Jason Khalipa Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Is AI the Biggest Threat to Our Kids… or Their Greatest Tool? Sep 02, 2025

Show notes

This week, the Home Team takes on one of the hottest debates for parents right now: AI. Is it stripping kids of critical thinking skills—or can it actually be harnessed as a tool for growth?

We wrestle with the balance between protecting our kids and preparing them, where AI differs from past tech advances, and whether this is really a technology problem or a human problem.

Plus, Jason recaps his experience at Master Worlds—gi mishaps, pulling guard (or not), the competition mindset, and lessons learned on and off the mat.

Timestamps:

0:00 Does AI reduce cognitive load?
2:49 Everyone is going to be using this
5:30 How do we protect our kids while teaching them to use it productively?
7:00 Each tech advance brings the same concerns
9:01 If we don’t use it, we lose it
10:20 Is AI different from other technologies kids had?
13:00 Why AI is different…
15:01 Technology issue or human issue?
17:30 A shocking argument as a parent
20:20 We just don’t see eye to eye
22:25 The access is changing everything
25:00 AI is the future
26:58 You either win or you learn—Jason at Master Worlds
30:05 “Drink a glass of water and you’re 300 lbs.”
31:20 Jason’s gi wasn’t approved
33:30 Breaking down the match
35:36 What is “pulling guard”? (“I never go on my back”)
38:34 It’s a strategy game
42:11 Not willing to hurt someone
43:42 Belt rankings = gray area
48:15 The competition mindset
49:01 Lower body attacks and different rules
53:00 No regrets from the fight
54:08 Why do sets and reps have ranges? Do you really need to warm up?

Thanks for tuning in to the Jason Khalipa Podcast! 🎥 The Home Team goes live on YouTube every Tuesday and Friday at 9AM PST.
Follow us on Instagram:
⁠JK Podcast⁠
⁠Jason⁠
⁠Gabe⁠
⁠MDV⁠
⁠Dennis⁠

⁠Train with us on the TRAIN HARD App⁠
⁠Find your program⁠
⁠Subscribe to our newsletter⁠

Is America Going Sober? Alcohol, Gen-Z, and the Rise of New Vices Aug 28, 2025

Show notes

America is drinking less, but is that really a good thing? In this Home Team episode, we break down the stats, debate whether alcohol is truly on the decline, and ask the bigger question: what’s replacing it? From vaping to THC, pharma-driven “cure alls,” and Japan’s Metabo Law, this conversation covers the cultural shift around drinking—and whether it’s leading us toward better health or just new problems.

Timestamps:

[0:00] Why Gen-Z is drinking less
[1:44] Declining alcohol statistics
[4:00] The case for giving it up
[5:00] Alcohol and personal freedom
[7:04] Are stats misleading? Depression + screen time rise
[8:34] Questionable polling and fake protests
[10:20] Alcohol’s dangers (and its upsides)
[12:22] Why “not drinking” feels like a big deal
[15:10] Peer pressure is fading
[15:40] Have kids just swapped alcohol for vaping + THC?
[16:35] Parents’ role in showing balance
[21:30] The reality of being compromised
[22:45] Not letting nights ruin mornings
[23:30] When to cut alcohol out (and is it just alcohol?)
[29:20] You don’t know what you don’t know
[30:15] What happened with Raja Jackson
[36:03] Punishment in the ring
[38:30] Women’s sports boom in California
[40:51] Serena Williams and GLP-1
[45:55] Are we overcorrecting?
[50:00] The danger of “cure-alls” and big profits
[54:50] Why adults must make informed choices
[57:42] Why pharma ads aren’t legal elsewhere
[1:02:00] Japan’s Metabo Law

Will the Pete and Bobby Challenge Make America Great Again? Aug 26, 2025

Show notes

Jason Khalipa, MDV, and Gabe Yanez break down the Pete and Bobby Challenge—and whether it’s really the answer to getting America moving again.

From the politics of fitness to the realities of setting standards, The Home Team asks the tough questions: Do experts belong in public fitness initiatives? Are we focusing on the right goals? And what role does family and environment play in sticking to fitness long-term?

The crew also tackles the rise of male cosmetic surgery, body image pressures, and the growing dependence on enhancements like TRT and peptides. At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal choice—and building a supportive environment that helps you stay consistent.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro to the Challenge
02:52 Politics of Fitness
05:52 Standards & Expectations
08:53 Do Experts Belong in Public Fitness Initiatives?
11:50 Personal Fitness Goals & Challenges
14:41 Training Methodologies That Work
17:48 Long-Term Fitness Strategies
20:57 Setting Realistic Goals
27:47 Male Plastic Surgery on the Rise
32:45 Body Image & Pressure
39:06 Addictions: TRT, Peptides & More
43:32 Parenting, Fitness, and Personal Choice
52:07 Commitment to Fitness Programs

Thanks for tuning in to the Jason Khalipa Podcast! 🎥 The Home Team goes live on YouTube every Tuesday and Friday at 9AM PST.

⁠Train with us on the TRAIN HARD App⁠

⁠Find your program⁠

⁠Subscribe to our newsletter⁠

$40 Billion Youth Sports Industry: Are We Helping Kids Thrive or Burning Them Out? Aug 21, 2025

Show notes

Youth sports are a $40 billion industry in the U.S.—but is all that investment actually helping kids, or adding unnecessary pressure, costs, and burnout? Jason, Gabe, and MDV break down the pros and cons of growing up in today’s youth sports culture, the role of parents and coaches, and how to keep sports fun and meaningful. Plus, Jason’s prep for BJJ Master Worlds, and the wild world of bodysurfing competitions.

Timestamps:
0:00 Baseball player charges a catcher—dirty play or just the game?
5:30 Do you back up your kid or turn it into a teachable moment?
8:00 Unsportsmanlike celebrations—where’s the line?
11:00 The pros and cons of youth sports
13:30 How to avoid the costs, politics, and pressure of youth sports
15:59 Specializing at a young age—helpful or harmful?
16:40 Why California is prime for youth sports
17:49 What we’d do differently navigating youth sports as parents
19:27 The joy of watching your kids compete
23:18 Why Ava wanted to start a school sport (and how impressionable young girls are)
25:00 What makes a good coach?
26:35 MDV competes at the World Championships of body surfing
29:29 How bodysurfing is judged (and why conditions matter)
31:45 Lessons learned—you can’t control the conditions or the judges
34:20 How competition feels different now
36:50 Jason prepares for BJJ Master Worlds
39:00 One wrong step can change everything
41:27 “This is what it takes to win”—Jason’s mindset shift
45:09 Why BJJ is not CrossFit and how Jason approaches it differently
49:30 Fighters are some of the most gracious people you’ll ever meet
54:40 There are levels to every game
57:00 Wrapping it up

Thanks for tuning in to the Jason Khalipa Podcast! 🎥 The Home Team goes live on YouTube every Tuesday and Friday at 9AM PST.

⁠Train with us on the TRAIN HARD App⁠

⁠Find your program⁠

⁠Subscribe to our newsletter⁠

LeBron’s Strange Deadlift Video: Dr. Kelly Starrett Explains What’s Really Going On Aug 19, 2025

Show notes

NBA superstar LeBron James recently went viral for a deadlift video that had the internet scratching its head. Was it bad form? Brilliant training? Or something else entirely? The Home Team is joined by Dr. Kelly Starrett to break down exactly what’s happening, what we can learn from it, and how it ties into bigger conversations about training, injury prevention, and youth sports.

From hot takes on LeBron’s trainer’s methods to why pro athletes train differently than the rest of us, we cover the nuances of performance training—and where the general public often gets it wrong. We also dig into the rise of Achilles injuries, how parents can act as “human performance directors” for their kids, and why sports are a non-negotiable for youth development.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Kelly joins the Home Team
1:50 Questioning LeBron’s trainer’s qualifications
3:40 Kelly’s optimistic hot take
6:00 BUT… he’s doing couch stretch!
7:01 Why pro basketball players train differently
10:30 Critiquing the strength training world
12:40 The gym is the safest place in the world—LeBron’s goal isn’t getting stronger
14:22 The complicated rise of Achilles injuries
18:14 Sometimes you just let people be
20:10 Does CrossFit make athletes look non-athletic?
24:50 The gym should serve the court, not the other way around
26:30 High school sports demand more than ever
27:50 Parents as untrained “human performance directors”
30:00 The pay-to-play problem in youth sports
31:02 The purpose of athletics
33:17 Why kids should learn Olympic lifting
36:44 MDV’s World Bodysurfing Championship debut
41:25 Carbs that help performance (fueling is key)
49:55 It all depends on the sport and the athlete
52:14 The “beard of wisdom” moment
53:33 Could we do what they do at their age?

Thanks for tuning in to the Jason Khalipa Podcast! 🎥 The Home Team goes live on YouTube every Tuesday and Friday at 9AM PST.
Follow us on Instagram:
⁠JK Podcast⁠
⁠Jason⁠
⁠Gabe⁠
⁠MDV⁠
⁠Dennis⁠

⁠Train with us on the TRAIN HARD App⁠
⁠Find your program⁠
⁠Subscribe to our newsletter⁠

Dr. Kelly Starrett: thereadystate.com

Which Gets the Best Results — CrossFit, HYBRID Training, or Strength & Conditioning? Plus… ‘F the Quick Fix’ Aug 14, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, we break down a fascinating new study comparing three training styles — Strength & Conditioning, CrossFit, and HYBRID training — to see which one delivers the best results. The kicker? All groups did the same workouts in different formats. The results might surprise you.

We also dig into why training age matters, the most overlooked factor in getting results, and why chasing two goals at once can backfire. From physique burnout to the optimal male body fat percentage, this one covers it all.

And then… we tackle CrossFit’s bold new campaign: F the Quick Fix. Is it a marketing win, a mistake, or both? We share our takes on the message, the backlash, and what it means for the fitness industry.

Timestamps:
0:00 A study where all groups did the same workouts but different formats
2:17 Exercise science… what’s realistic?
3:35 So here’s what happened
7:20 The difference between the test groups
9:00 HYBRID group improved overall fitness more than CrossFitters
10:10 This was a very well-done study
10:46 Training age plays a huge factor here
12:03 Areas of improvement for this study
12:55 Why this all matters
15:41 The most underestimated part of training — enjoyment
17:13 Chase two chickens, catch none? (hybrid athletes)
19:46 Both groups saw results training hard 4x/week
21:45 Training specificity must match your goal
23:29 FLEX bumped Daniel Cormier’s son’s bench press
27:10 Optimal male body fat percentage
30:16 Not taking the scenic route
31:47 Why physique goals can lead to burnout
35:09 Five years of consistency = results
36:52 Some guys are just built different
37:40 Why Khalipa wouldn’t take last at the CrossFit Games
38:50 Jason has never weighed under 200 lbs
40:00 CrossFit’s campaign: F the Quick Fix
43:30 CrossFit’s reputation
45:13 Why good marketing can push people away
48:11 The American Eagle ad & the Streisand effect
51:39 CrossFit calling out Ozempic — useful tool or the next crisis?
57:50 Some people have really tried everything

Thanks for tuning in to the Jason Khalipa Podcast! 🎥 The Home Team goes live on YouTube every Tuesday and Friday at 9AM PST.

⁠Train with us on the TRAIN HARD App⁠

⁠Find your program⁠

⁠Subscribe to our newsletter⁠

The CrossFit vs. HYBRID Study We're Referencing

Trump Brings Back the Presidential Fitness Test + Is Nicotine the Next Big Pre-Workout? Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

From the return of the Presidential Fitness Test to the surprising rise of nicotine as a pre-workout, Jason, Gabe, and MDV cover it all in this milestone 200th episode.

Timestamps:
0:00 There’s nuance to everything
3:00 What really caused the obesity crisis?
7:00 Triple H at the White House… and maybe Jason?
9:30 Why school fitness tests aren’t the same as federal mandates
11:28 Is nutrition more important than physical testing?
13:00 Could forcing kids into it backfire?
14:00 Kids spend 8 hours in chairs—something has to change
16:40 Jason’s SAT prep class flashback
18:13 Adults wouldn’t tolerate sitting all day—why should kids?
19:03 What happens to the kids who “fail” the test?
22:00 Schools moving away from letter grades
25:00 How peer comparison builds resilience
25:38 Could you beat a 17-year-old in the 1980s?
30:13 Rumors of Jason heading to the White House
30:40 Why having these conversations matters
31:41 The best pre-workout in the world (hint: honey + coffee)
35:40 Gabe’s love for the beta-alanine tingle
36:50 Nicotine—what’s the deal?
39:30 The most popular form and potential benefits
41:20 Are Zyns the new dip?
42:53 The reality: nicotine is addictive
44:55 Jason’s experience trying nicotine pre-workout
45:50 Nicotine as an appetite suppressant
47:10 Caffeine vs. nicotine
49:00 Old enough for the military but not cigarettes?
51:00 Jason jokes about Zyn before the Burpee Test
51:37 You can guess someone’s burpee score by their build
53:09 Kaden Khalipa vs. Truett Hanes—who wins?
56:30 Jason grapples with a 19-year-old wrestler
58:50 UFC or BJJ?
1:00:00 Celebrating 200 episodes!

570 lb Back Squat at the CrossFit Games?! Colton Mertens, Tia’s GOAT Status, and the Future of the Sport Aug 05, 2025

Show notes

This week, MDV and Gabe go deep on the current state of CrossFit—what’s working, what’s changing, and what’s getting heavy. From 570 lb. back squats at the Games to the debate over whether Tia is the GOAT (of all CrossFit, not just the women’s side), this episode covers it all. They also break down the stress of training for the leaderboard, the role of unpredictability in CrossFit, and how the TRAIN HARD App is taking a different approach—one that prioritizes long-term consistency, minimal stress, and training you actually enjoy.

Episode Breakdown:
0:00 Jason shows up at your job and makes you do burpees
2:48 Why men and women are equally valued in the CrossFit Games universe
5:00 Lowering the hoop in the WNBA?
6:59 Is Tia the GOAT of CrossFit?
12:05 “She’s not the nicest”—but were any GOATs there to make friends?
15:25 Is CrossFit making a comeback?
17:22 MDV’s apology and Instagram’s limited view of reality
21:00 Colton Mertens back squats 570 lbs. at the CrossFit Games
24:05 This is really “forging elite fitness”
27:20 Is “the unknown and unknowable” helping or hurting?
29:37 A test of fitness or a war of attrition?
32:00 Should we remove some unpredictability from the sport?
34:00 Ben Bergeron turns off the comments—are we all just doing CrossFit?
37:01 The positive legacy of CrossFit
38:11 Ben Bergeron’s “new way forward” and CompTrain rebrand
41:00 CrossFit’s impact—both good and obsessive
45:05 MDV’s NEW PROGRAM on the TRAIN HARD App
47:40 The scoreboard and the clock created pressure
50:00 How often should you train at 100% intensity? (maybe twice a month)
56:07 TRAIN HARD = low pressure, high consistency
1:01:45 If you don’t enjoy your training, it won’t work

Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. #JKP

⁠Train with us on the TRAIN HARD App⁠

⁠Find your program⁠

⁠Subscribe to our newsletter⁠

Is Anyone Watching The CrossFit Games? Jul 31, 2025

Show notes

Is Anyone Watching the CrossFit Games? + The Burpee Test Results Are In

This week, the crew is fired up—and not just because Jason was late after pushing through the TRAIN HARD Burpee Test. The guys talk mindset, grit, and whether or not the sport of fitness has lost its spark. Is this the last year of the CrossFit Games? Is anyone even watching? And is the Burpee Test secretly one of the best fitness challenges of all time?

IN THIS EPISODE:

[0:00] Jason was late because... BURPEES.
[1:57] Why the Burpee Test is all about mental toughness
[3:25] A teaser on their test scores 👀
[4:40] Wait—the CrossFit Games are happening?
[8:20] Could this be the last year of the Games?
[12:00] Why athlete storytelling needs more depth
[15:25] Are professional athletes just unrelatable now?
[16:30] Is Tia the GOAT?
[18:09] Sponsors we’ve never heard of...
[19:50] What MDV would do if he bought CrossFit
[21:40] Is the sport of fitness dead?
[24:09] It’s sad how little people care now... and affiliate numbers are down
[29:34] TRAIN HARD BURPEE TEST RESULTS (and Jason’s excuses)
[33:00] Jason’s mindset shift during the test
[37:30] You’ve got to decide how bad you want to hurt
[40:00] Standards: Single leg step-ups instead of jumps?
[43:00] When your brain flips from “okay” to “this sucks”
[47:00] Other fitness tests that challenge your soul
[49:10] The gift and curse of repeating workouts
[51:15] Jason is already planning to redo the test
[55:00] Is this the best fitness test of all time?
[59:40] Dennis catching strays (again)

Never let momentum get to zero. Listen to the Jason Khalipa Podcast every Tuesday and Friday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. #JKP

⁠Train with us on the TRAIN HARD App⁠

⁠Find your program⁠

⁠Subscribe to our newsletter⁠

Active Shooter in NYC: What Would You Do? Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

What would you do in an active shooter situation? Following a recent tragedy in NYC, Jason, Gabe, and MDV discuss how to prepare for moments of crisis—mentally and physically. From trusting your gut to keeping your head on a swivel, this episode dives into the importance of situational awareness, training, and why capability matters.

They also explore the role of men in creating safer communities, the biological realities of size and strength, and why women need men who train hard and show up when it counts. Plus: the official TRAIN HARD burpee test is here (yes, MDV is calling everyone out), and Producer Liz drops a HOT TAKE on how women really feel when it comes to safety.

If you care about being prepared, being capable, and protecting the people you love—this one’s for you.

Timestamps: