I Choose...Being A Risk Taker with Trista Sutter
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Hey everybody, welcome to I Choose Me. This podcast, as you know, is all about the choices we make and where they lead us. Life has a way of presenting us with opportunities for growth and change. When we're faced with a new opportunity, we either make a safe, familiar choice, or maybe we see this opportunity as a place to change.

to make choices that propel us towards unfamiliar, uncertain places and experiences. I think it's in those risky choices where we find the most gorgeous and rewarding personal growth and re-advention of ourselves. My guest today has taken some big and bold risks in her life. You know her from being the first ever bachelorette and

and from her podcast, Almost Famous OGs. She recently participated on the new season of Special Forces on Fox. And spoiler alert, even though her time on the show has come to an end, I wanted to talk with her because...

This show is so extreme. I don't know how she did it. Please welcome Trista Sutter to the podcast. Hello, Trista. Hi. Oh, my gosh. I'm so excited. You don't even know how many dreams you're making come true with my college self and-

And honestly, I feel like I get, you know, when people tell you who you look like, you're one of the people that get it. And I've always been like, thank you. That's such a huge compliment. So this is really good. I like that. Yeah. Well, I'm also a fan of yours. Been watching you since you were on The Bachelor. That's a long time ago. That's a long time ago. Oh, my God. You were the very first Bachelorette. Like, you are the reason there is...

It's the bachelor nation is so strong. Well, thank you for that. I don't know if I can take all the credit, but, but yeah, I mean, it's pretty crazy that it's still going on. It really is pretty crazy. It really is. I love that show. Before we get started, I just want to say, I'm so sorry for everything that you and your family and your community are going through. It's just heartbreaking. Thank you. Yeah, it really is heartbreaking. Oh, it's just, yeah.

But thank you. Yeah, of course. I just, I had to say it, but. Of course, no. I was there actually on Tuesday, but when it all started, yes, I was doing interviews at the Sunset Marquis Hotel.

And there was a fire right near our hotel. And then as I was leaving to go to the airport, like this huge plume of smoke, you could see it from far away on the 405. And then from my plane, I actually took a video of the Palisade fire. I'm thankful that I got out when I did, but yeah, I just, it's like all encompassed, like it consumes you, your mind, even if you don't live there. Like I just,

My heart is breaking for Los Angeles. Me too. Me too. Trista, first off, I need to know all about this experience that you are having. Let's talk about Special Forces because for those who haven't seen the show, it's an insane I choose me moment in itself just for doing this. It's like an intense boot camp experience.

environment what were you thinking when you said yes to this I love that question I mean come on I don't know if I was thinking actually

So at first I actually said, hell no. Okay. Good response. Are you crazy? And then said, don't you want my husband? This is totally up his alley. Like he would thrive in this experience. I, okay. So the more I thought about it after I initially, you know, my gut reaction was to say no. I talked to my husband, talked to my family, um,

and watched the previous seasons. And I felt like even though I was 51 when we filmed and, you know, I'm not in the greatest shape of my life. I'm not like, you know, I'm not, I'm not in horrible shape, but I'm not in the best shape. I'm somewhere in the middle. That's good. That's a good place to be. And I just felt like,

Yeah, I might not be the strongest on the show, but I'm looking. My purpose is it's all individual, right? So my purpose going into it was I've dedicated my life to my family for almost 18 years. My son, my oldest is 17. So I look for opportunities to work.

give back to myself and challenge myself. And with them leaving soon, you know, making me an empty nester with Ryan, I'm just really faced with this moment of, of,

And you have an older daughter, right? Maybe two that are. Yeah. So, you know, you know, my youngest is 18. So, yeah. OK, yes, you know, exactly. So I it's hard. Like when you when you've poured into your family and your kids for so long and it becomes your identity, I'm really trying to get back to that.

the person I am without my kids because not to take away from being a mom, it's my greatest, greatest joy. And I wouldn't,

take back any of the time that I have given to my family and my kids. And, but now I'm kind of looking to the future and thinking, I really need to figure out who I'm going to be when, when they're gone. So that was my reason for doing it. And I'm really glad I did. I'm really grateful for it. Actually. It's crazy. It's intense, but it was, it's,

It's amazing. Okay. So yeah, this was, like I said before, the ultimate I choose me moment for you is just like, I need to figure out who I am and what I'm capable of again, because I can fully relate with you've given yourself all to your kids and your family. And when you do that, you do, you, you spend some time thinking, well, what am I instead of that? Like, what if, what am I without that? Because you're about to be faced with,

with a whole different kind of parenting. And I think it's so intuitive of you to, yeah, first have that negative reaction of like, no, thank you. I've got to be honest with you. They asked me to do the show last,

on the first season, there was nothing for me to watch to like see what it was like. And just from the description, I was like, yeah, that's a no from me. I'm sorry. I don't need to push myself like that anymore. I know, I know what I'm capable of and I know what I'm not capable of. And I'm really not capable of leaping from a speedboat onto a helicopter. I do not know how you did these things. I just, I want to know everything. Yeah.

Yeah, you guys are getting like pushed into freezing cold water. Like I said, jumping from helicopters, you're bungee jumping off of tall bridges. I've only seen the first two episodes, but oh my God, I'm on the edge of my seat for you and for all of the cast. Thank you. Did you do anything to prepare yourself ahead of time? I tried. I talked to Hannah Brown, who was, you know, a Bachelorette and won the first season and

And if you call it winning, like, you know, she won for herself, but she made it to the end of the first season. And so I called her and she was like, as much hiking, running you can do with a big, huge backpack on your back. And I wish I had done more is all I have to say. Like I... Did you take her seriously or did you like, I'm going to do this every day?

I took her seriously, but I had back surgery, lumbar fusion. I don't know, maybe like 10 years ago. My back is way better than it was. I felt like a 90 year old. But after the surgery, I always say I wish I had had it sooner.

Well, they the medical, you know, they have to clear you medically. And the medical team wasn't going to clear me. And they told me, sorry, we can't have you on the show because we can't clear you. And I was like, I'm sorry, but Jack Osborne was on it with multiple sclerosis. Like, you know, people had.

injuries, right? And so I was like, well, why don't you let me make that decision for myself and leave when I feel like I can't? But why exclude me from doing it when it's just because I've had surgery? And they were like, well, we don't know how you're going to be being pushed off a boat. Now, is anyone going to be okay being pushed off a boat? Or does anybody know? Let's see. How did I act last time I got pushed off a speedboat? Okay.

Exactly. So while I was working through that with the medical team and the producers, I am super superstitious and I thought I'm going to jinx myself if I keep working out. So I freaking stopped. I mean, and I knew like three months before they asked me like three months before, had I continued and done it every day, like I should have, I would have been in amazing shape. But

Didn't I know I it it bothers me. I wish I could have because what you don't see on the show is in between the tasks and the accommodations where we're sleeping or like the first day when we started at that, like off the boat, getting pushed off the boat. You run everywhere. You run everywhere.

All the time. And you're running with a massive, like military rucksack backpack that has to be filled to 15 kilograms, which is like, I think it ends up being like 35 pounds or something like that. So if your pack isn't 35 pounds, then you have to fill it with sand until it's 35 pounds and, and carry that everywhere you go in between. And, and,

I don't know. I just feel like I don't like to burden other people. I didn't want to be a burden to people. And there were people helping me carry my, you can see in, um, when we got to the bridge, you see golden carrying a backpack on his, the front of his body and his back, that front backpack was mine. Um, and,

So thank God for my angels, but I just, I didn't want to be a burden, you know? So I really wish that I had trained more. Yeah. I can't even run to the corner. Like running with no backpack is just like not a thing I can do anymore, unfortunately. Yeah.

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No purchase necessary. Visit Dave's killer bread.com slash reset for details here at life kit and PR self-help podcast. We love the idea of helping you make meaningful lifestyle changes. Our policy is to never be too punishing on yourself or too grand in your goals, which is why we've got shows on how to make little nudges to your behavior and create habits that stick. Listen to the life kit podcast on I heart radio.

John Stewart is back in the host chair at The Daily Show, which means he's also back in our ears on The Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. The Daily Show podcast has everything you need to stay on top of today's news and pop culture. You get hilarious satirical takes on entertainment, politics, sports, and more from John and the team of correspondents and contributors. The podcast also has content you can't get anywhere else, like extended interviews and a roundup of the weekly headlines.

Listen to The Daily Show, ears edition on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Before you accepted this job or experience, whatever you want to call it, were you in the mindset of choosing yourself? Or how would you have described yourself before this? Before this, I was...

Like, yes, occasionally choosing myself, but I'm still in it. I mean, my daughter doesn't drive yet. So I am still like her, you know, essentially her shopper and, you know, all those things. So I'm still in it really with my kids and just looking forward to the time when I'm

They're going to be gone because I have a lot of friends who are going through that and becoming empty nesters. But so I'm still in it and maybe not choosing myself as much as hopefully I will after they're gone. But yeah, that's kind of where my mind was. Since you did have the privilege of watching like the seasons before, how did you...

were you terrified for you? How did you mentally prepare yourself? Were you like, Oh my God, I said yes to this like a couple of weeks ago. I'm changing my mind. I don't want to do it. Like I can imagine I would have been like freaking out and be like, no, I'm not. Sorry. Pulling out, not doing it. Yeah. There was, you know, actually, no, I take that back. I feel like once I committed, I was committed. It was just waiting for my clearance to come through. I was actually excited. You know,

I've had some pretty crazy once in a lifetime opportunities. Like this is not something people can pay for, you know, like you don't just go to the special forces and be like, Hey, can you put me through base camp bootcamp? You know? So I feel really lucky that I got asked and I really wanted to take it seriously and, and make my kids proud, make my husband proud, make myself proud, make my family proud, you know? So yeah,

No, I was definitely committed once I committed. What was that like having to leave your family and go? I don't even know where you filmed that, where you have to go far away. Yeah. Yeah. We filmed in Wales. Okay, that's far away. London. Yeah, it was far. And it was when my kids were still in school. So they were going through finals. So that was really hard because-

you know, I wanted to be here to help them through that, those last couple of weeks of school. Um, and of course they take away your phone once you start filming. So, um,

That was difficult, but I will say that's an also another I choose me moment is just knowing that I wasn't going to have access to my family and vice versa and saying, you know what, I'm going to choose me in this moment and, and really stay committed to the show and do what I need to do. And this is one of the things. Yeah. I mean, cause you said you didn't have your phone. Was there a feeling of like,

isolation or just like complete disconnect from, because you're so, I would imagine in that environment, you have to just fully jump in and be consumed by it all the time. You do. You do. I think that's how you probably survive is you really just have to stay committed and remembering your why and your purpose for being there. That I think is a big part of the mental preparation is just,

really committing, you know, and, and not lying to yourself, you know, like really being honest with yourself for why you're doing it and, and giving it your all because it's very similar in that way to the bachelor and bachelorette, you really have to just give in emotionally to the experience because you can't get out of it.

anything if you don't fully, you know, commit to the experience and truthfully be yourself. Right. Right. I think that's the case with any experience, right? Yeah, totally. I agree. Any relationship and experience. Yeah. You got to just dive in. Yep. And I did, or I got pushed in. You didn't dive. You got pushed in. I was like, ouch, my neck. I would have come up and been like, you're a splash. Yeah.

You seem to get pretty close with some of your fellow castmates. Who would you say you were closest with and who did you rely on the most? Yeah. So like I mentioned, my angels, um,

Um, as, as it showed in the last part of that, well, they, they're calling it the second episode, the second hour of the first episode, however you want to look at it. And after the beach, which was like the surf immersion where you're linked up and you're, you know, essentially drowning yourself. I got back to the vehicle and I went through, they didn't show much of it, but I went through, um,

I believe hypothermia. It took a while for the medics to get to me, but I was, I could not move my head. I couldn't lift my head. My jaw was locked. I was in like locked jaw, if that's what you call it and shivering like uncontrollably. And Christy Carlson Romano and cam were in my vehicle and

And they scooped me up and put me on their lap. And mind you, we're all wet. You know, I think, yeah, I was still wet at the time. And they scooped me up and like just...

Kept me close to them for body body heat and then I'll everyone's coats and stuff on top of me. So they are definitely two of my angels that kind of took care of me and I bonded with them because of that. And then golden was one of those people to like always looking to help, you know,

And then, you know, Allie, I've known for years and years. So to be able to be there with somebody that I already called a friend was awesome. And she was really there for me when I was going through that hypothermia once I got back to the accommodations. But Denise Richards and I really bonded. I love the entire group. Like, they're good people, which is awesome.

Odd, you know, not odd that they're good people. Odd that, you know, there's so many people and I felt like everyone...

was a great person. So we got lucky, you know, like a big group of people you would never expect to have together. And they're all so completely different. I can imagine like going into that on just being open and getting to know these people from a different perspective, you know, like you had that you all are in the same boat. I'm sure it was so bonding. Yeah.

Yeah, it was. I mean, when you go through anything challenging or away from your family, away from your normal life with, you know, other people, you definitely bond if you're willing to, you know, I'm sure there's people who go into this, this kind of experience that are just like, you know what, I'm here for myself. And I'm just going to

I'm just going to do it for myself. But I feel like that was one of the big takeaways that I wanted to take away. And also what I'm so grateful for now is just having the camaraderie of the rest of the recruits. I know when you went away to do this, there was a big hubba baloo on the internet about some messages your husband sent.

put out there that they were cryptic and people were like, oh my God, are they breaking up? And I was very scared that that was happening because you two are like couple goals. Like, I just think you're, you're such an awesome pair together, but what happened with that? Oh, yeah. So if you look back on it and I read it on my podcast with Bob Guinea, I do a, it's called almost famous OGs. And, um, and we, we talked about it and I, I read the

the post that Ryan posted. And now it makes complete sense if you go back and you know that I was in Wales filming this show. But of course, I couldn't talk about it because they have you, you know, dialed into secrecy. You just can't. And so I was just away filming the show. My husband was being really sweet and kind of shouting it from the rooftops via Instagram. And, you know, it was shocking to me, actually, because...

we've been married 21 years. Right. And, and it's been a long time and it is really sweet that people actually cared, you know, most of the time they don't care. And Ryan will post, you know, sweet things or I'll, I'll post something or whatever. And most of the time, it just kind of, you know, our normal numbers, whatever, of people who liked it or commented or reached out and said, you know, happy anniversary or happy birthday or what, you know, whatever. Um,

But the fact that it like all the news outlets were talking about it, all everyone was talking about it. And I'm like, oh, my gosh, people have lost their minds, but they're really sweet for losing their minds. Yeah.

That's so crazy. Yeah. I always think when something goes viral or is lifted out of something, I'm like, wow, it must be a slow news day because they want to talk about this. But I stopped realizing that it's of interest to other people because you're just living your life and you're just having a marriage and a family. All of a sudden you're in the news and it's like controversial. I can imagine that would have...

thrown you for a loop. Is she having a nervous breakdown? Are they divorcing? Oh my gosh. Like, I mean, I had so many of my friends from college, from high school, from, you know, life here in Colorado writing me and are you okay? What's going on?

Oh, wow.

You know, and how well I did at the end. I actually failed that one because I made a noise. You made a noise. I made a noise. I think that was a good call on their part. I think that was a little rough. Of course, if you jump off a thing like that and your body's like slammed, you get whiplash. Like, of course, you're going to make a noise like, ugh, or something. Yeah.

I mean, I don't know if they have superpowers. They pretty much do, the DS. But they're like, you're in enemy territory. This is your mission. You're in enemy territory. You cannot make a noise or else they're going to hear you. And totally understand that and respect that. But what I had a problem with is Nathan Adrian did it. I think he went first or second. He went pretty early and I was second to last. And.

And I remember him making like a grunt, like a noise when he when the bungee like hit, you know. And I was like, but he passed. So why don't I pass? I know. I felt like you're right. That rule kind of came on slow and then took everybody out, basically. I know. I was going to fail for everybody.

Oh, and then the boat, they didn't show me on the helicopter either, like jumping to the helicopter. And it's so funny. I was watching with my family, um, like two nights ago, finally we got, you know, all in the same house at the same time so we could watch together. And yeah,

They were like, wait, why is the helicopter so close for some people and so far away for some people? Like Stephen Baldwin, all he had to do was go like this. Like literally, you know, poor guy. He was so excited that he made it.

He did awesome. I mean, awesome, but it was so close. And then like Nathan Adrian is six, six and he still didn't make it and he jumped pretty high. So that shows you like, obviously, I mean, it's a helicopter, right? So they try to get as close as they can to the boat and they know what they're doing, but it's just not like a perfect science. So mine was pretty far away and I had the fear of,

in the back of my mind that Foxy tells you when you get onto the boat, if you don't jump by the time we need you to jump, then I'm pushing you in the water from a moving speedboat. And so that's all I could think was like, okay, they're telling me to go and maybe I should wait for the helicopter to get closer, but I don't want, I don't want him pushing me off this boat. Like,

As we're going really fast, you know? So anyway. Complete madness. Yeah, it is. It was crazy. Crazy, intense, hectic. I'm still enthralled by the idea that you, like, you were away and then you had this crazy, wild, life-changing experience. And then you come back and you can't tell your best friend where

Or you could probably tell your husband because, you know, he's not going to tell him not to tell anyone he wants. But like you can't tell anybody where you were or what you just experienced or like how it transformed you. Totally. You have to wait. And, you know, you just sign your life away and you also sign that you have to keep everything in secret. And it's not my first rodeo when it comes to that. You know, like I...

I remember signing the contract for Bachelor and they were like, okay, well, if you tell anybody, then we're going to see $5 million. I'm like, good luck with that. Cause I don't have it. Yeah. But it's like, you know, the fear, the fear of God or the fear of lawyers are put into you and you're like, okay, well, zip the lips. Yeah.

Here at Life Kit, NPR's self-help podcast, we love the idea of helping you make meaningful lifestyle changes. Our policy is to never be too punishing on yourself or too grand in your goals, which is why we've got shows on how to make little nudges to your behavior and create habits that stick. Listen to the Life Kit podcast on iHeartRadio.

John Stewart is back in the host chair at The Daily Show, which means he's also back in our ears on The Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. The Daily Show podcast has everything you need to stay on top of today's news and pop culture. You get hilarious satirical takes on entertainment, politics, sports, and more from John and the team of correspondents and contributors. The podcast also has content you can't get anywhere else, like extended interviews and a roundup of the weekly headlines.

Listen to The Daily Show, ears edition on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. How would you say, as a wife, as a mother, this experience sort of changed you or maybe changed even your approach on life moving forward?

You know, I know that I can do hard things. You know, when you said in the beginning, I know what I can do and I know what I can't do. And this is one of those things I can't do. Well, I, I wanted to just challenge myself. If you had told me six months ago that I would be bungee jumping off of a 130 foot bridge in the middle of Wales, um,

I would have said, you're crazy. There's no way. I'm still going to say it. You're crazy. I am. I am. And I am so proud of myself that I did that. I treaded water for 15 minutes. You know, like, that's not something that I do on a daily basis. So, yeah.

I am just proud. I'm proud of myself. I walk away from the experience thinking, you know what? You should be proud of yourself. You did really hard things and you survived and lived to tell the tale. Yeah. Thank God. I would, yeah, I would, I would imagine a sense of some sort of affirmative feeling in my

Either ability to do hard things or my just even being risky, you know, in that way to make those choices. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And that that's that's kind of normal life for me, too, is being not risky. You know, I played pickleball and mahjong and like kids everywhere. And yeah, those are not risky things. So I'm not usually that risk taker. I never really have been. I've been an athlete, but I haven't been.

a risk taker. The biggest risk I feel like I did before this was rock climbing. And I was terrified of that, but actually I kept saying during the bridge that I wasn't as scared because I had been rock climbing and the heights weren't as much of a fear for me as, as they had been in the past. So you never know. I mean, I feel like it's, it's really a great feeling when you challenge yourself and you,

you know, are able to surprise yourself and succeed. And that just fills your bucket. You know, it fills that like the bucket of the insecurities that I feel like all of us carry, or maybe most of us, maybe some people don't have any, but I sure do. And I, you know, I love being able to give myself that sense of pride that I can do hard things. I love that for you.

Do you miss the adrenaline of it all? Do you miss jumping out of boats and jumping off bridges? Do you miss sleeping on a cot? Oh, I sure don't. No. Do you miss having someone shout in your face? Like that for me, I will be like, okay, this is my personal space and this is your personal space. I wouldn't have been able to handle the shouting. It's really hard. It's very hard. But what I realized, I think maybe even before we started filming,

was I think that the whole, and I interviewed Q who's the guy who was yelling at me as I'm leaving the beach. Um, he's the Navy seal. Um, I interviewed him yesterday for my podcast and that was really actually kind of like a little full circle moment. Um, but I realized that we all, like I just said, the insecurities, like you hear me talking in the trailer about the devil and the angel on my shoulder. Right. And, um,

I feel like when you, all of us are going to tell, there's this inner dialogue, right? When you're doing something new, if you're not doing well, you're like, you shouldn't be here. You need to go home. You don't deserve to be here. You're too old. You're too out of shape. Like, you know, you're not enough essentially. And I feel like the reason that the directing staff

yell or the military when they're putting people through basic training is they know that you're telling yourself this in your head. It's just a human. I feel like it's a human thing, right? And so if you're telling yourself, you're going to believe what your inner dialogue is telling you. But if somebody else says it,

Then you want to prove them wrong. You want to be like, grew off. I deserve to be here. I'm not ready to go home. I know everyone's waiting for me, but they're really nice people and they're going to continue to wait for me. You know what I mean? So like, I feel like there's a reason that they do it. They also want to like break us down so they can build us up and show us that we can do our things and we should believe in ourselves. Yeah.

It is really hard to take though. But I think, you know, coming to that realization, at least, you know, I don't know if that's reality, but that was kind of my, my rationale for why they do it. And that helped me deal with the yellow. What did you guys eat? I'm so curious about all the details. Do you know what's funny? I have the worst memory and Jenny, I,

I feel like I'm like, okay, I need to go to the doctor because do I have Alzheimer's or a brain tumor or something? Because this is not normal. It's probably just perimenopause for you. Oh, it sure is. It is for sure. Along with just, I've always had a bad memory, but it's gotten way worse. I know. It's kind of scary. It's very scary. So the details like that,

I don't actually remember a lot of what we ate. I know one day it was like pasta, you know, like they do cook for us and in the vehicles, they gave us snacks. Those snacks were like yogurt, cheese.

Um, sandwich, an orange, like healthy, you know, lavar. Yeah. But they stopped giving it to us. I remember cam. He was so frustrated because he's giant food. He needs calories.

And he's a vegan. And they were giving him like not vegan stuff. And he was just like, I need food. You guys, I'm not going to last. So, yeah, the food, you know, it's it leaves a lot to be desired. But you're it's not like I expected good food. You know, I wasn't. Right.

Where's the caterer? Where's craft service? Craft service, please. And actually, Denise said that, like, I was wondering when we would get our break and we could go to craft services. Oh, my. Bless her heart. She did a great job. She was like, I knew I'd be the first one to go. She was so scared. She did not want to look like...

you know, the weakling that goes first, but yeah, she was not weak at all. I feel like she didn't watch. I've interviewed her too. And we've talked when I was in LA, we did press together and she was like, I'm not going to watch. I don't like watching myself. And so I texted her and I'm like,

You look really vulnerable and relatable. And I think that came across beautifully. Like you have nothing to be embarrassed about. I feel like she had a lot of injuries and she's talked about them, you know, openly now, but she was dealing with a lot. We all were. And, you know, it's, if people leave early, you know, then don't get to the end. That's okay. That's just their path. So she did great.

What is next for you? Like what big giant risk are you going to take next? First, you risked taking a risk on love a long time ago. That's so funny. I haven't looked at it like that. Yeah. You're a risk taker. Ah, I didn't know that. I mean, actually, I feel like I'm not, but that's true. I mean,

Even like we did celebrity marriage bootcamp. And that was a whole crazy experience. Dancing with the stars was not, it wasn't even a show, you know, I just was like, okay, well,

Sure. Sign me up. I don't know. Wait, what season did you do of Dancing with the Stars? Number one. The very first one. Oh my gosh. I remember because they sent out those mailers and you opened it and it was like a twirling dancer. Do you remember? Like I was mesmerized by it. It was like a dance ball thingy, whatever that's called, disco ball. Yeah, a disco ball. And then like a twirling dancer when you opened it. It was great. Oh, yeah.

media thing. Well, yeah. Wow. You are a trailblazer and a risk taker. Don't you ever forget that. Thank you. You were on Star Wars, right? Yeah. Season five. Okay. Yeah. You were an OG too. I love it. It was a great experience.

I don't it's not as risky that, you know, although it is like performing live on stage in front of a national audience. So that's a little crazy. Yes, it's equal, like equally death defying to some of us who don't like that kind of thing. That's so true. It is true. Yeah.

Next, I feel like I really just have to get through to the finish line of, you know, getting my kids off to college or whatever they're going to do after high school. I, you know, that's my biggest goal in life is just helping them succeed and be happy. And so right now it's just kind of revolved around that. I continue to do my podcast and, and just continue.

you know, work with companies that I feel like are authentic to who I am and, you know, happily promote them via social media. And then just hope that in two years or however many is left when my kids are gone, that I can, I can figure out how, you know, how to truly continue to get back to me and enjoy my life with Ryan after they're gone. Oh, your husband is a risk taker too. He's a fireman, right?

Yes, it's who he is at his core. Like running in when everyone else is running out, that's him. So yes, big time. He's always been a huge risk taker. And I look up to that. And actually, that was also part of the reason that I did the show is they were asking me when I thought they should be asking him.

And I wanted to have him kind of live vicariously through me until they get him on the show. I'm pushing Fox. Like get, get Brian on the show. He needs to do it next. He'd be so great too. He would be so great. Yeah. Well, yeah, it seems like with all that you've learned about yourself and this new confidence that you always had, but you kind of had a rekindle and get back in touch with, you know, I know what it's like when you're a mom and you, you give it all away and,

And I'm so happy that you were able to find that light inside of you and just let it burn because you did a very risky thing. And yeah,

You should be so proud of yourself. Thank you. I am. I'm proud. I even, you know, we had like a little reunion with all the recruits and the came up. Would you, would you do it again? And, and I actually raised my hand. I know I'm a Looney Tunes, but I,

Because it kind of, they were once in a lifetime things. You don't normally get to like put yourself through these challenges and learn more about yourself, especially when I'm 52. You know, you don't get those chances unless you really do, you know, take some risks. So I just thought, you know, yeah, sure. I would do it again.

Maybe I would rethink it if I knew where the location was, even I was freezing cold. Cause that would definitely be a crux for me. But, um, but yeah, it was, it was a really cool experience and I'm so glad you're watching. I've been a fan of the show since day one, more just like in awe of like, what is happening right now? Are these people out of their minds? Like, that's what I'm thinking the whole time I'm watching it. We are a little bit. Um,

But if they asked you for next season, would you say yes? No. What part of that didn't you understand? No, I will not do that. Also, I don't think I could physically do that anymore with my, I have two fake hips. So I can't imagine even being that cold or, you know, just be pushing myself to the point. I just, as I've gotten older, I just don't push my body further than,

I think I should, you know, I have to listen to my body so much more. Yeah. And that's good. That's, I mean. But the person inside of me would love to make the, do that. You know, I am, I love a challenge. I love a risk like that. So the person inside of me would be like, Ooh, I really kind of want to do it. But then I would think about the physical aspects of it. And I just don't think I could.

Yeah, you could though. Honestly, you could, you'd be surprised at the kind of things that you can do, but Hey, if you know that you're like, Nope. And your gut's telling you that like I actually went into it. So I don't know if you believe in angel numbers, but, um, I was an angel. What's an angel number. Angel numbers are like, I, I'm, I would be really bad at giving you the official definition, but it,

The gist of it is if you see like a number over and over and over again, or like you see a number pop up and you're having a particularly hard day or whatever, it's a way for your guardian angels to reach out to you and say, it's okay, I've got you kind of thing. Yeah, totally, totally. And so I saw...

444. Um, when I, before I was about to turn my phone off, I feel like maybe it was 444 in the morning. And, um, and I immediately looked up what 444 meant. And it said something about how your guardian angels are with you. They, they've got your back, you know, they're watching over you. And so I went into the experience with that kind of piece in a way of thinking, um,

I believing this, that, that God and, you know, my guardian angels are watching over me. And maybe that also helped me to, you know, to not be quite as fearful knowing they, they were watching over me, you know? Yeah. I totally believe in angels and angel numbers, I guess. That's what you call them. Yeah. Go look at, look it up. That's actually kind of cool. Did you have your angels visiting you while you were there? Like,

pushing you or giving you reassurance? I did. And it's so powerful to me if you can tap into that kind of thing, that kind of belief. I haven't lost my parents. I've lost my grandparents and have had a couple very close friends and close family friends that I've lost. And just knowing that

Or believing, you know, I, I know just because I believe, but I have faith that they're watching over me. So yeah, they, they definitely, I felt like they were there with me. I feel like I really started listening to that feeling that you're talking about of being supported by my angels or the universe or whatever, God, whatever you want to call it. I had struggled for so long in my life to find any kind of faith or belonging that

And so when I started to develop that faith in something, whether it was the Buddhist teachings that I was learning or the angels that I felt and saw, whatever it is, like if it's the faith, it ignites something in you and comforts you and helps.

pushes you and just that feeling of comfort, I think, that I was so seeking. And I found it in faith, faith of something.

Yeah. Yeah, for sure. I feel like that's a huge part of the mental struggle too. And that goes, you know, you don't have to be on special forces to, to use this in your daily life. Um, you know, mental setbacks, challenges, emotional things going on. Um, it, it, the faith, faith has gotten me through a lot, a lot in my life. And I, um,

I am thankful that I had that to draw on for the show and I'll continue to use that, you know, like every day. Yeah. It's faith is amazing. It's right there accessible at any moment.

All the time. Yeah. Well, I'm so proud of you. I don't even know. It's not my place to be proud of you, but I am. I know we're the same age. I think you're amazing. And I'm just in awe that you chose to do this. And you're such a risk taker and a leader. That's a great message for your daughter and your son. And yeah, I think you're awesome.

Thank you. Right back at you. As I said, I've been such a huge fan for so long. Thank you. It's been so nice to chat with you. Before I let you go, though, I want to ask you, Trista, what was your last I Choose Me moment? You know, obviously the show was a huge one, but I'm going to say like just yesterday, I went, was it yesterday? Two days ago, I went and played pickleball, even though my, I think my friend, my kids were

We're needing to be somewhere. And I'm like, you know what? This is my time. I don't, I don't schedule a lot of these, but this is my time. I'll come pick you up. You're safe. You're at a friend's. I'll come pick you up when, when I'm done. You know what I mean? So sometimes you just got to be like, you know what? This is my time. And if you're safe and where you, you know, where you're okay, then I'm going to put myself first. So.

I did that. And I feel like that is so, so important for moms out there and caregivers just to understand that if you don't fill your bucket, then you're not going to be able to fill anybody else's. You're going to be empty. You're going to be depleted. And so put your oxygen mask on first and fill your bucket first.

Um, so that you can help out the people in your life that you're trying to help. Um, it's so important. Love that message. Thank you so much for coming on the show and sharing your journey with us. You're inspiring to all of us. Uh, I hope so. You know, you always wonder like, oh gosh, how are they going to edit it? And what am I going to look like? And are people going to be like, oh, what is she thinking? You know, but.

Who cares? Yeah, I know. It's true. You prove to yourself what you're capable of and it does not matter what anybody else thinks. Thank you. Agreed. I need to hear that. Good. Thank you for telling me. Well, stay safe. Be well. Love to the family. Please, please stay safe. Much love.

John Stewart is back in the host chair at The Daily Show, which means he's also back in our ears on The Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. Join late night legend John Stewart and the best news team for today's biggest headlines, exclusive extended interviews and more. Now this is a second term we can all get behind. Listen to The Daily Show Ears Edition on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

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People, my people, what's up? This is Questlove. Man, I cannot believe we're already wrapping up another season of Questlove Supreme. Man, we've got some amazing guests lined up to close out the season. But, you know, I don't want any of you guys to miss all the incredible conversations we've had so far. I mean, we talked to A. Marie, Johnny Marr, Eve, Jonathan Schechter, Billy Porter, and so many more. And I want to thank you all for being here.

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