December 23, 2025 • 30 mins
Whether you’re setting health goals for 2026 or just love seeing excellence in action, this episode of "Kentucky Focus", Scott Fitzgerald has something for everyone. We talk practical strategies for staying on track, and offer a sneak peek at top competitors making waves in their own arenas!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
And welcome to Kentucky Focus. I'm Scott Fitzgerald.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
This week, we've got stories, insights, and a few surprises
lined up.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
You won't want to miss.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Whether you're looking to start the new year on the
right foot or just love seeing excellence in action on
two legs or four, You're in the right place. Stay
tuned as we dive right in again. This is Kentucky Focus.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Welcome to Kentucky Focus on the Kentucky News Network, the
show that looks at issues affecting the Commonwealth and its citizens.
We cover state politics, in history, human interest, stories, sports,
and even entertainment. It's Kentucky Focus on kNN.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
Have you noticed bad behavior has become normalized at interscholastic
athletic events. Some fans seem angry, They lacks civility toward
one another. Some even get aggressive and unruly. Time out.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
What is going on?
Speaker 4 (00:59):
This has to stop. Let's not forget school sports aren't
just about winning, and they're definitely not an excuse to
take your frustrations out on the official or the opponent.
They're about teaching lessons like perseverance, respect and empathy so
students can learn and grow as people, not just as players.
(01:19):
We all have a role to play in setting a
good example for our students and teaching them these important values.
So fans, it's time to step up your game and
behave positively at Interscholastic Athletic Events in Kentucky.
Speaker 5 (01:33):
Brought to you by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association
and the Kentucky Athletic Administrators Association.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
And welcome back to Kentucky Focus. I'm Scott Fitzgerald. Today
we have a special guest who's taking the fitness world
by storm on TikTok and beyond.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
That's where I found him.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
He's a certified fitness coach, nutrition expert, and the founder
of his own platform helping people build strength, lose fat,
and improve performance the right way. You may have seen
him on TikTok, is at Eric Roberts Fitness, or caught
his tips on Instagram, maybe even YouTube. He's joining us now.
I'm so proud to talk to this guy after watching
him for so long. He's gonna help us break down
the science of fat loss, nutrition and real world strategies.
(02:15):
As someone who's lost over one hundred pounds, he speaks
gospel to me.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Eric, thanks so much.
Speaker 6 (02:19):
For joining us, buddy, Scott, my friend. That is a
very kind intro. But I just want to say thank
you so much for having me on, thank you for following,
and once again, congratulations on your progress.
Speaker 7 (02:28):
Scott.
Speaker 6 (02:28):
Absolutely incredible.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Oh it means a lot to hear you say that,
my brother. I'm so looking forward to this conversation. So
let's jump right into it. You build a massive following
sharing practical fitness advice. Tell us a little bit about
your journey into the fitness world and what inspired you
to start coaching others.
Speaker 8 (02:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (02:42):
Absolutely, So I started working out at sixteen. And this
is a true story. A lot of people don't believe me,
but I was sixteen. I walked into a gym for
the first time. I walked out of the gym. I
went home and I told my dad, I'm gonna do
something with this for the rest of my life. And
he was like, calm down, shamp You're sixteen. I highly it,
but here we are. And so I've just always loved it.
(03:03):
I've always loved the gym. I've loved I didn't grow
up with a lot of money or things like that,
so I loved that it was something I could work
really hard at and see results from. So that's why
I fell in love with it. And then as I
started to get into it, into coaching specifically, I was like,
wait a minute. People don't know about fitness, nor do
(03:24):
they believe that they can lose weight, get in shape,
stay consistent, be disciplined. So I was like, I want
to help people understand that they can do this. And
that's really what the love and the passion for coaching
and educating people really came from.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Right on again, we're talking with Eric Roberts. He's with
Eric robert Fitness on TikTok. He's I follow him religiously.
I stumbled on him. This isn't a pitch story idea
by any means. I reached out to Eric on my
own because I think it's that important that people hear
your message. Eric, and your approach is a very non
nonsense and researched based approach. How do you balance motivation
with realism when more can with your client?
Speaker 6 (04:00):
Yes, Scott, what I've found is realism is motivation. Like,
let's be honest, people are tired of the BS, they're
tired of the quick fixes, they're tired of eat a
thousand calories or you know you have to cut out
all the foods like they want to be told, Hey,
this is gonna be hard work. You're gonna have to
require some sacrifice and discipline. It's gonna take longer than
you want, but it's gonna be worth it in the end.
(04:23):
And I have found through my approach of being as
real and as no bs as possible, people appreciate that
and they respect it, and it motivates them to stick
with it during the hard times. Because you've lost one
hundred pounds, you know, you probably weren't motivated that it's
fired time, but you still got up and you got
it done. So you know, I've found motivation in realism
(04:45):
go hand in hand right on.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
And one of your videos you put out recently, Eric,
really hit home to me.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
You were walking and it was freezing cold, and I've
done that before, and I knew that feeling is that
immediately resonated with me.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
So that's why you speak the gospel.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
And one of the things I love that you talk about, Eric,
because I'm still in one now. It's kind of how
I live my life. It's called the calorie deficit. New
Year's resolutions are coming up, so many people are thinking
about losing weight, starting with the basics, does a calorie
deficit really work and what's the right way to approach it?
Speaker 8 (05:16):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (05:16):
Absolutely, Man, So a calorie deficit is the only way
to lose fat. And only expanding this a tad bit more.
Our bodies work off of something called thermodynamics, energy in,
energy out. Unless you are a plant listening to this
who has photosynthesis for energy, we humans run off of
this thermodynamics, and so it all comes back to if
(05:39):
you're in taking less calories, less energy than you are burning,
you're gonna lose fat. Now, some people do this in
different ways. Some people do may have heard of intermittent fasting.
This is a way to decrease your eating window to
potentially take in less calories. Some people do this by
going low carb because for them that helps them get
(05:59):
into the calorie deficit. Some people do this through various
different ways, but it all comes back to the calorie deficit.
In my two cents to anybody out there is figure
out what's going to be the sustainable approach for you.
Because I've coached man at this point over twenty five
thousand clients between in person and online, and something that
(06:21):
may work for you might not work for somebody else.
For example, I love eating breakfast. Internet fasting won't work
for me, but that might work for somebody who doesn't
love eating breakfast. So what is a sustainable way that
you can create the calorie deficit over the long haul?
And the last part I'll say to that is, if
somebody's listening and you've never weighed your food and tracked
(06:44):
your calories, I would challenge you just do it for
three days. You don't need to do it for the
entire rest of the twenty twenty six, but do it
for three days, and I promise you'll learn more about
calories and nutrition in those three days than most people
learn about it in their entire life.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Oh that's gospel. Eric.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
I went out and bought a Scouts one of the
first things I did, and I was astonished by how
much I was reading and just by doing doing it
by site test and people. It's so funny because people
come up to you and they're like, you're weighing your food.
I go, yes, I am, because I want to make
and it works. It absolutely works.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Again.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Eric Roberts is with us. We call him Coach Eric.
And if you want more information, on what he's talking about. Obviously,
Eric robertsfitness dot Com is where you go to. Eric's
a guy stumbled on TikTok and he's he's speaking to me.
He speaks to gospel when it comes to losing weight.
And now, Eric, that brings me to my next topic.
And this is where you really helped me through this.
You wrote a blog about people being in a calorie
(07:39):
deficit but not losing weight. I remember going through this
for the first time thinking, oh my god, this isn't
working again. What are some of the common mistakes that
you see.
Speaker 6 (07:48):
Yeah, so it's actually piggybacking right off of what we
just said. And I'll reference a study. There was a
study done, I believe in nineteen ninety two in the
New England Journal of Medicine. People out there can go
look it up if they would like. But they took
obese patients who were quote unquote eating twelve hundred calories
(08:09):
but not losing weight. And this was like a phenomenon
because they're like, how are you eating so little but
not losing weight? Well, it comes to find out they
were guesstimating how many calories they were eating based on
looking at their portion sizes and reporting they were eating
twelve hundred calories. Come to find out later in the
study they went back and tracked that day's worth of
(08:31):
food they were eating. Scott, they were eating double the
amount of calories that they thought they were double. They
were eating twenty four hundred calories. And that's why they
weren't losing weight. And so we, just as humans, are
not good at guestimating our portion sizes and how many
calories were consuming. And you could say that's because of well,
(08:52):
in America our portion sizes are so much bigger. You
could say, whatever reason. But again going back to the realism,
it's your job to get into that calorie deficit. And
so I believe that's one. The second one would be, oh,
I eat healthy, Eric, why am I not losing weight? Well, remember,
even if you eat healthy, it does not mean that
you are in a calorie deficit. You can healthy foods
(09:15):
have calories as well. Doesn't mean it's bad, but it
just means that you need to make sure your calories
are in check. And then the third part would just
be the weekends slash. Yeshol I know those you.
Speaker 5 (09:27):
Know those things.
Speaker 6 (09:27):
Both people have fun and we get it, but what
we really try to approach and teach our online coaching
clients is, hey, we can go out. You can enjoy
yourself a little bit, but like we got to have
one or two drinks instead of three to five. We
got to opt for the vodka and soda versus the
sugary cocktails. We have to maybe during the day pull
back on our calories, focus on high protein, low car
(09:51):
blow fat to be able to have more flexibility when
you go out to eat on the weekends to still
hit your calorie goals. So I would say those are
the couple of most common stakes. If people can tackle,
they're going to really see some fat loss progress. In
twenty twenty.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Six, again we're talking with Eric Roberts. I follow him
on TikTok. I think you should too. You'll love his
videos because he basically takes what we're talking and puts
it in just a few minutes to understand. He breaks
this stuff down scientifically so it makes sense. And as
Eric said earlier, he is brutally honest about the way
he approaches this. He's not going to sugarcoat it. You
can follo him on TikTok at Eric Roberts Fitness or
(10:25):
if you want to go to his website, Eric robertsfitness
dot com and Eric.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
That brings me to my next question for you.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
And there's a lot of talk about that ten thousand
steps number. How realistic is that and what's the real
truth to that?
Speaker 1 (10:39):
And what kind of movement do we really need to
stay healthy?
Speaker 6 (10:43):
Yeah, it's a great question. So is it realistic? I
don't know. Maybe if you're a dog walker, or you're
a maleman or a male woman, you get fifteen thousand
steps per day regardless, awesome, But if you sit at
a desk all day, that could be pretty difficult to
get ten thousand steps. Not impossible, just difficult. So what
we try to do and what I try to teach
is where are you at right now and just get
(11:05):
a little bit better than that. So if somebody listening
is at three thousand and four thousand steps per day, cool,
try to go to five or six thousand steps per day.
If you're at five or six, try to go to
seven or eight. These little increments of addition are more realistic,
less overwhelming, and it's more habit based as opposed to
trying to white knuckle your way to ten thousand steps.
Speaker 7 (11:28):
Per day.
Speaker 6 (11:28):
Doing it for a couple of days, life gets crazy,
you feel bad because you miss the mark, you quit,
you fall off. This is just you know the cycle.
So what I will say is this that will be
the first part and the second part there is going
back to being research based. For every one thousand steps
that you take extra one thousand steps, I believe you
(11:48):
decrease your risk of all calls mortality. I believe by
fifteen percent if I'm not mistaken. So you do want
to get more daily movement. But remember this could be
walking around that house. This could be pacing on phone calls.
This could be parking farther away at the store, taking
the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator. Anyway you
(12:08):
can try to get extra movement that is going to
be beneficial for not just your fat loss journey, but
like you said, for your overall health.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
As Well's that's kind of where I'm at because heart
disease runs in my family and I want to keep
that thing going the best I can.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
And that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Eric Roberts with Eric Roberts Fitness on TikTok. Follow him
on TikTok. His videos are great. They pop up in
my feet.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
All the time.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Get him in your algorithm. It'll do you a great service.
And if you'd like more information, Eric is a coach.
You can check him out Eric robertsfitness dot com. And
one of the videos you did, Eric, which I really
appreciated because I love me say a diet coke in
the middle of the afternoon.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
There are so many myths.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
There are people out there, and you have a name
for him, and I can't repeat it here, and I
wish I could, but they they want to tell you
that diet coke is the anti Christ.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Is it really bad for you?
Speaker 6 (12:59):
You're gonna get me in level here.
Speaker 9 (13:03):
Listen.
Speaker 6 (13:03):
When we talk about diet soda sugar free soda, I'll
lay this out in a couple of ways. Number One,
again on the spectrum of bad to good, too great
to the most optimal, it's better than drinking a full
sugar soda one hundred percent because it's two hundred less calories.
And if we're talking about being in a calorie deficit,
you swap out regular soda for diet soda. That decreases
(13:27):
your calorie intake, which then helps you lose fifty pounds,
which then improves all of your blood markers, your cholesterol,
your blood pressure, pre diabetes, so that one swap could
make a massive difference for your health, not to mention
when we like the biggest claim with diet soda is
the artificial sweeteners that aspertain r going back to the
(13:49):
research and people they just hear these sound clips but
don't actually look into the research. There was a study
done on rats, not humans, on rats that said, oh yeah,
like the artificial sweetness, you know, cause them to have
cancer and whatnot. But the amount that the rats were
consuming would be the same amount as a human consuming
(14:10):
thirty plus cans of diet soda per day. So unless
you're somebody out there who's drinking thirty cans, maybe there
is Scott not sure if your audience, but unless you're
doing that, no, you're not gonna hit the threshold of
having a negative something happened to you from drinking a
diet soda. And on top of that, the last thing
I'll say, if that gives you some joy and delightenment
(14:34):
in your diet, in your calorie deficit, in your fat
loss journey, you can look forward to it that helps
you stay consistent. What do most people struggle with actually
staying consistent. So if this can help you do that,
it's actually a good thing for fat loss.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Right on, and then just a couple more questions for you, Eric,
I could probably talk to you all day, no doubt
about it. Again, you want to follow me. He's on TikTok.
He's a big fall that's how iyebrobm. That's why I'm
bringing him to you at Eric Robertsitness on TikTok. And
again Eric robertsfitness dot com is his website. And Eric,
for those people who and we've all done this who
I've done it plenty of times.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Trust me.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
You maybe go off the rails a little bit on
the weekend and you just feel horrible. On Monday, you're like,
oh my god, I just got to starve for the
next year and a half.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
That's not the case.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Because of one of your videos, you actually lay it
out how much you actually have to eat to gain
that pound of fat.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Explain a little bit of that.
Speaker 6 (15:27):
Yeah, absolutely, So one pound of fat is thirty five
hundred calories. So for you to gain one pound of fat,
you would have to eat thirty five hundred calories, not
over your calorie deficit number, but over your maintenance calories.
So for example, if your maintenance calories are two thousand
(15:48):
and you're trying to eat fifteen hundred calories to lose weight,
you would have to eat fifty five hundred calories to
gain one pound of fat. And actually that's not even
right either, because your overall calories are looked at on
a weekly basis, not just a daily basis. So even
if you did over eat fifty five hundred calories on
(16:11):
that one day, you would look at your entire course
of the week, and if you were in a calorie
deficit the rest of the week, you probably would not
even still gain fat because the rest of your week
is in that deficit. So it then this goes to
the question of like, well then how do we gain
so much weight? Well, over time, this stuff adds up,
But one day is not gonna make or break anything,
(16:33):
just like one day you don't get skinny and one
day you don't get fat. It's what you do most
of the time, not some of the time. And if
you can just get right back on track, I promise
you are gonna be just fine and you're still gonna
see the progress you want to see. You didn't ruin anything.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Eric is such a great coach.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
He's just you go to this website again, just follow
him on TikTok, follow phone, wherever social media.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
And you know our.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Final question for you, buddy, besides calorie tracking and step
what else should people be doing to physically complement their
fat loss and fitness goals.
Speaker 6 (17:05):
Yeah, so this one's huge, I believe for many reasons.
But it's strength training. It's lifting weights. And I know
a lot of people still think, well, cardio is the
best way to lose weight. And I'm not saying cardio
is bad. You should do cardio. I think your daily
steps are a part of that cardio. But lifting weights,
even just two to four times a week for fifteen
(17:25):
to sixty minutes. You don't need to be a bodybuilder,
you don't need to be a professional, but lifting weights
gives you something that not any other form of exercise
is going to give you. Whether we talk about building
muscle for your metabolism benefits, it'll increase your calorie burn,
increase your metabolism, for your bone health benefits, to fight
against osteoporosis. The best way to prevent injury is being strong.
(17:50):
Most people check into a nursing home when they get older,
because they fall and they can't get up or they
can't get up off the toilet. So you want to
be able to maintain that strength and that ends as
you age, on top of all the positive benefits that
it does right now. And so two to four times
a week strength training, weights, machines, whatever you have access to,
(18:10):
doesn't need to It could be just dumbells, it could
be just resistance bands, but anything you can do to
start lifting some weights.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
And Eric, you know, if folks are listening to this
and they go, hey, calorie deficit sounds great, how do
I figure out my calorie devs?
Speaker 1 (18:23):
If you can help folks with that, can you not?
Speaker 6 (18:26):
We absolutely can help folks with that. You know, you
can head to my website, you can head of my
social media's. I actually have a totally free calorie calculator.
If you just probably google Eric Roberts shitting this calorie calculator,
it'll tell you it's the same one we use with
our clients. Just to be very frank and transparent, So
check that out. Or again, if you know, if somebody's listening, like, hey,
I need some extra help with this. I need some personalization.
(18:48):
I need someone to talk me off the ledge and
my scale goes up. Like I said, we do offer coaching.
You know, you can head some of my social media's
head to my website check that stuff out. But either way,
maybe just shoot me a DM. You know, I try
to get as many emails and dms as I possibly can,
so you know I'm here to help however I can
as a friend, first and foremost.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
I know you are Eric, and had I not already,
I'm at my ideal weight.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Now I've been able to hang on to it, thank goodness.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
But as a testament to what you do, I still
go to your videos, I still check you out online
and your social media is because every now and then
I need that encouragement and Eric, you're right there to
give it to me.
Speaker 6 (19:22):
Brother.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
I am so glad we were able to catch up
and make this happen. And please pass on to all
your coaches there at Eric Roberts Fitness. Thank you, thank you,
thank you for all you do to make us healthier.
Speaker 6 (19:31):
Of course, Scott, I appreciate it, man, and I really
appreciate reaching out and following having me on.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Eric, thank you so much for sharing your insight with
us today for anyone wanting to learn more about well
his practical research based approach to whether.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
It's a calorie deficit or fitness in general.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Make sure you check out my man's website, Eric Robertsfitness
dot com.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
And speaking of champions, coming up next, we'll.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Hear from a couple of people that are gonna share
some champions with you this weekend.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
That should make some great family viewing. I'm Scott Fitzgerald.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
You're listening to Kentucky folks.
Speaker 8 (20:08):
Some journeys start small with small paws and big purpose,
you speaker, Every great partnership begins with the first step.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Let's go guiding them through the world.
Speaker 5 (20:25):
So one day they can guide someone through life with
shared experience, confidence grows and the path becomes clear. It
takes time, patience and love, but the reward lasts a lifetime.
(20:46):
You don't just raise a puppy, You raise a future.
Become a dog's ink, puppy raser, give a dog a purpose,
give someone.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
Learn more at dogthink dot org.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
And welcome to Kentucky Focus. So I'm Scott FitzJohn. Well,
if you love dogs, you're in for a treat. The
twenty fifth Annual American Kennel Club National Championship Show just
wrapped up. More than fifty five hundred dogs from across
the country competed for the top title and.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
The fifty thousand dollars prize.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Joining us to recap all the excitement is Bill Ellis,
Senior director of Broadcasting for AKC, and his broadcast partner
Carolyn Menno. And Bill, let's start with you. The Championship
marked the twenty fifth anniversary of the event. What made
it so special and so unique?
Speaker 9 (21:38):
Yeah, we really had a great time celebrating the silver anniversary.
Twenty five years is a really memorable moment for us.
And you know what makes the show unique every year
is its size and scale. Over fifty five hundred dogs
were entered at this year's show, and it makes it
the largest dog show in all of North America. But
for this twenty fifth anniversary, we had a great time
(22:00):
getting to celebrate a bunch of past winners, looking back
through the archives and having some really memorable look back
moments that I think the audience will enjoy throughout the show.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
I know it's always a treat in our house.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
We are dog lovers through and through and my daughter
has her own. She shan that we've all fallen in
love with Cooper and we love when he comes over
to the house. And Carolyn, you've had an incredible career
covering major sports and events. What drew you to co
hosting the AKC National Championship?
Speaker 10 (22:27):
Well, I really love the community, and I love the
American Kennel Club, the people that I work with, and
so when this opportunity presented itself, it sounded like a
unique opportunity to cover something that I hadn't had the
privilege of really covering before. And once I got involved
with it and realized how much work went into producing
the National Championship, and how much all of the breeders'
(22:48):
owners and handlers care about these dogs and showcasing them
in the best life and telling everybody about these breeds
that they feel so passionately about. It really becomes something
that you just want to take part in every year.
It's something that's deeply meaningful to so many people who
have really given their lives to ensure that these incredible
breeds that we love continue to thrive and be around
(23:09):
for future generations. And that's really what's at the heart
of this contest. The beauty is there and the glitz
and the bright lights and the red carpet, but it
is ultimately a celebration of people who love to come
together and showcase the dogs that they love so much,
and to tell people about them and what they were
bred to do and why they're important, and to ensure
(23:30):
that these dogs stick around for a really long time.
And so it's been fascinating for me to learn about
breeds that I had no idea even existed. You know,
some of these really interesting breeds, the Sussex Spaniels, the Barbeys,
the sholo Eis Quintley's of the World, breeds from all
across the far reaches of the world. And then to
get to know the people associated with the event too,
has been really a privilege for me and something that
(23:51):
I love doing every single year.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Well, and you bring up a great point, Carolyn, and
that leads me into my next question for Bill. From
your perspective as senior director of broadcasting, what were some
of the behind the scenes highlights that viewers might not
see that you found interesting.
Speaker 9 (24:04):
Well, what you're going to see in the show, Scott,
are the seven groups your sporting dogs, your hounds, terriers,
et cetera, all leading up to Best in Show. But
this event takes over a million square feet. We have
brings all over this enormous building, huge space for grooming
and getting these dogs looking their best. So you know,
(24:27):
it's really a process of elimination, right over fifty five
hundred entries. Like we've talked about, they're all judged in
their breeds, so we had over one hundred Golden Retrievers,
over one hundred Australian Shepherds. A best of Breed winner
advances to the group stage of the judging and that's.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Where our show will pick.
Speaker 9 (24:44):
Up on Sunday. But there's just so much that goes
into this show and it really is sort of a
week long celebration of these dogs. You know, I think
your audience there in Louisville will understand I'm a horse
lover at heart. I know Carolyn is too. This is
the Kentucky Derby of the dog sport world. This is
(25:05):
the Breeder's Cup of the dog sport, so you know,
think about it in those terms.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
That is always a big hit in our house.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
Again, as dog lovers, we always tune in and Carolyn,
we've seen, you know, just this influx it feels like
at least of pet owners and dogs are becoming more
and more part of our lives and they're being treated
better than they ever have before. What's it like for
you to bring an event to so many that so
many look forward to every year, and to see the
(25:32):
different breeds and to tell folks about the different breeds.
Speaker 10 (25:35):
It really is a privilege, because you're right. You're absolutely right, Scott.
When you look around your town, when you're out and
about at the grocery store, at the airport, or really anywhere,
you see these incredible dogs that are being paired with
the humans that they love so much, and now more
than ever, that bond is so apparent. But really what's
interesting for me is the fact that that bond has
(25:57):
existed quite literally for centuries. So, you know, people feel
so strongly about the dogs that they love at home.
I mean, there are family pets, they keep us company
in many instances with some of these breeds, some of
these working dogs, they keep us safe, They keep our
community safe. You know, therapy dogs play an integral role
in so many people's lives, and so dogs have this
(26:18):
really profound role in our lives, whether they're just keeping
you company on your lap or quite literally protecting you
if you're out working with the dog doing some things
that are really important. And so that bond that exists
is so special and that's really what is fundamental to
to showcasing all these breeds and what they do. And
I think it's really wonderful to see so many more people,
(26:39):
more than ever, you know, have these dogs in their
lives that they love, and to celebrate them on a show.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
Like this And final question for you, Carolyn, and that
is what folks don't see, and that is after the
show all the after all the lights are turned down
and the dogs go back home.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
They lead pretty normal lives, don't they.
Speaker 10 (26:54):
They absolutely do. Yeah, they are groomed to perfection in
this show ring when the lights are the brightest, but
when they go home, they get dirty, They have snacks
off the table sometimes you know a little bit of
that behavior, which is totally normal for a wonderful family
pet that everybody loves. And they provide a lot of
love and comfort and companionship to those who are around them.
(27:17):
And when you meet the people that are associated with
these incredible winning dogs, you realize how much they love
them and how on the place that they have in
their lives. And that's really an important piece of it too,
is that at the end of the day they go
home and they just they hang out on the couch,
or they take part in AKC dog sports, and they
just they make everybody's lives richer in and out of
the ring.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
And I know you guys have to go. One final
question for you one where can they find this?
Speaker 1 (27:42):
And two?
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Bill and Carolyn, if you could briefly, because again I
know you have to go, do you guys have a
favorite dog?
Speaker 9 (27:49):
Well, everybody has their favorite, I will say so. I've
shown dogs pretty much my whole life, lots of different breeds,
so it's tough for me to pick one.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
I will confess I have a Labrador Retriever. At home.
Speaker 9 (28:01):
We've got a couple of breeds that we keep pointing
in Carolyn's direction so that she can add one to
her house. So you know, we're always kind of rooting
for our favorites, and I hope everybody will be rooting
for their favorites at home. They're going to get to
enjoy the show this Sunday. It's going to be on
ABC noon. Get your brunch, get your Sunday Lunch, whatever
(28:22):
you got going on on Sunday Funny Then on ABC
at twelve o'clock wonderful Bill Ellis, Director Programming, Carolyn Manno
co host.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Thank you all so much.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
It's been a real treat to talk to both of you.
Good luck to you and we look forward to the show.
Thanks and thanks again Roan Casey guests for giving us
a peek behind the curtain this year's American Kettle Club
National Championships.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
We're back to wrap things up after this. I'm Scott Fitzgerald.
This is Kentucky.
Speaker 7 (28:51):
Focus, Snakes, Zombies, public speaking. The list of fears is endless,
but the real danger is in your hand when you're
behind the wheel. Distract to driving is what's really scary
and even deadly. Ice Forward, Don't Drive Distracted. Brought to
you by NITZA and the AD Council.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
As we close out today's show, a heartfelt.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
Thank you to Eric Roberts for helping us start the
new year with a plan for better health, into our
friends from the American Kennel Club for letting us share
in the excitement of the twenty and twenty five National Championships,
and to our listeners across the common well. Thank you
for spending another year with Kentucky Focus. From the small
towns to our big cities, we've shared stories this year
of determination, community and excellence. Together, all of us here
(29:34):
at the Kentucky News Network and Kentucky Focus want to
wish you and.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
Your families a joyful holiday season.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
May be filled with good food, laughter, and maybe even
a little friendly competition, whether they're on the field, in
the gym, or with a wagging tail at your feet.
For all of us at the Kentucky News Network, Happy Holidays, Kentucky.
We'll see you in twenty twenty six.
And welcome to Kentucky Focus. I'm Scott Fitzgerald.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
This week, we've got stories, insights, and a few surprises
lined up.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
You won't want to miss.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Whether you're looking to start the new year on the
right foot or just love seeing excellence in action on
two legs or four, You're in the right place. Stay
tuned as we dive right in again. This is Kentucky Focus.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Welcome to Kentucky Focus on the Kentucky News Network, the
show that looks at issues affecting the Commonwealth and its citizens.
We cover state politics, in history, human interest, stories, sports,
and even entertainment. It's Kentucky Focus on kNN.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
Have you noticed bad behavior has become normalized at interscholastic
athletic events. Some fans seem angry, They lacks civility toward
one another. Some even get aggressive and unruly. Time out.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
What is going on?
Speaker 4 (00:59):
This has to stop. Let's not forget school sports aren't
just about winning, and they're definitely not an excuse to
take your frustrations out on the official or the opponent.
They're about teaching lessons like perseverance, respect and empathy so
students can learn and grow as people, not just as players.
(01:19):
We all have a role to play in setting a
good example for our students and teaching them these important values.
So fans, it's time to step up your game and
behave positively at Interscholastic Athletic Events in Kentucky.
Speaker 5 (01:33):
Brought to you by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association
and the Kentucky Athletic Administrators Association.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
And welcome back to Kentucky Focus. I'm Scott Fitzgerald. Today
we have a special guest who's taking the fitness world
by storm on TikTok and beyond.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
That's where I found him.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
He's a certified fitness coach, nutrition expert, and the founder
of his own platform helping people build strength, lose fat,
and improve performance the right way. You may have seen
him on TikTok, is at Eric Roberts Fitness, or caught
his tips on Instagram, maybe even YouTube. He's joining us now.
I'm so proud to talk to this guy after watching
him for so long. He's gonna help us break down
the science of fat loss, nutrition and real world strategies.
(02:15):
As someone who's lost over one hundred pounds, he speaks
gospel to me.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Eric, thanks so much.
Speaker 6 (02:19):
For joining us, buddy, Scott, my friend. That is a
very kind intro. But I just want to say thank
you so much for having me on, thank you for following,
and once again, congratulations on your progress.
Speaker 7 (02:28):
Scott.
Speaker 6 (02:28):
Absolutely incredible.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Oh it means a lot to hear you say that,
my brother. I'm so looking forward to this conversation. So
let's jump right into it. You build a massive following
sharing practical fitness advice. Tell us a little bit about
your journey into the fitness world and what inspired you
to start coaching others.
Speaker 8 (02:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (02:42):
Absolutely, So I started working out at sixteen. And this
is a true story. A lot of people don't believe me,
but I was sixteen. I walked into a gym for
the first time. I walked out of the gym. I
went home and I told my dad, I'm gonna do
something with this for the rest of my life. And
he was like, calm down, shamp You're sixteen. I highly it,
but here we are. And so I've just always loved it.
(03:03):
I've always loved the gym. I've loved I didn't grow
up with a lot of money or things like that,
so I loved that it was something I could work
really hard at and see results from. So that's why
I fell in love with it. And then as I
started to get into it, into coaching specifically, I was like,
wait a minute. People don't know about fitness, nor do
(03:24):
they believe that they can lose weight, get in shape,
stay consistent, be disciplined. So I was like, I want
to help people understand that they can do this. And
that's really what the love and the passion for coaching
and educating people really came from.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Right on again, we're talking with Eric Roberts. He's with
Eric robert Fitness on TikTok. He's I follow him religiously.
I stumbled on him. This isn't a pitch story idea
by any means. I reached out to Eric on my
own because I think it's that important that people hear
your message. Eric, and your approach is a very non
nonsense and researched based approach. How do you balance motivation
with realism when more can with your client?
Speaker 6 (04:00):
Yes, Scott, what I've found is realism is motivation. Like,
let's be honest, people are tired of the BS, they're
tired of the quick fixes, they're tired of eat a
thousand calories or you know you have to cut out
all the foods like they want to be told, Hey,
this is gonna be hard work. You're gonna have to
require some sacrifice and discipline. It's gonna take longer than
you want, but it's gonna be worth it in the end.
(04:23):
And I have found through my approach of being as
real and as no bs as possible, people appreciate that
and they respect it, and it motivates them to stick
with it during the hard times. Because you've lost one
hundred pounds, you know, you probably weren't motivated that it's
fired time, but you still got up and you got
it done. So you know, I've found motivation in realism
(04:45):
go hand in hand right on.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
And one of your videos you put out recently, Eric,
really hit home to me.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
You were walking and it was freezing cold, and I've
done that before, and I knew that feeling is that
immediately resonated with me.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
So that's why you speak the gospel.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
And one of the things I love that you talk about, Eric,
because I'm still in one now. It's kind of how
I live my life. It's called the calorie deficit. New
Year's resolutions are coming up, so many people are thinking
about losing weight, starting with the basics, does a calorie
deficit really work and what's the right way to approach it?
Speaker 8 (05:16):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (05:16):
Absolutely, Man, So a calorie deficit is the only way
to lose fat. And only expanding this a tad bit more.
Our bodies work off of something called thermodynamics, energy in,
energy out. Unless you are a plant listening to this
who has photosynthesis for energy, we humans run off of
this thermodynamics, and so it all comes back to if
(05:39):
you're in taking less calories, less energy than you are burning,
you're gonna lose fat. Now, some people do this in
different ways. Some people do may have heard of intermittent fasting.
This is a way to decrease your eating window to
potentially take in less calories. Some people do this by
going low carb because for them that helps them get
(05:59):
into the calorie deficit. Some people do this through various
different ways, but it all comes back to the calorie deficit.
In my two cents to anybody out there is figure
out what's going to be the sustainable approach for you.
Because I've coached man at this point over twenty five
thousand clients between in person and online, and something that
(06:21):
may work for you might not work for somebody else.
For example, I love eating breakfast. Internet fasting won't work
for me, but that might work for somebody who doesn't
love eating breakfast. So what is a sustainable way that
you can create the calorie deficit over the long haul?
And the last part I'll say to that is, if
somebody's listening and you've never weighed your food and tracked
(06:44):
your calories, I would challenge you just do it for
three days. You don't need to do it for the
entire rest of the twenty twenty six, but do it
for three days, and I promise you'll learn more about
calories and nutrition in those three days than most people
learn about it in their entire life.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Oh that's gospel. Eric.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
I went out and bought a Scouts one of the
first things I did, and I was astonished by how
much I was reading and just by doing doing it
by site test and people. It's so funny because people
come up to you and they're like, you're weighing your food.
I go, yes, I am, because I want to make
and it works. It absolutely works.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Again.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Eric Roberts is with us. We call him Coach Eric.
And if you want more information, on what he's talking about. Obviously,
Eric robertsfitness dot Com is where you go to. Eric's
a guy stumbled on TikTok and he's he's speaking to me.
He speaks to gospel when it comes to losing weight.
And now, Eric, that brings me to my next topic.
And this is where you really helped me through this.
You wrote a blog about people being in a calorie
(07:39):
deficit but not losing weight. I remember going through this
for the first time thinking, oh my god, this isn't
working again. What are some of the common mistakes that
you see.
Speaker 6 (07:48):
Yeah, so it's actually piggybacking right off of what we
just said. And I'll reference a study. There was a
study done, I believe in nineteen ninety two in the
New England Journal of Medicine. People out there can go
look it up if they would like. But they took
obese patients who were quote unquote eating twelve hundred calories
(08:09):
but not losing weight. And this was like a phenomenon
because they're like, how are you eating so little but
not losing weight? Well, it comes to find out they
were guesstimating how many calories they were eating based on
looking at their portion sizes and reporting they were eating
twelve hundred calories. Come to find out later in the
study they went back and tracked that day's worth of
(08:31):
food they were eating. Scott, they were eating double the
amount of calories that they thought they were double. They
were eating twenty four hundred calories. And that's why they
weren't losing weight. And so we, just as humans, are
not good at guestimating our portion sizes and how many
calories were consuming. And you could say that's because of well,
(08:52):
in America our portion sizes are so much bigger. You
could say, whatever reason. But again going back to the realism,
it's your job to get into that calorie deficit. And
so I believe that's one. The second one would be, oh,
I eat healthy, Eric, why am I not losing weight? Well, remember,
even if you eat healthy, it does not mean that
you are in a calorie deficit. You can healthy foods
(09:15):
have calories as well. Doesn't mean it's bad, but it
just means that you need to make sure your calories
are in check. And then the third part would just
be the weekends slash. Yeshol I know those you.
Speaker 5 (09:27):
Know those things.
Speaker 6 (09:27):
Both people have fun and we get it, but what
we really try to approach and teach our online coaching
clients is, hey, we can go out. You can enjoy
yourself a little bit, but like we got to have
one or two drinks instead of three to five. We
got to opt for the vodka and soda versus the
sugary cocktails. We have to maybe during the day pull
back on our calories, focus on high protein, low car
(09:51):
blow fat to be able to have more flexibility when
you go out to eat on the weekends to still
hit your calorie goals. So I would say those are
the couple of most common stakes. If people can tackle,
they're going to really see some fat loss progress. In
twenty twenty.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Six, again we're talking with Eric Roberts. I follow him
on TikTok. I think you should too. You'll love his
videos because he basically takes what we're talking and puts
it in just a few minutes to understand. He breaks
this stuff down scientifically so it makes sense. And as
Eric said earlier, he is brutally honest about the way
he approaches this. He's not going to sugarcoat it. You
can follo him on TikTok at Eric Roberts Fitness or
(10:25):
if you want to go to his website, Eric robertsfitness
dot com and Eric.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
That brings me to my next question for you.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
And there's a lot of talk about that ten thousand
steps number. How realistic is that and what's the real
truth to that?
Speaker 1 (10:39):
And what kind of movement do we really need to
stay healthy?
Speaker 6 (10:43):
Yeah, it's a great question. So is it realistic? I
don't know. Maybe if you're a dog walker, or you're
a maleman or a male woman, you get fifteen thousand
steps per day regardless, awesome, But if you sit at
a desk all day, that could be pretty difficult to
get ten thousand steps. Not impossible, just difficult. So what
we try to do and what I try to teach
is where are you at right now and just get
(11:05):
a little bit better than that. So if somebody listening
is at three thousand and four thousand steps per day, cool,
try to go to five or six thousand steps per day.
If you're at five or six, try to go to
seven or eight. These little increments of addition are more realistic,
less overwhelming, and it's more habit based as opposed to
trying to white knuckle your way to ten thousand steps.
Speaker 7 (11:28):
Per day.
Speaker 6 (11:28):
Doing it for a couple of days, life gets crazy,
you feel bad because you miss the mark, you quit,
you fall off. This is just you know the cycle.
So what I will say is this that will be
the first part and the second part there is going
back to being research based. For every one thousand steps
that you take extra one thousand steps, I believe you
(11:48):
decrease your risk of all calls mortality. I believe by
fifteen percent if I'm not mistaken. So you do want
to get more daily movement. But remember this could be
walking around that house. This could be pacing on phone calls.
This could be parking farther away at the store, taking
the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator. Anyway you
(12:08):
can try to get extra movement that is going to
be beneficial for not just your fat loss journey, but
like you said, for your overall health.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
As Well's that's kind of where I'm at because heart
disease runs in my family and I want to keep
that thing going the best I can.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
And that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Eric Roberts with Eric Roberts Fitness on TikTok. Follow him
on TikTok. His videos are great. They pop up in
my feet.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
All the time.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Get him in your algorithm. It'll do you a great service.
And if you'd like more information, Eric is a coach.
You can check him out Eric robertsfitness dot com. And
one of the videos you did, Eric, which I really
appreciated because I love me say a diet coke in
the middle of the afternoon.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
There are so many myths.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
There are people out there, and you have a name
for him, and I can't repeat it here, and I
wish I could, but they they want to tell you
that diet coke is the anti Christ.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Is it really bad for you?
Speaker 6 (12:59):
You're gonna get me in level here.
Speaker 9 (13:03):
Listen.
Speaker 6 (13:03):
When we talk about diet soda sugar free soda, I'll
lay this out in a couple of ways. Number One,
again on the spectrum of bad to good, too great
to the most optimal, it's better than drinking a full
sugar soda one hundred percent because it's two hundred less calories.
And if we're talking about being in a calorie deficit,
you swap out regular soda for diet soda. That decreases
(13:27):
your calorie intake, which then helps you lose fifty pounds,
which then improves all of your blood markers, your cholesterol,
your blood pressure, pre diabetes, so that one swap could
make a massive difference for your health, not to mention
when we like the biggest claim with diet soda is
the artificial sweeteners that aspertain r going back to the
(13:49):
research and people they just hear these sound clips but
don't actually look into the research. There was a study
done on rats, not humans, on rats that said, oh yeah,
like the artificial sweetness, you know, cause them to have
cancer and whatnot. But the amount that the rats were
consuming would be the same amount as a human consuming
(14:10):
thirty plus cans of diet soda per day. So unless
you're somebody out there who's drinking thirty cans, maybe there
is Scott not sure if your audience, but unless you're
doing that, no, you're not gonna hit the threshold of
having a negative something happened to you from drinking a
diet soda. And on top of that, the last thing
I'll say, if that gives you some joy and delightenment
(14:34):
in your diet, in your calorie deficit, in your fat
loss journey, you can look forward to it that helps
you stay consistent. What do most people struggle with actually
staying consistent. So if this can help you do that,
it's actually a good thing for fat loss.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Right on, and then just a couple more questions for you, Eric,
I could probably talk to you all day, no doubt
about it. Again, you want to follow me. He's on TikTok.
He's a big fall that's how iyebrobm. That's why I'm
bringing him to you at Eric Robertsitness on TikTok. And
again Eric robertsfitness dot com is his website. And Eric,
for those people who and we've all done this who
I've done it plenty of times.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Trust me.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
You maybe go off the rails a little bit on
the weekend and you just feel horrible. On Monday, you're like,
oh my god, I just got to starve for the
next year and a half.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
That's not the case.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Because of one of your videos, you actually lay it
out how much you actually have to eat to gain
that pound of fat.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Explain a little bit of that.
Speaker 6 (15:27):
Yeah, absolutely, So one pound of fat is thirty five
hundred calories. So for you to gain one pound of fat,
you would have to eat thirty five hundred calories, not
over your calorie deficit number, but over your maintenance calories.
So for example, if your maintenance calories are two thousand
(15:48):
and you're trying to eat fifteen hundred calories to lose weight,
you would have to eat fifty five hundred calories to
gain one pound of fat. And actually that's not even
right either, because your overall calories are looked at on
a weekly basis, not just a daily basis. So even
if you did over eat fifty five hundred calories on
(16:11):
that one day, you would look at your entire course
of the week, and if you were in a calorie
deficit the rest of the week, you probably would not
even still gain fat because the rest of your week
is in that deficit. So it then this goes to
the question of like, well then how do we gain
so much weight? Well, over time, this stuff adds up,
But one day is not gonna make or break anything,
(16:33):
just like one day you don't get skinny and one
day you don't get fat. It's what you do most
of the time, not some of the time. And if
you can just get right back on track, I promise
you are gonna be just fine and you're still gonna
see the progress you want to see. You didn't ruin anything.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Eric is such a great coach.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
He's just you go to this website again, just follow
him on TikTok, follow phone, wherever social media.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
And you know our.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Final question for you, buddy, besides calorie tracking and step
what else should people be doing to physically complement their
fat loss and fitness goals.
Speaker 6 (17:05):
Yeah, so this one's huge, I believe for many reasons.
But it's strength training. It's lifting weights. And I know
a lot of people still think, well, cardio is the
best way to lose weight. And I'm not saying cardio
is bad. You should do cardio. I think your daily
steps are a part of that cardio. But lifting weights,
even just two to four times a week for fifteen
(17:25):
to sixty minutes. You don't need to be a bodybuilder,
you don't need to be a professional, but lifting weights
gives you something that not any other form of exercise
is going to give you. Whether we talk about building
muscle for your metabolism benefits, it'll increase your calorie burn,
increase your metabolism, for your bone health benefits, to fight
against osteoporosis. The best way to prevent injury is being strong.
(17:50):
Most people check into a nursing home when they get older,
because they fall and they can't get up or they
can't get up off the toilet. So you want to
be able to maintain that strength and that ends as
you age, on top of all the positive benefits that
it does right now. And so two to four times
a week strength training, weights, machines, whatever you have access to,
(18:10):
doesn't need to It could be just dumbells, it could
be just resistance bands, but anything you can do to
start lifting some weights.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
And Eric, you know, if folks are listening to this
and they go, hey, calorie deficit sounds great, how do
I figure out my calorie devs?
Speaker 1 (18:23):
If you can help folks with that, can you not?
Speaker 6 (18:26):
We absolutely can help folks with that. You know, you
can head to my website, you can head of my
social media's. I actually have a totally free calorie calculator.
If you just probably google Eric Roberts shitting this calorie calculator,
it'll tell you it's the same one we use with
our clients. Just to be very frank and transparent, So
check that out. Or again, if you know, if somebody's listening, like, hey,
I need some extra help with this. I need some personalization.
(18:48):
I need someone to talk me off the ledge and
my scale goes up. Like I said, we do offer coaching.
You know, you can head some of my social media's
head to my website check that stuff out. But either way,
maybe just shoot me a DM. You know, I try
to get as many emails and dms as I possibly can,
so you know I'm here to help however I can
as a friend, first and foremost.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
I know you are Eric, and had I not already,
I'm at my ideal weight.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Now I've been able to hang on to it, thank goodness.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
But as a testament to what you do, I still
go to your videos, I still check you out online
and your social media is because every now and then
I need that encouragement and Eric, you're right there to
give it to me.
Speaker 6 (19:22):
Brother.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
I am so glad we were able to catch up
and make this happen. And please pass on to all
your coaches there at Eric Roberts Fitness. Thank you, thank you,
thank you for all you do to make us healthier.
Speaker 6 (19:31):
Of course, Scott, I appreciate it, man, and I really
appreciate reaching out and following having me on.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Eric, thank you so much for sharing your insight with
us today for anyone wanting to learn more about well
his practical research based approach to whether.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
It's a calorie deficit or fitness in general.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Make sure you check out my man's website, Eric Robertsfitness
dot com.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
And speaking of champions, coming up next, we'll.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Hear from a couple of people that are gonna share
some champions with you this weekend.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
That should make some great family viewing. I'm Scott Fitzgerald.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
You're listening to Kentucky folks.
Speaker 8 (20:08):
Some journeys start small with small paws and big purpose,
you speaker, Every great partnership begins with the first step.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Let's go guiding them through the world.
Speaker 5 (20:25):
So one day they can guide someone through life with
shared experience, confidence grows and the path becomes clear. It
takes time, patience and love, but the reward lasts a lifetime.
(20:46):
You don't just raise a puppy, You raise a future.
Become a dog's ink, puppy raser, give a dog a purpose,
give someone.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
Learn more at dogthink dot org.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
And welcome to Kentucky Focus. So I'm Scott FitzJohn. Well,
if you love dogs, you're in for a treat. The
twenty fifth Annual American Kennel Club National Championship Show just
wrapped up. More than fifty five hundred dogs from across
the country competed for the top title and.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
The fifty thousand dollars prize.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Joining us to recap all the excitement is Bill Ellis,
Senior director of Broadcasting for AKC, and his broadcast partner
Carolyn Menno. And Bill, let's start with you. The Championship
marked the twenty fifth anniversary of the event. What made
it so special and so unique?
Speaker 9 (21:38):
Yeah, we really had a great time celebrating the silver anniversary.
Twenty five years is a really memorable moment for us.
And you know what makes the show unique every year
is its size and scale. Over fifty five hundred dogs
were entered at this year's show, and it makes it
the largest dog show in all of North America. But
for this twenty fifth anniversary, we had a great time
(22:00):
getting to celebrate a bunch of past winners, looking back
through the archives and having some really memorable look back
moments that I think the audience will enjoy throughout the show.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
I know it's always a treat in our house.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
We are dog lovers through and through and my daughter
has her own. She shan that we've all fallen in
love with Cooper and we love when he comes over
to the house. And Carolyn, you've had an incredible career
covering major sports and events. What drew you to co
hosting the AKC National Championship?
Speaker 10 (22:27):
Well, I really love the community, and I love the
American Kennel Club, the people that I work with, and
so when this opportunity presented itself, it sounded like a
unique opportunity to cover something that I hadn't had the
privilege of really covering before. And once I got involved
with it and realized how much work went into producing
the National Championship, and how much all of the breeders'
(22:48):
owners and handlers care about these dogs and showcasing them
in the best life and telling everybody about these breeds
that they feel so passionately about. It really becomes something
that you just want to take part in every year.
It's something that's deeply meaningful to so many people who
have really given their lives to ensure that these incredible
breeds that we love continue to thrive and be around
(23:09):
for future generations. And that's really what's at the heart
of this contest. The beauty is there and the glitz
and the bright lights and the red carpet, but it
is ultimately a celebration of people who love to come
together and showcase the dogs that they love so much,
and to tell people about them and what they were
bred to do and why they're important, and to ensure
(23:30):
that these dogs stick around for a really long time.
And so it's been fascinating for me to learn about
breeds that I had no idea even existed. You know,
some of these really interesting breeds, the Sussex Spaniels, the Barbeys,
the sholo Eis Quintley's of the World, breeds from all
across the far reaches of the world. And then to
get to know the people associated with the event too,
has been really a privilege for me and something that
(23:51):
I love doing every single year.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Well, and you bring up a great point, Carolyn, and
that leads me into my next question for Bill. From
your perspective as senior director of broadcasting, what were some
of the behind the scenes highlights that viewers might not
see that you found interesting.
Speaker 9 (24:04):
Well, what you're going to see in the show, Scott,
are the seven groups your sporting dogs, your hounds, terriers,
et cetera, all leading up to Best in Show. But
this event takes over a million square feet. We have
brings all over this enormous building, huge space for grooming
and getting these dogs looking their best. So you know,
(24:27):
it's really a process of elimination, right over fifty five
hundred entries. Like we've talked about, they're all judged in
their breeds, so we had over one hundred Golden Retrievers,
over one hundred Australian Shepherds. A best of Breed winner
advances to the group stage of the judging and that's.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Where our show will pick.
Speaker 9 (24:44):
Up on Sunday. But there's just so much that goes
into this show and it really is sort of a
week long celebration of these dogs. You know, I think
your audience there in Louisville will understand I'm a horse
lover at heart. I know Carolyn is too. This is
the Kentucky Derby of the dog sport world. This is
(25:05):
the Breeder's Cup of the dog sport, so you know,
think about it in those terms.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
That is always a big hit in our house.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
Again, as dog lovers, we always tune in and Carolyn,
we've seen, you know, just this influx it feels like
at least of pet owners and dogs are becoming more
and more part of our lives and they're being treated
better than they ever have before. What's it like for
you to bring an event to so many that so
many look forward to every year, and to see the
(25:32):
different breeds and to tell folks about the different breeds.
Speaker 10 (25:35):
It really is a privilege, because you're right. You're absolutely right, Scott.
When you look around your town, when you're out and
about at the grocery store, at the airport, or really anywhere,
you see these incredible dogs that are being paired with
the humans that they love so much, and now more
than ever, that bond is so apparent. But really what's
interesting for me is the fact that that bond has
(25:57):
existed quite literally for centuries. So, you know, people feel
so strongly about the dogs that they love at home.
I mean, there are family pets, they keep us company
in many instances with some of these breeds, some of
these working dogs, they keep us safe, They keep our
community safe. You know, therapy dogs play an integral role
in so many people's lives, and so dogs have this
(26:18):
really profound role in our lives, whether they're just keeping
you company on your lap or quite literally protecting you
if you're out working with the dog doing some things
that are really important. And so that bond that exists
is so special and that's really what is fundamental to
to showcasing all these breeds and what they do. And
I think it's really wonderful to see so many more people,
(26:39):
more than ever, you know, have these dogs in their
lives that they love, and to celebrate them on a show.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
Like this And final question for you, Carolyn, and that
is what folks don't see, and that is after the
show all the after all the lights are turned down
and the dogs go back home.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
They lead pretty normal lives, don't they.
Speaker 10 (26:54):
They absolutely do. Yeah, they are groomed to perfection in
this show ring when the lights are the brightest, but
when they go home, they get dirty, They have snacks
off the table sometimes you know a little bit of
that behavior, which is totally normal for a wonderful family
pet that everybody loves. And they provide a lot of
love and comfort and companionship to those who are around them.
(27:17):
And when you meet the people that are associated with
these incredible winning dogs, you realize how much they love
them and how on the place that they have in
their lives. And that's really an important piece of it too,
is that at the end of the day they go
home and they just they hang out on the couch,
or they take part in AKC dog sports, and they
just they make everybody's lives richer in and out of
the ring.
Speaker 2 (27:37):
And I know you guys have to go. One final
question for you one where can they find this?
Speaker 1 (27:42):
And two?
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Bill and Carolyn, if you could briefly, because again I
know you have to go, do you guys have a
favorite dog?
Speaker 9 (27:49):
Well, everybody has their favorite, I will say so. I've
shown dogs pretty much my whole life, lots of different breeds,
so it's tough for me to pick one.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
I will confess I have a Labrador Retriever. At home.
Speaker 9 (28:01):
We've got a couple of breeds that we keep pointing
in Carolyn's direction so that she can add one to
her house. So you know, we're always kind of rooting
for our favorites, and I hope everybody will be rooting
for their favorites at home. They're going to get to
enjoy the show this Sunday. It's going to be on
ABC noon. Get your brunch, get your Sunday Lunch, whatever
(28:22):
you got going on on Sunday Funny Then on ABC
at twelve o'clock wonderful Bill Ellis, Director Programming, Carolyn Manno
co host.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Thank you all so much.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
It's been a real treat to talk to both of you.
Good luck to you and we look forward to the show.
Thanks and thanks again Roan Casey guests for giving us
a peek behind the curtain this year's American Kettle Club
National Championships.
Speaker 1 (28:46):
We're back to wrap things up after this. I'm Scott Fitzgerald.
This is Kentucky.
Speaker 7 (28:51):
Focus, Snakes, Zombies, public speaking. The list of fears is endless,
but the real danger is in your hand when you're
behind the wheel. Distract to driving is what's really scary
and even deadly. Ice Forward, Don't Drive Distracted. Brought to
you by NITZA and the AD Council.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
As we close out today's show, a heartfelt.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
Thank you to Eric Roberts for helping us start the
new year with a plan for better health, into our
friends from the American Kennel Club for letting us share
in the excitement of the twenty and twenty five National Championships,
and to our listeners across the common well. Thank you
for spending another year with Kentucky Focus. From the small
towns to our big cities, we've shared stories this year
of determination, community and excellence. Together, all of us here
(29:34):
at the Kentucky News Network and Kentucky Focus want to
wish you and.
Speaker 1 (29:38):
Your families a joyful holiday season.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
May be filled with good food, laughter, and maybe even
a little friendly competition, whether they're on the field, in
the gym, or with a wagging tail at your feet.
For all of us at the Kentucky News Network, Happy Holidays, Kentucky.
We'll see you in twenty twenty six.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!