Andy Benesh: From a 9–5 Job to the Olympic Games

In this episode of Beach Secrets, DJ Klasnic welcomes Olympian Andy Benesh — one of the most dominant blockers in U.S. beach volleyball and half of the No. 1 ranked American team.

Andy shares his unconventional path from a successful professional indoor volleyball career to stepping away from the sport, working a 9–5 job, and ultimately making the bold decision to bet on himself. That leap of faith led him back to the sand, where he rose to become one of the best blockers in the country, a consistent AVP contender, and an Olympic Games qualifier alongside Miles Partain — another former guest of the podcast.

In this powerful conversation, Andy breaks down the mindset required to start over, the discipline behind elite blocking, and what separates good teams from great ones on the AVP and World Tour. He also opens up about life off the court, including marrying fellow USA professional Deahna Kraft, navigating two elite careers, and finding balance while chasing Olympic-level performance.

This episode delivers high-level insight, honesty, and inspiration for athletes, competitors, and anyone willing to take a calculated risk on themselves.

🎧 Topics include:

Transitioning from pro indoor volleyball to the beach
Leaving a 9–5 job to bet on himself
Becoming the top blocker in the U.S.
Building the No. 1 American team with Miles Partain
Qualifying for the Olympic Games
The mental grind of the AVP & World Tour
Marriage, balance, and life with pro athlete Deahna Kraft
Lessons from betting on yourself at the highest level

📍 Watch or listen now and discover the mindset behind Andy Benesh’s Olympic rise.
➡️ Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

🎧 Listen anywhere → https://linktr.ee/djklasnic

🌿 Sponsored by Polar Gold Extracts
Huge thank-you to our partner Polar Gold Extracts, proud sponsor of the Beach Secrets Podcast. Their premium CBD products support recovery, mobility, and everyday wellness — trusted by elite athletes worldwide.
👉 https://shop.polargoldcbd.com/DJ

⚡ Supported by Bravo Health
Founded by the team behind Spike N Go tournaments, Bravo Health creates clean, transparent supplements while reinvesting a portion of every purchase back into supporting U.S. beach volleyball athletes.
👉 https://bravohealth.shop (use code BEACHSECRETS to get 20% BravoBucks Back!)

📌 If you enjoyed this episode:
Subscribe / Follow for weekly episodes with top AVP, World Tour, and Olympic athletes.

🔖 Hashtags

#AndyBenesh #BeachSecretsPodcast #DJKlasnic #BeachVolleyball #AVP #Olympian #OlympicVolleyball #ProBeachVolleyball #WorldTourVolleyball #AVPTour #VolleyballPodcast #EliteAthlete #AthleteMindset #HighPerformance #VolleyballLife #BetOnYourself #Blocking #SportsPodcast