The Big Inside

What is the most important meal of the day? The Big Inside's show host Christian Matyi, a/k/a “XN,” is betting he knows what you're gonna say.What you're probably not expecting is how what we think we know about breakfast may not be quite what we assumed. XN dives into the background of this nostalgic meal armed with a pack of nutrition-savvy athletes and the amazing food historian and author Heather Arndt Anderson. What we pull up might make you forget about whether or not breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but instead wonder why you thought that in the first place.There's also a cameo by Quinn the Cat, and Christian and Heather get into some Taiwanese rom-coms. All that and more on this episode of The Big Inside.

What is the most important meal of the day? The Big Inside's show host Christian Matyi, a/k/a “XN,” is betting he knows what you're gonna say.What you're probably not expecting is how what we think we know about breakfast may not be quite what we assumed. XN dives into the background of this nostalgic meal armed with a pack of nutrition-savvy athletes and the amazing food historian and author Heather Arndt Anderson. What we pull up might make you forget about whether or not breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but instead wonder why you thought that in the first place.There's also a cameo by Quinn the Cat, and Christian and Heather get into some Taiwanese rom-coms. All that and more on this episode of The Big Inside.

You're gonna start looking at what you do every day a little differently after this episode of The Big Inside. Show host Christian Matyi, a/k/a “XN,” is joined by professional viols player Drew Ricciardi, who discusses a very different approach to crating music that also suggests we might want to reconsider how we move.Are you sure that you're getting the most out of how you move every day. Are you positive that you are definitely not inadvertently setting yourself up for injury? The answer may lie more in how you understand movement than it lies in the movements themselves.Drew and XN take a few pitstops along the way, exploring Drew's very unique joint structure, some analogies to house construction and animal anatomy, and a few other twists and turns as they “tune up” an episode that smashed classical music into athletic prowess.

It's the second part of our two-part episode with very special guest Liam O'Donnell, movie director, producer and writer who's most known for his 2017 sci fi action flick, “Beyond Skyline.”On the previous show, host Christian Matyi (a/k/a “XN”) have us some fascinating insight into he backstory and narrative of O'Donnell, which might have a bit of insight into how we create our own sense of aesthetic in the world. This time, we dig a lot deeper into how a creator like Liam is shaped by the aesthetics of the body whether he's aware of it or not.Liam's connections to bodybuilding and Schwarzenegger get pushed through the lens of story making (see what we did there???). And no doubt a few bells will ring when you hear the name of Liam's pet.Also, XN's giving out nicknames like crazy on the show – why not get one of your own? And we thank some great patrons who became an official patron of the arts for the price of a cup of coffee. All this and more on this episode of The Big Inside.

We're back for our tenth (we think) season! And we are opening this run of episodes with averyspecial guest: Liam O'Donnell, movie director, producer and writer most known for the 2017 sci fi action flick, “Beyond Skyline.”Liam gave show host Christian Matyi (a/k/a “XN”) a whole lot of interview. So much, in fact, that we are going to present our stories with Liam in two parts. This episode is the first of two parts.Liam shares a fascinating backstory that may shift how we perceive the power of physical aesthetics. And yes, Schwarzenegger makes an appearance in the narrative. (Because he alwaysdoes, right?) The tale is a little different than you might think, and sets a stage for how he perceives the world, which sets us up to learn more about the film itself in part 2.Also, XN declares himself victorious in The Big Inside's ongoing War On Spotify. They surrendered! We won!) Plus we make you an official patron of the arts for the price of a cup of coffee. All this and more on this episode of The Big Inside.

Happy 2018! To ring in the new year we wanted to try something a little different. (You know – like never do, right?) So we put together something for The Big Deal portion of the program that starts in one place and then travels you halfway around the world and back, just to get your head right for the upcoming new year.Show host Christian Matyi, aka “XN,” meanders through a "hypothetical" analysis of caloric demands of the body while snow shoveling which travels us back in history to explore a different perspective on a common dietary term. The way old fashioned scientific ingenuity merged with a growing Industrial Revolution in France sends us a meaningful message not going backwards into resentment. Grab your snow shovel and let's meet some French thermodynamics physicists on a "hypothetical" quest to pay better attention to the potential we're made of. It's our little, sentimental "love letter" to you, our listeners, to maybe help get your head right for the new year.

The new season of The Big Inside gathers together a cast of thousands! (Well, maybe less than that.)We're trying to figure out why we get so obsessed with winning stuff. Is it about merit? Or is it about prestige?We try to get to the heart of whether prestige-chasing is a positive motivator or just a distracting poison. The conversation is rounded out by a heard of lifters, bodybuilders, and strength athletes, all with unique takes on the show's theme.Plus: XN blows our chance at a Peabody Award, the silent voices judge you constantly, and we get invaded by a RANDOM BABY!

On social media, people love sharing details. But how often do these details amount o stories worth telling? Sure, we are the “author” of our own life, but does that means every detail is story-worthy? Show regular Nick LeFebvre shares how his own story is still very much unconcluded, and we discuss the merit of “forcing” a story out of the details of our life.

Is what you are best designed to do the same thing as what your best career path should be? To often we tend to settle into the track chosen for us, as if it is just fate; like, just because we have certain aptitudes and skills, we're supposed to become a specific thing. Right? Well, this week, artist (and former bodybuilder) Justin Williams explores how sometimes following a chosen path means a reversal of direction. We're mingling artistry with muscle, cybernetics with idealism, and pitting fate against imagination on today's episode. And we're also drinking seltzer.

Looks like the self-help gurus and TED talks may be overthinking it. Strongman Kalle Beck joins the program to discuss the elements that went into becoming a true leader in the strength community, and it may be a simpler path than you originally thought.

What is the most valuable human commodity? Think you know? It may be something a lot different than what you assumed.

XN is back from sick leave, and we have to thank you guys for being patient while he healed up from whatever black plague sinus infection was plaguing him! This week on the Big Deal we ask: what is it that makes a healthy community? We're joined by professional StrongMan Eric Dawson to learn about his small training facility, Titan Barbell, and we discover how the way a gym community is set up may provide insight into how we can bridge gaps in society in general.

Unexpected illness happens to the best of us.  And also, apparently, to the mediocre of us, as show host Christian Matyi, aka "XN," came down with a heinous flu.  So, no episode this week. We will be back next week however!  Stay tuned!  

The human brain tends to get fixated on things. And sometimes the most familiar things – like food – are a point of fixation.  Which leads us to ask questions that can turn our heads around and cause our brains to totally fart.   What kinds of questions? Well, in this case, some of the most important food questions ever asked!  Or at least, we think so.  We canvas a bunch of folks whose relationship with food is pretty intense – heavy weight lifters – and had them field these questions.  No consensus was reached on an answer, but it makes for some fascinating ideas about how we approach what we eat. Meanwhile, show host Christian Matyi, aka XN, reveals a secret love affair that was destined for doom. 

Most people who love to lift weights and work out seem to have found this interest via their experiences in high school and through popular media. Well, without these influences, could a bodybuilder still evolve? On this week's episode, show host Christian “XN” Matyi welcomes trainer and yoga instructor Silas Jackson to explore a unique way of entering the pursuit of lifting. Maybe we don't need as much as we thought to pursue the things we love after all?

Social media does a lot of things well.  And some things it does terribly.  But if you're 8-tyears old and it's 1983, it doesn't do much at all because, well, it wasn't even invented yet.  And that means all your dreams and hopes don't fall subject to public scrutiny and competition.  And so maybe you can end up like Cedric McMillan. McMillan turned a victory in competition into an opportunity to invoke an idea about the cynicism of our times due to social media's negative effects.  Of course, his comment was a lot more gruffly worded, and it was focused on the arena of pro bodybuilding, but it nonetheless communicated a whole lot about how things that start out positive can get dragged down in the mire of their own efforts – and how social media and the internet can speed that process. The irony here is not what McMillan said, but how it was heard by his audience.  And that is the jumping point for this episode, where host Christian Matyi, aka "XN," guides you through the landscape relevant to McMillan's comments, and then sidecar show regulars Scott Bottorff and Nick Lefebvre add their own two cents of perspective. Also in this episode, Nick hijacks the sponsors, and Scott tells you which pine trees make you jacked.  

What patterns can you see in the your body's injury recovery? Scott Bottorff takes us on a journey through a traumatic injury that altered his direction athletically and personally.

Okay, we're psyched to get this special episode to you guys! In a feature we call "The Ballad Of R.J.," we take you back into history to the late 1800s.  We follow the story of a guy named R.J. whose experiences gave us a word so common that many of our listeners use it every day! This was a super fun (and challenging) episode to put together.  But we really wanted to get this piece of bodybuilding and lifting history that shows how sometimes the best parts of these sports has impact far beyond just building muscles.

Almost ten years ago on The Big Inside, we did an episode with a teenager named Mike Cavaliere who was a competitive bodybuilder.  Now it's nearly a decade later and mike comes back to the show to discuss how that experience influenced and informed his career as he became an adult. Now, we know the first thing your probably thinking is: "Wait – The Big Inside has been on for ten years??"  Yeah, yeah, yeah – simmer down. But for real, the ability to look at what happens to an interest in something like bodybuilding over the long run in a young person's life is a fascinating topic.  Mick Cavaliere when on to become a Doctor of Physical Therapy, and so is still very much involved with the make up of the human machine.  We talk shop a bit, and the insights the adult Mike are (no surprise) way more compelling than 19-year-old Mike. And show regular Scott Bottorff returns this week to joins us in the sidecar.

But seriously, who cares that a bunch of dudes take tons of steroids and give each other prizes? Do the extremes of bodybuilding competition, epitomized in the IFBB (International Federation of Body Builders) still hold any cultural or social relevance?  The “extreme form: of bodybuilding still sits securely at the heart of a multi-billion dollar annual revenue industry. So what keeps it relevant? Does competitive bodybuilding matter beyond itself, or not? To help us sort out if and whether competitive bodybuilding has any cultural significance, The Big Inside's host Christian Matyi, aka “XN,” has invited IFBB insider Adam McVey, host of the long-running and wildly popular GEAR'D UP! Podcast, to join the discussion.  Once again Nick LeFebvre sits in the sidecar for a discussion that unravels the complexity of a sport who's relevance is hard to pinpoint.

How does our culture intersect the way women perceive their bodies? Author and podcaster Megan Dietz joins us to unpack the challenging cultural landscape and social politics that impact body ideals. Yes, this means we have to reckon with some challenging ideas while trying to expand how we really understand the body. Host Christian Matyi, aka “XN,” is joined by Nick LeFebvre in the sidecar for a compelling yet rewardingly intense discussion.

Dr. Mike Israetel joins us to discuss whether we fetishize science too much or not enough. Are we watching the demise of humanities pursuits associated ith lifting – and maybe in culture at large?

What if you woke up tomorrow and whatever you accomplished today somehow didn't matter any more?  This is often literally what occurs in amateur competitive sports like competitive bodybuilding.  But how on earth can something that requires so much investment be so mishandled? Show host Christian Matyi, aka “XN,” welcomes Jonathan Lavoie, a one-time competitive bodybuilder whose professional status is in a strangely unique state of limbo.  Lavoie who brings a unique perspective to the idea of competitive success and what it can – and can't – mean for an athlete.  Scott Bottorff joins us as usual for a compelling discussion of the intricacies of a sport that often, well, bungles it's own intricacy.

The Big Inside rides ethical rollercoasters as we have on our show one of our own sponsors. What does it take to start up a small business in an industry known for its intense competition? Show host Christian Matyi, aka “XN,” talks to the founders of the small startup supplement company Saisei Sports – three regular dudes with hard working ambition and a pre-workout formula. Show regular Scott Bottorff in a conversation about the supplement business from the viewpoint of one of the smallest fish in this multi-billion dollar landscape.

Every third podcast is talking about 2017 New Year's resolutions right now, so The Big Inside's host Christian Matyi, aka “XN,” and show regular Scott Bottorff cave in to convention and have their own contemplation on what resolutions might all be about. Fitness marketing conspiracy, or meaningful inspiration for progress? We bat around the topic from a bunch of angles. Meanwhile, XN admits to being a gummy whore, and Scott impatiently awaits his mail-order Mr. Olympia trophy.

So, host Christian Matyi, aka XN, has kankles. But the source is apparently not in his heel but in his butt! In other words: sometimes the source cause of a limitation is not always directly connected to the problem itself. XN and show regular Scott Bottorff discuss this phenomena, citing examples with athletes they've worked with as well as in their own progress to illustrate how prevalent this phenomenon is. Likewise, they explore the impact of improperly analyzed plateaus and injuries, and their ramifications on training culture. This episode is the Fifth in a special mini series from The Big Inside featuring host Christian Matyi, a/k/a XN, joined by regular show guest Scott Bottorff. The show is sponsored by Saisei Sports, Scorpio Creative and The Next Level.

This episode is the second in a special mini series from The Big Inside featuring host Christian Matyi, a/k/a XN, joined by regular show guest Scott Bottorff to discuss a recent Vice.com piece which explored the influence of social media on bodybuilding's popular appeal.  (http://www.vice.com/read/deadlifts-and-selfies-how-social-media-shaped-the-modern-bodybuilder) The piece discusses a phenomena that anyone within yelling distance of a hammerstrength machine has witnessed for the past 5 to 7 years now: the rise of the social media physique idol, and how companies have begun farming their marketing out to these social media darlings to turn big profits, with sometimes unfulfilled promises of fame and money for the athletes themselves.

A worthwhile episode of The Big Inside for anyone who has been consistently going to the gym training for more than a couple years. What you have known to work in your gym training may not be enough to advance your physique. Host Christian (aka, XN) and show-regular Scott Bottorff discuss this idea, and how it is often what slows or even halt progress as athletes become more advanced. Meanwhile, they also litter the show with about two dozen Star Wars puns because Scott saw the new Rogue One film and XN didn't.

APOLOGIES: The sound quality of this episode is a little messed up. bear with it, as there is a lot of great conversation if you can find patience with the unfortunate distortion. This episode is the second in a special mini series from The Big Inside featuring regular show guest Scott Bottorff, who joins host Christian Matyi, a/k/a XN, with a discussion of the considerations people should put into assembling a training program. From beginners to elite athletes, the idea of a training program is ubiquitous as the essential piece to make progress. However, it seems there is a vague idea of what primary components ought be considered when approaching developing a training program. XN and Scott take a broad look at some main principles that might be useful for setting up your next training program.

This episode is the first in a special mini series from The Big Inside featuring regular show guest Scott Bottorff joining Christian Matyi, a/k/a XN, on a discussion of how motivation may not be solely the result of our mindset. The upcoming episodes within this series turn the table for host XN, making him participant in the discussion rather than just interviewer. XN and Scott bring their many, many years of experience to the table to engage discussions on a range of topics that both he and Scott have regular contact with in their coaching careers. The inspiration for the episode comes from the work Scott does uncovering ways in which the body's disposition can impact our attitude, even when we're unaware of such factors. While they may be raising more questions than they are answering, the ideas they raise may well inspire your own perspective on how motivation may not be about blunt force of the mind, but sometimes about stepping back and looking at the state of the body.

The Big Inside is back with it's first episode after (yet another) hiatus! A new format, a new opening theme, and an old guest bring us back to the podcast airwaves. On the eve of the “Queen Of The Summer Solstice StrongWman contest,” an all-woman's strength competition in nashua, NH, the event's co-organizer Dr. Gina Melnik, PhD. is back on The Big Inside to discuss the ideas behind why women in strength sports are so darn exemplary. We explore the ideas of what women in the sport find such camaraderie – is it nature or nurture? – and look at what makes the women's strength sports movement so compelling. (Apologies for our lousy audio; we're still working out some kinks.) For links to some of the things we talk about, go to www.TheBigInside.com.