Ep 38: Natalia Valentín-Anderson: Defying the Giants to Become One of the World’s Elite Setters

Encore: Jordan Thompson: The Underdog Mentality, Olympic Gold, and the Fine Art of Antiquing

Tiff and Lindsay will be taking a little break over the next two weeks, so we'll be airing some previous interviews. In this week's Encore episode of the Side Out Society Podcast, we sit down with one of the most clinical and feared offensive threats in the world: two-time Olympic medalist and LOVB Houston star Jordan Thompson. Despite being at the absolute peak of her powers (leading LOVB in points and kills), Jordan opens up about her unique "underdog mentality" and the journey of a late bloomer who wasn't a five-star recruit but went on to shatter NCAA records and win Olympic Gold. She shares the vulnerable side of professional athletics, from the heartbreak of a surprising playoff exit to the "endless tryout" energy of the Team USA gym as she begins her focused run toward the LA 2028 Olympics. Beyond the "scoring machine" persona, we get a rare look at the person off the court. Jordan discusses her passion for antiquing, her hilarious and adorable engagement story, and her deep-seated life motto to "lead with love". From her background in basketball to her current status as a mentor for the next generation of players, this conversation is an inspiring deep dive into what it truly means to evolve as both an athlete and a human being. Follow us on social media: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sideoutsociety Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sideoutsociety

Ep 38: Natalia Valentín-Anderson: Defying the Giants to Become One of the World’s Elite Setters

In this episode of Side Out Society, we sit down with a true pioneer, an international icon, and a master floor general: Natalia "Naty" Valentín-Anderson. Standing at 5-foot-6 in a sport dominated by giants, Naty has spent her entire career defying the height restrictions, relying on relentless hard work, pristine location, and unmatched grit to prove that shorties can absolute dictate terms in a big girls' game. She opens up about her unique journey from Caguas, Puerto Rico, where she originally trained as a track runner before her mother stepped in with a life-changing suggestion to try volleyball, to shattering records as Florida International University’s all-time assists leader. Naty takes us behind the scenes of her extensive global resume, spanning top professional leagues across Europe and captaining the Puerto Rican national team to its historic first-ever Olympic appearance at the 2016 Rio Games. We also explore the incredible twist of fate that brought her back to the States, from winning the inaugural PVF championship with the Omaha Supernovas in her husband Colt’s hometown, to moving to Texas to become the captain who orchestrated a fairytale run for the expansion Dallas Pulse to win the 2026 MLV Championship. Follow us on social media: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sideoutsociety Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sideoutsociety

Ep 37: Kaylee Cox: From Flower Mound Phenom to Major League Volleyball Champion

In this episode of the Side Out Society Podcast, we are joined by a newly crowned champion: Kaylee Cox. Fresh off helping lead the Dallas Pulse to an incredible victory in the 2026 Major League Volleyball Championship, Kaylee takes us behind the scenes of that intense five-set battle against the Omaha Supernovas. She opens up about the "underdog mentality" that fueled the Pulse all season and the locker room culture that allowed a first-year expansion team to shock the league and hoist the trophy in front of a sold-out hometown crowd. We also dive into Kaylee’s unique journey as the "volleyball rebel" in a family of legendary basketball players. Kaylee shares hilarious stories of growing up in an elite athletic household, from the physical battles with her sisters to the moment she officially traded in the hoops for the net. From her record-breaking 34-kill performance to her deep love for Italian pasta and lake-day adventures, this conversation explores the fire and grit of a hometown hero who is truly coming into her own. Follow us on social media: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sideoutsociety Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sideoutsociety

Ep 36: Jordan Thompson: The Underdog Mentality, Olympic Gold, and the Fine Art of Antiquing

In this episode of the Side Out Society Podcast, we sit down with one of the most clinical and feared offensive threats in the world: two-time Olympic medalist and LOVB Houston star Jordan Thompson. Despite being at the absolute peak of her powers (leading LOVB in points and kills), Jordan opens up about her unique "underdog mentality" and the journey of a late bloomer who wasn't a five-star recruit but went on to shatter NCAA records and win Olympic Gold. She shares the vulnerable side of professional athletics, from the heartbreak of a surprising playoff exit to the "endless tryout" energy of the Team USA gym as she begins her focused run toward the LA 2028 Olympics. Beyond the scoring machine persona, we get a rare look at the person off the court. Jordan discusses her passion for antiquing, her hilarious and adorable engagement story, and her deep-seated life motto to "lead with love". From her background in basketball to her current status as a mentor for the next generation of players, this conversation is an inspiring deep dive into what it truly means to evolve as both an athlete and a human being. Follow us on social media: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sideoutsociety Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sideoutsociety

Encore: Mimi Colyer: Redefining Gravity as the Heartbeat of the Dallas Pulse

Due to unexpected scheduling conflicts, we were unable to record a new episode this week. So with MLV Playoffs right around the corner, we decided to give you an encore presentation of our interview with Dallas Pulse rookie, Mimi Colyer. Stay tuned next week as we have an exciting interview coming up! What does it feel like to be the first-ever number one overall pick for a brand new franchise? This week, we’re joined by the high-flying, heavy-hitting Mimi Colyer. Mimi takes us behind the scenes of her historic draft day at Wisconsin, recounting the surreal moment the confetti popped in the team room just hours before she had to lock back in for practice. We dive into her transition from being a standout at Oregon to a legend at Wisconsin, winning the inaugural AVCA Outside Hitter of the Year award, and what it's like to now lead the charge for the Dallas Pulse in Major League Volleyball. Stick around for our "Side Out Sprint" rapid-fire round, where Mimi reveals her favorite emoji to use in a group chat and who is officially the funniest person in the Pulse locker room. Follow us on social media: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sideoutsociety Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sideoutsociety