Join Yasi and Steven as they welcome strength & conditioning coach Ash Wang onto the show. They discuss Ash's career journey through classical violin training, studying neuroscience, making Soulcycle playlists, building a strength and nutrition coaching business, writing her recipe book, and following her intuition all along the way.

For Ash's book "Alimentary: A Nutrition and Recipe Companion For the Athlete", go to https://www.ashwang.fit/shop

For Ash's website, go to https://www.ashwang.fit

Instagram: @ash_lucy_wang

Bio: Ash Wang comes with 7 years of professional experience in the health industry, alongside an educational background in Neuroscience and classical violin.

She started her professional journey with in-person training and group fitness in the high-octane NYC market and has since transitioned her business to being solely-based online, removing geographical barriers. Ash coaches individuals from all walks of life, improving nutritional habits and training performance.

Ash’s fitness journey began in dingy college gyms, not knowing the difference between a barbell and a dumbbell, experimenting with different styles of strength-training and dabbling in “powerbuilding” for years. At 25, she landed on the sport of Olympic Weightlifting and has fallen in love with the obsessive, technically complex, and thrilling nature of the sport — She has not looked back since.

Outside of the gym, Ash is an avid consumer of scientific research literature, spending too much time (and money) at her local coffee shop delving into various topics of interest including, but not limited to, gerontology, food politics, and food history. In her spare time, she loves writing and creating art.

She published her first Nutritional Coaching Guide & Recipe Book, and the hardbound edition comes out January 2025.

Sparty, the mascot for Michigan State University, is perhaps the most well-know mascot in sports today. To be that famous, you need a whole team to support you. And Michigan State has the first mascot sports medicine program in the country. On our show today is Sue Petrisin, director of the Sparty Mascot Program and Ashley Tripplett, Sparty's research coordinator. Why does Sparty have a research coordinator? Because Sparty has a sports medicine team around him doing ground-breaking research on the physical demands of the job. Sue and Ashley talk all things Sparty, the good, bad, and just plain funny. But they also share their research they presented at the American College of Sports Medicine, gained from internal and external monitoring of Sparty's health and wellness. They also share their hopes to spur more colleges to follow their lead into developing mascot sports medicine programs.

For scheduling Sparty for an event, go to https://alumni.msu.edu/sparty/appearance-request.cfm

For more about the history of Sparty, go to https://alumni.msu.edu/sparty/history.cfm

Instagram: @therealsparty

Bios:

Sue Petrisin is the Director of the Sparty Mascot Program at Michigan State University, a program under the MSU Alumni Office. Sue holds a master’s degree in labor relations and human resources, along with bachelor’s degrees in food science and dietetics, all from Michigan State University. An MSU employee for 39 years, she spent 29 years in the Division of Residence Education and Housing Services (formerly Housing and Food Services).

Sue joined the MSU Alumni Office, overseeing university programs such as Homecoming, Alumni Travel, Alumni Grand Awards, and Grandparents University before being assigned responsibility for the Sparty Mascot Program in 2014. As the demands of managing the Sparty Mascot Program grew, her other program responsibilities were reassigned to other staff members.

After spending time watching Sparty in action and evaluating the program’s operations, she identified several areas that needed improvement. These included the condition of the suit, the selection and training processes, Sparty’s presence at events – both on- and off-campus, whether university or private - and his public perception among public, alumni and university faculty, staff and students.

Recognizing there was health impact on the student performing as Sparty, Sue sought assistance to help others understand what these students experienced and the need for additional support and focus for the program. This led to a research project with the Michigan State University Department of Kinesiology.

The health and safety of our students is always priority one. We have established policies and procedures that guide our program.

Sue is joined by Assistant Director Jill Wesley in managing the Sparty Mascot Program, one of the most recognized mascots in the world.

Ashley Triplett is the Research Coordinator for the Sparty Mascot Program at Michigan State University. She has been working with the program since 2019 to better understand physiological responses of individuals serving as mascots and improve the health and safety of students participating in the Sparty Mascot Program. Ashley completed her PhD in Kinesiology at Michigan State University in 2021. She also earned her M.S. in Kinesiology and B.S. degrees in Kinesiology and Human Biology at Michigan State University.

How does one take music, rapping, writing, performing and turn that into a career? On our show today is recording artist Derek Demkowicz, aka Demko, and Michael Reiber, head of marketing for Headlights Hip Hop and Derek’s buddy from high school. We discuss how they started in music, the value of comedy improv training, and the benefits of controlling your own destiny. Derek and Michael also talk about their hip hop concert they are putting on in Detroit on May 18, 2024.

For Demko's Spotify page, go to: https://open.spotify.com/artist/36bOXFMGTOcg3fNGsqVZhi?si=4_X9uuIAShijrEfyKpFHgQ

For Demko's Apple Music page, go to https://music.apple.com/us/artist/demko/1557597311

Demko's IG: @demkomusic

For more resources on performing arts medicine, go to www.athletesandthearts.com

Bios:

Derek Brian Demkowicz, AKA Demko, is an LA-based rapper, producer, and sound engineer with Detroit and Chicago roots. As an independent artist he has gained over 250k streams worldwide, released songs with Grammy-nominated artists, and connected with fans in 150+ countries. Notable collaborations include: Royce Da 5’9”, Mick Jenkins, GAWNE, and Futuristic. Stream Demko wherever you listen to music.

Michael Reiber has years of music industry experience out of New Orleans, Detroit, New York, and currently Nashville. His passion for human connection through music and creative brand storytelling has been the focus of his work since the beginnings of his career at Loyola University New Orleans, where he started his first marketing company in 2016. Today, Michael is the Head of Marketing for Headlights Hip-Hop, a rap start-up headquartered in Detroit, and manages Demko, his lifelong friend that he met through music in high school at U of D Jesuit.