Direct Elimination Podcast
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.
Episodes
22 episodes
Seth Kelsey: World Champion Fencer on Going All-In, Olympic Heartbreak, and Investing in the Process | Direct Elimination Ep. 22
🎙️ EPISODE 22 | SETH KELSEY INTERVIEWThe Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.What does it really take to compete at the highest level of fencing? Seth Kelsey is the best Men's Epee Fencer in USA Fencing history. The 2012 Wor...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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1:39:25
Building Freedom and the Leap of Faith that Changed Everything for Adam Metwally | Direct Elimination Ep. 21
🎙️ EPISODE 21 | ADAM METWALLY INTERVIEWThe Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.What if the key to success isn't following the five-step plan, but ignoring all advice and creating an audacious version of yourself? Adam M...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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1:17:38
Keeth Smart: From Olympic Heartbreak to Silver Medal Redemption | Direct Elimination Ep. 20
🎙️ EPISODE 20 | KEETH SMART INTERVIEWThe Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.What does it take to come back from the most devastating loss of your career, with both parents gone, and claim Olympic redemption...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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1:31:43
Michael Aufrichtig: From Accidental Fencer to Columbia University's Championship Coach | Direct Elimination Ep. 19
🎙️ EPISODE 19 | MICHAEL AUFRICHTIGThe Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.What if the sport you stumbled into by accident became your life's calling? Columbia University head fencing coach Michael Aufrichtig went from choosi...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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1:11:52
From NFL to Life After: Asmar Bilal on Identity, Purpose & Transition Out of Sport | Direct Elimination Ep. 18
🎙️ EPISODE 18 – ASMAR BILALThe Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.In our first episode featuring a non-fencing athlete, former Notre Dame and NFL linebacker Asmar Bilal joins Direct Elimination to share his profound journey f...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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1:23:22
Italian Fencing Olympian Federico Vismara: Give Everything You Have | Direct Elimination Ep. 17
🎙️ EPISODE 17 – FEDERICO VISMARAThe Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.Join us for an intimate conversation with Federico Vismara, one of Italy's top epee fencers from 2019-2024, having won many international medals and ...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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1:02:38
Olympic Fencer Khalil Thompson Opens Up About Mental Health Crisis & Finding Identity | Direct Elimination Ep. 16
🎙️ EPISODE 16 – KHALIL THOMPSON INTERVIEWThe Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.Olympic fencer Khalil Thompson shares his raw, unfiltered journey from struggling with depression and living in his sister's shadow to fin...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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1:45:30
Olympic Silver Medalist Daryl Homer: From Podiums to Transcending the Sport | Direct Elimination Ep. 15
🎙️ EPISODE 15 -- DARYL HOMER INTERVIEWThe Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.Olympic silver medalist Daryl Homer reveals the untold story behind his rise from a curious five-year-old in the Bronx to Team USA's fencing...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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1:14:07
Fencing World Champion Sam Imrek: Unorthodox Style and Mental Resilience | Direct Elimination Ep. 14
🎙️ EPISODE 14 -- SAM IMREK INTERVIEWThe Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.Team USA fencer Sam Imrek's journey from Star Wars-obsessed kid to elite athlete proves that unconventional paths often lead to extraordinary ...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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1:07:32
Olympic Fencing Champion Lauren Scruggs: Breaking Barriers & Balancing Life | Direct Elimination Ep. 13
🎙️ EPISODE 13 -- LAUREN SCRUGGS INTERVIEWThe Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.Join Ari Simmons and Stephen Ewart for an inspiring conversation with Lauren Scruggs, the first Black American woman ...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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1:07:11
Grant Williams on Fencing, Focus & the Champion's Mindset | Direct Elimination Ep. 12
🎙️ EPISODE 12 – GRANT WILLIAMS INTERVIEWThe Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.In this episode of Direct Elimination, hosts Ari Simmons and Stephen Ewart sit down with Grant Williams — a U...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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57:36
Camille Simmons: From Fencing to NFL Sidelines | Direct Elimination Ep. 11
🎙️ EPISODE 11 – CAMILLE SIMMONSThe Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.Hosts Ari Simmons and Stephen Ewart sit down with Camille Simmons — junior national champion and NCAA Division 1 Athlete tu...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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1:12:00
Maia Chamberlain on Going All-In, Mindset & the Being Yourself | Direct Elimination Ep. 10
🎙️ EPISODE 10 – MAIA CHAMBERLAIN INTERVIEW In this episode of Direct Elimination, hosts Ari Simmons and Stephen Ewart sit down with Maia Chamberlain — Olympian, U.S. Women’s Sabre National Team member, N...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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1:09:44
Ben Atkins on Fencing, Business Success & Purpose | Direct Elimination Ep. 9
🎙️ EPISODE 9 – BEN ATKINS INTERVIEWThe Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.In this episode of Direct Elimination, hosts Ari Simmons and Stephen Ewart sit down with Ben Atkins — one of the m...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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1:10:08
Nick Itkin on Olympic Bronze, Self Improvement & Pushing Limits | Direct Elimination Ep. 8
🎙️ EPISODE 8 – NICK ITKIN INTERVIEW In this special episode of Direct Elimination, hosts Ari Simmons and Stephen Ewart sit down with one of the brightest stars in world fencing: Nick Itkin — Olympic bron...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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58:44
Fares Ferjani on Olympic Lessons, African Pride & Fighting Spirit | Direct Elimination Ep. 7
🎙️ EPISODE 7 – FARES FERJANI INTERVIEWThe Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts. In this episode of Direct Elimination, hosts Ari Simmons and Stephen Ewart welcome Fares Ferjani — Tunisia...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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59:53
Tristan Szapary on Mental Training, Joy in Fencing & Growth Mindset | Direct Elimination Ep. 6
EPISODE 6 – TRISTAN SZAPARY INTERVIEWThe Fencing Podcast of all Fencing PodcastsIn this episode of Direct Elimination, hosts Ari Simmons and Stephen Ewart sit down with épée fencer Tristan Szapary<...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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1:09:50
Anne Cebula on Olympic Dreams, NCAA Gold & Grit in Women’s Épée | Direct Elimination Ep. 5
🎙️ EPISODE 5 – ANNE CEBULA INTERVIEW In this inspiring episode of Direct Elimination, hosts Ari Simmons and Stephen Ewart sit down with Anne Cebula — Olympian, NCAA Champion, and the first Barnard stu...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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1:03:19
Eli Dershwitz on World Gold, Olympic Lessons & Coaching the Next Gen | Direct Elimination Ep. 4
🎙️ EPISODE 4 – ELI DERSHWITZ INTERVIEWIn this episode of Direct Elimination, Ari Simmons and Stephen Ewart sit down with one of the greatest American fencers of all time: Eli Dershwitz.Eli’s resume is staggering — World Champion, 3x...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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1:00:13
Bryce Louie on NCAA Gold, World Silver & Social Media in Fencing | Direct Elimination Ep. 3
🎙️ EPISODE 3 – BRYCE LOUIE INTERVIEWIn this episode of Direct Elimination, Ari Simmons and Stephen Ewart welcome their first foil guest — rising U.S. fencing star Bryce Louie.Bryce has quickly become one of the most exciting figures...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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49:54
Justin Yoo on Fencing, Finance & Fighting Through Failure | Direct Elimination Ep. 2
🎙️ EPISODE 2 – JUSTIN YOO INTERVIEWIn this episode of Direct Elimination, Ari Simmons and Stephen Ewart welcome their first official guest: Justin Yoo — one of the most accomplished U.S. fencers of his generation, a standout on Team USA, a ...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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1:04:02
Why We Fence: Ari Simmons & Stephen Ewart on Purpose & Failure | Direct Elimination Ep. 1
Welcome to the very first episode of the Direct Elimination Podcast — where two lifelong fencers and friends, Ari Simmons and Stephen Ewart, sit down to talk about the stories, setbacks, and motivations that define not just athletes, but anyone...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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1:05:19