Shows / The Full Tilt Podcast
The Full Tilt Podcast
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…
Episodes
The Full Tilt PodcastNick Gwiazdowski - Armed Escorts and World Medals :: Ep 36
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastEric Larkin - Greater Later :: Ep 35
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastJim Ravannack - The Man Who Wouldn’t Let Wrestling Go :: Ep 34
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastMatt Mcdonough - Built to Grind :: Ep 33
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastBruce Baumgartner - Wrestling in the Soviet Union :: Ep 32
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastBo Bassett - Nothing Changes :: Ep 31
Cadet World Champion and Virginia Tech Hokie Bo Bassett breaks down the “nothing changes” mindset that powers his legendary work ethic, comeback wins, and…
The Full Tilt PodcastJoe Russell - From Skull Fracture to World Titles :: Ep 30
Joe Russell, Manager of Freestyle Programs at USA Wrestling, sits down with Hatch for an honest, funny, and powerful conversation about surviving a…
The Full Tilt PodcastTerry Steiner - Journey to Grow the Sport :: Ep 29 The Full Tilt Podcast
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastBill Zadick - From Montana Mats to World Gold :: Ep 28
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastAli & Derek St. John - Wrestling’s Power Couple Ignites Iowa State :: Ep 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…
The Full Tilt PodcastJohnMark Bentley - Inside App State Wrestling :: Ep 26
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastCarl Adams - Wrestling Legend And Innovator :: Ep 25 The Full Tilt Podcast
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastBen Peterson - Farm Boy To Olympic Legend :: Ep 24 The Full Tilt Podcast
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastUSA Wrestling’s Rich Bender: Saving Olympic Wrestling, Fargo Legends, and the Golden Age of the Sport :: Ep 23 Full Tilt Podcast
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastChael Sonnen - Stories They Never Tell On TV :: Ep 22 The Full Tilt Podcast
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 Full Tilt PodcastCary Kolat - Navy Wrestling Architect :: Ep 21 The Full Tilt Podcast
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastBrent Metcalf - Heart On The Line :: Ep 20 The Full Tilt Podcast
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastJeff McGinness - From Mat Rat To Mastermind :: Ep 19 The Full Tilt Podcast
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastKenny Monday - Wrestling’s Quiet Assassin :: Ep 18 The Full Tilt Podcast
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 Full Tilt PodcastBarry Davis - From Prairie Mats to Olympic Mats :: Ep 17 The Full Tilt Podcast
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastJamil Kelly - Wrestling The Odds :: Ep 16 The Full Tilt Podcast
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastNate Carr - Faith, Family, Wrestling :: Ep 15 The Full Tilt Podcast
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastBill Scherr - Saving Olympic Wrestling :: Ep 14 The Full Tilt Podcast
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastRandy Couture - Blueprint of a Fight Legend :: Ep 13 The Full Tilt Podcast
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 Full Tilt PodcastDoug Schwab - Room Wars and Panther Train :: Ep 12 The Full Tilt Podcast
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastBen Askren - Reinventing Wrestling :: Ep 11 The Full Tilt Podcast
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastDennis Hall - Greco Legend :: Ep 10 The Full Tilt Podcast
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastKevin Dresser - Building Wrestling Dynasties :: Ep 9 The Full Tilt Podcast
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastSteve Mocco - The Most Feared Heavyweight :: Ep 8 The Full Tilt Podcast
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastDan Gable - Staying On Top Through Loss :: Ep 7 The Full Tilt Podcast
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastLee Kemp - From Benchwarmer to World Champion :: Ep 6 The Full Tilt Podcast
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastMark Ironside - Inside the Iowa Wrestling Room :: Ep 5 The Full Tilt Podcast
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastDerek Moore - Faith, Wrestling, and Redemption :: Ep 3 The Full Tilt Podcast
NCAA champion and former Army officer Derek Moore joins the Full Tilt Podcast to walk through his unlikely rise from undersized, lightly recruited California…
The Full Tilt PodcastNolan Kistler - Saving CBU Wrestling :: Ep 4 The Full Tilt Podcast
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastRandy Lewis - Toughest Kid on the Block :: Ep 2 The Full Tilt Podcast
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…
The Full Tilt PodcastRoyce Alger - Gable Time, Foxcatcher, and the Heisman House :: Ep 1 The Full Tilt Podcast
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…