Side Quest Podcast

In this episode I chat with Ben Hessel of Gym Free Fitness.  Ben lives and works in Arizona and created his business aimed at helping people get in shape who were not fans of the gym atmosphere.  Ben is a no non-sense kind of coach who believes in helping his clients find long term sustainable approaches to diet and exercise.  He also hates detoxes with a passion.

In this episode we discuss:

- how he got into fitness

- why gym free

- how he built a niche with clients who were not fans of the gym

- TRX ropes

- how he stays fit or advises people on staying fit on the road

- living out west vs living out east

- how dancers typically become great lifters

- what he has learned at the NASM

- there is much more to being a trainer than just "working out"

- if you have a passion, just go for it

- how we view our lives at different points

- craziest thing he experimented with in fitness/nutrition

- Eat, Stop, Eat

- what we both love about intermittent fasting

- why men should focus a little more on glutes

- why hip thrusts matter for the bedroom

- do we associate "healthy" with expensive so we have an excuse not to try to lose weight

- organic vs non-organic for normal, everyday people

- saving money on food to invest in a coach

- guilty pleasure track

- favorite quest bar

Links

Eat. Stop. Eat.

Gym Free Workouts

glutes post

Fitocracy

In this episode I chat with Tanner Baze.  Tanner has written for BroBible and is a new contributor to Elite Daily.  Tanner works with a wide range of clients at his gym he near Atlanta as well as coaching online at Fitocracy and through his site.  He is a huge nerd and avid reader.  His love of reading is what drove him to devour all the knowledge he could on Fitness.

In this Episode we discuss:

-the awesomeness of Atlanta

- that time Julius Peppers sold me pizza 

- how he got started in the world of fitness

- how he moved from GNC to becoming a trainer

- the sleaziness of some supplement companies

- the joys of retail

- the story of how toilet paper caused me to meet my wife

- what it was like growing up in Texas

- the Walking Dead

- how his philosophy has changed over time

- how he balances work and life

- the struggles of writing

- the struggle of finding who you are

- how growing up I was Screech

- his geek side

- our mutual love of emo music

- why he wants people to be a Jedi of Fitness

- Sith vs Jedi

- Why Mace Windu is badass

- Kevin Smith on Episode 7

- Guilty Pleasure track

- one super hero he would be and what power his power would be

Links

John Goodman

Alan Aragon Research Review

Topher Grace Prequels

Red Letter Media

In this episode I chat with Jordan Syatt of Syatt Fitness in Boston.  Jordan is a 5x World Record Powerlifter and has lifted 4x his bodyweight on the deadlift.  He has been featured on CNN, The Huffington Post, Men’s Fitness Magazine, Schwarzenegger.com, T-Nation.com and more.  He was also included in the Fitocracy 30 under 30: The Young Professionals Changing the Face of Fitness in 2014.  He has released a new e-book entitled Raw Strength for Powerlifting: Your 12 Week Peaking Program to help people add huge gains to their strenght PRs.  He has now moved from training just for strength and is aspiring to succeed at a the new challenge of Brazilian Ju-Jitsu.

In this episode we discuss: 

- lifting 4x his bodyweight (132 pounds) on a deadlift

- how to frame your mind for the long haul of getting stronger

- strength is not linear

- why the sumo over the conventional

- what you do to keep the barbell from rolling away on a deadlift

- his new book Raw Strength 

- how he developed his training principles

- one thing he has learned on his own that has benefited him in training/biz/or life in general

- people don't see results because they dont follow a program long enough.

- why some people treat fitness like Frogger

- wanting it all now vs hustling

- how he keeps his client accountable

- flexible dieting and how it is a progression

- what wizard house he would be in and what spell would be his favorite spell

- A whiskey a day keeps the doctor at bay

- Power Ranger Reboot

- What color would be be as a Ranger and what animal would his Zord be

- his spirit animal

- The Rock 

- what historical figure would he have dinner with

- His quest to become a ninja

- How heavy lifting will help him in Brazilian Ju-Jitsu

- How he learned to backflip in 20 minutes

- his guilty pleasure track

- How Lightsabers and Wizard Wands could solve World Peace

In this episode I chat with Ed Hones the 2014 r/Fitness Best Weight Loss Transformation winner.  Ed was clinically obese in 2011 and has been a very long weight loss journey.  He started out as a "cardio bunny", went super hard core Paleo even while living in Africa, and after finding Mark Rippetoe started to lift heavy where he saw his best results. 

In this episode we discuss:

- the moment he realized he needed to lose the weight

- his introduction to Paleo and low carb diets

- his time in Africa and how that affected his ability to eat low carb

- why he calls himself "stupid happy"

- what lifts he looks forward to

- bodybuilding competitions

- where he wants to go now

- guilty pleasure track

- super heroes

Links

Ed's Story

Mark Rippetoe

In this episode I interview Matthew Ibrahim of Mobility 101.  Matthew Ibrahim is a Strength and Conditioning Coach with an evidence-based approach to human movement, biomechanics and injury-prevention, and is knowledgeable on how each area impacts performance in sports and in life.  Matt believes everyone is an athlete. Everyone has the ability to be an athlete and reach their full potential in performance and in life.

In this episode we discuss:

-the joy of talking and actually connecting with people

-how he got into fitness and especially how he fell in love with mobility

-you only get one body, take care of your body

-his philosophy that everyone has a internal athlete 

-Core Function and Mobility

-Can we as professionals in the industry do better at educating clients

-One piece of mobility every seasoned lifters should include in their programs

-Hip flexor and opening your hips

-Lacrosse ball vs foam roller

-Best tricks for helping recovery

-Optimizing mobility within our exercises not just pre/post workout

-Guilty pleasure track

-Brady vs Big Poppy 

-his biggest struggle

-7 things trainers could know and how non-trainers can apply those to life

-Will Smith and building a wall

Matt's Website (links to a few articles)

Eric Thomas

Tetris Planks

Dr. Stuart McGill

Jill Coleman

Everyday is Gameday 

In this episode I chat with Mason Woodruff.  Mason is a trainer in Arkansas and a coach on Fitocracy.  He has completed a 600 pound plus deadlift as well as squatted over 500 pounds.  He also appeared on the Super Bowl Sunday Fun TIme show but is back for his own 1 on 1 episode now.

- how a bachelor diet affected his basketball performance/career

- Arkansas

- what he does outside for physical fitness

- which behaviors were his hardest to change

- what foods are his cornerstones

- some cardio/conditioning is beneficial 

- his favorite power/explosive exercise

- It's all in the hips

- how/why he uses kettlebells as a coach

- The Mountain and a 1000 year old record

- what he does to take care of himself 

- his February diet experiment

- the twinkie diet guy

- getting those huge arms/forearms

-  importance of grip strength

- who inspires him

- Hardcore History

- education as a young men and things we wish were taught

- 2 Cellos

Dr Kirk Parsley

Elliot Hulse

Barbell Shrugged

Tim Ferris

Mason's Site

In this episode I interview the co-Founder of Fitocracy, Dick Talens.  Dick grew up a "fat kid" and discovered his own tricks to fat loss that he now applies with his clients. He even competed in a bodybuilding show in the mid 2000s.  Dick is a prolific writer and has written for LifeHacker, Bodybuilding.com, Schwarzenegger, and much much more.  He was also named one of the top 100 Most Influental People in Health and Fitness by Greatist this year.

Dick is one of a kind in the fitness industry and one of the most fun people to chat with.

In this episode we discuss:

- how he keeps himself from getting distracted

- his story and how he moved from fat kid to bodybuilder

- would he recommend anyone try a bodybuilding show just once

- dude we should own a bar! and call it puzzles!

- where the birth of the idea for Fitocracy came from

- his favorite game ever, Nexus the Kingdom of Winds

- his history of trolling and why he does it

- his failed cupcake business

- how he might make a great reality tv star

- which harsh truth of dieting was the hardest for him to face

- unique cultural expressions 

- what he used to hold as truth but has changed over time

- sugar today vs 50 years ago

- the commonality between people who change their deep held beliefs

- problems with research scientists and pub med studies

- what his regiment looks like meow

- his current coach Ben Tormey

- what famous person from history he would want to meet from history

- how he met Mike Vacanti and how he is dead to him

links 

I Want to Look Like That Guy

Roger Lawson

Matt Perryman

In this episode I interview author, entrepreneur, weightlifter, and travel photographer James Clear.  James has written an amazing eBook on how to transfer your habits.  He is a firm believer that if you can master your habits, you can master your life.  

A Duke University study showed that 45% of what we do each day is habitual.  James came on the show to chat about how he coaches people to transform their habits as well as how he maintains a high level of fitness even with a busy schedule.  

He is also an accomplished athlete who in 2008 was named an Academic All American for baseball by ESPN and in 2012 he was a finalist for the Travel Photographer of the Year award.

In this episode we discuss:

- how sports helped him establish routines

- his hardest habit to master

- his process for building habits

- habits are not a finish line, they are a lifestyle/pattern to commit to

- implementation intention

- his history with power lifting and current regiment

- favorite lift

- how he structures workouts when he is on the road

-his favorite place to shoot photos and the one he wants to visit the most

- his guilty pleasure work out track

- one famous person from history he would have dinner with (Mark Twain and Richard Feynman)

- the difference between routines and habits

- creating ceremony/rituals for new habits

- morning routines

-how he coaches people to build habits

- the super hero he would be

- if his life were an action movie who would play James Clear

- who inspires him

Links

Fitocracy

Side Quest Fitness

The Willpower Instinct

Humans of New York

Into Thin Air

James's eBook on Habits

In the 25th episode I interview Allison of Barefoot and Fit.  She comes from the cold north of Saskatchewan. Her exercise of choice is running and she has completed two half-marathons.  She also was recently diagnosed with Graves Disease and has been fighting back to normalcy over the last few months.  She specializes in fitness for beginners and weight loss for women.

In this episode we discuss:

- how she got started in fitness

- how she trains for marathons

- she explains to me how to train for marathons because I hate running

- her recent diagnoses of Graves disease

- how she has battled back from barely being able to walk

- my love of terriers

- how she dealt with the emotional distress of not being able to run

- how she is learning to begin again and how that helps her as a coach

- the nutrition of running

- what she has done to stay positive while battle Graves Disease

- songs that keep her pumped during a run

- what she does when its not crazy cold in Saskatchewan

In this episode I am joined by two former guests Brian Compton and Nick Sorrell and a soon to be heard from guest Mason Woodruff as we have a round table discussion about the Super Bowl and the NFL season.  We even throw in some impressions and do some talking about fantasy super stars and college QBs turning pro.