Wrestling With Tomorrow: The Podcast

Episode 32 of Wrestling With Tomorrow was recorded live from the preshow of Lucha Union. Mike and Randy talk in great detail about the pressure of running live events, the chaos that happens behind the scenes, and what it takes to stay calm when everything is moving fast. This episode is about more than wrestling. It is about leadership, stress, responsibility, and how the pressure of show day con...

As parents, we spend years teaching our kids how to become independent. Then one day, it starts happening. In Episode 31 of Wrestling With Tomorrow, Mike Kinney and Randy Harig discuss the complicated mix of pride, gratitude, and sadness that comes with watching your children need you less. From college preparations to changing family dynamics, the conversation explores what happens when the role...

Episode 30 is different. Mike opens up about an emotional breakdown that happened the night before recording. For the first time since his father passed away 25 years ago, he cried harder than he has in decades. What triggered it was simple: preparing for his daughter’s graduation party. But underneath that moment was years of pressure, stress, grief, identity struggles, and the emotional weight m...

Minnesota independent pro wrestler Icarus Alexander joins Mike Kinney and Randy Harig on Wrestling With Tomorrow. Icarus, known on Instagram as @xgod_of_firex, is still early in his wrestling career, but he is already making his name in the Minnesota independent wrestling scene. In this episode, we talk about what it feels like to break into pro wrestling, how confidence is built before you feel r...

What happens when the thing that defined you… disappears? No more crowd. No more reaction. No more identity tied to what you used to be. In this episode, Mike and Randy get real about what it’s like when the noise stops. From walking away from wrestling to navigating real life, this is a conversation about identity, loss, and figuring out who you are when everything changes. Mike opens up about hi...

What does confidence actually look like in real life? In this episode of  Wrestling With Tomorrow , we sit down with Michael Pam, a lifelong wrestling fan who embodies what it means to keep showing up no matter what. This conversation goes deeper than wrestling. It’s about belonging, resilience, and finding strength on the days when it would be easier to stay home. Michael shares what wrestling me...

Not every opportunity is earned. And not every person who gets the shot is ready for it. In this episode, we break down the reality of what happens when positions, promotions, and opportunities are handed out based on proximity instead of performance. Mike shares a firsthand experience from his corporate career where the game didn’t work the way it was “supposed to”… and how that moment forced a s...

Episode 25 of  Wrestling With Tomorrow  is all about turning points. The moments that shift everything… whether you realize it at the time or not. Mike and Randy dive into real stories from wrestling, life, and relationships, including: • The announcement of one final Lucha Union show in Austin, MN before the historic ballroom is torn down • The moments that changed their careers forever • Lessons...

This week on  Wrestling With Tomorrow , Mike Kinney and Randy Harig welcome longtime friend and fellow wrestler  Shane Shimon (Shimdog)  to the show. The three of them broke into the wrestling business together, which makes this episode a deep dive into the early days of independent wrestling, the lessons learned along the way, and the realities of chasing the dream. Shane opens up about his caree...

Every turning point starts as a setback. In Episode 23 of  Wrestling With Tomorrow , Mike and Randy each share the moment that changed everything for them. The loss. The disappointment. The hit to the ego. The season where nothing felt certain. Not the highlight reel. The setback. Mike talks about the personal and professional moments that forced him to rebuild his identity from the ground up. Ran...

Episode 22 – Life After Wrestling and Rebuilding Confidence Mike Kinney & Randy Harig with Jay Behrends (formerly Big Daddy Dolan) What happens when the ring goes quiet?? In this episode of  Wrestling With Tomorrow , Mike and Randy are joined by former professional wrestler Jay Behrends, once known to fans as Big Daddy Dolan, for an honest conversation about identity, commitment, and rebuildin...

Most people want results before they decide who they are. That order creates confusion, inconsistency, and fragile confidence. In this episode of  Wrestling With Tomorrow , Mike Kinney & Randy Harig break down why identity must come before outcomes and what professional wrestling teaches us about the difference between playing a role and owning who you are. You will hear why people copy instea...

Most people believe confidence is something you wait for. In this episode, Mike and Randy break down why that belief keeps people stuck. Drawing from job interviews, wrestling, and speaking experiences that did not go as planned, they unpack how preparation directly fuels confidence and why relying on past success or personality eventually fails in new environments. This conversation explores the...

In Episode 19 of Wrestling With Tomorrow, Randy Harig and Mike Kinney sit down for a wide ranging and emotional conversation that reflects both loss and forward momentum. The episode opens with a heartfelt discussion honoring the life and impact of Travis Sharpe, processing grief inside the wrestling community, and acknowledging how loss affects people differently. From there, the conversation shi...

Episode 18 was recorded inside the El Parral Ballroom while the crew was setting up for the next Lucha Union show. Randy and I wanted you to feel the energy of a room coming together in real time and to understand how much work and belief goes into building something from the ground up. We talk about the aftermath of Grand Slam and how that match reshaped the year, what it really takes to launch a...

The dust has settled after MAW Grand Slam VII — and Cowboy Gator Magraw’s long-awaited return is finally in the books. In this episode, Mike and Randy break down everything that happened at the show: the emotion, the chaos, and the moments the cameras didn’t capture. From the roar of the crowd to the reality of what comes next, this is the unfiltered story behind one of the biggest independent wre...

In this episode of Wrestling With Tomorrow, Mike Kinney and Randy Harig sit down just days before MAW Grand Slam VII — where Mike steps back into the ring for the first time in nearly 20 years. It’s not about hype. It’s about the stillness before everything changes. They dive into what it means to prepare mentally and physically when the stakes are personal, not just professional. You’ll hear abou...

This week on Wrestling With Tomorrow, Randy takes the reins as host for a special Max Kellerman–style interview between Aaron Corbin and Cowboy Gator Magraw. The face-off format pulls no punches—Corbin and Gator go head-to-head, exchanging sharp words and raw emotion. Tensions rise, the heat builds, and fans get a rare look at the personal and professional friction driving this rivalry. Don’t miss...

This week, the gloves are off. The Kickstarter failed. The documentary’s off. The BBQ rub deal fell through. Mike’s walking into his final match with busted ribs and a full plate of everyday life hitting at once. In Episode 15 of Wrestling With Tomorrow, Mike and Randy strip away the highlight reel and talk about what happens when the dream you’ve been chasing starts to crumble. It’s raw, messy, a...

In Episode 14 of Wrestling With Tomorrow, Mike and Randy dive into the growing conversation around mental health in the mainstream. Highlights from this episode include: Anne Hathaway’s reflections on sobriety, stress, and self-care AJ Lee’s journey with anxiety, Bipolar II, and therapy in and out of the wrestling spotlight A bigger look at how celebrities opening up helps reshape the way we all t...

In Episode 13 of Wrestling With Tomorrow, Mike Kinney opens up about being passed over for promotions time and time again—and the wake-up call that changed everything. What started as anger and frustration turned into a hard lesson about entitlement, value, and growth. Joined by co-host Randy Harig, the two dig into how entitlement shows up in work, relationships, and even wrestling. Mike shares t...

Mike and Randy sit down for a wide-open conversation about where Wrestling With Tomorrow is headed, why Lucha Union is more than just another indie show, and how creating something different means giving ourselves the flexibility to be who we really are. From the ballroom in Austin to the bigger picture of wrestling as a community, this episode pulls back the curtain on what it takes to build a pr...

Mike and Randy are back in the studio breaking down the next big step in this comeback journey: the official launch of Lucha Union. From why it’s happening now, to what makes it different, and how fans can get involved, this episode gives you an inside look at the vision behind the new promotion. Mike also shares updates on his road to the November 1st return match, training progress, and what fan...

What separates the people who stay down… from the ones who rise again? In this episode, Mike and Randy unpack the mindset behind comebacks—whether it’s in the ring, in life, or in your own head. From personal battles with identity and addiction to legendary pro wrestling redemption arcs, this one goes deep. Mike opens up about why his November 1st return match isn’t just a gimmick—it’s closure, ac...

In this special episode of Wrestling With Tomorrow, Mike Kinney and Randy Harig honor the life and legacy of the most iconic figure in professional wrestling—Hulk Hogan. Mike reflects on how the Hulkster shaped his childhood, his confidence, and his identity—both in and out of the ring. Together, Mike and Randy explore the grief of losing a hero, the mental toll of staying “larger than life,” and...