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Speaker 1: Levels to This is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment.
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Speaker 2: You can find us on the iHeartRadio.
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Speaker 1: App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Speaker 2: Hey, what's going on? Everybody? It's your girls? Herica Foster Brasby, what's up, y'all? Is your girl?
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Speaker 3: Cheryl Swoops And this is the levels to this podcast. This is the show where we talk about all the different levels to the ship that women go through. And we always have such a great show. I'm excited about today's guests and today's show.
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Speaker 2: I'm but first, happy New Year, like it's twenty twenty six.
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Speaker 3: In this thing, we brand new, brand new, brand new, brand new, brand new child. We made it, Barret, we made it barely.
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Speaker 2: When I say.
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Speaker 4: Barely, say I don't know if that's a good thing.
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Speaker 2: Barely. When I say barely, I mean barely. Without it'll be.
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Speaker 1: Capital be all the all the letters are capital all the fIF But let me tell.
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Speaker 2: You this cool thing that happened in New Year. Bye. I do want to share it with the people, this really cool thing that happened over the last week.
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Speaker 4: Okay, do share.
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Speaker 2: On Christmas Day.
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Speaker 3: I got my niece got an Angel reached Jersey, and I knew she was getting an Angel reached Jersey, so I sent her a pair of Angel Reese's Midnight Diamond Dust to go with the jersey. My brother was like, oh, we got her to go with right. My brother said, oh, we got her to black jersey. I said, okay, I'll get her. I'll get her to black the black shoes to match. So if she gets the shoes, she's so excited. I post a video to my social media. Angel sees it, retweets it, and then quotes it and says.
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Speaker 2: Ah, marry Christmas, little siss. I show it to my niece.
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Speaker 3: And my niece had been claiming her mom's sister to be her favorite aunt for like the last forever.
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Speaker 2: I have finally taken the title of favorite auntie.
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Speaker 3: Yes you have, Yes you have, and I just want to say you should if there is no other way to start my twenty twenty six. That in itself makes me feel like this is going to be the best year ever because I have finally and if you know my niece, my niece does not hold her tongue, that little girl would be making you want a slapper because you'll be like little girl.
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Speaker 1: I didn't ask you that. Why you're giving me all this extra Conversationay? Wait and how yes?
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Speaker 4: Did you say how old she is?
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Speaker 2: My niece is ten? Okay a yah, you're the You're the cool aunt.
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Speaker 3: I am now officially the favorite aunt. It is taken ten years to get here.
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Speaker 4: Not just favorite.
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Speaker 2: You're cool cool, get the cool favorite. You got a lot.
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Speaker 1: You got a lot to live up to in twenty twenty six, I do.
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Speaker 3: I got like, I gotta stay up here now. I gotta stay up here now. So that's how I'm starting my new year. I wanted everybody to love. That's that's how I'm starting my new year.
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Speaker 4: Good luck with that one. You're going a lot to live up to.
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Speaker 3: I got a lot now, I got to get I'm gonna be like, I'm gonna be like Uiryl sadness hack.
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Speaker 2: So I can give it to my baby because I got to stay on tip.
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Speaker 1: Yeah, she's gonna be like, uh, Auntie, ting what you got for me?
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Speaker 4: Now?
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Speaker 2: Okay, I got to stay on top. I can't. I can't slip anyway. How's your holiday been? You know?
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Speaker 4: Amazing?
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Speaker 1: My My Christmas was incredible, New year thus far is amazing. You know, I'm not the I used to be the every year I gotta make a Newyear's resolution.
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Speaker 4: I didn't. I didn't really do that this year.
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Speaker 2: I'm not mad at that. Girl.
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Speaker 4: I'm just trying to get through each day.
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Speaker 2: I'm not mad at that.
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Speaker 4: It's just it's so much going on. I can't.
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Speaker 2: I can't even think about resolution. I understand, I really and truly do understand.
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Speaker 3: I don't know if I'm I'm going to make any real resolutions this year. Last year was the first year that I ever actually made a resolution and stuck to it. I make it a resolution every year to lose weight. Last year I finally did so.
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Speaker 2: I was like, oh she did, and girl, you are full. You know I've been crying. You know, I've been cruising because my mom. Happy birthday. First off, happy birthday to my mother.
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Speaker 3: My mother's birthday is January first. She is fifty seven years old, So happy birthday, Mom. I appreciate that. And we, you know, we cruising for her birthday. And Honey, when I tell you every last one of these bathing suits, I need to be slapped because I ain't got no clothes on.
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Speaker 2: Not every last one of them. I've been waiting.
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Speaker 1: I've been waiting for the opportunity to justck it is here.
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Speaker 2: Wait, wait, wait, like, girl, did you say you need to be slapped? Girl, just because you need to be slap? I do I need something? You need to be spak you want to slap for a spec.
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Speaker 5: You know what.
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Speaker 2: This podcast for, to take a whole different turn on some bullshit. That's oh my god.
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Speaker 4: Well listen, Okay, I couldn't I couldn't help it.
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Speaker 2: I love it. I absolutely love it.
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Speaker 3: Well anyway a cruise, though, honey, I better be at ghost that is by the time I get to the sub gotta.
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Speaker 2: It's the best way to It's the.
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Speaker 3: Best way to international travel without spending all your money on a hotel. You get enough time to you know, you don't have to stay in the one little section.
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Speaker 2: You can leave and go where you want.
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Speaker 3: To go and come back, and you still get to stamp in your passport if you ask for it.
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Speaker 2: It's the best.
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Speaker 3: It's the best way to international travel for like the for the least.
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Speaker 1: Amount of money. I love it, like, I absolutely love it. I'm tearing it up.
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Speaker 2: I'm tearing it up.
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Speaker 4: I encourage it where to have this conversation.
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Speaker 2: See, it's all good.
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Speaker 3: Though you would think you would think my black ass wouldn't want to be on the boat.
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Speaker 1: I mean, how did we get to America? You should we should have enough a boat, don't. No, man, no, ma'am, we should have enoughing the whole another podcast.
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Speaker 2: However, However, we're gonna.
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Speaker 1: We're gonna part of the reason why I don't care to get one on the boat in the walk.
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Speaker 2: No, it's okay.
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Speaker 5: Six.
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Speaker 3: Now we are, We're gonna. We're gonna do things much differently in twenty twenty six and starting which there are. You and I are gonna make a conscious effort to do more things together this year. That is a resolution that we are gonna stick to. And so we have already decided that we are going to visit some basketball games just no crew.
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Speaker 4: Yes we are. Just there's plenty of other things we can do together.
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Speaker 1: There are plenty of other things that we can do together. But we cannot go and cruise together. And that's fine, But it's fine. I don't want you to ruin my cruise experience anyway.
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Speaker 2: I'm excited. But yes, we are.
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Speaker 3: We you and I are going to commit ourselves to supporting more basketball programs this year, I think so, and one of which is probably going to be up here my way, which is, you know, get some Ivy League love. And so today on our show, we are going to be joined by the head coach of Harvard Basketball MS, Carrie Moore. Coach Carrie Moore is such a joy. She is definitely someone who wants to do well at the as a head coach. Has really had a breakthrough season with Harvard over the last couple of years, and they're having their moments this season, still trying to figure out after the loss of some seniors. But at the end of the day, I'm excited to have this conversation with Coach Moore and just kind of helped get you know, this Harvard program even some even more exposure because I don't know if folks been paying attention, but you know, the IVY League ain't no day, They ain't not no slouch. Columbia straight Prince's in the top twenty five, Like it's not they not no, ain't no scrubs.
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Speaker 2: They ain't no scrubs over there.
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Speaker 3: So out further Ado, let's just go ahead and take this thing to the next level.
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Speaker 2: And welcome in coach Carrie Moore.
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Speaker 3: All Right, fans, I'm incredibly excited to introduce today's guests because when you think about women's basketball and where we have been going over the last several years, this program has really been one of the most impressive that I can recall in recent memory. Harvard's head coach. She's a Michigan native like me, Come on now, so I love that she's a former national leading scorer at Western Michigan. She went on to play professionally in the WNBA, also played overseas, went through the coaching ranks Princeton create in North Carolina. I mean literally, has just really continued to develop herself into one of the best, and now she's helped to lead Harvard to their first IVY March Madness win and twenty twenty five this past year took them to their first ever IVY League Tournament championship and an NCAA tournament run. And if you remember Harmon the way she was turning up, this is who was coaching her. So we are excited to welcome coach Carrie Moore to the show today.
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Speaker 5: Coach more, guys, thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it. This is awesome. You guys are legends in my mind, so I just appreciate it. You.
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Speaker 1: Let me say this at the people who can't see coach war because she coached more.
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Speaker 4: But she looked like she could steal ball.
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Speaker 2: A little bit. I don't know, coach, you still be giving them buckets.
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Speaker 5: In practice, I try to keep all the credibility that No, I try to keep all the credibility that I have from statistics, so I don't try to I don't try to mess around on the court.
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Speaker 1: You will sometimes, like you know, for sure, to like let me let me show these young.
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Speaker 5: And what just watch.
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Speaker 3: I'm telling you, Well, people might not know, but she used to go by carried a score, you know what I'm saying. So yeah, you know, at some point she had to be like, Okay, now I'm gonna be coach more.
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Speaker 2: So let's talk about that.
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Speaker 3: Just your coaching journey, how you went from being one of the nation's leading scorer in college to coaching in general. Just where did you realize like, Okay, this is something that I want to continue to do in a way that I want to continue to get back to the game.
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Speaker 5: Yeah, I don't know if I've always you know, some people just like know like they want to coach, right and I don't. I just knew I wanted to play. I just wanted to play basketball and play it at a high level. And so after college, you know, I was in two you guys said I've played in the WNBA. I mean, I can't take that much credit because I was in t WNBA training camp. You were there and was cut before the final word. You were there for sure. For sure, I got a great taste of it. And you know, without making a final roster for two years and going overseas for a year, you know, I just was like, well, let me just see, you know, what else is out there, because I just, you know, I just like having options, right, Like I've learned that, you know, you must have options on the table. And so an opportunity came about at Princeton as a director of basketball operations that really I just I felt like I couldn't pass up. It was moving pretty quickly, and the head coach at the time there at Courtney Banghart, she was like, are you coming or are you not? And so I was like, all right, I guess I'm doing this, And you know, over almost twenty years later here I am so yeah, it just you know, that was it was nothing, honestly, it was just kind of God's timing probably and in terms of just pushing me in the direction that I needed to go. And the next best thing to playing is you know, being on the sidelines as a coach, I feel and you know, can really give back to the game and pay it forward to our young women.
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Speaker 1: So yeah, listen, there's nothing better than God's timing in his alignment.
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Speaker 4: So I will say that.
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Speaker 2: And I know we're talking about you, but I want to ask you, like you went to a couple of W and.
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Speaker 1: A training camps. Harmony was at Vegas's training camp. So I got a few questions for you. One the first part is what do you think Harmony needs to work on to try and land a spot in the W And the second part of that is what are your thoughts on the growth of the W.
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Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean to touch on harm first. I think she just she has to play professional basketball, right, Like you know, I think there's there's no way to practice playing at that level than to play at that level. So she's having a great year overseas in France and I think that will really propel her to hopefully having a better chance at making a roster this this upcoming training camp, she's settling into, you know, what it's like to not necessarily have to do it all, right, like fall in love with with doing the little things and just really playing your role to the best of your ability. You know, no w NBA team And I tried to tell her this and humble her right away, like, no w B A team that you're going to go to right now is going to ask you to do all the things that we were asking to do, and don't take don't take that as you know, a slight to your game. But but but take it as an opportunity to you know, really hone in and do what you do really well, and you know, maybe even do those things even better now because you're playing with with better players. So I think it honestly, I think she she needed the experience. You probably needed to be humbled a bit to get back to work and you know, really want it in a different way and and really open her eyes to you know, to playing you know in a different way and at a different level. So but one thing she she she did I thought tremendously well. Was just really play the part in terms of the intangibles, right, like I told her, be the first one in the gym, the last one to leave, be as coachable as you can, ask questions, you know, be curious, and you know, I wasn't there every day, but I felt like you know, in my text with her and phone calls, she really showed up in that way. And so just hoping the best for her. And to answer the second part of your question, I think just with you know, the expansion and all the new growth in the league, hopefully it provides you know, her and other you know, really good mid major players and opportunity to to make some rosters. But that the you know, it's it's no secret that the league is very good. So you've got to be You've got to do at your best in order to make that roster. And yeah, so I'm excited to be excited to see where it goes and all these teams, you know, they got to Detroit talking about Detroit trying to you know, come back. So it's it's nostalgic for me in a sense, but I'm looking forward to watching.
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Speaker 3: I love that and I love what you said about about humbling her, and that's not even specific to harmony, but just in general that there is this sense that you've got to learn how to teach kids how to play with confidence, but not necessarily with a sense of entitlement. And I feel like there's something with this generation that they may have inadvertently developed a sense of entitlement. And I think it's a great thing that we have to continue to humble them and be like, hey, listen, you got to earn it. Nothing's going to be given, especially in basketball. And so when I look at Harvard specifically, there are so many things that I think this program has done over the last few years that I've really set them apart that I don't think other folks have ever seen. I'm an ap voter, right, and so I'm one of the people that be voting for the IVY League teams.
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Speaker 2: And volks be like why do you get them on your ballot every single time? And I'm like, have you watched? Like are you watching?
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Speaker 3: So I'm curious to know before you took the Harvard job, like what was it about this program that made you believe that they could play and that they could win even at such a historic level.
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Speaker 5: Yeah, No, I appreciate all that you said, because it's really important for me to really provide I think everyone following women's basketball, women's basketball right now, the opportunity to know about our league. I'm you know, I'm first foremost, I'm always Harvard to go Crinceton, right, But I think just so to educate folks that our league is really good. And I think you saw that last year with three teams making it. It's the first time in league history that's happened, you know, three teams in the NSAA Tournament, and I think for a very good reason. I think all three teams deserve to be there. I think we showed that, you know with Columbia winning a game in the first four, you know, Princeton in a close game, and US hanging you know, pretty tough with with Michigan State. So I just you know, the I felt like Harvard was a place I could call the number one kid in the country and whoever else after that, and they would pick up the phone because it was Harvard. And for me, it's all about the brand and where I felt like I could be successful in terms of recruiting because I was coming from being a recruiting coordinator at Princeton, at North Carolina, at Michigan. Right, So, first and foremost, it doesn't matter how good of a coach you are if you don't have players, it doesn't really matter.
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Speaker 2: So that's true.
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Speaker 5: So I just I wanted to be at a place, yeah, that I felt like I could attract, you know, the best student athletes in the country, and that's what we try to do.
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Speaker 1: So I want to add on to that t because when you start talking about just coaching and the landscape and the recruiting and just all the different aspects of being a college coach, there's so so much that comes with that. How how do you think the whole nil thing has made your job your job harder or easier?
00:17:43
Speaker 5: Yeah, I think I wish it has made it easier, but it's it's made it very, very harder, you know. I think we just I think before you could you could attract a kid, right that that wanted the degree and wanted to play basketball really high level. And and now it's the same conversation, right, but it's now we're having to compete, you know, with this this amount of money for the same type of education or similar type of education. You know at a Stanford or out of Michigan, or at a Northwestern or you know, name any other you know, high academic institution in the country. So I think that's that's definitely made it a little bit more challenging, but it's it's made us really value I think the relationship piece even more, you know, really just put in the time in terms of showing up for them and their families throughout the recruiting process and understanding right like, this is a this is a four and for everything, this is not a four. And you know, I think every year thing right in terms of just you know, you're gonna get this money for for the most part not I mean, the the generational talents are getting this money is going to continue to show up for them. But I think some of the kids that we recruit they need to understand, right like, this is this is money you're only going to receive for the next four years. Where As if you get this degree, this is money that you know, once you graduate here is going to continue to come back to you in full right, It's like the gift that keeps on giving, you know, since we're in the holiday season, if you will. But but that is the power of a Harvard degree. And so yeah, you hope that that still means something too. You know, enough families and enough players that that we can get here, you know, to to compete at a high level. And we've had to go internationally as well, like you know, we've had to really broaden I think, our search and go internationally too.
00:19:37
Speaker 3: Yeah, I listen here. I am a very proud HPC you grab. But honey, if I had a Harvard degree, all I'm saying is some.
00:19:46
Speaker 1: Additional doors would absolutely be opening.
00:19:50
Speaker 2: So for sure, for sure, that makes a ton of sense. And one thing that I have always loved.
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Speaker 3: Especially on social media, But now I think you guys have taken it to a new level, which is incredible. And that's the nerd moniker, right, Like I think folks for a very long time. I knew as a kid in the eighties, if somebody, you know, called you a nerd, you'd probably want to fight, right because it came with a connotation of you know, like we all here playing dungeons and dragons and they're like, oh, you must be a nerd.
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Speaker 2: I'm like, why can't I just be a kid that likes you know what I mean? Like why I got to be a nerd.
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Speaker 3: So it was it was always felt like it was something negative to be smart or to to you don't have lights or interest in things other than what was popular.
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Speaker 2: At least that was what it felt.
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Speaker 3: But you all have taken that to a level of pride and have created a brand and it is taken off to the fact that you guys are not only embracing NERD but have Nerd jerseys in a NERD game coming up on January tenth, and so tell me, you know, what does it mean for your team and the pride that they have in this name, just beyond what the branding says.
00:21:00
Speaker 5: Yeah, first of all, shout out to my girl Harmony, because I think it all came about, you know, with with her platform and her really pushing it with the success that we had last season, and you know, after every game she's like, nerds can hoop to baby here like and you know she started, you know, got shirts made, and you know, her family was really pushing it. And then I think our team, you know, really rally behind it. And now you have our athletic department and our marketing department and you know, now like you're saying you know, we're going to do this this NERD jersey giveaway for the Columbia game. So I think it just it does an exceptional job of highlighting the type of you know, young women we have in our program. And there's there's nothing wrong with with being smart. Uh, there's nothing wrong with you know, attacking and competing and education, but also you know, doing the same thing on the basketball court. And I think that's why I love being the head coach at Harvard because you know, these these young ladies are are all into being you know, really competitive on the basketball court, but at the same time, you know they are all into you know, creating change you know, off the court as well. So it's a it's an incredible opportunity that I think they have to be at Harvard, and you know they're not taking it lightly to be able to promote, you know, the combination of being a true student athlete.
00:22:13
Speaker 2: Can I piggyback off that really quick?
00:22:15
Speaker 3: Because you started by saying, you know, the platform that Harmony had, and I think that you know, I didn't.
00:22:23
Speaker 2: I didn't play basketball in college.
00:22:24
Speaker 3: By the time I got to college, I knew softball was where you should stay sis basketball, not go.
00:22:29
Speaker 5: Get it for you.
00:22:30
Speaker 3: So, but but I think the even then, like the platforms that these student athletes have now are so different. Do you think that it makes your job harder or easier or do you have to resonate with your student athletes differently because of knowing that they have brands, knowing that they have TikTok and Instagram and how that you know, we got to practice, but you got to get content, Like how do you really balance ensuring that they can still maintain their brand and their platforms but also still like maintaining the standards that is Harvard basketball and that is any student athlete for sure.
00:23:05
Speaker 5: Yeah, it's challenging, right, It's like a fine line that you've got to walk because I think, you know, competitively, we talk about like they've got to become us and you know, not the other way around. But I think like there's you know, the standard is a standard. We talk about that a lot. But when it comes to like, you know, who they are and the brand and the platform that they do have, especially being at Harvard and these n I L opportunities and you know, creating a name for themselves, I think you you have to really allow them to be themselves and to open up in these spaces. And for me, that is very different. I'm very much introvert, you know, I don't I don't really put myself out there, you know, too much on social media. And but I've just got to grow. I've I've learned to accept. You know, this is the generation that we are in and in all honestly, if if if they have a platform and and people are watching and tuning in, then our program, you know, I think, uh, you know benefits from it greatly. So I just think it's it's education on you know how to do it and you know, understanding that you're representing not just yourself, but something so much bigger than yourself. And make sure you know, we're having those conversations which we do often that makes but they're but they're doing the TikTok dances and asking me you're going to have to do that? You know.
00:24:22
Speaker 1: I do?
00:24:23
Speaker 5: I do for sure. I actually am very excited to do those. It's the other stuff that I'm like, what do you'll have to do? So?
00:24:31
Speaker 1: But the dancing, I'm so my question kind of aligns with what you just said. You know, a lot of people think when they hear coaching, especially head coach. They immediately think it's all about the x's and o's and the all court stuff, right, And I, for one, feel it's not like that.
00:24:54
Speaker 4: What is the hardest part of your job?
00:25:00
Speaker 5: That's a great questions. I was roller coaster.
00:25:07
Speaker 2: Eying everything.
00:25:09
Speaker 5: Yeah, I think I think the hardest part for me is just the truth telling, like the horror conversations you know that that that I in particular have to have. You know, there's there's such a there's such a difference between right the assistant chair to the head head coach chair, even though it's maybe one step to the right or to the left, because you know, for so long I was the I joke about it all the time with our teams, Like, you know, I'm only four years in as a head coach. I'm forty years old, right, Like I'm I think relatively young compared to my counterparts. But please, but but I joke about like you know, I was, I was the cool assistant that you know, I couldn't get our players to like win my office as an assistant. And then I get a head I get a head coaching job the next day, and then all of a sudden, I'm in the scary office, you know that. Yeah, as soon as somebody steps into you know, they're they're immediately emotional or going through something. And I got to talk to you about this, and you know, and it's just it's just way more in depth. And I think taxing emotionally, mentally and physically, you know, because you have to make so many decisions on a daily uh. And and that is so different than anything I've ever done in my life.
00:26:37
Speaker 1: You know, under your leadership, this team has seen tremendous growth and success, and I think that's something you definitely have to pat yourself on a back, even though in the moment sometimes it feels like there's so much more to do.
00:26:50
Speaker 2: We've still we still got to get here. We still got to get there.
00:26:53
Speaker 3: But don't overlook like the accomplishments that you've made and the strides that you've made, because it is noticeable to many across the league. You know, a league, I'm sorry, a program, best of twenty four wins, getting the IVY League Championship, returning back to the NCAA tournament.
00:27:10
Speaker 2: Was it just a culture change or was it you know, talent? Was it belief? You say, the standard is the standard, but making the shift in the program. What was it for you that helped to make that shift?
00:27:25
Speaker 5: Yeah, I think it definitely is just a culture shift in terms of, you know, how competitive we are, how tough we are. You know, what we put into it is what we're going to get out of it. And so I felt like that was a change for them. The senior class that we inherited our first year, you know, noticed the change initially. It was very much more you know, defensive focus. You know, we practiced a little bit longer, We watched film, you know, probably way more than they ever have. You know, I had conversations with them, direct conversations more than they were used to. So just yeah, a lot of accountability. You know, we talk about non negotiables being you know, compete, be coachable, and communication, and I think all three of those areas. You know, we try to show up at our best, you know, every single day. So yeah, I am a competitive person by nature. So no basketball team that is going to be coached by me is you know not going to show up every day and have some competitive stamina about it.
00:28:23
Speaker 2: I love that period because after all, she was a she was the score.
00:28:29
Speaker 5: But I love that.
00:28:32
Speaker 2: But Carrie.
00:28:34
Speaker 1: You know, people talk a lot about like culture, the culture, the culture.
00:28:40
Speaker 5: And.
00:28:42
Speaker 1: I think that has a lot of different definitions for different people. But a lot of people think that you just like you teach that, And personally, I don't think that culture is something you teach.
00:28:54
Speaker 4: I think it's something that you build.
00:28:56
Speaker 1: So when you when you took the job or got the job at heart, how intentional were you about building the culture or changing the culture of Harvard women's basketball.
00:29:10
Speaker 5: Yeah, great question. Very intentional. Uh, you know, we I hired my staff. That was probably the first thing that I was very intentional about. It took me, you know, quite a long time to kind of find exactly what I was looking for. And I felt like, you know, I feel like I did a great job with them because they they're still with me four years in, so they must they must like me a little bit of something. But yeah, we must be doing something right to keep them here. But yeah, I think, you know, that was something we talked about. Is you know, what who are we what are we going to be about? I think culture is, you know, how you act and interact, you know, not just as a team, but the team with with your coaching staff and and so we you know, we set in kind of a we called it a war room at the time, but it was essentially just a big conference room and we you know, we talked through all these different things that that we wanted to show up and resonate within our program, and we nailed or came to you know, unity, grid, integrity, and joy being our four kind of core four principles of what we wanted our culture to be about. And I agree with you, Cheryl, it's not it's not just like you can't just teach those things, but it's also like you you've got to embody those things and be the example of those things so they know what it looks like and and have a north star if you will, to follow. So but yeah, we talk about out teaming the other team all the time, how they can show up and love on each other in a unified way.
00:30:34
Speaker 2: You know.
00:30:35
Speaker 5: Grittiness is just you know, competitive stamina and you know, doing the little things and you know, being the tougher team. And uh, integrity is doing what you say you're gonna do and you know, even long after the mood you said you would do it in and and I think joy is is just you know obviously just just having fun with with playing the game that we all love. So but I think what made our team last year so special is like anytime you watched us, and not just last year. I want to speak, I guess on on all the years and all the teams. But I thought when you when you win a championship, you embody what what you are culturally in the best possible way. And I felt like you saw all four of those things resonate in different ways. You know, every time you interacted with us or watched us play, which I was really proud of.
00:31:24
Speaker 2: Did you feel a sense of relief? Was it like, ah, finally I did it. We did it, we got it done.
00:31:30
Speaker 4: Like was it relief?
00:31:32
Speaker 2: Was it motivation? Was it validation? Like what was what was going through your mind when you won the championship?
00:31:38
Speaker 5: Yeah, it's like it definitely is really fray. Like I mean, it's it's just so you put everything into it, and you know, and it happened fairly quickly, right, so you you know, one would think that we're a little greedy in terms of, you know, what we're trying to accomplish so soon. But as soon as we got here, we talked about hanging banners and it not being done in so long and making it history and making more history if you will, And we did it, and you know, we just really tried to soak in the moment and just be present and just celebrated as much as we could for as long as we could until we had to turn the page. But yeah, it was, it was, you know, honestly surreal. But you you work so hard for that moment. And I've been a part of championship teams as an assistant, but there's nothing like it, you know, it being yours and being the head coach of it all, playing coaching, you know, as a head coach for my first time in the n CUAA tournament like just just such a blessing and you know, couldn't have envisioned it, you know, any better.
00:32:35
Speaker 2: And in a and in a short time, in a short time.
00:32:40
Speaker 4: I love girl, I love that.
00:32:43
Speaker 1: I love that.
00:32:44
Speaker 4: Let me say this before I ask you my next question. I need to take a trip. I need to come to take in te We need to go check out a game.
00:32:53
Speaker 5: Yes please, we would love to have you. Y'all got to come to Boston.
00:32:56
Speaker 4: To come to a game.
00:32:57
Speaker 3: See, I'm close I currently live in Connecticut, so Boston is only an hour and change for me.
00:33:03
Speaker 2: Getting Ryl out of Texas is where we got to work. Like that's where and when y'all got.
00:33:11
Speaker 1: Good weather, I gotta come. When y'all got good weather. Girl, it's eighty five degrees here, let's get her. Let's get her up here in like in March April, I mean, like uh, February, March, because the season will by the time April May gets here, like we're out of college basketball season at this point.
00:33:29
Speaker 5: But here.
00:33:33
Speaker 1: Okay, yeah, yeah, I'm saying my last question, but I may come up with another one based off of your answer. So I'm just a firm believer and I both and we talk about this on the show a lot, and like see her be her and having women like lead our young girls and women, and so for you to be in this position, first of all, I'm going to say thank you for being that leader. But my question for you is how has coaching women like changed or shaped your definition of what leadership looks like versus when you were a player.
00:34:10
Speaker 5: Wow, you know, I think at the time I was I was looking up to so many others to your point, I mean, I was watching you right, do what you do, and and you know just what it takes to be a pro and how to carry yourself. You know, as a pro no matter what you're doing, meant a lot to me. And I tried to do that as a player right and hold myself to this standard because you know, I saw so many others doing it at such a high level and I just aspired to to be that and to do that. And so now, you know, being a head coach, I feel as if, you know, I take great pride in showing up consistently and leading our young women in the best possible way. And I feel like I'm so intentional about everything you know that I say, how I interact with them, you know, how we practice. You know, everything that I bring to the table within this program is well thought out and means so much to me. And I feel like I would be doing the program the university them, you know, as players, as young women, a disservice if if I didn't own it right, like this is you know I joke about like I used to have hobbies. Now it's like I could care less, like this is this is my hobby because it essentially is is my baby right, Like, I just want to to do it so well and so yeah, I just I feel like I owe it, you know, to them, to pay it forward and give them an example of what leadership needs to look like.
00:35:45
Speaker 1: Well, tee, I am going to follow up with something sure, and this will be my last one. So in hearing all of that and knowing how stressful this job can be, how do you unwine? How do you what do you do when you're like, I got to get away from this for a minute because we all have that time and and need that time for sure.
00:36:10
Speaker 5: For sure. Yeah, you know, I just just was home with my family in Detroit. You know, I've got a got an older brother, you know.
00:36:27
Speaker 2: Period Okay, the city of the world, but.
00:36:31
Speaker 5: Yeah, I've got a older brother, just just him and I. So you know, his his relationship to me is everything. He's got two girls, so I'm a I'm a I'm an aunt to you know, two young nieces. You know, I've got a partner here in Boston with me. You know, we'd like to travel. So anytime I get any time off, you know, I'm booking some type of vacation, you know, to some degree. Uh, I I love reality television I hate saying we do what.
00:37:02
Speaker 2: You want is always to watch somebody else's drama. Never even right.
00:37:07
Speaker 5: I need to step outside of my own ridiculous there and tell.
00:37:11
Speaker 2: Them what they should or shouldn't.
00:37:13
Speaker 4: Stay back, you shouldn't be doing that.
00:37:15
Speaker 5: Meanwhile, yeah, meanwhile, we got.
00:37:20
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:37:21
Speaker 5: I'm a I'm an avid hot yoga or I go there often, so love hot yoga. That's a great way to kind of wine and release. There's a there's a spa close to us here in Boston that I love to go to. So I have my different thing that I step away I love.
00:37:41
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, yeah, gotta gotta be able to turn it off. We can't be basketball twenty four seven week Charlotte. I talk about that all the time, Like, you know, we do like other things other than just basketball.
00:37:52
Speaker 2: Right, But.
00:37:56
Speaker 3: You got to, right, you can't work an empty cup. So you've got to got to get that energy somewhere. But but before we get out of here, coach, just what's next?
00:38:02
Speaker 5: Right?
00:38:03
Speaker 3: I think we all know that championships are are obviously what we strive for, but you know, just you as a coach as well as your program, Like what do you see as the next step for for Harvard and where do you you know, want to go next even in your career.
00:38:19
Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, I think there's there's always, you know, a way to improve and and you know kind of a next step that we're trying to accomplish as as a team. You know, I felt like last year, obviously winning a championship is a great accomplishment, but but we want to be consistent, you know, contenders in this league in terms of trying to win championships, and you know, we're we're currently on a bit of a roller coaster right now in terms of this particular season. You know, we're sitting at six and six and you know, really trying to I think, find our groove and find ourselves. We've had you know, you lose you know, seniors like Harmony and our other senior, Lena Rodriguez and you know Mona, we're such incredible leaders for us and and so now you know, coming back with this team, you know, we have to really figure out, you know, who we are and what we're going to be and what we're going to stand for. And I think that that doesn't need to we don't need to figure that out today luckily. Yeah, I think, you know, our conference place starts in two weeks, and if we can continue to just you know, really climb the ladder and just get a little bit better every day, I feel really good about where we can be. But yeah, we we just we we want to we want to win, and that's just that's how we show up every day. It's not just about the outcome. It's more about the process. And if we can buy into the process consistently, I feel good about, you know, what we're doing. And for me too, like I think it's very easy. You win a championship. Everybody, everybody's asked me, like where are you going? Who's what job you take in? It's like, you know, I'm yeah, It's like it's like can I just be can you know, can I just be here and be where my feet are and and try to be really good, you know, for a consistent amount of time. And I'm still learning, I'm still growing, I'm still being stretched in a variety of ways, and so I just want to make sure I'm consistently you know, challenging myself too. I love that.
00:40:08
Speaker 1: Well, all just coach, keep doing, keep doing what you're doing, you know, I know so many times we see what we hear from the the big time coaches, right, the Genos, the Dons, the those coaches, And I just want to say to you that there are more people, more young women and men that are more like you, the younger coaches who's trying to break into this career in this field, and I just think you are a great example for them to look up to.
00:40:41
Speaker 4: So keep keep doing what you're doing.
00:40:45
Speaker 3: Absolutely, thank you, Thank you so much for join We look forward to continuing to watch Harvard. I'm gonna be wearing my nerves jerseys.
00:41:00
Speaker 2: And a half away from figure out, will hop on a plane and come. I will do that. Yes, we're gonna figure out what game. We're gonna figure it.
00:41:07
Speaker 5: Okay, Yeah, I'll have my people for sure make us.
00:41:13
Speaker 2: Yeah, we gotta make it happen. So it's a beautiful day.
00:41:21
Speaker 4: It's sunny here too.
00:41:25
Speaker 2: That ain't fair. Sure, that ain't fair.
00:41:29
Speaker 4: I'm gonna pull up on you. Make it happen.
00:41:32
Speaker 5: Sounds good.
00:41:45
Speaker 3: Big shout out again to coach More for joining us. It was great to talk to her and converse with her. And I was so serious about my nerves jersey. I'm definitely finna wit it and we're gonna we're gonna pop up in Boston. It's cold right now. Oh, but we're gonna pop up later. But anyway, it is going to be really dope as we get into like conference play to see like where these teams are gonna head. Looking forward to having more coaches join us throughout the rest of this college basketball season and players and just kind of give us an update and catch up on what they're doing where they are and see how the rest of the season is gonna shape out.
00:42:24
Speaker 1: Yeah, and just shining, you know, shining doing our part to shine a little light on the Harvard program and coach more doing some great things there. So I'm for real, I'm coming. I'm gonna hop on a plane. We're going to a Harvard game. So you can hold me to that one. Yes, just not when it's not Just not when it's a blizzard outside.
00:42:44
Speaker 3: Okay, got you well in that case, then why don't you add a little warmth to the cool New England weather that we're experiencing here and level us on up a little bit. Shro you always have a great word for us. So would it be twenty twenty six if you didn't bring us in with something dope.
00:43:05
Speaker 4: Yeah, well, okay, so this.
00:43:10
Speaker 1: One was probably going into a new year trying to change my whole mindset.
00:43:19
Speaker 4: And the way I deal with people and talking to people.
00:43:23
Speaker 2: And I don't know, let me just let me just read it, okay, And it says.
00:43:31
Speaker 1: A bee does not waste its energy trying to convince a fly that honey is better than shit?
00:43:39
Speaker 2: Or is it kind of deep?
00:43:42
Speaker 1: It's not, but maybe when do you think about First of all, that the analogy, the it it makes real, perfect sense, It makes perfect sense. This be this bee is over here looking at this fly like I'm telling you come over here and try someone it honey.
00:44:00
Speaker 2: And you know what, if you don't want to, I'm not even trying to convince you. I'm not even about the way I'm telling.
00:44:05
Speaker 1: You this honey is better than Yeah. Yeah that that that's the kind of sort of be my mantra for this show.
00:44:12
Speaker 3: I get it, like, I'm not about to I don't. I'm not about to con see. First of all, I'm gonna take that. I'm gonna take that and run with that because I ain't. I'm not about to convince you with my worst this year. I'm not about to convince you of my what I deserve. I'm not about to convince you that it's been that we that we're doing it big over here. I'm not about to do that.
00:44:31
Speaker 2: Like if you want to, if you want to stay on that side, stay on over there, then yes.
00:44:37
Speaker 1: Because I'm I'm gonna keep I'm gonna keep eating my I'm gonna keep it sweet over here, making my honey you always well.
00:44:44
Speaker 2: Yeah, but I'm not about to try to convince you no more. I'm over it. I love that.
00:44:51
Speaker 4: Done. That's it, done, done and done.
00:44:54
Speaker 2: That's it.
00:44:55
Speaker 3: Yeah, that's that's it. The name of this episode levels to why our shit is better? I'm just playing.
00:45:05
Speaker 2: Our honey got to be better.
00:45:08
Speaker 5: Joke.
00:45:10
Speaker 2: Oh my god, y'all. I ain't got no sense. That's the one thing that's gonna say the same. I ain't gonna like something exactly. Some things will not change into just so y'all not period.
00:45:23
Speaker 4: Oh my god, that was fun.
00:45:24
Speaker 2: I love y'all.
00:45:25
Speaker 3: Well, guys, we certainly appreciate you guys hanging out with us.
00:45:30
Speaker 2: This is and will be the.
00:45:33
Speaker 3: Last episode for a couple of weeks. We will be back for season two.
00:45:39
Speaker 1: Can you believe that they have allowed ye Chryl and I to have a second season. Jesus help us all back on the mic, say keeping us on the mic.
00:45:51
Speaker 2: So we will not have a.
00:45:52
Speaker 3: Show next week, but we'll be back the following week with season two. Season two is gonna be a lot of fun. We're still gonna have some incredible guests and doable topics, but we might have some additional segments. We might have some you know, different live shows because Cheryl and I like to be outside, you know, as much as outside as I can get. Cheryl and we just have a lot plans and up our sleeves for season two, so we are excited.
00:46:19
Speaker 2: But that also means that your girl and I need a little bit of a break.
00:46:23
Speaker 3: We just, you know, my our producers need a break, folks gotta you know, they need a vacation too, And so we're gonna take.
00:46:29
Speaker 2: This little time a little bit.
00:46:31
Speaker 3: We don't take this little time just to kind of get our shit right. But we'll be back for season two and we're very excited about it. So in the meantime, this is what we need you guys to do. Continue to show us love right. Take this time to go back and listen to some previous episodes from season one. You can absolutely still leave us comments on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you listen.
00:46:52
Speaker 2: You can definitely continue.
00:46:53
Speaker 3: To send us emails at Levels to This Podcast at gmail dot com and yes, follow us at ltt pod on Instagram. Continue to engage with us, show us love, tell people about the podcast.
00:47:06
Speaker 2: We are not just our show, it is literally our show.
00:47:11
Speaker 3: So we want to make sure that you guys continue to stay involved and engage with us and have an incredible twenty twenty six Until next time, friends, keep your mentals ground level and we will be back when we're back.
00:47:30
Speaker 1: Listen to Levels to This on America's number one podcast network, iHeart open your free iHeart app and search Levels to This with Cheryl Swoops and Tarika Foster Brasby and start listening
Speaker 1: Levels to This is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment.
00:00:05
Speaker 2: You can find us on the iHeartRadio.
00:00:07
Speaker 1: App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
00:00:17
Speaker 2: Hey, what's going on? Everybody? It's your girls? Herica Foster Brasby, what's up, y'all? Is your girl?
00:00:22
Speaker 3: Cheryl Swoops And this is the levels to this podcast. This is the show where we talk about all the different levels to the ship that women go through. And we always have such a great show. I'm excited about today's guests and today's show.
00:00:38
Speaker 2: I'm but first, happy New Year, like it's twenty twenty six.
00:00:42
Speaker 3: In this thing, we brand new, brand new, brand new, brand new, brand new child. We made it, Barret, we made it barely.
00:00:53
Speaker 2: When I say.
00:00:53
Speaker 4: Barely, say I don't know if that's a good thing.
00:00:55
Speaker 2: Barely. When I say barely, I mean barely. Without it'll be.
00:01:00
Speaker 1: Capital be all the all the letters are capital all the fIF But let me tell.
00:01:05
Speaker 2: You this cool thing that happened in New Year. Bye. I do want to share it with the people, this really cool thing that happened over the last week.
00:01:15
Speaker 4: Okay, do share.
00:01:16
Speaker 2: On Christmas Day.
00:01:17
Speaker 3: I got my niece got an Angel reached Jersey, and I knew she was getting an Angel reached Jersey, so I sent her a pair of Angel Reese's Midnight Diamond Dust to go with the jersey. My brother was like, oh, we got her to go with right. My brother said, oh, we got her to black jersey. I said, okay, I'll get her. I'll get her to black the black shoes to match. So if she gets the shoes, she's so excited. I post a video to my social media. Angel sees it, retweets it, and then quotes it and says.
00:01:50
Speaker 2: Ah, marry Christmas, little siss. I show it to my niece.
00:01:54
Speaker 3: And my niece had been claiming her mom's sister to be her favorite aunt for like the last forever.
00:02:02
Speaker 2: I have finally taken the title of favorite auntie.
00:02:06
Speaker 3: Yes you have, Yes you have, and I just want to say you should if there is no other way to start my twenty twenty six. That in itself makes me feel like this is going to be the best year ever because I have finally and if you know my niece, my niece does not hold her tongue, that little girl would be making you want a slapper because you'll be like little girl.
00:02:25
Speaker 1: I didn't ask you that. Why you're giving me all this extra Conversationay? Wait and how yes?
00:02:30
Speaker 4: Did you say how old she is?
00:02:31
Speaker 2: My niece is ten? Okay a yah, you're the You're the cool aunt.
00:02:36
Speaker 3: I am now officially the favorite aunt. It is taken ten years to get here.
00:02:40
Speaker 4: Not just favorite.
00:02:41
Speaker 2: You're cool cool, get the cool favorite. You got a lot.
00:02:44
Speaker 1: You got a lot to live up to in twenty twenty six, I do.
00:02:47
Speaker 3: I got like, I gotta stay up here now. I gotta stay up here now. So that's how I'm starting my new year. I wanted everybody to love. That's that's how I'm starting my new year.
00:02:57
Speaker 4: Good luck with that one. You're going a lot to live up to.
00:03:00
Speaker 3: I got a lot now, I got to get I'm gonna be like, I'm gonna be like Uiryl sadness hack.
00:03:06
Speaker 2: So I can give it to my baby because I got to stay on tip.
00:03:11
Speaker 1: Yeah, she's gonna be like, uh, Auntie, ting what you got for me?
00:03:16
Speaker 4: Now?
00:03:16
Speaker 2: Okay, I got to stay on top. I can't. I can't slip anyway. How's your holiday been? You know?
00:03:26
Speaker 4: Amazing?
00:03:27
Speaker 1: My My Christmas was incredible, New year thus far is amazing. You know, I'm not the I used to be the every year I gotta make a Newyear's resolution.
00:03:42
Speaker 4: I didn't. I didn't really do that this year.
00:03:46
Speaker 2: I'm not mad at that. Girl.
00:03:47
Speaker 4: I'm just trying to get through each day.
00:03:49
Speaker 2: I'm not mad at that.
00:03:51
Speaker 4: It's just it's so much going on. I can't.
00:03:53
Speaker 2: I can't even think about resolution. I understand, I really and truly do understand.
00:03:59
Speaker 3: I don't know if I'm I'm going to make any real resolutions this year. Last year was the first year that I ever actually made a resolution and stuck to it. I make it a resolution every year to lose weight. Last year I finally did so.
00:04:10
Speaker 2: I was like, oh she did, and girl, you are full. You know I've been crying. You know, I've been cruising because my mom. Happy birthday. First off, happy birthday to my mother.
00:04:20
Speaker 3: My mother's birthday is January first. She is fifty seven years old, So happy birthday, Mom. I appreciate that. And we, you know, we cruising for her birthday. And Honey, when I tell you every last one of these bathing suits, I need to be slapped because I ain't got no clothes on.
00:04:39
Speaker 2: Not every last one of them. I've been waiting.
00:04:42
Speaker 1: I've been waiting for the opportunity to justck it is here.
00:04:47
Speaker 2: Wait, wait, wait, like, girl, did you say you need to be slapped? Girl, just because you need to be slap? I do I need something? You need to be spak you want to slap for a spec.
00:04:59
Speaker 5: You know what.
00:05:01
Speaker 2: This podcast for, to take a whole different turn on some bullshit. That's oh my god.
00:05:08
Speaker 4: Well listen, Okay, I couldn't I couldn't help it.
00:05:11
Speaker 2: I love it. I absolutely love it.
00:05:13
Speaker 3: Well anyway a cruise, though, honey, I better be at ghost that is by the time I get to the sub gotta.
00:05:21
Speaker 2: It's the best way to It's the.
00:05:23
Speaker 3: Best way to international travel without spending all your money on a hotel. You get enough time to you know, you don't have to stay in the one little section.
00:05:33
Speaker 2: You can leave and go where you want.
00:05:34
Speaker 3: To go and come back, and you still get to stamp in your passport if you ask for it.
00:05:39
Speaker 2: It's the best.
00:05:40
Speaker 3: It's the best way to international travel for like the for the least.
00:05:43
Speaker 1: Amount of money. I love it, like, I absolutely love it. I'm tearing it up.
00:05:48
Speaker 2: I'm tearing it up.
00:05:49
Speaker 4: I encourage it where to have this conversation.
00:05:52
Speaker 2: See, it's all good.
00:05:53
Speaker 3: Though you would think you would think my black ass wouldn't want to be on the boat.
00:05:56
Speaker 1: I mean, how did we get to America? You should we should have enough a boat, don't. No, man, no, ma'am, we should have enoughing the whole another podcast.
00:06:05
Speaker 2: However, However, we're gonna.
00:06:07
Speaker 1: We're gonna part of the reason why I don't care to get one on the boat in the walk.
00:06:12
Speaker 2: No, it's okay.
00:06:15
Speaker 5: Six.
00:06:16
Speaker 3: Now we are, We're gonna. We're gonna do things much differently in twenty twenty six and starting which there are. You and I are gonna make a conscious effort to do more things together this year. That is a resolution that we are gonna stick to. And so we have already decided that we are going to visit some basketball games just no crew.
00:06:41
Speaker 4: Yes we are. Just there's plenty of other things we can do together.
00:06:47
Speaker 1: There are plenty of other things that we can do together. But we cannot go and cruise together. And that's fine, But it's fine. I don't want you to ruin my cruise experience anyway.
00:06:54
Speaker 2: I'm excited. But yes, we are.
00:06:56
Speaker 3: We you and I are going to commit ourselves to supporting more basketball programs this year, I think so, and one of which is probably going to be up here my way, which is, you know, get some Ivy League love. And so today on our show, we are going to be joined by the head coach of Harvard Basketball MS, Carrie Moore. Coach Carrie Moore is such a joy. She is definitely someone who wants to do well at the as a head coach. Has really had a breakthrough season with Harvard over the last couple of years, and they're having their moments this season, still trying to figure out after the loss of some seniors. But at the end of the day, I'm excited to have this conversation with Coach Moore and just kind of helped get you know, this Harvard program even some even more exposure because I don't know if folks been paying attention, but you know, the IVY League ain't no day, They ain't not no slouch. Columbia straight Prince's in the top twenty five, Like it's not they not no, ain't no scrubs.
00:07:58
Speaker 2: They ain't no scrubs over there.
00:07:59
Speaker 3: So out further Ado, let's just go ahead and take this thing to the next level.
00:08:04
Speaker 2: And welcome in coach Carrie Moore.
00:08:20
Speaker 3: All Right, fans, I'm incredibly excited to introduce today's guests because when you think about women's basketball and where we have been going over the last several years, this program has really been one of the most impressive that I can recall in recent memory. Harvard's head coach. She's a Michigan native like me, Come on now, so I love that she's a former national leading scorer at Western Michigan. She went on to play professionally in the WNBA, also played overseas, went through the coaching ranks Princeton create in North Carolina. I mean literally, has just really continued to develop herself into one of the best, and now she's helped to lead Harvard to their first IVY March Madness win and twenty twenty five this past year took them to their first ever IVY League Tournament championship and an NCAA tournament run. And if you remember Harmon the way she was turning up, this is who was coaching her. So we are excited to welcome coach Carrie Moore to the show today.
00:09:21
Speaker 5: Coach more, guys, thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it. This is awesome. You guys are legends in my mind, so I just appreciate it. You.
00:09:35
Speaker 1: Let me say this at the people who can't see coach war because she coached more.
00:09:39
Speaker 4: But she looked like she could steal ball.
00:09:41
Speaker 2: A little bit. I don't know, coach, you still be giving them buckets.
00:09:44
Speaker 5: In practice, I try to keep all the credibility that No, I try to keep all the credibility that I have from statistics, so I don't try to I don't try to mess around on the court.
00:09:56
Speaker 1: You will sometimes, like you know, for sure, to like let me let me show these young.
00:10:02
Speaker 5: And what just watch.
00:10:06
Speaker 3: I'm telling you, Well, people might not know, but she used to go by carried a score, you know what I'm saying. So yeah, you know, at some point she had to be like, Okay, now I'm gonna be coach more.
00:10:17
Speaker 2: So let's talk about that.
00:10:18
Speaker 3: Just your coaching journey, how you went from being one of the nation's leading scorer in college to coaching in general. Just where did you realize like, Okay, this is something that I want to continue to do in a way that I want to continue to get back to the game.
00:10:32
Speaker 5: Yeah, I don't know if I've always you know, some people just like know like they want to coach, right and I don't. I just knew I wanted to play. I just wanted to play basketball and play it at a high level. And so after college, you know, I was in two you guys said I've played in the WNBA. I mean, I can't take that much credit because I was in t WNBA training camp. You were there and was cut before the final word. You were there for sure. For sure, I got a great taste of it. And you know, without making a final roster for two years and going overseas for a year, you know, I just was like, well, let me just see, you know, what else is out there, because I just, you know, I just like having options, right, Like I've learned that, you know, you must have options on the table. And so an opportunity came about at Princeton as a director of basketball operations that really I just I felt like I couldn't pass up. It was moving pretty quickly, and the head coach at the time there at Courtney Banghart, she was like, are you coming or are you not? And so I was like, all right, I guess I'm doing this, And you know, over almost twenty years later here I am so yeah, it just you know, that was it was nothing, honestly, it was just kind of God's timing probably and in terms of just pushing me in the direction that I needed to go. And the next best thing to playing is you know, being on the sidelines as a coach, I feel and you know, can really give back to the game and pay it forward to our young women.
00:11:52
Speaker 1: So yeah, listen, there's nothing better than God's timing in his alignment.
00:11:56
Speaker 4: So I will say that.
00:11:58
Speaker 2: And I know we're talking about you, but I want to ask you, like you went to a couple of W and.
00:12:05
Speaker 1: A training camps. Harmony was at Vegas's training camp. So I got a few questions for you. One the first part is what do you think Harmony needs to work on to try and land a spot in the W And the second part of that is what are your thoughts on the growth of the W.
00:12:30
Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean to touch on harm first. I think she just she has to play professional basketball, right, Like you know, I think there's there's no way to practice playing at that level than to play at that level. So she's having a great year overseas in France and I think that will really propel her to hopefully having a better chance at making a roster this this upcoming training camp, she's settling into, you know, what it's like to not necessarily have to do it all, right, like fall in love with with doing the little things and just really playing your role to the best of your ability. You know, no w NBA team And I tried to tell her this and humble her right away, like, no w B A team that you're going to go to right now is going to ask you to do all the things that we were asking to do, and don't take don't take that as you know, a slight to your game. But but but take it as an opportunity to you know, really hone in and do what you do really well, and you know, maybe even do those things even better now because you're playing with with better players. So I think it honestly, I think she she needed the experience. You probably needed to be humbled a bit to get back to work and you know, really want it in a different way and and really open her eyes to you know, to playing you know in a different way and at a different level. So but one thing she she she did I thought tremendously well. Was just really play the part in terms of the intangibles, right, like I told her, be the first one in the gym, the last one to leave, be as coachable as you can, ask questions, you know, be curious, and you know, I wasn't there every day, but I felt like you know, in my text with her and phone calls, she really showed up in that way. And so just hoping the best for her. And to answer the second part of your question, I think just with you know, the expansion and all the new growth in the league, hopefully it provides you know, her and other you know, really good mid major players and opportunity to to make some rosters. But that the you know, it's it's no secret that the league is very good. So you've got to be You've got to do at your best in order to make that roster. And yeah, so I'm excited to be excited to see where it goes and all these teams, you know, they got to Detroit talking about Detroit trying to you know, come back. So it's it's nostalgic for me in a sense, but I'm looking forward to watching.
00:14:48
Speaker 3: I love that and I love what you said about about humbling her, and that's not even specific to harmony, but just in general that there is this sense that you've got to learn how to teach kids how to play with confidence, but not necessarily with a sense of entitlement. And I feel like there's something with this generation that they may have inadvertently developed a sense of entitlement. And I think it's a great thing that we have to continue to humble them and be like, hey, listen, you got to earn it. Nothing's going to be given, especially in basketball. And so when I look at Harvard specifically, there are so many things that I think this program has done over the last few years that I've really set them apart that I don't think other folks have ever seen. I'm an ap voter, right, and so I'm one of the people that be voting for the IVY League teams.
00:15:33
Speaker 2: And volks be like why do you get them on your ballot every single time? And I'm like, have you watched? Like are you watching?
00:15:39
Speaker 3: So I'm curious to know before you took the Harvard job, like what was it about this program that made you believe that they could play and that they could win even at such a historic level.
00:15:51
Speaker 5: Yeah, No, I appreciate all that you said, because it's really important for me to really provide I think everyone following women's basketball, women's basketball right now, the opportunity to know about our league. I'm you know, I'm first foremost, I'm always Harvard to go Crinceton, right, But I think just so to educate folks that our league is really good. And I think you saw that last year with three teams making it. It's the first time in league history that's happened, you know, three teams in the NSAA Tournament, and I think for a very good reason. I think all three teams deserve to be there. I think we showed that, you know with Columbia winning a game in the first four, you know, Princeton in a close game, and US hanging you know, pretty tough with with Michigan State. So I just you know, the I felt like Harvard was a place I could call the number one kid in the country and whoever else after that, and they would pick up the phone because it was Harvard. And for me, it's all about the brand and where I felt like I could be successful in terms of recruiting because I was coming from being a recruiting coordinator at Princeton, at North Carolina, at Michigan. Right, So, first and foremost, it doesn't matter how good of a coach you are if you don't have players, it doesn't really matter.
00:17:01
Speaker 2: So that's true.
00:17:03
Speaker 5: So I just I wanted to be at a place, yeah, that I felt like I could attract, you know, the best student athletes in the country, and that's what we try to do.
00:17:12
Speaker 1: So I want to add on to that t because when you start talking about just coaching and the landscape and the recruiting and just all the different aspects of being a college coach, there's so so much that comes with that. How how do you think the whole nil thing has made your job your job harder or easier?
00:17:43
Speaker 5: Yeah, I think I wish it has made it easier, but it's it's made it very, very harder, you know. I think we just I think before you could you could attract a kid, right that that wanted the degree and wanted to play basketball really high level. And and now it's the same conversation, right, but it's now we're having to compete, you know, with this this amount of money for the same type of education or similar type of education. You know at a Stanford or out of Michigan, or at a Northwestern or you know, name any other you know, high academic institution in the country. So I think that's that's definitely made it a little bit more challenging, but it's it's made us really value I think the relationship piece even more, you know, really just put in the time in terms of showing up for them and their families throughout the recruiting process and understanding right like, this is a this is a four and for everything, this is not a four. And you know, I think every year thing right in terms of just you know, you're gonna get this money for for the most part not I mean, the the generational talents are getting this money is going to continue to show up for them. But I think some of the kids that we recruit they need to understand, right like, this is this is money you're only going to receive for the next four years. Where As if you get this degree, this is money that you know, once you graduate here is going to continue to come back to you in full right, It's like the gift that keeps on giving, you know, since we're in the holiday season, if you will. But but that is the power of a Harvard degree. And so yeah, you hope that that still means something too. You know, enough families and enough players that that we can get here, you know, to to compete at a high level. And we've had to go internationally as well, like you know, we've had to really broaden I think, our search and go internationally too.
00:19:37
Speaker 3: Yeah, I listen here. I am a very proud HPC you grab. But honey, if I had a Harvard degree, all I'm saying is some.
00:19:46
Speaker 1: Additional doors would absolutely be opening.
00:19:50
Speaker 2: So for sure, for sure, that makes a ton of sense. And one thing that I have always loved.
00:19:56
Speaker 3: Especially on social media, But now I think you guys have taken it to a new level, which is incredible. And that's the nerd moniker, right, Like I think folks for a very long time. I knew as a kid in the eighties, if somebody, you know, called you a nerd, you'd probably want to fight, right because it came with a connotation of you know, like we all here playing dungeons and dragons and they're like, oh, you must be a nerd.
00:20:17
Speaker 2: I'm like, why can't I just be a kid that likes you know what I mean? Like why I got to be a nerd.
00:20:22
Speaker 3: So it was it was always felt like it was something negative to be smart or to to you don't have lights or interest in things other than what was popular.
00:20:32
Speaker 2: At least that was what it felt.
00:20:34
Speaker 3: But you all have taken that to a level of pride and have created a brand and it is taken off to the fact that you guys are not only embracing NERD but have Nerd jerseys in a NERD game coming up on January tenth, and so tell me, you know, what does it mean for your team and the pride that they have in this name, just beyond what the branding says.
00:21:00
Speaker 5: Yeah, first of all, shout out to my girl Harmony, because I think it all came about, you know, with with her platform and her really pushing it with the success that we had last season, and you know, after every game she's like, nerds can hoop to baby here like and you know she started, you know, got shirts made, and you know, her family was really pushing it. And then I think our team, you know, really rally behind it. And now you have our athletic department and our marketing department and you know, now like you're saying you know, we're going to do this this NERD jersey giveaway for the Columbia game. So I think it just it does an exceptional job of highlighting the type of you know, young women we have in our program. And there's there's nothing wrong with with being smart. Uh, there's nothing wrong with you know, attacking and competing and education, but also you know, doing the same thing on the basketball court. And I think that's why I love being the head coach at Harvard because you know, these these young ladies are are all into being you know, really competitive on the basketball court, but at the same time, you know they are all into you know, creating change you know, off the court as well. So it's a it's an incredible opportunity that I think they have to be at Harvard, and you know they're not taking it lightly to be able to promote, you know, the combination of being a true student athlete.
00:22:13
Speaker 2: Can I piggyback off that really quick?
00:22:15
Speaker 3: Because you started by saying, you know, the platform that Harmony had, and I think that you know, I didn't.
00:22:23
Speaker 2: I didn't play basketball in college.
00:22:24
Speaker 3: By the time I got to college, I knew softball was where you should stay sis basketball, not go.
00:22:29
Speaker 5: Get it for you.
00:22:30
Speaker 3: So, but but I think the even then, like the platforms that these student athletes have now are so different. Do you think that it makes your job harder or easier or do you have to resonate with your student athletes differently because of knowing that they have brands, knowing that they have TikTok and Instagram and how that you know, we got to practice, but you got to get content, Like how do you really balance ensuring that they can still maintain their brand and their platforms but also still like maintaining the standards that is Harvard basketball and that is any student athlete for sure.
00:23:05
Speaker 5: Yeah, it's challenging, right, It's like a fine line that you've got to walk because I think, you know, competitively, we talk about like they've got to become us and you know, not the other way around. But I think like there's you know, the standard is a standard. We talk about that a lot. But when it comes to like, you know, who they are and the brand and the platform that they do have, especially being at Harvard and these n I L opportunities and you know, creating a name for themselves, I think you you have to really allow them to be themselves and to open up in these spaces. And for me, that is very different. I'm very much introvert, you know, I don't I don't really put myself out there, you know, too much on social media. And but I've just got to grow. I've I've learned to accept. You know, this is the generation that we are in and in all honestly, if if if they have a platform and and people are watching and tuning in, then our program, you know, I think, uh, you know benefits from it greatly. So I just think it's it's education on you know how to do it and you know, understanding that you're representing not just yourself, but something so much bigger than yourself. And make sure you know, we're having those conversations which we do often that makes but they're but they're doing the TikTok dances and asking me you're going to have to do that? You know.
00:24:22
Speaker 1: I do?
00:24:23
Speaker 5: I do for sure. I actually am very excited to do those. It's the other stuff that I'm like, what do you'll have to do? So?
00:24:31
Speaker 1: But the dancing, I'm so my question kind of aligns with what you just said. You know, a lot of people think when they hear coaching, especially head coach. They immediately think it's all about the x's and o's and the all court stuff, right, And I, for one, feel it's not like that.
00:24:54
Speaker 4: What is the hardest part of your job?
00:25:00
Speaker 5: That's a great questions. I was roller coaster.
00:25:07
Speaker 2: Eying everything.
00:25:09
Speaker 5: Yeah, I think I think the hardest part for me is just the truth telling, like the horror conversations you know that that that I in particular have to have. You know, there's there's such a there's such a difference between right the assistant chair to the head head coach chair, even though it's maybe one step to the right or to the left, because you know, for so long I was the I joke about it all the time with our teams, Like, you know, I'm only four years in as a head coach. I'm forty years old, right, Like I'm I think relatively young compared to my counterparts. But please, but but I joke about like you know, I was, I was the cool assistant that you know, I couldn't get our players to like win my office as an assistant. And then I get a head I get a head coaching job the next day, and then all of a sudden, I'm in the scary office, you know that. Yeah, as soon as somebody steps into you know, they're they're immediately emotional or going through something. And I got to talk to you about this, and you know, and it's just it's just way more in depth. And I think taxing emotionally, mentally and physically, you know, because you have to make so many decisions on a daily uh. And and that is so different than anything I've ever done in my life.
00:26:37
Speaker 1: You know, under your leadership, this team has seen tremendous growth and success, and I think that's something you definitely have to pat yourself on a back, even though in the moment sometimes it feels like there's so much more to do.
00:26:50
Speaker 2: We've still we still got to get here. We still got to get there.
00:26:53
Speaker 3: But don't overlook like the accomplishments that you've made and the strides that you've made, because it is noticeable to many across the league. You know, a league, I'm sorry, a program, best of twenty four wins, getting the IVY League Championship, returning back to the NCAA tournament.
00:27:10
Speaker 2: Was it just a culture change or was it you know, talent? Was it belief? You say, the standard is the standard, but making the shift in the program. What was it for you that helped to make that shift?
00:27:25
Speaker 5: Yeah, I think it definitely is just a culture shift in terms of, you know, how competitive we are, how tough we are. You know, what we put into it is what we're going to get out of it. And so I felt like that was a change for them. The senior class that we inherited our first year, you know, noticed the change initially. It was very much more you know, defensive focus. You know, we practiced a little bit longer, We watched film, you know, probably way more than they ever have. You know, I had conversations with them, direct conversations more than they were used to. So just yeah, a lot of accountability. You know, we talk about non negotiables being you know, compete, be coachable, and communication, and I think all three of those areas. You know, we try to show up at our best, you know, every single day. So yeah, I am a competitive person by nature. So no basketball team that is going to be coached by me is you know not going to show up every day and have some competitive stamina about it.
00:28:23
Speaker 2: I love that period because after all, she was a she was the score.
00:28:29
Speaker 5: But I love that.
00:28:32
Speaker 2: But Carrie.
00:28:34
Speaker 1: You know, people talk a lot about like culture, the culture, the culture.
00:28:40
Speaker 5: And.
00:28:42
Speaker 1: I think that has a lot of different definitions for different people. But a lot of people think that you just like you teach that, And personally, I don't think that culture is something you teach.
00:28:54
Speaker 4: I think it's something that you build.
00:28:56
Speaker 1: So when you when you took the job or got the job at heart, how intentional were you about building the culture or changing the culture of Harvard women's basketball.
00:29:10
Speaker 5: Yeah, great question. Very intentional. Uh, you know, we I hired my staff. That was probably the first thing that I was very intentional about. It took me, you know, quite a long time to kind of find exactly what I was looking for. And I felt like, you know, I feel like I did a great job with them because they they're still with me four years in, so they must they must like me a little bit of something. But yeah, we must be doing something right to keep them here. But yeah, I think, you know, that was something we talked about. Is you know, what who are we what are we going to be about? I think culture is, you know, how you act and interact, you know, not just as a team, but the team with with your coaching staff and and so we you know, we set in kind of a we called it a war room at the time, but it was essentially just a big conference room and we you know, we talked through all these different things that that we wanted to show up and resonate within our program, and we nailed or came to you know, unity, grid, integrity, and joy being our four kind of core four principles of what we wanted our culture to be about. And I agree with you, Cheryl, it's not it's not just like you can't just teach those things, but it's also like you you've got to embody those things and be the example of those things so they know what it looks like and and have a north star if you will, to follow. So but yeah, we talk about out teaming the other team all the time, how they can show up and love on each other in a unified way.
00:30:34
Speaker 2: You know.
00:30:35
Speaker 5: Grittiness is just you know, competitive stamina and you know, doing the little things and you know, being the tougher team. And uh, integrity is doing what you say you're gonna do and you know, even long after the mood you said you would do it in and and I think joy is is just you know obviously just just having fun with with playing the game that we all love. So but I think what made our team last year so special is like anytime you watched us, and not just last year. I want to speak, I guess on on all the years and all the teams. But I thought when you when you win a championship, you embody what what you are culturally in the best possible way. And I felt like you saw all four of those things resonate in different ways. You know, every time you interacted with us or watched us play, which I was really proud of.
00:31:24
Speaker 2: Did you feel a sense of relief? Was it like, ah, finally I did it. We did it, we got it done.
00:31:30
Speaker 4: Like was it relief?
00:31:32
Speaker 2: Was it motivation? Was it validation? Like what was what was going through your mind when you won the championship?
00:31:38
Speaker 5: Yeah, it's like it definitely is really fray. Like I mean, it's it's just so you put everything into it, and you know, and it happened fairly quickly, right, so you you know, one would think that we're a little greedy in terms of, you know, what we're trying to accomplish so soon. But as soon as we got here, we talked about hanging banners and it not being done in so long and making it history and making more history if you will, And we did it, and you know, we just really tried to soak in the moment and just be present and just celebrated as much as we could for as long as we could until we had to turn the page. But yeah, it was, it was, you know, honestly surreal. But you you work so hard for that moment. And I've been a part of championship teams as an assistant, but there's nothing like it, you know, it being yours and being the head coach of it all, playing coaching, you know, as a head coach for my first time in the n CUAA tournament like just just such a blessing and you know, couldn't have envisioned it, you know, any better.
00:32:35
Speaker 2: And in a and in a short time, in a short time.
00:32:40
Speaker 4: I love girl, I love that.
00:32:43
Speaker 1: I love that.
00:32:44
Speaker 4: Let me say this before I ask you my next question. I need to take a trip. I need to come to take in te We need to go check out a game.
00:32:53
Speaker 5: Yes please, we would love to have you. Y'all got to come to Boston.
00:32:56
Speaker 4: To come to a game.
00:32:57
Speaker 3: See, I'm close I currently live in Connecticut, so Boston is only an hour and change for me.
00:33:03
Speaker 2: Getting Ryl out of Texas is where we got to work. Like that's where and when y'all got.
00:33:11
Speaker 1: Good weather, I gotta come. When y'all got good weather. Girl, it's eighty five degrees here, let's get her. Let's get her up here in like in March April, I mean, like uh, February, March, because the season will by the time April May gets here, like we're out of college basketball season at this point.
00:33:29
Speaker 5: But here.
00:33:33
Speaker 1: Okay, yeah, yeah, I'm saying my last question, but I may come up with another one based off of your answer. So I'm just a firm believer and I both and we talk about this on the show a lot, and like see her be her and having women like lead our young girls and women, and so for you to be in this position, first of all, I'm going to say thank you for being that leader. But my question for you is how has coaching women like changed or shaped your definition of what leadership looks like versus when you were a player.
00:34:10
Speaker 5: Wow, you know, I think at the time I was I was looking up to so many others to your point, I mean, I was watching you right, do what you do, and and you know just what it takes to be a pro and how to carry yourself. You know, as a pro no matter what you're doing, meant a lot to me. And I tried to do that as a player right and hold myself to this standard because you know, I saw so many others doing it at such a high level and I just aspired to to be that and to do that. And so now, you know, being a head coach, I feel as if, you know, I take great pride in showing up consistently and leading our young women in the best possible way. And I feel like I'm so intentional about everything you know that I say, how I interact with them, you know, how we practice. You know, everything that I bring to the table within this program is well thought out and means so much to me. And I feel like I would be doing the program the university them, you know, as players, as young women, a disservice if if I didn't own it right, like this is you know I joke about like I used to have hobbies. Now it's like I could care less, like this is this is my hobby because it essentially is is my baby right, Like, I just want to to do it so well and so yeah, I just I feel like I owe it, you know, to them, to pay it forward and give them an example of what leadership needs to look like.
00:35:45
Speaker 1: Well, tee, I am going to follow up with something sure, and this will be my last one. So in hearing all of that and knowing how stressful this job can be, how do you unwine? How do you what do you do when you're like, I got to get away from this for a minute because we all have that time and and need that time for sure.
00:36:10
Speaker 5: For sure. Yeah, you know, I just just was home with my family in Detroit. You know, I've got a got an older brother, you know.
00:36:27
Speaker 2: Period Okay, the city of the world, but.
00:36:31
Speaker 5: Yeah, I've got a older brother, just just him and I. So you know, his his relationship to me is everything. He's got two girls, so I'm a I'm a I'm an aunt to you know, two young nieces. You know, I've got a partner here in Boston with me. You know, we'd like to travel. So anytime I get any time off, you know, I'm booking some type of vacation, you know, to some degree. Uh, I I love reality television I hate saying we do what.
00:37:02
Speaker 2: You want is always to watch somebody else's drama. Never even right.
00:37:07
Speaker 5: I need to step outside of my own ridiculous there and tell.
00:37:11
Speaker 2: Them what they should or shouldn't.
00:37:13
Speaker 4: Stay back, you shouldn't be doing that.
00:37:15
Speaker 5: Meanwhile, yeah, meanwhile, we got.
00:37:20
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:37:21
Speaker 5: I'm a I'm an avid hot yoga or I go there often, so love hot yoga. That's a great way to kind of wine and release. There's a there's a spa close to us here in Boston that I love to go to. So I have my different thing that I step away I love.
00:37:41
Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, yeah, gotta gotta be able to turn it off. We can't be basketball twenty four seven week Charlotte. I talk about that all the time, Like, you know, we do like other things other than just basketball.
00:37:52
Speaker 2: Right, But.
00:37:56
Speaker 3: You got to, right, you can't work an empty cup. So you've got to got to get that energy somewhere. But but before we get out of here, coach, just what's next?
00:38:02
Speaker 5: Right?
00:38:03
Speaker 3: I think we all know that championships are are obviously what we strive for, but you know, just you as a coach as well as your program, Like what do you see as the next step for for Harvard and where do you you know, want to go next even in your career.
00:38:19
Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, I think there's there's always, you know, a way to improve and and you know kind of a next step that we're trying to accomplish as as a team. You know, I felt like last year, obviously winning a championship is a great accomplishment, but but we want to be consistent, you know, contenders in this league in terms of trying to win championships, and you know, we're we're currently on a bit of a roller coaster right now in terms of this particular season. You know, we're sitting at six and six and you know, really trying to I think, find our groove and find ourselves. We've had you know, you lose you know, seniors like Harmony and our other senior, Lena Rodriguez and you know Mona, we're such incredible leaders for us and and so now you know, coming back with this team, you know, we have to really figure out, you know, who we are and what we're going to be and what we're going to stand for. And I think that that doesn't need to we don't need to figure that out today luckily. Yeah, I think, you know, our conference place starts in two weeks, and if we can continue to just you know, really climb the ladder and just get a little bit better every day, I feel really good about where we can be. But yeah, we we just we we want to we want to win, and that's just that's how we show up every day. It's not just about the outcome. It's more about the process. And if we can buy into the process consistently, I feel good about, you know, what we're doing. And for me too, like I think it's very easy. You win a championship. Everybody, everybody's asked me, like where are you going? Who's what job you take in? It's like, you know, I'm yeah, It's like it's like can I just be can you know, can I just be here and be where my feet are and and try to be really good, you know, for a consistent amount of time. And I'm still learning, I'm still growing, I'm still being stretched in a variety of ways, and so I just want to make sure I'm consistently you know, challenging myself too. I love that.
00:40:08
Speaker 1: Well, all just coach, keep doing, keep doing what you're doing, you know, I know so many times we see what we hear from the the big time coaches, right, the Genos, the Dons, the those coaches, And I just want to say to you that there are more people, more young women and men that are more like you, the younger coaches who's trying to break into this career in this field, and I just think you are a great example for them to look up to.
00:40:41
Speaker 4: So keep keep doing what you're doing.
00:40:45
Speaker 3: Absolutely, thank you, Thank you so much for join We look forward to continuing to watch Harvard. I'm gonna be wearing my nerves jerseys.
00:41:00
Speaker 2: And a half away from figure out, will hop on a plane and come. I will do that. Yes, we're gonna figure out what game. We're gonna figure it.
00:41:07
Speaker 5: Okay, Yeah, I'll have my people for sure make us.
00:41:13
Speaker 2: Yeah, we gotta make it happen. So it's a beautiful day.
00:41:21
Speaker 4: It's sunny here too.
00:41:25
Speaker 2: That ain't fair. Sure, that ain't fair.
00:41:29
Speaker 4: I'm gonna pull up on you. Make it happen.
00:41:32
Speaker 5: Sounds good.
00:41:45
Speaker 3: Big shout out again to coach More for joining us. It was great to talk to her and converse with her. And I was so serious about my nerves jersey. I'm definitely finna wit it and we're gonna we're gonna pop up in Boston. It's cold right now. Oh, but we're gonna pop up later. But anyway, it is going to be really dope as we get into like conference play to see like where these teams are gonna head. Looking forward to having more coaches join us throughout the rest of this college basketball season and players and just kind of give us an update and catch up on what they're doing where they are and see how the rest of the season is gonna shape out.
00:42:24
Speaker 1: Yeah, and just shining, you know, shining doing our part to shine a little light on the Harvard program and coach more doing some great things there. So I'm for real, I'm coming. I'm gonna hop on a plane. We're going to a Harvard game. So you can hold me to that one. Yes, just not when it's not Just not when it's a blizzard outside.
00:42:44
Speaker 3: Okay, got you well in that case, then why don't you add a little warmth to the cool New England weather that we're experiencing here and level us on up a little bit. Shro you always have a great word for us. So would it be twenty twenty six if you didn't bring us in with something dope.
00:43:05
Speaker 4: Yeah, well, okay, so this.
00:43:10
Speaker 1: One was probably going into a new year trying to change my whole mindset.
00:43:19
Speaker 4: And the way I deal with people and talking to people.
00:43:23
Speaker 2: And I don't know, let me just let me just read it, okay, And it says.
00:43:31
Speaker 1: A bee does not waste its energy trying to convince a fly that honey is better than shit?
00:43:39
Speaker 2: Or is it kind of deep?
00:43:42
Speaker 1: It's not, but maybe when do you think about First of all, that the analogy, the it it makes real, perfect sense, It makes perfect sense. This be this bee is over here looking at this fly like I'm telling you come over here and try someone it honey.
00:44:00
Speaker 2: And you know what, if you don't want to, I'm not even trying to convince you. I'm not even about the way I'm telling.
00:44:05
Speaker 1: You this honey is better than Yeah. Yeah that that that's the kind of sort of be my mantra for this show.
00:44:12
Speaker 3: I get it, like, I'm not about to I don't. I'm not about to con see. First of all, I'm gonna take that. I'm gonna take that and run with that because I ain't. I'm not about to convince you with my worst this year. I'm not about to convince you of my what I deserve. I'm not about to convince you that it's been that we that we're doing it big over here. I'm not about to do that.
00:44:31
Speaker 2: Like if you want to, if you want to stay on that side, stay on over there, then yes.
00:44:37
Speaker 1: Because I'm I'm gonna keep I'm gonna keep eating my I'm gonna keep it sweet over here, making my honey you always well.
00:44:44
Speaker 2: Yeah, but I'm not about to try to convince you no more. I'm over it. I love that.
00:44:51
Speaker 4: Done. That's it, done, done and done.
00:44:54
Speaker 2: That's it.
00:44:55
Speaker 3: Yeah, that's that's it. The name of this episode levels to why our shit is better? I'm just playing.
00:45:05
Speaker 2: Our honey got to be better.
00:45:08
Speaker 5: Joke.
00:45:10
Speaker 2: Oh my god, y'all. I ain't got no sense. That's the one thing that's gonna say the same. I ain't gonna like something exactly. Some things will not change into just so y'all not period.
00:45:23
Speaker 4: Oh my god, that was fun.
00:45:24
Speaker 2: I love y'all.
00:45:25
Speaker 3: Well, guys, we certainly appreciate you guys hanging out with us.
00:45:30
Speaker 2: This is and will be the.
00:45:33
Speaker 3: Last episode for a couple of weeks. We will be back for season two.
00:45:39
Speaker 1: Can you believe that they have allowed ye Chryl and I to have a second season. Jesus help us all back on the mic, say keeping us on the mic.
00:45:51
Speaker 2: So we will not have a.
00:45:52
Speaker 3: Show next week, but we'll be back the following week with season two. Season two is gonna be a lot of fun. We're still gonna have some incredible guests and doable topics, but we might have some additional segments. We might have some you know, different live shows because Cheryl and I like to be outside, you know, as much as outside as I can get. Cheryl and we just have a lot plans and up our sleeves for season two, so we are excited.
00:46:19
Speaker 2: But that also means that your girl and I need a little bit of a break.
00:46:23
Speaker 3: We just, you know, my our producers need a break, folks gotta you know, they need a vacation too, And so we're gonna take.
00:46:29
Speaker 2: This little time a little bit.
00:46:31
Speaker 3: We don't take this little time just to kind of get our shit right. But we'll be back for season two and we're very excited about it. So in the meantime, this is what we need you guys to do. Continue to show us love right. Take this time to go back and listen to some previous episodes from season one. You can absolutely still leave us comments on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, wherever you listen.
00:46:52
Speaker 2: You can definitely continue.
00:46:53
Speaker 3: To send us emails at Levels to This Podcast at gmail dot com and yes, follow us at ltt pod on Instagram. Continue to engage with us, show us love, tell people about the podcast.
00:47:06
Speaker 2: We are not just our show, it is literally our show.
00:47:11
Speaker 3: So we want to make sure that you guys continue to stay involved and engage with us and have an incredible twenty twenty six Until next time, friends, keep your mentals ground level and we will be back when we're back.
00:47:30
Speaker 1: Listen to Levels to This on America's number one podcast network, iHeart open your free iHeart app and search Levels to This with Cheryl Swoops and Tarika Foster Brasby and start listening
