The London 2012 Olympic Selection Scandal - Aaron Cook (Elite Podcast #50)

From Street Fights to Success in Business & Martial Arts - Nathan & Joe Goulding (Elite Podcast #54)

Nathan and Joe Goulding join Lee Matthews to share their journey from tough beginnings to building success in martial arts and business. As a father and son, they open up about the challenges they’ve faced, the lessons learned through adversity, and how discipline and consistency helped shape both their lives and careers. They discuss their experiences growing up around conflict, transitioning from street fights into structured martial arts, and how those experiences influenced their mindset, leadership, and approach to business. This episode dives deep into resilience, personal growth, and what it truly takes to become elite. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction 01:45 Growing Up & Early Challenges 08:30 Street Fights & Lessons Learned 15:20 Discovering Martial Arts 22:10 Transition Into Business 30:45 Building a Martial Arts Brand 38:20 Mindset & Overcoming Setbacks 45:15 Advice for Young Men 52:00 What It Means to Be Elite 58:30 Final Thoughts The Elite Podcast is a brand-new show where host Lee Matthews speaks to individuals who are at the top of their industry and profession. The guests will be from different backgrounds including combat sports, military, and business to coaching. Lee will be finding out along with you why they have become the best in their fields and enjoyed acclaimed success and what they all share – their determination to become ELITE in their field. Lee Matthews is a former paratrooper, kickboxing world champion and now entrepreneur. He is the owner of the UK's biggest chain of martial arts centres. Follow Lee on social media for more: ▶︎ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lee.matthewsbmma [https://www.facebook.com/lee.matthewsbmma] ▶︎ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leematthewsofficial/ [https://www.instagram.com/leematthewsofficial/] ▶︎ Lee’s Book - https://shorturl.at/fyGI7 [https://shorturl.at/fyGI7] Recorded and Produced by Liverpool Podcast Studios ▶︎ Web - http://www.liverpoolpodcaststudios.com [http://www.liverpoolpodcaststudios.com ] ▶︎ Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/liverpoolpodcaststudios [http://www.instagram.com/liverpoolpodcaststudios ] ▶︎ LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/company/liverpool-podcast-studios [http://www.linkedin.com/company/liverpool-podcast-studios]

Building a Martial Arts Empire and earning World Titles - Luke & Dan Cuthbert (Elite Podcast #53)

In this episode of the Elite Podcast, host Lee Matthews sits down with brothers Luke and Dan to discuss their lifelong dedication to martial arts and how they are continuing their father's legacy at the United Karate Association. The brothers open up about their contrasting paths to success. Dan details his intense competition background, including winning the IKU World Championships in Brazil, and the severe eye injury that forced him to pivot from fighting to coaching. Luke shares his journey of pursuing a soccer scholarship in America before a knee injury brought him back to his true passion on the tatami. They also dive into the realities of scaling a martial arts business to over 2,000 students, the importance of maintaining strict traditional standards, and how childhood discipline and constant competition built the ultimate resilience for life and entrepreneurship. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction and Travelling from Essex 03:26 - Continuing the United Karate Association Legacy 04:03 - Maintaining Traditional Martial Arts Standards 05:27 - Dan's Career and Winning the IKU World Championship 06:37 - The Fight That Caused a Detached Retina 07:13 - Luke's US Football Scholarship and Returning to Karate 10:25 - Scaling the Business to 2,000 Students 12:33 - Growing Up in the Dojo and Teaching at 10 Years Old 14:05 - Channeling Hyperactivity into Daily Sports Training 14:49 - The Power of Losing and Building Resilience 16:46 - The Mindset and Discipline of a True Martial Artist The Elite Podcast is a brand-new show where host Lee Matthews speaks to individuals who are at the top of their industry and profession. The guests will be from different backgrounds including combat sports, military, and business to coaching. Lee will be finding out along with you why they have become the best in their fields and enjoyed acclaimed success and what they all share – their determination to become ELITE in their field. Lee Matthews is a former paratrooper, kickboxing world champion and now entrepreneur. He is the owner of the UK's biggest chain of martial arts centres. Follow Lee on social media for more: ▶︎ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lee.matthewsbmma [https://www.facebook.com/lee.matthewsbmma] ▶︎ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leematthewsofficial/ [https://www.instagram.com/leematthewsofficial/] ▶︎ Lee’s Book - https://shorturl.at/fyGI7 [https://shorturl.at/fyGI7] Recorded and Produced by Liverpool Podcast Studios ▶︎ Web - http://www.liverpoolpodcaststudios.com [http://www.liverpoolpodcaststudios.com ] ▶︎ Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/liverpoolpodcaststudios [http://www.instagram.com/liverpoolpodcaststudios ] ▶︎ LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/company/liverpool-podcast-studios [http://www.linkedin.com/company/liverpool-podcast-studios]

SAS: Who Dares Wins Instructor & Former Special Forces — Ollie Ollerton | Elite Podcast #52

In this episode of the Elite Podcast, host Lee Matthews sits down with Ollie Ollerton, a man whose journey from the Royal Marines to the Special Boat Service (SBS) and eventually to the TV screens of "SAS: Who Dares Wins" is a masterclass in resilience and mental fortitude. Ollie opens up about the internal battles that preceded his military success, including a near-fatal chimp attack as a child and the "unconscious unhappiness" that drove him to chase dopamine and chaos. They discuss the psychology of high performance, the "worm of self-doubt" that almost stopped him on day one of Special Forces selection, and his philosophy of "just doing today" to overcome insurmountable odds. Ollie also shares his transition to life after the military, finding a new mission in Dubai, and how he finally assigned purpose to the trauma of his past. [CHAPTERS] 00:00 - Introduction and Dubai Life 02:12 - Finding Purpose After the Military 04:03 - Childhood Trauma: The Chimp Attack 06:25 - The Dream of the Royal Marines 07:59 - Reality vs. The Brochure 09:54 - Manifestation and the SBS Goal 12:44 - Transitioning to Special Forces Selection 14:58 - Borrowing Confidence from Others 17:23 - Day One: Overcoming the Mind's Negativity 19:14 - The Power of "Just Do Today" 21:51 - Breaking the Cycle of Self-Preservation 23:42 - Stripping the Ego in Special Forces Training The Elite Podcast is a brand-new show where host Lee Matthews speaks to individuals who are at the top of their industry and profession. The guests will be from different backgrounds including combat sports, military, and business to coaching. Lee will be finding out along with you why they have become the best in their fields and enjoyed acclaimed success and what they all share – their determination to become ELITE in their field. Lee Matthews is a former paratrooper, kickboxing world champion and now entrepreneur. He is the owner of the UK's biggest chain of martial arts centres. Follow Lee on social media for more: ▶︎ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lee.matthewsbmma [https://www.facebook.com/lee.matthewsbmma] ▶︎ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leematthewsofficial/ [https://www.instagram.com/leematthewsofficial/] ▶︎ Lee’s Book - https://shorturl.at/fyGI7 [https://shorturl.at/fyGI7] Recorded and Produced by Liverpool Podcast Studios ▶︎ Web - http://www.liverpoolpodcaststudios.com [http://www.liverpoolpodcaststudios.com ] ▶︎ Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/liverpoolpodcaststudios [http://www.instagram.com/liverpoolpodcaststudios ] ▶︎ LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/company/liverpool-podcast-studios [http://www.linkedin.com/company/liverpool-podcast-studios]

World Karate Champion and PhD Scientist - Calum Robb (Elite Podcast #51)

In this episode of the Elite Podcast, host Lee Matthews sits down with Dr. Calum Robb, a former Scottish, British, European, and World Karate Champion. Calum is one of the most decorated Scottish karate fighters of recent times and remains the only Scottish practitioner since the millennium to win a world WKF senior medal. Beyond his incredible physical achievements, Calum holds a PhD in immunology and spent a decade as a research scientist before transitioning into high-level scientific sales. Lee and Calum discuss the mindset of an elite fighter, the "ruthless" switch that occurs at the top level, and how the discipline learned in the dojo translates directly into professional success. They also delve into the evolution of modern karate, the "fast game of tag" it has sometimes become, and why new platforms like Total Kombat are essential for returning to the true "warrior spirit" of martial arts. Chapters: 00:00:00 - Intro: The PhD Scientist and World Champion  00:01:21 - Meeting Calum Robb  00:01:49 - Transitioning from Karate to Scientific Sales  00:02:37 - Transferable Skills: Martial Arts in Professional Life  00:03:54 - Calum’s Competitive Career and WKF Success  00:04:30 - Traditional Wado Kai vs. All Styles  00:05:32 - Developing a Ruthless Mindset at Age 12  00:06:43 - The Influence of Family and Funding a Career  00:08:54 - The Instant Vibe Between Elite Fighters  00:09:49 - The Energy of the Pit and Total Kombat  00:10:48 - Total Kombat’s TV Deals and 2026 Vision  00:12:16 - The "Big Three" Tatami Sports: Karate, Taekwondo, and Kickboxing  00:13:00 - The Uneven Playing Field of Government Funding  00:14:11 - Fighting in "The Oval"  00:15:22 - Outstanding Fighters, Frustrating Rule Sets  00:17:07 - Modern Karate: A "Fast Game of Tag"?  00:19:12 - Bringing Back the Warrior Spirit  00:20:11 - The Power of Viral Knockouts and Social Media  00:21:42 - Michael "Venom" Page and A-List Exposure  00:23:01 - The Growth Mindset: No Egos, Just Results  The Elite Podcast is a brand-new show where host Lee Matthews speaks to individuals who are at the top of their industry and profession. The guests will be from different backgrounds including combat sports, military, and business to coaching. Lee will be finding out along with you why they have become the best in their fields and enjoyed acclaimed success and what they all share – their determination to become ELITE in their field. Lee Matthews is a former paratrooper, kickboxing world champion and now entrepreneur. He is the owner of the UK's biggest chain of martial arts centres. Follow Lee on social media for more: ▶︎ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lee.matthewsbmma [https://www.facebook.com/lee.matthewsbmma] ▶︎ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leematthewsofficial/ [https://www.instagram.com/leematthewsofficial/] ▶︎ Lee’s Book - https://shorturl.at/fyGI7 [https://shorturl.at/fyGI7] Recorded and Produced by Liverpool Podcast Studios ▶︎ Web - http://www.liverpoolpodcaststudios.com [http://www.liverpoolpodcaststudios.com ] ▶︎ Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/liverpoolpodcaststudios [http://www.instagram.com/liverpoolpodcaststudios ] ▶︎ LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/company/liverpool-podcast-studios [http://www.linkedin.com/company/liverpool-podcast-studios]

The London 2012 Olympic Selection Scandal - Aaron Cook (Elite Podcast #50)

In this episode, Lee speaks with Aaron Cook, a three-time European Champion and former World #1 in Taekwondo. Aaron opens up about his career, sharing stories of his intense rivalry and friendship with fellow fighter Damon Sansum , and the "Golden Age" of British Taekwondo. He discusses the difficult and controversial decision to leave the GB Academy to train independently and details the heart-breaking moment he was not selected for the London 2012 Olympics despite being the world number one. Aaron provides an insider's account of the scandal, the legal battles that followed, and the immense toll it took on him and his family. The Elite Podcast is a brand-new show where host Lee Matthews speaks to individuals who are at the top of their industry and profession. The guests will be from different backgrounds including combat sports, military, and business to coaching. Lee will be finding out along with you why they have become the best in their fields and enjoyed acclaimed success and what they all share – their determination to become ELITE in their field. Lee Matthews is a former paratrooper, kickboxing world champion and now entrepreneur. He is the owner of the UK's biggest chain of martial arts centres. Follow Lee on social media for more: ▶︎ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lee.matthewsbmma [https://www.facebook.com/lee.matthewsbmma] ▶︎ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leematthewsofficial/ [https://www.instagram.com/leematthewsofficial/] ▶︎ Lee’s Book - https://shorturl.at/fyGI7 [https://shorturl.at/fyGI7] Recorded and Produced by Liverpool Podcast Studios ▶︎ Web - http://www.liverpoolpodcaststudios.com [http://www.liverpoolpodcaststudios.com ] ▶︎ Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/liverpoolpodcaststudios [http://www.instagram.com/liverpoolpodcaststudios ] ▶︎ LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/company/liverpool-podcast-studios [http://www.linkedin.com/company/liverpool-podcast-studios]