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GUEST:

Jim Laird is a Strength and Conditioning Coach with close to 30 years of experience.

EPISODE LINKS:Jim’s Coaching Program: ⁠https://www.vitalitybrotherhood.com/⁠

SUMMARY

In this episode of the Upside Strength Podcast, Sean Seale speaks with veteran coach Jim Laird about the crucial difference between performance and health. They unpack why elite athletes are often far from healthy, the underestimated power of sunlight and daily movement, and why VO2 max might not be the holy grail of fitness. With over 30 years of experience, Jim shares grounded, practical wisdom that challenges today's high-performance narratives and offers a roadmap for sustainable athletic living.

CHAPTERS

0:00 - Introduction

3:01 - Defining health vs. performance

7:45 - The hidden cost of elite athletics

13:12 - Why movement trumps workouts

19:30 - Light exposure, circadian rhythm & health

28:10 - The myth of VO2 max supremacy

35:45 - Ground-based warm-ups and foundational movement

44:30 - General prep vs. specialization

51:15 - CrossFit, compression, and recovery

58:40 - Why consistent low-level activity matters

1:06:00 - Nutrition, protein, and context-based eating

1:13:20 - The danger of supplement obsession

1:21:30 - How to rebuild energy and motivation

1:28:00 - Final thoughts: building a life around health

1:34:21 - Outro

CONNECT:► Subscribe for more videos here: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@upsidestrengthen⁠► Programs & Courses: ⁠https://www.upsidestrengthacademy.com/english⁠► Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/seanseale⁠► Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/upside_strength_en⁠

WHO IS SEAN?Sean is a performance coach based in Switzerland. A generalist at heart with a keen interest in physiology, he specialises in endurance and respiratory training. He has been coaching for over 10 years, helping beginners & professional athletes alike to improve their work capacity, recovery and performance in all sports. Sean also provides education for coaches and consulting services for sports organisations and teams.

DISCLAIMER:► These descriptions usually contain affiliate links. If you decide to purchase a product through one of them, I might receive a small commission at no cost to you. I never endorse products that I have not personally used myself or not found to be beneficial in my life/practice.