It's Where I Am with Zandra Polard

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Good morning Good morning Las Vegas. It's Zondra. Pol lard. It's where I am. today. We have a special guest. We have former WNBA player, you Gina Miller, you Gina will be inducted into the SoCal Hall of Fame this weekend. Yes. Love my WNBA NBA players saw an Asus game a couple of weeks ago. Great time. Great time to have you. Gina, here on the show. Thank you for being here.

Unknown Speaker 1:30
Oh, thank you so very much for inviting me to be a part of this show. I'm super excited to definitely engage with you and pour into your audience.

Unknown Speaker 1:39
Oh, it's so great to have you here. You know, you are a busy woman. First of all, you are an all American for your college at Fullerton College. And you are being inducted into the Southern California Hall of Fame. Congratulations.

Unknown Speaker 1:57
Thank you so very much, I greatly appreciate it. And let me tell you, it has definitely been a journey. It wasn't easy, especially coming in to college not being able to catch a pass or shoot a free throw, and to wind up being all American, which is one of the top 10 in the nation. And so that is that's nothing but God, let me tell you, so I'm grateful, even for this induction into the Southern California Basketball Hall of Fame is it's pretty major considering you have NBA players, WNBA players, coaches that are going to be inducted with the likes of Michael Cooper, Bill and beer, Paul Pierce are just to name a few.

Unknown Speaker 2:43
And you so you, Tina, you know, take us back, I want to understand what it was like to be a WNBA player back in the day, because, you know, we've made so many strides over the past few decades. It started out in the early 90s. Right?

Unknown Speaker 3:05
Correct and 19 actually the latter part of the 90s. So put a WNBA 1997 was in our goal season. Oh and and I played in 1998. And so for for those of us who started around that time, of course, we are pioneers, right because of women who wanted to play professional basketball who wanted to continue playing after college had to either go into a Women's League here in America or play professionally overseas. And a lot of us that were able to did go overseas to play

Unknown Speaker 3:43
over to Japan, right? Correct.

Unknown Speaker 3:47
Yes, I played in Japan, I play for Japan Airlines and we played against Mitsubishi, Toshiba, other companies had professional basketball teams and so we played against them and I was there from 91 to 93.

Unknown Speaker 4:03
So, what was it like for you all you know, juggling school, and then you know a lot of times you know relationships and then sometimes you know, you have to think about am I going to have a baby right. So, what is that like for women when they have to juggle you know, family or career in that field.

Unknown Speaker 4:28
Exactly. So I will I will start with my collegiate experience, high school and collegiate experience and then I will transition into the WNBA and those who are considering having a family or those who did have a family at that particular time. So for me and I can speak to my personal experience in high school, college. I I was faced with that, because I had unexpected two pregnancies. And so the decision that I made at that particular time was to not move forward with the pregnancy. The pregnancies and I know a lot. I know a lot of young women are faced with that very thing every single day, every single day. That was a decision that I made. However, there's a saving grace in even sharing that particular story. Because as I moved on into the WNBA, God did show me some things. First of all, I gained a value for life. And in it the role to the WNBA. Once I was there, there were five of us in the WNBA, who were mothers. And so I was one of those eventually got married, had children, and just the journey to that platform, as a mother, you know, God did show me that he can make a way even with children, and he allowed me to be able to play on the highest platform in this nation, and that is in the WNBA. Professionally, with young children, it can be done. And he showed that to me, years later. So it was a lesson learned that there isn't anything too hard for him, that he is able to make it happen. Even if it were delayed, because a delay is not a denial. And so it was it was a lesson learned for sure.

Unknown Speaker 6:44
No, I know you also work with youth now. Tell us about what you're doing in the community with you.

Unknown Speaker 6:52
So I, I speak at middle schools, high schools, continuation schools and for and I know that, depending on where you're from in the nation, middle school may be called junior high. And continuation schools may be called something different. So continuation schools are those students who are not able to be a part of the public school system. And because of behavior, it could be a variety of reasons why they may have been kicked out. And so and sharing enrichment, parts of my enrichment program that I'm actually going to be going into my passion is to awaken purpose in youth and young adults, so that they may take ownership of their space, be positioned for impact. And to do this together as a community, I want them to have that community connection as well. So I have a an enrichment program for you. And in it, there is a mental health component because I, I am utilizing the national standards for mental health as well as the National Standards for financial literacy, I think that is important to ensure that our youth are financially literate, because we want to move the needle, not only with who they are and accepting their purpose, but understanding how to manage money, learning how to earn income, learning that the things that they are able to create products to sell, utilizing their gifts and talents and your purpose for being here. Because people want to pay what it is that they have to offer, and what they can create. And so there's an entrepreneurial aspect to the enrichment program. So in a nutshell, it is them being their first best friend, being in right relationship with themselves being in right relationship with friends, family, community, right relationship with food, right relationship with purpose, and being in right relationship with money. So again, that's an important component as well. So that's what I do. There was a time that I did speak at a continuation school and I had share one of the one of my own personal stories of the time that I threatened to commit suicide and in sharing that, that experience of I just had enough, I had enough and I was back East. And I wanted to leave. Just a caveat to that. When I was in sixth grade, the summer after sixth grade, a decision was made for me to leave California. Leave living with my dad where I was very happy content. All needs were met, and go back to live with my mom. And I actually really made the decision at that time to go back, just for the love of my mother, I didn't want her to feel alone because she, I have a brother who share the same mom and dad. And he didn't want to go back. And so I didn't want her to feel alone and to feel unloved. So I made a conscious decision to go into poverty, because that's what it was going to be. We were homeless, we lived in somebody's attic, somebody else's basement, Willie came ahead. And our sixth way, right, it came ahead, my junior year where I just had enough. And even though I had threatened to jump out of a third storey window, I was sitting on the window pane of a building, okay, and threatened to just let it go in front of my mom, she was there. And at that moment, it was a cry for help. Because I made an action, I didn't have to make that decision in sixth grade for the love of her. But I made a decision at that point and 11th grade for the love of myself. Now, it that was the only way that I knew how to do it was to threaten to do that to take my life. But it was a cry. Because I loved myself I had to get out, I had to get out. And, and that was the role that I took. So I share that story. And I asked the students to afterwards to just write one word, one takeaway. And one of the young ladies had mentioned suicide. And what she took away from that was to talk to someone to talk to someone about what was going on. While I, when I collected all of your cards, I saw that actually, someone's my one of my god songs, brought it to my attention. He was there with me, he collected them, and he brought it to my attention. I showed it to the school administrator. I found out two weeks later, that they did some investigating, they found out it was an actual threat, they had gotten her to help that she needed in her family was so thankful that she's still alive and that she was willing and open to share with me, her, you know, thoughts of actually take not even thought it was an actual threat to take her own life. And so it's so important for us to give back to you to be honest about our journey, because it can and will be so impactful in the lives of youth. And so definitely that is what I have to offer makes an impact in the life of those who hear it. And so that's that's even more of a motivation to just be transparent, about experiences. Because I know that it will say someone else.

Unknown Speaker 13:00
Absolutely. And you know, that's the reason why I have this show for people to understand that they are not alone, people experienced the same things you do is how to handle them is how we handle the experience. Right?

Unknown Speaker 13:15
Correct.

Unknown Speaker 13:17
So let's let's fast forward to college. I know you've shared with me before, during our phone conversation, that you went through a time of depression, you were at the top of your game. You were I think you were in the paper for the most slam dunks or something like that. You're like at the pinnacle, right? But at the same time, you add this depression over you. Explain that to me explain that more to our audience.

Unknown Speaker 13:50
Or your Yeah, you can be you can imagine, go definitely just imagining being depressed. If you can imagine whether it's your own personal experience or someone else's experience, anxieties, and anxieties, depression, everything else that can bring a person down and has brought people down. It could be a hormonal imbalance, it could just be just circumstances in life and overwhelmed, being overwhelmed. And as an athlete, we're human, we're just doing and performing a particular sport. So what happens when the athlete is in that same situation, but still expected to perform at a high level? Now if you can just imagine being depressed and you don't want to get out of bed, but that's not an option. We have to perform. So in those and for me, in particular, I know that I just went inward. I stopped talking Talking to people I shut down. And I just performed. And just like you said, just throughout the years of my college experience, again, going from not being able to catch a basketball not being able to shoot free throw, to becoming all American, have coding so many different records at cost. And now that's a national honors all American, but having college accomplishments and honors and breaking records and holding records. And then at the end of the day, finding out that I score the most points and grab the most rebounds out of any woman that's ever played in the history. But not only that, any male that has ever played at that school. So to come through that is, for me, like, just totally amazing. But I will say, one thing that just changed the game for me, my coach brought in someone that helped us to visualize, just meditate on seeing ourselves perform at a higher level. And in taking that visualization, exercise, to the rest of my athletic in college career and even beyond, really helped to propel my performance. So, but

Unknown Speaker 16:33
depression, because that's because when you're Yeah, because nowadays, we have mental health professionals that are working with athletic teams, which is wonderful. But back then we did not so correct, how did you move past that depression?

Unknown Speaker 16:50
It was a matter of speaking, visualizing, speaking, life, visualizing, seeing myself succeed, and no matter. It's like that. Like you said, we didn't have the type of resources then that there are available now, for athletes for student athletes. But suck it up buttercup, we have things to do. And that visualization is what helped it for me. So meditating in and visualization is what helped my performance. Now does that mean? Depression didn't try to come back for a situation being triggering. But one of the things that I definitely want to help people understand is people going into sports, or music or theater, that can be their escape from reality, that's their free place. They can, they're getting accolade or they're being acknowledged, whether it be individual or as a group, they're contributing to a bigger community that is outside of whatever circumstances may be going on. That is unpleasant. That's their escape. What happens? What happens when your reality collides with your safe space, or your escape, and that's one of the things that I experienced in college was that food insecurity that I experienced as a kid, that was a part of my experience, started to invade my escape, which was a CT, and experiencing the food insecurity, even in college and not having enough to eat and we don't just people leaving groceries at my door. Because I didn't have enough to eat, you know, six to 135 pounds 7% body fat. I was, I was a way to book 50. And so in the Senate, it was the close. So it just for me, I had a double whammy because the reality started to creep in to that safe space in that competitive space for me. But again, when my coach brought somebody in from the outside, to help us to be able to meditate and visualize where we want it to be. That changed the game for me, because I began to visualize not only how I wanted to perform on the court, but also in life, how I saw myself Yes, the things that I wanted to achieve, that those things are possible. So those journaling journaling is a way to definitely help having an accountability partner. Those check ins those accounts ability partners that can check in on you. For me, like I said, I just shut down regarding talking and sharing with my teammates, or if they were my friends, but my teammates, I really did hold on to the visualization and meditation as a way to help cope during my college days.

Unknown Speaker 20:26
Whoa. So you have the Eugenia Miller, is it a foundation? Or what is the

Unknown Speaker 20:37
difference? It's www dot Eugenia miller.com. And for those who don't know how to spell, the way that I spell my name, Eugenia, it's e UGENI. A miller.com. And I'll just say one more time, he has an Edward U. G. As in girl, he is an Edward. And as a Nancy, I a miller.com. And it's an LLC, right now I'm going to be completing paperwork to how to be a nonprofit. Okay.

Unknown Speaker 21:13
So I know you go to different schools, mostly in Southern California is this where you go and speak to the youth?

Unknown Speaker 21:21
Yes, however, I am able and willing to travel nationwide, that is not a problem at all. And I'm familiar with Zoom. I can do zoom as well, in a classroom or a school, you know, order to auditorium, that's not a problem at all.

Unknown Speaker 21:36
You know, I'm just so thrilled that I'm because I'm a teacher as well. And I'm so thrilled that I was in the lunch room. And I was speaking to one of my colleagues, and I mentioned that you will be on the show. And she's a former basketball player. And she got excited, too. She says, Oh, yes, I know her. So I want to give a shout out to miss dash out there. Want to say hello to her? And I want to say yes. And I want to thank you I'm so, so pleased and happy and proud of your accomplishments. And your induction into the Southern California Basketball Hall of Fame.

Unknown Speaker 22:22
Thank you. Thank you, I appreciate it so much.

Unknown Speaker 22:25
Are there any last words you'd like to give our listeners before I let you go?

Unknown Speaker 22:32
Just really, yes. Not to give up. Really not to give up. You are not alone. We all have common experiences, even those things that are unspoken. Definitely reach out and get help if you need help. And you know it, you know it when you do, and not to be in denial. And sometimes we do need help, we can't do it ourselves. And that whole mentality, first of all the stigma of getting counseling in our community, we have to get rid of that. That's Oh, that's old. And it's damaging. And that's how things are passed down from generation to generation generation, and how addictions begin and are passed down. So because of the exposure. So definitely don't give up. You have purpose for being here. And you have purpose for you have those gifts and talents on the inside of us that we need. We need that from you. And we needed it in the full capacity. Capacity. Someone

Unknown Speaker 23:38
was telling me that they were kind of, I guess you would say embarrassed that they knew that other that other people knew about their mental health condition. So when you brought up stigma, it reminded me of this person. And this person was crying and upset because she felt exposed. But I told her I told her how brave she was to seek the help and forget about what anyone is saying to you about receiving the help. You are the strong one. Because we all need it. We all do. There is no exception. Yes. So Zack, I want to thank you again. Congratulations once again. And we will stay in touch. This definitely thank you so much. This was huge. Gina Miller. Thank you. All right, 91.5, jazz and more. You know, I'm here every Saturday at 7:30am. If you've missed any portion of his podcast, you know you can always find it on your favorite social media platform. It's where I am with Zondra and that's all you need to do. So we'll talk to you next week. And have a great day. Bye for now. Let's listen to some Beyonce braid muscle

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you breaking my soul

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cannot sleep at

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night in my own town

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is back in unsleeping real good

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and Adames in the back is taking no fix but the whole click SNAP just a whole lot of people in the house trying to smoke with a yak in your mouth and we back outside we set you aside but you ain't that outside worldwide hoodie with a messed up side case you forgot how we size

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you want

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you'll see it that we all know very beautiful thing but you will be trying to fake it never makes it that we all know

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justify love

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your break

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to the Netherlands

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To

Transcribed by https://otter.ai