#509 – Kara Saunders

Sevan Matossian (00:01):

Bam we’re live. When I think of noble, I, I, when I think of noble, I see their logo. I think of the twin towers burning down <laugh> and I think of them as a fascist hateful organization, that’s just a tool demand, a complete sellout brand to the fullest. 100%. Uh, there, I think their original story is, is they came up with the name and then they came up with the product and I just, they’re just fucking sellouts. Don’t they’re against they’re they, they don’t want, they they’re okay with men and women’s sports call me old school, but I think women should be se I think women and men should be separate. They should compete over here and there could be something like we could do a different event where we compete together. Hi. Hi. Hi car.

Kara Saunders (00:47):

Hey, how’s it going?

Mattew Souza (00:49):

Welcome. Good morning.

Kara Saunders (00:50):

Thank you. <laugh>

Sevan Matossian (00:52):

We deserve better. We deserve better, dude. Hey car, do you not do podcasts normally? Is it? I, I, I was like, I look around for interviews with you and like, man, you’re, you’re, it’s, it’s tough. I think you’re like have the third biggest following or fourth biggest following out of active female CrossFitters and yet, um, and then I’ve talked to other podcasters and they’re like, how the fuck do you get her?

Kara Saunders (01:16):

<laugh> I’m bit picky. I, uh, I, yeah, I, uh, I am a little bit picky. I’m just precious with my time. So I’m like, look, you are easy, cuz of like been there, done that. I know it’s good. So, and then others, usually the only way in is if they sort of know someone or someone’s recommended them and then I’m like, okay, sweet. I trust. But um,

Sevan Matossian (01:38):

They’ve given Maddie a handy in the past. They’re in

Kara Saunders (01:40):

<laugh> I’m just like, I don’t know. I think not all podcasters, like intentions are kind of the same and I’m like, yeah, I don’t know. I’m just like a bit funny. So, um, I’m not, I’m not a no, I’m not a no, but

Sevan Matossian (01:56):

You’re you’re in America.

Kara Saunders (01:57):

I’m in America. Yeah. I’m in Tennessee for the last day today.

Sevan Matossian (02:00):

Yeah. You’re at the mayhem empire.

Kara Saunders (02:02):

I am yep. In the Airbnb right now.

Sevan Matossian (02:05):

Yeah. Um, is it fun? I, I heard Patrick Clark say something to you that like, I don’t know if this number could possibly be true, but like 20% of the games athletes are now is, is it really like that? Is it like walking around? And you’re like, oh, there’s the, there’s that team? There’s that dude? There’s that girl.

Kara Saunders (02:21):

Yeah. There’s people everywhere. There’s athletes everywhere. It’s like, I didn’t even realize how many there actually were. And um, yeah. Heaps of individual athletes, heaps of team athletes. Like they’re obviously just doing it right. And people wanna be there. So it’s been, it’s been a really good time. Epic prep.

Sevan Matossian (02:36):

Uh, what, what’s the, um, what’s the protocol? I’m an athlete. You’re an athlete, but I, but you know, I wanna come take a picture of you. Can I just come over and be like, Hey, like,

Kara Saunders (02:47):

Uh, look, I, I think everyone’s got, everyone’s got their own protocol. I think, um, it depends how approachable you are. I’m pretty like when I’m over here, I’m a lot more relaxed cuz I don’t have like my normal life stuff to do. Like we are here to train, hang out with my daughter. We come back to the Airbnb and eat and chill. Like I don’t have to, like, I don’t have to like do all of the normal life logistics. So I’m like so much more chill. So I’m happy to like stop and take a photo. Someone gets me like obviously if I’m in the middle of a workout or something like that’s a pain in the ass, but um, most people are pretty good. And I think the people in mayhem are so used to it cuz there’s always athletes there. So like they’re members and everything are like super respectful. They’re really chill. Um, but yeah, I think every athlete’s a little bit different. Some might not like it and kind of wanna stay in their bubble a little bit and they might separate themselves in another area or whatever. But for me I’m kind of like, yeah, yeah, it doesn’t

Sevan Matossian (03:39):

Bother me. Right. Do you have a training buddy there yet? Already?

Kara Saunders (03:42):

We kind of, I’ve been training a little bit with everyone. So I definitely have found, we kind of got loosely split into kindness and groups for the sake of like the times that we were in spaces just to not have everyone in one space, like all crowded at same time. But I ended up um, kind of just at times naturally training with like some of the boys, like some of the like other international boys and a couple of the girls like Victoria. She’s really cool. And we just kind of like, if it

Sevan Matossian (04:11):

Where’s she from where’s Victoria from

Kara Saunders (04:13):

Um, Brazil, I think. Um, yeah, so she’s really cool. And it’s just like, if it sort of works out that the one thing that’s actually been really good is heaps of different athletes. And I think, um, but there’s been like a, a pretty good vibe. Like it’s kind of like, Hey, you know, you know, say we’re doing something with like, um, a piece of equipment that there’s only one of like a pig or something like that. We’ll be like, Hey, you know, she are you doing that? Do you wanna go one to one each other’s rest? And we’re super chill to do that. I think like there has to be a certain dynamic with athletes. Like some are good about it. And some like, obviously don’t wanna be around anyone like pre competition. But for me, I mean I’m old dog. I’ve been around 10 years. It’s not gonna change anything. Now if someone sees what I can or can’t do, like they know my tricks. Um, and so I just like do me and yeah, it’s been pretty good and the boys are good value and um,

Sevan Matossian (05:00):

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. The boys are good value. What’s that mean?

Kara Saunders (05:03):

Oh, like they’re, they’re good to train around. So there’s like, yeah, we’ve got like, Badden came from Australia in the last couple of days. And then, um, there’s like za and this and like people I haven’t really trained with before and um, yeah, they’re pretty cool. They’re like, oh, we’re way do a work out with you. I’m like, okay, cool. But yeah, I’m like, look, I’m used to training in the front yard often with no music because I need to hear my daughter running underneath me, you know, like, uh, it’s not glamorous. So like I just, I don’t really care. I’ll roll with whatever’s there. I just get the work done.

Sevan Matossian (05:33):

I, I’m not asking you if you care, but I want you to be honest with me. All right.

Kara Saunders (05:37):

Always.

Sevan Matossian (05:38):

How much has your training suffered now that you’re running a nanny shop and a and a, and a super high, high end, uh, athlete shop in the same fucking hundred square feet.

Kara Saunders (05:52):

<laugh> <laugh> oh mate, it’s chaos. It’s chaos. Um, yeah, look there’s times where it does suffer. And then in the other sense, it’s almost better because I’m a little bit, I appreciate and take, take advantage of the good time when I have the good time when I can do something. So I think the quality that I’ll put in to those other times might be a little bit better, um, because I appreciate it and I know how hectic it can be. So say for instance, like if, um, Mattie’s home from work or whatever, and I’ve got his help or whatever, and I know I’ll like be all in, um, there’s definitely times where like the hardest part has been like, I might miss a session, you know, I might have to miss a piece because

Sevan Matossian (06:34):

Yeah, that’s hardcore, man.

Kara Saunders (06:37):

Yeah. That’s

Sevan Matossian (06:38):

That’s that’s mentally must be like, you have to like for PE it’s not just like you missed a session. Like I, I know I’m, I’m, I’m assuming that it’s like, I’m gonna do this. And then, and it’s like singularly focused and then I’m not gonna do this. I’m gonna do this over here. Like you’re gonna train to win the CrossFit games. Then all of a sudden you’re gonna be over here, changing diapers and tending to a sick child or yeah. A hurt toe. It’s like, that’s fucking, that’s a gnarly shift. I think emotionally

Kara Saunders (07:05):

It can, it can be, I’m

Sevan Matossian (07:07):

Like, can be sorry. It can be sorry. It can be.

Kara Saunders (07:09):

Yeah. I’m like very, I’m pretty much a realist. Like I, I think in the early days when I say when she was really little and I didn’t really like, know as much, it was a little bit harder, but like she’s just turned three and like, I know how it goes now I know shit goes down. I know it gets flipped upside down and you don’t know when that’s gonna happen. So the one thing I always tell myself is I’m like stressing about not training will do more damages and not training. So like the stress overall, like systemically is just like chronic and like, no good. So, um, I just try not to make a deal of it. I’ll put in a little bit more next time or whatever. Like it’s not ideal. Um, you know, there’s some little things that are kind of hard for instance, like I would, you know, one thing that I’m not like super prepared on is like, I have to run a lot more, unlike my air runner at home because I’m at home with my daughter.

Kara Saunders (08:01):

I can’t like leave her inside and just go for a run, you know, outside, you know, I’m not gonna drag her to the track or whatever. So like my conditioning say to like outdoor running versus like running on an err, I get the work done. Sure. But it’s a little bit different. So like there’s just some sacrifices like that. Um, but I’m like, I’m just doing the best I can with what I have. And the real, the reality is I made a choice. Like I wanted to have a kid, I did, it comes with some changes. I just own them and do the best I can with what I have, but I also wanna parent a certain way. And I’m just not willing to compromise on that. So, um, that’s my, like on the list of priorities, like that’s at the top. And so I always just come back to that.

Kara Saunders (08:40):

I’m like, look, she’s just more of a priority. Like, um, and the, you know, competition just had to kind of go down a notch. Like that’s just, that’s just the pecking order in our, in our house now. Um, so yeah, it can definitely be a little bit frustrating at times. And you, you definitely, yeah. I missed training sessions or like I remember going into the gym one day and just like you had this whole plan to get stuff done. I pack like the bag for Scotty. Like I had to go into the local gym cause I needed like a rope climb. Um, and it was like raining at home or something. It went in, I pack all the snacks and all the stuff to keep her going, whatever. And she has a meltdown and she’s like, I’m looking at this kid and I’m like, this kid just like fully like needs her mom right now. Like something’s going on? Like she needs a hug. She needs to like, not sit here and deal with my shit for a minute. And I’m like, do you want a smoothie? Like you wanna go get a smoothie? You wanna just spin this? And she’s like, yes. You know, like she’s just having, she’s just emotional. I’m like, all right, pack the shit up. We’ll go down to the bees. We get smoothie. We’ll

Sevan Matossian (09:37):

Sit down. That’s impressive. That’s impressive. Yeah.

Kara Saunders (09:39):

Like, and then, you know, like that, just, that just happens sometimes. And yeah, it’s not ideal, but I, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Like I chose to have it this way. So

Sevan Matossian (09:49):

I can’t, it’s like people who get a dog and then your dog choose your shoes and then you’re pissed off and it’s like, Hey dude, that’s what dogs do. A hundred percent you’re if you get a new dog, you are going to lose a pair of shoes. That’s part of the deal. Yep. And so don’t be an idiot and argue with reality. And then another thing you said is powerful and there is, especially for people who have parents, they all heard it. You want a parent a certain way and, and you’re uncompromising about it. It’s gonna be. Yeah. And, and man, I wish there were more parents like that. Yeah.

Kara Saunders (10:15):

Yeah. I definitely think like everyone’s obviously got their own sort of like goals and definitions of how they wanna pair. And I don’t think there’s one that’s necessarily more right than the other, like depends on how you’ve grown up and yeah. <laugh>

Sevan Matossian (10:26):

I know you do. I know get some opinions

Kara Saunders (10:28):

<laugh> I mean, I have, I have some, but I also am pretty like compassionate to like people’s different situations, but, um, mm-hmm, <affirmative>

Sevan Matossian (10:34):

Very good dude.

Kara Saunders (10:35):

But, um, I, yeah, I have the idea of like how I wanna parent, um, I wanna be super present with my kid, cuz I think if you don’t pay attention in the early days, they end up a prick later and you can’t fix that because that’s all they know. Like you can’t, they, you can’t go to them at 12 and be like, Hey, why are you being a bitch? Like, why are you sure? Why don’t you wanna talk to me? Why, you know, why do you have all these issues? Like, oh, well I didn’t pay attention when it really counted. Like for the things that were there, big things when they were small, like it might seem small, but it’s big for them. And um, so I, I think I’ve gotta build that foundation from early to like essentially contribute a pretty good human being to the world. And um, I take that pretty seriously plus like super fun, like a love in Mylo bestie. So

Sevan Matossian (11:18):

Bestie, um, yeah, there was a picture of you I’m looking for it’s fucking incredible.

Kara Saunders (11:24):

<laugh>

Sevan Matossian (11:26):

It was posted recently and you’re standing with a bar over your head.

Kara Saunders (11:30):

Oh, it might have been on mayhem in like I was doing like over

Sevan Matossian (11:34):

Lunches. Yes. Yes. My God you look so beautiful. It’s fucking nuts.

Kara Saunders (11:40):

Oh, thanks.

Sevan Matossian (11:41):

<laugh> but

Kara Saunders (11:43):

Huh.

Sevan Matossian (11:44):

But,

Kara Saunders (11:45):

But,

Sevan Matossian (11:45):

But are you crooked?

Kara Saunders (11:48):

Am I crooked? What do you

Sevan Matossian (11:49):

Mean? Yeah. Uh, see your torso.

Kara Saunders (11:52):

Yeah. I don’t know if that’s look. It’s very likely that

Sevan Matossian (11:55):

I’m like, that’s how I look when my back hurts, but worse in the mirror I look up in the mirror, my cor is not sitting on my head. I’m like, damn, is that like, that’s the one of the most beautiful bodies I’ve ever seen, but is it crooked? Like, is she wounded?

Kara Saunders (12:06):

Look, I don’t know. I’m not wounded, but I, um, I mean we’re all a little bit wounded. Like I’m 32 and I’ve got 10 years of like cross it under my belt. So I’m a little bit wounded, but um, yeah. I, I could very likely be, I don’t know if it’s like

Sevan Matossian (12:21):

Look at your abs how they kind of go off like this.

Kara Saunders (12:23):

Yeah. So I definitely have had like, I guess more of a history of like, if I have any issues, it’s definitely like twisting stuff like with my hips, especially after I have my daughter, like stuff just moves. Um, but uh, yeah, and I definitely kind of end up one sided, post travel, who knows, but like, look, I’m, I’m still like marching along twisted or not. <laugh> <laugh>

Sevan Matossian (12:45):

Will, will you, um, will you share, you’re gonna share your shirt money, um, with the athletes, but, but not Tia. Right? She got enough money, right?

Kara Saunders (12:53):

<laugh> yeah. Well, I mean, yeah, like I, I mean, I think it’s only fair cuz she’s already got her own Jersey and we’ll get her own contribution that um, the goal was, I was like, look, if I there’s only

Sevan Matossian (13:03):

You’re gonna segregate. You’re you’re you’re you’re a sexist racist. No, no white girls one girl’s gonna get the money.

Kara Saunders (13:08):

Yeah. Clearly I’m just a really small

Sevan Matossian (13:10):

Privileged class.

Kara Saunders (13:10):

I’m just a sore loser. Right. I, uh, I just figured I’m like, look, if you, if I divvy it up, say between like all of the Australians we are gonna get, like we’re lucky to get a coffee each. Right. But, um, yeah. Yeah. I’m like, I’ll divvy it up in my class of anyone who didn’t get a Jersey. And she was obviously the only other one that got a Jersey. So, um, she’s more than welcome to do the same thing, but um, that’s on her. That’s like her decision, but um, yeah, that’s how I’m gonna do it. I don’t know what that’ll look like. I don’t know what, like their auto, like what their quantities are, what they’re ordering or anything like that or what that money will look like. But I’m like, look, if it buys a couple of beers at the end of it or pays for a little bit of something then, right. Whatever. Yeah.

Sevan Matossian (13:51):

I, um, I, I, I, I’m trying to re I, I noticed you were extremely for, especially for you, how I, my, my perception, the little box that I keep, uh, car Saunders in, and don’t let you get out of my impression of you is you were extremely humble and loving towards her and, and generous with your person at the, um, Torian pro nice at the, at the end. Yeah. I think of you as more as a fierce, uh, you, I, I do see you as a very fierce competitor, but at the end, I hadn’t seen that side of you before.

Kara Saunders (14:27):

Oh, like the, like the mom. Oh, like the mom’s side or with Tia,

Sevan Matossian (14:30):

Do you? No. With Tia. Just the respect. Yeah. Yeah. Just the respect. Um, just the utmost respect that you gave her.

Kara Saunders (14:37):

Yeah. Look, I think I do have respect for everything that she’s achieved and I think you’d be pretty crazy not to. Yeah. Um, like she’s done something that like everybody, no one else has done in our sport. No other female has done. Right. So, or

Sevan Matossian (14:50):

Dude, or dude,

Kara Saunders (14:51):

Or dude that’s right at this point. So you would be crazy to not like you pay respect where respect is due. Um, and so yeah, for sure. And I mean, there’s always that like, like-mindedness right. Like whether, um, you know, people always say like, oh, what athletes are friends with? Who? And blah, blah, blah. And like all of that aside, we all have one thing in common. Like we do the same thing and we understand the work it takes to be there. And so like better than anyone, I understand how hard she’s obviously worked. Right. Like, and I can totally value that. I know what it takes. And then to, to be like achieving high, high, like, and plus, like, it doesn’t hurt to just be a nice person. Like it just, I don’t know, there’s there’s enough, like shit in the world. Like

Sevan Matossian (15:34):

You gotten soft, you had a kid and you got soft

Kara Saunders (15:37):

<laugh> oh, I did. I tell many all the time. I’m like, I’m like, you may be soft, man. I was like independent woman. And now I’m like all dependent and like chill,

Mattew Souza (15:46):

Giving away money.

Kara Saunders (15:47):

Yeah. Legit. Although I said this, I’m like, I was definitely like so much more like hotheaded in my younger days. Like I grew up an only child for a long time, very independent. Like just always did my own thing. I hate help. You know, I hate being helped, all that kind of stuff. I just like love doing stuff for myself and really, really fierce. And, um, like that, there’s definitely still an element of that. But over time, if you kind of like lose control of it, it kind of would just make me like cranky. And I’m like, man, I had like a couple of things happen in life that were hard. And I’m like, I don’t wanna get around the world being cranky. I’m like, it just feels like shit. You know? Like I don’t wanna, it’s not like really doing anything for me. And honestly it’s just like, yeah, my life’s pretty good. Like, there’s just no reason to like, kind of be hotheaded or crazy. I’m like, I really enjoy my life. Like we’ve

Mattew Souza (16:35):

It takes so muchs energy too, to like ha be in that mindset and to be that way towards people. It just it’s so much of an energy drain as opposed to just going with the flow and, and being more giving.

Kara Saunders (16:44):

Yeah. Yeah, totally. It is. I think a lot of it just come from like, you know, I don’t know, bloody past family trauma or whatever, and it’s just shit that you have to work through. And I think having

Sevan Matossian (16:53):

<laugh>, I,

Kara Saunders (16:54):

I literally think like, oh, the pulse stuff. It, um, I’m still badass, man. I was, so I was still bad. I got a little bit left, but um, I think having my daughter, like when you have a kid, you like really look at yourself in the mirror. I found, I don’t know. I don’t know if that’s like just a mom thing or some people, but I found like, I was like, man, I don’t wanna pass my shit onto my kid.

Sevan Matossian (17:15):

Oh, I think that all my, my wife and I talk about that all the time. Yeah. I’m like, even if you have to be a little fake, like, like stay in control, don’t pass your shit onto your

Kara Saunders (17:24):

Kid. Yeah. I’m like, like I definitely, you know, I, I feel like I caught the brunt of that from my parents. Like I don’t have a good relationship with my parents and I I’m like, man, I don’t wanna do that to her cuz it feels crappy. And um, so I was like, I kind of need to sort my stuff out. Like, and I went through a phase where I think she might have been like one or two and it was really tough because I was like doing all the, I was doing the work, right? Like the internal work, like working on me and going like, I don’t wanna wanna like, who do I wanna be? Like, who do I want her to see? Because they don’t listen to anything you say, they just copy you. Mm-hmm <affirmative> they copy everything that you do. And I’m like it. I can tell her whatever, but it’s all gonna come down to like how Maddie and I interact with each other. That’s how she’s gonna interact in a relationship one day. How we talk to each other, how we talk to other people, everything we,

Sevan Matossian (18:08):

Hey man, how you talk to your parents too?

Kara Saunders (18:11):

Yeah, really?

Sevan Matossian (18:11):

That’s the tricky, that’s the tricky part. Right? You, you got some beef with your parents and like you better squash that shit or your fucking kid’s gonna turn 30 and bring that shit right back. Like a mirror to <laugh>.

Kara Saunders (18:22):

Yes. Yes.

Sevan Matossian (18:23):

Hey, like a simple thing just to make it practical. Like if I, if I go in my car and I’m leaving the house and I didn’t kiss my wife goodbye. And even if I’m in a hurry and it’s not a big deal, I go back in hug her, squeeze, her butt, kiss her, tell her fucking, I love her to death. Ask her if there’s anything she needs. The whole thing is fake as shit <laugh> but I want, but I want my kids to see. And, and it starts to feel real as you go through the motions, obviously by the end and we laugh and we giggle and um, but I do, I do that for my kids.

Kara Saunders (18:52):

Yeah. Yeah. A hundred percent. We do the

Sevan Matossian (18:53):

Same thing. Yeah. It’s like man, like, or if I fight, like the thing I always say, we gotta make up in front of ’em. Yeah. We’re teaching them how to fight. We ha I have to come to you and say, I’m sorry, I raised my voice to you. Completely inappropriate. What a joke that I lost control. Cuz you left the fridge open.

Kara Saunders (19:08):

Yeah. A hundred

Sevan Matossian (19:09):

Percent. Right? You gotta be like, even if I don’t, even if I’m like fucking hating myself, I’m not even humble enough to say it. I I’m sorry. <laugh> you know, like through the deep for them,

Kara Saunders (19:20):

For them. And then in saying that too, you like, we talk about a lot. We’re like you can’t not fight either because you don’t wanna like shelter them from the world. Like look, no how

Sevan Matossian (19:28):

I want them to know how to fight too. All my friends who they don’t fight with their wives or their girlfriends, their shit’s fucked. Yeah. You have to know how to fight.

Kara Saunders (19:36):

Yeah. You just like, get it out and then it’s like how you recover and how they see it recover. And like, like I said, then they copy that. Like that’s all they know. They just, they watch and they copy like the good and the bad. So you just have to like tread, like plus it’s like, I don’t know. You say like it’s kind of fake to like come back and you know, do that little routine, but it’s not fake. It’s just forced the EnergyWise right. The process.

Sevan Matossian (19:59):

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I still love her and I’m glad I did it, but it’s but I, but I, but I’m doing it for ulterior motives, but then it starts to feel real. Like, you know, once I, I do it, but yeah, you’re

Kara Saunders (20:08):

Right. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. And they just, yeah, they, they just copy. I’m like, honestly, there’s just, I don’t know. I, I, I take parenting pretty seriously. Not in like a stress serious kind of way, but I’m like, I made this human. Like I, I don’t wanna put a shit person out in the world and be like, I’m responsible for that.

Sevan Matossian (20:25):

It’s our only legacy man. It’s our only legacy.

Kara Saunders (20:27):

Yeah. And plus you get to like make like, have cool people to hang out with and look after you when you’re old. <laugh> yes.

Sevan Matossian (20:34):

Uh, PMI premium services. Ricardo, Monteon the most generous, uh, person we ever have always in the chat. Uh, well maybe there’s the Olson dad too. And Sarah Cox, but this guy’s dope. Uh, tell car that she’s my, my favorite favorite female athlete. Oh, I, I refuse to

Kara Saunders (20:50):

<laugh>

Sevan Matossian (20:53):

Um, this means you’re a good parent from wa zombie. Um, I, our, our, um, our mutual, uh, well I maybe he’s your friend, but I admire him. Uh, Mr. Uh, Royce Dunn. Mm-hmm <affirmative> it cannot come to the country because, um, he refused the injection. Mm-hmm

Kara Saunders (21:14):

<affirmative>

Sevan Matossian (21:16):

Um, I mean, fuck, I admire him for, I wanna fucking move the whole CrossFit game to Australia cuz of that.

Kara Saunders (21:24):

Yeah.

Sevan Matossian (21:25):

Like fuck you guys. And he wrote on there and his Instagram opposed post post, which I don’t agree with is that he made the choice. He didn’t make the fucking choice. All the other idiots made the choice. He didn’t do shit. Yeah. He doesn’t deserve to be punished at all. He didn’t do nothing.

Kara Saunders (21:39):

Yeah. I had a little bit of a read through like some of the comments I was talking to Roy. Like I love Roy. He’s a good dude. I like talk to him like fairly often. And um, I was like, oh, sorry. It happened, man. Like it’s shit. Um, it’s, it’s really nothing short of shit. Like it really. But, um, but uh, like he’s good. Obviously he, my personal thing is I think everyone has a right to their choice. Like I think it’s not, it’s no one else’s business in so many other ways. I think you do you man. Um,

Sevan Matossian (22:08):

But the people who got the injection who made the choice well, yeah, they chose, he’s saying he made the choice not to get it. It seems like word fuckery to me to say like, well I I’m choosing right now. Not to fucking, um, stab myself with a knife. I’m no, I’m not. I’m just not doing it.

Kara Saunders (22:23):

Yeah. Yeah. It’s um, yeah, it’s a tricky situation. I mean, I kind of have like, through this whole time stayed pretty away from any, like through all the, that talk, I guess like any jab talk, any stuff I’m like, it’s I feel like it when I engage in like the conversation, especially on socials, right. Um, if I engage in the conversation too much or get into it too much, you just open the door for anyone who like, you never have a conversation with and who you don’t give a shit about their, their opinion to come straight in and start like, but, um, mm-hmm <affirmative> then I a hundred percent stand by Roy and his decision and what he feels like, like all power to him meant I wish more people like had the backbone that he does, um, to stand by his decision and do what’s right for him and his family.

Kara Saunders (23:12):

And, um, I know that he feels like really good and comfortable in it. Like it’s yes. He didn’t really make, he had to make a choice, but really wasn’t kind of given a choice. It was, he just had to, he, he, he, he got a, he was punished for having an, an opinion essentially. Right. Um, for having, for having an opinion or review, which I, I think, I don’t know opinion. We’re not allowed opinions or views anymore. That’s right. That’s that’s not, that’s illegal. That illegal amount. That’s illegal. We’re like Maddie shadow ban. Yeah. Maddie and I talk about it a lot. Like one thing we’ve always done really well in our relationship is like, we can have like a super differing opinion. It doesn’t happen often. There’ll be like a handful of things where we’re like, you know, where we’ll be, we’ll differ and we’ll talk about it.

Kara Saunders (23:54):

And we’ll like, say our views and then we’ll be like, oh man, like I just don’t think I’ve gotta see your side. Like, yeah. I just disagree with you. And we’re like, okay, cool, man. But let’s just, let’s just move on. Like, you feel like that, I feel like this it’s not really affecting our day to day. Like, is nothing huge for the major things. We’re on the same page, but we’re like, it’s cool. Like that’s what an opinion is. But these days, everyone just wants to hear their words outta somebody else’s mouth. And that’s just not how the world works. Like, you know, you the, yeah. So I, I literally like a while back, I just like took a step back. I’m like, I’m not getting involved with it. I’m not having conversations with people who like, don’t even want to entertain or hear anything after sale. What’s the point. I’ll talk about it, Maddie. And I have a WGE and talk about it in our bubble and then move on. But, um, cuz it got super heated in Australia for a long time. It was like, everything was like super crazy. So

Sevan Matossian (24:44):

Yeah, people don’t like being forced, um, being forced to take drugs and, and drugs being forced on their kids. Some people don’t like that so much. Some people never agree with that.

Kara Saunders (24:53):

Yeah. And then the, the divide

Sevan Matossian (24:54):

It’s weird. It’s weird, right?

Kara Saunders (24:55):

Yes. It’s weird. But the divide between what was even crazy is like just the divide between friends and family members and everything. Just for having a different view instead of being like, okay, you do you man. And what you need to do for your family and your workplace and whatever it else is you need to do or that you wanna do. And then I’m gonna do over here. What’s right for me and my family and blah, blah, blah. And just leaving it at that people are like losing friends of like, you know, 20 years. And like it’s just hectic and I’m like, whatever, it’s good. I like, I think it, that kind of, those kind of attitudes like come through and it just kind of like clears a trash out for you. Makes it super easy, tidy up your life a little bit, have some good stuff around you and charge on.

Sevan Matossian (25:33):

I’m very curious how you got into this country, but I’m going to wait until our next podcast ask you <laugh> um, how, how, how is uh, how is Maddie?

Kara Saunders (25:42):

He’s good. He’s uh, living the look he’s he’s got it a little bit tough right now. I’m not gonna lie. I’m like dude, with like we’re in the thick of it.

Sevan Matossian (25:52):

He Matt’s her husband by the way. Uh, he, he, he was the, uh, baby batter donor that made the baby that’s that guy thing. <laugh>

Kara Saunders (25:59):

That made me soft. Um,

Sevan Matossian (26:02):

Yeah, ruined he ruined cars.

Kara Saunders (26:05):

He, um, is in full like daddy daycare mode hard. Like he’s the primary right now. If anyone is responsible for our daughter, that’s him right now. Um, and he does a Nelly job at that. He’s always epic like that. We’re full. Like co-parents all the way, even in everything we do anyway. But right now he’s kind of, it’s like, if something’s really wrong, he’s like, if she’s not sleeping, he’s the one that goes into her bed. You know, it’s not me right now. I’ve got the free pass. Um, if I’m training in the gym and she’s being wild and running around, trying to get under people’s barbells, like he’s the guy that has to stop and go get her like, um, so it’s not the most fun for him right now. He’s doing really well. Like he’s not complaining, don’t get me wrong. But um, I can see, I’m like, oh, it’s not like the most fun, like it’s not a holiday for him here. Like he’s kind of working and then making sure that, you know, I’m good and sorted and helping me out. Like he wears a thousand hats at me and I swear he there’s nothing. He can’t do,

Sevan Matossian (26:56):

Oh, you should walk by him later today and be like, man, you’re so lucky. He’s gonna be like, why he’s all because you’re getting to practice selflessness. <laugh> giving, I’m giving you this opportunity. Fuck Maddie. I treat you so good. I’m giving you a chance to be enlightened right now

Kara Saunders (27:11):

To raise up to, just

Sevan Matossian (27:14):

To just be like, I am selfless. Um, I, um, Daniel, Brandon, uh, has been in the spotlight recently for a shift in coaches. Yeah. I know that you went through something in a, in a, in a time that was, um, equally as hard probably. But um, there wasn’t the spotlight on it because social media and, and just the sport, wasn’t where it was at and CrossFit, wasn’t where it was at. And now it’s like, really, like, there’s just this flood light that can just go anywhere. Um, that, that when you switch coaches, you had a long time coach that everyone just pictured you always at the games with, and then he wasn’t your coach. Um, did that, did that happen? Close to the games?

Kara Saunders (27:52):

Yeah. Super close. So I think it would’ve been maybe like a month or two. It might’ve been like just after the oh wow. Like the semi-finals or something like that. I think so. Which

Sevan Matossian (28:03):

Would’ve been the regionals back then. Okay.

Kara Saunders (28:04):

Yep. The regionals back then and then, um, yeah, that kind of like all ended. And obviously he’d been my coach since the start. I think maybe didn’t get as much spotlight either. Cuz he wasn’t like a famous coach. Right? Like wasn’t like no didn’t have other athletes or anything like that. Um, and uh,

Sevan Matossian (28:18):

But, but your, but your relationship was similar to his and cots in the sense that man, it was, it, it, it was perceived from the outside as a very special relationship. Yeah. I mean like you guys were like a, a team. Yeah. Like when I would see you guys, I mean, it was cool.

Kara Saunders (28:34):

Yeah. We definitely did have that. And I think that that relationship 100% like served its purpose. I’m forever grateful for the time and dedication that he gave to me in the role that he kind of stepped up to. Cause he was just an affiliate owner. Right. Like he learned how to coach and be there for me and something that he had never done before mm-hmm <affirmative> and taught me things that I still take into competition to this day. Um, unfortunately back then, you know, that year and everything was super crazy for me. And then in on a personal front there were some like conflicts there and like some choices that I made in my life and that didn’t align with him either. And then we kind of like, I was like, look, I, I can’t be in this like negative. I hate, I hate to throw the word around, but kind of toxic situation.

Kara Saunders (29:17):

Right. And I was like, it’s just no good for me. Um, like this is kind of done its thing and we just parted ways. And um, yeah, I was kind of like outta my eyes, gym hopping, leading up to flying to the us. I reached out to Dan Bailey and was like, oh, can you write some workouts for me? Like just put editing together cuz I’m like, I have no idea how to do this prep thing on my own. Um, I don’t know how to taper or anything. Like I kind of know, but I’ve never had to actually be the one, you know, with the pen to paper. And um, so he just threw some random stuff and we were just winging it. Um, and yeah, it kind of paid off

Sevan Matossian (29:50):

In the sense that you had a good games.

Kara Saunders (29:52):

Yeah. But I think for me, like I felt really,

Sevan Matossian (29:54):

And Maddie was there with you. You, you were a different person that year. You were kind of like on the love cloud, like you were.

The above transcript is generated using AI technology and therefore may contain errors.

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