KJ Wright - Courtside Conversations - Her Table

Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
This episode is brought to you by Tina's vodka.

(00:02):
I'm KJ Wright, the team reporter for the Memphis Grizzlies and this is her table.
Now you see her.
You are magnificent!
Welcome to her table, the podcast that shines a spotlight on the badass women who are redefining the game.
Join host Kate Foley and Megan Martinez as Payon Locke, the secrets of success

(00:26):
in the brightest female pioneers in the industry.
We are so excited to be back in Las Vegas for NBA Summer League and we have a very special guest
returning to her table. We have KJ Wright, she is the sideline reporter for the Memphis Grizzlies
and oh my gosh, I cannot wait to talk to her today.
She was one of our first guests.
Yeah.
I think she kind of set the tone for how the show was going to go and the level of expectation

(00:50):
that was going to come with it.
And I'm so excited that we have KJ back here today.
Not only she back but her friends back.
So this episode is going to be iconic.
I cannot wait to get into she's got a new show.
You guys need to check it out in the W.
You need to check it out.
New podcast, it's strictly focused on WBA players but she's got this up.
So I want to dig into that.
She's had some iconic moments this season.

(01:11):
Memphis is on the upswing from a team perspective.
I want to dig into that, the culture and then also I want to talk to her about fashion.
Because she and I have a love, love, love for the Kardashians,
a good American.
So we're going to get into that today.
About brands that make her feel good, brand shoe wears but then also what trends she's seeing
as she is so visible and so powerful within them at Memphis Grizzlies organization.

(01:34):
We are so excited to have her on in.
Honestly, aside from the fits too, we will can't wait to hear about Jessica Grizzlies,
her podcast.
So KJ, right?
Pull up the seat and let's get to it.
All right, KJ, welcome to her table.
We are just about to wrap up year one.
You were one of our very first guests in this show.
Same place, new set by the way.

(01:55):
Yeah.
I mean, we got the lights, we got the cameras, we got the live feeds.
We got it all over here.
So you're back.
I didn't mess up too badly last year that I'm back.
I mean, no, no, let's be clear.
We're still here.
You're always going to be here.
We're still here now.
We're waiting for reports.
We're waiting for the feedback.
Well, I missed you guys.
We missed you too.
We wish you too.

(02:16):
You've been through so much.
Would you get into tattoo?
Yeah, two of them.
Okay, what do you mean?
What do you mean?
I know, whoa.
Okay, this, I have a little L.
You guys are going to make fun of me for this one.
And for my dog.
His name's Lou.
I love you.
He's alive.
He's fine.
Like, did he die?
I can say he's four.
Okay, there's nothing.
Wait, open this with the sadness, Kate.

(02:38):
Nope.
And then, you guys know angel numbers?
Yeah.
So, two to two is essentially like alignment.
Trust that you are, where you're meant to be.
I did not know that, but I love that because I've been looking for a new tattoo.
So I might be on the old car.
Yeah, one of my players actually, after I got this got 777.
And I was like, oh my god, our angel number is like the new.
So, yeah, I'm, I guess tiny tats.
That's why I know just like, I have tiny, tiny ones.

(02:59):
Oh, wow, you do.
Like, teeny tiny.
I have a white ink one.
What is white ink?
I used to want one of those.
Yeah, you literally can't.
Well, and now because my bracelets were on it,
you really can't see it.
What is it?
It's just a life.
I was in college.
I don't know.
Yeah, well, it's white.
That was trendy.
What?
It's like a white ink one.
Yeah, you can't see it.
That was like the point.
It was like the, it was really like white ink.

(03:26):
How do you see it in general?
Well, if I don't have like the marks for my bracelets, you can kind of see it.
Is it like a, can you see it in like black light or something?
No.
Yeah, it's like, how do you actually know that they gave you one?
I can see it.
Yeah, yeah.
Okay.
That'll be really funny if they're like, yeah, I'm going to give you a white tattoo.
And then you're like, it's like a blank needle.
Yeah, here it's invisible or just.
I mean, cost savings like they have no, at a bucket cost.
I'm like, weird thing.

(03:46):
It's so weird.
Oh, when we, when we're together next, we should go get another one.
They don't have any right?
No, I know.
I kind of like that.
Yeah, I know.
I really like that.
I did this one hurt.
No.
Okay.
I want, I've been thinking about getting one like right here because it's kind of like,
I'm just going to do the same exact tattoo right there.
I mean, thanks for putting that out.
Yeah, thanks for telling me in her.
I'm going to copy her.
I'm going to do this.

(04:07):
I might do one right here in the angel number.
To be fair, which is fun.
I copied this one.
I think tattoos are so interesting because in the league, guys get just like full tattoo.

(04:29):
I remember when I worked with Jordan Clarkson, he had minimal tattoos.
And then when he got covered, no.
Yeah, crazily covered.
Yeah.
they were like he needs to relax because he's in season.
- Mm-hmm.
- Like you can't just be coming in to like a full sleep,
you get infection, it's like this is all, like,
he needs to relax.
And I remember like talking to him like,
"Hey, can we like slow it down for like a minute?"
And he's like, "Ninn, no, no."

(04:51):
I did my job.
I asked, I put it out there and I got shut down.
So I don't know how you can do.
And now he's like fully tattooed.
- Yeah.
- Which he's the sweetest guy ever.
But he's just had to tot out it.
It's kinda weird.
- Tatooza is so much more common now than I think.
- Yeah.
- Like when our parents were growing up.
- Yeah. - Totally gonna get a job with it tattoo.
- Right.
- Honestly people say that it's weird

(05:12):
because I actually had one of the guys I worked with
before he got some hand tattoos.
And someone actually said to him,
like do you think people are gonna take you seriously with that?
- I do.
- And I was like,
that's not okay to say to someone.
- Right.
Number, you know.
And number two, like let him express himself.
- Yeah.
- It's not like he got like curse words all over his hand.
Like he has to have a different difference
between like coloring your hair.

(05:33):
Do you think someone's gonna take you seriously
because you put highlights in?
- Yes.
- Because I do.
- Yeah.
- Well let's test it out.
Are you testing me?
- Don't wanna get some tattoos on my.
- I've got about a finger tattoo.
- Imagine her first tattoo was like.
- It's like knuckles, love, mega.
- Yeah, mega part.
(laughing)
- So every time you knuckles someone
you just tell them your name.
I bet they wouldn't forget your name.

(05:54):
- But they wouldn't.
- You're right.
- Hey guys.
- It's a good deal.
- Yeah, I know, maybe.
- I mean, yeah.
- If I show up with that, you know I copy you for real.
- I know, I know.
- You don't get cake, you get mega.
- Meg with the heart.
- Oh, okay.
- You like, you like lose the bed.
And then like, here's Meg, you're like, don't ask.
It's just gone down the hole.
Okay, you have so much going on.
So I wanted to bring you of like a thousand things.

(06:14):
You look fantastic, by the way.
- Yeah, thank you.
- The lights are hot.
- You look amazing.
- I was really excited to see you.
Well, and I saw you yesterday at the Grizzlies.
And there's so much going on with the Grizzlies.
I'm just so excited to tell you that,
Jalen Wells, who you guys drafted,
played at Washington State University,
which is where I went to college.
So I was like, oh my gosh, no way.
So, what is she gonna be a Grizzly span?
- I came and watched you guys yesterday,

(06:36):
and I just wanna know what's going on
with the Jalen Wells, the new drop pick, Zach Edie.
And what's that's like been for the Grizzlies?
- What team did you put on your card?
- We put the magic.
- No, no, we didn't.
- No, we put the Sacramento Kings.
- Only because I have a guy on the Sacramento Kings.
So I had to pick a guy on the Grizzlies.

(06:59):
- Nobody would be like, I got it.
- I get it.
- Let's see your for everyone listening.
- I don't have a guy on the Sacramento Kings.
- No, I know, I gotta go viral.
- I have a client on the Sacramento Kings.
- This show with KJ is always amazing.
- Oh my gosh, I don't even do anything.
- You're so amazing.
- It's like the highlight of my day.
- It's so funny.
- Yeah, no, no, no.
Okay, so we have three draft picks,
and we were at such an interesting spot,

(07:20):
because as anyone who's watching knows,
you get a high lottery pick if you do really bad.
And a lot of those teams--
- It's a reward for painfulness.
- It is, no, but a lot of those teams,
you're looking at Detroit or San Antonio,
the teams that are young and in their rebuild.
We were in this crazy, weird, unprecedented place,
because we're not in a rebuild.

(07:41):
We just had every single player injured
for the season last year.
So we were horrible because we had no one.
So now we get a ninth overall pick, which we want on hire,
but it's fine, we get a top 10 pick in Zach 80,
and we get all our guys back next year.
So I think next year is just looking really, really exciting.
I talked to the coaching staff,
'cause I've had minimal time with our draft picks,
so far, it just happened and then they came to Vegas.

(08:04):
And I am not being cliche in any way.
They say that these three guys,
our vets mess with them already off the court so hard
that he's like, it's gonna be seamless.
- Oh my god.
- It's gonna be a seamless insertion of these three
into our team.
So I'm excited about that.
We needed a big Zach 80's Canadian, so--
- Oh yeah.
- At our first game, he didn't play,

(08:26):
but I had all the rappers people around,
which I hadn't seen them since I moved out of Toronto
five years ago, so it's nice to see them
'cause I just wanted to cover a Canadian.
Jalen Wells, I have not met yet,
and then Cam Spencer is the last guy that we picked,
and I've asked three different people
on our coaching staff and a player,
and they keep saying that he's a dog.
They keep using that word, so I'm just excited

(08:46):
to see what he's gonna bring to his table.
- Oh, that's a long way.
- To our table.
- We love it.
- To your table.
- I'm excited about these three.
- I would love for you guys.
We were supposed to have a date at Red Hook,
and we never have yet.
- No, Memphis hasn't called me back to come there lately.
I mean, I don't have anyone there.
- I know, well.
- But we need to get out of here on the Christmas list.
(laughing)

(09:08):
- See, this office, this is gonna go ridiculous.
- Oh, how that turn table is, that was pretty good.
I can pay you credit.
(laughing)
- There's a thing over here.
- Now you got paid flustered.
(laughing)
- Yeah, I'm gonna add it to my list.
I'm gonna get there.
I have a lot of things going on, but yes,
I'm gonna get there.
What, okay, we, it's funny.
So, Zach Edie is enormous.

(09:30):
He's very large, young man.
- Yes, I met him for the first time
right before I came here.
He came on one of our Grizzlies shows,
and I went to shake his hand as you do when you meet someone.
And let me just preface this, by like we had Stephen Adams,
who is the largest human I've ever seen.
- No, he's enormous.
- He's huge.
- He's even a word, like he is an insane,
- Yeah.

(09:50):
- Lee large person.
- We have Jared Jackson Jr.,
who's taller than Stephen Adams,
but somehow Stephen is like his satchel.
- Oh, well just sugar.
- Yeah.
- Bigger.
- I shook his hand, can't give me your hand.
And we were like this, and it felt like there was like
seven hands grabbing my hand.
- Oh, wait.
- I'm like, "Oh, wait."
- Jesus, have you splinter in the NBA now?
- No way.
- What's he way?
- 300.
- What?
- Shut the front door.
- And he's thin.

(10:10):
- Yeah, I know, he's thin, but he's so tall.
- He's seven, yeah.
- Oh my gosh.
- That's insane.
- Yeah.
- Zion's like, thank God someone weighs more than me.
(laughing)
- I don't have to take 20 pounds on that.
- Yeah, when I was saying like,
now he doesn't have to have that stigma.
- I think that guy's a way, yeah, I'm excited what he's gonna do.
- He seems like a good human though, like well-balanced.
- He's like super.
- Yeah.
- But again, I feel like most big men,

(10:31):
just a very reserved.
- Or reserved, but they turn it on when they're on the court.
But I also think he's a quiet,
- Except for Jackson Jr.
- He's not reserved at all.
- No, he's just all out there all the time.
We need some of those.
You gotta, I mean, imagine if you had like all introverted,
that'd be like the most boring team in the world.
No one would.
- That wouldn't really work.
- That would make my job really hard actually.
- I was like, yeah, your team is very like,

(10:52):
extraverted, I feel like you guys got a lot going on.
- We have a lot of good personalities.
- You really do.
- Yeah, I've talked to some of like the,
the silent reporters who had been previous to me,
like on some of the older teams,
and they always talk about those guys who were cancers
and locker rooms or like just, can you swear on here?
- Yeah.
- Like asses, to be around here.
- K-tikes.
- K-tikes.
- K-tikes.

(11:12):
- I'm being so genuine, not because I work for the Grizzlies,
but like I have never had a single player,
even all the trades that we've had, like be.
- But I would say this, I don't know that that's specific
to Memphis, I'm gonna let you, you need to take credit
for this, this is your ability to create an authentic,
comfortable space and reaction and connection with players

(11:32):
to be able to have that.
So I think you would do that anywhere,
and I'm not gonna let you sell yourself short of it.
I'll let you say what everyone about the Grizzlies,
but I think that is the KJ thing where it's,
you just make everyone just feel so comfortable
when you're around them that it puts the walls down,
because that's not an easy thing.
- It's not easy to do, and it's not easy to accept either,
because especially this industry, you're like,
what do you want from me?
What are you trying to get from me?

(11:54):
And there's not a lot of nice people sometimes.
Sometimes you're like, all right, I have barrel assholes
and one nice little bird, like, so it is.
- That's a little bird.
- And one little bird that I like, but I just need a barrel.
- I'm gonna say a dumpster, but then I felt like
that would make everyone feel bad.
- So I just said a little barrel.
- Don't feel bad, you're just a little barrel.
- You're just in my barrel today, buddy.

(12:14):
- I'm a little barrel.
- In my barrel, but I think that's what you do.
How do you factor that into your job?
- I'm really thankful that it's not just at games.
I feel like if it was, like, if my interactions
were just strictly post games or pre-games for that matter,
like, it would be difficult, 'cause you're strictly
just talking about basketball, and it's like,
the standard question is like, oh, yeah.
- Your defense is good, but I, like, my podcast,

(12:35):
where I get to sit down with them for the half an hour
and actually talk about, like, shit that they like.
'Cause the research cycle's into that.
It's a half an hour podcast, but like, the research
is like a day and a half.
So I'm like, I wanna know everything that you like,
I wanna know everything that you said,
and I think that, like, and Nately would make you feel comfortable.
Like, I came on this and I'm like, Kate,
you've never openly been like, oh, I love Pokemon,
but I wanna talk about Pokemon with you.
You'd be like, oh, vibes.

(12:55):
I don't have this in here and talk about D-Man.
- And they appreciate that too, 'cause you've done your research
on the players, you know what they like
and what they don't like, and then being able to talk about
these special talents or special things that they have
is amazing, and that's where the trust starts and builds.
- How'd you learn how to do that?
Is that like a God-given thing
or do you have to teach yourself how to do that?
- No, because I go back and listen to the first episode
or the first season of my podcast and I'm like,

(13:17):
"Really?"
- What's the crunch part?
- I don't know, it's just, I think with everything
that you do in life, right?
Like, you get better, no matter what.
Like, I'm sure you guys would go back and watch
last season of this and you're like,
this is how I improve, and well, you don't go back and watch.
- Yeah, I just suck all together.
I just don't ever improve.
- I'm just saying, like, say anything, say you started running.
Your first run is gonna be horrible.

(13:38):
- I think you're hard here too.
- You're five years later, and so, I don't know,
I think it's practice and I think it's also,
'cause I've been with the team for five years now.
So I have some, so my, our first game here,
I had my first post-game interview, obviously,
and it was with one of the players that has been there,
like, he's been his third year now,
and I just, like, there's a sense of relief.

(13:58):
It's just like, we know each other, we get in the group
and chat, and again, obviously it would've been fine
if I had a rookie if I had Jalen Walser
or a cast went to her, but it's just,
- It's nice.
- Yeah, once you just know people.
- You're just catching up.
And I also just think too, like, there's,
especially in your role in this industry,
there's such an opportunity for people to be fake
that when you meet someone that's just genuinely a good person
that wants to see you win, or just honestly,

(14:19):
just sees you as a person, right?
Not the asset, not the talent, not the job,
but just where people at the end of the day.
- I was out for dinner yesterday,
and we were walking back to the hotel,
and one of my, like, vets was in the hotel,
and I just, like, walked by, 'cause he was with the bunch of people,
and I just didn't wanna say,
but then we, like, made eye contact, and I like, wave.
And he's like, you're not gonna say hi.
And I was like, I didn't wanna thank you.
But I think it's, like, those relationships,

(14:40):
like, aren't we, like, cool outside of sports?
- Yeah, I'm so sorry.
- Yeah, yeah, you're like, hi.
But I'm gonna keep it going, bye.
- No, I was about to family, like, he stepped away,
and I was like, oh, where's parents?
- Yeah, but I think that's the stuff too.
- I don't think you feel so good, though.
- For sure.
- That, like, you matter, too, 'cause what I mean,
they could look at you as just a job, doing your job.
- Honestly, I look at, and this, I don't know how other people see it,
but I look at the players the same as I look at, like,

(15:01):
my editor, like, or our co-workers.
- Yeah, 100%.
- 100%.
Like, I would do the same thing, like, my editor was with a bunch of people, I'd be like, yeah.
- Yeah, yeah.
- You don't wanna, like, bug 'em, 'cause they're busy, but.
- Yeah.
- No, let's shift and talk about, I was talking about the veterans.
I feel like John Morant now, he's been in the league for a couple years.
But it's the same as me, we came in together, baby.
- Oh my gosh, no, what?
It's one of the five years.
- We've never been in the NBA without each other.

(15:22):
- Yeah, well, he just did his extension.
- Oh, yeah.
- Well, let's talk about John Morant this last season, and kind of, like,
where you see, you know, he's recovering from that injury, and, you know,
just kind of talk about, like, what was going on, how did him not being in the locker room kind of affect the presence of the team,
and, like, where do you see, you know, the Grizzlies this season, and, you know, kind of, taking that turn.

(15:44):
- Okay, so I think that was a little bit of a misconception.
He could be in our arena.
So he was in the arena.
- So he was there.
- Yeah, he could practice with the team.
- Mm-hmm.
- Yeah, in terms of locker room, he had to leave the arena like an hour and a half.
I don't know the exact number, but he had to leave a certain time before games,
but then he would watch the games.
- Yeah.
- Outward.
So he was around, which was really nice.
- Yeah, it wasn't like he was just gone, because I think the media portrayed it as like, "Duces, he's gone."

(16:08):
But he's not, it's not really worth arguing.
It's just like, whatever, y'all, it's been the narrative that people have.
- Yeah, I mean, I think the narrative around Memphis as a whole, and I'm not doing, like, a woe is me thing,
but, like, is very just, like, negative?
- I don't think it sucks.
- No one's gonna see you guys be positive.
- Yeah, I'll say it for you.
Like, I feel like everyone's like, "Let's just beat down on Memphis a little bit."
Like, when we were two seasons ago, when we were winning, and our guys would, like, huddle around an interview,

(16:32):
it would be like, "These guys are obnoxious, and whatever."
And then, "Okay, see, does it this year?"
And it's like, "Oh, they're cute, they are."
- They're so young, like, together.
- Yeah, they're so cute.
- Yeah, they're so young, like, together.
- Yeah, they're so cute.

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(23:17):
- Yeah, I understand how you feel.

(23:42):
- Yeah, I understand how you feel.
Thank you for sharing.
And then I might say something when you're not around,
but I'm not going to engage with you.
I might go get a boo-doo doll.
- Yeah, I'm not going to engage with you.

(24:03):
And, and taking that light. And guess what, it's changed. I've been so, I've just so modest last year.
Because of that. Mm-hmm. Not modest, like I wasn't like throw, I,

(24:24):
you didn't come out with like, yeah, I know, I didn't want to mind. Just, if you're, if you're watching this,
it was a maxi, this can, this can, tell it's where they did it, I'm now.
Maxi dress up to here and boot. So you couldn't even see my legs. You could see my arms just here.
Just, just to heads up, you know what, for those people that want to hate on you for whatever reason,

(24:46):
I hope you have the day you deserve. It's coming for you. I will ensure it. I'll pray for you.
It's so sad because you're in such, like I said, you have so many women that look up to you.
Literally, like, I don't even know what word, proud maybe, but also like,
because we talked last year about the women that I looked up to, right?

(25:08):
And I know you guys had Alley on and there's like three or four women that I've looked up to for so long.
And like, I don't know if I ever put it into perspective that I could be that person for like the next group of women.
You are. For sure. You don't know this, but you are. How cool is that though?
That's gonna make you feel so good. Makes me want to cry.
Oh, don't cry. That's a beautiful thing.

(25:29):
And the fact that you've worked so hard in your career to get to where you are today,
and you have such, been such a great example for the young women.
I see you dressing with confidence, you coming out and like just being yourself is just what young women want to see.
Yeah, you guys probably feel this in your careers at sometimes too.
Like maybe complacent is again, maybe not the right word, but you know when you're like,
you've been at something for so long. Sometimes I forget that like,

(25:51):
this is actually like what I want to do is what I dreamt of.
I'm just like, okay, like what's next? I feel like I'm like so stagnant.
And then you guys say that and I'm great. Now I'm happy again.
Okay, but listen, I'm gonna talk about fashion.
So what are we gonna see from you this year?
Yeah, because if I see you in the habit that I just mentioned, I'm coming for you.
I will, my ass will be on a plane to Memphis pulling up.
Okay, well here's the thing too. I do feel like every single season,

(26:13):
my fashion changes slightly. I get evolves, right?
Yeah, because like, yeah, fashion trends change.
And I am looking at, I'm gonna take you for example, Megan,
because the like, I don't mean to say, modest is not the right word again.
I'm, I'm maybe I need a bigger coffee.
But like a conservative like old money look is in right now.
Totally. So although I have, I have shopped so much. It's so stupid.

(26:34):
I have a lot of like very neutral pieces now, but not because of anything,
but because like, I think that look is so in.
If you look at, it's iconic.
Kaiser, I'm not, I'm not gonna butcher her last name, the WNBA player,
who's now dating Jalen Brown openly.
Her fashion this season.
Does she screw the S-beast with them?
Yes. Yeah, we just, we're looking at that yesterday.
Her fashion is so iconic.
It is her dress yesterday. We were like, oh, okay, so she doesn't usually dress like that.

(26:57):
She was like, wow, she looks phenomenal.
Entering and she's not on the sky anymore.
But when she was entering games, she looked just like so fabulous,
but like covered and classy.
Yeah.
And I think that's the five I'm gonna go for.
Yeah, yeah.
It's funny. I feel like even mine as I go through my career,
it's like you find things that are just like iconically you.
Yeah.
And you're like, okay, and you're just, you know what I mean?

(27:19):
It's, it's no trend.
It just becomes your own personal fashion.
And you might put like your own like tweak on right, like something that's in style right now,
or something that's not the other, but like there's just always that like iconic.
I picture you in pink anytime I think of you.
And I'm in all black today for those of you listening.
Yeah, but we were at grammar again.
And there's this pink section in case like this for me.

(27:41):
Yeah, I think they like pink.
They like pink. They are going into the changer.
I can picture Kate just taking the entire wrap and just be.
They were starting in the room.
They were like, oh, here's your room.
And you walk in and it's just like pink, yellow, orange, green, blue, like a rainbow.
And I'm like, I love this.
And then she's wearing all the time.
And I'm wearing it all the way.
I know.
No, but it's because the other, earlier I had on like a multi colored outfit.
I have to do one liner on our girl.
But no, okay, so what are your fits right now?

(28:03):
What are you feeling in fashion?
I am, okay, like I sew into vest.
I'm wearing a vest as well.
I know. I sewed it all the way out.
I was going to wear a pink vest to wear it.
I'm into the black and the brown, white, classic.

(28:27):
I'm really loving the high neck.
I was like, I was going to wear a high neck in a sleeve.
I thought that was not all black.
I'm an Abercrombie.
What the heck?
It's coming back.
Oh my gosh.
It reminds me of high school because I wear that in a Hollister.
I know.
I don't like to shop in the store though because it still smells like insane.
What are you going to do?
I don't get to shop in stores a lot.
I don't have malls.
So I come to Vegas and I'm like, oh yeah.

(28:50):
Oh my gosh.
That's where I'm like walking into good American today.
I was like, I can touch this.
Yes.
The sizing.
I don't have to like send it back.
I can like try stuff on.
Yeah.
No, for sure.
So you were in good Americans today and you got to experience.
It's funny.
So I met with Misty who's their VP of retail and the thoughts that Emma and Chloe put into

(29:12):
those stores is crazy because there's such positivity on the mirrors in the doors because so many
women in their focus groups are like, we don't like to go on the store because we don't
feel good when we try something on a real uncomfortable and it's such a positive experience
to go into and try something on.
It's like fun.
You enjoy it.
And there's no expectation of like the size range is so huge.

(29:35):
You know what I mean?
Like you can get any person can walk in that store and get something for themselves.
For sure.
Any demo, any age, any size.
And I love that because I think it's so important as women that we're able to go because somebody
stores I shop and I'm like, okay, I'm a this size in one store and I'm this size in other
store.
It's like, it fucks with your mind.
It's annoying.

(29:55):
I will say and I shouldn't.
I have a pair of jeans from a good American that I just went to get tailored in like the
waist.
And there are size eight, which I've been in eight for a while.
I did lose a lot of weight this year, but I went and I got a size six and another one.
So it's just, but it's so hard.

(30:17):
It's intimidating.
It's intimidating.
Okay, so but I went with my sister too and she always has to get like, she can't buy jeans
that I get because her legs are.
I've got to hide high along.
I'm so tall.
You went on our tippy toes for one.
I know.
Also like now she knows how we feel.
Not because they're tall, but like I just wear heels.
I don't listen.
Not that tall, but yeah, you're tall too.
Yeah.

(30:37):
Well, it's cool to see a brand and I think you know, they're obviously getting into the
sports space.
You know, skims is another brand that has to fully order everything off skims.
Oh, because they're I know they're having a buy annual sale.
You know, you can buy it in Nordstrom.
I don't have a Nordstrom in Memphis, but yeah, you can order online.
I know.
I know.
Nordstrom Rack.
Yeah.
Yeah.
They have skims there.

(30:58):
Don't sleep on it.
I have like skims swim all that.
I got skims at TJ Maxx the other day.
Shut the front door.
No way.
That's lip dress.
Wow.
A lip dress too.
Oh my gosh.
Can't need to go.
Like they're new color.
It's like it's purple and it's like I want to get some of their nice dresses.
But okay, so but just try not to get in on topic.
Everyone's like, we're just waiting with a fucking thing now.
No, like it's cool because they have a lot of basics and we're talking about basics

(31:21):
and how you can take something that's so basic, but dress it up, dress it down, put a blazer,
put it with a skirt, like having those pieces you can kind of plug in place.
It's really fun.
I feel like sometimes you're like a Barbie doll and you get to be like, er, like I wish
if I could have anything in my life, it would be on Clueless.
Oh my gosh.
You know the movie where she like goes on like this.
She picks it off.
Yeah, she picks something that's like, yeah, yeah.

(31:41):
That would be the most iconic thing ever.
But I think that's just what's so cool about women's fashion is it gives us so much room
to show people who we are.
But then it also gives us a space to really encourage you to get outside your box.
Yeah, for sure.
To like really do.
We're seeing that a lot right now in the W&BA fashion.
You have a new W&BA show.
What's the new show?
Yeah.
Okay.

(32:01):
Oh, I'm so excited about it.
I've been trying to pitch it for a few years now and we just hadn't been able to create
the idea where our region would would resonate with it.
And we eventually came to the agreement with everybody that it was going to be W&BA
players, like all interview-w and-w players who went to school in the SEC just because that's
where you are.

(32:22):
That's where I am, geographically in the United States.
And so we're going to have eight episodes.
I filmed them like back to back to back.
No, like, so I've only done five.
So it's not like I have three sitting there.
I have to like go out and get them.
But they're really fun.
They're, it's called in the W and yeah, I talk a little bit about basketball.
I talk a little bit about them.

(32:43):
It's the same as my Grizzly's podcast.
Yeah.
Really just shorter.
And it's been really fun.
We've gone really good guests because most girls who went to the SEC are like, they're like,
they're ten players.
Who's in that?
One of the teams.
Oh, I'm not going to be able to name them.
LLB and LL.
Tennessee.
Okay.
I'm trying to think of the girls who, South Carolina, Florida, Missouri, I won't be able to name

(33:04):
them all.
I'm thinking of the girls that I've already had and what school I went to.
I know.
It's been really great.
Yeah.
And they're really receptive, like I DMed a bunch of girls.
Hey, will you come on?
And a lot of them got back to me just that way.
It's easier to go than going through PR.
Yeah.
Wow.
It's been fun.
That's amazing.
Good for you too to be able to like share that platform for the, you know, those young women
to do.

(33:25):
Well, she's also creating like a new platform.
Right.
But she's an MBI and you're over here creating something different.
I think I don't like my, my, don't like write it in permanent mark or next to me.
But I think we're the first MBA team to have a WMBA podcast who doesn't have a WMBA
team.
Right.
Right.
No, that's amazing.
That's what I'm like.
That's incredible.
I'm excited for you.
I'm happy to listen to it.
Someone's going to tell me what to ask.

(33:45):
Yeah.
Ooh, that's even better.
I know.
No, it's because I've seen so many women in the WMBA be able to, and we talked about this
earlier with somebody else too, like fashion, like they're walk-in fits.
Like they're holding, like we just saw skims do an entire campaign with WMBA athletes
in their underwear.
They're like phenomenal.
I mean, smoking hot, but unexpected.

(34:05):
I was shocked by that.
I'm not going to lie to you.
I was shocked that was like out of the gates.
That's how they went.
But like, it was really iconic.
Yeah, and they chose like so many different, so many different like types of women.
And demos, like ages.
Yeah.
The ages ranged very wildly.
They just get a lot of like feminine masculine masculine.
Like it was so good.
I, my most recent interview was with two players from LA Sparks, and if you guys go look

(34:30):
at them, they're, I talked about fashion with them.
I was Rikia Jackson and Ray Burrell.
These two women look like legit runway supermodels when they come into games.
Oh, I'm high fashion.
They do.
Like, look, I'll be on like TikTok or whatever scrolling.
And I'm like, oh my gosh, who is that?
And they're like dressed to the tens.
I'm like, this is amazing.
And it's amazing that women feel comfortable to dress like that now.
Because they didn't, they didn't use, we had Misty on earlier.

(34:53):
These have rules that they had to wear like, they couldn't wear sneakers to walk in.
To walk in, or to travel.
Yeah, to travel.
Sorry.
They would get fine.
They didn't find.
Tell you.
Yeah.
We too listen to that episode.
Yeah.
I feel well.
Yeah.
They have maternity leave.
They just got that like last year.
Yeah, literally.

(35:14):
So, but you couldn't wear that.
Thanks to Sharon Jackson, Jr.'s mom, Terry Jackson.
Oh, I love it.
But you don't have any like, there's so many rules you don't know.
And so it's interesting.
I also think too, you know, for some of these young girls, there's, when you see Vets doing
it, you're more comfortable doing it.
That's right.
And so I think it's a real testament to like what goes on in the culture in the WNBA.
I also think that social media, as bad as we said, it has been.

(35:37):
It has some really huge benefits as well.
Because with social media, I don't just mean like, oh, like get to post their pictures,
but brand deals come out of it.
Yeah.
And so you're more inclined to, you know, find your style because then you can find those
brands who eventually are going to pay you and then you have another stream of revenue.
Right.
And so social media is bad, but it's also so great.
Yeah.
I mean, I think there's a healthy version of it, right?
And I think it's, it's, um, let me find that version.

(35:59):
Yeah.
I would find that version.
I know.
Well, we can just have our own little small group, you know, and we could just post
amongst ourselves.
We'll start that later.
Perfect.
We're just the three of us on our own.
What's that close friends?
We're on close friends.
Like, why do they post great all the time?
It's just the three of us posting to ourselves.
Okay.
So you're starting a new show.
Season's going to start.
You're going to have a whole team back.

(36:20):
Like, what's up next for you?
Yeah.
Um, I mean, good question because my contract is done in next week.
But is it?
Hopefully you think it's doing it for you.
Well, no, I, so I signed a one year contract plus one.
A one plus one?
Yeah.
So hopefully the plus one gets picked up.
Is it their option, your option?
There's team option.
I mean, could it be communicated with that?
Well, they're not yet.

(36:40):
What?
You've been like, I'll be back or have you had the combo?
No.
The combo happens July 31st and then my contract starts in September or something.
Okay.
But I may know if you need me to fly out.
Thanks.
And I'll just be waiting in the room with you.
Thanks.
Yeah.
So hopefully I'm back with my face because I would like to be because I do love it there.
And I think our team's going to be really fun this year.

(37:01):
Yeah.
It'll be the fifth season of my podcast, which is my baby.
It's the thing that I love to do the most because again, remember, I talked to you about just
not talking about basketball for some of it.
That's my favorite thing.
We'll have more post game interviews because it'll actually win.
I think we only won like a handful of games at home this year because I only do home post
games.
And so that's where all the fits come from.

(37:23):
Yay.
And so I think that's really fun.
I work with one of our old players, Kyle Anderson.
His sister is a stylist in New York.
And we didn't work together this year because we didn't win any games.
Right.
But she's really fun like telling me to buy certain pieces and she'll find them really cheap.
She'll be like, Hey, I found this forever 21 jacket on sale for $3.
Like go buy it because you can do this, this and this.

(37:44):
And she's so great.
Or I'll like buy a piece.
I'm like, Hey, I bought this best.
How can I wear it and make it appropriate for a game or whatever.
And so I'm excited to get going on the fashion as well.
You're just glowing.
It makes my heart happy.
I really love my job.
And I'm not saying that because they pay me.
Like I love it.
I love that part too.
Yeah.
I love it.
Oh my gosh.

(38:05):
Okay.
Well, we're going to wrap up the show with a couple things.
So you went to good American today.
I did.
Love them.
And I'm so glad you got done them.
I don't want.
I know you can buy so much in that store.
Yeah.
Two pairs of jeans.
Like because they're very different.
I got one like casual pair and one like dressier pair.
The pair that you're wearing.
But in blue.
You got the Chloe's.
Mm-hmm.
Dude.
Whatever Chloe did in that Chloe.
Look, I'm going to give this right to camera.
Chloe Kardashian.

(38:26):
Thank you.
Because the new Chloe's are phenomenal.
Like you guys.
Emma, Shannon, Misty, all of you over there.
Chloe killed it on this.
Can we please get more of the Chloe fit?
All I want in my closet is the Chloe fit.
I even want a pair.
So it's beautiful.
Yeah.
They tell me about the last six in the whole company.
No.
Well, they only made 500 pairs.

(38:47):
Mm-hmm.
Oh, there's one.
That outrageous.
500.
What?
They're sold out.
Oh.
Of the size.
No, no, I'm saying they only made 500 pairs in the entire world.
And our butts got them.
And I'm sitting in them right now.
And I'm just a service that might ask the sitting in the jeans.
I'll go walk around and give it to you.
Yeah, you should.
You should.
You should have a more like that.
I got a denim dress.
Oh, okay.

(39:08):
They had Q1s.
Yeah.
And I got like one of the ladies working today was wearing this gray dress with a little wrap.
And I was like, well, Queenie was a queenie that I was queenie.
Oh, so I bought that too.
Oh, cute.
Oh my gosh.
You don't have to see it.
Like maybe during the game or something.
Oh, yeah, the denim dress.
Here.
Are you?
Mm-hmm.
Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I want to make sure I don't mess that.
Of course.

(39:29):
I know because we're really big on feel good.
Look good.
I just had all my good pay.
I just had seven inches off my hair.
Did you?
Mm-hmm.
Do you feel free or are you refueled?
I love.
My hair grows really fast.
It doesn't look good again.
But yeah.
Yeah.
You're just glowing.
Just glowing.
We're going to be there.
And then we're going to end our day with Tina's vodka.
We have some vodka for you.
You have vodka drinker?
Yes.
Why do I laugh?

(39:50):
They took it off the table for me.
They don't leave it out here anymore.
Just in case I go wrong and start drinking it.
But it's true story.
It's legit.
True story.
You too.
But we're going to do Tina's question of the day.
No idea what's in here.
I'll go first.
Oh my god.
What's your favorite childhood memory?
Oh, that's cute.
I know what.
Oh god.
That was a long time ago.
So I don't know.

(40:11):
I would say my most iconic childhood memory.
My grandmother took me on a train ride in the second grade.
And we took the train from Greenville, South Carolina to Florida
to see my great grandmother.
But we like slept on the train.
Did all of that.
I remember it because it was such an iconic thing.
And now I don't even think you could do it.
But it was like I had to be in the second grade and eight years old in order to go on this

(40:35):
trip.
And I remember it.
Like a trip with your grandma.
So totally the bad part to that is I got in the ocean and I tan really, really easy.
I have all of skin.
And I got out of the ocean and I had really bad tan lines.
And she thought I had gotten in like an oil spill or something.
Oh my god.
And she scrubbed me with a bristle brush.
And ever since then when I see bristle brushes, it reminds me of her.

(40:58):
But like literally she thought she had oil.
I had oil like slag on me.
So wild.
But that was that whole trip and I think.
So that's like my most iconic childhood memory.
That's a good memory.
Yeah.
It was good and bad.
That's what I remember it.
Oh my goodness.
All right.
Let's see.
Let me get a good one, please.
Okay.
What's one skill you've always wanted to learn but haven't had the chance to do it?

(41:21):
That's a good.
You know what?
If I hadn't gotten into sports, I always wanted to be a pilot.
Really?
That's sick.
So and I'm still like maybe to the like thing about it.
Like commercial or private or just fun.
Private but my mom, she's a fly attendant but she would she started pilot training for a little
bit and I was like, that's amazing.

(41:42):
So maybe long term and like, you know, 10, 15 years and I have more time.
I'd love to just kind of learn how to fly the plane.
If you do that, can we please me and your friends and family and fly for free?
Oh yeah.
Okay.
I got you.
I love you.
She doesn't have any kids.
We're just her kids.
Yeah, seriously.
We want your family.
I'm like, have any seen the group chat?
We started a long time ago.
The close-runs chat's there.
Like it's substance.

(42:03):
I'm nervous.
Are you nervous?
Like I'm nervous because I want to get, oh, that one has a tiny one.
Okay, Tina.
Tina.
Tina's back.
It's so good.
She claims you can't get a hangover.
So you have to report back.
What's your favorite way to unwind after a long day?
Okay.
There we go.
Okay.
That's not how the game works.
Okay, production doesn't shut our mic.
Okay, so as you guys know, I'm obsessed with my dog.

(42:24):
Oh, not the middle finger.
After I start my day, this is not because it's a roundabout way to answer.
I start my day waking up initially, drink up water and take my dog for like an hour long walk.
I'm obsessed with him.
If I go to work and I come back, I always walk him again.
And then we always are snuggling in bed.

(42:46):
He has like a specific pillow that he likes to sit on.
So I would say take a hot shower, lock my dog and then snuggle with him because I'm absolutely obsessed with him.
So cute.
I love it.
Thank you for coming on.
Yeah.
Thank you guys for having me.
Megan, I love this show.
Me too.
I love this show.
My table is so powerful.
It is.
But you know what it does?

(43:07):
It brings amazing women to a space where they can share and be comfortable.
And also it's a space for us to learn as well.
KJ just knocks my socks off.
I don't really even know what else to say.
She is one of the people that she brings great energy.
She has such great positive outlook in life.
And she's just fun.
Like I just literally feel like I can get drinks with her.
I can hang out with her.
Next time I need to beat someone up.
I'm going to call her.

(43:29):
And now we're in a close group chat.
Yeah.
Honestly, you know, she's so easy to talk to and you can tell why the players respect her so much and feel so comfortable talking to her post game.
Because she does such a great job with people.
And it's just a testament to her job and who she is as a person as well.
It's an interesting place because you go into an organization.
She's been there five years.
That organization has really grown and developed since she's been there.

(43:53):
And I truly think that her ability to contribute to that is one of the things that has allowed the Grizzlies to have such an amazing culture as they've continued to grow and develop within this league.
To watch a woman be so confident and to watch her love what she does so much.
It's an inspiration to me.
I'm going to get to your eyes and say, oh my god, get it together Kate.

(44:14):
Turn it off.
It's an inspiration to me because there's so many great women out there in the sports world and just in life.
And it's so amazing to be blessed with somebody that you can call a friend from the show.
Oh my gosh, she's literally crying.
Oh my gosh.
All because of her table. That's really what it is.
But she, like I said, it's watching the gift she has and how she's developed it is so special to me because we got to share her today.

(44:42):
All the women, she came on our show the first time last year and she was talking about the women she looks up to.
And then we've had women on this show here at her table who look up to KJ and she doesn't even know it.
So it's a beautiful thing to be able to bring great people together but to keep celebrating them as they go on their journey.
I'm telling you right now that Memphis Grizzlies are lucky to have her.
She better be there or wherever she goes, I'm going.

(45:05):
So Memphis, you're going to lose a fan or keep a fan.
So that's how this is going to go.
No, we love KJ and honestly, she's such an inspiration to the young woman out there and just the confidence she has.
And we talked about fits all day today and just being able to wear what she wants to feel the most like herself.
And she's great.
She really is and she's somebody that a lot of people look up to including myself.

(45:27):
And I hate that she had to go through that vulnerable time but her sharing it was really special because that's not easy to do.
And social media, we touch on this really.
Social media has such an impactful role and it can be positive or it can be negative.
And I think reminding ourselves that we're all people.
And we have to give ourselves grace but to give other people grace too.
And being able to experience that with her and her share that I think hopefully that helps somebody else that might be going through a tough time.

(45:52):
The son will come up, you'll get on the other side and like her tattoo says she is exactly where she's supposed to be.
And I'm glad she got to share that with us here today at her table.
Thank you guys so much for tuning in.
That was another amazing episode. KJ is going to come back for another one.
We're going to send a couch and some sweatpants.
Thank you so much to our sponsors, good American, dry bar, Tina's vodka hat.
And amazing, we had amazing fun today with our questions of the day.

(46:15):
So thanks to Tina's vodka for that.
And then also the wild collective.
I can't wait to see what fit KJ picks from them and gets to wear in game. That's going to be exciting.
But thank you guys so much for tuning in.
Make sure you guys like, subscribe, follow and make sure you guys check out KJ with them at Fiskrizlease.com.
That's it for us.
Thanks so much.
[BELL RINGS]
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