In episode 18, I talk with Ilias Iliadis. He is truly one of the legends of judo, an Olympic gold and bronze medalist, two-time world champion, and 5-time world medalist. And still only 26 years old (turning 27 two days after the interview and of course training on his birthday). We talk about his birthday two days … Continue reading 18: Ilias Iliadis Interview →

In episode 17, I talk “a little judo” (for 90 minutes) with my comrade and judo mastermind Niko Dax. Our conversation is always full of opinions, disagreements, and Russian accents. We talk about Teddy Riner, Ilias Iliadis visit to the United States, judo in Kansas, AAU freestyle judo, being a big fish in a small … Continue reading 17: Niko and Lex Talk a Little Judo →

In episode 16, I talk to Sebastian Brosche, a jiu jitsu competitor, judo black belt, and yoga instructor. He won double gold at Worlds in purple belt, and gold at Abu Dhabi World Pro at brown belt. We talk about his early years in judo, the support of his mom,  Olympic gold, street fights, adopting … Continue reading 16: Sebastian Brosche on BJJ, Judo, and Yoga →

In episode 15, Tim Carpenter and I talk to Jooyoung Lee, an assistant professor of sociology at University of Toronto, purple belt in BJJ, pop-locker, and former D1 swimmer. We talk about his 2 years in Philadelphia studying gunshot victims, 5 years in California studying hip hop artists in search of fame, the positive and … Continue reading 15: Jooyoung Lee on Gunshot Victims, Near-Death Experience, Popping, and Swimming →

In episode 14, Josh Vogel and I talk to James Vincent, a BJJ black belt and a police officer,  about police work, Survivorman Les Stroud, Ray Mears, MovNat, Exuberant Animal, gun control, fear vs panic, little guy jiu jitsu, Norwegian heavy water sabotage, boredom, survival as a choice and as a necessity, hiking, climbing trees, kettlebells, CrossFit, … Continue reading 14: James Vincent on Police Work, Survival, and Always Having a Plan →

In episode 13, I talk to Travis Stevens, an American judoka, 2-time Olympian, and also one of the best BJJ brown belts in the world. He talked about training and competing through injury, fear as the thing that makes you tired, the role of coaching, adjusting to the new gripping rules, coming back from a … Continue reading 13: Travis Stevens on Fighting Through Injury and Training to Exhaustion →

In episode 12, Tim and I talk to Ricardo Migliarese, 3rd degree BJJ black belt, head instructor of Balance Studios in Philadelphia. Ricardo talks about growing up in Philly, bullying, parenting, ADHD medication, the education system, the influence of his father and his recent passing, his close relationship with his brother Phil, how he and … Continue reading 12: Ricardo Migliarese on the Lion and the Fox →

In episode 11, I talk to judo olympian Nick Delpopolo. He is ranked #1 in the United States and top 10 in the world. We talk about the four dramatic matches that qualified him for the 2012 Olympics and the four matches at the Olympics, the loss by referee decision, overcoming the aftermath of the … Continue reading 11: Nick Delpopolo on His Olympics Experience, Close Matches, Coaching, and Starcraft →

In episode 10, Josh and I talk to Angela Vogel about women in jiu jitsu, Game of Thrones, being married to a black belt, warrior queens, Zenobia, working as a pastry chef, spider-man, knee cut pass, dieting, starting jiu jitsu, dance parties, country songs,  teaching with a focus on transitions, etc. Subscribe on iTunes or … Continue reading 10: Angela Vogel on Women in Jiu Jitsu, Pastry Grips, and Game of Thrones →

In episode 9, I talk to Kit Dale, Australian black belt and one of the rising stars on the jiu jitsu competition scene. He talks about facing Keenan Cornelius at the 2013 Worlds, his competition mindset, Copa Podio, confidence, visualization, Australian rules football, injuries, starting jiu jitsu in early twenties, wrestling and judo in bjj, importance of timing, … Continue reading 9: Kit Dale on Competition Mindset and a Life of Crime →