Your Mom™

Your Mom's Super Bowl bonus week coverage rolls on with a two-for-one special, featuring two of the most special people we know.

Solomon Thomas and his mom Martha joined the set in Phoenix before hitting the red carpet for the NFL Honors awards ceremony last month. Solomon was the 2022 New York Jets' nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award and - like any man of the year would - he invited his mom to be his plus one.

Solomon played football with Lisa's son Christian at Stanford, and you can tell by some of the stories that start flying just how many memories these two families have shared.

The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award is one of the league's most prestigious honors, recognizing an NFL player for outstanding community service activities off the field, as well as excellence on the field. Solly may not have won that award this year, but he's officially Your Mom's NFL Man of the Year and we think that's the vote that really matters anyways.

To learn more about the critical work Solomon and his family are doing to honor his late sister Ella, please go to their website: https://thedefensiveline.org/. And congrats again to Solomon, the inaugural Your Mom NFL Man of the Year!

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Check out this episode and additional bonus material on Your Mom's YouTube page.

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Ashley visits Lisa in Colorado for Your Mom's first annual Halloween special.

In their first show since manifesting Christian McCaffrey's trade to the 49ers, Lisa describes how everything went down behind the scenes. Hear why she thought her son was going to the Rams, how she found out about the Niners and why she's thrilled for this new chapter with Jimmy G and company in the "Bae" Area.

Given the costumes and visual nature of this podcast, we highly advise watching this episode on our YouTube channel.

Thanks as always for listening and Happy Halloween!

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We “soft-wrapped” Season 2 of YourMom the best way we know how: in robes, answering your burning questions.

As usual, you guys really brought it: topics include Christian’s NFL Madden 25 cover (which Lisa definitely did not bet on in Vegas), what Ashley will most miss from her Pac-12 travels, punctuation etiquette; and of course, all things *wedding*, from Lisa’s dress drama to her planned Dirty Dancing choreography with Greg Van Roten. Plus, Lisa finally embraced her inner-influencer and revealed the secret to her glowy skin: Jones Road Miracle Balm; turns out, Ashley is also a devoted fan. Once again we’re open to sponsorships, collabs, free samples, etc...

Thanks, as always, for listening and laughing with us this season. It’s not goodbye, it’s just see you at Your Mom's post-wedding debrief.

And keep an eye out for the final Your Story episode of the season with the incomparable Elizabeth Kending, dropping soon!

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Watch this episode on our YouTube Channel.

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Ryan Leaf was an All-American quarterback at Washington State University. He was the No. 2 overall NFL Draft pick by the San Diego Chargers in 1998. A few years later, he was known as the No. 1 overall NFL Draft bust.
Much has been written about the small town, big-armed quarterback from Montana who went from living out his dream to enduring life in prison. Today, we hear a uniquely intimate perspective on that journey, as Ryan's mom joins the show.

Marcia Leaf tells Ashley and Lisa about some of the joyful moments, like the time she crowd-surfed at one of Ryan's games. She also opens up about some of her most painful memories and regrets, including being in denial as Ryan struggled with drug addiction.

Today, Ryan advocates for those struggling with mental and behavioral health issues. He’s found purpose in his career as a college football analyst and - more importantly - in his role as a father.

Come listen to this emotional journey like you've never heard it before. Through the eyes of Ryan's mom.

26:30- Ryan's phone call to Peyton Manning in college
28:08- Marcia crowd surfing.
31:50 - The significance of Ryan asking his dad to tie his tie.
51:00 - Marcia explains why prison was the best thing that happened to her son.
52:40 - Marcia describes her Sunday “prison hangovers”
54:50- The change she saw in Ryan after he got out of prison
1:02:32- The one thing Marcia would change, as a mother, if she could go back in time and do it all again.
1:07:32 - What Ryan says is his favorite thing about Marcia.

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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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