Always be on your toes with life! 👠 #that'sjusttheindustry

Hi love, if you're new here, welcome. I'm so glad you've finally arrived. If you've been before, welcome back. I love you. Before you get too far into the episode, will you head over to iTunes and rate the podcast? It takes 5 seconds and helps others see and connect with us. Welcome to my podcast, The Girl with the Red Door. I'm Kristjana Hillberg, your host. Here you'll get to listen to stories from people who divulge real and raw experiences on all different topics. You get 9 lives on your journey here on Earth. Which one are you living? One of the best things about having a podcast is getting to talk to such rad people. Each of my guests so far has been someone I admire. Tori is no exception. I've known her since she was a toddler and have loved watching her grow into the strong and passionate woman she is. Social media is awesome, but also a little on the creepy side. You get to see the intimate parts of people's lives and you feel like you know them, even if you haven't actually spoken in decades or at all. It's bizarre. Love it, hate it, mostly love it though. So I was watching the Oscars last night and Barbra Streisand said, "Truth is especially precious these days." Mm, how amazing it is to stand in your truth and know who you are and what makes you happy. It's a nice little Monday reminder. All right, here is the beautiful Tori. I know, I am just like so excited to catch up with you. Well, I am very honored that you would have the show, so Well, yeah, I mean, I've— well, I mean, I feel like I've known you your whole life. And so of course, like, I've watched you grow up and I've watched all the amazing things you do. And I just want to hear everything, like, from you graduating and college and life. So tell me, tell me everything.

Well, alrighty. So obviously we both went to the same high school. Right. And from there I went to Dixie State University in Southern Utah, and that is where I decided to do broadcast journalism as my degree. I have always had a love for sports, and unfortunately with my injury that I had, I was not able to, uh, play sports anymore, so I had to pick a different route to take. And so I went with the broadcast journalism and started to broadcast sports and get into that into college. And so I had sent out a lot of, um, different little resumes and such and just kind of like information letters about myself in college to try to kind of start getting myself out there because I really hadn't had a job yet. And so with my internship, I had got accepted through ESPN. So I had started doing sideline reporting in Southern Utah, and I also did some for UNLV down in Las Vegas for their football.

That is so awesome.

Yeah, so it was way fun to be able to do that. And during my internship, I actually met quite a few people. And they had asked me to cover my first Super Bowl. What? Yeah, so I got to cover Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco, which was just like absolutely mind-blowing.

Yeah, that's like a dream. That is so incredible. So did they like fly you out?

Yes, so I flew out there and it was actually really fun because a majority of it I was still under age of 21. So a lot of the different things you had to be 21 to go to. And actually, my mom flew out with me.

So fun, like a fun little girls trip.

Yeah, so on top of my first Super Bowl experience, it also kind of got to be my mom's as well. So we both flew out there. She kind of rent— she rented out the car and drove me around like a little Uber.

Yeah, that is so incredible.

Yeah, so that was definitely probably like the whole highlight of my college career.

So then what happened from there? Did you stay in Utah or did you end up moving back to Arizona?

I, um, moved back to Arizona after college and I started applying to jobs everywhere. I got a lot of job opportunities to go out back east. It was— I was hoping to kind of stay just in Arizona because I just absolutely love Arizona, but I thought, well, I better take just some different chances. I had flew out to interview a couple different positions for some SEC basketball jobs back there, and it just didn't really feel like the right fit. And then It was literally like 2 weeks later I had gotten the call from Arizona Sports down in Phoenix. So I literally went down there just like a couple of weeks after the other. I was just like, maybe I should take the offers back east, but it just didn't seem right. Yeah. So I'd gotten the phone call from them and I had interviewed like that day. And then the next day they called and said I got the position.

So, so it was meant to be.

It was just meant to be. I just had to hold on.

I love that. So did Is that where you're living right now, is in the Valley?

I have. So after I had done that for over a year, so I had worked down there and then I actually moved back to Utah.

Okay.

To talk radio. So it was a whole different flip. So I went from working my dream down in the Valley with sports to going to Utah, back to Utah where I was going to college in Southern Utah to do news talk radio.

And how was that, like, switching? Was it pretty easy to just switch right over?

It actually was the hardest thing I had to do ever. Like, I've had different little situations with sports and adjusting to writing, to being delivering news and such, but to this with— I feel like with news, it's always, always ongoing. Like, I was sports. I mean, you have little stories with someone gets traded or an injury, but with news, it's 24/7. Someone's in a car accident, there's a fire, there's a robbery, there's— so it was totally a whole new ballgame for me. So I went from being like working 5 days a week to 24 hours basically a day.

Oh my gosh. So you were on call and did you have to like do research and stuff?

I did. So on top of different news stories that were breaking, um, I— where I was actually located, I actually covered the Las Vegas mass shooting.

Oh my gosh, wow.

On scene, um, for that, which was absolutely crazy. That was probably the craziest thing I covered was the Vegas shooting, which was absolutely just probably the saddest I mean, I've dealt with car accidents and fires and they're all very sad, but the mass shooting was just devastating. So that— oh yeah, really hit. So I actually, once that was all done and covered that fall, I was there till the end of my contract going into the new year. And then I had worked out there, did some other little radio side job stuff. And then I used my insurance to come home and have knee surgery. So I'm just chilling right now.

Oh my goodness, girl, you need, you need to start a podcast. You have so much to talk about.

Oh, that's so funny. I was actually— a lot of people have said like with the Vegas shooting and all the different things I should actually talk about, but I really haven't thought about it. And then when I had actually saw you started posting about your podcast. I actually listened to all your different stories, like whether it be here every week, but I try to listen to every morning. Yes, I'm such into like news talk now and podcasts and like TED Talks and like motivational stuff, but I have absolutely been listening to your podcast.

Seriously, you have no idea how much I appreciate My listeners, you, I mean, you are what keeps this going and what drives, what drives me. So thank you. Thank you so much for listening. It just blows my mind.

Yeah, but all the love and support, that's all. That's just so great.

I love it. No, and you— oh my gosh, I'm just like, girl, you need to do it yourself. You would have— there's— that's something else that's so awesome about podcasting is you can talk about anything and everything, and there's always going to be someone who's interested, right? You know, and so I think like for me, when I first started, um, I didn't— I just went in. Well, first of all, I started because I kind of wanted to break my perfectionist tendencies. And so I'm like, okay, I'm just gonna launch this podcast. I'm not gonna care about the sound quality at first. I'm not gonna, you know, nitpick. I am just going to start it, launch it, and just let it be and that's it. I'm not going to worry about who listens because I truly feel like there has to be at least one person listening that needed to hear that story. And so it's just kind of turned in and like morphed into this like little passion project that turns out I love the backend of it. Like I never thought of myself as like a technical person, but I think it's because I never did. Technical things. And I absolutely love like the editing and the splicing together and like figuring out how to like make it blend. And I don't— it's just, it's been a really, really fun creative outlet. So I would like, I would encourage anybody who has a voice, which we all do, and we all have something to say. I think it's just such an awesome way to— it's almost like journaling, kind of.

Oh, definitely.

You know? So yeah, and knowing your background, I mean, that is just so, so awesome. Was your mom just like completely on board when you decided to have that as your major and go into that?

Well, actually, it was kind of funny because she was a little bit worried about it. I— just a little bit as of like where I would kind of like end up and kind of like the traveling. Aspect of it. And women in sports isn't like a big thing. So yeah, it's kind of really one of those fields about— it's not really what you know, it's who you know. So it was— I mean, she's very supportive. I mean, she's traveled many miles to watch me do what I love, and she is completely on board. But kind of also, you know, being a single person doing what I do with all the traveling, with all the people you interact with. It is a crazy world. But she has loved absolutely just kind of seeing where I've ended up and seeing me on football fields, reporting to basketball gyms, to traveling. So it definitely, she's had more of a loving heart towards it because she sees, has seen what I love to do. And she supported it fully out.

No, I absolutely love it. And I think, um, have you ever heard of those books? Gosh, what is it called? Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls.

I have not.

So it's basically just these books of compiled stories of like badass women who have just done things that, you know, usually have been like stigmatized as women don't do these things. Um, But I totally think of you. Like, when Lil and I read those stories, I'm like, Tori needs to be in here because she's just like pushing through, like being a badass woman. Like, I just, I love it, love it, love it. And I always think of you when we read those stories, but you should pick one up. Like, there's so many awesome women. I mean, of course they have like Oprah and Ellen and, you know, the people that we, you know, hear about all the time, but they also have women that we don't hear about all the time, and they talk about just these women breaking through and being awesome. So yeah, you're one of those girls.

Wow. Well, thank you.

Yes, of course.

Hey everybody, this is Maya from The MW Projects. I hope you all had a good holiday and a great start to the new year. Just wanted to hop on here quick and let you know that the shop is back open and ready for new orders. So definitely reach out and let's get connected. Now let's get back to the episode.

I saw your pictures or your videos posting about— of your grandpa. Like, tell me kind of about that whole thing that he does, because it's a yearly thing that they've done, right?

So My grandpa recently has taken the past 2 years now interest in the Pony Express. Like, it's— I mean, we've gone since I was younger and watched the horses pick up the mail from the schools and such. And he really hadn't had a very big interest in doing it himself until he had started a couple summers ago doing a big horseback ride with a bunch of people. So he's been putting together like different times of the year, these big horsebacking. So they'll— he'll put this thing together where anybody can come, family, friends. It's just anybody who has a horse. And he's been taking people throughout all of Arizona on these big horseback rides. And one of the guys ended up being one of them that rode in the Pony Express. And he was like, Brantley, would you like to participate? You know, come check this out. I think you would absolutely love it. So his first year was last year, which was the 60th year. And he was one of the oldest riders to take place in it. But they didn't realize that he was like the oldest rider.

Oh my gosh.

Yeah. So he has been in parades with the Pony Express. They go all over to pick up the mail. And this year, he was the oldest at 81 riding in it. So yeah, they delivered the mail, but actually kind of a little bit of a side story. So he's actually in the process right now in Joseph City putting like a historic museum together. So he's been building this museum on Main Street and right before the ride, like 2 days before the ride, he was chipping away at some wood and an old staple chipped out of the, out of the wood and flew into his eye.

Oh my gosh.

His whole entire eye. And but he was so bound and determined to not disappoint anyone and ride in the Pony Express. So he just put like a little patch on his eye. And then when he had to ride, he took it off.

Oh my goodness. He is like the definition of a cowboy.

Definitely is. They just have that mentality, like, you know, the olden days, like, and that was the thing. He didn't want to go to the doctor or anything. He just took it out himself.

Oh my gosh.

I know, so, uh, that's why I was trying to decide that date with you because he's actually down having surgery right now and I'll be headed that way tomorrow.

Oh my word, so is he in the valley?

Yeah, he is. He's down, up actually at his house, so.

Oh my gosh, that is so crazy. I would have never known, like, he just acts, he just always acts so so normal and laid back. Like, in those videos, you would have never been able to tell that anything was wrong, right?

He literally just— I don't know, he— they just have the old guys of time, you know? They just— I don't know, they have a rough, tough attitude, I guess. Rub some dirt on it and it's—

oh no, I know, I, I absolutely love it. And actually, when, um, when we came home just barely back in, I can't even remember, it was for my 10-year anniversary, September, we went out to the Rock Art Ranch and I hadn't been out there in so long and there has been so many, like I hadn't gone to like the little lookout area. Like did he build that?

Yeah, he had built the whole overhanging at the canyon. Yeah, he built that on a couple of ladders.

Yeah, so that was incredible and I mean, I think I just have such fond memories because, like, growing up with Jesse, like, I remember, like, riding out there and climbing on the rocks. And yeah, it was a little bit nostalgic. So it was so awesome to be out there and, and just see it all again.

Yeah, that's right. You were Jesse's— and was Kody a year younger then?

At the time? No, Kody Kody was in my grade.

Oh, okay.

Yeah. So we grew up together and that is just so crazy. I was just talking about him. I talk about him, like I would say on a monthly basis. I just, somehow he always comes up and I just, I like remember vividly that day. I don't know if anybody else, you know, from my class does, but I mean, like I was telling you earlier, like I, I grew up with you guys and I knew you since I was little. I mean, I was next door neighbors with Jesse. And so I have pictures of us when we're like 2 years old. And I remember that morning I was over at Jesse's house. I must have like had a sleepover. And I remember the cousins being in town. And I remember like they were in the Jeep and he was in the backseat. And I remember like coming out of the front door and waving at him and being like, hi, Kody. And then just like a few hours later getting the call. And that was the first big death that I had experienced in my life. And I just, I think it really impacted me.

I think it still does like to a lot of different people, especially obviously my Uncle Randy, you know, everybody.

Oh yeah.

And it's actually kind of funny, tomorrow is his birthday.

Oh my gosh, is it?

Yeah, isn't that crazy?

That is so crazy.

We're having this conversation and talking about that and just small coincidences, but, uh, yeah, tomorrow is his birthday and we were all just kind of talking about it. Usually every year we try to like— we don't want to forget, you know, it's hard because like you're saying vivid memories, you know, it's, it's not like right at the top of your head because it's It feels so long ago.

Right.

Always try, like, I will talk to Jesse or we'll call people, you know, on the birthday and talk to just family, just not, we don't really mention his birthday or anything, just the more of like, how are you doing? Because obviously we all know, you know, and there'll be lots of different memories that we'll mention. And, you know, it is hard because all I remember was coming up on the accident. So, no, I was out. We were all driving out there because I believe that you were at Jesse's house because she had just had her wisdom teeth out.

Oh yeah, I was like, it was something because I remember like specifically being there. And was— were you guys having a family reunion?

Yeah. Uh-huh.

Okay, that's what it was.

So it was like a huge, um, just like everyone came down. It was like the weekend, kind of, everybody kind of had off and stuff. And so we were just having like a big family get-together out at the ranch. And so my memories were just, we were in the truck and we pull up and there's ambulances everywhere. And all I remember was him under a yellow blanket.

Oh my gosh.

You just, you know, but that's like all I remember.

Right. Well, and how old were you? Were you like 9 or 10? 9.

Yep.

Oh my gosh. Well, and I also remember the funeral, and I think all of us sat together, and, um, you know, that was when Randy made those— the shirts.

Yeah.

And, um, I remember him like standing up and talking, and, um, he was just really, um— well, I mean, he's always just like very like colorful and, and bold in whatever he says, you know. And, um, I I remember him talking about Kody, and he was really emotional and saying how Kody didn't always feel like he— I'm like gonna get emotional. Oh my gosh. I remember he was saying how Kody didn't always feel like he fit in. And he was working really hard that summer and had lost a bunch of weight. And I just, I remember thinking and feeling in my heart, Oh my gosh, I hope that he always felt loved by me and that, um, that we were friends because I just remember he was like one of the, just the most creative, loving boys. I mean, he was literally one of my favorite boys in the class. And, um, so yeah, I just remember like little itty bits and pieces of, of that whole, you know, few days. And that was one thing also that stuck out. And every time I wore that shirt, I would just, you know, all the memories of Kody would just, you know, be so powerful. So it's just so crazy how an event can impact so many people.

It's crazy, especially how well-knit growing up of a small town we were in our, you know, and when something would happen, it's not— it's kind of like they always say, you know, when somebody knows, they think they know everything. And then it happens, like it affects the whole community and everyone comes together, which is just really nice in a way, you know?

Yeah. And it's, it's, yeah. And I mean, it just goes along with that saying too, like we all experience a different reality. Like we can all be, you know, one event, we're all experiencing it, but we all feel differently about it.

Yes. So yeah, it's so many ways and some more, you know, because it's funny because sometimes I will see the boy, uh, it was, um, William Bain. I had seen him and like sometimes I'll see Wesley, um, because they were the ones always together or something, you know.

Yeah, they were super close.

Like Cody, you know, right? It always played the drums together, or no. So it's definitely a lot of emotions, or, you know, and you just think, oh wow, he would have been their age, or, you know, right?

Yeah, it's so crazy to think. Yeah, when you said it was his birthday, I'm like, oh my gosh, like, he would have been 29. Like, he, you know, what would have he been doing? And Yeah, it's, it's a trip to think back to stuff like that. So for you, as far as like, what's, what's the next step for you? Like, what's, what's going on in your life now?

Well, life is kind of thrown me a whole new curveball, which it always does. Yeah, I know, right?

You can always expect the unexpected.

Exactly. Always just have to be on your toes with life. So I, like I said, I recently had just ended, um, one of my small reporting jobs, and I had came home because I needed to have my final knee surgery. So in October, um, I had, I had my final, um, knee surgery, and it was pretty intense. So I've just been at home here in Arizona recouping, and during this time I've been in contact with a lot of different people because I've pretty much built a good resume and enough that I've stayed in such great contact. And a lot of people have offered me many different jobs. And it was pretty crazy because the week before my knee surgery, I actually got a call from the Atlanta Braves for the baseball team. What? And asked me to fly out and take one of their reporting positions, but they needed me like right then. Yeah.

So You're like, can you please just wait like one month?

I know, please just wait, wait for me. But that's kind of the industry, they don't really wait at all for anybody.

Oh, is that pretty normal? So like if they call you, you should expect to be somewhere like stat?

Yeah, pretty much. Give yourself like 2 to 3 weeks tops.

Wow, okay.

Yeah, so it's a— I know it's kind of rough in that, in that situation. I'm It doesn't really give you a lot of breathing time. You just kind of like, oh sure, or oh yeah, no. So, um, I didn't work out. And so I have just been kind of deciding what I've wanted to do. Um, obviously with being in the new year, I've tried to set a lot of different new goals and such, but, um, since I am just home And then another curveball came at me, but, um, one of the teachers at the high school is actually going to have a baby. And so they asked me if I would just fill out her position the last 3 months of school. They were like, oh, you know, we need someone to fill in. And if you're here, I mean, and they're like, if you need to leave, you can, but I mean, they would really like someone. And so I was like, okay, sure. So, I mean, it's not going to hurt. I was like, I don't really have anything right now. So I'm going to just start doing the last 3 months of school for her doing science. So I was like, oh, that's a completely different loop.

Yeah, that'll be fun though.

I was like, wow, this is totally different. And I was really looking into it more and I just realized I already have obviously my bachelor's degree in journalism, but I just realized I'm 35 credits away from a teaching degree.

Oh wow.

So I think I'm gonna just push these, um, when the summer— when summer starts, I think I'll just push and try to push and have a teaching degree on top of it because I thought, what the heck, another degree is not going to hurt, right?

Exactly, might as well.

And so I'm going to do that and then I'm going to wait and see because I have been in contact. It's nothing official or anything. It's just kind of still out there, but the Denver Broncos have just called, and it's kind of under the table. We've just been in a lot of contact, but they have a pretty good offer that they're gonna make to me headed my way, and I won't know what the full-out offer is for the end of this month because the girl's retiring.

So, my gosh, I feel like I'm talking to a celebrity. Like, you were just like So this is so awesome.

No, it's just like, I still get amazed myself. Like sometimes I'll see like someone famous or something I've looked up to. I'm like, oh my gosh. And then I keep my cool. Like, oh my gosh, I'm in the same industry as them. Like I gotta just stay calm.

Yeah, no, that is so awesome. So would you potentially move to Colorado then?

That is definitely— this fall would be an option. Yes, it's still out there. It's not— I'm just kind of waiting to see what the offers on the table for me and if it feels right. But other than that, I would be headed to Denver.

I just am so glad that we got to catch up a little bit. And on a different note, how is your mom doing? Is everything like— is she still teaching and Yes, she will.

I will get the phone call that she just fell over at the school.

Oh my gosh.

Loves teaching though, so she loves kids. She loves trying to be an influence, an impact on kids' lives, you know. She— I mean, what else would she do other than teach? She always says that, like, what would I do, you know? I— she's like, I think I would miss just being around kids. But I think eventually at some point she will officially permanently retire out of it. But as of right now, I think she just— it's hard for her to give up the kids.

Well, yeah, I mean, I always, always have just loved her. There's just something about her. There's no one quite like her.

Well, that is very true.

I know. So I always thought that she was just so awesome. And I mean, she raised such an amazing woman and And there's just like all these powerhouse women. And I love it. I love being surrounded by them and knowing them and being their fangirls on the side.

I am a huge fan of you and your podcast. I am loving it. I am a huge fan of your daughter Lily and all of her cute—

Oh my gosh.

Lily.

We recorded— she like was in the room with me one time when I was editing and she was like, kind of interested in it. And I'm like, we can record some stuff together. Like, are you interested in that? And she was like, sure, can we talk about my favorite animal? And I'm like, yeah, absolutely. So we did like some short little podcasts and she is hilarious. I've been wondering like when I should put that on. Maybe I'll put it on this episode. It's just like a little 3-minute, like her talking about her favorite animal and it is hilarious.

Mothers, do it. Put her on.

It'll be the perfect, perfect timing. Hey, Lil. Hi. What's up, girl?

Um, nothing.

Okay, so today we're talking about our favorite animals. You tell me, what's your favorite animal? Um, I like sloths. Sloths? Wow, what can you tell me about sloths? Um, they, um, live in trees until 4 days. The 4th day they move to a different tree. Okay, so let me get this right. They only live in one tree for 4 straight days, and then on the 5th day, then what? They climb to a different tree, or what goes on? They climb to different Interesting. And where did you learn this information? Um, well, I learned all of the sloth stuff on Amazon. On Amazon? Amazon gives sloth reviews now? What? Well, um, I have my own sloth and they brought a picture of it and there is, um, there's, um, some information about sloths. Okay, wait, so tell me again, you have your own sloth. How did that happen? Um, so my grandma, she got money and she was donating it to buy a sloth for me. Like Save a Sloth? Yeah. Nice. So did you get a girl sloth or a boy sloth? A boy sloth. Really? And what is his name? Henry. Henry, I love that name. Name. How old is Henry? He's only 16. Only 16? Do they live to be like 100, or do you know anything about that? They, um, they go up to be 60. 60? Are these made-up numbers?

No.

Oh, these are all facts? Yeah, that you got off of Amazon. No! Oh, I thought you said that. Okay, well, thank you so much for being here. Is there anything else you'd like to share about sloths? Um, no. Oh, sweet Lillers, you will never know how much I love you. So most mornings I draw an intention card from my Whispers of Lord Ganesha deck. It has such beautiful artwork and delicious words that nourish the soul. This morning I drew Sustenance. It was the perfect card to draw this morning as I prepared for my very best friend to arrive to release this episode, and just as a heartwarming start to my day. The main message was to enjoy the nourishment that life can give you. Refusing to create, experience, and grow can be detrimental to you. As we move into Women's History Month and International Women's Day, take time to pause and reflect on your goals and dreams and your heritage. Stand up for what you believe. Empower each other. Happy Monday.