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I got to sit down with Chris Hancock for this week's episode. I've known Chris for a few years now from my time with the Stags but what he is really known for are Friction Gloves. Friction Gloves are ultimate specific gloves designed with throwing and catching in mind. In our interview we get to talk a little bit about how that works and where Friction is going in the future. We also talk about captaining Portland Rhino as well mentality and little about post MLU life.

This week I got to catch up with Arnoush Javaherian or as he is better known, Coach Java. Java is the executive director of Competitive Ultimate Training or as they are better known, CUT Camps. CUT Camps are overnight camps for youth players 7th grade through high school (including graduating Freshman in college). The mission of at CUT is "to provide an opportunity for youth Ultimate players to improve their game and play the sport they love".

This week we’ll be getting into part two of my interview with Elliot Trotter. We mostly covered Skyd and the Ultimate Globe Trotter in part one, in part two we get into the more meat and potatoes of the show. We cover training, getting ready for games and get into spirit of the game. We also cover a lot about not over looking people and finding a players true potential. It’s a great finish to the interview and I hope you enjoy it.

I got to sit down with Elliot Trotter for this week's episode, which I split into two episodes after chatting with Elliot for nearly three hours. I first met Elliot at the University of Puget Sound when he was captaining the UPS Postmen. Since college Elliot has played for teams all around the world including Seattle Voodoo, the Seattle Rainmakers (MLU), the Boracay Dragons, Melbourne’s Heads of State, Furious George, Australian National Men's team at WCBU and currently with the beach team Ocean City Humiliswag and Sub Zero. Most people will know Elliot from Skyd, an online ultimate magazine that he founded in 2010. In part one of the interview, we talked a lot about Skyd and also Elliot's current project, Ultimate Globe Trotter. UGT is a travel show where Elliot travels around the world to compete with teams and explore the cultures they live in. If you haven't had a chance to check out the show go and watch a couple of episodes, they are a ton of fun and definitely worth the watch. I'm having trouble coming up with a favorite episode because they are all great but Episode 1 with the Boracay Dragons is fantastic start to the series. Don't forget to check back next week for part two of my interview with Elliot. SHOW NOTES Elliot’s Introduction into Ultimate [2:40] Getting started at Cu1timate and the first ideas of Skyd[14:50] Behind the name Skyd [18:40] The start of Skyd [22:10] Skyd’s first Nationals and getting into live streaming [32:00] Skyd pivoting into focus more on video and personal stories [36:30] Stepping down from the role of Editor and Chief [43:48] On creating content for ultimate [48:40] Ultimate Globe Trotter [54:14] Integrating with teams [1:15:14] Problems with Fundraisers [1:26:31] SELECTED LINKS Skyd Cu1timate Chasing Sarasota 175 Grams from Sundance Ultimate Globe Trotter

This week I was joined by Melissa Witmer via Skype to discuss training, the Ultimate Athlete Project and lot more. In the world of training for ultimate Melissa is one of the first names to think of. Melissa is possibly best known for her work on Ulty Results. A big part of Ulty Results is the Ultimate Athlete Project (UAP), which is a year-round program designed to train athletes starting from their off-season all the way through the club season. Ulty Results also includes her six-week speed, agility and conditioning program (6-week SAQ),  and the Ulty Results Coaching Academy Conference. And now she is adding another project to Ulty Results focusing on skill development. In our conversation, we covered a lot of ground starting with Melissa's background and the start of the Ultimate Athlete Project. We quickly got into training and what typical players should be focusing on. There is some really great stuff about what you should be doing for speed workouts. There is also a lot of stuff about international ultimate, spirit of the game and working on your mental game. This has been one of my favorite episodes to record so far so I really hope you enjoy it. As always if you please check us out on Facebook or Twitter and you can subscribe to us on iTunes, Google Play or however you get your podcasts.   SHOW NOTES How Melissa first got into playing [1:58] The genesis of the Ultimate Athlete Project [4:10] Ulty Results Skills development program [10:24] Training misconceptions and shortening your training sessions [15:25] Changing how you do speed workouts and why you shouldn’t mix speed and agility workouts with conditioning [18:12] How often you should be training and what you might want to focus on [21:00] Getting ready for game day [23:15] Melissa’s views on cooldown [28:03] Getting your body ready for the game [29:50] Why you should make sure you are properly investing your time in training [34:29] Don’t only play frisbee to train and stop running so much [42:00] Fast Break questions [42:55] Working on equity [44:30] Ulty Results Coaches Academy Conference [46:30] On transitioning into a different type of player [51:05] How international play has affected Melissa’s view of SOTG [55:52] Working on Mental Strength Training [1:15:14] Melissa’s challenge to play internationally [1:09:20]   Che

It was nice to get another interview outside of the West Coast this week and Chris Mazur was a pleasure to talk with. Mazur is a long time pro player having played with the AUDL in its first season with the Connecticut Consitution and then playing in the MLU with the New York Rumble for several seasons. His club credits include National appearances with PoNY, District 5 and Connecticut Metro North. His time with Connecticut Metro North also earned him Ultiworld's Mixed Offensive Player of the Year. Additionally, he played with Team USA in the Mixed division in 2016. Mazur is known for his throwing prowess, although he talks about he wasn't really asked to step into the role of a main handler until his time with the New York Rumble.  In this episode we get into how Mazur got into frisbee and then what it was like getting into the pro leagues. We spend a lot of time on how he has been training these last few years and what has really been working for him. In the second half of the episode, Mazur has a ton of actionable steps you can take to improve your game and we get a little into gender equity, spirit of the game and how to be a good teammate. All in all, this was a great glimpse into a great player. As always, if you enjoyed the show please stop by and give us a like on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. Feedback is always welcome and I hope you enjoy the show. Thanks for checking out episode 6.   SHOW NOTES Playing in college and getting cut from PoNY [2:25] Playing Pro and using different strategies [5:33] Looking at ways to change some rules in the AUDL - should there be a personal foul limit? [10:43] Preparing for games -  mental prep and conditioning [16:39] Hard track workouts and lifting [21:00] Nutrition and game day prep [25:00] Postgame recovery and avoiding ice baths[28:24] Getting it right, it's about us [32:00] How entitlement culture is hurting ultimate [39:38] Rapid fire questions [44:58] Just throw more, really just throw more [46:58] Game ready throws vs receiver ready throws [55:25] How just taking five hard steps can change your game [58:32] The value of listening [1:01:55] The root of Spirit of the Game [1:08:14] SELECTED LINKS

Ren Caldwell I got another chance this week to head up to Ren Fitness, this time to talk with Ren Caldwell. This was a fun episode, as it is the first that focuses in on the training aspect rather than the playing aspect of ultimate. This is because Ren isn't primarily a player, but a trainer. Although she does have some field experience that isn't her area of expertise. We got to here a little about Ren Fitness with my interview with Bert Abbott a few weeks back, but we get to hear a lot more about the space in this episode so if you've been thinking about visiting take a listen and I'm sure you'll be convinced. We cover a lot of ground in this episode including recovery, nutrition, and just some basic areas of training for ultimate. You'll also notice a new intro for the show. I'm trying a few things out so if you like the change or even if you hate it drop me a note on Facebook or Twitter. Thanks for checking out episode 5. SHOW NOTES Getting into what Ren Fitness is all about and how it got started [1:43] How Ren got involved in training and ultimate [13:00] Feldenkrais movement systems and how Ren used it to help recover from a car accident [19:40] Adding new knowledge to the field of ultimate and future ultimate research [26:11] A quick look at nutrition [33:57] Showing value to the ultimate community [51:00] How to get into training [54:09] The role of training in ultimate and periodization [1:02:43] Rapid fire questions [1:14:10] Morning of tournament prep [1:19:45] Tournament recover [1:22:55] SELECTED LINKS Ren Fitness Facebook Instagram Feldenkrais Ultimate Athlete Project Be sure to follow Disclab Radio on Facebook and Twitter for the latest episodes. You can also subscribe on iTunes, Google Play and Stitcher.

I got to sit down with Riley Meinershagen in my office so there are a few guest appearances from my two-year-old daughter and a few barks from my dogs - just more flavor for the episode really. Riley is a top defense player from the Oregon ultimate scene. We get into how he was introduced into ultimate and his ill-fated first attempt at his first Rhino tryouts. I originally got to know Riley when I was working with the Portland Stags and then more so when he moved up near my neck of the woods.  We got to cover all sorts of topics in this episode ranging from his love of Chipotle to Magic the Gathering. I joke, but those are actually in there. There was some great stuff about why Spirit of the Game is important, but also something that can also be a struggle. What he has learned from coaching and how to apply that to higher level ultimate and a lot of stuff about throwing. Riley is a really fun guy so I hope you enjoy this interview and thanks for checking out episode 4. SHOW NOTES First introduction to frisbee [1:34] Dealing with ACL and MCL injuries and not playing this season [5:10] Pre-game routines (or lack thereof) and getting into the game [11:00] Chipotle [14:14] Staying active for recovery [15:50] Coaching and how it has improved his game [18:30] Teaching kids ultimate without structured offense and being a creative cutter[24:30] Spirit of the game and struggles with spirit [28:50] Frustrations playing with refs and how it changes the game [34:02] Playing with rules and enjoying Magic the Gathering [38:54] Don’t be afraid to make mistakes while learning [45:20] Looking at the geometry of your pivots [46:50] Thinking about ultimate with a little less partying [48:20] Being a bad role model for defense and not actually a person [53:30] Changing bad habits and improving his game [56:40] Learning to throw better and throwers to watch [59:34]

This was one of my favorite episodes to record so far. Bert Abbott is one of the captains for Seattle Mixtape. She is a trainer at Ren Fitness (an ultimate focused gym in Seattle) and had a lot to say. We got into all kinds of great stuff about training, visualization and film study. The training stuff was of particular interest to me and I think you all will enjoy it a lot, be sure to pay attention to the stuff about learning how to run. Very practical advice on how to just play better ultimate. Bert is also a big advocate for gender equality in mixed ultimate. There has been a lot of focus on showcasing women's ultimate as a means of gender equality, but mixed is another area that can really show off the sport. If you've had questions about what you can do to help support gender equality, Bert has some great ideas of where you can get started. Also to note Bert will be playing in the Cascade Cup on April 14th - The Cascade Cup is a mixed professional frisbee game being held by the Seattle Cascades as they face off against the San Francisco FlameThrowers. Check it out at Memorial Stadium in Seattle at 7PM or check it out on the Cascades Facebook page. SHOW NOTES First Exposure to ultimate, getting into high level mixed [1:46] Cascade Cup and showcasing gender equity [5:30] Dodgeball [7:45] Prepping for games, looking film[11:00] Mental Toughness Mondays - Visualizations, focusing on herself, and meditation [14:40] Warm-Ups [18:32] Cool Downs and Cam Bailey yoga [24:48] Bert’s training Routine [29:50] Looking at how players need to work on fitness more on the offseason [35:55] Equity in Mixed Ultimate and 77 cents [39:09] My mistakes about involvement with AgeUp and what Ren Fitness is doing for gear [47:28] The advantage of learning how to run [53:20] Working on asymmetries and single side lifting [58:46] Jackie Williams, inspiration in spirit and leadership for women in mixed [1:02:18] What to look for in film study [1:06:18] On ultimate’s lack of follow through on goals and ambitions [1:09:08] Voices getting lost in the quest for equity [1:11:30]

I got to know Mark Burton through my local pickup group, so he is another guy I've known for a while now. He has climbed the ladder in Seattle ultimate starting playing with Downpour, which a 3rd men's team and working his way up to Voodoo and Sockeye. But Burton also has roots in mixed ultimate travelling to Nationals with Ghetto Birds (now Seattle Mixtape), where they made a finals appearance on their first trip to Nationals, losing to Drag N'Thrust in the finals. In my conversation with Burton we discuss his introduction into Ultimate in Normandy Park, Washington, how his training has changed as he has gotten older, how he uses visualisations, gender equity and economic equity. We also have bunch of stuff about craft throws, working on cuts and some fun stuff about how the rules of ultimate could change. Thanks for checking out episode 2.