Bader Show podcast

Latest Episodes:

Izzy Martinez on RAF | The Bader Show (Ep. 450) Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

Izzy Martinez is working with Real American Freestyle to bring their first card to Cleveland, OH on August 30. 1:00 - RIP Hulk Hogan 3:00 - Izzy meets Hulk, then Chad Bronstein 10:40 - How can RAF avoid pitfalls of other pro leagues 14:30 - Showmanship 15:30 - Belt and champion system and match ups 19:20 - Two small freestyle rule changes 22:25 - Match bonuses 26:00 - Jordan Burroughs? 27:15 - Ben Askren 31:30 - Future RAF events 33:00 - Measuring success 38:45 - Main event 40:00 - Real American Beer and an after party #TheBaderShow

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Zahid Valencia | The Bader Show (Ep. 449) Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

Zahid Valencia beat Kyle Dake at the US Open and then again in two straight matches at Final X and will wrestle for Team USA at the World Championships. 1:25 - Simple life in Stillwater, OK and Cowboy RTC 3:30 - Deepest waters Zahid goes to in training 4:30 - DT, coaching and training partners 7:20 - The mental game and tactics 9:20 - Wrestling Dake in 2018 at Final X 12:00 - Keeping it light 15:30 - Zahid vs Dake at Final X 2025 23:45 - 2018 vs 2025 26:00 - Focus on wrestling at practice, but not a lot otherwise 27:40 - Preparing for the rest of the world 29:20 - The great wrestling minds meet at the Olympic Training Center #TheBaderShow

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Ben Askren Update | The Bader Show (Ep. 448) Jun 24, 2025

Show notes

Mark Bader gives an update on Ben's current situation from going into the hospital in Nevada, to getting transported back to Wisconsin and eventually getting on the transplant list. It's time for the wrestling community to rally around a man who has given so much to this sport. DONATE - https://t.co/IAfq4TwPM0

Rudis Shirts | All proceeds go to medical and transplant costs - https://t.co/CaYDn0Fkh7

0:55 - Going into the hospital in Nevada 8:00 - Transport flight 10:20 - Wisconsin hospital 12:25 - Ben woke up! 14:45 - Ben is listed 17:00 - Astronomical costs associated with lung transplant 25:30 - Share your Ben stories #BenAskren #TheBaderShow #AskrenStories

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Vito Arujau | The Bader Show (Ep. 447) Jun 17, 2025

Show notes

Vito Arujau won a world title in 2023 and was bronze in 2024 at 61kg. He will wrestle Jax Forrest in a delayed Final X wrestle-off on July 14 in Fargo, ND.

1:00 - Vito’s reaction to Final X results

5:55 - Long layoff since 2024 World Championships

9:15 - Delaying Final X series with Jax Forrest

12:55 - Being the hunter vs hunted

16:10 - Preparing for Jax Forrest

18:50 - Training with Anthony Knox

20:00 - Masanosuke Ono

26:00 - Trying to win second NCAA title and now second World title

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Jax Forrest | The Bader Show (Ep. 446) Jun 10, 2025

Show notes

Jax Forrest recently won the US Open in the men's senior division as just a junior in high school. He will wrestle Vito Arujau in a best of three series on July 14 with the winner to represent the United States at the World Championships this fall.

0:30 - Started wrestling at 5 years old

1:40 - Jax called his own pin

2:40 - Relationship with dad hooked him on wrestling

5:30 - How does Jax develop so quickly?

7:30 - Wrestling at restaurants and odd places

8:30 - Bishop McCort

10:20 - College recruiting process

14:00 - Slowing things down on the mat

15:20 - Folkstyle vs freestyle

16:00 - 2025 US Open

20:40 - Jax watches US Open finals vs Seth Gross

31:50 - What if…. U20’s?

33:10 - Lee Roper

34:30 - Vito is up next

37:20 - Vito series pushed back a month

39:40 - Wins and whoopins

42:50 - Jax all-time favorite wrestler

#TheBaderShow

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Trent Hidlay | The Bader Show (Ep. 445) May 28, 2025

Show notes

Trent Hidlay was a 2x NCAA runner-up for NC State. In April he won the US Open at 92kg and will be wrestling Josh Barr at Final X. 1:30 - Becoming a wrestling commentator 5:10 - Being a wrestler vs being a fan of wrestling 6:45 - A lot more free time with wrestling freestyle full time 9:45 - Trent likes freestyle better 12:15 - You can’t just gas out the foreigners 13:45 - Wrestling with emotion 15:20 - It’s cool care so much you give your max effort 17:35 - Trent needs to lay off the intensity sometimes 20:20 - Moving up to 92kg 26:00 - Trent breaks down his US Open finals match 35:50 - When Trent thought US Open title was possible 37:45 - Watching the World Team Trials and Josh Barr 40:45 - Difference between environments at US Open vs Pan Ams 44:10 - Real American Freestyle 46:35 - Trent’s all-time favorite wrestler 48:45 - Trent would fight his brother Hayden at practice #TheBaderShow

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Yianni Diakomihalis | The Bader Show (Ep. 444) May 20, 2025

Show notes

Yianni Diakomihalis is a 4x NCAA Champion from Cornell, he was a 2022 World Silver medalist and will be wrestling PJ Duke at Final X on June 14, 2025. 1:00 - Yianni’s dad has coached him forever 3:05 - Dad fell ill Yianni's senior year of college 8:40 - Toughest parts of dad being sick 12:35 - 2024 Olympic Trials and weight issues 16:10 - Did Yianni consider retiring? 20:00 - Bumping up to 70kg 23:05 - PSA about the advantage/disadvantages of cutting weight 27:27 - Takatani told Yianni “I just didn’t want to lose weight” 29:00 - Yianni vs James Green at the US Open 38:15 - PJ Duke 42:45 - A lot of turnover in USA Wrestling this year 48:44 - Yianni’s all-time favorite wrestler 51:07 - Practicing a different style 53:20 - Yianni’s takes on Vito vs Jax and Dake vs Zahid 55:08 - Carr vs Mesenbrink 57:10 - Real American Freestyle - Hulk Hogan, call Yianni! #TheBaderShow

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Nahshon Garrett | The Bader Show (Ep. 443) May 07, 2025

Show notes

Nahshon Garrett didn't start wrestling until high school and was a 4x All-American and NCAA Champion for Cornell. in 2018 he won Final X at 61kg and just recently announced his retirement from the sport. 1:20 - Early career 2:40 - 103 pound Nahshon match video 5:40 - Expectations and confidence 8:50 - Wrestling at Beat The Streets in 2014 11:50 - Nahshon’s FloFilm 18:00 - Becoming an NCAA Champion 24:15 - 2018 Final X vs Joe Colon 31:20 - What will Nahshon chase next? 33:50 - Going to finally live with his wife 37:20 - Retirement was premeditated 41:20 - Nahshon on Jax Forrest 43:00 - Nahshon vs Jax Forrest 48:20 - Nahshon on Vito vs Jax at Final X 51:20 - Folkstyle or freestyle? 53:50 - What’s next for Nahshon 58:00 - All-time favorite wrestler 1:00:00 - Memorable win, whoopins and opponents 1:13:30 - The Usual Suspects: Gross, Gilman, Megaludis, Ramos, Colon etc. #TheBaderShow

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Nico Megaludis | The Bader Show (Ep.442) Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

Nico Megaludis was a 4x All-American and NCAA Champion at Penn State. He went on to have a solid senior level career and just retired after the US Open last weekend.

0:55 - Feeling of retirement

1:55 - Nico’s first match ever

5:00 - Nico’s amazing coaching and training situations

10:00 - Cael to PSU caught Nico’s eye

13:50 - Cael’s “cheesy” daily speech, are actually meaningful

17:55 - The year Penn State red shirted everyone

21:50 - Pressure of never having won it going into senior year

26:20 - Nico knew this would be his last year competing

29:50 - Nico has trained with Jack Forrest a bunch

34:10 - Nico’s favorite wrestler of all-time

36:30 - Favorite/memorable/good/bad matches over a career

42:45 - Talking through competitors: Delgado, Gilman, Gross, Nahshon,

45:00 - Spencer Lee, teammate and then competitor

52:00 - What is Nico most proud of from his career

53:45 - Nico punished himself with a workout after losing at Nittany Lion Open

56:40 - What wrestling has taught Nico

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Kennedy Blades | The Bader Show (Ep. 441) Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

Iowa's Kennedy Blades names Women's College Wrestler of the Year!

2:05 - The 8 finalists for Women’s College Wrestler of the Year

3:00 - And the winner is….. Kennedy Blades, University of Iowa

4:25 - Kennedy’s reaction to winning

6:40 - Going from Olympics to college

8:50 - Kylie Welker from rival to teammate

11:30 - Decision to go down to 68kg

16:30 - Traveling with college team vs traveling internationally

18:40 - Iowa coaching influences

22:00 - Being a role model

24:30 - Kennedy Blades’ all-time favorite wrestler

28:30 - Kennedy Blades will be at the US Open on April 24-25

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