Being the biggest, fastest, strongest team in the league doesn’t mean anything if you can’t hold it all together mentally during nerve-racking moments. As one of the creators of the NeuroFuel training app, and the executive director of Badger Region Volleyball, Jen Armson-Dyer is training players to build-up their inner strength. Hear how Jen went from being a young player to a leader in the sport at Penn State, simply by accepting the opportunities she saw in front of her.

Links mentioned:

• For more information go to www.side-out.org.
• Follow the side-out organization on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sideoutfndn/
• Have suggestions for the podcast? Email Janice: leaveitbetter@side-out.org

Think about what it takes to win a state championship. Now imagine doing that 10 times! As the Head Volleyball coach at RHAM High School in Hebron, Connecticut, Tim Guernsey has made that astonishing Achievement. Before Tim began running the volleyball program at RHAM High school, it didn’t even exist. He built it from the ground up into a program now known for dominating the court. Hear why one of his biggest challenges today is teaching his new players that winning doesn’t come as easy as he and his team make it seem.

Links mentioned:

• For more information go to www.side-out.org.
• Follow the side-out organization on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sideoutfndn/
• Have suggestions for the podcast? Email Janice: leaveitbetter@side-out.org

How do you fight for yourself? In your home, on the court, or in the hospital, sports geographer and keynote speaker Dr. Jen Fry shows us how to advocate for ourselves in any situation. As a former NCAA player and coach, a TEDx speaker, and now author of the book, I Said No, Dr. Fry knows the ways to navigate difficult situations and conversations. Whether you're battling sickness and need better care from your doctors, or working on rising in the ranks with your team; Dr. Fry explains to Janice how speaking up and advocating for yourself is the way forward.

Links mentioned:

• For more information go to www.side-out.org.
• Follow the side-out organization on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sideoutfndn/
• Have suggestions for the podcast? Email Janice: leaveitbetter@side-out.org
• More on Dr. Jen Fry at www.JenFryTalks.com

Taking immature high school players and evolving them into formidable athletes takes more than just carefully planned training routines. Coach Stephanie Noriega has found a way to grow her players her players into confident and caring young women, unafraid of new challenges. She’s the Head Coach of Volleyball at West Springfield High School in Virginia. Just as important, Stephanie helped build and grow the Dig Pink charity tournaments with the Side-Out Foundation at their very beginning.

Stephanie shares her way of inspiring her players to win on the court, and be proud of themselves off the court.

Links mentioned:

• For more information go to www.side-out.org.
• Follow the side-out organization on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sideoutfndn/
• Have suggestions for the podcast? Email Janice: leaveitbetter@side-out.org

She knew how to beat her opponents on the court, but beating breast cancer was a challenge Fatima Balza didn't know how to approach. For this former star Penn state volleyball player and current coach of Western Nebraska Community College, Fati took to treating her cancer like she was training for a tournament. In the process, it changed her outlook on everything. As Fati explains to Janice, she is a Venezuelan native who never says “no“ to a challenge. Her enthusiasm and positivity is absolutely inspiring.

Links mentioned:

• For more information go to www.side-out.org.
• Follow the side-out organization on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sideoutfndn/
• Have suggestions for the podcast? Email Janice: leaveitbetter@side-out.org

Talent comes at a young age — whether you’re playing or coaching. As someone in her mid-twenties, Katie Oleksak has quickly rose in the world of volleyball.

This NCAA Woman of the Year nominee broke the career assist record (5,083) at Colorado State University, and earned All-American honors each of her four seasons. After graduating, Katie wasted no time going pro and competing in Switzerland. She took a chance during the pandemic From there, Katie made the transition from the court to the clipboard, becoming the Director of Volleyball Operations at University of San Diego. Katie also serves as the community engagement leader for the Dig Pink organization.

Hear her philosophy on taking chances in life, even when you’re worried of the outcomes.

Links mentioned:

• For more information go to www.side-out.org.
• Follow the side-out organization on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sideoutfndn/
• Have suggestions for the podcast? Email Janice: leaveitbetter@side-out.org

There are great players to coach, there are tough players to coach, and then there are your own kids. Former Louisiana State University Coach Fran Flory coached her daughter on her NCAA volleyball team. It's just one of the hilarious stories this SEC Coach-of-the-Year shares with Janice. Her rise to Head Coach at LSU was a complicated one, despite multiple Final Four appearances -- find out why. Recently, Coach Flory has been guiding the Vegas Thrill in the Pro Volleyball Federation. Find out the difference she sees in players that make it as pros, and those that wash out.

Links mentioned:

• For more information go to www.side-out.org.
• Follow the side-out organization on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sideoutfndn/
• Have suggestions for the podcast? Email Janice: leaveitbetter@side-out.org

Team USA has only ever won four Olympic Gold medals in volleyball. One of those Golds belongs to coach Hugh McCutcheon. He led the men’s team to Gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Hugh then switched over to coach the U.S. Women’s National team to a Silver medal finish at the London Olympics in 2012. Now serving as the Assistant Athletics Director for the University of Minnesota, Hugh talks with Janice about his keys to success, and the differences between winning on a national stage versus winning on a global stage at the Olympics.

Links mentioned:

• For more information go to www.side-out.org.
• Follow the side-out organization on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sideoutfndn/
• Have suggestions for the podcast? Email Janice: leaveitbetter@side-out.org