What Are You Made Of?

Latest Episodes:

From Ethics to Evidence: The Truth About Veganism, Muscle, and Aging with Karina Inkster Feb 17, 2026

Show notes

In this high-energy episode of the What Are You Made Of?, host Mike "C-Roc" sits down with fitness and nutrition coach Karina Inkster to unpack what it truly means to live with conviction, compassion, and critical thinking.

Karina, author of five books, host of the No-B.S. Vegan, and a Masters graduate in Gerontology specializing in health and aging, shares how a childhood realization about her pet hamster sparked a lifelong commitment to ethical veganism. What began as an 11-year-old’s moral awakening evolved into a 23-year plant-based journey rooted not only in animal ethics, but also in climate action, evidence-based nutrition, and long-term health optimization.

Together, Mike "C-Roc" and Karina tackle the biggest myths in the fitness and wellness industry—from protein fears and muscle-building on a vegan diet to food industry conflicts of interest and the influence of marketing over science. Karina explains how strength, longevity, and performance are fully achievable on a plant-based diet when calories and protein are properly matched, and why skepticism—not cynicism—is essential in today’s social media-driven health culture.

With humor, honesty, and zero fluff, this conversation explores aging, muscle growth, Mediterranean vs. vegan diets, and the deeper question at the heart of it all: what are you made of when your values are tested?

Website-www.karinainkster.com

Social Media Links/Handles

https://www.facebook.com/karina.i.m.inkster

https://www.instagram.com/karinainkster/?hl=en

Built Different: Systems, Willpower and the Truth About Longevity with Ben Brown Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of the What Are You Made Of? show, host Mike "C-Roc" sits down with Ben Brown, founder of Body Systems, to unpack the mindset, discipline, and daily habits that have shaped him into the husband, father, coach, and high-performance consultant he is today.

From battling imposter syndrome while stepping into professional sports organizations to becoming a trusted nutrition and performance advisor for elite athletes and executives, Ben shares how network, preparation, and “walking the talk” built his credibility. He opens up about aging with intention, leading by example for his three kids, and why being physically fit isn’t vanity — it’s responsibility.

Ben also dives deep into the truth about willpower, why most people are draining their “battery” with constant decision-making, and how success in health and business comes down to systems — not motivation. Drawing from his work with organizations like the Golden State Warriors and the Arizona Diamondbacks, he explains why nutrition and lifestyle fundamentals still outperform flashy biohacks and why even professional athletes often overlook the basics.

If you’re a high achiever trying to optimize your body, performance, and longevity without burning out, this episode is a masterclass in discipline, strategy, and sustainable execution.

Website-https://bodysystems.com/

https://www.instagram.com/bodysystemscoaching/?hl=en

Radical Responsibility: Turning Setbacks into Scalable Success with Maria Matarelli Feb 13, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of What Are You Made Of?, Mike “C-Roc” sits down with Maria Matarelli, Founder and CEO of Formula Ink, an international business consultancy helping leaders and organizations achieve higher performance through proven systems, strategy, and execution.

Maria shares how resilience shaped her journey—from working three jobs to put herself through college to managing multimillion-dollar budgets and leading large teams at just 22 years old. She opens up about delivering measurable results for Fortune 100 companies, why so many organizations struggle with execution, and how proven frameworks like Agile and Lean can turn complexity into clarity.

The conversation also dives into the personal side of success, including taking a million-dollar business loss, navigating betrayal, and embracing radical responsibility as the key to reclaiming power and momentum. Maria reflects on her global speaking career, a life-changing retreat in Bali that turned into a two-year reset, and how she now curates high-trust VIP networking events in Las Vegas that connect founders, investors, and creatives for meaningful growth.

This episode is a candid and inspiring look at resilience, ownership, and building results that truly last.

Website-http://findmaria.com

Social Media Links/Handles-

https://www.facebook.com/mariamatarelli

https://www.instagram.com/mariamatarelli/?hl=en

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariamatarelli

http://x.com/mariamatarelli

https://www.youtube.com/user/mariamatarelli

Healing Beyond the Physical: Energy, Trauma and Transformation with Pearly Montagu Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

In this powerful episode of What Are You Made Of?, Mike “C-Roc” sits down with TED speaker and healer Pearly Montagu to explore how a near-death boating accident transformed her life and awakened an extraordinary gift. After the traumatic experience, Pearly began perceiving trauma and emotional pain as colors and structures within the body—a rare form of synesthesia that led her to develop what she calls “micro energetic surgery,” helping clients release stored pain and restore energetic balance.

Pearly shares her journey from corporate finance to energy healing, her struggles with PTSD, and how unresolved emotional wounds can manifest physically in the body. Mike "C-Roc" asks the tough questions, grounding the conversation in curiosity and clarity as they unpack trauma, masculine and feminine energy, and the connection between dis-ease and healing. This episode challenges listeners to rethink adversity and consider how life’s darkest moments can unlock unexpected purpose.

Website-Www.manderley.org

https://www.instagram.com/a.pearly.way.of.life

From Monk to Money Manager: Douglas Lynam on Purpose, Wealth, and the Psychology of Money Feb 10, 2026

Show notes

A Marine, a monk, and a money manager walk into a bar—and somehow, they’re all the same person. In this powerful and wide-ranging conversation, Mike “C-Roc” sits down with Douglas Lynam to unpack one of the most unconventional life journeys you’ll ever hear. Doug shares how he went from Marine Officer Candidate School to spending twenty years as a Benedictine monk, only to later emerge into the world of finance as a financial advisor, business coach, keynote speaker, and author. Along the way, he opens up about childhood experiences with money, rebellion, faith, purpose, and the surprising ways our relationship with wealth is shaped long before we realize it.

Doug dives deep into his time in the monastery, including how a vow of poverty collided head-on with financial reality when the monastery went bankrupt—and how that moment forced him to confront money rather than avoid it. That unexpected responsibility became the catalyst for his lifelong work exploring the psychology, philosophy, and spirituality of money. He explains how earning, saving, investing, and giving must work together, why “giving first” without a foundation can backfire, and how money, when understood properly, becomes a tool for meaning rather than a source of fear or control.

The conversation also explores Doug’s books, From Monk to Money Manager and Taming Your Money Monster, his TEDx talk on purpose and wealth, and the idea that true financial mastery begins with self-awareness, courage, and alignment with values. This episode challenges conventional money advice, blends spiritual wisdom with practical finance, and invites listeners to rethink not just how they manage money—but why they do it in the first place.

Website- douglynam.com

Social Media Links/Handles-

https://www.facebook.com/douglynam/

https://www.instagram.com/douglynam/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-lynam/

https://www.youtube.com/@douglynam

https://substack.com/@douglynam

How Small Changes Create Big Transformation with Eric Zimmer Feb 09, 2026

Show notes

In this powerful episode of What Are You Made Of ? Show, Mike “C-Roc” sits down with Eric Zimmer, creator and host of The One You Feed podcast, now in its 12th year with more than 50 million downloads worldwide.

Eric shares his deeply personal journey from heroin addiction, homelessness, and facing prison in his twenties to building a meaningful life rooted in purpose, intention, and service.

Through honest reflection, Eric unpacks how addiction shaped his understanding of change, why willpower alone isn’t enough, and how learning the skill of change helped him rebuild his life from the inside out.

The conversation explores identity, shame, recovery, small daily commitments, and the power of choosing progress over perfection. Eric also opens up about transitioning from the software world into full-time podcasting, coaching, and thought leadership, prioritizing quality of life over financial excess, and why small habits compound into massive transformation.

The episode dives into the philosophy behind his new book, How a Little Becomes a Lot: The Art of Small Changes for a More Meaningful Life, offering listeners practical insights on building self-trust, breaking destructive cycles, and creating a life that truly works.

This is a raw, insightful, and inspiring conversation for anyone navigating change, recovery, entrepreneurship, or the pursuit of a more intentional life.Website- www.oneyoufeed.net

Social Media Links/Handles:

https://www.instagram.com/one_you_feed/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericzimmer/

Breaking Barriers and Building Legacies: Mara Dorne on Leadership and Resilience Feb 06, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of What Are You Made Of?, Mike "C-Roc" sits down with Mara Dorne, a self-made millionaire, best-selling author, public speaker, and award-winning BILF (“Boss I'd Like to Follow”), to uncover the journey behind her success. Mara shares how she rose from early adversity—losing her father at a young age and facing financial struggles as a newlywed—to transform the health insurance industry with relentlessness, vision, and an unwavering drive.

Listeners get an inside look at Mara’s path from entering a male-dominated field with no prior experience in sales to building thriving teams, mentoring thousands of agents, and leveraging her achievements into a powerful personal brand.

She opens up about the pivotal moments that shaped her, the lessons she learned navigating setbacks, and the strategies she used to empower others while staying true to her purpose.

This episode is a masterclass in resilience, leadership, and the art of turning opportunity into impact, proving that real influence comes from action, not just appearances.

Website-https://maradorne.com

Social Media Links/Handles

https://www.instagram.com/maradorne

https://www.instagram.com/bilfpod/

Release, Rewire, Receive: The Neurosomatic Path to Your Next Chapter with Riana Malia Feb 05, 2026

Show notes

In this powerful and heart-opening episode, Mike “C-Roc” sits down with Board-Certified Neurosomatic Practitioner and Identity Architect Riana Malia for a deep conversation about what it truly means to live, love, and lead in alignment with who you are now.

From her “mermaid energy” roots in Maui to her transformational work with high-achieving women, Riana shares how subconscious patterns, old identity stories, and nervous system conditioning quietly shape our relationships, success, and sense of self.

Together, they explore the difference between fixing and receiving, masculine drive and feminine softness, and why clarity—not just positivity—is the real gateway to extraordinary love and fulfillment.

Riana breaks down how early-life beliefs become the blueprint for adulthood, how emotional “charge” gets stored in the body, and what it looks like to release what no longer serves so creativity, connection, and possibility can flow again.

This episode is an invitation to step out of old patterns, reconnect with your authentic identity, and create a life—and relationships—that truly match the person you’ve become.Website-www.rianamalia.com

Social Media Links/Handles-

https://www.instagram.com/rianamalia/

https://www.youtube.com/@rianamalia

https://Podcast.rianamalia.com

https://www.tiktok.com/@rianamalia121

https://www.quiz.rianamalia.com

https://thebrilliancebrunch.rianamalia.com

Health as Infrastructure: How Better Systems Create a Stronger Body and Sharper Mind with Nate Palmer Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

In this powerful and wide-ranging conversation, Nate Palmer—coach, systems builder, and founder of Million Dollar Body Labs—joins Mike “C-Roc” to unpack what it really takes to build a body, a mindset, and a life that performs under real-world pressure.

With over 15 years of experience helping high-responsibility individuals get leaner, stronger, and more energized, Nate challenges the idea that health is about more discipline and instead reframes it as infrastructure—the foundation that supports better decisions, sharper focus, stronger leadership, and long-term longevity.

From identity and nervous system regulation to the difference between surviving and truly thriving, Nate explains why simplicity, consistency, and smart systems create results that actually last.

Nate also shares the deeply personal story that shaped his mission, reflecting on a childhood home invasion that fueled his early drive for strength and protection, and how that fear-based motivation eventually evolved into a passion for helping people discover what their bodies and minds are truly capable of.

Together, Nate and Mike "C-Roc" explore peak experiences, self-belief, and the power of shifting identity from “trying to be healthy” to becoming a healthy person. Along the way, they touch on neuroscience, stress, recovery, and the small daily choices that compound into extraordinary outcomes, offering listeners a practical and inspiring roadmap to building energy, confidence, and momentum in every area of life.

Website-https://milliondollarbodylabs.com

Social Media Links/Handles:

https://facebook.com/n8palmer

https://www.instagram.com/_milliondollarbody

https://www.linkedin.com/in/n8training/ https://twitter.com/n8training

https://www.youtube.com/c/N8TrainingSystems

Breaking the Negative Loop: How to Heal Core Wounds and Reclaim Your True Self with Jenn Pinkerton Jan 29, 2026

Show notes

In this powerful episode of What Are You Made Of ? , Mike “C-Roc” sits down with psychotherapist, coach, speaker, and writer Jennifer “Jenn” Pinkerton for a deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation about connection, trauma, and the stories we tell ourselves.

Jenn opens up about the early loss of her father and how that pivotal moment shaped her identity, relationships, and her journey from being a “storyteller” and chameleon for acceptance to becoming a truth teller rooted in authenticity and emotional growth.

Together, Mike "C-Roc" and Jenn explore how core wounds like abandonment, unworthiness, and not belonging can influence everything from our careers and relationships to how we show up in the world, and how doing the hard emotional work can transform those patterns.

Jenn also shares her path into psychotherapy, her passion for helping individuals and couples heal relational wounds, and her continued pursuit of growth through her PhD in clinical sexology, specializing in intimacy and healing after infidelity.

This episode is a raw, insightful look at what it truly means to return to who you were before trauma shaped your story and to live a bold, connected, and authentic life.Website-Jennpinkerton.com

Social Media Links/Handles-

https://www.facebook.com/jenniferbpinkerton

https://www.instagram.com/jennbpinkerton/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-pinkerton-73817b27/

https://www.tiktok.com/@redheadreveal

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