Your Mom™

A month before Steph Curry won his fourth NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors, his mom Sonya released a memoir detailing her journey from growing up in poverty in rural Virginia to becoming a first generation college graduate to raising three immensely gifted children with her now ex-husband, Dell Curry.

Sonya opens up to Ashley and Lisa about what it's been like being on her own for the first time in 40 years. She shares insight on why she wrote Fierce Love, what she learned about herself in the process, and why she chose not to include her divorce in the book.

We know you'll be as inspired as we were by this strong mother as she reveals her keys to finding joy, connecting with faith and rediscovering your purpose.

Sonya's book is called Fierce Love: A Memoir of Family, Faith, and Purpose.

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Ashley, Lisa and Hot Betsy recap the past month, including the highs and lows of the Super Bowl, exciting NFL combine results for Luke (or as Ashley’s daughter Cora now refers to him, Luke Skywalker), ongoing wedding plans (if you have any mother-son wedding dance suggestions, drop us a line), and the injustice of half-empty toothpaste tubes and faulty washing machines (any brands out there that want to set the record straight, feel free to sponsor the pod).

Come for the football scoop and stay for Lisa processing the fall-out from her viral moment.

Thanks as always for listening, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

Questions, comments or feedback? And do you think Lisa should wear beige jorts to Christian's wedding reception? Email: [email protected].

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The day after the Super Bowl, Chantal Below’s son was so devastated by the 49ers' loss that he requested to stay home from school. Chantal, who admittedly doesn’t care much about sports, was mystified by his utter desolation. This got us thinking: what is it about team sports that inspires such extreme emotions? Where’s the line between loyal fan and zealous fanatic?

In an attempt to answer these questions, we dive into the deep end of fan psychology: the intersection of sports and religion, the gender dynamics of emotional repression, and the toxicity of sideline critics. We question why certain “fans” spew negative comments on social media after a tough loss and others set cars on fire after a momentous victory.

We also celebrate the inspiring side of fandom: the community it creates, the resilience it engenders, and the respect it promotes for the players putting their bodies and souls on the line. As a lifelong sports enthusiast, Ashley shares how watching football kept her connected to her dad during a tough time in her life. As a mom and wife of avid athletes, Chantal acknowledges the magic in the madness of youth sports. And, as a longtime Buffalo Bills fan, our executive producer Betsy Bloom offers an ode to Bills mafia’s enduring loyalty even in the most trying times

So, whether your mental health hinges on a win or you watch sports for the snacks, we hope you’re a fan of this episode. Stay tuned next week for our SuperBowl recap with Lisa, who undeniably earned the right to skip school the next day.

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Questions, comments, feedback? We love hearing from you, drop us a line [email protected]. And as always, thanks for listening!

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About Chantal Below:

Chantal moved from the US to England in third grade. As an expat, she promptly began saying biscuit instead of cookie and spelling color with a ‘u’ in order to fit in. She never developed a love of cricket, but did develop a fascination with humanity, unconsciously examining how different cultures and beliefs expand or limit our choices.

After graduating from Georgetown University, she started her career as a 4th grade teacher with Teach For America, hoping to expand choices for too-often marginalized children in low-income schools. She loved the energy of the kids and the vibrancy of the community, but no one really wanted her teaching long division.

Since then, she’s been exploring the many dimensions of the human condition while avoiding math. She worked for years in the education non-profit world leading teams and developing leadership development programs. Then, she ventured out on her own and started Redcliff Coaching, Inc. She also attempts to parent three kids who are curious, compassionate, hysterical, and only vaguely pay attention to her advice. She lives in Oakland, CA.

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“If we can have some real talk here, this is what I want to say.” So begins our conversation with Pac-12 Sports Broadcaster Tammy Blackburn, who is living with stage four metastatic breast cancer.

In this episode, Tammy illuminates the reality of living with cancer, especially the parts we tend to overlook or consider impolite to discuss: She delves into the physical pain of treatment and then emotional pain of losing control of her body. She calls out the commercialization and sexualization of the breast cancer awareness movement. And, she shares the moment she learned she would never be able to have children.

Listening to Tammy is like taking a masterclass in grace and honesty. Rather than running from reality, she has channeled her diagnosis into action, raising awareness and funds to combat this deadly disease. She loves fiercely and is fiercely loved in return (stick around until the end of the episode for first-hand testimony).

While this episode tackled heavy topics, we ended it feeling lighter. In addition to real talk about death and sacrifice, we also discussed the power of play and the necessity of balancing seriousness with silliness.

So, grab a hula hoop and some headphones and settle in for an inspiring hour with the inimitable Tammy Blackburn.

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We love you all, and as always, thanks for being here.

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If you've ever watched ESPN you know who Adam Schefter is. But this interview with the Senior NFL Insider and his mom Shirley will introduce you to a whole new side of one of the most famous faces in sports media.

Lisa describes how she launched Adam's career by putting him on the map when he was a young sportswriter covering her husband Ed and the Denver Broncos in the '90s. Adam shares some hilarious stories and touching insights about his personal and professional journey, including why he used to invite his parents to stay in his hotel room with him when he first starting covering the Super Bowl.

And while Adam's interview is fantastic, the real fun starts when he signs off and his mom Shirley takes center stage.

Lisa also discusses how the McCaffrey family is doing after a tough weekend in Philadelphia at the NFC Championship, including some big picture perspective and gratitude for how her son Christian was able to close out the season with the Niners.

Make sure you're subscribed to our YouTube channel and stay tuned for all the great content coming from our first road show, as Your Mom is headed to Phoenix for Super Bowl week!

And after listening if anyone is interested in meeting Adam's brother Jordan Schefter...let us know...

Links:

Watch this full episode on YouTube.

Adam Schefter's book: The Man I Never Met.

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