The Dark Studio

Bumper Music Credit: Prazkhanal

Today’s guest is Jerry Kuykendall

***NOTICE: Please be patient at the 42:58-43:23 mark as we experienced a bit of an “off and on” audio disruption for about 25 seconds, BUT I decided not to edit it out as it cleared up for us to complete the show.

Jerry is a coach, philosopher, influencer, and founder of Biohacking Truth.

Make sure you follow Jerry on social media here…

Biohacking Truth Facebook

GETTR

Website: Biohacking Truth

Also listen to this episode here on…

Spotify

Apple Podcasts

Also to connect with me please make sure you join me here on Facebook and GETTR

Stay strong. Stay focused. Stay active.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandonrichey.substack.com/subscribe

Bumper Music Credit: Prazkhanal

Today’s guest is Shea Taylor

Shea Taylor is and Entrepreneur, Adaptive Athlete, and Influencer

Make sure to follow Shea on social media here:

Facebook

Instagram

You can also listen to this episode on…

Spotify

Apple

Stitcher

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandonrichey.substack.com/subscribe

Bumper Music Credit: Prazkhanal

Today’s guest is Rocky Shipes

Rocky is a lifelong athlete, a 22 year pro-golfer, 5 time champion trick shot artist and long driver, and a United States Flag carpenter.

Make sure you connect with Rocky here:

Facebook

Instagram

Also listen to this episode here on…

Spotify

Apple Podcasts

Also to connect with me please make sure you join me here on Facebook and GETTR

Stay strong. Stay focused. Stay active.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandonrichey.substack.com/subscribe

Bumper Music Credit: Prazkhanal

Today’s episode is an audio read out of the first article I ever published on my Substack here at brandonrichey.substack.com back on April 8th of 2022. This particular piece is what I would consider to be an explanation as to the catalyst of me extending my topics of discussion beyond the space of fitness alone.

The reason for my motivation toward this was because of society’s reaction towards the so-called pandemic rather than the being concerned about the virus itself. As we now know that assessment of society allowing governments to step in and spread a wave of destruction with propaganda, lockdowns, and excessive government spending has led us to this nightmare scenario we’re faced with now with governments literally collapsing as the globalist model completely craters right in front of our faces.

Preface

As I sit here hammering out my thoughts with the strike of each key of my laptop I find myself examining my thoughts with the intent of sharing that very examination with you in a way that will hopefully transform your life. 

The reason I’m here has more to do with what has happened in the past couple of years regarding our society’s reaction to COVID-19 rather than COVID-19 itself. Here’s a quick recap. 

Apparently in regards to COVID the mechanics of human nature work like this...

The administrative state declared war on the American people's health and freedom along with the world a couple years ago with the authoritarian measures in response to COVID.

At first it was...

* Follow the $cience and just wear a mask.

* Then go on house arrest.

* Then it was "purchase PPE." 

* Then it was shutdown your business to slow the spread.

* Then the administrative state said let's print a lot of money to pay for the horrible decision we made to ruin people's businesses and livelihoods.

Even after all of this the lockdowns continued despite the $cience being exposed for all of its corruption and hand in the entire pandemic. Vaccine cards and passports were pushed. More authoritarian measures came with a 24/7 relentless media cycle to push a complete lie.

Truly effective alternative treatments were suppressed and demonized. Now more information is coming to light about the dangers of taking the administrative state's so-called treatment.

Furthermore the obvious bastardization and corruption of the teacher's unions, the scientific community, and much of the medical community continue to come into the light.

In conjunction with this white woke soccer moms continue to virtue signal falling in line with the corrupt media narrative by wearing their masks in their profile pics on social media and shaming others in the name of $cience.

To push back truly brave and powerful doctors, epidemiologists, and virologists (numbering nearly 20,000 worldwide) form a coalition against all of this insanity called the The Great Barrington Declaration where TRUE SCIENCE is expressed.

Still woke moms continue to scream to follow the $cience, but NOT the real science involved with The Great Barrington Declaration. 

Fast forward to now and Ukraine and Russia hit the media cycle and all the sudden COVID is apparently cured. Despite the world protesting authoritarian measures for months now the COVID fight is silent because the new thing is Russia and Ukraine.

Naturally white woke soccer moms are now posting the Ukrainian flag in their profile pics and supporting the administrative state's call to sleepwalk us into WWIII without even understanding a single thing about the corruption our politicians have had for years in Ukraine, the global movement, and the WEF's attempt to turn you into a serf where "You will own nothing and be happy." A direct quote of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

So we go to full on economic warfare with Russia and now Russia and China are aligning along with Saudi Arabia. These bad actors are now calling to do all their trading with Russian oil in Rubles instead of the U.S. dollar.

Now a sitting president's son is compromised (something many of us knew during the 2020 election because we actually know how to research below the first layer).

Now we are staring down WWIII with inept leaders, a broken economy, record high inflation, food shortages, and the collapse of the U.S. dollar.

So I know you're probably sitting there reading this and thinking Ok Brandon what is your point?

My point is the same damn point I've been making all along. The mechanics of human nature is that many people will just be sheep and do what the TV tells them to do, but that sure as hell isn't me. My point is for you to take ownership of your life, your freedom, and health.

These people in the administrative state hate you and me. The last thing they want is an informed, engaged, and unified populous.

I'm not ready to give up my U.S. citizenship for global citizenship. Screw them and screw anyone that thinks any of this is good. It's not, BUT we can change the Arc of history.

Am I alone?

Motivation: If You Want To Be a Maverick Then Bring Hell With You

I can't speak to what motivates you, but if you're reading this then perhaps my perspective isn't too far off target. The wheels of change grind on and on and if this sounds too cliche' for you then take into consideration what's happened in the past couple years of the pandemic. 

Before I move forward please allow me a moment to briefly look back and shed some light on my background. My fitness and coaching career has spanned over a 20 year period. In that period I've dealt with people from every background, ability level, and walk of life you can think of and within all of that period of time the thing I realize is that inspiration is a two-way street that can come and go, but motivation is a one way street reserved for those that will blaze a trail consistently day in and day out. 

From my time at the University of Georgia football strength and conditioning program to my work in the private sector with professional and amateur fighters there's one thing that rings true to those that get the biggest results. Those that get the results believe in human agency and they are what I define as Mavericks in life. 

Well, this brings me right up to the definition of a Maverick.

You see if you look up the word Maverick in the dictionary you’re going to see some very strong words that happen to fit right into place here and are the very backbone of this post. 

A Maverick is defined as an unorthodox, or independent-minded person. Other similar descriptive words include an individualist, a nonconformist, or free spirit. These are all accurate and true. 

The Duke And The Guy Code 

However, in addition to all of these very accurate characteristics I also believe there’s a lot more to being a Maverick. You see to me a true Maverick is someone who believes freedom may not be without consequence, but for those of us that understand this we are willing to ACCEPT that premise because we know that true freedom is also WITHOUT restriction. 

Yes, a Maverick is all about not conforming and resisting the constant nagging of society telling him or her to fall in line and to mindlessly obey. The Maverick is the first one to extend a fist and raise the middle finger in defiance to unfair and inappropriate authoritarian behavior. 

However this does not mean that the Maverick doesn’t live by a certain set of rules, or by an effective code of ethics if you will. 

To put this in perspective I want to mention a story I recently read about involving “The Duke” John Wayne. The vignette I’m referencing here came from one of the chapters in the book Everything I Need To Know I Learned From John Wayne. 

In this particular chapter the book is referencing a defining moment during the production of a key movie in The Duke’s career called The Shootist. This movie is significant because it was John Wayne’s final movie before his passing. 

During the filming there was a problem that The Duke had with the script. As the story goes there was a particular scene in the movie that called for Wayne to shoot a man in the back. 

John Wayne did not like this at all. In fact, he was so displeased with the scene that he went to meet with the director about it. Wayne approached the director with the script in hand and pointed to the scene asking him what it was all about? 

The director responded simply by saying that was the script. I’m paraphrasing here, but Wayne basically said to the director that I’ve been in over 80 movies during my career and I’ve never shot a man in the back. I didn’t do it then and I’m certainly not going to do it now. Change the script. I'll give you one guess as to what happened next. As you probably thought that meeting resulted in the script being changed in that scene. 

So what’s the point here? The point is that John Wayne was a Maverick in that very moment illustrating that he wasn’t just going to go along just to get along. He stood up for his principles and corrected the situation immediately. 

You see this is what a Maverick does. It’s about leading and making a tough call perhaps when most would cave to the pressure. It’s about solving the problem by using your mind and your instincts.  

This is what it’s like to be aggressive about something you believe in while also being willing to accept that you may cause some disruption. This is what it means to be a Maverick. 

Are you willing to stand up for your principles, or give them up when the moment of reckoning reveals itself to you in a high pressure situation? 

Do you have what it takes to be a Maverick?

Looking Back A Little More Before Looking Ahead

For the past two years I’ve watched the most insane and inept people on TV and on my social media newsfeed try to support a complete lie while innocent people died. I know you know exactly what I’m talking about. 

People were literally dying because of a certain political narrative that was being pushed because they didn’t want a certain Maverick in the white house to get any credit whatsoever regarding an effective treatment for a certain virus we’re all sick of hearing about. Yeah I said it, Trump wasn’t right about everything, BUT he was right about a lot of things like the use of therapeutics when it came to treating the virus. 

After witnessing this insanity I couldn’t believe how far reaching and how prevalent the lie against therapeutics was while being spread across my newsfeed by people I knew, people I went to school with, and by people who are supposedly the respected opinions of the medical community. I know now these people have zero credibility. 

I knew this demonization of therapeutics was a complete political lie at the moment because I looked at what was happening with reality. After all, at the onset of COVID with the media reporting a 24/7 cycle of alarmism and red alerts with dead bodies piling up in the streets I asked one simple question that nobody in the medical field that has a disagreement with me can seem to answer.  

Question: With the panic messaging from the media I just described why would any sensible and credible medical professional restrict and even demonize ANY potential treatment option? 

Answer: Crickets. 

So in looking ahead this is exactly why I’m sitting here writing this Substack for you. I am now engaged in harnessing my experience in the field of fitness and health, my examination of history, knowledge of philosophy, and ability to call out the constant lies and inconsistencies when it is necessary. 

What I’ve come to realize is that the battle lines have been drawn and we are currently facing a global totalitarian situation with COVID and now Russia/Ukraine being used as a Trojan horse attempt to usher it all in. 

To quote the great Steve Bannon “Courage is Contagious” and my hopes here are to help to spread that courage to you to walk out into the face of these insane people and stand defiant daily. 

Now is the time for you to take ownership of your life, your health, and your finances. Make sure you support those people who share this view that I’ve outlined here in this Substack. Of course I hope you’ll support me by spreading this message or signing up, but if you don’t then please go out and get behind someone else who shares this viewpoint. The bottom line is that you MUST step into your power and get involved in some way. 

Wrap Up

My goal here isn’t to tell you what to think, BUT rather to offer my perspective and firsthand experience on the issues I outline so that you can see a path forward and think through more of these problems as they arise in our current society because if there’s one thing we can agree on it’s that these problems are going to keep coming. 

Now is the time to take the fight (In the form of information, legal action, finances, etc.) to these corrupt politicians and even those people within your circles who are spreading lies like I’ve outlined here in this article. Start calling people out and don’t be shy about correcting them. It’s not a lost cause it is THE CAUSE. 

Also now available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Please make sure you share with your family, friends, and coworkers.

Stay strong, stay focused, stay on course.

Also to connect with me please make sure you join me here on Facebook and GETTR

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandonrichey.substack.com/subscribe

Also available on…

Spotify

Apple Podcasts

Bumper Music Credit: Prazkhanal

Also to connect with me please make sure you join me here on Facebook and GETTR

Stay strong. Stay focused. Stay active.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandonrichey.substack.com/subscribe

Bumper Music Credit: Prazkhanal

Today’s guest is Paul Douglas Passmore

Paul Passmore is a National Champion Arm Wrestler and Influencer

Make sure to follow Paul on social media here:

Facebook

YouTube

Instagram

Also to connect with me please make sure you join me here on Facebook and GETTR

Stay strong. Stay focused. Stay active.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandonrichey.substack.com/subscribe

The world is a spinning rock of chaos and there’s a huge cloud of uncertainty that is looming over the future of our world and our respective countries. However I want you to understand that I’m not saying this to paint a dark picture, or to discourage you. No, I’m not saying that at all. 

In fact, I’m saying this for the complete opposite reason. I’m saying this because right now in this very moment is the time that you can seize on a huge opportunity and fight this corruption that is plaguing our planet. 

Right now is the time that you can learn self-mastery and it starts by reminding yourself about what you’re capable of along with trusting in your mind, your instincts, and in your own abilities. 

We are currently living in the middle of economic and information warfare when it comes to the suppression of our voices, our financial circumstances, and most importantly our health. This suppression comes from authoritarians who are taking action in order to infiltrate every aspect of our lives so that they can gain control of our lives and reap the financial benefits of doing so through corrupt means and continuous subversions of our major societal institutions. 

However the authoritarians aren’t the ONLY ones who can take ACTION. No, if you’re reading this then YOU have the ability to take action yourself in order to combat all of these authoritarians on multiple fronts. 

Remember that hope by itself is not a strategy. Hope can only be helped along and achieved by those that back up the things they are hoping for with a solid action plan. Action applied directly to a smart plan is what will get you the result you desire most and RIGHT now in this moment is the absolute best time for you to do just that. 

Perhaps you’ve been considering a run for office to fight authoritarians that want to force you to take a certain dangerous medical treatment, perhaps you want to be a precinct captain in your voting district to kick out establishment politicians from your party, or you just want to start a business to offer a solid freedom first alternative to the woke corporations that are contributing to the destruction of western civilization. 

Regardless of your reasons, or your motivations, if you have been riding on the fence about whether or not you should just jump in with both feet then perhaps the lists of steps included in this  article will help to give you a nudge to jump in feet first with your new venture. 

Before I get into this list I want you to understand something. Firstly, there’s an old quote that my dad kept on our refrigerator when we were growing up and he keeps that same piece of paper with that quote in his office till this very day. I’ve included the quote here below…

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.–Charles Swindoll

Keep in mind that the strongest people aren’t always those that display strength in front of others, but rather fight and win battles that we never see them fight. Some of the biggest battles are fought by individuals daily in the shadows and out of the view of the general public. During these battles that take place when you’re alone with your thoughts and doubts you must face the toughest adversary you’ll ever face off with in your entire life.  

That adversary is YOU. That’s right, whenever you pursue anything with meaning and challenge there’s going to be moments of fear and self-doubt that will try to creep its way into your head. 

This doubt is what I have often referred to as the Doubt Monster. Believe me it doesn’t require a lot to feed the Doubt Monster in order to make it strong and it will definitely demand a significant amount of your energy and fortitude at times to wrestle it back into its cage so that you can lock it up and throw away the key. 

I’ve had plenty of these moments myself as I’m sure you have had yours to face as well. Despite this struggle in order to start building mental resilience you MUST maintain a healthy practice of positive mental thoughts and fight to maintain a positive mind and attitude towards victory even if we are in the middle of a 5th Generation War. 

With that being said let’s start honing your mindset by diving into this top 10 list that I’ve come up with over my lifetime that has proven to be a huge help to me in my most challenging life moments.  

The List

1) Emotional stability: Keep in mind that strong leadership requires that you have to make difficult decisions under pressure. When faced with difficult tasks you must stay objective and not allow your emotions to get involved and overwhelm you particularly when you are in the minority and faced with what seems like overwhelming odds. 

Overly emotional people will display their weakness by talking over others, attacking, or making knee jerk decisions. Strong, stoic, and more logical people will maintain a level head and think through a problem regardless of how they’re feeling. This is how you start stacking the metaphorical bricks to build on your own mental strength.

2) Lean on your experience: Your perspective will help you a lot in a high pressure situation as long as you remember to acknowledge it. When the world seems to be falling apart around you this is when you can exercise your resolve by keeping your eye on your goal and not allowing the surrounding noise to derail you from your objective. In this moment remember where you’ve been and remember how you ended up pursuing your endeavor in the first place. 

3) Detachment: This is perhaps one of the toughest steps for most people to apply to their own lives. To detach means that you must block out the thought, or feeling to take things too personally. Don’t waste time wondering Why did this happen to me?  Instead keep that laser focus on the variables you know you can handle and control in your own life.

To spend the energy worrying about the variables you absolutely cannot control is only a waste of your energy. Remember that your agency (ability to act) should be your primary focus. 

4) Strength under pressure: Demonstrate strength and stability in the face of chaos and negative situations. This requires discipline, but if you can do this you’ll be better able to handle these situations the more they arise. If you’ve ever heard of the phrase “Baptism by fire” this scenario definitely involves that and in many cases there’s no better way to learn than by training yourself to do this. 

5) Understand the 6 P’s rule: Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance. So make sure that you plan ahead for all situations as best you can to minimize stress and failure and to maximize success. 

If you fail to plan then you plan to fail and in these current times neither you or myself can afford not to plan whether it involves planning for the best or for the worst of times. Once again the preparation lays the foundation for success in ANY given scenario.

6) Self-validation: One of the biggest mistakes you can make is worrying about pleasing others. Sure you should always want to put your best foot forward, but if you truly have put your best foot forward that should be enough. Therefore, don’t forget what you stand for and always strive to do the right thing.

This is especially true in this current day and age. Whatever you do NEVER allow ANYONE to force you to compromise your principles. Nobody gets a pass on this including your wife, husband, family, friends, and coworkers. Never give in on this. Your principles in action will define you and THAT is validation enough…unless of course you lack sound principles in the first place, but that’s a conversation for another day. 

7) If you’re not patient then demonstrate the discipline to be: I always have people to tell me that I’m a patient person, but the reality is that I’m not. 

So what I’ve come to recognize is that I never feel patient, but rather I can demonstrate the discipline to express patience. This is because I recognize important things are always a working progress and the simple reality is that most things rarely happen in a smooth and seamless manner. 

8) Gratitude: One of the biggest mistakes you can make is focusing on what you don’t have and comparing yourself to others. I know it’s human nature to do so, but it’s a mistake. Therefore, focus on what you do have and what you’re striving to achieve…period. 

Gratitude, like humility, is NOT a sign of weakness, but rather a super power in today’s world. It can be very challenging at times to look for gratitude, but if you can slow down and recognize what you are thankful for in times of difficulty and turmoil you’ll be better prepared mentally and emotionally to push yourself forward in your attempts to reach new heights. 

9) Maintain your course with tenacity: Be tenacious no matter where you are on the road towards your goals. If anyone tries to knock you off course you’ve got to detach from them. 

Therefore, maintain your course and surround yourself with those that will support your efforts. This doesn’t necessarily mean financial support, but emotional and mental support should be all the energy you get from those around you. To sum it up, if that girlfriend or boyfriend isn’t giving you that energy, get rid of them.

10) Maintain your standards: Don’t lower your bar just because times get slow, or you feel like you may lose the deal. Maintain a high standard and figure out a way to make it work if you can. So if you can’t you can’t, but the war is not over.

This one is especially important right now in this current economic environment with 40 year record high inflation and the worst economy we’ve seen in decades. With that in mind it’s vitally important you are aware of the less than desirable economic circumstances, but at the same time don’t allow this environment to cheapen your standards in terms of determining the value of what you can offer to others. 

Remember that you’re doing this to not only better your own station in life, but to also bring about better value to a corrupt and broken system. The system is already full of rot and decay so don’t allow your standards to be degraded because the current environment is full of it. 

Don’t forget that you are here to be the Maverick and the new standard for society, not to contribute to the trash heap that’s already piling up that we already see so much of now.

The Wrap Up

At the end of the day if you desire to build a more resilient mind and spirit then you’ve got to work at it. This requires action from you daily. There’s no more time for you to sit on the sidelines, or to observe from the stands. If you are going to step into the arena then now is the time to do it. Both of our futures depend on it. 

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."--Theodore Roosevelt 

You must practice daily at being more stoic and to maintain your focus. You must also be willing to fight for freedom and to smash anything that resembles a Marxist belief by being the example that you stand for freedom.  

If you’re experiencing the negative you need to mentally work to remove that from your thoughts. Follow this list.

What strategies are you using to build mental strength and resiliency?

Are you applying any of these for yourself now?

I hope you liked today’s audio article and if so please make sure you subscribe yourself and hit one of the share buttons to help spread the message.

By you taking action to share and subscribe it allows this show to stay on the road otherwise none of this would work.

Also to connect with me please make sure you join me here on Facebook and GETTR

Stay strong. Stay focused. Stay active.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandonrichey.substack.com/subscribe

Bumper Music Credit: Prazkhanal

Also to connect with me please make sure you join me here on Facebook and GETTR

Stay strong. Stay focused. Stay active.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandonrichey.substack.com/subscribe

Bumper Music Credit: Prazkhanal

Today’s guest is Kelly Leo

He’s the owner and CEO of Full Throttle Fitness

Make sure to follow Kelly on his social media here:

Full Throttle Fitness

Facebook

Instagram

Also to connect with me please make sure you join me here on Facebook and GETTR

Stay strong. Stay focused. Stay active.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandonrichey.substack.com/subscribe

Bumper Music Credit: Prazkhanal

Today’s guest is Jerry Kuykendall.

He’s the owner and CEO of Biohacking Truth.

Make sure to follow Jerry on his social media here:

Biohacking Truth Facebook

GETTR

Website: Biohacking Truth

Also to connect with me please make sure you join me here on Facebook and GETTR

Stay strong. Stay focused. Stay active.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brandonrichey.substack.com/subscribe