Next Level with Andrew Kurland

Is a Ronda Rousey rematch around the corner? In Chapter 2 of Next Level, host Andrew Kurland and MMA fighter Miesha Tate discuss her famous rivalry with Ronda Rousey, along with the legacy it left behind.

Miesha Tate is a former UFC women's bantamweight champion, and is credited as one of the first to put women's fighting on the map. Host Andrew Kurland sits down with Tate in Las Vegas, Nevada to discuss Miesha's upbringing, mentality and approach to fighting at the highest level. Tate details her day-to-day life as an athlete, the longest period she has ever fasted, and shares how mental health plays into an athlete's life. Plus, she shares how fighting first came on her radar, how she kept her newly found passion a secret from her dad, and shares the story of her bloody first fight that left her wanting more. Tate also dives into the concept of fear during a fight, and whether or not she feels pain in the moment. It's a conversation you won't want to miss.

In this second Next Level installment of our conversation with South Carolina Head Coach Shane Beamer, host Andrew Kurland and Beamer discuss the intensity of leading a college football program. Beamer details the 'whirlwind' experience of his first days as the head coach, the non-football related tasks that cross his desk, and the personality of the program after he took over. Coach Beamer opens up about the open and honest conversations he has with players, and the difficult decisions he deals with on a daily basis. Beamer also talks about the impact that recruiting and transfer portal has on the program, and shares how he 'sells' South Carolina to prospective players. Does Beamer ever see an NFL coaching job in his future? He answers that and much more in this riveting conversation.

John Hunter Nemechek and Legacy MC team owner Jimmie Johnson jump on a bonus episode of Next Level to discuss John Hunter's move to the #42 car in the Cup Series in 2024. Host Andrew Kurland sits down with John Hunter to discuss his lengthy journey back to Cup, taking gambles, becoming a leader, job security and more. Kurland also sits down with Jimmie Johnson, who calls in from London to discuss the hurdles required to sign a new driver, how the driver/sponsorship business model has changed, the impact Toyota will have on the team next year, and his weekly conversations with Noah Gragson after the driver's departure from the team earlier this year.

Shane Beamer is not your typical college football coach. Son of legendary coach Frank Beamer, Shane is revolutionizing the college football environment at South Carolina, and has transformed the program into a contender in the SEC. In Chapter 1 of Next Level, host Andrew Kurland sits down with Coach Beamer in Colombia, South Carolina to discuss his unique rise through the ranks. Beamer recalls his earliest memories of football under his father's wing, walking on as a player for his Dad at Virginia Tech, winning the trust of his teammates, odd jobs he worked through the years, and his slow journey to his first head coaching job. Beamer is open, honest, and as real as it gets. This is a conversation you won't want to miss.