In this episode, two-time Muay Thai world champion and Glory Kickboxing champ Mike LeMaire joins the Liberty Risk crew for a no holds barred conversation about fighting, family, and the kind of chaos that shapes a man.
The episode kicks off with travel disasters - including Mike attempting to bring a .357 Magnum from France to the U.S. and the meltdown that followed at customs (when they messed up their own protocols, lol). Then we dive into his story of growing up French-American, moving to the States at 19, and learning what it means to fight for everything while bouncing between 2 worlds. From strict parents and cultural clashes to finding his place in the ring, Mike shares how discipline, stubbornness, and a little bit of madness built a world champion mindset.
He opens up about life behind the belts: working day jobs to make ends meet, the business politics of combat sports, and what it actually costs to chase a dream that doesn't pay until you're world-class (and even then, only if you fight for your worth).
Mike takes us behind the scenes of the combat sports world - from his first professional bout in Cancun (plus a wild post-fight "side quest" 🍑😳 - somtimes you can still win when you "lose") to fighting three times in a one night tournament for a high stakes Glory Kickboxing contract. Expect real candid talk of money struggles, bad managers, injuries, and the business hustle that most fighters never see, and how he transcended that and built upon it.
But this episode isn't just about the headline & title fight stuggles, it's about what comes after. Mike and the Liberty Risk crew dig into the parallels between fighters and veterans - a shared bond of brotherhood, discipline, sacrifice, and what happens when the crowd goes quiet and the mission is over. There's humor, heartbreak, and hard-earned wisdom in equal measure. They trade stories about family, relationships, and the fight to stay grounded outside the ring. It's honest, hilarious, and sometimes a little heavy, just like real life.
Packed with grit, humor, and the kind of perspective that only comes from getting hit - and getting back up again - this episode is one of our most personal yet. If you're here for that fighter mindset, mission specific focus, and special-operations-style resilience, or just raw conversations about what it takes to keep going, this is Liberty Risk at its best.
Find out more about Mike and his ventures at the following links:
✖️ Personal Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mikelemaire
✖️ Mike LeMaire website - https://www.fitnessmikelemaire.com
Liberty Risk Hosts:
✖️ Ryan Williams - https://www.instagram.com/invictus5326
✖️ Kevin Kent - https://www.instagram.com/therealkevinkent
✖️ Nick Betts - https://www.instagram.com/n_betts
Liberty Risk Podcast Sponsored by:
✖️ Liberty Risk Merch - https://www.liberty-risk.com/collections/shop-all
✖️ Industry Threadworks - https://www.industrythreadworks.com
✖️ Archive 3PL - https://archive3pl.com
✖️ Krupto Strategic Media - https://kruptostrategicmedia.com
✖️ K-Squared Advising - https://www.k-squared.cc
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