November 4, 2025 • 39 mins
Join Michelle Barone and Ashleigh McPherson as she sits down with U.S. Women’s National Team soccer legend Christie Rampone — a two-time Olympic gold medalist and captain known for her fierce commitment, leadership, and longevity in the sport. In this powerful conversation, Christie shares the mindset that helped her lead a team to gold not once, but twice! She talks about what it was like to step into a leadership role and navigate high-stakes pressure in front of the world’s toughest opponents. She shares how she shifted her identity once her playing days ended and found new purpose in mentoring and advocacy.
Whether you’re an athlete, a leader, a parent, or simply someone striving to stretch your potential, this episode offers real-world insights from one of the greatest team players in U.S. sports history. Tune in for the stories behind the medals — and the mindset that lasts long after the final whistle.
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Mental Health America of Dutchess County: Dedicated to promoting mental health and providing comprehensive support services to individuals and families. Learn more and find resources at https://mhadutchess.org.
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Mahoney’s Irish Pub: Friday nights at Mahoney’s Irish Pub are where the vibes are HIGH, the drinks are flowing, and the weekend officially begins!
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Whether you’re an athlete, a leader, a parent, or simply someone striving to stretch your potential, this episode offers real-world insights from one of the greatest team players in U.S. sports history. Tune in for the stories behind the medals — and the mindset that lasts long after the final whistle.
-----------------------------------------------------
Support Our Sponsors!
Mental Health America of Dutchess County: Dedicated to promoting mental health and providing comprehensive support services to individuals and families. Learn more and find resources at https://mhadutchess.org.
WAVA Water: Discover how Wava Water goes beyond hydration to fuel your body and mind. Visit wavawater.com to find your focus and stay refreshed.
Pixi Beauty: Discover the natural glow with Pixi Beauty products. Shop now at https://pixibeauty.com and let your skin shine.
Derma Laser Center: Schedule your Consultation Now! https://www.dermalasercenterny.com/
Mahoney’s Irish Pub: Friday nights at Mahoney’s Irish Pub are where the vibes are HIGH, the drinks are flowing, and the weekend officially begins!
-----------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to the podcast now: https://www.youtube.com/@michellebaroneredpodcast
Check out RED on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellebaronered?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to arid Red. It's Michelle Barone and my favorite person.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Oh my god, you guys hear that. I'm literally getting
that recorded. I'm playing it on Christmas this year because
everyone needs to know. She called me her favorite, I'm
playing this episode.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
He knows she's my favorite. But I have another favorite
guest here.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Hey, this one's goal.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
She is a two time World Cup champion, I mean
for the US, for women's this is huge. My friend
Christy Pierce Rampone so excited to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Christy, thank you so much. I'm so excited.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Hey, guys, before today's episode, I want to talk to
you about something that Ashley and I care a lot about.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Mental health.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
That's right, taking care of your mental health is just
as important and taking care of your physical health. And
mental health America of Dutchess County is the perfect place
for that health.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Absolutely, Mental Health America of Dutchess County is super empowering
and helps so many people with so many problems.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Honestly, it's pretty amazing seeing how mental health actually affects people.
I mean, the guests that we've had on the show,
We've talked about mental health in almost.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Every episode and it's a serious topic.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Now's the time to prioritize your mental well being. If
you're suffering from anxiety, depression, or anything mental health related,
visit Mental Health America Duchess County at MHA Duchess dot org.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
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Speaker 2 (01:24):
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Speaker 5 (02:01):
Is it Wava water dot.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
Com to hydrate and find your focus?
Speaker 1 (02:05):
I feel like I would be your greatest fan in
the stand, you know.
Speaker 5 (02:08):
And I can feel it. I want to go back
and play.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Like play, I'll cheer you on. I was a cheerleader.
I'm really good at it. But you're amazing, and you're
just featured on Special Forces with my friends Teresa and
Gia Judice, and you are just You've been a light
in this world and you've done so much, accomplished so much,
and I just can't wait to dig into it. I
want to kick it off with your most recent project,
(02:32):
Special Forces and talk a little bit about that and
all the things that you went through there, and then
we're gonna talk about soccer.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Okay that it looks scary, It was gonna lie.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Were you intimidated absolutely for the first time in your
life because you seem like a beast cause I.
Speaker 5 (02:48):
Think playing sports you're kind of prep for it. Yeah,
like you know, throwing yourself into Special Forces not knowing
right what's coming at you. Yeah, it's intimidating.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
But when I saw you were on Bill, I'm like,
seems it's suiting, Like.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
She's got she's gone away and Gia, you know, I know,
so you're on Special Forces and all I see is
this scene of you going in the ring with Gia
Judice and I'm like, this match is not fair. I
was like, she's been playing sports her whole life. I mean,
gia' is a beast too, and I love Gia. I
was like, but how we can do this?
Speaker 1 (03:22):
You know? And she killed it.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
I mean you guys both did you guys? You guys
crushed it. You but you guys are amazing out there.
Tell me about the experience.
Speaker 5 (03:31):
Yeah. So I've never fought before, never thrown a punch,
so it was just, you know, You're in this amazing
environment and the drenaline's going, you know, and the DS
is yelling at you. And I think I was supposed
to originally fight Teresa, Yes, right, so that I think
it was, you know, age wise. Here we go like
kind of pairing you off, and.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
I think it would be fair because Teresa's got guns too,
and you guys the same age.
Speaker 5 (03:51):
Yeah, she's strong, So I was like, all right, same
age brackets. So I was like, okay here and then
they called g and I was like, I'm like twice
her age, Like she's a little spit fire, Like, how
am I going to do this?
Speaker 1 (04:02):
That's what I was thinking.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
You're like fake tea, make it. That was my whole
thing is that's what you're doing sports. It's like just
pretend like you belong I belong there. But I was
just like, okay, how do I fight someone that I like,
yeah his part, you know, yeah, okay. But the same
thing in training, I was like, okay, I have to
go up in Abby or yep, you know, Kristen Press
or something like someone like us. I'm like, here I go.
(04:24):
And it just kind of warfed her face into somebody
it didn't like, and I was like, let's do it.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Yeah, but it was hard, it was and you seem
so kind. Yeah, I'm like, I'm like, this woman is
so nice. I mean, you're jacked, but you're like you're
you're you're amazing, you know, and you're you go out
there and you gave it, you're all and the two
of you.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
That was such an intense moment.
Speaker 5 (04:43):
Yeah, it was like milling. So it's like, don't all this,
don't stop, don't stop punching, and then until we say stop.
So I'm like, oh, so there's like no backing up
and like kind of just like get after it. So yeah,
it was that was tough.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
I interviewed g about this, and she was like, just
don't hit my nose please.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
I don't remember saying that, but she had said something
like I heard her say something like, oh, just don't
go for the nose, and I'm like, I wish she
would have told me.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
I'm like, she went for the nose.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
Oh my god.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
No. But honestly, thank god, nothing happened there. But you
guys put on a great, great show, and I know
it's not a show when it's the two of you
and it's really you and you're.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Like, wait, did I sign up to do this? Why
did I do this? To myself?
Speaker 5 (05:24):
Said that multiple times to myself. I'm like, I really
actually signed up to do this.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
Oh my god? What was this like the hardest.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Challenge for me?
Speaker 5 (05:32):
With all the water challenges?
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Yeah, because I can't swim.
Speaker 5 (05:35):
I'm really not comfortable in the water. I'm better on lands. Yeah,
so those challenges, you know, you only have two weeks
to notice. Yeah, it's not like I had any time.
I didn't Prepper, I didn't get.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Swimming swim and you did the swimming challenges.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Like that first one where like they drop you in
the water, Like, what were you thinking? When they're dropping
you in the water, like knowing you can't swim, like
what do you do.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
Like survival at that point, because I'm like, okay, I
don't want to drown the biggest fear, so I'm going
down and I'm like, if you panic, you're gonna drown.
So just try to stay relaxed because I'm like, I
don't know who can save me. That quick's going through
your heads, and I'll be honest, like that pressure when
you first submerge under it's cold, and it's like it's
(06:17):
not like dipping in a pool and holding your breath,
Like the pressure is so much. And I was practicing
to hold my breath and I was like, okay, just
little bubbles and I blew everything, Oh my god, rowing
out and I'm like, okay, this is great. Challenge started
singing the ABC's and the next thing I knew, I
was getting taps. I was like, okay, I'm almost out,
but I was. I was mentally exhausted after that challenge.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Oh my god, I literally don't know how I feel it,
especially like not being able to swim, like that is
your biggest fear, and that's the first thing the show
is You're.
Speaker 5 (06:47):
Like waiting, Like I waited like three hours and watched
all the other recruits, and obviously what we saw Ontov,
the devastating, you know, action with Evo was just like
that the worst fear, you know. And then you know,
Teresa and g went right after that, and then I
went after them, and I was last and I was
geting picked. So they were in my ear the d
s or in my ear the whole time, like you know,
(07:08):
you're a loser and no one picked you. You're gonna
have to unbuckle the empty seat. And then I'm bulky yourself.
So I'm like now going into imagery mode of like
how am I getting out? And I'm enough to hold
my breath longer, you know. You just like the mental
side of it, I think is what people don't see
as much as like they see the physical side. They
see like these fears. But I'm like, for three hours,
I was like in my own head, but your voice
(07:30):
was just kept talking to me, and I'm like, you
got it, and then I'm like, no, you don't, you
got it?
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Yeah, that was imposter.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
I'm like trying to think of myself in that situation.
I just literally can't.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
I'm a two time champ, but I do I'm not prepared.
Oh my god, but it's it's funny now. It probably
was not funny now.
Speaker 5 (07:53):
Yeah, but after I will say after that task, I
was like, Okay, now I could do anything.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (07:58):
I got over like my worst fear about like the
tight spaces, like yeah, like you have no but some
of the stuff like you have no choice, you just
get thrown into it, and I'm like, just breathe, just breathe,
go through it. You have no idea, Like time am
I doing this?
Speaker 3 (08:12):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (08:12):
Kind of better because I'm like, you're already freaking out, Yeah,
you know anxiety. I definitely had a panic attack going
through those. You're popping out, and I'm like how many
more might have gonna crawl through? So it's like you're
in the moment. You're like you just keep going because
at one point I'm like, do I have to go
back if I like have a panic, So might just
keep going forward? Just keep going forward, like it's almost done.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Oh my god.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Were the sergeants really that crazy off camera or was
it really for TV?
Speaker 1 (08:40):
No?
Speaker 5 (08:41):
It was they were NonStop. They were on the whole time,
and when they're actually nice to you I was uncomfortable.
I would have cried, really really uncomfortable. Try to have
a real conversation because I'm like, like, is this for real?
Because then they would snap at you if you kind
of said something what was awesome?
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Really?
Speaker 5 (08:58):
This is awesome. You kind of bond real quick trauma bonding. Yeah,
and you're trying to like get to know someone in
a car, but there's also mikes and cameras, so you
only can get to know so much, so much, you know,
So that was hard when you're like, Okay, I'm in
this experience with these amazing people trying to get to
know them. But then also what's your worst fear? What's
(09:20):
your worst fear? Like how can I help you? Because
you can help me, you know. So that was it
was awesome, Like I'm really happy that I did it
with the cast members I did.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Yeah, it seems amazing.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
I know you can't pick your favorite child, but any
any favorites.
Speaker 5 (09:37):
I probably would say because she's right next to me, Sean,
you know, and she watched it and she's just very
like stoic and calm, so she kept me calm, yep,
you know. And Jesse as well, like Jesse Decker like
she just always had energy. She's like the mom of
the group, you know. I was like, should have been
the mom.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
All right.
Speaker 5 (09:57):
She had all this energy because after I would do
a task, we're eating. It was so hot.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Yeah, it's like, who wants to eat?
Speaker 5 (10:03):
My god, it's not hot, you know. So she always
had this energy and wonderful, wonderful. Yeah, And I regret
not eating as much as I probably should have, you know,
because it was so bad. I'm like, you just eat
the next meal. I'm like, okay, the next meal is
just as worse than I was. Just trying to catch
up and it was, oh my god.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
And then doing all of those challenges with literally basically
having an empty stomach, like oh my god.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Ye yeah, you live.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
The people hands were too tight too. I'm like, well,
I definitely lost weight. I knew. I was like, all right,
this isn't so bad.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Yeah, that's so funny. She said the same thing when
she came on. She was like, I came back home
and I was so fit. She's like, I gotta get
back in the gym, or like she's so dramatically she's not,
but I'm like she was like I came back like
ripped I.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Mean, so, yeah, she killed it for her age.
Speaker 5 (10:55):
She killed it.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
She's brave. Yeah she has been.
Speaker 5 (10:59):
Yeah she did. She just kept board and met what physically?
Speaker 3 (11:04):
Yeah, she was all of you. You all did an
amazing job. And I'm so happy, so happy you're here.
So let's talk about my favorite.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Oh my god, this is what she's in waiting for now.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
Okay, this is a moment I read.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Okay, we have a two time World Cup champion here,
my friend Christy, and I am so excited to talk
about all of these moments. I want to start at
the very beginning. When did you find your love for soccer?
Speaker 5 (11:27):
It was a little bit later, to be honest, like
I love sports in general. So we played hockey, basketball, soccer.
And my storyline is a little different to success because
I went to college on a basketball scholarship and just
walked on the soccer team. But in college, it was
like that's where I really started to find the love
for it because I'm like, I was getting coached, I
was around players that really loved the game. I was
(11:48):
just an athlete playing soccer. And then once I hit
the national team and got that invite when I was
a senior in college, and I went there, I was like, whoa, Yeah,
Like the intensity in practice was everything. I've always wanted
that competition. And I was like, I remember leaving. I
was in training camp in California for like ten days,
and I remember I'm like, all right, this is what
(12:09):
I want to do, but I have a lot of
work ahead of me to get there.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (12:12):
So it was just that moment I was like, all right,
let's go.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
That's so cool.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
And you know, it's interesting because there's so many pressures
today with young kids who are ten that are want
to go pro at sixteen, and finding it so much
later in life is still.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Possible, still possible.
Speaker 5 (12:28):
It's a process. I mean some people hit it at
a young age and like as soon as they hit
the field, they're great, you know, and others need to
work on their mental side of the game or like,
you know, the technique. So for me, it was like
I was just an athlete enjoying playing multiple sports. Didn't
really have that opportunity to be trained yeah coach, like
these kids do now. So I got a little bit
later in life, which then allowed me to play later.
(12:50):
I played into my forties, which was awesome because you know,
you find that love again and the younger generation that
kept coming in. You know, it was challenging me, but
also like teaching me as well to really embrace and
enjoy and love the game.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
What you know, do you remember any defining moments that
like switched on, like this is the moment that I want,
this is the reason I want to do it.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Any moments like that?
Speaker 5 (13:13):
No, you said the national well, the national team was.
I think it because it was you know, imagine my
first camp. I thought it was gonna be like a
bunch of seniors, like a showcase, like you know everything,
It's like here, you get an award. And but I
walked in and our first meeting was the highlights from
their Olympic gold medal match in ninety six, and I'm like,
and I'm like looking around because back then women weren't
(13:34):
on TV. So I'm like watching the heighs, right, she's
in the room, and she's in the room. I'm like,
oh my god. I'm like, there's only two new faces, yeah,
that have been invited in in this January camp in
ninety seven when they just wanted the Olympic gold ninety six.
I'm like, what am I.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
To me like I played basketball.
Speaker 5 (13:53):
Yeah, And it was crazy because at that time I
was like, this is so cool. And that first training
I kind of got into a scuffle with one of
the players, you know, just throwing some elbows and just competing.
And afterwards she's like, we need more of that, and
I was like, this is it, Like you know, Brandy
Chesting coming up to me saying like I love it,
(14:14):
keep going after it. I was like, Okay, this is
this is it. You know. I love a good competition.
I love a good challenge.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
I love it. You could see it in Yeah you
give a good that's are You're perfect?
Speaker 4 (14:25):
Special Forces kill that.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
So talk to me about So you're in college, you
get the national invite, what happens next.
Speaker 5 (14:36):
Then, Like I'm in the middle of basketball season getting
called up for soccer. So I how to kind of
do all that communication with school and my basketball teammates
to say like this is once in a lifetime. I'm
going to try to do both. But like, yeah, here
we go. So, so you were playing both in college.
I was playing both in college.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
I literally can't.
Speaker 5 (14:53):
Get time management and trying to balance it all at
a social life. Social I don't care about that you
have future right there.
Speaker 4 (15:02):
Yeah. Right, I'll talk to you guys later.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Thinks.
Speaker 5 (15:06):
So yeah, so it all, you know, just kind of
all worked out. And I was a forward my whole life,
you know, the goal scorer was in the attacking side
of all my sports. And day two playing the nation team,
they're like, you're going to be a defender, and I
was like, all right.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
Did you ever play defense?
Speaker 3 (15:22):
No?
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Never?
Speaker 5 (15:22):
Never, No. In basketball, I was a good defender, but
like in soccer, you know, the ball would go and
I'd be like, all.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
Right, because you had that scuffle. You had that scuffle
and they knew you had.
Speaker 5 (15:32):
So I saw an athlete, someone that was quick, agile,
and they're like, all right, we're gonna put you in
the back. So started back there and just try to
use all my instincts because you're like you're getting beat.
But then you're like recovering and you're working on it
and you're watching film.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
Is it? Because you do?
Speaker 5 (15:47):
You think it was? Partly there's so many forwards. I
think back, Yeah, you know, you think back years. When
I first started, was like everyone starts as a forward
and transitions to a new position. And there was two
girls that were in pregnancy leave. Oh, and they needed
to fill some spots and I was like, all right,
we like what you have. We just need to fine
tune a lot. You know, you can again get better
at the tactical and technical part of it, convert it
(16:09):
back there and built on that. And then I'm like,
I loved it. That was love in the forward's mind
and frustrating on it, yeah, you know, like making them
talk to themselves. I'm like, all right, I'm winning because
I made it a game within a gear. Yeah, as
a forward your goal score and you're like, all right,
how do I get my high right?
Speaker 1 (16:24):
Right?
Speaker 5 (16:25):
And I'm putting the ball in the back of the net,
trying to keep it out of the net now and
get into the forward's head mindset a little bit.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Yeah, being a little scrappy, Yeah, a little scrappy girl.
Love it right, I love it all right.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
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(16:57):
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Speaker 5 (17:04):
The drinks are cold, music's hot. What more do you need.
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I'm stopping.
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and they are the best. I love the glow Tonic.
It's become a staple in my skincare.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
I love that product.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
I use it every day before I do my skincare,
and honestly, it's like Braden's my face.
Speaker 5 (17:36):
I want to say yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
I mean a guest commented today on how beautiful you
looked and that you were dewy and glowy, and it's
all because of Pixie.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Honestly, Pixie products just know how to make you feel
beautiful in your own skin.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
My favorite is the Pixie on the Glow blush.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
It is so much fun. You can just stick it
right on, take it out. It's just one of my favorites.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
It's so much fun and it looks so good on.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
Honestly, it gives you like a nice sunkiss glow. I
absolutely love it and it's going to be great for summer.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
If you guys want to glow this summer just like us,
Visit www Dot Pixiecuty dot com.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
It's so cool.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
And you know, that's truly a team player though, because
a lot of people like you said you made a
game within a game, because without that there's no competitive edge.
And if you're not goal scoring, you have to think
of another.
Speaker 5 (18:19):
Part of it.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
You know.
Speaker 5 (18:19):
It's like the goal scorers get all the glory, but
the piece of the puzzle is being able to be
like that good team player, especially in the back, you know,
and it's like you learn quickly as a defender you
have to work amongst your teammates. Forward you can be
a little bit more selfish. It's more of waiting creative,
you know, like, but as a defender, you can't like
(18:41):
off on your own, like you're working in pairs and
you know, in groups. So it was definitely a mind switch.
But I had to adjust if I wanted to play
at the highest level, right, I was like, I want
to be here, I'm going to change. But then I
also had to find a way to love it.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Yea, it's the kind of the way interesting. And so
playing at the highest level, what does it feel like?
Speaker 5 (19:01):
Amazing? Because honestly, like it's like a World Cup final
every day really because you train at such a high
level so that it makes it easier on game day.
That's interesting, and you're playing with the best players in
the world that people are constantly coming in trying to
take your spot. So for me, it was just show
up every day to get better. Yeah, right, you got
(19:21):
to compete, You got to be consistent in order to
stay because I was had six NASH team coaches, head coaches, amazing,
I can't even I mean twenty probably assistant coaches, so
so many eyes watching you and judging you, and soccer's
in the eye of the holder, it is, right, it's
really hard to say, like you know, as a defender.
How do you judge? Yep, right, it's like working with
(19:43):
those building those relationships.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
So yeah, it was so interesting, very defense man, that's crazy.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Were you and the goalie best friends or what?
Speaker 5 (19:51):
Absolutely? We had to be have a good good connection
on the on the pitch.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
All right, absolutely, and you worked.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
I know that Ali Kreger was she was captain for
us some of the time, majority of the time, and
that you played.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
What was it like working with her?
Speaker 5 (20:09):
She's awesome, right, defend her mother, you know, working together
as unit to get further in life, you know. And
that's how Ali is very open, you know, and honest
and like works through things, you know. So if there's
an issue or their problem, we always kind of talked
it out, worked it out and figured it out so
that we could be better, you know. And then going
up against you know, the best players in the world,
(20:30):
like Ali and I had a great because those forwards
that were crushing it in games that you guys saw
were battling with us, you know, practice, So it was bricks. Definitely,
we bonded, we were.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
I was gonna say, I feel like she did a
great job as a leader to really like bring the
team together and show leadership and me personal but be
tough when she had to.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Be, Like yeah, I think she did a really good job.
I mean obviously you guys won, and so much more.
I think one as a people, yeah, you.
Speaker 5 (21:01):
Know, because leading comes in all shapes and sizes. Yes,
with people, it's not always the loudest, right, you know,
it's the one that wants to be heard, the one
that leads by example. And you know, I felt like,
you know, an Ali came in and she persevered and
battled and you know, she led by example.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
Yeah, I would say, you know, and this is you know,
more of a side note thing, but we got to
talk about it.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
I think it's different women sports and men. There's a
lot of drama.
Speaker 5 (21:25):
I mean, you don't like drama, you know, Like if
we I think we settle drama right away.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
That's good.
Speaker 5 (21:30):
That's the thing with the women. And it's not throwing
punches at each other. Yeah, it's talking it out and
solving it. Yeah, and moving forward. Yeah, because I think
some like earlier days, the drama would just exist and
like it would be a constant talk and it's like
we're not getting anywhere, We're not moving forward, Like get it.
Off your chest and like continue to move forward. You know,
(21:51):
of course there's gonna be drama because you have the
most competitive women in the world a world and only
eleven start and you have like eighteen or twenty one
depending the World Cuper Olympics on the team, So everybody
wants to start. Everyone you know, is not always happy
or content with maybe the coach's decision. So in order
to keep a locker room tight, you have to have
(22:11):
that open rapport.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
Oh my god, you're incredible, My god, so so iconic.
What was it like winning the first World Cup that
you won?
Speaker 5 (22:22):
Amazing because A was in the United States, right, and
I was like the young kid, eyes wide open going
through the whole process from training from it to being
at Rutgers University to then going to Giant Stadium from
it was supposed to be like a couple thousand to
like almost selling out the Giant Stadium. So it was
just so powerful because it felt as a team in
(22:44):
a unit, like we didn't really get much backing from
you a soccer in the support, so it was like
the team going out there and pushing it and getting
out there and proving ourselves.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
Radio media I just remember attacks everywhere.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
Had to prove yourself.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
So I'm like, why do these women have to do
this when the men are just like if the national
men's want team won the World Cup, it would be
the biggest thing in the world. But these women have
to like, you know, build their own float in the
Macy's Day parade.
Speaker 5 (23:11):
It's not fair. Yeah, you know, it's a little bit
of our culture of women just don't support Yeah sports, Yep,
it's getting there. And that's why it's like the more
it's out there, the more we talk about it, right,
it's it's only gonna bring people to the game. So
they say, like communication is knowledge, and knowledge brings that motivation, right,
so that knowledge that hey, the women can play exactly
(23:33):
are badasses, so come watch us play and yeah, the
game may not be at the same speed as the men, yeah,
but yeah we're still accomplishing something exactly.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
Did you like like battling men one v one or
two two?
Speaker 5 (23:49):
That was our prep work leading into Olympics or it
was like you sixteen boys is as far as we
could go. Like they challenge because a stronger, quicker, faster
play a different style of game. Yeah, but like it
was They helped us because it was like, let's go,
let's see if I can with you guys and like
battle and you know, and bring it. So it was
it was always fun because they challenged us and God
(24:10):
has prepared for what we needed to do.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
I could talk to you for the rest of my
life and can we just run this tape forever please?
Speaker 4 (24:18):
If we had Luciano here plays soccer, he would be.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
I could get you guys to connect. He's amazing.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
He's the Academy just wrote up that he's a master
of free kicks and he's eight.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
I mean, he's great. You know, I don't know where
he should play yet.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
You know he's left winger right now. Not that fast,
but he's more. He's very accurate that gets it right
to the kid's foot to score any position.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Technical, literally crazy.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
He was like that though, even when he was like two,
Like I remember he had his little ball and he
was always making it in the net.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Like like, I don't understand.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
He's athletic, like he can play anything, but he likes
soccer the most.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
He loves Ronaldo.
Speaker 5 (24:58):
He's watching the game. Ro a big part of going
to be of his success because the more you watch
the game, the more he learns, and the more he observes,
the more he's going to actually try to implement that
his own game. So like he's reading the game probably
as he's watching it and then puts it in. You know,
he's eight, but if he knows and understands the game,
he's only going to get better and better.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
Talking it's unreal. I'm like, how are you a person?
Like I don't even know what's going on right now.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
He went to be surprised.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
And this week to go to the World Cup qualifier
for Portugal and he went to see Ernaldo and I
was like, I was like, Luci, do you really like this?
Speaker 1 (25:33):
And he was I was like, do you really want
to take this seriously? He goes not, it's not if
it's when that's.
Speaker 4 (25:39):
And I was like, like that you're driven.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
He's driven and it goes got.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
That goal in mind, he wants it and you know,
a lot of parents recognize him. He's he's a tough
he's a tough person because he's disciplined.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
You know, discipline is competitive.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
He's competitive, which is too a fault at times, but
he but it's good.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
It's a double edged take athlete, no get you.
Speaker 5 (26:03):
Yeah, it can't be over emotional when you're playing, because
then can't let your mind take you somewhere else that
you want to stay involved in the game, stay focused
one play to the They need that competitive edge, and
it sounds like he has that factor that.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
I'm going to show you some videos. You gotta tell
me you're the pro.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
But anyway, that's just like I don't know, but you
know what I see on the field.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
As a mom, there's a lot of moms that listen
to this show.
Speaker 3 (26:26):
We have a really powerful women's audience here from like
twenty one to fifty five, and a lot of soccer moms.
And I do find that in soccer, you know, some
kids don't really love it and the parents are pushy,
and then some kids love it and the parents don't
do enough. And I find that there's like a disconnect
between like pay to play for soccer, and I always say,
(26:47):
like this this kid is amazing, but their parents can't
afford it. Do we start a scholarship league that helped
this little one out? Or like I just feel like,
how do you navigate all of these things right? And
then they get on the team and they don't play
the position they want, or it's all these these political
things that go on, Like how did you navigate all
that throughout your career and what.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Do you recommend for parents?
Speaker 5 (27:09):
I'd say a big question. Yeah for parents though, it's
like are they getting their life lessons along the way,
Like are they learning and growing? So as you're stepping
up and watching your son or daughter play, are you
there to make sure they win or are you there
to see them develop and get better because there's stages
that they need to develop in order to get to
where your son wants to go to play a professional right,
(27:31):
So it's like, you know, making sure they have a
good coach. I think a lot of people go for
the label of maybe the team, but as long as
they have a really good coach. What is a good
coach that's encouraging, making sure they're communicating with the players
while they're playing position wise, like not telling them what
to do when they're on the ball, So coaching off
the ball to make sure like they're sliding or they're shifting,
(27:53):
because spacing and timing is is tough in sports, especially
as for a younger child to understand that timing and spacing.
So if a coach is helping them and guiding them
to make sure they're in the right position so they're
not just chasing the ball or playing it to the
best player on the field. Because if you're winning, yeah,
that feels good for a kid. But if you keep
(28:16):
winning from eight to fifteen, and then all of a
sudden you hit a sixteen year old that knows how
to defend and you don't know how to get buy them,
then those emotions are gonna kick in. So it's like
as long as they're I feel like through my career
because of playing multiple sports, it helped me in the
end when at the Nation team they're like, nop, you're
(28:36):
going to be a defender, And I was like, okay,
so I know my basketball, field, hockey, soccer, Like, you know,
I understood certain parts and aspects that I could adapt
and change, you know, But as well as I had
so many different coaches, so many different voices. You know,
you have the yellers, you have the ones that are
really strict, you have the ones that don't say anything.
You know, it's like that just want to call it
(28:57):
and tell you're great, but that it's also not gonna
help you in the long run, right you go on
Special Force, you're not good enough? And I was like, okay,
you know, but it's like you're able to take that
that criticism, right, that coachable criticism that your son can take,
or you know, for parents, their children can take and
(29:17):
implement and help them and guide them or ask them.
You know, with my daughters along their sports careers, I
would ays ask them like, what did you think you
did good today? You know, what do you think you
need to work on? More so than like you should
have made this pass so that you had an open
goal and you miss. Let them communicate where they think
their strengths and weaknesses lie. Like some kids know it's
(29:40):
the mental side. Some kids know maybe I need to
get faster, quicker, or stronger. So let the kids kind
of experience it and feel and have that better rapport
to help and guide them.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
I love that process, and so now it is a process.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
One.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
What were your parents.
Speaker 5 (29:59):
Like very strict? I grew up in kind of very
strict environment. Discipline, respect the game. You know, I was
very talented at such a young age, you know, so
I got a lot of praise. You know, so if
I was scoring a lot of points or scored, you know,
maybe two or three goals in a game. They wanted
(30:20):
to make sure that I didn't flawn it, and then
I respected my teammates. So from a young age, it
was very much like, come show up, you know, give
it your best effort, you know, don't talk back to
the refs, don't talk back to your coach. So I
was always just taking all the information in. I think
I was helped me in the long run. I had
more fun, absolutely, you know, but I was very very
(30:42):
serious all the time because that's why my parents, you know,
the discipline I think was trying to teach me to.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
You know, did you find that a lot of the
women you played with parents were like that.
Speaker 5 (30:58):
Yeah, different styles, you know, I'd say a lot put
some money into it, you know, it's just like playing
for the better teams and traveling a ton and putting
all that that time and energy. I didn't have a
lot of money growing up, so I didn't do any traveling. Yeah,
you know, it's very localized.
Speaker 1 (31:15):
You know.
Speaker 5 (31:15):
Anything that we traveled was in a car. We weren't
getting you know, any plane to go anywhere.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
It's because you're outstanding, but it was.
Speaker 5 (31:22):
Just I wanted it kind of just like your son.
It's like you get this little itch when you're younger.
It's like I loved competing, and I knew it was
a privilege. My parents made maybe like aware, like it's
a privilege. Get your work done, you know, be respectful,
and this is like that was my outlet. It's like
I came live like when I was on the field
of the court, you know, so I knew long term
(31:42):
is what I want to do, so stay on track.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
Yeah, it was like it was a gift.
Speaker 5 (31:47):
Yeah, gift.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
Really cool.
Speaker 3 (31:48):
And now with your girls, is that how you parent
strict or different?
Speaker 5 (31:52):
I'm a little bit more balanced, you know. I think
my older daughter was love soccer, like she wanted to
play in college, like she wanted to kind of the
same path, had all the abilities, had the speed, but
ended up having some injuries. She tore ACL twice. So
it was a lot more of the talk of like
let's divert and you know, try to go into a
(32:13):
different field. So that was challenging because you see this
gift kind of be taken away because of injury, and
I knew like long term, she didn't really have the
mentality either, So it was again encouraging her and trying
to push her because I knew her talent and I
knew her gift, but she didn't really have that mental
(32:33):
side that she wanted to really put the work in.
And my younger one were like two pieces of pod
same mentality like love work, Yeah, beast in it at
the gym, Like gets up at five am and goes
to the gym, you know, play soccer now and basketball, like,
but she's not as athletic, but it's starting to come
(32:55):
because of the work she's putting in. So she's a
little bit of a late bloomer like I was, you know,
And I can really see her true colors coming in
right now. And she's loving you know, high school sports.
She's having a great time. She's a great balance. But
then once it's off, she can shut it off because
I try to teach them that, like you gotta go
have fun with your friends. Yeah, you know, you'll appreciate
(33:16):
the sports more, but you still have to put the
work in. So she's got a full balance. And I'm
the quiet parent. I don't say a word we give.
I give the thumbs up, the look at me, I
give the thumbs up, or the thumbs down, I pick
it up, but I don't say word Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
I like that. So, man, I gotta do better because I.
Speaker 5 (33:36):
Am a coach. I coach high school soccer right now,
you do as volunteer in manusquat women women's sang it.
Speaker 4 (33:44):
She would have she could have moved.
Speaker 5 (33:46):
So I just get to see, you know, the parents
side of it, from them yelling, and then it's like
I was coaching as well as my daughter was playing.
And then I see the kids at practice, and I
think that's the the hardest part is we as parents
only see games, right. We don't see how our kid
acts a practice or I get to see I got
to see both sides of that, and a lot of
(34:08):
it is is, you know, not every kid's practice player.
Speaker 1 (34:12):
You know.
Speaker 3 (34:12):
That's where my son struggles. Yeah, he'll do what he
has to do in practice, but he goes nuts in
the game. And so the coach would say to me like,
oh my god, this kid is amazing. Out of the
four age groups I've coached for three years. I love
like he's incredible. But he's got a practice.
Speaker 1 (34:28):
He's got to bring this practice like he brings it
to the game.
Speaker 3 (34:30):
So that's what we're working on now your gamers and
your practice players.
Speaker 5 (34:33):
You don't want to miss out an opportunity for not
being that practice player. Because I always say, like, it's
hard because these kids play club and they're playing all
the time. They come to high school and it should
be fun and social. I'm like, don't let high school
soccer de find you. Yeah, right, just because you played
a different level like high school soccer. The whole it's combative,
it's like more direct, it's not. The game's very different.
(34:55):
So I'm like, if you're not getting as much playing
time in high school that you did in your club, like,
just keep working at it. Because sometimes you come to
practice and I don't know what you do on your
other team, but like I know you do in front
of me. It's not good enough, you know. But it's
also I think these kids grow through that to you
have the coaches.
Speaker 1 (35:14):
I love it.
Speaker 5 (35:14):
It can make it them accountable. I think that's what
we're missing in sports, is the accountability piece.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
So it's like, I think that's what we're missing in life.
Speaker 3 (35:21):
I think we've all got a little lax because of
social because of digital. It's like I'll just be a
content creator, but that takes so much discipline to really
make it. There's so many things you know, and you
talk about accountability all the time, but it's it's interesting.
I think the old school accountability would have been amazing
with the new school technology, yes.
Speaker 5 (35:41):
I really do.
Speaker 1 (35:42):
That's like the beast mode of it all.
Speaker 3 (35:44):
But I think you know what you know for me
as a mom keeping them off devices and in some time.
Speaker 1 (35:50):
My older son isn't really athletic. He doesn't like sports,
but he plays basketball for fun. He's on a record
and that's it. Like to me, it's just whatever they want.
Speaker 5 (35:59):
It's his level of looks like our world.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
He likes this stuff and that. So but it was
an absolute pleasure talking to you. I have a million
more questions.
Speaker 3 (36:08):
I want to leave with one though that I think
is that I'd like to know about you, and I'm
sure other moms and other women out there.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
Would like to know. You know.
Speaker 3 (36:16):
What's been your most iconic moment through all of this
World Cup champions Special Forces?
Speaker 1 (36:22):
About I mean the Olympic pressure of the World Cup.
Speaker 3 (36:28):
You have done everything that on the highest level as
a woman.
Speaker 5 (36:33):
Most iconic moment I think being a mom being able
to balance it all.
Speaker 1 (36:39):
Now I really love you.
Speaker 5 (36:40):
Yeah, that's amazing because it's like it's hard. It's hard
to be able to have a career and be a
mom and then be there for your kids to be
part of it all. And I feel like I've done
a great job balancing it all. That is so amazing.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
Book in there too, you know, just a few other
extra things, the reality you know, I've come to checking
them off.
Speaker 4 (37:02):
Literally, you've done it.
Speaker 1 (37:05):
I want to see more reality TV. You were really.
Speaker 3 (37:09):
So you know networks out there. If you're listening, make
sure you call Christy. She's entertaining and I loved watching her.
Speaker 4 (37:14):
So I'm gonna call you guys. Yes, I go right
to the source.
Speaker 3 (37:17):
Actually, before we sign off, tell us a little bit
about you book where people can find it.
Speaker 5 (37:24):
It's called be all in Raising kids for success in
sports and in life. You know, just more of just
taking my experiences as an athlete and the experience as
a coach because I coached you soccer and kind of
put it all together with a sports psychologists that I
co wrote it with. Yeah, it was, it was great,
But it's just have a better relationship with the kids
through sports. Know what their relationship with it is. Know
(37:46):
what your relationship with it is and kind of try
to have that better bond instead of having more of
a like friction friction relationship. You know, a lot of
times the parents and the kids agree on the level
that they wanted to play at, or maybe, like you
said earlier, like trying to push them into or help
(38:06):
them get to a level they want to be in. Right,
So just that open rapport with your kids and know
what they want.
Speaker 1 (38:12):
Yeah, you're amazing.
Speaker 4 (38:13):
You have to get this book for every single parent
on the team.
Speaker 1 (38:16):
I'm gonna I'm gonna give your academy. That's actually a
great idea.
Speaker 4 (38:20):
Thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (38:22):
I'm gonna gift it to all my soccer mom friends.
It's an absolute pleasure.
Speaker 1 (38:26):
Thank you so much. And Christy, where can people find
you online?
Speaker 5 (38:30):
Christy rampone three on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook.
Speaker 1 (38:35):
All right, and make sure you reach out and make
sure you check out special Forces.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Oh yeah, online, you guys can find me at Ashcerson
two HS on All Socials and the Michelle Barone Read
podcast on Instagram.
Speaker 1 (38:47):
We'll see you next time. Bye bye,
Welcome to arid Red. It's Michelle Barone and my favorite person.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Oh my god, you guys hear that. I'm literally getting
that recorded. I'm playing it on Christmas this year because
everyone needs to know. She called me her favorite, I'm
playing this episode.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
He knows she's my favorite. But I have another favorite
guest here.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Hey, this one's goal.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
She is a two time World Cup champion, I mean
for the US, for women's this is huge. My friend
Christy Pierce Rampone so excited to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Christy, thank you so much. I'm so excited.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Hey, guys, before today's episode, I want to talk to
you about something that Ashley and I care a lot about.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Mental health.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
That's right, taking care of your mental health is just
as important and taking care of your physical health. And
mental health America of Dutchess County is the perfect place
for that health.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Absolutely, Mental Health America of Dutchess County is super empowering
and helps so many people with so many problems.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Honestly, it's pretty amazing seeing how mental health actually affects people.
I mean, the guests that we've had on the show,
We've talked about mental health in almost.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Every episode and it's a serious topic.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Now's the time to prioritize your mental well being. If
you're suffering from anxiety, depression, or anything mental health related,
visit Mental Health America Duchess County at MHA Duchess dot org.
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Speaker 1 (02:05):
I feel like I would be your greatest fan in
the stand, you know.
Speaker 5 (02:08):
And I can feel it. I want to go back
and play.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Like play, I'll cheer you on. I was a cheerleader.
I'm really good at it. But you're amazing, and you're
just featured on Special Forces with my friends Teresa and
Gia Judice, and you are just You've been a light
in this world and you've done so much, accomplished so much,
and I just can't wait to dig into it. I
want to kick it off with your most recent project,
(02:32):
Special Forces and talk a little bit about that and
all the things that you went through there, and then
we're gonna talk about soccer.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Okay that it looks scary, It was gonna lie.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Were you intimidated absolutely for the first time in your
life because you seem like a beast cause I.
Speaker 5 (02:48):
Think playing sports you're kind of prep for it. Yeah,
like you know, throwing yourself into Special Forces not knowing
right what's coming at you. Yeah, it's intimidating.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
But when I saw you were on Bill, I'm like,
seems it's suiting, Like.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
She's got she's gone away and Gia, you know, I know,
so you're on Special Forces and all I see is
this scene of you going in the ring with Gia
Judice and I'm like, this match is not fair. I
was like, she's been playing sports her whole life. I mean,
gia' is a beast too, and I love Gia. I
was like, but how we can do this?
Speaker 1 (03:22):
You know? And she killed it.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
I mean you guys both did you guys? You guys
crushed it. You but you guys are amazing out there.
Tell me about the experience.
Speaker 5 (03:31):
Yeah. So I've never fought before, never thrown a punch,
so it was just, you know, You're in this amazing
environment and the drenaline's going, you know, and the DS
is yelling at you. And I think I was supposed
to originally fight Teresa, Yes, right, so that I think
it was, you know, age wise. Here we go like
kind of pairing you off, and.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
I think it would be fair because Teresa's got guns too,
and you guys the same age.
Speaker 5 (03:51):
Yeah, she's strong, So I was like, all right, same
age brackets. So I was like, okay here and then
they called g and I was like, I'm like twice
her age, Like she's a little spit fire, Like, how
am I going to do this?
Speaker 1 (04:02):
That's what I was thinking.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
You're like fake tea, make it. That was my whole
thing is that's what you're doing sports. It's like just
pretend like you belong I belong there. But I was
just like, okay, how do I fight someone that I like,
yeah his part, you know, yeah, okay. But the same
thing in training, I was like, okay, I have to
go up in Abby or yep, you know, Kristen Press
or something like someone like us. I'm like, here I go.
(04:24):
And it just kind of warfed her face into somebody
it didn't like, and I was like, let's do it.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Yeah, but it was hard, it was and you seem
so kind. Yeah, I'm like, I'm like, this woman is
so nice. I mean, you're jacked, but you're like you're
you're you're amazing, you know, and you're you go out
there and you gave it, you're all and the two
of you.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
That was such an intense moment.
Speaker 5 (04:43):
Yeah, it was like milling. So it's like, don't all this,
don't stop, don't stop punching, and then until we say stop.
So I'm like, oh, so there's like no backing up
and like kind of just like get after it. So yeah,
it was that was tough.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
I interviewed g about this, and she was like, just
don't hit my nose please.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
I don't remember saying that, but she had said something
like I heard her say something like, oh, just don't
go for the nose, and I'm like, I wish she
would have told me.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
I'm like, she went for the nose.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
Oh my god.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
No. But honestly, thank god, nothing happened there. But you
guys put on a great, great show, and I know
it's not a show when it's the two of you
and it's really you and you're.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Like, wait, did I sign up to do this? Why
did I do this? To myself?
Speaker 5 (05:24):
Said that multiple times to myself. I'm like, I really
actually signed up to do this.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
Oh my god? What was this like the hardest.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Challenge for me?
Speaker 5 (05:32):
With all the water challenges?
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Yeah, because I can't swim.
Speaker 5 (05:35):
I'm really not comfortable in the water. I'm better on lands. Yeah,
so those challenges, you know, you only have two weeks
to notice. Yeah, it's not like I had any time.
I didn't Prepper, I didn't get.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Swimming swim and you did the swimming challenges.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Like that first one where like they drop you in
the water, Like, what were you thinking? When they're dropping
you in the water, like knowing you can't swim, like
what do you do.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
Like survival at that point, because I'm like, okay, I
don't want to drown the biggest fear, so I'm going
down and I'm like, if you panic, you're gonna drown.
So just try to stay relaxed because I'm like, I
don't know who can save me. That quick's going through
your heads, and I'll be honest, like that pressure when
you first submerge under it's cold, and it's like it's
(06:17):
not like dipping in a pool and holding your breath,
Like the pressure is so much. And I was practicing
to hold my breath and I was like, okay, just
little bubbles and I blew everything, Oh my god, rowing
out and I'm like, okay, this is great. Challenge started
singing the ABC's and the next thing I knew, I
was getting taps. I was like, okay, I'm almost out,
but I was. I was mentally exhausted after that challenge.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Oh my god, I literally don't know how I feel it,
especially like not being able to swim, like that is
your biggest fear, and that's the first thing the show
is You're.
Speaker 5 (06:47):
Like waiting, Like I waited like three hours and watched
all the other recruits, and obviously what we saw Ontov,
the devastating, you know, action with Evo was just like
that the worst fear, you know. And then you know,
Teresa and g went right after that, and then I
went after them, and I was last and I was
geting picked. So they were in my ear the d
s or in my ear the whole time, like you know,
(07:08):
you're a loser and no one picked you. You're gonna
have to unbuckle the empty seat. And then I'm bulky yourself.
So I'm like now going into imagery mode of like
how am I getting out? And I'm enough to hold
my breath longer, you know. You just like the mental
side of it, I think is what people don't see
as much as like they see the physical side. They
see like these fears. But I'm like, for three hours,
I was like in my own head, but your voice
(07:30):
was just kept talking to me, and I'm like, you
got it, and then I'm like, no, you don't, you
got it?
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Yeah, that was imposter.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
I'm like trying to think of myself in that situation.
I just literally can't.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
I'm a two time champ, but I do I'm not prepared.
Oh my god, but it's it's funny now. It probably
was not funny now.
Speaker 5 (07:53):
Yeah, but after I will say after that task, I
was like, Okay, now I could do anything.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (07:58):
I got over like my worst fear about like the
tight spaces, like yeah, like you have no but some
of the stuff like you have no choice, you just
get thrown into it, and I'm like, just breathe, just breathe,
go through it. You have no idea, Like time am
I doing this?
Speaker 3 (08:12):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (08:12):
Kind of better because I'm like, you're already freaking out, Yeah,
you know anxiety. I definitely had a panic attack going
through those. You're popping out, and I'm like how many
more might have gonna crawl through? So it's like you're
in the moment. You're like you just keep going because
at one point I'm like, do I have to go
back if I like have a panic, So might just
keep going forward? Just keep going forward, like it's almost done.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Oh my god.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
Were the sergeants really that crazy off camera or was
it really for TV?
Speaker 1 (08:40):
No?
Speaker 5 (08:41):
It was they were NonStop. They were on the whole time,
and when they're actually nice to you I was uncomfortable.
I would have cried, really really uncomfortable. Try to have
a real conversation because I'm like, like, is this for real?
Because then they would snap at you if you kind
of said something what was awesome?
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Really?
Speaker 5 (08:58):
This is awesome. You kind of bond real quick trauma bonding. Yeah,
and you're trying to like get to know someone in
a car, but there's also mikes and cameras, so you
only can get to know so much, so much, you know,
So that was hard when you're like, Okay, I'm in
this experience with these amazing people trying to get to
know them. But then also what's your worst fear? What's
(09:20):
your worst fear? Like how can I help you? Because
you can help me, you know. So that was it
was awesome, Like I'm really happy that I did it
with the cast members I did.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Yeah, it seems amazing.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
I know you can't pick your favorite child, but any
any favorites.
Speaker 5 (09:37):
I probably would say because she's right next to me, Sean,
you know, and she watched it and she's just very
like stoic and calm, so she kept me calm, yep,
you know. And Jesse as well, like Jesse Decker like
she just always had energy. She's like the mom of
the group, you know. I was like, should have been
the mom.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
All right.
Speaker 5 (09:57):
She had all this energy because after I would do
a task, we're eating. It was so hot.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Yeah, it's like, who wants to eat?
Speaker 5 (10:03):
My god, it's not hot, you know. So she always
had this energy and wonderful, wonderful. Yeah, And I regret
not eating as much as I probably should have, you know,
because it was so bad. I'm like, you just eat
the next meal. I'm like, okay, the next meal is
just as worse than I was. Just trying to catch
up and it was, oh my god.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
And then doing all of those challenges with literally basically
having an empty stomach, like oh my god.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Ye yeah, you live.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
The people hands were too tight too. I'm like, well,
I definitely lost weight. I knew. I was like, all right,
this isn't so bad.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Yeah, that's so funny. She said the same thing when
she came on. She was like, I came back home
and I was so fit. She's like, I gotta get
back in the gym, or like she's so dramatically she's not,
but I'm like she was like I came back like
ripped I.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Mean, so, yeah, she killed it for her age.
Speaker 5 (10:55):
She killed it.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
She's brave. Yeah she has been.
Speaker 5 (10:59):
Yeah she did. She just kept board and met what physically?
Speaker 3 (11:04):
Yeah, she was all of you. You all did an
amazing job. And I'm so happy, so happy you're here.
So let's talk about my favorite.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
Oh my god, this is what she's in waiting for now.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
Okay, this is a moment I read.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Okay, we have a two time World Cup champion here,
my friend Christy, and I am so excited to talk
about all of these moments. I want to start at
the very beginning. When did you find your love for soccer?
Speaker 5 (11:27):
It was a little bit later, to be honest, like
I love sports in general. So we played hockey, basketball, soccer.
And my storyline is a little different to success because
I went to college on a basketball scholarship and just
walked on the soccer team. But in college, it was
like that's where I really started to find the love
for it because I'm like, I was getting coached, I
was around players that really loved the game. I was
(11:48):
just an athlete playing soccer. And then once I hit
the national team and got that invite when I was
a senior in college, and I went there, I was like, whoa, Yeah,
Like the intensity in practice was everything. I've always wanted
that competition. And I was like, I remember leaving. I
was in training camp in California for like ten days,
and I remember I'm like, all right, this is what
(12:09):
I want to do, but I have a lot of
work ahead of me to get there.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (12:12):
So it was just that moment I was like, all right,
let's go.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
That's so cool.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
And you know, it's interesting because there's so many pressures
today with young kids who are ten that are want
to go pro at sixteen, and finding it so much
later in life is still.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Possible, still possible.
Speaker 5 (12:28):
It's a process. I mean some people hit it at
a young age and like as soon as they hit
the field, they're great, you know, and others need to
work on their mental side of the game or like,
you know, the technique. So for me, it was like
I was just an athlete enjoying playing multiple sports. Didn't
really have that opportunity to be trained yeah coach, like
these kids do now. So I got a little bit
later in life, which then allowed me to play later.
(12:50):
I played into my forties, which was awesome because you know,
you find that love again and the younger generation that
kept coming in. You know, it was challenging me, but
also like teaching me as well to really embrace and
enjoy and love the game.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
What you know, do you remember any defining moments that
like switched on, like this is the moment that I want,
this is the reason I want to do it.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
Any moments like that?
Speaker 5 (13:13):
No, you said the national well, the national team was.
I think it because it was you know, imagine my
first camp. I thought it was gonna be like a
bunch of seniors, like a showcase, like you know everything,
It's like here, you get an award. And but I
walked in and our first meeting was the highlights from
their Olympic gold medal match in ninety six, and I'm like,
and I'm like looking around because back then women weren't
(13:34):
on TV. So I'm like watching the heighs, right, she's
in the room, and she's in the room. I'm like,
oh my god. I'm like, there's only two new faces, yeah,
that have been invited in in this January camp in
ninety seven when they just wanted the Olympic gold ninety six.
I'm like, what am I.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
To me like I played basketball.
Speaker 5 (13:53):
Yeah, And it was crazy because at that time I
was like, this is so cool. And that first training
I kind of got into a scuffle with one of
the players, you know, just throwing some elbows and just competing.
And afterwards she's like, we need more of that, and
I was like, this is it, Like you know, Brandy
Chesting coming up to me saying like I love it,
(14:14):
keep going after it. I was like, Okay, this is
this is it. You know. I love a good competition.
I love a good challenge.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
I love it. You could see it in Yeah you
give a good that's are You're perfect?
Speaker 4 (14:25):
Special Forces kill that.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
So talk to me about So you're in college, you
get the national invite, what happens next.
Speaker 5 (14:36):
Then, Like I'm in the middle of basketball season getting
called up for soccer. So I how to kind of
do all that communication with school and my basketball teammates
to say like this is once in a lifetime. I'm
going to try to do both. But like, yeah, here
we go. So, so you were playing both in college.
I was playing both in college.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
I literally can't.
Speaker 5 (14:53):
Get time management and trying to balance it all at
a social life. Social I don't care about that you
have future right there.
Speaker 4 (15:02):
Yeah. Right, I'll talk to you guys later.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Thinks.
Speaker 5 (15:06):
So yeah, so it all, you know, just kind of
all worked out. And I was a forward my whole life,
you know, the goal scorer was in the attacking side
of all my sports. And day two playing the nation team,
they're like, you're going to be a defender, and I
was like, all right.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
Did you ever play defense?
Speaker 3 (15:22):
No?
Speaker 1 (15:22):
Never?
Speaker 5 (15:22):
Never, No. In basketball, I was a good defender, but
like in soccer, you know, the ball would go and
I'd be like, all.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
Right, because you had that scuffle. You had that scuffle
and they knew you had.
Speaker 5 (15:32):
So I saw an athlete, someone that was quick, agile,
and they're like, all right, we're gonna put you in
the back. So started back there and just try to
use all my instincts because you're like you're getting beat.
But then you're like recovering and you're working on it
and you're watching film.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
Is it? Because you do?
Speaker 5 (15:47):
You think it was? Partly there's so many forwards. I
think back, Yeah, you know, you think back years. When
I first started, was like everyone starts as a forward
and transitions to a new position. And there was two
girls that were in pregnancy leave. Oh, and they needed
to fill some spots and I was like, all right,
we like what you have. We just need to fine
tune a lot. You know, you can again get better
at the tactical and technical part of it, convert it
(16:09):
back there and built on that. And then I'm like,
I loved it. That was love in the forward's mind
and frustrating on it, yeah, you know, like making them
talk to themselves. I'm like, all right, I'm winning because
I made it a game within a gear. Yeah, as
a forward your goal score and you're like, all right,
how do I get my high right?
Speaker 1 (16:24):
Right?
Speaker 5 (16:25):
And I'm putting the ball in the back of the net,
trying to keep it out of the net now and
get into the forward's head mindset a little bit.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
Yeah, being a little scrappy, Yeah, a little scrappy girl.
Love it right, I love it all right.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
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Speaker 5 (17:04):
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Speaker 2 (17:06):
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Speaker 1 (17:12):
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Speaker 4 (17:20):
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Speaker 5 (17:22):
I'm stopping.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
I mean seriously, Pixie Beauty products are for every day
and they are the best. I love the glow Tonic.
It's become a staple in my skincare.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
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Speaker 2 (17:32):
I use it every day before I do my skincare,
and honestly, it's like Braden's my face.
Speaker 5 (17:36):
I want to say yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
I mean a guest commented today on how beautiful you
looked and that you were dewy and glowy, and it's
all because of Pixie.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
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Speaker 1 (17:47):
My favorite is the Pixie on the Glow blush.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
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right on, take it out. It's just one of my favorites.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
It's so much fun and it looks so good on.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
Honestly, it gives you like a nice sunkiss glow. I
absolutely love it and it's going to be great for summer.
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Speaker 1 (18:06):
It's so cool.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
And you know, that's truly a team player though, because
a lot of people like you said you made a
game within a game, because without that there's no competitive edge.
And if you're not goal scoring, you have to think
of another.
Speaker 5 (18:19):
Part of it.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
You know.
Speaker 5 (18:19):
It's like the goal scorers get all the glory, but
the piece of the puzzle is being able to be
like that good team player, especially in the back, you know,
and it's like you learn quickly as a defender you
have to work amongst your teammates. Forward you can be
a little bit more selfish. It's more of waiting creative,
you know, like, but as a defender, you can't like
(18:41):
off on your own, like you're working in pairs and
you know, in groups. So it was definitely a mind switch.
But I had to adjust if I wanted to play
at the highest level, right, I was like, I want
to be here, I'm going to change. But then I
also had to find a way to love it.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Yea, it's the kind of the way interesting. And so
playing at the highest level, what does it feel like?
Speaker 5 (19:01):
Amazing? Because honestly, like it's like a World Cup final
every day really because you train at such a high
level so that it makes it easier on game day.
That's interesting, and you're playing with the best players in
the world that people are constantly coming in trying to
take your spot. So for me, it was just show
up every day to get better. Yeah, right, you got
(19:21):
to compete, You got to be consistent in order to
stay because I was had six NASH team coaches, head coaches, amazing,
I can't even I mean twenty probably assistant coaches, so
so many eyes watching you and judging you, and soccer's
in the eye of the holder, it is, right, it's
really hard to say, like you know, as a defender.
How do you judge? Yep, right, it's like working with
(19:43):
those building those relationships.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
So yeah, it was so interesting, very defense man, that's crazy.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
Were you and the goalie best friends or what?
Speaker 5 (19:51):
Absolutely? We had to be have a good good connection
on the on the pitch.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
All right, absolutely, and you worked.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
I know that Ali Kreger was she was captain for
us some of the time, majority of the time, and
that you played.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
What was it like working with her?
Speaker 5 (20:09):
She's awesome, right, defend her mother, you know, working together
as unit to get further in life, you know. And
that's how Ali is very open, you know, and honest
and like works through things, you know. So if there's
an issue or their problem, we always kind of talked
it out, worked it out and figured it out so
that we could be better, you know. And then going
up against you know, the best players in the world,
(20:30):
like Ali and I had a great because those forwards
that were crushing it in games that you guys saw
were battling with us, you know, practice, So it was bricks. Definitely,
we bonded, we were.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
I was gonna say, I feel like she did a
great job as a leader to really like bring the
team together and show leadership and me personal but be
tough when she had to.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Be, Like yeah, I think she did a really good job.
I mean obviously you guys won, and so much more.
I think one as a people, yeah, you.
Speaker 5 (21:01):
Know, because leading comes in all shapes and sizes. Yes,
with people, it's not always the loudest, right, you know,
it's the one that wants to be heard, the one
that leads by example. And you know, I felt like,
you know, an Ali came in and she persevered and
battled and you know, she led by example.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
Yeah, I would say, you know, and this is you know,
more of a side note thing, but we got to
talk about it.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
I think it's different women sports and men. There's a
lot of drama.
Speaker 5 (21:25):
I mean, you don't like drama, you know, Like if
we I think we settle drama right away.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
That's good.
Speaker 5 (21:30):
That's the thing with the women. And it's not throwing
punches at each other. Yeah, it's talking it out and
solving it. Yeah, and moving forward. Yeah, because I think
some like earlier days, the drama would just exist and
like it would be a constant talk and it's like
we're not getting anywhere, We're not moving forward, Like get it.
Off your chest and like continue to move forward. You know,
(21:51):
of course there's gonna be drama because you have the
most competitive women in the world a world and only
eleven start and you have like eighteen or twenty one
depending the World Cuper Olympics on the team, So everybody
wants to start. Everyone you know, is not always happy
or content with maybe the coach's decision. So in order
to keep a locker room tight, you have to have
(22:11):
that open rapport.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
Oh my god, you're incredible, My god, so so iconic.
What was it like winning the first World Cup that
you won?
Speaker 5 (22:22):
Amazing because A was in the United States, right, and
I was like the young kid, eyes wide open going
through the whole process from training from it to being
at Rutgers University to then going to Giant Stadium from
it was supposed to be like a couple thousand to
like almost selling out the Giant Stadium. So it was
just so powerful because it felt as a team in
(22:44):
a unit, like we didn't really get much backing from
you a soccer in the support, so it was like
the team going out there and pushing it and getting
out there and proving ourselves.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
Radio media I just remember attacks everywhere.
Speaker 1 (22:58):
Had to prove yourself.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
So I'm like, why do these women have to do
this when the men are just like if the national
men's want team won the World Cup, it would be
the biggest thing in the world. But these women have
to like, you know, build their own float in the
Macy's Day parade.
Speaker 5 (23:11):
It's not fair. Yeah, you know, it's a little bit
of our culture of women just don't support Yeah sports, Yep,
it's getting there. And that's why it's like the more
it's out there, the more we talk about it, right,
it's it's only gonna bring people to the game. So
they say, like communication is knowledge, and knowledge brings that motivation, right,
so that knowledge that hey, the women can play exactly
(23:33):
are badasses, so come watch us play and yeah, the
game may not be at the same speed as the men, yeah,
but yeah we're still accomplishing something exactly.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
Did you like like battling men one v one or
two two?
Speaker 5 (23:49):
That was our prep work leading into Olympics or it
was like you sixteen boys is as far as we
could go. Like they challenge because a stronger, quicker, faster
play a different style of game. Yeah, but like it
was They helped us because it was like, let's go,
let's see if I can with you guys and like
battle and you know, and bring it. So it was
it was always fun because they challenged us and God
(24:10):
has prepared for what we needed to do.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
I could talk to you for the rest of my
life and can we just run this tape forever please?
Speaker 4 (24:18):
If we had Luciano here plays soccer, he would be.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
I could get you guys to connect. He's amazing.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
He's the Academy just wrote up that he's a master
of free kicks and he's eight.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
I mean, he's great. You know, I don't know where
he should play yet.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
You know he's left winger right now. Not that fast,
but he's more. He's very accurate that gets it right
to the kid's foot to score any position.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Technical, literally crazy.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
He was like that though, even when he was like two,
Like I remember he had his little ball and he
was always making it in the net.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Like like, I don't understand.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
He's athletic, like he can play anything, but he likes
soccer the most.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
He loves Ronaldo.
Speaker 5 (24:58):
He's watching the game. Ro a big part of going
to be of his success because the more you watch
the game, the more he learns, and the more he observes,
the more he's going to actually try to implement that
his own game. So like he's reading the game probably
as he's watching it and then puts it in. You know,
he's eight, but if he knows and understands the game,
he's only going to get better and better.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
Talking it's unreal. I'm like, how are you a person?
Like I don't even know what's going on right now.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
He went to be surprised.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
And this week to go to the World Cup qualifier
for Portugal and he went to see Ernaldo and I
was like, I was like, Luci, do you really like this?
Speaker 1 (25:33):
And he was I was like, do you really want
to take this seriously? He goes not, it's not if
it's when that's.
Speaker 4 (25:39):
And I was like, like that you're driven.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
He's driven and it goes got.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
That goal in mind, he wants it and you know,
a lot of parents recognize him. He's he's a tough
he's a tough person because he's disciplined.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
You know, discipline is competitive.
Speaker 3 (25:56):
He's competitive, which is too a fault at times, but
he but it's good.
Speaker 1 (26:00):
It's a double edged take athlete, no get you.
Speaker 5 (26:03):
Yeah, it can't be over emotional when you're playing, because
then can't let your mind take you somewhere else that
you want to stay involved in the game, stay focused
one play to the They need that competitive edge, and
it sounds like he has that factor that.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
I'm going to show you some videos. You gotta tell
me you're the pro.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
But anyway, that's just like I don't know, but you
know what I see on the field.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
As a mom, there's a lot of moms that listen
to this show.
Speaker 3 (26:26):
We have a really powerful women's audience here from like
twenty one to fifty five, and a lot of soccer moms.
And I do find that in soccer, you know, some
kids don't really love it and the parents are pushy,
and then some kids love it and the parents don't
do enough. And I find that there's like a disconnect
between like pay to play for soccer, and I always say,
(26:47):
like this this kid is amazing, but their parents can't
afford it. Do we start a scholarship league that helped
this little one out? Or like I just feel like,
how do you navigate all of these things right? And
then they get on the team and they don't play
the position they want, or it's all these these political
things that go on, Like how did you navigate all
that throughout your career and what.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Do you recommend for parents?
Speaker 5 (27:09):
I'd say a big question. Yeah for parents though, it's
like are they getting their life lessons along the way,
Like are they learning and growing? So as you're stepping
up and watching your son or daughter play, are you
there to make sure they win or are you there
to see them develop and get better because there's stages
that they need to develop in order to get to
where your son wants to go to play a professional right,
(27:31):
So it's like, you know, making sure they have a
good coach. I think a lot of people go for
the label of maybe the team, but as long as
they have a really good coach. What is a good
coach that's encouraging, making sure they're communicating with the players
while they're playing position wise, like not telling them what
to do when they're on the ball, So coaching off
the ball to make sure like they're sliding or they're shifting,
(27:53):
because spacing and timing is is tough in sports, especially
as for a younger child to understand that timing and spacing.
So if a coach is helping them and guiding them
to make sure they're in the right position so they're
not just chasing the ball or playing it to the
best player on the field. Because if you're winning, yeah,
that feels good for a kid. But if you keep
(28:16):
winning from eight to fifteen, and then all of a
sudden you hit a sixteen year old that knows how
to defend and you don't know how to get buy them,
then those emotions are gonna kick in. So it's like
as long as they're I feel like through my career
because of playing multiple sports, it helped me in the
end when at the Nation team they're like, nop, you're
(28:36):
going to be a defender, And I was like, okay,
so I know my basketball, field, hockey, soccer, Like, you know,
I understood certain parts and aspects that I could adapt
and change, you know, But as well as I had
so many different coaches, so many different voices. You know,
you have the yellers, you have the ones that are
really strict, you have the ones that don't say anything.
You know, it's like that just want to call it
(28:57):
and tell you're great, but that it's also not gonna
help you in the long run, right you go on
Special Force, you're not good enough? And I was like, okay,
you know, but it's like you're able to take that
that criticism, right, that coachable criticism that your son can take,
or you know, for parents, their children can take and
(29:17):
implement and help them and guide them or ask them.
You know, with my daughters along their sports careers, I
would ays ask them like, what did you think you
did good today? You know, what do you think you
need to work on? More so than like you should
have made this pass so that you had an open
goal and you miss. Let them communicate where they think
their strengths and weaknesses lie. Like some kids know it's
(29:40):
the mental side. Some kids know maybe I need to
get faster, quicker, or stronger. So let the kids kind
of experience it and feel and have that better rapport
to help and guide them.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
I love that process, and so now it is a process.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
One.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
What were your parents.
Speaker 5 (29:59):
Like very strict? I grew up in kind of very
strict environment. Discipline, respect the game. You know, I was
very talented at such a young age, you know, so
I got a lot of praise. You know, so if
I was scoring a lot of points or scored, you know,
maybe two or three goals in a game. They wanted
(30:20):
to make sure that I didn't flawn it, and then
I respected my teammates. So from a young age, it
was very much like, come show up, you know, give
it your best effort, you know, don't talk back to
the refs, don't talk back to your coach. So I
was always just taking all the information in. I think
I was helped me in the long run. I had
more fun, absolutely, you know, but I was very very
(30:42):
serious all the time because that's why my parents, you know,
the discipline I think was trying to teach me to.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
You know, did you find that a lot of the
women you played with parents were like that.
Speaker 5 (30:58):
Yeah, different styles, you know, I'd say a lot put
some money into it, you know, it's just like playing
for the better teams and traveling a ton and putting
all that that time and energy. I didn't have a
lot of money growing up, so I didn't do any traveling. Yeah,
you know, it's very localized.
Speaker 1 (31:15):
You know.
Speaker 5 (31:15):
Anything that we traveled was in a car. We weren't
getting you know, any plane to go anywhere.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
It's because you're outstanding, but it was.
Speaker 5 (31:22):
Just I wanted it kind of just like your son.
It's like you get this little itch when you're younger.
It's like I loved competing, and I knew it was
a privilege. My parents made maybe like aware, like it's
a privilege. Get your work done, you know, be respectful,
and this is like that was my outlet. It's like
I came live like when I was on the field
of the court, you know, so I knew long term
(31:42):
is what I want to do, so stay on track.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
Yeah, it was like it was a gift.
Speaker 5 (31:47):
Yeah, gift.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
Really cool.
Speaker 3 (31:48):
And now with your girls, is that how you parent
strict or different?
Speaker 5 (31:52):
I'm a little bit more balanced, you know. I think
my older daughter was love soccer, like she wanted to
play in college, like she wanted to kind of the
same path, had all the abilities, had the speed, but
ended up having some injuries. She tore ACL twice. So
it was a lot more of the talk of like
let's divert and you know, try to go into a
(32:13):
different field. So that was challenging because you see this
gift kind of be taken away because of injury, and
I knew like long term, she didn't really have the
mentality either, So it was again encouraging her and trying
to push her because I knew her talent and I
knew her gift, but she didn't really have that mental
(32:33):
side that she wanted to really put the work in.
And my younger one were like two pieces of pod
same mentality like love work, Yeah, beast in it at
the gym, Like gets up at five am and goes
to the gym, you know, play soccer now and basketball, like,
but she's not as athletic, but it's starting to come
(32:55):
because of the work she's putting in. So she's a
little bit of a late bloomer like I was, you know,
And I can really see her true colors coming in
right now. And she's loving you know, high school sports.
She's having a great time. She's a great balance. But
then once it's off, she can shut it off because
I try to teach them that, like you gotta go
have fun with your friends. Yeah, you know, you'll appreciate
(33:16):
the sports more, but you still have to put the
work in. So she's got a full balance. And I'm
the quiet parent. I don't say a word we give.
I give the thumbs up, the look at me, I
give the thumbs up, or the thumbs down, I pick
it up, but I don't say word Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
I like that. So, man, I gotta do better because I.
Speaker 5 (33:36):
Am a coach. I coach high school soccer right now,
you do as volunteer in manusquat women women's sang it.
Speaker 4 (33:44):
She would have she could have moved.
Speaker 5 (33:46):
So I just get to see, you know, the parents
side of it, from them yelling, and then it's like
I was coaching as well as my daughter was playing.
And then I see the kids at practice, and I
think that's the the hardest part is we as parents
only see games, right. We don't see how our kid
acts a practice or I get to see I got
to see both sides of that, and a lot of
(34:08):
it is is, you know, not every kid's practice player.
Speaker 1 (34:12):
You know.
Speaker 3 (34:12):
That's where my son struggles. Yeah, he'll do what he
has to do in practice, but he goes nuts in
the game. And so the coach would say to me like,
oh my god, this kid is amazing. Out of the
four age groups I've coached for three years. I love
like he's incredible. But he's got a practice.
Speaker 1 (34:28):
He's got to bring this practice like he brings it
to the game.
Speaker 3 (34:30):
So that's what we're working on now your gamers and
your practice players.
Speaker 5 (34:33):
You don't want to miss out an opportunity for not
being that practice player. Because I always say, like, it's
hard because these kids play club and they're playing all
the time. They come to high school and it should
be fun and social. I'm like, don't let high school
soccer de find you. Yeah, right, just because you played
a different level like high school soccer. The whole it's combative,
it's like more direct, it's not. The game's very different.
(34:55):
So I'm like, if you're not getting as much playing
time in high school that you did in your club, like,
just keep working at it. Because sometimes you come to
practice and I don't know what you do on your
other team, but like I know you do in front
of me. It's not good enough, you know. But it's
also I think these kids grow through that to you
have the coaches.
Speaker 1 (35:14):
I love it.
Speaker 5 (35:14):
It can make it them accountable. I think that's what
we're missing in sports, is the accountability piece.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
So it's like, I think that's what we're missing in life.
Speaker 3 (35:21):
I think we've all got a little lax because of
social because of digital. It's like I'll just be a
content creator, but that takes so much discipline to really
make it. There's so many things you know, and you
talk about accountability all the time, but it's it's interesting.
I think the old school accountability would have been amazing
with the new school technology, yes.
Speaker 5 (35:41):
I really do.
Speaker 1 (35:42):
That's like the beast mode of it all.
Speaker 3 (35:44):
But I think you know what you know for me
as a mom keeping them off devices and in some time.
Speaker 1 (35:50):
My older son isn't really athletic. He doesn't like sports,
but he plays basketball for fun. He's on a record
and that's it. Like to me, it's just whatever they want.
Speaker 5 (35:59):
It's his level of looks like our world.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
He likes this stuff and that. So but it was
an absolute pleasure talking to you. I have a million
more questions.
Speaker 3 (36:08):
I want to leave with one though that I think
is that I'd like to know about you, and I'm
sure other moms and other women out there.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
Would like to know. You know.
Speaker 3 (36:16):
What's been your most iconic moment through all of this
World Cup champions Special Forces?
Speaker 1 (36:22):
About I mean the Olympic pressure of the World Cup.
Speaker 3 (36:28):
You have done everything that on the highest level as
a woman.
Speaker 5 (36:33):
Most iconic moment I think being a mom being able
to balance it all.
Speaker 1 (36:39):
Now I really love you.
Speaker 5 (36:40):
Yeah, that's amazing because it's like it's hard. It's hard
to be able to have a career and be a
mom and then be there for your kids to be
part of it all. And I feel like I've done
a great job balancing it all. That is so amazing.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
Book in there too, you know, just a few other
extra things, the reality you know, I've come to checking
them off.
Speaker 4 (37:02):
Literally, you've done it.
Speaker 1 (37:05):
I want to see more reality TV. You were really.
Speaker 3 (37:09):
So you know networks out there. If you're listening, make
sure you call Christy. She's entertaining and I loved watching her.
Speaker 4 (37:14):
So I'm gonna call you guys. Yes, I go right
to the source.
Speaker 3 (37:17):
Actually, before we sign off, tell us a little bit
about you book where people can find it.
Speaker 5 (37:24):
It's called be all in Raising kids for success in
sports and in life. You know, just more of just
taking my experiences as an athlete and the experience as
a coach because I coached you soccer and kind of
put it all together with a sports psychologists that I
co wrote it with. Yeah, it was, it was great,
But it's just have a better relationship with the kids
through sports. Know what their relationship with it is. Know
(37:46):
what your relationship with it is and kind of try
to have that better bond instead of having more of
a like friction friction relationship. You know, a lot of
times the parents and the kids agree on the level
that they wanted to play at, or maybe, like you
said earlier, like trying to push them into or help
(38:06):
them get to a level they want to be in. Right,
So just that open rapport with your kids and know
what they want.
Speaker 1 (38:12):
Yeah, you're amazing.
Speaker 4 (38:13):
You have to get this book for every single parent
on the team.
Speaker 1 (38:16):
I'm gonna I'm gonna give your academy. That's actually a
great idea.
Speaker 4 (38:20):
Thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (38:22):
I'm gonna gift it to all my soccer mom friends.
It's an absolute pleasure.
Speaker 1 (38:26):
Thank you so much. And Christy, where can people find
you online?
Speaker 5 (38:30):
Christy rampone three on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook.
Speaker 1 (38:35):
All right, and make sure you reach out and make
sure you check out special Forces.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Oh yeah, online, you guys can find me at Ashcerson
two HS on All Socials and the Michelle Barone Read
podcast on Instagram.
Speaker 1 (38:47):
We'll see you next time. Bye bye,
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