In this episode, I sit down with my client and friend Jamie Wood for a powerful conversation about life after football, identity, structure, and what it really means to live with intention as we get older.

Jamie and I go back to our days at Ohio State, and we talk through what it felt like to play in an environment built on pressure, high standards, and attention to detail and how those lessons have shaped the way we show up today in business, relationships, and life.

We get into Jamie’s unique transition into compliance and NIL, what he learned mentoring athletes behind the scenes, and how that experience led him to build his own business guiding young athletes through the opportunities and challenges NIL brings.

From there, we dive into how our training has evolved since football. We talk about longevity, sustainability, smart programming, and how having structure in your fitness spills into every other part of your life. Jamie shares how training at Everyday Athlete has given him back that feeling of being an athlete again: the camaraderie, the accountability, the community.

This conversation is all about growth, purpose, and evolution beyond the game. If you’re a former athlete or high performer trying to find your footing again, build structure back into your life, or reconnect with the athlete you used to be, then this episode is for you.

10% off Transparent labs = https://www.transparentlabs.com/ZACH69920

Everyday Athlete Website = https://everydayathletefitness.com/

Everyday Athlete Online Coaching = https://everydayathletefitness.com/online-coaching

Everyday Athlete In-Person Training = https://everydayathletefitness.com/in-person-training

Free Everyday Athlete Program = https://everyday-athlete.kit.com/183cb2d51d

Back when I was in high school, I used to walk into Supplement Superstores with my buddies and buy whatever was popular or hyped without really understanding what I was taking or ‘why.’

Fast forward to today, my perspective on supplements has completely evolved. I’ve learned that supplements aren’t the foundation, they’re the icing on the cake. The cake is built through training, nutrition, sleep, recovery, and stress management. Once those are dialed in, supplements can take your results to the next level.

In this episode, I break down how I approach supplements now, the quality criteria I use to choose what I take, and why I only back products that align with my values and standards. I also share my current supplement stack and explain how each one supports health, training, recovery, and longevity.

Here’s what I cover:

• How my mindset around supplements has evolved

• The six key things I look for when choosing high-quality products

• My personal stack (Vitamin D + K2, Krill Oil, Magnesium, CBD, Creatine, Grass-Fed Whey, Electrolytes)

• Why I use Transparent Labs and what separates them from the rest

• The latest research on creatine’s benefits for both performance and cognitive health
  

• Why supplements can’t fix inconsistency, but they can absolutely enhance it

  
  

  If you’re tired of feeling like lifting and running pull you in opposite directions, this episode will show you how to balance both, avoid burnout, and train like an athlete for life.

  
  

  Everyday Athlete Online coaching

  Everyday Athlete In-Person Training

  Transparent Labs (10% off discount using this link)

  Free Everyday Athlete Program

I was once the guy who said, “I hate running.” And that's because I wasn’t good at it and I didn’t know how to ease myself into it. Coming from a football background, conditioning for me meant short, explosive bursts, not long steady miles.

After playing, I defaulted to HIIT every session and pushed too hard, too often. The result was poor recovery, hormone issues, nagging injuries, and a body that didn’t look, move, or feel the way I wanted. What I’ve learned since, is that the key to balancing lifting and conditioning isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing less but better, and with more intention.

In this episode, I share how I structure my own training and my clients’ training to make lifting and running (or any form of conditioning) work together instead of against each other.

More topics covered:

• Why high intensity training can’t be the default and how to balance it with low/moderate intensity training
• How to properly manage load and intensity in your training to avoid overtraining
• How to drive great results in the gym without any pain
• The role of Zone 2 cardio and why it’s a game-changer for building aerobic capacity, improving performance keeping stress on the body low
• Why upper/lower and full-body are the two best training splits in the game and why they work great alongside running and conditioning
• The “seasons of training” approach: when to bias strength, when to bias endurance, and how to juggle both year-round
• My personal failures and the lessons learned from them: overdoing HIIT, negative hormone implications, unregulated training stress, overtraining and pushing through pain/injuries
• Why real progress comes from recovery and stress management, not grinding harder
  

If you’re tired of feeling like lifting and running pull you in opposite directions, this episode will show you how to balance both, avoid burnout, and train like an athlete for life.

Everyday Athlete Online coaching

Everyday Athlete In-Person Training

Transparent Labs (10% off discount using this link)

In this episode, I sit down with my former Ohio State teammate and one of my best friends, Sam Hubbard.

We first met in 2014 when he came in as a freshman on the football team. I had just made the transition from playing lacrosse at Ohio State the year prior to walking on to the football team and we both found ourselves playing on scout team together. Over time, Sam evolved into our starting defensive end and went on to have an incredible 7-year NFL career with the Cincinatti Bengals. I carved my own path too, earning a scholarship and starting on special teams and at fullback, to eventually starting my own business. That shared growth and progression laid the foundation for a friendship that’s lasted over a decade.

This conversation goes beyond football. It’s about personal development, navigating life transitions, being adaptable, and learning to evolve beyond our playing days.

More topics we discussed:

• How Sam made the decision to retire from the NFL with clarity and confidence

• What it was like to transition from lacrosse to football, tight end to D-end, and eventually college to the NFL

• The way he handled distractions and high pressure in an environment where it’s easy to lose focus

• What kept his body performing at a high level year after year in one of the most physical positions on the field

• The mental side of high performance and the pressure we put on ourselves to keep winning and succeeding

• • Lessons from football that permanently shaped his mindset and life
  • New businesses that he is involved in and life after football

• The common denominator he believes separates the top 1%

  
  

Follow Sam and see what he's up to now:

Sam's Instagram

Sam Hubbard Foundation

Contrast Studios

Rhoback

Everyday Athlete Links:

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Everyday Athlete Online Coaching

Everyday Athlete In-Person Training (Columbus, OH)

In this episode, I sit down with two of my Everyday Athlete clients: Gino and Spencer to talk through their incredible transformations, both inside and outside of the gym.

Gino is a former college baseball player and military vet who once weighed 300 lbs. Today, he’s a lean and jacked 170, crushing endurance events and proving what’s possible with the right plan and mindset.

Spencer is a former college football player who came into the Everyday Athlete program banged up. He had hip surgery, shoulder pain, knee issues, acne/inflammation/gut health issues and sitting at 230 lbs. Fast forward to now, he’s 180, pain-free, acne free and moving and feeling better than ever.

In this episode we dive into:- How we rebuilt their bodies through smart, progressive training- The mindset shifts that changed their lives (not just physically) - What it was like to compete in HYROX together alongside other Everyday Athlete guys like Riley and Todd- How training with purpose and understanding the 'why' reignited their passion for fitness - The deeper sense of brotherhood and community they found within the Everyday Athlete program

This episode is the perfect picture of what it means to evolve your edge and how fitness, when done right, becomes a catalyst for growth in every single area of life.Tap in this one’s powerful.

Everyday Athlete Train Program (use code 'PODCAST' to get an entire month of training for free): ⁠⁠https://everydayathletetrain.my.canva.site/⁠⁠ Everyday Athlete Elite (individualized online coaching): ⁠https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJTRvv0IDmvWB3CFMmkQDl0FnNr0nKswUN4CZRtp3_pfujKQ/viewform⁠Free Everyday Athlete Program:⁠ ⁠https://everyday-athlete.ck.page/55f3c4e52f⁠

In this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend and former teammate, Jackson Hayes, fellow Ohio State linebacker, performance coach, and now founder of a 24,000 sq ft wellness collective that’s changing the game.

Jackson and I reconnected in 2020 at a sports performance facility. I was just getting started in personal training and we instantly bonded over our shared vision for coaching and building something bigger.

We learned, coached, and grew alongside one another, eventually launching Relentless Training, an online training platform. We even pitched a hybrid in-person/online training model to a private investor.

The deal didn’t go through, but true to the name Relentless, Jackson never stopped pushing. While I leaned into building the Everyday Athlete brand, Jackson stayed focused on opening a performance facility. We went our separate ways, but the respect and support never faded.

Now in 2025, that original investor came back around and Jackson is opening the facility he always dreamed of: a 24/7, 24,000 sq ft training space serving both athletes and everyday people.

And now, he’s coaching youth, high school, collegiate and NFL athletes, bridging the gap with elite-level performance training.

In this episode, we reflect on the early days, the pivots, and what it truly takes to stay the course in business, fitness and life. This is a story of patience, purpose, and relentless pursuit.

Everyday Athlete Train Program (use code 'PODCAST' to get an entire month of training for free):

https://everydayathletetrain.my.canva.site/

Elite (individualized online coaching):

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQvqk2RRjWuM7z59WZFI7KR7UkJSW7THEizsvZBWclkZQKcA/viewform

Free Everyday Athlete Program:⁠ ⁠

https://everyday-athlete.kit.com/55f3c4e52f

In this episode, I’m sharing my journeyfrom D1 athlete at Ohio State to founder and business owner—the struggles,lessons, and raw moments that shaped me. From my early days in St. Louis as atwo-sport athlete to joining Ohio State football in 2014, I dive into what itwas like playing under Urban Meyer and Coach Fickell, training for Pro Day, andthe mistakes I made putting my entire identity into football.

Post-college, I felt lost. Getting my MBAand working corporate made me realize it wasn’t for me, and I had to face thehard truth that mental health is just as important as physical health. Butfitness was always there. From my grandpa’s WWII barbells to launching Everyday Athlete, my mission has been toraise the standard.

I also talk about the challenge of complacency aftersuccess—whether in sports or business, it’s easy to stop pushing forward afterwe accomplish something great. I share how I found myself slipping recently in2024 and why Evolve Your Edge becamemy mindset. Confidence is built through evidence, discomfort is part of theprocess, and doing the work is what separates those who grow from those whostay stuck.

Everyday Athlete Train Program (use code'PODCAST' to get an entire month of training for free): ⁠⁠https://everydayathletetrain.my.canva.site/⁠⁠

Everyday Athlete Elite (individualizedonline coaching): ⁠https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJTRvv0IDmvWB3CFMmkQDl0FnNr0nKswUN4CZRtp3_pfujKQ/viewform⁠

Free Everyday Athlete Program:

⁠ ⁠https://everyday-athlete.ck.page/55f3c4e52f⁠

In this episode of The Everyday Athlete Podcast, I sit down with CJ Saunders, former Ohio State Buckeye, NFL athlete, and team captain, to talk about the evolution of the athlete and why growth shouldn’t stop when our playing days are over.

CJ’s journey from walk-on to scholarship athlete, captain, and NFL player is nothing short of inspiring. But beyond the accolades, his perspective on identity, values, and continuous growth is what truly stands out. We dive deep into what it means to embody the habits of the person you want to become before you actually become them and how this mindset shift can redefine your trajectory in sports, business, and life. If you’ve ever wondered what’s next after athletics and how to keep evolving your edge, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

Everyday Athlete Train Program/Training APP (use code 'PODCAST' to get an entire month of training for free):⁠https://everydayathletetrain.my.canva.site/⁠

Everyday Athlete Elite (individualized coaching):https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJTRvv0IDmvWB3CFMmkQDl0FnNr0nKswUN4CZRtp3_pfujKQ/viewform

Free Everyday Athlete Program:

⁠https://everyday-athlete.ck.page/55f3c4e52f

Keep up with CJ here:

https://www.instagram.com/cj_saunders_/

In this episode of The Everyday Athlete Podcast, I sit down with Roy Hall Jr.—a former Buckeye football legend, NFL athlete, and one of the most influential mentors in my life.

Roy first impacted me as a player at Ohio State, speaking to our team with words of faith and purpose that extended far beyond football. Years later, our bond deepened—he became my client, and I continued to learn from his wisdom. Roy even officiated my wedding, a full-circle moment that speaks to our shared values and respect.

Today, as the founder of DRIVEN, Roy is dedicated to service, mentorship, and empowering communities. We discuss his journey, the mindset shifts for long-term fitness, and what it means to be an athlete for life.

This conversation is a testament to impact, purpose, and resilience. Tune in to hear Roy’s incredible story.

Show notes:

Everyday Athlete Train (use code 'PODCAST' to get an entire month for FREE!): ⁠https://everydayathletetrain.my.canva.site/⁠

Roy Hall Jr. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/royhalljr_/

Roy Hall Jr.'s Website: https://royhalljr.com/

Everyday Athlete Elite (coaching): ⁠https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQvqk2RRjWuM7z59WZFI7KR7UkJSW7THEizsvZBWclkZQKcA/viewform⁠

Free Everyday Athlete Program: ⁠https://everyday-athlete.ck.page/55f3c4e52f

In episode #2 of The Everyday Athlete Podcast, we sit down with College Football legend Cardale Jones. Best known for leading Ohio State to a National Championship in 2014, Cardale’s story is one of perseverance, talent, and seizing the moment.

We dive into his journey from Glenville High School to Ohio State, where he stepped up as a third-string QB and delivered dominant performances against Wisconsin, Alabama, and Oregon to win the Buckeyes' first College Football Playoff title.

Cardale also reflects on his NFL career, his time in the XFL, and his transition into business. Now, as his coach, I help him stay in peak shape through personalized training, nutrition, and lifestyle strategies.

Having shared the field with Cardale in 2014, it’s a full-circle moment to now coach him. Tune in to hear his inspiring story of resilience, leadership, and life beyond football.

Show notes:

Everyday Athlete Train (use code 'PODCAST' to get an entire month for FREE!): https://everydayathletetrain.my.canva.site/

Everyday Athlete Elite (coaching): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQvqk2RRjWuM7z59WZFI7KR7UkJSW7THEizsvZBWclkZQKcA/viewform

Free Everyday Athlete Program: https://everyday-athlete.ck.page/55f3c4e52f