Behind the Underdogs

In this episode we interview current D1 wrestler at University of Michigan, Matt Finesilver.Matt grew up in a blue collar family out of Colorado with 3 other brothers where he wrestled with and against. He wasn’t very good in his youth but the constant competition allowed him to grow as a wrestler and all 4 brothers ended up wrestling for Duke University. We also discuss his battle through his ACL/meniscus tear back in 2020. Before transferring to the University of Michigan for this coming year, he competed with the U23 world team.-Follow Matt on Instagram (mmm_fine) and Twitter @FinesilverMattYou can follow us on social media @underdog_brand on Instagram, @theunderdogbrand on TikTok and The Underdog Brand on YouTube where we share podcast snippets, athletic research, and our products.Support the show

In this episode we interview current D1 lacrosse player from UMass Amherst, Grant Breyo.Grant grew up playing various sports and really took to football and lacrosse. During his recruiting years, he was destined for playing at the highest level in either sport; however, a series of injuries, starting with a broken foot, put doubt in the eyes of coaches.After two major injuries and an obstacle everyone had to face, covid 19, Grant was offered a spot at UMass Amherst.We talk about his journey thus far, his mental battle through injuries, ways he has out worked his competitors, and his goals for the future.-Follow Grant on Instagram and Twitter @grant_breyoYou can follow us on social media @underdog_brand on Instagram, @theunderdogbrand on TikTok and The Underdog Brand on YouTube where we share podcast snippets, athletic research, and our products.Support the show

In this episode, we interview current professional lacrosse player, Brett Dobson, where we walk through his entire career thus far.In his early life, he played multiple sports but decided to move forward with lacrosse, deciding to transition to goalie after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.He racked up numerous accolades throughout his high school career at the Hill Academy which gave him the opportunity to further his lacrosse career at St. Bonaventure University in New York. He made use of his only D1 offer, finishing his senior year of college as defensive player of the year, subsequently getting drafted by the Archers in the Premier Lacrosse League.Brett emphasizes his desire to give back to the lacrosse community through experiences with young kids and fans, while simultaneously endeavoring into coaching. -Follow Brett on Instagram and Twitter @Bdobson_45You can follow us on social media @underdog_brand on Instagram, @theunderdogbrand on TikTok and The Underdog Brand on YouTube where we share podcast snippets, athletic research, and our products.Support the show

In this new season of Behind the Underdogs, we take a different approach. We now dissect and discuss growth and self-development books, starting with Relentless by Tim S. Grover.Each episode we cover roughly 50 pages, today we cover pgs 145-189.-In the first chapter that we cover in this episode, Grover discusses the thought process that goes into decision making and how external factors play a major role in the completion of a decision. Cleaners trust their gut and forget the rest.In the second chapter, he uses several stories, especially in young professionals that enter the NBA, that explain why you need to be addicted to the end result and not get wrapped up in the immediate gratification of success, money, and fame. Keep your head down and get to work.In the final chapter that we cover, Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan are brought up about their intimidation factor and how much fear they bring into the eyes of the opponents.-Subscribe to our YouTube channel where we post the full video podcast and share inspirational videosFollow our podcast Instagram @behindtheunderdogsFollow our podcast Twitter @behndtheundrdogFollow our brand Instagram @underdog_brandShop our store at www.theunderdogbrand.comSupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/my/profile)Support the show

In this new season of Behind the Underdogs, we take a different approach. We now dissect and discuss growth and self-development books, starting with Relentless by Tim S. Grover.Each episode we cover 50 pages, today we cover pg 97-143.-The best part about Grover is that he has hundreds of stories to back up his claims. In the first chapter he writes about the "clutch" gene and how you do not want that title. He uses examples of Lebron, backing up his claims of why he didn't think (at the time of writing this book) Lebron was a cleaner. He compares those stories to stories of Kobe, Jordan, and Wade to explain to you that being clutch at the most important times isn't enough to be a cleaner, you need to always be "clutch."He goes on to discuss a cleaners ability to adapt to any situation. We talk about Tiger Woods' upbringing and how his dad always challenged his capabilities on the golf course with distractions ad obstacles.Finally, the last chapter we dissect is about finding your opponents weakness and attacking. Within this chapter, he also compares the leadership tactics of Kobe and Jordan, giving two completely opposite strategies that both worked in the end.-Subscribe to our YouTube channel where we post the full video podcast and share inspirational videosFollow our podcast Instagram @behindtheunderdogsFollow our podcast Twitter @behndtheundrdogFollow our brand Instagram @underdog_brandShop our store hereSupport the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/my/profile)Support the show

In this new season of Behind the Underdogs, we take a different approach. We now dissect and discuss growth and self-development books, starting with Relentless by Tim S. Grover.Each episode we cover 50 pages, today we cover pg 50-97.Getting in the zone. It's something that every athlete, businessman or woman, and the like aspire to enter every chance they get. But what is the zone? How do you get in the zone consistently? In this episode, with the help of Tim S. Grover and his book Relentless, we discuss and breakdown stories of how greats like Jordan, Kobe, Barkley, and Woods find the zone. They each have the same end result; however, each individual has a different way of getting there.The most interesting aspect of Grover's analysis is how everyone has a dark side, like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but only cleaners (the legends) know how to utilize that dark side and turn it into something spectacular.Listen to this episode to learn more about finding, maintaining, and understanding what it takes to be in the zone conisistently._Subscribe to our YouTube channel where we post the full video podcast and share inspirational videosFollow our podcast Instagram @behindtheunderdogsFollow our podcast Twitter @behndtheundrdogFollow our brand Instagram @underdog_brandShop our store hereSupport the show

In this new season of Behind the Underdogs, we take a different approach. We now dissect and discuss growth and self-development books, starting with Relentless by Tim S. Grover.Each episode we cover 50 pages, today we start with the foreword to page 50.Grover has an interesting take on what it takes to be elite, and he explains that with unique stories of people he has trained: Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and Michael Jordan to name a few. His unique way of training these "cleaners" makes him the last resort for the athletes, when they just can't seem to get something right or they are returning from an injury and want to return with just as much confidence as they left with.Listen to this episode where we break down each story and how the term "cleaner" is portrayed in each scenario. _Subscribe to our YouTube channel where we post the full video podcast and share inspirational videosFollow our podcast Instagram @behindtheunderdogsFollow our podcast Twitter @behndtheundrdogFollow our brand Instagram @underdog_brandShop our store hereSupport the show

In this episode, we discuss decision making. It's something that we do every day, whether big or small, and it is amazing what goes into and what comes out of making a decision.We use our own experiences as a guide and we discuss what we've learned from the decisions we've made.Thank you for supporting our brand and podcast. Make sure to leave a review and share with a friend to give your thoughts and opinions on our podcast!-Watch the video version of the podcast on our YouTube channelFollow our brand on Instagram @underdog_brandFollow our podcast Instagram @behindtheunderdogs-You can follow our personal accounts below:Joey Stanizzi (Host) - @joey.stanizziDylan Schuett (Co-host) - @dylanschuettColin Cunningham (Co-host) - @nolimitcunninghamSupport the show

In this episode, we interview rising star powerlifter, Connor Borkert, who brings serious knowledge and passion to the sport of powerlifting.He credits the kickstart of his fitness career to crossfit, which he began doing during off-season training for track and field. He was also a wrestler in high school; however, he continued as a D1 javelin thrower at UPenn.Fast forward to his junior year in college, he had his first meet as a powerlifter in the fall of 2017, and he's been climbing the ranks ever since.Listen now to hear his plans for this year, the next 5 years, and everything in between.You can follow him on Instagram @burlyborkOur podcast Instagram @behindtheunderdogsAnd our brand Instagram @underdog_brand__Check out our top selling product HERESupport the show

In this episode, we interview exceptional crossfit athlete, Bethany Shadburne, who brings an outgoing attitude and inspiring work ethic that every athlete strives for.We talk about her wild journey as an athlete, from a gymnast as a young kid, to a runner, bodybuilder, and finally, a crossfit athlete.After a serious back injury during her gymnastics days, the doctors told her she'd never be able to run again, and she was out to prove them wrong. Although that injury has dragged on through her athletic career, she's been able to work around it by learning her body and mind.She's also learned that leaving the workout at the gym has been beneficial in her growth as an individual. Her self-development outside the gym, such as reading and journaling, has allowed for her to keep her happiness through highs and lows.Bethany's story is a perfect example of chasing your passion. Her #8 finish at the Crossfit Games speaks for itself. Listen to episode 16 on all platforms to hear Bethany's amazing story that is far from over!You can also watch the video version of the podcast on our YouTube.__Follow Bethany on Instagram @bethanycfFollow our brand on Instagram @underdog_brandFollow our podcast Instagram @behindtheunderdogsSupport the show

In this episode of Behind the Underdogs, we take a break from athlete talk and discuss the underdog story of the superstar sub-reddit, Wall Street Bets.Although it isn't sports, athletes can resonate with a story like this. This Reddit forum, hungry to take on the big guys on Wall Street, banded together to sky rocket Gamestop to $483 per share, up from Gamestop's one year low of $2.57. If this story teaches you anything, it should teach you that nothing can be done alone. It doesn't matter how big or how small your dreams are, you will need teamwork to help you accomplish them.In this case, almost 9 million members of Wall Street Bets contributed to the temporary downfall of some hedge funds. The main goal? To take a stand as the "little guys."•Make sure to leave a review if you enjoyed the episode!If you prefer to watch the video instead,  like and subscribe to our podcast on YouTube!You can also follow us on Instagram @underdog_brand and @behindtheunderdogsThanks for watching!Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/my/profile)Support the show

This episode we discuss the underdog story of Dustin Poirier.Born and raised In Lafayette, Louisiana, Poirier was never expected to do much, considering his inappropriate behavior all throughout his childhood.  His parents even sent him to military style bootcamps and eventually, juvenile prison, to correct his behavior. He dropped out of high school in 9th grade, after years of expressing his hatred towards school.Nothing changed him until he picked up the gloves when he was 18. It continued with him fighting In bull rings that were catered by Inmates. Fast forward a decade and a half and he's standing atop the best In the fight world. To show his appreciation for where he came from,  he's donated a lot of money, one, he covered his middle school teacher's classroom supplies for the year. He has also started a foundation of his own, the Good Fight Foundation. He currently resides in his hometown, Lafayette, and is married to his former high school girlfriend.-Please leave a rating to help us grow Behind the Underdogs!If you're interested in watching the podcast, head over to YouTube and like and subscribe!You can follow us on Instagram @behindtheunderdogs and @underdog_brandThanks for the support!Support the show

In this episode of Behind the Underdogs, we discuss an underdog story, breaking down what we think made/makes this person so special.This particular story, Tom Brady, is one that we all have some sort of familiarity with. He's a living legend. Period. But some character traits really define him and make him the athlete that he is today.One, is his elite resiliency. Despite all of the times throughout his playing career where the odds were stacked against him, he always seems to find his way above water, whether that's moving on from an 0-8 high school football team or coming back from a 28-3 deficit on the greatest stage.Another, is his ability to find what works for HIM. Too many people try to copy others to reach greatness, but in reality, everyone has their own things that work for them. For example, some people like to get dialed in before a game and others prefer to be as loose as possible. In Brady's case, he adapted over the course of his career to compliment his playing style.Two things that distinctively stand out: His attentiveness to the mental side of the game, and his unique physical training approach, using mostly bands.•We cover all of this and more in episode 12. Make sure to leave a review if you enjoyed the episode!If you prefer to watch the video instead,  like and subscribe to our podcast on YouTube!You can also follow us on Instagram @underdog_brand and @behindtheunderdogsThanks for watching!Support the show

On this episode, Joey Stanizzi, Colin Cunningham, and Dylan Schuett interview Mario Beltran, head strength coach and aspiring national champion in Olympic weightlifting. He left a stable job to pursue his passions in the fitness industry and he hasn't looked back since.Beltran, from Tyler, Texas, has been competing in Olympic lifting since 2018. He was met with the decision not too long before to either stick to his steady job or pursue a career in fitness. If most people were in his position, they would've stuck like a leech to the steady job, especially considering he's entering one of the most saturated industries in the world, and he doesn't have a college degree to fall back on.He explains in the interview how he'd much rather fail at something he's passionate about and that when it comes between money and passion, you have to choose passion every time. Like the most successful people in the world say, if you love it enough, and you give it enough of your energy, you can make a living off of it. If you think about it, it's true. Once upon a time, Harvey Ball drew a smiley face outlined with a circle and filled it with yellow. Today, SmileyWorld owns the design and makes over $250 million a year.It's amazing what passion can do._____________What an insightful interview and the perfect example of pursuing what you love most. You can follow him on Instagram @mariobfit_____________Make sure to follow us on Instagram @underdog_brand and @behindtheunderdogsYou can watch the full episode with video on our YouTube channel - The Underdog BrandWebsiteSupport the show

On this episode, Joey Stanizzi, Colin Cunningham, and Dylan Schuett Interview Austin Burge, an IFBB Pro Bodybuilder who has an unmatched drive and dedication to the sport of bodybuilding.Before the Interview, the guys catch up, discussing the chance that Colin's  college football season might happen this spring, Dylan's commitment to Long Island University after constant adversity throughout the college recruiting process, and finally a preview to our guest.Austin was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas where he eventually fell in love with bodybuilding. He played basketball throughout his high school career, but soon realized that he loved the training in the gym more than he loved basketball, which made him consider training to become a bodybuilder. Before he knew it, he was standing on stage to compete for his IFBB pro card. He missed it by one place and we talk on the episode about how he learned from that experience and used it to secure his pro card the following year. We talk about the disciplines it takes to become successful in life, and where better to learn that than in the sport that requires the most discipline in the world.What a great interview with wise words and advice about being passionate and disciplined. Follow him on his widely followed Instagram and YouTube @beezyphysique ______________As promised, here's a link to a sign up for our affiliate program where you can earn 25% commission on each referral sale you make, 20% off discount code for yourself, and a 10% off discount code for you friends, family, and followers. Click here to sign up______________Shop our latest products on our website!Support the show

On this episode, Joey Stanizzi and Dylan Schuett interview Adam Krueger, a driven and passionate individual, with multiple businesses and huge goals; however, it wasn't always that way.Krueger grew up with two deficiencies. One was a growth hormone deficiency where his body couldn't produce enough growth hormone to naturally grow, and if having that wasn't enough, he was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder called Neutropenia. Only 0.000006 people have it and Krueger was forced into this battle through his early years. Neutropenia is an abnormally low number of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) in the blood. Neutropenia, if severe, significantly increases the risk of life-threatening infection. After years of fighting deficiencies and bullying, he hit a point of time in his life where he experienced depression. He needed to find a purpose. That was when he turned to fitness after his crazy opportunity to spend time with Greg O'Gallagher, which we talk about during the interview. He now has multiple businesses geared towards improving your life. You can follow his accounts: @adamkrueger_ and @xtensivepotentialVisit our website for merch and give us a follow on Instagram and Facebook @underdog_brand and follow our podcast Instagram @behindtheunderdogs. Our podcast is also on YouTube - The Underdog Brand.Thanks for letting us share inspiring stories with you! Make sure to leave us a review and rating, it is very much appreciated!Listen here on Apple PodcastsSupport the show

On this episode of Behind the Underdogs, the guys talk the potential repercussions of a failed large contract in pro sports, how that translates across each sport, our take on various contract deals, the short term and long term effect of taking a pay cut, the mental side of playing with no fans, and much more.Although we didn't have on a special guest, it was a great opinionated chat amongst three athletes who share their take on several different aspects of pro sports.Visit our website for merch and give us a follow on Instagram and Facebook @underdog_brand and follow our podcast Instagram @behindtheunderdogs. Our podcast is also on YouTube - The Underdog Brand.Thanks for letting us share inspiring stories with you! Make sure to leave us a review and rating, it is very much appreciated!Listen here on Apple PodcastsSupport the show

On this episode, Joey Stanizzi and Dylan Schuett discuss the topic of the day - What we do to disconnect from the grind to recover and stay hungry.Today's guest, Scott Lutrus, made it to the top in football, playing in the NFL for a few years before taking on a new challenge and entering the most competitive market, the fitness industry. Lutrus grew up and attended high school in Brookfield, Connecticut. He was named to the all-state team by the New Haven Register during his senior year, and was named the 2006 Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year after rushing for 2,017 yards and 34 touchdowns, as well as 63 tackles and four interceptions (two returned for touchdowns). He was ranked as a two-star recruit. Lutrus played college football at the University of Connecticut. He was the first player since 1999 to be named the Big East Defensive Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks, and after the season he was named to the Freshman All-America team. In 2008, he led the team in tackles at the same position and was named to the All-Big East second team. In 2009 and 2010, a recurring neck injury kept him sidelined for eight games, a topic we discuss thoroughly to hear how he coped and responded.Lutrus was projected to go as high as the fifth round in the 2011 NFL Draft but ended up being undrafted, and he was considered one of the top undrafted players available. After the 2011 NFL lockout ended, Lutrus was quickly signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as a middle linebacker. After his stint In the NFL, he immediately found his passion in the fitness industry, vowing to create the healthiest, most effective supplements on the market with Blue Ribbon Nutrition. You can follow Scott on Instagram @scottlutrus and his company, Blue Ribbon Nutrition @blueribbonnutritionVisit our website for merch and give us a follow on Instagram and Facebook @underdog_brand and follow our podcast Instagram @behindtheunderdogs.Thanks for letting us share inspiring stories with you! Make sure to leave us a review and rating, it is very much appreciated!Support the show

On this episode, Joey Stanizzi, Colin Cunningham, and Dylan Schuett discuss the topic of the day - If we could pick anyone to mentor us, past or present, who would it be and why?Our initial guest that we were expecting to have on could not make the interview, so we improvised and had a good friend of ours, Clark Kerner, on for today's episode. Clark Is the epitome of sticking to your path. His passion is hockey. Unlike most, he embraces the journey instead of solely desiring the end goal. He committed to play division 1 college hockey at a young age but unfortunately, the school de-committed him. Clark was just coming off a very serious injury that had him sleeping in a reclining chair for the better half of a year. He talks about his experience coming off of a major injury, his love for the journey, his ability to keep a cool mind during the whole process, and much more. Not by chance, the day he lost his D1 commit, he went out and put on his A-performance, proving his ability to keep a level head. He put up two points in that day's game. He continues to fight for the game he loves and we are confident this underdog story will be one that comes out on top. Visit our website for merch and give us a follow on Instagram and Facebook @underdog_brand and follow our podcast Instagram @behindtheunderdogs.Thanks for letting us share inspiring stories with you! Make sure to leave us a review and rating, it is very much appreciated!Support the show

On this episode, Joey Stanizzi, Colin Cunningham, and Dylan Schuett discuss the topic of the day - what do we do when we lack motivation? From motivational videos to setting examples, the guys cover every aspect of motivation in their lives.This episode's guest, Leo Sammarelli, former Golden Gloves champion, Provincial boxing champion, and National boxing champion, has the definition of an underdog story. Despite his quite successful early career in boxing, he faced a couple of major roadblocks that would destroy 99% of individuals. One, his father passed away. Two, a couple of years later he suffered a major spinal cord injury after being shot four times. Leo refused to give in. he now strives to become a Paralympian and created Westcoast Wheelchair Adaptive Boxing, a Non-profit Organization based out of Vancouver, British Columbia.You can follow him on Instagram @sammarelli and you can follow Westcoast Wheelchair @wwadaptiveboxing and you can visit their website at www.wwaboxing.com. Click here for a short documentary about him on YouTube! Visit our website for merch and give us a follow on Instagram and Facebook @underdog_brand and follow our podcast Instagram @behindtheunderdogs.Thanks for letting us share inspiring stories with you! Make sure to leave us a review and rating, it is very much appreciated!Support the show