Loading summary
Transcript178 lines
- [00:00]
A
That's four championships for you in six years.
- [00:04]
B
Yeah, that's correct.
- [00:06]
C
Come on. That's amazing.
- [00:08]
A
She is so good. Have you seen video of her? She just floats.
- [00:13]
C
Just soars. She's like a flying squirrel. Just like.
- [00:19]
B
Because everyone's like, oh, MLV is better. Or, oh, love is better. Like, let's really put it to the test. Or we'll build an all star team, and you all build an all star team, and we'll go head to head. But that's the competitor in me. I'm like, let's do it.
- [00:32]
A
Oh, and believe me, Maddie, we are hooligans. Front row. We be like, let's go skitter.
- [00:39]
B
Attention.
- [00:42]
C
The party is about to commence.
- [00:50]
B
Welcome to the party.
- [00:56]
A
What's up, party people? I'm Julie Foudy.
- [00:57]
C
And I'm Abby Wambach.
- [01:00]
A
Abs. I just realized we didn't talk about this on Tuesday's episode. We need to talk about it. The chaos of your holiday.
- [01:10]
C
Oh, my God.
- [01:11]
A
And all that that happened.
- [01:13]
C
It's like, almost like ptsd.
- [01:15]
A
Yeah.
- [01:15]
C
In a way. I. Okay. I've been caring for a lot of people recently, and mostly my family members, which is great. We have had a surgery a couple weeks before Christmas. Then Amma broke her collarbone and her high school soccer game. Then our family, who was flying here to spend the holidays with us, all had. Or one of them had influenza A. And because Emma has a collarbone, we couldn't put her in a position to get influenza A where she potentially would be vomiting. Because that's what they were doing, Right? Yeah. Yes. Vomiting with a. With a broken collarbone would be the most excruciating thing in the whole wide world.
- [02:07]
A
Poor thing.
- [02:08]
C
Like. Like, she might. Would have been hospitalized, you know? And the worst thing about a collarbone is you just gotta let it heal, you know?
- [02:17]
A
And especially it doesn't help when a jackass like myself comes up to her at the UCLA game and was like, emma and I go in to give her a hug.
- [02:25]
C
And I was like, that's okay. You didn't do anything. Because she is. She knows how to protect herself. So she went inside, she's side hugging. She's only side hugging. And then. Yeah. And then my brother had a medical thing happen over the holiday. It's just like, there's been, like, big bam, bam, bam things that are. That just. It wore me down.
- [02:50]
A
So you need a vacation from your vacation.
- [02:53]
C
Yes, I do. And everybody is fine now.
- [02:57]
A
Yay.
- [02:58]
C
But, like, I just. At one point, I looked at Glennon because we got. We got some Time off from recording these. We pre recorded a bunch of our episodes so that we could have a proper vacation, holiday season with our families. And. And I said to Glenn, and I was like, I don't think I'm going to get any break from. From this. From this break, from this rest. And she said, yeah, it doesn't look like it, because, you know, I was just. Basically, I just had other people on my mind the whole time. So these last, like, few days before we started recording these episodes, I've been sleeping a lot, and Glenn is like, yeah, do you want to do something? And I said, no, I really don't want to do anything. In a Wild Ride. And I was very excited for 2026 to show up. So I was actually very excited to get to the UCLA game this weekend to go do something that didn't require taking care of anybody.
- [03:59]
A
Yeah. And it was so fun.
- [04:02]
C
Yeah.
- [04:02]
A
So, okay, I'm sorry. That was a hard holiday. And I'm happy that you got a lot of sleep in these last couple days.
- [04:09]
C
That's okay. I just.
- [04:10]
A
And I'm happy that everyone is okay.
- [04:12]
C
Yes. I am also happy that everyone's okay. And let me tell you something. Some of the best things and experiences of my whole marriage have been when we come back from, like, a women's sporting event. And my wife is, like, so impressed by women's sports. And like, she, like, she just said, like, it's so cool, like, being in that place and being in a place where people are cheering for women and people are rowdy and, like, the way that ucl, UCLA puts on their games, like, there's stuff going on all the time, like, for all the timeouts, for all the breaks and quarters and halftime, like, they're. They're interviewing or, Or. Or introducing somebody cool from the UCLA history books or whatever it is. Like, there's just, like, there's. It's a spectacle. The way that I feel about going to women's sporting events now. You just have to do it.
- [05:11]
B
Yes.
- [05:12]
A
Yeah. It's so joyful.
- [05:14]
C
So much joy.
- [05:14]
A
That's what I love. There's a lot of joy.
- [05:19]
C
But I'm excited for our guest today.
- [05:20]
A
Aren't you so excited?
- [05:23]
C
Freaking Madison. She's so great. I can't wait to talk to her about all the things. Love volleyball. We are very excited to get into this. This interview. Let's. Let's get into it, Jules.
- [05:35]
A
All right, party people. Now to the party is part of our party. League 1. Volleyball Season 2 just kicked off yesterday, so who better to Talk to than the player who owned the biggest moments of Year one. Madison Skinner has won literally everywhere she's played. She's won a national championship as a freshman at Kentucky alongside her older sister Avery, a senior, winning it together in the program's first ever title. They did that together. Then she transferred to Texas and did it again twice, two times, including a Final Four most outstanding player performance. And from there, she strept straight into the program with Love Austin. And in the league's inaugural season, she led Austin to the championship and walked away again with the finals mvp. So today we're getting into what to expect in season two. How the heck does she keep winning everywhere she goes? And what she's chasing next now that expectations are sky high? And, yes, we're also leaving the door open. This is my favorite part. No surprise for a possible duet vocal trio, because she loves karaoke. Madison Skinner, welcome to the party.
- [06:55]
B
Thanks for having me. I'm happy to be here.
- [06:57]
C
We are ridiculous, so apologies for that, but. And I also don't know if you know this about Julie and I, but we are. We have just invested in the Love San Francisco franchise that is coming in 2027. So we are very excited, and we will be rooting for you this year and this year alone. Because I'm assuming. Or can we get you. Can we somehow get you to come play for us?
- [07:24]
A
We're not allowed to do. We're not allowed to do.
- [07:27]
C
That's right. Yeah. I don't know what the league rules are yet, so we're too new to it. No, no. That's so exciting.
- [07:35]
B
Oh, my gosh. I can't wait. It's such a cool city, too.
- [07:38]
A
I mean, can we just talk about the crazy run that y' all had in Austin last year?
- [07:43]
C
You what?
- [07:43]
A
You guys finished the season at 5 and 11, your fifth place of six teams, and then you have two reverse sweeps to win it all. Tell us about that.
- [07:53]
B
It was wild. That was definitely not our best regular season. We really struggled, and a lot of it was on us. And then some things that we weren't able to control, some coaching things and whatnot in the middle of the season. And I think going into the finals, we just had the mentality of, like, we have an opportunity to be here. It's very unique that all teams make it to the finals, regardless of what your record is for the season. And so, yeah, I just went in and competed as hard as we could, and everyone was so mad at us. By the time we finished, they were like, are y' all kidding. Like, y' all literally sucked the whole season, and then you come in and you just grab the cash and just win the whole thing. But, yeah, it was a great way to. To finish off a tough season and obviously hoping to be better this year.
- [08:36]
A
What was the. What was the key to that, though? Like, was there. Was there, like, a mindset shift, or was there a moment where you guys all of a sudden were like, oh, we can do this.
- [08:45]
B
To be completely transparent, I think a lot of us were just really emotionally exhausted, and we're kind of just like, screw this. Like, we have the opportunity to come in and just ruin some people's days. And so let's just give it our all, one last show, and then let's do it for us at the end of the day, like, let's do it for the girls on this team that have really had a difficult season and just try to go out with a bang.
- [09:08]
C
That's so awesome. It's like nothing playing for nothing. Lose. Can you give our listeners a little bit of a background? They hear us and have heard us talk about the. The Love Volleyball League. One Volleyball League. But can you tell us, like, how many teams, where the teams are, like, how long is the season? When does the season run so they can know where to find you and how to come to watch you get these games in live? Because the games are pretty awesome. Are they exciting to. To. To be a part of?
- [09:39]
B
It's so awesome to be a part of. And we had a great turnout last year, especially in Austin, and we're expecting it to be way bigger this year. But we have six teams in the league. Atlanta, Omaha, Mad, Wisconsin, Houston, Austin and Salt Lake. And we'll be expanding this following season after this one in 2027, which is super, super exciting. But we compete. I mean, we have a smaller league right now to where we're playing teams maybe three times per season. But this year with our finals, the top four will make it, and then the last two will be done for the season. And we're really excited just to kick off this next year. We've gotten the first one under our belt. We figured out kind of how it runs, and we're just building on top of the foundation that we set.
- [10:23]
C
Where do you guys play now? Like, what's. Where's your stadium?
- [10:26]
B
Austin plays the Heb center and Cedar park, and then we'll have a big game in San Antonio at the end of this month. We'll be playing in the spurs arena, since they're one of our Partners, which is super exciting. So that'll be kind of the beginning of the season kickoff as well, end of January, just to be able to go play in there, which is really cool.
- [10:43]
A
Oh, abs. You know, that means we might have to go. Let's go, abs. Come on.
- [10:50]
B
I'll see you there. I'll be there.
- [10:51]
A
That would be so fun. Okay, that's. And I did the math, and if my math is mathing, that's four championships for you in six years. Is that right?
- [11:03]
B
Yeah, that's correct.
- [11:05]
C
Come on. That's amazing.
- [11:07]
A
Come on. And finals MVP twice. And I mean, I'm sure that is amazing and how it feels, but that also has to be a lot of pressure as well, right, because you go into every season with people expecting, okay, Madison Skinner's on this team. They're gonna win.
- [11:25]
B
Yeah, I mean, it's pressure, but I. I put a lot of pressure on myself. I don't feel like it's really anything external. Like, I have a high expectation and standard for myself, and again, I have goals that I want to reach at the end of the day, and those are always pushing me to try to be the best version that I can, but I don't really feel so much from other people. It's just I'm. I'm hard on myself, and I'm a competitor, and I want to win. So I'd say it's more internal.
- [11:45]
C
I think that it's so cool. I've been doing quite a bit of research on you, and you talk a lot about mental health and some of the stuff that you've gone through. And I myself, struggled with my mental health, especially towards the end of my career. I had very high expectations. I felt like this whole thing is kind of just weird that you have, like, your whole life revolve around this one thing, and then. So I really struggled to find, like, a real grounded sense of identity without the game because I was still so involved with it. And I think that what you're doing and bringing light to, you know, making sure that we all maintain our mental health or get the help that we need. How are you doing now, and what are you implementing in your daily life as, like, you're still playing professional sports? Like, I don't know if you know anything about me, but I left. I retired from sport in 2015, and I have had to. What I call. I have recovered from professional sports ever since. I don't know if that will be something that you feel, but what are you doing now in terms of your mental health and how you're implementing that in your game.
- [13:02]
B
Absolutely. I mean, we have a sports psych here on staff, which is super awesome, and we have her as a resource to chat to. It doesn't have to be about volleyball. It can be about something totally unrelated. But she's here and she does, like, little clinics with us about mindfulness, and then we do, like, team bonding activities after practice sometime, which is super, super unique and special. And I think on my own time, just like therapy and being around my people and making sure that when I'm not in the gym, I'm doing things that bring me joy and I'm passionate about and can help me have some life balance. I think that has been the biggest difference is I was so consumed with volleyball. I was so wrapped up in the performance. I was constantly looking at my stats and watching film and honestly doing too much, which almost sound impossible at the professional level, but really stepping back and finding things that I love. Music, arts and crafts, like making charcuterie boards, all those reading all those random things. Just filling my time with stuff that helps me decompress and makes me feel like a normal human and not just a robot that's doing the same thing all day, every day.
- [14:05]
C
Back when I was playing mental health, like, that wasn't a thing that people even talked about. Like, it was like a phrase that. It was just like, you soldier on. Like, for an example, at the end of my career, my last year playing, the youngest player on our team walked into the training room, came in, and the trainer was doing some work on my body, and she said, I don't feel very, very well. I'm just going to go back to sleep. And she turned and left. And I looked around and I'm 35 years old. And I was like, we can call in sick. Like, what?
- [14:39]
B
What?
- [14:40]
C
I didn't know that that was a thing. And I think that that is what is so beautiful about, like, your guys's generation, where you have the ability and you have the voice to be able to say, you know, like, something's not right. I need to take a step back. I need to implement certain things in my life. And it's a testament to your character that you want to even talk about this stuff publicly, because that's a whole nother thing that you are taking on, which I just think is I'm in recovery for alcoholism. And so I understand when you say the thing out loud, it doesn't give it more power. Right. Like, you get to have a little bit of more power over it in some ways. So I just think it's great. You're awesome for talking about it and showing so many of us young kids especially that our mental health is like, so important.
- [15:33]
B
Absolutely. And I, I was very blessed and fortunate to transfer into a program where that was a top priority. And I felt like I was valued so much as an individual and as a human. And before I even got to the volleyball conversation when I was in the portal, he asked me, like, how I was because he knew how much I had struggled. And I would have dinner at his house. And that's not unusual. Like that's a thing for the girls on the Texas program. Just to go over to Jared's and Andrea's and have a home cooked meal if you need it. And he got me plugged into therapy immediately. Right. When I transferred, which was what I was a priority for me. I was like, I need to be in it and I need to get in a healthy spot. And that's not the case for a lot of programs. And so I'm just super grateful to have that support.
- [16:19]
C
New year, Jules. New energy. Yes. And Cozy Earth makes finding that fresh start feeling so, so easy. Jules, their new Baja bedding set is just stunning. It's their first fully matching collection sheets, duvet, quilt, coverlet. Everything works together. And the fabric, it's premium, breathable and reversible so you can switch things up without having to buy more. And then there are the luxe bath towels. These are outrageously soft. They're this blend of cotton and bamboo, so they feel plush and super absorbe. They also look beautiful. We are in a golden age of towel technology, folks. Best of all, Cozy Earth makes it risk free. With a hundred night sleep trial and a 10 year warranty. Start the new year off right and give your home the luxury it deserves and make home the best part of Life. Head to cozyearth.com and use my code WTTP for up to 20 off. And if you get a post purchase survey, be sure to mention you heard about Cozy Earth right here. Refresh your routines with comfort that make every day feel like a new year.
- [17:41]
A
You know, it's important too for I think young players to hear that you needed that balance. Because I think a lot of the rhetoric that gets thrown at a young, good player is you, you need to analyze your game more or watch more film.
- [17:57]
C
Do more.
- [17:57]
A
Yeah.
- [17:58]
C
Do more.
- [17:59]
A
Yeah. In the sport, which is actually, I think counterproductive in a way of like you said, like you needed the balance outside of it. And for someone that is clearly very Driven and very successful. Like, you're going to listen to a coach saying, you got to do more. More film, more this, more this, more this. Instead of, like, no, I actually need more music and more things in my life that bring me joy outside of sports. And that's a good balance. That's an important, important message. And I love that you have this whole background of music and dance and all of that. Where does that come from?
- [18:34]
B
Well, my mom put my sister and I both in ballet when we were younger. We started, I think, when we were both two, and my mom danced, actually, whenever we were growing up, too. Like, we were in the same performances at one point, like, she was performing, and we were both performing.
- [18:48]
C
No way.
- [18:49]
A
Stop it.
- [18:50]
B
There's videos.
- [18:51]
A
You were performing with your mom, too?
- [18:53]
B
It was crazy. One of my Christmas. Well, it was my sister's, but she got my mom our tapes from our childhood on DVD form, and so we've gone back, and there's videos of my mom dancing, and, like, we're literally in the room just vibing, and she's literally full on doing ballet. So it's. It's really cool that we kind of had that background. But, yeah, we were put in dance from a young age, and I just always stuck with it. I played soccer for eight years, and, yeah, the girls were mean, and it was hot outside, and that was.
- [19:25]
C
Yeah.
- [19:26]
A
Oh, I know. I saw that, too. And I was like, no, those mean girls ruined it.
- [19:31]
B
But it was always. Yeah, was always in dance. My mom wanted us to play an instrument, and so I was in piano lessons till I was, like, 12. Avery did viola and violin, and it was just something that I always enjoyed and I stuck with as I kind of went through college and. And beyond.
- [19:46]
A
And you didn't even actually start playing volleyball until I. And correct me if I'm wrong, Avery, finally at. When you were 14, was like, Yo, Maddie, come over here. You're gonna hit with me.
- [19:58]
B
Yeah.
- [19:59]
A
Is that right?
- [20:00]
B
That's correct. She would make me pepper with her. We would play this, like, little volleyball game on our roof and, like, mess up my mom's shingles, and she absolutely hated it.
- [20:09]
A
Yeah.
- [20:10]
B
Yeah. But I. I mean, I would go to Avery's practices and, like, if the coaches need an extra person to shag or to, like, mess around with the girls and play. But I would. I'd be in there in my little, like, leotard and all sorts of stuff. But I was in the gym with her a good amount. And so, yeah, she was like, you want to play sports? Here Try this. And I was like, sure, okay. And that was the one sport that I really hadn't fully dove into yet. We did soccer, we did swim, we did gymnastics, all of those things. And none of it stuck except for volleyball.
- [20:39]
A
So how tall were you at that point?
- [20:41]
C
I was going to just ask.
- [20:42]
A
Yeah, like, were you already 6 foot 2? At 14? I feel like you probably were.
- [20:46]
B
I think I was maybe like 5:10, maybe 5:11. Like I was by far the tallest ballerina. I was always in the back.
- [20:57]
A
Because you can like leap over buildings with a small bound. I've. I've heard. Is that true? Did you already. Were you already able to do that as well?
- [21:06]
B
I was always a decent jumper. I've obviously gotten better since I've been doing strength training and whatnot. But in ballet, when we would do like leaps across the floor, I would feel like I was graceful.
- [21:16]
C
I think I want to know about your relationship with your sister because how in the heck that both of you are such high level volleyball players, like elite level volleyball players. Is there like a rivalry there or is it just love? Like, what is your guys relationship like?
- [21:38]
B
There's never really been a rivalry. I. I mean, and which is surprising too, especially since up until a year or so ago we were the same position, but we always played together. Like on our high school team we were both playing together. And now on the national team, like we play again together. So. And at Kentucky, I mean, I was an outside whenever I went in my freshman year and she was an outside and I wasn't playing, so I switched the right side and then there we are playing together. So we've made it work over the years and we've honestly been each other's biggest fans. We've been able to use each other's resources, obviously with volleyball stuff, but also life. Like, we're so close and. And even though she is across the ocean and on a crazy time difference, we still chat like at least four to five times a week. And I'm still calling her. Yeah, super special.
- [22:25]
A
Aw, you must have been so proud watching her at the Olympics in Paris.
- [22:31]
B
So beyond proud. I told her I was like, I need to, I need to be there. And it was right before I started preseason for Texas. And usually the girls are like in the gym getting ready, training and I was like, jarrett, I need to go for like three days to go support her. So I was able to watch a match or two and then came home and started prepping. But it's really cool.
- [22:48]
A
Do you talk about 2028 together? Is that something? Since you're both on the national team, you must, right?
- [22:56]
B
No, literally, not at all. Like, we don't talk. No, like, really, we. I mean, we'll occasionally talk about, like, the good stuff with volleyball, but it's really just, like, if we're really struggling with something mentally or a skill, then we'll chat about that. But honestly, our conversation usually has nothing to do with volleyball, and we just kind of, you know, go in the gym, and we obviously are thinking about it individually of wanting to play together, but it's never really been a conversation between us.
- [23:23]
A
Interesting. Oh, I'm gonna put it into the universe then.
- [23:28]
C
I was gonna say I manifest right now in my body.
- [23:31]
A
Yes.
- [23:32]
C
I want to see this happen, because we could be here, Jules. We can go to the Olympic Games.
- [23:38]
A
Oh, and believe me, Maddie, we are hooligans. Front row. We be like, let's go, Skinners.
- [23:45]
B
Hey, we'll get you jerseys. That's exactly what we need. We need the interviews.
- [23:50]
A
What are you most excited about with your Austin team for this second season?
- [23:58]
B
Honestly, I think the group that we have is really unique, and I feel like we have girls from a lot of different backgrounds and coaching styles and methods. And I feel like our gym is really, really creative, which is something that's always kind of been a goal for us. But especially with Eric now being our coach and him being the national team coach, he's really just kind of stressed to us to be more innovative in the sport. We've all been taught a specific way of how to score and how to play and to do things. And all of us have kind of embraced just trying to make ourselves look crazy sometimes and do something that maybe not everyone else is doing. And so I think that's very special and unique about this group. And then also just the girls are great. Like, we have such amazing chemistry on and off the court, and just some really solid personalities and girls of good character that make it really easy to come to work every single day and just ready to compete.
- [24:45]
C
There's so many things that are happening in women's sports right now, and women's volleyball is having a sincere moment, women's sports especially. But, like, I like thinking about where you all right now are, as to where we were, like, 10 years ago in women's soccer, where, you know, you're just kind of starting fresh, like, it's a new league. It's like trying to build something. Like, is your expectation right now for. For love? Like, when you look over to the WNBA and the nwsl Is your expectation to get to a point where you have more expansion teams that you are having, like, fan fans going wild at games? Like, they are at like all. I'm sure they are at Austin. Love Austin games. But like the Nebraska College women's volleyball team, like, there's so much fandom and crazy fandom. You know, it's like people are going wild for this thing. And I actually, I watched a lot of the NCAA tournament this year with my wife who really loves volleyball because there's not contact between the two opposing teams. She loves that. And I was like, but they sometimes step on each other's ankles. Anyways, are you hope. Like, what is your hope for. For. For love going forward?
- [26:09]
B
I think the hope is for it to be similar to all of those leagues and honestly, even better. I mean, I don't want to try and put a cap on it of like, I want it to be exactly like this or like that. I think we have the momentum and the talent and the energy to be able to get to that point again. It's going to take time. But. But the fact that we're in year two and I know I play in love, but we have MLV and other teams and other cities that we're not able to reach yet. It's becoming nationwide and there's many more opportunities than we've had last season to just come and watch us play in person. So I don't want to put a cap on it, but I think it can be something super, super special. And the way that we're going right now is amazing. And I'm really excited to see how we keep trending upwards.
- [26:49]
A
Do you see. Because it does seem like it's a bit crowded landscape when you say all those leagues for volleyball. Do you see it eventually coming to one league and is that the best thing for volleyball or is it healthy to have multiple leagues?
- [27:03]
B
Absolutely. I think. I don't. I haven't met a lot of girls that love the idea of having two separate leagues. I'm going to try and keep my filter here, but I just think it's dumb. I think if we're trying to work towards a common goal of making volleyball one of the compete, competing and top leagues in the States, why not work together? That part doesn't really make much sense to me. I get everyone has their own agenda and how they want to operate their own individual league, but at the end of the day, I think all of the girls are in favor of. Yes, we want to have more talent. We want it to be Less saturated and have the best of the best in the country playing in one big league. And again, to be able to build that fan base and have everyone not being confused of, like, wait, what's love? Wait, what's mlv? Oh, you have two. Do you all play each other or all in your own individual schedule? It would just make things far more simple and more competitive, in my opinion, at the end of the day.
- [27:53]
C
But in the meantime, let's have the champions play each other and see who. Who wins.
- [27:57]
B
That's what I said. I wanted to have a crossover and so we can all get on the same page. I'm like, let's do it. Like, if. Because everyone's like, oh, MLV is better, or, oh, love is better. Like, let's really put it to the test. Or we'll build an all star team, and y' all build an all star team and we'll go head to head. But, yeah, that's a competitor. Let's do it. But we'll see.
- [28:19]
C
Let's do a side turnout.
- [28:21]
A
Good one.
- [28:21]
B
Be fun.
- [28:22]
A
Good one. Yeah. I mean, it seems like that because there has been. And as we know, over the history of. Of of women's sports, there's. There's other leagues that float in, and not just obviously in volleyball and other. And other sports, but if you can come in a united front, it obviously makes the case a lot easier, I think, and more successful. So I do hope that happens for y'.
- [28:44]
B
All.
- [28:45]
A
Madison, congratulations on all your amazing success you've had. I love that you're so open about the challenges that come with that success. And I think, as Abby was saying, how important that is. And we wish you nothing but the best for season number two with. With League one volleyball and in Austin as well.
- [29:07]
B
Thank you so much for having me. I had so much fun, and I'll see you at a match sometime this season.
- [29:12]
C
Let's go. Let's go. Thanks so much. Madison.
- [29:15]
A
Wait. Should we do a party pose?
- [29:16]
C
Oh, yeah, we're gonna do a party pose really quick, just for our socials. It can be anything, fun, whatever you want to look like.
- [29:23]
B
I'm just gonna be like, okay, I'm sign.
- [29:29]
C
Yeah, do it.
- [29:30]
A
Oh, there you go.
- [29:30]
B
Okay, let me know.
- [29:32]
A
Party pose on three. One, two, three. That's my spike.
- [29:39]
B
Oh, that's supposed to be. I was wondering what that was. I was like, either jiu jitsu or volleyball.
- [29:46]
A
What the hell is that? Well, I couldn't.
- [29:49]
C
I couldn't read.
- [29:49]
A
That's exactly how I spike right here. You're Supposed to reach for the ball, but I. I always hit it here.
- [29:55]
B
No, Greg, you're so obsessed with beach volleyball.
- [29:57]
A
I didn't even go into that, Maddie.
- [29:58]
C
God.
- [29:59]
B
Oh, really?
- [30:00]
C
Yeah. We both play beach volleyball. We both live by the beach in California, so we're big beach volleyball players.
- [30:06]
B
It's so hard.
- [30:08]
C
Oh, my God. I mean, I can't jump anyway because I'm old as. But, like, at the end of the day, like, there's no. I don't even try to jump on the sand because it's like, I feel like I jump negative, you know, because my body weight.
- [30:19]
A
That was my New Year's resolution. Just a little jump. Every. Everyone just like, a little jump. Little jump.
- [30:26]
C
I just.
- [30:26]
B
Honestly, probably higher than me. Like, I don't know how to jump in sand because you literally have to jump off of both feet at the same time, which I don't do, and no one does indoors. It's like a separate takeoff that I literally am like. My knees buckle. So. Yeah, I'll leave that.
- [30:41]
A
Really? Oh, that gives me hope.
- [30:43]
C
Okay, good.
- [30:44]
B
It's hard.
- [30:45]
A
Like, you do, and I've seen you. You just, like, float in the air. You just. And then straight down.
- [30:53]
B
Everyone's like, how do you jump so high? I'm like, the Lord gave me a gift. And my mom and my dad are athletic. That's all. And, yes, I train hard, but I'm like, it's genetics, guys. I'm sorry to let you down, but, ah.
- [31:07]
A
I liked her.
- [31:08]
C
I do, too. And I. You know, I like.
- [31:11]
A
She is so good. Have you seen video of her? She just.
- [31:15]
C
Just soars. She's. She's like a flying squirrel. Just, like.
- [31:20]
A
Just watch reels and reels of her. I just. You get obsessed. You're like, damn.
- [31:26]
C
Yeah, I think.
- [31:27]
A
No, I. I hope her and Avery can get on that team together. That'd be so fun.
- [31:31]
C
Fun. Wouldn't that be something for 20, 28? Let's go. Let's go. Do you really think about it?
- [31:38]
A
She plays Italy. She plays Italy.
- [31:41]
C
Come on.
- [31:42]
A
Why I get over here.
- [31:46]
C
Maybe we should get her on our team.
- [31:51]
A
We can't do that.
- [31:52]
C
Well, I know. We can't do any of this. I understand, but I'm just dreaming. I'm dreaming big. Jules, who are the best women's volleyball. Women volleyball players in the world? I want them on our team. Can't be colluding. I'm not colluding. I'm just. I'm chit. Chatting ideas.
- [32:07]
A
Just chatting.
- [32:08]
C
I mean, there's absolutely no way we'll figure. I don't know how to. I'm having. I have no decisions to be made. There's. I'm not deciding anything. They are running the team on their own.
- [32:20]
A
What's on your. What's on your beanie? It looked like a Stanford Cardinal S, but it's not, is it?
- [32:26]
C
It is not.
- [32:26]
A
It's not. Is that a Santa Clara S?
- [32:29]
C
It is Santa Clara.
- [32:31]
A
I was like, oh, my God, Abby's wearing the card. And then I thought, oh, wait a second.
- [32:37]
C
No, I'm not. I'm not.
- [32:39]
A
I almost wore my Oregon hat actually, too.
- [32:42]
C
I should have.
- [32:42]
A
That would have been cute, but I didn't want to. Also, like, Maddie's, you know, played at Texas and Kentucky. And that's always kind of weird when you bring another school into it, but you can't really see yours, so that's not weird. Okay.
- [32:55]
C
All right, you guys, don't forget to subscribe to the welcome to the party YouTube channel and click that little bell icon so you get update updates when new episodes go live.
- [33:04]
A
Yeah. And if you could take just like 30 seconds, it's not even a minute, we would so appreciate, like, give us a rating. Leave a comment. Tell us what you think. As we've said, we are obsessed. We're over 900, Abby. I checked a couple days ago. We're over 900. Maybe we're at a thousand by time Thursday runs when. When this actually runs. Maybe we gotta get over a thousand party people. We gotta get there. All right, so leave a comment. Subscribe to the podcast. It definitely, definitely makes a difference. And be sure to follow us on TikTok and Instagram @ welcome to the Party show, where all of us will bring the party straight to your feed. Huge shout out to our gal, Kate Diaz, for our theme music, which she wrote and composed. Put your paws in the middle, everyone. Wherever you are, shout it out on your walk. Doing the dishes, folding the laundry, working or pretending to work. On three. One, two.
- [34:10]
B
Three. Usa.
- [34:11]
C
Usa. Usa. Welcome to the Party is an independent production brought to you by Treat Me Media. Treat Media makes art for humans who want to stay human. Silver Tribe is our production partner and you can also watch our full conversations on the welcome to the party YouTube channel and follow us at welcome to the Party show on Instagram and.