Natalie Morales: Career Reinvention, Big Leaps & Letting Go in the Saddle

What happens when two longtime friends—TV host & journalist Natalie Morales (The Today Show, Access Hollywood, The Talk) and Kit Hoover—finally sit down to spill the tea on everything they nevertalked about before? Pure magic. 

Today’s episode is real, raw, and ridiculously fun—just two girlfriends catching up and dishing on career twists, hilarious behind-the-scenes moments, and the unexpected things that bring them joy (hint: horses, wine, and letting go of perfection).

Some of Our Favorite Moments:

“What are we waiting for?” – Natalie talks about making the bold move from NYC to LA, inspired by Kit, and realizing that the perfect time never comes—you just have to jump.

“I feed my therapist hay.” – Natalie opens up about her deep connection with horses and how they’ve taught her to let go, trust, and be present.

“Don’t underestimate me.” – For years, she was told she wasn’t “Latina enough” or that she didn’t have the right news “edge.” Natalie shares how she finally found her voice and learned to ask for what she deserved.

“Forget hair, makeup, and glamour.” – Advice for aspiring journalists? Be ready for 3 AM wake-up calls, working weekends, and rolling your own teleprompter—because that’s the real grind.

“Give me wine, cheese, and chocolate, and I’ll talk for days!” – Natalie reveals her go-to indulgences and her undeniable love for a good hangout session.

“Laugh at yourself more.” – Even now, she admits she’s her own toughest critic. But she’s learning to let go, internalize less, and embrace the joy.

“Sleep. Turns. Me. On.” – Forget the fancy answers. A solid night’s sleep is what gets Natalie feeling her best! (Relatable, right?!)

“I’ve just started manifesting.” – While she doesn’t know exactly what’s next, one thing is for sure—Natalie is creating space for new opportunities and FUN.

This isn’t just another interview—it’s two besties getting real about reinvention, change, and finding clarity in life’s pivots. If you’ve ever thought about making a big life move, chasing a dream, or just wondering what’s next, this one’s for you. 

And don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more from The Coop with Kit.

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This episode was produced by Kit Hoover and Harper McDonald. Business Development by Casey Ladd. Editing by You & Me Media.

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Transcript

This episode was transcribed using AI. Some inaccuracies may exist.

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All right. Today on the coop, she's not just a journalist, she's a global citizen, a risk taker, a boundary pusher, an athlete, a mother, and a dreamer.

Her ability to adapt, connect, and inspire makes my friend unstoppable. She speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, and probably a bunch of languages I don't even know about. 

She's competed in the New York City Marathon. Finished in Ironman triathlon, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for charity rides, horses like a champ. I cannot wait for y'all to really get to know my friend. She is thoughtful. She is kind. She is hilarious. I'm so excited for what she's manifesting.

Next, get ready here is Natalie Morales.

I am so happy to welcome to the co. One of my very good friends. Aw. Natalie Morales, thanks for coming on my love. Aw. You know how much I adore you, kit for you, anything, and I've been seeing all the celebs you've had on this show, and I'm like, when is she gonna ask me?

You were my first ask when [00:01:00] we got this, because one thing I love, we were lucky enough to work together for many years. And your work ethic I think is unmatched We're gonna get into your whole career 'cause I'm so in awe with it. But we start the coop.

Natalie, 

one word to describe where you are in your life right now. Pivot is the word. I am in in it right now. Girl, can I go right now? I'm pivoting. So why do you say that? Is this because the talk ended, the talk ended and I find I'm once again sort of redefining my role, you know, at CBS.

So it's sort of trying to feel my way through a little bit of, you know, uncertain territory right now. At some point I just wanna coast and enjoy life. But, this comes with the territory, I guess. When you're in a, in a position like ours where I.

It's challenging and obviously times are very difficult for media companies these days. shows are getting canceled left and right, so, [00:02:00] this is where we're at. the incredible time that I had at the talk, I will say it was. The three best years of my life where I had the most fun at work.

Not that I didn't have fun at work with you kid. Nope. Don't get me wrong. I get it. I get it. I love when you landed over there. Yeah.

What do you think it was about the talk that you could say those were your favorite three? It just was so free. You know? It was like us just. Having a, a conversation around coffee in the morning, like the way we would do it at the water cooler, talk about all the things that interested us.

But of course, as at Access, we were in entertainment news program, so we had to, also put out a product that viewers are gonna wanna watch, not just two girls chatting away about all the entertainment and celebs out there. So, it just was so freeing and liberating and I think people, they were like.

Gosh, Natalie, we finally get to see a side of you that, we haven't really gotten to see yet. I mean, I felt like they saw that with you and me, kit at Access, I mean, we had. Come on. Me as Bradley Cooper, you as Lady Gaga. Y'all [00:03:00] look that up. Natalie made the sexiest.

Bradley Cooper of all. Oh yeah, we were. I was on the back of her bike and Lady Gaga and there was something about that that maybe you wanna kiss you. I don't know what it was. I say, you look really hot. I'm not lying. I definitely felt things. This is part of you that I love that there's nobody more fun.

You also have. A news background, 

but back to the Art of the Pivot. 

Yeah. 

For any listener that's going through something in their own life, what do you do to move through it? Because I thought about your childhood, you grew up moving Yeah. Over the place. What do you do? How do you reflect? How do you sit in it to be okay with it?

Yeah. You know, I'm an Air Force Brett, so I think sort of part of my upbringing has always been every two to three years. Okay. Pack your bags, get ready to go. We're starting over, making new friends, moving to a new school. In fact, I moved my senior year of high school between my junior and senior year.

That, I mean, that was completely a pivot. From Madrid, Spain to do [00:04:00] Delaware. Whoa, whoa. You talk about having to reinvent yourself. I didn't even have a driver's license, so I was like the nerd on the back of the senior, on the back of the bus.

No going to and from school. I mean, when I think about it now, it was such a, defining moment for me because it was such an uncomfortable year, but it taught me so much about myself, about resilience and how, you know, in those times where you don't know who your friends are, you don't know who you can trust, you really have to just.

Figure out who you are as a person and trust that you are going to be okay and you know, and you figure it out. I mean, I think the one great thing that my military upbringing always taught me was the art of conversation. I can, I can make friends with a lot of people. Yeah. And, and I love talking to people and living all over the world as we did growing up, we learned so much talking to other people, learning other cultures, other languages.

So anytime I have felt uncomfortable, it's [00:05:00] find a friend, quickly. Find a friend, and that's actually what I loved about coming here. Speaking of pivoting, when I made the big pivot from New York to la, I. The reason I did it kit was largely because of you, because I saw this example of this working mom who was having so much fun and was just living life and, and doing it like your own way.

And, and I had like just worked work, worked work, work, getting up at four in the morning and it was the constant grind of news, news, news. And I was like, where's the fun? Like yes, I had a great career at the Today Show with a lot of fun, a lot of great friends. But there was a time where my kids were growing up and I was missing out.

I felt like on their lives and I'm having fun moments with them. And so, you know, I feel like finding a friend is probably the best advice I can give people. Finding people that you know you can count on, but also your family, you know, the people that that mattered most to you are gonna help you through those times.

So, it can be really challenging at [00:06:00] first, but I think when you're on the other side of it, you look back and you say, wow, I am so glad I did that. Like that was. The greatest thing I ever did. I have so many friends who've made that move similarly from New York to LA now, and `` they have all said the same thing, you know, why didn't I do this before?

What was I waiting for? Well, your leap of faith was unbelievable. Natalie, how many years were you on the Today Show? I. I was on the Today Show, gosh. I mean, I guess it was officially 16 years. Yeah. Yeah. And you long time were on it. I really feel like in the glory years as far as all eyeballs were on that show.

 We were on when it was like, you know, six, 7 million people watching every morning and then by the time I was gone it was like half the audience, you know? Yeah. It tells you how much, you know, things are changing in our world. and we remember, 'cause I remember seeing you a local on Connecticut.

Yeah. Do you remember you got the call to come to the big dance, to come to the Today Show? What was, well, it was first actually the call to go to M-S-N-B-C. Okay. And so from, [00:07:00] Hartford, WVIT, the NBC station. You know, they, they plucked me to, to just try me out at M-S-N-B-C-A couple of times, and I'll never forget, like my first day on the air happened to be like in the middle of this huge like midea crisis.

All Hell was breaking loose, but all of a sudden it seemed like there was going to be a mid East peace deal, and I was the one at the desk. They handed me a stack of scripts and they're like, you know what? Throw out the scripts. We're going to Andrew Mitchell. And they just started yelling out names.

People that I like, they're legends, and I was just. I was like, sink or swim. Here we go. And thank God I did. Okay. You were doing the butterfly. I wasn't Michael Phelps. It was not pretty. I think I was doing more like the little doggy paddle. I don't, but my head was above the water. That's incredible.

I do think for a lot of people with our business and they can, take away from this listening part of it is. to jump. Don't look before you leap. You gotta jump into the deep end with [00:08:00] whatever you want in life. Yes. And not be scared to take that risk, which you did. Then you got called up the Today Show.

Yes. Yes. And then when you think about the Today Show, what was, did you have a favorite moment there? Because again, I, I watched every morning. Oh my gosh. I mean, so many moments, so many opportunities. I mean, of course all the Olympics. I mean, you and I got to do Rio together, which was a hoot Oh. kit in Brazil.

Wow. Wow. Wild baby Four of us. We covered the world wedding. Harry and Meghan. We were, yes. Yes. I mean, we just had so many, I mean, yes. And I went and covered, you know, the royal birth when, when. Prince George was, was, you know, the first baby born royal baby of, by the way, he didn't come and you were camped out over there.

I felt like for days and days there was a campaign to free Natalie cause she was overdue by like, I think. Two weeks, you know, by the end we're like talking about all the things she could do to induce labor, spicy Indian food, you know, drink some cocktails, you know, whatever it was At that point.

We're like, Kate, please do [00:09:00] it. I got kids too. You know? I love all the one and all the hard news stories you did. So you had this incredible run there. And then I never forget, you and I connected at the Golden Globes. Do you remember Kelly and I pulled you down there like wasn't a. I sat on your lap.

You sat on my lap and we just had this, that's when I knew, yeah, we had this great moment and I just remember thinking, I really like this woman. I consider her a friend. I would love to get to know her better. 

Then you made the move to California. What was that conversation like? I of course made it a couple years before you, but Yeah, a big deal.

Like you have to sit, you had a whole life back on the East coast. Yeah, I am. My kids, all they knew was Hoboken, New Jersey. They were born and raised, and you know, for me, having grown up as I did. 

Yes, it's a wonderful thing if your kids have the same friends their entire life and they can grow up in the same neighborhood. But I felt it would be best if we did broaden their horizons. And I had always come out to the West coast, whether it was the Golden Globes or the Oscars, or a big celebrity interview there, they knew I [00:10:00] loved coming out here.

So, you know, I, I knew that there was this opportunity to come out here. I. and they were looking for, you know, a bigger role for me out here. So I took it as a chance. You know, my husband and I, we talked about it and he had some business out here and it just kind of all worked out that we talking about it, you know, my oldest was going into seventh grade, my youngest was going into second grade.

Perfect times to kind of get them in their schools where they could then go on to, go through high school all in one place. That was important. And, you know, we just said if we're gonna do it, now's the time. I mean, so many times when I flew over and landed into LAXI always would look down at the beach in the palm trees and be like, ah, what would it be like to live here?

Like, I envisioned it, and I think it was just finally a matter of time, like Joe and I had long said, someday, someday. And then when it got to the point, I was like, what are we waiting for? Again, it's that conversation of. What are you waiting for in life? And I think so often we keep waiting [00:11:00] for our kids to get to a certain point in their lives, or we keep waiting for our relationship to get to a certain point or our contracts or our careers to get to a certain point.

And the one thing I've learned is you can never really plan with these things. Like sometimes the opportunity presents itself and you just have to go for it. Yeah. The only constant in life, I just had this conversation with my 90-year-old dad. Change. Change. That's the only thing you can count on. Yep.

Yeah. 

But now I feel like for you to have the bravery and the courage to do it, I just think a lot of our mom friends when I talk to them mm-hmm. They wanna do these risks. They wanna take 'em, but it, it's hard. And you did it and moved out here. and then now I look at what's going on with you right now.

So the, the talk ended. What an incredible run with that show. I know in between before the talk you did something magnificent just for you. You had a baby, you brought, you bought your horse, is it who did? Yes. I was gonna say, I didn't have, I didn't birth my horse. You birth? No, actually I have Louie now and I have another [00:12:00] horse.

Magic. I have. Yeah. I'm crazy. I'm a crazy horse girl. Now you're such an animal lover. I love this. And what? And I have three dogs. And three dogs. I saw you just got a new rescue. Yes. What do the horses do for you, Natalie? I actually thought in that time sort of filling that space inside of you that that's not about work.

Because you are. Yes. Structured. I think they must bring you something magical. What is it? It's therapy As, as you know, there are actually t-shirts that say I feed my therapist hay. And that's pretty much what I do. as a little girl, it was always a dream of mine. I get emotional when I think about it because it was like that one thing that I always wanted in life, and it was like.

I remember as a kid asking my dad, I just wanna horse somebody someday. I wanna horse the same way kids ask for dogs. But I just have this connection. It's like a spiritual thing with these animals. They're incredible to sit on. And when you have this trust, I mean, there's this. Incredible relationship. I'm getting really geeky here on the horse stuff.

No, I love this. But it is, it's like, you [00:13:00] know, this bond I have to trust this 1200 pound animal that they're gonna take care of me. But at the same time, they're flight animals. If something is like in the corner of their eye and they have peripheral vision off to the sides. They see everything way before you see it.

And their senses, as they say. I think it was Ronald Reagan who said, what he loves about a horse is the way their muscles, uh, ripple. But they also feel, like before a mosquito even lands, they can feel like the, the beating of the wings of the mosquito on the horse.

They just have this. This sense about them, that they really feel what you're feeling. they say they can feel your heartbeat from like five feet away. Now I believe that, you know, people are like, I don't know. Is that true? But they know when you're coming at them, what you're bringing to them, so they've taught me, it's sort of a reflection of your self and what you're feeling.

You know, the first couple times I, I got on and, and didn't have a great ride with a horse. It was not because of them, it was because of me. And I was like, wow, that is [00:14:00] so eye-opening, because I didn't realize my fears or my, anger or whatever I was bringing, they were feeling it and responding to it.

 you learn so much about yourself just in the way and just in the sense of touch. That they, how they respond to you. I think Natalie, just how much I know you and friends, is that the ability to let go when you're on the horse? That safety and trust? Yeah. One thing I try to work on is I always, I feel like I grip the bat too tight, right?

I'm holding. Mm-hmm. I don't wanna make sure everybody's good. Is this job good or the kid's good to loosen the grip when you're on the horse? Yes. That is a perfect way to put it. Because in fact, my trainer is always like. Loosen your legs. Relax, relax. They're always like, just melt into the saddle. Which I'm always like, I'm like, and you know, we're runners, we're athletes, so we're always like compact and be ready to go.

Yeah. And it's the opposite when you're on them, of course you're guiding them, but yeah, there's a, there's a degree [00:15:00] of just, letting them do their thing with you, trusting them to lead you too.

That's incredible. 

Where does your drive come from? My drive I think is just my inner competition. I mean, I think you and I both have that same like coming probably the athletic part of us who, you know, we always have a goal, I think, just motivationally, being one of three girls, I was in the middle having to find my way as the middle daughter and you know, I think there's something to be said about, just.

Figuring out where you fit in the pack. Yeah. And growing up, I mean, could they have ever envisioned this for you? Let me brag about my friend. Extremely bright. Got into Princeton. I didn't get to go.

Couldn't afford it. Yes. But in the Princeton, which again, it's funny how life takes twists and turns, but I feel like, have you always had that drive and did your family promote it or what was it like growing up in your household? 

It's funny 'cause Joe and I talk about like now how we see our kids, With the way we have to be on them. [00:16:00] And it's like, I don't remember my parents ever asking me if I did my homework even applying to colleges, they didn't ask how many schools are you applying to?

 I think my dad maybe looked through a couple of my applications just to help me copy edit here and there, but. But that was it. Like other than that, it was very hands off. but I think my drive just came from me wanting to, To be successful. 

 there was one teacher I remember in fourth grade, Mrs. D, social studies, now I remember her name. Here's why she gave me a D in social studies. Because she said I was a dreamer. What's wrong with that? This is fascinating. Yes. So after that I was like, I'll show her, I'll show Mrs.

D. And so anytime anybody has doubted me, Like whenever somebody says, oh, you can't do this, or you can't, you know. I'm like, oh yeah. Yeah. Just I've sort of been underestimated my whole life.

Yes, exactly. what do you think is the biggest misconception about you, Natalie? What do people get wrong? I. Huh. I think there's that. I think it's, they don't think I'm maybe [00:17:00] as fierce as I can be. I think you've seen sides of me like where I love it. You know, there was a time in my life where I was afraid to ask for what I wanted, and there was a time where I wouldn't speak up for myself.

And, I got plowed over pretty hard and, and I saw people get things that I didn't get because I didn't speak up for myself. So after a certain number of years of feeling like people were just kind of taking me for granted, I remember speaking up to certain number of bosses and saying, no. you know, you got me wrong.

And those times where you thought I didn't deliver or I didn't have the drive, or I didn't have the edge, here's what I was doing, blah, blah, blah. And I think, when I had those sort of. Heart to heart moments with people who questioned, if I had enough news edge, I think they came around respecting me in the end for that.

And knowing also that don't you mess with this Latina? Yeah. Yeah. And When you started working with me, we had this great [00:18:00] conversation. You were always told you you weren't one way or the other, enough, you weren't Latina enough, you weren't way enough about those conversations. And I feel like now we're in a totally different spot than we were 20 years ago.

Yeah, there were very few Latinas on TV when I first started in this business, and, I could count 'em on my hand and I was the first Latina news anchor at the Today Show. So, it's pretty amazing when you think of that. But yeah, my agent would tell me these things that he would hear from.

And he was trying to be nice about it from, at the time the head of a a network saying that I wasn't Latina enough. What does that mean? They expected me to fit a stereotype. And by the way, look at our country. A lot of Latinos don't even speak Spanish. I mean, I actually lived in. Panama, Brazil, Spain, and speak Spanish and Portuguese.

And you know, not that you have to speak Spanish, but you know, there's many ways to be Latino. you're, you're [00:19:00] born, with that, those genes. So there's, there's no way around it. And I have cousins who are blue-eyed, green-eyed eyed, blonde hair. I have dark hair, dark eyes, dark skin, you name it.

So, I mean, it's. it's pretty fascinating that, that this person at the head of a news division was able to, to say that, to be okay to even say that Natalie is No, it wasn't. Okay. Yeah. I mean they felt okay saying that out loud to somebody is just, yeah, hear that maybe different times. This was, you know, maybe 10, 15 years ago.

But that said, it's still very insensitive to say the least. Oh my gosh. Yeah. Also, I like reflecting. You and I are similar in so many ways. I do think early on in my career, very much a pleaser and I would just, yes, again, go go with things that weren't right and finding our voice in our fifties. How refreshing.

Yes. I just feel like I'm in this resurgence of like just calling [00:20:00] out what works for me, what doesn't work for me. Right. This new muscle. Do you find yourself doing that more and more? Yes. Yes. Although. I feel like I'm in different phases where, there are times where I'm like, Nope, that's not gonna work for me.

but then there's still part of that people pleaser in me that if I have said. No to things too often. Then I'm like, okay, I gotta come back around and say yes a couple of times too. I mean, I think there's somewhere in the middle where I need to be, but you're right. it came with like when I came out here to Los Angeles, I think part of that whole, my whole mindset and attitude was like, these are gonna be my years of reclaiming sort of the fun in my life.

letting people get to know me better and, I'm gonna really figure this thing out too, because I think I was sort of like stuck in a rut and I, you know, I think part of that is just learning to say sometimes I can't please everybody. Yeah. I've gotta accept that. You know, I did that for so long, so many of.

The 4:00 AM wake up [00:21:00] calls or flying out to cover breaking stories, I was always saying yes, yes, yes. And. It got to a point where I was like, you know what? Sometimes I just can't do it, so I'm human. 

What would be your dream role next? Natalie? What are you manifesting? Oh gosh. You know, I wanna host a show again.

 what that looks like in this day and age. I don't know. there's, there's something out there for me that's calling me and I just have to figure out what it is, whether I make it happen. I create it. but I want to, to host my own thing or do it with some friends.

but to be, you know, once again in the driver's seat, having fun at work, that it's, good conversations, deep conversations. I. You know, I think, I think there's a place for that still. I think people want refreshing friendships.

You know, they want real people. I. On daytime tv. So, you know, we'll see. We'll see what happens. 

What advice would you give to any young journalist today that maybe they [00:22:00] wouldn't wanna hear? Like, here's what you think this is gonna be, and this is kind of the reality of where we are now.

Forget hair and makeup, right? Wardrobe. No. You're doing it yourself. Yes. You're getting up at 3:00 AM and, and if you think about saying no, forget about it. Mm-hmm. You can get to a certain point in your career and then say no. it's interesting actually, because Josh wants to be a journalist, really?

And my oldest son. Yeah. And, uh, he's studying it at, UCSB. He's a, a reporter at UCSB tv, so follow him, Natalie, tell me everything. He is pretty, I think he's pretty talented. I think he's got what it takes. 

Now what I have told him is, you know, you're gonna be doing what I'm doing. Sometimes getting up at 3:00 AM still at this point in my career, you know, it, it just doesn't go away. You're gonna be working weekends. If this is the career you want, this is what you're gonna be, your life path is not gonna be glamorous at all.

How would you describe [00:23:00] balance? You know, you and I always laugh that it's a four letter word, but what does balance look like to you? Balance to me is, if I have two days to get to yoga and two days to get my dogs out running, and then the rest I can squeeze in between and go horseback riding.

I mean, it really is just. Fitting in my life around my work life and finding time for me and, and obviously being a mom, I still have Luke at home. One thing that's been fabulous getting to know you when you moved out is seeing you as a mom.

You're a spectacular mom of these awesome two boys. Did you always wanna be a mom? Natalie? Did you know that? Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Absolutely. I mean, there was no question. It was just a matter of like, when can I do it? And you know, and how quickly because. We also had trouble between Josh and Luke. It took like four and a half years.

So to get pregnant, 'cause my hours, my schedule, probably the stress of the [00:24:00] job. Mm-hmm. and a lot of saying yes when I was. Trying to get pregnant instead of saying no. But by the way, again, to the Art of the Hustle, if you didn't say yes, it was, especially back then, again, I don't know how much is true.

Absolutely. I would not have had the job or the career. They didn't care. Yeah. Nope. It was figuring out. how would the boys describe you, Natalie? I am probably the bad cop in the family. I don't know. I'm the tough, I guess I'm the tougher parent, only because I'm always the one who's, asking about their grades and how'd you do in school.

The things that my parents didn't ask me, I'm the one asking them. but it's more, you know, I'm just very protective. But I also think they know that I am their biggest supporter champion. I think they would say. I think especially Josh knows this now, having, you know, been abroad overseas and I went with him and helped him settle in and, and, you know, just really get a sense for, for who he's, he is, you know, he's had, he had [00:25:00] some struggles with anxiety and I think he's come through that and, I think now, he would say that there's nobody you want in your corner more than me. And so I think as a parent, that's all you can hope your kids say about you at the end, that you've got their back, that there's nothing you can do to my kids. I. I mean, I am mama bear all the way. Yeah. And I think you're the same.

We're both the same. want us in that foxhole. How neat to see Josh blossom like this. Yeah. How have been with him out of the house flying and just Luke at home? And do you and Joe talk about what's coming from me, Natalie? Oh my gosh, this empty nest. Are you and Joe ready?

Okay, I'm gonna give you new words for that. For Empty Nest. This is actually from Demi Moore and I love what she said and uh, now I'm like co-opting her words I'm drinking that Kool-Aid, Natalie. So hit me. Yes. I think this is how we have to reframe it.

And she heard it from a couple on a plane that she was talking to. So, because her kids are all grown and she's raised this beautiful, supportive, extended family, they're just incredible [00:26:00] girls. And I was like, what an amazing mom you are that you have this relationship with your daughters and, and she's like, yes.

She's like, but I'm also enjoying my time. She's like, you know, this couple told me, you know, oh, you know, we were talking about being empty nesters. And they're like, no. We're not empty nesters now we're free birds. Oh, I like that. that's how we're gonna be. We're gonna be free birds.

Free birds. I'm gonna take a step further. We're free birds and we're bird launchers. Yes. Because launching them, I always feel like with, you know, with my kids, I'm so excited for their adventures. Like launching is like our greatest success, Natalie.

And then I think it's. Launching us, like sort of launching where we wanna be. does that, yeah, I think it gives you a chance to like, look at where we are in life and figure out like, okay. What is my next act? Or what am I really dreaming of doing or where have I not traveled to yet? You know? 'cause now you know, everything is dependent on the kids' school schedule and you can't go 'cause you can't plan.

' so I'm kind of looking [00:27:00] forward to being able to like go to Europe and. October. Yeah. Who cares? Yes. that's another funny thing as a couple to see what you really look like together, right? When that part is sort of launched. Yeah. I mean, I hope, I hope it's good because there's part of you, I mean, all we do is talk about the kids or the dogs.

What are they doing now, you know? So there is that part of you that you have to like. Figure that out. But ultimately, I mean, we have so many of the same interests and, and hobbies and loves in life that, you know, I think it comes to that, you know what we fell in love with each other over these, you know, this, this relationship of, of, you know, being together.

And I, I think we'll get there again. We're there still, but you know, we need some work as, as do we all with 27 years, you know. Wow. 

Oh my gosh. It is. Okay, wait, now let's play a little game. okay. If you could go back and relive one moment from your teenage years just with the experience, what would it be? Oh, [00:28:00] Okay. Oh gosh. I would've gotten a retainer sooner. I had the gimme the visual of you with buck teeth.

I had the worst buck teeth up until probably. 12 or 13, literally, kid that it was, it was bad. It was, you could drive a truck and park in between my teeth and I, just did not have a sense of style. You know, I was needing some help. I was not like. Born naturally cute. Like you? No, I've got visuals to prove it.

But by the way, you'll send that picture immediately. So when you call me, it'll pull up on my phone. I'm gonna pull it. You're gonna pull it up. There's one with me, I think playing the flute, how I could play the flute with through the, from my teeth. I think it was the extra air that came through that makes it the extra air through the big, uh, what is your favorite vice?

Oh, wine. You know this. Oh god. We love our good wine. Wine. Oh my [00:29:00] gosh. You get me a glass of wine and some cheese and some dark chocolate. I'll talk to you for days. You are whats best friend. You know what? You're great. You can settle in with that. I love it. For as hard as you work. Yeah, you're great. I think of all of our travels.

It was so fun to unwind. Yeah. No, I love just going out. Going out on the town. Any town. Yeah. Natalie doesn't get tired. I, I lose Steve at about eight 30. You did? I'd be like, where's Kit? Oh, she's gone. she's so little. She just like snuck past. She's always so impressed. Um, what about working out, what's your latest thing?

'cause you've always been a runner like me. definitely I'm running still, but I can't run like I used to. And I don't run as fast. I mean, I've got piriformis issues and just my hips, everything, everything hurts now in the fifties.

So I, I do a lot of yoga sculpt, like with weights to balance that out. And I do Pilates, lagree, like I'm the big megaformers. Yeah. So it's, it's really hard weighted Pilates. It's great. It's such a [00:30:00] strengthener. 'cause I hate working out with weights by myself. So for me, going to a class is the best way to motivate me.

So those are, that, and, and riding, you know, that's horseback riding gets me. Really going and just, you don't feel like it's exercise. But when I get off them, I'm like, wow, I really worked out. Do you remember one time, Natalie, we were getting dressed together and this is so funny to share with our listeners.

You have one of the most beautiful bodies and we are, no, I don't. Best body I've ever seen. And Natalie's changing. You have the most beautiful lingerie on, and I'm literally in my Kirkland brand, NY panties. I can't, I'm in my white grand panties. Oh God. We died laughing. That's what I loved about you, Kate, because it was just, you would just be like, snapping the elastic.

Look at me. I'm so sexy. oh, I loved it. That was so good. favorite curse word? Oh gosh. The F bomb. I mean, I don't say it much. I, I rarely say it unless it's like. Driving in LA Yeah. And stuck. And then it's the F and the A. Follow each other. Yeah. [00:31:00] Yes. But see, you're so classy. And though, honestly, Natalie, I've started saying it and my mom is like, this is just not cute.

And like, I have to get out of my vocabulary. It just, you know, I think, I think it just, there's just a, if there's another word that is as, I don't know, it just allows you to release. It's like the perfect shortness. Feeling all of it. You know, it's like a punch. It's like a little, it really is. Yeah. Good.

Yeah. who has been your consistent mentor? gosh, you know, I haven't really had one. That's why I think it's been, it's been interesting because, and I always tell, you know, fellow female journalists, you know, our responsibility because I think. I didn't have a lot of women who took me under their wing and said, you know, let me help you, or I think you should do this, or you should try this.

Like, because it is such a competitive industry, I think, you know, you don't wanna be, grooming your competition. But the interesting thing was I was asked to give people [00:32:00] VO lessons and to help my fellow colleagues, and I did it willingly and lovingly because. We are all on the same team at the end of the day, and I, you know, I want all of us to look good.

So, I've always been the, the person if I help somebody out paying it forward, I know it'll come back around. They'll help me out someday too. So It always does. Yeah. It's karma. You gotta put good out in the world. And you know what, the, the competitive out there mm-hmm.

You know, you know who you are. It's. does it make you feel better about who you are at the end of the day? No. Natalie, when I got Access Daily, the first live show, we will not mention a name. and she said to our old ep, you are hiring Kit Hoover. She's washed up. I was 40. I was like, who's washed up at 40?

No. Only time she was talking about me and I was in the convertible and I was like, I can hear you.

And it.

We don't roll like that. Right. no, we've always been [00:33:00] supportive of each other and I feel like you have to fight for one another. it should be, it's something that it makes us better. Like when we were access together, being able to go cover the royal wedding together, it makes us better.

It's more fun, it makes the show better. You know, there were always things that we had to go in there together and say, no. Let's say we wanna do this as a team. that serves us well. 

 Uh oh. This is a fun one. What's in your bedside drawer? Natalie Morales. Oh, a little something that you gave me. Kid Hoover. That's right. Like a white elephant.

No, it wasn't. I just gave it. No, it was a real gift. It was. Okay, we'll leave it at that. And you swore by it. I gotta find mine. I What about that? What do you mean? You have to find yours? It should be like right there. I know. Best friend. Best friend. Oh.

Yes, ask. And I shall tell you, kid, I tell no lies and a lot of books by the [00:34:00] way that I have stacked up, that I should be reading that I haven't read yet. 

Right? what makes you laugh at yourself? Oh, sorry. That's one of my dogs trying to come in. I think it's, you know, I need to laugh at myself more. I have to be honest. I think every time I make a mistake, I internalize it so much, and then I like sit there and replay things in my head rather than, at this point I should just be like, come on, Natalie, what the, you know, just laugh.

But I think it's, again, that competitiveness in all of us that like I am my own worst critic. And so if I. Screw up on the job, or if I say something not quite the right way, I, I come down on myself harder than anyone. So, but other than that, like what makes me laugh at myself, probably when I fall running and tripping over sidewalks, which I do quite often, and my husband blames it on my.

Again, maybe it's the dreamer in me. I'm always thinking or running and looking at my device, and I love your honest answer to laugh at yourself more. Yeah. I just think that I, I try to instill that in my [00:35:00] daughters or something. With women, I think we're a little harder on ourselves. Yes. And I always tell them, if you have the ability to laugh at yourself, you win.

Like there's about that. So, so freeing, right? Freeing, you're such a good mom kid. 'cause you always have like such great wisdom and I think, you know, just such perspective that, you know, I think every, every young girl, I mean, I don't have young girls, but like your girls really benefit from that.

I appreciate that. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. Natalie, weirdest thing in your purse. Weirdest thing in my purse. Probably the crumbs of leftover snacks. What are we snacking on? I just had my almonds in there at my kind bar. Like, what's so healthy? No, I might have, I have some bars in there that are like leftover crumbs and nuts and seeds and things that have melted at the bottom of the bag.

Yeah. I just have a lot of, you know, the bigger the bag, the more ends up in it. So there are just weird things in there. I mean, there are probably mold cultures in there at the bottom somewhere. I pulled out five pairs of [00:36:00] sunglasses the other day. Like I Oh yeah. Yeah. What is that? What is, what are we doing with these sunglasses?

I know, I know. Losing them at the bottom of your bag and they're always on my head as I'm looking for them. Yeah. what would people be surprised to know about you? unless you do a deep dive into my past, I think people maybe don't know that my first job outta college was in finance.

I. And I kind of am a day trader, have a stock portfolio that I've had ever since I was in fi. Yes. You didn't even know this about me did you? What? Did you have a briefcase? You're a trader. Go down to Wall Street. On Wall Street. Yeah. You're a working girl. I was a working girl. I had the big hair in the shoulder pads.

You got a, A body for sin and a mind For business. business. Yeah, Were you great at it? And what did you love about it? No, I was, that's. Why I did it for two years. It was, it was right outta College Chemical Bank, which is now JP Morgan Chase. They recruited me and you know, at that time I was trying to be a journalist, but you couldn't find a paying job in journalism.

But I [00:37:00] wanted, you know, to live in Manhattan. So this is another piece of advice I always say to, you know, up and coming young journalists is don't be afraid to take another job sometimes. Yeah. And you have to start somewhere. You can always pivot back as long as you kind of keep your eye on the prize.

But. Sometimes you have to make money. Yeah. And you have to put the money away, which I did for two years and after I, you know, saved up and, and I did wanna learn about the world economy and markets and I'm so glad I did. I learned so much. And listen, I started investing at a young age and had I not. Had that background.

Mm-hmm. I wouldn't be able to retire, you know? Yeah. Isn't that the coolest? I love that you did that. That's the best advice. Yeah. I sold copiers for Kodak One. See journal, but I was like that I had to make some money the hot copy machine girl though. Like here she comes. she could sell us anything. She's gonna sell us a fax next. was your first job at Court tv? My first TV job was court tv. Yeah. So out from JP Morgan or at [00:38:00] Chemical Bank at the time, I was able to get a job, um, in the marketing group at Core tv, and I put a tape together during that time at Core tv.

Back then you put a, an actual cassette tape. Yeah, a reel and sent it to all the stations locally in the area. And then got my first reel on air. Job at News 12. The Bronx? Yes, as local. As local news gets, you're writing, you're shooting it, you're edit. Oh, editing all of it. Anchoring and rolling my own prompter all at the same time.

Incredible. Do you ever remember an interview that just totally went off the rails? Oh my gosh. Oh yeah. So many. I mean, there was one interview where it was, make sure Joe's not around. Very handsome actor,

and for whatever movie it was. Can't remember the name of the movie. And I just locked onto his eyes and was just like. Wow, those, are those green or are those blue? Maybe they're green. The whole time I'm like debating in my [00:39:00] head. I'm like, I'm supposed to be asking questions. I've never been more tongue tied.

Did we pull anything out to this air? How can I find this interview? you can't find it. Can't find it. It's gone long gone. This is long before social media and all of that you've jumped outta airplanes, you've like mountains, like you've done crazy stuff. Yeah.

You know, any chance I can to kind of. Get out and do an interview in a different way too. I mean, I just didn't interview on horseback for a 48 hour story that I have coming up. So I mean, it was the, you know, the first time that I've done that and it was, you know, at that point you're sort of at the whim of the animals.

So, but I was like, these are the things that I love most, telling great stories and to do it on a horse. Wow. You know? So, wait, so you're doing 48 hours? And you're doing, you're doing CCBs CBS mornings. Yeah. Which I know they want you back there, but that's New York. You're not gonna leave California, are you?

No, I'm here. I'm here. Yeah. I love my life here, so whatever comes next, it would take a lot to get me to, it'd have to be the right opportunity, the right. Job to be able to, [00:40:00] to go back to New York. I mean, I loved our time in New York, but yeah. I think, I think those years are, are behind me and I wanna move forward.

Yeah. As we always do. We're in flow. Natalie? I wanna figure out what's next. Yeah. Not what's behind me. No, I can't wait to see what this is gonna be for you. Are you manifesting anything right now? You know, it's funny.

I did. I actually wrote, I never really believed in or did all of that. I kind of envisioned, obviously, but I never really wrote it down. And for the first time this year I was like, you know what? I'm gonna try this manifesting thing out holding crystals in the whole thing. I'm like, I'm gonna do this. I'm gonna put it out in the universe.

And, and it was like. Having my own show again, where, you know, I can get my crew back and get our cast back in some way. you know, I just loved the crew that I worked with so much. You know how it is. Yeah. You become a family and these people see you on good days. They see you on bad days and you know, you, you become just, part and parcel of each other.

did you have a nickname growing up? Nat [00:41:00] Natty? Yeah. Yeah. Never really more than that. you're Catherine. I'm Catherine Kitty. I love kit. Kit is so suit. It so suits you though. Or Kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty cat. By the way, my whole family says hello to you.

My mom bug loves you and my brother, she texted me today. She's like, I hear you and Kit are gonna be together. I was supposed to be in person with you. Yes, but truth be told, the traffic on the 4 0 5. As much as I love you, kit, it was gonna be like two hours. You know what's great is this is what great friends are.

It's like you pick up right where you are and of course whatever worked for you, like you and I've always had that unconditional friend. Yeah. Always there. And I like people in my life like that. Yes. Same. Same here. It's like uncomplicated. Uncomplicated. And people will always, you know, you'll come through always.

Natalie. Aging is what aging is. To me, it's, I think there's freedom to it. You know, I'm gonna, I'm gonna go back to, I mean, I just interviewed Damme for, you know, her Oscar run. But, you know, to me there's something about, you know, in my forties I was still [00:42:00] working super hard and I was still sort of trying to find my path and make my next move.

And now in my fifties I'm like, you know what? I'm comfortable where I am, wherever this takes me. There is something freeing about that. Also, knowing that I will be okay. I can go spend the day riding my horses or walking my dogs or hanging out with my kid and cooking dinner and I'm gonna be okay. Like, you know, I've worked really hard to get to this point in my life.

So, you know, there's freedom and of course I wanna keep working. I have the drive still and I love what I do, but I wanna do it with the right. The right thing going forward. Yeah. There's something so cool about where we sit, Natalie, in our mm-hmm. It is, the word is free. There's a freedom that comes with it.

Everything that makes us up is still in there. Yeah. But I feel very differently about everything. Yeah. But still with the drive, I guess is how things don't matter as much matter, like the material things too. You know, I think the one thing that. You know, with having the LA [00:43:00] fires, all of us, when it puts your life in perspective like that, I mean, I don't know if you guys had to evacuate.

Yeah. And you were. Yeah, and, and we didn't, we were very close and of course so many people around us were, but the Palisades is the town over, and we, we just loved the village. We would go there all the time for Christmas dinner. We were just there. And you know, it just, my heart breaks for, for all those people who are hurting right now.

But when you think about like all the things when you have to pack up your life in a moment and figure out what do you take? It comes down to really very few things, and that's how I, I realized like, what are we living for? It's those very few things and those moments, and that's where I wanna be. Yeah. I don't wanna live with the clutter anymore.

I wanna live with. Clarity. Clarity and even the clutter in our mind. I dunno if you remember Natalie. Mm-hmm. I had a, when I lived in Connecticut, we lost everything we own when I was pregnant in the crow. I remember there is something, I know I'm accused of rose colored glasses, but there is something cleansing about it.

And we have had to evacuate in the [00:44:00] middle of the night. And this time now, I mean, last time I just lost everything. I wasn't there. Yeah. I could have grabbed whatever. I didn't grab anything. Natalie. Yeah. I grabbed my family and my animals and I got in the car and I. It wasn't even a thought of me, let me grab this or that.

I just walked right out. I was like, I know. Yeah, I know. And I think there's something to that that's like, yeah, grab the things you, the people you love. Oh, the animals. Your animals, and you know, maybe a couple of photos which can't be replaced because photos of my. My father-in-law and mother-in-law who have passed, you know those pictures, but that's it.

Yeah. Yeah. okay. Final question What? Turns you on. Ooh. Well, you gave me the tool

really it is a quiet night, I have to say. Like, just now, just peace and quiet and a good night's sleep. Yes. You know? Yeah. Nothing to be said about like, especially when you're getting up at four in the morning as often as I have now. Gimme a good night's sleep and woo.

Yeah. Yeah, I'm ready. I love it. That's that stillness. [00:45:00] Well, we just love you. Come in Cooper and say hello, so we'll redo our you glass wine and dinner, but. I can't wait to see everything that's coming next and just know the coop checks. We just love you.

Harper. How great is my friend Natalie Morales.

I'm so glad you got to like get to know her. She is a 

hoot. Yeah, I was laughing hysterically some of those stories about your guys time together was so fun. I loved the lingerie granny panties. I loved the bedside drawer. I really would like to know what was in that bedside drawer. I wish I could remember the name of it.

You guys are keeping that tight. 

There has no information shared. Oh my gosh. Just the fact that she was so open. Mm-hmm. With everything. Yeah. She's just one of those people. She is so smart and driven and I feel like very focused on her career and has accomplished so much that I love that fun side of Natalie when you get to tap into that.

Well, 

we saw that and I, I feel like maybe Los Angeles has given her that gift a little [00:46:00] bit. That was one of her big things that she said was wanting to come out here and. Where's the fun? Where's fun? Like, she was thinking about her job and she's like, it's not, it's amazing. It's giving me a lot, but it's not giving her.

Fun, enjoy. And I loved how much she admired your move and, and seeing that in you and wanting that to be a part of her life too. I thought that was really cool. 

Especially her, we've all been at that spot where you wanna do something different, but you don't really take the leap. And she took the leap. I mean, that's, she took leap, a massive leap and she said, what am I waiting for?

What am I waiting for? What are we waiting for? For, what is it for everybody out there? Mm-hmm. It's like, you know, the time is now. You're waiting for this to be perfect or that to be perfect or this thing to change for 

your kids to leave or for the contract to end. Yeah. Or for whatever it might be. And it's, there's, what are we waiting for?

Yeah, it's right now. I thought that was so cool. That so cool. Yeah. the horse, a whole horse conversation piece of it. And I just loved that she got emotional about it and it was so meaningful. It was like a childhood dream that came true.

Yeah. 

And sort of relating it to. That feeling of freedom that she kept [00:47:00] talking about. Mm-hmm. And letting go. Mm-hmm. And I know she bought that horse right before she got her show The Talk she'd left Access Hollywood, it was before her next job. So it's probably that period of in between what's next. Yeah.

The thing that when she was talking about the horses, which is not to make it personal, but she said, they reflect back what you're feeling, which really horses do that.

I've seen horses, videos of horses going into hospitals, and I mean the soothing and therapeutic side of horses is real. What I was thinking about when she was saying that it was a time that I was riding on a, or my daughter's also. Super into horses. An unbelievable equestrian. I am not, and I was riding this horse called Rainbow, that had never been ridden by a normal person except for the cowboy who was a real cowboy, who had had rainbow for I don't know how many years.

I was terrified. And the horse. Yeah, it was such a terrifying experience for me. And then I think I really freaked out the horse, so I was laughing when Natalie was talking about that because she, they reflect back what you're feeling. And for me it was like sheer terror. So Rainbow [00:48:00] was like, I'll show you terror.

Rainbow was terrifying and I think I terrified Rainbow, but I loved for her it does the complete opposite and, and for her it's so beautiful. For her, I thought 

knowing her and sort of the type A that we all are, that she's gonna get stuff done right.

She's worked her whole life. Mm-hmm. The horse represents that freedom. You have to let go when you're on the horse or you're not gonna have a great ride. Yes. I just thought that was such a cool way to describe it. Yes. 

And the balance. I love the balance question that you asked her too, which was you said, what does balance mean?

Because as working moms and women who. Like the two of you and all, so many women and all of us who've worked full-time, have families, have full lives in your community doing all of it. And you asked what balance means now in her life and do you remember what her answer was? 

Well, I think she was talking about filling in stuff for her with her workout classes and her writing.

Yes. For exercise and all that. Isn't that cool? We need more of that. Mm-hmm. In 

our life. That's her self-care. Mm-hmm. So she knows if she's doing Pilates, she knows if she's doing a class, she knows if she's riding horses. That's the balance. For her. it's a really cool thing to think about for [00:49:00] each of us is what gives us balance, what's the thing that we need every day.

I know for you it's exercise. 

It is as well. Yeah. I have to get my run in the morning, my endorphins going and, I love that's so important to her too. 

How about what turns her on, How many of us can relate to this? Sleep. Sleep. 

Literally. When I'm a well-rested woman, 

I'm 

a whole different person. Well, when any of us are well-rested, we are just better people.

Yeah. 

All the way around. I do think it comes, you know, we have a lot of women on our podcast, 40 and over. It's like there is that thing we used to kind of mock it or say you don't need a lot of it. Sleep is just gold these days. Sleep is gold. 

Sleep is gold. And I love the, one of the last things that she said was, that she wants to live with clarity and that's.

so beautiful. Yeah. And, and she really is, she feels like she, well she also spoke about internalizing less and laughing more. Yeah. Goes back to the joy, goes back to the fun and seeking it and finding it. but I, felt she's in this really, Clear space that we all are, where we're looking for all those things.

We're looking for fun, we're looking for [00:50:00] clarity, we're looking for peace. And we're also still looking to go kick ass and do things. 

Yeah. And her vulnerability, when I asked her, talked about the ability to, what do you laugh at about yourself? Mm-hmm. And she said, you know what? I need to get better at that.

She goes, I'm, I'm my biggest critic. Mm-hmm. And I try to instill this into my daughters all the time, and I love doing it with myself. The ability to laugh at yourself. Makes you win. Like there's a freedom that comes without, it's one of my all time favorite qualities, so I love that she was so vulnerable and open about that.

And then we just had a huge chuckle and laugh. She just seems to be firing on all cylinders for where she's going. And the best part, she doesn't even know what's next. That's so cool. And there's such a beauty in that. 

I love that so much. And she's working on her manifesting because I wrote it down. I wrote it down.

I love it. She is unwinding baby. Trust me. It will be something good. Natalie Morales. Thanks for coming on the coop and playing with Harper and Trevor and me. Hope you guys enjoyed it. We'll see you next time on the coop.