Volley SOAPs with Dr. AJ

For this 11th episode, we sit down with Team Serbia’s Djordje “DJ” Klasnic. DJ is a Serbian and Balkan tour champion and just recently earned his first Gold in the FIVB Beach Pro Tour in Turkey. Despite coming from a system with less opportunities for the sport of Beach Volleyball, DJ through his career, has shown that sheer love for the sport, seeking out the help of the experts and legends, and giving back to the community his learnings opens up more opportunities to grow and develop as a professional player. This is one awesome story of resilience and unrelenting passion for the sport so I hope you enjoy the show! In this episode, we talk about his career in the "SOAP notes" format as follows(S)ubjective History- His origin story coming from a family with rich volleyball history- How he started at a very young age with his Dad as the mentor- How he excelled both in Indoor and Beach Volleyball and why he eventually chose to go Beach Full time- How despite not much having much support, he was able to thread a path towards getting mentorship from the greatest players in the sport- How playing with his long time idol Ricardo gives him all the boost throughout his career(O)bjective History- What technical beach volleyball skills he is most proud of- What technical aspect he is working most on- Technical tips on playing in the wind and playing against shooters- His preferred recovery methods to ensure optimal performance(A)ssessment - An inside look at his current journey as a Beach Volleyball athlete and Coach(P)lan of action- His current goals of getting medals at higher level tourneys- How he continues to excel despite the distance with his Beach volleyball partnerI hope you get to enjoy and be inspired by his story as much as I did! Feedbacks would be highly appreciated and let me know which Beach Volleyball Icon you want to get featured next!===========================================================DJ's SocialsIG: https://www.instagram.com/djordjeklasnic/

For this 10th episode, we sit down with one-half of Team UK’s reigning number 1 team and Future Medical Doctor, Joaquin Bello! Joaquin, together with his twin brother Javier, has been making waves in the World Tour scene at such a young age while balancing his studies as a Medical Student. Now in his final 2 years of Med School, Joaquin shares in this episode how he is balancing both highly demanding commitments, how he got into it in the first place, his highs and lows dealing with both, and what’s in store for him both as a Beach Volleyball Athlete and a Doctor. This is an amazing chat as I relate to him so much given that I am literally on the same both with him so I hope you enjoy the show!In this episode, we talk about his career in the "SOAP notes" format as follows(S)ubjective History- Med School talk- His origin story coming from a family with rich volleyball history- How he started at a very young age with his Dad as the mentor- How his frustrations in indoor led him to love beach volleyball- Having his twin brother Javier as his major inspiration in excelling in the sport- Challenges of being both a pro Athlete and a Medical Student(O)bjective History- What technical beach volleyball skills he is most proud of- What technical aspect he is working most on- His workarounds despite injuries and limitations with certain ranges of motion - What skill every aspiring player should master(A)ssessment - An inside look at his current journey as a Beach Volleyball athlete and Medical Student(P)lan of action- His current goals of succeeding in both careers but stil excelling as an Elite Beach Volleyball athlete- The Family decision on how to level their game up furtherI hope you get to enjoy and be inspired by his story as much as I did! Feedbacks would be highly appreciated and let me know which Beach Volleyball Icon you want to get featured next!===========================================================Joaquin's SocialsIG: @joa_belloFB: @TeamBelloVolley

For this episode, we sit down with Team New Zealand’s Ben O’Dea. Ben has been a regular fixture at the World tour scene when he started at the young age of 17. Ben, alongside his brother Sam, has proven himself as a young gun with insane potential winning his first Asian tour in his debut at that age and keeping up with high level teams in the world tour. Despite his early successes in the sport, Ben opens up about his fair share of setbacks and moments that made him question his commitment to the sport and if he truly belongs in it. By believing in his own potential and putting in the work, Ben has been more fired up than ever in reaching for the top starting with a recent World Tour podium finish with his new partner Thomas Reid. This is one inspiring story of resilience amidst setbacks so I hope you enjoy the show! In this episode, we talk about his career in the "SOAP notes" format as follows(S)ubjective History- His origin story of being a wonder rookie in the World Tour taking after New Zealand Olympians Jason Lochhead and Kirk Pitman- Which team in the world tour inspires him the most- His most memorable moments so far in his career- How he juggled to and from indoor and beach throughout his volleyball life(O)bjective History- What technical beach volleyball skills he is most proud of- What technical aspect he is working most on- His workarounds despite injuries and limitations with certain ranges of motion - What skill every aspiring player should master(A)ssessment - An inside look at his current journey as a Beach Volleyball athlete (P)lan of action- His current goals to realize his potential and face whatever challenge is thrown at him- His current journey with a new partner and what's in store for them moving forwardI hope you get to enjoy and be inspired by his story as much as I did! Feedbacks would be highly appreciated and let me know which Beach Volleyball Icon you want to get featured next!===========================================================Ben' SocialsIG: @benodeaaTeam IG: @odeareid.beachvolleyDoc AJ's SocialsIG: @doc.ajparejaTikTok: @doc.ajparejaYT: Doc AJ VolleyballAudio File Title:Mesmerizing by GvidonAudio File URL:http://pixabay.com/music/soft-house-mesmerizing-15617/

For this 8th Episode of Volley SOAPs Podcast, we sit down with one of Team USA's top beach volleyball players, Travis Mewhirter.Travis is currently an AVP Pro Player and a constant fixture for Team USA in the NORCECA and FIVB World Tour. Aside from being an elite player himself, Travis is also the host of Sandcast Podcast alongside Olympian Tri Bourne. Despite a late start in the sport of Beach Volleyball, Travis has been a major inspiration through his insane work ethic and drive to improve. In this episode, we talk about his career in the "SOAP notes" format as follows(S)ubjective History- His origin story of being a multisport athlete who never played volleyball- How a casual invite while chilling at the beach got him to love Beach Volleyball- How in such a short span of time, he was able to get into the big leagues of the sport(O)bjective History- What technical beach volleyball skills he is most proud of- What technical aspect he is working most on- What skill every aspiring player should master(A)ssessment - An inside look at his current journey as an Beach Volleyball athlete and content creator(P)lan of action- His current goals to continue improving after an exponential growth in the sport- His plans of strategically choosing his battles in the form of scheduling tournaments to play inI hope you get to enjoy and be inspired by his story as much as I did! Feedbacks would be highly appreciated and let me know which Beach Volleyball Icon you want to get featured next!===========================================================Travis' SocialsIG: @trammewSandcast IG: @sandcast_podcastDoc AJ's SocialsIG: @doc.ajparejaTikTok: @doc.ajparejaYT: Doc AJ VolleyballAudio File Title:Mesmerizing by GvidonAudio File URL:http://pixabay.com/music/soft-house-mesmerizing-15617/

For this 7th Episode of Volley SOAPs Podcast, we sit down with Team Latvia's Anastasija KravčenokaA champion in the European tour and already a semi-finalist in the Tokyo Olympics at such a young age, it was an utmost pleasure to talk about her origins in the sport, how her coaches played a major role in her development into one of the elites in the world, how she manages to train competitively despite time away from her partner Tina and what’s in store for them moving forward in their careers. We also talk about the importance of technical knowledge as well mental fortitude at the elite level so I hope you enjoy the show!In this episode, we talk about her Volleyball Journey in the "SOAP notes" format as follows(S)ubjective History- Her origin story from being an indoor player initially then finding her true calling on the Beach- How she looks up a lot to her idols like Aleksandrs Samoilovs and how he is a major inspiration in her life both inside and outside the court.- How the support from their federation was crucial for her to build a sustainable career as a beach volleyball player(O)bjective History- What technical beach volleyball skills she is most proud of- What skill every aspiring player should master- How mental fortitude is crucial especially at the elite level(A)ssessment - An introspection of her journey and how she may or may not be done with the sport just yet(P)lan of action- Her excited she is to finally have more training time with her partner Tina given the latter's last years in college- How she manages to train at an elite level despite the distance with Tina- How they are setting their eyes on a podium finish in the next Olympics.I hope you get to enjoy and be inspired by her story as much as I did! Feedbacks would be highly appreciated and let me know which Beach Volleyball Icon you want to get featured next!===========================================================Anastasija's SocialsIG: @kravcenokaaTikTok: @ kravcenokaaPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/KravcenokaaDoc AJ's SocialsIG: @doc.ajparejaTikTok: @doc.ajparejaYT: Doc AJ VolleyballPatreon: patreon.com/docajvolleyballAudio File Title:Mesmerizing by GvidonAudio File URL:http://pixabay.com/music/soft-house-mesmerizing-15617/

For this 6th Episode of Volley SOAPs Podcast, we sit down with one of Team USA's top beach volleyball players, Mark Burik.Mark is an AVP Pro Athlete and the CEO and Founder of inarguably the most popular online beach volleyball coaching program, Better at Beach. Mark has also represented team USA in the world tour as well as  in the NORCECA where he won the gold in 2016.In this episode, we talk about his career in the "SOAP notes" format as follows(S)ubjective History- His origin story of being both an indoor and beach volleyball player balancing both sports at the same time- How personal frustrations, setbacks, and challenges fired him up further to go full time Beach Volleyball athlete- How his intense work ethic and drive to improve proved to be a double edge sword in his early career(O)bjective History- What technical beach volleyball skills he is most proud of- What technical aspect he is working most on- What skill every aspiring player should master(A)ssessment - An inside look at his current journey as an Beach Volleyball athlete, competitor, coach, family man and business owner(P)lan of action- His current goals as an athlete in terms of his health, physical conditioning, and competing in the AVP- What's next in line to the Better at Beach program in terms of coaching and hosting camps- How being a family man and looking to start his own family gets top priority for nowI hope you get to enjoy and be inspired by his story as much as I did! Feedbacks would be highly appreciated and let me know which Beach Volleyball Icon you want to get featured next!===========================================================Mark's SocialsIG: @markburikBetter at beach IG: @betteratbeachvolleyballDoc AJ's SocialsIG: @doc.ajparejaTikTok: @doc.ajparejaYT: Doc AJ VolleyballAudio File Title:Mesmerizing by GvidonAudio File URL:http://pixabay.com/music/soft-house-mesmerizing-15617/

For this 5th Episode of Volley SOAPs Podcast, we sit down with Team USA's Greatest Of All Time, Kerri Walsh Jennings.Kerri bares no introduction as she is perhaps one of, if not, the most decorated Beach Volleyball Players in history. With 3 Golds and 1 Bronze in the Olympics as well as countless Medals in the world tour, Kerri has been a major source of inspiration for not just volleyball players but also athletes all over the world!In this episode, we talk about her Volleyball Journey in the "SOAP notes" format as follows(S)ubjective History- Her origin story of being a multi-sport athlete as a kid raised by a family of athletes- How she fell in love with volleyball and found her true place in the sport- Her initial runs as an indoor player and how she turned a heartbreak from indoor to the most beautiful and decorated career on the sand- Her most cherished moments, be it success or setback, throughout her career(O)bjective History- What technical beach volleyball skills she is most proud of- What skill every aspiring player should master- How the importance of technique and reps matter to the elite level(A)ssessment - An introspection of her journey and how she may or may not be done with the sport just yet(P)lan of action- Her current goals with Beach volleyball after setbacks from the 2020 Olympics as well as the pandemic- Some surprise information on her 2024 plans!I hope you get to enjoy and be inspired by her story as much as I did! Feedbacks would be highly appreciated and let me know which Beach Volleyball Icon you want to get featured next!===========================================================Kerri's SocialsIG: @kerrileewalsh , @platform1440Doc AJ's SocialsIG: @doc.ajparejaTikTok: @doc.ajparejaYT: Doc AJ VolleyballPatreon: patreon.com/docajvolleyballAudio File Title:Mesmerizing by GvidonAudio File URL:http://pixabay.com/music/soft-house-mesmerizing-15617/

For this 4th Episode of Volley SOAPs Podcast, we sit down with one of Team USA's top beach volleyball players, Ian Satterfield.Ian has been a staple of representing team USA for beach volleyball. With a rich winning history for both indoor and outdoor, Ian has been making waves be it on the hard or sand court throughout his career.In this episode, we talk about his career in the "SOAP notes" format as follows(S)ubjective History- His origin story of being the tall lanky kid who never felt he belongs with sports like soccer to being one of the bests by using his height to work for his advantage- How he found himself making a career out of beach volleyball despite having a winning indoor history after University(O)bjective History- What technical beach volleyball skills hhe is most proud of- What technical aspect he is working most on- What skill every aspiring player should master(A)ssessment - An inside look at his current journey as an athlete for both indoor and beach volleyball(P)lan of action- His current goals of finally getting a career title in the AVP- The possibility of getting back in the FIVB Pro Tour- How he plans to work on getting to the next level with his skill setI hope you get to enjoy and be inspired by his story as much as I did! Feedbacks would be highly appreciated and let me know which Beach Volleyball Icon you want to get featured next!===========================================================Ian's SocialsIG: @ian_satterfieldTikTok: @ian_satterfieldDoc AJ's SocialsIG: @doc.ajparejaTikTok: @doc.ajparejaYT: Doc AJ VolleyballPatreon: patreon.com/docajvolleyballAudio File Title:Mesmerizing by GvidonAudio File URL:http://pixabay.com/music/soft-house-mesmerizing-15617/

For this 3rd Episode of Volley SOAPs Podcast, we sit down with one of Team Malaysia's top beach volleyball players, Tasha Mae.Tasha Mae is Malaysia National team Beach Volleyball player currently competing in the California Community College Athletic Association and soon the NCAA.  Tash is also my inspiration in starting out a Beach Volleyball Podcast as she herself is the host of "The Volleytalk Podcast" featuring some of the best players all over the world.In this episode, we talk about her career in the "SOAP notes" format as follows(S)ubjective History- Her origin story from "loving volleyball at first spike" when she was a child- How she fell quickly out of love upon getting exposed to the inside politics of indoor volleyball- How she reignited that love for volleyball when she transitioned to the sand- Her highs and lows in her beach volleyball career so far and how she's having a blast training in the US currently(O)bjective History- What technical beach volleyball skills she is most proud of- What technical aspect she is working most on- What skill every aspiring player should master(A)ssessment - An inside look at her current journey as an athlete(P)lan of action- Her current goals at the moment competing in the US and eventually back to Malaysia for the SEA Games- What's next in line for her careerI hope you get to enjoy and be inspired by her story as much as I did! Feedbacks would be highly appreciated and let me know which Beach Volleyball Icon you want to get featured next!===========================================================Tasha's SocialsIG: @tashmae_Volleytalk IG: @thevolleytalkpodcast_Doc AJ's SocialsIG: @doc.ajparejaTikTok: @doc.ajparejaYT: Doc AJ VolleyballPatreon: patreon.com/docajvolleyballAudio File Title:Mesmerizing by GvidonAudio File URL:http://pixabay.com/music/soft-house-mesmerizing-15617/

For this 2nd Episode of Volley SOAPs Podcast, we sit down with one of Team Latvia's top beach volleyball players, Aleksandrs "The Lion King" Samoilovs.Aleks is a 5x European Champion, 15x FIVB Champion and a 3x Olympian. 16 years in to the pro-leagues, Aleks continues to reach new heights in the sport and continuous to put out a load roar into the Beach Volleyball Scene.In this episode, we talk about his career in the "SOAP notes" format as follows(S)ubjective History- His origin story as a multi-sport athlete- How he started out in beach volleyball - Having to make a life changing choice between a pro beach volleyball career or a Medicine School career- His highs and lows throughout his career(O)bjective History- What technical beach volleyball skills he is most proud of- How to work on these skills- What skill every aspiring player should master(A)ssessment - An inside look at his current journey as an athlete(P)lan of action- His current goals at the moment competing in the new World Tour Format- What's next in line for his careerI hope you get to enjoy and be inspired by his story as much as I did! Feedbacks would be highly appreciated and let me know which Beach Volleyball Icon you want to get featured next!=====================================================================Aleksandrs' SocialsIG: @SamoilovsTikTok: @asamoilovsDoc AJ's SocialsIG: @doc.ajparejaTikTok: @doc.ajparejaYT: Doc AJ VolleyballPatreon: patreon.com/docajvolleyballAudio File Title:Mesmerizing by GvidonAudio File URL:http://pixabay.com/music/soft-house-mesmerizing-15617/

For this pilot Episode of Volley SOAPs Podcast, we sit down with one of Team Canada's top beach volleyball players, Sam Pedlow.Sam is a multi-awarded athelete and a regular fixture in the Beach Volleyball World Tour. He was awarded Most Improved Player in 2017 by FIVB and is a Silver Medalist in the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Equipped with a Master's Degree in Physiotherapy, Sam is also a coach for numerous athletes all over the world looking to improve their game.In this episode, we talk about his career in the "SOAP notes" format as follows(S)ubjective History- His origin story as a indoor volleyball player up until university- How he started out in beach volleyball - Going into hiatus to focus on his Master's degree and still finding his way into being a pro-athlete- His highs and lows throughout his career(O)bjective History- What technical beach volleyball skills he is most proud of- How to work on these skills- What skill every aspiring player should master(A)ssessment - An inside look at his current journey both as an athlete and a physiotherapist(P)lan of action- His current goals at the moment in balancing life- What's next in line for his careerI hope you get to enjoy and be inspired by his story as much as I did! Feedbacks would be highly appreciated and let me know which Beach Volleyball Icon you want to get featured next!=====================================================================Sam Pedlow's SocialsIG: @pedlowsamuelTikTok: @pedlowsamuelDoc AJ's SocialsIG: @doc.ajparejaTikTok: @doc.ajparejaYT: Doc AJ VolleyballPatreon: patreon.com/docajvolleyballAudio File Title:Mesmerizing by GvidonAudio File URL:http://pixabay.com/music/soft-house-mesmerizing-15617/