Phoebe Schecter: All-action avenue
Route 66: America's Greatest Road Trip
This episode of Route 66: America's Greatest Road Trip explores the vibrant sporting culture found along the historic highway. Guests Phoebe
Key takeaways
- Phoebe Schecter made history as the first female British coach in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills.
- The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles is set to be a major global sporting focal point.
Main topics
- NFL coaching and women's sports
- California surfing culture
Notable quotes
I have goosebumps just talking about it because I promise you it's obviously the best part of my day.
Conclusion
The episode demonstrates how Route 66 is much more than a road; it is
Transcript preview
Speaker 1 (0:00) Now you've got hundreds of thousands of people cheering for you. Like you feel the earth shake underneath you. Speaker 3 (0:05) I have goosebumps just talking about it because I promise you it's obviously the best part of my day. I Speaker 1 (0:10) just remember sitting there and just thinking how special, how lucky I am that I get to be literally sidelined. Rihanna's halftime and I'm here just being able to use the... like power of sport to get me around the world. Speaker 4 (0:25) Just to find out how important Route 66 is to everyone, not just, you Speaker 2 (0:30) know. here in Chicago, here in the States, but around the world. 2026 marks 100 years since the most famous road in the world, Route 66, was established. Centenary celebrations are in full swing across America. And we're also marking the occasion here in the UK with Route 66, America's Greatest Road Trip. A new podcast brought to you by Visit the USA and produced by Telegraph Media Group. I'm Sean Fletcher. I was born in America in the 1970s, and I grew up influenced by its culture. It's been a thread running through my life for more than 50 years. Throughout this series, I'll be exploring themes that shape the Mother Road, which travels from Chicago to LA, spanning 2,500 miles and eight states, from music, film and TV, to history, the great outdoors, food, art, culture and sport. There's so much to discover. Helping me unpack it all are some very special guests and experts, each sharing their own experiences of the route. And along the way, we'll be meeting locals too, from rock bands in Illinois to surfers in California. They'll share their stories, favorite stops, and hidden gems. So buckle up and join us for the journey. There's never been a better time to discover the USA. Speaker 2 (1:54) We're nearly at the end of our journey along Route 66, but we certainly won't be taking it easy. Quite the opposite. We'll be getting active, very active. This episode, All Action Avenue, is for all the sports lovers out there. Whether watching or taking part, there'll be few better places on the planet for sports fans to visit over the next few years. And we're starting our final episode at the route's westernmost point, the coastal city of Santa Monica in Los Angeles. California. And joining me is American football expert, Phoebe Schechter, the first female British coach in the NFL. That's for the Buffalo Bills, isn't it? It Speaker 1 (2:29) was. And my goodness, what an adventure that was. And I still think about that moment and think of how much it changed my career and just the opportunities to be in the States and travel all around America with that opportunity, Texas being one of them, which is a very cool state to visit. Speaker 2 (2:44) And tell me, what was your role with the Buffalo Bills? So Speaker 1 (2:47) my role was kind of varied, but ultimately I was there to assist with tight ends, which is a position on offense. So they kind of play a role in blocking and they also play a role in running and catching the football. But for me, they're probably the second. smartest player on the field apart from the quarterback because you have to know everything. And it's a smaller room. So I got to really get to know these guys. But I would say, you know, I'm about five foot four. Most tight ends are about six foot seven. So I'm constantly looking up at these guys. But honestly, it was brilliant help with defense, special teams, all of the above. Now, Speaker 2 (3:23) viewers and listeners will know that we've been asking everyone who comes into the studio to bring a piece of 66. So it's a souvenir or a memory from along the route. What have you brought for us, Phoebe? Speaker 1 (3:32) So I brought in this picture and it is of Dorothy's house in Kansas, in Oz. I actually had no idea that this was a real place. But what's so special about it for me was it was when I first started coaching and I had this opportunity to coach out in California at the University of La Verne. And we ended up... driving to Kansas. So went along Route 66, went Albuquerque, New Mexico, drove all the way and ended up stopping at Dorothy's house in liberal Kansas. And it was just, you know, I think about moments like that and it's the road trip and the people you're in the car with and those conversations that you have that in regular life, you really never get that opportunity to get into some of those deeper and more meaningful conversations. Speaker 2 (4:16) So we're starting our episode in LA. What's California like for sport? Because I'm thinking sun, sea. sand and surf. I mean, it just lends itself to sport, doesn't it? Whether you're watching or participating. It Speaker 1 (4:28) does. And I always love that, right? Because obviously we live here in the UK and it's wonderful, but you wake up in California and you're like instantly motivated. You want to go for a run along the beach. You may not even like running, but you're thinking, I want to be outside right now. And they're such a sports city. And what I love is the diversity in sports that they have out there. You know, you've got the Dodgers, you've got the actual NFL teams, you've got a multitude of NFL teams in California itself, some of which share the same stadium, which is... quite unusual. And then of course, just being at the water side, the water sports you can partake in. And just honestly, like that feeling every morning when you wake up of, my goodness, what can I try today? Rollerblading, all of the fun stuff that you kind of see on the movies, to be honest. Yeah. Speaker 2 (5:13) LA is going to be hosting the Super Bowl in 2027. And then it's going to be hosting one of the biggest global sporting events a year after that. It's just going to be a real focal point for global sports lovers, isn't it? Speaker 1 (5:26) It 100 % is. And I love the way that, you know, you talk about Super Bowl in 2027. SoFi Stadium is stunning. It's one of those places almost built into the earth. And the way that you feel when you're in there, it feels like you're totally encompassed and the noise and the excitement and, you know, the way that you're, it's the multi-use of these stadiums as well. So other sporting events that are going to be using some of these stadiums across the states over the next few months is pretty special. I have to say, 2028 Olympics, as someone who is still trialing for the 2028 Olympics with GB for flag football, that is like the pinnacle of the sport. So you could Speaker 2 (6:03) be there competing. Speaker 1 (6:04) Fingers crossed. We have our first opportunity this summer in Germany to qualify as Team GB Women's Flag Football Program. So hopefully we make the top two and then we would be going to Olympics in 2028. Speaker 2 (6:14) Just explain what flag football is. Speaker 1 (6:16) Flag football is the non-contact version of tackle football. And so it's a little bit like tag rugby. So you look at how many different incredible sports are going to be taking place out there. And California is an unbelievable place because you can accommodate all these different sorts and whether it's using college stadiums like USC and the Coliseum, or you've got the beach right there for these incredible surfing competitions and athletics. I mean, it's just fantastic. Speaker 2 (6:43) Now, you're a history maker, aren't you, Phoebe? You became