Send us a text No matter where we turn or which way we look, it seems chaos is right there looking straight as us. But hope is here and peace can be found in the midst of it all. We are in a peculiar time right now and we all are in desperate need of community, confidence and a cure. Finding and knowing peace in a middle of a crisis is just one personal decision away. As we try to adjust to new and stronger restrictions due to the growing pandemic it's extremely important that we internalize wha...
Apr 08, 2020•55 min•Season 2Ep. 105
Send us a text Matt Walter has lived a truly incredible life and he’s not done yet... Over the past 30+ years he has served our country in the Marine Corps, raised 7 children with his amazing bride, become fluent in Arabic and lived in Jordan teaching Arabic to Christians to better connect with Muslims. There’s really nothing more awe inspiring than hearing how the love of Jesus can affect and change the heart and mind of someone from the Muslim community. Our guest today Matt Walter had such an...
Apr 01, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 104
Send us a text In times like these, we need increased communication, empathy, kindness and hope! We Believe that you are Strong By Design, Made in God's image to have a Strong Body, Mind & Spirit. Thank you so much for listening to the SBD podcast show, we feel truly honored to have amazing listeners like you! Subscribe to iTunes , Love the podcast? Leave a review on iTunes ! What do you want to hear from the Critical Bench Podcast? Tell us here ! Resources: The 7 Worst Testosterone Killers ...
Mar 28, 2020•31 min
Send us a text You’ve probably followed every diet guru's advice, spent hours on the treadmill, and restricted calories to obscene levels. Maybe you’ve seen some success, but it’s most likely left you feeling depleted, overwhelmed, and out of control. As a Certified Nutrition Coach, Strength and Conditioning Coach, and Personal Trainer, Amanda Tress spent years in the gym working with people who were doing all the right things—without seeing results. Frustrated, she began experimenting with cutt...
Mar 25, 2020•56 min•Season 2Ep. 103
Send us a text “Be comfortable being uncomfortable.” -Peter McWilliams This quote encapsulates the conversation between Founder of Critical Bench and SBD host Mike Westerdal and his long-time mentor and close friend Vince Del Monte. Vince is a World-Renowned On-line Business Coach, Best-Selling Author and WBFF Pro Fitness Model & Competitor. He is also the Founder of The 7-Figure Mastermind and 6-Figure Coach Program designed to catapult hardworking entrepreneurs to NEW LEVELS of success in ...
Mar 18, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 102
Send us a text It's all anyone is talking about right now... The Coronavirus has taken over as the only thing on our mind and the talk of the town. It's officially a pandemic that's altering the course of modern history. So Team Critical Bench sat down to speak openly, honestly and candidly about this very serious issue... To better understand WHY things are unfolding the way that they are. Listen as hosts Tonya Fines, Brian Klepacki and Chris Wilson have an unscripted conversation about COVID-1...
Mar 14, 2020•28 min
Send us a text Our direction in life is directly tied to our decision making (good or bad) and the people we choose to surround ourselves with. So that begs the question, who do you have in your inner circle and why have you chosen them? In this very personal story of risk, faith, friendship and love, we discover the heart and strength of entrepreneur and Get Lean After 40 co-founder Ryan Colby. Ryan shares his rollercoaster journey to success over the past 20 years with SBD host and close frien...
Mar 11, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 101
Send us a text Grit. The opposite of quit. The ability to overcome obstacles small and large and persevere. To press on, grind and Get Stuff Done (GSD)! This one 4 letter word has been a prevalent fixture at Critical Bench, the internet’s #1 strength and health authority since 1999. In this very special 100th episode of Strong By Design, Founder Mike Westerdal sits down with long time friend and SBD host Chris Wilson to discuss how Critical Bench came to be over 20 years ago. Mike reveals his to...
Mar 04, 2020•1 hr 17 min•Season 2Ep. 100
Send us a text Stephen Christian, the former lead vocalist and songwriter of Anberlin, one of the greatest alternative (Christian) rock bands, is as talented and brilliant as musicians get. His writing and vocal style is a combination that is unlike any other, one you'll never forget. Anberlin having sold more than a million albums in their 12-year existence, this Floridian band has toured the world with some of the biggest names and their music has peaked in the top ten on various Billboard cha...
Feb 26, 2020•46 min•Season 2Ep. 99
Send us a text What if there was a way to quickly and easily improve your flexibility while torching fat and building strength? Would you do it? The real secret to flexibility and burning fat is the same: movement. But the fitness industry wants to convince you otherwise… That you need to starve yourself with crash diets, you need to follow complicated 12-week programs and you need to spend hours doing cardio every day. Nope. Wrong. Listen in as Coaches Brian Klepacki and Chris Wilson shatter th...
Feb 19, 2020•46 min•Season 2Ep. 98
Send us a text Sure, personal training is an admirable career path, providing a great service to people who want to improve their health, wellness and get stronger...BUT these are the reasons WHY becoming a personal trainer may not be for everyone. In fact, personal training can really suck at times. No matter your passion and love of something… if you’re too heavily invested in something it can burn you out! Listen closely as coaches Chris Wilson and Brian Klepacki get real and share their pers...
Feb 12, 2020•55 min•Season 2Ep. 97
Send us a text What exactly is Stem Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine? In what may seem like a huge ocean of information that only medical doctors could possibly understand there is a lot about this type of medicine and therapy that you really MUST know and can easily understand… At the forefront of Stem Cell therapy is Dr. Scot Gray, a serial entrepreneur. He built and sold a successful chiropractic and decompression practice, The Ohio Neck & Back Pain Relief Centers in Marion, Ohio an...
Feb 05, 2020•1 hr 25 min•Season 2Ep. 96
Send us a text Mandy Williams owns Shear Joy Salon in Clearwater Florida. She is a Level 4A stylist and Redken certified colorist and specialist. She is a wife and Mom … however Mandy is a so much more than stylist. With a passion for ministry she has found herself doing just that … not standing behind a pulpit, not standing before a congregation, but in her own salon having conversations with the women who sit in her chair. Mandy has, without really setting out to do so and really without some ...
Jan 29, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 95
Send us a text Juanita Lolita … yes that is her real name, is a wife, mother and grandmother who happens to be one of the BEST stand-up comics we’ve seen in a long time. Her Latin flair and hillbilly background are something of her signature style that leave her audience in stitches and side-splitting laugher WITHOUT profanity. Juanita was voted "Best of the Bay" with Creative Loafing Magazine, a finalist for "Florida’s Funniest Person" Rooftop comedy and recently, a finalist in "The World Serie...
Jan 22, 2020•52 min•Season 2Ep. 94
Send us a text Yoga, Circuit training, Fitbits and Apple watches… So, what will the top trending fitness gadgets and workouts be in 2020? Find out what Coaches Tonya Fines, Brian Klepacki and Chris Wilson think as they make their own predictions for the year and break down the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) TOP 10 Fitness Trends of 2020! Which one(s) are you going to use to change your body? "How much does it cost to use your body? ZERO!" -Team Critical Bench Time Stamps 2:53 – Get t...
Jan 15, 2020•56 min•Season 2Ep. 93
Send us a text For all of the men and women who want to shift stubborn body fat, without spending hours of exercising… this episode is for you! Life is hard. Between working and living, rushing around trying to squeeze in gym time or a workout in your already busy day seems insane. Or imagine also starving yourself on the latest extreme diet favored by a Hollywood star. What if there was a way to quickly and easily improve your flexibility while TORCHING fat and building STRENGTH? Seems too good...
Jan 08, 2020•56 min•Season 2Ep. 92
Send us a text Living the life you’re dreaming of takes more than just dreams… it takes work, commitment and accountability. Yup, just those 3 things can dramatically change your life forever. So, if we all know that, why do most people find themselves right back at square one by Valentine’s Day each year??? Because having a clear vision for your life takes planning, it requires writing things down and it desperately needs support from people you can count on! Listen in closely as Coaches Chris,...
Jan 01, 2020•55 min•Season 2Ep. 91
Send us a text Jesus Christ was and IS (and will continue to be) the most important person who has ever lived on this Earth. He is the Son of God. He performed miracles and spent 3 years of His life spreading his message. Hard for us to imagine but well documented in both the religious and secular communities. This Christmas celebration is celebrating His birth. There is nothing wrong with Santa Claus, reindeer, elves, cookies or presents at Christmas time. We at Critical Bench love all of that ...
Dec 25, 2019•57 min•Season 2Ep. 90
Send us a text The sad fact is that for years the population at large has been misled by social media experts and "influencers" giving outdated advice on how to build a rock-solid six-pack. You may even end up losing muscle, losing fitness and gaining weight as your body fights against poor posture and being out of alignment. Coach Brian and Coach Chris dive deep beyond the superficial and into the best and worst ab exercises. Find out how to get the flat, strong ab muscles you've always wanted....
Dec 18, 2019•56 min•Season 2Ep. 89
Send us a text If you could plan and live the ideal day and change your future, would you? Never mind a trip to Bora-Bora, celebrity date or driving a Ferrari… think much bigger. Living a life of purpose, meaning and impact is much easier than you might think. With some laser focus on the mind, body and spirit, it’s very possible to have an incredible 24-hours. Chris Wilson and Brian Klepacki co-host this thought-provoking episode. Life is filled with regrets, what ifs and should haves but when ...
Dec 11, 2019•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 88
Send us a text Ever lost your balance and fallen? Silly question, of course you have. But preventing a fall could be a lifesaver, especially as you age. One of the most overlooked elements of health and fitness is balance and the ONLY way to great balance is through purposeful daily movement. Movement is the key to living a fuller, healthier and ultimately happier life. A life of independence, confidence and fulfillment. Balance provides FREEDOM to do the things you want at any age! Coach Brian ...
Dec 04, 2019•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 87
Send us a text You ARE what you eat, especially around the holiday season! All of those amazing high calorie foods, tasty desserts and specialty drinks surround us from Halloween through the New Year… how in the world can we remain disciplined?? The trick to maintaining your hard-fought physique is actually MUCH simpler than you make it out to be. Coach Brian and Coach Chris have over 30 years of combined nutrition and diet experience and deliver 5 simple strategies to staying LEAN during the ho...
Nov 27, 2019•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 86
Send us a text Did you know that 9 out of 10 people will fail on any diet or weight loss program! It is virtually impossible to get results working on your own. Even the best athletes in the world have coaches to help improve and perfect their best. Transformation is a mindset shift. You must eliminate the story that is holding you back. To truly transform and become 'tryumphant', you have to focus on the inside. You have to know your why. Matt O'Brien, of TrYumph Functional Fitness, with 20 yea...
Nov 20, 2019•1 hr 23 min•Season 2Ep. 85
Send us a text Living a healthy lifestyle does not mean having to give up all the things you love. A healthy lifestyle is about balance and being able to incorporate all the things you enjoy while still hitting and maintaining your goals. Alcohol can be a pretty big part of social events and for many of us, being able to enjoy a drink or two is something we don't want to have to give up in order to hit our weight loss and/ or healthy living goals. Guess what? You don't have to! In this episode C...
Nov 13, 2019•47 min•Season 2Ep. 84
Send us a text Menopause hmmm…. You cannot avoid it ladies, however, what you can do is start doing things now that will carry over into your transition through menopause to support you having the best experience possible. It is often the case that we wait for things to happen before we “do something about it,” or make changes in our life to make a situation better. Well here is some really good news… you know that menopause is something you will experience in your lifetime and you don’t have to...
Nov 06, 2019•48 min•Season 2Ep. 83
Send us a text From Slovenia to Seattle and from teenage defiance to professional basketball, Luka Hocevar has an amazing story of growth, passion and perseverance. His profound love of sports and fitness truly saved him from the “wrong” path, bad decisions and a dead end… Now a best-selling author, strength & fitness entrepreneur, gym owner and world traveler, Luka is leading other hopefuls from around the world to live a life of purpose, pleasure and being fully present. Get ready for some...
Oct 30, 2019•1 hr 30 min•Season 2Ep. 82
Send us a text Take control of your health like never before… People often underestimate how much their day to day living impacts their overall health and wellness. The small and large lifestyle decisions made every single day directly affect the two brains of the body. Scientist, Doctor and Researcher Gordon Pedersen has dedicated his life to finding out how the body functions, survives and thrives. In this episode Dr Gordon shares his personal interest in health, how the gut and brain work tog...
Oct 23, 2019•54 min•Season 2Ep. 81
Send us a text Our lowest moments in life can be used to inspire change and victory in others. Justin Feldman found his strength in his darkest times and now uses his struggles to help others overcome all odds. Performing at your best in any area of life requires not only a healthy mind but also a physically active lifestyle. This is typically referred to as the Mind-Body Connection. By using his passion for fitness and his red-hot entrepreneurial spirit, Justin is unlocking greatness in his cli...
Oct 16, 2019•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 80
Send us a text “All big changes come from the tiny leaps you take every day.” This one sentence defines how Gregg Clunis is transforming the world… His philosophy has become a hit podcast show heard by millions of people all over the world, a book and a thriving digital community that spans more than 170 countries! Sitting on a subway one day with his girlfriend reading a book, Gregg had had enough and felt compelled to share his personal story and his belief about taking action in life. On his ...
Oct 09, 2019•46 min•Season 2Ep. 79
Send us a text Where do you get your ‘willpower’ from? Is willpower something you can truly harness from within or is it something grounded in something bigger and greater than you? In today’s episode, Mike Westerdal and Chris Wilson are honored to discuss this subject with Bob Brubaker and John Trebino, hosts of The Powerbreak Podcast. Life is filled with tests, temptations and struggles every single day. If we think we are capable of handling the burdens of life on our own terms, we are certai...
Oct 02, 2019•54 min•Season 2Ep. 78
