Shadowing Practice: Gracie Kramer on Career Highs, Dating Lows, & Everything in Between | Ep 27 - Learn English Speaking with Video

why do I feel like this is the best time of my life?

But it's also like low-key one of the loneliest.

I literally haven't done a solo episode since probably the first month of starting my podcast.

So it feels very weird, like brushing off the dust and doing this on my own.

I feel like I usually, you know, I have someone to bounce stuff off of and, you know, have banter with someone else.

And it's very strange doing this on my own, but bear with me.

It's kind of like my stretching apps though.

I'm very used to talking to myself in that setting.

So I'm just going to like mentally prepare like I'm stretching.

I have a lot of news for you guys and I have a lot of updates.

And so I figured what better time to do a solo episode than right freaking now,

because genuinely there is not enough time in the day to fully debrief on everything that has happened since launching this podcast.

And honestly, not even since the launch, since probably a month ago, I feel like I blinked and my life completely turned 180.

And we are kind of on this turn and burn right now.

And I'm semi fighting for my life, semi enjoying the best ride of my life at the same time.

It's a very strange double entendre, but I'm enjoying it to the fullest.

And I am very proud of myself for staying like super, super present.

But at the same time, like I also have to be very mindful of like my health

because I have been getting very sick because I have been go, go, go, go, go.

And I'm not used to that.

Like, I think, yes, I am very extroverted to my core, but I think I have to be introverted in order to kind of hit that reset button.

And you guys know I live alone.

I've lived alone since college.

So my way of kind of hitting that reset button is going back to my house,

grounding myself, touching some sand and being able to really like be introspective

and reflect on all of the highs so that I don't have a heavy crash after.

And I think it also has to do something with the ADHD thing.

Like I know, I mean, psychologists tap in, but like I've heard that with ADHD people, it's very, very aggressive.

Like the drop off from the highs, you hit some really low lows.

And so I really want to tap into that as well today

and talk about as much as there have been some really, really high highs, there's also been some pretty deep valleys.

I say we start from the beginning.

I don't even know where to start.

I try to go back as far as I could on my phone album.

And I was like, Hey, what the hell has happened in the last month or two that we can fully recap and dive into first and foremost, can we please just talk about the world cup?

That was the most insane month of my entire life.

The fact that I got invited to not one, not two, but three world cups at SoFi stadium.

I should have just pitched a tent in that parking lot.

Okay.

That was so freaking fun and so insane.

And I've never really fully like hand to God, I'm going to be honest with you.

Didn't know much about soccer.

I do know a decent amount now because I was very much sat at these games and I was locked in, but I do have to say,

I felt a bit like a bandwagon fan and a bit like an imposter when I first started going.

And then I was like, no, like this is an opportunity for me to fully dive into the sport and just get to know the players, get to know the game.

And my biggest thing, and maybe just because I'm an empath, I love the people.

The crowds were absolutely unbelievable.

Like seeing every single person so genuinely in love with the players and the game itself,

it just reignited a passion for me for sport that I haven't had in a while.

And I feel like, yes, gymnastics has that, but there's something so much deeper when it's your roots and your culture and your country.

And us as Americans, like, because I feel like a lot of us are transplants

and not a lot of us have really fully like bought into the American dream and the culture and everything.

We're all kind of bringing our cultures into this melting pot, right?

It's so cool that like, it was this mega melting pot

and everyone was coming in from all over the world

and they got to experience our culture

and like guys the freaking ranch thing was

so funny like tsa being like y'all you cannot travel with

ranch in your bag we're gonna take it like it was just

so hysterical like the funniest little memes and things

that came from social media and just these cultural moments was just like top tier

and then don't even get me started about norway you guys know i'm like the biggest fan of norway

and i am getting now merch from like i just got a custom jersey from man city

and holland plays for man city

so y'all already know like that's the next dream is to

go to a city game i want to be i want

to be there i want to be front row i want

to be on the field i want to meet holland i'm going to manifest

that but shifting gears obviously world cup was phenomenal

if i keep talking about it we're going to run out of time

and i have way too much to cover so

that was my life for basically two months everyone i feel like was also having the best time it was

so fun like we all got to go to bars and stuff and celebrate and congratulations to for winning.

That was awesome.

And then what happens after the world cup?

Let me check.

Oh, I actually get a break for the first time.

I haven't had a vacation and God knows when.

Obviously my job's very unique in the fact that like what I do is very, very fun.

So I don't really need vacations.

Therefore I don't give them to myself, but I did go to Joshua tree for my friend's birthday.

And so my friend, Alicia, she's like become one of my best friends.

She's the pole vaulter that I learned from Olympic Canadian baddie, such a phenomenal human being as well.

Like I absolutely adore her.

She's the definition of girl's girl.

And we just clicked instantly.

And so she ended up hosting this like girls retreat weekend in Joshua tree.

We got to go land to the stars, drop off the grid for literally three days.

And it was the best.

It was so healing.

And it was exactly what I needed because I think the universe was like, okay, this was a chaotic piece of your life, right?

Like this month was a lot.

Let's hit the reset button by having you drop off and go to Joshua Tree.

And then let's throw a bunch of other shit at you.

So then after that, I get to meet Piper Gillis, who is another Canadian Olympic ice skater.

We do a sports swap.

She teaches me ice skating.

I teach gymnastics.

You can go watch it.

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The second episode will be out.

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First one's already out.

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It's been out and truly just made me so excited to work with winter Olympic sports.

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So that's kind of on the horizon.

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I feel like I really want to tap into like all of the winter Olympic sports.

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So let me know what you want to see for me from that, because I think that would be so freaking fun to like try hockey and literally like the most insane stuff,

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like Alpine skiing.

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And like, I don't know, I'm just, I'm very excited for this winter. And

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so I'm starting to like really start mentally schedule some some

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trips in there where I can go touch some snow

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and see what we can get up to with like snowboarding and skiing and stuff.

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That was a very, very, very eye opening moment for me because I felt like, yes, Sportswap has been a big part of my career.

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It's been a big part of my content.

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but to see someone like piper who just recently announced

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that she's taking a step back from ice skating

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and to see her just freaking light up to try something new it just reminded me

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so much of why i do this and why i love sports swap

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and why i love trying new sports and trying new things

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and pushing myself out of my comfort zone

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because that's how i am it felt like she was holding up a mirror for me.

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And it reminded me so much of myself and why I started.

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And I think when life gets chaotic and things kind of feel like they're spiraling out of control, maybe even in a good way,

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it is necessary to remind yourself of your purpose.

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And so I'm so grateful

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that I'm surrounded by people who remind me of my purpose constantly and they never let me forget it.

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And so that was a really,

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really fun moment to kind of shift gears and give myself the confidence I needed to then step into this next season,

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which was going to Hawaii.

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Okay.

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So let me just explain something to you guys.

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Obviously, yes, I work with Red Bull.

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I'm a TV show host for them.

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This year, I actually haven't talked about this

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and I've been wanting to address this because I have been any messages about it.

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I'm not hosting for Red Bull cliff diving this year.

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Obviously, I am not on the other side of the world.

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I am not in different countries.

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I'm not standing on 90-foot platforms like I was last summer.

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It's a very big shift.

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It was a massive moment that me and my team had to calibrate and decide on.

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And it was sad.

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Genuinely, I mean, you guys know Molly Carlson's one of my best friends.

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All those girls are like sisters to me.

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They're all so sweet.

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And like, I love the guys as well.

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And everyone I work with is awesome.

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And I could not say more kind things about Red Bull Cliff Diving.

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I absolutely love that job so much.

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Unfortunately, it didn't align.

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They needed me to fly out to Bali the night of my brother's wedding.

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Okay.

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And that to me, like family's everything.

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There's no amount of money you could pay me to leave my brother's wedding early.

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And if you saw my content from that wedding, you already know I would have missed out if I left.

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That was truly the best night of my life.

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Like getting to dance with my 97 year old grandma on the dance floor until 10 PM.

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It was unmatched.

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And so I'm so grateful that I stood my ground.

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I didn't sell out for a check.

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I didn't sell out for an opportunity.

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And I knew that yes, my career is important, but it's not everything.

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And it was a really good learning moment for me as well to realize

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that I get to decide what I feel like I'm missing out on.

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And I kind of was able to make that mental shift and be like, you know what?

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It's not the end of the world.

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Life goes on.

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The sun will still rise tomorrow and there will be other opportunities.

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And instantly, the moment I closed that door, I was getting brand deals to help promote the world cup.

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I got to work with incredible people.

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I got to go to world cup games and then it just kind of like created this crazy domino effect.

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Like the moment I said no to one thing, I was able to say yes to so many other things

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and I think there's so much weight and wisdom in

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that alone and I feel like I've kind of carried with me now in these next you know

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or these last few months and so yeah

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that was like a very heavy decision but also a very important one because it

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launched me into a completely different realm of my career I ever thought I'd ever be in like

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you guys like what the fuck like what do you mean

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i'm interviewing the ted lasso cast like what do you mean i'm traveling to hawaii with red bull

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and doing a fitness like what like and

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and that's like my job like okay like i'm getting ahead of myself

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so we go to red bull fitness club it's fucking fun it's literally on oahu at turtle bay resort

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which is now like the ritz carlton so it's like mega bouge

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which was super fun and i actually grew up fun fact going to the north shore

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and staying at Turtle Bay with my family because my dad loves the North Shore.

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He surfs the North Shore.

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That's like his shit, his bread and butter.

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And so when we got the opportunity, it felt so full circle.

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The fact

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that I got to learn how to surf again after not

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being able to surf since I was 10 years old

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because I had to choose gymnastics

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and I had to say no to a lot of sports in order to preserve my body

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and preserve my career in gymnastics.

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My inner child was thriving.

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I felt like I was back in my 12-year-old body and just like living her best life.

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And then I got to see my old roommate from college who is a UCLA water polo player.

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And now she coaches at UH for water polo.

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And it was so special being able to kind of extend my trip, have a mini, mini vacation.

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It was like three days.

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But even that alone was the most like rejuvenating, helpful time.

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Because if you've ever been to Hawaii, I don't know what the fuck is in the water there.

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You just want to reflect.

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You want to just be the most present you've ever been

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like I swear to you the energy there is just different Like

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if I ever feel like i'm crashing the hell out You'll probably catch me in hawaii truly like

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that is my place Where I feel like i'm so grounded

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and I had a moment on the balcony And I was kind of feeling in my feels a little bit.

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I'm going to be a little raw

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and vulnerable here I was talking to somebody

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and things like Weren't super serious or anything like by that means but like they were pursuing me and things were

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I guess Somewhat established we weren't dating but There was investment.

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There was time that had been spent on multiple different calls.

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There were a few dates whatever The second I go to hawaii Nothing after like calling me every single day checking in,

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you know Creating a space for me to be vulnerable So then I start getting annoyed because i'm like, oh now I'm being ghosted on one of the best trips of my life.

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I'm supposed to be having fun, but I'm also kind of fighting this like disappointment.

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And I mean, shit, let me tell you, like if you ever go through something like that or you feel sad, like I can't complain.

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I was literally on a balcony overlooking the most beautiful view.

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Like it was best case scenario dealing with being ghosted, like truly.

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So can't complain.

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I cannot complain.

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But I did reflect a shit ton on that balcony.

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And it was actually funny enough at like five in the freaking morning.

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and I couldn't sleep and I woke up and I just like went out on the balcony.

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I was like universe, God, whoever's listening, what the hell is going on?

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Like I need to know like why are you putting these people in my life

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if they're not worthy of being in my life?

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What is this lesson?

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I always want to look for growth.

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I always want to figure out like what's the point and I kind of realized a few things.

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One like I am a very trusting person

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and I am very proud of myself for healing myself enough to be able to trust people again.

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There was a point in my life where I didn't believe in vulnerability.

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I felt like it was weakness.

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I had this very strict, like no open up to anyone role.

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And I think now I've worked on myself so much to be able to do that.

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And I'm very, very proud of that part of myself.

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And so I think what I got so annoyed about was that moments like that, where I feel like someone's disrespecting me or kind of taking me for granted or whatever it is.

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One, it says a lot, way more about them than it does about me.

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Like I would never do that to another person.

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Therefore, I just, I don't relate to you.

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We're clearly not the same.

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We're clearly not compatible.

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But I also think I get very protective of my heart

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and I am entering into an era where I feel like I do have to be protective

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and I have to be selective with who I surround myself with.

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and the energy that I'm willing to invite into my space.

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And I mean, shit, it's part of being in your 20s.

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It's part of being young and bright-eyed and mushy-tailed and excited about what life has in store.

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And I think that goes to say about everything, but I think specifically with like romantic situations and dating in general, like it's very easy to kind of get swept up in it,

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but then it's also really easy to shut yourself off from it.

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So I'm kind of walking

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that line right now of figuring out how much do I want to open up to somebody

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because you already know we don't have ass around here okay

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so if I am going to give someone the time of day

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and give them the opportunity to pursue me

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and seek me out date me whatever I do have to be still mindful of the fact

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that like my piece is number one and this empire

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that I've built for myself and this life that I've built for myself is very sacred.

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And so letting people into that space is, it's interesting.

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And I want to be very lighthearted and fun and whimsical about it.

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But I also have to remember like, not everyone deserves to be in my space.

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So that's been a big lesson for me.

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But thankfully, everyone in my life is very, very good at reminding me of that.

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Like anytime I get swept up, there like hey remember that person has to earn it just the same way

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that you've had to earn everything

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that you've built like this is it's a respect thing

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and it's also at the end of the day like my husband would never

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so that's kind of my takeaway from my Hawaii trip it was very very fun

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and very eye-opening but also very introspective and I'm so grateful

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that I had the time from my busy schedule to sit in it.

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Because I think if I had jumped into the next thing

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and kind of distracted myself with other chaotic moments of my life,

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I don't think I would have fully gotten everything out of that that I needed to.

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And so fast forward now, it's the last day of the trip and I get a call and it's like, hey, you actually have to go to Nashville.

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So I fly literally to Los Angeles for less than 10 hours, sleep in my own bed, do my laundry, repack my bag,

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fly out to Nashville the next morning.

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But come on guys, it's the MLS and Apple.

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Of course I have to go.

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Hello.

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I'm a workaholic through and through.

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So I said yes.

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And Nashville SC had us out for a game.

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I got to go on the field and wave the flag.

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That was so fun.

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And again, it kind of brought me back to my heart center

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and reminded me

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that like you a baddie you worked for this you earned

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this like you are supposed to be living your best life

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so are we going to really let a man make you

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feel some type of way no not really at all actually

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but also you're still a girl at the end of the day

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so letting myself feel my feelings while simultaneously reminding myself who the hell I am has been a really cool thing.

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And I get back from Nashville.

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And at this point, I'm a little tired.

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I am starting to feel the weight of the crash.

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And I'm fighting the crash with every might of my being.

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I'm fighting so hard to not crash

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because I just want to ride the momentum time

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and I want to continue this high energy and this amazing high that I'm on.

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And I forget that I'm just ADHD girly and there is going to be a crash.

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Where there's a high, there's going to be a low.

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So I let myself kind of ride that low.

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I go very introverted and I isolate.

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And I feel like, again, everything's a lesson.

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I'm learning so much about myself in this season of my life because there's no time to really overthink.

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It's like you take it as face value and you just run with it.

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And so I'm realizing that, yes, I'm tired or yes, there's moments where I could take a break.

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But then there's also moments where I'm like, oh, but I'm going to be 80 one day and have the craziest grandma lore ever.

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So do it for the fucking grandma lore.

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So yeah, that's where we're doing it for the grandma lore

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and trying my best to not get sick we're we're actually

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we're doing a little bit better we're you know taking our vitamins getting some sleep doing all the damn things

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but then i get home and i get a call from red bull

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and red bull says hey we want to bring you out to a dodgers game

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and i'm like sick okay yeah bring

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that to a dodgers game oh actually no no it's not a game you're going to be playing yourself

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and you're going to be at the dodgers stadium

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and you're going to be learning from all-stars and I was like okay

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so grab my little duchess hat head out to the field

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and got to learn baseball from some of the greats in the sport

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and it was hands down one of the coolest experiences ever not only did I get to learn from MLB all-stars

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but I got to meet the entire cast of Sandlot.

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What the fuck?

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You guys, I literally was like at bat

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and I look over my shoulder and I see the guy that says like the great Bambino.

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And I'm like, holy shit, holy shit.

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This guy's from Sandlot.

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And I, guys, you know me, I don't get starstruck.

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Okay.

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I don't.

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Something about that, something about that group of boys.

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I don't know.

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Maybe because I grew up on it with like my siblings and it just has so much like built in nostalgia.

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I was just like so caught off guard and no one told me

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so I think that was more like it's like

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when you see someone in the wild you're just like wait you have to like do triple take you know

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and then I just like went up to like my Red Bull rep

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and I was like hey can I like meet them

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and they were like yeah of course

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so then I got to take a photo with them

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which was really fun and I got to see them bad

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and it was actually like insane like it felt like a favorite dream um

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so that was a crazy day

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and you guys absolutely loved the content you ate it up it was so fun I'm so glad you guys liked it.

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I honestly might be going to the batting cages again because I already told my friend Austin, I was like, yo, we have to go.

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Like I want to learn how to like proper bat.

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And it was just such a special, like, I don't know, it was a really special opportunity and I'm really glad I took it.

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And then I get to go home.

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Finally, that is one thing about me.

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I am a workaholic through and through and I love girl bossing, but I am a mommy's girl and I miss my mom.

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Truly, if you know Lorraine you already know she's everything to me

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like my best friend my soulmate I literally like get choked up even like thinking about her

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because she's just like I love her so much

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and she listens to every single one of my podcasts

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so hey girl I know you're listening I know you're watching

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and um I got to see her I got to go home

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and then I also got to join my little brother's going away party

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because he left for medical school so that was crazy too

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because he's like my little baby and he was just

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so grown up it was so weird and

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so i think like ew why am i getting

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so emotional this is so strange i think more just like one

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so grateful i can even go home all my other siblings don't live here um

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oh my god why am i actually crying what the fuck um but i was like actually

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I was actually on a walk yesterday and I was reflecting

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and I was like why do I feel like this is the best time of my life

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but it's also like low-key one of the loneliest

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and I think it's

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because one like my family's all over the place like they're all in different states

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or different counties and then um work is pulling me from being able to see my parents

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and so i think like it's just a weird you can bring me tissue

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if you want my producer's wife is here she's like holding

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a tissue just like waiting for me patiently appreciate you love you b um Yeah, I don't know.

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And I'm in a very weird, again, like so much contradiction in my life right now where I'm like,

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there's like the wheels are going.

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The fucking gas is on and I'm full speed on the Autobahn thriving career wise.

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And then I just like, I can't help but look for more growth elsewhere elsewhere.

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And so I'm like, oh, where, what am I missing now?

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Like, what can I grow in more spaces?

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And like, how can I help kind of, I don't know, balance my life out a little bit?

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Cause I feel like there's times where my friends will check in and be like, oh my God, how's life?

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How are you doing?

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And I have no updates other than work.

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And I'm like, fuck, I never wanted to be that girl who only has work.

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And so then I start trying to like, I think, oh, I need to like try dating

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and like be open to it and then i'm like

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and then i'm very quickly reminded why i probably shouldn't be doing

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that right now because dating sucks if i'm being

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so honest i just wish someone would just knock on my door

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and be like hey do you want to go play tennis

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and we just vibe or like can we just like go for a run

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or like just do something fucking casual

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and i don't want anything casual like let me make that perfectly clear like when have i ever been casual at anything.

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I just mean in the meeting setting, in the growing with someone setting, in the getting to know someone setting.

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Guys, dating is so freaking serious and it's so cringe and weird.

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And I literally hate it.

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So that's been kind of a weird part of my brain that's like, hey, remember me?

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Do you want to try this?

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You might die alone.

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You might never have kids like there's like

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that little baby seed of fear when you know you get older

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and you're chasing your dreams and then you're like oh shit I forgot about

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that part of my life that probably like maybe I should kind of prioritize

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that and then I'm like you know maybe not

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so then that's been one thing

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but then also yeah like missing my family like I wish

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my mom I let I genuinely wish my mom lived closer

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um I even though she's literally never away like I just have separation anxiety I love so much.

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And when I am in this stage of my life, I think I don't want a husband right now.

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I don't think I do.

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I think what I crave is this knowing that I can have someone around and that someone will consistently be around.

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And when you're by yourself, you live alone, you work for yourself, you work alone.

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It's like nothing is consistent.

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And I envy that with people that have a spouse, or I envy that with people who have consistent,

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stable relationships where you know like I can girl boss till the fricking cows come home.

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But at the end of the day, like I'm still going to have a person in my corner

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who I can count on to have dinner with at the end of the day.

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And that's kind of what I'm grappling with.

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And I think it'd be nice for my mom to fill that void to be like, oh, my mom's here.

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I can just grab dinner with her.

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And like, I don't have to be anyone but myself.

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And like, not that I ever mask for anyone, but like, I think there's just something about not even having to talk to someone

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and then just be in their presence and still feel genuinely seen and understood and supported and not alone.

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Like the nights are the really like the hardest part.

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I think it's just like, I'm so good until it's like 7 PM.

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And then I'm like, wait, I can only watch so much fucking reality TV guys.

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And I can only color for so many hours of the day.

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Like I am just, I'm craving that but I don't know how to approach it yet so

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if you guys have any advice let me know I'm just

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like as wise as I am like there's some things I feel like I'm very like emotionally not mature in

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and I think that sometimes

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or maybe I'm too mature I don't know maybe like maybe

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my age range is just like not catching up yet who fucking knows moral story dating's weird

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being single is strange girl bossing is really fun

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but it also kind of makes you a little lonely

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so we're in that phase right now

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and i'm really proud of myself for being vulnerable with you guys

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because i don't normally talk about my personal life like this

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but i did make it one of my goals today

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when i was gonna sit down like okay i share a

440

lot about my work you guys always see my highlight reels on instagram

441

and on tiktok and everything but very few times do i let myself

442

be truly honest and candid about where I'm at emotionally, mentally.

443

And I think there's also some weird like mental block with me when it comes to talking about dating, because I don't want to admit to myself that like,

444

I'm kind of in the same boat as everyone else.

445

But I also love that I'm in the same boat as everyone else.

446

Like I relate so much to women that are struggling to date right now and struggling to connect on a deeper level,

447

given the culture of dating in this time and space. So I don't know.

448

Also, if anyone listening has like a really hot brother, like let me know.

449

But also love being in my single era.

450

Don't get me wrong.

451

I truly don't believe like everything that I'm doing right now would be nearly as sweet if I was leaning on somebody.

452

Like there's something really empowering about like having my own back

453

and growing in this self-love and this like undeniable trust in myself.

454

But I think when I get to that certain point where I'm like, okay, I did it.

455

I built it.

456

We have this palace that we've built, but now like who the hell's going to live in it with me?

457

You know, um, speaking of palaces that we've built, I do have to segue and have a very exciting update.

458

We're moving.

459

I'm literally freaking out.

460

You guys, I'm actually losing my fucking mind.

461

This happened in 0.2 seconds.

462

Half of my friends don't even know this is happening.

463

So if you're watching the podcast and you're a friend of mine

464

and we haven't gone on a walk in the last week, yeah, you haven't been caught up to speed.

465

Shit has been happening.

466

Things are moving very quickly.

467

Shocker.

468

Everything's moving quick in my life right now.

469

And I am just over the flipping, flipping, flipping over the fucking moon about it.

470

Truly and genuinely could not be prouder of myself for this.

471

We are expanding.

472

I'm moving out of my little cutie one bedroom

473

and we found a space that I could have maybe an extra bedroom

474

or two for a guest and for my podcast guests.

475

We're going to build a studio.

476

It's going to be fucking sick.

477

I'm actually so stoked on it.

478

I've already talked to Chad GPT.

479

He's mocked it up for me.

480

I'm loving it.

481

Loving the vision.

482

it's going to be unreal

483

and honestly i think it'll be a really cool fun opportunity to bring you guys along too

484

and just show you like the process of moving as a

485

single girl in a little beach city who's just trying to

486

build a business trying to you know girl boss close to the sun

487

and a few things

488

that have kind of set these things in motion right we

489

got to rewind the ted lasso gig what the fuck i

490

know we're bouncing all over the place right now i sound very much like I'm not medicated right now for my ADHD.

491

Oh, we're on medication.

492

My life has just been that chaotic.

493

Okay.

494

I'm also like sweating profusely still from like being so vulnerable.

495

So like, let me just like make that very clear.

496

Like my legs are literally wet, but, um, I digress.

497

Um, so Ted Lasso, I have to give you guys the backstory on this

498

because I've been dying to tell you so many people were like, what the fuck?

499

Like, how did this happen?

500

When did this happen?

501

Like, what the hell literally got the call at 11am hey my team's

502

so stoked for me as they should be they call me

503

and they're like you're gonna be really excited check your email

504

and I'm like what check my email mind you I literally started re-watching the series

505

that weekend with my family at my brother's going away party

506

weekend we literally it was my brother's last day in town before he moved

507

and I was like guys we should watch a show

508

or something like something nostalgic and we used to all watch Ted Lasso together

509

and I was like we should re-watch Ted Lasso I know

510

that their season's coming out soon I want to re-watch it

511

kind of like you know remind myself of all the characters

512

and just like refresh right

513

so we watch of course have to like you can't just

514

watch one episode with Ted Lasso you literally I watched like four

515

or five with my family

516

and it was such a weird like full circle moment within less than 24 hours

517

because literally the next day I got a call from my

518

team hey by the way Ted Lasso is having their premiere

519

tonight it's 11 a.m okay mentally the car's picking up at

520

three you need a red carpet dress you need to be glammed

521

and you need to have your questions prepared and rehearsed oh

522

and by the way you're gonna be interviewing the entire cast of Ted Lasso.

523

So, oh, also, I don't know if you know this.

524

I've never done that before, ever.

525

So that was crazy, genuinely.

526

And so many people ask me, like, were you nervous?

527

Like, did you get, you know, butterflies?

528

Like, were you sweating your ass?

529

Were you shitting bricks?

530

Genuinely thought I would have.

531

I think because I didn't have any time to fully process it.

532

Like, I was just like a chicken with my head cut off for the majority of the day.

533

And things were happening so quickly that like I didn't have time to get nervous

534

and I will say I might have to tell my team like hey any big opportunity like

535

that that might make me shit bricks let me know later

536

hold off procrastinate a little bit because I truly believe not knowing until the last second

537

cats are from getting nervous

538

and I had the best time I talked to every single

539

main cast member talked to all of the new cast all the girls were

540

so freaking sweet the show was so good they showed the first two episodes.

541

I know that it's currently airing right now, so make sure you tune in.

542

It's very good.

543

But the fact that I launched a podcast four months ago in March, five, I don't know, I can't do math.

544

Not that long ago.

545

And that was my first time besides Red Bull Cliffs, I've been like properly interviewing people and having a mic

546

and a voice and a moment to give them the space and the time to express themselves.

547

And then for me to blink

548

and be like on a red carpet interviewing some of the

549

biggest names in tv like hello i don't know it was just i remember like

550

that night i was wired you like after like a big event like

551

that like you're you know maybe even after like a big game

552

or like a big competition like i don't know about you

553

i can't sleep i'm like laying in bed like it's like all replaying in my head

554

and i feel like i'm staring at the ceiling like i cannot fall asleep

555

because i'm so like amped and wired and like there's still

556

so much adrenaline in my body and I'm like having that

557

and I'm like oh my god I need to shower

558

so I go shower I start crying in the fucking shower

559

like you guys like I literally was still processing everything

560

that happened that day and I was like so unbelievably proud of myself

561

and so that moment was a huge turning point for me

562

because it opened up the doors to so much more of who I am that I didn't even know existed.

563

And then on top of that, we just found a podcast production company that wants to invest in the podcast.

564

So we're going to monetize the shit.

565

I don't know what the fuck that's going to look like.

566

I don't know anything about this world.

567

You and I are learning together.

568

We're learning as we go, but it's a big freaking deal.

569

We interviewed so many companies, you guys, Like that was the craziest part.

570

Truly.

571

My team was in awe.

572

They were like, so many people believe in this, which just like, again, like it just reaffirms

573

so much of my own passion for this and makes me feel

574

so much more confident in what I'm doing because it's not just a pipe dream.

575

It's not just a fever dream.

576

It's not just fake.

577

Like, and I'm not investing in something that's not going to return back to me.

578

Even though honestly, like I don't even need to get paid to know that I'm making a difference.

579

I don't even need to make money from this shit to know

580

that it's worth it like I would still continue 10 years investing into this

581

and not see a single penny if it meant

582

that I get to connect with you guys

583

and I get to give back to you The way

584

that you guys have given to me and supported me and

585

so having that opportunity Now to continue with a freaking podcast production company

586

and get to expand my space That's why we're doing a solo episode you guys.

587

This is the last episode.

588

We're gonna be filming in my og studio

589

are we kidding and half y'all don't even know

590

that this is literally in my living room like we're not

591

even in a studio y'all we are literally in my one bedroom apartment

592

and I'm pretty sure my apartment's literally like 700 square feet

593

so if that gives you an idea we are growing

594

and I could not be more excited to take you guys along for the ride it's

595

so cool that this not only is my job but I also am a content creator so I get to

596

show you guys like all of the behind the scenes bits

597

and I I just it's a really really cool thing

598

that I get to do and I'm

599

so grateful you guys are sat for it

600

and you guys are excited for me and you guys support me

601

so much it genuinely means the world to me

602

and um yeah I'm like I don't even know what the

603

fuck I just covered I honestly just kind of hit flow state

604

and locked like zoned out

605

but um yeah I pretty much covered everything I mean obviously

606

expanding the studio is going to be a really exciting chapter

607

and I could not be more grateful that we get to do

608

that like building this studio from the ground up was like

609

the wildest experience ever like picking out you know what lights to get

610

and everything so I think it'll be even cooler to have even more space to be creative with it

611

and um yeah see the sky's the limit

612

so shit let's just keep going but I want to get into the little segment

613

that we're going to do here for my solo.

614

I asked you guys on Instagram to ask me anything and boy, did you.

615

So we're going to answer some questions.

616

Let's get into it.

617

You know what?

618

I want to start with, of course, my mother asking a question on here.

619

So we're going to start with my mom's.

620

She asked, what's something about you that people would never guess from knowing you online?

621

Oh, that's a really good question.

622

Actually, Lorraine, shout out you that was a great question what's something about you

623

that people would never guess from knowing you online um

624

that I'm a little softy truly like gooey to my core

625

I literally cry at old people um don't even get me

626

started on the first five minutes of up like I will

627

literally be sobbing same thing with finding email um I feel like I have a very childish whimsy about me

628

and it's it's so interesting because i've come to realize the people

629

that bring that part out of me are my fucking people

630

and that's how i kind of have been selecting my like

631

core group now is i'm like okay this like little inner whimsy she comes out in very select settings

632

and so i guess kind of tying back to dating i'm like if you bring that whimsy out of me

633

It's game over truly like I hope one day I can hop on this pod

634

and be like guys Someone brought it out of me

635

that man brings out the whimsy And like they don't shut it down

636

because I think a lot of times There's people that maybe aren't happy with themselves or they're threatened or feel

637

Jealous or whatever Because I can live unapologetically

638

and I feel very Content with the life that i've built

639

And so sometimes people try to shit on your whimsy and i'm just not about it

640

I want people to bring it out of me and I want to bring it out of everyone else.

641

So I think, yeah, it's something that people wouldn't.

642

I think people would know that, though, from seeing my shit.

643

They would know that I'm whimsical.

644

Fuck, I don't know.

645

Guys, what do you think?

646

You love reality TV?

647

I love reality TV.

648

Yeah, because I think my life has no drama

649

because I've done a really good job of curating no drama in my life.

650

You think my life is dramatic?

651

Yeah, that's fair.

652

We are on a roller coaster.

653

Oh, okay.

654

People always assume that I'm extremely, extremely, extremely confident.

655

I'm extremely confident in very select settings.

656

When I know that I can do something very cool or something that I'm very confident in, in my abilities, I thrive.

657

Certain other things, like I got to be honest, like the L'Oreal trip.

658

I absolutely loved this trip.

659

The girls were phenomenal.

660

It was such an incredible trip.

661

I love the L'Oreal team.

662

They're great.

663

It was really weird for me to not rely on my gymnastics and my physical ability to make myself feel special.

664

But I like truly feel like I reverted back to like my old insecure ways of being like, oh, I'm not pretty enough.

665

I'm not skinny enough.

666

I'm not rich enough.

667

I don't have like designer shit.

668

And I started comparing and I never do that anymore.

669

And I remember sitting in the airport heading home and I'm like, why did I do that?

670

I think for me, it's like, I'd rather do something where I can sweat, not worry about my fucking makeup, and I can be a bit more tomboy.

671

I think that's what it was.

672

It was me being forced into a space where I had to be very girly, very glam.

673

You guys saw it.

674

Y'all saw me in dresses more than you saw me in active wear, which was crazy.

675

And I think that's why I was uncomfortable.

676

And I felt a little bit insecure because I was genuinely uncomfortable.

677

My feet hurt.

678

I was in heels, which I never fucking wear.

679

You guys would probably be very shocked to see me in

680

that state where I am very insecure in like in my head

681

and being like oh my god what do I wear I

682

this this looks like shit this looks like that's like a big thing is like

683

when I am forced to be in a space where I'm

684

not comfortable I think you guys would be shocked to see

685

that side of myself and I definitely don't share

686

that side of myself very often

687

because truly it's embarrassing like trying on nine million different outfits

688

because I'm like oh my god I hate the way I look at every single one that's like

689

relatable as fuck but also like cringe to me for myself

690

because i'm like girl just wear the fucking outfit

691

and go just get out get out of the house

692

so i guess that's one um what's one thing you'll never spend money on

693

and one thing

694

that you'll always splurge on oh never spend money on definitely like i don't want to say never

695

because like maybe i would invest in like a small design

696

or something or other

697

but like i don't really see the hype into like investing

698

in designer shit i i think it's kind of dumb it

699

literally loses its worth the second it leaves the store

700

so i think it's a waste of money personally i'd rather spend on experiences

701

and spend my money on a place that i live

702

that i love um

703

because i want to buy a house my goal is to buy a house

704

so every cent that i spend on something else is taking away from

705

that goal and so that's the way that i think obviously you, you know, maybe you're a fashion girly,

706

you see so much more value in designer clothing and designer pieces, power to you.

707

She's not really my thing.

708

So I don't really see the point in it.

709

Second money that I will always spend money on a good trip, healthy food and my house.

710

My house is literally the most expensive thing that I pay month to month.

711

I think because I'm in it so much.

712

Like I am a homebody through and through as much as I love being outside

713

and I love being crazy and spontaneous and everything, this is my home base.

714

And if I don't feel comfortable in my space and I don't love where I live, I don't feel like I can be myself.

715

And so investing in a space has been the best thing I've ever done.

716

And I'm so excited to see what

717

that new space is going to look like

718

and what it's going to do for me and my mental health and my business and my career.

719

Because the more space, the more room to grow.

720

And I do feel like I'm kind of outgrowing my little pot here

721

so i'm very excited

722

that i am in the financial place to be able to up the rent a little bit

723

but also expand and um yeah always worth the money in my opinion um next question worst

724

and best moment as a college gymnast oh my god that's

725

such a good question best moment hands down winning a national

726

championship with my team obviously getting a perfect 10 was also very very close to that just on a personal note, but there's something to say about winning with your team

727

because you all bought in and you just had this entire year of just undeniable delusion

728

that you were going to be national champions.

729

Like we had that in us innately.

730

The second we stepped on campus, we all were like, we're going to be national champions.

731

Were we DeLulu?

732

100 fucking percent.

733

But also it was so cool that we had this just undeniable belief in ourselves.

734

and it came to fruition.

735

And I truly believe that delusional confidence was what made it happen.

736

Worst would have to be COVID ending my career.

737

Struggling with school constantly because I have raging ADHD and I can't focus for shit.

738

And so sitting in a classroom after training for four hours and lifting and then having to sit for multiple hours

739

was just not it for me.

740

And I'm sure every college athlete can relate.

741

Like you just hit this wall after practice

742

and then you have to like somehow be mentally awake enough to like take notes and lock in for school.

743

And it's just like it's exhausting.

744

And honestly, it's very stressful.

745

I had a few personal things.

746

I experienced panic attacks for the first time in my life.

747

That was pretty heavy.

748

I've actually never talked about that on here or anywhere.

749

I don't think I'll ever truly get into it just

750

because it's a very very sensitive topic

751

but what I will say is it was my first time ever getting a therapist I learned

752

that trauma therapy is very very effective and

753

that I internalize stress through my body

754

so it was a very big learning moment because I realized

755

that when I was really stressed I was going through these panic attacks

756

and i was going through a really depressive state my whole body would go numb

757

and um i would just like have panic attacks and

758

so my body would tell me first and so now as an adult

759

and in my 20s whenever i am stressed i notice it

760

in my body first like my skin will break out my

761

body will lose um like blood circulation like it's really strange um

762

but yeah like learning to trust my gut and trust my body

763

and let my body tell me what it needs has been huge um

764

and then also i think the the worst was I'm listing off a lot of bad things

765

but I think my last really bad one was like my eating disorder for sure just

766

because it was probably the most self-hatred I've ever subscribed to

767

and I'm really bummed that

768

that took up an entire year of my career like an entire year of hating yourself like imagine

769

that I don't know I can't even like I can't even relate to

770

that girl like I feel bad for that girl truly

771

because she was she was crushing it in the gym

772

but there was a lot of stuff happening behind the scenes

773

and I'm I wish I could hug her so

774

that would have to be best worst um good thing this

775

isn't rapid fire how do you build confidence in yourself how

776

did I build up confidence myself I guess we can kind

777

of piggyback on like me hating myself for an entire year to now me loving myself

778

and literally today like Bethany Wes's wife was like, do you feel awkward or like nervous talking to the camera for an hour, like for your podcast?

779

And I'm like, no, I love myself.

780

Like I love talking about my life and I love talking to you guys.

781

And that kind of sounded weird when it came out of my mouth.

782

Cause I'm like, does that sound like cocky?

783

Like, Oh, like this bitch, like she loves herself.

784

Not even on some narcissistic stuff.

785

It's just like, I've been my best friend and my biggest cheerleader for about a year now.

786

And I'm rooting for that girl.

787

And I think it helps that I have like low key two different names.

788

Like my actual birth name is grace

789

and then you have gracie kramer right she's like it's like hannah montana right like miley

790

and hannah and like i feel like at the end of the day like my head hits the pillow

791

and i'm grace and so i can kind of separate the two a little bit

792

and i can root for gracie kramer and all the incredible things

793

that she's doing but then also recognize like grace is still in there

794

and she's still a bit softer she's a bit more introverted she doesn't love making things about her.

795

She doesn't love the attention.

796

And Gracie Kramer kind of has to.

797

She has to lean into it.

798

And she has to enjoy it because it's part of the job.

799

And being a host, you're on TV, you're on camera constantly, and you have to be confident.

800

And so I think just channeling Gracie Kramer sometimes helps Grace because I'm like,

801

oh, I am that bitch and I forget.

802

and like you don't even have to do incredible things to be

803

that bitch you just have to tell yourself that you're

804

that bitch and so I think like building my confidence up has been a huge huge blessing

805

because I was at a really low low

806

and then now I'm like it doesn't matter how low the low is I've always got my back

807

and I think society paints confidence to be like this cocky narcissistic quality

808

and it's not it's truly just knowing that no matter what life throws at you you can handle it.

809

And I've proven that to myself time and time and time again.

810

And I've put the reps in so I don't question myself anymore.

811

And even when something like Ted Lasso gets thrown at me, I'm not like shitting bricks because I'm like, well, I've been in stressful situations before.

812

I handled it gracefully, no pun intended.

813

And I think this is going to be okay.

814

And also like, what's the worst that could happen?

815

If the opportunity is not mine, it's not meant for me, like then it's not gonna be mine

816

so that's kind of why i feel like i've been able to step into this very confident headspace

817

because i know that

818

if the universe knew i'm capable that's why they put it in my lap does

819

that make sense like the universe gave me this opportunity

820

because it knew that i could handle it and

821

so i have to trust the universe

822

and trust myself next question who would play you in a

823

movie such a good question guys can i say like hot fit hillary duff

824

because she's like so fucking it right now like she's killing it her

825

and zara larson but zara larson's not an actress

826

but i don't really care i feel like they just embody like my energy

827

and my aura of just like confident assured and badass

828

and strong and like yeah i hillary duff's doing something different right now like she's crushing it

829

but also i'd love to take her from like cinderella story

830

and like make her like a gymnast

831

and like have this crazy character arc i think she'd do a really good job

832

I really off the top of my head, I couldn't think of any other actresses, but she popped into my head.

833

Okay.

834

Biggest advice for teenage athletes.

835

Oh, such a good question.

836

Know yourself.

837

Figure out who the heck you are.

838

Truly, if you know yourself better than you know anyone else, nine times out of 10,

839

you are in a very, very, very good place.

840

There were so many things that happened in my life.

841

that only happened

842

because i didn't know myself i didn't know what i wanted

843

i didn't know what i deserved i didn't know my worth

844

and i wasn't confident in who i was

845

and i think a lot of

846

that was me putting a lot of my identity into my sport

847

and it ended up punching me in the face after like it really backfired

848

because my retirement from the sport was really really hard and so i think the the earlier you can kind of acknowledge, like, I am a separate entity.

849

I do this thing, but this is not who I am.

850

And then also on top of that, just knowing yourself, no one can bully you.

851

No one can put you down because you know who the fuck you are.

852

I think that's really cool.

853

You're almost like invincible.

854

You have like this invisible shield on you because at the end of the day, you know who you are, you know your worth, and you know why you're put on the earth. and

855

that to me is chef's kiss the recipe for success i feel like i have to your guys ear off

856

and i'm actually so happy that i finally got all of

857

that out i trauma dumped on y'all for real but i'm

858

so so grateful that you guys tuned in

859

that you gave me your listening ear and i'm just

860

so grateful that we have this community where we can all connect and just yap about shit that

861

truly matters i'm also so

862

so grateful to see you guys next time in the new studio

863

so stay tuned um it's gonna be really really exciting

864

and obviously i mean shit like strap it

865

and i think this whole year is gonna be just as chaotic as the last few months

866

so luckily you guys can come along for the ride

867

but pray for me

868

and stay tuned for all the really really exciting things um

869

i think those are all my updates truly I have no

870

other things to tell you other than I love you so much and I will see you next Wednesday bye

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

Shadowing Practice: Gracie Kramer on Career Highs, Dating Lows, & Everything in Between | Ep 27 - Learn English Speaking with Video

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What is the Shadowing Technique?