What a pleasure it was to sit down with two time All American from Stanford Women’s Volleyball, Kendall Kipp. Beyond being an incredibly talented and dedicated athlete, Kendall has a perspective on life balance and the importance of strong and healthy relationships that serves her far beyond the court. I’m grateful for the realness of this conversation about volleyball and life beyond the court that athletes, fans, coaches, and parents won’t want to miss.
For more inspired edutainment, visit: www.bebettermedia.tv
Key Points, Top Takeaways and Memorable Quotes -
“I’ve always been someone who loves to learn new things, so I think I kinda just looked at it as an opportunity to try something new.” 5:01
“Comparison is the thief of joy.” 7:07
“Just learning to set those boundaries because you are an athlete and you are a student, but you’re a person first.” 10:27
“Pressure is a privilege.” 14:14
“I’m really proud of the relationships I have in my life. I feel like I invest a lot of time and energy into them, and I truly love people around me.” 24:45
“I absolutely love my trainer.” 30:41
“You can’t be grateful and sad at the same time.” 32:37
“You have to speak into existence what you want to happen.” 39:11
Guest Bio - I grew up in Newport Beach, CA as the youngest of four children. I played a lot of different sports growing up and didn’t think volleyball was in the cards for me, but when I played for the first time I instantly fell in love with it and knew I’d be playing for a very long time. I now play volleyball at Stanford University where I’m studying Human Biology. I will be returning for a 5th season at Stanford, then hope to play professional volleyball overseas starting in January! Aside from volleyball, my passions include travel, cooking, reading, and nutrition.
Show Notes -
0:00 - Coming Up on ‘What I Meant to Say’
0:30 - WIMTS Podcast Intro
0:54 - Welcome to Kendall
2:48 - Volleyball Beginnings
6:08 - Kendall’s View on Comparison
7:23 - Student-Athlete Mental Health Challenges
9:32 - Learning to Say No as a People Pleaser
11:20 - More than a Volleyball Athlete
13:26 - How to Handle Pressure
16:30 - Favorite Qualities in a Coach
18:50 - Parental Support & Relationship to Volleyball Growth
22:18 - Human Biology Major
23:18 - Be Better Commercial
23:51 - Understanding How Our Body Works
24:22 - Proudest Moments Outside of Sports
26:11 - Separating Real Relationships & Social Media
27:25 - Prioritizing Physical & Mental Health During Injuries
30:36 - Athletic Trainer Appreciation
31:57 - Gratitude Discussion
33:40 - What Do You Do in Your Spare Time?
35:00 - Cooking to Fuel Your Body
35:40 - Talking Tall
38:33 - One Piece of Advice to Your Younger Self
40:25 - Awareness of Sacrifices that Come with Pursuing Goals
42:06 - Future After Stanford
44:23 - Ways People Can Connect
45:14 - Thank You
45:50 - WIMTS Podcast Closing
Links & Where to Find Kendall -
IG - @kendallkipp