Boots to Boots

In this episode of Boots to Boots, we sit down with professional wrestler Kaia McKenna to talk about family legacy, professional wrestling, and what it means to represent first responders at Battle for the Brave on June 6 in Rahway, New Jersey.

In this episode of Boots to Boots, we sit down with professional wrestler Rich Swann to talk about his journey through sobriety, resilience, and rebuilding his life both inside and outside the ring.Rich opens up about the challenges he faced early in his career, the moment he realized something had to change, and how choosing sobriety transformed the way he approaches wrestling, family, and his future. We also discuss his passion for music, staying grounded in a demanding industry, and what it means to step into the ring with a renewed sense of purpose.We also look ahead to June 6 in Rahway, New Jersey, where Rich will be part of the Battle for the Brave event supporting veterans and first responders.This conversation is about accountability, growth, and proving that your story doesn’t end when life gets hard — sometimes that’s where the comeback begins.🎙️ Watch or listen to the full episode now on Boots to Boots.

Former Knockouts Champion Taryn Terrell is back in professional wrestling — and this time, her story is about more than just the ring.After stepping away from TNA in 2017 to focus on motherhood and her growing family, Taryn built a new life outside of wrestling — pursuing acting, running marathons, and navigating the challenges of living with Hashimoto’s disease. She returned briefly in 2021 with the NWA, but now she’s back in TNA with a renewed perspective and a new purpose.In this episode of Boots to Boots, Taryn shares what it felt like to walk back through the curtain in her hometown of New Orleans, how motherhood changed her priorities, and what she learned about herself during the years she spent away from wrestling.She also opens up about managing her health, balancing family and career, and what this next chapter means as she prepares for the future in the Knockouts division.This conversation is about resilience, reinvention, and the courage to come back stronger.

This week on Boots to Boots, we sit down with Bradley Walden, lead singer of the band Emarosa and a United States Air Force veteran who deployed to Iraq.Bradley shares his journey from growing up in a military family, to serving his country, to finding a new purpose through music.In 2013, Bradley joined Emarosa following the departure of vocalist Jonny Craig — stepping into a challenging role and helping guide the band through a major evolution in sound. From post-hardcore roots to soulful R&B influences and eventually synth-pop and pop rock on albums like Peach Club and Sting, his story is one of reinvention, resilience, and creativity.We also explore a unique connection between music and wrestling. Bradley talks about how professional wrestling influenced his love of performance — and shares the story of his uncle, who wrestled in the territories during the 1980s.Bradley and Emarosa are preparing for the release of their new album, High Horse Heaven, dropping April 24, 2026, and will be hitting the road for a summer tour in support of the record.This episode is about transition, identity, and what it means to build a new life after service — lessons that resonate far beyond music.

Steve and I are back behind the microphones after a short break — and this episode is about what life looked like while we were away.Over the past few weeks, we experienced both joy and loss. We helped welcome a new baby into the world, said goodbye to someone who helped shape Steve’s love for wrestling, and stepped into opportunities to serve our communities in meaningful ways.From speaking at a Tunnel to Towers event, to feeding the homeless in Virginia, to sharing my voice at my hometown Highlands Act event — we were reminded that Boots to Boots isn’t just a podcast. It’s a mission.We also reflect on a powerful church message about the villains in the Bible and how we can look inward to become better people — and better servants of God.This episode is about grief, service, faith, and the realization that sometimes the way we serve God isn’t by asking for opportunities — it’s by saying yes when He puts them in front of us.We’re grateful to be back. And we’re excited to keep walking this journey with you.

In Season 2, Episode 5, Deonna Purrazzo and Steve Maclin sit down with Dr. Pamela Hall for an honest conversation about PTSD and what healing really looks like beyond the surface.Dr. Hall draws from decades of experience working with veterans, breaking down common misconceptions about PTSD and challenging the idea that healing is linear or one-size-fits-all. As the voice behind PTSD Unplugged, she offers insight into accountability, resilience, and the hard work required to truly move forward.This episode is about truth, understanding, and giving veterans the tools—and language—they need to reclaim their lives.🎧 Listen now, and if this conversation resonates, follow, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

In this episode of Boots to Boots, we sit down with Gabby LaSpisa for an honest conversation about learning as you go — even when you don’t feel qualified, prepared, or certain.Gabby opens up about stepping into the world of professional wrestling without a background in it, teaching herself everything she could to earn her place at Busted Open, and how losing that job left her heartbroken and unsure of what came next.We talk about the grief that comes with starting over, the importance of peer support, and how rebuilding from the ground up led Gabby to create something entirely her own. What began as uncertainty turned into growth — and a journey that continues to surprise her at every turn.This episode is about resilience, reinvention, and discovering that sometimes the boots you’re meant to wear are the ones you learn in real time.🎙️ Boots to Boots — new episodes every Monday.

Season Two of Boots to Boots kicks off with a major announcement.In this comeback episode, Deonna Purrazzo and Steve Maclin reveal their upcoming T2T wrestling show and take listeners behind the curtain with stories they’ve never shared publicly before. From navigating the IMPACT x AXS TV era they both lived through, to the lessons, frustrations, and moments that shaped them, this is an honest look at a pivotal chapter in their careers.Deonna also reflects on winning the ROH Pure Women’s Championship, what that moment meant after everything she’s been through, and why it felt different this time.This episode is about momentum, perspective, and the stories that don’t get told when the cameras are rolling.Lace up your boots and join the conversation.

From the US Navy to becoming one of hockey’s most positive and recognizable voices online — Stephen Dobbs joins us to share how the game shaped him long before his service and supported him long after. 🏒🇺🇸Stephen opens up about how hockey helped him transition out of the military, the role community plays in healing, and the moment he realized his platform wasn’t just content — it was impact.If you’ve ever relied on a sport, a community, or a purpose to keep you grounded, this episode hits home.Streaming now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts & Spotify.

On this episode of Boots to Boots, Steve and Deonna sit down with one of hockey’s most fascinating modern enforcers — Daniel “Diamond Hands” Amesbury. From Ice Wars to pro lacrosse, from suiting up in the rink to working on tugboats in Vancouver, Daniel still isn’t done fighting to accomplish his goals.Daniel opens up about the evolution of his identity as an enforcer — and whether taking that role “too far” can impact the team you’re supposed to protect. He shares how stepping away from the game, and eventually coming back, reshaped his growth, perspective, and purpose. And yes… we talk about what a future in pro wrestling might look like.Raw, honest, and full of stories only someone who’s lived on both sides of the line can tell.New episodes every week— listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. 🥾

This week, 4x Stanley Cup Champion Darren McCarty joins Boots to Boots for a conversation that crosses the worlds of hockey, wrestling, recovery, and storytelling.We talk about:🏒 Life in the NHL and the mindset of an enforcer⚔️ Winning four Cups with the Red Wings💚 McCarty’s sobriety journey and CBD advocacy🤼‍♂️ His love for wrestling and how it compares to hockey🎙️ Why storytelling matters — in sports and in lifeRaw, real, and absolutely unforgettable.New episodes every Monday & Wednesday.

She was the ONLY woman on the ice at Heroes Cup — and she owned every second of it. 🏒🇺🇸In Episode 10, we sit down with Libby Barbato, an active-duty Coast Guard member who made history at this year’s Heroes Cup. From representing her branch with pride to stepping into an all-male tournament, Libby shares what it means to break barriers, find belonging, and carry the confidence to compete at the highest level.We talk about:🥾 What it’s like being the only woman on the ice🇺🇸 How serving in the U.S. Coast Guard shaped her resilience🏒 Why the Heroes Cup has grown into a massive force for good🔥 The importance of representation in sports & service🤍 The power of community for veterans and first respondersThis conversation is all heart, all courage, and all purpose.Libby’s story is one you don’t want to miss.👇 Drop a comment:Would YOU have the confidence to step onto the ice like she did?#HeroesCup #CoastGuard #BootsToBoots #VeteranStories #WomenInSports #Hockey #TunnelToTowers #LibbyBarbato

From teaching high school to performing on stage, Damien Fagiolino, frontman of Orlando-based rock band Felicity, has lived two worlds — and learned that your calling can find you anywhere. 🎸In this episode of Boots to Boots, Damien joins Deonna and Steve to talk about his journey from the classroom to the concert stage, the viral teaching moment that changed his life, and how balancing two passions taught him what purpose really looks like.Through faith, family, and music, Damien’s story is about never giving up on the dream that still keeps you up at night — and proving that every version of success starts with knowing who you are. 👢For Spotify & Apple: From the classroom to the stage — Damien Fagiolino, frontman of Orlando-based rock band Felicity, shares how a viral teaching moment changed his life.He opens up about balancing faith, music, and purpose while chasing a dream that refuses to fade. This is a story about identity, passion, and finding your calling in unexpected places. 👢#BootsToBoots #Felicity #DamienFagiolino #EveryBootHasAStory