116 episodes

Every great athlete started with a dream. The Started With A Dream Podcast interviews athletes and the community that supports to share their journey and stories. Unlike most sports podcast this interview series with Jacolby Gilliam isn’t about how big an athlete’s name is but about their journey.

Like most athletes, Jacolby had this big dream growing up about being a Division-I college athlete. Somehow he made that happen. However, it wasn’t the exciting big signing day type story, but the tear his ACL his senior year of high school, let me try to walk-on at my dream University type of story. A lot of other stuff along the way.

His story doesn’t make him special, but it’s his journey. A journey that he thought he was alone on because of the stigma that athletes are supposed to be strong and not show weakness.  He started 9INE POINT with the aspirations to spark a new platform for current and the next generation of athletes.

Basically, something he wishes he had growing up. Society always highlights the glamorous lifestyle of being an athlete but avoids talking about the ups and downs that come as well like the anxiety or depression after a bad injury.

So why this podcast? Because it is a place for YOU to hear stories, tips, and advice from athletes from around the world just being real. While also featuring insight from the community that supports them, coaches, nutritionists, and therapists.

Some of these athletes and supporters are very well known. Some are not known at all and that’s the cool part! 9INE POINT and The Started With A Dream Podcast is the first platform giving a voice to all athletes regardless of "popularity" and the athletic community that supports them. What dream YOU may have, the ups and downs YOU are going through as an athlete, we want to make sure YOU never feel like you’re going through it alone.

The Started With A Dream Podcast w/ Jacolby Gilliam 9INE POINT

    • Sports
    • 5.0 • 22 Ratings

Every great athlete started with a dream. The Started With A Dream Podcast interviews athletes and the community that supports to share their journey and stories. Unlike most sports podcast this interview series with Jacolby Gilliam isn’t about how big an athlete’s name is but about their journey.

Like most athletes, Jacolby had this big dream growing up about being a Division-I college athlete. Somehow he made that happen. However, it wasn’t the exciting big signing day type story, but the tear his ACL his senior year of high school, let me try to walk-on at my dream University type of story. A lot of other stuff along the way.

His story doesn’t make him special, but it’s his journey. A journey that he thought he was alone on because of the stigma that athletes are supposed to be strong and not show weakness.  He started 9INE POINT with the aspirations to spark a new platform for current and the next generation of athletes.

Basically, something he wishes he had growing up. Society always highlights the glamorous lifestyle of being an athlete but avoids talking about the ups and downs that come as well like the anxiety or depression after a bad injury.

So why this podcast? Because it is a place for YOU to hear stories, tips, and advice from athletes from around the world just being real. While also featuring insight from the community that supports them, coaches, nutritionists, and therapists.

Some of these athletes and supporters are very well known. Some are not known at all and that’s the cool part! 9INE POINT and The Started With A Dream Podcast is the first platform giving a voice to all athletes regardless of "popularity" and the athletic community that supports them. What dream YOU may have, the ups and downs YOU are going through as an athlete, we want to make sure YOU never feel like you’re going through it alone.

    Leah Edmond - Calm Confidence and Increasing Accessibility of Volleyball in the US

    Leah Edmond - Calm Confidence and Increasing Accessibility of Volleyball in the US

    In this episode of The 9INE POINT Started With A Dream Podcast, Jacolby Gilliam welcomes Leah Edmond, a University of Kentucky volleyball alum. Leah is a pro volleyball player at Athletes United (AU). Today, Leah shares her story of going from a young dreamer to a pro athlete while facing racial stigma when it came to others describing her game and injuries. Despite it all, Leah continues to be a strong force in the world of pro volleyball.
    Leah begins by sharing her dream as a young athlete. She talks about wanting to play at the University of Kentucky and going for it. She shares with us the expectations required from her as a freshman and a black athlete. She also discusses the stigma black volleyball players face and why volleyball should be made accessible to different communities. The episode comes to a close with Leah giving valuable advice on how to love what you do but, at the same time, not play through the pain.
    Key Points:Leah's dream as a young athleteStarting the college huntQuestions to ask colleges that reach out to you during recruitingLeah's expectations as a freshmanEmbracing your achievementsDismantling the stigma around black volleyball playersLeah's game as a volleyball playerMaking volleyball accessible to black communitiesLeah's gameday playlistThe decision to go proA tearful process following an injuryLeah's advice to her younger selfWhy you should love what you do
    Quotes:
    "My first goal was to play in college. I grew up around college athletics with my dad being a coach. ""Recruiting is a two-way street.""I knew what I could bring to the table. I knew who I was as a player and a person. And if someone wasn't going to be 100% full for me from the beginning, then I didn't want to be there.""My mentality was if I'm shooting to be one of the best in the conference, or be one of the best in the country, then I have to hold myself to a certain level of playing every time I step on the court, and if I'm holding myself to such a high level, that will help everyone around me.""With black athletes, it's a very small adjective pool for us, for some reason, no matter what we do.""I'm very team-oriented.""I spent almost four or five months literally rebuilding how to swing again. ""And I took pride in pain through my injuries. And I took pride in playing through pain because it showed how good of a leader I was. And then when this happened, I was like, Wait a second. Why? Why did I take pride in playing through pain? Like why did I take pride in playing through being injured? Why do we take pride in that? ""Why do we glorify playing through your body being injured? Why do we glorify playing when you're sick?""Sometimes it's frowned upon to be selfish.""No one's more disappointed in me than black people when I tell them I don't play basketball.""Volleyball to me is not a career. It is something that I love that I happen to get paid to do as well."
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    • 1 hr 13 min
    Setting For Greatness w/ Pro Volleyball Player Jaimeson Lee

    Setting For Greatness w/ Pro Volleyball Player Jaimeson Lee

    In this episode of The 9INE POINT Started With A Dream Podcast, Jacolby Gilliam welcomes Jaimeson Lee, a professional volleyball player, playing in Portugal and represented by Athletes Abroad. Jaimeson shares today her inspiring story of how she found her love for volleyball.
    Growing up with athletic parents, Jaimeson has always been surrounded by sports. She shares that her dream as a younger athlete was to play in D1 and how that dream has evolved over time. She discusses how she decided to attend George Washington University and the struggles she faced while trying to balance volleyball, school, and social life. She talks about going pro and how she has found friendship and not just team bonding with her teammates. The episode comes to a close as Jaimeson offers advice to younger athletes on how to stop comparing themselves to others and to never give up. 
    Key Points:
    Jaimeson’s dream when she was a younger athleteGrowing up with athletic parents and how that influenced JaimesonTransitioning into a setterRealizing her dream was possibleJaimeson’s goal as a playerWhat makes a great setter?Building the friendship culture among teammatesNavigating volleyball, school, and social lifeA defining moment; deciding to go proPreparing for what’s to come

    Quotes:
    “My biggest thing is wanting to play. I didn't want to go to a big school and sit on the bench for two or three years behind another sitter.”
    “If volleyball were to end for me, would I be happy here?”
    “What commitment is that person willing to make to be the best setter and player that they can be in the future?”
    “Stop comparing yourself to other people, and just work with what you've got because it's enough.”

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    Connect with Jaimeson Lee:

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    • 44 min
    Lauren Page - Stepping Out Of My Comfort Zone Through Volleyball

    Lauren Page - Stepping Out Of My Comfort Zone Through Volleyball

    In this episode of The 9INE POINT Started With A Dream Podcast, Jacolby Gilliam welcomes Lauren Page, a pro volleyball athlete playing in France and represented by Athlete Abroad Management. Before her professional career, Lauren played at the University of Oregon, helping her team finish 9th in the NCAA. Today, she shares her story with us, starting with a young girl who loved volleyball for the fun of it and transitioning into a pro athlete.
    Lauren begins with how she fell in love with volleyball despite being an introvert. She explains that volleyball was easy to love because she was surrounded by love, her team and her family. Lauren explains the difference between playing in high school and college and how to quickly adapted to new rules and plays. Later, Lauren describes the moment she decided to go pro and how her pro career has proceeded thus far.
    Key Points:Lauren’s goal when she was a young athleteFalling in love with volleyballHow Lauren Page started playing volleyballPlaying the sport as an introvertThe power of communityLauren Page talks about choosing Oregon for the experienceTransitioning from high school volleyball to college levelTwo games that left significant impactGoing through a tough time in junior yearThe power of a teamStarting a career overseas
    Quotes:“As we get older, our goals change.”
    “The connections and the friendships that I've made through the sport made it so fun.”
    “I always tell people all the time, this is the place that I was meant to be, I met my best friends there.”
    “As I got older, I knew I had to grow up and step out of my comfort zone a little.”
    “I left part of my heart there.”
    “I needed to be a better teammate, needed to support my teammates more and not make it about me.”
    “Being a team player and being there for your teammates makes you a better player at the end of the day.”
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    • 42 min
    Growing Up As A Professional Athlete with Julie Lengweiler

    Growing Up As A Professional Athlete with Julie Lengweiler

    In this episode of The 9INE POINT Started With A Dream Podcast, Jacolby Gilliam welcomes Julie Lengweiler, a professional volleyball player playing in Spain. Volleyball has been in Julie’s life for as long as she can remember. This propelled Julie to go pro at the young age of 16 in Switzerland. Julie is duly represented by Athletes Abroad Management and today, she shared with us the challenges and wins she has faced as a pro athlete and advises young athletes to dream big so they can live their dream.
    Julie begins with her dream as a younger athlete: to play in the big leagues. She shares with us how that dream became a reality and how she began playing volleyball professionally at 16. This also came with struggles, having been the youngest on the team. However, she was determined never to quit. Her resilience carried her further as she later played in Finland and now in Spain. Julie’s story inspires us that we can achieve much if only we dare to dream.
    Key Points:
    Julie’s dream when she was a younger athleteMaking the dream a realityJulie talks about being a role modelFalling in love with volleyballPlaying pro at 16Why Julie refused to quitFiguring who you are outside of the sport you playNavigating agents when trying to go proPlaying in FinlandAdvice to younger athletesWhat’s next for Julie?
    Quotes:
    “I want to inspire more kids to dream big, because I also felt that with my dreams, I was very lonely.”
    “It's a very weird feeling. It was something I worked for. And it was something I wanted. But when it happened, I did feel like wow, this is maybe a little bit too much.”
    “It's so much more than being ready for that level. It's being ready for loads of practice and pressure and games and expectations.”
    “Who am I without the sport?”

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    Connect with Julie:
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    • 53 min
    Pursuing Your Passion at All Costs with Charlotte Harris, Founder of Athlete Abroad Management

    Pursuing Your Passion at All Costs with Charlotte Harris, Founder of Athlete Abroad Management

    Pursuing Your Passion at All Costs
    In this episode of The 9INE POINT Started With A Dream Podcast, Jacolby Gilliam welcomes Charlotte Harris. Charlotte is the first female American licensed FIVB agent and founder of Athletes Abroad. After playing in college and pro volleyball in Sweden, Charlotte realized her passion for coaching and worked with an agency before founding Athletes Abroad, a company that helps athletes enrich their lives and succeed in their chosen sports. Today, Charlotte shares with us her dreams as a younger athlete, her determination, and how she continues to pursue her passion despite being faced with many odds.
    Charlotte starts with how she began playing the sport of volleyball. She shares that her dream as a young athlete was to play in Division One. She also discusses how she had to learn to be a team player and work hard for her dream. Having survived an ACL tear, Charlotte became unstoppable, starting her pro career in Sweden and later working with an agency. She talks about founding her company, Athletes Abroad, and what makes this company different from other agencies. Charlotte reminds young athletes to continuously pursue their dreams at all costs because it’ll be worth it in the end.
    Key Points:
    Charlotte’s goal when she was a younger athleteBecoming a better playerFollowing the dream beyond doubtsHow Charlotte’s goal became a realityWorking hard for what you wantA tough time in Charlotte’s careerSurviving an ACL tear and overcoming her fearCharlotte discusses starting a coaching careerPlaying pro in SwedenHow Charlotte started her businessWhat makes Athletes Abroad different?Advice to young athletes looking to become agents
    Quotes:
    “Anytime I was playing volleyball, I wanted to be on the court.”

    “My parents sacrificed a lot to even get me there.”

    “It's easy to give up on something when you think all of a sudden that you know that you're being wronged and that it's not fair what's happening to you, instead of looking at it as ‘what can I do better?’ ‘How can I work harder?’ How can I contribute to my team in other ways?’”

    “I love the sport, I also love interacting with people and giving back to athletes and I love helping people believe in themselves and get to that next goal of theirs.”

    “It's about getting a little bit better each day and challenging yourself within your own frame and within where you're at.”

    “Keep going after what you love and working hard and good things will happen.”

    “I want to be there to support the players every step of the way, and have a player-first mentality and prioritizing them and their needs kind of above everything else.”

    “I want them to have this community within athletes abroad and have these strong, powerful professional athletes that are supporting each other and helping each other because that's so important when you are thousands of miles away from family and friends.”

    “If you are pursuing what you love, then it'll be worth it in the end.”

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    • 47 min
    The Power of Intention with Lauren Schad, Pro Volleyball Player & Activist

    The Power of Intention with Lauren Schad, Pro Volleyball Player & Activist

    The Power of Intention with Lauren Schad
    In this episode of the Started With A Dream Podcast presented by 9INE POINT, Jacolby Gilliam interviews Lauren Schad, a former professional volleyball player and ambassador of the Red Ribbon Skirt Society. Lauren is a Nike N7 ambassador and a graduate of the University of San Diego. Today, Lauren shares her inspiring story of starting as a young athlete whose goal was to get a letterman jacket to becoming a pro athlete. helping younger athletes achieve exposure and reach their goals.
    Lauren starts by sharing her goal as a younger athlete and how being brought up in South Dakota encouraged her to be involved in multiple sports. She talks about exploring colleges and how her dreadful freshman year almost had her giving up on her dreams. She talks about the moment she decided to go pro, and ended up playing and settling in France. Lauren inspires the upcoming indigenous athletes through her community efforts and work with the Red Ribbon Skirt Society. Lauren is driven to encourage younger athletes to chase their dreams and enjoy their moments.

    Key Points:
    Lauren’s goal when she was a younger athleteA dream about her high school letterman jacketHow growing up in South Dakota influenced Lauren’s participation in sportsGetting into college sportsA shocking event that propelled the next phase in Lauren’s careerLauren discusses getting recruited into University of San DiegoThe challenges Lauren faced as a freshmanTaking care of your mental healthLauren’s decision to go proGiving back to the community through the Red Ribbon Skirt SocietyHelping younger indigenous athletes by bringing them exposureLauren’s advice to younger athletes

    Quotes:
    “My freshman year is the only year out of my entire volleyball career that I've won a championship.”
    “It's okay to put a little bit of pressure on the coaches, especially when as an athlete, you can't miss on those other opportunities.”
    “As athletes, we just look at our next goal. We achieve it, we look at our next goal, we don't ever really take a time to reflect on the things that we've done, and to really appreciate the work that we have put in to get to this point.”
    “This sport, as much as I loved it, had started becoming more of a job for me.”
    “The impactful thing about athletes is that they're able to make a big impact on strangers from all over the world...You're bringing in a new group of people every game.”

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    a...

    • 1 hr 2 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
22 Ratings

22 Ratings

Jordan gross ,

The Journey is Greater Than the Reward!

This podcast is so awesome because it is so real and honest! The host, who has an incredible background and story of his own, has on these high performers and elite and world class athletes, and he has them talk candidly about the trials and tribulations of their journeys. Such a useful way to learn through storytelling!

Ian Warner ,

Podcast gives all athletes hope

Jacolby is an amazing story teller and gets you charged up to succeed as an athlete and move into entrepreneurship later.

Samdamonsta ,

Great listens

These are dope podcasts! Jacolby works hard to avoid run of the mill questions, interesting perspective from the athletes!

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