The Breaking Muscle Podcast

Everybody knows that nobody moves enough anymore. From our morning commutes, to our desk jobs, to the backup cameras in our cars, we have created a world where every new piece of technology seems to conspire to make us hold perfectly still as much as possible. All that holding still comes at the cost of lost physical function, but Tim Anderson has made it his life’s work to help people regain those capabilities.

Dr. Fergus Connolly is here to tell you why our obsession with the numbers game is entirely misplaced. His new book, Game Changer, is an encyclopedic repudiation of the “big data” approach to team sports. He presents a set of sophisticated models for evaluating the game, developing the player, preparing the team, and leading as a coach. Dr. Connolly has a unique gift for finding the essential commonalities in all team sports to create a system for maximum performance on game day.

Tony and Shane Trotter discuss why there’s no reason to over-complicate your training program, and why your kid needs an offseason. Tony goes off on the biggest fitness myth that makes him want to slam his face into a brick wall, and expounds on the importance of authenticity, even if you’re authentically weird, why training without performance goals is a one-way ticket to nowhere, and the biggest key to any successful program design.

Unplugged co-author Phil White chats with Pete Hitzeman about finding the why behind your use of technology, and the problems that can arise from poor interpretation of inaccurate data in a lack of context. We also dive into the data privacy risks presented by our increasingly connected devices, and the physical and psychological benefits of exposing yourself to discomfort. Phil also offers some actionable advice on how to start combating your reliance on technology.

When the only thing that matters is getting to the finish line first, harnessing the entire human machine is essential for maximum performance. David Weck is pioneering a new way to run that he says will change the sport as we know it.

BJ Gaddour sits down with Shane Trotter to discuss how he went from fat kid to the cover of Men's Health, how he deals with his ongoing struggle with food, and his fitness philosophy. BJ details how the right exercise selection can take care of most of your fitness problems, and why the metcon is the most effective tool for most people's goals.

Dr. Andy Galpin, coauthor of Unplugged, chats with Pete Hitzeman about what technology can do for and against us, how our relentless pursuit of comfort has caused us no end of problems as a species. Dr. Galpin believes that we all need to disconnect from our reliance on GPS watches and other wearables, and reconnect with our bodies, our senses, and nature.

Cathryn Jakobson Ramin sits down with Pete Hitzeman to talk about Crooked, her new book about the back pain industry and its less than stellar record in providing solutions for people in pain. We also get into solutions that do work, and what people in pain should look for in their practitioners.

Andrea DuCane’s diverse background includes everything from dance, to martial arts, to aerobics, to Pilates, before she found the kettlebell. She details why technique equals success, and explains the relationship between focus, perfection, and humility. She and Shane Trotter dive into the importance of movement for youth development, along with the need for a comprehensive mobility framework for men and women, and the personal challenges she’s faced as a female expert in a male-dominated industry.

017 - Human Flags, Personal Training, and What Makes an Athlete with Danny Kavadlo

016 - The Brutal Simplicity of Fitness with Bobby Maximus

015 - Kung Fu and Kettlebells with Dr. Chris Holder

014 - The Masters Athlete Experience and a 2017 CrossFit Games Preview with the Grundler Brothers

013 - From a Hospital Bed to Elite Strength Coach with Brett Bartholomew

012 - No Such Thing as Extra Time with Chris White