The Bader Show

By Mark BaderSports Wrestling

The Bader Show episodes

August 08, 2025 Troy Nickerson | The Bader Show (Ep. 451)
Troy Nickerson was and NCAA Champion at Cornell then coached the Finger Lakes Wrestling Club in Ithaca. From there he went on to be an assistant at Iowa State before becoming the head coach at Northern Colorado. This summer he was announced as the new head coach at Army West Point.
0:45 - Troy just moved in to his new house
1:30 - Co-head coach of Finger Lakes Club at Cornell
5:00 - Time and dedication it takes to be a good coach, 80-90 hours a week
6:25 - Differences between Cor nell and Iowa State, scholarships
9:10 - Importance of donor relationships
10:20 - Kyven Gadson losing his father
13:30 - Originally was not interested in UNC head job
15:20 - Early mistakes at UNC
18:55 - Troy heard from Associate AD at West Point
20:00 - What makes West Point different?
21:25 - Don’t want to work for the man, want to be the man. Set up for life
25:30 - Setting goals
27:35 - Military training during the summer
30:00 - West Point is the original NIL
32:00 - Wins and whoopins
34:40 - All-time favorite wrestler
35:30 - HS senior photo and frosted tips!
37:05 - BEAT NAVY
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41 min
August 06, 2025 Izzy Martinez on RAF | The Bader Show (Ep. 450)
Izzy Martinez is working with Real American Freestyle to bring their first card to Cleveland, OH on August 30.
1:00 - RIP Hulk Hogan
3:00 - Izzy meets Hulk, then Chad Bronstein
10:40 - How can RAF avoid pitfalls of other pro leagues
14:30 - Showmanship
15:30 - Belt and champion system and match ups
19:20 - Two small freestyle rule changes
22:25 - Match bonuses
26:00 - Jordan Burroughs?
27:15 - Ben Askren
31:30 - Future RAF events
33:00 - Measuring success
38:45 - Main event
40:00 - Real American Beer and an after party
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46 min
July 08, 2025 Zahid Valencia | The Bader Show (Ep. 449)
Zahid Valencia beat Kyle Dake at the US Open and then again in two straight matches at Final X and will wrestle for Team USA at the World Championships.
1:25 - Simple life in Stillwater, OK and Cowboy RTC
3:30 - Deepest waters Zahid goes to in training
4:30 - DT, coaching and training partners
7:20 - The mental game and tactics
9:20 - Wrestling Dake in 2018 at Final X
12:00 - Keeping it light
15:30 - Zahid vs Dake at Final X 2025
23:45 - 2018 vs 2025
26:00 - Focus on wrestling at practice, but not a lot otherwise
27:40 - Preparing for the rest of the world
29:20 - The great wrestling minds meet at the Olympic Training Center
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36 min
June 24, 2025 Ben Askren Update | The Bader Show (Ep. 448)
Mark Bader gives an update on Ben's current situation from going into the hospital in Nevada, to getting transported back to Wisconsin and eventually getting on the transplant list.
It's time for the wrestling community to rally around a man who has given so much to this sport.
DONATE - https://t.co/IAfq4TwPM0
Rudis Shirts | All proceeds go to medical and transplant costs - https://t.co/CaYDn0Fkh7

0:55 - Going into the hospital in Nevada
8:00 - Transport flight
10:20 - Wisconsin hospital
12:25 - Ben woke up!
14:45 - Ben is listed
17:00 - Astronomical costs associated with lung transplant
25:30 - Share your Ben stories
#BenAskren #TheBaderShow #AskrenStories

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34 min
June 17, 2025 Vito Arujau | The Bader Show (Ep. 447)
Vito Arujau won a world title in 2023 and was bronze in 2024 at 61kg. He will wrestle Jax Forrest in a delayed Final X wrestle-off on July 14 in Fargo, ND.

1:00 - Vito’s reaction to Final X results
5:55 - Long layoff since 2024 World Championships
9:15 - Delaying Final X series with Jax Forrest
12:55 - Being the hunter vs hunted
16:10 - Preparing for Jax Forrest
18:50 - Training with Anthony Knox
20:00 - Masanosuke Ono
26:00 - Trying to win second NCAA title and now second World title

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35 min
June 10, 2025 Jax Forrest | The Bader Show (Ep. 446)
Jax Forrest recently won the US Open in the men's senior division as just a junior in high school. He will wrestle Vito Arujau in a best of three series on July 14 with the winner to represent the United States at the World Championships this fall.
0:30 - Started wrestling at 5 years old
1:40 - Jax called his own pin
2:40 - Relationship with dad hooked him on wrestling
5:30 - How does Jax develop so quickly?
7:30 - Wrestling at restaurants and odd places
8:30 - Bishop McCort
10:20 - College recruiting process
14:00 - Slowing things down on the mat
15:20 - Folkstyle vs freestyle
16:00 - 2025 US Open
20:40 - Jax watches US Open finals vs Seth Gross
31:50 - What if…. U20’s?
33:10 - Lee Roper
34:30 - Vito is up next
37:20 - Vito series pushed back a month
39:40 - Wins and whoopins
42:50 - Jax all-time favorite wrestler
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48 min
May 28, 2025 Trent Hidlay | The Bader Show (Ep. 445)
Trent Hidlay was a 2x NCAA runner-up for NC State. In April he won the US Open at 92kg and will be wrestling Josh Barr at Final X.
1:30 - Becoming a wrestling commentator
5:10 - Being a wrestler vs being a fan of wrestling
6:45 - A lot more free time with wrestling freestyle full time
9:45 - Trent likes freestyle better
12:15 - You can’t just gas out the foreigners
13:45 - Wrestling with emotion
15:20 - It’s cool care so much you give your max effort
17:35 - Trent needs to lay off the intensity sometimes
20:20 - Moving up to 92kg
26:00 - Trent breaks down his US Open finals match
35:50 - When Trent thought US Open title was possible
37:45 - Watching the World Team Trials and Josh Barr
40:45 - Difference between environments at US Open vs Pan Ams
44:10 - Real American Freestyle
46:35 - Trent’s all-time favorite wrestler
48:45 - Trent would fight his brother Hayden at practice
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55 min
May 20, 2025 Yianni Diakomihalis | The Bader Show (Ep. 444)
Yianni Diakomihalis is a 4x NCAA Champion from Cornell, he was a 2022 World Silver medalist and will be wrestling PJ Duke at Final X on June 14, 2025.
1:00 - Yianni’s dad has coached him forever
3:05 - Dad fell ill Yianni's senior year of college
8:40 - Toughest parts of dad being sick
12:35 - 2024 Olympic Trials and weight issues
16:10 - Did Yianni consider retiring?
20:00 - Bumping up to 70kg
23:05 - PSA about the advantage/disadvantages of cutting weight
27:27 - Takatani told Yianni “I just didn’t want to lose weight”
29:00 - Yianni vs James Green at the US Open
38:15 - PJ Duke
42:45 - A lot of turnover in USA Wrestling this year
48:44 - Yianni’s all-time favorite wrestler
51:07 - Practicing a different style
53:20 - Yianni’s takes on Vito vs Jax and Dake vs Zahid
55:08 - Carr vs Mesenbrink
57:10 - Real American Freestyle - Hulk Hogan, call Yianni!
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1 hr 3 min
May 07, 2025 Nahshon Garrett | The Bader Show (Ep. 443)
Nahshon Garrett didn't start wrestling until high school and was a 4x All-American and NCAA Champion for Cornell. in 2018 he won Final X at 61kg and just recently announced his retirement from the sport.
1:20 - Early career
2:40 - 103 pound Nahshon match video
5:40 - Expectations and confidence
8:50 - Wrestling at Beat The Streets in 2014
11:50 - Nahshon’s FloFilm
18:00 - Becoming an NCAA Champion
24:15 - 2018 Final X vs Joe Colon
31:20 - What will Nahshon chase next?
33:50 - Going to finally live with his wife
37:20 - Retirement was premeditated
41:20 - Nahshon on Jax Forrest
43:00 - Nahshon vs Jax Forrest
48:20 - Nahshon on Vito vs Jax at Final X
51:20 - Folkstyle or freestyle?
53:50 - What’s next for Nahshon
58:00 - All-time favorite wrestler
1:00:00 - Memorable win, whoopins and opponents
1:13:30 - The Usual Suspects: Gross, Gilman, Megaludis, Ramos, Colon etc.
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1 hr 28 min
April 30, 2025 Nico Megaludis | The Bader Show (Ep.442)
Nico Megaludis was a 4x All-American and NCAA Champion at Penn State. He went on to have a solid senior level career and just retired after the US Open last weekend.
0:55 - Feeling of retirement
1:55 - Nico’s first match ever
5:00 - Nico’s amazing coaching and training situations
10:00 - Cael to PSU caught Nico’s eye
13:50 - Cael’s “cheesy” daily speech, are actually meaningful
17:55 - The year Penn State red shirted everyone
21:50 - Pressure of never having won it going into senior year
26:20 - Nico knew this would be his last year competing
29:50 - Nico has trained with Jack Forrest a bunch
34:10 - Nico’s favorite wrestler of all-time
36:30 - Favorite/memorable/good/bad matches over a career
42:45 - Talking through competitors: Delgado, Gilman, Gross, Nahshon,
45:00 - Spencer Lee, teammate and then competitor
52:00 - What is Nico most proud of from his career
53:45 - Nico punished himself with a workout after losing at Nittany Lion Open
56:40 - What wrestling has taught Nico

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1 hr 5 min

About The Bader Show

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Mark Bader and friends interview the biggest names in the sport of wrestling. Hear from your favorite wrestlers and coaches about their experiences in life through the sport. Become inspired,…