On today’s episode I am super excited to introduce you to an Amazing woman who is a total self-starter, elite athlete and lead-singer on the rise. She is an elite amateur boxer, motivational speaker, role model to young girls everywhere and the lead singer of Punk Rock Band, Eyeroll. Today’s guest is Kristy Harris a truly dynamic individual and making the most of her opportunities.

Did you know she has competed at the Comm games, she has fought over 70 times on 3 different continents and she can seriously sing! Yes that's right, she heads up a punk rock band and trains others in the gym as part of her KH Boxing program. She has a real passion for mental health and working with youth and doing motivational speaking at schools.

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Kristy is also part of a new coaching platform called atlascoaching.com and you can check out her media work here

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Listen out for her experience handling gender inequality and hecklers who give her a hard time about being a "pretty" female Boxer. Her response is excellent!

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You can find out more about her here: www.khboxing.com/about

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Some fun facts about Kristy:

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She has been awarded the National Title (51kg division) four times in 2013,2014,2015,2016.

She is World Bronze Medalist (54kg division, 2018)

She began training at Geelong’s Murrays Boxing Gym with her dad and brother.

She has a coaching philosophy to be realistic, resilient and willing to step out of your comfort zone.

She is the lead singer of the Australian Punk-Rock band, Eyeroll.

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Hear about her Commonwealth Games experience here

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Watch on YouTube here

Check out the full transcript of this episode here:

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Brandon Burns  0:02  
Recording in progress, behaviour everyone and welcome back to the very first episode of sheknows. So I'm not really welcoming everyone back, I'm saying hi, the very first time, I'm Brandon Burns your host. And we have keep the show up in a virtual format to begin with, because we are, of course stuck in these crazy lockdown times. But that isn't going to stop us. So today, I'm super, super excited to bring you an amazing guest that we've interacted already on another show. And she's been incredibly generous already. And it's been really impressive to watch her journey today. And more importantly, what she's been able to get up to, and navigate through this lockdown with her career because as you're about to find out, it's a heavily active and quite a physical in person, job and profession she has done really should be keen to share with you also some tips and tricks on how she's getting through these times as well. But look, I'm going to introduce our guests. I hope you're excited that I am now let me tell you a little bit better. And I'm going to get her to tell me if I've gotten anything wrong. She's a four time national Australian champion champion. She's a world bronze champion. She is also the lead singer of a punk rock band called iros to start googling that now, you'll be blown away. She said at nine fights. She's also a two time boxing champion. She travelled the world. She heads up k h boxing to Google that one as well. You'll be blown away. I want to introduce to the show. Christy Harris. How are you? Hey, man, I'm really good. How are you? longest intro ever I know.

It going wow.

transpired that nice. That is super impressive. I mean, I have to ask God to any nine fives. How are you feeling? Yeah, yeah,

Kristy Harris  1:51  
I know. When I like. Honestly, I didn't know how many pounds I had for so long. And people kept asking me and I was like, Oh, just go and count me book. And it took me like three goes to go through my record book and count them all and figure out the wins and losses and, and all that. So I was like kind of shocked. But then it just kind of reminded me why to have been doing this a long time. And you know, it's been a massive journey and very, very eventful. So it makes sense. But yeah, feeling feeling pretty good. Pretty good.

Brandon Burns  2:22  
Well, I have to ask, it's back in 2014, that you competed at the comm games. Now that's, you know, seven, eight years ago, when did you really experience that first kind of bumping, winning a championship ball sort of really accelerating as a boxer was it around there was a much earlier.

Kristy Harris  2:42  
I'm To be honest, it all took off very, very quickly for me. So my coach held me off from competing for two years. So I told him I was ready to fight when I was 16. And he made me wait for two years before he let me have my first fight. And when he did, I was just so excited nervous to finally use those words. But I won my first three fights by TKO. So technical knockout. So it all happened really quick. And after four fights, I made the Victorian team and after eight fights, I was selected for the first time to be on the Australian team to guard the World Championships. So probably that moment in 2012. When I qualified as a national event, I won the gold in the 48 killer division to represent Australia at the World Championships. So it was a funny time like I I'd never been overseas before. So I didn't have a passport hadn't been away from like my family and friends for that long. And then all of a sudden, I had to like order an emergency like an urgent passport. I was heading off to China for three weeks to an international training camp, then to the AI s and camera for a training camp, then back to China to compete at the world. So that was probably the first big one for me.

Brandon Burns  3:57  
Wow, that's awesome. I want to ask you, you mentioned that you first coach. She sounds like he's quite dear to you. And was smart enough to have the intuition to hold you back. But then you describing how everything happened really quickly for you. In hindsight, how much of a masterstroke was that? Yeah,

Kristy Harris  4:18  
it was good look, it was kind of frustrating at the time, like I was like, come on, just let me fight like I've been training so hard. So I go into the gym on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday when everyone else would come in and do the usual boxing session. But then on Tuesday and Thursday, I be going in the gym by myself to train with just human he put me through this punishing circuit, and maybe some more pad work or whatever. So I from the get go. I was always working hard for his respect. And for him to believe me that I was ready to guard. He obviously I realised after I had my first fight and I stopped during the second round that he didn't want me to get hurt. All lose badly and be disheartened. So I thank him for, you know, pushing me making me push through that. And you know, I taught I learned a lot about persistence and as well the power of it. So yeah, by the end of it, I was thankful. I mean, by the time I did my first pot, I was thankful we how we off?

Brandon Burns  5:22  
Yeah. So you had that real bump of success and TK O's at the beginning of Korea. So how did that set you up for when you eventually experienced your first loss? And what was that?

Kristy Harris  5:34  
Yeah, that was really tough. So my first loss was when I went to my first nationals. And I lost to a girl who had been around for a long time, she was a lot more experienced than me. Didn't like, lose Too bad the or anything, but she she definitely clearly want it. So yeah, it was it was really hard. It was tough. But then I just had to remember, look, you know, most of the girls here have had a lot more flights and you have and you're very lonely. That was an iffy part. So I sort of like let that settle. But it was also a really hard time. At that stage then it was such a weird time because my first coach Mick who just talking about that helped me off for so long, he passed away at the end of 2011 2011. And then his dad took over as coach. So his dad who's now my coach, but one of my coaches, Kevin Mari, his son took over his Coach Lee and I luckily he did, because I don't know if the boxing gym would still be around. So he's done a great job. You know, he's got a young family and worked full time as a bricklayer. So he's absolutely awesome. But it was just weird. First of all, you know, you know, I was sad about the loss of my coach, who had spent all this time with and finally started competing. You know, and we're getting closer and closer, and I lost him and then kept coming in as a coach, which is great. But like it's very, is you get so sensitive and touchy with like, Who's your coach in your corner and what they do and stuff because you get used to doing things specific way, but it's good, because Kev is just like his dad. Just younger. So yeah, it was tough. It was a tough time with that as well. But um, you know, it's Yeah, that wasn't just the first sort of hiccup that's happened along the way. That was just the beginning.

Brandon Burns  7:26  
Yeah, so So what did you take from the experience of having that real job, and then having to get used to a bit of change and evolving? Like, what did you learn to get through these other ones? Yeah,

Kristy Harris  7:38  
so basically, you know, it's, it's that whole thing about to grow, you must suffer you must suffer to grow. So, you know, I probably wasn't, didn't have that in my mind back then. But I was good at quickly turning it around and using it as drive to go, Okay, I haven't qualified so that nationals will actually the qualifications for the World Championships. Now the World Championships in 2012 was the first year that Women's boxing had been born into the Olympics. So that World Championships was a qualifications for the Olympics as well. That makes sense it gets a little complicated but so I might be goal was to come qualify for these World Championships in an Olympic weight division of 51 kilos, and then try and qualify for the for the Olympics, which is very, very ambitious for someone who's only had four or five, but you know, you just never know what might happen. So I gave it a crack but after I didn't qualify, I said okay, well, what can I do now? I just turned it around and use it as drive to work on what was next and I had a quick chat with my coach them and we decided I was making weight really easily. I was making 51 kilos really, really easily those days foghorn but I was and I, we decided I would drop down to 48 kilos and go to a selections event for the World Championships. And then I won and that was the first time I qualified for Epson Australia.

Brandon Burns  9:10  
Wow. So you say you dropped down to 48 Yeah, that's um, I mean, I have to ask what is that process like?

Kristy Harris  9:19  
Oh, it's not fun I must say yet making weight it was you know, I've learned as much as I could about it so I could get down in the weight as best and as safely as possible. So it's your definitely cut out a lot of food usually, usually our heart or my carb servings, you know, got to completely stay away from junk food lollies chocolate. You know, you can have all the diet soft drink and non sugar things you want. But you just basically nice and simply put, you got to reduce your calorie intake and increase your energy output. So you know, I do extra training sessions on top of the ones I was already doing. And things like that. And then also, usually to get the last one or two kilos off would mean going to the sauna or going for a run a new sweat jacket and things like that.

Brandon Burns  10:15  
So, um, I was gonna ask you, is it harder easier or different for a female to drop weight in boxing as it is for a male? Or is it more unique just to every single individual? And you mentioned something also about doing the same? Yeah, yes. So

Kristy Harris  10:37  
it really like it would be it really is harder for women, probably because we our bodies are designed to actually have more body fat percentage. And then if we don't hold up a specific amount of body fat, it can detriment like your nutrients and your health. You know, there's all this this thing about energy deficiency, and I've gone through that through making wage not in a healthy manner. And that can be more detriment detrimental to women. So it is more important for women to understand what happens to your body when you lose all this weight. Yeah, when your body is holding as much fat as it should. And, you know, in general, it just depends on the person definitely. But in general, men usually sweat more so they'd be able to spend less time in the sauna sometimes, but you know, we've definitely got a couple of us on the team that sweat plenty. So yeah,

Brandon Burns  11:32  
yeah, there was a UFC fighter. I think it was a Paige Van Sant recently who had experienced some troubles and battles with dropping weight in an unhealthy manner for the UFC. Was there anything about her case study and what she went through that stood out to you is something that would be a real learning exercise for people watching that.

Kristy Harris  11:55  
Eight don't actually fulfil that. What was it? What

Unknown Speaker  12:01  
did they want?

Brandon Burns  12:03  
She was a she was a female UFC athlete, Paige Benson I believe Oh, and she was she was she had a really bad time dropping weight and she was really brave to take everyone behind the curtain and show them you know, the realities and the uncomfortable nature some of the things that have to do and I just think it's really cool. Yeah. The energy deficiency stuff and nutritional side and how you really prioritise doing a safely

Kristy Harris  12:33  
Oh, right. Yeah, definitely. Yeah, I

thought it was like a time I was like, I'm making weight easily blah blah blah. I didn't actually notice too much of that of losing energy at the time because sometimes you get so tired just run a trail and right and then I'll just crash but it was like became prevalent to me when we were in where we were in the UK training with the Great Britain team and I just come back from Maine another girl went to two tournament's Poland and Russia I think so I had about six fights over like two and a half weeks and I want all of them so I won gold at both of the tournament and then I'm finished those two tournaments and went straight into a heavy week of training and I was sitting really live so like any nutrition is encouraged wants you to see just a little bit over your weight division and then cut the weight off when you get close to the fire. But I was walking around at like 4950 kilos for 51 killer division quite easily and and then you know I was you know I was running on all this adrenaline like all excited because the one these fights for making weight easy Happy Days bah blah went into a solid week of training and then it was like a Friday and I remember I was just laying in my bed and I felt like I could barely move like I just felt you know when you that initial tired feeling you have in the morning when your alarm for first goes off it was like that was just there all the time. And my body was just kind of like uncomfortable and so fatigued and my coach nearly 70 harm because we would you to go to Germany next up so we were in Great Britain on a training camp and jus to go to Germany for the Queen's Cup tournament which I've competed in a couple of times. And he said not you going harm you you're gonna burn out and maybe get injured or get sick blah blah blah. And I was like no no, please don't send me Hey, Bo. Bye guys. Alright, so Okay, well you're not training until you start to feel better and you put on at least two kilos so all the girls were heading off to training every day. And I go walk across the road to sell boy and buy cookies and just stuff my face and eventually put a bit of weight on and then he let me keep training but he still Let me compete at the Queen's cup. So, you know, this is the National head coach Kevin Smith, like he knows what he's on about. So, you know, I did argue with him a little bit, but in the end of the day, I definitely take what he says into account and go by what he says. So just goes to show you that how important it is.

Brandon Burns  15:18  
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, it's amazing. My bad 10 minutes Anyway, I've just gone off track, but it's great always happens. I want to bring you back in and like, tell me like, I know, it's different now because we're in, you know, funding times, but maybe give me a glimpse of what a typical day in the life of Christie Harris looks like, you know, pre and post sort of locked down. Pre injury.

Kristy Harris  15:44  
Yeah, cool. So yeah, yeah. So like, it's not true different for me, I guess. I'm used to kind of the confinement side of things, actually. But the person biggest difference is not travelling. So like I said, when I first made the team in 2012, and was going to China, I've been overseas and or interstate with the Australian boxing team every single year since. So, last year, even I was actually in Jordan in our mind for the Olympic qualifiers in February. And before that, I was in Thailand in a training camp. So even last year, I was travelling, so when I come home, and yet Oh, sorry, that was Yeah. 2020 and yeah, that's right. 2020 and then like to Canberra and stuff as well. So, you know, it's a similar sort of routine, it just depends where I am. And I'm usually travelling so now during COVID like, first things first, as soon as the alarm goes off, it's coffee and heat packs. So I have a couple of injuries that I sort of ongoing, being managed by me. So that's the first thing I hate my body up so I can actually walk around or write and I do a little bit of time in my day so I'm a big I'm anywhere between like six and seven. Like I'm a bit yeah, it depends usually around 637 depends if I've got a lot on and I'm stressed out are weren't sleep much, I'll be up at the crack of dawn ready to go. And then I sort of plan out my day. I'm a big I love Excel spreadsheets. So I've got like my to do lists on there like have to do to do next to do in you know, a week's time or whatever. And the giant my diary as well, if it's a Monday, I'll plan out my week. Then I am heading to the shed here, I've got a little gym set up in the shed at home. So we're heading there and do my strength and conditioning session. So that'll either be like a weight session, a bike session, or circuit. And then and, um, and then I'll either like go head back in time for brekkie and be more studying. I've got heaps of different women's going on, such as like lion with a keynote speaker who I work with on my storytelling for presentations, or a horse to zoom in. Or I'll be presenting virtually on zoom to a school group or company so that's the thunder like ah boxing and often through the Vic Institute of Sport or do keynote speaking. Then, a lot of the time at least every week, once a week, I'll have like a physio or massage appointment recovery and managing injuries. Then I'll head to the boxing gym in the afternoon and train from around four to 530 Carm Deena maybe a little bit more uni work or anything else that I need to do. And then I'll watch some Barfly and get some sleep and do it all in the next day.

Brandon Burns  18:58  
Love it. Yeah, one thing you admitted. Hoping you tell me is there's some form of like vocal exercises, songwriting or band rehearsal in there the stage.

Kristy Harris  19:11  
Yeah, definitely. So usually a set day we have band practice, but it just depends if I randomly think of something to write a song about, I'll grab out my little lyrics book and write it out. It comes it comes with a lot of places with me. And yeah, we usually have been practised on a Saturday. So that's really good, because I'll get up on a Saturday morning and drew my last session for the week, my last training session, and then it's like time to chill and hang out my friends and, and go do something. But it's also something it's still productive. So it's good.

Brandon Burns  19:43  
Love it. So tell me why you've got interest now in the creative space and also in the sporting space. Who was some of your role models growing up so people think back to some of your earliest memories, and who was some of those key role models shoe shaped you

Kristy Harris  20:05  
Yeah, cool. So like, to be honest,

Unknown Speaker  20:09  
when

Unknown Speaker  20:13  
I was young

Kristy Harris  20:16  
I didn't know much about boxes when I was young I didn't know that box. Oh.

So and I didn't get in between before 18 and two I didn't know much about box seeing then or any roofies until you officer but what I will never forget is my mom having a film clip from The Diviners on the TV every Saturday and before when I first watched it, and I will never get it because I was instantly like it instantly caught my attention in my eye that day. I've just loved her. She's certainly a great role model not just was, she has great music and comes from john also actually, but I admire I like her attitude, her aggression. And I read a book when I was young and learn about when against all odds, and worked really to figure out one of frontwoman of one of Australia's best rock and roll bands, you know, like, she's a true punk and a true role model for women like her and Ozzy Osborne, and all the women in the L seven band I've always loved. But then, even nowadays, for boxes, I can easily say Katie Taylor, like She's incredible. She's an Irish boxer. She's not one of those prizefighters putting up modelling photos and fighting for some made up title. She's just genuine, genuine and gets on with the hard training. Like, you know, she's just That in itself, aside from being one of the world's best boxes. She's what a true female role model is. Yet, but like, apart from that, I'm also obsessed with David David Goggins.

Brandon Burns  21:54  
He's a big man isn't he? is so awesome. So, tell me, right, um, if you if you had to look back now, the last 810 years and how you've navigated, I guess, the landscape of boxing, especially as a female athlete? Has there been any I guess, like gender specific challenges? Or, you know, situations that you've experienced that have either not gotten better or have gotten better? Since? Was it you've really tried to play an active role in improving?

Kristy Harris  22:32  
Yes, definitely. I can easily say there has been I don't know if it in a way, I think it has gotten a bit better, especially because, you know, ever since Women's boxing was introduced into Olympics in 2012, and the games in 2014, when I went I think people have realised that, you know, female boxers are decent. You know, so, it may have improved a little bit, but so many times over the years, like I'm talking from the very beginning. And until recently, like ongoing no doubt there'll be more of them. You know, it usually is middle aged men or older men who say, you know, they find out on box, and then say things like, you're too pretty to box. Why would you want to ruin that pretty face? Or boxing is too far for women? Or can you build up your boyfriend? just stupid things like that. And I've heard them all a million times. And they think they're giving you a compliment saying you're pretty but really, it's just like sexist, because they wouldn't be saying that tall male boxer. And like, I know that I wasn't, and I think I can speak on behalf of a lot of female boxers, you know, put on this earth to look pretty for someone like I can do a lot more than that. And well, sometimes I just think they're intimidated. Yeah. Like, like, yeah, like one time. I mean, a friend were working at the pub on the door, scanning the tickets or selling tickets for some local bands that were playing like, again to the band room. My friend hadn't done it before. And she's a little younger too. And anyways, this man walks in and he's probably in his 50s 40s 50s and he's refusing to pay $15 to see some local bands. And we argue back and forth and he and then he looks at me closely and he's comes down and he looks at me and he goes, are you Glennon and nets daughter and that's my parents. And I'm like, Yes, I am. And he obviously he obviously realised who I was and then I was a boxer so that he just steps back you guys are okay then I won't be arguing with you. And hands over the money and like, like it's it's funny, right? It is funny, but like, what if my friend was there by itself like he should be giving any girl The same respect he is giving me I, you know, I don't think I'm any better because I've never had to throw punch. Like it's ridiculous.

Brandon Burns  25:09  
Yeah, yeah, totally. So, with regards to that stereotype, how do you handle the stigma that comes to being an athlete in that sport, when it comes to things like, you know, people, assuming you might be aggressive or angry or tough for, you know, how do you handle that stigma? And, and how do you find your best sort of break, break it down for people so they can see who you truly are?

Kristy Harris  25:35  
Yeah, I just kind of, like challenge it. And, you know, I try it. You know, I admit, I can be feisty sometimes. But in my reactions, but learning to like, sort of relax and control a bit more and actually coming back with something that challenges them. You know, so like, people would be like, Oh, so like, you're like, Ronda Rousey? And I'm like, No, that's a completely different sport. Um, I don't do UFC. And like boxing, you know, or they, you know, they refer to as like fighting and violence and brutal and like, Well, no, it's actually there's actually a lot more to boxing than being tough, like tough ain't enough. Like they say, A Million Dollar Baby. There's a lot more skill in boxing, and we wear a headgear and a mouth guard. And we're always, you know, looked after by their high performance teams, so you can chill out.

Brandon Burns  26:36  
Alright, well, I love that, um, yeah, you become just call you the athlete that you haven't yet become the most or the person that you are, right? Because there's a lot of diversity to these two elements running? What changes would you like to implement, I guess, for other female athletes, professionals coming through. So you know, if you could speed up things to get better in some ways for others coming through? If you were to rewind back to when you were 2021? What are some of those key changes you'd love to implement now? Because, you know, they'll just speed things up for the next year. Yeah, cause I

Kristy Harris  27:20  
mean, there's like two main things. That's a first I want just the boxes who are actually the best to be getting the opportunities, the sponsors and the fame and fortune, they deserve not boxes, you turn their Instagram into a part boxing part modelling sort of thing. And using that looks, and a good Instagram page to get a following and sponsors, I think it's just ridiculous these days, like, you'll approach a comp company for a sponsor, and they care more about how many people are following you over what achievements you've done. You know, like, I understand being active on social media and wanting a bigger network following for their company. But you got to look at what kind of network that is also, you know, like, it is, is it just like a bunch of crazy men who follow so long? Because that person in there that person pitches in their underwear? Or is it a following that actually has days and people who are genuinely interested in boxing, I just, I just don't like that it's turning to that people are becoming more and more or less genuine and more about image? Yeah, I don't like that about the sport. And it's definitely bigger in the pros and amateurs like in the amateurs, it's plain and simple. There's one gold medal that you know, there's one World Championship medal, there's one Olympic gold medal for that year, for whatever year it is, you have to be the best to be the best in the pros. There's all these different world titles and stuff. So yeah, I think it just like takes people on a ride sometimes. There's that and then also just hoping that women in sport knows how to react to situations of adversity. You know, it's easy to think that a male is giving you a compliment by saying you're too pretty to boxing beenleigh huh? Yeah, no, that's cool. But really, they aren't it's degrading, you know, just for other women to know what to say in response to that makes a big difference in that present time but also makes a difference. To change the way men think about women in sport overall, like if you answer them with something like or what are you saying? What do you mean by that? Are you saying I should put my passion and dreams aside to ensure I don't get a black eye or crooked nose so I can look pretty for you? Is that what you're saying? Yeah. That that tell the challenges and puts them in their place? Like my first I roll song in the band is called too pretty. And that's exactly what that is about. Still one of my favourite songs. today.

Brandon Burns  29:44  
Yeah. Um, I love that. I think that's awesome to hear. It's quite jolting. But it's like, it's a great lesson for a lot of people to learn. And it's interesting to hear your perspective around how you explain how it's not a compliment in any way. It's actually The opposite and people need to be aware that Exactly, yeah, he he can sort of stick it to them all the time.

Kristy Harris  30:13  
Here at you know, urban, urban, so I'm like, I don't know how many times I ever feel sorry for my partner Tom like it whenever, you know, I meet someone and I'm with you. And they're like, oh, does she beat you up? Like, she's just so funny. It's funny, it's funny, it's whatever. But there comes a point with some stuff just ridiculous.

Brandon Burns  30:37  
heartily. Yeah, I want to ask you, what are some of your secrets to success? And I also want to ask that question around how it appears that you've been able to adapt yourself really quickly to singing in the band, being on stage in front of an audience. And, you know, having that real confidence, and I'm sure I'm assuming I want you to tell me, but like, if there's some secrets that you've used, that you've now been able to apply and cross over?

Kristy Harris  31:08  
Yeah, definitely. Um, well,

I guess it is my secret. But what I can say is finding your purpose. So yeah, find your purpose. Your why why you do what you do that can be very powerful. You know, I don't just baulk because I love the sport I do. But there's so much more behind the reason why. And sometimes that can be a very powerful tool towards success. So there's that and then there's also, you know, like, I, if you hadn't told me that I'd be sitting here now, doing this with you years and years ago, I would have been like, no way, you know, like, I'm someone in school who barely put their hand up in class, you know, was too shy, full of anxiety, that sort of thing. So what all I've really done is just, like, force myself into uncomfortable situations, I've gotten rid of the safety blanket. And that goes for the same thing with the band as well. Like, I was so nervous on our first band practice day like that the guys are all like my three close mates. And, you know, they really cool about everything. And I guess just like putting myself into that situation and making myself with time and time and time again. You know, you get used to it just like exposure therapy type thing. Yeah,

Brandon Burns  32:39  
yeah. I love that. Um, so, how many gigs in now? I mean, you're done at nine fights. Um, can you hear him a while? Good. You've done? Full. There we go.

Kristy Harris  32:53  
We've done four but with prep. Yeah. Yeah. With, with practice several times, like, as I say, we, you know, we usually have jams on a on a most Saturdays when it's not full lockdown. So, yeah, we practice a lot. And yeah, I think just like after doing the first show, I think I still get nervous before every show, but um, you definitely do get more used to it. For sure.

Brandon Burns  33:22  
Yeah, absolutely. Um, I love that here. You just got to put yourself in the moment and you've got to Yeah, sink or swim.

Okay, all right. So yeah, yeah. Go don't go ahead and expand on that. For me.

Kristy Harris  33:44  
It's funny say that, because I think it was been Josh, our bass player, like, I've been major theme for years. And we would always every time we'd be at the pub together. We'd always be like, oh, God is that he'd be like, Christie. You be great singing in a band. You know, we you like good music we're gonna do we're gonna start a band. I'm like, Yeah, yeah, we'll start a band. One day, Bob was like, you teach me the music stuff. And I'll teach you how to box or something like that. And now we spread the benefits are long. And then it wasn't until COVID happened. And I was obviously home for a while that we actually started at them, you know, talking to him before our first band practice and he said, he was like, no, sorry, it was before our first show because I haven't really quickly again, like boxing like, all of a sudden, we had got like six, six songs done. There aren't three like a couple copies. And there were like, one of them said, oh, let's play the shirt on the weekend coming up whenever it was and I was like, sorry, what we're gonna do what? And I was thinking that we just be like mucking around in my mates. Shared lines and music, but we yet started doing shows and he's and I was like, Oh my god, I was so nervous. And Josh was just like, Christie. What do you mean, you fight? You do boxing like You always was nervous. Like, yeah, but it's also nerve racking. It's just different.

Brandon Burns  35:10  
So, so on that, I have to ask, um, that's potentially one. But what are some of the biggest fees?

Kristy Harris  35:22  
Yeah, well, I don't know, like, like, I honestly thought about it that much like, I'm scared of sharks, I know that I've been not looking back on me not looking back on my life, you know, when I'm older, and retired or whatever, and thinking, I didn't give it my best crack, like, I'd want to look back and regret not stepping out of my comfort zone or giving my best crack, you know, not, not being able to reach my full potential, or give myself the opportunity to reach my full potential. So like, as I said, before, like getting rid of the safety blanket and just like, I, you know, I'll do everything in my power as I live now to not live in ordinary life. And stick you know, in step by my, my values, and what's important to me, despite of like social norms, you know, it's not about regretting, you know, bad decisions even or even if I don't succeed, it's about not doing the best I could in the situation I'm in, I guess. Yeah. Does that count?

Brandon Burns  36:32  
Yeah. Well, it sounds like a really broad view. Yeah, yeah. Um, have you had a close call with the shop? No,

Kristy Harris  36:44  
I see my own shadow in the audition room.

Brandon Burns  36:54  
Calvin, what probably used to be a secret talent, but is now well and truly out of the bag with with your singing and your songwriting? Is there another maybe unique secret talent you have that no one knows about?

Kristy Harris  37:13  
I can see through people's bullshit me. Well, I, I can see that No, well, I consider like, this is more of a blessing and a curse, I guess. But having a highly anxious mind, high performance mindset, you know, he means I get things done in the quickest time possible to what High Quality Award sleep until I'm on top of things like structure being driven. You know, I always hated having a tonne of anxiety, but I've learned to accept it and see its positives. You know, it definitely comes with a cost. And it's often hard to deal with, but it's also why I'm good at getting it done and where I am today, and what you know, what achievements I've done so far. And you know, also the person I am today as well. So, I kind of see it as a blessing and a curse. Yeah. Yeah. Does that answer?

Brandon Burns  38:14  
It doesn't do I want to ask you about cage boxing, and your other your other interests and how you've transitioned successfully into business and sort of beginning entrepreneurial and having interest that you can drive revenue and earn income from and talking about the importance of that whilst being an athlete. Yeah, cool. So

Kristy Harris  38:43  
yeah, I think that like I've definitely you can say like, I've learned a lot about life through boxing and travelling the world and also about myself. So a lot of lack self awareness has come from all the things I've gone through, you know, mainly the, the challenges the hard stuff, and I just like to put that out there, you know, presented to people so that people can learn things that I've learned and take it into their aspect of their life. So that's why I love like presenting to schools and companies I love you know, giving my story as a boxer and some of the challenges that you know I've faced and how I've overcome them. So like I talked about sort of like goal setting and then I also talked about like mental health exercise of mental health. Like I love doing those sorts of things and you know, like why not use you know, what are really my expertise because I you know, I've lived through this stuff, you know, why not use that bill, you know, this brand and turn it into you know, some some income, you know, but I just love doing it. I really do. I love presenting. Like, I also write strength and conditioning programmes. I've got my level two in strength conditioning coaching. Got that. A couple years ago. So obviously with COVID It's a bit hard to do face to face, but I've write online strength and conditioning programmes for people of all sorts of levels. You know, started a new cage boxing mentoring programme as well, for younger athletes. And yeah, just a lot of work with schools to

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