The Strength Connection

In the153rd episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike will talk about when he started his career in fitness, his introduction to sales, how the Strength Connection podcast started and the labor of love.

Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! 

In this chapter, you will discover:

(0:25) Our previous solo episode:The more you prepare the more you can wing it

(0:45) 2008 is when Mike started his fitness career

(2:40) 40 clients as a personal trainer

(2:50) Mike as a manager

(3:00) Mike’s introduction to sales

(4:10) Shout out to Chris Abbott @chrisabbott232 and “The Breakthrough Secrets Podcast” https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-breakthrough-secrets-podcast/id1551573443 

(4:40) How the Strength Connection podcast started

(5:00) Shout out to Fabio Zonin @x_fab_69

(5:20) Mike in the restaurant business

(6:00) I love talking to people

(6:20) “Be curious, not judgmental” - Michael Kurkowski 

(7:00) Shout out to Carrie Campbell @carrie_campbell_wbffpro

(7:30) When we grow we eventually get to a point where we can’t even recognize the person we were before

(9:10) The process of getting into something new

(9:40) I love strength and connection

(11:20) “Work is a labor of love” - Michael Kurkowski 

(12:20) Join the Strength Connection Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/246922387454298 

In the 152nd episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, Founder and CVO of Metaplexus, Adam Rodriguez, will talk about the story of Metaplexus, the power of having avatars, with great power comes great responsibility, and using your darkness to shine.

Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! 

In this chapter, you will discover:

(1:20) Mike introducing our special guest, Founder and CVO of Metaplexus, Adam Rodriguez

(1:30) How did Mike and Adam meet?

(3:30) The spiritual side is a big part of the success

(5:00) The Metasummit felt different for this

(6:20) “There are an infinite amount of ways to get to the end of the path” - Adam Rodriguez

(7:50) Shout out to Brian Grasso

(8:00) The daily devotion exercise

(12:20) What leadership means

(16:40) The story of Metaplexus

(17:30) With great power comes great responsibility

(18:40) The power of having avatars

(19:50) Using your darkness to shine

(20:50) Drinking 10 bears a night and trying to be an MMA fighter

(24:00) The ignition after depression

(25:10) Being reborn for the first time

(26:40) Anxiety attack

(29:20) The 30 game plan

(29:50) “Do the top 1% of activities no one else is willing to do” - Adam Rodriguez

(30:15) Adam starts a coffee company

(31:00) Selling 500 - 800 bags of coffee in the first 30 days

(32:10) The power of building systems

(32:30) Start With Why by Simon Sinek https://www.amazon.com/Start-Why-Leaders-Inspire-Everyone/dp/1591846447 

(36:30) The limitations of the brain injury

(39:00) Show me my gift

(42:30) The power of having the right team

(44:35) “If you never argue with your spouse, you’re probably hiding a bunch of shit” - The Strength Connection

(45:00) Unveiling vs Creating

(46:30) What you can learn from Ayahuasca ceremonies

(48:10) Bruce Wayne analogy

(49:20) The first ego belief

(49:40) Getting attached to outcomes

(50:00) Believing we can control everything

(51:00) “Being nothing allows you to be anything” - Adam Rodriguez

(51:40) Infinity on Netflix

(52:30) “I will be betrayed a thousand times, but I will trust a thousand and one”

(53:40) “The gift is not your talent, but your willingness to use it”

(56:00) Where to find more about Metaplexus https://earn.metaplexus.io/?fbclid=IwAR38JgNhDqSSHFPj85zwU53MA9TQ-DPgMRWjVhjJ9uYifO5BUBkVUO0KYd4&mibextid=ykz3hl 

In the 151st episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike will talk about what to do when we fall off track, Iron Cardio, double kettlebell training for maximizing your strength, and the more you prepare the more you can wing it.

Join us in this insightful and captivating episode! 

In this chapter, you will discover:

(0:50) “We take our health for granted until it’s not there anymore” - Michael Kurkowski

(1:10) Lessons of connection

(2:00) What to do when we fall off track?

(2:50) How do we react when we fall off track?

(4:00) Feeling drained in the middle of the day

(4:20) Even if you plan for everything, there will always be things you don’t anticipate

(5:20) Iron Cardio

(6:00) Double Kettlebell training for maximizing your strength

(8:00) Shout out to Adam Rodriguez, Founder and CVO of Metaplexus https://www.facebook.com/metaplexus 

(9:20) Adam is a former martial artist and marine

(10:00) Every couple of months he would crush

(12:40) The gift of injury

(13:20) Kettlebells allow you to do a lot in a short period of time

(14:20) The power of focus

(15:20) “The more you prepare the more you can wing it” - Michael Kurkowski

(19:10) Intuitive training

(21:00) What truly is discipline?

(21:50) Overprepare

In the 150th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, Public Speaking Coach, Founder of MasterTalk, Brenden Kumarasamy, will talk about professional sports for “nerds”, the power of delivery, audience obsessiveness, and the 4 daily exercises to improve your communication.

Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! 

In this chapter, you will discover:

(1:00) Introducing our special guest Public Speaking Coach, Founder of MasterTalk, Brenden Kumarasamy @masteryourtalk

(1:20) MasterTalk

(1:30) Communication is a skill

(2:30) Professional sports for “nerds”

(2:40) Competitive presentations

(3:00) How do these “competitions for nerds” work?

(5:00) What about speaking interested Brenden?

(7:30) How did Brenden find his first students?

(8:50) What were the wrong messages that Brenden was hearing about public speaking tips?

(11:10) A lot of communication is fear-based.

(11:30) How would your life change if you would be an exceptional communicator? - Brenden Kumarasamy @masteryourtalk

(12:40) “Communication is the accelerant of dreams” - Brenden Kumarasamy @masteryourtalk

(16:00) The power of delivery

(17:20) Listen to the difference here

(18:40) Energy and enthusiasm

(19:00) The authenticity in your delivery matters

(19:50) Audience obsessiveness

(20:35) Balance vs harmony

(20:50) Using silence in your speech

(21:30) The pause helps us emphasize key ideas in our speech

(22:10) How do we practice pausing?

(25:00) The big missing piece in communication in most people

(27:00) How do we get conditioning to believe that communication is a chore and not a choice

(32:00) Focus on the reps

(33:40) “If we can make sense out of nonsense, we can make sense out of everything” - Brenden Kumarasamy @masteryourtalk

(35:20) In this game, we don’t get points for doing it well, we get points for doing it a lot

(36:00) Exercise 1 - Example of exercise for improving your speaking skills

(39:00) Exercise 2 - Everyday practice 5 mins of answering questions of what the world will ask you about your business or something else

(42:20) Exercise 3

(44:00) Exercise 4

(46:30) Authenticity in communication

(46:50) Don’t worry about the fear but attach it to some motivation

(47:30) Where to find more about Brenden Kumarasamy @masteryourtalk https://www.youtube.com/@MasterTalks 

In the 149th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike will be talking about his recent recovery, the power of celebrating small wins, the Metasummit in Texas, and the best 3 kettlebell exercises

Join us in this insightful and captivating episode! 

In this chapter, you will discover:

(0:20) Mike is back!

(1:20) How Mike is getting back to Strength Training

(2:40) The power of celebrating small wins

(3:10) The Metasummit in Texas

(4:00) Shout out to Brian Grasso and Carrie Campbell @carrie_campbell_wbffpro

(6:30) The power of journaling to align with your purpose

(7:40) Shout out to Dr. Mike T Nelson @drmiketnelson https://www.buzzsprout.com/1860981/website/background/edit 

(8:40) The best Kettlebell exercises? the military press, the snatch, and the squat

(9:50) What makes the best Kettlebell exercise?

(10:00) #1 It aligns with you reaching the goal

(10:20) #2 It gives external feedback to your body

(10:50) #3 It gives internal feedback to your mindset

(11:20) #4 Different volumes and different intensities can be done with it

(11:50) #5 You enjoy it

(12:20) #6 It kills multiple birds with one stone

(12:40) #7 It gives you more than it takes out of you

(13:20) The Go-To Kettlebell Playbook (DM me or email me to get it for Free)

(15:50) Email me at [email protected] to get The Go-To Kettlebell Playbook for free

In the 148th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, CEO and founder of Bodylastics, Blake Kassel, will talk about how Bodylastics started, selling Bodylastics on Wall Street, Bodylastics in the Arnold Classic, and the vision stays the same

Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! 

In this chapter, you will discover:

(0:55) Introducing our special guest CEO and founder of Bodylastics, Blake Kassel @blakekassel

(1:40) A 25-year creation journey

(2:20) How did Bodylastics start?

(4:30) Stacking bands, a solution to a very common problem

(7:00) “Resistance bands are the most powerful slingshot on the planet” - Blake Kassel @blakekassel

(7:50) The first Bodylastics website

(7:50) Selling Bodylastics on Wall Street

(8:50) Blake’s sister

(9:35) Call me when you make a million dollars

(10:10) The sales started to roll

(11:40) “Your muscle doesn’t know the difference between what it’s creating the tension” - Blake Kassel @blakekassel

(11:50) When you stretch an elastic band, the further that you stretch it, the tougher it becomes

(12:15) Bodylastics in the Arnold Classic

(12:50) If you can curl all four bands 30 times, I'll give it to you

(14:10) Starting to sell Bodylastics on Amazon

(16:20) Bodylastics vs the competition. Testing the product

(20:00) Beachbody

(20:30) The first live Bodylastics workout

(21:50) Bodylastics was the first live platform in 2009, way before Peloton

(29:20) The design that will prevent people from overstretching the bands

(31:30) The O ring patent in Bodylastics

(32:45) The vision stays the same

(33:00) The product evolved

(36:10) No one over 25 should be doing a heavy squat

(38:30) Working the muscles without killing them

(40:20) The new machine that Blake Kassel has developed

(41:10) Fix the problem

(43:00) Where to find more about Blake Kassel @blakekassel and Bodylastics https://www.bodylastics.com/ 

In the 147th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike will discuss Blending Physical Therapy with Fitness, Creating Autonomy In Your Clients, How Blake Kassel created Bodylastics, and we will remember the interview with Ray Gorman.

(0:25) Mike will be in Texas in a Mastermind Submit

(1:00) Mike’s free gift to you! - The Go-To Kettlebell Playbook (Email me asking for a copy at [email protected]) 

(3:20) Remembering the interview with Ray Gorman @raygormandpt and the Engage Movement 

(3:50) Blending Physical Therapy with Fitness

(5:50) The difference between an insurance-based model vs a cash-based model

(6:25) Creating autonomy for your clients

(8:00) “Clients need guidance, but at the same time they are behind the own wheel of their car” - The Strength Connection

(8:45) Mastery by Robert Greene https://www.amazon.com/Mastery-Robert-Greene/dp/014312417X 

(9:00) The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene https://www.amazon.com/48-Laws-Power-Robert-Greene/dp/0140280197 

(9:30) “Blindly following the leader doesn’t fulfill you in the same way” - The Strength Connection

(10:50) “You need to become autonomous, otherwise, you will hit the ceiling very quickly” - The Strength Connection

(11:20) Shout out to Blake Kassel @blakekassel, CEO and founder of Bodylastics https://bodylastics.com/ 

(11:40) The benefits of resistance bands training

(13:30) How Blake created Bodylastics - the power of having a vision

(14:25) The vision of creating a top-quality product, plus an outstanding program people can do from home

(15:50) Having a vision and staying on top of it

(16:40) Subscribe to Apple Podcast and to Youtube :) https://www.youtube.com/@thestrengthconnection3001 

In the 146th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, Founder of Engage Movement, PT, DPT, SFMA Ray Gorman, will talk about the problems with the insurance-based model, the gyms and the EFT recurring model, digital management model for physical therapy, and The Retention Programming Model.

Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! 

In this chapter, you will discover:

(0:00) Introducing our special guest Founder of Engage Movement, PT, DPT, SFMA Ray Gorman @raygormandpt

(1:30) Blending the physical therapy and the fitness world

(3:00) How did everything start for Ray?

(4:10) Lessons from playing soccer

(5:10) Ray got into Crossfit

(5:50) Ray thinks about his life after graduation

(7:15) The Retention Programming Model getting started

(9:50) The problems with the insurance-based model

(12:00) The struggles of going from 1-hour sessions to 30 min sessions

(12:55) Do you have an outcome business model or a time-based business model?

(14:00) The gyms and the EFT recurring model

(16:00) “Being out of pain doesn’t necessarily mean you’re done with physical therapy” - Ray Gorman @raygormandpt

(16:30) Transition to the prescriptive exercise program

(19:30) Digital management model for physical therapy

(20:00) The touchpoint is the workout

(22:00) “Give your clients autonomy over their own program and their own success” - The Strength Connection

(23:20) “Understand what your client’s journey is, and understand what your role as a coach is” - Ray Gorman @raygormandpt

(24:30) The 3-step Physical Therapy process: Resolve, Return, Sustain

(26:45) “Intensity is a skill” - Ray Gorman @raygormandpt

(28:00) “Build up your average days more than your great days” - Luka Hocevar @lukahocevar

(29:00) “The goal is not to retain your clients forever” - Ray Gorman @raygormandpt

(31:45) The power of having great systems

(32:15) The biggest problem for runners

(32:50) “My goal is to create the most beautiful breakup” - Chris Mattice @eliminateyourlimitscoachesonly

(34:40) Make sure the client knows what their journey is

(37:20) Your reputation is on the line

(41:00) “The biomechanics is for you as a Physiotherapist, but not for the client” - Ray Gorman @raygormandpt

(43:30) The importance of stress management

(44:20) Getting out of the “clinical brain”

(47:10) Embrace the uncertainty

(49:45) Where to find more about Ray Gorman @raygormandpt https://www.engagemovement.com/ 

In the 145th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike will talk about NFL, cueing your convictions, and discuss a few things he learned from the podcast guests.

(0:00) A summary of today’s podcast

(0:30) NFL conclusion

(1:20) Shout out to Patrick Mahomes @patrickmahomes

(1:25) Shout out to Andy Reid

(1:40) EP #144 - Dr. Nate Zinsser: The Confident Mind

https://podcasts.apple.com/ee/podcast/144-dr-nate-zinsser-the-confident-mind/id1588270298?i=1000599555950 

(1:45) Shout out to Dr. Nate Zinsser Twitter: @DocZinsser

(1:45) The confident mind by Dr. Nate Zinsser Twitter: @DocZinsser

https://www.amazon.com/Confident-Mind-Battle-Tested-Unshakable-Performance/dp/0063014831 

(2:25) Shout out to Eli Manning Twitter: @elimanning

(2:45) Momentum Monday Connection

(2:50) What is confidence?

(2:55) Atomic Habits by James Clear @jamesclear

https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299 

(2:55) “We don't rise to the level of our goals, we fall to the level of our systems.” - James Clear @jamesclear

(3:20) “We don’t rise to the level of the occasion, we fall back to the level of our training.” - Colonel Capra

(3:45) Cueing your convictions

(4:15) For the Love of the Game

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0126916/ 

(4:45) Shout out to Laurie Hernandez @lauriehernandez

(5:20) What’s your cue?

(5:50) Shout out to Dr. Ray Gorman @raygormandpt

(5:50) What’s next?

(7:30) “Regardless of what's going on and what you need to do, there's always a way.” - Michael Kurkowski @mike_strength_connection

(9:45) Dealing with an injury

(11:05) Mental gutter

(11:30) Getting out of the gutter

(12:10) This too shall pass

(13:20) Resistance is eternal

(13:55) "The obstacles that are in the path are just as much a part of the way as the smooth sailing, easy path and easy days in there.” - Michael Kurkowski @mike_strength_connection

(14:05) The Obstacle in the Way by Ryan Holiday @ryan holiday

https://www.amazon.com/Obstacle-Way-Timeless-Turning-Triumph/dp/1591846358 

(15:20) You just gotta find a way!

(16:20) "Without those obstacles, there is no reason to build strength.” - Michael Kurkowski @mike_strength_connection

In the 144th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, Performance Psychologist, Direction of the Performance Program at West Point, and Author of The Confident Mind, Dr. Nate Zinsser.

Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! 

In this chapter, you will discover:

(1:00) Welcome to our special guest Performance Psychologist, Direction of the Performance Program at West Point, and Author of The Confident Mind, Dr. Nate Zinsser Twitter: @DocZinsser

(1:10) The East side of the hudson river

(2:10) The gloom period

(3:05) Winter and spring sports

(3:40) What did Dr. Nate do at West Point?

(5:00) The psychology of kicking a$s

(7:00) Shout out to Eli Manning Twitter: @elimanning

(7:10) Dr. Nate’s thoughts about Eli Manning’s controversial interview

(10:45) “You need to be you.” - Dr. Nate Zinsser Twitter: @DocZinsser

(11:05) “Confidence is how you feel on the inside.” - Dr. Nate Zinsser Twitter: @DocZinsser

(11:25) Dr. Nate about outspoken celebrities

(15:05) How ESPN 

(19:00) Optimism biased

(19:30) The supported negativity biased

(20:20) The default settings of common people

(20:55) “If you think about what you want more of, what you want to do well, you are more likely.” - Dr. Nate Zinsser Twitter: @DocZinsser

(21:15) Educational psychology about negative and positive biased

(22:25) “There is a such a narrative of build up your weaknesses vs. maybe double down on your strength?” - Michael Kurkowski @mike_strength_connection

(22:45) “You can be very confident in one thing and very not confident in other thing.” - Michael Kurkowski @mike_strength_connection

(23:00) About confidence

(23:40) “There is a lot of value in cultivating okay-ness about one’s self.” - Dr. Nate Zinsser Twitter: @DocZinsser

(24:25) Does the order matter?

(25:50) ESPN highlight reel of your life

(26:55) Changing your mindset

(28:50) What has Mike struggled with before?

(29:25) “You can't just shout the affirmation, now you have to go in to actually action step.” - Michael Kurkowski @mike_strength_connection

(29:30) Affirming actions

(32:20) A bridge too far

(33:05) Shout out to Kobe Bryant

(33:25) What makes Koby different?

(34:30) Falling in love with your butterflies

(35:30) About “just calm down”

(36:00) “The human animal is built to be nervous.” - Dr. Nate Zinsser Twitter: @DocZinsser

(37:40) Definitions of nervousness

(41:00) The difference between nervousness and excitement

(42:10) The misconception about nervousness

(42:45) Shout out to Strong First @strongfirst

(44:15) Shout out to Bill Belichick

(45:30) The opportunity to acknowledge your day

(48:45) Shout out to Brian Grasso Facebook: Brian Grasso

(49:55) Shifting the lens

(54:30) The degree of self-doubt for the last 30 years

(55:40) Cons of social media

(58:30) The confident mind book

Where to find Dr. Nate Zinsser? Twitter: @DocZinsser