In this episode of The Heart of the Bad Wolf, Nicholas James Muscarella sits down with world-renowned striking coach Jason Strout for a raw, honest conversation about fighting, burnout, addiction, fatherhood, and the emotional weight of coaching at the highest level.

Jason opens up about growing up in the Midwest with an alcoholic father, finding himself in hardcore music culture, and how fighting became both an outlet and an identity. He shares why he never drank, how gym life saved him at the right moment, and how stepping into combat sports changes you permanently.

The conversation goes deeper into the realities most fans never see:

• Stopping fights to protect his own fighters • The emotional crash after fight night • The guilt of convincing a fighter to take a payday that ended in a knockout • Burnout from nonstop fight camps • How coaching links you emotionally to a fighter inside the cage • Why he sometimes needs to disappear during fight week to recharge

Jason also reflects on becoming a father and how raising a child forces you to confront your own childhood. He speaks openly about ego, relationships, emotional awareness, and the discipline it takes to evolve as a man.

This is not just about striking. It’s about identity, chaos, masculinity, mentorship, growth, and breaking cycles.

If you care about what fighting really does to the mind and the heart, this episode is for you.

Follow Jason Strout on Instagram: @coachstrout website: https://jasonstrout.com/

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Podcast production by Command Creative Studios https://www.commandcreativestudios.com

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In this deeply moving episode of The Heart of the Bad Wolf, host Nicholas James Muscarella sits down with UFC fighter Jacobe Smith for one of the most honest conversations of his career.

Jacobe opens up about the realities of UFC fight camp, two-a-day training, recovery, weight management, and how the UFC Performance Institute has transformed his approach to preparation. From wrestling at an elite level to developing fight-ending power without traditional weightlifting, Jacobe explains the mindset and discipline required to compete at the highest level.

The conversation then turns inward. Jacobe shares painful memories of childhood abuse, poverty, instability, and witnessing domestic violence. He speaks openly about growing up between two worlds, navigating fear and aggression, and how unresolved trauma became fuel inside the cage. As he matured, Jacobe began confronting those experiences, gaining clarity about his parents’ struggles, and choosing a different path for his own children.

As a father and homeschool parent, Jacobe explains what it means to actively break generational cycles — choosing accountability, emotional awareness, and communication over silence and fear. He reflects on faith outside of traditional institutions, personal research into belief systems, and the importance of building a strong internal foundation beyond fighting.

This episode is about more than MMA. It’s about identity, responsibility, legacy, and turning pain into purpose — keeping the “bad wolf” caged while building something better for the next generation.

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Watch full episodes on YouTube.

New episodes of The Heart of the Bad Wolf drop regularly

Follow Jacobe Smith on:

Instagram/threads - @Cobe1423

Facebook - Jacobe Smith

TikTok- @jacobesmith96

Follow the show on Instagram: @theheartofthebadwolf

Watch the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theheartofthebadwolf

Podcast production by Command Creative Studios https://www.commandcreativestudios.com

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In this powerful episode of The Heart of the Bad Wolf, UFC fighter Mitch Ramirez shares an unfiltered, deeply personal look at the forces that shaped his life—addiction, religion, incarceration, family trauma, and the fight to break generational cycles.

Mitch opens up about growing up in a rigid religious environment, the resentment and confusion that followed, and how unexpressed pain turned into self-destructive behavior. He reflects on how both of his parents ultimately questioned the belief systems that once defined their lives, and how those realizations mirrored his own journey through addiction, prison, and personal reinvention.

We dive into the idea of intuition—how Mitch always felt the difference between the discipline of the wrestling room and the chaos of the streets—and why ignoring that inner voice led him deeper into trouble. He shares what it was like being sent to a church-funded boys’ home, navigating therapy without trust, and learning how survival instincts can block real growth.

The conversation also turns toward fatherhood, emotional awareness, and responsibility, as Mitch explains how training dogs and becoming “Uncle Mitch” helped him recognize patterns passed down from his father—and the conscious effort it takes to become better for the next generation.

Alongside the personal story, Mitch breaks down fight IQ, cage awareness, experience vs. talent, and how one moment can change everything at the highest level of MMA competition.

This episode is about more than fighting. It’s about identity, accountability, faith without fear, and choosing growth over repetition.

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Follow Mitch Ramirez on Instagram: @Mitch_Ramirez

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Podcast production by Command Creative Studios https://www.commandcreativestudios.com

New episodes of The Heart of the Bad Wolf drop every Monday—follow us so you don’t miss one

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