For the last three weeks since my sweet, brave, incredible mommy died, I’ve been wrapped in grief — focused entirely on everything she will miss. I’ve felt her absence like a weight in the room. Every time something beautiful happens, I instinctively want to run downstairs and tell her. And when I shared good news, she’d smile. I lived for those moments. When I told her about GameDay, the business we were building, I saw that same twinkle in her eyes I’d seen my whole life. That spark. That belief. That fierce pride that fueled me to keep going. She saw me, even in silence. And somehow, she still inspired me to rise.

Losing my beloved mom has been incredibly painful, and while dementia was part of her journey, it doesn’t make the emptiness any easier. But what remains are the invaluable lessons she left behind—her personal playbook for life.

Her wisdom was simple yet powerful: “If you’re not prepared, don’t show up.” She believed that knowledge, preparation, and confidence open doors—not just for yourself, but for others, too. This blog is a tribute to her legacy, a reflection on the strength, discipline, and grace she instilled in me, and a reminder that true respect is earned by showing up ready to own your place at the table.

We say it all the time: Women should support women. But are we truly doing it, or just saying the words? Too often, competition, comparison, and insecurity get in the way of genuine support. In our fight to be seen and heard, we sometimes forget that lifting others up doesn’t mean we lose our own place—it actually makes us all stronger. This blog takes a real look at what it means to support each other, why it matters, and how we can turn words into action. Because there’s more than enough room for all of us to rise.

Writing 11 books has not been easy—just like life is not easy. There have been moments of exhaustion, doubt, and heartbreak. Watching my mom’s memories fade has been a lesson in both patience and grief. Balancing it all—kids, career, relationships, and caregiving—can feel like an impossible task. But when you have something to pour your heart into, something that fuels your soul, it makes all the difference. I’m so incredibly grateful for the support from the amazing people in my life!

Writing 11 books has not been easy—just like life is not easy. There have been moments of exhaustion, doubt, and heartbreak. Watching my mom’s memories fade has been a lesson in both patience and grief. Balancing it all—kids, career, relationships, and caregiving—can feel like an impossible task. But when you have something to pour your heart into, something that fuels your soul, it makes all the difference. I’m so incredibly grateful for the support from the amazing people in my life!

At the intersection of sports, education, and entertainment lies a powerful movement: Sports Edutainment. This innovative approach transforms the way children learn by using the universal language of sports to teach essential life lessons.

Football isn’t just about touchdowns and game-day glory; it’s about the ripple effect it creates in the world. Through football, I’ve seen lives transformed, communities uplifted, and bonds forged that extend far beyond the field.

Growing up, my life was anything but ordinary. With that, my childhood was immersed in a world of power, prestige, and privilege that surrounded the NFL and those that were in the tight community of ownership and players. However, the true magic of this world went beyond luxury—it's what shaped my understanding of real royalty. True royalty isn’t about the riches or the privileges; it’s about resilience. Doing hard things, not giving up, and being grateful—that’s the real definition of royalty.

Listen to these audio interviews of Coach John Harbaugh and Coach Jack Harbaugh by Susan Tose Spencer, Marnie’s mom and first female General Manager of an NFL football team.

Listen to this interview of Don Shula in 2011 by Susan Tose Spencer, Marnie’s mom and first female General Manager of an NFL football team.

No one I know likes to lose; as we age, the stakes get higher, and losing anything, even a second of time that I may have spent on something unimportant, bugs me. Yet when I have experienced loss or things have not gone my way, losing like a girl is what has helped me recover faster. My friends and I have a theory that when we lose something, what we do is lose like the girls we are. Girls are emotional; girls talk to their friends about it repeatedly, and girls immediately grieve. We wear the loss on our faces, and it helps the process of moving on.

Ahhhh Carpool!!! As we approach the final few days of senior year in high school, my mommy carpool days are officially ending, and a new reality is creeping in. The fact is, I really haven’t had carpool duty in 2 years, but it is still a memorable experience as a mom! I want to give my thanks and love to the #carpool line! I’ve spent the last 20 years doing the carpool line, and I’m grateful for pretty much every second of it!

It's almost summer, and who doesn't recall their first summer romance? I can vividly remember my first summer crush — super cute, bright-eyed, funny, and charming. We met at the ballpark, and it was love at first sight. It didn't matter that we didn't say much or that he was a different color (green); what mattered was that we spoke the same language, the official language of summer —baseball!