The HJR Podcast

Olympic gold medalist, Helen Maroulis, opens up about the battles she fought long before standing atop the podium. From wrestling boys as a kid and facing discrimination in the sport to proving doubters wrong on the world stage, Helen shares the raw and unfiltered truth behind her journey.
She talks about the pushback from family and friends, advice for young wrestlers struggling early, and how she learned to believe she could b...

Rob and Dana Linn Bailey sit down for an honest conversation about what it’s really like to be a couple in business together. They open up about navigating social media attention, the pressures of the fitness industry, and how they’ve learned to balance competition and partnership.Dana shares how she broke into bodybuilding at a time when her look and attitude were considered taboo, why she never gave in to the pressure to change h...

Holly Holm opens up about how much longer she plans to fight, the passion that still drives her, and what comes next once she hangs up the gloves. She talks about her dream of becoming a color commentator, why coaching isn’t as glamorous as people think, and the addictive rush of competition that keeps fighters coming back for more!
From the raw emotions that hit after a fight to her thoughts on bare-knuckle boxing and her teamm...

Olympic gold medalist and former UFC champ Henry Cejudo opens up about his journey from wrestling mats to the MMA cage.

He shares his first memories of discovering MMA, the struggles of transitioning from wrestling, and how he started his career with four straight knockout wins. Henry also recalls the most nervous he’s ever been before a fight and even tells a wild street fight story from Halloween night.

Welcome to the official HJR ...

Rampage Jackson joins the show and takes us deep into his legendary career. He shares how he went pro after only 2 amateur fights and the wild stories behind those first bouts. Rampage recalls his first pro fight against Marvin Eastman, fighting open hand, and when he started slapping people outside the cage - something inspired by Japanese icon Antonio Inoki.
He opens up about the first autograph he ever gave in Japan, the frie...

Ellie Smart is a professional cliff diver and founder of the Clean Cliffs Project. In this conversation, she shares what first drew her to the sport, the scariest dive she’s ever done, and how she manages the mental side of high-risk dives.

We also dive into her pursuit of a Master’s in Sports Psychology, her goals for the next five years, and what it’s like traveling the world through diving - from dream locations to brutal cold-wa...

Maycee Barber joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation on her journey and future in the UFC. She shares how her parents opening a karate gym shaped her fighting style, why her power sets her apart in the division, and clears the air on her recent withdrawals.

We also dive into her thoughts on Erin Blanchfield, how long she sees herself competing, and the opponent she wants next. Plus, Maycee reveals her timeline for return...

From chasing a dream in baseball to building one of the most iconic sandwich shops in the country, Ike Shehadeh’s story is nothing short of inspiring. In this episode, we dive into how Ike’s Sandwiches got started, the lessons he learned from his father, and the powerful mindset shifts that carried him from homelessness to entrepreneurship with Ike's Sandwiches.

Ike opens up about his early aspirations, the adversity that shaped him...

In this episode we sit down with influencer John Ferguson to dive into life as a little person with raw honesty and humor. John shares his perspective on the word midget - why he’s not personally offended but still pushes against its use for the sake of his community. He opens up about his first little person convention at just 4 years old, navigating health realities and life expectancy, and how his speech impediment shaped him.

We...

Frank Mir sits down with us to share the journey that led him into MMA. From the first time he ever watched a UFC event to realizing he’d be competing one day, Frank reflects on how training consumed his free time growing up. He tells the story of stepping in for a teammate who pulled out of a fight, how he never planned on becoming a fighter but ended up in MMA almost by accident, and the wild circumstances of filling in for an in...

Former UFC star Jake Shields sits down to share untold stories from his legendary MMA career. He opens up about the moment Chuck Liddell inspired him to fight, his very first brawl, and the one bout he wishes he could redo against Georges St-Pierre.

Jake recalls defeating both Yushin Okami and Carlos Condit in a single night, the dream fight with Anderson Silva that never happened, and facing the hardest puncher of his career i...

Former champ Miesha Tate joins us for an honest look at the women’s bantamweight division - breaking down the current talent, who could be the next big star, and what’s changed since her days as a pioneer. Miesha shares her thoughts on fighter pay, why her title shot was life-changing, and what it’ll take to reignite women’s MMA.

Don’t miss this in-depth conversation with one of the trailblazers of women's mma!

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Former UFC champ Frank Mir joins the show with his daughter Bella Mir to talk about her MMA journey, mental battles in the cage, and her path to the UFC. Bella opens up about the pressure of following in her dad’s footsteps, how she handles setbacks, and the discipline that keeps her pushing forward.
Frank shares what makes Bella different from other fighters and why he thinks she’s more well-rounded than most in the game today...

Marcus Mcghee opens up about his journey from street fights to the UFC, battling anger, and finding purpose through MMA. He shares tough lessons from debt, early setbacks, and injury - plus the powerful moment a former teacher reached out. Marcus reveals how mindset shifts and life off the mats shaped his late-blooming pro career, why he’s not chasing the belt, and what really motivates him now.Tap in for real talk on fighting, gro...

This week on the show, we sit down with Taylor Learmont, better known as Little T Fitness, for an inspiring deep dive into the world of bodybuilding and personal growth.

Taylor shares how she first discovered her passion for bodybuilding and whether her background in flexibility and gymnastics has been an advantage - or a challenge - in the sport. With a degree in kinesiology, she explains how her education has shaped her training m...

Step into the world of professional shooting with competitive shooter Michelle Viscusi in this explosive new episode!

Michelle reveals her favorite firearm to shoot, and breaks down the key differences between Staccatos and Glocks. She takes us behind the scenes of what training looks like for a pro shooter. from drills to discipline, and opens up about her goals both in the shooting world and beyond.

Ever wondered what it’s like to ...

UFC bantamweight Marcus McGhee joins us ahead of the biggest fight of his career against former champ Petr Yan. In this episode, Marcus shares his thoughts on how he’s approaching the matchup, where the pressure lies, and whether a win could catapult him straight into a title shot.

He breaks down the challenges Yan brings, the weaknesses he sees to exploit, and how he matches up with the division’s elite like Cory Sandhagen and Mera...

Step inside the fascinating journey of UFC legend Frank Mir in this candid new episode. Frank opens up about growing up training in his parents’ Kenpo Karate school and how those early days shaped his lifelong passion for martial arts and influenced his unique fighting style.

He shares what it was like towering over his peers as a 6 foot tall 12 year old, and how his unusual size affected his experiences in sports as a young athlete...

Ron Capps joins the show for a deep dive into his legendary drag racing career. He shares how Don Prudhomme helped shape his path, what it felt like to earn his first major win, and the emotions behind finally capturing the elusive U.S. Nationals trophy after 25 tries - and then doing it again the next year. Ron reflects on his 30 years behind the wheel, racing a recreation of Prudhomme’s iconic Hot Wheels car, and how it felt to w...