In Episode 14 of The ZacBow Insight: Beyond the Rep, Zac opens up about the reality of undergoing Stage 2 spinal surgery—a complex partial fusion and decompression procedure.

Recorded in two parts across his recovery journey, Zac shares a candid, unfiltered look at hospital setbacks, long surgical delays without pain medication, and the surprising details of a 5.5-hour operation involving spinal rods, screws, and staples.

Looking back 14+ weeks post-op, he breaks down the reality of nerve recovery, unexpected physical setbacks, and why the physical and mental road back isn't always linear.

Have questions about anterior/posterior spinal surgery or recovery? Drop a comment below!

Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen!

After a month-long hiatus, Zac is back with a raw, unfiltered update on episode 13 of The ZacBow Insight: Beyond The Rep.

In this episode, Zac walks through the reality of his Stage 1 spinal surgery—from pre-op testing and 3D-printed metal implants to the disorienting effects of anesthesia and post-op medication. He opens up about navigating intense brain fog, the frustration of word-finding difficulty, and the day-to-day challenges of post-surgery hospital care (including those noisy DVT boots and wearing a stabilizing brace).

In this episode, we cover:

The process and setup for Stage 1 anterior spinal surgery

3D-printed disc implants and modern surgical monitoring tech

Dealing with post-op medication side effects, brain fog, and recovery fatigue

Why a spinal brace was necessary prior to Stage 2

Answering listener questions and looking ahead to physical therapy updates

Have questions about spinal surgery, recovery, or physio? Drop a comment below, and don't forget to follow/subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to stay updated on future episodes!

No script, no plan—just pressing record. In this completely off-the-cuff episode, Zac gives a raw, unfiltered update on why he’s been absent from the mic. From managing intense daily pain and navigating his current medication lineup to sharing some of the random things and gadgets he’s recently bought to help make life a bit easier, this episode is a true look into the reality of his recovery. Tune in for an honest, stream-of-consciousness chat about the ups, the downs, and everything in between.

In this raw and honest update, Zac checks in for Episode 11 of The ZacBow Insight: Beyond the Rep to explain his recent week-and-a-half hiatus. Recovering at home after his Stage 2 surgery, Zach opens up about the immense physical and emotional toll of the procedure, a setback that extended his hospital stay, and the reality of managing intense pain. He reflects on how his medical journey defied his expectations—proving that Stage 2 was far more brutal than Stage 1. Tune in for a candid look at his recovery, his upcoming plans to break down his BUPA hospital experience, and how he is adapting his nutrition while sidelined from the gym.

Beyond the Rep | Episode 10: Hazy, Sore, and Safe

Warning: This episode contains explicit language.

Fresh out of his highly complex Stage 2 spinal surgery, the host records a raw, late-night update straight from his London Bridge Hospital bed at 3:45 AM. After a brutal tech glitch deleted his first two attempts at recording, he leaves nothing on the table in this brutally honest dispatch.

The surgery ran significantly longer than the doctors anticipated. Dropping down to the theater around 7:00 PM, he didn't make it to the recovery room until well past 1:00 AM, heavily under the influence of the anesthetic. Now hooked up to a patient-controlled pain pump, he takes listeners through the strange, disorienting side effects of the morphine—including surreal visual flashes, phantom headphone sounds, and the feeling of waking up in a zombie apocalypse.

Beyond the physical limitations of the DVT leg pumps and a back full of fresh hardware, the host opens up about the deep fractures discovered in his spine and takes a powerful moment to praise his wife, who has held their entire world together while navigating his injury alongside the stresses of everyday life.

The surgeries are officially over. Now, the real work of recovery begins.

Connect with the show: Have you been through a major recovery? Reach out on Instagram at @zacbow_fitness or leave a comment on the podcast—let’s talk about the work it takes to ground yourself when the recovery gets tough.

Beyond the Rep | Episode 9: Out of My Control

In this raw and incredibly honest update, live from his London Bridge hospital room, the host takes us behind the scenes on the day of his second major spinal procedure.

Just days after celebrating the small victory of getting up and moving with a specialized back support brace, Sunday and Monday bring a harsh reality check. From battling escalating nerve pain and nausea to dealing with the frustrating administrative hiccups of fasting windows, conflicting nurse instructions, and a grueling 40-minute wait for pain relief, this episode exposes the unglamorous side of a major hospital stay.

With fractures in his back and a highly complex, muscle-cutting procedure ahead, he opens up about feeling forgotten in a private care facility and the mental challenge of completely surrendering control to his surgical team.

Tune in for an unfiltered look at the physical and emotional endurance it takes to face stage two of recovery.

Follow the journey: Hit follow to get notified the second the post-surgery updates drop.

Recorded live just an hour after leaving the operating theatre at London Bridge Hospital, Episode 8 is as raw and unfiltered as it gets. Still feeling the heavy fog of general anaesthesia and sitting in the BUPA private recovery ward, I share the immediate reality of coming round from surgery.

In this episode, I break down the frustration of having my surgery pushed back to its regular time after hoping it would be brought forward—meaning I ended up fasting much earlier and longer than I actually needed to. From the intense post-fast hunger to what it actually feels like when the anaesthetic begins to lift, this is an honest, sweary, and completely unedited look at the private patient journey from the inside out.

What’s covered in this episode:

The 23:54 Reality Check: Recording straight out of theatre while still completely groggy.

The Fasting Trap: How scheduling shifts meant fasting much earlier than necessary, and the impact it had.

The First Meal: The obsession with food after a long pre-op fast.

London Bridge Ward Realness: A blunt, explicit look at the immediate private post-op experience.

Don’t forget to check out my Instagram, which is zacbow_fitness

Episode 7 of Beyond the Rep takes place just days before surgery.

Following my final pre-operative consultation with the spinal surgeon, I should probably be feeling reassured. Instead, I find myself frustrated by the number of questions that still don’t seem to have clear answers.

The surgery itself has been explained. The procedure is planned. The risks have been discussed.

But what about everything that comes after?

How will I get home?

How much mobility will I have in the first few days?

What support will I need?

And why does it feel like every question gets passed from one person to another without a clear answer?

In this episode, I talk honestly about the uncertainty that comes before a major operation, the mental side of preparing for spinal surgery, and the frustration of trying to plan for recovery when nobody seems able to tell you exactly what to expect.

I also share my nerves about what’s coming next and why, despite understanding that the surgeon wants me focused on the operation itself, it’s hard not to think about everything that happens afterwards.

This wasn’t a planned episode. It was an honest conversation about where my head is right now.

⚠️ Explicit Content: This episode contains occasional strong language.

🎙️ Available now on Spotify and Apple Podcast

This week on The ZacBow Insight: Beyond the Rep, I return to the topic I originally planned to cover before shingles unexpectedly changed the schedule.

In Episode 6, I take a deeper look at the second stage of my spinal surgery and explain exactly why it is needed.

Following the anterior L5/S1 interbody fusion performed from the front, the next stage involves a posterior approach to further stabilise the spine using instrumentation and fixation.

I discuss:

• What Stage 2 surgery involves

• Why stabilisation is such an important part of recovery

• The realities of living with L5-S1 spondylolisthesis and nerve compression

• My thoughts going into surgery

• The mental side of preparing for a major operation

• Why training smarter becomes essential when your body is no longer working the way it once did

This episode isn’t just about surgery. It’s about adapting, rebuilding, and understanding that long-term health sometimes requires difficult decisions today.

If you’re dealing with injury, chronic pain, or facing a medical procedure of your own, I hope this episode helps you feel a little less alone.

🎙️ Available now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Episode 5 of Beyond the Rep takes an unexpected turn.

This week, I was originally going to discuss the second stage of my spinal surgery journey—but life had other plans.

After developing shingles, I wanted to talk about what it actually feels like, the pain it causes, how it affects the body, and why stress and recovery matter more than most people realise.

In this episode I cover:
• What shingles actually is
• How it spreads
• The impact it can have physically and mentally
• Why your body sometimes forces you to slow down
• And how setbacks can completely change your plans overnight

The spinal surgery episode is still coming next week.

🎙️ Available now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.