The Andre Fraticelli Podcast: Recent Episodes
Andre Fraticelli
Join Andre Fraticelli, as he talks to individuals who have powerful messages and stories that’ll inspire you to fight the obstacles that hold you back from becoming the best version of yourself. Individuals that constantly enter the ARENA’s in their lives. Who have built and know a winning culture in their profession as well as in their life. If you’re ready to start the journey of becoming the best version of yourself (in your sport, business, relationship, life) along with other braves souls, than tune in every week for a new inspiring conversation.
This week's conversation is with the incredible and insightful Valorie Kondos Field, known as "Miss Val".
She has been the Head coach of the UCLA Women's Gymnastics team since 1991 winning seven National Championships including the 2018 NCAA Championship. As a head coach and assistant, she won 17 Pac-12 Championships, 21 Regional Championships and Coached 18 athletes to 34 NCAA Individual Championships. In 2010 she became only the second active coach to be inducted in the UCLA Athletics Hall Of Fame and won Pac- 12 Gymnastics Coach of the Century in 2016.
Over the years, student-athletes have credited Coach Val with providing them with the skills to excel in athletics and life after graduating from UCLA. Included in the many athletes over her coaching career, are Olympic champions Simone Biles, Jordan Wieber, Kyla Ross, Madison Kocian, Laurie Hernandez and Nastia Liukin.
Miss Val has one of the most insightful and unique takes on life of anyone I've known and our conversation has made a profound impact in my own life. She credits the legendary basketball coach and Hall of Famer John Wooden as one of her greatest mentors and friends in life.
Her battle with cancer is the perfect example on how Val lives her life full of gratitude. While undergoing chemotherapy she realized the ability to change "I have to get chemotherapy", to "I get to have chemotherapy" changed her life.
In our conversation filled with what Oprah calls "AHA" moments, we discussed her take that there really is no such thing as failure, how to define success the right way, and having fun during the challenging times.
I can't wait for you to learn from one of the greatest coaches and people of all time, a dream interview of mine, and to embrace her message to live everyday "anxious for nothing and grateful for all things".
This weeks conversation is with the iconic softball coach Kirk Walker.
He is a winner of six national championships, six Pac 12 Championships, and 14 WCWS appearances, in his time as an assistant with UCLA (1984-94, 2012-present) under the legendary coach Sharon Backus and currently Darcy Inouye-Perez. He then became the head coach at Oregon State (1995-2012) becoming the winningest coach in program history and fifth overall in any sport at OSU. He led the Beavers to their first Pac 12 Championship in any women's sport at OSU, eight 40 win seasons, all 10 postseasons births, a WCWS appearance and received two Coach of Year Awards. Kirk was also a head coach of the Women's Major’s team that won four national championships. Kirk became the first openly gay male coach in Division 1 sports in 2005 during a team meeting while at Oregon State. He became an inspirational figure for the LGBT community in sports and have impacted many lives with his story.
Andre Fraticelli is fascinated by the mindset behind someone becoming their best self in life. From individuals involved in sports and business, to spiritual leaders and professors, to individuals that have inspiring stories needed to be told. Through these conversations "I'm excited to share the many paths to becoming our best selves with people who have inspiring stories and to share their journey, skills, and mindset that propelled them to become the best version of themselves".