"Monster" Michael Todd: From Hot Springs "Redneck" to Arm Wrestling World Champion

Before he was "Monster" Michael Todd, world champion arm wrestler, he was a redneck kid growing up in Hot Springs, Arkansas. In this episode of The Firestone Files, Dr. Chris Firestone sits down with Michael to trace the road from his hometown to the top of the sport. Michael talks about his early years in Hot Springs, what first pulled him to the table, and what it took to climb to a world championship. He also shares why, after competing all over the world, he still calls Hot Springs home — and what he loves most about the city. The conversation closes with a look at the Hot Springs mayoral race and what is at stake for the city's future. The Firestone Files: Letters to My Grandchildren is a podcast hosted by Dr. Chris Firestone. In it, Dr. Firestone uses his expertise in philosophy and worldview to bring answers to profound questions to bear on the mundane of life through personal anecdotes and family stories. Dr. Firestone is Vice President of Academic Excellence and Strategic Partnerships as well as Director of The Great Writings Honors Program at Champion Christian College in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He is Professor of Philosophy, Emeritus, and former Director of the Humanities Division at Trinity College in Trinity International University, where he taught and conducted research for over twenty-five years. Facebook: The Firestone FilesYouTube: @FirestoneFilesSpotify: The Firestone FilesInstagram: @TheFirestoneFilesTwitter: @FirestoneFilesTikTok: @thefirestonefiles