Mike Safo

Mike Safo

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Mike Safo episodes

  • Mike Safo with Alex Cuadros, Author of "When We Sold God's Eye: Diamonds, Murder, and a Clash of Worlds in the Amazon"

    Join us today for an engaging conversation with author and investigative journalist, Alex Cuadros. Alex shares his personal journey, from growing up in New Mexico to moving to New York for college, and ultimately making the bold decision to leave his job and immerse himself in the heart of Latin and South America as a journalist.

    Alex is the author of the fascinating new book "When We Sold God's Eye: Diamonds, Murder, and a Clash of Worlds in the Amazon"". In this episode, Alex recounts the moment he first learned about the uncontacted Cinta Larga tribe—why the story captivated him, and how he managed to establish communication with them. He also delves into the tribe’s fascinating history, from their first contact with the outside world in the 1960s to the tumultuous challenges they've faced ever since.

    We discuss the devastating impact of disease, the tribe's unintended involvement in the mahogany trade, and their eventual entanglement in the dangerous and secretive world of diamond mining. Alex sheds light on the horrific 2004 massacre that claimed the lives of 29 Cinta Larga members, and we explore how the legacy of this tragic event is remembered today in Brazil.

    Finally, Alex shares his thoughts on uncontacted tribes and what steps can be taken to protect their heritage. All this and more. Enjoy

    1 hr 5 min
  • Mike Safo with Martin Gramática, Super Bowl Champion / NFL Veteran
    Joined today by Super Bowl champion Martin Gramática. Martin talks about being a child in ‘86 when Argentina won the World Cup, how he celebrated the last year of them winning the Cup, and his superstitions watching the games.  We then chat about Martin’s stud son dominating at USF, playing in the bowl game, and how he tries to give him advice. Martin shares how he started playing football as a senior in high school, why he chose Kansas State over Notre Dame, and where he was when he found out he was drafted.  He reminisces seeing himself on his first card, why he had to change his autograph and walking into the locker room with Warren Sapp, Brooks and Alstott. We chat about that magical Super Bowl run, when he knew the team was special, and how the team celebrated.  We hear how difficult it is going from team to team, the mental hurdles of being a kicker, and how a kicker gets out of a funk. We discuss life after football and the work that goes into being a broadcaster. He lets us know how it was like playing for coaches such as, Tony Dungy, Gruden, Parcells and Belichick. From his soccer celebrations and meeting Messi to his wonderful charity work and his love of westerns.  All this and more with the legendary NFL kicker, Martin Automatica
    53 min
  • Mike Safo with Patrick Bertoletti, 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Champion
    Joined today by the number two competitive food eater in the world and the 2024 Nathan‘s hot dog eating champion, Patrick Bartolo. Patrick talks about growing up in Chicago, going to culinary school and opening up his restaurant Taco In a Bag. We go over how his love of food and eating got him into the world of competitive food eating. We chat about his time on America’s Got Talent where he ate 120 raw eggs and he shares some of his world records, such as eating 20 pounds of blueberries in eight minutes 11 pounds of Key lime pie in eight minutes and 34 dozen oysters in eight minutes. From his training regimen to win the mustard belt, to his friendship with Joey Chestnut and  how his life has changed after winning the legendary food eating contest in the world. All this and more with one of the most hungriest people I’ve had on the.
    30 min
  • Mike Safo with Mark Munoz, UFC Fighter / Actor
    Joined today, by UFC legend, Mark the Filipino wrecking machine Muñoz. Mark talks about being a Lolo (grandfather), becoming a comic book superhero in the loop with a vengeance comic series, and his superhero skills. He shares what life was like, growing up in California, how bullying led him to wrestling and why he chose to go to Oklahoma State. We hear about his first experience meeting a cowboy in Oklahoma, the insane knowledge of Oklahoma and wrestling fans, and how we had to lie about a party just to get his future wife’s phone number. We discuss his move back to California to coach, what made him decide to choose a career in mixed martial arts (MMA) and how he was thrown to the walls in his first training session by sparring with Randy Couture. We talk about his time in the UFC, bringing MMA out to the Philippines and why he decided that he needed to retire. From his son’s surging wrestling career to hanging/working out with Manny Pacquiao. All this and more with one of the nicest guys in the history of the UFC.
    48 min
  • Mike Safo with T.J. Dillashaw, two-time UFC Bantamweight Champion
    Joined today by former UFC Champion and Founder/CEO of Wild Society Nutrition, T.J. Dillashaw.  T.J. talks about growing up in California, wrestling as a child and his collegiate career at Cal State Fullerton. We go over the science of food, recovery and his amazing new company, Wild Society Nutrition. We hear about the process of creating protein powders, beef jerky and all his other products. T.J. takes us through the decision to become a professional fighter, the sacrifices he made by sleeping on a futon in a living room, and finally getting a chance by being on the Ultimate Fighter TV show. We discuss some of his controversial losses, stunning the fighting world by winning the title at UFC 173, and how he celebrated in Vegas. T.J. breaks down his legendary feud with Cody Garbrandt, the allure of fighting at Madison Square Garden (MSG), and becoming a worldwide name overnight. We chat about cutting weight despite all the injuries that his body has endured and the pain taking recovery he has gone through. All this plus awesome stories about having dinner with Hulk Hogan and much more
    Check out T.J.’s Instagram and company website here:
    IG: https://www.instagram.com/tjdillashaw/
    Website to order: https://wildsocietynutrition.com/
    54 min
  • Mike Safo with Chris Byrd, Former Heavyweight Champion (Boxing)
    Joined today by the former heavyweight champion of the world, Chris Byrd. Chris reminisces about growing up in Flint, Michigan with 8 siblings, why Boxing was the only thing for him, and his insane amateur career which included over 285 wins. Chris shares why they are calling him “Healthy Byrd”, and after 11 years of pain all over his body how his diet finally resurrected him. Chris and I talk about the legendary 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. We hear why the boxing team did not go to the opening ceremonies, if the Olympic villages are as crazy as we always hear, winning the silver medal, and where all that cool Olympic swag is. We try to find out why Chris wasn’t signed by a promotion after the Olympics, we hear about him hustling just to get fights in a nightclub, and how he finally started fighting in big arenas. We go over his crazy boxing schedule, how and why he took the fight in Berlin against Vitali Klitschko, and how he celebrated winning the world title. We discuss the sport of Boxing, working for Don King, and his fight with Evander Holyfield in Atlantic City. Chris shocks everyone when he talks about his comeback fight in January or February 2025. He talks about his desire to be the champion again and why no one will be surprised when he does it again. All this and more with the “CHAMP”
    37 min
  • Mike Safo with Rolando "The Incredible" Dy, UFC Fighter / Bare Knuckle Boxer
    Joined today, all the way from the Philippines, UFC alumni and current competitor in bare knuckle fighting, Rolando Dy. Rolando and I talk about growing up in the Philippines, being a girl dad, and some of his favorite foods. We then chat about his viral moment when he proposed to his girlfriend, after one of his fights, and we hear the funny story of how he met her, and their first date. He shares how Christmas in the Philippines is, and why he’s not decorating. We discuss his fighting career, any pressures following in his famous father‘s footsteps, why his family did not encourage him to box and how that led him into the world of mixed martial arts. We talk about why MMA is not popular in the Philippines, how he got invited to the UFC, and the feeling of winning his first title. From transitioning into bareknuckle fighting to his upcoming world championship out in Malaysia and more from the fighting Filipino Legend.
    26 min
  • Mike Safo with Eddie Yagin, UFC Alumni
    Joined today with UFC alumni, the Filipino phenom Eddie Yagin.  Eddie and I discuss healthy eating, our crazy diet, how we were lied to about the food pyramid, and when we became knowledgeable about what we put in our body. Eddie tells about growing up in Hawaii getting shot at the age of 16 and ending up in prison before his 20th birthday. We talk about what got him into mixed martial arts, becoming a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, and starting his career in Super Brawl in Hawaii. We hear about getting that phone call to fight at UFC on the same card as Jon Jones, Rampage Jackson, and other legends. He shares why he wasn’t able to stay around after his historic win and why he celebrated at an In-N-Out. Eddie tells us about what he’s up to now, the struggles of living in the moment, starting his own fight card, and coaching. We talk about his bad ass daughter, who also wants to enter the fight game, shoots guns and wants to follow in her legendary father‘s footsteps. All this and more with the Filipino phenom.
    56 min
  • Mike Safo with Caitlin Rother, New York Times Bestselling Author
    Joined today by New York Times Best-selling author, Caitlin Rother. Caitlin talks about growing up in La Jolla, attending Cal Berkley for psychology and then Northwestern for journalism.  We go over her early career, working in Massachusetts, getting fired, being an investigative journalist in San Diego and finally making the move to be a full-time author. She reminisces about how she found out she was a New York Times best-selling author, kinda getting nominated for a Pulitzer and the stress, fatigues and injuries that comes with being such a hard working author. We discuss some of her memorable books, wild cases, and how she needs to disconnect from the true-crime world. Caitlin shares her upcoming crime novel series that is coming out in 2026, the pros of writing fiction and how she is hoping to parlay it into a tv series. She opens up about the nervousness of releasing a book, if she still reads reviews and some issues she has with her publishers. We chat about her band, shows she binge watches and her 2025 true crime book releases. All this and more with one of the best true crime writers in the game.
    Follow Caitlin and get all her books on her website: 
    https://www.caitlinrother.com/
    1 hr 5 min
  • Mike Safo with Keith O'Brien, New York Times Best-Selling Author
    Joined today by New York Times best selling author, Keith O’Brien. Keith reminisces about growing up in Cincinnati, attending Northwestern and his favorite alumni. Due to my obsession with UK, we chat about his first book “Outside Shot” about Kentucky High School basketball. Then, Keith tells us about finding out he was a New York Times best selling author, how he got notified, and any pressure he feels with the title before his name. We discuss his amazing new book, “Charlie Hustle the Rise and Fall of Pete Rose, and the last glory days of baseball”. He shares why he wanted to write about Pete Rose, getting interviews from all former players, and what makes Pete so fascinating and unique. We go over the myths of Pete Rose: getting the name, Charlie Hustle, how he was drafted because of nepotism, and his meteor rise to the majors. We chat about his Mount Rushmore type of records, why he’s one of the greatest players ever and how that is all overshadowed by his downfall of gambling. We touch base about the carnage he created, life after baseball and much more. From texting with George Foster to cool memorabilia, Keith O'Brien was an incredible guest
    Follow Keith and purchase his books here:
    https://www.instagram.com/obrienstory
    https://x.com/KeithOB
    1 hr 10 min

About Mike Safo

From the publisher's feed

Just a regular New York City guy who gets to interview some pretty amazing people... A conversation/hangout podcast with friends, athletes, authors, celebrities, fighters, and the world's most…