BarBend Podcast

Jen Widerstrom rose to the national spotlight as a star on "American Gladiators," but after the show was canceled, a career in the fitness industry didn't happen overnight. We talk with Jen about behind-the-scenes stories from "Gladiators," finding footing as a coach and trainer, and eventually becoming one of Hollywood's got-to trainers for TV and shows like "The Biggest Loser." What's it like to coach Kevin Hart and Conan O'Brien? Jen gives us the details, along with the incredibly fit celebrities you might not expect. 

Dan John is one of the most respected coaches in strength & conditioning. Over the course of his 40+ year career, he's become well known for straightforward, effective protocols and programs that strip away the fluff to proven principles. He joins the podcast to talk about the popularity of his 10,000 kettlebell swing program, the simplest path to recovery and performance, and what to focus on when you have limited time to train.

Jason Khalipa is one of the fitness world's most recognizable faces: 2008 CrossFit Games Champion, multi-time Games podium finisher, and fitness entrepreneur with a truly international business. Jason talks about which gyms have the best shot of surviving the pandemic, the future of strength sports, and his own experiences as the father of an immunocompromised child. 

Angela Gargano has a lengthy career in fitness, going from college gymnast to Miss Fitness USA and most recently a standout athlete on "American Ninja Warrior." Angela joins us in the BarBend studio to talk about her approach to training explosiveness, overcoming injury on national TV, and why she's on a quest to get everyone better at pull-ups.

Kyle Traynor is head of Business Strategy & Mind Performance at Elite Vitality. At Elite Vitality, handfuls of top coaches help new business owners in the fitness industry tackle and prepare for the tough road ahead of them. Kyle is also the host of the Pivotal Conversations podcast, a podcast that explores the keys and tools needed for success. 

In today’s episode, Jake Boly chats with Kyle about a variety of topics including the development of mental fortitude to build a dynamic business, how Kyle has found personal zen, and much more. 

David Meltzer is the co-founder of Sports 1 Marketing, and he was formerly CEO of the sports agency that was the inspiration for the movie Jerry Maguire. Today, he's an international best-selling author and motivational speaker who consults with some of the world's biggest pro sports leagues, teams, and athletes. David joins the BarBend Podcast to talk about which high-tech recovery techniques will become mainstream, what teams like the Los Angeles Lakers are doing on the cutting edge of strength performance, and how pro athletes handle aging and performance decline.

Meg Reardon is a multi-time CrossFit Games athlete living and training out of New York City. One of America's fittest women, Meg gives insight into the life of an elite CrossFitter training at the top levels and working to make a living in the sport. She also discusses a recent Open-related injury and her current training game plan. What's it like to train for the CrossFit Games when you can only do upper body movements? 

Adee Cazayoux is a former elite weightlifter and founder of Working Against Gravity, which is one of the strength industry's most visible nutrition coaching companies. Adee joins us to talk about myths and misconceptions in nutrition for strength, including why bulking is often times much more difficult than cutting and how to stay smart about training within a certain bodyweight range. 

Starting Strongman founder and coach Kalle Beck joins us to talk about training for strongman (and for strength and fitness in general) when you have minimal formal equipment. Kalle has a ton of experience helping clients stay strong under a lot of circumstances, and he also shares his insights into making your own weighted implements and the do-it-yourself lessons from years in the strongman community.