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Struggle To Strength Podcast episodes
- Mental Health Tips with Archie “The Feelings Guy”
Episode 21 is here and this week the boys get into ALL the feels as they sit down with the one and only Archie Messersmith-Bunting, the infamous Feelings Guy (aka @archie_cares).
Today’s convo? It’s all about self-care, battling that negative self-talk, and how to support your people when they’re struggling most. Giving Archie a rating of 10 out of 10, today’s ep is unquestionably Josh’s favorite to date—and honestly we don’t disagree.
Be ready to conquer all that negativity people, ‘cause it’s time to go IN.
Guest bio:Archie Messersmith-Bunting, M.S., The Feelings Guy™, is a mental wellness coach, consultant, and professional speaker who helps people discover how leading with their feelings can improve their quality of life and save the lives of those they come in contact with. Archie was a successful musical theater performer in New York City before addiction and clinical depression destroyed his childhood dream and led him to a place where he believed suicide was his only answer. After battling back from the jaws of addiction, Archie now uses the stages he graces to remind others that we are all more than "just" the wreckage of our past. He uses his voice to share with audiences that individual moments and decisions in our life do not define us, but they can help design us. Archie has been featured on multiple NBC, CBS and FOX local affiliates and several podcasts including Braving the Journey, Positive Changes: A Self-kick start, & The Failure Guy.
Today’s episode covers everything from:- Archie’s story and how he became “The Feelings Guy"
- Reframing: challenging people to ask “How are you feeling?” rather than “How are you doing?”
- Other small reframes that can have a big impact and make all the difference
- How we as humans assign meaning to our feelings and can actively choose how they’re perceived
- Identifying the meaning you’re assigning to feelings and not allowing them to have control
- Being conscious of how you’re talking to yourself
- Changing the negative things you tell your brain
- Be gentle with yourself and learn how to reframe the negative
- Easing into meditation
- Coping mechanisms for negative self-talk
- Starting the day with morning intentions and ending the day reflecting on gratitude
Follow / Contact On Instagram!@travishawkesmedia
@joshlevinefitness@archie_caresWatch The Video Pod On Youtube! - Youtube Channel
57 min - Weight Loss, Dieting, and Gut Health w/ Kara Goss
EPISODE 20: This week the boys are joined by all around badass human, Josh’s Teammate & Boardroom Buddy, Kara Goss (aka @karagoss_rd) of Kara Goss Nutrition and Fitness.
Talking Kara’s experience as a registered dietitian in the fitness coaching space to some sh*tty (but appropriate) convo about gut health! The crew sits down for some valuable discussions ya’ll are gonna want to hear—all while bustin’ myths and misinformation you’ve been led to believe. Plenty of takeaways in this one folks, so prepare to get informed.
It’s episode 20, time to TUNE IN.
Guest bio:
Kara Goss is a Registered Dietitian and NASM-Certified Personal Trainer with a firm belief that nutrition and fitness need to be personalized to an individual's goals and lifestyle. Having started her own journey with a coach in January of 2018, Kara has experienced firsthand how crucial it is to have a mentor who is unbiased and always one step ahead to help guide you to success. After completing six years of education, Kara established Kara Goss Nutrition and Fitness in October of 2019. With a clear passion for assisting others as they embark on their own health journeys, Kara considers being able to help people find their true strength, both physical and mental, one of the biggest blessings in her life.
Today’s topics cover:
- Kara’s background and how she found her passion for fitness and nutrition
- Challenge as an RD who understands the importance of things like protein intake and physique goals because the majority of the Dietitian community holds a different stance
- Modest approach that many Dietitians take stems from education—taught the minimum requirements
- Misconceptions and fear surrounding protein consumption is an outdated viewpoint
- Stigma that exists among many RD’s around bodybuilding, trying to build muscle, and protein consumption
- Tendency of RDs within clinical environments to view protein as super negative, incorrectly associating it with many health problems
- About finding the right RD that specializes in physical transformation
- Hayes Nutrition movement, anti-diet Dietitians, and conflicting perspectives within the RD community
- Putting everything into context and tailoring nutrition to each individual’s situation
- Why some RD’s are against helping clients reach their physique goals
- Fact check: debunking misinformation & myths (protein consumption, Keto, carbs, reverse dieting, etc.)
- The term “Metabolic Damage” and how it’s used as a scare tactic, using “Metabolic Adaptation” instead, & what exactly your metabolism is
- Your metabolism is not slow—if something can down-regulate it can up-regulate
- Reverse dieting and how it helps you up-regulate important functions within the body
- It takes a village: a good coach should have a team of coach friends
- Gut health and digestion, what is normal and what is not normal?
- How to fix some of this sh*t: gut health labs and food sensitivity testing
- Knowing what tests to get and knowing what you’re testing for
- Considering overall lifestyle factors and getting down to the behaviors of the person as well
- Figuring out how to manage stressors in your life
Follow / Contact On Instagram!
- @travishawkesmedia
- @joshlevinefitness
- @karagoss_rd
Watch The Video Pod On Youtube! - Youtube Channel
59 min - Ownership and Lifting Heavy w/ Coach Kylie
EPISODE 19: This week the boys do some 'Kibitzing' with the one and only Kylie Larson (aka @kyliefityoga), Josh’s longtime client and the founder of Live To Get Lean. Today’s discussion? It’s all about ownership, baby.
The crew sits down to discuss how achieving your goals can be far easier than you’re probably making it out to be, and how much you can accomplish by putting in some effort and shifting your mindset. With a little bit of tough love, the three share their advice on exactly how to realize your potential and modify your mentality in order to start attaining goals you’ve set.
So, get ready for your wakeup call, because it’s episode 19 and it’s about to go down.
About Our Guest:
With a passion for all things fitness and personal development, Kylie Larson is a High Performance Coach & Yoga Teacher, as well as an L1, L2 Macronutrient Expert and self-described Myth Buster. Her adoration for yoga began back in 2002 with a few classes at her local 24 Hour Fitness, and the rest is history. Over the years Kylie has worked incredibly hard and managed to pivot and make a full career change, completing her 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training, as well as amassing numerous certifications, specifically in Yin Yoga, TurboKick, willPower & Grace, Yoga-Sculpt, Bootcamp Yoga, Barre, and Kettlebells. She loves being healthy and fit, and most of all sharing her knowledge with the masses.
Today the podcast gets into everything from:
- Health and fitness not just being about changing your body, also about bettering your life
- Adjusting your mindset—you’ve done harder things before
- Every goal achieved is another goal set
- Achieving goals can be easy, effort is for sure required but it doesn’t need to be more difficult than it is
- Making yourself a priority and not putting your own health and well-being on the back burner
- Breaking things down, starting with one small change to achieve a larger end goal
- There is always something to focus on, even if it’s just one thing at a time
- Sleep being a number one priority—don’t sleep on sleep
- Cutting back if you’re taking on too many things, don’t be afraid to say NO
- Take time to slow down, don’t always have to be rushing
- Prioritizing and deciding what is more important to help you get closer to your goals
- If they’re not taking something off of your plate, don’t take something off of theirs
- Communication is key—making sure your priorities are clear to others, having conversations upfront
- Own who you are, be unapologetic
- Figure out what your goal looks like and be that person
- Worthy rivals and leveling up
Where to find us:
- @travishawkesmedia - CONTACT FOR MEDIA!
- @joshlevinefitness - CONTACT FOR COACHING!
- @kyliefityoga - CONTACT FOR COACHING!
Check out the video podcast!
- Youtube Channel - Please like and subscribe, you can also leave comments here and we’ll get back to you!
47 min - How To Make Sure You're Healthy - Part 1 (Blood Sugar & Insulin)
Let's talk Fasted Blood Glucose & Insulin Sensitivity in today's deep dive! This is Part 1 of an ongoing theme of How To Make Sure You're Healthy.
The boys sit down for a comprehensive discussion about tracking fasted blood glucose levels, insulin sensitivity, and other markers to ensure that you’re living your healthiest life. While answering Travis’ burning inquiry on how to prevent the inevitable and die slower (and more gracefully), Josh provides a detailed breakdown of different methods to measure your health, what each means, why they’re important, and how the biofeedback they give pertains to your overall well-being, fitness, and physique.
So, grab a pen and a notepad because you’re def gonna want to take notes for this one—Episode 18 will literally help extend your life, and honestly it’s an episode we wouldn’t want to be caught dead missing.
Today’s episode gets into everything from:
- Lab work and the importance of getting your labs done
- Ordering your own lab work if necessary
- What you can track yourself, at home
- Blood glucose levels—what are they?
- Blood Glucose Kits and measuring your fasted blood glucose levels
- What fasted blood glucose levels mean to your body and why they’re significant
- Insulin—what it does and why it’s important
- Pancreas 411—alpha cells vs. beta cells
- Insulin resistance and what causes it
- Some terrifying diabetes statistics
- Negative effects of insulin resistance
- What stress actually means and the damaging impact it can have on cortisol and insulin levels
- Tracking biofeedback and pulling back to genuinely manage stress
- Also testing A1C, insulin, and cortisol (if possible) to really make sure you’re healthy
- How often you should be getting levels tested
- The fix—ways to bring down your fasted blood glucose levels and reverse/prevent problems
How to contact us
- @travishawkesmedia (contact Travis for media bookings, questions about the podcast, etc!)
- @joshlevinefitness (contact Josh for training booking, questions about the podcast, etc!)
Where to give us feedback or ask questions:
- Apple Podcasts - Please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!
- Youtube Channel - Please like and subscribe, you can also leave comments here and we’ll get back to you!
- JLF Community (Facebook Group) - join this private community and talk anything fitness!
- INSTAGRAM - DM us any questions or feedback you have and we will get back to you!
- Call us and leave us a message on Anchor - use our Anchor Link here, click "message" to give us a call with any questions, feedback, or ideas for future episodes. We’d love to hear from you and may even include your voicemail on a future episode!
51 min - Fit Shaming And How To Handle Haters w/ Kylie UpLifts
The future is lookin’ bright AF this week as the boys sit down with their homie and Josh’s teammate Kylie Kaiser, aka @Kylie_UpLifts. With their stunna shades on and absolutely no time for the haters, the trio discusses everything from fat-shaming to fit-shaming, and everything in between. Get your blockers on; it’s episode 17 and the haters are outside the club.
An online health and fitness coach since 2018, Kylie Kaiser is also the owner of Kylie UpLifts, a company specifically focused on helping women, primarily beginners, get started with their fitness journeys. Kylie also founded her own custom coaching course, The Confident 180 Blueprint, with a goal to help women build confidence from the inside out and assist in all-around lifestyle changes. The course not only runs alongside Kylie’s one-on-one coaching, but now runs on its own as a group course as well.
Today’s convo gets into everything from:
- HATERS — someone’s always going to have something negative to say no matter what
- Unintentional haters in your life, people who bring you down whether they realize it or not
- People projecting and how working hard to improve yourself may cause those who feel like they “can’t do” the same to feel uncomfortable or invalidated
- Those closest to you can sometimes be holding you back
- Lack of understanding that comes with living a different lifestyle
- Not depending on external validation, never going to be perfect to everyone
- Setting hard boundaries that are conducive to your lifestyle with those closest to you
- Criticism coming from people assuming you’ll be critical of their life choices
- Importance of not pushing what you’re doing on to others
- Not complaining, people who don’t understand what you’re doing won’t support you if it sounds like it makes you miserable
- Setting clear expectations — your goals should be important to those around you
- “No.” is an answer in itself, stop giving excuses for why
- People who are actively trying to be haters
- Flipping the script when people come for you
- Being aware of language and how you say things
Links From The Show:
- www.kylieuplifts.com
- The Confident 180 Blue Print
Each Wednesday, join Josh & Travis, long time friends building their businesses, as they deep dive topics and interview guests to teach themselves and their listeners how to turn struggles into strengths, follow their passion, and pursue greatness in everything mind, muscle, and money.
This podcast is for anyone who is looking to improve their health & fitness, leave the job they hate to find their passion, or generally improve their life.
How to contact us
- @travishawkesmedia
- @joshlevinefitness
- @Kylie_UpLifts
46 min - Tips For Growing An Instagram Page w/ Brittany Crisp
This Wednesday the boys catch up with their longtime friend Brittany Crisp to get the inside scoop on everything Instagram. With over 500k followers, B_Crispin has mastered the social media platform and is here to provide some valuable insight!
Today we talk about:
- Brittany's story, how she started an instagram page and her rise to insta fame
- How to work the algorithm and tips for growing an instagram page
- The life of an IG model, only fans, dealing with haters, and much more
If you’re at all looking to expand your presence on the photo-sharing app for either yourself or your business, episode 16 is calling your name. Oh, and definitely be sure to stay tuned until the very end—Brittany drops some absolute fire knowledge bombs throughout the ep and trust us you’re gonna want to hear ‘em all.
Each Wednesday, join Josh & Travis, long time friends building their businesses, as they deep dive topics and interview guests to teach themselves and their listeners how to turn struggles into strengths, follow their passion, and pursue greatness in everything mind, muscle, and money.
This podcast is for anyone who is looking to improve their health & fitness, leave the job they hate to find their passion, or generally improve their life.
Find more of Brittany:
- B_Crispin Instagram Account
- Article: Brittany Crisp Opens Up About Her Journey to Social Media Stardom
Today's Episode:
- How Brittany initially began gaining followers
- The challenges of navigating Instagram’s ever-changing landscape, both as far as trends and the platform itself
- Strategically increasing profile visibility through shoutouts and promotions
- Connecting and collaborating with larger accounts
- Importance of posting quality content
- Investing to grow instead of depending on organic growth
- Engagement strategy and tagging accounts for exposure
- Dedicating time to authentically respond to comments
- Hashtag strategy 411, what to do and what not to do
- Shadowbanned and how to avoid
- Instagram’s insane A.I. system
- Constantly staying up to date with the algorithm
- Reaching out to successful accounts similar to yours for advice
- Dealing with haters
- Power of paid promotions
How to contact us:
- @travishawkesmedia (contact Travis for media bookings, questions about the podcast, etc!)
- @joshlevinefitness (contact Josh for training booking, questions about the podcast, etc!)
Where to give us feedback or ask questions:
- Apple Podcasts - Please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!
- Youtube Channel - Please like and subscribe, you can also leave comments here and we’ll get back to you!
- JLF Community (Facebook Group) - join this private community and talk anything fitness!
1 hr 23 min - 3 Things You're Not Doing That Are Holding You Back From Success
This week the boys sit down to discuss three strategies Josh uses with all of his clients to get bad-ass results without forcing them to sacrifice their lives, or the foods they love most! These three strategies apply to everything in your life, from physique enhancement to focus and efficiency. These strategies will improve your life and ensure you will crush it in all things mind, muscle and money!
PLUS Travis drops a secret bonus strategy bomb at the end of the episode that blows Josh’s mind so make sure to listen all the way through! Things get a little heated, the guys have several laughs, so trust when we say episode 15 will not disappoint.
Three Strategies:
- Sleep - why sleep is so important and why you should want to learn to do it better.
- Stress Management - Stress is caused by both internal and external factors, perceived and systemic - we go through tons of strategies for stress management!
- Nutrition - more than just eating “well” — not just about labeling foods as good or bad, digestion is THE MOST important part of nutrition and how to optimize your body. Carbs — should you be afraid of them?
*Travis’ BONUS fourth strategy* make sure to listen all the way through because we have a bonus mindset bomb that is essential for your success and happiness so you'll want to stick around for that!
Show Links:
- Muscle Building Secrets Facebook Group! - click here to join
How to contact us
- @travishawkesmedia (contact Travis for media bookings, questions about the podcast, etc!)
- @joshlevinefitness (contact Josh for training booking, questions about the podcast, etc!)
Where to give us feedback or ask questions:
- Apple Podcasts - Please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!
- Youtube Channel - Please like and subscribe, you can also leave comments here and we’ll get back to you!
- INSTAGRAM - DM us any questions or feedback you have and we will get back to you!
- Call us and leave us a message on Anchor - use our Anchor Link here, click "message" to give us a call with any questions, feedback, or ideas for future episodes. We’d love to hear from you and may even include your voicemail on a future episode!
1 hr 6 min - How To Make A Difference W/ Bryan Saint-Louis
This week the boys get the incredible opportunity to interview Bryan Saint-Louis of the Make A Difference Podcast (a.k.a. @Madcasters) and man does this guy have a remarkable story to share.
Bryan BLS, aka "The Bodybuilding Pastor" is such a genuine character, and it definitely shines through. He’s a truly an inspiring dude with a phenomenal story, and we 100% guarantee this episode will fill your cup.
We cover a lot of topics today from:
- Bryans personal story of Struggle growing up in NYC and losing his daughter
- How he has been able to use his Struggles to create Strength in his life and now teaches the youth to do the same
- Characteristics and take aways for you to build Strength in your own life
Currently working as a pastor, Bryan has a passion for empowering today’s youth and strives to build up and strengthen the next generation by sharing his journey. After making a pivot during Covid to reach a larger audience, his primary goal is to create a massive positive impact and change the lives of as many people as possible. He’s the epitome of what it means to go from Struggle to Strength… oh, and plot twist, we learn that he’s also a bodybuilder! Get ready, because Episode 14 will for sure change your life and perspective in a very positive way.
Show Notes:
- How and why Bryan got into starting the Make A Difference Podcast
- What drives his passion to help and positively impact others
- How the little things we learn and adapt to throughout life help us deal with the challenges we face later on
- Importance of growing your mind and strengthening yourself mentally so you’re able to deal with the momentous occasions—both good and bad
- The toughest struggle Bryan has faced and how it made him love people more
- How he would not be the person he his today without EVERYTHING he’s been through
- How going through hard sh*t makes you resilient, every loss can be lesson
- Importance of viewing things from a different perspective in order to move on
- When Bryan began teaching and how he works to help “youth that are misunderstood”
- Importance of listening and understanding, as well as being vulnerable and sharing your own struggles to connect with others
- Power of speaking from experience rather than from theory
- Importance of always trying to learn and being a “student of learning”
- Becoming resilient by not taking the easy route and turning the negative to positive
- Bryan’s COVID experience and what he learned
- What he’s learned from the guests on his podcast
Where to find Bryan:
- @madcasters
- @bryan_bsl
- Madcasters Podcast Website
How to contact us
- @travishawkesmedia (contact Travis for media bookings, questions about the podcast, etc!)
- @joshlevinefitness (contact Josh for training booking, questions about the podcast, etc!)
Where to give us feedback or ask questions:
- Apple Podcasts - Please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!
- Youtube Channel - Please like and subscribe, you can also leave comments here and we’ll get back to you!
1 hr 4 min - Not Safe For Work W/ Drake Peterson
In today’s episode the boys sit down to interview the hilarious Drake Peterson of the band @Iration.
Drake is a podcast personality and co-host of the @drakeandjimmyjjewshow, as well as an entrepreneur with his own media company. Get ready for some wildly entertaining and NSFW conversations around Drake’s background, the future of the music industry, how he pivoted through COVID to put himself in the best position he’s ever been in, and how he has grown his podcast to the top of the ranks.
Show Contacts:
- @draketrumpetjam (personal)
- @iration (band)
- @drakeandjimmyjew (podcast)
How to contact us
- @travishawkesmedia (contact Travis for media bookings, questions about the podcast, etc!)
- @joshlevinefitness (contact Josh for training booking, questions about the podcast, etc!)
Where to give us feedback or ask questions:
- Apple Podcasts - Please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!
- Youtube Channel - Please like and subscribe, you can also leave comments here and we’ll get back to you!
- JLF Community (Facebook Group) - join this private community and talk anything fitness!
- INSTAGRAM - DM us any questions or feedback you have and we will get back to you!
- Call us and leave us a message on Anchor - use our Anchor Link here, click "message" to give us a call with any questions, feedback, or ideas for future episodes. We’d love to hear from you and may even include your voicemail on a future episode!
1 hr 6 min - Without Struggle There Is No Strength w/ Kenny and Sarah
In today's episode the boys talk to Kenny & Sarah Lipton, two coaches who have overcome struggle and adversity in their lives to find their passion and build their business. They are honestly two national treasures!
Today we go into everything from:
- The adversity and terrible accidents they experienced
- The struggles they've overcome
- How to pull the trigger and leave your "comfortable", "safe", corporate job and follow your passion
- How to battle the nay sayers
- How to battle internal and external doubt, and the loneliness that comes with entrepreneurship
- How they found their PASSION in the fitness industry , how to run a coaching business, and how all of this relates to your regular life, business, relationships, and much more!
- How to build a strong community of other successful and likeminded individuals
- How to love and deal with your family
- Social media tips!
Kenny was working a safe corporate Job in accounts payable which he hated, and trying to find his passion and professional career as a competitive bike rider when he had a horrible accident being hit by a car.
Sarah was in the event management and medical health insurance space also trying to find safety in her career and also unhappy with it when she suffered a terrible fall rock climbing. This got her in the gym as a means to recovery and pulling herself back up.
And the rest is history!
Show Link:
- Sarah Lipton Instagram
- Kenny Lipton Instagram
- Want to hear more from them? Check out Anthony Spada's episode of the Ace of Spada Podcast talking to them about Passion, Purpose, and Suffering
How to contact us
- @travishawkesmedia (contact Travis for media bookings, questions about the podcast, etc!)
- @joshlevinefitness (contact Josh for training booking, questions about the podcast, etc!)
Media:
- Filmed & recorded by Travis Hawkes Media. [email protected]
- The episode was edited by James Lohan
Each Wednesday, join Josh & Travis, long time friends building their businesses, as they deep dive topics and interview guests to teach themselves and their listeners how to turn struggles into strengths, follow their passion, and pursue greatness in everything mind, muscle, and money.
This podcast is for anyone who is looking to improve their health & fitness, leave the job they hate to find their passion, or generally improve their life,
Where to give us feedback:
Apple Podcasts - Please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!
Youtube Channel - Please like and subscribe, you can also leave comments here and we’ll get back to you!
JLF Community (Facebook Group) - join this private community and talk anything fitness!
INSTAGRAM - DM us any questions or feedback you have and we will get back to you!
1 hr 9 min
About Struggle To Strength Podcast
From the publisher's feed
Life is full of struggles.
Each Wednesday, join Josh & Travis, long time friends building their businesses, as they deep dive topics and interview guests to teach themselves and their listeners how to turn struggles into strengths, follow their passion, and pursue greatness in everything mind, muscle, and money.
This podcast is for anyone who is looking to improve their health & fitness, leave the job they hate to find their passion, or generally improve their life.
#nostrugglenostrength
#knowstruggleknowstrength