Bonnie-Jill Laflin - In a League of Her Own
Joining me for this episode is a trailblazing sportscaster, TV personality, philanthropist, animal advocate and author, Bonnie-Jill Laflin. We discuss her new book, In a League of Her Own. We chat about her drive and determination to become one of the best in her field. Becoming the first and only NBA female scout and her contribution to the success of the Los Angeles Lakers and San Francisco 49ers, where she has received six championship rings. In a League of Her Own, you will receive in-depth and insightful stories of nineteen other trailblazing women of sports, their journeys, challenges and ultimate success. We also have a chat about Bonnie-Jill’s nonprofit, Hounds and Heroes, dedicated to lifting the spirits and morale of our active, wounded, and veteran military troops worldwide, and to increase community awareness, education and, involvement about the cruelty to animals and necessary care for animals through rescue, foster, and adoption. Have a listen to this fun and motivational episode from someone who is truly In a League of Her Own. Enjoy!
Listen to Episode #201 Now:
BIO:
Bonnie-Jill Laflin is a trailblazing sports broadcaster, philanthropist, and TV personality. With a determined spirit and an unwavering passion for sports, she has carved a remarkable career path, becoming a prominent figure in the sports industry.
The first and only female NBA scout, holding the front office executive position with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bonnie-Jill holds many “firsts” throughout her prolific career. She’s the first woman to dance at a professional level for three teams, in two sports, starting with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, and moving to the NFL for both the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys. She is the first female to be awarded six championship rings in two professional sports, earning a Super Bowl ring during her time cheering for the 49ers, and five NBA championship rings as an executive for the Lakers. Most recently, Bonnie-Jill adds a new “first” to her repertoire as co-host of the brand-new “Women’s Western Sports Roundup” on the Cowgirl Channel.
Beyond her accomplishments in sports, Bonnie-Jill ventured into the world of broadcasting, bringing her knowledge and enthusiasm to the airwaves. She has worked as a reporter and host for various high-profile networks, including ESPN, NBA TV, NBC/NBC Sports, NFL Films, Westwood One, CBS, E!, BBC Sports, SiriusXM, NFR Live, and Fox Sports. Most notably a host and ambassador for Michael Jordan's "Jordan Brand". Her charismatic personality and deep understanding of the game have made her a sought-after commentator and analyst, enriching the sports-watching experience for countless fans.
An alum of the University of Texas, the former Miss Dallas/Ft Worth USA has also graced the covers of magazines worldwide, is a competitive barrel racer, member of the Alameda County Sheriff's Mounted Posse, and recently created her own rodeo drill and flag team, The Liberty Belles.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Bonnie-Jill is a committed philanthropist that actively supports numerous charitable endeavors that champion the welfare of animals and U.S. Veteran's rights – causes that are near and dear to her heart. She is the founder of Hounds and Heroes and Horses, a non-profit that pairs rescue dogs as service and therapy dogs with wounded warriors and veterans, as well as rescue horses as equine therapy for our service members and sponsoring retreats. Working to improve the lives of veterans, she has traveled to military bases across the country and abroad on 19 USO tours, including visits to bases in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Bonnie-Jill’s remarkable journey is a testament to her unwavering passion, resilience, and commitment to excellence. Whether on the court, the field, in front of the camera, behind the microphone, or in the realm of philanthropy, she continues to break barriers and inspire others to pursue their dreams.
Bonnie-Jill resides on her ranch in Ft Worth, TX with her rescued animals.
Transcript:
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Announcer: This is Pet Life Radio.
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Announcer: Let's talk pets.
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Tim Link: Welcome to Animal Writes on Pet Life Radio.
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Tim Link: This is your host, Tim Link, and I'm so glad you're joining us today.
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Tim Link: I'm super duper excited about this.
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Tim Link: I barely could sleep about this next guest coming on the show.
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Tim Link: I am honored to have her on the show.
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Tim Link: She is one of my favorites from a professional standpoint, but her big heart, her love for the animals makes it even more exciting for me.
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Tim Link: So we're going to have Bonnie-Jill Laflin on the show.
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Tim Link: Bonnie-Jill, you may know, she is a trailblazer.
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Tim Link: She is a glass ceiling breaker.
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Tim Link: She is the sports broadcaster, TV personality.
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Tim Link: She is a philanthropist.
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Tim Link: She has a slew of accolades that I'd be here all day spouting off.
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Tim Link: The first NBA scout, that was a female scout.
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Tim Link: She was part of the Lakers organization and moved to the assistant GM, where she got five rings out of that.
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Tim Link: And she also got a Super Bowl ring with the San Francisco 49ers.
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Tim Link: It goes on and on.
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Tim Link: One of the best female sportscasters, best sportscasters out there.
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Tim Link: And when I read through her bio and read through everything that she does, never ceases to amaze me.
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Tim Link: I'm always excited to find out what she's going to be doing next.
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Tim Link: And then of course, we're going to talk to her a little bit about her non-profit organization Hounds and Heroes and Horses, and talk to her a little bit about her ranch and Battle Buddies sanctuary there in the Fort Worth, Texas area.
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Tim Link: And of course, of course, we're going to talk about another accolade.
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Tim Link: She is a brand new author of the book, In a League of Her Own, Celebrating Female First in Sports.
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Tim Link: Fantastic read.
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Tim Link: So we're going to pick Bonnie-Jill Laflin a little bit about what's going on, tell us a little bit about the book, we'll talk about critters, of course.
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Tim Link: I want to talk to her about the writing of the book for sure.
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Tim Link: And I also want to talk to her about female empowerment, I guess what I would say, you know, building up the esteem of women and females and young females in particular, and how they could get to the top of whatever field they want to get into, especially if it's sports broadcasting or in the sports arena.
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Tim Link: So a lot to cover, super excited.
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Tim Link: I'll try to keep it to a minimum, so I'm not talking up all the time.
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Tim Link: We're going to come back right after this commercial break, and we'll have a starter conversation with Bonnie-Jill Laflin, and you're listening to Animal Writes on Pet Life Radio.
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Tim Link: Welcome to the show.
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Tim Link: This show today is a super new Trailblazer sports broadcaster and of course the new author of the book, In a League of Her Own, celebrating female firsts in sports, Bonnie-Jill Laflin.
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Tim Link: Welcome to the show.
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Tim Link: Oh, I'm super excited about it.
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Tim Link: And I'm almost giddy, almost giddy, because I had the privilege of talking to a lot of authors and writers and celebrities.
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Tim Link: And I'm always excited to pick their brains a little bit about life in general and how they got to the top of their field.
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Tim Link: And in particular, if they've written a book or screenplay, something of this sort, I want to pick their brains about how they go about doing that.
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Tim Link: But when I had the opportunity to be able to get you on the show to talk about your new book, In a League of Her Own, celebrating female firsts in sports, it really excited me and I was super excited about the book and it got me even more excited when I started reading it.
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Tim Link: So before I go on too long, I'm going to turn it over to you.
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Tim Link: Tell us a little bit about the book, In a League of Her Own.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I wanted to make sure to encompass a book that had these 19 fabulous females who have paved the way in sports, some that are very iconic and some that are maybe hidden gems that people don't know about, but all the same, they all have paved the way.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: They've all been the pioneers and I wanted to have the younger generation, these younger females to know that there's a space for them in sports.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And it's not just being an athlete, it's being in the front office as a coach, as a rev, as an umpire, as so many different roles now that women are being able to be in sports.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And I thought it was really important and timely.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And here we are.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But it took a long time for, first of all, for publishers to even want to take on the book.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Every time I went to a publisher, they said, we love your story.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Will you write a tell-all book?
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And I'm like, no, I want to do a book that's inspiring and aspiring and motivational.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I don't want to do a tell-all book about my days at the Cowboys or the Lakers.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: That's just, first of all, that's just not me.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And it was crazy that it took a long time for people to want to do a book.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So as much as they say they want to empower women, it still takes a lot to try to nudge them to actually walk the walk, talk the talk.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: That makes sense.
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Tim Link: Absolutely.
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Tim Link: Did you find the publishers had a little bit of reluctancy, in your opinion, was it more towards the fact that they thought the audience would be limited to sports or to females?
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Tim Link: Or was it the fact that in today's culture, we tend to get excited by all the train wrecks of the world?
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Yeah, you just put the word out of my mouth.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: They want more train wrecking.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I mean, just like with television, you rarely see feel-good stuff.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I mean, you do see it sprinkled here and there, but the reality shows and the different documentaries that do well are the ones that have a lot of drama, fourth drama, different things that they think kind of move the needle.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And so they were a little bit more reluctant in regards to that because they thought something about me with my days at the Dallas Cowboys and the times of the Michael Irvins and Troy and Emmett and some of the trouble that some of the guys got in when I was on the team there, or with Lakers, all the drama with Kobe and Shaquille and all that.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: They know a lot of my friends that are in the sports world and I'm like, first of all, I'll always have their back.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I'll never do a tell-all, but I'll just keep moving along and eventually a publisher will understand my vision, my mission and what I'm trying to accomplish here and it happened.
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Tim Link: It's about time.
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Tim Link: It's about time.
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Tim Link: And I will say with the book, we'll go into more detail about it, but I love the book.
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Tim Link: I mean, I really did.
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Tim Link: I thought it was extremely well written.
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Tim Link: The interviews were intriguing.
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Tim Link: I love the fact that you had a nice mixture and you also had, like I said, unless you're diehard sports fan in a particular field, women that we may not have heard of or not heard enough about, we'll say.
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Tim Link: And like you had mentioned earlier, a lot of them were athletes, but a lot of them aren't.
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Tim Link: And seeing a trend, fortunately, it's slowly but surely trending in the direction to give women more opportunities, especially young females.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Right, absolutely.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And that was so important because there was just not too long ago where women weren't even allowed in a press box, going to different sporting events as a media member.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And so we really have taken some big strides.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: It's still not where we need to be, but I want it to be where women get jobs because they're the most talented, not because certain teams or organizations or networks need to fill a quota.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: It should be because that person is best for the job.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And so we still have a long ways to go with that, you know, but we are making strides.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: You're seeing how much people are embracing Kaylin Clark, you know, I've never seen so many people into college women's basketball, you know, and so that's really nice to see.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And she's so humble, she's so likable.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So I think that's really helped with women's basketball.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Same with Becky Hammond, what she's done in the NBA, especially under a coach like Popovich and going to the Aces and winning a championship there.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So I think the basketball in the right, they're on the right path.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I'm not sure about, you know, some of the other sports, they're doing it, but it's still, you know, going to take a little longer to have it on the forefront.
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Tim Link: Yeah, absolutely.
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Tim Link: You know, I see in Major League Baseball, we, you know, we have, we're starting to get general managers that are female.
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Tim Link: We're getting some coaches, a little bit of umpiring mixed in there.
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Tim Link: And I like the fact that, at least in my opinion, way I envision it in the early days, like you said, perhaps it was a quota driven situation or it was a novelty type situation.
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Tim Link: And I think we're now sort of slowly getting to that point where we're realizing that, hey, you know, people that have the ability and the intelligence and the drive to do this, like yourself, can do this and do it as well as anybody else.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And that's, that's what's so important.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And like you said, you know, Kim Ning, when she was the first female to be a GM, no longer in that position, but still was there.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And then Rachel Valkovec, who's actually in my book, she's now Director of Player Personnel for the Marlins.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And she really worked, you know, her way up to the top.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: She went straight from the bottom, single A, you know, went to double A and triple A.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And, you know, she did everything she needed to do, which I really, really, really admire her work ethic.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So it's been really great to see her.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And then we've got a lot of the umpires in baseball.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And then Katie Sowers, who was the first female to coach in the Super Bowl, while I was covering the team with the Niners and became friends with Katie.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So what she was able to accomplish.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So there's so many women, like I said, that because of social media, we were able to recognize and know their names.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But then there are the ones like Menon Rayalm, who was the first female to play in a hockey game in HL.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: You know, there wasn't social media.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Of course, you know, people who are really into hockey probably know of her, but not in the level that they should.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So that's why I wanted to make sure that some of these other women were celebrated.
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Tim Link: Yeah, you did a great job with it.
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Tim Link: And I was sort of envisioning this.
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Tim Link: You had to narrow down who was going to be in the book.
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Tim Link: You want to envision this giant whiteboard.
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Tim Link: This is my vision of it all, giant whiteboard of all the wonderful people you wanted to interview.
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Tim Link: And then trying to figure out availability.
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Tim Link: How do you go about doing that?
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Tim Link: Are they willing to do that?
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Tim Link: How do you get a mixture in there to make it?
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Tim Link: I mean, how in the world did you go about doing all that?
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Tim Link: Because that seems like that's a multi-year project just in itself.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: It was.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And when I first got the book deal, it was, you know, I thought I was going to have a little, you know, maybe a year and a half, but I had nine months.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So people don't realize nine months seems like a long time.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: No, it's not, not when you're having to do the interviews, then transcribe, then rewrite, rewrites, rewrites, you know, all the different signing off on pictures, you know, all the different things that come along with it.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So it was a lot.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So to begin with, it was, you know, I had my, you know, I guess you call it your wish list.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And, you know, on the top of my wish list was Billie Jean King.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So I'm like, I literally said to my publisher, if I can't have Billie Jean King, I can't do the book.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I mean, that's just, of course, I'm, you know, hopefully I can do a second book.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And there's so many people I want to add to that.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But Billie Jean, when you go back to all the women, like she had to be in my book, she had to be my chapter one.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So once I got her, I knew that, you know, I was on to something.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And then getting Jack Rader and her Cursi and Danica Patrick and Laila Ali and all the different women.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But there are some women that weren't able to be in the book because they had conflicts and it was just so hard.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: You know, Serena Williams did say yes, but then she had her own book coming out.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So that was a conflict.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: You know, Chrissy Almaguchi had her own book coming out.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So there were women who I did want to have in there, but there were certain reasons why they couldn't.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So that's why I really hope this book does well, because I do have so many in mind that I want for the second book.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And of course, Caitlin Clark, you know, she'd probably be my chapter one.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But you know, Katie Ledecky, you know, I don't think she gets enough credit.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: You know, people only care about her during the Olympics, but she has more gold medals than Michael Phelps.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So, you know, but she's been training, so I couldn't get her, you know, and she wanted to do it, but you know, she's still honing in on, you know, this next Olympic run.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So it was tough to try to get everyone in nine months.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So I think the women that I end up having in my book, I think it was, I was really happy.
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Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But of course, there's more, and more women are doing amazing things that I'd want to add.
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Tim Link: Absolutely.
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Tim Link: I think the next book will, you know, complete that list that you have.
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Tim Link: And then by then, there'll be more out there, you know, especially, you know, with Caitlin Clark's The World's Amazing.
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Tim Link: And I was super excited, you know, once, sort of giddy here once again.
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Tim Link: I grew up as a Hoosier in Indiana and of course, Indianapolis 500 rules, not only the month of May, but just rules throughout the whole year.
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Tim Link: And when Danica Patrick, I saw she was in the book, you know, the first female winner of an IndyCar race.
00:12:29.985 --> 00:12:33.445
Tim Link: Admittedly, I read certain sections in certain ways.
00:12:33.465 --> 00:12:34.585
Tim Link: I can go straight through the book.
00:12:34.605 --> 00:12:35.665
Tim Link: I read different sections.
00:12:35.905 --> 00:12:37.865
Tim Link: So Danica was definitely second on my list.
00:12:37.885 --> 00:12:39.345
Tim Link: We'll put it that way, second on my list.
00:12:39.525 --> 00:12:46.265
Tim Link: And then a huge fan of Leila Ali when she came to town to defend her title into Atlanta, was front and center.
00:12:46.445 --> 00:12:50.885
Tim Link: You know, I bought the tickets right away and got in front row to see her do her magic.
00:12:50.885 --> 00:12:54.105
Tim Link: And, you know, what a wonderful person she is.
00:12:54.245 --> 00:12:59.185
Tim Link: And of course, then her craft is just amazing and what she has been able to accomplish.
00:12:59.805 --> 00:13:00.785
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Yeah, she's amazing.
00:13:00.805 --> 00:13:11.265
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And what I loved about Leila is I wanted to make sure when I interviewed her, like, I never in any of my questions that I already had pretty thought of, I'm like, I'm not asking her anything about her dad, because that's all she gets right away.
00:13:11.385 --> 00:13:18.705
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And I'm like, if she wants to speak on her dad, great, I'll let her, but I'm not going to ask her about her dad, because this was about her.
00:13:18.985 --> 00:13:22.425
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And like I thought, organically, she spoke about her dad even more.
00:13:22.445 --> 00:13:27.165
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And then she told me afterwards, she was, thank you for not starting off with, you know, my father.
00:13:27.185 --> 00:13:31.525
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: She's like, because, you know, she still I don't think people realize what she did in boxing as a female.
00:13:31.545 --> 00:13:35.865
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So it wasn't just about her dad, but that's hard when you're kind of in his shadow for so long.
00:13:35.885 --> 00:13:43.145
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So I think that was something I want to make sure that she was celebrated in her own right, not just because she's the daughter of Muhammad Ali.
00:13:43.585 --> 00:13:44.765
Tim Link: Absolutely, absolutely.
00:13:44.905 --> 00:13:46.245
Tim Link: Well, I will put you on the spot.
00:13:46.505 --> 00:13:52.485
Tim Link: The first part I read, the first chapter I read, and it gave me even more insight, I believe, to who you are.
00:13:52.505 --> 00:13:58.365
Tim Link: I hopefully as a person, I read the introduction and I love the introduction because it really helped me.
00:13:58.645 --> 00:14:03.945
Tim Link: You know, I could see all the wonderful stuff that I've admired that you've done over the years and you continue to do.
00:14:04.685 --> 00:14:14.405
Tim Link: But then I got a chance to take a peel back the onion a little bit more and see you as a child in the introduction and how you sort of formulated to perhaps who you are today.
00:14:14.765 --> 00:14:18.905
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Yes, I guess a lot of people would probably know how close I am with my father.
00:14:18.925 --> 00:14:20.425
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So that was how it kind of started.
00:14:20.445 --> 00:14:25.865
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I was the little boy in the family and I was the one that really just wanted to be with my father all the time.
00:14:25.885 --> 00:14:34.125
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So I was going to the, you know, the games and he was a season ticket holder for the Giants and the Niners and the Warriors and Stanford and TAL, you name it.
00:14:34.145 --> 00:14:36.245
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And so I was always going to the games with my father.
00:14:36.265 --> 00:14:38.865
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And of course, my dad owned race horses before I was born.
00:14:38.885 --> 00:14:40.485
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And so I've always was around the track.
00:14:40.505 --> 00:14:43.085
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And so I was around horses and grew up on a horse ranch.
00:14:43.105 --> 00:14:51.685
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And so that was the thing is like for me, that's what excited me is going to games and learning about these players and not just about getting the foam finger and cotton candy.
00:14:51.685 --> 00:14:54.225
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I wanted to know about these players and what college they went to.
00:14:54.245 --> 00:14:59.205
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And, you know, why does the 40 matter, dad, you know, for football and, you know, everything, you know.
00:14:59.265 --> 00:15:03.505
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So it was just something I was reading the Sporting Green, which, you know, ages myself.
00:15:03.525 --> 00:15:07.565
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But we had something called the Sporting Green and that was the green part of the newspaper and that was all sports.
00:15:07.585 --> 00:15:13.405
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And so I'd be going in there and reading the box scores and everyone else, you know, my age is looking at the comics or, you know, whatever.
00:15:13.425 --> 00:15:14.745
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But I didn't care about that.
00:15:14.765 --> 00:15:21.245
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So it was kind of different right out of the gate where I knew that sports not only was I a fan of sports, but I knew that I wanted to make it a career.
00:15:21.885 --> 00:15:30.865
Tim Link: It was even more fascinating was the fact that, you know, your closest with your father and getting a chance to attend these games and get to know the people, so on and so forth.
00:15:31.145 --> 00:15:37.305
Tim Link: But you really have always delved into, well, I want to say the word deep in, but you really got involved in this.
00:15:37.325 --> 00:15:46.585
Tim Link: I mean, learning things that like the Triangle offense, you mentioned about that, getting to know what that is really and how does that work and how is that different?
00:15:46.605 --> 00:15:50.245
Tim Link: And then trying to convince others that this is the best route to go.
00:15:50.625 --> 00:15:51.005
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Right.
00:15:51.025 --> 00:15:56.745
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And it's funny because as you know, there's people who either love the Triangle offense or they're like, no, it's boring.
00:15:56.765 --> 00:15:57.705
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: We want the run and gun.
00:15:57.725 --> 00:16:04.025
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And so it was funny when Phil came to LA, how that was going to adapt to the players that were there.
00:16:04.045 --> 00:16:07.425
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And as you know, there are players, I can mention Luke Walton.
00:16:07.685 --> 00:16:08.545
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: He's a great example.
00:16:08.565 --> 00:16:12.925
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: If he wasn't in the Triangle offense, I don't know how successful his career would have been.
00:16:12.985 --> 00:16:15.905
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And Luke will probably be mad that I said that, but it's true.
00:16:15.925 --> 00:16:19.025
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Like, you know, he's fitting great into the Triangle offense, right?
00:16:19.045 --> 00:16:28.725
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: You know, so even Derek Fisher, all the certain guys, Ron Harper, they they really succeeded and they were at the top of their game through the Triangle offense.
00:16:28.745 --> 00:16:33.825
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And I think that was something that the other NBA teams, you know, weren't accustomed to or liked.
00:16:33.845 --> 00:16:41.685
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And I always just navigated through the Triangle offense going, God, I just love, you know, how Tex Winner created this amazing offense.
00:16:41.725 --> 00:16:45.385
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And so I would talk to Phil and the late Dr.
00:16:45.405 --> 00:16:54.405
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Jerry Buss and Mitch Kupchick and the logo Jerry West about all of, you know, my thoughts and they're like, gosh, you actually have an eye for talent and you really know the game.
00:16:54.425 --> 00:17:05.185
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So for that first year, I just scouted Pac-12, which is obviously not existing anymore, Big 12 conferences, and then they liked my scouting reports after a year.
00:17:05.425 --> 00:17:10.465
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And then I was with them for 13 years total and then five rings.
00:17:10.605 --> 00:17:19.405
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So it was a lot of ups and downs when you're the only female and you're scouting all over the place and running cars in the middle of the night and not knowing where you're going.
00:17:19.425 --> 00:17:23.065
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And then, you know, it was it was a lot to get used to.
00:17:23.085 --> 00:17:26.985
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But it was probably the best part, you know, time of my life when I was there with the Lakers.
00:17:27.585 --> 00:17:29.165
Tim Link: Yeah, great time to be there.
00:17:29.185 --> 00:17:30.785
Tim Link: And you had a lot to do with it, too.
00:17:30.805 --> 00:17:33.605
Tim Link: So you pat yourself on the back for that, for sure.
00:17:33.625 --> 00:17:35.965
Tim Link: And you talk about your father and your closeness with your father.
00:17:35.985 --> 00:17:44.025
Tim Link: But your mother sort of, you know, another facet of who you are in your life, the dance side and the modeling and the acting side of things.
00:17:44.085 --> 00:17:49.625
Tim Link: And I would have to guess your mother had a lot to say and a lot to do with that in that aspect.
00:17:50.065 --> 00:17:50.465
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Yeah.
00:17:50.485 --> 00:17:53.165
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So she was, you know, the typical and, you know, I'll tell her.
00:17:53.185 --> 00:17:56.525
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: She's not like I'm saying anything poorly about her, but she was that typical pageant mom.
00:17:56.545 --> 00:17:58.085
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: You know, I was it's funny.
00:17:58.105 --> 00:18:05.225
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I guess, you know, we look back and my mom and dad always say, you know, my dad wanted Bonnie, actually, my mom wanted Bonnie and my dad wanted Jill.
00:18:05.245 --> 00:18:06.925
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And that kind of was like the two personalities.
00:18:06.945 --> 00:18:13.605
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: It's like my tomboy side and then my pageant side, because, you know, I've been I was, you know, running with my horses and playing softball.
00:18:13.625 --> 00:18:20.385
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But then I was, you know, had the eyelashes and extensions of my hair when I was three years old, like winking at judges, you know, for, you know, pageants and dancing.
00:18:20.405 --> 00:18:22.865
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So it's very two different type of personalities.
00:18:22.885 --> 00:18:25.325
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And I think kind of I embrace both of them.
00:18:25.345 --> 00:18:35.805
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And I believe that's how I really opened the doors for my sports career, because I combine my dance and my love of sports by cheering in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors right out the gate.
00:18:35.825 --> 00:18:39.845
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And I was 17 in high school still, and then went to the Niners for two years and then the Dallas Cowboys.
00:18:39.865 --> 00:18:42.265
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But that was the way I got in the networking.
00:18:42.285 --> 00:18:44.725
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I knew as much as people maybe don't like it.
00:18:44.745 --> 00:18:47.305
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I use that as a stepping stone and it worked out.
00:18:47.625 --> 00:18:48.585
Tim Link: I'm proud of you for it.
00:18:48.605 --> 00:18:50.525
Tim Link: I mean, that's what those opportunities are.
00:18:50.645 --> 00:18:56.785
Tim Link: And it's not like it was given to, you know, you handle and still handle today, both of those avenues extremely well.
00:18:57.025 --> 00:19:07.125
Tim Link: And you look for ways, in my opinion, from following you and your career, you look for ways to continue to improve and expand and do more things in this book, in League of Her Own.
00:19:07.145 --> 00:19:08.745
Tim Link: I mean, that's a perfect example of that.
00:19:09.045 --> 00:19:09.425
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Yes.
00:19:09.445 --> 00:19:10.665
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Sorry, that's Willie Nelson.
00:19:10.685 --> 00:19:11.925
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: He's playing with his toy.
00:19:11.945 --> 00:19:14.445
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So that's not me playing with a toy right now.
00:19:16.245 --> 00:19:21.365
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And I think to have longevity in the entertainment world, sports world, you have to be able to pivot.
00:19:21.385 --> 00:19:26.705
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: You have to be able to have different layers of yourself to stay relevant.
00:19:26.725 --> 00:19:27.485
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And that's with me.
00:19:27.505 --> 00:19:31.165
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: It's like you got to continue to evolve and change.
00:19:31.185 --> 00:19:37.145
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And, you know, when I was, you know, in the middle of my career, maybe the height of my career, there was no such thing as social media, Tim.
00:19:37.165 --> 00:19:38.085
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So I had to learn.
00:19:38.105 --> 00:19:40.585
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I remember Lakers said there's this thing called Twitter.
00:19:40.985 --> 00:19:44.465
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And I'm like, OK, you just have to write about like what you're doing and about your life.
00:19:44.485 --> 00:19:45.545
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And I'm like, what do you mean?
00:19:45.565 --> 00:19:46.485
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: That's weird.
00:19:46.505 --> 00:19:49.885
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And they're like, no, you're going to talk about pleasure scouting and what you're doing.
00:19:49.905 --> 00:19:52.005
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And then if you want to talk about you going out with your friends.
00:19:52.025 --> 00:19:54.305
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I remember them like telling me like what I'm supposed to be doing.
00:19:54.325 --> 00:19:55.865
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I'm like, oh, that sounds horrible.
00:19:56.265 --> 00:19:57.925
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I don't want any part of that.
00:19:57.945 --> 00:20:00.245
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And so I remember I didn't I think I tweeted one thing.
00:20:00.365 --> 00:20:01.445
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Oh, Bonnie-Jill's on Twitter.
00:20:01.805 --> 00:20:02.945
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And then I just left it.
00:20:03.325 --> 00:20:05.525
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And then all of a sudden, I was like, oh, OK.
00:20:05.525 --> 00:20:08.985
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And then it got to a point where you're not, you know, on social media.
00:20:09.005 --> 00:20:10.085
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I mean, it's in your contracts.
00:20:10.105 --> 00:20:13.625
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Now you have to look, they hire people off how many followers they have.
00:20:13.625 --> 00:20:16.905
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So it has changed where you have to do it, whether you like it or not.
00:20:16.925 --> 00:20:22.405
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And then it kind of the day of, you know, it's another day where you just do it without even thinking about it.
00:20:22.585 --> 00:20:24.085
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And I don't get too personal.
00:20:24.105 --> 00:20:26.905
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Yes, I show my animals and charity and, you know, me and my friends.
00:20:26.965 --> 00:20:30.105
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But I don't, you know, I don't post about like, so I'm dating or anything like that.
00:20:30.125 --> 00:20:34.505
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But it's funny how some people really can get on board with that.
00:20:34.525 --> 00:20:36.365
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And for me, though, I really had reservations.
00:20:36.925 --> 00:20:37.885
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But here we are.
00:20:37.905 --> 00:20:39.185
Tim Link: Yeah, exactly.
00:20:39.205 --> 00:20:40.005
Tim Link: I'm the same way with you.
00:20:40.025 --> 00:20:42.605
Tim Link: I remember my first publicist for my first book.
00:20:42.625 --> 00:20:45.205
Tim Link: This is right when Facebook and Twitter was starting to come out.
00:20:45.225 --> 00:20:47.065
Tim Link: And they said, well, you got to get on social media.
00:20:47.085 --> 00:20:48.465
Tim Link: And I'm like, what is that?
00:20:49.205 --> 00:20:50.245
Tim Link: Facebook, you've heard of that?
00:20:50.265 --> 00:20:51.045
Tim Link: Twitter, you've heard of that?
00:20:51.065 --> 00:20:52.305
Tim Link: I'm like, I have no idea.
00:20:52.945 --> 00:20:59.105
Tim Link: So actually, I think my first account that I had, I said, OK, set it up for me because I have no clue what you're talking about.
00:20:59.305 --> 00:21:00.505
Tim Link: I'm a one-on-one guy.
00:21:00.525 --> 00:21:01.605
Tim Link: I'm a face-to-face guy.
00:21:01.625 --> 00:21:02.485
Tim Link: I can do TV.
00:21:02.505 --> 00:21:03.605
Tim Link: I can do radio.
00:21:03.625 --> 00:21:04.445
Tim Link: I can do these things.
00:21:04.465 --> 00:21:06.745
Tim Link: But social media is a whole different ballgame.
00:21:06.865 --> 00:21:09.725
Tim Link: And I still obviously don't have the skill set that you have in it.
00:21:09.745 --> 00:21:15.525
Tim Link: But I was laughing with our producer, Mark, before the show about how we have to use social media.
00:21:15.745 --> 00:21:19.145
Tim Link: And the more pictures of cute animals, the better.
00:21:19.225 --> 00:21:20.385
Tim Link: The higher your rankings go.
00:21:20.405 --> 00:21:22.945
Tim Link: If you put a cute animal in there, you're going to get high in the rankings.
00:21:23.425 --> 00:21:23.765
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Yeah.
00:21:23.785 --> 00:21:27.685
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Well, I'll have my mom follow you, and you'll get all the animal videos you can imagine.
00:21:27.705 --> 00:21:30.565
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: See, all she does is send my friends.
00:21:30.585 --> 00:21:31.845
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I mean, she follows all...
00:21:31.865 --> 00:21:32.265
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: It's funny.
00:21:32.285 --> 00:21:36.265
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: She's never had one post, Tim, but yet she's got like 2,000 followers.
00:21:36.305 --> 00:21:42.365
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And she just sends people animal videos and petitions to sign, you know, and all these different things.
00:21:42.385 --> 00:21:43.905
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But it's nonstop.
00:21:43.925 --> 00:21:46.045
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: It's like the cute little beaver is carrying the carrots out.
00:21:46.065 --> 00:21:47.605
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: It's a little porcupine getting a bath.
00:21:47.605 --> 00:21:50.345
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: It's like there's something that's going on with a cute animal.
00:21:50.365 --> 00:21:52.045
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: My mom is already all on it.
00:21:52.065 --> 00:21:52.705
Tim Link: I love your mom.
00:21:52.725 --> 00:21:53.405
Tim Link: Love your mom.
00:21:53.425 --> 00:21:54.345
Tim Link: I love all that.
00:21:54.365 --> 00:21:57.125
Tim Link: My heart breaks when I get the other aspect of it.
00:21:57.145 --> 00:22:05.325
Tim Link: I know it's necessary, but to promote the animal care and rescue, these type of things, we're going to delve into all your wonderful activities on that as well.
00:22:05.725 --> 00:22:08.005
Tim Link: So I'm going to pick your brain before we go to break here.
00:22:08.345 --> 00:22:10.925
Tim Link: And you give me some insight, if you would, please.
00:22:11.725 --> 00:22:14.065
Tim Link: So I've got a niece, she's a Texas girl.
00:22:14.525 --> 00:22:15.985
Tim Link: She is going to Baylor.
00:22:16.125 --> 00:22:18.465
Tim Link: Sorry, not UT, but she's going to Baylor.
00:22:21.745 --> 00:22:26.945
Tim Link: And she's heavily involved in Baylor Vision, which is the sports casting, learning the ins and outs.
00:22:30.245 --> 00:22:39.785
Tim Link: So she started getting involved in ad and learning everything, you know, from the broadcasting and interviewing aspects and the social media sites and the behind the scenes type of things.
00:22:40.485 --> 00:22:43.065
Tim Link: And at this point in time, she's going to be a junior.
00:22:43.465 --> 00:22:47.245
Tim Link: And I think she just started getting ready to start her junior year.
00:22:47.705 --> 00:22:53.325
Tim Link: In any case, she thinks she wants to eventually go get her law degree and become a sports agent.
00:22:56.585 --> 00:22:57.165
Tim Link: That's it.
00:22:57.185 --> 00:22:57.565
Tim Link: That's it.
00:22:57.585 --> 00:23:00.065
Tim Link: I told her, I said, if you're going to be an agent, you got to get your law degree.
00:23:00.165 --> 00:23:01.205
Tim Link: And she's like, OK.
00:23:01.445 --> 00:23:03.785
Tim Link: And she said, OK, wow, a teenager actually listened to me.
00:23:03.805 --> 00:23:04.645
Tim Link: That was the first.
00:23:04.665 --> 00:23:05.665
Tim Link: I marked that in my calendar.
00:23:07.125 --> 00:23:21.105
Tim Link: But what advice would you would you give for, you know, for a young female, young woman who is willing to either get into this field or just want to expand themselves to get to that next level, whatever that level may be?
00:23:21.365 --> 00:23:25.545
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I think the biggest thing is that no job is too small, if that makes sense.
00:23:25.565 --> 00:23:28.805
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So it's like, you know, you get all these women who now want to be in sports.
00:23:28.825 --> 00:23:29.205
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: That's great.
00:23:29.225 --> 00:23:32.205
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But they just want to go, oh, automatically, I just want to become a coach.
00:23:32.305 --> 00:23:33.865
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Well, you got to start somewhere.
00:23:33.865 --> 00:23:38.945
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So a lot of it, take any intern and it may not even be like she wants to be a sports agent.
00:23:38.965 --> 00:23:44.185
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And so she may start working for a team in the PR department or she's working for a team.
00:23:44.245 --> 00:23:47.165
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I don't know, business operations, sponsorship, picket.
00:23:47.185 --> 00:23:48.865
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I don't care what it is, but you're in the door.
00:23:49.205 --> 00:23:52.085
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So you go get in to an organization and you'll see this.
00:23:52.105 --> 00:23:56.565
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: You know, you look at some of these different people who are GMs and, you know, look at Eric Spolstra from the Heat.
00:23:56.585 --> 00:23:58.065
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: He started as a video scout, you know.
00:23:58.085 --> 00:24:02.365
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So you can see how you just take any job to get in there because no job.
00:24:02.365 --> 00:24:04.665
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I mean, you're all part of the organization, right?
00:24:04.905 --> 00:24:12.305
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So I always tell people, get in whatever job that may be, even if it's not exactly what you want to do, don't get in there, you know.
00:24:12.325 --> 00:24:22.985
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So for her, I would say we try to work for organization, work for a TV sports network or radio, sports radio, or, you know, in a perfect world, work as an intern at an agency.
00:24:23.005 --> 00:24:28.685
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And maybe because all the agencies now, CAA, all of them, they all have their own division of marketing, publicity.
00:24:28.965 --> 00:24:33.425
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Get in there, and then all of a sudden, you start to, you know, network, because that is the biggest thing.
00:24:33.445 --> 00:24:34.585
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I don't care what anyone tells you.
00:24:34.705 --> 00:24:40.565
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Networking is everything in our industry, because people hire who they've seen, who they know, who their friends are.
00:24:40.585 --> 00:24:43.465
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Of course, you got to keep the job, but that gets you in the door.
00:24:43.465 --> 00:24:56.605
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So I suggest she gets a job right now, you know, when she gets out or however, to start to intern and start to like make her way and, you know, collecting all the business cards, stay in touch with everyone, and just take any job she can.
00:24:56.625 --> 00:25:01.885
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And, you know, in Baylor, I mean, Texas, she's got so many variety of teams that she can start to work for.
00:25:03.465 --> 00:25:04.085
Tim Link: Absolutely.
00:25:04.165 --> 00:25:06.125
Tim Link: Well, she will be listening to this episode.
00:25:06.145 --> 00:25:07.865
Tim Link: She may not listen to any of my other episodes.
00:25:07.885 --> 00:25:09.965
Tim Link: I'm not sure, but this one she's going to be listening to.
00:25:09.985 --> 00:25:23.985
Tim Link: So I think it's wonderful advice because you have to get started somewhere and try to identify what that is and then be flexible enough because I'm sure there are changes, there's things that you thought you were going to do, and then it shifted and more opportunities.
00:25:24.005 --> 00:25:37.945
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Right, so there's a lot of girls I know who are like, oh, I wanted to work as a PR girl for an athlete or whatever, and then they totally shifted and they loved working on the business ops side and sponsorship deals and advertisers, you know what I mean?
00:25:37.965 --> 00:25:42.985
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So get in there because you don't know, everything's kind of a facade and you kind of see from social media different things.
00:25:43.085 --> 00:25:49.425
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: You don't know until you're actually hands-on and boots on the ground and figure out what it is because you may not like what you thought you were going to like.
00:25:49.925 --> 00:25:50.445
Tim Link: That's right.
00:25:52.105 --> 00:25:52.725
Tim Link: Absolutely.
00:25:52.745 --> 00:25:53.525
Tim Link: Great advice.
00:25:53.545 --> 00:25:54.665
Tim Link: Thank you very much for that.
00:25:54.905 --> 00:25:56.785
Tim Link: Well, we're going to take a quick commercial break.
00:25:56.865 --> 00:26:03.805
Tim Link: Then we're going to come back and talk a little bit more to Bonnie-Jill Laflin about her book In a League of Her Own, Celebrating Female First in Sports.
00:26:04.325 --> 00:26:09.665
Tim Link: I want to talk to her also about her wonderful organizations, Hounds and Heroes, and Battle Buddies Ranch.
00:26:09.745 --> 00:26:11.045
Tim Link: So everybody hang tight.
00:26:11.065 --> 00:26:12.865
Tim Link: We'll come back right after this commercial break.
00:26:13.025 --> 00:26:15.865
Tim Link: You're listening to Animal Writes on Pet Life Radio.
00:26:20.905 --> 00:26:25.265
Tim Link: Hey, everybody, this is Tim Link, the host of Animal Writes on Pet Life Radio.
00:26:25.285 --> 00:26:27.025
Tim Link: I've got some exciting news for you here today.
00:26:27.145 --> 00:26:30.345
Tim Link: My audio book is now available, Wagging Tails.
00:26:30.345 --> 00:26:37.105
Tim Link: Every animal has a tail is now available in audiobook form through audible.com, amazon.com, and iTunes.
00:26:37.245 --> 00:26:40.745
Tim Link: It's a collection of 32 conversations I've had with the animals.
00:26:41.105 --> 00:26:45.305
Tim Link: It's a fun, interesting, heartfelt book that's suitable for all age groups.
00:26:45.565 --> 00:26:50.805
Tim Link: So, everybody, pick up a copy of the audiobook, Wagging Tails, Every Animal Has a Tail, you'll be glad you did.
00:26:58.085 --> 00:27:06.245
Tim Link: Welcome back to Animal Writes on Pet Life Radio.
00:27:06.545 --> 00:27:14.825
Tim Link: Continue our conversation with the incredible Bonnie Jill Laughlin, the new author of the book In a League of Her Own, celebrating female first in sports.
00:27:15.445 --> 00:27:27.965
Tim Link: Now, Bonnie-Jill, when people go out and pick up a copy of the book, and they're going to love it, like I mentioned before, you know, it's extremely well written, very interesting stories and insights, but also just the way it's put together, I just love the book in general.
00:27:27.985 --> 00:27:29.405
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Thank you for supporting it too.
00:27:30.245 --> 00:27:30.965
Tim Link: Absolutely.
00:27:31.005 --> 00:27:31.725
Tim Link: Absolutely.
00:27:31.985 --> 00:27:40.005
Tim Link: So when everybody picks up a copy of the book, is there a certain goal, message, walk away that you hope they get from after they read the book?
00:27:40.365 --> 00:27:49.745
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I think it's just being inspired to that you can do anything you put your mind to, regardless of like for me, there wasn't a scout, so there was no one for me to look up to.
00:27:49.925 --> 00:27:52.825
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I had mentors, but not someone who had been in that position.
00:27:52.845 --> 00:28:02.725
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So I hope this book shows the younger generation, like I said, the women who want to have a career in sports and all the different facets and layers and different roles that they can be in.
00:28:02.745 --> 00:28:13.285
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And also the inspiring, it's not just for women, the stories are inspiring, the sacrifices that all these different ladies made, the balance, being a mom and trying to pursue their career.
00:28:13.525 --> 00:28:20.305
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Or the things they sacrificed that they didn't do, like not being able to go to their senior ball or not maybe having kids or whatever it may be.
00:28:20.325 --> 00:28:27.285
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But that sacrifice led to success and the work ethic, because I think work ethic is really lost in this younger generation.
00:28:27.305 --> 00:28:31.905
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So I really want to instill that work ethic is so important, whether you're getting paid or not in the beginning, it pays off.
00:28:31.925 --> 00:28:37.505
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So all of those kinds of things, I think those takeaways really kind of where I want to hit home.
00:28:37.505 --> 00:28:45.025
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And the majority of the biggest why was the women that I've heard from the moms who said my daughter now knows that there's a space for her.
00:28:45.045 --> 00:28:47.905
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And so thank you for writing this book, because that's what it's all about.
00:28:47.925 --> 00:28:52.665
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And as you know, when you write a book, you're not making money off of a book, especially the first book.
00:28:52.685 --> 00:28:56.465
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: It's all about just the message and the mission of what I was trying to create.
00:28:56.925 --> 00:28:57.785
Tim Link: Yeah, absolutely.
00:28:58.025 --> 00:29:08.585
Tim Link: And many of the aspects of the book, and I'm glad you're getting those accolades because it's definitely well-deserved, and I'm glad the mothers are coming forward and saying this is a great inspiration for their daughters.
00:29:09.085 --> 00:29:15.065
Tim Link: And the thing I love about it most is, you know, some of our younger females, they may not know some of these people, as you had mentioned.
00:29:15.725 --> 00:29:24.465
Tim Link: And so now you sort of get to peel back to the beginnings, the ones that really broke the glass alien, as mentioned before, the trailblazers like yourself.
00:29:24.765 --> 00:29:31.045
Tim Link: And for me, an old timer, I see some of these names, I'm like, Oh my gosh, Jen Kennedy, I love her.
00:29:31.065 --> 00:29:39.565
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: You know, Jackie, Jen Kennedy, I know she was, I felt out of all the women, her career kind of paralleled mine a lot because she was a pageant girl.
00:29:39.585 --> 00:29:40.365
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: She was a dancer.
00:29:40.385 --> 00:29:41.185
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: She was an actress.
00:29:41.205 --> 00:29:41.805
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: She was a model.
00:29:41.825 --> 00:29:44.645
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And she was told because of her look, she didn't know sports, you know.
00:29:44.665 --> 00:29:58.985
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So I really resonated with a lot of the messaging that she said, missing all the high school events and all the different things, birthdays and baby showers and weddings and all that stuff that she missed because of her, her career and all the different sacrifices she made because of it.
00:29:59.005 --> 00:30:02.925
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And I think people always think that Erin Andrews is kind of like the epitome or the first person.
00:30:03.225 --> 00:30:09.905
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: It's Jane Kennedy who really paved that way and who was the one to really break the barriers and also being a minority African-American.
00:30:09.925 --> 00:30:13.425
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So she did a lot for broadcast journalism for women.
00:30:13.905 --> 00:30:15.365
Tim Link: Absolutely, absolutely.
00:30:15.385 --> 00:30:19.325
Tim Link: And I just love watching her because she and she definitely knows what she's talking about.
00:30:19.345 --> 00:30:20.485
Tim Link: So I love that.
00:30:20.505 --> 00:30:21.125
Tim Link: The big kudos.
00:30:21.505 --> 00:30:30.105
Tim Link: Well, before I let you off the hook on this aspect, you mentioned drive and getting out there and doing it and networking these type of things, which are critical.
00:30:30.665 --> 00:30:32.385
Tim Link: What are you looking back on at all?
00:30:32.705 --> 00:30:34.285
Tim Link: How do you think you got your drive?
00:30:34.705 --> 00:30:36.425
Tim Link: Was it your dad and your mom?
00:30:36.445 --> 00:30:38.125
Tim Link: Was it something that was instilled upon you?
00:30:38.145 --> 00:30:47.125
Tim Link: Was it something that was just part of your DNA or was it something you sort of fumbled and bumbled like I did through life and finally figured out, yeah, I'm pretty good at some things?
00:30:47.445 --> 00:30:50.845
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: No, I came out of the womb knowing that I'm going to own a sports team.
00:30:50.865 --> 00:30:51.905
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I'm going to run a sports team.
00:30:51.925 --> 00:30:53.545
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Like I was a different type of kid.
00:30:53.565 --> 00:30:53.905
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I don't know.
00:30:53.925 --> 00:30:58.485
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I just, especially as a little girl, like, you know, all the girls are, you know, I like Barbie now.
00:30:58.505 --> 00:30:59.585
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: At the time, I hated her.
00:30:59.605 --> 00:31:01.125
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I'm like, she is so, what is it?
00:31:01.145 --> 00:31:01.925
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Like she, I hated her.
00:31:01.945 --> 00:31:04.645
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: The only time I would play with her, my mom said I would tear her head off, right?
00:31:04.665 --> 00:31:05.645
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Because I didn't like her.
00:31:05.665 --> 00:31:06.645
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So I played with the GI.
00:31:06.665 --> 00:31:07.005
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Joes.
00:31:07.025 --> 00:31:11.705
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I played with, you know, all the collecting baseball cards, you know, that I was so different.
00:31:11.725 --> 00:31:15.145
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So of course, my parents instilled a lot in me.
00:31:15.165 --> 00:31:18.065
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: My mom on her side was all the philanthropy, like giving back.
00:31:18.085 --> 00:31:28.605
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: We would go to third world countries and get back and do all that at a young age and rescuing every animal possible and paying it forward and feeding the homeless during the holidays and supporting our troops.
00:31:28.625 --> 00:31:31.105
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So that was always big in our family.
00:31:31.325 --> 00:31:33.025
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But then my dad, you know, the sports.
00:31:33.045 --> 00:31:36.305
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So yes, it was instilled in me in a young age, all of that.
00:31:36.325 --> 00:31:39.745
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But it was also just, you know, the DNA, like out of the womb, I knew.
00:31:39.785 --> 00:31:41.805
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And I kind of think that's how it is with a lot of people.
00:31:41.825 --> 00:31:48.185
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I mean, you look at athletes and you look at a Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan, either you're a gym rat or you're not, that's something you can instill in someone.
00:31:48.185 --> 00:31:52.645
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So I think that is just what you're born with, and that is kind of like how I am.
00:31:53.165 --> 00:31:56.765
Tim Link: Yeah, and it's proven to be a great success for you, obviously.
00:31:56.785 --> 00:32:02.005
Tim Link: Big kudos on everything that you do, and especially the book In a League of Her Own.
00:32:02.465 --> 00:32:03.405
Tim Link: Fantastic work there.
00:32:03.425 --> 00:32:06.005
Tim Link: And I'm always excited to see what the next thing is.
00:32:06.025 --> 00:32:10.205
Tim Link: So I'm looking forward to hearing about your next things you have on your goals and your list.
00:32:10.505 --> 00:32:19.245
Tim Link: But one of the things we definitely got to talk about is your wonderful philanthropy and love for animals and the rescue, and you've got your rescue Hounds and Heroes.
00:32:19.625 --> 00:32:22.785
Tim Link: And of course, then your ranch, Battle Buddies Ranch.
00:32:23.005 --> 00:32:28.025
Tim Link: Tell us a little bit about each of those, how they got started, and then how people can help out.
00:32:28.825 --> 00:32:46.365
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Yes, I started Hounds and Heroes in 2010, and I wanted to combine the passions that I have, which is animal welfare and then supporting our troops, especially when they come back from deployments, and then doing 18 USO tours, 19 USO tours overseas, 8 to Iraq and Afghanistan.
00:32:46.385 --> 00:32:54.905
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I saw the VA didn't take care of our men and women in uniform, and they were just basically over-medicating them, and that was a problem, and the suicide rate being so high.
00:32:54.925 --> 00:33:02.565
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And then on the flip side, all the animals, the high euthanasia rates and putting these great dogs down, I'm like, this is the way we can combine this.
00:33:02.585 --> 00:33:22.945
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So pulling these dogs from the shelters, high-risk dogs, being able to train them and pair them as service or therapy dogs for our men and women who are suffering from PTS, TBI, amputees, there's so much there, and trying to help with getting them off these meds and being able to live a life, not just be existing.
00:33:22.965 --> 00:33:24.485
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And so that was really important.
00:33:24.505 --> 00:33:28.045
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And we are still small, but we're in California and in Texas.
00:33:28.565 --> 00:33:44.465
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: We are here now in Fort Worth area, and we have expanded to the equine, which is the horse rescue part of it, where I've rescued so many horses from killpens, off the track, thoroughbreds, and then been able to do these equine therapy retreats that we were doing in California.
00:33:44.485 --> 00:33:55.825
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And now we have that here in Texas, and we're doing not only the combat veterans that are dealing with their mental struggles, but also disabled children and then children of fallen soldiers and first responders.
00:33:55.845 --> 00:34:12.045
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So we're trying to just do as much of a can as small as we are, but we rescue a lot of other animals, Tim, that maybe aren't necessarily considered a therapy animal because we've got pigs and goats and donkeys and everything else.
00:34:12.065 --> 00:34:13.785
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: We had emus, the whole bit.
00:34:13.805 --> 00:34:24.585
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But if you know anything about animals, it doesn't matter if you're going through anything or not, just being around a dog that's wagging its tail or a goat that's jumping off a little hill, it just makes you smile.
00:34:24.605 --> 00:34:29.125
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So all in all, it's just to bring great mental health awareness through animals.
00:34:29.665 --> 00:34:30.085
Tim Link: Absolutely.
00:34:30.225 --> 00:34:39.765
Tim Link: Well, they are our greatest teachers and our greatest lovers and you're right, no matter how bad of a bad day you've had, you get near an animal of any sort and all of a sudden all your worries are gone.
00:34:39.785 --> 00:34:41.265
Tim Link: You don't have to worry about a thing.
00:34:41.825 --> 00:34:47.945
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Unless it's my animals that sometimes don't stop barking, they may be, but all in all, they're usually pretty good.
00:34:47.965 --> 00:34:52.265
Tim Link: Lamey getting up at three in the morning to let the dogs out and give them their treats and all that.
00:34:52.285 --> 00:34:53.665
Tim Link: Yeah, I've been doing that for years.
00:34:53.685 --> 00:34:58.045
Tim Link: So I feel for you there for sure, but it's all worth it for sure.
00:34:58.705 --> 00:35:07.185
Tim Link: Well, where can everybody keep track of all the wonderful things you've got going on, your appearances, maybe get a chance if they're lucky to meet up with you and have a chat with you?
00:35:07.685 --> 00:35:13.005
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Yeah, so we can go to bonniejill.com, the hyphen Bonnie hyphen Jill or bonniejill.com.
00:35:13.025 --> 00:35:14.625
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Either one will take you to my website.
00:35:14.645 --> 00:35:18.465
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: It's got how you can buy the book, our different book signings that we have going on.
00:35:18.545 --> 00:35:22.825
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And then of course, houndsandheroes.com, our socials are Hounds and Heroes as well.
00:35:23.165 --> 00:35:27.625
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And it shows if you're a veteran in need or first responder in need to reach out to us.
00:35:28.085 --> 00:35:34.805
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And also how you can help with the fees that accumulate through training these dogs and their food.
00:35:34.825 --> 00:35:36.025
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And vet bills.
00:35:36.045 --> 00:35:37.305
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I mean, you know, you name it.
00:35:37.465 --> 00:35:41.345
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: There's always a dollar goes a long way, especially when you have all these different animals.
00:35:41.365 --> 00:35:47.625
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And my barn manager and my business manager, Sarah Mark Inger, they help keep this all in place.
00:35:47.645 --> 00:35:50.085
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But they always tell me no more animals.
00:35:50.125 --> 00:35:53.705
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And then all of a sudden, I'm like, oh, Mark, we have three pigs coming on Friday.
00:35:53.725 --> 00:35:54.845
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And he's like, what?
00:35:54.845 --> 00:35:57.145
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: You know, he's like, is this my birthday present?
00:35:57.165 --> 00:35:57.905
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So this is birthday.
00:35:57.925 --> 00:35:59.985
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I'm like, well, no, it's kind of like my birthday present.
00:36:00.005 --> 00:36:03.925
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But you'll be taking care of them, you know, half the time because I'm so busy with this book tour.
00:36:03.945 --> 00:36:05.225
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So, you know, it works out.
00:36:05.245 --> 00:36:07.045
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But you have to have people around you.
00:36:07.065 --> 00:36:11.425
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: You know, the different people who work with the organization and our board, they have a passion for it, too.
00:36:11.445 --> 00:36:14.145
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: It's not just to say that they work with a nonprofit.
00:36:14.165 --> 00:36:17.465
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: You know, they're all very passionate about helping our heroes and our animals.
00:36:18.065 --> 00:36:18.745
Tim Link: Absolutely.
00:36:18.785 --> 00:36:26.405
Tim Link: Well, well, let them know that I often talk about how animals deal with positive praise and positive energy and the word no.
00:36:26.405 --> 00:36:27.765
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Especially horses.
00:36:28.245 --> 00:36:28.965
Tim Link: Absolutely.
00:36:29.245 --> 00:36:34.105
Tim Link: And so the word no is a negative energy word and animals have a great way of deflecting negative energy.
00:36:34.505 --> 00:36:38.365
Tim Link: So when you say the word no more animals, that actually means more animals.
00:36:38.605 --> 00:36:41.205
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Yeah, exactly.
00:36:41.225 --> 00:36:42.505
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I mean, that's the thing.
00:36:42.525 --> 00:36:53.765
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And anyone that knows me, it's like during Christmas, there was someone where I don't know how this even came across me, but a reindeer needed a home because it would have been one of those reindeer people take pictures with.
00:36:53.765 --> 00:36:59.405
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And anyhow, I was going to, you know, rescue this reindeer and Mark's like, I have no idea how to take care of a reindeer.
00:36:59.425 --> 00:37:00.325
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I'm like, well, I don't know.
00:37:00.345 --> 00:37:00.925
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: There's Google.
00:37:00.945 --> 00:37:02.265
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So you can try to like look it up.
00:37:02.285 --> 00:37:04.485
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But we're going to get that we're going to have to take this reindeer.
00:37:04.745 --> 00:37:07.105
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So I won't say no to any animal.
00:37:07.105 --> 00:37:08.825
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I mean, it doesn't matter what it is.
00:37:09.005 --> 00:37:10.725
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I always want to save them.
00:37:10.745 --> 00:37:13.105
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: So that's just that's not going to change.
00:37:13.305 --> 00:37:15.765
Tim Link: That sounds like a book in itself, Reindeers in Texas.
00:37:15.765 --> 00:37:18.025
Tim Link: I think you're onto something right there for sure.
00:37:20.245 --> 00:37:25.385
Tim Link: Well, we'll get all those posts so everybody can keep track of everything that's going on with you and your wonderful organizations.
00:37:25.705 --> 00:37:27.825
Tim Link: And definitely everybody pick up a copy of the book.
00:37:27.845 --> 00:37:30.225
Tim Link: It's a fabulous read, very insightful.
00:37:30.405 --> 00:37:42.225
Tim Link: And it's definitely full of opportunities for especially our young females and young women to learn a little bit about not only the sports and entertainment areas, but just life in general.
00:37:43.585 --> 00:37:49.105
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: My second book, and I am going to have the hopefully second book with In League of Her Own, but I do what I want to do.
00:37:49.125 --> 00:37:56.245
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And again, it's hard to get a publisher to jump on this, but the book I want to do is a children's book with the rescue animals.
00:37:56.265 --> 00:37:59.825
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And so I'm really trying to get that, you know, through this.
00:37:59.825 --> 00:38:03.045
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I hopefully I'll be able to do the children's book because that's what I really want to do.
00:38:03.065 --> 00:38:06.905
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: And I already have all everything drawn out, all the chapters, everything.
00:38:06.925 --> 00:38:11.025
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: But so hopefully that I'll be on your show again, talking about that at some point.
00:38:11.265 --> 00:38:12.225
Tim Link: Yeah, absolutely.
00:38:12.285 --> 00:38:12.645
Tim Link: Love it.
00:38:12.665 --> 00:38:16.325
Tim Link: I think you should put out a book once or twice a year so we can just have you on the show.
00:38:16.345 --> 00:38:18.485
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: I think that's what it's really easy.
00:38:18.505 --> 00:38:19.685
Tim Link: It's super easy.
00:38:20.725 --> 00:38:22.185
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: You get a lot of sleep.
00:38:22.205 --> 00:38:23.045
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: You eat a lot.
00:38:23.065 --> 00:38:28.485
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: You just, you know, you get to stroll through the park with no worry in the world.
00:38:28.565 --> 00:38:29.285
Tim Link: Absolutely.
00:38:29.305 --> 00:38:31.265
Tim Link: Everybody pick up a copy of the book.
00:38:31.265 --> 00:38:36.485
Tim Link: It's In a League of Her Own, Celebrating Female First in Sports by Bonnie-Jill Laflin.
00:38:36.745 --> 00:38:39.985
Tim Link: Bonnie-Jill, it was an absolute pleasure getting a chance to chat with you.
00:38:40.205 --> 00:38:43.905
Tim Link: Congratulations on another success and the launch of the book.
00:38:44.445 --> 00:38:47.485
Tim Link: And I'll look forward to chatting with you again sometime real soon.
00:38:48.005 --> 00:38:48.405
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Great.
00:38:48.425 --> 00:38:49.525
Bonnie-Jill Laflin: Thanks, Tim, so much for having me on.
00:38:49.925 --> 00:38:50.545
Tim Link: Absolutely.
00:38:50.925 --> 00:38:52.465
Tim Link: Well, we're coming to the end of the show today.
00:38:52.485 --> 00:38:55.945
Tim Link: I want to thank everyone for listening to Animal Writes on Pet Life Radio.
00:38:55.965 --> 00:38:59.225
Tim Link: I want to thank the producers and sponsors for making this show possible.
00:38:59.565 --> 00:39:10.925
Tim Link: If you have any questions, comments or ideas for the show, you can drop us an line at petliferadio.com and we'll be able to answer your questions, entertain your comments and bring on the people you want to hear from most.
00:39:11.165 --> 00:39:14.645
Tim Link: And while you're there, check out all the other wonderful shows and hosts.
00:39:14.905 --> 00:39:18.585
Tim Link: It's a cornucopia of good, fun and usually critters involved.
00:39:18.765 --> 00:39:25.905
Tim Link: So until next time, write a great story about the animals in your life and who knows, you may be the next guest on Animal Writes on Pet Life Radio.