Ep. 13: Julia Scoles: Pro Beach Volleyball & Unpacking the Role of Faith in Elite Athletics

[00:00:00] Yeah, I know it's funny because we were walking up to the game and I had just like bald cry to drew on FaceTime Like I want to quit, I don't want to play this next game and we're walking to warm up

[00:00:09] And I'm just in the worst mood and a bird pooped on me And that's the night when I look at each other and we just start like dying laughing and she's like It's gonna be a good game

[00:00:29] Welcome to Champion This podcast with Brianna Salvadori Doic and Chelsea Poppins Where we talk about the incredible stories of athletes and entertainers Who are using their platforms to create positive change in the world and the communities they live in

[00:00:42] We're so excited because we have guest Julia Scoles on the podcast today Julia is a powerhouse. She's a pro beach volleyball player and a member of TMI USA Where she's racked up some really impressive titles including the 2022 AVP rookie of the year and the 2023 AVP most improved player

[00:01:02] She also had a super illustrious college career. She started her career off at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Where she earned freshman of the year ABC All-American Honorable Mentor mentioned Before then transitioning to Beach volleyball at University of Hawaii

[00:01:19] She finished up her last two years at USC Where she earned her graduate studies degree She became an all-American and back to back national champion She's also a recently married Drew Donlin who's also a super athlete member of TMI USA

[00:01:35] Handball and most importantly Julia is passionate about mentorship and giving back to the next generation of athletes Welcome to the Pong Julia Wow, that was quite the intro. I'm so excited to be here. Thank you guys for the work you do in highlighting people stories

[00:01:51] Super excited. Bri actually breeze intro is used to be way longer She used to be like suit well research and we've actually slimmed them down a little bit I know as you're saying that I'm like whoa, I forgot about all these things and then

[00:02:06] You have gone to three universities. So like who am I? Yeah, well we love to kind of like touch touch based on you let our listeners get to know you a bit better

[00:02:17] By digging into like how you found your passion for volleyball and what initially drew you to the sport Can you tell us a little bit about that yeah Growing up I naturally gravitated to all sports off-lettics

[00:02:31] So I pretty much tried everything under the side. It is gymnastics soccer basketball tracking field One of my friends invited me to a racially volleyball practice and that's when I first got introduced this sport

[00:02:44] And I fell in love with it from there as I did all pretty much other sports And just kind of hit the ground running and took it as far as I could But yeah that love for the sport began at a early age

[00:02:58] Had your parents played volleyball or why like how come that's the one that stuck and not basketball? Because you know the hooper and me is like Joals also kind of been an all-american In my team

[00:03:10] I was all I think you could have been you know a hooper as well. Oh Yeah, so my mom played volleyball in high school But she's same thing did pretty much every sport that she could she did field hockey ice hockey swimming basketball volleyball

[00:03:27] So yeah, I also played competitive basketball in high school. I was on travel team And played for my high school and I absolutely loved basketball So I'm jealous of you guys for excelling at that next level and playing it super competitively

[00:03:43] But I wasn't as good at basketball. I would say but my love her basketball was probably parallel But I love volleyball practices probably more than I love basketball practices

[00:03:55] So I thought I'm going to play a sport at the next level. I have to fall in love with the process and with the training And I think I could do that more easily with volleyball That's fair Okay, well let you

[00:04:08] Little at it slide you're pretty successful at volleyball So it's not like you chose wrong Yeah, no that's incredible But we do have to get you out on the Venice Beach courts this summer

[00:04:18] I'm gonna I'm gonna bring you in as my teammate for the Venice ball league do you play Julie? Duals um No, um the last I played basketball was just like horse and pig with my husband

[00:04:32] We just went out to like a local park court and shot around but it was pretty tragic So I'll stick to ball it's on but it's muscle memory at this point That's one of the dialed year your journey a little bit further, you know in the intro

[00:04:49] We talked about your super successful college career You played at UNC Chapel Hill where you were getting that freshman of the year audible mentioned All-American and this was for indoor volleyball correct correct yeah

[00:05:05] And then you ended up transitioning to university of Hawaii to play beach volleyball and you finished up your career USC with those back-to-back national championships and becoming an all-American

[00:05:16] Can you talk to us about why you decided to switch to beach and yeah a little bit talked to us Loded about your career as well college. Yeah, so growing up in North Carolina

[00:05:25] I was not living near a beach at the time I had never played beach volleyball I set through watching it in the Olympics and when I've ever watched in the Olympics it always intrigued me

[00:05:36] But I committed to Carolina in a recent challenge. I was out of pretty early age And they did not have a beach volleyball program So I played indoor there and then I had some pretty serious concussions And I never actually returned to the indoor game

[00:05:54] But at the time when I was in recovery there was a beach volleyball club team And so I met with the president and asked if I could Just start practicing with them and they were willing and when I stepped on the beach court

[00:06:08] I felt none of the fear that I felt on the indoor side of things And so as like if I want to continue my athletics career I knew that I would have to switch to beach volleyball because just from a safety standpoint the sport is drastically

[00:06:25] More safe than indoor volleyball like the element of sand slows the game down substantially The ball is a little bigger in softer and tactically the games played a lot differently so in indoor Most girls are hitting the ball 100% 90% of the time where in beach

[00:06:43] You still play in aggressive game but a lot of the shots are off speed In place in the ball where the opponent is not So there was just many facet of the facets of the beach game that provided at opportunity

[00:06:55] for me to continue athletics in a safe way And so that year was just really challenging me or figuring out what the next steps would look like And so I put my name in the transfer portal to talk to different beach programs

[00:07:14] And ultimately decided on the University of Hawaii at Manila And I finished my undergrad there transition to beach While I was there and then I had two years of eligibility left one because of My medical hardship for my concussions and then one because of the COVID year

[00:07:34] So I got two years back and so I did a grad Two grad programs that you have to see And finish my eligibility there So it's quite dangerous also

[00:07:45] I got two grads while I was there had a little extra time and the University of Florida isn't a bad pick Like that's that's a pretty great place to pick No, no, no University Southern California. You guys What did I just say did I say University of Hawaii

[00:08:02] Florida Oh my god, I said I said that in the back of my mind subconsciously because I went to the University of Florida I would meant to say the University of Hawaii. I just had a dyslexic moment I totally get that

[00:08:17] But yeah, you had multiple concussions what kind of was I asked because I had three concussions But what was kind of the scenario where you you kind of were put in that situation to get those concussions

[00:08:30] Yes, so the first one happened my freshman season and we're in a practice doing a drill called coach on one And it's just you and the coach on the court and they're hitting the ball at you throwing the ball every single direction

[00:08:43] And it's kind of a conditioning type drill But I remember my coach tossing the ball to the deep corner and I could have easily ran there I stayed on my feet to play the ball

[00:08:54] But instead of doing that I took a step towards the ball and then watched myself in its direction And I was probably parallel to the ground like three four feet and then my teeth nose forehead Hit bounce back up and read hit and I blacked out and

[00:09:10] It was pretty excruciating after that initial impact I've never had a concussion before and instantly I was hit with every kind of symptom from a concussion that you could imagine But an an extreme way

[00:09:24] So I felt like the room was spinning entirely. I felt like my ear drums were gonna explode the light was piercing I was like dry-heating About vomiting and all those things were happening. I'm like, I felt like I was literally dying I asked my trainer. I'm like

[00:09:44] It was just it was just very scary But then after that Initial impact in the symptoms are just subside It was just like two weeks of like a little bit more like a lot more mild symptoms more annoying than anything But I just still didn't feel well

[00:10:02] But then after those two weeks I remember being like wow like I it only took me two weeks to recover Like I'm actually glad that it was a concussion over like a batting full-spraining or a break

[00:10:13] Because I would have been out for way longer and that was such a naive statement because I did another What a brain entry met long-term and how it made you susceptible to future ones And how those can compound and what PCOS is post concussion syndrome

[00:10:34] And just all the things that entail from TBI like it is a TBI's traumatic brain injury a concussion is a low grade But because the brain is so unknown There there's no way to

[00:10:53] Know the actual effects that it will have on a person yeah, but also it like The effects of it on school and how that affects your academics at the time too

[00:11:04] Like you go into classrooms in the light bothers you or you have to take notes or you're tired or You just can't remember what the professor said and for you to be suffering symptoms for two weeks Like that already sets you back academically

[00:11:20] If it's affecting you to level that like especially that you had Just in listen general. That's really tough Yeah, go and back to this whole piece My second concussion actually Was way worse symptomatic wise long-term and it really affected my vision

[00:11:40] So I had to go through vision therapy all of the false semester and retrain my eyes on how to track and read properly Because whenever I went to class for the first time after receiving my second concussion My eyes reading more than a sentence could not

[00:11:56] Follow like could not track and so I was very scary feeling because it's like what what is happening like I had no idea that concussions could cause stuff to be Accularly involved Yeah, totally

[00:12:14] Yeah, it is scary. I had a couple concussions in college as well and I remember One of them actually was like a little bit of a get out of a jail free card because I had a big midterm the next day that I was not ready for

[00:12:26] Yeah, and I'm getting out of it real What are you saying? God that was a little bit helpful for that But for like a month I couldn't concentrate I couldn't focus And yeah, it is really scary because it is unseen and it's easy

[00:12:42] I think even in the world of sports To be like nope tough it up your fine like we can tough it up through like Through an ankle injury or whatever but when it comes to your brain like being really discerning and destigmatizing like that

[00:12:59] And Julia, I think is really important or just bringing more awareness to that and Julia I know that's something that you're really passionate about as well like now you become much more of an advocate for kind of raising awareness around

[00:13:12] Concussions and safety getting back onto the court like can you share a little bit about your work in that space Yeah, so a few years ago. I got plugged in with heads together health which is Start up at the University of my Carolina the head of concussion research

[00:13:33] founded this This startup that is Off offers symptom tracking and then they're able to quantify that data and use it to inform Protocol and how someone will return to sport return to learn is what they call it for return to classroom

[00:13:54] And when I was at SC and I did an entrepreneurship program I had a conversation with my doctor from Chapel Hill and he Basically provide an internship opportunity where I did a lot of market research for them a lot of customer discovery

[00:14:12] And then also at that time concussion legacy foundation is a nonprofit And they just basically are a nonprofit that provide resources and Advocate for concussion awareness Concussion protocol safety everything that you could imagine just kind of Is that Lending page for someone looking

[00:14:36] For a community when they're going through Something like that and they also do a mentorship program So I was plugged in with that and they pair You with girls who are going through or boys, but I had girl mentees

[00:14:52] Who are going through similar things that you've already gone through and can provide a voice of hope and encouragement And while alongside them while They're in the recovery because that's something that I lacked because when I was recovering

[00:15:07] I genuinely thought that I would never get to the other side or see the light at them The tunnel and I would have to live with these symptoms and this state of Just mental

[00:15:19] Health for the rest of my life and just find a way to manage it and just Constantly like being pain figuring out how to Deal with and cope with that But thankfully those feelings lie and when you're in that dark spot dark space like

[00:15:38] You think that's your reality but in reality like you Have the ability to learn to grow to heal to continue to get better And looking back like I would say I'm so much better for having gone through that season of my life not just for my brain's health

[00:15:56] But just like what I learned how I grew in faith and just Yeah, the perspective that it gave me afterwards and then also the new path that it created for me with beach volleyball I would not have found the sport if I didn't suffer those

[00:16:13] Substantial concussion and so I can confidently say that I am a thousand times better not only Health wise but also just as a person and like how I've grown in that time So I'm very thankful to be on the other side

[00:16:30] But that's something that I didn't think was possible at the time I love how you tied faith into it because Obviously concussions aren't well known and people can't really measure the amount of time it takes for people to get back to 100%

[00:16:44] Or if they get back to one of percent sometimes and you really do just have to rely on Like God during those times you be like hey, can you get me back to

[00:16:55] Where I used to be or at least a baseline of where I need to be and then also as athletes I think we need to be humbled. I think we God powerful to us Through these experiences because a lot of times we think we're invincible

[00:17:09] Because we're we're playing in college. We're getting these D1 scholarships and we're at the top of the world Then we know always value our health as much as we should

[00:17:18] So I think it's like for me like knee surgery is God had to remind me that like my body is important And I had to make decisions for me not just for my athlete career

[00:17:28] Yeah, yeah something that I climb to during that time was Romans 828 which says that God works all things together for the good of those who love him and I call it Quarantine's purposes And I didn't truly understand that verse until you can see the way that God takes

[00:17:44] Stuff in a broken world and still sovereignly works it out for your good and for his glory And so now anytime I go through a hard trip, so this past year I had two new surgeries and like all right

[00:17:57] God like what good is gonna come from this because I think life is a beautiful dichotomy of A really hard things but really extraordinary in amazing things and those co-exist simultaneously and it's so cool to see how God can use

[00:18:13] The hardest things that are alive to bring about the most good. Yes, Julia, preach And it's so true like if I think about my own life as well It's always the biggest trials that I've Faced

[00:18:29] That have refined my character and made me stronger and I think another piece like you mentioned hope I heard that coming up a lot when you were sharing and I think One thing that our faith provides is a hope, you know in the fact that

[00:18:44] God does work out all things for our good But in the same respect like it's just so beautiful to see you being hope to other girls and really Living that truth that you yourself have experienced in that you embody

[00:18:56] Being able to inspire the next generation through your mentorship and all the awesome work that you're doing so We love it. I'm feeling inspired and fired up and hearing you talk

[00:19:07] I wanted to switch gears a little bit and dive into kind of that transition for you from college volleyball into Professional volleyball so like how did you decide to play professional volleyball and then also like I'm sure being on the court

[00:19:22] It's a little bit of a different level than college volleyball though you came in and crushed it were Rookie of the year on the AVP tour, but yeah, nonetheless like what was that transition like for you? Yeah, so I felt very blessed and fortunate

[00:19:37] For the doors that God opened there with partnerships and just different opportunities that I feel like I could not even Plan or orchestrate the way that they unfolded without God's hand being totally over it so I just felt like

[00:19:54] When I finished with that sea my first partner on the AVP was junior your rainbow and she is such a phenomenal Individual and athlete and I viewed her as an mentor and she kind of took me under her wing

[00:20:09] And kind of just showed me the ropes of what it looked like to prepare for at the professional level as well as everything that goes into training travel logistics With college everything is kind of spoon fed for you and at the professional level

[00:20:28] You're not signing to a sports organization or sports team you're basically Communicating with one other person and saying hey you want to play professional baseball level All right, let's do it in like let's sign up for these tournaments

[00:20:40] So you're the director of ops you're the travel agent like your everything you could imagine The team manager at like all the things that are have been done for you is now The onus is on you and your teammate

[00:20:54] To figure that out and I just felt like she did such a good job of Leading and leading by example and just made it very easy to Kind of make that transition to the next level and I also felt very fortunate for the preparation from

[00:21:11] S.C. and drum Hawaii because There's not really that much of a difference with skill level from college to pro like it is very competitive Same thing with like the top tournaments internationally like those skill level

[00:21:28] As you continue to grow is a lot smaller difference than when you're maybe in high school And so it's a few points separates you from the next team and vice versa and so just feeling Like my undergraduate programs provided a great foundation

[00:21:48] To continue to build up that next level. Do you think that the COVID years to provide it to your little extra time to Really fully prepare and get your skills to that level too as you stepped into the pro level

[00:22:00] Oh, absolutely I would say when I switched from indoor to beach I had no idea how different the two sports were Yeah, I got out on the stand with the club team but I never actually training that a Division one collegiate level for a beach volleyball

[00:22:16] And it was a rude awakening and very humbling like I felt like a draft on the sand trying to find my way And I was genuinely awful at the sport like I was very bad like it was pretty embarrassing I remember

[00:22:30] Pollen my dad like two weeks before the season like dad like I want to quit like I've never One of the quit anything in my life with athletics like I normally like I want to rise to the challenge like And I just don't think people understand or

[00:22:46] Until they go through of how difficult that transition is and so I think with indoor girls To make the transition to be maybe after college With the development of the beach side on the call collegiate level

[00:23:00] I think they're just a step behind and it takes a longer time to make that transition So I felt very fortunate to have the time to kind of Just develop develop as a player understand the game better and

[00:23:15] Yeah, I get that time and a controlled environment before it's like What you are relying on to pay rent. Yeah, yeah, yeah And people don't realize how hard it is the jump in sand So hard so difficult

[00:23:35] I was to say I remember on my official visit to Hawaii I was watching the girls and a tournament on the beach at Queens Wikyki

[00:23:43] Which is some of the deepest sand in the world and I remember watching them run around like how are they doing this right now? And then I was like oh, I'm like a little hungry. I'm gonna get out and go to a little

[00:23:55] Spot down the road to get something to eat and I got up and I started walking in the sand I was like hyperventilating like walking And I'm like okay I know I also have been out for my injury

[00:24:06] So like I need to not only get in beach volleyball shape like if you get back in shape period But before I wash shape is just like a Different animal So This is gonna be something

[00:24:20] Some brutal I know our condition some of my conditioning workouts on the summer would be literally doing the like dunes in LA I don't know where it's supposed to be like big dune hill and just walking up that figure like that's my workout Do a twice

[00:24:34] Yeah, so not a level We just had grassy hills No, no sand So you enter the scene start playing pro beach volleyball and And about I want to say year and a half ago maybe year ago you met your current doubles partner Betsy Flint Total boss has like

[00:24:55] Top serve in all of beach volleyball Tones accolades from college and on the ABB tour and the FIVB tour as well How did you meet her and yeah?

[00:25:06] Tell us a little bit about like your collective mission as well and what it's meant to join together as a team Yeah, so Originally when I started playing professionally

[00:25:16] I did not have my site set on the international tour because I was finishing a grad degree at SC and I Was my goal was to make all the main draws on that domestic tour on the ABP the first year

[00:25:31] And international which is the FIVB was not on my radar Because I just didn't think it was in the cards with balancing school and travel and everything like that And then after the AVP season

[00:25:44] There were some opportunities to play in some international events and I was asked to compete in them And I couldn't turn down the opportunity and when I was playing My first event I get a call from Betsy and as she says Julia like there's an elite 16

[00:26:06] which is the top tier professional event our professional tournaments in Australia and December like the deadlines tomorrow night we need to sign up What do you want to play with me and I was like yeah?

[00:26:22] I definitely want to play with you and she's like but I you need to get some points first for us to be in the main draw And so I had two tournaments Left to go on and do buy after the first tournament that I was in in Maldives

[00:26:39] And she's like you need to do well these events for us to play in this main draw And I was like okay and I ended up doing pretty decent in those events. I got a third one and a fourths in the next

[00:26:52] And that put us into the main draw in Australia and That was the first tournament that Betsy and I played together and And we ended up doing pretty well. We got a silver medal there Wow

[00:27:06] So they get to the finals. We ended up beating the Olympics silver medalist From Tokyo And so it was just like okay, like this is clicking like let's continue and like Try to make a push for L.A. art L.A. Paris

[00:27:24] 2024 and so because we did well in that tournament It put us in a good position to pursue the Paris games with coaches stipend and just from USA volleyball support And so we made a full Olympic run and ended up being the third team

[00:27:47] Out only two teams make it and so we're alternates for Paris But we went through the full Olympic qualification. We played in 12 international events And that time frame and it was just a growing fulfilling hard joyful

[00:28:05] amazing experience. So it what like I wouldn't change it for the world even though it was very very challenging It was just such a formative year for our partnership for my individual growth Just experience wise I had never Benty Europe or that side of the world before

[00:28:28] The past year and now I can say I've bent to countless countries and played in countless tournaments And it's been a really cool Cool journey You made it sound like such an astravagant lifestyle Like do buy the maldino Australia you want to go out of Australia next weekend

[00:28:47] But that's the funny part of this sometimes it does appear to be extra I'm gonna put them when you're in it. You're like Like taking red eyes like in plans for 14 hours Like it's not a glamour. It's like there's some glamorous moments but most of the time

[00:29:08] It is not a glamorous life You know the flight to Australia is absolutely not glamorous It's the longest time capsule ever But to expand on that like obviously everything looks good to people looking from the outside

[00:29:27] Can you talk to us about some of the challenges because obviously it's not always smooth sailing when you're trying to like Prepare and reach this level of play as a pro volleyball player Can you talk to us about like what challenges what hurdles you face

[00:29:41] Like just some really tough times for you during this time Yeah, so I'm during Olympic qualification and I was dealing with an overuse injury That progressively got worse and worse and worse And I was just managing pain levels pretty much near that end of this season

[00:30:00] And we would practice one time before major tournaments And we would just say all right like drugs in adrenaline like I had some like I had some like pain colors that were like for my prescribed

[00:30:19] But also the adrenaline piece like helping you get through some of these tournaments and It was just a mental battle of like will pretty much on knowing that like we need to play in these events to put ourselves in the best

[00:30:32] Opportunity and I also was wise about it knowing that I did not want to have Along-term consequence from what I'm pushing my body through now and the medical team works staff around me

[00:30:47] Really like walk through that process with me and it was like you'll have time to like get surgeries and heal in the off season Just knowing that this was going to be kind of a battle

[00:30:59] And then within just the dynamic of a partnership and any relationship like you're two different people coming together Trying to reach a common goal but you have different needs different perspectives

[00:31:12] Different weaknesses different strengths and so learning the dance of that with another individual is something that's incredibly challenging But also incredibly rewarding because of the trust that you build Because of how you're personally refined and how you grow and learn from that individual

[00:31:34] And just genuinely figure out what Do we need to do collectively to be best as a team and not individually? And so it's a lot of like dying to pride and Just I bring my faith

[00:31:52] Element within this and view it as like a sanctification process because I'm constantly confronted on a daily basis and practice Internments with like myself ishness with my pride with anger with all of these things that

[00:32:05] Are kind of uglier parts of our hearts that we don't normally deal with on a daily basis That I feel like you're in Almost like an incubator pressure cooker For those things to come out and it's like how how am I gonna become a good team?

[00:32:23] How am I going to die to myself To benefit the team and what the team needs and that's an ongoing process, but it's something that Regardless of who you're you're playing with that everyone has to deal with just figuring out that dance

[00:32:41] That's a beautiful way to put it to because you and I were laughing or all of us were laughing because we all had knee injuries We're talking about our mood Our it is dependent on how our body feels

[00:32:53] Yeah, and I were like oh yeah, it was a little bit That was a little bit spicy that day and yeah, I'm like we're all handling our own things, but also Betsy is a mother too

[00:33:04] Like he said people have their different things that they're turned about and their life But that was beautifully put Absolutely and I remember last year during this journey I was dating my now husband and we were like progressing in dating and this couple at our church recommended this

[00:33:23] But to us And it was basically a book for married couples. I don't know why we were reading it and I remember reading it was there love languages No, it was called sacred marriage, but it's basically all about marriage And so in it I was like

[00:33:41] This is not really applicable to like our stage of life right now, but then it was wildly applicable to my relationship with Betsy I was learning in the book like in a plan to our relationship and not to do an actual

[00:33:59] Yeah, Betsy's your true work wife. I love it. Yeah, she's my work wife So good, but you know I honestly like hearing you share that is really beautiful and inspiring And a lot of people don't talk about that

[00:34:12] And I think a lot of people don't necessarily have the humility and the heart posture to stay low In the context of a team and that team could be your literal like sports team or at your company your job or

[00:34:25] A nonprofit you serve in or wherever like I think our pride and our like Selfishness can I definitely am guilty of this but can get in the way of the good of

[00:34:35] You know the team and so being able to be really self-aware and like keeping that humble posture. I think it's huge And just seeing you and Betsy out on the core and in real life like I can attest to the power of your team

[00:34:47] It is like beautiful and strong and like LA 2020 a watch out these women are gonna be on the floor Creshing it and in the four years leading up to it like accolades for days I'm so excited to watch how you two crush it together

[00:35:03] Speaking of faith, I know you've kind of already touched on it and it's always been laced throughout this entire conversation But do you have any like specific moments or like how your faith has informed your purpose and the role you're seeing yourself playing as an athlete

[00:35:19] And your identity in it Yeah, that is such an awesome question I think it all started with my relationship and sport to be getting with I think God has used sport as such a tool In my life and in the beginning of my sport career

[00:35:38] I would view my faith as it means to achieve my wealth through my sport so I did like God Please help us win this game like just like praying for like success and just like things as we all do

[00:35:54] Was that was like God where it was just to be successful But I didn't realize how much of an idol it was in my life and how like God does not design us to have

[00:36:09] idols that are fulfilling other than him and I didn't realize that so I put everything all my purpose all my identity My soul into this sport that was finite and that Ultimately returns void anything

[00:36:25] That I invest into it that's not ultimately rooted in him and so whenever I had my first injury in concussions Where I was my sport was stripped away and so much more was stripped away because of the nature of the injury

[00:36:39] So like I had to medically underload in school So I lost my identity of a student as an athlete my personality changed before my eyes because of the mental health stuff with the concussion

[00:36:51] So there was so much that I didn't recognize about my life and about myself that I was like Okay, if everything in life that I claim to is taken away What is there and I always claim to be a Christian? I grew up in the Bible belt

[00:37:08] I had an understanding of salvation But I never took ownership of my faith and sought first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and I remember being like okay God like at your real like I want to find out more about you and

[00:37:26] What this life is about and During that time like it was probably the hardest time I've ever walked through But God was walking alongside me and I felt his presence in such a tangible way the pieces surpasses understanding

[00:37:42] Like though we will have trials and tribulations in this world or take heart for he has overcome the world and just All of his promises that bring true inscripture. I'm like clinging to for the first time and so

[00:37:55] As I was navigating this transition to beach and how God clearly open doors with these opportunities I almost viewed Hawaii as the promised land of like okay like once I get there like things are gonna be better like

[00:38:13] I'm going to figure out which all I've all I'm going to like have a new life XYZ and I was missing the point where God is like no Wherever you're at the grass will never be greener on the other side Like seek me and find me and

[00:38:30] My purpose for you and when you're walking in the devil's knee that is the most fulfilling and joyful place you can be and so I remember My first year in Hawaii was awful because I still tried to

[00:38:46] Just put my faith in a box and I say okay, God like this is my faith box. This is my volleyball box It's my student box like this is my social box and I just continually try to use God as

[00:38:59] Just like cosmic vending machine to like get what I wanted in this world and then I remember Flying back to why am I second year? I'm in the middle of the plane my tears are streaming down my face

[00:39:11] And I'm like I can't live this year again like I can't go through this again and I remember Like in my dorm room sitting there and like I'm like like

[00:39:24] I'm gonna actually put you first and for the first time in my life and I'm gonna mean that and And

[00:39:30] Matthew says seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you and so I was like, you know what like for the first time I'm gonna seek you first and not my will like I'm going to surrender and I

[00:39:43] Remember that moment literally just getting to a place of complete surrender and my Lord have your way my life Have your way in my heart and sense that point it has not been perfect like I miss in our false-word daily

[00:39:58] But God has radically transformed my life transform my perspective Restored redeemed all of the broken parts of my story and it has been Exceeding in abundantly more than I could ask for it's in Gorin magic and And yeah, it it's just

[00:40:19] It I forget how radically different my life is now Because it's been kind of quite a bit of time since that point, but it's like wow God you are so good and you are so faithful

[00:40:32] And you are faithful year after year and you were so faithful in my disobedience to when I was an enemy of you You are still sovereign and you were still guiding and leading me and yeah, so that Is

[00:40:49] Kind of the way that faith has shaped my relationship with sport Oh, and then when I got back to Playing it was not like oh, I'm using this thing to define me this sports to define you But I'm using this sport to refine me now

[00:41:04] so not only and I Loving the gift it is to play in freedom and not have this define me But also like how is this growing me how is this stretching me how is this Yeah, I'm not eating a deeper faith and helping me look more like Jesus

[00:41:20] Wow, Mike drop. Okay, I think that's a wrap for the podcast just a tool's discipleship But so so good so powerful and yeah such an important truth to be reminded of But I love that like it's brought freedom to you in life and it's not a self-serving thing

[00:41:40] But it's like staying low and seeking first God's will for your life and like what he has for you and And then I don't like the freedom that's come with that heart posture is like so beautiful and not that it's not a struggle

[00:41:54] But um, because of course it is a struggle daily But it's also like beautiful at the same time and there's so much joy that resonates out of you Yeah, thank you for sharing we love that Yeah, also wanted to talk a little bit about your recent marriage

[00:42:11] So we mentioned briefly in the in the intro you've married Drew, Dominion who is a member of team USA Himbal all around athlete We got to hang out at the beach and LA about a year ago now But you both travel a lot for your sport

[00:42:27] You're both kind of crushing it in your respective lanes how are you able to You know in your marriage stay as a strong team and support each other and kind of be each other's height men and women

[00:42:38] Yeah, that's a great question. We're close to two months of marriage So I don't feel like I can offer that great of person or advice because we're so early on and I'm like oh yeah God, this marriage thing figured out

[00:42:52] But I think like the relationship side like before him is almost like you're there Yeah, yeah, so just knowing like That we've kept God at the center of our relationship or strive to And I think that just provide such a solid foundation knowing that

[00:43:12] God has created good works for Drew to walk into God has created good works for me to walk into and knowing that This relationship is not about meeting my emotional needs or Meeting every one of his needs but it's about our creator meeting our needs and then us

[00:43:31] Spraying one another on in our respective columns And I think that That times like my flesh is like no like I just want you to support me in everything that I do And just like knowing like That he has such a

[00:43:50] profound platform and the way that he's able to Share the gospel and live out his calling and just all the doors that God has opened for him and his career in his sport And it's been very cool to see those parallels

[00:44:07] As Brie you and Justin and I'm not sure what your future has been named. That I'm sure you got Ryan Ryan Can relate that Yeah, like you guys make one another better and sharpen one another Call each other out when it's needed

[00:44:26] But ultimately are each others biggest supports and confidence. I love that and Do you guys have you guys had a conversation on like collective goals that you guys want to achieve Whether that be like individual how to support each other's goals and then figure out what that looks

[00:44:45] Like together. Yeah, so we we were Plugged in at two separate churches but now we're at the same church But it's different than each of our respective churches So we're kind of starting a new page there

[00:45:02] And we just our first night serving together in youth group was last night and so that was super special And I know he has like a passion for youth and so do I and just Being able to Pour into the next generation and to help

[00:45:21] Kids with what we struggle with during that age and kind of then sites that we've had And just teach them about the love of God and how much they're cared for and loved and created in his image Have a purpose

[00:45:36] Just I think we're both passionate about that be able to do that together. It's very special and ultimately Our dream is to have a family one day together and to yeah like make disciples within our family But then also make disciples

[00:45:53] Extending to church family and our respective fields of sport and career Love that's awesome So before we sign off on the bulk of our like main question portion of the podcast We'd like to finish off every episode with a question where we ask

[00:46:12] Our guests what are the what's the advice that you have for listeners who are looking to use their talents and passions to make the world a better place That's a great question

[00:46:23] Based on a book I was reading yesterday. I think we can all get wrapped up in this idea of making a big impact in this grandio is And having a such a profound like platform or whatever it may be

[00:46:39] But to start small and to start with what's in front of you and to meet the needs of the people in front of you And so those have a ripple effect and so May look very monotonous and very

[00:46:54] Minusual and the scheme of things but just showing love from day to day And saying yes to different opportunities God has for you will bring you to a place you can never imagine And so just faithfully and obediently Saying yes to the small things each day

[00:47:14] We'll cause that Hopefully bigger kingdom impact later I love that It's so good yeah, it's it's easy to get caught up in like oh but I want to impact one million people even with the podcast for like

[00:47:30] We want you know 10 million streams by the end of episode one We're like season one and I think I've been challenged to of like if one listener feels inspired coming off of you know in episode Which after listening to you Julia a thousand percent is

[00:47:46] Okay, it's for all the listeners But it's also you know, I think being faithful with like the platform that you get been given and where you are now like till the land

[00:47:56] In front of you but yeah, I love that word so good beautiful on both your parts. That was very well said All right, so we are at our lightning round. This is the best best part portion of the podcast We have three questions 30 seconds to answer each

[00:48:15] We don't really count but try to keep it condensed So for our first question we have what is your current pregame hype song or playlist if you have like a specific genre Um Anything by Andy Marano I actually not really don't listen to height music

[00:48:36] I just have someone who like kind of sits in silence on the bus ride and it doesn't really listen to height music Wow, I've been the past two tournaments. I'm started listening to Andy Marano

[00:48:46] I'm like why haven't I been doing this more often like it's not having to be listening to music Yeah What do you and your silence what do you think about I I honestly like kind of have a pretty clear mind and just like I'm not really

[00:49:07] I'm honestly not thinking about too much like I'm just kind of sitting there and being I'm over here like what is that like That's what is what is the clear mind I think I used to get so

[00:49:23] So nervous and have all these questions about the game like what is the number of those like it's gonna come And it will I'm gonna try my best and outcome will be the outcome

[00:49:34] That's great. I used to get near the I used to actually like envision what the like specific scenarios on the court that I might get put in Like so I'd be warming up in my mind on the bus like using a bit of imagery

[00:49:46] So that I don't know if that kind of is like a clear mind, but I was just yeah Do some things. This realization is a great great tool I should do it more but yeah, that is when I was at UC Davis

[00:49:57] We used to actually have mind time before every practice in game So our coaches are like big Phil Jackson fans and apparently for the lakeers and the bulls He used to give the team members like 10 minutes to like

[00:50:10] Beans silence in the dark and meditate so our team that I mean imagine a bunch of like 18 to 21 arrows Yeah, with the lights off every day before practice

[00:50:22] But Loki I will say especially on game days. I would like take it seriously and I feel like it was helpful right to visualize that stuff I think it's helpful when you know how to Do it because I think it's so hard to

[00:50:36] Like just make a free throw in your mind sometimes It sounds terrible Oh good so Julia next next question. What is your most memorable or epic moment that you've experienced other wildball player? Well, that is a good question

[00:50:58] I think the first thing that came to mind was last year at a late 16 in Montreal Canada We were playing in the quarter finals and we're playing the number one team in the world and we were down

[00:51:12] 914 and this was also the tournament where my knee pain was peak and I cried I was buying crying before the start of the game. I was crying in the game like at the service line

[00:51:24] I remember the wrap like are you okay? Like do you need to sound like just blow the whistle so that we can start the play And that's he was back to serve and she went on a crazy service run and we ended up winning the game

[00:51:38] 17 15 and then we won in the semi finals as well and we had our best finish that year We and it was the hardest tournament I've played so just that idea again of Amazing thing can also coexist with something that was the hardest thing that you've endured so

[00:52:03] That was probably cool. Tell our listeners what specifically you have to do with your knee because I like people just say knee injuries but to understand like the type of pain you might have been in Yes, so I had to do

[00:52:18] 10x procedure there were different options. I could have gone through a regular surgery But this was orthoscopic and basically my attendance started to peel off Where it was attaching to the bone like 30% and then the attendance itself had completely degenerated

[00:52:38] to 10 a noces so it was pretty much all damage tissue And when your knee tendon turns to 10 a noces basically creates higher pain receptors in that area telling your body that hey, like stop using me like where damage whatnot

[00:52:56] But unfortunately like you can still use it actually fortunately use can still use it But your mind signals your are your knee signals to your mind that you're in a lot of pain That's such a feat to work through

[00:53:12] for you especially like at that like peak point in time Yeah, I was funny because we were walking up to the game and I had just like followed pride to drew one face time

[00:53:22] Like I want to quit like I don't want to play this next game and we're walking to warm up And I'm just in the worst mood and a bird poop song me

[00:53:30] That's the night like a telly we just start like dying laughing and she's like it's gonna be a good game like we're gonna find a way and like that like was enough to like in the mood

[00:53:40] To yeah, I kind of changed the tone of like showing up and how you showed up and even though I was still in a lot of pain It was like It was just a funny moment that we knew

[00:53:58] All right third question. What is your favorite stop of the APV and FIVP FIVB tours My favorite stop of that FIVB tournament tour is Stads what's your land? It's this little ski town in the Swiss Alps that they build out a stadium and it is like

[00:54:23] So picturesque you've truly feel like you're in a story about like the sound of music There's cows on the side of the mountain with bells and It's just such a dreamy place and you would not think that a beach volleyball tournament would be there

[00:54:39] And yeah, so that's my favorite stop for the FIVB and then Avipy I would probably say in our backyard the Manhattan beach open. It's just such an iconic tournament and has such a great legacy from the birthplace of our sport To what it is now

[00:54:58] And it's just like the best atmosphere and It's just a really exciting fun tournament to play in That's great. Okay, last question jules are you a trash talker on the court Um That's a good question so When we were in practices at USC

[00:55:21] We had a trash talking culture but in the best way like it was kind of like lighthearted joking trash talk But like some girls like you packed it like

[00:55:32] I guess take the temperature of the room and not necessarily dish out some trash talk when they were in the right Headspace but for example my roommate well former roommate Haley Hardward

[00:55:44] When we would compete against each other in practices we like I had a ball I'd be like where were you? She would like to do one of my days. All right one of my heads and she'd be like you're easy and like it was just a very fun

[00:55:58] Banner and I remember when we compete Haley like had a time where she'd let some of that slip out during game And she's like oh my gosh, I think the person like totally took it in the wrong way

[00:56:11] And like it was this like so natural from like how we trained So honestly I'm a fan of like lighthearted like trash talk that's like never delicious But it's just it's fun. It's fun to play again. It's it's fun for the crowd

[00:56:26] Like as long as it doesn't cross any like extreme lines like I'm all about game passionate and playing aggressive and Getting a little fiery out there like I think it's it's a really fun way to play this for it Yeah, everybody loves a little grit a little spiciness

[00:56:46] That's so good Thank you for joining us jewels. It's been so great to hear your story So great to hear your faith journey and how it plays into where you are now and

[00:56:57] And to even hear just some of your challenges and hurdles that you had to step through and walk through I think it was really like beautiful though the way you talk about like your partnership with Betsy

[00:57:08] playing a key role in having to like interact with her and work on it like it is a relationship I think that so many people can take that into their life and apply it in different ways with their relationship with work with Whatever they have going so

[00:57:22] It's been super special. Thank you for joining us Yeah, thank you Julia and such a such a joy set to fun conversation and to our followers or listeners if you like this podcast like share follow

[00:57:34] We will have all of jules is information and Betsy's will had add some refer information in there too for you guys to follow and watch their journey and support everything that they have going