Architect of Resilience

Today we've got the incredible George Esquivel joining us to share a remarkable journey of triumph over adversity. As the creator of a luxury shoe brand worn by celebrities and musicians, George seems to have it all. But his path to success was anything but glamorous. From the emotional scars of a fractured family to the physical demands that left him coping with chronic back pain, George's story is a testament to the power of resilience and the importance of authenticity in an often superficial world. With a candor that's as refreshing as it is enlightening, we'll uncover the harsh truths about entrepreneurship—debunking myths like the freedom of setting one's schedule and discussing the relentless nature of running a business. George's admiration for those who continually learn and grow sets the stage as we delve into how one's values and motivations play a pivotal role in both personal and professional perseverance. Episode Highlights: 🌟 George Esquivel's evolution from hardship to high-fashion 🌟 The real hustle: Chris Duffin's candid take on entrepreneurship 🌟 A fusion of biomechanics and luxury in shoe design Website:https://georgeesquivel.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EsquivelShoes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgeesquivel This episode of the ARCHITECT of RESILIENCE podcast is available on Apple, Spotify & YouTube, and is sponsored by @marekhealth : Performance. Longevity. Optimization. 🔬 Use code RESILIENCE for 10% off your first bloodwork at https://marekhealth.com/chrisduffin A message about Marek Health can be found at 18:42 in the podcast. 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝘿𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙣.𝙘𝙤𝙢 Architect of Resilience podcast 🎙 Author | The Eagle & the Dragon 🦅🐉 📚 Award Winning Design Engineer ⚙️ Endless Evolution ♾️ #1000GrandGoals Squat-Dead 🎬

📖 In this episode, Michael Gervais takes us beyond the surface, sharing insights from his book, "The First Rule of Mastery," and discussing the evolutionary challenges of fear, high performance, and the stoic path to self-discovery. Dr. Michael Gervais is one of the world's top high-performance psychologists and leading experts on the relationship between the mind and human performance. Dr. Gervais has spent his career being called on by the best of the best across the worlds of business, sport, the arts, and science when they need to achieve the extraordinary. Dr. Gervais is also the founder and host of the Finding Mastery Podcast, the co-creator of the Performance Science Institute at USC, and his work has been featured by NBC, ABC, FOX, CNN, ESPN, NFL Network, Red Bull TV, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Outside Magazine, WIRED, ESPN Magazine and more. Finding Mastery: https://findingmastery.com Dr. Gervais' Podcast: https://findingmastery.com/podcast-start/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/findingmastery/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/findingmastery/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMastery/ This episode of the ARCHITECT of RESILIENCE podcast is available on Apple, Spotify & YouTube, and is sponsored by Naboso @Naboso_Technology. Use code RESILIENCE for 20% off your first order at https://www.naboso.com This episode is also sponsored by Build Fast Formula @buildfastformula: Build Smart. Build Strong. Build Fast. 💪🏼🧬 Use code RESILIENCE for 10% off your order at https://buildfastformula.com 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝘿𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙣.𝙘𝙤𝙢 Architect of Resilience podcast 🎙 Author | The Eagle & the Dragon 🦅🐉 📚 Award Winning Design Engineer ⚙️ Endless Evolution ♾️ #1000GrandGoals Squat-Dead 🎬

Mike, the founder of Reactive Training Systems and a herald of the RPE scale, joins us today to share his journey from a young lifter writing programs from bodybuilding books to becoming a master of load management and strength training wisdom. Together, we'll explore the overlooked side of training—life stress management—and how anchoring ourselves in challenging experiences cultivates wisdom and resilience. Website: https://store.reactivetrainingsystems.com Links: https://pages.reactivetrainingsystems.com/links With Chris Duffin hosting, the Architect of Resilience podcast is dedicated to discussing the intricacies of strength & resiliency with experts worldwide, leading researchers, doctors, coaches, clinicians, and athletes. Topics will include; achieving 'superhuman' results, fueling an endless evolution, gaining internal strength and self-awareness, mastering and applying human & organizational behavior, utilize unparalleled injury prevention & recovery protocols. This episode of the ARCHITECT of RESILIENCE podcast is available on Apple, Spotify & YouTube, and is sponsored by @marekhealth : Performance. Longevity. Optimization. 🔬 Use code RESILIENCE for 10% off your first bloodwork at https://marekhealth.com/chrisduffin 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝘿𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙣.𝙘𝙤𝙢 Architect of Resilience podcast 🎙 Author | The Eagle & the Dragon 🦅🐉 📚 Award Winning Design Engineer ⚙️ Endless Evolution ♾️ #1000GrandGoals Squat-Dead 🎬

Welcome to the "Architect of Resilience Podcast," where we dive deep into the minds of those who have built their lives around the art of enduring and thriving amidst challenges. I'm your host, Chris Duffin, and in this episode, we're joined by the multifaceted strength and conditioning guru, Phil Daru. Phil Daru, strength and conditioning coach, MMA expert. Phil specialized in managing the fight prep app, communication in coaching, mentorship program, periodization in life, sports psychology, branding for coaches, marketing in fitness, and coaching fitness sales skills. In the world of combat sports and coaching, Phil Daru is a name that resonates with dedication and a journey of self-discovery. As a young man at the crossroads of his career, Phil grappled with the dual identity of being a professional fighter and a burgeoning coach. At the tender age of 23 or 24, he ran his own gym and worked tirelessly to train athletes while simultaneously pursuing his passion for fighting in the ring. Phil Daru: www.darustrong.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachdaru/ X: https://t.co/3MbH1EJ1dt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darustrong/?hl=en This episode of the ARCHITECT of RESILIENCE podcast is available on Apple, Spotify & YouTube, and is sponsored by Naboso @Naboso_Technology. Use code RESILIENCE for 20% off your first order at https://naboso.com With Chris Duffin hosting, the Architect of Resilience podcast is dedicated to discussing the intricacies of strength & resiliency with experts worldwide, leading researchers, doctors, coaches, clinicians, and athletes. Topics will include; achieving 'superhuman' results, fueling an endless evolution, gaining internal strength and self-awareness, mastering and applying human & organizational behavior, utilize unparalleled injury prevention & recovery protocols. 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝘿𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙣.𝙘𝙤𝙢 Architect of Resilience podcast 🎙 Author | The Eagle & the Dragon 🦅🐉 📚 Award Winning Design Engineer ⚙️ Endless Evolution ♾️ #1000GrandGoals Squat-Dead 🎬

Lane Johnson is an American football offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL) and SUPER BOWL champion. He was selected by the Eagles fourth overall in the 2013 NFL Draft. He played college football at Kilgore College before transferring to Oklahoma. Instagram NFL Website With Chris Duffin hosting, the Architect of Resilience podcast is dedicated to discussing the intricacies of strength & resiliency with experts worldwide, leading researchers, doctors, coaches, clinicians, and athletes. Topics will include; achieving 'superhuman' results, fueling an endless evolution, gaining internal strength and self-awareness, mastering and applying human & organizational behavior, utilize unparalleled injury prevention & recovery protocols. This episode of the ARCHITECT of RESILIENCE podcast is available on Apple, Spotify & YouTube, and is sponsored by @marekhealth : Performance. Longevity. Optimization. 🩸🔬 Use code RESILIENCE for 10% off your first bloodwork at https://marekhealth.com/chrisduffin 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝘿𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙣.𝙘𝙤𝙢 Architect of Resilience podcast 🎙 Author | The Eagle & the Dragon 🦅🐉 📚 Award Winning Design Engineer ⚙️ Endless Evolution ♾️ #1000GrandGoals Squat-Dead 🎬

Guest : Dr. Tyna Moore Overview : Certified Naturopathic and Chiropractic physician. Authority in natural pain solutions and regenerative injection therapies. Podcast host. Instagram : @drtyna Website : www.drtyna.com With Chris Duffin hosting, the Architect of Resilience podcast is dedicated to discussing the intricacies of strength & resiliency with experts from around the world, leading researchers, doctors, coaches, clinicians, and athletes. Topics will include; achieving 'superhuman' results, fueling an endless evolution, gaining internal strength and self-awareness, mastering and applying human & organizational behavior, utilize unparalleled injury prevention & recovery protocols. This episode of the Architect of Resilience podcast is available on Apple, Spotify & YouTube, and is sponsored by @bearfootshoes : The Original Barefoot Lifting Shoe 🐻🦶🏼 Use code RESILIENCE for 10% off your order at www.bearfoot.store @buildfastformula : Build Smart. Build Strong. Build Fast. 💪🏼🧬 Use code RESILIENCE for 10% off your order at www.buildfastformula.com . 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝘿𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙣.𝙘𝙤𝙢 Architect of Resilience podcast 🎙 Author | The Eagle & the Dragon 🦅🐉 📚 Award Winning Design Engineer ⚙️ Endless Evolution ♾️ #1000GrandGoals Squat-Dead 🎬

Dr. Emily Splichal is a Functional Podiatrist. Human movement specialist. Author of 'Barefoot Strong'. CEO Naboso Technology. Global educator & public speaker Instagram : @dremilydpm Website : www.dremilysplichal.com This episode of the Architect of Resilience podcast is sponsored by @marekhealth : Performance. Longevity. Optimization. www.marekhealth.com With Chris Duffin hosting, the Architect of Resilience podcast is dedicated to discussing the intricacies of strength & resiliency with experts from around the world, leading researchers, doctors, coaches, clinicians, and athletes. Topics will include; achieving 'superhuman' results, fueling an endless evolution, gaining internal strength and self-awareness, mastering and applying human & organizational behavior, utilize unparalleled injury prevention & recovery protocols. Chris Duffin Author, award-winning engineer, Guinness & world record holder, mentor, host and speaker Instagram: @mad_scientist_duffin Website : chrisduffin.com

Don Saladino is a Coach, keynote speaker, & health entrepreneur. Famous for training celebrities and superheroes while also being a leader in online challenges and programming Instagram : @donsaladino Website : donsaladino.com This episode of the Architect of Resilience podcast is sponsored by @bearfootshoes : The Original Barefoot Lifting Shoe www.bearfoot.store @buildfastformula : Build Smart. Build Strong. Build Fast. www.buildfastformula.com With Chris Duffin hosting, the Architect of Resilience podcast is dedicated to discussing the intricacies of strength & resiliency with experts from around the world, leading researchers, doctors, coaches, clinicians, and athletes. Topics will include; achieving 'superhuman' results, fueling an endless evolution, gaining internal strength and self-awareness, mastering and applying human & organizational behavior, utilize unparalleled injury prevention & recovery protocols. Chris Duffin Author, award-winning engineer, Guinness & world record holder, mentor, host and speaker Instagram: @mad_scientist_duffin Website : chrisduffin.com

Guest : Gabby Reece Overview : Volleyball legend, inspirational health and fitness leader, podcast host, corporate speaker, New York Times bestselling author, wife, and mother. Business ventures include Laird Superfood, Laird Apparel, XPT and HIGHX Instagram : @gabbyreece Website : gabriellereece.com With Chris Duffin hosting, the Architect of Resilience podcast is dedicated to discussing the intricacies of strength & resiliency with experts from around the world, leading researchers, doctors, coaches, clinicians, and athletes. Topics will include; achieving 'superhuman' results, fueling an endless evolution, gaining internal strength and self-awareness, mastering and applying human & organizational behavior, utilize unparalleled injury prevention & recovery protocols. Chris Duffin Author, award-winning engineer, Guinness & world record holder, mentor, host and speaker Instagram: @mad_scientist_duffin Website : chrisduffin.com

Guest : Tony Blauer Overview : World renown expert in the martial art, self-defense, defensive tactics, and combative industry with over four decades of experience. Creator of the @spear.system, @speartacticalgarage and @blauer.high.gear Instagram : @tonyblauer Website : blauerspear.com With Chris Duffin hosting, the Architect of Resilience podcast is dedicated to discussing the intricacies of strength & resiliency with experts from around the world, leading researchers, doctors, coaches, clinicians, and athletes. Topics will include; achieving 'superhuman' results, fueling an endless evolution, gaining internal strength and self-awareness, mastering and applying human & organizational behavior, utilize unparalleled injury prevention & recovery protocols. Chris Duffin Author, award-winning engineer, Guinness & world record holder, mentor, host and speaker Instagram: @mad_scientist_duffin Website : chrisduffin.com

With Chris Duffin hosting, the Architect of Resilience podcast is dedicated to discussing the intricacies of strength & resiliency with experts from around the world, leading researchers, doctors, coaches, clinicians, and athletes. Topics will include; achieving 'superhuman' results, fueling an endless evolution, gaining internal strength and self-awareness, mastering and applying human & organizational behavior, utilize unparalleled injury prevention & recovery protocols. Chris Duffin Author, award-winning engineer, Guinness & world record holder, mentor, host and speaker Instagram: @mad_scientist_duffin Website : chrisduffin.com

Layne Norton : PhD. National and World Champion. Author. Entrepreneur. Bullshit Crusher. Dad Strength Chat welcomes this outspoken health + fitness icon to the show for a candid conversation that includes: Mastering productivity Unlocking true superpowers Parent shame Finding pride in hard work Harnessing failure Watch STRENGTH CHAT live or enjoy on your favorite podcast platform kabukistrength.com

On today's episode of Strength Chat Chris Duffin and Daniel DeBrocke sit down with Joe Sullivan. Topics of discussion include, his entry into coaching, building community in strength sports, breaking the all time world record squat at 849Lb, paying it forward and making an impact, and more.

On today's episode of Strength Chat Chris Duffin and Daniel DeBrocke sit down with Chad Wesley Smith. Topics of discussion include his recent garage gym powerlifting competition, coming back from back surgery, the Juggernaut powerlifting AI app, addressing training and recovery needs, what makes a top level athlete, and more.

On today's show, Chris, Rudy, and Brady sit down and chat with a seasoned fitness veteran - and one of the industry's most renowned and influential trainers - Gunnar Peterson. Although best known for working with high-profile clients like Hollywood actors and professional athletes, Gunnar also works regularly with everyday people to help them reach their fitness and performance goals. Listen in as our hosts and guest discuss his experiences working with a wide variety of individuals, from a methodological training perspective as well as what he's found determines success for his clients. Listen from Gunnar as he talks about how he built his business from the ground-up, and what differentiated him from others and resulted in his success today. He discusses the role of a trainer and what makes a successful coach-client relationship from a practical and psychological perspective. Fantastic discussion!

Today's guest is the legendary @tmacsinc, a retired SpecOps operator who is now one of the top instructors in tactical training, marksmanship, and performance-based physical training for the tactically-minded through his company @combatstrengthtraining. Our hosts and Pat discuss general preparedness, fitness, proficiency, and the differences in preparing for dynamic, multi-plane human function as is necessary in a tactical environment. Pat draws from his experiences as a member of 1st SFOD-D (Delta Force) in hostile areas to work with individuals in a variety of skillsets outside of just marksmanship. He talks us through his combat strength training program and the kind of training methodologies and philosophies they draw from. Thanks for joining us on Strength Chat @tmacsinc

You may remember today's guest from episode 68 a year or so back! Ryan Lockard is the founder and head trainer at Specialty Athletic Training, an incredible local organization devoted to helping special needs individuals train to get stronger and healthier. As one parent put it... "There is a special place in heaven for you and each and every one of your staff." In his own words - the mission of Specialty Athletic Training is "...to make fitness fun and encourage self-esteem building and healthy lifestyle choices. We are passionate about the positive effects that exercise can have in the lives of our clients and their families!" Our hosts and Ryan discuss the intricacies of training the special needs population and successes he's seen with his athletes. An insightful conversation into an important and rewarding part of the strength & fitness story.

Is the time you are spending rolling, smashing, stretching, and mobilizing an effective use of your time and resources? Do you know the underlying goal behind the work you are doing? Brad Cox - today's guest - and our hosts discuss the importance of knowing the why behind the what, where, and when as it pertains to various recovery methodologies. In a fitness industry quickly being saturated by new techniques and tools, stepping back and putting your own needs/goals in context and understanding the nuances surrounding what you are trying to achieve is an important, yet oft forgotten practice. We hope you'll tune in as Strength Chat hosts Rudy and Chris sit down in-person with Brad, co-founder of Acumobility and long-time friend of Kabuki Strength to discuss all things mobility, recovery, rehab, and movement!

A fascinating episode on the books today with Dr. Roy Page, a protege of Kabuki Board Member Dr. Craig Liebenson and head associate at world-renowned clinic LA Sport & Spine. Our hosts sit down with Dr. Roy to discuss his education and experience as a practitioner in both western and eastern schools when it comes to rehabilitation modalities. All of our hosts had a chance to experience some unique and novel techniques that Dr. Roy specializes in and utilizes with his patients, particularly electroacupuncture. Dr. Roy received the a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Logan College along with a Master of Science Degree in Sports Science and Rehabilitation. He has also achieved a Master of Traditional Oriental Medicine from Emperor's College and is a California licensed acupuncturist. The American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians recognizes him as a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician, and the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine has awarded him the status Diplomate of Oriental Medicine. He began fine-tuning his clinical work in functional rehabilitation under the direct supervision of Dr. Craig Liebenson in 2012, and he regularly assists Dr. Liebenson at various teaching events across the country. Dr. Page has been a past secretary for the International Society of Clinical Rehabilitation Specialists and continues to represent the emerging interdisciplinary rehab community within the private sector. Roy's detective-like interest in human movement stems from his avid long time study of various martial arts. In particular, he began studying Yang style Taijiquan (T'ai Chi Ch'uan) in 1997 after having spent a year wheelchair bound due to a severe football injury. Tajiquan was a major component of his rehabilitation that taught him how to walk again, empowering him to return to sport. He has studied Taijiquan with many notable teachers across the United States, including his teacher's Sifu Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming as well as Dr. Yang's original Taiji teacher, Grandmaster Kao, Tao. Dr. Page began co-teaching Tajiquan, along with Muay Thai, Wing Chun, and Kali at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN from 2001 – 2006 and has taught privately thereafter. He considers himself a movement specialist due to his colorful history with various martial arts, manual medicine, and rehabilitation based performance care. He also aims to uniquely interweave Eastern medicine with the functional rehabilitation paradigm by recognizing common themes within traditional diagnosis and meridian therapy with modern understandings of anatomy and the body's adaptive potential to influences from the environment. In this way, Dr. Page is capable of managing the entire spectrum of a patient's needs from top personal performance to deep recovery. Through Acupuncture, herbal, and nutraceutical therapies, he has additional expertise in the management of post-stroke rehabilitation and stroke prevention, autoimmune disorders, and the management of side-effects from cancer related medical interventions. Sports Physicians recognizes him as a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician, and the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine has awarded him the status Diplomate of Oriental Medicine.

In possibly one of the darkest episodes of Strength Chat to date, we're excited to have back our very first host from our first episode ever all the way back in 2016. Whereas our previous conversation focused on entrepreneurship and the fitness industry, today's show features a conversation on a topic rarely touched: male mental health. Jeff Halevy is a long-time friend of Kabuki, a former Today Show corespondent, host of internationally syndicated Workout from Within, and Inc 5000 winning entrepreneur for his many successful ventures in the fitness industry. But he hasn't always been these things. Known to many as an extremely dynamic, bright, and passionate voice in fitness - Jeff has only recently opened up to share his story of survival from depression, near-suicide, and chaos that almost landed him in prison for 25 years. In this extremely insightful and honest episode, Jeff and our hosts unpack what it means to "be a man" in the social age, fallacies and traps men fall into, and the desperate need for transparency and acceptable for those seeking help. This is an important episode for all of us to listen to. Thanks for sharing your story Jeff.

We have a lot of incredible guests on this podcast, but today's conversation with Rachel Balkovec is truly a testimony of passion by an incredible woman with deep, raw introspection into her own life experiences and a hunger to live out her vision. Rachel is a powerhouse in the strength & conditioning world; and now in professional baseball as she just signed with the Yankees to become the first full-time female hitting coach hired by a major league organization! Rachel has previously worked for the Astros and Cardinals as a S&C Coordinator and is currently wrapping up her work at Driveline Baseball, a data-driven performance training facility in Washington state. She has two graduate degrees in the science of human movement and is a life-long student, intentionally seeking out mentorship and drawing out knowledge from her experiences. After Rachel shares an absolutely hilarious story (seriously, one of the best funny stories we've had), her and our hosts dive into a wide range of topics ranging from life and identity, to belief systems, the challenge of being a woman in a very male-dominated industry, the flow state, visualization, and of course her experiences on and off the field working as an elite-level coach. Rachel breaks down her value system and what drives her deep down to continue pushing and breaking new ground as an educator, coach, and human being. She discusses her background growing up in Omaha, Nebraska and the nomadic lifestyle (she's lived in 13 countries in the past 10 years) that takes her all over the world and allows her to be minimalist, nimble, and focused on her passion of learning and growing as a human and professional - wherever that may be. You don't want to miss this one!

Mike Robertson is one of the strength & conditioning industry's most respected coaches, working with athletes from all walks of life all the way up to the collegiate and professional levels. He is the founder and owner of i-FAST, named as one of the America's Top 10 Gyms by Men's Health magazine. He is the host of the Physical Preparation Podcast and writes numerous books and articles through his company, Robertson Training Systems. Our hosts spend time discussing the differences in training gen pop, athletic populations, and strength-specific athletes. Mike shares his experiences growing and scaling his coaching business/gym and the challenges that came with burnout, lack of time, and prioritization. This is a fantastic listen for coaches/trainers just getting into the industry who want wisdom and advice from an experienced coach.

Today's episode is a fascinating discussion with sleep expert Nick Lambe - The Online Sleep Coach. Sleep is a topic that is equally important to all humans, particularly performance and strength athletes. We all have different relationships with sleep, some positive and some negative. Listen in as Nick discusses the physiological and psychological processes behind healthy sleep, how supplementation (stimulants, sleep aids, THC/CBD, etc) work and affect sleep, and the difference between quality and quantity of sleep. He discusses the importance of habit and environment to sleep quality, sleep hygiene, as well as recent research on sleep. A great listen for all sleepers! You can follow Nick on Instagram @theonlinesleepcoach or online at onlinesleepcoach.com where you can learn more about his sleep coaching services.

Today's guest is none other than Dave Freakin' Lipson! For those who don't know, Dave is a CrossFit HQ Staff Member, coach, athlete, writer, and co-owner of Thundrbro, an up-and-coming training, lifestyle, and supplement company focused on the intersection between hypertrophy training and functional/skill training. Dave's background is as a strength & conditioning coach for professional MLB and NFL players, celebrities, elite CrossFit athletes (including his wife and 2014 Games Champion Camille Leblanc-Bazinet) and he is considered one of the top CrossFit coaches in the industry! On this episode our hosts and Dave discuss candidly topics ranging from CrossFit, it's effect on the growth of other strength sports, specialization, and of course comparisons between CF athletes and powerlifters! Dave also walks us through his training philosophy and approach working with his athletes through Thundrbro. A fantastic episode with an awesome dude! To end, we'll leave you with this golden nugget from the show: Dave: "When I was growing up, powerlifters looked like potatoes!"

Today's guest on Strength Chat is Ben Esgro, founder of DeNovo Nutrition and an expert in all things supplementation, nutrition, and the science behind it all. He is a Registered Dietitian and did his graduate studies in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Sports Nutrition. In today's show we discuss Ben's philosophy behind supplementation and his approach to starting a different type of supplement company in an industry often seen as tainted (literally) by fallacious claims, misunderstood science, and unethical business practices. Ben and the hosts talk about the current state of the industry and the problems/consequences seen as a result of its rapid growth and loose (often non-existent) regulations. He makes recommendations for athletes on how to approach supplementation, what to look for in a brand, and how to research ingredients, effective dosages, and the pharmacology behind the chemicals we put into our bodies. This is an excellent episode for those interested in supplements and understanding more about what goes on behind the scenes in the industry, so as to have the knowledge and be able to make informed decisions about a topic that directly affects health and performance.

You may have noticed that we have a minor obsession with feet and the human-to-ground interface here at Kabuki Strength, and today's guest is an expert in the field! Dr. Ray McClanahan is a Podiatric Physician and Surgeon, who today runs his own practice - NW Foot and Ankle - right here in our hometown Portland, Oregon. For those not familiar, podiatry is the branch of medicine devoted to the study, diagnosis, and treatment of the foot, ankle, and related structure of the leg. The good doctor is also the inventor of Correct Toes, which are anatomical toe spacers designed to be worn either barefoot or inside footwear - and here's the important part - while being active. Dr. Ray has loads of clinical experience dealing with foot/ankle issues and provides us with valuable insight into his views on barefoot training, the foot-to-ground connection, rooting during loaded movement, issues with footwear, and other nuanced topics of the sort. Our hosts had a great time bouncing concepts/ideas off the mind of an incredibly talented MD like Dr. Ray. We hope you enjoy!

Today's guest is a well-known figure in the strength world, having been a writer, coach, and educator for a number of years and was voted Powerlifting Coach of the Year in 2016. Swede is the creator of the popular 5th Set methodology and owns Keyhole Barbell. He has published numerous popular articles on various topics and is a man of many talents and depth of expression. On today's episode Swede discusses his time in prison, how 5th Set came to be out of that darkness, and where it is today. He provides a very interesting, and thought-provoking perspective on working around training limitations when it comes to equipment and time - based on his experiences behind bars. Today, Swede coaches athletes, writes regularly as a contributor to EliteFTS. You can learn more about him on his website, via Instagram, or read his published works on EliteFTS.

Today's host may be familiar to many of you - Dr. Craig Liebenson has been a long-time friend of Kabuki Strength and has previously been a guest on the show - all the way back on Ep. 34. We're glad to have him on again today and this is one of those episodes that you don't want to miss. In today's discussion you'll hear our hosts and Dr. Liebenson discuss: How to manage your passions with your responsibilities Failure, Progress, and why you'll never be Perfect The Silo: On the dangers of too much data/information The "Fix It" mentality Earning your recovery "The Tyranny of the Clinic", and why I kicked a doctor out of my clinic and into the gym Online Coaching: Technology, personalization and data collection to improve outcomes The Spine Fusion Disaster This list doesn't begin to cover the depth of content covered in this episode. Hope you enjoy! Dr. LIebenson's groundbreaking work with Dr. Karl Levit and Dr. Pavel Kolar have heavily influenced our core understanding of spinal health and performance, and is a member of the Kabuki Strength Advisory Board. Hope you enjoy this episode!

Mike McCastle is a living legend - having performed feats of strength and endurance that will have you saying "...he did WHAT?". Like doing 5,804 pull-ups in 24 hours while wearing a 30lb pack. The first time he tried that, he ended up in the hospital for 4 days with torn biceps, forearms, and rhabdo. Mike has flipped a 250lb truck tire for 13 miles, he even spent 10 hours climbing a 20 foot rope 1450 times, which is the height of Mt. Everest. Perhaps the most fascinating and best part about Mike is his deep conviction and passion for doing good in the world. All these insane accomplishments fall under The 12 Labors Project, Mike's personal philanthropic endeavor to raise money and awareness for important causes via feats of endurance and strength. In this episode you'll hear lots of laughs and funny stories, but also moments of self-reflection from Mike on what drives him to do this and what his "why" is. Our hosts and Mike also discuss details regarding his training, nutrition, and recovery modalities used to be able to perform at such an extreme level. A fascinating episode and a must listen. Mike's passion is contagious, and we guarantee it will inspire you. To learn more about Mike McCastle visit his website twelvelaborsproject.com and make sure to follow him on social media @mikemccastle

Today's guests share an incredible story of tragedy, trauma, survival, perseverance, and ultimate victory. We are honored to have Ben Toderico and his wife Denise Gorondy-Toderico on the show today! Three years ago Denise - a veterinarian from Virginia - was on her usual run on the same route she had run 3-4 times a week for over a decade. After about a mile, she was hit from behind by an SUV traveling around 60mph, and knocked about 50 yards into a ditch. The driver left and left her for dead in a ditch for over an hour until someone saw her and called for help. Refusing to live in fear and accept her injuries, Denise, with help from her husband Ben has worked relentlessly to recover from this incident and regain her quality of life and passion for training and health. Tune in as our Ben and Denise share their story and talk post-trauma and post-rehab training. Ben, Denise...thank you for sharing your story with us and our listeners. Your relentless drive to not only survive - but thrive in the face of extreme adversity and pain - has inspired many and will continue to do so for years to come. Thank you.

Today's guest is PNW-native and an industry leader/pioneer in the Strength & Conditioning field. Joel Jamieson is the man who introduced HRV [Heart Rate Variability] training to the masses and continues to break new ground with his recovery platform Morpheus and online education platform 8WeeksOut. Joel is known for his work as a coach in the combat sports arena, having trained world champions since 2004 and worked with athletes in nearly all professional and collegiate sports, not to mention Navy Seals and other elite groups. Today, Joel works with thousands of coaches, trainers, and athletes around the world through 8WeeksOut, an authoritative platform and certification for recovery-driven conditioning and performance. In this episode, Joel breaks down the early history of HRV, how it works, and application to strength and conditioning. He and the hosts talk recovery, data, inflammation, and practical application. They also discuss some upcoming collaborative content between 8WeeksOut and Kabuki Education, as well as other little tidbits and funnies. This is a good one folks! Joel is also a helicopter pilot, and showed up at The Lab to record this podcast by landing his chopper in our parking lot.

We are honored to have a legend in the fitness world joining us today! Jeff is an educator, coach, and the man behind the world-renowned and wildly-popular Athlean-X fitness program. Athlean-X has over 7 million subscribers on YouTube and millions more on other social media platforms! He has previously worked as the Head Physical Therapist and Assistant Strength Coach for the New York Mets, a role in which he coached some of the game's most accomplished athletes and future hall-of-famers. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and has a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy and Bachelor of Science in Physioneurobiology / Premedicine from the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT (one of the top 5 universities in the country in physical therapy and sports medicine). Jeff is a highly sought after speaker and lecturer, presenting on topics of injury prevention in baseball and sport-specific conditioning and his writings have been featured in numerous print and web publications. Our hosts discuss a plethora of subjects with Jeff; diving into training methodologies, sport-specific training and recovery, common mistakes, and more. To learn more about Jeff, visit athleanx.com, subscribe to the Athlean-X YouTube channel, and Instagram.

Today's guest on Strength Chat is natural bodybuilder and coach Julian Smith! Julian is also known as "the Quad Guy" and has one of the most aesthetic physiques in the sport! His unique, extremely-effective, and detailed training style is wildly popular and he has amassed a very engaged following of over 1 million people on social media: @smith.julian Julian is a PNW-native and trains out of his private facility Arms Race Gym in Hillsboro, Oregon. He owns the hugely-successful training site The Daily Pump, as well as Clifford Lenox, a fitness lifestyle and clothing brand. Our hosts spend time chatting with Julian about his unique training philosophy, the fitness industry, building a brand, the effects of social media, and other topics. As always, we hope you enjoy the show and share it with others!

Today's guest on Strength Chat is the Bryce Lewis, an elite-level drug-free powerlifter and world-renowned strength coach. Bryce is the founder of The Strength Athlete, more commonly known as TSA, whose team of coaches works with and educates beginner-to-elite level powerlifters all across the world. Bryce holds records in the USAPL and IPF, and works to promote the sport of powerlifting globally as an ambassador using his platform. His educational background is in philosophy, and he is a passionate advocate for the application and love of the sciences, evidence-based philosophies, and skepticism of pseudoscience. Tune in and hear Bryce talk with our hosts about the latest in sports psychology, applications to strength sports, and other related topics!

Introducing today's guest in one or two paragraphs would hardly break the surface of her incredible career and accomplishments. She was the first female Head Trainer in US professional sports history - working with the LA Dodgers for 6 years. She has also served as Head of Athletic Training/Performance for the US Men's National Soccer Team, and has presented at state, national and international level conferences in areas focusing on pillar strength, integration of physical therapy and performance training, and comprehensive kinetic chain assessment and rehabilitation. Sue sits on the advisory boards for over a half-dozen highly respected organizations in the S&C and Physical Therapy space, and has numerous professional certifications as well as a graduate education in human movement science from UNC Chapel Hill. Today, Sue runs S&F (Structure and Function), a consulting and education business for healthcare clinicians, as well as a consulting company for the athlete. Today's discussion touches on a wide-variety of topics and Sue's experiences working with a diverse and highly-skilled athletic population. Thank you again Sue, for being our guest on the show.

Bud Jeffries is an incredible human being, and one of the strongest men in the world. Bud is a minister, massage therapist, professional performing strongman, motivational speaker, author and business owner. You may know him from his many videos and pictures of feats of other-worldly strength he regularly performs. Among them: 1000lb Raw Anderson Squat (start at the bottom) Backlift a 15,000lb trailer Walk a mile in a 300lb weight vest Carrying a 600lb stone Among his raw strength, bud is extremely agile and flexible - able to combine and apply strength in awkward and traditionally-weak positions (like doing the splits while bending nails or pressing a stone overhead). In this podcast we discuss his unique training philosophy and how he prepares and structures training for his goals. Bud's mantra is "An Unconventional Life: Living it Agile, Strong, Passionate, Wise, and Well" and this is visible in everything he does and in his mission to help people through Noah's Army. Bud's son Noah Jeffries passed away at the age of 21 in an accident a year back, and today Noah's Army provides scholarships for law enforcement, bring instruments, music and learning to children in longterm care as well as to help build awareness and the national registry for organ donation. 4 people are alive today because of Noah's decision to be an organ donor. There is no greater pain than the loss of a child. Noah was a one-of-a-kind man, with dreams and ambitions burning so fervently inside of him not even his passing could end them. Today his legacy lives on through Noah's Army, an incredible organization we encourage all of you to support financially, with thoughts and prayers, and any way you can. We are honored to have talked with Bud and have him share his story with us and our listeners.

Today's guest is Chris Peil, a veteran of the fitness industry who has been a trainer, coach, and educator for over 15 years. Chris started The Move Well Project - helping athletes improve their movement, then programme appropriately within their limitations and manage risk levels and rehabilitate injuries. Chris has worked with some of the strongest men in the world - including Zydrunas Savickas and Eddie Hall, both winners of the World's Strongest Man contest. On today's show our hosts discuss long term development, managing load, and other ways to minimize injury risk in high-performance athletes. Enjoy the show!

We are honored to have Victoria Felkar as today's guest on Strength Chat. She is an explorer, a renegade, and an advocate pushing the boundaries of performance and health through research, coaching, and teaching. Victoria is currently completing her doctoral studies at University of British Columbia, specializing in physical culture, medical and criminological knowledge, performance enhancement, and the muscular body. Her doctoral research explores women's health and female hormone manipulation within sport and medicine. Tune in as the Mad Scientist, Dr. Rudolph, and the Wizard of Training discuss some of what Victoria has been working on lately. A great episode you won't want to miss!

Today's Strength Chat guest is John Fawkes, an up-and-coming evidence based trainer and coach out of San Francisco. John works with athletes and lifters in all populations to help them develop the systems, psychology and game plan they need to get their minds and bodies into peak condition. In this podcast our hosts discuss the importance of properly reading and interpreting research and its application to practical and real-world uses. Research is one of the foundations for pushing our industry (and athletes) forward; and it is the job of the evidence-based coach to effectively apply research to produce real-world results. A great discussion was had, and we hope you enjoy it!

Those of you professionals in the clinical and strength words are sure to know about SWIS, shorthand for the "Society of Weight-Training Injury Specialists". Our guest today is the man behind SWIS and the annual SWIS Symposium, Dr. Ken Kinakin. Kabuki Strength is no stranger to SWIS, with host Chris Duffin having spoken multiple times at SWIS and will again be presenting this year along with our Director of Coaching and Performance aka The Wizard of Training - Brandon Senn. Tune in to learn more about the mission of SWIS from Dr. Kinakin himself, as well as some sneak peeks of what is going down at this year's symposium. The mission of SWIS is to bring therapeutic professionals and professional weight lifting trainers together. The goal is to create a win-win-win relationship between the doctor/therapist, the trainer, and the client. SWIS is focused on creating a "bridge" for the doctors/therapists and the gym trainers. This allows each profession to do the best work they can. SWIS is dedicated to bringing the top presenters in their fields (Powerlifters, Bodybuilders, Doctors, Therapists, Trainers, Strength Coaches, and Nutritionists) together to deliver a powerful 2 days filled with the lastest advancements, research, and techniques for everyone interested in weight training and sports medicine to benefit from. If you are planning to attend SWIS 2018, use the following code to save $200 on registration: swis2018-kabuki Register at www.swis2018.com

Today's guest is a true pioneer and legend in the strength and fitness worlds, and we are honored to have her on Strength Chat. She is the co-founder and leader of a movement that has empowered hundreds of thousands of women around the world reach their health and fitness goals. Molly Galbraith is an extraordinary person, full of compassion and contagious willpower that touches and inspires those around her. She has dedicated her life's work to helping women "discover all the possibilities for their lives and their bodies and providing evidence-based and body-positive tools to help them reach their goals, all while falling in love with themselves and their bodies in the process." Tune in and listen as Molly shares her story with our hosts and discusses Girls Gone Strong's mission and vision for the future. Girls Gone Strong is a global movement empowering women by providing body-positive, evidence-based, sane, and sustainable nutrition, training, and self-care information. Learn more at girlsgonestrong.com and mollygalbraith.com

Welcome to another episode of Strength Chat! Today's guest is longtime Kabuki Strength friend and coaching client Chris Karmin! As the co-owner of Mt. Vernon Barbell Club in New York City and an elite-level strength athlete, Chris lives and breathes powerlifting when he's not building skyscrapers in Manhattan! Cool fact: Chris was one of the steelworkers who built the Freedom Tower! Chris, Brandon, and Brady (Dr. Rudolph was out today) talk to Chris about his training, working with Kabuki Strength Coaching, and other strength-related topics. Hope you enjoy! As always, please leave us a review and tell all your friends about Strength Chat :)

Today our hosts sit down with Joe Szymanek, an accomplished coach, athlete, and most recently author! Although he has many credentials to his name, and has competed in a high-level in both CrossFit and weightlifting - it's clear immediately that Joe is just as passionate about introducing little ones to movement, strength, and health from an early age. Joe recently authored the book "Luci Meets a Powerlifter" and says... "I developed Luci Meets a Powerlifter with the hope of cultivating an early strength interest in young children and expose them to a fringe sport that could save their life. Strength is for everyone! It also comes in many forms. Read along with Luci as she learns these lessons for herself. Along the way Luci also practices new exercises, discovers a new sport, and makes a new friend." Tune in as our hosts talk to Joe about his career, his passion for helping parents and kids lead healthier and better lives, his new book, and other important topics. Enjoy!

Stan "The Rhino" Efferding, AKA The World's Strongest Bodybuilder - is one of the most respected and well known names and faces in the strength and fitness world. Stan is no stranger to us, he is a local Portland native and even trained at Kabuki Strength before it was called Kabuki Strength! In today's episode our hosts talk to Stan about his latest ventures and dig deep into some nutritional and science topics that are sure to pique the curiosities of our readers. This episode was also filmed and is available as a videocast on YouTube! Tune in, subscribe, share, and as always; stay strong friends!

Ryan Lockard and his team at Specialty Athletic Training work with a population of individuals who have been mostly forgotten and overlooked by the fitness world - those with special needs. Perhaps nobody we've had on the show thus far better embodies our mission and vision of "making the world a better place through strength" than Ryan and his team. As one parent put it... "There is a special place in heaven for you and each and every one of your staff." In his own words - the mission of Specialty Athletic Training is "...to make fitness fun and encourage self-esteem building and healthy lifestyle choices. We are passionate about the positive effects that exercise can have in the lives of our clients and their families!" Ryan and his team have worked with hundreds of special needs individuals with Autism, Downs, Cerebral Palsy, ADHD, and other mental/physical disabilities. We are absolutely honored to have Ryan share his story with us and the listeners of Strength Chat. All of us here at Kabuki Strength have a heart for helping others, and we are excited to announce that early next year we will be hosting a charity Special Olympics powerlifting meet to raise money for Special Olympics Oregon, an incredible organization that works with special needs individuals and gives them an avenue and platform to better themselves. Stay tuned for more on this! Ryan - thank you for being on the show, and we are very much excited to work with you in the future and make the world a better place through strength.

Finally on the show is one of this generation's greatest lifters and genuises, Ben Pollack! Our hosts get some insight from Ben on his recent competition preps, as well as his transition into bodybuilding and competing in powerlifting as one of the leanest powerlifters today. Know as "PhDeadlift" on social media, Ben is finishing up his doctoral degree and is one of the most educated and insightful competitors to grace the platform. This is a great episode you don't want to me. As a bonus, Dr. Rudolph tells a story of when his junior college football team faced off against San Quentin State Prison!

Today's guests are like two peas in a pod. Paul Carter and Christian Thibaudeau have been professionally collaborating together for many years and many projects. Both are internationally-recognized strength coaches and producers of high quality content in the bodybuilding and strength training worlds. Together they are hosting the "Maximum Muscle Seminar" taking place in a few months here at Kabuki Strength Lab, but for now enjoy the discussions on neurological profiling and personality profiling as it relates to strength training and finding your ideal program, among other great topics! As always we ask that you share, comment, and review to help us reach more listeners and make the world a better place through strength.

We are honored to host Marisa Inda, an incredible athlete, coach, writer, and ambassador for the sport! Marisa is the current IPF Champion at 52kg and holds the total, bench, and deadlift world records for that weight class as well. She is a respected strength coach at Juggernaut Training Systems, and has authored several books and countless resources for strength athletes. Marisa is a graduate in Biology from Antioch College, incredible mother of two, and a former gymnast with over 20 years combined athletic experience in physique, calisthenics and powerlifting. We hope you enjoy this episode!

We are thrilled to have the Muscle Doc on today's episode - Dr. Jordan Shallow! Dr. Shallow is a graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic West, and has been a competitive athlete himself for over 15 years! Dr. Shallow utilizes a wide variety of non-invasive techniques, far beyond the chiropractic adjustment. He focuses on addressing the entire tensegrity model of the body. Everything from joints to tendons, ligaments and muscles. Every aspect of injury is considered in returning his patients back to proper structure and proper function We're happy to have Dr. Shallow in person at the Lab for a video cast, so if you'd rather watch instead of listen - head over to our YouTube channel! ** Editor's Note ** There is some audio clipping on one of the hosts microphones due to a tech issue. Sorry about that!

After a short hiatus, we're back! This week's guest is one of the most recognizable names in the barbell game, Mark "Smelly" Bell! Inventor, content-creator, podcaster, powerlifter, and coach - Mark is one of the most influential and respected names in the strength world. Mark came down to the Lab to film this episode in person - so if you want to watch instead of listen - head over to our YouTube channel and check out the video cast instead! Today's episode is full of laughter but also of serious conversation. Our hosts and Mark discuss the current state of strength sports and how we can improve. We don't want to give too much away, but we promise this is an episode you don't want to miss! Tune in, and as always please subscribe, review and share with your friends!