Connecting with the top minds in strength to share stories, insights and experiences to help the world get stronger everyday!I'm Michael Kurkowski, strength coach, Kettlebell Instructor and everyday strength seeker for over 13 years. The world of strength is riddled with so much information and marketing that it can be downright impossible to know what is best for you. From reading, studying, and practicing over the years, I've found how impactful being strong is to everything we do in our l ...
…
continue reading
Tony Kurkowski Podcasts
Pinball and video games. We're a mixed gaming podcast, but pinball and video games are our bread and butter, and our two permanent segments. Pinball generally receives the most attention of the two. We also, on occasion, cover other types of gaming (namely tabletop games such as RPGs and card games). We aren't known as eclectic for nothing!
…
continue reading
1
Where to start in BIOHACKING w/ Troy Laing
51:59
51:59
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
51:59
Welcome to the Strength Connection! Troy Laing is the founder of Culture OC, a “biohacking social wellness club” helping those find their optimal health in mind, body, spirit and community. Troy shares his journey from a troubled past to becoming a leader in the biohacking and wellness community. He discusses the profound impact of physical movemen…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 254 - Star Wars the Star Wars
1:13:10
1:13:10
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:13:10
Pinball: We talk about the reveal of Stern Pinball's Star Wars Fall of the Empire, plus answer a listener email about saying games have good flow.Video Games: We talk about Pinball Arcade, a Nintendo Direct, Silksong's success, and Ninteno getting a patent for everything related to summoning.Episode Links:Knapp Arcade article on Stern Pinball's Fal…
…
continue reading
1
How to FLIP your mental script w/ Mitchell Osmond
55:11
55:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:11
Welcome to The Strength Connection! Mitchell Osmond is founder of Dad Nation and a performance coach for men looking to maximize their relationships, health and vitality along with their high performing careers. Mitchell shares his personal journey of transformation from a place of burnout and disconnection to a life of purpose and fulfillment, the…
…
continue reading
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,…
…
continue reading
Pinball: We talk about what little we know so far about Stern Pinball's upcoming Star Wars game "Fall of the Empire" and respond to some listener emails.Video Games: We talk about digital pinball, Silksong, Path of Exile 2, and a bunch of Gamescom announcements.Episode Links:None!Show Links:EGP Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/eclectic_gamersWebsit…
…
continue reading
Pinball: There's no real news so we cover several listener emails and play a game: Kansas versus Dungeon Crawler Carl.Video Games: We talk about PETA's demands on Nintendo, Louisiana's lawsuit against Roblox, Tencent's adjustments to Light of Motiram, Battlefield 6 and its huge beta test player count, and Nintendo telling people to think about temp…
…
continue reading
Pinball: We talk about Jack Danger becoming Stern Pinball's Head of Community and then hit a couple pinball topics a listener submitted: if Predator could work with a more historic approach to art and what is our preferred size of LCD screen for pinball.Video Games: We talk Donkey Kong Bonanza, Microsoft thriving while laying off folks, Hasbro doin…
…
continue reading
1
The Path to Optimal Health and Vitality w/ Mike Salemi
48:30
48:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:30
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…
…
continue reading
Pinball: We have no news so thanks to listeners we discuss pinball art and then play a game: Marry, Love, Old Yeller.Video Games: We talk video game movies and TV shows, the official end of a voice-acting strike, the fall of the Wargaming game, the FBI dealing with Nintendo ROM sites, Dragon Quest 7 remake coming (someday), reports that King employ…
…
continue reading
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…
…
continue reading
1
The Science of Strength after 40 w/ Geoff Neupert
54:58
54:58
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 249 - Steelbound for Battlefield
1:07:53
1:07:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:07:53
Pinball: We discuss Stern Pinball's new premium version of Jaws for the 50th Anniversary of the film, For Amusement Only's newly announced title Steelbound for the P3, CGC's delay on Cactus Canyon Expansion kits, and finally a discussion topic on what it means to be a pinball collector.Video Games: We talk about Summer Games Done Quick, Helldivers …
…
continue reading
1
The 5 Fundamentals of Optimal Health w/ Jim Laird
50:17
50:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:17
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…
…
continue reading
Pinball: We spend most of this segment going over our thoughts on Pinball Brother's revealed Predator Pinball. We also talk about the AI scandal surrounding JJP's Harry Potter, our thoughts on Stern's code release states, and how we would retheme a host of existing pinball machines.Video Games: We talk about the Xbox games showcase, a change in lea…
…
continue reading
1
Strength, Body Image, and Empathy w/ James Cappola
46:24
46:24
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:24
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. …
…
continue reading
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…
…
continue reading
Pinball: We spend most of this segment going over our thoughts on JJP's finally revealed Harry Potter Pinball. Note that after the video game segment we talk a bit about Predator and Cuphead in the pinball world.Video Games: We talk about the Switch 2 release, EA dropping Black Panther, a remaster of Final Fantasy Tactics, Summer Game Fest announce…
…
continue reading
1
How to Live in Total Abundance w/ Frank Parisi
49:21
49:21
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading
51
Episode 246 - What if Gottlieb & Williams Returned?
55:05
55:05
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:05
Pinball: We briefly discuss that it seems JJP's Harry Potter pinball is delayed, cover some listener emails, and then have a discussion topic on what pinball company would we resurrect to compete in today's market.Video Games: We talk about a bunch of video game movies being worked on, Embracer's reorganization, Gearbox grinding people's gears, and…
…
continue reading
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 …
…
continue reading
1
Ep 287: Hula Hoops, Boating and Mindset w/ Amy Guerrier
52:35
52:35
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:35
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…
…
continue reading
51
Episode 245 - World Poker Tour Remastered?
50:04
50:04
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:04
Pinball: We briefly discuss how Kong and Dune are doing, go over a couple listener emails, and then pick five Stern games we think would be interesting for the Remaster treatment.Video Games: We talk about Overwatch's unionization, Nintendo wanting to brick their systems for cheating, EA having more layoffs, and Xbox raising the price on their year…
…
continue reading
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…
…
continue reading
51
Episode 244 - Kong Smash Without Rhythm
1:03:04
1:03:04
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:03:04
Pinball: We go over the new reveals of Dune Pinball from Barrels of Fun and King Kong: Myth of Terror Island Pinball from Stern Pinball.Video Games: We cover the Resident Evil 4 and Oblivion remakes, Funstock stopping orders to the USA over tariffs, and all the Switch 2 pre-order drama also driven by tariffs.Episode Links:Knapp Arcade article on Ba…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 285: An Invincible Mindset w/ Howard Falco
48:11
48:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:11
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 …
…
continue reading
Pinball: We summarize what we know about the upcoming King Kong pinball from Stern, Dune from Barrels of Fun, and Harry Potter from Jersey Jack. We also discuss what companies have indicated regarding the impact of USA tariffs.Video Games: We cover all the information we have about Nintendo's upcoming Switch 2 console.Episode Links:Stern Pinball's …
…
continue reading
1
Ep 284: Breaking through Addiction w/ Zara Gemilyan
46:23
46:23
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:23
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 …
…
continue reading
51
Episode 242 - Texas Pinball Festival 2025 Recap
1:21:29
1:21:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:21:29
Pinball: We summarize the new games we played at TPF 2025 and discuss some other aspects related to the show.Video Games: We cover Ubisoft's new subsidiary, Warner Brothers cancelling an expansion to Hogwarts Legacy, and information out of the latest Nintendo Direct.Episode Links:Marco Specialties: https://www.marcospecialties.com/control/mainShow …
…
continue reading
1
Ep 283: Creating Massive Clarity in Your Vision w/ Carrie Campbell
49:06
49:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 282 Aleks Salkin: The Insider's Guide to Kettlebell Complexes
1:02:30
1:02:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:02:30
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…
…
continue reading
Pinball: We cover the indications that Multimorphic has Portal is their next P3 theme, and read some listener emails.Video Games: We cover Scopely buying Pokemon, Forza Horizon 5 coming to Playstation, Xbox rumors on their next console, the Switch 2, Chrono Trigger's 30th anniversary, an AI-related leak from Sony, Ubisoft exploring the launch of a …
…
continue reading
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…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 240 - Monster Hunting Listener Emails
1:09:10
1:09:10
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:09:10
Pinball: We cover a thimble full of news, and announce the 4th annual PiNBVALL DeGENeRaTE awards, but then rely on listener emails to save us, which they do. We talk prediction on several things, reshape the Pinside Top 10, and even have a listener-submitted Rumor Corner!Video Games: We cover Marvel Rivals layoffs, Niantic looking for a new owner, …
…
continue reading
1
Ep 280 Jeremy Strawn: Confident vs. Comfortable
56:40
56:40
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading
Warning: The first 25+ minutes are an in-depth discussion of the Western film genre. You have been warned!Pinball: We cover Stern Pinball's Dungeons and Dragons LE version having node board ten issues, talk about a delay on DPX's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland production, the new company Ramp's Pinball, and answer a listener email regarding The G…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 279 Kimberly Kesting: Change Your Story, Change Your Life
1:05:40
1:05:40
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:05:40
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…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 278 Eric Fasciani: Build Unstoppable Resilience
51:34
51:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
51:34
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…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 277 Laken Summerville: Creating your Strongest Story
52:24
52:24
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:24
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…
…
continue reading
Pinball: We cover several emails relating to prior topics and Dennis's inability to pronounce certain words. We discuss the sub-$1,000 planned Alice Goes to Wonderland from Wonderland Amusements and also play a little requested This or That.Video Games: We cover the upcoming release of Doom the Dark Ages and Ninja Gaiden 4. We discuss John Gonzalez…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 276 Jason Turner: The Truth about Addiction Recovery
50:08
50:08
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:08
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…
…
continue reading
Pinball: We talk briefly about the general reaction to Stern Pinball's new release, Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant's Eye, David Fix leaving American Pinball, and then we play a new game where Tony and I pick what we think are the three weakest, and strongest, themes used in pinball during the 2020 through 2024 period.Video Games: We cover the Ninte…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 275 Brad Kearns: Peak Performance with Passion
51:11
51:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
51:11
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…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 274 Zack Henderson: Lift-A-Palooza 2025
59:20
59:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
59:20
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…
…
continue reading
Pinball: We talk all about Stern Pinball's new release, Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant's Eye.Video Games: We cover a variety of leaks related to Nintendo's Switch 2, the big upcoming video game releases of January and February, discuss Stardew Valley's smashing sales success, and denote the 2025 start of Awesome Games Done Quick.Episode Links:Knapp…
…
continue reading
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…
…
continue reading
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…
…
continue reading
Pinball: We talk about the LoserKid Pinball Podcast interview with American Pinball's David Fix, recap the year of 2024 for pinball, and play a game!Video Games: We answer listener questions, Tony gives his 2024 Steam statistics, we cover the 2024 Game Awards, and we talk about Secret Levels, the Amazon Prime series of short videos about various vi…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 271 Dr. Richard Ulm: Achieving Super Sinister
51:49
51:49
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
51:49
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…
…
continue reading
1
Ep 270 Devan Gonzalez: Master the Art of Connection
52:58
52:58
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:58
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…
…
continue reading
Pinball: We provide a Rumor Corner but spend most of our time discussing the interesting happenings in pinball during 2024.Video Games: We summarize Star Citizen's funding milestone, talk about early access for Path of Exile 2, the hit success of the Nintendo Alarmo, the death of Foamstars, a handheld PS5, Baldur's Gate still getting content, and N…
…
continue reading
