Wendy Jones is an American author, entrepreneur, podcaster and the founder of "Be Better Media" - a movement dedicated to maximizing wellness, as well as enhancing one's quality of life. Her journals real like novels and her podcast "What I meant to say" is provocative.

Ashely Clark is an American business entrepreneur, volleyball coach and former player. She is currently with Wendy at Be Better Media and has recently joined her in a new podcast called "Undivided," a current events news show that attacks politico from a politically homeless perspective. She is learned and teaches "Human design," a method that diagnoses behavior, patterns and personalities that is instrumental in helping people coach.

01:22 - The NCAA, the tournaments, and the dropped teams

14:02 - Who is going to stand up, and at what risk to them, plus, what do the kids do? The recruits and current players?

24:55 - Men's NCAA, the tournament and the chronology, and who is going to win?

36:30 - NCAA beach, and how good coaching prevailed, The AVP and some favorite players

43:00 - Taking care of first hit, and checking the boxes, information and the coach's responsibility vs the player's responsibility, plus, one must participate in one's own salvation

1:00:30 - Finishing thoughts

Alex Amylon is an American volleyball coach and active player. A Rhode Island native, and indoor standout at Newbury College, he took his talent to the beach in the South Bay as a player and exceptional coach. He is a one-stop shop, able to coach at the junior's club, adult and professional level.

03:42 - Coaches who "call it" for practicing under heavy wind conditions(?), talking about AVP Huntington

08:42 - Coaching adults on the sand, and why there are so few in the South Bay who do it, styles of coaching that help with adults, giving up control

21:21 - The ability to diagnose things on the drills you are running, Wendy Jones story,

22:18 - Habits that adult players have that need to be changed vs things that can be left as is, getting rid of "default" plays that work vs plays that do, too much information and chauffeuring through "paralysis through analysis," fundamental challenges from the neck down

37:01 - His time at Newberry College, the Baruch College story with REP George Santos, our stories on how we got into the sport

54:05 - Was there a "level-up" moment that made you think you can do this for a living? The Journey of making a decision to do volleyball full time

1:12:38 - Where the beach can help indoor players and where it cannot, plus, just because you see where someone stands does not mean you know how you got there

1:21:22 - Realizing that one thing does not define you collectively is very liberating, keeping about the work and things will come to you, my first day with "Endless Summer"

1:35:35 - About "Human Design," Ashley Clark, things that transition seamlessly from indoor to the beach, and the things that were more tedious

1:43:43 - Are the "experts" the coaches?

1:50:07 - The not-so-lightning rounds

Torin Jeffreys is back! Torin is an American Wellness/spiritual practitioner and beach volleyball player, and. From guiding people to better lives in body and mind, to providing insight on where you are and want to go - oh yeah, and he's a pretty darn good volleyball player, too. He most recently, with competent partnership, found a way to filtrate clean drinking water through a plant. He enigmatic, highly intelligent and absolutely fun to chat up.

03:19 - a big "water" project, an alternative healing collective, the Kanaf plant, Fibers

13:33 - What we learn from ancient history through writings, artwork, etc

17:01 - The value of fasting, quantum physics, the danger of believing everything is true and believing none of it is true

31:30 - The spiritual, and understanding it from a place where we can explore more, not believing in God but fearing him

40:47 - Is the truth hidden in plain sight? If we find what we want, do we want what we find?

52:30 - circular action (absurdism), retrospective action, Silence of the Lambs," our ability to self-correct

1:02:02 - Knowing "thyself," not "being a doctor" but recognizing the symptoms

1:12:12 - Just because you play it, does not mean you are "it" on a complete scale, who are the true Spartans in this sport, and does it 100 percent define THEM?

1:22:00 - Playing the validation game and becoming what you despise, the breaking down people who keep jobs they hate, taking that leap of faith, staying stuck in place and finding ways to get back in that place once you are out

1:47:11 - Do we want to talk about Huntington Beach Open tournament? Plus, without the players picking up the phone and saying "yes," there is no Option Podcast

1:58:49 - Psychological comradery, what separates real coaches from people who know the craft

2:06:11 - Are championships won exclusively on growth mindset?

2:09:40 - The not-so-lightning rounds, taking our time with these

Matt Drago is an American actor and theatre performer. His resume is lengthy and vast, highlighting his most recent film "Somewhere in Montana," as well as "Just Go with It," "What would Jesus Do," "To the New Girl, "The Remake," and "Profits of Science." Highly trained at the most competitive schools in the country, his ability to character build and perform is pretty much second nature (though he may say "first nature").

01:52 - College theatre, the process and technique, different styles of teaching and learning, first auditions, things you do in "real life" that help you in character development

15:16 - Was there an inciting incident that triggered the choice to do acting or was it a gradual thing, choosing schools to network vs choosing schools to hone your craft, plus, "there is no learning like doing," the distinction between BFA and BA in theatre performance, pros and cons

29:43 - What was it like to be on the set with Adam Sandler on "Just Go with It," first time he met Al Pacino, making bold moves on and off the set

40:00 - Finally! We talk about the film "Somewhere in Montana," working with Graham McTavish, Michelle Hurd

1:02:25 - The bigger distinction between film and stage, what makes me a good coach? My degree in theatre performance

1:13:13 - The value of the film "What Would Jesus Do?"

1:27:44 - Why did Pat Simon REALLY get fired? Plus, not-so-lightning rounds

Ruth Nelson is an American volleyball coach, innovator, teacher, motivator, sports marketer, fundraiser and visionary. From making an impact on the juniors scene, to accruing over 500 wins coaching at the collegiate level, all the way to the pros and USA national team, the half of a century's work in her wheelhouse is well-documented. She is the innovator of BYOP (bring your own parent) - a junior's system where the parents assist in the process and player development of the junior. She is in the hall of fame under multiple volleyball institutions, including USA volleyball, and AVCA, and is most recently the recipient of the Jim Coleman Award.

02:31 - BYOP (bring your own parents), what it means, the advantages and the challenges, parents who are former players

18:43 - sustaining an energy level vs burning out, learning and then unlearning the "deep dish"

25:25 - Making sure we are not teaching our kids many dimensions of playing

38:20 - Her first "role model," how new rules changes affect some levels in a big way but with other levels not at all, the 10u ball, What kind of impression do we leave with kids we coach?

55:41 - Who is Jim Coleman, and what he means to her, the long stint with the US team, cool story about Kristen Nuss and Taryn Kloth

1:14:54 - teaching all the skills so the player can understand the game collectively, loyalty in the game, teaching the "mental"

1:30:00 - players who become coaches, and how much do they actually help

1:44:42 - more process and technique, fun stories about being at the right place at the right time, consider "experience," experience, plus "tell me something that I don't know" (satire)

1:54:28 - "Studies show?" I have some rules

2:04:08 - Ask any coach how much of the game is mental? Now, ask them how much do you teach it? Can you?

2:14:45 - intelligent decision-making for OH's

2:22:22 - Good volleyball books for different levels of coaching and playing, the art of NOT feeding the trolls, plus, more examples of learning it before teaching it

2:33:30 - Caring about the sport vs how one fits into it vs the ego indentity, A Dana White story, enlisting people who are part of the solution and not the problem, if it starts from the top down, when do we start looking at the top.

2:45:17 - About John Speraw, , being both deserving AND capable, "Ruthipedia.com," what google says vs what Chat GPT says, are you easy to get along with as a coach

3:30:44 - The first vollyeball book I ever read, what the rule myths are vs what the actual rule really is, about Danielle Scott

3:10:30 - Lightning rounds, but not really

Ashley Clark is an American volleyball coach. She is currently coaching at Surfside - an elite club on the West Coast. She is also a co-founder of "bebettermedia," the one-stop shop of how to be a better version of yourself. We are ready to tackle hard-hitting volleyball subject matter today. Come ride with us.

03:57 - The grind of “Red Rock,” one of the biggest juniors tournaments of the year, you win or you learn

10:01 - Growth mindset, and the comparative to other approaches. Working with coaches at LMU with different philosophies, plus, why are we doing all the right things and still losing?

17:35 - Can studying theatre make you a better coach?

23:21 - Human design, and the application of athletics in general, and volleyball specifically.

41:01 - the transformation of kids asking and understanding the “why.” Good reading material like “chop wood , carry water.” Plus, more more Human Design dialogue

46:10 - 4 rules before applying “studies” to practice, how great coaches become great in the first place, growth mindset vs fixed mindset, and the false dichotomy of feeling you have to choose more than one.

52:50 - why a 2-hour practice is as exhausting as an 8-hour workday. Should we be practicing moves extensively that will not be used in a game as much?

57:38 - learning in practice and practicing what you learned, and the where, the concern of overloading the kid.

1:02:55 - how much of this game is mental, and how much is taught in practice, teaching 12's and 13's is "the lord's work"," how human design applies to leadership, voice, speech and touch of sound from a theatre perspective and how it helps for sports

1:28:46 - RE: the notion that momentum does not exist, human design in terms of putting it into action

1:38:40 - the old school concept of being a phone call away (we speak on the phone), Human design and how it applies to being organized or enlisting people who are organized.

1:43:33 - there is no such thing as "expert marksman", facts DO care about your feelings, how "retrospective action" makes you understand how you can move things that are in your way.

1:56:30 - she missed when it counts, then hit when it counts and the value of that journey

2:05:03 - the importance of the on-board meeting with the parents and players, plus, one more fun story

2:12:31 - the not-so-lightning rounds

Rob Ambrose is a Canadian political commentator. He is the co-host of "The Political Orphans" podcast - a hard-hitting show that focuses on current events, news and politics.

01:15 - Running a tight ship, the rise and fall of Justin Trudeau, reforming the left vs leaving the left, the good and bad of the progressive left

17:14 - Addressing race, bigotry, marginalized vs recognized

32:11 - About Rogan, the manhunt, and why he is STILL "lefty"

34:50 - How Peyton McNabb is a terrible example/argument, plus, people will not lose interest in women's sports because the men's sports are stronger or faster, Lia Thomas

42:28 - Malcolm X on "the wolf and the fox", Don Lemon, being in the military, and everyone being "green, the film "Crash," Billy Bob Thornton, identifying with being a woman if arrested

57:22 - Why progressives criticize the left more than the right, what people promise and what people deliver, the lie about eliminating student debt

1:03:53 - the journey and fail on codifying abortion, who are the DNC, what do they want, and are they listening to their voters

1:13:45 - was the media complicit in hiding Biden's decline, the ultimate reversal at the DNC

1:20:15 - 3 reasons why Harris lost, the immigration trip to Martha's Vineyard

1:35:35 - not for me, but for thee

1:39:57 - 11 demands from progressives, understanding reparations, the value of having an "authentic candidate," the assassination attempt, Newsom being recalled

1:49:11 - understanding acute narcissism, having to be the smartest person in the room, having to win, would Biden have made it to 2028 if he won, the percentage of people who were sad Trump won, but happy Harris lost

1:53:05 - is 5 percent dominating the narrative for the majority policy, livable wage, immigration, plus, why Amazon wins, the largest transfer of wealth in American history happened the last four years

2:01:01 - Explaining super delegates, does Trump go after his pre-election opposition, the transgender debate - myth vs historical fact

2:25:26 - be a person first, is sexuality who and what you are as a collective whole? Plus, litterboxes in classrooms, plus trans buyer's regret

2:32:20 - When are kids old enough to "know better," plus, no one gets censored for lying but for telling the truth

2:46:58 - Lightning rounds

#nyvarsitysports #optionpodcast

The two guests from Episode 1 - the very first episode - are BACK!

Greg Faulkner is an American professional indoor volleyball player and coach. A standout at Cal-Northridge, he spent some time on the US team, overseas, and is currently the assistant coach for the CSUN's NCAA women's team

Rob McLean is an American beach volleyball player, former indoor standout and coach. After spending some time coaching NCAA men's indoor on the East Coast, he had pursued coaching sand full-time, most notably Endless Summer Volleyball club, where 13 of the 19 girls on the roster committed to division I college programs. He is currently coaching privately - a lucrative job in the South Bay.

00:30 - favorite comeback stories as a coach, the international dynamic in college volleyball

16:35 - We (USA) stepping up our game the last few years and different challenges

25:25 - Defending against in-system indoor and beach plays, developing good habits that help in the game

41:15 - good systems beat good talent, OH tandems that are built for championships, blocking size vs blocking techniques, does Greg like blocking more, or hitting?

54:04 - Are you ready for a head coaching job? Do these things define you as a man? Plus, what rules do you set for your players on a basic level/discipline, and other.

1:12:36 - Coaching adults and old habits: when to fix them and when to leave them

1:15:35 - good books for player or coaches related or not to the sport

1:22:32 - What would you say to your younger self?

1:31:57 - Lightning rounds

#nyvarsitysports #optionpodcast #avp #fivb #beachvolleyballworld

Theo Brunner is an American professional beach volleyball player and former indoor volleyball standout. A top two blocker on the domestic scene - and among the best on the international stage - he continues to sustain performances where he remains in the title-capturing mix every single tournament, most recently, capturing the AVP Manhattan Beach Open crown. A Multiple-time winner with a diverse group of partners, the self-proclaimed "boring" player continues to light people up at the net on offense and defense, more than earning the nickname "Lord" Brunner.

01:39 - The Trevor break up, the fun ride, and the new partner

08:39 - The Tri and Chaim connection that led to the partnership with Trevor, and the "why"

21:39 - 2028 Gold medal threats, the league, Miles Evans on social media

31:27 - League improvements, obstacles and solutions

38:22 - Fan question: should player forma union?

52:32 - When to "whoop it up" vs flying under the radar

1:01:05 - Triggering news, Kanye West

1:02:44 - Celebrity Side Out

#nyvarsitysports #optionpodcast #avp #fivb #beachvolleyballworld

Gage Basey is an American professional beach volleyball player. In a three-year period, he has made quite the run, competing in the AVP Gold Series main draws, representing the USA on the international scene, and winning the Laguna Beach Open and Motherlode tournament. He has two brothers - Lars and Finn - who are also high-level players.

01:18 - Youug players, new teams, new leve of players

06:45 - The women, from 1 to 10, are very closely matched

16:36 - One are where he showed significant improvement, skill-wise, emotional waves and the "wave size"

29:13 - What moment did he think he could do this professionally, how good is Hagen Smith?

34:40 - Talking Laguna, Waupaca, Huntington, Pottstown, and the Motherlode, and the fun matches played

53:28 - The AVP, the league, the set up, and where he thinks he fits

1:00:32 - When you coach someone the right way, they will remember you for life, plus, Kwekel is big at the net

1:08:12 - Lightning rounds