Why We Fence: Ari Simmons & Stephen Ewart on Purpose & Failure | Direct Elimination Ep. 1

Welcome to the very first episode of the Direct Elimination Podcast — where two lifelong fencers and friends, Ari Simmons and Stephen Ewart, sit down to talk about the stories, setbacks, and motivations that define not just athletes, but anyone chasing purpose.🎙️ In this debut, Ari and Stephen get vulnerable and real:Their fencing origin stories — from Lancaster, California parks & rec programs to Houston’s Alliance Fencing Academy.The first time they actually met (spoiler: it involved Adidas Barricade 7s and a close 5–3 match).Dealing with failure, frustration, and self-doubt — and why failure often plants the seeds for growth.The concept of going “all-in” — and why sometimes it’s not one single moment, but a series of recommitments.Their shared experiences at Notre Dame, gap years, and the painful reality of chasing but missing Olympic qualification.Lessons on mindset: “You can either get through it, or you can get better.”Why fencing isn’t just a sport, but a lifelong purpose and identity.Favorite memories, equipment (shoutout to their sponsor Prieur USA), and inside stories from the fencing community.This isn’t just a fencing podcast. It’s about resilience, purpose, and community — lessons that apply whether you’re an athlete, entrepreneur, or anyone who’s ever asked: “Why do I do what I do?”⏱ Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to Direct Elimination02:00 – Introducing Ari & Stephen05:00 – Why we started this podcast07:00 – Stephen’s fencing origin story17:00 – Ari’s fencing origin story25:00 – The first time they met on strip33:00 – College decisions & Notre Dame days43:00 – Gap years, failure, and missing the Olympics54:00 – Why we keep going: purpose, sacrifice, and love for fencing1:00:00 – Lightning round Q&A1:03:00 – Closing lessons and quotes💬 Key Quotes“You can either get through it, or you can get better.” “Don’t let one touch ruin a bout, one bout ruin a tournament, one tournament ruin a season, or one season ruin a career.” “Fencing isn’t torture — it’s purpose. It’s what keeps me alive.” “At the end of the day, when your mask is on, your fate is in your hands.”Thank you for listening!🔗 Check out FencR🌐: https://www.fencr.app/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fencr.app🔗 Connect with Us🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple: https://link.me/directelimination📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directelimination/🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@directeliminationpodcast📺 Subscribe for more episodes: youtube.com/@DirectElimination🔗 Prieur USA🌐: https://www.prieurusa.com/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prieur_usa/