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In this episode, I sit down with Travis Lemanski — a true legend in paintball. From building Infamous into one of the sport’s most recognizable teams, to launching ProDNA and Foundation, Travis has turned his lifelong passion for paintball into a full-scale business empire.

We talk about what it’s like to wear so many hats — owner, coach, product designer, and family man — and how he manages to balance them all without losing focus. Travis opens up about the early days of product development, how he built Infamous into a global brand, and his vision for helping other teams become their own brands.

We also dive into the business grind behind World Cup season, from prepping new drops months in advance to surviving the chaos of Black Friday. He shares his leadership mindset, how he motivates players individually, and the lessons he’s learned from decades in the sport.

I loved hearing about his approach to collaboration over competition, what it’s like having his wife involved in the industry, and one absolutely wild paintball story from Europe that you won’t believe.

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Award-winning photographer Philip Swindle joins me to talk about his incredible journey from player to one of paintball’s most respected visual storytellers.

In this episode, Philip opens up about how Oliver Lang pulled him into the Hormesis universe, his experience helping create the film “All That Matters,” and how the Great American Paintball Magazine came to life with Alex Fraige and Mike Jeffery.

We dive deep into the creative process, what it’s really like shooting paintball professionally, and how to turn your passion into a sustainable career as a full-time creator.

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Grab a copy of Finding Me here: https://a.co/d/iyXfrd6

In this episode of The Shellda Podcast, I sits down with Nic Rippel of the New Orleans Hurricanes, the team’s international powerhouse whose story proves that passion knows no borders.

From growing up in Germany to flying halfway across the world for tryouts, Nic’s journey is packed with grit, humility, and belief. He opens up about what it’s like balancing a full-time job while playing pro paintball, what it means to truly be “family” inside the Hurricanes, and how his girlfriend captures his career through the lens as a professional photographer.

Wehey dive into everything from battling jet lag and managing long-haul travel to the mindset behind playing without ego, growing German paintball, and even submitting a paintball short film to a film festival.

Whether you’re a paintball player, a dream-chaser, or just someone who loves hearing stories of dedication and community...this one’s for you.

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Buy my new 📖: https://a.co/d/arBnFXr

In this powerful episode of The Shellda Podcast, Dan sits down with Nick Champion, the creative force behind Stealth Media, whose early paintball videos helped define an entire era of the sport. Nick reflects on the heyday of paintball media during the mid-2000s, what it was like filming legends like Oliver Lang and Tyler Harmon, and how a passion for storytelling at just 14 years old put him on the pro field among icons.

But this conversation goes far beyond paintball. Nick opens up about surviving two mass shootings: the Las Vegas Route 91 Festival and Thousand Oaks’ Borderline Bar & Grill — and how those tragedies led him to a new purpose in life as a firefighter. This is a story of resilience, community, and rediscovering purpose through grief, creativity, and service.
If you grew up watching Serial Killers, Traumahead, or Greg Hastings Paintball, this is one you don’t want to miss.

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📚 Finding Me: From Imposter to Icon: https://a.co/d/fMXe6Vd

In this milestone 50th episode of The Shellda Podcast, the script is flipped, as I  take the guest seat while my wife Amanda steps in as host.

Together, they open up about the deeply personal stories behind Dan’s biggest creative moments, from surviving loss and divorce during the pandemic, to rediscovering purpose through paintball, photography, and writing.

You’ll hear how Finding Me reached #1 on Amazon’s Extreme Sports list, why his children’s book The Lost Orb became a tribute to his late mother, and how moments of pain transformed into art, resilience, and purpose.

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In this episode of The Shellda Podcast, I sit down with one of the most respected — and sometimes misunderstood , figures in paintball: Mike Hinman.
We talk about what it really takes to run the USXBL and WCPPL, how regional paintball keeps the sport alive, and the passion behind 30+ years of grinding at every level of the game.

From his days with San Diego Dynasty to coaching the next generation and running multiple leagues, Mike opens up about the burnout, the business, and the brotherhood that fuels it all.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of a major paintball league... this one’s for you.

🎯 Topics: Paintball leadership, USXBL growth, building teams, player development, league business, community.

👕 Sponsored by Hormesis Paintball, BFP Gear, and ProDNA.

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Buy the 📚 here: 
https://a.co/d/4gCPYzR

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In this episode of the Shellda Podcast, I sit down with Kaito Warner of the New Orleans Hurricanes; one of the most driven and inspiring players rising through the pro paintball ranks.

We dive into:
- Kaito’s mindset before big matches and how he uses visualization to lock into flow state
- The reality of balancing a professional paintball career with jobs, family, and even homeschooling
- The financial grind of low-funded teams vs. the pressure of big-name organizations like Ironmen
- What he learned stepping away from the pro league, battling ego, and rediscovering his love for the game
- Why the Hurricanes’ blue-collar, underdog mentality has reshaped his approach to life and paintball
- Kaito opens up about identity, sacrifice, legacy, and the hard truths of chasing a pro dream in a sport where passion often outweighs paychecks.

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In this episode of The Shellda Podcast, I sit down with Steven Hatch—better known as Hatch from Sacramento DMG and the new co-host of From The Sidelines. We dive deep into his transition from being a player to running a podcast, what it means to build legacy in paintball, and the vulnerability that comes with opening up about life beyond the field.

Hatch shares how loss and personal struggles reshaped his outlook, his passion for storytelling, and why community in paintball means everything. From the trenches of NXL battles to creating evergreen podcast content, Hatch opens up like never before.

Whether you’re a paintball player, content creator, or just someone chasing purpose, this episode will leave you thinking differently about competition, family, and legacy.

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