Wrestling Changed My Life (Wrestling Podcast)

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Kennedy Blades is the future of women’s wrestling. She’s a junior in high school and recently took second at the 2021 Olympic Trials. Prior to the Trials, Kennedy has been on a warpath, racking-up three Fargo National Titles, a 2019 Cadet World Team membership and numerous international tournament wins. Kennedy, along with her sister Korina, wrestle for Wyoming Seminary and are...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE This episode is with the great John Smith. This interview was recorded in September of 2020 and was the second of three interviews that we recorded with John as part of our audio documentary, The Smiths. This interview covers the second-half of John’s competitive career, as well as John’s perspective on Pat’s career. Enjoy! * PRESENTED BY SPARTAN COMBAT This episode is brought t...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE The Olympic Trials were incredible, and in this episode Adam Tirapelle and I break-down some of our favorite moments including: -Kyle Dake vs Jordan Burroughs -Gable Steveson and his chances for winning gold at Tokyo -J’den Cox and what’s next for the two-time UWW World Champion -Helen Maroulis vs Jenna Burkert Enjoy! * PRESENTED BY SPARTAN COMBAT This episode is brought to you...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Kendall Cross is a 2x Olympian and 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist. In this episode we review some of the big matches that are likely to go down at the 2020 Olympic Team Trials, including Jordan Burroughs vs Kyle Dake and J’den Cox vs Kyle Snyder. We also talk about Kendall’s experience at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Trials. Please enjoy! * PRESENTED BY SPARTAN COMBAT This episode is b...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Chael Sonnen is a UFC legend, media personality and former NCAA wrestling All American. Today he runs a Youtube show (Beyond the Fight), a podcast (You’re Welcome) and is featured on ESPN’s Ariel & The Bad Guy. Please enjoy! * PRESENTED BY SPARTAN COMBAT This episode is brought to you by the Spartan Combat Nationals, taking place this May 20-23 in Jacksonville Florida. Register...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Buddy Lee is a US Olympian Wrestler, 2X US Marine Best Athlete and the world’s leading Jump Rope Training educator and pioneer in jump rope product technology. His time-tested system lets you experience real and lasting fitness results while helping you to reach the highest levels of physicality and mental toughness. Buddy Lee, has earned a worldwide reputation with his incredib...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Ryan takes this episode solo as he recaps the 2021 NCAA Wrestling Tournament. After watching damn near every match, Ryan wanted to share his highlights from the tournament. We’ll be back later this week with our regularly scheduled programming. Enjoy! * PRESENTED BY SPARTAN COMBAT This episode is brought to you by the Spartan Combat Nationals, taking place this May 20-23 in Jack...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Nick Hardwick is a former NFL Pro Bowl center for the Chargers. His NFL career started in 2004 and ended in 2014 as one of the most decorated centers in Chargers history. After retiring, Nick lost upwards of 60 lbs and formulated his weight-loss strategy into a program he calls Lose Like a Lineman, which helps men in their 30’s lose weight. Of course, before Nick’s NFL career, h...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Mike Powell is the Executive Director of Beat the Streets Chicago. In this episode - recorded at the new BTS Chicago facility - we go deep on the tremendous impact that Mike and his team is making on the wrestling scene here in the Windy City. Donate to BTS Chicago’s Fund a Need Program. * PRESENTED BY SPARTAN COMBAT This episode is brought to you by the Spartan Combat Nationals...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Andy Hamilton is a wrestling media legend. He’s been with Track (now Flo) since 2016 and prior to that covered Iowa wrestling from both Des Moines and Iowa City. He’s a 4x recipient of the national wrestling writer of the year award. Please enjoy! * PRESENTED BY SPARTAN COMBAT This episode is brought to you by the Spartan Combat Nationals, taking place this May 20-23 in Jacksonv...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Paul Bradley is a 2x All American and former professional MMA fighter. Paul wrestled under Jim Zalesky at the University of Iowa, where his teammates included Steve Mocco, Mark Perry, Izzy Style, and many more. After retiring from fighting, Paul became the assistant coach at Queens University of Charlotte. Enjoy it folks! * PRESENTED BY SPARTAN COMBAT This episode is brought to...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Dennis, the Godfather, DeLiddo is the former head coach at Fresno State. Dennis served as head coach from 1981 - 2005. During that time he produced 27 All Americans, multiple WAC titles, and the great Stephen Abas, who was a 3x NCAA Champion and an Olympic Silver Medalist. This conversation is a lot of fun as we recap the history of California wrestling, re-live the Lincoln McIl...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Brandon Slay is an Olympic Gold Medalist and the Executive Director for the Penn Regional Training Center. Brandon’s run to Olympic Gold started at the US Open in the spring of 2000, where he entered the tournament as the 7th seed. In the finals, he knocked-off Joe Williams, earning a bye to the Olympic Trials finals. After making the 2000 Olympic Team by defeating former coach...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Mike Palazzo is the head coach at Lake Highland Prep high school. Since taking over the program in 2008, Lake Highland Prep has won 7 Florida state titles, crowned 2 Ironman champs and Coach Palazzo was named Flo Wrestling Coach of the Year in 2016. This guy is driven, loves wrestling and shares a ton of knowledge in this episode. In this episode of Wrestling Changed My Life Pre...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Woody Woodburn is a 2x All American - once for Oklahoma State and once for Cal State Bakersfield - who now coaches high school wrestling in Oklahoma. He’s also been a long-time camp instructor at the J Rob Camps. This episode was a lot of fun. Enjoy! * PRESENTED BY SPARTAN COMBAT This episode is brought to you by the Spartan Combat Nationals, taking place this May 21-23 in Jacks...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Rob Koll is the head coach at Cornell University. Since taking over at Cornell in the early 1990’s, Coach Koll has created a dynasty: crowning 16 individual NCAA Champions, placing at least three wrestlers on the All American stand for 17 straight years, and Cornell is one of only two schools (Iowa being the other) to finish in the top 10 every year since 2008. Before coaching a...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Tim Kendall joined Facebook in 2004 when Mark Zuckerberg was just 19 years old. Tim would go on to serve as president at Pinterest and is now the CEO at Moment. Most recently, he was featured in the very popular documentary, The Social Dilemma. Back in the late 1990’s, Tim was a starter for Stanford’s wrestling team. In this episode we talk about... -Tim’s early days wrestling -...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Jay Jackson shares a story about how wrestling saved his life, unlike any life-saving story that you’ve heard before. I think you’ll be blown away by this episode. Jay Jackson is an educator, residing in California, and formerly wrestled and coached at Stanford. After wrestling, Jay developed a youth-based curriculum, teaching non-wrestlers skills to develop grit, confidence, an...

Bonus episode time! This episode features the full Dan Gable interview, which was recorded in August of 2020 for The Smiths. Enjoy! *** THE SMITHS The Smiths chronicles the rise of wrestling icons, John & Pat Smith, with never-before-seen footage, as well as interviews with more than 30 friends, family and competitors. *** CREDITS Executive Producers: USA Wrestling; The National Wrestling Hall of...

Bonus episode time! This episode features the full Mark Branch interview, which was recorded in November of 2020 for The Smiths. Today, Mark Branch is the head coach at the University of Wyoming, but back in 93/94 he was a redshirt freshman, wrestling for the Cowboys. Enjoy! *** THE SMITHS The Smiths chronicles the rise of wrestling icons, John & Pat Smith, with never-before-seen footage, as well...

Bonus episode time! This episode features the full Pat Smith interview, recorded in October of this past year at Pat’s wrestling academy in Arkansas. Please enjoy! *** THE SMITHS The Smiths chronicles the rise of wrestling icons, John & Pat Smith, with never-before-seen footage, as well as interviews with more than 30 friends, family and competitors. *** CREDITS Executive Producers: USA Wrestling;...

Bonus episode time! This episode features the full John Smith interview, recorded in August of this year. We have two additional John Smith interviews that we may release in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, please enjoy! *** THE SMITHS The Smiths chronicles the rise of wrestling icons, John & Pat Smith, with never-before-seen footage, as well as interviews with more than 30 friends, family a...

John navigates his freshman year at Oklahoma State, while his older brother, Lee Roy, attempts to make the 1984 Olympic Team. *** THE SMITHS The Smiths chronicles the rise of wrestling icons, John & Pat Smith, with never-before-seen footage, as well as interviews with more than 30 friends, family and competitors. *** CREDITS Executive Producers: USA Wrestling; The National Wrestling Hall of Fame D...

John suffers a crushing defeat in the 1985 NCAA finals before entering an age of self-discovery. *** THE SMITHS The Smiths chronicles the rise of wrestling icons, John & Pat Smith, with never-before-seen footage, as well as interviews with more than 30 friends, family and competitors. *** CREDITS Executive Producers: USA Wrestling; The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Directed, written and produced...

John battles an unlikely foe before making his first run at Olympic Gold. *** THE SMITHS The Smiths chronicles the rise of wrestling icons, John & Pat Smith, with never-before-seen footage, as well as interviews with more than 30 friends, family and competitors. *** CREDITS Executive Producers: USA Wrestling; The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Directed, written and produced by Ryan Warner Origina...