The Heart of the Bad Wolf

UFC flyweight contender Alex Perez joins T he Heart of the Bad Wolf for a raw, honest conversation about the realities of life inside and outside the cage. From fighting friends and overcoming self-doubt to building a life for his family, Alex opens up about the mindset it takes to compete at the highest level. Ranked in the top 10 of the UFC flyweight division, Perez shares what it’s really like...

UFC bantamweight Ethyn Ewing joins T he Heart of the Bad Wolf to share one of the most real journeys in MMA today. Just days after winning a title with a knockout, Ethyn got the call to step into the UFC—and then went right back to his day job. In this episode, Ethyn breaks down what it’s really like chasing a UFC career while balancing a full-time job, fatherhood, and the grind of daily life. Fro...

UFC bantamweight Elijah “Swift” Smith joins The Heart of the Bad Wolf to talk about his journey into the UFC, the mindset required to compete at the highest level, and the realities of life as a professional fighter. Elijah breaks down the difference between being hurt and being injured, the mental toughness required inside the cage, and why recovery, discipline, and smart training are key to long...

UFC lightweight Mike “Beast Boy” Davis joins The Heart of the Bad Wolf to share the powerful story behind his journey to the UFC. Mike opens up about being bullied growing up, learning to box at just 14 years old, and riding his bike miles to train at the same gym connected to Mike Tyson’s legendary coaches . That decision changed the course of his life. In this conversation, Mike discusses: • How...

In this "Re-Release," Steven Asplund is a larger-than-life heavyweight with no filter, a ferocious work ethic, and a story you'll want to hear. In episode one of The Heart of the Bad Wolf , host Nicholas James Muscarella sits down with Steven to dive deep into his journey: from growing up overweight and bullied, to embracing fighting, grinding through early amateur bouts, and bulldozing his way in...

In this "Re-Release" episode of The Heart of the Bad Wolf , host Nicholas James Muscarella sits down with UFC fighter Chris Padilla for a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation that goes far beyond the cage. Chris opens up about the mindset he carries into fights and why calmness, discipline, and mental clarity are some of a fighter’s greatest weapons. He discusses the demanding training and nut...

In this episode of The Heart of the Bad Wolf , Nicholas James Muscarella sits down with world-renowned striking coach Jason Strout for a raw, honest conversation about fighting, burnout, addiction, fatherhood, and the emotional weight of coaching at the highest level. Jason opens up about growing up in the Midwest with an alcoholic father, finding himself in hardcore music culture, and how fightin...

In this deeply moving episode of The Heart of the Bad Wolf , host Nicholas James Muscarella sits down with UFC fighter Jacobe Smith for one of the most honest conversations of his career. Jacobe opens up about the realities of UFC fight camp, two-a-day training, recovery, weight management, and how the UFC Performance Institute has transformed his approach to preparation. From wrestling at an elit...

In this powerful episode of The Heart of the Bad Wolf , UFC fighter Mitch Ramirez shares an unfiltered, deeply personal look at the forces that shaped his life—addiction, religion, incarceration, family trauma, and the fight to break generational cycles. Mitch opens up about growing up in a rigid religious environment, the resentment and confusion that followed, and how unexpressed pain turned int...

In this powerful episode of The Heart of the Bad Wolf , host Nicholas James Muscarella sits down with UFC fighter Khalil Rountree for one of the most honest and emotionally raw conversations ever recorded on the show. This episode was recorded approximately four to five years ago , during a pivotal chapter in Khalil’s life — after facing the possibility of being cut from the UFC and before his car...

In this episode of The Heart of the Bad Wolf , host Nicholas James Muscarella sits down with UFC fighter Billy Goff for a raw and deeply honest conversation about fear, resilience, wrestling, and the psychological cost of chasing greatness. Recorded several years ago, this episode captures Billy early in his UFC journey after earning his contract on Dana White’s Contender Series , where he absorbe...

In this episode of The Heart of the Bad Wolf , host Nicholas James Muscarella sits down with UFC fan favorite Groovy Lando Vannata for a raw, philosophical conversation about fighting, identity, psychology, and personal growth. Recorded three years ago, this episode captures Lando reflecting on 19 years of training, 14 years of fighting, and eight years in the UFC. Known for his creativity, soul,...

In this episode of The Heart of the Bad Wolf , host Nicholas James Muscarella sits down with UFC strawweight veteran Angela “Overkill” Hill , one of the true pioneers of women’s MMA and a record-holder for most fights in the UFC strawweight division. Angela opens up about longevity in the UFC, taking intentional breaks from training, fighting through injuries, and learning how to separate her iden...

In this episode of The Heart of the Bad Wolf , host Nicholas James Muscarella sits down with Carla Esparza , two-time UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion and one of the most influential pioneers in women’s MMA. Carla shares the unlikely story of how they first met while on their honeymoons in Bora Bora, before diving into her journey through wrestling, MMA, and the early days of women fighting at the...

In this episode of The Heart of the Bad Wolf , host Nicholas James Muscarella sits down with UFC lightweight Jared Gordon for a raw and unfiltered conversation about survival, addiction, faith, and resilience. Jared shares his upbringing in New York, early exposure to drugs and alcohol, childhood sexual trauma, and the long battle with heroin addiction that led to homelessness, jail, multiple over...

In this powerful episode of The Heart of the Bad Wolf , host Nicholas James Muscarella sits down with UFC veteran and two-time Ultimate Fighter winner Jesse Taylor for one of his most honest conversations to date. Jesse opens up about incarceration, addiction, sobriety, and the judge who he believes saved his life. Fresh out of jail and currently in a rehab program, he reflects on substance abuse,...

In this episode of The Heart of the Bad Wolf , host Nicholas James Muscarella sits down with UFC fighter Chris Padilla for a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation that goes far beyond the cage. Chris opens up about the mindset he carries into fights and why calmness, discipline, and mental clarity are some of a fighter’s greatest weapons. He discusses the demanding training and nutrition requir...

Steven Asplund is a larger-than-life heavyweight with no filter, a ferocious work ethic, and a story you'll want to hear. In episode one of The Heart of the Bad Wolf , host Nicholas James Muscarella sits down with Steven to dive deep into his journey: from growing up overweight and bullied, to embracing fighting, grinding through early amateur bouts, and bulldozing his way into the spotlight after...

The Heart of the Bad Wolf is coming, and this trailer sets the tone. Hosted by Nicholas James Muscarella, this podcast goes far beyond fight records and highlight reels. It digs into the stories behind the warriors of mixed martial arts: where they came from, what they’ve battled through, and how they’ve learned to control, channel, and feed the “bad wolf” within. If you’ve ever wanted to understa...