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Welcome to the Health is a Skill podcast with host Todd Vande Hei! Todd is the CEO of Stark, which exists to change the future of health and fitness in the communities they serve. For the last 15 years, Todd has been on a journey to discover what it means to be in a state of peak health. After suffering from a series of seizures and being diagnosed with high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation in his early 30’s, Todd decided it was time to make a change. Those changes fell into one of four categories: lifestyle, exercise, nutrition, and stress management. But the biggest thing Todd learned through it all? Health is a skill. You’re not born with it, like some would like you to believe, and it isn’t acquired by simply buying another product or starting that new diet. Health is something you can create for yourself, and over time it is possible to attain peak health.
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In the third and final part of his Young Men series, Todd Vande Hei shifts from diagnosis to strategy: how do we actually help boys become strong, grounded, purpose-driven men in a world of endless comfort and distraction? Building on parts one and two — where he unpacked culture’s confusion about masculinity and the biological/psychological damage modern life is doing to young men — Todd lays out a path forward centered on purpose, community, and disciplined living. In this episode, Todd co...
In part two of the Strong on Purpose series, Todd Vande Hei digs into what’s really happening to young men today — not just culturally, but biologically. Testosterone is crashing, motivation is fading, and more and more young men are drifting without purpose, buried under tech, porn, and ultra-processed food. Todd unpacks how modern lifestyle inputs — sleep, screens, stress, plastics, porn, and video games — are reshaping male hormones, mental health, and identity all at once. Then he lays ou...
In this solo episode, Todd Vande Hei breaks down one of the most overlooked truths in health optimization: men and women are biologically different — right down to how their cells process food. Yet most diets, supplements, and pharmaceutical recommendations are designed for men. Drawing on over a decade of data from Stark’s health optimization clinics, Todd explains how women’s nutritional needs shift not only across their lifespan but throughout the month — and how to align your nutrition, t...
In this episode, Todd Vande Hei sits down with Dr. Duncan Ross, founder of Chimera Labs, one of the pioneers behind exosome science and regenerative medicine. Together, they unpack what exosomes are, how they work, and why they’re redefining what’s possible for healing, recovery, and human longevity. Todd opens the episode with his signature introduction — sharing his own path from vegan to carnivore, from biohacking to hormone optimization — before diving deep into how Dr. Ross and his team ...
When crisis strikes, most people run from danger — Dean Stott runs toward it. A former Tier One Special Forces operator turned humanitarian, Stott has led evacuations from war zones across the globe — from Afghanistan and Libya to Israel. In this powerful conversation, he sits down with Todd to unpack the mindset, planning, and humanity behind saving lives under pressure. They discuss: • October 7th, 2023 — entering Israel as war broke out, and how Dean mobilized a global network to help fam...
Dr. Alice Nguyen has never stopped moving. From martial arts competitions in her twenties to strength training through medical school, she’s built a philosophy of health that blends functional medicine, hormone optimization, and the overlooked fundamentals of movement. In this conversation with Todd, Alice unpacks: Why strength and power training are essential for women to counteract sarcopenia and “powerpenia.”How early mentors shifted her toward functional medicine, clean nutrition, and pro...
In this enlightening episode, host Todd Vande Hei sits down with Dr. Paul Anderson—co-author of Outside the Box—to explore how chronic and complex health issues often slip through the cracks of our traditional medical system. Dr. Anderson explains how “inside-the-box” care excels at addressing acute emergencies, yet struggles when a patient presents multiple, smaller issues that add up to a serious problem. Together, they discuss the power of looking beyond standard protocols, embracing holis...
Masculinity is evolving, but are men keeping up? In this compelling discussion, Dr. Hillary Goldsher joins Todd Vander Hei to unpack the societal pressures shaping modern masculinity and the consequences of emotional suppression. They explore how men are taught to suppress emotions like fear, sadness, and anxiety—often leading to long-term consequences such as agitation, depression, sleep disorders, and even cardiovascular health issues. Todd shares his own experience with emotional suppressi...
How do concussions, repetitive head trauma, and strokes impact long-term brain health? Neuroscientist Dr. Kristen Willeumier and naturopathic physician Dr. Alice Nguyen join Todd Vande Hei for an eye-opening discussion on brain resilience, recovery, and performance. Dr. Willeumier explains the dangers of subconcussive impacts—those repeated hits that don’t cause immediate symptoms but lead to long-term neurological damage. She breaks down the science of neuroplasticity, the role of ta...
Strength training isn’t just about lifting heavier—it’s about training smarter. Brett Jones, director of education at StrongFirst, rejoins Todd this week on the podcast, sharing his philosophy on strength training as a skill. Brett dives into the science behind recovery and why effort alone doesn’t equal better results. He also highlights the role of grip strength as a key predictor of longevity and how maintaining muscle mass can impact overall health, including disease recovery. Hav...
Hydration is more than just drinking water—it’s about optimizing how your body absorbs, utilizes, and retains fluids to enhance mobility, reduce inflammation, and support long-term health. On this week’s episode of Health Is A Skill, Bryce Turner—owner of Beach Fitness and ELDOA USA—returns to the podcast, this time breaking down why hydration is a foundational component of structural wellness, particularly when it comes to joint mobility and fascia health. During their conversation, ...
Intimacy is about so much more than physical connection—it's a pathway to deeper relationships, stronger communication, and improved mental well-being. On this week’s episode of Health Is A Skill, relationship coach Aaro Ardis joins Todd for a fascinating conversation about the complexities of love, sex, and connection. During their conversation Aaro explains the significance of conscious coupling, how to set clear agreements in relationships, and the role of emotional awareness in cr...
Most people don’t simply live their lives—they live out the stories going on in their minds. On this week’s episode of Health Is A Skill, Todd sits down with “The Mind Architect”, Peter Crone, to dive into how deeply ingrained subconscious beliefs drive behavior and limit potential. Peter shares how he helps elite athletes, executives, and everyday individuals break free from fear, stress, and self-imposed constraints. Together the two discuss the difference between reactive and respo...
The foundation of health starts in the gut—something ancient wisdom and modern science both can agree on. In this week’s episode of Health Is A Skill, Dr. Bob Rakowski unpacks the critical role gut health plays in overall wellness and why functional medicine is the key to addressing the root causes of disease. Together Todd and Dr. Rakowski highlight the dangers of xenoestrogens and microplastics, explaining their link to declining testosterone, metabolic disorders, and early pu...
Magnesium is responsible for over a thousand biochemical reactions in the body, yet more than 75% of people are deficient in this critical mineral. Dr. Robert Fredrickson joins Todd on this week’s episode of Health is a Skill to break down why magnesium is essential for energy production, blood pressure regulation, cardiovascular health, sleep, anxiety, and even muscle function. Together the two discuss how stress, processed foods, and modern farming practices contribute to widespread...
Menopause is an inevitable transition, but it doesn’t have to be miserable. In this episode, Dr. Alice Nguyen brings her wealth of knowledge to a candid discussion on managing menopause and metabolic health. She and Todd dive into how hormonal shifts affect weight, fat distribution, and mental well-being. Dr. Nguyen then explains why resistance training and optimal protein intake are critical for maintaining muscle mass and bone health, especially post-30 when muscle naturally begins ...
On today’s episode of Health is a Skill, Todd is diving into a topic that is becoming more and more prevalent for men: lower rates of male fertility. Dr. Michael Moeller is a naturopathic medical doctor who specializes in men’s health, with a focus on fertility optimization and testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Together the two discuss why men across the board are experiencing lower rates of fertility and testosterone than ever before and how to combat this issue from a health s...
Being that it’s the beginning of a new year, we’re continuing our conversation on the best ways to lose fat as we start off 2025! Today Todd is joined by Stark’s registered dietician, Geoff Samson. Geoff is an expert in all things fat loss and the foods you need to eat (and not eat!) to achieve your goals. On today’s episode, Todd invites Geoff to share some of that expertise: weighing in on many of the common mistakes he sees people making when trying to lose fat, the best food...
Welcome to Season 3 of Health is a Skill! We’re kicking off a brand new season—and a brand new year—talking about the most effective ways to burn fat and feel your best as we enter 2025. Stark’s head of training and health protocols, Amir Mofidi, is back on the podcast, this time joining Todd to discuss optimizing fat-burn, if cutting calories actually works, and which type of exercise to prioritize to lose fat in those stubborn areas. Let’s dive in! Amir and Todd have bee...
We’re wrapping up Season 2 of Health is a Skill with a recap of the last 11 episodes—what our guests taught us about achieving a state of peak health, Todd’s insights into his own health journey, and a look back on how you can be the healthiest version of you. For this solo episode, Todd runs us through each guest from this past season, emphasizing what they taught us about taking health into our own hands. If you’re looking for a list of actionable steps to take charge of your ...
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