This episode is for anyone interested in parenting, nutrition, or starting a podcast from the ground up. Andrew is a Podcast Producer, Host and Instructor. He's a husband and father of two incredible kids, and has been a Photographer, Videographer and Podcaster creating content for over a decade. He's worked random jobs his whole life, never having a sense of fulfillment or meaning. One day he realized that if he disappeared, no one would notice. That's when he decided to go all in and do whatever it took to leave his job to pursue his passion. We've got lots of great information for you in this episode, so grab a pen and a notebook and get started. 

What you'll learn:

• Andrew's backstory and why he got in to podcasting (1:34)
• Fatherhood, work-life balance, and prioritizing quality time with family (7:49)
• Raising children with a focus on self-sufficiency and sustainability (10:25)
• Raising and consuming animals with a focus on regenerative agriculture (16:07)
• Local food sources, quality vs. convenience, and the benefits of eating locally grown food (19:11)
• Diet quality's impact on body composition and performance in bodybuilding (25:17)
• Ketogenic diet and satiety, with a focus on macronutrient balance and calorie intake (27:57)
• The pros and cons of fruit consumption for metabolic health (33:11)
• Parenting and fostering healthy eating habits for toddlers (35:30)
• Personal responsibility for health and wellness (40:16)
• Alternative medicine and traditional healthcare (46:27)
• Podcasting as a medium for sharing information and connecting with experts (53:03)
• Podcasting journey, struggles, and lessons learned (57:40)
• Podcasting, its benefits, and Andrew's passion for helping others through his platform (1:01:54)
• The importance of active listening (1:06:53)
• Podcasting outlook and growth potential (1:10:58)
• Podcasting, equipment, and course creation (1:16:29)

Where to learn more:

• FREE Podcast Equipment Purchasing Guide
• Pursue Podcasting Course
• Instagram
• All Other Social Platforms

If you loved this episode and our podcast, please take some time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, or drop us a comment below! 

Craig Toni began his bodybuilding journey back in the 80's, when anabolic steroid use was the norm. He's suffered some health issues due to his experiences during that time, and it was a pleasure to welcome him to the podcast to share his story and his transition to a ketogenic way of life. I know you'll take something from this episode.

What you'll hear:

• Craig's backstory and how we came to know one another (1:30)
• Natural bodybuilding, keto diet, and the importance of personal experience (3:44)
• The use of performance-enhancing drugs in bodybuilding, with a focus on the potential risks and side effects (9:00)
• Bodybuilding, gym culture, and drug use in the 1990s (14:51)
• How steroid use affected his body, including appetite muscle growth (19:33)
• The use of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and its potential benefits and drawbacks (24:48)
• Diet and steroid use for muscle gain and hormone levels (30:14)
• Bodybuilding dieting strategies and their effects on physique (33:41)
• How steroid use affects strength training and gains (37:50)
• Joint pain and inflammation as a result of steroid use (42:56)
• Battling migraines and migraine-related health issues (45:15)
• Blood pressure and dietary changes (50:58)
• Kidney damage and digestive issues (59:15)
• Protein intake and its impact on ketosis (1:05:13) 
• Keto and carnivore diets for health and bodybuilding (1:10:58)
• The benefits of a ketogenic diet in bodybuilding, with a focus on hormone regulation and muscle growth (1:17:30)

Where to hear more:

• Instagram
• Nutrition Hackers

If you loved this episode and our podcast, please take some time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, or drop us a comment below! 

Jayne Bullen has been with her research at the Noakes Foundation in South Africa by enlightening physicians on the therapeutic benefits of a low-carb diet. She is making such a difference with the people she works with and it was a pleasure to speak with her. 

What we discussed:

• What brought her to South Africa initially (1:56)
• Indigenous health, traditional diets, and the impact of Western diets on health (5:40)
• The popularity and knowledge of the ketogenic diet in Africa and South Africa, with a focus on the challenges faced by physicians (7:53)
• Bringing commercial knowledge to nonprofit research (13:36)
• Nutrition education for physicians to improve patient outcomes (16:38)
• Using ketogenic diet as a treatment for various diseases, with a focus on medical professionals and their role in promoting this approach (23:36)
• Empowering patients with diabetes to reverse their condition through self-research and coaching (26:32)
• Protecting children from marketing and sugar addiction (30:53)
• Improving nutrition in low-income communities through affordable, balanced meal plans (34:07)
• Improving diets in Africa and the challenges with donations of unhealthy foods (40:29)
• Her organization's impact on global nutrition (43:42)

Where to learn more:

• Nutrition Network

If you loved this episode and our podcast, please take some time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, or drop us a comment below! 

Scott Myslinski just competed in his first bodybuilding endeavor and went the enhancement route.  He pulls back the curtain and leaves everything on the table regarding nutrition, enhancement, training, and much more. His journey was a lot different than mine, but I know you'll get something out of this episode.

What you'll hear:

• Digestive issues, bodybuilding prep, and nutrition (4:10)
• Experience with the carnivore diet and training (11:09)
• Bodybuilding enhancement and prep strategies (16:29)
• Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and its effects on body composition and mood (20:41)
• Using performance-enhancing drugs for bodybuilding, including testosterone and other anabolic steroids (25:01)
• Drug use in bodybuilding, including effects on blood markers and liver health (32:17)
• Using trenbolone for fat loss and muscle maintenance, side effects and precautions (36:39)
• Post-show supplementation (40:34)
• Post-show nutrition and (44:15)
• Competition prep experience, results, and relationship effects (49:30)
• The importance of a health approach to bodybuilding and not placing too much emphasis on external validation (54:08)
• What he's excited about in the near future (56:56)

If you loved this episode and our podcast, please take some time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, or drop us a comment below! 

Wade Lightheart and Matt Galant are the head honchos behind BIOptimizers supplements, but they are also both big into the nutrition and bodybuilding space. Wade and Matt were both trainers working with pro athletes and other high performers. They both spent a decade in the gym helping people transform their health. Wade and Matt met in the gym, struck a friendship, and then started a business partnership that has been going strong since 2004. (https://bioptimizers.com/about-us/) We discussed everything from veganism to bodybuilding, so I'm sure you'll take something from this episode. 

What you'll hear:

• Their backstory and how they became interested in the supplement industry (4:30)
• Protein absorption and digestive health in bodybuilding (8:06)
• Enzymes for digestive health in the sports industry, with a focus on keto diets and their benefits (12:04)
• The importance of lipase enzymes for fat digestion and energy production (16:08)
• The importance of enzymes to aid in digestion, especially given the modern nutritional protocols (21:06)
• Dietary choices and their impact on gut health, with a focus on enzymes and probiotics (27:29)
• Ketogenic diet and fat metabolism, with tips for optimizing protein and fiber intake (32:51)
• Diet approaches for weight loss, including keto, intermittent fasting, and macronutrient ratios (38:52)
• Nutrition and exercise for optimal body composition and muscle gain (42:17)
• Dieting for bodybuilding competitions and their effects on metabolism (46:36)
• Nutrition and dietary choices as a bodybuilder (51:40)
• Dietary choices and their impact on health, with a focus on plant-based and carnivore diets (58:09)
• Supplement recommendations for optimal health benefits (1:03:03)
• Biggest frustrations with the supplement industry (1:10:59)

Where to learn more:

• BIOptimizers

If you loved this episode and our podcast, please take some time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, or drop us a comment below! 

There's something for everyone in this episode. Eric Edmeades is a serial entrepreneur with experience including wireless networking, military research, Hollywood film production, and award-winning and life-saving medical simulation. Today, Eric is a leading authority in Behavioral Change Dynamics. Eric has created and consulted on some of the most effective, transformative, and highly rated educational products and live events in the world. His dedication and passion for improving the quality of human lives all across the world was the inspiration behind his flagship program, WILDFIT®, globally recognized as the most effective health transformation program on the market. (https://ericedmeades.com/) I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation and I've got no doubt you'll take something from it. 

What we discussed:

• His fascination with African conservation and early human history (1:25)
• Traditional hunting practices and daily life in a remote tribe (5:00)
• Indigenous people's health and lifestyle (8:34)
• The term "pre-diabetic" and its implications for medical advice (12:37)
• Diabetes diagnosis, lifestyle intervention, and food industry impact (16:15)
• Permanent psychological change in people for healthier habits (20:05)
• Nutrition, health, and personal transformation (24:34)
• The effectiveness of a nutrition program that incorporates seasonality, behavioral change, and storytelling (28:28)
• Ketosis and nutrition, with a focus on human history and evolutionary biology (32:38)
• Entrepreneurship and leadership (39:58)
• Parental involvement in children's education, including school choice and homeschooling (43:26)
• Psychology of food choices and their impact on health, with references to evolutionary biology and the manipulation of the food industry (47:57)
• Evolution, diet, and culture with a focus on the Garden of Eden and the Hadza people (51:57)
• What Eric has in store in the near future (55:22)

Where to learn more:

• Eric Edmeades
• Postdiabetic

If you loved this episode and our podcast, please take some time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, or drop us a comment below! 

Are you aware of how environmental toxins and poor nutrition can affect your thyroid function? Risa Groux is a functional nutritionist and is an expert in all things thyroid health. It was a very interesting conversation and I know you'll learn a lot. 

What we discussed:

• Why Risa became so interested in thyroid function initially (1:18)
• The impact of social media and processed foods on mental and physical health (4:43)
• Childhood obesity, insulin resistance, and poor nutrition (11:25)
• Healthy eating, focusing on fiber, fats, and proteins (17:13)
• Diet, genetics, and health (24:57)
• Genetic testing and blood/stool analysis for personalized health insights (30:33)
• Functional medicine approach to nutrition and health, with emphasis on personalized dietary plans based on individual health status (34:40)
• Functional medicine certification programs and their acceptance in conventional Western medicine (39:28)
• Insurance issues (43:27)
• The growth of functional medicine (45:31)

Where to learn more:

• Risa Groux Nutrition

If you loved this episode and our podcast, please take some time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, or drop us a comment below! 

If you weren't aware, we're going through a bit of a crisis in the cacao butter market. I recorded a quick podcast to bring you up to speed on what this means for you as the consumer and our business practices because we value transparency. 

What you'll hear:

• Why we avoid raising prices (1:40)
• The details behind the cacao butter crisis (2:20)
• The devastating increase in price (2:58)
• How we're mitigating the loss (5:07)
• Possible solutions if the price continues to increase (6:02)
• Our pledge to maintain the quality of the product (9:02)

If you loved this episode and our podcast, please take some time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, or drop us a comment below! 

If you've been following us for a while, you know that we've made an effort to evaluate the products that we use in our home and on our bodies in order to avoid environmental toxins. Dr. Tom O'Bryan is a recognized world expert on gluten and its impact on health. He is an internationally recognized and sought after speaker and workshop leader specializing in the complications of Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity, Celiac Disease, and the development of Autoimmune Diseases, as they occur inside and outside of the intestines. (https://thedr.com/about/) He has a vast knowledge of how our everyday products can impact our hormones and everyday health, and it was a pleasure to learn from him. 

What we discussed:

• Why he became interested in environmental toxins (2:58)
• Fertility and the impact of diet on reproductive health (3:45)
• Toxic chemicals in environment affecting fetal brain development (9:33)
• Epigenetics and how lifestyle choices impact health, with a focus on toxins and inflammation (14:34)
• Reducing inflammation through air purification and simple lifestyle changes (18:42)
• Importance of clean water and air for overall health (24:44)
• Plastic contamination in bottled water and its impact on brain health (29:54)
• Toxic chemicals in everyday products and their impact on hormones and overall health (31:40)
• Gluten sensitivity and its impact on health (37:15)
• Immune system and food sensitivities (43:42)
• Inflammation, seed oils, and holistic health (50:24)
• Tips for reducing exposure and improving overall well-being (55:50)

Where to learn more:

• The Dr.

If you loved this episode and our podcast, please take some time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, or drop us a comment below! 

If you've ever wondered how mushrooms can help you from a neurological and performance standpoint, you'll want to listen to this episode. Stephanie founded Try Troop with her cousin Jake. They are on a mission to demystify mushrooms and make them approachable. By turning to preventative rather than curative health measures, they believe we can walk a path to a healthier life. It was a pleasure to learn from her and I know you'll take something from this episode.

What we discussed:

• Her backstory and what got her into the mushroom business (1:46)
• What exactly mushrooms are, how they can be beneficial, and their different uses (4:04)
• Conditions required to grow mushrooms (6:30)
• Avoiding poisonous mushrooms (7:22)
• The mushroom growing process from start to finish (9:22)
• Making sure you get a quality product (11:52)
• Delivery options (15:44)
• Deep dive into the different types of mushrooms (18:09)
• What Stephanie and her cousin consume on a daily basis (21:48)
• Her stance on psilocybin and how they're used for mental health treatment (24:14)
• Microdosing (30:52)
• Holistic approach to medicine using natural compounds like mushrooms (39:05)
• What she's excited about in the future (41:05)

Where to learn more:

• Try Troop

If you loved this episode and our podcast, please take some time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, or drop us a comment below!  

Matt was born in Florida and went to the University of Florida for undergrad and medical school (Go Gators!). He got tired of the flatlands of Florida and hiked the Appalachian Trail before medical school, which started his love of hiking.  His wife, the great Laura Buchanan, is also a family medicine resident at Wake. They share a passion for metabolic health and wellness. When not checking their blood sugar by their continuous glucose monitors, they can be seen lifting weights, cycling, playing tennis, hiking, and walking around town. They also enjoy experimenting with their diets and seeing how their metabolic markers change - so far Matt has done 3 months of ketogenic diet and 10 days of whole food plant-based diet. But most of all, they enjoy spending time with their co-residents in the wonderful city that is Winston-Salem! (https://school.wakehealth.edu/residents-and-fellows/c/matthew-william-calkins)

It was wonderful to gain some insight from Matt and learn from him, and I know you'll enjoy this conversation, too.

What you'll hear:

• Will's background and passion for family medicine (4:53)
• Bridging the gap between traditional and functional medicine (9:37)
• Healthcare system incentives and profit margins (11:16)
• Medical billing and compensation for physicians (17:02)
• Nutrition and lifestyle design for diabetes management (19:57)
• Lifestyle changes for improving metabolic health in urgent care settings (21:39)
• Nutritional interventions and food addiction (31:31) 
• Food addiction and its application in medicine and the Yale food addiction scale (32:03)
• The acceptance of low-carb diets in medicine, with a focus on patient education and practitioner pushback (35:45)
• Using lifestyle interventions for weight loss and improving health outcomes (41:42)
• Benefits and risks of a ketogenic diet to treat mental illness (47:09)
• Healthcare system challenges and the importance of patient advocacy (49:45)
• Diabetes management and the importance of low-carb diets (52:17)
• Incentivizing doctors to have longer patient conversations for better health outcomes (58:01)

Where to learn more:

• Twitter