Off The Strength

This week on Off the Strength, we’re chopping it up with a man who turned a childhood classic into a cultural movement: Chris “CT” Thomas, founder and one of the five masterminds behind the Recess Kickball League (RKL)  @recesskickballleague 🏆 

In You Ain’t Gotta Kick It To Kick It, hosts Tony Vidal and KR Jones sit down with CT to talk about how a simple game of kickball became one of the fastest-growing co-ed sports leagues in the country, offering low-barrier access to fun, fitness, and community—especially for Black and Brown young professionals.

We cover:
 🏃‍♂️ The HBCU mindset that shaped CT’s vision
🥅 How to build a real team of collaborators
🏙️ Why Chicago produces greatness in athletes and artists
👟 Favorite sneakers, soundtracks, and why deep dish ain’t it
📋 The dos & don’ts of tryouts at RKL
🎯 How fun and purpose go hand-in-hand in wellness
🖤 Supporting Black businesses and showing up for the culture

From leading with love to serving communities with intention, CT drops gems on what it means to build something that lasts—and still have fun doing it.

🎧 Tap in.

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Show - @offthestrength_
Tony - @atrainercalledtony
Kyle - @krjones_ and his organic thug line at undnyc

Peace and much love to y'all out there until next time, we'll see you soon!

This week on Off the Strength, Tony Vidal and KR Jones are back in the booth and diving deep into the wins, weirdness, and wellness of the week.

In this episode titled “Putting In Work,” the fellas chop it up on:
🌿 How 420 jumped clean over Easter weekend and turned NYC out (shoutout Timeout NY)
🧠 The power of knowing your value and learning when to say no thanks
🗣️ Why asking your friends for an honest “performance review” might be the realest thing you do
⚽ The legendary granny gang getting busy on the soccer field
🧊 Hyperice’s new recovery boots and how recovery tech keeps leveling up
🌊 Underwater workouts and why they’re making a splash in fitness
👁️‍🗨️ The curious case of masculinity and men’s eyelash cutting
✍🏽 Owning your narrative and writing your story from your own POV
🍳 How intentionality in the kitchen can be a form of self-care

Tap in for laughs, insight, and some real talk on what it takes to keep putting in work — mind, body, and soul.

#WellnessCulture #OffTheStrength #MensHealth #420Vibes #RecoveryTech #UnderwaterTraining #SoccerGrannies #SelfCareForMen #Hyperice #CookingWithPurpose #KnowYourValue #MasculinityReimagined #PodcastDrop

For more with OFF THE STRENGTH, please leave us a review, like, listen and subscribe!

Show - @offthestrength_
Tony - @atrainercalledtony
Kyle - @krjones_ and his organic thug line at undnyc

Peace and much love to y'all out there until next time, we'll see you soon!

🎙️ In this episode of Off the Strength, hosts Tony Vidal and KR Jones link up with BMX rider, educator, and cannabis advocate Jillian Alvarez, aka  Ms. Jilly Jillz (@ms.jillyjillz), for a conversation that moves as fast and free as we do riding through the city streets!

🚴🏻‍♀️ From riding through the noise of impostor syndrome, to carving space for women in bike life,  tune in and hear how Jillz is pushing forward with her mission to bring equity and education to the two-wheel community and the cannabis industry. 🌿🌱🍃

We talk about her upcoming bike ride collab with Happy Munkey and Ayrloom, her favorite NYC sights and scenes, the ups and downs of working with brands, important family lessions, and the power of being confident in what you’re saying and what you’re representing—whether you’re in the classroom, on the street, or in the cannabis space.

It’s raw, real, and packed with insight on mental health, movement, and making your mark. If you’re into bikes, buds, and building better communities, this episode’s for you.🫵

🎧 Tap in and ride out with us.

#BikeLife #CannabisCulture #MsJillyJillz #OffTheStrength #BMXGirls #CookiesUniversity #HappyMunkey #AYRLOOM #CannabisEquity #MentalHealthAwareness #NYCBikeLife

For more with OFF THE STRENGTH, please leave us a review, like, listen and subscribe!

Show - @offthestrength_
Tony - @atrainercalledtony
Kyle - @krjones_ and his organic thug line at undnyc

Peace and much love to y'all out there until next time, we'll see you soon!

This week feels like a full-body workout for your soul — everything, everywhere, all at once. Tony and KR tap into the chaos and clarity of modern wellness, taking you from Strava mules and lusty gym hotels to mushrooms in the park and ancestral exploration.

On the docket:

• 📉 Why trying to PR at a trade show is wild behavior
• 🏃‍♂️ Strava mules: They run so you can lie
• 🍄 Mushrooms in the park? Coming to a brunch circle near you
• 🧼 How often do you really wash your gym clothes? (Lookin’ at you, Earthy Eric)
• 🏨 The first in-gym hotel… and why it would absolutely turn into a thirst trap here in the States
• 🧠 Is animation our collective emotional support animal now?
• 🕵🏽‍♂️ Were all the best detectives low-key neurodivergent?
• 🧴Fitness folks, it’s time to talk about the microplastic in your gym fits — no more pretending your Patagonia doesn’t shed

From Storm King meditations to gym clothes confessions — we’re talking wellness that’s not just about the gains, but about the grace. Imperfection, intention, and everything in between.

💡This one’s for the people navigating movement, identity, and meaning in a world that rarely slows down.

For more with OFF THE STRENGTH, please leave us a review, like, listen and subscribe!

Show - @offthestrength_
Tony - @atrainercalledtony
Kyle - @krjones_ and his organic thug line at undnyc

Peace and much love to y'all out there until next time, we'll see you soon!

This week, Tony Vidal and KR Jones break down what it really means to find a winning environment—because success isn’t just about talent, it’s about where and how you grow. Whether you’re leveling up in fitness, business, or life, your surroundings shape your outcomes.

We also dive into:

🔹 Ask for what you need—closed mouths don’t get fed.
🔹 Trust, but validate—how deep do you go to improve your expertise?
🔹 Lil Jon x Peloton—does "Yeah!" make you push harder?
🔹 The White Lotus effect—how TV is changing travel trends.
🔹 Forme x Virgin Atlantic gym at LAX—will there be showers, or nah?
🔹 Luxury fitness is going too far—wear at your own risk.
🔹 Morning routines: overhyped or essential?
🔹 Are Indian clubs problematic? Fitness history gets questioned.
🔹 Viral marketing gone wrong—what does your algorithm say about you?
🔹 LeBron & Pat McAfee on growing up as a winner—the rise and fall of child stars.

You can’t always choose where you start, but you can create an environment that sets you up for success. Tap in and find your winning space. 🎙️

Shout out to  FOY Organic Mushroom & THC Chews—because relaxation should be responsible.

For more with OFF THE STRENGTH, please leave us a review, like, listen and subscribe!

Show - @offthestrength_
Tony - @atrainercalledtony
Kyle - @krjones_ and his organic thug line at undnyc

Peace and much love to y'all out there until next time, we'll see you soon!

This week, Tony Vidal and KR Jones break down the wins, the weirdness, and the wellness of modern life. From coregasms (yeah, it’s real) to fighting through the week, we’re talking about what it takes to stay strong—physically, mentally, and culturally.

We also get into:

🔹 RIP George Foreman—Boxing icon, entrepreneur, creator of the best bachelor's appliance ever. 
🔹 Have we lost the ability to make greats in today’s world?
🔹 The Palanco Brothers' Chronic Combat Jiu-Jitsu Match—you ready?
🔹 Orchard Street Runners' all-out midnight mile through Times Square.
🔹 UTI outbreak at a social spa—rethinking self-care yet?
🔹 Hip-hop artists and canned beverages—the latest pivot.
🔹 Edible Arrangements is in the cannabis game now—high-quality gifting?

From daytime park chaos to Sunnah concerts on a school night, we’re unpacking it all. Tap in and learn to enjoy today. 🎙️

Shout out to FOY Organic Mushroom & THC Chews—because relaxation should be responsible.

For more with OFF THE STRENGTH, please leave us a review, like, listen and subscribe!

Show - @offthestrength_
Tony - @atrainercalledtony
Kyle - @krjones_ and his organic thug line at undnyc

Peace and much love to y'all out there until next time, we'll see you soon!

Podcast Episode Description:

Off The Strength - "Kaizen, A Change For Good"

This week, Tony Vidal and KR Jones explore the wild world of wellness with a fresh dose of satire and real talk. From the importance of hand hygiene (no shake if you ain't clean) to the art of the double dap, we break down the awkward rituals of modern manhood.

We’re talking consistency, faking the funk, and why masking sadness isn’t the move—unless you’re Bill Burr, who just made men’s emotions hilariously mainstream. Also on the docket:

 🔹 When’s the last time you redefined what being a man means to you?
 🔹 MLB’s hat rollout proves Spanish speakers should be in the room.
 🔹 T-Pain needs a muscle shirt in his skin tone—let’s make it happen.
 🔹 The dangers of raw-juice-only diets (spoiler: don’t).
 🔹 NYC nostalgia, AI genies gone wrong, and glow-in-the-dark pickleball.

It’s all about Kaizen—continuous improvement, a change for good. Tap in and elevate.

Shout out to FOY (Fountain OF Youth) Organic Mushroom & THC Chews—because relaxation should be responsible.

For more with OFF THE STRENGTH, please leave us a review, like, listen and subscribe!

Show - @offthestrength_
Tony - @atrainercalledtony
Kyle - @krjones_ and his organic thug line at undnyc

Peace and much love to y'all out there until next time, we'll see you soon!

🚀 From the trading floor to the gym floor, from CrossFit boxes to digital fitness dominance—André Crews is climbing the ladder (literally) and bringing 4,500+ people with him.

This week on Off The Strength, we’re tapping in with the former Men’s Health’s Fittest Trainer and Ladder coach extraordinaire, @andrecrews, to talk about:

🏋🏽‍♂️ Why "My Dad Can Kick Your Dad’s Ass" is more than just playground talk
🔥 HOA fans of shirtless front-yard lifting and how to inspire your neighbors to lift
 💻 The rise of digital fitness and why storytelling is just as important as strength
🎥 What happens when your in-laws see you in a national ad
🚴🏽‍♂️ Ladder vs. Peloton—which side are you on?
💪🏽 Why consistency beats intensity and the real struggle of staying fit while running a business

From Elite CrossFit athlete to digital fitness mogul, André’s philosophy—Move well, lift heavy, breathe hard—has never changed, but his reach has never been bigger. Tap in and get ready to level up.

🔗 Join the CREWS CONTROL program on Ladder: Crews Control
🎥 Follow André on TikTok: @andrecrewscontrol
📸 Follow André on Instagram: @andrecrews

#OffTheStrength #LadderFitness #CrewsControl #MoveWellLiftHeavyBreatheHard #FitnessJourney #DigitalFitness #FitDad #MensHealth #CrossFit #WorkoutMotivation

For more with OFF THE STRENGTH, please leave us a review, like, listen and subscribe!

Show - @offthestrength_
Tony - @atrainercalledtony
Kyle - @krjones_ and his organic thug line at undnyc

Peace and much love to y'all out there until next time, we'll see you soon!

🎙️ This week on Off The Strength, Tony Vidal and KR Jones take a deep dive into the wild world of wellness, unpacking everything from childhood radio icons to why your own battery needs charging just as much as your phone.

⚡ Ever feel like you're running on fumes? We’re breaking down the art of self-recharge, whether it’s through fitness, discipline, or just stepping away from the endless scroll.

🥊 UFC training for FBI agents? Fast food pretending to be healthy? The army tweaking body fat standards? We’re calling out the unforced errors in our own lives and in today’s wellness game.

🏃‍♂️ Jelly Roll’s “Losers Run Club” is inspiring—so why don’t more artists hit the pavement? Plus, Peloton’s “My Brother’s Keeper” highlights the power of Black male accountability in fitness.

🛑 Burnout. Procrastination. Social media vs. real reading. If you had to write an apology letter to yourself for past mistakes, what would it say?

🔮 And finally, from sound baths to ear seeding, we’re exploring unconventional ways to restore the mind and body.

Tap in for the real talk and unfiltered takes on wellness culture. 🎧💨

#OffTheStrength #UnforcedErrors #WellnessCulture #CannabisCommunity #MindsetMatters #SelfCare #BlackMenInWellness #RunClub #FitnessJourney

For more with OFF THE STRENGTH, please leave us a review, like, listen and subscribe!

Show - @offthestrength_
Tony - @atrainercalledtony
Kyle - @krjones_ and his organic thug line at undnyc

Peace and much love to y'all out there until next time, we'll see you soon!

🎙️ Off The Strength Podcast | Episode: "People Need Change"

This week, hosts Tony Vidal and KR Jones sit down with Alex Norman, co-founder of Budega NYC, an upcoming legal cannabis dispensary in Brooklyn poised to make waves on the scene 🌊. From navigating the NYC cannabis market to surviving the transition from legacy to legal, Alex keeps it real about the highs, lows, and hustle of opening a dispensary in a city that’s always been at the heart of cannabis culture. 🌿💨

In this episode, we explore:
✅ The legal cannabis market vs. the legacy game – is it really any easier?
✅ Why NYC is the epicenter of cannabis culture and what that really means.
✅ The hustle behind Budega NYC – from hip-hop studios to dispensary doors.
✅ The realities of working with family in a booming industry.
✅ Why New York is a sativa city, and how that affects the game.

🔊 Tap in for raw insights, real talk, and a few laughs as we break down the truth about the cannabis biz in NYC!

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all streaming platforms.

For more with OFF THE STRENGTH, please leave us a review, like, listen and subscribe!

Show - @offthestrength_
Tony - @atrainercalledtony
Kyle - @krjones_ and his organic thug line at undnyc

Peace and much love to y'all out there until next time, we'll see you soon!