Stress, anxiety, and mental burnout affect your performance, focus, and physical health. In this episode of Stronger we are going to dive into what builds real resilience and mental strength, not just physical strength.

Don Saladino sits down with author, meditation teacher, and hospice volunteer Elena Brower to break down how strength training, meditation, and breath work work together to regulate stress, calm the nervous system, and build real mental resilience.

Elena shares profound insights on presence, compassion, grief, and emotional resilience, offering a refreshing perspective on how meditation and movement work together to calm anxiety, regulate stress, and build what she calls cellular resilience. From reframing grief as love to learning how stillness can heal the nervous system, this episode challenges listeners to rethink what true strength really looks like.

You’ll also experience a short guided meditation led by Elena, along with practical takeaways on breathwork, emotional regulation, and why listening itself can become a form of prayer.

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Sponsored By: 

Everyday Dose: Get 61% off your first Coffee+ Starter Kit, a free A2 Probiotic Creamer, and over $100 in free gifts.  Plus, enter for a chance to win $100 cash or get your entire order refunded! Visit http://EverydayDose.com/STRONGER or use code STRONGER at checkout.

Express VPN: ExpressVPN reroutes 100% of your traffic through secure, encrypted servers, so your ISP can’t see your browsing history. Get up to 4 months free by visiting https://expressvpn.com/stronger

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Got a question for Don? Call 1-855-348-3546

Please direct business inquires to: [email protected]

Music Credits: Adam Arcuragi at The Moon Recording Company

—-----------------------------

🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of Stronger

📲 Follow Don Saladino on Instagram: www.instagram.com/donsaladino

Follow [guest] on Instagram

💪 For coaching, programs, and more USE CODE YOUTUBE15 FOR 15% OFF: https://donsaladino.com/gym-programs

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special solo episode of Stronger, Don shares a practical, no-nonsense approach to creating healthy habits and sustainable New Year’s resolutions for 2026. Drawing on nearly three decades of coaching experience, Don explains why 88% of resolutions fail within two weeks, and how to avoid becoming part of that statistic.

Don introduces the concept of micro momentum, showing how small, repeatable wins build consistency, discipline, and long-term success. From rethinking exercise intensity and nutrition rules to focusing on non-scale victories, this episode is a roadmap for building habits that improve energy, body composition, sleep, and overall happiness, without burnout.

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Got a question for Don? Call 1-855-348-3546

Please direct business inquires to: [email protected]

Music Credits: Adam Arcuragi at The Moon Recording Company

—-----------------------------

🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of Stronger

📲 Follow Don Saladino on Instagram: www.instagram.com/donsaladino

Follow [guest] on Instagram

💪 For coaching, programs, and more USE CODE YOUTUBE15 FOR 15% OFF: https://donsaladino.com/gym-programs

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Psychiatrist and bestselling author Dr. Sue Varma joins Don Saladino for a conversation about emotional fitness, practical mental health tools, and the mindset shifts that help us live with greater purpose and optimism. Drawing from her clinical experience and her signature framework, Dr. Varma explains how small, science-backed habits can dramatically improve resilience, confidence, and day-to-day wellbeing.

She and Don explore the connection between physical health and emotional health, how to manage anxiety during stressful seasons, and why optimism isn’t naïve, it’s a skill that can be trained. Dr. Varma also shares strategies for strengthening relationships, setting boundaries, improving sleep, and building a more compassionate inner voice.

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Sponsored By: 

Mitopure: Get 20% off Mitopure to Target Age-Related Cellular Decline and Promote Anti-Aging and Health Longevity. Use code STRONGER at checkout for 20% off. Go to http://timeline.com/stronger

MasterClass: Get an additional 15% off any annual membership at http://masterclass.com/stronger - with MasterClass you can learn from the best to become your best. With plans starting at $10 a month, billed annually, you get unlimited access to over 200+ classes taught by the world’s best business leaders, writers, chefs, and more.

Vuori: Get yourself some of the most comfortable and versatile clothing on the planet at https://vuori.com/STRONGER - Vuori’s clothes are great for a workout, but also great for running errands before, or meeting up with friends after. 

Gusto: Get three months free when you run your first payroll at gusto.com/stronger - Gusto provides unlimited payroll runs for one monthly price. No hidden fees, no surprises.

-----------------------------

Got a question for Don? Call 1-855-348-3546

Please direct business inquires to: [email protected]

Music Credits: Adam Arcuragi at The Moon Recording Company

—-----------------------------

🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of Stronger

📲 Follow Don Saladino on Instagram: www.instagram.com/donsaladino

Follow [guest] on Instagram

💪 For coaching, programs, and more USE CODE YOUTUBE15 FOR 15% OFF: https://donsaladino.com/gym-programs

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NHL performance coach Andy O’Brien joins Don Saladino to break down the truth about recovery, sleep, stress, and training the world’s best hockey players. Andy has coached legends like Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon, and in this conversation he explains how professional teams use sleep data to guide travel schedules, why circadian rhythm matters more than total hours slept, and how to personalize recovery protocols for your own physiology. 

Andy and Don also discuss the evolution of strength and conditioning in the NHL, leadership lessons from elite athletes, and the clickbait misinformation that plagues the fitness world.

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Sponsored By: 

Mitopure: Get 20% off Mitopure to Target Age-Related Cellular Decline and Promote Anti-Aging and Health Longevity. Use code STRONGER at checkout for 20% off. Go to http://timeline.com/stronger

David Protein: David Protein: Buy 4 Cartons of David Protein Bars, Get 1 Free. Use code STRONGER at checkout. Go to https://davidprotein.com/stronger

Everyday Dose: Get 61% off your first Coffee+ Starter Kit, a free A2 Probiotic Creamer, and over $100 in free gifts.  Plus, enter for a chance to win $100 cash or get your entire order refunded! Visit http://EverydayDose.com/STRONGER or use code STRONGER at checkout.

Rag & Bone: Upgrade your denim game with Rag & Bone! Get 20% off sitewide with code “Stronger” at http://rag-bone.com/

-----------------------------

Got a question for Don? Call 1-855-348-3546

Please direct business inquires to: [email protected]

Music Credits: Adam Arcuragi at The Moon Recording Company

—-----------------------------

🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of Stronger

📲 Follow Don Saladino on Instagram: www.instagram.com/donsaladino

Follow [guest] on Instagram

💪 For coaching, programs, and more USE CODE YOUTUBE15 FOR 15% OFF: https://donsaladino.com/gym-programs

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Louisa Nicola explains why dementia is not just a disease of old age, but rather a disease of lifestyle. In this episode, Don sits down with renowned neurophysiologist and founder of the Neuro Experience podcast, Louisa Nicola, to discuss one of the most devastating conditions: Alzheimer’s disease.

She reveals the staggering statistic that 95% of Alzheimer’s cases can be prevented and shares the exact protocols she recommends for risk reduction, even if you have a family history or the ApoE e4 gene.

In this episode, you will learn:

What is Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and the alarming rate at which it can accelerate.

Why women represent two-thirds of all Alzheimer’s cases and the role of hormonal shifts.

Why Alzheimer's is sometimes called "Type 3 Diabetes" and how the brain literally starves itself of glucose.

Louisa’s #1 tool for prevention: the minimum strength and aerobic exercise required to protect your brain. (Hint: Bigger legs = bigger brain!).

The benefits of the MIND Diet and why Louisa champions exogenous ketones as an alternative fuel source for the brain.

The paramount importance of sleep for clearing brain plaque and the hidden dangers of a sedentary lifestyle.

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Sponsored By: 

Cozy Earth: Right now, you can stack code STRONGER on top of their sitewide sale, giving you up to 40% off in savings. http://cozyearth.com/stronger 

Mitopure: Get 20% off Mitopure to Target Age-Related Cellular Decline and Promote Anti-Aging and Health Longevity. Use code STRONGER at checkout for 20% off. Go to http://timeline.com/stronger

Vuori: Get yourself some of the most comfortable and versatile clothing on the planet at https://vuori.com/STRONGER - Vuori’s clothes are great for a workout, but also great for running errands before, or meeting up with friends after.  

Gusto: Get three months free when you run your first payroll at gusto.com/stronger - Gusto provides unlimited payroll runs for one monthly price. No hidden fees, no surprises.

Express VPN: ExpressVPN reroutes 100% of your traffic through secure, encrypted servers, so your ISP can’t see your browsing history. Get up to 4 months free by visiting https://expressvpn.com/stronger

-----------------------------

Got a question for Don? Call 1-855-348-3546

Please direct business inquires to: [email protected]

Music Credits: Adam Arcuragi at The Moon Recording Company

—-----------------------------

🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of Stronger

📲 Follow Don Saladino on Instagram: www.instagram.com/donsaladino

Follow [guest] on Instagram

💪 For coaching, programs, and more USE CODE YOUTUBE15 FOR 15% OFF: https://donsaladino.com/gym-programs

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

World-renowned dermatologist Dr. Gary Goldenberg joins Don Saladino to demystify skin health, what actually works, what’s a waste of money, and how to build habits that protect your skin for life.

Dr. Goldenberg explains the difference between medical dermatology and cosmetic dermatology, why prevention beats correction, the daily routines that support long-term skin health, and how diet, sleep, alcohol, and stress really affect the skin. 

-----------------------------

Sponsored By: 

Vuori: Get yourself some of the most comfortable and versatile clothing on the planet at https://vuori.com/STRONGER - Vuori’s clothes are great for a workout, but also great for running errands before, or meeting up with friends after. 

Cozy Earth: Black Friday has come early at Cozy Earth! Right now, you can stack code STRONGER on top of their sitewide sale, giving you up to 40% off in savings. http://cozyearth.com/stronger 

-----------------------------

Got a question for Don? Call 1-855-348-3546

Please direct business inquires to: [email protected]

Music Credits: Adam Arcuragi at The Moon Recording Company

—-----------------------------

🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of Stronger

📲 Follow Don Saladino on Instagram: www.instagram.com/donsaladino

Follow [guest] on Instagram

💪 For coaching, programs, and more USE CODE YOUTUBE15 FOR 15% OFF: https://donsaladino.com/gym-programs

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt Bomer joins Don Saladino for a conversation about resilience, family, and redefining strength.

Matt opens up about facing fear, balancing career and fatherhood, and the importance of staying grounded through discipline, training, and community. Don and Matt also talk about physical and mental recovery tools like cold plunges, red-light therapy, and nutrition, plus how to keep perspective when life and work get tough.

-----------------------------

Sponsored By: 

Timeline: Get 20% off Mitopure to Target Age-Related Cellular Decline and Promote Anti-Aging and Health Longevity. Use code STRONGER at checkout for 20% off. Go to http://timeline.com/stronger

Cozy Earth: Black Friday has come early at Cozy Earth! Right now, you can stack code STRONGER on top of their sitewide sale, giving you up to 40% off in savings. http://cozyearth.com/stronger 

Express VPN: ExpressVPN reroutes 100% of your traffic through secure, encrypted servers, so your ISP can’t see your browsing history. Get up to 4 months free by visiting https://expressvpn.com/stronger

Everyday Dose: Get 61% off your first Coffee+ Starter Kit, a free A2 Probiotic Creamer, and over $100 in free gifts.  Plus, enter for a chance to win $100 cash or get your entire order refunded! Visit http://EverydayDose.com/STRONGER or use code STRONGER at checkout.

-----------------------------

Got a question for Don? Call 1-855-348-3546

Please direct business inquires to: [email protected]

Music Credits: Adam Arcuragi at The Moon Recording Company

—-----------------------------

🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of Stronger

📲 Follow Don Saladino on Instagram: www.instagram.com/donsaladino

Follow [guest] on Instagram
💪 For coaching, programs, and more USE CODE YOUTUBE15 FOR 15% OFF: https://donsaladino.com/gym-programs

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

TV host, podcaster, and former Rachael Ray Show regular Tommy DiDario to talk about his journey from the corporate world to becoming the creator and host of his top-ranked podcast I’ve Never Said This Before. Tommy opens up about his early days in New York as a model and running social media for major brands, the leap of faith that led him into entertainment, and how he built a loyal following by simply being himself.

They explore what it means to pivot with purpose, why control can be grounding during chaos, and how fitness became Tommy’s mental health anchor. The two also discuss creating authentic content in a social media world obsessed with perfection. 

-----------------------------

Sponsored By: 

Vuori: Get yourself some of the most comfortable and versatile clothing on the planet at https://vuori.com/STRONGER - Vuori’s clothes are great for a workout, but also great for running errands before, or meeting up with friends after. 

Gusto: Get three months free when you run your first payroll at gusto.com/stronger - Gusto provides unlimited payroll runs for one monthly price. No hidden fees, no surprises.

David Protein: David Protein: Buy 4 Cartons of David Protein Bars, Get 1 Free. Use code STRONGER at checkout. Go to https://davidprotein.com/stronger

-----------------------------

Got a question for Don? Call 1-855-348-3546

Please direct business inquires to: [email protected]

Music Credits: Adam Arcuragi at The Moon Recording Company

—-----------------------------

🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of Stronger

📲 Follow Don Saladino on Instagram: www.instagram.com/donsaladino

Follow [guest] on Instagram

💪 For coaching, programs, and more USE CODE YOUTUBE15 FOR 15% OFF: https://donsaladino.com/gym-programs

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this highly anticipated and unfiltered episode of the Stronger podcast, Don Saladino welcomes his longtime friend, client, and Marvel star, Sebastian Stan.

With over 15 years of shared history, Don and Sebastian discuss the evolution of the actor’s career, from his early days preparing for his iconic role as the Winter Soldier and his physically demanding Broadway debut in Picnic.

Sebastian opens up about the crucial role of mindset and discipline, stressing that mental preparation is even more critical than physical training. He shares his personal journey of professional growth and his non-negotiable morning routine, which includes a "no-phone" hour, journaling, and getting outside to set intentions for the day.

-----------------------------

Sponsored By: 

MasterClass: Get an additional 15% off any annual membership at http://masterclass.com/stronger - with MasterClass you can learn from the best to become your best. With plans starting at $10 a month, billed annually, you get unlimited access to over 200+ classes taught by the world’s best business leaders, writers, chefs, and more.

Mitopure by Timeline: Get 20% off Mitopure to Target Age-Related Cellular Decline and Promote Anti-Aging and Health Longevity. Use code STRONGER at checkout for 20% off. Go to http://timeline.com/stronger

-----------------------------

Got a question for Don? Call 1-855-348-3546

Please direct business inquires to: [email protected]

Music Credits: Adam Arcuragi at The Moon Recording Company

—-----------------------------

🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of Stronger

📲 Follow Don Saladino on Instagram: www.instagram.com/donsaladino

Follow [guest] on Instagram
💪 For coaching, programs, and more USE CODE YOUTUBE15 FOR 15% OFF: https://donsaladino.com/gym-programs

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever wonder how a career can be shaped by saying “yes” to the unexpected? On this episode of Stronger with Don Saladino, Peter Hurley shares how he went from a professional sailor unsure of his future to a world-renowned celebrity photographer in NYC.

He opens up about the pivotal moments, mentorship, and mindset shifts that led him to finally discover his true calling behind the camera. Peter also breaks down what makes people confident on camera, and in life, and how creating comfort and authenticity can transform both portraits and careers.

This episode is packed with lessons on confidence, career growth, and turning chance opportunities into lasting success. It is perfect for anyone navigating a career, building a creative life, or chasing their calling.

-----------------------------

Sponsored By: 

Mitopure: Get 20% off Mitopure to Target Age-Related Cellular Decline and Promote Anti-Aging and Health Longevity. Use code STRONGER at checkout for 20% off. Go to http://timeline.com/stronger

David Protein: Buy 4 Cartons of David Protein Bars, Get 1 Free. Use code STRONGER at checkout. Go to https://davidprotein.com/stronger

-----------------------------

Got a question for Don? Call 1-855-348-3546

Please direct business inquires to: [email protected]

Music Credits: Adam Arcuragi at The Moon Recording Company

—-----------------------------

🔔 Subscribe for more episodes of Stronger

📲 Follow Don Saladino on Instagram: www.instagram.com/donsaladino

Follow [guest] on Instagram

💪 For coaching, programs, and more USE CODE YOUTUBE15 FOR 15% OFF: https://donsaladino.com/gym-programs

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices