The Essential Strength Podcast

Our guest this week is Dr. Kyle Gillett.In today’s conversation, Dr. Gillett and I talk about the concerning health trends he sees in men and women between the ages of 25 and 45 as well as the health trends that those over 50 should be aware of. We talk about the continuum of diet, exercise and pharmaceutical interventions in addressing obesity and the many downstream risk factors associated with excessively high body fat percentages. We also go deep on the topic on infertility - why rates are climbing and what we can do about it.You can LEARN MORE about Dr. Gillett's work & his new venture, GilletHealth - HEREOur Partner Today is Stronger In Motion - Whether it's 1:1 Strength Coaching, Nutrition Consultation or our new Enduring Strength Program - we can take take the guess work out of training and nutrition and guide you towards the STRONGEST version of yourself!Connect with Dr. Gillett - @kylegillettmdConnect with David - @dr.davidskolnik.dptConnect with the Show - @essential.strength.podcastAction PlanMy biggest takeaway - the the inspiration for your ACTION PLAN this week is this: while there are trends towards higher rates of certain diseases right now, especially metabolic conditions and declining fertility rates - there is also SO MUCH WE CAN DO ABOUT IT! Lifestyle changes, pharmaceutical support, dietary interventions… there is almost no problem that we cannot solve with the right team around us and the necessary tests to identify our personal risk factors.So, your action plan this week is simply to go check out Marek Health - learn more about what they do and also, if you haven’t seen a doctor in 5 years - make a freakin appointment! If you feel amazing - GREAT - go get some labs done and figure out what your internal environment looks like when you feel awesome - that way in the future you and your medical team will know what to do in the inevitable event that one day you don’t feel so awesome whether because of age, environment, stress or illness. Be an active agent of your own health!That’s it for this week. Until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Our guest this week is Frank Benedetto.On today’s episode, Frank and I talk about why so many healthcare professionals are finding themselves burned out but scared to leave their jobs, when and how to find your niche as a practitioner and I ask Frank if it is ever too early or too late to start a side hustle. Frank is also gracious enough to offer two free tools to help everyone listening design a life they will love and to help them discover their niche - both resources typically reserved for members of The Honey Badger Project - so be sure to check today’s show notes for links!Check Out Pain Free Performance - our partner on today's show is THE BEST educational resource for trainers, coaches and allied health professionals looking to advance their skills and ensure their clients will train PAIN FREE while improving their performance!!! USE THE CODE "ESSENTIAL"  AT CHECKOUT FOR 15% OFF !!Download the Life Design WorksheetDownload the Find My Niche WorksheetConnect with Frank - @frank_benedettoConnect with David - @dr.davidskolnik.dptConnect with the Show - @essential.strength.podcastAction PlanYour action plan for the week is this - Block out the time needed to fill out the Life Design Worksheet, which is linked in the show notes for this episode. I can tell you from personal experience - the first time I did this exercise it was eye opening in a lot of ways. It gave me clarity as to what I really want my life to look like in a way I’d never experienced before, and it highlighted how my current work, income, and time management was not necessarily in alignment with what I said I wanted. And, spoiler alert - it still isn’t. I’m moving in the right direction - albeit slowly - but it’s high time I sat down and completed the Life Design Worksheet again, this time with my wife, and started taking more concrete steps towards living out my ideals. I hope you gain some valuable insight from this exercise… in fact I’m quite sure that you will.That’s it for this week - until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Our guest this week is Dr. Kristin Phillips, DPT & a Re-Release of the fifth most popular episode in Essential Strength History!Check out our partner on today's episode - Barbell Rehab - and use the code "stronger25" to save $25 off any online continuing education course!Remember - if you are enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a week to week basis!Highlights - In today’s Conversation, Dr. Phillips and I discuss the pros and cons of the term “Women’s Health” in light of the fact that both men and women both have pelvic floor anatomy that can benefits from assessment and treatment. We talk about the link between pelvic health and sexual function as it relates to both men and women and we talk about some of the common misconceptions that people have about the day to day job of a pelvic health therapist.Connect with Dr. Phillips: @kristinphillips_dptConnect with David: @dr.davidskolnik.dptConnect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcastAction Plan - Your action plan this week is two fold:First - your very practical action plan is simply to hop on the good old google machine and find your local women’s health physical therapist. You might not need their services now, but maybe you know someone who recently had a child and doesn’t even know pelvic floor rehab is available, and maybe at some point in the future this will be important for you personally. It’s always good to know where the healthcare specialists are in your area.Second - your more broad action plan is to expand your professional knowledge base. Don’t assume that because you’ve been in an industry for 5 years, 10 years or longer that you have “seen it all” or that you know everything there is to know. This is part fo why I love having guests on who are fellow Physical Therapists specializing in treatment approaches I’m only peripherally familiar with, or has one lecture on in school. The best time to learn is now, and the next best time to learn is every day for the rest of your life.That’s it for this week, be sure to tune in next time for my conversation with Frank Benedetto and a conversation that initially aired on November 3rd, 2021. This one is all about professional BURNOUT, especially as it relates to health and fitness professionals. Until then - we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH!

Our guest this week is Saad Alam. Saad Alam is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hone Health (formerly known as Peak), an online clinic that treats men’s hormonal imbalances and low testosterone.Saad is a lifelong health advocate dedicated to researching new and innovative ways to improve overall well-being. Saad set out on his journey to build a next-generation men’s health clinic after experiencing testosterone imbalances firsthand, which inspired him to learn more about male hormones and to help other men. Since founding the company, Saad has devoted himself to assisting men realize that age should not dictate how one feels and to have confidence as they evolve. He believes that we can maximize human life span past 100 years and is committed to helping people understand how to cultivate a holistic approach to actually feel younger as they age.Remember - If you’re enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a week to week basis! Tag the show on Instagram - @essential.strength.podcast - and tag me, your friendly host - @dr.davidskolnik.dpt.And don’t forget to check out our partners on today’s episode:STRONG CoffeeIf coffee is one of your daily essentials, do yourself a favor - check out STRONG Coffee and save 15% of every purchase with the code ESSENTIAL at checkout.Connect with Saad: @msaadalamCheck out Hone Health: HoneHealth.comConnect with David: @dr.DavidSkolnik.dptConnect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcastAction PlanYour action plan this week is, once again, to get your blood work done and to take the results to a naturopath or hormone optimization specialist. Someone who won’t write off your results as “aging” when you’re 32 years old (or younger). I’m going to keep beating this bloodwork drum until you all understand it’s importance. I’m working on improving some health markers. My wife is working on improving some health markers. I have co-workers and friends who are taking positive action towards a better, healthier, more energized life and in a minute, you’re going to hear Saad’s story - one that inspired an entire company that is working to revolutionize men’s health. So please - get your blood work done and take the results to a professional who cares about optimizing health, not just managing sickness.What's Next?That’s a wrap for this week’s episode but make sure to tune in in two weeks for the first of our HIGHLIGHT SERIES featuring the five most popular episodes in Essential Strength history - starting with an episode featuring Dr. Kristin Phillips, DPT and a conversation about pelvic health, pelvic floor physical therapy and why women’s health isn’t actually just for women.Until then, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Our guest this week is Danny Matranga.In today’s conversation, Danny and I talk about the key elements he wants every client to understand about training, the difference between the idea of a “best diet” vs. “best dietary practices”, what Danny sees as the biggest scam in the fitness industry and the potentially bleak inevitability that we will all eventually have to prioritize our health.Remember - If you’re enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a week to week basis! Tag the show on Instagram - @essential.strength.podcast - and tag me, your friendly host - @dr.davidskolnik.dpt.And don’t forget to check out our partners on today’s episode:STRONG CoffeeIf coffee is one of your daily essentials, do yourself a favor - check out STRONG Coffee and save 15% of every purchase with the code ESSENTIAL at checkout.The Enduring Strength Training Platform!If you are tired of doing the same workouts and getting the same results... if you are ready for a training plan that will get you Strong & Healthy now and for the long run, send me an e-mail: david@strongerinmotion.comConnect with Danny: @danny.matrangaCheck out Danny's Podcast: Dynamic Dialogue Connect with David: @dr.DavidSkolnik.dptConnect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcastAction PlanThis week I want to focus on a single statement Danny made during our conversation. The statement is:“Someone else making progress faster than you is not a personal failure.”I want you to identify 1 or 2 areas of your personal or professional life where you find yourself feeling like a failure because you aren’t where someone else is, and I want you to make time to compare more than just your current situation but instead to consider your path to where you are vs. theirs, your currently trajectory vs. theirs, your goals vs. theirs, your definition of success vs. theirs… you might actually need to have a conversation with this person or these people you think are “beating you.” I can’t guarantee what you’ll discover but I do know that you’ll be taking steps towards comparing apples to apples instead of apples or oranges and that alone will help you see that you are not a failure.What's Next?Be sure to tune in next week for a solo episode where I’ll be taking a deeper dive into the differences between personal training, group coaching and following a training plan - you’ll learn which of these three options is best for you, how to weigh both the financial and fitness sides of the decision and for the coaches and trainers listening, you’ll learn how to create offers that target all three levels of this fitness/business continuum.Until then, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Our guest this week is Shanté Cofield.Shanté is a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and the creator of The Movement Maestro, a website and social-media based platform devoted to all things human movement and mobility and a business coach who helps people discover their unique stories so they can stand out in the crowded online business landscape. In today’s conversation, Shanté and I talk about her two keys to good content and why it’s vital for folks to “stop watching other people’s stories and start writing their own.” Shanté defines empathic listening, shares the values that guide her life and business and we discuss when it’s appropriate for coaches to guide our clients and when it’s better to be their sidekick.Remember - If you’re enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a week to week basis! Tag the show on Instagram - @essential.strength.podcast - and tag me, your friendly host - @dr.davidskolnik.dpt.And don’t forget to check out our partners on today’s episode:STRONG CoffeeIf coffee is one of your daily essentials, do yourself a favor - check out STRONG Coffee and save 15% of every purchase with the code ESSENTIAL at checkout.Pain Free Performance Specialist CertificationIf you are a health and fitness professional who is ready to step up and take your place on the true FRONT LINE of preventative health, then you need to check out GetPPSC.com and sign up for the LvL 1 Coaching Course. use the code ESSENTIAL to save 15%.Connect with Shanté : @themovementmaestroConnect with David: @dr.DavidSkolnik.dptConnect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcastAction planIf you are a content creator, whether on Instagram, TikTok or any other platform, and your end goal is to convert followers to customers - my challenge to you is to be more like Shanté in one specific way:The Challenge - use your platform and your content to move your people forward before they ever actually decide to work with you. Make your content so valuable that when people do decide to work with you - and if you make it easy for them to do so, they will - make it so valuable that they say “Your content helped me so much in my fitness journey, my business development, my self-care, it helped me so much that I just can’t wait to work with you.”Now, I know what you’re going to say - if I give it all away fro free, why would anyone pay to work with me? Well, I posed that exact question to Shanté in today’s conversation so, you’ll just have to keep listening to find out what she had to say about it!That’s it for this week, but make sure you tune in next week for our conversation with Danny Matranga for a conversation about the five things he wants every client to understand about training, the difference between the idea of a “best diet” vs. “best dietary practices”, what Danny sees as the biggest scam in the fitness industry and potentially bleak inevitability that we will all eventually have to prioritize our health.Until then, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Our Guest this week is Mark Breedon.Mark is an online strength coach for women who uses strength training to build their confidence in and out of the gym, and make them feel like a confident badass lifter. Mark is passionate about helping those who don't fit the typical mold of someone who is strong and wants to show you that strength training is for everyone. Mark's mission is to change the focus on why we exercise, to move away from training for the weight on the scale and instead use exercise for health, self-confidence, and feeling strong!In today’s conversation, Mark and I talk about training for strength vs. training for fat loss, Mark defines a “weight neutral” approach to coaching, how he helps his female clients celebrate “non scale victories” and we talk about the “five minute rule” for exercise. I’m really excited to share this one with everyone listening because the world needs more strong women and it’s going to take more coaches like Mark breaking down barriers!Remember - If you’re enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a week to week basis! Tag the show on Instagram - @essential.strength.podcast - and tag me, your friendly host - @dr.davidskolnik.dpt.And don’t forget to check out our partners on today’s episode:The Enduring Strength Training Platform!If you are tired of doing the same workouts and getting the same results... if you are ready for a training plan that will get you Strong & Healthy now and for the long run, send me an e-mail: david@strongerinmotion.comSTRONG CoffeeIf coffee is one of your daily essentials, do yourself a favor - check out STRONG Coffee and save 15% of every purchase with the code ESSENTIAL at checkout.Connect with Mark: @training.strong.womenConnect with David: @dr.DavidSkolnik.dptConnect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcastAction PlanThis week’s action plan is a reimagining of one of the questions that Mark asks his clients. The question is - “What would make you feel strong?”I’d like you to spend 10 minutes this week answering this question in one of two ways. You can simply sit down and free-write on the question of “what would make you feel strong”. Let you mind go, let the words flow and see where you get. Alternatively, if that sounds a bit to unbridled for you taste, I’d suggest you break this question down into three categories:What would make me feel physically strong?What would make me feel intellectually strong?What would make me feel emotionally strong?If you take 10 minutes to define what a STRONGER YOU actually looks like, you may find that you have a renewed sense of motivation and direction after this exercise!That’s it for this week, but make sure you tune in next week for our conversation with Shante Cofield, aka The Movement Maestro and a conversation about how to own your time, build trust, live your values and make your online business stand out in a time when everyone has gone online.Until then, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Our guest this week is Ebenezer Samuel.Ebenezer is the fitness director for Men’s Health, the largest men’s media brand in the world, and a personal trainer for a wide range of clients from NFL players to working mothers and from broadcast personalities to firefighters. He's also the head of training innovation at the virtual training platform FlexIt.In today’s conversation, Ebenezer and I talk about how the fitness industry can do a better job of promoting client health vs. specific physical attributes, I get Ebenezer’s insight on how the growing market for fitness technology can have positive impacts for both coaches and clients, the importance of critical thinking for coaches and why making workouts and recovery fun is the key to activity adherence. Ebenezer has a unique perspective as both a coach and a journalist and I’m thrilled to share this episode with everyone listening!Remember - If you’re enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a week to week basis! Tag the show on Instagram - @essential.strength.podcast - and tag me, your friendly host - @dr.davidskolnik.dpt.And don’t forget to check out our partner on today’s episode - The Enduring Strength Training Platform!If you are tired of doing the same workouts and getting the same results... if you are ready for a training plan that will get you Strong & Healthy now and for the long run, send me an e-mail: david@strongerinmotion.comConnect with Ebenezer: @ebenezersamuel23Connect with David: @dr.DavidSkolnik.dpt Connect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcastAction PlanThis week’s action plan will speak directly to the coaches, trainers and fitness professionals in the audience. I want you to take the next 7 days and make an effort to talk to your clients about the health-related benefits of physical activity, nutrition, or whatever kind of service your are providing. I’m not saying to stop talking about bigger biceps, flatter stomachs or new PRs... but there are more important things in the long term. Things that might motivate these current clients to become forever clients which is not only great for their health, but pretty good for your bottom line when coaching is your career. Stable health and stable income is a winning combination. This action plan might require you to do a bit of research - maybe you should go back and listen to a few more episodes of this podcast for some brain gains - it will be time well spent. Understand - as a coach or trainer you have the ability to be working on the TRUE front line of healthcare - the preventative side of the line. Don’t every underestimate the value you can bring and don’t be afraid to show every client just how powerful healthy lifestyle choices are!That’s it for this week. Make sure you tune in next week for our episode Mark Breedon and a conversation about strength training with female clients, common barriers to entry for the female gym goer, weight-neutral training and defining success without looking at the scale.Until then, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Our guest this week is Reed Davis.Reed is a Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner (HHP) and Certified Nutritional Therapist (CNT). He is an expert in functional lab testing and holistic lifestyle medicine. Reed is the Founder of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® (FDN) and the FDN Certification Course with over 3,000 graduates in 50 countries.Our Parter on today's episode is Functional Diagnostic Nutrition - Use this special enrollment link to gain access to the most in-depth nutrition and lab testing certification course ever developed!Remember - If you are enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a weekly basis!Today's Conversation with Reed  touches on the importance of personal responsibility, both as a prerequisite to being a strong person and also as it relates to taking responsibility for your own health. We discuss how conditions that are “common” in modern health should by no means be considered “normal”  and the difference between a doctor who labels you with a diagnosis code and a practitioner who identifies your opportunities to heal. Reed and I get into concepts like individualized micronutrient metabolism testing, why Reed no longer uses the phrase “root cause” when it comes to health and we talk about Functional Diagnostic Nutrition. This is one of the more unique, eye opening conversations I’ve had on the podcast and I can’t wait for all of you out there to hear it!Connect with Reed: Reed on LinkedIn Connect with David: @dr.davidskolnik.dptConnect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcastCheck out Functional Diagnostic Nutrition: functionaldiagnosticnutrition.comAction PlanThis weeks action plan could easily be to get your bloodwork done… again. But that was your action plan last week and I’m confident you all went out and got that done right away! So, this week’s action plan is simply take stock of Reed’s 5 categories of wholistic health - his DRESS Principle:Diet, Rest, Exercise, Stress Reduction and Supplementation.Rate yourself 0-10 on category and write down 3 concrete steps you can take to raise your scores.Simple. Actionable. Health.What's Next - Make sure you tune in next week for our episode with Ebenezer Samuel and a conversation about the intersections of technology and fitness, why the fun factor is key to exercise adherence and how global accessibility to coaching is changing the game for both coaches and clients. I hope you’ll join me!Until next time - we wish you Strength and Good Health.

Our guest this week is Ali Gilbert.Ali has 20 years of experience as a Strength & Conditioning Coach specializing in Men’s Health and Hormone Optimization and has presented on these topics nationwide. Our Parter on today's episode is Testosterone School - Use this special enrollment link to sign up and learn everything you need to know about testosterone and TRT in this self-paced course!Remember - If you are enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a weekly basis!Today's Conversation with Ali focuses on one hormone in particular - Testosterone. Ali explains why testosterone levels are plummeting in industrialized nations. She covers exactly what Testosterone does in the body and why low testosterone has a nasty cascade of effects on everything from focus to energy to libido. Ali also explains how the traditional healthcare system is failing men with low T and what every guy can do about it - including educating themselves with Ali’s immersive new online platform - Testosterone School.Connect with Ali: @thealigilbert Connect with David: @dr.davidskolnik.dptConnect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcastCheck out Testosterone School: thetestosteroneschool.com Action PlanThis week’s action plan is very concrete - I want you to get your blood work done. By the end of this episode I think you’ll understand why this is the second time that blood work has been your action plan - the first one was Episode 60 w/ Dr. Kyle Gillet. My wife and I have both recently gotten bloodwork done and it’s lead to changes in diet, stress management practices, household product use, you name it. There are processes happening inside our bodies that we simply cannot see, hear or even necessarily feel. That’s where a male or female wellness panel comes into play. Most insurances WILL COVER a wellness panel at one of the big lab companies in America. If you are interested in thriving rather than just surviving though, what you do with those lab results makes the difference. Ir you’re in a state where naturopathic physicians can practice, set up an appointment. Or find a men’s or women’s health specialist, a hormone optimization specialist … find someone who is going to hold you to a high standard than the standard American because sadly, only 12% of American’s are metabolically healthy and if you’re listening to this podcast, I know you don’t want to fall in that other 88%.What's Next - Make sure you tune in next week for our episode with Reed Davis and another conversation all about REAL HEALTH - Reed and I go deep on the power of food sensitivity testing, metabolic profiles, the difference between “normal” and “common” when it comes to health conditions and why personal responsibility is paramount. I hope you’ll join me!Until next time - we wish you Strength and Good Health.

Our guest this week is Roman Rodriguez.Roman is the founder of The Coaching Marketplace, Director of Training at Moxy, PPSC Lead instructor and has been coaching and educating in the fitness industry for over a decade.Our Parter on today's episode is Pain Free Performance - Use the code "ESSENTIAL" to save 15% on the BEST weekend certification in the fitness industry!Remember - If you are enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a weekly basis!Today's Conversation with Roman explores his journey as a trainer, an educator and a tech founder. We cover the importance of telling a good story, the social psychology skills that most coaches are sorely lacking, the importance of competition even when you don’t always win and Roman will dive deep into the problems he sees in the fitness education industry, the solutions he is building with The Coaching Marketplace, and why he is so passionate about coaches and educators having more opportunities to monetize their knowledge and their content.Connect with Kevin:@roman_empire813Connect with David: @dr.davidskolnik.dptConnect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcastCheck out The Coaching Market: thecoachingmarket.comAction PlanThis week’s action plan builds on a single line that Roman says near the very end of the conversation - “Choose to challenge yourself before life challenges you.”If you listened to Episode 78 with Doctor Chris Swart - you will remember that he made a point of saying that as life progresses challenges don’t get smaller, they get bigger. And that is why the continuous pursuit of strength is so important. Roman echoed this sentiment. Life will ALWAYS present challenges. You can CHOOSE to volunteer for certain challenges, or you can wait for the inevitable. One gives you some semblance of control. The other hands the reigns over the whatever unknowable force you believe controls this crazy world we live in. Your action plan this week is to CHOOSE to take on a challenge that you’ve been avoiding. Volunteer for the challenge. Step up. Maybe you’ll succeed. Maybe you’ll fail. I guarantee you’ll learn something. And as you’ll find out later from Roman, it's not about always winning, it about always COMPETING. Always TRYING. Again and again and again. So challenge yourself this week. That’s your action plan.What's Next - Make sure you tune in next week for out episode with Ali Gilbert and conversation all about Testosterone - why the definition of “normal levels” of testosterone is changing, societal and environmental impacts on this vital sex hormone, the role of testosterone on aging and vitality what Ali is doing to support men who want to live an optimal life instead of an average one.Until next time - we wish you Strength and Good Health.

Our Guest this week is Kenny Santucci.Kenny is the owner of Strong New York and The Strength Club NYC. Kenny has established himself as a top trainer and thought leader in the New York City Fitness LandscapeOur Partner on today's episode is the STRONG Coffee - save 15% with the code ESSENTIAL at checkout!Remember - If you are enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a weekly basis!Today's Conversation with Kenny is about his vision for Healing the World Through Fitness, his personal reasons for pursuing a strong life, how to get more people physically active and the keys to effectively training the general population client.Connect with Kevin: @kennysantucci Connect with David: @dr.davidskolnik.dptConnect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcastAction PlanThis week’s action plan is specifically for the coaches listening to the show. I want each of you to take stock of two key elements of effectively coaching general population clients - First, do you know what your clients specific goals are? Not the goals you think they should have, but the goals they actually want to achieve, their reasons for working with you in the first place! Next are you making Every. Single. Session FUN. Again, not fun for you, but fun for your clients! We’re coaches, we like being in the gym. We think lifting heavy shit is fun. We think learning new exercises is fun. But those aren’t necessarily the elements your clients enjoy the most. So, can you make sure that your clients, the people investing time, money and TRUST into you, are having fun every single time they work with you. Prioritize those two elements, plus two more that Kenny will outline later in the conversation, and your training business will CRUSH IT.What's Next - Make sure you tune in next week for out episode with Roman Rodriguez and a conversation about the soft skills every coach needs, the importance of competition even when you don’t always win, and Roman’s vision for a democratized fitness education marketplace.Until next time - we wish you Strength and Good Health.

Our guest this week is Kevin Mullins.Kevin is a Miami-based personal trainer, Pain Free Performance Lead Instructor, and published author. Kevin and I share many of the same interests and passions in the realm of health & fitness and we are both part of the Pain Free Performance Education team. Our Partner on today's episode is the Pain Free Performance Specialist Certification - save 15% on the BEST weekend certification in the Fitness Industry with the code ESSENTIAL at checkout!Remember - If you are enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a weekly basis!Today’s Conversation with Kevin isn’t about how to cue a squat or program effectively for online clientele… no. Today’s conversation with Kevin is about mental health. Specifically, it’s about the mental health of men in the fitness industry. How we’re taught to deal with difficult situations, what happens when our identity is called into question and whether or not we can still be badass coaches while taking a softer, more introspective approach to masculinity. Connect with Kevin: @kevinmullinsfitness Connect with David: @dr.davidskolnik.dptConnect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcastAction PlanThis week’s action plan is meant to provoke some hard mental work. The question to ask yourself is - “What strategies do I have for dealing with difficult feelings?”It would probably be a good idea to grab a pen and paper for this week’s action plan so that you can actually SEE your strategies written out. As you’ll learn later in the conversation with Kevin - only having one way to deal with difficult feelings can work… until it doesn’t. Until you hit what seems like rock bottom and then the floor collapses underneath you all over again. The point of this question isn’t to trigger anxiety or cause you to feel your strategies are flawed. The point is to bring attention, perhaps for the first time, to the strategies you have in place. I hope that as you listen to this, life is mostly good, you’re mostly happy and your feeling mostly positive about your immediate future. But, again, as you’ll learn in this episode - life can change fast. Really fast. And it never hurts to be prepared.What's Next - That’s it for this week on The Essential Strength Podcast. Be sure to tune in next week for our episode with Kenny Santucci, owner of Strong New York, and a conversation about Healing the World Through Fitness, Taking care of the little things, prioritizing personal health, lowering the barriers to physical activity, and how to train the general population.Until next time - we wish you Strength and Good Health.

Our guest this week is Doctor Chris Swart.Doctor Swart is an Exercise Science Professor with a PhD in Exercise Physiology. While this conversation is built on our shared experiences in the field of Exercise Science, there are a lot of universally applicable lessons that can be applied to the pursuit of any career or any stage of life - including the importance of networking early and often, finding mentors and testing your knowledge.Our Partner on today's episode is FNXFit - save 15% on every purchase with the code ESSENTIAL at checkout!Remember - If you are enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a weekly basis!Today’s Conversation with Doctor Swart includes the story of his decision to pursue a career in academics vs. a career in coaching or rehab, the common mistakes he sees undergraduate students make as they prepare for graduation and the transition into the workforce, and Doctor Swart outlines his “Three Mentors Philosophy”. Connect with Doctor Swart: @doctor.swart Connect with David: @dr.davidskolnik.dptConnect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcastAction PlanThis week’s action plan is inspired by Doctor Swart’s “Three Mentor’s Philosophy”. If you are truly trying to level up in life, you need to find people who have done want you want to do, experienced the potential stumbling blocks, and found success. So, without spoiling the Philosophy - I still want you to listen to the entire conversation, of course! - What I’m encouraging you to do is identify one area of life you are actively trying to improve - this could be professional, it could be athletic, it could be your marriage… you get to choose - and then find someone 10-20 years ahead of you who has achieved and sustained what you are striving for and approach them about mentoring you. You’ll learn about some strategies for initiating this type of conversation later in the conversation but for now, just start thinking about what you want to achieve and identifying potential mentors!What's Next - That’s it for this week on The Essential Strength Podcast. Be sure to tune in next week for our episode with Kevin Mullins, coach, educator and author - and a discussion about the state of men’s mental health in the Fitness Industry, how we are taught to deal with difficult situations, what happens when our identity is called into question and whether or not we can still be badass coaches while taking a softer, more introspective approach to masculinity.  Until next time - we wish you Strength and Good Health.

Our guest this week is Cory Camp.Cory is a former Division One athlete, Founder of Forever Athlete and host of the Forever Athlete Podcast. After his athletic career ended, Cory experienced a profound loss of identity and felt that he’d been “locked out of flow” - the state of being where we are at our most creative and intuitive. The realization that he had invested too much of his identity into a single element of life, lead Cory to dedicate himself to helping other athletes make a smoother transition into life after sport. Our Partner on today's episode is STRONG Coffee - save 15% on every purchase with the code ESSENTIAL at checkout!Remember - If you are enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a weekly basis!Today’s Conversation with Cory is about human connection, training for a marathon, getting uncomfortable and the struggles that athletes face when their careers come to an end.Connect with Cory: @corycamp Connect with David: @dr.davidskolnik.dptConnect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcastLearn More About Forever Athlete:  https://www.foreverathletela.com/Check out the Forever Athlete Podcast: Listen HereAction PlanThis weeks action plan goes deep. I want each of you to ask yourself one of Cory’s favorite questions - “How would you describe yourself without telling me what you do for a living?” You’ll hear Cory’s answer in a just a little bit but feel free to pause this episode for a minute to answer this question in your head. If you find value in this exercise - I’d suggest you pose it to a friend, family member or significant other. I wonder if you’ll be surprised by their answer or if you’ll find you would use similar words to describe them? Regardless, I think you’ll learn something about yourself by describing yourself in this way.What's Next - That’s it for this week on The Essential Strength Podcast. Be sure to tune in next week for our episode with Doctor Chris Swart, and a conversation about how undergraduate students with an interest in health and fitness can best prepare themselves for a successful transition into the working world. The conversation includes Dr. Swart's “3 Mentors Philosophy”, the power of networking and common mistakes students make but don’t have to.Until next time - we wish you Strength and Good Health.

Our guest this week is Matteo Franceschetti.An athlete his entire life, Matteo has always been obsessed with performance. First, it was athletics. Then business. Now, sleep. The first two pursuits - athletics and business - lead to many sleepless nights, rationalized by the pursuit of record performance. It was Matteo’s quest for more restorative sleep, in fact, that led him to quit his previous life and launch Eight Sleep, a company dedicated to fueling human potential through optimal sleep, and to turning the bed into a seamless health platform for improved health, performance, and longevity. Our Partner on today's episode is FNX Fitness - save 15% on every purchase with the code ESSENTIAL at checkout!Remember - If you are enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a weekly basis!Today’s Conversation with Matteo centers around how to how to express our power, the roll of sleep in peak performance and how Eight Sleep is using modern technology to recreate a more optimal human sleep experience.Connect with Matteo: Matteo Franceschetti on LinkedIn Connect with David: @dr.davidskolnik.dptConnect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcastLearn More About Eight Sleep : www.eightsleep.comAction PlanThis week it’s all about SLEEP - something I’ve been learning so much about ever since I recorded this conversation with Matteo.  Sleep impacts everything from focus and memory retention, to risk of all sorts of mental health disorders, body composition, cancer risk, life expectancy - you name it, sleep effects it. I've been reading the book Why We Sleep , and in the book the author, Matthew Walker, even goes to far as to posit the question - “While most people ask - why did living organisms begin sleeping? - I think the more pertinent question may be why did we ever wake up”. Life is traumatic. Sleep is restorative. You action plan this week is incredibly simple - Get 7.5 hours or more of sleep every night this week if at all possible. This means giving yourself a sleep opportunity of closer to 8.5 hours of sleep - meaning about 8.5 hours of time in bed to achieve the 7.5 hours of sleep. And just take note of ALL the wonderful things you feel at the end of the week. While you’re getting all this wonderfully restorative rest - go check out EightSleep.com and, if you’re feeling like you really want to put all your newfound energy and focus to work - Check out “Why We Sleep” by Matthew Walker. Do these things and You’ll never look at your bed the same way again!Whats Next - That’s it for this week. Make sure you’re subscribed to this podcast so that you don’t miss next week’s episode with Cory Camp, founder of Forever Athlete, and a conversation about human connection, training for a marathon, getting uncomfortable, the struggles that athletes face when their careers come to an end.That’s it for this week.  Until next time - we wish you Strength and Good Health.

Our guest this week is James Ellis. James is a friend here in Phoenix and the owner of Hammer CrossFit. I’ve described James as a guy who would give you the shirt off his back, even if it was the last shirt he owned. This selflessness is juxtaposed by James’ self-proclaimed tendency to be an “over thinker” and today’s conversation is a deep dive into how James is able to both take bold action while still finding time and space to reflect on his decisions.Our Partner on today's episode is STRONG Coffee - save 15% on every purchase with the code ESSENTIAL at checkout!Remember - If you are enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a weekly basis!Today’s Conversation with James centers around how to apply your strength in productive ways, the risks of using external strength to cover internal struggles, trying to find a balance between overthinking and taking action and expanding a gym-based business in the middle of a pandemic.Connect with James: @jimsgym1030 Connect with David: @dr.davidskolnik.dptConnect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcastLearn More James' Gyms:  ALL THE GYMS!Action PlanJames had a very interesting insight on what triggers his tendency to overthink. Contrary to how many of us may view comfort vs. strain - for James its times where he is “too comfortable” that he feels the burden of overthinking creep to the forefront of his mind. So, with this knowledge - he stays active. He puts tasks, projects and goals on his plate and by stimulating a need to think fast and act fast he finds his mind is more at peace. Your action plan is not to do exactly what James does and forefeet yourself task after task and action after action. It’s simply to take the next seven days and bring some awareness to the times your mind feels at ease, like it’s running smoothly and firing on all cylinders vs. times it feels like it’s misfiring, or stuck in neutral. Try to avoid the impulse to judge your mind and force it to feel good in the situations you would like it to, but rather just work on identifying the times, tasks and environments that create the feeling of a happy, efficient mind. Then, with that knowledge, put yourself in position to experience more of these moments!That’s it for this week. Make sure you’re subscribed to this podcast so that you don’t miss next week’s episode with Matteo Franceschetti - Founder & CEO of Eight Sleep - and a conversation about how to express our power, the roll of sleep in peak performance and how Eight Sleep is using modern technology to recreate a more optimal human sleep experience.Until then, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.Strong Coffee CompanyCoffee designed to make you Stronger - Use Code "ESSENTIAL" for 15% off! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Our guest this week is Astrid Narajo - aka The Anti-Diet Dietician.Our Partner on today's episode is FNX - save 15% on every purchase with the code ESSENTIAL at checkout!Remember - If you are enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a weekly basis!Today’s Conversation centers around Astrid’s four pillars of a wholistic health, common self-limiting mindsets that undermine fat loss goals, various ways to increasing caloric expenditure and the importance of asking yourself some very simple questions before you reach for your next snack.Connect with Astrid: @antidiet_dietician Connect with David: @dr.davidskolnik.dptConnect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcastLearn More Astrid's Business:  So Many Resources!Action PlanToday’s action plan is - you guessed it - diet related! That being said - I am not going to give you a macronutrient goal, and calorie goal or anything else nearly that restrictive. Instead, I’m going to ask you to ask yourself the most profound question that Astrid suggested during our conversation. The question is - “Am I eating because I’m hungry? Or am I eating because it’s a habit?” You are going to hear Astrid and I talk at length about the topic of emotional eating later in today’s episode. We eat for all kinds of reasons - social norms, in response to sadness, in celebration or because this is how our parents ate. It might sound strange but - we rarely eat in response to hunger anymore. Food is just too readily available - hunger has become completely avoidable for most of us. But… is that really a good thing? You’re about to find out!That’s it for this week. Make sure you’re subscribed to this podcast so that you don’t miss next week’s episode with James Ellis and a conversation about how to apply your strength in productive ways, the risks of using external strength to cover internal struggles, trying to find a balance between overthinking and taking action and expanding a gym-based business in the middle of a pandemic.Until then, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Our Guest this week is Austin Cohen.Our partner on today's episode is STRONG Coffee - save 15% on every purchase with the code ESSENTIAL at checkout!Remember - If you are enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a weekly basis!In today’s conversation, Austin and I talk about the origins of FlexIt Fitness, the problem the company is out to solve, and the challenges of fitness entrepreneurship. Austin provides some very practical advice for anyone looking to branch into and build up their online coaching presence and we discuss the pros and cons of joining an established coaching company vs striking out on your own.Connect with Austin: @austin_flexitConnect with David: @dr.davidskolnik.dptConnect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcastLearn More FlexIt Fitness:  https://flexit.fit/virtualpt/Action PlanToday’s action plan stems from something that Austin reveals towards the very end of the conversation - it is one of his three daily essentials. Austin strives to end each day knowing that anything he could have done today has not been left for tomorrow. Now, I’m not saying you need to turn this podcast off and get busy immediately - seriously, stick around because this is an incredible episode - but rather I just want you to be little more diligent with creating a daily to-do list that is achievable. I want you to be a smidge more protective of your time, a bit more committed to your priorities and give yourself permission to say “no” I can’t do that today, my scheduled is already full. If it feels good today, do a little bit more tomorrow, and the day after that. By the end of this week, I think you’ll back and say “Wow”, I can’t believe how much I accomplished.That’s it for this week. Make sure you’re subscribed to this podcast so that you don’t miss next week’s episode with Astrid Naranjo. Astrid is a clinical dietician  and nutritionist who joins us to talk about the four pillars of a wholistic health, common self-limiting mindsets that undermine fat loss goals, various ways to increasing caloric expenditure and the importance of asking yourself some very simple questions before you reach for your next snack.Until then, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Our guest this week is Nelly Attar.Our partner on today's episode is STRONG Coffee - save 15% on every purchase with the code ESSENTIAL at checkout!Remember - If you are enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a weekly basis!Nelly Attar joins us all the way from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Nelly is a sports entrepreneur, trainer and athlete. After completing two degrees in psychology and working in mental health for four years, Nelly followed a calling to pursue her growing interest in physical activity and sport and has become a driving force in the emerging sports landscape in the middle east as wall as a champion of ecotourism and adventure tourism in the region. Nelly has summited mount Everest, run 6 full marathons, completed 2 half ironman races and is currently training for the most demanding physical challenge of her life.Connect with Nelly: @nellyattar Connect with David: @dr.davidskolnik.dptConnect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcastLearn More Nelly on her Website:  http://nellyattar.com/Action PlanThis week’s action plan stems from something Nelly says fairly early in our conversation. You are going to hear Nelly and I talk at length about a quote from her father that has driven her forward through all of life’s challenges. But that’s not the quote that your action plan is based on. It’s based on this quote, from Nelly - “Life is a beautiful thing, because even when we plan for it, it’s full of surprises.” I want you to write that quote down and put it somewhere you will see if every day. Keep it up for at least a week and let it be a reminder to you - despite our best attempts, our most thorough preparation - we can never fully control life. This lack of control can be felt in one of two ways - as a frustration, and something we must fight against or as the exact thing that makes life so beautiful, something to embrace and be grateful for. Ultimately, the interpretation is up to you, but I’d suggest that for the next seven days you practice viewing life’s surprises and moments of beauty.That’s it for this week. Make sure you’re subscribed to this podcast so that you don’t miss next week’s episode with Austin Cohen -  Founder and CEO of FlexIt - and a conversation about virtual fitness, improving access to personal training, re-thinking what it means to have a gym membership and Austin’s personal mantra of “don’t let anything that can be done today get left for tomorrow.”Until then, we wish you Strength and Good Health!