The Full Tilt Podcast

The Full Tilt Podcast is a show about elite athletic performers who refuse to operate at half speed. Hosted for competitors, coaches, and high achievers, this show dives deep into the mindset, discipline, recovery, sacrifice, and obsession required to perform at the highest level. From pro athletes and Olympians to elite trainers and sports scientists, we unpack what it really takes to go all in. From "oh Sh**" stories to unique experiences... No shortcuts. No excuses. Just performance — at full tilt.

The Full Tilt Podcast is a sports podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 0 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts The Full Tilt Podcast, a sports show with 0 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #28

  Bill Zadick - From Montana Mats to World Gold :: Ep 28

  Sep 3, 20262h 38mS1

  USA Wrestling National Freestyle Coach and World Champion Bill Zadick sits down with Hatch for a long-form, deep dive into wrestling, coaching, and what it really takes to chase a world title for a decade. From Montana living-room “world title” matches and legendary camps in Oregon, to the crucible of the Iowa wrestling room under Dan Gable, Bill unpacks the culture, mentors, and moments that shaped him. He shares stories about John Smith, Daniel Cormier, the explosion of RTCs, and why grassroots state leaders and kids who go 0–2 at Fargo still matter to the future of USA Wrestling. Perfect for wrestlers, coaches, and anyone who geeks out on the hidden architecture behind world‑level success. Timed Highlights: 00:00 – Custom Community intro and Jim welcomes USA Wrestling’s Bill Zadick to Full Tilt 04:30 – Montana roots: long drives, competitive brothers, and early wrestling culture out West 11:45 – Campbell family, “Junkyard Dogs,” and the birth of Zadick Fanatics camp 19:10 – USA Oregon / Cobra days: spandex singlets, Nike plugs, and “Making of a Champion” binders 27:40 – Mental training, Zig Ziglar tapes, and how youth camps shaped national champs 34:05 – Choosing Iowa: following Gable’s dynasty, John Smith’s influence, and new‑school vs old‑school 42:00 – First days in the Iowa room: getting humbled, 10 All‑Americans, and the power of environment 50:15 – Dan Gable stories: mystery bar graphs, “one more of these,” and Russian sauna days 58:30 – Heavyweights and legends: Gerhard Himmel, John Osendorf, and watching Gable rule the room 1:06:20 – Daniel Cormier as wrestler, coach, and ambassador; why DC still shows up for kids’ events 1:14:10 – Grinding for a decade: how Bill went from NCAA champ to 2006 World Champion at 66 kg 1:23:45 – Bad rules, clinch balls, and why today’s freestyle is so much better to watch 1:30:00 – Transition to coaching: developmental roles, RTCs, and building a sustainable pipeline 1:38:20 – State leaders, Fargo, and why 0–2 kids are still a huge win for USA Wrestling 1:46:00 – Responsibility, legacy, and using wrestling to change kids’ lives beyond medals 1:52:30 – Growing up with Mike Zadick, uncle Mike stories, and the future of Zadick Brothers Camps 1:58:40 – Closing: Full Tilt, storytelling in wrestling, and what’s next for USA Wrestling and Bill 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

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  Episode #27

  Ali & Derek St. John - Wrestling’s Power Couple Ignites Iowa State :: Ep 27

  Aug 27, 20261h 41mS1

  Associate head coach Derek St. John and Iowa State’s inaugural women’s head coach Alli St. John sit down on the Full Tilt Podcast to talk about building a D1 wrestling powerhouse on both the men’s and women’s sides. They dive into Alli’s journey from three-sport Illinois athlete to world silver medalist and trailblazing college coach, Derek’s path from Iowa state champ to NCAA champion and top-tier D1 coach, and how the Iowa State Regional Training Center is developing future world and Olympic medalists. From the explosion of girls’ wrestling at Fargo, to recruiting entire wrestling families, to the lasting impact of legends like Terry Steiner, Nate Carr, and the late Mark Ryland, this episode is a deep look at where wrestling is right now—and where it’s going. Timed highlights: 00:00 – Opening ad read: Hatch and Custom Community, Full Tilt intro, and setting up the “power couple” episode 03:10 – Alli and Derek’s roles at Iowa State and Derek’s recent Glen Brand Hall of Fame induction 08:20 – How the Iowa State women’s wrestling program came to life after gymnastics was dropped 12:45 – Women’s wrestling boom at Fargo and how the depth and level have exploded 18:05 – Alli’s path: three-sport athlete in Carbondale, IL, wrestling mostly boys, and qualifying for boys’ state 24:30 – Choosing King University over Oklahoma City, building a powerhouse team with future world and Olympic medalists 30:40 – WCWA explained and how the women’s college landscape has evolved into NAIA and NCAA divisions 36:00 – What it felt like wrestling in boys’ brackets with future stars like Tony Ramos, Ellis Coleman, and Zain Richards 43:10 – Transitioning to freestyle and the importance of getting girls international experience early 48:20 – Inside Japanese women’s wrestling: militant training, technical perfection, and why they dominate 55:00 – Alli’s Team USA years, training under Terry Steiner, and learning to coach every type of athlete 01:02:15 – How Alli and Derek met during COVID, long-distance while she was at HWC/Sunkist, and moving to Ames 01:08:40 – Building Iowa State women’s wrestling: fundraising, donor relations, and being “director of event management” 01:15:00 – Adding women’s wrestling vs. women’s flag football, and what it means for the sport in Iowa 01:21:30 – Recruiting, culture, and stealing staff from William Penn; why they’re excited about athletes like Piper Fowler 01:28:10 – RTC vision: men and women training together, building a unified CRTC to chase world and Olympic medals 01:35:00 – Brother–sister recruiting, families getting “one stop shop,” and how that changes the sales pitch 01:40:30 – The Carr legacy: Nate’s mentality, David’s selflessness in the room, and their impact on Iowa State 01:47:25 – Derek’s high school days at Iowa City West, powerhouse teams, and rivalry with Waverly-Shell Rock and City High 01:53:40 – Remembering coach Mark Ryland and the Ryland family’s impact on Derek’s life and career 01:58:30 – Walking into the Iowa room as a freshman: getting thrown to the wolves and learning from guys like Metcalf and Borschel 02:05:00 – Toughest college opponents: breaking down what made Kyle Dake and David Taylor so hard to wrestle 02:11:20 – How Tom Brands nudged Derek into coaching, early success at North Dakota State, and then Virginia Tech 02:18:00 – The wild transition when Dresser left for Iowa State mid-season and why Derek chose to follow later 02:24:15 – Growing the crowd in Ames, dual meet atmosphere, and why Iowa State is built for big-time wrestling 02:29:30 – Final reflections on growth of women’s wrestling, saving men’s programs, and what’s next for Iowa State 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 ItsYourShow.co

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  Episode #26

  JohnMark Bentley - Inside App State Wrestling :: Ep 26

  Aug 20, 20261h 37mS1

  Appalachian State head coach JohnMark Bentley joins Hatch on the Full Tilt Podcast to pull back the curtain on one of the most overachieving programs in Division I wrestling. From running one of the largest team camps in the country to funding staff and facilities through camp revenue, Bentley explains how a “small” program competes with the big boys year after year. He shares his unconventional start in wrestling as a sixth-grade workout partner, his days battling at North Carolina and Oklahoma State, and the hard lessons that shaped his coaching philosophy. Bentley also talks about recruiting under-the-radar kids, navigating NIL and the transfer portal as a mid-major, rebuilding after Hurricane Helene, and the emotional challenge of coaching his own son. If you care about wrestling culture, blue-collar development, and doing more with less, this is a masterclass in building and sustaining a winning program. Timed highlights: 0:00 Intro and Custom Community read 2:00 How App State built one of the largest wrestling team camps in the country 7:40 Using camp revenue to fund assistants, travel, facilities, and program growth 14:05 Structure, organization, and why coaches keep coming back every summer 19:30 Relationship-building with high school coaches and why it matters in recruiting and camps 25:10 JohnMark’s unlikely start in wrestling as a sixth-grade workout partner 33:00 Growing up in rural North Carolina and becoming a four-time undefeated state champ 42:15 First trips to national events, Fargo, and the legendary Iowa intensive camp 51:20 Wrestling at North Carolina, Midlands stories, and the influence of T.J. Jaworski 1:01:00 Transfer to Oklahoma State, injuries, and the gap between expectations and reality 1:10:25 Early coaching at Davidson and the grind of making it work financially 1:16:40 Building App State: Blevins, Trotman, and finally getting over the All-American hump 1:27:30 Recruiting “non-traditional” states and finding tough, under-the-radar kids 1:36:00 Culture, core beliefs, and why delayed gratification drives the program 1:44:30 The transfer portal, NIL, and how a mid-major survives in the new era 1:53:20 Scheduling bigger programs and the problem with top teams ducking big matchups 2:01:40 Building a rabid fan base and grassroots youth efforts in Boone 2:09:00 Hurricane Helene, flooding, losing the wrestling room and locker room, and rebuilding 2:17:40 Coaching his son Luke: the 20-minute rule, dad vs coach, and long-term perspective 2:27:10 Legacy, what JohnMark wants people to say about him, and golf with recruits 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

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  Episode #25

  Carl Adams - Wrestling Legend And Innovator :: Ep 25 The Full Tilt Podcast

  Aug 13, 20261h 28mS1

  Two-time NCAA champion and wrestling innovator Carl Adams joins the Full Tilt Podcast to share his journey from tough Long Island roots to Iowa State legend, world-level freestyle contender, and pioneering equipment designer. Carl breaks down how work ethic, family, and fearless competition shaped his career, what it was really like wrestling Dan Gable, and how the Adam machine changed wrestling rooms across the country. Timed Highlights: 0:00 Cold open: Hatch and Custom Community intro 0:49 Meet Carl Adams: Innovator and retired coach who never left the sport 3:01 Discovering wrestling after a trip to Madison Square Garden 5:22 Dominating junior high and high school, New York state champion 6:41 High school rivalries, packed duals, and the influence of Coach Campo 9:22 Hard work at home: potatoes, landscaping, and learning toughness 12:41 The dream that became the Adam machine 15:21 Iowa State, Nichols Wrestling Products, and early innovation 18:01 Why takedowns and repetition drove the Adam concept 21:06 Constantly improving the Adam machine and going worldwide 23:06 Coach Campo’s impact and arriving at Iowa State “already there” 35:25 Inside the old Big Eight: brutal conference, national titles, and the “Big 8 jinx” 41:11 First time wrestling Dan Gable and learning what true toughness is 48:52 How Gable changed the entire world of wrestling 52:47 Wrestling for Harold Nichols and the power of recruiting 54:58 Winning NCAA titles and beating Stan Dziedzic in the finals 1:03:24 Bobby Douglas as mentor and how he reshaped Carl’s takedown game 1:04:31 Building camps, writing books, and teaching 20,000 wrestlers 1:12:18 Beating Wade Schalles five times and the importance of speed 1:18:25 Gable as the most influential figure in Carl’s wrestling life 1:20:50 How Carl Adams stacks up against today’s stars 1:23:52 Mental toughness of Dake, Burroughs, Taylor, Snyder and the new generation 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 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 Produced by: ItsYourShow.co

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  Episode #24

  Ben Peterson - Farm Boy To Olympic Legend :: Ep 24 The Full Tilt Podcast

  Aug 6, 20262h 6mS1

  Olympic champion Ben Peterson sits down with Full Tilt to unpack a lifetime on the mat: from a Wisconsin dairy farm to Iowa State’s glory years, brutal training sessions with Dan Gable, winning Olympic gold during the Cold War, and how faith and family shaped every step of his journey. Ben shares vivid stories of surviving “meat-grinder” rooms at Iowa State, outworking the world with Gable and his brother John, his rivalry and later friendship with Russ Hellickson, the heartbreak and perspective of the 1980 Olympic boycott, and the truth behind the famous Peterson roll. He also opens up about a life-changing injury at 12 years old and how it forged his faith. Perfect for wrestlers, coaches, and anyone who wants a masterclass in work ethic, resilience, and purpose. Timed highlights: 0:49 Meet Ben Peterson and the Gable connection 1:50 Childhood on the farm and learning to work 4:45 Meeting Carl Adams and redefining “hard work” 7:19 Becoming co-captains at Iowa State during a turbulent era 10:18 Learning to handle 425-pound Chris Taylor 12:26 How the Peterson brothers found wrestling 14:11 Inside Iowa State’s golden era and coaching staff 22:20 Practice-room culture: getting broken without being belittled 30:40 What it was like wrestling Dan Gable multiple times a week 34:43 Transitioning to freestyle and chasing the Olympics 38:12 Beating Russ Hellickson and making the 1972 Olympic team 48:05 Battling Levan Tediashvili and building respect with Soviet greats 52:34 Ben’s perspective on the 1980 boycott and the fall of the USSR 1:02:41 The accident, the broken leg, and how it deepened his faith 1:16:20 The state finals loss that taught him about position and family 1:27:40 Why he calls his medals “Cold War medals” 1:35:32 Backyard boxing rings, homemade fields, and a basement weight room 1:50:46 Who was the toughest wrestler he ever faced? 1:54:16 The Peterson roll origin story 2:03:45 Why he still loves being around kids at tournaments like Fargo 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 Produced by: ItsYourShow.co

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