"Live Boldly with Rev Sara Smith," Episode #2 - September 12, 2026

0:00I Why do you keep on staring I'm here Dress sizes can't define don't let the world to sow was beautiful You So don't back and just run so what you got just own it. No, they can't take you apart If you try to Rimmel heart running Don't be afraid take the road Let's travel around your booth and kick up the gravel Don't be afraid take the road Let's travel

1:00Well Take the road Let's travel around your booth and kick up the gravel Why y'all rise and shine this is your host Reverend Sarah and this is Liv Boldly a new program on our beloved local radio station WPKN Every second Saturday of the month at this most popular time of seven a.m But it will be worth waking up for as Liv Boldly promises to bring you progressive Passionate voices on important issues of the day Every month you'll have the opportunity to hear from people in our local community who have taken risk stepped out of their comfort zone Overcome barriers and made a name for themselves by not following the rules Who believed in themselves when others did not and who have spoken their truth Here's some truth about me. I serve as senior minister of United congregational Church of Bridgeport I'm also founder and president CEO of nourished Bridgeport Inc

2:03I grew up on a thousand acre farm in the great Commonwealth of Kentucky in the same town where Abraham Lincoln was born So now you know two famous people from Hodgeville, Kentucky I Have tried to live boldly throughout my life as a woman a lesbian a spiritual leader an open-minded Southerner working toward justice on all sorts of issues women Immigration LGBTQ and civil rights Interfaith and religious pluralism Care of the earth and our neighbors who struggle with food insecurity On every episode of Liv Boldly We will think about such issues of the day and interview folks in our community who already are living boldly and in the process Are changing the world My hope is that by hearing these amazing stories We will all be inspired to live more boldly. So let's get to it folks. I'm Reverend Sarah Let's put on our boots. Let's kick up some gravel and take the road. Let's travel

3:08Okay, friends. We're here ready to start talking on September 8th and I have two of the most amazing women guests today Their coaches at Sacred Heart University We have coach Pam London who heads up the women's softball program She has a whole field dedicated to her sport who figures and then we've got coach Jessica Manetti dear friend of mine And also the award winning championship bringing head coach of the women's basketball team at Sacred Heart So today we're going to talk to them about how they've lived boldly what they've done in their life that could inspire the rest of us to get up off the couch and go So let's get started. All right, so introduce yourself tell me who you are where you're from and what do you do? Hi, Rev. Thanks for having us here today. This is gonna be so fun Jessica Manetti here. I'm from New Canaan, Connecticut born and raised Fairfield County Girl through and through and I am the head women's basketball coach at Sacred Heart I've been here for 14 years now entering my 24th year overall and recently you all won how many championships back to back

4:13Oh, we won two back to back championships who are super excited NCAA tournament experience It was just amazing and you were there I was there. I bless you. I'm what you think you want. That's true. That's true We got the reference on our side and you all gave me the big championship rings You know if you hit somebody with him you kill him. So don't do that. That was the plan Hey, thanks for having me rev Pam London here. I am born and raised right here in Bridgeport, Connecticut my entire life went to Bridgeport Central High School I've been coaching at Sacred Heart for quite a while. I'm entering my 38th season as Coach of the Sacred Heart softball program And they do very well as well Yeah, the last time we went on to the NCAAs. It was like 2009 2010, but on we'll get back there. We will get back there So yeah, just really happy to be here Like I said born and raised here. So been a bridgeport member my entire life

5:15I'm so pleased here that because that's where I work and live and try to make a difference to I we appreciate it I think Bruce Ford did good by you because look you turned out all right I guess so Pam how would people describe you? Well, how I hope people would describe me is pretty genuine. I'm I'm pretty caring and pretty genuine I'm a good friend. I hope they would say I'm a pretty good friend. How are you in the coaching business? I'm fiery. I'm tough, but I'm tough love So you know, I might tell you my point and get it across But I'll certainly hug you after and tell you that you're the best and you can do this those coaches are the ones that make such a difference Thank you. Thanks. All right, man. How would you describe yourself? Oh, no, no, I'm gonna see how would people describe you? You know, I think people historically have described me as relentless highly competitive caring a little dramatic

6:15Somebody that is pretty fearless when it comes to life and and going after things that I want and I love very hard So I think that is a piece of my life that I love to carry with me, you know in every facet of it How are you as a coach? Yeah as a coach. I pretty much could pretty much describe me the same way, right? I love hard. I coach hard. I'm fearless competitive relentless all the things. Yes, I've seen you in your mind Heels stomp the basketball courts I'm like, hey, they're gonna get you for that. You don't want to mess with the wood Yeah, but I think as hard as you coach, you know, and Pam's the same way and you're the same way With people I think as hard as you coach you love just as hard and I think the relationship pieces of coaching the building pieces of character and Challenging young women to develop into these really incredible fierce people that are gonna take on the world I think that's a really big piece of coaching and mentoring for us as well. So so you're not just playing a sport No, you all are shaping people for the future

7:17You know, they may or may not play basketball or softball. I played when I was a kid and look at me now Yeah, you know, but it shaped me it formed me. So that's part of your role too. Yeah, so that's how people see you How would you describe yourself? I? I know I would say I'm passionate about everything I do right I I'm not gonna waste my own time and not give 110% on everything I do and I have Conviction with everything I do and I'm gonna get it done one way or the other I'm gonna find a way to get it done because I believe in it You know, man, you told me I'd like her and you're right. Yeah, yeah Yeah, that was like I could have said the exact same thing. We're gonna be good friends What about you, man? How do you describe yourself? I Think it the same way people would probably describe me But I also think there's a side that I don't show a lot of people when it comes to the big teddy bear inside like I cry Listening to songs and I really care deeply about the people in my life that are in my circle and end of others So I think yeah, why you can come off sometimes as a woman as this fierce ferocious competitive relentless

8:23Person but on the inside you're just kind of a big teddy bear You know, so I think that's a side a lot of people might not know but I Hurted described as a velvet covered brick. Yeah All right, let's talk about what you did as kids this love of sports started somewhere What was the first sport you played coach fam? baseball Wow tell me about this wall. I went into the North End Little League when I was only I think I was probably seven years old And I was like probably one of two girls that were in the little league at the time and It was kind of groundbreaking back then, you know, and it wasn't very popular Some of the parents did not love it Probably because I was probably in the top 10 of the best ball players Yeah, and my dad told me, you know, don't don't worry about it Don't you think about it? It's the problem is is that you're better than most of the boys And that's what everybody's mad at equals you just do what you want to do if you want to play we're gonna get you to play

9:29Yeah, yeah, he was very supportive my dad. Yeah, we're gonna talk about difference in baseball and softballed a little bit All right, well then he would you do first kickball? Well, I think my mom wanted to make me a dancer when I was little like I was in dance class and all that All those cute little like tap and belly. Yeah, and then I got into soccer soccer was like the big thing everybody It was like that entry love the gateway sport into everything But I also played little league baseball my dad was a coach really yeah We didn't have a lot of softball leagues in New Canaan up until high school So I was up until eighth grade. I played little league boy. I never played softball. So I was in high school Right, yeah, probably your experience. So yeah, so I was softball and then obviously got into basketball and volleyball and all these other things But yeah soccer was like the game play college right I played all three in college and that was where I Concordia college in New York. Yeah division two was great. You play volleyball Basketball and softball wow. I know go just class. Did you get barely barely? I just say I just ain't extra semester much to my parents

10:32Yeah, I did graduate friends. No, I did we guys credentialed. Yeah, thank God Questionable, but yeah, that what about you? Painted you paying school. I sure did I played right here at Sacred Heart University Yes, we were part of a final four team that went to the literal division two final four. Yeah three years So good for you know, what's your position? I was a second basement. Oh, yeah, that was the one I played after my arm gave out from third Yeah, well, I was actually shortstop when I came but our coach at the time God bless the soul Pete Dioreo. He's deceased at the point at this point But he recruited nothing but short stops because he felt we were the best athletes But when we got there he would like line us all up and go okay your arm stinks London you're going to second base And I was like thank you for sugar coating that sir. We're gonna get along great So that's how I became a second basement then the Soft pitch to the second and you turn around and you throw it all that was like the best feeling in the world

11:33Yeah, that's what I could actually bend over And and when you were at Sacred Heart, well, we're gonna talk. It's a very different school Then it is oh my god night and day. Yeah, but you got your own field of practice. Yeah, yeah, yeah Go on. Yeah, we were built to stadium over there. Yeah, that's something. It was amazing actually amazing and we are very grateful All right, when in all of your time of as an athlete yourself when were you at your best? When were you like top of the line nobody messes with me that you're London I Think I mine was right out of clock college Honestly, we went on out when we graduate college We went on to play competitive slow pitch like it in the leagues and when we learned how to finally hit because we were Pretty bad we would win games literally to one because we were great defensively, but we stunk Couldn't hit slow pitching, but once we So once we learned and we got the hang of it

12:34I think like honestly because you're like a 22 23 24 year old athlete now and I mean we were we were good. We won a lot of championships and nationals and stuff You were in shape, but you also were experienced Correct you knew what to do correct. Don't be college kid. That's right. No offense coach kids Yeah, I mean, there's a sweet spot in there when you're old enough to know right? Yeah, I would say right after that Those are some of my best softball days in my life. Yeah, what about you, man Eddie? I Probably with experience right so my junior senior year in high school my junior senior year in college I think young women attach a lot of success to their confidence And so by the time you get to that upper class men kind of mindset and that experience all of a sudden now You're a little more fearless and you can do a lot more So I think probably you know your upper class my upper class many years in high school and college were probably my best Yeah, I never I never got the chance like Pam to play afterwards So I went straight into coaching right after I tell us about that. Yeah, a green farm's Academy

13:36Right here in Westport. I got really fortunate to get a head coaching job and so high school students high school Yeah, I was handed a bar set zero experience. I think I coached In camps and clinics and then I coached a seventh and eighth grade girls travel basketball league in New Canaan for a year And then wham all of a sudden it was like hey, do you want to be a varsity head coach at 23 with no experience? I was like let's do it. So yeah often running but it was awesome like you know it's much as good The key in you overcame that barrier. Yeah, you became that did you couldn't do it because you did yeah Yeah, it was really cool. It was such a great play at that level. Who else like what's your competitive sacred heart Academy? Yes, the Nepps Act schools so King Loha with Thomas at the time now. It's just King Yeah, Merced master school And how long would you have to be in there six years? Oh, so you learned a lot. Yeah, tell me the difference to high school students and college students Oh my gosh, oh boy, I'm in I'm looking at each other going oh boy You know, I think high school students. It's just different right like some high school students are fully in like two

14:38Feet in all committed. They want to be great. They want to play at the next level Some just do it because it's fine and it's social and they're kind of good at it and they want that athletic experience So I think the jump from high school the college is a really really big one because not only do you challenge a player in college to be Talented but you also challenge them mentally with toughness right resilience Response to failure now. They're a little fish in a big pond again. How can we adjust so there's a fast Difficulty degree over here too and they're trying to get a degree in the balance So I think you know, I think both Approaches are with love and with growth and with a teaching mindset But I think that you really level up the stakes when you go from high school to college Yeah, bro. And I think down that too. Oh, yeah, and I think their independence level Raises rises and that's a problem because mom and dad aren't there saying hey, do you have a test tomorrow? Hey, did you study? Hey, did you this no? Yeah, right? They're taking naps. They're hanging out In the calf and by the time they turn around it's like oh wow like I didn't get that paper done and it's due tomorrow

15:42Right, so time management skills need to really really go up the scale for them to be successful in college students Yeah, how many how many meltdowns like I think college kids have way more meltdowns Like they walk into the office and sometimes you're like are you okay and they just cry? Oh my god It's okay I have to be surrogate parent. Oh, yeah, yeah, think of it this way too like we have a lot of kids from all over the country I have a lot of Californians. I have Minnesota kids. I have Michigan kids. I've had Texas kids I mean, there's also the homesickness factor so you know, and that's real especially in women like you know Girls seem to be very close to their families. I'd not to say boys aren't but I mean girls especially with their moms and you know the whole bit and it's hard Okay, see it Chris. Yeah, um, yeah, but I I found it's because I'm part of the chaplain at Sacred Heart Which is how I know you all and like I did my little pep talk with the student nurse association

16:47And they're like we could just cry because you moved us so much. They're just the feels are so good And I think some of that is the going from 18 to 22 But also it's um, they're finally learning to express and not be filtered by parents And so it's like sort of a free for all you know, and what I've taught class It's like oh, yeah, hear it all, you know, and uh, and yet there's I love college students because they're little sponges And I I love to go in and just blow their brains up So the first thing I sent Pam was okay you all if you have trouble with people of color If you have trouble with gay folks get over because you're gonna be a nurse And you gotta take care of them because they're people And then I said and you know when I have my knee surgery that I Got because I'm a lesbian and that's part of being a lesbian is you are your knee plane softball They all just look to me like oh my god. I'm like am I the first person? You know this guy it's like

17:48But they they just everything's big yeah, and and they're just Wired to take it all in and that's why I love that because you can blow their little minds up But then they need that they need to see the world wider and broader and So what you all are doing? Yes, it's a sport and yes, you want to win of course of course, but there's other winnings in this right? Yeah, there's other when you see him go and actually handle something without melting down Right and you will see that eventually, right? All right, I just want to remind everybody you have tuned in to WPK and I'm your favorite host Reverend Sarah, and this is live baldly We are at 7 a.m. On the second Saturday of every month at WPK and the world's greatest radio station And we're proud to be produced by them and yes We are in the heart of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and we're doing great things So let's hear we're talking to coach Pam London and coach Jessica Manetti two powerhouses

18:51My two friends Yes, Reverend Sarah as friends And we're at we're trying to figure out what makes them so exceptional coach So you talked about the the going in and melting down, but what's your favorite aspect of coaching college age women? The favorite thing you love besides winning honestly for me It's literally watching them come in as like 17 18 year olds and Just mature and grow right in front of my eyes and by the time they're leaving Like they're said literally saying to me, why did you put up with me? You know, and I'm like because I love you and because I knew this transition would take place and I couldn't be more proud of you now Like the watch that it's honestly, it's one of the biggest satisfaction So now let's guess to me you've done 38 years 38 Well, I'm on my 30th Easy, I'm on my 30th We're not rolling right over to 30 90 years But how many students? Oh my god, I don't think about it. Yeah, think about it right how many got on a roster of year?

19:53Average 25 say 25 all right, somebody do the math engineer 25 times 38 five five six hundred maybe over six hundred Yeah, but Pam thank you. Yeah, well for your influence That the trajectory of those young women's life changed because of you and now that 600 people out there that then They're gonna raise their kids different or be themselves differently or whatever because you taught them how to play softball We also taught them how to grow up. Yeah, yeah, I hope so. I would like to thank you. Thank you Yeah, I have any on your side there, manettey You're not as old as us No, I think well my number is gonna be smaller just because our team size is smaller But I'd say right now we're probably close to about a hundred alumni From since 2013 maybe which is really exciting And I look I have this big wall if you ever walk into my office You're just you see this giant wall and I have a team photo up of every year that we take and when I have recruits or when I'm hosting Some a guest into the office. I always talk about oh this one's a doctor. This one's a nurse

20:55This one is a CEO in finance. This one is doing great things in PT. She has her doctor in PT And it's just this wall that reminds me of the journey that they go on and how it takes a village And I think one of the most special parts about coaching You know, I couldn't agree with Pam more about the transformation. They they make in front of your eyes But also it's them recognizing Hey, I'm part of something that's bigger than me It's not better than me, but it's more and I have this opportunity to make an impact in not only in other people's lives in my community It to to pay it forward I was coached and mentored by somebody and to be able to say Hey, I get to give that back one day whether it's through being a mother being a coach being a teacher Being a part of being a prevalent part of your community like a referent right like you get to be this really special impact Because somebody helped you to get to this point Well, and I say over and over again, Jess that no one they'll say oh whoever it's here look at all you did And yeah, I'm old enough to have done a lot I didn't do any of it by myself. Yeah None of us are success stories We all live boldly, but it's because we got our support system behind us and got people urgent as pulling us

22:01Sometimes arguing with us, but sharpening us to make us better Nobody does good on their own And um well done now you didn't tell me your favorite aspect of coaching college age women Well, they keep it real and they make it fun. I walk in there's music, blaring their personalities are really starting to shine You know between 18 to 22 these young women become really empowered They feel really good with their independence. They kind of figure out who they are They start to get a little fearless. They start to build their confidence and I think And their bodies are pretty much grown They're not going through all that crazy Stuff anymore They're just fun like the you walk in and their energy is contagious like I think they keep me really young with my mindset You know, I'm 47. I don't feel 47 I don't think any of us actually feel our age because we're constantly surrounded by this young contagious energy that just lifts you And so I think my favorite part of coaching is yes the journey the success watching them graduate doing everything we plan But it's just getting to be around these really incredible young people that just inspire you to be your best all the time right and

23:06Keeps you really grounded. So you are inspiring them to be their best You're inspiring their inspiring you to be your best actually you want to keep up with them somewhat. Yeah, you know like I'm Civitative sits So 62 But like so for me they certainly keep me young like you know, I know like things I would never know like yeah The hit terms I know all the songs. I know you know, and when I don't they like crack up laughing because I don't know what I'm talking about And I'm like all right come on teach me that you know So it's it is fun and it does keep you young. Yeah, I was just saying that to a friend the other day I'm like I think I feel young because I'm around young kids all the time Well having a blast with them. That's right. That's right. And you know they need you all I don't know if you know that but they need somebody that's grounded and knows who they are and is also still willing to grow and to learn Now a little more serious How has women sports changed in your career lifetime? I mean we just started the professional

24:08Women's professional baseball league and I want to talk to you a little about that But just in general from a 30,000 foot view how has women sports changed in the last 20 years? I mean you're a pioneer. Yeah, I mean I think for me just the word opportunities I mean we didn't have all these opportunities right And in my day like you finished your sport and basically you waited and hoped Even not when I was there, but after me even that you made the Olympics or that was it like that was the only shot You had it going on right now with all these opportunities of all these leagues after college It's amazing to me because God you can keep that dream going and back then you know We were just like well you better get your degree because you're done as a softball player You're gonna go play slow-pull it pitch-rec you know, but um, but now these kids have true opportunities And it's amazing the WNBA for example like Oh crazy, right? And because we've had a few superstars say hey we're over your plane great basketball

25:08People love it. Absolutely. And frankly, I tell you why I love women's ball one I just love basketball and I love women playing basketball But it's it because okay, I'm just gonna say this because we talk real here a lot of times on the professional men's basketball It's dunk. Yep. Dunk. Yeah, which is phenomenal And I wish I could jump you know more than one inch off the ground But I can't but it's like women they they make plays they set picks They do a screen they have to do the long shot. They have to know how to get in there and re you know rebound and it's just more Team yeah, team is different different. It's different here much more diplomatic All right, how have you seen women sports change? Well, you know The opportunity to play and the financial opportunity that they can now Is unbelievable one it's just opportunity opportunity now financial opportunities With the collective bargaining agreements with women's soccer women's basketball. I don't know softball I have a professional

26:09Limited I mean, it's it's unreal the opportunity they have financially now to make it a full-time job So it used to be women were part-time employees playing these professional sports and now their full-time with benefits in a union protected So I think the opportunity is not only great for the athletes Well, let's talk about even coaching like when I was a little girl I want I knew from the time I was like 1415 I wanted to be a college basketball coach or like I even I was like let me let me coach the nicks the New York Knicks Right because there wasn't WNBA started when I in 2000 when I was still in college still young So yeah, it's only 25 years old so like I was like I want to coach on the men's side I want to be the first woman to ever coach on the men's side. I want to be I want to be a GM the general manager for the New York Knicks Right, so I interned for the Knicks and I kind of got a feel behind in the administrative office to see what that was like and then all of a sudden Fast forward, you know I'm trying to break this glass ceiling and get down to the men's side and get my foot in the door And now fast forward 20 years later and Becky Hammond is coaching professional basketball and you have these women

27:12That are coaching at the division one levels on the men's side And so there's just a lot more opportunity for women to coach professional teams for women to coach college teams That are men's teams now that there's more gender equity. There's more title nine. There's more Opportunity to make this your career forever. And do you think title nine was significant and breaking that first barrier? Oh, yeah, for sure The first title nine team girls basketball in my high school way back in nowhere, Kentucky and we were We could do pickup. We do this. We do anything to play it all of a sudden we had a team We had the the boys outfits from the year before okay, not the same shape We had to practice at 530 in the morning in the gym because the boys got the really good time We had to do a smaller ball and then half court and it was just ridiculous Now eventually we got a regular size ball. We got full court and and in three years My high school team of those girls went to regionals went to state not the boys because I'm great. I want to play and I'm wondering if that was the first crack in it. Yeah

28:17Yeah, you know and now look at what we're doing for sure. Yeah, title nine was transformational for women for sure And unfortunately sometimes it's just like legislating seatbelts You have to legislate to do the right thing. Yeah, and when people say why is that important look at the look at the progress we made Yeah, yeah, how do you think the adult men basketball players take to a woman coach You know, it's interesting juicy stories so They they first of all these male athletes are huge supporters of women's sports You want to see a girl dad at a game with Caitlin Clark Jersey on open your eyes and look at it It's unbelievable how these dads are huge supporters. They're little boys running around at WMBA games with these these pagebackers jerseys on So it's awesome to see how much men have really embraced and supported women even these NBA players that are coming to sit court side for WMBA Kevin Durant runs a team Durant AAU program for the top high school girls in the country So I just think these male athletes these these professional

29:18They're helping plow the field so much It's been awesome. Yeah, it's a resisting it Yeah, professional baseball now they're in the minors. There's there's quite a few Women managers in the minor leagues. So they're they're embracing it as well and they're successful They're being they're being very successful there. Yeah, so I agree with you I think I think they're not as close minded as everyone thinks really well And that shame on me for thinking that well no they were well, but they're when I coach when I come to coach when I enter for the next and the WMBA was like their inaugural season Men would come to Madison Square Garden and put paper bags over their heads at the game because they'd rather Be watching the inside of a paper bag then watch professional women's basketball. I'm not kidding It was all up to the newspaper. So it was there. It was there and now it's totally different But it's taken a minute to get well and maybe those grown men having little girls as children, you know Changes everything you pick a bottle girl Yeah, boy, right? Yeah, so things it's certainly been a journey So I let's talk about these hard things give me a story

30:22When you were treated differently as a woman athlete or a woman coach Then you're male counterpart counterparts Uh, I mean I could go back to right when I graduated um college and it was I don't know Let's say like 1989-ish when we were I was playing in those Fet of those slow pitch leagues that were at the national level and I remember being down in South Carolina in a rural area of South Carolina and I had a male coach who was my brother-in-law and then we had a female coach She was one of our players at Sacred Heart who was older and she was an awesome player and those were our two coaches And something transpired in the game and we were arguing calls. She wanted to argue a call So our coach went female coach went up to the umpire and said, you know, I would like to talk about this colon He said I won't talk to you. I will only talk to the man And she said well, I'm the head coach. He is not the head coach and he said I don't care. I will not talk to a woman Oh, wow and this is 1989

31:25And so my brother-in-law blesses hard. He's the nicest guy in the world He's looking going oh boy me and we were like yeah, you have to come down and so she goes could you come down? You know can come down and talk to him so he came down and she still asked the question and the umpire looked right at my brother-in-law And answered the questions and my brother-in-law never uttered a word But he would not speak to our coach woman coach. You only would speak to my brother-in-law 1989 is that crazy or what so see and the thing is you don't want we don't want to have to go back and dig up all the dirt But it's important to know the stories Because it showed your resilience. Yeah, the woman's resilience and say oh yeah I can work around this little stupid rule you have so I sometimes I think it's important that we tell the hard stories Because that's how we overcome them. Yeah, because I I suspect that would not be the same story today No, I wouldn't think so although I will tell you there are up until maybe five six seven years ago I feel like there were a lot of games where at the collegiate level

32:28Women coaches were told like all right easy easy relax Meanwhile on the other side the male coach is going crazy on them and they're saying uh, you know Oh, let's talk about this coach, but for us soon as we you know get a little nervous and say I'd like to Relax Pam relax. Yeah, you're hysterical. You know the root word of hysterical is the saying root is hysterectomy It is and they would say that I mean it's it's part of that bias that women can't be emotional Oh, I get that in my field. Why do you always cry? You can't cry in front of the church. I'm like look the day the stuff stops Mattering to me and touching me and I feel you know spiritually something Then I need to stop and go back and be it a lawyer because no and it just like but some man tell me that I was like I cried because I love this place You know and now the whole church cries so it's okay And like why is it not okay to show emotion either man women or otherwise? That's right

33:31That's right. Well that guy must be the most uncomfortable guy in church now. Yeah, that doesn't go there Yeah, everybody's crying. No, no, no, he he now cries because he When you turn 90 things to I do lose your wife and you do this obviously it's different, but um, I just said no, I'm not gonna do that Yeah, don't ask me to you know, this is who you get so tell me a story that was hard for you, Jess um I remember about 20 years ago. I was I got my start in five star basketball five star basketball Was a really prestigious basketball camp at the time for the elite level boys in the country So Michael Jordan Lebron James Steph Curry Chris Paul I could name a million guys that came through these as high school players So all the college coaches would come watch in the summer And I was hired as their director of operations and I was like, why can't I coach what's going on like I want to coach these guys I'm a coach. I want to be a coach. I played college basketball. I'm in this whole thing and they had never had a female coach in their um Program ever like they'd never let a female coach on court in their in their programs summer programs

34:35This was about 2001. Oh gosh. Yeah, that's a lot of 2001 and I remember I connected with um that their director and they were great. They were they thought I did a great job They thought I was really um kind of progressive for our female coach and up and coming So they gave me an opportunity to coach at a junior level boys camp And then I was seen there by a boys high school coach who then said hey this coach does a great job You got to scoop her up and and let her elevate and so I worked my way up to elevate to not only a coach Like because there were different levels of coaches in five star But eventually they made me a league commissioner, which is the highest level you could reach After like four years that I was there and it was groundbreaking right but it took About three Directors three of these men that ran the program you know Lee Klein Tony Burjeron Well-clined Howard Garfield they were like you know what we're gonna give her a shot And so it was it was kind of groundbreaking. It was breaking you know

35:35It was breaking through these gender norms that women can't coach that women can't coach boys And that the boys were really respectful. They listened they they were intense They were really really talented and I remember saying to myself wow and to this day I'm still the only woman that's ever coached at five star on the boys Which is really cool, but I give so much credit to the men that ran the the Company because it was unheard of for a woman to touch up the field for you Yeah, and that will just like you to a plow the field for the next one. So where That leads into my next question Where are your dreams for women sports? Where's this gonna go? You're gonna your plow in the field kids. Where you going? What do you want to see happen? I mean, I have to tell you for our sports off-ball I mean the fact that the women's college world series at the division one level out ranks the viewership of the Men's baseball College world series is amazing. I never thought I would see that day that was a dream where These top level teams would actually be in everybody's living room and they're tuning in by choice

36:40You don't I mean by like saying like oh tonight Oklahoma is playing UCLA tonight. We can't miss that right like that is that's something I never thought I would see So honestly skies the limit. I mean, I'm just on this roller coaster ride with them And I hope it continues to climb and I mean, we're prime time at some point on ESPN not ESPN you or W or X or Y or Z We are on ESPN when the college world series is that's because there's enough people Alonnie and no you make it yeah, no make it worth it because you know in the end. It's about the money Yes, but now we're showing that women sports can pull in money and pull in now we got to pay women's athletes Yeah, come in sir. Correct. Yeah, right. Yeah, so what are your dreams, man? Any I have so many dreams for these these young women and these little girl I want little girls to have role models that they look up to and they can say I can do that I can do that without somebody telling them no I do I think forgetting yeah A lot of people in my life in your life in your life, I'm sure I have told you know

37:41For a lot of different reasons and I've never taken no for an answer. I know You two have never taken no for an answer I want young women to keep defying the norms. I want them to continue to pursue their dreams I want them to think they can do anything and because they can because they can and we see it now in the WMBA We see I mean, I'm living the dream right now watching how successful the WMBA is we're the best team in the world when it comes to the Olympics like you know As far as my sport specific dream it's it's there we're at the pinnacle of that at the moment But I what I really want to see is that these little girls for the next generation and whoever pay it forward keep pushing the envelope Keep demanding equity keep saying yes, we can do all these things Yes, we're not going to take no for an answer like just give us an opportunity Let I can't wait to see a woman president one day. It's gonna happen, you know like yeah, we can do everything That's right. We just have to keep hammering at that ceiling. Yeah, and yeah, I was one of the first 20 openly gay people are damed in the United States to be a minister and

38:45People are like I mean people just said one we want men and we don't want a woman And then we don't want women who love women You heard me preach you're gonna fall in love with this, okay, but you you have to hold on to your own self and your belief in that Because the the hammers will chip at you and can really wear you down if you're not careful So this is why we need these conversations. So thank you all for joining us and you have tuned in To jump in PK in I'm your favorite host Reverend Sarah, and this is live boldly We're talking to coach Pam London and coach Jessica Manetti. Let me tell you they are fierce And now we're gonna find out why I need a story Of when you've taken a risk or overcome a barrier Or march to the beat of your own drum That doesn't mean you're always successful sometimes and you march you know you go right off the cliff But you didn't so tell me something where you have lived boldly

39:48You have anything? I mean, I I don't know. I mean recently I overcame lymphoma. So I had large b-cell lymphoma and it was diagnosed right in February Or January when I was beginning my spring season. So for me It was a kick in the teeth so to speak because I've been like super healthy my whole life Excuse me found it by accident and I found it in an early stage. Thank the Lord And it was kind of like rocked my world basically and I was like, you know My biggest thought was like I don't even want to tell my family because I know I'm so close with my family and I know I'm kind of like one of the pillars in the family So I didn't want to scare them So I waited till like literally I was gonna make a decision on how I was gonna treat this to like get people together and go tell them I'm from my family and say whoa so this is happening I have it and I'm getting treatment tomorrow and they were like whoa wait a minute, you know, but I 24

40:5024 I'm great. I'm I'm cancer-free. Thank God and Full-year cancer-free. Yeah, good job. Yeah, but uh for me it was about Being afraid not to be there for everybody else So like I had my girls right my team were just starting in January, right? And we're just starting up and I recruited them to be Yeah, and I'm like oh my god now I have to tell them you know and I said well This is a life lesson. We're gonna go through this together I'm not back and down from this and not staying home and hanging out at home because my doctor's like you can't be around germs You can't be as I said no stop. I'm going So yeah, I said I'm going and uh and we did we got through it and I have to say that team that 24 spring team got me through it They they were amazing bringing me Gatorade telling me to drink telling me to I was like you guys have to leave me alone You're really starting to know I mean now, you know, but I love this idea that the team told her to go drink He derives and they were putting uh, you know Uh, piti a light in front of me and this and that and I was like you guys. I can't even sit here

41:52I have to go to the bathroom. Maybe five seconds. Thanks to you guys So but it was great. They were great and um and I you know, I've got through it and everything was great Congratulations. I'll be um cancer-free for what two years. Yeah almost two years. Well good for you Good for you. Amazing. Yeah, that's all right great great story of overcoming a huge barrier But you didn't do it alone. No You don't build anything good. You don't overcome anything hard by yourself. Yeah, so Nadi tell me a story of when you've lived boldly Oh I think I've lived boldly in a lot of ways I fight constant battles every day to Fight for quality and equity, but I think one of the biggest struggles that I went through was losing my dad in 2013 I lost my dad the same month. I lost my dad I interviewed for the job here. I was working at Hofstra as an assistant coach Innerveered for the job here with Bobby Valentine Through some divine intervention. I landed this head coaching job at at sacred heart It brought me home at a time when I needed to be together with my family the most and gave me my dream

42:56Which is to be a head coach here at sacred heart and for the first year or two it was really really hard right? I'm dealing with the loss of my dad I'm dealing with being a head coach for the first time on my I feel most days like I'm holding onto a palm tree in a hurricane You know, it was I had a lot of failure, you know that the first couple years I coached I didn't understand how to connect with the team. I wasn't a great coach. I looking back. I probably should have done a better job But I remember feeling really low and losing a little bit of confidence and saying I don't know if I'm built for this I don't know if I can do this and my village was awesome my family because I got to be home where my family was My community which I'm from rally to help my friends were great sport system My administrators like the village right the village kind of carried me for a year to And I remember that third year when we won our first championship. I said to myself. Oh my gosh Like I went from feeling this low load this high high and I remember looking back going That was something what a journey that was and you know, I don't I don't know if that means I lived boldly

44:00But I think when you define bold bold is fearless it means Resilient resilient right you could have threw the talent and didn't like I guess I'm not cut out for this But you know, yeah, so could you pay? Yeah, you didn't I'm gonna go and you know feel sorry for myself Yeah, yeah, there's no time for that though when you're trying to like be something be there and be a coach in front of like 10 15 20 kids 20 girls who are looking at you as a role model. You're like well, yes, I'm gonna fix this right and we're all gonna fix this together So and I think when you talk about living boldly it's not in these big story moments that you get to share Every day that you get to be a part of something again, that's bigger than you That's right, and it's realizing it's not about you right. It's not about you. It's about everything that you touch And everything that can touch you You know, what how am I gonna make an impact today? And yeah, it cannot be about what's what's it gonna do for me? Yeah Is this how can I touch this person how can I touch this how can I work on this issue in the world?

45:02How can I do that just by showing up? speaking up Being authentic You were authentic with your team coach Pam. Yeah, if you're coming in said I have the flu You know, I had cancer. Yeah, that's the C word. Yeah. Yeah, or I'm young. I'm new. I don't know what the hell I'm doing Okay, but we're gonna figure it out and we won together. Yeah And it's action right I think when you live boldly. It's not only do you say yeah, I can do hard things But you actually do the hard thing right all the time every day So when you're tired when you can make an excuse not to when you can quit you do the right you show up right There were a lot of days. I didn't want to show up. Yeah, right, but you show up You ain't you're not your best. Yeah, but and we don't have the same right I'll take 100% of whatever you have today Yeah, if you have 50% I'll take 100% of your 50s today Yeah, right and that's okay with me. I get it some days. I only have 50 right and and we're all gonna be okay with that Because I know at least you're coming here giving me the 100% of whatever you got today. Yeah

46:05And so we're talking to coach Pam London and coach Jessica Mnetti Fireball and winners all the way around from sacred heart universities women's softball program and women's basketball program And I am so touched to be here with people of this caliber Now you too you grown women you got a life You're almost ready to retire. I know I am. Amen. What would your 15-year-old self Say to you today Wow, you look old Mine would say, well, you look skinny Yeah, I might say the opposite of that too Oh I think I heard the 15-year-old self and they if you came and you took him by the hand What would they say to you? I'm glad you asked this question. I was inducted into my high school hall of fame last year And I had this I prepared this speech but prior to this speech I actually coincidentally a couple weeks prior to that wrote a letter to my team

47:09To share with them right before we went to playoffs about 15-year-old me No, cool what she would think about herself now And I remember as I was writing it and I shared it with them I said my 15-year-old self would look at me and say I'm really proud of you She would say wow you set out to do what you wanted you set these goals high You never took no for an answer You cared about other people You tried your best to be a great sister friend mentor whatever And I'm really proud of who you've become I think I think she'd be really proud of me. I and I would tell my 15-year-old self Don't quit never take no for an answer keep fighting through things that are hard like you can do it People are gonna tell you know your whole life go over under a round or through But never say no and never give up. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I want a great conversation It was

48:12Yeah, today's self say to your 15-year-old self to my 15-year-old self. I would definitely say That Don't be afraid to fail because many of the best things that have ever happened to me in my life have come after I have failed and then I'm resilient enough to try again and learn from my failure like without that I don't think there's growth at all if you don't take a chance and fail at Millions of things you're never gonna prosper and grow into the the human and the woman you're supposed to be So when kids like are so upset at failure It's like it's okay. It's part of the process man, and this is part of the problem like we're trying to save kids from failing Why I've learned everything in my life coming from screwing up and failing at something And then I decide well, this is how I make it better right that's that's exactly what you know You learned that your life will go on. Yes, you can pick yourself up and then you know the softball world You got to dust that dust that clay off and you got to get back on the horse. Yeah as cliche as it is our game is

49:17Literally 70% failure like right yeah, best the best hitter in the league That's 300 and they failed seven out of ten times. So like if you don't learn how to fail in topball You got a long road ahead babe, you know, so I think it's the same in life What would your 15-year-old self-sate to you today? Oh my god, uh, they'd say well. I see you haven't calm down at all Right, uh, I think they would be so proud and so happy that I'm still in softball because back then I was like Obsessed with softball and I'm still obsessed with softball. So I think they'd be like cool. This is pretty cool You still you stop with this a lady They're still at it. Yeah, so I think that would be cool. Yeah. Yeah I went one last question What is your message to young women athletes today if you had one thing that you want to tell your team Today, what would it be? I think for me mine is just go be great Don't hesitate for one second to go impact

50:21Anything that you have a goal to impact you want to be the best basketball player go be the best basketball player You want to be a CEO of a fortune 500 company go be a CEO. Do you do you have big hopes and dreams? Go find a way to get them don't don't ever let anybody tell you know Make sure that you ask for help because people will want to help you. You don't have to do any of this alone But go go forth and and prosper like go be great because what's stopping you right what's stopping you usually? It's our inner voices. Yeah, yeah, yeah, right. Yeah, don't be afraid you you got this Well, and I'm gonna throw a little religion in here, you know every time God sends a messenger to get our attention the first words are fear not Don't be afraid Because it's like fear is our default emotion as human beings And if we get fear makes us hate makes us be ignorant fear can't makes us not go for it So if we cannot be afraid Think what we could do and what I also want to add is don't forget to give back

51:24Yeah, like you brought your team to nurse bridge port and you volunteered I've got the student nurses coming to volunteer. I'm gonna get softball yet because then they learn oh This is how another part of our city lives. Yeah, they stay in line for food. Yeah, they have to wait for a hot meal And so I always think make sure we don't don't forget to pour folks. Yeah, because we do out angels. Oh, yeah We're in the amphitheater and we pack all the bins for the and it's amazing You know to see that kind of turn out and everybody who wants to help right and yeah, it's so what's your message to young women athletes today coach Pam Be resilient, right? Don't take no for an answer and truly You know invest in the people who are your village because they will be there for you and they will catch you They will be your safety net and that's why you can take your chances and you can go out there and plow through something and if you fail

52:24It's okay Get up brush yourself off and try it again. Just try it in a little different. Maybe it works a different way And when you're in it's a bicepillage show up for them absolutely. That's that that's the two-way street of it Well, we have had quite a day-to-day with my dear friends coach Jessica Vanetti and coach Pam London Let me tell you if you want to see some real athletes go see their sports go see them in action They will stop their heels on the floor when things are wrong They will yell at the umpires and they'll get it done Because guess what friends they live boldly. They're strong women athletes now coaching That's shaping the future of our world. So we thank you both and we thank you all for listening come back in October I'll be here and we're gonna keep on finding people to inspire us to show us a better way to live boldly Friends will world has troubles, but we need to face them and give our best love and justice to them So I'm signing off and ask everybody to kick up your heels because here we go

53:30Well, I'll be what amazing stories were amazing people right here in our community People who are living boldly leading the way Taking the road less traveled and changing the world for the better So now my challenge to all of you Where do you need to step up and step out for the things you believe in? What road less traveled are you taking today mentally spiritually physically? Where does the world need you to live boldly? Thank you for joining me today. I'll be here every second Saturday at 7 a.m I'm your host Reverend Sarah Senior minister of United Congregational Church of Bridgeport and president and CEO of nourished Bridgeport Inc signing off with this reminder to live boldly and march to the beat of your own drum And do not underestimate what you can do to change the world Bye y'all

54:31It's about to be afraid take the road less traveled Where are your boots and kick up the gravel don't feel afraid take the road less traveled on