Elite influencer and sports marketing guru, Matt O’Keefe, joins The Brute Strength Podcast for the second time after his original debut on episode 47. This week he’s going to dive deeper into his growing apparel line, Redline Gear, and share inside stories about what it’s like managing top-tier athletes such as CrossFit champ Mat Fraser. He’s also got some great tips for those looking to make a career out of training and competing.
Topics:
02:50 - Redline Gear and Mat Fraser
11:55 - Loud & Live Sports
22:00 - New structure of CrossFit
32:10 - Making a career out of training and competing
38:00 - Tips for managing athletes
Links:
mokeefe@loudlive.com
Reviews:
If you love this podcast please click HERE to leave me a review. It energizes me to keep doing these as well as pushes us higher in the rankings. Thank you all for the support.
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
Kabuki Strength’s Chris Duffin, aka the “Mad Scientist of Strength,” joins the Brute Strength Podcast to discuss his “survivor mentality.”
Chris lived a secluded life early on, raising his sisters in a not-so-affluent atmosphere. His story then becomes one of triumph and tribulation as he later goes on to set the world record as the only man to deadlift 1,000 lbs for a double.
This episode is all about the mindset, strength and importance of goal-setting that got him there.
Topics:
07:07 – Growing up in the woods
36:10 – Survivor mentality
42:27 – Tying priorities to goals
52:00 – Powerlifting
Links:
kabukistrength.com
@mad_scientist_duffin
Brute Strength: Pick Your Program
Reviews:
If you love this podcast, please click HERE to leave us a review. It energizes us to keep going as well as pushes the podcast higher in the rankings. Thank you all for the support!
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
On our 116th episode, Procabulary’s Mark England made us think about the true power of our words and vocabulary.
Mark makes his second appearance on the Brute Podcast this week to peel back the layers of the power of language and the physiology of breath.
Topics:
05:40 - Stories we tell ourselves
13:45 - Physiology of breathe
20:00 - Taking action against goals
25:10 - The power of because
Links:
Procabulary
Instagram
Books:
The Power of Persuasion: How We’re Bought and Sold – Robert V. Levine
Reviews:
If you love this podcast, please click HERE to leave us a review. It energizes Michael to keep going as well as pushes the podcast higher in the rankings. Thank you all for the support!
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
Rick Alexander wants you to burn your couch, and he even wrote a book about it. The author, Lionheart Radio host, and Navy Special Ops Combat Medic joins this week’s Brute Strength Podcast.
In this episode, Rick gets into his “Bucket List Blueprint” for long-term goal setting and breaking out of your comfort zone.
Topics:
03:00 – “Burn Your Couch”
14:45 – Military time
22:13 – Long-term contentment
36:00 – Ultramarathons
42:00 – Hallucinations
49:13 – Bucket List Blueprint
Links:
Books:
Burn Your Couch – Rick Alexander
Reviews:
If you love this podcast, please click HERE to leave us a review. It energizes Michael to keep going as well as pushes the podcast higher in the rankings. Thank you all for the support!
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
Crowd favorite John Berardi of Precision Nutrition is returning to the Brute Podcast for round two this week. In the first half of the podcast, Michael and John discuss the wisdom, mentorship and goal-setting rituals that John credits with making him a better husband, father and business leader.
In the second half, we’re talking body. John and Michael will dive into gut health, tips for dieting while traveling, nutrition recommendations for kids and how he educates his family on overall health and proper nutrition.
Topics:
04:00 – Wisdom & mentorship
09:36 – Goal-setting rituals
25:00 – Nutrition & awareness
45:10 – Instilling positive habits
56:00 – Gut health
1:03:00 – Diet & travel
1:07:30 – Kids & nutrition
Links:
Books:
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking – Susan Cain
Principles: Life and Work – Ray Dalio
Reviews:
If you love this podcast, please click HERE to leave us a review. It energizes Michael to keep going as well as pushes the podcast higher in the rankings. Thank you all for the support!
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
Hannah Eden went from a life of drugs and partying to an online fitness inspiration, and this week, she joins Michael on the Brute Strength Podcast.
In this episode, Hannah recounts her personal fitness transformation, what it means to take risks and follow your passions, and how she’s come full circle to help others do the same.
Topics:
11:30 – Outside-in vs. inside-out
17:40 – Making a transformation
31:45 – Working with your significant other
38:00 – Respond, don’t react
41:30 – Mindset shift
51:00 – Hustle in silence
Links:
Instagram: @pumpfit_club and @hannaheden_fitness
Reviews:
If you love this podcast, please click HERE to leave us a review. It energizes Michael to keep going as well as pushes the podcast higher in the rankings. Thank you all for the support!
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
You don’t have to be in a relationship to benefit from this week’s Brute Podcast. Special guests Pete Pearson and Ellyn Bader of The Couples Institute join Michael Cazayoux to discuss the importance of communication, which, as an acquired skill in human interaction, everyone can benefit from.
In this episode, relationship professionals Pearson and Bader will provide tips on creating a vision for your relationship, creating a team dynamic, rewiring your approach to arguments, and rituals you can implement for a healthy relationship.
Topics:
04:20 – Founding The Couples Institute
09:20 – Collective vision
13:00 – Three questions to focus your relationship
14:00 – Communication technique
16:00 – Fighting in relationships
22:40 – Building emotional muscle
27:20 – How to get out of a fight
29:00 – Accountability in relationships
37:50 – Rituals for a healthy relationship
39:20 – Resolving conflicts around your kids
Links:
Reviews:
If you love this podcast, please click HERE to leave a review. It pushes us higher in the rankings and energizes Michael to keep bringing you great content! Thank you for all the support!
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
Ever wonder what it takes to be coined with a name like the Grocery Ninja? Matt Walrath, the man behind the nickname, and his company Beyond Macros have helped hundreds of clients transform into stronger, more confident versions of themselves.
In this episode, Matt gets real about why most diets fail, how to build a better relationship with food, his advice on nutrition and macros, and why seeing your friends naked can be one of the most freeing experiences in your life. You won’t want to miss this one.
Topics:
01:55 – How to be vulnerable
13:40 – “Beyond Macros”
16:00 – Why do diets fail?
24:30 – Life coaching
34:35 – The naked truth
46:40 – The art of storytelling
Links:
Reviews:
If you love this podcast, please click HERE to leave a review. It pushes us higher in the rankings and energizes Michael to keep bringing you great content! Thank you for all the support!
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
This week we have a special Brute Podcast featuring the entire Brute Strength staff, including Nick Sorrel, Adrian Conway, Michael Cazayoux, Nick Fowler and Dr. Sean Pastuch.
Tune in to hear their collective thoughts on recent changes in the CrossFit community, what they believe this means for athletes hoping to qualify for the Games, and how to professionalize coaching within the community.
Topics:
01:05 – Reacting to the changes in CrossFit
05:50 – The Games
26:00 – Affiliate programming vs. Games programming
38:00 – Professionalized coaching in CF
50:15 – Changes in training season &, peaking
1:06:00 – Teams
Reviews:
If you love this podcast, please click HERE to leave a review. It pushes us higher in the rankings and gives Michael the energy to keep bringing you fresh content. Thank you all for the support!
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
When Adee and Michael Cazayoux team up for anything, you know the outcome is going to be epic. This week’s Brute Strength Podcast is no exception, as Adee Cazayoux is back to focus on personal development and relationship advice with her husband and our host, Michael Cazayoux.
Together, they’ll share stories about their first experience at Burning Man, delve into expectations and reality, personal breakthroughs, and getting naked with 500+ people. Listen now to learn their biggest takeaways and how they’ve already begun implementing them into their daily lives.
Topics:
03:00 – Burning Man: expectation vs. reality
12:25 – What we learned
16:20 – Opening ceremony & intention
29:00 – Personal breakthroughs
46:30 – Lessons on relationships
Books:
Stealing Fire – Kotler
Reviews:
If you love this podcast, please click HERE to leave a review. It pushes us higher in the rankings and energizes Michael to keep bringing you great content! Thank you for all the support!
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
On this week’s podcast we welcome the battle rope guru, Aaron Guyett. Aaron is a man who wears many hats including fitness instructor, business owner and Marine Corps Staff Sergeant. In this episode we’ll be getting into leadership, mindset shifts and how to create a vision to get exactly what you want out of life. Tune in to learn more about how Aaron used neuroplasticity training to achieve 90 percent of his greatest accomplishments in life.
Topics:
02:00 – Aaron’s definition of leadership
20:50 – “VIM”
26:10 – Creating a vision
30:45 – Neuroplasticity training
35:00 – Myths about leadership
42:40 – “The goal is not the goal”
Links:
thespecialforcesexperience.com
Reviews:
If you love this podcast, please click HERE to leave me a review. It energizes me to keep doing these as well as pushes us higher in the rankings. Thank you all for the support.
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
Floyd McLendon Jr. has had a huge impact on Michael Cazayoux’s life since they first met at SealFit, and this week he’s joining the Brute Podcast. Floyd has faced failure, disappointment, heartbreak and discrimination growing up, but ultimately he came out on top. Now, as a former Navy Seal, he’s imparting his leadership knowledge to those he comes in contact with.
In this episode, the author of Hard Earned Lessons dissects what he calls the “Seven Principles for Preparing for Battle.” Enjoy the show!
Topics:
03:00 – Meeting Floyd at SealFit
16:05 – Becoming a Navy Seal
36:40 – Seven Principles for Preparing for Battle
1:19:00 – Future in politics
Links:
Books:
Hard Earned Lessons – McLendon Jr.
Reviews:
If you love this podcast, please click HERE to leave a review, and thank you for the support!
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
CrossFit is evolving, and so is three-time CrossFit Games athlete Patrick Vellner. This week, he joins the Brute Podcast to discuss his mind shift in the sport, why he may be one of the only athletes that can beat Mat Fraser and some of the new changes to the CrossFit community.
Topics:
05:10 – Life before CrossFit
16:30 – Accidentally qualifying for the CrossFit Games
24:30 – Mind shift from 2017 to 2018
40:00 – New announcements in CrossFit
56:00 – Balancing life and CrossFit
Links:
Reviews:
If you love this podcast, please click HERE to leave a review, and thank you for the support!
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
Adee Cazayoux, founder of Working Against Gravity, makes her third appearance on the Brute Podcast this week to talk about personal development. In this episode, Adee talks about building courage, maintaining accountability and what it means to develop yourself from within. Listen along and get an honest look at self-improvement with her six questions to make you think, break out of the ordinary cycle and reach the next level in life.
If you enjoyed this episode, catch up with all things Adee and be sure to check out episodes 148 and 162 of the Brute Podcast.
Topics:
01:10 – What is personal development?
09:25 – Myths of personal development
21:50 – How to build courage & accountability
28:40 – Integrity made simple
38:25 – Tips for developing yourself
47:00 – Building self-awareness
51:15 – Six questions to find your next breakthrough
Links:
Books:
Daring Greatly – Brene Brown
Reviews:
If you love this podcast, please click HERE to leave a review, keep Michael energized and push us higher in the rankings! Thank you for all the support.
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
Rachel Balkovec, the first female strength and conditioning coach in professional baseball, makes her second appearance on the Brute Podcast this week! Rachel grew up adamant to break out of her comfort zone, and shares her tips for personal and professional development, like falling in love with the process rather than the outcome.
Listen this week to understand why this passionate coach thinks you should support the people around you minimally, as well as her personal coaching philosophies you can adapt into your lifestyle.
Topics:
04:00 – Intentional vs. unintentional growth
13:15 – Mentors & coaching
22:06 – Defining a good coach
39:00 – “Minimally supporting others”
47:30 – Performance Pyramid
51:15 – Coaching methods
Links:
Books:
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance – Duckworth
Reviews:
If you love this podcast, please click HERE to leave us a review! Thank you for all the support.
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
Dr. Stephan Guyenet is on the Brute Podcast this week to dive into his book, The Hungry Brain. Hunger is one of the strongest biological influencers for survival in all species, but is it a physical or mental need?
Tune in as host Michael Cazayoux and Dr. Guyenet define hunger, how it influences decisions and how to hack the process in order to take control of cravings and improve eating behavior.
Topics:
06:35 – Eating behavior
14:50 – What is hunger?
20:04 – Fasting & calorie restriction
38:45 – Sleep, stress and hunger
42:00 – Making a change in your eating
55:30 – Food choices for children
Links:
Books:
The Hungry Brain – Guyenet
Reviews:
If you love this podcast, please click HERE to leave a review, and thank you for all the support!
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
One of the original CrossFit gymnastics experts, Carl Paoli, makes an appearance on the Brute Podcast this week, but instead of talking shop, Carl gets into some of his more recent accolades in lifestyle coaching.
Carl shares his best tips for designing the life of your dreams, controlling your emotions and taking charge of creating your own reality. There’s a lot to be said about taking an active effort in pursuing your biggest passions, and this episode’s purpose is to guide you on the path to creating the life you’ve always wanted.
Topics:
13:50 – Courage & authenticity
18:30 – 2013 hiatus & lessons learned
26:40 – Lifestyle design/life coaching
39:00 – Labeling emotions
56:50 – Creating a lifestyle
Links:
Books:
Free+Style: Maximize Sport & Life Performance with 4 Basic Movements – Paoli
Reviews:
If you love this podcast, please click HERE to leave a review and thank you for all of the support!
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
When it comes to competing, there’s a lot to be said about choosing the right coach. Dr. Sean Pastuch, the founder of ActiveLifeRX, joins Michael this week to help identify the four steps needed for finding a coach, choosing a program and reaching your full potential.
If fitness is your passion or your job, then this episode will help you go the extra mile as Dr. Pastuch dives deep into program goals, different styles of programming and the dynamic between staying healthy and competing at a high level.
Topics:
06:00 – Goals of your program
15:13 – Does the “best” program exist?
22:43 – Periodization in programming
32:13 – Different styles of training programs
56:00 – Staying healthy & competing at a high level
58:13 – 4 steps to reach your potential
Links:
Reviews:
If you love this podcast, please click HERE to leave a review. Thank you all for the support.
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
Eric Helms, author of The Muscle and Strength Pyramid, joins Michael Cazayoux on the Brute podcast to discuss exercise and nutrition science. Whether you’re eating for competition, physique or longevity, Helms’ Ph.D.-certified advice can help you reach your goals. Helms also covers popular nutrition topics such as flexible dieting, keto and high-carb diets. Grab your favorite snack and enjoy the show!
Topics:
24:10 – The Muscle and Strength Pyramid
42:50 – What your clients want vs. what they need
47:30 – Nutrition Pyramid
58:20 – Manage stress
1:03:40 – Keto diet
1:13:00 – High-carb dieting
1:19:30 – Resources on nutrition coaching
Links:
Books:
Deep Work – Newport
Muscle And Strength Nutrition Pyramid – Helms
Reviews:
If you love this podcast, please click HERE to leave a review and thank you all for the support!
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
CEO of the Shrugged Collective Podcast, Mike Bledsoe, is on the Brute Podcast this week to talk about his evolution in the fitness industry. He plunges into the difference between a coach and a trainer, what it takes to create better leaders and coaches, and how to start seeing better results with your clients.
Be sure to check out his Strong Coach Podcast series for more tips on how to build trust and become a better coach!
Topics:
03:20 – Trainer vs. Coach
17:20 – Mike’s evolution in the fitness world
37:00 – Goals & obstacles
48:12 – Breathwork & mental toughness
1:06:40 – Coaching coaches
Links:
Reviews:
If you love this podcast, please click HERE to leave a review and thank you all for the support!
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
Trevor Moawad, a top sports psychologist, joins the Brute Podcast this week to talk about his work with Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback Russell Wilson. The thought leader and mental conditioning coach was also known as the "brain trainer" for the University of Alabama football team and discusses how to eliminate negativity and create a more neutral thought process.
Topics:
06:50 - College football
13:00 - Neutral thinking
40:00 - Challenge vs. Threat
1:02:40 - Embracing uncertainty
Links:
I Am Not Your Guru - Netflix
Books:
You’re Nature’s Greatest Miracle - Moawad
Reviews:
If you love this podcast please click HERE to leave me a review. It energizes me to keep doing these as well as pushes us higher in the rankings. Thank you all for the support.
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
NASA engineer Cody Burkhart joins the Brute Podcast this week. A competitor at the 2012 CrossFit Games Regionals, Cody has continued influencing the fitness world by developing exercise systems for astronauts preparing to travel to space.
In this episode, Cody addresses recovery, mindset, breath work and the path to mastery, so be sure to listen for the best takeaway tips and book recommendations.
Topics:
3:25 - Working at NASA
14:20 - Oxygen and breath work
32:00 - Martial Arts
46:20 - Mentorship & Mastery
Links:
Books:
The Oxygen Advantage - McKeown
The Alchemist - Coelho
The Disappearing Spoon - Kean
Deep Work - Newport
Reviews:
If you love this podcast please click HERE to leave me a review. It energizes me to keep doing these as well as pushes us higher in the rankings. Thank you all for the support.
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
Cal Dietz, Director of Strength and Conditioning for the University of Minnesota, is a world-renowned strength coach who’s made immeasurable contributions to the fitness industry for athletes and coaches alike. He joined the Brute Podcast to discuss his training manual, Triphasic Training: A Systematic Approach to Elite Speed and Explosive Strength Performance.
Get ready for a series of knowledge bombs to improve your training game, because, in this episode, Dietz inspires us with information about acceleration and deceleration training and the importance of quality breathing.
Topics:
21:46 - What is Triphasic training?
36:15 - Triphasic training for weightlifters
40:25 - Why CrossFitters need to get outside of linear movement
44:40 - Rotational force production and overhead athletes
51:10 - What is deceleration training & why is it important
55:36 - The importance of breath
1:06:35 - Guiding principles for resistance training kids
Links:
Reflexive Performance Reset (RPR)
Books:
The Oxygen Advantage - Patrick McKeown
Triphasic Training - Dietz & Peterson
Reviews:
If you love this podcast please click HERE to leave me a review. It energizes me to keep doing these as well as pushes us higher in the rankings. Thank you all for the support.
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
This week on the Brute Strength Podcast, I’m interviewing of the CrossFit OG’s, James Fitzgerald. James was the 2007 CrossFit Games champion as an individual, since then he’s made a big splash in the fitness world as the founder of OPEX Fitness. Aside for an incredible athlete, James has entered the realm of Master Coach. In this episode we get to learn about some of James’ inspirations and mentors as a coach, as well as mastery, the art of program design, bodybuilding, and of course, CrossFit. If you want to hear from a guy making waves in the fitness world, then James is your man. Enjoy the show.
Topics:
02:23 - Teach, learn, move, create
11:15 - Mastery
17:35 - Charles Poloquin
20:18 - Hierarchy of needs for coaches
24:09 - CrossFit & Bodybuilding
29:45 - Common mistakes in programing
40:02 - Thoughts on Matt Fraser and his career so far
44:25 - The importance of rituals
47:40 - Practice what you preach!
52:00 - Characteristics of a good coach
Honorable mentions:
Mel Siff
Charles Poloquin
Ian King
Louie Simmons
Links:
Books:
How To Eat, Move, and Be Healthy - Chek
Reviews:
If you love this podcast please click HERE to leave me a review. It energizes me to keep doing these as well as pushes us higher in the rankings. Thank you all for the support.
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.
Ryan Flaherty works on Nike’s training team with some of the biggest names in sports, including Serena Williams, Russell Wilson and Kobe Bryant. It’s no shock that he is one of the most sought after combine coaches in the world.
In this episode, Flaherty discusses his role working with the HeadSpace app to teach NFL athletes about focus and achieving a better mindset on and off the field. He also gets into why he uses concentric training when developing speed, how to improve programming for your athletes and how to prevent injuries that are common with age.
Topics:
04:30 - Working with Nike & HeadSpace
17:34 - Speed development & force production
41:45 - Track workouts
46:15 - How to prevent injuries as you get older
49:05 - CrossFit talk
Links:
Reviews:
If you love this podcast please click HERE to leave me a review. It energizes me to keep doing these as well as pushes us higher in the rankings. Thank you all for the support.
Follow us on Instagram @brute.strength.