Choose Hard with Cody McBroom

Most people have been chasing the wrong signals in the gym for years — the burn, the pump, the soreness. They feel like proof the workout worked. According to the research, they're mostly just byproducts. In this episode of the Choose Hard Podcast, Cody McBroom breaks down the actual science of muscle hypertrophy — what drives it, what's a myth, and what you need to change in your training right now.This isn't a deep-dive research lecture. It's the science, simplified — the way Cody breaks it down for the 2,000+ clients he's coached over his career.What's covered in this episode:→The #1 driver of muscle growth — and it's not what most people chase→ The truth about "non-responders" and hard gainers→ What actually makes someone a hyperresponder→ Stretch-induced hypertrophy and lengthened partials→ Training volume — the sweet spot the research actually supports→ Concurrent training and the interference effect→ Building muscle after 55Whether you're brand new to training or you've been lifting for years and feel like you've plateaued, this episode gives you the research-backed framework to actually understand what's happening in your body — and what to do about it.—GET 20% OFF CHOOSE-HARD MERCH, USING CODE PODCAST20 AT CHECKOUT: https://choose-hard.shop/ GET COACHED & MENTORED BY CODY:⇨ www.tailoredcoachingmethod.com/online-coaching {1-On-1 Fitness & Nutrition Coaching}⇨ https://tailoredcoachingmentorship.com/ {Mentorship For Coaches}📌 Follow Choose Hard on instagram @choosehardpodcast and grab Choose Hard Merch at www.choose-hard.com❓ASK YOUR QUESTION FOR THE NEXT Q&A EPISODE:⇨ question.choosehardpodcast.com📲 DOWNLOAD MY APP & START A TRAINING PLAN, FOR FREE:⇨ www.thetailoredtrainer.com💊 JOCKOFUEL SUPPLEMENTS (Code CHOOSEHARD for 20% Off):https://jockofuel.com/discount/CHOOSEHARD🎙️CLIENT CASE STUDIES & TRANSFORMATION STORIES:- SPOTIFY: ⁠https://bit.ly/tlrd-transformations-spotify⁠ - APPLE PODCASTS:⁠https://apple.co/3GPlDxG⁠ GET MORE FREE CONTENT AT THE LINKS BELOW:📖 FREE ARTICLES: ⁠https://tailoredcoachingmethod.com/blog⁠ 💾 FREE GUIDES: ⁠https://tailoredcoachingmethod.com/guides⁠IG -⁠https://www.instagram.com/codymcbroom⁠YOUTUBE -⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/codymcbroom1⁠INQUIRIES – ⁠[email protected] 

Everyone thinks mental toughness means going harder, pushing further, never stopping. They see David Goggins, they see Navy SEALs, they see people doing 75 Hard — and they think that's what it looks like.It's not. And chasing that version of it is exactly why most people burn out, fall off, and repeat the cycle over and over again.In this episode of the Choose Hard Podcast, Cody McBroom breaks down what mental toughness and real discipline actually are — and why the boring, quiet, repeatable version of it will always beat intensity over the long run.What's covered in this episode:1. Why you keep misunderstanding discipline⇨ Most people define discipline as intensity instead of consistency. They compare themselves to people like Goggins — but they forget that his frame of reference was built through decades of hardship they've never experienced and never should have to. That comparison isn't motivation. It's a trap.2. The dopamine problem behind the all-or-nothing cycle⇨ The all-in/fall-off pattern isn't a willpower problem. It's a dopamine problem. Cody breaks down why motivation spikes create false identities, why going all in gets attention while quiet consistency gets ignored, and what you have to shift to actually break the cycle for good.3. What "Choose Hard" actually means⇨ It's not always loud. Sometimes choosing hard means staying calm when you want to snap. Going to bed instead of scrolling. Doing the minimum required when you don't feel like it. Sticking to the plan when it's boring. Choosing the long-term outcome over the short-term feeling — every single time.4. The 3 layers of real discipline⇨ Cody breaks down the framework he uses with clients, coaches, and mentees inside TCM:Identity-Based Discipline — Why anchoring to an outcome ("I want to lose 20 lbs") will always fail, and what to replace it with. Fit people don't negotiate workouts. That's not a rule. It's an identity.Environment Design — Willpower is finite. Your environment determines whether you need it in the first place. Stop leaving the decision to the moment.Non-Negotiables — Your floors, not your ceilings. What you do on your worst day is what actually defines your standards.5. Why people fail even when they're motivated⇨ It's not a lack of information. Everyone knows broccoli is better than a Pop-Tart. People fail because of a lack of real accountability — and real accountability isn't just checking in. It's the hard conversations that hold someone to the promises they made to themselves.6. The CHOOSE HARD Daily Framework⇨ A tactical acronym you can apply immediately:C — Commit to a realistic baselineH — Honor the plan (no daily renegotiation)O — Optimize your environmentO — Own your identityS — Stack small winsE — Eliminate extremesDo those things consistently, and you get H.A.R.D. — Happy, Aligned, and Results Driven.If your plan only works when you feel good, it's not a plan. This episode gives you one that actually holds.GET 20% OFF CHOOSE-HARD MERCH, USING CODE PODCAST20 AT CHECKOUT: https://choose-hard.shop/ GET COACHED & MENTORED BY CODY:⇨ www.tailoredcoachingmethod.com/online-coaching {1-On-1 Fitness & Nutrition Coaching}⇨ https://tailoredcoachingmentorship.com/ {Mentorship For Coaches}📌 Follow Choose Hard on instagram @choosehardpodcast and grab Choose Hard Merch at www.choose-hard.com❓ASK YOUR QUESTION FOR THE NEXT Q&A EPISODE:⇨ question.choosehardpodcast.com💊 JOCKOFUEL SUPPLEMENTS (Code CHOOSEHARD for 20% Off):https://jockofuel.com/discount/CHOOSEHARD🎙️CLIENT CASE STUDIES & TRANSFORMATION STORIES:- SPOTIFY: ⁠https://bit.ly/tlrd-transformations-spotify⁠ - APPLE PODCASTS:⁠https://apple.co/3GPlDxG⁠ GET MORE FREE CONTENT AT THE LINKS BELOW:📖 FREE ARTICLES: ⁠https://tailoredcoachingmethod.com/blog⁠ 💾 FREE GUIDES: ⁠https://tailoredcoachingmethod.com/guides⁠IG -⁠https://www.instagram.com/codymcbroom⁠YOUTUBE -⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/codymcbroom1⁠INQUIRIES – ⁠[email protected]

Luka Hocevar, Elite Coach and Gym Owner!GET 20% OFF CHOOSE-HARD MERCH, USING CODE PODCAST20 AT CHECKOUT: https://choose-hard.shop/ GET COACHED & MENTORED BY CODY:⇨ www.tailoredcoachingmethod.com/online-coaching {1-On-1 Fitness & Nutrition Coaching}⇨ https://tailoredcoachingmentorship.com/ {Mentorship For Coaches}What does it actually take to coach elite athletes AND show up as a present father and partner? In this episode, Cody McBroom sits down with Luka Hocevar, founder of Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance, to unpack the "ultimate trifecta" of balancing partner, father, and business owner roles — and why struggling with it is normal, not a red flag.They dig into why constraints (not freedom) drive real innovation, how the best strength coaches build programs "bottom-up" around an athlete's actual schedule and fatigue instead of a rigid paper plan, and why dropping ego and leading with curiosity separates elite coaches from the rest. Luka also shares how intentionally practicing life transitions — like shifting from "business owner" to "dad" the moment he walks in the door — keeps him present, and why peer community (not just mentors) is one of the most underrated tools for men carrying heavy responsibility.Topics covered: expectation management, life transitions, high challenge + high support mentoring, general physical preparation (GPP) coaching principles, constraints and creativity, and building a peer support circle.Follow Luka on instagram @lukahocevar📌 Follow Choose Hard on instagram @choosehardpodcast and grab Choose Hard Merch at www.choose-hard.com❓ASK YOUR QUESTION FOR THE NEXT Q&A EPISODE:⇨ question.choosehardpodcast.com📲 DOWNLOAD MY APP & START A TRAINING PLAN, FOR FREE:⇨ www.thetailoredtrainer.com💊 JOCKOFUEL SUPPLEMENTS (Code CHOOSEHARD for 20% Off):https://jockofuel.com/discount/CHOOSEHARD🎙️CLIENT CASE STUDIES & TRANSFORMATION STORIES:- SPOTIFY: ⁠https://bit.ly/tlrd-transformations-spotify⁠ - APPLE PODCASTS:⁠https://apple.co/3GPlDxG⁠ GET MORE FREE CONTENT AT THE LINKS BELOW:📖 FREE ARTICLES: ⁠https://tailoredcoachingmethod.com/blog⁠ 💾 FREE GUIDES: ⁠https://tailoredcoachingmethod.com/guides⁠IG -⁠https://www.instagram.com/codymcbroom⁠YOUTUBE -⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/codymcbroom1⁠INQUIRIES – ⁠[email protected]

Why does chronic pain persist even after rest, ice, and painkillers? Dr. Sean Pastuch — founder and CEO of Active Life and author of Live More. Hurt Less. — joins the show to explain why pain itself isn't the real problem. The problem is the compromises pain forces you to make.Grab Dr. Sean’s new book, Live More. Hurt Less. — https://amzn.to/46xsskl In this episode:- The 4 Rules for deciding whether to push through pain or stop- The difference between Insult, Irritation, Pain, and Injury — and why most people confuse them- Why tendinitis treatment (ice, rest, anti-inflammatories) often makes tendinosis worse- The "Cage of Hypervigilance" and how shrinking your life to avoid pain backfires- Why "when you feel 100%, you're only 30-50% ready" to return to activity- His take on fixing a broken medical system without blaming doctorsIf you're stuck in pain, told to "just rest," or ready to stop compromising — this conversation will change how you think about recovery.GET 20% OFF ALL CHOOSE-HARD MERCH, USING CODE PODCAST20 AT CHECKOUT: https://choose-hard.shop/ 📌 Follow Choose Hard on instagram @choosehardpodcast and grab Choose Hard Merch at www.choose-hard.com❓ASK YOUR QUESTION FOR THE NEXT Q&A EPISODE: question.choosehardpodcast.comℹ️ LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ONLINE COACHING PROGRAMS:⇨ www.fatlosstransformation.com {1-On-1 Coaching}⇨ https://tailoredcoachingmentorship.com/ {Mentorship w/ Cody}📲 DOWNLOAD MY APP & START A TRAINING PLAN, FOR FREE:⇨ www.thetailoredtrainer.com🛒 PURCHASE YOUR CHOOSE HARD HAT & JOURNAL:⇨https://www.tailoredcoachingmethod.shop/collections/all 💊 JOCKOFUEL SUPPLEMENTS (Code CHOOSEHARD for 20% Off):https://jockofuel.com/discount/CHOOSEHARD🎙️CLIENT CASE STUDIES & TRANSFORMATION STORIES:- SPOTIFY: ⁠https://bit.ly/tlrd-transformations-spotify⁠ - APPLE PODCASTS:⁠https://apple.co/3GPlDxG⁠ GET MORE FREE CONTENT AT THE LINKS BELOW:📖 FREE ARTICLES: ⁠https://tailoredcoachingmethod.com/blog⁠ 💾 FREE GUIDES: ⁠https://tailoredcoachingmethod.com/guides⁠IG -⁠https://www.instagram.com/codymcbroom⁠YOUTUBE -⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/codymcbroom1⁠INQUIRIES – ⁠[email protected] 

Ryan Hawk — host of The Learning Leader Show and USA Today bestselling author of The Price of Becoming — joins the Choose Hard Podcast to break down why high performance isn't a destination, it's a compounding daily practice.Ryan lost the starting QB job at Miami University to a future Hall of Famer, and that failure became the foundation for everything he now teaches about growth. In this episode, we unpack his three-part framework — Learn, Work, Lead — and why comfort and growth can never coexist.What you'll learn in this episode:Why "contemplate, copy, create" is the fastest path to finding your authentic voiceHow to identify your personal "100 shots a day" — the unglamorous reps that build real masteryWhy writing and selling are fundamentally the same skillHow to lead without waiting for permission or a titleWhy passive-aggressive leadership is the fastest way to destroy a cultureIf you've ever felt like growth should have an endpoint, this conversation will change how you think about the price you're willing to pay to keep becoming.Check out Ryan’s latest book, here: https://learningleader.com/ GET 20% OFF ALL CHOOSE-HARD MERCH, USING CODE PODCAST20 AT CHECKOUT: https://choose-hard.shop/ 📌 Follow Choose Hard on instagram @choosehardpodcast and grab Choose Hard Merch at www.choose-hard.com❓ASK YOUR QUESTION FOR THE NEXT Q&A EPISODE:⇨ question.choosehardpodcast.comℹ️ LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ONLINE COACHING PROGRAMS:⇨ www.fatlosstransformation.com {1-On-1 Coaching}⇨ https://tailoredcoachingmentorship.com/ {Mentorship w/ Cody}📲 DOWNLOAD MY APP & START A TRAINING PLAN, FOR FREE:⇨ www.thetailoredtrainer.com🛒 PURCHASE YOUR CHOOSE HARD HAT & JOURNAL:⇨https://www.tailoredcoachingmethod.shop/collections/all 💊 JOCKOFUEL SUPPLEMENTS (Code CHOOSEHARD for 20% Off):https://jockofuel.com/discount/CHOOSEHARD🎙️CLIENT CASE STUDIES & TRANSFORMATION STORIES:- SPOTIFY: ⁠https://bit.ly/tlrd-transformations-spotify⁠ - APPLE PODCASTS:⁠https://apple.co/3GPlDxG⁠ GET MORE FREE CONTENT AT THE LINKS BELOW:📖 FREE ARTICLES: ⁠https://tailoredcoachingmethod.com/blog⁠ 💾 FREE GUIDES: ⁠https://tailoredcoachingmethod.com/guides⁠IG -⁠https://www.instagram.com/codymcbroom⁠YOUTUBE -⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/codymcbroom1⁠INQUIRIES – ⁠[email protected]