Episode Eleven: Meet the Baltimore Ravens Cheerleaders

Cassie Calvert speaks with Baltimore Ravens Cheerleading Director Tina Galdieri and introduces you to fascinating cheerleaders Antonia W. and Sheridan M., exploring how they balance their professional lives off the field while following their passion of cheerleading.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:07):
For whatever reason, there have always been stereotypes associated with
the sport of cheerleading. I'll be honest, I haven't always
been the most educated when it comes to the sport myself,
but since I've been with the Ravens Organization, I've continuously
been impressed with the Baltimore Ravens cheerleading team. These women
and men, led by longtime director Tinni Caldieri, have a

(00:27):
huge impact in the Baltimore community. Their incredible athletes oh
and leads super successful full time jobs outside of being
a professional cheerleader. Today, I'm joined by Tina and antony
A w a fourth year veteran who was on the
stunt team and a paralegal, and Shared and m a
rookie dance team member who has worked for NASA and

(00:47):
conducted fieldwork in Antarctica. I mean, talk about impressive. All
three of these women make me feel like a slacker.
We dive into how they represent the Ravens organization, balanced
multiple careers, and about the stereotypes associated with cheerleading. To
kick it off, what drew all three of you to cheerleading? Initially?
What drew made cheerleading was I was a gymnast for

(01:09):
ten years and then so we're going way back a
little older than these downs. Um, I was a gymnast
for ten years and I wanted to try out from
my high school cheerleading team that was really really good
back in the nineteen eighties, and um, they competed all
over the United States, and so I wanted to go
and try out because a bunch of my friends were

(01:31):
trying out, and UM. From there, the little story goes
that I didn't make it my freshman year on JV,
but all my friends did, so that was a really
sad story. Um. But then I kicked butt and practiced
with all the varsity cheerleaders in my driveway for a
full year, and then I came back, tried out and

(01:51):
made varsity and they all stayed on JV. So I
thought that was pretty cool story. Um, and then I
just fell in love with it, Jim Jim. Being a
gymnast with such an individual sport, I didn't like all
the attention on me and not being around a team. So, UM,
that's the other the other part of the reason that
I started out with cheer lending and then I just

(02:13):
went into college cheerleaning, college coaching, and then Ravens as
the director. UM. I started cheering in high school. I
just tried out my eighth grade year, going into high school,
had no expectation, had no idea what I was doing. UM,
but ended up making varsity and they just taught me

(02:34):
everything from there. UM went on and cheered in college.
Uh found the Ravens organization went forward again kind of
with high school. Didn't know what I was getting into,
didn't know what to expect, and uh, fortunately enough made it. UM.
So cheering has been kind of a just learn as
you go experience for me. Awesome. I think my my

(02:58):
route is a little different. So how did I get
into it? Honestly, I'll be really honest. It's the only
team sport that I really liked. When I was growing up,
my school wanted me to be on a team sport.
I started cheering when I was really little. UM, and
I tried soccer, and I tried softball, and I tried volleyball,

(03:19):
and I was just truly unsuccessful the nicest way possible.
Just something about it that just wasn't clicking. And UM,
I got on a cheerleading team and that's when I
really started to thrive. I think it was the individual
nous of it mixed with the team aspect of it,
and UM, I really liked that juxtaposition. So uh yeah,

(03:43):
I danced all my life and then I started cheering
when I was really little, and that's how I got
into it. I love that. UM So, just for fans
who might not know, I know that for all three
of you, working for the Ravens isn't your full time role.
So what do you guys do outside of the Ravens
to your team? UM? For me, I UM actually have
two other jobs. I am a general manager of a

(04:06):
UM cheerleading company, cheerleading and dance event company which we do.
We put on events across the United States and we
also do summer camps and it's for Varsity Spirit UM.
And then I also own a medical esthetician company that

(04:28):
does fillers, botox, micro needling, derobration, you name it, we're
doing it. So I'm part owner and consultant in that
as well. Wow, that's a lot, very busy. I guess
I'd like to keep my plateful for some reason. Totally. UM.

(04:49):
I work full time as a care legal for a
nonprofit here in Baltimore. UM So we help provide low
income mare leaders to access to free Eagle services. So
that's such a rewarding job. I've kind of done the
same position for the past two years. I was a
different nonprofit last year kind of before COVID hit. We

(05:10):
were working with inmates doing similar UM services. Um. But
that's my full time job. Wow, how do you balance?
I feel like that sounds like a really demanding career.
So how are you able to balance, like a career
in law with all of the things that come with
being a cheerleader as well? UM Well, I feel like
with Ravens and sharing, the schedule is UM pretty flexible

(05:33):
with us having full time jobs and being students, so
with practices being later on, it works with UM a
full time schedule also unfortunate enough to where my job
really UM put an emphasis emphasis on you know, mental
health and like taking our personal time. So when five
o'clock hits, they don't want us to keep working. UM,
they want us to take our time and you know,

(05:54):
focus on ourself. UM. But it's all about balance that
I feel like with with Tina said, I kind of
like having a full plate. Um, it makes me see busy.
I feel like I'm doing stuff. Yeah, that's really important.
That an organization like that respects that because you don't.
You don't see that in every company. Um, Sheridan, I'll
jump to you. What about for you outside of cheer Yeah,
I wear a couple of different hats. Um. My full

(06:16):
time job is that I'm a teacher at an independent
school in d C. And that's new for me. Last year,
I was a scientist and I'm still on call as
a scientist for the government. Um. So that's like what
I do all the time. And then I also recently
opened up a renovation company where we flip houses. Yeah,
just like the other ladies, constantly busy, constantly keeping a

(06:38):
full schedule, and like I'm slacking over here. Don't you
see a pattern or emerging? That's the background for cheerleaders.
It's we always take on so much. Um. And I
just think that's part of the personalities that people that
become cheerleaders or you know, professional cheers or chelader is

(06:59):
just general is that we like to be busy. Yeah, yeah, um,
shared and you mentioned Sorry, go ahead, Oh, I was
just gonna say. I feel like I'm most successful when
I'm busy, Like if I have time to just kind
of chill and do nothing. I feel like I can
be kind of a potato, but when I've got my
central fool, I'm like, okay, let's do this, let's go, go, go,
go go. So yeah, it's just personality, I guess. Well,

(07:23):
like driven people are driven in all areas of their lives,
I feel like, so I feel like that makes you
successful in multiple areas. But you mentioned that you switched careers,
so could you elaborate on that a little more? I know,
reading your bio was honestly fascinating to me, us like
she is like probably the coolest person I've ever heard of.
So could you elaborate on the scientific job you had before? Yeah,

(07:45):
of course that is so kind. Um yeah, So for
about ten years I was a scientist and mostly for NASA,
um on and off. I got my PhD. Well, I
got my undergraduate degree in math from Georgia Tech, and
I got my PhD in uh Earth Atmospheric and Planetary sciences,
and I mostly studied different environments on Mars, and that

(08:07):
translated to working for the government by studying satellites and
how satellites worked and calibrating them and um, seeing what
we could do for our own planet. So um, yeah,
it was an interesting career. I really loved it. I
still miss it. I'm not gonna lie, but I got
to a point where I just felt like, I don't know,
it's hard, it's really hard to explain. I felt like

(08:28):
I feel like I kind of peaked, which is probably
not true. I mean, I'm like, I'm thirty. I definitely
didn't teake more I could do, but I felt like
I was I was giving all I could give, and
I wanted to find somewhere that I could give more
and like make a different kind of impact. I guess,
like especially with the pandemic, it really affected me. I
was like, research is great and it's making an impact,

(08:50):
but I want to I want to be kind of
more on the front lines and making a more immediate impacts.
That's why I switched. That's really special, and I felt
like there's really no way to make more of an
immediate impact and teaching, so I love that. That's awesome.
I think one of the things that has always struck
me about the Ravenstray Leading program. I don't think a
lot of people realize is like the community impact that
you guys have because people see, like they know the

(09:13):
players go out and do the community work. But like
in every community event, even when players aren't there, here
is there, Poe is there. We always have a presence
UM and a lot of times that's via you guys.
So why is it so important, I guess to you
guys as a program to really be out in the
Baltimore community in that way. I would let Um sharing
In and Antonia answer that just because they're they're the

(09:35):
ones of physically going out there and within the community.
But just to let you know, Cassie, that we do
over however, usually about anywhere between hundred and seventy to
two d and twenty appearances a year. UM. The nice
thing for us is that we do have a large
squad that we can you know, hold people to appear

(09:56):
at these events. You know, we have fifty three strong,
which is great for the Ravens organization to report us
that way, and so that is you know, we feel
a responsibility to give back to the community as well.
But I want to turn it over to Antony and
share In because they have probably more personal stories to
go upon and it seems being out in the community. Yes,

(10:17):
So Um, I feel like for everyone on the Ravens
chair team of course, being on the sidelines is an
incredible part and actually dancing and sharing and doing what
we love. But doing the appearances and actually interacting with UM,
the fans and our community members is one of the
most memorable experiences you get with the ravents UM and

(10:39):
I feel like being on this platform having this privilege
to have all of these people in our community trust
us with their stories. They have some of the most
incredible stories. UM. We get to be part of big
events in their lives. Some some people are part of
proposals and engagements UM. I believe in Ocean City back
in twenty Night Team, we were a part of a
wedding UM. But the fact that all of our community

(11:01):
members trust us so much to hold their stories and
I want to share their experiences with us UM is
one of the greatest parts UM. One of my favorite
appearances we do is with the Ronald McDonald House around
the holiday times and I'm just bringing joy to them
around that Christmas time. And like Tina was saying, we
do so many different appearances and there's so many members

(11:24):
on our team, but at the end of the day,
we all come back during our team meetings and share
the experiences we've had with m our appearances, and it's
even if we weren't there personally, just hearing the stories
of my teammates have had with appearances is great. I know.
A big part of that too is UM the military trip.
So could you guys speak to like what those entail
and how did that kind of like come about. I

(11:46):
know my teammates they come back from our military tours
and they say it's one of the best experience experiences
they've had. UM. They I know, travel to many different
countries and UM. Just hearing their stories and it's really
like touching I'm sure for the troops, but also our
teammates as well. UM. Tina. For you, I know you've

(12:09):
been with the Ravens a really long time, So what
are some of the changes that you've seen and cheerleading
over your time here? UM, you know it's I guess
that's a good question. It's been twenty three years. For me,
I can recall UM and you know what, I would
say that we've kind of stayed steadfast in our classic

(12:34):
type of UM. You know, uniforms are UM routines that
we do. We keep it very classy and family UM involved.
But I UM, I don't know if I would say
changes so much as I just feel like there's differences
in UM the generations of kids, you know, coming in UM.

(12:59):
I feel like we definitely have more talent pool UM
in the last five to ten years and we've had
in the past. Also, we have UM I don't want
to say UM, more professional UM cheerleaders that have great
outside jobs, you know, Anthonia Sheridan. We have teachers, we

(13:22):
have UM. We've had doctors before, we've had lawyers, JAG lawyers,
we've had military. So I would say that probably is
our biggest change UM is that they're definitely more talented
and UM more worldly, and I would say more intelligent.
I don't want to say that like my children were

(13:44):
not intelligent in prior years, but there's definitely more of
a go getter UM multiple jobs, handling multiple jobs, and
UM education. They're pursuing their education more, I would say that.
But otherwise, are are routines that we do and the
sidelines we do all very similar except UM definitely more

(14:08):
challenging and flipping and harder skill dance skills and that
type of thing. But otherwise we're we're pretty consistent UM
in the performance factor sure. You you mentioned kind of
the athleticism and talent that goes into the routines that
you guys do. And I know there's kind of a
wide range of skills you have to be able to

(14:29):
have there, from dancing to stunting. So what kind of
goes into all those preparations for game day? Um, well,
it starts before game day. It actually starts right after
tryouts when we start practicing. Um. Our practices are two
days a week for three hours. Uh, you know, the
first half hours going over meeting stuff, administrative updating, dates

(14:51):
are coming up and everything. But um, otherwise we are
really we get right into it and we're practicing hardcore.
We practice at the same time, but we have two
separate teams as far as dance and stunt of course, um,
but we're practiced at the same time. So we're when

(15:13):
we're running through Cortubreak routines, we're running it together. We
never do cortbreak routines without the other team. Now, we
might do just an all girl dance routine. Um, but
most of the I mean majority of the time, we
are doing those two routines together. So it's two practices
a week, three hours and then on game day it's

(15:35):
ten hours. We do have a camp that we go
away to for three to four days and it's a
lot of bonding and working out and learning about the
organization and the style that we expect. Um So, I
think that's kind of in a nutshell. So it does.
We do practice starting in April, and then if we

(15:59):
go into post season play, we're going through end of January.
Really yeah, yeah, it's all year round basically. Then, yeah,
pretty much, yeah, pretty much. You know, people always ask like, oh,
what do you do in your off season, like like
maybe a few weeks we're just preparing for trials like

(16:20):
recover and then get right back to it. Yeah. I
get that too. They're like, oh, so you must not
do anything like when the players aren't there. I'm like,
I don't know. NFL does a pretty good job of
like staying relevant year round, like and you guys are
at draft events and like, so there's really always something
happening um antonia for you. Like you're you believe you're
on the stunt team, if that's correct, So what someone
on things someone might not know about stunting and how

(16:43):
did you learn that originally? I guess the first thing
that comes to mind is all of our most of
our stunts love it. So we get together outside of
practice all the time and they're just working on stunts,
throwing stunts around, UM, doing the things that we might
not do at practice or on the side lines. Um.
But we all love what we do. UM, so we're

(17:04):
outside of practice also working on that too for our
own um like getting better, but also just because we
love it. UM. But stunting itself are guys are incredible,
very strong, and it requires a lot of trust, especially
getting thrown in the air. You have to trust the

(17:24):
people underneath you. And UM. That just goes to say
the like family mentality that we have on our team. Um,
even between the girls, the guys, the stunt team, the
dance team, everyone's like one big family and that definitely
helps the trust aspect that goes into stunting. So they
can tell me to do some crazy flip in the air,
but I'm like, I'll try it, but I know that

(17:46):
they'll catch me underneath. Yeah, that definitely takes a level
of faith and trust their that I think most people
would not have. And a team made for sure. Well,
you talked about it being a family and I've heard
that like even when people like quote unquote retire from
the team, that it's very much still the case. So
in you guys mind, like what makes this team, this
group so special. Yes, there's people that have been on

(18:09):
the UM cheer team years before I even joined, and
I still know about them. No of them have met
them at different UM alumni events. Um So, even though
I didn't cheer with them, I still know about them.
They're still around. We have UM you know, our team
group pages, but there's also a page with the alumni cheerleaders.

(18:30):
So everyone still UM stays in touch and UM, like
you said, a really big family. You know, when people
might be in a rough time in their life, everyone
kind of steps in together to support each other. Yeah.
I think it's also really interesting to note that, um So,
before I was auditioning, I did a lot of like
I don't want to say cyber stocking, but a lot

(18:51):
of research on other teams, right, anything different, A lot
of like research on the team's right. And one thing
that I always thought was really um interesting and I
think says something really special about our team is that
we have so many people that have been on this
team for ten plus years. And that says a lot.

(19:15):
Like if you hit the three year mark, that's huge,
If you hit the five year mark, that's huge, that
that's a lot of dedications, a lot of time. But
you hit the ten year mark, like these people are
your family, Like some they just they can't not be right.
And I think we have people on the team. I mean, Tina,
you can correct me, but we've got to be going
on fourteen years for some of these people, yes, seventeen.

(19:38):
Like it's just it's incredible and you don't see that
across other teams, and so it's hard to explain, right,
you can't really put a solid family is a feeling, right,
But there's a feeling that you get when you come
under our team and it's like you love it, you
want to stay and you're part of it. So and
that reflects and and how our cheerleaders uh there and

(20:00):
you're on the team. And Cassie, I think also having
guys we have twenty guys on our team, we carry
anywhere between eighteen and twenty two just dependent um. But
having guys on our team, it's almost like some of
them and are like their brothers, older brothers. Now we
have some that we've had like I don't know ten

(20:22):
or twelve people that have met on the team that
have gotten married. Um, but you know most of them,
it's like that brother sister aspect, And I think that
lends to the family feel. Um, the guys are protective
over curls, but I also force them to protective. I'm like, girls,
you're not walking out there by yourselves. You know, you've
got to have a guy with you, and UM, I

(20:44):
think that lends a lot to that family feel. Plus, UM,
you know, my saying is always we rise together and
we failed together, right, and that has to be that
has to go along with the family feel as well.
So I think, you know, I'd love having the guys
on the team because it also kind of um calms

(21:06):
the girls down to um and you know type A
personalities and anxiety you know, going to be perfect and
all that good stuff. So I think that that definitely
helps add to our family field. And plus um, like
Anthony and Sheard and both said, um, you know I've
been around a long time. Uh well as we've been

(21:26):
around twenty years and I think Will has been around
twenty one years, right, So um, we all share in
the same philosophy in in our team and it is.
It's it's family first and taking care of our our teammates.
And I feel like it would have to be too
like the amount of time you guys are practicing and
spending with each other like year round, like we just

(21:47):
talked about, like it would kind of be miserable if
you weren't a family at that point when you're spending
so much time with people. So that's great, UM. And
I know like the cheerlies kind of have their own
brand as well. So, Tina, what's what's at an important
for you? It's like for that brand to reflect. That's
a good question. It's important to me that we are.

(22:09):
I'm always pushing education for our team. So when we
go on military tours, education is one of the first
things when we're doing introductions before show. Um. Education is
important and and work right. UM. So I think that's
part of our brand that it's always helped us. UM.

(22:31):
I'd like to keep it classy, which I think is
a brand UM. When I met with David Modell and
I interviewed with him twenty four years ago, he said
he wanted to have cheer leaders to have and create
a good fun family environment, and I think we've helped
that and that's part of our brand. Now. You know,

(22:52):
some people are adjusting their brands. Some other teams are adjusting,
you know, their brands and what they put out there.
But we've we've stayed the core us and it hasn't
It's worked for us and it hasn't backfired or anything.
So we've stayed the course. UM. I think a big
part of it is, you know, for a long time
we've worked with House and Ruth and Domestic Abuse for Women. UM.

(23:17):
We've worked with Ronan McDonald House and Donating and we
worked heavily with them for about seven years. UM. So
part of our branding is also helping out in the
community and that's just not at appearances. We go beyond
that and we created sometimes um then they've lasted five,

(23:38):
just seven or ten years, but we've created our own
charity organizations as well. So I think all that comes
into play and how I would brand the Ravens cheerleaders.
That's incredible. I know there's like a lot of misconceptions
that can like float around about this sport of cheerleading
in general, like why do you guys think that is

(24:00):
and how do you combat those and like a lot
of the things that we've talked about on this podcast already,
like the community work that you guys do it, like
all those things that are not things that necessarily people
always like see or like realize. So what do you
think like that? Why do you think that is about
the sport of cheerleading. I don't know what the miss
I don't know why there's misconceptions. I've been in again
since I was in nineteen eighty two, and I didn't

(24:24):
ever see it that I went to an all girls,
Catholic high school, so that wasn't really um, it was
never brought up. But then you get into college and
it's kind of that way. Even it's as as athletic
as a college cheerlead team can be, we still have misconceptions.
I'm not sure where that started. I don't know because

(24:45):
if you look at there's a lot of successful men
and women out there that have been on that have
been cheerleaders. So I'm not sure where it started. I
couldn't even even put my finger on it. And it's
been part of my life. I was um sixteen years old, right,
so it's been over thirty years, forty years. It was

(25:07):
forty years so I don't know. I don't know how
it started or why there's mis misconceptions are out there. Yeah,
I mean a lot of it. I think my only
guess is that it would have started in the media,
right or with the clothes that we wear, which I mean,
I personally don't think there's it's just like wearing a

(25:30):
bathing suit. It's if there's nothing more, like you know,
it's not, but I find it. I didn't interview recently
and and someone asked me the same question. They're like,
how do you combat these these identities that people put
on you? And I was like, what identities? Like? If
I don't put that on myself, I don't feel it right.
And so I personally haven't felt that. I've always felt

(25:52):
safe and comfortable, and I know that I'm intelligent, So
I don't feel like other people are questioning my intelligence
because cheerleading or anything. I just think it's like it's
just a part of who I am and what I
like to do, and and it's unfortunate that other people
could feel a certain way. But um, yeah, I mean,

(26:12):
I guess that's on them, right, But like we got
to uphold the good parts and show that there there's
these amazing aspects and we're multidimensional people and um that
we're all successful in our own ways. Yeah, I think
it's a big part of it. It's just lack of knowledge. Um.
As they talk to people that might not have grown

(26:32):
up around cheerleading or don't know people that um cheer Um,
I told them about it, what it all takes, and
they're like, wow, I didn't know like all of that
went into it, and know you guys practice that much
to know you guys had other jobs. Um. So it's
just informing people and telling them what we do, and
most of the times we're very impressed and want to
learn more. Um. But yeah, like they said, I don't

(26:53):
know where it comes from, but most of the time
people are very um willing to learn more about it
what we do. I mean it kind of further from
the truth. Like as we're sitting here talking about the
incredible things that you guys do outside of cheerleading and
all the work that you do and the athleticism that
it takes. So it's just like mind boggling to me,
Like why there is this kind of like misconception there. Um.

(27:14):
But I think that's incredible that you guys are doing
all of these things. And I love that you said
that you know, the way that you come back this
is by being yourself and being confident in yourself and
knowing that you guys are doing incredible things. That's really
really cool. And as a sport, we're making headway right,
Like the cheerly just became an Olympic sport, which is huge.
So I mean hopefully that will help, um add to

(27:35):
uh showing that it's like I can't use quotes on
like a podcast, but quote an athletic sport that needs
to be taken seriously, right, So um yeah, I think
that will help too. It is interesting that you say
that because I feel like even media wise, like there's
been a lot more coverage like there was that Netflix
show and like a lot of things like that that
like people kind of gave them like an inside perspective.

(27:57):
I know, like for me, like I was blown a
way by the athleticism like on that. So it's it's
just like like Antonio you said, like informing people that
might not know all the things that go into it
is definitely, um crucial. So to switch gears a little
bit too, probably like one of the best days of
working for the organization is game day and it's incredible,

(28:18):
incredible feeling to be down there. And so for you guys,
what's your favorite part of your role on game days?
I know, like it has to be incredible when you
run out of the tunnel with like seventy thousand screaming
fans and it's just such a cool um atmosphere at
the stadium on game days. I feel like every aspect
of game day is special and unique in itself. Um,

(28:39):
like the whole getting ready part you locker room with
their teammates, Um, that's great, and then of course going
out doing appearances and talking with fans getting them hyped
up for the game. Um, running out of the tunnel
is definitely one of the most just like like all
inspiring moments, um, especially when it's like great game, the
stadium is packed in super wowd um just gets you

(29:00):
your general and rushing and um it's getting you all
pumped up. And then the game itself. UM, so all
of it is just the whole you know, eight to
ten hours worth there is just a great, great time
and it's very fast moving. The whole day be goes
by so fast. Yeah, it's it's actually wild to think about.
We get there so early. But when you think about,

(29:20):
like you're like, okay, I gotta be there eight am
for a one pm game or something, you think, oh,
that's why am I gonna be there so early? But
it goes by so fast. I mean, we get there
and we have practice and then we get ready and
we do appearances in the game and then you're like, wait,
what it's already the clock out of that happen? But yeah,
I think for me, Antonio, she hit every single point

(29:43):
for me. My favorite parts of game day are Ravens Walk.
We have the best fans in the NFL and they
all come to this amazing live band on Raven's Walk
and it's so cool to interact with them before the game.
That's the fans are my why. They're the reason why
wanted to be on the team. Um So getting to
see them and getting them to see them in an

(30:05):
environment where I wouldn't usually see them, right Like, we
don't get to see them really on the field, but
we can go out and see them during appearances, running
through the tunnel when the game, right before the game,
that's like a moment you just can't even describe them
getting goosebumps just thinking about it. I mean, in the
in the tunnel we have we're lined up right and
every game. I remember talking to the girl in front

(30:26):
of me. Her name is Morgan. I said, soak it
all in, soak it all in, like this incredible feeling,
and you know, the stands and everything's roaring and it's huge,
and there's fireworks and there's how it's just it's like,
it's incredible feeling. And then over time. Over time is
a big one too. If there's there's something about when

(30:47):
your fans think you're almost there and then they get
to be there right, and then they're they're over those stands,
they're just like oh, and then you can just say,
let's know, it's just it's huge. It's hard to just describe. Really,
it's it's this feeling that's um. I guess I could
describe it, but it's just gets you so hyped up.

(31:07):
It's really special. They're getting me heights up for next season,
just like talking about it like I'm ready to go.
I want to be back already. Yeah, job, there you go.
It's perfect. I have a like question that's I've always wondered. So,
like when we have games like the last home game
of this season was like extreme weather, how do you

(31:29):
guys like survive out there for hours on end when
we have like extreme weather games? Mhm um, lots of
heat packs. Um, you know, it's so dreadful when you're
going into the colded game. Like a hot game, you're
sweating and get water we go in, but cold games,

(31:50):
we just never seem to warm up. And um, you know,
the running jerk with me is that I always I
have the girls and scirrets even if it's thirty below. Um,
but that's not true. Um, but I do you know,
the full skirt and top is our really representation of
our team, you know, and and our brand, So I

(32:11):
do like to have them in that. But we get
we get therese and you know, there's warm toes and
there was warm um little hot packs for your hands. Um.
And then we get to go in you know, right
before halftime and basically warm up and have some coffee
or hot tea or things like that. But um, you know,

(32:32):
it's just we're still cheering a game. Like you know,
the last game was raining and it was cold, but
everybody was still excited. To be out there, you know,
And I think that's um says a lot about the
cheerleaders in general, because you know, it's just that's what
cheerleaders do. They're excited to be out there, you know,
when rain, heat, snow, um, and we you know, we're

(32:56):
taught to deal with it and figure it out, and
we do and they do it very well. What's a smile? Like, Yeah,
teeth are chattering and I just glan. I know there's
sometimes people are like, aren't you guys cold, and like
we're moving around constantly, So I'm like, actually, I was
kind of sweating a bit under the coat, but um,

(33:18):
we're moving around constantly doing things, so um, as long
as our heart rates up, we're doing what we're supposed
to do. Um. But it's worth it being out there.
I feel like, I'm just gonna say, you probably have
like the best seat in the house. Then too, like
you're you're right there on the sideline. So the adrenaline
for sure, Yeah, the adrenaline really kicks in. So you're
just like, what, it's cold, I didn't even notice when

(33:38):
you're walking around and talking to the fans. There was
a really cold game and we had pants and and
the tops on. And one of the fans walked up
to me and he said, aren't you cold? And I
was like, oh enough, I'm not. I know you you
might think I am. But I've got heat packs everywhere.
I got heat PACs in my pants, I got in

(33:59):
my top, if I got him in my bombs, like
they're every they're in my toils. Like honestly, when you're
walking around you've got the heating little packs in your
hands and stuff, you stay pretty warm. And then when
you're on the field, like Antonio said, you're you're jumping around,
you're running around, you really keep your heart right up
and you've got so much adrenaline and you're working hard.
So truly, Uh, the colder games are a little nice.

(34:22):
I don't want to get care what I say, but
the freezing games are awesome, but the colder games are
are kind of nice weather. Yeah, we didn't have too
many bad ones this year, just the just the last one. Um.
So before we close, I do want to ask you
if you guys have a favorite memory with your time
at the Ravens. My favorite two memories was both Stuper Bowls.

(34:46):
That's fair, ye can't get can't get any better. For
that For me, I'm hoping in the next year or
two you can ask me again and I could see
the same perfect But you know, all the time we
spend with our teammate, it's you know, they, like you
said before, truly grown into family like my closest friends. Um.
So just having that like life blond bond um and

(35:08):
of course you know, hearing all the experiences and stories
of our community members, it's amazing. I have two favorite moments,
Like a personal favorite moment was making the team because honestly,
I didn't think I would, Like I trained for like
a year and a half, right, and I show up

(35:29):
and I'm like, okay, cool, it's gonna be really fun,
Like no matter what, I'm gonna have fun. It's okay
if I don't make this team. And I showed up
with my friends and I got to hang out and
I got to dance on M ANDT Bank Stadium Like
that's huge, right. And then just to make the team
was like I sing on the top, like wait, I'm
surrounded with these people that I already love. I get

(35:50):
to bond with them some more and we got to
celebrate this huge moment. That was it was just like
a big combination of everything that we'd worked towards. That
was that is really really special for me. Um. And
then one of my other favorite game, my favorite memories
is my last game that I was at the Ravens Walk.
We have this live band, right, and I go out

(36:11):
there and I'm a dancer. I love to dance, so
of course I'm gonna see any face in the crowd.
I'm like, gonna pull you aside to dance with me, right,
and uh, I pulled this woman aside to dance, and
We're screaming this eighties song out loud. We're dancing, We're
having the best time, and she starts crying and I'm like,
oh gosh, what do I What do I do? Right?
And her daughter walked up to me and she said

(36:33):
she's so happy You've made her day, and I was just, oh, man,
I it really that made my day because, like I
said it before and I'll say it again, like that's
my why I want to make an impact. I want
to do something. I want to do something in the
now and um to be able to do my job
and to do it so well that this woman was
crying as she was dancing with me just like being

(36:55):
so happy and so excited to be there. Uh. That
was really a special moment that, um, I think I'll
cherish for a very very long time. It's incredible. Um.
Before I let you guys go, we do a little
thing at the end of each episode. It's called our
Purple Hot Seats. Just a quick game of this or that.
So I'll go to each of you with each of these. Um.
The first one is your favorite Ravens cheerleading uniform. Combo. Um,

(37:19):
I would say, our newest uniform, so the half purple,
half white with purple skirt. You know, I like the
Ravens white top. It's like the white top, white skirt.
It says Ravens on the back. Okay. The next one
is night game or one PM game, night game, night game,
night game. Yeah, you can't beat that. And then it's

(37:42):
funny because we actually talked about this earlier. But a
really hot game in August or a cold game in December,
hot game because I'm a hot game all day. Yeah alright, perfect, Well,
thank you guys so much for doing this. I really
appreciate your time, and I think it's been really cool
for our fans to hear from you guys, so I
appreciate it. This has been so fun. Thank you for

(38:04):
having us. Thank you so much for tuning into the
first season of the Purple Chair Podcast. I am so
grateful to our incredible guests this season who have trusted
me with their stories, and all of you listeners who
have joined us each month. I hope we've been able
to shed some light on the incredible people who make
the Ravens organization and the NFL what they are. It
has been such an honor and we're just getting started.

(38:27):
Don't forget to leave us a rating. If you're enjoying
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to you soon.