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Athletor Podcast with Mike Mal

The Athletor Podcast with Mike Mal
Wrestling
NCAA Wrestling
NIL
Youth Wrestling
Transfer Portal
NCAA
College Wrestling
Freestyle Wrestling
Fundraising
Recruiting
Recruitment
High School Wrestling
NC State
NIL (name, Image, Likeness)
Mental Toughness
Recruitment Strategies
Coaching
USA Wrestling
Athlete Development
Weight Cutting

Welcome to "The Athletor Podcast with Mike Mal" where we delve into the world of college and youth wrestling. Join Mike, the head coach of Poway RTC, as he sits down with guests from all levels of the sport, including high school, club, college, and senior-level coaches and athletes. Each week, Mike will bring you insightful discussions on the latest in college and youth wrestling, including train... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes181Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
WrestlingSports

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Artwork for Athletor Podcast

Latest Episodes

Scott Green built Wyoming Seminary into the most feared prep program in the country, then helped put Army wrestling back on the map. Now he's rebuilding New York Military Academy from the keel up, with a four-year clock on winning Prep Nationals. Thi... more

Wyoming Seminary sent 26 ranked recruits to D1 in six years and put 4.5% of this year's NCAA tournament field on the mat, all without handing out a single NIL deal. Head coach Will Weber explains how a Marine's standards, two wrestle-offs a season, a... more

YouTube

Shane Sparks, the voice of Big Ten wrestling, joins Mike for the argument they've been having over drinks for years: should California's 22,000 wrestlers really compete for one state title? Shane's case is participation and community. Mike's case is ... more

YouTube

NC State All-American Tommy Gantt left wrestling for one amateur fight and never looked back. Now an undefeated UFC lightweight training with Daniel Cormier, he breaks down what actually transfers from the mat to the cage, plus the Pat Popolizio spee... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Will Weber
Head coach at Wyoming Seminary Wrestling
Wyoming Seminary
Episode: Why Wrestling's #1 Recruiting Pipeline Refuses NIL Deals | Athletor Podcast Ep 179
Shane Sparks
Wrestling coach and commentator, guest on episode
not explicitly stated in transcript
Episode: "I Care About the 22,000 Kids, Not the 141 D1 Recruits" | Athletor Podcast Ep 178
Blaize Cabell
Coach at the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
Episode: Navy's Blaize Cabell on Camps, Coaching Feel, and the Rise of Danny Wass | Athletor Podcast Ep 176
Damion Hahn
SDSU head wrestling coach
South Dakota State University
Episode: Stop Cutting Weight: Damion Hahn's Case for Wrestling Up | Athletor Podcast Ep 175
Sam Barber
Head coach, United States Air Force Academy wrestling
United States Air Force Academy
Episode: How Air Force Builds NCAA All-Americans Without NIL or the Portal | Sam Barber | Athletor Podcast Ep 174
Bryan Snyder
Associate Head Coach, University of Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Episode: "I Couldn't Ride for 30 Seconds to Win a Title. That Made Me Obsessed" | Athletor Podcast Ep 173
Darian Cruz
UPenn Assistant Coach
University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) Wrestling
Episode: Half a Million or Olympic Dreams — That's the Choice These Kids Face" | Athletor Podcast Ep 172
Mike Mock
US Open Champion wrestler; guest on episode
Wrestling (US Open Champion)
Episode: "Pressure Is Fabricated" — Mike Macchiavello on What Really Wins Matches | Athletor Podcast Ep 170
Gabe Arnold
Georgia-born, NCAA All-American and national champion-caliber wrestler
University of Iowa Hawkeyes
Episode: Gabe Arnold On Making All-American At The Wrong Weight And Chasing A Title At 174 | Athletor Podcast Ep 168

Host

Mike Mal
Host of The Athletor Podcast

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 84 ratings
  • Please fix audio

    Great podcast! In depth and informative. But sounds like it’s recorded inside of an empty grain silo.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    CC Cowboy 99
    United Statesa month ago
  • Huge wrestling fan.

    This is a decent wrestling podcast. But I can’t stop cringing at the fact this guy thinks everything he says is so profound. It’s cool to have an opinion that you are passionate about. But come on guy. We as an audience are not waiting with bated breath for your takes. You act like you’re gifting us with your wisdom.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Yen612
    United States10 months ago
  • Best Wrestling podcast

    Mike Mal does a great job with the interviews and gets great guests. Highly recommend

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    griff dogg
    United Statesa year ago
  • One suggestion

    Great pod, but can you work on the audio quality?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WPRSTL
    United Statesa year ago
  • Less is more

    Mike - you have a good product. But from a personal perspective - I don’t really care about what you do, who you know, what your experiences are, what your son is dealing with. And I say that from a selfish standpoint.

    I want to listen to your guests! They’re experience - and learn from them. I get 60 minutes to gain as much as I can from your guests and listen to every one of them.

    The top podcasters that do interviews like Shawn Ryan - let the people speak- very rarely talks about his lif... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Pennsyltuckey
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are consistently strong, offering practical wrestling and coaching insights.
Audio quality is a frequent point of feedback for improvement.
The show provides valuable perspectives on mindset and long-term athlete development.
Listeners appreciate the host's solid interviewing and access to high-caliber guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#81
United States/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#149
Canada/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#104
France/Sports/Wrestling
Apple Podcasts
#6
Indonesia/Sports/Wrestling

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Stop Cutting Weight: Damion Hahn's Case for Wrestling Up | Athletor Podcast Ep 175
Q: OK, so what we did, Damion, was we took last year's performance at the NCAAs and put that data in. What can you surmise from this?
The numbers show that adding new conference members will likely boost team points, national ranks, and All-American counts, and the schedule will allow for more varied competition, which should raise the program's profile and results over time.
"I Couldn't Ride for 30 Seconds to Win a Title. That Made Me Obsessed" | Athletor Podcast Ep 173
Q: How do you build trust and buy-in with transfer athletes?
Trust is fundamental to development; we invest heavily in relationships, spending time with players, understanding life off the mat, and aligning on goals so they feel supported and integrated into the program.
"I Couldn't Ride for 30 Seconds to Win a Title. That Made Me Obsessed" | Athletor Podcast Ep 173
Q: What is the portal recruitment process like compared to recruiting out of high school?
Portal recruitment is fast, targeted, and relationship-driven; we assess needs quickly and try to bring in players who fit culturally and can contribute immediately, then measure potential points gained.
"I Couldn't Ride for 30 Seconds to Win a Title. That Made Me Obsessed" | Athletor Podcast Ep 173
Q: Where has Nebraska Wrestling excelled in the last two years, and why?
We've excelled in top wrestling and riding, with several All-Americans and a strong emphasis on top control which contributes to our overall scoring and match outcomes.
John Hangey On Zero NIL, Developing All-Americans, And The Rider Way | Athletor Podcast Ep 167
Q: How do NIL and transfer portal affect your recruiting philosophy?
NIL is not the driving force; we emphasize development, loyalty, and personal growth, and we re-recruit athletes to stay, using success stories as examples to show what they can achieve at Rider rather than chasing 'green pastures' elsewhere.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Athletor Podcast

What is Athletor Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on college and youth wrestling, with a heavy focus on program-building, mindset, and the evolving landscape around NIL, transfer portals, and recruiting. Conversations blend technical wrestling tactics, data-driven training, and leadership culture—with episodes often exploring how coaches navigate finances, governance, and open competition while maintaining athlete development and team culture. A standout pattern is bridging high-level competition insights with practical, real-world coaching strategies, athlete mindset, and career pathways beyond college wrestling. This mix likely appeals to coaches, athletes, parents, and program administrators seeking actionable takeaways and deeper context on how today's wrestling ecosys... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Athletor Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Athletor Podcast:

1. BASCHAMANIA
2. FloWrestling Radio Live
3. The Bader Show
4. The Quad Pod
5. The Full Tilt Podcast

How many episodes of Athletor Podcast are there?

Athletor Podcast launched 3 years ago and published 181 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Athletor Podcast?

Recent guests on Athletor Podcast include:

1. Will Weber
2. Shane Sparks
3. Blaize Cabell
4. Damion Hahn
5. Sam Barber
6. Bryan Snyder
7. Darian Cruz
8. Mike Mock

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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