The Excellence Cartel

The Excellence Cartel x Dr. Emily Splichal: Rebuilding From the Ground UpEpisode Description:In this episode of The Excellence Cartel, we sit down with Dr. Emily Splichal—functional podiatrist, human movement specialist, and founder of Naboso Technology—for a conversation that will quite literally shift your perspective from the ground up.We dive into the overlooked yet critical role your feet play in strength, balance, posture, and overall movement efficiency. Dr. Splichal breaks down why foot health is the foundation of functional performance and how poor proprioception, tightness, and neglect of the feet can quietly sabotage your training and recovery efforts.We explore how Naboso Technology is changing the game through sensory-stimulating tools like the Neuro Ball, a simple but powerful solution for restoring foot awareness, improving balance, and enhancing neural feedback from the ground up. Whether you're an elite lifter, a weekend warrior, or recovering from chronic pain or injury, this episode delivers insights into why stimulating the feet can unlock strength, reduce pain, and build resilience throughout the kinetic chain.If you train hard but ignore what’s happening below your ankles, you’ll want to tune in. This episode is packed with actionable takeaways you can implement today—starting from the soles of your feet.Don’t miss it.

In this episode, we sit down with 7-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath, joined by our good friend Matt Christman, for a conversation that goes far deeper than sets, reps, or supplementation.This isn’t your typical bodybuilding interview.No drug talk.Barely any training or nutrition.Just real, unfiltered insight from a man who’s lived at the top and learned through the process of winning—and losing.We wanted a different kind of conversation with Phil. One built on the kind of perspective you only earn through time, setbacks, and self-awareness.If you’re looking for a raw, thoughtful, and unexpected look into the mind of a champion—this one’s for you.

Peaking a Pro: Inside the Mind of Jason Theobald with Coach Phil VizIn this episode, we dive deep into the science and strategy behind one of the most critical—and elusive—elements of bodybuilding: the peak. Physique coach Phil Viz joins us for an in-depth, cerebral conversation about working with IFBB Pro Jason Theobald, breaking down how he helped Jason achieve his best look on stage.We explore Jason's mindset as a seasoned pro, what led him to seek out a coach despite his own extensive knowledge, and the "why" behind his decision to bring Phil into the process. Phil shares his meticulous approach to peaking—covering everything from water manipulation to carb loading—and how he tailored his methods to fit Jason’s unique physiology and prep history.This episode is a must-listen for competitors, coaches, and anyone obsessed with the finer details of elite-level physique development. Learn what it takes to bring a professional bodybuilder to peak—and why even the best sometimes need another set of eyes.Want a more casual, hardcore fan-style version too?

What is weight-loss resistance? In this chat with fitness and health educator Justin Mihaly, we review the different weight-loss resistance levels. Listen to find out how you can work to finally break through plateaus you once thought impossible with some newer applications to restore results.

Episode 14: From Cancer to Competition Jeff Black invites his client Nick Ross onto the show to talk about winning his battle with testicular cancer to competing in a show soon after recovery. Nick maintains the idea that cancer didn't happen to him, but for him, to learn how to be present in life, to keep promises, and to be genuine. In this heartfelt and raw episode, we learn what someone thinks when they face death, and how they approach life when given a second chance. Follow us on Instagram: scoobyprep1_ifbbpro - Jason Theobald firstcalloutfitness - Jeffrey Su jeffunbreakableblack - Jeff Black Nick Ross - r0ssfit #theexcellencecartel theexcellencecartel.com

Weight loss resistance is one of the most frustrating battles people face, especially for women navigating hormonal shifts. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Bill Campbell, PhD—renowned researcher and leader in the field of physique science—to dig into what the research actually says about fat loss plateaus, metabolic adaptation, and why traditional diet advice often falls flat.We break down the unique challenges women face before menopause, during peri-menopause, and through menopause, and why the strategies that worked in your 20s and 30s may stop working later. From hormonal fluctuations and metabolic slowdowns to stress, sleep, and resistance training, we cover the science and give you clear takeaways to cut through the noise.If you’ve ever wondered why fat loss feels harder as you age—or why your body seems to fight you every step of the way—this conversation will help you understand the “why” and give you tools to push forward with a smarter plan.

Colitis, Coaching, and Comebacks – Jimmy Baydoun’s Journey with Jason TheobaldIn this episode of The Excellence Cartel, we sit down with competitor and coach Jimmy Baydoun to unpack a raw, eye-opening journey through colitis. This condition nearly sidelined his physique goals and quality of life. From debilitating symptoms to endless frustration with conventional medical approaches, Jimmy shares how navigating a high-level prep with a chronic illness forced him to think differently about health, performance, and longevity. But what changed everything was his partnership with coach Jason Theobald. Together, they began peeling back the layers, restoring gut health, reducing inflammation, and structuring training, nutrition, and supplementation to support healing and progress.We get into the science, yes—but more importantly, the lived experience. Jimmy walks us through what it’s like to coach and compete while battling a condition that flares unpredictably and can drain every ounce of energy. We cover the key protocols that worked, how mindset plays a critical role in chronic illness, and what he’d tell any athlete who feels like their body is working against them.If you or your clients are battling gut dysfunction, autoimmune issues, or feel like they’re doing everything right but still spinning their wheels, this one is packed with information from Jason's 20+ years of knowledge.

The Excellence Cartel interviews Aaron Williamson about his experiences and the challenges of navigating the acting industry. He offers valuable insights into the acting industry and discusses how to succeed in the film industry, whether as a personal trainer, nutritionist, or actor. Williamson also shares his experience as a fitness coach for actors.

Training NFL Athletes with Josh Cuthbert of Alpha 1 Strength – Featuring Jason Fitz (Yahoo Sports)What does it really take to train NFL players?In this episode, we sit down with Josh Cuthbert—founder of Alpha 1 Strength and one of the go-to coaches for high-level football talent. Josh has built a reputation for developing elite-level performance in pro athletes, and today, he pulls back the curtain on what it actually looks like to coach at that level.We dive into how he approaches programming for NFL players, the education that helped (and what was a waste of time), and how he’s built a system around what gets results—not what looks good on paper. If you're a coach who wants to work with pros or someone curious about what separates the average from the elite, Josh lays it out.We’re also joined by Jason Fitz, NFL analyst with Yahoo Sports, who brings his perspective from the other side of the industry. Fitz gets to ask Josh some key questions about player performance, training gaps, and what he sees on the field that ties back to the gym.Whether you’re a strength coach, personal trainer, athlete, or just a fan of the game—you’ll walk away with real insight into what it takes to train pros the right way.

Join Jason, Jeffrey Su, and Jeff Black as they bring The Excellence Cartel podcast to a close for now.

Episode 175: Vince Pitstick on OID & Autophagy Vince joined us today to dive deep on Overactive Immune Disorder and clarify exactly what this means within the context of weight loss resistance and various disease states. What is weight loss resistance? How do you know if you have it? And why is the immune system at the center of it all? Listen to find out!

The Keto Playbook with Ben Azadi, best-selling author of "Keto Flex." Ben joined Jeff B and Jason to discuss implementing a Ketogenic diet that benefits you on a cellular level. We covered fasting, working out with a ketogenic diet, and even the fats you should avoid that are more dangerous than smoking cigarettes! Check us out and share if you learned something new!

Episode 174: John Gorman and Jason Theobald Talk Supplements Today we invited John Gorman, owner of PHAT Muscle to join Jason for a tell-all today about what it’s really like to own a supplement company. John and Jason talk about what it was like in the early days, their first products, their initial capital outlays, and how they marketed without ads to grow to 1 million in annual revenue. Ever wonder what goes into a great product? Listen to this episode.

Episode 173: Nate Bailey on Leadership Today we were joined by Nate Bailey who shares his experience in the military and how his role there prepared him to run a successful coaching business after selling his insurance company. We talk about handling highs and lows, relationships, and challenges ahead.

Today we were joined by Taeler De Haes to talk about the business of business coaching, what to do, what not to do, what’s common, and what’s rare.This was probably the best episode we have done on this topic. Taeler tells it like it really is, she doesn’t pitch or sell, and she opens up about how tragedy in her own life fueled an obsession with building her business and how relentless hours of hard work and saying “no” led her to a life of saying “yes” today.Business coaching is becoming as common as fitness coaching and the truth is, only a small percentage will make it.

Episode 171: Skip Hill on Masters Competitors Today we had Skip Hill on our show to discuss the ins and outs of maintaining health and longevity as a masters competitor or bodybuilding enthusiast.We touch on training adjustments, cardio, PEDs, and what systems act as limiting factors to progression in athletes 40 and up.

Episode 170: Justin HarrisToday we were joined by Justin Harris, owner of Troponin Nutrition to chat about nutrition, physics, coaching, going back to school, and running multiple businesses.Justin is a wealth of knowledge and experience in both bodybuilding and business. Tune in for tips on staying in the game (even after taking a break) and growing personally and professionally as the industry as we know it continues to change.

Episode 169: Healthy, Optimal, & Competitive Today we were joined by Dom Kuza to discuss the balance between what’s healthy, optimal, and competitive when it comes to contest preps and PEDs.What’s healthy isn’t always competitive, so how do you navigate both goals over time?Many of us who love to train and compete won’t ever be Mr. Olympia, so how do you reconcile your goals? Tune in to find out!

Episode 168: Chat GPT with Jaime Filer Coach Jaime from TRM joined us again today to talk about artificial intelligence, social media, and the future of coaching as our industry players are constantly seeking the next edge and operational efficiencies. We focus on Chat GPT, an open software system in its infancy stages which can write meal plans, Facebook posts, and supplement protocols based on what information you give it. Scary stuff, but very cool as well. How will human coaches fare as AI creeps into our space? Tune in to find out!

Episode 167: Contest Prep with Cameron Cheek Cameron returns this week to talk about the nitty gritty details of contest prep. We dive into GH and anabolics for athletes, nutrition and training considerations for men and women in both younger and older populations and more.