Tough Talk with A.J. Kirsch

15/08/2021

Hey, everyone!

Thank you so much for tuning in to Tough Talk with A.J. Kirsch. It's been an amazing ride thus far and I'm very grateful you're a part of it!

I'm going to put the podcast on pause for a little while. As much as I love how it started, but I'm still deliberating over what I want it to become. In order to arrive at a conclusion I feel confident about, I'm going to pause (not stop) the pod.

Thank you for your understanding. I appreciate all of you!

❤️ A.J. Kirsch

02/08/2021

Tough Enough co-executive producer and WWE production guru from 1992 through 2006 and beyond, Douglas LeBow, joins A.J. Kirsch on last week's *AND* this week's Tough Talk with A.J. Kirsch!

Both conversations available now!

🎧 LISTEN
www.TheToughTalkPod.com

📺 WATCH
www.YouTube.com/AJKirsch

24/07/2021

Tim Davis snaps an on-set pic just seconds after Andy and Luke are named the two Tough Enough finalists.

Tim discusses his role as story producer with A.J. Kirsch on this week’s TOUGH TALK.

🎧LISTEN
TheToughTalkPod.com

📺WATCH
youtu.be/aYEWSGBrZMY

23/07/2021

to 2011 and Tough Enough story producer Tim Davis with trainers Booker T, Trish Stratus, and Bill DeMott.

Tim joins A.J. Kirsch on this week’s TOUGH TALK!

🎧LISTEN
TheToughTalkPod.com

📺WATCH
https://youtu.be/aYEWSGBrZMY

20/07/2021

Tim Davis with Stone Cold Steve Austin on the set of WWE Tough Enough from 10 years ago.

Tim discusses his role as story producer for WWE Tough Enough on this week’s Tough Talk with A.J. Kirsch with A.J. Kirsch.

🎧LISTEN
www.TheToughTalkPod.com

📺WATCH
https://youtu.be/aYEWSGBrZMY

19/07/2021

Tough Enough story producer Tim Davis joins A.J. Kirsch to discuss the role of a story producer on a reality show, how he helped guide the narratives on the show, who affected his role, his his role affected others, his involvement with WWE Legends House and Lucha Underground, and a ton more on the new TOUGH TALK.

LISTEN
🍎 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tough-talk-with-a-j-kirsch/id1557504951
🟢 https://open.spotify.com/show/1Su9FKXJ42o79NzZwnu7PT
🎧 www.TheToughTalkPod.com

WATCH
📺 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYEWSGBrZMY

13/07/2021

A.J. Kirsch talks with his longtime friend, former indy wrestler, powerlifter, jiu jitsu practitioner, and half the man he used to be (he was near 500 lbs, he’s now 240) Jon Orton to get the viewers’ perspective of Tough Enough.

🎧LISTEN
TheToughTalkPod.com

📺WATCH
https://youtu.be/5Qwolu6ZTyU

10/07/2021

REMINDER: if you have Peacock TV, you have WWE Tough Enough!

Catch Tough Enough and then tune in to Tough Talk with A.J. Kirsch
on your podcast platform of preference for tell-all stories from contestants, trainers, producers, casting, and more!

🎧http://TheToughTalkPod.com
📺http://YouTube.com/AJKirsch

09/07/2021

Bill DeMott and A.J. Kirsch covered the before, during, and after of Tough Enough, but they also covered Bill’s life’s work outside of wrestling.

Get his book, “What 15 Years,” on Amazon now: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QSF72DJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_20G9ZJFG9M90GRNT4E60

100% of proceeds go to The Keri Anne DeMott Foundation.

❤️

08/07/2021

Just wrapped part two with Douglas LeBow, co-executive producer on season five of WWE Tough Enough, for an upcoming episode of Tough Talk with A.J. Kirsch.

This week: trainer Bill DeMott shares his Tough Enough experience before, during, and after the show.

🎧LISTEN
http://TheToughTalkPod.com

📺WATCH
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxaLDBrA-S0&t=1s

06/07/2021

Bill DeMott during season five of Tough Enough: "This person has to go."

Show runners: "Uhh, that can't happen."

Find out who Bill wanted to cut, who said he couldn't, and why they had to stick around on the new Tough Talk with A.J. Kirsch.

LISTEN
🍎https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tough-talk-with-a-j-kirsch/id1557504951?i=1000527836687
🟢https://open.spotify.com/show/1Su9FKXJ42o79NzZwnu7PT?si=ZbKYupjiSK2wdzEUL29-XA&dl_branch=1&nd=1
🎧 www.TheToughTalkPod.com

WATCH
📺https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxaLDBrA-S0&feature=youtu.be

05/07/2021

Tough Enough trainer Bill DeMott on how he got involved, the strings he did and didn’t know were being pulled, his arrival to and departure from NXT and a ton more on the new Tough Talk with A.J. Kirsch.

LISTEN
🍎https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tough-talk-with-a-j-kirsch/id1557504951?i=1000527836687
🟢https://open.spotify.com/show/1Su9FKXJ42o79NzZwnu7PT?si=ZbKYupjiSK2wdzEUL29-XA&dl_branch=1
🎧TheToughTalkPod.com

WATCH
📺 https://youtu.be/hxaLDBrA-S0

29/06/2021

Tough Enough contestant Ryan Howe goes 3+ hours about Bill DeMott giving him the “skidmarks” nickname, getting roughed up by Booker T, wrestling for OVW and a ton more!

🍎 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tough-talk-with-a-j-kirsch/id1557504951?i=1000527073526
🟢 https://open.spotify.com/show/1Su9FKXJ42o79NzZwnu7PT?si=d_Ms79L9TDyY-OyHbQdPFw&dl_branch=1
🎧TheToughTalkPod.com
📺 youtu.be/xdlM9u8cFxU

24/06/2021

🔥 REMINDER: WWE Tough Enough IS NOW ON Peacock TV 🔥

to 2011 and episode one of Tough Enough: "Get Your Teeth Out of My Ring."

Those teeth belonged to Jeremiah Riggs, who came to Tough Enough from the MMA world.

He joins A.J. Kirsch to discuss making the transition to pro wrestling from MMA, and a ton more, on this week's Tough Talk with A.J. Kirsch.

🎧www.TheToughTalkPod.com
📺https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1Z4fxBITrg&t=1s

21/06/2021

🔥 OUT NOW 🔥

Contestant Jeremiah Riggs, who made it to the final three with almost zero pro wrestling experience, lets it all fly on the new Tough Talk with A.J. Kirsch.

LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE
🍎 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tough-talk-with-a-j-kirsch/id1557504951
🟢 https://open.spotify.com/show/1Su9FKXJ42o79NzZwnu7PT
🎧 http://TheToughTalkPod.com

WATCH
📺 https://youtu.be/W1Z4fxBITrg

15/06/2021

Tough Enough contestant Eric Watts shares one of his favorite memories from the show on the new Tough Talk with A.J. Kirsch when Paul Wight, formerly known as "The Big Show" in WWE, passed along some valuable advice.

Listen and subscribe everywhere you get podcasts at http://TheToughTalkPod.com

Watch the entire convo here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZwIe32m48ic&t=24s

14/06/2021

Just wrapped almost two hours with Tough Enough co-executive producer and longtime WWE production guru Douglas LeBow for an upcoming episode of Tough Talk with A.J. Kirsch.

Listen and subscribe at www.TheToughTalkPod.com

Behind-the-scenes pic courtesy of Eric Van Wagenen, also pictured.

13/06/2021

Just finished almost three hours with Tim Davis, story producer for Tough Enough, for an upcoming episode of Tough Talk with A.J. Kirsch.

Listen and subscribe at www.TheToughTalkPod.com

11/06/2021

This week: Tough Enough casting producer Meg Barry shares what she was looking for in potential contestants and what she looks for when casting reality shows she’s currently working on!

Listen and subscribe at www.TheToughTalkPod.com

08/06/2021

Ever wonder what it takes to be on reality shows like Real Housewives, Top Chef, Big Brother, Project Runway, and WWE Tough Enough?

Casting producer Meg Barry helped cast ALL of them and dissects the process on the new TOUGH TALK.

🎧 www.TheToughTalkPod.com
📺 https://youtu.be/TGRXNPBh-sA

08/06/2021

Earlier today, Tough Enough trainer Bill DeMott and A.J. Kirsch went over two hours talking all things Tough Enough, his arrival to/departure from FCW / WWE NXT, which contestant he set his crosshairs on immediately, and a ton more.

Coming soon to Tough Talk with A.J. Kirsch.

Listen and subscribe: www.TheToughTalkPod.com

04/06/2021

Just finished over three hours with Tough Enough contestant Ryan Howe for an upcoming episode of Tough Talk with A.J. Kirsch.

Listen and subscribe everywhere you get your podcasts at http://TheToughTalkPod.com

Also, please give him a follow to help him step up his Twitter game! He's

04/06/2021

*SOUND ON*

Tough Enough's season debut in 2011 was the "number two debuting show of the whole year."

After becoming an instant hit, executive producer Eric Van Wagenen was certain it was going to be picked up for another season.

It didn't happen.

Then, in 2012, moves to three hours. 🤔

Eric speculates on why on the new Tough Talk with A.J. Kirsch.

Listen and subscribe everywhere you get podcasts at www.TheToughTalkPod.com

02/06/2021

Just wrapped 2 1/2 hours with Tough Enough contestant Jeremiah Riggs for an upcoming episode of Tough Talk with A.J. Kirsch

Listen and subscribe everywhere you get your podcasts at www.TheToughTalkPod.com

31/05/2021

"Stone Cold Steve Austin comes back in with a trash-bag full of beer and two mason jars with this clear liquid. He opens the door and he goes, 'Ya like moonshine?'"

Tough Enough executive producer Eric Van Wagenen shares some hilarious stories working closely with the Texas Rattlesnake on this week's Tough Talk with A.J. Kirsch.

LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE
🍎https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tough-talk-with-a-j-kirsch/id1557504951
🟢https://open.spotify.com/show/1Su9FKXJ42o79NzZwnu7PT
🎧www.TheToughTalkPod.com

WATCH
📺 https://youtu.be/6O-58gbF5GQ

31/05/2021

Are you a watcher and not a listener?

A.J. Kirsch's chat with Tough Enough executive producer Eric Van Wagenen is on YouTube now: https://youtu.be/6O-58gbF5GQ

Wanna listen? That's cool, too! Here's how:

🍎https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tough-talk-with-a-j-kirsch/id1557504951
🟢https://open.spotify.com/show/1Su9FKXJ42o79NzZwnu7PT
🎧 www.TheToughTalkPod.com

Tough Enough executive producer Eric Van Wagenen sheds light on every step of the show, from casting, to filming, to the follow-up season that didn't happen....

31/05/2021

Tough Enough executive producer Eric Van Wagenen talks drinking with Stone Cold Steve Austin, who was supposed to be Tough Enough’s original host, learning pro wrestling culture, the follow-up season that didn’t happen, the demise of Lucha Underground, the chaos of WWE Legends House, and a ton more on the new Tough Talk with A.J. Kirsch.

LISTEN
🍎 https://podcasts.apple.com/.../tough-talk.../id1557504951 (PLEASE RATE AND REVIEW)
🟢 https://open.spotify.com/show/1Su9FKXJ42o79NzZwnu7PT
🎧 All others: www.TheToughTalkPod.com

WATCH
📺 https://youtu.be/6O-58gbF5GQ

28/05/2021

This Monday on Tough Talk with A.J. Kirsch, Tough Enough executive producer Eric Van Wagenen joins A.J. Kirsch to discuss every layer of the show, from casting to completion to the follow-up season that didn't happen, and a ton more.

In the mean time, check out this never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes footage of Eric taking his very first bumps, courtesy of Tough Enough trainer Bill DeMott: https://youtu.be/ubkQxbddTEo

Listen and subscribe at www.TheToughTalkPod.com

27/05/2021

to March, 2019, the first and only time Simon Miller and I actually met in person (he lives in the UK), but both of us are quick to say we’ve been friends for ten years, ever since my first appearance on Ministry Of Slam.

Simon joins me on this week's Tough Talk with A.J. Kirsch to weigh in on Tough Enough, his experience getting into wrestling, dealing with toxicity on social media, and a ton more.

Listen and subscribe every where you get your podcasts at www.TheToughTalkPod.com

26/05/2021

A huge thank you to Tim Davis, a story producer on WWE Tough Enough with whom I've stayed in touch over the last ten years, for this glowing review of Tough Talk with A.J. Kirsch.

I look forward to having him on a future episode of the show, because I would *LOVE* to know what a "story producer" does on a reality show. 🤔🤔🤔

In the meantime, please listen and subscribe everywhere you get your podcasts at www.TheToughTalkPod.com

- A.J.