Strong By Design Podcast

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Ep 282 The MAD Scientist of Muscle ft. Nick Nilsson Apr 12, 2023

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If you see a man carrying 500 lbs. on his back down your street, wielding a 50 lb+ monster sledgehammer or carrying over 700 lbs. in a wheelbarrow, there is a chance that you live near the mad scientist of muscle!

Nick Nilsson has made a name for himself in the last two decades as an innovator of all things muscle and strength related. The gym is his lab and he will never stop finding ways to ‘beat himself up’ and test his limits with weights or heavy objects.

Nick and coach Chris Wilson reconnect after several years since his last conversation on the SBD podcast show to talk about his passion for lifting heavy, the craziest things he’s ever attempted, possible world records and where this all comes from.

“I try and push the envelope in terms of what I can learn… It’s not about doing weird or different things for the sake of doing weird/different things - I want to do stuff that anybody can do.” - Nick Nilsson

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Ep 281 Liar, Lunatic or Lord? ft. Mike Westerdal & Jared Haley Apr 08, 2023

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Jesus was not just a nice guy, a prophet from God or a kind, good teacher from almost 2,000 years ago.

He was either a compulsive liar, a crazed lunatic or He was Lord. Those are your 3 options.

Jesus himself made it very clear who He said He was in his 3 years of ministry.

Jesus claimed to be the Son of Man which is referenced 81 times within the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. This was considered blasphemy. No one had ever claimed to be God and forgive others of their sin.

Today on Strong By Design, hosts Mike Westerdal and Jared Haley have a conversation about the evidence and proof of the Resurrection. If Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose 3 days later, there is no debate… He is the Son of God.

In Matthew 28:6, we are reminded of this truth: “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”

-Happy Easte

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Ep 280 The Fall of the Traditional Family ft. Jared & Cairistiona Haley Apr 05, 2023

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In the last few decades, the traditional American family has seemingly ‘lost its popularity’ at least as far as mainstream and social media are concerned.

The adage of ‘having a nice house with a white picket fence’ has eroded. Once a symbol of the ideal middle-class suburban life, with a large house, family, and peaceful lifestyle.

In this episode, co-host Chris Wilson explores this highly contested subject with SBD co-host Jared Haley and his amazing wife Cairistiona.

How have societal mindsets shifted in recent years, is there a real attack on fatherhood, why are our children being sexualized, are men being emasculated and how does all of this impact our children long term?

“Love is not the same as acceptance… If my kid is about to put their hand on the burner of the stove, I want to stop them before they get burned.” - Jared & Cairistiona Haley

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Ep 279 The ATTACK on Men & Masculinity ft. Zach Zenios [Part 2] Apr 01, 2023

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In Part 2, Zach reveals his thoughts about today’s apparent attack on masculinity.

In recent years it is abundantly clear that men and just about anything masculine or manly has been scrutinized and portrayed as bad or toxic.

Coach Chris and Zach with nearly 20 years between them, tackle this highly controversial topic with boldness, honesty and insight.

“One of the biggest reasons why men are being disempowered is because they are not creating, they are not living on their edge, and they are not physical with their body." - Zach Zenios

Time Stamps

1:05 – Welcome to the ‘Strong by Design’ podcast

2:26 - Zach talks about how the world perceives masculinity as toxic in today’s age

8:32 - Discover how crucial it is for men to embody masculinity

10:14 - Masculine vs Feminine: What's the difference

13:48 - The downside of not living on your edge

15:35 - Dynamics of a nurturing mother and a strong father figure

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Ep 278 Functional Fitness & the POWER of the Breath ft. Zach Zenios [Part 1] Mar 29, 2023

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After hundreds of YouTube videos on the Critical Bench YouTube channels and an almost endless list of credentials, Zach Zenios has devoted his life to strength, health optimization and mental toughness.

He’s a kettlebell expert, USMC Veteran, Yoga instructor, Structural Therapist and the list goes on and on. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Coach Zach Zenios has it all… and at the young age of 29!

In today’s Part 1 conversation, Zach and host Chris Wilson go deep on defining functional fitness, discuss the power of breath work and developing mindfulness. And be sure to stay tuned for Part 2 released 3 days later where Zach reveals his thoughts about today’s apparent attack on masculinity.

“A lot of people label things functional fitness that is not really functional... That’s why there’s lot of confusion. But to me, functional fitness is simple. It’s centering your training on things that you would do in real life and things that you do often. - Zach Zenios

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Ep 277 THIS Is At The Heart of The Diseases We Fear Most ft. Dr. Shivani Gupta Mar 22, 2023

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What do you get when you mix ancient wisdom with modern medical interventions? You get a balanced approach to your health.

Our special guest today on the Strong By Design podcast believes that we have the right to choose what we put into our bodies and what gets taken out. We need to learn to be our own healers.

Dr. Shivani Gupta, an Ayurvedic Practitioner, has studied in India and the US over the last 20 years resulting in a masters and Ph.D. in Ayurvedic studies.

Her vision is to create a pain-free society by rooting out inflammation and disease so that everyone has the ability to live fuller, happier lives and flourish. Through ancient remedies, we can balance body, mind, and spirit for optimal health in the modern world.

"If you want productivity, great mood, great sleep, have focus, and if you want brain fogs to evaporate, lot of the issues that we are dealing with right now in the society, all of it can be addressed first through gut.” - Dr. Shivani Gupta

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Ep 276 Bullying & Eating Right ft. Critical Bench Kids Mar 15, 2023

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The next generation visits the Critical Bench Compound with host Jared Haley who is a father of 4 himself and was the perfect ‘neutral’ candidate to sit down with these rascals.

Siblings Karina and Lincoln along with Kellan and Camryn talk through their feelings about some of life’s biggest questions and issues…

While some of the answers may seem simple, often times in life adults tend to over complicate things. There is a lot of wisdom and insight from these young people. Hope you enjoy our first ever all kids’ episode.

“Part of bullying is not on the bully; it might be personal stuff that they can’t control... Maybe they have abusive parents or their parents are divorcing.”
- Kellan Wilson and Karina Westerdal

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Ep 275 Kingdom Man: Walking by Faith ft. Patric Young Mar 08, 2023

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Patric Young is a former professional American basketball player and current ESPN college basketball analyst but he is so much more than that… Patric is a Kingdom man.

Our world is changing before our eyes and there seems to be a shortage of strong men showing up at home for their families and in their communities. So, when Strong By Design encounters these game changers, we like to find out what makes them tick.

Beyond Patric’s amazing basketball success and broadcasting career is something much richer and life changing. Following his tragic accident last year leaving him in a wheelchair, he is helping those paralyzed by fear live in the now.

In his words, “I had to sit to walk.”

“They see the 10% of the iceberg, but then there’s 90% of all the things you don’t see… They don’t see the sacrifice, the te

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Ep 274 Reboot Your Food! Maximum Nutrition in a Pinch ft. Chef James Barry Mar 01, 2023

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James Barry was a picky eater as a kid. He ate his FIRST taco in college and would only eat PB&J sandwiches from 5 to 15 yrs. old. On the weekends his family indulged with Chinese and pizza takeout.
Fast food, frozen vegetables and microwaved meals were staple meals…

Obviously, this led to James becoming a chef 😉

In his early 20s James discovered that simple changes in his diet and lifestyle had massive impact on his quality of life. He realized the power of good food on our health and this launched him into his culinary greatness.
And for the last 16+ years he has been a professional chef focused on making comfort foods healthy without sacrificing taste.

Chef James has cooked for celebrities, musicians, and the ultra-wealthy...

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Ep 273 Die Empty ft. Brian Alsruhe Feb 22, 2023

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In the words of our inspiring guest today…

“We were made for greatness but we continue to settle behind half-truths and useless excuses, building walls and masks, hoping that no one will see who we truly are underneath.

It is time for a change. We can be that change.” ~Brian Alsruhe

Today’s episode dives DEEP into the human spirit and what it looks like to overcome the many challenges that life throws at us.

We believe 100% that You Are Strong By Design and in order to fix this broken world, we must stand strong, seek truth in all things, be grateful for our many blessings and never give up on ourselves or those we care about.

Leave it all on the field and die empty friends.

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