Good People of vitruta: Naz Aydemir Akyol
For a long time, she was part of our Women’s National Volleyball Team, representing our country—including at the Olympics. Our beloved Naz Aydemir Akyol is this week’s guest on Good People of vitruta. We met her on a sunny April day in Anadolu hisarı and headed to one of her favorite spots, Milada, where we enjoyed a great coffee and an inspiring conversation. Talking to Naz was truly uplifting; along with our discussions about volleyball, we covered her daily life, family, her book, and some of her recommendations. We leave you with this interview, which we’re sure will inspire you as much as it did us.
First of all, welcome to Good People of vitruta, Naz. It’s a great pleasure to host one of the women volleyball players who has etched the phrase “Turkey is a volleyball country” into all of our minds. We know you well, both for your accomplishments on the court and for who you are off the court. But we’d love to hear it from you too; who is Naz Aydemir Akyol? How did it all start, and how’s it going?
I grew up in a family that loves sports and always supported me—both my mom and dad were former national volleyball players. I started playing volleyball at the age of 9; I was trained in Eczacıbaşı’s youth academy and started playing in the A team when I was 15. After four years with Eczacıbaşı, I transferred to Fenerbahçe, and later to Vakıfbank. I’ve been back at Fenerbahçe for three seasons now. My biggest motivation in sports is to always be my best, regardless of the circumstances, and to contribute to my team in every way possible.
We, the vitruta team, are not only inspired by your identity as a volleyball player but also by the way you live life to the fullest. With such a strong dedication to sports, it’s intriguing how you stay so engaged and passionate in everyday life. What do you do in the time you have outside of training and matches?
I believe that learning and self-improvement is a never-ending journey. Whenever I have the chance, I read. Throughout my career as a professional athlete, there’s always been a Naz who’s either studying, learning something new, or working on self-improvement. Currently, I’m preparing for exams with the excitement of studying for my second university degree. Who knows, maybe one day, I’ll join Good People of vitruta as a psychologist! :)
You have a children’s book series called Naz’dan Spora Pas ("Naz's Pass to Sports"). It’s one of the most meaningful projects that could come from an Olympic athlete mom. Could you share with us how this series came to life?
People often say I look like a cartoon character, especially Japanese ones. The idea for the project actually started with the thought of turning “Naz” into a cartoon character. However, the cost of creating a cartoon on my own made it difficult, so I decided to connect with children through one of my favorite things—writing. I wanted to share my story, adding a bit of fiction, to inspire kids to love both reading and sports. So far, things are going smoothly!
Last month, the second book of the series, İlk Maç Heyecanı ("First Game Excitement"), was published. Can you tell us a bit about this book too?
In the first book, I shared how I started with running races at school. In the second book, Naz has started playing volleyball. It’s wonderful to be able to share my experiences with kids…
Will the series continue?
That’s my hope. I think the book Naz should eventually join the national team and play in the Olympics.
If we move from the books you’ve written for kids to the books that inspire you, could you tell us which books you recommend? What have you read lately, and which ones would you like to share with us?
I’m really interested in psychology-based books, biographies, and novels. As I mentioned, I’m studying to become a psychologist, so I’m reading a lot of psychology-focused books. My son Pamir is 3.5 years old, and to support his development, I read books on pedagogy. Novels are always by my bedside to help me unwind, and I carry biographies with me to see how other athletes succeeded or struggled. I’ve also been particularly enjoying historical novels recently.
For people who live very active lives, podcasts are also becoming more popular. Is there a podcast that you follow regularly and enjoy?
Yes, I regularly listen to Nasıl Olunur by Nilay Örnek, and I enjoy it a lot.
And what kind of style do you prefer in your daily life? What criteria are important to you when building your wardrobe?
As you might expect, my daily life mostly involves training and matches, so I’m usually in sweatpants, leggings, and sneakers. Comfort and functionality are always my priorities. On days without training or matches, my style remains focused on comfort due to the constant “mom marathon.” You’ll usually see me in jeans and a T-shirt. I always reach for vitruta’s sustainable hoodies, Rains’ colorful raincoats, and WWF’s cute sweatshirts.
Is sustainability also a priority in these criteria? Could you share any sustainable practices from your daily life that you’d recommend to us?
I’m trying to make it a habit to use a thermos. Keeping a thermos of coffee on hand helps me monitor my coffee intake and reduces the use of disposable products, which is important for not adding unnecessary waste. With Pamir, we often discuss the importance of consuming only what we need and that showing genuine respect for nature is not a sacrifice but a necessity. We gently encourage our family and friends to embrace these values too. We aim to be mindful about all kinds of consumption, especially regarding water and water resources, and we try to spread awareness as a family.
And finally, could you tell us your top 3 favorite brands from vitruta?
Easiest question saved for last! :) Rains, Chimi, and WWF Market!