Best Hicham Podcasts (2026)

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Hicham El Guerrouj: The Most Talented, Most Focused, and Best Trained Athlete of All-Time? 1:33:07

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1M ago1:33:07

1:33:07

I take you through the incredible story of Hicham El Guerrouj, the Moroccan middle-distance legend who was virtually unbeatable for nearly four years, only to face heartbreaking defeats at the Atlanta Olympics. I walk through the agony of those losses, the silver medal at 1500 meters, and the mental and physical toll of carrying the expectations of…

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World Champion Sprinter Gives The Secret To Lowering Inflammation and Getting Fast and Strong For Longevity 2:01:51

2d ago2:01:51

2:01:51

Please enjoy a great conversation and in-person show here in the Sacramento studios of the B.rad podcast with my good friend and sprinting mentor Cynthia Monteleone, coming to you all the way from the beautiful Big Island of Hawaii. We had a long, wide-ranging discussion on health, fitness, peak performance, and longevity—especially in Cynthia’s ar…

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Training In 100F Heat, And Other Horrible Fitness Advice 25:46

22d ago25:46

25:46

In this episode, I call out some dangerous and misguided fitness advice floating around on social media—like a post from a PhD in exercise physiology suggesting that everyone should go run for 45 minutes in 100-degree heat to boost their VO₂ max. Sure, the science on heat training is interesting and real, but context matters. For elite athletes tra…

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The Best Fitness Benchmarks For Longevity (Better than Lame Internet Clickbait) 40:58

23d ago40:58

40:58

In this episode, I get into all these viral “every man should be able to…” fitness challenges you see on Instagram and YouTube—the ones with the deep-voice narrator rattling off random benchmarks that aren’t age-graded, aren’t grounded in any science, and somehow declare you “top 10% of health.” I talk about why the subject is relevant, what these …

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Beware of BS Exercise Physiology Data - Use Critical Thinking Instead 18:36

30d ago18:36

18:36

In this episode, I talk about the modern tendency to obsess over “science says…” posts—like the viral claim that slapping your quadriceps ten times will wake up your motor cortex, spike your stretch reflex, and increase vertical jump by 18% and sprint speed by 12%. I describe why these numbers raised my hackles, walk through the reality of neural a…

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Start Here: A Master Class in Sleep, Diet, Movement, Fitness and Stress Management 1:48:56

1M ago1:48:56

1:48:56

A friend recently asked, “What’s a good episode to start with?” for a basic overview of health and lifestyle optimization. Great question—and honestly, I didn’t have a good answer. So here it is! This show covers the basics from a big-picture perspective—the one to share with friends and loved ones. It’s not sciency or intimidating, just a simple, …

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Discipline, Motivation, and Will Power Are Overrated: The 3 True Secrets To Becoming a Fitness Champ 38:49

1M ago38:49

38:49

In this episode, I talk about why “inspiration is for amateurs,” and why discipline, motivation, and willpower are some of the most overrated concepts in the fitness world. We’re surrounded by grind-culture blowhards bragging about 4 a.m. wake-ups and superhuman discipline, but the real secret to becoming the person you want to be—on the track, in …

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Four Ways To Be More Active In Life 16:57

2M ago16:57

16:57

In this episode, I talk about four simple but powerful ways to be more active in daily life. Experts now agree that your overall level of movement—not your formal workouts—is the single most important factor for long-term health. You can’t just hit your morning spin class and then sit around the rest of the day. In fact, research on the “Active Cou…

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How To Avoid Crappy Protein Supplements (And Choose The Best) 56:49

2M ago56:49

56:49

In this episode, I dive deep into protein supplements—how to avoid crappy products loaded with questionable ingredients, and how to read labels like a pro. We break down how whey protein is made, why it’s the most potent and bioavailable protein powder, and why it’s far superior to plant-based sources. I also tackle the myths around protein timing …

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Training In 100F Heat, And Other Horrible Fitness Advice 25:18

2M ago25:18

25:18

In this episode, I call out some dangerous and misguided fitness advice floating around on social media—like a post from a PhD in exercise physiology suggesting that everyone should go run for 45 minutes in 100-degree heat to boost their VO₂ max. Sure, the science on heat training is interesting and real, but context matters. For elite athletes tra…

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Allen Iverson Was Right! Practice Is Overrated - Here's Why 23:41

2M ago23:41

23:41

In this episode, I revisit one of the most infamous press conferences in sports history—Allen Iverson’s legendary “practice” rant from 2002—and explain why I think he was actually right all along. Iverson’s words have lived on as a punchline for decades, but when you look closer, you realize he was speaking some deep truth about recovery, workload,…

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Hicham El Guerrouj: The Most Talented, Most Focused, and Best Trained Athlete of All-Time? 1:32:40

3M ago1:32:40

1:32:40

I take you through the incredible story of Hicham El Guerrouj, the Moroccan middle-distance legend who was virtually unbeatable for nearly four years, only to face heartbreaking defeats at the Atlanta Olympics. I walk through the agony of those losses, the silver medal at 1500 meters, and the mental and physical toll of carrying the expectations of…

1
Don't Run In The Heat! It's A Dumb Idea (But Go Ahead And Sprint In The Heat) 50:50

3M ago50:50

50:50

By Brad Kearns

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Sean Brosnan: How Dreaming Big And Going All-In Made The Greatest High School Athletic Team Ever 1:24:20

3M ago1:24:20

1:24:20

I’m so excited to welcome Sean Brosnan to the B.rad podcast! Sean is the author of Beyond Fast: How a Renegade Coach and His Unlikely High School Team Revolutionized Distance Running, written with Chris Lear and Andrew Grefe. And yes, it’s a book about running—about high school workouts, races, and championships—but it’s also so much more than that…

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Endurance Running is a Bad Idea For Most People!: 40 Mind-Blowing Assertions From Born To Walk 1:02:39

3M ago1:02:39

1:02:39

In this show, I share 40 mind-blowing assertions to recalibrate modern fitness philosophy, inspired by content in the book Born to Walk, written by me and Mark Sisson. Walking is universally health-boosting, delivers excellent aerobic conditioning, stabilizes energy, mood, and appetite, and carries near zero overuse injury risk. In contrast, endura…

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Dr. Layne Norton is Giving Horrible Fitness Advice - Beware! 1:06:21

4M ago1:06:21

1:06:21

The foremost health authority, the contrarian, and voice of reason is spouting this level of misinformation, so I think it deserves the acronym: A-Y-F-K-M. Dr. Layne Norton, internet health influencer and self-titled Truth Seeker and debunker, has delivered the single worst piece of fitness advice imaginable. There is no more potentially destructiv…

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Dr. John Douillard: The Ancient Ayurvedic Path To Better Digestion and Better Breathing 1:05:50

4M ago1:05:50

1:05:50

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. John Douillard, a leading expert in Ayurvedic medicine and founder of LifeSpa.com. I read his book Body, Mind, and Sport about 20 years ago, and it was one of the first books I found that combined breath work and movement. With over 40 years of experience, Dr. John blends ancient Ayurvedic wisdom with modern scien…

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The Importance Of Social Connection For Longevity, With Christy and Ana of the Girl Can You Talk Podcast 1:09:33

4M ago1:09:33

1:09:33

In this episode, you’ll learn about the powerful role of friendship and connection in promoting physical, emotional, and even cognitive longevity. I sit down with longtime (40 years long!) friends Christy and Ana from the Girl, Can You Talk? podcast to explore their BOND method—Be Open, Offer Invitations, Nurture Consistency, and Deepen Through Vul…

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Cynthia Monteleone: The Dangers Of Chronic Endurance Training and the Benefits of Sprinting 1:10:22

4M ago1:10:22

1:10:22

Please enjoy a great conversation with my friend and sprinting mentor Cynthia Monteleone, coming to you all the way from the beautiful big island of Hawaii. A Team USA world champion sprinter, Cynthia is also a highly trained metabolic health analytics practitioner who coaches numerous Olympic athletes and world champion masters-level athletes, and…

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Personal Health Optimization And Comprehensive Testing With Stride DNA 1:18:37

4M ago1:18:37

1:18:37

In this episode, I go through my deep and fascinating experience with the Stride health optimization program. You'll hear me walk through the six detailed reports from my DNA and microbiome testing—starting with the methylation report, where I had impaired efficiency in the folate cycle, methionine cycle, and BH4 cycle, and finally got a normal sco…

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Beware of Superstar Athletes Embellishing Their Training And The BS Of The 10,000-Hour Rule 38:36

5M ago38:36

38:36

In this episode, I take a hard look at the glorification of obsessive training habits in elite sport, using Michael Phelps’ famous claims—like eating 10,000 calories a day and not missing a single day of training for six straight years—as a springboard for discussion. You’ll learn how research from top performance labs has shown that these types of…

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Wes Greenwood: Your Indoor Air Quality Sucks And How To Fix It With Jaspr 1:04:11

5M ago1:04:11

1:04:11

During this episode, I talk to former firefighter and chief breath officer of Jaspr, Wes Greenwood, about the unseen world of air quality and what’s really in the air we breathe—both indoors and out. You’ll learn how air filters like the Jasper actually catch pollution, what particulate matter is, how cooking (even clean, grass-fed steak) produces …

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Sasha Graham: How Sports Will Save Us All, And How To Navigate Today's Overpressurized Youth Sports Culture 1:05:29

5M ago1:05:29

1:05:29

Please welcome Sasha Graham, the host of the Sports Will Save Us All podcast! What a great name for a show, and I had a great time being a guest on it—we had a wide ranging conversation and really hit it off as she hit me with some surprise questions, trying to put me on the spot…it was wonderful that I said, you know what—how about I bring you ont…

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Ben Azadi: Achieving Metabolic Freedom With An Empowering Mindset, Optimal Sleep, And Good Eating Habits 1:05:45

5M ago1:05:45

1:05:45

I welcome bestselling author Ben Azadi to the show on the occasion of the release of his new book called Metabolic Freedom: A 30-Day Guide to Restore Your Metabolism, Heal Hormones & Burn Fat. Of course, we get into all the important talking points about the ketogenic diet, intermittent fasting, how to lose body fat safely and sensibly, but this sh…

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Brad's Dexa Scan Results Summary, The Dangers Of Visceral Fat, And The Truth About Body Fat Percentage 43:56

6M ago43:56

43:56

In this episode, I share my full DEXA scan results, including a visceral fat score of 0.38 pounds, which I’m determined to drop to “0.0 fricking zero” through sprinting—shown in research to preferentially burn visceral fat. My body fat is 21 pounds (12.5%), and I break down the fat and lean mass distribution throughout my body, including minor asym…

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Dr. Jonathan Sanburg: The Cutting Edge Of Sports Performance Physical Therapy 1:10:09

6M ago1:10:09

1:10:09

In this episode, I sit down with my go-to expert for all things sports performance and injury recovery—Dr. Jonathan Sanburg, a highly respected physical therapist who’s changing the game when it comes to getting people back to peak performance. We dive into what’s truly cutting-edge in the industry right now: treating injuries from a fitness and at…

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How I Modified My Fitness Routine To Avoid Burnout and Promote Longevity 1:28:19

6M ago1:28:19

1:28:19

This show was inspired by a very thoughtful question from a college-aged listener named Justin who wanted to know what my current training regimen is like, and if I believe zone two training is really necessary, if VO two max workouts are really necessary, and if I think he should just take up a sprinting regimen (since the sprinters seem to look t…

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High Protein Bars Are A Scam—I Have Some Much Better Ideas! 1:11:19

6M ago1:11:19

1:11:19

In this episode, I break down the pros and cons of the popular practice of consuming energy bars as a supposedly nutritious snack on the go. The inspiration for this show was an exciting spicy battle between health experts Dr. Layne Norton and Gary Brecka on Instagram, where they debated the merits of the new David High Protein bar. I talk about th…

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How To Achieve Maximum Dietary Nutrient Density - The B.rad Nutrition Guide 16:32

7M ago16:32

16:32

Welcome to class! In this episode, we dive into the B.rad Nutrition Guide—a simple, practical, and totally free resource you can download at bradkearns.com. Print it out in full color, stick it on your fridge, and use this tiered ranking system to navigate the world’s most nutritious foods with ease. It’s really this simple: ditch the processed jun…

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How To Optimize Pronation, Glute Activation and Big Toe Functionality Like A Good Human 15:30

7M ago15:30

15:30

Welcome to another show about the big toe (hopefully you heard the first presentation, What’s the Big Deal About the Big Toe?) because in this episode, we’re taking it further. You will learn why your big toe is crucial for efficient movement, and how its functionality influences everything from your running stride to balance. I reveal how wearing …

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What's The Big Deal About The Big Toe? 19:03

7M ago19:03

19:03

In this episode, you will learn about the critical role the big toe plays in human movement and athletic performance. I reveal the truth about how shoes can weaken and restrict your big toe, leading to imbalances and a higher risk of injury, especially as we age. You'll hear how the big toe impacts everything from balance to the activation of your …

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Dr. Casey Means: The New Surgeon General Talks About Good Energy And Talking Responsibilty For Your Health 1:27:35

7M ago1:27:35

1:27:35

It’s time for a rebroadcast of a wonderful interview with my old friend, Dr. Casey Means, where she talked about the launch of her book, Good Energy. It has been a year since we talked on the eve of her book launch, which was just about to go number one and become a New York Times bestseller, and in other news, Dr. Casey has just been appointed to …

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Brad's "Perform, Recover" Mantra Contrasting With Calorie Restriction And Extreme Biohacking 33:38

8M ago33:38

33:38

In this show, I share more thoughts on my new, recent longevity mantra: perform, recover, perform, recover. These thoughts were inspired by an interaction I had with my friend Michael Kummer—host of The Primal Shift podcast—who recently wrote a newsletter article about the longevity practices of the increasingly prominent biohacker Bryan Johnson. W…

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Henry Abbott: Ballistic Training To Prevent Injuries, And High-Tech Training Practices Of Elite NBA Players 1:07:00

8M ago1:07:00

1:07:00

I'm pleased to welcome Henry Abbott, the author of a new book called Ballistic: The New Science of Injury Free Athletic Performance! What an interesting conversation we had, and we went on a wide ranging journey through several topics of interest in modern big time sports. Henry has a longtime sports background–he is an award-winning journalist who…

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Shawn Stevenson: The Shocking Health Challenges and Triumphant Journey Of The Model Health Show Host 58:59

8M ago58:59

58:59

Shawn is one of the world’s leading health experts as the bestselling author of Sleep Smarter and host of the #1 rated Model Health Show. The first part of the discussion is about foot functionality. Shawn mentions the emerging research on how minimalist shoes can address the cause of foot dysfunction, “nourishing and rehabilitating our feet.” Then…

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How To Sail To 100: Research, Insights, and Forming Empowering Beliefs 45:39

8M ago45:39

45:39

In this episode, I’m diving into some fascinating research and sharing my own opinions for a fun, insightful show about longevity and living to 100 years old. It is amazing to think there are 722,000 centenarians alive today, but only 219 people who’ve made it to 110. I think genes affect your potential to live to 110, but most of us should form th…

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Alex Hutchinson: A Friendly Debate About The Benefits Of Running 28:35

8M ago28:35

28:35

Enjoy this second show with Alex, where we left the mic on after our interview emphasizing his book, The Explorer’s Gene, and started talking about Mark Sisson and my new book, Born To Walk. We planned to have a “friendly debate” about the book’s premise that running is a bad idea for most people. Alex, as a longtime runner, had a much different ba…

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Alex Hutchinson: Why Humans Are Wired To Explore 52:08

9M ago52:08

52:08

Please enjoy my B.rad podcast conversation with Alex Hutchinson, the world’s leading science-sport journalist and NYT best-selling author of Endure. The occasion is the release of his long-awaited next book, titled The Explorer’s Gene, and in this much-anticipated follow-up to Endure, he refutes the myth that, in our fully mapped digital world, the…

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B.rad Highlights #5: Animal-Based, Protein-Centric, Nutrient-Dense Diet Insights From Experts 1:04:22

9M ago1:04:22

1:04:22

Welcome to part five of the B.rad podcast highlight series! In this episode, we dive into the juicy, interesting, and possibly controversial topic of diet. You will hear quotes from some of my favorite guests and key moments over the years, focusing on my “meat and fruit” lifestyle—the animal-based, protein-centric, nutrient-dense eating style that…

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Michael Brandt: The Performance and Brain Benefits of Supplemental Ketones 1:12:41

9M ago1:12:41

1:12:41

I welcome Michael Brandt, co-founder and CEO of Ketone IQ, to the show for a conversation about supplemental ketones! Ketone IQ offers supplemental ketones, or ketones on the go, for an instant high performance energy source. I have talked about the ketogenic diet for many years, writing many books with Mark Sisson about the amazing benefits of the…

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Philip Pape: Building Muscle First To Lose Fat 1:10:16

9M ago1:10:16

1:10:16

I have a great discussion to share with you from Philip Pape, the host of the Wits and Weights podcast. I had the pleasure of joining him on his show, and he was a really sharp guy with some nice, focused, and quantified insights about how to lose excess body fat the right way. If you visit witsandweights.com, you'll see some nice free offerings of…

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B.rad Highlights #4: Relationship Tips And Insights From Experts (Including Mia Moore!) 44:57

10M ago44:57

44:57

Welcome back to another highlight show! In this episode, we continue our series of relationship tips and insights from some experts I’ve interviewed over the years. You will hear from Dr. Wendy Walsh about the top 3 qualities men and women seek (qualities that are based on deep-seated wiring, that we can’t ignore or reject), advice from Jillian Tur…

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Creatine Is Also Beneficial For Heart Health 3:17

10M ago3:17

3:17

In this episode, you will hear about the many benefits of creatine—widely known for its role in muscle building and athletic performance. Recent research has highlighted its potential benefits for cardiovascular health: a 28-day study demonstrated that creatine supplementation led to a 1.4% improvement in blood vessel function, a change associated …

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Is VO2 Max Overrated? The Truth About This Popular Fitness Test 25:52

10M ago25:52

25:52

Let’s talk about VO2 max—a laboratory cardiovascular performance test that began rising to prominence in the mainstream medical, fitness, and biohacking communities in the 2010’s as an excellent way to measure general cardiovascular health, disease risk, and longevity potential. It’s great to see the integration of performance-oriented metrics into…

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Tania Teschke: The Benefits Of Ancestral Cuisine, Slow Food Culture, And Natural Skin Care Products 1:12:55

10M ago1:12:55

1:12:55

Please welcome my good friend, Tania Teschke back to the show! Tania is the author of the book Bordeaux Kitchen, which by many accounts is the best book ever written in the ancestral health scene—it is an absolute encyclopedia of healthy living, French food, wine, and culture. She has studied under some of the finest chefs and sommeliers and brings…

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Susan “The Sexpert” Bratton: How To Regain Lost Relationship Intimacy 1:02:42

11M ago1:02:42

1:02:42

Susan Bratton, the sex expert, is back for this episode and she brings the heat as usual. Please listen to our first show where we talked about all things sexuality and received her many tips and tricks and exciting stories getting you fired up to improve your sex life. But in show number two, I thought we would start with the idea that a lot of co…

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Brad Kearns: Analyzing Shelby Houlihan Insights About Aerobic Base and Anaerobic Threshold Training 53:10

11M ago53:10

53:10

In this show, I break down and analyze comments from my recent interview with one of the greatest female middle distance runners in the world, the American record holder Shelby Houlihan. It was a pleasure to drive up to Flagstaff, Arizona to meet Shelby at her high altitude training camp as she prepares for her long awaited comeback after a ridicul…

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Brad Kearns: How To Avoid Todays Epidemic Decline In Testosterone Levels - 4 Hot Tips 39:48

11M ago39:48

39:48

This breather show is about the epidemic and steady decline in the average level of testosterone in today's male compared to years and decades past, and what you can do if you want to avoid tanking your testosterone levels. You will learn about a variety of factors that influence testosterone, like the health of your relationship, certain kinds of …

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Olympian Shelby Houlihan On Elite Training, Resiliency, Mindset, and Her 2025 Comeback 2:05:54

11M ago2:05:54

2:05:54

Welcome to this special episode of the B.rad podcast, where Brad Kearns visits American record holding middle distance runner Shelby Houlihan at her high-altitude training camp in Flagstaff, AZ. This is an incredibly powerful and in-depth discussion about all aspects of what it's like to compete in elite level sport. Shelby has just completed her f…

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B.rad Highlights #3: Relationship Tips and Assignments From John Gray 33:59

11M ago33:59

33:59

Once again, it is time for a refresher course inspired by the teaching of four-time podcast guest John Gray, the #1 bestselling relationship author of all-time with his Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus franchise. In this highlight episode, you will hear life-changing advice and insights into relationship health, including the specific “assig…