The Full Tilt Podcast

Two-time NCAA champion and two-time world bronze medalist Nick "Gwiz" Gwiazdowski talks about the road from a small Upstate New York town to the world podium. He covers rebuilding NC State with Pat Popolizio, upsetting Tony Nelson for the 2014 title and how front headlock defense opened up his freestyle career.

He also explains why great coaches sometimes let their wrestlers win. Then come the stories: armed escorts in Dagestan, crowds in Iran with Jordan Burroughs, and the brutal cold of Krasnoyarsk.

Timed highlights:
00:00 Cold open: dinner with a machine gun in the doorway
09:38 Small-town roots in Duanesburg, NY
15:16 Confidence, practice partners and the coach as a servant
25:08 Beating Tony Nelson for the 2014 NCAA title
30:05 The Kyle Snyder showdown
36:21 "Get big": front headlock and chest lock defense
41:07 His first world medal, then a second bronze won on a high ankle sprain
47:53 Dagestan: Khabib's crew, armored trucks and a wolf pelt
54:27 Iran with Jordan Burroughs, and Krasnoyarsk's extreme cold

Sponsored by Hatch and Custom Community.
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Arizona legend Eric Larkin sits down with Full Tilt for an early-morning conversation about his life in wrestling. He rode the JV bus at Sunnyside as a freshman and still won Fargo. He then became an NCAA champion and Hodge Trophy winner at Arizona State. Eric talks about the hot, hard-nosed Sunnyside practice room and how his redshirt got pulled as a true freshman. He also covers battles with Cody Sanderson, training with Randy Lewis, and finishing 4th, 3rd, 2nd and then 1st at NCAAs.

Then we get into the school's "greater later" approach to youth development, how its athletes compete at college opens across the country, and what it's like raising five wrestling sons without being an overbearing dad coach.

Timed Highlights
0:00 JV freshman, Fargo champ
2:06 Getting started at Sunnyside
8:28 Redshirt pulled at ASU
19:23 Cody Sanderson battles
22:29 4th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st
26:45 Coaching Brian Stith
28:38 What Valiant Prep is
37:50 Fundraising challenges
41:14 "Greater later"
48:14 Being a wrestling dad
55:58 Toughest opponents

This episode is sponsored by Custom Community, which makes custom team apparel: customcommunity.com

Podcast Prodiction by: www.itsyourshow.co

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Jim Ravannak looks back on a life shaped by wrestling—from leading USA Wrestling and helping preserve the sport’s Olympic place to building the Gator Wrestling Club and supporting athletes like Daniel Cormier. He shares stories from Olympic and international team trips, recalls the people and moments that stayed with him, and reflects on why creating opportunities for athletes matters as much as winning medals.

Timed highlights:
00:00 – The call that set the effort to preserve Olympic wrestling in motion
01:50 – Building a wrestling family and recognizing Daniel Cormier’s talent
11:04 – Growing Superior Energy while taking on wrestling leadership
14:20 – Why coaching and creating opportunities for young athletes mattered
18:14 – Early team-leader experiences and traveling during uncertain times
23:07 – What a team leader does to support athletes and coaches
26:03 – The campaign to keep wrestling in the Olympic Games
32:44 – The Gator Wrestling Club’s athletes, legacy, and eventual transition
37:16 – Opening training camps to help build the strongest possible team
42:00 – A memorable trip to Iran and the connections made through wrestling
48:33 – Olympic memories and a friendship with Bruce Baumgartner
51:06 – Ravannak’s bond with Daniel Cormier and stories from their years together
57:51 – Giving back and helping athletes find a clear path forward

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Newly elected Iowa Wrestling Hall of Famer Matt McDonough joins Full Tilt at Mission Athletics in Cedar Rapids for a wide-ranging conversation about the people and experiences that shaped his career. Matt looks back on growing up around wrestling, learning from coaches and training partners who pushed him, winning two NCAA titles, and facing the setbacks of his senior season. He also reflects on Anthony Robles, the lessons he’s carried into coaching, and how Mission Athletics came together.

Timed highlights:
00:30 Matt reacts to being inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame
02:22 The mindset behind his success—and why he never thought of himself as an especially talented wrestler
03:16 His father’s influence and the family’s wrestling history
05:07 How young wrestlers learn techniques from social media
07:04 Matt’s early years in wrestling and finding his “wrestling bug” 10:37 The impact of coach Pablo Bassa
15:29 Seeking out training partners and challenges who push you
17:00 The Mark Ironside practice that changed how Matt viewed tough training
20:46 Moving to 125 pounds and learning not to cut weight just for the sake of it
23:43 Winning his first NCAA title after an early-season loss 26:54 Wrestling Anthony Robles and the story behind their famous championship match
35:16 Recovering from the Robles loss and returning to win another national title
43:47 Matt’s injury, weight-cutting challenges, and tough senior season 50:19 How Matt became involved with Mission Athletics
54:52 A look inside Mission Athletics and its training and recovery facilities

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At the Fargo wrestling tournament, host Hatch talks with wrestling legend Bruce Baumgartner about his path from an unheralded high school wrestler to an NCAA champion and one of America’s most decorated wrestlers. Baumgartner reflects on Olympic and world-level competition, the training habits that kept him improving, memorable matches overseas, and carrying the U.S. flag at the 1996 Olympics. He also shares how USA Wrestling can support athletes and help the sport grow.

Timestamps:
00:00–05:00 — Fargo, Baumgartner’s New Jersey upbringing, and how he got started in wrestling.
05:00–10:00 — His development in college, NCAA finishes, and early international experience.
10:00–14:00 — A long career built “one year at a time,” with steady, incremental training goals.
14:00–19:00 — Conditioning routines, including AirDyne workouts, hill sprints, and learning to perform when tired.
19:00–27:00 — International competition and adapting his technique to wrestle larger opponents.
27:00–32:00 — The 1984 Olympics, the boycott, and the demanding Tbilisi tournament.
32:00–35:00 — Baumgartner’s experience carrying the U.S. flag at the 1996 Olympics.
35:00–39:00 — His 1992 Olympic gold, best performances, and toughest opponents.
39:00–42:00 — USA Wrestling’s goals, supporting athletes, and growing participation in the sport.

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Cadet World Champion and Virginia Tech Hokie Bo Bassett breaks down the “nothing changes” mindset that powers his legendary work ethic, comeback wins, and faith-driven life.

Bo shares how a heartbreaking loss at age seven changed everything, why burnout is a myth if you truly love wrestling, and how 5 a.m. “mental warfare” workouts, family, and faith shaped his path from Young Guns to world titles and Virginia Tech.

Great listen for wrestlers, parents, coaches, and anyone obsessed with elite mindset and purpose-driven success.

Timed Highlights:

0:00 Nothing changes: Bo’s core mindset for being up or down in a match
3:00 Building a platform: faith, family, and using influence to glorify God
6:30 Wrestling campers for hours and trying to create life-changing moments for kids
10:00 Young Guns origin story, the Stripmatter brothers, and a room that raises everyone
13:30 Role models becoming peers: Spencer Lee, James Green, and full-circle opportunities
17:00 5 a.m. workouts, “mental warfare,” and the Iran reminder at 4:55 a.m.
21:00 Early years: pre-school workouts, sleep, and confidence from consistent extra work
24:30 The seven-year-old heartbreak: missing Pennsylvania states and going “all in”
28:00 Burnout myths, loving the sport, and why passion beats predictions
31:30 World and national stages: U17 world title in Budapest and chasing more gold
35:00 Learning from losses: changing diet, attacks, and adding new layers to his game
38:00 Falling in love with freestyle, learning Greco, and training with overseas-level guys
41:00 Choosing Virginia Tech, the Hokie room, and being part of a young, hungry roster
44:00 Backyard grind: monkey bars, sleds, and the crazy workouts that built his toughness

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Sponsor: Syntag Body Wash (faith-based charity supporter)

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Joe Russell, Manager of Freestyle Programs at USA Wrestling, sits down with Hatch for an honest, funny, and powerful conversation about surviving a catastrophic motorcycle accident, relearning how to walk, and eventually coaching world and Olympic champions. Joe shares wild rehab stories, life lessons from Jay Robinson and Dan Gable’s coaching trees, what separates elite college wrestlers from world-level medalists, and how USA Wrestling is quietly using data and AI to stay ahead of the world.

Timed Highlights:
0:00 Intro ad – Hatch, Custom Community, and Full Tilt Podcast setup
0:40 Meet Joe Russell – “I just do what Bill Zadick and J’den Cox tell me”
3:05 Growing up on the mat in Oregon and early ties to the Zadick family
7:10 USA Oregon Club: 3–4 hour practices, six days a week, year-round
10:25 High school “magical year”: junior nationals, age-group worlds, senior-level success as a teen
14:20 Pavel Katsen, Greco influence, and “real men wrestle Greco”
18:05 The 1985 motorcycle accident that nearly killed him
22:10 Brain surgery, “you’ll never walk or talk again,” and proving doctors wrong
25:35 Waking up hungry, refusing to “forget how to swallow,” and sneaking in a Big Mac
29:15 Brutal rehab: kids’ wheelchair with a flat tire and learning everything from scratch
33:10 First trip out in public – staples in his head, people staring, and a lesson in empathy
37:45 Redshirting high school, getting beat by guys he used to dominate
41:00 Why Minnesota and Jay Robinson still believed in him
44:20 Being the worst guy on the team… and getting voted captain anyway
48:15 The real J Rob: Vietnam, world teams, secret generosity, and his camp legacy
53:10 Classic Minnesota–Iowa stories: Shelton Benjamin’s pin and Carver-Hawkeye atmospheres
57:30 2001 NCAA title run: 10 All-Americans, 0 champs, and winning in Carver
1:01:40 Leaving Minnesota to rebuild George Mason and life at a have-not D1 program
1:06:10 Getting the call from Bill Zadick and jumping to USA Wrestling
1:09:00 2017 Worlds: going from losing at George Mason to coaching a world team title
1:12:00 What really separates college All-Americans from world and Olympic medalists
1:15:05 Film study, tendencies, and how AI is starting to creep into wrestling game plans
1:19:00 Multiple trips to Russia: Dagestan, Ossetia, Yakutsk, and insane wrestling environments
1:23:20 Yakutsk story: diamond mines, permafrost, and haircut from an Olympic champ’s son
1:27:00 Why Joe calls the accident “more blessing than curse” and what it taught him as a coach

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USA Women’s National Team Coach Terry Steiner sits down with Hatch live at USA Wrestling’s new national office to talk about work ethic, Dan Gable, Randy Lewis, the birth of women’s wrestling in America, and what it will take for Team USA to finally dominate the world. From grinding in Bismarck, ND, to winning an NCAA title at Iowa, to leading a once‑unpopular women’s program into Olympic glory, Terry shares raw stories, coaching philosophy, and what “significance” really means at this stage of his life.

Timed Highlights:
0:00 Intro, sponsor read (Custom Community) and Full Tilt open
2:10 Inside USA Wrestling’s new national office and why the environment matters
8:30 Bismarck roots, twin life with Troy, and the family work ethic
18:00 Coach Milo Trusty and falling in love with wrestling
26:30 From North Dakota to Iowa: Randy Lewis, Gable, and getting recruited
37:45 First months in the Iowa room: getting beat up and learning you belong
50:30 Big Ten loss, sports psych breakthrough, and the run to an NCAA title
1:04:15 Leaving men’s college coaching and saying yes to USA Women’s National Team
1:18:40 Early backlash to women’s wrestling and changing minds in the sport
1:32:10 Helen Maroulis, Adeline Gray, and the rise of Team USA’s women
1:45:00 Three phases of life: survival, success, and significance

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USA Wrestling National Freestyle Coach and World Champion Bill Zadick sits down with Hatch for a long-form, deep dive into wrestling, coaching, and what it really takes to chase a world title for a decade.

From Montana living-room “world title” matches and legendary camps in Oregon, to the crucible of the Iowa wrestling room under Dan Gable, Bill unpacks the culture, mentors, and moments that shaped him. He shares stories about John Smith, Daniel Cormier, the explosion of RTCs, and why grassroots state leaders and kids who go 0–2 at Fargo still matter to the future of USA Wrestling.

Perfect for wrestlers, coaches, and anyone who geeks out on the hidden architecture behind world‑level success.

Timed Highlights:

00:00 – Custom Community intro and Jim welcomes USA Wrestling’s Bill Zadick to Full Tilt
04:30 – Montana roots: long drives, competitive brothers, and early wrestling culture out West
11:45 – Campbell family, “Junkyard Dogs,” and the birth of Zadick Fanatics camp
19:10 – USA Oregon / Cobra days: spandex singlets, Nike plugs, and “Making of a Champion” binders
27:40 – Mental training, Zig Ziglar tapes, and how youth camps shaped national champs
34:05 – Choosing Iowa: following Gable’s dynasty, John Smith’s influence, and new‑school vs old‑school
42:00 – First days in the Iowa room: getting humbled, 10 All‑Americans, and the power of environment
50:15 – Dan Gable stories: mystery bar graphs, “one more of these,” and Russian sauna days
58:30 – Heavyweights and legends: Gerhard Himmel, John Osendorf, and watching Gable rule the room
1:06:20 – Daniel Cormier as wrestler, coach, and ambassador; why DC still shows up for kids’ events
1:14:10 – Grinding for a decade: how Bill went from NCAA champ to 2006 World Champion at 66 kg
1:23:45 – Bad rules, clinch balls, and why today’s freestyle is so much better to watch
1:30:00 – Transition to coaching: developmental roles, RTCs, and building a sustainable pipeline
1:38:20 – State leaders, Fargo, and why 0–2 kids are still a huge win for USA Wrestling
1:46:00 – Responsibility, legacy, and using wrestling to change kids’ lives beyond medals
1:52:30 – Growing up with Mike Zadick, uncle Mike stories, and the future of Zadick Brothers Camps
1:58:40 – Closing: Full Tilt, storytelling in wrestling, and what’s next for USA Wrestling and Bill

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Associate head coach Derek St. John and Iowa State’s inaugural women’s head coach Alli St. John sit down on the Full Tilt Podcast to talk about building a D1 wrestling powerhouse on both the men’s and women’s sides.

They dive into Alli’s journey from three-sport Illinois athlete to world silver medalist and trailblazing college coach, Derek’s path from Iowa state champ to NCAA champion and top-tier D1 coach, and how the Iowa State Regional Training Center is developing future world and Olympic medalists.

From the explosion of girls’ wrestling at Fargo, to recruiting entire wrestling families, to the lasting impact of legends like Terry Steiner, Nate Carr, and the late Mark Ryland, this episode is a deep look at where wrestling is right now—and where it’s going.

Timed highlights:
00:00 – Opening ad read: Hatch and Custom Community, Full Tilt intro, and setting up the “power couple” episode
03:10 – Alli and Derek’s roles at Iowa State and Derek’s recent Glen Brand Hall of Fame induction
08:20 – How the Iowa State women’s wrestling program came to life after gymnastics was dropped
12:45 – Women’s wrestling boom at Fargo and how the depth and level have exploded
18:05 – Alli’s path: three-sport athlete in Carbondale, IL, wrestling mostly boys, and qualifying for boys’ state
24:30 – Choosing King University over Oklahoma City, building a powerhouse team with future world and Olympic medalists
30:40 – WCWA explained and how the women’s college landscape has evolved into NAIA and NCAA divisions
36:00 – What it felt like wrestling in boys’ brackets with future stars like Tony Ramos, Ellis Coleman, and Zain Richards
43:10 – Transitioning to freestyle and the importance of getting girls international experience early
48:20 – Inside Japanese women’s wrestling: militant training, technical perfection, and why they dominate
55:00 – Alli’s Team USA years, training under Terry Steiner, and learning to coach every type of athlete
01:02:15 – How Alli and Derek met during COVID, long-distance while she was at HWC/Sunkist, and moving to Ames
01:08:40 – Building Iowa State women’s wrestling: fundraising, donor relations, and being “director of event management”
01:15:00 – Adding women’s wrestling vs. women’s flag football, and what it means for the sport in Iowa
01:21:30 – Recruiting, culture, and stealing staff from William Penn; why they’re excited about athletes like Piper Fowler
01:28:10 – RTC vision: men and women training together, building a unified CRTC to chase world and Olympic medals
01:35:00 – Brother–sister recruiting, families getting “one stop shop,” and how that changes the sales pitch
01:40:30 – The Carr legacy: Nate’s mentality, David’s selflessness in the room, and their impact on Iowa State
01:47:25 – Derek’s high school days at Iowa City West, powerhouse teams, and rivalry with Waverly-Shell Rock and City High
01:53:40 – Remembering coach Mark Ryland and the Ryland family’s impact on Derek’s life and career
01:58:30 – Walking into the Iowa room as a freshman: getting thrown to the wolves and learning from guys like Metcalf and Borschel
02:05:00 – Toughest college opponents: breaking down what made Kyle Dake and David Taylor so hard to wrestle
02:11:20 – How Tom Brands nudged Derek into coaching, early success at North Dakota State, and then Virginia Tech
02:18:00 – The wild transition when Dresser left for Iowa State mid-season and why Derek chose to follow later
02:24:15 – Growing the crowd in Ames, dual meet atmosphere, and why Iowa State is built for big-time wrestling
02:29:30 – Final reflections on growth of women’s wrestling, saving men’s programs, and what’s next for Iowa State

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Appalachian State head coach JohnMark Bentley joins Hatch on the Full Tilt Podcast to pull back the curtain on one of the most overachieving programs in Division I wrestling. From running one of the largest team camps in the country to funding staff and facilities through camp revenue, Bentley explains how a “small” program competes with the big boys year after year.

He shares his unconventional start in wrestling as a sixth-grade workout partner, his days battling at North Carolina and Oklahoma State, and the hard lessons that shaped his coaching philosophy. Bentley also talks about recruiting under-the-radar kids, navigating NIL and the transfer portal as a mid-major, rebuilding after Hurricane Helene, and the emotional challenge of coaching his own son.

If you care about wrestling culture, blue-collar development, and doing more with less, this is a masterclass in building and sustaining a winning program.

Timed highlights:
0:00 Intro and Custom Community read
2:00 How App State built one of the largest wrestling team camps in the country
7:40 Using camp revenue to fund assistants, travel, facilities, and program growth
14:05 Structure, organization, and why coaches keep coming back every summer
19:30 Relationship-building with high school coaches and why it matters in recruiting and camps
25:10 JohnMark’s unlikely start in wrestling as a sixth-grade workout partner
33:00 Growing up in rural North Carolina and becoming a four-time undefeated state champ
42:15 First trips to national events, Fargo, and the legendary Iowa intensive camp
51:20 Wrestling at North Carolina, Midlands stories, and the influence of T.J. Jaworski
1:01:00 Transfer to Oklahoma State, injuries, and the gap between expectations and reality
1:10:25 Early coaching at Davidson and the grind of making it work financially
1:16:40 Building App State: Blevins, Trotman, and finally getting over the All-American hump
1:27:30 Recruiting “non-traditional” states and finding tough, under-the-radar kids
1:36:00 Culture, core beliefs, and why delayed gratification drives the program
1:44:30 The transfer portal, NIL, and how a mid-major survives in the new era
1:53:20 Scheduling bigger programs and the problem with top teams ducking big matchups
2:01:40 Building a rabid fan base and grassroots youth efforts in Boone
2:09:00 Hurricane Helene, flooding, losing the wrestling room and locker room, and rebuilding
2:17:40 Coaching his son Luke: the 20-minute rule, dad vs coach, and long-term perspective
2:27:10 Legacy, what JohnMark wants people to say about him, and golf with recruits

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Two-time NCAA champion and wrestling innovator Carl Adams joins the Full Tilt Podcast to share his journey from tough Long Island roots to Iowa State legend, world-level freestyle contender, and pioneering equipment designer. Carl breaks down how work ethic, family, and fearless competition shaped his career, what it was really like wrestling Dan Gable, and how the Adam machine changed wrestling rooms across the country.

Timed Highlights:
0:00 Cold open: Hatch and Custom Community intro
0:49 Meet Carl Adams: Innovator and retired coach who never left the sport
3:01 Discovering wrestling after a trip to Madison Square Garden
5:22 Dominating junior high and high school, New York state champion
6:41 High school rivalries, packed duals, and the influence of Coach Campo
9:22 Hard work at home: potatoes, landscaping, and learning toughness
12:41 The dream that became the Adam machine
15:21 Iowa State, Nichols Wrestling Products, and early innovation
18:01 Why takedowns and repetition drove the Adam concept
21:06 Constantly improving the Adam machine and going worldwide
23:06 Coach Campo’s impact and arriving at Iowa State “already there”
35:25 Inside the old Big Eight: brutal conference, national titles, and the “Big 8 jinx”
41:11 First time wrestling Dan Gable and learning what true toughness is
48:52 How Gable changed the entire world of wrestling
52:47 Wrestling for Harold Nichols and the power of recruiting
54:58 Winning NCAA titles and beating Stan Dziedzic in the finals
1:03:24 Bobby Douglas as mentor and how he reshaped Carl’s takedown game
1:04:31 Building camps, writing books, and teaching 20,000 wrestlers
1:12:18 Beating Wade Schalles five times and the importance of speed
1:18:25 Gable as the most influential figure in Carl’s wrestling life
1:20:50 How Carl Adams stacks up against today’s stars
1:23:52 Mental toughness of Dake, Burroughs, Taylor, Snyder and the new generation

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Produced by: ItsYourShow.co

Olympic champion Ben Peterson sits down with Full Tilt to unpack a lifetime on the mat: from a Wisconsin dairy farm to Iowa State’s glory years, brutal training sessions with Dan Gable, winning Olympic gold during the Cold War, and how faith and family shaped every step of his journey.

Ben shares vivid stories of surviving “meat-grinder” rooms at Iowa State, outworking the world with Gable and his brother John, his rivalry and later friendship with Russ Hellickson, the heartbreak and perspective of the 1980 Olympic boycott, and the truth behind the famous Peterson roll. He also opens up about a life-changing injury at 12 years old and how it forged his faith.

Perfect for wrestlers, coaches, and anyone who wants a masterclass in work ethic, resilience, and purpose.

Timed highlights:
0:49 Meet Ben Peterson and the Gable connection
1:50 Childhood on the farm and learning to work
4:45 Meeting Carl Adams and redefining “hard work”
7:19 Becoming co-captains at Iowa State during a turbulent era
10:18 Learning to handle 425-pound Chris Taylor
12:26 How the Peterson brothers found wrestling
14:11 Inside Iowa State’s golden era and coaching staff
22:20 Practice-room culture: getting broken without being belittled
30:40 What it was like wrestling Dan Gable multiple times a week
34:43 Transitioning to freestyle and chasing the Olympics
38:12 Beating Russ Hellickson and making the 1972 Olympic team
48:05 Battling Levan Tediashvili and building respect with Soviet greats
52:34 Ben’s perspective on the 1980 boycott and the fall of the USSR
1:02:41 The accident, the broken leg, and how it deepened his faith
1:16:20 The state finals loss that taught him about position and family
1:27:40 Why he calls his medals “Cold War medals”
1:35:32 Backyard boxing rings, homemade fields, and a basement weight room
1:50:46 Who was the toughest wrestler he ever faced?
1:54:16 The Peterson roll origin story
2:03:45 Why he still loves being around kids at tournaments like Fargo

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Wrestlers, coaches, and fans are going to eat this one up.

Live from Fargo, the Full Tilt Podcast sits down with USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender to unpack how girls’ and women’s wrestling exploded, how wrestling got kicked out of the Olympic Games and clawed its way back in, and why the sport’s future has never looked brighter.

Rich walks through his journey from small‑town Wisconsin kid to the most influential administrative seat in American wrestling, the politics inside the IOC, what really happened behind the “wrestling dropped from the Olympics” headlines, and the critical role that clubs, RTCs, and state leaders play in building the sport from the ground up.

If you care about Fargo, the Olympic movement, or just love great wrestling stories from Iran to Atlanta to Paris, this episode is your blueprint for where the sport has been and where it’s going.

Timed Highlights:

• 3:05 – 1988: Rich’s first USA Wrestling internship and the first women’s world team
• 4:35 – Early headwinds: girls wrestling boys, culture, religion and growing to scale
• 5:40 – Hiring Terry Steiner: how USA Wrestling landed the perfect women’s coach
• 7:10 – Steiner’s impact and becoming the top women’s coach on the planet
• 8:40 – The Steiner brothers, North Dakota roots and the Teddy Roosevelt Award
• 10:45 – National team coaches in the RTC era: relationships, trust and humility
• 13:20 – How RTCs changed everything for elite training in the U.S.
• 16:00 – Building around personal coaches instead of stealing the spotlight
• 16:47 – Women’s wrestling enters the Olympics in 2004 and the strategy behind it
• 18:00 – Why Olympic status came before NCAA and high school recognition
• 19:40 – Technical jump in women’s wrestling and why it’s no longer “junior high” level
• 20:22 – Club culture, private academies and the professionalization of wrestling
• 21:13 – From taboo to business: making a living in wrestling without apologizing
• 22:20 – Specialization, youth clubs and the balance between opportunity and burnout
• 23:19 – Donors, business success and why ex‑wrestlers give back so hard
• 24:19 – Rich’s origin story: small‑town Wisconsin, three‑sport athlete and “wrestling, wrestling, wrestling” report card
• 26:14 – From old‑timer tournaments to landing a USA Wrestling internship
• 27:56 – Showing up in Colorado Springs only to be told “we’re not having an intern”
• 30:31 – How one phone call and a Wisconsin connection saved his career
• 31:35 – Working up from events intern to Executive Director
• 33:07 – USA Wrestling’s near‑collapse in the early 90s and what turned it around
• 35:35 – Enter Jim Scherr: hard cuts, tough calls and rebuilding the organization
• 36:00 – Bill Zadick, leadership, and getting wrestling back on the Olympic program
• 36:47 – Inside story: how wrestling got voted off the Olympic program in 2013
• 39:00 – Governance failures, disrespecting the IOC and the perfect storm
• 40:32 – Strategy shift: making the IOC look good instead of fighting them
• 41:45 – Forcing the re‑vote and getting back in the race with other sports
• 43:13 – Overhauling rules, officiating and athlete representation
• 44:40 – How new leadership at the international federation changed everything
• 44:53 – Why having someone “in the room” at the IOC matters
• 47:21 – Global reach: wrestling and medal distribution across the world
• 48:20 – Rules, reviews and finally cleaning up bad officiating
• 49:53 – The Kerry McCoy 1997 Tehran heartbreaker and a world title lost in protest
• 54:03 – From back‑room protests to video review and real accountability
• 55:56 – Integrity, COVID and why wrestling wasn’t a super‑spreader
• 57:36 – Running large events safely during the pandemic and surprising data
• 59:46 – Being around legends: Gable, Schultz, John Smith, Steiner and more
• 1:00:02 – John Smith and Rich: same birthday, very different paths
• 1:01:18 – Funniest, most charismatic personalities in USA Wrestling
• 1:02:01 – Dave Schultz stories and the “when life gives you a lemon, you eat it” line
• 1:02:58 – Overseas chaos: travel in Russia, sketchy airports and getting to worlds
• 1:05:01 – Rulon vs Karelin in Sydney: the true story behind the overturned call
• 1:07:25 – Kyle Snyder beating Sadulaev in Paris and the aftermath
• 1:08:29 – Weddings and funerals: how wrestling tournaments feel emotionally
• 1:11:00 – Back in Fargo: juggling state chair duties, club coaching and podcasting
• 1:12:31 – Why Fargo changes kids, even if they go 0–2
• 1:14:15 – Data that connects Fargo and Junior Nationals to NCAA and world success
• 1:16:34 – Tennessee’s growth: from a dozen kids to a three‑digit delegation
• 1:17:46 – Cleveland, Tennessee shoutouts and Greco finalists from the state
• 1:18:29 – Traveling to Iran: hospitality, security and wrestling as diplomacy
• 1:20:48 – The first U.S. team back in Iran after the revolution
• 1:22:21 – Jordan Burroughs as a global superstar and fan reactions abroad
• 1:23:12 – World Cup in Kermanshah: USA vs Iran in a wild team race
• 1:25:02 – Electric environments: Iran, Paris, Atlanta and Olympic arenas
• 1:28:07 – More crazy travel: checking bags, magnetometers and chickens in Russia
• 1:31:42 – Royce Alger stories and why characters like him keep the sport fun
• 1:33:27 – USA Wrestling’s four core pillars: brand, base, community, teams
• 1:35:16 – Governance, state chapters and why bad governance kills sports
• 1:37:36 – The tension between elite focus and serving the entire membership
• 1:39:28 – State leadership realities: volunteers, criticism and doing it for the kids
• 1:41:34 – Passing wealth vs passing wisdom: what wrestling has figured out
• 1:43:21 – Why USA Wrestling is the model NGB in the Olympic movement
• 1:45:34 – The importance of infrastructure and running wrestling like a business
• 1:48:31 – Rich’s praise for staff and why they’re the engine behind the scenes
• 1:50:05 – Hosting U23 Worlds and Senior Worlds in the U.S.: why it matters
• 1:53:54 – The real economics of hosting world championships in Vegas
• 1:58:49 – LA 2028: qualifying, home‑mat advantage and big‑picture strategy
• 2:00:35 – Wrestling as Team USA’s No. 3 all‑time medal sport
• 2:03:36 – High school and college infrastructure: why the U.S. should dominate
• 2:03:54 – “We’re on the precipice of the golden age of our sport”
• 2:04:18 – Closing: gratitude, leadership and why wrestling’s best days are ahead

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Chael Sonnen sits down with Hatch for a nonstop tour through American wrestling history and culture. From overlooked legends like Oscar Wood and Sean Hage to the mythology of John Smith, Kenny Monday, and the Brands brothers, this episode is wall-to-wall stories, rivalries, technique talk, and behind-the-scenes moments you’ve never heard before. They dive into Fargo, the Iowa room in the 90s, real pro wrestling leagues, RAF, and why some of the greatest careers were built on heartbreak instead of gold medals.

Timed Highlights:
00:00:00 Hatch Custom Community intro and Full Tilt setup
00:01:10 Alan Freed, Oscar Wood, and forgotten high school greatness
00:03:14 Oscar Wood’s Olympic run, head pinch, and making the team “without training”
00:06:45 Kerry Colat, stolen medals, and the lawsuit that never was
00:10:41 Brands vs Colat, Ironside wars, and life inside the Iowa room
00:15:04 Why Fargo is still the real national championship
00:18:38 The case for Sean Hage as the greatest high school wrestler ever
00:22:26 Antonio McKee’s legendary room stories and the “did he beat John Smith?” question
00:29:48 Is John Smith the greatest American wrestler of all time?
00:31:26 How Smith innovated technique and changed wrestling forever
00:39:45 Dave Schultz, lost golds, and the “this is for the Olympic title” story
00:43:26 Tom and Terry Brands: villains from afar, heroes up close
00:50:30 Kale Sanderson vs the field: dominance, D1 resumes, and the 2009 comeback
01:07:19 Les Gutches, the toughest guy Chael ever felt
01:16:58 High school and college coaches as culture builders and fundraisers
01:36:40 Chael’s unconventional par terre defense and demo in the Iowa room
01:42:53 Inside RAF: big production, big matchups, and building a real pro league
01:50:01 Bo Bassett, Jax Forrest, and the future of American wrestling
01:56:22 Closing: why wrestling needs big stories, big leaders, and big stages

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Produced by: ItsYourShow.co

Wrestling legend Cary Kolat sits down with Hatch to unpack a lifetime on the mat—from Western PA youth phenom and world medalist to program builder at Campbell and the U.S. Naval Academy. Kolat goes deep on mindset, training, the 2000 Olympic controversy, building Kolat.com, and what it really takes to develop champions today.

Timed Highlights:
0:00 Opening: Hatch & Custom Community spot; setting the tone for Full Tilt
0:50 The “hate era” of 90s wrestling and how social media might’ve changed everything
3:00 Western PA roots, early beatdowns, AAU title, and discovering Dan Gable
5:25 Carl Adams books, takedown machine, and building skill without video
8:45 Pennsylvania wrestling culture, PJWs, Hershey, and pressure from age 8
13:40 Work ethic, coal country toughness, and learning to love hard training
19:20 Freestyle summers, TOSS club, Soviets, and why he skipped Fargo for Foxcatcher
25:45 Midlands as a high-schooler: petitions, JUCO hammers, and battling back for third
31:10 College choices: Clarion, Minnesota, and why he ultimately picked Penn State
36:50 Training with Jamil Kelly, Alan Freed, Chris Bono, and what those rivals exposed
46:30 Best domestic opponents, learning from John Fisher, and solving difficult styles
51:00 First Worlds, style shock, and the infamous Iranian shoelace final in 1997
1:03:00 1998–1999 Worlds: bad calls, protests, separated shoulder, and still forcing his way into the finals
1:11:20 Terry Brands’ injuries, missed weight, and the reality behind those world teams
1:17:40 Sydney 2000: feeling at his absolute peak, clinch rules, and living with the outcome
1:25:40 The two performances he’s proudest of and what they taught him about grit
1:31:00 Building Colat.com: from DVD headaches to a thousand-technique online library
1:37:00 Strength training then vs now, and why he thinks max lifting is wrecking wrestlers’ bodies
1:41:30 Training with Lincoln McIlravy and John Smith: pace, pressure, and brutal honesty
1:55:40 Taking over Campbell: tiny budget, no tradition, and building belief from an hour a day
2:03:40 Campbell’s rise, the hotbox duals, and turning a “nowhere” program into a national story
2:08:15 Why Navy: debunking Academy myths and explaining the 70/30 lifestyle
2:18:00 Day-in-the-life of a Navy wrestler: training windows, academics, and built-in support
2:23:30 Honor, accountability, and why Naval Academy grads don’t job hunt like everyone else
2:35:00 Wild international stories from Cuba, Krasnoyarsk, Macedonia, and Iran’s wrestling-crazy fans

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Produced by: ItsYourShow.co

Brent Metcalf joins the Full Tilt Podcast for a deep dive into one of wrestling’s most respected minds. He walks through the legendary Davidson, Michigan room with Roy Hall, his undefeated high school career and Fargo dominance, the Virginia Tech-to-Iowa transfer storm, Carver-Hawkeye showdowns, wild overseas trips to Russia, Dagestan, and Iran, and why he believes in “chasing losing” to become the best. Metcalf also breaks down his relationship with Jordan Burroughs, what he’s learned from Kevin Dresser, coaching David Carr, and his vision for turning Iowa State into a world-level factory.

Timed Highlights:
00:49 New Cyclone head coach Brent Metcalf joins the show
02:12 How a public school in Michigan built three NCAA champs
06:37 Seventh grader in high school practice and free open rooms
09:11 Six Fargo titles, chasing tough brackets, and never protecting a record
15:24 Big Ten battles with Dustin Schlater
16:04 Following Tom Brands, Virginia Tech days, and transfer controversy
19:12 Losing a year, going overseas, and realizing he could beat world champs
22:31 Why getting beat can be the best thing for young wrestlers
27:25 Culture and accountability inside the Iowa room
33:18 Training with Borschel, Morningstar, Montell and others
35:34 Carver-Hawkeye roar vs World Cup in Iran
47:20 The reality of his international career: big wins, no medals
53:15 Beating Sidakov, wrestling Yaminitsu, and getting schooled by Gadzalov
58:06 The Iran World Cup: 15,000 fans, drums, and staying through intermission
1:09:03 Sketchy trips to Dagestan and early overseas experiences
1:16:18 Turning down other college jobs to support his wife’s PhD
1:19:26 The call from Kevin Dresser that brought him to Ames
1:27:03 What Metcalf learned from Dresser about building programs and fanbases
1:30:57 His vision for Cyclone Wrestling and putting guys on the world wall
1:38:30 Coaching David Carr and “failing forward” at the senior level
1:40:48 Roy Hall, his parents, and the legacy he wants his wrestlers to build

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www.thefulltiltpodcast.com

Produced by: ItsYourShow.co

Jeff McGinness sits down to go full tilt on his journey from Iowa City mat rat to Hawkeye legend, and how that path eventually led him to build a powerhouse women’s program at Simpson College. From brutal 90s Iowa room stories to modern sports science, NIL, and recruiting women in a fast-changing landscape, this is a deep dive into what greatness really looks like in wrestling.

Timed highlights:

• 01:00 – Reuniting in the studio and early days in the Iowa room
• 04:30 – Training under Gable, Brands, J Rob, and the “old torture equipment”
• 09:45 – Late-blooming greatness: when wrestling finally “clicked” for Jeff
• 17:15 – Cadets, Juniors, and winning Junior Worlds at 16
• 23:30 – Freestyle vs Greco, learning to throw, and why Greco guys are different
• 31:00 – Iowa high school culture, hazing, leadership, and growing up fast
• 39:10 – The pressure of chasing perfection and how weight cutting nearly broke him
• 46:20 – Midlands war stories, massive cuts, and learning the hard way
• 54:00 – Strategy vs athleticism: beating better athletes by being smarter
• 1:03:20 – Abe, Henson, Cunningham, and Jeff’s toughest college rivals
• 1:12:10 – Life after Iowa: law school, senior-level runs, and walking away too early
• 1:20:40 – Finding coaching again, loss in the family, and saying yes to Simpson
• 1:27:30 – Why Jeff chose women’s wrestling and the trust-over-respect difference
• 1:34:30 – Building a non-scholarship winner in a scholarship world
• 1:43:10 – NIL, transfer portal, and why loyalty is disappearing from college sports
• 1:51:40 – The wild 90s: Russian saunas, boxing gloves, and stories you couldn’t tell today
• 1:59:30 – The people, the fans, and the legacy Jeff wants to leave in women’s wrestling

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Olympic gold medalist and three-time Olympian Kenny Monday sits down to go full tilt on a lifetime in wrestling. From getting beat up as the smallest kid in the Tulsa YMCA room to conquering the brutal Tbilisi tournament and winning Olympic gold, Kenny breaks down the mindset, rivalries, and turning points that shaped his career.

He shares inside stories on his legendary battles with Nate Carr and Dave Schultz, what it took to finally crack the “Russian code,” and how he’s now rebuilding Division I wrestling at Morgan State, an HBCU with deep history in the sport. We also get personal: raising wrestling sons, coaching in today’s NIL era, and why this is the best time ever to be a wrestler.

If you enjoy this episode, hit subscribe, drop a comment with your favorite story, and tell us which wrestling legend you want to hear from next!

www.thefulltiltpodcast.com

Timed highlights:

0:00 Custom Community ad and Full Tilt intro
0:49 Why Kenny Monday was a “must have” guest
2:20 Growing up in North Tulsa and discovering wrestling at the YMCA
5:19 Getting beat up daily as the smallest kid – and the power of “don’t quit”
9:11 His mother’s belief and building a lifelong belief system
10:25 Oklahoma as a wrestling hotbed and the Park System dual meets
13:16 Junior Olympics/Tulsa Nationals and early rivalries
22:10 Winning Junior Nationals as a freshman and high school dominance
26:20 The only blemish in high school and rivalry with Mike Sheets
28:47 Choosing Oklahoma State over Oklahoma and early college struggles
39:12 The worst beating he ever took in a practice room
44:40 The Kenny Monday vs Nate Carr rivalry – 11 matches and mutual respect
55:45 Learning freestyle and getting humbled in Russia
58:52 Surviving and then winning the brutal Tbilisi tournament
1:20:35 Beating world and Olympic champions: Variev, Fadzaev, and others
1:35:12 The politics, weigh‑in controversy, and World Team trials gauntlet
1:43:57 Hyperextending his elbow days before the 1992 Olympics
1:49:41 Which year was “peak” Kenny Monday?
1:56:25 Training with John Smith and the evolution of the low single
2:06:55 Rebuilding Morgan State wrestling and joining the EIWA
2:15:06 Coaching his sons and the pressure of being “Monday’s kids”
2:25:18 The Copenhagen nightclub dance contest story

#Wrestling #KennyMonday #FullTiltPodcast #Olympics #MorganState #NCAAWrestling #NateCarr #DaveSchultz #WrestlingHistory

Barry Davis is a three-time NCAA champion, Olympic silver medalist, and one of the most beloved figures in American wrestling. But before the medals and banners, he was a kid at the YMCA in Cedar Rapids getting hooked on the sport — and grabbing wall charts at youth tournaments.

In this episode of the Full Tilt Podcast, Barry and I go back 47 years: from Prairie High School rivalries and the infamous dungeon wrestling room, to the legendary Iowa rooms with Dan Gable, brutal weight cuts to 118, international travel behind the Iron Curtain, and the mindset that carried him through world championships and the Olympics.

We also dive into his coaching career, his faith, and why he believes wrestling should be the model sport for character and leadership.

Timestamps:
0:49 How Barry helped start my wrestling journey
3:41 YMCA practices and the early Iowa kids’ tournaments
8:45 The fourth-grade dream: wanting to be like Dan Gable
12:15 Getting pounded in high school, then flipping the switch
18:16 Prairie’s infamous dungeon wrestling room
21:23 Metro rivalries: Prairie vs Jefferson, Washington, Kennedy
24:10 Scouting opponents before streaming and social media
28:09 Where Barry’s passion and intensity came from
35:14 The Zaleski brothers and the Prairie–Iowa pipeline
42:00 First shocks in the Iowa room and learning mat wrestling
49:23 The moment everything “clicked” and Barry took off
1:02:36 Why keeping your work ethic after you get good is everything
1:19:25 The Hy-Vee story: almost walking away at Big Tens
1:49:06 Balancing college wrestling with World and Olympic teams
2:01:14 Olympic battles, Soviet greats, and the 1984 silver
2:08:11 Coaching, faith, and being a role model in the sport
2:16:16 WWTO and helping young athletes become leaders in life

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www.thefulltiltpodcast.com