Starting Point with Casey Jennings

Latest Episodes:

Kaden and Jordan Janc: A Brave New World Jul 16, 2019

Show notes

Welcome to the fifth episode of Starting Point. In this insightful interview, Casey sits down with 15-year-old twins, Kaden and Jordan Janc, to play some music, talk about childhood, and explore what it means to be a transgender child and sibling growing up in today's world. A remarkable story full of honesty, courage, and acceptance, this interview offers a unique glimpse into one child's journey from girlhood to boyhood and the many difficult decisions that were made along the way. So sit back and enjoy another thought-provoking episode of Starting Point. Ciao!

Al Janc: From the Heyday to Nowadays Jul 10, 2019

Show notes

In the fourth episode of Starting Point, Casey sits down with retired AVP beach volleyball pro and father of two, Al Janc. From growing up on the beaches of San Diego to thriving on the AVP Tour during the heyday of the sport, much of Al's formative years were spent in the sand. After a 13-year beach volleyball career, Al parlayed his active lifestyle into a career at Oakley, climbing the ranks at an eyewear company that has long dominated the beach volleyball market. But beyond his athletic abilities and business acumen, Al says he is most proud of being a father. Al's two children, Jordan and Kaden, are 15-year-old twins with a fascinating story. In the second half of the interview, you will hear all about them including Kaden's remarkable transformation from girlhood to boyhood. The story is uplifting, educational, and sheds light on a topic that is too often misunderstood in our society. So please, sit back and enjoy the fourth episode of Starting Point. Ciao!

Jake Gibb (Part 1): A Look Back at Childhood and Career Jun 27, 2019

Show notes

In the first installment of our two-part interview with Jake Gibb, you will hear all about Jake's childhood including growing up the youngest of 11 children in Bountiful, Utah. The son of a hardworking pediatrician, Jake learned mental toughness from his Dad out on the golf course at a young age. Jake even learned how to meditate when he was 11 years old, a skill he still utilizes to this day. After spending his early years playing soccer and basketball, Jake happened upon the sport of volleyball at 17 after being cut from his high school basketball team. What was initially a backyard throwaway sport quickly turned into a passion and while Jake was studying to become a commercial loan officer at the University of Utah, he soon found himself winning every tournament on the local UOVA outdoor volleyball circuit. Soon after, Jake began competing in AVP qualifiers and when he started to excel, he quietly wondered if beach volleyball was something he could pursue full time. Just a couple of years later, after marrying Jane in 2000 and graduating from college, Jake decided to shelf the commercial loan officer gig and take a chance on his beach game by moving out to California. The rest is history as they say, and you'll get a detailed recap of Jake's career including all of the ups and downs in this episode of Starting Point. Enjoy!

Jake Gibb (Part 2): Taking Pride in the Journey, Lessons Learned from Dad, and Spirituality Jun 25, 2019

Show notes

In the second half of this two-part interview, Casey sits down with 3-time beach volleyball Olympian Jake Gibb to chat about appreciation and taking pride in one's own journey. After clearing up some miscommunications that occurred in Part 1 (coming soon!), Casey and Jake take some time to chat about beach volleyball, ownership, and how to best handle a struggling teammate. Then the conversation shifts to Jake's father and some valuable life lessons that Jake learned along the way and is still applying in his pursuit of excellence. Finally, Jake and Casey chat about religion and spirituality before wrapping up with a brief foray into youth and club sports. Please enjoy the second episode of Starting Point and be on the lookout for Jake Gibb (Part 1) coming soon!

Chris Crabb: Fatherhood, Resiliency, and the Hurricanes of Life Jun 13, 2019

Show notes

Welcome to Starting Point with Casey Jennings. In this show, you will hear stories centered around childhood, upbringing, adolescence, parenthood, and the pivotal moments and influential people that shaped the life-trajectories of our guests. In our first episode, Casey sits down with Hawaiian volleyball legend and father of four, Chris Crabb, to talk about childhood, fatherhood, resiliency, and what it takes to endure the inevitable storms of life. We get a glimpse into Chris' early days and also get to hear about the diplomacy required when raising two competitive, Olympic-hopeful sons. Enjoy this conversation with Chris and thank you for listening to Starting Point with Casey Jennings.