In the first ever listener question episode of the Smarter Strength Podcast, Dr. David Skolnik tackles this exact situation — submitted by Jonathan, owner of the Iron Sharpens Iron Mentorship in Mesa, Arizona, a coaching community for in-person trainers building their own business.

Big THANK YOU to our sponsors:

- CoachRX - Hands down, the best platform for coaches. From building your intake & assessment processes to individual program design, invoicing and education, CoachRX has you covered. Get your first 30 days FREE - Try CoachRX

- Performance Supplements - go to www.performance-supp.com & use the code smarterstrength at checkout to save 15% on your entire order (I'm a big fan of their Krea-Grow - everything you need to support high quality training sessions!)

- AbMat - go to www.abmat.com & use the code drdavid at checkout to save 10% of your entire order (get a Zercher Pad - your elbows will thank you!)

THE REAL PROBLEM

The issue runs deeper than a client being attracted to a different plan. The problem is how they're interpreting the result they've seen. They're treating it like a mirror — if it worked for that person, it'll work for me. But they're actually looking through a window. They're watching someone else, in a different body, with different training history, different lifestyle, different goals, get a result from a plan that may or may not fit them at all.

THE SOLUTION: DON'T COMPETE. DON'T DISMISS. REFRAME.

The move is not to argue against the other plan. It's to validate it — and then reveal why it worked. In all likelihood, that plan got results because it fit the people who succeeded with it. Their training history, their lifestyle, their schedule, their capacity all made that plan the right one for them. The exercises weren't magic. The fit was.

THE ACTION: OPEN IT UP WITH THEM

Don't push the plan away. Sit down with your client and actually review it together. Congratulate them for being proactive. Then walk through the plan using the Three C's framework from Episode 2 — Capacity, Clarity, and Core Values — as your filter.

Show them what you'd keep, what you'd adjust, and what you'd cut entirely. That walkthrough does more to earn trust than anything you could say about why custom coaching is valuable. Don't ask for trust. Demonstrate why you deserve it.

RESOURCES & SHOUTOUTS

Question submitted by Jonathan — owner of Iron Sharpens Iron Mentorship, Mesa, Arizona.

SPONSORS

Performance Supplements — This week David makes the case for creatine: 18 years of personal use, emerging research on cognition, working memory, sleep deprivation, and dementia. Use code SMARTERSTRENGTH at performance-sups.com for 60 servings of creatine monohydrate for under $20.

NEXT WEEK — EPISODE 6

How to avoid the "good coach plateau" and continue growing in an ever-changing profession.

But when it's followed by silence, or the next exercise cue, or a pivot to something else — your client walks away no better informed than when they asked. And in Episode 4 of the Smarter Strength Podcast, Dr. David Skolnik makes the case that this might be one of the most quietly damaging habits in coaching: not because coaches don't know the answer, but because the complexity of the answer becomes the reason not to give one.

Big THANK YOU to our sponsors:

- CoachRX - Hands down, the best platform for coaches. From building your intake & assessment processes to individual program design, invoicing and education, CoachRX has you covered. Get your first 30 days FREE - Try CoachRX

- Performance Supplements - go to www.performance-supp.com & use the code smarterstrength at checkout to save 15% on your entire order (I'm a big fan of their Krea-Grow - everything you need to support high quality training sessions!)

- AbMat - go to www.abmat.com & use the code drdavid at checkout to save 10% of your entire order (get a Zercher Pad - your elbows will thank you!)

WHY THIS IS A PROBLEM

Every unanswered "it depends" is a missed opportunity to show your client how deep this goes, how much you know, and why they need you.

There's also a harder truth: sometimes "it depends" with no follow-up is gatekeeping — hiding the complexity of an answer behind the complexity of the answer. It's the coaching equivalent of "trust me, it's complicated." Clients deserve better than that.

THE SOLUTION: FOUR CATEGORIES

David's framework: filter every client question through one of four categories. Most questions will naturally fit into one primary lens. Once you've identified it, use that lens to give at least one layer of context.

Goal — Does the exercise or approach match what the client is actually training toward right now?

Programming — How is the exercise built into the plan? The same movement, programmed differently, delivers entirely different results.

Pain — Does past or current pain make this movement appropriate? Or does it change which variation is safe and effective?

Lifestyle — Does the client's schedule, stress load, and recovery capacity actually support the approach?

YOUR ACTION THIS WEEK

Every time you catch yourself saying "it depends" — in person, on a call, in a message — add one extra layer. Pick one of the four categories (Goal, Programming, Pain, Lifestyle) and explain what it depends on through that lens. Just one. Not all four. One. That's enough to start closing the gap between the answer you have and the understanding your client leaves with.

NEXT WEEK — EPISODE 5

David's keeping this one close to the chest — a special episode he hadn't fully formed at recording time. Tune in Monday to find out.

What I’d ask each of you to do is to make a point of delivering that home cooked feeling to at least one interaction this week. It could be an interaction with a customer, an employee, a friend or even a stranger. The home cooked feeling makes it obvious you’ve put extra time and thought into your interaction - you could have gone the convenient, store bought route but you decided to take the time to cook something up SPECIAL. I think you’ll find that people will respond to this in an incredibly positive way!

That’s it for this week - until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

So, your action plan this week is simply to go check out Marek Health - learn more about what they do and also, if you haven’t seen a doctor in 5 years - make a freakin appointment! If you feel amazing - GREAT - go get some labs done and figure out what your internal environment looks like when you feel awesome - that way in the future you and your medical team will know what to do in the inevitable event that one day you don’t feel so awesome whether because of age, environment, stress or illness. Be an active agent of your own health!

That’s it for this week. Until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

• Download the Life Design Worksheet
• Download the Find My Niche Worksheet

Connect with Frank - @frank_benedetto
Connect with David - @dr.davidskolnik.dpt
Connect with the Show - @essential.strength.podcast

Action Plan

Your action plan for the week is this - Block out the time needed to fill out the Life Design Worksheet, which is linked in the show notes for this episode. I can tell you from personal experience - the first time I did this exercise it was eye opening in a lot of ways. It gave me clarity as to what I really want my life to look like in a way I’d never experienced before, and it highlighted how my current work, income, and time management was not necessarily in alignment with what I said I wanted. And, spoiler alert - it still isn’t. I’m moving in the right direction - albeit slowly - but it’s high time I sat down and completed the Life Design Worksheet again, this time with my wife, and started taking more concrete steps towards living out my ideals. I hope you gain some valuable insight from this exercise… in fact I’m quite sure that you will.

That’s it for this week - until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

That’s it for this week - Until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

If today’s conversation resonated with you and you want to support the powerful work that Crystal is doing in the Mental Health Community through her non-profit The Healthy Mind Movement - check the show notes for lots of ways to connect with Crystal, support her work and of course, to purchase your All Vibes Welcome T-shirt.

Until next week, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Kyle is a marriage and sex therapist who has worked with dozens of couples to help them understand the root causes of their wants, needs, insecurities and find the truth in their relationships.

In today’s conversation, Kyle and I talk about how to cultivate intentionally intimate relationships, how to adjust the “thermostat” on your relationship, balancing individuality with partnership, and how to root out defensiveness and stonewalling to allow for effective communication.

Connect with me and to connect with this podcast via Instagram where we produce weekly video content and would love to get a chance to know you, our listeners! If you have a second to rate and review this podcast, that would also mean the world to me and help get these messages into more heads and more hearts!

Connect with Kyle: @_kylebenson
Connect with David: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt
Connect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcast
 
Recommended Reading
For New Couples & Those Currently Dating: Attached & Wired for Dating
For Committed Couples: 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work, Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love & Eight Dates
For Non-Monogamous Couples: Polysecure
For Better Sex: Magnificent Sex

Action Plan

Your action plan this week is specifically for the listeners who are in a committed relationship. I want you to take a page out of Kyle’s book and schedule 30 plus minutes of uninterrupted time with your partner where you talk about the things that are going well in your lives (both individually and as a couple), areas of stress and uncertainty, and areas where you could really use each other’s support. This conversation could happen on the couch, at the kitchen table, on a walk, or over dinner during date night. The only rule - NO PHONES, NO DISTRACTIONS - if you think you’re going to need to take notes, grab a piece of paper and a pen. This is about internal togetherness.

That’s it for this week. Until next time we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

I want you to choose a current goal you are working towards and set aside 10 minutes between now and our next episode to write down, in detail, a description of the day you achieve this goal as if it has already happened. Where are you? Who is with you? How do you feel? What was the hardest part? The more detail, the better. If someone else were to read this journal entry, they would have no idea that this event has not yet come to pass.

That’s it for this week. Until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

For more on what kind of tools we should be adding, you’ll have to tune in next Friday when we conclude this conversation on corrective exercise.

In the meantime: If you appreciate this podcast, and the topics we cover each week, do us a favor - screen shot this episode and post in on social media. Tag the podcast @essential.strength.podcast and tag me @dr.davidskolnik.dpt - let us know you’re listening. Send this podcast to a friend or colleague that needs to hear it. And, as always, subscribe, rate and review the show. It only takes a few seconds to have an outsized impact on the future of this podcast!

Appreciate each and every one of you! Catch ya’ll next week!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

As the subtitle of Greg’s book explains, this book is a guide to building true mental, physical & emotional toughness for success & fulfillment. It’s about a lot more than how to be the traditional vision of a “tough guy” - and in today’s conversation we talk about why clearly defining your values and purpose are foundational to becoming tough, the four C’s that define toughness for Greg, and why tough people should have a journaling routine.

To connect with Greg, give him a follow on Instagram where he is @catalystathletics and to order the book online you can check out becomingtough.com where you will find a ton of absolutely glowing reviews for this book. 

This conversation is not what you might expect.  A world renowned olympic weightlifting coach, on the Essential Strength Podcast, talking about toughness - and we’re having a conversation about fulfillment, empathy, journaling and discovering your true purpose.

But that’s the point - being tough doesn’t mean falling in line with some pre-historic definition of being the burly man who shoves their feelings down into the deepest recesses of their brain, carries a big stick around and pretends that nothing hurts. Being tough is about having the courage to identify what sets your soul on fire, creates that greatest good in the world and being tough enough to stay authentic to those things.

Action Plan

Your action plan this week is simple - start a journaling practice. Try it for at least two solid weeks. I know I was super resistant to this for a long time but in the last 4 weeks of podcasts, we’ve had an Olympic athlete, world record-holding powerlifter and author/weightlifting coach all have one thing in common - they are adamant about the incredible power of journaling. So start - TODAY - by writing down one thing you are grateful for and one affirmation - an “I am”, “I can” or “I will” statement - and do that each day for 2 weeks. I’ve been doing it for about 4 weeks now, not perfectly, but as many mornings as I remember too, and I can say the mornings I write down my gratitude and my affirmation always set me up for a great day.

Alright, that’s it for this week. Until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Crystal Miranda is a clinical social worker and a currently pursuing her PhD in psychology. Her area of research is examining the experience of utilizing emotional states to enhance performance among strength athletes. Crystal is also the founder of The Healthy Mind Movement – A non-profit organization that aims to promote mental wellness and self-growth through evidence-based information and community immersion.

In today’s conversation, I ask Crystal about how psychological pathologies have been used to label people and how she helps people separate themselves from their diagnosis. We talk about alternative coping mechanisms that can aid us in dealing with difficult times, and about how Crystal helps the folks she works with realize that even strong people can struggle with mental health. 

Connect

To learn amore about Crystal and the work she is doing, you can check out The Health Mind Movement on both Instagram and Facebook, or to straight to www.thehealthmindmovement.org

If you enjoyed this podcast, and want to help us grow and get stronger - screen shot this episode and post in on social media. Tag the podcast @essential.strength.podcast and tag me @dr.davidskolnik.dpt - let us know you’re listening. Send this podcast to a friend or colleague that needs to hear it. And, as always, subscribe, rate and review the show. It only takes a few seconds to have an outsized impact on the future of this podcast!

Action Plan

You’re Action Plan for the week is this:

Stop forcing yourself into someone else’s definition of “self love” or “mindfulness” - If journaling frustrates you, like it frustrates Miranda - find another way to get your thoughts out of your head. If sitting and meditating frustrates you the way it frustrates me - go for a walk with your favorite music playing through your headphones and maybe the incessant thoughts careening around your mind will start to settle a bit. Long story short - find what makes your mind happy and healthy.


Alright, that’s it for this week. Until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

We’re still riding the back pain train this week, but we’re taking it BACK IN TIME.

Back Pain seems like a modern dilemma. We sit more and more for our jobs, we sit and watch Netflix at home, we sit in our cars and therefore we have back pain.

People probably didn’t have back pain before our lifestyles became sedentary, right? Actually, not right. We can look back as far as 3,000 years ago and find documented cases of back pain. Now, back in the day - meaning like, 1500 BCE - we don’t have statistics to tell us the per capita case rate of back pain or anything of that nature, but we can say that some of the most influential names in the history of science and medicine were pondering back pain, what caused it, and how to treat it, many many centuries ago.

And now, at least 3,000 years into the written history of back pain, we still don’t have a discernible cause for 95-99% of low back pain cases. Interesting enough, as is often the case, our most modern paradigm of back pain is actually beginning to resemble more closely some of the most ancient definitions, rather than what we have considered “fact” in the interim. 

A lot has changed in the last 2500 years, but we are still trying to figure out what people experience low back pain, what structures are at fault, how to address back pain effectively and create lasting results. We’ve developed advanced surgical techniques, diagnostic tools and imaging systems, and written countless thousands of articles and books on anatomy and pathology. And yet, the current wave of back pain treatment focuses less on the biomechanics structure and more on the the entire picture. The biopsychosocial model acknowledges that our strucutre, our thoughts and our environment cannot be separated, but must be considered as equal parts of a whole if we are to understand and treat pain. I don’t know about you but to me, it sounds like we’ve returned in large part to where we were 2500 years ago when Aristotle noted that pain is a “passion of the sole.”

Catch Ya’ll next week!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Before we dive into some details - here is the Great News: This review found that every single approach - be in Pilates, Global Postural Rehabilitation, McKenzie Exercises, etc. - every approach was effective for reducing pain, disability and improving quality of life AND the effects help up over time. These exercise-based interventions were also MORE effective than a pharmacological intervention at reducing disability and improving physiological outcomes like strength and flexibility. No single approach was clearly superior to the others given the current state of the literature.

Long story short - if you have chronic low back pain, and you seek treatment - find a practitioner who will utilize active, guided exercise as a first-line strategy for improving your pain.

To read to original research article - click here

Reminder!

If you are a coach or a trainer and YOU want to improve your ability to work with clients who have aches, pains or injuries don't sleep on Michael Mash and his Barbell Rehab Workshop - as an Essential Strength listener, you can take $25 off the price of the online version of the workshop by using the code "stronger25" - and remember, this workshop counts for continuing education credit for pretty much every major accrediting body so if you're in need of hours to maintain certifications - this is a great option!

Catch ya'll next week!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

DON’T LET A NAGGING INJURY OR ISSUE TURN INTO A CHRONIC PAIN CONDITION!

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve talked to patients, friends or family members about a pain they’re experiencing - this is a common topic at every get together since I got my degree - and the conversation goes something like - “Oh, it’s not that bad, I’ve been dealing with this pain for a couple years now.”

IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE LIKE THAT!

I can promise you this - it’s a a helluva lot easier to fix a joint that’s not moving right than it is to undue to cascade of negative effects that chronic pain has on your brain. Your back pain isn’t isolated to your back - it’s impacting your mood, your motivation, your temper, your mental health. Why? Because your back bone is connected to your brain bone by a little thing called your nervous system - and once that nervous system get’s involved, treatment gets a whole lot more complicated.

Alright, getting off my soap box now.

If you are interested in looking at the research on this topic, this article is a good place to start:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6650904/

If you want to learn more about everything from sleep to squats and from how to strengthen your core to tips fro making your mind more resilient - check out The Reading List from Stronger In Motion

Catch ya’ll next week.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Zack Bartell is the sole owner of SoCal Powerlifting, located in Irvine California. He is a retired competitive powerlifter, and also works as a business coach to fitness businesses around the country, helping them grow and scale their own operations. 

On today’s episode, Zack takes us back to when his powerlifting career was ended prematurely due to injury and puts himself back in that moment when his entire identity was ripped away from him. We talk about the how SoCal Powerlifting came to be and why he is more proud of the community he has created than any financial and material success, and we talk about how mentorship and a thirst for learning have been constants throughout his life.

LINKS

• Zack's Instagram
• SoCal Powerlifting Instagram
• SoCal Powerlifting Website
• Zack's Business Coaching

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

• Extreme Ownership - Jocko Willink & Leif Babin
• The Infinite Game - Simon Sinek
• Leaders Eat Last - Simon Sinek
• The Compound Effect - Darren Hardy

REMEMBER

Sign up for the STRONGER NEWSLETTER for a Monday morning e-mail including a weekly workout, nutrition tip, motivation and exclusive sales and new product releases from Stronger In Motion!


Until next week - We wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Alex is a Certified Group Fitness Instructor, Personal Trainer and RYT-200 Yoga Teacher who recently left Portland and moved to Nashville, TN. As a coach, Alex focuses on moving with intention and integrity, building confidence through strength, and holistically increasing performance in a fun and sustainable way. She grew up playing sports and discovered her love of strength training through college athletics as a cheerleader at the University of Miami and is grateful that she can now share this love and knowledge with others for a living! 

Today’s conversation ranges from some eye opening insights into the physical challenges and discipline required to be a collegiate cheerleader this experience as a college athlete laid the foundation for Alex’s love of strength training. We talk about what lead her to becoming a certified yoga instructor and get into the nitty gritty process of planning and executing a yoga class that moves people both physically and mentally. And we spend a good chunk of time railing against the fact that women still avoid strength training for fear of getting “bulky” - which Alex thought would have died out years ago and as she so perfectly explains - No one get’s bulky by accident”.

This was a really fun conversation that I learned a TON from and I’m sure you will too.

Links

• Alex on Instagram
• Yoga with Alex via MOXY
• Alex's Website
• YoYo Yogi in Portland, OR

Check This Out!!!

Alex wrote a blog for Stronger In Motion that dives deeper into the specific ways adding a yoga practice can take your training to the NEXT LEVEL!


Your Weekly Action Plan

If you have been avoiding the gym forever due to a fear of getting “bulky” I challenge you, and Alex challenges you, to commit to 6 weeks of strength training. If you have been avoiding yoga because you think it’s too woo-woo spiritual, or you’re too flexible, or anything else - sign up for a yoga punch card at a local studio if it’s open or subscribe to a month of yoga online - preferably with Alex via Moxy, which is linked up above of course - but TRY IT. And let us know how you feel - both Alex and I love having conversations on Instagram and would love to hear from anyone who takes action on this challenge!

Until next week, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Big THANK YOU to our sponsors:

- CoachRX - Hands down, the best platform for coaches. From building your intake & assessment processes to individual program design, invoicing and education, CoachRX has you covered. Get your first 30 days FREE - Try CoachRX

- Performance Supplements - go to www.performance-supp.com & use the code smarterstrength at checkout to save 15% on your entire order (I'm a big fan of their Krea-Grow - everything you need to support high quality training sessions!)

- AbMat - go to www.abmat.com & use the code drdavid at checkout to save 10% of your entire order (get a Zercher Pad - your elbows will thank you!)

WHY THE GAP EXISTS

Clients aren't indifferent — they're uninformed. Most people come to coaching with one narrow goal: lose a little weight, follow doctor's orders, feel slightly less terrible. They think of a trainer the way they think of a mechanic: fix the one thing that's broken, keep it running, don't make me learn how the engine works.

They don't know that consistent resistance training reduces the risk of cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer's. They don't know it lowers all-cause mortality, reduces cancer risk, improves cardiovascular health, protects bone density, reduces fall risk, and is one of the most evidence-backed interventions for depression and anxiety. If they did, filling a schedule and charging premium rates would be a very different conversation.

THE SOLUTION: SHARE THE WHY

The fix is not a better sales pitch. It's not a flashier Instagram reel. It's education — woven into every session, every program, every piece of content you create. Clients need to understand the reasoning behind your decisions, not just receive the output of them. When you explain why you increased reps, shortened rest, added a pause, or chose a specific exercise for a specific client, you are actively closing the value gap in real time.

David illustrates this with a real example: a client in his mid-60s performing a dumbbell step-up hang clean. The lazy caption is "cool exercise, DM for coaching." The high-value caption — the one David actually posted — explains what makes a balance exercise effective: challenging enough to require real-time correction, not so difficult the client fails. It connects the drill to the client's actual life goal: volunteering at golf events, carrying grandkids, not being the person on the course with a cane. That is the why. That is what closes the gap.

This approach works in both directions — with the clients you already have and with the audience you're building. If your clients are asking follow-up questions about your coaching decisions, so are your followers. Every explanation becomes content. Every coach's note becomes a reel. Every session becomes a masterclass your clients don't even realize they're attending.

YOUR ACTION THIS WEEK

In-person coaches: share the reason behind one training decision in every session this week. Why did the weight go up? Why did the rest period change? Why this exercise for this client right now? One decision. Every session. Every client.

Online coaches: add a coach's note to one workout per week for each client. Explain the reasoning behind one programming choice — the progression logic, the intensity target, the proximity to failure, the energy system you're training. Let them see inside your process.

Bonus: document every one of these moments. They are your content.

SPONSOR — COACHRX

CoachRx is the coaching platform David uses to deliver programs, coach's notes, billing, goal setting, and habit tracking — everything in one place. New to CoachRx or worried about migrating from your current platform? Their dedicated transition team moves all your client data, programs, and templates within 24 hours. Start your free 30-day trial using the link in the show notes.

REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE

Instagram Reel — Dumbbell Step-Up Hang Clean with client Vince: what makes a great balance exercise (link below)

NEXT WEEK — EPISODE 4

The most common answer coaches give their clients — and why "it depends" might be doing more harm than good when it's not followed up with what it actually depends on.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Big THANK YOU to our sponsors:

- CoachRX - Hands down, the best platform for coaches. From building your intake & assessment processes to individual program design, invoicing and education, CoachRX has you covered. Get your first 30 days FREE - Try CoachRX

- Performance Supplements - go to www.performance-supp.com & use the code smarterstrength at checkout to save 15% on your entire order (I'm a big fan of their Krea-Grow - everything you need to support high quality training sessions!)

- AbMat - go to www.abmat.com & use the code drdavid at checkout to save 10% of your entire order (get a Zercher Pad - your elbows will thank you!)

THE PSA FORMAT — WHY IT'S DIFFERENT

Every episode of Smarter Strength follows a simple, powerful framework:

Problem — A real challenge facing coaches right now.
Solution — A practical, no-BS approach to addressing it.
Action — One specific thing you can do today to move the needle.

That action element is the whole point. There is no shortage of fitness podcasts — but almost none of them tell you what to do next. Smarter Strength fills that gap.

IN THIS EPISODE

David lays out the vision for the show and delivers a challenge directly to coaches: we have more power to change people's lives than we give ourselves credit for — but no one is going to hand us that recognition. We have to earn it, own it, and prove it through the results we get for our clients. When we do that, our clients become our best marketing — walking billboards for what a great coach can do.

All of this grinds to a halt if we don't acknowledge the elephant in the room - that more often than not, if client's aren't getting results, WE ARE THE PROBLEM. Us, the coaches. We need to get better at identifying the problems our clients want us to solve, not just whether or not they want more hypertrophy or muscle endurance. What is it that they can't solve on their own? What part of their life do they want exercise to improve? Without this knowledge, we'll never be able to deliver the results they want.

YOUR ACTION FOR THIS WEEK

Ask at least 5 clients: What is the number one thing in your life right now that you want exercise to improve?

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Big THANK YOU to our sponsors:

- CoachRX - Hands down, the best platform for coaches. From building your intake & assessment processes to individual program design, invoicing and education, CoachRX has you covered. Get your first 30 days FREE - Try CoachRX

- Performance Supplements - go to www.performance-supp.com & use the code smarterstrength at checkout to save 15% on your entire order (I'm a big fan of their Krea-Grow - everything you need to support high quality training sessions!)

- AbMat - go to www.abmat.com & use the code drdavid at checkout to save 10% of your entire order (get a Zercher Pad - your elbows will thank you!)

THE SOLUTION: THE THREE C'S

Dr. David Skolnik introduces a practical three-part framework for coaches dealing with unmotivated clients.

Capacity — Before you adjust the program, adjust your lens. What does this client's life actually allow right now? Work stress, family obligations, sleep quality, caregiving responsibilities — all of it affects how much a person can bring to their training. Their capacity this month may look nothing like it did six months ago, and that's not failure. That's life. Your job is to meet them where they are.

Clarity — Are you and your client still on the same page about what they're working toward — and does the current plan reflect that? Goals shift. Life changes fast. A well-designed 12-week block can become completely misaligned with a client's reality by week six. Rebuild the communication. Reclarify the target. Make sure the plan still makes sense for the person standing in front of you today.

Core Values — Motivation comes and goes. Discipline fluctuates. But core values — the one or two fundamental qualities a person anchors their identity to — do not change. David draws on Brené Brown's Dare to Lead and the OPEX coaching method to make the case: when training is connected to a client's core values (health, accountability, integrity, service, freedom), it stops being optional. It becomes part of who they are.

THE QUESTION THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING

Every coach has been there: a client who says they want results but isn't doing the work. The instinct is to push. To confront. To ask "why aren't you trying harder?" David challenges coaches to reframe entirely — and ask instead: what is making this feel hard? That one shift lowers defensiveness, opens conversation, and gets directly to the root of the capacity, clarity, or values disconnect driving the motivation problem.

RESOURCES

Core Values List — Use it yourself first, then share it with clients.

Dare to Lead by Brené Brown — Referenced for its framework on identifying and living by core values.

CoachRx — The coaching platform David uses and recommends. Listeners get a 30-day free trial using the link in the show notes. Manage client programs, billing, goal setting, habit tracking, and communication all in one place.

NEXT WEEK — EPISODE 3

Clients who don't value coaching as much as they should — and what coaches are supposed to do about it.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

So, your action plan this week is simply to go check out Marek Health - learn more about what they do and also, if you haven’t seen a doctor in 5 years - make a freakin appointment! If you feel amazing - GREAT - go get some labs done and figure out what your internal environment looks like when you feel awesome - that way in the future you and your medical team will know what to do in the inevitable event that one day you don’t feel so awesome whether because of age, environment, stress or illness. Be an active agent of your own health!

That’s it for this week. Until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

That’s it for this week. Make sure you’re subscribed to this podcast so that you don’t miss next week’s episode with Sarah McDevitt - CEO of Core by HyperIce and a conversation about breaking down the mystery of meditation, using breath training to enhance a mental practice and how biofeedback from the Core device can enhance a meditation practice!

Until then, we wish you Strength and Good Health!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Cory is a former Division One athlete, Founder of Forever Athlete and host of the Forever Athlete Podcast. After his athletic career ended, Cory experienced a profound loss of identity and felt that he’d been “locked out of flow” - the state of being where we are at our most creative and intuitive. The realization that he had invested too much of his identity into a single element of life, lead Cory to dedicate himself to helping other athletes make a smoother transition into life after sport.

Our Partner on today's episode is STRONG Coffee - save 15% on every purchase with the code ESSENTIAL at checkout!

Remember - If you are enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a weekly basis!

Today’s Conversation with Cory is about human connection, training for a marathon, getting uncomfortable and the struggles that athletes face when their careers come to an end.

Connect with Cory: @corycamp
Connect with David: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt
Connect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcast
Learn More About Forever Athlete:  https://www.foreverathletela.com/
Check out the Forever Athlete Podcast: Listen Here

Action Plan

This weeks action plan goes deep. I want each of you to ask yourself one of Cory’s favorite questions - “How would you describe yourself without telling me what you do for a living?” You’ll hear Cory’s answer in a just a little bit but feel free to pause this episode for a minute to answer this question in your head. If you find value in this exercise - I’d suggest you pose it to a friend, family member or significant other. I wonder if you’ll be surprised by their answer or if you’ll find you would use similar words to describe them? Regardless, I think you’ll learn something about yourself by describing yourself in this way.

What's Next - That’s it for this week on The Essential Strength Podcast. Be sure to tune in next week for our episode with Doctor Chris Swart, and a conversation about how undergraduate students with an interest in health and fitness can best prepare themselves for a successful transition into the working world. The conversation includes Dr. Swart's “3 Mentors Philosophy”, the power of networking and common mistakes students make but don’t have to.

Until next time - we wish you Strength and Good Health.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

That’s it for this week. If you enjoyed today’s episode Mads and I would love to hear from you! Take a screenshot and post it to social media, be sure to tag me, @dr.davidskolnik.dpt and Mads, @madsmfriis. And if you’re so inclined, subscribe to this podcast, as well as the Growth Island podcast, and drop each of us a review and a comment! It’s a small action to take, but it has an outsized effect!

That’s it for this week. Until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

In today’s episode, Joe and I talk about the origin of his “Adapt or Die” mentality, the importance of family, what  makes a good coach and Joe answers some questions from gym members at my home gym, American Raw Fitness out here in Gilbert, Arizona.

Joe is an All Time World Record holding powerlifter, a coach, an entrepreneur and an educator. He is very familiar with hardship and speaks frequently on the power of mindset as it relates to overcoming difficult circumstances.

Our Partner on Today's Episode
Barbell Rehab - use the code "stronger25" to get $25 off any online courses from Barbell Rehab.

Connect with Us:
Connect with Joe - @joesullivan_aod & on YouTube
Connect with David - @dr.davidskolnik.dpt
Connect with the Show - @essential.strength.podcast
Remember to SUBSCRIBE and RATE the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts :)

Action Plan

This week’s action plan is two-fold:

The first thing I want EVERYONE to do is take a second and just count your blessings. Just stop and be thankful for what you have and for the hardships you’ve overcome because they’ve lead you to wherever you are now and at some point in the future, those same hardships will provide you with the wisdom and experience to overcome the hard shit the future indefinitely holds for all of us.

For the coaches listening - take an honest look at yourselves and your services and make damn sure that you’re delivering what you are succeeding in fulfilling the promise of the service you were hired for. I thought this definition of good coaching sets a very clear bar for all of use to measure ourselves by, but only if you’re truly honest in the assessment. If you aren’t sure, the answer is probably “no”, but you could always take a quick poll of your clients - at the end of the day it’s really their perception of your service that matters most.

That’s it for this week. Remember to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review or a comment, and check out the Instagram Page for this show - it’s linked in the show notes - to see video clips and other highlights from the show!

Until next week, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

That’s it for this week. Until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

That’s it for this week. Until next time, I wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

And until next week, I wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

The road to this achievement was extremely rocky. She lost friends, lost touch with family, and nearly lost herself to a battle with depression and hopelessness when her goals seemed out of reach. But she battled back, continued to do the work, and ultimately achieved everything she set out to in the sport of powerlifting. These days, Bama is traveling around the country hosting workshops where she teaches others how to build a Champion Mindset, which is how I was fortunate enough to connect with her. Stacy also hosts a weekly podcast called The Champion Mindset Podcast, and she coaches powerlifting athletes and anyone who wants to get strong through her training and coaching company - Bama Brick Squad. 

You guys are in for a treat today, and you’re guaranteed to leave with strategies you can implement TODAY to start living like a champion.

As you listen, don’t hesitate to hit pause and take notes, send this episode to a friend, or snap a screenshot of the podcast and post it on social media (just tag me - @dr.davidskolnik.dpt and Bama - @bamaburr) - because everyone deserves to live like a champion!

Action Plan

Your action plan for the week is this:

Make your bed. And I mean that both literally and figuratively. First, literally make your bed or Bama is gonna come knockin’ at your door and you don’t want that. Second, on the more metaphorical level, start taking steps to make small things into big habits. Practice being disciplined in the shallow end before going to the high dive. The results of small disciplines will surprise you.

Alright, that’s it for this week. Until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

• On Instagram @georganne400h

Your Action Plan

Your action plan for the week is this - Many of you have probably heard the saying - You never lose. You either win, or you learn. Cultivating that mindset has been huge for Georganne. And it’s what I want each of you to focus on this week. If you experience a situation that doesn’t go in your favor, or a project doesn’t go to plan - rather than focusing on the “failure”, figure out what you can learn from this situation. No one listening to this podcast is going to lose this week. You are either going to win, or you are going to learn.

Until next week, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

• Collen's Website - www.colleenconlon.com
• Colleen on Instagram - @iamcolleenconlon

Your Action Plan

Part of Colleen’s story that resinates with other guests we’ve has on the show, and with something that one of our Stronger In Motion Coaches, Coach Chris, shared earlier this week is that there is no one-size-fits-all form of exercise. What’s enjoyable for one person may not be enjoyable for you. And at the end of the day, regardless of any other research or “expert opinion”, nothing trumps consistency for improving your health. It took Colleen years, and multiple jobs within the fitness industry, to find kettlebells. Finding that tool, and hard style kettlebell training - it changed her life. So, for you dear listener, your task is to think about the exercise habits you have and whether you see them as rewards or punishments. Are you excited to exercise or do you dread it as a painful necessity? It’s never a bad time to switch up your routine if you aren’t enjoying it, and regardless of what anyone else does, it’s your job to find what makes you both happy and healthy.

Until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

We’ve been talking about exercise for the last couple weeks, how it’s quite possibly the single most effective way to improve your overall health and also why it’s so hard to form an exercise habit. Today, we’re going to shift gears a little bit and talk about HYDRATION.

A few of the key bodily functions impacted by our hydration status are body temperature regulation, joint lubrication, nutrient delivery, cellular function, infection control and our natural detoxification processes.

The best way to avoid dehydration? You guessed it - drink water! It’s your zero calorie, readily available dehydration prevention beverage!

We will continue this conversation about hydration next week, when we will get into more detail about specific beverage choices, and the concept of “malhydration” - but in the meantime, if you’d like to read more on this topic, you can head over to strongerinmotion.com and check out the most recent article in our reading list, where much of today’s information came from! The title of the article is “Benefits of Water: Are You getting Enough Fluids to Stay Healthy” by Sandee LaMotte and was published on CNN Health!

Hope everyone has a GREAT weekend, and I will catch ya’ll next week!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Now, you’re probably wondering - what on earth would compel someone to do these things? I’ll let Mike answer that question.

You can tune into the Live Stream of Mike’s 8th Labor via his Instagram, where is is @mikemccastle - and if you’re listening to this after the fact, I would still highly recommend you give Mike a follow, because he is far from done chasing greatness. You can also contribute to the cause of furthering the research and treatment of Parkinson’s Disease through links provided by Mike or by connecting with the Brian Grant Foundation.

Action Plan

Your action plan for this special episode is short and sweet - I would ask you to reflect on the following questions:
How much of my life have I chosen, and how much have I allowed to be chosen for me? 
How much of my perceived suffering have a chosen, and how much have I allowed to be chosen for me?

That’s in for this week. We’ll be back on Wednesday, January 27th. Until then, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

We’ve got a really cool, and in my opinion honestly life changing bit of science for everyone today. We’re talking about a breakthrough in preventive medical treatment that has been shown to address an incredible amount of common illnesses, ailments and other maladies. It’s a treatment that is backed by a ton of science and research and I’m so excited to share it with all of you!

This medical intervention has the following effects: 

• Reduces pain and disability in people with knee arthritis by 47%
• Reduced progression of Alzheimer’s in the elderly by 50%
• Reduced diabetes progression by 58%
• Reduced risk of hip fracture in post-menopausal women by 41%
• Reduced anxiety by 48%
• Relieved depression in 30% of cases with low dose treatment and 47% in higher doses
• It’s the best treatment for fatigue that we have to date 
• And has consistently been shown to improve quality of life in multiple populations and across the spectrum of varying socioeconomic levels, income, ethnicity, you name it.

You might have started to get a bit suspicious as I read through that list, and some of you may have even guess at what this breakthrough treatment is. It is not a pill, a potion, or a surgical intervention. The treatment is EXERCISE.

If you’re intrigued by this proposed treatment, I would encourage you to check out the video posted in the Reading List on Stronger in Motion - you can just click right here -  www.strongerinmotion.com/reading-list and it’s the first post you'll see. The video is a YouTube video called 23 and a Half Hours by Doc Mike Evans.

I hope you all feel inspired to make exercise a habit this year, and feel less stressed about the type of time commitment it takes to get healthier. 30 minutes per day of something as simple as walking can reduce your risk of nearly every chronic disease…it truly is that simple.

Catch ya'll next week!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Until next time - we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

This is Episode 13 of The Essential Strength Podcast and our guest is Holly Myers.

Holly is a coach and business owner based in Portland, Oregon. Along with her partner, Arryn, she owns Lift With Holly and Arryn - an online coaching business with the mission of Creating a Kinder Fitness Industry through Play, Awareness and Courage. The emphasis of their platform is coaching other coaches on how to get stronger and move more joyfully using barbells, kettlebells and other modalities. 

Much in the same was that The Essential Strength Podcast was born of a desire to illuminate the ways that people experience strength far beyond just it’s physical expression, Holly’s definition of strength goes far beyond muscles - into the realms of human potential, failure, resilience and integrity.

We talk about Holly’s own journey with strength training, and how it almost didn’t happen due to common gender stereotypes and fears, the best and most challenging aspects of building a business with your life partner, the amazing potential of online training for community building, and even have time to explore Holly’s love of cookies, ice cream, and how these things have actually worked their way into the coaching business.

Links to organizations and books mentioned in today's episode:

Charitable Causes:
1. Decolonizing Fitness
2. The Loveland Foundation
3. Action Against Hunger

Books:
1. Grit - By Angela Duckworth


In closing today - here is what I would like you to do, on behalf of myself and Holly - just practice being kind. If you want to practice a type of kindness that is fitness-specific try this - next time you’re at the gym, and you catch yourself judging someone for the way they are exercising, for their form, or whatever it is that triggers those judgmental thoughts, consider if the roles were reversed. Anyone who is making the decision to go to the gym is actively taking steps to improve their health. Today might be their first day. They might honestly have NO IDEA what they are doing. But they are DOING SOMETHING for themselves, for their future, and your judgement has no place in their journey. If you can be of help, help. If you can support them, do it. Educate. Assist. Inspire. And BE KIND.

Until next week, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
• Graded Exposure Therapy

Biofeedback can help bring awareness and control to processes such as breath and heart rate associated with painful or scary moments.

You can be your own pain-management ally by continuing to be physical active, eating well, sleeping enough and staying social engaged while working to reduce chronic pain.

Remember - Pain is NEVER HOPELESS, regardless of how unmanageable it may feel, pain  exists on a spectrum of "less manageable" to "more manageable" and because your brain is capable of change, so is your pain experience!

Reference Article for this episode - Pathways Health


Catch ya'll next week!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

On today’s episode, we talk about Maggie’s four pillars of fitness, what is means to “do the work” and how the journey is so much more important than the destination. We talk about a recent episode of Maggie’s podcast that I found super interesting, in which she speaks on how forgiveness is the first step toward building self confidence. We wrap up the conversation with Maggie explaining the current personal weakness she is working to turn into a strength, and it is a deep one that many of you may relate to.

Links

• Maggie On Instagram 
• Maggie's Podcast Website - The Mind Muscle Enlightenment Podcast
• The Mind Muscle Enlightenment Podcast on Apple Podcasts
• The Mind Muscle Enlightenment Podcast on Spotify
• Maggie's  Program - Magnetic Attractor

Review of the Month

Remember - if you listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, you are eligible to win any product of your choosing from FNX Fit - That means protein, pre-workout, CBD products, you name it, its all up for grabs! - All you have to do is click HERE and write a review telling us why you appreciate this podcast! Next winner will be announced on Wednesday, December 2nd.

Action Plan

Your action plan for the week is this - I’d like you to take 5 minutes in either the morning or the evening to do two things - one is write down something you are grateful for or excited about each day. Second, I’d love for each and every one of you listening to write down Maggie’s four pillars and fitness - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual - and write a little bit each day about how you’re doing with each of these, what your priorities are, and where you need to do “some work” as Maggie might say. And, at the end of a week, if you’re loving the process, just keep it going. After all, it’s only 5 minutes!

Until next week, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

On today’s episode we talk about Adrian’s athletic background, the birth of FNX and their commitment to building a supplement company grounded in transparency, quality and community, we talk about Adrian’s recent venture into podcasting - he is the host of RISE and POD with Adrian Conway - and I ask Adrian about the importance of two key themes in his life and success - HARD WORK and the power of A POSITIVE MINDSET.

Review of the Month - October Winner!

Out favorite Apple Podcast review from October was from "lupecc" - if you're reading this, please reach out either via Instagram - @essential.strength.podcast - of send an e-mail to david@strongerinmotion.com to claim your prize - any product of your choosing from FNX Fit!

FNX Fit Affiliate Partnership!

One of the biggest reasons we wanted to have Adrian on the show was to shine a light on FNX Fit as they have been an affiliate partner of the show since the jump, and they are a company I personally use daily, trust deeply and am committed to forming a lasting relationship with.

We have a 20% off discount for YOU from FNX Fit - all you have to do is go to www.FNXfit.com and use the code “ESSENTIAL” - that’s all caps E-S-S-E-N-T-I-A-L - at checkout for 20% of your entire order from FNX Fit!

Your Action Plan for the Week!

I want you to take a second and consider what kind of example you are setting for those around you. For your family. For your co-workers or employees, for your team, your clients, whoever it may be. Are you setting a high bar for your work ethic? What about your attitude? Are you walking the walk or just talking the talk when it comes to your health? It’ll be a quick process to audit your life, quicker then you may think - you probably already know the answers to all the questions I just posed. The hard part is if you identified any areas where the answer was “no” - no I’m not setting a good example with my attitude, no I’m not working as hard as I could - you have to do the WORK to turn that answer into a resounding YES.

Until next week, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

In this episode we speak about Max’s definition of strength and the importance he places on the concept of “relative strength” both in the gym and in life, and we talk at length about the concept of “staying in your lane” does more harm than good in the health and fitness industries. There is a whole lot more to this conversation but... you'll just have to listen!

More About Max

Max's Webiste - Artsis Athletics
Max on Instagram
Performix House West Hollywood

Book References

Atomic Habits - James Clear
Dare to Lead - Brene Brown
Getting Things Done - David Allen

Action Plan

Your action plan for the week this week is this - I want you to reflect on where you are in your career. How long have you been in the field? How invested are you in the pursuit of greatness within this field? And then ask - is it time to go an inch wide and a mile deep in one area of this field? Have I done the work to become a great generalist? Someone who can move from one conversation to the next and feel competent and confident about most any topic within this field? If the answer is yes, then the next step is actually fairly simple - You already know which portion of the industry you are most passionate about; it’s the one your mind wanders too, the one you already enjoy learning about and wish you had more time for. Well, the time is now - go all in and dive deep, it’s time to become a specialist!

Reminder

Write a review on Apple Podcasts to be eligible for our "Review of the Month" giveaway and your chance to win a product of your choice from FNXfit - winner will be announced on Nov. 4 during Ep. 18 of The Essential Strength Podcast. And you can always get 20% off any products from FNXfit simply by using the code "ESSENTIAL" at checkout!


Until next week - we wish you STRENGTH  and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

To frame the situation, let’s quickly re-cap: COVID-19 becomes increasingly dangerous with pre-existing conditions, such as the types of chronic medical conditions common in older adults such as heart disease, respiratory diagnoses, and hypertension among. All of this happens at the same time as the aging process natural diminishes the effectiveness of our immune systems. All this to say - COVID-19 is more dangerous for the older members of out community whose immure systems do not respond as subtly has the younger counterparts. 

What does this mean in a practical sense? It means legitimate concerns about re-entering social spaces, increased worry about exposure risk, and an increased likelihood of self-imposed “stay home” decisions. This conversation today is not in any way, shape or form an attempt to undermine these risks, or questions anyone’s decisions about how best to manage their risk - but there is no doubt that given everything we’ve just talked about the opportunities for physical activity and exercise more greatly impacted for older folks than younger ones, and we need to talk about that if we’re going to improve this situation.

If you would like to read more about this particular topic, the risks and benefits of activity and inactivity respectively as we age, and get more information on how you can be an advocate for exercise, head over the STRONGERINMOTION.COM/Reading-list - where you’ll find a link to the article that inspired today’s podcast, as well as over 60 articles on everything from physical health to mental health, lifting, nutrition, and more!

Catch ya’ll next week! 

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

In this episode you’ll learn about Steve’s path from a little kid who loved music classes in elementary school, the to moment he realized he wanted to be a drummer and how that moment has defined the next 20 years of his life, from performing, teaching and studying music to how he sees rhythmic structure everywhere he looks.

Here is my practical advice to real seal in the flavor of this episode - I want you to notice when you are influenced by rhythm and to appreciate how it feels. Don’t try and over think it, or seek it out. Rhythm will find you. It might be that you are tapping your foot to a song playing on the radio in the car next to you at an intersection. Or noticing that as you hum a tune in your own head, your walking cadence has fallen in line with the rhythm without any conscious effort. Notice how vocal cadence changes make clear the different emotions people are experiencing - fear, excitement, boredom - and just savor that in a time where all of us are struggling to maintain connection to the world around us, we all have this sixth sense, this rhythmic awareness that binds us, and keeps us moving together, like one big marching band.

Links:

To listen to a sampling of Steve's musical portfolio click here

To connect with Steve and learn from him - www.stevenskolnik.com

Youth Music Programs in the Portland, OR area:
1. Portland Youth Jazz Orchestra
2. Portland Youth Philharmonic

And, as promised - The history of the Fram Drum, one of the most ancient instruments on record!

Until next time, we wish you Strength and Good Health.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

The topic this week - Gym Buddies

Most people have an intrinsic sense of why it’s good to have a gym buddy or a workout partner. But what does the research say? Is there more to it than just having a friend to keep you accountable?

Researchers at the University of Aberdeen set out to answer that question, and their findings - published in 2016 - confirmed that finding an exercise companion increased the amount of exercise that people did, and that there was one key trait we should look for in our gym partners.

While simply having an exercise companion increased exercise volume, a partner who offered emotional support lead to even greater increases in exercise when compared to a companion who offered more practical support. The lead researcher, Dr. Pamela Rackow, concluded that it was most important that gym buddies support and encourage each other, even more important than whether a duo actually workout out together.

If you’re interested in reading the original article from Science Daily, or exploring the actual research paper, here is the link to Reading List at strongerinmotion.com where the article is posted.

There are other, less stringently tested benefits of having an exercise partner as well. Here are 4 reasons a gym buddy can make workouts more effective and more enjoyable, originally posted on Everyone Active
1. Friendly Competition
2. You'll Have More Fun
3. Fresh Ideas
4. Stay Motivated

Whether you’re working out with a gym buddy, going on a run with a friend, playing a game of socially distanced tennis or doing whatever you love to do to move your body - fueling your body is still a key to both performance and recovery. Luckily, in a stressful world, something like getting your daily servings of greens doesn’t have to be a point of stress with products like Rebalance Greens from FNX.

Along with having a workout buddy, feeling good and having great energy every day will ALWAYS help you get more exercise. If you want to see why I keep talking about the greens from FNX, hit the link to FNXFIT.com and use the code ESSENTIAL at checkout for 15% off your purchase of Rebalance Greens or any other product from FNX designed to fuel your greatness.

So remember: 

• Step 1 - find a gym partner, bonus points if they are emotionally supportive 
• Step 2 - enjoy all the benefits of that new workout buddy - the increased enjoyment of exercise, the friendly competition, the motivation
• Step 3 - keep hitting your nutrition goals every day with the help of your Rebalance Greens from FNX

Pretty soon, you’ll feel unstoppable.

Check ya’ll next week!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

That’s it for todays edition of Health & Fitness Friday, catch ya’ll next week!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Whether that means purchasing a shirt or hoody, sending a link out to friends and family, sharing this podcast, or re-posting the Stronger Than Stigma content on Instagram - IT ALL COUNTS AND WE LOVE YOU FOR MAKING THE EFFORT. This is about giving back. This is about using your platform, no matter how big or how small, to make a difference.  YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE for people, veterans or otherwise, struggling with their mental health right now. So take action!

That’s it for this week, until next time we with you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Today we are going to finish the conversation we started two weeks ago about Why Fitness isn’t Essential in America. In part one, we discusses the ways in which the fitness industry itself - and how we represent ourselves to the public - is largely responsible for the disconnect between the way fitness professionals view their services, and how most American’s view “fitness”.

This episode outlines 4 strategies we can implement RIGHT AWAY as coaches, trainers and business owners to make ourselves ESSENTIAL in the eyes of the public. And just like last time, today’s conversation draws on information from the an article posted on John Rusin’s blog, authored by Kevin Mullins, and which can be found by going to strongerinmotion.com/reading-list where it is the first article you’ll see pop up!

The Four Strategies:

1.  Implement "Five Star Standards"
2. Passion Based Service
3. Word of Mouth and Results Based Referrals
4. Build a Community Based on More Than Fitness

Be An Active Listener

If you appreciate this podcast, and the topics we cover each week, do us a favor - screen shot this episode and post in on social media. Tag the podcast @essential.strength.podcast and tag me @dr.davidskolnik.dpt - let us know you’re listening. Send this podcast to a friend or colleague that needs to hear it. And, as always, subscribe, rate and review the show. It only takes a few seconds to have an outsized impact on the future of this podcast!

Appreciate each and every one of you! Catch ya’ll next week!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

When most stop…keep going. Risk safety for uncertain.

Let your values and principles serve as anchors during the inevitable storms that life sends your way

Mike is back with another Motivation Monday segment!

This one will help you shed the fear and mediocrity that comes with "the crowd." It might be just the spark you need break free and begin to live the life YOU want, to fulfill YOUR dreams, and to live an UNCOMMON LIFE - no longer fearing that death will come before you've truly lived.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

If you listened to Episode 78 with Doctor Chris Swart - you will remember that he made a point of saying that as life progresses challenges don’t get smaller, they get bigger. And that is why the continuous pursuit of strength is so important. Roman echoed this sentiment. Life will ALWAYS present challenges. You can CHOOSE to volunteer for certain challenges, or you can wait for the inevitable. One gives you some semblance of control. The other hands the reigns over the whatever unknowable force you believe controls this crazy world we live in. Your action plan this week is to CHOOSE to take on a challenge that you’ve been avoiding. Volunteer for the challenge. Step up. Maybe you’ll succeed. Maybe you’ll fail. I guarantee you’ll learn something. And as you’ll find out later from Roman, it's not about always winning, it about always COMPETING. Always TRYING. Again and again and again. So challenge yourself this week. That’s your action plan.

What's Next - Make sure you tune in next week for out episode with Ali Gilbert and conversation all about Testosterone - why the definition of “normal levels” of testosterone is changing, societal and environmental impacts on this vital sex hormone, the role of testosterone on aging and vitality what Ali is doing to support men who want to live an optimal life instead of an average one.

Until next time - we wish you Strength and Good Health.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

I want you to be open and accepting of chance, and the discomfort that comes with it. Specifically, I want you to be open to the idea of making changes to your diet. I know from personal experience that I am resistant to these changes. I talk to nutrition coaches like Brandon and I read book and articles on nutrition and all the negative impacts of processed food… and then somewhere in my subconscious I justify continuing to eat mostly the same as I always have. I make small changes but… at what cost? At the cost of my gut health? My brain health? My executive function and my risk of dementia? It’s time for some hard change. Some change that initially, might not taste great - because lets be honest, vegetables will never taste as good as potato chips - but its a change that you will be proud of and feel the effects of because don’t kid yourself - even though they’re delicious, you’ve never felt great after binge eating chips or cookies. So accept the challenge to eat foods that make your body and brain happy, even though initially it will be hard.

That’s it for this week. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss next week’s episode with Valentina LeQueue and a conversation about the depths of anxiety and depression, the pursuit of self-love and the importance of being open about your feelings.

Until then - we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Think of it like taking the first steps towards achieving a fitness goal - until you define your starting line - by taking actions such as tracking what you eat, how you train and how you feel - you can’t map the route to the finish line.

That’s in for this week - until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

That’s it for this week. Be sure to share this episode with someone who needs to hear it and subscribe to the show if you haven’t already. Until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

I’m sure that some of you listening have been hesitating to make a change in how you approach your eating, but are stuck in the planning phase of change because the complexity and controversial nature of diets and diet culture. What I would like you to do this week is the following - make one small change and stick to it for the next three weeks. That could be adding a serving of vegetables, waiting an extra hour before eating breakfast, adding more carbohydrates - just do something to move the needle. It doesn’t have to be perfect - spoiler, it will never be perfect - but it has to be SOMETHING. Perfection may not be required to reach your goals, but action most certainly is. 

That’s it for today - if you appreciated today’s conversation, check out the show notes and connect with Hallie and I, let us know what you thought, and if you have any questions we can answer! Don’t forget to subscribe and rate the podcast when you have a second! It’s truly appreciated.

Until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

I want you to practice the same shift in language. Write down the words “even if” on a piece of paper and stick it in your pocket. For the rest of the day, or the week even, any time you think “what if” stop yourself and replace “what if”  to “even if” and feel that power surge that follows.

That’s it for this week. If you found this episode inspiring, share it with a friend or post a screenshot of today’s episode and tag the show. Be sure to subscribe to the show for weekly podcasts that will inform, inspire and empower you. 

Until next time - we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

1. Will you try Jumha’s secret fat loss supplement? AKA can you get 30 extra minutes of sleep each night this week?
2. Can you add some color to your plate at each meal this week? Fruit or veggies - the brighter the better!

And if you want to be an overachiever - do a little journaling to really solidify these two actions. Write about how you feel at the end of each day, and in the morning, was it harder or easier than you thought to get more color on your plate? Does this feel sustainable? I’m really just trying to make you think a bit more deeply about this stuff, because the idea of starting a weight loss journey is scary and overwhelming to think about, and focusing on the small, simple changes and their impacts on how you think and feel can be the gentle nudge you need to get started.

That’s it for today. Until next time, I wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Until next time, we with you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Jason found running early in his life and it helped him overcome the struggles he was dealing with academically and socially due to impulsive ADHD. To this day, he still struggles at times with maintaining focus or staying on top of routine tasks, but he finds serenity, even spirituality, on the trails where he pushes his body harder and faster than anyone ever has, and advocates for the cognitive benefits of exercise in his classroom and his community.

I do believe all of you will feel inspired to find a pursuit that brings the level of fulfillment that the race for 100 Fastest Known Times has brought to Jason’s life.

Connect with Jason

• Instagram: @jasonhardrath
• Website: www.jasonhardrath.com
• Strava: Jason Hardrath
• LinkedIn: Jason Hardrath

Action Plan

Inspired by Jason’s stories, your action plan is this - I want you to do something you haven’t done since Episode 3 of this podcast, if you’ve been listening that long. Episode 3 focused on the philosophy of Momento Mori - a reflection on our own mortality which translates to “Remember, You Must Die”. We all must die at some point, no one is immortal. To consider your death is not a sign that you are surrendering your life, but that you are embracing some sense of urgency in how you will use your days, however many you have left, in pursuit of a purpose and with an intention to get the absolute most out of this one life. That was my biggest takeaway from this conversation with Jason - he is living a fully engaged life. He is immersed in this human experience. What is it that brings you the most joy? What leaves you feeling more “alive”? And how can you start to experience that feeling more often, even by just a few percentage points, in 2021? As always, write it down and make a plan - because without a plan a goal is just a dream!

Until next time we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Today’s action plan centers around something Natalie said about the difference between knowledge and action. We all have that one thing that we want to do, that we’ve read about, talked about, planned for … and never taken action on. We live in a time when information is perhaps the single most abundant resource and at the same time, the sheer volume of that information can cripple us. It can leave us feeling like there is so much to know that we will never know enough. But, I challenge you, Natalie challenges you, to prove to yourself that you have the CAPACITY TO TAKE ACTION. You can still keep learning, you can still gather more information as you go, but whatever that “one thing” is that you thought about when I said “we all have that one thing…” - don’t let it die on the vine.

That’s it for this week. Until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

That’s it for now. Until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Catch ya’ll next week!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

In today’s conversation, Conny and I talk about the strength that was required to pick up her entire life and move from Germany to Northern California after high school, how she first got involved in the fitness industry, her decision to start her own business and the challenges she faced when she she realized it was time to leave that business and start a new one. Throughout it all, we discuss the importance of human connection and community and how these concepts are central to everything in her life.

Connect with Connie - @connie.komplex
Connect with David - @dr.davidskolnik.dpt
Connect with the Show - @essential.strength.podcast

Our parter on today's episode is GetPPSC - The Pain Free Performance Certification is the most valuable course available for fitness professionals looking to improve the new client acquisition, assessment, programming and performance coaching skills!
Listeners can take 15% OFF with the code "essential" at checkout.

Your action plan for the week is to incorporate Conny’s 3 essential elements into your day to day life. Each day for the next week, I want you to keep track of the one thing you are doing to fuel your body, fuel your mind and fuel your soul. If, at the end of the week, you feel your fulfillment meter has moved in the right direction, this is an action plan you can roll with for as long as you want!

That’s it for now. Until next time, we with you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

First - your very practical action plan is simply to hop on the good old google machine and find your local women’s health physical therapist. You might not need their services now, but maybe you know someone who recently had a child and doesn’t even know pelvic floor rehab is available, and maybe at some point in the future this will be important for you personally. It’s always good to know where the healthcare specialists are in your area.

Second - your more broad action plan is to expand your professional knowledge base. Don’t assume that because you’ve been in an industry for 5 years, 10 years or longer that you have “seen it all” or that you know everything there is to know. This is part fo why I love having guests on who are fellow Physical Therapists specializing in treatment approaches I’m only peripherally familiar with, or has one lecture on in school. The best time to learn is now, and the next best time to learn is every day for the rest of your life.

That’s it for this week, be sure to tune in next time for my conversation with Frank Benedetto and a conversation that initially aired on November 3rd, 2021. This one is all about professional BURNOUT, especially as it relates to health and fitness professionals. 

Until then - we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Saad Alam is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hone Health (formerly known as Peak), an online clinic that treats men’s hormonal imbalances and low testosterone.

Saad is a lifelong health advocate dedicated to researching new and innovative ways to improve overall well-being. Saad set out on his journey to build a next-generation men’s health clinic after experiencing testosterone imbalances firsthand, which inspired him to learn more about male hormones and to help other men. Since founding the company, Saad has devoted himself to assisting men realize that age should not dictate how one feels and to have confidence as they evolve. He believes that we can maximize human life span past 100 years and is committed to helping people understand how to cultivate a holistic approach to actually feel younger as they age.

Remember - If you’re enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a week to week basis! Tag the show on Instagram - @essential.strength.podcast - and tag me, your friendly host - @dr.davidskolnik.dpt.

And don’t forget to check out our partners on today’s episode:

STRONG Coffee
If coffee is one of your daily essentials, do yourself a favor - check out STRONG Coffee and save 15% of every purchase with the code ESSENTIAL at checkout.

Connect with Saad: @msaadalam
Check out Hone Health: HoneHealth.com
Connect with David: @dr.DavidSkolnik.dpt
Connect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcast

Action Plan

Your action plan this week is, once again, to get your blood work done and to take the results to a naturopath or hormone optimization specialist. Someone who won’t write off your results as “aging” when you’re 32 years old (or younger). I’m going to keep beating this bloodwork drum until you all understand it’s importance. I’m working on improving some health markers. My wife is working on improving some health markers. I have co-workers and friends who are taking positive action towards a better, healthier, more energized life and in a minute, you’re going to hear Saad’s story - one that inspired an entire company that is working to revolutionize men’s health. So please - get your blood work done and take the results to a professional who cares about optimizing health, not just managing sickness.

What's Next?

That’s a wrap for this week’s episode but make sure to tune in in two weeks for the first of our HIGHLIGHT SERIES featuring the five most popular episodes in Essential Strength history - starting with an episode featuring Dr. Kristin Phillips, DPT and a conversation about pelvic health, pelvic floor physical therapy and why women’s health isn’t actually just for women.

Until then, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

• Download the Life Design Worksheet
• Download the Find My Niche Worksheet

Connect with Frank - @frank_benedetto
Connect with David - @dr.davidskolnik.dpt
Connect with the Show - @essential.strength.podcast

Action Plan

Your action plan for the week is this - Block out the time needed to fill out the Life Design Worksheet, which is linked in the show notes for this episode. I can tell you from personal experience - the first time I did this exercise it was eye opening in a lot of ways. It gave me clarity as to what I really want my life to look like in a way I’d never experienced before, and it highlighted how my current work, income, and time management was not necessarily in alignment with what I said I wanted. And, spoiler alert - it still isn’t. I’m moving in the right direction - albeit slowly - but it’s high time I sat down and completed the Life Design Worksheet again, this time with my wife, and started taking more concrete steps towards living out my ideals. I hope you gain some valuable insight from this exercise… in fact I’m quite sure that you will.

That’s it for this week - until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Shanté is a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and the creator of The Movement Maestro, a website and social-media based platform devoted to all things human movement and mobility and a business coach who helps people discover their unique stories so they can stand out in the crowded online business landscape. 

In today’s conversation, Shanté and I talk about her two keys to good content and why it’s vital for folks to “stop watching other people’s stories and start writing their own.” Shanté defines empathic listening, shares the values that guide her life and business and we discuss when it’s appropriate for coaches to guide our clients and when it’s better to be their sidekick.

Remember - If you’re enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a week to week basis! Tag the show on Instagram - @essential.strength.podcast - and tag me, your friendly host - @dr.davidskolnik.dpt.

And don’t forget to check out our partners on today’s episode:

STRONG Coffee
If coffee is one of your daily essentials, do yourself a favor - check out STRONG Coffee and save 15% of every purchase with the code ESSENTIAL at checkout.

Pain Free Performance Specialist Certification
If you are a health and fitness professional who is ready to step up and take your place on the true FRONT LINE of preventative health, then you need to check out GetPPSC.com and sign up for the LvL 1 Coaching Course. use the code ESSENTIAL to save 15%.

Connect with Shanté : @themovementmaestro
Connect with David: @dr.DavidSkolnik.dpt
Connect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcast

Action plan

If you are a content creator, whether on Instagram, TikTok or any other platform, and your end goal is to convert followers to customers - my challenge to you is to be more like Shanté in one specific way:

The Challenge - use your platform and your content to move your people forward before they ever actually decide to work with you. Make your content so valuable that when people do decide to work with you - and if you make it easy for them to do so, they will - make it so valuable that they say “Your content helped me so much in my fitness journey, my business development, my self-care, it helped me so much that I just can’t wait to work with you.”

Now, I know what you’re going to say - if I give it all away fro free, why would anyone pay to work with me? Well, I posed that exact question to Shanté in today’s conversation so, you’ll just have to keep listening to find out what she had to say about it!

That’s it for this week, but make sure you tune in next week for our conversation with Danny Matranga for a conversation about the five things he wants every client to understand about training, the difference between the idea of a “best diet” vs. “best dietary practices”, what Danny sees as the biggest scam in the fitness industry and potentially bleak inevitability that we will all eventually have to prioritize our health.

Until then, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

In today’s conversation, Danny and I talk about the key elements he wants every client to understand about training, the difference between the idea of a “best diet” vs. “best dietary practices”, what Danny sees as the biggest scam in the fitness industry and the potentially bleak inevitability that we will all eventually have to prioritize our health.

Remember - If you’re enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a week to week basis! Tag the show on Instagram - @essential.strength.podcast - and tag me, your friendly host - @dr.davidskolnik.dpt.

And don’t forget to check out our partners on today’s episode:

STRONG Coffee
If coffee is one of your daily essentials, do yourself a favor - check out STRONG Coffee and save 15% of every purchase with the code ESSENTIAL at checkout.

The Enduring Strength Training Platform!
If you are tired of doing the same workouts and getting the same results... if you are ready for a training plan that will get you Strong & Healthy now and for the long run, send me an e-mail: david@strongerinmotion.com

Connect with Danny: @danny.matranga
Check out Danny's Podcast: Dynamic Dialogue
Connect with David: @dr.DavidSkolnik.dpt
Connect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcast

Action Plan

This week I want to focus on a single statement Danny made during our conversation. The statement is:

“Someone else making progress faster than you is not a personal failure.”

I want you to identify 1 or 2 areas of your personal or professional life where you find yourself feeling like a failure because you aren’t where someone else is, and I want you to make time to compare more than just your current situation but instead to consider your path to where you are vs. theirs, your currently trajectory vs. theirs, your goals vs. theirs, your definition of success vs. theirs… you might actually need to have a conversation with this person or these people you think are “beating you.” I can’t guarantee what you’ll discover but I do know that you’ll be taking steps towards comparing apples to apples instead of apples or oranges and that alone will help you see that you are not a failure.

What's Next?

Be sure to tune in next week for a solo episode where I’ll be taking a deeper dive into the differences between personal training, group coaching and following a training plan - you’ll learn which of these three options is best for you, how to weigh both the financial and fitness sides of the decision and for the coaches and trainers listening, you’ll learn how to create offers that target all three levels of this fitness/business continuum.

Until then, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Mark is an online strength coach for women who uses strength training to build their confidence in and out of the gym, and make them feel like a confident badass lifter. Mark is passionate about helping those who don't fit the typical mold of someone who is strong and wants to show you that strength training is for everyone. Mark's mission is to change the focus on why we exercise, to move away from training for the weight on the scale and instead use exercise for health, self-confidence, and feeling strong!

In today’s conversation, Mark and I talk about training for strength vs. training for fat loss, Mark defines a “weight neutral” approach to coaching, how he helps his female clients celebrate “non scale victories” and we talk about the “five minute rule” for exercise. I’m really excited to share this one with everyone listening because the world needs more strong women and it’s going to take more coaches like Mark breaking down barriers!

Remember - If you’re enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a week to week basis! Tag the show on Instagram - @essential.strength.podcast - and tag me, your friendly host - @dr.davidskolnik.dpt.

And don’t forget to check out our partners on today’s episode:

The Enduring Strength Training Platform!
If you are tired of doing the same workouts and getting the same results... if you are ready for a training plan that will get you Strong & Healthy now and for the long run, send me an e-mail: david@strongerinmotion.com

STRONG Coffee
If coffee is one of your daily essentials, do yourself a favor - check out STRONG Coffee and save 15% of every purchase with the code ESSENTIAL at checkout.

Connect with Mark: @training.strong.women
Connect with David: @dr.DavidSkolnik.dpt
Connect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcast

Action Plan

This week’s action plan is a reimagining of one of the questions that Mark asks his clients. The question is - “What would make you feel strong?”

I’d like you to spend 10 minutes this week answering this question in one of two ways. You can simply sit down and free-write on the question of “what would make you feel strong”. Let you mind go, let the words flow and see where you get. Alternatively, if that sounds a bit to unbridled for you taste, I’d suggest you break this question down into three categories:

What would make me feel physically strong?

What would make me feel intellectually strong?

What would make me feel emotionally strong?

If you take 10 minutes to define what a STRONGER YOU actually looks like, you may find that you have a renewed sense of motivation and direction after this exercise!

That’s it for this week, but make sure you tune in next week for our conversation with Shante Cofield, aka The Movement Maestro and a conversation about how to own your time, build trust, live your values and make your online business stand out in a time when everyone has gone online.

Until then, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Ali has 20 years of experience as a Strength & Conditioning Coach specializing in Men’s Health and Hormone Optimization and has presented on these topics nationwide.

Our Parter on today's episode is Testosterone School - Use this special enrollment link to sign up and learn everything you need to know about testosterone and TRT in this self-paced course!

Remember - If you are enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a weekly basis!

Today's Conversation with Ali focuses on one hormone in particular - Testosterone. Ali explains why testosterone levels are plummeting in industrialized nations. She covers exactly what Testosterone does in the body and why low testosterone has a nasty cascade of effects on everything from focus to energy to libido. Ali also explains how the traditional healthcare system is failing men with low T and what every guy can do about it - including educating themselves with Ali’s immersive new online platform - Testosterone School.

Connect with Ali: @thealigilbert
Connect with David: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt
Connect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcast
Check out Testosterone School: thetestosteroneschool.com

Action Plan

This week’s action plan is very concrete - I want you to get your blood work done. By the end of this episode I think you’ll understand why this is the second time that blood work has been your action plan - the first one was Episode 60 w/ Dr. Kyle Gillet. My wife and I have both recently gotten bloodwork done and it’s lead to changes in diet, stress management practices, household product use, you name it. There are processes happening inside our bodies that we simply cannot see, hear or even necessarily feel. That’s where a male or female wellness panel comes into play. Most insurances WILL COVER a wellness panel at one of the big lab companies in America. If you are interested in thriving rather than just surviving though, what you do with those lab results makes the difference. Ir you’re in a state where naturopathic physicians can practice, set up an appointment. Or find a men’s or women’s health specialist, a hormone optimization specialist … find someone who is going to hold you to a high standard than the standard American because sadly, only 12% of American’s are metabolically healthy and if you’re listening to this podcast, I know you don’t want to fall in that other 88%.

What's Next - Make sure you tune in next week for our episode with Reed Davis and another conversation all about REAL HEALTH - Reed and I go deep on the power of food sensitivity testing, metabolic profiles, the difference between “normal” and “common” when it comes to health conditions and why personal responsibility is paramount. I hope you’ll join me!

Until next time - we wish you Strength and Good Health.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Kevin is a Miami-based personal trainer, Pain Free Performance Lead Instructor, and published author. Kevin and I share many of the same interests and passions in the realm of health & fitness and we are both part of the Pain Free Performance Education team.

Our Partner on today's episode is the Pain Free Performance Specialist Certification - save 15% on the BEST weekend certification in the Fitness Industry with the code ESSENTIAL at checkout!

Remember - If you are enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a weekly basis!

Today’s Conversation with Kevin isn’t about how to cue a squat or program effectively for online clientele… no. Today’s conversation with Kevin is about mental health. Specifically, it’s about the mental health of men in the fitness industry. How we’re taught to deal with difficult situations, what happens when our identity is called into question and whether or not we can still be badass coaches while taking a softer, more introspective approach to masculinity.

Connect with Kevin: @kevinmullinsfitness
Connect with David: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt
Connect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcast

Action Plan

This week’s action plan is meant to provoke some hard mental work. The question to ask yourself is - “What strategies do I have for dealing with difficult feelings?”

It would probably be a good idea to grab a pen and paper for this week’s action plan so that you can actually SEE your strategies written out. As you’ll learn later in the conversation with Kevin - only having one way to deal with difficult feelings can work… until it doesn’t. Until you hit what seems like rock bottom and then the floor collapses underneath you all over again. The point of this question isn’t to trigger anxiety or cause you to feel your strategies are flawed. The point is to bring attention, perhaps for the first time, to the strategies you have in place. I hope that as you listen to this, life is mostly good, you’re mostly happy and your feeling mostly positive about your immediate future. But, again, as you’ll learn in this episode - life can change fast. Really fast. And it never hurts to be prepared.

What's Next - That’s it for this week on The Essential Strength Podcast. Be sure to tune in next week for our episode with Kenny Santucci, owner of Strong New York, and a conversation about Healing the World Through Fitness, Taking care of the little things, prioritizing personal health, lowering the barriers to physical activity, and how to train the general population.

Until next time - we wish you Strength and Good Health.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Until next time - we wish you Strength and Good Health.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

That’s it for this week’s episode. Make sure you’re subscribed so that you don’t miss next week’s episode with Julie Shiller and a conversation about courage, doing things that scare you and the importance of being strong for the greater good!

Until then - we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

An athlete his entire life, Matteo has always been obsessed with performance. First, it was athletics. Then business. Now, sleep. The first two pursuits - athletics and business - lead to many sleepless nights, rationalized by the pursuit of record performance. It was Matteo’s quest for more restorative sleep, in fact, that led him to quit his previous life and launch Eight Sleep, a company dedicated to fueling human potential through optimal sleep, and to turning the bed into a seamless health platform for improved health, performance, and longevity.

Our Partner on today's episode is FNX Fitness - save 15% on every purchase with the code ESSENTIAL at checkout!

Remember - If you are enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a weekly basis!

Today’s Conversation with Matteo centers around how to how to express our power, the roll of sleep in peak performance and how Eight Sleep is using modern technology to recreate a more optimal human sleep experience.

Connect with Matteo: Matteo Franceschetti on LinkedIn
Connect with David: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt
Connect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcast
Learn More About Eight Sleep : www.eightsleep.com

Action Plan

This week it’s all about SLEEP - something I’ve been learning so much about ever since I recorded this conversation with Matteo.  Sleep impacts everything from focus and memory retention, to risk of all sorts of mental health disorders, body composition, cancer risk, life expectancy - you name it, sleep effects it. I've been reading the book Why We Sleep , and in the book the author, Matthew Walker, even goes to far as to posit the question - “While most people ask - why did living organisms begin sleeping? - I think the more pertinent question may be why did we ever wake up”. Life is traumatic. Sleep is restorative. You action plan this week is incredibly simple - Get 7.5 hours or more of sleep every night this week if at all possible. This means giving yourself a sleep opportunity of closer to 8.5 hours of sleep - meaning about 8.5 hours of time in bed to achieve the 7.5 hours of sleep. And just take note of ALL the wonderful things you feel at the end of the week. While you’re getting all this wonderfully restorative rest - go check out EightSleep.com and, if you’re feeling like you really want to put all your newfound energy and focus to work - Check out “Why We Sleep” by Matthew Walker. Do these things and You’ll never look at your bed the same way again!

Whats Next - That’s it for this week. Make sure you’re subscribed to this podcast so that you don’t miss next week’s episode with Cory Camp, founder of Forever Athlete, and a conversation about human connection, training for a marathon, getting uncomfortable, the struggles that athletes face when their careers come to an end.

That’s it for this week.  Until next time - we wish you Strength and Good Health.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

That’s it for this week - make sure you’re subscribed so that you don’t miss next week’s episode with Tailored Nutrition Coach Brandon Whitehead and a conversation about all things gut health, gut-friendly food and gut-friendly lifestyle choices.

Until then - we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

That’s it for this week, be sure to tune in next time for my conversation with Dr. Kristin Phillips about all things pelvic floor, pelvic health and why “more keggles” is not the answer to your problems.

Until then - we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

First - your very practical action plan is simply to hop on the good old google machine and find your local women’s health physical therapist. You might not need their services now, but maybe you know someone who recently had a child and doesn’t even know pelvic floor rehab is available, and maybe at some point in the future this will be important for you personally. It’s always good to know where the healthcare specialists are in your area.

Second - your more broad action plan is to expand your professional knowledge base. Don’t assume that because you’ve been in an industry for 5 years, 10 years or longer that you have “seen it all” or that you know everything there is to know. This is part fo why I love having guests on who are fellow Physical Therapists specializing in treatment approaches I’m only peripherally familiar with, or has one lecture on in school. The best time to learn is now, and the next best time to learn is every day for the rest of your life.

That’s it for this week, be sure to tune in next time for my conversation with Dr. Carolyn Stone where you’ll learn about common causes of Thyroid Disorders, Hashimoto's disease risk and treatment, and the incredible connections between strength training and your hormones!

Until then - we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Until then, we wish you Strength and Good Health!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Doctor Swart is an Exercise Science Professor with a PhD in Exercise Physiology. While this conversation is built on our shared experiences in the field of Exercise Science, there are a lot of universally applicable lessons that can be applied to the pursuit of any career or any stage of life - including the importance of networking early and often, finding mentors and testing your knowledge.

Our Partner on today's episode is FNXFit - save 15% on every purchase with the code ESSENTIAL at checkout!

Remember - If you are enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a weekly basis!

Today’s Conversation with Doctor Swart includes the story of his decision to pursue a career in academics vs. a career in coaching or rehab, the common mistakes he sees undergraduate students make as they prepare for graduation and the transition into the workforce, and Doctor Swart outlines his “Three Mentors Philosophy”.

Connect with Doctor Swart: @doctor.swart
Connect with David: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt
Connect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcast

Action Plan

This week’s action plan is inspired by Doctor Swart’s “Three Mentor’s Philosophy”. If you are truly trying to level up in life, you need to find people who have done want you want to do, experienced the potential stumbling blocks, and found success. So, without spoiling the Philosophy - I still want you to listen to the entire conversation, of course! - What I’m encouraging you to do is identify one area of life you are actively trying to improve - this could be professional, it could be athletic, it could be your marriage… you get to choose - and then find someone 10-20 years ahead of you who has achieved and sustained what you are striving for and approach them about mentoring you. You’ll learn about some strategies for initiating this type of conversation later in the conversation but for now, just start thinking about what you want to achieve and identifying potential mentors!

What's Next - That’s it for this week on The Essential Strength Podcast. Be sure to tune in next week for our episode with Kevin Mullins, coach, educator and author - and a discussion about the state of men’s mental health in the Fitness Industry, how we are taught to deal with difficult situations, what happens when our identity is called into question and whether or not we can still be badass coaches while taking a softer, more introspective approach to masculinity.  

Until next time - we wish you Strength and Good Health.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

That’s it for this week. Make sure you’re subscribed to this podcast so that you don’t miss next week’s episode with Nelly Attar for a conversation about the strength that can be found in grief, how to live an inspired life, and the work Nelly is doing to improve access to sport and fitness in her home country of Saudi Arabia!

Until then, we wish you Strength and Good Health!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

That’s it for this week. We’ll be back to our normal format next week with a new guest for Episode 51.

Until then, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

That’s it for this week, until next time - We wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Last week, we started the conversation about corrective exercise, some of it’s limitations, and I gave you my thoughts on whether or not it’s still useful. Today, we’re going to continue that conversation with the number one, most important consideration and caveat for using corrective exercises that will enhance pt and client outcomes.

Just like last week, this conversation is framed by a recent article from Barbell Rehab which can be found on the reading list at StrongerInMotion.com. 

Long story short - Words Matter. Language Matters.

If you, as a coach or clinician, feel that you need to break a person down and show them all the areas where they are broken, so that you can then sell your services as the “fix” - you’re creating more problems then you are solving. If, however, you can prop up your clients and patients, show them all the ways in which they are strong and robust AND help them address specific dimensions of their physical capacity that are not yet optimal - then you are truly using corrective exercise in its more power and empowering form.

That’s it for this week on Health & Fitness Friday - tune in next week as we dive into an entirely new topic!

Appreciate each and every one of you! Catch ya’ll next week!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Sam recently turned all took all these experiences and forged them into a multi-disciplinary training system Called SFX Athletes that focuses on strength, speed, conditioning and mobility for building explosive performance in athletes. For everyone listening - if you would like to try a FREE 30 day trial of SFX Athletes, Sam has shared links for both Apple and Android users.

Action Plan

Sam knows his worth. He knows that he has a system that works. A body of knowledge that is valuable, and he has the track record of success to back it all up. As he said plainly, he doesn’t give a damn what other people think of his methods, because his methods speak for themselves. I’d encourage each of you listening to take time this week to reflect on your areas of expertise, the concepts and skills you’ve poured yourself into and make an effort to give yourself some credit for that work. It’s all to0 easy to put more stock in what others think of us than what we think of ourselves, regardless of the evidence all around us. If you’re good at something, or great at something - give yourself the credit you deserve this week!

.......

Until next time - I wish you Strength and Good Health.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

• On Instagram @celticjumper & @kyle_sullivan
• On TikTok @celticjumper
• On YouTube - Kyle Sullivan

Your Action Plan

Kyle’s example of extreme admission of his drinking problem made me think about what lies on the other side of change - something we spoke about with Chase Chewning on Episode 10. Chase’s answer: The life you’ve always dreamed of. Now, Kyle was in a position where his need to change something had become a life or death scenario, and his fear of the negative repercussions of giving up drinking was so powerful, taking his own life seemed like a better option. Having occupied that headspace myself, where death seems like the BEST outcome, I can say with all sincerity - I hope no one listening to this ever has to face that feeling. However, I do think there is something very valuable in taking inventory of your habits and identifying whether any of them are more harmful than they are helpful, and whether you are continuing to allow them to be a part of your life because you are afraid of what happens if you give them up. If you do this, and you identify a habit you know you should quit, then I hope you can find courage and take comfort in Kyle’s story, because even at absolute rock bottom, there is always a way to climb back up to the light.

That’s it for this week, stay tuned for a special episode coming out this Saturday - January 23rd - where Mike and I talk about both the mental and physical preparation for Mike’s next Labor, attempting to set a new world record for longest time spent submerged in ice, a challenge he will be taking on in Alaska on the Saturday the 23rd. For more details follow Mike on Instagram @mikemccastle.

Until next week - we with you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

• On Instagram - HERE
• On Twitter - HERE
• Learn more about Patrick's Biography - HERE
• Order your copy of Fear is Fuel - HERE

Your Action Plan

In keeping with Patrick’s work, I would ask each of you to identify a fear that is long standing, and that is holding you back from a personal or professional goal. Write down that fear, and admit it to someone close to you. A partner, a parent, a close friend or a trusted colleague. Commit to both yourself, and this person, that you will create a plan to overcome this fear at the earliest possible opportunity. And if you still need extra motivation or proof that you can overcome your fear, well, I know of a book that just might be the thing you’re looking for.

That’s in for this week on the Essential Strength Podcast. Until next time, we with you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

The answers in this episode come from coaches, clinicians, yogi instructors, wellness professionals, business owners, data scientists, and more. And it is our hope that through this diversity of guests and perspectives, that you realize strength is an essential element in all of our lives, regardless of age, profession, interest, or status.

Action Plan

Your action plan is to either write out, or record yourself defining what Strength means to you. If you’re up for it, we would LOVE to hear what you come up with. You can e-mail your definition to me at david@strongerinmotion.com or if you’re feeling brave and want to post your definition to Instagram, tag us @essential.strength.podcast, and tag me @dr.davidskolnik.dpt and @mikemccastle so we can share what you come up with!

What's Next?

We're taking the rest of December off to do some "remodeling" and "house keeping" here at the Essential Strength Podcast, and will be back with our next episode on Wednesday, January 6th! We will be kicking of a series of 10-12 episodes all focused on Mental Health and Mental Strength, and our guest on Jan. 6 will be Ricky Simon, professional UFC fighter, before his scheduled fight on January 16th. Don't miss it!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

But what do most of us think of when we consider being “physically active?” Walking? Jogging? Riding a Bike? We used to think about about going to the gym - and I believe we will again in the future - but even then, there’s a reason the elliptical, the stationary bike and the treadmill are the most frequented pieces of equipment in any globogym. When we think of physical activity, we think of cardiovascular exercise.

Well, there are decades of research on the benefits of strength training, also called resistance training and it’s benefits for muscle mass, bone density, circulatory health and mental health - particularly in reducing the symptoms of depression and anxiety.

It can reduce the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. In older individuals, it appears that resistance training is more effective than jogging for reducing risk of sarcopenia (muscle wasting) and cognitive decline.

Despite all these benefits, surveys of over 1.6 million American adults indicate that about 60% report they do no strengthening exercise - almost twice the number who report doing no cardiovascular exercise.

But here’s the thing - strength training required almost NO EQUIPMENT - particularly if you’ve never done it before. If you’ve never done any resistance training, particularly if you are an older adult - Your body weight and a bit of floor space is all you’ll need for quite some time. Sounds fairly convenient given we’re all working hard to maintain social distancing guidelines and stay healthy.

Harvard Medical School - Tips for safe and effective strength training

Give yourself the gift of STRENGTH holiday season. Skip the air frier and ask your family to invest in your health. Hire a coach for a month, or sign up for a training program that will change your life forever! Check out everything we have to offer at Stronger In Motion  - from individualized coaching, to programs that cost about $1 a day and will get you in the best shape of your life!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Laura is the founder and lead mentor of TriggerMapping - a certification and mentorship program for nutritionists, dieticians and wellness coaches. Her core philosophy revolves around how the power of connection and human psychology must be understood and used with clients to cultivate permanent, deep and meaningful change. She is leading a shift in the weight loss industry away from traditional coaching practice towards a more healing-based approach, and preparing coaches to implement this shift and truly support their clients on every level.

Reminder

The official launch date for the Enduring Strength program is Dec. 23 - so save a little bit of that holiday shopping money to get something for yourself! - and the waiting list is open now at strongerinmotion.com 

The initial launch will only include 15 participants, so sign up quick before they’re gone! This program will give you access to me as your coach for only $30 a month. You’ll get 4 workouts a week, warm-ups, cool-downs, weekly tips, an online community…and more. This program is meant to support your workouts year round, with what we refer to as “blocks” of training - 3-4 weeks focused on strength, 3-4 to improve endurance, with enough consistently to make real progress and enough variety to keep it fun and avoid the monotony of so many long term exercise plans! So again, head over to strongerinmotion.com to join the wait list and reserve your spot before Dec. 23rd!

Links

• Laura on IG - @laurapoburanlive
• Laura on Facebook - @laurapoburan
• Laura's Website  - https://laurapoburan.com/
• FREE COACHING RESOURCE - https://go.triggermapping.com/ccr1

Action Plan

In keeping with Laura’s mentorship program - Trigger Mapping - I’d like you to do a bit of hard work this week. What is is that keeps you from achieving the nutritional goals you have, and we all have them. I’d like to clean up my diet and be more structured and measured with what I eat, but I struggle with time management and at the end of the day, convenience often wins out. It’s an ongoing battle for me, and one that I feel in the gym and see in the mirror on a daily basis. What is it for you? Are their comfort foods that have meaningful memories attached to them? Has food been a coping mechanism for your whole life? Something learned from you parents? Do you actually BELIEVE that you can lose weight, change your physique and deserve to be happy? All of these questions have to be answered WAY before deciding if counting macros or intermittent fasting is the right diet strategy for you. So you may as well get started!

OK, that’s in for now. Until next week, we wish you Strength and Good Health!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

I know the title this episode focuses on her roles as an educator and a physical therapist, but the first 30 minutes of this conversation played out more as a conversation about where human beings draw their motivation from, the impacts of our lived experience, and how each person’s journey to healing is uniquely important. I think you’ll quickly understand why I always looked forward to Karin’s classes and opportunities to learn from her any time I had the chance, she is truly a uniquely insightful and intelligent person.

Connect with Karin

• e-mail: Ksteere@pugetsound.edu
• Twitter: @KarinTownson
• Instagram: @KarinTownson

Announcements

1. Review of the month on Apple Podcasts! - Username Bernardkindall - E-mail me at david@strongerinmotion.com or send us a message on Instagram @essential.strength.podcast to claim your prize!
2. The waiting list for Enduring Strength is open now! Sign up to lock in your spot for this new virtual coaching service from Stronger In Motion before registration goes live later in December!

Action Plan

Your action plan for the week - as Karin mentioned throughout today’s conversation, she feels her job is to help other find what motivates them, and then help show them to way to lead a happier and healthier life. But she can’t do any of these things for you - she can’t tell you what motivates you, she can’t tell you what makes you happy, and can’t even define what “healthy” is outside of perhaps suggesting that “gettin’ you some heart disease” shouldn’t be on your list. And as we spoke, we also talked about how what makes you happy now, and how you define healthy now - be it in your 20s, 30s, or 40s - is going to be different than what happy and healthy looks like in your 80s, or your 90s. So what I would like you to do is this - Take a single piece of paper and write down how you’re lifestyle choices - what you eat, how you manage stress, how you get your physical activity - how do these support that things that define your happiness right now. And if you enjoy that process, perhaps it’s one you revisit at the end of each year, in this holiday season where we hope to feel happy and accomplished while also planning for the future. It could become a pretty powerful practice.

Alright, signing off. Until next week, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

That’s it for today. Until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

This week we’re talking about the concept of Social Jetlag and whether or not Blue Light blocking glasses actually work to help improve sleep and recovery and prevent this new form of jet lag we are likely all suffering from to one degree or another. Today’s podcast is inspired by a recent research review from Tailored Coaching Method

So, what is social jet lag? It’s a newer term used to explain the issues that arise when our social clock - our normal times of socialization, work, school, etc. - gets increasingly out of sync without biological or circadian clock which controls hormone release, helps os wake up and wind down, etc. 

Overall, the research on Blue Light Blocking glasses is split - some studies show an effect, some don’t. This research roundup cited a 2017 systematic review that found there is a lack of high quality evidence for a benefit from blue light blocking glasses on sleep quality, visual performance or eye fatigue.

What do we do with this information? Well, it seems to me that this is similar to the impact of dietary supplements. Is there potential for a positive impact -yes? Do there appear to be negative consequences when used conservatively - no. Are we better off simply shutting down our screens 2-3 hours before going to bed - absolutely. Sometimes the hard way is the right way, and no product or short cut will ever be as good. More research is needed, but it appears that is the direction the blue light blocking phenomenon is heading.

Hope you all have a great weekend! - catch ya’ll next week!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

For those who don’t know, Stefi Cohen is The Co-Owner of HYBRID Performance Method, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, 25X World Record Holding Powerlifter, author, educator, creative thinker.

Ian Kaplan is the COO of HYBRID, Doctor of Chiropractic, Coach, data science enthusiast and creator of the HYBRID Tech Stack.

We get into what makes Back In Motion a completely unique book, but to set the stage, I’ll steal the words directly from Stefi and Ian: This book is NOT about diagnosing back pain. No anatomical diagrams of the spine or sophisticated discussions of neurophysiology. It is a book with real world knowledge that will empower you to find your unique path leading back to doing the things you love.

Today’s episode is a fascinating look into the minds of two people who are LITERALLY re-writing the book on how health and fitness is developed and delivered and doing things no one has ever done before.

Links

• Back In Motion - to order your copy CLICK HERE
• Hybrid Performance Method - to learn about the business and everything they offer CLICK HERE
• To connect with Stefi on Instagram - CLICK HERE
• To connect with Ian on Instagram - CLICK HERE

Action Plan

This week's action plan is based on a specific part of today’s conversation, in which Stefi asked a difficulty, but vital question about who has responsibility for accurate knowledge - the provider or the consumer? I stand by my answer that, while both parties share responsibility, ultimately it is the provider who has more power and therefore a greater share of the responsibility. So, here is what I would like you to do - I want to you to think about or write down a couple areas of your life where you have “the power”, where you control the narrative, and I want you to really make sure that you are doing everything you can to be accurate, honest and empowering. This could be in your role as a parent, as a care provider, as a supervisor or any other part of your life. When you control the story, you have a responsibility to make sure that story is based in an accurate reality, not steeped in self-serving bias. I hope this exercise leads to some positive realizations and perhaps a sense of peace.

Until next week, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Reed is a Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner (HHP) and Certified Nutritional Therapist (CNT). He is an expert in functional lab testing and holistic lifestyle medicine. Reed is the Founder of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® (FDN) and the FDN Certification Course with over 3,000 graduates in 50 countries.

Our Parter on today's episode is Functional Diagnostic Nutrition - Use this special enrollment link to gain access to the most in-depth nutrition and lab testing certification course ever developed!

Remember - If you are enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a weekly basis!

Today's Conversation with Reed  touches on the importance of personal responsibility, both as a prerequisite to being a strong person and also as it relates to taking responsibility for your own health. We discuss how conditions that are “common” in modern health should by no means be considered “normal”  and the difference between a doctor who labels you with a diagnosis code and a practitioner who identifies your opportunities to heal. Reed and I get into concepts like individualized micronutrient metabolism testing, why Reed no longer uses the phrase “root cause” when it comes to health and we talk about Functional Diagnostic Nutrition. This is one of the more unique, eye opening conversations I’ve had on the podcast and I can’t wait for all of you out there to hear it!

Connect with Reed: Reed on LinkedIn
Connect with David: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt
Connect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcast
Check out Functional Diagnostic Nutrition: functionaldiagnosticnutrition.com

Action Plan

This weeks action plan could easily be to get your bloodwork done… again. But that was your action plan last week and I’m confident you all went out and got that done right away! So, this week’s action plan is simply take stock of Reed’s 5 categories of wholistic health - his DRESS Principle:

Diet, Rest, Exercise, Stress Reduction and Supplementation.

Rate yourself 0-10 on category and write down 3 concrete steps you can take to raise your scores.

Simple. Actionable. Health.

What's Next - Make sure you tune in next week for our episode with Ebenezer Samuel and a conversation about the intersections of technology and fitness, why the fun factor is key to exercise adherence and how global accessibility to coaching is changing the game for both coaches and clients. I hope you’ll join me!

Until next time - we wish you Strength and Good Health.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

We cover a lot of ground during this conversation, but in the end all of us, and all of you listening, will be touched by cancer if you haven’t been already. It could be a parent, a friend, or it could be you. Cancer is indiscriminate and unpredictable. Gaining an understanding of how best to provide support for a loved one, to be an advocate, to put yourself in the best position and create the best personal health you can while you have the opportunity, there are so many valuable insights to be gained from today’s conversation and I am so grateful to have friends who are doing such incredible work.

I hope you enjoy today’s episode with Dr. Shai Sewell and gained some valuable insight what life for cancer patients and their families is really like. What kind of strength it takes not just to fight this disease, but to maintain some quality of life. The strength it takes to live each day knowing it could be the day your cancer comes back. And the strength to show up and provide support and care for your loved ones battling cancer but also to continue to care for yourself and your mental and physical health. 

Rather than give you all a list of action steps to take following today’s episode, I just want to leave you with my three biggest takeaways:

1. When you are caring for and supporting a friend or family member battling cancer, remember that they don’t want to be a burden, they want you the be there for them when they need it, and that means not being there when they don’t. You have to care for yourself too.
2. Try not to dread the mundane, every day chores in your life, because those mindless, routine tasks are often the most physically and emotionally taxing for someone with cancer or another chronic illness.
3. Don’t confuse simply being alive with truly living

Until next time - we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH

**Today's affiliate partner is Barbell Rehab - owner by Dr. Michael Mash, DPT (He was our guest on Episode 7) - has set up a special discount code just for the Essential Strength audience! Use the code "stronger25" to get $25 off the flagship barbell rehab course any time. There is no expiration date on this discount, so write it down and tuck it away for the future it you're not quite ready to invest in this continuing education course today!**

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Write down one small change you’ve been thinking about making, and one big change you’ve been thinking about making.

Next, write down how you would feel if you made each change. Who would be there to celebrate with you? What emotions are you feeling right now as you write this down? 

Now ask yourself - now that I know how these changes make me feel, is there anything actually standing in my way other than fear? If the answer is no - well, you’ll know what to do.

Until next time, we wish you STRENGTH, and GOOD HEALTH!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

If liquor stores are open, why aren’t gyms? Are we saying that alcohol is more essential than exercise?

OR

If 250 people can be shopping in a grocery story, why can’t 6 people be training at a small gym with all the same protocols in place?

I don’t have simple answers to these questions. No one does. That’s why they have been a source of so much frustration!

But instead of focusing on questions that I don’t have the answers to - I find it more productive to ask different questions. Questions that might actually have answers. One of which is - Why is it that Fitness is not considered essential in America? And, could the fitness industry itself be at least partially at fault for the situation we find ourselves in? 

For answers to those questions, today’s episode of Health & Fitness Friday is going to be referencing an outstanding article from Dr. John Rusin’s team! This article is also the newest addition to the Stronger In Motion Reading List.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

That’s it for this week. Until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

That’s it for this week! Make sure that you are subscribed to this podcast so that you don’t miss next week’s episode with Anthony Mendez and a conversation about how to define your own success, taking small actions in preparation for the big leaps of faith and some very practical strategies for growing an Instagram Account that supports your personal and business goals!

Until next time - we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH!

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Here are your action steps for today:

First - If you are a guy and you go to the gym, don’t be a dick. Like so many other areas of life right now, it’s important to recognize you have intrinsic privilege and not abuse it. This is not to say that you should feel any shame or guilt for the gender you were born into, but understand that your experience and HER experience, they are not the same.

Second - If you are a female and you go to the gym, and you have the intention to do more than just “tone” your muscles while wearing cute leggings, find some role models. The kind that are putting out legit information, training based on real science and evidence, and using the gym to enhance performance, not just appearance. Here are the link's to all of Claire's Role Models that she mentioned during out conversation:

• Loraine Baraki (@loraine_barbellmedicine)
• Ellie Somers (@drelliesomers)
• Stefi Cohen (@steficohen)
• Alyssa Olenick (@littlelyssfitness)

And third - if you’re ready to turn the that inspiration I know you’re feeling into action, the first step is conversation. Talk to the women in your life who have been or currently are athletes, lifters, etc. Learn more about their experiences, question your biases and be open to changing YOURSELF before you go trying to change others.

As Mark Bell would say, let’s make the world a better place to lift!

Until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

If you can do that, you’ll be on the right track!

That’s it for now. Remember to SHARE THIS EPISODE with someone who needs to hear it, and to SUBSCRIBE to the podcast before you go. Until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt

That’s it for this week. Until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Want more content? Follow Dr. David on Instagram: @dr.davidskolnik.dpt