Your Mom™

“If we can have some real talk here, this is what I want to say.” So begins our conversation with Pac-12 Sports Broadcaster Tammy Blackburn, who is living with stage four metastatic breast cancer. 

In this episode, Tammy illuminates the reality of living with cancer, especially the parts we tend to overlook or consider impolite to discuss: She delves into the physical pain of treatment and then emotional pain of losing control of her body. She calls out the commercialization and sexualization of the breast cancer awareness movement. And, she shares the moment she learned she would never be able to have children. 

Listening to Tammy is like taking a masterclass in grace and honesty. Rather than running from reality, she has channeled her diagnosis into action, raising awareness and funds to combat this deadly disease. She loves fiercely and is fiercely loved in return (stick around until the end of the episode for first-hand testimony). 

While this episode tackled heavy topics, we ended it feeling lighter. In addition to real talk about death and sacrifice, we also discussed the power of play and the necessity of balancing seriousness with silliness. 

So, grab a hula hoop and some headphones and settle in for an inspiring hour with the inimitable Tammy Blackburn.

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We love you all, and as always, thanks for being here.

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We’re still processing the Super Bowl, but in the meantime, we wanted to share an awesome conversation from Radio Row last week in Las Vegas. 

Ashley had the chance to sit down with her longtime friend Christina Mack for a conversation that touched on everything from the health benefits of team sports to letting go of “mom guilt” to the power of female friendships. 

Christina is the Chief Science Officer at global healthcare company IQVIA, and a lead sports science researcher for the NFL and NBA, or as Ashley often explains it, “she has a badass job.” 

A highly respected voice in the professional sports industry, she frequently presents to owners on injuries, concussions, and the safety of the game. She’s also an advocate for women in STEM, a mom of three awesome kids, and a superlative scavenger-hunt-maker. 

This may be one of our shorter episodes, but it’s chock full of incredible insights about being a parent, a professional, and a friend.

Thanks as always for listening, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! And a reminder you can watch this episode on our YouTube channel.

Questions, comments or feedback? Email: [email protected].

See you next week!

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Lisa McCaffrey and Ashley Adamson celebrate the two year anniversary of the show on Radio Row in Las Vegas. Come for Lisa's score prediction, stay for her innovative ideas on renewable energy.

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In case you hadn't heard, Christian McCaffrey and the 49ers are Super Bowl bound. We thought the occasion called for a mailbag episode, and the Faithful delivered.

This week we recap the highs (Christian’s record-breaking touchdowns) and lows (Lisa balling in the bathroom during half-time) of Sunday’s nail-biter NFC Championship Game against the Lions. Speaking of emotional rollercoasters, we got a little misty listening to Lisa discuss Christian’s journey to the Super Bowl and her excitement to have the whole McCaffrey family together to support him. 

Your mailbag questions never disappoint, but these might have been the best yet. We cover everything from Lisa and Olivia’s game day outfits to the origin story of the iconic McCaffrey pyramid to that viral sunbathing video (if you haven’t seen it yet, you’re welcome). And while we learned that Lisa’s mom, AKA Big Momma, will not be making the trip to Vegas, she will be hosting a Super Bowl rager in Miami.

And if you’re in Vegas next week and see Ashley and Lisa celebrating Lisa’s birthday at Thunder Down Under, no you didn’t… 

Go Niners!

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Watch this this episode on our YouTube page. 

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"They say you die twice. One time when you stop breathing and a second time, a bit later on, when somebody says your name on Earth for the last time.”

January 23rd, 2024 marks the six year anniversary of when a beautiful and brilliant young woman named Ella Thomas died by suicide. Last year, Ella's mother Martha Thomas joined Ashley and Lisa for an unforgettable conversation about love, loss and the incredible light her daughter brought to the world in the midst of her own darkness. Today we are revisiting some of that powerful interview as a way to help keep Ella’s name and memory alive. 

You'll laugh as you hear Lisa McCaffrey describe how her friendship with Martha began on a recruiting trip for their sons at Stanford. You'll be inspired when you find out how Martha, her husband Chris, and their son Solomon channeled their grief into a higher purpose, as they work tirelessly to ensure no family has to suffer the pain and loss of losing a child to suicide.

To learn more about the critical work the Thomas family is doing around suicide prevention and mental health, please visit thedefensiveline.org. And if you or anyone you know is in crisis, text the word home to 741741. 

We continue to hold the Thomas family and all those who are grieving a loved one in our hearts. 

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Our brains love a binary: extraordinary vs. ordinary, good vs. bad, motivation vs. laziness, beauty vs. brokenness. But, real life is rarely cut and dry. What do we lose in our attempt to have it all? What might we gain if we ditched the dichotomies? 

Join Ashley Adamson and Chantal Below in their effort to live in the messy middle, to celebrate our scars, to acknowledge the blessings of a skinned knee, and to adopt some side character energy in 2024. 

Like most things worth doing, embracing “both/and” thinking ain’t easy. It encourages us to put our problems into perspective. It challenges our core beliefs about success and satisfaction. It asks us to pay attention to ourselves and those around us. 

And yet, this practice also allows us to release the pressure valve and reject the pursuit of perfection. It reminds us that, in the wise words of the great Jess Sims, “You are allowed to be a work in progress and a masterpiece at the same damn time.” 

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About the hosts:

Chantal Below moved from the US to England in third grade. She never developed a love of cricket, but did develop a fascination with humanity, unconsciously examining how different cultures and beliefs expand or limit our choices. 

After graduating from Georgetown University, she started her career as a 4th grade teacher with Teach For America, hoping to expand choices for too-often marginalized children in low-income schools. She loved the energy of the kids and the vibrancy of the community, but no one really wanted her teaching long division. 

Since then, she’s been exploring the many dimensions of the human condition while avoiding math. She worked for years in the education non-profit world leading teams and developing leadership development programs. Then, she ventured out on her own and started Redcliff Coaching, Inc. She supports leaders in all industries - with clients at Google, Homeless Prenatal Program, and to get out of their own way and live and lead in the way they most want. 

She also attempts to parent three kids who are curious, compassionate, hysterical, and only vaguely pay attention to her advice. She lives in Oakland, CA.

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Ashley Adamson is an Emmy-award winning storyteller and lead host for the Pac-12 Network. Honored by Cynopsis as a “Game Changing On-Air Talent”, her biggest achievement to date was being crowned the arm wrestling champion in third grade.

A native of Denver, CO, she earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Boston College followed by a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University. 

Adamson lives in San Francisco with her very handsome husband and two young children. In 2022, she started the Your Mom™ podcast with Lisa McCaffrey to honor and celebrate the beautiful, messy randomness of motherhood. She dreams of one day becoming a professional karaoke singer in the Florida Keys.

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New year, new mailbag! 

Your Mom™ made it another year, and we’re kicking it off by answering your burning questions. 

Topics include the imaginary matchup of Ed’s 1994 Super Bowl champion 49ers vs. Christian’s 2024 Super Bowl contending 49ers, McCaffrey wedding planning updates (featuring Lisa’s continued determination to sit down, shut up, and wear beige), instilling confidence in kids, and manifesting YourMom’s dream guests. 

If like us, you struggle with New Year’s blues, we hope this episode provides a balm, or at least a welcome distraction from your holiday hangovers. 

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You can watch this episode on our YouTube channel!

Please subscribe wherever you listen and drop us a line with any questions or comments - [email protected] - we love to hear from you!

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Tis’ the season for…mixed emotions

We’re trying to be present, while rushing to buy all the presents. 

We’re treasuring moments of togetherness, while wishing for just.one.minute of alone time. 

And we’re looking forward to a new year, while reflecting on the regrets of the past. 

In today’s episode Ashley Adamson and Chantal Below delve into the pangs of regret and sadness that tend to surface this time of year. Rather than packing them away with the ugly ornaments, Chantal encourages us to hold space for uncomfortable feelings: “We have a tendency to lean into joy and skim over the negative emotions: resentment, regret, sadness, shame, embarrassment. And yet they live in us if we don’t let them live through us.” 

Chantal’s superpower lies in her ability to reframe narratives that don’t serve us. In this instance, she encourages us to consider the upside of regret. How might regret be an opportunity for reflection? How might we grant compassion to our former selves, who were often doing the best they could with the decisions they had? 

Amidst the holiday hustle and bustle, take 45 minutes for yourself to listen to this inspiring conversation. You won’t regret it. 

If you’re interested in delving deeper, here are the awesome resources we mentioned in the episode: 

• Brené Brown with Dan Pink on the power of regret 
• George Saunders on regretting failures of kindness
• Michael Lewis on knowing his late daughter felt his love (around 01:02:00)
• Michael Lewis’s interview with Ashley’s sister-in-law Diane Adamson

Wishing you a peaceful, bustling, joyful, contemplative, frivolous, and fulfilling holiday season! 

Pro tip: it’s not too late to buy your mom something other than a robe. 

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More about Chantal Below: Chantal moved from the US to England in third grade. She never developed a love of cricket, but did develop a fascination with humanity, unconsciously examining how different cultures and beliefs expand or limit our choices. 

After graduating from Georgetown University, she started her career as a 4th grade teacher with Teach For America, hoping to expand choices for too-often marginalized children in low-income schools. She loved the energy of the kids and the vibrancy of the community, but no one really wanted her teaching long division. 

Since then, she’s been exploring the many dimensions of the human condition while avoiding math. She worked for years in the education non-profit world leading teams and developing leadership development programs. Then, she ventured out on her own and started Redcliff Coaching, Inc. She supports leaders in all industries - with clients at Google, Homeless Prenatal Program, and to get out of their own way and live and lead in the way they most want. 

She also attempts to parent three kids who are curious, compassionate, hysterical, and only vaguely pay attention to her advice. She lives in Oakland, CA.

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Our first guest for season two is YourMom™’s biggest fan: Kate Rooney, a sports anchor for KRON4 in San Francisco and mom of two adorable kiddos: Harlow and Brady. 

Kate and Ashley forged a tight bond over a decade ago during the launch of the Pac-12 Network. While Kate’s sports broadcasting career might have begun because of a hiring mix-up (full story on the pod), she’s proven that she’s a formidable talent in the field. As the host of the weekly 49ers show, “The Red and Gold Zone,” she frequently interviews Christian and was able to confirm Lisa’s allegation that he is, in fact, “a huge nerd.” 

Brimming with humor and heart, our conversation with Kate touches on a wide range of topics, from the fellowship of women in the sports industry to breast-pumping in the Niners’ media room to the best karaoke song for any occasion. Come for the football scoop and stay for Kate’s Bing Crosby inspired rendition of “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” 

Thanks as always for listening, please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

Questions, comments or feedback? Email: [email protected]. 

You can watch this episode on YouTube by clicking here.

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More on Kate Rooney: 

A San Francisco native, Kate holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Boston Conservatory of Music and a MA in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Southern California. Before starting at KRON4, she worked for a variety of outlets including Pac-12 Network, Comcast Hometown Network, and Spectrum Sports Network. She is a karaoke savant.

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We’re thrilled to introduce you to our executive producer, Betsy Bloom. Everyone agrees that Betsy Bloom has a name made for showbiz, so it’s only natural that she join us in front of the mic in addition to her work behind the scenes. 

While Ashley and Betsy first met via their husbands (Ashley’s husband’s Chris is best friends with Betsy’s husband Mac), they quickly forged their own love affair. Ashley recalls first falling in love with Betsy when she heard Betsy recite her vows on her wedding day; while Ashley wasn’t the intended recipient of the vows, Betsy is glad they landed with such a receptive listener. 

As Ashley began to brainstorm starting a storytelling company, she found herself wanting to talk through the idea with Betsy. Meanwhile, Betsy was struggling with post-pandemic teacher burnout and looking for a different creative outlet. When Ashley called to discuss working together, Betsy interpreted it as a sign from above and jumped at the opportunity. The two have been collaborating and swapping stories ever since. 

Join Betsy and Ashley as they discuss the cathartic power of storytelling, interactions with online trolls, and what teachers wish parents understood about kids. Stick around until the end to hear their contingency plan should their husbands decide to run off together. 

Thanks as always for listening, please rate and subscribe wherever you listen and if you'd like to watch this episode on YouTube please click here.

As always, please send any comments or feedback to [email protected]. 

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More about Betsy Bloom: 

As an only child with an active imagination, Betsy spent much of her time reading and inventing stories. In middle school, she was an inaugural member of the club “Spin-A-Storytellers”, and she still has the t-shirt to prove it. Her love of language continued through her time at Colgate University, where she earned a B.A, and after graduating, Betsy worked in book publishing, where she engaged with literature in a new way, working directly with authors (meeting Judy Blume remains a career highlight).

 Betsy left publishing to earn a Masters in Literature from Middlebury’s Bread Loaf College of English, where she spent four summers studying stories, writing essays, and consuming obscene amounts of Vermont cheddar; she also met her husband through the program. 

While earning her degree, Betsy made a career transition into teaching English; seven years later, it remains her most challenging and rewarding professional experience to date. Betsy and her husband reside in Buffalo NY, (Go Bills) where they are currently renovating a hundred-year-old home, binging The Great British Bake Off, and testing the area’s best wings.

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