Key Points, Top Takeaways, and Memorable Quotes
“COVID helped everybody in one way, I'm convinced of it. Maybe it was to take a break, maybe your life was going way too fast, and you needed something like the entire world shutting down for you to actually allow yourself to take a break.” - Taryn @ 1:47
“You have to put in a ton of work. It for sure doesn't just happen. In practice, you have to do things very specifically in order to be successful…..everything has to be very precise.” - Kristen @ 9:50
“Definitely have to have a pretty decent arm, gotta get that arm up, and have to be able to hit every single shot in the books, over and over, eyes closed.”
- Kristen @ 10:58
“You have to be able to beat a pulling block as a defender so working on hitting those lines. It doesn’t have to have a ton of pace, but location. That is your best friend as an undersized player!” - Kristen @ 11:28
“You’re not going to hide it by hunching over, so you might as well just put your shoulders back.” Taryn @ 15:26
“My family is safe.” - Taryn @ 26:07
“Realizing that you literally have no control over it is the scariest and most relieving thing that you can do.” - Taryn @ 32:05
“There is someone better than you out there.” - Kristen @ 43:43
“When you go to college, if you don’t walk in and think ‘I am at the bottom of the totem pole,’ something is wrong.” -Taryn @ 43:48
“Learn your role, then wait for your opportunity and take advantage of it.” - Kristen @ 54:49
Guest Bios
Kristen Nuss: Her stoic instincts on the sand are on point, and her fundamentals are solid. Watching Kristen compete and win in her first season as a pro was even more exciting because of the opportunity I had to get to know her off the court. Her no-nonsense approach and ability to show up for herself and her partner and control what she can control is an amazing thing to watch. Whether an aspiring athlete is 5’6 like she is or 6’5 like her partner Taryn, her athleticism and mindset are worthy of taking notes. She is a champion on and off the court.
Taryn Kloth: Taryn is a fierce competitor with a gentle and fun-loving soul that drew me in immediately when we met in Louisiana in the summer of 2021. She was a multiple-sport athlete growing up in South Dakota, had an indoor collegiate career at Creighton University, and only made the transition to the beach in 2020. Her work ethic and positivity are elements to her personality that I love and even with an AVP Championship under her belt, alongside partner Kristen Nuss, in her first season as a pro in 2021, she has only begun to scratch the surface of her potential on the beach.
Show Notes
0:53 - Welcome
1:14 - How It Started
1:58 - The Silver Lining of COVID
3:34 - Thought on Competition
4:45 - Don’t Forget to Breathe
6:08 - Siblings, Birth Order, and Personality
8:33 - Kristen’s Other Sports Besides Flag Football
9:38 - Advice to the Undersized Athlete
10:40 - Advice Specific to Beach Volleyball
11:49 - AVP High Line Shot Clip
12:05 - Advice for tall girls
17:25 - Taryn’s Sports Experience
19:01 - Siblings in Sports
20:01 - Blended Families
21:00 - New Orleans Saints Talk
21:54 - Taryn’s First Mardi Gras
23:15 - Their First Profession win @ AVP New Orleans 2022
24:47 - Louisiana Loves Sports
27:21 - Making it to Chicago after the Hurricane
30:45 - Rolling with the Punches
33:39 - Just Play Free and Fun
35:35 - Nice Vs. Competitive
37:55 - Parents As Athletes
38:24 - Parenting Champions From Taryn’s Perspective
40:59 - Different Parenting Personalities
43:01 - Watching Junior’s struggle
47:42 - Their perfect season at LSU
49:03 - Making the jump from College to the Pros
49:39 - Advice on Supporting Your Teammates
53:30 - Kristen’s Advice on Understanding Your Role
55:05 - Best Highlight of the Trip to California
57:09 - Thank You
57:15 - Be Better Movement
57:43 - AVP Chicago Clips
58:27 - Thank You For Having Us
58:37 - Shout Out to The Source, Brother’s Burritos, and Rabano
58:54 - Where Can We Find You?
Links & Where to Find Taryn and Kristen - www.tknvball.com
IG - @tkloth10 @kristen_nuss @tkntandem
Be Better Featured Athletes - https://bebetterwithwendyjones.com/featured-athletes/
