In the 86th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, Pastor, Trainer, and Competitive Shooter, Thomas Benge, will talk about Thomas’ origin story, his biggest inspiration, training recruits & clients, and more.

Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! 

In this chapter, you will discover:

(0:50) Introducing our special guest, Pastor, Trainer, and Competitive Shooter, Thomas Benge @ethos_of_strength

(1:10) Shout out to John Odden @empoweredstrength_

(1:45) Thomas and John Odden’s original connecting point @empoweredstrength_

(2:30) Walking cliche

(3:00) Shout out to Nicole Benge @nicole.benge

(3:35) Thomas’s origin story

(3:40) Playing basketball in college

(3:50) Asking to be played professional football

(4:35) Thomas’ weight after graduation

(4:45) Falling in love with strength training

(4:55) Being a gym bro

(5:00) Thomas’s biggest inspiration

(5:55) Shout out to Pavel Tsatsouline @strongfirst

(6:10) Reading Pavel Tsatsouline’s article @strongfirst

(6:40) Trusting the process

(7:05) Testing out after the program

(7:20) Training and working in Police Academy

(7:35) An eye for movement

(7:45) Training clients and recruits

(8:10) Suffering a knee injury

(8:30) Teaching during the recovery time

(8:30) Meeting the founder of CrossFit

(8:35) From law enforcement to CrossFit gyms

(9:35) Thomas’ 51-year-old client

(13:30) The desire to explore kettlebell

(14:45) Thomas’ first experience with TSC

(16:45) Tribe by Sebastian Junger @sebastianjungerofficial

(17:40) About Greg

(18:30) Doing multiple TSCs at the gym

(19:05) TSC brings people together!

(20:00) Dealing with cadets

(20:30) No requirement to stay fit in agencies 

(22:00) Low frequency, high work

(22:55) Being fit for others!

(24:55) Having standards for yourself

(25:45) Physical fitness, a low-hanging fruit

(26:25) “Your level of physical fitness was your first line of defense.” - Thomas Benge @ethos_of_strength

(26:40) “There's a difference between being present and having a presence.” - Thomas Benge @ethos_of_strength

(26:50) Two best compliments that Thomas got in the Academy

(29:30) Shout out to Craig Marker

(30:00) “You don't have to be the biggest person in the world to command a presence in the room.” - Michael Kurkowski @mike_strength_connection

(30:10) Mike’s observation while working at the gym

(31:40) Participants of 30,000 training sessions

(32:40) Strong Woman competitor

(34:35) What did Thomas love about running his gym?

(37:25) Benefits of connecting with people

(39:05) Shout out to Dan John @coachdanjohn

(39:30) One critical mistake most pastors and strength trainers do

(40:30) Thomas’ approach to the ministry

(40:50) Jesus, the most relational person

(42:00) Thomas’ approach at his ministry

(42:15) Think Again by Adam Grant @adamgrant

https://www.amazon.com/Think-Again-Power-Knowing-What/dp/1984878107 

(44:00) “Business is a Spiritual Game.” - Tony Robbins @tonyrobbins

(44:30) Book A more beautiful question

(45:40) More about Thomas’ client

(46:20) Being curious

(46:40) There is always something

(47:05) “Curiosity is an antidote to ideology.” - Michael Kurkowski @mike_strength_connection

(48:05) Being an eternal student

(49:15) The biggest dangers for pastors

(49:45) 40-minutes devotional listening and praying

(51:00) “I always assume that there is something to see, even if I've seen it before.” - Thomas Benge @ethos_of_strength

(52:45) One piece

Where to find Thomas Benge? @ethos_of_strength