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PODCAST

The Full Tilt Podcast

Michael Hatcher

The Full Tilt Podcast is a show about elite athletic performers who refuse to operate at half speed. Hosted for competitors, coaches, and high achievers, this show dives deep into the mindset, discipline, recovery, sacrifice, and obsession required to perform at the highest level. From pro athletes and Olympians to elite trainers and sports scientists, we unpack what it really takes to go all in. From "oh Sh**" stories to unique experiences... No shortcuts. No excuses. Just performance — at full

sports wrestling

All Episodes

42:28

Bruce Baumgartner - Wrestling in the Soviet Union ::...

The Full Tilt Podcast ·

2026/10/01

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

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46:36

Bo Bassett - Nothing Changes :: Ep 31

The Full Tilt Podcast ·

2026/09/24

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

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92:46

Joe Russell - From Skull Fracture to World Titles ::...

The Full Tilt Podcast ·

2026/09/17

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

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120:53

Terry Steiner - Journey to Grow the Sport :: Ep 29...

The Full Tilt Podcast ·

2026/09/10

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

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157:52

Bill Zadick - From Montana Mats to World Gold :: Ep 28

The Full Tilt Podcast ·

2026/09/03

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

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100:57

Ali & Derek St. John - Wrestling’s Power Couple...

The Full Tilt Podcast ·

2026/08/27

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

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96:53

JohnMark Bentley - Inside App State Wrestling :: Ep 26

The Full Tilt Podcast ·

2026/08/20

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

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88:08

Carl Adams - Wrestling Legend And Innovator :: Ep 25...

The Full Tilt Podcast ·

2026/08/13

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

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125:44

Ben Peterson - Farm Boy To Olympic Legend :: Ep 24...

The Full Tilt Podcast ·

2026/08/06

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

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124:48

USA Wrestling’s Rich Bender: Saving Olympic...

The Full Tilt Podcast ·

2026/07/30

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

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116:58

Chael Sonnen - Stories They Never Tell On TV :: Ep 22...

The Full Tilt Podcast ·

2026/07/23

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

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162:04

Cary Kolat - Navy Wrestling Architect :: Ep 21 The...

The Full Tilt Podcast ·

2026/07/16

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 Tilt0:50 The “hate era” of 90s wrestling and how social media might’ve

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103:06

Brent Metcalf - Heart On The Line :: Ep 20 The Full...

The Full Tilt Podcast ·

2026/07/09

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

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124:18

Jeff McGinness - From Mat Rat To Mastermind :: Ep 19...

The Full Tilt Podcast ·

2026/07/02

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 room04:30 – Training under Gable,

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148:33

Kenny Monday - Wrestling’s Quiet Assassin :: Ep 18...

The Full Tilt Podcast ·

2026/06/25

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

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146:27

Barry Davis - From Prairie Mats to Olympic Mats :: Ep...

The Full Tilt Podcast ·

2026/06/18

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

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85:58

Jamil Kelly - Wrestling The Odds :: Ep 16 The Full...

The Full Tilt Podcast ·

2026/06/04

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

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87:14

Nate Carr - Faith, Family, Wrestling :: Ep 15 The...

The Full Tilt Podcast ·

2026/05/28

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

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100:43

Bill Scherr - Saving Olympic Wrestling :: Ep 14 The...

The Full Tilt Podcast ·

2026/05/21

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

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106:14

Randy Couture - Blueprint of a Fight Legend :: Ep 13...

The Full Tilt Podcast ·

2026/05/14

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,

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32 results

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