Latest / Long Distance Friends / S.L.A.M. Founder Tell All: Creating a Movement, The Power of Community - with Alexa Smith
Transcript
- Alexa Smith: There's been, Anna Casey: Mm. Alexa Smith: deaths in families, childhood cancer, maternal mental health disorders, galore. deployments upon deployments upon deployments and that's what slam moms do. They support just being that lifeline. bottom line is we need community more than anything. the moms who've already felt the effects of it and move are the best possible women to spread this movement. And that is how we've grown because a slam mom moved, in the throes of motherhood deployments, you need your people. You really do. There's moms out there waiting for you. There really are. Anna Casey: Yeah. What's up, everybody, and welcome back to Long Distance Friends. On today's episode, we have Alexa Smith. Alexa is the founder and owner of a national fitness and community program called SLAM, or Sweat Like a Mother, designed specifically for pregnant and postpartum women across all stages of motherhood. SLAM is more than a fitness group. SLAM is a community that strives to bring women together as moms. And athletes. Slam believes in showing our children that your body is the greatest instrument that you will ever own and that through movement you can build strength. Classes combine fitness with camaraderie and offer an opportunity for women to come together under a common goal of bettering themselves, challenging themselves, and becoming the best version of themselves that they can be. Alexa Smith, welcome to Long Distance Friends. Alexa Smith: Thank you, Anna. It's so good to be here. Anna Casey: I am so personally honored to get to talk to you today because Slam, as I've talked about many times on different episodes, Slam has genuinely transformed my life as not only a stay-at-home mom in this season, but also a military spouse. And so I am grateful to get to talk to you today and learn about how did you start this movement and your story and what you've learned. And and so I'm just I'm so grateful and honored to have you. on today. Alexa Smith: It's so good to be here and I love your story and what I've heard from it so far. And I can't wait to hear your whole story because it's my favorite part of Slam is hearing about the mama's stories, how they got started, what it's done for them, and you know, how much they believe and how it's changed their lives. So I'm so excited that, you know, you're part of this community and we get to chat about it. Anna Casey: Yes. So before we pressed record, I was just sharing my story of how I found slam with Alexa. we were stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, and our house was at Lake Bottom Park. And every morning I would be working in my office, my home office, before I had kids, and I would look out Into the park at Lake Bottom. And every day I would notice a huge group of moms rolling up with their strollers and absolutely like getting after it, like doing push-ups Alexa Smith: Ha ha ha. Anna Casey: and burpees and track workouts. And I'm like, who are these moms that are like so badass? this is not some like cutesy workout. I mean, these these women were like getting after it. And I was I was like inspired. I was like, I've never I've never seen this before. And they bring their kids in their strollers. So fast forward and we are now stationed in in Clarksville, Tennessee, at Fort Campbell. And I have my first, this is 2022, so just four years ago. and I have my first I quit my job. so now I am a stay-at-home mom and we're semi newish to this town, so I don't have much of a community. New into motherhood. I'm eight months postpartum and I'm starting to lose that like honeymoon stage of motherhood where I'm like, this is all new and exciting. And now it's like we're getting in the day-to-day and I'm waking up and it's just me and my baby every every day. And I don't feel strong. the thought of maybe doing a burpee or or running Alexa Smith: Yeah. Anna Casey: was very intimidating to me. In my post postpartum body. Even at eight months postpartum, I was like, I can't even fathom jumping up and down or doing anything. but I saw the slam social media posts and I was like, okay, they seem very inviting and inclusive and non-judgmental. So I'm just gonna show up. and I did. Anne Peralt, I'll give a shout out to Anne Peralt. She was the owner of Slam Clarksville at the time and was just the most welcoming, non-judgmental, friendly face in person to to welcome me in. I want everybody I want everybody to know that I showed up with two pound weights. Two pound weights. Alexa Smith: Let the record show. Anna Casey: Tiny tiny little teeny tiny little grandma weights. And I was like I haven't lifted so long. Alexa Smith: my god. Anna Casey: But I came back and then the next day I quit almost halfway through my next workout. Katie Paquette was leading that workout and she doesn't mess around. And Alexa Smith: Yes. Anna Casey: I was like, I gotta listen to my body, I'm done. But I kept showing up and I kept showing up and what starts as a workout group quickly, as many people know, quickly becomes a community and and a lifeline, as you say. And so just since then have been part of SLAM. Now I'm in Slam Olympia. And so that's just a little bit of my story, but it has been such a gift. Alexa Smith: I love it. I wanna know how many what have you gone up in weights? How many pounds are your weights now at Slam Olympia? Anna Casey: Listen, all right. I'm proud of this. Now I work out regularly with my 15s. Look, look, like that. Alexa Smith: Yes, I love that. Look at you. Look at that muscle. I love that's huge. That is awesome. That's so cool. It's hilarious. Yes. You've come a long way. I'm proud of you. Anna Casey: Yes. Yes. It's a big deal for me. my goodness. Yes, absolutely. Thank you. So take me back to Alexa that started Slam. You were in Fort Benning at the time, right? or no, were you in Hawaii? Who who was Alexa Smith: well when Anna Casey: this version of Alexa where you started this all? Alexa Smith: It was in Columbus, Georgia was when I started SLAM. In Hawaii I had tried to hit start a stroller fitness class but failed Anna Casey: Yes. Alexa Smith: on the north shore of Oahu because it was, you know, filled with surfer dudes and not many sail moms. Anna Casey: Yeah. Alexa Smith: so fast forward to Columbus, Georgia. I actually also lived on Lake Bottom Park, but you know, ten years before you. Literally 10 years before you, a block from Lake Bottom. Anna Casey: Yeah. Alexa Smith: just right there, I would walk to Lake Bottom Park and Anna Casey: Mm-hmm. Alexa Smith: I was like, this park is like perfect. This park has everything you could ever need Anna Casey: Everything. Alexa Smith: and want. And it was like the perfect slam park. And it became the park that I compared every other slam location to and like when I would And be like, my gosh, it's not like bottom, how are we gonna work out at this park? So it literally Anna Casey: Yes. Yes. Alexa Smith: had everything, and it was just incredible the that that was in my backyard, and I was able try to start slam there. And it was just kind of this calling that I had to lead. I love to coach. I had been a soccer coach for many years before kids and I was like, I've gotta keep coaching. I need community. I had a two year old and a one year old. You know, Tony was a ranger and not around much. And I was like, I've got to find the like minded moms and we gotta get together and I'm gonna give this a go. Anna Casey: Mm. Alexa Smith: So I you know, made plans to get it started and It just it literally took off. It was incredible. We opened up and had nineteen moms at the first class and then a most of them came back Anna Casey: Crazy. Alexa Smith: and we just built it was obviously needed in that community and it was incredible that, that's how the very first slam was established and it kinda took off. So yeah. Anna Casey: Yeah. Yeah. Well, one of the craziest parts of your story to me was that between what was it, the span of like five years, you had Alexa Smith: Mm. Anna Casey: nineteen new locations. Alexa Smith: Mm. Yes. Yes. Anna Casey: Is that right? And most of those locations were women from the first few from the first few locations you started. Alexa Smith: Yeah. Anna Casey: So it was women who had experienced being a part of what you had created and what Slam is, Alexa Smith: Mm-hmm. Anna Casey: who then were like, I need to I need to carry this on. We I I need this wherever I'm at, right? Alexa Smith: Yeah, yeah. It it was from about twenty fifteen to twenty nineteen there was twenty new slams I opened and a lot of them weren't even f a lot of those twenty were moms I didn't even know because at that point I had left Columbus and Savannah, the two I opened and they were newly owned. and then you know, we had DC, Fairbanks and Leavenworth. So those five slams those first twenty owners came from those five slams where they came from owners who were just incredible leaders who Anna Casey: Mm. Alexa Smith: inspired these moms. So it wasn't even me. It was like totally them. They just like Anna Casey: Mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah. Alexa Smith: came in, became these amazing inspiring coaches and motivated these moms and just you know, encouraged them. To you're moving, there's no slam there. You can do this. You can open Anna Casey: Yeah. Alexa Smith: one. bring it with you. And so it was, you know, that's those years were incredible to see. I was like, my gosh, it's it's just growing in a way that I could have never imagined. And it's Anna Casey: Yes. Alexa Smith: a hundred percent due to like these inspiring women who are military wives who are moving Anna Casey: Mm-hmm. Alexa Smith: all the time. Anna Casey: Yes. Alexa Smith: And I was like this it was so incredible. I just love it. Yeah. Anna Casey: Yeah. the challenge that we face as military spouses, moving so often and not being able to have your community with you everywhere you go is exactly what makes Slam so powerful. Is because Now that there is such a thing as slam everywhere you go, I'm I'm thinking to myself, I'm like, at least there'll be a slam. Like I will ha Alexa Smith: Yeah, yes. Anna Casey: it's like a peace it's like a piece of home no matter Alexa Smith: Mm. Anna Casey: where you where you go. Alexa Smith: Yeah. Anna Casey: and I remember we moved to Fort Wachuca in Arizona. They did not have a slam because it's such a transitional place. And I was like, do I need to start one? I was like, so you know what I mean? Like, why is it there was a slam? Like, Alexa Smith: Yes. The answer is yes. Anna Casey: this is wrong, you know? Alexa Smith: Yeah. Anna Casey: and of course we were only there for like six months because for, you know, a course. Alexa Smith: Yes. Anna Casey: but yeah, it was like this is something is missing. Like, this isn't right. Like, of course there should be a slam, Alexa Smith: Right. Yeah. Anna Casey: you know? Alexa Smith: Yeah. The amount of checklists that include is there a slam when, you know, military spouses Anna Casey: Yes. Alexa Smith: are weighing where they're going to move next and it's been pretty high up on those mama's lists the to make sure that there is a slam, where they're moving. Anna Casey: Mm-hmm. Alexa Smith: And you know, if there's not a slam, we're always like, Okay, well, go ahead and open one. You got this. Like, let's do this. Anna Casey: Yes. That's so cool. it's really cool to see how open handed and and encouraging you are for for women to take the baton and run. so you mentioned before in those first few affiliates you had some amazing women who really stepped up and stepped in to lead and they inspired their members. For you, what do you like what do you think it was about them and about their leadership that was so inspiring? Alexa Smith: I think they th they just had so much belief in SLAM. Like I remember like go back to twenty fourteen when Anna Casey: Mm-hmm. Alexa Smith: Brooke and Kelly opened the very first two SLAM locations, back when, you know, I wasn't even I couldn't even fathom growing beyond where we currently were in Columbus and Savannah. and I remember a conversation with Kelly being like, okay, she she was moving to DC, like this huge Mecca. There is like everything under the sun for fitness in DC and we were talking about it. And she was like Anna Casey: Yeah. Alexa Smith: Saying how there's this other stroller fitness community that's been around way longer than us, that, you know, is another national franchise that had a location in DC, a huge, thriving community in DC. And I remember being like, my gosh, like that That's it's gonna be so hard. And I was like, Anna Casey: Mm-hmm. Alexa Smith: they're already thriving in a huge community. I remember saying this and looking back, I'm like, I can't believe I said this. But I was like, if you can't beat them, join them. And she was like, No, I don't wanna Anna Casey: Ha ha ha ha. Alexa Smith: join them. She's like, What are you talking about? Like, I wanna slam. And I was like, my gosh, like in that moment, I'm like, her belief and loyalty to slam is so huge that I'm like. she had more belief than I did. I was like, we have to grow this thing. Like, if Anna Casey: That's cool. Alexa Smith: that's her attitude, if that's what she's going up against. and that was Kelly Berger, who now is a huge Anna Casey: Yeah. Alexa Smith: part of what we do on a daily basis, she's the director of operations. She does all the things for us and keeps us afloat. And it started with that. You know, that's how we grew with that conversation with her and being like, all right, well let's figure this thing out then. Let's figure it out. And slowly we figured it out. And you know, that's A lot because of her and a lot of the early members and instructors who moved and had that belief as well. Yeah. Anna Casey: Wow, that's really cool. And the D C location ended up being massive, right? Alexa Smith: Yes. It grew huge. It th huge. and and I remember Anna Casey: Yeah. Yeah, there you go. Alexa Smith: the the first year, With in the first year it was a very, very slow build at DC. So slow and and that's how it does take so long, Anna Casey: Mm. Alexa Smith: especially in big cities. Anna Casey: Mm-hmm. Alexa Smith: when you're competing against all the others, even just to get the word out. And then once you get the word out, it takes moms forever to then just like get in the door. It's like a whole process, especially in the big city with competition. And in the first year there would it was very small. And I you know, we conversations I'd be like, Give it a year, give it a year and then at the I remember at the one year. mark for DC. It was like, okay, we've arrived. And it it's Anna Casey: Wow. Alexa Smith: you know grew into this huge, huge community that you know and still is is just doing so well. So yeah. Anna Casey: That's amazing. Alexa Smith: Yeah. Anna Casey: That's really, really special. speaking of what makes Slam so special, when I was in Clarksville, I experienced my first miscarriage and I let couple of the owners and coaches know and I show up to slam one day, I get the biggest hugs. I leave. I have a gift bag of all of my favorite snacks and a card that someone discreetly put in my stroller. And it's the support like that in the community that I feel really really is keeps moms coming back, because it's not just a workout, right? It's the it's the people that support you when you're at your lowest moment or when you have your meal train or your baby, you know, we're all making meals for each Alexa Smith: Yes. Anna Casey: other and bringing each other meals. Are there any stories or things that stick out to you where moms have really just rallied together to support one another? Are there any highlights for you, looking back on your journey? Alexa Smith: There are so many, and so it's so many that I don't even know about that I wish I knew because now that it's Anna Casey: Yeah. Alexa Smith: happening at every single SLAM affiliate across the world, that kind of support. Anna Casey: Yeah. Alexa Smith: but there's some heavy, heavy stuff that has gone down Anna Casey: Yeah. Alexa Smith: that SLAM has been so supportive of. There's been, Anna Casey: Mm. Alexa Smith: you know, deaths in families, there's been childhood cancer, there's been maternal mental health disorders, galore. There's been, Anna Casey: Mm-hmm. Alexa Smith: deployments upon deployments upon deployments and heavy stuff happening on deployments, just so much that it without community, I don't know how, you know, how you get through some of these things that are so, so, Anna Casey: Mm-hmm. Alexa Smith: so heavy. and that's what slam moms do. They support and not all of our communities, but most of them are military communities. So you have that piece of, you know, you're a lot of times dealing with single parenting a lot of the time and having to deal with all the things in the throes of, the infant stages, toddler stages, all the way up to teenage. It's all hard. And then doing it on your own. and then Anna Casey: Mm. Mm-hmm. Alexa Smith: when even more heavy stuff gets in the way. It's it's some of the stuff is unimaginable that if you don't have community, you know, it's just hard to get through. So there's been so many examples of that through the years of slam moms rallying and being there for each other and just being that lifeline. Like It's incredible. and we've unfortunately had we've lost a few slam mamas as well. And just like the the sadness that it's just beyond like it it's so very sad and we make sure that we you know honor those moms forever. and you know, make sure that we say their name and remember them and That's what slam's all about. Anna Casey: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I feel like the moms who make up Slam, we come into Slam like needing each other in a lot a lot of other, you know, work out facility like the you just don't get it the same way. I remember one time I walked Alexa Smith: Yeah, right. Anna Casey: into I walked into orange theory. This is also before kids. and it was my test class and they pulled me into the lobby after and they were like so what are you looking for in a gym? And me just being me, I was like, like I'm just look I'm I'm looking for community. And they and they they're like, that's sweet, you know they're like Yeah, okay, like But yeah, they're like, Alexa Smith: we don't do that here. Anna Casey: you just come in, you work out, people don't talk to each other, you know? so when I found Slam, I was like, this this is it, this is it. because yeah, you when you you're made up of women that need each other, like we don't have our families close by. we don't have friends or roots. we become each other's lifelines, wherever we go. So thank Alexa Smith: Yes. Anna Casey: you for sharing those stories. Alexa Smith: Yes, of course. Anna Casey: So I wanna talk about creating a movement and what you have learned about what it takes to create a movement and we've touched on it a little bit. But how do you create a movement? Like what what goes into that? Alexa Smith: I feel like the movement just happened so organically because Anna Casey: Yeah. Alexa Smith: we're a bunch of military moms that move, literally move, and Anna Casey: Yeah. Yes. Alexa Smith: have felt so deeply what a slam community can do, then they're moving and they're like, my gosh, there's no Islam, and Anna Casey: Yeah. Alexa Smith: could I do this? could I open a slam? And we're like, Yes, you can. And Anna Casey: Yeah. Alexa Smith: here's all the tools to do it. And and at first we didn't have those tools. Cause I'm a total type B, which is weird because like I, you know, I'm starting this thing and here we are. But We through the years figured out how to get onboard going, get these owners supported in every single step of the way of opening a slam. And again, due to Anna Casey: Mm. Alexa Smith: Kelly Berger and so many other of the early owners just helping me figure it out and being like, all right, this is what I did, this is what I need. and just helping to put together this onboarding and getting these new owners supported and helping them, you know, if they're not instructors already, getting them trained up to become instructors so that when they move, okay, all they've got to do is the whole business side of things and sorting through that. So trying to, you know, get them well equipped when they do move, to get SLAM started in a new city and and that is scary and that is, not easy and it's you've gotta put yourself out there and, you know, practice brave and all the things. me but we, are encouraging them the whole way. And that is how we've grown because a slam mom moved, and Anna Casey: Hm. Alexa Smith: it it's how the it's how we're in this movement. Like it is one hundred percent and I didn't ever want it to be kind of any other way where we're just like to kind of recruit anybody to open a slam. All of Anna Casey: Sure. Alexa Smith: our slams have been opened, or 99% of them have been opened by a mom who was already part of the community. And that wit has been so important because they drank the Kool-Aid, they've seen the effects of it, felt the effects of it. They Anna Casey: Mm-hmm. Yes. Yes. Alexa Smith: understand what how important the community is, and yes, the workout is so important too. And we as you said, we were Work hard and we like to sweat and you know lift heavy things around and feel strong and powerful. But like the bottom line is we need community more than anything. And so the moms who've already felt the effects of it and move are the best possible women to spread this movement. And the fact that we're military mamas and moving has helped us to grow. in the best way and I will encourage forever Mamas moving and opening new slams if there's not one in that city because every military area should have a slam. We're not there yet but we'll we're working on it Anna Casey: One thing that really sticks out to me about you is I feel like there's a lot of people who maybe try to start things like this, but then they're so wrapped up in their own ego or needing it to be attached to them that they don't they don't encourage other people to carry the torch forward in the same way. And so I just wanted to like call that out. and encourage you because I think that's so cool that you are so open handed and so encouraging of of other women to be like, Yes, start start one. Alexa Smith: Mm-hmm. Anna Casey: go and do it and like we will support you and give you all the tools that you need to to thrive and be successful. and so I just I think that's that's awesome. So thank you for sharing that. Alexa Smith: Thank you. Anna Casey: I think it goes back to you believing in the mission being bigger than yourself and the need being bigger than yourself. and I I just I think that's really cool. Like what are the things that we can do and start in our lives that are bigger than us? And that's that's when it becomes a movement, right? Alexa Smith: yeah, for sure. There's so many of these women have so many special skills not even just as fitness leaders, but professionally on in on the business side of things, they have skills that had that help us move along. They've helped our movement just become bigger and bigger. and I just think it's it it's incredible the the talent across the board when you look at all of our slam owners and then all of the women who help us lead and help put out information and put out, education for our moms. and what it's become. Again, it's all from women who were members at some point. And Anna Casey: Mm-hmm. Alexa Smith: you know, some of them have moved on and they still help us to, make sure that the moms have the resources they need to take care of their bodies, take care of their minds, and take care of each other. So it's all due to the moms who came in our door and joined our circle throughout the past fifteen years that we are, you know, able to be at this point right now. Anna Casey: That's beautiful. one of the things I love about Slam is That a part of Slam's mission is to show our children that our bodies are strong and capable. We're literally bringing our kids to our workouts and they're watching not just us, but all kinds of moms be very strong and capable in their bodies. and so I would love to know if you have any personal stories, maybe of you with your kids, where because I know that your kids Alexa Smith: Mm-hmm. Anna Casey: are have all grown. up to be athletes of some sort, and so are you Alexa Smith: yes. Anna Casey: do you have any, personal stories within your own family where you saw how that was a positive thing for your family and your kids, seeing you? Alexa Smith: Yeah, for sure. My kids all three grew up in the bob. grew up watching these women Anna Casey: Yes. Alexa Smith: sweat every day with their little snacks and Anna Casey: Yeah. Alexa Smith: just watching us do our thing for years and years, all three of And all three of would lead their little workouts at home and, you know, do burpees anywhere they were, home, parks, grocery stores. Anna Casey: Yeah. Alexa Smith: They love flipping magnets so that mamas would have to do burpees. you know, especially when they were younger, they were so into it. Now they eye roll me a little bit with slam and workouts and they're like, I'm do my own workout. You know, they definitely you know, that was instilled in them how important it is to work out and do the work. you know, obviously they're all athletes Anna Casey: Mm-hmm. Alexa Smith: and so they see the importance of putting that extra work and that extra time in. my youngest, when she was a baby, we tell this story all the time. She would not walk, She would bear crawl and she bear crawled everywhere. I swear it's because she would like watches working out all Anna Casey: Ha Alexa Smith: the time. She's like, why would I walk when I can bear crawl? you know. Anna Casey: That's amazing. Alexa Smith: So they grew up watching a bunch of women supporting each other, sweating together. doing everything together like inside and outside of class and I do feel like it has provided them with you know confidence to go out into the world and do hard things as well. I do they work hard and they're all three of them great leaders and I do feel like they they learned a good amount by watching it for so many years. Anna Casey: That's so special. One of my favorite things is after class, seeing all the littles come out of their stroller and either, you know, cool down with the moms or sometimes on our warm up jog, Alexa Smith: Yes. Anna Casey: I'll let my my four year old run a lap with me before she goes in her stroller. and it's just it's just the coolest thing. I feel like a lot of us you know, in our our generation, we we did not get that with our moms, right? And so it is Alexa Smith: Yeah. Anna Casey: cool to see that change happening. it's really, really, Alexa Smith: Yes, yes, Anna Casey: really special. Alexa Smith: yeah. There's some moments of where I'm just like so of my kids when there's a few times my daughters will come slam with me if they have a day off or that you know it's summer and you know they come and they'll they'll do the workout with me but their favorite part is playing with the babies like and entertaining the babies while the moms are working out and so and I know yeah right Anna Casey: Thank you. Listen, as a mom still in the trenches with babies, I appreciate it. I'm like any any older child that's willing to push my babies in a circle around the parking lot, I'm like, please. So that's great. Alexa Smith: Yeah. Right. Yes. Yeah. They my my daughter my older daughter, Felzy, will be like, Yeah, I might start doing the workout, but if a baby's crying, I'm sorry, I'm gonna have to go help the babies. And that's literally their favorite part. And I'm like it's mine too. Like I love the babies I will go to slam and get my baby fix and gimme all the babies. Gimme all of them. Anna Casey: it's it's so nice. yeah. when my oldest was still a baby and I first joined, I have so many videos and pictures of the instructor holding my baby and demoing like L Alexa Smith: Yeah. Anna Casey: sits like raising her up like Simba. And I'm just so glad to not I'm like, someone take this child so I can have a minute to myself. it's so good. Yes. Alexa Smith: Yeah, yeah. Right, right. It's so important. It's so important. Yeah. I love it. Anna Casey: my last question for you, Alexa, is you know, most of my listeners who listen to this are young mamas. Who are also military spouses. Not all military spouses, but something that we talk about a lot on the podcast is resilience and what it what it takes to be a resilient person. And I know that a lot, a lot of times that gets like just be more resilient kind of gets a bad rap. but there's a lot of things that go into being. resilient, including rest, including community, health across the board, financial, spiritual, like all the things that go into like someone being able to be a resilient person. and a big part of that is finding your community, right? Like that is key to being able to be resilient and being able to show up for your family and And and thrive like as a as a military spouse, even especially. So all that to say, my question for you is for any of of these mamas who are listening, or military spouses who are listening who feel like they are really lonely right now or they don't have a lot of purpose right now, or maybe they're isolated. how would you encourage them to find or create community? Alexa Smith: I would tell them to s look up and see if there's a slam in their city Anna Casey: I Alexa Smith: first and foremost, if there's a slam, they need to show up and walk up to Anna Casey: Yeah. Alexa Smith: that slam circle and you know find their people. I know that's the hardest step is go showing up the first time Anna Casey: Mm-hmm. Alexa Smith: it's showing up. but it's so important and A lot of women, I've heard this over and over across fifteen years, is that they wish they had joined sooner. They wish they Anna Casey: Mm-hmm. Alexa Smith: had, practiced brave and just shown up sooner. But, you know, it takes sometimes weeks, months, years to show up. And if there's not a slam in in their community, find a community of something that, you know, they that brings them joy. And there's Anna Casey: Mm. Alexa Smith: women meeting all over. for Anna Casey: Mm. Alexa Smith: all different purposes, just so if it can't be a slam community, find something. because women meeting and coming together, especially, in the throes of motherhood deployments, all the things, you need your people. You really do. You need your like minded people. So finding, you know, what i fuels you and there's There's moms out there waiting for you. There really are. Anna Casey: Yeah. Alexa Smith: Slam is just one of many amazing communities. There's so many out there. Anna Casey: Mm-hmm. Alexa Smith: I'm a little partial to Slam, but you know, if the you know find f find the other women and come together. And 'cause I mean we've s all seen first hand and we all have our stories of how that can change your life forever. Anna Casey: Yeah, that's so good. one thing I say often is go first. and so even if there's nothing, create the thing that you wish you had, Alexa Smith: Yeah. Anna Casey: just like how you did. Alexa Smith: Yeah. Anna Casey: And so thank you. thank you for going first and creating the thing that you wish you had. I'm getting emotional because I can't even imagine, like, I'm one, I'm one person that we're just not meeting for the first time. But Alexa, there are thousands of women who have community because you went first. so thank you so much. and just know that your impact is broad and it's deep. and so thank you. Alexa Smith: of course. I'm so happy that you've have found your community and you know, have moved and found Anna Casey: Yes. Mm-hmm. Alexa Smith: your slam community again. that's like Anna Casey: Mm-hmm. Alexa Smith: my favorite thing as these stories of women across slam moving and multiple, multiple slams moving and having that community and being able to just continue. and Finding their people and finding their sisters in sweat and then having those Anna Casey: Mm-hmm. Alexa Smith: friends for a lifetime. That's another piece that's like my favorite. There are Anna Casey: Yes. Yes. Alexa Smith: moms who've you know, they were slam moms 15 years ago and they're still meeting up for runs across the world. They're still meeting up to s literally scale mountains together. there's two. Rosa and Sarah. Anna Casey: Yes. Alexa Smith: They scale mountains, those two. And they th like that's my favorite piece, just seeing what Anna Casey: So awesome. Alexa Smith: the these friendships forged by Slam. And being like, Anna Casey: huh. Alexa Smith: my gosh, and they do incredible things that I could never even dream of doing or imagine doing. They're so amazing. And these friendships that so they are no longer slam moms, but they will likely always call themselves slam moms. And Anna Casey: Yeah. Alexa Smith: they have these friends that they do hard things together, and I'm so inspired by them. Anna Casey: Mm. Alexa Smith: it's it makes me so just grateful for all of them to just see them, you know, coming together and y and doing hard things together and being there for each other. And there are stories of that across the world. there's so many great, incredible women who have been through and gotten through so much because of the women right by their side. And that's what's most important to me.