Ride Home Rants
Ride Home Rants
From Easton to the Sidelines: Alyssa Johnson's Coaching Journey
What if the roots of a small town could shape the career of a remarkable coach? Alyssa Johnson, a distinguished coach and former soccer player, shares how her hometown of Easton, Pennsylvania, with its rich industrial history and vibrant sports culture, laid the foundation for her journey. From her early days at Lafayette College to her fervent support for Philadelphia's Eagles, Alyssa's story reveals a deep connection to her roots and an unwavering passion for coaching.
Listeners are in for a treat as Alyssa recounts her transition from being a student-athlete to a sought-after college coach. Her candid insights into finding her direction through unexpected challenges and opportunities, like those at Arcadia University and Seton Hill, offer a fascinating glimpse into the world of collegiate coaching. With her varied experiences and a master's degree bolstering her career, Alyssa discusses the significance of following one’s gut and how intuition led her to a fulfilling role at Case Western Reserve University.
Alyssa's reflections on a challenging yet rewarding soccer season at Case Western culminate in a story of growth, resilience, and community. With heartfelt gratitude, she highlights the pivotal role of a mental performance expert in transforming her team and offers a peek into the supportive environment that makes Case Western unique. As she playfully contrasts life in Ohio with her Pennsylvania roots, her passion for her craft and appreciation for the institutions that shaped her career shine through, promising more captivating stories in future episodes.
Subscribe for exclusive content: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1530455/support
Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREE
Reaper Apparel
Reaper Apparel Co was built for those who refuse to die slowly! Reaper isn't just clothing!
Tactical Brotherhood
The Tactical Brotherhood is a movement to support America.
Dubby Energy
FROM GAMERS TO GYM JUNKIES TO ENTREPRENEURS, OUR PRODUCT IS FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BE BETTER.
Shankitgolf
Our goal here at Shankitgolf is for everyone to have a great time on and off the golf course
Sweet Hands Sports
Elevate your game with Sweet Hands Sports! Our sports gloves are designed for champions,
Buddy's Beard Care
Buddy's Beard Care provides premium men's grooming products at an affordable price.
Deemed Fit
Be a part of our movement to instill confidence motivation and a willingness to keep pushing forward
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Follow us on all social media
X: @mikebonocomedy
Instagram: @mikebonocomedy
@tiktok: @mikebono_comedian
Facebook: @mikebonocomedy
Welcome everybody to another episode of the Ride Home Rants podcast. This is your special guest, host Fiti, and today I have a great guest for the Ride Home Rants show. It's going to be a terrific show with someone who I've known for a long time. She's a fantastic coach, fantastic person and, just overall, just great human being. So, without further ado, alyssa Johnson, welcome to the show.
Speaker 2:Thank you, thank you. I'm excited to be here and look forward to chatting a little bit and, yeah, let's get started.
Speaker 1:Absolutely so. For the people that don't know, you kind of give a rundown on where are you from originally. I know all about you because we worked together and we've known each other a long time. But where did you grow up originally and like, go to high school at?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so originally I'm from Easton, Pennsylvania. I went to Easton Area High School, which is on basically the Jersey border, so kind of you know East Coast, originally big Philadelphia sports fan, especially the Eagles Go Birds. So yeah, I really loved my hometown and the experience I get there and got from high school, so it's something I'm really prideful of and passionate about.
Speaker 1:So was your high school like a big high school, small high school, medium size? I know sometimes those schools on the eastern side of PA relatively fall in the large realm, but was your school the same way?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, we were definitely like the one of the larger schools, I would say in the area. Um, we definitely competed in like the kind of the the big school division, so like we were quad A or 6A whatever they kind of do now, because I know it's fluctuated depending on sports. So, uh, yeah, pretty big high school.
Speaker 1:Now for the people that don't know where, like easton, is that they may know, like philadelphia or york or somewhere over there. Where exactly are you close to that area at all?
Speaker 2:yeah, so I'm about an hour and a half north of philly. I would say, uh, just right on, like the jersey border there. So okay, okay, valley what you'd probably like call the area. So I went to Lafayette college Um, that's right where Easton is and then Lehigh, which a lot of people also kind of know is about like 20 minutes in the Bethlehem area near me.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, so that that definitely um makes sense. So you're right off with, like the interstate 80 corridor then 78 is like the main one, but probably okay. So if you're going over and up, okay, yeah, okay. So you know it's always funny too. People don't realize, um, when you talk about, like pennsylvania, how historic pennsylvania is in like the industrial revolution of the world and especially that that that mid middle part of Pennsylvania and East Eastern side, people know Pittsburgh on the West the.
Speaker 1:Western part of the state but they don't realize, like Philadelphia and like the Bethlehem area and Hershey and we're like Ma Chunk was where Jim Thorpe is and York and all those areas, they don't really realize how historic uh that part of of the the country is, especially in pennsylvania. So it's, it's very unique when you talk to people from out there because they know it's historic.
Speaker 2:We, we other people- who may not know, don't know that yeah, bethlehem steel is like a pretty big thing you know out that way. Um, I think if you're talking kind of back that time, you know it was like one of the leading steel producing you know companies at the time and kind of a random thing that like, actually, when I first got to Bethany I was reading some of like the you know infrastructure there, like some of the steel poles that were kind of in the building. One of them literally said Bethlehem Steel Inc. So that was kind of a you know a random you know blast from the past, kind of like hometown feel that I got at a place I didn't really expect it in Little Bethany.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, you kind of don't realize that a lot of people don't know the Crayola factory is actually in Easton, pennsylvania. So that's another thing that I have told people like growing up the the Crayola crayon maker, the thing where he used to put the crayons in and it would melt and then make one crayon. My neighbor had invented that. So those are kind of some some random things that you don't realize. Go on there. But, um, but yeah, and now the like another thing is like the Sam Adams, like one of their breweries, is actually in Pennsylvania, so I pass it every time on my way home. But for a while Sam Adams didn't want people to know that they actually brewed some of their beer in Pennsylvania, because it doesn't fit the stereotype. So, yeah, there's a lot that goes on out that way.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's just so interesting, interesting and you just talk to people and like you talk about that and like Hershey's chocolate was founded in Pennsylvania and Hershey Park and the theme park and all the cool things us people from Pennsylvania know but not you know, not not like super out there with other people known about Hershey. So yeah, pennsylvania, very historic, uh, historic place. So uh, and you gotta be happy with it. With the Eagles, you know when this show airs they should hopefully be, uh, getting ready to compete for the Super Bowl.
Speaker 1:But oh, fingers crossed days they'll tell yeah, fingers will be a stressful one, I'm sure yeah, you know, and all us Italian people are cheering for the Eagles if we don't like them because of Nick Sirianni being a fellow Italian. So you kind of mentioned that you, you finish at Easton, you know, or you finished high school, grew up out there, you know. You go to Lafayette College where you had a really, really good career as a soccer player. So can you kind of talk about what your recruiting process was like? Why did you choose there, you know? And ultimately, you know what was that time like during your collegiate athletics?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I originally kind of wrote it off a little bit just because I was like that's kind of my backyard I feel like you know, I don't want to go that close to home, but I was looking at a lot of like higher academic institutions. I kind of wanted that balance of athletics and academics. So one of my high school like volunteer coaches actually he volunteered at Lafayette as well, so he was kind of a liaison for me a little bit in the recruitment process and had let me know, you know the coaches were interested, they had seen me play at a tournament and, yeah, I I ended up going on a visit there. I went on a couple other visits but ended up really feeling connected with the players. I think you know that was something like times are a little bit different. So I remember them like after my visit, like writing on my I think it was Facebook at the time like writing on my wall, like following up with, like how great of a visit it was, and then, like randomly, would reach out to me being like, oh hey, like I saw, you know I saw you score a goal from your high school. Like somebody reached out to me because like the local you know news like cover sports and obviously it's the same area and they reached out to me then one time and I just remember feeling like I wanted high academics Like I.
Speaker 2:I thought the campus was absolutely beautiful. You know, I thought I was going to get a really great experience from like the overall culture of the team and just the players I felt super, super connected with. And I didn't necessarily feel that connection on the other visits I went on and so that's kind of like why I decided to go there Overall. It wasn't necessarily the experience I was honestly hoping for. It had nothing to do necessarily with playing time and things like that, but I kind of just felt like the environment was not what I expected as far as like the culture and maybe how things were led, and so honestly, that's one of the biggest reasons I went into college coaching as a profession.
Speaker 2:I had coached in high school. My high school coach actually had kind of you know, ran a local club, was the director of one, and so he was able to get me involved in that and kind of dip my toes in that in that way and really enjoyed coaching and I'm super, super competitive. I know anybody in athletics will say that. But I feel like if you were to talk my husband coaches, if you were to talk to a lot of our close friends, they would probably tell you I'm one of the most competitive people you'll meet, which is both good and bad, but I kind of I knew I wanted to be in sports, but then I think that overall experience is what really made me feel like I wanted to get into collegiate coaching to kind of give back and hopefully be that coach and create an environment that I didn't feel like I had, but I really, really had wanted out of those, out of those four years.
Speaker 1:Okay, and what did you ultimately get your degree in from?
Speaker 2:uh, your undergrad yeah, I majored in in psychology, so I, I, you know, I had always had interest in like understanding why, a little bit, why people are the way they are. I didn't necessarily pursue like the clinical route or anything like that, um, but I I wasn't totally sure what I wanted, but I thought it was something that could maybe be like transferable and apply to a couple different things.
Speaker 1:So so yeah, and, if I'm not mistaken, is Lafayette in the Patriot League. Is that correct? Yeah, ok, one of the higher academic institutional conferences. If people don't know, in the United States. A lot of great schools in there, a lot of history there, um, and definitely a very, very historic and high academic caliber league. That is for sure.
Speaker 1:So you finish up your career, you graduate. You know you're 22 years old and you got to figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life, and you mentioned about coaching. So what was that next step for you after graduating? You know, just a couple of years ago for yourself.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, it doesn't seem like it was a couple of years ago now, but, um, but yeah, I mean, I knew I wanted to get into coaching but I still had a couple other like things I was interested in. As far as you know, I had an internship with a sports psychologist that I did, where I did a little bit of graphic design and things like that kind of a more creative outlet for me. I was coaching, like doing private sessions and things like that and then coaching like youth a little bit. And also I had like an internship with Bethlehem Steel FC, which is now like the Philadelphia Union too, but I had different things like that because, again, I knew I wanted to be in sports, I was set on coaching, but I hadn't had that opportunity yet. So I was just kind of making sure and putting feelers out there that that's really what I wanted to do.
Speaker 2:And then I got the opportunity. I started looking for jobs and then my old club coach had actually posted that he was looking for, you know, a part-time assistant, and so I reached out, connected with him, and it ended up kind of just falling in place that I was able to assist with him for a year at Arcadia, which was a really, really great experience. I think he obviously him and I had a relationship before he was a coach that we, you know, we really connected and I got along well with him and you know he was, you know, kind of a big part of my life then with helping me get my feet underneath me, dipping my toes in the collegiate world of coaching, and it was a really, really great first experience. And so then after that year I kind of knew like I wanted to get my master's. I knew that would be important later on.
Speaker 2:You know, I know there's some coaching jobs that won't hire you if you don't have your master's, and so I knew I wanted to do that and have that. And so I was able to kind of find the graduate assistant posting with Seton Hill. It was kind of weird I I wasn't like too too familiar with Pittsburgh, really in the area, but Newt was out that way and you know I kind of just had a weird gut feeling when I saw that posting and applied for it, that this I just kind of felt like this was going to work out and I was going to get that position. Yeah, spent, spent, two, two really good years there too, working um working under Andy McNabb, and my coach at um Arcadia was Rick Brownell, and both of them, I think, were really great influences in my life and great people to to learn under.
Speaker 1:So that's awesome. Now did you get your MBA then from Seton Hill?
Speaker 2:yeah, so I got my MBA with a concentration in business management, so that was a good experience. I think it's obviously something that kind of applies you don't realize in coaching how many background operations and things like that that you end up doing in the office and so it definitely applies a little bit there and was just good experience. You know in that sense. So you know a lot of. I guess my degrees aren't like full force being used right now, but they're definitely transferable to some degree.
Speaker 1:You know it's funny that you talk about degrees with that. And you know you and I have both worked in higher ed a long time and it's funny when you're an undergrad you always have these ideas of you know what you think you want to do and so forth and such. And I know you and I've had conversations before and it would be you know always not what do you want to major in, right, what do you want to do? And let's try to find a major that'll fit these different path routes. But I, but you and I both know that when you look at studies that like seven out of ten people don't actually use their undergraduate degree because a lot of people go in and go I want to major in this, and then you don't end up doing that.
Speaker 1:But if you say, hey, what do you think you want to do, then you can kind of cater that, maybe find a major, your pathway, just like you know know you want to get into coaching. You know you think that you want to stay involved in sports. Well, psychology is a good way to go, because you got to understand how people work, you know, with with their mental health and and from a from a psychological standpoint. So you know, kudos to you for finding that pathway and finding that degree that you know will ensure that you're somewhat, or using it to an extent, right. So you go to Seton Hill. You have, you know, your couple years there as a graduate assistant. From there then you begin your your true, like non in school, not GA, position. Can you kind of walk us through your, your coaching journey then?
Speaker 2:position. Can you kind of walk us through your coaching journey then? Yeah, so when I had finished up at Seton Hill I actually really thought I was going to go on somewhere to be an assistant. At that point I think I was still teetering on the idea of what level do I want to coach at? Because obviously I had played division one, I had coached at a division three school and then I had coached at a Division III school and then I had coached at a Division II school, and so I was still teetering on that and not sure what I wanted.
Speaker 2:So I definitely had feelers out there for different positions. I had actually gotten reached out to about one position. That was a head coaching role. That I didn't expect and that was my first head coaching interview. And it was actually probably my first interview right after finishing up with Seton Hill and knowing that like I have to move on now I have to find something else. Because the GA spot was done and, um, I was a bit relieved. I didn't get that job actually, because I just didn't think it was going to be the right fit for me. But I kind of felt like if I got it, I got to take it cause it would help my career, um. So I didn't end up getting that one, but it ended up being kind of a good thing for me. And then I think it opened up my eyes a little bit, though, to being a head coach.
Speaker 2:And so, you know, I was still interviewing, like I had a D1 assistant position I was interviewing with and was, you know, a finalist for, and then I ended up one of my friends actually texted me and was like hey, I saw Bethany was open, which I had not really heard of Bethany too much before. She knew about it because she had played in the conference, she had went to St Vincent. And so she was like I know, bethany, it's in our conference, like you should apply. And I kind of was like, ah, I don't know, it's West Virginia, right, what everybody always always says, you know, first off when they hear that. And then maybe a day or two went by and I was like, okay, like I'm going to apply for it, let's just see what happens. And then, um, you know, I ended up going to campus that was kind of the same time as the D1 position was reaching back out to and I went to campus there and I'm driving in and the GPS took me the wrong route there for one. Now it's actually the route that I would probably have taken every time if I was coming from PA, because I like it.
Speaker 2:But my first time there I was like all back roads and all of that and I was like what is going on? I'm not taking this job and then I'm interviewing there. I'm meeting people, obviously met Steve Thompson, obviously met you. You drove me around in the golf cart to tour campus and then I, by the end of the day, I was like gosh, I think if I get this job, I'm going to take it Like I just see opportunity here. And so I remember going home to my then at the time boyfriend, who was also a coach, and talking to him about it. And he was like you know, three days go by and he's like I don't, I don't think you got the job. Like I think you would have heard by now. I was like I don't know, maybe.
Speaker 2:And then you know I get the call, was offered the position.
Speaker 2:You know took a day just to think about it because you know there were some other things and I just wanted to kind of figure out is this really what I want and then obviously accepted the position and ended up at Bethany, you know, was there for five years and you know, wow, I learned a lot for sure.
Speaker 2:I met a lot of really, really great people, some people that are obviously, you know, like yourself, I'm still very close with and connected to and, to be honest, like, obviously Bethany is a very different place than a lot of other places. But I don't think I'd be the coach I am today or be where I'm at today without those experiences and without those maybe you know, struggles at times and obviously some successes, but years and you know, was promoted at the time so I had an assistant athletic director role by the time I finished up there, but I kind of known, you know, as year four, year five was coming around, that I think you know I need something else that's going to push me further and be another step up a little bit as far as, like, competition and some things like that, and maybe put me closer, hopefully, to my now husband's family or one of our families.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely. So. You know you finished up this run at Bethany. You know you're like one of the last people, I think, still there. You know, after I left and Steve left for Bowen Wallace and Coach Upton left. And you know, after you know I left and Steve left for Bowen Wallace and coach Upton left, and you know a lot of other people left. So, um, you know you, you then are, are looking for a new job, you know, and you ended up at Case Western Reserve University here in Cleveland, ohio. So, um, was there anywhere else you were looking at and interviewing, or was really? Is it like case or I'm going to stay here in West Virginia and be wild and wonderful? Yeah, like the slogan.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So I think over my time at Bethany there were some positions that reached out to me and expressed interest, but I wasn't really applying for jobs. My so during that time again, my now husband, he we were dating at one point when I first got to Bethany. He then accepted a job in Nebraska. So we were doing distance for about a year and a half and during that time we went from dating to engaged and then the men's basketball job actually ended up opening at Bethany and we were just saying all of our you know saying all of our prayers and, you know, hoping that worked out and he ended up getting the job at Bethany. I had applied for one job during that time. That was in Ohio, but when he ended up getting the job at Bethany, I was like we haven't been together and we just literally got married. He ended up getting the job in March. We got married in June of 2023.
Speaker 2:And so I kind of pulled out and was like I need. You know I'm always going to put my family first at the end of the day, and so you know did that and again it was like the only thing that I really kind of sought out. And then case opened and I had actually applied for the case job um two years like the two years before when it had opened and got an interview but it was like a really really quick timeline as far as you know. They were moving pretty fast and so didn't didn't get an on-campus or anything. But I was kind of like it's okay. Like at that time I knew maybe I wasn't, I wasn't ready, you know, for the, for the position potentially, but it ended up working out really really well. Cause that's then when I got promoted to assistant athletic director and I learned a lot and then I was scrolling because, like I said, I was kind of interested in in taking the next step and saw case had been posted again and I remember sending it to to Brad, my husband, and being like I can't believe this is open, you know like. And he was like obviously you got to go for it and I was like a hundred percent, you know it was a place that from the outside, looking in right, really aligned with like what I was kind of looking for.
Speaker 2:I wanted to compete, you know, at at that point I had already decided like I want to stay division three. This is the balance I like this is kind of the players and the impact that you can have on them, but honestly they have it on you at this level I think was just awesome and what I was really looking for. And so when it was posted I applied and you know the first phone call I kind of I had you know I'm big on gut feelings and that intuition a little bit, and I just had a really good feeling about it and I kind of, you know I'm big on gut feelings and that intuition a little bit and I just had a really good feeling about it and I kind of, you know, I gave it my all and you know it was a really, really hard decision to leave my team. Honestly, that was the hardest part. Again, like there were a lot of great people there I met and things like that, but I kind of had come to terms that I knew it was time to move on in that development.
Speaker 2:You know standpoint, professional standpoint. But the players at Bethany, like you know I had recruited them all and had gotten really close with a lot of them. That was that was definitely the hardest part. Um, but it is really nice because I I go back to Bethany now for my husband's games and you know I'm able to see some of them and check in, which is awesome. But but yeah, that when the case opportunity came, came around, it was, yeah, high, academic, highly driven, you know individuals both on and off the field, um, people that like want to really like get better in all aspects of life and just want to be challenged in that way and that competitive environment, but also, while like uplifting each other has just been, it's been awesome and I'm super, super grateful to be here and you know it's been, it's been fun so far.
Speaker 1:No, that's definitely awesome and you know, I think when you look at your playing career at Lafayette and then you look at CWRU, playing in the UAA, you're going to find that there's a lot of similarities there High academic conferences, very good athletics so you know there's a lot of similarities of your playing days where you went to your coaching days there now. So you know what was your season like this past year. I know you guys had a phenomenal season and you know what was your season like this past year. I know you guys had a phenomenal season and you know everything, but can you kind of tell our listeners, uh, what your your first?
Speaker 1:year like was there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so it was overall pretty pretty good. Um, we finished nine, five and five, which was a little bit different than the previous two, three years, I think, as far as like record wise, if you were just on the outside looking in. You know there were some games, we had our struggles for sure, but to be honest, I think all the struggles that we went through is only going to make us better moving forward. I think you know we were definitely shifting some things up from how things were ran previously. Obviously, just being a different person, like things are naturally going to be a little bit different in philosophy or whatever it is, and so I know that was an adjustment for everybody. You know it was hard for those players to go through a change. You know, obviously throughout the summer it didn't allow for us to really meet until preseason. For the most part there were some players on campus. So that transition, definitely you know it's hard to do that in the beginning of your season and not have a little bit of kind of like that introduction phase. You know the spring would have been, would have been nicer, but that's not what the car, you know the cards we were dealt, and so we were getting to know each other, like I'm getting to know them, they're getting to know me, and so throughout that, like I'm trying to learn and trying to form these relationships with each player individually and learn how do they operate best. Do they like a little tough love? Do they need more positive reinforcement? Because every single player is different, and then they're also different depending on what their mood is like too. And same with me, right, and both my assistant Ross and I, we're both kind of naturally a little bit more upbeat in some ways and our energy feeds off each other sometimes, and so I know that can be a shift for some people, just depending, because I think my whole life, like playing soccer, I'm super competitive, I take it seriously, but I also think that I do my best when I'm also having fun in between. You know some of the best games I played with some of my best friends, who are still my best friends today.
Speaker 2:You know we would goof around a little bit. It's not that we weren't taking it seriously, but goof around sometimes during warm-up or like in between breaks and stuff like that, and I think you know. But then we were able to flip the switch and I absolutely love that environment because, you know. But then we were able to flip the switch and I absolutely love that environment because, you know, I don't think there's anything wrong with, like, taking a drill super seriously and being locked in but then, like during a water break, you know, being able to crack a joke or, you know, have that side conversation and stuff like that.
Speaker 2:But, um, you know, we ended up pulling it together and and I think we had, you know, a little bit in the midway through season where we were struggling to maybe get results, we tying games that I think we shouldn't have tied. Um, and I think everybody would probably agree with that, and I know we had to build through that. But we actually brought in um Megan who, you know, she, you know, has that mental performance background. She worked with both of us at Bethany, is now at at Penn State and we brought her in and had her start working with the team too and I think that was something that was really impactful for us.
Speaker 2:I know the team absolutely loves her and so that was something I think really, really helped our team and we were able to, you know, make it to the NCAA tournament. We won the first round game. We ended up losing the second round game to Messiah, who was a top five team in the country at their place and, you know, lost in the last 70 seconds, which was pretty unfortunate. But we battled and you know we we battled through injuries this year that kept some some players out and, you know, had to shift things around and figure things out and the team was resilient in that and I think, in all honesty, the way we ended, I think, was at a really, really good point to build upon.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, I'm excited for that left it left a little bit on the table that we're like hungry for more so absolutely.
Speaker 1:It gave you that taste of success. Now you want the whole bite. Yeah, sure so. Um, you know you kind of talked about it. You know the high academics and the things, all the great things going on with the program and all that. But you know, if someone was interested, you know about Case Western Reserve University. You know they want to get a hold of you or just know more about the score of the program. You know where can they reach you, where should they check out? Can you kind of go over those things with us?
Speaker 2:Yeah, of course you can easily go to our you know, the athletic website for Case Western Reserve, you know, go to the women's soccer page. You can find my cell phone number, my office number, my email on there. That's probably the easiest way. You know we have ID camps, we have things like that. So those are also ways to kind of get seen and get right in front of us while also seeing campus, you know. So those are, those are probably the easiest ways. I apologize if I don't answer emails right away. I'm sometimes bad at that. So don't be, don't be discouraged if that's the case. But but yeah, shoot me an email, give me a call and we'll get back to you.
Speaker 1:No, absolutely that's awesome. So how do you like being in cleveland now? I know your husband's family is from there and everything but how do you like, uh, living up here, um, you know, in the, in the great, the great city, on the great lake?
Speaker 2:yeah, yeah, well, um, I never stopped hearing about how much, uh, how flat this state is compared to pennsylvania. Br Brad loves to give me a hard time about you know the differences and he's very, very passionate about Ohio in general. Big Browns fan, I'm obviously very, very passionate about where I'm from, so it makes for some interesting conversations sometimes, but I actually I really love it. I know it's funny because I feel like sometimes there's this outside stigma that, like Cleveland is like why Cleveland? You know? But I, being from the East Coast, being, you know, very close to both New York City and Philly, like I love Philly, I like visiting Philly. I don't want to live in Philly. I don't really enjoy visiting New York City at all. Actually I just do it occasionally because I have, you know, some close friends there. But I really loved my time in Pittsburgh. I think Pittsburgh and Cleveland and maybe some Brown Steelers fans would not like me saying this I think are very similar cities in some capacities, size-wise, kind of what's there and things like that, and so I really like it. I think it's not as crazy Like one of the biggest and weirdest adjustments for me.
Speaker 2:So my Brad's family is from the Olmstead Falls area, so west side of Cleveland, and obviously cases on the east side, and I'm talking to them because I actually stayed with them for the first little bit until I was able to get on my feet and find an apartment, that kind of fit. You know what I was looking for. And so that commute to work. I was stressed. I was like, am I, how early am I going to have to leave in order to get to work on time? And they were like, oh, like, the commute was like maybe 35 minutes. And they were like, oh, like probably 10, 15 extra minutes.
Speaker 2:And I was like, are you serious? You know like there's no way like any other city, you're maybe leaving I don't know an hour ahead of time. But that is one of the biggest blessings for me because I am not good in traffic, so I love it. I think there's a lot to do here. I live in Tremont right now and I love my apartment. I'm able to, you know, see the city when I, you know, make my first turn off my street and at nighttime it's beautiful, and so I think a lot of people maybe don't you know, throw some shade on Cleveland, but I'll, I'll stand by it. I like being here, so I'm happy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think it's. It's a pretty unique city. We did a show back in the summer with some people from the Cleveland area talking about all things Cleveland, the East side, the West side, downtown, the restaurant. So you know, it's a it a very unique um place. I think cleveland is one of the more unique places for food and, like breweries and the wine country that we have here on the east side, I would say the only other place I've ever found probably similar to cleveland as far as the food scene would be. Like we were down at Bethany, that at Bethany, like that willing we're in, and like Steubenville area with the diversity. So, um, cleveland has a lot of cool, cool things going on. You know we got the beaches up here and stuff too, so that was a wild discovery for me.
Speaker 2:It's just weird to me being on the east coast and somebody telling me there's a beach in Cleveland like did not, did not compute in my head until you know. Even seeing it and driving by I was like wow. So yeah, there's a little bit of everything here, honestly.
Speaker 1:There is and there's, you know, really, three well-known beaches. You know Edgewater Park and then Mentor Headlands and then Fairport Harbors Beach as well. And for people that don't know Cleveland very well but that are going to be seeing the upcoming Superman movie when it comes out, it was actually filmed here over the summer and actually it was filmed at Mentor Headlands Beach as well. So there's all the people that don't know Cleveland's fun fact about Cleveland so well, alyssa, we're getting down near the end of the episode, but we always finish the segment with the Fast, fitty Five. It's five random questions brought to you by me. You've known me a long time now. You know whatever. It's been seven years or whatever. So it's going to be five questions from me. You can elaborate if you want, or you can just give the answer and we can move on.
Speaker 1:So, if you're, if you're ready, we'll we can get into it, let's get it. Okay, Question number one is it weird if people go to bed wearing socks?
Speaker 2:I don't love it. I'll do it when it's really, really cold, so I'll leave it at that. I would say most of the time, yes, but cold. So I'll leave it at that. I would say most of the time?
Speaker 1:yes, Okay, Number two should people wash their hair first in the shower or last First? Okay, Good answer. Good answer.
Speaker 2:Question number three what is the best time of the day to take a nap? Ooh like right after lunch, like I would say late afternoon to early evening.
Speaker 1:Hmm, okay, perfect. Question number four If you had to eat for a week straight Chinese food or Chick-fil-A, which one do?
Speaker 2:you pick Chinese food. I hate Chick-fil-A, everybody knows that chinese food. I hate chick-fil-a, everybody knows that. Oh okay well, I didn't know that. Yeah, if you add sushi in there too, it's a it's it's easy. Chinese food, japanese food, put it together okay.
Speaker 1:Well now all the former guests know of the show and all the listeners know now. You, you hate chick-fil-a, and that means alissa will eat chinese food for a week straight. All All right. Question number five and what kind of fun one on this who's the person you admire the most?
Speaker 2:Probably my mom yeah, I don't know. I think she she's one of those people that works super, super hard but doesn't, like you wouldn't always know it because she doesn't, like you know, get a lot of attention. I would say her Honestly it's going to sound a little corny maybe but also my husband, probably, because I see the endless hours he puts into his job and obviously that correlates a lot to my job. So I appreciate that too, and he's made me a better coach because of that.
Speaker 1:I appreciate that too, and he's made me a better coach because of that. You know, and that's awesome. And when you have a spouse, that's a coach as well. You know, it's great when you can have each other's back and, you know, make each other better, not just as a coach, but you know a husband and wife and you know friends and everything with that, so that's that's definitely awesome. So, alyssa, we are going to finish up the show here, but we give about 30 seconds to a minute for each guest. If there's anything they want to promote or a good message they want to get out there. I know you listed the contact info earlier, but if there's anything else you want to get out about the program or CWRU, or just leave a good message, we'll give you about 30 seconds to a minute and the floor is yours.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, oof. Well, I would like to thank you first for having me on the show. I will stand by my Chick-fil-A comment, because their crispy chicken sandwich isn't actually crispy and that's why I don't like it. I would also like to say I do admire my dad, but it's hard to say because we're so similar that it's weird to say I kind of admire myself, but also, if anybody's interested in Case, feel free to reach out. It's an amazing place. I'm very fortunate with a lot of amazing co-workers and players, and so come check us out.
Speaker 1:Awesome. We always love when people leave us with a good message. So, for all of our new listeners and our old listeners, thank you for tuning in. Make sure you peep all of the sponsors in the pre-roll and the post-roll. There's a lot of great small business owners in there that are supportive of the show and we want to make sure we support them in their small business endeavors. As always, if you enjoyed the show, be a friend and tell a friend, and if you didn't like it, tell them anyways, because I bet they like it just because you didn't. This is Fitty signing off and we will see you next week.
