Best Savage Not Average Podcasts (2025)

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Be Savage, Not Average – Craig Harper’s Playbook for Out-Training Multiple Myeloma 47:20

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18d ago47:20

47:20

When 61-year-old executive Craig Harper heard the words “incurable blood cancer,” his oncologist told him there was nothing he could do except wait for chemo. Craig refused to roll over. Instead, he doubled-down on strength, mobility and metabolic health—dropping to 9 % body-fat, hiking 15 k weighted steps a day and surfing every chance he gets. In…

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Drew Valentine’s Journey to Elite Health by Age 29 41:16

4d ago41:16

41:16

When 26-year-old yoga teacher and personal trainer Drew Valentine arrived at Stark, he seemed like the picture of health—lean, athletic, and mindful. But underneath the surface, his testosterone was dangerously low, his protein intake was inadequate, and he was unknowingly undernourished and underpowered. Three years later, Andrew has redefined wha…

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From 450 Pounds to 10% Body Fat – John Taylor 59:33

11d ago59:33

59:33

When entertainment executive and former touring musician John Taylor found himself at 450 pounds, depressed, breathless, and ashamed, he knew something had to change. Years of food addiction, alcohol dependency, and extreme dieting had left him broken—and despite trying everything from rehab to running marathons, nothing stuck. Then, he stopped cha…

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Minimalist Muscle & Mobility with Brett Jones 50:23

1M ago50:23

50:23

StrongFirst Master Instructor Brett Jones trains on just five kettlebell moves—cleans, presses, squats, swings and get-ups—but keeps making progress because he “minds the gap.” In this episode Brett shows Todd how screening ankles, hips and T-spine first, then adding a five-minute ground warm-up, fixes hidden leaks that stall strength. You’ll learn…

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From Meds & Merlot to Macros & Muscle: Alison Wayne at 55 1:04:55

1M ago1:04:55

1:04:55

Ten years ago Alison Wayne measured health by the bathroom scale and a nightly glass of wine. Today the 55-year-old mom of three rings PR bells, sleeps migraine-free and wears two sizes smaller while weighing 20 lbs more. Host Todd Vande Hei digs into the mindset shifts, nutrition hacks and family dynamics that rewrote Alison’s future — and why she…

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“Beyond Forgiveness: The Savage Freedom of Indifference_Zero F*cks Given" 6:34

1M ago6:34

6:34

“Beyond Forgiveness: The Savage Freedom of Indifference” – 4-min Heart-Chakra Mic-Drop Heart Chakra rips up the apology ledger and installs velvet-rope boundaries. This blister-quick episode exposes: 🧾 Receipts showing how grudges drain cortisol, calories, and cosmic credit. 💣 The blunt truth that forgiveness was only preschool—indifference is the …

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“So You Heard About ‘The Great Awakening’? Let’s De-Mythify the Hype with Crown.” 7:06

1M ago7:06

7:06

Crown Chakra hijacks the mic (and your purple-wifi connection) to crack open today’s hottest buzzword. Forget airy-fairy fluff—this is a lovingly snarky reality check on what awakening is (a cosmic firmware update that lands right between paying the phone bill and decoding last night’s HD dreams) and what it definitely isn’t (smug bypassing, kombuc…

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From “Thin-Not-Strong” to Surf, Summits & Mid-Life Muscle: Cara Kleinhaut 42:49

2M ago42:49

42:49

At 52, experiential-marketing CEO Cara Kleinhaut dead-hangs surfboards, hikes Kilimanjaro for fun—and still cooks rainbow-bright farmer-market meals for her teenage girls. In this candid conversation with Stark CEO Todd Vande Hei, Cara unpacks how perimenopause panic turned into the best decade of her life—by trading “skinny” for strong and “busy” …

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From Founder Burn-Out to Hunter-Gatherer Health: Chirag Sagar & Todd Vande Hei Re-Engineer the Executive Body 54:39

2M ago54:39

54:39

Mission Matters COO Chirag Sagar works 14-hour days, pops up at every L.A. networking event—and just popped a calf walking up the stairs. In this candid jam-session, Chirag asks Stark CEO Todd Vande Hei one simple question: “Where does a time-starved entrepreneur actually start?” Todd unpacks Stark’s L.E.N.S. framework (Lifestyle, Exercise, Nutriti…

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From SnackWell to Regenerative Soil: Dr. Jeffrey Burke on AI‑Powered Medicine, Smart Supplements & the End of Comfort‑Zone Eating 42:44

2M ago42:44

42:44

Natural‑health broadcaster Dr. Jeffrey Burke has spent 45 years translating nutrition science for everyday people. In this lively conversation with Todd Vande Hei, he compares the 1980s “fat‑free” craze to today’s ultra‑processed foodscape, and explains why the next wellness revolution will merge real food, regenerative farming, and real‑time bioma…

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Unlocking the Flow Code: David Nurse on Epigenetic Greatness, 10-Hertz Focus & Living Your Why 1:00:59

2M ago1:00:59

1:00:59

Former NBA shooting-coach-turned-mindset maestro David Nurse joins host Todd Vande Hei for a wide-ranging crash course on building greatness from the inside out. Drawing on epigenetics, Navy SEAL “attribute stacking,” and his brand-new Flow Code Formula, David explains how anyone—from pro athletes to busy executives—can up-regulate or down-regulate…

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Dominoes of Wellness: Dr. Michael Breus on Sleep, Hydration, Breathing & the Future of Sleep Tech 34:15

3M ago34:15

34:15

World‑renowned “Sleep Doctor” Dr. Michael Breus joins host Todd Vande Hei to strip wellness back to its three most powerful (and too often ignored) dominoes: sleep, hydration, and breathing. Drawing from his new book Sleep, Drink, Breathe and two decades of clinical practice, Dr. Breus lays out a practical, three‑week protocol that upgrades each pi…

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Stone‑Agers in the Space Age: Todd’s Blueprint for Closing the Health Mismatch 34:41

3M ago34:41

34:41

Why are chronic illness, fatigue, and plummeting testosterone rampant in the most “advanced” nations on Earth? Host Todd Vande Hei argues it’s simple: we’re ancient hardware running on futuristic software. Our hunter‑gatherer genes are drowning in a tech‑soaked, climate‑controlled, hyper‑processed world—and the gap is making us soft, sick, and tire…

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From Cancer to Vibrant Living: Elissa Goodman on Self‑Love, Soup Cleanses & Thriving in Your 60s 48:40

3M ago48:40

48:40

When holistic nutritionist Elissa Goodman was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 32, a forward‑thinking oncologist asked questions she’d never heard in a doctor’s office: Are you happy? Do you love yourself? That moment ignited a three‑decade journey of radical healing—and today Elissa feels stronger in her 60s than she ever did in her 30s. In th…

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Outside the Box: An Integrative Approach to Medicine with Dr. Paul Anderson 38:10

3M ago38:10

38:10

In this enlightening episode, host Todd Vande Hei sits down with Dr. Paul Anderson—co-author of Outside the Box—to explore how chronic and complex health issues often slip through the cracks of our traditional medical system. Dr. Anderson explains how “inside-the-box” care excels at addressing acute emergencies, yet struggles when a patient present…

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The Hidden Cost of Suppressing Emotions with Dr. Hillary Goldsher 1:07:01

4M ago1:07:01

1:07:01

Masculinity is evolving, but are men keeping up? In this compelling discussion, Dr. Hillary Goldsher joins Todd Vander Hei to unpack the societal pressures shaping modern masculinity and the consequences of emotional suppression. They explore how men are taught to suppress emotions like fear, sadness, and anxiety—often leading to long-term conseque…

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Optimizing Brain Health & Recovery with Kristen Willeumier, PhD and Alice Nguyen, NMD 1:04:58

4M ago1:04:58

1:04:58

How do concussions, repetitive head trauma, and strokes impact long-term brain health? Neuroscientist Dr. Kristen Willeumier and naturopathic physician Dr. Alice Nguyen join Todd Vande Hei for an eye-opening discussion on brain resilience, recovery, and performance. Dr. Willeumier explains the dangers of subconcussive impacts—those repeated hits th…

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Strength as a Skill, with Brett Jones 55:54

4M ago55:54

55:54

Strength training isn’t just about lifting heavier—it’s about training smarter. Brett Jones, director of education at StrongFirst, rejoins Todd this week on the podcast, sharing his philosophy on strength training as a skill. Brett dives into the science behind recovery and why effort alone doesn’t equal better results. He also highlights the role …

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Hydration, Joint Mobility, & Fascia Health, with Bryce Turner 48:28

4M ago48:28

48:28

Hydration is more than just drinking water—it’s about optimizing how your body absorbs, utilizes, and retains fluids to enhance mobility, reduce inflammation, and support long-term health. On this week’s episode of Health Is A Skill, Bryce Turner—owner of Beach Fitness and ELDOA USA—returns to the podcast, this time breaking down why hydration is a…

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Unlocking Intimacy, Connection, & Sexual Well-Being, with Aaro Ardis 1:01:04

5M ago1:01:04

1:01:04

Intimacy is about so much more than physical connection—it's a pathway to deeper relationships, stronger communication, and improved mental well-being. On this week’s episode of Health Is A Skill, relationship coach Aaro Ardis joins Todd for a fascinating conversation about the complexities of love, sex, and connection. During their conversation Aa…

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Rewriting the Brain for Freedom & Performance, with “The Mind Architect” Peter Crone 52:47

5M ago52:47

52:47

Most people don’t simply live their lives—they live out the stories going on in their minds. On this week’s episode of Health Is A Skill, Todd sits down with “The Mind Architect”, Peter Crone, to dive into how deeply ingrained subconscious beliefs drive behavior and limit potential. Peter shares how he helps elite athletes, executives, and everyday…

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Functional Medicine, Gut Health, & Toxicity, with Dr. Bob Rakowski 43:44

5M ago43:44

43:44

The foundation of health starts in the gut—something ancient wisdom and modern science both can agree on. In this week’s episode of Health Is A Skill, Dr. Bob Rakowski unpacks the critical role gut health plays in overall wellness and why functional medicine is the key to addressing the root causes of disease. Together Todd and Dr. Rakowski highlig…

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Magnesium’s Critical Role in Health & Performance, with Dr. Robert Fredrickson 31:36

5M ago31:36

31:36

Magnesium is responsible for over a thousand biochemical reactions in the body, yet more than 75% of people are deficient in this critical mineral. Dr. Robert Fredrickson joins Todd on this week’s episode of Health is a Skill to break down why magnesium is essential for energy production, blood pressure regulation, cardiovascular health, sleep, anx…

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A Reality Check on the Facts Behind Menopause & Metabolic Health, with Dr. Alice Nguyen 51:57

6M ago51:57

51:57

Menopause is an inevitable transition, but it doesn’t have to be miserable. In this episode, Dr. Alice Nguyen brings her wealth of knowledge to a candid discussion on managing menopause and metabolic health. She and Todd dive into how hormonal shifts affect weight, fat distribution, and mental well-being. Dr. Nguyen then explains why resistance tra…

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Male Fertility & The Impact of Testosterone Replacement Therapy, with Michael Moeller, ND 1:13:29

6M ago1:13:29

1:13:29

On today’s episode of Health is a Skill, Todd is diving into a topic that is becoming more and more prevalent for men: lower rates of male fertility. Dr. Michael Moeller is a naturopathic medical doctor who specializes in men’s health, with a focus on fertility optimization and testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Together the two discuss why me…

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Fat Loss & Diet, with Geoff Samson 55:12

6M ago55:12

55:12

Being that it’s the beginning of a new year, we’re continuing our conversation on the best ways to lose fat as we start off 2025! Today Todd is joined by Stark’s registered dietician, Geoff Samson. Geoff is an expert in all things fat loss and the foods you need to eat (and not eat!) to achieve your goals. On today’s episode, Todd invites Geoff to …

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Effective Fat-Burning Strategies to Kick Off 2025, with Amir Mofidi 51:04

6M ago51:04

51:04

Welcome to Season 3 of Health is a Skill! We’re kicking off a brand new season—and a brand new year—talking about the most effective ways to burn fat and feel your best as we enter 2025. Stark’s head of training and health protocols, Amir Mofidi, is back on the podcast, this time joining Todd to discuss optimizing fat-burn, if cutting calories actu…

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Season 2 Recap: Your Health is in Your Hands 20:51

6M ago20:51

20:51

We’re wrapping up Season 2 of Health is a Skill with a recap of the last 11 episodes—what our guests taught us about achieving a state of peak health, Todd’s insights into his own health journey, and a look back on how you can be the healthiest version of you. For this solo episode, Todd runs us through each guest from this past season, emphasizing…

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The Intersection Between Strength Training & Eastern Medicine, with Dr. Chris Holder 55:46

7M ago55:46

55:46

Todd is back for this week’s episode of Health is a Skill with a special guest he’s been meaning to reconnect with for over a decade: Dr. Chris Holder. Chris is a strength coach turned doctor of eastern medicine practices like Qigong and Christian mysticism, and today on the show he’s here to tell us more about where the two intersect. Todd begins …

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Mental Well-Being, Meditation, & Building Resilience, with Mark Vande Hei 59:04

7M ago59:04

59:04

For today’s episode of Health Is a Skill Todd is joined by a very special guest, his brother Mark Vande Hei! But this isn’t just some catch-up conversation between two brothers. Mark is a NASA astronaut and retired U.S. Army colonel who served as a mission specialist aboard the International Space Station on multiple expeditions, including a record…

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A Realistic Look at the Birth Control Pill & Women’s Health, with Alice Nguyen 56:55

7M ago56:55

56:55

For decades women have been told that taking the birth control pill is the best approach to controlling their cycle and regulating hormones. But as more research has been done in recent years, it’s become apparent that maybe this isn’t the best choice for all women. On today’s episode of Health is a Skill, Todd sits down with Alice Nguyen—Stark’s h…

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Building Healthy Muscle Mass, with Amir Mofidi 49:10

7M ago49:10

49:10

Todd is back for this week’s episode of Health is a Skill, this time sitting down with Stark’s Amir Mofidi to talk all things muscle mass. Most of us know that having a healthier muscle mass percentage is a good thing for our bodies, but can it actually lead to living a longer, healthier life? And how do we go about building muscle in a way that’s …

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The Effect Fasting can have on Longevity, with Dr. Paul Anderson and Alice Nguyen 1:03:38

8M ago1:03:38

1:03:38

The effect fasting can have on your health and longevity is a complicated one, and has become even less clear-cut in recent years. So how can we know if fasting practices like intermittent fasting benefit our overall health? Today on Health is a Skill Todd welcomes back Dr. Paul Anderson and Alice Nguyen, who team up on this episode to discuss if f…

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An Update on Todd’s Recent Stroke | How to Minimize Your Health Problems & Risks 24:44

8M ago24:44

24:44

For this week’s special episode of Health is a Skill, Todd gives us an update on how the stroke he experienced in September has affected his overall health and outlook on life. There are many factors you can control when it comes to your health, but some elements will always remain out of our hands. Todd’s stroke on September 22nd of this year was …

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The Health Impacts of Protein & Regenerative Farming, with rancher Kevin Muno 51:49

8M ago51:49

51:49

Most of us probably know we need more protein in our diets, but what’s the best way to get that protein? On today’s episode of Health is a Skill, Todd talks with athlete turned rancher, Kevin Muno, to break down the many benefits of grass-fed beef and why regenerative farming is where we should be looking when it comes to nutrient-dense sources of …

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How Healthy Glutes can Help us Live Longer, with Dr. Andrea Schwab 49:24

8M ago49:24

49:24

Many factors contribute to a longer, healthier life, but is a rounder booty really one of them? Stark’s head of chiropractic, Dr. Andrea Schwab, joins Todd on today’s episode of Health Is a Skill, looking at how fostering healthy glutes can in fact lead to better orthopedic health and increased longevity. Glutes are one of the biggest—if not the bi…

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Sleep is a Skill, with Mollie Eastman 45:18

9M ago45:18

45:18

Most of us know sleep is important for our health, but how important is it really? The science behind what happens when our bodies aren’t getting enough sleep is jarring, to say the least. On today’s episode of Health is a Skill, Todd sits down with popular podcaster and sleep expert, Mollie Eastman, to talk about how to make getting a good night’s…

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Perspective and Longevity w/ Dr. Chris Renna 1:01:55

9M ago1:01:55

1:01:55

Perspective—how you view yourself and your role within the world—is one of the final steps towards a healthier self, but it’s also one of the hardest areas to optimize. On today’s episode of Health is a Skill, Todd sits down with Dr. Chris Renna, one of the nation’s premier preventative medical providers, to talk perspective, optimism, and longevit…

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The Healing Power of Music w/ Barry Goldstein 1:00:41

9M ago1:00:41

1:00:41

Welcome to season 2 of the Health is a Skill podcast! Todd is kicking off this second season with a special guest who is sure to leave every listener with practical tools they can use right now to uplevel their health in a whole new way. That guest today is Barry Goldstein, legendary composer and sound expert, who stands as the intersection between…

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Unlocking Peak Health: The Power of Belief & The Wheel Of Health 34:02

9M ago34:02

34:02

We’re wrapping up season 1 of Health is a Skill with a recap episode from Todd, featuring his insights on some of the common misunderstandings surrounding protein consumption, a personal look at his own heart health challenges, and why he believes ketamine-assisted therapy is a vastly overlooked way to level up your health. This first season of Hea…

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Mental Wellness & Ketamine Assisted Therapy w/ Dr. James Leathem 48:53

9M ago48:53

48:53

Mental wellbeing is about more than just the absence of mental illness. It’s a multifaceted area of health that encompasses everything from physical to psychological to emotional health—but what are some of the ways we can achieve peak mental wellness? This week on Health is a Skill, Todd is joined by Dr. James Leathem, a board certified anesthesio…

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HRV w/ Salim Najjar 48:34

10M ago48:34

48:34

On this week’s episode of Health is a Skill we’re talking all things HRV, or heart rate variability—the shift in timing between your heartbeats. It’s a topic that’s come into the limelight over the last few years, and for good reason: we’re all arguably more stressed than ever before and we need skills to measure, cope with, and manage that stress …

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Strength & Longevity w/ Brett Jones 1:08:03

10M ago1:08:03

1:08:03

Strength training is about much more than being able to lift heavy weights in the gym—it’s a practice that, if applied correctly, can significantly improve our longevity and overall health. For this week’s episode of Health is a Skill Todd takes a look at what strength training actually entails, inviting certified athletic trainer and strength trai…

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Orthopedic Health w/ Bryce Turner 1:05:25

10M ago1:05:25

1:05:25

Orthopedic health—our ability to move our bodies well and often—affects nearly every other function of our health, from sleep and nutrition to stress and digestion and everything in between. That’s why we’re spending this whole episode of Health is a Skill breaking down exactly what orthopedic health is and how to incorporate it into our health too…

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Gut Health w/ Dr. Paul Anderson 52:02

10M ago52:02

52:02

Dr. Paul Anderson is back on the show this week, this time talking all about gut health and how to optimize our gut through lifestyle, exercise, nutrition, and stress management. Todd’s own health changed when he cut out gluten and found chronic symptoms like headaches and joint pain were no longer plaguing him. For this episode Todd invites Dr. An…

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Hormones, Specifically Women's Hormones w/ Dr. Gordon Gunn 37:33

11M ago37:33

37:33

Dr. Gordon Gunn joins Todd for this week’s Health is a Skill podcast to talk all things hormones, specifically women’s hormones. There are millions of hormones in our bodies, and they all perform different functions to regulate our emotions, body composition, and sex drive, but postmenopausal women may be the most difficult to treat demographic whe…

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Nutrients w/ Alice Nguyen NMD & Amir Mofidi 48:53

11M ago48:53

48:53

Today on the show Todd is joined by the two people who helped transform his body from a nutrient-perspective: Alice Nguyen and Amir Mofidi. Alice serves as the head of naturopathic medicine at Stark, while Amir leads their personal branding. Together Alice and Amir have helped Todd rebuild his body composition from the ground up by focusing on the …

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Detoxification w/ Dr. Paul Anderson 46:12

11M ago46:12

46:12

For this week’s episode of Health is a Skill, Todd sits down with Dr. Paul Anderson to talk all things detoxification. A lot of us might think that we don’t need to do much to detoxify, since our bodies are pretty good at that process naturally. But given the amount of chemicals that have been introduced into our environments in the last 70-100 yea…

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Cardiovascular Health w/ Dr. Jack Wolfson 36:47

11M ago36:47

36:47

On this week’s episode of Health is a Skill, Todd is breaking down cardiovascular health, and why this aspect of our health is so important. For most of us, cardiovascular health is something we don’t necessarily think about, unless we have poor cardiovascular health, like high blood pressure. But cardiovascular health impacts the rest of your heal…

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Body Composition & The Difference Between Health and Fitness | Amir Mofidi 31:46

12M ago31:46

31:46

Todd is joined by Stark’s director of personal training, Amir Mofidi. Amir has been in the health and fitness industry for over 24 years, and during that time he’s acquired an eclectic and diverse body of knowledge, including on the topic of today’s episode: body composition. America has a severe body composition problem. We don’t know what a healt…