Elite Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Michael 'Venom' Page joins Lee Matthews on The Elite Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about his journey from a kid getting beaten week in, week out, to one of the most recognisable and unconventional fighters in the UFC. Before MMA, MVP became a multiple-time kickboxing world champion, won open weight titles against grown men as a teenager, and helped form one of...

Send us Fan Mail Matt Fiddes joins Lee Matthews for a conversation about martial arts, business, controversy, and his close relationship with Michael Jackson. From growing up as a bullied kid in Swindon with no qualifications to building one of the biggest martial arts franchise networks in the world, Matt opens up about the early years that shaped him, the obsession with martial arts that changed...

Send us Fan Mail Tais O’Donnell joins Lee Matthews for a conversation about his rise through Total Kombat, his Muay Thai background, and why he believes he is the fight everyone wants to see. Still only young, Tais has already built a reputation as one of the most entertaining and dangerous fighters in Total Kombat. With a 3-0 record and every win coming by knockout or TKO, he talks about adapting...

Send us Fan Mail Hugh Keir joins Lee Matthews for a powerful conversation about military life, mindset, leadership, and rebuilding confidence after adversity. Hugh shares his journey from growing up in the Welsh valleys to joining the Parachute Regiment, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and learning how to operate under extreme pressure. He opens up about low self-confidence, imposter syndrome, ra...

Send us Fan Mail Nathan and Joe Goulding join Lee Matthews to share their journey from tough beginnings to building success in martial arts and business. As a father and son, they open up about the challenges they’ve faced, the lessons learned through adversity, and how discipline and consistency helped shape both their lives and careers. They discuss their experiences growing up around conflict,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Elite Podcast, host Lee Matthews sits down with brothers Luke and Dan to discuss their lifelong dedication to martial arts and how they are continuing their father's legacy at the United Karate Association. The brothers open up about their contrasting paths to success. Dan details his intense competition background, including winning the IKU World Champ...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Elite Podcast, host Lee Matthews sits down with Ollie Ollerton, a man whose journey from the Royal Marines to the Special Boat Service (SBS) and eventually to the TV screens of "SAS: Who Dares Wins" is a masterclass in resilience and mental fortitude. Ollie opens up about the internal battles that preceded his military success, including a near-fat...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Elite Podcast, host Lee Matthews sits down with Dr. Calum Robb, a former Scottish, British, European, and World Karate Champion. Calum is one of the most decorated Scottish karate fighters of recent times and remains the only Scottish practitioner since the millennium to win a world WKF senior medal. Beyond his incredible physical achievements, Calum holds a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lee speaks with Aaron Cook, a three-time European Champion and former World #1 in Taekwondo. Aaron opens up about his career, sharing stories of his intense rivalry and friendship with fellow fighter Damon Sansum , and the "Golden Age" of British Taekwondo. He discusses the difficult and controversial decision to leave the GB Academy to train independent...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lee is joined by the "Brooks Brothers," Matt and Joe Brooks, for a special dual-guest interview. Fresh off their incredible success at the WAKO World Championships in Abu Dhabi, the brothers discuss their journey to becoming world champions in multiple disciplines, including Points, Light Contact, and Kick Light. They dive deep into the differences betwe...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dale Fenton, a former paratrooper and bare-knuckle boxing champion, shares his journey from military service to the boxing ring. He discusses the challenges of training with injuries, his advocacy for mental health among veterans, and the thrill of bare-knuckle fighting. Dale emphasizes the importance of rehabilitation through combat sports and the support he rece...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lee speaks with Ben the Bane Davis, a seasoned play-by-play commentator in the combat sports arena. They discuss Ben's journey into the world of combat sports, his experiences working with various organizations, and the unique dynamics of broadcasting. The conversation also touches on Total Kombat, the importance of networking in the fight game, and the evolv...

Send us Fan Mail In this conversation, Ashley Mitchard , a former paratrooper and ultra-athlete, shares his journey from joining the army at a young age to overcoming personal challenges related to mental health and alcohol. He discusses the importance of discipline learned in the military, the struggles of transitioning to civilian life, and how he found purpose through running and raising awaren...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode of The Elite Podcast, we sit down with former UK Special Forces Warrant Officer and CEO of Pilgrim Bandits, Matt Hellyer. Matt’s story goes far beyond elite military service. From 3 PARA to the SAS, frontline operations, surviving cancer, fighting for veterans’ rights, and enduring the unimaginable loss of his son — this conversation is raw, honest, and de...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lee sits down with Robbie Lavoie, a true legend in the world of sport karate and kickboxing — a World Champion who’s competed across the globe, evolving from traditional tatami competition to the cutting edge of Total Kombat. Robbie shares the mindset, discipline, and philosophy that shaped his career — from his early days on the mats in Canada to representing his...

Send us Fan Mail This episode, Lee sits down with Tony "The Axe Man" Stephenson, the man behind the world’s fastest knockout in Total Kombat history — a viral finish that’s been viewed over 9 million times across social media. Tony shares the story behind his spectacular knockout, the mindset that drove him to bounce back from controversial losses, and how years of Tatami kickboxing and...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lee sits down with Oisín “The Natural” Brady, the young Irish kickboxing sensation whose jump spinning back kick knockout went viral with over 9 million views at the time of recording (now 20 million) at Total Kombat TKO 2 in the O2 Arena. From humble beginnings in Bantry, West Cork, Oisín shares how his family’s small-town gym became the training ground for world...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Elite podcast, host Lee sits down with Lindsay Bruce, former SAS operator turned self-development and mindset coach. Lindsay shares his journey from struggling with self-esteem and dropping out of school to finding a sense of community and brotherhood in the Army. He discusses the importance of dismantling the 'emotional armor' built during militar...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Elite Podcast, host Lee Matthews interviews Ricky Dubidat - a former world champion martial artist, successful martial arts school owner, and business coach. Ricky discusses his journey from training in martial arts to founding his own school and eventually moving into business coaching. They delve into the critical elements of martial arts training, the imp...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for a special episode of the Elite Podcast as host Lee speaks with Andy Cleeves, one of the UK's most successful coaches, fighters, and entrepreneurs in the martial arts industry. In this deep-dive conversation, Andy talks about his journey from a small village outside Bristol to becoming a pivotal figure in the world of martial arts. They discuss Andy's early in...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Elite Podcast, Lee speaks with Gurjit Gallon, a former British champion and fight announcer. Gurj shares his journey from his early passion for martial arts to overcoming a collapsed lung and working towards his dreams. The conversation delves into Gurj's experiences in training, the martial arts community, and his role as a vibrant and unique fight ann...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Elite Podcast, we sit down with Amy Truesdale, MBE, a four-time European champion, three-time World Champion, and Paralympic champion in Taekwondo. Amy shares her inspiring journey from starting Taekwondo at the age of eight, influenced by her parents, to conquering various challenges and achieving monumental success in the world of martial arts. She talks a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Elite Podcast, we sit down with John Yusef, a masters bodybuilding champion, strength and conditioning coach, and gym owner. John shares his journey from his intense diet and training regimen leading up to competitions, his notable wins including the UK Open and World Championships, to his approach to peak performance and carb cycling. He also recounts a har...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Elite Podcast, we interview Ben Nicholson, a serving member of two Para and the Army Muay Thai head coach. Ben shares his journey of spending 12 years in the army, his efforts to get Muay Thai recognised as an army sport, and his experiences during 'Op Pitting' in Kabul. He talks about the challenges of getting a new sport accepted by the military,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Elite Podcast, Lee sits down with Fin Heesom, a decorated kickboxing champion who has now set his sights on the world of boxing. Fin shares his incredible journey as a multiple WACKO World, British, and European Champion, detailing his greatest achievements and most challenging moments, including fighting and winning with a fractured spine. They delve into t...