Direct Elimination Podcast
The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.
Hosted by Ari Simmons and Stephen Ewart, two elite U.S. fencers chasing Olympic dreams, Direct Elimination goes beyond the strip to uncover the stories, ups and downs that shape athletes. Each episode brings you conversations with fencers, Olympians, and sports leaders who share the mental battles, personal growth, and cultural shifts behind their journeys.
This isn’t just a fencing podcast. It’s about resilience, mindset, and purpose. Whether you’re an athlete, a fan of Olympic sports, or simply someone chasing excellence in life, you’ll find stories here that resonate.
🎙️ Topics we explore:
The mindset of world-class athletes
Failure, resilience, and comeback stories
NCAA & Olympic fencing insights
The role of social media, culture, and community in sports
Why athletes do what they do — and what keeps them fighting
📌 Subscribe for episodes that deliver real talk, laughs, and lessons — straight from the fencing strip to your headphones.
Direct Elimination Podcast
Camille Simmons: From Fencing to NFL Sidelines | Direct Elimination Ep. 11
🎙️ EPISODE 11 – CAMILLE SIMMONS
The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.
Hosts Ari Simmons and Stephen Ewart sit down with Camille Simmons — junior national champion and NCAA Division 1 Athlete turned professional sports photographer — to trace how a fencer’s mindset translates to Professional Photography and high-stakes creative work. From first picking up a camera to shooting the Houston Texans, Camille walks through the habits, resilience, and anticipation skills that fencing built — the same skills she now uses to capture game-defining moments.
You’ll hear:
- Origin story: how fencing started and what early training looked like
- Transition to photography: picking up a DSLR, learning fast, leveling up
- Landing with the Houston Texans: breaking in, first opportunities, building trust
- What it’s like working with an NFL team: pressure, timing, and sideline execution
- The Why Behind the Win: how motivation has evolved from proving herself to mastering the craft
- Advice to her younger self: how to handle uncertainty and chase growth
- It’s Just Like Fencing: direct carryovers from strip to sideline — anticipation, footwork, and composure
- One-Light Answers: rapid-fire fun to close
If you’re an athlete looking at life beyond the strip — or a creative chasing the next level — this conversation is a playbook for turning preparation into performance.
⏱ Timestamps
00:00:00 – Intro
00:01:57 – Camille introduced
00:04:16 – Origin Story
00:17:12 – Pivot to photography
00:19:16 – First camera & learning curve
00:22:48 – Teaching herself: “I would YouTube how to use my camera…”
00:33:20 – “What is it like working for the Houston Texans?”
00:48:15 – “If you could give yourself any advice ten years ago…”
00:56:37 – Segment: It’s Just Like Fencing
01:04:40 – Segment: One-Light Answers
01:11:58 – Closing
đź’¬ Key Quotes
"The community that you get from fencing is insane"
"Fencing provided me with a strong backbone and work ethic"
Camille Simmons Photography Socials:
Website: https://www.camillesimmonsphotography.com/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/camillesimmonsphotography/
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@csimmonsphotography
This is a podcast about passion. Fencing For A Purpose is a non-profit organization founded by 3 young fencers to share their passion for fencing with communities that would otherwise be underserved by the sport. The organization has engaged many high school fencers across the country with the intent of giving back and paying it forward, with officers all over the country. They run camps for underrepresented community members, tutor international fencers in English, raise money and donate gear in order to support grassroots clubs that need funds in order to provide a better experience for their fencers.
Website: https://fencingforapurpose.org/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fencingforapurpose/
GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/fencing-for-a-purpose
Thank you for listening!
đź”— Connect with Us
🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple: https://link.me/directeliminationpodcast
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directeliminationpodcast/
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@directeliminationpodcast
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