The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting

Latest Episodes:

340 - Why I'm Getting a Hip Replacement Tomorrow... Oct 15, 2021

Show notes

After 4 decades of training Jiu-jitsu, MMA, Judo, Kajukenbo, Muay Thai, Karate and Kickboxing my right hip is worn out. Here's how I became aware that it needed replacing, what the surgery is going to look like, and what I've done to prepare for it!

I'll post updates about my post-surgical recovery on my podcast, my youtube channel and my Instagram.

And while I've got your attention, go grab my free PDF checklist of BJJ positions and techniques at https://www.grapplearts.com/book

See you on the other side!

Stephan

339 - The Five Exercises All Grapplers Should Do Every Week Oct 01, 2021

Show notes

Steph Gaudreau is a strength coach, nutritionist, podcaster, author and BJJ practitioner. I was thrilled to have her on the podcast today to discuss the overlap between strength training and jiu-jitsu. I think you'll get a lot out of it!

Check out https://www.stephgaudreau.com/ or follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/steph_gaudreau/

And while you're reading this... Check out The Grapplearts BJJ Master App for iOS and Android - there's a TON of great content on there that'll directly improve your game. https://www.grapplearts.com/masterapp

Cheers!

Stephan Kesting

338 - An Epic Rant Against Conspiracism Sep 10, 2021

Show notes

In this rant I go off about conspiracism, Ivermectin, Joe Rogan, anti-vaxxers, elk meat diets and more. This is from an Instagram Live session I did with Dr Hanan Bushkin (@drhananbushkin) - Dr Bushkin is a psychologist so he really knew how to wind me up and set me loose!

337 - Lessons from Competing in 25 Matches in 8 Divisions in 1 Tournament with Jeff Shaw Sep 08, 2021

Show notes

Jeff Shaw runs Bellingham BJJ and despite coming to jiu-jitsu late in life fell in love with competition and eventually competed 8 divisions in a single tournament with pretty good results. I particularly love his pre-match psych up routine which you'll learn all about in this episode!

00:55 - 5 Minute Covid Checkin at Bellingham BJJ 13:53 - Starting competitive jiu-jitsu at age 35 17:34 - Should newcomers spar on day one? 23:17 - Competition strategies and their applicability to self defense 40:31 - The value of competing under different rulesets 49:06 - What's a featherweight doing in the absolute division? 54:23 - Training for jiu-jitsu 58:05 - Jeff's pre-competition psych up 1:00:55 - How to contact Jeff and Bellingham BJJ

336 - Why Some People & Groups are More Prone to Conspiracy Theories, with Julian Walker from Conspirituality Aug 12, 2021

Show notes

Julian Walker has researched, written, and podcasted about cults and gurus, spiritual bypass and quantum woo in New Age circles extensively. He is also a cohost of the (amazing) Conspirituality Podcast.

Today's episode is really important, and we discuss why certain groups (like BJJ, MMA and Yoga circles) are more into conspiracy theories (starting roughly at 4:46), the tendency for some people to make connections and see patterns where none exist (17:59), end of the world prophecies in conspiracy theories (48:08), and more. If you enjoyed this episode then please check out episode 291 with Derek Beres (https://www.grapplearts.com/cults-conspiracies-yoga-wellness-bjj-communities/), 297 with Mathew Remski (https://www.grapplearts.com/cults-prophecies-and-deprogramming-your-friend-with-matthew-remski/), and 325 with Ami Palmer (https://www.grapplearts.com/trust-propaganda-consipiracies/)

And, as always, a review of this podcast on iTunes or Spotify would be SUPER appreciated

Thanks

Stephan Kesting

335 - Rescuing People Trapped in Cults, Stephan Kesting with Joseph Szimhart Aug 09, 2021

Show notes

In episode 335 of The Strenuous Life Podcast Stephan Kesting talks to cult expert, cult survivor and cult deprogrammer Joeseph Szimhart. We go into depth about QAnon, New Age cults, Theosophy, cult recruitment tactics, and people escape them. I think this is a fascinating and very topical conversation.

Find out more about Joe at https://www.jszimhart.com/

And if you enjoyed this episode then please, a rating or review within the podcast platform of your choice would be super appreciated!

Thank you,

Stephan Kesting

334 - Ten Guru Warning Signs with Dr Dr Chris Kavanagh Jul 20, 2021

Show notes

Dr Dr Chris Kavanagh is an Oxford trained evolutionary & cognitive anthropologist who co-hosts the 'Decoding the Gurus' podcast with Mathew Browne. Together they tackle the secular gurus propagating their ideas, grievances, and conspiracies on the internet.

In today's episode we look at the 10 factors that go into their 'gurometer', a highly scientific measure that takes the signature characteristics of gurus and uses advanced mathematics (simple addition) to determine how high up the guru scale they actually are.

From Jordan Peterson, Russell Brand, Tony Robbins, JP Sears, to Brett and Eric Weinstein, we give lots of examples and pull no punches.

Here are the 10 characteristics we discuss in considerable detail...

13:06 - Working definition of "guru" 18:48 - Gurometer factor 1, Galaxy-brainness 28:17 - Gurometer factor 2, Cultishness 35:38 - Gurometer factor 3, Antidisestablishmentarianism 53:03 - Gurometer factor 4, Grievance-mongering 1:00:07 - Gurometer factor 5, Narcissism and self-aggrandisement 1:31:07 - Gurometer factor 6, Cassandra-complex 1:38:10 - Gurometer factor 7, Revolutionary theories 1:43:31 - Gurometer factor 8 - Pseudo-profound bullshit 1:50:43 - Gurometer factor 9 - Conspiracy mongering 1:54:15 - Gurometer factor 10 - Grifting or profiteering

333 - Sometimes to Win the Fight You Have to Move the Fight Jul 09, 2021

Show notes

From the cheekiest triangle choke counter I've ever used to Khabib slamming the crap out of his opponents in the UFC, here's a short episode about the times you simply have to move the fight to a new location! Hope you enjoy this, and if you do then a review or rating on the podcast platform of your choice would be super appreciated!

Stephan

332 - Trolling Anti-Vaxx Rallies, with Walter Masterson Jul 07, 2021

Show notes

Walter Masterson trolls anti-vaxx and pro-conspiracy rallies. He's brave, funny and insightful, and I was honored to have him as a guest on episode 332 of The Strenuous Life Podcast.

Follow Walter on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/user/waltermasterson

On TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@waltermasterson

On Twitter at https://twitter.com/waltermasterson

On Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/waltermasterson/

Cheers, Stephan Kesting

331 - A Gameplan for the Closed Guard with Jon Thomas Jun 28, 2021

Show notes

Jon Thomas is a BJJ master strategician with an uncanny ability to connect grips, sweeps, submissions and positions together to create a seamless attack gameplan. In this episode we do a deep dive into the closed guard position and I think your jiu-jitsu will definitely improve if you implement his training methods and organisational concepts.

Check out The Closed Guard System in video format at https://www.grapplearts.com/closedguard

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected