Uncharted Performance

The man that needs very little introduction. For episode 99 of Uncharted Performance we are honored to have a fantastic conversation about the future with the one and only Kelly Starrett of Mobility WOD. Kelly is a coach, physical therapist, author, speaker, mentor and creator, has revolutionized how athletes think about human movement and athletic performance. His clients have included Olympic gold-medalists, Tour de France cyclists, world and national record holding Olympic Lifting and Power athletes, Crossfit Games medalists, ballet dancers, military personnel, and competitive age-division athletes. In our conversation we get to know what stirs Kelly's interest at the moment and the foreseeable future, his creative process, how we can better refine information and deliver it to coaches and athletes, the process of communication in teaching and transfer of information, being able to function long-term and how to accomplish that, how we can improve in diagnosing and solving problems, the significance of fundamentals, the many teachers that influenced him, and the forgotten concepts of play and fun and how we can once again make physical activity a part of everyday life :)

Politics, Religion, and Nutrition. Three of the most hotly debated topics known to man. Luckily, we take care of the nutrition debate in this week's episode of Uncharted Performance with Brian St. Pierre of Precision Nutrition (PN). Brian is renowned for his expertise in performance nutrition. He is both a Registered Dietitian with a Masters in Food Science and Human Nutrition along with a laundry list of credentials and publications under his belt. He has also consulted the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Browns on nutrition. Most importantly he is a a PN coach, helping individuals achieve their health and performance goals. We cover a variety of topics including personal experimentation, making mistakes, interpersonal variability, how we can, what we we eat, how much of it should we eat, meal prepping and planning, stress management as well as mindset. Brian also synthesizes the common denominators across "diets" and approaches to nutrition, breaks down the process of goal setting, highlights the importance of intentional daily practice, and distinguishes how we can become better coaches. Our conversation also debunks some of our favorite myths regarding a couple of our favorite macro nutrients, carbohydrates and fats. The nutrition conversation you were waiting for is finally here.

Colorado’s premier Yoga and Pilates instructor, seven time bestselling author and recently named one of the Top Workout Brands by The Huffington Post, episode 97 of Uncharted Performance is excited to feature Sean Vigue of Sean Vigue Fitness. He was also recently featured in Yoga Digest, The Washington Post, Ultra Running magazine, Lifestyle for Men magazine, Curious.com, Pilates Style magazine, The Denver Post, Fit Bottomed Girls, The Broadway Blog, YoFitTV.com and numerous podcasts including this one. Sean Vigue Fitness is a StyleHaul partner and the Most Watched Yoga & Pilates Guy on the the Planet! We discuss his background an actor and singer, what drew him to the practice of yoga, the impact that his practice has had on him, and the benefits it can provide us. Sean teaches us how develop an intimate relationship with our mind, body, and breath, the importance of being present, and the value of body awareness and how that translates to other movement practices and our relationships. With over 2,000 videos to date we also get a chance to understand his creative process from both a filming and a teaching perspective. Sean is continually watching and studying not only yoga but other modalities of self expression, creativity, and training but more than anything he has one special advantage, to find out who she is, tune in and enjoy!

From growing up in the small rough town of Greenock in the west central Lowlands of Scotland, Greg McClure's journey to being the Fitness Manager at arguably the finest fitness facility in the world, Club La Santa in Las Palmas, Spain is unlike any other. We dive deep into Greg's hometown, the beauty of Scotland, his past training experience, travel, cross-cultural education and experience, his relentless work ethic, not being outworked by anyone, his addictive personality, his training regimen, bignastics, building people up and his lofty goals for the future, not only for himself but for CrossFit Club La Santa as well.

We teased this week's guest last week on Episode 94 of Uncharted Performance with Mark England so it should be no surprise that we have the wonderful opportunity to talk to Mike Bledsoe of the Shrugged Collective and host of The Bledsoe Show. He is a true pioneer, influencer, and game changer, and one of the few individuals that have guided us on our path. We explore a number of incredible topics with Mike including a tutorial on creating connection, a full body connection with others, being present in our relationships, how curiosity can led us to what we are meant to do, his evolution as a person from what he was a number of years ago, to the man he is today (how he identifies himself), and who he might become in the future including the major impact point that set the course. We deconstruct the definition of normal, investigate his views on entrepreneurship, wealth and success, how Mike identities which skills to develop, how he has developed them, and what he is concentrating on at the moment (which might surprise you), the value of presence and what is possible through delivering bliss and joy to others.

We had some unfinished business with Mark England of Procabulary. In our first episode we discussed in depth the power of language and how through the words we choose to use we can gain greater focus, clarity, and control one word at a time. This go around we explore a topic that has become very diluted in self development and growth circles, the subject of goal setting. Mark makes a clear distinction between dreams and goals. He also walks us through the careful process of creating your goals and the key variables associated with getting our thoughts out and crafting meaningful goals. We dig deep on not only the significance of writing our goals, but how they should be written, what we should be experiencing as we write them, and you guessed it, the words we should choose to use. Mark also guides us on which and how to go after our goals, setting and shifting priorities, and how to respond when our goals are not achieved in the manner in which we envisioned. Enjoy part two with our very good friend, Mark England!

Chef Joshua Ingraham was recently named "The Face of Fitness for Chefs", he was a finalist for the Men's Health Ultimate Guy Contest,  been featured in Food Management Magazine, Crain's Cleveland, Men's Health, Dining with Dermish, and as the Local Celebrity Chef for this year's Get Fit Expo. While perfecting his cuisine he was able to shed 30 lbs in 200 days to win $10k and a Pro sponsorship from Blue Star Nutraceuticals. Josh has been a martial artists for 23 years, Pro Chef for 12 years, Health Coach for 10 years, and author of 2 books. He has a deep deep passion to protect the world and bring us together. We discuss his growth and evolution as a chef, his own personal physical and mental transformation, his dedication, discipline, consistency and drive for a sustainable and health lifestyle not only for himself but for everyone he comes in contact with, the importance of food education along with the great work and impact he is making in the community.

Arabelle Mondello is a kind, funny, beautiful human soul and also a little nuts. She is an ultra marathon runner and preparing to take one of the most epic trails on the globe, The American Discovery Trail, which stretches across more than 6800 miles and 15 states. Why commit to such an incredible challenge? After suffering multiple miscarriages, she became an emotional mess, and dove deep into grief and ensuing depression, losing much of her self worth. She went on a search for hope and happiness beyond having another baby. On the trails, she found peace, a great escape from her suffering. She found that hope out on the trails, in the wilderness. She prepares to run across the United States to share her message of hope with others and offer guidance to those who have suffered not only pregnancy loss but those who might find themselves in a dark place. To help us recognize that we have the right tools to determine what is truly meaningful, what can brings joy to our lives, and the steps we could take to allow us to find a better place.

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen to Uncharted Performance. We kick off season 9 by pulling back the curtain with Luke Summers & Chris "Tex" McQuilkin of Power Athlete. These two gentlemen are at the core of an immensely talented team led by John Welbourn dedicated to fighting mediocrity in the field of strength and conditioning and empowering your performance as an athlete and coach. Luke and Tex share their distinct journeys to Power Athlete highlighting their lightbulb moments when everything changed for them as coaches. We go deep and discuss the culture and vision at Power Athlete and the role that leadership, opportunity, autonomy, loyalty, taking ownership, continuing education, and innovation all play in creating an unparalleled platform for self discovery, development, and enlightenment. Power Athlete is more than just strength and conditioning, it is what the world needs. Enjoy and make sure to tune in to Power Athlete Radio too!

For episode 90 we are joined by national champion, international team member, record holder and Level 5 senior international coach for USA Weightlifting, Derrick Johnson. He has produced national champions, team titles, world team members, and a Olympian but that is just scratching the surface. He takes us on a fascinating journey from growing up in around poverty and crime in St. Louis to rolling the dice, starting over and reinventing himself in Los Angeles and opening the amazing non-profit providing opportunity and access to the great sport of Olympic weightlifting, The Kings of Weightlifting. Our conversation is littered with “firsts” and breaking down barriers starting with his recent trip to compete in Iran where he took gold. But that is now, Derrick has gone through multiple injuries, heart break, devastation, steady use of pain killers, and more pain and trauma. Through it all however, he has continued to work on himself and maintain the best mindset for himself and those he coaches by reminding himself of what is good. His is a story that he is writing himself, and it is far from over.

For episode 89 our guest is the immensely popular and outgoing, Dr. Teddy Willsey of Strength Coach Therapy and Healthy Baller. Many of you might be familiar with Teddy from his Instagram account and other social media on which he shares very valuable content that we can apply in our training, pre-hab, warm-ups, active recovery and coming back from injury. We discuss his growth in popularity and his always increasing following, how it happened, at the benefits it provides, along with its downsides. We nail down what sets Teddy apart from others in his field, his philosophy, how he is bridging the gap between strength and conditioning and physical therapy, and his evolution as a professional. We also dive into practices that set Teddy off a bit, movements and exercises we would benefit from incorporating more often into our training, the purpose of active recovery and what it should look like, his passion for the outdoors, and surviving DC metro traffic.

For episode 87 of Uncharted Performance, we are joined by none other than James Fitzgerald of OPEX. James has lived fitness and training for a better part of his life, he absolutely loves it. It is that love that has enabled him to compete at the highest level and transition to arguably being one of the top coaches on the planet. We cover his genesis from athlete and coach, and the characteristics which have allowed him to continually develop and ascend to the top of the sport for over 20 years. We explore the world of OPEX including their unique approach to athlete assessment and progression, the concept of Maximal Aerobic Power (MAP for short) along with its implications and application to training, the use to technology, as well as James’ definition of success and his ultimate purpose.

For episode 87 we are joined by Ben Dziwulski of WODPrep. During this part of the year, many of us are competing in CrossFit Open, which is a terrific way to identifying your strengths and areas of improvement. Ben and I review share our thoughts on this year’s event and what we can expect in the remainder of the workouts. Then based on actual data, we breakdown the most common movements and with Ben’s help, what we can do in our training to get better at them. Whatever your level, if you are competing in the Open or not, Ben shares some absolute gems on how to develop a sound foundation and build on it with appropriate progressions. Enjoy our conversation, reflect on your performance, and evaluate how you can adjust and improve those skills along with increasing capacity at performing them at high volume. Enjoy!

Prady Tewarie by most standards is a very successful entrepreneur as well as a very accomplished bodybuilder, however he comes from very very humble beginnings. He is the son of working class immigrants and struggled throughout much of his childhood in school but that didn’t stop him. He was bitten very early on by both he iron and business bugs. We explore his journey and growth in Bodybuilding, uncovering along the way the many indirect benefits of immersing yourself in the sport. We dive into how he took underperforming assets and developed methods to turn them around, we bust myths about what it takes to succeed and how we can achieve our lofties of goals, drawing parallels between bodybuilding and entrepreneurship, how one feeds of the other, and the most important investments you can make.

This week’s guest is Dr. Lindsey Mathews of BIRTHFIT and Deuce Gym and every coach, CrossFit, Strength Training, or otherwise needs to hear this conversation and learn more from Lindsey. We cover a number of topics starting with our primal movement patters and how they relate to our social development. We then explore the training approach, a functional progression, during the different phases of the motherhood transition for preconception, during, and postpartum including importance of embracing load, planes of motion and energy systems. Additionally, touch on the value of mindset, how to view obstacles in a different manner, with closing on how BIRTHFIT is providing the proper support and coaching for a grossly underserved population for both women and their partners experiencing the motherhood transition.

This week’s guest on Uncharted Performance is Dr. Cara Miller. She is the coach to the elite and leaders across diverse fields, ranging from finance to fitness. Her resume is extensive. She is a professor, executive developmental coach, organizational design and change consultant in the fields of leadership, organizational development, adult development, and spiritual formation. Our conversation evolves from the self to the organization. We begin by discussing questions that dig to the root of personal recognition, growth and development. Our dialogue evolves to the importance of organizations and leadership within them as it relates to the disruption, growth and development of any industry but specifically in this context of CrossFit, Strength Training, and other Fitness facilities.

In this episode we go inside our heads and explore how we think and how we talk impacts and determines how we act and how we perform. Our guest this week is Mark England from Procabulary. As of our discussion he has delivered over 425 presentations, including his immensely popular TEDx talk, and coached countless others on how to lead more powerful, more fulfilled lives using the power of better words and stories. The crux of the episode centers on the ongoing and fluid process of identity, and the question of who are you? And how we interpret our experience. We identify key concepts and how we can go about changing the conversations we have with ourselves with Mark as the prime example. We hope that with Mark’s help you can start being more mindful of the spells you cast and the stories you tell yourself and how they impact you, your relationships, and your performance.

We are very honored and grateful to be joined by Matt Stevens, Tracy Beck, Joel Woods, and Chad Teague. The intention of this gathering is to diagnose, expose, explain, intervene and provide guidance on one of the most debilitating issues many of us experience on a daily basis. According to acatoday.com 31 million Americans experience low-back pain at any given time. Low back pain is the single leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the Global Burden of Disease 2010. And Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work. What to do, who can we turn to? We got them right here for you. This is a very difficult topic to address head on as the causes and symptoms of low back pain are many, and individualized. However our panel does a tremendous job of dissecting the issue and connecting it to training, performance, and lifestyle.

Swim, bike, run with a generous offering of CrossFit are on the agenda for this episode of Uncharted Performance. We are joined by the super energetic and awesome Morgan Neal of Team USA who reminds us to never forget and never give up on our passion. This past year, in 2017, Morgan finished in the top 40 in the world in her age division but getting here was definitely not a straight line. We go back to college for a little bit then lose our way for a few years before getting back to into the sport she loves, as well as how that introduced her to the competitive world of triathlons. Morgan describes the process it takes to qualify for Team USA and her experience competing at the world stage. The episode would not be complete without dissecting her training, what she has benefitted from the most, as well as both the challenges and opportunities that living in Cleveland provides a seasoned triathlete.

"If I am to be drunk let it be on blood and conquest. If I am to be stimulated let it be through trial and ordeal. Let me find intoxication in glory and honor. Let my ecstasy come from rituals of strength and communion with nature. My body is a chariot for the smokeless fire. When I fuel it, let it be to achieve my destiny, to become stronger, to be pure and free of poisons. Let me crucify my past self on the altar of Iron and Blood, so that I may obtain the hidden flame." - Paul Wagner. The prequel to our eight season, we are honored and grateful for another collaboration with Mark Valenti of Refined Savage and Blind Dog as we discuss training, travel, and life's treasures.

Almost getting shot by my best friend is a fun story to tell looking back on it now that I’m healthy and sober but the fact that it happened at all is rather disturbing. The barbell was the furthest thing from my mind. I can’t tell you what time it was because I can’t remember, but it’s more likely because I couldn’t see straight. It was definitely late; or rather should I say early in the morning. It was another day of heavy drinking (another Sunday, that is) and my friends had wisely called it quits. Me, on the other hand, not so much.

The season finale of Uncharted Performance is upon us! We close out season 7 of the show with the multi-talented Misbah Haque, host of the very successful Airborne Mind Podcast and coach at Revival Strength. We find out how Misbah has accomplished a great deal in a relatively short time, and the unique characteristics that have enabled him to considerably expand as a person, coach, host, and entrepreneur. Our conversation centers around several main themes including creativity, exploring, questioning, listening, and coaching. We then learn how Misbah incorporates these five elements into his movement practice, relationships, personal development, and self expression through conscious and persistent effort while being vulnerable and breaking a few rules along the way. The future is definitely bright for this up and coming leader. Enjoy!

He's back by popular demand! Marcus Filly of Revival Strength and Functional Bodybuilding returns to the show New Year's day. We catch up on family and training then "build of the base" we established back in Episode 65. We dive deeper into Functional Bodybuilding and the Awaken Training Series to discuss the evolution of the program from it's inception of being a model of what Marcus' training looked like to having a greater impact on other people based on his experience. We outline the progression of movements and how different training variables are adjusted during the program, as well as emphasize the importance of tempo and time under tension. Our conversation is highlighted by the topic of commitment to change and being loyal to a process to reap its long lasting benefits.

Our guest on episode 78 of Uncharted Performance is Logan Gelbrich of Deuce Gym. He is a former pro baseball player, CrossFit Seminar staff member, coach, entrepreneur, writer, student, coach, teacher, philosopher, but to label him as these would not be fair because of the given the combination of all these he’s much more. Our conversation is a organic free flowing exploration of the ripe environment for development and it is not specific to coaching or training What does that environment look like? What are the key contributing factors and variables?We probe how we can push our development, through exposing ourselves to opposing view points, departing from our beliefs, and the manner in which one can accomplish that. The coaches prep course developed by Logan and staff is a spring board for much of our discussion that also leads into creating problems, providing solutions, insuring against mediocrity, and breaking from dogma to allow ourselves to both evolve and devolve. What is great coaching? Tune in to find out and start playing up.

What is going on fam. This week’s guest on Uncharted Performance is the fittest nurse on earth, Jessica Griffith, who in 2017 made the CrossFit Games as a rookie individual competitor. We discuss in depth her role as a Level 1 trauma nurse, what took for her to get there and why she absolutely loves what she does, starting all the way back to what drew her to the field of medicine. We explore the carryover over to training and competing in CrossFit, reconciling the two very demanding commitments, and the challenges as well as the opportunities presented by her unique schedule. One thing that you will quickly notice about Jessica is her very positive attitude and bright smile - find out in the episode exactly why.

Peter Nelson was a former high school basketball and track and field standout who later became a smoker and a back injury had him sidelined into his mid 40s. Then cold turkey he gave up smoking and picked up a new “addiction”, running. He quickly kept upping the ante from 5k to marathons to ultra marathons. Now at 54, he has ran over 60 races of marathon distance or longer in a span of only 6 years. He cover the mental challenges of running such long distances, the perseverance to overcome difficult scenarios, and the benefit running has had on Pete’s physical and mental health. It wouldn’t be an episode of Uncharted if we didn’t cover why he continues to run, so much and so far, regularly pushing past what is rational, and how it makes him feel, as well as some tactical pointers regarding his training regimen including insights on what to prepare for as we push the boundaries of human potential at any age in this week’s episode.

So where are we this week? Back to a familiar place with our friends at GrooveRyde. This time it is with one of their newer team members, Joe Callari of Callari Killer Fitness and Beat Box instructor. As you quickly find out in our conversation Joe can light up a room very quickly. He is a retired MMA fighter and a fitness entrepreneur with a heart of gold. We dive into the world of mixed martial arts, what drew him to the sport and how it turned a one time "bully" into one of the kindest and most positive people we hope you have the opportunity to meet. Getting knocked out or punched in the face has many lessons we can learn from - both good and bad. We talk getting knocked around, a lot , why he enjoys it, his growth and in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts and the many valuable lessons he took away from fighting in the octagon. We also discuss developing as a personal trainer, growing your own business and brand, as well as several other topics related to nutrition, and his wonderful mission of Squats Over Suicide. 

In Episode 74 with AJ Roberts we take you all the way back to South Hampton, England to being a basketball standout, coming to the US and the early challenges that led AJ to become on of the strongest human beings on the planet. You’ll hear early on that AJ set the bar very high and he was willing to do anything to get there. From becoming the strongest in his school to setting world records as part of the world famous Westside Barbell under Louie Simmons to leaving it behind and why. We also discuss his rise in the fitness business industry and the ability to thrive as an entrepreneur. Our conversation wouldn’t be complete without touching on some finer points of strength development and training. Enjoy!

What could happen if we all started paying attention? What if we could utilize fitness as a platform to express ourself, encourage people, and collectively grow? An eye opening conversation that transcends strength training, Olympic Weightlifting, or whatever your fitness endeavor might be with the one and only, Carl Paoli, the author of Freestyle Connection and creator of Gymnastics WOD. Carl and I discuss his roots, his gymnastics background, awesome studies and work in marine biology, and how all that led him to here and the environment and movement he is creating and championing through the freestyle connection and other endeavors. We get into why should we move like we care, what impact being kind to yourself can have, the importance of being present, creating an intellectual experience, how and where to make the biggest impact. Enjoy our conversation with Carl!

We are keeping the party going with non other than 4 times CrossFit Games athlete, total badass, Emily Abbott. We get into a ton of different topics, tattoos, growing up in Canada, travel, adventure, getting outdoors, using fitness and strength to experience the world, being one with nature, college basketball, as you might have figured out, a little bit about CrossFit, and what the future holds for this incredible human being.  If you are sense a pattern here, there isn’t one. This is a conversation about being human, being imperfect, vulnerable, having self doubt, imbalance, about there not being a finish line, pushing yourself, putting yourself in tough and uncomfortable situations, becoming strong, fierce, aggressive, daring to be you, and welcoming death, knowing you have dared and lived.

If you have been living under a rock, Scott Panchik is a very familiar face in the CrossFit community, qualifying for every CrossFit Games since 2012, and finishing this past year just under ten points from this year’s podium. He is the epitome of consistency, dedication and professionalism. But where does that come from? Our awesome conversation centers around the themes of family, building strong relationships, community and sacrifice. Scott will be the first to tell you that much of his success can be attributed to his wife, his parents, and younger brothers. What role do they play and how have they helped Scott develop and evolved are covered in our conversation. He is a tremendously driven individual outside of CrossFit as well, and gives much of himself as a teacher to grow and build his community at CrossFit Mentality. We dive into the process of starting a business, what the community means to him, at the same time remaining a competitive athlete. Of course we discuss what it takes to make the games multiple times over, breaking down Scott’s training approach and mentality (pun intended). Reflecting back and looking forward to next year and what the future holds for Scott, his family, and CrossFit Mentality.

Hello friends and welcome to the season seven finale of Uncharted Performance. Massive thank you to our very good friend Mark Valenti of Blind Dog Gym for brining us together and letting us share our stories on his awesome podcast, the Refined Savage. This is the episode we finally introduce my partner in crime, my coach, the immensely beautiful, extremely talented, my best friend, badass, movement and nutrition guru, my wife, Alina Wencel. Alina and I both took different paths coming America. We share our stories of coming to the states, how we met, my dark days with substance abuse, Alina coming to the rescue, how finding the right person is the key to motivate you to do the right things, our fitness journeys, what we do, and why we do it. Our passions. Our pursuit of balance and a healthier life, creating values that will lead to a more meaningful and rewarding life, overcoming your own fears, and getting to do things that you love to do. We hope to motivate change, and that our stories provide a dose of perspective for many of us in regards to the abundance of luxury and conveniences we are surrounded by and with. And remember, friendships are the best ships , do you really need that magical apple cutter, and a little bit more on Scotland. Cheers!

This week on Uncharted Performance we are joined by the awesomely bearded, Yuri Marmerstein, originally from Odessa, currently living in Las Vegas, by way of our hometown Cleveland. Yuri has been exploring the physical culture for over 15 years as an acrobat, entertainer, performer and teacher. Personally, we think what he is capable of doing with is body is very impressive but he might not agree given his high standards. We get the wonderful opportunity to get an inside look at his unique learning process that started out by imitating Kung Fu movies in the backyard. His advanced practice originated with little direction and has developed into a Webster’s dictionary mistakes to learn from and develop. The better Yuri got and more he surrounded himself with high level coaches and athletes he realized, in his words, how shitty he was which motivated him further in his pursuits. We tackled the difficulty subjects of getting through plateaus and appropriate skill development using handstands as an example but a metaphor for certainly anything. We also define improvement and how to get over fear, his teaching methods and how they have evolved over time, how we can become better teachers, and the process through which adults learn new concepts and skills.

This week we are joined by Tom Mountjoy of Primal Movers all the way form beautiful Bergen, Norway. This is a truly awesome and fascinating conversation with Tom and his process of integrating the mind and body, and what it took to get there, and spoiler alert it was not easy. We find out what it took for Tom to recognize that instead of being united, his strength training practice and mindset were at odds, and how that recognition led him to a different way to navigate through both, and that both practices, the mental and physical can be united. We learn from Tom how to be still and more aware of the capability of our bodies, how nature can free us from distraction and allow us to experience different variables, that holding onto tension can be a sign of weakness, that there can be a wider perspective of movement through which more gets revealed, how we can engage with our emotions through our movement practice or strength training and how that can inform other parts of our life to make more mindful lifestyle choices, and through a more mindful aware movement practice we can compliment traditional strength and conditioning training, from CrossFit to Strongman.

This week on Uncharted Performance we are joined by Jim Klopman, the inventor of the SlackBow and the book Balance is Power. Jim was born with brain damage, ADHD, dyslexia, just didn't have the other parts of the system working and how to operate properly in society - as one doctor told him he had the brain of a NFL football player. He was a not a very good student, flunked a few times, took nine years to graduate college. He used athletics to overcome these challenges he was faced with, lettering in five different sports.  After years of being an athlete and unsure of his purpose in life, Jim found his purpose and developed his own business called the SlackBow Balance Training System.  He created the SlackBow Balance Training System to enhance his own balance as well as others.  Jim has worked with professional athletes, including the likes of Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors to both NFL & Major League baseball team, and has benefitted them immensely. 

In episode 66 of Uncharted Performance we are joined by Mike Dewar of J2Fit Strength & Conditioning and . Barbell CEO. We go from growing up in Ohio to landing in the big city with little direction but with a sense of rush and great opportunity. Mike is a big believer in using circumstance to drive positive change and creativity. He has been driven by his innate desire to know  more, and by knowing more, seeing even more possibilities. As an entrepreneur, it is all about doing something, no matter how small or what it is, but to take action, make mistakes but learn from them, all in with the intention to create momentum. Don’t be hampered by perfection and fail to launch. It doesn’t have to be perfect.  As a coach, his passion is to turn everyday people into everyday champions and helping them be the best at what they do, no matter what it is, from marathon runner to corporate CEO. 

On this episode of Uncharted Performance we are joined by a very successful and immensely intelligent athlete and coach, 6 times CrossFit games competitor, founder of Revival Strength and most importantly new dad, Marcus Filly. What Marcus has developed is to what to outsiders might see as a seamless blend of how many of us first got into fitness, chasing that pump, and what many of us have transitioned to and grown to love, functional fitness. Before we get to Functional Bodybuilding and a walkthrough the very popular Awaken Training Series, we discuss how he got to now starting with his first ever training session and how that left him, his interest and passion in the physical and health sciences, the role medical school played in defining his mission, and the five major impact points in his training life, all along connecting all the dots. What is Functional Bodybuilding then exactly? Great question, but you will just have to listen to the episode to find out specifically.

Our guest this week is Matt Walrath of Beyond Macros. We learn how Matt became a nutrition coach, what it means for him to be one, and the approach he takes with his clients. He walks us a through a primer on macronutrients, what they are, what role they play, and why we should care. We then shift to the topic of the day, creating a new normal for his clients and how one goes about doing so through the development of sustainable and appropriate habits. Subjects we cover include how to become aware and recognize triggers, getting our body and mindset to break from homeostasis, and different externalities that could deter our nutrition journey. We finish of the episode talking about Matt’s core values which definitely bring the episode to an epic conclusion. Enjoy!

In this week’s episode of Uncharted Performance we are joined by Mike Flynn of the Impact Entrepreneur show. Mike provides tons of wisdom on how we can become better box owners, coaches and most importantly, human beings. He is an avid CrossFitter through which he pursues developing his mind, body, and spirit. A successful entrepreneur in his own right as the owner of Flynn Wealth Strategies, he is a husband, father, who wants to have a game changing impact in the lives of others. We discuss what impact moments are and what they can mean to our development, how CrossFit and Entrepreneurship are very much alike, the concept of self efficacy, the power of choice, the true meaning of legacy, how to develop the right skills to develop confidence to be able to perform, the peak performance framework, and an in-depth look at the six bridges of personal growth and the importance of the concept of the future five. In Mike’s words, lets brace for impact!

In this episode of Uncharted Performance we are joined by Tracy Beck, physical therapist and creator of Connected Physical Therapy and Wellness. Tracy is here to tell us, it is not enough to simply get better after seeing a PT, we want to be well, and that often requires a practitioner who is able and wiling to find out the root cause. She has chosen to break off from the traditional/rigid model of physical therapy and find her own unique approach. Among other things, you’ll find out how fascia works and how crucial it is, what types of movements can facilitate the development of a healthy fascial system, how we can challenge tissue in a healthy way and what makes flexibility so important for all sports disciplines.

Ben Dziwulski of WODPREP is this week’s guest in the first episode of Season 6. Ben, aside from creating WODPREP, is a former coach at CrossFit Invoke as well as former owner of his own CrossFit box. Ben has always been a natural at coaching and was able to create opportunities for himself to not only get better but to succeed beyond his initial plans. We’ll learn how he distills difficult concepts into small, manageable steps (or dominos, as he refers to them) to be able to teach others how to tackle them. Other gems from this interview include how to advance in training through what Ben refers to as an “unbalanced life” or letting the pursuit of a goal consume you for a time while you maintain single-minded focus and cherishing small victories to enjoy life to the fullest.

To wrap up this season Uncharted Performance, our guest of the week is Jeff Clapacs. Jeff is Bethune-Cookman University basketball team assistant coach with a decade of experience in college basketball coaching all over the U.S. This interview probably won’t make you better at basketball but we hope it inspires you to live a life of passion and purpose and that’s what Jeff is doing. He has learned that aspiring to always get better, practicing patience and paying it forward are the keys to success. All of us will encounter adversities or tough circumstances and Jeff has a few pointers on how we can stick with it through these rough times. Enjoy!

In this episode we’re happy to introduce you to Shellie Edington. Shellie is an age 50-54 division CrossFit Games champion, business owner and former gymnast. We got to pick her brain about her experience at the CrossFit Games, how she improved with every single year of competing and what keeps her coming back stronger than ever. We also touched on topics such as coaching and developing athletic kids, loving the challenge and brain engagement of a movement practice as a way to develop the life-long habit of exercise, as well the benefits of gymnastics for CrossFit. Among other helpful advice Shellie recommends using all the resources at your disposal (sports psychology is a good example), keeping a good handle on your work/exercise/leisure schedule to maximize efficiency and last but not least, finding the fun in the workouts even when you’re doing something you’re not very good at!

This week on Uncharted Performance we’d like to introduce you to Tim Robertson Jr. of Speed Strength. Tim holds a master’s degree in sports physiology, is a CSCS and owner of Speed Strength. Tim has over 20 years of experience training both youth and profession athletes and his impressive list of clients include LeBron James, Ben Simmons, Nene, Ellie Hess and London Fletcher. This conversation spanned from discussing how effective leadership can make you a better coach to what exercises can have the biggest carryover on the field/in sports, and everything in between (no surprise here, folks - do your squats). Tim’s recommendations and wisdom will benefit not only coaches but athletes as well, especially when it comes to developing your own philosophy and work ethic.

In this episode of Uncharted Performance our guest is Matt Gildersleeve, who is the director of football strength and conditioning at the University of Akron and the youngest strength coach in Division I football. Matt brings energy, drive and inspiration this week as he walks us through his story. Matt knew from an early age  what he wanted to pursue and credits mental fortitude and character resilience as the biggest factors that helped his along the way, with just a little bit of luck. The way he chooses to show gratitude for working his dream job is through serving others who cross his path. Some actionable takeaways from this episode are listening to feedback, learning from others, and acting the part of what you want to achieve long before you get the part. 

Welcome to episode 56 of Uncharted Performance! This week we are returning to Black Flag Athletics to talk to Lindsey Kelly, Tom Rini, and Pete Nelson II. The topic of this discussion, as all three of our guests have extensive experience in, is coaching. We start off with learning why coaching is such a passion for them and how it helps them find fulfillment. As Tom puts it, it is an opportunity to give something of yourself and build a relationship with those you’re coaching that impacts the rest of their lives.  Lindsey, Pete and Tom describe their growth as coaches and give some useful advice on how others can evolve in this unique role. Learning from other coaches, developing good communication with clients of all different types and going out and getting that all important experience are just some of those critical skills. 

Thanks for joining us for episode 55 of the Uncharted Performance podcast. Some familiar faces are back at it, Mark Valenti of Blind Dog Gym and Shawn Schumaker of Team BBS Fitness. These gents have a combined 50 years of experience in the strength game and they’re more than willing to share what they know and reveal their strength secrets. This is one of the most technical episodes we’ve done. You’ll find out what the most effective accessory movements are for the core, posterior chain, glutes, upper body, as well as the all important grip development. Additionally, we’ll list numerous variations of those standard movements to avoid injury and plateaus. Both Mark and Shawn emphasize the importance (surprise, surprise!) of strict movements so get your strict pull-ups in, ladies and gentlemen!

Episode 54 of Uncharted Performance is back, this time introducing Korey Smerk of EYE Fitness. Korey is a fitness coach, an obstacle course racer, trail runner, and nature lover. Korey shares his journey with bipolar disorder, from his diagnosis several years ago to how he manages it and learns to function with it daily. He approaches it by doing frequent self checks to assess where he is at that moment in time but even more importantly, he admits that having patience is the key. Korey’s biggest motivation is wanting more for himself and he achieves that by life-long learning and growing despite the sometimes daily obstacles (no pun intended!). 

Thank you for joining us for episode 53 of Uncharted Performance! We are at CTown CrossFit for this episode talking to Cory Moore and Brian Warner about what it takes to make it in the world of bar athletics. Cory is a nationally and internationally recognized masters weightlifting competitor and coach, and Brian is a 2016 NPC natural master’s physique competition winner and a personal trainer. However, both have an extensive history in the bar world. In this interview you will find out how simple (but not easy!) bodyweight exercises can help develop strength, agility and coordination, especially as it applies to bar athletics. Both Brian and Cory cannot emphasize enough that repetition of strict movements (e.g., pushups, dips) can elevate your performance but that we shouldn’t forget to utilize different variations of those “basic” exercises for maximum muscle recruitment. Finally, both of these gents just want to “reach people with positivity” so make sure you tune in!

This week on episode 52 we are back at Eleventh Element CrossFit, this time talking with Graham Holmberg. Graham is a multiple-time CrossFit Games competitor, former Games champion, family man and owner of Eleventh Element CrossFit. Graham was always a voracious athlete and before he found CrossFit, he played multiple sports in high school and college. We discussed how he developed some destructive behaviors such as substance abuse in his younger years and how one event brought him back to himself and God and set him on the path to success. Of course, we couldn’t interview a former Games champ without talking about his training, recovery, coaching and plans for the future. His advice for athletes and non-athletes alike? Have a big vision and slow down to get better. 

We are back with episode 51 of Uncharted Performance coming from Eleventh Element CrossFit. We are talking today with Savanna Holmberg, graduate of the Institute For Integrative Nutrition, nutrition coach at Eleventh Element, mom of 3 and the SavyMama herself. In her coaching style, Savanna advocates for consistency and connection with her clients while focusing on four values: career, spirituality, relationships and nutrition. We discussed how she feels coaching keeps her on track with her own goals and what specific approach to eating that Savanna found is the most effective for her own and her family’s health. Last but not least, we find out what SavyMama is all about and pick up some tips on how to heal oneself through food and natural remedies.