We are joined by Elise Laura Ball from Bristol in Somerset, England for an open & raw conversation about Ballet, professional dancing, body image, eating disorders, alcohol & recovery.

Elise is a Strongfirst Elite trainer, Kettlebell & Strength Coach & a Ballet teacher who now focuses on teaching Ballet to adults & passing on her love of dancing without the pressure & pain from her past.

We are joined for the first time live from Greece. David Amerland’s new book ‘Built to Last - How to get stronger, healthier & happier at every stage of life.’ Is NOT your standard health & fitness manual & David is certainly NOT your standard health & fitness expert.

At 60 years of age his understanding of ‘why we do what we do’ is vast & is informed by a diverse professional & educational background. Authenticity & finding a deeper connection to what ‘fitness’ means to us individually is foundational to maintaining healthy practises for life.

This is a thought provoking & deep conversation which may help you see fitness through a different lens.

We are joined from California USA by 78 year old State Record Holding Powerlifter (& Pickleball enthusiast) Mike Tiktinsky.

Mike took up strength training after he fought Prostate Cancer at 58. In his words he “wanted to get strong for whatever life was going to throw at him.” Since then, he has undergone (& recovered from) two total knee replacements AND a heart attack.

This is an uplifting & inspiring conversation with a man who at nearly 80 is still competing, testing himself, being consistent & paying it forward by helping others who want to follow in his journey of strength.

We are joined all the way from Texas USA by Andrew Burton. Winner of the Arnold Pro/Am Strongman 2025, 3rd Place at the Magnus Classic 2024 in Iceland & Winner of the Worlds Strongest Firefighter 2023!

We learn about Andrew’s Powerlifting background, his varied jobs on leaving education (including working in a butter factory) training to become a paramedic & firefighter & how he manages to juggle training as an elite strength athlete with one of the most physically & emotionally demanding jobs on the planet.

“I’m sorry Mr & Mrs Linnett. Your son has spina bifida. He’ll never be able to walk, or father children or live a normal life.”

This is what Pete Linnett’s parents were told by the doctor shortly after his birth. On this episode we talk about taking the ‘dis’ out of disability & living life to its fullest, defying expectations & breaking records along the way.

Pete is a 4 x World Bench Champion, 4 x Worlds Strongest Disabled Man, has travelled the world competing & is a hard working family man.

This is his inspiring & fascinating story (so far).

We are joined by returning guest Jemma Wesson from Stronger Women Academy (formerly The Unit) in Teeside.

We last talked to Jemma back on episode 92, nearly 3 years ago about Bodybuilding, CrossFit & Functional Strength. On this episode we discuss empowering women over 40 through strength training, community & education.

We talk about the different dynamics of training women vs men & how many outdated views & fears around strength training still exist within the general population.

We learn what Jemma is doing to address this & make strength training something that women of all ages, sizes & backgrounds can engage in & benefit from.

Pete & James have a reflective episode discussing Oli Mell’s recent Kettlebell Sport Workshop at Unique Results (& being featured in Men’s Health magazine) & the concepts of setting STANDARDS rather than goals, having BUMPERS rather than rigid requirements & how you can consciously use FRICTION to make behaviours you want to promote easier & those you want to avoid more awkward.

We are joined by first time guest, The Dark Horse; Paddy Haynes part of the new wave of Strongman athletes breaking through onto the world stage from the UK.

Paddy is an Athlete & Performance Coach & the owner of Haynes Strength. He grew up (& still lives) on a farm in Oxfordshire & discusses how the work ethic & required manual work forged strength & resilience from a young age.

We talk about athleticism, grip strength, a love of odd objects, his recent star turn at Britains Strongest Man, his upcoming debut at Europes Strongest Man & his aspirations to reach Worlds Strongest Man on the most prestigious stage of all.

Pete & James catch up for the first time in 2025 after a 9 week run of guests. They cover James’ revelation that getting heavier & stronger doesn’t necessarily transfer to an optimal snowboarding experience. Pete’s recent group talk on why ‘Walking Solves’, upcoming UK workshops with Pavel Macek & Chloe Brennan & what they’ve both learned so far from guests in 2025.

We are joined from Prague by first time guest Pavel Macek for this special double episode. Pavel is a Strongfirst Master Certified Instructor, a lifelong Martial Artist, Coach, Author, Strength Historian & cat lover.

We cover much ground (hence the double episode). Strength, resilience, psychology, meditation, stoicism, philosophy, morning routines & productivity.

We also discuss Pavel’s upcoming ‘Enter the Dumbbell’ workshop in the UK.

A fascinating conversation with a calm, clear & inquisitive man on a journey to improve himself & others.

This is Part 2 of 2.