In this episode of Off the Mats Podcast, I sit down with Katie Laablalli Beirut-Kloth for a conversation about identity, sobriety, competition, and what it means to keep becoming yourself through jiu-jitsu.

Katie opens up about who she is beyond medals and brackets, reflecting on life before jiu-jitsu and what she was searching for when she first stepped onto the mats. We talk about how jiu-jitsu evolved from a sport into a form of regulation, a way to manage chaos, find structure, and reconnect with herself through physical pressure, movement, and routine.

A major part of this conversation centers on Katie’s sobriety and recovery journey. Rather than treating it as a side note, we explore how training became non-negotiable, how her relationship with discipline and competition shifted, and what growth looks like when you’re rebuilding from the inside out. Katie also shares how competing at events like ADCC Opens reshaped her definition of success, especially when balancing ambition with self-awareness.

We also dive into her work with activism, intentional living, and how practices outside jiu-jitsu contribute to self-knowledge and balance. From there, we talk about belonging, gym culture, and the complicated reality of not always feeling at home in jiu-jitsu spaces and how community can evolve over time.

This episode is for grapplers, competitors, and anyone navigating recovery, identity shifts, or using sport as a way to survive and grow. It’s not about motivation or inspiration, it’s about truth, reflection, and meeting yourself where you are.

In this episode of Off the Mats Podcast, I’m joined by Robyn Henderson for an honest, non-performative conversation about sobriety, identity, and rebuilding life off the mats.

Robyn has been on the show before to talk about jiu-jitsu and competition. This time, the focus is deeper. We talk about life before sobriety, the moments that made change unavoidable, and what it actually feels like to sit with yourself once the crutch is gone. There’s no rock-bottom mythology here, just a real discussion about fear, accountability, and learning how to show up consistently without numbing out.

We also explore how jiu-jitsu fit into Robyn’s recovery, not as a cure-all, but as a place that demanded humility, presence, and honesty. From early sobriety and emotional discomfort to redefining identity without alcohol, this episode centers sobriety as a lived, ongoing process rather than a finish line.

This conversation is for anyone questioning their relationship with alcohol, navigating recovery, or trying to figure out who they are when the distractions fall away. No slogans. No inspiration bait. Just two people talking honestly about what it means to stay present and keep going.

In this episode of Off the Mats Podcast, I’m joined by Tom Smalley, MS, CMPC, CSCS, for a grounded conversation about mental performance, anxiety in athletes, and identity beyond competition. Tom’s work sits at the intersection of strength culture and mental health, and we talk openly about what that actually looks like in practice, especially in environments like jiu-jitsu, wrestling, and strength sports where toughness is often valued over honesty.

We discuss Tom’s athletic background, his experience living with OCD, and how anxiety shows up for athletes who appear “put together” on the outside. From there, we unpack the difference between mental performance and mental health, the risks of pushing through everything, and how coaches can respond when athletes open up instead of shutting down. We also explore strength culture’s complicated relationship with vulnerability, what healthy toughness really means, and how athletes can begin separating self-worth from performance.

This episode is for grapplers, coaches, parents, and athletes navigating pressure, on the mats and off them, who want practical tools, clearer language, and a more sustainable approach to resilience.