Writers and Fighters: A Podcast A.J. Ortega

In episode 40 I got to talk to YouTuber and content creator Angel David Castro. He runs the YouTube channel El Pugilato, a Spanish-language platform for fight fans. We talk about his Puerto Rican Heritage, the Mexican vs Puerto Rican boxing rivalry, the current state of boxing, and much more. You can catch him on all social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter as @elpugilato. His website is www.elpugilato.com

In episode 39 I got to interview ASF, Antonio San Francisco, El Dulce Niño Hispano, The Sweet Hispanic Boy. This is the first in a series of interviews for Latino Heritage Month. ASF wrestles out of Laredo, TX and we talk about how he got into wrestling, being a smaller guy in the locker room, his goals and upcoming shows, and much more. It's also National Lucha Libre Day, which is observed in Mexico, so the interview is a celebration for that as well. He's booked for Game Changer Wrestling's event in NYC on September 24th. You can follow ASF on Twitter @theasf_27, Instagram @theasf_27, and Facebook. You can pick up his merch at Pro Wrestling Tees, too: https://www.prowrestlingtees.com/asf 

In episode 38 I have a conversation with Christopher Maverick, a cultural theorist and good friend of mine. Mav is also a former independent professional wrestler. We talk about his early interest and ability in reading, his indy wrestling experiences, The Fast and the Furious franchise, teaching writing, and his creative endeavors. Mav is online as @ChrisMaverick on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. He hosts The VoxPopcast, which is on all your favorite podcast apps. Follow @VoxPopcast on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. And he's also the co-host of Oh Gosh, Oh Golly, Oh Wow, a podcast about the Marvel comic Excalibur.

In episode 37, I point out my favorite parts of AEW's All Out PPV and interview Nate Jolly, a bodybuilder and former pro wrestler. This is round 2 with Nate and we briefly talk about his wrestling background before moving on to his goals as a competitive bodybuilder. He tells us about his motivations for competing, inspiring others, and how his body feels in different stages of preparation. You can follow him on Instagram and Facebook

In episode 36 I recap a little UFC and the Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley boxing event before interviewing writer Danika Stegeman Lemay. She's a poet and the author of Pilot, a poetry collection inspired by the television show Lost. We talk about how she got into writing, erasure poems, her favorite Lost character, and how she used a computer program in the creative process. Danika reads the poems "Outlaws" and "MACHINE Walkbout" from her book. Her website is danikastegemanlemay.com. She's on Twitter, @danikaslemay, and Instagram, @danikaslemay, too. Pilot can be bought at Spork Press.

In episode 35, I recap CM Punk's return to wrestling and I interview Luis "Spartan" Ramirez, a pro wrestler and head coach of Five Star Wrestling Academy in Laredo, Texas. This is Round 2 with Luis, as he was on episode 1 of the show. This time we talk a little more about being a wrestling coach and the methods he uses to train his students. 

​Spartan's Instagram: instagram.com/luisrmz0
Spartan's Twitter: twitter.com/spartanrmz 
Five Star Wrestling Academy website: fivestarwrestlingacademy.com
Instagram: instagram.com/fivestarlaredo
Facebook: facebook.com/earnyourstars
Twitter: twitter.com/earnyourstars
Youtube: youtube.com/user/5SWEarnYourStars
Email:  earnyourstars@gmail.com