Bending Over Backwards

A lot of people still think motivation is the answer, but the truth is discipline is what keeps things moving. Motivation feels good in the moment, but it disappears fast. Discipline is what actually helps you build habits, face challenges, and keep moving forward when life gets hard.

In this episode of *Bending Over Backwards*, Dr. James Adkins is joined by Alina Sbitnev, Jimmy Walker, Mich Manaras, and Vita Galore. Each guest shares how they approach routines, faith, and discipline in their own life. From cold plunges and exercise to Bible study, meditation, and facing problems directly, they explain how these practices give them the energy and focus to get through the day.

What we talk about:

- Why difficult habits make you more resilient
- How morning routines and exercise build energy and confidence
- The importance of faith and purpose in daily life
- Why avoiding problems only makes them worse

If you have ever felt stuck or struggled with consistency, this episode gives you practical perspectives you can use in your own routine.

Many people carry trauma from childhood, abuse, betrayal, or feeling like they were never meant to exist. For some, it becomes a life sentence. For others, it sparks the fight to heal.

In this episode, Dr. James Adkins sits down with Vita Galore to talk about her journey from darkness to light. From childhood abuse and family betrayal to decades of self-healing, Vita shares how she rebuilt her life and why she believes anyone can learn to choose empowerment over victimhood.

What we talked about: 

→ How trauma shapes self-worth and identity 

→ The healing practices that helped her dismantle old stories 

→ Why community matters in the process of recovery 

→ The shift from being a victim to living empowered 

→ Daily tools she uses to reframe painful memories and reclaim joy

If you’ve ever felt stuck in old stories or weighed down by the past, Vita’s journey will remind you that healing isn’t just possible, it’s a choice.

Most women are told the same story about weight loss: eat less, move more, and try harder. But for many, especially as hormones shift, that advice doesn’t work—and it leaves them frustrated, exhausted, and blaming themselves.

In this episode, Dr. James Adkins sits down with Coach Patricia to uncover what’s really happening inside women’s bodies. From estrogen dominance and cycle training to the truth about hormone replacement therapy (HRT), Patricia explains why weight loss is more of a puzzle than a one-size-fits-all formula.

You’ll hear:
→ Why “food is medicine” is more than a catchphrase
→ The truth about HRT and why so many women are still afraid of it
→ How blood work changes the way you should train and eat
→ The overlooked role of gut health and liver function in weight loss
→ Practical advice women can use right now to feel stronger and more in control

If you’ve ever felt like you’re “doing everything right” but not seeing results, this conversation will change the way you look at health and fitness.

How do you turn a small Instagram page into a company with over a million followers?

In this episode, Parker Smith shares how he started posting ski videos for fun and ended up co-founding Get Send, a media company working with some of the biggest names in action sports. We talk about his journey from college student to entrepreneur, the leap from a stable job to running a business, and what it’s really like to grow an audience across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

You’ll hear about:

→ Building a community in action sports

→ Dealing with fear, doubt, and big risks in business

→ Why Instagram still beats TikTok for their audience

→ The future of AI in action sports media

→ Staying healthy after injuries and training to keep doing what you love

Whether you’re into action sports or building your own business, this episode is packed with stories and lessons you can use right away.

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Four stories. Four different kinds of pain. One truth:

You can come back from anything, even if it feels like your life is falling apart.

In this episode, Dr. James Adkins talks with four people who went through some of the hardest moments anyone can face. They were hurt, ignored, and nearly gave up. But each one found a way to stand back up.

–> Carey Pena had a stroke, but doctors said it was just a tumor. She was also told she could never have kids. They were wrong.

–> Darlene Santore survived three strokes, lost her mom, and kept leading others through their toughest days.

–> Dr. Tricia Pingle looked like she had it all together. But inside, she was hiding grief and burnout. She found healing in a place she didn’t expect: dance.

–> Kelsey Zakino was in a wheelchair at 26, taking fentanyl just to move, and still no one believed her pain. She almost gave up. Until one person finally listened.

This episode is real, emotional, and honest. If you're going through something hard, this might help you feel less alone.

Dr. John Mason has spent decades saving lives in the ER — until the job nearly broke him.

In this unfiltered conversation, we talk about what it really costs to care for others when you never slow down long enough to care for yourself. From burnout and emotional trauma to dirt bike crashes in Africa and near-miss moments in Ukraine, this is what life looks like when your job becomes your identity.

We talk about:
→ Why empathy makes you a better doctor but a worse friend
→ How he finally learned to say “I’m off duty” — even to family
→ The emotional weight ER doctors carry but never talk about
→ How exercise and adventure became survival tools
→ Stories from war zones, orphanages, and losing patients
→ What it really means to be healthy when you work in trauma

This episode is for the ones who keep showing up. The ones who carry too much. The ones who don’t get to fall apart — even when everything around them is.

If you’ve ever thought, “Why can’t I turn off?” this one’s for you.

What if your bad mood, brain fog, and back pain had less to do with mindset and more to do with what you did the night before?

In this episode, Mich Manaras, founder of PEAR, shares how wearables and a simple Vibe Score are helping people track their habits, improve their health, and reconnect with the people they care about.

We talk about:
→ How alcohol, late nights, and stress show up in your body
→ Why tracking your sleep might actually improve your relationships
→ The missing link between physical pain and emotional health
→ What made Mich walk away from drinking and start building something that actually helps

If you’ve been feeling off and can't explain why, this episode will help you understand what your body’s been trying to say.

Jimmy Walker is 80 years old. He’s raised over $100 million for charity. Worked with Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, and Magic Johnson. And he’s still not done.

In this episode, we talk about the real reason he never retired, the heartbreak that changed everything, and why giving back became his life’s mission.

You’ll hear:
→ The wild story of how Celebrity Fight Night began
→ How asking a blind opera singer to meet a silent boxing legend changed both their lives
→ The personal loss that led to building sober living homes
→ Why he believes most success teaches you nothing
→ And what it really means to serve people with dignity

This is one of those episodes you’ll want to play twice. Especially if you care about legacy, impact, and doing work that still matters at any age.

Dr. Tricia Pingle spent years helping people deal with stress and exhaustion. But during that time, she was struggling with it herself.

In this episode, we talk about how stress can wear you down slowly, even when everything on the outside looks fine. Tricia shares what helped her feel better—from setting boundaries to finding something she genuinely enjoyed again.

We cover:

→ Why doing too much for too long backfires
→ What helped her recover when nothing else was working
→ How movement helped her feel like herself again
→ What changed when she stopped trying to do it all
→ What balance really looks like day-to-day

If you’re always tired or feel like you’re running on empty, this one’s worth a listen.

At 25, Darleen Santore had a stroke that changed everything. She was misdiagnosed, told she might die, and told she couldn’t have children.

She didn’t quit. She shifted.

Now known as Coach Dar, she works with top athletes and business leaders to build mental strength and bounce back when life hits hard.

In this episode:
→ How she rebuilt her life after three strokes
→ The mindset tools she uses with NFL and NBA players
→ What helped her stay grounded through loss and setbacks
→ The connection between faith, purpose, and resilience

This is a real conversation about what it takes to keep going—and how to live with intention, even when things don’t go as planned.