Explore every episode of the podcast The Full Tilt Podcast
Dive into the complete episode list for The Full Tilt Podcast. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Royce Alger - Gable Time, Foxcatcher, and the Heisman House :: Ep 1 The Full Tilt Podcast
26 Feb 2026
01:09:17
In the debut episode of the Full Tilt Podcast, Hatch sits down with legendary “Fall Guy” Royce Alger – two-time NCAA champion, world silver medalist, and head coach of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club. Royce unleashes a barrage of stories from Iowa wrestling rooms, brutal Gable workouts, Foxcatcher days with Dave Schultz, and the infamous “Heisman House” of legends he lives with today.
From 4.2-mile “Gable time” runs in the Iowa heat, to nearly getting choked out by Dave Schultz in a dark Foxcatcher room, to being only the second American ever issued a passport “behind enemy lines” in Moscow (after Bobby Fischer), this episode is wall-to-wall storytelling.
If you love wrestling, old-school toughness, and wild road stories, this one sets the bar.
Timed Highlights
0:00 – Cold open: 4.2-mile run and realizing Gable might be crazy
0:31 – Hatch introduces the Full Tilt Podcast and Royce Alger’s legendary resume
1:07 – Nashville trip, Young Guns clinic, and Montgomery Bell Academy first impressions
2:12 – National Collegiate Duals and Royce’s son chasing country music in Nashville
2:41 – Full career rundown: Iowa, World Cups, US Opens, Pan Ams, Titan Mercury
3:53 – Story-stealing, Dan Gable’s only collegiate loss, and calling him “Larry”
8:18 – “Gable time” and the infamous long loop run with Barry Davis
13:14 – The psychology of Gable’s extra 30 seconds and trust in the room
15:26 – Gable’s top game and how it shaped Royce’s wrestling from the top
16:21 – Being fourth on Iowa’s all-time pin list and the philosophy of pinning athletes
17:32 – Beating two Olympic champions at the same US Open
19:54 – Making the 1992 Olympic team and the parity of US wrestling rivalries
20:14 – What NIL money would have meant for 80s and 90s Hawkeyes
22:28 – “PhD: Poor, hungry, and driven” and how Royce recruited for Iowa
23:17 – First Hawkeye to Foxcatcher and arriving in a limo in Philadelphia
23:50 – First workout with Dave Schultz and getting choked unconscious
28:16 – The “fear of death” lesson and hearing others’ Schultz stories
29:53 – Why Chris Campbell is the best wrestler Royce ever put hands on
31:54 – Beating Andre Metzger at Midlands: “To be a legend, you have to beat a legend”
35:19 – Sauna culture at Iowa and stories that should never leave the walls
37:30 – The rivalry with Kevin Jackson and missing Olympic teams
38:16 – On excuses, almost guys, and why it’s easier to just win the match
42:42 – Getting a “whole new set of friends” after the world silver medal
46:39 – How one state title can lift an entire town
53:09 – Being handcuffed in Moscow and becoming passport case number two after Bobby Fischer
59:39 – Eli Alger, Trump, and a surprise visit from the Secret Service
1:03:52 – The sign above Iowa’s penalty box and “the older I get, the better I was”
1:06:42 – Reaching “Willie Nelson phase” status and still being relevant decades later
1:08:32 – Plans for the Legends Workshop and why hand fighting is a lost art
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
Randy Lewis - Toughest Kid on the Block :: Ep 2 The Full Tilt Podcast
05 Mar 2026
01:25:04
On this episode of The Full Tilt, Hatch sits down with two-time NCAA champion and Olympic gold medalist Randy Lewis for a storytelling masterclass. From his first day on the mat in fifth grade to setting a national record with 45 straight pins, Randy breaks down the mindset that made him, as he says, the toughest kid on the block.
He shares how a pull-up contest gave him the confidence to win his first state title, why he set insane goals like pinning every opponent for an entire season, and what it was really like being recruited by his hero, Dan Gable. Randy also tells the hilarious and humbling story of going from pinning a Russian world champion to getting absolutely worked in practice by Gable himself.
If you love wrestling, old-school toughness, and legendary stories, this is Full Tilt at its finest.
Timed Highlights: 0:00 Opening story: “Don’t poke the bear” 0:22 Welcome to The Full Tilt podcast with Hatch 0:43 Introducing Olympic gold medalist Randy Lewis 1:49 Randy’s first day of wrestling in fifth grade 2:05 Winning regionals and the belief that he could be state champ 2:22 The pull-up challenge that gave him confidence 2:40 Toughest kid on the block mindset and book title origin 3:08 Learning the rules the hard way: penalties for locking hands and choking 3:40 Winning his first state title and going to camp to really learn wrestling 4:20 Dominating AAU nationals and setting bigger goals 5:00 The goal to beat everyone by eight points or more 5:11 Facing Phil Hammond, cutting to 98, and wrestling fear 5:49 New goal: pinning everyone and setting a national record with 45 straight pins 6:28 College coaches come calling and Dan Gable enters the picture 6:57 Showing Gable the shoes he signed back in eighth grade 7:21 Hearing about Dan Gable’s Olympic run with no points scored on him 7:52 Randy’s young belief he could beat Gable “if I was as big as him” 8:12 Moving up to 149.5 and pinning the Russian world champion 8:54 The day he wrestled Gable in practice 9:01 Catching Gable in a headlock and then getting turned over and over again
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
Nolan Kistler - Saving CBU Wrestling :: Ep 4 The Full Tilt Podcast
12 Mar 2026
00:29:51
Former CBU All-American and alum Nolan Kessler joins the Full Tilt Podcast to break down the decision by California Baptist University to cut its Division I wrestling program along with two other men’s sports. Nolan explains why this is more than just one team being dropped: it’s part of a national trend threatening Olympic sports and first-generation college opportunities.
He shares powerful stories of lives changed through wrestling, the fast-growing movement behind Keep CBU Wrestling, and how alumni, coaches, and community members are rallying to raise $20 million and secure a long-term endowment for the program. Nolan also addresses Title IX, the financial realities behind “revenue sports,” and why CBU has a unique chance to lead instead of follow the herd.
Timed Highlights: 0:00 The bigger problem: Olympic sports under attack 0:25 Introducing the Full Tilt Podcast and guest Nolan Kessler 1:02 How Nolan learned CBU was cutting three men’s programs 1:34 Building a 100-alumni coalition to keep CBU wrestling 3:30 The national trend of dropped wrestling programs (Fresno State, Stanford, others) 5:10 NIL, NCAA changes, and 44 discontinued Olympic programs in one year 6:40 Why “revenue sports” like football and basketball are putting schools in the red 8:30 CBU’s chance to lead instead of follow the herd 9:49 The crisis of only three Division I wrestling programs in all of California 11:44 What’s the plan? Awareness, fundraising, and building a coalition 11:48 Launching keepcbu.com and raising over $1 million in a month 13:48 How pledges work and why donors are protected if the effort fails 13:59 Inside CBU’s response: “The decision is final, no amount of money will change it” 16:13 Title IX as the stated reason and why the numbers don’t add up 18:40 Other paths to Title IX compliance and adding women’s sports 20:00 Timeline: pushing for talks before the NCAA wrestling tournament 20:17 The $20 million endowment goal and lessons from Stanford 21:35 Ensuring the program’s long-term future, not just a short-term save 22:03 Examples from Bucknell and Binghamton and big gifts after programs were saved 24:38 Other programs cut at CBU and building a united front with golf and swim & dive 26:51 Final call to action: why wrestling is a lifeline of opportunity 27:16 How to support: website, social media, donations, and sharing 29:05 Closing: why this fight matters for wrestling and all Olympic sports
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
Derek Moore - Faith, Wrestling, and Redemption :: Ep 3 The Full Tilt Podcast
12 Mar 2026
01:25:18
NCAA champion and former Army officer Derek Moore joins the Full Tilt Podcast to walk through his unlikely rise from undersized, lightly recruited California kid to 2007 NCAA Champion and OW at 141 lbs, his time in the Army World Class Athlete Program (WCAP), and his current role building a faith-centered Division I program at CBU. In this episode, Derek and Hatch dig into: Growing up in small-town Redding, California and discovering wrestling Walking on at UC Davis, grinding through redshirt years, and almost quitting The influence of legendary coach Lenny Zaleski and the old-school UC Davis grind Winning the 2007 NCAA title over Ryan Lang with a top-game clinic and earning OW Transitioning to freestyle in the Army’s WCAP, training at the OTC, and wrestling overseas Leading soldiers as a field artillery officer vs. leading a college wrestling team Building the California Baptist (CBU) wrestling program and the role of faith in his life and coaching If you love wrestling, leadership, and redemption stories grounded in faith and hard work, this episode is for you.
Timed Episode Highlights 0:00 – 3:42 Small-town roots, Northern California life, and first impressions of Riverside 3:42 – 7:43 Discovering CBU, NorCal vs SoCal, and faith and community in Riverside 7:43 – 12:56 Undersized high schooler, almost no recruiting, and landing at UC Davis 12:56 – 17:02 ROTC scholarship, balancing Division I wrestling and military training 17:02 – 23:02 Redshirt grind, getting beat up, almost quitting, and mentors who kept him in 23:02 – 30:00 Style and mindset shift: from tiny 88-pounder to big 141 with a lethal top game 30:00 – 36:41 Technical deep dive: counter offense, shin whizzer, Jonesy tilts, and mat wrestling 36:41 – 40:15 2007 NCAA run, teching Ryan Lang, and winning Outstanding Wrestler 40:15 – 44:39 UC Davis love, parade, and then the heartbreak of the program being dropped 44:39 – 52:32 ROTC commitment, joining the Army’s World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) 52:32 – 59:13 Training at the OTC under Terry Brands, Zeke Jones, Brandon Slay, and Bill Zadick 59:13 – 1:05:22 Overseas tours, brutal foreign training camps, and learning international styles 1:05:22 – 1:11:20 Transition from athlete to coach: Sacred Heart to CBU and the D2-to-D1 climb 1:11:20 – 1:20:00 Building CBU Wrestling, recruiting, faith impact on athletes, and California wrestling 1:20:00 – 1:24:42 Comparing military leadership to coaching a college team 1:24:42 – 1:25:57 Hardest Lenny Zaleski workouts and old-school UC Davis conditioning 1:25:57 – End Reflections, biggest rewards as a coach, and closing thoughts
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
Mark Ironside - Inside the Iowa Wrestling Room :: Ep 5 The Full Tilt Podcast
17 Mar 2026
01:44:34
Four-time All-American and two-time NCAA champion Mark Ironside sits down with longtime friend and former roommate Mike Hatcher to go deep on legendary Cedar Rapids rivalries, wild college house stories, brutal Iowa wrestling room battles, and what it was really like under Dan Gable and Tom and Terry Brands. From packed Prairie–Jefferson duals to Olympic memories in Atlanta, this episode is a masterclass in toughness, loyalty, and the evolution of Hawkeye wrestling culture.
Timed Highlights 0:03:30 – Growing up minutes apart in Cedar Rapids but on opposite sides of the rivalry line 0:06:00 – Prairie vs Jefferson: sold-out gyms, fire marshals, and presold duel tickets 0:09:40 – Respect between rivals and training together before the state tournament 0:11:00 – The tiny, overheated Prairie wrestling room and Ironside’s first rope climbs at Iowa 0:16:50 – Academic roadblocks, floods, and almost walking away from college wrestling 0:22:20 – Legendary house chaos: tree climbs, couch on the roof, and police visits 0:27:00 – Being the sober guy in a party house and getting hit with disorderly house tickets 0:31:00 – Wrestling Gable after practice and the “drowning on bottom” feeling 0:35:30 – The neck brace story: the one time Ironside cracks Gable and pays for it 0:37:45 – Tom Brands’ 42-minute lifting circuits: the hardest workouts of Ironside’s life 0:45:15 – Mental toughness: training the mind to outlast the final 30 seconds of a match 0:49:50 – How getting dismantled by Tom and Terry led Ironside to self-teach the low single 0:54:00 – Jeff McGinnis, nerves, and the match that almost broke Ironside in high school 0:58:40 – Why you can’t put Iowa-style wrestling in a box as a coach 1:01:50 – Lincoln McIlravy as “the inventor” and techniques nobody else could copy 1:05:10 – The self-directed Gable room: “first one to get tired gets a drink” 1:09:20 – Gable’s philosophy: why he didn’t micromanage practices 1:16:50 – Driving to the 95 Worlds and 96 Olympics 1:22:30 – Watching Tom Brands win Olympic gold in Atlanta from the front row 1:24:36 – College rivals: Steve Schmidt, St. John, and learning from heartbreaking losses 1:35:25 – Why “nice” doesn’t win matches 1:38:15 – Tom Brands, Doug Schwab, and punching holes in office walls after a Penn State loss 1:43:55 – Remembering teammates and friends, and what the Hawkeye brotherhood means now
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!
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Lee Kemp - From Benchwarmer to World Champion :: Ep 6 The Full Tilt Podcast
26 Mar 2026
01:30:48
Hatch sits down with wrestling legend Lee Kemp to unpack his journey from adopted kid and benched basketball player to three-time NCAA champion and three-time World Champion. Lee tells how he discovered wrestling almost by accident, became obsessed with Dan Gable at a 1972 camp, and then shocked the sport by beating Gable at 18 years old.
He shares stories of turning Wisconsin into a national powerhouse, surviving brutal World Team Trials, winning his first World title, and the lifelong impact of the 1980 Olympic boycott on his identity and purpose. This is a raw, honest look at obsession, mental toughness, and the cost of chasing greatness.
If you care about wrestling, mindset, or what it really takes to chase greatness, this episode is a masterclass.
0:00:00 – Opening stories, Full Tilt intro, and why Lee Kemp is a wrestling legend
0:08:00 – Adoption, move from Cleveland to rural Chardon, outsider experiences, and accidentally finding wrestling after riding the bench in basketball
0:20:00 – The 1972 Dan Gable camp: obsession with Gable, copying his training, and deciding to go “all in” on wrestling
0:32:00 – High school breakthrough: upsetting the defending state champ, building belief, and the win that changed his career trajectory
0:45:00 – College years: almost going to Michigan State, choosing Wisconsin, and helping turn the Badgers into a national contender with multiple NCAA champs
0:58:00 – From NCAA star to World Team contender: the OW “snub,” getting talked into the World Team Trials, and battling Joe Carr and Dave Schultz in the mini-tournament
1:10:00 – Making the 1978 World Team: nine matches in four days at altitude, brutal Gable-led training camps, and the lead-up to Mexico City Worlds
1:20:00 – Winning his first World title, international rivalries, and how a deeper sense of purpose drove Lee beyond medals and records
1:30:00 – The 1980 Olympic boycott: feeling like a death in the family, losing the chance to become Olympic champion, and learning to live with a “stolen” dream as a three-time World Champion
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!
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Dan Gable - Staying On Top Through Loss :: Ep 7 The Full Tilt Podcast
02 Apr 2026
01:45:59
On this episode of The Full Tilt Podcast Hatch sits down with the Olympic gold medalist and legendary Iowa coach Dan Gable for a long-form conversation about wrestling, life, and legacy in his fabled cabin. His personal home wrestling room used for training.
They go deep on:
Growing up under West Waterloo’s Coach Siddens
Building dynasties at Iowa State and Iowa
Losing to Larry Owings and how that loss transformed him
Beating the Russians, training with Chris Taylor, and chasing Olympic gold
Near-wrist and armbar torture sessions in the Iowa room
The mindset it takes to get back to the top and rebuild after you fall off
NIL, the transfer portal, and the future of college wrestling
Family, grief, and why his grandkids carry his name forward
If you are a wrestling coach, athlete, or just a fan of elite performance, this is two hours of pure gold in a location few get access to.
Chapters:
0:00 Iron Sheik stories and pro wrestling crossover 0:50 Full Tilt intro and Hatch’s over-the-top excitement 1:41 Gable flips the script and starts interviewing Hatch 2:26 Hatch’s path: from Iowa kid to coaching across the country 4:28 Falling in love with South America and the idea of a wrestling club there 5:36 Pan Am Games in Colombia and beating a tough Cuban 6:37 Cubans, Russians, Iranians, and politics in world wrestling 9:23 The grind at Iowa and why Gable’s guys could not play another sport in-season 11:11 Hatch starts coaching youth while still wrestling for Iowa 13:08 Gable admits losing discipline between titles and rebuilding the Hawkeye dynasty 19:14 What it was like coming into Iowa behind Brands, Ironside, Haddock, Hogan 20:16 The Big Ten story: Kevin Hogan, Kent and Doug Strayer, and saving the title streak 28:27 Phase 2 of Iowa dominance: Brands, Steiners, Ryans, Pfisners, Ostendorp 32:34 What Gable learned from legendary high school coach Bob Siddens 39:40 The Marty Dickey weight-cut story and back-to-back West Waterloo champs 42:17 How Siddens and Nichols shaped Gable’s wrestling and coaching styles 47:11 Freshman Gable gets pushed in the Iowa State room and decides to “upgrade” 52:59 When did Gable get good enough to wrestle everyone in the room (including heavies)? 56:18 The Larry Owings loss, the newspaper headline, and a turning point 1:00:00 Learning to finish takedowns the right way and “make wrestling easier” 1:03:54 The slap from his mom that broke the mental fog after the Owings loss 1:07:03 Wrestling Chris Taylor, broken ribs, and competing hurt 1:10:21 Beating the Russians in Tbilisi and training with “Beat the Russians” on his wall 1:12:14 Why Gable tightened his focus and cut out distractions like pre-match media 1:20:16 Confronting the Iron Sheik at the 1996 Olympics about “beating Gable” 1:22:05 The 22 minute go and how Gable structured his own training at Iowa State 1:24:38 Hatch explains why wrestling Gable was worse than wrestling the Brands 1:26:19 Near-wrist defense and how swimming the arm changed everything 1:28:48 Social director Hatch, women’s teams in the stands, and getting pinned in front of them 1:32:45 Why Gable hates the phrase “I loved being a backup” 1:34:45 Parenting, pressure, and moms calling Gable about their sons’ roles 1:36:45 NIL, the transfer portal, and the risk of losing Division I wrestling programs 1:41:20 Marriage, sacrifice, and what it really takes to sustain a program 1:43:40 Gold as an athlete vs. gold as a coach: which meant more to Gable 1:45:16 How a murder in his family shaped his drive and why family matters most now
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!
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Steve Mocco - The Most Feared Heavyweight :: Ep 8 The Full Tilt Podcast
09 Apr 2026
01:47:41
On this episode of the Full Tilt Podcast, Hatch sits down with heavyweight legend Steve Mocco for a deep dive into one of the most unique careers in American wrestling. From judo roots and Blair Academy super-teams to wrestling under the lights in Carver-Hawkeye and Gallagher-Iba, Steve shares the stories, rivalries, and training methods that shaped a generational heavyweight.
They cover his transition from Iowa to Oklahoma State, the real reason behind that move, life at the Olympic Training Center, wild trips to Russia and Ukraine, and what it’s like now running a club and coaching his own sons. Along the way, you’ll hear about training with icons like Terry Brands, John Smith, and Henry Cejudo, plus some unforgettable behind-the-scenes stories.
0:00 Ferrari, Japanese signs, and Iowa–Oklahoma State talk 0:55 Full Tilt intro with Steve Mocco 1:19 Being on the heavyweight Mount Rushmore 3:39 Kidney issue, swimming, and discovering judo 5:39 How judo shaped Mocco’s wrestling style and foot sweep 9:22 “Stand up and fight” judo tournament and Buxton banning judo 11:05 Inside Blair Academy’s super teams and Buxton’s training 24:09 Why Mocco chose Iowa and the first Carver-Hawkeye experience 33:46 Why he transferred from Iowa to Oklahoma State 35:00 Season on the Mat cameras and life inside the Iowa room 56:35 Following Terry Brands to the Olympic Training Center 1:05:43 Manitou Incline and brutal altitude workouts 1:13:36 Winning the Yarygin and beating world champs 1:18:38 Getting shorted on prize money in Russia 1:21:23 Riots, tire fires, and sneaking back into the city 1:30:01 Transition to coaching and starting his Florida club 1:43:00 Balancing dad and coach with his own kids 1:46:44 Who he’d teach his famous foot sweep to
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
Dennis Hall - Greco Legend :: Ep 10 The Full Tilt Podcast
23 Apr 2026
01:46:57
Hatch sits down with Greco-Roman legend Dennis Hall for a raw look at one of the most intense careers in American wrestling. Hall talks about walking away from a full-ride at Wisconsin to chase Greco, going from 0–5 at early World events to World Champion, and the mindset work that helped him handle doubt, pressure, and pain.
He opens up about losing his brother and how that tragedy fueled his run to a 1995 World title, the heartbreak of the 1996 Olympic final in Atlanta, grinding through construction work and Home Depot while chasing another team, and the now-legendary 17-minute overtime war with Brandon Paulson at the 2004 Olympic Trials.
If you care about Greco, toughness, or what it really takes to chase greatness, this episode is for you.
Timed Highlights: 0:00 Opening story and intro to Dennis Hall 2:03 Why US Greco is struggling and who dominates it worldwide 8:47 Leaving Wisconsin and going all-in on Greco 15:20 Early World struggles, 0–5 start, and Dan Chandler’s mindset talk 24:41 First World medal in 1994 and learning to “take it out of the refs’ hands” 39:57 1995 World title run and winning gold on criteria 47:39 Losing his brother, quitting wrestling, and coming back for him 52:31 Building toward the 1996 Olympics and training with foreign hammers 1:02:42 Atlanta matches, rib injury, and making the Olympic final 1:08:30 1996 Olympic final, controversial lift, and living with silver 1:20:55 Working construction and staying elite while broke 1:22:06 Home Depot, John Bartis sponsorship, and one last Olympic push 1:28:21 Dropping a weight for 2004 and proving doubters wrong 1:36:53 17-minute overtime war with Brandon Paulson at the 2004 Trials 1:40:03 The winning takedown, celebration, and respect between two rivals
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!
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Kevin Dresser - Building Wrestling Dynasties :: Ep 9 The Full Tilt Podcast
16 Apr 2026
01:36:42
In this episode of the Full Tilt podcast, Hatch sits down with Iowa State head coach Kevin Dresser for a deep dive into old-school Iowa wrestling culture, program building at every level, and how the sport has evolved from the 1980s to the NIL era.
Dresser shares raw stories from the legendary Iowa room under Dan Gable, from three-a-days and brutal live wrestling to work-hard-play-hard social life. He walks through building dynasty-level programs at Grundy and Christiansburg High Schools, turning Virginia Tech into a national contender, and rebuilding Iowa State into a top-tier Division I power.
They cover toughness versus talent, the impact of RTCs, how NIL has changed recruiting, and what it really takes to be elite as an athlete and a coach.
Timestamps: 2:49 Dresser arrives at Iowa and enters the Gable era 4:07 Inside a dynasty: Iowa’s NCAA title expectations 9:09 First Iowa beatdowns at Jay Robinson’s camp 11:15 The double fish hook story with Lenny Zaleski 16:15 What “old school” really was: three-a-days and nine workouts 24:58 Why wrestlers get hurt more now than in the 80s 28:31 The common trait of Dresser’s best guys: loving live wrestling 33:11 Squaring hips vs rolling around: toughness and ACLs 35:00 Old-school weight cutting vs today’s two-hour weigh-ins 43:32 Jay Robinson camps, road trips, and wild stories 49:47 Building Grundy and Christiansburg into high school powerhouses 53:42 How bingo funded a national-level high school program 1:02:39 Taking over Virginia Tech and starting from dead last 1:12:09 The 2016 Virginia Tech trophy team 1:15:36 Moving to Iowa State with an all-Hawkeye staff 1:18:22 NIL, rev share, and “street value” of college wrestlers 1:25:00 Bringing Cuban stars to Iowa State 1:28:06 Gable’s “Dressler” joke and earning the name Dresser 1:33:26 Dresser’s advice to young coaches: know exactly what you want
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
Doug Schwab - Room Wars and Panther Train :: Ep 12 The Full Tilt Podcast
07 May 2026
02:09:14
Doug Schwab joins the Full Tilt Podcast for a deep dive into Iowa wrestling culture, his days under Dan Gable, the brutal “I quit” practices, making World and Olympic teams, and building the Panther Train at UNI. Doug shares real coaching gold on culture, competition, and what it means to raise tough, grounded kids in the sport.
From small-town Osage roots and legendary rivalries, to Iowa’s dynasty rooms and the Olympic stage, Doug opens up about faith, failure, loyalty, and how he’s now guiding the next generation—including his own sons.
Timed Highlights 0:00 Opening story: the infamous “I quit” practice with Ironside 1:11 Full Tilt intro and welcoming Doug Schwab 1:27 Doug on living the wrestling lifestyle year-round 2:02 UNI’s wrestling room and making the most of what you have 4:39 Growing up Schwab in Osage, Iowa 5:23 What Iowa high school wrestling and “the Barn” felt like 8:23 Small-town rivalries and heated New Hampton–Osage battles 13:33 Transitioning into the Gable–Zalesky era at Iowa 15:03 First Iowa practice: getting destroyed by Ironside 18:10 Life inside the Iowa practice room and “rite of passage” beatdowns 20:18 The toughest guys Doug ever wrestled in the room 23:38 Real Pro Wrestling era and battles with Chris Bono 26:01 Learning to use rivals and emotions as fuel, not poison 29:50 Why relationships matter more than wins and losses 32:16 Taking over at UNI: coming in “hot and hard” as a young head coach 34:01 Early Panther guys who bought in and changed the program 38:18 How UNI built All-Americans and national champs like Drew Foster 40:39 Coaching philosophy: loyalty, development, and culture over credentials 42:39 The West Gym to MAT Club transition and keeping the team together 47:39 Filling McLeod, embracing growth, and honoring the West Gym 50:30 Doug as a dad: raising wrestlers without burning them out 56:33 Gap years, emotional maturity, and long-term development 1:02:03 Letting kids struggle and not “rescuing” them too early 1:08:30 Balancing dad vs. coach and playing the long game 1:18:04 Parker Keckeisen’s work ethic and impact on UNI 1:24:39 Building a staff that truly aligns with program values 1:33:18 What Doug wants his athletes to leave UNI with 2:03:40 Doug on pouring back into the sport and being in Iowa 2:08:30 Closing: friendship, gratitude, and the future of Panther Train
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!
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Ben Askren - Reinventing Wrestling :: Ep 11 The Full Tilt Podcast
30 Apr 2026
00:52:48
Ben Askren sits down in his Wisconsin home to unpack how he reinvented wrestling, from basement mats and reluctant partners to NCAA dominance and world‑level technique. He breaks down scrambling’s evolution, the balance between family and coaching, why passion beats early results in recruiting, and how to keep kids hungry for the sport without burning them out.
Chapters
2:00 – The birth of the PNL league during COVID and its purpose
3:40 – No year‑round clubs, basement mats, and inventing “funk” out of necessity
6:30 – Letting partners almost score and teaching himself to scramble
8:40 – Illegal off‑season training with his high school coach and leveling up
10:20 – Why scrambling may decline and the rise of clean, efficient attacks
11:50 – Suits, briefcases, message boards, and antagonizing the crowd
13:40 – Chasing the takedown record and turning hate into fuel
18:20 – Building multi‑step systems and staying two moves ahead
22:20 – Updating his game today and importing new techniques for his athletes
23:50 – Coaching Evan Wick: stubbornness, cardio, and fixing real weaknesses
27:10 – Practice as a puzzle, not a script, and keeping kids engaged
31:30 – Empowering athletes to figure things out on their own
35:20 – The problem with year‑round youth grind and over‑coaching
37:30 – Who should really go Division I and why love for the sport matters most
39:40 – Choosing Missouri, buying into Coach Smith, and building a contender
41:50 – Dominant NCAA runs and being obsessed with bonus points
44:10 – Calling out lazy recruiting: results vs. passion and trajectory
50:40 – The best wrestlers Ben ever felt and the hidden training partner who beat him up
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
Randy Couture - Blueprint of a Fight Legend :: Ep 13 The Full Tilt Podcast
14 May 2026
01:46:14
UFC Hall of Famer and Olympic Greco-Roman standout Randy “The Natural” Couture sits down for a deep-dive into the journey behind the legend. From wrestling for the U.S. Army in the Cold War era to battling on the NCAA stage, chasing Olympic dreams, and pioneering MMA game-planning, Randy shares the untold stories that shaped his career and life. He talks about discovering Greco by accident, training alongside icons at Oklahoma State, wild international tours in communist Europe and Cuba, the infamous “experiment” Alexander Karelin, transitioning into the UFC, and why wrestling is still the ultimate foundation for fighting.
If you’re into wrestling, MMA, or high-performance mindset, this is a masterclass in resilience, problem-solving, and trusting the process.
Timed Highlights 00:00 – Cold open 03:30 – Joining the Army, becoming an air traffic controller, and rediscovering wrestling 10:00 – Accidentally entering Greco and winning his first Greco tournament 17:00 – Making the All-Army team and discovering how big combative sports are in the military 24:00 – The wild 1988 military worlds in Palermo and armored-car rides through Sicily 32:00 – Choosing Oklahoma State, recruiting visit with Sheets and coon hunting in Stillwater 40:00 – Big duals, Iowa–Oklahoma State rivalries, and wrestling Don Frye for a lineup spot 47:30 – World-level Greco years, rivalries with Mike Foy and Steve Klock, and Pan Am stories 56:00 – Training and living with Marines, Navy, and Army wrestlers; real poverty in Cuba 1:03:00 – Discovering the early UFC on VHS and recognizing Don Frye in the cage 1:10:00 – Working with Rico Ciparelli and RAW, integrating wrestling into MMA game plans 1:18:00 – Why Greco is the best base for MMA and learning to fight off the cage 1:26:00 – The James Toney fight, reviving the low single, and using “John Smith” tactics in MMA 1:34:00 – How setbacks (NCAA and Olympic trials) led to a bigger path than he imagined 1:42:00 – Faith, timing, mentors, and the small “corner” that really matters
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Bill Scherr - Saving Olympic Wrestling :: Ep 14 The Full Tilt Podcast
21 May 2026
01:40:43
World champion, Olympic medalist, and finance executive Bill Scherr joins the show for a deep dive into one of the most fascinating careers in wrestling history. Bill shares how baling hay in rural South Dakota built his strength, why Randy Lewis changed what South Dakota kids believed was possible, and how Nebraska went from “death’s door” to national trophy contender.
He breaks down Soviet dominance, Iranian passion for the sport, training under legends like Dan Gable and Jay Robinson, and the brutal art of “Red Flag Days.” Bill also talks about his success in both freestyle and Greco, moving up to 220 for the good of Team USA, coaching the women’s national team, and chairing the global effort that brought wrestling back into the Olympic Games.
If you love old-school war stories, high-level strategy, and big-picture thinking about the future of wrestling, this one’s loaded front to back.
Timestamps:
02:13 Growing up in Mobridge, South Dakota, big family, farm work
05:34 South Dakota wrestling culture, influence of Randy Lewis
07:52 Rapid City dual: Randy pins Alexiev, arena explodes
10:09 How youth wrestling has evolved with better training and media
13:52 Choosing Nebraska, Lewis family connection, rebuilding the program
16:20 “Murderers Row” at Nebraska and comeback dual wins
17:29 College rivals: Pete Bush, Ed Banach, classic matches
21:13 Dan Gable stories and the congratulatory letter after 1985 worlds
22:18 Dave Schultz’s curiosity, learning from everyone, Book of Five Rings
25:48 Jay Robinson, visualization, and “fatigue is your friend”
27:39 Red Flag Days and training to get tired
32:03 1981: four national finals in a few weeks (AAU vs USWF)
38:24 Greco success, Frazier, Hauck, and choosing freestyle
47:11 Wrestling the Soviets: strength, systems, regional styles
52:03 Iranians, politics, and the 1985 world final medal stand story
55:57 Moving up to 220 so his brother and Mark Schultz could all make teams
58:28 Never cutting weight and advice to parents on weight cutting
1:07:07 Goodwill Games buzzer-beater and immediate jump to Goldman Sachs
1:13:08 Coaching at Indiana and Northwestern, Herbert and Fox
1:14:21 Coaching the U.S. women’s team and early growth of women’s wrestling
1:18:15 Tricia Saunders’ impact and resistance to women wrestling
1:24:58 Chairing the effort to save Olympic wrestling (CPOW)
1:27:52 How wrestling got dropped and then brought back to the Olympics
1:33:19 What wrestling must fix: rules, challenges, TV product
1:38:36 Funny Mark Manning story: selling blood for spring break
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Nate Carr - Faith, Family, Wrestling :: Ep 15 The Full Tilt Podcast
28 May 2026
01:27:14
Three-time NCAA champion and Olympic medalist Nate Carr joins Full Tilt to share how a house of 16 kids, a pastor dad, and a wrestling-obsessed family forged one of the greatest legacies in American wrestling. Nate breaks down his classic battles with Kenny Monday, the influence of Coach Nichols and the Gatsons, and what he learned competing against Soviet greats on the world stage. He also goes deep on mindset, visualization, and faith, revealing the mental tools he used to win and how he now uses them to coach the next generation, including his son and NCAA champion David Carr. This is a masterclass in building champions in sport and in life.
Timed Highlights: 00:00 Growing up in a 16-kid wrestling family in Erie, PA 06:30 Family rivalry, All-Americans, Olympians, and broken furniture stories 13:30 Setting goals to become the best wrestler in the family and a national champion 19:00 Why Nate chose Iowa State over Iowa and the power of winning over mom in recruiting 25:30 Coach Harold Nichols, legendary workout rooms, and tough practice stories 33:00 Classic Iowa vs Iowa State battles and early college rivalries 38:30 Scott Trizzino, Jay Robinson, and fueling the Iowa–Iowa State rivalry 44:00 Kenny Monday rivalries, overtime NCAA finals, and epic trash talk 52:00 Making the World Team, 1984 Olympic Trials heartbreak, and coming back for 1988 59:00 Wrestling Soviet legend Arsen Fadzaev and what made the Russians different 1:06:00 What Americans learned (and missed) from Soviet training systems 1:11:00 Coaching philosophy: purpose-driven practice, mindset, and self-talk 1:18:00 The visualization exercise Nate used before wrestling Kenny Monday 1:24:00 Coaching David Carr, raising seven kids, and being a “professional encourager” 1:28:00 Faith, purpose, and why failure does not make you a failure
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Jamil Kelly - Wrestling The Odds :: Ep 16 The Full Tilt Podcast
04 Jun 2026
01:25:58
Jamil Kelly’s wrestling story doesn’t follow the usual script. He wasn’t a blue‑chip recruit. He didn’t win an NCAA title. But he did become an Olympic silver medalist and one of the most respected coaches in the sport.
In this episode of the Full Tilt Podcast, we cover Jamil’s entire arc: – Growing up in Atwater, CA and getting pulled into wrestling as a late starter – Learning from VHS tapes, “How Low Can You Go,” and studying the greats – JUCO life at Lassen with future D1 and international stars – Transitioning to Oklahoma State under John Smith and battling the mental side of confidence – Wrestling Lightner, Guerrero, Ironside, Schmidt and living through the Bedlam era – Training with Colet and the 2000 Olympic Team and realizing the Olympics were possible – Beating Lincoln McIlravy, qualifying for Athens, and winning Olympic silver – Coaching at Harvard, Stanford, Arizona State, UNC, and in the corner for world champion Trent Hidlay
It’s a masterclass in belief, persistence, and what it really takes to “know what it looks like” at the highest level of wrestling.
Timestamps:
04:15 – Growing up in Atwater, CA and getting “talked into” wrestling as a 4'11" freshman football player 12:40 – VHS tapes, “How Low Can You Go,” and learning wrestling by rewinding John Smith a thousand times 21:10 – From non‑power high school to California state podium and finding JUCO powerhouse Lassen College 32:00 – Life at Lassen: TJ Williams, Reggie Wright, Belarusian hammers, and turning JUCO into a D1 factory 41:30 – The Oklahoma State visit during World Cup, choosing the Cowboys, and first reality check in the OSU room 53:00 – Mental battles in college: wrestling not to lose, Lightner stories, and what held Jamil back at NCAAs 1:03:30 – How training with Colet, Terry Brands, and the 2000 Olympic Team made the Olympics feel possible 1:13:00 – Beating Lincoln McIlravy at the 2004 Trials, game-planning the Russian, and winning Olympic silver 1:22:00 – Coaching chapter: Harvard culture shock, building trust with athletes, and the “odd couple” partnership with Trent Hidlay 1:25:30 – What Jamil wants wrestlers and coaches to take away about belief, preparation, and “knowing what it looks like”
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Barry Davis - From Prairie Mats to Olympic Mats :: Ep 17 The Full Tilt Podcast
18 Jun 2026
02:26:27
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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Chael Sonnen - Stories They Never Tell On TV :: Ep 22 The Full Tilt Podcast
23 Jul 2026
01:56:58
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
Cary Kolat - Navy Wrestling Architect :: Ep 21 The Full Tilt Podcast
16 Jul 2026
02:42:04
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 - Heart On The Line :: Ep 20 The Full Tilt Podcast
09 Jul 2026
01:43:06
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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Produced by: ItsYourShow.co
Jeff McGinness - From Mat Rat To Mastermind :: Ep 19 The Full Tilt Podcast
02 Jul 2026
02:04:18
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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Kenny Monday - Wrestling’s Quiet Assassin :: Ep 18 The Full Tilt Podcast
25 Jun 2026
02:28:33
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!
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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
USA Wrestling’s Rich Bender: Saving Olympic Wrestling, Fargo Legends, and the Golden Age of the Sport :: Ep 23 Full Tilt Podcast
30 Jul 2026
02:04:48
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