Sage Steele
๐ค SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
He is definitely going to heaven. I said to him, I'm so sorry for what's about to come. And he looked at me and he goes, mom, it's about time you stood up for yourself. But what's the lesson? What's the lesson? We're staying silent to protect those around us so they don't go through pain, so they don't fear things. And what was I doing? I was a hypocrite.
He is definitely going to heaven. I said to him, I'm so sorry for what's about to come. And he looked at me and he goes, mom, it's about time you stood up for yourself. But what's the lesson? What's the lesson? We're staying silent to protect those around us so they don't go through pain, so they don't fear things. And what was I doing? I was a hypocrite.
I was showing him the opposite of what I wanted him to do. So I knew at that moment, and Quinn said too, she was proud of me. She was scared, but she was proud of me. And I knew at that moment that even if Disney crushed me, which financially they came pretty close to doing in about four minutes, right? It's Disney versus me.
I was showing him the opposite of what I wanted him to do. So I knew at that moment, and Quinn said too, she was proud of me. She was scared, but she was proud of me. And I knew at that moment that even if Disney crushed me, which financially they came pretty close to doing in about four minutes, right? It's Disney versus me.
Even if I lost, I actually won because my kids saw that their mom no longer lived in fear. And that's been the biggest blessing to come from it.
Even if I lost, I actually won because my kids saw that their mom no longer lived in fear. And that's been the biggest blessing to come from it.
Social media, especially, frankly, before Elon Musk took over. Thank you, Elon. Thank you. It was an ugly place. And the algorithms made sure that if you had an alternative slash middle to right viewpoint, that you were ostracized and vilified and attacked. And so I thought that was the real world.
Social media, especially, frankly, before Elon Musk took over. Thank you, Elon. Thank you. It was an ugly place. And the algorithms made sure that if you had an alternative slash middle to right viewpoint, that you were ostracized and vilified and attacked. And so I thought that was the real world.
I began to, I remember when I lived here and I was on the road back and forth with NBA and I was at Sky Harbor and I was afraid to make eye contact with people because I thought, and then because of my comments about my, my mother and diversity of thought and biracial and all that, I thought, oh gosh, now black people aren't going to like me.
I began to, I remember when I lived here and I was on the road back and forth with NBA and I was at Sky Harbor and I was afraid to make eye contact with people because I thought, and then because of my comments about my, my mother and diversity of thought and biracial and all that, I thought, oh gosh, now black people aren't going to like me.
And the white people already don't like, I remember just living in fear. Like I couldn't please anybody. And I, I It wouldn't make eye contact with people, Charlie, because I was told on social media that I was the worst and I believed it.
And the white people already don't like, I remember just living in fear. Like I couldn't please anybody. And I, I It wouldn't make eye contact with people, Charlie, because I was told on social media that I was the worst and I believed it.
So to then come through all that and stand up, and especially when I was still at ESPN fighting, fighting for, to tell the story, why are we not reporting on what Riley Gaines is doing? And talking about this massive story in sports and ignoring it, I began to get rumbles and whispers from people like, thank you, keep going. And I went, oh my gosh. There's so many other people like me out there.
So to then come through all that and stand up, and especially when I was still at ESPN fighting, fighting for, to tell the story, why are we not reporting on what Riley Gaines is doing? And talking about this massive story in sports and ignoring it, I began to get rumbles and whispers from people like, thank you, keep going. And I went, oh my gosh. There's so many other people like me out there.
But if you listen to that, they want you to think you're alone. And that's why we stay silent. And I got out in this crazy world and I realized there's a lot more normal people than they want us to think. Common sense. But now what happens, I can't tell you how many times I have gotten emotional and cried and hugged strangers in airports across the country because they'll come up to me.
But if you listen to that, they want you to think you're alone. And that's why we stay silent. And I got out in this crazy world and I realized there's a lot more normal people than they want us to think. Common sense. But now what happens, I can't tell you how many times I have gotten emotional and cried and hugged strangers in airports across the country because they'll come up to me.
It happened twice on the plane this morning. And I was like... oh gosh, I have a hat on and no makeup. How the heck do you? They're like, I know. If I just changed this, I'd totally blend in. But I have been in tears when real, grown men will walk up to me saying, I'm afraid to speak up for my daughter because I'm gonna lose my job. Please don't get silent.
It happened twice on the plane this morning. And I was like... oh gosh, I have a hat on and no makeup. How the heck do you? They're like, I know. If I just changed this, I'd totally blend in. But I have been in tears when real, grown men will walk up to me saying, I'm afraid to speak up for my daughter because I'm gonna lose my job. Please don't get silent.
So when you realize this isn't even about me, this is so much bigger. It's about, my girls are, I mean, their competitive sports days are long gone. They say, I have no horse in this race. But if God has given me this platform, even if it's over tomorrow, If I waste it, what a shame. And I finally realized that I'm not alone.
So when you realize this isn't even about me, this is so much bigger. It's about, my girls are, I mean, their competitive sports days are long gone. They say, I have no horse in this race. But if God has given me this platform, even if it's over tomorrow, If I waste it, what a shame. And I finally realized that I'm not alone.