Strong By Design Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Special Bonus Episode - To Get the Vaccine or Not Get the Vaccine, That is the Question Sep 11, 2021

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The SBD team reunites to discuss a topic that’s become divisive and heavily politicized. When it comes to health, in the past, people have been allowed to make their own decisions for pretty much all things and given the opportunity to discuss with their physician if unsure. But of course, no one alive today ever lived through a global pandemic.

I think we can all agree that treating others with respect is critical and realizing people are free to make decisions based on their own personal health. Mandates of any kind are going to bring forth some strong emotions on both sides of an issue. Ultimately there needs to be more discussion, listening and understanding. The finger pointing and name calling won’t bring people together but only cause more division.

Holistic Health Practitioner Tonya Fines shares her knowledge with co-hosts Chris Wilson, Mike Westerdal and Samantha Harrison in this special bonus episode on Strong By Design.

"I feel like it's become a platform of controversy not about the vaccine but being told what I should or shouldn't do." -Tonya Fines

Time Stamps

0:24 – Welcome to the ‘Strong by Design’ podcast

2:35 – Samantha Harrison receives birthday wishes from Team Critical Bench

11:42 – Team Critical Bench weighs in whether to get the vaccine or not

19:06 – The truth about flu shots

25:58 – Understanding the benefits vs. risks of vaccines

31:24 – Incentives and discounts: The best way to convince people to get the vaccine?

39:17 – Vaccines: What are the things to look out for?

48:34 – Personal testimonies about the COVID-19 vaccine

54:01 – The importance of making decisions based on facts, not fear

1:02:24 – How long does immunity last after having COVID-19?

1:15:42 - As promised, a special birthday poem for Sam (read by Chris)

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Ep 192 The Comeback: Catastrophic Chest Injury to World Record Holder ft. John Self Sep 08, 2021

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You’re never defeated. There’s always a way back. Look inward and look upward for the strength to overcome your toughest days.

Everyone loves a good ole’ fashioned comeback story, especially the team here on the Strong By Design show. Lifelong weight lifter John Self loves a good competition and performing at his very best. But a career ending pectoral tear 5 years ago seemed to be the end of his powerlifting competition days.

Through faith in God and in himself, John persevered and reclaimed his greatness as a World Record Holder lifting more than double his bodyweight in RAW competition.

"It wasn't a giving up thing or a quitting thing... It was just me thinking I'm definitely done now, no more crazy bench pressing." -John Self

Time Stamps

0:24 – Welcoming today’s special guest on ‘Strong by Design’ podcast

3:56 – Get to know John Self

6:18 – The power of praising God in difficult times

7:50 – John recounts his comeback after a catastrophic injury

11:39 – Discover John’s journey back to bench pressing + setting a new raw bench press world record

21:25 – John on what the path to becoming a world record holder looks like

25:55 – John shares how his wife and son got into the world of bench pressing

32:15 – What’s next for John?

37:49 – The truth about supplements

47:04 – Connect with John Self through his social media channels

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Ep 191 Never Binge Again! Ft. Dr. Glenn Livingston Sep 01, 2021

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If you have ever struggled with binge eating or if it is something that you are struggling with right now then this podcast is for you!

Dr Livingston is a veteran psychologist who specializes in helping people to overcome and STOP binge eating for good! It was actually Dr. Livingston’s own struggles with binging that gave him his greatest clarity and had the biggest impact in his practice.

Join Tonya Fines as she talks with Dr. Livingston about how we can begin to actually work the primitive workings of our brain to finally overcome binging and food addiction!

"Commit with perfection but forgive yourself with dignity." -Dr. Glenn Livingston

Time Stamps

0:24 – Welcoming Dr. Glenn Livingston to the ‘Strong By Design’ podcast

2:37 – Binge Eating 101: What is it and what are the symptoms?

5:50 – Statistics on overweight & obesity in America

7:50 – Dr. Glenn on what's preventing individuals from mindful eating

13:40 – The importance of dealing with the root cause of binge eating

25:52 – The relationship between emotions and overeating

31:18 – Dr. Glenn on how to stop binge eating

39:18 – Is it possible to never binge again?

44:35 – The devastating beauty of self-sabotage

48:06 – ‘Never Binge Again:’ Dr. Glenn shares the story behind the book title

51:38 – Where you can go to connect with Dr. Glenn Livingston

Resources:

Never Binge Again

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Ep 190 God is BIGGER than Your Struggles ft. Erwin McManus, Dr. Frank Turek and Joe LoGalbo Aug 25, 2021

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Today’s very special episode is a blend of 3 of our favorite conversation about God over the years. Please take a moment to breathe and find rest in your Father in heaven. He is bigger than anything you’re facing…

It’s time to CHOOSE to see the beauty around you. It’s time to step into your greatness and discover the calling God has for you. And when you do that, you will find hope in every day. The words of Erwin McManus

When was the last time you had a conversation with God? God is hungry for a relationship with you but are you listening for His voice? He is there in your struggles just waiting to be your friend. The words of Joe LoGalbo

You don’t achieve your identity; you receive your identity. We reason back from effects to a cause. There is a creation, there must be a Creator. And if the first verse in the Bible is true, then everything else in the Bible is at least possible. The words of Dr. Frank Turek

"If you think that God's Will for your life is proven by the lack of pain, struggle and suffering then you've missed the whole point." -Erwin McManus

Time Stamps

0:24 – Welcome to the ‘Strong by Design’ podcast

1:17 – Author Erwin McManus talks about the power of seeing the beauty in everything

5:22 – Erwin on stepping into your fear and rising above the pain

13:30 – Fitness entrepreneur and copywriter Joe LoGalbo discusses the importance of journaling to hear God’s voice

18:40 – The power of trusting God in the storms of life

22:00 – Christian apologists Dr. Frank Turek talks about receiving identity from God

24:07 – The truth about God’s miracles

30:14 – Key takeaways from the episode

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Ep 189 Eating for Brain Health: Is Keto the Answer? ft. Dr. David Jockers Aug 18, 2021

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Most of us already know how important it is to eat healthy, exercise regularly and choose a lifestyle that supports “quality” of life.

How often do you stop to consider just how important it is to eat well and exercise regularly for your brain health? When brain health is not optimal, everything else becomes compromised.

Dr. Jockers is a doctor of natural medicine, functional nutritionist and corrective chiropractor. He is the founder of Exodus heal and the author of The Fasting Transformation - Burn Fat, Heal Your Body & Transform Your Life and Keto Metabolic Breakthrough.

In this episode Dr. Jockers discusses the importance of feeding our brain for optimized health and function. He talks about how ketosis and fasting can play a supporting role in this and that you don’t have to go to dietary extremes to get the benefits.

"Sugar is a dirty fuel source... however when we burn ketones or fat for fuel, we actually produce significantly more energy than when we burn sugar." -Dr. David Jockers

Time Stamps

0:24 - Welcoming today’s special guest on ‘Strong by Design’ podcast

1:15 – Get to know Dr. David Jockers

3:57 – Dr. David on why is brain health important

8:04 – The role of nutrition in brain health

16:16 – Dr. David talks about the effects of keto diets on brain health

21:05 – Dr. David on how to get into ketosis fast

26:20 – ‘Keto Metabolic Breakthrough’: Everything you need to know

34:46 – Dr. David on how to transform your life with intermittent fasting

41:51 – Where you can go to connect with Dr. David Jockers

Resources:

DrJockers.com

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Ep 188 The Value of Gift Giving and Relationships ft. John Ruhlin of Giftology Aug 11, 2021

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John Ruhlin is the world’s leading authority in maximizing customer loyalty through radical generosity. While becoming the #1 performer out of 1.5 million sales reps for one of the world’s most recognizable brands, Cutco Knives, John developed a system of using generosity to gain access to elite clients and generate thousands of referrals.
Giftology, his brand and his NY Times best-selling book, is about relationship retention and growth through constant gratitude. Honestly, it’s about finding ways to blow people's minds and filling their hearts with joy and amazement, deepening those bonds for life. John creates experiences that are unforgettable.
He and his firm now help automate this process for individuals and organizations like UBS, Raymond James, DR Horton, Keller Williams, the Chicago Cubs, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Caesar’s Palace to name a few.
John is also a terrific man, a friend and so much fun to be around. He's a loving husband and father to 4 beautiful girls. Co-hosts Mike Westerdal and Chris Wilson had the honor of speaking with John in beautiful San Diego while at a networking event. The blessings don't stop with John, they pass through him and he's made it his life's mission to help others do the same.

"Most people in corporate America haven't realized that branding and marketing and gifting are not all the same." -John Ruhlin

Time Stamps

0:24 - Welcoming today’s special guest on ‘Strong by Design’ podcast

1:28 – Meet John Ruhlin of Giftology

5:31 – The art and science of gift giving in business

8:15 – John talks about some mistakes when giving gifts to grow your business

12:13 – The importance of focusing on ‘Return on Relationships’ (ROR)

18:47 – The power of giving: Why helping other drives our success

21:16 – John dives deep into the art of strategic gifting

27:43 – John on building relationships through gift giving

33:05 – ‘The Love Bomb:’ Everything you need to know

41:03 – John gives advice to encourage people to give more

49:011 – Where you can go to connect with John Ruhlin

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Ep 187 Harness the Power of Your Anxiety ft. Dr. Chloe Carmichael Aug 04, 2021

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How many times have you thought or been told that you are OCD? Now, how many of you also take a little pride in being OCD? After all, this kind of intensity often adds to high performance and the ability to manage multiple things consecutively with superior outcomes!

But what happens when this “high functioning” trait becomes a hurdle, you know “analysis paralysis?” The good news for all of us labeled as OCD or high-functioning, is that we can harness this hyper-speed drive we have and continue to use it for peak performance.

Dr. Chloe Carmichael is a clinical psychologist who works with high-functioning clients to help the to reach their goals all while thriving and avoiding the pitfalls of self-sabotage.

With some very simple tools that you can begin practicing each day, you can work with your high-functioning personality to avoid burnout and sustain continued productivity towards persona and professional fulfillment.

Dr. Chloe has been featured on ABC Nightline, Inside Edition and she is the author the Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety

"High functioning people can be so self-critical... it's a gift to be able to spot issues... but it can go haywire if they can't give it a rest.” -Dr. Chloe Carmichael

Time Stamps

0:24 – Welcoming today’s special guest on ‘Strong by Design’ podcast

2:18 – Get to know Dr. Chloe Carmichael

6:07 – ‘Nervous Energy’: What is it and how you can use it to your advantage

13:28 – Discover Dr. Chloe’s Mental Shortlist technique

20:29 – Dr. Chloe on what does it mean to be a high-functioning individual

24:04 – High-functioning personality in children: What parents can look for

29:45 – Everything you need to know about ‘Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety’

32:36 – Where you can go to connect with Dr. Chloe Carmichael

Resources:

NervousEnergyBook.com

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Ep 186 Is the 'Cancel Culture' Loving or Unloving and How Do We Respond? ft. Dr. Frank Turek Jul 28, 2021

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Dr. Frank Turek is a Christian Apologist, author of several best-selling books, an active public speaker on college campuses and churches all over the country and he's a radio/podcast host on American Family Radio.

The BIG question that we will answer in today's podcast episode: How are Christians and even non-Christians supposed to respond when pressured to agree with ideologies that are often unloving, unbiblical and harmful from the outspoken cancel culture?

Co-host Chris Wilson has an open and honest conversation with Frank, who is also the founder and president of Cross Examined.org... a Christian apologetics ministry. His mission with Cross Examined.org is to defend and present evidence-based truths about Christianity and the Gospel in a loving and respectful way... to bring people to Christ and in many cases back to Christ and restore hope.

"Without God there is no objective right and wrong, everything is just a matter of opinion." -Dr. Frank Turek

Time Stamps

0:24 – Welcoming today’s special guest on ‘Strong by Design’ podcast

3:12 – The untold truth about the ‘Cancel Culture’

10:47 – Why telling the truth matters

16:06 – Dr. Frank Turek on what does unity in diversity mean

20:43 – Understanding God’s morality and authority

29:19 – Agape love: What is it and what does it mean

33:40 –Dr. Frank’s advice on how to protect yourself from ‘Cancel Culture’

37:09 – Get to know Dr. Frank more

44:12 – Where you can go to connect with Dr. Frank Turek

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Ep 185 The Resistance Training Revolution ft. Sal Di Stefano (MIND PUMP) Jul 21, 2021

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Our guest today Sal Di Stefano is best known as co-founder of Mind Pump Media and co-host of the #1 Fitness podcast MIND PUMP (with now over 1,600 episodes) along with co-hosts Adam Schafer and Justin Andrews and the man behind the scenes Doug Egge.

Mind Pump gets literally millions of downloads monthly and is a perennial top-rated fitness show. Sal is not only a gifted radio and podcast host but also the author of The Resistance Training Revolution... his latest book which we discuss in today’s conversation. Sal’s over 20 years of experience and training wisdom will help you transform your body and shift your mindset.

Sal has dedicated much of his life to inspiring others to be healthy, fit and strong. He is truly the embodiment of all thing’s health, muscle and strength related. You’re in for a real treat so get your notepads ready!

"The side effect of building strength and muscle is a faster metabolism... a body that burns more calories all the time!" -Sal Di Stefano

Time Stamps

0:24 – Welcoming today’s special guest on ‘Strong by Design’ podcast

4:20 – Mind Pump Media’s co-founder Sal Di Stefano shares where his love and passion for fitness comes from

10:00 – Sal talks about the birth of ‘The Mind Pump Podcast,’ and their mission to expose the truth about fitness, health and nutrition

19:52 – Why you should be careful who you take fitness advice from

26:04 - Sal on what the’ Resistance Training Revolution’ is all about

32:32 – Discover the best form of exercise to burn fat and boost metabolism

35:36 – Why resistance training is more important than cardio

41:35 – Sal talks about the benefits of resistance training

47:53 – How to get started with resistance training

55:45 – Fast talk with Sal

1:00:38 – Where you can go to connect with Sal Di Stefano + learn more about the ‘Resistance Training Revolution’

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Ep 184 How to Start a Podcast Show ft. Luis Diaz Jul 14, 2021

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If podcasting is something you’ve been curious about but wanted to know more, this episode on Strong By Design is absolutely for you. It all comes down to having a unique message to share with the world sprinkled with a lot of passion, insight and often times a bit of humor.

Luis Diaz from the Podcast Domination Show joins co-host Chris Wilson. This special episode is a long time coming as Luis was the catalyst for the SBD show to launch. After spending the day together at an event in Orlando, FL - 2018, Chris (SPEC OPS) and founder of Critical Bench Mike Westerdal had a conversation that gave rise to the Strong By Design show just a few months later.

Luis provided the answers to basic questions like what you’ll hear in this conversation today which was all it took to get going. Now this show is reaching and helping people all over the globe and generating thousands of downloads per week. Get ready for some serious podcast knowledge bombs… time to take action!!

"I've always been good at being a bridge and being a connector. The podcasting thing came easy to me because it was my personality." -Luis Diaz

Time Stamps

0:24 – Welcoming today’s special guest on ‘Strong by Design’ podcast

5:16 – Meet ‘The Podcast Domination’ CEO, Luis Diaz

8:23 – Luis recounts how he got into the podcast industry

13:10 – How to start a podcast from scratch

22:50 – Podcast metrics: Measuring your content’s success

26:40 – Host Chris and Luis share their favorite podcast shows

32:02 – Is it worth starting a podcast?

38:16 – The importance of your podcast audio quality

42:16 – Things to consider when recording a podcast

48:49 – Luis on what makes a good podcast