Best Michael Kurkowski Podcasts (2025)

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The Art of Coaching w/ Dan John 53:27

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1d ago53:27

53:27

Welcome to the Strength Connection! Dan John, Legendary Coach and Author, joins me again on the podcast to go into his latest book, The Art of Coaching. In this engaging conversation, Coach Dan John shares insights from his extensive coaching career and how he began and ultimately completed The Art of Coaching. Emphasizing the importance of values,…

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The Path to Optimal Health and Vitality w/ Mike Salemi 48:30

1M ago48:30

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Welcome to the Strength Connection! Mike Salemi is a men’s performance coach, creator of the Vital Man Collective, and host of The Path podcast. In this conversation, Mike Salemi shares his journey from a competitive athlete to a holistic coach focusing on men's vitality and strength. He discusses the importance of personal experiences in shaping h…

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Primal Foundations w/ Tony Pascolla 55:26

2M ago55:26

55:26

Welcome to the Strength Connection. Tony Pascolla is a Physical Education teacher (Chicago,IL), strength coach, StrongFirst Kettlebell & Barbell Instructor, personal trainer, and carnivore/fasting coach. He is also the host of the Primal Foundations Podcast, where he explores topics related to strength training, nutrition, and lifestyle optimizatio…

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The Science of Strength after 40 w/ Geoff Neupert 54:58

2M ago54:58

54:58

Welcome to the Strength Connection! One of the most popular guests ever to come on the show, Geoff Neupert of Chasing Strength is back for the 3rd time on the podcast. Geoff’s ability to refine, and articulate the principles of strengths is top shelf, and has been a huge help to me and many others in strength, health and fitness. In this episode, I…

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The 5 Fundamentals of Optimal Health w/ Jim Laird 50:17

2M ago50:17

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Welcome to the Strength Connection! Jim Laird is a dedicated strength and conditioning coach with a career spanning back to 1997. He has helped everyone from casual fitness enthusiasts to professional athletes in the NFL, CFL, LPGA, and MLB achieve their goals. Jim's unique approach focuses on getting results efficiently. His motto, "Training Smart…

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Strength, Body Image, and Empathy w/ James Cappola 46:24

2M ago46:24

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Welcome to the Strength Connection! I’ve been a fan of the message and insights that James Cappola has created for a while, so it was truly special to have him come on the podcast. James is the owner of Zero Shortcuts Training, and a coach dedicated to the truth and principles of the client/coach relationship and the power of kindness and empathy. …

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Win Your Next Hour w/ Danny Lehr 59:58

3M ago59:58

59:58

Welcome to the Strength Connection! Danny Lehr is a speaker, entrepreneur, author, and former competitive athlete who’s obsessed with helping people accomplish their biggest dreams… one hour at a time. He’s the author of Win Your Next Hour, a high-impact guide for getting unstuck and taking bold action when life feels overwhelming. As the co-founde…

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How to Live in Total Abundance w/ Frank Parisi 49:21

3M ago49:21

49:21

Welcome to the Strength Connection! One of the most anticipated episodes of the show, Frank Parisi joins me to talk faith, abundance, and coming back from the dead to live on purpose. A motivational keynote speaker and networking mogul, Frank brings his expertise to life by giving the blueprint from recovery to fulfillment. Alongside his storytelli…

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Ep 288: Built to Last w/ David Amerland 53:30

3M ago53:30

53:30

Welcome to the Strength Connection! David Amerland is a writer focused on how human behavior is shaped by modern forces, especially technology, and how that shift impacts our health, culture, and stories. After building a career in marketing and publishing several successful business books, he expanded into the wellness space with Built to Last, a …

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Ep 287: Hula Hoops, Boating and Mindset w/ Amy Guerrier 52:35

4M ago52:35

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Welcome to the Strength Connection! I true renaissance woman is the best way to describe Amy Guerrier. Professional Hula-Hooper, clown, top tier high performance coach, and lives full-time on a boat documenting her experiences on her Youtube Channel AbsoBOATely fabulous, Amy is a wealth of knowledge and insight into the power of play, breath, and m…

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Ep 286: Dear Coach w/ Dr. Sara Erdner 55:18

4M ago55:18

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Welcome to the Strength Connection! This was one of the most insightful and interesting conversations about communication I’ve had on the show. Dr. Sara Erdner is Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CPMC), and PhD in Sports Psychology and Motor behavior, and the Author of Dear Coach: What I wish I could have told you. Dr. Erdner asked athlet…

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Ep 285: An Invincible Mindset w/ Howard Falco 48:11

5M ago48:11

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Welcome to the Strength Connection! Howard Falco is a spiritual teacher, mental strength coach, and the author of I AM: The Power of Discovering Who You Really Are and Time in a Bottle: Mastering the Experience of Life. Howard teaches next-level mindfulness to individuals, and college, Olympic, and professional athletes and coaches in almost every …

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Ep 284: Breaking through Addiction w/ Zara Gemilyan 46:23

5M ago46:23

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Welcome to the Strength Connection! Zara Gemilyan, co-founder of West Valley Detox and Celebrated Consulting, and Mrs. California Globe and Mrs. Armenia Globe joins me on the show. Coming from an addiction driving relationship, her time in pageantry where she began telling her story, and creating a customized facility to help those recovering from …

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Ep 283: Creating Massive Clarity in Your Vision w/ Carrie Campbell 49:06

5M ago49:06

49:06

Welcome to the Strength Connection! Truly one of the most insightful, passionate and powerful people I’ve ever met, Carrie Campbell is back on the podcast. A 25+ year coach and clinical counselor, Carrie is one of the premier minds in the mindset performance space, and she has been on a mission in her program Her-dentity over the past year to “leav…

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Ep 282 Aleks Salkin: The Insider's Guide to Kettlebell Complexes 1:02:30

6M ago1:02:30

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Welcome to the Strength Connection! One of my favorite people comes back on the show to talk strength and Kettlebell complexes. Aleks Salkin has been one of the premier coaches in hardstyle strength for years, and has been a guest on the Strength Connection numerous times. In this new episode, we dive into Aleks’ most recent book, The Kick-Ass Insi…

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Ep 281 Brian Hite: Flow under Fire 48:44

6M ago48:44

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Welcome to the Strength Connection! Brian Hite, Ph.D., is "The High-Stakes Performance Whisperer," blending over 30 years as a professional stuntman with advanced expertise in performance psychology. With a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology and a Master’s in Sport Psychology, Brian helps leaders, athletes, first responders, and creatives see throu…

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Ep 280 Jeremy Strawn: Confident vs. Comfortable 56:40

6M ago56:40

56:40

Welcome to the Strength Connection! This was truly one of the most enjoyable conversations. Jeremy Strawn is a fantastic coach from Ralston Creek Crossfit, and tremendously insightful in connecting physical and mental performance. His breakdown of confident vs. comfortable was one I hadn’t heard before, and left me thinking quite a bit. So many gre…

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Ep 279 Kimberly Kesting: Change Your Story, Change Your Life 1:05:40

7M ago1:05:40

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! Kimberly Kesting is a Mindset Performance Coach, and co-host of Get Enlifted. Her experience in personal transformation, eliminating self-doubt and storywork is truly inspiring, and she shares all the details of her experience in changing her body and mind, the early days of coaching, to specifically help…

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Ep 278 Eric Fasciani: Build Unstoppable Resilience 51:34

7M ago51:34

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Welcome to the Strength Connection! How things evolve throughout life when aiming up in your physical and mental strength was the major focus in this great conversation with Eric Fasciani. Eric is the owner/founder of Crossfit Souhegan, and Level 3 Enlifted Mindset coach, recently celebrating 10 years of operation at CFS. From early struggles and l…

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Ep 277 Laken Summerville: Creating your Strongest Story 52:24

7M ago52:24

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Welcome to the Strength Connection! Laken Summerville is a mindset performance specialist at Greenlight Personal Training and Rejuvenating Health in Ashburn. From her experience as a top tier Crossfit Athlete and coaching high performers, her insights on changing your internal story, and specific practices to enhance your mental performance is trul…

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Ep 276 Jason Turner: The Truth about Addiction Recovery 50:08

7M ago50:08

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Welcome to the Strength Connection! The work Jason Turner is doing is not just insightful, but incredibly important. Jason is the founder of E-Motion Wellness, a business that is revolutionizing the approach to mental health and addiction recovery. Listening to his story, and his dedication to challenging traditional norms, pioneering new approache…

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Ep 275 Brad Kearns: Peak Performance with Passion 51:11

8M ago51:11

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Welcome to the Strength Connection! Brad Kearns, 58, is a New York Times bestselling author, Guinness World Record holder, #1 USA-ranked Masters age 55-59 track&field high jumper in 2020, and former national champion and #3 world-ranked professional triathlete. He has written twenty books on diet, health, peak performance, and ancestral living, and…

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Ep 274 Zack Henderson: Lift-A-Palooza 2025 59:20

8M ago59:20

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Welcome to The Strength Connection! In the 274th episode, I’m joined by Zack Henderson, Coach and Owner of East Nashville Kettlebell. Zack is a StrongFirst Elite Instructor who is hosting the 6th Annual Lift-A-Palooza with Dan John, Ed Coen and Tracey Cooks. A deep dive into strength, connecting physical and mental resilience, the evolution of coac…

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Ep 273 Mark England: Every Word Matters 59:38

8M ago59:38

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast. One of my favorite people to talk mindset and story with kicks off the New Year with me. Mark England, founder of Enlifted Mindset Coaching joins me on the show again, talking about personal growth, soft-language, tools to create a powerful story, and the healing spiral. One of the most fun, and interesti…

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Ep 272 Top Lessons of 2024 36:15

8M ago36:15

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Welcome to the Strength Connection! Another incredible year comes to a close, and in this episode, I dove into some of the biggest lessons, insights, and stories from the incredible guests in 2024. To Join "The Strength Connection" mailing list, and get 5 Minute Mindset, click the link below: https://www.mystrengthconnection.com/signup…

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Ep 271 Dr. Richard Ulm: Achieving Super Sinister 51:49

9M ago51:49

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! What an absolute blast and wealth of knowledge this man is. Dr. Richard Ulm is the founder of Athlete Enhancement and treating physician at the Columbus Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Center, as well as a Strength and Conditioning coach and SFG level II instructor. His work with DNS training, and combini…

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Ep 270 Devan Gonzalez: Master the Art of Connection 52:58

9M ago52:58

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! In the 270th episode, I’m joined by Devan Gonzalez, owner and founder of Strive 11 Fitness, and host of the Mindset Cafe podcast. His journey took off as he transitioned to personal training, eventually launching his own 6-Figure personal training business serving a wide variety of clients from athletes t…

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Ep 269 Todd Durkin: True Strength 55:57

9M ago55:57

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! Anytime I get to chat with this man, I feel like I could run through a wall! Todd Durkin comes back on the show to talk about True Strength, a memoir released this year about the past few years, and how some of the most painful, and challenging times taught him the greatest lessons. One of the world’s mos…

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Ep 268 Kate Allgood: Keys to Building Unstoppable Confidence 44:25

9M ago44:25

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! Founder of Quantum Performance, mental performance coach Kate Allgood joins the show to talk confidence, resilience, and self talk for elite athletic performance. A recognized leader in the field of mental performance, she holds two master’s degrees in psychology and is a highly sought after coach. Her fi…

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Ep 267 Missy Bunch: The Movement Mentality 1:07:52

10M ago1:07:52

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! Missy Bunch has been a sparkplug in the game of movement and neuro-training for over 14 years. The Founder of The Movement Mentality, and co-founder of Movement IQ, she is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to pain management, rehabilitation, and neuro training for health and wellness. I was so pumped to…

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Ep 266 Annie Vo: Strength can Literally Save your Life 57:39

10M ago57:39

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! Strength truly has a greater purpose, and Annie Vo’s story and experience is living proof of that. A veteran strength coach, RKC senior instructor, and Level III Gym Jones instructor, I was so pumped to have Annie join me on the show to talk strength. In this episode, Annie tells her incredibly powerful s…

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Ep 265 Chase Tolleson: The Future of Coaching 55:48

10M ago55:48

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! In this episode, Chase Tolleson joins me again to dive into health, wealth, entrepreneurship, and the future of coaching. Chase is one of my absolute favorite people to follow, from his content and his newsletter, with a sincere authentic message about creating Impact as a coach. In this conversation, I c…

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Ep 264 Kathy Mauck: The Evolution of Neuro Training 56:08

11M ago56:08

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! In this episode, Kathy Mauck joins me to dive deep into the evolution of Applied Neurology in the fitness, health, and business industries, and her mission to “normalize neuro.” Kathy has spent the last 15 years as a successful entrepreneur in the health, wellness, and fitness industry. After years of sha…

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Ep 263 Rob Tracz: Build Unstoppable Resilience 47:51

11M ago47:51

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! In the 263rd episode, I connect with Rob Tracz, founder of Prime Performance Coaching. Rob has a unique system of blending physical, mental, and emotional strategies that foster resilience, clarity, and peak performance. With a focus on creating awareness and avoiding burnout, Rob's methods empower entrep…

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Ep 262 Craig Marker: VO2 Max, Explosive Strength, and Longevity 58:43

11M ago58:43

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! One of my favorite guests ever to dive deep into training and protocols is back on the show with me in this episode. Craig Marker is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to health, from both the physical and the psychological side. We’ve had some incredible conversations over the years, and in this episode…

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Ep 261 Matt Bush: How to Get Good Sleep 58:43

11M ago58:43

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! In this episode, Matt Bush, Founder of Next Level Neuro is back on the podcast. Matt joined me before to talk about his work with NLN, and helping coaches and trainers understand and use Neuroscience as a tool for optimizing strength, conditioning, and health. He recently hosted a seminar on “The Neurolog…

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Ep 260 Mary Beth Schrudder: One Day Coaching 56:20

11M ago56:20

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! In the 260th episode, Mary Beth Schrudder joins me to talk about recovery, mindset, and overcoming addiction in life and personal growth. After decades spent in the corporate world, juggling being a single mom while secretly battling addictions to alcohol, food, and toxic relationships, today's guest is n…

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Ep 259 Michael Kurkowski: Resilience, Reduction, The Winter Phase 16:40

12M ago16:40

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! There've been a couple great insights and lessons I’ve learned in recent episodes from guests on the show, and in this solo episode, I broke down these lessons, why I found them important, and how to implement them and use them in pursuit of strength. Stress Resilence over Stress Reduction The Winter Phas…

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Ep 258 Eric Bach: The Keys to Lifelong Fitness 52:47

12M ago52:47

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! I’ve been a fan of Eric Bach’s work and the consistent, authentic message that he puts out on strength and conditioning, so I was really excited to share some time with him on the show. Eric’s a 15+ year veteran coach, working with professional athletes in the NFL, NBA, and NHL, along with his client base…

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Ep 257 Ben Olliver: SupraHuman Fitness, Nutrition and Success 51:09

1y ago51:09

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! In this episode, I am joined by Ben Olliver, Head Performance Instructor at SupraHuman Coaching. Ben is one of the most knowledgeable coaches in the online training and nutrition industry, working with 100’s of individuals in physical transformation and lifestyle. In this conversation, Ben drops some grea…

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Ep 256 Matt O'Neill: Happiness is a Choice 53:51

1y ago53:51

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! Matt O’Neill is a happiness expert. What a crazy job and passion, but after studying and researching the work and success he has created in the world of happiness, I knew I had to have a talk with him. Matt teaches that happiness is a choice, even when life gets tough. His work has positively impacted the…

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Ep 255 Os Aponte: 3 years on Enter the Kettlebell 52:18

1y ago52:18

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! On the 255th episode, my good friend Osvaldo Aponte is back on the show for the 3rd time. Owner of IronCore Way, and StrongFirst Team Leader, Os is one of the strongest and most intelligent coaches in movement I’ve ever met, combining his experience in training, martial arts and dance. In this episode, Os…

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Ep 254 Vince Gabriele: The Evolution of Fitness 1:00:11

1y ago1:00:11

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! Vince Gabriele is a 20+ year veteran coach, gym owner, global keynote speaker, and best selling author in the fitness industry. Vince is one of the most knowledgeable minds in both the coaching and business side of fitness, teaching the key components to being a successful coach and making a huge impact i…

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Ep 253 Jaime Filer: Fitness, Mindset, and Psychedelics 52:57

1y ago52:57

52:57

Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! Jaime Filer is one of the most energetic and passionate coaches I’ve spoken to. She came on not too long ago on the podcast, speaking about the Inner Outer Strength System, and her experience in fitness and coaching, and it made a huge impact on me. Towards the end of our chat, she mentioned her recent ex…

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Ep 252 Shana Meyerson: YOGAthletica and the Power of Movement 50:15

1y ago50:15

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast. Shana Meyerson is an internationally renowned Yoga teacher and practitioner, and the founder of YOGAthletica. In 2002, Shana was one of the few instructors outside of India teaching yoga to children. A trailblazer in the field that was once considered ridiculous and is now ubiquitous. Today, Shana is the …

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Ep 251 Tyler Wall: Becoming SupraHuman 49:08

1y ago49:08

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! In the 251st episode, my friend and brother Tyler Wall comes back on the show. Tyler is one of the most insightful, knowledgeable, and caring coaches I’ve ever met. He’s made one of the biggest impacts on my life in the time we’ve known each other, and everytime we get a chance to dive deep into conversat…

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Ep 250: 5 lessons of Podcasting, Strength, and Connection 18:49

1y ago18:49

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! 250 episodes! It has been an incredible opportunity to connect with hundreds of amazing guests over the past years, with countless lessons and insights shared that have impacted my life. In this episode, I wanted to share 5 of the most impactful lessons I’ve learned from guests on speaking, fitness, growt…

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Ep 249 Dr. Michael Hartle: Kettlebell Strength & Anatomy 52:26

1y ago52:26

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! Dr. Michael Hartle joins me again on the show in the 249th episode. Being a Master SFG instructor, Chiropractic physician and former nationally ranked powerlifter, there are few people I enjoy talking about strength with more than Doc. Doc’s combined experience of clinical application and strength trainin…

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Ep 248 Roger Parks: Kettlebell Ballistics 54:12

1y ago54:12

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Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast. On the 248th episode, I am joined by Roger Parks, Kettlebell coach and founder of Iron Revival. Roger is a coach who dives deep, not resting on the surface level of information, and wanting to know how things work from the inside out, and he’s done that most recently in his new book Kettlebell Ballistics.…

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Ep 247 Carrie Campbell: Level up your Standards! 52:18

1y ago52:18

52:18

Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast! Carrie Campbell is truly one of my favorite people on the planet. Her energy, insight, and experience in the world of mindset and performance has taught me so much over the last few years, and she is back on the show, because she is on a serious mission. Carrie’s impact and influence over her life as chan…