NXTVB

Susan Forbes | Volleyball Recruiting
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The NXTVB Podcast is your go-to resource for the next generation of volleyball talent. Hosted by Susan Forbes, a former D1 athlete and recruiting expert, this show explores the evolving world of college recruiting, NIL deals, and what it really takes to succeed at the next level—on and off the court. Whether you're a top prospect, parent, or coach, you'll get real talk, expert insights, and behind-the-scenes guidance on how to navigate the volleyball journey with confidence and clarity. From scholarship strategy to navigating transfer rules, we’re talking about the future of the game and how to own your path within it.

  1. 1 day ago

    50: The Right Kid Beats the Best Athlete

    What actually separates the athletes who get offered from the ones who don't? For the 50th episode of the podcast, Susan sits down with a good friend and one of the most talked-about names in college volleyball right now: Coach Jason Borchin. Jason was the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Cal Poly during their Cinderella Sweet 16 run in 2025, and just weeks later, he was named the head coach at the University of Nevada. Jason takes us behind the scenes of the whirlwind that was Cal Poly's postseason: upsetting #5 BYU and #4 USC as an unseeded team, interviewing for the Nevada job the Monday after the tournament ended, and uprooting his family with three young kids in tow. He shares what made the Cal Poly team so magical, from a culture of celebration and authenticity to the philosophy that "the right kid beats the best athlete," and why letting players be fully themselves is what unlocks the confidence to win. The second half of the conversation is a masterclass in recruiting. Jason walks through what actually separates athletes at the finish line of a coach's target list, the "genuine interest hack" that gets him to invest more time watching a recruit, and why copy-paste emails get ignored while a personal, well-researched email can move an athlete up the board. He also shares what it looks like when an athlete is willing to wear her heart on her sleeve, and why that vulnerability is often the difference between an offer and a pass. If your daughter is on a college coach's radar (or trying to be), this episode is exactly what she needs to hear. Chapters 00:00 – Celebrating 50 episodes with Coach Jason Borchin 02:00 – The whirlwind from the Sweet 16 to the Nevada job 06:00 – Managing chaos, family, and the transfer portal 09:00 – What made Cal Poly's Cinderella team so special 13:00 – Confidence, celebration, and letting kids be themselves 17:00 – Being underestimated as a mid-major program 19:00 – "Cal Poly kids": the right kid over the best athlete 23:00 – Building the same culture at Nevada 26:00 – What genuine interest looks like on a recruiting call 33:00 – Why copy-paste emails get ignored About the Guest: Jason Borchin is the head coach of the University of Nevada Women's Volleyball program, named to the role in December 2025 after helping lead Cal Poly to a historic Cinderella run to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. Over nine seasons at Cal Poly, he served as recruiting coordinator and associate head coach, helping the Mustangs win back-to-back Big West titles and earn multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. Prior to Cal Poly, Jason coached at Notre Dame and Sacramento State, and he brings 18+ years of coaching experience across the intercollegiate, high school, and club levels. He and his wife Jessie (who advises athletes at NXTVB) have three young children. Connect with Jason: Nevada Wolf Pack Volleyball: @nevadavolleyball Coach page: Jason Borchin at Nevada Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank

  2. 16 July

    49: How to Help Your Athlete Bounce Back From a Bad Day

    What's the first thing you should say when your daughter comes home from a camp, tryout, or tournament totally deflated? In this episode, Susan shares a simple but powerful tool she learned in her life coaching certification called the Ratings Game. It's a set of scaled questions parents and coaches can use to help an athlete process a tough day without spiraling into "I'm not good enough" thinking. Susan walks through exactly how the tool works, from asking your daughter to rate her performance from 1 to 10, to the crucial follow-up question of "Why isn't it a 1?" that gently gets her focused on what she actually did well. She also shares how to handle the "I don't know" answer, how to reflect her thinking back to her, and a reframe on motivation she calls "gas car vs. electric car," why celebration motivation is faster and more sustainable than being hard on yourself. If you're holding space for an athlete chasing a big goal, this episode gives you a script you can use the very next time she comes to you upset. Chapters 00:00 – Behind the scenes at Girls Junior Nationals 02:00 – Advisor vs. recruiter (and what parents often misunderstand) 05:00 – Why college coach interviews matter 07:30 – Doing scary things and building the podcast 11:00 – Where this episode's tool comes from 13:00 – Susan's life coaching certification story 19:00 – Introducing the Ratings Game 20:00 – How to ask the 1-to-10 question 22:00 – The "Why isn't it a 1?" follow-up 23:00 – What to do when she says "I don't know" 25:00 – Celebration motivation vs. lack motivation 28:00 – What would have made it a 10? 29:30 – Reflecting her thinking back to her 31:00 – Focusing on what she can control Follow Coach Desi on Instagram: @thisiscoachdesi  Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank

  3. 9 July

    48: Driver or Victim? Taking Ownership of Your Recruiting Process

    Are you actively choosing your recruiting process, or quietly letting it happen to you? In this episode, Susan builds on the last two conversations and gets into one of the biggest reasons recruiting timelines look so different from athlete to athlete: different goals create different timelines. She walks through a spectrum she sees almost every athlete fall somewhere on, from the very specific athlete who knows exactly what she wants to the more open-minded athlete who's willing to explore, and explains why neither path is right or wrong, just different. Susan shares her own story of holding out for a Top 25 or Pac-10 program as a 16-year-old recruit, why she sat on offers from schools that didn't match her vision, and what made the wait worth it. She also tells the story of a former club athlete who chose to commit to the first offer she received from her dream conference, and how having a little specificity with an open mind made for one of the smoothest recruiting processes Susan has seen. She closes with a powerful reframe: in your recruiting process, you are the driver, not the victim. If you're not getting interest from the schools you want, you get to decide whether to double down, adjust your list, or become the athlete who's good enough for the goal. Leaning into desire rather than fear is what changes everything. Chapters 00:00 – Why timelines feel like a verdict (and shouldn't) 01:30 – The recruiting spectrum: specific vs. open-minded 03:00 – Why clarity moves you forward faster 04:00 – Specific athletes, smaller pools, longer timelines 05:30 – Susan's recruiting story: holding out for the Pac-10 08:00 – When backup offers become teachers 09:30 – Why two athletes' timelines should never match 11:30 – The West Coast Conference athlete who said yes to the first offer 13:30 – Choosing your process instead of being a victim to it 15:00 – Leaning into desire over fear Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank

  4. 2 July

    47: Stop Comparing, Start Driving Your Own Recruiting Journey

    What if your recruiting journey was never supposed to look like anyone else's? In this episode, Susan continues the post-June 15th conversation with one of her favorite analogies for recruiting: the road trip. She walks through what would happen if 100 families started in San Francisco with the same goal of getting to New York City, and why none of them would arrive in the same way, on the same day, or in the same vehicle. She explains why recruiting is actually even more unpredictable than that, since athletes aren't even starting from the same place, driving the same car, or trying to reach the same destination. Susan digs into the comparison trap that's stealing confidence from so many families, why looking at your bestie's journey is still just a snapshot you can't fully see, and how the spectrum between very specific and very open-minded athletes creates very different timelines (and why neither is wrong). She closes with a powerful reminder that every successful recruiting story has one thing in common: the athlete kept moving. If you've been quietly comparing yourself to teammates, classmates, or strangers on social media, this episode is the windshield-shift you need. Chapters 00:00 – Borrowing belief when you can't quite believe it yourself 02:30 – Every recruiting journey is unique (and why that's hard to accept) 04:30 – The road trip analogy: 100 families, same destination 07:00 – Different vehicles, routes, and obstacles 08:00 – Why recruiting is more like West Coast to East Coast 09:30 – The comparison trap (even with your bestie) 11:30 – Specific vs. open-minded athletes 13:00 – The goal isn't to arrive first 14:00 – Stop looking out the side windows 15:00 – Choosing the right kind of recruiting support Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank

  5. 25 June

    46: What June 15th Actually Reveals (and What It Doesn't)

    What if June 15th wasn't a verdict, but a flashlight? In this follow-up to last week's episode, Susan goes deeper on what June 15th actually reveals and how athletes and families can make sense of what they saw (or didn't see) once the day passed. Through two memorable analogies, a tunnel and a big box with multiple doors, she paints a clear picture of what's actually happening behind the scenes of the recruiting process and why most athletes are still in the middle of their journey, not at the end. Susan walks through why the days before June 15th feel like walking through a dark tunnel, sharing a personal story about taking her three young sons through an abandoned train tunnel in Truckee. She explains how June 15th is essentially the lights coming on in the middle of that tunnel, finally giving families clarity on how far they've come, what's ahead, and what direction to go next. She also calls out the social media trap that makes a small percentage of athletes feel like the majority, and offers a "Bill Nye, not Judge Judy" approach to assessing what the day actually revealed. If June 15th didn't unfold the way your family hoped, or you're trying to figure out what to do with the information you now have, this episode will help you reset, reassess, and move forward with clarity. Chapters 00:00 – The power of being a little delusional 03:00 – Validating the post-June 15th emotional roller coaster 05:30 – June 15th is just information 07:30 – Recruiting before June 15th: walking through the dark 10:00 – The Truckee tunnel story 13:30 – When the lights come on 17:00 – Doors, mirages, and the rare easy paths 19:00 – Why social media spotlights the few 22:00 – Bill Nye vs. Judge Judy: assess, don't panic 24:30 – Why recruiting doesn't end on June 15th Click HERE for the link to NXTVB Support  Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank

  6. 11 June

    45: Why June 15th Doesn't Decide Your Recruiting Future

    What if June 15th wasn't a verdict on your future, but just one date on a much longer calendar? With June 15th approaching, Susan goes solo to reframe how athletes and families are thinking about the most hyped-up day in volleyball recruiting. She breaks down what June 15th actually is (and isn't), why most athletes won't have a dramatic recruiting breakthrough on that single day, and the silent stories athletes start telling themselves when the day doesn't unfold the way they imagined. Drawing on a concept from her mentor Brooke Castillo, Susan walks through how to make decisions ahead of time about who you want to be, how you want to show up, and what you'll focus on whether things go well or not. She also offers a powerful reframe for any athlete who's been measuring her worth by outcomes instead of actions, and shares the drops-in-a-bucket framework that reminds you why your success in this process is inevitable as long as you don't give up. If June 15th has been weighing on your family, this episode is the deep breath you didn't know you needed before opening day. Chapters 00:00 – What June 15th actually is 02:00 – June 15th is a day, not a verdict 03:30 – The stories we let June 15th mean about us 04:30 – Making decisions ahead of time 06:00 – Disappointment isn't defeat 07:00 – You didn't fail, you just guessed wrong 08:00 – Evaluating yourself by actions, not outcomes 09:30 – The small wins worth celebrating 11:00 – Drops in a bucket: why success is inevitable 13:30 – What to remember if June 15th doesn't go your way Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank

  7. 4 June

    44: The Truth About Recruiting Calls, Fit, and Chasing D1 (Part 2)

    What separates a recruiting call that lands an offer from one that gets quietly forgotten? In this episode, Susan welcomes back Ben and Nancy Somera, the married coaching duo leading programs at Wesleyan University (Division III) and Fairfield University (Division I). This time, they go deeper into what's actually happening behind the scenes of the recruiting process, from the chase for the "D1 label" to the phone calls that often decide who gets an offer. Ben and Nancy break down what real fit looks like, why "going D1" shouldn't be the driving force behind any recruit's decision, and what athletes can learn from the difference between a winning program and a losing one. They walk through the recruiting calls coaches actually want to have (and the questions that waste everyone's time), the personality cues they pick up on, how their timelines differ at the D1 and D3 levels, the rushed-offer culture around June 15th, and what the new roster limits and fifth-year eligibility rules really mean for the next few recruiting classes. If you're heading into June 15th, prepping for your first call with a college coach, or trying to figure out if you're chasing the right schools, this conversation is a must. About the Guests: Ben and Nancy Somera bring a unique perspective to the college volleyball world, having coached together at the Division I level before now leading successful programs at different divisions in Connecticut. Nancy is the head coach at Fairfield University, where she has quickly built one of the top mid-major programs in the country with multiple MAAC Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. Ben is the head coach at Wesleyan University, where he has turned the Cardinals into a national Division III contender with multiple NESCAC titles and consistent NCAA Tournament success. Together, the Someras have decades of coaching experience across Division I and Division III volleyball and are widely respected for their ability to build winning cultures, develop athletes, and navigate the evolving recruiting landscape. Their perspective on talent overlap between divisions, recruiting, and what truly creates a great college experience makes for an insightful and timely conversation for athletes and families alike. Chapters 00:00 – Why winning culture matters 05:00 – PB&J: passion, bravery, and joy 08:30 – The Power 4 chase vs. finding real fit 13:00 – Inside the recruiting call 17:30 – Doing your homework before you dial 19:00 – Personality, presence, and being yourself 23:30 – D1 vs. D3 recruiting timelines 26:00 – Qualifying coach interest before you wait 28:30 – June 15th, rushed offers, and the camp economy 33:00 – Roster limits and the fifth-year shift Connect with Ben and Nancy: Instagram: Wesleyan University Volleyball Website: Wesleyan University Volleyball Instagram: Fairfield Volleyball Website: Fairfield Volleyball Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank

  8. 28 May

    43: D1 vs D3 Volleyball, A Coaching Couple's Honest Take (Part 1)

    What if everything you've been told about the gap between D1 and D3 volleyball is missing the bigger picture? In this episode, Susan sits down with Ben and Nancy Somera, a married coaching duo leading programs at two different division levels. Ben is the head coach at Wesleyan University (Division III), and Nancy is the head coach at Fairfield University (Division I). Together, they offer a rare side-by-side look at what coaching, recruiting, and competing actually look like at each level. Ben and Nancy break down the real differences (and surprising similarities) between D1 and D3 volleyball, from season length and summer commitments to practice intensity, major restrictions, and the perceived talent gap between divisions. They also share how they build winning cultures without burning their athletes out, where their recruiting actually overlaps, and why finding a coach who supports your full college experience may matter more than the division letter on the jersey. If you've ever assumed D1 and D3 are worlds apart, this episode will give you a more honest, behind-the-scenes look at how recruiting really works. About the Guests: Ben and Nancy Somera bring a unique perspective to the college volleyball world, having coached together at the Division I level before now leading successful programs at different divisions in Connecticut. Nancy is the head coach at Fairfield University, where she has quickly built one of the top mid-major programs in the country with multiple MAAC Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. Ben is the head coach at Wesleyan University, where he has turned the Cardinals into a national Division III contender with multiple NESCAC titles and consistent NCAA Tournament success. Together, the Someras have decades of coaching experience across Division I and Division III volleyball and are widely respected for their ability to build winning cultures, develop athletes, and navigate the evolving recruiting landscape. Their perspective on talent overlap between divisions, recruiting, and what truly creates a great college experience makes for an insightful and timely conversation for athletes and families alike. Chapters 00:00 – Meeting Ben & Nancy 03:30 – Daily life as D1 vs. D3 head coaches 08:00 – Time commitment and season length 13:00 – Internships, summers, and balance 18:00 – Why burned-out athletes don't perform 24:00 – The athletes who thrive in both gyms 29:00 – Where D1 and D3 recruiting overlaps 33:30 – Strength, conditioning, and the fifth-year shift 37:00 – Choosing nursing, pre-med, and other rigorous majors 44:00 – Building a winning culture Connect with Ben and Nancy: Instagram: Wesleyan University Volleyball Website: Wesleyan University Volleyball Instagram: Fairfield Volleyball Website: Fairfield Volleyball Connect with Susan: Check out the website: www.nxtvb.com Follow on Instagram + TikTok: @hey.susank

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About

The NXTVB Podcast is your go-to resource for the next generation of volleyball talent. Hosted by Susan Forbes, a former D1 athlete and recruiting expert, this show explores the evolving world of college recruiting, NIL deals, and what it really takes to succeed at the next level—on and off the court. Whether you're a top prospect, parent, or coach, you'll get real talk, expert insights, and behind-the-scenes guidance on how to navigate the volleyball journey with confidence and clarity. From scholarship strategy to navigating transfer rules, we’re talking about the future of the game and how to own your path within it.

Information

  • Creator
    Susan Forbes | Volleyball Recruiting
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 NXTVB
  • Show Website
    NXTVB

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