Explore every episode of the podcast Headgear Optional
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burnout in Wrestling | 05 oct. 2026 | 01:12:33 | |
(0:00) - Introduction(1:15) - What is burnout?(3:26) - Why kids quit wrestling(13:26) - When we see burnout in wrestling(48:25) - Burnout vs. Underpreparation(1:04:03) - Will we ever get the NWCA All-Star Classic lineup?(1:08:25) - Up Next on Headgear Optional: Weight Cutting | |||
| Delayed Final X Match Analysis and Who's Number One Reactions | 28 sept. 2026 | 00:41:37 | |
(0:00) - Introduction(1:11) - Final X 65kg - Bo Bassett defeats Real Woods(10:32) - Final X 68kg - Kennedy Blades defeats Bella Mir (forfeit)(14:43) - Final X 76kg - Dymond Guilford defeats Kylie Welker(17:15) - WNO 165 - Melvin Miller defeats Camryn Howard(19:14) - WNO 190 - Salah Tsarni defeats Mario Carina(22:29) - WNO 132 - Grey Burnett defeats Paul Kenny(25:04) - Penn State recruits at WNO(27:41) - Overall college implications of WNO(37:25) - Up Next on Headgear Optional: Burnout | |||
| Delayed Final X Matches, Who's Number One Preview, and 3pt Takedowns | 21 sept. 2026 | 01:11:01 | |
(0:00) - Introduction(0:28) - Reaction to our high school preseason episode(3:20) - Delayed Final X matches preview(3:37) - 65kg: Bo Bassett vs. Real Woods(14:50) - 68kg: Kennedy Blades vs. Bella Mir(16:25) - 76kg: Kylie Welker vs. Dymond Guilford(17:52) - Best wrestling format: duals, tournament finals, or cards?(30:59) - WNO: 165 - Melvin Miller vs. Cam Howard(33:21) - WNO: 138 - Dean Anderson vs. Gavin Magano(35:57) - WNO: 126 - Sammy Sanchez vs. Landon Sidun(41:39) - 3 point takedowns(1:10:27) - Up Next: Reaction from delayed Final X matches and WNO | |||
| High School Wrestling Preseason Structure | 14 sept. 2026 | 01:34:29 | |
(0:00) - Introduction(1:22) - Club vs. High School programs(17:33) - Wrestling technique(34:35) - Running & conditioning(51:21) - Lifting programs(1:04:49) - Competition Schedule(1:20:32) - Up Next on Headgear Optional: Bo Bassett vs. Real Woods Preview(1:26:01) - Other NCAA Wrestling season thoughts | |||
| Preseason NCAA All-American Predictions | 07 sept. 2026 | 01:44:51 | |
(0:00) - Introduction(1:50) - 125 pounds(8:49) - 133 pounds(21:21) - 141 pounds(29:56) - 149 pounds(40:29) - 157 pounds(50:27) - 165 pounds(57:19) - 174 pounds(1:06:44) - 184 pounds(1:17:05) - 197 pounds(1:24:27) - 285 pounds(1:37:10) - Team Results(1:39:21) - Up Next on Headgear Optional | |||
| MAC and SoCon Previews | 31 août 2026 | 00:51:47 | |
(0:00) - Introduction(2:03) - MAC preview(12:36) - SoCon preview(35:35) - High School-College coaching relationships(45:31) - Up Next on Headgear Optional: All-American Predictions | |||
| U20 World Championships & Ivy League/EIWA Previews | 24 août 2026 | 00:49:54 | |
(0:00) - Introduction (1:39) - U20 World Championship Reaction (11:12) - Ivy League Favorite: Cornell (16:52) - Ivy League Contender: UPenn (21:23) - Ivy League Darkhorse: Columbia (25:35) - Ivy League Preview (28:27) - EIWA Favorite: Lehigh (35:24) - EIWA Contenders: Navy & Army (38:52) - EIWA Darkhorse: Binghamton (41:48) - EIWA Preview (42:50) - Up Next on Headgear Optional: MAC & SoCon Previews (44:01) - Soon: Headgear Optional All-American Predictions | |||
| ACC Preview | 17 août 2026 | 00:45:30 | |
(0:00) - Introduction(0:43) - 65kg Final X Date Set - Bo Bassett vs. Real Woods(3:08) - 2027 U.S. Senior World Team Qualification Procedures Changes(16:13) - Big 12 Favorite: Oklahoma State(32:47) - Big 12 Contender: Iowa State(45:37) - Big 12 Darkhorse: Missouri(53:46) - Other Notable Teams: Arizona State, UNI, and SDSU(58:02) - Up Next on Headgear Optional: ACC Preview | |||
| Big 12 Preview | 11 août 2026 | 01:01:41 | |
(0:00) - Introduction(0:43) - 65kg Final X Date Set - Bo Bassett vs. Real Woods(3:08) - 2027 U.S. Senior World Team Qualification Procedures Changes(16:13) - Big 12 Favorite: Oklahoma State(32:47) - Big 12 Contender: Iowa State(45:37) - Big 12 Darkhorse: Missouri(53:46) - Other Notable Teams: Arizona State, UNI, and SDSU(58:02) - Up Next on Headgear Optional: ACC Preview | |||
| Big Ten Preview | 03 août 2026 | 01:11:20 | |
(0:00) - Introduction (0:50) - Judge grants 5th year for HS class of 2022 (5:53) - The Favorite: Penn State (24:41) - Top Contender: Nebraska (36:02) - Top Contender: Iowa (45:35) - Contender: Ohio State (1:01:31) - Other impact incoming freshmen (1:09:58) - Up Next: Big 12 Preview | |||
| College Wrestling Experiences | 27 juil. 2026 | 01:19:25 | |
(0:00) - Introduction(0:23) - Meyer Shapiro transfers to Nebraska(7:43) - Carson Floyd - Iowa State and Appalachian State(36:38) - Joey DiVello - Washington & Lee University(53:56) - Phoenix Alyea - Virginia Military Institute(1:15:47) - Up Next on Headgear Optional - NCAA conference previews | |||
| NCAA Revenue Sharing, NIL, and Roster Caps | 20 juil. 2026 | 01:02:39 | |
(0:00) - Introduction (1:14) - What is revenue sharing? (4:32) - Impact of revenue sharing (23:52) - Impact of NIL (43:05) - Impact of roster caps (56:43) - The overall state of collegiate wrestling (1:00:23) - What's next for headgear optional | |||
| Youth Wrestling: What needlessly sucks & what needs to suck | 13 juil. 2026 | 01:07:28 | |
(0:00) - Introduction(1:06) - Tournament Length(12:02) - Choosing the right competitions(21:12) - Middle School scheduling(33:21) - What Works: Coaching(39:37) - What Works: Technique(49:14) - The Ideal Wrestling Parent | |||
| NCAA adopts 5 for 5 eligibility rules | 06 juil. 2026 | 01:13:48 | |
(0:00) - Introduction(0:22) - Iowa vs. UNI Duals in 2026 & 2027(4:24) - U23 World Team Reps at 79kg and 97kg(15:10) - A.J. Ferrari Arrested(16:55) - What is 5 for 5? (32:08) - Roster Battles: Oklahoma State 125(34:39) - Roster Battles: Oklahoma State 133-149(39:43) - Roster Battles: Penn State 157-174(48:10) - Roster Battles: Ohio State 125(48:55) - College Coaches recruiting impact(59:04) - High School athletes recruiting impact(1:03:54) - Notable 5 for 5 eligible athletes(1:07:32) - Competition schedule impact(1:12:06) - Up Next on Headgear Optional: Youth Wrestling | |||
| Freestyle or Folkstyle? | 29 juin 2026 | 01:01:12 | |
(0:00) - Introduction: Freestyle or Folkstyle? (2:29) - Birdman: Freestyle (5:52) - Brendan: Folkstyle (13:16) - The Middle Ground (36:41) - Birdman's Perfect World (38:46) - Brendan's Perfect World (57:09) - Next on Headgear Optional: NCAA Adopts 5 for 5 | |||
| Final X Reaction | 22 juin 2026 | 00:55:06 | |
(0:00) - Introduction (3:15) - 86kg Kyle Dake def. Zahid Valencia (8:25) - 61kg Marcus Blaze def. Jax Forrest (12:53) - 97kg Kyle Snyder def. Stephen Buchanan (18:54) - 74kg James Green def. David Carr (21:30) 57kg Spencer Lee def. Luke Lilledahl (25:22) 125kg Wyatt Henderickson def. Mason Parris (30:33) 70kg Zain Retherford def. Ridge Lovett (36:26) 79kg Levi Haines def. Chance Marstellar (42:00) 92kg Trent Hidlay def. Michael Macchiavello (47:26) 65kg Preview (Bo Bassett vs. Real Woods) (51:55) What's next for Headgear Optional | |||
| Final X Preview | 12 juin 2026 | 01:03:39 | |
(0:00) Introduction (3:30) 57 kg - Spencer Lee vs. Luke Lilledahl (9:00) 61 kg - Jax Forrest vs. Marcus Blaze (15:41) 65 kg - Bo Bassett vs. Real Woods (22:41) 70 kg - Zain Retherford vs. Ridge Lovett (28:10) 74 kg - David Carr vs. James Green (35:48) 79 kg - Levi Haines vs. Chance Marstellar (40:56) 86 kg - Zahid Valencia vs. Kyle Dake (45:50) 92 kg - Trent Hidlay vs. Michael Macchiavello (48:59) 97 kg - Kyle Snyder vs. Stephen Buchanan (52:06) 125 kg - Wyatt Hendrickson vs. Mason Parris | |||