Marcos and Seamus sit down with Stephen Olson of Benchmark Body Metrics to dig into VO2 max testing, metabolic carts, DEXA scans, blood work, and wearable accuracy. Stephen breaks down what VO2 testing can and cannot tell us, why protocols should be individualized, and what his sauna experiments revealed about metabolism. They also cover aerobic base training, zone two, and why the right data helps people drop their ego and train for their actual goals.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 — Meet Stephen Olson
• 01:00 — Stephen's wellness clinic
• 02:15 — Testing women accurately
• 04:35 — Metabolic carts explained
• 06:32 — Walking vs running
• 09:08 — VO2 testing equipment
• 10:04 — VO2 Master limitations
• 12:54 — Reliable VO2 protocols
• 13:55 — SkiErg rower bike
• 14:47 — Goal-driven testing
• 16:38 — Zone two intervals
• 18:33 — Stephen's wattage tests
• 20:21 — Sauna metabolism test
• 22:01 — Sauna experiment results
• 25:41 — Blood work markers
• 28:21 — Genetics and VO2
• 30:26 — VO2 isn't fitness
• 32:39 — Protocols distort results
• 36:00 — Adapting client protocols
• 37:48 — No universal protocol
• 40:36 — VO2 test length
• 42:34 — Assessments drive change
• 43:31 — Stephen's training journey
• 45:27 — Data helped Stephen
• 48:23 — Aerobic base building
• 51:10 — Individualized endurance training
• 53:36 — Body composition changes
• 57:54 — Concept2 calorie accuracy
• 59:13 — Wearable calorie accuracy
• 63:25 — Don't trust wearables
• 64:46 — Step count differences
• 70:30 — Stephen's biggest lessons
• 71:56 — Can't outrun diet
• 73:23 — Future experiment ideas
• 77:26 — Nutritional periodization fueling
• 78:08 — Closing thoughts follow

You can find The Macro Perspective and its hosts here:

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Seamus  

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About the Podcast:

The Macro Perspective is hosted by Marcos Rivera and Seamus Sullivan, and was born from a simple but powerful mission: to help people take ownership of their health and lives. As performance health coaches, they've spent their careers empowering clients to think critically, stay curious, and make informed choices—not just in fitness, but in all aspects of life. This podcast is an extension of that mission, bringing insightful conversations that challenge, educate, and inspire.

Marcos and Seamus dig into CrowdHealth, the fast-growing healthcare crowdfunding model marketing itself as a secular, for-profit alternative to both traditional insurance and faith-based health shares. From $300 specialist bills to a $32,000 NICU stay, they stress-test the model against real financial stakes — and ask the question most people avoid until it's too late: are you actually buying protection, or just funding a system built to be confusing?

TimeStamps

00:00 — Intro to CrowdHealth
00:31 — How CrowdHealth Works
01:28 — Fees and Rates
02:16 — Pros and Cons
03:22 — Premiums vs Coverage
04:35 — Hidden Admin Costs
05:02 — Funding Preventive Care
06:32 — Cost of Screenings
07:18 — Copays Over Time
08:39 — NICU Cost Story
09:50 — Healthcare Investment Fund
10:57 — Self-Funded Healthcare
12:10 — Negotiating Medical Bills
13:11 — AI for Negotiation
14:11 — CrowdHealth's Limitations
15:35 — Faith-Based Alternatives
16:33 — Pre-Existing Conditions
17:14 — Risk Without Coverage
18:09 — Who Pays In
19:25 — No Price Transparency
20:13 — Emergency Care Pressure
21:19 — In-N-Out Lesson
22:38 — Misaligned Incentives
24:25 — Shopping for Healthcare
25:20 — EpiPen Pricing
27:08 — Future of Pricing
28:09 — Functional Medicine Testing
31:29 — Concierge vs Affordability
33:01 — Crowdfunding Pros/Cons
34:18 — When Insurance Wins
35:42 — Tax Deductions Explained
37:41 — Negotiation Benefits
38:47 — Review Your Bills
39:25 — Tax Strategy Tips
40:48 — Listener Experiences Wanted
41:10 — Closing Thoughts

You can find The Macro Perspective and its hosts here:

Instagram 

Marcos  

Seamus  

TikTok 

YouTube  

Facebook  

Apple Podcast 

About the Podcast:

The Macro Perspective is hosted by Marcos Rivera and Seamus Sullivan, and was born from a simple but powerful mission: to help people take ownership of their health and lives. As performance health coaches, they've spent their careers empowering clients to think critically, stay curious, and make informed choices—not just in fitness, but in all aspects of life. This podcast is an extension of that mission, bringing insightful conversations that challenge, educate, and inspire.

Marcos and Seamus break down how social media inflates fitness standards, why "average" now feels low, and why comparing yourself to your past self beats comparing yourself to the algorithm.

Timestamps
00:00 - Defining fitflation
01:20 - Weight gain, body image
03:10 - Attention economy content
04:05 - Idealized aesthetic creation
05:03 - Content triggers action
05:31 - Image becomes product
05:53 - Competing for attention
08:26 - Repeated content formats
09:37 - Looksmaxing conditioning effects
10:07 - Progress feels insufficient
11:04 - Guilt and optimization
11:59 - DEXA scans, progress
12:53 - GLP meds, regain
13:37 - Aesthetics vs performance
14:34 - Training to look good
15:01 - Aesthetics in fitness culture
16:02 - Chasing better physique
17:02 - Training as checklist
17:56 - Action movies' influence
18:12 - Old-school body ideals
19:14 - Superhero physique standards
21:02 - Larger-than-life bodies
23:27 - Childhood identity, insecurity
25:05 - Interests shape belonging
26:04 - Genetics, family comparison
27:28 - Pre-social-media training
28:38 - Fitflation in real-time
29:08 - Lifelong improvement pursuit
30:12 - Performance goals freeing
31:11 - Physique follows performance
32:42 - Comparing past self
33:40 - Coaching, everyday movement
34:36 - Fueling endurance training
35:48 - Real coaching conversations
36:36 - Always someone better-looking
37:14 - Healthier social media diet
38:13 - Positive engagement online
39:04 - Final thoughts, values

You can find The Macro Perspective and its hosts here:

Instagram 

Marcos  

Seamus  

TikTok 

YouTube  

Facebook  

Apple Podcast 

About the Podcast:

The Macro Perspective is hosted by Marcos Rivera and Seamus Sullivan, and was born from a simple but powerful mission: to help people take ownership of their health and lives. As performance health coaches, they've spent their careers empowering clients to think critically, stay curious, and make informed choices—not just in fitness, but in all aspects of life. This podcast is an extension of that mission, bringing insightful conversations that challenge, educate, and inspire.

Eli Lilly has filed lawsuits against multiple US companies for allegedly selling black market retatrutide and counterfeit GLP products, even before the drug's official 2027 launch. Marcos Rivera and Seamus break down what's driving gray market demand, and why the bigger story isn't the drug itself, it's what health, aesthetics, insurance incentives, and social media are shaping people to believe "better" looks like.

Time Stamps

• 00:00 — Fitflation intro discussion
• 01:20 — Client health scare
• 03:10 — Physique becomes monetized
• 04:05 — Instagram body template
• 05:53 — Podcasting for attention
• 08:26 — Trend copying spreads
• 10:07 — Never feeling finished
• 11:59 — DEXA scan surprises
• 12:53 — GLP cycle statistics
• 13:37 — Israetel's aesthetic revolution
• 17:02 — Psychological enough problem
• 18:12 — 80s action heroes
• 19:14 — Superhero body transformations
• 23:27 — Childhood self image
• 26:16 — Dad's arm genetics
• 28:38 — Maintenance feels frustrating
• 30:12 — Performance vs physique
• 32:11 — Coaching kids movement
• 34:33 — Fueling ultra race
• 37:14 — Social media anxiety
• 39:04 — Closing fitflation thoughts

You can find The Macro Perspective and its hosts here:

Instagram 

Marcos  

Seamus  

TikTok 

YouTube  

Facebook  

Apple Podcast 

About the Podcast:

The Macro Perspective is hosted by Marcos Rivera and Seamus Sullivan, and was born from a simple but powerful mission: to help people take ownership of their health and lives. As performance health coaches, they've spent their careers empowering clients to think critically, stay curious, and make informed choices—not just in fitness, but in all aspects of life. This podcast is an extension of that mission, bringing insightful conversations that challenge, educate, and inspire.

When big companies buy trusted health and food brands…Thorne, Primal Kitchen, RXBAR, Perfect Bar, Pure Encapsulations…what actually changes? Seamus and Marcos dig into how scaling shifts size, taste, texture, and trust even when the branding doesn't. They cover label transparency, pricing psychology, and the tradeoffs between convenience, quality, and cost, closing with a simple takeaway: know what you're really paying for.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Workspace setup thoughts

02:05 - Why brands get bought

03:06 - Primal Kitchen oil claims

04:35 - RXBAR acquisition changes

05:18 - Texture shift post-acquisition

06:17 - Moisture and shelf-life

07:53 - Niche products get bought

08:59 - Marcos stops buying RXBAR

10:24 - Quest Bars recipe standardization

12:13 - Bar size shrinkage matters

13:21 - Shrinkflation and package counts

14:02 - UC Davis oil testing

17:03 - Proving ingredient authenticity

18:02 - Avocado oil chip psychology

19:59 - Primal Kitchen's public defense

21:06 - Lower-oil dressing preference

22:11 - Walden Farms flavor tradeoffs

24:00 - Fake ice cream versus chocolate

25:09 - Yogurt bowl calorie math

27:02 - Skepticism after acquisitions

28:25 - Free range label loopholes

30:07 - Brand trust and culture

31:01 - Raw Bars sampling phase

34:42 - Perfect Bar stays independent

35:45 - Thorne's $3.8B sale

37:39 - Thorne versus Pure Encapsulations

39:37 - Sourcing matters more

40:29 - Protein Doritos psychology

41:41 - Cost Plus Drugs pricing

42:28 - Generic transparency value

44:16 - Price transparency changes choices

45:33 - Acquisitions and margin race

47:39 - Founders influence quality

49:14 - Membership-based health models

50:30 - Spend money, save time

51:16 - When expertise is worth it

52:14 - Duct tape plumbing logic

You can find The Macro Perspective and its hosts here:

Instagram 

Marcos  

Seamus  

TikTok 

YouTube  

Facebook  

Apple Podcast 

About the Podcast:

The Macro Perspective is hosted by Marcos Rivera and Seamus Sullivan, and was born from a simple but powerful mission: to help people take ownership of their health and lives. As performance health coaches, they've spent their careers empowering clients to think critically, stay curious, and make informed choices—not just in fitness, but in all aspects of life. This podcast is an extension of that mission, bringing insightful conversations that challenge, educate, and inspire.

In this episode, Marcos and Seamus are joined by Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple, PhD in Integrative Physiology and Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist. She's a researcher and science communicator specializing in female physiology, exercise, and nutrition, with extensive hands-on experience helping hundreds of women through every stage of life. Dr. Colenso-Semple co-owns the MASS Research Review, bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and practical strategies for coaches and trainers, and is known for fact-checking fitness and nutrition myths spread by online influencers. Her blend of scientific rigor and real-world coaching experience makes her a go-to voice for evidence-based guidance for women at every life stage.

Time Stamps
0:01 — Intro & guest

1:17 — Lauren's origin story

3:26 — Science vs. anecdote

6:56 — Anecdote vs. literature

12:08 — Hormone fear-mongering

17:45 — Social media clickbait

21:24 — Supplement examples

27:08 — Body composition goals

32:15 — Cycle syncing discussion

37:32 — Knee injuries aside

40:39 — Athlete readiness beliefs

44:45 — Contraceptives & bone density

48:30 — Wearables & heart rate

51:16 — Cortisol fear-mongering

55:44 — Insulin/cortisol parallels

58:38 — Data overload autonomy

62:02 — Coaching with grace

63:51 — Pregnancy training intro

66:29 — Pregnancy research limits

68:42 — Practical pregnancy implications

72:27 — Female life-stage individualization

75:45 — Closing thoughts & outro

You can find The Macro Perspective and its hosts here:

Instagram 

Marcos  

Seamus  

TikTok 

YouTube  

Facebook  

Apple Podcast 

About the Podcast:

The Macro Perspective is hosted by Marcos Rivera and Seamus Sullivan, and was born from a simple but powerful mission: to help people take ownership of their health and lives. As performance health coaches, they've spent their careers empowering clients to think critically, stay curious, and make informed choices—not just in fitness, but in all aspects of life. This podcast is an extension of that mission, bringing insightful conversations that challenge, educate, and inspire.

In this episode, Seamus is joined by Giovanni Vaccaro for a conversation on mindset, confidence, and optimizing life.

Giovanni is co-founder of Glamsquad, the on-demand beauty platform operating in 15 cities nationwide, connecting 2,000+ pro beauty artists and delivering nearly 2 million services. He's also the founder of Peak Mode, a coaching system helping founders and executives lead with more clarity, confidence, and purpose — aligning habits, health, and identity with the life they want to build.

Drawing on his experience scaling Glamsquad from idea to national brand, Giovanni brings a grounded, real-world take on entrepreneurship, resilience, and self-leadership. His work has been featured in Vogue, WSJ, Cosmopolitan, Elle, GMA, and the Today Show.

Time Stamps
0:00 — Intro & background

1:24 — Building confidence

4:04 — Discovering hairstyling

8:17 — Microwave society

9:40 — Fulfillment vs. happiness

14:42 — Early career grind

16:39 — Imposter syndrome

19:00 — Glam Squad's origin

22:12 — Finding superpowers

24:50 — Starting Peak Mode

27:39 — Kobe's fundamentals

30:44 — Men's groups

38:15 — Confidence after action

41:05 — Reframing identity

46:49 — Wrong change wanted

51:25 — Risk tolerance seasons

58:13 — Presence over balance

62:04 — Energy levels explained

65:57 — Surrendering outcomes

69:02 — Not figured out

72:53 — Finding Giovanni

You can find The Macro Perspective and its hosts here:

Instagram 

Marcos  

Seamus  

TikTok 

YouTube  

Facebook  

Apple Podcast 

About the Podcast:

The Macro Perspective is hosted by Marcos Rivera and Seamus Sullivan, and was born from a simple but powerful mission: to help people take ownership of their health and lives. As performance health coaches, they've spent their careers empowering clients to think critically, stay curious, and make informed choices—not just in fitness, but in all aspects of life. This podcast is an extension of that mission, bringing insightful conversations that challenge, educate, and inspire.

In this episode, Marcos and Seamus sit down with Ryan Glatt, MS, CPT, NBC-HWC, Director of the FitBrain℠ Program at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, to explore how exercise, coaching, and neuroscience can work together to support lifelong brain health. Ryan shares how his personal experience with concussion recovery and movement-based gaming led him into the field of brain health, and how that journey evolved into a career focused on helping people maintain cognitive function, reduce dementia risk, and manage neurological conditions through practical lifestyle interventions.We talk about why brain health should be part of the broader wellness conversation, how to think about cognition in real-world terms, and why the best movement program for the brain often includes more than just cardio or strength training.

Timestamps
00:00 - Introducing Ryan Glatt

02:03 - Why brain health matters

03:31 - Childhood injury, ADHD, DDR

05:10 - Rising dementia, Parkinson's

06:35 - Brain health for professionals

08:24 - Cognitive decline vs aesthetics

10:38 - Prioritizing brain health late

13:18 - Four domains of cognition

15:26 - Narrowing coaching goals

17:44 - Attention, memory, processing speed

19:40 - Brain regions and MRI

23:55 - Physicals miss things

26:24 - Screenings reveal brain health

27:47 - BP, cholesterol, senses

30:31 - Changes start early

31:55 - Feeling fine isn't safe

37:15 - Aging parents' brain health

39:00 - Movement variety matters

44:42 - Neuromotor fitness load

45:42 - Closed vs open skill

48:45 - Dance and rhythm work

49:26 - Behavioral brain patterns

52:12 - Open skill, SAID principle

55:24 - Acute exercise effects

57:23 - Dual-task training power

61:42 - Motor learning stages

63:05 - Dual-task training fit

64:50 - Learning skills, languages

66:08 - Ryan's book, course

67:00 - CEU and CEC questions

You can find The Macro Perspective and its hosts here:

Instagram 

Marcos  

Seamus  

TikTok 

YouTube  

Facebook  

Apple Podcast 

About the Podcast:

The Macro Perspective is hosted by Marcos Rivera and Seamus Sullivan, and was born from a simple but powerful mission: to help people take ownership of their health and lives. As performance health coaches, they've spent their careers empowering clients to think critically, stay curious, and make informed choices—not just in fitness, but in all aspects of life. This podcast is an extension of that mission, bringing insightful conversations that challenge, educate, and inspire.

In this episode, Marcos Rivera and Seamus unpack the rising cost of “proteinified” foods and why whole foods may still be the better value for most people. They also dig into how much protein you actually need, how to hit it without overcomplicating your diet, and why weekly macro tracking may be more sustainable than obsessing over daily precision.

Timestamps:
0:06 — Intro
2:25 — nutrition trends
3:41 — The rise of processed foods
5:08 — Protein inflation
9:41 — Raw ingredient costs
11:09 — Household demand
12:31 — Fast food and restaurant protein upcharges
15:52 — How much protein do you actually need?
16:13 — DEXA scans
18:49 — Why weekly protein tracking works
20:04 — Using weekly buying
21:02 — Cost breakdown
25:03 — Meal prep strategy
26:18 — Simplifying meals
27:52 — Why boring meals
30:10 — cost per gram
31:34 — Processed food nuance32:33 — Transition into macro tracking
33:03 — Weekly calorie redistribution
35:55 — Protein as the main daily tracking priority
38:01 — Will proteinified products keep growing?
39:21 — GLP drugs and insurance,
41:21 — pharma and changing health models
44:22 — broader consumer trends
45:25 — Outro


You can find The Macro Perspective and its hosts here:

Instagram 

Marcos  

Seamus  

TikTok 

YouTube  

Facebook  

Apple Podcast 

About the Podcast:

The Macro Perspective is hosted by Marcos Rivera and Seamus Sullivan, and was born from a simple but powerful mission: to help people take ownership of their health and lives. As performance health coaches, they've spent their careers empowering clients to think critically, stay curious, and make informed choices—not just in fitness, but in all aspects of life. This podcast is an extension of that mission, bringing insightful conversations that challenge, educate, and inspire.

In episode 209, Marcos and Seamus explore how emotional regulation enhances performance across sports, work, and personal life.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

00:30 - Reflecting on six years since the pandemic 

02:00 - Personal stories of loss during the pandemic

04:00 - How the pandemic changed our access to loved ones 

07:00 - Metaphor of mountain climbing 

09:15 - The highs and lows of reaching a summit 

12:00 - The importance of emotional regulation 

14:00 - Team sports 

16:30 - Parents coaching kids
19:00 - The significance of habit

21:00 - The influence of expectations

23:30 - Using sports and life setbacks

26:00 - Embracing the fundamentals

29:00 - The power of emotional regulation

32:00 - The role of mindset

35:00 - Balancing data and intuition

37:00 - Practical tips for managing life

40:00 - The importance of simplicity

42:00 - How even losses and setbacks are teachable moments

45:00 - The benefits of social connection

46:00 - Final thoughts

You can find The Macro Perspective and its hosts here:

Instagram 

Marcos  

Seamus  

TikTok 

YouTube  

Facebook  

Apple Podcast 

About the Podcast:

The Macro Perspective is hosted by Marcos Rivera and Seamus Sullivan, and was born from a simple but powerful mission: to help people take ownership of their health and lives. As performance health coaches, they've spent their careers empowering clients to think critically, stay curious, and make informed choices—not just in fitness, but in all aspects of life. This podcast is an extension of that mission, bringing insightful conversations that challenge, educate, and inspire.