Boots to Boots

In the Season 2 finale of Boots to Boots, Deonna and Steve look back on the incredible success of Battle for the Brave, the first-ever wrestling showcase they promoted in support of veterans and first responders. We also take your fan questions and discuss the possibility of bringing Battle for the Brave back for a second year. Additionally, Steve reflects on the recent passing of one of his fello...

In this special mini episode of Boots to Boots, we sit down with one of independent wrestling’s rising stars, Emily Jaye. Fresh off her appearance on AEW Dynamite in her 101st professional wrestling match, Emily joins us to discuss her journey through the wrestling business, what has helped her stand out early in her career, and how she’s continuing to build momentum on the independent scene. We a...

In this episode of Boots to Boots, we sit down with professional wrestler and fitness entrepreneur Steve Gibki. Steve and Deonna look back on their early days training together at Team Adams, traveling across the country for independent wrestling shows, and learning what it takes to survive in professional wrestling. We also preview Battle for the Brave on June 6 in Rahway, New Jersey, where Steve...

In this episode of Boots to Boots, we sit down with New Jersey State Senator Anthony M. Bucco, who represents the 25th Legislative District and currently serves as Senate Republican Leader in the New Jersey Senate. We discuss the Highlands Act, school funding, and how state policy impacts local communities, families, taxpayers, and students across New Jersey. Senator Bucco breaks down the purpose...

In this episode of Boots to Boots, we sit down with Raymond Lott, better known to the world as "The Marine Rapper," to talk about his incredible journey from the front lines of Iraq and Afghanistan to the top of the Billboard charts. Raymond opens up about his 10 years of service as a U.S. Marine Combat Correspondent, the raw realities of transitioning back to civilian life, and how he t...

In this episode of Boots to Boots, we sit down with professional wrestler Kaia McKenna to talk about family legacy, professional wrestling, and what it means to represent first responders at Battle for the Brave on June 6 in Rahway, New Jersey.

In this episode of Boots to Boots, we take you behind the scenes of building Battle for the Brave — the first professional wrestling event we’ve ever promoted ourselves. We talk about the reality of becoming promoters for the first time: the stress, the challenges, the unexpected problems, and everything we’ve learned while trying to bring this event to life. From booking talent and organizing the...

In this episode of Boots to Boots, we sit down with professional wrestler Rich Swann to talk about his journey through sobriety, resilience, and rebuilding his life both inside and outside the ring. Rich opens up about the challenges he faced early in his career, the moment he realized something had to change, and how choosing sobriety transformed the way he approaches wrestling, family, and his f...

From the rebirth of Women of Honor to being the voice of of Ring of Honor — this is ROH’s story through the eyes of the voice who lived it. For more than two decades, he has been the voice that welcomed fans to the ring — and one of the few people who has witnessed every era of Ring of Honor from the inside. In this episode of Boots to Boots, Bobby Cruise takes us through the evolution of ROH — fr...

Former Knockouts Champion Taryn Terrell is back in professional wrestling — and this time, her story is about more than just the ring. After stepping away from TNA in 2017 to focus on motherhood and her growing family, Taryn built a new life outside of wrestling — pursuing acting, running marathons, and navigating the challenges of living with Hashimoto’s disease. She returned briefly in 2021 with...

At TNA Sacrifice, just three minutes into the main event, Steve Maclin was knocked out after a hard shot from Mike Santana — and the referee made the call to stop the match. In this episode of Boots to Boots, Stephen and Deonna sit down to talk honestly about what happened that night, how he’s feeling now, and the moments behind the scenes that fans didn’t see — from the referee stopping the match...

This week on Boots to Boots, we sit down with Bradley Walden, lead singer of the band Emarosa and a United States Air Force veteran who deployed to Iraq. Bradley shares his journey from growing up in a military family, to serving his country, to finding a new purpose through music. In 2013, Bradley joined Emarosa following the departure of vocalist Jonny Craig — stepping into a challenging role an...

This week on Boots to Boots, we sit down with former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal to talk about resilience, reinvention, and what it really takes to build a career that lasts beyond the spotlight. From deep wrestling roots to becoming the first Indian WWE Champion, Jinder’s journey has been anything but ordinary. He opens up about the pressure of legacy, navigating releases, and how he continues to r...

Steve and I are back behind the microphones after a short break — and this episode is about what life looked like while we were away. Over the past few weeks, we experienced both joy and loss. We helped welcome a new baby into the world, said goodbye to someone who helped shape Steve’s love for wrestling, and stepped into opportunities to serve our communities in meaningful ways. From speaking at...

In this episode of Boots to Boots, Deonna Purrazzo and Steve Maclin sit down with Martin Foster, a newly retired Air Force veteran after 23 years of service and the host of the Passing the Torch podcast. Martin is actively walking through the transition we so often talk about—stepping away from the uniform, redefining identity, and intentionally searching for the next mission while honoring the on...

In Season 2, Episode 5, Deonna Purrazzo and Steve Maclin sit down with Dr. Pamela Hall for an honest conversation about PTSD and what healing really looks like beyond the surface. Dr. Hall draws from decades of experience working with veterans, breaking down common misconceptions about PTSD and challenging the idea that healing is linear or one-size-fits-all. As the voice behind PTSD Unplugged, sh...

We recap the last two episodes and talk about intentionally bringing more female voices into Boots to Boots. We also turn the conversation inward, diving into our own relationship—the hardest moments, the seasons we didn’t show, and the parts we didn’t even fully share with each other at the time. Along the way, we reflect on the advice from our recent guests that hit home the hardest—and how thos...

In this episode of Boots to Boots, we sit down with Gabby LaSpisa for an honest conversation about learning as you go — even when you don’t feel qualified, prepared, or certain. Gabby opens up about stepping into the world of professional wrestling without a background in it, teaching herself everything she could to earn her place at Busted Open, and how losing that job left her heartbroken and un...

In this episode of Boots to Boots, hosts Deonna Purrazzo and Steve Maclin sit down with AEW Women’s Coach Madison Rayne for an honest conversation about evolution in professional wrestling and life beyond the ring. From World Champion to mother and mentor, Madison shares how her role in wrestling has changed, what leadership looks like when the spotlight shifts, and how she approaches coaching the...

Season Two of Boots to Boots kicks off with a major announcement. In this comeback episode, Deonna Purrazzo and Steve Maclin reveal their upcoming T2T wrestling show and take listeners behind the curtain with stories they’ve never shared publicly before. From navigating the IMPACT x AXS TV era they both lived through, to the lessons, frustrations, and moments that shaped them, this is an honest lo...

Welcome to the season finale of Boots to Boots — the podcast where military veterans, pro wrestlers, and athletes share real stories about transition, identity, purpose, and life after service. In this episode, Deonna Purrazzo and Steve Maclin answer YOUR questions about: • Life after the military & veteran transition • Mental health, identity, and finding purpose • Wrestling vs. hockey cultur...

From the US Navy to becoming one of hockey’s most positive and recognizable voices online — Stephen Dobbs joins us to share how the game shaped him long before his service and supported him long after. 🏒🇺🇸 Stephen opens up about how hockey helped him transition out of the military, the role community plays in healing, and the moment he realized his platform wasn’t just content — it was impact. If...

The founders of HEROES CUP join us! 🏒🔥 Josh & Mike Lentin break down how the Heroes Cup became a massive force for good — raising money, building community, and giving veterans and first responders a place to belong again. Episode is live now. 🇺🇸

On this episode of Boots to Boots, Steve and Deonna sit down with one of hockey’s most fascinating modern enforcers — Daniel “Diamond Hands” Amesbury. From Ice Wars to pro lacrosse, from suiting up in the rink to working on tugboats in Vancouver, Daniel still isn’t done fighting to accomplish his goals. Daniel opens up about the evolution of his identity as an enforcer — and whether taking that ro...

Deonna and Steve talk with Scott Parker, former NHL enforcer turned passionate supporter of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. This conversation focuses on life after the NHL — and the mission Parker has taken on to honor and uplift veterans and first responders with his own foundation, Parker’s Platoon. This is an honest, emotional discussion about finding a new mission, honoring those who sacrific...