keywords

law enforcement, fitness, mental health, personal growth, conflict resolution, community, resilience, ego, meditation, stress management, fitness, gym community, functional fitness, dietary changes, carnivore diet, food addiction, psychological eating, mobility, aging, wildlife

summary

In this episode of the Stronger Together podcast, host Kenny Markwardt engages in a deep conversation with Ryan Stonebreaker, affectionately known as Stony. They explore Stony's diverse background, including his upbringing in a multi-religious family, his extensive career in law enforcement, and his transition into fitness. The discussion highlights the importance of mental health, the role of physical fitness in managing stress, and the communal aspect of working out. Stony shares insights from his experiences, emphasizing the need for healthy outlets and the impact of personal growth on overall well-being. In this conversation, Kenny Markwardt shares his journey through fitness, dietary changes, and the importance of community in gyms. He discusses the evolution of functional fitness, the impact of food addiction, and his experiences with the carnivore diet. The dialogue also touches on the psychological aspects of eating, mobility as one ages, and the connection between wildlife and community living.

takeaways

• Stony's diverse religious background shaped his perspective on ego and humility.
• Experiences in law enforcement provided Stony with insights into conflict resolution.
• Physical fitness serves as a crucial outlet for managing stress and mental health.
• Community and camaraderie in fitness environments enhance personal growth.
• Transitioning from a high-stress career to fitness requires finding new purpose.
• Stony emphasizes the importance of maintaining physical health post-retirement.
• Meditation can take many forms, including physical activities like CrossFit and Jiu-Jitsu.
• Healthy outlets are essential for coping with trauma and stress.
• Stony's journey reflects the importance of resilience and adaptability.
• The conversation underscores the value of sharing experiences to foster understanding. Finding a gym that feels like home is crucial.
• Community and support in fitness are essential for growth.
• Functional fitness has evolved to be more inclusive.
• Personal growth is often more inspiring than competition.
• Dietary changes can lead to significant personal transformation.
• The carnivore diet has unique benefits and challenges.
• Food addiction is a serious issue that often goes unaddressed.
• Understanding the psychology of eating can aid in healthier choices.
• Mobility is key to maintaining health as we age.
• Wildlife conservation is important and often misunderstood.

titles

• From Law Enforcement to Fitness: Stony's Journey
• The Power of Community in Fitness
• Ego, Humility, and Personal Growth
• Finding Purpose After Retirement
• Stress Management Through Physical Fitness

Sound Bites

• "I was exposed to all this."
• "I could write a book just on that."
• "It's a physical form of meditation."
• "I think it's so beneficial."
• "I love that centering of it though."
• "More of that for the world somehow."
• "I like the kind of roughness of it."
• "It's a rarity in the gym world."
• "The competition is the couch."
• "I think there's a lot of dogma."
• "I feel better than I did 10 years ago."

Chapters

00:00

Introduction and Background of Stony

07:12

Stony's Law Enforcement Career

20:51

Transitioning from Law Enforcement to Fitness

28:56

The Importance of Physical and Mental Health

29:52

Finding the Right Gym Community

32:42

Evolution of Functional Fitness

35:35

Dietary Changes and Personal Growth

39:59

The Carnivore Diet Experience

43:52

The Impact of Food Addiction

48:37

Psychological Aspects of Eating

52:29

Mobility and Aging

57:33

Wildlife and Community Living