Wrestling Changed My Life (Wrestling Podcast)

Clarissa Chun is the head coach of the Iowa Women’s Wrestling Team. Coach Chun is also a two-time Olympian, Olympic Bronze Medalist and former world champion. Enjoy! (Picture The Gazette)

John Strittmatter is one of the coaches at Young Guns and a former Division 2 national champion. John has coached some of the biggest names in college wrestling, such as Spencer Lee, Jason Nolf and Max Murin. Enjoy!

Brian Smith is the head coach of the University of Missouri. Coach Smith has been at Mizzou since 1998 and during that time, he’s created a dynasty coaching the likes of Tyron Woodley, Ben Askren, Max Askren, J’den Cox and now Keegan O’Toole. Enjoy folks! (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com) * PRESENTED BY ATHLETIC GREENS This episode is presented by Athletic Greens. Get a free, one-year supply of V...

Dominick Cruz (@DominickCruz) is a former two-time UFC Bantamweight Champion. Dominick talks about his journey from wrestling in Arizona to battling Urijah Faber in the WEC to his reign as UFC champion. Enjoy!

Alex Meyer is a former All American for the Hawkeyes who is now wrapping up medical school at the University of Iowa. In this episode we talk about Alex leveraging wrestling to advance through med school and ultimately Duke for residency. (Photo/IA Wrestle)

Joe De Sena is the CEO of Spartan and Spartan Combat. He’s joined in this episode by Mike Palazzo, the head coach of Lake Highland Prep. In this episode, we talk about Joe’s recent trip to the Slovakian / Ukrainian border.

Gerry Abas is the first 4x All American in California history. He was also a 3x NCAA finalist for Fresno State. His brother Stephen Abas was a 3x NCAA champ and an Olympic Silver medalist. * PRESENTED BY SPARTAN COMBAT Wrestle at the Spartan Combat Nationals taking place April 8-10 in Jacksonville Florida. Register now at SpartanCombat.com. * FANS If you enjoy the podcast, would you please conside...

Matt Storniolo is the head coach at Northwestern, who just finished 6th in the country at the 2022 NCAAs. Enjoy this one folks! * PRESENTED BY SPARTAN COMBAT Wrestle at the Spartan Combat Nationals taking place April 8-10 in Jacksonville Florida. Register now at SpartanCombat.com. * FANS If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes l...

Spencer Lee is a 3x NCAA champ for the Iowa Hawkeyes under Coach Tom Brands. This interview was recorded as part of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club’s Inner Circle Podcast. The full video interview can be found at HawkeyeWrestlingClub.com. * PRESENTED BY QUANT WRESTLING Quant Wrestling combines data analytics with the sport of collegiate wrestling. They track and time every activity in a wrestling match...

Roger Reina is the head coach at Penn, where he’s in his second stint as head coach. Coach Reina previously led Penn from 1986 - 2005. * PRESENTED BY SPARTAN COMBAT This episode is brought to you by Spartan Combat. The Spartan Nationals are taking place this April 8-10 in Jacksonville Florida. Wrestle a different style each day and compete for one of the coolest trophies in the game at the Spartan...

This episode features two interviews. The first with Stalemates as we break down the Big 10 and Big 12 championships. The second is with Journeymen Wrestling founder and CEO Frank Popolizio who talks about the upcoming International Classic. Enjoy! * PRESENTED BY SPARTAN COMBAT This episode is brought to you by Spartan Combat. The Spartan Nationals are taking place this April 8-10 in Jacksonville...

Emma Randall is the head women’s coach of the New York City Regional Training Center, where she coaches the undergraduate women’s wrestlers at Columbia, who compete through the NYCRTC. Before that, Emma coached at Beat the Streets New York and was on the USAW National Team Staff. Enjoy! (Picture: Justin Hoch) * PRESENTED BY SPARTAN COMBAT Spartan Combat recently signed Kylie Welker, one of the top...

David Taylor is an Olympic Champion, World Champion and 2x NCAA Champion for Cael Sanderson at Penn State. In this episode, David talks about the Big 10 conference, proposed rule changes to collegiate style, coaching at M2 Training Center and winning an Olympic Gold Medal. He also talks about his rivalry with Yazdani Charati from Iran. To register for an M2 summer camp, visit M2TrainingCenter.com....

Kevin Jackson is an Olympic Champion and 2x World Champion. He’s currently the assistant coach at Michigan. Enjoy! * PRESENTED BY QUANT WRESTLING Quant Wrestling combines data analytics with the sport of collegiate wrestling. They track and time every activity in a wrestling match to produce 550 statistics that update daily to the Quant App. Download the Quant Wrestling app now on the Apple and Go...

Kurt Backes is a two-time All American and NCAA finalist for Iowa State, where he was coached by both Bobby Douglas and Cael Sanderson. In high school, Kurt was coached by the legendary Jeff Buxton and attended Blair Academy where he was teammates with the likes of Mark Perry and Steve Mocco. After competing, Kurt coached for Mizzou, Virginia Tech and Iowa. He and Dan Gable are the only two Iowa S...

Greg Warren is a stand-up comedian and former All Amerian for Mizzou. Greg has been a comedian for 20+ years and has been featured on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, the Just for Laughs Festival, and is a regular guest on The Bob and Tom Show. Enjoy folks! * PRESENTED BY QUANT WRESTLING Quant Wrestling combines data analytics with the sport of collegiate wrestling. They track and time every activity in...

Joey Gilbert was the first 4x Illinois state champion in Class AA (the big school division). Joey won his first state title in 1986 and his last in 1989. After high school, Joey was a 2x All American for Michigan where he had a few high-scoring matches with Tom Brands. In honor of the Illinois state tournament starting tomorrow, it was only right that we brought one of the Illinois GOATs onto the...

Nick Cegelski is a former college wrestler for USC, where he helped start a club team, who runs a successful sales podcast, 30 Minutes to Presidents Club. * PRESENTED BY SPARTAN COMBAT The Spartan Nationals are coming to Jacksonville, Florida April 8-10. Wrestle a different style each day, while competing for the coolest trophy in wrestling. Register now at Spartancombat.com * FANS If you enjoy th...

Brandon Paulson is an Olympic silver medalist and a former World silver medalist. Outside of Greco, Brandon was an All American for J Rob at Minnesota. After competing, Brandon coached Jake Deitchler to a berth on the 2008 Olympic team while Jake was still in high school. Today, Brandon co-runs Pinnacle Wrestling Academy with Jared Lawrence. * PRESENTED BY SPARTAN COMBAT The Spartan Nationals are...

Melvin Douglas is one of the most accomplished US wrestlers of all time. He was a 2x Olympian, 6x World Team member, 2x NCAA Champ and the 1993 World Champion. He was also a World Silver Medalist (1989) and 2x World Bronze Medalist (1994, 1995). In college, Melvin wrestled for Stan Abel at the University of Oklahoma where he was teammates with Dave and Mark Schultz. Enjoy this one folks! * PRESENT...

Steve Sanderson is the father of Cael, Cody, Cole and Cyler Sanderson - one of the most successful families in collegiate wrestling history. Steve built a dynasty at Wasatch High School in Heber City Utah, coaching 5 teams to Top 10 national rankings. His sons have been 8x All Americans at the NCAA tournament, with Cael Sanderson being the first to win 4 NCAA titles while going undefeated. Today,...

Stephen Barrett is an NCAA champion for Oklahoma State. He was the first California state champion to win a division one NCAA title. After wrestling for the Cowboys, Stephen embarked on a career living abroad for Athletes in Action, which has taken him to places such as Moscow, Eastern Europe, and Mongolia. Enjoy this one folks! * PRESENTED BY QUANT WRESTLING Quant Wrestling combines data analytic...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE T.J. Williams is a 2x NCAA champion for the University of Iowa and a 4x Illinois state champion. His 98-1 Iowa Hawkeye record is the best all-time Hawkeye history. This interview was originally recorded in 2020 and is being re-published in honor of Iowa wrestling Penn State tonight. Enjoy! * HAPPY HOUR We are hosting a happy hour this Friday (1/28) from 4-7 pm at The Vine in Cor...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Conor Beebe is a 4x Illinois state champion and a 4x NCAA qualifier for Central Michigan University. After competing, Conor coached at Gardner Webb and Northwestern, before opening the Beebe Trained wrestling academy in Pinellas Park, Florida. Enjoy! (Photo: Northwestern University) * HAPPY HOUR We are hosting a happy hour this Friday (1/28) from 4-7 pm at The Vine in Coralville...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE Ira Lubert is the co-founder of Independence Capital Partners and is a longtime supporter of Penn State wrestling. Ira wrestled for Penn State in the 1970s before embarking on an incredibly successful business career spanning sales, private equity and real estate. Ira also played a key role in Penn State’s hiring of Cael Sanderson in 2009. This interview is one of the few that I...