The Pat Flynn Show

Pat and Aleks talk about why kettlebells and bodyweight exercise are like the most amazing combination ever! In short: They talk about why these modalities so perfectly and deliciously compliment one another to help you become a true expert-generalist; that is, better than most people, at most things. Oh, and by the way - if you want to take part in Kettlebell Calisthenos, you can do so by becoming a member of Strong ON!, here: http://www.chroniclesofstrength.com/strongon

Fitness standards shouldn't be avoided, but encouraged, and can actually be fun. In this episode, Pat outlines a series of standards he thinks serves very well for maximizing General Physical Preparedness. He also talks about why certain bodyweight exercises--like handstand push ups, pull ups, and one arm push ups--are such awesome goals to aspire toward. Also, be sure to join Strong ON! if you want to take part in the upcoming bodyweight and kettlebell fitness challenge: Kettlebell Calisthenos - http://www.chroniclesofstrength.com/strongon

Psychologist and philosopher Dr. Kevin Vost joins Pat Flynn to talk about, well, the meaning of life, of course! "Long before my time, philosophers spoke of wonder and wisdom, and we were told that above all else we should love God with all that we are and love our neighbors as we love ourselves. At the end of the day (or of the life, to be precise), I don't think a person has to accomplish great things on a vast scale to live a most meaningful life. I think what matters most is that we make the most of the abilities and opportunities that have been given to us, and help others to do the same. This is the stuff not of riches or fame, but of growing, caring, and nurturing, of study, friendship, and family. These can supply plenty of meaning, purpose, and happiness. And if, when our life on this earth has ended, even one person can think of us, smile, and be thankful we were here, that is all for the better." https://excellencereporter.com/2018/05/09/dr-kevin-vost-the-meaning-of-life-and-the-virtuous-keys

Father Steve Grunow, CEO of Word on Fire joins Pat to discuss research around the physical and mental health benefits of being religious/spiritual. "Religious/spiritual beliefs and practices are commonly used by both medical and psychiatric patients to cope with illness and other stressful life changes. A large volume of research shows that people who are more R/S have better mental health and adapt more quickly to health problems compared to those who are less R/S... "In this paper I have reviewed and summarized hundreds of quantitative original data-based research reports examining relationships between religious/spirituality and health. These reports have been published in peer-reviewed journals in medicine, nursing, social work, rehabilitation, social sciences, counseling, psychology, psychiatry, public health, demography, economics, and religion. The majority of studies report significant relationships between R/S and better health." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3671693 http://nineteensixty-four.blogspot.com/2018/05/is-it-healthy-to-be-catholic.html

Pat talks human flourishing from an Aristotelian-Thomistic point of view, and how by understanding what a human is, we can figure out how we ought to live -- what should be engaged in, prioritized, and so on -- to maximize not only the amount of happiness we have in life, but also the amount of good we do to others (hint: these are not mutually exclusive!).

Pat and Aleks talk about 5 ab exercises actually worth doing, but not before finding the time to rail against moral relativism! Show Notes and Resources: Strong ON: http://www.chroniclesofstrength.com/strongon Hollow Hold: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTwXWeEaPqU&t=17s Deadbug: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oairZ-VOAd0

Pat talks about 5 things he wish he knew when he started getting in shape. How exciting!!!

Today's society is marked by people of increasing religious indifference, and yet, the vast majority of folks still maintain a sense--and often a deep sense--of spirituality, however ambiguous. So, in this episode, Pat Flynn and Trent Horn explore the idea of "spiritual but not religious", along with the notion of religious pluralism ("all religions are saying the same thing, so just go with whatever one you want") to see what's lacking and what's wrong there, and to make the case for why a person should be religious AND spiritual, not just one or the other. About Trent Horn: After his conversion to the Catholic Faith, Trent Horn earned a master's degree in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville, a master's degree in philosophy from Holy Apostles College, and is pursuing a master's degree in bioethics from the University of Mary. As a staff apologist for Catholic Answers, he specializes in teaching Catholics to graciously and persuasively engage those who disagree with them. Trent models that approach each week on the radio program Catholic Answers Live, where he dialogues with atheists, pro-choice advocates, and other non-Catholic callers. Trent is also an adjunct professor of apologetics at Holy Apostles College and the author of seven books, including Answering Atheism, The Case for Catholicism, and Why We're Catholic: Our Reasons for Faith, Hope, and Love. Related Episodes Are All Religions Saying the Same Thing? My Take on Mere Christianity

Since many have requested episodes on the topic of science and religion, how they relate, why there are so many myths around their alleged incompatability, and what the right way to view the relationship between these two should be, we've said--"OK, then!" So, on this episode, Dr. Verschuuren, human geneticist, biologist, and philosopher of science, joins Pat Flynn to discuss the topic of evolution and God to clear away some common (and unnecessary) points of confusion, while highlighting the important and supportive relationship science and religion can (and should!) have.

An arguments (at least in philosophy) is giving reasons for a conclusion. It isn't about "fighting" with people or getting into emotional disagreements. Philosophical arguments, then, shouldn't be avoided, but rather, encouraged! So in this episode, Pat talks about how to have a good argument. He covers some of the basic building blocks of logic and deductive reasoning, so you can start to detect, and create, a convincing argument.

This episode is all about productivity, which isn't about making more time, per se, but making most of the time you already have. So in this episode Pat shares a series of strategies--including, but not limited to--the use of the 80/20 rule for making efforts as effective and efficient as possible. Pat also talks about utilizing Parkinson's Law, the "15 minutes a day" approach, and "gun to your head" thought experiments to get the most juice out of every squeeze. Enjoy!

Pat talks about how to, well, be better! What else needs to be said? More on http://www.chroniclesofstrength.com

Aleks and Pat discuss the differences between "training" and "working out." It's fun. You should listen. OK, thanks. Ta-ta, then!

Today begins a series on religious pluralism, or the idea that all religions are saying the same thing (or close to the same thing, or at least something vaguely similar) and therefore that you should just pick whatever religion suits your fancy. Well, it may come as little surprise to hear that Pat thinks this position is incorrect. So on this episode we talk about why all religions are most certainly not saying the same thing, and why it's important to discern your way to truth, and how to go about it. This is part 1 of (at least) 2.

Hint: Soreness doesn't mean you've had a good workout. It's not hard to make a person sore. But it is hard to make a person better and stronger, especially if they've been at the fitness game a while. This episode will discuss why you should get away from the "chasing soreness" mindset, and why working out should be more than *just* burning calories.

Pat and Aleks talk progressions and strategies for mastering the pistol squat.

The god of gains demands sacrifice; loves it and feeds on it. So it's not enough to squat and it's not enough to do push ups or frolic gaily around the gym, like this--oh wee, how fun. No! We need to give more than that and the only way to do so is through intention and intensity and loud, quivering yells. We must be willing to have our spirit tried. Oh, wonderful, you're thinking. Pat's off his medication again. Actually, jokes on you. It's a triple dose. Sacrifice is signified by suffering. If you aren't feeling the hurt, you aren't making it count. Don't expect to grow. This is true in the gym, career-wise, as well as spiritually. You need to put in the time and the effort and skin. You won't get better at anything unless you get better at giving yourself over, offering yourself up--in a word, sacrificing. So, here's my challenge to you, sweet pigeon: What sacrifice are YOU making today to your physical life, your family life, your spiritual life, and your cat Sharon? How are YOU going out of your way and what are you leaving behind in order to improve and love Sharon? Think about it. Just not for too long. Because thinking about a sacrifice isn't what feeds Sharon, or gets you to press the next size heavier bells, or whatever. You need to actually make one. Go!

Tom asks Pat for ideas on how to write engaging emails as a way to grow your business, promote a cause, etc.

Pat offers a minor rant on why people who aren't reaching their goals just aren't lifting heavy enough. Or maybe they're not eating enough protein? Or maybe they're too sedentary outside of the gym? Either way, Pat's got the solution with his "Lift Heavy, Eat Protein, and Go for a Walk" program. This is a simple, surefire way to reach almost any major fitness goal. It's back to the fundamentals in this episode folks, and sticking with what WORKS.

In his should-be famous book, Mortimer J Adler talks about how to think about God from a pagan perspective. That is, how to deduce that God exists, and how to figure out what he is like, purely from thinking like a philosopher. In other words, without reliance on revelation. What Adler attempts to point out is that you can use reason alone to come to know about God. You might not be able to use reason alone to know everything about God, but you can at least get to the conclusion that God's existence is more probable than not. The argument that Adler presents in his book is a contemporary version of the Argument from Contingency, famously developed by Aquinas and brought into its more common form by Liebniz. (This was Aquinas's "3rd Way", or argument from necessity to possibility, and then became Leibniz's famous cosmological argument, which I've previously outlined here.) Here's the way Adler presents his "Truly Cosmological Argument", and I quote: The existence of an effect requiring the concurrent existence and action of an efficient cause implies the existence and action OF that cause. The causal principle, thus stated, is self-evidently true, as has been said before. The cosmos as a whole exists. Here we have the existential assertion that is indispensable as a premise in any existential inference. While it does not have the same certitude possessed by my assertion of my own existence, it can certainly be affirmed beyond a reasonable doubt. The existence of the cosmos as a whole is radically contingent, which is to say, while not needing an efficient cause of its coming to be (if we assume it is everlasting) it nevertheless does need an efficient cause of its CONTINUING existence, to preserve it in being and prevent it from being replaced by nothingness. IF the cosmos needs an efficient cause of its continuing existence to prevent its annihilation, THEN that cause must be a supernatural being, supernatural in its action, and one the existence of which is uncaused; in other words, the supreme being, or God. In this episode of Sunday School, we'll get into the nuances of this Truly Cosmological Argument to help you better understand why there is, in fact, very good reason for believing God exists. Show notes and resources: http://www.chroniclesofstrength.com/how-to-think-about-god/

Pat and Aleks think maybe it's time to stop reading so many different fitness articles and to do this instead...

Zach Even-Esh, host of the Strong Life Podcast, owner of The Underground Strength Gym, joins Pat to talk about planning, and creating, your perfect day.

Tom asks Pat about the keto diet. Pat answers Tom. Many things are discussed. Including: - What is the ketogenic diet? - What are the symptoms of "carb flu" (and how to combat them)? - Is the keto diet for everyone? - Do you need to track marcos on the keto diet? - How to make the keto diet simpler and more practical. - Pat's new 14 Day Ketobolic Challenge. And more! Show Notes and Resources: The Truth About The Truth About Keto: http://www.chroniclesofstrength.com/truth-truth-keto/ Tips for Getting (and Staying) In Ketosis: http://www.chroniclesofstrength.com/ep-115-tips-getting-ketosis-without-going-insane-pat-flynn-show/ The 14 Day Ketobolic Reset Challenge: http://www.chroniclesofstrength.com/ketobolicreset

One of the best nutritional strategies (yet one people are seldom to talk about, perhaps because it isn't particularly "trendy") is the use of protein-rich meal replacements. Studies have shown that the use of strategic meal replacements not only produces "robust initial weight loss", but also "improvements in a number of health-related parameters during weight maintenance, including inflammation and oxidative stress." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2851659/ There also seems to be benefit from making them higher protein, as well. "Higher protein MR within a higher protein diet resulted in similar overall weight loss as the standard protein MR plan over 12 weeks. However, there was significantly more fat loss in the HP group but no significant difference in lean body mass." https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-2891-7-23 So not only are meal replacements effective for both short and long term weight loss success, but seem to come with plenty of health benefits, as well. So, what's not to like? The truth is so many people get caught up in the nutritional fads and trends, they often ignore some of the very best strategies out there--strategies that have stood the test of time, and often stood out of the limelight--strategies that ACTUALLY work. The use of meal replacements ins't and shouldn't be complicated. Start by swapping out a meal or two a day for a protein rich shake, mixing in some of your favorite fruits and vegetables and/or healthy fats. They're convenient. They're satiating. And they're tasty, too! More in today's episode on how to get started and why you should consider this approach. Notes and resources: My free, 5 Day Kettlebell Fat Furnace : www.chroniclesofstrength.com/5dkbff uses a simple meal replacement strategy along with high intensity kettlebell workouts - a great starting point for anyone interested in this approach.

Today Pat talks about an important technically--an attitude of mind, really--to bring into your practice of physical and mental training. This technique can be used to increase the amount of weight you lift, better adhere to a diet plan, learn a musical instrument, etc. The applications are endless.

Sunday School is a bonus series of the Pat Flynn show, discussing matters of faith, spirituality, and religion. In this inaugural episode, Pat gives what he believes to be the best definition of faith, and why it's so important to get this right.

Aleks Salkin (aka The Hebrew Hammer) joins Pat to discuss strategies and tactics for mastering a freestanding handstand.

The ketogenic diet has surged in popularity recently, and many people have come to swear by it. Now, whether or not a person SHOULD follow a ketogenic diet is a topic for another day (see the related article in the show notes section), but if you ARE following a ketogenic diet, or at least considering it, then this is the episode for you. Pat gives 5 (or was it 6?) tips for getting into ketosis without going insane. These strategies are effective for those starting out, or even for those who are solidly veterans at this already, because these tips not only help to ease the symptoms of the dreaded "carb flu", but may also help lend a boost to performance as well. Hope you enjoy. Strong ON! - Pat Related Resouces: The Truth About the Truth About Keto - http://www.chroniclesofstrength.com/truth-truth-keto/

Today Tom asks Pat what it's like to write a book, why a person should consider doing so, and how to go about it. As an experienced and successful author, Pat's written three best-selling For Dummies titles, and is just finishing his most recent title How to Be Better at Almost Everything. So if you're interested in writing and publishing, whether for reasons business or personal, this episode is for you! Resources and Show Notes: Pre-Order Pat's new book: https://amzn.to/2rudfxE Pat's Favorite Book on Writing: https://amzn.to/2K66iJO

It's Mailbag Monday, and today we're answering questions on keto, deadlifts, stoicism, starting a blog, and more. Specifically: - Is keto all hype or actually worth following? - What's a good way to incorporate barbell deadlifts into training with kettlebells? - What are Pat's thoughts on Stoicism? - And, what's Pat's advice for starting a blog. Related posts/show notes: Stoicism vs Christianity - http://www.chroniclesofstrength.com/stoicism-christianity-compatible/ Meditations - https://amzn.to/2rqpcmV

What are macros and do you need to count them? This is just one of the many fitness and nutrition related questions I answer in today's QnA episode. Enjoy!

Exciting news! My new book--you know, the one I've been talking about for, well, ever--has FINALLY (read: just) went up for pre-order on Amazon. I seriously can't wait for you to read this. Here's the link to check it out: https://amzn.to/2jlJhqT

Pat shares a cool strategy for gaining attention online without needed a marketing department or advertising budget.

Tom asks Pat about his idea of Fitness "Pirate Maps", or why simplicity is often the ultimate secret weapon for achieving your goals.

A lot of people have asked me to share a bit more on my experience of coming into the Christian faith - what persuaded me, how has it affected my life, and in what ways I've presented it to others. I get this episode won't be appealing to everyone, which is why I'm making it a bonus on top of our usual programming. That said, if you're a Christian, or even just mildly curious about the faith, I think you'll find this episode intriguing. If you enjoy, let me know, and I'll go ahead with Part 2.

An article's has been going around condemning burpees as inherently bad and, at times, downright idiotic? But are they, really? Let's discuss.

Chris Holder, Master RKC, collegiate strength coach, and practitioner of medical Qigong joins me for a discussion on training athletes with kettlebells, and why health needs to take a an integrated approach, whereby the practitioner looks at people not just from a physical, but also an emotional and spiritual perspective, as well. This was a lively and highly informative conversation. Hope you enjoy!

Just wanted to offer a quick thank you for all the support you've given me since the launch of The Pat Flynn Show. Here's to the next 100 episodes!

Today as very special guest joins the show -- Pat's wife, Christine! -- to discuss how they manage business, family life, and their relationship.

In this episode, Som and Pat talk strategies for creating an engaging and value-laden Facebook group, so you can effectively build and spread the message of your brand. Strong ON! Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PatFlynnsSecretGroup/

Tom asks Pat and Aleks about the forgotten aspects of fitness--the things people should be doing, but probably aren't.

Tom asks Pat a series of questions that are commonly heard in most fitness centers. Pat gives a quick and sufficient response to each.

Tom asks Pat a series of business questions today, all of them related to branding. So Pat gives his best advice on what makes for a compelling brand, and how to develop one.

Today Pat is joined my Jason Leenaarts of Revolution Fitness to discuss how fitness and spirituality helped Jason overcome his battles with drug addiction, and why you should be open about sharing your struggle with others. This is a powerful and emotional episode.

We've got a fun surprise for this very special 100th episode: Pat does a lightening round with Tom to answer as many questions about as many things as he can. Questions include: - Cats vs Dogs? - The best lesson I ever got for free? - My favorite piece of workout equipment? - Marvel vs DC? - My favorite lower body exercise? - Whether or not I like spicy food? - Does God deadlift? And more!

Today Pat is joined by philosopher Peter Koch of Villanova University (go Wildcats!) to discuss the topic of free will. Is free will an illusion, or do we really have the ability to make decisions for ourselves? In other words, could we really have NOT eaten that cupcake? This begins the series of Philosophy for the People, a new Pat Flynn show segment which hopes to explore deeper philosophical questions that tie into everyday life and self-improvement. Also, enjoy the new intro - that voice actor wasn't cheap!

Tom asks Pat what people can do to get the best ever nights sleep, and/or overcome poor sleeping habits. Pat then gives tips. It's fun!

Pat and Som talk about what the path to progress looks like, why you should expect plateaus, how to overcome periods of stagnation, and how to improve multiple areas of your life at once.

We're back with another eclectic and exciting episode based on the questions sent in by all of YOU. Today we discuss: - Strategies for losing weight without counting calories. - My conversion from atheism to Christianity. - How to rebound after you've failed at reaching a goal. - How to get started coaching people online.

Dr. Kevin Vost, clinical psychologist, philosopher, speaker, and author, joins me to talk about the importance of strength training as we age, why the study of philosophy matters, and God.