Episode · Oct 7, 2026 · 57 min
The Country Singer Nashville Wouldn't Sign
with Jessie James Decker
Jessie James Decker is a singer and entrepreneur behind Kittenish and the JJD Fit Club.
“There is no secret to it.”
Summary
Jessie describes moving often as a military kid, being bullied at school and knowing early that she wanted to sing. She performed Patsy Montana's "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" at a talent show in Baker, Louisiana, then moved to Nashville with her mom and stepdad after high school. A record deal followed within two months, along with a gold record and a tour opening for the Jonas Brothers.
She and Ken revisit the low point when Jessie's record deal was falling apart after she struggled to make another pop record and a Nashville label could not make her country record work. Lonely in Nashville, with her family in Hawaii and her best friend moved out, she had no plan until a friend sent her a BlackBerry photo of Eric Decker. His long text led to their first call outside Mellow Mushroom. Later, Jessie talks about raising four children, the JJD Fit Club reaching 40,000 women, and sharing Kittenish with a partner as the brand reached major retailers. She also describes cooking dinner every day and making a family recipe book with her mom and sister.
Show notes
Jessie James Decker was born on a military base in Italy and lived in 14 places before she finished high school. At a sleepover in Newnan, Georgia, two senior girls she had never met pulled up with a bucket of slop they had been saving for weeks and dumped it over her head. Somebody made a page online called I Hate Jessica James.
At nine she got on a stage in Baker, Louisiana in a denim vest and red high tops, yodeled a Patsy Montana song and beat every adult in the room. Right out of high school her mom and stepdad loaded a U-Haul and dropped her in Nashville to live with a song plugger. She had a record deal two months later. A gold single, a top 25 debut, opening for the Jonas Brothers.
Then she tried to make a country record and nobody in Nashville would sign her. The deal fell apart. The boyfriend turned out to be a loser, her best friend moved out and her family was in Hawaii. No deal, no plan, swearing off men. Then a friend sent her a BlackBerry photo of a Broncos rookie in a white t-shirt with his arms folded.
This week I sat down with my friend Jessie to get the whole story. The text from Eric Decker that read like a novel. The phone call on a curb outside a Mellow Mushroom. Four kids and four comebacks, five foot one with nine-pound babies, and the 40,000 women now training with her in the JJD Fit Club. The Kittenish store in Nashville she has run since 2019, just picked up by Macy's, Nordstrom and Dillard's. And The Secret Sauce, her fourth book, written with her mom and her sister, out this week.
She never took the SATs, didn't have a drink on her 21st birthday, and cooks dinner every single night. I still don't know how she does all of it. Hope you guys enjoy this one.
Follow Jessie: @jessiejamesdecker
Her new book: The Secret Sauce, out now.
Transcript
Made from YouTube's automatic captions and lightly corrected, so a few words and names may be off. Click a time to play the video from there.
Ken Rideout
All right, today's special guest. I very rarely if ever have used the term girl boss, but if ever there was a boss of female bosses, it's going to be Jessie James Decker. She is country singer, [snorts] influencer, New York Times best-selling author. She has her own fitness app that has like 12 bazillion followers. She does everything. And she's married to my dear friend, the great Eric Decker. Just James Decker. Welcome to the show.
Jessie James Decker
Thank you. Thank you. This is long overdue.
Ken Rideout
Hell yeah.
Jessie James Decker
This is long overdue.
Ken Rideout
Congratulations on your new book.
Jessie James Decker
Thank you. I'm really excited about it. Gosh, we are just days away from it officially coming out, but we've been we've been putting a lot of heart and soul into this one. This is my fourth one, but this one's with my mom and my sister, so this one's extra special.
Ken Rideout
How's mom's like in the uh spotlight?
Jessie James Decker
You know, my mom was built for the spotlight, so it's great. Honestly, it's um she does get a little nervous, but she's she's excited. I was on the phone with her on the way over here actually to sit with you and we're I was running through wardrobe and making sure she was okay and making sure she was set and she's like, I I just don't have the right clothes. I don't do this. I don't know what I'm supposed to wear. I'm like, we're going to take care of you.
We're going to make sure you look good. But we're excited.
Ken Rideout
Speaking of clothes, I forgot to add in also top designer. Kittenish is the label.
It is. It is. Yes. If I tell you the amount of times that my daughter, who I told you absolutely loves you, is like, "Dad, when are we going to the Kittenish store?" I'm like, "We'll go. We'll go." She is such a fan.
Jessie James Decker
I love that. That is so sweet. Yeah. I've had that store there since 201 19. I mean, that's a long time to have any sort of business in Nashville. And so, I definitely sit back sometimes like, damn, it's still there. Like, that's great. Still rocking.
Ken Rideout
It really is crazy. And I'm not blowing smoke up your ass. like you know me well enough to know if I didn't think something I just wouldn't say it. But the amount of [ __ ] that you have done and continue to do is crazy. I like
I'm busy all the time and I'm like how the f is Jessie James doing all this stuff. Singing career, a a great singing career, the the clothing line, books every other month, married to the great Eric Decker, all the kids.
Four kids now.
Jessie James Decker
Four.
Ken Rideout
Same.
Jessie James Decker
You know, it's interesting. I feel like you and I have a lot in common. I've always kind of felt that way. And I think that you and I find that being really busy is the best for our mental health. And you know how some people being that busy is overwhelming or overstimulating? I think people like you and I are just built very we're just built differently and we need to constantly have our mind being worked and being creative and getting excited. We love results. We love a start and we love a finish.
And I just think I'm just one of those people. I will never not this not be this way. I always need to be doing something. Always want to be creating something. Always want to be excited about something I'm looking forward to doing or accomplishing. And so that means I have my hands on a lot of different things, but I think I function best when I'm able to be as creative as possible.
Ken Rideout
Yeah. No, I I completely agree. Like when I think about [clears throat] some of the things you've done and maybe to a lesser extent that I've done, when I think back, I'm like, I can't believe I did that. Do you ever get that? Like I can't believe I have my own clothing line, that I have songs that are on the radio, I wrote all these books. Like when I think about even and I've only written one book. I look at I'm like, "Holy [ __ ] I wrote a book." Sometimes I wake up and I'm like, "That happened.
Jessie James Decker
That's me."
People dream of those things. Yeah.
They they dream of And you've done so many of the the dreams that people will have. You've done so many of those things. And yeah, it's good. You got to stop and just take it all in. You have to.
Ken Rideout
Do you have moments like that and think like, "Holy [ __ ] I did this."
Jessie James Decker
Truthfully, I will pat myself on the back with that one. There's things that I'm not great at, but what I am great at is is gratitude. Because I I didn't grow up with a ton. And I had just dreams bigger than life. [snorts] And it there was not a doubt in my mind that I was going to get to this place. And not this exact place, but there wasn't a doubt in my mind that I wasn't going to be accomplished and I wasn't going to be successful.
It was you couldn't tell me anything differently growing up. It was like, I'm going to be somebody one day. I'm going to be able to do this. I'm going to be on stage. I'm going to perform. This is what is going to happen and I'm going to have a [snorts] family and I'm going to be able to take care of everyone and this is this is the goal. And so I think that the gratitude sets in where I'm able to sit there like this morning I had that moment.
I'm sitting there drinking my coffee looking at my my incredible husband. and he's watering the plants and the dogs are jumping in and out of the pool and Denver's still sleeping and I'm just like this is such a beautiful life and I'm just like thank you God for this. Like I how did I get so lucky to to live this life and everyone's healthy and happy and you just you have to have those moments. you have to because it's it's it grounds you and it continues to.
And I'm like I said, I know what it's like to not have a lot of these blessings. And so I I thank God every day.
Ken Rideout
I want to talk about your childhood because I had those same feelings. I don't know that I had as much conviction that I could do it, but like I have a brother who's 11 months younger than me that's a career criminal in and out of prison, heroin addict. Like we grew up in the same house, same conditions.
They would always I write about this in my book. my family and all of them would always say, "You're so arrogant. You think you're better than everyone." And in my heart, I was like, "I do. I do because I don't want what you guys have. I want to get the [ __ ] out of here. This place sucks. I don't want this life. I want the life that the people down the street have or in the, you know, 20 towns over have.
So to actually be doing it, sometimes I probably have a harder time sitting there and looking around because I always feel like I got to stay on the gas or it's going to be all taken away." And I have a hard time accepting the fact that nothing's changing. like you I've been doing this for 50 years. It's going to keep happening, but it's just like I feel a lot of pressure sometimes. Where'd you grow up?
Jessie James Decker
All over. Military kid. So, I was born in Italy and then we lived in about four 14 different places growing up. So, we moved quite a bit.
Ken Rideout
That's got to be difficult as a kid.
Jessie James Decker
Yeah, we moved a lot. You know, I don't have a hometown. I don't have like high school reunions. Like I moved my senior year, so I don't really have I don't have a place that you go home to, but most military families don't. I mean, you pick up, you move, and that's just the life. And, you know, that's just what I knew.
Ken Rideout
How was that as a kid going to different schools? Was it rough being the new kid all the time?
Jessie James Decker
Oh my gosh, it was just awful. It was awful being the new kid. I think it made me really strong and it made me really tough and adaptable, but it also made me a little bit more introverted than I think I was probably meant to be. I think I'm a fairly outgoing person, but I also think I'm simultaneously pretty introverted and can appear to be antisocial. And I think that has a lot to do with being put into new environments, being unaware if I'm going to be liked or welcomed or or if we're going to move again soon.
And I don't want it to be negative. This was for our country. I'm very very proud of being a military kid. like this is, you know, it's it's the greatest country in the whole world and we're blessed to be here and I'm glad that my my my dads were part of that.
But it was hard to move quite a bit like that and and have to adjust. Um, but it, you know, in the positive side of it, it made me really close to my family and which also in turn has made me that that I just place such a value on having such a tight-knit family because that's who you lean on. That's who you have. It was me, my sister, and my brother, and that's that's it. And that's all I felt like I needed as time has gone on.
And I still am guilty of that today. I saw a funny Instagram video this morning that was like, I don't need any friends. I have my sister. And I and I I do feel that way, you know, sometimes where I'm like, I'm good. You know, you know, but it makes you it makes you adaptable. I do think it gives you thick skin. And yeah, you just you have to it puts you in uncomfortable situations, but I think it really set me up for the life I live now.
Ken Rideout
Yeah, I'm sure you were like super unpopular with all the girls and very popular with all the boys in the new schools.
Jessie James Decker
Yeah, I did.
Ken Rideout
Girls can be very catty.
Jessie James Decker
Oh, it was awful. I did.
Ken Rideout
Especially when you're super pretty and talented.
Jessie James Decker
Absolutely. Terribly. Terribly. I mean, it was like scenes out of like the movie Carrie. I mean, they were awful to me. I had uh a really rough time in school. Really rough time.
Ken Rideout
I hate hearing stories like that.
Jessie James Decker
Oh my gosh, it was awful.
Ken Rideout
Kids are so [ __ ] ruthless sometimes.
Jessie James Decker
It was awful. I remember my freshman year I was at a sleepover and it was actually a setup and um not the girl that had the sleepover, but she didn't know anything about it. But I remember one of the girls said, "Oh, we should go outside. My sister's bringing my clothes." And when I walked outside, a car pulled up and two senior girls got out of the back, had a big bucket of slop that she had been saving for weeks. It was just like liquid and like eggs and like dog [ __ ] and like all the stuff and she took it and just dumped it on top of me and I was just never met this girl in my life.
Ken Rideout
What town was this in?
Jessie James Decker
Newnan, Georgia.
Ken Rideout
Vicious Newnan. Shame on you.
Jessie James Decker
Yeah, it was rough. I mean, I have so many stories like that, but um things like that happened a lot to me. You know, they had a I hate Jessica James uh like Facebook MySpace thing that you could go and write why you hated me. And I just I had a lot of really awful little things like that throughout high school and middle school. I just I I struggled quite a bit. And I think this is why now as an adult in the career that I have now, having like female fans and female followers and having that sort of camaraderie with women is so important to me because I never had it.
I didn't have
That sort of womanhood growing up. And I I am such a girls girl if you know me at heart. Like I just love girls. I love women. I love womanhood so much that I think that I missed out on that. So, I'm trying to like recreate that in my my adulthood with all the things that I do, whether it's with fashion bringing women together or it's fitness bringing women together, it's cooking, I just I missed out on on that and it's a shame, but now I have it as as an adult.
Ken Rideout
But yeah, some unfortunate things for sure.
Jessie James Decker
Well, you
Ken Rideout
should rest assured that they only girls only do that when they're jealous of you. If you didn't have if you didn't have so many good qualities, they'd be you'd be they would be indifferent towards you.
Jessie James Decker
Yeah. You know, I just look back and I'm like, I would have been a really good friend to you.
Ken Rideout
Yes.
Jessie James Decker
I would have been I'm a good friend.
Ken Rideout
Shame on them. And shame on the parents. If I knew my kids did something like that,
They would not want to come home.
Jessie James Decker
Yeah.
Ken Rideout
It would not be tolerated.
Jessie James Decker
We do not tolerate bullies or bullying. No. And I was really bullied. And um I do think about those girls from time to time and I wonder how they're doing.
Ken Rideout
Yeah. Hopefully badly.
Jessie James Decker
Hopefully they're doing well.
Ken Rideout
Hopefully Karma got them.
Jessie James Decker
Oh man.
Jessie James Decker
I didn't go to college. I didn't even take the SATs. I knew I wasn't going to college. I'm telling you, I manifested.
Ken Rideout
I love it.
Jessie James Decker
And if anything gets anything from this, anyone gets anything from this podcast today from especially from both of us is manifestation is real.
Manifest. put it out there. I knew I wasn't going to go to college. I knew that I was going to get into the music industry quickly.
Ken Rideout
Were you a singer as a child? Like did you know you could sing from the jump?
Jessie James Decker
Yes. I started singing very early on. My mom told me that I like she knew I had a voice of two.
Ken Rideout
Yeah.
Jessie James Decker
And I just loved singing for like a big our big Italian family. I'd get out in the middle and just start performing and singing and being just a ham that I am. And then um when I was nine, my mom put me in a talent show cuz I was like, I want to be on stage. I want to do this. And it was a little talent show in Baker, Louisiana, where my parents were from. And I got on stage, 9 years old. I had a little denim, blue jean vest on, blue jean pants, uh, red uh, high top tennis shoes, big big full hair, and a bandana headband.
And I yodled and sang I want to be a cowboy sweetheart, [snorts] which was originally a Patsy Montana song, but LeAnn Rimes covered it, and that's the version I learned. And I won the entire thing. Like I beat everybody. The adults division, children division, everybody. And you just see me up there holding my little flowers, this tiny little peanut, and looking like a mix between Vivienne and my son Forest. And in that moment, I was like, I'm going to do this forever. And I told my mom, I said, "Mom, this is what I'm going to do forever.
I will. This is my job now. This is like my dream."
And I just kept doing it. I kept singing and performing. And every time we would move, my mom would find different places that I could perform. and she'd buy me these little cassette karaoke tapes that I could practice and sing and perform to. And and then when I was 15, I started going back and forth from Georgia to Nashville and started meeting all the right people. And then as soon as I graduated high school, my mom and stepdad loaded up um big U-Haul dropped [snorts] me off in Nashville and I had a record deal two months later.
And then
Ken Rideout
Where were you living?
Jessie James Decker
What do you mean?
Where did you moved here at 18 by yourself? Yes, I moved in with um a song plugger. Her name is Halley Harris who actually called me on the way here. She's still one of my dearest friends and she she went on to be just a total boss.
Ken Rideout
What's a song? What's a song plugger?
Jessie James Decker
So, publishing company, they they sign songwriters and then they also pitch songs that the writers write, okay, to artists or labels or whomever to cut the songs.
So, she was a song plugger and she let me live with her for free, which was unbelievably crazy.
She was an adult at the time. She was a few years older than me,
Ken Rideout
Okay?
Jessie James Decker
And Halley to this day is one of my dearest friends, but she was so kind and allowed me to live with her for free and really big sistered me to the point where she ended up quitting that job and ended up being like my day-to-day road manager when I got my record deal and she was with me for years.
Ken Rideout
Damn.
Jessie James Decker
I know. I know. She's amazing and she's such an incredible part of my story, but she's a dear friend of mine and um she actually ended up one of the businesses she was the CEO of just sold and so she's just chilling in Charleston starting a new company.
Ken Rideout
Dude, that's awesome. I had uh the last guest I had on here was BeBe Winans. BB and CeCe Winans the gospel sings.
Jessie James Decker
Yeah, of course.
Ken Rideout
I love BeBe Winans. I I met him running in my neighborhood. I'd see him running every day.
He's like 65 years old running. One day he's like, "Hey, what's up, young fella?" And I'm like, I wish [snorts] I was young, buddy. And we start chitchatting. He's like, "Oh, my name is BB." And I'm like, "Oh, what do you do, BB?" He's like, "I'm a singer." So, I go home and I Jelly Roll was living across the street. I go, "Dude, do you know who BeBe Winans is? I met this guy." He goes, "Dude, he's a legend." I'm like, "Oh, really? He's my buddy.
I run." So, anyway, he came in and did the show. He's really nice guy. He lives right down the street. But, um,
Jessie James Decker
They're great, great family.
Ken Rideout
Can you imagine you or I dropping our 18-year-old daughter off in a in another city to live with a with a a woman? just a random a random person like, "Oh, I'm a song plug." "Yeah, come on in."
Jessie James Decker
Luckily luckily my mom knew this girl very well. And we had we had been coming back and forth for three years and so we had developed really great relationship and I was I I would have let Vivi be with Halley. And
Ken Rideout
By the way, we watched Vivi on the High Bar yesterday. I said cuz my wife and Tensei always like, "What are the Deckers up to?" Yeah. And I was like, "Guys, [clears throat] get in here." And they're like, "What's up?" I'm like, "Look at Vivi on the high bar like doing like giant freaking what? I don't know what it's called. Giant rotations and then flipping and spinning off the thing." I was like,
She's a legitimate gymnast.
Jessie James Decker
She's amazing. She's amazing.
Ken Rideout
She I mean, she's impressive.
Jessie James Decker
She is. I I really I'm blown away. She's so dedicated. She is so fierce. Um such a She's a grinder and she
She's it's her dream, you know. I truly believe that she will go to her dream college.
Ken Rideout
Oh, she's got the right uh she's got the right uh surrogate aunt in Shawn Johnson, Olympic gold medalist.
Jessie James Decker
She's amazing. Sean is such a great mentor to Vivi and always looking out for her and I'm just so grateful to have her in in our life. Any question I have, I think about it. I'm like, gosh, I feel like I'd be annoyed if one of my friends called me all the time be like, "What do I do with her? She's singing." And Sean is just like, "This is what I think. This is Let's set you up here. Let's do this." She just
Put Vivi in a commercial with her. Yeah. To play younger her as a gymnast. Like she's just so incredible to Vivian. And I just I love Sean very much.
Ken Rideout
Yeah. She's a powerhouse, too.
Jessie James Decker
She is. I love her.
Ken Rideout
She's built quite a career for herself.
Jessie James Decker
She really has.
Ken Rideout
So, okay. So, you come to Nashville and you start singing. I mean, you must have been a freaking hit with the local cowboy scene. Beautiful 18year-old girl record deal, [gasps]
Jessie James Decker
You know. Not really. Um
Oh, [ __ ] No, not the way you think. It really wasn't like that. I um Gosh, I don't know. No.
Ken Rideout
How was your What was your like what was your like personality like? Were you like a partyier when you got here? Were you like dedicated and focused? Cuz that's the only way I know you.
Jessie James Decker
I didn't drink even in high school or I didn't even have alcohol on my 21st birthday. I just um I don't know. I I was so focused and my mom also was like Catholic and Italian and just scared the [ __ ] out of me ALL THE TIME. DON'T DRINK. DON'T DO DRUGS. Like very like, okay, okay, okay. So, I just I didn't um that was definitely not anything I got into. I was just so dedicated and focused, but also remember I had a hard time in high school, so I was also a little antisocial.
So, I wasn't really when I first moved here, wasn't really going out. I wasn't really in the scene quite yet um until I got a little bit older and into my like earlier 20s and then I started to go out more. But still at that point I was the DD. I didn't drink.
Ken Rideout
Yeah.
Jessie James Decker
I don't even really think I started really enjoying my wine until after Forest was born when I was 30. Like really just kind of didn't have a interest for it. I didn't have a taste for it. I um yeah, I just was so focused on my career and um obviously I I loved boys, but I just wasn't um thinking about guys in that way. It was just
Ken Rideout
I've got a job to do.
Jessie James Decker
I I've got to get my career going.
Ken Rideout
So, when you sign a record deal, like what's the proto like what's the process after that? Okay, I got a record deal. I assume you record the record and then start promoting it and performing.
Jessie James Decker
So, it's really different today versus how it was back in the day. Back in the day, they would sign artists and they would develop them. Like now they wait for you to have a TikTok hit and then they jump on board. And you know, sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't because the artist really does need to develop so that you can have longevity. So, back in the day, I got signed at uh at 19 and then they didn't put my record out until 2009, so two years later.
And I had a top 20 single, gold record, like things were on their way. I was touring with Jonas Brothers.
Um I was definitely on my way up. It was great. I mean, it was all um
You know, they just back in the day was just really different. They like worked you really hard. I mean, I was just I'd be in the studio all day and then I'd roll outside and there would be an SUV being like, "Uh, ma'am, we're taking you to the airport. You're getting on a redeye. Neo is now ready to to have you in the studio in Atlanta." Okay. like you just you just kind of rolled you you know I didn't um I didn't ask a lot of questions which is funny because now I have questions about absolutely everything and I need to know when we're doing what we're doing what time we're going what's happening what's for lunch back then I was just like okay I was just like a little doll that just
Was kind of you know being pulled in all these kinds of directions because I just felt like that's what you're supposed to do. Um I was exhausted. I mean I got so thin. I I just wasn't eating enough. I was such a family girl. I wasn't with my family anymore. I had a boyfriend at the time that wasn't the best for me. It just wasn't the best relationship. And I just was, you know, it was a little chaotic. It truly was. But that's just the music business, baby.
Ken Rideout
What was it like the first time you went on a big stage like opening for the Jonas Brothers and you walk out there like what's that like?
Jessie James Decker
It's a blur. It's such a blur. like you don't I feel like the last time I was in a big arena like that was probably when I was opening for Kane Brown and and then in that moment you really can take it in like all these people and but with Jonas I I remember it just I don't even think I realized how many people were in there and what a blur it was like you just you have a job to do. I was the MC and the opener and then you just kind of moved on and did the next thing.
I don't know that I totally stopped and smelled the roses a lot during the early phase of my career because I think I was just trying to keep up and keep my head above water and and I was always kind of fighting everybody because I wanted to like stay true to me and I felt like I was, you know, at one point the label wanted me to chop my hair off and dye it platinum blonde or like, you know, just just always kind of I felt like it was always a push and pull with trying to keep, you know, the southern in me and and and my artistry.
But man, those were wild. It's just crazy to think about. They were wild days.
Ken Rideout
If I could give advice to my younger self when I think about that, right? Don't you wish you could just go back and say, "It's all going to work.
[ __ ] enjoy every single second." Yes. After the financial crisis, I lost my I I lost one job, got another job with Caner Fitzgerald, and I was working in a satellite office in Sarasota. And my wife and I, they they rented an apartment for me. Top floor of this gorgeous, brand new building. The elevator opens into the apartment,
But I'm like I keep telling my wife, I'm like, "This is a job. This isn't my career. I'm not supposed to be here. We're making We were making a lot of money, but I'm It's I'm like, "This is just a job. This is going to end." And every night we're walking and there's dolphins and manatees and I'm like we I've only ever lived in New York and Boston and London in Hong Kong and I'm like we live on the beach in a beautiful condo. I couldn't enjoy one second of it cuz all I could think was
We have to get here, we have to get there. And then I look back and I'm like that was magic when we went and adopted my daughter in Ethiopia. My wife lived there for 2 months. Sometimes I'll smell a fire burn and I'm like oh that smell reminds me of Ethiopia. Remember how great that was? She was like you complained the whole time. What are you talking about? I'm like, well, the bed was only a box spring. It didn't even have a mattress on it cuz we were staying in this guest house.
But I can I have a hard time enjoying the moments like what you're describing with the concert and you're just like, what's the next thing? I want I want to be I want to be the headline. I don't want to be the opening. But and and you rush through not taking the time to like smell the roses and be like, "Wow, I'm here."
Jessie James Decker
And again, it goes back to what we were saying earlier. I think people like you and I will always be that way because we're just built that way because we just we want to get to the next thing and we want to continue having progress and growing and we're in a rush to just grow and get to what can we accomplish next, you know? I am getting better though. I really am. I'm I'm getting better at enjoying those moments, you know. But I mean, even this past week, I've been like, "Oh, we just got to get through this part.
We got to get through this part." But it's like, you know, stop and smell the roses because this is a beautiful chapter of your life of, you know, you have a book coming out. This is going to get crazy, but
It's a beautiful chapter and like it's going to be great.
And you're going to get to do stuff with
Ken Rideout
your mom and your sister with my mom and my sister.
Jessie James Decker
Yes. But yeah, I think that I think it's very normal to think about what's next and and you know, always try to get to the next best thing because we're driven and and you got to have that and and there's not there's not um there isn't a lot of that if you think about like think about how many people you know that are really just they're either just kind of skating through life or they're driven,
You know, and there's there's not a lot of people that way. And I just when I meet other people that are that way, I'm always just like there's like a little wink like our brains are wired probably very similar, but I also think it goes back to our childhood and why we're wired that way. And it just it it's all full circle and everything comes back to your childhood and and why you are what you are in your adulthood. But yeah, you got to you have to enjoy it, you know, or you'll you'll make yourself crazy.
Ken Rideout
I always tell people it's a blessing and a cursing to be and and not I would never call myself a high achiever, but just to be a high achiever is a blessing and a curse.
It's a blessing in that you get to achieve some high level of [ __ ] but it's a curse in that it's you have to be a killer to get there. Like you have to like stay ready, never get ready. That's what I always preach to everyone is like you have to stay in shape. You can't get out of shape. That's one of the things I love about your Jess James uh Jess James Decker Fitness Club. When you posted the pictures the other day after having the baby when when at when the first picture came up of you right after the baby, I did a double take.
I'm like, "Who the hell is that?" And then I was like, "Holy [ __ ] look at this transformation." I love that story.
Jessie James Decker
People seriously don't remember me like looking like that. It's But listen, I had four kids. I always gain a lot of weight for me every single time. And I'm not ashamed of it. It's just I just do genetically I can't work out during my pregnancies. Um my joints can't handle I've had carpal tunnel surgery tendon like I just I'm unable. I'm 51. I have nine pound babies. It's just really I do it's just never in the cards for me to work out. But I I love sharing those transformations because I want women to know that it is achievable.
If you can if I can do it, you can do it. Clearly. Why wouldn't you want to be the best version of yourself?
Ken Rideout
I I love it. I I absolutely love that you share that because it's such a reality. It's like when my anytime my wife was pregnant, I would just look at her. Never mind the weight gain. I would be like,
"How nervous are you? Look at that thing."
I would I really I'd be like, "That thing has to get out of there." Even with a C-section, like, "Aren't you?" If I had like a lump on my shoulder, I'd be like, "This has to get out immediately."
Jessie James Decker
I know. I know.
Ken Rideout
It makes me so nervous.
It's Well, that's why you're not meant to do it. Oh, definitely not. I could never.
Jessie James Decker
But, you know, I like we said, enjoying the moment. I do. I enjoy the moments of the whole pregnancy because it is very special to be able to grow a human and have your baby living in you for 9 months. I mean, it's just incredible. And you get so connected to your baby and like I know their personalities when they're in there. Like, I know them. I know this one's going to have hiccups. This one's this. This one's a night owl. Like, you just you you learn.
It's like we're animals. Like, it's just such a special, beautiful chapter.
It's incredible what our bodies can do. But if your body can do that, your body can get into the best shape. And I just I think about that now that I have this sort of drive right now. I want to see how far I can go. What's the best shape I can get in? And I just think for myself, why wouldn't why wouldn't you want to like why why wouldn't you want to be the healthiest and strongest version you could ever be? Well, it's the biggest
Ken Rideout
flex in the world is to show up in good shape because it tells everyone so much about your personality.
You have delayed gratification. It takes a while. It takes a long time of working in in the dark
To ever see results.
You have to have grit, determination, toughness, mental fortitude. And that's the thing is like you could be dressed in the nicest clothes, but if you're a mess physically, you're like,
But if someone shows up in jeans and a t-shirt and they're jacked, you're like, damn.
When you walked in here, I was like, holy [ __ ] you are in shape. Thank you.
If you get any more in shape, you're going to be freaking winning fitness contests.
Jessie James Decker
I can get really really like built.
Ken Rideout
Yeah, you're doing it. You got great like physical genetics to be able to get that muscular and lean
Jessie James Decker
That fast, too. I agree. I do. Genetics do play a part. And I'm really short, so shorter people can build muscle much faster.
Ken Rideout
They can also get out of shape short.
Jessie James Decker
They sure can. Thank you for saying that. You took the words out of my mouth. But I can also, you know, get out of shape very quickly, too. I don't have a lot of space for things to lean at to like, you know, go hide in different areas. Like it'll be in my ankles.
Ken Rideout
Well, the other thing is like anytime I've been at your house too, you're like cooking everything. It's not like all health all the time. It's like there is everything at your house.
Jessie James Decker
Because here's the deal. I'm I'm making whole foods though. Like I'm making egg. We're not You're not ordering it from some restaurant where you don't know where they put they you know, you don't know what they put in it.
Ken Rideout
That's right.
Jessie James Decker
Everything I make I know what I'm putting into my food. I I'm not using canola oil. I'm using olive oil or I'm I'm using the best cut meat or you know I just am very big on cooking at home.
Ken Rideout
Mhm.
Jessie James Decker
And I know not everyone knows how to do that but it's definitely one of my my superpowers is I I cook every single day.
I I really will not miss if I do then all hell is broken loose. Like I had a crazy day yesterday and I'm I still made I made pasta. I made dinner because I want to be able to know I'm eating well. my family's eating well, when everyone's bellies filled up with good stuff. Um, you know, that's just it's a priority to me.
Ken Rideout
And you got little super freak fit kids. I mean, freaking kids had abs at like 3 years old.
Jessie James Decker
They are all very fit. Genetics do play a big part in that. But also, they're very, very active physical children. My kids are not sitting around glued to electronics. I mean, they're outside playing, running around. They're doing sports. They are just busy, busy, busy. And Yeah. And I feed them well. No, I
Ken Rideout
know they are because I see them at every freaking sporting event we go to. Baseball, football, gymnastics.
Yeah,
Jessie James Decker
They're busy. They're busy.
Ken Rideout
Although Tensei was new and just doing like uh somersaults or like front rolls and I look over and Vivy's doing like freaking triple ax triple lindies off the freaking high dive. I was like, damn.
Jessie James Decker
I know. I know. She's so good. That's funny.
Ken Rideout
Um so when So you're in Nashville doing all that. You're touring around. When do you meet Eric Decker?
Jessie James Decker
Okay, so I meet Eric. Oh my goodness. I um I kind of hit rock bottom if you want to know the truth. I was in a really low point. I was about to lose my record deal.
Ken Rideout
How do you lose a record deal? What happens? They just don't sell the records.
Jessie James Decker
Well, my first record was a success.
Ken Rideout
Okay.
Jessie James Decker
I mean, today it'd be a major success. back in the day. It was um it was a great success for especially for a new artist. And I was working on my second record. Um and then I was probably a big part of why it fell apart. I didn't love the direction we were going and I felt I moved to Nashville to be a country singer, but no one in Nashville would sign me. I had multiple record off record deal offers from pop execs. They like just saw they saw it and I had a hard time in Nashville.
Just didn't see the vision. I never did actually. Probably never will. But I was just uh a lot to take in and then in these pop labels they got it, you know. But I was having a little bit of an identity crisis during this time. A little imposttor syndrome. I just did not ever feel although I loved and admired pop stars, I didn't feel like a pop star. I felt like I was supposed to be a country star. And I just remember having a very authentic conversation with my the president of my label saying, I just I I got to do something in Nashville.
Like I can't I can't make another pop record. I don't feel like it's me, you know? And they were really kind and allowed me to partner with a label in Nashville. And this label in Nashville just did not have the ability to do it. And so it fell apart. it didn't work. So, I was on my way going to lose both deals and um I had gotten out of a relationship and then was seeing some guy in the middle who ended up being just total loser and I just truly like hit rock bottom.
My best friend that was living with me at the time, Rachel, had moved out and I was just alone in Nashville, no deal, lonely. My family's living in Hawaii at this time because my dad got transferred to Hickham Air Force Base and I'm just like, what am I going to do? You know, this guy was such an [ __ ] I'm going to swear off men for a while. I'm not dating men and I just got to figure out my next move. Maybe I'm going to move to LA.
Maybe that's what I'll do and move to LA. I'm going to live with my best friend who's going through a divorce. That's my plan. I got to, you know, I'm just kind of in this middle middle space. And then randomly I get a text from a friend of mine. Her name is Lyanna. And Lyanna was friends with a woman named Suzanne Haney. And Suzanne Haney was married to a man named Hank Haney. And Suzanne and Hank are a golf couple. And Hank was Tiger's coach, actually, you know.
Suzanne, this is long, but I'll get to it. Suzanne was had a condo in Dallas where she would have these girls weekend. She was a little younger than Hank. So she would have these girl weekends where she could just like have her girl time and she would fly and her friends or or whatever and have these gatherings and she had me come in and Lyanna was at this to get you know gathering and I met her and I told her I was going through a breakup and she was like a I'm going to set you up.
I'm going to set you up. I I got to I got I know lots of guys and she was like dating some hockey player and I was like I just I'm good you know. Anyway, fast forward she texts me. She's like I got a hockey player for you. And I'm like, I don't I don't need a hockey player. Like, what is this? She sets me up with this guy and he sends me the weirdest messages. He like asks me to tell you what he asked me to do.
It was just so not my He asked me to send him my underwear. Yeah. One of these guys. I had never been asked that in my whole life.
Ken Rideout
Before you even had a first date?
Jessie James Decker
I met the guy. I was like, "Oh my god,
Ken Rideout
What the f?"
Jessie James Decker
Yes.
I wouldn't even ask my wife to do something so weird. So weird. So I texted her and I was like, you are done. You are not setting me up anymore. What the hell was that?
Not my style, girlfriend. And so I was like, I Yeah, no. [clears throat] Anyway, days later, I am in Jacksonville cuz I have a show. And she text. She goes, I got the guy. And I'm like, you don't have No, you don't.
Ken Rideout
You don't have a good show.
Jessie James Decker
You are done. There's track lag and Mr. Send me panties. No, ma'am.
Anyway, she's like, I'm telling you, he's the nicest guy. I'm hanging out with this friend. He's the most beautiful man I've ever seen. We're in Arizona. We're at He is a good looking man.
Ken Rideout
Like, we're at a bar. He's single.
Jessie James Decker
He's sweet. He's kind of quiet, you know? Let me just send you a picture of him. This is like Blackberry BBM. And so, I'm like, "All right, send a picture." So, I'm waiting for it to like load in. And there he is, arms folded,
Blue jeans, white t-shirt, and he's looking off this way. And I was like, "Oh my god, well, who is that?
Ken Rideout
She was like, "His
Jessie James Decker
name's Eric Decker and he's a football player. I think he's like a rookie or he's like brand new or something." And I was like, "All right, well, show a picture of me and see if like he's interested." She's like, "Oh, I already told him and he's already looking you up and he said he loves your music and he knows you and he wants your number." I was like, [gasps] "Okay,
Ken Rideout
Damn Decker on it."
Jessie James Decker
So, uh, I get a text from him minutes later, a full novel. Hi, I'm Eric. I'm from Minnesota. I love your music. I'm not gonna lie. I've sang along to I looks good without you and a Little Boys in the summer before. It comes on the radio sometimes. Where are you? Do you want to come out? Like just
Ken Rideout
Just right to the point.
Jessie James Decker
And I was like, "Wow, okay." Um and we just started texting back and forth. And then he's like, "Can I call you tomorrow?" And I was like, "Sure." So he calls me the next day. I walk out of um Melo Mushroom having pizza with my band because we finished our show. And I walk out and I sit on the curb and he calls me and we just talk the entire time and it's as if I could have planned it beautifully. The whole time sitting on the curb I must have gotten hit on by guys, two or three guys during this whole, "Hey, do you want to ride whistling, hey girl?
Hey." And Eric's like, "What is that?" I'm like, I it's just some guys. So I'm like this perfect. I'm getting hit on while I'm talking. This guy just seems so like adored. And um and then we just keep talking and we talk on the phone for 4 weeks and then he invites himself out to come meet me in Nashville. So he flies to Nashville. We spend two days together and on the way to the airport he asked me to be his girlfriend. Told me he deleted every girl out of his phone and he wanted to see where this could go.
And I told him I'd think about it because it was a little soon to have that conversation. But um we had such a great weekend. I made him jumbolaya. We had way too much wine and we just we just had fun. Like I remember just feeling like we just had fun. We were just like cutting up and we were silly. I took him to see Stapleton before Stapleton. Was Stapleton. He was in band called the Johnson Brothers. Took him to see Stapleton Exit in. We were like one of five people in the audience and we just had fun.
And it was so incredible that I remember being scared and standoffish to him. Like I was resisting it because I just was like, "This is too good to be true. He's too nice,
Too good-looking.
He's not a bum like the last guy I dated. He has he has a job." And I'm like, "This is just too good to be true." like I'm going to just be very I'm going to tread lightly here. But in return, it made him work very hard and he chased me. I'd never been chased like that to the point where it was like overwhelming.
It was it was overwhelming. He But he will tell you and you know Eric,
He's not quite that way. Like he's not that bold in those. He's very very reserved and and processes things on his own time and own terms. and he was it was like I have to have that and I'm not stopping until it's like until we're together. And 3 months later he asked me to move in and here we are 16 years later.
Ken Rideout
He must have done something right.
Jessie James Decker
We had a good weekend. We had a good weekend.
Ken Rideout
He's the best. When I as you know when I met him at on site and he walked I was in the room by myself.
Yes. Please tell me about this. I'm in the room at on-site with two beds. First of all, they were like, "Here's your room. Give us your phone." I'm like, "Ah, I think I was just naive. I I was literally like, "Go drive in there like I was driving to the electric chair." I knew I needed to go, but I didn't really want to.
Jessie James Decker
And a little back for everyone else, Eric went Eric had
Retired from the NFL and was just really having a hard time processing it and and we thought it was a good idea for him just to
Ken Rideout
Go talk it out amongst men and it was really a beautiful thing.
Jessie James Decker
He met you. So, go ahead. He walks in. So, I go into
Ken Rideout
the room and there's two beds and I go right back to the office. I'm like, "Absolutely not. I'm I'm too old for this. I need to be in my own room." And they're like, "That's your room." And I'm like, "I I now I can't go home. My wife will kill me." So, I'm like, So, I'm like, "All right, let me get back in there." And I'm laying there and Eric walks in.
I I didn't recognize him who he was. I just was like, "Oh, this guy's definitely an athlete of some sort. You're not supposed to ask anyone their last name." So, I'm like, "Hey, what's up, man? Uh, good to meet you." Blah, blah, blah. You play Nashville? I'm like, "Oh, did you play sports?" "Yeah, in college." "Yeah." And then I'm like, "Did you play after college?" He's like, "Yeah." I go, "Who'd you play for?" "Denver and the Jets." I'm like, "Oh, Eric." "Yeah." "Oh, okay. Cool. Cool." And then we just started bullshitting and I was like, "Oh, I know who this guy is." And uh I I had known that he lived in Nashville just from knowing Yeah.
Being a sports fan.
And we just hit it off and like thank God he was there, man. Cuz it was like
He said the same thing about you. I would describe on-site like a back surgery that you need. Like how was surgery? It was [ __ ] awful. It was like weeks of misery, but 6 months later like I can do everything that I used to be able to do. And that's how I felt when I left. I was like
Not cured, but I'm like, "Wow, I feel so much better." And it was Yeah. It was
Jessie James Decker
He came home so just like he was floating.
Yeah. It's like he just needed Listen, you both have amazing wives that will talk to you about anything and everything, but sometimes you just need a little outside
Ken Rideout
Definitely
Jessie James Decker
Perspective, outside conversation because you both you're biased because we love y'all and we think you're the greatest men in the whole world and so it's like it's hard to hear, you know, you're wonderful and you're great and it's going to be okay. It's like you're just saying that you're my wife. Like I need to hear from someone else and and have that time. And he loved that experience. It was life-changing for him. You know, he had a hard time after football, figuring out his identity. He's like, "Who am I?" That's who he was.
That's what he did. He loved being around guys in the locker. He loved the camaraderie. He loved having a coach. He loved having a job to do and having to be there for someone in a team. And, you know, winning together, losing together. You just imagine not having that anymore. That's got to be a hard
Process and transition. And I know that he had a hard time with it and it was just such a blessing to be able to go there and you made it an even better experience. He came home and all he could talk about was you.
Ken Rideout
Well, we would go for a walk and we're just talking about like our own struggles and we're like I was like, "Dude, we look like two guys from Brokeback Mountain. We're like walking around on this horse on this horse pasture and I'm like [laughter and gasps] and we're just talking about why we're there and stuff and he's telling me some of the things and I go, "Dude, are you insane? You played in the effing Super Bowl. You played division one baseball." I'm like, "Get over it." It ends sometimes.
Like, move on to the next thing. Like,
Jessie James Decker
You sound like me. That's how I
Ken Rideout
Was walking into every place. Like, I'm Eric Decker and I'm handsome. I'm like, "Come on, dude." You know, we had a we had a really fun time. And I have a lot of friends that have done that like struggled when they left their sport. Like my friend Dustin Porier unfortunately had this runin with the cops at the Atlanta airport. Him and I just came back from a different type of psychedelic retreat in Mexico. But I was just telling your assistant like of all the things that I've tried like DMT, Ibeine, you you name it.
Jessie James Decker
I don't know what any of this is. You're saying
Ken Rideout
All like psychedelic therapies, like anything.
Jessie James Decker
I've never even smoked weed. Like I don't
Ken Rideout
Neither has my wife. She can't relate to anything.
Jessie James Decker
I'm just like I don't I've smoked hookah, but I just like, you know, I don't know. I don't know what any of this is.
Ken Rideout
My wife was like this, you're going to go do I in Mexico? And I was like, yeah. And she's like, I just Googled it. It says it's the Mount Everest of psychedelics. I'm like, yeah. I'm like, I'm going right to the top. But I will tell you that of all the things I've tried, and this is like a free ad for on-site, on-site was the most impactful because it gave you like real world like action items that you can take dayto-day and like gave you a new perspective on things hammered in over like 5 days of intense therapy.
It was hard work, man.
It was a lot of crying and I was like, I'm not a big crier and I'm like, I've cried enough here to last me a lifetime. Thank you.
Jessie James Decker
It's good though. You just like let it out.
Ken Rideout
I had to
Just let it out. Felt good though to let it out
Jessie James Decker
100%.
Ken Rideout
But it was great spending time with Eric. I love him. He's such a nice guy. Like I know anytime I could call like when and when he called and was like, "All the trees are down in my yard." I'm like, "I'm coming over with my chainsaw." Then I get there and I'm like, "Sorry, dude. I have no man skills. My chainsaw doesn't work
Jessie James Decker
During the ice storm."
Ken Rideout
Yeah. When all those trees were down in your yard. How was
Jessie James Decker
I mean, and you know, Eric, imagine Eric being Mr. Plant Bay garden guy, mountain man. I mean, him just standing out there looking at all his yard like [snorts] it's gone.
Ken Rideout
When I went out there, I'm like, "Dude, you're never there's like 10,000 trees down." I'm like, "You're never going to finish this on your own." I'm like, "You need to hire someone."
Jessie James Decker
I thought he thought he could. It was crazy.
Ken Rideout
But listen, I want to be sensitive of your time and I want to make sure we get to everything. Jess James Decker Fit Club. What is it?
Jessie James Decker
Oh my goodness.
Ken Rideout
And how do we find it and how do women get involved?
Jessie James Decker
Just go to jjdit.com. This honestly just fell into my lap. I've always loved fitness. I love being active. I love being in shape. I love um rallying women together. I know what it's like to, you know, gain weight and not feel like yourself and then feel like I don't know what to do. And I I just feel like sometimes a lot of these fitness programs just feel really complicated.
Ken Rideout
Yep.
Jessie James Decker
And I'm not a trainer. I'm not a nutritionist. I am not I'm not even going to pretend to be. I don't even know what a lot of the ter terminology is. I don't know how to count macros and I'm not going to pretend that I know any of this stuff. But I think that's why this works.
Ken Rideout
Yeah.
Jessie James Decker
Because I'm your really fit girlfriend that has figured out how to do it and I'm going to make it as clean and clear as possible so we can take all the complicated [ __ ] out of it. I'm just going to This is what you're going to do every day.
This is how you're going to do it. This is how long you're going to do it. How many times a week are you going to do it? And I'm going to give you some meal suggestions and that's it. And we're going to get excited. We're going to get in the best shape of our life because we can and we should. You're two steps away from being in the best shape of your life. And one is mentality and one is consistency. If you mentally tell yourself, I'm going to get in the best shape of my life.
I'm going to have the hottest ass. I'm going to have the tightest tummy. I'm going to have toned arms. And then you show up for yourself every day, you're you're going to get there. And so I just felt like I wanted to share in that with these women that I could tell were just having a hard time or struggling. And it also just kind of helped motivate me and push me. It's holding me accountable. I'm holding them accountable. And we're at 40,000 subscribers now. And it's continuing to grow.
And I am just in awe.
Ken Rideout
Well, if I can say anything about consistency, consistency is a superpower. And when you don't have consistency, you're a slave to your emotions. And your emotions can tell you anything. Every single day I feel like [ __ ] I don't want to do this. I would never listen to that emotion cuz I know that as soon as I start moving that's going to fade away and eventually when I'm done I'm like
People ask me do you ever get a runner's high cuz I've run like 10 miles a day for years. I say yes I get a runner's high as soon as I stop. I'm like so high that I did it again.
Yes. Gotcha.
Jessie James Decker
And that's [clears throat] that's that's what I always say. Just imagine how you're you'll feel when it's done.
Ken Rideout
No one ever regretted a hard workout.
Jessie James Decker
No one ever you're pissed off work out. Yep. sad workout, upset workout, happy workout. Just work out. And when you're done, you will feel 10 times better. You'll forget about No one thinks about the [ __ ] they're dealing with in the middle of a workout. I'm sorry. You just It's something that happens in your body and your brain where it just disappears and that's it.
Ken Rideout
Yep. I love it. And I think that like I said earlier about you sharing those photos of your transformation is like, and I always say this about everyone, like no one's special. We're all the same. If you think someone has like some superpower, they're better than you, like they they their mind works different, like you're lying to yourself. We're all the same, including you and I. So, if someone looks at you and like, I want to be fit like that, well, join the fit club and start doing what she's doing.
It's not a secret. This is what works.
Jessie James Decker
There is no secret to it. And yeah, I've always been fit. I've always been petite. I've always been genetically blessed. But as soon as I got pregnant, that went away. And I was like, "Oh my god, this isn't this isn't melting off." Yeah. Like these other women are breastfeed. I'm holding on to this. Oh, this isn't going away.
Oh, those genetics at 20 are not here. I have to actually do something about it. And so, yeah, knowing that I actually had to work for it. I mean, it's in time and time again over 10 years, four different times, it really did teach me a lot and learn my body and I know what to do. And it takes years and years to build muscle. But once you have that muscle, it'll stick around as long as you're do it.
Ken Rideout
Yep. Well, all the new moms out there especially, get on the fit club.
Jessie James Decker
Yes. Join the club.
Ken Rideout
What's the latest with Kittenish?
Jessie James Decker
Kittenish is doing great. The store is crushing it. We just got picked up at Macy's and Nordstam and and Dillards and things are things are going really well.
Ken Rideout
When you post your pictures with the outfits, they're like really impactful cuz I saw one of them. It's like a um it's kind of like a you would probably wear it outside, but my wife would only wear it in the bedroom. It's like red red with like white ruffle things on it, shorts, and like this cut off top.
Oh, I love it. When she puts it on, I'm like, "Thank you, Jesus. It's
It's go time."
Jessie James Decker
It's so cute. I know. Oh, I know. They are sexy. They're cute and it's fun and I love it. And, you know, that was a big chapter that I had to um I that I had in my life. I was running it by myself for years and now I
Um ended up doing a deal and I have someone helping me quite a bit. I'm not cool.
Having to run it like I used to and it's been a blessing. It's it gave me the space to be able to start my fit program.
Ken Rideout
Nice. Oh, I didn't realize you found a partner for it.
Jessie James Decker
Yeah. I ended up um selling a good amount of it. So,
Ken Rideout
Can you say to who?
Okay. Well, who whoever it is, congratulations on finding a good partner in Jess.
Jessie James Decker
But I I obviously I remain the founder and creative and involved. Obviously, there it's me. It's kitish me. But it's been really nice and it was a really smart business decision to know that it was time to have someone smarter and better at running a business like this to be able to be more hands-on than I was able to do. I was I took it as far as I could take it and I knew that it was time to find a partner to be able to take it to the next level.
Especially because I've got a lot of kid. I got it so much and it was it's a lot to run one business.
Ken Rideout
But that's what makes you so good at what you do.
Real good leaders and high achievers know what they're good at and what they're not good at and they try to like plug the weaknesses and protect the weaknesses and exploit the strengths. Like if you're into the
I always tell people this. Just because you're into designing clothes and you have great ideas, that doesn't mean you can run a clothing business. You know how hard that business is. There's about 10,000 other things you have to be awesome at, including marketing, sourcing,
Inventory finance. I had an inventory finance company. Those businesses are so hard to finance. And if you can get financing, it's like 30% interest, 15 to 20%. It's crazy. So to have someone handle the business and allow you to still have the creative control.
Jessie James Decker
It's a dream come true just because I'm
I I just I care so much and I can be a little
I know you do. a little controlling attention to detail with things like that. I felt like it was really becoming too much on my plate and it was taking away from the creative part which is the design and the beauty and the creativity and and so it's been the perfect situation and scenario and I'm just so grateful.
Ken Rideout
And what about the new book,
Jessie James Decker
The Secret Sauce? The Secret Sauce is out. When will this be going out?
The 7th, the day after the book comes out. The secret sauce is officially out and I am just over the moon. A book with my mom and my sister are family recipes. Family secret recipes are finally all in one place. And just like all my other businesses, I take anything complicated out of it. It is just as black and white, as simple as it gets. No, I'm not here to I'm not a chef. I'm a good home cook. I'm not here to overwhelm anybody. I'm here to make your life as easy as possible.
And I'm sharing the most amazing, delicious recipes um that anybody can make and share with their family. Food is my love language. And yeah,
Ken Rideout
The fact that you could get Eric to do that secret sauce video that he did on uh Instagram is crazy.
I look at him,
Jessie James Decker
He's such a good sport.
Ken Rideout
I look at him and I'm like, I love this guy even more. I can't believe he's doing these videos for his wife. He's the best.
Jessie James Decker
Sneaky good sense of humor. Like he just That's a very dry sense of humor to be able to kind of pull that off. He's just like, you know, it's all it's it's fun. It's all in good fun.
Ken Rideout
I can just imagine you behind the scenes directing the whole thing like, "No, with the holes, you dope. Go like this like you're shooting a gun."
Jessie James Decker
Yeah, he's he's uh he's he's good. He's good at all of that. He enjoys it.
Ken Rideout
I love it. Well, Jess, you've said it.
You said everything it all said it all. I want to be sensitive to your time. I know your uh PR people were like, "How long do you need?" And part of me was like, "F you. I'll take as long as I want." No offense.
Jessie James Decker
No, they're they're they've been they've been great.
Ken Rideout
And I know we've got like a meat locker cold in here. So, I know I'm freezing. Freezing me out.
I know you are. I was about to get up and go turn it down. Then I was like, "No, let me
Jessie James Decker
Are you cold?" I know she's freezing.
Ken Rideout
I'm sorry. It's okay.
We try to keep it cold. Keep everyone alive.
Jessie James Decker
Yeah. I like it. Just like in a Wolf of Wall Street.
Ken Rideout
Hell yeah. Freezing cold in here.
Well, Jess, thanks so much. I love you guys. I love you. I appreciate everything that you do. You're killing it.
Jessie James Decker
Thank you.
Ken Rideout
Congratulations on all your success, honestly.
You're one of my most impressive friends.
Jessie James Decker
Well, I really appreciate that. And we we love and adore you guys, too.
Ken Rideout
And I am going to bring Tensei over to spend time with you cuz she's a super fan.
Jessie James Decker
Please come on.
Ken Rideout
You got it, guys. Thanks for being with us. Please leave a review on Apple and Spotify. Love you guys. Boom. All right, guys. I hope you enjoyed that conversation as much as I did. Please take a quick minute to subscribe to the podcast wherever you're listening. This is a new show, so subscribing makes a huge difference. Please also take a minute to give it a review and leave a comment on Apple Podcast and on Spotify. You can also subscribe and leave a comment on YouTube. Again, this is really important for us, especially now since we're just getting started.
Ken Rideout
Thanks a lot for being with us and we'll see you next
Key takeaways
- Gratitude can help keep success in perspective while you keep moving toward the next goal.
- Consistency matters more than waiting for the perfect mood to exercise.
- A hard workout can be worth doing even when starting feels difficult.
- Know which parts of a business rely on your strengths and where a partner can help.
- Cooking at home gives you more control over what goes into a meal.
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