Side Quest Podcast

Jonny & Yusef, the geniuses behind PropaneFitness, join me on the podcast to chat about a whole host of ridiculous things.

They have one of the best podcasts on the internet, as well as, one of the best resources for bullshit-free fitness advice.

Sharing their experience and knowledge, they help people all over the world achieve their physique goals, improve performance, and level up their strength.

They've both competed in strength competitions before and aren't strangers to getting shredded either.

For Jonny & Yusef, they believe fitness and obtaining your goals are achievable with simple solutions. Hence, why their tag line is, "Simple Rules. Dramatic Results."

Not only are they writers, but they also host their own podcast which has a ton of amazing guests. You can find it here.

For more show notes, head to www.sidequestfitness.com/propane/

Well, here it is.

My first solo episode.

While driving down the road the other day, I popped in an old CD from high school and heard a song I haven't heard in years.

As I listened to the lyrics and sang along, something stirred inside of me; a message that I felt needed to be shared.

What do you see when you look in the mirror?

Is what you see your true reflection? Is the man or woman in the mirror who you believe the world sees as well?

What story are you telling the world?

If someone were to come across your grave in the future and they Googled your name, would they find an amazing, kick-ass story? Or would they get no results?

At the beginning, I share with my story of how I got started and what inspired me to make changes.

Because in the end, we are all the authors of our stories. What kind of story do you want leave behind?

We all have a playlist that gets us pumped in the gym. Maybe one for relaxing on a Sunday morning. You probably also have an "I'm sad and down in the dumps" mix or, as Barney Stinson called it, your "Get Psyched Mix".

Music moves us. It can stir all sorts of emotions and even bring people together in harmony.

Growing up, the music that played through my house as classic rock, country, and soft rock. My aunt, who was a teenager and a constant babysitter, exposed me to the alternative rock of the 90s. 

Once I got a computer, however, and began to download songs on Napster, the spectrum of music I listened to grew.

I began to notice how one band, or sound, influenced bands in later decades. I could see the LEGO blocks building on each other as each genre influenced or birthed the next generations genre.

Music is area of life where I'm a huge geek.

It's also important to many other people I know and in this episode of Coaches Corner, Tanner Baze, Nick Sorrell, and I dig deep into the music that has influenced our lives. Music that moves us, that gets us pumped, and that makes us feel more alive.

For more show notes head to www.sidequestfitness.com/music

Most podcasts last barely ten episodes.

This is episode 100.

I knew for this episode who I wanted to interview. I've been following him for a few years and he's the reason I started my fitness journey and the inspiration behind becoming a coach/trainer.

John Romaniello is one of the biggest names in the fitness industry. He's trained celebrities, athletes, and through his products and online coaching program have helped 1,000s more shred fat and get jacked.

I first came across John when he was promoting his first book, Man 2.0 Reengineering the Alpha. 

Clicking open the app on my iPad on a crowded NYC subway, I had no idea what I was in for. I finished the book in a night---for me that's uncommon. 

Once I found out that John was an avid Star Wars fan, comic book nerd, and his favorite band of all time was Brand New, I felt like I wasn't alone in the universe. 99% of the same things that I loved---that defined who I was as a person---John wrote about passionately. 

I was in the gym at the time, but I wasn't connected to what I was doing. Alpha changed all of that and for that, I'm forever grateful to John for. 

John is a prolific writer and besides writing a NYT Best Seller, he's also written for The Huffington Post, Fast Company, Men's Health, The New York Times, and much more.

This is a shorter episode than normal. John and I recorded this in NYC a few minutes before the second day of his business mastermind that I'm in.

For more show notes head to www.sidequestfitness.com/john-romaniello

Most meal replacement shakes taste like dog shit.

They're clunky, filled with sugar, and never keep you satisfied for longer than 30-45 minutes.

Enter Macrofuel.

MacroFuel is liquid food - not a Supplement. Packed with 56 grams of carbohydrates, 25 grams of protein, and 8 grams of fiber, MacroFuel is a meal in a glass/shaker. Yes, bodybuilders and fitness fanatics can use MacroFuel in pursuing their own personal goals; the fact is, MacroFuel was designed for anyone who wants to know what it’s like to live life while fueling their body at maximal nutritional levels.

Bodybuilders, fitness fanatics, or busy executives can use MacroFuel to help them crush their personal goals. It's created with real food ingredients that help you meet your macro and micronutrient needs.

Designed to replace those protein bars you scarf down in between meetings, or, that muffin you grab at Starbucks on your way into work because you woke up late and didn't have time for breakfast, MacroFuel is meal replacement shake that's nutritious and filling when time is limited and you refuse to skimp on quality.

Started as an idea during a business class at Cornell, MacroFuel is the brainchild of Augustine Rietsema, Max Tave, Alex Meyers, and Charles Lee.

They set out to create a shake that is made from high-quality ingredients, packed with protein, and that will give you the fuel you need to execute in the gym, the office, or on long road trips.

For more show notes head to www.sidequestfitness.com/macrofuel/

Ted Ryce is a personal trainer, peak performance coach and podcaster. He has overcome an enormous amount of tragedy in his life, but that has all led for his personal quest to live what he calls a "legendary life."

Having worked with Fortune 500 CEOs, busy professionals, and celebrities, such Richard Branson, Ricky Martin and Iron Man himself (Robert Downey Jr.) Ted helps his clients develop the lifelong habits that will help them manage stress, conquer adversity, and ultimately lead to living their ideal life.

Chasing and achieving one's biggest goals, for Ted, is a necessity for surviving and thriving in the modern world. Through his work as a trainer, speaker, and coach his goal is to help his clients discover their biggest goals.

The Legendary Life podcast was started by Ted because he wanted to address one question he couldn't answer:

Why do some people struggle while others succeed beyond what most people think is possible?

His podcast aims to answer this question and help listeners master themselves and create their own Legendary Life.

Besides podcasting, Ted Ryce regularly blogs about the habits you can implement that increase productivity, performance, leadership, and discovering your most powerful mindset. 

For more show notes head to www.sidequestfitness.com/ted-ryce/

For the June episode of Coaches Corner, we decided to take a break from talking about fitness and decided that we would share some of our most ridiculous summer memories.

Summertime as an adult isn't as exciting as when we were in school. Unless of course, you're a teacher and then that vacation still applies for you.

This time of year was always full of adventure and shenanigans. Travis Pollen, Nick Sorrell, Joe Brigley, and I reach back into our memories to tell stories that usually involved booze, but also involved road trips, family vacations, summer jobs, and more.

Life isn't all fitness all the time. Check out how these four coaches were able to rid themselves of their summertime blues.

For more show notes head to www.sidequestfitness.com/summertime/

Jessi Kneeland was one of the first guests I had on my podcast, she returns on Episode 96 to catch us up on life, travel, and a TED talk she gave.

She's a Certified Personal Trainer (NASM) and online coach who specializes in empowering women through strength training.

Jessi created her online brand, Remodel Fitness, where she blogs and coaches clients to break through barriers and discover their strength, health, and most importantly, self-love. 

She's written for Women's Health Magazine, Self Magazine, Shape Magazine, Health Magazine, Greatist, and Buzzfeed.

In October of 2015, Jessi packed her bags and left NYC with the intention to travel the world and run her coaching business.

She left for Costa Rica and stayed there for the winter before returning to the states for the holiday and headed off to Thailand.

After her decision to leave, Jessi was presented with the opportunity to speak at a TEDx talk at Onondaga Community College.

For more show notes, head to www.sidequestfitness.com/jessi-kneeland-returns/

In episode 95, I interview my good friend Andrew Fiebert of Listen Money Matters.

Andrew started Listen Money Matters as a blog at first, but ventured out into the world of podcasting where their show at one time was on the top of the charts in Finance on the iTunes store.

They're more than a podcast too. They also feature articles from their community, including two by myself (here and here)

Most Americans today graduate from high school with next to no education on how to manage their money. They then head off to college, where they rack up mounds of debt, and then struggle to repay these debts years later.

We're all going to be making money one day and Andrew believes it's more than a minor oversight that we aren't taught personal finance. That is where he comes in with Listen, Money Matters.

They aren't the finance guys your grandfather would listen to.

Instead of filling your years full of bullshit, they cut through it. Discussing their failures and successes, while cracking jokes at their own expense, Listen Money Matters brings financial discussions into the modern realm of tech/geek talk and potty humor.

For more show notes head to www.sidequestfitness.com/listen-money-matters/

Ransom Pugh is the brainchild behind the hit YouTube Channel Muscle and Magicka. The

"ours is the unrelenting quest

Is there anyone more perfect for me to talk about fitness and

Beyond starting the YouTube channel, Ransom has an amazing story

Ransom battled and defeated cancer at a young age. During his

Like myself, Ransom has a background in theater. His YouTube

Digging into the lore of Dragonball Z, Elder

What I try and do with writing, Ransom has succeeded with in

For more show notes head to www.sidequestfitness.com/muscle-and-magicka/