Our guest today is Natalie Newhart . Our Partner on Today's Show - FNX Fitness - Use code "essential" for 25% off every purchase In today’s conversation, Natalie and I walk at length about her definition of strength and how it has changed in the last 3 years, why learning to manage stress is just as important as the food we eat and the weights we lift, and strategies for overcoming the compulsive desire to always train harder. Connect with Natalie - @natalie.newhart Connect with David - @dr.davi...
Nov 10, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 62
Our guest this week is Frank Benedetto . On today’s episode, Frank and I talk about why so many healthcare professionals are finding themselves burned out but scared to leave their jobs, when and how to find your niche as a practitioner and I ask Frank if it is ever too early or too late to start a side hustle. Frank is also gracious enough to offer two free tools to help everyone listening design a life they will love and to help them discover their niche - both resources typically reserved for...
Nov 03, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 61
Our guest this week is Dr. Kyle Gillett . In today’s conversation, Dr. Gillett and I talk about the concerning health trends he sees in men and women between the ages of 25 and 45 as well as the health trends that those over 50 should be aware of. We talk about the continuum of diet, exercise and pharmaceutical interventions in addressing obesity and the many downstream risk factors associated with excessively high body fat percentages. We also go deep on the topic on infertility - why rates are...
Oct 27, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 60
Our guest today is Danial Hooper . In today’s conversation, I ask Danial about the role of community within the framework of building a brand, what challenges he has faced in building a digital brand and Danial shares an incredible shift in perspective from assessing Return on Investment (or ROI) to prioritizing Return on Relationship (ROR). Plus I get Danial to spill the beans on some new products and projects coming down the pipe at FNX Fitness. Our Partner on Today's Show - FNF Fitness - Use ...
Oct 20, 2021•56 min•Ep. 59
Our guest today is Crystal Miranda . Crystal is back as our very first repeat guest and today we are talking about the dangerous nature of Toxic Positivity and the importance of normalizing the full spectrum of human emotions. Today’s episode is being released on October 10, 2021 on World Mental Health Day and in support of Crystal and the non-profit work she is doing through The Healthy Mind Movement - we are releasing a new piece of apparel. I’m sure everyone listening has seen someone wearing...
Oct 10, 2021•54 min•Ep. 58
Our guest this week is Sarry Ibrahim . In today’s conversation, Sarry and I talk about how to define financial strength, what it means to Think Like a Bank, the importance of having financial objectives and goals and what Sarry thinks people can do right now to set themselves up for strong financial futures. Sign up for Enduring Strength - Take the guesswork out of your workouts with this year-round program coached by Dr. David Skolnik, DPT. Build Strength, Gain Muscle and Improve Your Endurance...
Oct 06, 2021•55 min•Ep. 57
Our guest today is Dr. Justin Farnsworth, DPT . In today’s conversation, Dr. Farnsworth and David talk about how the American Healthcare system is failing to keep us healthy and how the Fitness Industry needs to step up to fill the void. They talk about why it is so difficult for people to take personal responsibility for their own health and the dangers of “convenience culture”. This is a no-holds-barred conversation, with a lot of passion - these issues are vitally important and its going to t...
Sep 29, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 56
Our guest this week is Kyle Benson . Kyle is a marriage and sex therapist who has worked with dozens of couples to help them understand the root causes of their wants, needs, insecurities and find the truth in their relationships. In today’s conversation, Kyle and I talk about how to cultivate intentionally intimate relationships, how to adjust the “thermostat” on your relationship, balancing individuality with partnership, and how to root out defensiveness and stonewalling to allow for effectiv...
Sep 22, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 55
Our guest this week is Hayley Pettinato . In today’s conversation, Hayley and I talk about the power of daily affirmations and how to optimize your self-talk. We discuss different forms of journaling, and Hayley and I dive into three of the biggest health and fitness myths that can have damaging effects on both our physical and our mental health. If you have a second, please subscribe to this podcast , leave us a five star rating and write a quick review. It means the world to me, and it helps g...
Sep 15, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 54
Our guest this week is Mads Friis . On today's Episode, Mad's and David discuss strategic goal setting, the importance of sleep and rest, and why so many people are unhappy despite their perceived success. Mads is, by his own admission, excessively curious and this curiosity has lead hum to question why so many people seem so unhappy and unfulfilled. It is his mission with his Podcast and his coaching business, to help as many people as he can figure out what makes them happy, where they want to...
Sep 08, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 53
Our guest this week is Joe Sullivan . In today’s episode, Joe and I talk about the origin of his “Adapt or Die” mentality, the importance of family, what makes a good coach and Joe answers some questions from gym members at my home gym, American Raw Fitness out here in Gilbert, Arizona. Joe is an All Time World Record holding powerlifter, a coach, an entrepreneur and an educator. He is very familiar with hardship and speaks frequently on the power of mindset as it relates to overcoming difficult...
Sep 01, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 52
Our Guest this week is Kandace Hudspeth . On today’s episode, Kandace and I talk about all the things you need to know to leverage Instagram to support your personal brand and business. From how lay out your page, build trust, increase interaction and help people transition from consuming your content to taking action on it. Kandace is a career brand strategist and lifelong fitness enthusiast who pivoted her career, from big agency leadership to fitness business and brand innovation. With 20 yea...
Aug 25, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 51
Our guest today is David Skolnik . We’re changing things up to make episode 50 with something special. Today, my producer - Christian - is interviewing me. The idea is, a reintroduction of sorts. Now that we’re 50 episodes in, I know it’s not just my mom and dad and a few friends listening any more, so getting to know who I am, and why I do what I do seemed the pertinent thing to do. Connect with David - @dr.davidskolnik.dpt Connect with the Show - @essential.strength.podcast Our Partner today i...
Aug 18, 2021•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 50
Our guest this week is Hallie Tobias. In our conversation today, Hallie and I talk about how to eat to achieve specific goals, we talk about the psychology and personal development aspects of nutrition coaching, and I learn what has surprised Hallie the most about working as a nutrition coach. Check Out Our Partner on Today's Episode - FNX Fitness Save 15% off any purchase of the BEST nutritional supplements in the game! Use the code "ESSENTIAL" at checkout to save some dolla dolla bills ya'll :...
Aug 11, 2021•59 min•Ep. 49
Today’s guest is Joe Rinaldi . Joe is a Doctor of Physical Therapy based on Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - but Joe will tell anyone who asks that he is far more than his professional title. His personal mission is to serve, love, encourage and inspire everyone he meets, and to leave the world better than he found it. There is a contagious positivity about Joe that I am sure everyone listening will feel. In today’s conversation, we talk about who Joe wants to be and the work he is doing to become t...
Aug 04, 2021•56 min•Ep. 48
Our guest this week is Matt Lombardi , Former Professional Hockey Player, Entrepreneur, Avid Cross-Fitter and Co-Founder of Beam , a THC-Free CBD brand committed to producing the best possible products for better everything. In our conversation today, Matt and I talk about CBD and why it stood out to him as an athlete surrounded by a million different supplements. We talk about Beam, their core products, and their mission to reimagine health and wellness. We also discuss the “dark sides” of entr...
Jul 28, 2021•59 min•Ep. 47
Our guest this week is Scott Howell . From training clients in small boutique gyms, to overseeing regional operations at one of the biggest corporate fitness brands to owning his own successful gym business, Scott has seen, and done, more than most in this industry. In today’s conversation, Scott and I talk about the risk and rewards of working for a larger company vs. blazing your own entrepreneurial trail, we talk about whether there is any such thing as “stability” in the workplace anymore, a...
Jul 21, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 46
Our guest this week is Conny Schneider . Conny is the owner of KomplexFit in Petaluma, California. She is a personal trainer, community builder, knowledge seeker and as you’re learn today - not afraid to take bold steps in pursuit of fulfillment. In today’s conversation, Conny and I talk about the strength that was required to pick up her entire life and move from Germany to Northern California after high school, how she first got involved in the fitness industry, her decision to start her own b...
Jul 14, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 45
Today’s Guest is Layci Nelson . In today’s conversation, Layci and David talk about the differences between someone in a leadership position and someone who is a real leader, why ego checks and apologies are key components of effective leadership, and the potential pitfalls of becoming friends with your employees. Follow Layci - @layci_nelson Follow David - @dr.davidskolnik.dpt Follow the Show - @essential.strength.podcast Check Out our Partner - GetPPSC ** Use the Code "essential" to take 10% o...
Jul 07, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 44
Our guest this week is Gabi Dixson . Today’s conversation is focused on how health and fitness professionals, and the public at large, can have more effective and empathetic conversations about body weight, and how the lived experience of being in a bigger body shapes one’s outlook on life. Gabi is the Winner of New Zealand’s Strongest Woman 2020 and is currently training for USPA Powerlifting Nationals in July 2021 and World’s Strongest Woman in November 2021. She is also an aspiring coach on a...
Jun 30, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 43
Today’s guest is Andrew Coates . Andrew is a personal trainer based in Edmonton, Alberta Canada. He hosts a weekly podcast called Lift Free and Diet Hard , and is a prolific writer in the fitness space who has contributed articles to T Nation, True Coach, The PTDC and Generation Iron. He is a mentor, and a bonafide scholar of all things health and fitness. Follow Andrew - @andrewcoatesfitness Follow David - @dr.davidskolnik.dpt Follow the Show - @essential.strength.podcast Our Partner on today's...
Jun 23, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 42
Our guest this week is Richard Goerling . Richard is a certified mindfulness trainer, retired police officer and military veteran. He is the founder of The Mindful Badge and specializes in training health, resilience and human performance skills to first responders. Connect with Rich - The Mindful Badge Connect with David - @dr.davidskolnik.dpt Connect with the Show - @essential.strength.podcast Check out our partner - GetPPSC - and take 10% off any live course with the code essential at checkou...
Jun 16, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 41
Our guest today is Dr. Michelle Gilpin, DPT . Michelle is a Doctor of Physical Therapy who practices out of Evolution Healthcare & Fitness in Portland, Oregon. In Today’s conversation we focus on one particular area of body, the pelvic floor. What is it? What is its function in the wholistic system of the body? What are the signs and symptoms that the pelvic floor is not functioning properly or optimally? And how training the pelvic floor can lead to enhanced performance in both sport and li...
Jun 09, 2021•58 min•Ep. 40
Our guest today is Chris Phillips . Chris is a US Army Veteran who conducted 4 tours of Afghanistan and Iraq as an Infantryman. In 2019, a solider Chris has been especially close with took his own life, and Chris decided it was time to do something. So he created Quality Resilience Fitness , QRF Fit for short, a non-profit organization that uses their proceeds to help veterans pay for gym memberships, entrance fees into lifting competitions, and to find community through fitness. His ultimate go...
Jun 02, 2021•44 min•Ep. 39
Our guest today is Jumha Aburezeq . Jumha is the founder and head nutrition coach at StoopidFit, a health and wellness brand focused on helping people to live a healthier lifestyle as simply as possible. By focusing on simple actionable habits, Coach Jumha has helped hundreds of people lose weight, gain confidence, and feel better than they ever have before. In today’s conversation Jumha and I talk about the biggest pitfalls that trip people up when they are trying to loose fat and change their ...
May 26, 2021•48 min•Ep. 38
Today’s guest is Gini Grimsley - Gini is the Director of Fitness Product for VASA Fitness. She is known for creating cutting-edge programming and introducing approachable, results-driven fitness concepts. She enjoys any opportunity to empower the next generation of fitness professionals and is passionate about furthering their education and expertise to provide opportunities for development and career advancement. Today's conversation spans everything from the common strengths and weaknesses of ...
May 19, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 37
Hello my Friends! And welcome back to The Essential Strength Podcast! Our Partner on today's show is FNX Fit - maker of Rebalance Super Greens and tons of other amazing performance nutrition and supplementation products. Hitting this link RIGHT HERE or using the code "ESSENTIALSTRENGTH" will get you 15% off your entire purchase - protein, creatine, a sleep aid, some krill oil, pre-workout... it's all there and it's all Uhh-Mazing. ........ Today’s guest is Sam Johnson . Native to Portland, Orego...
May 12, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 36
Welcome to another episode of The Essential Strength Podcast. Our guest this week is Crystal Miranda . Crystal Miranda is a clinical social worker and a currently pursuing her PhD in psychology. Her area of research is examining the experience of utilizing emotional states to enhance performance among strength athletes. Crystal is also the founder of The Healthy Mind Movement – A non-profit organization that aims to promote mental wellness and self-growth through evidence-based information and c...
Mar 10, 2021•59 min•Ep. 35
What’s up everybody, welcome to this week’s episode of Health & Fitness Friday on The Essential Strength Podcast. This is your 5 minute download of some health and fitness knowledge meant to make you a little bit smarter and a little bit stronger as you head into the weekend! Last week, we started the conversation about corrective exercise, some of it’s limitations, and I gave you my thoughts on whether or not it’s still useful. Today, we’re going to continue that conversation with the numbe...
Mar 05, 2021•7 min
Our guest this week is Greg Everett , owner of Catalyst Athletics and author of the new book “Tough” As the subtitle of Greg’s book explains, this book is a guide to building true mental, physical & emotional toughness for success & fulfillment. It’s about a lot more than how to be the traditional vision of a “tough guy” - and in today’s conversation we talk about why clearly defining your values and purpose are foundational to becoming tough, the four C’s that define toughness for Greg,...
Mar 03, 2021•56 min•Ep. 34
