Strength For Life

Pull-ups are often treated like an impossible goal for women, but they’re not.

In this solo episode, Nicole Klingler speaks directly to women about why every woman can learn to do a pull-up, even if you’ve never done one before.

Nicole breaks down:

Pull-ups aren’t about proving anything. They’re about patience, strength, and learning to trust what your body can do.

Disclaimer: This episode is for general information only and is not medical advice. If you have injuries or health concerns, consult your doctor before starting a new exercise program.

Marine Corps Officer, Starting Strength Coach, and founder of The Strength Co., Grant Broggi shares how barbell training transformed his platoon and shaped his approach to strength, leadership, and longevity.

Grant discusses strength standards for men and women, how to distinguish between novice, intermediate, and advanced lifters, and how barbell training should evolve at each stage. He also shares insights from running two gyms, leading a coaching team, and manufacturing American-made strength equipment.

Stay connected with Grant here:

IG | Youtube| X: @thestrengthco

Are sore muscles really a sign of a good workout?

In this episode of Strength for Life, Dr. Matt & Nicole break down what muscle soreness actually means, what it does not, and why chasing soreness can be misleading, especially as we get older.

They discuss:

The real goal of a workout is not soreness. It is consistent training that builds muscle, strength, and bone density over time.

Train hard. Recover intelligently. Repeat.

Most people aren’t ‘too old’ to lift. They’re just under-coached and unsure where to start. In this Q&A episode, Dr. Matt and Nicole Klingler answer the questions that stop adults from strength training later in life. You’ll learn how to lift safely at 75, what to do after injury, how to strengthen your core with back pain, and why endurance can stay strong while strength fades.

Disclaimer: This episode is for general information only and is not medical advice. If you have injuries or health concerns, consult your doctor before starting a new exercise program.

Want to start strength training but feel overwhelmed by all the information? In this episode, Dr. Matt and Nicole Klingler share a beginner-friendly approach designed for real life, especially for adults over 40.

You’ll learn how to warm up the right way, why 3×5 is the ideal rep scheme for building strength without excessive fatigue, how long to rest between sets, and the easiest progression method that keeps you consistent without shocking your system. Dr. Matt and Nicole also walk you through a simple weekly routine that takes about 45–60 minutes per session and includes strength, walking, and recovery.

If you’re looking for a clear and practical starting point that builds strength safely over time, this is the episode for you.

Comment or email us “GUIDE” to get a free 12-week workout guide (email: [email protected])

*Disclaimer: This episode is for general information only and is not medical advice. If you have injuries or health concerns, consult your doctor before starting a new exercise program.

The new American food guidelines are here and they are making some long-overdue shifts toward real food and less added sugar. But do they actually solve the problems we see every day?

In this episode, Village nutritionist Casi Garcia breaks down what the new food guidelines get right, where they fall short, and what they realistically mean for how Americans eat and live. We talk through the emphasis on real food, the push to reduce added sugars, and how these recommendations line up (or don’t) with what people are actually doing and struggling with when it comes to nutrition and health.

Today on the Strength of Life Podcast, Dr. Matt and Nicole Klingler sit down with an incredible panel of guests from the Village team!

We’re joined by Jameelah, who just completed her first marathon ever… Dr. Justin, who also ran his first marathon—in barefoot shoes, no less… and Chuck Hewett, a multi-marathon finisher, former professional Spartan athlete, and current Boston-qualifier-in-training.

In this episode, we cover everything you wish someone told you before your first race:

If you’re planning to run your first race in 2026, listen to this before you start training.

Drop a comment on Spotify or YouTube—or leave us a review on Apple Podcasts—to be entered to win free creatine.

🎉 Be sure to leave a comment or review to be entered in to win a bottle of creatine! 

The New Year is here—and while January 1st is technically just another day, it can be a powerful reset if you do it right.

In this episode, we announce something brand new at Village to kick off 2026: The Strength Scholarship Sweepstakes—a chance to win a full year of strength training, completely free, with one winner at each location.

But this episode goes much deeper than a giveaway.

We break down why 91% of New Year’s resolutions fail, share painful lessons from our own biggest planning mistakes (including a 75-goal year that collapsed overnight), and walk you through a simple, proven framework for setting goals that actually stick.

You’ll learn:

If you want 2026 to be your strongest, healthiest, and most consistent year yet—this episode will give you the roadmap.

👉 Apply for the Strength Scholarship at villagefpt.com/scholarship

COVID became a wake-up call for Elda and Raul, bringing weight gain, burnout, and Raul’s diabetes diagnosis.

In this episode, they share what finally made change stick: quitting alcohol, committing to strength training, experimenting with intermittent fasting, and staying accountable as a couple. Two years later, Raul has gone from an A1C of 9.0 to 5.7, they feel stronger than they did a decade ago, and they even hiked 125 miles on the Camino in Spain.

🔗 Don’t miss what’s coming - join our mailing list for a special announcement at the end of the week

In this episode, Dr. Matt and Nicole recap their recent Hyrox race—what went well, what surprised them, and the key training lessons they’re taking forward. 

They also break down how those lessons are shaping their training focus for the upcoming quarter.

The dive into our most recent Benchmark Week, discussing how clients tested their strength, conditioning, and movement—and what those results actually mean for long-term progress.

A major part of the conversation centers on rate of progression in strength training: what’s normal for new lifters, how progress changes as someone becomes intermediate or advanced, and why understanding this prevents frustration and burnout.

They also cover rest and recovery programming, including:

Finally, they share a few exciting things on the horizon for 2026 and how they’ll continue to elevate the training experience for our community.