The Breaking Muscle Podcast

On the latest edition of Fight Strength, we switched things up a bit from our usual format. Co-host Phil Daru and I took our weekly “Ask Daru” segment to the next level. Daru recently returned from a two-week stay in Russia, where he conducted exclusive seminars for the talented fighters at the ACB Berkut gym in Grozny. Listeners of the show have sent Daru a whole pile of questions lately, and we felt the need to dedicate an entire episode to deliver answers for these aficionados of fitness.

One of the hardest misconceptions to overcome is what aging should look like. This is especially true for women, who face a mountain of cultural nonsense when it comes to their bodies in general, and in particular once they reach age 40. Amanda Thebe has rejected those societal norms outright. A born natural skeptic and voracious learner, she has turned the breadth and depth of her experience into a formidable set of tools to reach post-menopausal women with physical and mental empowerment.

We are joined by John O’Sullivan of the Changing the Game Project. He says that the main reason kids stop playing is that we adults ruin the fun. We discuss how we need to create a national movement toward physical literacy as a crucial life skill. We cover the obvious positive health and academic results from a robust physical education program, and how we should create a system that encourages the transition from team sports on school to individual athletic pursuits as an adult.

The Fight Strength Podcast focuses on the training strategies used to develop elite fighters. Phil Daru is the lead strength and conditioning coach at ATT. Co-host Jason Burgos is an MMA journalist.  Daru and Burgos interview strength and conditioning coach Nicholas Davenport. Davenport is the founder and director of programming at Mind Body 1, and an adjunct professor at Broward College. He focuses on blending cognitive exercises with an assortment of traditional techniques.

Rain Bennett sits down with Pete Hitzeman to tell the story of Raise Up, his feature-length documentary on extreme calisthenics and street workouts. His deep dive into this culture and movement took him around the world, from Harlem to Latvia, where he witnessed how a workout routine became an engine for positive social change. We talk about the struggles faced by the sport as it struggles for legitimacy and commercial viability, and what the discipline can bring to anyone looking to better themselves.

Sean Griffin is the founder of Chicago Primal Gym, and he’s created a masterful example of a fitness tribe. His kettlebell-based gym has thrived as an inspired community dedicated to a belief in strength with a greater purpose. Sean and Shane Trotter explore the elements of a strong, attractive, and passionate community. Sean contends that it starts with the team, the values, and the vision, and makes a strong case for why you must be willing to identify and stand by your beliefs.

An in-depth discussion of the issues surrounding one of the most complex joints in the body. With the ThinkReps coaches on Breaking Muscle - Ted Sloan, Giulio Palau, and Antonio Squillante.

What would your life look like if you had the freedom to do whatever you want? It might seem counterintuitive, Jocko Willink is here to explain. His third book, third book, the Discipline Equals Freedom Field Manual, is a tactical guide to the practices and philosophies he has employed in his own life. Through them, he has thrived in his combat career, excelled in civilian business, run a successful gym for a decade, and rocketed to the top of the New York Times Best Sellers list.

You want to remain fit and healthy for the rest of your life, so what's the hurry? Ben Rollenhagen creates new physical educators at Central Michigan University, and he believes that a move away from sport-centered physical education is the key to turning the tide in America's battle with obesity.

Most of our societal problems stem from not respecting our nature, chiefly our natural inclinations for movement, nutritious food, and time outdoors away from digital stimulation. Justin Lind and Shane Trotter explore these issues and more. They discuss the role of an environment devoid of outlets for physical, mental, and emotional health. This is a thought-provoking discussion that touches on everything from academic performance of boys and girls, to play, rites of passage, and physical education.

One of the greatest fitness communities ever created came about in the 1950s, and produced unparalleled results. This is the story of a high school physical education program created by Stan LeProtti, and first implemented at La Sierra High School in California. Historian Ron Jones and director Doug Orchard have created The Motivation Factor, a documentary about how this groundbreaking program inspired President John F. Kennedy to create similar programs in 4,000 schools across the United States.

There are two choices to make when faced with problems. You can sit and talk about how horrible and sad they are, or you can do something about them. Michael McCastle falls in the latter camp, and his Twelve Labors Project has allowed him to raise funds and provide services for a wide variety of philanthropic causes. He recently completed his sixth labor, in which he ran 20 miles a day for 100 consecutive days to provide support for veterans struggling with mental health issues.

Most coaches and trainers choose to specialize in a particular discipline, sport, or modality. But Jenn Pilotti took a different approach, letting her natural curiosity guide her toward a uniquely holistic understanding of the human machine. After completing her formal education with a Master’s Degree in Human Movement, she went on to study a variety of systems, including postural restoration, Feldenkrais, gymnastics, natural movement, and yoga, along with traditional strength training.

Nick Symmonds, the recently retired 800m track star sits down with Pete Hitzeman to discuss how he went out on his own terms. We cover the dispute with USA Track & Field that led to him being left off the 2015 world team, and the absurdity of professional athletes literally starving under rules built for amateur athletics. He minces no words about the International Olympic Committee, his thoughts on doping in international sports, and the roots of east African dominance in the middle and long distances.

The rules of eating well aren’t complicated. We all understand the basic principles of portion control and macronutrient ratios, but for many of us, creating meals based on those principles just doesn’t work with our busy schedules. That’s where Ben Canary comes in. He’s the co-founder of HercuLean Meal Prep in Indianapolis, where he creates and prepares macro-perfect meals for anybody trying to look after their health and athletic performance.