Above the bridge

Episode 168 Christmas Episode with ARIA PARK

• Thaddeus Park • Episode 168

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The most honest year-end recap happens across a kitchen table with sneakers by the door and game film still fresh in our heads. I sat down with my daughter, Aria, to trace the real story behind her varsity leap: the extra lifts, the OC16 nerves, the bad game that shook her, and the next-day reset that proved her mindset is built for pressure. It’s a tour through the grind you don’t see on highlight reels—how you hold your energy when you don’t start, how you become a better teammate, and how belief sneaks up on you one rep at a time.

We also open the lens to school life and growing up in Hawaii. Sophomore year means tougher classes, early college prep, and the noise of high school drama. Aria keeps it simple with an inner circle she trusts, a sense of humor that won’t quit, and a clear boundary around what matters. The conversation drifts into travel tournaments in Vegas, Anaheim, and Maui, the joy of Disneyland, and the feeling of being more bonded as a team after a full season together. When she talks about coaches, you hear two styles—strict and structured, calm and player-first—both shaping a competitor who adapts fast.

Music ties generations together. Old-school R&B—SZA, Ashanti, Miguel—becomes our common ground, a reminder that songs with depth outlast trends. We look ahead, too: a West Coast volleyball scholarship is the dream, with a return home to Hawaii after college. And we share gratitude—family rides, Starbucks bribes, and all the quiet support that makes the loud wins possible. If you’re chasing a goal, this conversation is your nudge: bounce back harder, keep your circle tight, and let consistent work do the talking.

If this resonated, follow the show, drop a rating, and share it with someone who needs a push. What goal are you committing to before the new season starts?

Year Close And Subscriber Shoutouts

SPEAKER_04

Aloha, welcome to another edition of the Above the Bridge Podcast. I'm your host, Thaddeus Park. This is gonna be the last episode of the year. For everyone who tuned in this past year, I just wanted to say thank you. I appreciate all the love and aloha. If this is your first time, please hit that subscribe button. We're everywhere you can get your podcast, whatever platform you listen to, your podcast. So subscribe and leave a comment, it matters, and we'll see you next year. We got a lot of cool new things coming up. So please tune in next year. We'll see you above the bridge. Aloha. Okay, this week. This is my favorite episode every year. It's with my favorite person on earth, and we do this annually. This week, my guest is none other than my daughter, Aria Park. Hello, Goom. Welcome back to the show for like the fifth or sixth time ever. Six seven. No, no, no, not six seven. I don't get that stupidity. What is up, gang? How you been, girl? Okay. This has been a crazy year for you. A lot of things happened. Uh, what was one of your favorite things? Oh, before we start, I just wanted to let you know. I put online uh for people to ask us questions. So I'm gonna talk story with you for a little bit and then we'll get into all these questions, okay? All right, yeah, we're gonna be here for three and a half hours. Ready? No, but like I said, it was a crazy year for you. What were some of the highlights of this year, in your opinion?

Highlights: Varsity Volleyball And Wedding

SPEAKER_01

Um, going on two volleyball trips and making on varsity for volleyball. And oh, your wedding?

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, that was a big one.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

You got to be a bridesmaid or maid of honor.

SPEAKER_01

Maid of honor, actually.

SPEAKER_04

Oh, okay. Look at you, maid of honor. But you uh gave a speech which I was super touched by, and I thought it was you gave a great speech. Uh, were you nervous when you had to give the speech? No. You just owned that. Yeah. All right. Well, it was well done, and you did good, and you were very good at speaking in front of a large group of people because there were a lot of people there.

SPEAKER_01

Thanks.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. What were some what were some of the what what were you gonna say?

SPEAKER_01

Oh, yeah, I just got a whole load of people at my wedding.

SPEAKER_04

Oh, yeah, a little bit. Um, not by choice. Anyway, um, what were some of the negative aspects of this year, in your opinion?

SPEAKER_01

Um, I think we were just like really busy with a lot of stuff.

SPEAKER_04

And yeah, negative aspects where we were busy, yeah. Well, what would you want to do instead of being busy? I don't know, but just stay home, do nothing.

SPEAKER_01

No, but yeah, I don't there isn't really any negative.

SPEAKER_04

Well, you mentioned you mentioned you got uh to play varsity this year. You're a sophomore, and you got asked to be on the varsity team, which was quite an honor. I was super stoked for you because it was a goal that you had from last year, and you worked hard training um on your off days and doing what you can to better your game. Were you super stoked to make vars? And were was it what you expected? What was the differences between playing on a varsity level versus JV?

First Varsity Season: Nerves And TV Debut

SPEAKER_01

Um, well, I was really happy because I wanted to last year, but I didn't work hard enough. And then this year I went to the gym a lot and worked hard to actually get on varsity, and I did. So then I saw that my hard work paid off. And then varsity is just a lot like higher level than JV. Like, yeah, like it was just a whole nother level.

SPEAKER_04

Could you handle it? Were you nervous, or was it like overwhelming, or it was like ah, I got this?

SPEAKER_01

I think first season of varsity as a sophomore, too, is always nerve-wracking. So I was a little bit nervous, but I think this upcoming season I'll be a little more comfortable.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, and I think that's one of the reasons why your coach brought you on to just to get out all those jitters and bugs and get you comfortable playing on that level, so come next year you can make a big impact. You got to serve a lot this year, and you got to get on the court a bunch of times, and you were even on TV, you got on OC16 playing, so that was pretty cool. How was that being on TV? Were were you thinking about the cameras, or you're just like I just doing my thing?

SPEAKER_01

No, I didn't really think about the cameras, they weren't really noticeable, that's why.

SPEAKER_04

And you're right, you did train extra, you did go to the gym, you got to train with me. How is training at the gym? 24 hour fitness is pretty cool, huh?

SPEAKER_01

Yes, pretty fun.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, we're building the guns. Let's see them, let's see them guns.

SPEAKER_01

I don't have any guns. Let's see.

SPEAKER_04

Alexia, yeah, nothing there. What a guns.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, all right.

SPEAKER_04

Well, Daddy was proud of you, and you handled that whole situation pretty cool. And you're right, you did work hard on your off days to level up not only your game, but just everything about your physical and your mental and as well as your endurance, and you got stronger. And I've seen it, like I've seen your muscles grow, your legs get hard, you just put in the work, and I think that's gonna be a good thing moving forward, not only in your volleyball career, but in life. If you realize, like if I can work hard for something, I can reach my goal that applies to everything, not just volleyball, but everything you're ever gonna dream to do. Um, how was being in daddy's and aunties' wedding? How was that for you? Something different you had to dress up, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

I thought it was really cool. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Were you stressed out over it?

SPEAKER_01

No, I didn't really have to do anything except for make a speech.

SPEAKER_04

Oh, were you happy that daddy and auntie got married?

Training, Gym Work, And Mindset

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, just nothing really changed, yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Pretty much everything stays the same.

SPEAKER_01

Everything is just the same, except you just had a big wedding.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, and I gotta wear this shit, this stuff, this thing.

SPEAKER_01

It's okay, it's cool.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, so you mentioned you got to go on two trips. Which you went to uh Vegas and Anaheim for volleyball. Y'all, oh, you also went to Maui for your school volleyball. Yep. Which trip was the most fun?

SPEAKER_01

Anaheim, because we got to we got to go to Disneyland.

SPEAKER_04

All right, not including Disneyland, but just the volleyball aspect of the trips. Which ones did you like? Which one you like the best?

SPEAKER_01

Out of the three, Anaheim, not because of Disneyland, but like I don't know. I just like that better. I like the hotel, I liked that our team was more bonded at that time because we had we spent like the whole season together, yeah.

SPEAKER_04

And then yeah, so you're back in club now. How's this? It season just started maybe a month ago, and you got one tournament and stuff. What are your outlooks for this year club season?

SPEAKER_01

Um, I don't know. I just want to start winning stuff because last tournament wasn't our greatest tournament, but the second day was pretty good because we won all of our games. But like I start, I want to start playing at a high level and win against teams that are actually good.

SPEAKER_04

That's true. I think you guys have the potential. I like watching you guys play. You guys have potential, but they've been saying that every single year. It's time you guys reach your potential and kind of hit your goals. Um, being a sophomore this year, what was the difference between sophomore and freshman?

SPEAKER_01

Um nothing much, really. I guess. Well, science got harder, and then um they're trying to get us ready for like DP and stuff.

SPEAKER_04

So what is DP?

SPEAKER_01

I don't even know. It's like the stuff that like 11th and 12th graders have to do.

SPEAKER_04

Oh, okay. You better you better know what it is if you're getting ready for it.

SPEAKER_01

They don't tell me anything about any of anything.

Travel Tournaments: Vegas, Anaheim, Maui

SPEAKER_04

Well, you can chat GBT DP, but uh maybe don't do that. Might be something bad. Oh, yeah. Anyway, uh let's see. We got a lot of questions here from our listeners and people on Instagram. Uh let's just get into them if you want to. You ready? Yep. Okay, let's see. Okay, I want to take this time to shout out our sponsor, Defen Hawaii. They've been with us from the beginning. I wear their stuff constantly, I wear it all the time. You pretty much, whenever you see me, I'm in Defen Hawaii. They have a store in Withered Mall called No One. They got some new drops for Christmas. I know by the time you get this, you're gonna have last-minute shopping. So go to their store in Winter Mall, no one, get whatever you can. If not, go on their website, defendhawaii.com, use promo code ATBPodapon checkout, you'll get 15% off your first purchase. So give them a look, defendhawaii.com. Back to our show for after high school. If you can get a mainland volleyball scholarship, would you leave to go to the mainland? And if so, where would you go and what school would you want to go to?

SPEAKER_01

Um, I would want to go like Seattle, California, all along that side because it's closest to home. And then colleges I would want to go to. I haven't really thought of it yet, but I definitely would go somewhere else.

SPEAKER_04

You don't want to go UH? No. Why not? But you'd be close to daddy. That's why you want to go get away from daddy.

SPEAKER_01

No. No, I would want to like explore outside of this tiny island.

unknown

Okay.

SPEAKER_01

There's so much more outside of Hawaii. Which Hawaii great great place, love everything here, but there's just so much more potential for me in the mainland, and so much more to like see and do if that makes sense.

SPEAKER_04

Yep, that's true. Do you see yourself living in the mainland after college? No. Okay, good. Good answer. Great answer.

SPEAKER_01

Absolutely not.

SPEAKER_04

Good. I need you here with daddy. Okay. Let's see. What are two differences that you experience between high school and intermediate? Uh likes and dislikes.

Club Season Goals And Team Potential

SPEAKER_01

Um, intermediate, I feel like um I don't really know. I feel like school was kind of like easier, obviously easier, but like it didn't really matter as much as high school does. Which I still got good grades in intermediate, but like it wasn't like as important and it wasn't as stressful. Oh, that's the word stressful. It wasn't as stressful. And then high school is like, oh gosh, we're going to college in like four years, and like if the grades actually like really, really matter, and like colleges you're gonna have to start like doing well in sports and like applying for colleges pretty soon.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. And what are your dislikes in for both? What did you dislike in intermediate and now in high school?

SPEAKER_01

Intermediate like for me, a lot of the people were annoying.

SPEAKER_04

Wait, in the school or your teachers?

SPEAKER_01

Um no, like the younger grades were really like uh immature and childish. Doesn't matter to me, but like they're just in the same area as me. So and then high school, I don't really know. I don't really do this like anything, it's just a some drama, just nothing has to do with me, it's always other people's drama, and everyone tells me about it. I'm like just like I do not care right now. I got way more other important things to do with.

School Life: Sophomore Stress And DP

SPEAKER_04

Well, maybe people like to vent to you because you're a good listener, or you can help them out with their problems, just like how daddy is a lot of people, and you see them always call me for their problems, or if something's going wrong, and yeah, all your uncles just show up at the house for no reason. Oh, yeah, I know. Okay, next question, and these are from your uncle Taylor, DJ Hoppa Boy. What is your favorite type of music and why?

SPEAKER_01

My favorite type of music is RB. Alright, yeah, usually like kind of like older older ones, because like yeah, they're just better than like music now, in my opinion.

Listener Q&A Begins

SPEAKER_04

Cause like, yeah, has more soul and depth to it, in my opinion. I like the old stuff too. Yeah, it's it's for me, it's cool to to hear you say that, and the reason why is because like that's the music I grew up on, and for you to seek it out and know these songs and start singing them, and I'm just tripping. Like, how do you know that? Like, you weren't even born when that song came out. I was in high school when some of those songs came out, and it's on your Spotify playlist, and that means wow, that that generation of music stand at the test of time, but it's still relatable to to the kids nowadays. And I feel like the music now that is not gonna be the same when you have kids, not anytime soon. Uh when they are growing up listening to to the music that they do, they're probably not gonna seek out your guys' stuff. I just feel like it it's cool that it resonates with you, and I'm hoping that it's not just you, it's your generation. But I definitely feel the same. The music now, even and you know, dad loves rock, the music now is way different than what it used to be. But yeah, you you had a chance to see one of the RB events that we did, and the music is just it's just a vibe, right? It's it just yeah, it's super cool, and I knew all the songs there, yeah. And it's it was all old school RB, it's super cool. That was a good question. Okay, uh when was the last time that you cried?

SPEAKER_01

I cried, yeah.

SPEAKER_04

I don't know. I know when the last time you cried. The wedding? I was after that. Yeah, you did cry at the wedding. When when you guys lost in the uh the ILH tournament your last varsity game, which I was honestly, I was surprised. Go ahead.

SPEAKER_01

I was on my period, so hikey emotional, but like yeah, it was sad because like all the seniors leave and stuff, so yeah, you're close to some of the seniors, yeah.

Sponsors And Community Support

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, I it's understandable. Like, I honestly I didn't think that you would have got emotional, but I know for one like other people cry, I start crying, yeah. Plus two, you're a sore loser, like you cry when you lose, and you guys lost, and the season was over. I thought I mean that mattered probably a lot factored into it as well. Yeah, yeah. Okay, if you could go back in time, what would you do differently?

SPEAKER_01

Uh I don't know. Like just anything differently?

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. Or is it just you happy with all your decisions and everything you did though thus far in life? You wouldn't change nothing.

SPEAKER_01

I mean, yeah, but like what I don't know if I can say it.

SPEAKER_04

Why say it? What? Whoa.

SPEAKER_01

That, but like I don't think I should say that.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. For something you got in trouble for, you wouldn't have done that.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. We don't have to get into the details. Yeah, I think it was a good lesson.

College Dreams And Mainland vs. Home

SPEAKER_04

What do you what did you get out of that lesson?

SPEAKER_01

To not do it again. Oh, and not make bad decisions.

SPEAKER_04

Okay. Well, honestly, you're gonna make mistakes in life. Uh, I'm not saying that it's cool because when you make a mistake, there's gonna be a consequence. And you experienced that. I mean, shoot, you did you were a great kid, did nothing wrong until you turned 15 and you. Did not take any time to ease it in. You messed up the very next day. But um that's what growing up is learning from your mistakes. And I felt like you did, and just you telling me now uh makes me understand that you did get the lesson out of that whole situation, and we don't have to go into detail, but we both know yeah, you're lucky you didn't get lickens. Right here, okay. That makes me happy though. It means that we got our point across to you. Yeah, yeah. Okay, what is your favorite thing to do when you're bored?

SPEAKER_01

Um, I used to hang out with friends. Um, I don't know. I kind of like just doing nothing. Because like we're always doing something, so it's kind of nice to just like chill out and relax.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, I agree. Like there's some times where it's like our calendars like jam-packed where I can't even wait to go back to work, so I can just be in the lab doing my job with nobody bothering me my AirPods in because we're so busy all the other times, and it's like, yeah, if I'm so busy that I'm looking forward to go to work, that's crazy.

SPEAKER_01

That's a little bit sad. I would never look forward to going to school.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, okay. What is something that instantly puts you in a bad mood?

SPEAKER_01

Um, is it putting me in a bad mood?

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Um, I don't know. A lot of things put me in a bad mood.

High School vs. Intermediate: Pressure And Drama

SPEAKER_04

Well, what is one thing that will do it instantly?

SPEAKER_01

Um people who just like either like leave me out, like just like yes, that basically explains itself, and then like people who are just like annoying.

SPEAKER_04

What does an annoying person do?

SPEAKER_01

You just gotta be annoying, and then you just piss me off. I don't know, like you just gotta piss me off somehow, and you're just annoying, and that'll put you in a bad mood instantly. Anybody who's annoying and tries not tries to leave me out, but just leaves me out is just like leaves you out in what aspect? Um, just like doesn't talk to me and just rather talk to someone else. What if they don't want to like all hanging out? No, talk to me, then why are you hanging out with me? All right, sorry, see already puts me in a bad mood.

SPEAKER_04

Perfect. All right, if you could eat one food forever, what would it be? I feel like that question came up last year, huh?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I would say steak or um uh chicken alfredo.

SPEAKER_04

I was gonna say pasta because that's your go-to's is either or or quesadilla. That's your three go-tos: steak, oh, quesadillas, chicken, alfredo, or quesadillas. Yeah, we're steak inside. Very true. Okay, what is the funniest thing you have ever seen in school?

SPEAKER_01

I've seen many, funny things in school.

SPEAKER_04

What's the funniest?

SPEAKER_01

Dude, every sometimes I don't even know. It's oh I know. Did I I might have said this last year.

SPEAKER_04

What was it?

SPEAKER_01

Well, someone fell on the stairs and just like someone fell down the stairs and then just like laid there with all of their bags, and it was this tiny kid too, like tinier than me. And then he just like laid there with all of his bags, and I just started busting out laughing, and no one else was laughing. And then after that, I asked my friend, why weren't you guys laughing? She was like, Yeah, you kind of did the laughing for all of us together. And I was like, What is he?

Music Tastes: Old-School R&B Love

SPEAKER_04

He fell down the stairs, like rolled down, like yeah, and you laughed at him. You didn't help him up to grab his books or like see if he was alright.

SPEAKER_01

He was just like, ha ha, you scrub. No, it wasn't even just ha ha, it was like just laughing for a good like five minutes.

SPEAKER_04

All right, okay, that's rude, but whatever. So rude. That is super rude. I just I don't know. If you took a spill down the stairs and somebody laughed at you for five minutes, you'd be laughing too. All right. Okay, here's a good one. What song best describes you right now?

SPEAKER_01

I don't know. Describes me.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. What song would you this would you say best describes you right now?

SPEAKER_02

Um I don't know.

SPEAKER_01

That's a hard question.

SPEAKER_04

Okay, put it this way. What is your favorite song right now?

SPEAKER_01

That's another hard question.

SPEAKER_04

One of your favorite songs right now.

SPEAKER_01

I like a lot of songs.

SPEAKER_04

Name one.

SPEAKER_01

That's like the worst question to ever ask me.

SPEAKER_04

I can ask you way more worse questions.

SPEAKER_01

Well, you you could, but like, no.

SPEAKER_00

I don't know.

SPEAKER_04

Name one of your favorite songs that you ever heard in your whole life. How about that?

SPEAKER_00

I like um Wait, I'm trying to think.

SPEAKER_01

I like um a lot of Sizza songs. I like um Can I look at my Spotify actually?

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Okay. Let's take a look see. I like um Open Arms by Sizza. But like Joe Sizza. I like Foolish by Shanti. I like um Drew Barrymore by Sizza. Oh, I like Delirious. Like the yeah. And then I like Yeah, that's kind of all of them. I like how many drinks by Miguel? That's a good song.

SPEAKER_04

Alright. Yeah. What is the best part of your day?

SPEAKER_01

Um actually going to practice.

SPEAKER_04

Oh, that's cool. That's a good answer.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Um, what is the most awkward moment you had in school?

SPEAKER_02

Awkward moment?

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Um, I don't really know. I don't really have a lot of awkward moments in school. Because I it's a small school, so like everyone knows each other, so it's not really awkward.

SPEAKER_04

Well, it was awkward when I get a call from the dean saying you missed your final.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, that's not my fault. No one decided to tell me about anything, so that's absolutely not my fault.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, it wasn't your fault, but it was awkward.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, it was awkward. Oh, you missed your final. What okay?

SPEAKER_04

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Boredom Cures, Pet Peeves, And Comfort Foods

SPEAKER_01

Um, I like talking to my mom. And like she, my my mom, like we have the exact same personality, in my opinion. Like, we think about things the exact same way, and it's just girl to girl, like she my girl for real.

SPEAKER_04

Alright, that makes sense, yeah. That definitely makes sense, and you guys do act the same.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, that's yeah, no many times. How many times did I hear you act like Yamata? Yamata, Yamata, not mother, Mara.

SPEAKER_04

Alright. What are some things your friends argue about way too much?

SPEAKER_01

Boys. Like guys, they're not that, they're not that interesting, I promise you right now. Like, no, they also argue about they don't really argue, but it's just like just things that you don't need to argue about, which I don't argue about anything with my friends because I don't care that much to argue about things like that. But it's just like yeah, they argue about guides a lot.

SPEAKER_04

Alright, well, you don't need to do that because you don't have a guide.

SPEAKER_01

Exactly.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, keep it that way. Okay. Uh one thing that you are grateful for today.

SPEAKER_00

Today? Um, you for picking up from school, Starbucks, um, me finishing my test. And yeah.

SPEAKER_04

And you're on vacation. Let's go. Let's see. What makes someone fun to be around?

SPEAKER_01

Um when they like match my energy and are easy to talk to. And yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Well, you have uh two good friends on your volleyball team that definitely match your energy, and I feel like you all share the same thoughts and oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Me and my friend, like, we are we wavelength connected, like we can just look at each other and just think the same thing.

SPEAKER_04

That's not good.

SPEAKER_01

That's very good.

SPEAKER_04

Alrighty. Okay, what is the most parent thing that daddy does that embarrasses you?

SPEAKER_01

Oh, um, I don't know. Oh, that's what you're doing.

SPEAKER_04

Like, what do I do that embarrasses you the most?

SPEAKER_01

Oh, post me on your Instagram.

SPEAKER_04

Why? I post you all the time.

SPEAKER_01

You post the most disgusting pictures of me ever.

SPEAKER_04

Well, don't take disgusting pictures. I don't. You do then. How can I post disgusting pictures of you? Like me, I'm I look good all the time, every time, so it doesn't matter what picture it is.

SPEAKER_01

This guy, bruh. Get an actual load of this guy.

SPEAKER_04

I thought it would be yelling out your friends' names at your school, but whatever.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, I don't really care about that.

SPEAKER_04

Oh, okay. It's super fun for me.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, there's this one time that we called this guy's name, and then he looked at the sky like Jesus was calling him or something.

SPEAKER_04

That was funny. Was that the one by CPK, right?

Funniest School Moments And Daily Joys

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, that was actually hilarious. Like, bro, I promise you're not getting summoned by the Lord right now.

SPEAKER_04

Let's see. What is something that surprised you? Something I surprised you in a good way. What's something I surprised you with in a good way? I'll put it this way. What is something that surprised you in a good way? Doesn't have to be me.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, probably make it on varsity.

SPEAKER_04

Hmm. You're surprised, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Because there's like juniors that tried out too. And there's like a lot of them, and I thought I wasn't gonna make it because they were gonna get put on the team. So yeah, I was pretty surprised.

SPEAKER_04

Okay. Well, that was cool. I think you worked hard for it, but yeah, could have gone either way. Alright. Okay, what is something that daddy thinks is cool, but you don't.

SPEAKER_00

Um I don't know.

SPEAKER_04

Like because everything I think is cool really is cool. Raja. Perfect.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, no offense to to people who like like heavy metal rock and roll, but I don't think it's cool. I think it hurts my ears from all kinds.

SPEAKER_04

Okay, well, now I'm that's the only thing I'm playing from here on out in the car. Okay, got it. Perfect. You're gonna live to love it. Thanks. Learn to love it. Okay. What is something kids your age worry about way too much?

SPEAKER_00

Um way too much.

SPEAKER_01

I would say oh, what other people think about them.

SPEAKER_04

Oh, that's a good one. Yeah, you uh you definitely don't care.

What Makes A Friend And Guarding The Inner Circle

SPEAKER_01

I no, I really do not care. Other people, they're like, Oh yeah, I really want like this person to like me, and I try to make like really good friends with them. And it's like, if they don't like you, sis, I promise they're not gonna like you anymore if you try to make them like you. Like, you're just doing too much. That's some good advice right there.

SPEAKER_04

Okay, write it down. Let's see, that's it. That was a good question. Okay, what is the weirdest trend at your school right now? And I already know that answer for me. Six seven. That's the dumbest shit ever. Like, I don't understand why that's a thing. You guys don't even know what it means.

SPEAKER_01

Six, seven, it's just six, seven. It's just six, seven.

SPEAKER_04

Like, uh I don't know. In my opinion, girls that are six, sevens is not worth my time. I only deal with nine tens.

SPEAKER_01

Anyway, oh heck no okay. So I guess anti-social is a nine ten.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. Okay, let's see. What do you think makes you a good friend?

SPEAKER_01

Um, I keep like when people tell me stuff, like I really like I don't tell anybody else because it's not anybody else's business. Um I match energy. I think and I really care about my friends. Some of them, only my close friends.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, yeah, there's such a thing as like what I call the inner circle. Like I have you see how many friends daddy has, but there's only a few that are in my inner circle that like that hold a lot of weight with me. And say it's it's cool, it's cool to be friends with plenty of people, but you can have your inner circle. And I do think that you are somebody who is a good friend. I think you're you're there for your friends in in a lot of ways. That's that's cool. Thanks. Uh let's see. What slang do adults say or daddy them say that uh needs to stop being said? Like what do we what slang do we say that you think is that got that gotta stop?

SPEAKER_01

Um there's not really anything when you say, Oh, you need script, like money, like so. Saying script, yeah, that means you're talking about script means money. I know, but like just say money.

SPEAKER_04

Okay, so script.

SPEAKER_01

I don't know. Okay, but that like makes you want you to not say it.

SPEAKER_04

Okay, that's cool. That's cool. That means my my slang is dope. Okay.

SPEAKER_01

Uh what is something no one says dope anymore.

SPEAKER_04

So that's the one.

SPEAKER_01

I'm just kidding.

SPEAKER_04

Uh, what is something that always makes you laugh?

SPEAKER_00

Um, my friends, you, my sister, my brother.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, which is a funny group of people, guys. Especially my friends. You will never catch us not laughing.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, I definitely make you laugh a lot, too.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Like giggle. You know what's funny is that you have the same sense of movie humor as I do. Like if something's yeah, if we watch a movie and one stupid thing comes out and I start giggling about it, you'll giggle at the same thing and we rewind that one part at least 10 15 times.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

We don't want to say which ones especially, but definitely Oh definitely not. Petey. Petey makes us laugh. Let's see. Uh what is some things that you're proud of this year?

SPEAKER_01

Um well one obviously making varsity, which I've said many times, but yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, that's something to be proud of. What else?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Um I don't really know. Oh, I got good grades this semester.

Pride Points: Resilience And Bounce-Back Games

Medicinal Mushrooms Hawaii Sponsor

SPEAKER_04

Well, for me, uh, what I'm proud of a lot is uh what you said earlier was when you messed up and did something naughty, what you learned from it and how you handled it, owned up to it, and took accountability and took your punishment like a champ. And I feel like that I was proud of. I wasn't proud you did it, but I was proud of how you handled it. And like you said, it's a learning experience. I also was proud of how you handled your first varsity season. Uh, it's been years since you didn't start at something, and you didn't get to start that much for varsity, and how you handled that by being a good teammate, supporting your teammates. And I know at times it's hard, but you handled that pretty well. So I think that was a thing that I was proud of. I also was proud of you, how you handled your schoolwork, and how daddy didn't have to get on you about studying and do all that. Like you do all that on your own, and that's been a big relief for me because I was the opposite. I had a hard time in school because I was naughty and didn't do what I was supposed to. Like for me, I basically don't even help you at school. It's like I let you do it all on your own and you knock it out the park every year. I'm proud of that. Um athletic-wise, other than the varsity season, what made me proud was if you remember when we were in Vegas, you had one horrible game, like you just was off, and it was probably one of the worst games you ever had. And like you were shook after, like you kept shanking every single serve, you kept messing up, and and you were shook after it. And Daddy told you, Okay, like everybody has a bad game. Michael Jordan had bad games playing basketball. It's how you bounce back the next one. And like I remember you waking up the next day, and I went in the bathroom, and you're doing your hair, and your face, like you were locked in, like you were just about it, and how you played the next day just made up for that shitty day, and could have gone either way. And honestly, I was like, Oh, I'm kind of interested to see how she's gonna handle this because you never been in that situation before. So that was pretty cool. I I um was proud of that too. So, so for me, a lot of my pride happened in ways for you, how you handled adversity or negativity or something, how you bounced back from something that wasn't good. So I'm proud of you for being strong. And okay, I want to take this short moment to shout out our sponsors, Medicinal Mushrooms Hawaii, and they're our locally based medicinal mushroom company. And if you check out their website, Medicinal MedmushroomHigh.com, you can see what they have. They have five different types of extracted mushroom, they have uh chaga, red raishi, lion's mane, turkey tail, and the latest one cordyceps. I take all of them religiously every single day. Um, if you don't know the medicinal properties, like I said, go to their website, it'll explain what each one does. And I take them all, give them a look, medmushroomhigh.com. If you use promo code ATB pod upon checkout for your first purchase, all capital letters ATB pod, you'll get 45% off your first tinture of extracted mushrooms. So give them a look, medmushroomhigh.com. Now back to our show. One thing that is super impressed with you is no matter what it is that you're doing, regardless of it's like cutting your jeans to make them fit better, or being on the volleyball court or training is you have an unbelievable strong sense of belief in yourself. Like even when you're drawing or doing whatever, it's like I'm gonna do this, I'm gonna figure it out, I'm gonna learn how, and you do it, and you never doubt you you very rarely doubt yourself. I think that's an admirable quality that you have, and it's impressive. I I not many people have that, and I think that's something cool that you have that most people don't, that you have a great belief in yourself. Okay, let's see. What is something that you appreciate about your dad?

Self-Belief, Creativity, And Growth

SPEAKER_01

Um, how fun you are that you're that you let me do a lot of things that I want to do, and you take me to do a lot of fun things.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, that's cool. Let's see what is some things you appreciate about your whole family, like everything.

SPEAKER_00

Um I like um, I just love the family.

SPEAKER_04

Appreciate everything.

SPEAKER_00

Can we describe it? Yeah, I just appreciate everything.

SPEAKER_04

Okay. Alright, well, I think that's let's see. Oh, what are here's the last question is what is one thing that you are grateful for today?

SPEAKER_01

Oh okay.

SPEAKER_04

What is one thing that you are grateful for? Period.

SPEAKER_01

One thing.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, that was what what is something that you're the most grateful for?

SPEAKER_01

Um my family.

Gratitude For Dad And Family

SPEAKER_04

Perfect. Okay, so I have a list of flash questions. You just gotta answer them with the answer. I'm just gonna ask you a question, just answer them real fast, okay? Okay, see parents using slang words, funny or illegal? Funny hugs from dad in public, yes or no? Yeah, breakfast or no breakfast. No breakfast, sharing food with friends or not?

SPEAKER_01

Sharing food with friends, okay. I drink all the time.

SPEAKER_04

Okay, trying new foods or sticking to what what you know?

SPEAKER_01

Uh trying new foods.

SPEAKER_04

Oh, okay. Yeah, you're pretty cool with uh trying different things. Let's see. Fast food or home cooked food? Home cooked food. Yeah, you we cook it up over here. Do you like daddy's cooking? Yeah, yeah. You tell me when there's something you don't like, right? Yeah. What what is the what is your most favorite thing that I cook? Hot roast. Yeah. Oh, okay, cool. Uh tease teasing friends or hyping them up.

SPEAKER_01

Uh well, my friends we tease each other all the time.

SPEAKER_04

All right, so teasing.

Rapid-Fire: Habits, Tech, And Style

SPEAKER_01

Not like in a mean way, but like yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Okay. Snapchat or TikTok or IG.

SPEAKER_01

Um probably Instagram.

SPEAKER_04

Okay. On your phone, dark mode or light mode? Dark mode. Raja.

SPEAKER_01

That's I'm not trying to wake up in the morning and see a bright flashlight in my face.

SPEAKER_04

We shouldn't wake up and first thing you do is go on your phone anyway.

SPEAKER_01

I don't actually. But like on a school day, I don't, because yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, that makes sense. Okay, let's see.

SPEAKER_01

Or just like if you're in a dark room, you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. I'm the same. I like dark mode, seems better, I guess. Which time of day do you like the most? Morning time or nighttime?

SPEAKER_01

Nighttime.

SPEAKER_04

Okay. Sweet or salty? Sweet. Okay. When you're in class, sitting in the front or sitting in the back?

SPEAKER_01

Back.

SPEAKER_04

That's why you slacking.

SPEAKER_01

Heck so. I was gonna put it in the front because I think I can't see.

SPEAKER_04

You probably can't because you're short. Right?

SPEAKER_01

Yes, I can.

SPEAKER_04

Okay. Uh when you study, do you study with music or silence?

SPEAKER_01

Music.

SPEAKER_04

Music, yeah. You you definitely get in the huge music person ever. Yeah. Uh AirPods or headphones? AirPods. AirPods? Okay. Summer break or Christmas break. Summer break. Really? I thought you were to say Christmas.

SPEAKER_01

Summer break is prime. It's longer and it's just prime. Like you're tan, like you have tan lines, like life is good in the summer.

SPEAKER_04

Okay. That's a good one for you because you're into fashion and all this crap. Uh, trendy clothes or comfy clothes?

SPEAKER_01

That depends on the day. Like, for my finals, like this whole entire week, I wore sweatpants and a sweatshirt. But like during normal school, I wore like low-rise jeans and like like tops and stuff.

unknown

Okay.

SPEAKER_01

But yeah. That depends. I would usually say trendy clothes though.

SPEAKER_04

Okay. Uh FaceTime or text message?

SPEAKER_01

That depends who the person, but probably text.

SPEAKER_04

Okay. Emojis or words? Emojis. Can you talk with just emojis? Like say send three emojis out or oh, I can't. No. Let's see. Clean room or messy room?

SPEAKER_01

Clean.

SPEAKER_04

Oh, here's a good one. This is for you and Auntie Sasha. Alarm snooze or wake up one time.

SPEAKER_01

Uh alarm snooze.

SPEAKER_04

Really?

SPEAKER_01

Well, I'll put my alarm and then I'll snooze it once and then I'll get up.

SPEAKER_04

That drives me insane. Oh. Especially when your auntie snoozes it eight times, so that means I wake up.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, well, I don't snooze it eight times.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

I only snooze it once.

SPEAKER_04

Just get up already. How about that? You know what I mean? Like. Oh. Okay. Yeah. Ooh, here's a good one. Would you rather be famous or rich? Rich.

SPEAKER_01

No. No. If you're famous, you'd be rich, right?

SPEAKER_04

No, what if you're famous for doing something stupid?

SPEAKER_01

I don't know. How would people see if you get if you did something stupid? You would have a video and a lot of other people would post it and then you get commissioned before the video.

SPEAKER_04

Not much. Okay, that'd be rich. You wouldn't be rich because you'd be in jail.

SPEAKER_01

I mean, I'm just kidding. I'd be rich.

SPEAKER_04

Alright, okay. Oh, here's a good one. Uh, would you rather re-watch shows or watch new ones?

SPEAKER_01

Rewatch.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, I'm kind of the same.

SPEAKER_01

I know what I like.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. How's this one? This is a good one. Friends or Seinfeld? Friends. Yeah. Uh hoodie or jeans?

SPEAKER_01

Bro, that's like the hardest question ever. I would say jeans though.

SPEAKER_04

Alrighty. Uh last one. Reply to a message instantly or wait ten minutes on purpose.

Goals For Next Year And Coaching Styles

SPEAKER_01

Um I okay. I see the message and I wait and then I forget about it.

SPEAKER_04

Oh.

SPEAKER_01

Not to like people like I actually like know, but like other people. Like, I'll see it and I'll just be like, oh yeah, I'll respond to it later, and then I just don't respond.

SPEAKER_04

That makes sense. Sometimes I do that. Let's see. Okay, well, those were all the flash questions we have. Those are some good ones, huh?

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Wow, we have some good questions. Let me look online if there's any more that people asked. Okay, that's it. All right. Well, that's all the questions we have. Let's see. I have some for you. What is your goals for this upcoming year?

SPEAKER_00

Um, I want to start on varsity.

SPEAKER_01

I want to um start putting like my stuff for colleges out there.

SPEAKER_04

Um you had two different coaches. So you have Coach Kale, who's been your coach forever for club, and Coach Taylor, who's who's an awesome coach for varsity. What would be some things that are different about them the way they coach, and what are what is similar?

SPEAKER_01

Um, I think the worth ethic ethic, I think their work ethic is really similar because they both like teach how to not give up and just keep pushing and stay humble and just keep the grind. And then I think Coach Taylor is a lot more like not chill, but she's more like um like she lets us just I don't know how to put it, like have fun, but also I don't know how to say this, like Coach Chaos, she's really strict and she's really like regimented, yeah.

Christmas Wishlist And Short-People Fashion

SPEAKER_04

And then Coach Taylor is like she's really I don't know how to describe it, it's just like she's a um she's just a great coach, yeah. Well, I think I think both of them are great coaches and they both have different coaching styles, and I think it's cool to to be able to experience both because it's only making you better, and and it also shows what resonates with you more, and or it also shows how you can adapt. Yeah, that's super cool. Um, so those are your future goals for this year. Like uh, what do you want for Christmas?

SPEAKER_01

I want a new desk chair, like a fuzzy one, like a fuzzy white one. Those like those ones, because mine is like a throne and it makes you sit like forward. Um, I want clothes, I want bathing suits, I want jewelry, I want tops, I need jeans.

SPEAKER_04

You have like eight pairs of jeans.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, but you never have enough.

SPEAKER_04

Yes, you can. You only got one body.

SPEAKER_01

No, like no no no no no like trust me. Like, jeans, they're like jeans, like especially for short people. Like, if you see jeans that fit you, you just have to get them. Because like, when else are you gonna see jeans for like tiny legs?

SPEAKER_04

All the time, just look in your closet. No, you have like seven, eight pairs, like seven.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, no, no, like genuinely, like to all the short people, like they need to create like a store that's not for like short people.

SPEAKER_04

They do, it's called a kids' store.

SPEAKER_01

No, those are like pink sparkle rainbow unicorns, like heck to the no. I'm trying to look for like some cute clothes, like yeah. Alright, like not everyone's legs are six feet. My bad. Just have tiny puny legs. You can't be laughing because it's your fault.

SPEAKER_04

It's not my fault.

SPEAKER_01

Yes, it is.

SPEAKER_04

Could be Yamata's fault.

SPEAKER_01

No, it's not. She's taller than you, and so is Auntie Sasha.

SPEAKER_04

She's not taller, both of them ain't taller than me.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, maybe not my mom, but Auntie Sasha for sure is.

SPEAKER_04

Alrighty. Uh, let's see. What else was I gonna ask you? I think that's it. Uh, what would you who would you want to shout out on this show?

SPEAKER_01

Um, my coaches and my friends.

Shoutouts, Holiday Wishes, And Closing Aloha

SPEAKER_04

All right. Okay, and I guess this is the last episode of the year. I want everybody out there. Uh we want to wish you guys a Merry Christmas, a happy new year, stay safe, especially New Year's Eve. Don't blow yourselves up or burn down your house or anything like that. Be responsible. Have Fun. I'm pretty sure Hawaii's still gonna be a war zone. I don't think that's ever gonna stop, but just in case, I know they have stricter laws, so be careful, don't get caught. I'm not saying do it, I just saying don't get caught. Uh Merry Christmas. From my family, we want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas, and thank you guys for always tuning in and supporting. And from me and Aria, uh from me too, Aria. Daddy loves you choke, and I am very honored to be your dad. And you've been an amazing kid to me, and I've been blessed to have you as my daughter, and I love you more than everything. Okay, we out. Shaka's for the cameras. Okay, we're out. Shout out to the artist group network. Aloha.

Head Shot

Thaddeus Park

Host