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Rodeo's Anthony Lucia Is Shook. Listen To Find Out Why.
84 Plays6 months ago
On this episode, we're joined by Professional Rodeo Announcer, Anthony Lucia, the 2023 PRCA Announcer of the Year, a professional trick roper, rodeo announcer, and team roper whose love for rodeo runs deep. From learning alongside his father, Tommy Lucia, to making his mark in the professional rodeo circuit, Anthony shares his journey, passions, and why he proudly calls himself a "rodeo geek." Tune in for a captivating conversation that explores the dedication behind the world of rodeo announcing with Anthony Lucia. For a full episode transcript, visit our website at: https://www.justinboots.com/en/kick-your-boots-up/podcast.html
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Transcript
Introduction and Guest Overview
00:00:03
Speaker
Hey everybody, thanks for listening to the Kick Your Roots Up podcast. I'm your host, Taylor McAdams. And if you like what you see, if you like what you hear, don't forget to like, subscribe, share, tell your friends about it. Leave us a review. We want it all. And without further ado, we've got to jump into this week's guest. And truly, I feel like you don't need an introduction. I definitely do. But yes. Tell them who I am, Taylor.
00:00:24
Speaker
I would love to tell them who you are because I don't even know where to begin other than the 2023 announcer of the year. That is an honor. Very, very cool. But I think what stood out to me the most is getting to announce the breakaway finals for two years of the three that it's even been there. That's incredible.
00:00:42
Speaker
My favorite fun fact about you, I guess, is that your wife is a former Miss Rodeo America, 2017 Miss Rodeo America, Lisa Lagashar, Lucia now. I loved following your guys' story through all of that. And really, I think the most honoring and humbling fun fact about you is your family, who your dad is, Tommy Lucia. What a legend. I've heard so many stories and I don't remember if I've ever gotten to actually meet him or not, but just hearing the stories and seeing the acts, that's really cool.
00:01:12
Speaker
Without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, Anthony Lucia.
Anthony's Partnership with Justin Boots
00:01:15
Speaker
Thanks for being here. Glad to be here. Thanks for having me. It's exciting. Of course. Justin Boots is very special to me and my family. My dad was great friends with John Justin and when he was chairman of the board of the Forest Stock Show and Rodeo, and that's kind of how the...
00:01:29
Speaker
That's kind of how I came to be with Justin Boots and so Justin was my very first partner ever back before I was literally just helping my dad and Tom Feller gave me a chance and I've hopefully earned my place on the team over the years and but Justin will always be special to me because of their belief in me and Tom Feller is just a great friend and mentor and he's a hero and so I'm thankful for Justin Boots.
00:01:57
Speaker
Well, I didn't know that that that we were your first sponsor. So that's really cool. I told you 2007 2007 Justin Boots and I will forever be a fan. And even if they cut me from the team, I'm still going to buy them because they're my favorite. And that's not a sales pitch. That's the truth, people.
00:02:15
Speaker
No, that's true. Whenever I wish you guys could have seen this because off camera you came in and immediately before sitting down before getting ready for the podcast, you're like, okay, where's the new boots? I've heard and I've seen pictures. I've got to go look. We have a wall over there of not all of them, but I appreciate that, but you love the product. You love telling your friends about it too. I think that's what makes it so special is that it's an organic partnership. Yeah. Well, Justin boots is a special company. They're more than.
00:02:36
Speaker
It's not a fad, it's a lifestyle and it's what they've done with professional rodeo and the athletes of it and constantly being on the cutting edge of comfortable, useful footwear. This sounds like a rodeo announcer sales pitch but I promise you it's not because I genuinely love the product and the people that make the product because there's so many incredible stories here alone that just makes you a fan.
00:03:03
Speaker
Oh yeah, without a doubt. That's so well said. That's exactly why you're here. To talk about Justin, no. But really, people do want to get to know you a little bit better. Yeah, enough about Justin. Let's talk about me.
00:03:15
Speaker
The real thing you want to talk about. But you kind of mentioned your humble beginnings in 2007 and what that looked like. But I kind of want to go a little bit back in reverse and talk about growing up with- My first kiss was at 17. Anyway. That's funny. No, no. You know what I'm saying? Like growing up with the family that you had and getting to travel and rodeo and getting to make the connections at a young age and all of that. Like for me, I can't help but think you had a lot of pressure starting out at a young age. Oh my gosh.
00:03:44
Speaker
Yeah, that's the everybody like, well, they're like, Oh, you grew up in rodeo. So you obviously you had a foot in the door. Absolutely. Because of the relationships knowing Tom Feller my whole life and relationships in any business are key. That's, that's, in my opinion, such a an important part of any success story. And I'm far from attaining all of my goals. I'm far from being done learning because like I learn every single day,
00:04:11
Speaker
how to do things better, not only in the arena or with a microphone, but just in life.
Rodeo Family and Work Ethic
00:04:16
Speaker
And I'm constantly making mistakes and hopefully learning from those mistakes and not do them again. But the pressure of my dad being so, quote unquote, rodeo famous. And it was never, I never felt pressure, but I felt
00:04:35
Speaker
the door was open for me to work hard and succeed because the pressure of living up to a last name is one thing, like I have a brother who's a doctor, not even a part of Rodeo, and even in, he's in his late 40s now, or mid 40s, and I could be, he's gonna get mad at me for that. Donate him, yeah. But even like, he's run Scott and White Hospital in Baylor, or I'm sorry, in Temple, in Baylor, Scott and White, in Temple, there we go.
00:05:02
Speaker
But like he just he's taking another master's program and he's a got six kids and and so our dad never put pressure on us to be Great at rodeo. He put pressure on us and taught us how to work hard in anything that we do
00:05:18
Speaker
and it wasn't about being rodeo famous because it's just this is what we do, it's not who we are.
Transition from Trick Roping to Announcing
00:05:24
Speaker
And so it was more of like he laid the foundation of work hard in anything you do at all times and watch what will happen.
00:05:33
Speaker
That is a true testament to his character and then to yours as well. Because I feel like even starting out at those young, those rodeos that you first began, you know, it's like when you're just doing the reps, you're gritting your teeth, getting, proving your name and stuff. Um, tell us about that experience because obviously now you get, we're in Fort Worth here whenever you came to Fort Worth a few months ago. Um, but now we are, um, getting to see you on big stages, a large arenas, indoor, outdoor, all of it. So talk about like the, the rodeos that first got your start.
00:06:03
Speaker
The evolution of my career, and not to bounce away from your question, but the evolution of my career from trick roping at the national finals rodeo, like my dad had axe, obviously whiplash, the cowboy monkey, he clown, he was a barrel man before that. And so the entertainment side has always been where I've loved.
00:06:21
Speaker
And I teamroped quite a bit professionally. And what I learned was I learned a respect for the competitors who devote their lives to being great at rodeo. And that I didn't want to do that. Yeah.
00:06:38
Speaker
I didn't have the mental mindset of dealing with the extreme lows that actual rodeo athletes go through. And then the extreme highs, it goes from A to B, or A to Z rather, so quickly. And I didn't have the mental wherewithal to stay hooked in the lowest moments and know that I could still come out of that and be great. And through rodeo competing,
00:07:04
Speaker
It taught me a love, a deeper love for the athletes of professional rodeo and that has evolved into my announcing now where it is such a, like an honor for me to make stars out of those athletes because I know what they've been through. I've seen how much money they invest and what they go through just traveling from one place to another for an entire season trying to attain and reach a goal and provide for their families all while doing that.
00:07:32
Speaker
And the evolution of my career is from trick roping into a lot of television for CBS and the PBR and Ride TV and all those sorts of things. And all while announcing a little bit. 2010, I guess, is when I started really announcing. And that was at the behest of my dad. He really encouraged me to announce. Wow. And it was one of those things where at that time I didn't... I'm like, no, I'm gonna trick rope and then I'm gonna team rope. I'm gonna make the NFR on the team roping.
00:08:01
Speaker
you don't know what you're talking about, old man. Kind of a deal. And then as my life progressed, God really started to put on my heart, like this is where you need to be. Like this is where you need to be is being the voice of all the athletes, being the voice of all the animals and telling their stories and educating and entertaining the fans.
Role and Mindset of an Announcer
00:08:22
Speaker
And like the way that God has designed my life is humbling to think about because
00:08:28
Speaker
what he's taught me through everything that i've been able to do in the rodeo arena it all transfers into how i announce now and the entertainment somebody with the cowboy channel the other day they are like you're more than an announcer you're an entertainer and i'm like well that's where my heart started and that's where my passion started was performing for fans and emitting a reaction by something i was doing
00:08:51
Speaker
And now I'm able to emit a reaction and the feeling and emotion by things that I say. And so it all has worked in and I'm just grateful to be able to make a living doing something that I genuinely love with rodeo. And I can't talk enough of how much I love and respect the sport of rodeo and the people and the animals of it.
00:09:11
Speaker
That is so well said. And there's a few things that I have questions about there, but one thing that really stood out to me is that you are using your gifts, that you realize, okay, yeah, team roping is fun and entertaining is fun, but really getting to use your voice, I think goes a long way. And even us talking off the camera, talking about how you do have to be an advocate for the animals and advocate for the cowboys. I love that. So kind of touch on that just a little bit more on like,
00:09:32
Speaker
What does it feel like to you whenever you have that adrenaline at the rodeo and you have fans with just listening to you? I mean, there's dead time in the arena when your bosses, let's say, they say, okay, you got to sell, you got to do something. What does that feel like to you to have that opportunity and that pressure and the availability and the space to do that? Yeah. Our bosses don't really do that during the show just because
00:09:53
Speaker
they won that when we're hired they they hire us for a reason of course you know here in Fort Worth they've you know Bob Tallman's announced his rodeo 48 years the Fort Worth Stockton rodeo easy living legend he's one of my best best friends and mentors and heroes and
00:10:09
Speaker
And then Garrett Yergin, who's two-time PRC announcer of the year, and 21 and 22, he's been calling the show, which is basically the show producer the last two years. He started here packing feed sacks and on the feed crew. I remember those days. And opening the gates and all that. Yes. Yeah, he's a fellow Okie.
Significance of Breakaway Finals and Women's Rodeo
00:10:28
Speaker
Okie.
00:10:29
Speaker
And so when they put us into those roles, they put us there because they trust us. And they prepare us, obviously, with meetings and rehearsals and things like that. But when we have the opportunity for that two and a half hours or two hours and 45 minutes to showcase what is, in my opinion, the greatest story ever told, and that's rodeo, it is like I walk off the announcer stand on such a high just because
00:10:56
Speaker
I don't I don't know what to what to what's a good example to compare it to but for me as a fan of rodeo and now to be able to be a part of rodeo in the announcer uh I guess you could say position and then to do it at major rodeos like the full worst doctrine rodeo san antonio the pennilton roundup and it's just like
00:11:18
Speaker
it's kind of baffling and it's extremely humbling to know of all of the great announcers that have come before us and paved the way and then now like younger guys like Garrett and myself can can really put our spin on it and it's a new perspective and I think that's the neatest thing is
00:11:35
Speaker
is we're bringing our own personalities and our own view of what we see as rodeo and it's been thankfully very well received by the fans and that's always, you know, it's always fulfilling and rewarding whenever the fans are enjoying it as much as
Golden Age of Rodeo
00:11:53
Speaker
we are.
00:11:53
Speaker
Oh, without a doubt. And I think one thing that's really cool is like you've touched a lot on how Bob Talman is your mentor and how there's, you know, you guys are the young guys, but even then there's guys out there right now that want to be in your exact seat. They want to be announcing Fort Worth and they may be getting to start doing their bullwriting practices even. So what advice would you not only give to them, but also to like your younger self who is hungry and trying to make it? I would say don't rush the process because it is a process like literally everything that I've done.
00:12:23
Speaker
whether it was cleaning stalls or helping my dad and working in the arena and being around people and learning how to treat people. My dad taught me at a very young age, you treat the guy sweeping the floor the same as the guy who owns the building. And at that time, I didn't really understand
00:12:45
Speaker
You're a little kid, you're like, well, why are we bringing sandwiches for the cleaning crew? But now I look back and I'm like, oh my gosh, how special is that? My dad was that
Mindset Shift: Sacrifice to Opportunity
00:12:56
Speaker
kind of an example to me. And just being able to bring all of those things that I've had the opportunity to do,
00:13:05
Speaker
I mean, that's what shapes you into being an announcer. Like for all the people who want to announce, don't rush the process. Randy Cordley told me years ago, he said, I said, how can I basically ask him that question? How can I get to where you've gotten? He's the most decorated rodeo announcer in the country when it comes to PRC announcer of the year awards, whether it's the NFR, every major rodeo in the country. And he goes,
00:13:34
Speaker
every chance you get to be behind one of these, do it. Whether it's hosting a graduation, whether it's, I mean, announcing, like you said, the bull riding practice. My team roping partners used to hate me because when we would be traveling late at night from rodeo to rodeo, I would put on rodeo-esque music in the truck and just announce.
00:13:55
Speaker
And my one of my best friends, Seth Jones, he'll like when I won an ounce for the year, he made a post. He's like from all those nights where you kept me up when I was trying to sleep and you were announcing the NFR in the truck. He's like, it's paid off. And that's you just have to love it. And you just have to genuinely
00:14:17
Speaker
want to refine and hone your craft and never stop refining and honing your craft and never think you're there. That was one of the biggest things my dad taught me is you're never there. And I will never, no matter if I win an announcer of the year again or whether I announce the NFR for 30 years, which I mean, I haven't done it yet, so we'll even see if that's a thing. But
00:14:38
Speaker
You're never there. You're always striving. You're always working to be better. And that's one of the reasons I love about Justin Boots is it's like they've never been like, we've made the perfect boot. We're done. No, they're constantly trying to evolve. And that's what you have to do to keep anything fresh and to keep anything where it's on the forefront as a leader, which we all want to be leaders. If you don't want to be a leader, then you got to change your mindset. You want to lead the way. And whether that's leading your household, whether that's leading your friends,
00:15:08
Speaker
and it's not being a boss, it's being an actual leader through example. And those are just some of the many things. And I don't know if I answered your question at all. No, you absolutely did. That's really great advice. But that's kind of just where, that's where it all leads up to whatever you're doing and I'm still learning. Goodness gracious. Last night, yeah, just every night I learned so much. Every time I get behind the mic, learn that I need to be better.
00:15:34
Speaker
Be better, do more, study harder, all of it. Not do more. Sometimes it's about doing less. Ooh, that's actually... Sometimes less. Less is more. I'm trying to learn that one actually. I talk about that in therapy. Not close. More close is fine. You hear that, Lisa? No, that's really cool. And I love that you said that too, because we always learned in rodeo and especially like high school rodeo, things like that. Like the gate man is going to be your new best friend because they're just like,
00:15:58
Speaker
They're just happy to be there volunteering. They don't get paid. They have no reason to be there. And you just get some kind of energy off of them. And that's just like something that I like to opponent to. But I did, I did pick up on one thing too, the amount of respect that you have, that you've said you have, and that you also have proven that you have for the sport and for the athletes and all of it. I kind of want to get back to, to your trick roping because you have that respect because you've been there, you've experienced all sides of it.
00:16:39
Speaker
and changed my act up the second year from the first year and just to make it fresh and didn't involve the horse and did a bunch of different stuff and and so we were going to go to Cook's Children's to visit the kids and I had my wife bring my rope can which I haven't opened in
00:16:47
Speaker
Can you still tricker up today?
00:16:55
Speaker
probably a few years. And anyways, I wasn't able to go to Cook's because we had rehearsals or whatever. But my rope came in my truck because my wife left it in there. And nobody's in the parking lot the other day. So I put on my old trick or open music on my phone. And I had about a 30 minute trick roping session. Not gonna lie, still got it.
00:17:15
Speaker
I'm just kidding. I can't jump quite as high as I used to, but I could get through the rope. So I don't know, it was just fun. And trick roping, I've always, I mean, from the time I was young, like if I had a lead rope in my hand of a horse, I was doing something with it. And then that evolved into trick roping. And trick roping was the same thing where you just have to constantly work at it, practice it. And the reason, and it kind of blew my mind, because it's timing and it's like, it's feel.
00:17:43
Speaker
And I haven't trick roped with a trick rope in probably three years, but it just came back to me because of the repetitions, because of how hard I worked at it for the better part of my life. And I got to go to the NFR and trick rope for four years, 10, 11, and 12, 10, 11, 12, 13, I'm bad at math.
00:18:02
Speaker
So from 2010 to 2013 and then I basically changed my brand and went into broadcasting and announcing. But it all came back to me because of the work and that's the same thing that goes with announcing. You will pick up on nuances that you did when I used
Preparation and Unique Rodeo Stories
00:18:20
Speaker
to haul my speaker and my computer to the local team roping jackpots. And I would rope in the first roping and then I would go up and announce the second roping free of charge.
00:18:29
Speaker
Just to get there. Just let me do it. Just give me reps. And all of that still now goes into what I'm doing now on some of the greatest and grandest stages of professional rodeo. That is so relatable. Even just like roping the dummy. I haven't roped a dummy in years and I just did it not long ago. We should rope the smarty. Dummies aren't very good, but always rope the smarty. I see what you did there. Yeah.
00:18:50
Speaker
That's so funny branding. Got it. Um, no, but it's so true. It's repetition and you become like, it just is habit like riding a bike or swinging a leg over a horse or whatever. So, well, unfortunately we have to take a break, but when we come back, we have more of Anthony. So we'll see you in just a second.
00:19:09
Speaker
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00:19:40
Speaker
You know what? That's the intro. Anthony, that's it. You just did it. Thank you. I'm Taylor, and this is it. Wait. No, it's got to be your bull. Okay. Wow. That's beautiful. This is the first time ever that this has happened on the Kick Your Boots podcast, so I appreciate that, Anthony. Thank you. And before we left off, we started getting a little bit into your announcing career, but not so much. So now I really want to... For those of you that have left, you're missing out.
00:20:06
Speaker
That's right. Tell your friends right now, text them to tune in. No, but with that for real, we were just talking a little bit off camera about like the mindset and all of it. So let's talk about that. Let's talk about the inside. Let's go inside an announcer's head. Let's peel back the onion. Yes. Let's do it. So with that, I just, I mean, so many questions. The first time that you got to announce the breakaway finals that had to have been such a big deal to you, not only because it was a big topic, but like you got to do it.
00:20:32
Speaker
Yeah, so that was earlier in that year, I had been selected to announce the Ram National Circuit Final, which is now the NFR Open in Kissimmee, Florida. Now it's in Colorado Springs. But so that was my first big, I would say, championship event in professional rodeo, like I've done. Your big break. To a degree, not really. Like, so back to mindset for a second.
00:20:57
Speaker
I don't look at things as a big break. I look at things as an opportunity because if you look at things as a big break, then you put way too much pressure on yourself there. I have to do good here. I'm never going to know. Go do your job. Again, it goes back to what we talked to. You're there for a reason. It's an opportunity to do your job.
00:21:15
Speaker
I love that. So no matter the stage, no matter where you're at, it's an opportunity to do your job. Because the first night that I announced the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo growing up literally at this rodeo, my dad worked it 20 some odd times. And so like I grew up every January, first part of February, Fort Worth. So the amount of nerves and then jitters that I felt walking up to the announcer stand was and could have been overwhelming. But then when I got up there,
00:21:46
Speaker
I know what to do. This is my job. And if they didn't believe in me, I wouldn't be in this position. If God didn't believe in me, He wouldn't put me in this position. And if you can do a good job, but even if you fail, at least you failed while daring greatly.
00:22:01
Speaker
while there's cold and timid souls that know neither victory nor defeat. That's a Teddy Roosevelt quote. But it's even as long as you're giving it your all, you're not going to lose. Period. Even if you have bad performances or bad day or whatever, as long as you gave it your all, it doesn't really matter. And I'm sorry to jump off. I'm glad you did. But the breakaway, back to the breakaway, it was very special to me because it was the first time I'd been in Las Vegas
00:22:26
Speaker
Got to do with TC Long, who's been a buddy of mine for a very long time. And to be able to be a part of crowning the first, rather, the second PRC World Champion for that year, but the first in Vegas, because the National Finals of Steer Uping had already happened in Mulvane. But to be able to do that and to be on the forefront of the wave that is breakaway,
00:22:46
Speaker
was very, very special to see these ladies who were rodeoing just as hard for less money. There was only a handful of rodeos in that year that offered equal money. And now there was 350 rodeos at equal money for the Breakaway Ropers in the year of 2023. It's amazing. And then rightfully so, because those are some elite competitors, elite horsewomen,
00:23:12
Speaker
and it's very special to be a part, it's humbling, again, to be a part of that. And then to get that buckle that says, has the PRCA shield on it and it's just, it's cool, but it's, yeah, that's all I got.
00:23:27
Speaker
No, that is so, so inspiring. And you had a very good point about it. Being in Vegas, the first champion in Vegas, that's kind of a really cool thing you can put on your shoulder, you know? Especially if you're a rodeo geek, you know what I'm saying? Yes, yes. It's just, I don't know. And I'm a geek when it comes to rodeo. Oh, yeah. And I mean, Jackie Crawford alone, like I just geek out over her because having what happened in 2020 in Texas, all of that, just going into that year. Wow, that's so cool. I'm fangirling over that moment for you.
00:23:56
Speaker
We're at such a neat part of rodeo history because if you talk about legends like Ty Murray and Larry Mahan and the greats even before the Tom Fergussons and Jim Shoulders, I never got to see, I mean, I got to see Ty a little bit, never got to see Mahan compete, but we're in such a special part of rodeo history with the Jackie Crawford's, with the Larry D guys, with the Stetson rights and the Kai Hamiltons and the Haven Mejids and these rodeo stars that are
00:24:26
Speaker
and Casey Field for crying out loud. It's like, it's so neat that we're able to witness this at this juncture of our rodeo history. Shelby Bojali measured last year set a earnings record in the breakaway and winning
Personal Growth and Marriage Balance
00:24:40
Speaker
150,000 I think it was to win the world like right around there. That's so neat that we're able to witness. It's the first time ever that's happened. Riley Webb last year, 452,000.
00:24:53
Speaker
in his sophomore season of professional rodeo. I was gonna say he's like, what, 18, 19 years old? He's 20 now. At that time, yeah. It's so neat. Like, we're just in a really neat part of rodeo lore. And we're witnessing history being made literally every day.
00:25:09
Speaker
That's so bizarre. And I'm so glad you brought that up because you'll see this post on Instagram like, I can't believe that we're alive during the same time as like George Strait, Reba McIntyre. But it's the same idea with Rodeo. Yeah, that's a great win. That's a great comparison because those are country music legends and great people at that beyond that.
00:25:28
Speaker
And we've witnessed them, and now we're witnessing the same type of rodeo celebrity and hero and legend just form. And we've seen what Trevor Brazil's done and things like that, but now we're seeing another generation of athletes that are just, they're blowing our minds.
00:25:47
Speaker
Oh, without a doubt. And I think a lot of them, actually all of them had to work extremely hard to get where they are. You know, we're talking about highs and lows and all of it. Um, you specifically though, right, being right up there, you've had to work incredibly hard to get where you are. And a lot of that comes from, um, doing your homework and maybe when the guys want to go out, you stay in to get ready for the next perf. So talk about the sacrifices that you make there and like how much you have to prepare to truly be ready to announce a rodeo.
00:26:12
Speaker
So again, it's a perspective thing. Do I see it as a sacrifice or an opportunity to do my job at a high level? If you look at things and I'll just be vulnerable for a second. Yeah. If you look at, so like working out, is it a sacrifice where you're punishing yourself for, oh, I can't eat this or I can't eat that? Or do you say this is an opportunity to better my health? And that's something that I struggle with, honestly. Yeah, same. That's real.
00:26:39
Speaker
not is not eating that piece of cake and I'm not great at it. Or going to like I don't get get a fast food burger. Yeah and and it's so if you change your mindset and this is something I'm working on in the physical side the same way that I've done in announcing and anything that I've done professionally where it's not a sacrifice because it means something to you. Does your health mean something to you and this is I literally
00:27:02
Speaker
Why is this fresh in my mind? Because I had a talk with Western Rutkowski, one of the bullfighters. He loved him. He loved Weston. But he was just like, you just change your mindset to look at it the same way that you look at your career and what you're doing in your life.
00:27:17
Speaker
It's not a sacrifice. It's making everything better. Whether it's your health, your mindset, your body, your soul, like it all works together. And it's the same thing with preparing for a rodeo. Like I don't like, Oh, I got to go do three or four hours of research. Like I get it again. I'm a weirdo. I get excited whenever I'm like, I get to go prepare for this rodeo.
00:27:40
Speaker
whether it's the littlest rodeo that I work and I worked some one-day rodeos for the survey company last year and and Binion's survey was like trying to get me all hyped up and I'm like he's like don't you know don't don't think this is just a little rodeo and I'm like Binion I'm preparing for this rodeo the same way that I would prepare for anything. This is the NFR today. I mean literally think about it's no matter how big or small it is because I'd
00:28:05
Speaker
It's my duty and it's my responsibility to the fans that spent their hard earned money to be there for the athletes who spent money and who are hopefully going to perform at a high level. It's my responsibility and that's that's how I look at it where
00:28:21
Speaker
It's, you know, going to get in good rest so that you can perform at a high level. Where are your priorities? And I'm not saying you shouldn't, you know, you should always just live in your house in a dark room and work underneath one light with your computer. And be boring. Yeah, be social, but also understand like, okay.
00:28:40
Speaker
these are, this is an opportunity that God gave me. Are you gonna let it slip through or are you going to act upon it and give you your very best? Yeah, no, that's good. So what does, I've got to ask you then, what does homework look like for you? Is it like, obviously you want to go get to your trailer, get comfy and all that, but like, do you have a ritual? Like, do you open up a can of something? Do you, you know, tell us what you do.
00:29:04
Speaker
Okay, so like last night, or I don't know if this is going to be later, whatever, edit this part out. We're going to leave it in. Okay. I get back the trailer, I take my boots off, put on sweats just because sweats are great.
00:29:21
Speaker
Yes. And then I turn on a movie, any movie. Doesn't matter. Or a TV show or something, just background noise. Don't ever look up at it. And then I sit down and I work on my computer and I utilize the PRCA website, I utilize Google and articles and
00:29:39
Speaker
Past stuff that I've written down or other knowledge that I have and I just compile it all and you if you think about it you have between 13 and 30 seconds for each competitor to basically set up why people should care about that. Yeah, and Sometimes it's less and then you backsell it
00:29:58
Speaker
But for me, I write down way too much stuff and I'll only use part of it and sometimes I won't even use it if it doesn't fit for that situation or moment. When I started, because I would spend so much time doing research, I would feel like I would have to get through all of these stats that I had written down because I'm like, by golly, I worked so hard to get this, I'm going to use it.
00:30:22
Speaker
Now, as I've evolved and I've matured in my job, I only use it if needed, or if it helps me tell the story about that person. And so that's my ritual. And then I stayed up till 2 a.m. last night because I wanted to get it knocked out and because I didn't want to feel rushed today. Which I appreciate, by the way, because we already have time for this. Yeah, and pre-Rodeo naps, they are the key to success.
00:30:51
Speaker
Love pre rodeo naps you wake up you brush your teeth You drink a bottle of water and you feel like you're ready to do anything a marathon in the middle of the day So kids when your parents tell you to take a nap do it
00:31:05
Speaker
I mean, there's probably some science behind that. Your brain needs it to recharge. Oh yeah. History. All of it. English. Do it all. Oh my gosh. I love your perspective on that note though for real because it's so true and not a lot of people take it seriously. I feel like announcers probably take preparation the most. And everybody's got their own style and it is what it is. And I'm not, there's guys that don't and there's guys that do and it's to each his own. But for me, that's what works for me.
00:31:35
Speaker
No, and you're right. It's proving that it works. And speaking of working in your process
Fun Segment and Advice for Aspiring Announcers
00:31:40
Speaker
and making it all work, I don't want to name drop rodeos because all rodeos are the same and we treat them all the same. But what is your favorite type of rodeo to work? Would you rather work indoor, outdoor? Cause I know like you get a little bit more freedom at some places to be on horseback versus not. So talk about all of that. So I love announcing rodeos from horse, from my horse. I have a horse named Walter. He's great. His nickname is Waltie Pooh.
00:32:01
Speaker
Does Lisa ever get to run burials on him? Does that ever? I could outrun him. He is built for standing, not built for speed. And much like me. Let alone team roping, so that's out too. No, he's a ranch horse and he's just good. Like you can row bulls on him and do whatever. He hates bulls and he's terrified of bulls. We're working through that, Walter. Just trust me, stick with me. But
00:32:27
Speaker
Every rodeo in this, and I don't want this to be a, no offense, a rodeo queen answer where you're like, I love all things. World peace. Yeah, but I'm not knocking any rodeo queens either. No, me neither. So let's stop with that. He knows I'm a former, so yes. Former, my wife's a former. That's right, you get it. If anything, you're appreciating it. And I'll almost say that.
00:32:47
Speaker
just to backtrack a little bit, I'll almost say that in a respect way because you learn when you're in public speaking and you have to deal with the public a lot to dictate the narrative. And anyways, but rodeos for me, they all have something special about them. Whether again, whether it's the quote unquote,
00:33:06
Speaker
smallest rodeo that I worked, whether that's the prize money or the size of the town or whether it's Fort Worth or San Antonio or the American, where there's 40,000 people. You know, they all have something special about them. But at the end of the day,
00:33:21
Speaker
the core thing to everything I do is rodeo and as long as there's bucking horses and bulls and roping and riding and the fans are able to enjoy that show that's honestly like that's what gives me joy is people finding joy in something that I love and that's rodeo.
00:33:40
Speaker
That's so good. That's solid. And I hate that we're almost out of time, and I haven't even asked you this. We've not even started part two coming up. I know. We have so much to talk about. Really, we might have to get you back on later on in the year because there's so many things to talk about. But one thing that is big on my mind, I'm a newlywed. Oh, congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. It's been a while. But anyways, I loved you and Lisa's story throughout. A lot of people in the rodeo queen world are not supposed to have boyfriends, all that stuff. And it's like the cousin, all that stuff. We all know it. We all have done it.
00:34:10
Speaker
Yeah, like, have you ever heard of the rodeo cousin? Like, oh, it's my cousin. No, I've not. I don't know what's happening right now. Well, all right. I am not married. Did you marry your cousin? I'm about to school you. No, absolutely not. Did you marry your cousin? No, no, no. I mean, she's from Oklahoma. Tell me more. That is not Arkansas. What? Whoa. No. What's wrong with Arc Taylor?
00:34:31
Speaker
There's so many things right now. You have so many questions, so many things. Let me set you straight. In the Rodeo Queen world, which you know, Anthony, thanks for giving me a hard time and making me awkward. In the Rodeo Queen world, you- We love everyone in Arkansas, by the way. We do, yeah. Anyways.
00:34:50
Speaker
We, rodeo queens are not supposed to have a boyfriend, and so when they do, because they do, they go, some of them go to events, it's not encouraged, but some of them are like, the brother or the cousin, that's like the, rodeo queens out there, comment below, because you'll back me up on this. Like, it's like, oh yeah, that's Taylor's cousin when in reality, it's like the boyfriend. Bad news when you're dating Anthony Lucia.
00:35:14
Speaker
Everybody knows that I'm not related to the rodeo queen. Or Lisa Lagashar with that last name. Right. Yeah, there's no, that was the thing. So Lisa and I dated, we started dating in March of 2015 and she ran for Texas a few months later, lost, heartbroken. Of course, yeah. But she needed to.
00:35:38
Speaker
Absolutely. She talks about that. Failures, like I said earlier, failures. Jake Barnes once said he's a seven-time world champion, team roper, proteo, hall of famer. He said you either win or you learn. Yes. Let that sink in. You either win or you learn. You don't learn much when you win. No. Because you've won. I've conquered it. You're good.
00:35:58
Speaker
But when you lose, it's not losing, it's learning. And yeah, she did not win and went taught school for a year. We kept dating. She was in East Texas. It was kind of a long distance deal. But then when she won, then it would have been that December she told me, because I thought,
00:36:14
Speaker
Okay, she's got that out of her system, now we can move on, we're gonna get married, it's gonna be great. And then- Typical rodeo lifestyle, yeah. And then she told me that December, she's like, I'm doing it. And I'm like, what? What are you doing? She's like, I'm running for Texas again. Well, work ethic, one of our common unities is our work ethics. And she is the hardest worker that I've ever seen. If I think I work hard,
00:36:44
Speaker
I don't compare. She's probably doing laps. Yeah, oh my gosh. She's like the flash and I'm freaking the Hulk and just like slow down me hungry. I don't know if that's what the Hulk sounds like but she's such a hard worker and so I knew automatically as soon as she said she was gonna run again I'm like okay.
00:37:03
Speaker
you're gonna win. So there's that. And then you're probably gonna win America because of how... You can't be stopped? Yeah, she's... You're gonna do it? Exactly. You can't be stopped. And she's such a driven person. And I give my wife credit for a ton of my success. Wow. For one, marriage matured me so much.
00:37:25
Speaker
and but just watching her prepare and work and understanding there's another level beyond of what I thought was sufficient in a sense and that's honestly 2017 till now if you look at my career
00:37:42
Speaker
And God obviously designed it all. But Lisa, if you just watch my career from 2017, it's been unbelievable. And I attribute that a lot to the inspiration of Lisa. Aww, Lisa!
00:38:05
Speaker
anyways but just watching her do it and how she just when she dives into something by golly she's gonna be the best at it and it's incredible to watch and she's been an incredible ambassador of the sport of rodeo and now listening
Podcast Conclusion
00:38:20
Speaker
to her coach queens and of course getting back and mentor them and yes you know help them achieve their goals
00:38:26
Speaker
It's still can every day is like holy cow. I got to keep going. I got to be better. I got to keep up Yeah, and it's awesome. And so that's so but back to your cousin uncle things Thank you for recovering by the way, you really totally saved me there. We're never gonna recover We're not your queen is happy to comment below even though they wall because they can't but well, so when we dated like
00:38:51
Speaker
other than a few appearances that she had at rodeos that I was announcing or something like that. That your schedule's actually aligned? Yeah, I respect and it was a tough thing for me. Right. Because we had been dating for two years. Before. And then I was basically told that I needed to be out of the picture. Okay.
00:39:09
Speaker
You know, and I understand a little bit of it. And again, you just have to respect the process and respect the system and if that's, they're your boss. And so, you know, that organization, you're basically an employee, even though you are the queen, you're not really the queen because you're working for someone. And it's not all sunshine and rainbows.
00:39:29
Speaker
But I respect, I have a deep respect for anybody who's a rodeo queen because I know how much work y'all put into it. And especially to do like what you've done to win a state and then to do as well as you did in Miss Rodeo America. Like that, there's a lot that goes into that more than just knowledge. I mean, so much, but it was a learning curve for me because like, wait a second, I've been, that's my girlfriend, but I'm not, she's not supposed to be my girlfriend or- She's your cousin now.
00:39:58
Speaker
No, that was never brought up. Still not a thing. Even 10 minutes later, not a thing. But I respected it and it took me a second to embrace and just understand that like, okay, this isn't about me. This is about Lisa and this is her job. And I mean, I'm not going to compare it to somebody going off to war, but
00:40:18
Speaker
because it's not like that but it's you know it's one of those things where you just have to understand it and know that and again it matured me being going okay we're gonna be spending a lot of time away from each other and she's technically not supposed to have a boyfriend but I know that she's my girlfriend she knows that I'm her boyfriend
00:40:39
Speaker
You're solid, you're good. And that builds a lot of trust in a relationship and that now is so beneficial with me being gone as much and it's just, it creates a foundation of trust. And again, I'm thankful for it all. That's the thing is everybody goes through stuff in life.
00:40:55
Speaker
that you think is the end. It's going to end you, it's going to break you, it's going to ruin you. It's not. It's teaching you something and it's helping you grow as a human and grow in your strength mentally, physically, spiritually, all of it. And without us going through all of that,
00:41:13
Speaker
And it wasn't even that hard, but without us going through all that, we wouldn't be as strong as a couple as we are now as a married couple. Yeah. And in this day and age, young marriages don't, it's tough. I'll be honest. It's very tough because you have access to everything. Yeah. It's just especially like being in the limelight and things like that. But with God is your center point. Yeah.
00:41:39
Speaker
and it's not about you, it's about your wife and vice versa, then you can conquer all things.
00:41:48
Speaker
I couldn't agree more. That was cousin or no cousin. So well said. Thank you for that. Yeah. I'm never going to let her live this down. Lisa will back me up when you talk to her, go back and talk to her. She'll be like, Oh yeah, some people. Stop defending this silliness. That is not, is that what you, I'm not, we're done with this. No, no, no. Can we move off this? Ask me the next question. Actually, yes. I'm so shook right now. I am shook. I am shook.
00:42:14
Speaker
Sorry to shake you. That's hard to do, I'm sure. No, to wrap this up, though, we do like to play a game from time to time with some fun people to show your personality. And so I kind of have a game set up for you. That's good, because you all haven't seen any of it this whole time. I know, I know. There's so much more. That's what I'm saying. We've got to catch up later on in the year. OK, but as a roto announcer, and you guys kind of have a stigmatism, too, of talking. You guys run the show, you know, all this. So I wanted to give you an opportunity. A stigmatism is an eyesight thing, right?
00:42:42
Speaker
A stigma. Did I just say stigma? What's the other one? A stigma. That's what I meant to say. Who's playing the game now, Taylor? This is my podcast. Welcome to Kicking Up the Boots. Kicking your boots up. Kicking boots with Justin.
00:42:59
Speaker
This is amazing. Wow, talk about humility. Yes, that happens to all of us. No, a stigma in rodeo. You guys say a lot, right? You're the talkers, you run the show, stuff like that. Well, specifically, we talk about rodeo. Did that one the other night. You're welcome. Forgot the S.
00:43:18
Speaker
No big deal. And Bob Tallman didn't call you out on it? Well, I announced with Garrett, and Garrett did call me out on it. Okay, dang. You can always expect friends to do that. Yeah, they humble you. They really do. Okay, so moving on. This game that we have is...
00:43:32
Speaker
Technical difficulty. I'm excited. That's so much. Okay. So, um, basically I'm going to say a word or phrase and then you're going to say one word that comes to mind. Just do one word. That's what I'm saying. And now it's my stigmatism because of your stigmatism. Okay. One word. Let's go. We're having too much fun with this. The first word is rodeo.
00:43:57
Speaker
Wait, so you're saying one word and then I'm saying one word. What's the word relate to? You got to tell me, I'm going to say the word. And then you say, what comes to mind? Like I say the word rodeo, what comes to mind? And I say, what comes to mind? Yeah. Like what, what one would like think of a word. So like rodeo. What comes to mind? Did I win?
00:44:18
Speaker
I'm just following your instructions. Oh my gosh, this is amazing. I'm like a literal, wow, wow, wow, wow, Anthony, this is, okay, I'm gonna move on to the next word. How about that? Can I do this? Is this okay? Make yourself comfy, show off the Justin boots. All right, yeah. Okay, so I'm going to say a word. Okay. And you're going to say the first thing that comes to mind. A word, I'll give you two words if you want, but really just one. I could keep going with the, cause then I could say the first thing that comes to mind. Exactly, but don't.
00:44:47
Speaker
Okay, the word is microphone. Talking. Good. Lisa. Lucia. Team roping. Fun. Okay. Ice cream. Yummy. Dessert. Sprinkles. Wait, that's ice cream again. Dessert. Cake. The final one, steak. Medium rare. That's two words. There's only one way to eat your steaks, people. Medium rare.
00:45:15
Speaker
Stop doing the other. I'll second that. I completely agree. Anthony, this has been so fun. Thank you. I'm glad you've had fun. Yeah, I'm glad you haven't. But thank you for keeping me humble and moving this ride along. You're doing such a good job. I'm going to give you credit. You were doing such a good job. If I didn't have astigmatism in my eye, maybe we could get through this.
00:45:36
Speaker
Well, there's an optometrist. You can go check out for that. No, you're doing a great job. Thanks for doing this. Thank you, Anthony. Thanks for helping Justin Bootz get to a new viewership and I'm thankful for what y'all are doing. And I mean that. We've been kidding around a lot. This is the time of the show where I stop being silly. And I tell you, thank you for doing a great job. Well, I want to say this even though you're from Oklahoma.
00:45:59
Speaker
Don't let that don't hold out against me, but also thank you. Thank you to you for like being the best representation of the Justin brand. You know, um, we uphold a standard and I feel like you do that in and out of the arena. So we appreciate that as well. Well, happy 145th birthday. Yes. We're celebrating 145 years of Justin. I'm sure you know that by now, but if you don't feel free to check out our website, there's more information to know our story. And in the meantime, if you want to reach out to Anthony, uh, Instagram's probably the best.
00:46:27
Speaker
Yep, at Super Lucia 33. And also my friend and I, Brad Narducci, have a podcast. That's right. Called Cowboy Mafia. And it is a lot of fun. As you can see, I like to have a little fun. Lots of fun. But we also get in, we talk to a lot of great athletes and we're talking to, we've got some heavy hitters, PGA golfers, UFC fighters coming up. We're gonna talk to some special ops guys that have served in the United States Armed Forces.
00:46:52
Speaker
And, uh, we've got a, yeah, the next month is going to be nuts with that, but cowboy mafia podcast, you can listen to it, find it wherever you find your podcast. And it's, we have a lot of fun in it, but we also get into the mindsets of what these warriors, whether it's in an arena or on the battlefield, what they have to go through to get to where they're at. And it's pretty cool.
00:47:14
Speaker
Well, I can't wait to go listen, so thanks for giving that a shout out. Of course, you guys want to go find it there. If you liked what you saw here, though, as always, like, subscribe, comment below. Of course, we want you to leave us a review. And if you have any questions for Anthony, like I said, you can reach out to him or you can comment below on this episode. Thanks for listening to the Kick Your Boots Up podcast.
00:47:33
Speaker
Thanks for joining us on Kick Your Boots Up. I'm your host, Taylor McAdams, and we can't wait to share the next story of the West. Until then, feel free to like, subscribe, and leave us a review. Follow us on social media at Justin Boots to keep up with our next episode, and we'll see you the next time you kick your boots up.