 3 (44:23):
But you hear their voices.
Speaker 1 (44:26):
You kind of figured it out because then once we
got back to the compound and went into interrogation, you
were like, okay, this is our dorm.
Speaker 2 (44:34):
Okay, like all of our beds were gone.
Speaker 3 (44:37):
Oh god.
Speaker 1 (44:38):
So it was like little things and we were allowed
to go to the bathroom and get a glass of water.
But like so when we went to the bathroom, I
was like, Okay, clearly I'm sitting in the piece of
plywood right now, But like then you would put it
together a little by little.
Speaker 3 (44:58):
You still couldn't. Couldn't at this point.
Speaker 1 (45:01):
No the bag, no, yeah, they put They kept the
bag over our head until we reached the bathroom, so
like they like directed you, like your hands were like
this in front of you, and it was like this
directing you.
Speaker 2 (45:14):
Wow, it was terrible. It was like we were talking
to the ds is twenty four to seven.
Speaker 1 (45:19):
But I kept asking for water because I'm like, oh,
I need.
Speaker 2 (45:23):
Water, just so like a breathe, because I was like
I'm dying.
Speaker 1 (45:27):
Yeah, I'm excited for you to watch the rest of it,
even though I wish you were there with us.
Speaker 3 (45:34):
I know it's fun because I'm like, oh, I wish
I could.
Speaker 1 (45:36):
Be doing that.
Speaker 2 (45:36):
You don't know, but you were like so close, literally
so close, I know.
Speaker 3 (45:43):
Because you're like passing and like all activity, like like
physical physical, physical stuff after.
Speaker 1 (45:48):
That, well, and that's why like when you left that morning,
the gas would have.
Speaker 2 (45:53):
Oh probably taken you out, like with your lungs.
Speaker 1 (45:56):
And then day eight, how it was so physically challenging,
like you you probably wouldn't have been able to breathe now,
it would have been too rough. But I mean, I
think everyone knows how tough you are, and the DS
we're definitely really disappointed to see you go.
Speaker 3 (46:13):
I was, Yeah, I was disappointed, you know. Even when
they came in, they're like, you do cry.
Speaker 2 (46:20):
You're not a robot. This is not good to know.
Speaker 3 (46:23):
Yes, I do not often, but I am crying right now.
Speaker 1 (46:30):
Chrissy, Well, thank you so much for coming on Casual Chaos.
It was so good to see you, and I can't
wait for you to watch the rest of Special Forces
live your journey and just keep building your confidence and strength.
Speaker 3 (46:44):
Thank you. I'm so happy our paths crossed.
Speaker 1 (46:48):
I know we have to hang out down the shore
this summer. We need a little Special Forces reunion me,
you and Chanelle because we're all in the Jersey area.
Speaker 3 (46:58):
Yes, I watched one of the episodes with Chanel was
so much fun.
Speaker 2 (47:01):
Well, I saw that that was so cute.
Speaker 3 (47:04):
She's awesome. Yeah, we'll pick it back together.
Speaker 2 (47:06):
Yes, definitely. All right. Well, thank you, Christy, all right,
see you soon.
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