The Full Tilt Podcast

Barry Davis is a three-time NCAA champion, Olympic silver medalist, and one of the most beloved figures in American wrestling. But before the medals and banners, he was a kid at the YMCA in Cedar Rapids getting hooked on the sport — and grabbing wall charts at youth tournaments.In this episode of the Full Tilt Podcast, Barry and I go back 47 years: from Prairie High School rivalries and the infamous dungeon wrestling room, to the legendary Iowa rooms with Dan Gable, brutal weight cuts to 118, international travel behind the Iron Curtain, and the mindset that carried him through world championships and the Olympics.We also dive into his coaching career, his faith, and why he believes wrestling should be the model sport for character and leadership.Timestamps:0:49 How Barry helped start my wrestling journey3:41 YMCA practices and the early Iowa kids’ tournaments8:45 The fourth-grade dream: wanting to be like Dan Gable12:15 Getting pounded in high school, then flipping the switch18:16 Prairie’s infamous dungeon wrestling room21:23 Metro rivalries: Prairie vs Jefferson, Washington, Kennedy24:10 Scouting opponents before streaming and social media28:09 Where Barry’s passion and intensity came from35:14 The Zaleski brothers and the Prairie–Iowa pipeline42:00 First shocks in the Iowa room and learning mat wrestling49:23 The moment everything “clicked” and Barry took off1:02:36 Why keeping your work ethic after you get good is everything1:19:25 The Hy-Vee story: almost walking away at Big Tens1:49:06 Balancing college wrestling with World and Olympic teams2:01:14 Olympic battles, Soviet greats, and the 1984 silver2:08:11 Coaching, faith, and being a role model in the sport2:16:16 WWTO and helping young athletes become leaders in lifeIf you enjoy this episode, hit subscribe, drop a comment with your favorite story, and tell us which wrestling legend you want to hear from next!www.thefulltiltpodcast.com

Three-time NCAA champion and Olympic medalist Nate Carr joins Full Tilt to share how a house of 16 kids, a pastor dad, and a wrestling-obsessed family forged one of the greatest legacies in American wrestling. Nate breaks down his classic battles with Kenny Monday, the influence of Coach Nichols and the Gatsons, and what he learned competing against Soviet greats on the world stage. He also goes deep on mindset, visualization, and faith, revealing the mental tools he used to win and how he now uses them to coach the next generation, including his son and NCAA champion David Carr. This is a masterclass in building champions in sport and in life.Timed Highlights: 00:00 Growing up in a 16-kid wrestling family in Erie, PA06:30 Family rivalry, All-Americans, Olympians, and broken furniture stories13:30 Setting goals to become the best wrestler in the family and a national champion19:00 Why Nate chose Iowa State over Iowa and the power of winning over mom in recruiting25:30 Coach Harold Nichols, legendary workout rooms, and tough practice stories33:00 Classic Iowa vs Iowa State battles and early college rivalries38:30 Scott Trizzino, Jay Robinson, and fueling the Iowa–Iowa State rivalry44:00 Kenny Monday rivalries, overtime NCAA finals, and epic trash talk52:00 Making the World Team, 1984 Olympic Trials heartbreak, and coming back for 198859:00 Wrestling Soviet legend Arsen Fadzaev and what made the Russians different1:06:00 What Americans learned (and missed) from Soviet training systems1:11:00 Coaching philosophy: purpose-driven practice, mindset, and self-talk1:18:00 The visualization exercise Nate used before wrestling Kenny Monday1:24:00 Coaching David Carr, raising seven kids, and being a “professional encourager”1:28:00 Faith, purpose, and why failure does not make you a failureIf you enjoy this episode, hit subscribe, drop a comment with your favorite story, and tell us which wrestling legend you want to hear from next!www.thefulltiltpodcast.com

UFC Hall of Famer and Olympic Greco-Roman standout Randy “The Natural” Couture sits down for a deep-dive into the journey behind the legend. From wrestling for the U.S. Army in the Cold War era to battling on the NCAA stage, chasing Olympic dreams, and pioneering MMA game-planning, Randy shares the untold stories that shaped his career and life. He talks about discovering Greco by accident, training alongside icons at Oklahoma State, wild international tours in communist Europe and Cuba, the infamous “experiment” Alexander Karelin, transitioning into the UFC, and why wrestling is still the ultimate foundation for fighting. If you’re into wrestling, MMA, or high-performance mindset, this is a masterclass in resilience, problem-solving, and trusting the process. Timed Highlights 00:00 – Cold open 03:30 – Joining the Army, becoming an air traffic controller, and rediscovering wrestling 10:00 – Accidentally entering Greco and winning his first Greco tournament 17:00 – Making the All-Army team and discovering how big combative sports are in the military 24:00 – The wild 1988 military worlds in Palermo and armored-car rides through Sicily 32:00 – Choosing Oklahoma State, recruiting visit with Sheets and coon hunting in Stillwater 40:00 – Big duals, Iowa–Oklahoma State rivalries, and wrestling Don Frye for a lineup spot 47:30 – World-level Greco years, rivalries with Mike Foy and Steve Klock, and Pan Am stories 56:00 – Training and living with Marines, Navy, and Army wrestlers; real poverty in Cuba 1:03:00 – Discovering the early UFC on VHS and recognizing Don Frye in the cage 1:10:00 – Working with Rico Ciparelli and RAW, integrating wrestling into MMA game plans 1:18:00 – Why Greco is the best base for MMA and learning to fight off the cage 1:26:00 – The James Toney fight, reviving the low single, and using “John Smith” tactics in MMA 1:34:00 – How setbacks (NCAA and Olympic trials) led to a bigger path than he imagined 1:42:00 – Faith, timing, mentors, and the small “corner” that really matters If you enjoy this episode, hit subscribe, drop a comment with your favorite story, and tell us which wrestling legend you want to hear from next! www.thefulltiltpodcast.com

Ben Askren sits down in his Wisconsin home to unpack how he reinvented wrestling, from basement mats and reluctant partners to NCAA dominance and world‑level technique. He breaks down scrambling’s evolution, the balance between family and coaching, why passion beats early results in recruiting, and how to keep kids hungry for the sport without burning them out.Chapters2:00 – The birth of the PNL league during COVID and its purpose3:40 – No year‑round clubs, basement mats, and inventing “funk” out of necessity6:30 – Letting partners almost score and teaching himself to scramble8:40 – Illegal off‑season training with his high school coach and leveling up10:20 – Why scrambling may decline and the rise of clean, efficient attacks11:50 – Suits, briefcases, message boards, and antagonizing the crowd13:40 – Chasing the takedown record and turning hate into fuel18:20 – Building multi‑step systems and staying two moves ahead22:20 – Updating his game today and importing new techniques for his athletes23:50 – Coaching Evan Wick: stubbornness, cardio, and fixing real weaknesses27:10 – Practice as a puzzle, not a script, and keeping kids engaged31:30 – Empowering athletes to figure things out on their own35:20 – The problem with year‑round youth grind and over‑coaching37:30 – Who should really go Division I and why love for the sport matters most39:40 – Choosing Missouri, buying into Coach Smith, and building a contender41:50 – Dominant NCAA runs and being obsessed with bonus points44:10 – Calling out lazy recruiting: results vs. passion and trajectory50:40 – The best wrestlers Ben ever felt and the hidden training partner who beat him upIf you enjoy this episode, hit subscribe, drop a comment with your favorite story, and tell us which wrestling legend you want to hear from next!www.thefulltiltpodcast.com

In this episode of the Full Tilt podcast, Hatch sits down with Iowa State head coach Kevin Dresser for a deep dive into old-school Iowa wrestling culture, program building at every level, and how the sport has evolved from the 1980s to the NIL era.Dresser shares raw stories from the legendary Iowa room under Dan Gable, from three-a-days and brutal live wrestling to work-hard-play-hard social life. He walks through building dynasty-level programs at Grundy and Christiansburg High Schools, turning Virginia Tech into a national contender, and rebuilding Iowa State into a top-tier Division I power.They cover toughness versus talent, the impact of RTCs, how NIL has changed recruiting, and what it really takes to be elite as an athlete and a coach.Timestamps:2:49 Dresser arrives at Iowa and enters the Gable era4:07 Inside a dynasty: Iowa’s NCAA title expectations9:09 First Iowa beatdowns at Jay Robinson’s camp11:15 The double fish hook story with Lenny Zaleski16:15 What “old school” really was: three-a-days and nine workouts24:58 Why wrestlers get hurt more now than in the 80s28:31 The common trait of Dresser’s best guys: loving live wrestling33:11 Squaring hips vs rolling around: toughness and ACLs35:00 Old-school weight cutting vs today’s two-hour weigh-ins43:32 Jay Robinson camps, road trips, and wild stories49:47 Building Grundy and Christiansburg into high school powerhouses53:42 How bingo funded a national-level high school program1:02:39 Taking over Virginia Tech and starting from dead last1:12:09 The 2016 Virginia Tech trophy team1:15:36 Moving to Iowa State with an all-Hawkeye staff1:18:22 NIL, rev share, and “street value” of college wrestlers1:25:00 Bringing Cuban stars to Iowa State1:28:06 Gable’s “Dressler” joke and earning the name Dresser1:33:26 Dresser’s advice to young coaches: know exactly what you wantIf you enjoy this episode, hit subscribe, drop a comment with your favorite story, and tell us which wrestling legend you want to hear from next!www.thefulltiltpodcast.com

On this episode of The Full Tilt Podcast Hatch sits down with the Olympic gold medalist and legendary Iowa coach Dan Gable for a long-form conversation about wrestling, life, and legacy in his fabled cabin. His personal home wrestling room used for training.They go deep on:Growing up under West Waterloo’s Coach SiddensBuilding dynasties at Iowa State and IowaLosing to Larry Owings and how that loss transformed himBeating the Russians, training with Chris Taylor, and chasing Olympic goldNear-wrist and armbar torture sessions in the Iowa roomThe mindset it takes to get back to the top and rebuild after you fall offNIL, the transfer portal, and the future of college wrestlingFamily, grief, and why his grandkids carry his name forwardIf you are a wrestling coach, athlete, or just a fan of elite performance, this is two hours of pure gold in a location few get access to.Chapters:0:00 Iron Sheik stories and pro wrestling crossover0:50 Full Tilt intro and Hatch’s over-the-top excitement1:41 Gable flips the script and starts interviewing Hatch2:26 Hatch’s path: from Iowa kid to coaching across the country4:28 Falling in love with South America and the idea of a wrestling club there5:36 Pan Am Games in Colombia and beating a tough Cuban6:37 Cubans, Russians, Iranians, and politics in world wrestling9:23 The grind at Iowa and why Gable’s guys could not play another sport in-season11:11 Hatch starts coaching youth while still wrestling for Iowa13:08 Gable admits losing discipline between titles and rebuilding the Hawkeye dynasty19:14 What it was like coming into Iowa behind Brands, Ironside, Haddock, Hogan20:16 The Big Ten story: Kevin Hogan, Kent and Doug Strayer, and saving the title streak28:27 Phase 2 of Iowa dominance: Brands, Steiners, Ryans, Pfisners, Ostendorp32:34 What Gable learned from legendary high school coach Bob Siddens39:40 The Marty Dickey weight-cut story and back-to-back West Waterloo champs42:17 How Siddens and Nichols shaped Gable’s wrestling and coaching styles47:11 Freshman Gable gets pushed in the Iowa State room and decides to “upgrade”52:59 When did Gable get good enough to wrestle everyone in the room (including heavies)?56:18 The Larry Owings loss, the newspaper headline, and a turning point1:00:00 Learning to finish takedowns the right way and “make wrestling easier”1:03:54 The slap from his mom that broke the mental fog after the Owings loss1:07:03 Wrestling Chris Taylor, broken ribs, and competing hurt1:10:21 Beating the Russians in Tbilisi and training with “Beat the Russians” on his wall1:12:14 Why Gable tightened his focus and cut out distractions like pre-match media1:20:16 Confronting the Iron Sheik at the 1996 Olympics about “beating Gable”1:22:05 The 22 minute go and how Gable structured his own training at Iowa State1:24:38 Hatch explains why wrestling Gable was worse than wrestling the Brands1:26:19 Near-wrist defense and how swimming the arm changed everything1:28:48 Social director Hatch, women’s teams in the stands, and getting pinned in front of them1:32:45 Why Gable hates the phrase “I loved being a backup”1:34:45 Parenting, pressure, and moms calling Gable about their sons’ roles1:36:45 NIL, the transfer portal, and the risk of losing Division I wrestling programs1:41:20 Marriage, sacrifice, and what it really takes to sustain a program1:43:40 Gold as an athlete vs. gold as a coach: which meant more to Gable1:45:16 How a murder in his family shaped his drive and why family matters most nowIf you enjoy this episode, hit subscribe, drop a comment with your favorite story, and tell us which wrestling legend you want to hear from next!www.thefulltiltpodcast.com

Four-time All-American and two-time NCAA champion Mark Ironside sits down with longtime friend and former roommate Mike Hatcher to go deep on legendary Cedar Rapids rivalries, wild college house stories, brutal Iowa wrestling room battles, and what it was really like under Dan Gable and Tom and Terry Brands. From packed Prairie–Jefferson duals to Olympic memories in Atlanta, this episode is a masterclass in toughness, loyalty, and the evolution of Hawkeye wrestling culture.Timed Highlights0:03:30 – Growing up minutes apart in Cedar Rapids but on opposite sides of the rivalry line0:06:00 – Prairie vs Jefferson: sold-out gyms, fire marshals, and presold duel tickets0:09:40 – Respect between rivals and training together before the state tournament0:11:00 – The tiny, overheated Prairie wrestling room and Ironside’s first rope climbs at Iowa0:16:50 – Academic roadblocks, floods, and almost walking away from college wrestling0:22:20 – Legendary house chaos: tree climbs, couch on the roof, and police visits0:27:00 – Being the sober guy in a party house and getting hit with disorderly house tickets0:31:00 – Wrestling Gable after practice and the “drowning on bottom” feeling0:35:30 – The neck brace story: the one time Ironside cracks Gable and pays for it0:37:45 – Tom Brands’ 42-minute lifting circuits: the hardest workouts of Ironside’s life0:45:15 – Mental toughness: training the mind to outlast the final 30 seconds of a match0:49:50 – How getting dismantled by Tom and Terry led Ironside to self-teach the low single0:54:00 – Jeff McGinnis, nerves, and the match that almost broke Ironside in high school0:58:40 – Why you can’t put Iowa-style wrestling in a box as a coach1:01:50 – Lincoln McIlravy as “the inventor” and techniques nobody else could copy1:05:10 – The self-directed Gable room: “first one to get tired gets a drink”1:09:20 – Gable’s philosophy: why he didn’t micromanage practices1:16:50 – Driving to the 95 Worlds and 96 Olympics1:22:30 – Watching Tom Brands win Olympic gold in Atlanta from the front row1:24:36 – College rivals: Steve Schmidt, St. John, and learning from heartbreaking losses1:35:25 – Why “nice” doesn’t win matches1:38:15 – Tom Brands, Doug Schwab, and punching holes in office walls after a Penn State loss1:43:55 – Remembering teammates and friends, and what the Hawkeye brotherhood means nowIf you enjoy this episode, hit subscribe, drop a comment with your favorite story, and tell us which wrestling legend you want to hear from next!www.thefulltiltpodcast.com

Former CBU All-American and alum Nolan Kessler joins the Full Tilt Podcast to break down the decision by California Baptist University to cut its Division I wrestling program along with two other men’s sports. Nolan explains why this is more than just one team being dropped: it’s part of a national trend threatening Olympic sports and first-generation college opportunities.He shares powerful stories of lives changed through wrestling, the fast-growing movement behind Keep CBU Wrestling, and how alumni, coaches, and community members are rallying to raise $20 million and secure a long-term endowment for the program. Nolan also addresses Title IX, the financial realities behind “revenue sports,” and why CBU has a unique chance to lead instead of follow the herd.Timed Highlights:0:00 The bigger problem: Olympic sports under attack0:25 Introducing the Full Tilt Podcast and guest Nolan Kessler1:02 How Nolan learned CBU was cutting three men’s programs1:34 Building a 100-alumni coalition to keep CBU wrestling3:30 The national trend of dropped wrestling programs (Fresno State, Stanford, others)5:10 NIL, NCAA changes, and 44 discontinued Olympic programs in one year6:40 Why “revenue sports” like football and basketball are putting schools in the red8:30 CBU’s chance to lead instead of follow the herd9:49 The crisis of only three Division I wrestling programs in all of California11:44 What’s the plan? Awareness, fundraising, and building a coalition11:48 Launching keepcbu.com and raising over $1 million in a month13:48 How pledges work and why donors are protected if the effort fails13:59 Inside CBU’s response: “The decision is final, no amount of money will change it”16:13 Title IX as the stated reason and why the numbers don’t add up18:40 Other paths to Title IX compliance and adding women’s sports20:00 Timeline: pushing for talks before the NCAA wrestling tournament20:17 The $20 million endowment goal and lessons from Stanford21:35 Ensuring the program’s long-term future, not just a short-term save22:03 Examples from Bucknell and Binghamton and big gifts after programs were saved24:38 Other programs cut at CBU and building a united front with golf and swim & dive26:51 Final call to action: why wrestling is a lifeline of opportunity27:16 How to support: website, social media, donations, and sharing29:05 Closing: why this fight matters for wrestling and all Olympic sportsIf you enjoy this episode, hit subscribe, drop a comment with your favorite story, and tell us which wrestling legend you want to hear from next!www.thefulltiltpodcast.com

In the debut episode of the Full Tilt Podcast, Hatch sits down with legendary “Fall Guy” Royce Alger – two-time NCAA champion, world silver medalist, and head coach of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club. Royce unleashes a barrage of stories from Iowa wrestling rooms, brutal Gable workouts, Foxcatcher days with Dave Schultz, and the infamous “Heisman House” of legends he lives with today.From 4.2-mile “Gable time” runs in the Iowa heat, to nearly getting choked out by Dave Schultz in a dark Foxcatcher room, to being only the second American ever issued a passport “behind enemy lines” in Moscow (after Bobby Fischer), this episode is wall-to-wall storytelling.If you love wrestling, old-school toughness, and wild road stories, this one sets the bar.Timed Highlights 0:00 – Cold open: 4.2-mile run and realizing Gable might be crazy 0:31 – Hatch introduces the Full Tilt Podcast and Royce Alger’s legendary resume 1:07 – Nashville trip, Young Guns clinic, and Montgomery Bell Academy first impressions 2:12 – National Collegiate Duals and Royce’s son chasing country music in Nashville 2:41 – Full career rundown: Iowa, World Cups, US Opens, Pan Ams, Titan Mercury 3:53 – Story-stealing, Dan Gable’s only collegiate loss, and calling him “Larry” 8:18 – “Gable time” and the infamous long loop run with Barry Davis 13:14 – The psychology of Gable’s extra 30 seconds and trust in the room 15:26 – Gable’s top game and how it shaped Royce’s wrestling from the top 16:21 – Being fourth on Iowa’s all-time pin list and the philosophy of pinning athletes 17:32 – Beating two Olympic champions at the same US Open 19:54 – Making the 1992 Olympic team and the parity of US wrestling rivalries 20:14 – What NIL money would have meant for 80s and 90s Hawkeyes 22:28 – “PhD: Poor, hungry, and driven” and how Royce recruited for Iowa 23:17 – First Hawkeye to Foxcatcher and arriving in a limo in Philadelphia 23:50 – First workout with Dave Schultz and getting choked unconscious 28:16 – The “fear of death” lesson and hearing others’ Schultz stories 29:53 – Why Chris Campbell is the best wrestler Royce ever put hands on 31:54 – Beating Andre Metzger at Midlands: “To be a legend, you have to beat a legend” 35:19 – Sauna culture at Iowa and stories that should never leave the walls 37:30 – The rivalry with Kevin Jackson and missing Olympic teams 38:16 – On excuses, almost guys, and why it’s easier to just win the match 42:42 – Getting a “whole new set of friends” after the world silver medal 46:39 – How one state title can lift an entire town 53:09 – Being handcuffed in Moscow and becoming passport case number two after Bobby Fischer 59:39 – Eli Alger, Trump, and a surprise visit from the Secret Service 1:03:52 – The sign above Iowa’s penalty box and “the older I get, the better I was” 1:06:42 – Reaching “Willie Nelson phase” status and still being relevant decades later 1:08:32 – Plans for the Legends Workshop and why hand fighting is a lost art If you enjoy this episode, hit subscribe, drop a comment with your favorite story, and tell us which wrestling legend you want to hear from next!www.thefulltiltpodcast.com