In this episode of the Matter Mentality Podcast, Ben sits down with a friend, accredited nutritionist, and physique coach, Brandon DaCruz, for a raw conversation on adversity, identity, and what real transformation actually requires. Brendan is an online nutrition coach, internationally published fitness model, national-level NPC competitor, and a professional who has worked with thousands of clients across body composition, performance, and health. But his path into coaching began long before the accolades, rooted in personal struggle, family loss, and a relentless pursuit of health after developing Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) as a young athlete.

Together, they explore how hardship shapes purpose, why physique development can be a catalyst for broader life change, and why most people fail to sustain results despite knowing what to do. Key themes in this episode include:

• How shared adversity creates real connection and understanding

• Brendan’s early health struggles, dieting history, and injuries

• The influence of witnessing chronic illness in his family

• His health-centric coaching model: “A healthy body is a responsive body.”

• Why proactive health beats reactive medicine

• Coaching high performers who sacrificed health for success

• Physique development as a conduit for psychological and life transformation

• Why New Year’s resolutions fail without identity change

• Action vs. motivation, and what actually builds momentum

• Why getting lean isn’t the hard part… keeping it is.

This episode goes beyond training and nutrition into the deeper drivers of performance: identity, responsibility, and long-term self-development. If you’re serious about sustainable results, high performance, and building a body that supports your life rather than consumes it, this conversation will resonate.

Most people understand the primary drivers of hypertrophy: mechanical tension, load, and progression. What they miss are the secondary and tertiary factors that determine whether those drivers can be accessed consistently. In this episode, Ben sits down with Mike T. Nelson to unpack how aerobic fitness, recovery, conditioning, diet quality, and training simplicity quietly shape muscle growth. They break down why cardio doesn’t kill gains when programmed correctly, why quality beats novelty, and why recovery between sessions is a true hypertrophy variable. This conversation reframes hypertrophy as more than sets and reps, and shows how sustainable execution is where long-term progress is actually built. Find out more about Dr. Mike T Nelson: https://miketnelson.com/

Coach Nick Tindle went from an “all-American stud” on the field to one of the most respected lacrosse performance coaches in the game. It did not happen overnight, and it certainly was not easy. In this episode of the Matter Mentality Podcast, we sit down with Nick, founder and head coach of The Lacrosse Barn in Texas, to unpack the real process behind building elite athletes and resilient humans. We cover: How lacrosse began as his least favourite sport, and why being “useless” with a stick became the most important lesson of his career The years of wall ball, shooting reps, and weight room work that took him from a 119 pound freshman to a genuine strength and performance athlete Why he coaches the human first and the athlete second, tailoring his approach to what each individual actually needs How to find “fun in the suck” and learn to love the boring work that wins games The life events that reshaped his purpose and led him toward mentoring through sport The role of tough coaches, hard conversations, and breaking an athlete down temporarily so they can be built back up stronger If you are an athlete, coach, or parent who cares about more than highlight reels, this conversation dives into what it truly takes to develop potential, handle adversity, and use sport as a vehicle for life. Grab your tissues; there may be some tears, but the inspiration that follows the tears will make a huge impact on how you view hardship.

Performance isn’t just about what happens under the lights. In this conversation, Ben sits down with Coach Vinny Malts to unpack the mindset shifts that separate good from great. Together, they explore how every daily input matters, why high performance often feels repetitive, and how to protect your cognitive currency to avoid decision fatigue.

You’ll learn why the boring middle is where success is forged, how to make your “B-game” unshakably strong, and why boredom isn’t the enemy; it’s the sign you’re on the right path.

Whether you’re an athlete, a coach, or simply someone striving for consistency in your life, this episode delivers the insights to raise your standard and sustain it.

In this episode, Ben sits down with our dear friend Ali Gilbert - widely known as the “Queen of Men’s Health.” Ali has carved out a niche working with high-level executives in the C-suite, where the pressures of leadership demand a very different coaching approach than the average client. They dive into the unique challenges and strategies of optimizing health, performance, and longevity for executives, unpacking the difference between general fitness coaching and tailoring programs for those at the very top of their industries. If you’re curious about how men’s health intersects with leadership, lifestyle, and peak performance, this episode is one you won’t want to miss. Find out more about Ali Gilbert here: https://www.instagram.com/thealigilbert/

In this episode, we unpack the uncomfortable but necessary truth: outgrowing old environments, mindsets, and even people.

What do you do when the place, group, or identity you once fit into… no longer aligns with who you're becoming? We explore how to navigate that growth, find new circles that elevate you, and create space for bigger opportunities in your life.

This ones for anyone who’s felt stuck between where they were and where they’re going.

🎧 Listen now and Think Different.

Brought to you by Matter Athletica — where mindset meets performance.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Pat Ivey — former NFL athlete, high-performance expert, and powerhouse in the world of sport psychology and strength & conditioning. With decades of experience coaching elite athletes and cultivating high-performance environments, Pat brings a wealth of insight into what it really means to coach beyond the sets, reps, and tactics.

We go deep into the heart of coaching, how to create purposeful environments, the role of identity and values in performance, and the delicate but essential pursuit of balance for athletes and coaches alike. Pat shares what it takes to lead with impact, coach with intention, and build systems that support both mental and physical growth.

This conversation is for anyone who sees coaching as a craft and wants to better understand the psychology, structure, and soul behind developing high-performing humans.

In this powerhouse episode of the Matter Mentality Podcast, we’re joined by performance coach and BJJ practitioner Josh Settlage to explore the intersection of combat sports, strength programming, and athlete longevity. We dive into:

- The core principles Josh insists on when structuring a strength program and his lessons from his own bodybuilding career🏋️‍♂️

- His diagnostic approach to fighter health as an affiliate with Marek Health 🔬 - Common recovery mistakes fighters make between bouts — and how to fix them early ⚠️

- The biggest myth about nutrition during fight camp 🍽️

- How mindset shifts between fight prep vs. off-season, and how to coach athletes through it

- The challenge of cutting through social media fads to deliver real, sustainable advice 📱 Whether you’re a coach, athlete, or fan of combat sports, this episode delivers practical, performance-driven insights to elevate how you train, recover, and think. 👇 Like, subscribe, and share if this episode brought value to your corner!

Find more on Josh: https://www.thestrengthmatrix.com/

Find more on Matter Athletica. www.matterathletica.com

In this episode of the Matter Mentality Podcast, we sit down with Aram Grigorian to explore one of the most crucial dynamics in coaching: striking a balance between empathy and accountability.

As coaches, it’s easy to lean too far one way—either becoming overly sympathetic and losing progress, or pushing too hard and missing the emotional cues that matter. Aram shares real-world experience on how to lead with compassion without sacrificing standards, and how to challenge your clients in a way that still makes them feel seen, heard, and supported.

Whether you're a trainer, mentor, or leader, this conversation will deepen your understanding of what it really means to guide someone through lasting change.

🎯 Key Takeaways:

How to build trust while still holding the line

The cost of avoiding tough conversations

Knowing when empathy is enabling

How to coach for both results and retention

🧠 For more on performance, coaching, and the human experience, head to www.matterathletica.com

In this episode, we dive into one of the most confronting—and liberating—ideas you can adopt: radical extreme ownership. We explore why personal ownership and full accountability aren't just buzzwords, but non-negotiables for real growth, self-leadership, and long-term progression.

No more outsourcing responsibility. No more blame. Just the raw truth: the moment you take full ownership of your actions, choices, and mindset, everything changes.

Whether you're trying to evolve as an athlete, coach, leader, or individual, this conversation cuts deep into the uncomfortable—but essential—reality of what it really takes to progress.

🧠 It’s not motivation.

Let’s unpack it.