Jordyn Groover - The Secrets Behind Mental and Physical Fitness

In this captivating episode, the talented former Houston Texans Cheerleader Jordyn Groover takes us on an emotional journey, sharing her personal story of choosing dance over soccer and ultimately becoming a part of the prestigious Texas Tech pom squad.

But it doesn't stop there. Jordyn dives deep into the exhilarating world of Texans cheer tryouts, revealing the intense process behind making the team. From auditions to interviews, she leaves no stone unturned, providing invaluable insights and tips for those aspiring to follow in her footsteps.

She tells Kate and Megan how she is deeply rooted in faith and her goal has always been to mentor younger girls. Jordyn takes you through the highs and lows of being a college cheerleader and what can be done to improve college cheer.

So prepare to be captivated by Jordyn's infectious passion for dance, her invaluable advice on cheer tryouts, and her unwavering commitment to promoting mental health within the cheerleading community.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Hey, all I'm Jordan Grover. I'm a current collegiate dance team recruiter and a former NFL cheerleader

(00:06):
Existes third table now you see here
Welcome to her table the podcast that shines a spotlight on the badass women who are redefining the game join hosts
Kate Foley and Megan Martinez as pay unlock the secrets of success in the brightest female pioneers in the industry

(00:28):
Whether you're a young woman aspiring to break into the sports industry or a seasoned professional looking for fresh inspiration
Come on and grab a seat at her table where women's voices are amplified
Dreams are realized and the game is changed. You must always have faith in yourself seek out strong women to be
Friend to learn from to be inspired by women need a seat at the table and in some cases they need to create their own table

(00:54):
I'm so excited to be back at her table. We have an amazing guest today Jordan Grover all the way from Houston, Texas
First-time generation college student amazing Jordan is also a four-time and national champion for the Palm Squad at
Texas Tech and she later went on to become a cheerleader for the Houston Texans

(01:15):
There are so many layers to her story and so many things and we're actually gonna talk diamonds and Taylor Swift today is where we're gonna
Get into with her. So let's jump into Jordan's story
Jordan, I'm so excited to have you here on her table today. Where are you?
Where are you at right now? You're in Texas right now?
Yes, I am well, first of all, thank you for having me on. I'm so excited to be talking to you

(01:39):
But yes, I am living in Houston, Texas right now
And yeah, it's actually getting cooler here. So I'm living for it
It's not a hundred degrees for the past like one cooler. 80 degrees. I mean, I think the height today is 95
95 yes like 9500 I'm telling you now freezing we're on our news in California

(02:03):
And it was 60 when I left this morning to come to set and I literally was miserable. I was like this is cold
Pass on that one. I'm like I don't want whenever I'm walking outside anymore
Like it's so I feel good, but I'm not
For sure you just go miserable on the inside you're like I'm smiling, but I'm miserable on the inside. It's fine

(02:34):
Everything's fine everything's fine. Well, we're so excited to have you on we're gonna start today's show because there's all things trending in
NFL football college football and just the world in general
We had a decide today what type of day it was gonna be was it gonna be Ariana Grande or Justin Bieber? What would you pick?
So I'm like I'm a very an decisive person

(02:57):
Because I just if I decide that I think in my today I would choose Ariana Grande
Okay, love it. Yeah, okay. See we're going. She just re-recorded her 10th birthday
It's like her 10th year anniversary. Yeah, I've heard you album
Last month is something that that she re-released her first album
Yeah, I'm on Ariana Grande right now. I love it. Okay. Well, you are one so beautiful

(03:20):
Like let's just throw that out there. I'm all our viewers that I don't want to go watch this like let's do it
But I want to just jump in with you of we have women in sports on this show and
You are our first professional cheerleader, which is funny my daughter is super into everything dance and cheer
And so I was like Jordan would be fantastic. You went to

(03:41):
Yeah, one of the biggest smallest schools. I've spent a ton of time in love with myself
So everyone says it's small, but it is enormous. I don't know how you guys go there
I would get lost trying to find which goals to go to where are you from originally?
Do I want to see where you're from originally how you ended up a Texas tech and then your path to NFL?
Sure, so I grew up in a parallel in Texas, which is just a little suburb outside of the big city

(04:08):
And I grew up dancing, but I also grew up playing competitive soccer. So I trained on the junior US about mental team
I would like very involved in soccer, but I was also a very competitive dancer as well, and so
I went to a six-day high school. So once I got up there
I had to make the decision of which way I wanted my life to go, which was a lot of pressure for

(04:32):
14-year-olds
But ultimately I chose to dance and I have never looked back. I don't regret it
I danced all through high school
Where I was in Captain my junior and senior year on my high school dance team and then whenever it's time to go to college
I'm actually a first-generation college student
So you know my parents or anyone of my family had gone to college and so I didn't really have any

(04:57):
I'm sure I wanted to go, but thankfully my family is just
super supportive and super awesome told me like wherever you want to go
We'll get you there and so
I
And thank you. Yeah, I
My parents and my brother my absolute rock, but I
Tore pretty much every school in Texas. I went to
LSU

(05:18):
Bama I just went kind of all over because I really wanted to feel
At home where I decided to go to school and actually this first school that I ever toward was tech my junior year and I went to
One of the dance clinics there for the tech and tech pond squad and ever since that day
It's just it's been an amazing journey and I know that will throw a

(05:39):
I was supposed to go there and then my brother then followed me
Yeah, so I went to Texas tech for four years where I was a four-time national champion on the blog squad there
Wow, and then
COVID came in my senior year. So I did not get to compete my senior year at nationals and I

(06:01):
Be lying if I said I was not in the trenches
Like then through the rest of 2020
But it came whenever I went back to love it after I'd been out for a year
I went back to walk the stage to graduate again a first time college student
I was gonna walk to the door

(06:22):
Yeah, and so I was sitting with our serial director
For the you know pond squad to team mascot everything like that
We were sat outside at our hotel for about three hours and we were just catching up on life and
She was like, you know out of all the people have gone through this program
You're really one that shot me that you didn't dance, you know post-college and you know again

(06:48):
I've been trying to figure out who I was outside of dance and I wanted to be firm
And not and so but again graduating and not being able to find a job
There were a lot of things that went in that but ultimately she was like you need to do it
I was like you're right. I'm gonna do it and so I
Know worked and prepped in a sort of sort of amount of time that I would have liked to have perhaps for something

(07:09):
But I tied up for the season Texans that spring and I read it and then I cheered for the season Texans for
From 2021 to 2023. So yeah, I've kind of been all over the place, but
It's been an incredible journey and I do not regret a single part of it. That's awesome
So shout out to your spirit is it what was your spirit coach?

(07:31):
Yeah, it's right there director her name is Stephanie road. Okay, and then my mom coach. She
Is like I owe that one in my life her name is Erin Alvarano and she used to like an all-around badass like she
And yet love it love it. What was like the process to try out to be on the Houston Texans?

(07:52):
I know we've I've never seen the Dallas Cowboy cheerleading show. Oh, I know it's huge
I hear it's like taxing you have to watch this much work. Oh, you've seen it. Yeah, it's like drama-filled
Whoa entertainment felt my own it's like literally binge-worthy people
Talk about the Texans okay, or time attack cowboys no cowboys
Yeah, what is the try out process like for the Texans?

(08:16):
They're sure so unfortunately it's not a drama-filled
reality TV show
Made for TV. It's made for real life. Yeah, okay. We're with that
So it basically consists of a couple different rounds that are broken up
The first two rounds are
Typically virtual so you'll get sent to the link for the choreography you have

(08:38):
X amount of time typically like any of which we like
48 to 70 strawberries to learn it film it and then wait to bid it and so you do that for the first round
You do that for the second round and then after that you get another piece of choreography sent to you and it's the in person round
So you'll go this is probably like over two to three weeks span of time and you go into the in person round

(09:01):
You're this is the first time that you're seeing the other girls to potentially be making the team with you and you perform all three rounds of choreography
And then there's also an interview so not only do you have to just stand throughout this process
You also have to be able to speak and interview and explain you know why you want to be a part of the team
What display what knowledge you know about the organization that you're trying out for and then after that

(09:26):
There is another cut made and then you go choose final practices, which typically consists about
3 to 5 nights of final process where there's only finalists where typically it's about 60 people and it gets cut down
to anywhere between like 30 to 36
At the end of those processes and so basically just defining the choreography of our to learn

(09:47):
You're learning some of the signature dances you might be asked to be interviewed again. There's just all kinds of stuff that
Could go into that but yeah, so it's it's a pretty lazy process
But it's about one to two months over time. Wow. Okay, so I want to ask you a hard question
So you said you took about like a year off before you went the pro route

(10:07):
Yeah, so what was going on in your mind?
Was this and just trying to figure my life out and I just graduated was this like a
I don't know if I can do it. I'm not sure or like I just need a break because I think a lot of times
um
The optics of cheerleading I was a cheerleader in high school right is like it's just cheer
It's not really a sport and I don't think that that's true and I feel like

(10:31):
Nobody really wants to say that out loud right of like how much goes into
What goes on like you were actually a
student athlete like you weren't a student and then just you know
On Palm Squad on the side like you're a student athlete
What was that like in college for you and did you ever feel like that was kind of
A little bit like of a dark gray cloud hanging over because you know everyone's like oh especially at Texas tech

(10:55):
It's like it is basketball. It is football you guys went to like final four appearances while you were there
But you're doing just as much as all these male athletes that you are
supporting and participating in with how was that?
For sure
So I think that a lot of the times that you can get a little controversial whenever people want to put like cheer or dance into a sport

(11:17):
So I don't necessarily push that category on anyone, but I think people would be lying if they didn't consider dancers and athlete
dancers and cheerleaders athlete
Right, and so whatever your definition of a sport maybe it doesn't deny the fact that
people who do
College dance or our NFL cheerleaders are athletes. They require an insane amount of

(11:38):
Physical exertion and a lot of the time you're doing it in either fields or boots
And so it's like you know the cliche saying of anything that the end can do a girl can do it. You know
That's true
And so yeah, I mean it's
Graduating it's funny that you mentioned the final four actually because

(12:00):
2019 is whatever we made that appearance and we actually went to our college nationals in Daytona Florida
We have just one nationals which tradition is to run in the ocean if you
One so we did that found out that we made the college or the final four and so our coach was like

(12:20):
Yonita Rang's right to the up to your hotel room because we're about to drive 24 hours from the
Kona forta up the Minneapolis, Minnesota and I think that's exactly what we did
So you know, oh my gosh
costume dripping in saltwater and she was like no like we if we want to make the first game we got to go and so
Running through Daytona throwing our stuff in the bag trying to shower

(12:42):
You know if we have the teammates who are not making that bus trip like helping pass our stuff
Or stuff and we drove through the night so you know, we were like free teaming each other on a bus
Your makeup and as we pulled out the team is walking out of the hotel and we grab our palm to like fast
Take on like cheer on and go
So it's it's not for the state of part like you are extremely dedicated and it takes an incredible personality and just strong

(13:08):
Will person to be able to do that
So but even though that can be pretty exhausting graduating from college in a pandemic
I didn't know what I was doing like I didn't know what I wanted to be
Professionally, I didn't know if I wanted to continue dancing because you know there is this white burnout
But yeah, it's such a big part of me and I'm very rooted in my faith and so and I think that if anything that time brought me closer to

(13:33):
God and just by purpose and what I wanted to serve and I've always wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself
I've always wanted to mentor younger girls and younger women to help them
Get where they want to go because I think that ultimately like the true form of love is what can you do for others?
Not what can you do for yourself?
And so
Representing the organization that I

(13:54):
Gave so much to me growing up the season Texans because you know I grew up in the city of Houston
I saw you know the things they did for Hurricane Harvey or did any other major event that happens in the city
It just they helped bring the city together and I knew that I wanted to
See that role model for the little girl who's shaking her palm palm on the sideline
You know, it takes more than just like the pretty hair there in the creek makeup and all those things

(14:19):
No, like those the team is out there in the community, you know
Planning trees are going to the boys and girls club and mentoring these people
So yeah, that's kind of I mean even though I miss dancing and I miss performing because that in my heart like I love
Yeah, adrenaline rush it gives me I just knew that I could not just sit still and not help people and not

(14:42):
Inspire people and so that's kind of like what pushed me out the door
So you like you know what I'm gonna try out. I'm gonna do this
And that kind of why I moved into that
That's amazing. Well, are you graduated from tech with a and I I'm getting the nod
We have to say Texas tech here. We can't just say tech because we're we have to be very clear
Uh

(15:02):
And marketing and management, you know what was the drive for you to do that and then what was kind of your ambition?
Right like you there there's more to you than then meets the eye
So what was the purpose and that?
Degree and then secondly, did you get a scholarship like how did that work to go to tech? Did you not get a scholarship?
How does that work when you're an athlete that isn't a front center facing athlete?

(15:26):
For such a big school
Yeah, for sure so I actually started out as an accounting major. Okay number. She's a number's girl. She's not
I am a number girl
But you know once I was in this classes, I was like I do I want to send her a white like doing this
Probably not

(15:47):
So I moved over to marketing and I had come into college for the lot of
College credits already and so that put me out wanting to put me at graduating with three years time
And being a part of the Palm Squad, I knew that I wanted to come back for a senior year and just be a part of everything that program is
And so I declared my second major which was management and they just kind of layered on nicely and I just always love

(16:12):
Marketing and just managing because I think it's very people-facing and I think that you know being a dancer and you're
You have to market yourself and so because you're always in front of these people and even at tech
We had to be an ambassador for the university
It wasn't just the pretty face on the sideline or the one who could do a bunch of cool things like you had to go out into the community
Donors, you know represent the program well and so

(16:35):
That is kind of what pushed me to be a part of that program and just
Do all that and then
From there we did not get scholarships except
Like a certain amount of people and if we did it was a million dollars a year. So $500 this semester
Okay, hold on hold on hold on. Yeah, well you're telling me that you're cheering for football. You're cheering for basketball

(17:01):
And you are getting $500 this semester to put in just as much time like let's call it what it is
Megan she's on the sideline for the same amount of time as Patrick Bejolmes is
Right same amount of time if not maybe more. Yeah, just gonna say that out loud people
But you they didn't have scholarships that matched that level of time energy commitment

(17:22):
Yes, but I I don't take anything for granted ever because
Thankfully the organization that we were a part of um
gave us a meal plan for a turn amount so that
I know
There's certain dance programs out there where you have to still even though you're in college
You have to pay to be a part of it you have to pay your way to national

(17:43):
Free uniforms. Yes, so those people aren't even so like the $500 to me. I'm like okay
I mean honestly it's inspired me through I mean my college journey and my time in NFL because NFL
Trilators are also not paying very much either to you know
Advocate for the women that are doing that because you know dancing or cheerleading is a very very

(18:08):
underpaid industry anyways, but yeah a lot of times
People are really willing to budge on things like that and so just you know
speaking on things like this and advocating for the people who are
doing it now and you know fighting for what they deserve
It's just always kind of been one of my passions, but yeah, the thing is you don't really do it

(18:30):
So you know, I mean jokingly like I think my parents much rather would have preferred it with the talker out and try to get
That way
You know everything ended up working out for sure. Is that something you want to see change?
Jordan like is that something you want to see like kind of have equal
I mean we're all about women and sports here right and making an even playing field and equal opportunity
And just creating a space to say like there could be more done here, right? Like I'm not saying it's wrong

(18:55):
I'm just saying there's an opportunity for improvement
When it comes to those spaces and tech pecs is text a huge school. Yeah, like so to hear you say other young ladies that want to go this route
It really falls on them to be able to do it
You know is is something that you know, I want to see change especially like beyond me, but I didn't know that you know

(19:16):
I mean like you I don't know what I don't know
Across the industry because I mean again like I think that I was very fortunate in the fact that Texas tech does support the Palm Squad and
We have awesome alumni and an awesome student program that have given us so much
But then you you know go to a different school and you know, they're having to you know bus

(19:36):
Different places and they can't fly or they don't get to go on these trips and all these different things
So it's like industry wide, you know, there needs to be a fight for you know dance and these cheerleaders and student athletes
Singing you recognize that you know, they're putting in just as much time of
You know the guys or the women athletes and all that stuff

(19:56):
So it would be nice to you know get a little extra support and honestly what helps
And back to the athlete work conversation are what helps our organization is that we fall under spirit rather than athletics
So you know because a lot of the teens who are under athletics their budget is much smaller because
You know actually you got football you have that's all your baseball you have all those things lumped together

(20:21):
And so it's a very interesting thing that you know the athletes don't really
We're cheerleaders get the thing support stuff like that
But yeah, so you don't want to go into accounting the numbers game was out. Mm-hmm. What did you what?
What did you want to do after that?
You know that's really good. I'm still bigger. Yeah

(20:41):
So I'm also getting my
NBA right now on line through Texas tech. Yeah
So yeah, I again back to the first generation called student thing. I was you know if I'm gonna be the first one
I'm gonna be the first one and I'm gonna be the first one
Your family coming after you was gonna like thanks a lot Jordan you couldn't just do the regular

(21:05):
You had to like level up three times. Yeah, so
You know setting it higher. I love it your brothers like thanks. I'm just gonna go to Texas tech right now
Yeah, um, but yeah, so once I graduated. I actually like my
For each of fun buses and I'm also a gemologist. So after a gemologist. Yeah, okay for us

(21:29):
Um, I don't know anything about this. What is this so
Diamond gem oh anything like that. I'm actually accredited. So I did school for diamond
Um, the school
This way what
Yeah, it's all through GIA, which is the gemology

(21:50):
Institute of America I believe I just typically called GIA, but yeah, my first thought out of college was working in the diamond industry and so I
Absolutely loved it and yeah, so I became an accredited gemologist and I can you know grain
Diamonds look at them like all these things. Yeah, I love that that is amazing. We're like and disbelief

(22:13):
Even so okay, so you were okay, so it was just like a childhood thing that you were like I loved
Like finding rocks mining and that or was this something you just kind of like fell into and we're like this is freaking awesome
And I want to do it more. Yeah, I
Is the latter of that I just fell into it and again, it was after college
I had applied to probably 200 different jobs and you know just through covid, you know

(22:37):
Everyone is applying to jobs. There's just it would not miss and I actually
You know this company accepted me and they're like okay, you can come but you're just gonna be a secret period right now
Because you don't have anything and I was like no
Like at this point I've been trying for so long and I was doing whatever like it's fine
Like I'll just get my set in the door and this was around the time that I wanted to start a master

(23:00):
So I got accepted into the program and I was like okay and the spring I'm gonna start and so once this company took a chance on me basically
They're like oh this girl
It might have a little more after sleeves and just you know being able to greet people when they walk in
It's they offered me you know the chance to go to school and become an accredited geologist
And so I put my master's on hold for a semester and then I did my

(23:23):
Geology training and I
Way to came a geologist at that company while also getting my masters and being attacked at cheerleader
Yeah
So just to say that she
Whoever puts a rock on her hand you better come correct
She's
So don't come out Jordan sideways anyone because she's gonna know

(23:47):
Can you check my
Get one one day like can you just make sure it's like yeah
I'll come out there bring my loop
Where she everyone has to go through Jordan to get to us. I love it
That's amazing, but touching on like how you had to have a full-time job while you were a few some Texans cheerleader
You're also getting your masters

(24:09):
Can you please go for the balance and how what that's like for somebody who would love to be a cheerleader one day as well
That's a lot. It's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot. That's impressive
Yeah, sure um, I mean, I think the biggest thing is finding an organization where you
feel like a family
Being a part of the

(24:29):
Houston Texans those girls on the team. It's just it's a sisterhood
You know everyone's looking out for one another everyone's had jobs and so you know
We're constantly checking in with one another making sure everyone's good. Yeah, that's where I met
Some of my closest friends who you know are doing incredible things in their life too
And I think it's a I mean, I jumbled a lot in college as well just being a part of different organizations

(24:53):
But moving over to the NFL it's a job and a lot of people might think like oh, yeah
They just show up on Sundays and you shake their prom prom but they don't see the night where you're showing up at seven o'clock after
You know, you probably went and worked out that day then you've had a full day of job if you're in school
You probably found a little bit of school and then you get there at seven o'clock and you you know

(25:17):
say until 11 o'clock in the night
Processing getting ready for an NFL Sunday then you wake up and go to work the next day
And so it can be a lot that I think that the driving stuff after a night is having that sisterhood
But also just being so passionate about what you're doing
Because it just helps the drive and the motivation and just wanting to again be a part of something that's bigger than yourself because

(25:41):
I knew what it was like whenever I graduated and I was in
Arguably the darkest place of my life to making that team and my life just completely shifting for the better
And so just knowing that you can't have the mountain chops without going to the valleys
But like one of my biggest things in my mind is I'm just always super grateful for where I'm at and yeah

(26:02):
Practices can get lay it can feel like you know the world is coming down on you sometimes
But it's never gonna be as bad as we think and ultimately it's just shaping us and for people that we want to be and that we
That God wants us to be and so it's all a huge blessing in itself
As a woman like I mean, I face this a lot in my career and I know my congestive like you feel like as a woman

(26:25):
I mean
In a felt cheerleading aside talk about the gym side like have you ever experienced you know as a woman your beautiful young woman that sometimes that
You get met with an opinion of yourself based upon the optics instead of based upon the substance
Yes

(26:47):
Which is also something that I have struggled with I think that is
Especially in an industry like Stan search here, you know, we're
Looking at it at our self-premiers
Since the time that we're three years old
So honestly like that was one of the first things about getting myself to try out for
Receptional team is you know a little bit of imposter syndrome is like

(27:08):
Maybe I'm not pretty enough or maybe I'm not good enough or maybe you know
I am not worthy of having that position
And so it's super easy to get in your head on stuff like that and again
That's kind of why I want to next word these young girls these young women to believe in themselves when you might feel that no one else believes in you

(27:29):
And that's not to say that other people don't believe in you
But
Sometimes you know people are gonna be on the outside waiting for you to fall or waiting for you to trip on your own seat
So you know having the opportunity to chase after your dreams is one of the most courageous things that you can do
And so just staying locked in on that and never letting the outside opinion get to you

(27:50):
I think it's like one of the biggest things that has helped me sort of my time
Over all these things that I've traveled. I always think that's hard too like it's one of those things where like you know
You I oftentimes look at young women and I'm like
There's such an opportunity for
Every woman that is in a place that she feels she can give right like you can't give all the time you literally can't

(28:13):
But when you can give to give to the next to you
What is something for you you wish you had known you know
15 16 17 year 18 year old Jordan. What do you wish you would have known that you know now
About the world of just cheer and and the industry of sports
Hmm it's a really good question

(28:35):
Um
Probably that you know like kind of how a show like
You know making the team might be portrayed
Honestly the process of trying out and the girls that you're with are going to be your biggest supporters
Um, I'm all about women empowerment and girls cheering on girls and all those things and that is real life

(29:00):
Like that's what those teams are
And even whenever you know because men are starting to make these teams as well
The people who are a part of this organization. They don't want you to fail
You know, it's a team. It's a bond and it's all these things helping everyone grow
It's not just you know what might feel like a cat scratch like trying to get the top first everyone is there to list everyone up

(29:23):
And so just to show myself and others more great because ultimately that person might be battling the same thing that you are on the inside of
Am I not worthy? Am I not enough all these different things when ultimately you know
I just want the girls around me or the men around me to proceed and they most of the time want the same exact thing

(29:43):
So just slow down be present in the moment and realize that like everything is looking out in your favor
Uh, I love that for you. Yeah, I know I need more of that
I know you on Friday and so you can give me that Friday morning
Yeah, I got to okay. What talks to me about what is like a typical NFL game day like for the cheerleaders

(30:04):
And right like it is because I think that's one like question. I have two is like what does that look like like you guys are there at what you can't practice when they're practicing on the field you can't
You kind of have to work your life around the game. So what does that day like for you?
For sure, so apart about regularization we had um
Mostly noon games. So there's a time that the locker room opens and then there's a cold time to be ready before going out for soundcheck

(30:32):
And in that time frame you can either come and get ready in the locker room
You know from start to finish or you can come with your makeup ready or just your hair ready a kind of everyone kind of has it works for them
And then you know as we've been progresses everyone kind of finds their groove and it just works in this like magical seamless way
Uh, but yeah, so you job to stadium that it typically opens around seven or sorry six ish and then you had to be ready around seven thirty a.m

(30:59):
And that's you know full hair full makeup you know you're ready to go because we're moving out to soundcheck
Which want you go out for soundcheck is on the field you know you're running through your formations for each corner
You might go over some things for a timeline if there's an extra you know get in that game or any other thing and then you know once you've been out there

(31:19):
Probably for thirty forty five minutes then you are dripping in sweat
And then you're like, you're gonna sit your hand makeup you run back into the locker room to go get ready for appearances
So you have to get ready again and you change it we would change into our appearance outfit where we would go to appearances all around the stadium
So they're stuck outside inside for season ticket holders

(31:40):
It just kind of depends and you know there are coaches but just a sign
Who's going where and you would just you know that'd be broken out in a different time over a one to two hour period
And then everyone would meet back up in the locker room
That's what happened again because again we live in Texas so you're probably still quitting
You attained into your game day uniform or while everyone's running around getting dressed

(32:05):
They're playing our music for the game for the performances that we're doing that week
We get dressed we walk out and walking out of the tunnel for any game
Is just one of the most incredible things to just see you know
Our uniform had cheerleader on the back and you're wearing those red iconic foods and so just hearing the heels click against that
Is this the real feeling and you feel the wind as you're walking out of the tunnel

(32:28):
And yeah, you go out there and you run through the first half of the game
And then you come back for a little half time break unless there happens to be a half time performer than you say out there
You do the half time performance come back change for a little bit
Then there might be appearances during the game so people will go to different parts of the stadium
Have appearances while the game is still going on come back down to the fourth quarter

(32:50):
You any of your appearances or performances that might be happening and then the game's over and then from there
We would go back in the locker room get any critiques or high thought moments from our coach or alumni
And then you just go home probably at you know
Anywer but three and like three and four it but you were there probably at six a.m
Yeah, yeah, and the light

(33:12):
All the parties see not even like you have to be on like okay. Yeah, that's what I want to ask you to
dive into me the mental health aspect of this because I think
I know it's something I still struggle with Megan and I talk about this a lot especially being women in sports is there is a
I don't want to say where requirement, but there is a
Place where you're expected to be on you are expected to show up and be on and be it

(33:41):
Every single time and that like dancing palms a whole another level of fun like I don't have to do any of that
But how do you juggle the mental health side because for me I get worn out like I'm like we'll do the show Jordan
And at the end of the day, I'm like I don't want to talk to anyone. I don't want to see anyone. I want to
At least like I'm gonna go one of our other guys

(34:02):
She's like I'm gonna go disappear for a couple days
Not wash my hair like just wear sweats for three straight days always being on
Being on how is that do you feel like that something that you've had to learn to adjust to is it just part of your
personality and is it a real struggle for these young girls when we look at we talked about BAMR even at tech like

(34:23):
They have to be on to you don't just get to be a normal college student that rolls end of breakfast at eight because people are expecting to be
Jordan from the poster
Not
Jordan
That's Jordan. How do you balance who is and what is takes priority?
For sure, so I also have really struggled with mental health before

(34:48):
Um, so I really understand that and I mean being on that takes a lot
Consider myself an extroverted introvert. So, you know
I will work a room. I love interacting. I love meeting people. I love just going out
But whenever I'm home, I just you know curl up into my little ball and I'm like okay

(35:11):
And you like goodbye everyone I'm the close-by for if you still answer
by this is day
So but yeah, I mean finding the balance and that I think it's finding a really strong support for them or
You know going to therapy to help with stuff like that because that's all things that I've really helped me and just also finding
What works best for you in finding out your routine. So you know because

(35:35):
Going from a job all day and then having you know a two-hour window to eat dinner get breakfast for practice
You know prep for anything that you might have going on across this that day and then go to practice
That's not really much downtime to yourself
And so you know, I would always just sit in my car and reflect the all the way back and just
Close my eyes and meditate the little things and then just you know
Kind of recharge and get ready to go and just remind myself why I'm doing it think about you know who I was in 2020 and the little girl

(36:02):
That's looking at me and that you know always kind of helps my mental health through that. I also
Like speaking for women because I also struggled mental health because I have polycystic ovaries syndrome
So a lot of times mental health and physical images and like mental
You know limitations can come with stuff like that. So you know

(36:25):
My health routine might look a little different than the normal person because
You know, I struggled with that my entire or I guess probably since the time like midway through college
So it's just I have learned that if I don't take care of my mental health like my life kind of falls apart
So I've just a super big advocate for just always taking care of your mind and your soul

(36:48):
You know, it's not just about what's on the outside. You know the inside these gloves too
Wow, I love it a little when I think it's special too because I think so many times
You know
We as women have the opportunity to share our own struggle right and how hard it actually is because like let's just call it what it is y'all
It's hard it is and I think especially being women in sports and in male sports the expectations so high and

(37:15):
It's it is I call it the tick tick boom like you can go and you can go and then eventually
It's just gonna biff and then and then you're left to pick up the pieces and everyone's like what's happening?
What happened to her? What's wrong with her and it's like y'all come on
But you know for you was it a hard transition to go from the demand for that type of lifestyle right the the front facing lifestyle

(37:39):
In sports was it a big transition to go from college to pro or was it similar?
So it was actually very similar I
My coaches at practice packed at a great job at preparing me for something like that because we were
Helped to a very high standard in college and we were reminded all the time that first and foremost we were in ambassador for the university

(38:02):
You know whenever you're walking around with your backpack on that said ponsquad people are always watching and again, you know
If they're not a part of your inner circle, they're probably waiting for you to trip on your staff or you know
Why could fall in pet you in it and you know
For two in that sense and so just rip like so the transition from there to NFL

(38:23):
Same kind of thing, you know, I'd have people who would stop me in the grocery store and be like wait, are you I think I see you on gay thing
I'm like oh yeah, I've I have you know a messy bottle top of my head
I'm like okay, I need to remind myself that going out in public like I need to feel a little more presentable or just even out work
You know everyone's like are you excited for the gay one Sunday and I'm like oh yeah

(38:45):
And so sometimes you know you wish you had a little break from you know that side of you into your daily life
But I also think that you know I I love it too
And it's just it's all the things together and it's again
Back to the passion and the drive and everything that motivated me to want to be that
It's just like who I am as a person and I

(39:06):
With marketing too. I'm always trying to market myself or market other people
Kind of tying together nice. Do you have like a memorable moment?
Or a fun story even while you were cheerleading for the Houston Texans or even I guess I probably won't say the Texas tech
Palm squad because I think that final four stories like absolutely amazing was there something that was comparable or even something that kind of like

(39:30):
pivoted
Your path or or in any sense while you're at the Texans
Sure
I actually have three stories that I would like to
Hey, you Jordan were like no you need to like dig a little deeper girl. Yeah, and so Jordan's like no
Again, I think it's high bass to just

(39:51):
I've learned can be so grateful throughout my life for the things that I'm in
I love to be in the present moment and I just know that ultimately God is working on everything in my life
For specific reason for the people that I meet or what I'm doing that day
I always like to look for the joy and things and so you know
Just I was trying to like think about things that would touch on different things

(40:14):
But I'll tie in the text text so
graduating from college where it was through covid one of the things got a poor your member on the scene would get their brain
uniform and because we left school at spring break and never went back
I never got mine and so you know a year at past I would forget about it
But we'll tell you know I was a little sad it was nothing against my coach my pro vantage

(40:37):
You know that was in love again. I'm a student. It's my now or it didn't really work out and you know
I'm any sad and I wish I had it but
Texas Tech actually played U of H at NRG
My first role they played several years there, but whenever it was my first season as a tech and cheerleader
I there was an appearance that came up and it was for the spirit squad coming in and so Texas Tech and U of H were there

(41:00):
So I signed up and my coach for it because that's my old team
I was gonna get to see my coach and all these things and look I'm like they're kind of out of now because it's a big deal
but uh my
Tech
Pumped broad coach was like hey, I have your uniform and so I was standing in my
Houston Texan uniform in my current like

(41:21):
Place of dance on the field and she handed me in my Texas Tech
Grains uniform and so not for me was just like the best of both worlds having to
You know wait that time god looks like you know
Nothing can compare to the joy that I'm bringing you you just got to kind of wait for it
Yeah, a moment like that. I was like okay. I got it like I'll be patient like I get it

(41:45):
Yeah, and then another super cool thing that happened was we got to go to f1 in 2022
So
And where where was it at in Houston? It was in Austin
Turkey of the America. Yeah, so just getting to do that and perform on a race track with

(42:05):
That's amazing
Yeah, we saw so many different people and cultures and hearing all the accents and just
It's worth that I never really had known about and then getting to see something like that
I was like well, this is probably one of the coolest things I've ever seen in my life. That's amazing
It just keeps getting better here like but wait there's another one to try and another one to go

(42:30):
I so for you like what you know, I want you to touch on because I think there's so many young women that
want to
Get where you have been
How and I want you to kind of dig a little deep here how difficult was it to make the text it like what did you have to do not only physically
But mentally to prepare for that. I mean we were actually talking before the show about this of how like

(42:54):
Intimidating that is just for Megan and I right to be like okay
Not only are you showing up and you have to physically perform these things
But you also have to have leadership skills you have to be you have communication skills
You have to be have a personality that lends itself to be warm and approachable
um
How you know when you go through that process
Are there people helping you along the way or is it like you're just expected to know it like show up do it be it or do they have a process where it's like there's people internally like

(43:23):
Kind of coaching you helping you or preparing you for that
You know opportunity that you might get
Yeah, so it's a little bit of 50 50 um my college program they really helped through stuff like that
But I didn't have any connections to the Houston Texans so you know it's a little bit easier when I bring notes

(43:44):
I went on a current team you can reach out to them you know say like hey what's going on
What did you give me the tea and the real real not what I'm saying but tell me girl what is really about to be like
Yeah, me the code of how I'm off the puzzle give me the day
I want the answers to the test before the test kind of thing yeah, I'm with that yeah, use your yeah, you're not where I'm for it

(44:06):
Sure, and so you know that looks like
Just eating healthy to get your fitness levels
working out
Practices so you know
One of the best ways that I liked to prep with going on to
The Houston Texans cheerleaders either social media or their YouTube and learning the dances that they had done

(44:29):
And then recording myself doing it
So that way I could watch the video myself and be like okay, did I look like them? No, okay. You're all the things that I can think
Go back to the drawing word critique those things on myself video myself again because each team has their own kind of style
And so you know putting myself out there to learn their style before

(44:49):
I even make the team is one of the best pieces of advice that I always get people
But also learning anything and everything to some Texans so you know, we had a
And pop quiz to every single year that what looks different you know, we had to know
The year the organization started who founders are what the real colors are
You know who is the quarterback who's been inducted and hold same what provision a player might be all these different things go into

(45:17):
Cripping that as well and then just you know being knowledgeable to speak in an interview and represent yourself are just also the thing
And again because I don't have anyone that I could be like hey, I see how many advice that I can go to
I made a very
Acquential decision to be like okay if I make this team because most people it's not a

(45:39):
Super common occurrence that people make it whenever they try out the first time and so I told myself by make it
I'm going to help the girl behind because you know, I know what it's like to not have anyone so
They every year we would have scrap clinics too that you could come and learn from the current coaches and the current dancers and I would you know

(45:59):
Being on the other side of that I would look for the people that you know kind of wanted the guidance and I'd be like take my number
Ask me anything like it can be a dumb question or what like where did you order your tight like anything?
I was like I did not have that and I want you to be able to have that you feel the look prepared
Because ultimately you know
Yes, you might be competing against the girl who is around your same height and has the same color hair as you

(46:23):
But it will certainly be the only one standing in your way for making it feel like that or any dream
It's just yourself because if you get in your own way, you can't accomplish all the things that you know
You want to and so just trusting yourself and believing in yourself and knowing that if you put in the work
You are gonna achieve achieve you dream. I say that all the time too. I don't do this for me

(46:45):
I do this for the next me and it's so important to me and I draw from that so so much because sometimes I'm like gosh
This is so much and I just right. Why do I need to share this? Why do I need to do this? Why do I why and then I'm like, but it's not for me
It's for the next me so they have somewhere to go when they don't know what for you. Have you ever had a moment?
You know obviously Texas tech

(47:05):
Has had its ups and downs with football obviously Cliff Kingsbury isn't in a fell coach now and Patrick my home
Now plays on one of the hottest teams right now ladies and gentlemen before they even I would say they're probably hotter now than when they
one
Thanks to the old Swifties
The Swifties

(47:26):
This is okay. How I want to ask you because I know there's a burning question out there
Are there rules against cheerleaders dating the athletes? Is it frowned upon? Is it not because I know that's everyone's wanting to know
Yeah, how do they get to Travis? Hey don't vote the Taylor like Taylor Swift or the cheerleaders?
I'm no Taylor Swift can date whoever she wants like I think Taylor Swift can tell us all to just

(47:46):
Find her she's their own rules just their own
Yeah, she we don't even let's be clear Taylor. We're not saying we're in your league
Megan is not saying that we're saying we're over here on the side just watching your show
Definitely love love but before we ask you about you know anything Texas tech and Patrick my home
You know what um are there rules for that like are you allowed to date the athletes are you not allowed?

(48:10):
I know some places are different, but in your experience is that is do you get like a handbook?
That's like you cannot do these 10 things and that's number nine
So yeah
Our contract is that cheerleaders cannot grappize with players
Um, yeah include you're allowed to be if you happen to be at an apparent together representing the organization

(48:33):
You know you were you have to be nice
Hello, you know all those things but there are you know limitations that come with that you know
Like if you're out of public and you recognize someone it's best to just everyone go their separate ways don't
And it's not
necessarily because
Anything might happen, you know because we're all human

(48:53):
But it's just the fact that all it takes is one person like oh that guy's a wall player
Naps a picture and then you just happen to be standing next to a cheerleaders and all they were asking was like
Hey like how is your day like
Everything separate um the organization works really hard to keep everything separate

(49:13):
If you not create you know the extra drama about stuff like that and you know it's a very common question
It's like oh and you have such and such number like I'm sure you do everyone like it's the typical
Like cheerleader football player relationship, but I look at it as you know
I am my own person outside of being a cheerleader
And I've worked really hard to achieve is dream and me. It's not even worth putting myself in a position

(49:39):
That could cause me to lose my job because
I'm in my own self. I want it to be a cheerleader. I wanted to represent the organization
I I'm okay without having a man as like oh wow this is my football player. I don't need that. I'm cheerleader
I'm Jordan first like that's my whole prerogative. Well, I'm sure though like I know k would love to get into the tea

(50:01):
But has there ever been like there are times where athletes are sliding in the DMs and you have to kind of like look at her
What are you talking about? Look at her of course. I'm gonna answer for her. Yes. Yes, there are
I'm gonna answer for her. Look at her. Look at this. Yes
But okay, so it happens. So what happened? Yeah. How do you do when that happens? Fine. What do you do?

(50:25):
I can I can honestly say for myself speaking that it's never been
or the tax and organization
Period to that statement. She said no no good. Okay, so for all the young ladies that want to go find a professional athlete man

(50:45):
Don't it's in your contract. You can't do it. Just get out of line. Don't go down the path. You're making it harder for everybody else
So let's not do that. But what she is saying is the girl route if you want that after angle
Yeah, but she's saying that there is someone who's living to her DMs that's not on the techs
So like I'm a letter slide on this one, but when I see Jordan, I'm gonna be like okay Jordan

(51:07):
We're gonna pull up to the team. I mean I see what she did there. I mean, we can oh
Yes, you have to broaden your mind to just not NFL though. So open it up
In NBA are we talking in B.A. Are we talking MLB?
I don't know
Don't tell me you don't know you do know maybe as all she's like oh, it's all the above

(51:30):
Yeah, I would you hold me to just like one team in the NFL like my gosh
Good for you. I like it. I mean look at her
Have you ever had in your as we kind of go through this?
Obviously, you know
Sometimes it is intimidating to be a beautiful woman and sometimes I have found in my experience that I

(51:50):
Shrink sometimes I tend to not be my actual self
Because I'm afraid of judgment. I'm afraid of interpretation. I'm afraid of
Um, just really people again, everyone wants to be liked and loved
But at the same time it's okay to not be I you don't have to like me just respect me as my thing

(52:11):
You know, have you ever found that you've been in a situation in your career where you have right or wrong?
Um, with held your true self
for fear of
Judgment or for fear of not getting something and then look back on it later and and I always say like that's why I didn't get it because I wasn't me have you ever been through that?

(52:31):
I would definitely say that I think that whenever I was
I mean, I still have my insecurities now, but definitely
A couple years ago. Just I felt very insecure. I said, I know who I was. I didn't know what my purpose was
You know, just all these different things but
Ultimately, I again wasn't myself because of it and I've never

(52:54):
Not that I don't care if people like me, but ultimately I knew that
But I know that the decisions I make are
For myself and it's for my better judgment and whether it was wrong or right like I have to be confident in that decision
Because I'm either gonna grow from it or I'm gonna learn from it and not just the decision that I have to make
But yeah, I mean it can be intimidating because it's like oh, you know like I don't want to

(53:19):
Wear this to come off a certain way or I don't want to seem like too much for someone or something
But ultimately as I learned and like no like I love
Get in dress up. I love curling my hair like I want the full glam. I mean I love in pecs
Like we like the higher the hair the closer God
I love a little bailout

(53:39):
But I think that if anything like I love
Proving people wrong. Yeah, I love that people might look at me and they think one thing
And then I you know can hold a conversation. I'm getting my master's
I have these different things that I have going on in my life
And so even though I might have shrunk myself at one point. I'm like hold on
I'm gonna be my dog and at this point I'm just gonna prove everyone long and if you choose the

(54:03):
You know, doubt me. I will show you who I truly what she's embodying my little saying that's like um doubt me
That'll be fun like yeah keep on that'll be fun. I love that. I love it
What you know for you as you go in this next phase in your career and you're in school and you're a gemologist and you're just
Literally, I don't know what else. Well, I mean can you make the list longer?

(54:25):
What um what is one thing that you look back on in your career that what you wish you might have done differently or an opportunity that you didn't take that you wish you would have
I honestly don't know if I can
Do something because I'm just a current believer and not everything that's happened to me has led me to where I am today

(54:47):
And you know whether or in the moment it was
so bad or I felt so wrong around like wow that was really not a part decision
But okay, like let's keep going
I know that what's really everything is working in my favor and it's leading me to be exactly where I need to be
And so any of the decisions I might have made in the past or anything. I might have not done or done you know

(55:09):
It happened, but I moved on and I became a better person and a better rubber center that's myself before it and you know
Maybe I helped someone else long away, which it's what I want to do and so yeah
Even though there might have been some things where I should have done something different
I don't look back ever had to keep moving forward and I'm thankful that you know
I get to wake up another day and learn from it. I said that this morning. I woke up. He's not done

(55:34):
So there must be something else I need to do today
To get to where I need to go. Yeah
What do you think needs to change about the stigma around
women athletes and
You know specifically to cheer and palm like what what stigmas out there that you want to see change or you advocate for
For the next few

(55:55):
Uh, we're people too, you know, we have our bad days. We have our good days for normal human beings and we can be relatable
You know, we're not just all you know pracing around constantly and just you know
Looking dolled up and all the things or just turning around our pom-poms or all those things like we're
Human beings to have careers. I have teammates who were

(56:19):
Doctorate students. I have teammates who are journalists. I had teammates who are in medical sales
Like they are all these things outside of just be a dancer or a cheerleader and that's amazing
That's like ultimately that I want people to know we're we're human first. We're
Jordan first or we're just a person not necessarily
Labeled the title of a dancer a cheerleader. Yeah, and I think that's that's so incredible and so special and just something to reiterate because I think

(56:46):
You are more than just that cheerleader and you know you're more than that. So I love that for you
I think I want to expand to like for these listeners these young girls that are trying to get let's say one more professional side
Like who want to become an NFL cheerleader? What are like the specific like tips and tricks that you did?
That you would like to tell them give them advice when it comes to maybe like you had to learn all these different dances all these different

(57:11):
Like
Keep choreography vice at that right? I'm not a dancer. Yeah
Like what one down and on that like what you had to do to really learn that and advice to young women
But then on top of that kind of not on the professional side
But just on being you and being yourself. What advice would you give that young girl who wants to be you?
If it's like mental health. It's like just saying true to yourself

(57:34):
Um kind of touch on that
For sure um
My first advice would be to start early, you know
Maybe like a year out like to find one of gold, but then again, you know if it's
A month before child for me to find that they're doing my highly encouraged anyone to go for it
But you know take dance classes look in your area where there's so many programs online

(57:55):
her name is Jennifer and she teaches
A pro dance initiative that basically she's constantly uploading pro style
dances for whether it's SSL or NBA or
NBA or not NBA. Oh my gosh, and I'll be
By the way, we just had a little slip come on here people. I think we've deduced where her rain is

(58:18):
Yes, I love it
Oh my goodness anyways
She's like he's shut up. I love it
Oh, but yeah, so just finding the people online who teach those classes out of style or again like watching that specific team videos and learning like their style of dance
Um in going about it that way and just finding a routine that works for you to prep without style and then I highly encourage anyone

(58:44):
To reach out to a team member who is currently on the team which is very intimidating because you have to reach out every year
So it's not just a one time we can stay on however long like you're
Retrying out and so it can be intimidating to reach out to someone who you know you'll be trying out with but
Yeah, no one's ever gonna not answer you or not help you and if they don't

(59:08):
Probably not a program you don't want to be at because you know you want the team who is a sisterhood and they're gonna help you reach your goals
But just ask them you know like hey, would you be willing to meet me for coffee for 30 minutes one more day?
Or do you have a phone call or anything like that?
So yeah, it's just you know reaching out to those people making the networking connections so that you can help and then as far as

(59:29):
Michael health also having a routine for your mental health whether that's you know going on a daily walk or
Meditating or just whatever that looks like for you have a routine so that once you move forward and you you know
Go through the grueling process you already have a set thing and so that way you can just keep amplifying it throughout the season
What are you trying to achieve?

(59:51):
Did you find when you were trying out? Did you find like you needed to have a balance right like I
In my field like you go on and you present and then it's still based on someone picking right like you're still being chosen
And you know one of the things I
Find for myself. I always wanted to get better at is going in there without the expectation
For requirement of being chosen but more about just taking the opportunity and what comes comes

(01:00:15):
You know, it's like that what Kendall Jenner says like what is for me will find me. I don't chase. I attract like it's easy to say
But then you go in that moment and you're like the set is to make a break. How do you find balance mentally
For yourself that way
Yeah, so that can kind of occur too because you know whenever you're on a team and you're

(01:00:38):
Applying for appearances, you know, you don't always get a picture for maybe it like you really cool things that you would want to be a part of
But ultimately it's not because they didn't pick you
It's because the opportunity serves someone else better and so
Say that again. I'm taking it away. They didn't pick you the opportunity. You serve someone better. Yeah. Okay. Or someone else better for them

(01:01:00):
Yeah, yeah
Being a part of a sisterhood and wanting to empower women
You know ultimately the coach where the program everyone thought that you know they were the better fit and that's okay
Because there's a role for everyone on the team. You know, you don't want
36 Jordans on the team. You want a 36
Group of diverse men and women who can represent different things or go out and serve different purposes because all of our

(01:01:28):
They're different and so just reminding myself that you know like maybe I didn't get texted
You know what's for me will always be and you know just kind of going forward with that knowing that will truly like
There's a higher power who already knows my exact plan and what I'm
Called to do and that's what's gonna happen for me whether I think it's right or not
It doesn't matter like the firm in my face and knowing that everything for me is going to continue to work for me. What's next for you?

(01:01:56):
To be like a question. I'm actually started this because college dance has moves or is continuing to move in a recruitment style
So rather than girls trying out for different college teams the college teams are actually recruiting the girls and offering them
Box on a team. Yeah, that's so new but it's so cool to be honest. Yeah

(01:02:22):
So I'm actually working as a college or recruitment director to help girls who are in high school to get noticed by their
Different college coaches all across the country or teaching them you know
How to build the resume how to reach out the current girls in the team how to you know go to the clinics to get noticed where there's like
Combines that exist kind of like different

(01:02:44):
Might yeah, it's a little bit tricky though because you know
Boughts are very limited and ultimately like in white you would consider your traditional sports it kind of works
About better for the athletes because multiple colleges can be like okay. Here's all of our cards like
You know take us or don't take us you know people have multiple laying in front where it's a college you know

(01:03:04):
Through dance it kind of works in the benefit of
The university and the college program because at that point you know they can see it someone might be interested in another school
And they're like oh well, we don't know if we want to offer her
Because she kind of looks like she's gonna go here. So maybe we should go in the opposite direction
So it's a very new thing
Uh, I am also navigating it and trying to figure it out

(01:03:26):
But it's something that I'm super proud of about because you know
I did not have to get recruited but trying out for Teft Pong was a kind of a lengthy process because again
I didn't know anyone on the team and so I didn't really know what I was supposed to do
So just having to do the research on the program and like knowing what to do to get into the school and then you know
Doing all of these things and so again having the opportunity to help those girls to want to go and dance for just your in college and

(01:03:52):
Help them achieve their dreams so that maybe then to one day they'll help the girl behind them or they'll go on to be an NFL cheerleader
I've been super blessed and grateful to be in this position because I feel like it's serving again the purpose that I'm supposed to be fulfilling in my life right now
And so having the opportunity that mentor these roles is truly been life changing

(01:04:13):
So my last question for you, you know you
talked a lot about having appearances and being in the community
and really diving into not just
What Jordan can contribute on the field right as a cheerleader
What for you has been one of those moments that filled your cup
Through an experience outside of cheer

(01:04:36):
Whether that's meeting a fan going to an event really
What's something that's filled your cup because I feel like you're a cup filler you're you're one of those people like us where you want to give and give and give and give but you got it what fills you
What's been a moment for you where you sat back and were like this
This is why this is my why
Yeah, so I was doing an appearance for the Houston Texans and a platoon that came home from serving a nine month

(01:05:04):
Triff in Iraq and I got to watch our troop come off the plane at one of the hangars here in Houston and be graded by their family and their
Children and their mom and dad and I mean I ugly cried being
The being a part of something like that where you know
It's greater than the game of football and having the opportunity to see people you know who haven't been with their family for nine months or were just

(01:05:32):
You know not only serving a greater purpose than ourselves. You know, they're serving our country. It was just truly remarkable to see
Yeah, it's I mean that changed me for the better because I might you know these people are so thankful that you know
Their sons their husbands their daughter their wives their sisters like they made it hold you know
And so just to remind myself like every day that I'm thankful that I woke up. I'm thankful that I've a roof over my head and my

(01:05:56):
Families here like that you know, I have the opportunity to love others
Not just always that with me and so having the opportunity to
Was really amazing. That's amazing. I love that
It's funny because you think about all the people's lives. She's impacted. Yeah
And then to have something as what I would would deem is very complicated but simplistic

(01:06:18):
Of just being there in that moment realizing that
you're you know
Your life isn't defined by one moment. It's defined by a series of moments and opportunities but to
see
Had you not gone through what you went through had you not changed your path had you not taken a step away
You might not have been there in that exact moment and like I think as I look at all these women

(01:06:43):
We are celebrating and elevating through like her table is like
It's big all of this is bigger than just one moment with us and that's what I think is so special is if you know some young ladies like
I want to be Jordan. There's so much more to Jordan like I'm still stuck on this
I'm just like I'm just being honest and so it's very
It's a lucky like some type of like crime show of like they're stealing diamonds, but then there's archaeological digs of Indiana Jones

(01:07:09):
Like it's just this whole thing. It's a vibe. It's a for sure vibe
What you know your next for you is just kind of changing the game and I think that's what we're all about at her table right is giving you the platform to do it
So if the next you is listening
What do they need to do to get to you? What do they need to do to take that step to
try and you know
Bill some pretty big shoes ladies and gentlemen

(01:07:31):
Definitely
But what do they need to do to be able to get down the path you've got
What's the next step for them?
Putting one foot in front of the in front of the other as simple as that might sound you know sometimes
You know, it might be it might seem overwhelming
Whenever you're like oh yeah, she does x y the amount of things

(01:07:52):
But ultimately it was just again being planted and where I'm at and thankful for the opportunity as it comes because I know that
It's an opportunity for me. I'm fulfilling my purpose and so
Whenever that comes okay, I'm putting my foot down whenever another one comes okay
I'm gonna put the next one down if something isn't coming in my direction
It's it's not supposed to be for me because maybe it's again, it's better suited for someone else

(01:08:15):
And ultimately that'll come back around and serve me in some way and so just continuing to
Take things one day to try and be grounded in your present moment and always remembering
Not everything is working for you not again to you and
Yeah, just being thankful for every day that you get to wake up. Love it
All right, what's Taylor's doing for the game up up all we're going back to the team like I

(01:08:39):
Productions over here like guys. She's got to go
Exertion we've taken too much of her time. I'm like hey where are we at with this? It's honestly. It's fun for me to watch
Celebrities impact games in ways that
Might not be you know, you look at Jersey sales are up 500 percent just based off who some player is dating

(01:09:02):
It's an insatiable
Industry it is one that forgets their people and so now I'm actually low key like I hope they make it forever and live in a castle and like all of these things
Might not be their path because we're all about what's for them is for them right right that amount of pressure that then comes on not just

(01:09:24):
You know those two individuals that are celebrities to to keep up with Jones's but also to continue to hone their craft right like it's sometimes it's a distraction
Like what is going on is it like a fan craze that's gonna like die down
I feel like we just went through this with the on Sanders. Oh, yeah
It's like the craze of deon sander
And it was insatiable and he wrote it and is still writing it impacting but like I feel like it's always there's the next thing coming yeah

(01:09:49):
I just like are they way are they like please let the next thing come so we can just be ourselves. I don't know. I think and I feel like
I'm with yeah, I feel like Taylor's with continue to I'll do herself
Because it's like always like she's no the standard and everyone's like how can she get even bigger than this and then she got that and so like
That's the thing sometimes I feel like it's like

(01:10:13):
Photo op moment of like you because there are some people in this celebrity world that is all about like the photo op of
Of what yeah, what you're seeing versus what's real
But I also like I was saying to my friends. I'm like she doesn't get to go have a photo op
Because she will be just wrong across coals if this is just a photo op like this her fan base is not gonna go for
That and that's just the authenticity of herself. Yeah, just

(01:10:38):
Going through what she's gone through to now have this but watching her pull up and like
Watch him in his space, but he all started in her DM. Did you see that today? He was like yeah, I messaged her of like you should come see me
Rock out at my field or whatever it was and like just kind of being her a little bit of like yeah
But I just went through this with Kelsey ballerini her and chase dogs like she ended up there

(01:11:01):
So it's it's a crazy world that we live in of how people can get connected through something we all have but right
There's celebrities. I mean we kind of are
No, just kidding. We're not she is she's a big for the pace though because I feel like most of time, you know
The guys are like the girl is like oh she's dating him
But I feel like now it's like Thomas Kelsey is eating viewers

(01:11:21):
He Taylor should send him like you you know, here's my little like your Jersey sales are up
So that and I fell she then it fells probably like rolling out the carpet like tell my god any game
We want we don't care
Come on in every venue's like let's go be more and I fells eating it up
It's so funny because like even like at NFL network
It's like my boss is trying to put in like oh let's talk about this love story today between the chiefs and the

(01:11:47):
Whatever whoever they're playing and stuff like they are loving it and so I just think it's great
I think it's sweet. I think everybody wants to see Taylor when yes at the end of the day
I think it's a trailer and it's growing trap. I think it's about Taylor and I think it's a love it
I'm not that's that's them so it works for me
I just gonna keep tuning in yeah tuning in so Taylor shot out if you want to come on our table

(01:12:07):
We'd love to talk about what this process has been like for you. Yeah, you know, I would also like to be the third host that day
Yeah, come along. We got you
Come out. We'll have a guess we have plenty of space on our set. We'll bring out extra chairs
We'll get it. We don't know but no you have just been an inspiration to me. I literally am
So grateful that our world is small enough that we got to meet but at the same time

(01:12:31):
We're able to share your story and your triumphs and your success and your struggles
But also how amazing it is that you're changing
What was and what is to come through your college recruitment program
And let's just be honest to be the first generation
College graduate. I mean that's badass in itself. It's amazing your brothers like think

(01:12:53):
You're so much more than that and I think that is what for me her tables all about
Is people see your face and your picture and they don't ever get to experience or hear who you are
So if you could describe yourself in three words, what would they be as you leave us today?
Oh

(01:13:14):
And so she's in it to win it with us on that one
Let's see. I would say that I'm courageous
I'm a dreamer
And I'm a role model. I love that. I love that for you
I can't wait to see what you do next. Don't forget about us little people. Yes
Over here. I think so highly of y'all so I'm like start spark on this

(01:13:38):
But wait listen if you saw us before we got out you'd be like y'all are crazy
Crazy but no you have been actually make it work
Listen we listen productions like y'all need to it's like that meme don't tell us to calm down
Because then we just keep going up so it's just another level
But keep doing you keep blazing past. I'm so proud of you and continue to just chase your dream and be

(01:14:01):
Like honestly just be that role model that we all need and everyone needs because you are making a difference
That's why you're here at her table
So I want you to think about who you want to nominate to come on next
Because I've already heard some names on your list of some people that have from Texas tech
I can't wait for your coaches from Texas tech to watch this episode and feel like they made the difference for you

(01:14:24):
Because people don't always get the thank you that they need and so I can't wait for you to be that person for them
And you to share that and inspire the next few so
Keep on. They go for having me on. Oh my gosh please girl. This is fun. We told you we can easy to so like yeah
It's it's easy. It's we love it. But no but anything. Oh so inspiring. Oh please. We're just here changing the world doing nothing

(01:14:46):
Drinking our water. We were drinking coffee and Celsius and they were like, um y'all might need to like
Drink water and just chill. No, but we love to have you back on but keep doing your thing. Yeah, like I'm proud of you
Like this is awesome. Yeah, you've been amazing. Thank you. You are so welcome
While that was amazing having Jordan Groover on I was so cool here in her story being an NFL cheerleader and how much

(01:15:10):
How much hard work took to get to her position?
I mean cheerleading part of that. She's a gemologist
Study of gems and diamonds. I mean people not only is she beautiful not only she athletic
But she also knows her diamonds so you boys better get your lives together if you think you're gonna come sideways to Jordan
It was so cool like I really liked her. She touched on some of her favorite moments in her life really

(01:15:36):
I mean when she when the final floor was happening at tech and they went out and they drove to Minneapolis
I thought that was set up fun story and I want a great memory to have I think it's so interesting
You know you see beautiful young women you see these cheerleaders and palm squad and all the support
That really goes into
Helping and building an athletic department. It's not just the athlete. There's so much that goes into it

(01:16:01):
So to hear her talk about not only for herself what did the moment she loved but also her struggles
I think she was really open and vulnerable to her struggle with mental health and and finding solace in herself and being confident in herself
And I think it's so relatable because there's so much that goes into having to always be on in a representation of something else

(01:16:21):
You kind of like you have to turn it off sometimes and just go back to being your normal self
So that was so crazy and then she's the first person in her family to go to college
Amazing
I mean amazing. I know and her little brother followed her to Texas tech. He's like just stop
I'm just got you're doing too much right now. Let's stop stop this down

(01:16:43):
But it was really cool to hear her talk about how she really wants to make sure that
The next her has access and opportunity to knowledge
I think that's one thing I took away from her is so much preparation
Goes into learning the drills learning the skills learning the sets for each game
It wasn't like she just shows up in her uniform

(01:17:04):
Literally she had so much preparation went into that that's not something that I was expecting
Listen to her in there her story so it was such a great time having a jordan grubber on
If there's somebody that you would like to know make to be on her table
Please drop a comment below share this podcast on Spotify iTunes over

(01:17:24):
If you love it subscribe let us know we love to hear from everybody
But this is a special place for us at her table. That's another episode. I'm Kate and this is her table
No…
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