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© 2025 The Masters Athlete Survival Guide
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We explore thriving as an athlete after 40. Each episode, we’ll dive into tips, hacks, and inspiring stories from seasoned athletes and our personal experience. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a competitive pro, this podcast is your playbook for staying fit, strong, and motivated
40 Episodes
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Send us a text We drive home from a strongman meet and dig into why traveling to compete after 40 sharpens focus, grows community, and raises your game. Real stories of grit, the difference culture makes, and how to handle costs, logistics, and recovery without losing the joy. • why travel builds sharper focus and intent • meeting new athletes who push different gears • lessons from a truck pull and teen tenacity • sharing technique across strength sports • culture, charity, and choosing the...
Send us a text We weigh the tradeoffs between chasing lifetime PRs and training to stay strong for decades, then land on a simple rule: let longevity set the frame and let smart, contextual PRs keep you hungry. Strain becomes the guide—enough challenge to adapt, not enough to break. • setting longevity as the framework and performance as fuel • defining “strain” as appropriate challenge across sports and life • redefining PRs by age, bodyweight, and context • building capacity: gas tank, bon...
Send us a text Dr. Erik Jensen bridges the gap between medical science and strength training wisdom, sharing insights from his dual perspective as an anesthesiologist and competitive strongman at age 55. • Trained in Buffalo and worked at Erie County Medical Center as an anesthesiologist for decades • Found weightlifting during college, used it as stress relief during medical residency • Competed in powerlifting before transitioning to strongman competition • Weighs under 200 pounds bu...
Send us a text We chat with Denny Labresh, founder of Valkyrie Strength Team, about thriving in strength sports after 40 and his journey from basketball player to successful strongman competitor and coach. • Denny shares how he transitioned from basketball to strongman in his late 20s and is now hitting lifetime PRs at age 41 • The evolution of strongman from showcasing athletes from other sports to becoming its own codified discipline with specialized athletes • Why recovery becomes the mos...
Send us a text Scott Fike shares the inspiring story behind the Love Like Ben Foundation and its annual strongman charity event honoring his son's memory while raising funds to help children afford sports participation. What began as a heartfelt tribute has grown into a thriving community event raising over $17,000 this year to provide equipment, memberships, and tuition assistance to young athletes in need. • Detailed recap of the four main competition events: Circus Dumbbell, Sandbag Over ...
Send us a text Dr. B, a chiropractor specializing in Active Release Technique (ART), shares revolutionary perspectives on healing, mitochondrial health, and optimizing athletic performance after 40 through understanding the body's electrical systems. • Active Release Technique (ART) targets "stuck" soft tissues by shortening muscles, applying pressure, and having patients actively move through treatment • Red light therapy creates free electrons in the body through interaction with cytochrom...
Send us a text Scott and John conduct an extensive taste test of ready-to-drink protein beverages, sampling over 15 different products to provide honest reviews and insights for athletes looking to supplement their protein intake. • Tasting proteins from brands including RedCon MRE, Premier Protein, OWYN, Iso Pure, Lean Body, Fair Life, Muscle Milk, and Quest • Evaluating taste, texture, aftertaste, and overall experience on a scale of 1-10 • Discovering that plant protein options (particula...
Send us a text Masters athletes develop superior mental approaches to competition that extend beyond physical abilities, transforming how they handle stress, manage competition strategy, and maintain motivation when facing younger opponents. • Age brings better stress resilience and adaptability during competition • Younger competitors often win warm-ups but struggle with competition pressure • Veterans take time for proper setup and technique, even when under time constraints • Masters athl...
Send us a text John and Scott take a reflective journey through their first 30 podcast episodes, highlighting the most impactful guests, meaningful lessons, and surprising revelations they've encountered. • Mike Saffell's posturology techniques have proven remarkably effective for Scott's shoulder issues, providing pain relief when medical experts suggested surgery • Claire Shorenstein's nutrition advice about incorporating strategic carbs has challenged their longstanding beliefs and yielde...
Send us a text Scott Fike shares his journey toward the USS Masters National Strongman Competition and why this might be his last year competing at this level despite his previous success as a silver medalist. • Training for five grueling events including a 650-pound yoke carry, 550-pound frame carries, frame deadlifts, bag throws, and log clean and press • Working around significant shoulder injuries that doctors warn will eventually require replacement • The importance of having a supporti...
Send us a text John and Scott welcome a unique guest to the podcast—an AI assistant named Hal—who shares evidence-based training, nutrition, and recovery strategies specifically designed for masters athletes. • Nutrition recommendations for masters athletes, with specific protein targets of 1.2-1.5g per pound of body weight • Hydration strategies, including electrolyte needs before, during, and after competition • Competition day fueling approaches for maintaining energy through long events ...
Send us a text Candice Dutko, owner of Achieve Wellness and Fitness in Mountaintop, Pennsylvania, shares her remarkable journey from 220 pounds to becoming both a competitive strongwoman and ultra-marathon runner with a mindset of "just keep moving." • From unhealthy lifestyle to fitness professional after being invited to a Spartan Race with friends • A broken leg caused by her dog became the turning point in her fitness consistency • Trains simultaneously for seemingly opposite disciplines...
Send us a text John Katalinas hosts a candid conversation with Mike Nowicki and Dale Wittlief about aging, health challenges, and finding community through sports in midlife and beyond. • Mike shares his experience retiring from banking right before COVID hit, disrupting his plans for an active retirement • Dale reflects on his 39-year career before starting his own business • Both guests open up about their pickleball journey and how the sport has connected them with a welcoming community •...
Send us a text Claire Shorenstein MS RD CSSD, registered dietitian and board-certified sports dietitian, joins us to share evidence-based nutrition strategies for masters athletes of all types, debunking common myths while offering practical guidance for optimal performance. • Difference between registered dietitians (RDs) and nutritionists – RDs complete extensive education, unpaid internships, board exams and continuing education • What "being fueled" actually feels like – energy to comple...
Send us a text Kyle Sheridan, powerlifting coach and gym owner, shares valuable insights on how masters athletes can safely and effectively engage in powerlifting to maintain strength and mobility as they age. • Mental strength is a common denominator among successful masters athletes • Recovery is crucial - most masters athletes benefit from training only 3-4 days per week • One of Kyle's 50+ female athletes broke world records deadlifting 529 pounds • Powerlifting movements help build skel...
Send us a text Mark Thill shares his lifetime journey as a dedicated athlete across multiple sports and how his passion for excellence became the foundation for his coaching philosophy. His story exemplifies how maintaining athletic pursuits throughout life can lead to extraordinary physical capabilities even in our 60s. • Beginning with basketball in sixth grade and developing a 44-inch vertical jump through persistent practice • Competing in arm wrestling using innovative training techniqu...
Send us a text Check out John's YouTube channel Empowered Strength and IG @empowered strength for more of his ideas and insights John Odden shares his journey as a Highland Games competitor, fitness professional, and movement enthusiast who's discovered the key to athletic longevity after 40. • Background in healthcare, cardiac rehab, and multiple strength sports including Highland Games and stone lifting • Importance of technical precision in training as we age to reduce wear and tear on th...
Send us a text John "Rock Man" Johnson shares his journey from childhood athlete to desk job worker to internationally connected stone lifter, revealing how this ancient practice transformed both his physical strength and mental resilience. • Early athletic career playing baseball and football before losing interest in fitness during young adulthood • Family connection to Hollywood through uncle Pat Johnson, martial arts expert and fight choreographer for films like Karate Kid • The pivotal ...
Send us a text This episode explores the inspiring journey of Jesse Titus, who shares his experiences as a master's athlete facing health challenges, including an AFib diagnosis. The conversation emphasizes the importance of community support, mental resilience, and adapting one's athletic goals for sustainable well-being and longevity. • Jesse's background and athletic journey, transitioning from strongman competitor to mindful athlete • The significance of community in supporti...
Send us a text Jimmy Scaringi, owner of Synergy Hyperbaric shares how high-pressure oxygen therapy, infrared saunas, cold plunging, and red light therapy can dramatically accelerate healing and recovery for athletes over 40. These science-backed modalities stimulate stem cell production, increase telomere length, and improve mitochondrial function to potentially reverse aspects of biological aging. • Hyperbaric oxygen therapy pushes oxygen into blood plasma instead of just red blood cells, a...
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