Mike Powell: BTS Chicago Executive Director

James Mangan is the Executive Director of BTS Philly and he joins us today on the podcast to talk about all the exciting things going on in the City of Brotherly Love. James shares his background in wrestling and how it set him on the right path in life and taught him the discipline he needed to overcome obstacles. He talks about the unique advantages and challenges that face Philly and how the organization meets these issues. Great to have such a leader in our organization!

Executive Director Mike Powell joins us today from Chicago to share some of the wonderful programs they have going on for their youth. Mike talks about the logistical obstacles they have to overcome in Chicago and how their new facilities help them impact the lives of youth across the city. He brings so much energy and enthusiasm to the BTS cause and we are so excited to have him share his story!

In this episode, we speak with Bior Guigni, the Executive Director of BTS New England. Bior shares stories from her background, from growing up as one of 11 children to how she got involved in wrestling. She takes us through the evolution of BTS New England, which has come a long way. Bior is quick to acknowledge to work of predecessors who paved the way for the program, but she continues to grow the program and serve the youth of New England. She brings so much passion and enthusiasm to the role and we're so happy to have her at the helm in New England!

In this episode, we get the chance to speak with Brendan Buckley who is the Executive Director of BTS New York. Brendan shares some of the initiatives they're working on and some of the unique challenges they face. Brendan has a wealth of experience at every level of wrestling, including 19 years coaching Division I teams.

In this episode, we are joined by Jesse Jantzen, who is a board member of BTS national. Jesse is someone who has excelled at so many areas of not just wrestling but life. He was the first four-time NY state champion, and he subsequently attended Harvard University where he became an NCAA champion. Jesse is extremely passionate about the BTS cause and we are so happy to have him on board and hope you enjoy hearing his story!

This episode we are joined by BTS National’s Operations and Development Associate Jon Guevara. Jon shares his incredible journey from BTS athlete to the University of Pennsylvania to coming back to Beat the Streets. He bring so much enthusiasm and passion to the work and is dedicated to serving the BTS community!

In this episode we have the pleasure of hearing from Yero Washington, the Executive Director of BTS Los Angeles. Yero opens up and shares his journey from a tumultuous youth to a world-class athlete. He speaks about how wrestling saved him from taking the wrong path in life and brought him to where he is today. Yero has competed and coached at the highest levels of wrestling, but he brings a deep humility and passion for the work he does at BTS. We are so happy to have people like him serving our youth!

In this episode, we speak with Rich and Gina Perry who are integral members of the Beat the Streets family! Rich Perry is a team member of the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center who has worked with many BTS youth and set an example for the next generation of athletes. In the episode, Rich tells us about the tragic accident th befell him and his subsequent recovery and perseverance.We are beyond excited to announce that since we recorded this episode, Gina has been hired by BTS as the Director of Development and Communications. Gina brings so much passion and expertise to the role. We are so excited to have her on the team!

In the inaugural episode of the Beat the Streets National podcast we sit down with Executive Director Ben Reiter and discuss some of the exciting things going on in the Beat the Streets community! Ben lays out his fascinating story and his background in wrestling and MMA. We discuss how he has been inspired by so many members of the BTS community and what it means to be working with so many great leaders across the country. This is the first of many exciting podcasts to come so be sure to subscribe so you're updated when new episodes come out!If you'd like to find out more you can visit our website here: https://beatthestreets.org/