Where Optimal Meets Practical

Jordan Lips

291 episodesENExplicit

Health & Fitness Health & Fitness Nutrition

Show overview

Where Optimal Meets Practical has been publishing since 2020, and across the 6 years since has built a catalogue of 291 episodes. That works out to roughly 240 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a weekly cadence.

Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 36 min and 1h 2m — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. The publisher flags most episodes as explicit, so expect adult themes or strong language throughout. It is catalogued as a EN-language Health & Fitness show.

The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 3 days ago, with 11 episodes already out so far this year. Published by Jordan Lips.

Episodes

291

Running

2020–2026 · 6y

Median length

51 min

Cadence

Weekly

From the publisher

When it comes to nutrition and training...talking about what's optimal is always fun, but making it practical changes lives. On this show we'll dive deep on all things training, nutrition, and mindset optimization while making sure to drive home the practical and applicable side of things.-JL

Latest Episodes

View all 291 episodes

292: Alex Thieme - Motivation, identity & building better habits

May 11, 20261h 34m

291: Alec Blenis - Hybrid training, movement optimism & the truth about “perfect form”

Apr 14, 20261h 32m

290: Bryan Boorstein - Does your training split actually matter?

Does your training split actually matter… or are we overthinking it? In this episode, Jordan and Bryan break down the bro split debate, why most training roads lead to the same place, and what actually drives long-term progress. They also dive into the “bulking is dead” conversation, range of motion nuances, and why chasing perfection might be holding you back more than helping.---Guest 👇🏼Bryan Boorstein is a coach and founder of Evolved Training Systems as well as the co-founder of Paragon Training. He is known for his practical, experience-driven approach to strength and hypertrophy.---What We Cover👇🏼0:00 – Intro + catching up3:00 – The return of the bro split and why it still works7:30 – Do different training splits actually lead to different results?10:00 – Frequency vs volume vs sustainability15:00 – What people obsess over vs what actually matters18:00 – The “bulking is dead” debate explained22:00 – Why a small surplus still matters in practice26:00 – The most practical way to think about gaining muscle27:00 – Range of motion: general vs muscle-specific training30:00 – Squat depth, internal rotation, and quad targeting34:00 – How much technique cueing actually matters37:00 – “Analysis paralysis” in training execution38:00 – The case for being a fitness generalist43:00 – Strength training vs mobility (and why the line is blurry)48:00 – What mobility training actually looks like in practice52:00 – Kids and lifting: how to approach it the right way57:00 – Letting kids lead vs forcing structure1:00:00 – Final takeaways on range of motion and training balance---Connect with Bryan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bryanboorstein/Connect with Jordan👇🏼Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanlipsfitness/ WOMP Coaching: https://marketplace.trainheroic.com/workout-plan/team/womp-gym-home-bundle?attrib=548099-ig

Apr 7, 202659 min

289 - Dr. Emily Dow: Gut Health, Fueling, and the Truth About Eating Enough

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Emily Dow to break down some of the biggest misconceptions in nutrition and fitness right now. We get into why simple advice often falls short, how understanding the “why” can actually improve results, and where most people are getting tripped up with things like gut health, fueling, and eating enough.---Guest:Emily Dow is a registered dietitian with a PhD in exercise and nutritional sciences, blending research, coaching, and real-world application to help people better understand how to fuel their bodies.---What We Cover:00:00 Why a PhD changes how you think about nutrition and uncertainty08:05 What Emily has changed her mind about including gut health and probiotics16:25 The messy reality of research and why quick recommendations can be misleading24:50 Why explaining the “why” leads to better results than just giving advice30:47 How to balance simplicity with nuance in coaching and content37:01 Why women struggle to build muscle and the importance of eating enough41:46 The real reason “eat more” advice exists even with rising obesity rates47:24 Practical fueling strategies for lifting and cardio---Connect with Emily:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilydow_rd/---Connect with Jordan:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanlipsfitness/ WOMP Training: https://marketplace.trainheroic.com/workout-plan/team/womp-gym-home-bundle?attrib=548099-ig

Mar 30, 20261h 20m

288: Q&A - Beans, bulking, training for strength and longevity, journaling, getting the health benefits of cardio and MORE!

Where to find me ⬇️IG: @JordanLipsFitnessPodcast: Where Optimal Meets Practical⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯My group program ⬇️WOMP Training [Gym + Home]⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯1:1 Coaching ⬇️Apply HERE⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯Helping you find the balance between OPTIMAL and PRACTICAL🫶🏼JL

Mar 23, 202641 min

287: Akash Patel - Science vs Policy: The Dietary Guidelines Problem

The U.S. Dietary Guidelines are supposed to reflect the best available nutrition science… but what happens when the final recommendations don’t match the evidence?In this episode, I’m joined by Akash Patel to break down how the Dietary Guidelines are created, where they diverged from the scientific report, and what this means for nutrition, public health, and your everyday food choices.Akash Patel is an MD/MBA student at the University of Miami focused on nutrition, lifestyle medicine, and public health, with a focus on improving nutrition education in healthcare.What we cover:12:50 – How the Dietary Guidelines are created (DGAC explained)17:43 – Why most Americans don’t follow the guidelines23:27 – Where the final guidelines diverge from the science34:24 – Issues with the new guidelines (visuals, messaging, contradictions)58:31 – Key differences: plant protein, processed foods, health equity1:19:50 – How U.S. guidelines compare to other countries1:30:25 – Plant vs animal protein and long-term health outcomes1:45:51 – Practical ways to eat more plant proteinConnect with Akash:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akashpatelKey resources mentioned:USA Dietary GuidelinesUSA Dietary Guidelines Scientific Advisory Committee Executive SummaryList of 56 Recommendations from DGAC to HHSMisinformation about the dietary guidelines (transparency/conflicts) PMID: 38522617U.S. population largely does not follow dietary recommendations PMID: 20702750Greater adherence to HEI and health outcomes PMID: 31529069U.S. food supply not aligned with recommendations PMID: 25441965NHS and HPFS studies (fruits/vegetables, physical activity, plant vs animal protein) PMID: 33641343, 41574252, 27479196

Mar 17, 20261h 47m

286: Ruth Maleski (@ruth_mpower) - Will it ever be enough?

Where to find Ruth ⬇️InstagramWebsite / Coaching⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯Where to find me ⬇️InstagramPodcast⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯My group program ⬇️WOMP Training [Gym + Home]⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯Helping you find the balance between OPTIMAL and PRACTICAL🫶🏼JL

Mar 9, 20261h 2m

285: Andy de Santis (@andytherd) - "Ode to Legumes": Fatty liver, fiber, and what actually matters

Episode Description 👇🏼In this episode of WOMP, Jordan sits down with registered dietitian Andy De Santis to break down the real drivers of fatty liver, the underrated power of fiber, and why legumes might be one of the most practical nutrition upgrades most people are missing.They dig into metabolic health, ultra-processed food nuance, plant vs animal protein, and how to focus on the habits that actually move the needle.If you want an evidence-based, practical approach to nutrition without the fear-mongering, this episode is for you.-What You Will Learn👇🏼• What fatty liver actually is and what drives it• Why fiber intake is still too low for most people• The metabolic benefits of legumes• Plant vs animal protein: what matters most• Where the ultra-processed food conversation gets oversimplified• Practical nutrition habits that compound over time-Timestamps👇🏼00:00 Intro and welcome02:10 Andy’s background and nutrition philosophy05:45 Why Andy focuses on metabolic health09:30 What is happening in fatty liver14:50 Biggest drivers of fatty liver risk20:05 Fiber and metabolic health24:40 The case for legumes29:15 Why beans are underutilized33:50 Protein quality nuance39:10 Ultra-processed foods discussion45:25 Practical diet improvements50:40 Where most people should start55:30 Rapid-fire nutrition advice59:10 Where to find Andy-Connect with Andy👇🏼Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andytherdWebsite: https://andytherd.comTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/andytherdLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andydesantisrd/Andy De Santis is a registered dietitian known for his practical, evidence-based approach to metabolic health and plant-forward nutrition.-Connect with Jordan👇🏼Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanlipsfitness/Website: https://jordanlipsfitness.com/ WOMP Coaching: https://marketplace.trainheroic.com/workout-plan/team/womp-gym-home-bundle?attrib=548099-igJordan Lips is the founder of WOMP (Where Optimal Meets Practical), helping busy adults build evidence-based nutrition and training habits that actually stick.

Feb 23, 20261h 8m

284: Q&A - RMR testing, strength asymmetry, GLP-1s to lose stubborn fat and MORE!!

Feb 9, 202640 min

283: Q&A - HR during lifting, go-to fruits & veg, bulking vs maingaining, and MORE!!

Jan 22, 202634 min

282: My New Year's Resolution - Be mediocre

Jan 12, 202636 min

281: Kasey Jo (@coachkaseyjo) - How to set the right goals and be consistent with your habits

Where to find Kasey ⬇️InstagramHealth Mindset Coaching Cert⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯Where to find me ⬇️InstagramPodcast⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯My group program ⬇️WOMP Training [Gym + Home]⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯Helping you find the balance between OPTIMAL and PRACTICAL🫶🏼JL

Dec 22, 202555 min

280: Dealing with low motivation to train

Dec 8, 202544 min

279: Marathon race review - "How it went"

Nov 30, 202551 min

278: Barbie Boules (@the_cognition_dietitian) - Alzheimer's: What is it and how do we reduce risk?

Links mentioned ⬇️Lancet 2024 risk factor PDFMy Alzheimer's risk episode⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯Where to find Barbie ⬇️InstagramSubstack⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯Where to find me ⬇️InstagramPodcast⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯My group program ⬇️WOMP Training [Gym + Home]⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯Helping you find the balance between OPTIMAL and PRACTICAL🫶🏼JL

Nov 19, 20251h 19m

277: Q&A - Normal BMI with T2D, best and worst fitness takes, how to make tracking less obsessive and MORE

Links mentioned ⬇️Fiber podcastWhere to find me ⬇️IG: @JordanLipsFitnessPodcast: Where Optimal Meets Practical⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯My group program ⬇️WOMP Training [Gym + Home]⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯Helping you find the balance between OPTIMAL and PRACTICAL🫶🏼JL

Nov 13, 202531 min

276: Marathon race preview = My training, fueling, goals, and your questions!

Where to find me ⬇️IG: @JordanLipsFitnessPodcast: Where Optimal Meets Practical⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯My group program ⬇️WOMP Training [Gym + Home]⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯Helping you find the balance between OPTIMAL and PRACTICAL🫶🏼JL

Oct 29, 20251h 17m

275: Q&A - Why is "everyone" running marathons? metabolic adaptation, 1:1 coaching, my take on alcohol and MORE!

Oct 20, 202544 min

274: Bryan Boorstein - Exercise modality hierarchy: "What should I do with my time to be healthy?"

Link to image of web plots⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯Where to find Bryan⬇️Website: Paragontrainingmethods.comIG: https://www.instagram.com/bryanboorstein/Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/eat-train-prosper/id1545657828⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯Where to find me ⬇️IG: @JordanLipsFitnessPodcast: Where Optimal Meets Practical⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯My group program ⬇️WOMP Training [Gym + Home]⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯Helping you find the balance between OPTIMAL and PRACTICAL🫶🏼JL

Oct 9, 202555 min

273: Everything you need to know about FIBER

Sep 22, 202550 min

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