Spey's Stupid Podcast

In another groundbreaking episode of this stupid podcast, Kyle Bratke chats with Spey for over an hour and somehow manages to avoid the topic of Kyle's otherworldly dunking skills. Maybe next time. It's still a fun conversation between pals, please enjoy.  Show Rundown:   2:00 - Welcome! I touch on some current events. 11:28 - Oh hey it’s Kyle Bratke 14:50 - We unleash a couple beasts by cracking open some Monster energy drinks. 21:30 - The story of Steven Kyle Bratke begins. If you wanted to know about wrestling in Parkersburg West Virginia, you’re in luck! 47:40 - When did Kyle decide he was going to wrestle in college? 1:04:30 - How did Kyle get to FloSports? 1:22:30 - Kyle has a message for all the haters out there. Then recalls the time we got hacked. FOR REAL. 1:44:40 - We wrap things up with skepticism, cynicism and optimism.

Hunter Sharpless joins Spey for a numbers-driven look at NCAA finances in the age of Covid-19. This also marks the pod's first official pivot toward video, so the sound is going to be a little different than usual.  Show Rundown: 0:00:00 - Folks, we gotta talk about this dang coronavirus. 0:9:43 - Welcome FloSports' Swiss Army Knife, Hunter Sharpless! 0:23:00 - The Covid-19 impact on NCAA sports timeline. 0:29:03 - A deep dive into the NCAA's finances. 0:45:43 - Now let's specifically dig into Old Dominion's finances. 1:04:33 - What does the future hold? We make some conjectures. 1:07:13 - We briefly revisit the Boise State debacle and discuss more paths forward from Spey's Soapbox. 1:19:48 - We wrap up another successful podcast and the first ever in the age of Covid.  Thanks for listening, friends!

The great Darrion Caldwell visits Austin to discuss his introduction to wrestling while growing up in Rahway, NJ, his collegiate career at NC State, and his current career fighting for Bellator. 00:14 The Covid-19 week of chaos. 13:51 Please welcome the Wolf! Darrion Caldwell joins us in Austin. 27:32 How did Darrion end up at NC State? 37:12 When did Darrion make the decision to compete full-time in MMA. 47:50 I bring up my favorite tweet of all-time, then discuss Darrion’s favorite music and video games. 56:15 Outta time, bye bye.

NCAA Champ and USA World Team member Dustin Schlatter sits down for a chat where we discuss growing up in Ohio, coaching the Gopher Wrestling Club, and learn all about the Minnesota Storm. It’s a fun time with pals! 0:00:20 - Welcome to another podcast! This one was recorded January 23rd. I start things off by continuing to mess up the episode numbers. 0:02:30 - Why does Flo cover what they cover? I will tell you. 0:09:30 - When wrestling wins, Flo wins, plain and simple, end of story. Now here’s the Schlatter Man. 0:11:20 - Dustin’s impression of Austin? It is hot, but the food is amazing. 0:14:12 - The Dustin Schlatter origin story begins. 0:19:00 - When did Dustin know he wanted to compete at the highest level in the world, and how did the then prepare himself to reach that goal? 0:27:00 - Dustin was 56-0 at Fargo, won 6 titles and was three-time OW at freestyle. Pretty decent. 0:30:30 - A look back at how far Minnesota has come since Dustin got to Minneapolis. 0:35:00 - Is international wrestling headed in the right direction? The good and the bad. 0:44:00 - Takeaways from training in Dagestan, which is an awesome place for wrestling. 0:50:00 - How do USAW RTCs and the NCAA work together? 0:54:15 - RTC vs RTC competitions? Dustin would love that. 0:56:30 - What is the Minnesota Storm? 1:04:30 - The future of the Gopher Wrestling Club, which involves a trip to Cuba and hosting the NCAAs. 1:18:30 - Wrapping up another stupid podcast that was actually not stupid at all because of our excellent guest, the great Dustin Schlatter.

The great Anthony Ashanult takes time out of his Olympic training for some mobbin in Austin. Get to know the greatest wrestler in Rutgers program history!   0:00:00 - I kick things off by forgetting how many episodes I’ve already done and then talk about Tool because they were in town. Tool kicks ass, plain and simple, end of story! 0:04:45 - Please welcome four-time All-American and NCAA champion at Rutgers and 2020 Olympic hopeful Anthony Ashnault to the stupid podcast. 0:12:30 - How did Ashnault get to Austin and what is he doing here? 0:23:10 - Where did ‘Mobbin’ come from and what does it mean? 0:33:00 - “Penn State was my dream school growing up as a kid.” 0:37:30 - Anthony’s Pan-Am plans and beyond. 0:50:00 - Anthony’s long history with our marketing chief Joe Kania and growing up with an older brother who wrestled. 0:58:15 - Ashnault begins his epic high school career at South Plainfield. 1:14:00 - Despite everyone telling him he’d never make it at Rutgers, Anthony explains why he committed anyway, followed by several tough conversations with four other coaches. 1:20:30 - Reflecting on a legendary career as a Scarlet Knight 1:28:30 - What does Anthony do in his free time? 1:35:00 - The outro, and a quick digression about the over rated Derek Jeter!

FloSports video editor and fine diner Simone Khan sits down with Spey for a chat about how she came to work on so many of the awesome videos you see on Flo. We also talk about food!   0:01:30 - Skip the intro if you want, I won’t hate you for it. 0:04:00 - How should the NCAA decide who wins the team title? I will tell you. 0:11:20 - Dual meets must be involved in the discussion, plain and simple, end of story. 0:13:30 - Welcome Simon Khan, the very first female guest on the Stupid Podcast. 0:18:00 - Toasting with hot coffee, sure why not. 0:19:15 - Simone explains her role at FloSports. 0:25:20 - “As a woman in the workplace,” Simone’s organ story. 0:32:20 - Simone’s immediate work environment. 0:35:15 - CPE, Chili’s Per Employee. Okaaaaaay. Then Sour Worms talk. Then snack talk. Lots of snack talk. 0:45:30 - Wrapping up Simone’s sports career and how she got into media. 0:50:00 - “As a woman in high art”, Simone’s time with Richard Linklater’s team. 0:54:45 - Spey and Simone do Meals on Wheels. 0:59:00 - Simone teases a new documentary coming out on FloGrappling called “Daisy Fresh”, which will be rad as hell. 1:08:00 - What is Simone’s passion? 1:16:45 - Let’s talk Casey’s Pizza, everyone’s favorite. 1:20:00 - “I’ve been saying for a while, I wanna try Sour Patch Cereal” - Simon the Great Unboxer. 1:24:00 - Look up Simone’s great unboxing video on Youtube. 1:31:45 - 2020 will be the year of the unboxing. Check em out on the ‘tube. 1:33:00 - The outdo. Outta time, BYE BYE.

FloMarching guy and video/musician extraordinaire Chris Walker sits down to chat about his career that includes life on the Van's Warp Tour and shoot the Zain Retherford vs Yianni Diakomihalis wrestle-off. It's a fun time with pals 3and you don't want to miss it! Show run down: 1:00 - Kinda like DaBAby 3:46 - DaPapa John ate 40 pizzas in 30 days 5:40 - Imagine the NBA theme song but with words 7:45 - FloWrestling is not a monopoly, plain and simple end of story 8:50 - PASEOS 2: Flo does not price gouge 14:00 - Introducing Chis Walker 31:00 - Let’s get the C-Dubs Origin Story 46:58 - C-Dubs is out of college, time to become a rock star 56:38 - Calling’s it quits 1:03:25 - How did C-Dubs hear about FloSports? 1:15:00 - Marching? Is that a thing? 1:30:00 - A nice long cunck about the Marching Arts, now some questions! 1:43:44 - C-Dubs challenges CP to a wrestling match 1:45:45 - Folk vs Free, an outsider’s perspective 1:57:00 - The interview is over I hope you enjoyed it 1:58:07 - Let’s talk about Instagram real quick 2:04:50 - Enough social media talk let’s rehash some criteria v OT talk 2:08:37 - Ot makes you take a knee, criteria makes you dazzle dazzle 2:09:16 - Ferrari and Gallagher thanks you BYE BYE

Actual real wrestler and important person in the sport Chance Marsteller sits down for a fun chat about wrestling, Star Wars, and shoes. 0:01:00 - I pretend to open a beer. Great radio. Also Chance Marsteller is on the show. DUH. 0:02:00 - What is a car wash, in the sports media sense of the term. 0:06:11 - Why did Abdulrashid Sadulaev get suspended for four months by UWW? 0:15:45 - I weigh in on that whole “wrestling should be on TV” thing. 0:19:55 - Finally, we get to the Chance Marsteller part. 0:22:30 - How did Chance end up in Austin? 0:31:45 - Chance stays involved in youth wrestler through the Dark Knights club. 0:40:00 - Get to know the Marsteller family. 0:46:15 - The importance of Pennsylvania wrestling culture. 0:47:45 - What if there was no wrestling in Chance’s life? Video games perhaps? 0:50:00 - It’s time to talk Boba Fett. It’s Star Wars time baby. 0:54:50 - A weird fact about San Marino. 0:55:50 - Welcome to Sauna Talk. 1:01:00 - What are Chance’s favorite foods? 1:02:45 - Will Chance stay in Pennsylvania forever? 1:04:00 - Chance’s favorite shoes, learn which ones they are. 1:06:25 - I tell a hilarious Monopoly joke. You simply must hear it. 1:09:45 - I have to go prep for the 2019 CKLV (I recorded this a little bit ago). 1:13:00 - Ferrari and Gallagher play us out.

FloSports Director of Operations Cyon Williams sits down for a relaxed and uncensored chat about his childhood in Jamaica, upbringing in New York City, his incredible journey to Iowa State, and finally his path to Austin and FloSports. Also we talk about cooking and comic books. And there’s some swearing. Show Rundown: 01:00 - I will miss working with my friend Willie Saylor. 06:10 - Round robins are better at determining who the best wrestler is than single elimination brackets. PLAIN AND SIMPLE END OF STORY. 08:04 - I encourage you to watch the Journeymen Northeast Duals and Collegiate Classic, which have already happened by the time this is published. Timing! 09:16 - Let’s chat with Cyon! Please direct impressionable youths to put on their earmuffs, there will be some light swearing! 11:20 - We start the Cyon origin story. 16:05 - Kids in Brooklyn picked on Cyon, and Cyon and the school principal learn a valuable lesson. 22:00 - Cyon refuses to curse in Jamaican. 25:00 - How Cyon got into sports. 32:40 - The mind-blowing tale of Cyon making the Iowa State wrestling team. It truly must be heard to be believed. 46:00 - Cyon’s first ever NCAA match was against Brandon Slay, and it did not go well for Cyon. 52:50 - What did Cyon do after graduating ISU but before FloSports? 1:00:35 - Adam Fenn and then Martin Floreani recruit Cyon to join FloSports. 1:06:38 - Cyon likes to cook. 1:10:50 - Cyon also really likes comic books! He even has his own online store! 1:25:22 - Cyon is NOT into Pokemon. 1:30:20 - Wrapping up episode 11. 1:32:35 - Ferrari and Gallagher play us out.

Mark Bader sits down with Spey over beverages to have a long conversation about his over 10 years of working at FloSports. Mark is the longest continuously tenured employee in the content department. That gets discussed, and much much more, in a fun conversation with pals! Show Rundown: 0:00:00 - Welcome to another smooth edition of Spey’s Stupid Podcast. 0:02:35 - We are on the eve of the Ohio State wrestle offs, so let’s discuss the Big Ten Network and FloSports relationship. 0:11:25 - Simone Biles is more impressive than that marathon guy, PLAIN AND SIMPLE, END OF STORY. 0:14:00 - Bonus PASEOS: There is no “Dagestan of the United States’. 0:16:00 - Question for the teeming masses: let’s talk nicknames! 0:23:00 - Mark ‘The Master’ Bader is in the house. We discuss Kazakhstan and the 2019 World Championships. ‘Horse was on the menu.’ 0:29:30 - Mark’s tenure at Flo is discussed. Mark has a lot of tenure. Mark has been traveling to Yakutsk, Russian since 2011. 0:36:05 - Bader begins his origin story, starting in St Mary’s hospital in St Louis county. 0:48:00 - Bader commits to Mizzou then finds out he’ll be coached by new hire Brian Smith by reading the newspaper. 1:07:00 - Bader recruits Ben Askren to Missouri and has a humorous story about Ben’s recruiting visit. 1:09:35 Bader graduates. Now what? How does he stay involved in the sport? By coaching high school, that’s how. 1:13:20 - How did Bader end up at FloSports way back when? 1:29:15 - Bader actually started as the MMA guy at FloSports. 1:39:25 - When did Mark feel like Flo has outgrown its bootstraps? 1:55:30 - Bader describes life as a wrestling media celebrity. 2:03:35 - Spey makes up a bunch of questions for Mark. 2:17:16 - Bader tells some behind the scenes stories about his favorite FloFilm ‘Terry’. 2:30:00 - We’re back with the outro and one last digression about the Holy City Hoops podcast and how the Colonial Athletic Association deal with FloSports came to be.

Michael Sears, the cool and chill guy of jiu-jitsu, has an extended conversation with Spey about his life in the sport of grappling, and how he became one of the newest team members at FloSports. What a fun time with pals! Show Run Down 0:01:54 - It’s Who’s Number One weekend (when the recording happens). 0:04:50 - You should be penalized for going out of bounds. Plain and simple, end of story. 0:10:08 - A brief comment about the new Flo logo. 0:17:40  - The Chill and Cool Dude of Jiu-Jitsu, Michael Sears. 0:25:00 - Comparing and contrasting wrestling and grappling. 0:28:20 - The origin story of Michael Sears begins, which quickly flies off into a tangent about the World Championships of Wrestling, No-Gi Grappling, and cold spray. 0:36:30 - Sears gets into jiu-jitsu. 0:42:20 - Sears gets even more into jiu-jitsu, quitting his day job and going all in, evening moving to Brazil. 0:47:00 - When Sears first heard about FloGrappling. 0:56:08 - Sears dives head first into the grappling content game. 1:13:09 - How Sears got his gig with Flo and moves to Texas. 1:19:48 - Some ADCC talk. 1:23:40 - Sears explains how scoring works in grappling, which eventually gets back to the differences between wrestling and grappling. And then a bunch of 2:00:22 - The outro - time to pack up and go home to watch Who’s #1, which had yet to happen when this was recorded. 2:04:43 - Ferrari and Gallagher play us out.

Football guy but also all-around awesome doad Kolby Paxton sits down for a chat about high school football, college football, pro football, wrestlers who also played football, and much, much more! What a fun time with pals it was.  Show Rundown 0:01:47 - I’ve still got P-Salad on my dome, but no longer a word curtain. 0:05:19 - Criteria is superior, plain and simple, end of story. 0:12:00 - Hey it’s FloSports’ Football guy Kolby Paxton, talking about the New York Giants’ Danny Dimes Era. 0:13:07 - The origin story of Kolby Paxton begins. 0:17:00 - Kolby was an integral part of the Gus Malzhan era at Springdale High School. 0:30:00 - What was Kolby’s collegiate journey? 0:53:00 - Kolby’s illustrious athletic career comes to a close, but his media career starts to blossom. 1:01:40 - FloSports pops into Kolby’s life. 1:07:00 - The history of FloFootball. 1:23:42 - Q&A with Kolby. Q #1 - Who is the best wrestler AND football player? 1:28:00 - Q #2 - Who is the greatest mind in football? 1:31:26 - Fantasy Football chat with 2 doads. 1:34:10 - Hype for last weeks games on Football (catch them on replay!) 1:38:20 - Who will win the NCAA FBS championship? 1:40:51 - Who wins the dang Super Bowl? 1:42:50 - The outro. Ferrari and Gallagher play us out.

FloWrestling tech guru and grape ape Michael Malinconico sits down with Spey for a fun discussion between pals. Join us! Show rundown: 0:02:38 - Beach Wrestling is a thing! 0:07:05 - Yugoslavia has some wild history 0:11:42 - Plain and simple end of story: Latin naming conventions 0:17:23 - Beverages with Mike 0:25:30 - Mike Mal’s origin story begins 0:29:10 - Heartbreak in Boardwalk Hall at NJ States 0:34:18 - Mike’s collegiate Odyssey begins with John W. Smith - later a Pat Pop tangent 0:47:10 - Life after college wrestling in the real world, then back into wrestling - the Rhino Wrestling origin story. 0:57:49 - Mike meets Martin Flo 1:04:10 - Mike is ready to get out of Jersey and in to Texas 1:16:30 - Oh hey Mike is the Beach Wrestling expert now 1:21:40 - Questions for Mike! 1:30:22 - Outro and Theo Von’s P-Salad bit that you will not want to miss

It's the Wrestling Nomad himself. Young Danny Lobs joins Spey just days before the Yianni vs Zain redo. What's Nomad's deal anyway? Find out! 0:01:15 - The season of Forever Final X continues. 0:03:45 - 12 ounces of Austin Beerworks Fire Eagle is freed from it’s aluminum prison. 0:03:58 - Plain and Simple End of Story: We need to have a talk about fast food. 0:08:07 - Did you see this one? I can’t stop thinking about this sexy ass burger. 0:08:51 - A question of vital importance: What is your favorite fast food? 0:14:50 - Introducing the young Danny Nomes 0:15:20 - It’s Friday for us! 0:24:22 - Who is Jaroslav Hasek? 0:35:11 - Nomad understands people not knowing words. 0:42:17 - How did Nomad’s dad influence his involvement in wrestling? 0:46:54 - Little Danny Nomes grows up in Parkville, Maryland on Puddyhill Ave. 0:50:35 - Life at an MIAA prep school begins for Daniel. 0:55:30 - Why did Nomad quit the world’s oldest and greatest sport in middle school? 1:08:26 - If Nomad was any good in college, he’d be a villain. Also he partied on an opponent on senior night in high school. 1:14:39 - Nomad missed out on states his senior year and was a terrible teammate. 1:19:25 - Nomad picks a college. 1:22:39 - James Madison is home. 1:28:12 - Nomad was in a riot, then graduated and got a square job. 1:30:57 - Nomad’s first foray into wrestling media. 1:36:42 - How the 2014 World Championships changed both our lives. 1:40:00 - Nomad’s college roommate used him like William Tell. 1:44:07 - Labe Day plans to watch Zain vs Yianni, and more talk about international wrestling. 1:54:37  - The heartwarming tale of Spey and Nomad meeting IRL at the 2015 Bill Farrell. 2:00:00 - Wrapping it up at the 2 hour mark with some thoughts on premium content. 2:03:50 - Ferrari and Gallagher play us out with a cut off their new album.

A delightful conversation with wrestling factotum Justin Hoch, who is in town for the Final X Special Wrestle Off: Dake vs Dieringer. A fun time was had by all. Show rundown: 0:00:30 - It's 5 o'clock exactly where we are. 0:03:12 - It is very hot out and I have been very badly burned. 0:04:55 - A had a good week on the pong table, except for the whole ripping my shorts thing. 0:07:30 - Plain And Simple End Of Story: not every wrestling event will sell out just because it takes place in a wrestling hot bed. 0:11:12 - Have You Seen This One? Tremendous Turkish ice cream guys. 0:13:20 - A Question Of Vital Importance: Pick your fantasy FRL team. 0:16:55 - Please welcome Justin Hoch to the stupid podcast! 0:30:24 - We breakdown the main event in Round Rock: Dake v Ringer. 0:34:00 - A digression on cameras and photography. 0:39:10 - Talkin chow in Budapest at the World Championships. Aubergine anyone? 0:41:00 - What brings Justin Hoch joy? Wrestling, photography, Binghamton, New York City, acting and more! 0:44:37 - Justin formative years in Wyoming. 0:45:50 - Justin becomes an upstate New York guy and 'becomes a wrestler'. 0:50:30 - Justin gets involved with the Binghamton community. 0:52:25 - Justin catches the acting bug and moves to the city. 0:58:10 - Billy Baldwin, good dude! 1:04:00 - Bill Bryson book club. 1:06:20 - The Fire Inside! Justin explains his incredibly rad photography project. 1:09:54 - Justin explains 'grant writing', which is something he did while working at Beat the Streets NYC. 1:14:57 - More about The Fire Inside. 1:16:28 - How does one plan for an event like Beat the Streets Rumble on the Rails in 2013? 1:18:30 - Iranians are the best. 1:21:10 - Even more on The Fire Inside (we've taken some digressions, so what?) 1:30:56 - The outro. 1:33:19 - Ferrari & Gallagher play us out with a cut off their new album.    

Recent edition to the FloFam David Bray shares his wrestling life with the world. From Colorado mat rat to FloSport Partner Success Manager. Plus three, yes, THREE, brand new bits! Let's hope they don't suck! Show rundown 0:00:27 - Oh hello. It’s still very hot here in Texas. 0:02:13 - New bit: Plain And Simple End Of Story, the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Minneapolis. 0:06:07 - New, new bit: Have you seen this one? The fish tube.  0:07:51 - Another new bit: A question of vital importance! Run the pike or run the pipe? 0:22:40 - It’s David Bray baby! What’s his deal? Why is he at Flo? 0:26:20 - Zeb is defending what he has built. 0:30:25 - What is Bray’s first memory as a human being… that involved wrestling. 0:36:30 - Bray attends the Iowa Intensive Camp. 0:40:16 - Bray brags about being the “top dog” of his high school. 0:43:12 - After participating in AIA, Bray decided to attend Northwestern College. 0:47:30 - Bray sets his senior season goals and suffers a terrible setback. 0:51:42 - David Bray goes to Moscow! 0:57:08 - David Bray moves to Wyoming! 1:00:26 - David Bray applies for a job at Flo! 1:09:43 - Talkin beverages with David Bray. 1:12:19 - And we are outta here. 1:13:31 - Here’s Ferrari and Gallagher with Blinded by Love to play us out.

Production professional Travis Peter shares experience working on FloSports live productions.  0:01:10 - Texas is hot. 0:03:15 - Tool time (the band). 0:04:35 - Q: What did Spey troll about this week on Twitter? A: The top 10 best rappers of all time. 0:10:12 - Who is Travis Peter? He is this episode's very special guest, duh. 0:17:15 - Interview time! What are Travis' travel plans in the near future? He lets us know! 0:24:25 - The humble beginnings of Travis Peter, the pride of Kansas City, Missouri. 0:31:30 - How did Travis discover FloSports?  0:37:15 - How did Travis land a gig at FloSports? 0:46:45 - Tavis explains all the fun challenges he has to overcome will producing events for Flo.  0:56:00 - Travis tells a production horror story. 1:07:50 - Travis spins a classic yarn of watching NFL playoff in Portugal. 1:15:15 - Travis blows the lid off the whole Superman secret identity thing, and exposes him as a fraud. 1:17:00 - Outro 1:20:00 - Blinded by Love by Ferrari & Gallagher plays us out.

Spey is back with his second stupid podcast! He is joined by executive intern John Michael Zak, who shares his tales of life as a US Army Ranger, as a student at UNC-Wilmington, and finally as an intern for FloWrestling here in Austin, Texas. Wow, Spey's really gonna try and make this a thing, isn't he? Run down: 0:05:50 - Dake & Dieringer wrestle-off news 0:09:06 - Redshirt Report Easter Eggs 0:11:57 - Interview with JMZ begins 0:16:35 - JMZ spins his military yarn of enlistment 0:23:35 - JMZ explains Ranger School 0:36:25 - JMZ's military experiences after passing Ranger School 0:43:10 - How JMZ ended up in Wilmington, NC 0:51:35 - How JMZ made his internship happen 1:01:45 - Life as a FloWrestling intern 1:10:15 - Preceptions and misperceptions of FloSports 1:21:24 - Hasta la vista 1:23:07 - SSP Theme Song by Ferrari & Gallagher  

FloSports Video Producer and good friend Efren Salinas joins Spey for the inaugural episode. Let's hope it doesn't suck!