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Welcome to the Forge and Fortitude Podcast! We’re Heath and Faith Ellenberger, fitness professionals with over 30 years of combined experience in health and wellness. This podcast is all about real conversations, practical tips, and a little tough love to help you build strength, resilience, and a healthier lifestyle. Whether you’re a fitness pro or just getting started, we’re here to share what we’ve learned, what’s worked for us, and how you can forge your own path to becoming your strongest self. Let’s do this together!
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Remember the thrill of playing football in a Pennsylvania blizzard or the warmth of gathering for Thanksgiving feasts filled with once-a-year delights? This year, my wife Faith and I are taking on the role of hosts, blending old family recipes with unique dishes, and embracing new traditions like participating in a local 5K Turkey Trot. Thanksgiving is not just a feast; it’s a celebration of gratitude for movement, family, and the loyal audience that has been with us for nearly three years. W...
Prepare to outsmart the walker zombie by mastering strategic movement and timing! Discover how pacing and intensity become your secret weapons as you adjust your speed on the treadmill and rower to keep one step ahead of the undead. Picture yourself orchestrating a symphony of speeds, where running fast when the zombie is distant and slowing down as it nears forms your ultimate survival tactic. This episode promises to transform your workout into a thrilling game of cat and mouse, complete wi...
How to recover outside of the workout
This episode we are going to gain breakfast!
This week we sat down with the Co-Owner of Clean Eats in Jacksonville FL Jerry to talk all things meal prep!
Do you feel burned out, or is something else at play? That nagging exhaustion you're calling burnout might actually be a purpose deficit in disguise. Many high achievers mistake fatigue for burnout when the real issue lies deeper. Through our personal experiences and coaching others, we've discovered that what feels like burnout often stems from misalignment with your true purpose or chronic boundary neglect. We break down the critical difference between fatigue (a physical and emotional de...
What truly separates people who wish from people who win? The answer might surprise you – and it has nothing to do with natural talent or formal education. Most of us struggle with the nagging feeling that we're behind, underqualified, or missing some crucial advantage needed for success. The truth? You already possess everything required to excel. This episode reveals the final five traits (plus a bonus) that require zero talent but yield extraordinary results when consistently applied. At...
The difference between average performers and unstoppable achievers often has nothing to do with talent, education, or special skills. Instead, it comes down to mastering a set of fundamental behaviors that cost absolutely nothing but deliver extraordinary results. This episode dives deep into the first five of ten traits that require zero talent but make all the difference in your success trajectory. We explore how being consistently on time isn't just about punctuality—it's about respect a...
Faith and Heath explore the rise of boutique fitness and why people choose specialized studios over big box gyms despite higher prices. • Boutique studios offer curated aesthetic experiences with signature scents, lighting, and high-end equipment • Members choose community over convenience, valuing personalized attention and accountability • Premium pricing serves as a commitment device, making people more likely to attend consistently • Studios are evolving from workout spaces into lifestyl...
The worlds of fitness and medicine are colliding in unprecedented ways. Gyms now offer IV drips and weight loss medications like Ozempic, while wellness clinics promote fitness alongside medical treatments. But should these worlds merge, or are we losing something essential in the process? We dive deep into this controversial topic, examining the shift from fitness as joyful movement to fitness as medicalized intervention. Drawing from personal experience in both industries, we unpack the bu...
Aaron Hind, CO-Founder of FitAid, shares the evolution of his functional beverage company and their innovative approach to natural, performance-supporting supplements. We explore how the company created a new category of beverages in 2011 and has continued to lead with clean, effective formulations while expanding into essential supplements.
The vacation dilemma hits us all – do you abandon your fitness routine completely or stress about missing workouts while trying to relax? We tackle this common challenge head-on, sharing our tried-and-tested approaches from 15 years of traveling together. From the best hotel gyms (including the surprisingly well-equipped Gaylord in Orlando) to portable workout options that actually work, we break down how to maintain consistency without sacrificing enjoyment. Those resistance bands Heath pac...
The language we use around food reveals a troubling cultural obsession. Have you ever caught yourself saying "I was good because I didn't eat that cupcake" or "I was bad this weekend because I had pizza"? This powerful episode peels back the layers of how we've assigned moral value not just to food, but to ourselves based on what we eat. We dive headfirst into the origins of the "clean eating" movement, tracing its evolution from the early 2010s when documentaries, fitness influencers, and t...
Struggling with fitness fatigue as your New Year's momentum fades? You're hitting the notorious three-month wall where motivation naturally declines. The solution isn't finding more motivation—it's understanding how to replace motivational bursts with sustainable systems. In this practical episode, we dive deep into James Clear's powerful concept that getting just 1% better each day compounds to 37 times improvement over a year. We break down the critical difference between motivation (which...
The fitness industry is thriving, yet countless gym owners find themselves stuck, overwhelmed, and unable to scale their businesses effectively. This candid conversation tackles the five devastating mistakes that consistently derail fitness entrepreneurs—and provides clear, actionable solutions to transform your business. First, we explore the exhausting trap of wearing too many hats. When you're frantically switching between coaching, marketing, cleaning, and accounting roles, you're perfor...
The fitness industry is booming with options on every corner, but behind the energy of packed classes lies a stark reality: running a successful fitness business requires much more than exceptional coaching skills. In this candid exploration of fitness entrepreneurship, we unpack the critical mindset shift needed to transform from passionate trainer to effective CEO. Drawing from our combined decades of experience both as gym owners and franchise operators, we reveal why so many fitness prof...
We're taking our first break since rebranding to Forge and Fortitude, offering a perfect opportunity to explore our most valuable episodes from the past few months. Instead of releasing new content this week, we highlight previous conversations that provide substantial value spanning fitness mindset, business leadership, and personal transformation. • Rose Hankins discussing Twisted Dough's protein desserts and her experience on Gordon Ramsay's Foodstar • Our podcast rebrand from Afterburn A...
You asked, and I’m answering! In this special Q&A episode, we’re diving into all things fitness and wellness from breaking through plateaus to maximizing your workouts and building sustainable healthy habits. We'll be tackling questions like: What’s the most important thing for beginners in fitness? How do you stay motivated when progress stalls? Should you track every calorie, step, and heart rate zone—or is it overrated? What’s the best way to train if you only have 20–30 minutes a day?...
Our conversation highlights how small, intentional actions can lead to significant personal growth and a more balanced life. As we lace up our running shoes and prepare for half marathons, the journey back to the racecourse is filled with excitement and caution. We unpack strategic training methods to build endurance while avoiding injuries, setting realistic goals that evolve with our fitness levels. Whether your aim is weight loss, muscle gain, or simply pushing past your limits, we explor...
In a compelling discussion, we delve into the transformative principles of effective leadership with Kyle McDowell, author of "Begin With We." Through personal anecdotes and practical insights, we explore techniques for fostering collaboration, setting expectations, and authentic relationship-building within teams. • Celebrating wins: The role of small victories in building confidence • The journey of leadership: Kyle's transition from corporate America to principle-based leadership&nb...
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