Michael Zolondek, a black belt out of Gainesville, Florida, USA. Michael received his PhD in New Testament language, literature, and theology with a focus on Jesus as a historical figure. He's also a childhood psychologist focusing on behavior and trauma with his own wellness practice.

Episode Links:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/@dr_mvz
• Nogi Garage: https://youtube.com/@thegaragenogiBJJ
• Michael Zolondek Amazon Author Page: https://btb.fan/8-amz-author
• Michael Zolondek - The Quest for a Historical Jesus Methodology: https://btb.fan/8-jesus-quest
• Michael Zolondek - We Have Found the Messiah: https://btb.fan/8-found-messiah
• Viktor E Frankl - Man's Search for Meaning: https://btb.fan/8-book1
• Jamie Marich - Transforming Trauma with Jiu-Jitsu: https://btb.fan/8-book2
• Arise Wellness Center Gainesville: https://www.arisegnv.com/
• Child Advocacy Center Gainesville: https://childadvocacycentergainesville.org/
• Marcelo Garcia Gainesville: https://bjjgainesville.com/

Contact:

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

Outline:

00:00 Intro

00:24 Journey to Black Belt

05:33 What's Different as a Black Belt

08:02 Re-Discovering Jiu-Jitsu

09:51 Teaching and Learning Styles in Jiu-Jitsu

17:05 Bridging Jiu-Jitsu and Academic Teaching

20:12 Exploring Religion and Personal Beliefs

24:58 The Impact of Studying Religion

27:00 Historical Methodologies in Jesus Studies

29:48 Criteria of Authenticity in Historical Jesus Studies

34:41 The Challenges of Historical Jesus Research

38:04 Cultural Context of Jesus and His Disciples

42:39 Messianic Identity: Perception vs. Reality

49:57 Transitioning to Children's Trauma Therapy

52:26 Understanding Violence in Education

55:44 Therapy's Influence on Martial Arts

57:38 Therapy vs. Martial Arts as Healing

01:01:24 The Importance and Value of Therapy

01:06:07 Crossovers With Teaching BJJ and Therapy

01:09:44 Advice for Personal Growth and Kindness

01:12:49 Finding a Purpose

01:14:30 Promotions

01:16:03 Outro

Podcast Links:

• Podcast Website: https://www.beyondthebeltpod.com/
• Spotify: https://btb.fan/spotify
• Apple Podcasts: https://btb.fan/apple
• RSS: https://btb.fan/rss

Social:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Tiktok: https://tiktok.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Facebook: https://btb.fan/fb

This is a conversation with John Ethier, a black belt out of Ontario, Canada. John is a train conductor for the Canadian railroad. He runs a small fitness business and has a passion for Gothic architecture. We also had a great conversation about ADHD, dyslexia, and how to overcome learning disabilities in jiujitsu and in life.

Episode Links:

• John's Personal Instagram: https://instagram.com/@ethier2095
• Ethier Fitness Instagram: https://instagram.com/@ethierfitness
• Mamute Martial Arts (Oshwa, Ontario, Canada): https://instagram.com/@mamutemaa
• Platinum BJJ (London, Ontario, Canada): https://instagram.com/@platinum_bjj
• Infinite Jiujitsu (Brantford, Canada): https://instagram.com/@infinumbjj
• Rumble Academy (Brandford, Canada): https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Rumble-Academy-100057419059340/

Contact:

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

Outline:

00:00 Intro

00:24 The Journey to Black Belt

02:37 From Obesity to MMA Fighter

04:48 What Motivates You to Keep Training?

07:07 How Did Eric Get Into Martial Arts

09:01 Eric Training at Marcelo Garcia

13:29 ADHD, Dyslexia, and Learning Jiujitsu

17:56 BJJ and Confidence

19:20 Life as a Train Driver

22:52 Most Interesting Train Conductor Moment

25:18 Railways and Economic Impact

28:53 Ethier Fitness

32:46 Navigating Injuries and Time Off the Mats

36:08 Finding Purpose Beyond Jiu-Jitsu

38:54 The Importance of Mentorship

40:32 A Love for Gothic Architecture

41:48 The Joy of Building with Legos

43:24 The Value of Patience in Life and Jiu-Jitsu

46:09 Sharing the Gift of Jiu-Jitsu with Others

49:37 Outro

Podcast Links:

• Podcast Website: https://www.beyondthebeltpod.com/
• Spotify: https://btb.fan/spotify
• Apple Podcasts: https://btb.fan/apple
• RSS: https://btb.fan/rss

Social:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Tiktok: https://tiktok.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Facebook: https://btb.fan/fb

Bryan Rumble is a clinical epidemiologist who focuses his work on genital urinary cancers. He has also had a life long fascination with science fiction and fantasy; both in written form as well as table top games.

Episode Links:

• Beltchecker: https://www.beltchecker.com/profile.php?id=4763
• Twitter/X: https://x.com/BryanRumble
• Personal Instagram: https://instagram.com/@bryanrumble
• Rumble Academy: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Rumble-Academy-100057419059340/
• PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=RUMBLE+RB
• ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/R-Rumble
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/r-bryan-rumble-690a9630
• Good Reads: https://btb.fan/6-gr

Additional Notes:

• Martha Wells - Murderbot: https://btb.fan/6-bk1
• William Gibson - Neuromancer: https://btb.fan/6-bk2
• EE Doc Smith - Triplanetary: https://btb.fan/6-bk3
• Ursula K Le Guin - The Left Hand of Darkness: https://btb.fan/6-bk4
• Robert Heinlein - I Will Fear No Evil: https://btb.fan/6-bk5
• Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone: This is How You Lose the Time War: https://btb.fan/6-bk6
• Sylvain Neuvel - A History of What Comes Next: https://btb.fan/6-bk7
• qntm - There is No Antimemetics Division: https://btb.fan/6-bk8
• Peter Watts - Blindsight: https://btb.fan/6-bk9

Contact:

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

Outline:

00:00 Intro

00:34 Journey to Black Belt

05:36 Teaching and Responsibility as a Black Belt

08:54 The Gauntlet: A Unique Initiation

24:18 What does a Clinical Epidemiologist Do?

31:10 Bryan's Contributions to Science

38:48 Future Directions in Cancer Research

43:55 The Specifics of Cancer

46:01 Scientific Method

49:29 From Science to Science Fiction: Tabletop Games

52:37 What is Dungeon and Dragons?

55:14 Exploring Humanity Through Role-Playing Games

59:56 The Power of Storytelling in Gaming

01:01:53 Being the Main Character in a Story

01:03:18 Science Fiction Reading

01:05:14 Science Fiction is Social Commentary

01:12:40 Inspiration and Reading as an Adult

01:16:27 Life Lessons from Martial Arts and Gaming

01:19:03 How to Find Bryan

01:19:58 Outro

Podcast Links:

• Podcast Website: https://www.beyondthebeltpod.com/
• Spotify: https://btb.fan/spotify
• Apple Podcasts: https://btb.fan/apple
• RSS: https://btb.fan/rss

Social:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Tiktok: https://tiktok.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Facebook: https://btb.fan/fb

This is a conversation with Cornell Thomas, a black belt out of New Jersey, USA. Cornell is a basketball coach, trainer, multiple time author, life coach, mentor, and a youth and motivational speaker. In addition to all that, he also hosts a yearly Positivity Summit.

Episode Links:

• Cornell Instagram: https://instagram.com/@cornellthomas34
• Cornell Website: https://cornellthomas.com
• Positivity Summit: https://cornellthomas.com/positivity-summit/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/https://instagram.com/@teamrenzograciedenville
• Book: The Power of Positivity: https://btb.fan/5-power-of-positivity
• Book: The Power of Me: https://btb.fan/5-power-of-me
• Book: Extraordinary - The Distance Between Good and Great: https://btb.fan/5-extraordinary

Outline:

00:00 Intro

00:23 The Journey to Black Belt

03:05 The Responsibilities of a Black Belt

05:59 Black Belt Means Back to Basics

08:31 Belts are Mountains

12:13 Who Am I Rolling Against

14:38 Finding the Right Gym

18:05 Finding My Home Gym was Dumb Luck

26:43 Sparring Dynamics and Control as Big Guys

29:05 Injuries Can Be Positively Life Changing

35:18 The Power of Positivity

37:37 A Different Kind of Calm

40:55 Creating a Positivity Summit

44:33 Finding Purpose in Life

47:38 Bringing People Together

50:28 A Life of Fulliment and Purpose

55:30 The Joy of Mentoring and Impact

57:41 The Winding Path to Helping Others

59:53 Reflections on Family Legacy

01:01:18 Being the Son of Black Police Officer

01:02:59 New Jersey

01:04:59 The Power of Gratitude

01:07:01 Gratitude and Depression

01:09:14 Creating a Supportive Environment

01:12:16 What Are You Excited for in the Future

01:13:16 What Do You Want to Promote

01:14:40 Outro

Podcast Links:

• Podcast Website: https://www.beyondthebeltpod.com/
• Spotify: https://btb.fan/spotify
• Apple Podcasts: https://btb.fan/apple
• RSS: https://btb.fan/rss

Social:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Tiktok: https://tiktok.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Facebook: https://btb.fan/fb

This is a conversation with Kurt Wuckert Jr, a black belt out of Florida, USA. Kurt is a bitcoin and blockchain historian, media personality, podcaster, husband and father. He is also the owner of Gorillapool.com, a bitcoin mining firm. And he's the host of the CoinGeek weekly Livestream.

Episode Links:

• Influencer Site: https://wwww.kurwuckertjr.com
• Gorillapool: https://gorillapool.com
• CoinGeek: https://www.youtube.com/@CoinGeek
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/@kurtwuckertjr
• X: https://x.com/@kurtwuckertjr
• Beltchecker: https://www.beltchecker.com/profile.php?id=42430

Outline:

00:00 Introduction

00:25 Getting the Black Belt

03:36 Recovering from Major Surgery

06:13 Mental Resilience in Injury Recovery

11:37 The Path to Jiu-Jitsu

18:50 Jiujitsu Won't Kill You

21:12 Fight, Flight, or Freeze

23:28 Understanding Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency

27:22 Why is Bitcoin Polarizing

30:35 The Polarizing Nature of Bitcoin

36:08 The Philosophy of Money and Bitcoin

44:14 The Historical Context of Bitcoin

47:44 Bitcoin Mining and The Environment

51:11 Types of People

53:06 Getting Into Podcasting

01:00:11 Jiu-Jitsu: A Playground for Authenticity

01:09:27 Defining Success: Happiness and Joy

01:11:41 Choosing Happiness: A Life Philosophy

01:14:09 Looking Ahead: Future Aspirations and Family Joy

01:17:31 Outro

Podcast Links:

• Podcast Website: https://www.beyondthebeltpod.com/
• Spotify: https://btb.fan/spotify
• Apple Podcasts: https://btb.fan/apple
• RSS: https://btb.fan/rss

Social:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Tiktok: https://tiktok.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Facebook: https://btb.fan/fb

"Crash Test" Tommy Dowdall is a black belt out of Canada. He is a mental health crisis counselor with over 30 years of experience. He has also fostered over 50 children.

Episode Links:

• Crash Test Tommy's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@crashtesttommy-ge4bn
• Jerk Chicken Sauce: https://friendlybutchershop.com/products/jerk-in-a-jar
• Tommy's Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIAD4nKIRfM
• Beltchecker: https://www.beltchecker.com/profile.php?id=42858

Additional Notes:

* Teaching at BJJ Globetrotters Heidelberg 2025

Outline:

00:00 Journey to Black Belt

04:24 Patterns of Learning in Jiu-Jitsu

10:23 Mental Health and Jiu-Jitsu: An Intersection

21:42 Crisis Counseling: Daily Challenges and Insights

26:09 Pattern Matches and Not Rolling Hard

29:30 Mat Culture and Safe Spaces

35:35 Fostering Children: A Compassionate Life

40:33 Culinary Adventures: The Jerk Chicken Sauce Story

45:05 Balancing Life: Jiu-Jitsu, Counseling, and More

49:09 Understand Your Dog

53:00 Walkout Music

54:22 Outro

Podcast Links:

• Podcast Website: https://www.beyondthebeltpod.com/
• Spotify: https://btb.fan/spotify
• Apple Podcasts: https://btb.fan/apple
• RSS: https://btb.fan/rss

Social:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Tiktok: https://tiktok.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Facebook: https://btb.fan/fb

Missy Baize is a black belt from Wenona, Illinois, USA out of War Horse BJJ. She is a medical technician and studying to become a paramedical tattoo artist.

Episode Links:

• War Horse BJJ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warhorsebrazilianjiujitsu/
• War Horse BJJ Instagram: https://instagram.com/@warhorsebjjwenona
• Teaching at Rough Hands Camp in April: https://roughhandsbjj.com/spring-camp
• Beltchecker: https://www.beltchecker.com/profile.php?id=21522

Outline:

00:00 Intro

00:17 Journey to Black Belt

03:07 Overcoming Haters and Self-Doubt

06:35 Learning and Dealing with Frustration

09:33 Lessons for Women

14:14 Teaching and Coaching People with Special Needs

16:19 What's It Like Being a Medical Technician

19:46 Working in Emergency Medicine

22:51 Anatomy and Physiology

24:16 Handling Pressure

26:29 Leadership Off the Mats

28:41 Misconceptions about Med-Techs

30:26 Exploring Paramedical Tattooing

32:16 Studying to be a Paramedical Tattoo Artist

36:45 Parallels in Skill Building

38:15 Having a Lot of Irons in the Fire

39:16 Breaking Down Problems as a Skill

40:59 Any Advice

42:16 Long Breaks from Jiujitsu

45:25 Advice for Long Layoffs

46:04 Advice for Non-Jiujitsu People

48:43 Promotions from Missy

49:47 Outro

Podcast Links:

• Podcast Website: https://www.beyondthebeltpod.com/
• Spotify: https://btb.fan/spotify
• Apple Podcasts: https://btb.fan/apple
• RSS: https://btb.fan/rss

Social:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Tiktok: https://tiktok.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Facebook: https://btb.fan/fb

Sebastian Elmenhoff is a Swedish black belt who gave up a good corporate job to live on a farm and raise his family.

Episode Links:

• Personal Instagram: https://instagram.com/@elmenhoffs
• Beltchecker: https://www.beltchecker.com/profile.php?id=12869

Outline:

00:00 Intro

00:17 Journey to Black Belt

05:52 Proving You're A Black Belt

08:57 Life Lessons from Jiu Jitsu

10:00 Buying the Farm

13:27 Lessons From the Farm

15:14 Not Everyone Burns Out to a Farm

16:00 Jiujitsu's Role in your Life Today

18:11 BJJ with a Physically Intense Job

22:17 Foundation from Jiujitsu

24:27 Raising Air Force Dogs

27:12 Training Dogs: Bridging Passion and Purpose

31:57 Giving Up Your Fostered Dog

35:45 Dog and Human Psychology

37:29 Relating it back to BJJ

38:36 2 Weeks as a Black Belt

40:41 Favorite Jiujitsu Memory

42:19 Learning to Trust Yourself

43:54 Thank You

44:43 Outro

Podcast Links:

• Podcast Website: https://www.beyondthebeltpod.com/
• Spotify: https://btb.fan/spotify
• Apple Podcasts: https://btb.fan/apple
• RSS: https://btb.fan/rss

Social:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Tiktok: https://tiktok.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@beyondthebeltpod
• Facebook: https://btb.fan/fb