Life Decisions, Athletic Training, and Detroit (feat. Taylor Pitts)

In this episode of the Created To Be podcast, Bethany and Brandi sit down with Mississippi State athletic trainer Taylor Pitts for a meaningful conversation about hometowns, career paths, and discerning life’s big decisions. Taylor reflects on growing up in inner-city Detroit, navigating different cultures, and finding her way into Division I SEC athletics—along with the courage it takes to take risks and pivot when life doesn’t unfold as planned.

Throughout the episode, they explore faith, discernment, and the value of living with a learner’s mindset, making this an honest, thoughtful, and unexpectedly fun conversation for athletes, students, and anyone still figuring out where they belong.

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Transcript

Speaker 0:00

She said, I don't care where you go to church, just enter into the presence of God. Receive what God is telling you, like you're at a posture where you're still able to receive God anywhere you go.

Growing Up in Detroit

Speaker 2 0:16

Welcome to the Created To Be podcast. We have a little bit of a different show today. As the guys are out, y'all pray for Darius. He's got some kind of something. I'm getting over a cough, so hopefully I can keep that at a minimum on this podcast today. But we are sitting, Brandy and I are sitting with Taylor Pitts today. You want to say hey, Taylor? Hello, everybody. Hello. And Brandy. So it's just uh, you know, the girls are here today. Yeah. And we're gonna, it'll probably be a little bit different. The girls are back. The girls are back. Here we are. Um, so we have been talking about hometowns and traditions, and we wanted to talk to Taylor because she's got really unique experience, being from way further up north than a lot of us that live here in Starville. So we'll get to that. Um, one thing I wanted to follow up on last from last episode is that we Justin and I got a text from Justin's sister about the episode where we talked from the gate. We're talking about Santa Claus, and she was like, Bethany, you were right. Justin would have never done all that. So I felt validated a little bit, but hopefully people enjoyed that conversation and um think about, you know, and then Brandy, you said that you found potentially, we think, another evolution of the elf on the shelf. It's coming out. It's coming out. So we got different variations, and those things are kind of fun to to talk about. But we're here today to talk to Taylor. She is an athletic trainer here at Mississippi State. She works with women's basketball. You've s you've worked with some of the other teams. Um, but welcome to the show today, Taylor. Thanks for having me. We're excited to talk about your hometown, which is Detroit, Michigan. Yeah, very different. Um, and so we how would you define, like whenever people say, Where are you from? What do you say?

Speaker 2:04

I say I am from the D. And they they should automatically know it's Detroit.

Speaker 4 2:10

Oh, they should. Okay. I was about to say, I think I would be like, Dallas. Oh sorry. Sorry. So But I'm also from the South. So I feel like you know, more people probably hear Dallas to Mississippi-ish than Detroit.

Speaker 2 2:26

No, I mean we lived there a year and people call Dallas the big D. Yeah. Really? Yes. They're the little D. Um, yeah, you know, even being from Texas and we served at University of Texas, I don't know that that's the only reason. I think I would know this regardless. But when people say U T, that's who we're talking about. But people around here think University of Tennessee. Yeah. So anyways, fun fact. But the D. So Detroit. Detroit. That's awesome. So what was it like when you moved here?

Speaker 2:56

Because Detroit obviously very different than Starville, Mississippi. Definitely. Um, but I've been in a couple small towns, been an athletic trainer. Like, I think this is like my fifth or sixth job in my um seventh year as an athletic trainer, which sounds kind of bad. It's okay. You got a lot of experience. Yes.

Speaker 2 3:15

You can adapt as well. Yeah. Um, all the good characteristics. So you tell people Detroit, but you told me you you like people could think that that is a lot of different places.

Speaker 4 3:25

Well, that's what I was gonna ask, because people say they're from Memphis or Atlanta, but they're not really from Atlanta.

Speaker 3:31

And I despise people that are like, I'm from Detroit. Like, oh like what's your zip code? Where from? Like, I'm from Romulus, which is like almost like 45 minutes away.

Speaker 4 3:39

Oh yeah. Not really.

Speaker 2 3:41

I don't know why, like, because we cared about that when we lived in Texas. We lived in Austin first before moving to Dallas. And we would say that too. We'd be like, No, you live in Round Rock. Like, do you have an Austin zip code? I don't like I don't know why that's so important, but we're like, no, when you write our address, you're gonna put Austin, Texas, on there.

Speaker 3:59

Um here's a fun fact. Recently, Detroit, like, is people are coming back now and they're like revitalizing the city. And like the area code for the long goats was through one three. But now we're getting a new area code.

Speaker 6 4:11

Oh wow.

Speaker 4:12

So now I know what I really get in Detroit. You're not an allergic transplant. That's so funny. So where you were in the city? I was in the inner city, Detroit. Yeah. Really close to downtown, like about eight minutes away. Oh, nice. Yeah. Did you like being that close to the city? Did you have a choice? Like what were the didn't really have a choice? Like everywhere. It's my grandma, she had bought like a um duplex that um basically our family lived in, like grandma, grandparents on this side, like my mom and I on the other side. So yeah, didn't really have a choice.

Speaker 2 4:48

Is that where you lived like your whole life? Okay. So what was school like? Like where it's was it like just down the road you could walk? Like where you did you have to elementary school.

Speaker 4:57

Um, I did walk. Or like my mom drove me before um like she went to work. But like DPS started going downhill once the older had got. So I was like, oh, if I wasn't into sports, maybe I would have stayed in DPS system. But like um finding like teams that would recruit me or like I have a better opportunity to like go to college. Yeah. Is what I was looking for. So we kind of had to do like a school of choice into like cities outside of Detroit.

Speaker 4 5:26

Okay. So you stayed living in the same spot, but you went to school outside?

Speaker 5:30

Yeah. Okay. My commute got a little longer. Yeah, like I was gonna ask how long.

Speaker 4 5:34

So you have how do you like uh in Mississippi, can you do that? Can you live in one town and go to school in another town? I wonder.

Speaker 5:42

You know, I I I'm old now, so um maybe illegally use somebody's address.

Speaker 4 5:48

Okay, okay, I guess we move. But I guess I used to ask to use my grandmother's because I didn't want to go to the school that I was supposed to go to.

Speaker 2 5:55

Yeah. I think that that's like I did grow up in a small town, but then whenever we moved to Austin and Dallas, like there's all these other options like charter schools and things you could qualify for. And so you could end up going all the way across town, have a different zip code, but you could qualify for that school. I'm pretty sure. But like, yeah, you know, our kids wouldn't be able to go to West Point or whatever. Like, I don't know, it's just is that what yours like how long was your commute?

Speaker 6:22

I uh went to I feel like I've been to so many schools. Um Ferndale High School, middle school, which was about it's like literally okay, so the vast difference, like if this was like the city of Detroit and this was the city of Ferndale, it's only like five minutes away. Oh but it's night and day. Like let's just say this is hill and this is heaven. Like it was like I don't understand how like how different it can be how vast it could be. Like we have like people like breaking into homes, like homes staring down, like burned down, and you have like this beautiful city where you can walk safely.

Speaker 4 7:06

Yeah, that is crazy being that close.

Speaker 7:08

Very close. Like I just didn't understand how that happened. But um, yeah, so I went there middle school and then they found out my cousin that was leaving, they w they didn't want to keep me there. It's just like I have like all A's and I'm like the grades come on. They did not care. Uh-huh. So um I had to go like maybe 30 minutes away to like South Lake High School, which is in St. Clair Shores. But we did it. Yeah. Are you glad? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I feel like if I would have stayed in Detroit public school, I don't know if I necessarily would have had a great um experience in college. Yeah. Like I feel like the other schools, like my upbringing, like I had I guess like I feel like elementary school is like just so fundamental. Sure. Right. I had a teacher, either she was always sick or she got pregnant. And so I have a subdistitute teacher, like I think my fifth grade year. That's like important time learning. Like the whole, like the whole sucker at math because of that lady.

Speaker 4 8:13

She was not there.

Speaker 2 8:14

She was not there. We had a year where Abby's teacher, she was going through a lot um in school, and this was, I think, second grade, and or she just had a lot going on personally. And so they had to like piece together stuff. And we were in the middle of like the thick of this grammar curriculum that Abby hated. I mean, so many tears over this grammar thing. And yeah, I mean, that was a very, I mean, that wasn't like super pivotal, but I just remember as a parent having to be like, and I and she's my oldest, like she's my first to go through school. I'm like, that we need a like, you know. Um, so thankfully somebody was able to step in that had taught that grade and was like a really good teacher. But yeah, it's tough when you have that transition, especially if you have like a substitute, but that's not even what they do all the time. Definitely. Um, how did you process that? Do you remember like being able to see the difference? Like I'm going over here, but then coming back home to this. Like what was what was going on in your brain? Do you remember?

Speaker 9:08

It was uh like I need to get out. Um I started like applying for colleges, yeah. I was just like, I don't care where I go, I just need to be in an area where it's beautiful. Like I've told people, like people judge me for um, I went to school at Aquinas College, which was in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Um, it's about two and a half hours away, so kind of close to home, but like far far enough where I have like my own experiences. Yeah. And the trees sold me. I was just like, yeah, this is beautiful. Like I can walk everywhere. Like it's a small little Catholic school. Yeah. NAIA. I played basketball there, ran track and field eventually. But I needed that for the soul. Like it was, yeah. I chose my school for the trees, which is crazy.

Speaker 2 9:56

Do you remember? Did you was it like like set in stone you were coming to Mississippi State, or did you have other options?

Speaker 4 10:03

I had other options. I um I really, really, really loved Ferman because it was so pretty. Yeah, it was so pretty. When I went, I was like, oh, this is so great. But I was like, it's too far from home. Like I just felt like I couldn't do.

Speaker 2 10:17

Yeah.

Speaker 4 10:18

And then, you know, there were a couple of schools in Texas that I was just like, yeah, too far. And then I did Ole Miss State. And I don't know. When I went to Ole Miss, I just didn't feel like it was great. I just didn't feel like it was landed in the right place. Yeah, yeah. When I came to state, like Aray was so kind. I was just like, yes, I will take it there. And it was the same, like I was three hours from home. So if I needed something, I was like very independent, but deep down, like I knew I didn't want to go far from my parents.

Speaker 2 10:44

Right. Yeah, I was just gonna connect back to what you were saying about the trees. What sold me here was the red brick buildings. Now, after having yeah, after traveling around the SEC being on the women's basketball team, I was like, oh, there's a lot of red brick buildings in even in Dallas. Like I think SMU is a little bit more like that. Not that I don't know that we that was so expensive, but um, I had just been to like TCU has like that limestone color building, so it's very white on the campus. And just like it's just like that, it's not, it wasn't interesting to me, like how the colors and stuff. And then um I had been to Texas Tech for whenever for something else, and like I didn't really like the style. I always thought maybe Texas Tech would be where I'd want to go. And then I got there and I was like, I don't, I'm not really feeling like the look of this place, you know? Yeah. And so once it was just so different because I had never been on and I didn't go on many campuses. So when I came and I was like, ooh, this is I like the southern, you know, whatever. And then grounds keeping always keeps like it's so beautiful, you know, here. But yeah, when I started traveling the SEC, I was like, oh, this is like a thing.

Speaker 4 11:49

Well, and people like I don't know if it still happens, but when we came, people, if you walk by, they smiled, they said, Hey, how are you? Like it was very like welcoming.

Speaker 2 11:58

Yeah. So yeah, it took me off guard at first whenever like people would do that. Yeah.

Speaker 12:02

I was just like, uh this is weird. Whenever I visit home, I'm just like small enough to I was just like, no, remember remember where you're at. Don't smile.

Speaker 3 12:13

Don't smell. Yeah.

unknown 12:14

Yeah.

Speaker 2 12:14

I was terrified when we visited New York one time. Like on me, me and Justin were like fresh, like married, like very young. And travel is so different now with all the technology and stuff you can use too. So we were just like flying by the seat of our pants, like on this trip. It was anyways, but it was a layover in New York, and I remember just the things that I would see that how the people operated. It like really freaked me out. I was like, I don't know. I don't know what to do in this, you know. Um, especially on the subway. I was like, people are coming. That sounds like a nightmare. Yeah.

Speaker 3 12:45

It was not. It was riding me a home alone. Yeah. I think it's the second one where he gets lost.

Speaker 2 12:51

Yeah. Oh well, he navigated himself better than me. It's just it did. I have some crazy stories. But this is a podcast about Taylor, not about me. So we won't talk about that crazy trip.

Speaker 13:01

Oh, fine. It's okay.

Career Paths and Pivots

Speaker 2 13:04

So, Taylor, whenever you decided to leave and, you know, go to where you wanted to go for college, go for the trees, all the things. Um, did you we were talking about on the last podcast, and this was kind of like just a contrast. It ended up kind of being a contrast of like Mississippi and Texas, but it could be anywhere, just depending on where you grew up, like what kind of the mindset was. And Darius and Justin kind of agreed, which might not be everybody's perspective on Mississippi, but sometimes it can be hard to leave because it's like we don't want you to leave. We're very loyal people here. And I was saying in Texas, it's like, yeah, go show them how great you are, you know, like it's just interesting. And some of that's probably the state, maybe that we came from, but also family of origin. So we were kind of just talking about that on the last podcast. It's a little tease if you want to go back and listen to that. But did you feel any of that on either side? Like, what was the attitude when from family, friends, when you wanted to leave and you realized, like, I need to get out of here so that I can Yeah.

Speaker 14:00

Okay, so fun pegged, I am the only child, my mom's only child. And I was her shadow growing up. And she once told me before, like, um, when you get older, I'm a little nervous. Like, I think uh like force you to go away. So she wanted you to like go spread your wings. She wanted me to experience all the things, which I'm truly grateful for. Like, she didn't want me like, no, you have to stay close and everything. Yeah. Her only stipulation was like, please don't join the army. Yeah. She was like, if something happens to you, I don't know.

Speaker 6 14:31

Yeah.

Speaker 14:31

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But yeah, no. So she wanted to push me out. My grandmother, when she's still living, she wanted me to go away to experience everything, come back if I needed anything, but like to have my own experiences.

Speaker 2 14:42

What was it like with the people that you were around, like in your schools? Were a lot of people doing those types of things too? Like was the mindset pretty like growth mindset, like, oh, we want to At that time I was going to a very diverse high school.

Speaker 14:55

So everybody was like, Yeah, I'm going to this college, I'm going to this college. I feel like if I went to like a Detroit public school, it probably would have been That's what I was gonna say.

Speaker 4 15:03

Like I think not that you get sucked in, but it's kind of like you don't know you can get out, or you don't know there's something different or better than Detroit or you know, whatever city it is. Like I feel like I'm here, my parents have been here, they haven't left. It might be rough, but this is who we are.

Speaker 2 15:21

Right. Okay. What did you experience, Brandy?

Speaker 4 15:23

Um, I think my parents were fine with me leaving. I mean, I didn't really I'm kind of the same. Everybody from my high school is either going state or miss. Like I guess it was somewhere in Mississippi. Yeah, and that might have changed if I had gone somewhere else, but I don't think so. I think everybody was excited for me to have opportunities. That's what I felt at least.

Speaker 2 15:42

Yeah. Yeah. What got you into athletic training? Was that your original path when you went to school?

Speaker 15:48

Like, how'd you discover that? I crazy story. Like, I really thought I wanted to go into like mortuary science. I want to be like a forensic scientist. Oh wow. Do all the things. Taylor. Yes. That's incredible.

Speaker 2 16:01

There's no way.

Speaker 4 16:02

Is that what your sister does?

Speaker 2 16:04

Uh she does forensic accounting. So you're talking about like dead people. Yeah.

unknown 16:08

Yeah.

Speaker 16:09

My sister's like white collar crime. So you guys spend around me. Like you, you know, I like I'm like, uh I don't really have to talk to you. Yeah. Just know I'm here if you need it. Sorry. Like, I I went into the wrong field. Like, I'm in. So you were like, you were like, I went into the wrong field with athletic training. Yeah. Is that what you're saying? Because I gotta talk to people. I have to talk to people. I have to engage with people. Oh, I have to talk to parents. It's like Yeah, dead people aren't gonna talk back to you. That part. I have a cousin in uh Minnesota where she almost like forensic stuff to um she's a nurse, so she cleans bodies. And she's told she told me before. She's like, um, sometimes like lights flicker, like some things happen. Oh like, you know, I just, you know, I talk to God, like I command, like, you know, right, Holy Spirit to come in here. I was just like, at the time I'm a little young in the face. I was like, whoa, many.

Speaker 2 17:06

I don't know I don't think that's for me. Right. What initially made you think that was for you? Like, did you know about what she was doing, or you were just like fascinated by something else as you went through stuff?

Speaker 17:17

I was just like really big into like, you know, the the shows, like the bones, uh like just forensic stuff. Okay. I was like, this is so cool. I even went to like a college close by Wayne State University where they were talking about like forensic stuff, just to like see if I wanted to do that one day.

Speaker 2 17:37

Yeah. Not so much. So then what got your attention for athletic training? Did you already start classes that were like forensic classes and stuff?

Speaker 17:46

Oh no, like you know, basic stuff like undergrad, you have to fulfill all the requirements, like English and all that stuff. Yeah. Botany got to me and I was just like, I don't know if I can do pants. If I can't do plants and like remember all the cycles of this, like how am I gonna but yeah. Yeah. So um, yeah, did that. But I was also a college athlete too. And I was injured, chin splints, and I was like, I'm the worst athlete. Like, yeah. So injured, kept competing, didn't go in for treatment at all. Like, I was that person. Yeah. But you know, I'm still gonna try my hardest, and it's like insanity, honestly. Like, why am I not getting better? Why am I not meeting my goal when like my body's breaking down and it's hurting? Like I'm pretty sure I competed with like stress reactions before.

Speaker 2 18:34

I'm just sorry, I'm kind of like laughing over here because the through the the few years I've known Taylor, like the amount of time she's like, they just won't come in, you know? Like at least at least you can relate. At least you can relate. Um, so yeah. So then you decided like, when did how did you decide, like, okay, this is what I want to do?

Speaker 18:55

I was like, okay, so after that one class, I talked to my advisor. I was like, hey, I gotta get out of this. Like, if not, I'm gonna fill out of college. And I don't want to go back home. Right, right. So um I was really good at hands-on stuff. I didn't want a traditional job, and I got what I asked for. Right. That's right. Be careful. Be careful what you asked for. Be careful what you asked for because it's a 24-7 nonstop on-call job.

Speaker 2 19:19

Yeah, what is the path for an athletic trainer? Do you have to go and do extra school or it's like built into your undergrad?

Speaker 19:25

Like what is that? At the time it was undergrad. Okay. But um, a couple years ago, maybe three or four years ago, like right after I graduated. No, I graduated seven years ago. So about seven years ago, um, they turned into a master's program. Okay. So you have to complete that in order to go yes, do that somewhere else.

Speaker 2 19:42

Okay.

Speaker 4 19:42

But you didn't have to go back and do anything.

Speaker 2 19:44

No, because you already kind of grandfathered in. That's right. That's good. Um, so I just this is kind of like a tidbit for people that are in that position in college that might be listening to this. Like, were you scared to cher choose like a different career path or like I just hear students you probably have to, but all all of us have that are like wrestling with like, I don't know what I want to do with my life. Like, do you remember? You're a lot closer to that. Me and Brandy are a little further. I can wait. I can like pull some from the vault of what I felt like. But you know, did you were you pretty confident of like, yeah, I'll just try this, or did you kind of were you kind of scared of like how this paying out? Is this what I want to commit my time to? What I want to do with my life? Like any of those things?

Speaker 20:24

The way the one class scared me, like the botany class? Yes. Okay. Like that was the lowest grade I've ever received, like in my life. I was just like, if this is like this, I will, I'm willing to try anything else. Okay. And I was like, I'm good with like anatomy, like human stuff, like had uh like AP classes in high school. I was like, Okay, let's try it. Like it was either exercise science or athletic training. I was like, what am I gonna do with the exercise science degree? I wish I would have talked to somebody in the exercise science field because it would have probably been uh You would have been stuck with some more science classes though.

Speaker 4 21:00

But it wouldn't have been plans.

Speaker 21:03

But I would have been okay with that, especially if I'm just like I have to suffer through um trying to be like become a doctor with like eight more years of schooling. Yeah. That's insane. You would have wanted to do that or no? I mean, I would have been open to the opportunity. Okay.

Speaker 4 21:18

I got kicked out of the training room one time. Because we were in the hump in the bottom, and she said something about having to go to school for seven or eight years. Now keep in mind I spent a lot of time in the training room also four knee surgeries, so I was always in and out. I was probably a pain in her behind. Four knees yes, four knee surgeries total. And so I was like, that is so stupid. Why would anybody go to school for that long? Well, she took offense. Like you said that out loud. That was but I wasn't meaning it. I it was offensive, but I wasn't meaning it like that. I was just like, I would never be able to go to school that long. But my tone and how I said it, she was like, get out. I was like, okay. So I left the training room. Had to go talk to my coach. He was like, just be respectful. I'm like, yes, sir. Yes, sir. Okay. Yeah. So I was like, well, I recognize that. Maybe. No, she was here a long time.

Speaker 2 22:16

Yeah, she was here a long time. Maybe I know too. Um okay, so I feel like as you talk, Taylor, and as I talk, like it feels like you were just able now, correct me if I'm wrong, but like able to just make decisions. Like, okay, there's a certain level of confidence of that decision doesn't scare me. I'm just gonna do that. And I know we've talked about in basketball practice before, just just offhand, just talking like how do you teach, and even with athletics, like how come some athletes are just nothing really phases them? Like they have this, I'm just gonna figure it out and I'm just gonna do it. And then for others, like they can get in their head or they can just I don't know, it cripples them, you know? So I was gonna ask you, Brandy, like how I feel like you have very confident kids. Like, do y'all how do you just how do how do they do that? How do they just pick up on this doesn't scare me? I'm just gonna do it.

Speaker 4 23:07

Well, I don't know if it's genetics or both, but Brett and I are like very laid back to begin with. But also like I never I can't speak for Brett, but I don't think he really ever got in his head. I kind of was like that. I just did whatever, like kind of had that whatever it takes mentality. Yeah. I changed majors also. I was just like, uh, I don't want to do this no more. Let's try something. I'm like very in the moment. I don't really think far ahead. Gotcha. And so like sometimes that comes back to by feeling tell.

Speaker 2 23:35

But elf on the shelf.

Speaker 4 23:37

Yes. Absolutely. Um, but I feel like I don't I don't know if it's just like the pressures. Because I was even talking to Brett about coaching. Like, I feel like a lot of their pressures they place on themselves. Right. And I know that sounds stupid. The community does place some pressures, but I'm like, I think I think we place a lot of pressure on ourselves. That it's like made up pressure almost. And so like I never really felt that. Yes, I wanted to play better when I was injured, but it was like I'm doing the best I can. Yeah. Like even when my coach was yelling and cussing at me, like, what are you doing? I'm like, I don't know. I'm trying. Like that was my response. Like, I don't know either. Like, yeah. And so like I just I feel like hopefully that kind of has buttons our kids because we try and and we don't, we try not to put pressure. As long as I see that they're hustling, like our two things are hustle and be coachable. Like you run on the field, you run off the field. I don't care if it's practice, court, whatever it is. And if you go watch my son play basketball, he looks like he's on the football field. Not as far as tackling, but he dives into this, he'll dive like into the stands and to try to bat them all back. And like his coach says, like, if I had four other kids doing that on the court, he's like, you might not can shoot. Right. But you can steal the ball. The possession force. Yes. You can develop that though. Yes. Yeah. And that's what he said. But also, like, you don't need five people who can shoot lights out in junior high. I mean, I'm sure as you get older, you do need all five being able to shoot lights out. But he gets a lot of steals because he's gonna hustle.

Speaker 2 25:02

I love watching players like that that bring energy to the court. Whether it, I mean, a lot of times with the with the game of basketball, a lot of times that does translate into someone that can get to the basket and score. But also, like, I know that I've been in games at the hump where there's been defensive possessions, men or women's, that it's like you can just tell the level that people are playing with an intensity and the whole place goes crazy. Sometimes more so over that than some kind of crazy offensive play. For sure. So I I don't know. I like that kind of stuff. Absolutely. It just brings a lot of energy. It shifts the momentum. Yeah. But where do you think you got that confidence from? Like just to make decisions.

Speaker 25:37

Like honestly, I think I'm a lot like Brandy as well. Yeah. Like I could be very in my what I can be in my hand, but like at the same time, I'm just like, I'm gonna do this. Here's the plan, here are the necessary steps. Right. And then sometimes it do come by.

Speaker 2 25:54

You're like, oh, let's reevaluate. Yeah. I think growing up for me, like that the this it just felt like that's just the way life was. Like, I don't know that there was like all this space for considering otherwise. Right. So there's something about that expectation from I don't even know that it was pressure, but more of just, I signed you up to do this, and this is you're just gonna do it. Okay. My dad kind of did, he sometimes would really irritate me and my sisters because we would be like, we didn't know how to do something. And we'd be like, Dad, and he was like, just do it. And like, oh my gosh. He's an engineer. I'm like, this is not fair. Our brains are not probably working this thing, but he can. I think that's also something I saw really both my parents, is just like if there was some kind of thing to problem to solve, especially my dad with our homes or our vehicles, he would just so you just watch somebody figure stuff out all the time.

Speaker 4 26:46

That's what I was just about to say that I've noticed the biggest difference. And maybe it's just because I'm older, but like I don't see a whole lot of like I don't know what to do or my level is not where it's supposed to be. And I don't think you should compare yourself to other people, but if if I don't know, I'm gonna find somebody that the coach is praising and be like, okay, let me watch what they're doing, and we'll do that next time and see what my coach says. Yeah. Like, but I mean I I still stayed in my own lane, but like it there's no like figure it out anymore. It's like I need you to tell me each step along the way.

Speaker 2 27:18

Yeah.

Speaker 4 27:19

And like I said, that might just be because I'm older. There might have been people like that when I played. I just don't remember. Yeah.

Speaker 2 27:24

There's so much modeling going on that you can that is available. I mean, now we have other resources like Google or YouTube, and you can go. But even like the other night, and I don't think my kids have done this yet, but we have a basketball goal on the back of one of our doors. And I was like, you know what would be a fun game is if you watch this basketball game and you see a guy do an amazing thing and then just go try to replicate it over there. So I'm gonna keep trying to do that through the basketball season because I'm like, that's I feel like that's probably what I did a lot was I would see somebody do something and then you just go try it. Yeah, you know, but for some people that even that small of a thing, there would be some kind of like fear of failure. And I'm like, you just go do it. I don't know.

Speaker 4 28:06

Yeah, I don't know where all that comes from, but those are some of the things that for me and they do have more resources and pressures and stuff, right? And we did 20 years ago. Yeah.

Speaker 28:16

I feel like I had like internalized pressure, per se. Cause like even growing up, I was the person like, oh yeah, just look at Taylor. Oh, just be like Taylor. Oh, Taylor can do it. Like, oh I'm just like, like, not necessarily my mom never put pressure on me. Thank God for her. But it's just like other people just like looking at me. I was like, okay, I have to do this. Even like my first failing grade in college with the body clothes. Um like uh she was like, it's okay, like figure it out. Like, um, like just what's your next steps? She's like, you want to come back home? Right. I was like, you're right.

Speaker 4 28:50

You're right. Like, thank you for that. I don't I was good parents. I was the first person to go to college in my family. So I called my dad, and I think it was, I don't know if it was statistics. It was something. And I'm pretty good at math, but I know it was a math class. And I was like, Dad, I just bought my first test. I need to drop the class or I'm gonna have a bad grade. And he was like, No, you can't drop the class. Like he didn't understand that if you had a certain deadline to drop it. He was just thinking, like, no, this is what classes you had to take. Right. You gotta just bow out. So you wouldn't let me drop. I think I ended the class with a C. Oh. That was my only C, I think, in college Jamaican. I was like, Dad, I blame that on you forever.

Faith and Discernment in the Journey

Speaker 2 29:32

The C as assigned to your name. That's so funny. No, that's good parenting because you know, on your mom's part, Taylor, because I think that that a few episodes ago too, Justin and I talked about what does it mean to win, like learning to win. And we don't always come in with like these pristine notes. We just talk and then we're like, oh, that's cool. Like, yeah, maybe think of it that way. And one of the things that came from that conversation was if you just have like a learner's mindset and you just engage with whatever the raw data is to learn from it, then you don't ever really quote unquote lose because you're always gonna be learning. So I think that situation, thinking about it, is like you looking at the data is I failed this class. So the conclusion was not like, oh, I can't do this. The conclusion was like, this is just not for me. So it does become this helpful tool to say, I need to look somewhere else. Yeah. And so having that kind of like openness to think about things that we experience in life, like those even those failures can be informative for us and not even really failures. It's just information, like, oh yeah, that wasn't for me. And it looks different. I know some high schools or places do like career tests and different stuff, but sometimes you don't know until you get in the middle of it. Throwing in the fire. Yeah. Like, and um, I I guess I just I want to talk about some of that because that does come up with athletes and students who are making those decisions where it's like they're afraid of like, well, what if it doesn't pan out or what? And it's like some you just it's just kind of gotta just go for it and see what happens. What if it does work out? Yeah. And what if it does? Is that what you say? Yeah. Yeah. And often that's unfortunately not always our first thought unless we're trained to think that way. So um, okay, so in making decisions though, and navigating like careers and what we want to do, those of us who are believers do and do factor in our relationship with God, right? So I just was curious what your kind of story is as far as like how you came to know the Lord, and then how did that obviously we have like the practical things like we just talked about the class? Sorry to keep emphasizing this class, it's just a good lesson for people who make it. Yeah, it's a formative moment. Um while you're at this table today, no. Uh so, anyways, um just how that factors in though, you know, beyond just talking to people and what seems most practical in our life, but like what does faith look like coming alongside of all those decisions and all that kind of stuff? Yeah.

Speaker 31:55

So I would say I think not I think. I I've known God for like, I will say my whole life. Yeah. Um growing up in the church, thanks to my grandma, uh, she adopted my mom and thank thank God for that lady. Because if not, um I'm sure God would eventually would have brought my mom and I into the faith. But without her, like we like my mom's family, they're not necessarily Christian per se. Like they're just living life. Yeah. Which is I'm glad I'm not like that. Yeah. But so yeah, going to church every day. So I think I had like such a strong example of like what a godly woman, Christian woman, a woman of faith should look like. Um, kind of like just tried to be like um my grandma and my mother. Um, so just having those examples um definitely help. Especially, I think I got tested in college being two and a half hours away. Yeah. And being the only child. Like I did call home like maybe months later, it's like, mom, I just felt all alone. Like it's it's hard to make I feel like friends in college.

Speaker 5 33:00

Yeah.

Speaker 33:01

Like if you're not on the sports team.

Speaker 5 33:03

Yeah.

Speaker 33:03

But and I was on the sports team, but like you have I have a bunch of ladies that like they're going out partying, drinking, they're doing their own thing. And I'm just me. Like, what what do I do?

Speaker 4 33:17

Well, that's awesome too, though, that your faith was strong enough to stand in that. Because I did not in college.

Speaker 33:23

Oh no, they there were times where I I was like, oh yeah, I'm uh I'm gonna be about the life. But like, but then started get getting convicted like later on. Um my grandma told me this one thing um before I even left the school. She's like, hey, I know you're going to a Catholic school. I didn't have uh transportation at the time, my first year of college. So I had to rely on a lot of people. Yeah. She said, I don't care where you go, um, like to church, as long as you like just enter into the presence of God. Like it could be a Catholic church, receive like what God is telling you. Like you can like discern like what's for you is for you, but like just make sure like you're at a posture where you're still able to receive God anywhere you go. I thought that was like so powerful. And I was just like, I didn't get it until I was like almost a junior or senior, like, why? Grandma's so wise. Yeah, it's like I could have been anywhere. Like, I'm not Catholic per se, but like I'll take what I need and like I can discern, I could read the Bible, I could like disciple friends. Right, yeah, for sure. But I didn't learn that until much later, unfortunately. That's still pretty young to learn that. Yeah. Did you grow up like what kind of church did y'all grow up going to? Baptist. Okay. But honestly, like being down here in the South, I felt like Southern Baptist. Have like all the traditions. Yeah. Like uh you have to sing a song, you have to sing a hymn, gotta say a prayer, devotion, beacons, like all the things. That's very, I feel like it's kind of very scripted. Did it?

Speaker 2 34:53

Yeah, yeah, it can feel that for sure. Did that um was it a big big jump to go? Like, was it a question to go to Catholic school? Like, I feel like did was or was it just kind of like it doesn't matter?

Speaker 35:03

You know, didn't matter. Okay. I was just there for the trees and to get it. There for the trees. Also, I was a first generation, so I didn't necessarily I was just open to anything. Yeah, honestly. Yeah.

Speaker 2 35:16

I don't know, Brandy, if you've had a moment like this, but I remember I think it was when we were serving with FCA at Mississippi College. But I did have, I mean, we all go through stages in our walk with the Lord. And for whatever reason, that stage was um definitely feeling like a critical spirit towards certain things that I would see. Other people, how they practice their faith or their walk with the Lord. And I don't know that I showed it so much on the outside, but on the inside, like I would get very irritated at where we were going to church because I would be like, oh, he should be doing this, or blah, blah, blah, blah. Like I knew I'm good gracious, 26. Like, what do I know about life? Anyways, but I just remember when we moved to Austin, Austin was such a formative time because we saw people and in at like not just at the school at UT, it being so diverse, but the city. And you just start seeing, encountering all these different people, and then you have all kinds of different churches that something similar to what your grandma. That's why I was like, it's still pretty good at junior or senior year at college. Kind of like getting that. I just realized like I think I just need to be open wherever I go. Like the Lord is everywhere. So it doesn't mean that I have to agree fully in order to be with these people. And I also don't have to be critical. Like, I don't know their stories, you know, and there might there were definitely convictions maybe I had that other people might not, and that's okay. But it definitely relieved a lot of frustration, like it was a way better way to live, is what I'm trying to say. Yeah. Than getting in that, like, this is the way it's gotta look or gotta be. Um, so anyway, because we actually did have, I don't know if you had this experience in Detroit, but I don't even know where it came from. But there was this like some kind of elusive division that in my head was supposed to be beh between Protestant and Catholic. And so we had some amazing Catholic missionaries that would serve with a different ministry, but came over and helped us with FCA and were so supportive. And they were some of the best ministry partners we've ever had. And so it is kind of interesting when you have these like barriers or things that you don't even know where they come from. And then you're like, but this person's so different than what I've told. Yeah, I'm supposed to think, you know? Yeah. And so I think that if I had still been in that mindset of this is the right way, this is the wrong way, whatever those things are, they're pretty arbitrary. But it I think I would have totally missed out on some really awesome relationships we had with them. So I was glad that the Lord really like came after that in my heart and my mind because they were amazing people. And it was really cool because there was a lot of things the Lord was teaching me at the time that Catholics practiced that I didn't know. So as I got to know them, like there were some things I was like, yeah, I can get on board with this, and other things, like I couldn't. Yeah. But at the same time, like they were really some of those areas that were the Lord was working in my life, I was like, this is feeding me. This is awesome. So, anyways, it's just interesting, depending on who you talk to, like what barriers that might be there that we may know where they came from or not. Yeah. Until, you know, a lot of times I think those barriers, once we get to know people, that's where a lot of times those barriers, whether it's with different types of how people practice their faith or other things, could just be cultural things that are different. Oh, for sure. When you talk to somebody and get to know someone, it helps like, oh, I can think different, I can get on board with that or whatever.

Speaker 38:32

So I was gonna add, um, not necessarily Protestant, uh Catholic per se um that I realized I think the biggest thing for me was the black church and the white church.

Speaker 4 38:42

Yeah.

Speaker 38:42

Like quote unquote. Yeah. Like, oh yeah, like we're gonna go to church. And then like we talk about like white church, like they have like, oh, it's boring, like X, Y, and C G. And then grandma saying that, and then like being in college when if like I had like a friend I met and they wanted me to go to their church, and it's a quote unquote white church, I'm just like, hmm. Everything is so different. It is. Like, oh, we get out in 45 minutes. Yeah, there'd be three songs, announcements, offering message, you're done. Done. It's just like really different to me. Um, I think that was a big thing. I feel like being in Detroit was like, it's like kind of a racial divide now. I do know of some churches in Detroit where it's a little more integrated and it's really cool. Like churches I go to now, I love to see like, is it multicultural? Is it like um multi-generational? Like, do I know if the like church is like growing because there's kids there? Like Yeah, it's awesome. Like, 'cause heaven's gonna be everybody. Yeah. Like it's not there's no division. So Right.

Speaker 2 39:48

It is kind of crazy that we see that on Sunday. Mm hmm. That it's like we see all this integration other places and then but all I and then at the same time, people have their preferences. Definitely like a Segregated thing. It's like you just grew up, this is the style that you like, you know, and it might not be someone else's preference. And so we don't have to read too far into it. But for sure. You know, it can be a mix of things for sure. It's just kind of interesting. But we had a great church in Austin that was very diverse, and that was really cool for us. And then the city too. City life can be like that too. Like just being exposed to I mean, it's just like naturally like that. Kind of like sports can naturally be diverse. And so it's kind of it becomes a point where when you do see everybody that looks like you, that becomes weird. Like it feels weird to me now. When that's the case, I'm like, where's everybody at? We all look the same in here. Um, okay, so one more question about this, and then we're gonna ask about uh just actually like about Detroit, because I did a little bit of some searching. We're gonna see what Taylor has to say about like the city of Detroit. But um, what does your your grandma mentioned the discernment? So how did that look as you navigated like because you said you're you've been to five schools to work with athletic training? How many did you say? Yes, about five. Okay, so you graduate and then you gotta make all these decisions about like what jobs to take, where to apply, where you want to go. So did that whatever did you feel like faith at some point got pretty real in that decision making process, or did you just take, you know, oh yeah, you know what I'm saying?

Speaker 41:18

Definitely. Like my first job, trying to become a graduate assistant. Like I received so many notes. Like, so many notes. It it was like very heartbreaking. And I remember my job, um, I I got a call one day and it's like, hey, Taylor, are you so interested in this role at like you know, Iowa Central? It's like, yeah. Then like I accepted it on the phone because I'm just like, uh uh, I'm gonna go somewhere. I kind of gotta get started with this thing. And then my mom was like, didn't you get a rejection letter from them? I was like, actually, I think I have it in my room. Like I pull it out, I was just like, wow. Oh, wow. Like, and like I get like little confirmations like that, like, oh, like maybe that's because like I really wanted that job because um at the time it was a community college. Um, I was thinking about going into physical therapy and they were willing to pay for um classes that I didn't take because I decided that in my last semester like of school for some reason. Yeah. Um, but yeah, I was like, this is a great opportunity for me. And they called, I was like, uh Sky, you want me to be a physical therapist?

Speaker 2 42:29

But um, yeah, just little things like that. When you when you came to Mississippi State, you said that you kind of saw stuff like that. We even have like an acquaint uh uh tennis courts that are like pits, tennis courts or whatever. Yeah. So what was that process for Mississippi State?

Speaker 42:42

Because I know that was kind of a bullstrip. Like I was definitely in prayer. Like, God, um, like I really want to get into like power five now. Like a lot of people say I like I really can't do it or I won't like it. I'm just like, I just want, like, just help me, please. Help me. Yeah, yeah. Um, so like when I I dress up for the interview um on the plane, this lady, she looks at me, like, oh, you're dressed so nice. Oh my goodness. She goes, uh, where are you going? I'm like, Oh, I'm actually going uh down to Mississippi State. She's like, Oh, you're gonna love it. Oh my goodness. Uh so thank you, whoever that lady is. She's like, Oh, so um, were you like, I'm interviewing for a job, you know, a tracking pill. She's like, Oh, uh, so when are you gonna get your apartment? I looked at her, I was like, well, did you hear me say interview? She's like, Well, you better start looking. I was like, Okay. All right, I received that. Yeah. Then I get on campus, like um, there's tennis courts, AJ Pitts uh center. I was like, I see piss seeing the last name. Yeah. Um, something else happened too that I thought was kind of funny. Um, I don't know, the whole situation brought me peace. And like, I can really disturb my spirit if it's not for me.

Speaker 5 43:54

Yeah.

Speaker 43:55

And like everything felt so natural. Like the interview was probably like one of the best interviews in my life. I've never been on an interview where there's 20 people in the room.

Speaker 5 44:04

Oh wow.

Speaker 44:05

A round table. Whoa. And every person is firing. And I'm naturally, I'm making Joe. Like, I'm just on it very like just it was a great, it was a great atmosphere at time. And like people after interview, like, oh my goodness, it's so great. Oh my goodness, you look so nice. Oh my goodness. Yeah, that's awesome.

Speaker 3 44:22

You know, that are making me feel so great right now. I love you guys.

Speaker 44:26

That's awesome. I actually started looking for apartments um on the flig home. It's awesome. Because I just thought like this is truly, yeah.

Speaker 2 44:34

So is that common in athletic training? You said you've been doing this seven years. Okay. Is that common? And you've been here for this your third year? Third year officially, like fourth season. Okay. So I mean, I feel like that's pretty fast to get to Division I SEC. Yeah. Is it? Or is that pretty standard? Like, is there a lot of turnover in athletic training? Because it's pretty demanding.

Speaker 44:56

Yeah. There's um a five-year burnout rate where athletic trainers um usually quit. So I've made a pest one.

Speaker 6 45:03

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's so great.

Speaker 45:07

Yeah. So that's, I mean, I'm like, wow, that's pretty amazing.

Speaker 2 45:10

Yeah.

Speaker 45:10

Now it's really hard to find a like good athletic trainer now. Yeah, yeah. No one.

Speaker 2 45:15

Yeah, because what do people normally do? Like clinical stuff. Do they go that route? They do this for a few years and then they're like, okay, I'm gonna figure out how to do that.

Speaker 45:22

Yeah. Um, a lot of people are doing clinical or industrial athletic training, but they're still in the field of athletic training. But people are just actually leaving the field in general. Just like wait, what does that mean? Industrial.

Speaker 4 45:33

That's what I was gonna ask.

Speaker 45:34

Um, so think of like warehouses and so like teaching people how to lift correctly, doing like warm-up stretches, stuff like that. That's okay. Yeah.

Speaker 2 45:46

That's so good. Uh um Justin worked for stint. We were in between our FCA jobs, and also in that place, we're like, God, what are we gonna do next? He worked at Home Depot. And the thing that we noticed about people in that place, and I don't know if Home Depot has, you know, what you're talking about, but we were like, their bodies, like this is really intense. Oh, yeah. And they don't necessarily get paid appropriate to be able to take care of their bodies. So it was just like a baffling thing to us to be in a different environment and work culture that we were like, this is nuts. How do people do this? And because people stay at Home Depot forever. Like forever. And they actually like they like their job, but it's a lot of manual labor that wears them out. Okay, I had one more athletic training question. Do you have like a favorite story that you could tell on the pod about, I don't know, maybe an athlete like helping an athlete get better or just something that's funny, that's memorable. I know Dennis, y'all, the team, one of the schools you were at, didn't they win like a championship? Oh, yeah, I actually have like two rings, or I'm supposed to be two.

Speaker 46:50

Taylor wore those at the interview.

Speaker 3 46:55

She's like, well, what's her hand on the table? School.

Speaker 47:01

Yeah, so um, I think my favorite place I was at was Oakland University working uh softball. And I didn't know anything about softball at that time. Yeah. Where again did you say? Oakland University, which is in uh Rochester Hills, Michigan. Okay. So fun. Uh the girls were great. It kind of made me fall in love with athletic training again because it was like no pressure. Like we're just outside, sun, just sunshine, fresh air, and then they're making jokes and stuff. I don't know. It was just like very just like light from where I came from.

Speaker 3 47:34

Yeah.

Speaker 47:34

And it was good for the soap. And then we so happened to win like a championship in our conference, and I was like, that's icing on the case.

Speaker 2 47:41

Yeah, yeah. Brandy, do you like softball culture? I do. I'm like forcing you to say yes, right? Because you're on the bottom. Yes, I do. Yes, I do. I love it.

Speaker 4 47:50

No, I really do. It is different. I mean, even here, and I don't know if it's like I just assumed it was Coach Ricketts. Yeah. And like the culture she created because it's like very family oriented. Like everybody feels like family, but it's the same way. Like she will get there till all of them will, or make them, you know, run some, but there's an expectation, but also there's fun in it still. Like I will sit on the field and as they come by they can talk to me. And other sports, I just don't think that happens much. Like it's very like high intensity from beginning to end. And the intensity is still there. It is just like a joy or a fun with it. Yeah. And they're always constantly talking and moving.

Museums, Motor City & Coney Dogs

Speaker 2 48:25

And so I remember sitting at a practice at the softball like a couple years ago with Justin, just like it was a really beautiful day outside, and we just went and sat and watched. And I and they had music playing. And I looked at Justin and I was like, I think I missed it. Like, I think like this vibe could have been for me. And um once you get past January, February. Right. Yeah, I know. This outdoor sports, man. I'm lying. Uh but my mom was not a fan of softball. So I played one season. So funny. She was like, Y'all don't like go to state or anything, right? When this team like was down on a few players and they were like, please can Bethany play. I had never played, but I had played other sports with them, and they're like, she'll figure it out, you know? Yeah. And so she's like, they don't go to state or nothing. She they're like, No, we had this many games, blah, blah. No, we made it to state. So we had this extra trip we had to take. My mom was like, You gotta be playing me. So that was the only season of softball. I don't even know if my sisters played that I might have been the only one allowed because they literally begged my mom. And then we found some neat issues that I had that we didn't know about through softball. So maybe that was good. But okay, a few things about Detroit. So this is, I feel like most people should know that it's the motor city. It is the motor city.

Speaker 49:33

So can you name the three big like manufacturers there? Okay, so I'm only gonna name the one thing GM because I'm a GM person. GM super. Yeah. And then we also have Ford, and then the other one we don't care about, Chrysler.

Speaker 2 49:50

Okay, Chrysler. Yeah. I was about to say, I was like, I just watched this and I was like, I remember Ford. Something that's strange, unless I misunderstood the video, was that there's this Ford Museum, and in the Ford Museum, they have the chair that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in. Oh. And the vehicle that JFK was assassinated in. Like, I was like, what does that have to do with the money? I could kind of see the vehicle. But the chair. I know. I was like, that was just a snippet in the video. I was like, I need to come back to this. Have you been there before? Yeah. The um, what is it, the Henry Ford Museum? Yeah. Yeah. Are those things there?

Speaker 50:22

Am I right? I do remember this.

Speaker 2 50:24

Wait, whose chair was it? Abraham Lincoln.

Speaker 50:27

Like, I don't know how they would just snag the chair, like, oh like we have it.

Speaker 2 50:31

Yeah.

Speaker 50:32

Actually.

Speaker 2 50:33

And I was like, what is that? Yeah. I always think that about museums. I don't know if y'all have been, okay, this is total tangent, but people maybe listening that are at Mississippi, please relate to me on this. I went on a field trip with Abby and her teachers. We went to the Capitol, which was awesome. And then the next one was museums. And they were like, We're going. I'm sorry. They said, We're going to the two Mississippi museums. And I was like, Yeah, which ones? Like, and they're like, the two Mississippi museums. And so I just actually, I don't even know if I said which ones, but in my head, I was like, what are they talking about? And then thankfully she gave me the address or something, so I didn't have to like keep asking. But the title of this place is the two Mississippi Museums. I've never heard of that. It's it was built a few years ago. I don't know. I want to say Where is in Jackson? It's in Jackson. But one side is a Civil Rights Museum, and the other side is like Mississippi Museum, and they're connected. And so you can go to both.

Speaker 51:30

Yeah. Okay. But it's called the name of it.

Speaker 2 51:33

It's called Two Mississippi Museums. So this is way throwback, but there is a sketch, a comedy sketch called Who's On First? And that's what I felt like us parents were doing a little bit that day. We're like, do you know where we're going? The two Mississippi museums. Yeah, but which ones? Like we were like, where are we going? And then like we tried to joke with the teachers and they were like, not getting it, you know, but we were like, whatever. We'll make fun of ourselves. Um, but yeah, I was like kind of that was really interesting to me that they had those things at that museum. I was like, what does that have to do with Ford cars? I don't know. I'm gonna have to go on a rabbit trail. Google's gonna help me with that one. Um, okay. I also saw that it claims to be the bowling capital of the world. Did you know that?

Speaker 52:13

Yeah, like my cousins are really great bowlers and like I'm not a good bowler though. So did you go? Like, was that like a thing?

Speaker 2 52:21

Like, do people just everywhere? Mm-hmm. Okay. They have like competitions there in Stark. Oh, yeah. I wish we had a bowl in LA. We used to. I don't know. It's so Bulldog Lanes. Oh in the door. You know, lunch and bowl. Did you go to Lunch and Bowl? Yes. Best deal in Starkful. We're gonna bring it back. I hope so. I think that building is up. Yeah. I mean, there's gonna there's like a new playplace for kids. That the whole strip could just be investors if you're listening. Come on.

Speaker 4 52:47

Yeah, still listening. Do it again. We that would be some fun FCA events.

Speaker 2 52:52

I know. It'd be easy. That's when me and Justin had some like first dates over there. But mainly on the like the arcade side. Because, anyways, I have stories about that. Okay. Um I did not know this either because I'm geographically like I'm just challenged. I was like, wait, where is Detroit? Like I also I saw like a really cool cluster of buildings that's there that's kind of iconic for the skyline. Do you know?

Speaker 53:16

What are you they have a name? Um, it's like the gym building. Okay. And then it's like a little smaller buildings. But yeah. The main one, like the giant tower, that's like the gym building. Yeah, they were. They were supposed to tear that down, but I don't know if they actually are.

Speaker 2 53:29

Like if you look it up, there's um there's like one building and then like four buildings like around it. And the guy was saying he was like, if you if you didn't have this building here, like this would just look like a normal skyline, but it's kind of like the It's cool one. There was another kind of iconic thing I wanted to ask you about that it's like a symbol that they use on a lot of stuff. That's this statue of this guy that has this like ball-looking thing with spikes on one side. Yeah, see if you know, and then like this family in the other hand, and then behind it is that verse from Corinthians that's like where the spirit of the Lord is, there's freedom. It's worded like New King James. That's not a quote, like you'd have to look it up. Because but Okay, because I was like, I don't remember. Yeah, but it's it's like where the the Lord is like the Lord is spirit, and where the spirit of the Lord is, there's liberty. Like there's it's a more polished version. I've never seen it. But yeah, very interesting. Didn't know that. I learned something. Is Detroit like a very spiritual city?

Speaker 3 54:22

Okay, and a spirit tell me talking about it. Well, no, that's no. That's probably it.

Speaker 2 54:28

Because it has a lot of French influence. Okay. So what I've noticed is like a place can be spiritual. That doesn't necessarily mean Christian. Yeah. So they're like in Austin, very spiritual city. I mean, you will get every kind of version of whatever you want there. I would say Detroit feel like that too. Definitely. I mean, I feel like probably a lot of cities are, but it's also interesting, like when we would walk around the University of Texas, there's a lot of inscriptions of scripture throughout that campus. But people probably aren't gonna be like, oh, UT is the place you're gonna find that. It's just really interesting how some of this stuff is integrated, but that we're gonna do that.

Speaker 4 55:03

If it's like, I don't want to say outdated, if that stuff was established like years and years ago, like how much it's changed over time and lost that.

Speaker 2 55:11

Right.

Speaker 4 55:11

Yeah, that makes sense.

Speaker 2 55:12

Yeah, because the meaning of that statue is something we you I will give you the chance to tell us first since you grew up there. Because I was just coming based on Google. No, go for it. Just like the Yeah, just the last thought of like the weird. Yeah. But like the there's a man holding it in between, so that it represents like the spirit of human or spirit of man. So this this picture is of like that whole thing. What did you say? One hand one hand represented God, like it was like this ball with like ray, maybe it was like rays supposed to be of like light or something, but because it kind of has like spikes, and then um a man, a woman, and child in the other hand. And so, and then in the middle is like spirit of man. So then it's like this symbol of this relationship between God and man, anyway.

Speaker 55:55

So yeah. Anyways, fun fact about Detroit. I actually have a picture of them like either my friend is like standing on it or like and I'm right by it. Now I feel a little shouldn't have probably stood up on that.

Speaker 2 56:10

It's okay. You go to different cities though, so there's always like these. I mean, I don't know why the bean came to mind that's like different, but in Chicago, like there's just these things that people We have like weird things in downtown Detroit too.

Speaker 56:22

Like we have like um I think it's Joe Joe Lewis, like his fist is like downtown when there's like this giant arc downtown as well. Like why I said there.

Speaker 2 56:34

I know it's so interesting the artwork. There's a couple more things. Yeah, that people like go take pictures with and stuff. Okay, this is what I did not know. Getting back to the geography question. Sorry, I got totally off here. But that if you look south, you'll see Canada. And I what? Yeah, yeah. You can explain this.

Speaker 56:50

So I didn't know this. You'll have to look it up later, Brandy, because it's very there's water separating us, and actually, a lot of people in Detroit, like if you don't have your passport or like your license on you, you could be screwed because if you like mix miss one exit, like you can't exit to go like turn around and go back. Like you're going to Canada. You're going to Canada. Oh my goodness.

Speaker 2 57:12

I did not know that. I didn't realize it was that close either.

Speaker 57:15

Like literally just go back. So have you been there? Like, did you go? Thankfully, I mean, when I was younger, but like not recently. Yeah. I just think that's crazy. Like you can just look across the water and yeah. We have like um I think it's an enhanced license, or like you can like go to like uh Canada without having a passport. Like you just have like something on your license.

Speaker 2 57:41

Yeah, I was wondering, is there like a checkpoint or something? Or you just scan something and keep going? Like how does the border work? Yeah, there's border uh patrol. Okay. So is that like I'm sorry, I have all these practical questions. They get like backed up. Like I'm like, I feel like that would be a headache. How many people are coming from Detroit?

Speaker 57:57

Yes, I mean the bridge seems like pretty packed a lot of times. Yes.

Speaker 2 58:02

All right, so then I I saw this that apparently it's the first city with individual phone numbers, the first news broadcast and the first state fair. Did you know that? I did not know that. Yeah. It's a fun city. I know. Starters of a lot of things. Um, also 70% of illegal alcohol during prohibition entered through Detroit. I I read of that too. Yeah.

Speaker 4 58:25

So I had that in history every year.

Speaker 2 58:28

Yeah. Did y'all actually that's a question. In Texas, we had to do seventh grade Texas history. Did you have to do that? Did we talk about this the other day? I did. Like, did you have Michigan history at some point? I did not. No, I didn't. We had Mississippi history. When did you have Mississippi history?

Speaker 4 58:41

Do you remember? I know I had it in high school because we went on trips. And I don't know if I had it at a younger elementary age too. But for sure when you're in high school.

Speaker 58:55

Yeah. Never had Michigan history. It would have been cool because like I know French settlers, that's like the name Detroit Detroit. Okay. Is like the name of it. And like a lot of streets um are like French names. Yeah.

Speaker 4 59:06

Okay. Yeah. I mean, it was really cool to me because it was things that I had seen or been around. Yeah. History-wise. Because history was not my thing. As I've gotten older, I like history. But then I was like, this is so dumb. Yeah. Yeah. Why do I care what happened 50 years ago? Right. But when it was things in my area or we could take field trips and see, I was like, oh, this is really cool.

Speaker 2 59:27

Which speaking of history, if you go to the two Mississippi museums, just have your mind and heart prepared. It was rough. It was I mean, just Mississippi in general. We went to like the one side, not the Mississippi side.

Speaker 59:38

Like Oh, you went to Zivilics.

Speaker 2 59:39

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. It was I mean, I had to step to the side. I was like, if I was by myself and not with my daughter's class, I would be sobbing right now. I mean, it was rough. And I was like, I don't I mean, I think that it anyways, it was good for the kids for sure, like to see some of that stuff. But there's some stuff Abby was like, I can't and I was like, Yeah, don't worry about it. Like just keep walking good. You know, certain things that not not I'm not trying to shield her from but like just it's not appropriate yet. Right because it was is so intense. And so she can handle it a little later. Yeah. She got a good understanding. It was cool. They had a one section of the museum does have a if you walk in the hump, there's a part on the wall that talks about the game where I guess Mississippi State could have decided not to play. Was it Loyola? Loyola. But they did. And so that was like a big moment in basketball because Loyola was all black school. I believe so. Yeah. And so just I think that was a first NCAA game. Do you know? I might be misquoting this. Yeah. But anyways, it was a big moment in basketball. So they did have a section of the museum like that. And so to see actually that little picture of that moment in context to the bigger picture, I got emotional about that. Yeah. Being at Mississippi State. And I'm sure that there's been plenty of decisions that weren't great. But at least to be like proud for a moment. Like, look at what Mississippi State did this one time. Um, in the greater context. But anyways, uh very informative, but very hard museum to visit. Um, okay, and then last thing, Coney Dog Capital. So tell us about some Coney Dogs. Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 4 1:01:10

I love hot dogs, corn dogs.

Speaker 2 1:01:12

I don't think I've ever gotten like one from like a place where it's like the thing, though. It's the thing. So like how do they make them? What what do they do?

Speaker 4 1:01:18

Wait, isn't it really like you see on TV where there's like trucks and stuff you walk up to and get them?

Speaker 2 1:01:23

Um I think they have some downtown Detroit.

Speaker 4 1:01:25

I always wanted to get them.

Speaker 2 1:01:26

There's one in Starful. Shayla can tell you about it. What? Yeah. She's a little asterisk there. Come back to that because she she knows a place.

Speaker 1:01:34

Okay. Shameless plugs. There is a place in Jackson if everyone if anyone is ever visiting. Um, I've been, it's like uh, I think it's Taste of Detroit is the name of it in Jackson. And they actually sell uh Motor City soap food and stuff like that.

Speaker 3 1:01:48

So, like that's called Yep.

Speaker 1:01:51

So they had Coney Dogs, so a Coney Dog, you know, regular hot dog or whatever. Uh chili mustard onions. Okay. That's like what it's supposed to be. That's and then you also have chili cheese fries, which is also should be a thing too.

Speaker 4 1:02:06

I love chili cheese fries.

Speaker 1:02:07

But I had them from Detroit.

Speaker 4 1:02:09

I haven't. I would really love them.

Speaker 1:02:12

You wouldn't have to do that.

Speaker 4 1:02:12

We had this place called the hot dog man. And when I had driver's ed, my teacher would let us go. And I took my dollar and fifty cents. I got myself a hot dog with chili and cheese. Oh, it was the highlight of that.

Speaker 2 1:02:25

It was a good driver's ed teacher. So fun.

Speaker 4 1:02:26

He was soccer guy.

Speaker 2 1:02:28

That's a lot of nice soccer dogs to fix it.

Speaker 4 1:02:30

I know that was 22 years ago. 22.

Speaker 2 1:02:34

Did he get a hot dog too? Was that the reason y'all went? It's because he's like, I'll let you go black.

Speaker 4 1:02:39

He probably talked somebody into buying his hot dog. Right, right, right. Since I'm such a great teacher, this is your tax. I'd say that back. It was not my soccer coach. It was our football coach.

Speaker 2 1:02:49

Coach other words. Yeah, for sure.

Speaker 1:02:52

Um, are there different types of Coney dogs, or is that like the staple? Like that's it. Um that's the staple, but then you could also get a loose dog, which is like without the hot dog.

Speaker 3 1:03:02

And the chili. Good matchilli.

Speaker 1:03:04

It's the chili, yeah. You can dress it up a little bit. I'm sorry. That word to me, like loose, like anyone's telling to me right now.

Speaker 6 1:03:11

I'm struggling with that. Loose. Oh can't handle that word.

Speaker 2 1:03:22

Oh my gosh. Oh man, there's a comedian that we follow loosely, and he has a joke about loosely.

Speaker 3 1:03:33

Yeah, oh, I said it. See that?

Speaker 2 1:03:34

Put it in my head. Uh, anyways, we follow. His name is Aaron Weber, but he tells a story about how he went to Seattle and he like was he went to this like hot dog spot, and this guy, he was like, What do you want? You know, and he's like, he was just so baffled. He he just like didn't know what to say. So he's like, do it. And so the guy puts together his hot dog, and he was like, he was the best hot dog of my life. And so ever since he was like telling everybody about this hot dog when he'd travel anywhere. He's like, when you go to Seattle, you gotta go to this place, just say do it, you know, like and then he made another trip and he went back to the guy and was like, I don't know. Remember, like last time I was here, he just and he looks up and it's literally called the Seattle dog. Like it's like what Detroit, you just know, like that it's chili, mustard, and what'd you say? Onions. Like this is what this hot dog was. It wasn't anything special. He thought the guy made it special for him because he couldn't put words together when he was trying to order. Like he thought this guy custom made a hot dog for him. So he's like telling everybody, and it's like just it's just the Seattle dog. Yeah. Funny. Hot dog stories, man. Yeah, I think actually the hot dog, there's there is a truck in Startwall, but I think it's also like a place, too. That um I'm remembering that because I think Justin went there.

Speaker 4 1:04:50

So did you ever eat at the corndog seven? No, here I had one in Vicksburg, Jackson. Atisburg. So good.

Speaker 2 1:05:00

And they would serve just corndogs?

Speaker 4 1:05:02

Yeah, frats.

Speaker 2 1:05:03

Okay. So good. Bunch of ladies talking about corn dog and frats.

Speaker 3 1:05:08

LSU.

Speaker 4 1:05:09

Um corn dog thing. No, no. I might need some context. Google search it. I don't even remember. What is it called? It's LSU and it was like a corn dog. I don't remember if somebody was eating a corndog or I don't know. Just Google search it. That is hilarious.

Speaker 2 1:05:26

To wrap up, Taylor, if somebody's gonna visit Detroit or Michigan, we'll expand a little bit. Okay. What would be your recommendations?

Speaker 1:05:34

I would say uh go uh upper um Lower Peninsula, go to Torch Lake. That's definitely a vibe in the summer. It's beautiful, sandbars, clear water. Fun time. Yeah. Um sleeping bear dunes, which is fun. Um bunch of sand. You can like hike up, but coming down is always scary. Then obviously, please go visit the city of Detroit, downtown Detroit. Um, you have Corktown, Motown. Um, there's some more towns, Greek town, a bunch of great towns. A bunch of great eateries, really a melting pot, and the food is really amazing and really to die for. And the sitting is the city is revitalizing and it's really coming together. Um also, a lot of people give Detroit a bad rep, but um any major city can be. Um, it's just about where you go. So if you go, just watch out for your uh surroundings, be aware, yeah, um, visit the um the skyline, you know, walk around. It's amazing. Well, Taylor, thank you so much for being on the show.

Speaker 2 1:06:34

This has been a very interesting. I hope people have learned something about a place other than here and a little bit of your story too.

Speaker 4 1:06:40

I kind of want to go to Detroit.

Speaker 2 1:06:41

I know. We're gonna have to make a trip up to Detroit. And then that way, if you're on I also if you're in at Mississippi State, you know, Taylor will talk to you. She will talk to people. So I just like I may look kind of you know scary. They just like say hi. She's friendly. She's friendly. You can talk to her. Um, well, thanks again for listening. We always appreciate that. And if you have any comments or anything that you want to chime in about traditions or hometowns or even Detroit or Michigan, feel free. We might can uh bring them up on the next podcast. But we always appreciate you listening. We hope you'll come back again and listen next time. Yes.

Speaker 1 1:07:16

Thanks for listening to the Creative Podcast. To learn more about FCA at Mississippi State, visit www.msufca.org and follow us on Instagram at Hale State FCA underscore. If you would like to become a financial partner, visit www.fca.org slash donate to sew into the work God is doing through FCA at Mississippi State.