Fearless Unscripted | Tiara Williams
Hey guys, it's Taylor. As a listener of fearless, you have come to recognize its distinct style, long form storytelling featuring a lot of characters and stylized writing and music. Well, nothing's changing, but we're adding something new.
In your fearless feed, you'll start seeing episodes for Fearless Unscripted. It's a new series we're doing on our channel, where we sit down and have conversations with different people faculty, alumni, staff, and students. It's all about their Texas Tech story. I hope that you listen and learn something in our first episode of fearless Unscripted. We're talking with Tierra Williams.
She graduated from Texas Tech in 2020 after competing for a couple of years on the track and field team. Since then, she's become a popular influencer and social media host for her show Real Talk With Me. She interviews athletes of all ages and sports, telling their stories, sharing their victories and challenges. She is inspiring and strong, determined. She's passionate about what she does.
This is fearless, unscripted. She can. I just say this is the first episode of Fearless Unscripted, and I cannot think of a better person or somebody that I would want to do this first episode with. Then you, I, I am so just proud of you and who you are, and it's really a cool experience for us to kind of merge our podcasting together here. So welcome to Fearless Unscripted T.
Thank you for having me, Steve. I'm so happy to be here with you. Especially with you. I know, so we go way back least. Let's let me think I met you, I think for the first time in like 27, 2018, 2018. Okay, so you're you're recently transferred to Texas Tech from Bethune-Cookman, right? Track and field athlete. You're,
a new up and comer for this program. Tell me what brought you to tech in the first place? Oh. Good question. So I wanted to leave my school because I didn't have a lot of resources. And my family was like, if you move there.
It was my second school by the time I was a candidate that I went to. But. And she was like, my family is like, if you if you move back, if you change schools again, you have to go to Texas like you have to be a tech. So let's we're not going to support you. I'm like, oh my God. Okay, fine. Because you're from Texas. You're from Texas. Yeah, yeah, I'm from San Antonio.
So, my, my Texas Tech just call me because Thomas reached out to me when I was, I was one of the first athletes he got from the transfer portal. He reached out to me. We connected so well. We had a great relationship, like right off the bat. And I was like, I want that to be my mo tacos.
And I came all the way to Lubbock from Florida. And it was the best decision ever. For sure. Best decision ever. I figured out what I wanted to do with my life. I got more into my passions and of course I had the results on the track.
So it was the best of both worlds. And so I was asking you a little bit earlier, you know, what's the best way to describe you, your social media personality. You're a podcast host or an up and coming broadcaster. Your former, like we said, Texas Tech track and field athlete. I feel like you have.
You talk about coming to Texas Tech and discovering your passions and figuring out who you are. How would you kind of describe yourself? And, and as you have established what those passions are, the way that you've been able to kind of create a name for yourself in that industry? I would probably describe myself as genuine, just good energy, happy, smiling. Just sort of bringing good vibes and like, that's pretty much it. I don't no, but I think that that's exactly right.
And I feel like that's that personality that you have is, it's something that people pick up on immediately. Right. And I really think that that's part of the reason that you have become so successful in this sort of realm of interviewing, you know, track and field athletes at all levels. But when you watch these interviews that you have with, you know, NCAA athletes and professional athletes, there's just this, like, really natural chemistry.
What do you feel like? What do you feel like that comes from? Because when these when, when you watch these interviews, like, they love TI, they love to come to you and they love to come talk to you. Where does that chemistry start for you? It starts with the approach. That's what I've learned from a jump. Like a lot of media don't know how to talk to them as a human, as just a regular person.
So that's kind of I think what separates me. Like, for example, my first media opportunity came, at Prefontaine in 2021, and I had an interview with Sha'carri after all of the madness that she experienced that year. And one of the things I said before I even talk, I was just like being a black woman from Texas like myself.
It's like, oh, you're from Texas? And her GA immediately went down. So like just finding those things where you relate to them and just approaching them as a human has been my best bit of the best benefit. Yeah, yeah, I agree, and I want to talk about one of the most recent experiences that you've had, the one that's probably the most timely. You just got back from Paris. You, you know, you talk about that moment in 2021, you're kind of like at the very beginning of your career.
And now here we are, you know, three years later and you are at the pinnacle, right? You're at like the highest level. What is that moment like for you to be there and just be like, did you feel like you'd kind of, like, made it almost like it's sort of like an unreal moment, right? No, it was super unreal. Like, that was the best trip of my life, like, hands down.
But just like being away from the last Olympics. Tokyo, I was fresh out of college. I didn't even have. No, I couldn't even watch it because I had no subscriptions, no money. You know, you, fresh out of college, took on going to that last Olympics to this one and being in the stadium this it was mind blowing, like out-of-body experience. I will never forget like the moments I had in Paris for sure.
Tell me what you got to do there though, because you didn't just go. I mean, you you went and you, you participated as a spectator, but you also had an opportunity to do some other kind of cool, unique things. Tell me about that.
Yeah. So, you know, the interviews are the main thing. So I got a golden opportunity from Puma to host their Paris house. So they have a Puma house. And we had a whole wholesale and it was a stage. And I got to really host three different panels for Puma and just help their athletes be comfortable, have fun and we had we played games like it was a great time.
And then, of course I did like a few other interviews with medalists. I say when I would reach out to them and see if I can get some time with them. So it was definitely still working. But, yeah, the Puma House experience was top tier. That brand is amazing. I had a chance last week to talk to our girl Lana Jones from Shout Out to Lana.
At Texas Tech Track and Field. She's the director of operations, and she's someone that we have obviously done a lot of work with. But she got a chance to be in Paris, too, and she showed me all these videos and she's like, it just you. It like, doesn't do it justice. Like, she said that when she was there, she just had goosebumps the entire time.
How do you describe like, just how fast those spaces are and like it. You watch it on TV and there's no way that it can compare to what it feels like to actually be be there and to be in it. Definitely. I mean, I just try to take it one day at a time, be in a moment and just soak it all in, you know, because like, yeah, it's I'm living it and I'm living it.
Prayers that are I'm living an answer. Prayers. You know, like this is where I've been wanting to get my whole life. And like I want to just soak it in and just be live and be in a moment. But no, it's I go home at night. Every night. I would go home and just be like, wow.
Yeah. Like, what am I doing? Like, this is crazy. And then I wake up the next day, I do it all over. Yeah, I know you literally are living like this.
The best life ever. I mean, you that's it's like hardly even a job, right? To to be there, to be able to do that. I can imagine that for you though, to that, you know, it maybe feels a bit like work, but it also feels like you're watching these people compete that are like your friends, right? You you know them well. And definitely we talk about how big of a stage this is, this sort of iconic time, right. The Olympics. How do you how do you even talk about the pressure that comes with that from from the student athlete standpoint? Like there's so much weight that they carry.
How do you how do you even I mean, how do you even have a conversation with them about that? You know, that's why I it's all about the that's why I approach them a certain way. Because I understand that this is the biggest meat of their life, some of their first time representing their country. They're only a few of them. So I mean, I think they they just you can't make it a bigger than what it is. It's a regular track. They have to keep it as a regular. Check me in their mind because check is 99% mental. So I just approached them on like, how are you doing? What do you do today? Like, how's it feel? It was the favorite part so far.
I always start off with those lighthearted questions first, and then I'll get into like you have a few days before you racing, how you prep, how you preparing, how are you getting things in order, like you know, and how are you managing the pressure? I'll get to that pressure question because it's it's obvious. Like everybody knows there's a lot of pressure and, a lot of them just kind of make it try to make the meat to be small. Like this is for me. I lined up every week.
I race these people all year round. It's literally the same thing, but just more eyes watching. Yeah, I want to talk a little bit too about, you know, we talked about we talked about the Olympics. Let's talk about the Olympic trials because the way that you are able to kind of serve NBC in this like on camera sort of broadcast role, was that maybe, like the largest capacity that you had served as sort of a host up to this point, or how would you kind of describe what that experience was like for you? Yes, I agree, I think that is the largest capacity, especially with the Olympics. It's the Olympic trials.
So there are a lot of more eyes of people wanting to know who's going to make the team, who's going to do what. So that was definitely a dream come true. That was like pinnacle. It was definitely another pinnacle of my year just working with them. They were so smooth to work with and so caring and supportive. And that's what all I look for somebody to be supportive.
So that was definitely it was like NBA All-Star and then Olympic trials. So those are my top two of the year so far. Yeah. And I think about to like how did they even. Isn't it crazy to think that they even found you like that? You're just doing this thing.
You're just doing this thing that you love, and it takes off in such a huge way that NBC comes to you and they're like, we want for you to do this on our social media platforms. Like, that's a really big deal. Definitely. And they have a there there are women strong like the all the ladies that I've been talking to from NBC are women, and they love to support women on her turf. It's a great platform where I shared a lot of content with as well, and just all together, I think women just love and women like I got my first time working with them was last year in November for a team USA shoot. They flew me to LA for one day. I got to be, you know, get content with the athletes that were doing like a little teen USA tour and photo shoot and stuff like that, and that was our first time working together.
So it's kind of just that building on that, on a relationship that we already had established. But yeah, I it's up to you to not assume for sure. What is, what's the most important thing to you about just that idea of like, women serving women, like empowered women are empowering others to, like, know their place, to take their place, like, not only in a broadcast room, but just like as professionals to. Super important like I always, I always get messages and girls like, how do we do this? I want to do this. And I take every call because the give the game is free and women, we need to support women. I'm a girls girl, I love women, I love girls like it's it's this is this in me? Is this a part of who I am? So yeah, it's it's very important.
We need each other like. Yeah. The the gender roles are real life. I learned that in being a young professional.
Like it is real. So I do my best to support women in any way that I can because, like, we need each other. We got to stay together. It's that idea of like giving back, right? Yeah.
And knowing that, like, there are people who have helped create opportunities for you and maybe not have helped create opportunities, but like, have helped get you into a place, whether it's like with your mentality or whether it's with your skill set, or with job opportunities like, yeah, I love that. Just like you see this? Like, y'all know, guys, this is full circle. While I was at Texas Tech, I got the chance to shadow Taylor, and she really gave me the kickstart about this whole broadcasting, sideline reporting and just being a journalist like you gave me my kickstart. So like, is this it's always life always comes around full circle.
You know? It totally does. I just remember doing stand up on the football sideline and you're like, okay, see that was good. But like, you know, and I will never forget those moments. Girl like you really fed into me as a young athlete. And like I will never forget that.
So I don't want to give you flowers real quick. Taylor, I love you. I thank you so much for letting me. Thank you so much for letting me tag along.
Oh my gosh, I love it and I appreciate that. And I'm humbled by that because it's cool to think about you know, the people that helped me along my way and, and helped me get to where I am. And to think that, like, I was able to pass that on, like that's what is most important. I have this like, I have this image of you, literally like we would do media availabilities with the head track coach with West Kelly, who's like the the best in the entire world. But we would do those at the indoor track. And I remember, like you would, you would ever so often come and you would just kind of like shadow and watch us ask questions and, like being in the lobby at the hotel when I would edit and you would just, like, sit with me and we would, I would, you know, show you stuff and it just like, yeah, it really does it.
Like, it's so worth it. It's so worth it. So like give, give of yourself in that way and to give of your time. And I just know you never know.
We didn't know at the time but like I was soaking it all in just listening to you getting all your tips, your tricks or your notes and like now it's, I'm just using it as I'm going on my journey you know. Yeah. Yeah. And I think at the time like it wasn't it was like your effort that you gave is what made you worthy. You know what I mean? Like. Yeah. You saw you saw the hunger. Yes. And I just it's so cool now to be here, you know, however many five, six years later and I still see that you know, like, it's still who you are.
And I think that that's part of the reason that, you will like, go on to be really successful in this is because you just have this desire to, like, move and to bring people along with you. And that is like so real. Definitely. Thank you my girl. Oh my gosh.
Can we talk a little bit more about speaking of strong women? I want to talk about to, a couple of people in particular, that you competed with. Well, there's more than two that you competed with when you were here. We talked about, Layla. We talked about Monet and Ruth. Tell me what it's like to get to watch them compete at the Olympics.
It is like. So I'm so inspired by them constantly. Constantly.
Like, especially Layla with no sponsorship. And she's literally running with women who have so much more support than she does. Like she's sewing her own outfits. Like to.
Are you for real? Yes, I know, but I'm constantly inspired by all of the all of the Texas Tech athletes, like people don't know about. I am right at Texas Tech like I go to if I go to NCAA. Even athletes I don't meet, I just go me to my girl on the set to say I'm a mom and it's not gonna be your biggest fan every time because, like, I want to support all of my Texas Tech people. I know how it feels to be in that, in that, facility dying at practice. Yes. I'm constantly so inspired by all of the Texas Tech athletes, all of the women all day. Rose Marie rules.
Anybody? Like, I'm just. I just want to say biggest fan. I just kept them up, root for them, and I just want to see them do the best they could do every time, but I will. I love those ladies. And you. You kind of paint this, like, really sweet picture of Ruth. By the way, Ruth Ossorio is one of the most pure and precious people that I've ever known.
Right. And she is wonderful. And she, you told this story, and I want you to tell it again here, about when you guys were competing together. You're both Texas Tech track athletes. She's obviously a big deal, but she showed up for her teammates in, like, the best way.
And you described her earlier. You said she's the best teammate that I have ever had. Why? Sure. Ruth is the best team I've ever had because her ability to motivate and speak life into you is like, better than anyone I've ever met.
Like that is one special lady. She would come to cheer us on in the Most High in the morning, when she has to do her competition in the evening. A lot of people didn't show up because they got to work. They got to do their job later on, which we understand.
But that's not the case for Ruth. Ruth, I'm going to come cheer, clap, do whatever she got to do to support her teammates. And that's what makes her this. That's another attribute because she has so many that makes her just a special woman.
I will always love Ruth. Like top tier, top tier woman. Yeah. And it's so it's so cool to see such good things come for her because she works so hard and she is just she's just such a wonderful, wonderful person.
She. Is. I think that, you know, I think about sort of where you're at in your professional career and what's really unique and powerful to me is the fact that you're doing this thing that you love about, but you're not doing it just because you love it. It's like you are serving in a place where you that you like, want to see better. Yes, tell me what you want as you sort of grow in your platform and as real talk with TI continues to kind of like get bigger and bigger, where do you want it to go? What do you want it to do? Like what are your goals for this platform? Just holistically? It's such a good question and I always struggle with it because the trajectory has been wild. Like, this is my third year of putting my all into my platform and like, look where I am, you know what I'm saying? So it's definitely hard for me to, like, pinpoint exactly where I'll be because, like, I'm a big believer in God and I know that he got a plan, that I'm bigger than anything. I could think of, but I definitely want to be on TV sideline reporting, getting them fresh off the track.
I feel like I can bring a lot more entertainment to the track space on TV, so that's kind of what I'm. I'm leaning more towards. And I also want to have my own talk show, do a couple seasons, couple of episodes, just have special guest come on. And we do fun activities, we play games, we do competitions, like all that type of stuff. I'm just real entertaining. I want to be entertaining, but I also want to get their story across as well.
I'm so invested into people's story because everybody has one of how you got to where you are. So those are my two main goals off the top of my head that I really am passionate about and I really want to get to. We talk about you wanting to give and like give back to the next sort of generation of young women. What is the thing that you wish you could tell a young team if you could go back? Oh, that's a good question. I would tell her, keep going.
Don't be caught up in what your situation is because I've come from a tough background. Don't be caught up in what you see that you don't. Please forget about your future, you know. So I would tell her, just girl, you're doing it. You don't even know it, but you're doing it. I love it.
You're just a joy. And I, if anybody's listening to this and you haven't had an opportunity to go and learn more about real talk with TI, there's links to Instagram and YouTube here in the show notes. T I just love you and I am just so proud of who you are and what you've done. And, not necessarily the success that you have had, but the person that you are. And I'm just really looking forward to all the ways that you're going to grow your brand and, and more importantly, the people that you're going to help along the way.
Thank you so much. It means so much coming from you because you are my first ever mentor, so I love you so much. That makes that makes me so happy. Yes, I love you down and thank you so much girl.
This is only the beginning. Only the beginning. Keep doing great things. Keep doing great things. See, I love you. Thank you for having me. Keep.
2024-09-01 11:57
