Faith, Family, and the Game

In this episode, we sit down with Nathan Treece and Bryson Johnson, two cousins whose lives are shaped by a shared love of sport and a strong family bond. Together, we explore how their relationship has grown both on and off the field—and how those experiences shape the way they compete, support one another, and navigate life’s challenges.

They reflect on the role of family in shaping who they are, the lessons sports have taught them about discipline, resilience, and humility, and what it means to stay grounded through both wins and losses. Through stories, laughter, and honest conversation, this episode highlights the importance of connection, consistency, and showing up for the people who matter most.

Whether you’re an athlete, part of a close-knit family, or simply someone who values real conversations, this episode is a reminder that the bonds we build and the lessons we learn along the way matter far beyond the game.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:09

Welcome, welcome to the Grace Period Podcast, where we gather for honest conversations about faith, everyday life, and the grace that carries us through it all. Think of this podcast like friends sitting down over a cup of coffee, sharing stories, laughing at ourselves, and leaning into God's grace together. Expect some honesty, humor, and a space to ask hard questions. No sermons here, just conversation. Grace Period, making room for grace in real life. Grace Period Podcast is brought to you by Christ Lutheran Church here in Visalia, California. The only reason why this podcast exists is because of Grace Period Podcast. My name is Noel Thompson. I'll be your host today. And today we have two cousins. We have Bryson Johnson and Nathan Trees. Nathan, how are you doing today?

SPEAKER_02 0:55

I'm doing good, Noel.

SPEAKER_01 0:56

How are you? Doing good, Bryson. How about you? No, I'm doing great. Quick question is this your first podcast you you boys have been on?

unknown 1:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:03

Yeah. My first podcast.

SPEAKER_02 1:04

Yeah, I've never been invited to be on a podcast before. I'm gonna be honest.

SPEAKER_01 1:07

So well, and you kind of mean you were invited, but you were also kind of told to be on this podcast.

SPEAKER_02 1:11

It's a volunteer podcast.

SPEAKER_03 1:14

Yeah, I I felt like I I needed to do it, um, but willingly. Like I'm still excited to be here. So I don't want you to think I'm not excited, but yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:23

So for those of those people who are listening, I I saw Bryson at church uh a couple weeks ago, and Bryson brought up the podcast, and I'm I did my salesperson. I was like, Well, you want to be on it?

SPEAKER_00 1:34

You can sell an ice cube to an Eskimo. That's right.

SPEAKER_01 1:36

And Bryson was like, Yeah, sure. And then Bryson texted Nathan.

SPEAKER_03 1:39

Yeah, sell it to the social one out of the two of us.

SPEAKER_01 1:42

I'm selling water by the river over here. So you go. I'm excited. These two are cousins. And for those of you, uh for those of you who know or don't know, their wonderful grandpa and grandma are John and May School, and we'll get into that. So just to connect some dots here and in our conversation um today. And uh sorry, we haven't had a podcast here in a while, been kind of busy. I turned 40. I turned 40. Happy birthday.

SPEAKER_03 2:06

Congratulations. Happy birthday.

SPEAKER_01 2:07

I'll be honest.

SPEAKER_03 2:08

Turn into milestones.

SPEAKER_01 2:10

25. I didn't really feel anything. Over the hill. And 30, I'm gonna ignore that. Um 30, I didn't really feel anything, but 40 feels different.

SPEAKER_03 2:19

I was I was actually thinking about it uh because my grandma told me you just turned 40. And I was like, I've known you for like 14, 15 years now. So like you were like my age when I first met you, which I just thought was crazy.

SPEAKER_01 2:33

Yeah, I've been here now for six almost 16 years.

SPEAKER_03 2:36

There you go.

SPEAKER_01 2:36

Yeah, so I mean, literally, yeah. I've and you're one of the very first like kids, youth that I I've had in Sunday school. So that that does sound correct. Yeah, I I don't like the stat like that either.

SPEAKER_03 2:48

So good job, mate. I know, but it just got me like sentimental for a little bit.

SPEAKER_01 2:52

That's right, 40. Oh gosh, I feel I feel it too. I'll eat something, I know exactly where it is in my body afterwards. You know what I mean? I'll be like, it's behind my heart. That that donut's behind my heart. Like, oh, it's just it's bad. It's bad. So uh we're gonna continue our bit here. I get a lot of comments about this bit. National days today. I always check my my my my watch. It is March 22nd. We're recording this on a Sunday. March 22nd, it is um International Seal Day. And um, do you guys have a favorite seal? Is that like a seal on paper, or is that like no, it's an animal, the animal seal?

SPEAKER_03 3:34

Well, isn't there just the the one seal?

SPEAKER_01 3:35

There's no there's seal lions, there's elephant seals, there's leopard seals.

SPEAKER_00 3:41

Oh, the leopard ones are cool with the spots. I okay. I'm an elephant seal kind of guy. Okay, they're just lazy. They do, they do have the life. Yeah, I'm like just lay on the sand all day long and have people take pictures of you. Wonderful.

SPEAKER_01 3:55

Yeah, the leopard seals, they're the ones that get the penguins, Nathan.

SPEAKER_03 3:58

Oh, good job, Nate. I mean, that's kind of cool. I I feel bad for the penguins, but they do just like look cool in their appearance.

SPEAKER_01 4:04

But the killer whales get the leopard seal, circle of life here.

SPEAKER_03 4:06

Yeah, so it's all it all what goes around comes around.

SPEAKER_01 4:08

Have you guys ever been to that San Simeon, the elephant seal?

SPEAKER_02 4:11

That's that's what I'm talking about.

SPEAKER_01 4:12

Yeah, I don't think so. It's like 40 minutes north of Cayucas. Okay, it's a famous like elephant seal place. They're just fat and happy around in the sand, and they're always there, like, but it just depends on what group is there. Sometimes it's like males only, yeah, sometimes it's females only, sometimes it's male and females, and you can imagine what happens then, and then sometimes the females don't like mating season. Actually, the best time to go is kind of mating season because then the the male seal alliance are less a little more active. Oh boy, it's a little violent. And for those of you who are listening, if you ever go there when the male seals are dancing, it I was not prepared for the amount of blood like on their bodies. So if you if you bring little kids, just like honestly, a disclaimer. Good to know. Yeah, good to know. Let's move on. Uh, it's also world water day.

SPEAKER_03 5:09

It's like perfect segue from seals to water.

SPEAKER_01 5:11

Seals swimming water, and it's world water day. Um big fan of water. You guys drink enough water?

SPEAKER_02 5:17

Oh, absolutely. I got my exact same bottle as you.

SPEAKER_01 5:19

Me and Nathan have the same yeti here.

SPEAKER_00 5:21

I'm a hydro drug kind of guy.

SPEAKER_01 5:23

I love water. I love water.

SPEAKER_00 5:25

It's gotta be able to fit in a cup holder for me. Okay. I'm a big cup holder in the truck. Yeah, gotta be there. Yes. I lit goes on a certain way, so I can grab with my right hand. Like I'm very particular about it. Okay, we're all about water over here.

SPEAKER_01 5:38

Yes. About to be a water podcast. And then um the worst week ever, National Cleaning Week. What is everyone's least favorite chore? Laundry. I was gonna say you two are older now. Like you guys are I know we do our own chores now.

SPEAKER_03 5:55

We have our own spots.

SPEAKER_01 5:56

I can ask that question.

SPEAKER_03 5:58

Laundry for you? I yeah, I can't stand laundry. I I I don't like laundry, but my least favorite's like mopping floors. Okay, like because I have like hardwood, yeah, and it just gets nasty kind of quick, and it's like I want to be able to walk around with my bare feet, yeah. And if I don't feel like it's clean, but that's just it's just sucks to have to clean co.

SPEAKER_00 6:17

We have a tennecoe at our house because we have hardwood floor too, and it's like a vacuum and mop at the same time. Is it one of those droids that just go to go around your house? No, those uh those freak me out, yeah. So don't go manual, don't trust them. Yeah, we're we're manual people, manual labor.

SPEAKER_01 6:34

I uh I actually I I don't mind loading the dishwasher, I hate unloading.

SPEAKER_00 6:40

Same. Did that make any sense? And I always can't remember if it like we have the slide on the dishwasher that says dirty or clean, and sometimes we forget to move it, so I'll put dirty dishes in with the clean. I'm just like at this point, just wash them again.

SPEAKER_01 6:53

I'm sure your wife loves that.

SPEAKER_00 6:55

Yeah, no, she's like, those were clean. I was like, Ah, we'll just wash them again. Yeah, well, that's the worst. That's like I'm I'm not gonna go that far. Wasting water on water. I can't remember what fork it was. Yeah, yeah. Wasting water unwatered aids.

SPEAKER_01 7:09

Is there a chore you don't mind doing? Like I said, actually, I don't mind loading the dishwasher. I actually kind of like it.

SPEAKER_00 7:14

I was gonna say, I don't like I don't mind doing the dishes. Okay. Vacuuming, big vacuuming gives me serotonin, but I hate mopping.

SPEAKER_01 7:21

Interesting. I was about to comment on that too.

SPEAKER_00 7:23

Yeah, it's the golfing Nathan. It's the lines.

SPEAKER_03 7:26

Okay, yeah, I like it to look nice and clean. I guess I know there's always so much dirt and hair and stuff. Yeah, it always comes up, and that's so satisfying. But the mopping, man, oh my god.

SPEAKER_00 7:35

All right, the bare feet, too, on the nice, like freshly vacuumed carpet. Yeah, nothing beats that too. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:41

Tomorrow is March 23rd. Uh, it's some of it's a great day. National National Chip and Dip Day. And let me tell you right now, I've not met a chip and dip that I don't like. Love chip and dip. Uh, do we have a favorite dip, gentlemen?

SPEAKER_02 7:58

Well, yes, we can have chip and dip.

SPEAKER_03 7:59

We always have ruffles and like sour and cream cream and onion dip at every family get together.

SPEAKER_01 8:04

So that's like who makes that in the family?

SPEAKER_03 8:07

Nana always delegates it to someone. Yeah, she delegates everything. Oh it's it's never just one person.

SPEAKER_00 8:12

We actually got our phone call yesterday. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:15

Well, what are your responsibilities?

SPEAKER_00 8:16

Uh, we're in charge of the veggie dish. Oh, nice. I think I got chips this time.

SPEAKER_03 8:22

You got chips this time, but I'm not doing the dip. I don't know. Okay, I need to call her again.

SPEAKER_01 8:26

Yeah, yeah. We got a good clarification on that.

SPEAKER_03 8:28

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:28

I love a good queso dip. Yes, like tortilla chips and cheese dip. I have a cheese dip that my Aunt Lori passed down to me. Lord knows how many calories that thing is. Talk about feeling it in your body after you eat it. Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_00 8:42

I need to give you my street corn dip recipe.

SPEAKER_01 8:44

See, honestly, yes, I'll take it. I love a good dip. Chips and dip.

SPEAKER_00 8:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:50

And then we'll this is Nathan's day tomorrow.

SPEAKER_03 8:53

World math day, everyone.

SPEAKER_00 8:54

It is world math day. When I pulled up the script yesterday, my whole family was like, oh, Nathan is gonna love that. Jump on it. This week March.

SPEAKER_01 9:04

We have had some youth in this youth group. I don't know what's in the water over here because we've had a couple youth now that just love math. Nathan was the first one in my tenure year, in my tenure here as a youth leader. Nathan was one of the first that was really loved math. And I remember talking to him about it. He was gonna major in it, and I and none of it made sense. And I was just like, you know, the Lord be with you, Nathan.

SPEAKER_00 9:26

I still have to also, you know, I still have I still have to ask him, what do you do? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:32

I thought he I thought it was something with birds. But no, Nathan's an actuary, yes. Yeah, and I actually I actually say that a lot. I'm like, I know somebody does actuary work.

SPEAKER_03 9:44

Yeah, Nathan, has math always been like a subject you've enjoyed, like even as long as you can remember, as long as I can remember doing mad minutes in school, elementary school, where you're like, who can do the most addition four plus three? Like it's the simplest stuff or subtraction or multiplication, even when you got into third grade, etc. Like, I just always my brain operated so well with just doing that type of like problem and like getting a concrete answer. Yeah, um, I always found satisfaction in that. So um I just progressed, and then I just was always like, I'm just always like good at this subject. I'm not as great at English or like writing. Science doesn't entertain me, but so for you it was it's interesting.

SPEAKER_01 10:24

For you, you had the passion and the natural, yeah. Like it's always good to have those two things because a lot of people have the passion for something, but maybe not the natural ability. Yeah, you know what I mean? But it's always great when the passion's there and the natural ability's there because then it's like yeah, it was it was always comfortable.

SPEAKER_03 10:42

Um I never felt like out of my element until I got to like calculus in high school, and um that I struggled with that a little bit um just because it was so different, but um, I sort of figured it out.

SPEAKER_00 10:55

I struggled at a year at an early age when they started doing numbers and the alphabet at the same time. Yeah, I was uh I clocked out. Math was so hard for me.

SPEAKER_03 11:03

It's called algebra brising. I don't even know how to say that word, not in my vocabulary.

SPEAKER_01 11:08

I mean, this is this will never be a math podcast, as long as I'm on it. So um, but yeah, shout out to the people who are good at math because the Lord has put a blessing on you. Amen. And then National Puppy Day, gotta love puppies. So if you have a puppy, celebrate that puppy.

SPEAKER_00 11:26

We're still waiting for Nathan to get a puppy.

SPEAKER_02 11:28

Yeah, sometime soon. Yeah, there you go. No, no rush, but it's no rush. The day will come.

SPEAKER_01 11:33

And then uh, so that'll be what Tuesday is March 24th, big day here in the valley, National Ag Day. So those, yep. Uh Bryson, you're in the ag business. Bryson, tell the people what do you do?

SPEAKER_00 11:46

So I am a strategic account manager for a dairy genetic company. So I go around and consult with dairymen on their genetics and their herds to how to maximize production and profitability. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 12:03

I I had no idea that job existed.

SPEAKER_00 12:06

Yeah, neither did I until I graduated college.

SPEAKER_01 12:09

So you're you're you're trying to get dairymen to to have the healthiest of cows, the strongest.

SPEAKER_00 12:15

The healthiest of cows, and with genetics, that's genetics kind of runs the line of the dairy industry. If you don't have good cows, then you're not gonna produce milk. Right. And if you're not producing milk, you're not gonna be in business very long. So that's where I come in, is I kind of help them uh make sure they have the best herd possible.

SPEAKER_01 12:35

What's the the milking cow? What breed of cow is that? So there's the white and black one.

SPEAKER_00 12:41

So there's two there's two main, there's two main ones in California. Okay. Uh so there's the Holstein cow, and that's the big black and white one. And then there is the Jersey cow.

SPEAKER_01 12:53

I have a Jersey dairy next right by my those are the little brown ones.

SPEAKER_00 12:57

Okay, yeah. Or little urban. They're kind of thicker fur. Yes, yeah, yes. They lick the rust off poles.

SPEAKER_01 13:03

Oh, all right. I mean, do they oh gosh, I'm about to go in deep into the woods here. I'm so naive. Do they mean the milk? Does their milk taste any different?

SPEAKER_00 13:14

Um, the Jersey cows are a little higher in fat, um, but it's milk is milk. Absolutely. As long as it's white, then we're good. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 13:25

There's a lot of dairies here in California. People don't realize that.

SPEAKER_00 13:28

Yeah, that's we are the dairy capital of the world. Everyone thinks it's Wisconsin, they are the cheese capital of the world.

SPEAKER_01 13:34

Yeah, but trust me, as a Minnesotan, anytime to bash Wisconsin, we'll do it here in those podcasts.

SPEAKER_00 13:39

Yeah, no, we uh we produce the most fluid milk in California. I don't drink milk anymore. Well, thank you very much for telling me that.

SPEAKER_03 13:50

Outside of cereal, not even fair life milk, like the ultra-filtered higher protein milk. That's what I that's that's what we drink.

SPEAKER_01 13:57

I'm not so I have a we have confession time here on this podcast. I went to Rose's ice cream place to get ice cream for an event here at the church, and I saw the refrigerator in the back, and I saw this big case of like chocolate and strawberry. I bought a half gallon of chocolate milk.

SPEAKER_03 14:13

Shout out to the roses, shout out Matt Rosa and Taylor Rosa.

SPEAKER_01 14:16

Taylor and Taylor and Jack. That chocolate milk was gone in 36 hours. There you go.

SPEAKER_00 14:23

Yeah, it's the best. It's the best. It was so good to die for. You gotta have it.

SPEAKER_01 14:27

I had it with Chipotle, and that was a weird fake.

SPEAKER_02 14:31

How'd you feel after that?

SPEAKER_01 14:33

I'm not gonna lie, I was like, this is an interesting mixture. That's that's probably when he was like, I can feel it behind my heart. All right. Ooh, uh the 24th is also National Cheesecake Day. Cheesesteak. Oh, cheese steak. Both great.

SPEAKER_00 14:51

Both are good, both are good. I saw cheesecake too.

SPEAKER_01 14:54

I don't know why I said cheesesteak. Love a good cheesesteak. I had a cheesesteak pizza one time. I'm not gonna lie, it was really delicious.

SPEAKER_00 15:02

I can never say I think I've just had a cheesesteak sandwich. Like cheesesteak.

SPEAKER_03 15:07

Yeah, I've I've had different cheesesteak sandwiches, but uh I've never had cheesesteak pizza.

SPEAKER_01 15:12

If you don't like peppers and mushrooms, like it's kind of like it's not really your favorite sandwich.

SPEAKER_03 15:16

I was always picky growing up, as Bryson knows, so I wouldn't eat any of that stuff until now, in like the last I don't know, since college, five, six years.

SPEAKER_00 15:25

Very broaded with food. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:27

I I remember him being picky, no offense.

SPEAKER_03 15:29

Yeah, I do remember and now I just made chicken pho at my house last week.

SPEAKER_00 15:33

We bounce food ideas off of each other way more than probably any other cousins known.

SPEAKER_01 15:38

Yeah, um, I know a few, but it uh March 24th is National Stephanie Day. So shout out to all the Stephanies.

SPEAKER_02 15:47

Yeah, shout out Stephanie.

SPEAKER_01 15:49

March 24th is your day, and then March 24th starts off a week where tick bite prevention week. So make sure you check for ticks. Now in Minnesota, ticks are everywhere, so you gotta be careful. Yeah, not so much out here, but there's still some out here. You go in the foothills and stuff.

SPEAKER_03 16:07

Have you ever been bitten before?

SPEAKER_01 16:08

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 16:09

Oh, really?

SPEAKER_00 16:09

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:11

Can't say I've never, yeah, I know I haven't either.

SPEAKER_00 16:13

I've seen a tick, but never been bitten.

SPEAKER_01 16:15

No, you gotta do that. You gotta do the tick check. You gotta. Uh March 25th, what is what day is that? Would that be Wednesday then?

SPEAKER_00 16:21

Wednesday.

SPEAKER_01 16:22

Yep, International Waffle Day. Hot take by Noel Thompson here. I am not a big waffle guy. How about you?

SPEAKER_00 16:28

Um, I like fluffy waffles. I don't like them to be crunchy, but fluffy waffles. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 16:33

Yeah, I just like Bryson. Fluffy waffles are solid, but pancakes are pancakes are sold.

SPEAKER_01 16:38

I mean, the only waffles I'll eat are the ego waffles, which is I don't know if I'm gonna count that as a waffle, but I'm gonna count it.

SPEAKER_00 16:43

Um, my wife might disagree with you. She's a big ego.

SPEAKER_01 16:45

I'll be honest though, I can't have two because two, I have to have ten.

SPEAKER_00 16:48

Yeah, you eat yeah, the box is gone.

SPEAKER_01 16:51

Yeah, like seriously. Uh Josh, who's normally here? Shout out to Josh. Josh is a big ego waffle guy, too. And no, seriously, I can't just have two ego waffles. It has to be either.

SPEAKER_00 17:00

That's like any kind of like pancakes, too. You have one pancake, you might as well just have the whole stack.

SPEAKER_01 17:04

Yeah. I mean, I use a lot of self-control not buying that big box of eggle waffles at Costco when I go.

SPEAKER_03 17:10

Oh, because do you like the chocolate or the plain?

SPEAKER_01 17:13

Plain. Oh, fair. No, yeah, a little bit of butter, a little bit of syrup. Let's not get too fancy over here. Well, we're already eating eggle waffles.

SPEAKER_00 17:22

Shout out to our other cousin, Ian, because he is like can only eat pancakes or waffles with chocolate chips in them.

SPEAKER_03 17:28

Wow, see, and that took him a while because he wouldn't eat bread. He wouldn't eat bread either. Gotta get Ian out here.

SPEAKER_01 17:34

Yeah, don't eat bread.

SPEAKER_00 17:35

Yeah, crazy.

SPEAKER_01 17:36

That's okay.

SPEAKER_00 17:37

But he would eat a cheeseburger.

SPEAKER_01 17:40

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 17:40

No, no bread, no sandwich.

SPEAKER_01 17:42

You know, as you get older, you quickly learn nothing in life makes sense. Um, and then uh this morning at our youth group, our our our icebreaker question was favorite animal, and we had a youth member say this animal was their favorite animal. Uh, the sea cow. It is manatee appreciation day. Have you guys ever seen a manatee in real life?

SPEAKER_03 18:02

No, sir.

SPEAKER_01 18:02

No, those things, man, they're so calm and gentle, but you just know if they really wanted to, it'd be a wrap real quick if they wanted to do some harm. Do some damage. Yeah, I remember kayaking and thinking this thing is so big and they're so gentle and like murciful. But if they really wanted to turn things up real quick, devastation is in the past, yeah. But gosh, I was like, they're just so they move very disgracefully. But shout out to the manatee. And I don't know, I just put this because it was random, but it was Maryland Day. I have no connection to Maryland. Neither do I, neither do I. Go Terps. Yeah, I don't think I have any connection to Maryland. Is the Naval Academy in Maryland, right? Annapolis? Yeah, that's Maryland. Okay, so we have a we have a youth member there, so shout out to Joe, who's in the Naval Academy. But other than that, I don't know. Happy Maryland.

SPEAKER_03 18:58

All I know about Maryland is DC's in there, and yeah, that's about it.

SPEAKER_00 19:02

Yeah, maybe one of these days I'll get there, but other than that, DC is legit.

SPEAKER_01 19:06

I I will say that.

SPEAKER_03 19:08

All right. Can I can I say one thing real quick about the days? Yeah, go ahead. You don't have March 26th in here, and that is my girlfriend Calista's birthday. So I just want to say happy birthday. Happy early birthday.

SPEAKER_01 19:18

Happy early birthday to my girlfriend Calista. Right? Yes, CK.

SPEAKER_03 19:22

Absolutely. That is Thursday, the 26th.

SPEAKER_01 19:24

How old is she gonna be? Are you allowed to say that for the world?

SPEAKER_03 19:27

I think I I will because it's it's her golden birthday. She's turning 26. Oh, so it's kind of special 26 on the 26th. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have shared okay.

SPEAKER_01 19:37

26th, golden birthday.

SPEAKER_03 19:39

Hopefully, she's not mad at me.

SPEAKER_01 19:40

That's a big deal.

SPEAKER_03 19:40

Yeah, it's a really big day.

SPEAKER_01 19:42

So yeah, it's a really big day. Any plans or is it is it a surprise right now?

SPEAKER_03 19:45

Uh, yeah, sure. And we might just have her her family come over for dinner. Um, and then we have some friends coming over for the weekend uh from down south. So a couple of her best friends from school and their boyfriends, so we're just gonna have a little get together next weekend at our place.

SPEAKER_01 19:58

Sweet. Oh, yeah. My poor son Elliot was born on August 1st. So happy golden birthday, buddy. Doesn't even remember, doesn't even remember. I feel so bad.

SPEAKER_00 20:10

Did you guys at least videotape it? I'm sure we did.

SPEAKER_01 20:14

I mean, honestly, those early birthdays, bro, you'll find out. Like it's more for the parents. Oh, yeah. The kids don't care.

SPEAKER_00 20:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:21

Sorry, they probably do, but yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:23

They just want the cake.

SPEAKER_01 20:24

Yeah. I mean, honestly, they they don't know any better. So well, shout out to CK. Happy to happy 26th birthday on March 26th. Our random stat of the day in the entire history of the National Football League. There has never, never been a team that scored exactly four points in a game. Because, as you may or may not know, the only way to get four points would be two safeties, which is incredibly rare. It's one of those weird stats that sounds fake, but it is true. So there's never been a team that has scored exactly four points. See, I guess I read this differently. Uh I I'll be honest, I'd never researched it. Does that mean the team finished with four? Or they just never had there's gotta be teams that had two safeties, right?

SPEAKER_03 21:17

So I would say it's never finished with four, but yeah, in all my years of watching professional football, which is I guess you know coming up on like 20 here soon. Yep. Um just last two seasons ago, the Broncos' first game of the season against the Seahawks, we had two safeties in the game, and we still lost. It was the first game of the season, it was Bo Nix's first professional game, and that's the only time I've ever seen two safeties.

SPEAKER_01 21:43

But they scored other points besides that, right?

SPEAKER_03 21:45

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 21:45

So I guess the stat is the score has never been twenty one to four.

SPEAKER_03 21:49

Correct. Yeah, no, I would definitely see that four.

SPEAKER_01 21:51

I see that.

SPEAKER_03 21:52

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:53

That's kind of true. I I I was thinking about that. I was thinking there's probably been teams that have had two safeties, but they've gone on to score. Other points. Other points.

SPEAKER_03 22:01

Yeah. And I've I've seen five, a safety and a field goal, which is a couple times a season. Like it's rare, but never four.

SPEAKER_01 22:08

Yeah, I've never I've never seen a final score be 10 to 4 or 28 to 4.

SPEAKER_00 22:14

That might be a stat that we have to look up.

SPEAKER_03 22:17

Well yeah. It's called scoragami. Have you guys heard of score gami? Yeah, there's a national like a scoregami tracker, which means there's a unique score to like a certain football game. So each year there's new scoregami that take place, which is scores that have never final scores that have never taken place in an NFL game ever.

SPEAKER_00 22:34

This is the mathematician and coming out.

SPEAKER_03 22:37

It's super, it's super fascinating.

SPEAKER_01 22:38

It is. I I I've seen the Twitter. I've seen like the Twitter handle of it where like, oh, the Minnesota Vikings Seahawk score was this. Never in the history was it was a scoregami. And it happens a little bit more than you might think.

SPEAKER_03 22:50

Yeah, you get it twice a season, I think. Yeah, you get a random high-scoring game that's most likely never happened for like 46 to 37. That's probably never happened before, but it's one of those random games that just pop off.

SPEAKER_01 23:01

Yeah. Yeah, I'm sure there's been some high school teams out there that finish with four points, but not in the Yeah, probably not in the NFL. Yeah, both high school games get weird, dude. Some of these stories you see, you're just like, oh yeah. Uh but yeah, there you go. Uh I no no game is finished, or no team has finished with four points. So in the NFL. So uh Broncos fan, Nathan. Right. Bryson, what's your NFL team?

SPEAKER_00 23:27

Um, I claim the Minnesota Vikings. Oh, okay. Stand on it.

SPEAKER_03 23:31

Stand on it, Vikings fans.

SPEAKER_00 23:32

I'm a Viking I'm a Vikings fan. I will I do claim that I am a Vikings fan.

SPEAKER_01 23:36

What what started that claim?

SPEAKER_00 23:40

Um I really don't know. You went and visited the stadium? I did I did get to visit the new the US Bank Stadium in college. Uh we actually did walkthroughs our college team on the field. It's a nice stadium. It is a beautiful stadium. Um, so we did that and I got to like locker room and all that all that jazz. So that kind of started it. Um, but I'm more of a player guy. Okay. I like more players than I do teams. I just watch football. Like you can ask my wife Sunday, Saturday and Sundays when football season, there's a football game on, and it drives her nuts.

SPEAKER_01 24:15

My wife is like, I'm a college football guy, so Saturday is the same.

SPEAKER_00 24:19

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:20

She always asks me like Thursday, what time this Saturday?

SPEAKER_00 24:24

Because she knows, like, yeah, yeah, up until this last season, um we're Oklahoma State fans because my wife went to Oklahoma State and go pokes. Okay. Um, but up and yeah, this last season, yeah, we watched one game and that was it. No, no good. No good.

SPEAKER_03 24:43

I I do want to mention one more thing about Bryson. I remember him being the biggest Brian Urlacher fan. Brian Urlacher. He had a baby Urlacher. He had a baby Urlacher jersey, jersey, custom made. Yeah, and so I was like, that just like like defines who I how I think of Bryson when he was a kid. Yeah. Um baby Urlacher.

SPEAKER_00 25:01

Baby Urlacher, Chicago Bears. Chicago Bears, yeah. I'm a big uh linebacker guy because that was the position I played. Yeah, uh, so yeah, I have like the all my favorite linebackers, Bray Lewis, yeah, Brian Erlacher jersey, Eric Kendricks from the Vikings when he was a Viking.

SPEAKER_01 25:17

Where did he go to college?

SPEAKER_00 25:18

Eric Kendricks? Yeah, he went to UCLA. Yeah, there it is. Yeah, isn't he from Friends? He's from went to Hoover. Boom. His high school coach was my high school coach.

SPEAKER_01 25:28

Um, smaller. I don't know if you remember Robbie Walter. I doubt a little bit older. Robbie Walter. His story about Eric Kendricks, he says he was a pitcher, and he said that ball is still in the air.

SPEAKER_00 25:39

Oh, yeah. Eric Kendricks just launched one on yeah, that him and his brother, Michael Kendricks.

SPEAKER_01 25:45

He said that ball still hasn't landed yet.

SPEAKER_00 25:47

Yeah, those those guys were freak athletes, yeah, just crazy human beings. Oh, that's great.

SPEAKER_01 25:53

Well, if you haven't noticed already already, we've talked a lot about sports. That's kind of one of the reasons why I wanted to bring these two on, is because um my interactions with these two have come a lot in the past with sports. But today I want to just have a fun and meaningful conversation about of these two, because again, they're two cousins who didn't just grow up in the same family, but they kind of grew up side by side, sharing life and and competing on the field, not necessarily together, but like I said, when I would go to see Nathan at basketball games, Bryson and his family were there, and there's just a bond there that I think is very admirable, and I've always appreciated it uh from a from a person who's afar. So, yeah, today we are going to talk about family, some some sports and faith, and all those things have shaped who we become because I don't want to speak for Bryson and Nathan here, but I think that you know family, sports, and faith have kind of shaped them into who they are today. So I'm really excited to hear from them and hear their story. But I would be it would be very irresponsible if I didn't start this conversation without talking about your wonderful grandparents, and that is John and May School. And so for those of us who are connecting the dots, um Nathan's mom and Bryson's mom are sisters, correct? And so um, so they're shared by so again, we have sisters and and their their mom and their dad are John and May School, and John School here at Christworth and Church is just about everywhere all the time.

SPEAKER_00 27:23

The legend.

SPEAKER_01 27:24

Uh, I think there are Sir Weeks he works. There are some weeks, some people might say he works more here than me because he's just on campus uh a lot, and then you have the wonderful May School who one thing I love about your grandma is um kind of quiet demeanor, but there's a force there. Oh when when when she's when she wants to be, yeah, yeah, she'll she'll let you know.

SPEAKER_03 27:49

But she she picks and chooses where that her spots are.

SPEAKER_01 27:52

So let's talk about grandpa here real quick. Because I mean, you know, you you have such a supportive grandpa, you know. I remember going to football games and and basketball games, and and even though you two are not on the court or field, he's still at those games. But what is it like to kind of have that grandpa who is always grandparents, not just grandpa, but to have grandparents who are just like always always there, you know, because looking back as I've been preparing for this conversation, like my grandpa lived about an hour away. This is not a woe is me, but like my grandpa never went to any of my sports games, and it wasn't out of desire, just because of like distance, right? You know what I mean? And so, like, I've never had a grandpa. Uh my grandma would come to a few, um, but I never really had a grandpa. But I'm just I'm just curious, like growing up, Bryson, what was it like to kind of have grandparents who were kind of always there for you in your extracurriculars, specifically sports?

SPEAKER_00 28:47

So I'm gonna kind of throw in Nathan on this too. Our grandparents were our taxi drivers. Absolutely. Yeah, they would take us to school, pick us up from school, uh, take us to sports, pick us up from sports. Um, I don't think they they if they did, they I don't remember them missing a sporting event of ours.

SPEAKER_03 29:09

It was it was very infrequent, unless they went square dancing. Um yeah, that was their that was their hobby. But professionals.

SPEAKER_01 29:19

Oh, I know. Professionals. I've been there, I've been invited.

SPEAKER_00 29:22

Yeah, we've been we've been to many of them too. Yeah, the square rama and taller, yeah, weekend uh adventure, been there, yeah. Um, but yeah, they were they were all yeah, they were always there, they were just like always in the background, always supportive if we needed something. Um, they were really supportive to our parents, um, kind of just filling in where uh they needed to be. But yeah, they they didn't miss much.

SPEAKER_03 29:50

Yeah, and and I would say that it was it was extra, I mean, looking back on it, more meaningful for me too, because um my on my dad's side, both my grandparents passed away when I was young, and so I only have them um to come and support me. So for them, you know, taking care of me every other weekend when my parents worked, taking me to all my NJB games when they I I was staying with them, um, and then through all throughout high school. Yeah, I I can't think of many games where they weren't there. Um so it it truly was just special because then you can always hear your pop in the background when you make a shot, or yeah, I'm sure when you make a tackle, I'm sure you could hear them from the sand. So it right, it's you just know that you have that support there, and regardless of who you're playing or what you're doing, they're always there.

SPEAKER_01 30:36

Um was that something I think you two took for granted? I mean, life is weird, right? Because when you're teenagers are so hard, like now that you guys are older now, right? I can say when you're a teenager, half the time you don't even know what's going on, right? With your own brain and body and and just everything else. But um, and I'm not saying you two were ungrateful back then. I never got that impression from you. But now that you're older and kind of out of the scene, like looking back, was that something like wow? Like, I kind of took it for granted, like they were always there for me.

SPEAKER_03 31:08

Absolutely, yeah. No, I mean I you look back on it and you're like, I want to do that same thing when I have my own grandchildren, right? So it's like knowing that that's how I would want to be as well makes me like take for granted like, dang, I had that. And uh I probably got annoyed with it more than I was like happy about it because having to stay with them on a weekend wasn't my preference, right? No offense to them, but you know, no Wi-Fi, no Wi-Fi in the house, and so um I was watching Nana's program, which is Days of Our Lives on the weekends or whatever, but we're going square dancing, but yeah, it's just yeah, you just don't realize how helpful that was to my parents, our parents, yeah, and um just the support that you have that's uncommon. Uh, like you said, your grandparent, your papa, your grandpa didn't come to your any of your sporting events. Like, that's when you hear other people's testimony and like what they have to say about those things, it's like, oh wow, I had that.

SPEAKER_00 32:01

Yeah, we yeah, taking it for granted. I heard something, um, it was actually the Duck Dynasty family. Willie was saying how his greatest accomplishment as a as a man was having all of his kids within a certain like they live all in the same neighborhood. And I think I was speaking for my grandparents, like them being there for us all the time. I know that we still like all the holidays, we're still at grandma and grandpa's house all the time. Um, you know, hey, you're out on a weekend and you're out on the town, and then you want to come, you're going home. Hey, before you go home, you're gonna stop at Nana and Papa's house to see what they're doing. Right. Um, so yeah, I think that kind of thing. I think Nana and Papa are happy that you know, being there for us, they still all their grandkids still show up for them. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 32:48

I remember being annoyed. My grandma would always drive so slow. Oh you know what I mean? And and I but but looking back, like my grandma, they my grandma brought me everywhere. If I wanted to go somewhere or do something, like my grandma showed up, right? And so looking back, I just remember being a jerk. Like, I just I do, and and and truth be told, um, even before my grandma passed, like I remember apologizing to her when I got older, just being like, gosh, like who who do I think I was? You know what I mean? Like, just thinking like I'm about to ask someone to pick me up, but I'm gonna be mad at how they're driving. Like, talk about entitlement, yeah. Like, but I do, but it's it's interesting because my mother-in-law, shout out to Becky Dota, like, yeah, she takes my daughter to dance. My daughter has danced three, four nights a week, and my son, and there's been times where Elliot, my son, has basketball practice, and sure enough, like, you know, my mother-in-law's there, and it's just like, you know, grandparents are kind of clutch in that way, right? Like, I'm certainly blessed by Becky. And I know if my mom lived here too, she would she would be a thing too, but like, um yeah, they they come in like super, super clutch. Was there a moment in your guys' lives where that you like you took it for granted, but like the switch flipped where you're like, wow, like I I'm blessed. Like, I I this is actually I'm really lucky. Was there ever a moment where that kind of switched for you? Or is that just something you kind of just realized growing up now that you're kind of more of an adult and you have more real responsibilities?

SPEAKER_03 34:19

I guess for me, like college, I made a lot of realizations once I moved away and went to school, like about my parents and family and everything. And I'm like, I have nobody else here right now. I'm like away. And yeah, I miss home cooked food, I miss being able to play basketball in front of my family and get to take a picture with everybody afterwards, and everybody like give me a hug. Like I was, yeah, I was thinking about all that when I was just like thinking about coming on and what we're gonna talk about, and just how like life was when I was in high school. Like, I like those were the good days for me, like really getting to like capitalize on all the hard work through my whole life. Everybody was there to come come watch me play. Bryson's family, all my other you know, cousins' family were there, and um yeah, yeah. So I would say college.

SPEAKER_00 35:09

Yeah, I think the one the one time or the time that I was like, wow, like this is special, is Nana and Papa were on a family uh family reunion trip to North Dakota, and I had a football game in Duluth, Minnesota, and they drove across North Dakota to Duluth to watch me play in the snow. And after the game, I was like, you know, this is my grandparents traveled pretty much across the United States to watch me play football. Yeah, I was like, this is not everybody gets this. I was like, this is pretty special. Yeah, I remember them doing that, and I was like, yeah, they're committed. My poor grandma was all you could see it was her eyes. It was so cold and so snowy that all you could see was her eyes.

SPEAKER_03 35:57

She's she's freezing in her own house in the summer, keep in mind. So this that is completely out of the order.

SPEAKER_00 36:02

It'll be eighty, it'll be 86 in her house, and she'll still be under a blanket.

SPEAKER_01 36:06

I wish I had that that blessing or curse, depending on what you think it is. Let's talk about YouTube because you know, like I said, um, when I first started coming to the uh working here at the church, being the youth leader, um, Nathan was younger. And Nathan, I've gone to many of your basketball games, um, both at St. Paul's and then obviously at Redwood, but then I'd always kind of see Bryson um and his family at Nathan stuff. Then I would go see you play football as well, went to a couple couple of your baseball games too. And so I in a weird way, I can't when I think of when I think about Nathan, I think about Bryson. And I think about Bryson, I think about Nathan. So you two are cousins, and and I mentioned, or we talked about this before the podcast. You uh Bryson, you're about what, a year and a half older?

SPEAKER_00 36:50

Year and a half older.

SPEAKER_01 36:51

I'm a half older than than Nathan. Now, real quick, let's talk about sports you guys played in high school. Bryson, you did.

SPEAKER_00 36:59

I played football and baseball were my two. Yep. Um, but I also dabbled in a little bit of basketball. I'm not a basketball player, uh, I am a conditioning specialist. Um keyword dabbled. Dabbled. I'm I don't claim to be a basketball player. My senior year, I played a minute and 13 seconds all season long. Absolutely. I didn't even start my senior night.

SPEAKER_01 37:20

Right. Oh, okay. Well, save that for another pod. But uh, but yeah, I that's what I remember of you. I didn't know about the basketball, but I remember uh linebacker Golden West and baseball and Nathan basketball.

SPEAKER_03 37:31

Yeah, I was I filled in Bryson's extra missing spot. I was the basketball player, so we we had three seasons of sports between the three of us, yeah. Yep, uh, pretty much.

SPEAKER_01 37:40

Was there ever a time in your guys' lives you guys faced each other in any sport?

SPEAKER_03 37:45

Um, I guess technically basketball, but we were both we didn't play both at the same time.

SPEAKER_00 37:49

We'll get we'll get into this because there's a question that's coming up.

SPEAKER_03 37:52

Okay, well let's get into it right now. What's the question? Well, actually, oh sorry, actually, sorry, pause. We played roller hockey together, yes, we did. Oh yeah, roller town way back in the day. That's the only time we faced off or played on the same okay floor together. Yes. No, sorry, Bryson. Go ahead.

SPEAKER_00 38:07

No, it was so Golden West and Redwood played in the championship game at the poly my senior year.

SPEAKER_01 38:14

And no, Nathan would have been a sophomore. Nathan Jr. No, he was a junior. Okay, junior, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 38:19

So Nathan's junior year, and I had so much fun sitting on the bench cheering for him. Redwood won also.

SPEAKER_01 38:26

Yeah, I remember I was there. I was actually at that game. I remember that.

SPEAKER_00 38:29

I had so much fun secretly cheering for my own cousin because I was like, yeah, I I'm I'm not getting in the game. I don't even think I had my jersey on. Um, so I was like, yeah, go Nathan.

SPEAKER_01 38:40

And I think this is exactly why I wanted you two on the pod, because you two are such better men than me. If my cousin was on the other team and I'm on the bench, I I I I couldn't even say what I want to say on this pod. Because this is exactly why why I wanted kind of you two on. I still am, I'm a very competitive person.

SPEAKER_00 39:05

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:05

And I see red. Like I really do. Yeah, and I'm not proud of that. That's part of my story a little bit. We maybe get into that later, but especially at the high school level, I you want to talk about like you would have had no idea I was a member of my youth group if you played against me in sports. Honest to the Lord, I was I was very inappropriate. I would do it, I would say the worst things. So for me to hear that you're like kind of cheering him on, it's admirable. I would have I would have talked so much trash if my cousin was near me.

SPEAKER_00 39:40

Yeah, so see, I think that's the the the difference. Like now, if he was on the football field, okay. If he if he was on the football field, coming across the middle on the slant, I would have decleed him and had no and had no remorse. I'd have I'd have picked him up and said, love you, bud. But at the same time, I'd have had okay.

SPEAKER_01 39:58

That's that's actually a good point. Because it wasn't quote unquote your sport, didn't care.

SPEAKER_00 40:03

Didn't care.

SPEAKER_01 40:03

Yeah, interesting. So you were able to turn it on and off. Yeah. Oh, it took me 30 years to do that.

SPEAKER_00 40:08

Yeah, I that's like it took me 30 years to do that. I don't claim to fame isn't the right word, but I think that is like I can be overly aggressive, yeah, or I'm a teddy bear.

SPEAKER_01 40:20

Were you two always close? Let's talk about like those like early memories, like like we're just obviously you guys are close to age, so there's like that natural closeness. But for as long as you remember Nathan, was Bryson just always there as part of the cousin and stuff like that?

SPEAKER_03 40:36

Yeah, I mean, absolutely. I have no siblings, so yeah. Um that I mean, growing up with Bryson and the sister Taylor, and then my other cousins, like they were kind of my siblings, sort of like I didn't go home and hang out with him every single day. But when we got to hang out, like I was was excited because I had other kids to play with and like that I knew and I was close with like you know, and we could like raz a little bit. I was always scared of Bryson because he was so much bigger than me. Yeah, and I knew he could hurt me, but smart, yeah, but uh he never did. Oh, so that's that's his teddy bear side. That's the teddy bear side. He he kind of like threatened a little bit, like, and I was like, okay, I'm not gonna like push my limits with him, but uh he never never hurt me. We always had a good time, always had fun, always loved playing with him, so yeah, it was always a lot of fun getting to grow up, especially with them and being at Nana's house together, and it made a lot more enjoyable when you have kids there with you, and it's not just by yourself.

SPEAKER_00 41:30

So it's by their choice, but our mothers are in the same profession, yeah. So our moms are both nurses. My dad was a police officer, shout out to nurses, shout out to nurses, and then Uncle Jeff was respiratory therapist, yeah. And so with the hospital life and you know, law enforcement, they work crazy hours, right? So if you know me and my sister were at Nana Papa's house, the likelihood of Nathan showing up was right there. So yeah, it was you had your cousin and you know little sister to play with, right? Where my little sister was more of the I don't know how to say this. She was more of the like gonna rat on you. Like how you can't politely phrase that, I guess. I'm gonna tell I'm gonna tell Nana what you guys are doing. Yeah, um, but she was a Nana's little girl, like she was always which probably she probably that's it's good to have some. Yeah, it was it was good two boy cousins doing Lord knows what. And she's the youngest, yeah, and the youngest girl. We have another cousin who is a couple years older than I am, but Taylor was the youngest girl amongst three boys with all in a one-year age gap. Yeah. Um, so her being with Nana was probably the safest place for her.

SPEAKER_01 42:55

Yeah. Um would it be fair to say, I mean, your your grandparents are such dedicated members here at Christ Lutheran. I I would like to think like just the the faith was such a glue for your family growing up. And what I mean by faith just by love. Yeah, right. That's what I mean, like love and grace and peace. I mean, we're Lutheran, so we don't really say those things, but we do those things, right? Like that's a big part of us being Lutheran, is we're very modest, we're very Midwestern, like that. Yep. Um, but we want to model love and peace and grace. And so I would safe to say that your grandparents kind of showed that to your your moms and and so forth. How did you see that in your family growing up? Just like I feel like the glue was the fellowship of the family being loving and grace and peace and just having like a safe place. Was that something that maybe you didn't know growing up? But looking back, like from your grandpa from your grandparents moving down, it was just a place of like, yeah, like God was and God was present in the midst of like our family being close.

SPEAKER_00 44:00

Yeah. I mean, grandpa grandparents were the glue of the family. Yeah. Or they are the glue of the family. Like it goes back to you know holidays. That's where we go. Yeah. To their house. Right.

SPEAKER_03 44:13

Yeah. I I think it's kind of like going back to just what we've talked about is like they're the core of everything. Everything kind of has revolved around them, but they make their lives revolved around us. And we've talked about how unselfish they are. Uh, we've talked about how much time my grandpa spends here. Yeah. Um, and he does it voluntarily, like he just does it out of goodness of his heart. And I think I think they've both, you know, had with enough life experience, have grown in that way. And uh having their own kids, they wanted to, I mean, like everybody want to improve on what you've done with your ch your kids, and with grand grandkids, you've got to be a little bit more flexible and open and a little bit more fun. Yeah, and I think that they've just yeah, taken that and run with it because now they have great grandkids and um and they still and they go to their all their events. Yeah, so it's like the world has not slowed down for them one bit, and super thankful that they are still here. Um, but yeah, they've shown us unconditional love and support throughout our lives, and so um, yeah, you definitely see that uh their faith has showed through every aspect of our life, even though they may, even though they may not have talked about it directly with us, yeah. They've showed us that's a Lutheran way, and and that is that that is their absolute hundred percent Midwestern way. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 45:25

That you've just got a million percent Midwestern. So and and both of you have such great parents, you know. I've I've got to know your parents obviously at different times and different places, and especially while you were guys were younger talking to them. Like you both have great parents as well, so it's kind of cool to see that being trickled down, and obviously to see that into you two. So you guys were close growing up. Let's talk about high school because high school is kind of peak competitiveness. Who's more competitive between you two? Right? Let's let's dive into that real quick because it'll lead me into my second question, Nathan. Do you think you're more competitive than let's talk about high school Nathan and high school Bryson?

SPEAKER_03 46:08

I it's hard. I I think from uh an outside perspective, you might say Bryson's more competitive. I feel like in my heart, I might be. Um, but it's so hard to say. I feel like I I know I am to my core. Um, that's how I just was raised. And also, I would say going back to our upbringing, like you see stuff, like Bryson was older than me. Like, I used him as like a role model for myself, knowing like what he was doing, even though he's just a year older than me. Right. Uh, seeing what he's doing, what he's accomplishing, like you don't want to fall behind, and you don't want other people to think you're like not as good at doing certain things. Yeah, so it gives you a little bit of motivation. Um, and I would guess say that extended through the rest of my life through high school. Like, Bryson's successful in sports. I want to do that too. Like, I still want to, you know, have people come to my events. Not that they wouldn't, but just like come to events, but then like show up. Yeah, and like you come to my events, and I'm gonna play well because you're here too. So but I I don't know if I'd say I'm more or less competitive, but see what Bryson says.

SPEAKER_00 47:04

Same opinion as Nathan. I don't know who's more competitive outside looking in. I say Nathan is more competitive. Um, there have been multiple Thanksgiving and Christmas basketball games that have gotten heated. Uh there's been love it, there's been multiple monopoly games that have gotten heated. So um I think we're both super competitive to the core. Um just I just wanted to stir the pot a little bit.

SPEAKER_01 47:32

Yeah, no, and well, and I guess that leads that honestly does lead to my second question. I I was again, I I will say this, and I've said this in sermons before too, but it it took me 30 years to finally let my competitiveness like ruin me almost. Like, literally ruined me. We're to the point where like my faith was on is there a back burner to the backburner? You know what I mean? Like, if I was in any sort of setting where I could win, like I I almost forgot who I was. Like I and so was that ever a problem with you two? Not just together, but just individually, where you're so competitive, where you for me, I would say I I turned into a person I'm not really proud of, but I really did, you know, and it took me a while to be like noel, like it's good to be competitive, but when it was almost my idol. Does that make sense? Yeah, and so I hate that talk, but that's the best way I can frame it. So I I'll start with you, Nathan. Did your competitiveness ever get the best of you?

SPEAKER_03 48:36

I I I personally don't think so. I think I was really always able to just separate the two things. Um, like I was gonna say related to the last topic, Bryce and I being competitive never got in the way where we like hated each other. No, we we've never had we have never had like physical altercation, uh, any type of issue with each other uh related to our competitive sides. Like it's always been able to we can separate the church and state, and we are we are completely fine.

SPEAKER_00 49:05

Yeah, yeah, we we hug we hug after everything. I mean that's we're two grown we're two grown men and we still hug like right he kicks my butt on the golf course and I still hug him.

SPEAKER_03 49:14

Yeah, like yeah, but we're not we're we're just playing to have fun, also. But like I'm trying, I I'm trying to help him, we're trying to have fun and stay loose, and it's like I know how to like do that, but um also just related to us in general, I I think I've kind of extended that to just my life in sports and like be gracious in winning and be gracious in defeat, yeah, because you want to do on others as they do to you, like if you don't want someone gloating in your face, like I'm not gonna go do that to somebody else. Like, maybe I did that to LD, like a little bit in the back of my mind, but like I'm not gonna go do that, and so um I'm super excited and it makes me feel validated and better. But if I lose also, uh it's not gonna break me.

SPEAKER_00 49:54

Yeah, um, so yeah, I think I'm a little bit more on the null side. Um, I talked a little bit more crap than Nathan did. Yeah, um, I definitely dabbled in my uh smack talking. Um but I at the same time, like yeah, everybody wants to win. Um and I wouldn't dwell too long on the losses, like I was more looking towards like okay, I lost what did what can I do right better? Because I'm I'm for sure not doing this again. Like I do not like this feeling. Um, but yeah, no, I I could say like in my like football and baseball, like I saw red.

SPEAKER_01 50:33

Yeah, that's where I appreciate my mom because my mom knew better. Like, let me be for 24 hours. Yeah. Like after 24 hours, then you could talk to me and and yeah, you know, but but again, it was bad. I'll be honest. That was something I look back in high school. I loved high school. I I had a great time uh for the most part. High school was a very, very great experience. But if you want to ask me, like, what are some things I was ashamed of or not proud of, it would be just my competitiveness, you know. Especially like even at church camp, you know, we'd be playing basketball at church camp and I'm just talking major trash. And I'm that's where you're like, when you when you forget you're on holy land and you block someone and you're like, get that crap out of here, when you just lose all awareness of where you're at, yeah, that's a problem.

SPEAKER_03 51:18

That's the mama mentality though that I I admire in you.

SPEAKER_01 51:21

I don't know, but but again, but it's interesting though, because like I said, now that I'm um 40, I I'm at the gym now. I just want to I just want to get that cardio in. Like I think it it took me 30, 35 years to finally be like, there's so many more important things. Yeah, you know.

SPEAKER_00 51:38

I would never I never showed defeat on the field. Or on the I on the field. I my parents would say I there's been many times where I have yelled in the car, um, been very frustrated with myself, but I would never let anybody else see me sweat. Yeah. That I was defeated.

SPEAKER_01 51:58

So you two very competitive in high school, and and for the most part, your teams had success um at Golden West and football and baseball. I remember that. And Redwood had some very good years too. Um yeah. Arguably that I mean it's been a while since oh gosh, I I started it. Uh the last time Redwood was really, really good was kind of under under you, Nathan.

SPEAKER_03 52:18

They've had some success since then, but I I think in one of the two years that followed after I left, they made it to the Valle's championship game.

SPEAKER_01 52:26

Uh definitely the last time they won Paul, there's a few.

SPEAKER_03 52:28

Yes, that was the last time they won. And I I went freshman JV varsity varsity, but all four years that I played high school ball, I won league. Yeah. So that was uh something that's pretty cool, even though like no one keeps track of freshman and JV, but still pretty cool.

SPEAKER_01 52:44

So you two were definitely close in in high school, but then Bryson, you went out to the Midwest for college, yep, and then Nathan uh stayed in the state, went to Caldo there. How was your relationship during those college years? Because you know, you live in the same town, same city, and very much your lives are kind of intricate into one another, but then college happens. Bryson's halfway across the world. Was your relationship? I don't want to say challenged, but like how did you how was that? Because no one no one really prepares you for those college years, right? And and especially like moving away, you're dealing with that, but then also family. Just kind of curious, what was your guys' relationship during those college years?

SPEAKER_03 53:25

Yeah, it's hard. I mean, I would definitely say like it weakened a little bit. Yeah, I mean, we definitely didn't talk as much. Um, and so I you know, I have regret on that. Like I feel like you lose relationships when you go to school because you forget kind of like to keep in contact, you don't want to bug people like I know he's busy, I'm busy. You kind of just oh, I'll see him at Thanksgiving or I'll see him at Christmas. But then that is totally different than how we grew up, right? And all throughout high school, and we're we're not seeing each other as often as we do, and so like you just don't have that like click like you did, and not like it was ever missing, but you know, it's just yeah, just not seeing each other as often. So yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 54:04

I think uh yeah, you you you lose the not the closeness, but you lose the you know, you're not seeing each other in person two, three times a week at sporting events or just in town. Um, so you lose that, but I don't think we ever lost the sense that hey, that's still my cousin. Um I think one of like we were both in school actually. Um I woke up and saw on social media that there was a shooting in Thousand Oaks while he was in school, and I freaked out. Yeah. I yeah, he was the one person that actually called me. I I remember wait he woke me up. I was I was freaking out. I could not get a hold of him. He was not answering his phone. I couldn't get a hold, like his mom answered, yeah. Um, but I was like, hey, like I cannot get a hold of him. Like, does anybody know where he's at? Right. And he I remember his voice like, oh, he literally woke him up at like 11 a.m. or something. He's like, What happened? I was like, Are you like you're good? I was like, finally, I like I hear his voice, like okay, I know he's fine. I'm like, he's like, what do you want? I'm like, I'm just making sure you're still alive. Yeah like I know there was a like this is what happened. He goes, Oh, I was in bed, like yeah, I wasn't even out. I was like, okay, like I'm just making sure you're still you're still alive, like yeah, and I think that comes back to like, yeah, you know, you're not seeing each other in person and stuff like that, but like it's still my cousin, like it's it's still my guy.

SPEAKER_01 55:34

Distance is hard, like you know, living out here now for 15 years, like my friends from back in Minnesota, we're not as close, yeah. I think because of the distance, like distance is so you have no idea, like that matters. And it's crazy what it does to things, it does because when you don't have that when your lives are not involved in a sense of that proximity, it's so hard to keep updated. Yeah, and context doesn't like context is huge, right? If someone's doing Vistelia, I could talk to them about Vistelia things, and it's just natural conversation, but yeah, it's like, oh, what's going on in Minnesota? What happened you know what I mean? And so that's been my biggest challenge um since living here is like I'm not as close as to the people I was before, and it's not their fault, yeah. It's not my fault, it's just I have three kids. Yeah, I have a life, they have three kids, they have a job, and it's hard to like I don't know, I don't have that much time to talk on the phone for an hour. Yeah, and you can't just see them on the weekends, and when I do, no offense, but I'm not really in the mood. And so it's like distance is hard.

SPEAKER_00 56:36

Like I think Nathan, Nathan and CK do a really good job of still seeing their friends from from down south going to school and stuff. But yeah, you know, even with being you know, two and a half, three hours away from them, like it it's struggle. And like for me, like my room, my roommates from college are 24 to 28 hours across the United States. Yeah, um, so you know that check-ins, you know, once a month. Yeah, um, but yeah, it's it's so Nathan.

SPEAKER_01 57:07

Now you lived here, you're kind of back home. I know you're you're near Fresno, and that's been what a year now?

SPEAKER_03 57:12

I guess it's been a year and a half. Year and a half, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 57:17

So for the first time in quite a while, both of you are in the same valley. Yeah, you know, how how has that been for your guys' relationship now that you know, you know, Bryson, you're back here, obviously from college and been here now for a few years and and stuff. And now Nathan's kind of back. I know Nathan's in the same state for a while, which is you know, but um, but now that Nathan's kind of back up here in the Central Valley, like how has that been for your guys' relationship that now Nathan is an hour away, not four hours away or five states away. How's that been for you two?

SPEAKER_00 57:49

Yeah, I think you know, that relationship is you know getting like it's struck still strong. Um but now it you know we have to you know plan still, you know, it's an hour, hour and twenty minutes from each other. So it's like, hey, are you know, you guys got dinner plans tonight? Are you in town? Right. Um, that kind of thing. But you know, um we're still you know involved in you know trying to swing golf clubs. Um so you know, hey, are you busy this Saturday? Let's go golf. Right. Um so that's kind of where we get a most of our our cousin bonding is on the golf course, um, just the two of us where it's like, hey, you know, it's a boys' trip, just the two of us get to hang out and just be it be the two of us again. Nice.

SPEAKER_03 58:32

Yeah, we just did that a couple weekends ago, which was great. Bryson just reached out and we ended up going to Pasa Robles and playing a new place, so it was super fun. Um, but yeah, it I've seen this thing just online somewhere where it's like with your friends, family, like like, oh, let's create plans to like hang out, but it's like, oh, it's not gonna happen for like four months. Like like it's so hard. You have the little things that happen day to day or like weekends, or like your stress relief time. It's not always like wanting to hang out with somebody, but then okay, then another week passes before it even comes up again, and it's oh, then I have something going on, or it's it's so hard to create dedicated time to get together with somebody. But again, we we it's it's been something that we still prioritize, absolutely. Um, so I again, like I said, I have no siblings, so getting time with family in any way is great, right? Um, especially like one-on-one time. I I value that. Yeah, um, I I'm you know very introverted myself, but then to get like intimate time with people is how I like feel comfortable. Fills the cup, yeah, and it definitely yeah, fills the cup, like you said.

SPEAKER_01 59:36

So isn't life crazy? Don't you remember when you guys were younger where you didn't know what you're doing 20 minutes from now, but then now you have your next five Saturdays booked, and you're just like, Yeah, I'll see you in see you in June. You know what I mean? No, absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 59:49

I think that's the that's the crazy thing about now is like, you know, we have the technology. Yeah, you know, I don't know, like we call each other, yeah. Um, you know, can text on the phone. We're really good at sending each other like Instagram memes. Um usually usually about usually about my golf game. Yeah, right. Um, but uh, but yeah, you know, there's those little like quick check-ins, right? Everybody knows there's this thing called life, yeah. Um, where you never know, like you don't know where you're gonna be in the next five minutes, but you have every you have five Saturdays planned out.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:24

Yeah, but it's funny too, because yeah, you don't know what you're like when we were younger, you don't know what you're doing, but then nor do you care. Yeah, nor do you care, but then it's like, oh, we may have seen each other like in a two-week span, three, four times, yeah. And it's just totally different now, but like our lives were so structured and guided back then to now it's like all voluntary and work Monday through Friday, and it's like, oh my goodness. Yeah, whoever said grow up. I know it it really it's it's such a bittersweet thing. Like you get all excited to get these responsibilities, and then you have the responsibilities, and you're like, man, to be a kid again. Yeah, no, like you said, talk taking your for granted like our grandparents and those things. It's like I took that for granted. I yeah, absolutely did, and there's no way to instill that in a child because I would feel like I maybe did more or took more risks when I was in high school or younger. Um, I've always lived my life the same way, a little like scared and uh nervous um to do things out of my comfort zone. And now I'm like, man, the things I would have tried. Yeah, nothing bad, but just like right taking more risks.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:26

So it's yeah, I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:28

It we're hindsight's 2020, right? And and life is is is balanced. But it is it's crazy that how that life just switches where you know you I asked some of my youth, hey, what are you doing in two weeks? And they just look at me like I don't know, I don't know what I'm having for dinner. They don't know what they're doing tomorrow, you know. But I it's but but again, now you know, we scheduled this podcast out about a week ago, so it's like it's just crazy how life just turns and turns and turns, and you almost take for granted the naivety almost of it. Like, yeah, when you were younger, you kind of had no idea, but you were protected and safe, and you had people in your life where you could afford a being man, you know, and they did everything, they made sure your plans were set for you.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:09

Yeah, and you just gotta show you.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:11

And I'm really not trying to be mean, but this is why I love talking to youth now, like Nathan, like like youth around your age, because I'm like, hey, so uh I was right like 10 years ago when I said life, you know, oh yeah, growing up wasn't fun, right?

SPEAKER_00 1:02:25

That's you know what I mean. See, that's the one thing that gets me is like my dad is really good at like my dad does that to me. Yeah, where it's like, I told you so. It's like I mean, and you take you take that you take that for granted growing up. Like my dad was my coach, right? And my dad has this had this famous saying of keeping your head on a swivel, yeah, and on the football field, keep your head on a swivel, always know what's around you. And you take dad for granted, you're like, yeah, okay, you you don't know what you're talking about, whatever. And then you know, you'd go to college to play football, and your college football, your head college football coach says, keep your head on a swivel. I call I called my dad after that practice and was like, I'm sorry. Yeah, I was like, that you take yeah, you take that for you take someone else's advice for granted.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:15

Yeah. It I am so blessed because when my son Elliott plays basketball in the between quarters, he comes to me and I tell him advice, and he actually listens to me. Oh, you're in the sweet spot. And I'm just like, Thank you, Jesus. Jesus, you are so he does. I'm like, dude, if you want more rebounds, do that, you know what I mean? Like, I'm just telling him, and he's so dialed in, and I know that might turn on me in a heartbeat, like in two years. And I'm I'm fine, I was that way too, right? Yeah, but like the fact that my son Elliott's listening to me and taking my advice in the basketball court, I'm just like, I want life to be paused right now.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:49

Like just don't ever leave me, like you know, enjoy this, no, because I was very similar with my dad. I mean, truly, he was the one that you know helped, yeah, helped me, and then he got to a point where it's like, I can't help you really anymore. But he would still, you know, in middle school, etc., trying to help me with certain things, and then I I wouldn't like priced it, I really wouldn't pay much attention. I was like, listen to what the coaches are saying. Like, they I'm like, Dad, stop. You're we're good now. The coaches are telling me what to do. I don't need you. But yeah, his advice still like you know, yeah, held weight and was still he just knew still knew what he was talking about.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:20

So perspective, man. Perspective is crazy.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:22

Yeah, and then you grow, then you grow up, and then yeah, you you're like, Oh, like, hey dad, I need help.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:29

Yeah, you look back and you're like, maybe my mom and dad actually knew what they're talking about, yeah, you know. Yeah, like it's like my daughter who's in dance, my wife's a dance teacher, you know. It's like, hey, you're lucky here, you know? Absolutely, yeah. Yeah, it perspective is crazy. So I guess I'll I'll kind of end it with this question. Like, what would you tell 18-year-old Bryson? What would you tell 18-year-old Nathan? I mean, what I mean, you two are now, you know, kind of adulting, right? We own our own homes and married or maybe about to get married, and uh eventually, I don't know. I'm just throwing stuff out there. I'm seeing what sticks to the wall. Uh Bryson, you're about to become a dad. About to become a dad. Um, I mean, it's just you guys are in it, right? You're in it. So, what is one thing kind of let's do twofold, right? What's one thing you could have said to yourself um at 18? But what's what's one thing you're you're thankful for in the last 10 years? You know, what's one thing you're looking back and you're like, you know what? I'm really thankful I had this along the journey.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:34

I think the whole like for me, I'm thankful for like what the whole like podcast has been about. It's been about family. Like, you know, we've had we both had our uh opportunities to move away and you know, experience life on our own and then come back and just be like, you know what? This is home. Yeah, this is where um family is, this is why uh this this is where I need to be. Uh, you know, we we both had, you know, could have easily stayed, uh, you know, in Illinois. He could have easily stayed down south. And we both chose to come back home close to family because that was that was where it was at. It was like, you know what? No, I this is where I meant to be. This is this is home.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:14

Yeah, I I I guess advice I would tell myself at that age is again what I just said is maybe take a few more risks. Even still in college, I was still like, even though I was growing, I would say I was still timid. Um, but take risks, but trust yourself. Yeah, I mean, it all works out like where I'm at right now, I'm super happy. Yeah, I I mean I couldn't be happier. Um, and I am thankful for that, so thankful because you know, it life's scary and one wrong choice, and you're like, why did I do that? Right. Which, you know, maybe there's some choices I regret, but um, a lot of the main choices in my life I don't regret. And um, I'm super happy. So uh again, thank yeah, thankful for for family supporting me, um, my girlfriend being by my side and you know, giving me like direction, uh, sort of picking me up like in the places where I feel like I struggle. Um, so that that gives me a lot of guidance and correction um on a daily basis. But um, yeah, just trusting yourself because you know what's best for yourself. You just need to put that action into like put that into action because um God knows what's best for you, you know what's best for you. Just you need to like force yourself to do it. Make yourself uncomfortable, but trust yourself.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:32

Yeah, I think that's one thing like where me and Nathan are similar is we're both pretty introvert, introverted people. Like we keep to ourselves, you know, like lay low. You're not as introverted as well. I'm not no, no, no, I'm not as introverted as him, but I can be. Like, yeah, like I like my own space, like that kind of thing. Um, and one thing that I think we both have done is we have found women in our life that you know bring that out of us. Like we are yeah, my wife and his girlfriend are yeah, both outspeaking people and just like one of people gravitate to them, and that brings that side out of the both of us. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:13

I read recently it's kind of a trick question that when asked, well, you would say yourself at 18 is most likely what is what you need to hear now. So I don't know. I read that earlier. I just thought about that until now. So Nathan needs to start sorry to play that trick question on you, but I know I'll be honest, I kind of forgot about it until about 20 seconds ago. I was like, oh yeah, I read that. Uh let's keep it while here. Lat what is your favorite? Uh uh, what's your favorite sports memory? Now, this could be something that you participated in or a sporting event that you went to.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:51

This is a hard question. I don't know. I need to say I I guess for me, the the thing that just comes to my mind is Kobe's final game.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:00

Kobe, I mean, you can say what you want about it, how many shots he took, what Kobe. Uh rest in peace to my GOAT, Kobe. Um 60 points in your final game when you're like 38 or something. Think about that. I mean, I don't I don't want to talk about LeBron, but like he's he's old or older for NBA, and it's impressive what he's doing. But I Kobe doing that in his final game, like that, that's I guess something that like actually made me cry watching it. So there you go.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:28

I'm with you on that. You know me, I'm a Kobe guy.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:30

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I think I think my favorite sporting event was probably going to the Rose Bowl in 2017. USC Penn State, and Penn State was up, and just you know, the underdog mentality of USC coming back and just being like, that's just to see how how much effort it took for them to come back and win by a field goal, right? Lat in the last seconds of overtime was just like the underdog mentality is real.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:03

And so that was like, as a football guy, I was like, and to see that in person was just like, wow, that is yeah, that is cool.

SPEAKER_03 1:10:10

Teaches you something when you see like a crowd all deflated, yeah, and out of it, and then somehow something happens.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:15

And it's like the best. And it was funny, it's a Rose Bowl, it's in Southern California, University of Southern California. Penn State was just rocking the place. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:25

And then because again, it's January, and any chance to go out west, they're yeah, they're coming.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:30

They're they jumped on it, so like it was split half and half, I would say, but the Penn State fans were just rocking the place, and to see that momentum switch and see USC come back alive was just like, yeah, you're in Southern California, Penn State. Like, that's cool. Welcome to it.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:48

That's awesome. Rose Bowl, that's that's a top one for me. I've been to the Rose Bowl game a few times. That the granddaddy of them all, they say.

SPEAKER_03 1:10:54

I have a question for you, Noel. What is your favorite sports moment in your life?

SPEAKER_01 1:10:58

You know what, though? I'm gonna I'm gonna be I'm gonna I'm gonna cheat you here. Don't be cliche. I'm gonna be cliche. Dude, like and I you two will experience this. There is nothing more thrilling, scary, adrenaline than seeing your kids play sports. I was not prepared for that. Really? I was not. And if my dad was still here, I would apologize. My dad passed away about 10 years ago. And um actually a funny story about my dad passing away. I was supposed to give Nathan a technical, but we'll talk about that later. Um I would my I would sometimes kick my dad out of my sporting events because he would yell so loud. And I was that kid that was embarrassed by his parents at all times. I was I was that kid that I was always embarrassed by my parents, and I could hear my dad's voice echo throughout the whole building, and it would affect my play, and I'd have to tell my dad to like leave. And I never said sorry for him to for that. And that's you know, I when he died, we were great, so I'm not too hung up on that. But even by watching my eight-year-old play basketball, I told Rachel, I said, I don't know if I can make it, I don't know if I can watch it play through high school. Because if I'm this intense at the NAS, you know what I mean? Like if I'm this intense at the NAS sports, like oh boy, like NAS basketball, yeah. Yeah, NAS sports. Get to your blue square. Oh my gosh, like for real. That's where we start. That's where we start. Yeah, like, and so that's my cliche answer. I have been blessed to go to a lot of um lot of sporting events, but I think the number one for me is the Army Navy game I went to last year in Washington, DC. And the fact that it was in DC made it more memorable because you're at the nation's capital and the whole town was just just like electric, you know? Because we went to see the all the sites and memorials, and everywhere you went were Army and Navy people and the pageantry of it all, and everything. Like, I'm a big sports guy, I'm a big tradition guy. I'm more college, so the the rivalry, the tradition, the pageantry, the the patriotism of it, like that's pretty that was on my bucket list, and I went last year. Yeah, cool. Yeah, navy one, and seeing like just the helicopters fly over and the jets, and yeah, and but also too after that, here's a soapbox is um you always want to sing second. That's the theme for Army Navy game. You want to sing second. So Army lost. So all the players, army and navy, went to the army corner and they sang Army's alma mater song. Oh wow. And everyone's standing at attention, even the navy players and even the navy fans, they're all and then the winner sang second. And as soon as the army uh song got done playing, the navy just ran to their corner, but then all the army players walked over to the navy corner, and everyone stood at attention and they sang the navy song. And you're just sitting there, you're just like the respect, right? Yeah, like the pride, and yeah, it was just insane. And that doesn't like oh America. So that that's my number one is Army Navy. Army Navy's up there. That's cool. Yeah, um, and then last one, favorite athlete of all time. I know already I already know Nathan's, but you can elaborate a little bit more.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:19

Uh yeah, it's tough. I mean, I football and basketball are my thing. Kobe and Peyton Manning are who like got me into those different respective sports. But yeah, I guess I would just say Kobe. I mean, that's my cop-out answer, but he he just showed, you know, not that I could emulate anything that he did on a court, but he just showed, you know, a level of grit and um respect to your opponent, but showed them who you are.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:43

He was the ultimate competitor, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:45

The ultimate competitor. And I think I think he played the game the right way. I mean, people that's a very cliche thing to say, but I think he did. Yeah, and I think he again showed grace to his opponents, uh, but again, you know, let them know who he was. And like he wasn't gonna make them have an easy night. And uh, and you know, I just wanted to try and be like him and like but then be like well spoken and mannered to the people around him and give respect to you, need to give respect to. And um, yeah, life blesses you with that. So I Kobe, I'm a Kobe guy.

SPEAKER_01 1:15:14

How about you, Bryson? Favorite after all type.

SPEAKER_00 1:15:16

Um, so as much as I love Brian Erlacher, my favorite is Ray Lewis. Just the way he goes about the game and the intensity of football aside, just life. Yeah, that guy is a passionate person when it comes to anything that he does, when it comes to you know, speaking about Jesus, when it comes to speaking about football or just whatever he is doing, it is a hundred and fifty percent. Right. It is everything that takes out of him, and that's I think that's how I try to, you know, we try to emulate life like that is to give everything you've got to everything, yeah. Um, and be passionate about what you're doing.

SPEAKER_01 1:15:59

So mine is age myself here. Mine's Kirby Puckett, old Twins player. Uh, his number's 34. Why my favorite number is 34. Underdog wasn't drafted first round, second round, but he was short, he was stocky, but Hall of Fame, and and uh he actually played the raw uh he played the Vicelia Oaks. Oh wow, his numbers retired here, yeah. So it's crazy that this Minnesota Twins player is my favorite. But um that's super but growing up, it was KG and Randy Moss. That's I was I was lucky to have some pretty big all-stars in Minnesota there, and Randy Moss and KG were I love KG, kind of same as very similar to Kobe, yeah. High school players, absolutely just very just uh tenacious and very just I mean they were intense. Um, and so um yeah, love kg.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:50

KG's a good one. What's that picture of those Minnesota athletes that uh Ant and Yeah, so Jefferson?

SPEAKER_01 1:16:56

It's a famous, it's a famous re it's a famous but so KG was wearing a Vikings jersey and Randy Moss was wearing a Timberwolves jersey. Yeah, so they just did that with Justin Jefferson and Anthony Edwards.

SPEAKER_03 1:17:07

So I I I love Anthony Edwards and Justin Jefferson, those are two of my favorite players in the world.

SPEAKER_01 1:17:12

Anthony Elliott loves Anthony Edwards. Oh my god, he's the man. I don't know how you cannot love Anthony. He's so cool. Well, thank you so much for tuning in today. We hope this conversation gave you something new to think about, whether it's an idea, a story, or just a fresh perspective on everyday life. Don't forget to subscribe so you won't miss future episodes and share this podcast with friends or family who might enjoy it too. We love hearing from our listeners, so connect with us online and let us know what topics you'd like us to explore. Until next time, keep asking questions, stay curious, and enjoy the little moments that make life meaningful. Hope you all have a wonderful day and goodbye from the Grace Period podcast.