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Dive into trending health and fitness topics with Evidence Based Coach, Randall James. Having a background in many different exercise modalities, he looks at all exercise through the lens of health AND performance and so provides a unique perspective that's hard to find elsewhere.
67 Episodes
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Is body positivity actually helping people… or is it missing something important? In this video, I break down the Jubilee “Surrounded” debate featuring Jillian Michaels and 20 body positivity activists, looking at the claims, the arguments, and most importantly, the data behind them. We get into: • The difference between association and causation in obesity research • Mendelian randomization and what it actually tells us about risk • The “metabolically healthy obesity” debat...
If you’ve been told that zone 2 cardio is the gold standard for health, fat loss, and performance… it’s time to take a closer look. In this video, I take a look at the current state of some evidence comparing zone 2 vs HIIT, looking at VO2 max improvements, mitochondrial adaptations, and fat loss outcomes. You’ll learn whether zone 2 training benefits are truly superior, or if higher intensity methods are a more time-efficient way to improve VO2 max and overall fitness. We also dive int...
For decades, lifters have been told that soreness is a sign of a great workout. The idea that “no pain no gain” means your muscles need to be damaged in order to grow has become one of the most common beliefs in fitness culture. But modern hypertrophy research paints a very different picture. In this video, I break down the relationship between muscle soreness, muscle damage, and hypertrophy. We examine whether or not you should be chasing muscle soreness or DOMS by damaging your muscles. If ...
Does muscle size really predict strength? You’ve probably seen smaller powerlifters deadlifting insane weight while bigger bodybuilders struggle with less. So what’s actually going on? In this video, I review a couple clips from the great TNF and Coach Mundy. Being bigger increases your potential for strength. But strength expression depends on skill, motor learning, and how you train. I break it all down, so check it out and let me know what you think in the comments! Coaching inquiries ...
You've probably heard claims about fascia release, myofascial release, and even specific fascia training methods that promise to unlock movement, reduce stiffness, and improve performance. But what do these terms actually mean and can fascia really be targeted the way many people suggest? In this video, we take a closer look at the growing conversation around fascia release exercises, modern movement culture, and the ideas popularized by systems like Functional Patterns. You will see...
In this video, I’m responding to some comments that have piled up over the past 6 months about some BOSU ball comments I made. I break down some data behind BOSU ball training, instability exercises, force production, and why so many people misunderstand what this equipment actually does. BOSU balls were originally designed for balance training, proprioception, rehab, and fall prevention, not for building strength or muscle. Yet somehow, they became a staple in gyms during the early 200...
In this video, I break down a 10 month lifting study that compared traditional strength training, plyometrics and sprint training, functional training, and a control group in trained athletes. The researchers tested squat strength, jump height, sprint speed, and change of direction to see which style of training actually improved athletic performance the most. The results weren’t even close. But as impressive as the findings were, the study also had some important flaws in how power trainin...
Creatine is one of the most researched supplements in fitness, but its effects on brain health and cognition are often oversimplified. In this episode, I break down the actual human research on creatine and cognitive performance, separating the idea of “brain boosting” from what the data really show. We walk through randomized controlled trials examining creatine under sleep deprivation, hypoxia, mental fatigue, aging populations, and healthy young adults, looking closely at where benefits ap...
The new HHS dietary guidelines have sparked controversy, especially after the release of the new inverted food pyramid under Donald Trump’s administration, with RFK Jr. playing a pivotal role in shaping the conversation around food, health, and chronic disease. In this video I give some of my thoughts, good and bad, on these new HHS guidelines. We’ll look at protein recommendations, fat intake, saturated fat limits, dairy guidance, added sugars and how someone can follow the pyramid visuall...
In this video, I respond directly to a commenter debating clean eating vs calorie counting, and why this argument keeps coming up in the first place. Using human and animal research on food deprivation, restraint, and cravings, I break down what actually happens when you try to eat “perfectly” versus using calories as a flexible tool. We’ll look at studies on chocolate, carbohydrate restriction, protein restriction, and intermittent access models that help explain binge eating, cravings, and...
Is heavy resistance training really better for tendon adaptation, or is strength training being oversold as a way to “target” connective tissue? In this video, I break down what the research actually shows about tendon adaptation in response to resistance training and strength training. We look at whether tendons remodel differently with heavy vs light loads, what targeting connective tissue really means, and why many claims go beyond what the data can support. I walk through a large meta-a...
Every New Year, the same thing happens. Motivation is high, plans are ambitious, and by the second week of January most New Year’s resolutions are already falling apart. In this video, I break down how to approach your New Year’s fitness resolution in a way that actually holds up long term. Not “New year new me” extremes, not daily challenges that burn you out, and not biohacks that distract you from the real work. Instead, we talk about simple, sustainable strategies that help you avoid inj...
How much exercise do you actually need to be healthy and perform well? And how does that change if you’re lifting, running, or trying to do both? In this video, I break down what the current research actually says about exercise volume, including lifting and endurance training, and why some popular conclusions about “too much exercise” are being overstated or misunderstood. We look at how certain studies and narrative reviews have been used to create fear around training volume, where the cer...
Do calories matter or is it all about hormones like insulin? In this video I break down the calorie debate through a long discussion between Dr. Mike and Jason Fung and explain why so many arguments about calories miss the real issue. Calories do not cause obesity. They are the measurement of the food that led to weight gain. Hormones influence hunger and behavior, but regardless of the mechanism, body weight still reflects how much energy is consumed over time. Calories are a tool, not a mo...
Science based lifting is taking fire from every direction right now, and not just from trolls. After Aaron Solomon exposed major flaws in Mike Israetel’s PhD dissertation, a lot of people saw their chance to attack science itself. Creators like Greg Doucette, Sam Sulek and a wave of others have been dropping reaction videos that paint evidence-based training as shaky, unreliable, or outright pointless. Some of the biggest names in the research world, including Jeff Nippard and Brad Schoenfel...
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Nic Verhoeven (Physionic) to break down the now-viral seed oil debate between Paul Saladino and Nick Norwitz. Who’s Who: Dr. Paul Saladino, MD – Carnivore diet advocate and founder of Heart & Soil. Known for his initial promotion of the carnivore diet and his strong anti–seed oil stance. @Paulsaladinomd Dr. Nick Norwitz, MD, PhD– Harvard-trained researcher in metabolism and nutrition science, presenting the pro–seed oil perspective. Known fo...
You guys had A LOT to say this quarter, and some of these comments I couldn't ignore. From people defending David Goggins to calling me out on the lead in protein powder video, to sharing incredible real-life stories about why running actually matters, we're covering it all. Some of you think I'm too hard on ultra-endurance athletes. Others shared stories about how being able to run literally saved lives or got you out of emergencies. And yes, someone compared me to RFK Jr over the California...
Most people think weighted vests are just another short-lived fitness trend, but the science paints a different picture. When used properly, they can boost metabolism, improve blood sugar control, and even help preserve bone density during weight loss. In this video, I break down what the research actually shows about weighted vest walking, strength training, and cardio, from how short, frequent bouts of movement can outperform long sessions to how wearing extra weight can help your body main...
Consumer Reports just dropped a bombshell article claiming that many protein powders on store shelves today contain lead in amounts that should concern consumers. But is that the whole story? Not quite. In this video, I dig into what the report actually says and what it doesn’t. We’ll look at how California came up with their proposition 65 number, what the FDA’s thresholds are, and whether these products are truly dangerous or just being sensationalized. We’ll also talk about how heavy metal...
Welcome back to the channel everyone. This week, we’re diving into Functional Patterns, the controversial training system founded by Naudi Aguilar that claims to “reprogram the body” through posture, gait, and biomechanics. I’ll break down what Functional Patterns actually is, how they compare to functional training, core workouts, myofascial release, and kettlebell training, and why some people are calling it a cult while others swear by its results. We’ll look at what the science says abo...
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