Santa Claus, Responding to Defeat, and Hometowns

In this episode of the Created to Be podcast, Bethany, Justin, Brandi, and Darius move from lighthearted holiday traditions to deeper conversations about character and identity. They talk about Santa Claus and family expectations, what it really looks like to respond well after a tough sports loss, and why handling defeat with maturity matters far beyond the scoreboard. The conversation closes with a thoughtful discussion on hometowns—what makes a place feel like home, why leaving can be complicated, and how community, identity, and belonging shape who we become. 

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Transcript

Speaker 0:00

And I'm not saying just the place of where I was born. Sometimes the place of origin could be the place where I became welcome to the Create It To Be Podcast.

Speaker 4 0:15

We are back. Everybody's at the table. Justin, how are you doing?

Speaker 2 0:19

Ho ho ho.

unknown 0:20

Oh gosh.

Santa Claus: Yes or No?

Speaker 5 0:22

That's good. We're going to talk about uh Taylor Troutman with softball. She asked about how we decided not to do Santa with the kids. So good intro to that. I'll come back to that. Darius is with us today. I'm here. And Brandy Morgan. Hey, we're going to have a lot of referring back to some other episodes today. We can start with that, Justin. Do you remember how we decided? Because in the last episode, we talked about how your family did, you had like piles, piles of gifts from Santa that you would wake up to. And then, you know, my mom was like, You're going to know these gifts are from us. And so we didn't do Santa. So do you remember like with our own kids? That was Taylor's question was, how did y'all decide not to do Santa? I have my answer. I wondered what yours was.

Speaker 2 1:12

Uh mom was a yes, dear. I mean, I I think I was like, I mean, what's the problem? But I was like, you know, it took me till like fifth or sixth grade. Like, that's a problem.

Speaker 7 1:24

Um Lee Parker was fifth grade before we told her. Yeah, I was just kind of like, Was she upset? Um she just kind of instructed. A little bit. I'm trying to remember, but maybe a little bit.

Speaker 2 1:34

I I don't know. I guess I'll kind of let you choose on that. I wasn't a like strong on either side, but I was like, you know, if they figure it out, let's just, you know.

Speaker 5 1:45

So the answer the answer I gave her was basically you would have to do a lot of Christmas. Like you would have to be the one to make the show because I didn't grow up with it and I would feel like a fake. Like I would feel like I'm lying and then be like, I just getting, I just get like I can't hold this front. Yeah. And I normally really bad liar, which is good. So I just did like I normally do order all the gifts and do all that stuff, and I think it just kind of naturally worked out. But I'll say on the more like serious side, I don't know that I would have as strong convictions now, but like when I when we first had kids, I think I was definitely at a place of of like inner like turmoil about I'm gonna have to tell them though. And so if we start down this road, I just feel really bad to have to do that part of this, you know, whole thing. And so I was like, I just can't lie to them. It just felt like a lie. And so it doesn't mean that that's what it is. But I did tell her that now the kids are funny because they still will make, they'll still put cookies and milk out. And we just all kind of, we still we don't do any gifts from Santa, but that's kind of how any of those extra things are, whether it's Easter or Tooth Fairy, those are the other two she asked about. I'm like, we might still do some of the things that are attached to that, but it's all like we're all pretending. We all know that we're pretending and like pretend play. But yeah, basically, I think I just knew Justin's not going to do all the work that's required to sell this to our kids. So we're gonna have to lean the way that I guess that's a compliment. You're just a simple man. You're simple. Like I think that it would be, yeah, you think so?

Speaker 2 3:32

Yeah.

Speaker 5 3:32

Or you think you would?

Speaker 2 3:34

No.

Speaker 5 3:34

We should roll it back and try it with them. I mean, it's a it's a lot. It's a lot. We heard that story. Go ahead. No, you go ahead. Well, we heard that story of your brother who would what would they do? Put all the gifts in like suitcases or something? And then when it got close to the middle of the night, they would have to, they were talking about their whole organization of it when their girls were younger, and they would roll the bags to this room and this room and then get the gifts out and make sure the girls didn't come out. And they were in this all the rooms, all the bedrooms were in the same hallway. So they had this whole scheme of how they pulled it off.

Speaker 2 4:03

Sorry, enough for staying up late and putting everything together.

Speaker 5 4:05

Yeah, yeah. Wrapping presents. I guess you don't have to wrap if you do Santa Bible.

Speaker 7 4:08

Well, that's what I was gonna say. We didn't. So we got one present from Santa. Like our big gift was from Santa, but Brett's family, they all had like an area, and like all their stuff was piled there.

Speaker 2 4:19

We had an area, yeah.

Speaker 7 4:20

And so like when he first brought it up, it's a great area. I was like, this is a lot. And then like you put it all out and you know the amount of money you spent, and then you look at it, and I'm like, something doesn't add up. Like, right, how did I spend all this and that's what they have? I felt like it was never enough. But we did the same, like all of our stuff was in the attic. Brett had no idea who was for what. And so like they go to bed, they're all excited. We would be midnight trying to get them to go to sleep, pulling stuff out of the attic. I'm having to tell them whose is what and get it situated for them to wake up at like 3 30 a.m. And I was like, they literally took a nap. Basically, my kids like up until last year, they it got a little bit longer every single time. But like the first year we were in this house, maybe the second year, it literally was like 3 30. It kind of got later and later. But also one thing that I struggled with was which all of our kids believed in Santa. Drake probably found out the youngest, like five or six, of course. But was like, one day I'm gonna have to tell them this is not real, what we've been doing. And then I'm like, are they gonna struggle with like I can't see Jesus? But mom told me Santa was real, and then now she that would be Jesus eating for sure. But then I also told myself, like, we grew up and we were fine with like that reality too.

Speaker 2 5:38

So anyway, the classical we went and we turned out okay. Exactly. We ate that stuff and it turned out okay. No, we didn't. Foods changed, but you know, did you have a comment, Darius?

Speaker 5:51

Well, I guess I wanted to ask Brandy. Uh with your children getting older, does Christmas get that much more expensive?

Speaker 7 6:02

Uh yes. Yeah. Because I mean, just one present might be anywhere from a hundred to two or three hundred.

Speaker 6:10

Yeah, that's what I I was just I was just thinking that. So that means we have to plan earlier.

Speaker 7 6:14

Yeah. Well, and also like it helps that we're wrapping. So now we just change the experience. They still have their areas. We wrap, and I let them go and choose. Like, they get two different Christmas papers. And so like I don't have to label it. They just know like this is the paper I picked. So when they look under the tree, they already know what presents through their hairs. So it's still like a fun experience, I guess. Um, but yeah, I'm just like, you're not gonna get as much.

Speaker 5 6:38

Like you can't. Yeah. This year I kind of have that issue with what I know I bought for Abby versus Eli. But I didn't talk to her about it. I was like, you realize if this is on your list, you're gonna open less. Right. So I was like, as long as you're good.

Speaker 7 6:49

As long as you know, it'll yeah. I mean, it does, because like my kids don't listen to this, but Brett Daniel, we got him a crossbow. I mean, that's expensive. I got it on sale, but like that's pretty much what you're gonna get. Yeah.

Speaker 7:01

Like, that's it. Well, my brother has twins, and so uh I used to tell him I I thought he set the bar too high too early because as they were getting older, it's like they're going to the seventh grade, and you done bought both of them two four-wheelers. Oh gosh. Oh, yeah. So it's like, how are you gonna outdo that? Like you're the bar is being set so high. And uh, I mean, and and they're they're pretty, now I can say that they're great young men, and then they they're built different. Um, they're more like my brother. They don't really have a, they don't like a lot of stuff. Um, but I was talking to him the other day in their ear, and he was telling me that uh one of them wants a truck. Well, because it's two of them, now you gotta, like everything you almost have to do it in twos. Now, of course, more than likely, I know my brother too. He he probably gonna, he's, he's one of those, you gonna work, you're gonna earn it. So they probably uh share a truck. That's right. Um, but I, you know, I just thought about that, you know, having when you don't see when you don't have children, sometimes that's not your reality. So you don't really think about some of the things that like I'm just sitting here listening, you know, um, as it relates to, you know, I thought about growing up with Christmas. You know, like I I said this last time, we really didn't talk about Santa, but we didn't shun him either. You know, I feel like with my mom being a teacher, um, and we kind of having to deal with that at school, and you seeing the the the man in the big red suit with the beard, it's kind of one of those things I feel like we knew. Um, and then too, we were uh see, some people call it nosy. I say aware, attentive. Like I I I I I've always been a person that paid attention to patterns. So I'm like, I when I see my mom come in the house, you know, she trying to send me to the bag to go do something. I'm like, you never do this. Right. And so you start kind of picking up on, okay, Christmas gifts, you know, and uh then what would get me is when I see them wrapping other people's gifts. So I'm like, okay, yeah, I'm like, yeah, so this is who's been rapping our gifts. So you kind of realize, you know, but with the um it was very big for us to watch the Christmas uh shows, like when Christmas comes, the little uh old Saint Nick and all of those different things. So we kind of, you know, we kind of knew, but we wasn't like I wasn't really distraught. It's kind of like you said, Santa Claus, to me, you the Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, uh, like you said, the tooth fairy. Now, I'm gonna say this, out of all of those, I believed in the tooth fairy. Oh, really? And I'm gonna say this, I don't know how my mom did it because I was a light sleeper, so I'm like, I know I'm gonna feel when this tooth is being removed from under this pillow. And I never, never could tell. So I really believe in the two fairy.

Speaker 7 10:18

My kids set traps. So like I would have to hear them talk about the trap so that I would not fall into the trap. Wow. I'm like, this is too much. The Morgan kids are different.

Speaker 2 10:29

Now that's different. That is true. We could do a podcast just on the Morgan kids.

Speaker 5 10:34

We might name the Morgans and the Figates together.

Speaker 10:37

That is interesting. They said, like, I would literally like I'm gonna sleep a certain way, I'm gonna put it right here so there's no way you cannot move this to.

Speaker 7 10:47

Did it not freak you out? Like as an adult, now I'm like, how did it not freak me out to think some fairy is gonna come in my bedroom and go under my pillow? Well, I guess I was so you didn't care because the money.

Speaker 1 11:00

I wasn't thinking about somebody coming in.

Speaker 2 11:03

I just wanted them crazy fairy come in my room, but I got 50 cents. Right. It's on and do it.

Speaker 1 11:10

You got what?

Speaker 2 11:10

I don't know. I'm just you know, how much you getting for 10 cents?

Speaker 11:14

Yeah, some kids. Man, I was getting like $10 for a two. That's why I said I didn't mind, I didn't mind walking around snag my.

Speaker 2 11:21

I wouldn't either a lot of mine didn't count because I had to get like seven or eight removed. Oh, out of the test.

Speaker 7 11:28

So that didn't count.

Speaker 2 11:29

Baby teeth just didn't come out. So hold on, hold on, let me make sure I get this straight. You had to get them actually taken out. I didn't get them removed because I had to I had some jacked up teeth. So I had to create some space for the new ones to come in.

Speaker 11:45

Gotcha.

Speaker 2 11:45

And I needed a retainer and all that stuff. I had some bub teeth, man. Suck them my thumb.

Speaker 11:50

Really? But you know, now I'm gonna say this. I don't know if y'all ever well, I'm pretty sure y'all have. The worst is to see the baby teeth are perfect, and then when the real teeth start coming in, you're like, just jacked up.

Speaker 1 12:02

Yeah, it's like I'm talking about the baby teeth. They are perfect. And it's like veneers when they baby teeth are.

Speaker 2 12:08

Hey, going back to characters, we were talking about characters, like just the characters that aren't real, obviously Tooth Fairy Santa Claus. I really wanted Frosty the Snowman to be real. Oh Frosty. I love Frosty. It was like the best day ever with these kids, man. Frosty's like the cool uncle, you know? Yeah. Let's go do this, let's go do that. And he was just awesome. And I'm like, man, Frosty's really cool. I wish Frosty was real. And then he melts and it's over.

Speaker 1 12:31

It's like exactly. Put it all that work. Put it all that work, and then 30 minutes is too hot and Frosty's gone. Crap. Hey, man, but apparently it just never sick thinking about it else.

Speaker 12:46

Look, he made me think about a he made me think about that commercial where those kids built up Frosty, but then they got cold, so they built the fire. And Frosty's just sitting there just Man, I love hanging out with you.

Speaker 1 13:03

That's exactly how it was. Man, that's that's that's amazing.

Speaker 5 13:10

I love the M Christmas. When Santa comes down and they're like, He's real. Yeah, the MMs are coming into the living room, and then he they're like, he does exist. And then he's like, they do exist.

Speaker 6 13:22

And then he fall out. Right. I did see that.

Speaker 7 13:24

I wonder what it was funny.

Speaker 6 13:25

Or they both end up fainting.

Speaker 13:26

I don't even know. I think Santa, he ended up falling out. That's so good. Yeah, that's a good one. Um But I do feel like there's sometimes the children today have been robbed of just a great time. Yeah. Like, like the blessing of innocence and being naive. Yeah. It's like we just had, we didn't have as much, but just the fun, it seemed like that is something that a lot of them are just missing out on. Yeah. You know what I mean? And it's like when you see it, because it's like even Christmas now is it was it to me, it doesn't seem as exciting. It doesn't seem as like joyous. And I feel like some of it could be connected to so many different things. Right. You know, but I just think about some of the things like that we did get to do, then we that brought so much. It's like it was a part of, man, this is this was a like you talk, a good hang. Yeah, like the anticipation and yes, yeah. So I I think sometimes that that is where somewhat the different characters give you some type of you know it's like a fun story to play. Yeah, yeah, right. You know, I mean, but I get it too. You don't want to lie.

Speaker 2 14:42

Yeah, but you know Well, now it's just watch Hallmark movies. Yeah. Or not Hallmark, the cheesy Christmas movies. And that's like, you know.

Speaker 5 14:48

You get to pretend for a little bit and eat and then cheesy Christmas. No, I I don't pretend. I take scenes from that and make tamales in my kitchen.

Speaker 1 14:56

Okay. Take a real look at it and get an idea out of it.

Elf on the Shelf

Speaker 7 15:00

That's right. I played so ready yesterday, though, like the elf on the shelf thing.

Speaker 1 15:05

Yes.

Speaker 7 15:05

Like, I wish I would have thought through things. Like, I'm one of those where I'm like, oh yeah, that seems so fun, let's do it. And then it's like, you're a couple years in, and it's like, what was I thinking? What was I doing?

Speaker 5 15:15

Yeah. Well, you know, the goal of that company I heard from someone a long time ago is like she didn't have the goal of just producing this one thing, like literally with the vision of we will be the North Pole. So I don't know what else they have produced, but that was her vision for this company. Wow. So I don't I need to look look it up to see like what other products they could.

Speaker 7 15:37

I know they have like reindeer and other animals that you can buy, like friends and clothes and all the things.

Speaker 2 15:43

Take that new crossbow to that elf on the shelf.

Speaker 7 15:46

Well, now we just let the kids add it. Oh, y'all just take her kids. Yeah, if you want. They just move it randomly throughout the day. It's not even added at night anymore. But that's something that I was like, and then you see all these things that people do, and I'm like, half the time I was waking bread up at 5 30, like, we forgot to move it, and it's about time to wake the kids up. So we would just pressure spot.

Speaker 16:06

I get the fun part, but man, excuse my ignorance. I feel like I have one of these moments every podcast. You don't throw it elf on the shelf. Don't put it elf on the shelf.

Speaker 7 16:17

So it's like you get this little character. We'll have to show you a picture later, but and he's an elf and he hides in different spots. But you have a book that goes along with it that you read at first. You have to give him a name, gives him his magic. Okay. You can't touch him.

unknown 16:32

Okay.

Speaker 7 16:32

So then you just find him the next morning. So at night he flies to the North Pole, tell Santa how you been. Like he's watching you. Essentially, he's like the one keeping it tabs on you. And everybody has their own elf in their house. Well, like we only had one for our household, but like you would have an elf at your house. Some people have multiple elves.

Speaker 16:50

Gotcha.

Speaker 7 16:51

But like the parents, you just need to like Google chick on themselves ideas because they come up with all sorts of things that the elf does during the during the night when he comes back. Like in a marshmallow fight or trying to make cookies in the kitchen will be a mess. Like one of them I saw sticky notes stuck all over the kitchen. But I'm like, I don't have time to do that.

Speaker 5 17:12

Gotcha. I would have maybe like three times in me. Yeah. But then beyond that, like for how long?

Speaker 7 17:19

I guess all I'd do seriously. My kids wanted it to come after Thanksgiving. Like they would start like writing notes and like asking, and like, that's a long time. See, like I would need Justin's commitment with that. And I would know, I don't think you would do that. If you touch the L, he loses his magic, you have to sing songs. See, that's what I would do that songs to him.

Speaker 3 17:40

No. No.

Speaker 5 17:42

No.

Speaker 7 17:42

I'm saying if you have a story you're playing into, you got full, you gotta be full ends both parents. Yeah. That's too much. Luke literally, 13 years old, just looked at me like last week and goes, Mom, you made us. We sang to that elf one time. And I was like, I know. Think about how stupid I felt. No, it wasn't a stuffed animal.

Speaker 18:01

Wow. See, I every episode I have something. I'm learning something coming here to the pie. I don't know. Keep it simple. Yeah. Keep it simple. Yeah. Keep it simple.

Speaker 2 18:13

You are a wild white people world.

Speaker 6 18:15

Well, you know what? I'm going to look up. Hey, they have a snoop dog one. No way. They do. Snoop on the stoop or snoop on the snow.

Speaker 3 18:25

Snoop on the stoop.

Speaker 18:27

Hey. Snoop on the stoop. That is funny.

Speaker 6 18:32

That is funny. Oh dear. I'm sorry, where have we gone?

Speaker 5 18:35

Okay. We are going to move on, but that is that is awesome. Oh. Okay, so we didn't have a huddle last year. Oh yeah, he is looking at it.

Speaker 18:43

No, I I'm I'm I'm I guess it's amazing because I'd come to the pod to share, but I'm always learning something. I think that's a great thing about this. What you're learning, is it relevant? Yeah, is it is it useful information? Well, well, you gotta think. I'm connected to a lot of different places. So I'm I'm able to take some of these ideas, you know, and you know, kind of like what you did with the Christmas movie. You watch the Christmas movies, now you got the hot tomalities.

Speaker 5 19:12

Hey, yeah, I'm learning things. So I think that it's helpful too to just that we can take there's things that we might talk about here or have that you can then start up a conversation with somebody else.

Speaker 3 19:24

Yeah.

Speaker 5 19:24

And that's what I hope as people comment, like that. That that's what we'll do. Other people's comments will help us have conversation talk about. We did not have a huddle last week, so we don't have an update because we're wrapped up for the year, but we went to the Christmas parade.

Christmas Parades

Speaker 7 19:37

Were y'all there, Brandy? We did go.

Speaker 5 19:39

Okay. Well, it was me and three of my kids. So normally we do not were any of your kids in it? No. Okay. So normally that last huddle is when the Christmas parade in Startville is, but because it rained out or something like that, we were able to go. And I'm not gonna lie, my kids were Ben was excited. Yeah. But the older two were being kind of bugged. And but we were I was like, we're going because we've never been able to go. There's always FCA. So that's what we did with our time. It was very interesting. Um It was good. I thought it was good. Columbus had one. Oh, you're not Columbus. I think Tyson, I'm sorry. I'm in Toubalone. Yes, I didn't know. So but I think the action is so with the Stark nigga. Sorry, let me explain. Tyson Cunningham posted about the Columbus parade. Gotcha. And I'm you're not Tyson, but you replaced Tyson, so I'm sorry. You're not there.

Speaker 20:30

I think that uh no, no, it's a I no, no. I I I was gonna ask you this about Starkville. Um it was a Starkville parade. Yeah. So who's all in the Starkville parade?

Speaker 7 20:43

Is it like just the Starkville High School or It's the band, SA bands, multiple bands, people who win like a pageant, so many pageants, yeah, Queens.

Speaker 2 20:53

Lots of big trucks from companies.

Speaker 7 20:54

Yeah, like a lot uh pretty much sheriff, fire trucks, motorcycle clocks.

Speaker 2 21:00

Gotcha. All things loud.

Speaker 21:02

Yeah. So does Mississippi State actually get involved?

Speaker 2 21:05

Well, they would have. The band normally gets in there, uh the maroon and white band, but it was also later. It was later. So you got finals and they're leaving, you know, people aren't even here, so you can't even have the full band there. I gotta find out because it was a week later.

Speaker 21:18

I was gonna say I gotta find out when Tupelo's uh parade. That used to be a big thing. Like we used to always go, you know, and then sometimes being a I'm gonna say sometimes being a part of them. Like uh with different businesses. Um we had a uh thing back home called the Plow Drummers, and they was like a bunch of different uh drummers that may have been in different bands, and they make up the partlow drummers, and so they got but they bring them all the way up from kids. So you got kids out there five and six years old that already can play the scenario and was good. Like, and so um I but I haven't been. I think a lot of times, now I do like it because it's just to bring the community out. You get to see uh different people in in different elements, you know. Um, but I guess you y'all really kind of made me feel bad because I'm like, I don't know when the Tupelo Parade is. Like, I I I didn't go, you know, I haven't gone. And really, it's kind of like you were saying my work schedule. Um, this is a uh intense time of work. So I sometimes that caused me to miss. But I I'm gonna have to get down here to Starkfield to kind of see what Starfield is putting out.

Speaker 7 22:26

It's normally always the Monday after Thanksgiving, but because of rain, they changed it. But also I think there's a theme. Like this year's was something about building and like maybe somebody votes and chooses a winner and they something. Maybe their money back that they put in for being in the parade or something. Yeah. Wow, okay. It's like a thing. Like I said, we start traditions with your kids and not realize it. Right. Because I tried to talk my kids into going to West Point to be in the parade with Brett, so I could watch the boys play basketball. And they're like, no, we go every to the star. I was like, okay, we're going.

Speaker 5 22:57

So also I bring up Tyson because he had a really funny video of his little boy that was like when Santa came by, he was like Tyson's um comment caption was my boy's pleading his case over here. And he was just like, like, just talking to Santa, like it was so funny.

Speaker 1 23:17

Oh boy, he's what he wolf.

Responding Well to Defeat

Speaker 5 23:20

And then, like he said, moments before and posted another one, and it was like this same child having like this evil laugh, like, I'm gonna be so bad. I don't know, like just so he it was like this contrast, it was really funny, but I didn't realize I guess Columbus does theirs around the same time. But that's what we were doing. Also, last week was a state championship for football, and we've vaguely talked about that on the podcast. And so then West Point ended up losing. So I thought it'd be interesting to hear from Brandy today. You know, we love to win, obviously, and y'all are winners in the Morgan household for sure. But like, how does what does it look like when it doesn't go y'all's way? Like, how do y'all process that as a family?

Speaker 7 24:01

Um, we're still processing. Okay. Um, it's been a really tough week just because like Brett carries so much of the weight, but then I never expected to carry weight too. You know, I've always been it's been sad when we lost, but I don't know. This week has just been different. Um, I never expected people to be mean to my kids. So like Monday we had to have conversations that I didn't expect to have after school. Um, my first reaction was just not a Christian reaction. I was like, just hit them in the face. Like stop it right then. I was like, okay, wait, that's not the way to handle it. So yeah, let's just talk through this.

Speaker 2 24:37

But you know, something to do with the football game?

Speaker 7 24:40

Uh with Brett. Like your dad should have called better plays, and I don't know why he's still coaching. And oh wow. Yeah. And so you know, that is tough for a a boy to process, a teenage boy, younger. And so, like, we just had to walk that because it was somebody he considered his friend. And so I guess that made it even more hurtful that it was like somebody he was friends with. So, um, but those things just calm. We just haven't had kids old enough to like be exposed in it. Yeah. And us already being like disappointed and sad and like carrying the weight, especially for like the seniors. You know, it's just it's a hard transition, which yeah, I mean, I know, like we talked about it, it's kind of like going undefeated. It I know this is not the same, but this is what we feel like. It's kind of like going undefeated in the SEC and then losing the championship. That's a championship. Like we would rather have lost one of those other games. Like, sure, we love to beat two plays. Sure, we love to beat Star Wars. We would rather lost those and won the last game. Right. Um, and especially because it was just the it was their night. I mean, they played better than we did. Bottom of the line, um, it was not our best game, but that's just how it is in a sports, I guess.

Speaker 5 25:49

Well, I think it's like, you know, when we I don't know, I just it's just important to talk about both sides of that coin. Like we're gonna win and we wanna be winners, obviously. But then sometimes it doesn't go our way. And and especially in families, like that dynamic of you got kids involved, they're in the culture of the school. Like, what does that look like? So thanks for being willing to do that.

Speaker 7 26:09

And I think because they care, they're there every day. I mean, they they're in the grind with the boys, sure. They're not on the field, but in between their practices, they do go out there. And I guess like Brett and I haven't talked a whole lot about it because I just wait on him. Sure. Um, the only two words that he's given me is I can't wait to wake up and it not be the first thing I think about every morning. And then also like one thing that he said that I was like, Yeah, it's really good was it's not a complete loss if we learn from it, if we learn something from it. Like it's not a complete loss. I was like, that's a good way to look at it. So I'm sure he still hasn't watched game film there. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 26:45

I just think I don't know that he ever will. I just think sometimes people don't realize the other side of greatness. It's like that's the other side.

unknown 26:55

Yeah.

Speaker 26:56

Like, and to me, like for him to and West Point to get to that point where it's a shocker if they lose. Like, you know, is I think that's credit to him. Yes, it and and the work and the program, you know, and I think that uh that's a problem that many people wish they would have. Right.

Speaker 7 27:18

And that's what I don't ever like want it to be like poor, pitiful us because we know it's not, it's just I guess it's just the moment.

Speaker 27:25

Yeah, yeah, it's it's it's the moment. And it's and I'm gonna say that, and I like when you were sharing it, like your transparency is real. Like, like, and I think that that's is something that is appreciative. But I was also thinking about it, like, you know, sometimes we get so caught up in a moment that we say certain things because it's like this is the same coach that got us here. Right. So why would we feel like we need to get somebody else? Like, you know what I'm saying? And I'm saying I know we're saying that, and kids are saying that, and sometimes I don't think uh we realize uh in like while you're in it, you're not really thinking about that pressure. But with him being who he is, the family being who they are, West Point being who West Point is, it's like you gotta think about how that is for him, how that is for you. Y'all have children who neither one of them played in the game, had nothing to actually to do with in uh impacting the game, but they're having to deal with the repercussions. And then you think about the actual players, right? Like who was out there who may have missed a tackle or who may have fumbled or who may have done something. Like, I think we don't think about the mental toll that that could actually take, you know, on a on a child, a young person. And then I'm gonna say this even your husband, even you, like I think sometimes people just think we are just invincible. Well, you know.

Speaker 7 28:52

I said I feel like people think you just go out there like an hour before, like all coaches, not just high school. Like you go out there an hour before, all right, let's go, let's we're gonna do this tonight. Like the hours that the kids put in and the coaches put in behind the scenes. And another thing that's really been hitting me is like we don't follow other people around being like, why did you do this? or to the dentist, like, why did you not do this this way? Why did you like why do people feel they can do that to coaches? Like, I don't understand it.

Speaker 3 29:20

No.

Speaker 7 29:20

And we have several friends that are like college coaches and like their families can't even go out after a loss the next day. And it's like, why why are people like that?

Speaker 2 29:30

Well, that northern Illinois coach, man, if he didn't if he lost, he wouldn't go take a shower.

Speaker 7 29:35

Oh, wow, really?

Speaker 2 29:35

That's one of his things like punishment. I look forward to a shower, but I'm gonna go home and I'm gonna stink. Okay, so Dr.

Speaker 5 29:41

Have y'all seen that have y'all seen the Dr. Pepper commercial? I love this commercial where they come up to the coach's door. You're on the hot seat. Have you seen this? You're like, you're on the hot seat.

Speaker 2 29:53

Yeah, we uh we only won by 24. It's not enough.

Speaker 5 29:58

And then they're like, fire up the billboard, and it's like fire coach Tate. And then he's like, Well, you know who this new head coach is also sponsored by? And he hits his clicker and his garage goes up and it's like full of Dr. Pepper. And they're like, Oh, oh, we were we were just kidding about that hot seat stuff. Take the billboard down. It is so good. I was like, on brand, Dr. Pepper, good job. Yeah, but it is unfortunate because I mean, West Point was undefeated.

Speaker 7 30:24

Yeah.

Speaker 5 30:25

So you lose that last game, but it's like, look, there's so much to be, there was so much accomplished. So I just I don't know what it is about how we act as fans and people involved. Like just being able to interpret what's really going on accurately is just, I feel like, impossible in this space.

Speaker 7 30:42

Well, I think it's been good though, too. Like for me, I've been learning to like guard my peace. Yeah. Because I already have access to it through Jesus. But like, am I actually guarding my peace or am I like giving in to the letting that stuff get you?

Speaker 30:55

And and I'm gonna say, with you um being in the space you're in with your husband, I've learned this. There are a lot of miserable people who are literally, and this is crazy to me, who are literally waiting on your downfall or something to hang their hat on to prove you're not all that. It's like like so, even in a moment like that, we're gonna make that moment way much bigger than it actually is. We're gonna try to uh illuminate it to the point where we completely ignore everything you did being undefeated because we've been waiting on a moment.

Speaker 7 31:37

Well, there was a guy, and this is when I was like, I made, I had to make a post for I run like a different FCA page for West Point the High School, and I had to make a post there, and I saw this guy, like I find it comical now. I was mad at first, but he said one on Friday morning, one Morgan down, two more to go. And I'm like, like, we don't even know you. Like, why would you say it? But then I was like, you know, it's just it's just the world we live in.

Speaker 32:02

I what I've learned is, and I've now this is tough because I'm like, why would some people have a certain problem with others? But I learned and I'm learning that sometimes it's hard to reason with certain people because there's not a problem per se circumstantially, but you're the problem. Meaning you are really what some people wish they were, wish they could do. So it's almost like uh envy. And so it's it's and and I I'm gonna be honest, I to be as close to West Point as I've been able to get through the people like you, Jeremiah, it it puts you in a place where you really respect the journey. And then I also think about this too, when you're on the inside, you see it from a completely different place. That's why, like now, since I've been working here, I can't even go to the barbershop the same way. Yeah. Like before, I would go to the barbershop. I'm just, hey, I'm I'm just I'm in the conversations with a lot of them. Um, but now I can't go because people are not, they're they're our minds, it's almost like the average person's mind is not built to think about all the different components. Like West Point was what, 14 and old, 15 and old before they lost. They they're not thinking about man to win week after week, right year after year. Got a new coach like two, three years ago. Like they're not even thinking about and to keep the continuity of winning. They're not thinking about that. They just thinking about they had one game, a few plays, and so now when I go, I have to, like, I literally have to sit there and just let them talk. Yeah. And you're talking about guarding your peace. And I feel like sometimes guarding your peace is just resting in the truth. Yeah. Like you know the actual truth, you know the real, you know the hours, you know the commitment. And it's like to sit there and see, like, like to be able to know that, it's like, why would I let a blind person see for me? Right. That's good.

Speaker 5 34:07

Like it's also like, yeah, being content with like you don't have to anything to prove. You know.

Speaker 7 34:12

Um, and that's one thing we've talked about, not that people don't matter, but like all of the people within the program, all the way up to superintendent people in the schools, like have all been so supportive the last week. And that's truly who matters. That's really who you have to look at for sure.

Speaker 5 34:28

Yep. So that's good. That's really I hope that helps people just that are involved in sport. Whether you're a fan, coach, player, like this is a reality that happens all the time. So it's very relevant. So thanks. Um, I also think that I don't know if it's a famous coach or not, but just the I think the challenge, and I've heard that just it's harder to get to the top and stay there.

Speaker 3 34:49

Yeah.

Speaker 5 34:50

So, you know, versus the pro I mean, it is still hard to get there, but to maintain that. So you there's sports, several teams. You know, I'm thinking about UConn basketball, women's basketball right now.

Speaker 3 34:59

Yeah.

Speaker 5 35:00

But there's so many or Pat Summit, whenever she was at Tennessee, and just the dynasty of that, like that's a really hard thing to accomplish. But then you kind of condition a fan base to expect that. So that can be really hard. Um, another podcast that we did, and unfortunately, Brandy and Darius couldn't be there with us that day we recorded, but so we won't go too far into this because we'll go to some other topics, but we did talk about like learning to win and what it means to finish, and that in any scenario, whether it's you win or you lose, that you have a willingness to engage with the data of what has happened and keeping a learning mindset. And so if anybody's interested in that, they can go back and listen to that conversation Justin and I had. We talked about a lot of that. Okay, one more thing about tradition I had to show y'all. And this is where maybe one day we will have cameras and we can record so people can see what we're doing. But this was a wild thing, and this is where the algorithms on Instagram, you're like, you're listening to me. Like, how in the world did this come up on my phone? It's known. They know what we're doing. Yeah, so whatever. It's an open book, but okay. This came up on Instagram, this wild tradition in Switzerland. We talked about Christmas trees, and you know, real or fake, whatever. Okay, Switzerland has a tradition of using real candles on Christmas trees. On the tree? Yes, I'm gonna show y'all the video. Is it real Christmas trees? Yeah. It's uh especially in historic churches and some homes, preserving an ancient practice with real flames, though it's carefully managed for safety, creating a warm glow for the holidays, particularly Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve for good luck. So I'm gonna show y'all this video. It is a wild. So if you go, if you wanted to see it, you could just look on Instagram. Well, hydrated. Um you can hear come the music. I think that's a real tree. Oh, it's a real tree. Hello, that's it's not loading. Oh, let me turn my I'm trying to figure out. So it looks like they have some kind of like ropes between the candles that burn that take the flame to the next one. Oh my god. But they still do this.

Speaker 7 37:09

This is like a thing. So that's that's the rope that's burning to light the candle. Yeah. That is insane. It's really cool, but I would be terrified if I was about to burn the house, don't you? I know.

Speaker 5 37:22

It was really fun to watch. But I just thought this was funny and wanted to bring it back so that if anybody wanted to watch it, they could look it up. So the flames lit the candles. Yeah, it started with uh they all have those like things you see between the lights in and takes it to the next one. But just we were talking about like traditions that we should keep or like give up.

Speaker 1 37:45

That came up. Yeah, isn't that crazy?

Speaker 5 37:47

I got too many hair products in my beard, in my colours. So maybe that's one that needs to be given up. But anyway, I just thought that would be fun to show you guys. Uh lastly, it's an FCA kind of birthday month for us here. Justin's birthday is on the 16th. Darius is on the 20th, and then we had Scott and our daughter Abby on the same day had their birthday, December 5th. But a running joke is that Darius is celebrating his birthday for a lot of days because we got a happy birthday early. So you're on day, you have nine more days. So I don't know what the countdown is. 11, I guess the 11th day to celebrate you since the beginning of the birthday.

Speaker 38:25

I've been getting so what my wife done, uh she done me a surprise birthday dinner, a birthday party, and she told me we was going to take pictures. So I was dressed up for pictures, and I get there, and it's a room full of people.

Speaker 5 38:41

That's did you like that? Do you like surprises?

Speaker 38:44

I do, and I'm gonna say this. I I feel like with as much as I been doing, I just needed it. Yeah.

unknown 38:50

Yeah.

Speaker 2 38:51

Like just uh got a good wife, man.

Speaker 38:53

Man, I got a great wife.

Speaker 2 38:55

So she listened to days of Sergio's birthday here, you know.

Speaker 38:58

Yeah, she's yeah, we we both take a listen. I think she just liked to see me in this element. Yeah. You know, so I have a great wife. She um, so she done that for me. And I'm she really had me. I literally had a whole nother change of clothes in the car because I'm like, once we get through taking pictures, I don't really want to be out looking, you know. So I had a whole nother change of clothes in the car. Literally, while we was on our way, I told her, I said, Babe, you know, after we take these pictures, I'm just gonna let the night be about us. Like, I'm gonna take you out. Like, not knowing what she has played. The only reason why I she really would have got me great. But while I was looking for a parking spot, I saw my pastor's truck. And I'm like, why would he be here? And then once I saw his truck, it's like he started seeing the other vehicles. And I looked at it, I said, You almost got me.

Speaker 3 39:50

Uh uh.

Speaker 39:56

Oh that's hard. That's a long time experience. She had a RSVP website. She had all kinds of stuff. And and uh didn't have people from out of town. I'm talking about the girl did it. I I was I was thoroughly impressed.

Speaker 5 40:12

Well, I hope she listened.

Speaker 2 40:13

I asked about that because I was like, you say some really great things about her on this pod, so I hope that she's the next time she's gonna need a shuttle bus, y'all go park in a field sometime and shuttle everybody over.

Speaker 40:23

Man, listen, she she I I was I was thoroughly impressed, and then my wife is the type of person, if she puts a heart into something, she's gonna go all out. And so uh, so what happened she had to do it then because on my actual birthday, I'm doing a birthday concert, and so I feel like she was trying to do it where she could surprise me. But what happens, everybody now thinks my birthday has come. So I got all kinds of people wishing me happy birthday. I've gotten texts from people, uh happy belated birthday. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to. Yeah, and I'm like, it has not come yet. You know, and so uh that's been kind of interesting because that's never happened, you know, before. Uh but hey, I got I'm excited about, you know, getting to this next year uh birthday, you know, uh looking just reminiscent and reflected. Yeah and looking at all the things I've been able to do to this point of my life. And so uh I'm been I'm excited, you know. That's awesome. Yeah, that's awesome.

Speaker 5 41:23

Well, we've also talked about end of year giving on the last episode, and we just want to say thank you to those people who have given and will give because it's just you really see people are generous all year. Yeah, but it is pretty wild at the end of the year just to see the generosity, and it definitely has taught me through the years of what that looks like.

Speaker 41:41

And so did you say Justin's birthday is December the 16th. 16th. What you got planned? Uh besides getting older.

Speaker 5 41:51

We don't have anything major planned. That should be another podcast episode because what I've learned for sure is that everybody does birthdays different. Like there's, you know, kind of like everybody vacation stiff. Like it is a thing where some people it's a big deal and this is how it needs to be, and other people it's like, I'm fine. Just want a nap, you know? Yeah. That's what Justin wants at this point in time. I do have I think a pretty good surprise for him. So he'll get that gift from me. But we are going to this weekend, we're gonna go to Nashville to see.

Speaker 2 42:19

Our anniversary's the 13th, so they're all quite similar together.

The Stretch: Hometowns

Speaker 5 42:23

Yeah, it's a lot going on in December for sure. That's awesome. Yeah. So our main topic today, although we've already said a lot of great things, um, is hometowns. This is the stretch time. Because we do have a special guest we want to have on, and we'll talk to her about her hometown, and that'll be good. So we want to kind of set that stage. And this is gonna be kind of a weird connection, but just track with me for a second. This is how I kind of got to this. So this is we like to try to make the stretch time about sports, and this is not gonna be super sports related, but we'll start it that way. Lane Given leaving Oxford. When we're not gonna get, we don't have to talk about him, but it was funny the argument, or not argument, but the justification of why he should stay. When I've talked to some old Miss fans, is that they will say this he just loved Oxford because it's awesome in Oxford and his family loves Oxford. They were convinced he would not leave because Oxford was such a great place to live. And so it made me think like we just especially I've noticed this in Mississippi. People are so I mean, I feel like I could say, like loyal here, like just so attached to this place and to people. And that's, you know, I just growing up in Texas, I love Texas, but it's doesn't, I don't know that I had so much of like this when someone leaves, it almost feels like betrayal or move somewhere else. Now, when we had Anya on and we talked about country pride, I definitely could identify with that type of feeling because I feel like Texas is very similar, but it's not this, they've left. I can't believe they would leave us like this, you know? And so I thought it was interesting that that was. I mean, I didn't talk to a ton of Ole Miss fans, but that's kind of the thing. I don't know if y'all heard that, that people would say is like, oh, but he loves it here.

Speaker 2 44:12

He would never leave. His wife loves it here, yeah. Or whatever that's like the.

Speaker 5 44:16

And so what it made me realize, we all have this different interpretation too, of what makes a hometown like a hometown. Like why do you what do you consider your hometown?

Speaker 44:28

Well, I'm gonna say, like, being from Mississippi, being here my whole life, now I've been blessed to travel with with singing and different things. So I've been able to kind of get out and kind of uh get exposed to some different things, different people. I will say that uh that was a I do believe was a fear of my family because of my personality. Um I think that they was a little afraid with all of the things that I was seeing that once I got of age to be able to make my own decisions, I probably would leave. Um I feel like in my generation is the most I've seen a lot of us leave Mississippi. And a lot of times if we leave a lot of times if we leave, we got one or two things we're gonna do. Some of us are gonna leave and never come back, or some of us are gonna leave and immediately come back. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's not for me. That's not for me. I'm going back home. And so I do feel like there is a uh I don't wanna say it, but I feel like there's a a a I don't even know the best way to say it without sounding, but it's almost like there's uh some form of a delusion sometimes where we feel like Mississippi is it. And and because one of the things I thought about was if he's in Oxford, I've been to Baton Rouge, and I've also been to Gainesville, there's no comparison. Like there's no comparison. When you what and what I mean when I say that is to go to a place and leave. I mean, you got so many different things you can do there. Right. There's you can't compare the things to do in Oxford to the things to do in the Baton Rouge or the things to do in a Gainesville. So I feel like that was their way of trying to hold on to something. Um I feel like that was their way of trying to hold on to something. Now, I'm from a a small town called Plantersville, Mississippi. And we probably have a population of the whole town, probably of maybe 2,000 people. Maybe. And so it's a small town. Everybody knows each other, everybody's connected, like it's easy to know the history. And so um, it's kind of one of those things. I've noticed this though. A lot of people in those towns, it's almost like they don't even know that there's a world out there. Yeah.

Speaker 2 46:55

Like, like they, you know, they don't, you know, and so all right. So here's my my take, I think. Texas, so much opportunity. There is a pride in the state because they feel like they're the best in a lot of things, and most of the time they are.

Speaker 3 47:09

Yeah.

Speaker 2 47:10

And so when you leave the pride of the state, you're always a Texas, no big deal. When you Yeah, I think that's what I was thinking. Yeah. Like you're gonna be like, they're like, okay, go and change the world because you're from Texas. Yeah. In Mississippi, we lose so much talent in Mississippi to go to other places with better opportunities that when we see it, it hurts us. All right. And also, there's a reality. Mississippi is five to ten years in the past than most other places. And we like it in a lot of ways because the face is different. Right. Yeah. And so it's really nice for a lot of people that have been out in the cities and the other places that are just like, man, it's just something about the people. The people are the best. Uh oh, well, we totally agree. I think for those in Mississippi, the people are the best here. At the same time, resources are not as high, opportunities are not as high. And so when you do lose people, it does, you feel the impact of that community. And so we all want people to stay. But in reality, there is a delusion of like, man, they're gonna really enjoy it though, because they're gonna get the opportunities they need and develop. And now mate, most of them, most, I'd say most, some of them do come back because they experience that, grew, and they come back and they want to make this place better.

Speaker 48:22

Yeah, well, we are. I will say this too, Mississippi is a growing retirement state where a lot of times when people are trying to settle down, um, and with me having, like when I go out or travel, I may have Mississippi State gear on or something, and you'll be amazed out of the out of the whole world. Like people who once they see that, it strikes up a conversation. Yeah, we have a uh a townhouse and a place. We got uh, you know, horses and different things. It's like, so that is that reality. And then I think sometimes it's this too, not you was talking about people leaving and becoming something somewhere else. I think that's why it hurts. Yeah, because we're having to face the truth that we don't have the resources we are behind, and then this is the reality. Some of us are so set in our ways, we're not changing. So for this person or that person to become what they need to become or do what they need to do, they gotta leave.

Speaker 2 49:21

There's a little bit of jealousy in there too. Yeah, like we're out there now. Yeah, particularly, or we just we don't see ourselves leaving. And so to even think about that and to do that is like portraying our state, portraying our people. Yeah, you know, and and so it's just it it is a delusion.

Speaker 5 49:38

It's like a just a but what's so funny about that is that being from Texas, and you kind of said this already, if I saw someone leave, I would be like proud. Like, yeah, go get them wherever you go. Like it's so interesting how the place can make you feel like that. Because I don't like I don't even know that people, I don't know, maybe they do and I'm sure in smaller towns in Texas they might feel that way, maybe, but we also grew up in a home where our parents we did move like across a two-county area several times. So we weren't just in one place, even though we were in a very close, I mean, we didn't move far. Gotcha. But it was kind of a lot of times financial reasons. It makes sense to move to this house so we can do this and whatever. I have three sisters, and our parents were very much like wanting to figure out what how were we gifted, invest in us in those areas, and then like they weren't afraid if we did leave. So I don't know if so much comes from being in Texas in the mentality of the state, or just my family emphasized that. Like they weren't, they weren't. I mean, I think my mom was nervous. I was 17 and coming 10 hours away, but she didn't say I couldn't do that, you know, to come walk on the basketball team here.

Speaker 50:48

So but I think that's because y'all are bigger. Like he said, like Texas, everything is bigger. So the the mindset is. Right. You're already seeing that around you. You're already open. Whereas in Mississippi, we are uh we're very closed-minded. It's almost like to leave, we're gonna talk about everything. It's like we'll say, you you are older, do what you want to do. But what we're gonna, it's like we're gonna talk so much against that place that you'll have it's fear is built up, anxiety, uh, can I do it? And it's like we're we are really like that. And this is, I've had to learn to be okay with it when I've experienced, but it's kind of like what he said. Being from Plannersville, if I tell you I'll be there in five minutes, I'll be there in five minutes. Yeah. But in the city, there's no such thing as being there five minutes unless it's literally like right around the corner. You know, so Dazzle's one of the bigger things for me. And I feel like that part of me that likes the comfort of getting somewhere in 10 minutes, as opposed to some of my friends who are in the big city, it's like if they got to be at work at six, they got to leave home at 4.30. Right. Like, because they're trying to avoid the early money rush hour traffic. And then when they get off, they may get off at 5, but they don't get home to 7.30. Because I'm like, that just uh that that drives me nuts. So I feel like that's a part of though being in a smaller setting, smaller town. The mindset is you kind of wired different. It's like you almost, when you move from big city to small city or small city to big city, you gotta, it's like feeling like a fish out of water, you know, having to relearn. So I think that that's one of the things that uh was just have been somewhat challenging uh from a geographical uh standpoint. But I mean, you know, it's to each its own. You know, I know some people here they encourage their kids, which is very rare, but they actually encourage, leave, go out, spread your wings, go get a job somewhere. You're not gonna be able to do that here. And then another thing that I just thought about with the pod having a lot of uh college athletes and college students. I remember when when I first came to Mississippi State, it was big to us to know what your major is. Because you may be trying to go into a field that is really not big in Mississippi. So it's like if you go into this field, you're going to have to leave. So that was something that we would have to really, being here, you would have to really consider. I may really want to do that, but if I do this, I'm gonna have to leave. And so if I don't want to leave, I'll just do something around that so I can, you know. So it's it's really a mentality thing.

Speaker 5 53:30

Yeah. One of the things I'll say that was really maybe I'm gonna put this on y'all's radar, see if you notice it this week before we record again. I was at the Kroger in Starville and then the Kroger in Columbus, like a few days apart. And it just, I don't know what made me notice it. I think it was just happening so frequently that I've I couldn't believe it. I was like, but people stopping and having full-blown conversations in the grocery store. Like one guy, like just leaning against the freezer in the middle of the, and they were just full blown. I mean, I don't know how long, and then, oh, it was Walmart here too. I walked past some gentlemen talking. I don't know if one of the guys really wanted to be in the conversation, but I walked past one time, came back, they were still talking, and just the pace at which, like, I'm going in the store, I've got a list, I'm executing this list, and I will definitely talk, like I'll definitely see people I know. And so, but these are like they should be at a coffee shop having a conversation, you know. And I just thought to myself, only in a place like this, like I would, I don't see this. When we were in Texas, I don't know. I'm sure there's people that would talk to the H E B, but it's like you're not seeing that kind of stuff. Talk to the hey talk at the H E B. It's a grocery store. I was saying, like at the H E B, you're not gonna see people chilling in the aisle, you know. I mean, the store was massive. That's normal. Yeah, that's normal here. That's it. And so I do think that people that do come here, because I felt this way on my visit to Mississippi State, we were walking down towards the admissions building, and my mom is from Georgia, and we walked past somebody and they said, Hey, how are y'all doing? And I was like, Good, like it weirded me out. Yeah. And I asked my mom, I said, Why did that person say hey to us? And she said, Well, it's southern hospitality, you know. And then she got like her little Georgia Pride out and you know, mentioned that. So I I don't know if there's a way that you can do both, you know, where you have that, you're not so attached that you're just like keeping people, but also that hometown. Cause I do feel like people, athletes who come here and do appreciate that, they acknowledge there's not a ton going on here, although Stark wool is growing in the area, but they people that have that in them, that want that comfort and familiarity, do appreciate that when they come here.

Speaker 55:40

So that's a real thing. Like they tell me, because I'm a I'm like that. I'm that person in Walmart, see a lot of people. And then you get to talk and then it's like, hey, how's your mom doing? Right. And you get to talk about, hey, you know, uh, such and such how like it's like it keeps going. And so I'm one, when I go to certain places, I have people who either from there or people who know me to tell me, hey, you're going to Washington or you're going to New York. Do not go in with the Southern hospitality. What's up? Or, hey, how you doing? Even sometimes the holding the door open. Because it's like the way they're wired, it's almost yes. It's like, why are you speaking to me? You know, it's it's very different. So the southern hospitality, it's a real thing. Um, people we hear, we talk to people like we know them, and we may know nothing about you, but it's a truck could be a conversation starter. Hey, I like that truck. Well, you know, I've had this truck about five years, and then my dad had a truck, and then his dad had a truck.

Speaker 1 56:44

Like, it's like it just goes up. But then he got a wreck and died. That was a long time ago, but I love this truck. Yeah, yeah. It's like okay.

Speaker 56:55

But it's it's it's I feel like that's why I love it. You know, and and with Mississippi State, we have this. This is family. Like that's one of our trademarks, and that's a real thing, you know. So it is real.

Speaker 5 57:07

How do you determine your hometown? Like, if I said where are you from, what would you say?

Speaker 7 57:14

Well, I've been here for 21 years. I was in Vicksburg for 18 years, but I still catch myself to make it like we're going home this weekend or I'm going, I'm gonna run home. And they're like, Brett has made the comment, like, you are home. And I'm like, no, but I still call like my parents specifically like my parents' house in that area home. But if you were to ask me, is Vicksburg home? I would say no. So it's I don't know if it's just like uh I did it for Vicky Yoon is my home.

Speaker 2 57:43

I grew up in the same house the whole time, and it wasn't until well beyond college that my parents sell that house. So that's all I know.

Speaker 3 57:49

Yeah.

Speaker 2 57:50

Um, you know, I think it ties in a little bit with the Christmas parade stuff too, though. You think about it, it's these community events, it's the things that you've been in. It I think it has a lot to do with how invested your parents are into the town. And so my dad was heavily involved in the local community because he was an insurance agent. So like that's a part of him and then um my mom and where she would serve. And so like we were just that was just what we did. I mean, I I never once thought about we're gonna go somewhere else or think about that. It was never even brought up. And so that's that's home.

Speaker 7 58:22

Well, and my parents still go to the same church. So when we go back, like we pick up with all of the people that I grew up with, and we spent so much time with them because my parents played softball and like we were like very their friend group was like a very big friend group that we spent a lot of time with. And so even now, like they'll be like, Oh my gosh, your daughter looks just like you, she even sounds like you. So like I feel like those people make it. What would you say?

Speaker 58:48

I would say uh a connected community that has pride in who we are, where we are, where we're from. Uh that's just like my um Hold on. So are you still in the same place as well? No, so I'm not it's it's kind of I'm not, but I'm only like 10 minutes away. Okay. And so uh, and the only reason why I'm not there because I couldn't find a house. Gotcha.

Speaker 5 59:16

So you say Tupelo is your hometown? So my hometown.

Speaker 59:20

Yeah. I tell people Plannersville. Now it's easier to say Tupelo because everybody knows Tupelo. When you say Plannersville, it's like, where, you know, but it's like uh Sturgis. You know, some people I'll they'll be from there, but they say I'm from Stark. Like so I'm from Plannersville. Um, and so there's a pride there. Like uh my like you like I'm just gonna give you a little history. My I had a relative who was the mayor. She was like one of the first mayors. She was a woman, so she was a mayor. That was a big deal. Now my uh I wanna say he's like my second cousin. He's the mayor now. Uh my brother is the chief of police and planners. Well. My mom is over like the Christmas parade, do a lot of community stuff. So it's like a lot of family, a lot of relatives. It's like it's it's such a community that's connected, but also, like I said, a place of pride. Like people that are in Plannersville want you to know I'm not from Tupelo. I'm from Plannersville. Like it's a, you know, and so um Don't block me under that. Yeah, yeah, that's that's kind of how it is. And so it's like I'm not, I'm, I'm, so now I stay in Southillo, Mississippi, but Saltillo has a uh, but it's a Sartilla address, but it's really Tupelo. It's like you know how they start zoning out. Yeah. And so it's a Sartilla address, but it's really Tupelo, but that's where I'm from. So when I acknowledge home, I don't acknowledge Sartilla is my home. Yeah, yeah. Plantersville is where I'm from. Like when I go out, people, where are you from? It's it and it's it's that sense of like you, like I don't want to say using, but letting people know, like, this is where I'm from. It it's not only for me, but even the people there. Because it's like, um, you know how the scripture says, can any good thing come out of what Nazareth is? So it's kind of like that's the mindset of planners. I want people to know, like, this is where my home is. Yeah, you know, and so uh that's a that's a very big, a very big thing back home. And I feel like it's kind of the small mind, the small town syndrome, like, no, don't overlook us, you know. And so uh that's that's really, you know, they're very big on continuing community traditions.

Speaker 7 1:01:37

Um they just care deeply about their people. They're family. They care deeply. Like whether they're truly family or not.

Speaker 1:01:43

Right. And it is it is to the point where everybody's family. It's like you can go years back, somebody work for somebody, and then next thing you know, they're business partners, or like it's to the point now where I try to tell, like, with my brother being the chief of police, like I have all kinds of friends. They'll call me, hey, I got a ticket. Hey, can you, you know, and and it's it's it's literally not a funny, um, it's not a racial thing. Like we everybody's connected. It's like, that's yeah, you know, that's such and such is son, or, you know, and so that is a very like I that now that is one thing I think I really embrace about home because in a world, you there's so many people who don't care. Like when you're in a place where people actually do care and they work together, and that's something that, you know, as I get older, I appreciate more. Yeah.

Speaker 5 1:02:40

You know, so I would say, yeah, and I've been a little bit, I don't know that jealous feels way too strong of a word, but like that I feel like I missed out in that way. Because we grow if you ask me where are you from, a lot of times I'll tell people west of Fort Worth, Texas, because we really are like 30 minutes west, and we've lived in uh a town called Decatur, we've lived in a town called Bridgeport, and we've lived in a town called Springtown. And it's so they're all kind of like within 20 minutes of each other. And I'm like, it's just that area. Like that's just kind of where I grew up. But my dad worked in Decatur, which is 30 minutes from where my we where I graduated high school from in Springtown. And then before we I went to public school, we homeschooled. And then we went to churches that weren't in the towns normally where we lived. So we weren't, I think that some of the integration of you being in the town, like knowing about a Christmas parade and being involved, like so much of that stems from your church involvement, your extracurriculars, your school. And we were just not plugged into those places. Now, Starfield has a really great homeschool community, so they do get plugged in, but we didn't have stuff like that locally. So some my mom will have to remind me sometimes when we go back, like, you know, Mr. So-and-so was asking about you, and I'm like, you know, like because she worked in the schools for a little bit there, and so she's more familiar with like the actual people in the community, but we didn't really grow up with that.

Speaker 2 1:04:02

So you're jealous of Picky In Mississippi, aren't you?

Speaker 5 1:04:05

I'm not jealous. I said that's too strong of a word. I'm saying the experience of like being able to just go back, and people don't. I I mean, I kind of do get a little bit nervous going to the grocery store because I'm like, oh gosh, what if I see someone that I should know and I don't know their name, or like maybe someone I don't, I'm gonna have to like fake it till I make it. Like, oh yeah, great distance. I haven't seen you in 20 years, you know. But like I don't like it's kind of a place that I don't know that people stay, go, but a lot of people I think I graduated with don't live, I mean some of them live there, but anyway, it's just different. So, um, so the question is just about like what makes a hometown. And a lot of people say either place you were born or you grew up or the feel the strongest sense of belonging, you know. So I do just say I think that my answer is just like Texas. Like I'm from Texas, but most I mean, Texas definitely has different depending on where you are in the state, it's a very different experience. So just west of Fort Worth.

Speaker 1:05:02

And I don't know what that means to people when I say that, but and I was gonna say the home, you know, I when you was talking about I thought about the place of origin. Like, and I'm not saying just the place of where I uh was born. Sometimes the place of origin could be the place where I became.

Speaker 6 1:05:20

Yeah.

Speaker 1:05:20

You know what I mean? I grew up here, but this is home. Because it this is where so many different things came together for me, or where uh my identity was solidified, or where my connections. So it I feel like home is gonna be uh categorized differently or looked at differently uh from different people, you know, and so um because I have encountered people who are like my pastor, he's from Chicago, but he moved here, I think, when he was like nine and eight, eight or nine, and but he acknowledges Mississippi as home. You know, I mean, when which technically most of his family's from Chicago, but he acknowledges Mississippi. So it's I feel like it's it's good could be good different for a lot of us, you know.

Speaker 5 1:06:11

That is so weird because I do say, like I probably spent more time, I don't know, we lived in Oklahoma for a stint too. But whenever people, if they ask for specific, I say from Springtown, because my parents still live there, but I only went to high school there for two years. So it's just interesting, like how we because I don't say Bridgeport.

Speaker 2 1:06:27

That's probably where I did more of my growing up or like I mean for me it's easier in Picky and being there, like being there my whole time and then being here.

Speaker 5 1:06:35

Yeah.

Speaker 2 1:06:36

So like home is in Picky Hume, but then home is also starful because there was so much formation that happened here. So many moments athletically too, but people and discovering who I really am. It's my own faith, not my parents, was here, but home and picky was just so formative too.

Speaker 1:06:52

So it's it's and Justin, I want to say this, he's just such a humble person. This is one of the most known people that I know. I I'm gonna tell you, I didn't tell I didn't tell, listen, he can he can sit over here and look how he wants. I had a I had a magical moment. Listen, I had a magical moment I didn't even tell him about. Oh, tell him. I uh I want to know. Magical, huh? It was magical for me because when I was, I you know when you name drop and it's the oh wow, or the aha moment. So Sunday we had the basketball game, and I seize this guy who comes to a lot of the basketball games. He's been a great supporter of Mississippi, he's great, uh, Mississippi State, he's been a great athlete here. And he goes by the name of uh Jake Mango. And I sees him at Tupelo, and I said, man, I gotta get a picture with this guy. So I take a picture with him. I said, Man, I know you know Pigett. Justin, yeah, Piget, man, he's a good guy. I said, Yeah, I work with him with FCA, but it was just the ability to give that name, the light up that took place in that moment. And then I'm sitting up here, I'm just thinking to myself, after I take this picture, I said, now Justin will walk around and act like he's just such a common guy. He's just, and when you say his name around Starville to certain people, you can tell he has a lot of connections, uh, has a great, and I'm gonna say this great influence. So it's it's I'm just saying, some people you you you bring their name up, and people like But with him, it's like he bring it, oh yeah. Like, so it's it's a testament to not just the work he would he put in as an athlete, but the work you're doing with LCA and to be known. So I'm just glad that I can be in the number to say you know, so so I'm saying like he talks about Starful being home. Oh, yeah, you can see that because it's so many different people here that you know that that knows him. And uh we was uh I was thinking about when we was at the uh the WFCA, uh it was the French camp uh meal with the radio thing they do here. And it's almost like this man was shaking hands with every single person. It's like and and it's almost like if you're standing there, you kind of like he's really a big deal.

Speaker 5 1:09:17

Look, during the Christmas parade, I was laughing because he knew so many people.

Speaker 1 1:09:23

Hey man, hey man.

Speaker 5 1:09:26

Like, who in the world is that? He's like, oh, he works for Sudenson. Oh, he does. It's so funny. He's very connected. I'm just saying. I have a funny story that happened to me. Somebody recognized me from college. I mean, have not seen this person in 20 years, which was kind of scary because she said, Do you recognize me? And I was like, you know, you have that moment.

Speaker 2 1:09:46

Bethany looks the same.

Speaker 5 1:09:47

Well, she said, she was like, Are you Bethany? Did you go to the VSU? She was like, I remember your blonde streak, and that it's natural. So we had this whole conversation because she remembered my hair. Is that it? Anyways, that was a tennis. That was a doctor. It is natural. You didn't know that? No. Yeah, it goes through my eyebrow, my eyelashes. It's all blonde. And I have some more like highlights back up in here. That's one spot.

Speaker 7 1:10:11

You can see it worse whenever his hair is longer, better, not worse, whatever. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I did not know that. Yeah, pretty crazy. Yeah, I'm not that high maintenance. I can keep all that up.

Speaker 2 1:10:22

People are like, man, how do you get that dye all the way down to the root? To the root.

Speaker 5 1:10:27

Yeah. But do you you go to Starkville Smiles, right? Uh-huh. Um, it was Dr. Hering's daughter. You know who she is. Anyways, but I did once I got on Facebook actually.

Speaker 7 1:10:38

I was thinking Wolf. I'm like, his daughter's not son-in-law.

Speaker 5 1:10:41

Yeah, that's yeah, his wife, Dr. Wolf. Yeah. Okay. Anyways, so funny though. She was like, I just always remember your blonde streak and digging it. I was like, oh, that's hilarious. Anyways. It's great. Wow. Not to take away from Justin by any means, but just a funny public thing.

Speaker 1 1:10:56

Please take away from this. I know I know this subject.

Speaker 1:11:00

I know this is is eating him up.

Speaker 5 1:11:01

Yeah, he's uncomfortable right now for sure. Well, that's about all we have today. We will hopefully have a special guest on the next episode to kind of talk about a hometown that is really interesting that's not in Mississippi, so it should be a lot of fun.

Speaker 2 1:11:15

Far away from Mississippi.

Speaker 5 1:11:16

Yeah. And if it doesn't happen on the next episode, we will for sure um have her on in the near future. But as always, we're so thankful that you listen. Please comment, give us some stuff to talk about. We'll definitely incorporate it, and we just appreciate you taking the time to tune in. Thanks for listening to the Created to Be podcast. To learn more about FCA at Mississippi State, visit www.msufca.org and follow us on Instagram at Hale StateFCA underscore. If you would like to become a financial partner, visit www.fda.org slash donate to sew into the work God is doing through FCA at Mississippi State.