The Vine with Joe & Katie Devine
As branches of the same divine Vine, we embrace the power of community and the guidance of faith, aiming to inspire and uplift our listeners as we collectively journey toward greater understanding and connection. Welcome to a space where vulnerability meets wisdom and where, together, we discover the beauty of being intertwined in the vine of life.
The Vine with Joe & Katie Devine
How Its Made: Katie
This episode explores how Katie Devine was made to be who she is today. She discusses the interconnectedness of family, culture, and friendships in shaping her identity. With stories from a vacation in the Keys, reflections on missed flights, and the ups and downs of life, we invite listeners to consider their own experiences and the role relationships play in personal growth.
• Highlights from a trip to the Keys
• The emotional impact of family health scares
• The influence of Filipino culture on identity and values
• Navigating friendships during transitional life stages
• Emphasizing the lessons learned from life's unpredictability
An exclusive from Dery Media Podcasts. Explore diverse perspectives and enrich your knowledge at derymedia.com. Telling stories that matter, sparking meaningful discussions.
Hello everybody.
Speaker 2:Hello everyone and welcome back to the Vine.
Speaker 1:I'm Katie.
Speaker 2:And I'm Joe.
Speaker 1:And we are back.
Speaker 2:And this is a podcast.
Speaker 1:Better than ever. Did you know that? I bet they didn't.
Speaker 2:I bet they stumbled across it. Yeah, for our thousands and thousands of listeners. Welcome to your first ever podcast listen.
Speaker 1:Thank, you for joining us on episode 438. That's not right. This is, I think, 18? Sure, I don't know. We're somewhere around there.
Speaker 2:I certainly have no idea. You do all. I think 18? Sure, I don't know. We're somewhere around there. I certainly have no idea. You do all. I used to upload them, but now Katie does, so I have no idea, I know I do so much.
Speaker 1:My back is hurting truly from carrying this team.
Speaker 2:You're like LeBron James on the let's see, you know, a lot of people say that 08 Cavs of people are like Katie or LeBron James Exactly you know you're so easy to mistake and you know your love of basketball is so strong.
Speaker 1:I mean, you know all the guys that were on the 08 Cavs team with LeBron.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I do, yeah, I do, yeah, you can name one, I'm sure. Yeah, not right this minute, but yeah, like we all know that Okay.
Speaker 1:Hey guys, welcome back. Thanks for appeasing our banter. Guys, welcome back. Thanks for um appeasing our banter. Yes, um, we are back for another how it's made. But I, before I get ahead of myself, like I always do you mean it's, it's without fail? Without fail. Shall we do our little peaks and pits for the week we shall.
Speaker 2:I feel like I usually, who goes first with peak and pit?
Speaker 1:I, I don't know okay, all right.
Speaker 2:Well, uh, you're gonna go first now.
Speaker 1:So, katie, give me your peak and pit um, okay, we probably have a lot of similar, similar peaks and pits, but peak for sure.
Speaker 2:We went to the keys, or not really the keys yeah, we went to the Keys, but we weren't staying in Key West.
Speaker 1:We were in Marathon, Florida, which was like an hour from Key West, but we also visited Key West.
Speaker 2:Yes, we did.
Speaker 1:And we hung out there for like a week with my family and it was like the first long vacation that we've had with my side of the family and so I was really pumped and it was just really nice to be all together had with my side of the family, and so I was really pumped and it was just really nice to be all together a lovely family that is like friends with my grandma's husband, lolo ken, um uh.
Speaker 1:Anyways, good family friends of his invited us to stay at their their beach vacation house rental yeah, they like rent out a house.
Speaker 2:For what? What do they say like six weeks, six or seven?
Speaker 1:weeks every year.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no it was awesome though it was really nice.
Speaker 1:They were super nice, um, and I just I don't know, it was just a really, a really good, refreshing week um and then my pit also occurred this past week. I just you know when life, when life happens, like it all happens at once, like yes, when it rains, it pours, and I feel like that is like the season that we are in currently yes like just a lot of big life things and maybe not so good things happening, like my um.
Speaker 1:During the vacation, dad had to go to the emergency room. Don't worry, he's all okay yes, all good and I won't share all the details, but he's all good. It was just a bit of a scare and it honestly really did not disrupt the vacation at all.
Speaker 2:But no, it was just.
Speaker 1:It disrupted ali's vacation a little bit yes, she had to go go with them to the er. It was a very sweet of her, um. Everything turned out fine, um, but it was not exactly something that you planned to happen on your vacation.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So that was a pit for sure.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, I'm glad he is okay. That was very important for us and we're uh, dad, if you're out there listening, just know we're praying for you. We love you. Um, I would say my peak and pit Um so peak was definitely the the trip to Key West. For sure, I would say there was a moment we went out fishing with Lilo Ken's friends and we just happened to be fishing and while we were out fishing, like what? Like probably seven or eight dolphins.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh Just like came right up to the like, literally right up to the boat. We're like playing right in front of us and that was awesome. So that was like maybe 10, 15 minutes of just getting to watch dolphins. So that was really cool and it made up for the lack of fish that we caught. Yeah, but it was. That was a lot of fun. My pit is an easy one for me and it's definitely less serious than, of course, what happened with your dad, but for the first time in my entire life, I missed a flight.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh wait. This is a funny story and it was my fault because-. You would have never guessed.
Speaker 2:I thought our departing time was our arrival time. So I thought we were leaving Greenville at 1244. We were supposed to land in Key West at 1244. So I mean I travel as you know. If you're an avid listener out there, you know that I travel pretty frequently, mostly driving, but I'd say I fly probably at least once a month, maybe, maybe once every other month Something like that month, maybe, maybe once every other month, like that.
Speaker 2:and I'm pretty regimented about how I go to the airport because I learned from my dad who flew I mean he was definitely on probably at least four flights a week most you know, most times growing up definitely traveled more um.
Speaker 2:And so, like he taught me from a very young age, like here's how to navigate the airport, here's when you get you know, here's how you do all this and, and for some reason I don't know why, I just I must have been distracted. I always check in early, I always double check and for some reason, this flight I didn't. I was like no, I know when we're getting there.
Speaker 1:Just goes to show like how much like this was a learning curve for all of us, because me and Allie just did not doubt you. If you know Joe, like he could tell you a straight up lie with so much confidence that you would just believe him.
Speaker 1:All my friends are like yeah, we never believe in lies like that Maybe not if you're super close to him, but like I just I like never doubted him, like he's definitely the one that travels more. So I like I don't, I mean I'm a passenger princess. What can I say? Like I don't, I mean I'm a passenger princess, what can I say?
Speaker 2:Like I don't think about. Them are actual itineraries that had the proper time.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean, I just yeah, like we had all the details like in my calendar it said depart with American Airlines at 745 in the morning and I just did not, like I glazed over it. Even Ali was like I went to go check into my um, check into the flight last night and I I just checked in, I didn't even look at the time, like nobody, like we were all held accountable for this because we just put no, I mean, it was my fault, I take full blame and I even thought it was weird like so you know, you get like the notification 24 hours in advance where you can check into your flight, and I remember getting it at at 7 am, saturday morning, being like it's weird, they're sending our check-in this early, but it must be some weird like little defect.
Speaker 2:And then we woke up, sunday morning just trying to sleep in like in no rush whatsoever I like woke up and I like looked at my phone and I had like eight notifications from american airlines and I was like uh-oh this isn't good.
Speaker 1:Actually, the first thing Joe said to me, instead of like hey, like we missed our flight, was, hey, they, they moved our flight. It's now and I'm like, wait a minute, how can they do that? Like that's literally so mean. I just thought they moved it there's no way they would do that to us so there's, there's my, uh, there's my pit.
Speaker 2:I have to eat a little bit of humble pie, which is yeah, but you know who likes humble pie it worked out. Though we got to um, we still got to our vacation time when we were supposed to yes and we flew first class spirit which don't hate on spirit guys like it was a good experience I have to say my joke flying first class on spirit is like getting the nicest table at Applebee's.
Speaker 1:And then on the way home, we were first class frontier, like we were really expanding our horizons, which is like having the cleanest table at McDonald's. But it was first class and I've never ridden first class before.
Speaker 2:So we can really stick it to the man with those. So, like Katie said, we are in the second part of our two-part episode series.
Speaker 1:Wow, what a series on it might not be two-part, maybe we'll find, like some other, interesting people okay, oh, I like that so our ongoing series of how it's made, um and so.
Speaker 2:Uh, I was the last episode, so it was a little bit about just I feel like who I am, and now Katie gets to answer and talk a lot and I'm very excited for it. So, Katie, your first question how did your family shape you?
Speaker 1:How did my family shape me? I don't know, there's so many factors that go into it. Like I feel like the first thing that popped into my head was like culturally. Like my culture shaped who I am like significantly, because, you know, in the Philippines it's very similar to like Hispanic culture. Everything was about family.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And that is how I grew up and, like I'm really thankful that is how I grew up because I met someone like you who also had similar ideals yeah and values in that sense like everything was about family. Um, not that that's only a Filipino culture thing. I know that other cultures.
Speaker 2:White people hate their families but it is.
Speaker 1:If you know what I'm talking about, you know like it is a it's different it's different, like it is like a serious thing, like blood over friends forever. So I just feel like my culture shaped me in that way, like I've just always valued my family and family time. Um, with that also being said, like a big cultural aspect of the philippines is your faith like it's not like being Catholic in the Philippines was just being Filipino.
Speaker 2:Like it wasn't like.
Speaker 1:Of course they had a choice, but it was just that was just the culture that you were surrounded by, like I remember visiting the Philippines for the first time and it was just like embedded in their culture, like everything that. Like every restaurant you went to there was like a Virgin Mary statue and like just chilling right.
Speaker 1:Like every corner you turned, in every street you would see some sort of reference like of their faith and in a lot of ways like I really appreciated that as like an outsider, like being growing up in America, going back to the Philippines, I could see how beautiful that is, but I feel like if I grew up that way, I would take it for granted.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Do you feel like it was? Like when you say it's cultural, do you feel like that impacts, like sometimes you aren't as strong in your faith because you're surrounded by it so much, it loses some of the I don't know the it loses some of the oomph when? Or do you think that? No, that's not really the case, because, ultimately, your family is very devout, right and so, and I a big reason of that, like at least having lived with you guys at this point now is that you know your, your culture and the family aspect of faith is why I think y'all are so devout.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, for sure. I think circumstances make a big difference, like your situation makes a big difference.
Speaker 2:So like, yes, it was cultural for us, but growing up in the South and like my family, relocating to America and, like, of all places, south Carolina, yeah, I remember your mom always saying like when she first moved to America, the only states she knew were California and New York, and then they moved to West Virginia first and South.
Speaker 1:Carolina, yeah, of all places, south Carolina, I feel like I mean, you grew up in the South. It's the Bible Belt, like it's a totally different approach to your faith, and so they're bringing in their Catholic background, like at this point, if I'm being totally honest, like we were going to church, because that's just what you did.
Speaker 1:It wasn't because of any sort of you know, like conviction, like I had to go, like it was just part of like the routine and children were getting baptized and going through the sacraments just because that's what you did in the culture. But, like I said, growing up in the South, that different approach I think really inspired my family to integrate that desire to have a relationship with God and to implement that into our family and not just walk the walk like maybe they're used to, but really practice it and really feel like the power behind, like you know, practicing your faith, like what that actually means Actually making it your own.
Speaker 1:Right yeah, and like that is, I feel like, like I said earlier, like your situation really matters. So maybe if we had stayed in the Philippines it would have been different, because it was just what everyone was doing, you know.
Speaker 2:I always wonder about, like, if your family had stayed in the Philippines, would I have gone on like a mission trip?
Speaker 1:We would have never met. You can't even. Yeah, we probably wouldn't have never met. I would never eat the food in the philippines. If I know you would have no reason to go there. I would have starved to death. Probably fun fact I was born there. Like that's one of my favorite things that I can say like I'm. I was born in the philippines. I am a citizen, though, so don't worry, yeah, I uh.
Speaker 2:You know that's an interesting answer. I was not expecting you to say that, because I think to be honest, I got a little bit nervous.
Speaker 1:I didn't realize like how much this was all about me well, yeah, it's all about you but I'm not good at answering questions.
Speaker 2:That was a great answer and I like that answer from you because sometimes I forget like I know this sounds silly like I forget that you're Filipino.
Speaker 1:Sometimes yeah, every now and then Joe's like wait a minute, we're in a, we're a biracial couple, and I'm like yeah yes, yes, we are, it's not like the most important thing about us, but this is true yeah, and I just like I sometimes I forget about that just because it's not like it.
Speaker 2:I felt like it didn't really impact our dating ever like it hasn't really impacted our relationship.
Speaker 2:And like I took it for granted or not took it for granted, but like it never really occurred to me like dealing with your parents or anything like that either, like it just felt super normal yeah, um, but I then, when you said that, I was like that is true, like the some of the you know quirks or nuances of you and your family, I think do come from the cultural differences well, and now I can be proud of it.
Speaker 1:I remember growing up feeling so insecure about like the food that I ate and bring to lunch.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:For you being the main reason. Just kidding, Not really, though. I mean like my mom. My mom used to pack me the most like extravagant, delicious, homemade Filipino meals.
Speaker 2:I'm sure they were awesome.
Speaker 1:They were amazing. And she'd top it off with a little sticky note, with like a little love note on a sticky note and I'd be like this is so embarrassing, I literally would like go to school and not eat my lunch and get like a PB&J yeah.
Speaker 1:And be like this is this is better, and they're like what was I thinking? Like I was so ashamed, but I'm like so appreciative. You know that that didn't like stop my parents from like, okay, well, they'll figure it out. Like they're gonna appreciate this one day. Like they didn't just like stop doing what they did because I was embarrassed. Well, maybe Thanksgiving food, that that we definitely converted Thanksgiving food to American tradition. We love Thanksgiving food but for the most part, like my mom, really I wish I spoke filipino yeah, or tagalog specifically.
Speaker 1:But my mom did try, like we grew up with like basic words. Like I still refer to my oldest sister by ate, my youngest sister also calls me ate, which means big sister.
Speaker 1:Like it's just a risk, like an endearing term um saying uh, ninang, and yeah, I think ninang ninong, which is like godmother, godfather, tita, tito, like I say those things and like I I know the words and I know the terms and it feels very natural, but like I don't speak the language fluently, unfortunately, but my mom really made an effort for me to not forget where I came from.
Speaker 2:Maybe in the future she can teach our children.
Speaker 1:It's, that's like literally not going to be able to happen because she'd have to be with us all the time.
Speaker 2:Like it's just like a 24 7 we'll figure something out that would be really cool though um, how do you feel like your family so like that's how, like the cultural aspect of your family has shaped you. But what about just the actual interdynamics of your own family, like you being the middle sibling, how your parents are like how do you feel like that has shaped you into the person you are today?
Speaker 1:my mom always, always is like there's nothing wrong with being a middle child, because she used to always hear like, oh no, like katie's gonna have middle child syndrome. Your mom was the oldest yeah, yeah, mom was the oldest. Is she? Yeah, yeah, she was, but she'd always, like, growing up, remind me like there's nothing wrong with being a middle child and, honestly, like I was waiting for something to like explode. I was like, okay, like is something about to happen, like am I gonna turn out to?
Speaker 1:be like this horrible drug addict or something like that.
Speaker 1:We're still waiting for it to be honest, I think like being the middle child really helped me to like see things from different perspectives yeah you know, like I know what it feels like to be the oldest or to be older than my youngest sister, like to be a big sister, and I also know what it feels like to be the youngest sister, and I feel like that's shaped me into a very you know understanding person and I think that is one of my biggest qualities, like best qualities, and also one of my weakest traits, because sometimes you know you got to defend yourself, you have to take a stance, you need to have an opinion. But on the flip side, I grew up just kind of being like switzerland, like oh, like very neutral everyone's right.
Speaker 1:I totally understand where you're coming from.
Speaker 2:Nobody's wrong yeah, kind of situation, but and I mean, I think as you've gotten older, you've gotten like, significantly better at defending yourself and standing up for yourself. But I think one of the things that specifically for you like you're definitely the quietest of your, of your siblings, like of the three of you, and I think that you really felt appreciated when you were heard yeah and that is something that you are so good at.
Speaker 2:Giving to other people is like making them feel heard, because it's what I think you wanted growing up, right yeah, yeah, that's a really good point. I don't know, I don't know if you agree with that or not that's probably just you saying.
Speaker 1:That makes me realize yeah like that's probably why I'm so insecure about not being heard. That's true, I mean?
Speaker 2:who knows I mean or vice versa, like I, just why I also really appreciate being heard you know, yeah, when I think that it's easy, like I didn't experience, like I have three siblings but I didn't, I wouldn't say I like grew up with them so I I didn't know what it, I never really got to feel what it felt like to like candidly, like share my parents yeah, ultimately, like you know, they're mine yeah, they, they were, and like I was, the baby and you being the middle one, like it's.
Speaker 2:you know you're not the baby, so you're not the one that's going to get coddled, and you're also not the oldest where, like we, you know, I'm sure Nicole had more responsibility than you did. You know right off the bat and Allie was probably like oh, look at Allie, cute little Allie. Was probably like oh, look at Allie, cute little Allie.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Allie's just performing for the family all the time. Yeah, and then there's you.
Speaker 2:But again.
Speaker 1:I think that that shaped you into really, really just being an incredible listener. That I do. I do listen, yes, all right next question.
Speaker 2:So how about your friends?
Speaker 1:How did they shape you how?
Speaker 2:do you feel like they shaped you? So how about your friends?
Speaker 1:How did they shape you? How do you feel like they shaped you? You know, I feel, like being a girl or maybe it's just me like friendships are like a tough category, like especially growing up, because they just kind of come and go. You know, like there's friends that stick around and then there's friends that, like you, just meet in seasons, and this was something that I really struggled with in high school. Like I remember talking to you probably about it, but also talking to our youth minister at the time is Coletti, and I'm just like sitting with her at a coffee shop and I'm like I just don't get, like I don't have a lot of female friends or you're.
Speaker 1:You're our youth minister was your best friend she was my best friend, yeah, and I just remember like feeling really insecure about not having like solid friendships, like like you said earlier, like I I've always just kind of been in the middle, like I could be very understanding to whoever the kind of person is. So I had a lot of friends just because I was a very neutral person yeah.
Speaker 1:But I just didn't feel like I had any like solid connections growing up, like I maybe had one or two really close like high school friends, but at the time I was like that's not enough, like I don't feel validated by these friendships. I feel like I'm weird or I can't make new friends or whatever. Something's wrong with me.
Speaker 1:And I remember talking to her and she was like sometimes God puts the woman in your life and like or sometimes the woman that are, all that's already in your life is all that you need and you're like reaching for more, and so that was when I kind of stopped reaching you know, and that's, I think, when I realized like, wow, I do have a lot of friends you know, Like her saying, that was like a wake-up call to focus on the friendships that I had that were supposedly not enough, you know.
Speaker 2:And then, when you poured more into them, did you feel like they blossomed more?
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely Like I got two really solid friendships from, like my neighbor growing up so I was like three when I met her, megan and then a really really close friend in high school, taylor, and at the time that was like all I felt like I had. I had some friendships that were that were just kind of slowly dissolving and I just felt really insecure about that. And to this day those two friends of mine like I could still call and have a really good like deep conversation and catch up on life, even though we haven't seen each other in years.
Speaker 1:But I think also to your point like the more that I invested in those friendships, the more I started to see other friendships blossom, just because I wasn't looking for it you know, so you're saying it.
Speaker 2:It, uh, it bled over into not only the friendship that you were investing in, but other friendships around that.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah because, like soon enough after that, I meet Nikki and I mean at the time when we chose to be roommates in college, we weren't like the best of friends I thought it was so random it was pretty random.
Speaker 1:we were just on e-team together, um, and we just happened to be going to the same school and we became roommates and that friendship blossomed into like one, two, three, four, five different friendships just because of where we lived, what school we went to, and like to this day, those like that group of friends that I made in college they're all still here in Greenville, like we all still hang out, and I probably will like hang out with them for the rest of my life, you know yeah 100% and I think that's all true and I think that, like, if I remember correctly from those conversations, you know, whatever it was 10 years ago I think.
Speaker 2:I kind of remember hearing you say that you know, miss jen told you that and like agreeing with her because ultimately we can always desire that, that more, that other friendships are like there's just you know, if I could only get a couple more friends, but it's like there are always. God has always put the people in your life that you need.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:They are already there.
Speaker 1:The problem is you want someone else, you want something different, or you have like high expectations for this person, that they're just not capable of fulfilling, and I think we're at a place in life where I will happily make many new friends, like I truly will you have, by the way? Well, and like, I will happily go and get lunch with somebody that I don't really know that well and not really have a lot of expectations for that friendship, and then, if you know, if we hit it off, it's like dating, you know.
Speaker 1:Honestly that's what this feels like. If we hit it off, then like we'll continue to like grow in friendship. And if we don't, that's what this feels like. If we hit it off, then we'll continue to grow in friendship, and if we don't, it's okay. I'm just thankful for the interactions that I have and the different relationships and people that I get to meet and don't really have a lot of expectations for them. And if it grows, it grows and that's something I can be thankful for, and if not, it's like well, that was also really fun still.
Speaker 2:I think it was short-lived, but it was fun. Yeah, yeah, I think that's the some of the podcasts I listen to. They have, like you know, either life advice segments or, you know little, user submitted questions. And, like so many of the questions from people in our age demographic, whether married or unmarried, are how do I make friends?
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's so hard. How do I meet new people? It's so hard.
Speaker 2:this like this age, and I think the point is lower your expectations a little Like well, and like, don't be afraid to be bold Like I.
Speaker 1:I was at a bar three class the other day and to be fair, when I go to these classes, I'm like I have no intention of like making friends, like I just want to go, I want to work out and then I want to leave. But I was there and I was overhearing this conversation next to me, this girl was talking to the other girl next to me and she was like hey, like my name is Zozo, I am from Georgia, I literally just moved here and I don't know anybody, like can you tell me a little bit about this class? And like I was just listening to that conversation and I was so inspired by her boldness and like her courage to just be like hey, will you be my friend?
Speaker 1:and then like like that and also I was shocked at the way the other girl received it. She was like absolutely yeah like we think people are gonna shut us down, but I, more often than not, I feel like, if you approach a woman that's within your age range, like they would be delighted to show you around.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Did you offer? Come on, when are you? I was just listening Katie's like thank goodness she didn't ask me.
Speaker 1:But because, to be honest, I get a little nervous, Like I would never have done that, Like, and I wouldn't have known what to do, um, if I were in that situation. But I was like, no, like, that is like that. We need to see more of that.
Speaker 2:I also those girls this is a slight tangent. Do you think, like I feel like so much of that stems from how we interact in middle school and high school and like, sure, maybe college a little bit like those social structures where, like in high school, like that is, you know, potentially very, very a bad thing to do for, like your?
Speaker 1:social status like really embarrassing.
Speaker 2:Yes, but, like as an adult, like those social structures like don't exist, like okay, the lady's like no, I'm good, then like you'll never see her, ever again.
Speaker 1:But in our head it's like, but she's the cool girl and if we, you know, like yeah, like we can't get out of it yeah, I think so I think absolutely like I was definitely the girl to keep my head low in school, like I I did not want a lot of attention and like the thought of reaching out, like to the cool girl at the like the workout class is absolutely mortifying, but like I don't know why that's supposed to be scary. Like we're not that scary. That's scary, I think, if I remind myself. I get a little bit like this when I like I'm at work and like I have to talk to doctors or like people of authority no-transcript, they're just human yeah they're just a fella.
Speaker 2:They're a lady. Um, how did you know you wanted to be a nurse?
Speaker 1:that's a good question, um true answer, because I'm filip Filipino and that's what we all do.
Speaker 2:Bring it back to the cultural.
Speaker 1:If I'm being totally honest, like that is the truth. My mom I mean every if you were Filipino and you're listening to this every Filipino mom is like you have to be a nurse. It is stable and you will have income and you'll have insurance, and it is like the best thing you can do with your career and, truly, my mom did think I'd be a good nurse, but that was the narrative that I like heard growing up and I was like all right, well, that's what I'm going to do, I guess yeah.
Speaker 1:But in following that path I did realize, like I don't know what else I could do. I can't, like, I truly don't know what else I could do. I, I like, I truly don't know what career.
Speaker 2:I could see you in like some sort of like a photographer, like maybe in like a creative yeah thing. Yeah, I could maybe do that yeah, but I, I, you are an awesome nurse and I like it's so clear. Like at least as long as I've been dating you, you like nursing was always your number one and like you never once complained about being a nurse. You know, it wasn't like. Oh, I feel like you said like it's a cultural thing, which is true. I mean definitely like.
Speaker 2:That's how it started, Like 75% of your family's in the medical field. But you never felt like a pressure that was like, oh, I have to be a nurse in order to make anyone happy.
Speaker 1:Yes, it was truly, at the end of the day, my decision yeah, and you loved it, like and you're really good at it.
Speaker 2:Like you never complained about you used to study so much and like all the all that.
Speaker 1:Like you never complained about any of it, honestly yeah, I really feel like school and my like career now is equally challenging, as it is rewarding, and that's what I've always looked for in a career like I am very people-oriented, like I. I mean, if you, if you want to go into a career where you just listen to people like this is the career, and like we were talking about that earlier.
Speaker 1:That's all I do with my job is I just listen and I give them their treatment and I walk them through what to expect, and then I listen to them, you know, complain about the things that they're genuinely struggling with, and I love to be like that person for them, because there's nothing more healing than like having somebody just like listen and be there for you and I. I love that I can do that.
Speaker 2:And you're very good at it. Thank you, give me one or two of the experiences in your life that you feel like have most impacted you.
Speaker 1:Okay, I might have to steal your answer.
Speaker 2:What did I say? You said E-team. Okay, whatever?
Speaker 1:Okay, but truly that was like. That is where I really came into myself I agree I think without e-team I would still be a shy like nervous nelly all the time. You'd be like lucy during a thunderstorm. It's nelly have?
Speaker 2:have we told the story of the first time I ever heard you sing in person?
Speaker 1:no, we haven't. Which is like that is like a vivid core memory in my life.
Speaker 2:So do you want to start it? And then I'll add do you want me to start it?
Speaker 1:so just to give you reference, joe already explained like what e-team was. Um, I was like on the younger side of like the team I was probably a sophomore, I think yeah, you were a sophomore um. So I was younger. It was very intimidating. This was like so not like me, to do like if you knew me I was shocked.
Speaker 1:If you knew me at this age, you like you would have never believed that I auditioned for this team. Like I did not like being in front of people. I don't like being the center of attention. I I don't like putting in myself in situations where I'm going to fail. Truly, who does? And it was such a bold, bold decision. Like I remember my sister, nicole, had gone to a conference it's called DYC and she had left the conference and like was just raving about it and told me like you would be great on the team. Like this is like something I could really see you thriving in. And I remember the next year I went to the conference with her and that was the year that it actually got canceled, so I didn't even get to experience like a full conference yeah, it got canceled saturday morning yeah, so it was and you saw me on stage and you were like I can't wait, marry him.
Speaker 1:I don't have any memories of you on stage.
Speaker 2:Yikes.
Speaker 1:But it got canceled and so I didn't even get this like experience the full conference. But I remember they still had a speaker Saturday morning and he got to speak and at the end of it they still made that announcement about E-Team and I just felt like such a tug on my heart to apply and like audition.
Speaker 2:Was that the speaker? So they got canceled because a water main broke, yeah was that the speaker who was from africa yes, and off the cuff gave like a 20, an incredible 20 minute. Um talk about how he used to have to walk two miles to get water, like he was. I mean, it was, it was really.
Speaker 1:It was such a a good talk and very relevant to the situation. But I felt, like that Saturday morning, like this is something that I really I want to try, and if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. So it gave me a lot of courage to do that and so, anyways, fast forward. I'm on the team. There's an opportunity to just kind of show what your talent is. And at this point in my life I had really taken a liking to writing songs and playing my guitar. I never was like professionally trained whatsoever, but this was the only way that I like knew how to express myself Because, like I said, nervous Nelly. So, anyways, I like you know, I'm like amping myself up to show my singing talents and like try and perform in front of the director, jerry, and at the time, oh, justin, justin was there. It was just Jerry and Justin and I went to go start singing the song that I had wrote and I just could not do it, like I could not get through it.
Speaker 2:For some context. At the beginning of the weekend you have to give a testimony. Oh yeah, the testimonies are supposed to be about two to three minutes. Katie got up in front of her. You have to give it in front of everyone and it's nerve-wracking.
Speaker 2:Like I loved public speaking, so I was like awesome you loved it, you loved the attention, but it is a lot like it's asking a lot from people and but it's supposed to be a two to three minute testimony just on, like your faith and and why you're there on e-team. I think you got up, introduced yourself we're silent for about 25 seconds and I think you sat back down I was like that's it, I'm done.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, I was mortified. I was like crying in the bathroom afterwards anyway, sorry. So then you, yes, that was good I forgot to mention that, but so the fact that I even mustered up the courage to like go audition and like show, like sing, was like insane, because I had done that earlier.
Speaker 1:Yeah yeah I could not get through the song in front of jerry and justin, for some reason, they were like keep going, like don't stop, and I was like gosh, this is not going to end well. And I mean, I'm still like I'm there, I'm singing, but it wasn't like my best, like my voice is shaky, like I'm not feeling really confident about it.
Speaker 1:And despite all of that, they were like you've got like a talent, like you're good at this and I was like I that did not feel good, like I did not feel proud of that, but despite that, they were like we like we see that you're nervous and like this is scary, but like we want you to like overcome that. So they made me I don't even know, maybe it was like one or two Two separate occasions, like it was one in front of the girls and one in front of the guys.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was one in front of the girls and one in front of the guys.
Speaker 1:And each time the only way that I could really get into the moment and like sing the song was if everyone like turned around.
Speaker 2:Literally Everybody. Nobody was looking at her.
Speaker 1:Everyone had to turn around in their seats so that I could sing and it was just such a like pivotal moment. I'm 15 years old. Nobody has ever other than my mom and dad, right, but it makes a difference when it's somebody outside of your family, yes, who truly believes in you, like you've got something, like it doesn't give up on you. Like after that audition they could have been like this girl's you know, she's too nervous, she can't be on stage Like maybe she can sing, but like we need someone who's confident.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:They saw past that and they're like we can get her there, but we need to like work with her, and so, you know, I ended up singing in front of the rest of the team and like I just felt like wow, like I did that. And that was only the beginning. From then on on, it became like jerry's mission to make me as uncomfortable as possible, every single opportunity he had. Yes, so like I was on the team for three years, every year he had me sing in front of like the whole crowd up to.
Speaker 2:I think I mean dyc. I think the biggest one you did was like 800 people yeah and then you also sang and you're gonna be like, well, I wasn't like the main person or whatever, but you did a duet with someone in front of 15 000 people, so that was yeah, that was that um, and see why, see, if you're familiar with that um that jerry had also gotten me hooked up with yeah, he was like hey, how about you do 800 people? You were kind of nervous. How about 15 000?
Speaker 1:well, and even then, like I just want to be totally transparent, like I wasn't like, oh, I did this and then suddenly I was like the most confident person ever on stage, like it never went away you still have, I'm still so stressed and the first time I think it was the first time that I performed at dyc like an original song.
Speaker 1:I also, like tale as old as time, stopped in the middle of my song because somebody had started like trying, and it was sweet like the crowd was trying to like clap along with me and it only reminded me that there was a crowd and that just really stressed me out and I remember stopping in the middle of my song and being like what do I do?
Speaker 1:Like what do I do? And I somehow powered through and I sang the middle of my song and being like what do I do? Like what do I do? And I somehow powered through and I sang the rest of my song and at the end of the song it was like ally's first dyc, I remember she like, do you remember this?
Speaker 2:she jumped on the stage.
Speaker 1:She jumped on the stage and like hugged me and I was like this feels like a dream, like what's going on gosh.
Speaker 2:That makes me I'm emotional thinking about it what?
Speaker 1:just all of it? Or alley jumping on the stage?
Speaker 2:well, not alley jump I mean all of it, just like remembering how hard you pushed through that fear.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, you know and it's like I think the most comforting thing to me is when somebody says like this is still something I really struggle with because I still do, you know, like to this day.
Speaker 2:If jerry asks you to do something, I start panicking.
Speaker 1:When he asked me to do something. But you know, I know that I can do it and truly, the thing that gets me through it is like, if you feel nervous and you feel, you know, shaky, nervous, whatever, like you can't do it before something, it is likely because you are about to do something incredible, you know, and like that's what gets me through it, because I've seen God do it before through me and through us and through so many different people. I've seen him do it and I know he'll do it again and I just have to be like a vessel. You know, like there's nothing that I can do. That's perfect. I will not do this perfectly on my own, but like I know that God will and that's the only thing that gets me through. Gosh, what a great. That was great. Yeah, memory lane, right.
Speaker 2:So we're, we're, uh, running a little short on time so last question time, right people? Last question just try to cut me off, I am uh, last question how did you know I was the one?
Speaker 1:um well, it is not often that someone will stick around with you while you were discerning the religious life that is true, and just wait. Like you were, like you're still my number one. Like through all of that it's like love is blind.
Speaker 2:I was like I'm. I'm fine that you know you're my number one still and go talk to the other guys as dramatic of a story.
Speaker 1:That as that is, I think honestly before that I knew you were the one, but because I was so certain I needed to make sure that I wasn't making like just an emotional decision and I mean it's a big decision and so, like because I was so certain that it was you, I needed to do this for myself, to be sure that I ruled out all other possibilities.
Speaker 2:Yeah, to be sure that I ruled out all other possibilities. Yeah, I mean, I think it's a pretty common thing where, if you date somebody for a long time, especially if you haven't dated other people, it's literally only natural to think what is it like to date someone else, or what is it like to live a different life than this? Yeah, and I think that like ultimately, like I think you do a disservice to yourself if you don't at least try it out Like I know we joke about it all the time, like when we broke up in college, I did go on one date with somebody else and it was very quickly after we broke up, but I was like I want to go on another date.
Speaker 2:I'm still bitter about it I know you are and I immediately knew like, okay, this isn't it, you know. But you always have that, that little inkling feeling and I think you, if your relationship is as strong as you, it was your like confidence in us, that like really was like okay, like I I want to be with someone that is so confident in, like the love that we have in the life that we will share.
Speaker 1:Like there's nothing more that um studies me and like keeps me anchored than like who you, the role you play like in our relationship. And I knew like, if I lost that like, it wouldn like life just wouldn't feel as stable anymore.
Speaker 2:That's tear.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's my short answer.
Speaker 2:That's how Katie was made. That's how I was made. We didn't get to ask you. We'll sneak it into a later episode, but I do the question I'm interested in hearing and answer. Well, you know what? Let's just go ahead.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, you're already about to ask me, and then I'm just not going to answer.
Speaker 2:Okay, the one that I actually really want to hear from you is what's the biggest fear you had growing up, or I mean, I guess, like how you have now, or that you had growing up.
Speaker 1:But, like what's the biggest fear that impacted you, gosh, I have to think about this being misunderstood.
Speaker 1:Going back to the listening and being heard.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think I had such a hard time and sometimes still do conveying my emotions and like the way that I feel, conveying my emotions and like the way that I feel and I just the thought of somebody like hearing what I have to say and then totally misconstruing it and not understanding like where I'm coming from, is like so terrifying to me, just because I am not the best at conveying, like communicating my emotions, like I don't know how to.
Speaker 1:I don't know like when I'm feeling something it'll take me a minute to like process it. So, like, if we're ever like fighting or anything like that, chances are I like won't say anything right away because I know like what I say next will really matter the most and I don't want to like mess it up. So I'm the kind of person that will like process it and like later revisit the topic. But sometimes you don't have the opportunity to do that and so I just don't feel like I've ever been very eloquent with my words in heated situations, you know, and I just never, ever wanted people to misunderstand like my character and like what I was trying to say and who I actually am.
Speaker 2:I think that's fair. That's a big fear of mine. We're going to have to have you record Archetype and put it on the Spotify feed.
Speaker 1:It's somewhere in the ether.
Speaker 2:I know, but we need to do a recording, we need to get it out there. Justin's been getting, has been hounding you to do that and we need to make it happen.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:So now it's on the record.
Speaker 1:Song's called Archetype. We're teasing it. We've also been teasing having a third person on the podcast. They'll get there. They'll get there.
Speaker 2:All right Marriage meeting time. Are you ready?
Speaker 1:Yeah, go for it.
Speaker 2:So this is going to be an easy one, I think, but terms that were added to the dictionary in 2024.
Speaker 1:Yeet. Yeet was like years ago, I'm sure I don't know, that was the first thing that came to mind nepo baby are you asking me to explain? Define the term nepo baby new baby no nepo, nepo, that's a word, that's a stem. Yep nepo.
Speaker 2:Do you know what nepotism is?
Speaker 1:Yes, but I don't really know what the nepo part means, but do you know what nepotism is?
Speaker 2:I know that word, but I couldn't tell you what it is so the term nepo baby refers to a person who gets success or opportunities through family connections.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So it's big now with, like you know, people are saying like oh, you're a nepo baby.
Speaker 1:You just inherited your wealth, yes. We're going to have a nepo baby.
Speaker 2:We'll have a nepo baby Bed rotting. That is me vegging out on the couch after I run a long distance yes just in bed rotting uh, the practice of spending many hours in bed during the day that's funny.
Speaker 1:That's a word in the dictionary. Yeah, that doesn't sound a term a term demure oh, so demure very mindful that's like proper so that's what I thought sophisticated that's what I thought it was, too.
Speaker 2:So demure is actually, uh, someone who avoids drawing attention to themselves, which makes sense in that, in that meme, where she's like very mindful, very demure oh, she's saying like don't draw attention to me, yeah, she's, she's like I'm very you know like kind of under the radar. That's funny.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I thought those were the three fun ones. There's nothing else. Yeah, there's a couple more. You want to do a couple more? Some of these I haven't heard Chromulent.
Speaker 1:Chromulent. That is like a chromosome being sliced in half.
Speaker 2:Incredible definition. It's an informal term meaning acceptable or satisfactory.
Speaker 1:Wow, not even in the same category, actually this one's really fun.
Speaker 2:This one's really fun Shower orange that is like a spray tan. So I think your guess is better than what it actually is an orange that's peeled and eaten in the shower why is that a word? So like have I've heard of, and may or may not have had a shower beer before, which is where you like drink a beer in the shower you may not have uh, yeah, we can't.
Speaker 2:You know, no one will ever know. But like I guess maybe you're like rushing in the morning so you peel and eat an orange in the shower. Like wait, why do people do that? It's like so messy, like it's so juicy, why of all?
Speaker 1:things like eat your orange in the shower.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh um, yeah, that's fine I like those words.
Speaker 1:I think I'm gonna start. What was the crumb? The one I?
Speaker 2:cromulent, cromulent. Somebody be like hey, do you want to get uh, chinese food?
Speaker 1:you'd be like that's cromulent you're gonna start using that uh, well, everybody, thanks for listening, thanks for uh learning how katie was made yeah, thanks for listening to me ramble on um and, as always, let's keep growing together bye y'all, thank you.