Wrestling Changed My Life (Wrestling Podcast)

Mike Mena is the head women’s coach at Lindenwood University. Prior to that, he was a 4x All American for the Hawks and a 4x state champ in Illinois. One of the all time greats, and it was an honor to have Mike on the show. Enjoy folks.

Doug Schwab is the head coach of the UNI Panthers. He's also an Olympian (2008)and NCAA champ for the Iowa Hawkeyes. All-time great interview here folks. Enjoy!

Anthony is the cofounder and CEO of Sticker Mule. A factory guy at heart, Anthony oversees an operation that spans 16 countries in 4 continents with customers including Google, Facebook, Twitter and many of the world’s best brands. He’s determined to make Sticker Mule, already the Internet’s favorite printing company, the absolute best place to work and shop.

Mike Powell is the executive director of Beat the Streets Chicago. He’s one of the most passionate and intense people you’ll ever meet. He was a state champion and All American as a wrestler, and quickly transcended into coaching, building a statewide powerhouse program at Oak Park & River Forest (Chicago suburbs). OPRF won multiple state titles and national #1 rankings under Powell’s leadership....

Zach Sanders is an assistant coach for the Minnesota Gophers. As a wrestler, Zach was one of the best to ever come out of the great state of Minnesota. He was a 5x high school state champ; his brother was also a 5x state champ. At the U, Zach was a 4x All American and has had a successful senior-level career. Great conversation with Zach and hope you all enjoy it. For podcast merch, check out our...

Phil Davis is the former light heavyweight champion for Bellator. He’s currently one of the top light heavyweight fighters in the world, regardless of the fighting organization. Prior to his fighting days, he won an NCAA title for Penn State, where he was a 4x All American. Phil is a great guy and we had a lot of fun on this podcast. For all past episodes please visit WrestlingChangedMyLife. Com....

Sam Herring is the co-founder of the Home Mat Advantage Podcast. He, along with Jude Swisher, has interviewed the likes of Kyle Snyder, David Taylor, and Lee Roper. I call Sam the Alan Fried or Cary Kolat of wrestling media because he’s a phenom. He’s only in middle school and is a leader in the wrestling media world. Sam is also a successful wrestler in his own right. Follow Sam on Twitter @samwi...

Mark Ironside is one of the great college wrestlers of all time. He's a Hodge Trophy winner, 2x NCAA champ and 4x Big 10 champ. He was also a member of 4 NCAA championship teams. After wrestling Mark founded Ironside Apparel & Promotion, a custom merchandise manufacturer based in Cedar Rapids Iowa. Mark is also the voice of Iowa Wrestling, providing play by play commentary on KXIC-AM (800). Our fa...

Daryl Weber won two Iowa high school state titles wrestling for Dan Mashek, the winningest Iowa High School Wrestling Coach in history, at Don Bosco HS. He then went on to wrestle at the University of Iowa under Dan Gable from ’91-’96. During his time at U of Iowa he was a three time All-American, Big Ten titlist, and NCAA Champion. After graduating from Iowa he continued to compete internationall...

Mark Branch is one of the few 4x finalists in NCAA wrestling history. As a freshman, he entered the nationals with a losing record (8-9) and shocked the wrestling world by winning the national crown. He’d finish 2nd as a Sophomore and Junior, and won the nationals a second time as a senior. After competing, Mark coached at Oklahoma State for 11 years. During that time, the Cowboys won 4 team title...

J Robinson is a wrestling icon. His career got started in San Diego where he won the California CIF. He then attended Oklahoma State, was an Army ranger, went to Vietnam and was a 1972 Olympian on the Greco team. Shortly after the Olympics, J moved to Iowa City and took an assistant coaching job. He’d spend the next 12 seasons at Iowa, most of which working for legendary coach Dan Gable, and helpe...

Mark Perry Senior is a former All American for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. After retiring from wrestling, Perry Senior coached at Nebraska before returning home to Stillwater to coach the Cowboys with his brother-in-law John Smith. Mark is also the father of Chris and Mark Perry Junior, both of whom were 2x NCAA champs. Enjoy this one folks!

Stevan Micic is a 2020 Olympian for Serbia, placing 5th at the 2019 world championships.  Wrestling for Michigan, Stevan is a 3x All American and 1x NCAA finalist.  In high school, he was 141-0 over his final 3 seasons. Just a stud amongst studs and one of my favorite wrestlers to watch. Give it up for Stevan – the Servian Sickle – Micic.

Alli Ragan is a 3x US Open Champion and 2x World Silver Medalist. She’s been a staple on Team USA for the past 7 years and is focused on making the 2020 Olympic team. Back in high school, Alli was the 2nd female to qualify for the Illinois Boys Wrestling Tournament. Enjoyed the heck out of this conversation and hope you do as well. Give it up for Alli Ragan! For all past episodes, please visit Wre...

Tom Ryan is the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Under his leadership, the Buckeyes won a national title in 2015 and have been perennial national title contenders for the better part of a decade. As an athlete, Coach Ryan wrestled for the legend, Dan Gable, and was a 2x All American for the Hawks. This is the 2nd time I’ve had the chance to interview Coach Ryan and it was one of the highligh...

Max Askren is an NCAA champion and Missouri Hall of Famer who now co-owns the Askren Wrestling Academy. In this episode we talk about Max’s early years wrestling with Ben, Troy Steiner and his HS coach. We talk about his competitive career at Missouri, as well as his take on tunnel vision, coaching tactics that drive him crazy, and how we can increase youth participation in the sport. For all past...

Larry Owings is a wrestling legend. As a college sophomore, he defeated Dan Gable in one of the biggest upsets of NCAA finals history,. He went on to finish 2nd as a junior and senior. After college, Owings competed on the senior level circuit before retiring. In this conversation, we talk about Owings' childhood, high school career, and the match with Gable. Enjoy folks!

Steve Orosco is the CEO and Founder of SMASH Global, an MMA events organization that pits the great sport of MMA in a black-tie, gala-like setting. After years in the cage, Steve identified an opportunity to raise the level of class and sophistication in the sport by creating entertainment events for premium clientele. With an MBA, an MS degree and extensive professional fighting experience, Orosc...

Kevin Ward was named Army West Point's 10th head wrestling coach on Aug. 1, 2014 and has led the Black Knights ever since. Prior to Army, Ward turned a wrestling program built from scratch at Ouachita Baptist University into a national contender Ouachita. Ward was named the NCAA Division II Coach of the Year after guiding the Tigers to a fourth-place finish at the NCAAs. Ward was also a major fact...

Tommy Rowlands is a 3x NCAA finalist and 2x champ for the Ohio State Buckeyes. After college, Tommy won the 2005 University World Championships and was a 6x US National Team member. After retiring from wrestling Tommy started a career in sales and co-founded Rudis. What a pleasure it was to talk to T Row, someone I’ve looked up to and followed for years. Enjoy folks! This episode is brought to you...

Josh Alber is an Illinois legend. He won 4 state titles and finished his high school career with a 177-0 record. In college, he wreslted for UNI and was a 4x NCAA Qualifier and a Midlands champion. In this chat, we talk about how Josh got involved with wrestling, his high school battles with Johnny Jimenez and Jered Cortez, and his NCAA career. For all past episodes please visit WrestlingChangedMy...

Mike Grey is the associate head coach at Cornell, where he’s been a member of the coaching staff since 2011. As an athlete, Coach Grey was a 2x All American for Cornell and was New Jersey’s first 4x state champ. In this episode, we talk about Coach Grey’s upbringing, his family, the journey to win four NJ state titles, and what he’s learned coaching with the great Rob Koll. If you’re a Big Red fan...

Adam Tirapelle is a true triple threat. As a wrestler he was an NCAA champion and 3x All American for the University of Illinois. He’s also the coach of California powerhouse Clovis High School, where he’s led the Cougars to 6 CA state titles. And, he’s also a business owner, as Adam is one of the founding partners at Strong Valley Wealth and Pension. Enjoy this episode and we’ll see you again nex...

Jamill Kelly never won a state title. Nor did he All American while wrestling at Oklahoma State. Yet, in 2000 Kolat picked Kelly to be his workout partner for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and that experience lit a flame for Jamill to one day be an Olympian as well. Fast forward three years, Jamill win the 2003 World Team Trials, along the way beating four NCAA champions: Tony Davis, Chris Bono, Linco...

Nate Carr is an Olympic Bronze medalist and 3x NCAA Champ for Iowa State. In this episode we talk about Nate’s rivalry with Kenny Monday, growing up in a family with 16 siblings (5 of which, including Nate, were Division 1 All Americans), and wrestling for the great Harold Nichols. This episode is brought to you by the Wrestling Changed My Life Store. Please visit Store. WrestlingChangedMyLife.com...