1 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:05,640 Speaker 1: Welcome to a special episode of Serving Pancakes with League 2 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:09,800 Speaker 1: One Volleyball. I'm your host, Tiffany Oshinsky. May is Mental 3 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: Health Awareness Month, and so I'm excited to have Victoria 4 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 1: Garrick Brown as my guest today to talk about the 5 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 1: importance of mental health. Victoria is a Forbes thirty Under 6 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 1: Thirty honoree, TEDx Talk speaker, mental health advocate, podcast host, 7 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 1: and a former Division one volleyball player who has amassed 8 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 1: over two million followers across social media, where she's known 9 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 1: for her unfiltered campaign hashtag real Post. Victoria was a 10 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 1: four year starter and PAC twelve champion for the University 11 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,479 Speaker 1: of Southern California, where she finished her career with the 12 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: top five most digs in program history. When she was 13 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:46,919 Speaker 1: a sophomore at USC, she shared her story of battling 14 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 1: and overcoming depression and anxiety in a twenty seventeen teed 15 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 1: X Talk, which has led her on this journey destigmatizing 16 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 1: the conversation around mental health and encouraging people to be 17 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 1: their unfiltered selves through her non profit, The Hidden Opponent. Victoria, 18 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 1: thank you so much for joining me on Serving Pancakes. 19 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 2: Thank you, Tiffany I'm so happy to be here, and 20 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 2: I'm just excited. 21 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 1: To chat with you, very excited to chat with you 22 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 1: because this is such an important topic. Mental health is 23 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:18,960 Speaker 1: an important topic that you know, as you have learned 24 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:21,959 Speaker 1: and you have talked about, is sometimes you know, stigmatized 25 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 1: as something that we can't talk about, that people are 26 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:26,679 Speaker 1: afraid to talk about. So I actually want to start 27 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 1: this conversation at your twenty seventeen TED X talk because 28 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 1: I feel like that is kind of where this journey 29 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 1: that you've that you're now on kind of began. It's 30 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 1: where I feel like you're willing to all of a 31 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 1: sudden open yourself up and share your thoughts and everything 32 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 1: that's going on with your own personal mental health struggles. 33 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:50,000 Speaker 1: So talk to me about the lead up to this 34 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: TED talk. What made you decide to do this? 35 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, definitely, And you're right, like that was the domino. 36 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 3: That changed the trajectory of my life. 37 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 2: It's crazy that you just never know, like how something 38 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 2: is gonna affect your future. And I never sought out 39 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 2: to be a mental health advocate. I never thought I 40 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 2: would found a charity Like these were not things when 41 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:14,639 Speaker 2: I went to college, I was like, that's what I'm 42 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:16,359 Speaker 2: gonna be doing. I kind of thought I would be 43 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 2: a sports broadcaster because I liked media and I liked 44 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 2: being in front of the camera and I loved sports. 45 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:25,080 Speaker 2: But I didn't really know and so as far as like, 46 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 2: how did I end up there if that wasn't the plan? 47 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 2: And I'm very type A. I always have a plan, 48 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 2: and I think a lot of elite athletes and follyball 49 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 2: players people who might listen to this podcast are similar, 50 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:37,400 Speaker 2: Like you want to make the ones team next year, 51 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:38,800 Speaker 2: then you want to get recruited to the same then 52 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 2: you want to be this position, and then this girl's 53 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 2: gonna graduate so you can step into the starting spot. 54 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 3: Like we always have a. 55 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 2: Plan, right, So I think I just felt like when 56 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 2: I got to playing Division and volleyball USC while it 57 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 2: wasn't dream come true and I would do it ten 58 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 2: out of ten times, again, I'm so grateful for my experience. 59 00:02:56,520 --> 00:03:00,440 Speaker 2: It was a lot more challenging than I have ever 60 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 2: imagined nor was. 61 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 3: I prepared to face. 62 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:08,840 Speaker 2: So I just started to really struggle with performance anxiety, 63 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:11,840 Speaker 2: and you know when I wasn't able to figure out 64 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 2: how to cope with that, getting really nervous before games, 65 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:17,360 Speaker 2: and just feeling like I was losing control. 66 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 3: Of like my mind and my confidence. 67 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 2: I didn't have the words for it because I didn't think, 68 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 2: you know, I could have been struggling with mental health issue. 69 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 2: And then I also thought that it was so stigmatized 70 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 2: that I didn't want anyone to know because I wanted 71 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 2: my teammates to trust me on the court. I wanted 72 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 2: my coach to keep playing me in the games. So 73 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 2: you know, I kept that to myself. And then because 74 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 2: I was suppressing my anxiety and not dealing with those 75 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 2: emotions that expedited might fall into a depressive episode my 76 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 2: sophomore year, and I just ended up getting to a 77 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 2: place where I was so low that I couldn't ignore 78 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 2: the struggle that I was in. And then once I 79 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 2: sought the help and I was going to a therapist, 80 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 2: and I was learning more about the fact that, hey, 81 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 2: I'm in a really high pressure environment. You're probably going 82 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 2: to crack at some point or break under the pressure. 83 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 2: And that's okay, a lot of people do. But here's 84 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 2: how we recover, right, Like, I started to put those 85 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 2: pieces together and feel less ashamed of what I was 86 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 2: going through. And so once I got to that point 87 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 2: that coupled with my like traditionally outgoing personality and like 88 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 2: I said, desire to be in media and write, and 89 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:32,040 Speaker 2: I was studying journalism, I was like, we need to 90 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:35,720 Speaker 2: talk about this story. So that was like something in 91 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:37,720 Speaker 2: the back of my mind, you know, as I would 92 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 2: go to Annenberg and I would report on, you know, 93 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 2: our little news segment about what was happening with the 94 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:46,600 Speaker 2: USC sports teams. But then I would think, this feels 95 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 2: like it doesn't matter, Like we need to go to 96 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 2: an athlete, grab their shoulders and say are you okay? 97 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:52,839 Speaker 3: Like how are you feeling? 98 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:55,160 Speaker 2: Forget about the game, forget about the points, like how 99 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 2: are you as a human being? 100 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:59,159 Speaker 3: You know, That's what I was caring the most about. 101 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:02,360 Speaker 2: And so as far as the TEDx talk, I was 102 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 2: sitting in a class on a Wednesday night and I 103 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 2: saw an email come through with the subject line I 104 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 2: say this all the time. 105 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 3: I don't know if. 106 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:11,720 Speaker 2: I've made it up over the years or it's just 107 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 2: I don't know if I've made it up over the 108 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 2: years because it's what it felt like to me, or 109 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 2: if it's what it really said. I think it's what 110 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 2: it really said, but I swear it said like, once 111 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 2: in a lifetime opportunity like ted X talk at USC 112 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:27,360 Speaker 2: So immediately I was like, I'm zoning out of this lecture. 113 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 2: I'm copy and pasting the diary notes I've been writing 114 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:33,600 Speaker 2: in my phone about these crazy days and all my 115 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 2: emotions and my feels, and I'm applying. And I got 116 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:42,480 Speaker 2: called back, and I went through the process and I 117 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 2: actually got cut. At one point they were like, there's 118 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 2: too many teed X talks on mental health already, and 119 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 2: this was twenty seventeen. There were probably three. I mean that, 120 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 2: don't backcheck me on that, because I'm sure there were more, 121 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 2: and there are many amazing people who were like, you know, 122 00:05:57,560 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 2: paving the way for these conversations. 123 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 3: But I was like, come on now, like I've literally. 124 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 2: Googled athlete mental health and really felt like I found 125 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 2: nothing on the internet. 126 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 3: Imagine that, like so much has changed. 127 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 2: So then when I did get like called back at 128 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:13,720 Speaker 2: the last minute, actually, we do want to see you 129 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 2: one more time. I remember going in and being like 130 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:19,599 Speaker 2: looking all of them dead in the eye and saying, 131 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:22,599 Speaker 2: I don't know who you're interviewing and auditioning. I don't 132 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:25,280 Speaker 2: know what their story is. I'm sure it's lovely. I 133 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 2: promise you that we need to talk about this. There's 134 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 2: a massive epidemic of an athlete mental health crisis. No 135 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:36,479 Speaker 2: one's talking about it. And whether I scared them into 136 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 2: it or they bought my elevator pitch, they chose me 137 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 2: as one of the speakers. So I got to work 138 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:46,600 Speaker 2: on write that deliver that ted X talk and had 139 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,040 Speaker 2: no foresight that I would ever speak again publicly, or 140 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:52,839 Speaker 2: that I would make, you know, lead me to become 141 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 2: this content creator, and that now I would have this 142 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:57,600 Speaker 2: podcast in this like I never thought that. I just 143 00:06:57,720 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 2: got on that stage and was like, I hope this 144 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:04,359 Speaker 2: helped someone. And I think the more of the story 145 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:06,920 Speaker 2: there is like if you get to a place in 146 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:09,160 Speaker 2: your life where you're so passionate about something and something 147 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:11,800 Speaker 2: means so much to you, and every part of your 148 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 2: body is like this is what is important to me, 149 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 2: Listen to your intuition because you just never know where 150 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 2: it will lead you. And the last thing I'll say, Tiffany, 151 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 2: I'm literally been speaking for so long before I'll keep 152 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 2: going great. 153 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 3: I love this because this is the League one Volleyball podcast. 154 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 3: I need to say this. 155 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 2: You know, I was really genuinely, like, I just hope 156 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 2: this helps an athlete out there who's also crying at night, 157 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 2: depressed and looking up athlete mental health on YouTube, like, 158 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 2: I hope they find this and. 159 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 3: They feel seen. And literally, I don't know. 160 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 2: It was so this tedex talk, I believe came out 161 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 2: in like the spring, so it was the next fall. 162 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 2: We were playing Kentucky in the preseason and we finished 163 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 2: the game and we were like, good game, good game, 164 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 2: good game, and this one girl is like, good game, 165 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 2: good game. 166 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 1: I loved her. 167 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 3: Good game, good game, good game. 168 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 2: And I was like and that was like one of 169 00:07:56,680 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 2: those moments where I thought, Wow, you know, it's gotten 170 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 2: to this this person I scouted and I'm playing against 171 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,119 Speaker 2: and we feel so different but we're the same. 172 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 3: So I'll stop. I'll stop there and let you do 173 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 3: your job. 174 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 1: No, but this is why you're on is to talk 175 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: about this and for us to learn, because I feel 176 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 1: like there's so much that went into the not just 177 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 1: the preparation to do it, but I mean everything that 178 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 1: you went through right to eventually get to having to 179 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 1: do this Ted talk and understanding that this was something 180 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 1: that was needed, and you know in your talks being 181 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:32,520 Speaker 1: of things that were needed. 182 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:35,320 Speaker 4: I feel like, you know, there's that question where people 183 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 4: are just like, why don't you quit? Like, if this 184 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:39,559 Speaker 4: is really that big of an issue for you, why 185 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:41,960 Speaker 4: don't you quit? That's just a question that I feel 186 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:44,800 Speaker 4: like is the next follow up after you're talking about 187 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 4: all these hardships that you're going through, and it's like, 188 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:51,319 Speaker 4: I mean, I listen to your answer, but you know, 189 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 4: I didn't end up playing in college. 190 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 1: I ended up going to film school. But I can 191 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 1: I can see you know, at some point being like, 192 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:00,719 Speaker 1: but this is who I am, right, So can you 193 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 1: just for the listeners of this podcast, you haven't heard 194 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 1: your to talk explain why you didn't quit and why 195 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:08,080 Speaker 1: you kept pursuing. 196 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 3: I have not thought about this in probably years. 197 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 2: So I love that you asked this because it's like 198 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 2: bringing me back and it's making me chuckle a little bit, 199 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:20,200 Speaker 2: because I will find myself looking at someone else's circumstance 200 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 2: or situation and thinking, just break up with them, just transport. 201 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 3: Just quit your job, just apply to the new. 202 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 2: Like it's so easy to look at someone's situation and 203 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:32,559 Speaker 2: think it would be the solution is to, you know, 204 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:36,120 Speaker 2: do something so drastic. But as we all know, we've 205 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 2: all been in these places when something has been a 206 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 2: part of your life for so long, you love it 207 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 2: so much, you focus on Like I said at the 208 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:45,679 Speaker 2: top of the show, I would do it ten out 209 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 2: of ten times, and without a doubt it was the most. 210 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 3: I It's mental health month, so let's be real. 211 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:58,160 Speaker 2: I've never I got to a place where I was questioning, 212 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 2: like if I wanted to to live my life. I've 213 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 2: never I've had struggles since, and I feel like I've 214 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 2: I've been through some things that have been really hard 215 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 2: post school, but I've never gotten to a place with 216 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 2: my thoughts where I've questioned, you know, do I want 217 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:17,199 Speaker 2: to be here? And so it's like, but then I'm 218 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 2: saying I would go back and do it to Noay 219 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 2: at ten times because it brought me here, you know. 220 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 3: So it's like, why didn't I quit? 221 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 2: I mean because I honestly didn't even know if I 222 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:29,600 Speaker 2: would be happier without it, Like I wanted to figure 223 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 2: out how to make this thing work. Of course, there 224 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:33,599 Speaker 2: were times my mom came to an away game and 225 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:37,920 Speaker 2: she saw me white as a ghost, looking I had 226 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 2: all these stress pimples on my face. All I did 227 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 2: was sleep. All I did was cry, and she was like, 228 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:45,800 Speaker 2: that's it. I'm knocking on the coach's door. I'm taking 229 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 2: you off the team. And I'm like, no, you can't, 230 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:51,080 Speaker 2: like we have a game tomorrow, or like I don't 231 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 2: want to like you know what I mean. 232 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:56,320 Speaker 3: So it was just it that just also didn't feel right. 233 00:10:56,440 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 2: I guess I felt stuck, and I love to volleyball 234 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:03,599 Speaker 2: so much that I wanted to figure out how to 235 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:07,319 Speaker 2: make it work. And I was able to do that 236 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 2: by going to therapy once a week, getting on antidepressants, 237 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 2: opening up about my struggle so that I didn't feel 238 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:17,760 Speaker 2: so much shame and I didn't feel so alone. And 239 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:21,000 Speaker 2: I even took a brief mental health leave after my 240 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:25,280 Speaker 2: junior season for a couple months and then returned to 241 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 2: play my senior season. So and then my senior season, 242 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 2: I did feel like I had the tools. I still 243 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:35,280 Speaker 2: struggled and I had anxiety at points and whatnot, but 244 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 2: I was happier because I had a toolbox. 245 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 1: You know, going back to volleyball kind of being your identity. Actually, 246 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:43,959 Speaker 1: I want to go like way back, because you know, 247 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:45,839 Speaker 1: it took a lot of hours and a lot of 248 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 1: time to get to play in college, especially usc which 249 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 1: is one of the best teams in the country. So 250 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 1: I want to go back to young, young Victoria and 251 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:58,599 Speaker 1: tell me how you first fell in love with the 252 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 1: sport and and it was fun when there was no 253 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 1: anxiety or depression. Tell me how you fell in love 254 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 1: with the sport and what made you realize that this 255 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:10,200 Speaker 1: was going to be part of your identity. 256 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:14,520 Speaker 2: I just get this visual of my middle school gym, 257 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 2: and I know, like we had a whole border down 258 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 2: and we were on the right side of the core 259 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:20,959 Speaker 2: and we were playing volleyball. I think it like pe 260 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 2: And I just had a really natural standing topspin, which 261 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:28,360 Speaker 2: is so funny for volleyball players, a standing topspin, where 262 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:28,840 Speaker 2: do you ever. 263 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:29,960 Speaker 3: No one serves that way. 264 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:32,040 Speaker 2: It's like the easiest thing, But when you're in seventh 265 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:36,280 Speaker 2: grade and you're whipping out a spinner, like pass it. 266 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:40,679 Speaker 3: And so I just had a natural take to the game. 267 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 3: I loved sports growing up. 268 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 2: I played pretty much everything, so when it came to 269 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:49,640 Speaker 2: like choosing a sport, and I guess my older brother 270 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:52,240 Speaker 2: was a professional golfer and he golfed at UCLA, so 271 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:54,199 Speaker 2: I guess I had always looked at him as someone 272 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:56,679 Speaker 2: who took sports very seriously and he kept playing, and 273 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 2: I always thought like, I'm going to play sports. 274 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:01,679 Speaker 3: You know, as long as I can. And so it 275 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:03,240 Speaker 3: was a teammate. 276 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:05,719 Speaker 2: It was a classmate's mom who went to my mom 277 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 2: and said, oh, your daughter's really good. She should join 278 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 2: my daughter's club team. And we were like, what's club? 279 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:11,079 Speaker 2: And then my mom was like, do you want to 280 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:13,319 Speaker 2: do this? And I was like sure, and so, like 281 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:15,319 Speaker 2: I had said before, I signed up. And then I 282 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:17,440 Speaker 2: was like, oh my gosh, I'm on the twos team. 283 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 2: I want to make the ones team. Okay, this is 284 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 2: the coach, like, you know, this is the girl. I 285 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 2: have to be better then to make the team freshman year, 286 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:25,199 Speaker 2: you know what I mean. And so I just kind 287 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:28,360 Speaker 2: of got enthralled by the sport. And before I knew it, 288 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:30,680 Speaker 2: I was like, I haven't played soccer in three years. 289 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 2: You know, it was natural. It just was the sport 290 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:35,680 Speaker 2: that I guess won my heart in a sense. 291 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:40,199 Speaker 1: Did you ever feel a sense of burnout in the 292 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 1: lead up to playing in college? Because yeah, I told 293 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:46,959 Speaker 1: you this before we started recording, But I played, you know, 294 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 1: club ball. I was very competitive. My dream was to 295 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:52,319 Speaker 1: play at Penn State. I you know, wasn't recruited for 296 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: a scholarship, but I did everything possible that I could 297 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 1: to go to Penn State. I went to all the 298 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 1: summer camps. I meet a business card when I was 299 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:03,599 Speaker 1: thirteen and gave it to coach trust Rows at like 300 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 1: one of those camps. You know, I did everything. But 301 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:09,559 Speaker 1: then when I was a junior in high school, kind 302 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 1: of similar to your junior year college, you know, I 303 00:14:12,760 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 1: remember driving to like a practice and I was just 304 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:19,760 Speaker 1: miserable all the way down. And when I got to practice, 305 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 1: I sat on the sideline and I just cried because 306 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:25,800 Speaker 1: I knew that I loved the sport, but I had 307 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:28,400 Speaker 1: kind of lost the love for it in a way, 308 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 1: and and there was this, you know, sense of burnout. 309 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:35,520 Speaker 1: So did you ever feel that when you were playing 310 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 1: and growing up, was there any sort of premonition that 311 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 1: maybe came to your mind that like that is a 312 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:43,560 Speaker 1: mental health issue. Because when I was sixteen and this happened, 313 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 1: I had no idea that this was a mental health thing. 314 00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 3: It's me. 315 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 1: It was just like, you know, I've got to suck 316 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 1: it up, but I'm going to sit it out this 317 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 1: practice and I'll decide what I'm going to do eventually. 318 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 1: But you know, has have you ever felt anything like that? 319 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 3: I didn't before college. 320 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 2: What you described sound similar to like what I went 321 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:04,560 Speaker 2: through my freshman year of college. But prior to that, 322 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:08,520 Speaker 2: I mean, practice days were my favorite. I was always 323 00:15:08,560 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 2: the one that was like in early out late, wanting 324 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 2: to play more. I loved the tournaments, but granted I 325 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 2: had a lot of confidence. I was one of the 326 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 2: best players on the ones team at the time, you know, 327 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 2: we were going to Jo's, Like, I loved our rhythm. 328 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:24,680 Speaker 2: One of my best friends was on the team, like 329 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 2: it just was so great, and I, yeah, I just 330 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 2: I didn't have a thought of like sometimes I guess 331 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:35,360 Speaker 2: maybe if like you know, we were at high school 332 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 2: and your crush came to watch you play, you know, 333 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 2: I'd be like, why am I thinking so much about this? 334 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 2: Or why am I one like how did my spike 335 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 2: or whatever it was. So I definitely had Now that 336 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,920 Speaker 2: I look back, I can recognize moments of like where 337 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 2: I was probably starting to see I had the potential 338 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 2: to like really overthink or have anxiety while I was playing. 339 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 3: But never enough that it ever spooked me. 340 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:01,760 Speaker 2: And actually my first in at USC, I brought that 341 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 2: energy in, like I was so excited for double days, 342 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 2: I mean the seniors. That was like the joke, you 343 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:09,560 Speaker 2: know that, Like I just wanted to play and we 344 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 2: had two practices a day. It was like my dream 345 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 2: come true, you know. So then it was like the 346 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 2: stark contrast of that to then a few months later 347 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 2: feeling like my eyes, I'm about to cry before we 348 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:24,600 Speaker 2: go out to the court because I'm so scared that 349 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 2: I'm gonna get served and. 350 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 3: I'm going to get asd like. 351 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 2: So that was why it was I think so jarring 352 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 2: for me is because I started to then be like 353 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 2: I don't even like who am I? Like, this is 354 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 2: so not me? And then you start to get upset 355 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 2: with yourself and you're like come on, like you know, 356 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 2: and then you just continue to spiral. 357 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, I can see that now. You said that when 358 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 1: you got to UFC, you were super excited, super happy. 359 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 1: You were one of the girls that came out there 360 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:51,560 Speaker 1: and gave your you know, a game every single time. 361 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:55,120 Speaker 1: But what was the moment do you remember the moment 362 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:58,320 Speaker 1: where you realize that something wasn't right. 363 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:02,200 Speaker 2: When I think about this time in my life, there's 364 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:05,479 Speaker 2: like moments that I remember vividly. There's things I don't remember, 365 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:08,359 Speaker 2: like as just like don't have a great memory. My 366 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:10,359 Speaker 2: friends and I always joke my best friend offvery We'll 367 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:11,760 Speaker 2: be like, remember when you said this thing and were 368 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:13,000 Speaker 2: this thing and we were in third grade and I'm 369 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:14,840 Speaker 2: like no, I'm like, what do we even do this 370 00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:15,560 Speaker 2: past weekend? 371 00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:18,399 Speaker 3: Like that's where my brain is. But something that. 372 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:20,920 Speaker 2: Pops into my head is like a practice we had 373 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 2: where we were scrimmaging my freshman year. We were the 374 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:26,920 Speaker 2: number one team in the country. We were undefeated, I 375 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:29,000 Speaker 2: was starting, we had the national player of the year. 376 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 2: Like the stakes were high, and it was a scrimmage 377 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 2: and my side won the point, and like I thought 378 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 2: that was good. But then the whistle blew and you know, 379 00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:44,240 Speaker 2: the coach called us together or either came to me. 380 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:48,119 Speaker 2: I forget, but like I basically got called out for 381 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 2: doing the wrong footwork, like on defense, like I made 382 00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 2: the wrong read. And I think for me in that moment, 383 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 2: I was like, oh my gosh, we won the point. 384 00:17:57,000 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 2: I didn't even touch the ball and I made a mistake. 385 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 2: And like, because I'm so type a perfectionist, like care 386 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 2: so much, I think I then started thinking, oh my god, 387 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:09,359 Speaker 2: like even if I don't touch though, even if we 388 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 2: win the point and we win the game, I still 389 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:15,159 Speaker 2: could be like making mistakes. So I think that was 390 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:17,639 Speaker 2: a moment for me where I really felt like, like 391 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:22,480 Speaker 2: everything I do has to be flawless and this is 392 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:26,639 Speaker 2: a whole different ballgame than club. And I will say like, 393 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 2: I think that I was mentally susceptible to have this 394 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 2: reaction to pressure. I don't look back and think someone 395 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:43,440 Speaker 2: caused this for me. You know, it would be really 396 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:46,200 Speaker 2: cool if I could have a play a month of 397 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:48,760 Speaker 2: my freshman year, knowing what I know now and try 398 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:52,320 Speaker 2: to use my coping mechanisms and breath work and journaling 399 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 2: and confidence stuff like I would love to try it. 400 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:57,800 Speaker 3: I was just eighteen, I was young. 401 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:01,280 Speaker 2: I had never worked on anything on the mental mindset 402 00:19:01,359 --> 00:19:04,600 Speaker 2: side of the game, and it was a very high 403 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:08,640 Speaker 2: pressure environment and something with my personality and that chemistry mix. 404 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:10,639 Speaker 3: This was the reaction. 405 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 2: So I just like to say that because I don't 406 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:17,480 Speaker 2: look back like thinking, you know, I bet it could 407 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:19,359 Speaker 2: have played out this way at another school, you know. 408 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:22,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean there's a lot of athletes, especially you 409 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 1: see now, a lot of athletes are starting to come 410 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: forward and talk about their own mental health struggles and 411 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:29,000 Speaker 1: it has nothing to do with you know. I mean, 412 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:33,200 Speaker 1: it's kind of one of those just situations where maybe 413 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:35,600 Speaker 1: thought that this was the right place, but there's just 414 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:38,680 Speaker 1: external factors that made it not feel right or just 415 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:41,240 Speaker 1: you know, you you thought you mesh but with the 416 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:43,520 Speaker 1: coach or the players, but it's not actually right, and 417 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:46,680 Speaker 1: you need to find how your brain works right and 418 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:48,879 Speaker 1: how you know how to handle yourself and cope with 419 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 1: what needs to be you know, cope with how you 420 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:54,920 Speaker 1: can handle the situation better. Right. I feel like a 421 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 1: lot of players. That's why the transfer portal is a thing, right, 422 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 1: and players can transfer two teams that they think that 423 00:20:02,080 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 1: they can actually mentally help themselves a little bit better. 424 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:09,159 Speaker 1: But I mean, speaking of just players in general, did 425 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:11,680 Speaker 1: you ever talk to your teammates about this, Like when 426 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 1: you got there, was this something that your teammates also 427 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:16,680 Speaker 1: dealt with and talked about or was it something you 428 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:20,560 Speaker 1: kept private and then went to a therapist on your 429 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:21,800 Speaker 1: own or did the team help you. 430 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:25,879 Speaker 2: I definitely had a teammate connect me initially with a 431 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:30,440 Speaker 2: therapist at the health center, which was super helpful. For 432 00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 2: me because they gave me that confidence of oh, if 433 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:35,879 Speaker 2: she's going, that means I can go. And she was 434 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:38,359 Speaker 2: older than me and we were in the same position, 435 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 2: and I just felt like seen that she related to 436 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:43,760 Speaker 2: the stress and was like, and I also do something 437 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:45,960 Speaker 2: to help me with it. So that was like my 438 00:20:46,119 --> 00:20:49,720 Speaker 2: first kind of crack crack in a good way where 439 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:51,639 Speaker 2: I was like, oh, my gosh, okay, I'm not the 440 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:54,600 Speaker 2: only one. And then it's funny because as I think 441 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:58,760 Speaker 2: about my upper classmen years, the conversation on mental health 442 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:02,240 Speaker 2: was so present and like, I think so much changed 443 00:21:02,320 --> 00:21:06,399 Speaker 2: over the from twenty fifteen to twenty nineteen when it 444 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 2: comes to the mental health conversation, and then we ran 445 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:11,399 Speaker 2: into twenty twenty, Like, you know, I noticed it in 446 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:12,120 Speaker 2: just my time. 447 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:15,240 Speaker 3: There where almost to a fault. 448 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:18,720 Speaker 2: We were joking about being depressed and being down and 449 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:21,639 Speaker 2: down bad and sad, you know, So I think I 450 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:24,280 Speaker 2: saw I saw it go both ways. 451 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 1: Hey, serving pancakes listeners, Tiffany here with a quick shout 452 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:37,159 Speaker 1: out from our friends at Adidas. We're in the final 453 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:40,360 Speaker 1: weeks of our Love Pro season, which means it's your 454 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:44,920 Speaker 1: final chance to grab the limited edition inaugural season player jerseys. 455 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:48,320 Speaker 1: Show your support for your favorite players now at Adidas 456 00:21:48,359 --> 00:21:53,560 Speaker 1: dot Com slash US Slash Love. That's Adidas dot Com 457 00:21:53,960 --> 00:21:58,679 Speaker 1: slash Us slash l O VB. Hurry. These things are 458 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:01,960 Speaker 1: going fast and once they're gone, they're gone. Don't miss 459 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:05,119 Speaker 1: out on your chance to be part of history. Well, 460 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:08,040 Speaker 1: I feel like another thing that you know. I'm older 461 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:11,200 Speaker 1: than you, So my generation didn't grow up with social media. 462 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:15,679 Speaker 1: I didn't have to worry about scrolling through people and seeing, 463 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:18,080 Speaker 1: you know, what they're doing on spring break, or what 464 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:21,200 Speaker 1: their bodies look like, or if my post didn't get 465 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:24,280 Speaker 1: a hundred likes compared to somebody else's. Like, I didn't 466 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 1: have to deal with that. But you've talked about social 467 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:32,359 Speaker 1: media and how that can really hinder and hurt your 468 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:36,399 Speaker 1: mental health. So can you just talk about that. You know, 469 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 1: your perspective on social media and what it can do 470 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:42,440 Speaker 1: to people, especially student athletes. 471 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:47,160 Speaker 2: Definitely, you know there's so much comparison on the Internet. 472 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 2: It's so hard not to I'm guilty of it. 473 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:49,920 Speaker 3: Still. 474 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:54,119 Speaker 2: Now we're humans, we're constantly scanning our environment for threats 475 00:22:54,320 --> 00:22:54,800 Speaker 2: to make. 476 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:56,960 Speaker 3: Sure that we're going to be okay, we're going to 477 00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 3: be liked and accepted. 478 00:22:58,119 --> 00:23:01,440 Speaker 2: It literally goes back to our ancestors who would wake 479 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:03,680 Speaker 2: up and think, I hope the tribe didn't leave without me, 480 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:06,760 Speaker 2: Like I hope I'm hunting enough and I'm gathering enough, 481 00:23:06,840 --> 00:23:08,359 Speaker 2: and I am you know what I mean. It's like 482 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:11,160 Speaker 2: in our blood to scan and make sure we're safe 483 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:13,960 Speaker 2: in a million ways, and it can come up in 484 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:16,720 Speaker 2: the most surface level way of like am I as popular? 485 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 2: Am I as pretty? 486 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 3: Am I? 487 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:18,720 Speaker 2: You know? 488 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:19,560 Speaker 3: All these things. 489 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 2: So when I was going through I guess, this huge 490 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:27,160 Speaker 2: dip in my life, it felt like with my mental health, 491 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:29,720 Speaker 2: I started to just kind of question and think about everything, 492 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:35,320 Speaker 2: and I realized that social media was contributing to this 493 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:37,679 Speaker 2: narrative I had that everything had to be okay all 494 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 2: the time, and it was really just starting to not 495 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:45,560 Speaker 2: edit my photos and not care so much about getting 496 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:50,320 Speaker 2: the photo and being more real about what I was doing, 497 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:55,879 Speaker 2: how I was feeling my thoughts. That started another small, 498 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:59,240 Speaker 2: little like trickle effect with I guess how my Instagram 499 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:03,480 Speaker 2: has grown over the years, because it definitely went from 500 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:07,400 Speaker 2: like what I thought was me, you know, presenting picture perfect, 501 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:10,960 Speaker 2: to then getting like not really making sense and being 502 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:13,000 Speaker 2: a little more I don't want to say weird, but 503 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:16,680 Speaker 2: to what was people posted a little weird and then 504 00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 2: started to feel empowered once the ted x talk was 505 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:24,040 Speaker 2: you know, I was getting messages and emails and feeling 506 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:26,880 Speaker 2: really comforted that I realized there was more to share. 507 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:29,040 Speaker 3: So then I continued to do that on the internet. 508 00:24:29,119 --> 00:24:31,040 Speaker 3: And I still do that to this day. 509 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:33,200 Speaker 2: You know, I really try. If I'm not having a 510 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:36,960 Speaker 2: good day, I don't maybe always have to say, hey guys, 511 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:40,280 Speaker 2: this is exactly what happened, but I'll say not not 512 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:42,280 Speaker 2: having the best day because I just want people on 513 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:45,880 Speaker 2: social media to know everyone's not always happy, everyone's going 514 00:24:45,960 --> 00:24:49,480 Speaker 2: through things, and I like to, you know, have a 515 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:52,720 Speaker 2: trust with anyone who follows me in the community that like, 516 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:55,720 Speaker 2: you're never going to see anything filtered. I don't even 517 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:58,760 Speaker 2: swipe right to Paris on my story, which that's hard. 518 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 2: It's hard some days, but I never do it, you know. 519 00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:02,800 Speaker 2: I'm just like, I would like you to know this 520 00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:06,159 Speaker 2: corner of the Internet, you're gonna see real content and 521 00:25:06,560 --> 00:25:07,320 Speaker 2: real emotions. 522 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:10,440 Speaker 1: That's where the hashtag real post came from. Mm hmm, yeah, 523 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:13,400 Speaker 1: I like that a lot. I feel like there's, yeah, 524 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:17,680 Speaker 1: this veil of fakeness that a lot of people put 525 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:20,000 Speaker 1: on themselves when it comes to social media that they 526 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:22,080 Speaker 1: want to make sure that they look the best and 527 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:25,639 Speaker 1: all that, and like you said, everyone is susceptible to that. 528 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:27,919 Speaker 1: Everyone goes through that. It's kind of like, how can 529 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:31,239 Speaker 1: you get past that and allow yourself to be your 530 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:33,560 Speaker 1: true self on social media and show who you really are? 531 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:36,840 Speaker 1: Ups and downs? But obviously everyone wants to see the. 532 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:41,080 Speaker 2: Ups right now, And it's like, I want everyone to 533 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:44,000 Speaker 2: know there will be people who will like you, love you, 534 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:48,640 Speaker 2: except you for you just being you. And I think 535 00:25:48,680 --> 00:25:51,320 Speaker 2: the biggest thing that we all crave is connection. We 536 00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:54,400 Speaker 2: want to connect with other human beings and feel seen. 537 00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:57,320 Speaker 2: And the only way that we actually if that's what 538 00:25:57,400 --> 00:25:59,520 Speaker 2: we want, how do we get there? You don't get 539 00:25:59,560 --> 00:26:03,359 Speaker 2: there by saying oh, I was the valedictorian and my 540 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:05,880 Speaker 2: kids are perfect and my life is perfect. 541 00:26:06,480 --> 00:26:07,359 Speaker 3: You don't relate to anyone. 542 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:09,840 Speaker 2: You get there by saying, oh, my god, today really sucked. 543 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:12,280 Speaker 2: I just felt so stressed and like none of my 544 00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:14,080 Speaker 2: friends are showing up for me. And then someone might 545 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:16,040 Speaker 2: say we I feel the same way. I'm so glad 546 00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:18,159 Speaker 2: you told me, you know you. The only way we 547 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:22,080 Speaker 2: grow deeper in connection is through vulnerability, So I, you know, 548 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:26,040 Speaker 2: think it's important to remember that as we think about 549 00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:27,640 Speaker 2: how we show up in the world and online. 550 00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:32,360 Speaker 1: So after your ted X talk, what happened? I mean, 551 00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:36,360 Speaker 1: talk to me about the response that you got from 552 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:40,640 Speaker 1: people who watched it, from your teammates, from your family friends. 553 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:41,720 Speaker 1: What was that response? 554 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:44,000 Speaker 3: Like, I definitely felt so much support. 555 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:47,280 Speaker 2: My parents were there when I gave it, so was 556 00:26:47,359 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 2: my husband, who was my boyfriend at the time, and 557 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:53,120 Speaker 2: two of my teammates came and my best friend was there, 558 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:56,480 Speaker 2: and I felt really supported. I think I was just 559 00:26:56,960 --> 00:27:02,520 Speaker 2: also sort of blown away by how many people related 560 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:05,359 Speaker 2: to it. I knew that the message served a purpose. 561 00:27:05,960 --> 00:27:08,440 Speaker 2: I think I didn't process like how big it could 562 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:12,320 Speaker 2: actually grow. And I think the Hidden Opponent nonprofit is 563 00:27:12,359 --> 00:27:14,880 Speaker 2: a huge testament to that. You know, it's titled after 564 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:18,560 Speaker 2: the tedex talk. And now we have a community where 565 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:23,119 Speaker 2: you know, there's a campus captain, so a student athlete 566 00:27:23,119 --> 00:27:26,320 Speaker 2: ambassador in all fifty states, and I mean that's just 567 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:29,399 Speaker 2: incredible that now we have this like national presence of 568 00:27:29,520 --> 00:27:33,159 Speaker 2: this next generation of advocates and student athletes who are 569 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:35,720 Speaker 2: out there right now, they're playing right now, they're graduating 570 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:38,119 Speaker 2: right now, they're being recruited right now, and we can 571 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:41,960 Speaker 2: hear about you know, their unique struggles tools how they're 572 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:45,159 Speaker 2: overcoming their mental health issues and also arming them with 573 00:27:45,240 --> 00:27:48,639 Speaker 2: like accessible resources and education. So you know, I was 574 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:51,560 Speaker 2: blown away by the initial response and I'm still like 575 00:27:51,760 --> 00:27:55,960 Speaker 2: pinching myself today as the Hidden Opponent nonprofit continues. 576 00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:57,480 Speaker 3: To live on and grow this amazing community. 577 00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:00,080 Speaker 2: And for Mental Health Awareness Month, obviously this month, we 578 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:03,520 Speaker 2: collaborated with Adidas on an ultraboose sneaker and some T 579 00:28:03,720 --> 00:28:08,120 Speaker 2: shirts and some shoes, and so it's it's insane, it's 580 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:11,280 Speaker 2: so cool, and it wouldn't be possible if it weren't 581 00:28:11,359 --> 00:28:13,800 Speaker 2: for all of the other people who were like me too, 582 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:14,600 Speaker 2: been there. 583 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:16,320 Speaker 3: I want to help, I want to be a voice. 584 00:28:16,520 --> 00:28:23,240 Speaker 3: So I'm still in disbelief. Tiffany, It's amazing what you've built. 585 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:26,920 Speaker 1: And you know, like we said, it started from this 586 00:28:27,200 --> 00:28:30,359 Speaker 1: this ted X talk where you were vulnerable and willing 587 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:35,080 Speaker 1: to show what was happening inside you. So we mentioned 588 00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:37,399 Speaker 1: this briefly, but you know, we talked about how mental 589 00:28:37,480 --> 00:28:40,440 Speaker 1: health and athletes are starting to be more vulnerable with 590 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:43,080 Speaker 1: their mental health. I've been you know, reading tons of 591 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:46,840 Speaker 1: stories about athletes at all levels, high school, college, pro 592 00:28:47,280 --> 00:28:50,040 Speaker 1: who have come forward with their own struggles and their 593 00:28:50,040 --> 00:28:53,000 Speaker 1: own anxieties and depression and how they've overcome it. But 594 00:28:53,080 --> 00:28:55,640 Speaker 1: I'm curious because in your talk you mentioned how you 595 00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:59,360 Speaker 1: were hoping that you know that this would the conversation 596 00:28:59,440 --> 00:29:04,000 Speaker 1: would grow. So do you think that it's grown enough 597 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:05,960 Speaker 1: or do you think that there's still more work to do. 598 00:29:06,560 --> 00:29:08,840 Speaker 3: I think it's grown astronomically. 599 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:14,120 Speaker 2: It's been so awesome to see I, even though I'm 600 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:19,240 Speaker 2: not actively playing sports anymore, to see like Simone Biles 601 00:29:19,320 --> 00:29:24,280 Speaker 2: transparency at the past Olympic Games, and to see so 602 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:29,080 Speaker 2: many athletes talking about this. I feel like the mental 603 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:36,160 Speaker 2: health conversation has definitely become more of a common currency. 604 00:29:35,880 --> 00:29:39,520 Speaker 3: And I think topic just in all gyms and on 605 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:40,320 Speaker 3: all teams. 606 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:44,800 Speaker 2: Have we followed that up with Have we followed that 607 00:29:44,920 --> 00:29:50,200 Speaker 2: up with adequate resources and accessibility to those resources? Now, 608 00:29:50,520 --> 00:29:52,760 Speaker 2: you know, it varies at the levels. If you go 609 00:29:52,840 --> 00:29:56,560 Speaker 2: to a Division one campus like me, they could send 610 00:29:56,600 --> 00:29:58,880 Speaker 2: an email and get seen that week, and then some 611 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:01,800 Speaker 2: of the Division two, Division three schools that I've visited 612 00:30:01,880 --> 00:30:04,360 Speaker 2: and spoken to, they might need to wait a month 613 00:30:04,440 --> 00:30:06,880 Speaker 2: or two and Unfortunately that might just be too long. 614 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:09,280 Speaker 2: People want to be seen and they need help now, 615 00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:12,400 Speaker 2: and I obviously know that that's a greater issue that 616 00:30:12,920 --> 00:30:15,200 Speaker 2: a lot of people are experiencing, whether you're a student 617 00:30:15,200 --> 00:30:18,120 Speaker 2: athlete or not. So I think the conversation and the 618 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:22,480 Speaker 2: destigmatization of the issue has gotten to a very impressive place. 619 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:25,320 Speaker 2: And I think now something you know we're focusing on 620 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:29,200 Speaker 2: the an opponent is how can we bring those accessible 621 00:30:29,240 --> 00:30:31,560 Speaker 2: resources to the same standard. 622 00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:34,560 Speaker 1: Since you've been traveling around the country and all over 623 00:30:35,280 --> 00:30:38,600 Speaker 1: discussing the hidden opponent and helping other student athletes, what 624 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:41,000 Speaker 1: have you found is kind of the biggest issue that 625 00:30:41,080 --> 00:30:42,240 Speaker 1: a lot of them are still facing. 626 00:30:42,840 --> 00:30:46,280 Speaker 2: Well, I feel like there's added pressure with this whole 627 00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:50,480 Speaker 2: nil situation is very unique, and now a student athlete 628 00:30:50,560 --> 00:30:52,760 Speaker 2: might have an agent, or they might be trying to 629 00:30:52,800 --> 00:30:55,120 Speaker 2: build their brand, or they might now be needing to 630 00:30:55,200 --> 00:30:57,320 Speaker 2: send money back home. I just think there's a bunch 631 00:30:57,400 --> 00:31:01,680 Speaker 2: of additional and unique pressures that were still figuring out 632 00:31:02,120 --> 00:31:04,959 Speaker 2: what the norm's going to be and how things are 633 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:08,400 Speaker 2: going to function in this new system. So I feel like, 634 00:31:08,880 --> 00:31:12,200 Speaker 2: you know, of course still seeing student athletes who are 635 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:14,760 Speaker 2: struggling with the same pressures of just being away from home, 636 00:31:15,440 --> 00:31:19,000 Speaker 2: managing the really intense demands of the schedule and school 637 00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:22,280 Speaker 2: and training and lifting and traveling and competing, and now 638 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:25,760 Speaker 2: with nil, I mean, it's a whole other part of 639 00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:26,200 Speaker 2: the mix. 640 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:28,720 Speaker 3: So I would say that's been the unique one that 641 00:31:28,800 --> 00:31:30,000 Speaker 3: I've seen come up more. 642 00:31:30,360 --> 00:31:35,080 Speaker 2: And when I was playing and doing YouTube and building 643 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:38,680 Speaker 2: my accounts, I mean, I had very strict rules to follow, 644 00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:42,240 Speaker 2: So I can't even imagine what would have happened in 645 00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:45,240 Speaker 2: my brain if I thought that, like I, you know, 646 00:31:45,320 --> 00:31:47,520 Speaker 2: I if I could have started a business at the 647 00:31:47,560 --> 00:31:50,280 Speaker 2: same time I had to wait to do that, you. 648 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:56,200 Speaker 1: Know, for sure? Do you see with like these student 649 00:31:56,240 --> 00:31:58,800 Speaker 1: athletes coming in and the one let's actually go back 650 00:31:58,800 --> 00:32:01,760 Speaker 1: to like high schoolers, you know, and this demanding schedule 651 00:32:01,840 --> 00:32:04,480 Speaker 1: that they're about to embark on when they do go 652 00:32:04,600 --> 00:32:08,680 Speaker 1: to college, do you see a path for them or 653 00:32:08,760 --> 00:32:12,280 Speaker 1: a way for them to fully understand what they're about 654 00:32:12,360 --> 00:32:14,880 Speaker 1: to get themselves into when they get to college or 655 00:32:15,040 --> 00:32:17,040 Speaker 1: is it still kind of one of those it's a 656 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:18,160 Speaker 1: live and learn situation. 657 00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:22,720 Speaker 2: I think, like anything, you won't really know until you 658 00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:25,920 Speaker 2: get there and you're actually in it and experiencing it. 659 00:32:26,440 --> 00:32:29,280 Speaker 2: So what I think I would recommend is to ensure 660 00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:33,440 Speaker 2: that you have the support system around you, like almost 661 00:32:33,520 --> 00:32:35,920 Speaker 2: like this backup net to catch you if you do 662 00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:38,080 Speaker 2: feel really overwhelmed, if you do feel. 663 00:32:37,960 --> 00:32:39,920 Speaker 3: Really anxious or spread thin or burned out. 664 00:32:40,520 --> 00:32:44,000 Speaker 2: So making sure that you know where you can go 665 00:32:44,120 --> 00:32:47,200 Speaker 2: to get that help and support, I think is would 666 00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:49,800 Speaker 2: be really great because then you don't have to figure 667 00:32:49,840 --> 00:32:52,320 Speaker 2: it all out when you're already feeling like you're in 668 00:32:52,400 --> 00:32:55,800 Speaker 2: a low situation. So I would just say, you know, 669 00:32:56,000 --> 00:32:59,160 Speaker 2: being ready and prepared for like all all cases, but 670 00:32:59,360 --> 00:33:01,360 Speaker 2: enjoy high school. You don't need to go make high 671 00:33:01,400 --> 00:33:05,040 Speaker 2: school five times as difficult to make it less difficult 672 00:33:05,040 --> 00:33:07,120 Speaker 2: when you get called like, enjoy it now and then 673 00:33:07,240 --> 00:33:10,120 Speaker 2: trust that future you will figure it out and allow 674 00:33:10,280 --> 00:33:12,640 Speaker 2: future you to seek the help if you need it. 675 00:33:13,000 --> 00:33:16,400 Speaker 1: And now you also started along with the Hidden Opponent, 676 00:33:16,480 --> 00:33:19,880 Speaker 1: you started a podcast, real pod, So talk to me 677 00:33:19,960 --> 00:33:22,120 Speaker 1: about that. Why did you decide to also get into 678 00:33:22,200 --> 00:33:26,040 Speaker 1: podcasting and you know, sharing your message that way as 679 00:33:26,080 --> 00:33:30,400 Speaker 1: opposed to just kind of doing just the foundation the nonprofit. 680 00:33:31,160 --> 00:33:34,520 Speaker 2: I love having deep chats with people, and how I 681 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:38,080 Speaker 2: described the kind of connection before about like getting real 682 00:33:38,120 --> 00:33:38,760 Speaker 2: and getting. 683 00:33:38,560 --> 00:33:40,360 Speaker 3: Vulnerable and Oh my gosh, you felt that way. 684 00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:42,800 Speaker 2: So did I, and so I thought that the podcast 685 00:33:42,840 --> 00:33:47,000 Speaker 2: would be a way to basically evolve what hashtag real 686 00:33:47,080 --> 00:33:49,520 Speaker 2: Post was. So it literally was like, we're going to 687 00:33:49,560 --> 00:33:52,800 Speaker 2: go from real Post to Real Pod, very simple name, 688 00:33:53,800 --> 00:33:56,719 Speaker 2: and hopefully I'm going to sit down and interview other 689 00:33:56,840 --> 00:34:01,400 Speaker 2: people who have something deep that they want to share 690 00:34:02,360 --> 00:34:05,120 Speaker 2: that's not so glamorous about their journey, that's not the 691 00:34:05,240 --> 00:34:08,080 Speaker 2: highlight reel. And so that was really the initial concept 692 00:34:08,160 --> 00:34:11,719 Speaker 2: of the show, and I feel grateful that it's I 693 00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:18,400 Speaker 2: think been five years and I've had some incredible conversations 694 00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:21,440 Speaker 2: with people. If anyone listening is not familiar with my podcast, 695 00:34:21,560 --> 00:34:25,960 Speaker 2: Real Pod, I recommend you start with an episode that 696 00:34:26,040 --> 00:34:28,600 Speaker 2: came out a few weeks ago called This Will Change 697 00:34:28,600 --> 00:34:32,040 Speaker 2: Your Life, a powerful conversation on Joy with Jeffrey Sod 698 00:34:32,160 --> 00:34:33,440 Speaker 2: who's a cancer fighter. 699 00:34:34,040 --> 00:34:34,759 Speaker 3: It's incredible. 700 00:34:34,840 --> 00:34:36,360 Speaker 2: I know that that sounds like, oh my gosh, is 701 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:38,439 Speaker 2: it going to be deep and like really sad and scared. 702 00:34:38,520 --> 00:34:40,279 Speaker 3: No, it's going to make you live your life to 703 00:34:40,320 --> 00:34:42,560 Speaker 3: the fullest. I want everyone to listen to it, not 704 00:34:42,680 --> 00:34:44,400 Speaker 3: for me, for him. I barely talk. You just have 705 00:34:44,480 --> 00:34:47,120 Speaker 3: to hear Jeffrey sod story. But I mean, I feel so. 706 00:34:47,200 --> 00:34:50,359 Speaker 2: Grateful that, yeah, we have a place where people feel 707 00:34:50,480 --> 00:34:54,640 Speaker 2: comfortable to talk about what they're going through and listeners 708 00:34:54,760 --> 00:34:56,879 Speaker 2: can know we're all trying to be the best version 709 00:34:56,880 --> 00:34:58,960 Speaker 2: of ourselves and it's not always pretty. 710 00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:02,239 Speaker 1: I love it. I was looking at your episode list 711 00:35:02,239 --> 00:35:03,880 Speaker 1: and there were a few on there that I'm like, oh, 712 00:35:03,920 --> 00:35:05,680 Speaker 1: I got to listen to that one and that one 713 00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:10,080 Speaker 1: and that one. So I'm excited to dig into that. Well. 714 00:35:10,360 --> 00:35:12,680 Speaker 1: I want to say thank you so much for coming on. 715 00:35:12,920 --> 00:35:15,239 Speaker 1: I also, before we wrap up this interview, I have 716 00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:17,719 Speaker 1: two questions left, and the first one is just kind 717 00:35:17,760 --> 00:35:20,200 Speaker 1: of an open ended question, which is just from the 718 00:35:20,239 --> 00:35:22,600 Speaker 1: stuff that we've talked about, is there anything else that 719 00:35:22,719 --> 00:35:27,200 Speaker 1: you want people to know, especially student athletes athletes in 720 00:35:27,239 --> 00:35:31,880 Speaker 1: the pro levels, about mental health that is something important 721 00:35:31,920 --> 00:35:34,760 Speaker 1: that they should be focused on for themselves, or something 722 00:35:34,840 --> 00:35:37,040 Speaker 1: that you know they can take with them to try 723 00:35:37,120 --> 00:35:38,840 Speaker 1: to grow and improve themselves. 724 00:35:39,280 --> 00:35:42,120 Speaker 2: I mean, I would maybe just add that it's not 725 00:35:42,239 --> 00:35:44,880 Speaker 2: a weakness to seek help from someone else or to 726 00:35:44,920 --> 00:35:48,120 Speaker 2: struggle with your mental health. It's actually a strength to 727 00:35:48,200 --> 00:35:51,279 Speaker 2: have the ability to say the difficult thing, ask the 728 00:35:51,320 --> 00:35:56,480 Speaker 2: difficult question, admit that you need support navigating something. 729 00:35:56,520 --> 00:35:58,400 Speaker 3: I think it's far harder and. 730 00:35:58,520 --> 00:36:01,480 Speaker 2: Takes more strength to do that then it does two 731 00:36:01,560 --> 00:36:02,560 Speaker 2: pretend everything's okay. 732 00:36:02,760 --> 00:36:04,760 Speaker 3: So, as an. 733 00:36:04,840 --> 00:36:07,640 Speaker 2: Athlete listening to this who always wants to be a 734 00:36:07,760 --> 00:36:10,719 Speaker 2: high achiever and strong and all the things, I would 735 00:36:10,840 --> 00:36:13,560 Speaker 2: encourage you to kind of if you need to flip 736 00:36:13,640 --> 00:36:16,000 Speaker 2: that mindset a little bit and recognize that it actually 737 00:36:16,600 --> 00:36:19,360 Speaker 2: is incredibly brave and takes a lot of strength to 738 00:36:19,600 --> 00:36:20,800 Speaker 2: prioritize your mental. 739 00:36:20,600 --> 00:36:23,719 Speaker 1: Health of that. And the last question I have, what 740 00:36:24,120 --> 00:36:27,760 Speaker 1: is your relationship with volleyball today? And are you still playing? 741 00:36:28,239 --> 00:36:31,120 Speaker 2: If my friends are playing in Santa Monica Beach and 742 00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:33,840 Speaker 2: hit me up and I can go, I love to go. 743 00:36:34,080 --> 00:36:35,760 Speaker 3: I tried to gather some old. 744 00:36:35,640 --> 00:36:38,440 Speaker 2: Teammates and some local girls who played in the area 745 00:36:38,680 --> 00:36:42,040 Speaker 2: to start a beach thing, but it's like everyone's so busy, 746 00:36:42,120 --> 00:36:44,400 Speaker 2: and volleyball is hard because you need, like, you need 747 00:36:44,440 --> 00:36:45,920 Speaker 2: at least like four people on. 748 00:36:45,960 --> 00:36:47,920 Speaker 3: A side, You need a net, you need balls, you 749 00:36:48,000 --> 00:36:50,560 Speaker 3: need to like you know what I mean. So it's 750 00:36:50,640 --> 00:36:51,360 Speaker 3: been difficult. 751 00:36:51,560 --> 00:36:55,440 Speaker 2: But anytime I get the opportunity to play, I usually 752 00:36:55,560 --> 00:36:58,080 Speaker 2: take it. But I missed it a lot. I wish 753 00:36:58,160 --> 00:37:00,360 Speaker 2: there were ways I could play more. I could go 754 00:37:00,640 --> 00:37:02,719 Speaker 2: to practice two nights a week. 755 00:37:03,160 --> 00:37:05,640 Speaker 3: I would do it. Someone invite me. 756 00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:08,520 Speaker 2: I'm like, if, honestly, I wish there was a local 757 00:37:08,640 --> 00:37:09,400 Speaker 2: I looked into this. 758 00:37:09,680 --> 00:37:12,719 Speaker 3: I wish there was like a local like West. 759 00:37:12,560 --> 00:37:15,600 Speaker 2: Side of LA like team and they needed me to 760 00:37:15,719 --> 00:37:18,120 Speaker 2: just play in their practice, because like I would be there. 761 00:37:18,239 --> 00:37:22,280 Speaker 3: But I don't think it is squad. That's amazing. 762 00:37:22,280 --> 00:37:23,919 Speaker 1: I feel like you got a fine. I'm sure there's 763 00:37:24,000 --> 00:37:26,600 Speaker 1: some sort of league. I mean, I'm on the East 764 00:37:26,640 --> 00:37:28,920 Speaker 1: coast in Jersey, so we don't have like I mean, 765 00:37:29,480 --> 00:37:31,239 Speaker 1: they're with Jersey Shore, but I don't live on the 766 00:37:31,320 --> 00:37:33,359 Speaker 1: Jersey Shore, so I'm not near any beach courts. Plus 767 00:37:33,400 --> 00:37:35,759 Speaker 1: you can only play beach a few months of the year. 768 00:37:36,280 --> 00:37:39,400 Speaker 1: But I mean, I'm in an adult league beer league 769 00:37:39,560 --> 00:37:41,840 Speaker 1: right now, and it's awesome and I get to play 770 00:37:42,120 --> 00:37:45,360 Speaker 1: and still have fun and play with some amazing teammates 771 00:37:45,440 --> 00:37:47,719 Speaker 1: and people that I've become friends with over the years, 772 00:37:47,760 --> 00:37:51,000 Speaker 1: and it's like I still get my love, just get 773 00:37:51,120 --> 00:37:52,000 Speaker 1: my love. 774 00:37:52,080 --> 00:37:55,399 Speaker 3: That I was thinking that League one should have you guys. 775 00:37:55,640 --> 00:37:58,200 Speaker 2: They should do like a celebrity game, like you know 776 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:01,840 Speaker 2: how like NBA All Stars They do like NBA players 777 00:38:01,880 --> 00:38:05,200 Speaker 2: and they bring in like random people like I think 778 00:38:05,239 --> 00:38:08,040 Speaker 2: that could be fun because like they're not that I'm 779 00:38:08,080 --> 00:38:09,120 Speaker 2: a celebrity. 780 00:38:08,640 --> 00:38:10,640 Speaker 3: At all, but it's volleyball and you'd need to be. 781 00:38:10,640 --> 00:38:12,920 Speaker 2: Able to play well to scrimmage again, so it's like, 782 00:38:13,160 --> 00:38:17,160 Speaker 2: could they bring in like former like known volleyball players 783 00:38:17,239 --> 00:38:19,040 Speaker 2: from the NCUBA who don't play anymore? 784 00:38:19,080 --> 00:38:21,640 Speaker 3: Could they bring in YouTubers creators. 785 00:38:21,160 --> 00:38:22,359 Speaker 2: Like I don't know. I think that would be such 786 00:38:22,400 --> 00:38:26,520 Speaker 2: a fun like media event and I would definitely be there. 787 00:38:26,680 --> 00:38:29,040 Speaker 2: So I've had this. 788 00:38:29,160 --> 00:38:31,600 Speaker 1: I pitched this idea to our our CMA. 789 00:38:31,760 --> 00:38:32,240 Speaker 3: I mentioned. 790 00:38:32,320 --> 00:38:34,280 Speaker 1: I was like, maybe next year we should do something 791 00:38:34,400 --> 00:38:36,560 Speaker 1: like this, like a little celebrity No, you. 792 00:38:36,560 --> 00:38:38,479 Speaker 3: Should do what It would be so much fun. 793 00:38:39,480 --> 00:38:42,759 Speaker 1: I'm gonna I really would love, love, love for that 794 00:38:42,920 --> 00:38:45,359 Speaker 1: to happen, So we'll I'll make sure that we hit 795 00:38:45,440 --> 00:38:47,440 Speaker 1: you up if that actually happens, if it comes to 796 00:38:47,520 --> 00:38:51,560 Speaker 1: fruition to be included. By the way, speaking of celebrities 797 00:38:51,719 --> 00:38:55,560 Speaker 1: who play volleyball, supposedly, when I was doing some research, 798 00:38:56,200 --> 00:39:00,080 Speaker 1: supposedly Leonardo DiCaprio does beach volleyball every so often, so 799 00:39:00,200 --> 00:39:01,040 Speaker 1: maybe you should keep an. 800 00:39:01,000 --> 00:39:03,960 Speaker 3: Eye out for that. Really Okay, that's good to know. 801 00:39:04,680 --> 00:39:07,279 Speaker 2: I suppose I don't think I sound too surprised that 802 00:39:07,400 --> 00:39:09,600 Speaker 2: Leonardo's hanging around the beach volleyball goals. 803 00:39:11,080 --> 00:39:13,160 Speaker 1: Well, suppose that he gets his buddies though it's not 804 00:39:13,360 --> 00:39:16,319 Speaker 1: just like not just like some some people on the beach. 805 00:39:16,400 --> 00:39:18,439 Speaker 1: It's like he gets his like other celebrity friends. 806 00:39:18,600 --> 00:39:18,880 Speaker 3: I don't know. 807 00:39:18,920 --> 00:39:20,520 Speaker 1: I could be completely wrong and that this could be 808 00:39:20,640 --> 00:39:22,200 Speaker 1: just be like a random blog post that I read. 809 00:39:22,480 --> 00:39:24,000 Speaker 2: I'll keep my eyes peeled at the beach and if 810 00:39:24,040 --> 00:39:26,000 Speaker 2: he's there, I'll recruit him to the Celebrity League. 811 00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:26,399 Speaker 3: One game. 812 00:39:26,719 --> 00:39:30,520 Speaker 1: Yes done, I love it. Well, Victoria has been a 813 00:39:30,600 --> 00:39:33,120 Speaker 1: pleasure speaking with you. Thank you so much, and I 814 00:39:33,239 --> 00:39:35,719 Speaker 1: mean thank you for everything that you've done in your 815 00:39:35,840 --> 00:39:39,160 Speaker 1: openness and being able to come forward with everything, because 816 00:39:39,400 --> 00:39:41,839 Speaker 1: you have helped kick the door down for a lot 817 00:39:41,920 --> 00:39:45,319 Speaker 1: of other people to you know, be who they are 818 00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:47,000 Speaker 1: and to share who they are and to get better 819 00:39:47,040 --> 00:39:47,799 Speaker 1: if they need help. 820 00:39:47,920 --> 00:39:50,880 Speaker 2: So thank you so much, so much, Tiffany, I appreciate it. 821 00:39:50,960 --> 00:39:54,120 Speaker 2: I really enjoyed your questions. Brought back some great memories, 822 00:39:54,400 --> 00:39:56,480 Speaker 2: and thank you for having me and for your time. 823 00:39:56,840 --> 00:40:00,520 Speaker 1: Special thanks to Victoria Garrick Brown. Thanks for listening to 824 00:40:00,600 --> 00:40:03,120 Speaker 1: this special episode of Serving Pancakes.