Side Quest Podcast

In this episode I chat with Jorden Pagel of Jorden Pagel Fitness.  Jordan lives and trains and works with clients in Wisconsin and wants to one day work with athletes himself.

In this episode we discuss:

- how he got into the fitness and lost 80 pounds over time

- health and fitness are a lifetime commitment and  not just a 12 week process

- Intermittent Fasting

- Fasted training

- Flexible dieting

- Favorite flavor of Ben and Jerry's

- Equals and Alternatives

- Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers

- Sumo Wrestling and NFL Linemen

- Favorite/Most Hated Lift

- Who has influenced him

- how open and willing trainers are to help

- Country Music

Links

Pavel Tsatouline Interview

Jorden's Site

Equals and Alternatives

In this episode I interview Dell Farrell.  She competed in her first bikini contest this year in Las Vegas and when not on stage is working as a trainer in Australia.  She has a new program that she has launched in tandem with Greg O'Gallagher, who came on the show before.

In this episode we discuss:

• how she struggled with extreme dieting, fad diets, and excessive exercise and how she arrived at moderation
• The importance of tracking what you eat
• her first experience with bikini competition
• slow and steady wins the race
• do the thing you are most afraid to do
• muay thai
• self acceptance vs guilting yourself
• getting white girl wasted

• Eckhart Tolle- The Presence of Now
• Daily affirmations she tells herself each day
• the power of meditation
• Her program she has launched with Greg O'Gallagher
• how can I make everything 2% better than yesterday
• toughest habit to build
• favorite ice cream flavor
• riding horses as a stress relief
• Hugh Jackman vs Chris Hemsworth 
• the one thing she misses about America that Australia doesn't have
• what food did she eat post competition
• the expense of competing in figure/bikini

Links

Dell's Program with Greg O'Gallagher

Instagram

Dell's Website

In this episode I chat with Adam Duggan of The Aesthetic Build.  Adam is a trainer who coaches with Fitocracy as well as owns his own gym in Chattanooga, TN.  He beat cancer as a child then fought back from an eating disorder in his teens.  Adam has had a lot of obstacles and one person changed all that one day by befriending him and introducing him to weight lifting.

In this episode we discuss:

• how he got into fitness
• his struggle with an eating disorder
• how an amateur bodybuilder helped him to get over his disorder and get healthier
• body images issues with men
• intimidation of weights or weight loss
• treadmill skills ala Ok Go
• Jedi mentality vs Sith Mentality
• how fear is one of the greatest motivators/paralyzers 
• our admiration for Stuart Scott
• who inspired his Super-heroine physique program
• bulking
• reverse dieting
• three most important habits he helps clients build
• having a support system
• who inspires him
• guilty pleasure track

Links

Fitocracy

The Aesthetic Build

What Got Us Here, Won't Get Us There

In this episode I interview Suzanne Digre of Workout Nirvana. Suzanne is an online fitness coach based out of Denver, Colorado and is starting her new Lean and Strong program on Fitocracy starting on Jan 12.  She has been training herself for years and launched her coaching business a couple years ago.  She has gotten amazing results from her clients and is an amazing motivator.

In this epiosde we discuss:

goals she conquered in 2014

how she got into training and writing online

how she started working out at home and got confident before she moved into a gym

the miscoception of women bulking when lifting weights

how she teaches clients to "on-it" when in the gym

how chit chatting can kill your focus in the gym

setting micro goals to achieve larger goals

how she is working on eating more veggies

her favorite thing about colorado

how making new habits non-negotiable can help you make positive changes

her Lean and Strong program starting on Jan 12th

how to conquer self-limiting thoughts

how she conquers those tiny negative voices

go to meal in a pinch

absolute favorite lift

The Carbonaro Effect

expose-come go with me

my go to dance at a wedding

Links:

Suzanne's Site

Fitocracy

In the first episode of 2015 I interview Thom Lamb.  Thom is a former Canadian Military Engineer who is now a full time strength and conditioning coach in Canada.  He has set numerous national and world records in power lifting but his real passion is his clients and helping them discover their hidden potential.

In this episode we discuss:

• why his name is Thom and not Tom
• how he transitioned from the army to fitness
•  the time he was in a Poison cover band
• his time in the royal canadian military college
• his time in strongman competitions 
• what training is like in the military
• how the fitness industry and military training are finding their middle ground
• nutrition is half the battle 
• the paradoxes we tell ourselves with nutrition
• you do not have to give up the things you love to eat
• 90% of your meals are for sustenance, the other 10% are for enjoyment
• building habits is very difficult
• how coaches have to work harder to connect with clients
• what he learned through his injuries
• his favorite indulgence
• who inspires him

Links

Thom's Website

Fitocracy

Tim Ferriss

I round out interviewing the 5 fitness coaches taking the world by storm this episode with Sons of Strength.  Sons of Strength is the brainchild of Ryan and Eric Johnson, yes they are brothers and yes they still compete to be the best in the family.  Their "be the best" attitude is what led them to establish a business and an attitude that spills over to all of their clients. In this episode we discuss:

- how they got into fitness through sports and started a business as brothers

- sibling rivalry and how they still push each other as adults

- paying it forward

- who was the ladies man of the two

- famous people sightings in NYC

- what garbage from the industry would you like to see go away

- sustainability vs extremes

- Muay Thai fighting

- boxing vs cardio

- "everyone would benefit from getting punched in the face at least once in their life"

- East Coast vs West Coast

- a new program they are working with John Romeniello and releasing in March

- Total Recomp

- favorite Arnold movie

- action movie of 2014

- what its like to see the results of a client who ends up on the big screen

- Marvel movies

- who inspires them 

- what book from 2014 would they gift

- War of Art

- The Obstacle is The Way

- Scar Tissue, Anthony Kiedis's memior

- favorite lift

- favorite warm ups before the workout

Links

www.fitocracy.com

www.sonsofstrength.com

Twitter

In this episode I interview Mike Vacanti of On the Regimen.  Mike is the fourth of the 5 fitness coaches taking the world by storm in 2014 from Fitocracy that I have interviewed.  He is also the coach who ran the program I was apart of earlier in the year before my wedding.  He is one of the most open and honest and caring coaches anyone could ever work with and I know from personal experience.  

In this episode we discuss:

How Mike got into fitness and made a huge move from MN to NYC in one night with no plan of return

• Arnold's 6 Rules and which one is the most important for him

• Gary Vaynerchuck and what he learned from coaching someone as intense as Gary Vee: Hustle

• Kamal Ravikant- Live your Truth

• Your best year yet

• How would Mike play a hand of poker if he had two jacks and three people were at the table

• How alcohol can fit into your macros and how it affects your goals

• Two Day Hangovers as you get older and how much they suck

• Quality sleep versus quantity sleep

• Getting up before your alarm goes off

• Hal Elrod and the Miracle Morning Routine

• Internal versus external motivation

•  Keeping up with the Joneses

• Using Google if you don't have a scale

• Favorite Hockey Player of all time

• His favorite Ben and Jerry flavors

• Star Wars and how he just couldn't get into it

• Why he is fascinated with the thought of death 

Links:

Mike's Website

Fitocracy

Hal Elrod

Poker for Dummies

In this episode I interview Ben Tormey.  Ben was included on Fitocracy's list of 5 Fitness Coaches Taking the World by Storm.  Ben is a trainer and coach in England and at one time was working to get his PhD in Math but left that path and found his real happiness in helping get himself and others into shape.

In this episode we discuss:

-How Ben moved from a PhD in Math to Fitness

- how he battled depression 

- cognitive thinking and how you can use it 

- how taking action made him feel better about his life

- how the internet is affecting us, mentally/pyschologically 

-  how chess players see the game and how that analogy applies to what he has learned in fitness

- who he is inspired by 

- Dorian Yates

- T-Nation

- Lyle MacDonald

- The Power of Habit

- his training philosophy and how he works with clients as a coach

- who is the best James Bond

- his favorite lift

- his love of Southern cuisine ie Cornbread and BBQ

- the one amusing thing he finds humorous about the difference between Americans and Brits.

- Applauding an airline pilot

- differences between American and British comics

- his favorite xmas song (it's so metal)

Links

Exercise Prescription

T Nation

Ben's Website

Christopher Lee Metal Awesomeness

In this episode I interview Greg O'Gallagher of Kinobody.  Greg was included in the 30 Under 30 the Young Professionals Changing the Face of Fitness list by Fitocracy earlier in 2014.  Greg is also the host of his own podcast Road to Ripped where he talks about his training protocals, interviews trainers, and talks with some of his clients who have made great transformations.  Greg currently lives in Toronto, Canada.

In this Episode we discuss:

• how he started building an audience doing videos in the early days of Youtube

• the Hollywood physique

• athleticism vs massive muscle

• how to stay lean all year and stay sane

• his love of potatoes vs other carbs

• intermittent fasting
• health/nutrition in the US vs Canada

• reverse pyramid training and how it will help you build muscle and gain strength

• rest pause training on isolation exercises

• what book he would gift for 2014 (Practicing the Power of Now)

• embracing the process and not the goal

• body fat distribution 

• what he is digging TV/Movies right now

• lifts that challenge him

• new programs he is working on at Kinobody including a program for women

• embracing the now in 2015

Links

Fitocracy

Greg's Website

Practicing the Power of Now

In this episode I interview Greg Nuckols.  Greg was voted as one of the 5 fitness coaches taking the world by storm by Fitocracy earlier in 2014.  Greg has held world records in powerlifting and has become known for his through use of science and data to back up his articles.  As he says on his site: "His passion is synthesizing scientific research and in-the-trenches experience to stay at the forefront of the strength game, and to become the best coach and athlete possible".  Greg has the mind of Bruce Banner, the strenght of the Hulk but has the temperment of a teddy bear.  Not to mention one of the most glorious beards on Earth.

In this episode we discuss:

• how Greg got into lifting weights
• world records
• his goal of lifting a combined 2000 pounds on bench/deadlift/squat
• where his love of science/data/facts stems from
• Dunning-Kruger Effect
• Humanity and our pack sensibilities
• his diet
• his goal of getting a PhD
• "embrace the process and not the outcome"
• his weakest lift and his weak biceps
• Social Intelligence
• Favorite beers
• Manhood
• Beards
• Ideas that need to die in the fitness industry
• Juggernaut Training
• His go to lifting playlist

Links

Juggernaut Training

Greg Nuckols Website

Fitocracy