What if the secret to getting everything you want is simply having the nerve to ask for it? In episode 269 of Joy Found Here, Dr. Jen Fry shares how a career built on bold requests carried her from college volleyball coaching to becoming a sports geographer, tech founder, and conflict literacy expert. For Jen, success was never about having all the answers — it was about betting on herself with just 60% of the knowledge, and being okay with hearing no.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

(00:12) Welcome to Joy Found Here & meeting Dr. Jen Fry

(03:56) The storytelling lesson of finding "where the bear's gonna attack"

(05:28) The hotel room decision that launched her coaching career at Washington State

(09:03) A winless season and getting fired from her first coaching job

(12:14) Emergency back surgery, a cross-country drive, and a national championship run at Illinois

(14:27) Walking away from coaching to leap into the unknown

(17:05) Getting fired again—and unexpectedly finding her person

(19:41) Earning her PhD and becoming a professional speaker

(24:19) Launching a tech company and betting on herself with only 60% of the knowledge

(35:19) Writing I Said No and honoring her late mother

Dr. Jen Fry is a Sports Geographer, tech founder, speaker, and conflict literacy expert who owns JenFryTalks, a firm focused on the intersection of conflict and culture. A former collegiate volleyball coach with a PhD from Michigan State University, she now runs Coordle, a tech company simplifying youth sports travel logistics, hosts the podcast Five with Fry, and is the author of I Said No: A No-BS Guide to Boundaries Without Guilt.

In this episode, Dr. Jen Fry traces her winding career path — from college volleyball coaching through a chaotic Washington State stint, a national championship run at Illinois, and a resignation driven by burnout — into higher ed administration, speaking, and eventually her PhD. She shares how boldly asking for what she wants has repeatedly opened doors, reflects on writing about her late mother in her book, and offers her core philosophies: make big decisions with only "60% of the knowledge," embrace "effrontery," and never fear hearing no.

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Book: Dr. Jen Fry - I Said No

Podcast: Five with Fry

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