Beyond the Belt

Beyond the Belt

Welcome to Beyond the Belt, a podcast that explores the intersection of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and everyday life. In each episode, we sit down with black belts who don’t have Jiujitsu as their primary source of income. They are practitioners (and sometimes also coaches) who balance their love for BJJ with successful careers, family life, and personal passions. In each conversation, we dive into how BJJ has helped their life, share stories that represent who they are as a person and show that there is more to them than just jiujitsu. We nerd out about the things important to them on and off the mats. Whether you’re a BJJ enthusiast, someone curious about the sport, or just looking for inspiration in balancing your passions with life’s demands, Beyond the Belt offers insights and stories that resonate on and off the mats.

Episodes

January 13, 2026 93 mins

This is a conversation with Nora Schoenthal, a black belt out of Cologne, Germany currently living in Barcelona, Spain. Nora is a mother and career person who has taken a hiatus from jiujitsu. She works in HR and is a head of People with a focus on Talent Acquisition and Learning and Development.

 

Episode Links:

* Instagram: https://instagram.com/noranavigator

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noraschoenthal/

 

Contact:

* ...

Mark as Played

This is a conversation with Adam Marburger, a black belt out of Alton, Illinois, USA. Adam is an author, owner and CEO of multiple businesses, speaker, coach, and gym owner.

 

Episode Links:

* Alton Elite Jiujitsu - https://altonelite.com/

* Ascent Dealer Services - https://www.ascentdealerservices.com/

* River Bend Rescue - https://riverbendrescue.com/

* Book - You're The Fucking Problem - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09W64DPNK/

...

Mark as Played

This is a conversation with "Wreck It" Randy McCarty, a black belt out of Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA. Randy is a electronics technician, outdoorsman, lifelong rifle and bow hunter, and retired professional MMA fighter.

 

Episode Links:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/wreck_it_randy_mc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/randy.mccarty.58

Jesse Briggs MMA Academy: https://www.instagram.com/briggsmma/

 

Contact:

* Be a Guest: htt...

Mark as Played

This is a conversation with Paris Lee, a black belt out of Howell, New Jersey, USA. Paris is an immigration lawyer in the US. His practice focuses on families, but he also supports BJJ athletes with their American immigration needs. He also is also the co-owner of Holles Gracie Edison.

 

Episode Links:

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bjjvisalawyer

* Website: https://www.njimmigrationattorney.com

* Rolles Gracie Academy Edi...

Mark as Played

This is a conversation with Petrus Paulus Steyn, a black belt out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Paulus is a Pediatric Anesthesiologist, Assistant professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, and life long Scuba diver.

 

Episode Links:

* Hospital: https://www.chop.edu/doctors/steyn-petrus-paulus

* Instagram: https://instagram.com/southpaulu

* Teaching: https://www.med.upenn.edu/apps/faculty/index.php/g275/p9279638

* Beltc...

Mark as Played

This is a conversation with Steve Jolly, a black belt out of El Paso, Texas, USA. Steve is a Minister, traveled the world helping to provide clean water, and is the Founder/Director of the Rio Bravo project.

If you have the financial ability to donate to the Rio Bravo Project, go to https://www.riobravoproject.com/give where you can either do a one-time donation or a regular monthly contribution. Or if you have the ability to donat...

Mark as Played

This is a conversation with Heidi Cheng, a black belt out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Heidi is a Fashion Engineer and Technical Designer, a seamstress, and a reclaimer of goods.

 

Episode Links:

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hi.im_heidi

* Beltchecker: https://www.beltchecker.com/profile.php?id=45315

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-cheng-449792a/

* Training Academy: "The Jiujitsu Company" - https://...

Mark as Played

This is a conversation with Dylan Freedman, a black belt out of Jamestown, New York, USA. Dylan is a Corrections officer trainer for the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. He also travels the US and helps to teach defensive tactics for the company Effective Fitness Combatives.

 

Episode Links:

* Instagram: https://instagram.com/freedbjj

* Effective Fitness Combatives: https://www.efcombatives.com/

...

Mark as Played

This is a conversation with Fabian Fitzner, a black belt out of Dubai, UAE. Fabian is lifelong entrepreneur, network marketing expert, kite surfer, and BJJ school owner.

 

Episode Links:

* Instagram: https://instagram.com/fabian.fitzner

* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FabianFitzner

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabianfitzner/

 

Contact:

* Be a Guest: https://btb.fan/newguest

 

Outline:

00:00 Intro

00:17 Journey to...

Mark as Played

This is a conversation with Matt Shamloo, a black belt out of Long Island, New York, USA. Matt is a wedding photographer and videographer, BJJ and MMA coach, and avid Tony Robbins supporter.

 

Episode Links:

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattshamloo_bjjmma

* The Midnight Project Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themidnightprojectweddings

* The Midnight Project Website: https://www.themidnightproject.co/

* Tony Robbi...

Mark as Played

This is a conversation with Paul Elliott, a black belt out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. Paul is a software engineer, BJJ coach and writer, backpacker, and photographer.

 

Episode Links:

* Personal Instagram: https://instagram.com/simplebjj

* Website: https://www.simplebjj.com

* Most Popular Article: https://simplebjj.com/a-week-with-henry-akins/

* A Year With Henry Akins: https://simplebjj.com/a-year-with-henry-akins/

* Red...

Mark as Played

This is a conversation with Mikhail Oza, a black belt out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Mikhail is technology strategist with Microsoft, BJJ coach and commentator, and scuba diver.

 

Episode Links:

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikhail-oza/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baloothebeardog

* The Jiujitsu Company: https://www.instagram.com/thejiujitsucompany

* The Jiujitsu Shop: https://www.jiujitsuphilly.com...

Mark as Played

This is a conversation with Toma Dragicevic, a black belt out of Ontario, Canada. Toma is senior manager in corporate North America as well as being the owner of a few gyms in Ontario, Canada.

 

Episode Links:

* Instagram: https://instagram.com/toma_rmnu_canada

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toma-dragicevic-7b92a022/

* Current BJJ: https://currentbjj.com

* Revo Jiujitsu: https://revojiujitsu.com

 

Contact:

* Be a Guest...

Mark as Played

Jimmy Park is a black belt of New York, New York, USA. Jimmy is a climber, photographer, and Bonsai stylist. He is also an entrepreneur who runs Opascope, his digital marketing agency.

 

Episode Links:

* Photography IG: https://instagram.com/EasyStreetNYC

* Personal IG: https://instagram.com/Veritas247

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmypark/

* Opascope: https://opascope.com/

 

Contact:

* Be a Guest: https://btb.fan/newgu...

Mark as Played

This is a conversation with Gorka Uztarroz, a black belt out of Paris, France. Gorka is an artist who likes to focus most of his creative energy on comics. He also works for a medical repatriation company.

 

Episode Links:

* Art Website: https://www.gorkauztarroz.com

* Comic Website: https://www.lefrenchninja.com

* Instagram: https://instagram.com/cosmogol666

* Beltchecker: https://www.beltchecker.com/profile.php?id=32726

 

Contact...

Mark as Played

This is a conversation with Mike McLean, a black belt out of Torquay, Victoria, Australia. Mike is an artist who focuses mostly on painting on reclaimed materials. He has painted hundreds of thousands of Wagtails that have made it around the world. He's also an art teacher and a poet.

Episode Links:

* Personal Instagram: https://instagram.com/@mikemcleanartist

* Will the Wagtail Instagram: https://instagram.com/@willythewagta...

Mark as Played

Stephan Kesting is a black belt out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Stephan is a fireman, outdoorsman, podcaster, author, and BJJ instructor and OG jiujitsu content creator. He is currently making the rounds promoting his new book, "Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic."

 

Episode Links:

* Book: Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic: https://btb.fan/17-persevere

* Strenuous Life Podcast: https://youtube.co...

Mark as Played

Bunmi Ojewole is a black belt out of Cape Town, South Africa. Bunmi is a doctor and currently finishing up her training to become an orthopaedic surgeon. In her spare time, she also fights MMA and dances Kazumba and Bachata. She is one of first few female black belts in South Africa.

 

Episode Links:

* Instagram: https://instagram.com/@bunmiojewole

* Lions Den Jiujitsu: https://instagram.com/@lionsdensa

* Pride Fighting Academy: ...

Mark as Played

Matt McPeake is a black belt out of Ontario, Canada. He is also an Engineer, director of Sales in the paper and packaging industry, and a Batman enthusiast.

 

Episode Links:

* Beltchecker: https://www.beltchecker.com/profile.php?id=61

* Instagram: https://instagram.com/@jitzrollz

* Facebook: https://facebook.com/matthew.mcpeake.1

* BJJ Fanatics Introduction to the Power Line: Modified Kesa Gatame: https://btb.fan/15-bjjkesa

* B...

Mark as Played

Will Stone is a black belt out of Swindon, United Kingdom. Will is a member of the UK parliament representing Swindon North, an Army veteran, former bouncer as well as the owner of 10th Planet Swindon.

Episode Links:

* Will Stone Instagram: https://instagram.com/@WillstoneMP

* Will Stone Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/willstone1990/

* 10th Planet Swindon Website: https://www.10thplanetswindon.com/

* 10th Planet Swindo...

Mark as Played

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