Your Revolution

What does it take to look like Wonder Woman?

"Wonder Woman was incredible for a different reason. It was the first time in Hollywood that we were going to put a group of women on screen that had that physical prowess, together, in an amazing new kind of vision of femininity."

In today's Your Revolution Podcast, we meet Pieter Vodden: cast trainer for Wonder Woman and the Justice League, among many others. And now part-owner and founder of one of the coolest and most progressive gyms in the world - Pharos.

Originally from the UK, I met with Pieter as he was setting up his new facility - PHAROS - in Los Angeles. We talked all things fitness, business, movies, motivation and how he feels about the new feminist wave he's found himself involved in.

Is change necessary?

Recently I posted a "before and after pic", and the responses to it - both supportive and negative - got me thinking about the idea of contentment Vs change.

It got me thinking about the dichotomy of being grateful for what I have, and how that challenges the desire and drive for more.

There is a balance between self acceptance and the desire for change. In today's podcast we explore the steps we can go through to love ourselves - both our present, and future versions. The steps we can take to keep growing, while nurturing and loving who we are right now.

"The only way I've gotten here, where I am, is by working really hard… I want everybody to have a chance for exercise to change their life, and to do that, there's a lot of hard work to do."

Bobby Maximus was created from the need to be a person who can do anything. A person who has no fears, who stands out and stands for something big. But just like Superman is Superman with or without the glasses, it turns out that even when he puts the glasses on, Rob MacDonald is still a superhero.

When it comes to success, Bobby Maximus stands for something. In this episode we explore how his parents taught him about hard work, the impact he plans to leave on the world and the amazing story behind how he got that elusive blue tick.

There's more to Bobby Maximus than being a real life superhero. Meet the articulate, generous, successful businessman behind the meat.

How do you create a life you are proud of? A body that you are proud of? A career that you are proud of? A relationship that you are proud of?

Doe is require radical change? Or simply a shift in focus?

Why, if all we are striving for is happiness do we focus on tearing others down? Laughing at their shortcomings? Holding them back from their own successes?

We live in an era and a world where it is more socially acceptable to be miserable than excited and enough is enough. I want to be happy and I want to make others happy, and I will remain excited and enthusiastic about every aspect of my life until I love my life so much I pop.

Enjoy this episode. Take notes and get excited.

When I look around I see so many of us afraid to engage. Afraid to put ourselves out there. Afraid to acknowledge others, to let them in and to genuinely involve them in our life.

This last week I had three life-changing interactions with people who reminded me that connection is absolutely imperative in life. People who reminded me to open up my eyes, take an interest and engage.

Why is this important? Because relationships, healthy, true, real ones are going to be your vehicle for betterment. Having a support system and being a support system is integral to success and if we want to be better every day at our life then we've got to surround ourselves with the best.

Do you dream of having a job that you love? Do you wish you could be excited to go to work? Do you want more than anything to have a career that you are so passionate about that somehow you manage to never work a day in your life while also working every second of every day? That's the ultimate right?

Well meet David and Courtney De Leon, the creators and Owners of OTL Fitness (Of The Lion) in Austin Texas.

When you meet this married couple, it is so clear that what they are doing in running this gym and building this community is absolutely what they are here to do and they do it with every ounce of their being. They are passionate, driven and successful, and not just in business. Their marriage is one that we all envy and you just have to look at them to see that their health is on point.

I was dying to know, what is your recipe for success? David was super quick to jump in with: "Hard work, hard work, consistency, hard work, ask questions...and actually care about people!" Sounds pretty on point to me. Enjoy :)

What does it take to run one of the most successful fitness businesses in the world?

Meet Joe Riggio and Dan Goodman, the owners, founders, directors, the brains and brawn behind the hugely successful Varsity House Gym in New York.

These two are the real deal. To them success is a choice and hard work, effort and passion are what drives them to continue to grow, improve and literally set the tone for the entire strength, fitness and athletic development industry.

Varsity lives on the border of New York and New Jersey. It is state of the art, purpose built and filled to the brim with buzzing athletes, members and staff and has been the centre point for their new venture: The Business of Strength.

Based on the operational systems the pair have implemented over the decade they have run the business together, Joe and Dan now run an educative program for up and coming strength and fitness professionals and entrepreneurs.

The passion these men have for what they do oozes out of them. Not only is it inspiring to hear them speak of their success so far and the plans they have yet to make a reality, but the conversation will lay the groundwork for you to make the changes necessary to make your life better.

You can absolutely turn passion into profit and it is something to not only chase but be super proud of.

This week on the Your Revolution Podcast, Jane Erbacher speaks with Strength & Conditioning coach Kevin Toonen.

Not your ordinary fitness professional, Kev has spent the last 20 years working in the military and still sits on the advisory board for the Tactical Strength & Conditioning Association here in Australia.

Combining his military background with an unquenchable thirst for learning, Kev has all the makings of both an incredible role model and a total game-changer. But that's not where it ends. Kevin is engaging, insightful, and undeniably passionate about creating better humans.

He's one of those people you meet that you know is going to change the world and I can't believe how lucky we are to have him on the podcast.

Incredibly proud and excited to present this episode which I hope you love listening to as much as I loved recording.

"The biggest risk is not taking any risk... In a world that changes really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks". Mark Zuckerberg.

We are constantly comparing ourselves and our lives with each other. Berating ourselves for not being as "good" as, as rich as, as fit as, as happy as seeming everybody else. (And occasionally comparing ourselves in terms of how much better we're doing than everybody else....)

You know what I'm talking about. We all do it. And why? Why do we put time, energy and focus into other peoples wins and losses rather than concentrating on what we have the power over: our lives.

Today we talk all about comfort zones. What is yours and why it is so important?

Just like we compare our wins and losses with those around us, all too often we compare our comfort zones with those around us. Just because something is hard for someone else and easy for us, that doesn't mean we've pushed any boundaries. Your comfort zone is something only you understand and have perspective on.

If you want more for your life, get after it. End of story.

Meet Byron Godfrey. Owner and Director of Misfit Strength in Houston. Byron is a father of four, a husband and an entrepreneur. Byron is that guy. You know the one who's got it all? Big and strong, handsome and intelligent, hard-working and charismatic. You want to hate him but it's impossible. He's actually that great. I have wanted Byron on this podcast for 18 months because we have so much to learn from him. He lives with such passion, he works so hard and he will never settle. He understand that it takes being both a top level trainer and a coach AND a savvy businessman to operate a successful gym. He gets that the better he is at running Misfit Strength, the more lives he can affect. And those 15 hour days he does every day? They're worth it because his primary job is to take care of his family. Listen to this episode because it's fun. Learn from this episode because it will be impossible not to. Thank you Byron for your time, energy, enthusiasm and lessons. I appreciate you so much.