December 11, 2025 • 37 mins
Today on Wide Open...Producer Joelle Monique joins Ashlyn to answer your listener questions. As we wrap up the first season of Wide Open, Ashlyn takes a moment to look back at the year and drop some hints on what's to come in 2026.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
All right, here we are. Welcome back everyone to another
episode of Wide Open. I am your host, Vashlyn Harris,
and today's episode is a little different than normal. It's
just me and my brilliant producer, Joel, and we're just
going to take things slow, sit down with all of you.
(00:31):
I feel like we're really at a point in the
season where I've been thinking and talking a lot about growth,
how much can change in a year, in a moment,
in a single conversation, and reading all the questions that
you all sent in reminded me why I started this
show in the first place, to create a space where
we can both be honest about who we were, who
(00:54):
we are, and who we're becoming. These questions aren't surface level,
which I greatly appreciate. And you asked about identity, parenting, love, purpose,
aging and the things that shape me both on and
off the field, and honestly, the things I'm still probably
figuring out in real time. I want to honor that
(01:16):
by answering with the same openness you've given me from
day one. So enjoy the show, Enjoy just a moment
of us sitting down having real, honest, breakthrough, good conversation.
Joel will be asking the questions and I will be
answering them all at the best of my ability. But
(01:36):
some of these are very very good questions and some
are just the perfect amount of fun. So I look
forward to diving into all of this with you. So
thank you so much for submitting your questions. And Joel,
what are you opening us up with today?
Speaker 2 (01:53):
We got so many great questions, but I think as
a group, this was our favorite one. It's simple to
just start you out, real easy. It's how many hats
do you have?
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Actually?
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Oh my gosh, Okay, so it's it's it's no secret
you guys. I I love hats. I'm a big fan
of hats. It's almost like my safety mechanism when I
am out and about. I don't know what it is,
but it's it really makes me feel like my truest self.
(02:27):
I honestly, Joelle, have no idea, but it's upwards of
hundreds to thousands. It's really like, I know, it's really
an emotional support thing. So I have a it's I
have a lot of hats and I'm obsessed with them.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
I know, always look always pushed death. Here's just a
lot of options.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Yeah, but here's the secret. I am a mom of
two very young kids and a partner who flies like
a Ferrari like through life. I don't have time to
do my hair, like I don't have time. Okay, so
I have a lot.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Of hats and its like again, they always look back,
but some girls resent headbands. You've got a hat collection
that is enviable across the nation. I also really loved
this question. I thought it was sweet. What's your favorite
memory on a soccer field?
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Oh? Gosh, favorite memory on a soccer field? Honestly, I
have so many incredible memories, uh, through all the stages
of my career, whether it was high school, whether it
was college, professional with the US team. But I will
say this one of my greatest memories that might shock
(03:47):
most people is in the twenty nineteen World Cup. We
were playing against France and we were in a very
long battle with US Soccer. We had we sued US
Soccer for equal pay. We're at the World Cup, you know,
it's crazy, and Trump's coming after us, and we're really
(04:09):
trying to lay this foundation of change to pay these
women what they're fucking worth and what they're owed. And
I remember a part of the game playing against France
in France at the World Cup, and most of the
time fans would chant USA, USA, but this was different.
(04:34):
I kept hearing people say equal pay, equal pay, and
it was a moment to realize and reflect and all
of the level like it was such a huge moment.
I was like, Oh, like, we're not just changing the
(04:54):
landscape in our own country, We're changing the landscape globally
for women to fight for what they deserve. And it
wasn't just about women. The men were chanting it. We
came back at the ticker tape parade, every sign was
equal pay. Our president was getting booed, FIFA was getting booed.
(05:17):
It was really a public moment where they were being
hold accountable and I was like, Oh, we're going to
win this thing, and we're gonna this is going to
be our This team's greatest legacy is not winning the tournament.
We knew we had to win that tournament for people
to take us seriously, for us to win that six
(05:39):
year battle in court, but WHOA. In that moment hearing
people chant from all over the world, we were like,
this is it, Like it's fucking go time.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
That brings up so many memories, like it's the women's
basketball team having to win at the Olympics in order
to justify having yep a WNBA correct. And then I
think two in France, a nation that just genuinely loves
a protest and is all about like people power. For
them to recognize you in that moment, that's so beautiful.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
I was. I like that memory. That was a good one.
That was a good one.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Let's talk about memories from this show of my favorite
bit of wisdom from a wide open guest.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
There's been so many, so many transformative guests, but I
will say I think Adam Grant was one of my
favorite guests because he's been able to see me as
an athlete, as a mom, as a human in the
growth of what each of those seasons have have kind
of brought to my life. And I love when he
(06:43):
was talking about how identity can evolve and that's a
strength not a loss. There's a lot of fucking power
in that and that line he was talking about, because
I think we get so caught up all the time.
You know, every day we're evolving, every day we're changing,
(07:05):
and every day we might not get it right. But
it also is such a strength and a superpower to
continue to evolve and be better and grow and change
and be thoughtful and empathetic and graceful and all of
these things that like, even though so much and I
(07:25):
can speak personally, so much of my life has shifted
and changed in the last five years, I can't always
think of it as a loss. I am growing at
a rate I'm so so deeply proud of that. I
I'm glad to stand ten toes down, chest out and
(07:49):
be like, Wow, I've learned so much and I'm such
a better human because I've walked through it and not
around it. So I think that like Adam Grant, the
way he can land the plane and make you feel
so whole even in the most shattered moments of your life.
(08:10):
It gives you it's all about perspective and like reframing
that perspective, and I was glad in that moment he
could give that to me.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
It's beautiful.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
And I think, particularly as women were often like it
feels like there's this deadline of like, I mean, artificially
at thirty, but I think maybe hardcore maybe even like
late thirties early forties, where they're like, if you haven't
done it by now, it's over, like, yeah, pack it up,
pack it in, like you missed your window. A crazy
Shenanigan thing to think, But it's so lovely when you
(08:41):
meet like actual women in the world who are like, no,
i've changed involves, these are some of my best years.
A lot of women who at fifty are like, these
are actually the best time of my life and like, oh,
aging is wonderful. Yeah, beautiful, and yeah, to have somebody
affirm that is always so lovely. Let's keep on that note. Then,
what's the biggest challenge and the biggest thing you've had
since retiring?
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Really like a lot of things that made me a
great athlete, not it doesn't necessarily translate into being a
good partner, being a good parent, you know, the win
at all costs mentality, the ego of which we carry
because we've had to, like, if you don't believe in
(09:23):
yourself at the top, you're fucked. Like it's just it's
just there's no one super fragile walking in and having
a long, exceptional career without truly having somewhat of an
ego of I am the best, I am the greatest.
Because it is a very very hard career to live
(09:47):
to excel in, but most importantly to stay at the
top of So I'm learning in real time how to
keep the best part of me. That was like a
good teammate, you know who showed up for the people
and put them first, and you know a lot of
things like that. But also what do I need? What
(10:11):
am I What boundaries am I willing to stick to
or create? And I think you learn also because you
have no control. You're told to be here, You're told
to show up here. Your body needs to look like this.
You have to eat, sleep and act this way. The
freedom of retiring and like having my own sense of
(10:36):
schedule and worth and what makes me happy. It's like
almost listening to myself again and not my like drill sergeant,
you know what I mean. Like I get to wake
up and have choice in life. I get to wake
up and go pick my kids up from school earlier
or take them on a fun weekend trip. Like I
(10:57):
didn't have that. I missed everything. My life was dedicated
to my team and to my craft. They came before
my family, they came before my partner, they came before
my kids. And the freedom to like shed that layer
that has taken so much of me. I'm reclaiming my
(11:18):
own identity in a lot of ways, and I think
there's a beauty of that type of freedom. A lot
of people don't ask, but yeah, when people ask me,
do I miss it? I don't fucking miss it. I
gave it everything. I gave it everything to the point
it cost me a lot. So now gaining back that
(11:41):
freedom and that time and that belonging and that self
care and that self love, like, I don't miss it.
And I don't feel bad about saying that because I
gave it every fucking piece of me. I have no regrets.
I left nothing on the table. I checked every box
I possed, simply could and some so I would say
(12:04):
that I think it's a It has been a blessing
and a curse and all the things in between. And
I'm really reclaiming my sense of joy and freedom outside
of the toxic like culture it created within me, and
I don't have to carry that with me forever.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Say, it's such an hort like embrace so wholeheartedly, like
this new era of life with like not just like
with such fervor for the newness, but also no regrets
from the past. I think that's really rare. Well, you know,
while we're talking about, you know, not being a professional
athlete and embracing this new life, we had another fun
question just you know, you talk a lot about you know,
(12:45):
still maintaining and seeing active and like trying to eat right.
But I love a cheat day, have a favorite cheat
day food.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
I think health is a lifestyle. I gotta be on.
I think yeah, I mean bad food and guilty pleasures
and things. It makes me feel like shit. Like when
you treat your body as an exceptional machine. Everything counts,
(13:20):
you know, when you add up all the inches at
the end of the day, how much you sleep, how
much you recover, how much you do prehab, how much
you're doing in the gym, how much you know. Yeah,
it's just on and on. What you're eating matters, what
you drink matters. It's like a lot of athletes say this.
Yes I'm a retired athlete, but I will forever be
(13:42):
a pro athlete. It is the way I move in
the world. I didn't stop playing, and all of a
sudden I picked up every awful like trait where I'm
sitting on my ass eating bombons like it just doesn't exist.
I'm actually even more disciplined now because I'm not burning
fifteen hundred calories by noon. So I guess a cheat
(14:08):
day for me. You know, I love pizza. Love is
a rich word, but like I guess, you know, I
don't know. Like last night, I'm cooking, you know, a
roasted chicken and couscous and a salad with homemade dressing,
Like I eat it probably five days a week. My
(14:30):
cheat days are when I get the freedom to go
out with friends in the city and have a really
nice dinner, have a nice bottle of wine where I'm
not like too fixated on what it is. Is it fried?
Is it carbs? Like I'm just having a good time
filling my belly and my heart with joy from my surroundings.
(14:53):
I could care less about what I'm eating. I care
more about the vibes of the people around me.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
So yeah, it's an inner labor show, Yeah, said Hollard.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Yeah, it's his key, like.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
Because I feel like guys who have the cheat day,
like you know, when the rock is like I ate
like nineteen cheeseburgers today or whatever.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
It's fucking crazy.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
They're always like now I'm in the gym for the
next like forty eight hours and you're like, you know,
maybe you know, I like your way of doing it
where you're like, if I'm just consistent, they want to
go out, I can have fun and just be relaxed
about it. And this makes sense to me. This is
really great. Let's take a quick break and when we
come back, I've got.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Some more fun questions for you.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
You stay tuned. I'll be back in just a moment
after this brief message from our sponsors.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Okay, we have so many question People really want to
know about you and Sofia, which I think is very sweet.
People want to know if you watch One Tree Hill
before you and Sofia were together.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Fuck, no, no, I watched it since No as a
professional athlete chasing my dreams. I was not watching shitty television. Please. Honestly,
she has which just she just finished. She has Drama
Queens and it's this recap show and she has to
(16:16):
watch every week episodes. So there are times where like, hm,
maybe I have like an hour free in my schedule
where I want to sit next to her on the
couch and do the recap. And then I start watching
and I'm like, this fucking show's a nightmare. We're taking
diet pills, the way we're treating women. You're being past
(16:37):
to every guy on the fucking set. You're making out
with this one, You're laying on the beach with it.
I'm like, it's so chaotic for me, it's hard to watch.
And plus I don't like to see my partner like
yucking it up making out with other people on screen.
It's like does something I'm not used to it, Like,
I'm like, I'm good, I'm good. So I'm really like,
(17:00):
I'm like, really, I keep my distance. But also I
love watching her in her element, Like she's such a
good actress, and when I see her play certain characters,
I'm like, this is so funny because this is so
not you, like the bitchy little like ruffles feathers cheerleader.
(17:21):
I'm like, you're the sweetest human and the smartest person
I know. This is like the whole concept is really
a mind fuck a little bit. But I've watched a
few Yeah, I've watched a few episodes, but that's kind
of where I draw the line.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
I totally respect that. You know, he's so sweet. You
know when you talk about watching her in her element,
I got to observe her on set the other day
and I was like, oh, this is also a director,
like this is the person who she's in it, like
cameras ready to go. It was really fun watching her
just be like, no, let's just do this and said
I was like, ah, that's good, that's easy.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
You should in real life, you should, really, I mean
you should see her. So I'm really I'm excited because
I don't want to like drop the hints, but we
might be seeing Sophia soon. Okay, on this podcast, after
all these questions, you never know. You're gonna have to
(18:16):
stay tuned.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
We did get a question about whether or not Sophia
gave you kIPS when you were starting this podcast.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
No, we keep professional and personal very separate. Like I
think what's so great about us in which I value
so much, is she will only give me input or
insight when I ask for it. She's not hovering, she
doesn't claim to like you know, think that she knows more.
(18:46):
I think she does a really good Like when we're done,
we're not talking work, we're not talking this that like
she has her shit, I have my stuff, and like
we're very proud of each other. We show up for
each other. But that's like, really where we draw the line.
We're not really you know, some couples get really connected
in their work space and we're like, we just keep
(19:09):
it pushing.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Teach me your ways.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
I do not know how to unplug from work. That
is so mystifying. Wh people are like, and now I'm
done with work, I'm closing my laptop. I'm like, my
laptop is never closed. Oh my god, neverf.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
No, we do not. Yeah, we are not, and she
works all the time. But no, we have a really
really great balance, which I think is important for like
our life and our love life and our connection. Like,
I don't want to talk about work.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
I totally hear you.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
Yeah, let's talk about a different type of born from passion. Okay,
you're involving so many political organizations and movements. You're always
dashing off to like support another cause up with another voice.
Is there a cause that you think like urgently needs
attention that you would love for your audience to like
really focus in on.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
Yeah, I'm I've got two things that clearly are front
of mind that I always really engaged deeply in because
it's deeply personal and it's deeply meaningful to me. Is
showing up for the queer community and advocating for the
queer community, and with that comes mental health. Like mental
(20:21):
health advocacy is so important to me, especially because of
the rate in which our community is affected by it,
because we're always a target and we're always you know,
being forced back into the closet or forced into following
(20:42):
in line, and you know, not living our truth or
not being exactly who we want to be, and a
lot of issues come with that of the feeling of
not belonging or not feeling enough. And I am those
are my two biggest things, because there's a lot we
(21:05):
could be doing as not only people of the queer community,
but allies of the queer community. What I do know
is we can't do this alone. So for the people
out there watching and listening, you know, the LGBTQ plus
community is really it has been a really hard landscape
(21:28):
with this current political climate, and it is our job
to do the work, even if it's so small in
our homes, about teaching acceptance, really opening your heart and
your eyes to not only your po view but like
as a whole, our community and people who are in
(21:49):
our community who support us, how they show up for us,
either directly or indirectly, like we have to be better,
We have to educate ourselves. We can't be scared of
the things we don't know. You know, we're not projecting
our gayness and queerness on anyone. We're just trying to
live the same peaceful, respectful quality of life under the
(22:12):
same rule of law and protection everyone else's. It's not
that serious, but it is because now it's becoming a
life or death type of thing, and our humanity, humility,
like everything is on the line right now, and people
have to start showing up and not thinking, Oh, someone
else will deal with it, someone else will figure it out,
(22:35):
someone else will campaign about this, or the HRC has
the resources, or Glad is doing this. No fuck that.
What are you doing? What are you doing in your small, small,
interconnected circles that are helping create change, Whether that's teaching
your children to accept all people for how they choose
(22:55):
to live their life, or your mom club or your
walk club. Like you know, if you do nothing, you
are a part of the problem. If you turn your
head and you hear things and people make terrible comments,
you are a part of the problem. If you're not defending,
standing up or helping change it, so it doesn't have
(23:16):
to be this big scale magnitude of sit on the
board of the HRC or do this like. It starts
in your fucking home. It starts by the way you
speak about people, or how you include people, or how
you do the bystander effect. If you're at coffee with
your girlfriends or your religious families who are conservative, like,
(23:40):
do something, because by doing nothing, you are just a
complicit to the problem and it's never going to change
and we're never going to get anywhere. So that is
my like one big thing. We have to keep fighting
for the acceptance of other people even if we choose
to not live that way.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
Ashley said, check your bigoted uncle, and I said, yeah,
fuck that, Yes, yes, get it out.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
Stay tuned. I'll be back in just a moment after
this brief message from our sponsors.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
Okay, we've got time to maybe two more questions. Oh
if this is a cute one. And since we're just
talking about kids, I'm curious, what's your favorite like family
thing to do with your kids?
Speaker 1 (24:28):
Okay, so I am very cheesy and soft. Surprise, There's
one thing I love to do with my kids, and
I do it every single night, and I don't compromise it.
I have rules, as Sophia knows, and she laughs about it,
(24:49):
but I you know, I have fifty to fifty custody
with my children, So one thing I don't compromise is
when I have them, I can only do one work
event that week that takes me away from their school time.
And every night we put on pjs. Pjs are the
(25:10):
coolest thing in our family. We have light up Skeleton, Grinch,
Lilo and Stitch, you name it, and a lot of
times we have matching ones. So we do a lot
of glow in the dark so we can have raves.
We like, get it all. We light it up, light
(25:30):
it up, light it up, and then we turn all
the lights off and we're watching movies and we're glowing,
and we call it cuddle puddle time. We get to
pick a movie, they pick a movie, pick their pajamas,
and we build forts and I have like my house
is lit really tacky in a lot of ways, especially
(25:51):
right now for Christmas, and we turn on all of
the little trinket lights and we just like cuddle on
the couch and it's the only time I can get
my three and a half year old son to sit
the fuck down because he loves it so much. And
it's such a moment of connection and like physical touch
where we're all just in it. And I hope I like,
(26:14):
I know eventually they're not gonna want to have a
cuddle puddle time with their mom, but like, I really
love it's the best thing about having them. It's our one,
Like we do it religiously every single night.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
I love that one.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
It sounds like the safest, most beautiful rave I've ever
heard of. As someone spake a lot of time in
her family basement watching movies with her family, It's still
my favorite thing to do when I go home, and
HER's like, what do you want to do? Like I want
to sit in the basement and watch movies with you.
It looks like it's a bonding warm like safe connected
spas and you get to like shear the movies.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
I love this.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
Yeah, I'm about experiences with my kids, like you know,
this past Friday, I looked at both of them and
I'm like, what do you want to do? Like sometimes
you know, and everyone's gonna parent differently, and my kids
are in daycare, it's like, you know, it's not that big.
It's not that serious. So I was like, let's we're
(27:10):
going to miss school today and you tell me what
you both want to do. And we went on this
whole adventurous day and we just kept being like we're
going to party. That was the thing. Like we were
in the car and we were like blaring unwritten and
they know every song. We've got our hands up besides mine,
(27:32):
both hands on the wheel. Safety first, but like the
freedom to just they will remember that forever over gifts,
you know, toys of this, going to school here and coloring,
Like I really value experience and showing up. I think
it is something they'll carry with them forever. And I
(27:56):
really take it seriously in my home because I had
two parents and to work two jobs and they had
to for necessity, they had to do that, and it
was like, you know, I didn't get those moments and
I wish I did, and I didn't get those Sunday,
you know, Sunday's family day in our home, home cooked meal,
(28:19):
like we're really all present at the table, cuddle, puddle time, dance,
party time, dress up. We build stages like we have
a whole costume wardrobe. We got theater babies. But yeah,
I just like, I really really, I really value it
and it means so much to me, and I know
(28:40):
eventually as they grow, it's going to mean so much
to them.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
The home always sounds so magical. To last question, yes,
if there was a mount Rushmore of women's sports, Ah,
what for women? Would you immortalize and stone?
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Everyone always asks this great yes, but most of the
time they're like the mount Rushmore of women's soccer. But
I like this. It's women's sports.
Speaker 3 (29:07):
God.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
I mean, Billy Jean King is one, She's queen. She's
gonna be front row centner. Serena Williams, Yes, come on,
I mean yes, and she's just so business savvy. She's
cracked the code on both opening doors up for being
(29:31):
an entrepreneur, and like, she just crushes I would say,
have to have me a ham. Oh hell yeah, gotta
have me a ham. Come on, but gout.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
Hello, kicked open the door, shut.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
The damn door right off the hinges. You know, I
I might get some about this, but I have to
say some own biles. I do.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
I love this pick.
Speaker 1 (29:57):
Yeah, because you know the things she's been able to do,
the things she's paved the way, especially, you know, raising
a young black child daughter who looks up to her
so much. Like to be able to see my child
watch her and like be like, oh, she looks like
(30:19):
me too, like I can do that is so profound
for me because I didn't have that experience. But also
she broke every record. She's out here doing flips no
one's ever heard of and coining the new terms like
she is was like child's play, like it was almost
(30:40):
she made it look too easy. And then I think
what I respect the most about her is her ability
when she pulled out due to mental health and all
the things, and sitting down and being brave enough to
talk about it, just to be like, you know, I'm
(31:00):
not good and in my sport, this is like I
could break my back or my neck, this could be catastrophic,
and like, I'm gonna put this to the side and
focus on myself. And I think it gave everyone else
permission to be like, oh so even they struggle, and
it opened up this floodgate of conversation about oh, hello,
(31:26):
like high performing athletes are humans too, who struggle, have issues,
who get it wrong, And it really allowed people to
see the huge like humanize these type of athletes in
a way I don't know we had before.
Speaker 2 (31:44):
We always think of athletes as superhuman.
Speaker 3 (31:47):
And yes, about this moment career, is it proved you
to come back?
Speaker 2 (31:51):
Yep, you could take a break and come back and
still be great. And I think that's a lot of
the fear. It's like, if I stop, I'll never be
as good, I won't get it back, I'll lose everything.
But if you stop and take of yourself, you can
actually come back and shine. I also love that all
four of your women are activists in their own right
who are not just like fundamentally change the physical aspects
of their sports and the demand and what you can
(32:12):
earn and accomplish, but also have made way for a
lot of women to do their own thing and continue
in their footsteps. That was a beautiful answer. I loved it.
So this has been so great. We love your fans
for sitting in questions on core.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
On Core, Okay, I'll tell you what. Yeah, I heard
the fans screaming in the background. You get one more
question for the encore, so pick it. Why well, I
couldn't help it. I heard all the fans behind me
screaming one more, one more so here we are.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
I'm back.
Speaker 1 (32:48):
Okay for your encore question on you.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
Know that you're a New York Liberty fan and therefore
automatically a fan of Ellie. If you could perform one
song Ellie, either karaoke styl or dance style, which song
would you choose?
Speaker 1 (33:06):
M Oh, I love Ellie, My children love Ellie. You
know it would have to be a Rihanna song. Oh,
it would like Ellie's got so much swag, like I
gotta like, it's gotta be sexy, it's gotta be viby
(33:30):
like I. I think it'd have to be like pour
it up, pour it up? Oh should all fall?
Speaker 2 (33:39):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (33:40):
Yeah, we yeah, do not miss a moment with that break.
I just I can sense the rain drops falling and
we're in like two inches of water. We're gonna like,
you know, it would be a whole fucking vibe. I
need to do it.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
Ellie and Rihanna and Magic.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Can you imagine? And if y'all haven't watched that performance
of him Dan.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
Doing Umbrella, that was Tom Holland and it was Umbrella
and it's the best video. You have to stop and
watch it every time it comes up. It's that fantastic.
Speaker 1 (34:14):
It is mind blowing. That man is a performer through
and through, and his dance skills and commitment to that
song is the same type of energy I'm bringing to
my halftime performance.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
With Ellie Parasonic. I'm calling it now. We're gonna see this.
It's gonna be amazing.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
Uh, do you want to tease your next two episodes?
Speaker 1 (34:39):
Well, there was a lot of there's been a lot
of request about having someone special on you know, mm
hmmm season one.
Speaker 3 (34:54):
Friend of the pod.
Speaker 1 (34:55):
You might call her friend of my pod in person life,
So we might be seeing we might be seeing someone
very soon that y'all have been asking about really like
literally has been relentless. I hear you. I get it.
You're just gonna have to tune in to the final
(35:17):
episode of season one. We have a special guest, and
I promise you.
Speaker 3 (35:22):
You won't gift very excited to here.
Speaker 1 (35:28):
You won't be disappointed. You can share the other guest.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
I like.
Speaker 1 (35:32):
The good part is you guys, we're rolling right into
season two, no breaks, no bullshit, Like season two is
gonna be even better than season one. I am actually
so excited about this. We're having like some of the
funniest people out there come on to talk about life
(35:53):
and experience and comedy tours. I mean the realness, the rawness,
the transformations, the re building, and everything in between. But
you're gonna have to wait and tune in. Season two
is coming quick.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
To be a good year for us. I'm really excited
about it.
Speaker 1 (36:11):
It is, it is, and I really look forward to it.
Speaker 3 (36:14):
Oh Ma, Well, thanks for having me, Ashley. This was fun.
Thanks to the fans. And yeah, I'm gonna get out
of here all.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
Right, everyone, Thank you so much for spending time with me.
I don't take it lightly, and I don't take it
lightly the way you continue to show up, not just
for the big guest or the big conversations, for the
big episodes like this, but just for showing up and
being human together. I think that really is the greatest gift.
(36:40):
Answering your questions really reminded me that connection is built
in the small, honest moments and ones that we want
to drop the armor, drop the bs and tell the
truth about who we are, how we move, and the
importance of how we want to show up in our lives.
You've given me permission to grow out loud, to evolve
(37:01):
to figure things out in real time, and I appreciate
that gift, and I appreciate the space you continue to
give me for us to grow together. So I hope
you enjoyed this episode. Thank you so much for sending
in all of the great thoughtful questions, and I will
see you next time. Happy holidays everyone, I'll see you
(37:23):
next week on Wide Open.
All right, here we are. Welcome back everyone to another
episode of Wide Open. I am your host, Vashlyn Harris,
and today's episode is a little different than normal. It's
just me and my brilliant producer, Joel, and we're just
going to take things slow, sit down with all of you.
(00:31):
I feel like we're really at a point in the
season where I've been thinking and talking a lot about growth,
how much can change in a year, in a moment,
in a single conversation, and reading all the questions that
you all sent in reminded me why I started this
show in the first place, to create a space where
we can both be honest about who we were, who
(00:54):
we are, and who we're becoming. These questions aren't surface level,
which I greatly appreciate. And you asked about identity, parenting, love, purpose,
aging and the things that shape me both on and
off the field, and honestly, the things I'm still probably
figuring out in real time. I want to honor that
(01:16):
by answering with the same openness you've given me from
day one. So enjoy the show, Enjoy just a moment
of us sitting down having real, honest, breakthrough, good conversation.
Joel will be asking the questions and I will be
answering them all at the best of my ability. But
(01:36):
some of these are very very good questions and some
are just the perfect amount of fun. So I look
forward to diving into all of this with you. So
thank you so much for submitting your questions. And Joel,
what are you opening us up with today?
Speaker 2 (01:53):
We got so many great questions, but I think as
a group, this was our favorite one. It's simple to
just start you out, real easy. It's how many hats
do you have?
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Actually?
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Oh my gosh, Okay, so it's it's it's no secret
you guys. I I love hats. I'm a big fan
of hats. It's almost like my safety mechanism when I
am out and about. I don't know what it is,
but it's it really makes me feel like my truest self.
(02:27):
I honestly, Joelle, have no idea, but it's upwards of
hundreds to thousands. It's really like, I know, it's really
an emotional support thing. So I have a it's I
have a lot of hats and I'm obsessed with them.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
I know, always look always pushed death. Here's just a
lot of options.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Yeah, but here's the secret. I am a mom of
two very young kids and a partner who flies like
a Ferrari like through life. I don't have time to
do my hair, like I don't have time. Okay, so
I have a lot.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Of hats and its like again, they always look back,
but some girls resent headbands. You've got a hat collection
that is enviable across the nation. I also really loved
this question. I thought it was sweet. What's your favorite
memory on a soccer field?
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Oh? Gosh, favorite memory on a soccer field? Honestly, I
have so many incredible memories, uh, through all the stages
of my career, whether it was high school, whether it
was college, professional with the US team. But I will
say this one of my greatest memories that might shock
(03:47):
most people is in the twenty nineteen World Cup. We
were playing against France and we were in a very
long battle with US Soccer. We had we sued US
Soccer for equal pay. We're at the World Cup, you know,
it's crazy, and Trump's coming after us, and we're really
(04:09):
trying to lay this foundation of change to pay these
women what they're fucking worth and what they're owed. And
I remember a part of the game playing against France
in France at the World Cup, and most of the
time fans would chant USA, USA, but this was different.
(04:34):
I kept hearing people say equal pay, equal pay, and
it was a moment to realize and reflect and all
of the level like it was such a huge moment.
I was like, Oh, like, we're not just changing the
(04:54):
landscape in our own country, We're changing the landscape globally
for women to fight for what they deserve. And it
wasn't just about women. The men were chanting it. We
came back at the ticker tape parade, every sign was
equal pay. Our president was getting booed, FIFA was getting booed.
(05:17):
It was really a public moment where they were being
hold accountable and I was like, Oh, we're going to
win this thing, and we're gonna this is going to
be our This team's greatest legacy is not winning the tournament.
We knew we had to win that tournament for people
to take us seriously, for us to win that six
(05:39):
year battle in court, but WHOA. In that moment hearing
people chant from all over the world, we were like,
this is it, Like it's fucking go time.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
That brings up so many memories, like it's the women's
basketball team having to win at the Olympics in order
to justify having yep a WNBA correct. And then I
think two in France, a nation that just genuinely loves
a protest and is all about like people power. For
them to recognize you in that moment, that's so beautiful.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
I was. I like that memory. That was a good one.
That was a good one.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Let's talk about memories from this show of my favorite
bit of wisdom from a wide open guest.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
There's been so many, so many transformative guests, but I
will say I think Adam Grant was one of my
favorite guests because he's been able to see me as
an athlete, as a mom, as a human in the
growth of what each of those seasons have have kind
of brought to my life. And I love when he
(06:43):
was talking about how identity can evolve and that's a
strength not a loss. There's a lot of fucking power
in that and that line he was talking about, because
I think we get so caught up all the time.
You know, every day we're evolving, every day we're changing,
(07:05):
and every day we might not get it right. But
it also is such a strength and a superpower to
continue to evolve and be better and grow and change
and be thoughtful and empathetic and graceful and all of
these things that like, even though so much and I
(07:25):
can speak personally, so much of my life has shifted
and changed in the last five years, I can't always
think of it as a loss. I am growing at
a rate I'm so so deeply proud of that. I
I'm glad to stand ten toes down, chest out and
(07:49):
be like, Wow, I've learned so much and I'm such
a better human because I've walked through it and not
around it. So I think that like Adam Grant, the
way he can land the plane and make you feel
so whole even in the most shattered moments of your life.
(08:10):
It gives you it's all about perspective and like reframing
that perspective, and I was glad in that moment he
could give that to me.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
It's beautiful.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
And I think, particularly as women were often like it
feels like there's this deadline of like, I mean, artificially
at thirty, but I think maybe hardcore maybe even like
late thirties early forties, where they're like, if you haven't
done it by now, it's over, like, yeah, pack it up,
pack it in, like you missed your window. A crazy
Shenanigan thing to think, But it's so lovely when you
(08:41):
meet like actual women in the world who are like, no,
i've changed involves, these are some of my best years.
A lot of women who at fifty are like, these
are actually the best time of my life and like, oh,
aging is wonderful. Yeah, beautiful, and yeah, to have somebody
affirm that is always so lovely. Let's keep on that note. Then,
what's the biggest challenge and the biggest thing you've had
since retiring?
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Really like a lot of things that made me a
great athlete, not it doesn't necessarily translate into being a
good partner, being a good parent, you know, the win
at all costs mentality, the ego of which we carry
because we've had to, like, if you don't believe in
(09:23):
yourself at the top, you're fucked. Like it's just it's
just there's no one super fragile walking in and having
a long, exceptional career without truly having somewhat of an
ego of I am the best, I am the greatest.
Because it is a very very hard career to live
(09:47):
to excel in, but most importantly to stay at the
top of So I'm learning in real time how to
keep the best part of me. That was like a
good teammate, you know who showed up for the people
and put them first, and you know a lot of
things like that. But also what do I need? What
(10:11):
am I What boundaries am I willing to stick to
or create? And I think you learn also because you
have no control. You're told to be here, You're told
to show up here. Your body needs to look like this.
You have to eat, sleep and act this way. The
freedom of retiring and like having my own sense of
(10:36):
schedule and worth and what makes me happy. It's like
almost listening to myself again and not my like drill sergeant,
you know what I mean. Like I get to wake
up and have choice in life. I get to wake
up and go pick my kids up from school earlier
or take them on a fun weekend trip. Like I
(10:57):
didn't have that. I missed everything. My life was dedicated
to my team and to my craft. They came before
my family, they came before my partner, they came before
my kids. And the freedom to like shed that layer
that has taken so much of me. I'm reclaiming my
(11:18):
own identity in a lot of ways, and I think
there's a beauty of that type of freedom. A lot
of people don't ask, but yeah, when people ask me,
do I miss it? I don't fucking miss it. I
gave it everything. I gave it everything to the point
it cost me a lot. So now gaining back that
(11:41):
freedom and that time and that belonging and that self
care and that self love, like, I don't miss it.
And I don't feel bad about saying that because I
gave it every fucking piece of me. I have no regrets.
I left nothing on the table. I checked every box
I possed, simply could and some so I would say
(12:04):
that I think it's a It has been a blessing
and a curse and all the things in between. And
I'm really reclaiming my sense of joy and freedom outside
of the toxic like culture it created within me, and
I don't have to carry that with me forever.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Say, it's such an hort like embrace so wholeheartedly, like
this new era of life with like not just like
with such fervor for the newness, but also no regrets
from the past. I think that's really rare. Well, you know,
while we're talking about, you know, not being a professional
athlete and embracing this new life, we had another fun
question just you know, you talk a lot about you know,
(12:45):
still maintaining and seeing active and like trying to eat right.
But I love a cheat day, have a favorite cheat
day food.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
I think health is a lifestyle. I gotta be on.
I think yeah, I mean bad food and guilty pleasures
and things. It makes me feel like shit. Like when
you treat your body as an exceptional machine. Everything counts,
(13:20):
you know, when you add up all the inches at
the end of the day, how much you sleep, how
much you recover, how much you do prehab, how much
you're doing in the gym, how much you know. Yeah,
it's just on and on. What you're eating matters, what
you drink matters. It's like a lot of athletes say this.
Yes I'm a retired athlete, but I will forever be
(13:42):
a pro athlete. It is the way I move in
the world. I didn't stop playing, and all of a
sudden I picked up every awful like trait where I'm
sitting on my ass eating bombons like it just doesn't exist.
I'm actually even more disciplined now because I'm not burning
fifteen hundred calories by noon. So I guess a cheat
(14:08):
day for me. You know, I love pizza. Love is
a rich word, but like I guess, you know, I
don't know. Like last night, I'm cooking, you know, a
roasted chicken and couscous and a salad with homemade dressing,
Like I eat it probably five days a week. My
(14:30):
cheat days are when I get the freedom to go
out with friends in the city and have a really
nice dinner, have a nice bottle of wine where I'm
not like too fixated on what it is. Is it fried?
Is it carbs? Like I'm just having a good time
filling my belly and my heart with joy from my surroundings.
(14:53):
I could care less about what I'm eating. I care
more about the vibes of the people around me.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
So yeah, it's an inner labor show, Yeah, said Hollard.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Yeah, it's his key, like.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
Because I feel like guys who have the cheat day,
like you know, when the rock is like I ate
like nineteen cheeseburgers today or whatever.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
It's fucking crazy.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
They're always like now I'm in the gym for the
next like forty eight hours and you're like, you know,
maybe you know, I like your way of doing it
where you're like, if I'm just consistent, they want to
go out, I can have fun and just be relaxed
about it. And this makes sense to me. This is
really great. Let's take a quick break and when we
come back, I've got.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Some more fun questions for you.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
You stay tuned. I'll be back in just a moment
after this brief message from our sponsors.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Okay, we have so many question People really want to
know about you and Sofia, which I think is very sweet.
People want to know if you watch One Tree Hill
before you and Sofia were together.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Fuck, no, no, I watched it since No as a
professional athlete chasing my dreams. I was not watching shitty television. Please. Honestly,
she has which just she just finished. She has Drama
Queens and it's this recap show and she has to
(16:16):
watch every week episodes. So there are times where like, hm,
maybe I have like an hour free in my schedule
where I want to sit next to her on the
couch and do the recap. And then I start watching
and I'm like, this fucking show's a nightmare. We're taking
diet pills, the way we're treating women. You're being past
(16:37):
to every guy on the fucking set. You're making out
with this one, You're laying on the beach with it.
I'm like, it's so chaotic for me, it's hard to watch.
And plus I don't like to see my partner like
yucking it up making out with other people on screen.
It's like does something I'm not used to it, Like,
I'm like, I'm good, I'm good. So I'm really like,
(17:00):
I'm like, really, I keep my distance. But also I
love watching her in her element, Like she's such a
good actress, and when I see her play certain characters,
I'm like, this is so funny because this is so
not you, like the bitchy little like ruffles feathers cheerleader.
(17:21):
I'm like, you're the sweetest human and the smartest person
I know. This is like the whole concept is really
a mind fuck a little bit. But I've watched a
few Yeah, I've watched a few episodes, but that's kind
of where I draw the line.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
I totally respect that. You know, he's so sweet. You
know when you talk about watching her in her element,
I got to observe her on set the other day
and I was like, oh, this is also a director,
like this is the person who she's in it, like
cameras ready to go. It was really fun watching her
just be like, no, let's just do this and said
I was like, ah, that's good, that's easy.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
You should in real life, you should, really, I mean
you should see her. So I'm really I'm excited because
I don't want to like drop the hints, but we
might be seeing Sophia soon. Okay, on this podcast, after
all these questions, you never know. You're gonna have to
(18:16):
stay tuned.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
We did get a question about whether or not Sophia
gave you kIPS when you were starting this podcast.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
No, we keep professional and personal very separate. Like I
think what's so great about us in which I value
so much, is she will only give me input or
insight when I ask for it. She's not hovering, she
doesn't claim to like you know, think that she knows more.
(18:46):
I think she does a really good Like when we're done,
we're not talking work, we're not talking this that like
she has her shit, I have my stuff, and like
we're very proud of each other. We show up for
each other. But that's like, really where we draw the line.
We're not really you know, some couples get really connected
in their work space and we're like, we just keep
(19:09):
it pushing.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Teach me your ways.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
I do not know how to unplug from work. That
is so mystifying. Wh people are like, and now I'm
done with work, I'm closing my laptop. I'm like, my
laptop is never closed. Oh my god, neverf.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
No, we do not. Yeah, we are not, and she
works all the time. But no, we have a really
really great balance, which I think is important for like
our life and our love life and our connection. Like,
I don't want to talk about work.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
I totally hear you.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
Yeah, let's talk about a different type of born from passion. Okay,
you're involving so many political organizations and movements. You're always
dashing off to like support another cause up with another voice.
Is there a cause that you think like urgently needs
attention that you would love for your audience to like
really focus in on.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
Yeah, I'm I've got two things that clearly are front
of mind that I always really engaged deeply in because
it's deeply personal and it's deeply meaningful to me. Is
showing up for the queer community and advocating for the
queer community, and with that comes mental health. Like mental
(20:21):
health advocacy is so important to me, especially because of
the rate in which our community is affected by it,
because we're always a target and we're always you know,
being forced back into the closet or forced into following
(20:42):
in line, and you know, not living our truth or
not being exactly who we want to be, and a
lot of issues come with that of the feeling of
not belonging or not feeling enough. And I am those
are my two biggest things, because there's a lot we
(21:05):
could be doing as not only people of the queer community,
but allies of the queer community. What I do know
is we can't do this alone. So for the people
out there watching and listening, you know, the LGBTQ plus
community is really it has been a really hard landscape
(21:28):
with this current political climate, and it is our job
to do the work, even if it's so small in
our homes, about teaching acceptance, really opening your heart and
your eyes to not only your po view but like
as a whole, our community and people who are in
(21:49):
our community who support us, how they show up for us,
either directly or indirectly, like we have to be better,
We have to educate ourselves. We can't be scared of
the things we don't know. You know, we're not projecting
our gayness and queerness on anyone. We're just trying to
live the same peaceful, respectful quality of life under the
(22:12):
same rule of law and protection everyone else's. It's not
that serious, but it is because now it's becoming a
life or death type of thing, and our humanity, humility,
like everything is on the line right now, and people
have to start showing up and not thinking, Oh, someone
else will deal with it, someone else will figure it out,
(22:35):
someone else will campaign about this, or the HRC has
the resources, or Glad is doing this. No fuck that.
What are you doing? What are you doing in your small, small,
interconnected circles that are helping create change, Whether that's teaching
your children to accept all people for how they choose
(22:55):
to live their life, or your mom club or your
walk club. Like you know, if you do nothing, you
are a part of the problem. If you turn your
head and you hear things and people make terrible comments,
you are a part of the problem. If you're not defending,
standing up or helping change it, so it doesn't have
(23:16):
to be this big scale magnitude of sit on the
board of the HRC or do this like. It starts
in your fucking home. It starts by the way you
speak about people, or how you include people, or how
you do the bystander effect. If you're at coffee with
your girlfriends or your religious families who are conservative, like,
(23:40):
do something, because by doing nothing, you are just a
complicit to the problem and it's never going to change
and we're never going to get anywhere. So that is
my like one big thing. We have to keep fighting
for the acceptance of other people even if we choose
to not live that way.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
Ashley said, check your bigoted uncle, and I said, yeah,
fuck that, Yes, yes, get it out.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
Stay tuned. I'll be back in just a moment after
this brief message from our sponsors.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
Okay, we've got time to maybe two more questions. Oh
if this is a cute one. And since we're just
talking about kids, I'm curious, what's your favorite like family
thing to do with your kids?
Speaker 1 (24:28):
Okay, so I am very cheesy and soft. Surprise, There's
one thing I love to do with my kids, and
I do it every single night, and I don't compromise it.
I have rules, as Sophia knows, and she laughs about it,
(24:49):
but I you know, I have fifty to fifty custody
with my children, So one thing I don't compromise is
when I have them, I can only do one work
event that week that takes me away from their school time.
And every night we put on pjs. Pjs are the
(25:10):
coolest thing in our family. We have light up Skeleton, Grinch,
Lilo and Stitch, you name it, and a lot of
times we have matching ones. So we do a lot
of glow in the dark so we can have raves.
We like, get it all. We light it up, light
(25:30):
it up, light it up, and then we turn all
the lights off and we're watching movies and we're glowing,
and we call it cuddle puddle time. We get to
pick a movie, they pick a movie, pick their pajamas,
and we build forts and I have like my house
is lit really tacky in a lot of ways, especially
(25:51):
right now for Christmas, and we turn on all of
the little trinket lights and we just like cuddle on
the couch and it's the only time I can get
my three and a half year old son to sit
the fuck down because he loves it so much. And
it's such a moment of connection and like physical touch
where we're all just in it. And I hope I like,
(26:14):
I know eventually they're not gonna want to have a
cuddle puddle time with their mom, but like, I really
love it's the best thing about having them. It's our one,
Like we do it religiously every single night.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
I love that one.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
It sounds like the safest, most beautiful rave I've ever
heard of. As someone spake a lot of time in
her family basement watching movies with her family, It's still
my favorite thing to do when I go home, and
HER's like, what do you want to do? Like I want
to sit in the basement and watch movies with you.
It looks like it's a bonding warm like safe connected
spas and you get to like shear the movies.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
I love this.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
Yeah, I'm about experiences with my kids, like you know,
this past Friday, I looked at both of them and
I'm like, what do you want to do? Like sometimes
you know, and everyone's gonna parent differently, and my kids
are in daycare, it's like, you know, it's not that big.
It's not that serious. So I was like, let's we're
(27:10):
going to miss school today and you tell me what
you both want to do. And we went on this
whole adventurous day and we just kept being like we're
going to party. That was the thing. Like we were
in the car and we were like blaring unwritten and
they know every song. We've got our hands up besides mine,
(27:32):
both hands on the wheel. Safety first, but like the
freedom to just they will remember that forever over gifts,
you know, toys of this, going to school here and coloring,
Like I really value experience and showing up. I think
it is something they'll carry with them forever. And I
(27:56):
really take it seriously in my home because I had
two parents and to work two jobs and they had
to for necessity, they had to do that, and it
was like, you know, I didn't get those moments and
I wish I did, and I didn't get those Sunday,
you know, Sunday's family day in our home, home cooked meal,
(28:19):
like we're really all present at the table, cuddle, puddle time, dance,
party time, dress up. We build stages like we have
a whole costume wardrobe. We got theater babies. But yeah,
I just like, I really really, I really value it
and it means so much to me, and I know
(28:40):
eventually as they grow, it's going to mean so much
to them.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
The home always sounds so magical. To last question, yes,
if there was a mount Rushmore of women's sports, Ah,
what for women? Would you immortalize and stone?
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Everyone always asks this great yes, but most of the
time they're like the mount Rushmore of women's soccer. But
I like this. It's women's sports.
Speaker 3 (29:07):
God.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
I mean, Billy Jean King is one, She's queen. She's
gonna be front row centner. Serena Williams, Yes, come on,
I mean yes, and she's just so business savvy. She's
cracked the code on both opening doors up for being
(29:31):
an entrepreneur, and like, she just crushes I would say,
have to have me a ham. Oh hell yeah, gotta
have me a ham. Come on, but gout.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
Hello, kicked open the door, shut.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
The damn door right off the hinges. You know, I
I might get some about this, but I have to
say some own biles. I do.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
Oh.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
I love this pick.
Speaker 1 (29:57):
Yeah, because you know the things she's been able to do,
the things she's paved the way, especially, you know, raising
a young black child daughter who looks up to her
so much. Like to be able to see my child
watch her and like be like, oh, she looks like
(30:19):
me too, like I can do that is so profound
for me because I didn't have that experience. But also
she broke every record. She's out here doing flips no
one's ever heard of and coining the new terms like
she is was like child's play, like it was almost
(30:40):
she made it look too easy. And then I think
what I respect the most about her is her ability
when she pulled out due to mental health and all
the things, and sitting down and being brave enough to
talk about it, just to be like, you know, I'm
(31:00):
not good and in my sport, this is like I
could break my back or my neck, this could be catastrophic,
and like, I'm gonna put this to the side and
focus on myself. And I think it gave everyone else
permission to be like, oh so even they struggle, and
it opened up this floodgate of conversation about oh, hello,
(31:26):
like high performing athletes are humans too, who struggle, have issues,
who get it wrong, And it really allowed people to
see the huge like humanize these type of athletes in
a way I don't know we had before.
Speaker 2 (31:44):
We always think of athletes as superhuman.
Speaker 3 (31:47):
And yes, about this moment career, is it proved you
to come back?
Speaker 2 (31:51):
Yep, you could take a break and come back and
still be great. And I think that's a lot of
the fear. It's like, if I stop, I'll never be
as good, I won't get it back, I'll lose everything.
But if you stop and take of yourself, you can
actually come back and shine. I also love that all
four of your women are activists in their own right
who are not just like fundamentally change the physical aspects
of their sports and the demand and what you can
(32:12):
earn and accomplish, but also have made way for a
lot of women to do their own thing and continue
in their footsteps. That was a beautiful answer. I loved it.
So this has been so great. We love your fans
for sitting in questions on core.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
On Core, Okay, I'll tell you what. Yeah, I heard
the fans screaming in the background. You get one more
question for the encore, so pick it. Why well, I
couldn't help it. I heard all the fans behind me
screaming one more, one more so here we are.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
I'm back.
Speaker 1 (32:48):
Okay for your encore question on you.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
Know that you're a New York Liberty fan and therefore
automatically a fan of Ellie. If you could perform one
song Ellie, either karaoke styl or dance style, which song
would you choose?
Speaker 1 (33:06):
M Oh, I love Ellie, My children love Ellie. You
know it would have to be a Rihanna song. Oh,
it would like Ellie's got so much swag, like I
gotta like, it's gotta be sexy, it's gotta be viby
(33:30):
like I. I think it'd have to be like pour
it up, pour it up? Oh should all fall?
Speaker 2 (33:39):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (33:40):
Yeah, we yeah, do not miss a moment with that break.
I just I can sense the rain drops falling and
we're in like two inches of water. We're gonna like,
you know, it would be a whole fucking vibe. I
need to do it.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
Ellie and Rihanna and Magic.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Can you imagine? And if y'all haven't watched that performance
of him Dan.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
Doing Umbrella, that was Tom Holland and it was Umbrella
and it's the best video. You have to stop and
watch it every time it comes up. It's that fantastic.
Speaker 1 (34:14):
It is mind blowing. That man is a performer through
and through, and his dance skills and commitment to that
song is the same type of energy I'm bringing to
my halftime performance.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
With Ellie Parasonic. I'm calling it now. We're gonna see this.
It's gonna be amazing.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
Uh, do you want to tease your next two episodes?
Speaker 1 (34:39):
Well, there was a lot of there's been a lot
of request about having someone special on you know, mm
hmmm season one.
Speaker 3 (34:54):
Friend of the pod.
Speaker 1 (34:55):
You might call her friend of my pod in person life,
So we might be seeing we might be seeing someone
very soon that y'all have been asking about really like
literally has been relentless. I hear you. I get it.
You're just gonna have to tune in to the final
(35:17):
episode of season one. We have a special guest, and
I promise you.
Speaker 3 (35:22):
You won't gift very excited to here.
Speaker 1 (35:28):
You won't be disappointed. You can share the other guest.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
I like.
Speaker 1 (35:32):
The good part is you guys, we're rolling right into
season two, no breaks, no bullshit, Like season two is
gonna be even better than season one. I am actually
so excited about this. We're having like some of the
funniest people out there come on to talk about life
(35:53):
and experience and comedy tours. I mean the realness, the rawness,
the transformations, the re building, and everything in between. But
you're gonna have to wait and tune in. Season two
is coming quick.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
To be a good year for us. I'm really excited
about it.
Speaker 1 (36:11):
It is, it is, and I really look forward to it.
Speaker 3 (36:14):
Oh Ma, Well, thanks for having me, Ashley. This was fun.
Thanks to the fans. And yeah, I'm gonna get out
of here all.
Speaker 1 (36:20):
Right, everyone, Thank you so much for spending time with me.
I don't take it lightly, and I don't take it
lightly the way you continue to show up, not just
for the big guest or the big conversations, for the
big episodes like this, but just for showing up and
being human together. I think that really is the greatest gift.
(36:40):
Answering your questions really reminded me that connection is built
in the small, honest moments and ones that we want
to drop the armor, drop the bs and tell the
truth about who we are, how we move, and the
importance of how we want to show up in our lives.
You've given me permission to grow out loud, to evolve
(37:01):
to figure things out in real time, and I appreciate
that gift, and I appreciate the space you continue to
give me for us to grow together. So I hope
you enjoyed this episode. Thank you so much for sending
in all of the great thoughtful questions, and I will
see you next time. Happy holidays everyone, I'll see you
(37:23):
next week on Wide Open.
Host
Ashlyn Harris
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