Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In this episode, I catch up with IFBB Pro and coach Aaron Straker to talk about TRT, PEDs, Advanced Fat Loss and the Line Between Health and Performance We dig into what it was like to prep while on TRT, how his training evolved through different phases, the signs his body was fighting the bulk, and how he kept performance high all the way to the stage. Aaron also shares his current goals, including a fertility-focused phase and how he’s using low-v...
Nov 19, 2025•1 hr 7 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In this Q&A episode, I’m diving into Aggressive Fat Loss For Women, DB vs Barbell RDL, How Long in Fat Loss and more. I break down how long someone should realistically stay in a fat loss phase (especially if they have more to lose), when to take a break, how aggressive is too aggressive when dieting for women, and whether dumbbell or barbell RDLs are “better.” I also share a bit about why I’m switching back to four days of lifting and what’s ch...
Nov 17, 2025•31 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In this solo episode, I dive into How to Get More Out Of Calorie Tracking (and Eventually Stop Doing It) I break down where people go wrong with calorie and macro tracking, why it stops working, and how to get more from it without becoming obsessive. I share the three core skills I help clients build so they can improve body composition, eat with structure, and eventually step away from tracking altogether. If you’ve ever wondered why tracking still...
Nov 14, 2025•20 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In today’s episode, I sit down with Dr. Nick Barringer, a former Army Ranger, researcher, and performance dietitian who’s worked with elite military units, firefighters, and law enforcement. We dive into how something as simple as hydration can change your stress response, why vitamin D is often prescribed in the wrong form, and how supplements like beta‑alanine and creatine support both the body and the brain. Nick also breaks down what he’s seeing...
Nov 12, 2025•49 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In this solo episode, I discuss Reverse Diet or Recovery Diet Post Fat Loss? I walk through the pros and cons of each, share the six factors I weigh most when deciding what to do post-fat loss, and explain why your stress, digestion, and current body comp matter way more than the textbook answer. I also talk about what I typically do with clients and why it’s rarely black and white. If you’ve ever finished a fat loss phase and didn’t know what to do...
Nov 10, 2025•22 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In this solo episode, I talk about 7 Biofeedback Markers I Use With Clients To Lose Fat and Build Muscle. You’ll hear why “how you feel” matters more than what the scale says, and how to start paying closer attention to your internal markers instead of just chasing numbers. I cover the most important feedback markers I track with clients every week and why these markers give us better insight into what’s actually working and where things may be goin...
Nov 07, 2025•15 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In this episode, we have Alex Viada with us to talk about Hybrid Training for Lifters. We dive deep into the evolution of hybrid training and what most people get wrong when trying to combine strength and endurance. Alex shares how he balances Ironman prep with powerlifting, the surprising lessons he took from the clinical trials industry, and why recovery is the biggest missing piece for most people. We also talk about programming misconceptions, w...
Nov 05, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In this Q&A episode of the Mind Muscle Connection, I dive into What Impacts Training Performance, Training Cycle Length, Creatine We’ll talk about what makes a training cycle effective, how to know when to change things (or when you’re just bored), and what to look at if your performance takes a dip. I also break down how long it actually takes to feel the effects of creatine and why it’s not something you’ll “feel” like caffeine. If you’ve ever...
Nov 03, 2025•26 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In this solo episode, I walk you through my client Lisa who is eating MORE calories.. weighs MORE on the scale but has her BEST body composition yet - in her 50s We cover the biggest mistakes I see women in their 40s and 50s make when it comes to nutrition, training, and recovery especially if they’ve been stuck at low calories for years. I also break down the impact of hormonal shifts, nutrient needs, and how we used periodization and calorie cycli...
Oct 31, 2025•20 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Phil Batterson to talk about VO2 Max for Lifters: The Untapped Lever for Performance, Fat Loss & Longevity. We cover why it matters for performance, how it connects to recovery and fat loss, and simple ways to improve it without wrecking your lifting progress. If you’re serious about building muscle or your fitness journey, this episode is a must listen! Let’s talk about: 00:47 Introduction to Dr. Phil Batter...
Oct 29, 2025•1 hr 13 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In this solo episode of the Mind Muscle Connection podcast, I break down 3 Things That Determine Which Body Comp Approach I Take With Clients I walk you through the key factors I consider before deciding on my client’s direction. Plus, a bonus consideration that often gets overlooked. If your body isn’t responding the way you expected or you’ve been spinning your wheels trying to see change, this episode is a must-listen! Let’s talk about: Introduct...
Oct 27, 2025•20 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In this episode, I dive into GLP-1s and Body Composition: How to Lose Fat Without Losing Muscle I walk through the different types of GLP-1s (GLP-1 receptor agonists, dual, and triple agonists), what research shows, and why they work the way they do. Then I get into what actually matters when you’re taking one including how to protect your muscle and what to prioritize in your training and nutrition. This episode is meant to give you a grounded, hon...
Oct 24, 2025•22 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In this episode of the Mind Muscle Connection, I sit down with Dr. Tommy Wood, neuroscientist, performance coach, and author of the upcoming book The Stimulated Mind. We talk about How to Build a Stronger Brain: The 3s Model Dr Tommy shares how his work with elite performers (including Formula 1 drivers) shaped his approach to brain health and cognitive performance. We cover training splits, strongman prep, cognitive fatigue, brain optimization thro...
Oct 22, 2025•48 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In this Q&A episode, I answer four great questions that dig into High Protein During Builds, Does Running Count Towards Steps, Do I Enjoy Working Out. I break down what the research says about protein’s role in thermic effect, satiety, and body composition especially during building phases. We also get into whether you should count running as part of your daily steps, how to push through those days when you don’t feel like training, and what act...
Oct 20, 2025•20 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In this Q&A episode, I’m answering What’s a Good Lean Body Mass Number To Aim For (and How to Know If You’ve Reached It) and More I break down how I use FFMI, BMI, and body fat percentage to help clients figure out their progress, plus give my take on training back-to-back full body sessions and what to do when increasing your range of motion feels unstable. If you’re trying to build muscle and not sure if you’re doing enough (or doing too much)...
Oct 17, 2025•19 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In this episode, we dive into How Meal Timing and Movement Impact Fat Loss Efficiency with returning guest Brandon DaCruz. Brandon breaks down the strategy behind his recent fat loss phase, including why he chose a high-energy flux approach (lots of movement, not just low calories), how protein timing affected his results, and what most people get wrong about meal regularity. We also talk about the role of circadian rhythm, ghrelin, and how your bod...
Oct 15, 2025•1 hr 13 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In this solo episode, I break down Over 30? You Need To Track This Number I dive into the power of resting heart rate, what it really tells you about your fitness, stress, and long-term health. You’ll learn what’s “normal,” how to spot red flags, and how to lower it without obsessing. Plus, the practical habits I use with clients to improve it over time. If you’ve been training consistently but still feel off, or want a simple way to gauge recovery ...
Oct 13, 2025•16 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In this episode, I’m breaking down if Do You Really Need To Supplement? We’ll talk about common modern challenges like stress, poor sleep, medications, and food quality that make it harder to hit your nutrient needs through diet alone. I also walk through the foundational stack I use with most clients (like magnesium, fish oil, vitamin D), performance-based options (like creatine and caffeine), and more targeted use cases like probiotics, berberine,...
Oct 10, 2025•30 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! Bryan Boorstein is back on the pod for another wide-ranging chat. We cover Progressive Overload for Cardio and Weights, Delt Training and More We dive into Bryan’s minimalist but consistent training structure, how he balances strength with recovery, and his thoughts on what actually matters for long-term results. You’ll also hear us get into upright rows, progressive overload, creatine for brain health, and how training philosophies are evolving in ...
Oct 08, 2025•1 hr 7 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! Today’s solo episode is all about What To Focus On Outside of Fat Loss (Without Bulking) I go deep into how a building phase doesn’t have to mean pushing calories or chasing max muscle gain. From restoring metabolic health and improving blood work, to habit building, lifestyle optimization, and performance goals… There's a lot that can move the needle even when fat loss isn’t the focus. So if you think your only options are dieting or bulking, this ...
Oct 06, 2025•21 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In this solo episode, I walk through The Body Recomp & Performance Pyramid: What Really Drives Results (Nutrition Deep Dive) I break down the big rocks of movement, lifting, cardio, and nutrition, then explain how things like meal timing, stress, sleep, hydration, and strategy phases fit into the bigger picture. This pyramid can help you figure out what to prioritize when time, energy, or consistency get tight. If you’re spinning your wheels on ...
Oct 03, 2025•23 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In this episode, I bring back Steve Hall to talk through Why High-Volume Training Still Works for Hypertrophy . We cover Steve’s post-show phase, why he’s sticking with higher volume right now, and how he’s adapting intensity and frequency across muscle groups. We also get into managing fatigue, how blood work factors in, when to use deloads, and how to structure longer mesocycles without burning out. If you’ve been wondering how to adjust your trai...
Oct 01, 2025•1 hr 8 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In this Q&A episode, I unpack the Metabolic Adaptation, Perfect Form Myths and Why Calories Alone Don’t Build Muscle You’ll learn how to tell if you’re still dealing with an adapted metabolism, which habits make it worse, and what actually matters more than your calorie number. I also answer questions about training technique, exercise selection, and how many exercises per workout is “enough.” If you’ve ever felt like your metabolism is broken o...
Sep 29, 2025•32 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In this solo episode, I break down the Lessons From Not Tracking Calories In This Fat Loss Phase. I cover why the beginning of fat loss feels easy, what to do when cravings hit, and the habits that kept me on track even without logging food and so much more. If you’ve ever tried to lean out without obsessing over every gram, this will give you a practical, honest roadmap! Let’s talk about: Introduction The First Phase of Fat Loss Is the Easiest If Y...
Sep 26, 2025•19 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In this episode, I’m joined by Daniel Plotkin, a PhD candidate and researcher at Auburn University, to talk about Frequency, Fatigue, and Lengthened Partial. We cover how hypertrophy studies get misread online, what the lengthened position really offers, and how to make machine-based training more effective. Daniel also shares where most people go wrong with volume, fatigue management, and why simple training often works best. If you’ve ever tried t...
Sep 24, 2025•1 hr 30 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In this Q&A episode, I cover Calorie Deficit Misconceptions, Building During Pregnancy, When Your Coach Won’t Let You Diet, and More I talk through pregnancy training goals, the benefits of athletic-style movement, what it means to not feel hunger in a deficit, and why some coaches are too rigid about staying in a surplus. This one’s packed with perspective for anyone feeling confused by conflicting fitness advice so be sure to tune in! Let’s ta...
Sep 22, 2025•23 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! You’ve seen all the “rules”… fasted training, no carbs, never train on an empty stomach. But none of it seems to work the same way for you. In this episode, I discuss What To Do When Your Diet or Training Plan Stops Working. I break down why context is everything, why social media fitness advice is often misleading, and how your body’s current state determines what tools will help or hurt your progress. From calorie deficits to HIIT to carb intake, ...
Sep 19, 2025•16 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! You’ve dropped your calories, tracked everything, and trained hard but the scale’s not budging. In this solo episode, I talk about Not losing fat after 30? Here’s why and what to do I walk through the three most common reasons people get stuck, including why pushing harder or clinging to your lowest weight might be making things worse, how to use low calories strategically , and when it’s time to shift into maintenance. If you’ve been doing all the ...
Sep 17, 2025•26 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! You’re doing everything right… tracking macros, lifting consistently, even pushing harder when progress stalls. But at a certain point, it stops working. In this episode, I break down Why Working Harder Stops Working After 30 and what to do instead. I share three big reasons you’re not seeing results despite your effort, plus three overlooked factors most people skip. From circadian rhythm to step count to stress load, I walk you through what actual...
Sep 15, 2025•23 min
Welcome to the Mind Muscle Connection Podcast! In today’s solo episode, I dive into Why Performance + Inputs Matter More Than The Scale (Performance Recomp Method Now Open) I share why obsessing over every calorie or daily scale change keeps you spinning your wheels, and what to focus on instead: performance in the gym, recovery, fueling properly, managing stress, and consistency with movement. These are the inputs that actually drive long-term results, not micromanaging numbers that fluctuate d...
Sep 12, 2025•20 min
