Dinerpod 50: Preston Ryker

The Party Bus is rolling back into the Dinerverse studio!

After over a year away, the highest-energy man in independent wrestling—the reigning, defending Lethal Lucha Heavyweight Champion, "Mr. Party" Preston Ryker—joins Red Velvet via satellite for an absolutely raw, uncut, and deeply personal conversation.

From being counted out as a mere "popcorn match" to shocking the world by pinning the legendary 400-pound Congo Kong to snap a four-year undefeated streak, Preston opens up about what it truly takes to silence the haters. If you've ever been doubted, underestimated, or told your dreams were a joke, this episode is your ultimate fuel.

• Overcoming the Noise: Preston gets real about the backstage politics, the doubters in his own circle, and fulfilling a deathbed promise to his father to prove everyone wrong.

• The 5-Hour Grind: The insane story of Preston driving a 5-hour round trip twice a week from Toledo to Indiana just to get his craft tightened up at Congo Kong's Academy.

• The Origin of the Party: How a childhood watching Friday Night SmackDown with his grandmother saved his life, and how he inherited the "Mr. Party" legacy from his parents.

• Wrestling Nerd-Out: Preston shares his ultimate Wrestling Mount Rushmore, his obsession with the Broken Universe of Matt Hardy, and the booming success of his own official action figures.

• A Message to the Next Challenger: A fiery, ice-cold warning to Anderson Knight ahead of their massive championship clash.

"All that doubt is just adding more to my fire. Bring it, brother. Let’s go." — Preston Riker

• Instagram: @PrestonRykerBrand

• Facebook: Preston Ryker

📢 Support the Show: Love what we do here in rural America? Crack open a Red Solo Cup and hit that subscribe button! For just $0.99 a month on Facebook, you get exclusive early access to full episodes, bonus clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Stay wild, everybody!

#wrestling #prowrestling #indiewrestling #wrestler #dinerpodsports

Dinerpod 49: Rich Green-Indiana State University esports Coach

What’s going on, everybody? Red Velvet is taking you outside of the studio and right into the high-tech Esports Lab at Indiana State University!In this episode, we sit down with Rich Green, ISU's Director of Radio, Digital Content, and Esports. Rich walks us through his incredible journey—from a sports-and-video-game-loving kid playing RBI Baseball and Madden, to a club DJ, and finally to landing what he calls "the coolest job in the world" mixing music, sports, and multimedia under one roof.

We dive deep into the booming world of collegiate gaming, exploring how ISU built its esports program from a 46-page proposal into a fully funded, thriving facility open to all students and faculty.What You'll Learn in This Episode:The Reality of Esports: What competitive collegiate gaming actually looks like and how the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) matches work.

The "Gamer" GPA Boost: Why active participation in campus esports actually leads to better grades and higher classroom attendance.Inside the Playbook: How the team recruits talent, handles intense team communication, and breaks down game film just like traditional college football.

The Game Lineup: A look at ISU’s current competitive titles, including Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Valorant, Rocket League, and Overwatch.What’s Next for ISU: Rich’s future vision for a varsity "farm system," club expansions, and bringing academic esports certificate programs to Indiana State.

"Kids, you can do it. You can have your dreams. It is possible. You just got to work at it." — Rich Green

Connect with ISU Esports & Media:If you are a current or prospective student wanting to join the team or take a tour, reach out directly to Rich at richard.green@indstate.edu.

Instagram: @indstate_esports

Twitch: indstate_esports

Radio & YouTube: @wzisfm

#esports #esportsteam #gaming #videogames #dinerpodsports

Pull up a chair, Dinerverse! Red Velvet is back in the studio, and today we’re beaming in a powerhouse via satellite—"The Clydesdale" Clayton Clark.

In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the indie wrestling scene and talking serious shop. Clayton hits us with the ultimate throwback, detailing his journey from a 6-year-old John Cena fan who lied on the school bus, to his days doing Elvis tribute shows at nursing homes, all the way to bumping in backyard rings and cutting his teeth in Noble, Illinois.

We break down:

• The Transition: How a country boy playing "Sheriff Woody" in a podunk town evolved from the Shotgun City Sheriff into a ruthless, workhorse "Clydesdale."

• The Rivalries: The inside story behind his explosive, rail-jumping Rivalry of the Year with Dalton Davis and Ace Perry.

• The Tape Study: Why Bret vs. Owen at WrestleMania X remains the holy grail of storytelling, and what it’s really like watching the Hulk Hogan documentary as a student of the game.

• Locker Room Lore: Karaoke chaos, respect for the veterans who showed patience, and the reality of taking three black eyes from Devontae Knox.

Whether you're a die-hard mark for the Monday Night Wars or love the grit of modern independent wrestling, this is an interview you don't want to miss. Pass the platter and let’s get into it!

#wrestling #prowrestling #indiewrestling #wrestler #dinerpodsports

Dinerpod 47: THN Softbal

lWhat’s going on, everybody?! Red Velvet is coming to you live from beautiful Gulf Shores, Alabama, but the grind never stops! This week, we are celebrating a truly historic run. Fresh off a massive semi-state championship weekend—including a gritty victory over Pendleton Heights and an emotional, statement-making shutout revenge win against powerhouse Center Grove—the Terre Haute North Softball team joins the pod!With an unbelievable 30-1 record, these ladies aren’t just satisfied with making history; they are headed to Purdue to take it all.In this episode, we dive into:Meet the Stars: The ladies introduce themselves, break down their positions, and Red Velvet finally learns how to pronounce Marcia's name (sorry, Marcia!).

The "Flip of the Switch": How the Patriots shifted their mindset from just "being happy to be there" last year to demanding a state title this year.

Unbreakable Chemistry: The team shares raw, emotional behind-the-scenes moments—from windows-down, music-blasting bus rides to the exact moment Coach Chris had them close their eyes to let the reality of the Final Four sink in.

Passionate Advice: The seniors share powerful words for the next generation of little softball players (including Red Velvet's own daughters!) who look up to them like superheroes.

The Walk-Up Playlist: From Drake and Mac Miller to Lauryn Hill (and a special, questionable throwback from Red Velvet himself), we find out what jams get this squad hyped.The Patriots are facing a mirror-image matchup against Lake Central this upcoming weekend for the state championship. Red Velvet has a 100% win record when streaming state games from the passenger seat, so the good juju is locked in!

A massive shoutout to the parents, sponsors, and the entire Terre Haute community for rallying behind these girls.Go take state, ladies! The Diner Pod Nation is behind you all the way!

#softball #softballteam #highschoolsoftball #softballplayers #dinerpodsports

Dinerpod 46: Dan Mikesell-Wrestling Coach

What is going on everybody! The Diner Podcast is back in the studio, and we are wrapping up the school year with an absolute powerhouse of a guest. Today, Red Velvet sits down with local legend Coach Dan Mikesell!

Coach Mikesell wears a lot of hats in the wrestling world—he’s the head coach for both the boys' and girls' dominant programs at Mooresville, the Vice President of the Indiana Coaches Association, and one of the true foundational OGs who literally helped start club wrestling in the Terre Haute area back in the early '90s.

In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the endless grind of a sport that truly has no off-season. Coach Mikesell breaks down the core differences between Folkstyle, Freestyle, and Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling (and explains why Greco is the ultimate "cheat code" for high school football linemen).

We also talk about the incredible rise of year-round wrestling academies in Indiana, the massive success of his girls' team, and his upcoming community barbecue fundraiser at the Brazil American Legion—where he'll be putting his skills as a certified Kansas City barbecue judge to work!

Stick around for some incredible nostalgia as Red Velvet looks back at his own high school football days under Coach Mikesell, recalling a powerful playoff quote about leaving it all on the field that has stuck with him for over twenty years. This episode is packed with timeless wisdom on education-based athletics, mentorship, and what it truly means to be a teacher first and a coach second.

You don't want to miss this one!

KEEP POOSHIN!, love you!

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#wrestling #wrestlingcoach #highschoolwrestling #coaching #dinerpodsports

What is going on, everybody?! Red Velvet is back in the studio on a Tuesday, bringing you a jam-packed Episode 134 of the Youth Sports Chowdown! We are battling through that Memorial Day weekend exhaustion because the Dinerverse never sleeps—playoffs are officially here, sectionals are firing off, and the hardware is coming home.

What is going on, everybody?! Red Velvet is back in the studio! It’s a rainy, yucky Monday, and I got absolutely sopping wet on the route today, but the grind never stops. We are dialing through the dial-up internet in my mind to bring you a massive recap of everything happening across the Dinerverse!