Episode 1072 - Bridgett Riley
In this episode Jeremy chats with Bridgett Riley, former Yellow Ranger as well as cast member from WMAC Masters.
Bridgett Riley - Episode 1072
SUMMARY
In this engaging conversation, Bridgett Riley shares her unique journey from gymnastics to martial arts, detailing her transition to karate at a late age and her subsequent rise in the kickboxing world. She discusses the challenges she faced, including overcoming fear and the pressure of competition, as well as the support from her family and mentors.
Bridgett's passion for martial arts shines through as she recounts her experiences training at the Jet Center and her determination to become a world champion. In this conversation, Bridgett shares her journey from being a Power Ranger, a cast member of WMAC Master and to a successful stunt performer and boxer, detailing the challenges she faced along the way, including her battle with cancer. She emphasizes the importance of hard work, resilience, and the support of her community in overcoming obstacles and pursuing her passions.
TAKEAWAYS
Bridgett transitioned from gymnastics to karate at age 15.
She found a sense of belonging in martial arts.
Competitive spirit drove her to excel in karate tournaments.
Bridgett's first professional fight was against a seasoned champion.
She faced challenges in her early fights but remained determined.
Training at the Jet Center was a pivotal moment in her career.
She developed a passion for kickboxing and wanted to go pro.
Bridgett's journey highlights the importance of resilience and support.
She emphasizes the thrill of competition and the camaraderie in martial arts.
Bridgett's experience as a Power Ranger shaped her career.
Transitioning from acting to stunt work opened new opportunities.
The camaraderie among stunt performers is vital.
Hard work and persistence are key to success in martial arts.
Bridgett faced significant challenges, including injuries and career setbacks.
Her journey through cancer taught her resilience and gratitude.
The importance of community support during tough times.
Bridgett's passion for boxing reignited her fighting spirit.
She emphasizes the power of prayer and hope in healing.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction
02:01 Bridgett's Journey into Martial Arts
19:12 Transitioning from Gymnastics to Karate
20:48 The Shift to Kickboxing and Competitive Spirit
22:19 Bridgett's Pro Debut and Early Fights
24:35 The Drive for Success and Early Challenges
27:59 Transitioning to California and Training with Legends
30:54 The Power Rangers Experience and Its Impact
41:42 WMAC Masters and the Next Steps in Her Career
50:16 Overcoming Setbacks and Finding New Opportunities
53:59 The Importance of Hard Work and Persistence
55:26 Building Relationships in the Stunt Industry
58:03 Transitioning from Stunts to Boxing
01:00:25 Signing with Don King and Boxing Career
01:03:01 The Unique Journey of a Martial Artist
01:04:37 Redirection Through Life's Challenges
01:08:33 Facing Cancer and Personal Transformation
01:13:45 Finding Hope and Purpose After Adversity
After listening to the episode, it would be exciting for us to know your thoughts about it.
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Show Transcript
Jeremy Lesniak (07:21.9)
Hey, what's going on everybody? Welcome back to another episode of a whistle kick commercial arts radio and on today's episode I'm joined by Bridget Riley Bridget. Thank you so much for being here looking forward to our conversation and to all of you out there if you're new to the show, please make sure you check out whistle kick martial arts radio commons place to go for the full show notes the transcript all the links all the things that we talk about any of stuff that Bridget sends over for us to share with you. It's all going to be referenced there.
Now, of course, we are more than this podcast. The ways that we connect, educate, and entertain all of you is bigger than martial arts radio. Go to whistlekick.com and find out about our events, our training programs, our apparel, protective equipment, and a whole bunch of other stuff that we're doing to support you, the traditional martial artists of the world. And Bridget, thanks for being on the show. Thanks for your time.
Bridgett (08:12.647)
Thank you so much for having me. I feel very grateful and yeah, cool.
Jeremy Lesniak (08:19.278)
Well. You are my fourth recording of the day and. I tend to have these themes as I go through day by day and today's theme has been a little bit more. How do you want to start? So I'm going to ask you that question. We're here to talk about martial arts and your journey. How do you want to start?
Bridgett (08:41.549)
open. like, I'm just easy peasy lemon squeezy. So what else? What else?
Jeremy Lesniak (08:48.344)
Alright, well, then let's take the easy way out. We're going to rewind the tape and we're going to go back to what is your first experience with martial arts?
Bridgett (09:04.123)
Okay, wow, we're going way back. My first experience with martial arts is, so I was a gymnast. So I came up doing gymnastics and I was decent, but I wasn't great. And I wanted to be great. And my brother, my little brother, we're like Irish twins. He was in karate. And I mean, he was in it. He was like a little Bruce Lee.
Jeremy Lesniak (09:31.342)
Hmm.
Bridgett (09:32.869)
And I'd always go to his karate tournaments and he'd always come to my gymnastic meets. And I don't know, just the more I kept going to his karate tournaments and I'd see the girls sparring and the camaraderie, I was like, I bet I can do that. I really do. And he would laugh at me. He would make fun of me. And I was just like, I decided I talked to my mom and dad and I said,
Jeremy Lesniak (09:50.542)
Hmm.
Bridgett (10:00.933)
I think I want to stop gymnastics and get into karate. they're like, what? Because I mean, so I started really late. I started at nine, but I caught up really fast and I got to a place where it was seven days a week. It was my whole life. So gymnastics and it's an investment, you know, and my family, you know, put a lot into it. And but I was just, I want to be in karate.
Jeremy Lesniak (10:06.766)
How long have you been doing gymnastics?
Bridgett (10:29.433)
And they said, OK, honey, if you if you really, really want to do this. Let's do it. So at like I was I was like 15 and a half. That's when I walked in as a white belt. Well, actually, I watched I kept watching. I go, let me me watch a class and check it out. And then they're like, OK, so I watched one. And they're like, OK, you want to jump in the next night? I was like, I need to watch one more.
And then they said, okay, so the next, went on for like five days. I was nervous. I was really intimidated. was nervous.
Jeremy Lesniak (11:02.882)
Yeah. But you'd committed to ending gymnastics.
Bridgett (11:07.536)
I, yeah, I was, I was done. I just felt like gymnastics was becoming a job. And, and I just, I don't know. I wanted to do karate so bad, but I was nervous, especially when I was there and I was a big chicken.
Jeremy Lesniak (11:23.99)
You do so long long time audience members might remember I haven't I haven't talked about this much for a while, but I coached a boys rec gymnastics program for a few years and so I got to see yeah I got to see that contrast. So we're training. It's in the same, you know, of course the same gym as the girls. There wasn't a boys competitive team at this gym, but I got to see the girls and talking about you you said you started late at 9 and that might make people say well, you know. No, no, that is late.
Bridgett (11:39.927)
Okay.
Jeremy Lesniak (11:53.472)
You're generally if you're going to go anywhere with gymnastics, you're on the floor it it what you're saying to I was it would have said three I'm sure it depends on on The gym and how they're starting people but you need those years of conditioning, you know your joint ligaments Tendons joints strength muscle all that stuff. I mean, that's really what the first Five six seven years is you're doing very little skill. It's a lot of conditioning and it's quite serious and in
you see a lot of girls burn out.
Bridgett (12:25.103)
Yes, I kind of got burnt out. And I got a little fearful. I'm like, the tricks were getting really hard. And, you know, back then it was class three, two, one, elite. And, you know, I got to two. And at the end, I just about was getting ready to go into class one. And, you know, I just, you know, full disclosure, I was getting a little fearful. And I and that's that's not good.
Jeremy Lesniak (12:26.642)
and
Bridgett (12:53.131)
And I was balking, you know, and I started, you know, it's like I had a Sukhahara for my vault and I'd have it. I'd totally have it. No problem. And then I would chicken out and then I would have it. And then I would, you know, I just kept going through all that. it's so, you know, so much is mental and so much, you know, it just affects you. And, you know, and I felt guilty. Like, I cannot go out like a big chicken. But then then I'm watching these girls fight.
And a lot of people were like, you're crazy. Why would you want to do that? I'm like, my gosh, it's the most exciting thing on planet Earth. Are you kidding me? And yeah, it was it was a decision and is the best decision I made one of them.
Jeremy Lesniak (13:38.964)
So you watched class after class after class waiting to be comfortable or was there something else that needed to happen for you?
Bridgett (13:48.507)
think I was waiting to have the cojones. was just like, I was like, you know, and then they kept saying, come on, come on, jump, jump, you know, jump in. And I was just like, all right, you know what? I have to do it. I have to do it. can't keep procrastinating. So I jumped in there and I was, I was home. I was like, this is where I belong. Instantly, instantly. I knew, I knew it. I'm like, right where I was.
Jeremy Lesniak (14:15.448)
Were you in the same class as your brother? Did that make it easier or harder for you?
Bridgett (14:18.776)
So we would all be missed.
Bridgett (14:23.749)
Probably easier. A little bit of both. mean, I I didn't get, of course, invited to the sparring where he was because he's a black body. So amazing. That took time. That took time. But they normally didn't let you spar right away. And they let me because I said, I want to. It's so it's just so weird. It's like once I got in there, all the fear was gone. You know, it's kind of like the same thing when I used to kickbox.
You know, all the way up, you know, that that behind, know, when you're getting ready in the locker room, the walk up, you know, inside my inner monologue is I'm terrified. What am I doing? And I can't let people know it. I'm a fraud. And then get in that ring to stare down, which is like my favorite. then when once the bell rings, it's gone, it's on. And it's kind of a similar thing. It was like once you get past that fear and you face it, you walk through it.
Jeremy Lesniak (14:53.262)
Hmm.
Bridgett (15:23.106)
It just, boom, just everything opens up.
Jeremy Lesniak (15:26.658)
The stare down for a fight is your favorite. You like that part. Okay, okay. We're building a picture of who you are. Why?
Bridgett (15:30.84)
I love I love it. just... Cuckoo! No. Yeah. I'm not mad at you. But yeah, I I just, I love all that. I love that like, gosh, it's on, you know, like we're about, we are about to get down, you know? And it's just like intense, you know?
Jeremy Lesniak (15:38.624)
No, it's not a judgment, not at all a judgment.
Bridgett (15:58.669)
You know, all these emotions and, you know, it's like, okay, it's time. You know, now when I'm looking at her, it's you and me and it's going to be me. So that's kind of my whole attitude. Like, come on. Like I just get geeked up. It's thrilling.
Jeremy Lesniak (16:15.47)
So let's talk about what happened in between there, because I'm imagining you didn't start kickboxing day two in class. So you get in there, it's feeling like home, you're loving it, you're challenging maybe some boundaries because you're feeling comfortable and you want to embrace this and make it yours.
Jeremy Lesniak (16:38.732)
Did you find that you had some natural talent for it or did you have to work really hard?
Bridgett (16:45.444)
So I felt like traditional hard style karate. It was coming very easy for me. I had the flexibility. I had the balance. You know, I had power. I was a powerful gymnast. And it was coming really easy. I just, I loved it. You couldn't get me out of there. was like, you know, I didn't want to, I was like, I want to be the first one there and the last one to leave.
And I loved it so much. was like, I wanted to go every night. wanted to go. You know, you couldn't keep me out of there. And so I climbed very quickly. But I loved the karate tournaments. That that was where I was just like, this is the best thing in the world. And with my brother and I just I loved it. I loved sparring right away. I was real aggressive. You know, and back then.
Jeremy Lesniak (17:35.565)
Bye.
Bridgett (17:44.473)
100 years ago, I was fighting little boys, you they threw us all together and I was beating all of them and I was just like, this is great. I just loved it. I forms. I loved sparring. I loved sparring the most.
Jeremy Lesniak (18:02.126)
So you're jumping in, you're changing from something that, let's face it, you said 15 and a half is when you made this change. Anybody who's been 15 and a half knows how hard it is to be a teenager, right? We all know, it doesn't matter what you're doing. Your best days are half miserable because people are ruthless.
Bridgett (18:28.604)
Yes.
Jeremy Lesniak (18:29.356)
And what I'm finding interesting is you left something that was...
Generally accepted to be done as a teenage girl To go do something that is rarely accepted by anyone at any time
Bridgett (18:46.283)
Yes.
Jeremy Lesniak (18:47.266)
Now I don't know if the kids in your school were as merciless as the ones in mine, but even if they were better, I can't imagine that they were high-fiving you for making this change.
Bridgett (19:00.536)
School was a trip because I had gone to Catholic school, grade, know, kindergarten through eighth. And then I said, I want to go to public school. And that was another big change, you know, because all the girls were going to private all girl high schools. And I was like, I want to be with boys and coed. And my mom's like, OK, that's what you want to do. We're going to do it. So. And then coming in, everybody knew everybody. So.
I didn't know anybody. It was rare, you know, because all my Catholic girlfriends went to Catholic high school. So that was kind of a trip. And then they changed the boundaries in our neighborhood. So my brother went to a different high school. was like, and then his best friend was at Oakville. So I was like, OK, I've got at least I've got him. But yeah, high school was a little freshman year was tough. Sophomore year was tough. I think getting into karate.
people thought it was cool. They're like, and it was so rare back then. Like now everybody, your mom is in karate. You know, like it's so much more popular now, like Starbucks on every corner, like MMA gyms. And I'm like, wow, back then I was kind of a rare thing. And I think I stood out more and it really helped me come out of my shell. It really helped me get more confidence because in gymnastics,
Jeremy Lesniak (20:02.06)
Really?
Bridgett (20:29.495)
I was still kind of a wallflower and a little shy and kind of geeky. had my big glasses and we finally got me contact lenses and but the girls and gymnastics can be mean. And I just remembered I don't like being around a lot of girls. I just didn't like it. They're mean. And, you know, I wasn't little Miss Popular Girl when I got into karate and I had this camaraderie with all the guys.
I just fit and...
Jeremy Lesniak (21:03.278)
So you're saying with all the guys, were there women in the program?
Bridgett (21:06.583)
a couple, but not a lot. you know, it was just kind of cool. was like, I was one of the guys, though, you know, I was just one of the boys.
Jeremy Lesniak (21:21.134)
So you start doing competitions, you're really enjoying that. You're finding your competitive out.
Bridgett (21:28.884)
Yes, in a different way.
Jeremy Lesniak (21:29.794)
Did any of that, yeah, did any of that fear that you were finding with some of the more advanced work in gymnastics, did that show up in any way in competition? In which large competition?
Bridgett (21:42.763)
I was always so in like in the karate tournaments. Yeah, I was always really, really nervous, but it was an exciting nervous. And it's just like once I got in there, just all those nerves go away. And, you know, and I was just like, man, this is this is awesome.
Jeremy Lesniak (21:47.117)
Yeah.
Jeremy Lesniak (22:07.51)
And so what's the next point on the journey for us to talk about? Is it college? Leaving high school, something changes? Okay.
Bridgett (22:16.19)
Well, I didn't go.
Jeremy Lesniak (22:22.863)
What does that look like over the next few years then for you as it relates to martial arts?
Bridgett (22:28.47)
So since I stopped gymnastics in high school, was able to try out audition, try out. we had cheerleaders, but we also had Golden Girls, not the TV show. No, but you know, the Golden Girls, it sounds so old.
Jeremy Lesniak (22:43.384)
You know, I was.
That would be a great team though. I don't know what it would be, but that would be fun. I would go to those games.
Bridgett (22:50.485)
They wouldn't want.
Bridgett (22:55.349)
So I got to dance and because of gymnastics and the floor exercise, you know, we had dance. was, I just was a natural. I never trained in dancing, but I thought I'm going to try out for this. And so I became a golden girl and it was a lot of fun. And I got, was dancing. I was doing karate tournaments and just like the karate, really picked up the dancing and
had such a great time and things started changing and, you know, life got a lot of fun, a lot of fun my junior, senior year and busy. then so then once I got my black belt and I'm competing and competing and I just started to kind of get disqualified here and there because, know, in karate, it's a game of tag. It's you know, who's the fastest bank stop call for points where
I want to keep hitting and I'm like, I'll take your shot to give my shot. And I just, I just want to keep hitting. And they're like, you know, you ought to try continuous fighting. So back then.
Jeremy Lesniak (24:00.846)
Somebody pulled you aside and said, maybe this isn't the sparring format for you. I've known a few like that.
Bridgett (24:07.157)
They're like, let's take it to right. Let's go to the next level. So I did like a continuous sparring thing at this event. I was like, this is really cool. And then all the guys started kickboxing back then. This was back in St. Louis and Belleville, Illinois, which were really close. And this was with Jim Boucher, who was connected with kick K.I.C.K. And he goes, well,
Jeremy Lesniak (24:10.499)
Yeah.
Bridgett (24:36.788)
And he's the one who named me Baby Doll since I'm like 15. I've been called Baby Doll and he goes, Baby Doll, do you want to do kickboxing? I'm like, yeah, put me in that ring, man. I'm ready. You know, come on. And he goes, OK. So he tried to find me a fight. He could not find an amateur fight. So he said, listen. And, you know, because back then it just wasn't. It wasn't that popular. And he said, if you if you really want to do this, you got to go pro. We got to turn your pro right off the bat. I said, let's go.
So I never had an amateur.
Jeremy Lesniak (25:07.022)
We gotta pause in here, because I've gotta know what your parents are thinking about this.
Bridgett (25:12.085)
My parents were so like, are you sure? And I'm like, yes, yes. And they're like, they were so supportive. They're like, whatever, know, just whatever I wanted to do, they were just really behind me. They were very edifying. And they, you know, they were nervous, but my dad was just like, get him. You he loved it. He's always like, you beat up little boys back when you weren't supposed to. So let's go. And
So I was just like, okay, let's do it. So my very first fight, which is my pro debut, I fought the US champion at that time from Kansas City, Sweet Denise Taylor. She'd already had, I was like, I think I was 19. I was pretty young, like yeah, 19 or 20. we went, it was in St. Louis.
Jeremy Lesniak (25:54.658)
How old are you? How old are you at this time?
Jeremy Lesniak (26:01.923)
Yeah.
Bridgett (26:09.118)
So she came in and she'd already fought Cathy Long. She had already fought, you know, like all these great fighters. And maybe I was just too stupid to know better, but I was like, let's do this. And she was so nice to me. I just remember at the, you know, the press conference and all the, you know, the, the marketing we were doing, she was just like, hmm, this little girl, I'm going to kick that.
crap, whatever. I could just see it, you know, and she was being so nice to me and, and she was great, but we fought and I won. It was five rounds and I won and she was livid. She grabbed the microphone out of the ring announcer's hand and said, I want a rematch. I got robbed. This is a hometown decision. Let's do it again in my hometown. This is BS. And I was just like, okay.
So like a month later, we went to Kansas City, her hometown. were signs everywhere. I kid you not. Signs, know, you know, this sweet Denise, sweet Denise. I got booed when I'm walking up to the ring. I was like, I'm like, whoa. But that motivated me. It motivated me. So, yeah, I ended up like busting her nose and I cut her and they had to stop the fight in the third round. So I won by TKO. So it was cool.
Jeremy Lesniak (27:16.507)
Pro wrestling or something. That's in. Yeah.
Jeremy Lesniak (27:29.08)
So she must be losing her mind at that point.
Bridgett (27:31.795)
She was, she was, um, she was pretty cool. She grabbed the mic again and she just said, uh, I cannot take anything away from you. You, you, you did it. You totally won this fight. And I, you know, she tipped her head off to me. She was very respectful. And it was, yeah, it was pretty cool.
Jeremy Lesniak (27:52.526)
That's really cool. what's that feeling? Because those are your first two fights, right? I would imagine a month later you didn't have anything in between.
Bridgett (28:00.337)
Yeah, those were my first two fights, so I
Jeremy Lesniak (28:02.382)
So you're 2 and 0 with.
at least one of the best people in the division.
Bridgett (28:12.509)
Yeah, no experience. I really didn't have any experience and I was.
Jeremy Lesniak (28:14.222)
Okay, I'm glad you said it. didn't want to say it.
And what's going through your mind at this point? I mean, you? More. OK.
Bridgett (28:24.211)
I said, want more. want a world title. I want to go all the way. I love this. I was absolutely addicted and hooked and I thought it was indestructible. I really did. I was like, let's go. And I was, I was green and you know, I was, I was rough around the edges and we, well, we just kept getting me more fights and not a lot, but I, I just kept, I just wanted to stay busy as busy as you could get back then.
Jeremy Lesniak (28:40.792)
Hmm.
Bridgett (28:53.747)
because fights fell out, girls got hurt, girls backed out. You know, there was a lot of that. And I took a fight that I wasn't ready for, and it was against Ramona Gatto, who is, you know, bad girl. And we went out to California, Kathy Long was there. It was a big show.
Jeremy Lesniak (29:11.682)
By the way, for the audience, Cathy Long was on episode 274. She's become a bit of a friend, which is one of the trippiest parts of my life. To get a text message from someone that you've looked up to for a long time, and they send you a meme or something, there are a few folks like that. I'm just, what's this my line? She's an amazing woman, she's so cool, but please continue. Yeah, such a good heart. She's just, yeah.
Bridgett (29:16.754)
out
Bridgett (29:30.898)
Pretty cool.
Amazing, amazing all the way around, all the way around. my gosh. She's and she's incredible. And she, she was why, I mean, well, I'll get to that, but she was such an inspiration for me, for, for, for pretty much every female in the sport and men, man. And yeah, she was there and I was like, well, I, I came in heavy, you know, not to make all these excuses.
But I lost and I lost that fight badly and I was devastated. was devastated. Yes. And it was on a big scale.
Jeremy Lesniak (30:08.45)
Was it your first loss?
Jeremy Lesniak (30:14.47)
What was your record at that point?
Bridgett (30:16.422)
I don't even remember. I'm so horrible with like my timeline and my facts. I'm horrible like that. Too many concussions. But I didn't have a lot of experience and you know, dropped all this weight the night before like an idiot. I came in heavy and I did a hard weight cut and completely unhealthy. You know, you do what you gotta do.
Jeremy Lesniak (30:24.302)
That's okay, that's okay.
Bridgett (30:43.718)
And then the ring broke like I was kind of doing OK. And the ring broke and it was cold. We were outside. And so there it was like a 10 minute break and they fixed the ring. And we continued. And man, she got me in the corner and she just let go. And I went down. I got back up. But when we go, go, go, go, boom, I got dropped. I got back up. And then they stopped it. I was like, what? What? I was devastated. I did not want to come out.
Jeremy Lesniak (30:59.372)
enough.
Bridgett (31:12.462)
And that's I remember Kathy Long talked to me. She said, it's OK. You're all right. You know, get back in there. Get back up on your horse. And she gave me so much encouragement. You know, I was just like, wow, that's when I decided. I got back to St. Louis that I need I need to move. And I loved my people. I loved Jim Boucher. mean, I was with him through karate, through kickboxing, practically raised me and.
Jeremy Lesniak (31:34.03)
Hmm.
Bridgett (31:41.073)
That was a very hard thing to lead my people, but I knew I have to go be with somebody else if I really want to do this. And my brother, Patrick, who is amazing, he kept and my dad, they kept throwing black belt magazines in front of my face, you know, with Kathy on the cover, all these. And they're like, if you want to get there, if you want to be that you really want to do this, you got to go out to L.A., you got to go out to California.
and you need go to the Jets Center. And I was like, OK, I had $100, my Nissan 200X. I drove across the country. I showed up. Isn't it great car? I love that car. Oh, if that car could talk. That car was my baby. And I got out there and I didn't have any idea if Sensei Benny the Jet, Yukita's was going to even be there. And this is the original Jets Center on Friar Street in Van Nuys, California.
Jeremy Lesniak (32:19.288)
great car.
That was a great con.
Bridgett (32:40.698)
And I just show up. mean, like, what an idiot. You couldn't even do that. I had nothing scheduled, nothing planned, but I was there and I walk in and I see this sign, $15 a train for the day. And I already had it out. I had my money and I look up and Sensei Benny is right there. And I was just like, huh? I was, I was starstruck. was like, my gosh, he's here, you know, cause he could be doing seminars or on a movie and he happened to be there cause it's, it was all meant to be.
And I had my money and I said, I would like to train today. And he's like, OK, me how what you know, what's your what's your plan? I said, I'm going to be the next world champion. And he said, keep your money, go get dressed, let's see what you got, kid. And that was like music to my ears. So I get out there and I'm sparring some guy from Canada, some guy. And that's when I meet Lily, his sister, Lily, the.
In my opinion, one of the best females ever to fight. And she came up with all of them, you know, talk about hardcore. And when I saw Lily, I was like, my gosh, this is too good. This is too good. And she made a beeline to me and we had this connection from the start. And she said, Micha, let's see what you got.
And they watched me and she talked to me for a long time. She drilled me. She questioned me. She drilled me. And she said, you got it. You got your rough and your green, but you got it. And if you're serious about this, we'll, take over your career. And I just said, done. Cause so that was, that was my golden ticket.
Jeremy Lesniak (34:27.512)
few people on the show who have reigned with Benny. Benny's been on the show 816 if I've got that right. But there's, well no, I cheated. I looked, but I also looked like a minute ago. So yeah, 816. So there are very few episodes that I remember. There are a handful that I do, but not too many.
Bridgett (34:35.918)
memory.
Jeremy Lesniak (34:51.416)
But I remember talking to Benny and what I remember more is talking to a handful of other people who had a very similar story to you. This idea that I knew this is the place that I wanted to go. I didn't plan anything ahead, I just. I just went, I just showed up and in every single story I've heard that.
Bridgett (35:09.381)
Yep.
Jeremy Lesniak (35:14.53)
Benny opens the door. I've never heard a story where Benny or Kida says no.
And there's something special about that. There's something special about that that venue and you know I've never been there. I've never. I've done, you know, this smidge of seminar work that it seminars that that he's led.
But I'm pretty confident in saying there's something special about that space.
Bridgett (35:46.703)
Absolutely. Absolutely.
Jeremy Lesniak (35:48.546)
Something that I don't think I've ever heard described anywhere else. I've heard it described about people. I haven't heard it described in such a way that it's the same place popping up time and again. But please continue.
Bridgett (35:56.888)
huh.
Bridgett (36:05.985)
It was, it was just, it was such a special time because back then, I mean, and it was the original Jet Center. And it was special because what I loved about Benny and Blinky, Blinky Rodriguez was Lily's husband and he became my manager. So it was Blinky and he did a lot for everybody, for all the fighters, you know, he was a mastermind behind a lot of the business and the getting us fights.
and publicity and Blinky. God, he was my manager and Lily was my trainer. And what was so cool about them is as kickboxers, they had such a strong emphasis on pure boxing. They they they knew all the gyms in L.A. And, know, these gyms are not in the yellow pages back then. That's what we had. And, you know, they knew where to go. All these nostalgic
boxing gyms and they had a lot of the greats in history legends that would come to the Jet Center to work with them or help them. So there was a it was an advantage because not only was I learning kickboxing and really getting good and sharp, I was learning boxing and I had an advantage. I felt like I just had better hands than any girl I stepped in the ring with and and I love that. And I mean, Peter Sugarfoot Cunningham was a
constantly working with me. Roger Ewan who's in films and an amazing martial artist. I had these great people. Lily would say, work with my girl, work with my girl. It was a special place and she handpicked all the people that would work with me. And I was just like, I was so fortunate. I was just so, I was like, man, I couldn't wait to go to sleep, to get up, to go do.
that to go train. Yeah, so when I first got there... and Lily found my apartment.
Jeremy Lesniak (38:07.348)
working too? Okay.
Because I'm doing the math on this and I'm going, okay, even if they're not taking your money, even if they're just taking a cut, the prizes weren't that big and it's not adding up. So what were you doing for work?
Bridgett (38:21.654)
No, it was horrible. And I had no money. I really didn't not have a lot of money. But Lily found me a little teeny tiny studio apartment and one of my girlfriends when I move moved because that previous trip was a vacation and it was to test it out.
My girlfriend came out. was both of us in this teeny tiny box studio in Van Nuys and my neighbor was Peter Sugarfoot Cunningham and the guy I sparred from Canada had to leave. And so it just all fell into place. That apartment opened up. Lily said, get that apartment. And we did. And then I was like, well, I got to get a job. So I had a little bit of experience working at a bank back in St. Louis and I got a job at a bank. I would I would work.
on my lunch hour, and this is in like Northridge, California, I would run. I didn't care how nasty I was. I was like, I got to get this running. So I'd run on my lunch and then at night hit the Jet Center for training. And that went on not very long because a casting director saw me training at the Jet Center. And that's how I got into the entertainment industry.
Jeremy Lesniak (39:42.796)
And so was that something, I mean, we went out to LA, so was that even a goal? You must have known it was a possibility, because Benny was in movies.
Bridgett (39:55.126)
Okay, so full disclosure, I did one low budget film before I moved to LA because of promoter Dale Apollo Cook in Oklahoma. He had me on a couple of his cards that were great kickboxing. He was doing movies in the Philippines. And he said, baby doll, you want to come do this movie with me? I'm like, I don't, I don't know how to act. Are you kidding me? I'm not. And he goes, just let's, it's going to be great. So I went to the Philippines for about
six weeks shot this film. I was like, wow, because in karate you do demonstrations. So it was to me fight choreography and you know, was kind of like doing a demo. And I was like, I can do, I can do this. And it was great. I worked with these awesome guys, man. And they, the choreography I just learned, I learned on the set. So I did that little movie cut to, I thought I was horrible as an actor. And I'm like, gosh, all I want to do is fight now. So when I was at the jet center,
I was like, if you weren't a part of what I was trying to do, you were in my way. You're in my way. Get out of my way. So this casting director is like, hey, he was really watching me and kind of creepy. And I was just like, okay. And he was like, asking me questions. Do you work? And I was like, yeah, I work at this bank. And he goes, well, I have something for you that I think you should go do. And I said, I'm not an actor. I'm a fighter and I'm here to be the champion.
And he said, well, if you work one day, you can probably make as much as you do in a week at the bank. said, let's go. Let's go. So, right. It was.
Jeremy Lesniak (41:33.422)
He knew. He knew how to set it up for you.
Bridgett (41:36.501)
He did. He did. And he just went. I go, I'm not good actor. He read lines with me. And so I get there and I see all these Asian girls. I'm just like, huh? I'm like the only white chick. I'm like, what's going on here, man? I don't think I'm supposed to be here. But they they let me audition and it was the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. So they liked my read, which was shocking and.
they created a tiny little part because they did need to cast Yellow Ranger, which was, you know, an Asian actress, but they liked it.
Jeremy Lesniak (42:09.326)
You need to acknowledge that in that first iteration, the yellow Ranger was Asian and the black Ranger was black. And come on guys, you could you could have. But in.
Bridgett (42:18.666)
I know.
You could have moved that around a little bit. Yeah. But that's, I got it. And that's how I got in. And yeah, it was amazing being a Power Ranger. And well, at first I was a putty, humble beginnings and I would do creature work and I was a monster. And then they're like, okay, cause they had guys playing female.
Jeremy Lesniak (42:24.354)
Yeah. Yeah.
Bridgett (42:46.668)
Power Rangers and that's you know, it's a big no-no today, you know can't can't do that Yeah, there were guys and then we had a bunch of Japanese footage also from Saban Entertainment and Well, we had to start shooting everything now and they needed girls in as pink and yellow Ranger So it was great. I got to be a Ranger and you know I doubled Amy Jo Johnson as a person sometimes and then because I was a gymnast and she was a gymnast and then
Jeremy Lesniak (42:51.394)
I don't think I knew that.
Jeremy Lesniak (42:56.812)
Yep.
Bridgett (43:16.455)
I got to do Yellow Ranger and then they brought in, you know, other people for pink. So we all were, you know, we're, doing it. And that was a great run. That was my college years. That was,
Jeremy Lesniak (43:28.076)
Were you enjoying that?
Bridgett (43:31.133)
I was, but honestly, I would be on set, you know, cause you wait around a lot and I'm thinking I should be training. I should be training. I should be in the gym. I'm missing my training and.
Jeremy Lesniak (43:33.806)
Kinda hesitant.
Jeremy Lesniak (43:43.278)
You didn't waver from your goal. The goal was still world championship.
Bridgett (43:48.149)
Yes, yes. And I knew I needed to make money and I knew it was such a great opportunity. I was just like, this is amazing. I was. Much and it was still not in union that I didn't even know about SAG. I was like, what's SAG SAG? You know, I was like, what? And I did a commercial and I got tapped Hartley and then I did something else and I got my SAG card. So I got my SAG card in 94.
Jeremy Lesniak (43:57.27)
It was better money than the bank, Okay.
Bridgett (44:17.227)
pretty, didn't take me long, you know? And I was like, wow, okay, this is what union money's like. And I was like, what? You're going to give me what to do what? my gosh. I was tripping. I had no idea. And I did the first film for the power Rangers. We shot that, not the second one. So I'm telling you my age. So we did that in Australia and it was an incredible experience. But after that, I was like, I'm done with the power Rangers. So then every,
I moved on after that, but it opened up every door for me. And I was fighting, so I was filming as a stunt woman and fighting, kickboxing and boxing. I was just juggling everything.
Jeremy Lesniak (44:49.304)
Yeah.
Jeremy Lesniak (45:01.452)
You were taking straight up boxing fights too.
Bridgett (45:05.67)
Later. So yeah, that came later.
Jeremy Lesniak (45:06.496)
Okay, okay. what's, you know, there's something kind of interesting about that first crop of Power Rangers, you know, Walter Jones has been on the show.
Bridgett (45:21.087)
Yes.
Bridgett (45:24.34)
Great guy.
Jeremy Lesniak (45:26.189)
and
Jeremy Lesniak (45:31.008)
We've talked to others, unfortunately, that are not all still here. So yeah. But I'm curious, what did the others on set think about you going off and fighting? Because I can't imagine too many of them, they trained, but I don't imagine very many of them were willing to get knocked around like
Bridgett (45:34.986)
Sad. Yes.
Bridgett (45:57.118)
was the cool thing I had over a lot of people, especially when, if I can just jump, I was in a neat position because everybody came to the Jet Center. Everybody wanted to be around the fighters. People wanted to see fighting. And I had that little bit of edge I got to bring to set. I'm the real deal. Yeah, in film, we have to pull everything back and of course never hit your actor.
But I would go pretty hard with some stunt guys and I'm just like, suck it up, Buttercup. Like, you know, come on, man. I like a little, I like a little contact. think it just raises it a little bit. And so that was pretty cool. I don't know what the actors really thought. I mean, I think, you know, actors can be tricky, but the stunt people were super cool and we were, we were a family. are our first team.
Jeremy Lesniak (46:48.226)
I sure can.
Bridgett (46:54.633)
We were tight. mean, we were really, really tight. After we left, became the alphabet suit. Everybody came in there. You know, actors changed. Some people changed. Everybody got a shot. You know, but we were the OGs, man. We were there first. And it was special. It was really special.
Jeremy Lesniak (47:13.39)
Mm-hmm.
Did you miss it when you left?
Bridgett (47:20.307)
I think, you know, I think I meant the crew, you know, everybody was so cool. You know, everybody was, I mean, it was, it was a family. So yeah.
Jeremy Lesniak (47:28.983)
Yeah.
Jeremy Lesniak (47:32.534)
It sounds like you miss the people more so than the work.
Bridgett (47:36.359)
Yeah, I was done. was done getting in that suit. I was done with that helmet that you couldn't breathe in. You couldn't see. like, I don't ever want to even look at a power ranger again. But but I also know what that did for my career. It opened up every door.
Jeremy Lesniak (47:53.366)
What happens next?
Bridgett (47:55.751)
I did a show called WMAC Masters. I was asked to get on board on that. I was like, wow, this is really cool. I get to play myself. But there's a double edged sword to that also because it wasn't a reality show. It was completely scripted, completely choreographed. And yet we're using our names like Bridget, Baby Doll Riley. So when
Jeremy Lesniak (47:59.114)
Yeah. Well, a little show that we've talked about on here. We've had a few of those folks on as well.
Bridgett (48:25.958)
I don't get to win a fight. had a problem with that. Like I was like, what do mean? Like, well, it's, it's choreographed. I understand choreography, but you know what it looks like. It looks like I'm really getting beat and I wouldn't get beat if this was real. And so of course, you know, we're fighters. got a little bit of ego. I didn't, I didn't like that part of it, but, but besides that, I got to get close to, like, I don't, I also had a thing with, I really don't want to be around.
chicks. just didn't realize. was like, they would pair us up. We'd have to stay together. This was non-union also. And, but I got, I ended up getting to be friends with Christine Bannon Rodriguez, who now I love. And we had the best time and Michelle Mouse Krasno back then. was like, don't ever room you with her. We room together. I became like, she became like my little sister. Like I just want to take care of her. I loved her. So it was really neat. We, and we just,
Just to be honest, we just went out and party. There was these clubs. We thought we were it, man. We thought we were it. And we had so much fun. We would film and shoot and go out and party. we'd, you know, it was just, we filmed at Universal Studios and it was really one of the best times of my life. I had such a blast on that show. That was a big party.
Jeremy Lesniak (49:31.373)
Mmm.
Jeremy Lesniak (49:46.39)
It sounds like a lot of fun and I imagine some of that is because of the caliber of people. You know, I've had a chance to talk to quite a few of those people. I saw Christine a week and a half ago. She's one of my favorite people. She's just the best. She's such a great person. And, and, and, know, you run down through that list. There isn't a single person on that list that I've met that I don't like. Now, obviously I'm not spending, you know, I'm not rooming with them. I don't know them on that level.
Bridgett (50:02.255)
Love her.
Jeremy Lesniak (50:15.064)
I'm not getting to work with them for days, weeks, months out of the year, but I've been doing this long enough. I've got a pretty good, I think I've got a pretty good sense as to who the good people are and who the one's coming on the show and just kind of putting on a face. And no, she was, she's awesome.
Bridgett (50:27.239)
You
Bridgett (50:34.247)
She's super cool. just saw her at the reunion at the US Open in Orlando. That was so much fun. I did not know really honestly what to expect and Carmichael Simon, who I love, he's like, come on baby doll, you know, and, then Sophia Crawford, who's one of my dear, dear friends. I love her. And we hadn't seen each other in forever. And it was, it was in, in Chris Casamassa, who I love and Hakim. my gosh. I was like, this is great.
Jeremy Lesniak (50:38.69)
Yeah, how did that go?
Jeremy Lesniak (51:03.118)
This is a trip.
Bridgett (51:04.497)
He's so funny. He's so funny. I had such a good time and I got to meet this whole team. All their people, all the people that Carmichael has surrounded himself with are top notch and they're wonderful. And we had a blast. It was it was better than I ever expected. I'm so glad I went. Yeah, that's really cool.
Jeremy Lesniak (51:32.024)
So I think a lot of people would agree, WAC masters.
Gone a little bit longer. think I think most of us in the martial arts world look at that and say, you know, we would have we would have liked a little bit more. I know how you felt being in it. But where did you go next? What's that? There's a story you want to tell the story. I'll hear the story.
Bridgett (51:48.807)
There's a story. Yeah, there's a story. There's a story. Yeah. Sure. You're the story. Yeah. So I feel like that show was ahead of its time. was, you know, everything's timing, everything is. And I think if that show would have been done today or earlier today, it would have, it would have been huge. But
Jeremy Lesniak (52:04.334)
Mmm.
Bridgett (52:16.335)
It just didn't take off like everybody really expected, you know? And I don't know why, but anyway, so I did season one and I was supposed to come back for season two and like just a couple things happened. I was getting ready for a world title. I broke my toe on the show. I had to turn my fight down and then something else happened. I got to audition for the Glimmer Man.
film with Steven Seagal and at this time and I'm still a new kind of stunt girl, you know, and everybody was there. Everybody in stunts was there to audition for this thing. And I'll never forget Steven Seagal was like, he lined us up. It was such a trip. He lined us up. He's looking at all of us just walking up and down and he paired us off. And I really I wasn't a
Jeremy Lesniak (52:58.51)
Yeah.
Bridgett (53:11.43)
choreographer, we had to make up a fight on the spot and then show it. Well, it went really well for me. He picked me. So I got I got the role. So I go back to tell WMAC Masters, the producers at the time, I said, hey, I just I this is my first like big film in L.A. like and I got a little part and I'm to be like the first female to fight Steven Seagal. This is going to be great. And I like.
Jeremy Lesniak (53:40.664)
People may forget, because this is like his peak. He didn't have a long, like he wasn't a big deal for long. But for that period of time, if we've got younger folks in the audience, he was a huge deal. It's hard to remember that like three year span.
Bridgett (53:58.073)
visit.
Jeremy Lesniak (53:58.752)
Everything everything was so gaunt like he was the action star for that period of time Yeah, which is such a weird it it's true. I would agree, but that's such a weird comparison now, isn't it? To say that about that man now
Bridgett (54:03.641)
It was like Jason Statham now, you know what I mean? Like he was.
Bridgett (54:15.077)
You just don't do it.
Jeremy Lesniak (54:15.822)
I don't want them on the show. if you're out there, still want you on the show. you go, you go back and you're telling them that you've got this gig and what do they say?
Bridgett (54:20.407)
Yeah, it was great.
Bridgett (54:26.15)
It's not even gonna take that long to film. I'm like, this is a great, and they're like, no, you're scheduled. We need you here. You can't, no, you gotta turn it down. I was just like, are you crazy? I go, this is good for you. This is good publicity for the show. Like nobody else at that time was really doing, I mean, I was like, what? And I was so upset that I said, I'm picking Glimmer Man. So I made my decision and I remind somebody made a comment to me, you really think you can act?
Jeremy Lesniak (54:33.111)
They made you choose.
Bridgett (54:55.705)
And I was just like, wow, that's just me. That's just me. And I, but I'm not bitter. I'm just like, whatever. Yeah, I probably can't, but at least I'm getting some work and I could do nothing but get better if I suck that bad. So, so I made my choice and I did not go back for season two and I did glimmer man. So glimmer man was great because it was really some old timers, old timers, legit stunt men, some of the best in the
business. I was surrounded by Chad Stahelski was on set. You name it. was, mean, Jeff Amata. mean, just these icon stunt men were in this big scene. David Wall. mean, I can go on and on and I'm like, wow, I get to fight so well. And you know, so we were working out the fight. It's a pretty awesome fight. And he's really tall. And he's like, why don't you kick me up here? And I'm like, he's holding my leg up in the air. I'm like,
This is a stretch. not very flexible, but I did it. And the fight was awesome. And then at the end of the day, they had to come up and tell me that the fight got taken out of the movie because at that time there was a little controversy with Segal and I guess his wife at the time from weird science. I don't even know, but I know that fight didn't get put in there. It was edited out and I was
Devastated I know I was just like this was my big break. I mean and I've had a series of those so I'm this is my first one I was like, yeah, was I and I was like now and then I broke my foot Hanging out with a bunch of stunt guys Doing stupid stuff and a rhino. We flipped it. I got stuck underneath it Trying to show off being real tough and my foot was broken. So I'm in a boot and so I
I had lost another film I booked and a commercial with Isaac Florentine who was directing. He's done some good things and I love Isaac. I've worked with Isaac quite a few times. He's like, Brigitte, this is going to be a great film for you. Well, I lost everything. I lost all that. So WMAC Masters is gone. Glimmer Man, my thing got taken out. I was like, oh.
Jeremy Lesniak (57:17.26)
You must be feeling pretty low at this point.
Bridgett (57:19.874)
I was in a real depression and I was, I didn't have any fights. My foot was broke. I couldn't fight. And I was like, what am I going to do? So my best friend said, come to Florida. went on a vacation with her. I healed, got back. I get a phone call from Jeff Amata and he says, I got a show that you're going to be perfect for, but you know, you kind of need to come and the producers need to see you do put together something. So I went.
And that's when I went, I met Mike Gunther who was a, he's an amazing director now, but he was a stunt guy back then. And I met Mike and Jeff Amata said, okay, you guys just work something out and it's going to be a, you know, show and tell all these producers are going to come in. And I was just like, my God, my heart was just like, you know what I mean? It like a, like a TV series, like within itself, all the producers come in and they're watching us and we just got down. We just got down, man. We put this cool fight together.
And they're like, you're the girl. I double delete. It was five and a half months of work on a TV series called Spy Game that didn't get picked up for season two. But that window just got me back. Like it was I was nervous. Like I'm going to have to go back to St. Louis when you my my tail between my legs. And so, yeah, that that literally that was that was a great thing. And on that show, because of Jeff Amata. I met everybody in stunts.
Instead of us having to go out and hustle like we have to hustle back then before 9-1-1, 9-11, we hustled, you know, all the time to get work. And it was great because I was doubling the lead, number one on, you know, the call sheet. And it was every single episode, all kinds of stunt guys had to come in. So I was meeting everybody. I mean, it was and working with everybody. And so it was just like, this is a dream come true for a young, new stunt girl.
Couldn't have gotten better. Couldn't have gotten better.
Jeremy Lesniak (59:21.144)
And what I think is kind of interesting is.
I think a lot of people think, and only people outside of the industry seem to think this, you go to Hollywood and it happens, right? Once you hit, you're And Hollywood will carry you forever. But what I'm hearing from you, yeah, it's these cycles, but what kept getting you to the next opportunity was how hard, what I think I'm hearing, you working so hard on the last one.
Even though that fight scene got cut from glimmer man. It was. Amada seeing you saying. You did a good job. I'm willing to put my my reputation on the line to recommend you. Because I believe you'll work just as hard here. And you kept working hard, which to me, I mean that this is this is martial arts, right? We keep showing up. We keep putting in the time doing the reps. You have good days and bad days.
Bridgett (01:00:07.681)
Yes.
Bridgett (01:00:22.338)
us.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:00:27.066)
And eventually over time, you take a step back and you're like, wow, look at this progress.
Bridgett (01:00:31.837)
Absolutely. You just nailed it. And it is the hard work. You you can't take any shortcuts. You got to do the work. You got to put that work in. And there are just no shortcuts that I know 1000 % in everything. And I'm a hard worker, you know? And I mean, don't, even if I don't get it right off the bat, I'll get it. I'll go home. I won't stop until I have it. And once I have it, I own it.
So I know that about me and I know about like repetition. I'm like, let's do it again. Let's do it again. mean, sometimes they're like, again, let's do it again. Let's do it again. Let's got it. know, repetition is your friend and that's and you're as good as who you surround yourself with. So I knew I had get the right team, the right people, everything, you know, and I was fortunate because I met, gosh, I met Mike Gunther. Then I met Chad Stahelski.
We fought together. I mean, I fought James Lou. I fought everybody. All these legends were coming in and I'm getting to fight them. And that's when Chad, we got close and he's like, you need to come and train with me. want you on my team. And so that was pretty cool way back then. This is before 8711. This is when it was smash cut. mean, it was like Brad Martin, Marcus Young, David Leach, who's now an amazing director. And all these guys are doing great things. And Mike Smith and just like all these guys.
But I was was Chad's girl back then. You know, I was like I was he was putting me on everything. He was training me and I did a little short with so it was Chad Stahelski, David Leach. It called Fetch and David was he played the lead and it was just a short and Daniel Bernhardt directed it. And I was like, this is cool. And Chad knew he always what was cool about him compared to other stunt coordinators, other stunt coordinators, they'll put the previous together. They'll
ask you, know, like help out, what do you know, kind of put it together where with Chad, I walk in, he's already got it completely. It's already dialed in. It's already completely coordinated. He's like, we're just going to teach you it. He knew me. He knew my moves. He knew what I can do, what I can't do. And that's special. That's a special thing. because our previs for the movie Serenity, which is also my demo reel, that that fight was so awesome. And it's
Bridgett (01:02:58.527)
all guys, all these stunt guys and their reactions and the wire work and the, and I'm like, not everybody they want later. They'd want me to reproduce that. go, you got to bring in Chad Stahulski then, you know what mean? And I can't say that to another coordinator hiring me. You know what I mean? So I, that, was interesting thing for me to learn. Like, okay, I better get creative and I better have ideas on the spot because there's some, lot of coordinators are like, I'm leaving you the set today. I'm like, what, what?
You know, like that's happened a couple of times and I'm like, oh, okay. And so I have, I wish I through the years stayed training harder with Chad, especially when he went to 87 11. I life happens and I was still fighting. I didn't want to be married to stunt work. You know, I was, I wanted to be married to fighting. And so all this is going on and I'm
getting all these other shows and films and fighting. Gosh, what happened? Where's my train of thoughts? So then some of the fights go. No, not at all. Please.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:04:05.422)
If I can, if it doesn't derail you, let me ask. So, you know, what's the conversation around the Jet Center with all this? know, because, you know, yeah, this puts money in your pocket, it allows you to live, but I can't imagine that this is making it easier to train because of, you know, my understanding, everything on set is long periods of time.
Yeah, there's a lot of downtime. Yeah, you can probably go for runs and you can do some training. You probably even have some great training partners around. But they're not the people at the JET Center that are guiding you.
Bridgett (01:04:39.712)
Yes.
Bridgett (01:04:45.789)
Exactly. Exactly. Well, so a lot of things were happening simultaneously like the JET Center. We were going to be transitioning to the JET Gym and the JET Center was sort of coming to an end, which was very sad, but it was it was time. And gosh, Lily was so cool and blinky. They were they were so wonderful.
towards me when I was working. They're like, this is good for you. They cared more about what was just really good for me than anything. I mean, they were my spiritual family. They got me closer to God. We were family. They were like my second set of parents. And Lily was everything. She was my best friend, my mentor. I never laughed as hard in my life like how I would laugh with Lily. Blinky would even look at us and go,
How do you guys do that? How do you have that? Like, man, I'm jealous. She did everything. She would make my clothes, make my outfits. We design them. She, she took me everywhere. She'd pick me up, give me food. mean, make sure baby, you Bridget? Are you, are you resting? you an, you know, incredible. So I juggled it. I'm like, I can do this, you know, in between. And I never really had super long of a film where I was out of the country or out of the.
out of California. Back then, I did a lot of stuff in town. know, some things were out, but so we would just train, get me in shape and let's go fight. Let's go fight. Let's do this. You know, I never was a happier. I mean, I just, I can't stress how much I'd be on set so grateful, but at the same time, so longing to just be back in the gym. So but at this time also kickboxing fights were starting.
to get further and further apart. And this is when like, I was like, let's do boxing. Let's do it too. And Blinky's like, that'll get you more fights. So we did it. We jumped into boxing. And that's when I fell in love with boxing. I boxing is my, I'll always be a martial artist and a kick boxer, but boxing, I was like, my gosh, you know, I'm a huge Rocky fan. anyway, boxing.
Bridgett (01:07:14.812)
became my everything. Especially when I signed with Don King. With Don King, I had to stop the stunts.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:07:21.176)
Hey, hold on. No, hold on. You can't just throw that in there. like, it like every, you know, like it's an inevitable part of everyone's journey. You signed with Don King? Okay.
Bridgett (01:07:32.016)
Eventually it took time, you know, cause first it was like Peter Brody and it was event entertainment, Rick Coolis, and it was 10 goose with the Goosens. And it was, fought for Sugar Ray Leonard. I fought for De La Hoya, but when I signed with King, I, and I already had a world title in boxing, but he wasn't going to honor it. So he said, if you want to sign with me, we're not, we're not honoring that. I have the IFBA Bantamweight world, world title in boxing that I won live on ESPN2.
And it was a great fight against Yvonne Trevino, who's amazing. She was my pro debut also. Interesting, right? Full circle. She was my pro debut. And then she gave me that. She was the champion too. So, you know, you got to really beat a champion, but it was a great fight. It was nonstop action for 10 rounds. And so I had the world title. I was like, wow, you know, this is great. Cut to Don. I want to fight for Don King because that's back when I started seeing Christy Martin coming out on Mike Tyson cards.
We were all watching the fights at Lilly and Blinky's house, fight party. We always had them. And we see this girl in pink walking up to the ring. said, what? I mean, like, stop. I was like, why isn't that me? That should be me. And I was just like, my gosh. And another full circle. I just worked on her movie with Sydney. I had a little fight scene with Sydney Sweeney. I can't say a whole lot about it because we did have to sign the NDAs, but
Hopefully that's coming out in November. so way back, I mean, just full circle, right? So when I signed with Don King, I had to let go. Nobody ever beat me for my world title, but I had to let it go. had to just walk away. It was really hard. But I was also like, well, Don King put me on the Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, one card at Madison Square Garden. I'm fighting on, I fought on a card with like Johnny Tapia. I mean, I'm getting on these really
Jeremy Lesniak (01:09:13.934)
That must have been hard.
Bridgett (01:09:28.734)
cool cards and I'm the only female fight and it was pretty amazing. So it's just been a great, a really great run.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:09:42.144)
So this is where inevitably I make an observation and this time it's going to be a little bit differently. There have been enough people who have worked in film, whether that, you know, camera work, stunt work, that are also martial artists. And it seems pretty clear that, you know, most of them are either martial artists who acted or actors who did martial arts.
But there's something kind of unique in your story that I'm finding really interesting in that most of what you've discussed about your acting work sounds reluctant, at least a little bit. For so many people, that was the goal, that to fight was the stepping stone. But I've never met anyone who
Bridgett (01:10:30.077)
always do things backwards. I always do things backwards. My whole life.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:10:37.55)
took these detours and kept saying, no, I want to go back and get punched in the face. That's the place that I like. That's really what I love. And I think it's it's what amazes me about it is you found that thing that you love so early, so young. And if we take that small step before that, you just knew here you are, you're doing gymnastics, maybe not at the top level, but you're doing well with it.
Bridgett (01:11:07.645)
I did.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:11:08.27)
You and obviously it played a role in what you were able to do in the future. But it sounds like there was just some part of you that knew, no, this is the path I need to go on. And maybe at 15, you can't explain that, but you knew it well enough and you committed to it. And that just blows my mind because so few people do.
Bridgett (01:11:12.859)
really helps.
Bridgett (01:11:29.917)
was really I really have to say this. I know it was God because big doors would shut not only shut slam in my face where I thought why did this happen? Now what? And it was just a redirection. So your biggest failures can launch you or end you. Mine launched me. My failures.
made me they redirected my path and I didn't know what was going on because I was just like I was a flight attendant for like three months and I moved to New York and I was I was young they not normally don't hire you and I got fired and I was just like gosh I'm such a loser and I was I I I was dancing back in St. Louis I had this little group and my best friend Kim we were we were dancing
at the time and so on. And I was a flight attendant out of New York. So was flying flying out of, you know, LaGuardia and JFK. I kept missing my flights to get back up there because of the weather. And they call me and they're like, maybe this really isn't for you. And I'm like, sure it is. And they're like, well, we kind of think it's not. I'm like, what are you trying to say? And like, letting you go. I was like, what? But see, if that didn't happen. So I'm all over the place.
But I remember I called my mom. said, mom, they fired me. I was devastated. I was crying. She said, baby, you just get on that plane. You come on home. So I went home and my mom, though, she's like, you're either going to college or you're getting a job. And I was like, Because I would make money at karate tournaments because winning grand champion, which I won a lot of, I would I would make money there and dancing. We would win all these dance contests where I'm like.
I'm always I'm a hustler, you know, I'm like, we're making money. And she's like, no, you got to get a real job because I was going to go to college. I made the cheerleading squad. It was unbelievable. I came in on the third day of the clinic and I made it and it was all older people and it was it was going to be so much fun. I was going to to Cape Gerardo, Gerardo. And that's when I saw a flight attendant because I was teaching UDA, Universal Dance Association. I was going all around the country teaching these dance camps. This is before L.A. like
Bridgett (01:13:54.435)
My life was busy and, I saw this flight attendant. was like, Hey, how did you, how'd you get to do that? And she goes, they're hiring right now. Cause TWA was a big hub in St. Louis and I was, I lived in St. Louis and I went in and I got the job. So I told my mom, I'm not going to go to college. She said, what you made the cheerleading. go, no, I really want to do this flight attendant stuff. This is going be great. I'm going to get to move to New York. was always my dream to live in New York. So then I do that and I get fired. So then here we are again. And I'm like,
But if that didn't happen, and I'm sorry, I'm just all rambling, rambling, there's an end to this. I felt like the biggest loser. And my mom said, you're going to go to work at a bank. Her best friend, who my maid of honor, when I got married, she practically raised us. She babysat us since I'm, she changed my diapers. Okay. She got me a job at this bank, downtown St. Louis. I work at the bank a couple of months, I get laid off. I'm like,
Jeremy Lesniak (01:14:28.494)
Please, please.
Bridgett (01:14:54.881)
What? And so I started collecting unemployment. That is how I started training and kickboxing like full time because I was collecting unemployment. so but so like every little thing, all these things that seem so horrible were so great because it allowed me to get to do that. And I never I wouldn't have been the fighter if I didn't have that time to put in, you know, like it was just cool. Yeah.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:15:22.638)
This is one of those life doesn't happen to you, it happens for you. Yeah, yeah, I think we all have examples of things that we wanted that we didn't get and we realize when we look back, I'm so thankful, right? I mean, I've got a list that I go through periodically and I go through it every time something that I want to happen doesn't happen and I feel bad about it. And then I go back and say, okay, remember these other things that you wanted to happen that didn't happen that you were glad they didn't happen?
Bridgett (01:15:27.215)
Yeah, it's crazy.
Bridgett (01:15:36.165)
Right?
Jeremy Lesniak (01:15:52.182)
This is one of those and you're like, alright other me I'll trust you. Right, but you're skeptical, but.
Bridgett (01:15:58.713)
You're so right.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:16:03.592)
What about now? What is your relationship to martial arts now?
Bridgett (01:16:05.519)
Hmm. Yeah.
Bridgett (01:16:09.774)
Well, okay, so I retired from fighting in 2004 and then I got in a stunt group and then I just worked in the business for a long time. And then I got married and then I left LA in 2012, which I never thought I would. But it was again, one of the best things. So I'm in Florida and I'm like, I can go back and forth. I can go back and forth because my whole career has been in LA. I'm an LA local. Well, then.
2019 I was diagnosed with cancer. So that that was like taking a bullet. That was like what how can how can this be me? I you know can get hit with a car but getting hit with cancer just really about ended me and it was stage three rectal cancer not very glamorous but it happened and I don't know how I don't know why I have major symptoms.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:17:03.278)
Hold on, pardon my laughing. Are any of glamorous? Is there a hierarchy of cancers? Okay, this one's a little sexier than this one.
Bridgett (01:17:15.274)
rectal cancer. mean that is like come on for a girl? Come on. It was horrible.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:17:23.938)
You know, I have things I can say, but I don't know you that well and it's not this kind of show. So I'll just let you keep going. I'm sure you've heard, I'm sure any joke I could come up with, your friends have shared with you. So I'll let you keep going.
Bridgett (01:17:29.931)
I know, I know, I know.
Bridgett (01:17:37.273)
You have to laugh at the end of the day. You got to laugh and laughter is medicine. And yeah, so that was a that was a blow. That was a real blow for my husband and me and my family. And I just got and it's so overwhelming because everybody in L.A. is like, oh, you can't do chemo. can't do chemo. It'll kill you for the cancer. And I'm like, well, you get cancer and you make that decision because this is my one life. So my husband and me, Bob, we
We fasted, we just, prayed, we got with God. And everybody has an opinion and they mean well, but I had to stiff arm people. had to, I had to go into my bubble and I had to figure out what I want to do. And thank God, I mean, I was surrounded with an incredible team. I did the surgeries, I did chemo, I did radiation and it, it, it had a number on me. It changed me. It changed a lot of my insides. It changed my
my flexibility. can't, I can't kick high anymore. Not that I could ever kick straight up like Christine Bannon, but I could kick pretty high and I could, you know, now, I mean, I'm lucky. I just, I just cannot kick high. So my body's different. Plus I've had two hip replacements by Christine. Christine is the one who recommended me the anterior approach. So I've been putting myself back together again. I'm in remission from cancer. Thank God they got it.
I have no rectum. took my rectum. had to wear an ileostomy bag. For anybody who knows about that, that's a big party right there, right? I'm like, what? I woke up from surgery with a bag. They rerouted my intestines, pull it out of my stomach, know, slap the bag on. Now I could teach a class in it. I had it for a year because of COVID. And then they did the reversal. They put me back together again. So I'm like, Humpty Dumpty. And then I did all the chemo and the radiation. it's been a lot.
It's been a lot. the last, since 2019, I fought it and I literally, when I rang the bell, my mom got diagnosed with stage four lung cancer the following day. Her cancer returned. She fought kidney cancer. So that was like the hardest thing. Like, let it be me. I can do this, but not my mom, my mom. My mom was my girl. She was my everything.
Bridgett (01:19:57.802)
So I was, you know, one of her caregivers and took care of her and not, she didn't have the happy ending I did. She passed away in 22 and she's, she, that was, that was really hard because I'm, I'm not very close to a lot of females and she was my girl besides Lily. So I lost Lily, I lost my mom and, but right before she got really bad, like, you know, she couldn't hardly talk.
anymore. was cancer is ugly. It is ugly and it doesn't discriminate and it can hit anyone at any time. So I, I really, really stress go to your do your scans, do your go to the doctor, you know, get, get checked up, you know, it's no joke if you catch it early, you know, but they're coming far with treatment today. And anyway, but
One of the last things my mom said to me right before she went, she said, cause I thought I was just done with everything life. I'm going to just sit in my house cause I'm not the same. I'm different. I will never be completely normal. have issues and my mom looked right at me and she said, you're not done. Bridget, you're not done. I promise you, you are not finished. You get back out there and you go do it.
and you just believe in yourself again and take the risk, take the chances. So that's what I've been doing. Back up on my horse, I'm training again, I'm training people. I have a guy I train with Parkinson's boxing and there's some cool stuff I have in the near future, but I can't say anything yet, but I'm pretty excited. Life has begun again and I am stopping to smell the roses.
And I'm so grateful. I'm so appreciative of every day. Like really, it's not just a bunch of lip service. Like I am still alive. So I'm kind okay, God, what do you got? What you got? Break it. Come on, let's go.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:22:11.864)
heavy and I'm not gonna make some some you know junction statement here that wraps it together and pretends that I understand because I don't I would just I guess thank thank you for sharing that part that's you know what one of the things that I think we're able to do with this show is let people know that
Bridgett (01:22:31.953)
You're welcome.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:22:41.55)
You know, they're not alone, whatever the experiences are, right? You know, whatever the challenges are.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:22:50.016)
Other people are going through it, other people have gone through it, other people have come out the other side.
Bridgett (01:22:55.703)
Absolutely. And I love what you just said. That's one of the things, because I speak sometimes. I've done a lot of public speaking now. I want to share my story and I feel like it's part of my mission now. And I am candid. Like you want to know something, I'm going to tell you. And I love what you said. You're not alone. So many people that you have no idea are going through it and they're fighting it. And there's hope. There is. There's hope.
Promise you don't give up and it's your mindset and just no matter what these doctors say, whatever that report is, it can be so ugly and I know it is the scariest thing ever, ever. But don't give up hope and there's power in prayer. That I have to stress because there is power in prayer.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:23:44.898)
And it's documented. If you don't believe me, you can go look this stuff up. There's more than enough research. we can, yeah, yeah, mean, we can disagree on why it works. I don't care. I don't care if somebody, why somebody out there thinks it works, but it works. And...
Bridgett (01:23:48.438)
Thank you.
I know. I love it.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:24:06.018)
Sometimes we have fights you have to throw everything at and you'd be silly to leave that one on the back burner.
Bridgett (01:24:06.441)
And.
Bridgett (01:24:13.568)
Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:24:19.0)
People want to get a hold of you. How do they do that? Or follow what you're doing, website, social, email, any of that stuff. You said you're speaking, people want to hire you for an engagement. How do we do that?
Bridgett (01:24:28.759)
Okay, so I'm so, I'm the worst at all this stuff. Like Blinky used to do all this for me. I I was had people do everything. I'm on Facebook. You can see me. I don't even know the address though, but Bridget Riley. And I'm on Instagram, which I'm not as good at. I'm still trying to figure out how to work it. I just got on TikTok. I did not want to do that, but everybody's telling me you gotta be on TikTok. But.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:24:56.014)
Tick tock, I have the most fun on tick tock. I really do. Yeah.
Bridgett (01:24:58.334)
You're yeah. OK, I got to figure out how to even use it. You just post like short videos, right? You don't. There's no like and it's like.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:25:07.439)
The max is 10 minutes now, which is good because keeping myself under a minute was really challenging.
Bridgett (01:25:13.398)
Okay, I gotta get with the program, but on Instagram I'm on all lowercase letters, Bridget underscore babydow underscore Riley, and it's linked to my Facebook.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:25:26.734)
And we'll get that stuff linked up in the show notes for folks out there. So if you're driving in the car, you don't have to take notes or, know, don't look at your phone. Just listen or watch, right? Well, don't watch while you're driving. Watch what you're driving. Watch the road. Yeah.
Bridgett (01:25:40.372)
Yeah, what you said.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:25:45.472)
Awesome. Bridget, how do we close up today? What do we want to leave the audience with?
Bridgett (01:25:50.618)
Hmm. I just want to I want to encourage you. I want to encourage everybody to It's not over till it's over and that we can always reset and restart and I'm proof of it. I mean, I thought I was Mickey Rourke and a wrestler. Like, what am I going to go do? Be a butcher? Like what? You know, Because so young, I'm like, you can't fight forever. That was hard. That when I retired from fighting, that was really hard stunts. I cannot.
Jeremy Lesniak (01:25:57.998)
you
Bridgett (01:26:19.092)
I don't have the same. I have a skill set, but not the same skills that I used to have. But I'm still here. I can still dump. I can rock and roll. So it's not over till it's over and don't give up. Don't lose hope. And when you do decide to do something, do it with everything. There are no shortcuts and get with the right people. And it's it's OK to fail. Failure can launch you. So just trust that trust this process.
And when you're getting redirected, okay, just keep it together. Calm down, breathe. And be open to try new things. At one point I went through a thing, no, no, no, no. And I know there's power in the word no and no can be a full sentence, but at the same time, say yes. Why not? Why not? Say yes. So that's my thing right now. I'm like, okay, I'm gonna start saying yes more.