Health Is A Skill with Todd Vande Hei

Latest Episodes:

From Scale Obsession to Strength – Jaclyn’s Autoimmune Comeback Story Aug 14, 2025

Show notes

When joint pain and fatigue nearly took her off her feet, Jaclyn discovered she was facing rheumatoid arthritis—triggered after COVID—and a future of possible bone erosion and loss of mobility. Instead of letting the diagnosis define her, she rebuilt her life through strength training, anti-inflammatory nutrition, and an unwavering commitment to movement.

In this conversation, Jaclyn tells Todd:

How Perimenopause, COVID, and Autoimmune Symptoms Collided to Create a Health Crisis
Why Shifting from “Skinny” Goals to “Strong” Goals Changed Her Body and Mindset
The Role of Gluten and Dairy Elimination in Managing Her RA Symptoms
How Stress, Sleep, and Emotional Eating Impact Autoimmune Flares
Why Mobility Work, Supplements, and Daily Movement Are Her Non-Negotiables
The Lessons She’s Passing On to Her Kids About Food, Health, and Self-Care

Whether you’re navigating chronic illness, body image challenges, or simply want to age stronger, Jaclyn’s story proves that resilience isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up, moving forward, and treating your body like it’s the only one you’ll ever get.

Your health is a skill you can build. Start with the free resources at podtodd.com or explore team-based health optimization at stark.health

From 45 Shots a Day to Sober Strength Coach – Colton Danz’s Stark Recovery Aug 07, 2025

Show notes

Colton Danz was the picture of discipline on the outside—an elite strength coach with single-digit body fat, running eight classes a day. But behind closed doors, he was consuming 45 shots of vodka daily, hiding tremors, neuropathy, and shame. When the drinking nearly killed him, Colton chose something far harder than alcohol: the truth.

In this raw and revealing conversation, Colton tells Todd:

How High-Functioning Alcoholism Almost Destroyed His Body—and Career
What Rehab Taught Him About Ego, Self-Loathing, and the Myth of Control
How Vulnerability and Boundaries Became His Tools for Connection
Why Most Clients Don’t Even Enjoy Drinking—They Just Think They Have To
How Stark’s Culture of Integrity Helped Him Step Into Purpose and Leadership

Whether you’re battling addiction, burnout, or social pressure, Colton’s journey proves that healing is possible—and that real strength starts with letting go.

Your health is a skill you can build. Start with the free resources at podtodd.com or explore team-based health optimization at stark.health

Comfort Is the Enemy – Csaba Lucas on Oxygen, Exosomes, and the Mental War for Health Jul 31, 2025

Show notes

Csaba Lucas wasn’t just building wellness companies—he was testing their limits on himself. When low immunity and poor labs disrupted his health, the President of Hyperion Motors and General Partner at CerraCap North turned to the tools he trusted most: hyperbaric oxygen, exosomes, NAD, and the ancient value of discomfort. The transformation? Recharged energy, normalized labs, deepened recovery—and renewed clarity.

With three decades of leadership across AI ventures, elite fitness, and human performance, Csaba brings a rare fusion of science, indigenous wisdom, and high-stakes business strategy to the conversation.

In this episode, recorded inside a hyperbaric chamber, Csaba shares:

How Exosomes, NAD, and HBOT Helped Normalize His Labs and Reignite His Energy
Why Modern Comfort Culture Is a Major Driver of Inflammation, Anxiety, and Disease
What It Means to "Raw-Dog the H-Bot"—And Why Stillness Is a Missing Performance Habit
How Post-Surgical Clients and Long COVID Patients Are Using HBOT for Speedier Recovery
The Science of VO₂ Max, Cellular Performance, and Why Cold Plunges Still Matter

An ultra-distance runner, performance coach, and wellness strategist to Fortune 75 execs and pro athletes, Csaba’s story is a blueprint for health that doesn’t come from ease—but from intentional challenge. If you're ready to level up your biology and mindset, this one's for you.

Your health is a skill you can build. Start with the free resources at podtodd.com or explore team-based health optimization at stark.health

From Diagnosis to Direction – Rachelle Ramiro on Rebuilding Her Body from the Inside Out Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

When Rachelle Ramiro was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in her early 30s, her first thought was: “I’ll figure it out.” But what followed was more than just a health protocol. It was a complete rewiring of how she viewed time, energy, productivity—and herself.

In this intimate and eye-opening conversation, Rachelle sits down with Todd inside a 4-person hyperbaric chamber to unpack:

How catching multiple myeloma early changed everything—and how she knew something was wrong before her doctors did
Why hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) became her recovery cornerstone for inflammation, sleep, and cellular resilience
How exosomes, NAD, and saunas helped her normalize labs and reclaim daily energy
Why modern life’s pursuit of constant comfort is killing our health—and what to do about it
The surprising ways discomfort (like cold plunges, intense cardio, and just staring at the ceiling) helps rebuild mental and physical vitality

Whether you're navigating chronic illness or just stuck in autopilot, this episode offers a blueprint for stepping out of reactive living and into radical self-care—where optimal health becomes the launchpad for everything else.

Your health is a skill you can build. Start with the free resources at podtodd.com or explore team-based health optimization at stark.health

Drew Valentine’s Journey to Elite Health by Age 29 Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

When 26-year-old yoga teacher and personal trainer Drew Valentine arrived at Stark, he seemed like the picture of health—lean, athletic, and mindful. But underneath the surface, his testosterone was dangerously low, his protein intake was inadequate, and he was unknowingly undernourished and underpowered.

Three years later, Andrew has redefined what "healthy" looks and feels like—achieving elite body composition, peak mental clarity, and strength that matches his mobility.

In this conversation Drew tells Todd:

How he raised his testosterone from the 200s to 700—without drugs.
Why eating more—especially protein and carbs—actually helped him shed fat.
How yoga and mindfulness gave him emotional depth, but strength training gave him confidence and power.
Why learning to follow before leading was the key to leveling up professionally and personally.
How gratitude—before opening the door each day—became his greatest performance enhancer.

Whether you're a young professional trying to find your footing, or a seasoned high-achiever looking to fine-tune your health, Andrew’s story is proof that mastering the fundamentals creates extraordinary results—especially when you commit with humility and curiosity.

Your health is a skill you can build. Start with the free resources at podtodd.com or explore team-based health optimization at stark.health

From 450 Pounds to 10% Body Fat – John Taylor Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

When entertainment executive and former touring musician John Taylor found himself at 450 pounds, depressed, breathless, and ashamed, he knew something had to change. Years of food addiction, alcohol dependency, and extreme dieting had left him broken—and despite trying everything from rehab to running marathons, nothing stuck.

Then, he stopped chasing perfection and started practicing self-forgiveness. What followed was a complete transformation: 10% body fat, restored metabolic health, and a grounded sense of joy.

In this conversation John tells Todd:

How process addiction kept him trapped in shame, secrecy, and self-sabotage.
Why a spiritual approach—not another extreme diet—was the key to lasting change.
How community, vulnerability, and AA gave him the foundation to rebuild.
Why building muscle—not burning calories—transformed his metabolism and mindset.
What he's learned about self-worth, healing, and why love is the greatest health habit of all.

Whether you’re stuck in all-or-nothing thinking, carrying emotional weight, or just trying to make peace with your body, John’s story proves that radical health begins with radical self-love—and that it's never too late to begin again.

Your health is a skill you can build. Start with the free resources at podtodd.com or explore team-based health optimization at stark.health

Be Savage, Not Average – Craig Harper’s Playbook for Out-Training Multiple Myeloma Jun 26, 2025

Show notes

When 61-year-old executive Craig Harper heard the words “incurable blood cancer,” his oncologist told him there was nothing he could do except wait for chemo. Craig refused to roll over. Instead, he doubled-down on strength, mobility and metabolic health—dropping to 9 % body-fat, hiking 15 k weighted steps a day and surfing every chance he gets.

In this conversation Craig tells Todd:

Why proactive lab work at Stark caught his multiple myeloma early
How “body optimization” (not bodybuilding) became his cancer-fighting edge
The Wheel-of-Health habits that moved him from chemo-factory to “warrior in a garden”
What 40-lb weighted walks, nasal breathing and single-digit body-fat do for bone health
The mantra he’s teaching his grandkids: “Be savage, not average.”

Whether you’re battling disease or just complacency, Craig’s story shows what’s possible when you stop chasing comfort and start pushing the edges of your potential.

Your health is a skill you can build. Start with the free resources at podtodd.com or explore team-based health optimization at stark.health

Minimalist Muscle & Mobility with Brett Jones Jun 12, 2025

Show notes

StrongFirst Master Instructor Brett Jones trains on just five kettlebell moves—cleans, presses, squats, swings and get-ups—but keeps making progress because he “minds the gap.” In this episode Brett shows Todd how screening ankles, hips and T-spine first, then adding a five-minute ground warm-up, fixes hidden leaks that stall strength. You’ll learn why nasal breathing balances your nervous system, how minimalist shoes fire up foot-to-glute power, and why Turkish Get-Ups are insurance against falls at any age.

Key Points

Minimalist plan: 3–5 lifts outperform 150 random exercises.
Screen first (FMS): find the real mobility or stability gap.
Ankles rule the chain—fix dorsiflexion, unload low back.
Hip FAI work-arounds: wider foot angle, ground mobility, single-leg strength.
“Rib-spring” T-spine rotation drives better overhead pressing.
Breathing drills: nasal in/out at rest; mouth only when volume demands.
Footwear swap: flat, wide-toe shoes for every strength session.
Turkish Get-Ups: ground-to-stand strength, fall-recovery confidence.
High heels / work boots? Finish the day barefoot and run ankle drills.
Pavel + Gray Cook: where kettlebell minimalism meets functional movement.

Your health is a skill you can build. Start with the free resources at podtodd.com or explore team-based health optimization at stark.health

From Meds & Merlot to Macros & Muscle: Alison Wayne at 55 Jun 05, 2025

Show notes

Ten years ago Alison Wayne measured health by the bathroom scale and a nightly glass of wine.
Today the 55-year-old mom of three rings PR bells, sleeps migraine-free and wears two sizes smaller while weighing 20 lbs more.
Host Todd Vande Hei digs into the mindset shifts, nutrition hacks and family dynamics that rewrote Alison’s future — and why she now sees her 50s as the launchpad, not the slowdown.

Key Points

Reactive → Proactive health – why “not sick” isn’t “healthy.”
Protein as Nature’s Ozempic – 30 g ➜ 130 g and the thermic edge.
Muscle > Scale – heavier, leaner, stronger (and the longevity glutes).
Seed-cycling & HRT – clearing perimenopause migraines without meds.
Quitting SSRIs – the three-week “dark tunnel” and how she emerged.
Family Flywheel – turning soda-drinking sons into macro-tracking gym partners.
Orthopedic Wins – rehabbing rotator cuff, ACL & foot fracture surgery-free.
Ritual Swaps – wine → walks, coffee → steps, lasagna → sweet potatoes.
Women & Heavy Weights – confidence, community and ringing the PR bell.
Healthspan vs Lifespan – designing a life that feels better every decade.

Your health is a skill you can build. Start with the free resources at podtodd.com or explore team-based health optimization at stark.health

From “Thin-Not-Strong” to Surf, Summits & Mid-Life Muscle: Cara Kleinhaut May 29, 2025

Show notes

At 52, experiential-marketing CEO Cara Kleinhaut dead-hangs surfboards, hikes Kilimanjaro for fun—and still cooks rainbow-bright farmer-market meals for her teenage girls. In this candid conversation with Stark CEO Todd Vande Hei, Cara unpacks how perimenopause panic turned into the best decade of her life—by trading “skinny” for strong and “busy” for health-span.

Inside the episode:

The Road Gets Narrower – why sleep, grounding and walking meditation moved from “someday” to non-negotiable.
Protein & Plates – how a lifelong Pilates devotee learned the science of muscle, macros and DEXA scans (and why women won’t bulk overnight).
Kilimanjaro & Confidence – glute training, Greenland hikes, surfing in Costa Rica, and the joy of out-paddling twenty-somethings.
80/20 Realism – wine, birthdays and the “attraction-not-promotion” philosophy she uses to model wellness for teen daughters.
Community as Bio-Hack – introvert tactics for extrovert longevity; why her 94-year-old dad still volunteers at a senior center.
Advice to 30-something Moms & Builders – forgiveness for the “building years,” plus the small lifts that keep you from breaking in half later.

Whether you’re juggling toddlers and Zoom calls or staring down hot-flash insomnia, Cara proves it’s never too late—or too early—to lift heavy, eat colorfully, sleep deeply and live large.

Your health is a skill you can build. Start with the free resources at podtodd.com or explore team-based health optimization at stark.health

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