Brandon Gaspar is a black belt out of Ontario, Canada. Brandon is former gold miner, current geologist, and now works as a research analyst doing technical due diligence on mineral development projects.

Episode Links:

* Instagram: https://instagram.com/@bgaspar00

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

* SCP Resource Finance: https://www.scp-rf.com/

* Volt Rush by Henry Sanderson - https://btb.fan/10-book1

* The New Map by Daniel Yergin - https://btb.fan/10-book2

* Solo Travel Collection Instagram: https://instagram.com/@SoloTravelCollection

Contact:

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

Outline:

00:00 Intro

00:20 Journey to Black Belt

02:38 The Meaning of Belts

04:06 A Non-Typical BJJ Journey

10:17 Gracie University Curriculum

14:46 Jiujitsu's Role in Life

16:22 Being a Geologist and a Gold Miner

19:09 The Geologist's Role in Mining Operations

21:29 Licking and Smelling Rocks

22:42 Shifting from Mining to Operations

25:46 Evaluating Mining Projects

28:29 The Community's Role in Mining

31:25 Responsible Mining Practices

34:39 Properly Closing Down a Mine

36:52 PR in Mining and Modern Day Mineral Needs

39:23 Geopolitics of Global Mining Needs

42:40 Geopolitical Tensions and Resource Control

48:34 Innovations in Lithium Mining

51:15 Nickel and Dirty Nickel

54:29 Financing Mines and Venture Capital

01:00:55 Martial Arts and Stress Management

01:08:02 BJJ Defensive Focus and Training Differently

01:16:36 Living Day by Day

01:18:58 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

Alex Buch is a black belt out of Wuppertal, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. Alex is a lifelong martial artist, former MMA fighter, philosophy major, and social worker focusing childhood behaviorial therapy.

Episode Links:

* Beltchecker: https://www.beltchecker.com/profile.php?id=35397

* Alex's Instagram: https://instagram.com/@xelabook

* Kuzushi BJJ: https://instagram.com/@kuzushi_bjj_dinslaken

* Caveirinia JJ Düsseldorf IG: https://instagram.com/@cjjfdusseldorf

* Caveirinia JJ Düsseldorf Web: https://www.cjjfduesseldorf.de/

* Dortmund Luta Livre IG: https://instagram.com/@luta_livre_akademie_dortmund

* Dortmund Luta Livre Web: http://lutalivre-dortmund.de/

Contact:

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

Outline:

00:00 Intro

00:20 Getting the Black Belt

01:52 Navigating Gym Changes

04:35 The Sport Builds Trust

08:08 Dealing with Injuries and Time Off the Mats

10:59 Advice for Women in Jiu-Jitsu

12:37 How to Say No To A Roll

14:09 Finding the Right Gym

19:48 Traveling and Training Martial Arts

20:45 Becoming a Social Worker

22:05 Working With At Risk Youth

25:59 Understanding Youth Behavior and Violence

27:33 Teaching Kids About Violence

30:49 Objective Philosophy

33:19 Diverse Discourse

37:50 The Interplay of Philosophy and Social Work

40:15 The Joy of Traveling and Learning

41:59 Stuff to Promote

42:58 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

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