What if the hardest seasons of your life became the clearest roadmap for how you lead, love, and work? That’s the heartbeat of our conversation with coach and club owner Sam Lane, whose story threads faith, sport, and grief into a grounded approach to parenting, mentorship, and entrepreneurship.

Sam grew up in a small desert town with two athlete parents and a house full of balls. She met her husband on the court, now mentors girls on the sand, and recently bought the only exclusively beach volleyball program in Las Vegas. We explore why sports still matter after high school, how two-player beach volleyball forces elite communication, and why she ends practice with breathwork to train teens to downshift from fourth gear. Her coaching isn’t just drills; it’s a blueprint for life skills—honest feedback, preparation, resilience, and the ability to reset after mistakes.

We also go deep on loss. Sam lost her dad quickly to melanoma and her mom after a twenty-year battle with cancer. She explains pre-grieving, living in fight-or-flight, and the strange relief of finally setting the backpack down. That space brought new presence to her marriage and kids, informed the decision to buy the club, and sharpened her boundaries around time and energy. When emotions try to take the wheel, she moves them to the passenger seat and returns to facts, scripture, and fresh air.

If you’re navigating change, building a team, or craving a healthier relationship with competition, you’ll find practical tools and real hope here—communication habits, recovery rituals, and a faith-first way to keep what matters at the center. Listen, share with a friend who needs encouragement, and subscribe to catch the next conversation.