speaker-0: Anybody that I've talked to, like professional athlete wise, they've made their sport their life, but they didn't know anything about themselves other than the sport.

speaker-1: That's what I tell the girls in my foundation and that's what I preach to anybody in sports is understand who you are. Take the time to know what you like, learn your hobbies, do the hobbies.

speaker-0: Welcome to the Giving Game, the only show where professional athletes are banned from talking about their sport. That's right. No stats, no game recaps, no media trained answers. I'm your host, Sophie Weitzel, and every episode we find out who these athletes actually are when the cameras stop rolling and the jerseys come off. We're talking untold stories, questionable life decisions, dating disasters, money, family, fame. Philanthropy and all the stuff their PR teams would probably prefer stayed off the internet. But here's the twist. Every episode is tied to a charity or cause chosen by the athlete. So while we're exposing personalities, we're also raising real money and driving measurable impact for the organizations that matter. There are only three rules on this show. No sports talk, no filters, raise as much money as possible. So if you've ever wondered what athletes are really like off the field, welcome to the Giving Game. Let the game begin. Everybody, welcome back. Give a warm giving game welcome to Miss Jennifer George. She is here with us today. And thank you, Jennifer, for coming. As I was telling Jennifer, we've got three rules on the show. I think everybody knows. One is that we don't talk sports. No PR answers. Just keep it real with people. ⁓ people want to see the real you. And last but not least, let's try to raise as much money as possible for your charity. So Are you ready? Let's do it. Let's go. Let's go. Yes. So Jennifer, welcome. Tell me a little bit about your foundation and tell me a little bit about why you die decided to come on today.

speaker-1: Let's get it. Absolutely. And thank you again for having me join the podcast. Definitely a fan. And yeah, Girls Basketball Worldwide Foundation was founded in 2020, which obviously a great time when the world shut down, but it gave people like myself some time to really, you know, focus on what's important and building for the future. You know, Girls Basketball Wide Worldwide was built ⁓ from my time from my Jamaica. I've been messing up with this all day today. The national women's basketball program for Jamaica. So me playing with them, and then I had some time at Mount Vert Academy where we were able to recruit seven girls from overseas. And so really, when people ask me, you know, where did it start? Right? Where was that inception? It started at Mount Vert Academy, where we had one girl come from overseas to a fifty thousand dollar boarding school. And she came with no shoes. And that was a moment for me where it was like, if you're coming from humble beginnings, no matter what opportunity or scholarship opportunity you get, you need help still. And so that's where Girls Bastorwide Foundation really was brought to attention and said, Hey, there's an option opportunity here to impact girls and girls only for programming and communities and internationally as well. ⁓ that's

speaker-0: That's incredible because, you know, it it's I I get it that there's basketball in the name, but it's really not just about basketball, which I love. You know, people wouldn't think that. And it's like, this is the opportunity that basketball has created for you, clearly. So did you feel compelled to kind of pass that along to other people? Is there some part of you that's like, hey, I have this duty to, you know, pass that along to others since I got that?

speaker-1: No, you hit it on the head. I wasn't the most academically inclined student. So for me, basketball was my tool. I was able to go to a top university, which I wouldn't have had the opportunity elsewhere with my grades. ⁓ I got to travel the country, you know, and again, I wouldn't do that on my on my own dime. So things that I got to accomplish and got to see and witness and experience throughout my thirty-five now, thirty-five years of living. basketball was really the the driving force. So if I can be able to help a young girl that can utilize a sport to propel them in life, I feel like it's my duty to do that.

speaker-0: So when you got to college, well what what did you major in? What would you do when you got there?

speaker-1: Great question. I ⁓ I actually started off. Most people don't know this criminology. I was drawn or SPU. Yeah, yeah. Like SPU to the point where I actually missed I got in trouble actually my freshman year for it, and I had to run the next day at 6 a.m., which I was also late for, which is we spoke about this prior to I like to be on time now and call me because I'm experiencing call it but but yeah, so I I took the precursor or prerequisite courses at Florida.

speaker-0: Yeah.

speaker-1: And I failed ⁓ So I was like, I don't think I should do this. I don't think I should go into this career. So I pivoted and I got my degree in recreation event management.

speaker-0: Okay, that's fun. I love that. So do you use that now? Like or is it kind of just, hey, I've got that. That's

speaker-1: Cool. No, I think I love events. So that's why the events for the foundation and any other events that I plan, I really love a great experience. And I I credit my time at Florida and the professors that we had for the skill sets that I was able to hone in and and build up build upon once I left Florida.

speaker-0: So you'll have to tell me this because I'm kind of, you know, just learning in the world, but like, what is it that makes a great event? Like what propels a good event to like a great one?

speaker-1: Well, in my opinion, I think a good event versus a great events when the people are walking away being like, When is the next one? Like, I need to go back. What else do you have going on? I always for me judge my events kind of based off of cause things are gonna in the event world everyone knows there's gonna be fires that you gotta put out day like nothing goes correctly of as you planned. But one, how do you pivot off of that? But two, Like making sure obviously that the consumer has no awareness of it, but then two that they can walk away with something that like, I loved it, like let's let's go back, let's do it again. Yeah.

speaker-0: Yeah. I yeah, I love that. I I joke all the time that I could have like, you know, 20 weddings. I don't want 20 marriages, but I want 20 weddings because I loved my wedding. I had the best time and I loved like planning every little deal. And I like love little details, you know, and I think that details are just the key. I'm like, I could have a million of these. I could do this all the time. And so I'm like, I said I just want a party where I'm the center of attention and I have a beautiful dress and you know, you don't even have to bring me a gift. I just I just loved my wedding so much to where it's like, I think I could do this, you know. But somebody was like, Well, you could do the you could do that like you could renew your vows and I was like, ⁓ no, no, no, no, no. Not one not one of those. That is cringy. No, no, no, no, no, no. They're like, You'd rather have Ted weddings than renew vows that we get.

speaker-1: But

speaker-0: But anyway, I was gonna ask you, do you have kids? Are you married? Anything? Are you like awesomely single, ready to go?

speaker-1: I wouldn't say I'm single, but I don't have kids. As I mentioned before, 35. I'm not saying that's an old age to have kids, but for me in my lifestyle, I think that's that's it. Like I think I'm good not having kids. I'm not pretty there. Yeah. But I definitely love what I do and that definitely takes a lot of my time and I make time for loved ones and family members. I love

speaker-0: I love that. Do you feel like so? I have a best friend. She lives in Portland. And her and her husband, I mean, she tells me all the time, she's like, Sophie, it's the most annoying thing in the world because they are very well off. Like they're there's nothing wrong with either of them. Like they just simply don't want kids, you know? And she's like, people act like you're like. betraying your body or pro betraying your duty and people are like, What is wrong with you? You know, like and I don't I was curious if you ever get that, where you're like, Why do I have to explain why I don't want kids? I just don't you know, like do I ask you why you why you wanted to pop out three like, you know, no. I mean, I just wondered if you ever get that from people.

speaker-1: think necessarily like I think people I'm trying to think. I mean I guess recently I am getting like more like ⁓ do you have kids and like I say no and I think it I usually it usually stops there. I don't I don't get too many second questions after that. That's good. Why? I don't know. Yeah like say my broad shoulders. Maybe that's why I don't know. I I blame everything on the broad shoulders. Yeah, ⁓ gosh. I mean you would have

speaker-0: Some super athletic babies. I mean, really. Yeah, I mean, but I I just was curious from like a woman who from that standpoint was just like, yeah, I'm good. Like I'm fulfilled. I don't need it. If you ever get any back.

speaker-1: For that. And I usually also say I like to be a rich auntie. So that's my life. Everyone gotta have it. They gotta have rich auntie.

speaker-0: ⁓ yeah. And you get to send ⁓ back. You know, like you get to all right, go on. Go on, kid. Go go hope. How many siblings do you have how many siblings do you have?

speaker-1: I have two siblings, both older, and the youngest and

speaker-0: Did you did they all play sports? Were you guys all super athletic?

speaker-1: No, my sister was a model. She was the pretty one. And my brother, who's actually twenty years older than me, so my father's ninety six years old. So he was into like DJing. He's in New York and he's now on like the server computer side. Over my head. No idea what his actual title is, but I know Yeah. I know that I know nothing about it.

speaker-0: Yeah, I I I love that actually because you and I have that in common. I have a dad that had like me super late in life and he's in his eighties and I'm you know so your dad's still alive and doing well. Amazing. And he's in his nineties.

speaker-1: Kick in, yeah. Ninety six, yeah. So how's ahead this year? ⁓ my gosh.

speaker-0: So I don't know about you, but I'm like having an old dad was the best because I was a turd and he was like the most chill dude. He was so chill. He really was. It was like there was nothing that I could do that really like riled him up, but it would just be something super random, like out of nowhere, you know. And it was like ⁓ you know, taking his popcorn out of the microwave mid-pop, he would just s send him spiraling, but you know, I'd Come home drunk and he's just like, All right, go to bed. Just like super random things and I'm like, having an old dad is the best. It really is. I don't know if you had that experience. That is not. That is not ⁓ you you had the opposite. ⁓ my god.

speaker-1: ⁓ My dad was in the Brit British military. So like I don't know. It was so opposite. For anyone that's younger listening to this, they used to take a belt to you. And that's what I ha I had the belt, ten of the best is what he used to say. And that was how I got my discipline. And yeah, my mom was like the nice one. Like he would say no to everything. I'd be like, Mom, can I get this? And she would say yes mostly. So it worked out.

speaker-0: She ki she kinda compensated a little bit. Yeah. Yeah. ⁓ my god. Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. I that's wild to me. I I can't even like fathom having, you know, that he had that much energy to do that. Like my dad was so he was so tired. He was so tired. He's like, I don't even want to deal with this. Like so Yeah, whatever, man. She's alive and you know.

speaker-1: Is that what say? Yeah, yeah. That's amazing. So

speaker-0: I I think that's hilarious. Did you grow up in a small town or a

speaker-1: Big one. Orlando. I think that's pretty mid market. It's not nothing too crazy. Very touristy, but yeah. Not many people are actually from Orlando. Most people implant there.

speaker-0: Yeah. I think I feel like I didn't have a real childhood because my parents never took me to Disney World and I still feel like there's something in me that like has to go. I mean, d is it is it a must? No, I still haven't gone. I still have it. And I feel like ⁓ there's something really missing in my life because I've not gone to Disney World.

speaker-1: They say it's magical, but this is what I would say now that you're older, don't look back. Just go to Universal. We have also the Epic Universe. It's a new theme park that I haven't even actually been to. But yeah, there's so much out here. They got water parks. There's all sorts of things for everybody. So we'll still come.

speaker-0: I mean, you know, the thing about it is, like, I have three kids, right? And so if I go, it's like ridiculously expensive. I'm like, I could go to Europe. Like I could see some really cool shit. Yeah. And I'm like, to stay in Mickey Mouse's kingdom, I'm gonna pay that when I could go to like to the Louvre and like all different places. I mean, that's wild to me. So I like have this complex where I think, you know.

speaker-1: Yeah.

speaker-0: I'm missing out because I've never been, but then I'm like, I'm not paying that. Like, I'm not doing that. And that's crazy. So I'm gonna have to make up my mind one way or the other of like, you know, is there any place that you've gotten to travel, like throughout your basketball career or your career in general, that was like, it's life changing, you need to go, and here's why.

speaker-1: And this is through Basel or not through Basel?

speaker-0: Anywhere, anywhere, like somewhere somebody you would recommend you have to go once in your life.

speaker-1: Bora Bora by far. Bora Bora was like the place that I thought was I mean, I hope I can go back again in my lifetime. And I don't know, it was just so serene and the place that we stayed at in St. Regis was really I don't know, it was just like there's some there are people there, but you couldn't tell. And it was just like mm s I think it was four days I spent there, the water. The different off the island activities where we went to this like beautiful restaurant. The chef, you know, like I just think the lifestyle of the people there are just different and it's on the other side of the world where I eat past the southern equator. I'm not the geography person, but I'm pretty sure that's what I cast. Yeah. Yeah. But yeah, so I think that's one of those I would definitely say people if they Bora Bora.

speaker-0: And that's where you found like the nicest people.

speaker-1: I wouldn't say the nicest people, they're nice, right? Like I d I have to see h in my role decks, like who I think were the nicest people. I think British Virgin Islands, we played there through my time of basketball. Okay. That was pretty nice people there as well.

speaker-0: Amazing. I are you do you still travel quite a bit with your foundation and what and what you do? Yeah. ⁓

speaker-1: Yeah. I like to take a vaca a big vacation once a year. And then I do travel at the foundation. We're actually going to Jamaica August 6th. So in about a few weeks here, we'll be going back there. So my international with the foundation in Jamaica every year. And then we travel, you know, through, you know, women's summit and stuff like that. ESVNW is out in Ohio, California last year. This year again we'll be at Ohio. So this always I do like to travel. I mean when I I don't necessarily travel all the time 'cause of work, but yeah, not too bad.

speaker-0: If there's anywhere you could go, it like is there anywhere on your bucket list that you want to go?

speaker-1: The bucket list left is I would say Fiji, which is similar to Boreboard, so I'm not as pressed anymore to go. And then New Zealand. That's on the bucket list. ⁓

speaker-0: ⁓ okay. What's what do you want to do in New Zealand? I'm just curious.

speaker-1: So when we when we played for the Commonwealth Games for Jamaica in Australia, we I got to like meet the strength and conditioning coach for New Zealand team and I don't know, just more I was intrigued with their culture. And so that kind of s spurred me to wanna go and yeah, I haven't been yet. So it just seems like a really cool school with people and cool yeah. Culture.

speaker-0: Yeah, love that. I I'm curious. So you said that you were not like an you weren't into athletic or into academics at all, but everybody has something about them. Everybody has something about them that they like nerd out about. It what is your like I totally nerd out about this? I go down this rabbit hole. Like what is that for you?

speaker-1: Like as a course, like a actual like academic course if you've been anything just general.

speaker-0: Anything, it could be Harry Potter. I mean, whatever you nerd out on, I I wanna know. I do too.

speaker-1: I did like Harry Potter. I I nerd out on sociology. I love like studying people. Like I am like that interesting cross of like I'm an introvert, but I'm also an extrovert to spin extent that I just love like understanding why people are the way they are. So I think sociology fits a course that would be it that I would nerd out on. Other than that, I mean I was a strength and conditioning coach for ten years. So I do love the study of like the body and people, right? Like how they move movements. So I do nerd out of like just random things I catch myself still doing of like watching some like their body movements and how they move like ⁓ this person needs that or I guess I do nerd out on the strength and conditioning side of things.

speaker-0: Yeah, I know you sound like my friend, like Doctor Natalie. She's like that too. She's the the golf girl that, you know, kinda kinda helps with like the golf movements and those things. But you are a total golf nerd. I was hoping you would say that. And I'm like, you you love golf.

speaker-1: I know. Missed opportunity. I do love Dolph. I don't I mean, nerd out. Like that's not like a an academic course. But yeah, I love I love Dolph. I'm obsessed. Not obsessed to practice enough, because I don't do that. But yeah, yeah. ⁓ I do I'm trying to get into the United Athlete Tour. I'm gonna put it on here. Reggie Bush's new league coming up next year. my god, he's a lot to go. So hot I ⁓ my god, you're not you're not wrong. Like so at the last pack event in Arizona. I met him, he was a speaker and like I walked up I wanted to ask a couple questions about the league 'cause I'm that like former athlete that wants to know everything so I can maybe try to win. I don't know. And he was the nicest guy. He was so great. Like he had to leave to talk to someone 'cause someone pulled him and then he literally came back and was like, Hey, are you good? Like, do I answer all your questions? And I was like Sure. Sure, we look the same.

speaker-0: Mm, mm. Yeah. No, I yeah, I could not agree more. Like there's certain people that, you know, late so I'm not gonna lie, lately I've been like, I think something's wrong with me because, you know, I just don't have any like real desire to date or, you know, and I think, man, what is wrong with me? I think so, you know, maybe something's like chemically wrong. Like I don't know. And then when the you the World Cup comes on, that meduka I was like, ⁓ it's a back. I've got, you know, like when there's when you have that celebrity crush when you you know, where it just hits you different, you're just like, ⁓ my, you know. I'm like, I think he is maybe the hottest person I've ever seen. I'm like, you are just like stunning. I just I yeah, I'm like, I just am fascinated by this guy. And so now I'm like, okay, I think I'm okay. It you know, but for a while I was really concerned about myself.

speaker-1: Yeah. I mean have you

speaker-0: Have you seen all of these videos about him? They're hysterical. Like these women are just going nuts.

speaker-1: I have not. I I do not know this athlete, but I am gonna take

speaker-0: Your world No Jennifer, Jennifer, you ha no, ⁓ everything I need you to look him up right now. Get on your phone. I don't know what you're doing, but like get on your phone and look up Maduca. The wor he's from Egypt or something? I can't remember but Nigeria, Nigeria. I'll look planetar. You have to. ⁓ my gosh, I'm so disappointed. He's the prettiest person in ever I I have to I need you. Like you better text me after this and be like, Okay, you it makes sense now. Like I get it.

speaker-1: What are you doing?

speaker-0: I okay, let's ask you that. What was who was your favorite? Who was your celebrity crush growing up? That's that's very telling.

speaker-1: Growing up, I mean, that was a long time ago. I can go now I feel like Aegis Alba is like he's the one. ⁓ he's he's the one. Yeah. He's getting older. He's definitely getting older, but it's fine.

speaker-0: I think we're at this really weird age and where I am both a y I can be both attracted to the dad and the son.

speaker-1: You're like I don't know which one. Who's gonna get it?

speaker-0: Yeah. I mean that you can because I don't think I'm old enough yet to be like out of the like twenty year old realm, right? Like I'm like, I'm not that old, right? But I would never actually date one seriously, but I'm like, okay, but then I look at their dad, I'm like, ⁓ my, you know, I like an old man. Yeah. I think

speaker-1: Fourties, yeah. ⁓

speaker-0: Yeah. ⁓ my gosh. Yeah. Like I mean, I have a new appreciation for like Tom Sellex and like a good mustache and a good I mean, yeah, Idris, he is really hot. You're right. And I think that like as you get older, you'd like really love that maturity and look like that's just so attractive now to me, you know. Like I'm like, Okay, what's you know, what's your four ⁓ one K look like? Like what are you you know, what what what's your score. What's your gratitude? Mm. Yeah, yeah. What kind of stocks are you in? Like and I'm like, ⁓ my gosh. At twenty years old, your dating life looks so different where it's like, ⁓ you're hot. And I think, you know, I mean, and we get along and now it's like I have this whole list of things that it's like, ⁓ you don't have health insurance? What do you mean? You know? And I'm it it really is, yeah. So I mean, don't go, don't go getting single because I'm telling you, it's like the worst out there. It really is. It's like the the Cringiest, yeah, place for a single girl out here, just so you know. Tell your girls that. Well, I have I have a question from you or for you from one of your fans that DM'd me and they asked me to ask you, do you genuinely feel more fulfilled now? Or do you feel more fulfilled? Did you feel more fulfilled when you are playing basketball and winning? Which part of your life are you enjoying more?

speaker-1: Can you ask that one more time? It kind of broke up.

speaker-0: okay. So are are you were you more fulfilled? Did you feel more fulfilled within yourself when you were playing basketball and being competitive and and getting to be that competitive person? Or are you more fulfilled now getting to do what you're doing and helping out so many girls?

speaker-1: A tough question because I do feel as if I'm living in my purpose, like my God given purpose. I feel like I am living that. However, like representing a country, so I'll even I'm someone that's I am motivated by the greater good. And so like the name in the front, not the name in the back kind of flare. And so representing University of Florida, like that was everything to me, because I'm I'm representing a you know institution, right? And then going from that to representing an actual country. And a nation. Like that was everything to me. And when I got to represent them at the Commonwealth Games, which is the basically Olympics for the Commonwealth countries, yeah, I don't think I have felt such a pride before for doing something. So I guess it's a tie. I know I'm sorry that's the worst answer, but I would tie it with like what I'm doing now versus representing Jamaica at the Commonwealth Games against all the other countries.

speaker-0: Do you feel like there's a part of you that was lost whenever you stopped playing? Did you feel like a part of you kind of died or that you didn't know what to do with yourself like after it was done?

speaker-1: No, because I'm a planner. And so I planned my whole departure. I planned, you know, about I mean, I'll be honest, right? Like once I s my senior year in college, I actually thought about not playing anymore. And my coach was like, Hey, you have a infinite s or not infinite, a small amount of window. To play basketball and then age is going to get you. We can't say we're all lebrons, but like age is gonna get you. So if you can play, play professionally. And so I I listened to her and I I took that on. But throughout my professional career, I was always planning my exit of like, okay, what am I gonna do? How am I gonna do this? So every time I came back from overseas or any of my different seasons, I made sure to intern, shadow, figure out like what I want to do after basketball. So That once I got to that point, I had studied for my strength and conditioning sir. At that point it was NASM. And then I got I passed my my certs test prior to going to my internship and all the things after that. So to answer your question, no, I didn't necessarily didn't feel lost. I think any the lost part maybe could have been the competitiveness. Right? Like I missed that. What do I do? And I think that's where I found like I did tennis, I did golf. Obviously, I'm still doing golf. So I found my other ways, my other outlets, but when it comes to just in general, like who I am, I made sure to identify that throughout my time playing professionally.

speaker-0: So what advice would you give somebody? I mean, because honest to God, you're kind of you're kind of the exception. Like anybody that I've talked to, like professional athlete wise, you know, has has really had a hard time going through that transition. And so they've made their sport their life, which obviously you have to, right? I mean, especially if you're getting paid millions of dollars to do something like that's your life and and you hopefully they enjoy it, but they didn't know anything about themselves other than the sport. So what advice would you give somebody who is a professional athlete or that's their goal is to be a professional athlete? Like what advice would you give them to have that smoother transition like you did out of the sport?

speaker-1: Yeah, I think and that's what I tell the girls in my foundation and that's what I preach to really anybody in sports is understand who you are. Like take the time to know what you like, learn your hobbies, do the hobbies, right? Like basketball itself, right? In certain seasons, right? Like if you're obviously trying to go pro, that you do need to be engulfed with your sport and how they get to be the best because there's a lot of people working to get your spot. Sure. So, but I think there are down times, especially as a professional, because you aren't practicing for twenty four seven to understand, like, you know, get out there, network with people. I think that's also something that I learned throughout my time, especially even at Florida's like I made sure to, you know, be nice to everybody, the staff members at stadiums or anywhere. Cause, you know, you never know when someone's gonna continue growing and you might need to you know, call someone for a job or anything like that. And that's where that network, that's where that relationship stems from. Instead of I think it's easy as an athlete, especially professional, to like, you know, put your head down, walk in, walk out, do your job instead of actually like, you know, pick your head up, introduce yourself to people, get to know people, the leadership team, any anybody that's associated with what you're doing. So that'll help you with your transition because they could help. Right. Like you can't do this alone, especially in team sports. We didn't When you win championship, which I've done, like it's not one person, it's a whole team. Sure, everyone has a role. And if you're able to actually continue that thought process outside of sports, for me it's been very helpful.

speaker-0: And I think it's important too for kids to know, you know, because I I've got some really competitive boys and I love that in a sense, you know, and I don't want to take that from them because I I think that's great because no matter what, they're gonna give a hundred percent in what they do, right? So I kind of love I do love that in them, no matter what it is, but I I do have to like sometimes say to the you know, 'cause they'll be like, I wanna be a professional basketball player, I wanna be, you know, and I I have to say, I just need you to know that the game is not a means to an end. Right. Like you need to have something outside of the game. And I think that that's where a lot of people go wrong is that they feel like if they want to be good or if they want to be great, like everything revolves around the game, which is true, but then you leave empty. And it's like, well, what next? So I think it's like finding that balance of having that passion, but also knowing it's it's a means there's a means to you know what I mean, it's not a means to an end, if that makes sense. Do you agree with that?

speaker-1: I think it's I think it's also dangerous to tie and that I did that in college. Like I tied my performance to my worth in life. And so I think when you do take sport so seriously, not seriously, but if when you take sport as like the end all be all, then you can lend yourself to you know, obviously athletes go through depression as well and and all the different things. And I think that can tie into that. If you if like you don't do well or You know, you're going through a rough patch in the season, like how do you handle that if you think that that sport is all who you are and that's all you have? That can be dangerous for athletes.

speaker-0: You know, Ben Zobrist, he's like one of he's a real champion for like mental health, won the World Series, super cool guy. And he said something to me that like will stick with me forever. Cause he goes, Can you be at peace losing? And you know, and your and your first like intrinsic answer is like, Well, no, I don't I'm not gonna be at peace losing. I don't I don't wanna lose, you know, but it's but explaining it was like, if you're only at peace. when you're performing at your best. You're only at peace when you're winning. You know, you're not gonna be at peace very often because there are very few games where you give your absolute hundred percent your best. There's, you know, there's a you're not gonna win every championship. So if your peace, you know, relies on that, like you're not gonna be at peace very often. And so I just that way and I was like, ⁓ wow, that's true. You know, because I think most people or coaches coaches will tell you, a lot of coaches would be like, No, you shouldn't be a peace. You shouldn't want to lose. Absolutely not. You know? And looking at it that way really kind of opened my eyes to a different perspective.

speaker-1: On that. No, absolutely. That's good. That's great.

speaker-0: mean 'cause yeah, like I mean, yeah, just if you can't be at peace, I mean, you shouldn't be at pe you shouldn't be okay with like not performing or not giving your best, but like, you know, it's just like going on and and doing something about it. And it's ⁓ it'll be okay. You know, you can go on. But we've gotten into this world where I'm I'm really trying so hard to make a change in how we look at youth sports and how we coach these kids and looking at their mental health as a whole, looking at the kids as a whole and saying, you know, if you are a coach, like please look at these kids as human beings and like where do they come from? What motivates them? What's their home life like? You know, what do they like in school? Do they know anything like that about them? Or is it just that you're part of this team? And that makes a huge difference with these kids and I don't know what you're seeing with your girls, but I do feel like it's a different world now than when we were younger. ⁓

speaker-1: Absolutely. We didn't even well, we had MySpace, like that was the social media and like that came for me at least later down the road. But yeah, I think there's different pressures. I think with NIL, with social media and the different literally different forms of social media, the TikToks, like Instagram, there's literally so many different ways to get a hold of people and to compare yourself to others. And I think that that goes into obviously the mental side of things for kids. And also to a lot of sports narrow year-round. So like the there's a lack of multi sport happy, which I think is beneficial obviously for many reasons. So I think it's good, right? Like, yes, if you are the one percenters and you want to define your sport early and that's gonna take you to where you need to go. There's certain sports that that has to be like that, like tennis, those individual sports, right? Like that's a thing. However, I think there's

speaker-0: Please.

speaker-1: as adults we can obviously manage a little bit more of like how to let these kids just be kids. Yeah, instead of like, all right, you're eight years old and like why aren't you doing missing that layup? It's like, ⁓ he's just learning. Yeah, he ain't or she is just learning. Like it's okay. So yeah, I'm I'm definitely I think that's why the foundation is what it is. And that's why a lot of there's a lot of foundations like Girls Bass Worldwide, you know, across the country that are focused on providing to meet elite events by specifically for us, ran by women that have achieved great things to be able to pour back into girls that is accessible and to show them that like sports great, right? Basketball's great, but it's a tool. Just use that for what it is and be able to gain so much more that's gonna help you in life.

speaker-0: Yeah, I mean there was like a crazy statistic about how every woman in a C suite it was like like ninety two or ninety four percent of women in C suites, right? Are play bat or played sports. And like that's obviously not is it basketball?

speaker-1: Right, basketball? Okay. No, it's not. No, it's not. I just wanted to pop up basketball. I'm like

speaker-0: Shit. Yeah, no, I think that that's not coincidental, right? I think that that's like, I mean, I've managed people before that could not take any kind of constructive feedback, right? It was like, you know, she's picking on me, she's this, she's and I was like, no, we you know, he here's a way for us to all improve, right? And I feel like people that have played sports have that where you can can you can take that constructive feedback and you can be coachable and those those things are like life skills. Like I a thousand percent agree that like, you know, those things go on, you know, far in life. But I don't want people to think that that's that that's all there is. You know, it's like I've gotten so much less competitive as a mom because I realized, you know, w even at your best, right? Even at your you are like a complete badass. And you You're you know, you there's still just a section of your life that was dedicated to basketball. Then it's like, okay, now what? Right. So it's like you have to realize like what it is. It's a tool. It's not the world, but it is a tool, you know? And I might get some hate for saying that, but I still like pretty firmly believe like I will die on that hill, you know. Just stepping back, you know, and looking at it. I'm like, is my kid gonna be the next LeBron James? No.

speaker-1: It's like do it.

speaker-0: No, but he can learn to be coachable and can learn, you know, like how to work hard and have a good attitude. And, you know, there's things that like take zero talent and it's and it you know, I tell him that all the time, like take zero talent to listen to your coach. It takes zero talent to, you know, have a good attitude, to, you know, show up every day to cheer on you, you know, and those are things that I think are great about sports. Gas your people up, man. And I've yeah, I I mean, I my son said that to me the other day. He goes

speaker-1: Absolutely.

speaker-0: I don't understand like why you call like you're always like hyping your friends up and you're always doing you know, like, I don't know why you feel like you need to like hype these people up. And I said, you know, I think it's I think that that's just part of like again, being an athlete growing up and thinking, there's nothing better than hyping your people up. You know, and if if you can't do that, then you know, I think there's something wrong with you.

speaker-1: Your words. I'm here. I'm here for it.

speaker-0: I'm like, yeah. I'm like, I there there is absolutely nothing that's taken from me by telling you, like, you're fucking awesome, man. Like, I respect the hell out of what you're doing. And I think that you're incredible. And I don't know why so many people, and especially women, feel threatened to do that with other women. And I'm like, I'm on your side. Like, I love what you're doing. And I think it's incredible. And, you know, like you're a Beautiful, all the things. And I think it's as women, I feel like we need to gas each other up a little bit more. We've got a lot of people who tear us down and it's like, we need to do that to each other, right? It's I mean, let's

speaker-1: Noah, I I agree. I I I wholeheartedly think that the acknowledgement part, right? Like one like, okay, if you see someone or like another woman with a great outfit, like, hey, that's that's a great outfit. Like just random acts of kindness go a long way and like you don't have to know someone to s make a difference in their in their day or even, you know, if they're having a a good or bad day or something like that. So Yeah.

speaker-0: Yeah, I I mean, yeah, for sure. I wanna I want to talk about what community has looked like for you lately. ⁓ you know, outside of basketball, you, you know, you obviously had a team, but now it's outside of basketball, you have a different set of communities around you. And I noticed that you were a part of pro-athlete community, PAC, and I am really intrigued by PAC. And I actually have interviewed like multiple people that are part of this community. And I I do think I could probably join a cult on accident and not mean to just 'cause I wanna be a part of communities. And so I wanna know more and more about PAC and kind of what you guys do to support one another and former athletes.

speaker-1: Absolutely. I I mean, I'm not the most experienced pack member. I joined in March. However, since joining in March, I mean it's just been to say it filled up my cup in the ways I didn't even know I needed. It's that was kind of the thing for me. Like the first I signed up in March and then we had a big event in in Phoenix. And it was two hundred and fifty former and current athletes, pro athletes, and then two hundred and fifty executives, CEOs, investors. And just the genuine, like, I mean, at that point, hadn't met anybody. I walk into the hotel and my mom's with me just for the day. And just the warmth that I was greeted with from again, not knowing anyone in person, not meeting anyone and how like that's just who they are. And the authenticity of the events where, you know, I've been to, I'm sure you've been to a bunch of networking events and it's just very transactional. They set the scene off the rib and was like, Hey, this is for actual relationship building. And for the la that next four days, I mean, I had it was just a unbelievable experience. And so since then, to me, the epitome of PAC, aside from the community and the locker rooms that they create for each of us, is the ability to well, I guess what's the most important for me is just the opportunity to continue to learn and sharpen my skills. They provide resources like accelerators for sales, sales done right. They do, I just finished the elite. elite speaking academy through Sean Hart and going through that process with the other former pro athletes. And then literally there is a accelerator for any type of industry that you're in, they provide. So to me, I'm always a student learner. I always want to continue to learn or a life learner, I should say. ⁓ Continuous life learner. So to be in a community of other former athletes that, you know, we're all kind of similar no matter if it's a different sport or not, it's just nice. Right. So PAC has been great. I I you know, I'm a brand ambassador by trade, but I just like I just love what they're doing and I want to make sure that other crow f professional athletes know about it and they join and ⁓ they have different membership levels of course. And so I think it's great.

speaker-0: Gosh, I I'm gonna keep messaging Chip and just say, I really want to be a part. Can I be like an honorary member of PAC? That's all I want to do. Just let me come to the parties. I am a great time. I will have so much fun. I feel like this is something that's so cool. And I love this. And I've just been so intrigued by PAC. And you know, I don't really see anything else out there like it for athletes. So I just I thought I would ask. So is it like you have so many? Do you have so many meetings? Like, do you go to events like is it like one big event every year?

speaker-1: They have different meetings really every day. And it's like, hey, well, sometimes you can make it, sometimes you you can't. I mean, there is, you know, we have member driven meetings. So we have obviously a bunch of athletes, they have different interests. So certain members do you I think it's Soul Fold does more of a holistic meeting in the evenings. There's Bible study if you want to go into that. So I think there's something for everybody. And whatever your interests are. So I think that's cool that is driven by leadership. So we have leadership coaches, but also actual members. If something calls to you, like, hey, I wanna provide this. We had a meeting today and it was like give and get. Right. So like what are you gonna give to the community and what are you gonna get? And being able to identify that. Yeah, and also be, you know, walk through what you're gonna say you're gonna do.

speaker-0: Yeah, I know. I I I really love that. And I think that just all the networking events that I've been to, and you know, I you know I've only been in this world a few months, right? But I've been to a lot of events and the power of just getting to know people, like I really firmly believe that you can get something out of every interaction with a person. And I don't mean that in like a self-absorbed way. I mean it in like a, you know, it will either teach you or motivate you, ⁓ inspire you, whatever it may be. I think that just the more people you meet, the better off you'll be, right? And these events I I think are incredible. So good for what I can't remember Chip's last name, but

speaker-1: messed up, I'm not even gonna say it right, yeah. I might I'm not gonna say it. P is the initial

speaker-0: I am I'm Chip Chip P I'm gonna send him another DM on li I'm gonna say, Chip, I I wanna be an honorary member. What can I do? I played college ball. So I need I need an ac I need access because I think it would be it's just some fun. Yeah, it's like a golf it's like a gol you know, that's the best in networking, I'm telling you, golf events. And if if you can beat a golf event, then you know, PAC you're a

speaker-1: You know how I did have a golf event at the at the conference. ⁓ c it wasn't a conference, but I think it was called like accelerator. Something like an accelerator.

speaker-0: Yeah, do you like do you go out quite a bit? I know you golf, but like how often do you get to go?

speaker-1: In the summer in Florida, it's not on my top priority list. It's hot. And realistically, my focus this summer is hot girl body summer. Hot girl. So I'm focused on fitness. I'm focused on so my workouts take that morning slots that I I could possibly golf because it's not hot at that point. Mm-hmm. ⁓ so that's not my focus. Once it gets cooler in Florida, I'll be back out there. I I think it was like three summers ago, I I golfed every Friday, but life has changed and More extensibility so I don't do that as much. But yeah, in the fall and the winter I'll be out there more.

speaker-0: So what it in your ideal world, what it what are the next five years? Like what's what's your goal for the next five years? Like what are you wanting to achieve for yourself?

speaker-1: Well, in next five years, continuously grow, right? Like I feel like this year when I talk with my leadership coach, shout out Robbie, you know, this is my season of mastery. So mastering skills. And so using the skills that I've acquired this year. So if I'm building this year, then obviously in the next five years I'd like to apply what I'm learning and continue to grow the foundation. I think that every year we've gotten better. And I think the foundation has an opportunity to serve a huge need and continue to partner with other organizations that ⁓ have the same synergies when it comes to empowering young girls and young women. So that would be what five years looks like for me is continuous continuously doing the work that I'm I'm doing and what I'm called to do. That's a good

speaker-0: Good answer. I I think, you know, a lot of people that I've spoken with really don't know the amount of work that it takes for a nonprofit organization. So and I don't mean that it in like a patronizing way at all. I think that people think that okay, well, as long as I just have money or people are donating, like I'll figure it out, you know, and people if people just, you know, and Has there been any resources for you or anything in particular that have helped you grow your organization because it became a lot more stressful or a lot more than you thought it would be?

speaker-1: So which which resource pops out the most or

speaker-0: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like what resources have helped you grow your organization into like what it is today that have really, really helped you?

speaker-1: I would say I would have to go with the individual donors that we have. I mean, we've done golf scrambles, we've done two golf scrambles, one pivot of the golf scramble, which was the Bay Games, and I think that visibility wise, I mean that's a hundred and forty-four golfers plus some of the sponsors and the partners that we have. Like those obviously move the needle because now more people know about what we're doing and can get involved. But I think at the core to this point We've had amazing individual donors that have been consistent for the last five years that have, you know, can let us continue to the work that we're we're doing, the mission and the vision that we have. So if I could, I would shout out Corbin Construction, you know, and Morgan Morgan has been along for the ride as well, which is a law firm they actually went to my high school that I went to as well. We went to the same high school. So yeah, I would say I'd probably say the individual donors are the ones that drive our resources right now.

speaker-0: Yeah, I mean, I I do think that there is like just, you know, talking to an a lot of investors, right? Because I wanted to hear their point of view too that yeah from all of this. I want to see it full circle. Like, why are athlete nonprofits not taken seriously? Like really, because I want to I want to understand what it is that we need to improve on, right? And you know, what we can do to be better and like what we can do to inform other athletes. Because I think that a lot of athletes come into it with really good intentions and they want to they want to, you know, continue their legacy into something greater. But again, you're not a C, you know, like that's it's a lot of work. I mean you're not a CEO. And a lot of times like girlfriends, moms, whatever are the ones running the nonprofit. And you know, good intentions turn into like I'm just putting a lot of money into this and you know, it it just kind of becomes a drain. And how do we get people to see athlete nonprofits as something that are, you know, can help at a grassroot level and why we should donate to these smaller organizations. And I'm not saying you're a small, small organization, but like a, you know, compared to like a mi an American Cancer Society. You know, I mean, you know, I I say it like this. I say, you know, there's like

speaker-1: Some girl, yeah, yeah.

speaker-0: big picture and sm you know if and day to day and that's what you guys are doing and that's what I'm trying to put out there that you know of course we need cancer research. Of course we need, you know, huge, you know, we gotta have those big things, right? But like also there's no one that cares about giving back to the community, seriously, that I've met that like athletes do, you know, and you know, you guys have made a lot of money and a lot of it's just wanting to Uphold your legacy and and do something greater and what we can do to get more people involved with athlete nonprofits and why and what it is that you see. Is there any barriers that you have when you're talking to like major donors or people that are interested because you are a smaller or athlete-led nonprofit that you've kind of had to overcome that obstacle that you could help somebody else with in the future?

speaker-1: For sure. And just want to touch on what you just said on yes, we we need the bigger nonprofits, like I mentioned, the the Boys and Girls Swell, the different other organizations that are super important. They they are able to touch so many numbers, right? They are brick and mortars. But when we talk about the athlete nonprofits, you know, we we are or were the one percenters in our sports. And so what we put that into when it comes to actually building and developing the next generation of leaders and some could be athletes, however that that is, you know, we it's we put that same attention on that. And so that is one of the reasons I think that investors and companies should invest in athlete nonprofits be just because of who's driving it. Right. Like sometimes I hear Right. Like, you know, when you're investing in a up and coming startup, right, it's not necessarily the pitch or the idea, it's the person who's behind it. Totally. So when you're looking at the athlete nonprofits, who's behind it? Who's running it? Yes, it could be a mom or a girlfriend or wife. However, the name is still the same. Their name's on it, so they're gonna make sure that it has a certain level of professionalism or even just in general operations of how they're gonna run it. So That would be my thing or my rebuttal to investors or anyone that questions or has concerns over investing in a athlete's nonprofit. Yeah, I agree.

speaker-0: I agree. I just, you know, clearly there's a problem, right? I I've looked into I've I've tried to look into Jennifer how much money was donated to athlete nonprofits. And that that statistic doesn't even exist because it's so minuscule. It's so like, you know, you can't find it. but you can see that like over 600 billion dollars a year was donated to nonprofits, like other nonprofits, major ones. So it's like the money is there. Why how can we get people to care about what you guys are doing? You know, a grassroot like I say grassroot level, just because you know you're not a boys and girls club, you know that you're not as as big, but it you're still making this huge impact on your communities. And I just want to give a shout out to to you guys who are using your platform not just for the clout, not just, you know, to to get a payday and you're really using it because I feel like you want To better the world and you want to see your legacy continue. And so I just want to give you a huge shout out there because I think that's incredible.

speaker-1: Well thank you. And I think people like yourself, advocates for athletes, non profits, is huge. I think, you know, you're the first of its kind. So continuing to use your platform to elevate our voices and you never know who's gonna be hearing this and and wants to get engaged with the nonprofit world.

speaker-0: Yeah, I agree. I'm keep doing what you're doing, girl. I think y you're incredible and I think that we all need to get so involved in what Jennifer's doing. Is there a place can you tell ⁓ my listeners where they should go if they want to get involved or if they know somebody that wants to get involved and kind of tell them where to where to go and find that?

speaker-1: Absolutely. You can go to our website, girls basketball wf dot org. You can also go to our social media page, Girls Period Basketball Period Worldwide. And we have our links on there. We have the different events and how you can get involved. If you want to donate, you could use the website as well and or even email. I'm sure we can put that in the chat when it's when it's aired and s how you can contact me directly if you're looking to sponsor or partner. We also actually literally today got a partnership with bras for girls. So being able to provide middle school age girls understanding of like how to select a bra size and how that works. I think at that middle school age there's just so much coming at you at that age. And so or, you know, having yeah, it's super awkward. And though yeah, it's not great. ⁓ so just having resources to be able to guide girls through that journey.

speaker-0: think that you deserve some sort of medal for just dealing with like middle school girls because I just think, ⁓ my gosh, I was a terror. I can't even imagine, you know, all the hormones that you deal with every day. So like let's all give a shout out to Jennifer for dealing with tons of middle school girls every day. I mean, touche. Impressive. Thanks. Yeah, yeah. No. Okay. Well, everybody, thank you so much again, Jennifer, for coming on the show. I just Think you're an incredible human being and whatever we can do at the giving game to support Jennifer, we need to do so. And all the links will be on our pages. And just give her some give her some love, man. So thank you again so much for coming on today. Till next time. Yeah.

speaker-1: Absolutely. Thank you so much. We'll talk soon.

speaker-0: And that's the giving game. If today's episode hits close to home for you, the donation link for this athlete's charity will be in the description below. And if you can't donate right now, hey, that's okay too. Just do something kind for somebody today. The world needs more. See you next time.