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The Dark Horse Podcast

The Dark Horse Podcast
Author: Brandon Gainey
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© 2025 The Dark Horse Podcast
Description
The Dark Horse Podcast will provide you with the methods and the mindset to achieve your goals both inside the gym and out. This is your source for non biased, accurate, and actionable information and tips surrounding fitness, nutrition, and ways to stay disciplined. I'll help you cut through all the noise of the fitness industry and get straight to what you need to excel and grow.
27 Episodes
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Trying to drop a few pounds? The 5 topics discussed in this episode can really help to steer you in the direction that's most appropriate for yourself. It's also going to give you some real world truths about what happens when your weight loss journey gets hard, or seems like you're not making any progress. A can't miss episode for sure. Make sure to like, share, and subscribe to the podcast. Thanks for listening.
Why do sets of 5? How long should you actually rest between your sets? How are sets of 8 or 12 different from sets of 3 or 5? What is the difference between building muscle and gaining strength? All of these questions answered plus I'll provide a checklist of things to consider to help determine how long you should be resting between your sets. I'll also tell you how to differentiate between gaining strength and building muscle and what to expect from each. ...
If you're looking to alternate your training days between upper body and lower body, this podcast is for you. I'll talk about how to structure your upper/lower split and what pitfalls to be aware of. Just like the previous episodes in this series, you'll also get examples and suggestions of exercises to plug into your template. Make sure to leave a review of the podcast and subscribe so you don't miss an episode.
Continuing our programming series with a pull, push, legs split (PPL). A fairly common way to program and the workouts tend to be a little shorter than a total body split. The idea is to focus on a particular group of muscles each day you're in the gym resulting in total body training being done by the end of your week. If you're looking for a different way write your programs, this one will definitively not disappoint. Make sure to leave a review and share the podcast...
Total body workouts are ideal for many people. Episode 23 will tell you precisely how to write your own total body split for maximum strength and muscle gains. I give you an incredibly simple yet effective template that you can elaborate on and make as complex as you want. Or you can keep things user friendly and just use the exercise examples I provide. Either way, this episode will teach you how to program total body splits for yourself with progressions included. &...
There's a ridiculous amount of "noise" surrounding nutrition. No shortage of self appointed experts telling you that they have the secret that you need to achieve your nutritional goals or requirements. Keto, Vegan, Carnivore, Flexible Dieting. Proponents of all of them say that their way is the best and most healthful. But the real question is, which way is best for you? I'll provide a way for you to filter through the noise, tell you how companies market to you...
After listening to this episode you'll know how to keep the strength and muscle coming while also keeping joint stress at bay. You'll also get a free total body training template and some suggestions on how to structure your current strength program. This is one of my most info packed episodes to date and I'm confident that you'll find it incredibly helpful. Thanks for listening. Want my joint friendly beginner training program? Pick up Foudations here: https://www.da...
GLP-1 meds are all the rage these days. The fitness community is a mixed bag with some praising them and some saying to stay away from them. I’m going to talk about what they are and how they work, give my honest thoughts, discuss the side effects, and give some considerations if you do decide to take them. Thanks so much for listening.
Are you thinking about starting your fitness journey and considering hiring a personal trainer to guide you along the way? The daunting task of selecting the right trainer can be overwhelming, leaving you with numerous unanswered questions and uncertainties. How do you assess their credibility? Will they provide the guidance and motivation you're looking for? Worry not! The 4 considerations discussed in this episode will guide you with questions and insights to ensure you choose the best trai...
Why is a strong fitness foundation needed? What needs to be present to achieve it? If you're wanting to start lifting and training but don't know where to start...this is your episode. If you'e looking to come back to training after a bit of a layoff this episode is perfect for you as well. Make sure you stick around because the second half of the show I will make a HUGE announcement that I truly feel can help thousands of people make progress and get consistent with t...
There's a lot of conflicting and inaccurate information surrounding artificial sweeteners. Some believe them to be a certainty for putting yourself at risk for various negative health outcomes. Others believe them to be perfectly fine and see them as a healthy alternative to sugary drinks and snacks. I'll be pulling a study and reading directly from it to see how the claims made against artificial sweeteners stack up to the science conducted on them. Some of the topics...
Should you spend the time and money to build out your own home gym or is it more beneficial for you to just pay for a gym membership? Episode 16 brings up 4 points to consider when trying to figure out which would be the best fit for you. The purpose of this episode is not to sway you in one direction or the other, just to present some talking points and pros and cons of both home and commercial gyms. Towards the end of the podcast I will also give my suggestions on how to ...
Just starting out with lifting and going to the gym? Did you previously lift or train and take a break or some time off from it, now looking to get back into the swing of things? This one's for you. These are the things that I wish someone told me when I was starting out or coming back from a time away from lifting. The tips and strategies discussed in this episode will help you stay consistent, drive your results, and help keep you focused on your goal.
How to improve the speed, athleticism, or explosiveness of a young kid and why it may not be what you think. Why a certain type of exercise is generally used in youth training. Also, what parents should be aware of in regards to their youngster receiving training or coaching. Make sure to leave a 5 star review and subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thanks for listening. Questions about training, nutrition, or living a healthier life? Make sur...
I asked some clients and friends of mine what they felt was the number one obstacle they struggled with in terms of lifting, business, or just life in general. The most popular response (almost unanimously) was consistency. In this episode I discuss what discipline is, how it relates to motivation, and identify some key points to help build and keep it. Toward the end of the podcast I also included a tool that I use myself and my one on one clients have been using to help fa...
Gonna get a bit controversial with this one for sure. I will provide 3 reasons as to why I feel that focusing on your 1RM as a strength metric is a bit overrated or and over hyped. I will also offer some context and nuance because as we all know there is always an exception. As always I have kept it at around 20 minutes to get you on with your day. Make sure to leave a 5 star review or a written review of the podcast. It really does help to promote it. Than...
Want to feel better while training? Looking for more progress in your workouts? Want to feel better outside of the gym as well? Episode 11 has you covered. The 4 points covered in this episode applies to all lifters regardless of age, goal, or current level of lifter. You'll hear how it's not as much about what you do in the gym that dictates results. I'll discuss whether or not warm ups are actually important. I'll also talk about a better approach when it...
Shoulder pain at the bottom of your bench press? Trouble locking out your bench press? Are you a longer limbed lifter, aging lifter, or just looking for some variation to rotate into your training? This episode is going to break down the bench press from a technical standpoint, explain what may be contributing to your shoulder pain, and provide benefits of a bench press variation that I believe ALL LIFTERS could benefit from. Make sure to share, leave a review, ...
Episode number 9 discusses 4 ways to develop an insanely strong "vice like" grip. Grip is one of the most overlooked aspects of a lot of peoples' training. If you're looking to bring up your grip strength, increase all your major lifts, and add some variety to your training...you're not gonna want to miss this episode! Make sure to leave a 5 star review and if you haven't already please subscribe to the podcast so that you never miss an episode. Thanks for listening an...
EPISODE #8 WILL DISCUSS 4 STRATEGIES YOU CAN UTILIZE TO ADD SOME VARIETY INTO YOUR TRAINING OR SCALE YOUR TRAINING TO MAKE IT MORE CHALLENGING. WHETHER YOU'RE WORKING OUT AT HOME OR IN A COMMERCIAL GYM, THESE TECHNIQUES WILL ACCOMMODATE JUST THE SAME. I'LL LIST THE STRATEGIES/TECHNIQUES AND ALSO PROVIDE EXAMPLES TO HELP CONVEY THE POINTS. THANKS SO MUCH FOR LISTENING AND DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A REVIEW.