Titan Talk: Recent Episodes
Gabriel Peña
A talk show hosted by Pro Strongman Gabe Peña.Conversations with inspiring individuals who use their strength and power to positively impact the world around them.
On this episode, I welcome Brandon Farias to the studio!
Brandon is a 22-year-old Rio Grande Valley native who officially embarked on his strongman journey earlier this year. On top of that, Brandon is as content creator who actively uses his YouTube platform to review local gyms and even has a podcast of his own that yours-truly has had the pleasure of being on.
Points of conversation in this Titan Talk include:
- The experience of a first Strongman contest as a novice competitor.
- Coaching mentors and role models in the strength world.
- The challenges and rewards of content creation.
- People who come and go.
- The power of Community.
This episode's SPACE OUT starts with Brandon's perspective on what it means that the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas is now "The Gateway to Mars". Then, the section of the show takes an exciting turn when Brandon brings up Hafthor Bjornsson's new world record deadlift and we explore the subject of how far humans may be able to push the deadlift record through the future.
We hope you enjoy the episode!
Connect with Brandon on Instagram and YouTube @realbrandonryan
It's been a year and a half since the last episode of Titan Talk. Let's get this show back on the road!
On this episode, I welcome coach Alec Jose Pagan for a Titan Talk from Charleston, West Virginia during OSG weekend!
Alec Jose is a renowned strength coach with several of the world's top strongmen and strongwomen under his wing. Fittingly so, as Alec's mission statement in life is, "to create the strongest humans that have ever existed."
During the talk, we get to peer into the unique philosophies, knowledge, and background that shapes Alec as an elite-level coach, along with listening to his experiences in getting to work with the best in the world.
Additional topics:
- Travel
- Commentating
- Mental game
- Controversy
With the last of the above topics, our conversation became very deep and personal. Over the course of the past two years, Alec found himself in the middle of controversy surrounding a public interest in a past personal relationship. For the first time publicly, Alec shares the details of what happened.
To wrap up this episode with a SPACE OUT we answered a fun question that came in from Yony Bustos Arce (@yonybear316) on Instagram:
"What strongman event do you think each planet in our solar system represents?"
We hope you enjoy the episode!
Connect with Alec on Instagram @alecjose
"Hello my friends out there in this universe of power!
Welcome to a special SPACE OUT edition of Titan Talk.
It's a STARSHIP SPECTACULAR!"This one's for you my fellow space-nerds. Having just witnessed the monumental second integrated test flight of SpaceX's Starship, it's time to dive right in and talk about it!
Additionally, I want to also extend an extra special CONGRATULATIONS to Team USA in their victory over Team UK at the Giants Live World's Strongest Nation!
I hope you enjoy the episode and are excited for humankind's next steps towards the moon, Mars, and beyond!
Connect with me on Instagram @texastitangabe and on YouTube @gabrielpena7564, where you can let me know what you thought of the episode, what you liked, didn't like and would love to hear on upcoming Titan Talks.
I am back in South Texas after one heck of an experience-packed weekend competing at 2023 America's Strongest Man in Orlando, Florida!
Join me for a breakdown of all that went on during the show: goals, strategies, the highs, the lows, a near total-reinjury of my low back, and the ultimate success of walking out with what I came for.
2024 will be a year of immense power, and ASM was a mere stepping stone in getting there.
On this episode, SPACE OUT with me on the topic of Space Planes!
I'll also discuss some the latest updates coming out of Starbase in Brownsville as SpaceX gears up for the second integrated test flight of Starship. Just as with IFT-1, excitement is guaranteed!
Connect with me on Instagram @texastitangabe to let me know what you liked, didn't like, or hope to hear on future Titan Talks.
Stay hungry!
The mountains were calling, so I went!
On this solo-episode of Titan Talk, I dive into the happenings of my life over the end of the summer and recent months.
First, I detail my training prep for attempting a 14,000 ft peak with my family, how I chose the appropriate mountain, and why I even wanted to climb it in the first place.
Next, I recount commentating at Colorado's Strongest Man and acclimating to altitude by driving to the top of Pike's Peak.
Then, it's the mountain itself, Grays Peak. Listen to my whole alpine experience on attempting the 14er with my wife and toddler, making a painful call to turn back, and reattempting the peak the following day... Ultimately leading to my successful summit of not one but TWO 14ers in one day!
After riding a wave of victory from the 14ers, I head to the 2023 Shaw Classic and discuss everything that went on through my POV: like getting to see my athlete friends, speaking at the expo, commentating the contest, Brian Shaw's win, and having to cut my travels short due to a family member's rapidly declining health.
Standing atop high summits and being in the powerful environment of the Shaw Classic fully rekindled my motivation to make a comeback to Strongman. Lastly, I talk about my entry to America's Strongest Man, and my spontaneously successful participation at the IHGF Stones of Strength All-American in Vista, California (along with claiming another high mountain summit just the day prior).
The fire is burning bright!
SPACE OUT with me at the episode's end as I talk about the impending second integrated test-flight of SpaceX's Starship and ROADS ON THE MOON!
I hope you enjoy the episode! Connect with me on Instagram @texastitangabe and let me know what you liked, didn't like, or hope to hear on future Titan Talks!
On this episode of Titan Talk, Gabe is joined by The Texas Stoneman, Travis Ortmayer.
Travis is a Texas legend, and has competed at the elite level of Strongman since 2005, including multiple World's Strongest Man, Arnold Classic, IFSA and Fortissimus appearances. Not to mention the many World Records he's set. (they don't call him "the Texas Stoneman for nothing!) Travis's intense career is packed with experience and makes for quite a powerful, and insightful conversation.
We hope you enjoy it!
Connect with Travis on Instagram @travis_ortmayer
On this solo-episode of Titan Talk, Gabe gives a life-update following recent travels, and explains the aims that currently drive him.
The talk touches on:
- The highs of capability.
- The lows of sustaining and enduring a new injury.
- Heavy decisions regarding upcoming contests.
- Current training focus.
- Upcoming appearances and commentaries.
- And an open-ended climate-heated Space Out.
Enjoy the episode and be on the lookout for an all-new Titan Talk soon featuring special guest, Travis Ortmayer.
Stay hungry.
Titan Talk has been off the air for some time, as Gabe has been dealing with mental health problems surrounding his Strongman career and World's Strongest Man 2023.
This episode delves into his mindspace on these issues and provides insight into the mental challenges elite athletes and new parents can face.
As for this episode's SPACE OUT...
STARSHIP!
Gabe was there in-person, and ready to talk all about the first integrated Starship launch.
Welcome Jackie and Chase Gentry to the Titan Talk studio!
These two are the power-couple behind Gentry Gym in Harlingen, Texas, which has become a true strength destination here in the Rio Grande Valley (along with being one of Gabe's favorite places to train). In fact, the week just before this episode's release, Gentry Gym just celebrated its 5 year anniversary!
In celebration of their success and continued growth, getting to pick the brains of our guests led to some insightful conversation of personal experiences along the way.
Aside from being the owners of Gentry Gym, Jackie and Chase are adventurous souls that make the most out of their lives, and give back to their community as often as they can.
Jackie competes in the NPC, and after a 5th place finish at last year's Nationals, she turns her eyes towards the competition season ahead, ever-hungry. Jackie also has a love for botany and cultivates a full room back home dedicated her plants.
Chase is a Ford Bronco ambassador and content creator. If you happen to follow him on social media, it's not uncommon to see him ripping his red Bronco doing 100mph off-road through the desert, crawling it up the side of a mountain, or overland camping under a sky of stars... sometimes all within the same week!
Enjoy topics of conversation ranging from:
-Gym Ownership (origin/ struggles/ monotonies/ high points)
-The driving forces behind Jackie's bodybuilding pursuit.
-How Chase landed a Ford Bronco ambassadorship
-Finding balance in life.
-Relationship advice and making distances work.
-Hobbies (drones & botany)
-Adventure & Travel (favorite destinations/ wildlife encounters/ spirituality in nature)
-Making the most out of life.
-SPACE OUT (pre-apocalyptic happenings)
Be sure to check out Gentry Gym right off the expressway in Harlingen if you're in the Rio Grande Valley, and follow Jackie and Chase on social media for their latest content, updates, and adventures!
Instagram
Gentry Gym - @gentrygym
Jackie Gentry - @jackie_gentry
Chase Gentry - @chasehgentry
YouTube
@jackie_gentry
@ChaseGentry
Until next time, stay hungry, and keep wayfaring with curiosity through this universe of power.
AND WE'RE BACK! Welcome to Season 2.
After the holidays and firing off a new year, Titan Talk returns ever-ready to grow and be better, just like all of the ambitions that drive us.
Kicking off the new season, Gabe is joined by fellow Texas Strongmen Nick Guardione and Austin Andrade, who traveled just over 200 miles south for some epic Deadlift and Stones training, along with this great chat.
The topics of conversation in this Titan Talk range from:
- Driving forces in dedicated strength ambitions.
- Brotherhood and training partners.
- Mental strengths in performance.
- Experience gained through a year of high-cailber competition.
- and of course, a SPACE OUT.
You can connect on Instagram with these powerhouses,
Nick Guardione: @nickguardeeeown
Austin Andrade: @smash__andrade
Follow host Gabe Peña on Instagram @texastitangabe and be on the lookout this season for unique opportunities and ways you can get involved and interact with the show!
Fresh from his victory in Daytona, Florida, welcome to Titan Talk the World's Strongest Man under 105kg, Andrew Clayton!
Andrew is quite the seasoned pro, and has pushed the performance of his body across various sports beyond strongman (including marathons and long endurance events). Having left his mark on both the Heavyweight Pro and Middleweight Pro strongman realms, Clayton has a gained expanse of personal experience in what it takes to compete at the highest level.
When you get two pro strongmen together, the substance of conversation is sure to be powerful.
Listen to Andrew and Gabe talk on:
- The mental adventure in pursuing strength.
- Career-shaking injuries.
- The Official Strongman Games.
- Training alone and in changing environments.
- Heavyweight vs Middleweight.
- Andrew's future and what comes next.
- And a SPACE OUT.
We hope you enjoy the episode. If you found anything particularly interesting, insightful, or powerful, let us know! We'd love to hear it.
You can reach Andrew Clayton on Instagram @runningstrongman, or at his coaching business @firstcalledstrength, and of course Gabe @texastitangabe.
This episode of Titan Talk delves into 3 hot topics:
-The makings of a good warm-up.
-How important footwear can be in creating one's foundation.
-The ideal way to navigate and manage the initial onset of an injury.
Gabe tackles the majority of this episode solo, but could not pass up the opportunity to interview the man who helms his healthcare, Doctor of Functional Medicine, Steve Martinez, who makes his reappearance on the show after early in the season.
Enjoy the informative episode and parts of Steve's interview sprinkled in!
Connect with Steve on Instagram at:
@steve.martinez.pac and @restorewellnessrgv
With the 2022 Official Strongman Games looming ahead in Daytona, Florida next month, Gabe invites a 3-Titan panel of his athletes training for this World Championship event.
Welcome back to the show Deeandra Flores and CJ Krause for their second appearances on Titan Talk, along with Rainier Classic Champion, Jon Parker, for his first-time appearance on the podcast.
These athletes are being put through the rigors of pre-contest preparation by the Texas Titan and are ready to share highly invaluable insight on what it takes to get ready to face the world's strongest in a shot for claiming the ultimate title!
Furthermore, under the tutelage of one of the world's elite deadlifters, all 3 of these powerhouse athletes dive into the ingredients of what having a top-level deadlift demands.
Connect with the athletes on Instagram at:
Deeandra Flores - @deeandraalexis
CJ Krause - @the_giant_slayer_krause
Jon Parker - @longarmanomaly
Gabe Peña - @texastitangabe
We hope you enjoy this first ever 4-person TITAN TALK!
On this solo-episode of Titan Talk, Gabe structures the show with questions from fans, and touches on the latest in his life.
Topics:
- Life updates and happenings.
- Recent contest performances.
- Training philosophies.
- Hispanic heritage.
- "The Cost" of walking the path of Strength.
- Space Out (Returning to the Moon)
Welcome ADL LIVE to Titan Talk!
Don and Nancy Souza, the power-couple behind the cameras, have revolutionized the realm of Live Streaming in strongman in just under 2 years.
Among their most recent live stream successes is the 2022 Shaw Classic, which was undeniably one of the most powerful days in strongman history, and especially in the USA.
Don Souza sits down for a Titan Talk with a 5 x 5 format. 5 questions each.
Don and Gabe have been mulling over what questions to ask each other, as this episode has been a long time in the making. Enjoy a range of questioning on the powerful experiences surrounding each of their often-intersecting paths.
LIVE from the 2022 SHAW CLASSIC,
Gabe is joined by "The Moose", Mitchell Hooper.
In this breakout year for Hooper, he has hit the Strongman world by storm with incredible athletic talent, prowess, drive, and unique philosophies to match.
With only 7 contests under his belt (going on 8 this weekend), Mitchell has already earned the title of the 8th Strongest Man in the world, along with two 2nd place podium finishes at Giants Live!
Enjoy this special episode of Titan Talk where Gabe and Mitchell recount 2022 World's Strongest Man, the recent World Deadlift Championships, views on life & goals, and the looming high-gravity presence of The Shaw Classic awaiting them on the next day.
Not to mention a routine finishing-off with a good ole' SPACE OUT!
You can connect with Mitchell on Instagram @mitchellhooper and find the links to his various medias at the link in his bio.
WHEN TWO TOP-TIER DEADLIFTERS COLLIDE.
Titan Talk welcomes American Deadlift recordholder, C.J. Krause to the show!
On this episode CJ and Gabe review The Giants Live World Open and World Deadlift Championships that took place in Cardiff, Wales on August 6th. Enjoy a breakdown of athletes, event performances, and insight from these 2 master pullers on what it takes to fight for a world record deadlift.
Gabe also talks more on the heavy decision in having to withdraw from the Giants Live contest, and shares how his final stretch of training and recovery has gone in leading up to The Shaw Classic this coming weekend.
Connect with CJ on Instagram @the_giant_slayer_krause
On this unique episode of TITAN TALK, Gabe takes to the mic solo and delves deep into a behind-the-scenes look of competition prep and personal challenges.
Less than 2 weeks from The World Deadlift Championships, Gabe is confronted with the grave reality of dealing with injuries as a pro strongman.
Welcome to the show special guest Chris Bever.
Wearing the hats of Physical Therapist, Coach, Athlete, Business Owner, and Father Figure, Chris shares a breadth of insight in this Titan Talk with Gabe.
The two converse on topics ranging from Chris's background and journey down the path of Physical Therapy, training and recovery philosophies, programming, and close with a SPACE OUT!
You can find and connect with Chris on Instagram @cleverbever
Titan Talk is back!
After taking time to focus on the 2022 World's Strongest Man, Gabe returns to the air and is joined by his wife B'Yanka as they relive competition memories and happenings, from the qualifying rounds to the Final.
Gabe touches on what is yet to come as he prepares for Giants Live in Cardiff and the World Deadlift Championships, along with Q&A from the fans and, of course, a good ole' SPACE OUT.
On this special episode of Titan Talk, Gabe takes the show on the road once again. This time traveling over 1,500 miles northwest to American Fork, Utah to meet up with his good friend and fellow World's Strongest Man Athlete, Kevin Faires.
With the ever-looming pressures of 2022 World's Strongest Man in Sacramento closing in, Kevin and Gabe talk events, strategies, their takes on fellow competitors, mental pressures, and much more! Enjoy an extra special "SPACE OUT" section of this show along with Q&A from the fans.
It's not too often that you get to hear fresh perspectives on the world's biggest strength title from 2 athletes only a few days out from putting their power to the test.
You can follow Kevin on Instagram @kf_strongman or on Youtube at "Kevin Faires"
On this episode of Titan Talk, Gabe invites the man he entrusts with the health facet of his team, Steve Martinez.
Specializing in Hormone Optimization and Peptide Therapy. Steve owns a clinic (Restore Wellness RGV) in McAllen where he uses his modern approach and knowledge base to help as many lives as able.
Enjoy this highly interesting conversation as Gabe and Steve talk on subjects like, hormones, optimizing performance in athletes, peptides, the challenges of caring for a World's Strongest Man athlete, and much more (including space).
Find Steve and his clinic Restore Wellness RGV on Instagram @martinez.pac509 and @restorewellnessrgv
On this episode of Titan Talk, Gabe welcomes up-and-coming amateur Texan Strongwomen Deeandra Flores and Ayda Prieto. Deeandra brings the perspective of a working college-student, whereas Ayda shares with us the power of a personal transformative journey driven by love for her boys.
The 3 converse on topics ranging from how these Strongwomen found their way into the sport, how their passions are received by others, where they see the future of Strongman heading, and advice to new aspiring athletes.
This episode even features a new segment, "Space-Out", where the 3 talk on the subject of space exploration and even how the world will end!
Follow Deeandra and Ayda's journeys on Instagram @deeandraalexis and @lamamatatuada
On this special episode of TITAN TALK, Gabe takes the show on the road, travelling 7 and a half hours to meet with his favorite rival, Trey Mitchell.
Enjoy sounds of an outdoor recorded podcast from Trey's home in the forests of East Texas as the guys talk personal history, training philosophies, WSM prep, and questions from the fans.
Find Trey and follow his journey on Instagram @berserkerlifter
Welcome to Titan Talk, a podcast hosted by pro strongman Gabriel Peña "the Texas Titan".
On this pilot episode, Gabe is joined by his wife B'Yanka as they delve into: life as new parents, prep for World's Strongest Man, and Q&A from the fans.