Podcasts about Bodybuilding

» Produced by Hack You Media: pioneering a new category of content at the intersection of health performance, entrepreneurship and cognitive optimisationInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hackyoumedia/Website: https://hackyou.media/Kevin Levrone spent 30 years chasing the Olympia title — and he's here to show you why the platform you build matters more than the trophies you didn't win.Most people think success is only measured by first place.Kevin proves your legacy is defined by how you treat people on the way up, and what you do with your influence once you have it.You'll hear the mental shift required to go from training for aesthetics to training for sustained performance and what happens when you stop chasing perfection and start embracing simplicity.00:00 Introduction02:13 Training together and pushing past mental limits04:11 Shifting from physique to full-body conditioning08:57 Balancing intense travel schedules with fan dedication12:43 Being overlooked and using it as lifelong fuel16:00 Childhood trauma and the real roots of ambition20:33 Discovering martial arts and visualisation after losing his dad24:27 Competing from a place of pain and survival27:46 When your life feels broken, it's actually building30:00 Why not winning Mr Olympia was a gift34:46 The crushing stage that creates long-term purpose38:24 Struggles with emotional expression and acceptance42:03 Hitting your peak later and not fearing age45:38 Life as a contracted pro bodybuilder in the '90s49:17 Travel stories, rivalries and beating Ronnie Coleman55:07 Ronnie's willpower after all the muscle is gone58:59 Natural lifters and ageing with strength intact01:03:26 Why kids today need more real guidance01:04:42 Fatherhood as the completion of your journey01:09:02 Being a role model for the next generation01:12:07 Perfectionism and missing life's real moments» Escape the 9-5 and build your dream life: https://www.digitalplaybook.net/» Transform your physique: https://www.thrstapp.com/» My clothing brand, THRST: https://thrstofficial.com» Custom Bioniq supplements: https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston• 40% off your first month of Bioniq GO• 20% off your first month of Bioniq PRO» Join our newsletter for actionable insights from every episode:https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/» Join Whoop and get your first month for free:https://join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst» Follow KevinInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevinlevrone/?hl=enWebsite: https://levrosupplements.com/

On this week's episode of the Vegans Who Lift Podcast, Brooke Sellers & John Thomas take you through the unfiltered side of bodybuilding - the sacrifices, the hours of training & physical conditioning, and the mental toughness & determination one must have as they prepare for their show and then also the potential for post show blues. If you related to our experiences or you would like to share your thoughts, please leave us a commentFollow us on Instagram!Brooke: https://www.instagram.com/miss_meatless_muscle/John: https://www.instagram.com/thebodybuildingvegan/Subscribe to our YouTube channels!John: https://www.youtube.com/@BodybuildingVeganTVBrooke: https://www.youtube.com/@missmeatlessmuscleAnd shoutout to our podcast sponsors!!GREENBITESGO: visionary creators of delicious, high-protein vegan treats with clean ingredients, perfect for your vegan gains. Use code #VEGANSWHOLIFT to save 25% on your order! Order yours here: https://greenbitesgo.com/discount/%2523VEGANSWHOLIFTVEDGE NUTRITION: organic, artificial sweetener free, third party testes protein, greens, pre workouts and more! Use code: VEGANSWHOLIFT to save on your order and support the pod today! Order yours here: https://vedge-nutrition.myshopify.com/?rfsn=8655833.bc91

Ready to give MASA or Vandy a try? Get 25% off your first order by going to http://masachips.com/IRON and using code IRON.Watch the video podcast of this episode here: https://generationiron.com/victor-martinez-worst-bodybuilding-exercise/Visit the Generation Iron official website for exclusive video content, feature films, and more: https://generationiron.com/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/generationiron/Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GenerationIron/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GenerationIron

Episode Highlights With CristiHer incredible story with breast implant illness, fibroids, and autoimmune issuesWhy she was so interested in health conferences and what this led to for herWhat she learned through bodybuilding, getting sick, and uncovering her underlying autoimmune issuesHow the “no pain, no gain” mindset is harming women and how we can shift to something more positiveIf we're in sympathetic nervous system dominance we will break down muscle even if we're doing everything rightAnabolic vs catabolic and why understanding this is importantBreaking the good girl conditioning and how she began to deconstruct this in her own lifeThe four beliefs keeping us exhaustedA lot of us are in burnout because we aren't getting basic nourishment and our blood sugar is unbalancedThe happiness comes from success lie that's so easy to get trapped inLetting go of perfectionism, and it's not what I do, but how I “be”How somatic and inner child work can help in this type of healingResources MentionedCC Dry Needling website and on InstagramCristi's InstagramThe Four Agreements - bookDr. Joe Dispenza's Books

➢ DM “Cyber Monday” to IG @ ColossusFit➢ Hip mobility video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT_rJu2sjO8 Welcome to Motivation Monday, where every Monday we answer all of your questions and have some real talks about life & fitness & get you fired up for the week! In this episode we talk about how to get back on track after a big meal or day, get over body dysmorphia and if stretching is needed after a workout.(1:08) - Question 1- I unfortunately went off track this past weekend for Thanksgiving and I'm looking to get back on track, but I can't help but feel like I lost tons of progress and am beating myself up over it. Any thoughts?(14:55) - Josh quote: Bodybuilding is an art, your body is the canvas, weights are your brush and nutrition is your paint. We all have the ability to turn a self-portrait into a masterpiece. ΚΑΙ GREENEKyle quote: “Proud, but never satisfied.”(20:00) - What has us excited or intrigued:(24:40) - Client shoutout: Past beast-mode transformationsWhere we're at in our journey?:Links Discussed in episode:Weekly questions:(28:05) - 2- How does one get over body dysmorphia while still going after a fit look? No matter how hard I try, I feel like I'm not good enough.3- How important is stretching after lifting? How much time/effort should be put into stretching (if any)?Thanks for listening! We genuinely appreciate every single one of you listening.Email me/ submit a mailbox Monday question contact@colossusfitness.com➢Follow us on instagram @colossusfit➢Apply to get your Polished Physique:  https://colossusfitness.com/

Listener Q+A with Andrea and Natalie.CHAPTERS:00:00 Intro & Catching Up03:00 Life During Contest Prep06:00 Reverse Dieting & Post-Show Reflections14:00 Mindset & Relationship With Food18:00 Zooming Out: Long-Term Perspective22:00 Upcoming Prep Plans28:00 Division Differences: Figure vs. Bikini34:00 Choosing & Transitioning Coaches41:00 Shoulder Function & Rib Flare Q&A54:00 Wrap-Up & Next Q+ATo Apply For Coaching With Our Team: CLICK HERE

If you've ever found yourself feeling discouraged or overly critical of yourself after your competition, lost and lacking motivation in your offseason or struggling with self doubt as you navigate your journey to the stage, this episode is for you!  In this episode of “Bikinis After Babies”, Gillian shares the ups and downs of her journey as an IFBB Pro Bikini Competitor, wife, mom and coach, focusing on the importance of self-love during the off-season.  As an athlete with 20 years invested in the sport, she shares personal insight regarding the emotional challenges athletes face after competitions, including feelings of “FOMO” and the impact of placings and judges' feedback.  Gillian emphasizes the need for a supportive community, the significance of setting personal goals beyond competition, and the importance of celebrating every stage of the fitness journey.  It's so important to athletes to remember where they started, celebrate how far they have come and focus on personal growth and improvement. We hope that you enjoyed this episode and if so, we would LOVE it if you would rate, subscribe, and leave us reviews on how this podcast has helped you

Chris Tuttle joined us for a deep, honest conversation about training, nutrition, and what truly supports a healthy, long-term approach to the fitness and bodybuilding lifestyle. We really appreciate his grounded perspective focusing more on longevity, balance and actually feeling good in your body even during prep. A smart, refreshing take in a world that often forgets the basics.

In this episode of Iron Culture, Eric Helms interviews Oscar Moscat, a pro natural bodybuilder who shares his journey in the sport. Oscar discusses the importance of personal motivation, family values, and the balance between competition and self-improvement. He emphasizes the significance of finding what works for each individual in training and the camaraderie within the bodybuilding community. The conversation also touches on Oscar's training philosophy, his aspirations for the future, and his desire to inspire the next generation of athletes. As always, please be sure to support our friends at elitefts.com! If you're in the market for some new gym gear or apparel, you can use our code (MRR10) for a 10% discount Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Iron Culture and Guest Introduction 02:52 Oscar Moscat's Journey in Bodybuilding 05:48 The Competitive Spirit and Personal Growth 08:53 Balancing Family and Bodybuilding 11:45 The Mindset of a Natural Bodybuilder 14:43 Martial Arts Influence on Competitive Mindset 17:40 The Pursuit of Personal Excellence 20:45 Artistry and Competition in Bodybuilding 34:30 The Art of Bodybuilding: Beyond Competition 37:05 Genetics vs. Hard Work: A Bodybuilder's Perspective 40:35 The Mindset of a Champion: Balancing Talent and Effort 43:29 Passion and Drive: The Heart of Bodybuilding 48:52 Individuality in Training: Finding What Works for You 58:28 The Science of Bodybuilding: Applying Knowledge to Practice

This episode marks three years of Becoming Relentless- three years of telling the truth about bodybuilding, psychology, identity, and what it actually takes to grow as an athlete and a person.In this anniversary episode, I break down the biggest lessons that kept showing up across every prep, every client transformation, and every conversation on this show. These aren't surface-level takeaways. They're the things that really change people:• Why discipline isn't glamorous, but it's the backbone of every result• The biological realities you can't “out-mindset” your way out of• How your environment shapes your success more than motivation ever will• The post-show identity crash and why it's universal• The value of honesty with PEDs, food obsession, body image, relationships, all of it• Why self-trust is the real transformation most people never buildI also talk about the real origin story of this podcast, what I thought it would be, and what it's become. Bodybuilding might be the surface, but the real work is becoming someone who keeps promises to themselves.Year four is going to look different- deeper, more honest, and more growth-focused than ever.If you've been here since day one or today's your first episode, thank you. You're already doing the work. And we're just getting started.Find me on IG: ⁠⁠@noamccabe_ifbbpro⁠⁠.BEcoming Relentless IG: ⁠@becomingrelentless_⁠.If you are interested in working with me, I am looking for new athletes, general lifestyle clients, and contest prep competitors. Schedule a call using the link below!Work With Me: ⁠⁠https://calendly.com/elenoa-mccabe/30min⁠⁠Inquires/Questions: elenoa.mccabe@gmail.comAffiliates: Ryze HRT + Bloodwork "NOA"Purefactor Formulations "NOA10"Free Spirit Outlet "NOA"The Shoe Fairy "ELENOA"More from me: patreon.com/Elenoa#BEcomingRelentless #stayrelentless #ifbbpro #ifbb #becomingrelentless #podcast #contestprep #bodybuilding #BikiniCompetition #BodybuildingPrep #FitnessJourney #bikinibodybuilding #BecomingRelentlessPodcast #FitnessMindset #BodybuildingPodcast #CompetitionPrep #FastingMyths #PeanutButterCravings #FoodObsession #PrepMotivation #FitnessQandA #BodybuildingCoach #BikiniPrep #HealthAndFitness #MentalHealthInFitness #DisciplineOverMotivation #ReverseDiet #FitnessJourney #MindsetMatters #AthleteMindset #CoachNoa #RelentlessGrowth

Partita dalle Marche con l'idea di fare un'esperienza all'estero, Eleonora Petrucci ha trovato in Australia la passione che l'ha trasformata. Oggi, dopo un lungo percorso di cambiamento fisico e mentale, è salita sul podio della IFBB Pro League e sogna di ispirare altre persone con la sua storia.

Securing a place in the WNBF Bodybuilding World Championship in Los Angeles is a “dream come true” for former Killaloe minor hurler Dylan Nolan. Sligo-based Dylan Nolan earned his place among the world's best after winning his category at the World Natural Bodybuilding Championships (WNBF) Ireland national competition. Alan Morrissey spoke to Dylan to find out how he got on. Photo (c) WNBF Ireland Facebook

In this inspiring conversation, Ben, Dani, and Ellie dive into what it's really like to pursue natural bodybuilding as a teenager—while balancing school, mental health, veganism, and a first competition prep.Ellie shares her athletic background, her transition from running to strength training, how veganism became part of her identity, and how bodybuilding became a stabilizing force during a difficult period in her life. She opens up about navigating prep during high school, working with a coach, dealing with social pressures, and finding confidence on stage.The conversation also explores the realities of teen divisions, the challenges of reverse dieting, moving into college life as a bodybuilder, and her future goals in the sport. A powerful mix of vulnerability, resilience, and the beauty of finding purpose through bodybuilding.TRIGGER WARNING: self harm, r*ape Ellie's Instagram: @elikprug 

What if the path to healing required facing your deepest fears?Nahum Vizakis went from defusing explosive devices in Iraq to becoming a spiritual bodybuilder and plant medicine facilitator. His story is raw, unfiltered, and proof that healing is never linear.In this episode, Nahum opens up about: ●The IED moment in Iraq that planted the seed of existential doubt and shattered his identity●The medication nightmare: 16 different prescriptions, hallucinations, night terrors, and the day he quit cold turkey●How transforming his body helped him survive PTSD, but fed his ego in dangerous ways●His first ayahuasca ceremony●Why the fascia system isn't taught in medical school (and why that matters)●The 2-hour somato-emotional release that changed everything, in front of his entire massage school class●The toxic relationship that cracked his heart open and taught him the difference between love and attachment●The custody battle that cost him $200K, his health, and nearly his life●His mentor's death: How Bryce overdosed after accidentally killing someone during an Iboga ceremony●Ketamine addiction: The 7-day spiral that almost ended his life●How to get unstuck: Why changing your state is the first step to breaking the negative feedback loopNahum doesn't sugarcoat anything. This conversation covers PTSD, addiction, plant medicine safety, spiritual bypassing, energetic boundaries, and what it really means to live from the heart.✨ Watch the full episode, and if it resonates, share it with someone who needs to hear this. Your health matters.Connect with Nahum Justin VizakisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/spiritual_bodybuilder/Website: https://www.optimizinghuman.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfBmmf1OpYLL7JrD2ExMQLA FOLLOW USInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/toxicfree.kb TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@toxicfreewithkb SHOP My Favorite Clean Living & Wellness Products:MASA Chips (25% OFF) – Code: TOXICFREEKB https://www.masachips.com/TOXICFREEKBVANDY Crisps (25% OFF) – Code: TOXICFREEKB https://vandycrisps.com/TOXICFREEKBLightStim (10% OFF) – Code: TOXICFREEKB https://LightStim.comSunlighten Saunas – Code: TOXICFREEKB https://get.sunlighten.com/toxicfreekbDelavie Science Skincare (25% OFF) – Code: TOXICFREEhttps://delaviesciences.pxf.io/c/2328608/2331067/26421Branch Basics (15% OFF Starter Kits) – Code: TOXICFREEKBhttps://branchbasics.com/TOXICFREEKBMore recommendations at: https://toxicfree.com

Kreatin – viele kennen es nur im Zusammenhang mit Bodybuilding und stempeln es als „Männersupplement“ ab. Dabei gehört es zu den am besten erforschten und effektivsten Supplements überhaupt – und gerade für Frauen kann es ein echter Gamechanger sein. In dieser Episode spreche ich darüber, - wie Kreatin nicht nur den Muskelaufbau und die Trainingsleistung unterstützt, sondern auch die Knochengesundheit stärkt und altersbedingtem Muskelabbau (Sarkopenie) vorbeugen kann, - warum es auch im Gehirn wirkt – für mehr mentale Energie, Fokus und Stressresilienz, - welche Rolle Hormone und Lebensphasen (z. B. Zyklus, Menopause) dabei spielen, - und wie du es richtig einnimmst – Dosierung, Timing, Qualität und worauf du achten solltest. Kreatin kann Frauen helfen, stärker, widerstandsfähiger und energiegeladener zu werden – körperlich wie mental. Gerade wenn du regelmäßig trainierst, viel leistest oder einfach gesünder älter werden möchtest, solltest du dir diese Episode unbedingt anhören! Hast du Fragen oder Feedback zum Thema der Episode? Schreib mir gern! Folge mir, [@fit__laura](https://www.instagram.com/fit__laura/), gerne auf Instagram, um tägliche Tipps, Motivation und Rezepte zu erhalten. Kennst du schon meine [App](https://www.fitlaura.de/membership/)? Das All in One Paket für DEINE Gesundheit! Teste sie gerne für 1 Monat, jederzeit kündbar & dich erwarten wöchentlich neue Inhalte zu den Bereichen BODY MIND FOOD. Dort gibt es z.B. auch Workouts mit mir, Trainingspläne und Übungsanleitungen.

In today's episode, I sit down with IFBB Pro Mallory Ennis — a mom, business owner, and women's online wellness coach with a powerful story of resilience and faith. Mallory began competing in 2014, stepping on stage 10–15 times in just two seasons before taking an eight-year break to get married and start her family. She and her husband returned to the stage together in 2023, and in 2025, Mallory earned her Pro card at North Americans, just months after her husband earned his.   Her journey is full of perspective, healing, and honesty, and I know so many women will see themselves in her story.   TOPICS COVERED -Recovering from an eating disorder -Being married to a competitor -Returning to the stage after years away -Setting an example for your kids -The value of having a committed coach -Advice for new moms -Walking in faith   CONNECT WITH CELESTE: Website: http://www.celestial.fit Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ All Links: http://www.celestial.fit/links.html   CONNECT WITH MALLORY:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mallory.ennis/   TIME STAMPS 1:00 introduction 5:24 bikini now versus then 8:17 living the lifestyle 13:50 challenges competing with your spouse 18:03 benefits of bodybuilding in regular life 25:33 overcoming disordered eating 28:17 growing in improvement season 32:05 finally going Pro 37:45 her approach to coaching 43:00 coming back to stage after having kids 48:00 is bodybuilding selfish? 53:15 consistency over perfection  56:39 faith in god 64:28 advice for competitors 

Ready to give MASA or Vandy a try? Get 25% off your first order by going to http://masachips.com/IRON and using code IRON.Watch the video podcast of this episode here: https://generationiron.com/victor-martinez-worst-bodybuilding-exercise/Visit the Generation Iron official website for exclusive video content, feature films, and more: https://generationiron.com/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/generationiron/Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GenerationIron/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GenerationIron

This episode sponsored by The Max Screen Printing LightSpeed VT: https://www.lightspeedvt.com/ Dropping Bombs Podcast: https://www.droppingbombs.com/ Ray Minger hits Dropping Bombs with a raw masterclass on resilience, discipline, and building a million-dollar empire from scratch. Starting as a teen bodybuilder obsessed with gains, Ray shares how tragedy sparked his passion, pushing him to championships, and learning the hard way about bodies, booze and bad decisions. At his peak, a massive heart attack nearly ended it all—until he walked out on that dire prognosis and rebuilt stronger.   After building The Max Screen Printing into a 7-figure company, Ray reveals his new mission: "Age Better," a movement beyond apparel into discipline, stoicism, and longevity—because quality of life beats quick fixes. He warns about the "dark side" of bodybuilding (steroids, heart risks) and shares tactics for dark seasons, the reality of injuries, plus tips on scaling businesses. If you're bored at your current level or rebuilding after setbacks, this conversation will push you past excuses and into action. Watch now and age better—in business and in life. [Insert Timestamps here]  

James BoBo Eason, if you know him, we wanna talk to him, he's a legend The “Ancient Wonders of the World” have changed now, and we have questions

In this episode, Eric Trexler and Eric Helms begin by discussing Helms' competition updates and the sad state of affairs in academic publishing (that is, scientific journals). Eric and Eric then take a deep dive into the complexities of central fatigue, systemic fatigue, the accumulation of fatigue, and deloading strategies. The conversation emphasizes the importance of personalized approaches to recovery and the role of intensity in achieving hypertrophy. They close by discussing misconceptions surrounding fatigue management in bodybuilding, the necessity of understanding the mechanisms behind muscle growth, and how current trends in "evidence-based content" are leading new lifters astray. If you're in the market for new lifting gear or apparel, be sure to check out elitefts.com and use our code (MRR10) to get a 10% discount. Chapters 0:00 Introduction and Helms Bodybuilding Updates 5:17 A New Threat to the Integrity of PhDs 8:25 Academic publishing (i.e., scientific journals) is so over 26:52 Understanding Systemic and Central Fatigue 41:31 Holistic Approaches to Deloading and Fatigue Management 1:00:42 Tiger Balm and Icy Hot 1:08:04 Cardio (To Build Work Capacity for Bodybuilding) 1:15:41 Current trends in "evidence-based content" are leading new lifters astray

Thanks to the continued rise of body-image pressure that has been fed and fueled by marketing and social media, our teenage boys are being encouraged to engage in what's called “Testosterone-maxxing”, or “testmaxxing.” The practice involves attempts to increase male hormone levels through the use of hormone medications. A host of social media influencers have been building their following of teenagers young and old alike, some barely into puberty, feeding the narrative that to be a real man you must have bulging muscles and washboard abs. This trend is fueling a rise in unrealistic body expectations, dissatisfaction with one's body, and dangerous medication trends. And thanks to the algorithms, our curious kids who seek information on bulking up in this way will continue to receive more and more information, thereby driving them deeper and deeper into this dark hole. Parents, monitor your boys, and teach them that their identity is not to be found in their muscle tissue, but in Christ.

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Covering the bottom line basics that you can follow and have the results you desire

From aircraft maintenance officer to professional fitness champion to executive coach, Tanji Johnson Bridgeman '97 has exhibited leadership on many stages. SUMMARY In the premiere episode of Focus on Leadership, she joins host Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz '99 to share how resilience, self-care and feedback transform challenges into growth — and why caring for yourself is key to leading with presence and impact.   SHARE THIS PODCAST LINKEDIN  |  FACEBOOK    TANJI'S TOP 10 LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS Lead with a Whole-Person Approach: Effective leadership requires nurturing mind, body, and spirit, not just focusing on one aspect. Reframe Failure as Feedback: View setbacks as events and learning opportunities, rather than personal flaws or endpoints. Consistency Over Perfection: Strive for regular, sustainable effort and give yourself grace rather than aiming for flawless execution. Self-Reflection Builds Authenticity: Regular reflection (e.g., journaling, meditation) helps clarify values and stay true to yourself as a leader. Executive Presence Matters: Project confidence through body language, eye contact, and purposeful communication to influence and inspire others. Take Inventory and Set Self-Care Rituals: Assess mental, physical, and emotional health, then develop small, habitual self-care practices to maintain energy and focus. Recognize and Address Burnout: Leaders must be attentive to signs of burnout in themselves and others, emphasizing rest, breaks, and boundaries. Normalize and Model Wellness in Leadership: Leaders should model healthy habits and make personal wellness a visible priority to support team well-being. Focus on Connection and Service: Shift focus away from self-doubt by being intentional about serving, connecting, and empowering others. Adapt and Accept Change: Growth requires adapting to new realities, accepting changes (including those related to age or circumstances), and updating strategies accordingly.   CHAPTERS 0:00:06 - Introduction to the podcast and guest Tanji Johnson Bridgeman. 0:01:07 - Tanji shares her journey from the Air Force Academy to wellness and leadership. 0:04:13 - Discussing wellness strategies and advice for cadets and young leaders. 0:12:10 - Recognizing burnout, setting boundaries, and maintaining consistency in habits. 0:17:39 - Reframing failure as feedback with examples from Tanji's career. 0:27:58 - Exploring the concept of executive presence and practical ways to develop it. 0:38:07 - The value of authenticity and self-reflection in leadership. 0:44:21 - Creating sustainable self-care rituals and adopting healthy habits. 1:00:54 - Emphasizing wellness in leadership and the importance of leading by example. 1:02:18 - Final reflections and a summary of key takeaways from the episode.   ABOUT TANJI BIO Tanji Johnson Bridgeman graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1997, where she distinguished herself by navigating the rigors of cadet life with both determination and initiative. As one of the first women to serve as Group Superintendent during Basic Cadet Training for the Class of 1999, she honed her leadership and public-speaking skills by addressing hundreds of incoming cadets nightly. Following her commissioning, she served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force — initially in the Academy's admissions office as a minority enrollment officer, then as an aircraft maintenance officer at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, where she led over 200 personnel across six specialties supporting KC-135 air-refueling operations. After four years of service, Tanji pivoted to a second career in fitness and wellness, becoming an 11-time professional champion in the International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness (IFBB) and competing for 18 years in 54 pro contests. She later leveraged her competitive success and military-honed leadership into executive-presence and lifestyle-coaching, founding the “Empower Your Inner Champion” brand and offering keynote speaking, coaching, and wellness solutions.    CONNECT WITH TANJI LinkedIn Instagram: @OriginalTanjiJohnson   CONNECT WITH THE LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP PODCAST NETWORK TEAM Ted Robertson | Producer and Editor:  Ted.Robertson@USAFA.org Send your feedback or nominate a guest: socialmedia@usafa.org   Ryan Hall | Director:  Ryan.Hall@USAFA.org  Bryan Grossman | Copy Editor:  Bryan.Grossman@USAFA.org Wyatt Hornsby | Executive Producer:  Wyatt.Hornsby@USAFA.org      ALL PAST LBL EPISODES  |  ALL LBLPN PRODUCTIONS AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS     FULL TRANSCRIPT Guest, Tanji Johnson Bridgeman '97 | Host, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz '99   Naviere Walkewicz 0:00 If you love the Long Blue Leadership podcast, you'll want to discover Focus on Leadership, a Long Blue Leadership production of the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation. Here on Focus on Leadership, we move beyond the “why” and dive into the “how,” exploring the habits, mindsets and lessons that turn good leaders into great ones. In each episode, host, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz, Class of '99, sits down with accomplished Air Force Academy graduates and other influential leaders to uncover their stories, their insights and real-world actions that drive excellence. Focus on Leadership: Offering impactful and actionable lessons for today's exceptional leaders. Without further ado, sit back and enjoy this premiere episode of Focus on Leadership. Naviere Walkewicz 0:58 Welcome to Focus on Leadership, where we take a close look at the practices that make strong leaders even stronger. I'm your host, Naviere Walkewicz, Class of '99. Today we're joined by Tanji Johnson Bridgeman, Class of '97, an Air Force Academy graduate whose journey has taken her from aircraft maintenance officer to professional fitness champion, American Gladiator known as “Stealth,” entrepreneur and executive coach. Tanji is here to teach us about leadership through the lens of health and wellness, how caring for yourself physically and mentally fuels your ability to establish presence and lead others with confidence. Tanji, welcome to Focus on Leadership. Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 1:36 Thank you, Naviere. It is so good to be here. Naviere Walkewicz 1:40 Such an honor to see you. I mean, as a ‘99 graduate to have a ‘97 trainer here in the presence, I'm already feeling wonderful. And you know, it's been about 10 years since you've been at your academy. How are you feeling? You came back last evening. What are your thoughts? Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 1:54 Wow, I was here nine years ago for my 20th reunion. I just feel so much gratitude. I mean, it's so surreal. Even last night, we went to work out. And you know, you're driving up the hill towards Vandenberg, and all these memories are coming back to me from the good times. But the biggest thing I'm feeling is pride, you know, pride and gratitude. Because, you know, we don't always reflect, but just being here, it forces you to reflect, like, this is where it all started. I mean, it really started with my upbringing, but the Air Force Academy, my experience here, laid the foundation for who I became, and I'm so grateful for that. Naviere Walkewicz 2:29 Well, let's go back to the fact that right off the bat, you got off the plane, you met me and we went to work out. So wellness, no joke, is right at the top of your foundation. So how did you get into this space? Let's kind of introduce that to our listeners, because I think it's important for them to really understand the depth of what wellness means. Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 2:46 Well, the funny thing about it is I never would have imagined that I would be doing what I'm doing today, because I was a die-hard — I thought I'm going in the military, and I'm staying in for 20 years. So when I was here, you know, I was on the cadet Honor Guard and I cheered, and that's when I fell in love with lifting weights. So I got into competing, even as a lieutenant, and I just I fell in love, and I turned professional. And so there was these transitions where I had an opportunity to be a professional athlete, and I took it, right? And so I became a professional bodybuilder, fitness champion. And then next thing you know, I'm on NBC's American Gladiators. That was wild. And so I did that for a while, and then I became a trainer and a coach and a promoter and a judge, and did all the things bodybuilding. And then I retired in 2016, and that's around the time I met my husband, and so really that's when my real wellness journey began. Because prior to that, it was heavily around physical fitness, but wellness for me began when I transitioned and retired from competing. And really, I had to figure out what is my fitness life going to look like, because it's not going to be working out three times a day on a calorie-deficient diet. Naviere Walkewicz 3:57 Three times a day… Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 3:58 Right, none of that. I was like, I'm done. I'm done. But I really had to design the rest of my life and really figure out what that was going to look like. So I got into functional medicine, health coaching. I married a chiropractor, so we believe in holistic medicine, and that's where it started. Naviere Walkewicz 4:13 Excellent. And so this is not a traditional career path. So let's kind of go back to the cadet mindset. For example: How would you — knowing what you know now — maybe talk to yourself as a cadet, or actually, cadets that might be listening, of what they should be thinking about in this priority space of wellness, in leadership? Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 4:30 Absolutely, I think that's a great question. The disadvantage for young leaders, whether they're cadets or lieutenants, is that they don't have the luxury of having a lot of life experience. And so building a foundation is important, and it takes mindfulness and just, “What should we be aware of?” So what I would want to impart on them is to adopt the philosophy of looking at wellness from a whole-person approach, because high performance is going to demand it. And so when I say whole person, wellness is multi-dimensional. So we want to look at the mindset, we want to look at the body and we want to look at the spirit, and being able to start from a place where you're going to go into all of those. Naviere Walkewicz 5:13 Well, as a cadet, there are so many hats they have to wear. No pun intended. They have to be on top of their game in the academic space. They have to be on top of the game in the military, and then also athletically. Can you talk about, or maybe share an example as a cadet, how you navigated that journey of wellness and what that looked like? Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 5:32 Well, let's go back to — so I didn't get a chance to break down. So mind, body, spirit. Why is that important? Because in anything, any philosophies that we adopt, we have to really see where it's important. So when you think of what is an officer, what is a leader going to have to do with their mind, this is where they have to have clarity. It's going to help with focus, creativity to innovate new solutions. And so we need to be able to prioritize our mindset and our mental health. And then there's the body, right? So a lot of us are going to be going on deployments. We're going to work long hours. Our body is what's going to give us the fuel and energy and the stamina to get through a day. It's literally bringing our energy. And then you think about the spirit, and this one is really special, and it's probably the most neglected. So when you think about the spirit, this is where you're going to anchor in with your emotional health. What is your purpose? What is your “why?” You know, earlier today, I was having a great discussion with Gen. Marks, and he shared with me that one of his goals for the cadets is that when they graduate, you know, they're going to be committed to being leaders, but are they committed — like really committed — and bought in to knowing what their purpose is going to be? And I think that a big part of that is being able to explore their spirit in advance, so they can discover their identity and their strengths in advance and to be able to go off into the leadership and fully own it. And so an example that I would like to present: When I was coaching bodybuilders and female athletes, I remember I started a team. And now this is going to be a team of women that they have the common goal of competing. So they're trying to pursue physical excellence with how they transform their physiques. But what I did was I brought this team together, this sisterhood of women. So a couple of things that I wanted to see, I wanted sisterhood and support. I wanted them to have the commonality of the same goal, and I wanted them to be able to support each other, and I wanted to be able to support them by elevating their mindset. And so one of the things that I did that was really unique at the time, that a lot of other coaches and leaders weren't doing, — when somebody wanted to work with them, they just sign them up. But I would have a consultation. It was kind of more of an interview, because one of the questions I would ask is, “Naviere, why do you want to compete?” And then I'd give them examples, like, you know, “Is this a bucket list? Are you trying to improve your health? Is this for validation and attention? Is this because you're competitive? Because, if you're competitive, and you're telling me that you just started working out last year, maybe we need to wait a couple of years.” You see what I mean. So when you go back to the “why,” it keeps you in alignment to move forward, in alignment with your why, but a lot of people don't know what that is, and sometimes all it takes is asking the question. Naviere Walkewicz 8:17 So the question I'd love to ask you then, is going back to the cadet side, because I think talking to Gen. Marks and the purpose piece, you know, you actually, I think as a cadet, remember, you were on Honor Guard. You were also a cadet… I think you were the cheer captain of our cheerleading team. I feel that that is such a great testament to the fact that you have to figure out, you know, the purpose of, how do I do more and give more and still stay connected to my purpose of where you said in the beginning, “I was going to serve 20 years in the Air Force.” How do our cadets get that same level of interviewer coaching with someone without having that life experience yet? Like, what would you share with them now, from your learning experience? Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 8:55 So when I think back to… OK, so when you look at wellness, and you think of mental wellness, physical wellness, emotional wellness, you know, I think what happens here at the Academy — and I remember starting this way — we prioritize physical fitness, right? I remember being in that fight-or-flight mode like, OK, if I can just show that I am, you know, prioritizing physical fitness, that strength is going to get me respect, and I could definitely feel the difference in how I was treated. The problem sometimes with prioritizing physical fitness… It's great because, you know, it can strengthen your mind. So if your body's feeling strong, your mindset is strong, but it becomes problematic when your body fails. So what happens when you fail? And I have plenty of stories and memories, my goodness, of being on Honor Guard, one that I remember distinctly is, you know, if you had me doing push-ups or pull-ups, oh, I was in a zone. I was impressing everybody. I was passing all the tests, but you put me in a formation where the short people are in the back, you throw a helmet, M1 Garand, and we have to go run 3 miles now, now I'm falling out and I'm getting exhausted. And you know, the body goes — the stress goes up, the blood sugar goes down. It's just physiology, right? And so what happens is, now mentally, my mind is becoming weak. So when the body fails, my mind is getting weak,   Naviere Walkewicz 10:13 And you've been training your body right? Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 10:14 Right, right. And so I look back, and I just, I remember those days in Honor Guard where I would feel doubt, like, “Am I going to make it do? I deserve to be here? Am I good enough?” I would feel discouraged, right? And I would go back to my room and then something happened. So after about two weeks of suffering through this pain and this big challenge, I remember thinking, “Gosh, every time they beat me down physically, I feel so weak mentally. But I was in my room and I remember having anxiety for the next day, like, “Oh, I'm going out there again.” And for some reason that meme, you know, with the Asian guy that says, “But did you die?” Right? That's always in my head, and I remember saying that to myself, like, “It was hard. Today was hard, but did I die?” No. And actually, after two weeks, I'm like, “It's actually getting easier,” like, because I'm getting more fit, right? I'm able to do the push-ups. I'm running further. And I remember that was the mindset shift where I realized, “OK, now, tomorrow, when I go out to practice, I'm not going to be as afraid, because I've already decided that I can do hard things.” And so now, when I was enduring the practice, right, and the leadership of my Honor Guard cadre, I was prepared with that mental strength, right? And so that's what we need. We need to be able to train so that when our body fails, our mind prevails, right? Naviere Walkewicz 11:39 Love that — those three facets of wellness, and that's a really strong way to explain it. And so you gave a couple examples about when the body fails, so when we think about how we're wired, and I think many of us are this way, as cadets, as graduates, as those who really want to succeed in life, right? Thinking about resilience, how do we balance? Or maybe balance isn't the right word, but how do we make sure we're very mindful of that line between healthy discipline and then harmful overdrive. How do you navigate that? Maybe, what would you share with some of our listeners? Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 12:11 Well, you were asking like, how do we recognize when it's happened? You know, the good news is, your body will leave clues. You will have emotional clues, you will have physical clues, you're going to have behavioral clues. Your body will leave clues. So the first thing is, I think that if we can be willing to evolve — you know, look at what culture are we in now, like you and I, we come from a culture where the philosophy was grit at any cost. Push, push, push, push, and drive, drive, drive. You know, I think about, as an athlete, you know, especially if you're motivated. You're thinking, when I was training my body, I remember thinking, “I want to get these results, and so I'm going to do what it takes. So every day I'm doing the lifting, I'm eating the food, and I'm going to train every day.” And I remember on that seventh day, you know, I had done all the things, I took the supplements, I got all the sleep, and I went in to train, and my body was exhausted. And it's because I was physically burning out, and my body needed the rest. And then it really transferred into how I would choreograph my training and so with routine. So I was a fitness competitor. I did these fitness, crazy fitness routines where I'm doing push-ups and squats and gymnastics and flying around, right? And it's two minutes long. So think of doing like a crazy CrossFit routine for two minutes straight without stopping, and smiling. And so I remember being strategic, right? And how I would lay out those practices athletically, where I would do a portion, 30 seconds — I would train 30 seconds at a time, and then the next day I would do the next 30 seconds, a week later I would go for about a minute. But the part I want you to know is, right before the competition, I would decrease that training load. I would actually do less, because the year that I trained full out, all the way up into the competition, I didn't do well on stage because my body was exhausted. So again, our body is going to leave us clues, and we have to be willing to evolve, to say that self-care — it's not selfish, but it's strategic. And so we need to pay attention to those signs, because we're going to have a choice to either pivot and be intentional and strategic with taking care of ourselves, or we're going to stay stuck in this old-school thinking that's not going to serve us. Naviere Walkewicz 14:38 So if it's not the body telling you — because we talk about how wellness is more than just physical — how do you recognize signs on the spiritual side, on your emotional side, that you might be in this harmful space of it's too much give, give, give, and not enough fill, fill, fill. Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 14:55 I think that's a great question. So here's some telltale… So going back to physical, you know, like the examples I gave, you're going to feel exhausted, you're going to have muscle tension, you might even start to have stomach issues. Those are all great physical signs that you're reaching burnout. Now, when you think of mentally, if you notice emotionally and mentally, that you start getting irritable and you've become more impatient and you're having a harder time making decisions, those are also great clues that mentally, you're starting to get burnt out. And then when you think of behaviorally, you know, let's say you had a great morning routine, and now all of a sudden, you find yourself in this season where you've abandoned that, or you have deadlines that you're usually very protective, and you can get things done, but now you're starting to procrastinate, and you're thinking like, “Who am I right now? I'm procrastinating. I've abandoned my wellness routine. I'm not even… I don't even have a morning routine.” That's when you should really step back. And I think one of the practical tools that everyone can do is check in with themselves on a regular basis. So I'm being very transparent. I check in with myself daily. So let's say I do three back-to-back hours of Zoom calls: Maybe ones with an executive coaching clients. Maybe another one is a team Zoom, where I'm training a group of folks, and then another team meeting. After that three hours, I will stop, and I'll check in with myself, and I'll take a deep breath and say, “How am I feeling? Do I feel like getting right back on a call? No, my brain is fried right now.” And then I'll pivot and I'll go take a 10-minute walk around break. And that's just one of my strategies. Naviere Walkewicz 16:30 So it does… A check in doesn't have to be this grand “I take time off and I spend a week.” It literally could just be a few minutes of [breathes deeply] and check in with yourself, because I think sometimes time is a challenge as well, right? We talk about, how do we prioritize all these things and we're within this 24-hour period. How do we make sure that the time piece is something that we can also utilize to take care of ourselves, and so when you said it doesn't have to take a lot of time to check in. Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 16:58 And think about it. So we just talked about how to check in with yourself daily. What about like in your career? You know, I was helping physique athletes with poise mastery, basically teaching posing to athletes for over 15 years, and towards the end of that career, what I started to notice when I would mentally check in with myself, is I would notice that as I was driving to the office to go work with another client, I just did not feel as energized. I didn't feel as passionate. My motivation was going down, and this was a sign for me that I was getting burnt out from this specific way of serving, and it was my first clue that it was time to pivot and to look at something else. Naviere Walkewicz 17:38 That's really interesting, because when you think about when you're making big decisions, whether in career, whether in leadership or just, you know… The fact that you have these signs help you make those decisions, but I also wonder if it helps you at times think about part of the growth is maybe not totally pivoting, but it's recognizing that I'm supposed to go through this period of hardship. So what I'm kind of alluding to right now, is failure, right? So failure, as we go through some of our experiences are inevitable, right? How do we make sure we're using failure in a way to grow, as opposed to the easy button of, well, I failed, so I'm pivoting. Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 18:18 OK, so that would be like a reaction. You're reacting to what happened, and you think what you need to do is flee from it. So you have to be able to discern, “Am I pivoting because I'm afraid, or because I feel like I'm not good enough, or because my purpose and my spirit is telling me that my work is done here, and I'm looking for innovation.” I'm looking for something new. I'm looking to impact new people. So going back to failure — like public speaking, it's one of the top two fears, right?   Naviere Walkewicz 18:52 What's the other? Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 18:53 Oh, public speaking, flying, swimming [laughs]. No, I'm just kidding. Only if you grow up like me. But going back to failure, I think that people fear failure a lot because they make the mistake of connecting it to their identity instead of realizing failure is an event. It's not your identity. And so how many times do we do something, and maybe it's a competition, or it's an event or an application, and you fail. You don't get the desired result. It's an event. So what we need to do is reframe failure as feedback. That's it. So I have a great example. When I think about a great example of someone who was able to show in person, in reality, that when they failed, it did not disrupt their identity at all. So I don't know if there's any boxing fans out there, Naviere Walkewicz 19:46 Oh, we have some, I'm sure. Yeah. Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 19:47 The Canelo and Crawford fight, it was a couple weeks ago. Did you see that? Naviere Walkewicz 19:50 I didn't, but I did hear about this. Actually, honestly, I fell asleep. I planned to watch it. My husband watched it, but I fell asleep. Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 19:57 Oh, they went all the rounds, right? It was a great fight. Really, really great. You saw two physical specimens, you know, at the top of their game. They were both undefeated. I believe Canelo was favored to win, but he didn't. He lost the belt, right? And so Crawford wins. And so I'm always very intrigued with how people respond to failure when it's public, right? And so Crawford got to make his speech, and then when Canelo made his speech, you know, one of the first things they ask is, “OK, so you didn't get the result you were hoping for. You didn't win this bout. How are you feeling?” And he gave an answer that I totally didn't expect. He said, “I feel great.”   Naviere Walkewicz 20:39 Just like that?   Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 20:40 Yes. He was like, “I feel great.” He was like, “It was a great fight,” you know. He affirmed Crawford, you know, edified him. Talked about how great he was, you know, but he maintained his identity, and you could feel that in his spirit. He said, “I feel great. I came out here. I did a great job. I did what I was supposed to do. Obviously, there's room for feedback, to learn. You know, I didn't get the result I wanted. So whether it was endurance or I wasn't strategic enough, or I didn't prioritize my offense, there's feedback there.” He's going to learn from that. But he basically had such a great attitude. And he ended it by saying, you know, “I feel great and it was great time.” And I remember thinking like, “Wow, now there's an example of someone who did not own the failure and make it a part of his identity. It was just an event.” And his legacy will still be restored, right? And to be honest with you, it made me think about my own career. Naviere Walkewicz 21:31 Yes, so did you, have you experienced anything like that in your career? Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 21:34 Have I experienced failure? Over and over again. Naviere Walkewicz 21:39 And how did you respond in your, you know, the wellness side of it, when you think about, you know, what you're trying to do, your purpose. How did you use that? Did you use it as feedback? Or what did that look like for you. Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 21:50 So let's say in sports, if you don't win, then that event is deemed as a failure, right? And so if you think about it, I did 54, I've done 54 professional bodybuilding, fitness competitions.   Naviere Walkewicz 22:04 Wow. OK, what year did you start, just so we can get some perspective?   Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 22:06 I started in 2001 and retired in 2016, so about 17 years. And I won 11 of them. So that means out of, and that's a lot, actually. So out of that many, that means I lost all the others. And there's one particular competition that will always be dear to my heart, and it was the Arnold Classic. Yes, the Arnold Schwarzenegger. You know, he has this gigantic competition every year. And midway through my career, I started I got in the top five. So I would get fourth, and then the next year I'd get third, and then I'd go down to fourth, and then I'd get second, right? I think I got second maybe four years in a row. So basically, in my 10th year of competing, I finally won the darn thing. So Arnold comes from across the stage, and I'm already crying, and, you know, with his accent, “Why are you so emotional?” And there's a picture of me taking the microphone from him because I had something to say, and in that moment, because it was a special moment, I realized, yes, all of these years of failure, every time I competed, I missed the mark. I missed the mark. I missed the mark. But what did I do? I took that feedback and I went back and said, “What do I need to do differently? What does this mean? How can I improve my physique? How did I need better stamina in my routine?” And every year, I was coming back better and better and better. But guess what? So were the other athletes, right? And so when I won in that 10th year, I actually would not have had it any other way, because I don't think it would have meant as much to me. Because what was happening, I may have won the Arnold Classic on that day, but I was becoming a champion throughout that whole 10-year process. You see what I did there. So it's not your identity, it's an event. So if you look at it and reframe it as feedback, then you can leverage that and use it as an opportunity to win. Naviere Walkewicz 24:00 So failure, and we're going to say synonym: feedback. Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 24:03 Exactly. Naviere Walkewicz 24:04 I like that. Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 24:05 I mean, and I'll give you another example. So you know, I did my first TEDx Talk last year, and I was a part of this coaching group. And here's the thing: As leaders, we get to create and build culture. And I think it's very important for leaders to create a culture where they normalize failure and they teach their teams that it's meant to be for feedback. So encourage courage, and then help them leverage the failure or the mistake as lessons learned so that they can grow and move forward. So I'm in this coaching group, and they told us, “We're going to have you send out probably an average of 80 applications. Now we're going to guide you and tell you what to do, but every application is different, because the event promoters are different. So we can't tell you exactly what they all want, but you're going to find out when you apply.” So I remember applying, I think, to UCLA Berkeley or something, and I applied to do a TEDx Talk, and midway through my application, they asked me, what was my scientific evidence and proof of my theory and my great idea? And I didn't have one at the time. And I remember thinking, “I'm going to go ahead and finish this application, but yay, I just got some feedback that I need to include scientific data in my pitch and in presenting my idea.” And it was shortly after, I think I did five more applications and I got selected. And so now I have been so trained to see failure as an opportunity to grow and excel, that when I am afraid of something, I reframe it immediately, and then I actually look forward to it, like, “Oh my gosh, I can't wait to get out there and do this thing, because I'm going to get this feedback, and that's going to make me better.” Naviere Walkewicz 25:39 Well, I think that's really wonderful in the way that you frame that. Because, you know, in the military, and I was actually just at a conference recently, and they were talking about how failure should be a part of training. Failure is actually the most important part of the training, because when it comes time to actual execution, operationally, that's when we can't fail, right? So, like, you want that feedback through all the training iterations, and so, you know, the way you just, you know, laid that out for us, it was in a sense that, you know, you had this framework, “I'm getting feedback, I'm training, I'm training, I'm training.” And then, you know, of course, when you took the champion spot… Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 26:10 And I love… I think back to when I physically learned to appreciate failure was through weight training. And I know you've done it too, because can you go back and remember the first time you know, as a bodybuilder, when you lift weights, you're trying to grow your muscle, and to grow the muscle, the muscle fibers have to tear, and so there has to be a certain level of intensity and hardship in doing that. So if you're one of those people that you go to the gym and you're doing, you know, 15 easy reps, four sets, you never break a sweat, you're toning and you're getting some movement in, but you're not tearing your muscle fibers, and that's probably why they're not growing. So when I worked with the trainer and we were doing overhead military presses, and I physically felt like I was done at about 12 reps, but he was spotting me, so he just kept force repping me through six to eight more. I mean, until my arms were done, and I put my arms down, and they started to float up in the air. And he looks at me, because I'm looking at him, like, “Dude, what are you doing?” I'm like, “Wow, are you trying to hurt me?” And he just said, “No, but I do need you to learn that you're going to have to fail in order to grow and win.” And I was like… So then after that, we're going in the gym, like, “All right, Naviere, we're going to hit failure today. Oh yeah, we're going to learn how to fail.” “Did you fail at the gym last night?” “Yes, I did.” So in the bodybuilding community, it's celebrated. You know, it's a concept where that's we're trying to work through failure because we know it's on the other side. Naviere Walkewicz 27:34 Yes. Oh, I love that. That's fantastic. Well, and then you said you retired in 2016, so that was probably quite a transition in the fact where you had to… You probably have been doing all the wellness check-ins. “Where am I at? What am I thinking?” How did you make that transition into the executive presence space? Because it doesn't seem like it's a direct correlation from someone's body building to executive presence. Or maybe it is. Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 27:58 So, in in body building, I developed a niche. So I started off as a trainer, and then very quickly, probably because of some of my Honor Guard background, I mean, we did precision drill, and I just realized that I can… I learned things really easily, and then I can teach it. I can see something and break it down in detail and teach it. And so I got really good at doing that for the athletes proposing to where I was able to build a whole career and get paid really well through poise mastery. Now what I think? You know when I think back to all the things we had to do as a cadet, from standing at attention, keeping your chest up, you know, your chin in projecting we were all we were already starting to work on our executive presence, but we just didn't know realize it, right? And so in the real world outside of the military, where people are not building habits of standing up straight on a regular basis, they don't. I go into board rooms. I go to events where I see people get on stage. They're looking down, they're fidgeting, they're not making eye contact, they're speaking too softly. And so executive presence is the ability to project confidence in how you show up and the way that you communicate and how you get people to experience you, because, unfortunately, we live in a society where perception shapes opportunity. So as a leader, if you're not commanding that authority right off the bat, you may you may be missing the mark on being able to influence, and that's what leadership is. And so I was basically elevating all of these athletes to just present the best version of themselves, and in leadership, that's what we want, too. We all have strengths, we all have learned skills. We all have something to offer. But if we're not projecting and presenting our inner power externally, a lot of times we miss that mark, and I want to connect the dots. And that's kind of what hit me when I thought about moving into the executive space, is, you know, I can… sure I can teach you how to stand in front of a red carpet and some power poses, but it goes beyond that. It's how we communicate. It's our body language. And so there's, there's a lot of skills that can be learned. Naviere Walkewicz 30:09 Well, let's start with maybe just sharing a couple. How can our leaders, our listeners start to display a stronger executive presence every day? What's the first couple things you might have them start thinking about? Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 30:22 OK, so physically, I would start like, let's say with body language is eye contact. So my concern with this, the generation that we have now is they're dealing with a disadvantage that we didn't have to deal with. You know, when we were in school together 20 years ago, we were connecting all the time. It wasn't even a challenge. We were always together in person, building relationships, connecting, communicating. And now we're in a digital world where our attention is, is we're fighting for it, right? And so a lot of times I will watch people, and I realize whether they're going out to dinner and they are not maintaining eye contact because they're distracted, and they really haven't been, they haven't been trained to really be present. So for example, when you're speaking with someone and you're making eye contact with them. They feel seen,, you know? And so that's, that's one of the strongest ones. OK, Naviere Walkewicz 31:16 OK. I like that a lot. That's perfect. So as they're starting to think about the first thing is being present and making eye contact, from a — that's a physical standpoint. Maybe what, from a mental or emotional standpoint should be they be doing from a starting point for executive presence? Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 31:33 OK, so being intentional. So when you think about your leader, and let's say you're going to speak in front of the Cadet Wing, or you're going to start managing a team, or you're going to a networking event as an executive, and you're trying to pick up a few sponsors. Before you even go to the event, you can be intentional about who am I meeting with, what is my goal and how do I want them to feel. So when you think about networking, a lot of times, there's people, I have a client. You know, she hired me because she has a little bit of social anxiety. She's younger, and so she's on a board where everybody's older than her. So there's a little bit of that mental insecurity of, you know, “Am I good enough? Do I have what it takes? Are these people going to respect me,” right? And so she's coming into the situation already insecure, and she's thinking about herself. “How am I going to be perceived?” instead of going there, focused on connection, right? So if she was to go there and say, “This is who's going to be there. This is how I want to make them feel. So I'm actually going to be very intentional about asking questions that's going to connect with them, that's going to make them feel a certain way. If I want this audience to feel respected, what do I what do I ask them, and what do I say? What do I highlight? If I want them to feel accepted and warm. What can I say?” And so it just gives you more power to show up, be present and be intentional, and you'll feel more confident, because now you've taken the focus away from yourself to how you're going to serve others. Naviere Walkewicz 33:02 That is excellent, and that leads us into a bit of the mental piece of it, right, the mindset. So earlier, you talked about how you had a mindset shift when you were getting beat down in Honor Guard, you know, you're in the back, you know, because of the vertical challenge, and you're running, you know, and you're hanging in there, and you got better. Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 33:19 Well, it makes me think about when I was auditioning for American Gladiators. And again, I'm going to go back to this executive presence and where I use my mental training to serve me, so when I was auditioning, so if you guys don't remember, the old show was, there was no water, right? It was just everything was over big, you know, pillows and just a flat area, OK? So when I went in there to audition, I remember there was for the sake of diversity, there was like, two of everything. There was two Black women there, there was two redheads, two blondes. And I remember looking around thinking, “OK, both of us are not getting this job.” And so the very last part of the audition, after many rounds, is you had to go in front of the executive committee, and you had a one-minute pitch. You could say whatever you want, but they're all sitting there with their arms crossed, and you just get to go in there. And I remember thinking, “OK, I am shorter than her, but I'm more muscular. And, you know, she's been on tons of fitness magazines. She's, you know, super beautiful, more popular. I want to go in there, and I want to be intentional about showing them that what I'm going to present is the right fit for the show.” And so I walked in there and I called the room to attention. I used my Honor Guard diaphragm, and I called the room to attention. And then I went in and I started telling them about how during basic training, I was like one of the pugil stick champions. And they thought that was great, because we had an event for that, right? And so, you know, going back to that mental training, you know, part of it is just that intention of being prepared, you know, what is it that you want to achieve? What are you going to do? And then you strategize and have a game plan for how you're going to go in there. Now, another example: So once I got… I got the job, yay, right? And then we go to Sony studios, and I look at the set, and I realized that half of the set is over water. So half of the events, the joust, Hang Tough, the rock climbing, it's all over water. And you guys remember when I talked about a little bit not, not being a big swimmer. And so this was fascinating to me, but I didn't want anyone to know, because I didn't want to lose my job, right? And so here's where I tapped into my mental and mindset training. So as an athlete, I did this a lot: To preserve my physical body, because of all the gymnastics and routines, I didn't overtrain, because there's damage when you over train. But I would visualize myself going through my movements, and I would picture myself being successful, so I didn't visualize myself messing up or anything like that. And there was, there would be repetition after repetition after repetition. And so what I did to face that fear of having to do events that were going to land me in the water is I had to use logic, you know, so I literally would say, “OK, if I end up being in the joust and I get hit, I'm going to fall in the water. And this is how far away the edge of the pool is. I'm going to take a deep breath. I'm going to I know how to do the stroke, so I'm going to get over there.” But I had to visualize myself falling and then I use logic to just keep myself calm. So I visualize myself hitting the water and being calm, because I would prepare myself to be calm. If I wasn't, I probably would have panicked and drowned. And so I think back to that, and I never told anybody, but I was ready, and I was not afraid, because I had already went through the mental training to prepare myself to do something that I was uncomfortable doing. Naviere Walkewicz 36:50 And so did you fall into the water, and did it play out the way that you had mentally prepared it for? Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 36:56 So here's what's crazy. I'm probably not even supposed to talk about this, but the way they film some of these shows, they're not in sequence. So imagine that I'm filming a water event from Episode 1, 3 and 8. OK, well, for me, like, my third day there, I actually tore my ACL falling off the pyramid. And so, you know, those viewers at home didn't know that. So actually the answer is no, I actually didn't even get put into a water event because I got injured beforehand. But I was ready mentally. Regardless, I was actually disappointed, because I was ready to see that courage come to the surface. Naviere Walkewicz 37:32 Oh my goodness! These are all such wonderful examples of how you have really almost embodied wellness throughout your decisions as a leader throughout your career. I'm really curious, as you think about how you've been true to yourself in this journey, because there's an authenticity to you that only Tanji could bring. And so I'm wondering, how do you know who is your authentic self as a leader, and how have you continued to really show up for yourself in that way? Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 38:07 I think this is very important. And you know, my heart goes out to the young leaders, because, again, like I was saying earlier, they haven't had the experience yet. And I even remember when my sister, my younger sister, she was struggling to figure out what she wanted to do for a living, and she was a college graduate, and she still didn't know. And a lot of it is because when you don't have that personal life experience, you know — experience is a teacher. It tells you, it leaves clues. So when you don't have that, you kind of feel like you're just shooting from the hip trying to figure it out. And so what I think is important is to start the art of self-reflection early. I will never forget I was on a TDY during the Kosovo crisis. I was at RF Mildenhall, and I was a maintainer, and I remember having, you know, a lot, I think, over 200 troops over there, but it was kind of a lonely season for me, because all my peers were pilots, and they were all flying, and, you know, I didn't have anyone to hang out with, and I wasn't home, you know, I was, I was TDY. So I remember just spending my time. I would go to the gym, and then I would go for walks, and I did a lot of journaling. And I don't know why I had the foresight been but I would, you know, ask myself questions like, “Who am I? What matters to me? What values are important to me?” And the process of doing that really helped me solidify my identity. And so, for example, I knew that I thought self-love was really important to me. It was a value that I care about. So when I see people that are self-deprecating, they're talking poorly about themselves. They don't believe in themselves. This hurts my soul. It's a part of who I am, right? And so I've always believed in self-acceptance, you know. For me, as a Christian, you know, I want to celebrate how God made me and have that level of self-love. So when I was a cheerleader at the Air Force Academy, I remember I didn't have self-esteem issues with my body image. Nothing about it, right? And then I go off an become a professional fitness competitor — now I'm competing. And in that industry, breast implants were very prevalent and they were starting to get really popular. And it made me really insecure. So if you think about it, I did not change, but my environment changed. So as leaders, how often are we going to be in situations where your environment is constantly changing and maybe you feel that pressure to conform? And so in my environment, most of the women around me, as a means to an end, were getting breast implants to change how their body looked, to look more feminine, to be more accepted. And there's nothing wrong if that's what you want to do, but I remember feeling like, “Now I'm insecure about my body. Now I don't feel as pretty. Now I don't feel as feminine.” And I remember that being problematic because it wasn't in alignment with my identity. And so, again, knowing what my values are, I thought, “Well, I could go get the operation like a lot of people do. But this is problematic because I don't want to lead a life — and how am I going to go back and coach other women and lead a team if now what I'm saying is whatever is true to who you are and your identity, it's OK to abandon that.” And so, for me, that's why I chose not to have that surgery. And I started this journey — it took about two years — of being able to redefine beauty, redefine femininity. And this is kind of where all the different tools came in. So I started looking in the mirror and I would do positive — because it's self-taught. Instead of looking at my chest and saying, “You're flat and it looks masculine and you're not feminine enough,” I would say, “Girl, do you know what this chest cand do? We can do crazy push-ups.”  And I would say, “Wow, you're strong.” And over time, I changed how I felt about myself. And it was a very proud moment for me, because I look back, and that's why identity is so important. You need to take the time to reflect on who you are, what do you stand for, so that when those moments of pressure come, you're going to be able to make a decision to stay in alignment with who you are. Naviere Walkewicz 42:15 So you said — and maybe it's by grace — that you hadn't really planned. You just started journaling in those moments of quiet when you're feeling a little bit alone as TDY. Is that the best way, you think, to spend some time figuring out who you are? What's important to you? Or are there other tools you might suggest? Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 42:33 There's going to be multiple tools. You know, for me, I like to write. You know, for some people, they will pray and they will just ask a higher being to guide me and to make me more aware, make things known to me. For other people, they're going to meditate. You know, I liked journaling. I also have the strength of curiosity. And so, because of that, I was always not only asking myself a lot of questions, but I was asking other people too. And so, for example, if people don't have that strength of curiosity and they're thinking, “I really don't reflect very much and I'm never asking myself those questions,” you know, you don't necessarily have to journal it, but you can just take time to spend in reflection. But some of the work that I do, I take people through identity activation drills where I will list several, several different lists of values, different lists of strengths, and they'll think about each one and they'll really start to think about, “Let me think of a time where I experienced one of these strengths.” Or, “What's the last thing somebody celebrated?” Or, “What do people tend to tell me or complement?” And then all of a sudden they realize,” I didn't realize this was a strength, but, wow, this is a strength!” And now they can own it because they're aware of it.  Naviere Walkewicz 43:48 That is outstanding. So, you've really taken wellness into practice with everything you've done. You started to elevate others around you to have this ability to discover themselves and then have this executive presence. You know, if all the things you are doing, it takes energy. How are you… Because I know you talked about not overtraining and making sure you preserve that and doing mental reps. Is that really the special sauce? The mental training so that you don't find yourself in a period where you just lack energy and burnout?    Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 44:22 So basically, how do you sustain energy when it comes to wellness? So again, you go back to mind, body and spirit. So what I would do is I would — and this is for each person… You just break it down. You ask yourself, “OK, mind. How am I going to keep energy in my mind? What can I do?”  One of the easiest things to do is to just take a short break. So when I gave you the example of how my mind was working at full capacity for three hours straight. So when I was done, it needed a bit of a reset. And so what I do every day when I'm at home is I go outside and I visit with my chickens. So I have chickens and I have four cats. And so I will take a mental break and it's a habit for me now. I get up from the table and I will walk, because it decreases your stress hormones when you have movement, and I will give my mind a break and I will allow myself to observe. That's my favorite thing: I call it mindful walks where I just go outside and I will just take a moment. You know when they say, “Just stop and smell the roses.” No, seriously.   Naviere Walkewicz 45:28 Or the chickens…   Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 45:29 So the chickens make me smile because when I come out there I typically have treats. But they just come… They bumrush me.  So I go out there and they make me smile and then something wonderous will happen, like I might see my cat just sprinting up a tree and I'm just thinking, “Wow, what a hunter,” right? They're so fast. Then, you know, I see my dahlias that have been sprouting and I just can't believe how fast they grow overnight with sunshine. And that's just 10 minutes. And then I come back in and I instantly feel recharged and I sit down and I'm restored and ready to focus again on the next task. So, mentally, I like taking breaks. When it comes to physically, just getting into movement. And, you know, a lot of times people will think, “Well, I don't have time to go to the gym for an hour.”      Naviere Walkewicz 46:16 Or, “I'm tired already. How am I supposed to go workout?”   Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 46:17 Exactly. So when I think about the body, you know, there's four pillars that you can focus on. And if you feel like you're not mastering any of them, just start with one. So food is one. Food is fuel. And then we have hydration. You know, my husband's mom actually went to the hospital because she works all the time and she had been out in the sun and we discovered that she was dehydrated and it put her in the hospital. So sometimes when we're going after the mission and we're doing one task after — you know, when people forget to drink water and eight hours later you're dealing with brain fog, you're irritable, you don't understand what's happening. But you didn't fuel the body. So hydration, movement, food and sleep. So those are like the four pillars. And I would just ask yourself — so if I'm working with a health coaching client, I would say, “Out of those four areas, where do you want to start?” They'll say, “Sleep. My sleep health is terrible.” And then I can take it step further and say, “Have you heard of a thing called sleep hygiene?” They're like, “What's that?” “Sleep hygiene is literally, what is your sleep ritual? What are your habits to prepare for bedtime? Do you have a consistent bedtime? Do you decrease blue-light therapy? Do you put the phone away? Do you take a bubble bath to relax?” When you think about your environment and what your habits are, when some people tell you, “I do not feel rested,” we look at your sleep hygiene. What's going on? There's things that we can fix, and that's just with sleep. And so I ask people, “Where would you like to start? And you just pick one habit that you can commit to over time and once you've mastered that, you start to habit-stack.” Naviere Walkewicz 47:57 Amazing. So that was — you talked about, from the energy, when it comes to your physical and then your mental. What about from the spiritual side?    Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 48:07 OK, so, this is — and I think this is important because, again, I talk about the spirit is the anchor for your emotional health, right? And so you want to think about activities that's going to feed your soul and your spirit. Now I'll give an example. If you're going through, let's say, a season where you're irritable and you're feeling ungrateful and you're pessimistic and everything just seems bad. We're actually kind of in a season like that right now sometimes. One of the things I do — so this is just an exercise, but it's a gratitude process. Write down 100 things you are grateful for. I did this for three months straight. It took me about 20 minutes, but I got really good at it. And when you have to list out 100 things, you know, at first you might do 20 and you're like, “All right. Where do I go from here?” But you're forced to dig deeper. And when I came up with my 100 list, first of all, I would think about my husband. And 10 things, I would get specific. Grateful for his provision. Grateful for support, for his sense of humor, for his hot, fit body. You know, I'd just go down all the things, right? And then every day I'm grateful for my home, for my physical abilities, for my flexibility, my mobility. You're just in a different frame of mind. And anyone can get there if they choose to do an exercise or a prompt that shifts them from their current circumstance. And that's why I'm most passionate about empowering people that they truly can design their life utilizing these tools. Naviere Walkewicz 49:47 Can you share an example when you've seen someone that was maybe in that season…   Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 49:53 What kind of season? Negative season?   Naviere Walkewicz 49:54 In the negative season. And how going through some of these, kind of, wellness check-ins or activities — what did it allow them to do? What did it open on the other side that changed for them with your help?   Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 50:06 OK, so, one example would be we have social media; we have digital devices. And we can easily… Everything is about habit management and that's one thing I would tell people to do, you know? If you were to take inventory, look at how you live your life every day, and if you were to put every single action you did down as a habit — brush your teeth is a habit. Stop by and grab the Diet Coke is a habit. Sit down on the couch to watch TV is a habit. If you put it in a category of what serves you; what doesn't serve you. You know, one of the most…      Naviere Walkewicz 50:41 So first list out all your habits and categorize them?   Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 50:43 Right, right. So then you would recognize, “Oh my goodness. I have a habit of scrolling Instagram. Or social media.” And then you ask yourself how much time do you spend doing that. “Oh, I get caught up in a loophole of 30 to 45 minutes. And then what are you consuming? You know, so let's say the things that have happened in the last couple of weeks, you know, say something negative happens in society that's getting a lot of public attention and you're just ina rabbit hole reading about that incident over and over and over again. And when you're done scrolling, the question is, “How do you feel after that activity?” And most people would say, “I feel tense. I feel angry. I feel disappointed.” They list off all of these negative feelings. And so what I do is I help them realize, “OK, so does that serve you? Because you were in this negative health space, when you went to dinner with your family or when you went into this next assignment, how did you show up? How did you perform?” And then they realize, “Oh, wow. Not very well. I treated my wife like crap because I was irritable.” And so then you go back again. Your experience… We leave clues with how we're living our lives. So then you go back and you realize, “That is a habit I need to change.  And I just need to make a decision, and I have to have a compelling reason. So let's say you want to work on your marriage and you want to show up better for your spouse, but you're always showing up with negative energy because of this habit that you do right when you get home, then you can — so we just come up with a plan, and it's different for each person. You know, “What could you do that would be more positive?” “I could come home play a game with my kid, because, you know, my kid is amazing, and it makes me smile and laugh,” and you're in a good mood, you know? And this is why, if I am stressed during the day, I already know if I get exposed to my chickens, my cat, or just go outside, I'm so mesmerized by the beauty of nature. All of those things I know fill me in a positive way. And so I am very intentional and aware of when I need to shift, and I know what my go-to are. So when I work with clients, I help them discover what their database of go-tos are going to be. The first part is just helping them become more aware of when it's happening so they can decide to shift. Naviere Walkewicz 52:57 Right. So that awareness is really critical, but then the next step is probably the discipline and actually doing something about it?   Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 53:07 Right. Naviere Walkewicz 53:08 How can you take the lessons that you've had in bodybuilding, and then, you know, in all of your journey to help those now move from the awareness bucket to actually…   Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 53:17 To making it happen? So I think that the first goal should be consistency, not perfection, right? And I learned this the hard way as a bodybuilder, because in the beginning of my career, I hated dieting. I've always hated dieting. I love food.   Naviere Walkewicz 53:31 You and I are kindred spirits in that way.   Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 53:32 I don't mind being, yes, I don't mind being on a structured, you know, meal plan. But, you know, being on a strict diet can be hard, so anytime you set a goal to do something that is difficult, you know, the first thing that I tried to do was be perfect. So I would hire a coach, and my nutritionist would tell me, “This is what you're supposed to eat for meal one, two, three, four, exactly down to the macros. And maybe I would do great for three days. And then, you know, I would fail. I would cheat or have something I'm not supposed to have, and I would feel so bad again. Going back to a lot of these principles are coming back up. I was letting the failure identified me as a bad person, so now I'm feeling shame, and that's making me feel discouraged. And I kept doing this thing, like, “Well, I blew it, so I'm just gonna take the whole day off.” Like, how dumb is that, right? Like, there's four more meals you can eat and you're just gonna sabotage the rest of the four. So think about if I did that every day. So if you messed up every day and you sabotage three out of the six meals every single day, where would you be at the end of the week?   Naviere Walkewicz 54:31 Worse off. Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 54:32 Fat. [Laughs] No, I'm just kidding,   Naviere Walkewicz 54:33 Worse off than you were when you started.   Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 54:35 You would be, with no results.   Naviere Walkewicz 54:37 No more Oreos in the house so you wouldn't have to worry about eating them anymore. Tanji Johnson Bridgeman 54:40 So that's when I realized, “Oh, I'm getting caught up with perfection, and that's causing me to sabotage.” So then I changed. I said 80/20, 90/10, I just want to be consistent. And so when you fail, you know you give yourself that grace, right? And so I always like to say courage, grit and grace. You have to have the courage to do something uncomfortable, the grit to endure and then the grace to embrace when you've messed up and then move forward. And so the first thing I would do with wellness habits is, you know, you build one habit at a time, and you do what you can to be consistent, and when you fail, again, here's that theme, you take that failure as feedback. “Why did you fail? Did you get hungry? Did you have temptation in the house? Did you not set your alarm?” Right? You know? “What could you do differently?” And then you just recommit to being consistent. Naviere Walkewicz 55:31 That is excellent. So talking about everything, this has been a wonderful conversation. When I think about lasting impact, right? So you know, you've had this incredible journey. You've helped people understand how to be more aware of their wellness, how to take action, be consistent and really drive change. What is one challenge you might have our listeners take in the w

Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKIPEDIA at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.comThis week on the podcast, Mikki speaks to returning guest Brandon DaCruz — coach, educator, and one of the sharpest minds in physique and performance nutrition. Their conversation takes a deep dive into nutrient timing: what actually matters, what's been overstated, and where the science genuinely shifts outcomes in the real world.Brandon unpacks the long-debated “anabolic window” and why it's not as binary as social media makes it seem. He and Mikki explore how pre- and post-workout nutrition can affect not just muscle protein synthesis but muscle protein breakdown, training volume, recovery, appetite regulation, energy expenditure, and even how the body partitions fuel toward muscle or fat. They look at insulin sensitivity around training, cortisol's role in extended sessions, and how to structure peri-workout nutrition differently for fat loss versus muscle building. They also discuss carbohydrate timing, intra-workout fuelling, and the most persistent myths that still mislead lifters today.A conversation for anyone who wants to train smarter, not just harder — and understand the metabolic choreography that happens behind the scenes of every rep.Brandon DaCruz at his website https://www.brandondacruzfit.com/, and on Instagram @brandondacruz_Chasing Clarity https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-112-spot-reduction-is-it-possible-to-lose-body-fat/id1619611966?i=1000657394910Brandon DaCruz is an online nutrition and physique coach and sports nutritionist. He's also a National Level NPC physique competitor and an internationally published fitness model who's written articles and filmed educational content for publications like Men's Fitness Magazine and Bodybuilding.com. Brandon has spent over 13 years  working within the sports nutrition and fitness industries and has coached every type of client including Olympia Level professional men's physique competitors, college athletes, MMA fighters, CrossFit competitors, and lifestyle clients. He believes in blending what's been proven in the research with his own anecdotal and first hand "in the trenches'' experience to improve body composition, optimise performance and enhance health in order to help his clients achieve their goals whether that be building muscle, losing body fat, increasing performance and/or optimising health and longevity. This is what he refers to as his health-centric coaching model as he believes that improving one's health is the cornerstone to optimising their physical goals. https://podcast.mikkiwilliden.com/270https://podcast.mikkiwilliden.com/226 https://podcast.mikkiwilliden.com/300 https://podcast.mikkiwilliden.com/368  Curranz Supplement: Use code MIKKIPEDIA to get 20% off your first order - go to www.curranz.co.nz  or www.curranz.co.uk to order yours Contact Mikki:https://mikkiwilliden.com/https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutritionhttps://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/https://linktr.ee/mikkiwilliden

I am dropping the tea on the WTF I can't believe Jacey did that... SAME SISTER! Tune in to find out about the who, what, where, when why of this journey! Let's be friends on Instagram!

On today's episode of the SignatureCAST, "Bites & Bodybuilding" we dive into Raquel Tejada's journey to her first-ever bodybuilding show and the wild ride that comes with prep, nerves and stepping on stage for the very first time. We also go deep into our shared love of food, the cravings, the post-show fantasies and why we're foodies at heart no matter how strict prep gets. It's a fun, honest and entertaining conversation that blends bodybuilding grit with foodie passion. Tune in for laughs, insight and a whole lot of personality.Host: William Blazeski @williamblazeskiGuest: Raquel Tejada

In Part 4 of The General Muscle Podcast's bodybuilding rehab series, Lawrence is joined once again by Nick, Mike, and James to break down everything you need to know about subacromial shoulder pain — what it is, what to call it, and what it really means for patients and lifters. They cover the key clinical tests physios use to assess shoulder issues, when imaging is actually necessary, and red flags that might suggest pain is coming from somewhere else. The team also dives into practical modifications for common lifts that often aggravate shoulder pain — including bench presses, shoulder presses, rows, pulldowns, and lateral raises — plus evidence-informed rehab strategies to keep shoulders strong and resilient. Thank you for listening! Please take the time to screenshot the episode, post it onto to your Instagram story and tag Lawrence, James, Nick and Mike! Please take the time to leave a five star review on your podcast platform of choice as this is a great way to help the show! James' IG: @j.johnson.dpt Nick's IG: @nicklicameli Mike's IG: @mikerevivestronger Lawrence's IG: @general.muscle Physiotherapy Enquiries: lawrence@everybodiesphysio.com.au Coaching Enquiries: lawrence.grieve@ymail.com Use code "GENERAL" for 15% off at www.powersupps.com.au

The Running Man is a 1987 American dystopian action film directed by Paul Michael Glaser and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, María Conchita Alonso, Richard Dawson, Yaphet Kotto, and Jesse Ventura. The film is set in a dystopian United States between 2017 and 2019, featuring a television show where convicted criminal "runners" must escape death at the hands of professional killers. It is based on the 1982 novel written by Stephen King and published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman.The Running Man grossed $38 million on its $27 million budget in the United States, and opened to mixed reviews from critics. Disclaimer: The following may contain offensive language, adult humor, and/or content that some viewers may find offensive – The views and opinions expressed by any one speaker does not explicitly or necessarily reflect or represent those of Mark Radulich or W2M Network.Mark Radulich and his wacky podcast on all the things:https://linktr.ee/markkind76alsohttps://www.teepublic.com/user/radulich-in-broadcasting-networkFB Messenger: Mark Radulich LCSWTiktok: @markradulichtwitter: @MarkRadulichInstagram: markkind76RIBN Album Playlist: https://suno.com/playlist/91d704c9-d1ea-45a0-9ffe-5069497bad59 

In this week's episode of Bikinis After Babies, we welcome Brooklyn Goodsell, an IFBB Fit Model Pro, wife, mother and online coach.  Brooklyn's story is one that will truly resonate with so many women — especially mothers who have walked through the physical and emotional challenges that come after childbirth.  Brooklyn battled postpartum depression after the birth of her son 6 years ago— a mental health struggle that SO many women silently battle, yet so few openly talk about.  Brooklyn turned her deepest struggle into her greatest strength, using that pain as fuel for her transformation. Through relentless dedication, she rebuilt her body and mind, stepping on stage in the bikini division and eventually fit model this past year and earning her IFBB pro card at the 2025 Olympia Amateur after 10 years competing.Brooklyn shares how she navigated getting back on stage after having her son and working through the setbacks and obstacles that she faced along the way as well as making the switch to fit model in 2025 after a disappointing finish in her final bikini competition.  Brooklyn talks about the mental fortitude required to keep showing up as she battled for her pro card this season, eventually taking home that title and accomplishing her goal of becoming an IFBB pro!!  Brooklyn's story serves as a beacon of hope for women facing similar challenges, emphasizing that persistence and self-belief can lead to achieving one's goals.We hope that you enjoyed this episode and if so, we would LOVE it if you would rate, subscribe, and leave us reviews on how this podcast has helped you

David Bieber is an American-born former Marine and bodybuilder who became a notorious criminal in both the U.S. and the U.K. After being linked to a 1995 murder in Florida, Bieber fled the country under a stolen identity. In 2003, while living in England, he shot three West Yorkshire police officers—killing PC Ian Broadhurst and … Continue reading Episode 482: Bodybuilding Cop Killer David Bieber

In this conversation, Jim and Paul Oneid discuss the current state of gyms post-pandemic, sharing insights on the challenges faced by gym owners and members alike. They delve into Paul's personal journey of injury recovery after a severe quad injury, exploring the innovative rehabilitation techniques he employed. The discussion also highlights the importance of foundational training and the long-term commitment necessary for maintaining health and fitness. In this conversation, Paul discusses the importance of sustainable fitness habits, the role of relationships in coaching, and understanding client motivations. He emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to nutrition and fitness, focusing on abundance rather than restriction. The discussion also explores the application of peptides in health and performance, emphasizing the importance of monitoring and understanding their effects. Overall, the conversation provides valuable insights into coaching, nutrition, and personal development.  You can find Paul on Instagram @pauloneid https://www.instagram.com/pauloneid/Check out our gym (Third Street Barbell) at ThirdStreetBarbell.com https://www.thirdstreetbarbell.com/!Check out our podcast website: 50percentfacts.com https://www.50percentfacts.com/50% Facts is a Spreaker Prime podcast on OCN – the Obscure Celebrity Network.____  Hosted by Mike Farr (@silentmikke) https://www.instagram.com/silentmikke/ and Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). https://www.instagram.com/thejimmcd/Produced by Jim McDonaldProduction assistance by Sam McDonald and Sebastian Brambila. Theme by Aaron Moore. Show art by Joseph Manzo (@jmanzo523)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/50-facts-with-silent-mike-jim-mcd--5538735/support.

India's legendary coach Bhupender Dhawan on mindset, steroids, and building 63 champions & 5 Mr. Olympia medals.Bhupender Dhawan, India's legendary Dronacharya Award and Hall of Fame coach, opens up about the mindset, discipline, and training philosophy that built 63 international champions and brought home 5 Mr. Olympia (Pro Powerlifting) medals for India.In this powerful conversation with Gaurav Kapoor, Guru Ji shares lessons on mindset, steroids, natural bodybuilding, supplements, and the evolution of Indian bodybuilding from the 1990s to 2025.Who is Bhupender Dhawan?He's India's No. 1 Bodybuilding & Powerlifting Guru Ji — national coach (1994–2019), recipient of the Dronacharya Award (2000), and member of the World Powerlifting Union & British Powerlifting Federation Hall of Fame (2017).His students include India's best:

The best advice comes from experience, and this podcast is a perfect example. With over 30 years in bodybuilding, Mandeep, a certified physiotherapist, personal trainer, and nutrition coach, delivers a masterclass you don't want to miss. A must-listen! Full podcastImportant links:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ryan Fernando App⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Diet plan ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blood test ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cancer screening ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠All tests ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Socials:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link tree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Products: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1Chaze marine collagen ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Collagen cranberry flavor ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1Chaze ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wheatless book ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eating Secrets of Champions⁠⁠Find Mandeep here: Instagram YouTubeTime Stamps: 00:00 – Trailer00:56 – Introduction 2:43 – Fitness journey03:46 – Physiotherapy & recovery05:29 – Mind-muscle connection06:55 – Fitness myths09:37 – Gynecomastia & steroids20:20 – Importance of nutrition21:12 – Role of genetic testing23:00 – Bodybuilding basics24:40 – Weightlifting for women25:27 – Allergic to whey?25:50 – Nutrition tips for teens27:21 – Creatine cautions28:20 – Most useless supplement28:56 – Protein & constipation29:54 – Muscle maintenance & joint care33:28 – Advice for women35:55 – Choosing the right trainer38:10 – Muscle adaptation42:25 – Testosterone therapy48:18 – Bigger penis myths51:40 – Testosterone in women53:46 – Anti-ageing tips55:40 – Dr. Mandeep's inspiration58:47 – Outro

What does it truly take to step on stage as a female bodybuilder? Hint: it's not just muscle. Michelle MacDonald sits down with Loz Vickers, a natural bodybuilding phenom and a grounded voice in the women's fitness space. Together, they unpack what it really means to train hard, build muscle, and create a healthy, resilient mindset as a woman in fitness. Loz shares her raw experiences with body image struggles, recovering from disordered eating, and transforming into a figure competitor who thrives in the off-season. They also explore the mental discipline required for long-term personal growth, the hidden truths of prep life, and how strength training empowers women at any age. Whether you're a seasoned competitor or a woman seeking to redefine strength in midlife, this episode offers real talk, tactical tips, and transformational takeaways. Favorite Moments:Favorite Moments1:57 When Are You Really Ready for a Bodybuilding Contest?7:48 Why Mindset Outranks Genetics in Women's Bodybuilding Success20:54 How the Off-Season Builds Muscle and Mental Strength43:21 Strength Training as a Tool for Self-Belief and Confidence"The physique is just a physical representation of the mindset you've built." – Loz Vickers GUEST: LOZ VICKERS, ONLINE COACH & NATURAL BODYBUILDERLVFIT Website | 1-1 LVFIT Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | Podcast | Natural Bodybuilding Worldwide | TikTokFull Guest Bio: Loz Vickers is a natural bodybuilding athlete and coach dedicated to helping women find strength in every stage of life. As head coach of Team LVFit, she's known for her down-to-earth, evidence-based approach that fuses performance training with mindset development.Her own path from body-image struggles to competitive success shaped her belief that fitness is about far more than appearance—it's about discipline, confidence, and respect for your body. Loz now channels that philosophy into coaching women to lift with purpose, build lasting resilience, and feel powerful inside and outside the gym.CONNECT WITH MICHELLEWebsite | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | XFull Michelle Bio: Michelle MacDonald is the creator of the FITNESS MODEL BLUEPRINT™ and host of the Stronger By Design™ podcast. Known globally for her transformation programs, Michelle empowers women to redefine aging through evidence-based strength training, nutrition, and mindset practices. Since 2012, she has coached thousands of women online, leveraging her expertise as a Physique Champion and ISSA Strength and Conditioning Specialist. She co-founded Tulum Strength Club and established The Wonder Women (TWW), inspiring countless transformations including her mother, Joan MacDonald (Train With Joan™). Michelle continues to lead the charge in women's fitness, launching the Stronger by Design™ fitness app in fall 2024.Where to Watch/Listen:WebsiteAppl

Kris Gethin is one of the most recognizable figures in the global fitness industry, known for his role as the longtime Editor-in-Chief of Bodybuilding.com, his transformation programs, and his relentless commitment to physical and mental growth.In this conversation, Kris shares his philosophy and experience around personal transformation - physically, mentally, and emotionally.He dives into:• Why some corners of the industry resist the idea of “transformations”• How real transformations start in the mind before the body• Why being selfish can actually make you a better person• The power of surrounding yourself with the right people• The character traits that predict lasting success in fitness and life• When and why you might need to change your environment - or even your relationships - to sustain growth• Lessons from decades in bodybuilding and endurance sports• How Kris approaches hybrid training for longevity and performance• Whether something like Bodybuilding.com could ever happen again in today's social media era• Why we should all do more hard things• And much moreCHAPTERS00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:16 Meet Kris Gethin: Fitness Legend01:12 The Importance of Transformations03:27 Sustaining Weight Loss and Healthy Habits10:40 The Role of Technology in Fitness13:22 Selfishness vs. Selflessness in Fitness17:52 The Rise and Influence of Bodybuilding.com23:12 The Shift Towards Longevity and Biohacking25:39 The Importance of Purpose and Longevity27:44 The Impact of Social Media Algorithms29:46 Embracing Hardship for Growth35:26 Balancing Hybrid Training42:19 The Power of Digital Detox and Meditation45:27 Seasonal Training and Personal Fulfillment47:39 Final Thoughts and ResourcesSUPPORT THE SHOWIf this episode helped you, you can help me by:• Subscribing and checking out more episodes• Sharing it on your social media (tag me - I'll respond)• Sending it to a friend who needs thisFOLLOW ANDREW COATESInstagram: @andrewcoatesfitnessWebsite: https://www.andrewcoatesfitness.comPARTNERS & RESOURCESRP Strength App (use code COATESRP)https://www.rpstrength.com/coatesJust Bite Me Meals (use code ANDREWCOATESFITNESS for 10% off)https://justbitememeals.com/MacrosFirst (nutrition tracking)https://www.macrosfirst.com/KNKG Bags (15% off)https://www.knkg.com/Andrew59676Versa Gripps (discount link)https://www.versagripps.com/andrewcoatesTRAINHEROIC - FREE 90-DAY TRIAL (2 steps)Go to https://www.trainheroic.com/liftfreeReply to the email you receive (or email trials@trainheroic.com) and let them know I sent you

Watch the video podcast of this episode here: https://generationiron.com/victor-martinez-sam-sulek-2026-arnold-classic-prediction/ Visit the Generation Iron official website for exclusive video content, feature films, and more: https://generationiron.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/generationiron/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GenerationIron/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GenerationIron

Olympia 2025 for 212 bodybuilding shocked people. John Jewett took over Shaun's prep for Olympia and brought an unexpected package vs. Keone Pearson.The Bodybuilding-friendly HRT Clinic - Get professional medical guidance on peptides AND optimizing your health as a man or bodybuilder: [ Pharma Test, IGF1, Tesamorelin, Glutathione, BPC, Semaglutide, Var troche, etc]http://www.transcendcompany.com/nylenaygaRP Hypertrophy Training App: rpstrength.com/nylePlease share this episode if you liked it. To support the podcast, the best cost-free way is to subscribe and please rate the podcast 5* wherever you find your podcasts. Thanks for watching.To be part of any Q&A, follow trensparentpodcast or nylenayga on instagram and watch for Q&A prompts on the story  https://www.instagram.com/trensparentpodcast/Huge Supplements (Protein, Pre, Defend Cycle Support, Utilize GDA, Vital, Astragalus, Citrus Bergamot): https://www.hugesupplements.com/discount/NYLESupport code 'NYLE' 10% off - proceeds go towards upgrading content productionYoungLA Clothes: https://www.youngla.com/discount/nyleCode ‘NYLE' to support the podcastLet's chat about the Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trensparentpodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transparentpodcastPersonalized Bodybuilding Program:  https://www.nylenaygafitness.comTimestamps:00:00 – Intro02:31 - Catching up08:44 – Why Competing Overseas Is a Nightmare12:36 – Judge Feedback: Fuller + Chest/Quads20:51 – Shaun Clarida's Best Olympia Peak Ever24:00 – Rebounding After 2024 Olympia30:33 – Peak Week Strategy: Simple Always Wins32:27 – Managing Backstage Chaos at Olympia36:20 – Zero Diuretics for Shaun Clarida41:15 – Peaking Pro Tip: Start Simple44:41 – Data Logging = Perfect Peaks45:30 – Shaun's 182lb Magic Window48:53 – Fake GH? What Happens When It's Pulled50:01 – Clen Mistakes & Monster Carb Loads56:00 – Simple Peaks Beat Complicated Protocols58:30 – Martin Fitzwater's MONSTER Fill-Out01:00:47 – Sodium Strategy: 3–5g Daily01:06:57 – Backstage Snacks: Glucose vs Fructose01:12:10 – The 3-Exercise Pump Routine01:18:33 – Winstrol Experiment: Fuller but Softer01:25:28 – If You Could Only Run One Steroid…01:26:51 – SuperDrol: Bull Mode01:32:23 – Shaun's Training: Less Volume, More Gains01:38:40 – Fasted vs Fed Cardio01:43:04 – Steady-State Wins for Conditioning01:50:42 – Cutting the GI Protocol Down01:58:22 – Retatrutide Update & Lipid Focus02:00:14 – Masteron Muscle Myth Busted02:04:16 – Biggest Regret: Should've Hired a Coach02:06:09 – Pro Life: Keep Showing Up02:16:24 – Final Message

Covering the bottom line basics that you can follow and have the results you desire

Send us a textWelcome back to The Beyond Condition Podcast.All I have is my pride, but what happens when that is stripped away and you have nothing.I spent the majority of my life as a victim.Sexually abused as a teenager and into my adult life.Homeless at the age of 14, with nothing apart from the clothes on my back. As I walked the streets, with no shoes, shelter or food, I was a victim.I faced violence, gun crime and my own struggles with drugs and alcohol.Abuse continued in a different form as I spent 11 years in a relationship that looked like the perfect life from the outside.I've never spoken about one of the most humbling experiences of my life, when I tried to take my own life. As I bled, the pain of life seemed to fade. That day an angel must have been looking over me because now I am ready to tell my whole story.Today, I am grateful to be alive and to have the opportunity to share more about my journey with you.Thank you for tuning in.S xWatch it here: https://youtu.be/oj-9Qb7DQ6ETHE ULTIMATE SHOW DAY GUIDE E-BOOK: Purchase here Beyond Condition Coaching Application: Click here Find Sarah on Instagram: @sarahparker_bb

Send us a textIn this inspiring episode, Dr. Greg Dennis sits down with Dr. Ken Davis, D.C., a chiropractor and professional bodybuilder who proves that it's never too late to transform your body and your life. Remarkably, Dr. Davis didn't even start weightlifting until his 60s — yet today, at age 73, he's a competitive bodybuilder and the author of Holistic Bodybuilding: The Aging Antidote.Dr. Davis shares his journey from late-blooming lifter to champion athlete, offering valuable insights on fitness, mindset, and the power of consistency at any age. Whether you're in your 30s, 50s, or beyond, this motivational conversation will challenge your excuses and inspire you to pursue your best health ever.Key takeaway: Age is not a limitation — it's an opportunity to thrive.You can find Dr. Davis at:www.davisahs.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/kenneth.y.davis.2025

Seth has been bodybuilding for 38 years and has been a personal coach for nutrition and body composition change for 27 years. Seth's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachsethdunn/

Happy Thursday Cousins!!!

Dr. Dwayne N. Jackson, PhD in Neuromuscular Physiology, joins me to bring clarity, evidence, and nuance to one of the most hyped and misunderstood topics in modern fitness and medicine—peptides.With an extensive background in academic research, education, and business, Dwayne draws from his PhD work on peptides to help separate legitimate science from marketing myth.He shares expert insight on:• What peptides actually are and how they function in the body• Whether BPC-157 truly delivers on its “healing” reputation• The strength of current evidence behind popular peptide claims• Why sourcing peptides outside medical supervision is risky• The exciting—but complex—future of GLP-1 agonists and similar drugs• Whether microdosing GLP-1 medications holds any merit• The real science behind GLP-1 effects beyond appetite and fat loss• The growing danger of social media misinformation in bodybuilding and health• And much moreCHAPTERS00:00 Introduction to Dr. Dwayne Jackson and Peptides01:15 Understanding Peptides: Basics and Functions02:58 BPC 157: Hype and Healing Potential09:40 Safety and Regulatory Concerns of Peptides22:23 GLP-1 Agonists and Weight Loss29:46 Managing Hunger and Weight Loss Post-Medication30:29 RP Strength and the RP Hypertrophy App31:53 Caloric Intake and Weight Regain33:59 Microdosing in the Fitness Industry44:03 Bodybuilding and the Pressure to Stay Lean51:59 The Dangers of Easy Access to Performance Enhancing Drugs55:50 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsSUPPORT THE SHOWIf this episode helped you, you can help me by:• Subscribing and checking out more episodes• Sharing it on your social media (tag me—I'll respond)• Sending it to a friend who needs thisFOLLOW ANDREW COATESInstagram: @andrewcoatesfitnessWebsite: https://www.andrewcoatesfitness.comPARTNERS & RESOURCESRP Strength App (use code COATESRP)https://www.rpstrength.com/coatesJust Bite Me Meals (use code ANDREWCOATESFITNESS for 10% off)https://justbitememeals.com/MacrosFirst (nutrition tracking)https://www.macrosfirst.com/KNKG Bags (15% off)https://www.knkg.com/Andrew59676Versa Gripps (discount link)https://www.versagripps.com/andrewcoatesTRAINHEROIC — FREE 90-DAY TRIAL (2 steps)Go to https://www.trainheroic.com/liftfreeReply to the email you receive (or email trials@trainheroic.com) and let them know I sent you

Rick Valente is the guest on this episode of the Bodybuilding Legends Podcast. Rick is the author of his new book, My Life's Ride, and he talks about his life journey from growing up in Conneticut, moving to Florida and then finally relocating to Southern California. Rick also talks about training at Gold's Gym during the Golden Age of Bodybuilding and all the famous and influential people he met during this period of his life. At the end of the interview, host John Hansen reads the article "Rick Valente: Between Myth and Reality" written by Rick Wayne for the October, 1984 issue of Flex Magazine.  Links: John Hansen Fitness Programs Rick Valente book on Amazon Become a Patreon Member Bodybuilding Legends website

John Gaglione joins to discuss the evolution of powerlifting, coaching philosophies, and the importance of community in strength training. They explore the challenges of weight loss expectations, the significance of performance goals, and the shift in training approaches over the years. John shares his experiences in bodybuilding and the impact it had on his powerlifting journey, while also emphasizing the need for realistic expectations in fitness. The discussion also touches on the rise of strict curl competitions and the accessibility of strength sports, highlighting the importance of making fitness enjoyable and sustainable for everyone.You can find John on Instagram @gaglionestrength https://www.instagram.com/gaglionestrength/  All the info for the strict curl competition at Larry Wheels' gym in California> https://meets.revolutionpowerlifting.com/2026/01/17/larry-wheels-west-coast-curl/Check out our gym (Third Street Barbell) at ThirdStreetBarbell.com https://www.thirdstreetbarbell.com/!  Check out our podcast website: 50percentfacts.com https://www.50percentfacts.com/  50% Facts is a Spreaker Prime podcast on OCN – the Obscure Celebrity Network.   ____  Hosted by Mike Farr (@silentmikke) https://www.instagram.com/silentmikke/ and Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). https://www.instagram.com/thejimmcd/ Produced by Jim McDonaldProduction assistance by Sam McDonald and Sebastian Brambila. Theme by Aaron Moore. Show art by Joseph Manzo (@jmanzo523)Chapters  00:00 Introduction and Background02:02 Powerlifting Journey and Coaching Philosophy05:55 Bodybuilding Experience and Personal Goals10:06 Realistic Expectations in Weight Loss13:51 Lifestyle Changes and Community Support17:57 Training Culture and Powerlifting Evolution21:35 The Role of Coaching in Powerlifting27:50 Long-Term Goals and Consistency36:36 The Importance of Realistic Coaching Expectations39:38 The Dark Side of Bodybuilding Coaching40:21 The Evolution of Powerlifting Training Methods43:12 Long-Term Health in Strength Sports45:47 The Balance Between Competition and Longevity48:38 The Future of Strength Training and Coaching50:40 The Rise of Strict Curl Competitions01:06:26 Promoting Strength Sports AccessibilityBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/50-facts-with-silent-mike-jim-mcd--5538735/support.