Fit & Sanity

Tay the Great sits down with Andrew from the 5th Wall Podcast for an honest conversation about fitness, family, health, nutrition, career, and the experiences that shaped his outlook on life. From meeting at the gym to connecting behind the microphones, they discuss personal growth, staying disciplined, and what it means to build a meaningful life beyond physical strength.

This is a real conversation about becoming stronger mentally, physically, and personally.

Stay fit. Stay focused. Stay sane.

Comedian Charles Brooks Jr. joins Tay the Great for a conversation that goes beyond the stage and the punchlines. Charles shares his early journey into comedy, the challenges behind making people laugh, his upcoming shows and what keeps him motivated as an entertainer.

He also talks about filming Coach Mike, a biopic centered on a legendary middle-school coach from Washington, D.C., and the return of his podcast, Comedians Interviewing Comedians and Ish.

This episode explores comedy, creativity, purpose, discipline and the person behind the performer. Because sometimes the funniest people carry the deepest stories—and there is always more behind the punchline.

Follow the Fit & Sanity Podcast for more real conversations about fitness, mental health and personal growth.

Stay fit. Stay focused. Stay sane.

In Episode 2, Feraud shared what it was like supporting his wife through breast cancer. Now, Frankie joins the Fit & Sanity Podcast to tell the story from her perspective.

Frankie opens up about the physical and emotional realities of cancer, the strength it took to keep fighting, and the complicated process of learning how to live again after treatment. She and Feraud also discuss how the journey affected their marriage, family, mental health, and appreciation for everyday life.

Now cancer-free and returning to the gym, Frankie is rebuilding more than her physical strength. She is setting new goals, reconnecting with herself, and discovering that survival is not the end of the story—it is the beginning of a new chapter.

This special Episode 40 is an honest conversation about recovery, marriage, fitness, faith, family support, and finding hope after the fight.

Hosted by Tay the Great Guests: Frankie and returning guest Feraud

Follow, rate, and share the Fit & Sanity Podcast with someone who needs this story.

Disclaimer: This episode shares personal experiences and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

#FitAndSanityPodcast #BreastCancerAwareness #CancerSurvivor #LifeAfterCancer #RecoveryJourney #MentalHealth #FitnessJourney #Marriage #FamilySupport #RealTalkRealGrowth

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, but checking on the people we love shouldn’t stop when the month ends.

On Episode 39 of the Fit & Sanity Podcast, Tay the Great sits down with his client Jazz for an honest conversation about mental health, grief, fitness, difficult seasons, and the importance of having people you can lean on when life gets heavy.

Sometimes the person who seems the strongest is carrying more than anyone realizes.

The friend who always makes everyone laugh. The parent who keeps everything moving. The person who never misses work. The one who keeps showing up at the gym. The friend who always says, “I’m good.”

But are they really?

Tay and Jazz talk about what happens when life gets heavy, whether we tend to talk about our struggles or keep them inside, dealing with grief, the difference between listening and trying to “fix” someone, and how fitness can provide an outlet during stressful seasons.

They also discuss why simply showing up for someone can matter more than finding the perfect thing to say.

Plus, Jazz takes on Fit & Sanity Rapid Fire, the Fire Question, the Golden Rep, and this week's Fit & Sanity Check-In Challenge.

❤️ THE CHECK-IN CHALLENGE

Before today ends, contact one person you care about.

Don't just ask:

“What's up?”

Ask:

“How are you REALLY doing?”

Then give them something increasingly rare:

Your full attention.

Because sometimes people don't need us to solve their problems.

They just need to know they don't have to carry them alone.

🧠 IN THIS EPISODE

Mental health • Grief • Suicide prevention • Supporting friends • Being the “strong friend” • Asking for help • Listening without judgment • Fitness and mental wellness • Support systems • Checking in • Hope • Resilience • Life after loss

☎️ NEED SUPPORT?

If you or someone you know is struggling or experiencing a mental-health or suicide crisis in the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

If someone is in immediate danger, contact emergency services.

Check on your strong friends. Check on your funny friends. Check on your quiet friends. And check on the person who's always checking on everybody else.

Stay Fit. Stay Focused. Stay Sane.

Real Talk. Real Growth.

— Tay the Great

What does it really take to step onto a bodybuilding stage?

The audience sees the physique, posing, tan, confidence, and final presentation—but they don't always see the early mornings, strict nutrition, endless cardio, self-doubt, family sacrifices, and pressure that happen behind the scenes.

In Episode 38 of the Fit & Sanity Podcast, Tay the Great and Vinny sit down with NPC Bikini competitor Victoria to talk about her most recent competition and the journey that got her there.

Victoria opens up about making the transition into bodybuilding, surviving the physical and mental demands of contest prep, and learning how to keep pushing when motivation isn't enough.

But this conversation goes much deeper than sets, reps, and macros.

Victoria shares what it's like pursuing an ambitious personal goal while also being a wife and mother, how bodybuilding affects family life, and the importance of having people in your corner who understand the sacrifices required to chase a dream.

We also get into faith and the challenge of remembering that your identity and worth are bigger than a placing, a physique, or what happens on competition day.

And because it's Fit & Sanity, we're having some fun too. 😂

💪 In This Episode:

• Victoria's journey into NPC Bikini bodybuilding
• What her most recent competition taught her
• The reality of contest prep
• The mental pressure competitors experience
• Discipline vs. motivation
• Body image and comparison in bodybuilding
• Balancing bodybuilding with motherhood
• Maintaining a marriage while chasing an individual goal
• How faith keeps Victoria grounded
• Nutrition and training during prep
• The reality of peak week
• Prep confessions 😂
• Bodybuilding myths
• Life after stepping off the stage
• Why your placing doesn't determine your worth

One of the biggest questions of the episode:

If bodybuilding disappeared tomorrow, who would you be without the stage?

Because ultimately, bodybuilding isn't only about building a body.

It's about discovering what you're capable of when life puts you under pressure.

The trophy is great.

The transformation is bigger.

Stay Fit. Stay Focused. Stay Sane.

Perimenopause, Purpose & Finding Yourself in a New Season

What happens when your body starts changing—but nobody really prepared you for it?

In Episode 37 of the Fit & Sanity Podcast, Tay the Great sits down with Ashley Tucker and Danna Minniweather, author of The 12 Properties of Purpose, for an honest, funny, and thought-provoking conversation about perimenopause and navigating a new season of life.

Ashley brings the real-life perspective of experiencing these changes, while Danna brings another perspective on womanhood, growth, identity, and maintaining a sense of purpose as life evolves.

And Tay? He's asking some of the questions men probably should be asking. 😂

This conversation goes far beyond hot flashes and hormones.

We talk about the physical and emotional changes women can experience, confidence, relationships, fitness, nutrition, self-care, the pressure to continue showing up for everyone else, and what happens when you don't quite feel like yourself anymore.

In This Episode:

• What perimenopause can actually feel like
• The things women wish someone had told them earlier
• Physical and emotional changes during this stage of life
• How perimenopause can affect confidence and identity
• Fitness and strength training during midlife
• Nutrition and taking care of your body as it changes
• Relationships and what partners should understand
• Why women sometimes struggle to prioritize themselves
• Finding purpose during a new season of life
• Ashley's real-life experience
• Danna's perspective on The 12 Properties of Purpose
• Myths and misconceptions surrounding perimenopause
• A few laughs along the way

One of the biggest messages from this conversation is simple:

Changing doesn't mean you're losing yourself.

Sometimes you're discovering a version of yourself you haven't met yet.

Whether you're currently experiencing perimenopause, approaching this stage of life, supporting a partner going through it, or simply want to better understand the women in your life, this conversation is for you.

Every season brings change.

Every season brings challenges.

And every season can still have purpose.

Stay Fit. Stay Focused. Stay Sane.

What if the thing holding you back isn't failure, fear, or a lack of opportunity?

What if you're simply too comfortable?

In this solo episode of the Fit & Sanity Podcast, Tay the Great gets real about the difference between being truly stuck and becoming comfortable with the habits, routines, excuses, and situations that keep us from growing.

Comfort isn't always a bad thing—but when comfort becomes an excuse to stop challenging yourself, it can quietly keep you from becoming the person you know you're capable of becoming.

Tay breaks down how this shows up not only in fitness, but in careers, relationships, personal goals, mindset, and everyday life. He also shares his perspective on stepping outside of your comfort zone, choosing discipline when motivation disappears, and keeping the promises you make to yourself.

In This Episode:

• Why being comfortable can feel like being stuck
• Recognizing when you've stopped challenging yourself
• Why growth requires some level of discomfort
• Training your weaknesses instead of only doing what you're good at
• Fitness Tip of the Week
• Nutrition Tip of the Week
• Mindset Minute
• Comfort Zone Red Flags
• A powerful Fire Question
• Challenge of the Week
• The Golden Rep

Tay also asks one important question:

If staying comfortable guaranteed that you'd remain exactly where you are for the rest of your life... would you still choose comfort?

You don't have to completely change your life tomorrow.

You just have to be willing to take the next uncomfortable step.

Stop waiting for perfect.

Stop waiting for Monday.

Stop waiting until you feel ready.

Growth begins the moment you decide that where you're going matters more than staying comfortable where you are.

Stay Fit. Stay Focused. Stay Sane.

Laughter Is the Best Workout

Sometimes the healthiest thing you can do isn't another workout...

It's laugh.

In Episode 35 of the Fit & Sanity Podcast, Harold Taylor (Tay the Great) (@tay_dgreat) (@taylormadefitnesstraining) is joined by longtime family friend and comedian Hasan (@the_u_b_e_r) for one of the funniest and most entertaining episodes yet.

From hilarious stories and unforgettable moments to discussions about mental health, relationships, fitness, and finding joy in everyday life, this episode reminds us that laughter can be one of the best forms of medicine.

The conversation explores how humor helps us navigate stress, overcome life's challenges, and stay connected to the people around us. Along the way, Tay and Hasan debate ridiculous topics, share embarrassing stories, answer rapid-fire questions, and prove that taking care of your mental health doesn't always have to be serious.

In This Episode:

• 😂 Why laughter is good for your mental health
• 💪 Fitness Tip of the Week
• 🥗 Nutrition Tip of the Week
• 🎭 Funny stories and life experiences
• 🔥 The Fire Question
• 🚩 Excuse of the Week
• ⚡ Rapid Fire
• 🎤 Joke Challenge
• ❤️ Mental Health Minute
• 🌟 Why joy is just as important as discipline

Whether you're looking for motivation, a good laugh, or just a break from the stress of everyday life, this episode is guaranteed to leave you smiling.

Because sometimes...

Laughter really is the best workout.

Stay Fit. Stay Focused. Stay Sane.

Health isn't just physical — and this episode proves it. Sarah joins Tay, Vinny, and Sheri to talk candidly about what anxiety really feels like, the misconceptions people get wrong, and how she keeps teaching and showing up for her family even on the hardest days.

Inside this episode:

• What anxiety actually feels like (and how it differs from "just being nervous")
• Mental Health Tip of the Week: controlling what you can control — sleep, exercise, nutrition, routine, breathing, and asking for help
• Myth or Fact: anxiety, exercise, and the truth about "getting over it"
• A 60-second Reset you can do right now
• This week's Audience Challenge to build momentum

Stay Fit. Stay Focused. Stay Sane.

Living with Type 1 Diabetes doesn't mean giving up your goals—it means learning how to conquer them differently.

In Episode 33 of the Fit & Sanity Podcast, Tay the Great sits down with special guest Maddie (T1D_Madison) to talk about thriving with Type 1 Diabetes while balancing fitness, motherhood, and everyday life.

Maddie shares what it's really like managing blood sugar around workouts, the biggest misconceptions people have about Type 1 Diabetes, and how discipline, preparation, and mindset allow her to live without limitations.

We also dive into parenthood, mental resilience, nutrition, and what motivates her to keep showing up every day.

Plus:

• 💪 Fitness Tip of the Week
• 🥗 Nutrition Tip of the Week
• 🔥 Fire Question
• 😂 Fun Rapid Fire Questions
• ❤️ Mental Health & Mindset Discussion

Whether you're living with diabetes, supporting someone who is, or simply looking for motivation to overcome life's challenges, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical advice.

Remember…

Stay Fit. Stay Focused. Stay Sane.