The James Ignatowich Show Pocast: Vivian Glozman

 

1. 0:00 - The James Ignatowich Show Trailer Episode 17 Trailer 🎬
2. 0:26 - Vivian Glozman pickleball background 🏓
3. 5:28 - Cal Berkley Tennis with Anna Bright 🎾 🐻
4. 10:18 - Is Dylan Frazier as tall as he says? 📏
5. 12:17 - Vivian making a career change 👀
6. 15:17 - MLP Shuffle Draft final pick - Bay Area Breakers 🙌
7. 20:09 - Vivian's pickleball training regiment 💪
8. 24:47 - Suzie and the Air Force Academy 🛩️
9. 29:35 - Viv's upcoming partnerships 🫰
10. 34:15 - Cool, calm and collected by playing on center court 😌
11. 37:15 - James the passenger princess 👸 🚗
12. 38:55 - James' goals for pickleball 🤑
13. 41:30 - How James stumbled upon pickleball 🤪
14. 43:27 - Can a Joe Shmoe turn into a professional pickleball player? 🫣
15. 45:05 - James' love for Starbucks ☕️

Interview Part 1: Host - James Ignatowich, Guest - Vivian Glozman

[Background Music]

James: Okay, welcome to another episode of the James Ignatowich Show. We have Vivian Glozman on the podcast. Um, I've already spoken to Vivian a little bit before this podcast, and that's about it. So she's friends with Anna, she got to the semifinals of the North Carolina doubles Pro, and she's only been playing for like six months. So that's crazy. And I had like 10 people reach out to me on Instagram, Twitter, all 10 of my fans. They were like, "You gotta get Vivian Glozman on the podcast. We need to know more about her." I was like, "Okay, I'll do it." So thank you for coming on.

1:07 Vivian: Thank you. Thank you to your fans.

1:13 James: Yeah, well, you're on. So let me start by asking you. So you came from tennis, and I was told that you started playing pickleball when you were like, what was it, November of 2022, like six months ago?

1:23 Vivian: Yeah, November. Do you want me to share the story?

James: Yes, okay. 

1:28 Vivian: So me and my mom, last summer, we, like, go on walks together, and we ran into a tennis friend who lives in our neighborhood. And she was like, "Oh, what's your plan? Like, are you done with school?" You know, the ketchup when you're not that close with somebody.
Um, and I was like, "Yeah, I'm done. I'm just working, uh, earning hours now for PA school." And she's like, "Okay, that's great." She basically ignored everything I was saying. And she was like, "You need to do pickleball." And, intern, I ignored what she said, and I said, "Hey, that's great," and moved on. We just continued our walk. Um, but she was so persistent. She would not stop texting me. "Listen, you are gonna be so good. I think you have this skill set, this whatever." And I was constantly rejecting her to the point I felt so bad. But then what happened is I got so burnt out from work because I had just, like, joined the job thing from being a student. I just, like, wanted to do so much. Okay, okay, let me rephrase that. When you're new to a job, you want to do so much because it's, like, new and it's exciting and it's fresh. And I just, like, overworked myself to the point of burnout. So that's when November hit. That was, like, literally four months into me working, and I was burnt out already. And I was like, you know what? What am I doing? I'm—I was 22. I was like, I'm—I'm still young. I needed—I need to fix my priorities. So I reached back out to her. I was like, you know what? I'll give it a shot. And she was so ecstatic. I was like—I was actually shocked because sometimes when you get rejected so many times, you lose, like, you're, like, I don't care about you anymore. But she was so—she's great. So I call her my pickle godmother because she is who I owe my entire life and career to. Um, love her. She still takes care of me to this day. Um, that's how I started because of her, this one lady. Um, love her.

Okay, that's it. 

3:37 James: Thanks to that lady, unleashed Vivian Glozman on the pickleball world.

Vivian: Yes. 

3:41 James: You want to give her a shout out or no?

Host: Yeah, her name is Shufen Huang. She has two kids. One of them plays tennis. Um, I want to say Whitman. Oh my God, that's gonna sound so bad if I get it wrong. Somewhere in Washington, but far away enough. And the daughter doesn't play, but she's at UW right now. Um, great kids, great family, love them, love this lady. 

4:07 So, where are you from?

4:10 Vivian: I'm from Washington. That's where I currently live. Okay. I was born in Wisconsin. Randomly.

4:25 Host: Okay. How do you just randomly get born somewhere? You just spawn?

4:39 Vivian: I say randomly because it's like, I—I seriously don't know anybody from Wisconsin. I don't. I was gonna say, but—but I don't, honestly. Me neither. No. And so the only thing I know about that state is every time I say I was born in Wisconsin, everybody starts asking me about cheese, as if three-month-old Vivian is gonna know every type of cheese out there, right? No. So yeah, we moved here when I was about, like, five, six months old. So I don't affiliate myself with them Wisconsinites. I just—I mean, it's unique.

Vivian: Yeah, I'm gonna say I was born somewhere else. Um, but yeah, I grew up here in, uh, Bellevue, Washington.

Part 2

5:27 James: So you've been in Washington for most of your life. 

5:28 - Cal Berkeley Tennis with Anna Bright 🎾 🐻

6:09 Limited Questions

7:11 How many questions did you want to ask?

9:05 Anna Bright joins the discussion. Anna: There was a tunnel by the track underneath the stadium where there was snacks and everything for the visiting team. Vivian thought that all of the opposing teams for our fall tournament were literally staying in the tunnel. Like they didn't have a hotel. They were staying in the tunnel. That is what she thought. 

10:00 Vivian: The moral of the story. I was troubled. I was a troubled teen. 

10:18 James: So, you say that you are tall. 

10:18 - Is Dylan Frazier as tall as he says? 📏

11:35 Vivian: okay let me clarify since you want to bring up past receipts 

12:17 - James: I heard from the grapevine of pickleball that you are quitting your job. Vivian making a career change 👀

12:35 Vivian: It is true.

15:22 James: I only worked at a Chinese restaurant for a summer...MLP Shuffle Draft final pick - Bay Area Breakers 🙌

16:19 Vivian: I had no idea what was happening during that time.

17:16 James: You know what it was?

17:54 Vivian: I've been hit before

18:08 Vivian: I was sitting at dinner

20:08 James: How much pickleball are you playing?

20:18 Vivian: Fitness - I see this trainer - I do care and I'm trying

21:16 James: Like JW

21:31 Vivian: I know he cares. I know he is trying

21:44 Vivian: Back to my strength coach

23:13 James: Me, too. I dialed it back

23:30 Vivian: I think you got known for that

23:53 Vivian: I might pickup a part time job

24:24 James: I think you will be in the top 5

24:36 James: You could probably do stand-up comedy

24:47 Vivian: Do you want to know the funniest thing?

25:54 James: what what made you think that you could handle the Air Force for like eight years?

26:10 Vivian: I shocked a lot of people. 48 push ups in 2 minutes. You can not laugh at me.

29:36 James: Tell me about your pickleball partners

29:50 Vivian: OK. So, 

30:09 James: Bobbi is good. So is Wes. 

30:36 Vivian: on pickleball Fanatics,  Lea Jansen's take on partners

30:49 James: Pickleball is a pro sport, now

31:04 Vivian: I sent it to all my friends. My thoughts. I did have to think about it.

34:15 James: I thought you played great

34:38 Vivian: It was really fun. 

37:14 James: You asked me if you could ask me any questions. Do you have any questions for me?

37:33 Vivian: Anna told me you don't drive. Do you enjoy being a passenger princess?

38:00 James: It's the best thing ever. It has helped my pickleball game so much. 

38:51 Vivian: Pickleball Goals. You guys have made it. Do you want to be number 1? What keeps you going?

39:20 James: A year ago when I was losing first round in doubles....

41:30 Vivian: Nice. How did you find out about pickleball?

41:52 James: I was on winter break...

42:06 Vivian: Were you coaches sad about you leaving?

42:11 James: Yes they were really sad. Of course. 

43:19 Vivian: Do you think a random Joe schmoe that  puts in the time and trains can make it?

43:47 James: Not anybody. You have to be better than average buy nothing special.

44:46 Vivian: Interesting. I think steve Dawson said.....I don't remember what he said

44:37 James: I think the answer is no. 

44:53 James: Do you have any more questions for me

45:05 Vivian: What is your dream sponsorship?

45:28 James: Starbucks

46:01 James: What about you?

46:03 Vivian: Dream sponsorship

46:12 James: Outro

46:32 Vivian: My sister told  me

48:29 James: I thought you were funny

48:31 Vivian: Thank you. Thank you.

And now you've transitioned from tennis to pickleball. How has that transition been for you?

Vivian: It's been quite a journey, to be honest. Tennis has always been a big part of my life, but when I started playing pickleball, it was like discovering a whole new world. The transition wasn't easy at first because the two sports have their differences, but I quickly fell in love with the fast-paced and dynamic nature of pickleball. It's such a fun and social sport, and I've met some amazing people along the way.

Host: That's great to hear. And considering you've only been playing for about six months, reaching the semifinals of the North Carolina doubles Pro is quite an achievement. What do you attribute your success to?

Vivian: I think a big part of it is my background in tennis. It gave me a solid foundation in terms of hand-eye coordination, footwork, and overall athleticism. But I also had to learn and adapt to the unique strategies and techniques of pickleball. I've been fortunate to have supportive mentors and fellow players who have helped me improve my game. And of course, hard work and dedication have played a significant role as well.

-----------------------------------------------

1:14 James: So, you came from tennis and I was told that you started playing pickleball in November of 2022...like six months ago? Vivian: Yeah, November. Do you want me to share the story? James: Yes Vivian: Okay. So, last summer, me and my mom - we like going on walks together And we ran into a tennis friend who lives in our neighborhood And she was like, "What's your plan? Are you done with school? You know the ketchup when you're not that close with somebody. I was like "Yeah, I'm done. I'm just working...earning hours now for PA school." She's like "Okay that's great!" She basically ignored everything I was saying And she was like, "You need to do pickleball!" And intern I ignored what she said And I said, "Hey, that's great." And moved on We just continued our walk But she was so persistent She would not stop texting me, "Listen you are gonna be so good. I think you have the skill set." Whatever And I was constantly rejecting her to the point I felt so bad But then what happened is I got so burnt out from work because I had just like joined the job thing from being a student I just wanted to do so much James: Joined the job thing? Vivian: Okay Okay let me rephrase that When you're new to a job You want to do so much Because it's like new And it's exciting And it's fresh And I just like overworked myself to the point of burnout So that's when November hit That was like literally four months into me working And I was burnt out already And I was like you know, "What am I doing?" I was 22 I'm still young I need to fix my priorities So I reached back out to her I was like, You know what? I'll give it a shot!" And she was so ecstatic I was actually shocked Because sometimes when you get rejected so many times... You're like, "I don't care about you anymore" But she was so great So I call her my pickle godmother because she is who I owe my entire life and career to Love her She still takes care of me to this day That's how I started because of her This one lady Love her Okay, that's it James: thanks to that lady - Unleashed Vivian Glozman on the pickleball world