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Learn high level techniques, tactics and mindsets from the best coaches and players in the game.
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In depth beach volleyball discussions combined with the science of learning skills faster, stories of successful people and personal development concepts.
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SANDCAST is the first and leading beach volleyball podcast in the world. Hosts Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter take listeners into the world of the AVP, Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour and any other professional beach volleyball outlets, digging deep into the lives of the players both on and off the court as well as all of the top influencers in the game.
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Welcome to Grit, the show hosted by Meg Burgdorf and Victoria Dennis where we discuss beach volleyball world news, life on the sand, USAV/AAU Junior Nationals, FIVB/AVP, all in the bump, set and spiking sand. Live from Manhattan Beach, right in the heart of the beach volleyball world, we bring you the best of the beach at all levels of this awesome sport of beach volleyball. Tune in for all the best results, predictions and gossip from down on the sand.
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In this episode of the Better at Beach podcast, Mark Burik discusses the essential elements of effective volleyball coaching, focusing on building a strong team culture, designing engaging practices, and the importance of feedback and communication. He emphasizes the need for coaches to create competitive environments, understand individual player …
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SANDCAST Greatest Hits: Zana Muno: Beach volleyball’s hustling, diving, gritty ’chic farmer’
1:10:08
Welcome to SANDCAST Greatest Hits! Given that our podcast, hosted by Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, is on its eighth year, and we have accumulated more viewers and listeners every year – 52% of our listeners discovered us in 2024 alone – we wanted to rewind and replay the best of the best from our podcast history. So, throughout 2025, once a mont…
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Is the double touch rule for handsetting needed in beach volleyball, or would it be better if "doubling" the ball was allowed? Well, we might all of the sudden get to know the answer to this with more certainty, because the Swedish volleyball and beach volleyball association has decided to run a one season experiment to remove the rule. In this epi…
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This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter is the debut of our FSU Beach Volleyball studios! Fittingly enough, it features one of Florida State's best players in Alexis Durish, a junior who is coming off a NORCECA gold medal and set to continue building on a record of 60-11 in two years in Tallahassee. In this e…
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This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, is the annual Beach Pro Tour Awards Show. As with the 2023 Awards, all of these are 100 percent player voted, with a month-long nomination process, and then a two-week final voting process. Some of the winners might surprise you, some will not. This episode delivers aw…
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In this conversation, Mark Burik and Christoph Dressler explore various aspects of beach volleyball coaching and competition. They discuss Christoph's journey in the sport, the pathways to becoming a professional player in Austria, and the importance of multi-sport participation for youth athletes. The conversation delves into coaching philosophies…
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This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter (and Savvy Simo in this case) features the host himself, Bourne, with his NEW PARTNER: Evan Cory. That’s right: Tri Bourne and Evan Cory are partnering up for the 2025 beach volleyball season. They talk about that, of course, as well as: Cory’s recent season with Alison…
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In this conversation, Kahlee York, a professional beach volleyball player, discusses her journey in sports and the critical importance of women's health, particularly how hormonal cycles affect athletic performance. She emphasizes the need for better understanding and communication around women's health issues in sports, the misconceptions that exi…
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This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features co-host Kyle Friend and our good friends, Javier Bello and Joaquin Bello, better known, of course, as the Bello Brothers. And they are one of the fastest-rising teams on the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour, beginning in Challenge qualifiers, ending at the Doha…
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In this engaging conversation, Valentina Gottardi, an Italian beach volleyball player, shares her journey from indoor volleyball to beach volleyball, highlighting the influence of her partner and mentor Marta Menegatti. Valentina discusses her experiences in the Olympics, the importance of communication and teamwork, and her preparation for upcomin…
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This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features the McKibbin Bros – with a twist. Maddison McKibbin and the youngest Beard(less) Bro, Jameson McKibbin, makes his podcast debut. Together, the three McKibbin brothers have changed the game in terms of how beach volleyball is covered, creating content that had …
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In this episode of the Better at Beach podcast, Mark Burik discusses essential coaching techniques and leadership development strategies. He emphasizes the importance of maximizing player repetitions during practice, eliminating waiting times, and engaging parents to enhance the training experience. Mark also shares insights from a recent leadershi…
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Beach Pro Tour Finals Recap: USA Dominance Continues; Norway Delivers "Psychological Damage"
29:22
Welcome back everyone to Beach Access, where Travis Mewhirter, Kyle Friend and the Beach Volleyball World gang recap the Beach Pro Tour Finals in Doha, Qatar. It marked the final event of a long 2024 season, and we covered a bit of everything, including: Kristen Nuss and Taryn Kloth becoming the first back to back champs since Laura Ludwig and Kira…
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This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Mykel Jenkins, the longtime personal trainer of Bourne – and John Hyden, Sara Hughes, Emily Stockman, and several others – and is a wide-ranging one. Bourne has worked with Jenkins for more than a decade, and together, they discuss: The significance, and criti…
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In this episode of the Better at Beach podcast, host Mark Burik discusses the evolving landscape of professional volleyball in the U.S. with guest Marlie Monserez. They explore Marlie's journey from indoor to beach volleyball and back to indoor, the differences between the Pro Volleyball Federation and Lovb league, player salaries, and the importan…
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This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Kyle Friend, a former professional beach volleyball player who has phased into coaching, commentating and, yes, podcasting on this very show. It has been a fun transition for Friend, and one we talk about extensively, as well as: How he became the coach of Apr…
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In this conversation, Matt Hazle interviews Miles Partain, a prominent volleyball player, about his journey from indoor volleyball at UCLA to pursuing a career in beach volleyball and aiming for the Olympics. They discuss the challenges and decisions involved in this transition, including the technical aspects of setting and jump setting in volleyb…
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WE'VE GOT NEW MERCH! Check it out here!! This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Mpu Dinani, the most beloved and respected photographer on the AVP Tour and beach volleyball as a whole. Mpu has been the lead photographer since the early Donald Sun days, and we cannot say enough kind words about him.…
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In this conversation, Coach Matt speaks with Anastasija Samoilova, a two-time Olympian from the Latvian national beach volleyball team. They discuss her journey into beach volleyball, the importance of Olympic committee support, and the dynamics of her partnership with teammate Tina. Anastasia shares her experiences with coaching, overcoming advers…
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This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features our lovely co-host, Savvy Simo, on one of our most popular somewhat monthly segments: fan questions. We had A LOT of fan questions to get through, which is why we split this into two: one on the AVP League, which just wrapped up, and this one, in which we answ…
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In this episode of the Better Beach Podcast, Megan Rice shares her inspiring journey from being an indoor volleyball player to becoming the AVP Rookie of the Year. She discusses her experiences at UC Santa Barbara and Loyola Marymount University, the challenges of overcoming a significant knee injury, and her transition to beach volleyball. Megan r…
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This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, is our recap of the Rio Elite16, where Travis and Kyle Friend broke down all of the action, including: Javier Bello and Joaquin Bello going off for a most unexpected of gold medals Another huge tournament for Nico Capogrosso and Tomas Capogrosso, who took a career-high…
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Dain Blanton, Madison White, And USC Beach Volleyball's Quest For FIVE STRAIGHT NCAA Championships
1:23:07
This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter features USC Beach Volleyball head coach Dain Blanton and his most recent star, Maddie White. Coming off a fourth straight NCAA Championship, now heading for an astonishing fifth, USC is, per usual, the team to beat in 2025. On this episode, we chat about: The growth of…
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In this conversation, Brandon Joyner, co-founder of Better at Beach, discusses the importance of creating a positive and enjoyable learning environment in coaching. He shares his journey from player to coach, emphasizing the significance of mindset, trust, and respect in fostering player development. The discussion highlights various coaching techn…
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This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Switzerland's Anouk Verge-Depre and Joana Mader, a trailblazing team who won a European Championship, Olympic bronze medal, and pioneered an era of Swiss dominance, which now includes Nina Brunner and Tanja Huberli, and Esmee Bobner and Zoe Verge-Depre. This e…
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Winning Sports Psychology with Author Dr Justin Blake: Winning Mindset Coaching for World-Class Athletes
41:21
Sports psychologist and sports psychology expert and author Doctor Justin Blake discusses the winning mindset for athletes of all ages, staying in the moment, and his work with Olympic athletes. He dives into his experience as a mental skills coach for volleyball players and gives much needed tips and tricks to get you started on learning more. Wel…
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In this episode of the Better at Beach Podcast, host Mark Burik interviews John Drake, a former AVP player and current manager of Grand Sands Volleyball in Loveland, Ohio. They discuss John's transition from a competitive player to managing a successful volleyball facility, the unique playing style he developed with his partner Chris Lures, and the…
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Savvy Simo opens up about her experience with the AVP League, what went down at Chicago AVP, and how she is dealing with her mental health. This is a deep and important discussion for all athletes to hear, in the hopes to help you navigate through your sport in a healthy way. #SkyballApparel #avpbeachvolleyball #beachvolleyballworld #gritbeachvolle…
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This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Matt Levoe, one of the most respected referees in the game of beach volleyball and also the first ref we’ve had on since John Rodriguez quite some time ago. It was a much-needed episode, as we chatted: The never-ending, constantly revolving debate around calli…
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This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, is an international Beach Access, where Travis and Kyle Friend traveled to Brazil for the Joao Pessoa Elite16. After a week in Brazil on the Beach Pro Tour, we recapped a tremendous event in Joao Pessoa, chatting: How Anders Mol and Christian Sorum are still King, fend…
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In this conversation, Sophie Bukovec, a professional beach volleyball player for Team Canada, shares her journey to becoming an Olympian. She discusses her early career, the decision to focus on beach volleyball, and the challenges she faced during her Olympic qualification process. Sophie reflects on her experiences at the World Championships and …
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This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Leon Luini and Ruben Penninga, two of the rising starts of the Dutch Federation. In this episode, we explore: - The journey of beach volleyball athletes as they navigate the highs and lows of competition, the dynamics of partnerships, and the emotional challen…
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In this conversation, Savvy Simo shares her journey from college volleyball to the professional circuit, discussing the challenges of transitioning to a more individualistic sport, the mental health struggles she faces, and the importance of confidence and mindset in achieving success. She reflects on her best season yet, the impact of her partner …
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This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Troy Field. Long one of the most entertaining players on the AVP Tour, Field is a fan favorite for reasons that we could list for pages and pages and pages. We run the gamut with this one, as you can tell by the length of the podcast, chatting: - Growing a bra…
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EP #111 Tyler Penberthy on Chasing Olympic Dreams, Embracing Losses, and Finding Joy in Beach Volleyball.
54:45
In this conversation, Tyler Penberthy shares his journey in beach volleyball, discussing his experiences from early partnerships to nearly qualifying for the Olympics. He emphasizes the importance of situational awareness, the impact of losses on growth, and the value of community in the sport. Tyler also reflects on his coaching philosophy and off…
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This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne, Travis Mewhirter, and Savvy Simo, features, well, us – and you! We answered all – or as many as we could – of your questions about the AVP League in this one, including: How did the tiebreaker between Savvy and Abby Van Winkle and Hailey Harward and Kylie DeBerg go down? What do we honestl…
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In this conversation, Mark Burik and John Mayer delve into the intricacies of coaching, particularly in volleyball. They discuss the evolution of coaching perspectives, the importance of understanding external versus internal focus, and the role of constraints in skill development. The conversation emphasizes the need for adaptability in coaching s…
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This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Geena Urango, one of the OGs on the podcast and a member of the San Diego Smash of the inaugural AVP League. Geena has been one of the most successful defenders of this generation amongst those who play exclusively domestically, a decision we chat about at len…
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Welcome to Beach Access, where Travis Mewhirter and sometimes Kyle Friend and sometimes Tri Bourne break down all things domestic beach volleyball. Today, Travis is breaking down week 2 of the AVP League in Miami, discussing: Why Trevor Crabb, he of the Miami Mayhem, thinks there might be a home field advantage Why each team’s No. 2 pairing will be…
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EP #109 From France to the NCAA: Marine Kinna’s Journey Through College Volleyball and Beyond
1:33:58
In this episode, Mark Burik introduces Marine Kinna, a new member of the Better Beach team, who shares her unique journey as an international athlete navigating the NCAA recruiting process. The conversation explores the differences in sports culture between France and the U.S., the challenges faced by international players, and the importance of ed…
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Welcome back to Beach Access, where Travis Mewhirter and occasionally Kyle Friend break down professional beach volleyball on both the AVP Tour and the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour. This week, Travis, fresh off a week in Tallahassee at Florida State, takes a look at the AVP League and its week one debut, talking: How were the teams assigned, and…
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This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Marcio Sicoli, the longtime head coach of the Pepperdine beach volleyball team and the man Melissa Humana-Paredes calls “the wizard” leading her and Brandie Wilkerson to an Olympic silver medal at the Paris Olympic Games. On this episode, we chat about: Why Wi…
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EP #108: Avery Drost: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Building Strong Beach Volleyball Partnerships
1:08:47
In this conversation, Avery Drost shares his journey as a professional beach volleyball player, discussing the challenges and triumphs he faced along the way. He emphasizes the importance of setting, overcoming imposter syndrome, and building strong relationships within the volleyball community. Drost also highlights the significance of training, e…
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This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Trevor Crabb and Theo Brunner, the recent AVP Manhattan Beach Open champions who followed up their epic win with an epic interview with an epic and open and candid podcast. Brunner holds back nothing in this one, as he and Crabb chat about: What it was like fo…
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In this conversation, Mark Burik discusses the basics of passing in beach volleyball. He emphasizes the importance of posture and mental preparation before every point. He provides tips on how to start every point with the right mindset and how to create a stronger mental game. He also talks about the athletic posture and the importance of staying …
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Hermosa Open Recap: The Vibes, The Partnerships, The Play -- The Purest Beach Volleyball Tournament
8:59
The Hermosa Open was AWESOME, one of the purest beach volleyball tournaments we've been to in a long time. All good vibes from the players and fans, streamed on VBTV, fun new teams to watch -- all of it. And, we had some scintillating play, INCLUDING: - A DOUBLE-FINAL on the women's side between Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes and Terese Cannon and Meg…
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Welcome back to Beach Access, where Travis Mewhirter and his producers, including a celebrity appearance from Producer Mom, preview this week's Hermosa Beach Open, presented by Wedbush Securities. We chat about: - How Travis wound up pulling Andy Benesh - Why Miles Partain is playing with Alex Ranghieri - Where are Trevor Crabb, Taylor Crabb, and T…
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In this episode, I interview LJ Luciano, the owner and operator of ATX Beach, the largest beach volleyball facility in Austin, Texas. We discuss LJ's journey into volleyball, the growth of the Sand Wannabes Facebook group, and the challenges of starting a beach volleyball venue. LJ shares his experience in raising money through crowdfunding and emp…
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This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, features Florida State Beach Volleyball’s entire (and new) coaching staff. Longtime head coach Brooke Niles, her top assistant and husband, Nick Lucena, and the new addition to the crew, Travis Mewhirter, chat all things beach volleyball, including: What it’s like bein…
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Welcome back to Beach Access, where Kyle Friend and Travis Mewhirter break down all things beach volleyball, in this case AVP Chicago, where things got positively wild. Taylor Crabb in shoes? YUP! Chase Budinger shoving Trevor Crabb? Oh, yes. AVP League drama? Got it all. Miles Partain and Andy Benesh dominating alongside Melissa Humana-Paredes and…
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