About this podcast
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.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 68 episodes
- 62: Preparing for College Volleyball Starts Before You Get There with Dana Burkholder · 38 min · Episode 62What does it take to be ready for college volleyball beyond having the skills to compete? In Part 2 of her conversation with Dana Burkholder, founder of Volleyball Village, Susan…
- 61: What College Coaches Want Beyond Volleyball Skills with Dana Burkholder · 37 min · Episode 61What makes an athlete recruitable beyond their physical skills? In Part 1 of this conversation, Susan sits down with Dana Burkholder, founder of Volleyball Village and a former…
- 60: What Volleyball Recruits Should Be Doing in the Fall · 28 min · Episode 60Recruiting feels slower in the fall, and if you're watching other athletes commit while your inbox stays quiet, it's easy to wonder if you're falling behind. But a quiet…
- 59: Want to Get Recruited? Start With the Right Target List · 31 min · Episode 59What happens when your target list is too high? In this episode, Susan breaks down one of the most important—and often misunderstood—parts of volleyball recruiting: targeting the…
- 58: What Does It Really Take to Play D1 Volleyball? · 16 min · Season 2 Episode 58How much should parents actually be involved in their daughter’s volleyball recruiting process? What does it actually take to become a Division I volleyball player, and is D1…
- 57: Hidden Truths of D1 Volleyball Recruiting from 3 Dads (Part 2) · 31 min · Season 2 Episode 57How much should parents actually be involved in their daughter’s volleyball recruiting process? In Part 2 of Susan’s conversation with three dads of 2028 Division I commits, the…
- Bonus Episode: Wrigley Field Was Bigger Than the Slippery Court · 31 min · Season 2What was it actually like to be inside Wrigley Field for one of the most talked-about volleyball events of the year? In this bonus episode, Susan takes you behind the scenes of…
- 56: Hidden Truths of D1 Volleyball Recruiting from 3 Dads (Part 1) · 36 min · Season 2 Episode 56What does the volleyball recruiting process actually look like from the parent side? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Susan sits down with three volleyball dads whose…
- 55: Inside Mizzou Volleyball with Dawn Sullivan: Recruiting, Culture & Wrigley Field · 46 min · Season 2 Episode 55What does an SEC head coach really look for when evaluating recruits? In this episode, Susan sits down with University of Missouri head coach Dawn Sullivan to talk about…
- 54: Your Volleyball Career Can Build More Than a Resume with Bella Bergmark (Part 2) · 43 min · Season 2 Episode 54What if volleyball could help you build opportunities that last long after your playing career ends? In Part 2 of Susan’s conversation with professional volleyball player Bella…
- 53: From Overlooked Recruit to National Champion with Bella Bergmark (Part 1) · 28 min · Season 2 Episode 53Bella Bergmark’s volleyball journey is proof that being overlooked early does not mean you are behind. In Part 1 of this conversation, Susan sits down with Bella to talk about…
- 52: The Recruiting Tool Every Volleyball Family Should Know About · 37 min · Season 2 Episode 52Most volleyball families spend hours researching schools, tracking coaches, copying emails, and trying to stay organized throughout the recruiting process. But what if there was…
- 51: Why This D1 Coach Keeps Practice Under Two Hours (Part 2) · 37 min · Season 2 Episode 51What if practice was something your daughter actually wanted to show up for? In Part 2 of her sit-down with University of Nevada head coach Jason Borchin, Susan goes deep into…
- 50: The Right Kid Beats the Best Athlete · 32 min · Episode 50What 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…
- 49: How to Help Your Athlete Bounce Back From a Bad Day · 39 min · Episode 49What'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…
- 48: Driver or Victim? Taking Ownership of Your Recruiting Process · 19 minAre 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…
- 47: Stop Comparing, Start Driving Your Own Recruiting Journey · 20 min · Episode 47What 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…
- 46: What June 15th Actually Reveals (and What It Doesn't) · 30 min · Episode 46What 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…
- 45: Why June 15th Doesn't Decide Your Recruiting Future · 15 min · Episode 45What 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…
- 44: The Truth About Recruiting Calls, Fit, and Chasing D1 (Part 2) · 35 min · Episode 44What 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…
