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The Volley Bubble

The Volley Bubble

Ci Michel

Ever wondered what life as a professional volleyball player looks like? Sounds like? Smells like? (I can't help you there...) But I can bring you real, candid and (mostly) uncut conversations between professional female volleyball players. 10-year pro player, 2012 Olympian and YouTube creator, Ci Michel (thats me!) is road-trippin' though Europe on a mission to shed light on pro volleyball, the 2020 CoVID season, and life in the 'Volley Bubble'... Sometimes silly, sometimes serious, but always bubbly.
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Top 10 The Volley Bubble Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Volley Bubble episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Volley Bubble for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Volley Bubble episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

The Volley Bubble - The Volley Bubble Trailer

The Volley Bubble Trailer

The Volley Bubble

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09/22/20 • 1 min

This is The Volley Bubble Podcast.

Whats up guys, I'm Ci Michel; Professional Volleyball Player, Olympian, Photographer, YouTuber and now, Podcaster! I have been playing volleyball professionally for ten years and I want to shed a little bit of light on what that means, especially in the era of 2020 and COVID. So I'm driving across Europe on a mission to meet other professional female volleyball players, and tell their stories. Because as you guys know, each one of us is so much more than just an athlete.

Visit YouTube.com/cimichel for the Volley Bubble Video Series, to see behind the scenes with each of the podcast guests, as well as tons of videos about life as a professional volleyball player and how to go pro! Follow along on instagram @vb_ci. Be sure to subscribe and rate this podcast, and let me know any of your suggestions for future guests! Share this episode with friends or on your socials and tag me so I can repost! It really means a lot! Thanks for listening!

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The Volley Bubble - 06. Overcoming an eating disorder w/Caila Stapleton
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10/26/20 • 52 min

Wow. If you listen to any of these episodes, listen to this one. Caila opens up so honestly about her struggles with mental health, eating disorders and body image in this raw episode of the Volley Bubble. Months away from family and friends can take a toll on your wellbeing, physically and mentally, and Caila lets us in on her experiences, as well as some methods for coping, and helping teammates or friends than might be going through something similar.

Caila Stapleton graduated from San Diego University, and has played pro in Switzerland, Finland and France. She is 27 year old American Setter from California, who has tasted pro life and also the real world. She is brutally honest and candid in this interview, and shares her insights on the true highs and lows of life as a pro athlete overseas.

See a full day in her life on the YouTube episode we filmed together here!

Follow Caila on instagram @cailastapleton

Visit YouTube.com/cimichel for the Volley Bubble Video Series, as well as tons of videos about life as a professional volleyball player and how to go pro! Follow along on instagram @vb_ci. Be sure to subscribe and rate this podcast, and let me know any of your suggestions for future guests! Share this episode with friends or on your socials and tag me so I can repost! It really means a lot! Thanks for listening!

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So Britt and I played together in Mulhouse, which is where she cemented herself as an up and coming star on the European volleyball scene by earning MVP of the French league, and also earned herself the nickname 'Spider Monkey' from myself and our teammate Lexi. I'll leave it up to you to decide which was more important for her career.

Basically Britt is an amazing player, a Belgian national team player, still only 21 years old and has so much more left in her! She was named MVP of the CEV Cup which she won in Busto Arsizio her first season there, and also won the hearts of the fans who named her their favourite butterfly that season. She is known for her grit and fire on the court, and to me for her easy smile and silly nature off the court. This girl is always laughing, joking and full of energy! I loved catching up with her, meeting the infamous and adorable Matsko, and hearing how she deals with negative comments (especially from some angry Busto fans after she left to the rival team Novara this season!)

She has idols of her own and big ambitions for the future, so enjoy this sneak peak into the personality and mindset of the fireball of energy that is Britt Herbots!

see the full video day in her life here

follow Britt on instagram: @brittherbots4

Visit YouTube.com/cimichel for the Volley Bubble Video Series, as well as tons of videos about life as a professional volleyball player and how to go pro! Follow along on instagram @vb_ci. Be sure to subscribe and rate this podcast, and let me know any of your suggestions for future guests! Share this episode with friends or on your socials and tag me so I can repost! It really means a lot! Thanks for listening!

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Ali Frantti, aka Moose, is one of my close friends! We played together in Mulhouse, her first full season pro and straight into CEV Champions League! Moose is sweet natured off court, but such a fire cracker on court. She was a four year starter at Penn State, and has played pro overseas in Slovenia, France, Poland and now Italy A1 in Chieri. We talk about why she chose Penn State, how to handle being benched, and why Finding Nemo is a actually a scary movie. Yup, all that and of course why she has the nickname Moose!

see the full video day in her life here

follow Ali on instagram: @afrantti14

Visit YouTube.com/cimichel for the Volley Bubble Video Series, as well as tons of videos about life as a professional volleyball player and how to go pro! Follow along on instagram @vb_ci. Be sure to subscribe and rate this podcast, and let me know any of your suggestions for future guests! Share this episode with friends or on your socials and tag me so I can repost! It really means a lot! Thanks for listening!

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Britt Bongaerts almost missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime, being a starting setter on the Dutch national team, which will likely take her to an Olympics during her career. She is currently playing in Poland, and has dreams of Italy and Turkey.

In this episode we cozy up to avoid the cold Polish weather outside, with some warm socks and a cup of coffee, some traditional Dutch cookies, and have a little chat about all things volleyball, and not.

We both started our pro careers in the same first club, the ladies in Black of Aachen, Germany, and bond over some fond memories of the place. She admits her online shopping addiction, for clothes but also more recently real estate. She gives us her take on the new Champions League format, and also what it means for a setter to have a 'good day'.

You can see a whole day in here life on youtube here

Some video clips from the podcast episode here.

And follow Britt on instagram @brittbongaerts

Visit YouTube.com/cimichel for the full Volley Bubble Video Series, as well as tons of videos about life as a professional volleyball player and how to go pro! Follow along on instagram @vb_ci. Be sure to subscribe and rate this podcast, and let me know any of your suggestions for future guests! Share this episode with friends or on your socials and tag me so I can repost! It really means a lot! Thanks for listening!

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Madi Bugg has volleyball in her veins, having learned a lot from her mother at an early age. She went on to play at Stanford, and is now in her 5th pro season. She has played in Switzerland, Germany, and now the top team in France.

We talk about her early days playing and creating a good relationship with the weightroom thanks to a family friend. We discuss the dilemma for female athletes between a body which performs best on court or 'looks good in jeans'. She lets us in on what it means for a setter to have a 'good game', and the mindset she has as a setter on court. She opens up about the true cost that COVID, ending all sports in March last season, really had on pro athletes, especially for her team and their nearly undefeated season. And how one weird IG DM led to her starring (or atleast being an extra) in a big international movie coming out soon!

This was a great convo and I hope you enjoy!

See the full video here.

Part 2 coming soon.

follow Madi @madibuggs

Visit YouTube.com/cimichel for the full Volley Bubble Video Series, as well as tons of videos about life as a professional volleyball player and how to go pro! Follow along on instagram @vb_ci. Be sure to subscribe and rate this podcast, and let me know any of your suggestions for future guests! Share this episode with friends or on your socials and tag me so I can repost! It really means a lot! Thanks for listening!

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The Volley Bubble - 11. Being a vegan volleyball athlete w/Olivia Rusek
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11/30/20 • 51 min

Olivia Rusek is just beginning her third pro season, but has gained a lot of experience in those years in Austria, Czech and now Switzerland. We talk on this episode about the challenges and benefits of a plant-powered diet as a high level vegan athlete, finding your level as an American player in Europe, and changing agents to get a good fit.

Olivia also vlogs her pro experiences on youtube if you want to see more! She graduated from Miami of Ohio (not to be confused with my alma mater UMiami in Florida), and is loving life overseas!

see the full video we filmed together here

follow Olivia on instagram: @oliviarusek

Visit YouTube.com/cimichel for the Volley Bubble Video Series, as well as tons of videos about life as a professional volleyball player and how to go pro! Follow along on instagram @vb_ci. Be sure to subscribe and rate this podcast, and let me know any of your suggestions for future guests! Share this episode with friends or on your socials and tag me so I can repost! It really means a lot! Thanks for listening!

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Ronika Stone teaches me a thing or two about TikTok, as well as how she views social media for top athletes in 2020.

Ronika plays for Volero Le Cannet in the top French League. She is in her first professional season, and played undergrad at the University of Oregon. She is a middle hitter/blocker, loves her Normatec, and is soon to join the vlogging world! Hear all about her experiences in the first two weeks of playing abroad, including overweight luggage and adaptation to life without a dryer.

See a full day in her life on the YouTube episode we filmed together here! You'll get to know Ronika a bit more, and see where she lives and trains with her team in France. Also a bit about her sunflower seed addiction and practice day rituals.

Follow Ronika on instagram @ronikastone

Visit YouTube.com/cimichel for the Volley Bubble Video Series, as well as tons of videos about life as a professional volleyball player and how to go pro! Follow along on instagram @vb_ci. Be sure to subscribe and rate this podcast, and let me know any of your suggestions for future guests! Share this episode with friends or on your socials and tag me so I can repost! It really means a lot! Thanks for listening!

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Malina Terrell talks us through how to acknowledge, but not give too much power to, the weak link in your mental 'crew'. This 28yr old outside hitter has a fascination for leopards and elephants, her friends call her a 'pineapple', and she meditates every day before training. She plays currently for the Béziers Angels in the top French League, where she was named top scorer in the league 2020. Before that he played at the University of San Francisco, as well as professionally in Denmark, Germany, Puerto Rico, Finland and now France.

See a full day in her life on the YouTube episode we filmed together here!

Follow Malina on instagram @malinaterrell

Visit YouTube.com/cimichel for the Volley Bubble Video Series, as well as tons of videos about life as a professional volleyball player and how to go pro! Follow along on instagram @vb_ci. Be sure to subscribe and rate this podcast, and let me know any of your suggestions for future guests! Share this episode with friends or on your socials and tag me so I can repost! It really means a lot! Thanks for listening!

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The Volley Bubble - 04. Pursuing passions outside of sport w/Tessa Grubbs
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10/12/20 • 40 min

In this episode, Tessa Grubbs and I discuss the importance of finding passions outside of the sport of volleyball, and how those pursuits can actually improve your game as an athlete.

Tessa currently plays for Mougins in the top French League. Before that she played at the University of Tennessee, as well as a short first professional season in Slovenia. She is a 22yr old outside hitter who has a passion for Louis Vuitton, mental health work and is currently mastering the subtle art of not giving a f*ck.

See a full day in her life on the YouTube episode we filmed together here!

Follow Tessa on instagram @tessa_grubbs17

Visit YouTube.com/cimichel for the Volley Bubble Video Series, as well as tons of videos about life as a professional volleyball player and how to go pro! Follow along on instagram @vb_ci. Be sure to subscribe and rate this podcast, and let me know any of your suggestions for future guests! Share this episode with friends or on your socials and tag me so I can repost! It really means a lot! Thanks for listening!

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FAQ

How many episodes does The Volley Bubble have?

The Volley Bubble currently has 17 episodes available.

What topics does The Volley Bubble cover?

The podcast is about Podcasts, Volleyball and Sports.

What is the most popular episode on The Volley Bubble?

The episode title '02. TikTok and social media as an athlete w/Ronika Stone' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on The Volley Bubble?

The average episode length on The Volley Bubble is 52 minutes.

How often are episodes of The Volley Bubble released?

Episodes of The Volley Bubble are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of The Volley Bubble?

The first episode of The Volley Bubble was released on Sep 22, 2020.

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