Melissa returns to talk about her new Ultimate Frisbee Skills Course.
As a high level player and NCSA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Melissa is on a mission to improve the sport of ultimate by giving players the tools they need to train like the serious athletes they are. In addition to writing The Ultimate Athlete Handbook and starting The Ultimate Athlete Project, Melissa gives ultimate fitness clinics nationally and internationally. Gain access to many more of Melissa's articles and videos by signing up for her email list at 25UltimateTips.com Resources 1% Rule Ren Caldwell Melissa’s Challenge; If you want something to happen within the next 3-5 years, you need to start today. Never miss one of our best episodes by subscribing to the newsletter. Connect with Melissa UltyResults The Ultimate Athlete Project 25 Ultimate Tips If you liked this interview, check out episode 18 for our first interview with Melissa, or check out our page of AUDL interviews. Going Deep with Aaron Watson is brought to you by Audible - get a FREE audiobook download and 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/Aaron. With over 180,000 titles to choose from, you can enjoy from any mobile device. Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | PodBay
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Tim is owner of the Indianapolis AlleyCats, who have a five year record of 41-33 in the regular season and a 1-3 record in playoffs.
Indy is one of the "original eight" teams that started the league in 2012. Only Detroit and Indianapolis are still in existence. Tim has been in the sports licensed sports business for over 20 years. The AlleyCats are his first experience in the sports entertainment business. http://www.goingdeepwithaaron.com/podcast Connect with Tim Website tim.held@myalleycats.com If you liked this interview, check out all of my other AUDL interviews. 
Steve Gordon is co-founder and President of Ultimate Xperience Ventures, LLC, a sports and entertainment holding company that owns a majority interest in the American Ultimate Disc League. Steve also serves as the AUDL League Commissioner.
Steve is also the managing partner of the Chicago Wildfire, Chicago's professional Ultimate Disc team that play in the 2013 season. http://www.goingdeepwithaaron.com/podcast Connect with Steve Website sgordon@theaudl.com If you liked this interview, check out episode 62 where I first spoke with Commissioner Steve Gordon about joining the AUDL and expansion plans. Never miss one of our best episodes by subscribing to the newsletter. 
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Boon Technical Clothing started out as a two-man operation with founder Aldwin Ibanez and just one seamstress. In 2007, Boon began supplying limited-edition t-shirts and athletic apparel, primarily to sport climbers. The company experienced rapid growth as it caught on with the burgeoning running scene, providing jerseys and singlets for the many running events in the Philippines. From time to time, it also produced custom-made jerseys for local ultimate frisbee teams. In 2014, Boon set the goal of bolstering Boon’s presence in the international ultimate scene. Focusing on providing customized, full-sublimated jerseys at highly competitive prices, Boon has since supplied jerseys to teams in such countries as Singapore, Japan, Australia, and Sweden. In 2015, the company became the official outfitter of the American Ultimate Disc League, the fastest growing professional ultimate disc league in North America. Jolas Larracas is currently the Operations Manager for the US market of Boon Technical Clothing. He got involved with the company when I migrated to the US from the Phillipines. Connect with John Website If you liked this interview, check out episode 39 with Tim DeByl where we discuss running the Madison Radicals and sitting on the AUDL board. 
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Ryan Purcell was an Assistant GM, Assistant Coach, and player on the 2016 Austin Sol. After playing at the University of Michigan and leading the program to three National Championship appearances in the mid-2000s, Ryan has since coached and played on every continent except Antarctica. Ryan currently serves as President of the World Flying Disc Federation’s (WFDF) Global Athletes Commission which represents players from around the globe with the sport’s international governing body. Ryan also serves as a member of WFDF’s Board of Directors, and was an active participant in the multi-year process that resulted in official member status with the IOC for the organization. Ryan is excited to share the sport that has given him so many opportunities and incredible experiences with the people of Austin and engage local youth with the game of ultimate. http://www.goingdeepwithaaron.com/podcast Connect with Ryan Website If you liked this interview, check out episode 139 with Jim Gerenscer where we discuss the Dallas Roughnecks first season and winning an AUDL championship. 
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Don Grage is co-owner and managing director of two small data analytics and information technology companies in Northern Virginia. He is also majority owner and managing partner of the DC Breeze, a professional Ultimate Disc team that plays in the 5-year old American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL), and he serves on the Executive Council of the league. As a longtime entrepreneur from California, Don started his first company with a friend in high school and has been involved in more than 15 successful early stage companies over the past 30 years, ranging from skimboards and waterproof wallets to bioinformatics and fuel industry data analytics. He has a wife and three children, a 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, plays guitar in a local band, and plays ultimate every chance he gets... although that is not nearly often enough. Don’s Challenge: Everyone with the smallest passion bone in their body can find 25 hours a month without giving up anything meaningful. Pick something that you’re interested in — hobby, skill, business idea, field of study, whatever — and dedicate 25 hours per month to it for 4 months. It may turn out to a big new passion that changes your life. Or it may not! But either way, you’ve given up virtually nothing and will definitely learn 1) A whole bunch about a new topic you’re interested in; 2) Whether or not you’re truly passionate about that topic; and most importantly 3) That you really do have 25 hours a month to invest in whatever exciting thing comes along next in your life. Get to it! http://www.goingdeepwithaaron.com/podcast Connect with Don Website info@the-dcbreeze.com If you liked this interview, check out episode 156 with Jim Lloyd where we discuss owning three AUDL franchises and going all in on professional ultimate. 
Dr. Young Byun, MD is a neonatologist, an MBA student, and an expectant father. Ultimate frisbee is his passion, and he is a proud owner and general manager of the 2016 AUDL Champion Dallas Roughnecks. On occasion, he waxes nostalgic about days gone by when he had a bit more free time.
Ivy Byun is an adoption specialist by day and a Dallas Roughnecks owner by day/night and on weekends. She has a BA in psychology and music, and an MA in marriage and family therapy and mental health counseling; she is pursuing a PhD in counselor education and supervision. Ivy enjoys traveling, eating, and playing ultimate frisbee. Connect with the Dallas Roughnecks Website dallasroughnecks@gmail.com If you liked this interview, check out episode 139 with Jim Gerencser where we discuss owning the Dallas Roughnecks and the team’s first AUDL championship.
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Jim Lloyd spent 28 years in IT before pushing his chips all-in on the AUDL. He is planning to draw on his experience in startups and at IBM to grow his three Canadian franchises. He stopped by the show to discuss. http://www.goingdeepwithaaron.com/podcast Connect with Jim If you liked this interview, check out episode 142 with Jean-Levy Champagne where we discuss record-setting AUDL crowds. 
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Jean-Lévy ultimate player since 2002 and General Manager of the Montreal Ultimate Association from 2007 to 2012. Jean-Lévy comes from a family of ultimate players and is currently training the next generation. He was a Canadian Ultimate Championships gold medalist in 2009 and 2012. Jean-Lévy has committed himself to training up and coming juniors. He has coached the UQAM university team for three years and promotes junior development in the Montreal region. Ultimate is Jean-Lévy’s life: he is a passionate player and contributor. http://www.goingdeepwithaaron.com/podcast Connect with Jean-Lévy Website info@royalultimate.com If you liked this interview, check out episode 139 with Jim Gerencser where we discuss the Dallas Roughnecks, an AUDL championship, and the future of pro ultimate. 141 Octavia Payne, Leila Tunnell & Qxhna Titcomb on Gender Equity in Ultimate Frisbee & Beyond10/4/2016
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I'm Qxhna Titcomb and I've been playing disc sports since I was 5 years old. I went to Tufts University in Boston, played on Boston Brute Squad and am now on my second year on Seattle Riot. I have three older brothers and one older sister - they are the ones that inspire me to think bigger and be better. Together we have founded the ultimate frisbee apparel company Five Ultimate and are the owners of the men's professional team in Seattle called the Cascades. Most recently, I have been working on promoting women in ultimate via the All-Star Ultimate Tour. Check out www.AllStarUltimateTour.com to see what that's all about! --- My name is Leila Tunnell and I have been playing Ultimate for 17 years. I grew up in Atlanta, GA, where I played for The Paideia School and with the Atlanta women's club team, Ozone. In 2004 and 2006 I was selected for the U-20 Girls National Team, winning silver and gold respectively. In college I played for UNC Chapel Hill, where I won the Callahan Award in 2011, and also helped start and played for the NC women's team Phoenix. I have coached high school programs all over the east coast and have also worked as a counselor and now Assistant Director of the Nationals Ultimate Training Camp in Amherst, MA, for 10 years. In 2014 I won the Kathy Pufahl Spirit Award for contribution to the sport, and in 2016 I was selected to play for the US Women's National Team at the World Ultimate and Guts Championships in London where we won a gold medal. I currently live in Amherst, MA, and play for the reigning national champions, Boston Brutesquad and also help coach the Amherst High School Boys Varsity team. --- My name is Octavia Payne, but many people call me Opi. I grew up mostly in Baltimore and I began playing ultimate at UPenn in 2007. I've played for a number of club teams, including a 5 year stint with DC Scandal with whom I won two national championships. I've also won a gold medal with the U.S. Mixed National Team at the 2013 World Games and with the U.S. Women's National Team at the 2016 World Ultimate and Guts Championship. I currently play on Denver Molly Brown. Their Challenges 1. Don’t shy away from being accountable. 2. Find a storyline in women’s ultimate and follow it for a season. 3. Have a conversation with your team about gender equity 4. Watch one women's highlight video Connect with Them Opi’s Twitter Qxhna’s Twitter Leila's Twitter All-Star Ultimate Tour Website genderequityactiongroup@gmail.com If you liked this interview, check out episode 39 with Tim DeByl where we discuss the AUDL and Madison Radicals. 
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It was a pleasure to interview the 56-year-old co-owner of the Dallas Roughnecks. In their inaugural season, the Roughnecks won the 2016 AUDL championship in dominant fashion, beating the Seattle Cascades 33-27. The win capped a undefeated 17-0 season, and the birth of a potential juggernaut. CHECK OUT E.R.I.C.'s national SPEAK UP tour. Jim Gerencser is also the CEO & President of Nationwide Auto Services. Jim started the company in 1982 and has continually refined the process used in overspray removal and administering large scale claims. Connect with Jim Website If you liked this interview, check out episode 62 with AUDL Commissioner Steve Gordon where we discuss running the American Ultimate Disc League and the future of pro ultimate.
Rob McLeod is a competitive athlete and motivational speaker living in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He competes in ultimate frisbee, disc golf, dog disc and overall flying disc competitions. He currently holds 13 World Records (including 6 Guinness World Records), the Canadian Distance Record, 10 World Championships and 2 Quadruped titles.
Rob has also appeared in the 2014 & 2015 Guinness Book of World Records, the 2015 Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! book and the 2015 Reader’s Digest Canada Day edition. He is a brand ambassador for a number of companies and an ambassador for disc sports around the globe. Rob’s Challenge; Go to the ageless game website and try a different disc sport. Connect with Rob Website
This episode of Going Deep with Aaron Watson is brought to you by the Ultimate Athlete Project. UAP is founded on helping athletes get results through well-developed workout plans that relieve you of the need to research effective workouts or worry about your workouts becoming boring. Check out a free core workout and learn more about what regular users are saying about the program.
Steve Gordon is co-founder and President of Ultimate Xperience Ventures, LLC, a sports and entertainment holding company. UXV owns a majority interest in the American Ultimate Disc League and has interests in video, print and digital services relating to Ultimate Disc content. Mr. Gordon also serves as the AUDL League Commissioner.
Steve Gordon is the Chicago Wildfire team owner, the Windy City's professional Ultimate Disc team in the AUDL. The Wildfire began play in the 2013 season and play at Lane Tech Stadium in Chicago. Steve is also founder of Capstone Concepts, Inc, a firm dedicated to bringing products and/or services that are unique or early in their life cycle to mass markets. Industry concentrations include financial programs, smartphone apps, sports and health-related products. Steve’s Challenge; Eat organic 3x per week for one month and see how it affects your body. Connect with Steve Website Email; sgordon@theaudl.com Chicago Wildfire Team Owner
This episode of Going Deep with Aaron Watson is brought to you by the Ultimate Athlete Project. UAP is founded on helping athletes get results through well-developed workout plans that relieve you of the need to research effective workouts or worry about your workouts becoming boring. Check out a free core workout and learn more about what regular users are saying about the program.
Apart from his family, and new technologies, Ultimate Frisbee is Patrick's biggest passion. He has been very involved in the World Flying Disc Federation, personally launched the Portuguese Beach Ultimate tournament (Bar do Peixe), and an international organization that focuses on promoting Beach Ultimate, called BULA (Beach Ultimate Lovers Association).
In 2004 Patrick and BULA organized the first World Championships Beach Ultimate in Figueira de Foz, Portugal. With 450 participants from 22 countries it turned out to be a serious success, and he has continued to put the event on for over a decade. The 2nd World Championships in Brazil in December 2007 and the 3rd in 2011 in Italy were also organized by BULA, Patrick, and local players. Just last year, he led efforts to produce the 2015 World Championships in Dubai. Patrick played on the Portuguese national team through 2014, as well as with national champions LUC, and in Paganello top international all-star team: SeXXXpensive. He has also the Chairman of the WFDF Spirit of the Game Committee and served as president of the Portuguese flying disc federation through 2014. At the heart of the new economy Patrick turned into a highly effective marketer and 'evangelic' salesman. One company he co-founded, ChemConnect, has been covered in several case-studies and an article in the Wall Street Journal "Top Online Chemical Exchange Is Unlikely Success Story". Patrick’s Challenge; Find a way to be more efficient with your professional time so that you can spend more time with your friends and family. Efficiency Tools Zero Inbox Clear Context Boomerang Connect with Patrick Website
This episode of Going Deep with Aaron Watson is brought to you by the Ultimate Athlete Project. UAP is founded on helping athletes get results through well-developed workout plans that relieve you of the need to research effective workouts or worry about your workouts becoming boring. Check out a free core workout and learn more about what regular users are saying about the program.
Adriana Withers is one of the partners in Vicious Circle Ultimate, an apparel company dedicated to custom manufacturing high performance gear for ultimate frisbee athletes. Her partner Don Cooper came up with the idea for VC just before Canadian Nationals in the summer of 1998 and the company has been growing ever since.
In this episode, Adriana discusses throwing apartment parties to pay rent, the challenges of starting up, and the proliferation of companies in her industry in recent years. Adriana’s Challenge; Practice gratitude regularly and show appreciation for the people in your life.
Connect with Adriana
Website email; adriana@vcultimate.com This episode of Going Deep with Aaron Watson is brought to you by the Ultimate Athlete Project. UAP is founded on helping athletes get results through well-developed workout plans that relieve you of the need to research effective workouts or worry about your workouts becoming boring. Check out a free core workout and learn more about what regular users are saying about the program. 
Tim DeByl started the Madison Radicals franchise in the AUDL in 2012 and has coached the team to the championship game of the AUDL playoffs twice. He has leveraged his experience running a marketing and design company for over a decade to make the Radicals one of the marquee teams in professional ultimate.
In episode thirty-nine, Tim and Aaron discuss the expansion of the league, wearing multiple hats for the Radicals, and Tim’s hope for the future of the sport. Tim’s Challenge; The next time you are in a heated conversation with someone, take the time to really listen to what they are saying and not just waiting for your turn to speak. Connect with Tim Website tim@theaudl.com
Henry Thorne serves as a Mentor at AlphaLab Gear. He founded Aethon Inc. in 1997 and served as its President. He co-founded Thorley Industries LLC in 2005 and serves as its Chief Technology Officer. Henry is a mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, graphic user interface designer and computer scientist. He received BS degree in 1982 and MS degree in 1984 from Carnegie-Mellon University.
Upon graduation, Henry joined General Motors Corporation. During his five years there, among his many accomplishments were the invention of the first weld path adjustment system, the invention of the first fully automatic tool center point calibration system (eliminated the single largest cause of downtime in automated arc welding); the design and implementation of the world's largest automated arc welding system (still running today with the lowest downtime in the auto industry); and the development of a spot weld controller (software installed on thousands of robotic welding machines). Further, Henry invented and patented the world's leading system for calibrating robotic tools, still licensed to ABB. In 1990, Henry left General Motors Corporation and founded Cycle Time Corporation to design and market "Tophat," a graphic user interface for robotic welding. Under contract to ALCOA, he also invented the first system for real time arc weld quality measurement, still the best available measurement of the quality of a weld as it is being produced. He served as Director of Aethon Inc. It was here that he invented and patented three technologies that solve the “navigation riddle,” without using elaborate and expensive laser and inertial guidance systems. He is currently the CTO for 4moms, a company he co-founded with partner Rob Daley. He is also the longest sitting board member for USA Ultimate and has remained very active in the ultimate community. He also serves as a special advisor for Ultimate Peace, a non-profit committed to using ultimate to help teach conflict resolution in Israel.
Evan Lepler is the AUDL’s lead play-by-play announcer for ESPN3. He also calls games for USA Ultimate’s Triple Crown Tour and College Championships. His goal is to introduce more casual sports fans to ultimate, and getting league games broadcast on ESPN3 is a good first step.
Lepler stumbled into ultimate in his first year at Wake Forest University. In his first week on campus he spotted a flyer for ultimate in his dorm, and headed to the quad to check it. He played barefoot for hours, and was hooked. The summer between freshman and sophomore year he threw for one or two hours a day, and eventually captained the men’s squad at Wake Forest for two years. Evan wanted to be a sports broadcaster since he was 8 or 9 years old, so after graduation, he decided not to get involved in the ultimate club scene, which would require practices on nights and weekends, in favor of working his way up the broadcast ladder. For many years, he has covered men’s and women’s college basketball, minor league baseball, and college football. Evan’s Challenge; Share ultimate media with folks who are not familiar with the sport to spread awareness and acceptance. Evan’s Save the Planet Team Mark Lloyd Tyler Degirolamo Ashlin Joye Kurt Gibson Sandy Jorgensen Anna Nazarov Georgia Bosscher Articles Evan’s Tuesday Toss Connect with Evan Email; audlmailbag@gmail.com
Qxhna Titcomb was born the youngest sibling of a family that loves the sport of ultimate. In 2006, she and her siblings created the ultimate frisbee apparel company Five Ultimate. The company’s mission? To “serve the sport of ultimate”. Over the next decade, Qxhna learned about business, event planning and the culture of her sport while traveling around the world playing ultimate and working at tournaments. She and her siblings also own and operate the AUDL’s Seattle Cascades, which she credits with teaching her to put on great single game productions.
She also has enjoyed a decorated playing career that has included;
She launched the All-Star Ultimate Tour in 2015 as a way to showcase women’s ultimate and improve media coverage for the women’s game. The tour raised over $45,000 through a crowdfunding campaign in less than 2 weeks. The tour visited 9 countries, with the all-stars going 6-3. Two plays from the tour made it onto SportCenter’s prestigious Top 10 plays.
Fun Facts: Qxhna hates oranges and brownies as well as onions and mushrooms. Her favorite foods include Pop-Tarts, cereal, and mayonnaise.
Qxhna’s Challenge; Say yes to opportunities, even if they will be challenging. Articles Revived by Hayley Wahlroos Connect with Qxhna All-Star Ultimate Twitter All-Star Ultimate Facebook All-Star Ultimate Youtube All-Star Ultimate Website Five Ultimate Facebook Five Ultimate Website
Ken began playing Ultimate in the summer of 2007 and found leadership opportunity in organizing his high school ultimate club. Attending Kettering University in 2009, Ken quickly worked on establishing a team, pursuing varsity status and full funding granted 2.5 years later. Ken went on to serve as a college regional director, then developmental division director for USA Ultimate and director of operations for the Detroit Mechanix.
While working as a mechanical engineer, he started Aero Ultimate as a simple outlet of his ideas like the SkyLight. Ken set out to reform Aero in late 2013 to provide meaning to Ultimate's future. Ken's talents and passion can be found in almost everything Aero produces. Ken’s Challenge; When defining what success looks like to you, consider what you will have to do to obtain it AND what you may have to give up. If you aren’t willing to give up those things, redefine what success looks like to you.
Articles
Starting an ultimate team SkyLight data analysis Reddit AMA Connect with Ken @kenkam3 kenkaminski@aeroultimate.com @aeroulti Aero Website
Melissa is an NCSA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist who, through her online business The Ultimate Athlete Project, is on a mission to improve the training techniques of folks in the ultimate frisbee community. With a background degrees in Chemistry and Kinesiology, she is uniquely suited to sort through the sea of available research to find what’s most important, effective, and applicable for developing superior athletes and teams.
The Ultimate Athlete Project was designed to give players the tools they need to train like the serious athletes they are. In addition to writing The Ultimate Athlete Handbook and starting The Ultimate Athlete Project, Melissa gives ultimate fitness clinics nationally and internationally. She has enjoyed teaching players from Ireland, Colombia, and all over Europe. When not trotting the globe playing and coaching, she enjoy reading, hiking and enjoying the outdoors. Melissa’s Challenge; Give something and ask for something every day for 30 days Skyd Magazine Review Connect with Melissa Twitter @mwitmer33 Website The Ultimate Athlete Project 25 Ultimate Tips Youtube Email; mwitmer15@gmail.com
Charlie Eisenhood is the Editor and Founder of Ultiworld, "the premier media site for the sport of ultimate". Charlie started Ultiworld in 2012 after graduating cum laude from NYU with a degree in economic theory. He grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico and has worked at the Albuquerque Journal, Center for American Progress, and NYU Abu Dhabi before starting his own media site.
He has played ultimate since 2005 and captained the NYU team his senior year. He currently resides in Brooklyn and travels the country covering elite ultimate in all divisions and leagues. Mentioned The original article that inspired Charlie to launch Ultiworld. Charlie's challenge to the listeners; Consider what you are doing with your life and if it is really fulfilling and meaningful. Make a change if it doesn't feel right. Connect with Charlie @Ulti_world @ceisenhood |
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