THE UNEARTHED PODCAST

Max Sapuppo is a former client of mine as well as a very good friend. Within the last four years he has received his bachelors degree in kinesiology, has become involved with USAPL as a competitive powerlifter and has recently pursued a career as a powerlifting coach. He came in to share his thoughts, experience and perspective on strength training, what it means, what it can do and what it has ultimately taught him.

Cristina Zaccarini, is an Associate Professor of History at Adelphi University in New York, she teaches courses in U.S. history, Mindfulness and nonviolent communication and history, the intercultural exchange between China and the U.S., and the history of women and gender in China and the United States. She began as one of my professors while at Adelphi, then a mentor and currently a good friend. Among the many things she had taught me the most useful were those that I was able to apply outside of the classroom, so much so that I was able to study abroad in China. We discuss exactly what it means to teach, to learn and to apply using principals from Eastern philosophy.

Christopher Gabayan is a 25 year-old, native Long Islander born and raised in West Hempstead, NY. He currently serves as a Commissioned Officer in the United States Army, and is about to embark on a career in the Special Operations Forces (SOF) community. In recent years, Chris has found a passion for fitness and training, proudly competing on the popular TV show, American Ninja Warrior while representing the Department of Defense as an All-Army Athlete. In this conversation, we discusses his experience in the military, his ever growing mindset, and how he has evolved into the man and leader he is today.

John has been in the entertainment industry working on movie sets for almost 20 years and came to us over a year ago beginning with one of our most honest admissions through our application process. It was one that entailed the grips of addiction compounded with a lack of capability but not without revealing a willingness to learn and change. Within his first 6 months he was able to lose 50lbs with Jessica, shift his perspective and use what he had learned to change his behavior both in and outside of the gym. “Airgasms” were also part of the journey and fortunately this conversation.

There is little that shapes the human experience today, especially when the line between artificial and real has been blurred into an ombré of unrealistic expectations. Regardless , what does it mean to create and not imitate? To create something that is new but also valuable is a process that demands an idea to transcend into its final distributive form. It is an extension of an exclusive experience as much as it is a vehicle for self-expression. Yet the ability to do so is elusive as much as it is random and limited to our relationship with uncertainty. To think what not yet has been thought of is the basis for problem solving and the perpetuation for progress. I had an opportunity to discuss this with James Woods; an accomplished author, artist and entrepreneur that has used creativity as a means to navigate, create and perpetuate change within his works and his unique perspective of the world.

Sylvia Farrell is a Paramedic who has been responding to emergency situations for over 30 years. Her experiences involve a constant confrontation with risk, death and the fight or flight response which most are unwilling to embrace. We then discussed the Pandemic and how she was able to work and navigate throughout its peak last year. Like most things it was her training both in and outside of the gym that allowed her to reconcile with the overwhelming risks she faces everyday.

I sat down with Cole Harriet and Chase Morley, two student athletes from Adelphi University, that have been training at Stronghold for the last two years. Unlike most Athletes they both have a background in coaching which has had a significant impact on their training and experience with Lacrosse at the college level as well as the stigma that comes along with it within the classroom. We also make an important distinction between being a coach and being a guide and how much more there is to training someone than just physical exercise.

Stelios and Dave sit down with Nick Montoni, a Crisis Consoler who has a B.S. in Psychology with a concentration in Philosophy. While we all strongly disagree with each other over virtually everything we were still able to have a valuable conversation ( an almost forgotten art) but not without occasionally traveling to the gutter. Regardless, the words just kept flowing...like dysentery

Stelios and Dave discuss the practice of following, why we do it and the affect that it has on the human condition.

Stelios and Dave return after a 1 year hiatus to discuss what had happened since the gym was forced to shut down on March 16th by Governor Cuomo.  Ironically, this also happens to be the exact same day when the gym was opened after it had moved to its new location which made the entire experience even more symbolic.  However, the amount that we learned about ourselves and each other this past year would pale in comparison to the overwhelming hypocrisy that plagued our friends, family and fellow business owners.  This is unfiltered and unapologetic...

It was very refreshing to hear from a familiar voice recently, despite the continued chaos afflicting the current landscape. A call from Edward Wang a classmate of mine from college brought back some memories and lessons that quite frankly needed to be revisited, especially now. Our last year was spent studying in China together while fucking up and learning along the way. Yet we have ironically ended up in a very similar place while reconnecting under very similar circumstances. While discussing the gym as well as his current venture at Urbancred we also explored what it means to be a business owner and how emphasizing the experience instead of the product allows the actual business to be an extension of your own expression.

We all have to ask ourselves eventually; what does it really mean to be free? Is it exclusively the opportunity to have the right to speak, act or think without any restrictions? Definitions will tell you something similar to this, but a crucial component is frequently overlooked. In essence, freedom fails without responsibility. Dave and Stelios discuss the mixed messages and contractions, surrounding the pandemic as well as the effect it has had on our freedoms.

What have you actually been doing this whole time? The current situation has forced everything around us to change, but have you been able to change along with it? Change itself is a journey, failure is merely a detour, while arriving is truly nothing more than a dead end. The outlet for all three lies within our capacity to ask ourselves more difficult questions. This is the opportunity to do so... Dave Jess and Stelios discuss the 1000 burpees they recently completed and what they learned from their experience but not without side commentary on fat acceptance, keyboard warriors and provocative emails.

Keep it simple, get rid of the distractions, shed the fat and do more with less.

Over a month ago we held our first event called The Praxis. The subject was titled “Training creates thinking” which stemmed from a difficult and recurring question; How do we know when we have actually learned something? We decided the best way to approach this was to follow a map in which the direction and path was dictated by the actions of the attendees. Where that path led us was to an experience that was nothing short of remarkable. The efforts were demanding, it allowed us to go deep, but not as deep as the discussion that was held afterwards. The way we train can heavily influence the way we think, so we can have the opportunity to arrive at better questions to continue our journey instead of ending it with a singular answer. Dave and I sat down with two attendees Kerri and Anthony to discuss how the praxis came to be and what it meant for everyone who decided to take the risk that day…

With mass panic and hysteria settling in, it's to no surprise to see how disconnected we have all become from each other, the world we live in and even ourselves. While the imminent threat of the virus is obvious, what has become even more dangerous is our reaction to it. The acceleration of the fear is something that has escalated quicker than the virus itself as speculation quickly transitioned to overkill with nothing in-between. Our dependencies have been comprised, our health remains uncertain and our routines have been interrupted. The question we must all ask ourselves now is; what remains? Dependency itself is a prison, its predictability pacifies the underlying fear of losing the supposed control that we think we have. We presume that we need the familiarity so the fetish for our fix can be satisfied. An attachment, once taken away creates confusion which is immediately followed by fear with panic not far behind. We begin to take what we don't need in excess at the expense of others who are suffering from a deficit. It only makes sense during grim times of black and white that you truly see people's true colors; the contrast is unmistakable. One must consider especially in times like these how much is my independence restricted from my current dependencies? Dave and Stelios sit down to discuss what it means to become independently fit at the expense of letting go what we think we need.

Endurance can be a reflective process as it can shed away everything until the real you is left. A slow extraction process that entails the acceptance of what lies ahead as adversity patiently awaits your arrival. Patience, self-care and persistence are some of the many lessons that Dave, Jessica and Tom discuss after doing a marathon of 42,195 meters on the rower.

A decision was made to not make our space open to the public because in the end, if we made this for everyone then it would be for no one. We are selective with who we consider and also very honest about what this will entail. There is an application process, a probation period and a final evaluation known as The Crucible. The criteria for passing is emphasized more around the development of ones mindset rather than their skill set. While this may seem like an ends, it's actually the beginning of something much more valuable. Failure however, has been the outcome for many but we don't mind as we are adamant about using only what we need and shedding away what is useless. How the crucible began, what it means and why it's implemented is now available on The Unearthed Podcast.

The initial trajectory of my coaching career began with children where I spent over a decade teaching martial arts and coaching sports. I learned a great deal within that time, but in the end it took more from me than it gave. I retired that part of my career but have since then revisited it after 6 years. Recently, preferable circumstance coupled with a remarkable clientele has shifted my perspective causing me to return to where I originally began. On this episode of the unearthed podcast, Dave and I discuss what it means to coach younger athletes and the impact it can have on the psychology and perception of their sport.

Are you dependent or independent? I wasn't interested in working on someone's else's timeline, priorities and limitations. I had an objective with a specific trajectory and while the buy in was more than I could afford, I was willing to see it through until the end. Along the way I learned valuable lessons that I continue to reflect upon and I haven't looked back. Discovery was an everyday occurrence I had no choice but do embrace an unknown experience with inexperience. Regardless, I feel as though that most are more willing to invest in their “things” instead of their independence. I couldn't help but contemplate; why would I allow the final outcome of what I want to become contingent upon someone else's priorities? I had to give myself more trust than I was comfortable with and walk through the unforgiving fog knowing that there may have been a ledge waiting for me. I had to accept that frustration and failure were patiently awaiting my arrival for every task that I decided to undertake. Through it all I learned everyday while the DIY mentality reared its head screaming for permission to precede with every moment of uncertainty. The dependency I once had for third parties vanished and I no longer had to over wait and over pay. My self reliance allowed me to maintain my high standards and negate the social compliance of the mainstream sub-standards. Dave and I discuss the benefits of the DIY attitude and how it has influenced the gym, our clients, and how we have both have been reshaped because of it.

What causes us to become a member of a particular group? Do we appreciate the sense of familiarity? Is there a desire to seek acceptance? Maybe it's just because we have nowhere else to go? There is automatically an inherent culture that comes with any type of training that you decide to pursue. Similarly, that very same culture makes itself even more apparent with the behavior from the people who are involved. What you begin to see is the development of something reminiscent to a tribe. A congregation of different people who have found common denominators that have brought them all there in the first place. While embracing this could be a useful remedy for change, it also has the potential to be a dangerous poison for dysfunction. The culture becomes a vessel for immediate comparison and with comparison comes an irreconcilable condemnation for any other “fitness tribe” other than their own. They say to never to discuss religion or politics outside of your home, unfortunately I think fitness is beginning to fall into that category itself.

Science could potentially be best described as a tool to understand the why. Through a supposition of ideas, we begin to conduct observations and experiments in an attempt to reconcile the unknown. Yet even when “successful” science itself has a tendency to answer one question while simultaneously leaving us with 10 more in its place. It's only natural that we pursue training in same way, especially from the coach's perspective. When I began my journey as a trainer, I began to see a line that was blurred between theory and application as it pertained to fitness. I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. John Petrizzo; a licensed Physical Therapist, avid Powerlifter and professor of Exercise science. His approach was different, his message was genuine and came from a place of experience. The clarity while not immediate became apparent after many years of being immersed within the industry. I began to understand that the theoretical can only take you so far… After hiring Harris Cherpelis, an alumni at the same university that I had graduated from, I had learned that he also had the opportunity to learn from the same teacher. We all reconnected with David Bert and had a conversation that was truly remarkable.

Education is a process without an end but it's only when we fail that we actually begin to learn. The systems in place have become less of a vessel for understanding and more of an institution for inertia. But how do we know when we have actually learned something? A teacher should be the ultimate facilitator to answer this question, but they have inadequate support, their hands are tied, their creativity crippled and are overwhelmed with responsibilities that are completely out of their control…the fault is not always theirs. What should have been an autonomous profession for creativity has changed for most into a chore in captivity. What's left is outcome based learning; where the indicator for learning in most schools, has become somewhat of a glorified contest of Simon says. Students participate in a race to regurgitate predominantly useless and arbitrary information for an even more useless series of standardize tests. An indoctrination of imitation, so they can become a copy of a copy; mindlessly reciting everything, instead of retaining something and its meaning. Perhaps learning should be focused more on how to learn for the sake of living instead of what to learn for the sake of testing.

How functional are our filters for bullshit? We like to convince ourselves that “we could never be fooled”, “we're ahead of the curve” and “we've done our research” yet we never take into consideration what happens to our judgement once our insecurities are being exploited and manipulated. The majority of the fitness industry has made this their approach and have become relentless machines that fabricates fraud, synthesizes shortcuts, and manufactures misrepresentation. You begin to realize how futile your filter is as it goes from high grade and dependable to defective and incompatible. What ends up seeping through are trends, fads and gimmicks polluting any semblance of clarity that was once there. Cynicism at this point, may be the only elixir for all of the exaggerated enthusiasm...

What does it mean to really do your job? I don't think people ask themselves that enough anymore given that the only perceived indicator of doing your job currently has become exclusive to a monetary transaction. There seems to be a fatal disconnect from our own self-respect and when we're asked to do a job. The temporary gratification of paychecks and praise completely overshadows the potential for developing and sharing a craft that's worthwhile. The fear is misplaced; the demise of one's dignity is no longer a deterrent for incompetence. “Extra effort”, “attention to detail” and “over delivering” are now the new unwanted horrors of the suppliers . To do your job is to accept a role which inevitably creates responsibility, leaving the completed task at hand a reflection of your own capability.

How do we justify our own behavior? Typically, the go to is by means of an excuse. And for most people as Mark Twight said “need 10 excuses in their pocket just in case 9 get taken away from them.” Currently, excuses have become the accepted hijackers of accountability and the primary means of the incompetent to create masterpieces of uselessness. We attempt to lessen the blame on ourselves by attaching someone or something else in order to district us from the real problems at hand. Mislead, blind and naive we continue to become fixated on looking for permission for the sake of comfort instead of problems for the sake of improvement. It's an enigma why people when faced with the possibility of failure would prefer to use an excuse as a self proclaimed justification instead of a reason for an unfiltered explanation.

They say imitation is the best form of flattery yet you can't help but notice that the imitation occurring in the fitness industry has left the majority of gyms flaccid instead; They're unpleasantly soft, loosely hanging, with an unmistakable ineffectiveness. Stelios and Jessica reminisce about the earlier days of their training careers while in the confines of a big box gym. Irrelevant distractions, false expectations, and empty promises are all topics that have contributed to their trauma as well as a reluctance to ever return. Dave chimes in too...

We typically associate music exclusively with entertainment, but what are we actually experiencing? Music undoubtedly influences our behavior whether that be from the performer or the listener. It's a constant battle between conveying a message on one end with the hopes for it to be appreciated and understood on the other. Our response can range from rage to relaxation but in the end it will ultimately lead to some type of ritual. Dave and I discuss why we listen to certain music in certain circumstances and how it can affect our behavior especially in the gym.

Dave and I sat down and had a conversation regarding our plethora of financial frustrations. Unnecessary pay walls, "required certifications", hidden fees, and contracts to name a few. Naturally all of these mechanisms have permeated the fitness industry while adopting the same schemes as their predecessors. Regardless of how cautious we think we're capable of becoming, it seems almost inevitable that we will all end up paying one way or another especially if its based on the premise of false guarantees. There is one guarantee that does holds true however: There is no such thing as a free lunch. “Everything costs something everyone pays.” -Mark Twight

Etiquette is defined as being the customary code of polite behavior in society or among members of a particular profession or group. Stelios and Dave discuss the correlation between bad gym etiquette and poor performance in the gym. They also reminisce on past etiquette violations that have occurred , and how "shit" really does happen if you're not careful...

In a time when "ultra positivity", unrealistic expectations, and an uncontrollable reflex to avoid discomfort are common place; Stelios, Dave and Andrew discuss how implementing a more negative perspective into their lives has led them to have more honest and worthwhile experiences. Stelios and Andrew also revisit how they first met training in a Martial Arts Dojo in Franklin Square, what they learned and how it enabled them to pick up their friendship where it left off after a 10 year hiatus. Oh yea we talk about Project Exposure too...

Stelios and Dave attempt to record the very first Unearth Podcast, however they both get interrupted multiple times and face numerous recording challenges but tread on to see it through to the end, a true endurance event indeed...