Savage Perspective Podcast

In this episode, Greg and I recap Nick Walker's Olympia win and discuss the tradeoffs between competitive bodybuilding, health, and longevity. We also share highlights from the Low Carb for Better Health conference, where I challenged attendees to make strength training just as much of a priority as their nutrition. We talk about the importance of face-to-face connections within the keto community, upcoming conferences, and some exciting changes at Keto Brick, including a sneak peek at our newest product, Brick Batter. Lots happening behind the scenes, and plenty to look forward to!

Greg Mahler is also a lifetime natural bodybuilder, and can be followed on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/ketogreg80/

Register For My FREE Masterclass: https://www.ketobodybuilding.com/registration-2

Get Keto Brick: https://www.ketobrick.com/

Subscribe to the podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/42cjJssghqD01bdWBxRYEg?si=1XYKmPXmR4eKw2O9gGCEuQ

Book a free consultation call with Robert Sikes to break through your keto or low-carb plateau: https://www.ketobodybuilding.com/call

Women do not build muscle by accident. In Episode 922 of Savage Perspective Podcast, Lilian Estafanous joins Robert Sikes to challenge the fear of getting too big from lifting weights. She shares how a knee injury led her into natural bodybuilding and why real muscle takes years of steady work. They discuss eating enough to grow, simple meal prep, and making time to train while raising a family. Lilian also opens up about harsh contest prep, post-show eating mistakes, and why she added carbs back after trying carnivore. From the gym to the dinner table, this conversation looks at the habits that support strength without letting a body shape or a diet become your whole identity.

Follow Lilian on IG: https://www.instagram.com/lolifit_lifts/

Get Keto Brick: https://www.ketobrick.com/

Subscribe to the podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/42cjJssghqD01bdWBxRYEg?si=1XYKmPXmR4eKw2O9gGCEuQ

Chapters

0:00 - From a Knee Injury to Natural Bodybuilding

2:27 - Will Lifting Weights Make Women Too Big?

5:39 - Bodybuilding Beyond Looks

10:02 - Food Policy and Taking Charge of Your Health

17:06 - Raising Kids With Healthy Habits

26:19 - Building Strength Without Quick-Fix Promises

30:42 - Making Time for Training and Meal Prep

36:34 - Eating Enough to Build Muscle

39:34 - Contest Prep: More Than Cutting Calories

43:28 - Is Competing Right for You?

48:48 - Reverse Dieting and Post-Show Eating Mistakes

56:38 - Lilian's Carnivore Experiment

1:04:57 - Why She Added Carbs Back for Training

1:08:11 - Your Diet Is a Tool, Not Your Identity

1:10:25 - Discipline Beyond Motivation

Book a free consultation call with Robert Sikes to break through your keto or low-carb plateau: https://www.ketobodybuilding.com/call

GLP-1s can change more than hunger. In Episode 921 of Savage Perspective Podcast, Robert Sikes and Susan Peirce Thompson explore food cravings, dopamine, and the pull of rewards beyond food. Susan shares her view on why these drugs can ease some compulsive habits while changing drive for some users. They discuss muscle loss, protein, lifting, and why eating less is not the same as eating well. The conversation then turns to food addiction, the debate over moderation, and how processed foods can shape eating habits. Susan also explains Bright Line Eating and shares how stress and travel led to her own relapses. Hear a candid look at appetite, habits, and what the scale cannot tell you.

Buy Susan's books: https://www.brightlineeating.com/books

Get Keto Brick: https://www.ketobrick.com/

Subscribe to the podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/42cjJssghqD01bdWBxRYEg?si=1XYKmPXmR4eKw2O9gGCEuQ

Chapters:

0:00 - Stopping GLP-1s: Appetite and Weight Regain

2:27 - GLP-1 Muscle Loss: Drugs or Habits?

5:43 - Why GLP-1 Effects Vary Between People

7:58 - Dopamine, Cravings, and Changes Beyond Food

10:57 - Eating Less vs. Fueling Your Body

15:37 - Can GLP-1s Address Food Addiction?

20:20 - Robert's 1000 Calorie Brick

21:02 - Robert’s Eating Struggles and Addiction Risk

26:21 - A Bad Habit or an Addiction?

32:07 - A World Built to Pull You Back In

34:01 - The Debate Over Eating in Moderation

38:49 - Food Quality, Calories, and Eating Guilt

43:35 - The NOVA Scale and Processed Food Confusion

49:02 - Why Individual Nutrition Matters

51:49 - Bright Line Eating in the GLP-1 Era

53:31 - How Bright Line Eating Works

56:09 - Food Tracking: Structure or Obsession?

57:31 - Why Susan Relapsed After Years on Track

1:00:43 - Travel Habits That Helped Susan

1:03:13 - Find Susan and Her Books

Greg and I are fresh off the second annual Natural State Savage, and this year was a massive step forward. We break down what worked, what we improved from last year, and why creating an athlete-first experience matters so much to us.

We also get into the realities of running a truly natural bodybuilding show, the responsibility that comes with competing drug-free, and why the standards have to mean something. Huge shoutout to every competitor, judge, volunteer, sponsor, and everyone else who helped make this thing happen. Year two is in the books, and we’re already fired up for what comes next.

Greg Mahler is also a lifetime natural bodybuilder, and can be followed on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/ketogreg80/

Register For My FREE Masterclass: https://www.ketobodybuilding.com/registration-2

Get Keto Brick: https://www.ketobrick.com/

Subscribe to the podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/42cjJssghqD01bdWBxRYEg?si=1XYKmPXmR4eKw2O9gGCEuQ

Book a free consultation call with Robert Sikes to break your keto or low-carb plateau: https://www.ketobodybuilding.com/call

Gaintaining can come at the cost of muscle growth. In Episode 920 of Savage Perspective Podcast, Robert Sikes and Brandon Kempter explore why staying shredded year-round may hold you back. Brandon shares how he plans long off seasons and finds a body weight that supports hard training. They explain why sleep, strength, energy, and recovery can tell you more than the scale. The talk also covers recovery diets, reverse dieting, pro cards, and the pressure to keep your abs for social media. Robert and Brandon compare their keto and higher-carb approaches without turning food into a rule book. Learn how to judge progress beyond the mirror and give your next growth phase a fair shot.

Follow Brandon on IG: https://www.instagram.com/brandonkempter/

Get Keto Brick: https://www.ketobrick.com/

Subscribe to the podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/42cjJssghqD01bdWBxRYEg?si=1XYKmPXmR4eKw2O9gGCEuQ

Chapters:

0:00 - Is Staying Shredded Holding Back Your Gains?

2:09 - How Lean Should You Stay in the Offseason?

5:48 - Recovery Diet vs. Reverse Diet After a Show

8:40 - Chase Performance, Not the Scale

10:26 - Brandon’s Approach to Training and Nutrition

14:29 - What Makes a Training Split Work?

16:13 - Recovery: Get the Big Things Right First

19:35 - Why Stay Natural When You Could Get Bigger?

23:48 - Can Your Physique Keep Improving With Age?

25:36 - TRT, Peptides and the Future of Natural Bodybuilding

29:52 - HRT for Women: Where Should Federations Draw the Line?

31:52 - What’s a Keto Brick?

32:48 - Brandon’s Pro Card Journey

34:45 - Is a Bodybuilding Pro Card Overrated?

39:58 - Brandon’s Concerns About IFBB Natural Drug Testing

44:27 - Navigating the Banned Substance List

45:23 - Inside the Bali Natural Bodybuilding Retreat

51:40 - What Training With Different Coaches Can Teach You

55:28 - Inside Bali’s Undefeated Gym

58:50 - Brandon’s Next Competition and Where to Follow Him

Book a free consultation call with Robert Sikes to break through your keto or low-carb plateau: https://www.ketobodybuilding.com/call

Health insurance can leave you paying more and feeling unheard. In Episode 919 of Savage Perspective Podcast, Robert Sikes talks with Dr. Russell Van Maele about cash-pay care, rushed visits and the cost of blood tests. Dr. Russ explains why he takes fewer patients and shares a lab test that costs his practice $7. They discuss paying cash for routine care while keeping coverage for emergencies. Learn why one lab result can miss the bigger picture and why AI cannot supply every piece of context. The conversation also covers GLP-1s, muscle loss, hormones and the daily work of staying healthy. It ends with fatherhood, faith and why being strong matters beyond the gym.

Follow Dr. Russ on IG:https://www.instagram.com/the_farmers_doctor/

Get Keto Brick: https://www.ketobrick.com/

Subscribe to the podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/42cjJssghqD01bdWBxRYEg?si=1XYKmPXmR4eKw2O9gGCEuQ

Chapters:

0:00 - Why Your Doctor Has So Little Time

4:11 - Why Robert Left His Health Insurance

5:30 - Cash Pay vs. Catastrophic Coverage

6:48 - How a $7 Blood Test Gets Marked Up

7:32 - Ordering Your Own Blood Tests

8:57 - Can AI Replace Your Doctor?

12:19 - Why Workouts Can Skew Your Blood Tests

16:18 - When More Lab Tests Create More Problems

18:53 - High Cholesterol but No Plaque?

22:18 - DEXA and VO2 Max: Beyond the Scale

26:39 - TRT and Hormone Replacement Explained

27:59 - What GLP-1s Cannot Fix

29:37 - Weight Loss at the Cost of Muscle?

32:52 - 1,000 calorie bar?

33:44 - Natural vs. Conventional Medicine: Pick a Side?

36:30 - Do Healthy People Need Hormones and Peptides?

40:22 - Menopause: When Should You Intervene?

44:06 - The Cholesterol and Hormone Connection

47:29 - What Do We Know About Long-Term GLP-1 Use?

49:08 - Retatrutide: Can You Go Too Far?

50:33 - Visceral Fat You Might Be Missing

52:38 - Normal Blood Work Does Not Tell the Whole Story

56:00 - The Family Behind Black Sheep Health

57:40 - Is Neglecting Your Health Selfish?

1:00:53 - Protecting Your Non-Negotiables as a Parent

1:02:45 - Why Men Need Hard Things

1:05:05 - Are You Fit Enough to Hunt?

1:07:01 - Hunting, Respect and the Food You Eat

1:11:38 - Faith and Silence in the Woods

1:14:06 - Can a Better Bow Make You a Better Hunter?

1:17:08 - Where to Find Dr. Russ

It’s peak week, bruh! This week Greg and I break down what peak week actually looks like for a natural ketogenic bodybuilder, why crazy water cuts and last-minute manipulations can do more harm than good, and what we’re doing to get ready for Natural State Savages. We also talk about the chaos that always seems to show up right before a big event, what’s happening behind the scenes with the competition, and tease a brand-new Keto Brick product that’s getting very close to launch. 

Greg Mahler is also a lifetime natural bodybuilder, and can be followed on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/ketogreg80/

Register For My FREE Masterclass: https://www.ketobodybuilding.com/registration-2

Get Keto Brick: https://www.ketobrick.com/

Subscribe to the podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/42cjJssghqD01bdWBxRYEg?si=1XYKmPXmR4eKw2O9gGCEuQ

Book a free consultation call with Robert Sikes to get past your keto or low-carb plateau: https://www.ketobodybuilding.com/call

John Arnold is still muscular at 69 after 34 years with keto as his base diet. In Episode 918 of Savage Perspective Podcast, he joins Robert Sikes to share how he eats and trains for the long haul. A loss of libido during a low-fat contest diet pushed him to rethink his food. He explains why keto stuck, how he handles off-plan meals, and why he feels his best physique came after 45. John also shares his own testosterone and cholesterol results, plus the lessons he has learned from decades in natural bodybuilding. They discuss drug testing, the cost of competing, and why a pro card is no quick path to success. Hear what he has kept, changed, and questioned along the way.

Contact John: https://www.naturalbuildfitness.com/contact.php

Get Keto Brick: https://www.ketobrick.com/

Subscribe to the podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/42cjJssghqD01bdWBxRYEg?si=1XYKmPXmR4eKw2O9gGCEuQ

Chapters

0:00 - John Arnold and the Onstage Proposal

1:39 - The Injury That Led to Natural Bodybuilding

5:32 - How John Became a Show Promoter

11:15 - Natural Federations, Drug Testing, and Fairness

19:07 - What a Bodybuilding Pro Card Really Changes

20:02 - Why Natural Shows Are Losing Competitors

22:55 - Making Bodybuilding More Affordable

26:35 - Classic Physique: Symmetry vs. Extreme Leanness

31:22 - What It Takes to Compete at Worlds

36:44 - How Bodybuilding Judges Make the Call

41:15 - Can Electronic Judging Reduce Errors?

45:36 - Peptides, GLP-1s, and Natural Competition

51:20 - John's 34 Years with Keto as His Base Diet

53:48 - John's Cholesterol, Testosterone, and Heart Scan

57:56 - Leaner on Keto with Higher Testosterone?

59:27 - Robert's Keto Contest Prep and Hormone Drop

1:00:46 - Cardio Without Sacrificing Training

1:03:45 - The Libido Scare That Changed John's Diet

1:08:53 - Why John Says His Best Physique Came After 45

1:10:24 - Upcoming Shows and a Lifelong Bodybuilding Mindset

1:13:32 - Where to Find John Arnold and His Shows

Book a free consultation call with Robert Sikes to break through your keto or low-carb plateau: https://www.ketobodybuilding.com/call

Your energy is about far more than food. In Episode 917 of Savage Perspective Podcast, Robert Sikes and Harry Massey examine bioenergetics and quantum biology. Harry shares how three accidents, Epstein-Barr, a head injury, and Addison's disease left him bedridden for seven years with severe brain fog. He explains why diets and quick fixes failed, how studying energy changed his path, and why light, oxygen, circadian rhythm, movement, and personal responsibility matter. They also discuss Infoceuticals, lab testing, wearables, voice scans, and Harry's vision for physics-based healthcare. Watch to see why eating well may be only one part of managing your energy.

For more info visit Harry's website: https://www.harrymassey.com/

Get Keto Brick: https://www.ketobrick.com/

Subscribe to the podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/42cjJssghqD01bdWBxRYEg?si=1XYKmPXmR4eKw2O9gGCEuQ

Chapters

0:00 - Bioenergetics and the Body Battery

3:15 - How Quantum Biology Fits In

8:06 - Why Energy Medicine Became Taboo

11:22 - Can Bioenergetics Survive Scientific Scrutiny?

15:42 - Rethinking Health Beyond Diet

19:46 - The Magic Bullet Trap

22:28 - Seven Years Bedridden: Harry's Search for Answers

27:02 - The Diets and Therapies That Failed

28:40 - Meeting Peter Fraser and Discovering Infoceuticals

32:15 - How Infoceuticals Were Tested in the Lab

36:32 - Can Physics-Based Healthcare Go Mainstream?

41:29 - Can You Measure Your Body's Energy?

47:41 - How Other People's Energy Affects You

48:55 - Beyond Medicine and the Future of Energy4Life

This week Greg and I are officially one week out from the show, so we talk through all the last-minute details and what it takes to be ready before the real prep even begins. We also get into training, Greg getting ready for fatherhood, the weight social media puts on us, and how the little things we do every day compound over a lifetime. Plus, we reminisce about our old fast-food habits, talk microplastics, and somehow end up discussing blowing up little green Army men. Just another day at The Work.

Greg Mahler is also a lifetime natural bodybuilder, and can be followed on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/ketogreg80/

Register For My FREE Masterclass: https://www.ketobodybuilding.com/registration-2

Get Keto Brick: https://www.ketobrick.com/

Subscribe to the podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/42cjJssghqD01bdWBxRYEg?si=1XYKmPXmR4eKw2O9gGCEuQ