Pete & James don their Christmas attire once again (& zoom backdrops) for the second of a two part festive special to close out 2024 - this time they're turning the Christmas Cheer up to 11!

They preview upcoming guests, discuss James' recent trip to Iceland along with such varied topics as strength training, monkey bars, Marcus Aurelius (inspired by Gladiator 2), Perpetual Strength, Walking & how to solve a Rubik's Cube with one hand WHILST doing pistol squats - a podcast first anywhere in the World!

Pete & James don their Christmas attire (& zoom backdrops) for the first of a two part festive special to close out 2024.

They discuss their own training as they head into Christmas. Pete's new Walk Bath / Walking Solves App the recent release of Paul Mcllroy's new book 'Perpetual Strength' & James' upcoming trip to Iceland to watch the Magnus Classic Strongman Competition. T

hey also talk about what they've learned from recent guests & their individual focus for 2025.

We talk to the highly inspirational & incredibly strong David Walsh AKA Sitting Bull UK.

The Worlds Strongest Adaptive Athlete 2022/2023, & Britains Strongest Disabled Man 2021, 2023 & 2024.

David started competing in Strongman in 2012 & was diagnosed with MS (Multiple sclerosis) in 2014. We discuss pulling trucks, deadlifting 600+kg & the mental journey he has been on since his diagnosis - this is a candid, honest & powerful account of coming to terms with disability & rebuilding a very different life.

David also shares how his relationship with his coach 'Big Loz' has helped him both physically & mentally in this incredibly tough sport & life as well.

We are joined by returning guest Helen Hall, who was last with us on Episode 66 (a full 3 years ago).

Helen (now 53) updates us on her latest thinking, training, eating & lifestyle modifications around dealing with the menopause.

She offers simple, relatable & easily applicable advice based on her own experience & through coaching many women in their 40s & 50s.

Helen also talks about her own journey with HRT & highlights the responsibility of the individual to do all they can via lifestyle to complement any medical prescription leading to a truly holistic approach to healthy ageing (which is just as applicable to men as it is for women).

For the first time in 6 weeks Peter & James catch up with each other following another run of great guests.

They discuss Paul Mcllroy's new book; Perpetual Strength, the upcoming STONES 2 documentary from Maximum Iron, the development of Walk Bath & the qualities we all tend to lose as we age (if we don't make a concerted effort to retain them) - monkey bars/hanging, sprinting, jumping & hill walking.

We are joined by our first ever Romanian guest, Daniel Vintila.

Daniel spent 10 years working as a croupier in Casinos onboard luxury cruise ships & in his time has pursued strength & fitness in many forms; Spartan racing, calisthenics, bodybuilding, kettlebells & most recently competing in both Powerlifting & Strongman.

Daniel is a Strongfirst Elite Instructor & trains exclusively at home in his well equipped garage gym. We discuss finding your way in fitness, training around long shifts & onboard big ships & the importance of competition to focus the mind & training programme.

We are joined LIVE from Aberdeen, Scotland by the Highland Wolf - John Gibb. John is a Scottish Stonelifter & Strongman & the day before recording this episode he was crowned Britain's Strongest Stonelifter 2024! J

ohn was the 157th lifter (& walker) of the historic Dinnie Stones & was also featured in the recent documentary 'STONES' from Maximum Iron. We discuss training, eating, grip strength, sandbags, atlas stones & even get a tour round his awesome 'shed of strength'.

This is a great conversation with a man who is forging world class strength using rugged & historic methods & has the bruises & trophies to prove it!

We are joined by returning guest Steve Bush, who was last with us on Episode 127 (Why Weight Loss Surgery Fails for the Majority of People).

That was nearly 2 years ago so we thought it was about time to check in with Steve again.

The release of this episode coincides with the 5th Anniversary of Steve's gastric sleeve surgery & Steve updates us on his latest thinking, recent physical achievements & plans for the future.

This is an honest, open & inspiring conversation with a man who was given a second chance at life & how he is choosing to live it.

We are joined by Sue Collins (formerly Mapstone) as she reflects on a lifetime of sport & how an ever evolving love of sport, activity & movement have developed through the decades as commitments, circumstances & challenges arose.

Sue represented England at the 1974 & 1978 Commonwealth Games (as a 17 & 21 year old respectively) in the Pentathlon. She won the Silver medal in Edmonton, Canada in 1978. Subsequently, Sue had a family, a long career in teaching & continued sport & training throughout.

Now, at 67, we discuss Sue's training post a fairly recent knee replacement. This is a down to earth, engaging & relatable conversation with a funny, self deprecating lady whose attitude towards life we could all learn from.

We are joined by returning guest Claire Booth; Strongfirst Senior & Elite Instructor & head of Strongfirst GB.

We last spoke to Claire WAY back on episode 33 (about 3.5 years ago) so it was great to catch up.

In this episode we discuss mixing & balancing the three training modalities of Barbell, Kettlebell & Bodyweight, the impact of menopause & the importance of getting the right HRT balance & why ALL women should be engaging in regular structured strength training - especially in their 40s, 50s & beyond.