A Reflection on Violence

Seventeen-year-old BJJ orange belt David Reyes grapples teammates on the mat, but off the mat he wrestles with something much different: reptiles. An aspiring zooologist, jiu jitsu practitioner, and snake wrangler, Reyes is developing his own television show with a local PBS affiliate. Reyes and I talk about growing up with martial arts, the nuances of coaching young people, and the finer points of capturing snakes. 

Barstow native Drew Angelcor's road to the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) ranks was anything but smooth.  Addiction and incarceration derailed his pro boxing debut for years. Now sober, degreed, and with renewed determination, Angelcor is working his way toward a BKFC world title. 

Triller Triad fighter and UFC vet Andre Ewell talks about how his life changed after jumping out of an airplane. We also discuss the childhood fights that shaped him, his struggles as a single father, and the importance of mental health. 

Danny Lopez is a BJJ blue belt and psilocybin educator and advocate who moderates Psilo Realm (psilo_realm on Instagram). Tony Cortez is a mixed martial artist (Cobra Kai/Icon MMA) who's used psilocybin and ayahuasca to help him achieve better focus and clarity while training. He's fighting on June 4, 2022 at Spar Star 50 at Commerce Casino in Commerce, CA for the California featherweight title. 

Eric Leandro is a mixed martial artist who fights out of Carlson Gracie Riverside. We discuss the joys and frustrations of fatherhood, the vicissitudes of training and working full-time, and his bond with professional MMA fighter and UFC alum Andre Ewell. 

Mother. Scientist. Entrepreneur. Business owner. Karate black belt. Brazilian Jiu jitsu blue belt. Doctor. The indefatigable Dr. Julie Reints tells her remarkable story. If anyone's life should be made into a movie, it's hers.

Veteran southern California law enforcement officer Jason S. and I discuss the importance of law enforcement officers training jiu jitsu, theorize the roots of California's exploding homeless crisis, and how misguided laws have affected life and safety in California. 

With more than 20 years of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA experience, and a second-degree black belt under Carlson Gracie Jr., Sean Ruiz runs the BJJ program at Carlson Gracie Riverside. A life-long martial artist and former bouncer, Ruiz now coaches a host of amateur and professional MMA fighters in addition to running his academy. Episode sponsor: Dissertation Soap

Christian Weathers spent his childhood on the wrong end of bully beatdowns. Then he decided to celebrate his 40th birthday with an MMA fight.