Caught on the Mike...

We talk a lot about “a fighters story”- the mindset that brings them to the big game, the conditioning, the ambition, and we talk a lot about what a fighter (or coach) sacrifices to see that dream through.
What is commonly missed, however, is the impact it has on families.
What’s it like to see a loved one go through training? handle a victory? Or yet, suffer defeat?
How do loved ones feel when seeing that family member inside the octagon? What are their (families) contributions to the process? How does the embrace of that “struggle” shape the person that returns to his/her day by day, after a fight?
What does the legacy of a pro fighter look like? How does it shape the family as a result?

In this episode I speak with Julie Donovan, wife of Elevation Fight Team Coach & owner of High Altitude Martial Arts- and Jess Pauga, wife of recent UFC signee Zac Pauga. We get insight into what their lives are like being a part of this MMA culture and the things that shape what a fighter is really like in the real world.

www.highaltitudema.com
www.caughtonthemike.com

One of North America's most enduring legends, Bigfoot, also commonly referred to as Sasquatch, is a purported ape-like creature said to inhabit the forests of North America.
In this episode, I speak with Mike Familant- Bigfoot expert and researcher, host of the YouTube web series- In The Shadow of Big Red Eye. We discuss the phenomena, and talk about Mike's multi state tour where he will be sharing his knowledge with the masses.

There is just something about pushing past the holiday season- fresh starts, new beginnings, a new year with a new outlook.
For all of these reasons, this episode seems like a very fitting launch into this new year, 2023.
In this episode, I speak with a seasoned fighter- stepping up with a rejuvinated outlook on his profession and approach to this phase of his career. We talk about upbringings, fight strategy, and even lament about the pitfalls of social media. I'm proud to welcome UFC light heavyweight fighter Devin "Brown Bear" Clark to the show today- and I'm excited for you to learn of his journey.

www.highaltitudema.com
www.caughtonthemike.com

Hailing from the vast cornfields of Iowa, Sadie Gray grew up in a pretty typical midwestern town. She moved to Omaha,NE in 2007 and after eight years of The Good Life, decided to move to Puerto Rico… While in Puerto Rico, and with the help of a couple of amazing trainers, Sadie found fitness in 2016 and fell in love. Six years later, she’s back in Nebraska with her husband and four cats. You can find her playing Nintendo, lifting weights, teaching everyone how to swear in Spanish, perfecting her pan sobao recipe, and sharing her love of food and fitness with her BFF Sausha on the podcast Meathead Test Kitchen.

Once upon a time, I had a dream of becoming a “rock star.”

After spending a good portion of my life putting in the work and the energy to achieve that dream, it was never realized. ..and was probably not meant to be.

Whether I lacked the talent, the opportunity, the geographical location, or any other mitigating factors for it to happen is irrelevant. The peace that I have made within myself regarding that journey has become invaluable and the most rewarding gift of all. Gaining a history and stories that not many “common” people ever get to experience.

Most of my connections in the real world are now a result of that journey, and my love of music and all things musical has NEVER waned. Many lessons were learned that have informed my every day life and served my successes in my career, my family, my self preservation, and fed the inception of this podcast.

For the first time ever, I give a condensed history lesson about my life and journey in music. I talk about the albums I've recorded, and let you hear samples first hand. I also share some perspectives to making yourself visible in a crowd of many- that can not only be applied to being in a rock band- but also in everyday life.

www.caughtonthemike.com

In this episode, we talk with my very good friend and music promoter: Dave Campbell. Dave has been putting together concerts in the Omaha area (and midwest at large) for over 20 years. He now runs his own company, as well as frequently partners with one of the midwest's largest promoters. We get a behind the scenes look into what goes into putting together a show, and talk about the basic do's and don'ts of making a memorable (and successful) event.

www.caughtonthemike.com

Musician. Combat Sport Aficionado. Podcaster.
Sounds familiar right? Hahaha
This is why we had to make this episode happen!
Billy "Zombilly" Peck is a long established midwest based musician, he's a pro wrestling ring announcer, and has a podcast- 'Major World Order" that is picking up serious steam in the pro wrestling community. We talk about all of these things and the balance it takes to be successful at each, and ponder on where hearts lead to being the more favorable artform.

Born and raised in West Virginia, Philip Bowen’s uplifting sound is heavily inspired by his Appalachian roots.

The dynamic singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist began playing fiddle at the age of four, and his virtuoso skills have become quite popular on TikTok, with over 6.7 million likes and 940k followers on the platform alone. His popularity on the app even propelled him to win TikTok’s Gamers Greatest Talent competition, earning $25k and beating out thousands of other competitors.

We talk about his re-commitment to music over the last 3 years, the power of tiktok lives, and even fan-out about some of our favorite artists.

www.philipbowenmusic.com
www.caughtonthemike.com

Trenton Lavell Wainwright, known professionally as Lavetti Vegas, has been doing stand up comedy for over 3 years.
Starting comedy via a chance encounter with a well known promoter, and a convoluted happenstance- he has been building his brand for a few years now.
He sits down with me on the pod to talk about that start, evolution, and growth as a comic- including his transition into other forms of entertainment and now his growth into the world of acting.

Jru Anthony is an 19 year old Artist, Producer, Composer, and Instrumentalist born and raised in DC. He began creating music at a young age, inspired by his father, GoGo Legend Frank “Scooby” Sirius. In his music, he infuses various genres with a soulful, melodic, and rhythmic groove. Jru communicates the art of music in every performance and hopes to follow in the footsteps of musicians who inspired him. Jru Anthony is the “true embodiment of fusion”. With undertones of jazz and pop music flowing through and through, he will have you dancing from start to finish!

www.jruanthony.com
www.caughtonthemike.com

Ben is an award-winning actor, musician, public speaker and personal freedom coach, dedicated to creating more love, compassion and permission to go after your dreams with abandon. You may recognize him as "Steve the Dell Dude," but in the last 20 years he's gone on to become internationally recognized and critically acclaimed for his work not only as an actor, but as a speaker and coach. Ben truly lives a life of his dreams, in hopes that he will inspire others to do the same.
https://www.bencurtis.co/
https://www.dirtymae.com/

I've preached it over and over again- but the Halloween season is my favorite time of the year. Recently, I have just rediscovered my long lost love of horror movies. Coincidentally, while cruising TikTok- I found my next guest giving insightful reviews and commentary on some recent releases as well as describing the nuance of some of the movies past.
He's a content creator, a cinematographer, and a fellow podcaster- who's show "Haunting Season" can be found on all major platforms and on YouTube. I'm excited for you all to meet Joshua Sterling Bragg- and am stoked for you to experience his great insight first hand.
https://drum.io/hauntingseason
www.caughtonthemike.com

Joining me on the podcast today is Necronomicast host, Brian J. Corey, John E. L. Tenney (one of the world’s leading experts of paranormal and occult phenomena), Johnny Houser (caretaker and historian of the Villisca Ax Murder House), and Jamie Nestroyl (Omaha paranormal investigator, historian, and lecturer).
As we talk about their upcoming fun night (October 8 event) celebrating the TRUE stories of paranormal phenomena in Omaha,NE- the Midwest, and our World!
Their event could be a night that could change your life…or AFTERLIFE!

Prior to the release of the stellar album, GOD CMPLX, I had the privelage to chat with hip hop legend- SOL MESSIAH!
The journey that Sol Messiah began so many years ago, as a youth discovering Hip Hop in Atlanta, has no ending in sight. With his gifted ear and fierce dedication to Hip Hop culture, he continues to use his craft to build his own body of work as well as help maintain and elevate the culture of Hip Hop as a whole.
GOD CMPLX drops September 30, 2022 on Rhymesayers Entertainment.

Simultaneously, heavy and euphoric.
In 2004, the band Letter Kills emerged with the anthemic and inspiring album: The Bridge.
In it's lead single, "Don't Believe"- singer Matt Shelton challenges the listener to optimistically not believe in people per se, but more so in the notion of things bigger than oneself.

This sentiment has carried on beyond the band, it's music, and it's history.
In this episode we get to catch up with Matt and his projects - as well as get perspectives of what's to come.

TikTok is the global social media phenomenon that took over the world during the peak of the pandemic. It has redefined "celebrity" and the way we look at celebrity as we know it.
Kevin Hughes is a fellow podcaster that has tapped into this niche and the new found celebrity of it's many users in his podcast- "Tik Talking with Kevin Hughes." We discuss the phenomenon, podcasting, social media, and how to tap into this world wide phenomena.

www.caughtonthemike.com

525,600 minutes are total number minutes contained in one year's time. My next guest has not let a single one go to waste.
Exactly one year ago to the date of the release of this episode, we released our first episode together- and a lot has happened since then. Now, under contract with the UFC, my friend Zac Pauga joins me to be the first ever two-time Caught on the Mike guest. We retrace the happenings of this past year, talk about his time on the Ultimate Fighter reality show, and he discusses what happened in the finale- and how he's moving forward.

www.highaltitudema.com
www.vitaltrainingsystems.com
www.caughtonthemike.com

Nathan Orton has always been the class clown, quick to get a laugh, and possibly slightly mentally ill. In 2013, he bought a ticket to watch the annual ‘Funniest Person in St Louis’ competition at The Funny Bone. A week later, he worked up the courage to get on stage. A year later, he won that same competition. After that, he began touring the Midwest and went on to win Helium Comedy Club’s ‘Funniest Person Contest’ and the ‘World Series of Comedy’ in Indianapolis.
Being from a family full of professional wrestlers, Nathan has always been destined to be an entertainer—but has opted out of the physical abuse. It’s all emotional...

www.nathanortoncomedy.com
www.caughtonthemike.com

From 2002 until 2009, mixed martial artist- Bobby Maximus competed in various high-profile promotions including the UFC, Maximum Fighting Championship, and was a competitor on The Ultimate Fighter 2, where he was the first Canadian to fight on the show.

On this most recent season (season 30-2022,) he returned to competition and became known for his strong sense of mentorship in the house among the other fighters.

He is known for a myriad of other endeavors: trainer, public speaker, mindset coach, valued friend, and family man- and I feel very privelaged to have been able to pick his brain about a lot of these things.

www.bobbymaximus.com
www.caughtonthemike.com

"Until the Day I Die," "Anthem For Our Dying Day," "Sidewalks"... Three hits off the best selling album, "Page Avenue." You know the songs....
Story of the Year has been a long time favorite band of mine, my former bandmates, and a favorite of many for years.
A band that has grown leaps and bounds from album to album; but doesn't shy away from the humor that makes them incredibly relatable and uniquely- "them.."
In this episode, I get the privelage of speaking with Adam Russell- bassist of SOTY, and host of the fantastic Star Wars podcast "Thank Your Maker.." We hit all the touchpoints of the past, present, and future- as well as discuss navigating the ever changing way in which we consume media.

www.caughtonthemike.com