The Chris Fluck Podcast: Recent Episodes
Chris Fluck
The Chris Fluck Podcast is a dynamic collection of podcast episodes, ranging widely from interviews with guests to editorials on health & lifestyle and much more. Chris Fluck, the host of this podcast, holds an extensive career in sports performance, personal coaching, and fitness, which has afforded him the opportunity to cultivate an unique perspective on the world, and, after several considerations and promptings, he seeks to share that perspective with listeners and visitors alike through the works of The Chris Fluck Podcast.
In this episode I sit down life coach Flo Zurkinden. This was a fun episode with a friend who I first heard about years ago as she finished second place in something aptly titled The Death Race!
Flo and I discuss her childhood in Switzerland, her start in running, and how as a young adult she was searching for an identity and being "a runner" became that. From there she went on to pursue many other athletic endeavors in the race world (half marathons, full marathons, ultramarathons, etc.) and had success in all but at one point realized that there was still something missing. She realized she was constantly on the chase for something more and that she didn't know just how to be.
In what she describes as divine intervention, a few serious injuries kept her from running and forced her to "just be". It is during this time that she came to understand that you are not what you do but rather who you are. Until you can be comfortable with who that person is, you will always be on the chase for something else.
There is so much more to this episode and I hope you all take a moment to enjoy it!
This episode focuses on a topic I am deeply passionate about and that is having a healthy relationship with sport. As we all know, sport provides a wonderful outlet for children to learn many great life lessons but over the years, it is as if we have lost sight over what is truly important as youth sport has become a billion dollar industry!
In this episode, we discuss anxiety, working alongside parents in trying to create a healthy sport environment, the accessibility of sport and the resources associated with it (access to good coaches, sport psychologists, fields, etc.), the importance of having hobbies and interest outside of sport and so much more!
I hope you enjoy this and if you like what you hear from Dr. Megan, check out her site at https://drmegancannon.com/.
Thanks for listening!
In this episode I sit down with a former coach of mine and someone I consider to be a friend and mentor Ben Chunko. Ben is the owner and head coach at Grit Mat Club located in Bethlehem, PA.
We touched on so many great topics and I think it is an episode all parents of athletes should listen to. One of my big takeaways was the importance of showing kids how to act. It is not "do as I say" but rather "watch what I do". If you can show the kids how to win, how to lose, how to train, how to learn, how to have discipline, they will then pick up on that and it will become a part of their lifestyle and help pave the way for success on and off the mat.
Ben has been walking the walk in this area for a long time and he greatly influenced me as an athlete and a coach. I am more than happy to see the success his program is having. He is a great asset to the community he serves and the sport of wrestling in general.
I hope you enjoy this one!
In this episode, Marisa and myself tackle many subjects over the course of this 75 minute episode.
We break down what exactly Marisa’s credentials, you get a glimpse of my “skill” in avoiding uncomfortable topics, parenting, getting berated by a coach, and so much more!
I hope you enjoy!
Hello everyone, welcome to the 12th episode of the Chris & Friends podcast!
In this episode, I share about my experience of getting shingles, break down the highlights from the past five guests, and share a story about the American Civil War that asks the question: Can we have peace without forgiveness?
I hope you all enjoy this episode!
One of the perks of doing this podcast is taking 75 minutes to sit down with a friend and just explore a variety of conversations. Molly and I live in the same neck of the woods but often times when we see each other, it is usually in passing or the conversations are rushed as we are doing something else. But not this time!
A recurring theme is in this conversation is that life has many stages. For Molly, she was a Division 1 runner who nearly ran the Olympic qualifying time for the marathon, then an educator, then a parent, and now she is finding time to pursue what she is truly passionate about: a career in fitness and coaching endurance to accomplish whatever it is they are pursuing.
I had a few favorite moments during this talk. The first part revolved around being a parent and navigating things like creating healthy habits, being careful using the word "should", coaching your children, and encouraging them to be on a constant quest to explore the many different things life has to offer.
The second part which happened to be my favorite was comparing life with being a house with many rooms. What this means is that you should not let one thing (or room) define who you are because what if that is taken away from you one day? This is a topic that can be applied to athletics, teaching, parenting, coaching, and even just being a lifelong pursuer of learning and experimenting with things.
In this episode, I meet with the man who gave me my first job in the world of Strength & Conditioning, Jason Brader. His resume is very impressive. He was one of the first guys in the area who really focused on building high level athletes and over the course of his career, has worked with thousands of high school, college and professional athletes.
If you can sum up Jason's life in one way it is facing and overcoming hardship. From working a newspaper route 7 days a week as a teen, to losing both parents as a high school student, to becoming a record setting running and All-American to adulthood where drinking and gambling really started to impact his life in a terrible way, Jason has been tested time and time again.
Some of my favorite parts of this episode is our discussion on manufactured hardship versus authentic hardship, moving through life with no safety nets, and filling the void within with the external (which doesn't serve you), rather than focusing inward.
Earlier this year I had the opportunity to meet Haley at one of our wonderful barn events. As the day was coming to a close, a few people stuck around to chat and this is where the conversations started to get a little more interesting. It is also where I got to know Haley. To say this women is multifaceted would be an understatement. She is a kindergarten teacher, a bodybuilder, a personal trainer and most recently, she added holistic health practitioner to her resume with a focus on breath work.
We covered a lot of topics over the course of 70 minutes but I will do my best to summarize. At one time in her life, Haley felt that she was not being heard. She was experiencing things that were not normal and felt stuck in life. She had a choice to make: accept my current lot or look for ways to change. She chose change and that decision led her on her ever evolving current path.
One thing that came perfectly clear over this episode is that Haley has a primal drive to serve others and is a seeker of knowledge. It was a fun chat, one in which I hope you all enjoy!
This was another fun one with the one and only Marisa!
This episode is filled with some great stuff. We talked about so many things but in the end, the central seemed to flow around the idea of your body keeping score of everything that happens to you, that with each life experience lies a choice, doing the right thing even when it is difficult, being authentic, and most importantly, Marisa grades my health in four different categories and one of the scores I receive is abysmal.
I hope you all enjoy!
About 11 years ago I was working as a strength coach and football coach at a local high school and it was during this time that I met a young Steven Rose. He was an undersized 8th grader with tons of motivation, a great attitude, and endless effort. Over the next four years, I coached him through hundreds of workouts and dozens of football games and none of those attributes he showed as an 8th grader ever changed. Even as an adult, he is still motivated to improve, always has a great attitude, and works hard in whatever it is he does.
Steven has spent the past few years working as a strength & conditioning coach working with a variety of clientele. Everything from helping me out with youth camps to working with D1 athletes, Steven's experience covers the full gamut.
During this conversation, we discuss working with high school kids and the value of showing up day after day, the importance of being a generalist before a specialist, how it is our job as a coach to sometimes pull back rather than push harder, that most decisions are not binary (yes or no) but rather multi-variable and most importantly, Steven reminded of something that a coach should always remember: To make the workout the best part of that kids day.
I really enjoyed catching up with Steven and I hope you all do too!
In this episode, I share a story on how I almost fell flat on my face, recap my first five episodes and what I learned from the incredible guests, discuss coffee use, anxiety, upcoming guests and most importantly, I beg for subscribers!
Thanks goes to all of those who gave a listen, I hope you have enjoyed the ride so far!
I feel like this was a therapy session for myself as I sat down with my friend Megan Duerring. We met over a decade ago at the now defunct LA Fitness in Easton, PA and have stayed in contact over the years. Our initial conversations centered around her incredible career as a runner that includes way too many records and championships for me to even attempt to write out. Nowadays, we talk about things like staying healthy, parenting, and dealing with whatever it is life seems to throw our way. Megan is a licensed professional counselor and owner of Conceptual Counseling Services in Easton, PA. During our chat, we hit on a bunch of great topics and I will list a few of my favorite.
The first is to always plant the seed for positive growth in others as you never know when it may sprout. One act of kindness or checking in on someone may be enough to get that person going in an improved direction. The second is that I appreciate her honesty on everything but can relate to why she does what she does. She wants to be the person her younger self needed. I respect that and feel the same way. Lastly, the main topic of discussion revolved around core values. We all value things and in order to grow, we should identify what they are. When we do this, we can then let our core values drive our decisions on the path of self-improvement. And remember, the dust always settles. Do not change your core values for acceptance into a group because eventually, your true self will shine through!
There is so much more here so take a listen and enjoy!
As I prepared for this episode, I thought back to a moment that brought us together 8ish years ago. I was working at my old gym and all of a sudden West walks in unexpectedly. It had been years since I last saw him and I had no clue what this drop in was all about. As we started talking, he proceeded to tell me a little about his past couple of years, his struggles with addiction, and shared his condolences regarding the death of my brother. He also shared that it was my brother who helped him get on a path of recovery and healing. This conversation has stuck with me for years as it seems even in death, my bro was still trying to help others.
This episode is filled with many great tidbits like how to deal with losing, that your future potential has nothing to do with your current status, doing things that you may suck at, that you cannot change the past but we can change the meaning, and one of my favorites: don't be a public success but a private failure.
I had a blast talking to my old friend Westley Morris hope you all enjoy this one!
One of the great things about doing these podcasts is connecting with old friends and Teagan here is someone I have known for close to 30 years!
In this episode, we discuss his life experiences which include working as an English teacher in 8ish countries (I lost count, sorry man), his time as an ultramarathoner, free diver, living in a van, preparing for the Appalachian Trail which he is hiking in March, and most importantly, I ask hard hitting questions like "Is it a prerequisite or requirement to have a thick, Forrest Gump-like beard prior to hiking the trail?"
I hope you enjoy this episode!
This was a fun conversation!
First and foremost, Darin is a great guy who is always down for an interesting conversation. He is a 2nd generation chiropractor and owner of Vitality Natural Healthcare Center in Macungie, PA.
Over the course of this episode, we touch on the beauty of music, the punk scene of the 80's and 90's, finding greatness within every day, the three T's (thoughts, toxins and trauma's), and much more.
I hope you enjoy!
In episode one, I sit down with the person I consider to be my number one: Marisa Mangiameli!
Marisa is a certified health coach who does wonderful work with those suffering from auto-immune ailments as well as mothers searching for a little burst of life and energy. Her experiences and story led her down this path of healing and I think it is important to hear for anyone who may be feeling off, have been diagnosed with something that they are struggling to manage, a parent, or anyone else who knows us and wants to see what our banter is like!
I hope you enjoy!
A few times in my life, actually more than a few, I have gotten myself into a bit of a jam. There is always work to be done and at times, I feel that I keep working with very little consideration to how I am feeling or handling the stress of whatever life throws at you. Then, if not put into check, I will find myself getting sick, feeling run down, or experience other health issues that makes you slow down and bring the chaos to a halt. When you feel like crap, you realize that the only thing that matters right now is your health and feeling better. You forget all the nonsense and just focus on yourself.
During this time of feeling a little off, I was reminded of something I heard back at the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. During an interview, Peter Hotez, an infectious disease specialist, reiterated over and over again the importance of having a healthy body that will eventually play host to a disease. The health of the host body prior to being exposed to any potential health issue plays a big role in how that body handles said issue. If you take care of yourself today, you can have a better tomorrow.
In the 1970's, roughly 5% of children were obese. Today, that number is over 22% and there are no signs of it slowing down. Along with having an unhealthy weight, kids younger and younger are starting to experience problems like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis and depression.
In addition to those chronic ailments, obesity in childhood tends to carry over into adolescence and then into adulthood. Here is what the numbers say: 55% of obese children go on to be obese in adolescence and around 80% of obese adolescents will be obese in early adulthood. 70% of these individuals will be obese over the age 30. A sedentary lifestyle plays a huge role in body composition and if we want to reverse some of these trends, increasing physical activity for children would be a great place to start.
In Slovenia, they conducted a study where they got 48% of their primary schools and over 34,000 students to participate. The purpose of this research was to see the effect of adding an additional 2-3 days of physical activity on the body composition of the students involved in the study. As one might assume, more physical activity led to huge improvements in reducing BMI scores. The greatest improvements were in those children with the highest BMI scores and the results began to really become apparent at the three year mark.
What this tells me is that consistent physical activity, done over years, can help fight the childhood obesity rise we have been seeing in recent decades. In pure volume alone, the schools have the power to impact the most children and as the study indicates, can make a huge difference in the lives of those kids they work with. If we want to make change, a good place to start is getting physical activity back into the schools!
Healthy kids become healthy adults. In order for us to mitigate some of the negative factors associated with modern living, there are six things that we can start doing today to ensure our children will have a better tomorrow!
Replace texting with talking. Practice social skills in childhood will decrease the likelihood of social anxiety in adulthood.
Replace indoor light with sunlight. Vitamin D, fresh air, and some sightseeing in nature work wonders for the mind and body!
Replace screen time with people time. This is similar to number one but this is about experiences. Just get out there and experience different things with different people.
Replace late nights with sleep. To do this, stop scheduling things that occur well past their bedtime and put rules into place that has kids off the screens and winding down.
Replace sitting with moving. Remember what movement does for anxiety and depression? Get your kids off their backsides and engaging in some sort of physical practice.
Replace supplements with real food. The quick and easy grab and go items are convenient but not always ideal for our kids long term health.
The Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA) estimates that over 40 million adults suffer from anxiety disorders. For these people, stress and anxiety are a normal part of daily life but it doesn't have to be that way.
According to studies cited by ADAA, regular exercise works as well as medication for some people to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and the effects can be long lasting. One vigorous exercise session can help alleviate symptoms for hours, and a regular schedule may significantly reduce the likelihood of those symptoms returning. The great thing is that it doesn't have to be anything special or overly organized. Simply adding a 10-20 minute walk has shown similar improvements when compared to those partaking in a 45 minute session. Those that exercise are less likely to feel anxious, stressed, or depressed.
For one more way to release stress and anxiety, check out the video for a technique that you can do right now in this moment!
Last week I woke up at 11:40 pm and couldn't really move. My legs were slightly numb and the back muscles in my lower back were tight. I tried to sit up and failed. I rolled off the bed and hoped it was all a dream and went back to sleep with the idea that I would wake up feeling better. This was wishful thinking!
So, after this surprise, I decided to take some time off and then press the reset button. For the first 2-3 days, I did nothing but rest. I wanted to let the inflammation process take its course and on the third day, I started to add in some gentle stretching and did a 20 minute walk. On the fourth day, the training began!
Coming back from the time off, there were three components I wanted to focus on: Strength, Mobility and Work Capacity. For the strength exercises, I wanted to hit a push and pull for the upper body and then a squat and hip hinge for the lower body. For the mobility, I wanted to help my back heal so I found four exercises that would help promote that. For the work capacity, I wanted to perform a few exercises that were back friendly, core strengthening, and challenging.
Every few years I either read or listen to the book Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield. This book is about the Battle of Thermopylae in which 300 Spartan soldiers were sent to defend the area known as the Hot Gates. The movie 300 was inspired by this tale. Each time I read/listen to this book, something new and thought provoking stands out. This time around, it was a conversation between a young soldier and his mentor Dienekes...
Dienekes told his protege that the mind is like a house with many rooms. There are rooms one must NOT go into. Some of those rooms include anger, fear, jealousy, envy, revenge, etc. Any of these passions will lead "the mind toward that "possession" which undoes men in war." Think to moments in your life where you have felt emotions so strong that your mind does not think rationally. Think of those times when you were furious, envious, jealous, and angry: Were you thinking clearly or thinking in a reactionary way? According to Dienekes, it is “that yielding to fear or anger which robs an army of order and reduces it to a rabble." In our own lives, operating that way with our mind possessed by those emotions robs us of thinking clearly and living.
So what are you to do when these situations arise? Prepare yourself for anything in a stoic like manner. Respond to situations rather than react and remember, “Habit will be your champion. When you train the mind to think one way and one way only, when you refuse to allow it to think in another, that will produce great strength in battle.” Our battleground will not be as daunting as what Dienekes and the 300 Spartans faced at Thermopylae, but the lessons still relate!
In the book 1984, protagonist Winston Smith finds himself in a bit of a situation. In discussion with a friend, they debate whether or not 2 + 2 = 4 or does it equal 5 like they have been told. For some, the idea of 2 + 2 = 5 is all they know and they follow along with that line of thought but Smith knows better. So, he has a choice to make: speak out or follow along. If he doesn't say anything, then the misinformation wins. If he decides to speak out, he may be ostracized, penalized, or worse. This type of scenario plays out in two areas that I am closely connected to.
In athletics, multi-sport participation is shown to decrease likelihood of injury, reduce the risk of burnout and promote long term development well beyond high school. In fact, most college coaches in the country want their kids to play multiple sports. This is 2 + 2 = 4. Unfortunately, the information being shared by youth, club or high school coaches contradicts what is known to be best and parents feel pressured to follow that guidance (2 + 2 = 5).
For kids especially, excess screen time is bad. It leads to obesity, sleep disruptions, behavioral issues, delays in social skills, and attention problems. As parents, we know this and do what we can to limit it (2 + 2 = 4). Contrary to this, some local schools think otherwise and choose to use iPads for everything causing kids to be on screens 8+ hours a day (2 + 2 = 5). There are some things in the world I do not understand and this is one of them!
On Wednesday night I woke up around 11:40 and could not move. My back was incredibly stiff and my legs felt a little tingly. I tried to sit up and failed. I was stuck in bed for a moment and after taking some time to ask myself, "what the heck is going on here?" I finally rolled off the bed and luckily was able to land on my feet. I had my fingers crossed that this was a dream of some sort and that if I went back to bed, I would wake up feeling like a champ. As it turns out, this was not the case!
Crazy thing is, a few days prior, I had a conversation with a dad foreshadowing what I would be experiencing. He mentioned that his son is healing well from a nasty leg injury but that the ankle on the injured leg is incredibly stiff even though he did not have an injury to that joint. We then discussed the idea of muscle guarding which is your body’s protective response when an injury occurs as it causes the muscles around the injured area to tighten up as a means of protecting the injured site. A few days after that conversation, muscle guarding entered my world as the muscles in my lower back, hamstring, quadriceps, and calves got incredibly stiff post-back injury.
Getting back to 100% will take some time but here is my plan of action... 1. Let the bodies inflammation process take its course. 2. Continue to take this turmeric extract supplement for pain relief. 3. Slowly add in gentle movement. 4. Most importantly, use this as a sign to slow down and try to reduce both physical and mental stress!
Last week I came across a headline that read, "about 36 million falls are reported among older adults each year—resulting in more than 32,000 deaths." This headline put a shocked look on my face as it quite scary. As I thought on this, I came to the realization that maybe it is time we check in on our ABC'S: Agility, Balance, Coordination, Speed & Strength. In working with kids, there is a phrase often used to describe one's developmental pathway and that is physical literacy. Just like you learn letters before you embark on reading a novel, you must first learn the fundamentals of movement in an effort to advance towards more advanced training modalities. In time, as we age, these skills and attributes deteriorate which leads to the headline written above.
Here are a few ways to fight father time and implement the ABC'S into your training...
- Agility: Grab an agility ladder and move through some of the more basic footwork drills as part of your warmup. These short quick bursts of change of direction might save you when you trip and stumble over an object. Having the ability to react quickly may prevent you from hitting the ground!
- Balance: Performance exercises while standing on one leg or pull out the balance beam and get to work! Being able to stand on one leg for 10 seconds is a great starting place.
- Coordination: Perform an exercise that involves the upper body and lower body working as one. This could be skipping, jumping rope, or learning a complex exercise in the gym. This mind-body connection is important in the fight against mental detioration.
- Speed: Find a small hill and run up it as fast as you can. You never know when you might have to tap into that speed and run away from trouble! I am not talking about the police here, I am talking about a loose dog at the park!
- Strength: Pick a few exercises (squat, bench, chinups) and aim to get stronger in each. Building strength in these lifts has a tendency to last. Being stronger now will mean you will be stronger later!
Get creative and have some fun with this stuff. If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask!
Over the years I would hear stories or see examples of children who really struggle with adversity, losing, or falling apart anytime things don't go there way. For the record, at times in my life, I was one of those kids!
When you witness these moments, it is tough. The kid is so wrought with emotion that it is hard to figure out what the next step should be as a parent, coach or teacher. Once cooler heads prevail, an intervention of some sort should occur. If we deem this behavior to be inappropriate then we must offer up a viable solution or alternative.
There are a few things we can do:
- The first is to redefine what success truly looks like. To me, it is things like showing up on time, working hard, giving great effort, having a good attitude, being a team player, and more. As you can see, none of these have to do with wins and losses.
- The second thing is to reinforce any positive behavior we witness that supports the behaviors mentioned above. Catch them in the act and let them know you saw what they did and reward it.
- Lastly, just as you want them to focus on the process rather than the outcome, be prepared for this to take time. Behavior change does not happen over night. Be prepared for ups and downs and to make some mistakes along the way. It is all about the journey and this is no exception!
This week I took on a new role and let me tell you, I was feeling a bit anxious about starting. As I was preparing for the sessions, I realized I can only control so much. I created a plan, I took the equipment necessary to carry out the plan, and then did my best to execute the plan. After each session, I asked myself four questions to help evaluate how things went and areas to improve in the future. These four questions are listed below! 1. Did you accomplish your objective? 2. Were the drills appropriate and organized? 3. Did they have fun and train hard? 4. Did we talk about our values and how they drive performance?
The world of youth sports is reliant upon volunteer coaches. The great football coach Chuck Noll once said, “The mercenaries will beat the draftees but the volunteers will crush them both”.
Coaching sports and going to war are two different things but the idea behind volunteering remains the same: The volunteers choose to do it! They aren't paid to show up (mercenaries) and they are not forced to do it (draftees). Anyone who volunteers is an asset and in the world of youth sports, more of this is needed.
If you run an organization, SUPPORT YOUR COACHES! Don't have cliques, try to educate everyone on the ins and outs of sport, work on effective ways to communicate, and lastly, try to ensure a positive sport experience for all involved!
If you are contemplating getting involved in coaching, here are a few qualities that kids say they want in their coach... If you can be respectful, not act a fool, communicate appropriately, have a little knowledge in the sport and listen when they speak, then you have the tools to work with kids in a sport setting!
In this episode, I sit down with my friend, former coach and current owner of Grit Mat Club Ben Chunko.
In this episode, we touch on a variety of topics including coaching wrestling, being a parent, what the word Grit means, creating a culture for his club, and so much more.
Over the years, Ben has always been a great example of always learning, always willing to help, and most importantly, always coaching to help kids reach their full potential. He is an asset to the local community and the sport of wrestling and I am grateful that there are guys like him out there.
I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!
Nothing seems to grind my gears more than sport environments that cut kids or discourage them from trying out.
In this climate, where physical activity and resiliency is lacking in our kids, to remove something like athletics from their life is doing them a huge disservice. We as coaches have an opportunity to play a huge role in the development of the child and need to take this job seriously.
We can be the coach that lights a fire under them to partake in physical activity for the rest of their life or be the person who discourages it. We can be the ones who show them the amazing benefits associated with athletics or do the exact opposite. Lastly, we can be the person who encourages and shows them that you care and by doing so, forever change that kids life for the better!
Last week I was doing some farm work and found myself to be extremely winded. The task I was doing was difficult but I thought my conditioning was a bit better than what was on display. Due to this unfortunate feedback (aka sucking wind while working), I decided to start implementing a change in my cardiovascular training. Enter the 4x4 Interval Program.
My favorite types of programs are the ones that practically have the directions in the name. The 4x4 program requires you to perform four-four minute intervals. It is simple in theory, but hard in practice. The benefits of this style of training is pretty remarkable. There are multiple studies that found that following this exact protocol will improve your VO2max which is your bodies ability to utilize oxygen while training. By doing this, not only will you improve sport performance but you will also increase the likelihood of living longer as there is a positive correlation between longevity and VO2max. Sounds like a win win to me!
Here is how we do it...
begin each session with walking for about 10 minutes in an effort to warmup. Once the 10 minutes is complete, you begin to run the first of your four intervals. The pace for this is pretty fast as you want to be moving anywhere between 80-95% of your maximum heart rate (MHR). To find MHR, take 220 and deduct your age from that number. For a 40 year old, the equation would look like this 220-40 (age) = 180 (MHR). Your pace would be between 80-95% of 180 (MHR) which is 144 bpm and 171 bpm. This is a fast pace, one in which you cannot carry a conversation at. Once the four minutes is up, you then walk or slow jog for three minutes to allow your heart rate to return to about 70% MHR (126 bpm). Repeat this for four total reps and then cooldown. Give yourself about 45 minutes to complete.
Keep in mind, it is not about what you choose to do for the interval but rather the intensity at which you work. The heart and lungs don't care if you use a bike, stair-climber or elliptical. All they know is that they are being stressed with physical activity and that is exactly what we are looking for.
Behavioral psychology tells us that the environment can and will shape human behavior, for good or for bad. As coaches, parents and/or teachers, what we focus on and reinforce with the kids that we work with will be the actions that they will choose to follow in the future.
If we prioritize and celebrate touchdowns, goals, points or victories, then the child will believe those are the things that matter and strive to light up the stat sheet. But, as Angela Duckworth points out in her book Grit, talent and skill are only a small part of the equation and it is EFFORT that is the key ingredient to reaching a higher level of achievement. We are all familiar with the adage, "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard" and Duckworth's work exemplifies that.
In closing, if you see your kid giving great effort, reward and reinforce that. That is the behavior we want them to repeat. It is effort given, day in and day out, that will take you to the next level, whatever that level may be.
Do you view your talent, skill and intelligence as something that can be improved upon or do you view it as something that is innate?
How you answer that question will make or break you!
In this episode, I sit down with my friend, and physical therapist, Becca Eberly! Over the course of 60 minutes, we discuss everything from horses, to being a parent, to overuse injuries, proper footwear, pain and much more!
The recurring theme around all of these topics is the importance of taking a holistic approach to everything that you do, especially when it comes to your body and pain.
Factors like sleep, hydration, stress, and activity levels can all play a role in that hamstring feeling tight, the back being sore or the shoulder pain you experience while placing something overhead. If we fail to look at the whole picture, we may never get to the root cause of the pain or discomfort that you are feeling. When this occurs, the pain will linger and potentially worsen to the point of it becoming chronic. Chronic pain then leads to depression, anxiety, difficulty sleeping and an overall decrease in quality of life which will then exacerbate the pain. This cycle will continue and it is no wonder that over 50 million American suffer from chronic pain.
By the age of 13, over 70% of athletes stop participating in a given sport. When asked what the reason is, the most common response is that they just aren’t fun anymore.
If we want to reduce the dropout rate and keep kids participating in sport for a lifetime, they need autonomy, intrinsic motivation and of course, joy!
In this video, I share six things that all grownups should stop doing if we want the kids we work with to have a positive sport experience!
In the 1950's, researcher Curt Richter conducted a study. The intent of this study was to find out how long rats would be willing to swim in a jar that they couldn't escape. The first couple of rats placed in the jar didn't fight too long. They swam around on the surface and shortly after, they packed it in and called it a day. They lost their will to fight fairly quick. Then, Richter tweaked the experiment. As he watched some of the rats swim nearly to the point of giving up, he would pick them up and hold them for a period of time, and then place them back in the water. What happened now is that the rats realized their situation wasn't hopeless. They knew that if they kept fighting, eventually someone would pick them up. They kept hope alive and because of that, they kept fighting.
A call to action for this year: Keep hope alive, in yourself and in those who you surround yourself with!
After viewing a video sent to me by a friend, I scrolled to the next one and it snapped me to attention. I felt like this video was talking directly to me and it woke my rear end up! In it, the man shares how kids will call you out. If you want them to be kind but you're not, they will let you know. If you tell them not to bad mouth someone, but that is something that you do, they will call you out. If you tell them to be gracious in defeat but whine like a little baby when you lose, they will call you out. And lastly, if you tell your child to follow their dreams but you don't do it yourself, they will absolutely call you out on that! If you want your children to dream big, then you have to dream big. But remember, dreams are only thoughts without actions. Start working on that project you keep putting off, the book you want to write, or the exercise routine you plan on starting tomorrow. Today is as good of a day to begin working towards those dreams of yours!
Need help planning out a fitness program for the year? Don't worry, this episode has it all covered!
The plan is broken down into a few different concepts:
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There will be periods throughout the year where you work towards accomplishing a goal.
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Cardiovascular training is important if you want to live a long and healthy life. Don't skip it!
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Variety is the spice of life. Just like the seasons change, so too should your exercise selection!
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Take time to practice and learn new skills. Your brain and body will thank you!
Did you ever just wake up one morning and feel like you were in a funk? Nothing seems to be going right and you say things like, "it's just one of those days?" Well, I had one of those days last week and it happened to occur on the morning after watching the aforementioned documentary. When Stutz was a child, he and his father were on a plane and as they were taking off, Young Stutz was a little uncomfortable. The plane was surrounded by dark clouds and he worried that they might have to deal with it for the entire trip. If any of you have ever flown through storm clouds, you know it can get a little turbulent. His father tried to reassure him and let him know that the sun is just beyond those clouds. They had to experience some tough moments but soon, they will burst through the dark clouds and see the light. Those dark clouds will be a thing of the past, they just had to work through it.
As a therapist, he uses this plane story to help his clients understand that the "Black Cloud". The black cloud is that feeling I had when I woke up last week. At some point, in all our lives, we will all experience these thoughts. It may be there for short periods of time or it may stick around a little longer. One thing we must remember is that the sun is shining on the other side of those clouds. We just have to work to get there. To Stutz, the one thing that can help get you through those clouds sooner, rather than later, is gratitude. On these days, if you take a few moments periodically throughout the day to recite things you are grateful for, the sun will slowly start to appear. I tried this last week and it really helped. If you are having one of those days, give gratefulness a shot and see how it makes you feel!
Over the past decade-plus, I have been fortunate to meet people from all walks of life. There have been members of both political parties, atheists, churchgoers, high income earners, low income earners, various ethnicities and more. I have learned that if you treat people reasonably well, they will most likely reciprocate. If you act is if everyone you encounter is a friend, life seems to become a little more pleasant.
In this episode, I share a story I heard recently involving Mother Theresa. During her life, she served the poorest of the poor, the infirm, the homeless, practically anybody that was in dire need of assistance. As a result, she was awarded the Noble Peace Prize and was canonized posthumously. She treated everyone she encountered as if they were Jesus in disguise and because of that, made the world a much more better place!
The Aspen Institute's Project Play does a great job researching trends in physical activity levels in children in an effort to build healthy communities through sports. It is their belief, and quest, that active communities do better and they have the data to support it. Need proof? Active communities have lower obesity rates, less smoking, less heart disease, higher property values and lower unemployment. So how do we get these benefits and improve the health of our communities?
Physically active children are usually associated with being influenced by physically active adults. If you are a parent, teacher, coach or in any other mentor-type of role, you have the ability to positively effect the activity levels of the children you work with. Remember, what you prioritize, they will prioritize. If we want to improve the health of our community, we need to lead by example and show the youth what healthy living is all about!
The benefits and motivation to be physicall active goes way beyond looking healthy. In early childhood, physically active kids have been found to have higher test scores and improved self-efficacy. As they move through adolescence, these kids are 15% more likely to go to college, less likely to partake in risky behavior like smoking and drug use, and have higher self esteem. As they progress into adulthood, they become more productive at work, have higher earnings, and reduce the rate of disease.
If we want a healthier, more productive community, it starts with us and the example we set forth!
This week I was reminded of a powerful Linkin Park song titled One More Light. This reminder led me down the rabbit hole known as Youtube where I found a heartfelt live performance of this song dedicated to one of his close friends, singer Chris Cornell, who committed suicide the previous day. Two months after that performance, Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington took his own life. On the surface, it appeared these men had it all. They were known throughout the world for their voice and had crowds eating out of the palm of their hands. Their talent allowed them to slay the music charts but, like so many others, their gift came from a place of pain. It is this pain that they were not able to conquer. In this episode, I pull thoughts and ideas from Marcus Aurelius and Alexander the Great to try to help understand the inner struggles that we all face and how if we can conquer them, we can conquer anything!
Last week a friend recommended a documentary called Stutz. In it, director Jonah Hill discusses some of his long standing mental health struggles and how his meeting with psychiatrist Phil Stutz changed his life.
A few minutes into the documentary they began discussing mental health in three ways. One, is our relationship with our body, ie are way taking care of our health. Two, involves our relationships with people and three is our relationship with ourselves. Numbers two and three fall outside of my skill set but number one is something that I care deeply about.
A healthy mind cannot exist in an unhealthy body. In this episode, I share a few practical health-related principles that we can put into play right now. If we can make a wise decision and win this moment, we can win the hour. If we win the hour, we can win the day. If we win the day, we can win the week. Do you see where I am going here? All of these small victories become huge wins over time. If we want to improve our lot, it starts now, in this very moment!
There is something about this time of the year that makes me think of those weird little Russian nesting dolls. You know the ones, they are those wooden toys that when you open them, they contain another exact replica of the doll, but in a smaller form. You can do this a few times before you get to the final layer, a very small version of the original.
As I was driving home the other morning, those toys came to mind and I started thinking about how that concept relates to developing talents or skills. You start very small, and then you start stacking more and more on top of it until it can no longer grow. Then, at some point in life, those skills will slowly erode and layer by layer, diminish what you are able to do. At this point, you will be back to where you started, that small little toy looking to hang on to whatever is left!
In this episode, I share my thoughts on how to properly develop physical resiliency and talent from a young age all the way up through adulthood. Then, as the aging process takes over, we slowly start to descend back to where we began.
Did you ever just sit back and wonder why things happen in life? How one decision leads to another which leads to another, which eventually takes you to where you are right now?
In this episode, I share a story from one of my favorite movies/books Mystic River, the importance of surrounding yourself with great people, the butterfly effect, and how every decision that you make in the here and now impacts your future self.
Last week I sat down and read what appeared to be a letter written from Albert Einstein to his daughter. In it, he discussed a universal force that could change the world for the better. He told his daughter that this force is inside all of us. This force that he wrote of was love.
I thought the letter was beautiful and I read the entire thing for a podcast. Prior to posting the video, I decided to double check the accuracy of it to see if, indeed, Einstein wrote it. As it turns out, it was a complete fabrication!
That being said, there were still some great lessons in it so I decided to share some of the takeaways from the letter Fake Einstein wrote to someone.
I hear stories weekly of how cruel kids can be to one another. A local newspaper just wrote that 10% of teens studied attempted suicide, and on top of that, an emergency room physician once told me that the pediatric ER is filled with suicidal teens. It is sad and it is scary. These past few weeks I have been thinking, maybe our approach to things like bullying has been flawed. Maybe instead of casting blame on the other child's parents or the schools lack of intervention, we can look at improving our own child's resiliency. But first, a story about siblings...
I think at some point in our lives, we have all witnessed siblings not being kind to one another. It usually comes in the form of big brother or sister finding something that really annoys their younger sibling. If the afflicted one shows signs of annoyance or frustration, big sibling continues to poke and prod. If the younger sibling shows no change in demeanor, even if their blood is boiling, often times the harassing ends and the older child moves on to something else. In school, if a bully finds something that irks you, and you physically show them how angry, annoyed or upset it makes you, they will not relent. They will continue to aggravate you with whatever nonsense they are spewing until they no longer get the desired result.
What I am proposing is that if we can give each child the tools to diffuse hostility, they will learn to rise above whatever is thrown their way. This is done by remaining calm in the face of danger. This is done by breathing through those anxiety riddled moments. This is done when we can teach kids that they aren't helpless, vulnerable and most importantly, that they are not a victim. In the face of Nazi guards and life in concentration camps, Viktor Frankl came to the conclusion that “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.” Every one of us has the ability to choose their response to situations. This takes practice, maybe years of it, but if we can teach kids that they are in control of their emotions, this skill can go a very long way in life. Lets be real, nastiness and verbal insults aren't going anywhere. They will always be present. How we respond to them matters.
Last week I had a moment while training some kids that there seems to be a few old school skills that are lacking in today's youth. More often than not, kids play a variety of sports every weekend but can't seem to jump rope, do a forward roll, perform a proper lunge or hit a few pushups. These gaps in their development will eventually show up in the form of injury or burnout. These are two things that we want to avoid!
When building a solid structure, it is important to lay down a proper foundation. There can not be any holes or gaps in the material. The same concept can be applied to building a strong, resilient child. You start with the foundation and from there, continually build on top of what you've previously done.
In this episode, I discuss four areas associated with physical literacy and how and when they should be implemented into a child's schedule based on their skill and development.
Mark Twain once told a story about a man searching for the world's greatest general. The man searched his whole life until one day he died and met St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. The man told St. Peter he was looking for the world's greatest general. Fortunately, St. Peter said he could help. He led the man to another inhabitant of heaven and introduced him as the world's greatest general. The man who had been searching replied, "That's not the world's greatest general. That man was a cobbler on Main street in my hometown!" St. Peter responded, "But had he been a general, he would have been the greatest general ever."
In this episode, I share my thoughts on this story and how everyone can work towards living up to their own potential!
The world of youth sports is crazy. You can go to a sport field on any given weekend and see great examples of coaching and you will also see poor examples of coaching. If I had to break down three areas of improvement that come up often with coaches and parents it would be the following...
As coaches, we need to develop a holistic approach and focus on building great human beings. When we emphasize qualities like being a good teammate, having a good attitude, and playing with great effort, good things are going to happen. You don't need sport skill to do any of those things. The kids will prioritize what you prioritize so choose wisely.
The next step is to build a caring and trusting relationship with each athlete. This takes time. It will never happen over night. You build rapport by asking questions, listening, and caring about what each kid has to say. Remember the adage, they don't care what you know until they know that you care.
Finally, you need to have a relationship with the parents so that they can continue to build on the qualities established at practice. The focus should be on improvement, not wins and losses. We want to foster a love of sport and we can do this by giving each kid an opportunity to be themselves, to practice and explore things on their own terms. Give them space, allow them the opportunity to work problems out, and ALWAYS have their back!
This week I spoke with a few nurses and these conversations shed light on the state of our countries health, the hospitals ability to handle a never ending supply of patients, and a profession that is seeing people leave in droves. One hospital, for example, was short staffed 8 nurses for a shift. The job by itself is a tough one. Nurses have to deal with lack of sleep, stress, death, illness, conflict and a bunch of other things associated with that kind of work. When work is fully staffed, it is a very demanding job. When short staffed, the demands grow exponentially and eventually you get to the point where nurses are overworked and beyond stressed. I remember seeing a headline at the height of the pandemic that read "90% of nurses contemplated leaving their jobs". This workforce is the backbone of every hospital, one in which we should be mindful to take care of!
As fitness professionals, it is our job to get people healthy. It is our job to keep people out of the hospital and do everything in our power to help aid whoever we work with to live a long, disease free life. But, to put this simply, we are failing big time!
We are living in a country where 88% of the population is either diabetic, pre-diabetic, or has high blood pressure. This same country has a population of people where over 70% of adults are overweight or obese. 4 out of 5 adults, and 3 out of 5 kids, don't get enough daily physical activity. Even when people get excited about their health, it often doesn't last. Take in note what you see every January in gyms where over 80% of new enrollees quit within five months of signing up.
If we can decrease the burden that hospitals are facing, quality of care will increase and an important workforce (nurses, family doctors, etc.) will not be feeling burnt out. A lack of quality healthcare professionals is a concern of mine considering the rising number of those in ill-health.
Over the past couple of years I have learned a few things about being a parent. Some of these lessons were easy, and others, not so easy.
At the end of the day, I feel that if you can offer your kid love and give them some freedom to become the person they want to be, life seems to get a little bit easier for all involved!
Earlier in the week I came across a post from The Global Matrix 4.0 which represents the largest compilation of information related to physical activity in children in adolescents. Their report states that there is "a global pandemic of youth physical activity" as only 27%-33% of youth meet physical activity guidelines.
This is an alarming trend and what makes this even potentially more dangerous is that those who participate in physical activity, it is usually done in a structured setting lacking variety. Last week I spoke on why play is important for socioemotional reasons. If you need a reminder of those benefits, here is a summary of why play is important: The unstructured environment associated with play offers children the opportunity to control their own actions, to solve problems, to work with others, to laugh, to deal with emotions and ultimately, the feeling that they have control of their own lives and fate. When kids don't feel like they can control their environment and how they respond to it, anxiety and depression are soon to follow.
On the physical side of things, some of my favorite memories growing up are playing sports or doing physical activities with friends. We picked the teams, made the rules, handled disputes, and in the end, everyone had fun. We played so often that we got tons of practice running, jumping, cutting, defending, and passing in all types of different environments. Because of this, we developed basic athletic skills that carried over into any sport that we decided to play. This concept gets lost when most activity is highly structured and in a single sport setting. Also, chance of injury and burnout increase when kids focus solely on one sport or activity. They may be better at that given sport in the short term but will suffer in the long term as they lack the requisite athletic qualities associated with playing sports at a higher level.
One beautiful morning in Cape Cod, my family and I went out for some breakfast. As we pull up to the restaurant, we were all surprised by what we find.
As I prepared for this episode, I thought back to the saying that as a parent, it is your job to prepare your child for the road, not the road for your child. Well, in this case, I think it was the other way around as my child had me do something I never imagined doing!
For the past few months, I have been doing a thought experiment on why it seems kids are more anxious and depressed then ever.
After speaking with a few professionals, reading articles and books on the topic, I came to the conclusion that this problem is multi factorial and one in which has slowly been occurring over the past few decades.
This episode has complex ideas, experiences from my own life and some thoughts I have never shared before.
October 16, 2022. Just another day for some, but for me, it signifies what would have been my brothers 39th birthday. As I look back on the almost ten years without him here, I often times think about could have been different. Is there anything that I could have done that could have gotten him on the right path?
Psychologist Carl Rogers once said that, "it was impossible to convince someone to change for the better. The desire to improve was the precondition for progress." In sum, it means that the individual will never improve unless they want to improve themselves.
This does not mean that it is all on them. You can be someone that helps convince them that their life is important and that it is worth living. You can shoulder that burden and decide to be someone that will be there for them. Not by enabling, but by living your life in a way that is inspiring. You lead by example. You show them that life is worth living and you would love for them to take part in it.
The easy thing to do is nothing. The hard thing to do is to act. Stop putting off until tomorrow things that can be said or done today because tomorrow is not promised.
A few weeks ago we were at a party for a relative and it was a great time. While there, we got to catch up with a lot of people we haven’t seen in awhile. As most conversations seem to go these days, when you’re a parent, the topic of kids always seem to come up.
I was amazed at the stories I heard about hardships they, or mutual friends, have faced or are facing with their children.
Poor sleep, allergies, mood disturbances, the list can go on. While all this is going on behind closed doors, the parents keep on chugging along.
They keep working, they keep taking care of their family and they keep trying to make the best out of the situation at hand.
Kudos to you parents, keep up the good fight!
Mike Mentzer, a legendary figure in the bodybuilding community, once said that "Anything you can do to make your training harder is a step in the right direction". Sounds like some solid advice. If you aren't getting results or making progress, it may be time to look at the intensity levels at which you are training. The body will not respond to ordinary behaviors. If there is no change in the stimulus (effort/energy exerted) then there will be no change in the response or adaptation (how you look, feel or improve).
So here is what I propose... Pick one thing for the month of October to improve upon. Work hard at this one thing and make it your top priority. It could be sleeping more, lifting heavier weights, doing more cardiovascular work, eating better, or anything else you can come up with. Track your progress each day and see what helps and what does not. Continue this procress for the entire month.
For me, I am trying to accomplish a feat and I am counting how many workouts it takes for me to do so. The goal at the moment is to reach it in 10 workouts or less. If I am able to accomplish that, the next time I try it, I will try to do it in 9 workouts or less. This idea is something I revisit a few times a year and providing this type of challenge makes training a little more interesting!
Coaching Q&A Episode!
It seems no matter what the level, from 6 year olds to the high school level, coaches are experiencing some hard times with their athletes.
In this video, I share some ideas on how to stay ahead of some of these issues by building trust, communicating effectively, and constantly working on creating a strong player-coach relationship.
Do you want to know the best way to do this? Have a meaningful conversation with each kid everyday!
I can't believe I am saying this but baseball actually caught my attention this week. As one Yankee slugger (Aaron Judge) passes another (Roger Maris), talk of who the real single season home run king has made its rounds on social media. Is it the juiced up players of the 90's or the non-juiced players? This is, of course, assuming those who never tested positive for a banned substance would never take anything to enhance performance. Wink wink ;)
Because of this story, I was reminded of an interesting book I read back in the day titled Cooperstown Confidential by Zev Chafets. In it, he brought up baseballs checkered past and details some of the shady conduct associated with the league. Eventually, he shares that Major League Baseball has a clause that reads: The Hall of Fame asks voters to decide based on a player's record, ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character and team contributions. This is referred to as the character clause and is often cited as the reason for keeping legendary players like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens (known steroid users) out of the Hall of Fame. If character is cited as the reason for keeping some players out of the Hall, that is fine with me but lets take a look at some of the current Hall of Famers...
Assault somebody so bad they may have died (Ty Cobb), no problem. Members of the Ku Klux Klan (Tris Speaker and others), come on in! Doctor the baseball (Gaylord Perry) to ensure success, aka cheating, fine by me! Dabble with some cocaine (Paul Molitor) or smuggle some drugs (Orlando Cepeda) no problem there. Decades of Amphetamine use in every teams locker room, we will keep the door open for you. Take some performance enhancers or bet on a few games, NEVER! Am I being cyncical or is there some hypocrisy here?
In this episode, I share a few quotes from the founding fathers in reference to truth, freedom of thought and liberty to speak one’s mind.
In addition, I also discuss an example from the ACLU and some historical perspecitve from another part of the world where this area has gone from a booming intellectual haven to a restricted society.
As Franklin said hundreds of years ago, “when Truth and Error have fair play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter”.
In order to find truth, both sides should have an equal opportunity to be heard by the public.
In this episode, I share a few of my experiences as a high school football coach (both good and bad) and also read a few passages from Bill Walsh’s classic book Finding the Winning Edge.
If you are involved in coaching, having an identity and being clear and concise with your messaging is of the utmost importance.
Your drills, your strategy, or your plays could be the greatest thing the world has ever seen but if you cannot get your players to execute them, it doesn’t really matter.
In this episode, I sit down with Kevin Branco who is running for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 131.
Over the 60 minute conversation we cover a lot of topics and information. The main points that we discussed involved having trust in our government, the lack of bipartisan compromise, term limits, the founding fathers and much, much more!
This was a great conversation and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
I ran into a guy this week who experienced a huge weight gain during the lockdowns. This man had a slight frame and went from 130-something to over 180 pounds. Packing on 50 pounds (roughly 40% of his initial bodyweight) during a 1-2 year period is quite alarming. He described his body as "looking like the letter D" and decided it was time for a change.
During this time, he visited Europe (I forget where to be exact) and came to the realization that food tastes better over there and as a result, he felt better. He decided he was going to come home and change his diet. The first thing he did was he went vegan. He saw a decrease in weight but didn't feel quite right. He introduced meat back into his diet and although it tasted great, it made his stomach feel awful. He came to realize that the vegan diet wasn't sustainable long term for him and the traditional diet he was eating was not going to improve his weight issue. So he thought about it and decided he would go vegan for a month, and then switch back to a more traditional diet and continue alternating back and forth each month. For him, this style of eating was something he could adhere to and his body responded well by dropping 20+ pounds.
The point of sharing this story is not to encourage a vegan diet, a meat diet, or any specific diet for that matter. The point is that whatever eating style you follow, be honest with yourself and make sure that it is one you can adhere to. When calorie consumption is relatively the same, there is not one diet that is superior to others. Most diets work if you actually follow the guidelines. What will make or break you is your ability to adhere to those guidelines.
I ran into a guy this week who experienced a huge weight gain during the lockdowns. This man had a slight frame and went from 130-something to over 180 pounds. Packing on 50 pounds (roughly 40% of his initial bodyweight) during a 1-2 year period is quite alarming. He described his body as "looking like the letter D" and decided it was time for a change.
During this time, he visited Europe (I forget where to be exact) and came to the realization that food tastes better over there and as a result, he felt better. He decided he was going to come home and change his diet. The first thing he did was he went vegan. He saw a decrease in weight but didn't feel quite right. He introduced meat back into his diet and although it tasted great, it made his stomach feel awful. He came to realize that the vegan diet wasn't sustainable long term for him and the traditional diet he was eating was not going to improve his weight issue. So he thought about it and decided he would go vegan for a month, and then switch back to a more traditional diet and continue alternating back and forth each month. For him, this style of eating was something he could adhere to and his body responded well by dropping 20+ pounds.
The point of sharing this story is not to encourage a vegan diet, a meat diet, or any specific diet for that matter. The point is that whatever eating style you follow, be honest with yourself and make sure that it is one you can adhere to. When calorie consumption is relatively the same, there is not one diet that is superior to others. Most diets work if you actually follow the guidelines. What will make or break you is your ability to adhere to those guidelines.
In this episode, I detail how a somewhat scrawny 8th grader turned himself into a Division I football player. Do you want to know the secret? He showed up and trained consistently. This kid made small improvements week after week, month after month, year after year. Over time, these small improvements turned into some big time gains!
In this episode, I detail how a somewhat scrawny 8th grader turned himself into a Division I football player. Do you want to know the secret? He showed up and trained consistently. This kid made small improvements week after week, month after month, year after year. Over time, these small improvements turned into some big time gains!
In this episode, I share four principles outlined in the Ben Franklin biography written by Walter Isaacson.
These four principles stand the test of time and can be summed up in the following: Get out of debt, be honest, work hard in whatever you decide to work on and be kind with your words!
I hope you enjoy!
In this episode, I share four principles outlined in the Ben Franklin biography written by Walter Isaacson.
These four principles stand the test of time and can be summed up in the following: Get out of debt, be honest, work hard in whatever you decide to work on and be kind with your words!
I hope you enjoy!
In this video I share a quick story from a conversation that I had with my friend Frank Donley ( @Anti Frail and @Frank Donley ).
As we both experiment with different ways to boost our health and overall wellness, we discovered that following a time restricted eating protocol serves us both really well.
The rules are quite simple: whenever you consume your first calorie, count 8-12 hours past that point and that will be your eating window. Do not consume anything outside of that window for a few weeks and see the effect it has on you.
In this video I share a quick story from a conversation that I had with my friend Frank Donley ( @Anti Frail and @Frank Donley ).
As we both experiment with different ways to boost our health and overall wellness, we discovered that following a time restricted eating protocol serves us both really well.
The rules are quite simple: whenever you consume your first calorie, count 8-12 hours past that point and that will be your eating window. Do not consume anything outside of that window for a few weeks and see the effect it has on you.
In this video I share my thoughts on the bonds that are created in childhood will most likely last a lifetime.
Your childhood friends have you seen at your worst, have seen you at your best, and went through all the trials and tribulations right by your side.
It is why you can go years without seeing someone and when you get back together, it’s as if you have never skipped a beat!
In this video I share my thoughts on the bonds that are created in childhood will most likely last a lifetime.
Your childhood friends have you seen at your worst, have seen you at your best, and went through all the trials and tribulations right by your side.
It is why you can go years without seeing someone and when you get back together, it’s as if you have never skipped a beat!
In this episode I share a conversation that I had with a friend recently regarding eating. While at a party I was asked, “still doing that health thing, huh?” I answered yes, I believe I am and from there began discussing how small changes over time turn into huge lifestyle changes over the years.
I believe in human beings and I believe that we all have the ability to change.
Small, incremental gains over time have the ability to really become something huge if given the necessary time.
In this episode I share a conversation that I had with a friend recently regarding eating. While at a party I was asked, “still doing that health thing, huh?” I answered yes, I believe I am and from there began discussing how small changes over time turn into huge lifestyle changes over the years.
I believe in human beings and I believe that we all have the ability to change.
Small, incremental gains over time have the ability to really become something huge if given the necessary time.
In this episode, I share some research data from The Aspen Institute in regards to sport participation in our country.
Since 2012, a large percentage of kids stopped playing sports. During this time, social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Tik Tok have blown up in popularity.
Coincidence? I think not!
Let me know what you all think on this matter. I try to use the podcast to kickstart some discourse so if you have any thoughts on the matter, please feel free to share.
In this episode, I share some research data from The Aspen Institute in regards to sport participation in our country.
Since 2012, a large percentage of kids stopped playing sports. During this time, social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Tik Tok have blown up in popularity.
Coincidence? I think not!
Let me know what you all think on this matter. I try to use the podcast to kickstart some discourse so if you have any thoughts on the matter, please feel free to share.
“Prepare your child for the road, not the road for your child”.
In this episode I share a little bit of the sadness I’m feeling sending our daughter off to school while at the same time trying to keep things in perspective.
It’s on us as parents to expose our kids to situations so that they can become strong, resilient and confident in anything that they do.
“Prepare your child for the road, not the road for your child”.
In this episode I share a little bit of the sadness I’m feeling sending our daughter off to school while at the same time trying to keep things in perspective.
It’s on us as parents to expose our kids to situations so that they can become strong, resilient and confident in anything that they do.
With every conversation, I feel that Steven's list of credentials expands. He is a former NCAA athlete who currently serves as a Graduate Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at East Stroudsburg University. There, he is responsible for overseeing many of the sport programs the university has to offer.
At the conclusion of this conversation, I sent Steve a message asking how he would sum up this podcast. He responded in the following, "Don't be an a-hole. Have goals that you train towards. Don't yell at people". That sounded good to me.
I hope you enjoy!
With every conversation, I feel that Steven's list of credentials expands. He is a former NCAA athlete who currently serves as a Graduate Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at East Stroudsburg University. There, he is responsible for overseeing many of the sport programs the university has to offer.
At the conclusion of this conversation, I sent Steve a message asking how he would sum up this podcast. He responded in the following, "Don't be an a-hole. Have goals that you train towards. Don't yell at people". That sounded good to me.
I hope you enjoy!
You Become What You Give Attention To In this episode, a share a story about a friend whose child was struggling. They were hitting those middle school years and due to circumstances going on in their personal life, found themself looking for attention in the wrong places. Enter the horse farm (not ours for the record). This teen was able to get their life back in order because they chose an environment that brought peace into their life. If you surround yourself with good people in good places, you will see those positive influences carry over into your everyday life!
You Become What You Give Attention To In this episode, a share a story about a friend whose child was struggling. They were hitting those middle school years and due to circumstances going on in their personal life, found themself looking for attention in the wrong places. Enter the horse farm (not ours for the record). This teen was able to get their life back in order because they chose an environment that brought peace into their life. If you surround yourself with good people in good places, you will see those positive influences carry over into your everyday life!
Last week I read a great story from an author who visited a world class equestrian training facility.
As he went to view a training session of these beautiful thoroughbreds, he thought he was going to see examples of intense training and discipline. Instead, what he saw, was what looked like play. When he asked the world class trainer about this, the response he got was, "A horse that loves to run will beat a horse that's compelled, every day of the week".
This identifies the power and value of intrinsic motivation. The horse doesn't run hard becase his trainer is going to give him a treat or because he is scared. The horse CHOOSES to run hard because he WANTS to, not because he has to.
This is a great lesson for all of us who coach or parent. Create the environment where the child wants to do the right thing, not because of some external factor, but because they want to.
In this episode I chat with a childhood friend Pastor Matthew Gorkos. The discussion we had centered around finding purpose and creating positive environments for everyone that we encounter. For Matt, it is in the church. For me, it is at the gym.
In addition to that, we discussed the power of story, Rage Against the Machine, the value of sports, George Orwell, the origins of Christianity, and much, much more.
We hope you enjoy!
About the Guest: Matthew Gorkos is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. He has served two struggling churches searching for renewal.
In this episode I chat with a childhood friend Pastor Matthew Gorkos. The discussion we had centered around finding purpose and creating positive environments for everyone that we encounter. For Matt, it is in the church. For me, it is at the gym.
In addition to that, we discussed the power of story, Rage Against the Machine, the value of sports, George Orwell, the origins of Christianity, and much, much more.
We hope you enjoy!
About the Guest: Matthew Gorkos is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. He has served two struggling churches searching for renewal.
The small town where I grew up, the school that I attended and the place where I spent years coaching, has had to deal with a lot of loss.
For me, it is the loss of peers. The loss of a few friends. The loss of my brother. And now, the loss continues in the lives of athletes I once coached. I believe that everyone can find redemption in their life if given enough time.
Unfortunately for some, their time ran out before finding it.
If you are in a mental funk or struggling with addiction, find a support system that has your back. Confide in them your struggles. Strive to make the right decisions. Emulate those who have accomplished what you set out to do. And lastly, don’t ever give up on the idea of being better!
In a country where sport participation and physical activity is plummeting, why are we cutting kids from team sports?
Take a look around at the sidelines of the next high school game you go to. You will notice those teams look a little smaller than they used to. You will also notice the teams with the most kids are usually the most successful.
When building a program, the focus should be on getting kids out for your sport at a young age. Then, you should focus on keeping those kids out for the sport. Lastly, coach them and develop them to be the players you know they can be.
The great Martin Luther King Jr once said that there is a civil war going on inside all of us. There is the fight between doing what’s right and doing what is easy.
In the same light, there is a personal crisis going on in everyone’s life. For some it could be big, for others it could be small, but either way, it exists.
The best way to address this crisis is with the company of others!
"I just want to see what it is like to kill someone"
Alarming words out of the mouth of anyone but when you hear an 8 year old say it, it really makes you scratch your head and wonder.
There is the old saying that "you are what you eat". In addition to that, I believe you become what you consume. If you take in negative stories or surround yourself with negative people, those traits will start to rub off on you. The inverse of that is also true. If you surround yourself with goodness and positivity, your life will be better. I can promise you that!
If you are anything like me, sometimes you just have a need for speed!
In this episode, I share some ideas on how to add sprints into your current training program.
There may come a time in your life when you have to move fast. It could be running towards a situation to lend a helping hand or running away from danger in an effort to stay safe. Either way, what gets trained gets improved. Adding speed training into your current program is a fun way to improve your health an increase your capacity to be helpful if the situation presents itself.
Before embarking on this journey, keep one thing in mind: everything you do prepares the body for what is coming next. Take the necessary time to get your body ready for sprints by slowly adding intensity and reps each week. Don’t rush it or you may end with a hamstring strain, a back tweak or something worse!
In this episode I share a few topics of discussion that got brought up this week at the gym. Most of these talks revolved around doing the best we can as dads trying to juggle parenting, work, your significant other and all other aspects of life.
Topics covered:
Going to work is the easy part, raising a child is hard. When you are home, be present
Be careful what you value. If it’s expensive things, booze and partying, they will most likely value the same. Choose wisely.
Lastly, I share a story about a Kenyan Olympic marathoner who, when asked if his child would follow in his footsteps, he answered quickly NO! They asked why and he said, “My kid doesn’t have to run to school everyday like I did. He gets driven”. No matter how hard you try, you can’t replicate the hardships you may have faced.
When we take an honest look at our lives, our community, our nation, we can see that there are strengths and there are weaknesses.
The quickest, most impactful way we can make a change is to raise up our weak points. It is not to tear down our strengths!
In this episode, I share my three biggest takeaways from the hit movie Top Gun: Maverick!
In this episode, I discuss the value of prioritizing free time for our children.
In a nation where activities are in abundance, often times kids have less free time to explore their interests than those wearing an orange jump suit.
In an effort to combat this, there are three steps we can take to help foster a play enriched environment:
- Let your child lead play based off their interests
- Don’t interject when they claim to be bored
- Show them how to engage in play in the most unstructured way possible
In this episode, I discuss the value of prioritizing free time for our children.
In a nation where activities are in abundance, often times kids have less free time to explore their interests than those wearing an orange jump suit.
In an effort to combat this, there are three steps we can take to help foster a play enriched environment:
- Let your child lead play based off their interests
- Don’t interject when they claim to be bored
- Show them how to engage in play in the most unstructured way possible
In this episode, I discuss the idea of being physically able to be useful in emergency situations.
If a dog is attacking someone, are you able to sprint and offer your hand?
If you have to cross a creek to help someone, are you able to balance on the stones to cross and get to them?
If you have to help carry a friend who injured their leg, are you going to be able to?
These are all questions we don’t think much about until we find ourselves in situations that will require it. In this video, I share a few ideas on how we can all train ourselves to be better equipped to handle any unpredicted situation thrown our way!
In this episode, I discuss a parenting topic that came up recently with a local business owner.
When you have a child, there is one thing to keep in mind: Something has to give. It may be your work schedule, it may be your “drinks with the boys”, or it may be that hobby you absolutely love doing. There is only so much time in the day and something’s gotta give.
I meet a lot of parents and they always discuss how fast kids grow up and that they miss having theirs around.
I have yet to meet someone who said “I wish I didn’t spend so much time with my children”.
The great Desmond Tutu once said, there is only one way to eat an elephant, a bite at a time.
What he is implying here is that some things cannot be rushed. In this episode, we take this idea and apply it to our nutrition.
There are a few actionable steps we can all take right now to get us moving in the right direction and transforming into a healthier version of our current self.
In this episode, I discuss a way to help take your training to the next level. This idea has been around for a long time and it is what helps make athletes like Drew Brees excel on the football field and enables some of the greatest weightlifters to reach their goal of moving more weight.
This idea is known as Ideomotor Training and it is something that can be done by everyone!
I just wrapped up watching a four part series titled Keep Sweet: Pray & Obey about the FLDS which is an offshoot of the Mormon religion.
I remember first hearing about this group in the early 2000’s when their leader Warren Jeffs was arrested and later in the incredible book Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer.
In this episode, I discuss four characteristics associated with cults and how to avoid being manipulated or brainwashed by certain ideologies.
In this episode, Chris shares a piece of advice he received recently that deals with working with kids. It is our job as parents, teachers, coaches, etc. to set the puzzle pieces out, then step away and let the child sort through them and put them into its proper place.
The most permanent way to learn is through doing. So remember, set the puzzle pieces and let them get to work!
In this episode, I share an excerpt from Frederick Douglass’s famous speech “What to the slave is the 4th of July” delivered on July 5th, 1852 in Rochester, NY.
In it, Douglass shares his thoughts on the present state of his country, the hypocrisy that surrounds it, and the revolution that needs to take place to address and fix what he seems to be the biggest problem since 1776: slavery. I love the courage he had to deliver this speech in the face of oppression.
As a country, it is important for us to never forget our troubled past in the hopes that we will never repeat it
In this episode I share an old story about a farmer. For this man, many unpredictable things happened to him. The people in town reacting emotionally. They said things like “how fortunate” or “such back luck” and his response was always “we’ll see”
We can’t control everything that happens to us but like Viktor Frankl said in Man’s Search for Meaning, we control how we respond to situations. The freedom to choose your response will never be taken from you. Your response is yours, and yours only. Do what you feel is best and continue pushing forward!
In this episode, Chris shares a coaching technique he has learned over the years regarding getting your message across. Too often coaches lead with an iron fist without first making a connection with the child. There is the old saying, people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. The 90/10 principle epitomizes this idea.
Most sports require athletes to accelerate and decelerate hundreds of times over the course of a game.
While preparing for sport, most of our time focuses on accelerating but if you want to take your game to the next level, you have to focus on building the brakes.
In this video, Chris discusses a training concept that he uses with his Middle School and High School athletes
In this episode, I share a few takeaways from my conversation with Chad Shirk and find parallels in a conversation I had that same day with a pediatric emergency room physician.
If I had to sum up these conversations into three key points it would be this…
- Remove your ego
- Always evaluate what you are doing
- Speak up because if you don’t, who will?
In this episode, I sit down with one of the greatest coaches I’ve ever been around, who also happens to be a friend, Chad Shirk.
In this episode, we discuss his career as a coach at Saucon Valley, the ups, the downs, the success, the failures, and all the other craziness that comes with being a coach for 20+ seasons!
In addition, we discuss why most wrestlers stink at basketball, growing up in and around the sport of wrestling, raising kids, and much, much more!
In this episode, employee of the month Steven Rose and myself discuss youth training, the value of intention in our training, and the importance of reading.
Spoiler alert: I don’t like what Steven has to say in this one!
In this episode, Chris discusses the important role music plays in regards to fitness training as well as in life. Like the great Friedrich Nietzsche once said, “Life without music would be a mistake”
this episode, Chris shares a story from the gym and how to improve your cardiovascular system. It doesn’t matter if you are a Division I athlete or a beginner, the principles remain the same. Set a goal, create a plan, and start chipping away!
In this episode, Chris shares a story from his daughters gymnastics gym and the similarities it shares with one of Napoleon’s maxims from the early 1800s!
In this episode, Chris shares his thoughts on the book War is a Racket by Smedley Butler.
Written in 1935, this short book has many truths that ring true today. Butler, a retired United States Marine Corps Major General and two-time Medal of Honor recipient, shares his opinion on the military, those who make decisions, the profits of war, and more!
In this episode, Chris shares a speech that was delivered in 1931 by Medal of Honor recipient Smedley Butler
In this episode, Chris and Steven discuss findings from the The British Journal of Psychology that identified something that led students to have a 4.5 times greater likelihood of being in the top 20% of their class, 11% more likely to occupy leadership roles in their school, a 20% reduction in counseling for academic or behavioral issues, a 50% reduction in being identified as having ADHD by their teachers, and the increased likelihood of making it to professional sports.
In addition, there are a few quips on losing, Jocko-isms, defining success and more!
In this episode, Chris discusses his thoughts on pursuing great things in life.
On our personal voyage toward whatever our goals may be, many of us stop before the going gets good. We throw in the towel when we face a little bit of difficulty and stop chasing what we want. This is a mistake.
Through determination and learning the lessons from those who already walked the path, we can get closer to what we want in life and ultimately, arrive at the desired outcome.
In this episode, shares his thoughts on bully’s (spoiler alert: he doesn’t like them!) and how one can overcome actions done to them by an unruly peer.
In addition, he shares a study that found a magical antidote to being down in the dumps but you’ll have to watch to find out what it is!
The audio of this episode is available on any major podcast listening platform!
In episode 105, Chris discusses a recent health scare with his daughter, the difficulties of having a sick child and much, much more!
In this episode, I discuss ten fun and easy ways to build athleticism in the younger population.
Every human being can be an athlete in one form or another. Qualities like strength, balance, and agility carry over to everyday life.
If you want your child to be more active, this episode is for you!
In this episode, Chris shares a story from one of his favorite books of all time Gates of Fire. In it, 300 Spartan men were assigned a mission that proved fatal. Prior to them leaving, one of the ladies asked the King why did he choose not only her husband but also her son. Why must she deal with the double burden of losing both men? He said I chose them because I knew you could handle it.
Spartan society was built by strong women. They challenged their men to be better, raised strong children, and created a thriving society.
I believe all of these things hold true today.
Happy Mothers Day!
The persona is “a kind of mask, designed on the one hand to make a definite impression upon others, and on the other to conceal the true nature of the individual” -Carl Jung
In this episode, Chris discusses the Netflix series Inventing Anna and how her life reminded him of a pro wrestling gimmick!
In todays world, many of us focus on too much on societal norms, familial pressure, and other unrealistic standards. This is flawed. We must eliminate our focus on external judgment and shift our attention to the self.
In this episode, Chris shares his weakness for cupcakes, creating positive reward systems in our children, the value in using a wearable device like Fitbit, and one crucial component in cardiovascular training: INTENSITY!
In this episode, Chris shares a personal story involving the loss of his older brother Ryan.
Over the course of everyone’s life, they will encounter a hardship. They may lose of a loved one, have a sick child, get diagnosed with a terminal illness or worse.
Chris believes it is our job as humans to share personal problems that we may have encountered in an effort to help others who may experience something similar in the future.
In this episode, Chris discusses the one thing that we all can’t stand: fat cells! Research out of Yale suggested once fat cells are in the body, they never go away. They can grow, they can shrink but they do not leave.
Over the course of this episode, Chris gives you a few ways to prevent fat cells from appearing and the importance of keeping them at bay!
In this episode, Chris shares his thoughts on country living, a rant on the book version of Forrest Gump, and a few valuable lessons he picked up along the way while reading the fictitious account of the man Forrest Gump!
“Those who ignore the mistakes of the past are bound to repeat them” -George Santayana
In this episode, Chris shares his thoughts on the history of teaching, how those lessons apply to coaching, and why we neglect to remember successful methods from the past. It is as if everyone wants to reinvent the wheel but the wheel doesn’t need to be fixed.
In this episode, Chris shares his thoughts on the biggest failure in the fitness industry, scary trends in the overweight/obese statistics, and the role of individual responsibility in regards to training adherence.
In episode 95, Chris discusses the book Coan: The Man, The Myth, The Method.
For those that don’t know, Ed Coan may be the most dominant athlete that I have ever written about! Over the course of his career, there are a few central tenets that drove his success. These same tenets can help anybody better themselves in any field they desire.
The first, ask yourself prior to any action, “Does this help or hinder my pursuit of the desired goal?” If it doesn’t, don’t do it!
The second, consistent, regular practice over time can lead to gargantuan improvement.
And third, it is your mindset that will dictate whether you are successful. It’s not your genes, environment, friends, etc. It is whether or not you have the ambition and perseverance to continue on the path when things get tough.
In this episode, Chris gives his breakdown of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock and whether or not he thinks it was a work.
In addition, he shares a quote from George Orwells book Down and Out in Paris and London. In it, a homeless man named Boris shared with George that “Victory is to him who fights the longest”.
That statement right there should never be forgotten. Times will get tough but we must keep fighting!
Former president Teddy Roosevelt once said, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
In this episode, we discuss how to apply that concept to all facets of life. We are all born with an inherent set of skills that play a role in our decisions. But we should not let that define us. We all have the ability to better oneself in whatever area we choose by putting in the WORK!
In this episode Chris discusses the cardiovascular system and the role it plays in longevity. One great way to decrease your all-cause mortality is to improve your lung capacity. In order to do so, you must tax your heart and lungs in multiple ways.
This podcast introduces three ways to train the cardiovascular system and how to implement them into your training schedule!
Using Thomas Paine's quote, "Youth is the seed time of good habits", Chris discusses how everything that you do for yourself and for others has consequences... for good and for bad!
Using stories from coaching and parenting, he gives his opinion on the best ways to be viewed as a legitimate place of authority and how to avoid overstepping boundaries that lead to insubordination. We do not want to lead as a tyrant but we also do not want to be a pushover. Finding the right balance is what will lead to success in all walks of life!
Chris shares his thoughts on the mental health of athletes, sport specialization, advice he would give to his younger self, and closes the show with a call to action for all parents and coaches.
It is time for us to be an advocate for our kids and/or athletes and start holding coaches accountable!
In this episode, Chris shares his thoughts on his favorite underdog stories and the historical significance of what is going on in the world.
It is amazing how things tend to repeat themselves if we let it.
In this episode, Chris breaks down his thoughts on physical & mental literacy and the struggles parents face when deciding what’s best for their child.
A general rule can be summed up with this quote from Jerzy Gregorek: “Hard choices, easy life. Easy choices, hard life!”
In this episode, I discuss the benefits of pushing hard prior to taking time off and give examples from the world of strength & conditioning and early childhood development.
In this episode, I share the story of when my three year old told me, “You suck” and then laughed about it.
In addition, I break down a few other parenting topics or questions and how to navigate parenting in this day and age!
In this episode, Chris discusses the scary statistics associated with childhood overweight/obesity and ways to combat the issue at hand. Since the 1970's, our kids have been getting more and more overweight. Factor in Covid-19 school closures, schedule disruptions, cancelled sporting events, more screen time, etc. and we are reaching a breaking point.
We must act now if we want to reverse this trend and create a healthier country for years to come!
In this episode, Chris discusses how he plans to train heading into 2022 and beyond. The mission is simple: to create a training program that will add years to his life as well as adding life into his years!
In this episode Chris discusses his fitness approach for the new year, his resolution for 2022 and an interesting book he just finished up!
The new year brings on a new perspective for many of us. In this episode, Chris discusses a few things he has learned over the years that have helped him get through hard times.
In this episode, Chris shares a few insights on a training program that can be done by anyone with gym access.
In this episode, Chris answers questions and discusses his approach to putting training and life in a slow cooker and letting things progress in a patient manner. Lastly, he discusses loss and the role a coach during tough times.
In this episode, Chris discusses his thoughts on child rearing, how important it is to choose the right partner, being a father who is present, and leading by example!
In this episode, Chris discusses ways not to lose perspective when life throws you challenges, fitness tips for the college bound, and lessons he has learned from the football sidelines!
In this episode, Chris discusses the biography of Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson (spoiler alert: he loved it) and a few parenting experiences that he has encountered over the past few years
After a decade of research, Theodor Hettinger published Physiology of Strength in 1961. This is a great book if you want to learn the ins and outs of improving your fitness level. This classic is well researched with tons of published articles that support his findings.
At the end of the day, all Hettinger really wanted is to improve the physical capacity of everyone who read his book so that they can live their life optimally!
In this episode, Chris & Steven discuss a big win for the business, Simone Biles, Steroids, the NCAA and more!
In this episode, Chris discusses behavior change, Benjamin Franklin, the value of having support, issues in the world of strength & conditioning, and more!
In this episode, Chris discusses getting sick, Socrates, what he’s been reading, what he loves about music, and more!
In this episode, Chris talks Strength & Conditioning with Cornerstone Fitness coach and NCAA athlete Steven Rose!
In this episode, Chris shares his thoughts on the 4th of July, America, Ghosts, Aliens, Physical Conditioning, and more!
In this episode, Chris shares his insight on the many lessons learned from dealing with adversity or hardship. In his mind, the only way we can overcome tough situations is to be courageous and take them head on!
In this episode, Chris discusses fatherhood, paralysis by analysis, George Orwell’s classic Animal Farm, and more!
In this episode, Chris discusses coaching high school athletes, his thoughts on the club sport scene, Jean Piaget’s book The Psychology of a Child, and more!
In this episode, Chris discusses his thoughts on Bob Hoffman’s book The Daily Dozen. Written in 1958, the advice and training concepts have become universal truths that still ring true today!
In this episode, Chris discusses what’s old is new, his take on the documentary Free Solo, Kettlebell training, and more!
In this episode, Chris discusses his thoughts on Memorial Day, virtue signaling, lessons from a Zen master, and more!
In this episode, Chris discusses a few ways to get the arm prepared for the rigors of the sport season!
In this episode, Chris discusses his weekend trip to Boston, witnessing a few protests, movies, and a few recurring issues in coaching!
In this episode, Chris gives an ode to the women of the world, he discusses the only way to encourage behavior change, his thoughts on making society better, and more!
In this episode, Chris discusses the variety of leadership styles, what to look for when observing your fellow coaches or players, and how to apply these principles to create better leaders on and off the field!
In this episode, Chris discusses the importance of fitness for the youth, how to appropriately train this demographic, and how to encourage the participants to enjoy training so they will continue to do so for the rest of their life!
On the 8 year anniversary of his death, Chris discusses losing his older brother to drugs.
This episode has a lot in it as he talks about the chain of events that led to that dreadful phone call, the toll it took on his family, and how to support those who may be in need of support
In this episode, Chris discusses the major issues prevalent in youth sports and a few ways that we can combat them!
In this episode, Chris discusses the five main movements of training and how to apply them to any program!
In this episode, Chris breaks down the history of play, the positive benefits of leisure activities, the downside of play deprivation in children, and more!
In this episode, Chris discusses the deeply philosophical question, “How much can you bench?” and how to prevent achy joints and injury!
In this episode, Chris updates you on his 4321 weight loss plan, new ideas to incorporate into your training routine, the challenges of parenting, and more!
In this episode, Chris discusses what he believes to be the ultimate balance in the gym and in life!
In this episode, Chris breaks down what it takes to prepare for the rigors of a high school football season.
In addition to that, he discusses developing a program for the Candidate Fitness Assessment test that is required for entry in the Academy.
In this episode, Chris breaks down how to start a career in the world of fitness and how to introduce weight training to a newcomer!
In this episode, Chris discusses what he deems to be the most important training concept regarding athletic success in young children: General Physical Preparation (GPP).
In this episode, Chris updates you all on his 4321 weight loss plan, the difference between goals and systems, staying hungry when life is good, what to look for in your child during athletics, and more!
In this episode, Chris shares his cradle to the grave approach to fitness and overall athletic development!
In this episode Chris explores ideas from Mike Boyle’s latest book New Functional Training for Sport and discusses how to apply these concepts to your current training program!
In this episode, Chris answers the age old question: How do I get shredded?
This podcast includes tips and tricks to live a healthy lifestyle. Topics include developing a successful sleep routine, strength training, stress mitigation and more!
In this episode we take a look at the book New Functional Training for Sport by the incomparable Mike Boyle. About 10 years ago I first discovered Mike Boyle after reading the original Functional Training for Sport and the book really shaped how I coach. One of the best things about reading his work is that he is not afraid to take a stand on things he feels passionate about. He is one of those guys that is not afraid to ask the question: "What if the way everyone is doing things is wrong?" It is a solid read with tons of program options and recommend it to anyone in the field of strength and conditioning and also those parents trying to understand how to best prepare their children for athletic success.
In the forty-fourth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) reviews Slade Jones' Lean Made Simple: A Four-Week Journey Into Fat Loss and various related topics that span areas of healthy habits, self-care, commitment and dedication, workout programs, and much more!
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
SUBSCRIBE to the Youtube channel to stay up-to-date on the latest videos and episodes coming from Chris Fluck!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, and YouTube.
Vincent Wimberly (@laf610, @focused_blur) is the owner and one of the trainers at Life Advance Fitness, a Fitness & Wellness Organization that provides foundational support to clients by empowering them to achieve their desired health and fitness goals through the combination of healthy lifestyle choices, reinforced positive thoughts, development of proper eating habits and instruction adequate levels of physical activity. Born out of the desire to be actively involved in life, Vince Wimberly developed Life Advance Fitness to offer the same opportunity to live a full, active, healthy life to individuals of all backgrounds, professions, and ages. Additionally, Vince's sports experience spans football, track, and other sports; currently, he is in his second year coaching track at Allentown Central Catholic High School. Graduating from Bryan University with a degree in Professional Fitness Training and Exercise Science, Vince primed his skillsets to serve both himself and the Lehigh Valley community in achieving fitness, health, and nutritional excellence in various goals and ambitions, both in and outside of athletics. Vince can be contacted at Life Advance Fitness in Allentown, PA (www.lifeadvancefitness.com), by phone (610-674-5263), or by email at lifeadvancefitness@gmail.com.
In the forty-third episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) meets with Vincent Wimberly, owner of Life Advance Fitness and colleague of previous podcast guest Robin Houston, to talk about a wide range of topics, including the discussion of the development of Life Advance Fitness, training approaches, foundations for growth, benefits of multi-sport youth athletes, inspiration in discipline, guidelines for successful, healthy behaviors, responsibility and accountability throughout life, adversity and facing life's challenges, and much more!
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
Wes Morris (@westleymorrisinspires), motivational speaker, owner of Saucon Valley Massage Therapy in Hellertown, PA and, originally, the first guest of the Chris Fluck Podcast, has lived through both good times and bad, persevering through obstacles and finding his place of peace and purpose in the world. Overcoming personal struggle and challenges, Wes Morris graduated from the Health Options Institute in 2007 and cultivated success through his various professional ventures. Saucon Valley Massage Therapy has become the premiere spot for therapeutic massage treatment for professionals, athletes, and clients of all backgrounds. Additionally, Wes has spoke about his story at multiple schools, organizations, and groups around the Lehigh Valley and beyond in an effort to help individuals and organizations make better choices and live the best version of themselves. Moreover, Wes is a co-owner of Conflict, investor of Kynect, and studied Civil Engineering at the Pennsylvania College of Technology. Wes can be contacted at Saucon Valley Massage Therapy in Hellertown, PA (www.sauconvalleymassage.com), Conflict (www.conflict.com) at info@conflict.com or at 610-554-5533.
In the forty-second episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) & Wes Morris sit down and meet for part two of their saga to talk about a wide range of topics, which include discussion of the services and team of Saucon Valley Massage Therapy, network & multi-level marketing, skepticism, experimentation and exploration in products and services, the meaning of “family, friends, fitness & finance,” Wes’s journey, storytelling, role models and leaders in both society and sports, sustainable health, questions and adding value to life, and much more!
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
Robin Houston (@rhouston_fitness) is specialized trainer at Life Advance Fitness whose background spans a wide range of activities and life experience. Originally from Montgomery County, Robin has grown into the fitness and sports worlds through her continuous desire to push through adversity and challenge both herself and others. From dance to basketball to tennis and beyond, Robin's childhood was filled with activity, but, facing recovery from a partial laminectomy in her spine at 16 years old and a rigorous schedule of academics, sports, and life, Robin burned out. Renewing her sense of athleticism, she pursued tennis and a Bachelor's in Communications Management at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Following graduation, Robin found herself in an exploration of direction, which led her to Pete Myers, fitness training, and the kettlebell. Robin received her Russian Kettlebell Certification (RKC) with the tough-love support of Myers and moved on to grow into the evolving pursuit of kettlebells in the fitness industry. Currently, Robin works as a specialized trainer at Life Advance fitness (https://www.lifeadvancefitness.com/), focusing on kettlebells, primal movement & animal flow, strength & resistance training, and group/team training.
In the forty-first episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) sits down with Robin Houston, a specialized trainer at Life Advance Fitness with a diverse background in sports and fitness, to talk about a wide range of topics. Topics include: training challenges, women in sports and training, controversies and sports ethics, sportsmanship, experiences and lessons in parenthood, mental health and growth in student-athletes, facing unanticipated events in life, business approaches and experiences, "animal flow" & training strategies in group training, discipline and creating freedom in the day, and much more.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
Frank Donley (@frankdonley & @anti_frail), a frequent guest on The Chris Fluck Podcast, has continually worked with individuals to achieve their goals in the strength & conditioning field. Graduating from Shippensburg University with a B.S. in Exercise Science, minoring in Biology, Frank has worked as a Strength Coach at LA Fitness, Unlimited Changes, and Warriorfit Performance before opening his own training business, Frank Donley Training. Since launching his business, Frank has helped numerous individuals achieve their fitness goals, continuing to expand his business ambition while building Anti-Frail Apparel, a clothing line that acts as "a movement for a mentally, emotionally, and physically STRONGER America," according to the Instagram page. Frank can be found online at his website (http://frankdonleytraining.com), Instagram (@frankdonley & @anti_frail), and Facebook (@FDonleyTraining).
In the fortieth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) & Frank jam to the music and kickstart a conversation about a wide range of topics, which include discussion of the rock icon known as KoЯn and music tastes, the meaning of failure in training, workout regimens, coach/parent/athlete cultures in youth sports, communication in sports, influence at the local level, nature vs. nurture, cheating at baseball's highest level, nutrition and addictive behaviors, government regulations on supplements, genetics, memorable moments in football history, and much more!
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
Frank Donley (@frankdonley & @anti_frail), a frequent guest on The Chris Fluck Podcast, has continually worked with individuals to achieve their goals in the strength & conditioning field. Graduating from Shippensburg University with a B.S. in Exercise Science, minoring in Biology, Frank has worked as a Strength Coach at LA Fitness, Unlimited Changes, and Warriorfit Performance before opening his own training business, Frank Donley Training. Since launching his business, Frank has helped numerous individuals achieve their fitness goals, continuing to expand his business ambition while building Anti-Frail Apparel, a clothing line that acts as "a movement for a mentally, emotionally, and physically STRONGER America," according to the Instagram page. Frank can be found online at his website (http://frankdonleytraining.com), Instagram (@frankdonley & @anti_frail), and Facebook (@FDonleyTraining).
In the thirty-eighth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) & Frank kick off the new year and new decade with the thirteenth installment of their discussions, talking about a wide range of topics for just over an hour in the gym. Topics include: new year resolutions, Jim Thorpe and Carlisle, PA, Teddy Roosevelt and other influences on the world of sports, famous & infamous perspectives in football, approaches to fitness and nutrition in a new decade, current events, developing healthy habits and changing old ones, reducing waste, music tastes, and much more!
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
Will Geosits (@willgeosits) is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength & Conditioning Association with an extensive professional career in strength & conditioning training of athletes of various backgrounds. Holding both a BS in Kinesiology from Pennsylvania State University and MS in Exervise Science from East Stroudsburg University, Will began his career as an intern for Harvard University working with all 42 varsity sports. Following his time working with Harvard, Will refined his skills as the assistant strength & conditioning coach for Albright College, working with football, baseball, and both men's and women's basketball teams. With a diverse array of knowledge and drive, Will brought his talents and skill sets to Saucon Valley High School as the strength & conditioning coach for high school athletes. Recently, Will has served as an strength & conditioning assistant at Kutztown University, primarily working with football and assisting with all other 21 varsity programs. Currently, Will works at Spring-Ford Senior High School as the strength and conditioning coach for athletes.
In the thirty-seventh episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) sits down with Will Geosits, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) who holds a MS in Exercise Science, to talk about a wide range of topics relating to strength & conditioning in sports and beyond. Topics include: strength and conditioning foundations in sports, individuality and competing perspectives, building strength effectively and efficiently, lessons learned in a career, the benefits of hard work, healthy competition and the "sweet-spot," youth training, parent & student-athlete cultures in sports, training room approaches, program designs and adjustability, and much more.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
Frank Donley (@frankdonley & @anti_frail), a frequent guest on The Chris Fluck Podcast, has continually worked with individuals to achieve their goals in the strength & conditioning field. Graduating from Shippensburg University with a B.S. in Exercise Science, minoring in Biology, Frank has worked as a Strength Coach at LA Fitness, Unlimited Changes, and Warriorfit Performance before opening his own training business, Frank Donley Training. Since launching his business, Frank has helped numerous individuals achieve their fitness goals, continuing to expand his business ambition while building Anti-Frail Apparel, a clothing line that acts as "a movement for a mentally, emotionally, and physically STRONGER America," according to the Instagram page. Frank can be found online at his website (http://frankdonleytraining.com), Instagram (@frankdonley & @anti_frail), and Facebook (@FDonleyTraining).
In the thirty-sixth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) & Frank put on the festive holiday sweaters and have a Christmas chat about the Nutcracker, athletes in theatre and ballet, Russian sports and fitness cultures, getting back on the fitness track, books & lessons, prioritizing strength and game-plan approaches, adventures in gyms around the region, exercise & nutrition sciences, injuries & causality vs. correlation, and much more.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
Justin Kline is a broker and owner of House & Land Real Estate in Hellertown, PA, one of the top real estate firms in the Lehigh Valley and Bucks County, and the proprietor of the online show "On The Go with Justin Kline," which "brings people and places to life through exclusive video." Justin's experience spans nearly a decade in real estate with additional experience as a well-known bartender at Hellertown's Braveheart Pub on Main Street. With "savvy" negotiation skills and cutting-edge social media marketing strategies, Justin touts an exceptionally loyal clientele with personal referrals and repeat business being highlights of his success. Justin's service is well-respected in the region, not only for his unparalleled professional track record and high ethical standards but for being an honest, hard-working family man who does absolutely everything in his power to ensure his clients' success. Justin can be found online at http://justinklinerealestate.com - Facebook (On The Go with Justin Kline), and Instagram (@onthegowithjustinkline).
In the thirty-fifth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) takes the show on the road to chat with Justin Kline, owner of House & Land Real Estate and proprietor of the online show "On The Go with Justin Kline," to discuss a wide range of topics. The conversation includes talks about professional paths to real estate, starting up in the sales business - from restaurants to real estate, "self-help" and what it truly means, soul-searching and diving into reading books, what it means to be "unique" through focus, determination, and actionable steps, lessons learned in work and life, commitment and attention to clients, success and failure in business, discipline in nutrition and lifestyle approaches, and much more.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
Frank Donley (@frankdonley & @anti_frail), a frequent guest on The Chris Fluck Podcast, has continually worked with individuals to achieve their goals in the strength & conditioning field. Graduating from Shippensburg University with a B.S. in Exercise Science, minoring in Biology, Frank has worked as a Strength Coach at LA Fitness, Unlimited Changes, and Warriorfit Performance before opening his own training business, Frank Donley Training. Since launching his business, Frank has helped numerous individuals achieve their fitness goals, continuing to expand his business ambition while building Anti-Frail Apparel, a clothing line that acts as "a movement for a mentally, emotionally, and physically STRONGER America," according to the Instagram page. Frank can be found online at his website (http://frankdonleytraining.com), Instagram (@frankdonley & @anti_frail), and Facebook (@FDonleyTraining).
In the thirty-fourth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) & Frank pour the Mushroom coffee and start a wide-ranging conversation that includes topics of ratio strength training (2:1 push/pull versus horizontal/vertical), Teflon and the Dupont legacy told through "Dark Waters," what to watch and how to listen in media, conspiracy theories, food production and ecological consequences, overworking and cultural dogmas, books & mental growth, and much more.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
Frank Donley (@frankdonley & @anti_frail), a frequent guest on The Chris Fluck Podcast, has continually worked with individuals to achieve their goals in the strength & conditioning field. Graduating from Shippensburg University with a B.S. in Exercise Science, minoring in Biology, Frank has worked as a Strength Coach at LA Fitness, Unlimited Changes, and Warriorfit Performance before opening his own training business, Frank Donley Training. Since launching his business, Frank has helped numerous individuals achieve their fitness goals, continuing to expand his business ambition while building Anti-Frail Apparel, a clothing line that acts as "a movement for a mentally, emotionally, and physically STRONGER America," according to the Instagram page. Frank can be found online at his website (http://frankdonleytraining.com), Instagram (@frankdonley & @anti_frail), and Facebook (@FDonleyTraining).
In the thirty-third episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) & Frank break down multiple topics and subjects of discussion over the course of a little over an hour. This wide-ranging conversation includes topics of how strength training is practical in older age (82-year old woman beats up home invader), the mystics of Bikram Yoga, cults, the origins of Anti-Frail Apparel and the brand, mental challenges and mental strength in youth, academics and sports, perseverance in the face of adversity, the Juggernaut program, parents and athletes, and much more.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
With over 14 years of experience in the fitness industry, Matt Stocker, owner and Certified Personal Trainer at Trinity Fitness (http://www.trinityfitnessofeaston.com/) in Easton, PA, has cultivated immense passions for both fitness and people. Pursuing football as an outstanding lineman in high school and into college at Rowan University on a 2-time championship-level team, Matt received a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice and continued to earn his Masters degree in Human Behavior at Kean College, enabling him to both establish long term relationships and understand the real issues behind people and their goals. From 2004 to 2009, Matt received his first fitness job and developed an evolving client base while learning how to operate within the fitness industry. In 2009, Matt Stocker's Trinity Fitness was created in Easton, PA and quickly became one of the premiere areas to train in the Lehigh Valley. Meanwhile, Matt developed his education at IMG academy and their sports performance program. In 2017, Matt Stocker's Trinity Fitness relocated to the brand new Silk Mill in Easton, which enabled Trinity Fitness to offer group classes and 24-hour studio access. Professionally, Matt has worked in various positions in a diverse array of professional fields; Matt has worked closely with individuals of wide-ranging ages, backgrounds, and fitness levels to help them achieve their own fitness goals while developing a foundation of healthy habits and positive thinking.
In the thirty-second episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) takes the show on the road to chat with first-time guest Matt Stocker, owner and Certified Personal Trainer at Trinity Fitness in Easton, PA. Topics of the episode include professional journeys, personal fitness trends & interests, work with youth development programs, modern challenges in sports and fitness, body changes and personal confidence, parental involvement in sports, learning curves and lessons learned as a parent, the road to Trinity Fitness, and much more.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
In the thirty-first episode, Chris examines and dives in to the world of the Complete Youth Program by Mike Boyle and its ramifications of the world of youth sports - for better and for worse. Topics include: Mike Boyle's Complete Youth Program, the effects of early success in sports, emphases on solid skills versus temporary success, phenomena in youth sports, camp cultures, parental involvement, youth training & Mike Boyle's approach to kids entering the gym, multi-sport student-athletes, keys to strength and conditioning advancements, life lessons, and much more!
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
In the thirtieth episode, Chris explores the boundless world of Malcolm Gladwell and his multiple novels that examine the intricate and wide-ranging complexities of human behavior & endeavor, specifically examining Gladwell's new book "Talking to Strangers" and its applications to Chris's own life and the various realities - and puzzles - that humankind faces each and every day. The book is described as "a classically Gladwellian intellectual adventure, a challenging and controversial excursion through history, psychology, and scandals taken straight from the news, revisiting the deceptions of Bernie Madoff, the trial of Amanda Knox, the suicide of Sylvia Plath, the Jerry Sandusky pedophilia scandal at Penn State University, and the death of Sandra Bland---throwing our understanding of these and other stories into doubt. Something is very wrong, Gladwell argues, with the tools and strategies we use to make sense of people we don't know. And because we don't know how to talk to strangers, we are inviting conflict and misunderstanding in ways that have a profound effect on our lives and our world."
Malcolm Gladwell's "Talking to Strangers": https://www.amazon.com/Talking-Strangers-Should-about-People-dp-0316478520/dp/0316478520/ref=mt_hardcover?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
In the twenty-ninth episode, Chris ventures to give the classic book "Brave New World" and its sister book, "Brave New World Revisited" their due respect. Both of these books were written by one of the all-time greats, Aldous Huxley. In Brave New World, Huxley outlines what he feels our future generations would look like; things like test tube babies, chemically induced happiness, controlling the masses with different "conditioning" techniques and much, much more are covered. Keep in mind, this book was written in 1931 - long before some of these ideas were even considered. In his mind, these aspects of society were still hundreds of years away. As it turns out, some of these things he predicted happened within the next decade. This book is super insightful and Chris highly recommends it!
"Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley: https://www.amazon.com/Brave-New-World-Aldous-Huxley/dp/0060850523
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
Frank Donley (@frankdonley & @anti_frail), a frequent guest on The Chris Fluck Podcast, has continually worked with individuals to achieve their goals in the strength & conditioning field. Graduating from Shippensburg University with a B.S. in Exercise Science, minoring in Biology, Frank has worked as a Strength Coach at LA Fitness, Unlimited Changes, and Warriorfit Performance before opening his own training business, Frank Donley Training. Since launching his business, Frank has helped numerous individuals achieve their fitness goals, continuing to expand his business ambition while building Anti-Frail Apparel, a clothing line that acts as "a movement for a mentally, emotionally, and physically STRONGER America," according to the Instagram page. Frank can be found online at his website (http://frankdonleytraining.com), Instagram (@frankdonley & @anti_frail), and Facebook (@FDonleyTraining).
In the twenty-eighth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) & Frank continue their series of discussions with topics of aliens, competition in coaching and sports, biggest mistakes of new gym-goers, the quality-versus-quantity debate, "make it or break it" mentalities and goal-setting, benchmarks in strength training (men and women), parents and athletes, S&C program techniques and tricks, specialization in sports and life, carrying heavy objects over long distances, nutrition go-to's, and much more.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
Chris Schoch is a certified yoga instructor at Blue Hawk Yoga, Tribe Yoga, Anti-Gravity Yoga Lab, and Steel Fitness. Chris was introduced to yoga through P90X, and fell in love with it. It was one of the hardest things he ever tried to do but he felt so relaxed when done. He started going to classes to learn more about yoga and learn more poses. He has learned so much from going to classes and workshops; he wanted improve himself and help others feel good about themselves as well, so he began yoga teacher training. He did his 200-hour teacher training at Emmaus yoga. Now, he loves sharing his knowledge of yoga and helping people. He teaches a fun but challenging Vinyasa Flow. In his classes, he likes to ask what the class wants to work on, anywhere from stretching to flowing to handstand and anywhere in between. He teaches anywhere from beginners to advanced. Chris's intention is to make every student feel comfortable and help them achieve their goals. With Yoga anything is possible. Chris Schoch can be found on Facebook at Blue Hawk Yoga or on Instagram @bluehawkyoga with private lessons and classes at the above businesses.
In the twenty-seventh episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) & first-time guest Chris Schoch sit down to have a lively discussion about careers, current events, and calming minds. Topics include journeys through yoga, bowling, fitness and health approaches, meditation techniques, the P90X kick, nutrition and choices, training for yoga instruction, choosing the right teacher, sense of community, favorite Joe Rogan moments, and much more.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
Frank Donley (@frankdonley & @anti_frail), a frequent guest on The Chris Fluck Podcast, has continually worked with individuals to achieve their goals in the strength & conditioning field. Graduating from Shippensburg University with a B.S. in Exercise Science, minoring in Biology, Frank has worked as a Strength Coach at LA Fitness, Unlimited Changes, and Warriorfit Performance before opening his own training business, Frank Donley Training. Since launching his business, Frank has helped numerous individuals achieve their fitness goals, continuing to expand his business ambition while building Anti-Frail Apparel, a clothing line that acts as "a movement for a mentally, emotionally, and physically STRONGER America," according to the Instagram page. Frank can be found online at his website (http://frankdonleytraining.com), Instagram (@frankdonley & @anti_frail), and Facebook (@FDonleyTraining).
In the twenty-sixth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) & Frank continue their series of discussions with LIVE COVERAGE of topics that include the debate of BMI and fitness/nutrition approaches, the strongest men in the world & bodybuilders, the art of skepticism, books and knowledge, the NFL, the dynamic world of sports, CTE & the effects of human decision/indecision, Frank's travels and adventures, the price of pay-per-view & UFC, unique individuals in the world, and much more.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT FROM CHRIS FLUCK: I am in search of an intern to help with getting these podcast episodes out to the masses through marketing, micro-content, interview ideas, etc. The intern position would be about 4-5 hrs./wk, so, if you or someone you know would be interested, contact Brickhouse Strength on Facebook, brickhousestrength.com, find Chris Fluck online, on Instagram (@cfluck7) for more information.
In the twenty-fifth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris is solo again for a full discussion on a wide range of subjects. Topics include: Andrew Luck and retirement in the NFL, fan behaviors and the culture of various sports, mental health & ethics in experiments, the Stanford Prison Experiment, human behavior in unique situations, the writings of Russian writers (Leo Tolstoy, Anton Chekhov, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and more), philosophy & introspection, physical challenges and pushing yourself, intern opportunities, and much more.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
Frank Donley (@frankdonley & @anti_frail), a frequent guest on The Chris Fluck Podcast, has continually worked with individuals to achieve their goals in the strength & conditioning field. Graduating from Shippensburg University with a B.S. in Exercise Science, minoring in Biology, Frank has worked as a Strength Coach at LA Fitness, Unlimited Changes, and Warriorfit Performance before opening his own training business, Frank Donley Training. Since launching his business, Frank has helped numerous individuals achieve their fitness goals, continuing to expand his business ambition while building Anti-Frail Apparel, a clothing line that acts as "a movement for a mentally, emotionally, and physically STRONGER America," according to the Instagram page.
Frank can be found online at his website (http://frankdonleytraining.com), Instagram (@frankdonley & @anti_frail), and Facebook (@FDonleyTraining).
In the twenty-fourth "Kobe" episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) & Frank expand their discussion of sports, sports performance training, fantasy sports, Cambridge Analytica & data collection, success and personal value, systematic influence in business & technology, old-school training & Westside lifting, books & nutrition, studies about diets and fitness, traveling ideas and exploring the world, and much more.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
August is almost through, but, man, July was a busy month!
In the twenty-third episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris hits the solo time and opens up a recap of the busy month of July. Topics include: UFC and getting back to the basics (of fun), child and human development, perspectives and lessons from Jordan Peterson, Henry David Thoreau, Joe Rogan, and others, reflections on slavery and the 4th of July, family matters, trials and tribulations in life, learning experiences and growing as both an individual and team, the "person in the suit" principle, guidance through people and books, and much more.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
Jason Brader is the current Director of Sports Performance at Albright College; his background boasts an extensive career in sports training throughout the local, regional, and national levels. Jason has just recently finished positions as an Assistant Strength & Conditioning coach for Louisiana Tech University and, for Alabama University, a Football Strength and Conditioning Intern & Olympic Sports Intern. Jason also owns FASST (Functional Athletic Speed Strength Training) Performance Center - a sports performance training facility designed to help serious athletes achieve optimal performance in their respective sports. Jason has trained top-tier athletes and worked with a wide range of individuals, building their skills and mindsets to compete with other highly-skilled competitors; he uses both his own experiences and education as a top-level college athlete and student in Psychology and Education at Lehigh University, Muhlenburg College, and Lackawanna College to create dynamic, effective programs for passionate athletes at multiple levels of various sports.
In the twenty-second episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) & Jason spark a lively two-hour conversation that covers a diverse, wide range of topics, including sports performance, sports-specific training, parents' roles with student-athletes, standards for training, life opportunities, decisions & lessons, social factors of the gym, contradictions in coaching styles, teamwork models, mental health in sports, and much more.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
Frank Donley (@frankdonley & @anti_frail), a frequent guest on The Chris Fluck Podcast, has continually worked with individuals to achieve their goals in the strength & conditioning field. Graduating from Shippensburg University with a B.S. in Exercise Science, minoring in Biology, Frank has worked as a Strength Coach at LA Fitness, Unlimited Changes, and Warriorfit Performance before opening his own training business, Frank Donley Training. Since launching his business, Frank has helped numerous individuals achieve their fitness goals, continuing to expand his business ambition while building Anti-Frail Apparel, a clothing line that acts as "a movement for a mentally, emotionally, and physically STRONGER America," according to the Instagram page.
Frank can be found online at his website (http://frankdonleytraining.com), Instagram (@frankdonley & @anti_frail), and Facebook (@FDonleyTraining).
In the twenty-first episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) & Frank continue to dive into the discussion of a wide range of topics, including multi-sport athletes, sport specialization, work-life satisfaction & balance, malnutrition burdens, weather & fitness, injury rehabilitation, experimental studies in sports medicine, group training pros & cons, individuality in training, and more.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
Megan O'Brien Duerring is a local coach and avid runner in the Lehigh Valley who has won multiple events - marathons, track events, and trail races - and has established a career in running that extends back to her early childhood through her adulthood. With tips and pointers in Lehigh Valley Running Scene's Coaches Corner (https://therunscene.wordpress.com/category/coaches-corner/), Megan has practiced her preachings, staying mindful of her mental, physical, and nutritional health while competitively pursuing her passion to run and win; in addition, she strives to be a healthy role model for her family and others as she continues through life's journey.
In the twentieth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) chats with Megan O'Brien Duerring, a coach and multiple-winning marathon runner with extensive background in the sport, discussING a wide array of subjects based around fitness, sports performance, coaching methodologies, youth training, marathon training, weight management & body type differences, injuries in training, mental health, and life lessons & experiences.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
Frank Donley (@frankdonley & @anti_frail), a frequent guest on The Chris Fluck Podcast, has continually worked with individuals to achieve their goals in the strength & conditioning field. Graduating from Shippensburg University with a B.S. in Exercise Science, minoring in Biology, Frank has worked as a Strength Coach at LA Fitness, Unlimited Changes, and Warriorfit Performance before opening his own training business, Frank Donley Training. Since launching his business, Frank has helped numerous individuals achieve their fitness goals, continuing to expand his business ambition while building Anti-Frail Apparel, a clothing line that acts as "a movement for a mentally, emotionally, and physically STRONGER America," according to the Instagram page.
Frank can be found online at his website (http://frankdonleytraining.com), Instagram (@frankdonley & @anti_frail), and Facebook (@FDonleyTraining).
In the nineteenth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) & Frank discuss a wide array of subjects while also answering some questions from viewers and listeners. The wide-ranging conversation covers topics of gender classification in professional sports, vaccine relation to sports training, minority-versus-majority dynamics, rest and recovery for strength & conditioning training, and much more.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
Mark Nutting, CSCSD, NSCA-CPT D, ACSM HFD, ACSM CEP, Owner/Master Trainer at Jiva Fitness in Easton, PA, PFP 2016 Trainer of the Year Legacy Award, NSCA’s 2009 Personal Trainer of the Year, holds 12 certifications in the field, 38 years in personal training and health club management, and has been educating and coaching Personal Trainers for 36 of those 38 years. Author of the newly released The Business of Personal Training book for Human Kinetics, Mark is also a fitness program innovator most recently with such programs as Boot Camps for the Masses, adaptable boot camps for everyone, Brain Brawn, brain fitness program, and YEOP! (Youth Environmental Obstacle Play) a youth Parkour/Freerunning program.
In the eighteenth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) meets with Mark Nutting (www.marknutting.com) at Jiva Fitness in Easton, PA, which Mark is the owner, to discuss all things fitness, business, and different areas of life. This wide-ranging conversation covers topics of fitness at different ages, goal-setting strategies, fitness client overview, screening & assessments, mental health and physical health links, sports performance versus function-based training, experience in the field of fitness and nutrition, client management, growth and permanence in fitness, and much more!
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
Dr. Megan Cannon, Ph. D is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in sport psychology. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University in 2013, after earning a Bachelors Degree in psychology from Wilkes University. She completed her pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral training at Pacific Clinics in Southern California. Dr. Megan gained experience providing performance coaching and individual therapy to college student athletes, along with delivering speeches and conducting team-building activities with collegiate, high school, and youth club teams. Dr. Megan currently works with athletes at varying levels in their career. She has worked with individual athletes and teams at schools such as Bucknell University, Duquesne University, Johns Hopkins University, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Old Dominion University, Towson University, University of Massachusetts, University of Pittsburgh, and more. Additionally, she has worked with athletes who have competed in the IronMan Triathlon and CrossFit Games.
Dr. Megan Cannon can be found at drmegancannon.com and on Instagram (@drmegancannon) & Facebook (Dr. Megan Cannon: Sport + Performance Psychologist), by email at drmegan@drmegancannon.com.
In the seventeenth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) invites Dr. Megan Cannon (@drmegancannon), a licensed clinical psychology who specializes in sports psychology and works independently in the Lehigh Valley and beyond, to a chat in the gym to discuss the many dynamic aspects of her profession and their relation to fitness, health, and lifestyle. The wide-ranging conversation covers areas of Dr. Megan's experiences, reasons for performance anxiety, methodologies to manage and/or minimize undesirable behaviors, lifestyle design for student-athletes, coping with change, developing patterns of healthy behavior, the importance of mental health in sports and beyond, and much more.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
SUBSCRIBE to the Youtube channel to stay up-to-date on the latest videos and episodes coming from Chris Fluck! Please give us a like, rating, comment on any of the platforms to help us produce more episodes!
SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
In the sixteenth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) reviews and examines best-selling author Sebastian Junger's Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging (http://www.sebastianjunger.com/tribe-by-sebastian-junger). The review covers a wide range of topics, including links between purpose and passion, community/tribal mentalities, caretaking methodologies and differences, introspective reflection, the importance of community development, and much more.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
SUBSCRIBE to the Youtube channel to stay up-to-date on the latest videos and episodes coming from Chris Fluck! Give us a like, rating, comment on any of the platforms to help us produce more episodes!
SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
In the fifteenth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) & Frank (@frankdonley) cover some of your questions in PART TWO of the Q & A episodes of the podcast. The wide-ranging conversation covers topics of fitness methodologies, female fitness, youth development, varying roles of fat in nutrition, supplementation, and illusions of the fitness world.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
Brad Modrich (@bradmodrich), founder of CONFLICT Apparel, co-owner of Lehigh Valley Laser & Aesthetics, co-author of The Takeover, managing director of Stream Energy, U.S. Marine, certified personal trainer & life coach for over 20 years, is a man whose turning point came when someone asked, "Is this what you're going to do for the rest of your life, kid?" Brad's journey from the "wrong side of the tracks" to U.S. Marine to federal convict to successful entrepreneur, father, family man, motivational speaker, coach, mentor, and leader is unique, to say the least, and his journey is made whole by his commitment to "changing peoples lives through educating them on the simple, easy ways to live a healthy lifestyle." As a well-known entrepreneur in the Lehigh Valley, Brad has cultivated various teams of dedicated individuals throughout his professional career, and his extensive life experience carries his mission and purpose in building both himself and the individuals engaged with his multiple ventures. Most recently, Brad co-authored the book, The Takeover, with George "GK" Koufalis- a motivational guide and "ultimate mind booster" that "will help you add positive success files to your mind, allowing you to live a more fulfilling, positive, and happier life."
Brad can be found online at his website (www.conqueryourconflicts.com), on Instagram (@bradmodrich), Linkedin (Brad A. Modrich), and Twitter (@bradmodrich).
The Takeover can be found on http://www.conqueryourconflicts.com/product/the-take-over/ or on Amazon!
In the fourteenth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) sits down with Brad Modrich, a multi-venture entrepreneur, father, leader, author, life coach, and certified personal trainer, to discuss multiple areas of life and experience. Topics range from life lessons, tipping points, coaching styles, leadership philosophies, entrepreneurial disciplines, fitness approaches, welcomed challenges, and much more!
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
Frank Donley (@frankdonley & @anti_frail), a frequent guest on The Chris Fluck Podcast, has continually worked with individuals to achieve their goals in the strength & conditioning field. Graduating from Shippensburg University with a B.S. in Exercise Science, minoring in Biology, Frank has worked as a Strength Coach at LA Fitness, Unlimited Changes, and Warriorfit Performance before opening his own training business, Frank Donley Training. Since launching his business, Frank has helped numerous individuals achieve their fitness goals, continuing to expand his business ambition while building Anti-Frail Apparel, a clothing line that acts as "a movement for a mentally, emotionally, and physically STRONGER America," according to the Instagram page.
Frank can be found online at his website (http://frankdonleytraining.com), Instagram (@frankdonley & @anti_frail), and Facebook (@FDonleyTraining).
In the thirteenth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) & Frank continue their talks at Pheasant Hill Farm, diving into various topics while sipping Don Devault's Portch Tea kombucha. The wide-ranging conversation covers topics of youth development in sports, learning curves of training, coaching correlations to injuries, tension techniques, weight management, and much more.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
Don Devault is the founder & owner of Portch Tea. Portch Tea, a small family farm fermentory in the village of Vera Cruz, Pennsylvania, has evolved to produce various teas, kombucha, yerba maté, herbs, fruit, and flowers. He has designed Portch Tea to be a recognizable kombucha brand in the Lehigh Valley area and beyond, competing amongst the frontrunners in the surge of demand for kombucha in recent years. Portch Tea can be found at multiple farmers' markets, eateries, and Pheasant Hill Farm - the home base of Portch Tea; information can be found at www.portchtea.com. Don can be contacted through his business at www.portchtea.com on Facebook (Portch Tea), and on Instagram (@portchtea).
In the twelfth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris (@cfluck7) & Frank (@frankdonley) go on the road to Pheasant Hill Farm in Emmaus, PA to meet and do some tasting of kombucha with Don Devault, founder and owner of Portch Tea. The wide-ranging conversation covers topics of kombucha production, health benefits, consumer education, competitive advantages & disadvantages, caffeine & sugar intake, demonstration, and more.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
Kevin Branco is the owner of Main Street Gym in Hellertown, PA, a competitive bodybuilder, and certified personal trainer. He holds degrees in Political Science, Public Administration, and Speech Communication, and he is a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Council on Strength and Fitness with over 3,000 hours of personal training experience. Over the past 9 years, Kevin has cultivated Main Street Gym into a strength and conditioning hub in the region, contributing his successes to his parents, friends, teachers, coaches, and mentors. He states that his training philosophy "is not only to understand my clients’ needs so that I can develop personalized programs to help them achieve their objectives, but also to coach them and instill in them the importance of committing themselves to a healthy lifestyle that includes physical fitness." Kevin can be found through his business at https://mainstgym.com/ , on Facebook (@Mainstgymhellertown), and on Instagram (@mainstreetgym).
In the eleventh episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris meets with long-time friend Kevin Branco, owner of Main Street Gym in Hellertown, PA, competitive bodybuilder, and certified personal trainer. The wide-ranging conversation covers topics of competitive cultures, training techniques, nutrition approaches, goal-setting, intention and direction in lifestyle, and much more.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
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SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
In the tenth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris swoops into his past experience with coaching, sports nutrition, youth training, and more to cover a wide range of topics and relate them back to where he's at now in life. Topics include "slow-cook" training and other methodologies, lessons in coaching and mentoring, psychological and emotional elements of training, experiences working with others, and much more!
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
SUBSCRIBE to the Youtube channel to stay up-to-date on the latest videos and episodes coming from Chris Fluck! SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
In the ninth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris meets with Erin Sparrold, CN. A wide-ranging conversation ensues that covers topics of nutrition health & wellness, sports-specific training & nutrition, fads of the nutrition world, recovery modalities, effects of sleep on training, and much more.
Erin Sparrold, CN is a sports performance and wellness nutritionist with over 20 years of experience in the field of Nutrition Science. She has a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition Science from the University of Arizona and a specialization in Metabolic Efficiency Training. In addition to helping people live their healthiest lives through improving nutrition habits, Erin also works closely with athletes helping them reach their peak performance. She is the sport nutrition coach for Lehigh Wrestling and Lafayette’s men’s soccer and women’s basketball. Erin mentored under the 2008 Olympic Team Sport Dietician Bob Seebohar and continues her studies specializing in sport nutrition. She also actively participates with her alma mater’s continuing education program through the Center for Integrative Medicine. Erin’s continuing education studies include nutrition interventions for depression and anxiety. As well as nutrition support to aid in the prevention of cancer and heart disease. Erin strives to understand her client’s personal needs and to empower them with the tools to live a healthier life, reach their goals, and compete at their best. Erin can be found on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ErinSmithSparrold), Instagram and Twitter (@erinsparrold).
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
SUBSCRIBE to the Youtube channel to stay up-to-date on the latest videos and episodes coming from Chris Fluck! SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
In the eighth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris is joined by Frank Donley in a wide-ranging conversation. Frank and Chris discuss a diverse range of topics, which include scandals, college experience and the future of college life, youth training and environments, training tactics and discipline, and much more.
Frank Donley, owner of Frank Donley Training and Anti-Frail Apparel, can be found at https://frankdonleytraining.com and on Instagram (@frankdonley & @anti_frail).
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
SUBSCRIBE to the Youtube channel to stay up-to-date on the latest videos and episodes coming from Chris Fluck! SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
In the seventh episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris dives back in to a wide-ranging conversation with Frank Donley. Frank and Chris discuss a diverse range of topics, which include sports performance, recovery after training, female training, effects of alcohol and nutrients, and much more in this energized conversation.
Frank Donley, owner of Frank Donley Training and Anti-Frail Apparel can be found at https://frankdonleytraining.com and on Instagram (@frankdonley & @anti_frail).
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
SUBSCRIBE to the Youtube channel to stay up-to-date on the latest videos and episodes coming from Chris Fluck! SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
In the sixth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris explores the depths of Viktor Frankl's world-famous book, Man's Search for Meaning, and its effect on freedom of choice, the existential vacuum, and one's attitude in everyday life.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
SUBSCRIBE to the Youtube channel to stay up-to-date on the latest videos and episodes coming from Chris Fluck!
SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on http://chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
In the fifth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris sparks a wide-ranging conversation with a good friend from his hometown. Topics like how to persevere through adversity, how to manage discipline in fitness and lifestyle, and how to enrich your life through different skills are all discussed in this episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
SUBSCRIBE to the Youtube channel to stay up-to-date on the latest videos and episodes coming from Chris Fluck!
SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
In the fourth episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris takes questions from some listeners and viewers and answers them at the Brickhouse gym. Topics range from fitness ideas when aging, nutrition plans and directives, sleep suggestions and talk of several current events!
SUBSCRIBE to the Youtube channel to stay up-to-date on the latest videos and episodes coming from Chris Fluck! SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
In the third episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris lights the fire in the cold gym and enjoys a wide-ranging fireside chat with Frank Donley. Frank and Chris discuss topics of their experience with personal training, strength training, sports performance, nutrition, health & wellness, self-care, and much more in this energized conversation.
Frank Donley, owner of Frank Donley Training and Anti-Frail Apparel can be found at https://frankdonleytraining.com and on Instagram (@frankdonley & @anti_frail).
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
SUBSCRIBE to The Chris Fluck Podcast on any platform to stay up-to-date on the latest episodes coming from Chris Fluck!
SUPPORT US on Patreon (http://patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
In the second episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, Chris sits down to discuss and analyze Motivation Manifesto, a book written by Brendon Burchard, while examining areas of leadership, social support, the importance of focus and self-care, and principles of productivity and progress. This wide-ranging episode covers various depths and dives into the origin story of The Chris Fluck Podcast and how Chris brought this podcast to life.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
SUPPORT US on Patreon (patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Full episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Patreon, and YouTube.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is proud to bring you our talk with Wes Morris, owner of Saucon Valley Massage Therapy, motivational speaker, and friend of Chris Fluck. In this launch episode of The Chris Fluck Podcast, a wide-ranging conversation is produced as Chris and Wes speak about Wes's kinship with Chris's brother, Ryan. In addition, Wes covers his history, dealing with heroin addiction, recovering and rebuilding a new life following his decision to quit abusing drugs, and the life lessons and foundations he's experienced over the course of his lifetime. Wes Morris can be found on Instagram at @westleymorrisinspires and through his ownership of the Saucon Valley Massage Therapy business, located in Hellertown, PA, and online at www.sauconvalleymassage.com.
The Chris Fluck Podcast is produced by Chris Fluck & Chris Fiegel.
SUPPORT US on Patreon (patreon.com/chrisfluck), an online community that brings patrons and creators together, to help us produce more content, tell more stories, and share more lives through articles, videos, and podcast episodes. We strive to bring the best possible creations to your world, and we would love your support in helping us reach more members of a growing community!
Episodes of The Chris Fluck Podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts, Patreon, and YouTube.
Links: Website: chrisfluckpodcast.com Patreon: patreon.com/chrisfluck
ANNOUNCING THE LAUNCH OF THE CHRIS FLUCK PODCAST!
The Chris Fluck Podcast is a dynamic collection of podcast episodes that explores interviews with guests, stories & life lessons, and much more. Chris Fluck, the host of the podcast, holds an extensive career in sports performance, personal coaching, and fitness, which has afforded him the opportunity to cultivate an unique perspective on the world, and, after several considerations and promptings, he seeks to share that perspective with listeners and visitors alike through the works of The Chris Fluck Podcast.
The first episode of the podcast will be released in late November 2018 and will be available for streaming and download on chrisfluckpodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Youtube, and Patreon.