Uncharted Performance

We are back with episode 51 of Uncharted Performance coming from Eleventh Element CrossFit. We are talking today with Savanna Holmberg, graduate of the Institute For Integrative Nutrition, nutrition coach at Eleventh Element, mom of 3 and the SavyMama herself. In her coaching style, Savanna advocates for consistency and connection with her clients while focusing on four values: career, spirituality, relationships and nutrition. We discussed how she feels coaching keeps her on track with her own goals and what specific approach to eating that Savanna found is the most effective for her own and her family’s health. Last but not least, we find out what SavyMama is all about and pick up some tips on how to heal oneself through food and natural remedies.

Pawel Wencel, is the host and co-creator of Uncharted Performance. He does a phenomenal job seeking out the stories of his guests where he highlights the adversity they’ve had to overcome. What I found most fascinating in this conversation was the process of thinking that Pawel uses to continually achieve his goals. He has a full time corporate job while pursuing his passion project. It’s very easy to blame time, circumstances, or be paralyzed by the enormity of the task ahead. How does he take responsibility for what’s most important? How did he break down his vision into actionable steps? What does that structure look like? These concepts are not just limited to side hustles and passion projects. It’s about figuring out how to make time for whatever is most important to you.

In the mid-season finale episode 50 we are joined by Mike Cerbus who has competed at multiple US Nationals competitions and American Opens, including medalling at 3 Nationals and 5 American Opens (taking the title in 2011) as well as currently being the weightlifting coach at Power Monkey Fitness. There is a reason that his favorite phrase is “technique matters” in this interview and he truly lives and coaches by this. Mike leads us down a path of becoming a more capable lifter by emphasizing the key: repetition until mastery is achieved has to precede moving on to higher weights or more complex movements. But there are many more gems in this episode so hurry and tune in!

In episode 49 of Uncharted Performance we go back to one of the basic movements to develop strength, the deadlift, with Shawn Schumaker. Shawn is the owner of Team BSS Fitness, Ohio Representative for United States Strongman, coach and athlete. We start off with Shawn’s experience in bodybuilding, strongman and now powerlifting. His approach to competing and maximizing your lift is to save your energy and stay calm so it can be channeled towards the lift when it’s go time. Then we delve into the art and science of the deadlift, how Shawn has succeeded in this lift and how he currently trains (including types of accessory work), including some surprising confessions. Think you need to only perform the deadlift frequently to get good at it? Think again.

Episode 48 of Uncharted Performance presents two exciting new guests, Anjua Maximo and Jen Speed. Anjua is the creator of PURE MVMNT, a certified life coach and co-creator of GrooveRyde and Jen is the co-creator of IronWill and a coach at PURE MVMNT. This is not our usual “how to get stronger in your lifts ” type of episode as we explore an entirely different movement practice.  Anjua and Jen take us on a journey into the world of sensual dance. They’ve build more than a fitness studio but a place for women to find connection, community and a no-judgement place for self-love to flourish by encouraging self-expression through movement. Their goal is for women to feel great in their bodies but we could all learn to slow down a little and move with intention.

On this week’s episode of Uncharted Performance we want to introduce you to Nate Helming and Craig dos Santos, endurance athletes and coaches and founders of The Run Experience in San Francisco. They’ve found a way to connect and unite a community of runners, both in person as well as virtually, by teaching the correct running technique in a way that does not feel overcritical or deprecating. Nate and Craig want to bring back the joy of running before it became equated with athletic punishment. For those of you preparing for an endurance event or if you run regularly but still struggle once in a while, you’ll learn a refreshing new approach. Lastly, we’ll discuss how posture and stability, mobility and strength as well as being in tune with your body can help you run better but also love running more.

Another olympian joins the ranks of our wonderful guests in episode 46 of Uncharted Performance. Today we welcome Lauren Bay Regula, co-owner of TrAk Athletics, who has gone to multiple Summer Olympic games for softball and won the bronze medal in World Softball Championship in 2016, all as part of team Canada. You’ll find out why Lauren is a fan of taking chances and thinking big, such as coming out of an 8-year retirement to play in the World Championship. With important decisions, she lives by the principle “close your eyes and jump in” (after sleeping on it, of course). We are so inspired by how Lauren has stayed tenacious and humble through this journey!

In episode 45 of Uncharted Performance we visit Trak Athletics and its co-owner, Dave Regula. He tells an inspiring story of a radical lifestyle change that he and his family undertook in order to stay true to themselves. Dave recognizes the importance of training but urges everyone to get out of the gym, even though he owns one. We can do that by playing often, finding new experiences to learn from and not being stuck in that dreaded comfort zone. One of his goals with TrAk was to create a community that was like a family and we think they’ve been more than successful in accomplishing that goal.

This week on episode 44 of Uncharted Performance, we're presenting a new guest, Christina Bangma. Christina is a USS lightweight pro Strongwoman. Her journey into the world of strength started out, surprisingly, in running. Why? As one of the main themes of this conversation, the vast majority of people tend to gravitate toward familiar and comfortable things. She didn’t stop there, of course, and used her natural drive to improve and get better as a catalyst to her success as a Strongwoman. We loved Christina’s motto: live, learn and pass it on! Without further adieu, we’d like to pass on all that knowledge, inspiration and advice that she has to you!

Episode 43 of Uncharted Performance welcomes back our old friends from the previous two-part mini-series Strength Summit (Part 1 and Part 2), Tom Rini and Lindsey Kelly of Black Flag Athletics, and Mark Valenti of Blind Dog Gym. When we thought we’ve covered it all when to comes to getting strong, there’s a lot more hiding behind the surface! In this episode we dig into our guests’ surprising reasons for first starting working out and training, discuss variables that can help promote longevity in gaining and maintaining strength, as well as some general advice from these seasoned athletes and coaches.  The pieces of advice that stand out the most? Don’t get stuck in single modality training, have one plan and commit to it, find what drives, you and seek out the best people at what they do to get to that goal.