Latest Episodes
Matthew Pellino: UFC Coach on Strickland, $750K Bonuses & Building Foxgloves | Quinntessential Questions #69
In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Matthew Pellino, Boxing/MMA Coach, Entrepreneur, and Owner of Foxgloves Fight Gym in Singapore. From moving to Malaysia at 19 and taking over coaching within a month, to coaching Sean Strickland at Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas, to cornering Eric Kelly's knockout of UFC Hall of Famer Jens Pulver in Manila, Matt shares his transformation journey and philosophy on building champions.
He discusses measuring coaching success by performance bonuses not records, working with extremely high-level athletes, and why Singapore has zero prize fighters. Matt also opens up about his biggest regret—stopping fighting too early—and shares powerful lessons about youth mentorship, refusing to hire amateur coaches, and building the "Home of Heavy Hands" with his wife. Whether you're an aspiring coach, combat sports athlete, or entrepreneur building something from scratch, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom on results-driven coaching, authentic community building, and why you don't want to work for no one at 29.
Kevin Iole: Boxing Hall of Famer on Ali, Tyson & 46 Years Ringside | Quinntessential Questions #68
In this episode of The Quinntessential Questions Podcast, Paul Quinn sits down with Kevin Iole, 2025 Boxing Hall of Fame inductee and legendary combat sports journalist. From being the first person in his family to attend college in Pittsburgh to covering 46 years of boxing and MMA's greatest moments, Kevin shares his extraordinary journey and the moment he met Muhammad Ali—"like I saw God."
He discusses sitting ringside when Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield's ear, why Mayweather-Pacquiao was "our Ali-Frazier" for modern journalists, the heartbreak of covering seven fighters who died in the ring, and his philosophy: "Sunshine is the best disinfectant." Kevin also opens up about hanging up on Mike Tyson (thinking it was a prank), surviving a plane crash with Bob Arum, being confronted by Steve Jobs at an Apple Store, and finding Diego Corrales dead two years after his greatest triumph.
Whether you're a combat sports fan, aspiring journalist, or anyone pursuing an unconventional career path, this conversation offers hard-won wisdom on storytelling, resilience, and witnessing history without compromising integrity. Let's explore what's "Inside the mind of a Boxing Hall of Fame Journalist."
