Thoughts From A Balcony

Shelby Spear is a writer, spiritual practitioner, creator of Peaceful Change World (@peacefulchangeworld), and mother of 3. Shelby starts off this insightful conversation by telling the story of her own personal growth. She details the process of being a young mother, dealing with the diagnosis of bipolar disorder, confronting past trauma, managing her internal dialogue, and eventually entering into the world of spirituality and the healing arts. We then jump into a discussion of the ego and the shadow, and how Shelby works with all parts of herself to navigate through life in a healthy manner. We explain the importance of discomfort, what can be gained from terrible situations, and how unfortunate circumstances are a part of the human experience that we must accept. Shelby shares the tools she uses to heal and create peace within her mind and body which include meditation, breathe work, journalling, and an impactful Hawaiian practice called Ho'ponopono that's centered around forgiveness. We talk about stress, anxiety, loving yourself and others, paying attention to physical symptoms of misalignment, other important topics of being human.  Shelby is such a genuine and calming presence to be around and listen to. In the short time Ive known her, she's been beyond helpful in my healing journey. I hope this episode can help you do the same. Enjoy 

Patrick Beeman (MD, OB-GYN) is a leader in women/family healthcare with Veranova Health, works in addiction treatment, founder of Ars Longa Media, Air Force veteran, man of faith, philosophy lover, husband, and father of 5. We jump into a discussion about the pursuit of being a good father and husband as he balances all the obligations in his life. Patrick gets real and vulnerable as he explains how his mindset has changed over the years towards his career which allows him to be more present with his children. He tells the story of his path into the wide world of healthcare and how it all started from a community college course in philosophy. We talk about bioethics and why it's important for all doctors to incorporate it into their practice. And we even dive into the duality of theology and medicine. Patrick and I talk about the current state of healthcare, the issue with the opioid crisis, the basics of having a healthy lifestyle, how he is trying to combat faulty care through his work, and what the future should look like if we truly care about making people healthier. We specifically discuss women's health and the reasoning behind the creation of Veranova Health, and how truly understanding the client through longer assessments can lead to better outcomes. Patrick is likely the smartest and most decorated person I've had on the show, it was truly an honor to hear his wisdom and opinions on prescription drugs, substance abuse, philosophy, religion, fatherhood, exercise, and overall making the world a better place. This is one episode that will expand your mind and make you want to positively impact the world! Hope y'all enjoy 

Zach Smith is a former college football player at Mercyhurst University, former strength & conditioning coach at the University of Rochester, received his masters in Organizational Leadership at Gonzaga University, current tech salesman, avid long distance runner, and amateur pianist.  Zach and I begin by talking about his time at Mercyhurst University & what he gained from the entire experience. He then goes through his journey of being an exercise science major to working at the University of Rochester in a clinical setting as well as being a strength and conditioning coach for their sports teams. With his athletic experience, we dive into the world of fitness training, his current running club in Atlanta, how to have longevity in the sport you love, why recovery is so important, and the type of training you should do forever. Next we jump into a discussion on flow state, how to achieve it, what it can do for your productivity, and some of the big names behind the entire field of study. We discuss the current state of society and social media, capitalizing on hardships as opportunities, and even how he got into playing the piano! Zach was always someone I looked up to in college in terms of work ethic and attitude, so I'm very grateful we were able to sit down through zoom and catch up in an intentional way. Hope y'all enjoy 

Angelo Carmago is a powerlifter, fitness trainer at Old School Iron, veteran, husband, and father of 3. Angelo begins by telling the story of how he first got involved with powerlifting as he ventured from the local rec center to the military. We then jump into dealing with injuries, the detrimental mindset that can lead to pushing your body too far, overcoming the injuries after they happen, and how to avoid them while you're training. As a experienced trainer, Angelo talks through his current methodology behind his powerlifting prep, lifting styles that he learned from the Army, how young powerlifters should focus their training for long term success, and how individualized creating a program should be for each client. We dive into crazy world of fitness on social media. Although we gain quality information from it, we discuss the damaging effects it has on people's confidence, particularly the youth of today. Angelo opens up about fatherhood, his faith, sports, self awareness, mistakes he's made in life, being a good human, being a virtuous leader, and the aspirations he has for his business. The man, the myth, the legend, THE OG! Angelo is one badass MF with a heart of gold. It was truly a pleasure being able to sit down and learn more about this man. Hope y'all enjoy 

Peter Stancato is the founder and owner of the nonprofit “Nosotros Rock Climbing Gym” in Lakewood, a military service member, man of faith, husband, and father of 3. Peter starts off by telling the story of how he had to close down his downtown location and the unbelievable flood that caused chaos as they were moving out. We then jump into his own personal story and how we went from being a social worker in Cleveland, joining the military, and eventually opening his rock climbing gym in the basement of a church with little to no money and the help of volunteers. We discuss some of the biggest upsides and challenges to being a gym owner and how he hopes to make an impact on the community through rock climbing. We talk about the experience of fatherhood and how he tries to install a good moral foundation in his children that will be passed down through generations. Peter goes over how his devotion to faith began, the impact it's made on himself and his family, and his goals for how he can incorporate his values into future business ventures.  We dive into meditation, dealing with stress, the importance of serving others, and many other aspects of this human experience. Peter has been an inspiration for me as an entrepreneur, husband, and leader in the community, so it was such a privilege to be able to sit down with him gain wisdom from his story. Hope y'all enjoy 

Owen Wolf is a man of service, John Carroll alumni, former football player, real estate worker, and someone who has a unique mindset towards life. We start off by discussing the benefits of sitting in silence and addressing your thoughts as they come. This leads us into a conversation about meditation and how it can help foster a positive relationship with ourselves. As former football players, we dive into the detrimental mindset of “being soft”, learning how to control our aggressive nature, and rewiring our behaviors to be kind to ourselves and others. Staying on the subject of football, Owen tells the story of how he went from the sport being the center of his life, getting injured, and having to develop a new identity without it. Owen details the transition from being a football player to becoming a leader in service acts at John Carroll, and how that experience led him into committing to do a full year of service at a small village in Ecuador, which is an unbelievable story in itself. We reflect on physical, mental, emotional & spiritual health, the importance of gratitude, human connection, and answering life's most important questions. It's crazy to think this was the first time I've sat down and had a deep discussion with Owen, it feels like I've known him my whole life. So grateful we were able to sit down and record this conversation for you all. Hope y'all enjoy 

Charles Gustafson is an amateur bodybuilder, life enthusiast, fitness coach, writer, avid meditator, and a man of faith. We start our conversation by discussing how we should all be experimenting with life and the wide range of range of activities that bring us joy. We compare mindsets towards fitness and how (when taken too far) going to the gym can have the opposite effect of its intention, consequently hindering other aspects of life. We chat about the importance of meditation, finding internal peace amongst the chaos of society today, and how the practice can help us navigate this journey. Next we talk about serving others and why it should be as aspect that all humans put focus on to live a fulfilling life. Charles shares his views on the religious beliefs he holds and what spiritually can offer to you if you're not someone who is invested into a specific religion. One of my favorite people to talk to in my life, Charles is filled with wisdom and I'm so grateful he came in to share with myself and everyone who listens. Hope y'all enjoy 

Welcome to “Quick Thoughts”! A short podcast episode where I answer questions, elaborate on a specific topic, or just want to share my random thoughts! Today's episode features 4 questions: Where would you love to visit and live for 3-6 months? What are 2 hobbies you have that aren't gym related? What is your favorite meal ever? Do you have any habits you're trying to break/become more conscious of? Hope you enjoy & thanks for listening

Max Quinn is an entrepreneur, the founder/owner of Uncover Vintage, and a Raider super fan. Max and I start off by talking about the community of Las Vegas Raiders fans and how special a bond we share amongst each other. We then jump into the vintage clothing reseller market as Max discusses the importance of creating a great experience for your customer over focusing on making money. Being a business owner, Max explains his thought process when he chooses what clothes to sell, how he keeps his margins high while selling at a fair price, and his process when he thrifts for new pieces. He then goes over the entire story of how he starting thrifting clothes for himself and how it evolved into the start of Uncover Vintage. If you're trying to start a business, this podcast is for YOU! Max details the time, effort, perseverance, and attention to detail necessary to create a successful business. A Cleveland legend in the making, Max is a genuine dude who's making waves in the vintage market!  Hope y'all enjoy 

Zach is a chiropractic student, former college football player at John Carroll University, jui-jitsu competitor, and functional fitness enthusiast. Zach and I jump right into a conversation about training - what he does currently, his background, how athletes should be training, and the benefits and downsides of traditional weight lifting. We then discuss injuries and how many people are forced to end their career due to the violent nature of football. Zach details how he got his gut health in check through eliminating certain foods and being in touch with how he feels. He talks about his new life as a chiropractor student in Florida and how much he benefits from being in a warmer climate. We talk about finding your tribe, pursuing your passion, fashion, and so much more! Hope y'all enjoy

Charlie Schreiber is a certified strength and conditioning specialist, rock climbing coach, and is a world class rock climber himself. Charlie starts off by detailing how he got into rock climbing at a young age and how it positively affected him as a kid who struggled with ADHD. We then jump into how to properly train as a rock climber, as he details the importance of strength training, mobility, and taking care of your body. We discuss the different challenges in the sport and how they differ so much from aggressive team sports like football or basketball. Throughout the episode we talk about the mental benefits of rock climbing, dealing with failure, and how to properly navigate fatigue. This dude is seriously impressive and I gained so much insight into the world of climbing from him! Hope y'all enjoy

André Alamina is a bodybuilder, content creator, fitness/health coach, immigrant from Belize, works in the tech industry, and is a John Carroll University alum.  Andre starts off by detailing how he went from being a skinny teenager to posting valuable fitness content that grew his account to over 100k followers. We then discuss how he went from a serious back injury to stepping on the bodybuilding stage for the first time. We also dive into the importance of fueling your body to build muscle and the role genetics plays in your physique goals.  Although Andre takes his content & coaching seriously, he talks about how beneficial his 9-5 tech job is at supporting himself and his family. Andre then talks about his background growing up in Belize, how he earned a scholarship to study in the US at John Carroll, and the selfless people that helped him along his journey to graduation. Throughout this episode we discuss creating a good relationship with money, living a virtuous life, and the essential role of being an emotional provider as a future parent. Andre is truly THE MAN, he's such an inspiration for me and many others with the content he creates and the energy he puts out to the world!  Hope y'all enjoy! 

Karli Chiappone is an elementary PE & health teacher at the Lawerence School, powerlifter, marathon runner, and my beautiful future wife. 

Cal Reynolds(CalWillCookIt) is a content creator, fitness coach, entrepreneur, avid foodie, life enthusiast, and former college football player. For the second time on the podcast, Cal joins me in a deep conversation where we laugh, think critically, and open ourselves up to vulnerability.  We begin by reminiscing on how far we came in our lifestyles & mindsets since living together as roommates during our college football days. Next, we dig into the main pillars of health that truly matter for long term success and wellbeing. Cal and I then talk about the positives and negatives of social media and how it's not imperative for you to be online to make an impact in the world.  We discuss how porn can have a damaging effect on a young man's psyche and ability to have relationships as we detail our own issues as teenagers growing up during the rise of internet pornography. Cal gets to tell the story of his brother's weight loss journey and how much taking care of his physical health translated to improving every other aspect of his. Always a pleasure sitting down with my brother and connecting. Enjoy! ✌️ Follow Cal & check out his coaching: https://linktr.ee/Calwillcookit?fbclid=PAAabfDlrtSeh1FtPj1kwzK_9s7Wb0CJU64JHiM2_kBBrYHsutczLtErgAszg

Kahrin Spear is a musician, artist, videographer, creative, and former college basketball player. Her new album, “Poems from Willow Creek” is out now on all streaming platforms. To start, Kahrin and I reflect on our student athlete careers and how it turned us into the people we are today through the traumas, challenges, and blessings we experienced. Kahrin then walks me through when she discovered her sexuality, how she managed her place in a predominantly catholic community, and how her mother supported her during one of the most difficult times of her life. We get to dive into how Kahrin channels the “muse” to create beautiful art with meaning. She also describes the story of how her latest album came about and what it means to her family. We dig deep into the importance of checking your beliefs, the role spirituality has in overall fulfillment, the benefits/downsides of plant medicine, and so much more. One of the kindest & most beautiful souls on Earth, I deeply appreciate Kahrin & her wisdom on this episode, I hope you do too! Follow Kahrin's music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3OOAukuurYtyxXWBM1gKrV?si=74sAh7iMS7-HKZ4tJcZ4CQ https://music.apple.com/us/artist/kahrin/1500363046 Follow Kahrin on Instagram: https://instagram.com/pure_kahrin?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Nick Yanosko is a guitarist, producer, singer, song writer, & carpenter based in Cleveland, Ohio. He's currently working on his own solo project while playing, mixing, and producing in multiple other bands. Nick & I get to sit down and break down his creative process from start to finish, digging into where he gains inspiration from and how he lays down tracks in the studio. We talk about dealing with failure, the importance of flowing, why you should be patient in creating a song, and the visceral feeling of connection experienced only in music. As someone who has pristine music taste, Nick takes me through what's on his playlist right now, and even gets me excited about old 40s and 50s country music by describing the importance it has in American culture. We then discuss another passion of his- carpentry, as he takes us through a story where he helped rebuild an old studio that Joe Walsh and the James gang used to play in. Nick has been involved in music for 14 years and is really just getting started!  He's also responsible for mixing & mastering the TFAB intro/outro song. It's always a special experience for me to sit down with a creative and dig into their mind.  I hope you enjoy our conversation 

Luke Brown is a podcaster, tri-athlete, marathon runner, former college football player, and kettlebell training enthusiast. For the second time on the podcast, Luke joins me in another intentional conversation.  We start off by discussing Luke's new podcast, “Anyone Extraordinary” and the purpose behind its creation.  Next we talk about functional training with kettlebells, landmines, and mace bells and the positives and negatives it has in comparison to traditional barbell movements. He then details the inspirational story of how his brother battled an array of injuries to eventually playing football at a D1 college. Nothing like an underdog story to make you want to run through a brick wall! Staying on football, we compare our experiences playing together at John Carroll University and the different perspectives we have towards the game. Fear, doubt, trusting your instinct- some of the many important topics we cover in this conversation. One of my brothers who I love sitting down and connecting with, this episode was a perfect way to usher in a new season of Thoughts From a Balcony! Follow Luke & his podcast: https://instagram.com/lukebrown33?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= https://instagram.com/liveinfullflow?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= https://instagram.com/anyoneextraordinary?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Listen to his podcast “Anyone Extraordinary”: https://open.spotify.com/show/3PwICRoCJW8SHaaYx1RPm0?si=7rAKA2nORiimOJebsKUcxg https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/anyone-extraordinary-with-luke-brown/id1668231465

Elizabeth Rohde is a doctor in training, bodybuilding competitor, and co-founder of Hippocratic Strength, a fitness coaching service. Elizabeth starts off by discussing her own personal health and fitness journey of how she went from being an overweight middle schooler to then stepping on the bodybuilding stage. We discuss treating the root cause vs. symptoms in the current medical landscape, the benefits of osteopathic medicine, and the varying quality of functional health practitioners. We get to talk about what metabolism actually is and the importance it has to bodily function, how beneficial weight-lifting is to develop confidence, the effect of metabolic stress on your mental health, how much protein you should be eating in a day, and SO MUCH MORE. This podcast is JAM PACKED with information for all ages on how to improve your health! Make sure y'all check this out and make sure to give Elizabeth a follow on IG! She's smart af I'm telling you! Follow her: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethfuturedoc/?hl=en Follow her coaching: https://www.instagram.com/hippocraticstrength/?hl=en

Speedy Sheppard Jr. is a motivational speaker, content creator, and former football player from New Jersey. Speedy discusses how his tumultuous upbringing and football career led him to find his purpose of motivational speaking. As a content creator, he highlights the importance of creating intentional energy through your authentic self if you want to experience positive results on social media. Through technical difficulties, I discover Speedy is the cousin of legendary Raiders safety- Jack Tatum, and we go over his family's athletic lineage. We get to talk about his experience eating an 100% plant based diet, and the negative side effects he noticed throughout 3 years that led him to start eating meat again. Speedy is such a genuine dude and his positive energy is contagious to say the least! Beyond blessed to connect and learn about his story and mindset! Hope y'all enjoy ✌️ Follow Speedy on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thespeedytribe/?hl=en

Luke Brown is a triathlon athlete, humanitarian, and former college football player at John Carroll University. Luke and I jump into his most recent triathlon and how he learned to properly swim to prepare for his big race. Next we go over his marathon for charity that he completed during the height of Covid. He ran around the city of Pittsburgh to raise money for the local food bank while incorporating people from the community. We get to discuss his service experience at John Carroll and how it helped him gain an appreciation for life. Luke goes over his “8 days of silence” that he took in January of this year and how transformative that was for his relationship with his thoughts, emotions, and the outside world. We talk about life after sports, his plans for post-college life, and the importance of following your heart to operate at a higher frequency in life. Luke is one of the most interesting friends in my life, and it was truly a special experience hearing some of his life stories! Hope y'all enjoy ✌️ Follow Luke on IG: https://www.instagram.com/lukebrown33/

Grant Loy is a former college football player at Bowling Green State University and Auburn University, as well as an avid man of faith. Grant takes us through the story of how he went from not getting recruited out of high school to eventually becoming a quarterback at Auburn. He then dives into his small town roots- growing up in a predominantly catholic area with only 900 people in his town and how that's morphed him into who he is today. We get to discuss bodybuilding, powerlifting, and gym culture, and how that's filled a hole left after his college career ended. He goes into detail of what his faith means to him, the focus of serving others, and even drops a secret on getting great sleep and waking up refreshed! Grant is such a genuine dude and it was great hearing his story and mindset! Hope y'all enjoy ✌️ Follow Grant on IG: https://www.instagram.com/grant_loy/?hl=en

Nico Lautanen is a former college football player at Bowling Green State University who recently just completed his M.B.A. We start by reminiscing on the funny story of how we met way back in our freshman year of high school. Nico then takes us through his football journey that led him to become a starting d lineman at a D1 college. With mental health often being an overlooked aspect in sports, we talk about our own battles with mental health and how we've struggled to find identity outside of the sport that used to consume our lives. Nico goes over how he lost 85 lbs after his career ended, how he rehabbed 4 herniated discs to embark on his best season, what his family means to him, his thoughts on mediation, and the importance of gratitude. This was one of my favorite podcasts I've done so far & it was awesome to catch up with one of my oldest friends! Hope y'all enjoy ✌️ Follow Nico on IG: https://www.instagram.com/nico_laut54/

Cal Reynolds is a former college football player, fitness trainer, entrepreneur, and life enthusiast. He's also going to be my best man in my wedding, so this conversation was definitely a fun one! Cal and I get real and vulnerable as we go over our battles with depression early in our college football careers and how much our mindsets have grown since that experience. He dives into why we have to ditch the “victim” mindset and accept responsibility for this opportunity of life we were given. He talks about his lifestyle as a fat little kid and the habits he's learned over the years to get him into amazing shape. To be his best self, Cal takes me through an average day from start to finish. We touch on the importance of quality nutrition & sleep, his purpose when training others, why to keep high level people in your circle, and so much more! Always appreciate this guy and his perspective on life! Hope y'all enjoy ✌️ Follow Cal on IG, Tik Tok, & Youtube: His fitness coaching page: Cal Reynolds | Coach (@50calfit) • Instagram photos and videos Cal Reynolds | Life Enthusiast (@calwillcookit) • Instagram photos and videos Cal Reynolds (@calrreynolds) TikTok | Watch Cal Reynolds's Newest TikTok Videos Cal Reynolds - YouTube

Nina Ruhe is a personal trainer, CrossFit coach, content creator, podcast host, nutritionist, and one strong ass woman! Nina talks about how she got involved in the fitness space and details the common mistakes she made during that process. We compare the differences of men and women's health and fitness, and how easy it is to fall into the comparison trap on social media. We dive into the stigmas that exist in the sport of CrossFit, the physical and mental benefits of competing, and how she teaches her clients proper form to reduce the risk of injury. We got to talk about the importance of having a coach, and how she gained confidence in herself as a CrossFit coach. Nina has put SO MUCH effort into her content & coaching, and she continues to help so many other women through her work. She has such a great energy, is super knowledgeable, and practices what she preaches! This is not an episode you want to miss! Hope y'all enjoy ✌️ Check out Nina on IG, Tik Tok, & her podcast "Grit & Grace" at the links below: Nina Ruhe (@ninaruhe) • Instagram photos and videos Nina (@ninaruhefit) TikTok | Watch Nina's Newest TikTok Videos Grit & Grace | Podcast on Spotify

Max Potokar is a former football player, spiritual health practitioner, soon to be nurse, and content creator. Max and I start off by discussing the new emotions he's experiencing after learning he's going to be a father. We dive into the importance of family and the work he is doing to heal generational trauma before jumping into his new role as a dad. We got to discuss the direction he wants to go with his Instagram page and why we must create more than we consume to take advantage of the human experience. Max goes over some breath work techniques to harness energy and alleviate anxiety. As a spiritual health practitioner, he talks in detail about chakras and the importance of aligning those in your life. We even got to talk about psychedelics and how to use them with intention, why certain people shouldn't use them, and the future of these drugs in treating mental disorders. Max is the first person in my life that awakened me to take my spiritual health seriously and I'm so grateful for it! A genuine sweetheart of a guy with a lot knowledge, really one of my favorite people to sit down and chat with! Hope y'all enjoy ✌️ Follow Max on IG: Max (@frequencyharmony) • Instagram photos and videos

Nick Krantz is a nutritionist, former college football player, and 2 time TBI (traumatic brain injury) survivor. He's also a dad of 3, personal coach, fitness(and skateboard

Rick Finotti was a former football director/coach at Michigan, John Carroll University, St Edwards in Cleveland, and Mayfield High School. One of my favorites coaches ever, Rick is a great example of a friend, husband, coach, mentor, father, and overall man. Rick and I talked about his recent transition out of coaching during one of the toughest times of his life- losing his father. He dives into what his family means to him and all the times they've supported him and his decisions. We even touch on Stoicism, the importance of connecting with our elders for wisdom, and how to incorporate that knowledge into our lives. For those who don't know, Rick is a SAVAGE when it comes to the weight room and training. We talk about what training at 49 looks like and his new goals for fitness. He discusses his trials with every fad diet and how he's trying to improve his relationship with food. I'm forever indebted to Coach Finotti for sparking my love for football again after my transfer to John Carroll. I will always have so much love for this guy and it was a blast being able to connect and catch up with a truly inspirational person in my life! Hope y'all enjoy

Gabe Beaver is a current college student at BGSU who is the host of “The Bridge” podcast. His mindset on life, success, and purpose differentiates himself from others his age, and boy do I LOVE having conversations with this kid! Gabe and I discuss his upbringing and why he is the way he is today. We go over his core values, where he got them from, and the importance of having a set of values to navigate through life. He touches on the unique back story of his parents and the challenges they had to go through in their lives and how that's impacted his mindset towards his own challenges. We even got to talk a little about his TEDX talk and the curveball he got thrown just a day before his speech. Gabe and I also talk about the importance of being authentic while balancing social media with real life and dive into his name “Gabriel” and what it means to him and his purpose in life. Gabe's confidence OOZES out during this conversation and I definitely ended this talk feeling INSPIRED & EXCITED about life! I seriously love this guy and his energy! Hope y'all enjoy

Kyle Nymberg is co-founder of the clothing line “Ironpulse” and fellow graduate of John Carroll University. He's an entrepreneur, extremely smart/hardworking, and has a great mindset towards the further growth of his brand. Kyle goes over how Ironpulse got started and some of the challenges he faced in that experience. We discuss how much his brand has grown in the past 2 years and the lessons gained throughout that time. We also go over the process of making a collection of clothes, while highlighting the importance of patience, quality, attention to detail, and giving back to your loyal customers. Kyle shares his advice for someone who is looking to start a clothing line or a small business and why having a 9-5 could potentially benefit you in that endeavor. It's evident to see why Ironpulse continues to succeed through Kyle's(and his partner's)knowledge and actions. A lot of value packed into this episode for entrepreneurs and anyone looking to leave their mark on the world! Follow Kyle and his brand on IG: Kyle Nymberg (@knymberg19) • Instagram photos and videos Ironpulse® (@officialironpulse) • Instagram photos and videos Listen to the IronPulse podcast on Spotify: Ironpulse Podcast | Podcast on Spotify

Richard Love aka @exitcomfortzone is the definition of a SAVAGE and cofounder of “The Savage Army” with his wife. He was an Arctic Ranger in Sweden who served his first deployment in Afghanistan. His enthusiasm for life is beyond contagious and hearing his journey is nothing short of inspiring! The message he offers is centered around performance, gratitude, and love. Mr. Love and I discuss how he got started posting content and why it's important to combat the marketization of the fitness industry with healthy alternatives. He goes over his “why” and just hearing him talk about it GAVE ME GOOSEBUMPS! We talk about how to become a savage in all aspects of life and how to turn that into generational savagery. We also go over the polarization of social media and how it's actually important for us to spread our message. Although he seems like a tough guy, he's one of the nicest and most down to earth people I've gotten the privilege of speaking to. We touch on the importance of our significant others, what someone who is just started training should do, AND SO MUCH MORE! Y'all NEED to check this one out! Such a pleasure with the one and only Mr. Love

Ryan Mattila is a graduate from Cleveland State University who studied American Literature and wrote his senior thesis paper on masculinity. He is also an avid fitness enthusiast, video game lover, and has a great mindset towards life, love, and creating relationships. Ryan and I jump right into the discussion of what it means to be a man and what masculinity looks like in today's day and age. We go over what homoeroticism is and how that ties into the decisions we make as men. As two people who are so involved in working out and staying healthy, we dive into bodybuilding and “social media fitness”, the adverse effects it can have on your physical and mental health, and why you should avoid this lifestyle if you're not competing. Although we love fitness, we go over the importance of finding balance in life and understanding what makes life worth living. We touch on relationships, decompressing from every day life, finding happiness in the day to day grind, and so much more! Make sure y'all check this one out, there is TONS of value packed into this episode!

Todd Green is a fitness trainer, former college football player, and drummer living in Denver, Colorado. In this episode, Todd details how he made the transition into his current career and how he balances his passions while being an effective trainer. We got to talk about fitness, finding yourself, music, covid, and a bunch of other stuff. I've always loved Todd's perspective on life and it's always a pleasure catching up with a dear friend. Hope you enjoy this knowledge packed episode!

How many times have you heard someone say “I never stop grinding!” or “I'll sleep when I'm dead!” when referring to how hard they work? We are commonly only see as productive when we work ourselves into the ground, with no regard for our mental health. In this episode, I dissect the positives and negatives of having this perspective. I also discuss the importance of detaching yourself from your external goals and achievements while finding value internally. A quick episode but an important topic nonetheless!

Jason Conner is an IFBB pro, former college and arena football player, and future educator of our youth. Throughout the episode, I get to learn about his tumultuous upbringing before being adopted by his loving family and how that's molded him into the person he is today. We also had a great, open minded conversation on society's opinions of sexuality, masculinity, and how to break those notions in becoming a true version of yourself. As a professional bodybuilder, he details how he got into the sport, who has influenced him throughout his career, and what he hopes to accomplish when it's all said and done. He's such a kind and genuine person, I loved getting to sit down and learn more about this dude and I know you'll feel the same when you listen. Hope y'all enjoy

Vinny is a mixed martial artist, personal trainer, and former teammate of mine at Mercyhurst. In this episode, he explains how he transitioned to MMA from football, his advantageous goals in the fight game, and how he dealt with the loss of his father at the young age of 10. We also got to take a trip down memory lane as we revisit our experience together as college freshman- from our ridiculous prank wars to spending hours playing pick up basketball. He announces that he will be a father soon, and how he feels prepared to jump into the most important role in his life. It's always a pleasure catching up with a dear friend and it's even more a pleasure to see him dominating life! Hope you enjoy this conversation

As one of my best friends and mentors for over 10 years, Kent and I got to sit down and talk about a wide range of life topics. From self awareness to how to live in the present moment, Kent shared some lessons and techniques that have helped him (and myself) in figuring out how to get the most out of life. He also touches on his experience being a captain of the Ohio University football team his senior year, detailing how he grew mentally and physically over his career to prepare himself for that role, and what a leader truly means on the football field and in life. He's always been one of my favorite people to get into deep talks with, and this podcast certainly was a reflection of some of the discussions we've had over the years. There's A LOT of value in this hour long podcast, you'll probably want to save it and come back to it later, I know I am

As a pro scout for the Kansas City Chiefs, Jalen offers his insight for what's its like to work for an NFL team, and even discusses his experience with the Chiefs during their super bowl winning season in 2019-2020. Along with his career, he talks about his increasing interest in the bodybuilding lifestyle and details the lessons he's learned through the process of changing his body composition after playing college football. We also go over the work ethic and mindset that has carried him to being in his current position and how he plans to attack the future, setting himself up for success. Hope you all enjoy!

Mason McKenrick, one of the top up & coming models in NYC & former NFL prospect, talks through his journey of how he got to where he is now and the obstacles he had to overcome. Although he has achieved things people only dream of, it wasn't all smooth sailing for Mason. He had to deal with extreme medical setbacks, doubt from himself and others around him, and choosing between pursuing one dream over another during a pivotal time in his transition to adulthood. He has one of the most inspirational and interesting stories I've had the pleasure of witnessing, this is NOT a episode you want to skip over! Follow Mason on IG & TikTok: Mason McKenrick (@masonmckenrick) • Instagram photos and videos MasonMcKenrick (@masonmckenrick) TikTok | Watch MasonMcKenrick's Newest TikTok Videos

Success has taken new meaning in today's day and age of social media, as we are constantly being told what “success” is supposed to look like-nice cars, big house, partying with friends, etc. In this episode I discuss society's flawed perception of succeeded in life, and how to change our mindset on what it SHOULD look like for each and every one of us, to help feel more fulfilled within our daily lives.