LEX18 presents a podcast with hot takes, hot
topics with your hosts, Megan Manering and Evelyn
Schultz. This is Hot Mic. everyone and welcome
into another week here on Hot Mic. This is going
to be a good episode. I'm really excited. A lot
of good girl talk. Oh, the mic is hot. We are
catching this guest right in the middle of the
busiest season. So as we always say, this was
a big get was that we literally had to catch
her as she's like trying to get out the door
to something we do have a hard out. So we should
probably get right to that guest. Everyone welcome
Sierra Newton. Welcome! We've been waiting for
this. I have been waiting for this. I have been
waiting for this moment. I'm just patiently in
the corner, supporting you guys, but obviously
I'm like, hey, my skirt. I feel like we've seen
you in the sports department, like, you know,
when are you guys gonna ask me? Just keep it
going. Whenever you're ready. I'm ready. You're
a good person to have on here though, because
you do have some hot takes. Thanks, I do. You
know sports really well. Sports hot takes are
like some of the best ones. Absolutely. Yeah.
And this really is like the... busiest time of
the year. So thank you for making time. Explain
what makes this so chaotic for your department.
So this is officially crossover season. And that
means that the fall sports, they are starting
to phase out, but the winter sports are starting.
So that means like football, soccer, anything
that's happening in the fall, volleyball, and
also basketball, which we know is huge here in
Kentucky. It's starting to take over. So Almost
every day of the week we have either a game or
press conference or a sporting event to go to.
So I am booked in between. Your schedule is hard
to pin down. It's like on any given weekend,
we might ask you to do something and you're at
a game. You're traveling to cover a game, which
we know has to get done. Yes, but it's so much
fun. It's literally what I signed up for. So
I'm having a great time, a little sleep deprived,
but having a great time. But you're looking great.
Yes. Yeah. She never, Sierra never misses her
outfits, her makeup. Yeah. This is actually something,
too, that you've been working towards for a long
time, right? When you started at LEX 18, you
were not on air. You were a digital producer.
A digital content producer. So I was behind the
scenes. All the social media that you guys see,
I was the person who was running it now four
years ago. So yeah, I was writing web stories,
doing the Twitter, doing the Facebook, all the
things, reading your old messages. Good and bad.
It helped me learn what people are interested
in, what they want to look at. And then basically
I just annoyed the sports department. It was
like, Hey guys, if you need me to write something
for you specifically for sports, I can definitely
do that. So there was a couple of times during
crossover season that they were like, yeah, everyone's
definitely worked more than 40 hours. So if you
could write this web story tonight, that'd be
great. And so that's kind of how I stuck my foot
into the door and then. the, I was behind the
scenes with BBN tonight, um, doing an associate
producer position. So helping write the shows,
that kind of thing. And then once again, crossover
season comes around and they're like, we need
another body. So I was out there shooting stuff
at practice and like doing some interviews and
eventually made my way into a multimedia journalist
position, MMJ. So. Yeah, goes to show sometimes
you just have to be the squeaky wheel. Yes, your
opportunity will come and always being willing
to take that opportunity. It paid off. It definitely
did. And also to be able to do this in basically
my hometown from Frankfurt grew up there. Then
I went to school at NKU. So to be able to have
my first like big girl job back in your hometown,
it means a lot. And it's kind of one of those
full circle moments because I always watched
LAX 18 growing up. um nancy cox and davidson
that's how i like starting my day so it was just
really cool to be able to like start here with
them and then not with them because but to start
here with them and then be able to work my way
to on camera now it's full circle a lot of fun
and loving it did you always when you were a
kid did you think that this was the type of job
you wanted to do I thought that I was going to
be like a superstar, but I cannot sing. Well,
OK. You are a superstar. Yes. I initially was
like singer, actress. Triple threat. You know,
all the things. And then I was like, oh, I have
to be able to do those things to do that. But
I always knew that I wanted to talk a lot. And
so didn't really, never really got shy, too shy
in front of a large crowd of people. So I always
knew it was something. in front of people, helping
people in some way, shape or form. And then I
learned about journalism, probably like fifth
grade, we did like a newspaper as one of our
like class projects. And I got to talk to the
principal and someone who helped build the new
playground that we had, because it was made out
of recyclable materials. I'm remembering all
this because I was just like, I'm a reporter.
I get to ask important people questions about
stuff. I love that. And so that's when I first
started. And then in middle school, we had a
news team. We literally did the morning announcements,
but it was woke news. And so I did that in middle
school. And then I got to high school and I was
playing sports all throughout this whole time.
But I was like, Okay, so yeah, we're not going
to the WNBA. We have to figure out how to still
be involved in sports, but still the Stradivism
thing seems to be working for us. And so it was
like my senior year that I really decided that
I wanted to do sports broadcasting. And so from
there, it's just been like off. I love it. What
role did sports play in your life growing up?
I mean, was this a big part of your childhood?
What sports were you playing? Tell us about that.
Oh, yeah. So actually when everyone started with
soccer i started with cheerleading so i was um
yeah the raiders frankfort youth football league
and so like we were obviously NFL teams were
all of our names, but I started out as a Raiders
cheerleader. Love. And it was so much fun. And
then I did upward basketball. Wait, I did upward
basketball? Yes. What is upward basketball? I
was so bad. So bad. It was like everyone was
collectively terrible. And then every little
one girl that was just like. balling out on everyone.
Yeah, it was like the church league. Yeah. So
after you just like tried to push your girl down,
they'd be like, all right, in the Bible verse
of the day, you know, and so she gave basketball
and life lessons. It was a good balance, you
know, got a little aggression now, praise Jesus,
all the good things. And so that's when I started
like playing basketball in middle school, high
school. So Basketball was my main sport. I ran
track for like a year or two, mainly because
my other friends did. I ran cross country for
a while and I was actually pretty good at that.
But then once I got to like high school, it was
at the same time as basketball and I was like,
I'm going all in on basketball. And I played
soccer for a couple years. And honestly, I was
much better at soccer, but I didn't see that
until like hindsight. But it was all good. It
all taught me a lot of different things, basically
just how to handle yourself, how to have goals,
discipline, those kind of things. That's when
playing soccer is when I really learned the importance
of water. I know like drinking water, like everyone
is, you're supposed to drink water or whatever,
but like as a teenager, you're just, you're not
thinking about it as much. But then like playing
soccer, we used to carry around these huge jugs
of water. And for a really long time, that was
like. a part of my personality. Me and my kids
watered like just walking around school. Were
you so hydrated? So hydrated. Like, and I need
to get back to that. So we all helped, you know,
me, I was like. Bringing you back to my roots.
So yeah, we go into the studio We should start
taking like a gallon jugs full of water. Well,
I drink water during a morning show, you know
It's two and a half hours and you're sitting
there anchoring and sometimes by the end of it
I'm like, I don't think I've taken a sip of water
this whole time. So maybe I if I get my jug No,
yeah, it's really easy to do that, especially
now ripping and run into different like stuff
at the end of the day I'm like Why do I feel
a little off? And it's because I drank two energy
drinks and not a lot, you know, anything nutritional.
You're shaking. Yeah. Well, let this be the PSA
to the viewers and listeners. Everyone drinks
water. Stay hydrated. Hit pause on this right
now and go get a drink of water. Tell us about
NKU. What was your experience like there? NKU.
I was the most annoying person that you would
have ever met. I was involved in literally everything.
Orientation leader. That was like, My thing.
Are we doing icebreakers? Did you have some icebreakers?
I loved icebreakers. Everyone was... I was obnoxious.
Let me tell you, like, I was full send, like,
everyone's gonna love N .K .U. There used to
be a song that they would do that's like, you're
gonna love N .K .U. Yeah, you're gonna love N
.K .U. And that was, like, the main person, like,
yes! And so... orientation leader. I also did
tours throughout the school year. They were called
the presidential ambassadors. So you got to do
events with the president of NKU. Wow. Yeah,
really fancy. I was all in. And then I was the
sports editor for a student newspaper the last
two years of me being there. So I was very busy
always doing something always around campus.
So I just as talkative and around people as I
am today. It was probably like 10 times worse
when I was in college, because I was like, guys,
let's get involved. Let's go do all the things.
I love that. Because it can use a commuter school.
And so I'm from Frankfurt. So that's an hour
and a half away. So you were living there on
campus. And I see the things not very far from
home, but at the same time, not like them. It's
not 30 minute drive. So I was like making the
most of my situation of being on campus. And
I lived on campus all four years. So yeah, very,
very involved. Loved it. Were you, correct me
if I'm wrong, were you homecoming queen? It was
actually Princess. Oh, Homecoming Princess. I
didn't know we had royalty in the studio today.
Guys, thank you. Technically the last princess
because after that then they opened up to Homecoming
royalty so that way it could be gender inclusive.
Okay. And so, yeah, technically the last princess
at NKU. But you are royalty. That sounds like
it. Well, and Maddie Davis was also royalty.
Yeah, she was Homecoming Queen. The title of
a movie like in KU's Last Princess Instagram
bio I could see it you make people feel really
comfortable so I can see how you would be really
good on campus really good welcoming people and
I Kind of feel like I love in KU right now. Yeah
guys totally that song is gonna be playing You
have to take us to campus I never will and I
will do a tour Yes. You're not supposed to walk
backwards. I tell you not to, but like, at that
point, I literally, there's like, if you follow
me, guys. That's what I think of when I think
of college tour guides showing off. And you know
what? The thing that I think about a college
tour guide is so interesting is it's, this is
going to sound really dramatic, but you kind
of have the capacity to change the course of
someone's life because if you give the tour that
convinces them. to go to that school. Or doesn't
or that well, yeah convinced people not to go
I Definitely just get it, but I felt like I really
had a way with the parents. Yes I can see that
I think that might be a common thread in broadcasters
like you're good at talking to adults You're
good at schmoozing. Yeah, you have your little
one -liners at the dad's love. Yes Can I confess
something you gals were both tour guides I Tried
out multiple times to be a tour guide at Butler
and never got it. Well, I Not to toot my own
horn, but that's always kind of what I thought
but I couldn't even get past I didn't get past
the group interview stage What yeah what went
wrong? I don't know, I think. Who do we need
to call? I know. Retroactively. Butler University,
I would like to be stated as an alumni tour guide.
Alumni tour guide. Yeah, I don't know. So I clearly,
you ladies have something that I don't. Well,
you know what, Evy, I visited Butler and I didn't
go there. Maybe. Because of the tour guide? Maybe
had. Sure. Yeah. And specifically the tour guide.
But had you been the tour guide, maybe you would
have changed everything. Thank you. Maybe we
would have been peers. What could have been?
Wow, that's crazy. I know So I need your guys's
time devastated. It's okay. It all works out
in the end, doesn't it? It does. Yeah, honestly
for the better I'm sure you got a different position
somewhere else. That was like I Put my energy
into something else. Yeah, that's okay Well you
running around all over campus and having a bunch
of different obligations kind of fits into what
you're doing now because the sports people are
constantly on the go one thing I really admire
about the sports department y 'all are like always
running from one thing to the next. Do you like
that? Or is it stressful? What do you think?
I definitely actually like it. Some days, some
days I am like, oh, I could have just been like
a desk job or something, which no, no shame.
But like, it's just, it's a lot at times. You're
carrying your own equipment. I carry my own equipment.
That's what my outfits have to be something that
I can not only look professional, but also move
also. If I'm not shooting a football game, I
have to be able to get out of the player's way
because they will run you over, you know, things
like that. You have to think ahead of time. And
so I feel like doing all the things that I did
in college kind of set me up to also be able
to multitask, think ahead, plan my days out pretty
well. I am typically good with time management.
I do have times where, like, obviously some days
you just aren't on it. But for the most part,
I think my time management is really good. College
definitely helped set me up for that just being
able to Set a schedule. Yeah, even though our
schedules are like all over the place. Yeah,
and some days are unpredictable because you know
Coaching changes happen different things. You
just have to be ready on a whim. So what is your
schedule? I love that you brought that up. Well,
today I'm starting here. I love that. And then
after I'll go to a press conference for Coach
Craig Skinner, which by the time you guys see
this, the volleyball team all had their last
two regular season games, but it's to hype up,
get people excited about that. And then Coach
Pope will speak afterwards and I'll more than
likely do something on... Maybe both press conferences
today for the five o 'clock. I usually do like
a five o 'clock hit. And then, um, if there's
an event happening, I'll go shoot that, which
I think we have football practice today. Wait,
no, today's Thursday. Sorry. Just kidding. Yeah,
literally. And that's the other thing having
to remember what day it is because certain things
happen on certain days. Um, but whatever else
is needed, I'm doing that today. So has there
been anything that surprised you about covering
UK athletics? I don't know if anything necessarily
surprised you. That's helpful. Yeah, I will say
I think what surprised me about right now with
the best, the two basketball teams in particular,
because both teams got a new head coach last
season. I think it's just how quickly they've
adapted to us as BB and tonight being like the
official station. Because obviously you come
in, you don't know. anyone here. And so just
being able to work with them pretty easily very
well. That was kind of surprising just being
able to like pick up very well and feel comfortable
talking to everyone on the staff. Yeah. They're
all amazing and great. And it's a fun time. I
imagine that could be very intimidating. But
you have told us Mark Pope and Kenny Brooks are
both as good of guys as you think they are from
the interviews that you watch. And recently,
Mark Pope did something really cool with the
families of the media. Tell us about that. Oh,
we had a family day with the coaching staff,
UK men's basketball coaching staff. And so he
invited us and all of our families and the initial
email we Not supposed to tell everyone, obviously,
because then everyone's like, oh, I want to bring,
you know. But they were like, just you can bring
like one person. But obviously, a lot of the
other media members are married and they have
families. So like. everyone brought their kids
and like I brought my mom because I do not have
children because she's my number one person so
I brought my mom and it was just really fun to
share that experience because she's always we
share location and so she's always seeing me
running all over the place at all hours of the
night and morning and so just being able to show
her like this is what I'm doing when I'm like
we're getting running everywhere and then They,
the coaches took time afterwards to come and
speak to all of us. And so it was just really
cool to have that moment with my mom. And, um,
coach Pope was just so gracious and nice and
she got to ask him a question in the press conference.
What was your question? Well, I kind of wrote
it up. So he was like, he started the press conference.
He was like, obviously, I love talking to media
members, but your families are here. I would
love if they asked the questions today. And so
I was like, ask him about the exhibition game.
She's like, I don't know what that would be fine.
And so and then he's very intentional. So when
he's answering the question, he's like looking
directly at you and like making sure that you're
understanding. And my mom was like, that was
really cool but like did not expect him to like
continue to like make eye contact, be personable,
that kind of thing because he's head coach at
Kentucky, he can do whatever he wants, very personal,
intentional with each and every person and so
it was just really cool, very sweet and now my
mom's like, do you think the women's basketball
team will do that? Yeah, maybe next season, I
don't know. Yeah, let me talk to my close first
girlfriend, Katie Brooks. It does seem pretty
unusual, though, that a program of this size,
you know, would host something like this. Yeah,
and there's so many media people that cover the
team, too. So it's like, even though it was a
smaller group of us, it still was a decent amount
of people there. But it was also it was cool
to see all the other media members' families,
because, you know. We see each other all the
time, so just to be able to put names and faces
with the stories they tell about their families,
you know? So that was cool, too. Yeah. Is your
mom a UK fan? It's OK. Uh -oh. She's actually...
This is hot mic. I know. She's actually not so...
People are going to be really bad. Edit it out.
Cut it. You can cut it. You can't. She'll tell
you. I grew up in a family that was not... a
UK family. Louisville. So I'm just going to come
in and say it. Wow. So when I took the job, my
family was like, ooh, girl, other side. And I
was like, you know, a job's a job. Yeah. You
grew up in Frankfurt. I grew up in Frankfurt.
So it was like one of those things of like. Not
everyone grew up a UK fan, so I wasn't on an
island in Frankfurt, I will tell you that. But
I grew up to appreciate and understand the history
that UK has. I'm also not one of those fans that
was super trash -talking the other one. I understand
that the rivalry, that's what makes it fun at
times. When people get too serious and all of
the... I'm just like, hey, hey, it's a fun time.
We're blessed to have two really great teams
within the state that can go against each other
like that. And it hasn't always been the most
competitive rivalry. Obviously, like, Kentucky
leads the series like 40 to 18. So with them
losing recently, though, it was kind of one of
those like, ooh. But it also... just brings another
bit of fire back to you. Cause you know, it's
not fun when one person is just constantly dominant.
Well, not fun for the losing team. Like the Patriots,
right? Like people lose a little bit when it's
one person always doing, you kind of start rooting
against them. Yeah. But my mom, she loves UK
athletes now. Cause like I'm doing stories on
them. I'm coming home telling her about like,
This athlete did this today. It was just so sweet
and fun. Like Josh Katz had a shoe drive and
it was great, you know, stuff like that. So it's
hard to like root against. Yeah. You appreciate
the people. Yeah. And she's always cheering for
UK, but when UK UofL go against each other, she's
like, Sierra. Hey. You got to do it. You got
to do it. Totally. It has to be like that. How
does it work in the sports department? Who gets
assigned to which teams or which games? is assigned
to traveling. How does all that work? Because
I feel like you end up covering the same team
a lot throughout one season. It turns into a
beat. Sometimes it starts with schedule. I typically
work Monday through Friday. Obviously, we rotate
for the football games because they're on Saturdays.
But I also really enjoy covering women's sports.
I'm a very big advocate of that. Most of the
time, I am going to shoot my hand up for a women's
game. Obviously, we let men's team guys don't,
but I'm always going to advocate for the women's
teams. So like, always shooting my hand up for
that. But for the most part, it kind of depends
on the days that you work. That's where we start.
And then from there, it's all right, who? wants
to travel this week or who's available to travel
this week, you know, and then we'll go from there
because I had the opportunity to go to Auburn
this year for the football team and they ended
up winning their first SEC Road win. Good luck
charm. Yeah, I might be the good luck charm.
You're on the road more often. So with Another
camera person would be preferable. I have a follow
up question to that because I was stunned. I
asked Keith who you went to Auburn with and he
said, oh, just her and it's like a six or seven
hour drive. How does that work? When you guys
are traveling, you're alone and there's so much
work to do. Yes. So you Try your best to edit
some sound, some videos, which voiceovers for
the people that aren't in news, edit some sound
and stats and things. You compile that before
you go. So that way, once you get there, usually
you don't have a lot of time to like edit things
together. And once you're there. Okay, I'm just
gonna go through the schedule of me going to
Auburn because I feel Yeah, okay, so Auburn I
left on a Friday I left at 5 a .m. To get to
Auburn about 1 30 ish and they're like an hour
behind so that also like tripped me up a little
bit um put my makeup on because I was not waking
up at 4 to do makeup and so put my makeup on
and then I Hiked around campus to find a spot
that had like a good backdrop of the stadium.
And so I found that. And then once I got there,
I read a little bit of the show because I was
in BBN tonight and also BBN game day. We take
those on Fridays most of the time. So that way
we're able to go out and shoot high school football
in the evenings on Fridays. Exactly. Yeah. So
there's a lot that goes on. So Then I taped all
of that. And then after that, I was in the five
in another show. I don't remember. It was a lot.
So then after we taped the two shows where I'm
like talking to Maggie and Keith or whoever's
doing game day, then I do a five hit and another
hit. So that way there's more content for the
rest of the evening. After that, I drove to my
hotel and basically crashed because I was like,
I don't. I don't have the energy to like sightsee
or anything. And then Saturday morning, I had
a little slow morning because the game wasn't
until the night. And so just got myself together,
packed everything up. The game was at 630 their
time, but you can get there three hours before.
So I got there about 330. So that way I could
see Kentucky does a catwalk. So that's when ever
that whatever stadium that they're at, they will
walk in and fans can wave hi. Most of the time
players are go talk to their family before the
game. And so I shoot video of them doing their
catwalk, talking to people, that kind of thing.
Get into the stadium and kind of just prepare
to shoot the game. And when you're shooting the
game by yourself, you're like, running up and
down the sidelines. You don't have to work out.
No, I don't. I get a really great workout. Like
my watch is like you hit your goal. And I'm like,
yeah. And so yeah, I mean, shoot the game. It's
over by like 1030 11. And then I do post game
interviews with coaches, players, whoever they
bring out. And then I do a little recap of what
happened and Go back to the hotel room edit it
there because I was just like when I get up in
the morning I want to wake up and go Yeah, so
I edited everything the same night. So I didn't
go to bed till probably like 2 30 ish But Wow
girl, it was a lot of fun, you know Like it sounds
like a lot cuz it is but at the same time I'm
having fun I don't think I mean, it's more fun
to be at the games doing that then to be like
at home just watching the game, which is still
fun. Yeah, I get to experience it in person.
And also I've never been to Auburn Stadium and
they have a really great atmosphere. Like their
fans were. Amazing. Friendly and welcoming. Yeah.
Every time that I've traveled somewhere, the
SEC, I feel like we have, Southeastern Conference,
they have really great fans. The hospitality
is great. Two years ago, I got to travel to South
Carolina with Kinsey. She doesn't work here anymore,
but that was a lot of fun. Everyone there was
super hospitable. It's always been a lot of fun
anytime that we travel anywhere. Holy cow cool
experience. Yes, totally. But man, there is so
much that you have to think about Yeah, I covered
one high school football game in Montana and
I was like I'm done High school game. Yeah the
logistics of traveling and figuring out where
to park and you're carrying all of your equipment
Running around during the game while also you
have to pay attention and know what's going on
Yeah, then you have to look good and then be
present when you're doing these press conferences
with these big shot coaches I commend you. Thank
you. I can't think about it too hard sometimes
because there was the UK Athletics Hall of Fame
this fall and Carl Anthony Towns, current New
York Knick in the NBA, he came and I got to interview
him and I couldn't think about it at the time
because I would have freaked out because there's
just certain players that I'm just like, oh my
gosh, they're like... They're so awesome. Not
only was he like, he's a great athlete, but he's
very personable when you talk to him, like came
in the room and introduced himself to every single
person in the room, shaking our hands, looking
at us, acknowledging our presence. Cause like
there have been times where you've run into some
athletes and they, you know, not everyone's like
that. So you're just like, all right, move on.
Um, so it's just really cool. When I look back
and I'm like, oh my gosh, I really did get to
speak to some really like amazing people. And
so it's really exciting. Also doing the red carpet
at the Derby, I feel like kind of desensitized
me to like having the starstruck moment in the
moment because it's happening so fast that you
have to just be like, uh huh. Yeah. Who was your
favorite person that you met when you did the
Derby red carpet? For those who don't know, Ciara
loves pop culture. I am a pop culture girl. I
love it so much. I'm chronically online. I need
to get off, honestly. So, the last time that
I was on the carpet, Miss Tina Knowles is Beyonce's
mom. You're one person away from Beyonce now.
I'm one person away from Beyonce. I was wearing
my own orange outfit, very excited, and she looks
at me, she goes... Love that orange you look
so beautiful. I turn around to Alex Barbara.
I'm like The day's over yeah need to do anything
else this is the best Literally it was so giddy
I It was that one moment out of all of it and
I saw plenty of other people too But that that
was the one that I was just like she is a fashion
icon like she literally made all of Destiny Child's
outfits when they were coming up. So you know,
she knows, like she... Exactly. So for her to
compliment me, I was just like, wow, I really
did it today. I also talked to Smokey Robinson.
Oh, I talked to him too. He was so sweet and
so kind. And those were, that was really cool.
And then the UK athletes that come back on the
carpet, that was nice to just have that full
circle moment of being like... Reed Shepard specifically
and the Shepard family, they were so sweet because
they're still the most down to earth Kentucky
people you will ever meet. And, um, just being
able to be like, Reed, how awesome has it been
being able to go out in LA and workout and, you
know, and it's, he's just the sweetest Southern
little thing. She's like, yes, ma 'am. I'm just
so excited to be back at the Derby. It's so cool.
And as a girl who grew up in Kentucky, it has
to be even more special to cover an iconic event
like the Derby for sure. I'm curious looking
ahead because you have such a long career ahead
of you too. Are there certain sporting events
that are on your bucket list? That's a good question.
I definitely want to do a women's national championship.
game for basketball specifically. Obviously with
love this year with UK, but if that doesn't come
to fruition, just in general, I'd love to cover
one of those. I mean, every person says like
the Superbowl because like, duh. And I think
the Olympics, that's like one of those things
that like, all the best athletes in the world
are in one spot. So like one day with love, if
NBC needs another. I've always said that. I don't
even like sports. And I think the Olympics is
something that you want to cover because it's
just... Oh, yeah. It draws everyone in. It's
human. It's like human. What's the word that
I'm looking for? Humanity. It's humanity at its
finest. You know, and NBC does sometimes select
like local NBC stations. I think there are a
couple Indianapolis. Yeah. WTHR. They get to
go. That's pretty cool. I'm going to put my name
in NBC. Hello? Oh my gosh, that'd be so awesome.
And then I can be out there in the field and
do the field work for you guys. Obviously you
guys will want to be at the stuff too, but like,
it'd be so fun. Let's plan it. Yeah. NBC. Hello.
Hello. I have a question about all the athletes
you cover and this can be anyone. Underrated
kind of sounds like a mean word and I don't mean
it that way at all. Who do you, what's an athlete
you cover, any sport who you think doesn't get
enough credit, who's kind of underrated at UK?
Underrated. I feel like I don't think she's necessarily
underrated because Craig Skinner will tell you
that she's the best, but. Molly Tuzzo, I feel
like she's a libero on the UK volleyball team.
She does an amazing job and Because everyone
on the volleyball team does an amazing job I
keep saying that but it's just they just are
awesome. Um, I feel like she doesn't always get
the most shine and She's like an upperclassman.
She's I Think the other night on the broadcast.
They said she hasn't missed a set Since she's
been here at Kentucky, which is insane. Yeah
So I think she deserves more flowers. She should
get her flowers. She's amazing and she's also
super sweet in person like Just the cutest. I
think that about all the athletes. I'm like every
single time I talk to someone I'm like, you're
like their mom No, yeah, I turned 28. And so
now I'm like Everyone is six five and above.
So I'm just like you're just so cute. I'm talking
to a seven -footer Whatever, but um, yeah, I
think probably hurt. I'm just gonna give her
hers. I love that Yeah, shout out. That was a
good question. Yeah. Well I don't know. I feel
like all the athletes always get their time to
shine. And I know you're really passionate about
women's basketball, especially WNBA. You introduced
me to a mascot that I've been loving. Ellie!
We love her! Have you seen her? No! Ellie the
Elephant? Oh my goodness. I'll pull up a video
while you... So the New York Liberty have a mascot.
Her name's Ellie the Elephant. She is the most
charismatic outgoing mascot you will... ever
see. She's the best. Obviously mascots can't
speak, but she doesn't need to because her presence,
her aura, her persona, speaks for her. Wow. I
turned down the volume because I don't think
we're allowed to. Oh, wow. And she's having so
much fun. Everyone go Google Ellie the Elephant.
She does voiceovers on her TikToks of her like
day in the lives and it's a very New York accent
very authentic to Where they are and I just think
the social media team has done an amazing job
bringing people in and Connecting and I feel
like they're they're like paving the way for
what other mascots can be and There's another
one the Valkyries the newest WNBA team. They
have violet. I believe she's an owl. Oh, Emma
is like a bird. And she's really cute. And I
feel like they have drawn from Ellie, obviously
not copying because the West Coast completely
different vibe. But I feel like they've drawn
from the positives that work for Ellie and are
implementing that there. And so I feel like That's
just a really easy way to get people who aren't
necessarily into sports into sports, because
like everyone can relate to a fun talking elephant.
You've got me hooked on Ellie. I freaking love
Ellie. She's my girl. You guys keep me up to
speed on pop culture. Well she keeps me up to
speed. I'm too much. Sometimes I'm like, I look
at my time on my phone and I'm like... I gotta
get better. They need to stop telling us. I just
don't want to know. I don't want the report.
You know, on a Sunday when they tell you. Yeah,
they're like, hey, girl, you spent an average
of nine hours. Also, it's your job. Part of it
is your job. Part of it is my job, but it's times
I'm at night scrolling. I'm like, I have to go
to bed. Like, this is... Your little eyeballs.
Yeah. Screaming. I'm tired and I'm still... And
then you drop your phone on your face. On your
face. And that's when you know time to go to
bed. That's enough. Let's talk about the WNBA.
Yes. And I need to stop calling it. moment because
it's not like the WNBA is having, but it's here
and it's exploded and there's so much excitement
around it. As someone who advocates for women's
sports, what's it been like from your vantage
point to see so many other people get on board
and get excited about women in professional basketball?
It's so cool. So awesome. So fun. Um, I can't
remember exactly what happened. Oh, after it
was. kind of a bad incident when people were
throwing things onto the court. It was like one
of those moments of like, this wasn't happening
before all eyes were on it. But it was also a
realization of like, people care, people are
at the games, places are packed out. Yeah. The
traction is there. People have done that at men's
games forever, right? Which like, not think it's
good, but you're at a game. Why are you throwing
things? Like, yeah, what are we doing? But that's
that I think that's for me when I was like, oh
my gosh, like it's actually like grown to a point
to where now there are people doing weird things.
Unfortunately. Yeah. Um, but, and then also just,
um, it's coming up more in casual conversations
now with other people, like they're bringing
up more W players than obviously we love Asia
Wilson, Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, Paige Becker's
love the girls, but like, People are starting
to go further outside of like, now it's Natasha
Cloud, Gabby Williams, different players that
like aren't your usual top five that people automatically
think of. So - Who's your current favorite player?
My current favorite, Asia Wilson. She's just
amazing. I just, she's - From I know South Carolina
is an opponent of Kentucky. So I understand that
everybody breathe. She's just a real sweet Southern
girl and she just carries herself in an amazing
way. And she advocates for women and girls just
so hard. And she has a book and I've read it
and she talks about growing up with dyslexia
and stuff like that, like just different little
battles that she's had to deal with. And just
the way that she carries herself with so much
grace and whatnot. It's amazing. And also being
a beast on the court. It's like that balance
of like being such a sweet person, but also she
will get nasty on the court. And that's what
I love. I love anyone who's aggressive and nasty
on the court. That's my favorite. I love that.
It's exciting to watch. This is kind of like
big question and maybe a no brainer for you who's
in sports every day, but why is it important
to lift up women in sports? I feel like that's
so deep. It's just women obviously are a marginalized
group as a whole and so just understanding that
we can and we are capable to do whatever we want,
whatever we put our minds to and just knowing
that people support you in those moments makes
such a big difference. And it's like, I don't
know, we're just people. I just feel like it's
not that hard to just want to support other people.
And then I just feel like - Who are at the top
of their - Who are at the top of their game,
doing amazing things. And I just, women - just
have a certain je ne sais quoi about the soul
that is just like, I feel like adds a little
extra flair to everything that they do. So it's
just, I feel like it's very easy just to cheer
for the girls. I had this conversation recently
with Sierra too, because I'm not, I've said this
so many times on the podcast. I'm not really
into sports, but my husband is, and I see, you
know, we're all exposed to sports. And I recently
watched a women's basketball game, WNBA. And
I told Sierra afterwards, I said it was so much
more interesting to watch than a men's game because
The women are almost scrapped, like they're scrapping.
Maybe that's like painting with a broad brush,
but it was a lot more exciting. Honestly, the
vibes were just much more interesting. The people
that watch the W and that have been with the
W from the beginning have a genuine love for
the game of basketball and not saying that the
NBA doesn't. But it's just there's some games
you turn on and you just like, you know, they're
just out there, you know, but for the W, I feel
like, well, because they kind of they are playing
for their families, they are playing for their
lives. Like they don't get paid. Not all of them
are getting paid very well. So like they are
giving their all every single game. They probably
also feel like they have to earn respect of people
because if they're not giving their all people
are going to say they're underestimated. Yeah,
you know. And so It's just all of that just wraps
up into that. And yeah, I just love them so much.
Like ever since I, I don't remember how old I
was. I was teens. Me, my mom, my sister, my grandma
went to Washington DC for something I can't remember.
But we got to go to a Washington Mystics game.
And the arena wasn't very full, wasn't that many
people there. The tickets were relatively cheap.
Like, and I got to see Elena De La Donne, which
is like one of the best players in the W at the
time. She was amazing. It was the best. And that's
when I was like, Oh my gosh, like I've always
known about the W, but like being able to see
the game in person, I was like, This is the greatest
thing ever. And so ever since then, I've just
been obnoxious about the W. People will be talking
about other stuff. And I'm like, yeah, well,
did you see that Ryan Howard? She scored nine
straight threes last night. So let's talk about
it. And it's just like, OK. But now it's to a
point where if you do bring up something like
that, people can actually have something to say
back to you. And I think that's awesome. That
is really cool. I'm inspired. Who was your favorite
professional, like women's professional basketball
player growing up? It was, it was Elena Delano.
Guys, I'm only five, six, but at Franklin County
High School, a lot of us - You look taller than
that to me also. Thank you. You give like five,
nine. Thanks. That means so much to me. But yeah,
a lot of us weren't very tall, so I was actually
a post player for like - the majority of my playing
career. So she was like someone that I really
looked up to. And then also scholar Diggins was
like, coming up at Notre Dame when I was like
in high school. So like different people like
that, that's who I was looking up to. And I hope
I'm remembering that right. I always say like
a stat or something. And then I'm like, in my
head, I'm second guessing myself. I'm like, that's
the right school, right? But you'll have to take
back a lot of a lot of athletes and a lot of
schools. Well, hot mic time. Okay, wait. First,
before I start this, I want to ask you because
you love music, you're a big music gal as well.
What is your hype up song before like going to
a game? Do you have a song you listen to like
get ready to cover a game? Oh my gosh. Current,
maybe. Well, right now, actually, it's going
to be someone that is not one of the main faves.
Everyone knows who my favorites are. So Pink
Pantherous and Zara Larsen have remixed together
called State Size. I haven't heard it. Listen
to it. It's a pop. It's a fun, girly pop pop.
Love. One thing about me, I love the girls in
music. That's my main thing. You're such a supporter
of girls, which I love. Because I grew up with
such strong women as like my role models and
my supporters and in my family. And so I just
think it's just sustained throughout my life.
I'm like always for the girls. But yes, in another
life though, I think I would have been like a
music A &R or something, someone who finds talent
and then helps shape and mold them. but um or
maybe down the road we'll see yeah but that's
always been something that i wanted to do and
i also wanted to learn how to dj and Evie's husband
Charlie taught me how to play the guitar. I was
doing well for a while, but then I got the sports
job and then that was it. We need to get back
on that. We need to play the guitar together.
You should make a playlist, I think, for us to
get hype for sports. We should have a Hot Mic
playlist. Can you make a playlist specifically
for Hot Mic? I will. And what's funny, I used
high school. This is what all I would do was
like, if I wasn't at basketball practice, I was
like curating playlists. Were you burning That
was the time for limer yeah music if you need
a playlist Oh Dances in high school. I made the
play. I would curate the playlist. I was on we
were what's what is it? The president vice president
all that stuff in high school or council. Yeah,
I was in student government. I was student council.
And so like, I was vice president all four years
of my class. And so my job senior year for all
the dances was to make the playlist for everything.
And I took that job very seriously. But yeah,
guys, it's always my thing. And then, like during
COVID, me and one of my friends, his name's Josh,
we would Like, that's what we would do, just
spend our time making playlists, Spotify playlists,
and then we'd like send things to Spotify. We're
like, hey, if you... If you need people to do
work, we can, we can do that. We've been trying
for years to get on that Spotify. They're just
like, I love that. I'm just shooting your shot.
Absolutely. I love that. Also, are we good on
time because Keith Palmer really have me stressed
out. We have time to ask you, this is going to
be one word. Quick, quick round. What you think
about these people. One word. First, Angel Reese.
Astonishing. Oh, that's a good one. Travis Kelsey.
You can take your time. Overrated. The face said
it all. You know, it's just been a lot recently.
Okay. Mark Pope. Love. There we go. Okay. This
is a combo Drake and his relationship with the
University of Kentucky. Oh, I probably should
be diplomatic. Worn out at this point. Does he
still come? No, that's the thing. Worn out. Because
it's like, I understand that he's given the basketball
team like Noctua outfits and whatnot. What outfits?
Noctua. I think that's his brand. Oh, it's his
brand. Okay. Yes. And so like, love that for
them. But like at this point, I'm over it. I
don't. Hey. But I'm not a student. And so, you
know, that's okay. You heard it here first. Yeah.
Worn out. Beyonce. Icon. Legend. Yeah, that's
all you have to say. That's all you have to say,
honestly. And our final person, Keith Farmer.
Already said love. Bestie. He's not my bestie,
but yeah, I can see that for yes, he was really
being funny last night He was like I heard you're
gonna have Sierra on she has a heart out and
she needs to be at a press conference tomorrow
And I know you guys are just gonna gab gab gab
like key. Yeah, okay. We're professional He knows
I love to talk and he knows a lot to talk to
you guys Yeah, like I just think honestly, he's
just having FOMO because he's not here So yeah,
you guys have such a fun dynamic in the sports
department. We said the same thing to Maggie
then I always, I feel FOMO looking in through
those little windows. Like what are they laughing
about in there? You guys can come in. Sometimes
I walk in and they're all doing something that
I don't get. You know, like something that I
don't understand. It's okay, we'll explain it
to you. Thank you. Yeah. No, you guys should
come in sometime. That's the one thing that I'm
like, sometimes I'm like, oh, people will probably
think that we're just like, so like. No one come
in, but it's like the exact opposite. Well, there's
sometimes when we close both doors, that's when
we're like, okay, we have to lock in guys. Don't
bother us then. But like most of the time, if
you just see us in there laughing and gabbing,
it's because we are laughing and gabbing. At
us. Always a laugh and always a gab. Last question
for you, Sierra, just as we are now heading into
basketball season. I mean, we're in it. How are
you feeling about women's and the men's teams?
Oh, I'm so excited. Um, I think both teams have
a really high ceiling. I feel like both teams
have the opportunity to make a national championship
run. Like they both started off on a really good
foot last season. And now that they know what
to expect, especially when it comes to the men's
team, they have high expectations every single
year, but like really that ninth championship,
like that's basically. Oh, UK fans won. And so
I feel like they have a really good grasp on
that, even though as of today, their record,
they do have a loss. But guys, it's not the end
of the world. It's only November, right? That's
the thing. That's the thing. November, you are
figuring out where your team is, what they need
to work on. And I think it's better that we lose
now than in the later part of the year. So I'm
just really excited for both teams and I absolutely
adore the women's basketball team. The triplets,
Claire Strack, Amelia Hassett and Tiani Key,
they're like the tallest girls I've ever met.
They're so awesome. They're literally cute. Like
the whole women's basketball team can be models,
but like it's their dominance when it comes to
rebounding and blocking shots. was amazing last
year. So I'm just so excited to see how they'll
grow with that this season. And then they have
a couple players that weren't there last year,
like their point guard Tony Morgan, she literally
just hit 500 career assists. Crazy. She's only
like, she's among the top five, I think, and
active players when it comes to assists. So that's
awesome. And then Jordan Obie, she had an injury
last season that didn't allow her to play and
she's a grad student. So She's playing this year
and each game she's shown like, she's like, I'm
here and I am going to make an impression this
season. And I just like the way she plays. She's,
she's aggressive. She's one of those players
that's very sweet, but when she's on the court,
she gets nasty. And I love that. Like she's like
bodying up to people. Yeah. So, um, I'm really
excited for both teams. I could go on forever,
but I'm just so excited. That would be another
Hot Mic episode. Yeah. A separate Hot Mic episode
where I'm just yapping about every player on
the team and how awesome they are. We love to
hear you yap. A lot of really good storylines
to follow this season for the men and women and
your storyline, Sierra Nguyen. Totally. It's
been so fun to get to know you a little better.
And I think for our viewers and listeners, especially
if they're going to the games to know. You are
one of the women behind CBN tonight, behind the
coverage that we bring to UK athletics. And you
do an awesome job. Thank you. This flew by. Yeah,
I know. Are we, are you going to be late? We
should do this more often. We should. You're
not going to be late. Same time next week. I'll
be here. But you guys, if you see me at games,
wave at me, say hi to me, that kind of thing.
It always like means so much when people actually
do come up and say something. Cause some days,
you know, you feel like you're just going through
the motions. and you don't really know if you're
making an impact to people, but then you'll go
out in the community and someone's like, that
story that Megan or Evy did, that was really
awesome. That was really fun. Or that I did see
you at the game the other day, but I just didn't
want to talk to you because you looked like you
were busy. I'm like, no, talk to me now. But
there have been times where I'm like actively
shooting something that I was, hey, I'm like,
oh, just a sec. Yeah, but no. Love meeting people.
Love talking to people. Love this job. Love you
guys. That's why she was an NKU student tour
guide. Yes. There we go. We love it. And people
can follow you on social media because you're
really good about posting what's going on, the
adventure covering the games and all that. A
little plug for your social media. Yeah. So my
at name is so flossy, right? So Flossie, Flossie
is my middle name. My great grandmother, her
name's Flossie. And so that's where I get it
from. It's a family name. So it wasn't just like
a random thing that I did. But so Flossie writes
because I did start out as a print journalist.
But once I got the check mark, I was like, oh,
we're not going back. And I'm also not paying
for it. So like, yeah, we're not changing. So
so Flossie writes. That's the story behind it.
But yeah, that's me. Or you search Sierra Newton.
That'll also come through. We'll find you. Well,
thank you so much for coming on Hot Mice. It
was a pleasure. Have fun with all of your press
conferences and all the chaos today. And as we're
in crossover season, we'll be watching. Okay,
and to our viewers and our listeners, thank you
so much. I never know which camera we're on Here
her mug hot like there you go. Now you can really
made it. You've really made it Honestly, this
is the real reason I'm here Thank you for listening
and watching make sure you are joining us next
week as we have another guest on for hot mic