Direct Elimination Podcast
Direct Elimination Podcast
Podcast Description
Where champions take off the mask.Hosted by elite fencers Ari Simmons and Stephen Ewart, Direct Elimination brings you raw, honest conversations with top performers in sports, business and life. Each episode dives deep into what it really takes to pursue your passion with purpose. No fluff. Just the moments, mindsets, and choices that shape a life in pursuit of something bigger.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on themes such as sports performance, personal growth, and the journey of overcoming adversity. Episodes feature in-depth conversations about topics like learning from failure, mindset shifts, and personal origin stories, with specific examples including Bryce Louie's experiences at the Senior Fencing World Championships and unique relationships that shape an athlete's journey.
The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.
Hosted by Ari Simmons and Stephen Ewart, two elite U.S. fencers chasing Olympic dreams, Direct Elimination goes beyond the strip to uncover the stories, ups and downs that shape athletes. Each episode brings you conversations with fencers, Olympians, and sports leaders who share the mental battles, personal growth, and cultural shifts behind their journeys.
This isn’t just a fencing podcast. It’s about resilience, mindset, and purpose. Whether you’re an athlete, a fan of Olympic sports, or simply someone chasing excellence in life, you’ll find stories here that resonate.
🎙️ Topics we explore:
The mindset of world-class athletes
Failure, resilience, and comeback stories
NCAA & Olympic fencing insights
The role of social media, culture, and community in sports
Why athletes do what they do — and what keeps them fighting
📌 Subscribe for episodes that deliver real talk, laughs, and lessons — straight from the fencing strip to your headphones.
What does it cost to become USA's #1 fencer? Dylan Nollner reveals the sacrifices, mental training, and why he walked away at his peak performance.
The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.
In this episode, you'll discover:
• How transcendental meditation and Coach Aladar Kogler's pillars create flow states in sport, and specifically fencing
• Why retiring at #1 in the USA made more sense than pursuing Olympic dreams
• The hidden costs of competitive fencing: missed weddings, delayed careers, and personal sacrifices
• How balancing work and training actually can improve athletic performance instead of hurting it
Dylan Nollner is a former elite épée fencer who reached #1 in the USA rankings and trained under legendary coach Aladar Kogler. Now coaching and creating content to break down gatekeeping in fencing, Dylan shares the mental game strategies and life lessons many athletes never talk about publicly.
Have you ever walked away from something you were great at? What made you decide it was time? Drop your story in the comments.
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Introduction: Dylan Nollner's Journey
00:03:30 Getting Started: From Utah to Elite Fencing
00:12:00 Training with Aladar Kogler
00:17:59 The Mental Game: Meditation and Flow States
00:23:44 Retirement: Walking Away as #1
00:32:35 Hating Competition but Loving Fencing
00:34:44 Coaching Philosophy
00:39:02 Breaking Down Gatekeeping Through Content Creation
00:46:05 Balancing Work and Athletic Passion
00:51:47 One Light Answers – Rapid Fire
💬 BEST QUOTES
— ”I just didn't want to look back ten years after after retiring and wish I had tried harder.”
— ”you can feel the cost of giving so much to any endeavor as you go through it.”
— ”it is an opportunity for mastery. Right? And if I give 100% to this thing, how good can I be?”
— ”If you are all in on fencing, you have every egg in that basket, and so when a tournament goes poorly, you are going to judge yourself twice as hard.”
Thank you for listening!
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🔗 Connect with Dylan
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firstintention/
Theme song written and performed by Colin Campbell
🔗 Connect with Colin
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/campbelltunes/?hl=en
Thank you for listening!
🔗 Connect with Us
🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple: https://link.me/directeliminationpodcast
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directeliminationpodcast/
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@directeliminationpodcast
📺 Subscribe for more episodes: youtube.com/@directeliminationpodcast
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Website: https://www.prieurusa.com/
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Edge Spray
Website: https://www.edgespray.com/ALL-IN
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edgespray/?hl=en
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.