The Birth of The Mom Game

Life is Fluid. It sounds like perhaps one of the vaguest statements there is. "Life" is all-encompassing. "Fluid" just means, change. So yeah—something as big as life most definitely changes along the way. Life is Fluid. It's so vague, but couldn't be more true.

As somebody who once had their life flash before their eyes, with the idea that it could all be gone in a matter of months as a 28-year-old, I have a whole new outlook on things. I beat cancer when I was 28. I did. It sucked. Royally. Lost all my hair. Discovered a tumor in my body the size of my fist that was slowly trying to kill me, while I was worried about dating, my career, watching my friends get married, doing the fun stuff. Thought I may never get to be a mom. But maybe worst of all, I had to see my own mom battle through watching and helping her daughter go through something like that. It was my worst nightmare…a nightmare that wasn't even in my consciousness to worry about, since cancer didn't run in my family. It was a shock and it rocked my world.

But, I beat it.

It was not all bad, though. There was some really good stuff that kept me going. I found so many positives throughout the journey. I fell even more in love and got married. I felt love and warmth from so many people in my life and saw the good in humanity like I had never seen before. Not only that, I learned to cherish every single freaking day. My mantra during the journey was, "Don't sweat the small stuff. And it's all small stuff." I still live by that every day.

I love sports. Sports make me happy and watching a good sports moment makes me feel alive. For that reason, I chose to cover professional sports for my career. I've worked in sports since I graduated college from the University of Missouri in 2007. Got a shot with the Dallas Cowboys right out of the gates. Did a lot of cool things but maybe my favorite was getting to sit in on a "Keep it Real Thursday" meeting out at Valley Ranch with the wide receivers. Superstar Terrell Owens. Big shot Terry Glenn. Rookie Isaiah Stanback. As big as they were on the field and in the media, they were all just dudes. Dudes trying to find their way. Guys that cared about their family. Guys that had a story to tell.

I spent some Friday nights working for TXA21 covering the Texas Rangers. Running out onto the field for the post game interview after a big win. Emily's Job! They let me do it for a while, and boy did I love that feeling. Laughed with Tommy Hunter, Ian Kinsler, Ron Washington, and even every once in a while, Josh Hamilton would crack a smile. Besides the fact that I had to do it in an unflattering polo shirt and khakis, it was, yet another, dream come true.

I spent some time working out at Texas Motor Speedway doing a show on NASCAR—I knew nothing about NASCAR. Got to hang out in the pit for a huge race—it's louder than you think! I hosted a Fishing Show telling you about the waning moon and when the bass are biting—and still do.

I spent the biggest chunk of my career in front of the camera, behind the camera, and even behind the brick walls of the front office for the Dallas Stars. I've had so many unforgettable moments with that team. I interviewed captain Jamie Benn on the ice at the end of a game that sent his team to the playoffs for the first time in 5 years, then covered said playoffs while wearing a wig battling cancer. We talked hockey, but I also learned about how they went through life as a young professional athlete far from home. I saw the apparent pain when a teammate was traded, especially when that teammate even happened to be the captain's brother. Again, these were just dudes. Trying to figure it all out. They just happened to skate like the wind and have a slapshot that could take off a rooster's head. (How'd I do, Razor? Need work?)

I wrote and taught the players a special Stars Christmas Carol and coaxed them to perform in front of some sweet kids battling cancer at Children’s Medical Center. I traveled with the team to Montreal, Vancouver, Florida, and Washington D.C. I hung out in the back of a truck for a commercial shoot with Kari Lehtonen and Antoine Rouseel for a couple of hours making small talk about sitting in the back of a truck for a couple of hours. I made Adam Cracknell wear a shark hat on camera after he finished one of his hard-earned pro games with a hat trick. He looked great in it!

I have been a part of sports here in DFW for a long time. I have loved it all and I have fought through a lot.

I've also had plenty of heartbreaking career roadblocks. There often seemed to be something standing in the way. Whether it was cancer, a new boss, family change, or compensation or lack thereof…there was always an unexpected speed bump or stop sign along my path to career "victory." I took a detour to explore radio and landed at the mecca of all sports talk stations in the country, The Ticket. I loved it there. I made so many wonderful friends, learned a lot about life and myself, and about the things that matter in sports. Things that people want to hear about. I learned that everybody is battling something. I learned that I like to talk, I have a lot to say, and that I was ready to create a new life for myself. Something that has been building for a long time.

Along the way, I had a couple of sweet miracle babies with my husband Kelly and I'm trying my hardest to raise them right and love them hard. The time is already fleeting. I thought my career was everything. But now everything just happens to include my career. My life revolves around my kids and keeping this little family of mine on the right path to health and happiness. I've learned so much along this path, and now I'm ready to put it all together. To talk to the people that matter, and to have the kind of conversations that can change you.

This is what I've learned.

Take the chance. Find your happy. Find your people and surround yourself with them. Have fun. Laugh. Take the trip. Push any BS that's keeping you from your best self to the side. If you aren't living the life you imagined for yourself, change it and make it happen. You're in control. Life is too short. This is me making it happen.

I had an idea. Through all the challenges, one thing was clear. I want to do more. I want to cut out all the fluff. I want to talk to people that matter about things that matter. I want to take that passion I feel for sports, my kids, and life and put it all in one big pot and see where it goes.

But that's a lot for just me, and I didn't want to do any of this alone.

I knew that there's just one other person that I wanted to do it all with. I reached out to my former colleague and friend about an idea. Somebody that I've looked up to. Somebody that's been in the industry longer than me, that has so many stories to tell. Somebody that I saw had so much to bring to the table with her witty, smart humor and so many life experiences to talk about. Somebody that has a passion for her work, her family, and for being a good person. Somebody who is in control of her S$!&, but isn't afraid to tell you all about it. I reached out to Emily Jones with an email.

Good thing she's admittedly very OCD and had to reply. I told her about my idea. It took some time…some wine….and some convincing, but she said yes!!!

Look at us now. We are over 75 episodes into The Mom Game adventure. And we are ready to take it to the next level. I am so excited about the launch of our new brand and so ready to continue to have those meaningful conversations that matter. Those conversations will stay and evolve, but now there's more. It's a whole thing. It's a vibe. We are a brand. You can let go of your worries and listen to our show. You can get caught up on the sports world and discuss how to keep calm when the kids...JUST.WON'T.LISTEN. You can wear our shit. You can have us out to your events. You can drink wine with us. You can cuss with us if you want to. But most importantly, you can join us for the journey.

The Mom Game had a great baby phase in the studio and now we are learning to walk. We worked hard to make sure we could walk before we told the world. But we are here. Someday soon we will be running. And we are so glad to take you all along for the ride.

Julie