HEATED CONVERSATIONS

We have current #9 Ranked University of Denver head gymnastics coach Melissa Kutcher on the podcast. At the time of this episode published March 16th, 2024 they had just obtained a big road win against #10 ranked Michigan. Melissa accredits so much of Denver's success during her tenure as head coach to her support staff, not just those who coach the athletes. Teamwork is a big thing for her and he...

Passion just flows from Co-Head Coach of the University of California Bears Justin Howell as he talks about his staff, athletes, and purpose for coaching. Finding a way to make a disadvantage into an advantage is something he has done during his career as an athlete and now as a coach. The CAL gymnastics team is currently ranked #3 in the NQS College Gymnastics rankings as they just won the Big 12...

#4 Ranked The University of Florida Assistant gymnastics coach Own Fields joins the podcast for a great conversation. Owen is in his 9th season with the gators under Jenny Rowland. Owen loves his job at Florida and you can hear his passion for this team and staff in this episode. We dive into his friendships, lake Owen, coaching college and Elite, and the reasons why he coaches. Nebraska was a pla...

Gymnastics Doc Ian Crider joins the podcast to have a great conversation today. Dr. Ian Crider is a physical therapist specializing in keeping gymnasts healthy, happy, and safe! He was a gymnast for 16 years (including 4 years of NCAA) and has been a coach for 15 years. Now as a PT, he helps coaches with their planning and programming, parents take care of their gymnasts better, and gymnasts with...

Brett Wargo coach at Ascend Gymnastics in Washington and Co-Founder of Best Darn College Camp, joins the podcast to discuss gymnastics. The reasons and the whys of his coaching and passion for education for other coaches and opportunities for gymnasts to get to the next level. If you're interested in the products he has been a part of creating, or want to sign up for any of the Clinics he and...

Nittany Lion's Head Gymnastic Coach Sarah Shire joins this week's podcast for a great conversation. She is in her 7th season as Head Coach of the program. Sarah was a stand-out student-athlete at the University of Missouri! Sarah's passion for her students' journey drives and motivates her daily to coach, lead, and walk alongside her student athletes. Check out their social media and website to le...

It was an honor tohave John Roethlisberger on the Podcast! Full of wisdom and life lesson from his life that we all can learn from.

Joining the podcast for a conversation is Scotty Bauman, Head Gymnastics Coach at Southern Utah University located in Cedar City Utah. Soctty enters his 31st season with the Thunderbirds and has been a pioneer in the sport of gymnastics in Utah. Scotty coach with such passion and freedom and loves to really help his athletes become great women and developing gymnast. Ray Corn was the Head Coach of...

I am so honored to have our first current student athlete on the podcast in Fighting Illini Gymnast Mia Townes. Mia is from Austin Texas and is a grad student and Gymnast at The University of Illinois Champagne. In these episodes we dive into the gymnast as people, their process to getting to the school they currently are at, their purpose, and the experiences of being a student athlete as said Un...

It was an honor to talk with Head Gymnastics Coach Lorraine Galow of the University of Bridgeport on this episode of heated conversation. We discussed how she uses her trials through injuries to help her athletes. She discusses the mentorship under Byron Knox former head coach at the University of Bridgeport and now Head Coach at Southern Connecticut State University. Check out the website below t...

Head Coach Kim Parsons Valenti joins the podcast. Woodward camp was a place where Kim was able to get an amazing gymnastics education and to network with wonderful people. We discuss how being the Head Coach at Ursinus feels like family and is a place where students can come and feel cared for while having a great college experience. Urisunus is located in Collegeville Pennsylvania, a private scho...

Former 1996 Mens Gymnastics Olympian, two-time World Championship Team member 1995 and 1997, and founder of Flip Fest Gymnastics camp joins the podcast. We discussed the evolution of Flip Fest, his family lineage of actors, and how entertainment is a part of all of our lives. I hope you enjoy this episode. If you want to be a coach or an athlete at Flip Fest camp in Crossville, Tennessee check out...

We have a good episode right here. Ever think, I am running out of Ideas to challenge my athletes? or How can I help them improve their mental strength? Is there a way to improve their overall awareness of the sport? Does failure lead to success? Well this episode talks and addresses these questions. Cognitive Guru, he goes by on Instagram, Jason Fulco, a former lacrosse player from the New Jersey...

Cornell University Head gymnastics coach Melanie Hall joins the podcast. She has been part of the university for over 2 decades in some capacity. We talk about her love for the skills she did on the uneven bars both when they were close set and when they became wider. She has a love for olympic weightlifting that we also discussed and many more. Enjoy this episode.

Off to Williamsburg, Virginia, we went on this Episode, where I sat down with Head Coach Kelsey Hinton and discussed the College of William and Mary's School, culture, and gymnastics program. We discussed how this campus is a great fit for those looking for a division school with a smaller campus and more intimate class sizes. Her athletes have embraced her and is looking to continue to be a light...

What an episode this one was. It was filled with many emotions as the announcement of the Lindenwood Gymnastics program being cut after the 2024 season. The will power the gymnast possessed to go out and perform at their public intrasquad was a remarkable feat of courage that had Catelyn and her staff in disbelief. They had a choice to take time to process the news but yet they turned to the bette...

Head Coach of the Simpon College Thunder, Emily Barrett Payne joins the podcast. We discuss her start to coaching and how she and her husband are duo head coaches of the new Gymnastics men and women programs at Simpson College

Division 3 Assistant Gymnastics coach of the powerhouse Gymnastics program at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater Warhawks, Chloe Edgren Joins the 20th Episode of Heated Conversations. It was a special episode for me, seeing a former athlete become an assistant coach at her Alma Mater. Her dreams of becoming a division one gymnastis turned into a division 3 champion due to giving a late visit t...

West Chester's head gymnastics coach, Barbara Cordova, joins the podcast and talks about her time as head coach at her alma mater. Being able to become the head coach at the same program you went to is one that not many coaches get the opportunity to do, and to be there to watch the progress of the sport of gymnastics at WEST CHESTER. The love Barbara has for the town of West Chester and the suppo...

New Head Coach of The University of Wisconsin-Stout has named KJ Wheeler Head Coach for the 2023-2024 season. She Joins the podcast today to talk about her journey to this point. How gymnastics coaching has allowed her to travel the world and coach various athletes. She informs us about the incredible academic opportunities Stout has to offer. She reveals that they have hired their staff; you can...

Head Coach Kasey Crawford of the University of Wisconsin Lacrosse Joins the podcast. We discuss the standard of division 3 gymnastics and that they are competing for the same athletes divisions 1 and 2 are recruiting. The smaller campus allows for a better relationship with professors but in a community that embraces the University. Part of the W.I.A.C gymnastics conference. UW-Lacrosse UW-Stout U...

Head Gymnastics Coach of The Auburn Tigers joins the podcast this week. We discuss his upbringing, coaching mentors, and the gymnastics team. We dive into what Suni Lee meant to the program and how Derrian Goobourne's influence impacted the community.

Peng Peng Lee joins the podcast to discuss her journey to college from club and Canadian national team and how UCLA became her home that she never knew existed. The teammate that inspired her to travel across the world to experience college gymnastics. Great parents and coaches supported her throughout her injuries. A coach in Miss Val who taught her so much about herself and launched her into bec...

Naya Howard, Sophomore Gymnastics for the Georgia Bulldogs, joins the podcast to discuss this upcoming season. Naya feels the culture is excellent at Georgia Gymnastics under the leadership of Courtney Kupets Carter. She is thrilled she chose the Bulldogs and sees them as candidates for NCAA national contention this coming 2024 season.

Legendary Former Head Coach Valorie Kondos Field of UCLA Gymnastics joins the podcast and discusses life after coaching and her time as head coach at UCLA.  Going from no Gymnastics experience to winning national championships and creating an Identity, we know how UCLA is there to perform. She took her dance knowledge to college gymnastics and involved the fans in each performance.  She covers top...