The Option

Teegan Van Gunst is an American beach volleyball professional and former indoor volleyball standout from Fayetteville, Georgia, now competing on the AVP tour and internationally with the U.S. Beach National Team. She has enjoyed prosperity with everyone she plays with and is not even being close to her ceiling.

Brian Hemp is a volleyball coach based in Huntington Beach, California, known for running Sandman Coaching, which offers training for beach volleyball players and others. The program provides private and group training sessions, with a focus on beach volleyball and performance development.

00:48 - Playing with Kim Hildreth, the commitment, the ups and downs, the professional maturity in the partnership, plus, there is value in taking time off from the sport when you need it, less is more, loving the pretty people, how do people "play big" at the net

13:33 - Xolani is a partner to keep, plus, Teegan answering the question on what she wants from this in various ways, managing momentum and sustaining constant pressure

51:53 - Changing the footwork from an indoor court to the sand (pivot-foot), Pottstown, Plus, can she be the second team in the Olympics?

1:18:51 - Our childhoods, our activities vs how much TV we did or did not watch, "Schoolhouse Rock"

1:21:33 - How can beach volleyball become more mainstream? How do the personalities work in the sport? Plus, understanding why the other sports took off

1:35:01 - Xolani Hodel, and why they can be good enough to go to the Olympics, where Xolani got better and where Teegan can get better, playing efficiency in terms of putting up better numbers, and aggressiveness, fan questions and wrap-up

Wendy Jones is an American author, entrepreneur, meditation guide and the founder of "Be Better Media" - a movement dedicated to maximizing wellness, as well as enhancing one's quality of life. She is widely known for her video meditation guides on YouTube, using Somatic meditation - a body-centered practice that uses physical sensations as the primary focus to cultivate awareness, emotional regulation, and mind-body integration.

01:27 - We've come a long way, allowing ourselves to make mistakes and self-correct, and where do we go from here? Is volleyball the most watched sport in the Olympics?

13:36 - "Confessions of a Volleyball Coach," a write-up by coach Jenna Chamberlain, our thoughts, why we loved it and a little friendly insight, it takes more than just talent, plus, with players, at some point, one must participate in one's own salvation, citing the many coaches who succeed in that philosophy, understanding the distinction between "goal" and "expectation."

59:39 - Let's talk about "Somatic Meditation," the Vagus nerve, understanding the Lucid Body, and the chakra system,

1:46:48 - why we love the movie "Die Hard," and the show "Ted Lasso"

Katie Lindstrom is a former collegiate and current professional beach volleyball player from Daytona Beach, Florida. is a decorated setter with a strong collegiate record, multiple national titles, and international medal wins, recognized for her leadership, consistency, and high-level competitive achievement

Ben Vaught is a 6'3" American beach volleyball player from Huntington Beach, CA, known for his AVP career, international medals and dynamic athleticism. He is also a former assistant at Vanguard University

Brian Hemp is a volleyball coach based in Huntington Beach, California, known for running Sandman Coaching, which offers training for beach volleyball players and others. The program provides private and group training sessions, with a focus on beach volleyball and performance development

01:12 - How did "Sandman" coaching come about? Brian tells all, clips of Todd, Karch, plus, how did Katie and Ben hook up, what is "Escape Room?"

14:04 - Which school did Katie have the most fun? When the women's game passed the torch? From evolution to revolution of the women's game, is it the men's division's responsibility to snatch the baton? When was the first time we saw Taylor Crabb play?

30:01 - When to choose to "3" or "4" block vs when to 1-2 it, who you are playing against and the decision to make, energy efficiency, the evolution of the "faster game." Coaches that helped shape Katie's career, why people have a heightened emphasis on the "mental" but at the same time, do nothing in practice to help it.

54:22 - Brian had a great year, presenting people their options as a coach, a fun "American Idol judge" approach to coaching

58:55 - Top 3 players on the domestic scene this year for men and women, a spillover to the GOAT conversation, GOAT "goofy-foot's" (so many)

1:23:21 - TKN gives people a "coming to Jesus" moment, who are the real killers in this game?

1:30:10 - Favorite venues, Elite athletes that are good in other sports, more on GOAT defenders, and other greats like Todd, Stein, Mayor

1:45:30 - Ruth Nelson question: how do we keep the interest sustainable for juniors on different levels?

1:55:40 - Ruth Nelson takes us waaaaaay back to the old school, plus, a gift from Brian, and final question for Brian, wrap up

Will Rivera and Diego Rosich are Puerto Rican professional beach volleyball players. Winners of the Madero, Mexico NORCECA a year ago set a road map where they have become better versions of themselves. Get ready - here they come.

01:11 - Turns out, Diego played in the NCAA DI playoffs, plus, Will's journey of putting in the work and waiting for an opportunity, PR volleyball: business and personal

18:34 - Playing the main draw first round against Taylor Crabb - someone Will looked up to., how Diego not knowing a lot of the players works for him and not against him

25:06 - thoughts on US beach having trials for the Olympic trials, the young phenom Thais Treumann

34:47 - Were they born to play this? What got them into this? Plus, "Menudo's" peak with Ricky and Miguel, my "level up" on speaking Spanish

45:02 - Spanish isn't hard - English is, plus, the long list of Puerto Rican players, what made me step away from coaching, would Willo coach, someday? The value of having someone in your corner

1:01:44 - The ability to take care of first hit, and how it helps play indoor and outdoor, why we love Benji Andexler, favorite venue, Miles Partain, can the men take the torch instead of waiting for it to be passed to them?

1:18:28 - fun questions, wrap up

Charlie Siragusa is an American professional beach volleyball player and former indoor standout. Excelling at the HS and NCAA indoor scene, he took his talents to the beach where he went from grinder, to draw attraction, to finishing top ten multiple times on the domestic and international scene. And he has not even scratched the surface.

02:35 - Not surprising that the top male players are academics, plus, let's talk about the Hermosa Beach Open and his partner, Alejandro Huerta

09:12 - Process and preparation for serve to space, constant pressure, creative players on the women's side, creative players on the men's side, the cupcakes are artists

21:51 - A "level-up" moment where he was ready to do this on the higher or highest level, big up to Mark Pa'aluhi for finding a way to make everyone happy, plus, his blocking is ridiculous

31:00 - He came in the beach game mentally stronger than most, having a north star on where he is comfortable and where he wants to get better, playing out of the "box," getting better at everything, instead of one thing, appreciating journeys, both long and short

42:56 - Transition defenders that are exciting as heck, plus, what got him into volleyball, plus, Charlie the sailor?

51:43 - The fundamental that was easiest to transition to the beach? What was the most difficult?

1:03:54 - Why do people love you so much?

1:11:41 - Fun questions, wrap up

Brian O'Neill is an American professional beach volleyball player. His recent ascension has been quite the phenomenon. The support he has from his pro peers, as well as multiple volleyball communities on a bicoastal level, is well-documented. Oh, and by the way, he is hilarious.

02:41 - a gift for the "Option" podcast from Bravo and Spike-n-Go, giving love back to the volleyball communities,

06:29 - Playing with Chase Frishman, the journey, the fun, the great weekend at Highline

27:27 - Does Brian still work out anymore? If at all? Did he mimic/follow blocking styles from his predecessors?

41:35 - About Dave Updegrove, the Manhattan Beach Open, the great communication and efficiency

53:01 - How Spike and Go and Bravo created a natural, organic volleyball community, plus, loving Kevin Edwards, who is the oldest guy to qualify for the main draw?

1:16:02 - The better the player, the better you play against them, plus, does everyone really need a coach? Why is it easier to play people who know what they are doing? Seain Cook, why some people like him and why some do not.

1:33:51 - Getting the know the fun personalities on the pro beach scene, Motherlode, The Hermosa Open, Seaside, and why the three should be a fall classic

2:05:59 - Commentating, and filling the space vs having something that makes you care about the "characters", why football does so well, going to live events vs watching a well-produced event on TV, the support system he got from so many volleyball communities

2:31:19 - Great movies, great actors and great bad guys, plus, was the 90's the best time for comedy?

2:46:11 - More fun questions from the comment section and other things

Robin Seidi is an Austrian professional beach volleyball player. He has enjoyed a heightened level of success on the sand at every level, highlighting an appearance in the 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro. He has played with a slew of partners, and they will all say the same thing - he is energetic, intense, and fun.

01:40 - Keeping trophies and awards that tell a story when you have too many, upcoming tournament that are lined up, the "skyball" of DJ Klasnic,

07:10 - Why and how he started playing, level-up moments, plus, is there a future in coaching, post-playing career, paralysis through analysis

19:30 - How does a coach become a better "space holder?" Plus, mental fatigue will seep into physical fatigue, unselfishness is the key to volleyball unity

24:30 - Think of live events like Broadway, and televised events like a film, the slew of good partners and measuring the diverse personalities, process and preparation to tournaments, nutrition/meal plans, etc., smaller training groups vs larger groups

39:13 - Open level players, and people with open-level ideas, is 36 years old the prime of a beach player

43:05 - Does playing for something matter more than the love of the game? How do we get "volleyball transcendency?"

51:50 - Describe the atmosphere of playing in the Rio Olympics, bringing more people vs bringing more soldiers, will the momentum of indoor ball help the beach?

58:50 - Who did you aspire to be? Plus, fun random questions to finish up

Manhattan Beach Open is coming up and I would like to explore the best part of it - the QUALIFIER Matches! Who is going to make it? Who are the upset kings? Waiting for people to say "don't quit your day job in 3...2...1...

01:54 - Jeff Samuels

14:07 - Derek Zimmmerman

42:41 - Frank Field

49:09 - MBO QUALIFIER predictions (don't quit my day job)

1:01:01 - Aaron Wexler joins the show

Emily Madigan is an American volleyball player. College-bound to Dallas, she is a true volleyball nerd that excelled in a smaller but competitive club system. When it comes to areas where her strengths play to any team's needs? We still have yet to scratch the surface.

02:20 - Her versatility playing 3 different positions, how easy it is for a coach to miss a "goofy-foot," how she considered playing for Dallas,

11:39 - The joy of playing club, forming relationships, how to maintain the good energy "chain" from breaking, why coaches burnout

20:20 - How she got started with the sport, the fun at the festival, fundamentals that came easy vs which ones were more tedious

28L31 - Was there a moment of match that made you think you can do this at the high level, why people leave hating the game

37:32 - Developing a player, the self-correction shaped organically as well as through guidance, plus, what advice would you give a 13-year-old who want to be good at this

44:00 - How to manage volleyball "funks", plus, fun questions, good reads, inspiring sports films, other sports etc

This episode falls on my birthday, and since it's my birthday, and on my birthday I do what I want, my guest Rob McLean and I - while hammering Uncle Nearest "apple juice" (for YouTube purposes), did random call-ins. This might be for the dedicated followers, but I promise that we delivered. Good times.

01:59 - Derek Zimmerman, talks night games in NOLA, our cool friendship, Evan Cory’s ascension, obstacles, and approach

15:23 - Rob McLean joins

17:56 - Wendy Jones calls in, meditation, the nervous system and being centered

24:00 - Robbie and I talk NY Knicks

46:36 - Ashley Clark joins

57:24 - Cory Bryndal joins

1:04:35 - Robbie and I talk taking emotion out of coaching

1:18:31 - “Eric Cam” joins, talks videos and hands

1:35:20 - Robbie and I talk emotionally detaching from losses as a coach

1:37:51 - Melissa Lim joins the chat

1:50:01 - Robbie and I shout out all the people who helped out brand