YNS Live with NFL Thread Dr. Aungel Evans

Listen to a new episode of YNS Live with NFL Thread recorded live on Fireside with hosts Juliet Hahn and Cynthia Zordich featuring special guest Dr. Aungel Evans.

Dr. Evans, a dedicated OBGyn, brings a unique perspective as a professional, mother, and wife, balancing her career with being a spouse to former NFL player Demetric Evans. Her journey from growing up in Houston, Texas, to pursuing a career in medicine against all odds, is nothing short of inspiring. With her unwavering dedication to her work and her family, Dr. Aungel Evans is a true embodiment of determination and success, making her a perfect fit for today's discussion on women in professional careers. So, let's dive in and get to know Dr. Evans and her incredible journey.

You can find Dr. Evans on LinkedIn.

 

Remarkable Quotes

 

“I never wanted to compete against anyone but myself. I don't think you can force someone to study or force someone to be interested in health sciences. So I know, for me, it was God-ordained.”

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The YNS Live With NFL Thread Super Bowl Experience is sponsored by Shutterstock Editorial.  Wherever you go - Shutterstock is there to capture it!

 

Contact Shutterstock at [email protected] and take the field with Shutterstock’s award-winning photography superstars.

 

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• Fireside: Juliet Hahn | Cynthia Zordich
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• YouTube: Juliet Hahn
• Twitter: Juliet Hahn | Cynthia Zordich | NFL Thread

Transcript:​​

00:00:00
Created live on Fireside. We're so happy to have Dr. Aungel Evans, which for me, when you're, like, pretty and smart. Well, thank you. This is the one day, probably the last month that I put makeup on, so.

00:00:17
Yeah, I know. Isn't that the truth? It's kind of like, that's what my makeup bag says. Oh, a podcast. There you go.

00:00:24
Well, you know, funny on that subject. It's funny. I never used to wear makeup, but because I do podcasting all the time, my kids now don't. They don't, and I don't wear that much. But it is funny because in the beginning, when I started my podcast, I was like, oh, I'm not going to.

00:00:37
And then time and time, I was like, I guess I should make a little. When she said video and audio, I was like, oh, crap, I have to put some makeup on. Right? Seriously, especially today, with the way COVID changed everything and so many of us can work from home, I am always like three times. I'm like, it's video, video, video and audio.

00:00:58
Because the last thing you want is to jump on and go, what? Oh, wait, what?

00:01:04
So I'm going to start. Welcome to YNS Live With NFL Thread here Live on Fireside. Anjo, we're so excited. I read a little bit about you, and I said to Cynthia, oh, this is going to be a good one. This is going to be a good one, because there's so much behind you as a mother, as a wife, as a professional, as a doctor that I can't wait to get into this.

00:01:26
So, Cynthia, did you want to kind of set things up or start things off? It's great. I mean, I'm just so excited because first of all, we started speaking on a Sunday, which is so know, we were just kind of going back and forth. And it was awesome because I think Dimitrik reached out to me first or told you about thread first. And so it started a conversation which Demetrius is involved with the trust, which I love.

00:01:49
I love Kiana Thomas. I love the trust. I love everything that they do. And he's a captain there. And so they were just having an awesome conversation about everything that Anjol is doing and wants to do.

00:02:01
And she reached out. We started having these great conversations. I was like, the first thing we need to do is get you on the podcast to just talk about it, not only amongst ourselves, but to others and to share her story and her dreams for the future with everybody. So welcome so much. Thank you for joining us.

00:02:20
Yeah, thanks so much. This is true. OBGyn life. I worked all night. I got 2 hours of sleep, and so I came home, I was delivering, and took a couple of hours nap and got up and showered and put on makeup, and so, yeah, I'm here.

00:02:34
You delivered last night. I know. That's fantastic. We have a new baby that was delivered yesterday, too. Like, yesterday.

00:02:44
My niece Juliana just had a little girl, like a mini Juliana, I swear. Raphaela is her name. Yeah. It's very special. I'm privileged to do what.

00:02:56
Yeah, yeah. I can't wait to get into know. I mean, one of the things that you both said, and this is what I love, that stories connect us, and we talk about this, really on the podcast and in life, because when you hear someone's story, you feel a little bit more connected. You have emotions. There's emotions behind that.

00:03:14
And what I think in this space is so important because you guys are in the limelight, right? Your husbands have played in the NFL, and there's a scenario that people say, right, with the NFL spouse. And what Cynthia and I have done is really opened the eyes and ears of people, because you guys are just like everyone else. This is just the path that God put you on, or the universe, whatever you believe in, but you put your pants on the same exact way as I put my pants on. And we just all have these different roles.

00:03:47
So I would love for you kind of just to start a little bit about your background, where you grew up, and then we can jump into the journey. Yeah, sure. So I grew up in Houston, Texas, kind of like right in the city. Mom, dad, twin brothers, who are literally a year and a day younger than me. Pretty tight knit family.

00:04:09
I'd say pretty early on, I kind of knew I wanted to do the medicine path. My mom was a pharmacist, so kind of right about middle school, I kind of said, I think I want to be a doctor. Mom. And Houston, we're lucky to have a health professions high school. So anything regarding the health professions, if you want to learn more about, you can go to that high school or apply to the high school.

00:04:32
And once I did that, that kind of solidified it for me. So through that high school, I was lucky enough to get an actual combined scholarship to university, undergrad, and medical school. So I literally had an eight year scholarship to do this training. So I kind of had to decide and stick with it. But it was a blessing.

00:04:50
I mean, they don't have those many scholarships available all over the country. So did that, and did most of my training in Houston. I joke and I tell people I did all of my schooling from elementary to medical school within a five mile radius in Houston. And then ultimately, I met a boy who kind of shook things up. Right.

00:05:17
And met Demetrik when I was in college, and I was a serious pre med student. So I was like, you're going to do what? I don't know if that's going to. So that's a whole other story. We'll talk about that later.

00:05:32
But, yeah, then went to Baylor College of Medicine, then left there, went to DC, which was where he was playing for the now commanders. Did my residency training at George Washington. Beautiful. And then put my big girl doctor pants on. So, yeah, been practicing for 13 years now.

00:05:50
Wow. So you went to residency as he was playing. And were you guys dating? Were you engaged? Can you take.

00:05:57
We were married a little bit. Yeah, we got married October of 2006 and got my digs right. So, yeah, like I said, we met. He courted me for. They are persistent individuals, aren't they, Cynthia?

00:06:17
He courted me for some time, but truly started dating when I was in medical school. So my third year of medical school and got married my first year of residency. So that was an interesting dynamic. It worked. I would imagine it was interesting for you, even as being at the time maybe the girlfriend of a player, the wife of a playEr, knowing what you were doing and what you were pursuing.

00:06:42
Like, I remember when Kathleen Waters was pursuing her law degree. I was just thinking of her when she was talking. I literally went to the waters. Yeah. And everybody else was, you are the same, but it's kind of different.

00:06:55
You know what I mean? For what people perceive, that had to be fun at events when somebody would talk to you as a spouse of and they think that you're just not doing anything or you're just there to support your husband, and then they find out that you're in medical school or that you're in your residency. Was that interesting? Well, I can remember distinctly when they had one of the first wives luncheons Mrs. Snyder threw.

00:07:20
You know, we all were talking about what we had done the night before, and I was post call, which I typically feel like I always am. And I think it was my first year, and so I was really excited. And I was like, I delivered a baby last night, and everyone turns around, they're like, what?

00:07:38
Yeah, I did. Really? I did. Fantastic. It worked, though.

00:07:44
I will say that for me, I've always been someone who's wanted my own autonomy and to have my own thing going on that was so important to me, and I honestly think that's probably a big reason why Demetrius was attracted to, you know, he loves the attention, but I think he appreciates that it can't always be about him. And for me to kind of pursue the career that I did and know how much dedication and time it took, I mean, he truly respected me for that, so I had fun when he played for the commanders and I was a resident. It gave me time to take my focus off of work. And, gosh, we had so many opportunities to do that, but then I worked hard, so work hard, play hard, so we made it work. I love that.

00:08:31
So I have a question with know, do you think some of this came from your family dynamics? This is like, Cynthia knows this is my favorite thing because I love kind of thinking of how it is. And you said you had twin brothers, right? And so do you think that you kind of had that gRit, that kind of, like, fierceness because of the age difference between you guys? You guys were close, and you were the only female.

00:08:56
I really feel like it was just something that was put in me. Both of my parents are hard workers, for sure. My dad was a blue collar worker, but I think since age 16 to 67, worked hard. My mother was a pharmacist, but very much a family person, too. So I think I took all of that and just took it a step up.

00:09:20
I never really wanted to compete against anyone but myself. And when I say it just literally was in me, it just was. I don't think you can force someone to study or force someone to be interested in health sciences. I think that was, like, literally God ordained. Really?

00:09:35
Yeah. Oh, I love that. And I so believe in that as well. And I think it's an important thing for people to hear because you have to have that worth ethic. I always say worth ethic, but I.

00:09:51
Think I believe in worth ethic. I think that your self worth. I also feel it gets exciting in that when players are playing and especially when they're going from team to team to team and the rest of the world and their family is saying, give it up, it's over, it's done. But you doing what you did, your journey to become a doctor was probably just so much time and so much work that I'm sure that that helped your husband because you understood his dream and you understood his passion. I love that he says all the time that if it wasn't for me, he doesn't think he would have played as long as he did.

00:10:34
You guys know the average statistics of how long an NFL career is, and for him to be an undrafted player and play ten years, it's a little bit unheard of, right? But he says, he said he kept me grounded when he could have potentially been going out. Instead, he was home with me because I definitely was getting rest when I could because I was exhausted. So he'd be home with me for sure. And just to see someone get up every day, especially during off season, when they're just like slugs in the bed and I'm getting up at 04:00 a.m.

00:11:06
SometImes to go into work, and I'd come home and he'd be in the same spot, and he just, gosh, he's like, I just appreciate you so much because, of course, people will tell you, well, you don't have to do that. Aren't you good? Aren't you financially good? And I'm like, it's not about that. It's really not about, like, yes, I love making my own money, being my own, but it really is truly just living out my purpose, and I fully believe that I was purpose to be doing what.

00:11:35
Has to be. That's going to be the clip. Cynthia, that was beautiful. I told her that already. Be prepared.

00:11:42
We're going to grab a couple of good ones and put them out. Yeah, that was beautiful because it's so true, and so many people put pressure on themselves. And Cynthia has heard me say this many times, I believe in God as well, and I believe that we all have a path, that God has a path for us. Not all of us find it because not all of us stay curious and open to what that path is. And it's so important to do that because what you went through and then also having a husband going through that, that's not easy.

00:12:11
There's many people that would throw it in because you said, it's like, oh, I don't need the money. I don't need this. But you had that purpose, right? God was like, no. Blowing that faith into you saying, no, this is what I want for you.

00:12:22
And I'm sure you can tell us 1000 stories of how you maybe veered off to the left sometimes or veered off to the right. Right. And it was like, no, I got. To get back on that. Yeah.

00:12:33
Can you take us through that a little bit? Because I think that's important for people to really hear that. Absolutely. Funnily enough, you get to know the wives, obviously pretty well. And I had a wife, and of course, I would never say names, and I really think that she meant well, but I feel like it was the enemy trying to attack me.

00:12:52
It was maybe probably my third year. Maybe it was beginning of my fourth year. I was on a tough rotation. Our night's rotation is pretty tough. We go in at 07:00 p.m.

00:13:02
We work all the way to 07:00 a.m. It's like four or five days in a row. And so it's pretty grueling. And I was having a really tough stretch of it, and I was like, God, is this worth it? Should I keep going?

00:13:13
I'm exhausted. And then she called, and well meaning said that God told her that if I didn't want to be an OBGyn, I didn't have to be an OBGyN. And I knew at that moment that that was the enemy trying to attack me. And I was like, no, you've just given me confirmation that I got to keep pushing through. I got to keep pushing through.

00:13:36
So, yeah, anybody that's doing something that's hard but worthwhile is going to have moments where they're like, God, is this really what I should be doing? But I've had several confirmations since then that, yeah, this is it, right? You could look at it like that. Was God giving you that? Because the easiest thing to do is quit.

00:13:57
And so just when we say we want to quit, if somebody says quit, you're like, are you out of your mind? You don't know what you're talking about. You actually just challenged me to keep going. That's how I am. Someone says, no, you can't do it.

00:14:10
And I'm like, well, you know what? Now I'm actually just going to do it just to prove to myself, but. Also just to do. Because I'm supposed to do it, right? No, totally.

00:14:21
And it's beautiful. Go ahead, Cynthia. Oh, yeah. So with this, your identity, what you do, what you work to do, you're a doctor. The fact that you put that in front of your name, you have that, and nobody can take that away from you.

00:14:37
Whereas your husband had to go through transition, out of the game. And my question to you is, how important was it that you were able to hold on to your identity when he was trying to figure out what his next identity was through transition? Honestly, I think it saved us. I mean, I've been married 17 years, and if anyone's been married longer than probably five years, they know that you start putting in the work once you get to some years behind you. So I really think that had I not had my career and the stability.

00:15:13
It could have really been difficult for us. I mean, the guys really do struggle a bit. Whether they're outwardly struggling or inwardly struggling when they leave the NFL, it is such a just unique universe that they're in, and they just have so many resources, and it's really like the best and sometimes the worst thing that ever happens to them when they get to play. I mean, there's so many pluses. There's minuses, too.

00:15:42
And I feel like one of the things is that when they stop playing, if they're not prepared, it could really be a rough few years afterwards. It's very savvy. You see, he works for the trust, so he kind of prepared mentally already. But still, the shock of it, I think he never really said it, really kind know, kind of hit him. And so for me to kind of just still be that constant, that know we were in California still because he was with the Niners at that point.

00:16:15
So I started my first job out still, and we were having our first child, so working, and I'm pregnant, it gave him still more purpose. Right. I still have this family. My wife still needs my support. Right.

00:16:32
It gave him purpose 100%. And I think that's one of the things that is. And this is why I also love this show, because, again, people don't think of that. And I've talked about this so many times, and being a professional athlete, it's such a small percentage. And when you're doing something at all times, someone is telling you where to be, what to do all of these things, and then it's what you love.

00:16:55
It is what you love, and it's like all of a sudden it stops. And I don't care how well adjusted you are, you're going to go through stuff, and if you don't have that support system, it could get really ugly. And I don't think that. And Cynthia always laughs at me. I call myself the layman, the one that the regular people.

00:17:20
I don't know what you say, but I don't think people think about that enough. And I think that's one of the things that really Cynthia opened my eyes to, and Michael opened my eyes to. And I am like an empath, so I do think those things, but I don't think enough people do. And I really think fans need to think about that and think of that person that just was there performing, and you're watching, and now it's not there anymore. Give them some grace.

00:17:47
And I do think that there needs to be more support in so many different avenues. I know the NFL does a really good job. Just from Cynthia, they do a really good job. They really, to. You just have to be willing to do the research and be available, because Demetri will literally cold call guys like, hey, you're retired.

00:18:06
Do you know about these benefits? Right. But I think from the fan aspect, it could be a little bit of a big ask, right? Because I think anybody in the limelight, people only want to see you in that. Right.

00:18:19
It's almost like an escape for people to look at these individuals as superhuman and just look at what they do on the field, and then they think that they're perfect and that they don't have weaknesses or faults. And so to see them weak and transitioning, that just is like the antithesis of what they want to have in their mind as an NFL player. NFL? God. No, that's a really good point.

00:18:42
No, that is a good point. I know it's true. I did a whole photo exhibit one time in Pittsburgh, and which you love, um, where I did all the transfer of all of the Steelers on the old Pittsburgh Press newspapers, because that, to me, was articulating how fans feel. It's like yesterday's news, and it kind of looked trashy, you know what I mean? And it was just all these beautiful images of these players that gave heart and soul to the city.

00:19:16
And then that's just how I feel, like sometimes the fans discard them. But it's not just football. It's in everything. I feel like I've been around enough to see that when somebody's doing really great and the world is loving them, I'm just kind of like, oh, gosh, when are they going to be done with them? And when are they going to want them to just go away?

00:19:34
And that's what happens. Why do we do that? I don't know. I think as society, we need to be better. And I think that's my point.

00:19:40
I think as society, especially the way everything is, I think as a society, we need to be better humans, and we need to think of others and just in a different light and give people a little grace and not be so kind of eager, central into our own selves. Amen. I could forever. I think we all could. Yeah, for sure.

00:20:01
Yes. Go ahead. So now you had your first baby. Yeah. Oh, I was going to say the same thing.

00:20:07
And now you're in transition. How did that work? I'm sure it was really wonderful. I'm sure that he was able to be helpful whenever you had your first baby and you're probably going back to work, right? Absolutely.

00:20:19
No, he's a tremendous dad, and he just put on the fatherhood hat like it just was meant to fit him. So he's super involved. We now have two kids, but, yeah, even though you have a nanny and stuff, he was still just my right hand. Like, nannies don't stay overnight. At least my nanny didn't.

00:20:44
So when I'm on call and I'm literally out of the house for 24 hours, it's all him. It's him doing the night feedings. It's him getting up with the baby at night. And so thank God for him, because when you decide to take this doctorate path, you're young and you don't think about just the implications of having kids and having a family and all of that. So he was such a tremendous help during that time.

00:21:13
That is so beautiful because again, now, did you guys plan on when you were having the babies? Like to kind of line, oh, I planned everything.

00:21:23
I planned it to the day. Yeah. That's so funny. Now, this is a little bit of. And you don't have to answer this.

00:21:32
You don't want, but was there any ever a time that you resented that you weren't home and that he was able to be there? Was there any ever? I still feel that way.

00:21:45
Yeah, of course. God, of course. Any working mother has mom guilt. And it's a double edged sword. Like I said, I'm purposed to do what I'm doing.

00:21:58
I love what I do most days, but, yeah, I have a family and now I have kids that are very vocal like their dad. And so I get all the time. You're on call again. You're working Thanksgiving. Mom, how can they do that?

00:22:15
How can they like the nebulous? They do that, right? And so, yeah, of course. How old are the boys right now? They're twelve and nine.

00:22:25
Wow. Twelve and nine. So it works. It really does. I would say you get over it, right?

00:22:33
You might be a little grumpy driving into the hospital at 03:00 a.m. When your whole family is sleeping or he's taking them to the movies on your Friday night call and you're just like, but honestly, it's all fine. And it's beautiful that he gets to experience that. As you said, he has the dad hat and that's.

00:22:56
Know we talk about. Know. He was purposed to play in the NFL. He's now purpose to help retired players. But he is purpose to be a dad.

00:23:04
I can tell you he loves it. He is so involved. The boys adore. Yeah. Oh, my goodness.

00:23:11
That's a beautiful thing for them in that relationship. And I feel for you on the other side of that. My husband being a football coach and being the one getting up early in the morning and the family sleeping and being gone and missing all of everything. I have guilt, too. I feel like here he is working so hard for us and missing so much, and the only thing that can come from it is that he loves what he does.

00:23:37
And I hope that the love for what you do and love for what you're doing for your family overrides those feelings of missing out, because it is hard on the other side, too, to watch. And I really appreciate your partnership with your husband and what he's for you. I think you're just intentional with the time that you have. Just really try to be intentional with them. And I just think that my family, I'm lucky to have the family that I do because they just get it.

00:24:08
They might tease that I'm gone or I'm not here, but I don't ever feel any resentment from them because it goes both ways, right? Like, they could totally resent me for not being here. But I really do try. Know, I work with all women. We all have kids, and so we are very willing to shuffle things.

00:24:27
Know, hey, can you cover me for 2 hours? Noah has a choir performance I want to go to. That's beautiful. And so we really do help each other out like that. I love that.

00:24:38
So I'd say on the subject and then we can pivot to other subjects, but I think it's really important, especially where you are. And I think it's gotten better as we've gotten older. But I know when I was first having kids, it was like, you can do it all, women can do it all. You can have the kids, you can have the career, you can be the best wife, you can be the best homemaker. And I remember sitting there with my baby being like, I just want to stay home.

00:25:03
And I don't want to be the best at everything, but I'm a very much of an all or nothing. So I knew myself really well, and I did choose to stay home. And I was very fortunate that I was able to and then go back to work as the kids got older. But what I feel like we can do it all, but not all at once. And I think that that is so true.

00:25:21
It's like, yeah, you could do it all, but don't try to fit it all in because that pressure her, that women put on and that society puts on us sometimes doesn't work. It really doesn't. So I would love for you to kind of to touch on that a little bit. Oh, God. Yeah.

00:25:35
Right? We call it the struggle of the juggle. And you said it perfectly, like, you can do it all, but not all at the same time. There's times when I'm like a rock star doctor and I'm a crappy wife or great mom and slacking in my office because I chose to go to a soccer game rather than stay in chart all the ten charts I have left, too. So I think I heard someone say that balance is a little misleading.

00:26:02
Right. There's no such thing as perfect balance. You kind of have to be who you need to be in the moment and realize that there are going to be some things that suffer. I think if you get to a point in your life where you're feeling like there's too many things that are suffering, then you probably need to reevaluate your plate or reevaluate how many balls you're juggling. So I try to be good about that.

00:26:24
I think it really helps when you have a spouse that is supportive and not putting extra demands on you. And Demetrius, very good with keeping things balanced in the household so that I can work like I do. And like I said, with the kids, they understand I can't do everything, but I'm going to do as much as I possibly can. And again, as much cuddling and snuggling as I can with them. I'm such a touchy feely person.

00:26:51
Although my twelve year old really hates that now when they get to be. Teens, I'm just like everyone, right? Can I just get one snuggle? One. I know.

00:26:59
Oh, my gosh. And the time that he actually wants to hug you, it's like heaven. Like, oh, my God. And then I get in there and then I sniff, and then they're like, okay, you ruined it. I'm like, I know.

00:27:09
Gosh, please, you don't understand. But yeah, that is a beautiful. Well, I love it when you said that at a certain time, you evaluate. And so if you could say, if you're looking into your future and you're looking at what you want for your future, do you have plans? Because you said you plan everything.

00:27:30
Are you planning out a new future? Yes. God, yes, I am. It's a very loose plan right now. What I can say is just the amount of work that I do now I don't think is sustainable for me from a health standpoint, like the getting up at two and 03:00 a.m.

00:27:48
Getting 2 hours of sleep, it wears on you over time. And I think that people in my career have just done it because there weren't a lot of opportunities. You pick your career and then that's it. You're trained to be a doctor. What else are you going to do?

00:28:06
But I think given that maybe more women going into the field, the fact that everyone's diversifying everything now, there are opportunities. Social media has just literally opened it all up for us. So, yeah, I still have a heart to help people. But you develop a lot of skills being an OBGYN. So, yes, I have plans to kind of expand my own personal brand.

00:28:33
That's kind of the doctor thing to do. So I'm starting to work with certain brands. Well, one in particular, there's some board memberships I'm considering. I've found A thread, which is amazing. So I'm looking forward to connecting with individuals there.

00:28:53
So I have like a five year trajectory to just kind of loosely figure it out. But I probably would be someone that's considered early retirement from the medical career. Right. I don't want to be 65 waking up at 03:00 a.m. I just don't, I don't think it's worth it for my body, me personally.

00:29:12
Oh, my goodness. So you are a planner. This is so smart because you're talking about taking what you've done and what you do and what you can offer to others in terms of, hey, this is something I believe in or this is a concept I believe in or a product I believe in or something I back or do you have questions for me? I'm here to answer them. So you're taking it into almost like a consultant situation in your early.

00:29:40
Well, it's never retirement. It's just what the thing you're going to do next. Right, the pivot.

00:29:47
That's exactly it. And you have that, as you said, you have that credibility and you have the platforms to be able to do that. And I think that, again, there's a lot of people that get stuck because they don't see that vision. They don't see, wait, what can I do here? I'm not feeling great.

00:30:03
And I think it's so smart because right as our body gets older, I mean, I used to be able to live on 5 hours of sleep and I remember as the years now I'm like, oh, 930. I can't wait to. My husband's like, what's happening. I'm like, I can't wait to go to bed. He's like, we laugh because I've never been that way.

00:30:16
And so you have to flow, and that's where it's like, you can do it all, but all at different times, because, again, God has that path, right? And you can do here, you can do here. But just as long as you keep that mind open, keep being curious, keep asking those questions. I think it is so important. I have a question for you.

00:30:35
When you are kind of coming up with ideas, do you have a specific space? Do you have a routine? Because I think, again, it's really important for people to hear and then maybe adapt some of the things. Where do you find that creative mind? Where is that the best space for you to think?

00:30:51
Yeah. The funny thing is, I don't feel like I ever have true downtime, right? So I personally believe, and this is not any sort of plug for Apple or iPhone, but the iPhone is, like, one of the greatest inventions ever made. So if the idea pops into my head, I literally have tons of notes of, like, oh, that'd be good for this. That'd be good for this.

00:31:15
So it's literally, I could be waiting to go back for a C section or for a delivery. I could be having downtime with the kids and something pops up. So I wish I could say I was as organized, just have my thinking know. But that never happens as a working mom. Right?

00:31:32
So just when things kind of come to me, I'll tell you, Demetrik is a wealth of ideas. That guy is a true visionary man, and he's been pushing me for the longest. He's probably my biggest champion. Like, you could do more, and you need to do more, and you have an MD and all this stuff. And I was like, no, I just wasn't ready.

00:31:50
But you have to get there, right? You have to be ready to pivot. And so I know that just the way my body's been feeling, just the toll it's been taking, and then just other interests that I have, it's kind of time to start thinking about that. I love that the notes is so important. Yeah.

00:32:10
And the notes are so important because I have thousands of notes. I have to walk. I'm not someone that sits and meditates to. I get my dogs and I walk, and that's when I do my best creative thinking. And I have that notes or the voice app.

00:32:25
Cynthia knows I'm dyslexic, so if I'm not typing anything, I'm either speaking it into or using those voice notes. So I love that. And it's so simple, right? Someone doesn't have to be like, you have that idea. You put it down there and then you go back and look at it, right?

00:32:39
Yeah. Brilliant. I get so excited about these kind of conversations because personally, with so many of my kids and nieces and nephews all having babies right now, and there's a gazillion questions about everything. And I just see you as complete industry of information after all of your experiences, where they could ask if it would be able to be great, if I could say, you should go to ask Dr. Evans, and everything's right there for you.

00:33:12
I'm putting that in my notes right now. Cynthia, ask Dr. Evans. It's like the second time it's come up, so I'm literally writing it down now. I love that.

00:33:19
You heard montage. Yeah. Who wouldn't love just free medical advice or talking to a doc? So that's good. Are you kidding?

00:33:26
There's so many people that would do it. No, I don't want any credit. I just want you to. Cynthia is a wealth of creativity, because. Even yesterday, we were, like, nervous all day, what's going on?

00:33:36
What's going on? And it's just so nice to be able to kind of have a resource and also what food, what brand, what diapers, everything.

00:33:49
Especially now when I feel like the medical space is very broad. You have MDs or people that were clinically trained to do this, and then you have everyone else who's just kind of jumped into the space and are a lot of times giving misinformation. I mean, I cannot tell you how many myths I just fell from my patients. Like, I read, I'm like, okay, Dr. Google told you.

00:34:09
Like, no, that's not true. And not to discredit anyone. Everyone has their own experiences and they want to share, and I get that there's a space for that. But when people start giving true medical advice, it's a little scary. I'm so excited for you and for everybody that will benefit from your information and for your advice and input and for whatever you back.

00:34:32
And you're a mom. And that's what's wonderful, is that you are a mom and you're a working mom, and there's so many people that will identify with that. It's really exciting. I like this. I like it so much.

00:34:44
This is really exciting. Life is crazy like that because even everything that we do isn't forever. Doesn't have to be like you said, just because doesn't mean that's what you're going to do your entire life, necessarily. It's what you do for a chapter. And I'm trying to help adult children understand chapters.

00:35:05
You have to look at it like a chapter. Yes. This chapter is very difficult. It'll probably be the most interesting chapter of your book. But this is what it is.

00:35:14
And so you have to look at it like that. It's so important and it is so true, especially as. And it's funny, right? When you think about yourself in the ages of your kids and you think what you were doing at that age and when your parents said to you, oh, this and this. But there is something when you grow and you're older and you stay curious and opened and you don't let yourself really get stuck in those spaces for a long time, because we all do, right?

00:35:39
We question, okay, what are we doing? What's happening? Someone help me. Right again, I pray. But you could ask the universe.

00:35:47
You could do whatever you do. It can be daunting. And a lot of times what I think people do is when they get in that stuck pattern and then the anxiety happens and then all these different things, because it's like, what is next?

00:36:05
The best pieces of advice I've ever gotten is think of yourself as like a hot air balloon more than like a freight train, right? You have to be able to kind of move with the winds of change, right? And so, God knows I have been very much a freight train for most of my life. But things change always. It's a guarantee that things will change.

00:36:27
And so you have to be able to pivot. I'm doing a plug there, right? You do. And so, yes, change is scary. I am, like I said, very much type A, so change can be very hard for me.

00:36:41
But just as you live life and things happen, you realize you just have to accept change, right? Like, tell me your plans and make me laugh. God says, right? So it's true. I have this five year plan, but I'm open.

00:36:58
And right now I'm just kind of saying yes to things that sound great. I'm saying no to things, and if it's too much, I'm saying no. So that's why I said it's all very loose. I know that God has led me here and hasn't failed me yet. And I know that I still have more purpose in me.

00:37:18
And so I will just see what he does next. I'm excited, too. We'll see. Well, you being such a planner, have you stuck your toe in at all to any opportunities to see if you like that kind of avenue. Yes.

00:37:32
So I am starting my first kind of brand ambassador. There's a company called Masket, M-A-S-K-I-T. So the website is Masket us. Shalon Ramsey is the founder. So she created a biodegradable bag to dispose of your menstrual products.

00:37:55
And when I tell you, it is the most simple but ingenious idea, like, no one's ever thought of this. You go to a freaking bathroom, and you see the receptacle for the freaking tampons and pads overflowing, and she goes into just how menstrual blood is a biohazard as well. And we're literally exposed to this. So she's got some really cool videos on there that just shows you how to use it. And so she does not have an MD.

00:38:22
And I'm like, what better space for me to kind of get into this whole brand than this sort of product? I'm an OBGYN. Like, periods are what I do, right? Period, yes. And it's the first time I've done it, and it is kind of very much out of my comfort zone.

00:38:40
I very much like to go by the recipe book. I think that's why I did so well at med school. Med school, you study, you do that. But there's no blueprint for being a brand ambassador, and people are doing it more, so there's resources. But I'm just kind of, like, just being available and just kind of putting myself out there.

00:38:59
So we'll see. But, yeah, that's kind of my first project. We should get the product into the Super bowl swag, Juliet. Just to kind of introduce it to the girls, right? Absolutely.

00:39:11
Especially that they're away. And that always happens when you go to. Do you remember last Super Bowl I did and I had.

00:39:21
Mean, we all can relate, right? Like, literally all can relate. So, yeah, I think Cindy and I have talked about I will be at Super bowl this year. And it's funny because I'm in this new kind of space to pivot, been making more connections that Demetrius finally said, I've told you to talk to this person. Talk to this person.

00:39:39
And so I actually feel like I have a purpose there this year, rather than just hanging with him and saying hi. Yeah, okay, good to see. I actually have an event to go to, and so I'm excited. Right. That's great.

00:39:50
Many events. The luncheon, the fashion show, the flag football game.

00:39:57
I always love to say, there's so much for a girl to do at the Super Bowl. There's a lot of networking opportunities there. Really. But the other thing is that I think is really important is for also, I'm sure there's people, as you've gone on, that are intimidated what you do. You're a strong woman.

00:40:14
Right. And sometimes people get intimidated to that. Sure. Yeah, sure. I really try to be the least intimidating person, but again, well, when somebody.

00:40:23
Wait, maybe some of the girls in the space have been like, oh, she's a doctor. What am I doing? Right. So there's, like, that kind of thing. I'm doing this.

00:40:29
But the fact that you're also thinking about pivoting, I think it's just a really awesome thing for people to see, like, okay, I'm stepping out of my comfort zone. Yes. I went and I became a doctor. And as you said, that really fit your pattern, right? That really kind of fit.

00:40:42
No. Not saying that it was easy at all, so don't take it that way. But that kind of was like, you were like, okay, this is where I feel, but all of a sudden, you're stepping out of your comfort zone. You're doing things that are like, ooh, I don't like this. I don't like the way this feels.

00:40:55
This is uncomfortable. Me. Yeah, it intimidates you. And so for someone to see that as you're talking and networking, that's a really beautiful thing because it shows that you're strong in who you are, you're confident in who you are, and you're like, you know what? I am going to try these new things.

00:41:11
We talk about this a lot as well, and it's kind of that grit thing again. But I think your experiences have led you to be like, I would love to kind of step out of my comfort zone. There's others that maybe have failed. As I said, I'm dyslexic, so I used to fail at everything. SO I try things new because I'm like, okay, we'll see.

00:41:29
I went to college. I played sports, but that was not an easy journey. Me trying new things and pivoting, that's like cake to me because I've done that my whole life. But that doesn't mean that that's. Right.

00:41:40
Right. But that for me to be able to share that with others, someone can say, oh, all right, so the fact that you're in the space that you're in, and then people can see you being vulnerable and stepping out and also for your kids and you talking about it. Yeah, Mom's a doctor. I've done these really amazing things, but it doesn't feel right for me right now, and I need to explore and open myself up, and it's hard. I'm nervous.

00:42:03
I'm scared. What is this space for them to see it? Because we all know life throws wrenches and everything sticks and everything. Hammers and nails. Absolutely.

00:42:14
And so I think it's a beautiful thing for you to bring to the community. I mean, thread and all the things that you're doing, just that, you know what? I'm stepping out of my comfort zone, too. Exactly. Yep.

00:42:25
That's exactly what I'm doing. So thanks for. We wish you the best, and we are excited. I'm so excited that you'll be at the Super Bowl. And, Juliet, we need to talk about getting this podcast on Radio Row to interview women that are coming to the Super Bowl.

00:42:36
I know we do it at the luncheon, so we do it at the Luncheon. So that's it. That's why I love the luncheon the most, actually, is why are you here? What are you doing? What are you promoting?

00:42:46
But maybe someday getting it out there to really get people flying through, because I've been on Radio Road, and I'm like, there's these guys, and they're walking with their beautiful wives, and they are. And I just want to grab them and go, tell me about why you're here. Why you're here. I want to know about you. With Demetrix connections, I'm sure he can figure that out for you to.

00:43:09
We need to do that. Absolutely. Because I even said to Cynthia a lot of the. And this is why I fell in love in doing this. A lot of times when I've been here with her and I've asked one of the wives, like, do you do?

00:43:20
They always say, oh, my husband, blah, blah. And I'm like, no, what do you do? And they're like, wait, what? And they're like, wait, are you asking me what I do? And I said to Cynthia, I go, that actually hurts my heart a little bit.

00:43:29
I understand that this is an event. And then Cynthia kind of told me, well, no, it shouldn't hurt your heart. But I'm like, no, you, what are you doing? And they always are taken back. And then they tell me, oh, I own a know brand or I'm an attorney, or I'm a doctor.

00:43:42
And I'm like, oh, my God, this is incredible. More people need to know. There's depth. There's depth. How about just at the hall of Fame, we had our podcast at the hall of Fame.

00:43:54
It's so much fun there. You have to go to hall of Fame, too. It's so much. Yeah, we've been invited every year. Oh, my goodness.

00:44:00
We'll definitely have to do it. Yeah. So much fun. The girls will be at the luncheon from the hall of Fame that I love the hall of Fame crew. But Juliet will do the interviews, and I do the wrangling.

00:44:12
Get on the podcast. Get on the podcast. Jump on. And so there's Veronica Cower sitting there, so beautiful, and I'm like, please jump on the podcast. And she's, you know, I really don't know what I would talk about.

00:44:23
And so at this point, I didn't know who she was. And then, so she was actually my husband's coach and not a player. And I said, well, that's great. And it's NFL. Let's talk about it.

00:44:33
And then, you know, who is your said, you know, Bill Cower. I'm like, aren't you a rock star? Oh, my God. Aren't you a rock star? Because I knew music.

00:44:42
She started laughing. I go, this is what you're going. To talk about on the podcast, right? And I got to see her in person on the first. So she was in the city, so I went and saw her show, and she is spectacular, spectacular.

00:44:55
Talking about that. Yeah. And I do want to say one thing, though, because I know I'm saying, like, all these different things, but there's nothing wrong with also staying home and choosing to do that. So if you guys are listening and you hear me saying all these different things, but owning it and being proud of what you do, I think is the message. And so important, all of my moms who work in the home, that I don't think I could do it.

00:45:18
It takes a special being. That's all I can say. If you are right now, as a mom, primarily at home, just running the home, you have purpose to do that, and that is nothing to be ashamed of. That is hard, valuable, necessary work. Absolutely.

00:45:34
And then there's pivots there because a lot of women will be like, well, I took myself out of the workforce for so long. How do I get back in? And then I share my story, and I'm like, you got to be curious. You got to keep following different things. There's so much out there to empower.

00:45:52
I love what you're doing. I really do. And I love that you're sharing. You're stepping out of your comfort zone. You're coming on and talking, and that you delivered babies last night.

00:46:00
It's just a beautiful thing. Yes. It's a special thing every single time. It really is. I mean, I still love it when they come out.

00:46:08
Absolutely. Well, we wish you the best. And I think that's what I love about women today. I feel like we really do wish the best for each other. And I feel like those conversations, they might still happen, but for the most part, people are supportive of whatever you're doing, whatever choice you made or situation you're in, because it's not always a choice.

00:46:25
So I feel like these kind of conversations, I feel like, are so healthy and empowering for not just women, but for everybody. When you realize that, it's just like, let's push each other up as individuals, like, let's help each other grow. Who do we know? Who do I know that can help you get to where you want to network? And yes, and as you said, be happy for someone else's success, not jealous, because I think there's a lot of people out there that look and they're like, oh, why am I not?

00:46:52
That's why you have to know your purpose. You do, right? Well, that's what's so important. And as you said, when you're competitive, I love that because I'm the same way. I'm so competitive, but competitive for myself.

00:47:04
Like, I want to be better. It's not like, oh, I want to beat that person. No, I want to see how much I can push myself and maybe someone else's. What they're doing kind of brings me to that. Right.

00:47:16
But it's not to be better. It's to just see what I can do. So. Yes, thank you so much. Yeah, thank you, guys.

00:47:22
This has been so lovely. And I can tell you I was a little nervous that I was just going to be, like, dead, but you guys have rejuvenated and revived me, and this was awesome. So keep doing what you're doing and putting women and couples in this space. It's awesome. It is mean.

00:47:38
And I have to say there's between getting connected through thread and then also there's off the Field NFL Wives association getting involved in that is awesome. Especially in Houston. There's a nice following there. I feel like there's so many ways that you can network what you're know, there's also the Facebook group. There's so many ways you can get out there and promote whatever it is that you're going to do.

00:48:04
And even what you're doing now, you've got the resources, you've got the people around you in that NFL community. Perfect. Wonderful. Thank you guys so much. Yes.

00:48:15
Thank you for joining. Yeah. YNS live with NFL Thread. And again, I can't wait. Meet you in person.

00:48:21
Likewise. I'm going to bring the, no, I'm not going to bring the music. We're going to end the show. Nice to see your face, Juliet. Yes.

00:48:29
So nice to see your face. I miss you, too. I can't wait to see you. All right, everyone, thank you for joining. And we'll see you guys next time for YNS Live with NFL Thread.

00:48:36
Thank you again.