Three years ago, I had no idea how long this podcast would last. And I sure as hell had no idea what starting this show would actually accomplish. Over the last three years, I've made friendships and networked with people who have made me a better writer, coach, and human being. To all those who have been guests on this show, thank you. To all the …

In the 2nd to last episode ever, Rog Law comes on the show to dive into the deep shit of life. We talk DBZ, comics, video games, and the importance of showing up.

In one of the final episodes of Side Quest Podcast, I interview Tom Mullen of Washed Up Emo about all things emo. Tom has written a book about those first few years of emo and packed with tons of interviews from some of the pioneers of emo. Grab it here.

In January of 2017, Brandon reached out to me about coaching. He had just lost a ton of weight via a weight loss competition at work, but he was weak; he had lost his way around the weight room. His goal: lose enough body fat, and building enough lean muscle so that he'd have the confidence to rip his shirt off on stage and strip. (As a character h…

Mike Doehla founded Stronger U with the sole focus of helping people improve. Mike noticed the extremes people went to in order to reach their goals. But he found that most never saw what they wanted, and he knew there had to be a better way. Stronger U's program was created for those looking for a refreshing approach to nutrition. Mike and his tea…

Joel H. Cohen is a Canadian writer who has written for Saturday Night Live, Suddenly Susan and The Simpsons. He penned the famous season three episode of "Flaming Moe's." Joel received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1988 from the University of Alberta. He was born in Calgary. Outside of writing for "The Simpsons", he's also the author of the best-…

A short episode, all about the one question I've been asking myself for months: where do we go from here?

It's that time of year again. No, it's not the end of summer. Well, it kind of is. But that's not what I'm talking about. Nope, this is the time of the year where my good friend Jason Helmes returns to the podcast and catches us up on what he's been up to. Jason was one of my first guests on the podcast nearly three years ago, and then he came back…

John Fawkes used to be shy, scrawny, and scared. Now he's a fitness coach who turns science geeks into ripped, sexy beasts. When he's not pumping iron or answering emails, he's usually singing karaoke, playing Dungeons & Dragons (as a wizard, obviously), studying martial arts or eating ice cream. Last year, John traveled all over the world for 9-mo…

This is from Wikipedia: [Anagnorisis] is a moment in a play or other work when a character makes a critical discovery. Anagnorisis originally meant recognition in its Greek context, not only of a person but also of what that person stood for. Anagnorisis was the hero's sudden awareness of a real situation, the realization of things as they stood, a…

Jay Ashman, a former multi-sport athlete—baseball, football, basketball, tennis, soccer, swimming, and more—became a rugby player after a failed NFL tryout. During his time playing rugby, Jay played for Reading Rugby, Long Island RFC, and Old Blue Superleague. In 2009, though, he decided to call it quits. From there, Jay Ashman turned to a career i…

hey say it’s important to reflect on your birthday; to ponder what you’ve learned during your latest orbit around the sun and to contemplate how you can make the future better. Well, I don’t know who the hell “they” are, or why they’re telling me that I should do anything on my birthday other than eat ice cream, play video games, and drink whiskey.…

Nick Sorrell is a Strength and Nutrition Coach based out of Louisville, KY. Nick spends his time getting people lean, writing nonsensical content on his website, and occasionally intercepting a pass or two. Nick has been a guest on the show numerous times. But this is the first time in over two years that he's been on the show without other guests.…

This is the audio version of a Facebook Live I did on May 23, 2017.

There are very few people in the fitness industry who get my dick hard every time they write something new. Aadam Ali, is one of those guys. He also happens to be a very close friend and a brother I'd lay my life down for. Well, maybe. But only if he named his first born after me. Or at least his left testicle. Anyways, Aadam has been a huge influe…

Peter Baker is a Tampa personal trainer, thinker, and uber geek. But he's also a competitive powerlifter and submission grappler. Oh, and a writer. Peter trains and writes about the totality of training both himself and others. He's written on sites like BioLayne, T-Nation, Roman Fitness Systems, and more. When he's not writing about fitness or but…

Over the last year or two, the next big buzzword that everyone has started using is protein. Hundreds of bright colored items in your local grocery store will have phrases or words like this emblazoned on their packaging: "Protein Packed" "Now with extra Protein" "Plus Protein" Everything from Cheerios to bagels, peanut butter, Kind bars, or buzz f…

In this episode of the podcast, you'll meet my client Draper Harlow. Who answered an email I sent and signed up for online coaching. Then, he crushed his workouts and nutrition and slashed 6% body fat while building over 6 pounds of lean muscle. Here's a little bit of what Draper had to say about his experience, but listen to the episode for even m…

Mitch Calvert has a degree in communications, is a certified trainer and fat loss coach, and his blog was ranked as one of the top ten fitness blogs by Breaking Muscle in 2013. Once a 240lb line cook in university, Mitch has dedicated more than a decade of his life to fitness and helping men unlock the best bodies of their lives. Mitch his a husban…

Who hasn't had an intense workout where they popped some ibuprofen or some other pain pill to ease the DOMS. But is it good for you? Are you hurting your gains? Or is it totally okay to pop pills after a workout to ease the discomfort? In this episode, I dive into a few studies and break down what they say and whether you should or shouldn't take s…

For those that love working out, rest days suck. You love to hit the gym, and the thought of not doing what you enjoy is a pain. But rest is crucial. I'd argue it's almost more important than the actual working out part, almost. So how can you make rest days more beneficial? How can you make them optimal to get the most gains? And, how can you make…

Mason Woodruff, is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) based in Arkansas. He also works as a sports nutritionist and freelance writer. You can find Mason's writing on sites like Muscle & Performance Magazine, Breaking Muscle, STACK, Anytime Fitness, and more. Mason's fitness journey started out as a high-level athlete; but once …

Petravita, real name Brandon Landis, is a Stockholm-based hip-hop artist, poet, and adventurer. After growing up in Seattle on a steady stream of video games and local hip-hop shows, he found his footing in the music world for the first time while attending university in England, where he began performing music as a duo with his friend and roommate…

Tolkien describes the dead marshes like this in The Two Towers: "Dreary and wearisome. Cold, clammy winter still held sway in this forsaken country. The only green was the scum of livid weed on the dark greasy surfaces of the sullen waters. Dead grasses and rotting reeds loomed up in the mists like ragged shadows of long-forgotten summers." You can…

Born and raised on the West Coast of Canada, Alex is a short shorts enthusiast, espresso fiend, and an unapologetic meathead. Alex is a self-proclaimed anti-meathead and casual nerd. When he’s not working towards Herculean status or learning how to better serve his clients, he can be found exploring how to further crush life, perfect his flair in t…

Get ready for some fire. Because I'm talking about the why of motivation. PS: Listen for a chance to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card

Ben is an author, entrepreneur, and food-loving fitness professional. By simplifying the world of strength and conditioning, Ben helps people everywhere beat "bad" genetics, melt away fat, make lean muscle, and finally start getting the results they crave. Oh, and he does all of this without asking you to give up your favorite foods. Ben's awesome.…

When I first started working out, I thought had a foolproof blueprint for success: Lift weights Run on the treadmill Eat salad Drink protein shakes Make gains Except, I didn’t have a blueprint at all. I had “ideas” of what worked. Assumptions I'd stacked together from magazines and the internet about how to burn fat and build muscle. But I had no r…

Jedi vs Sith. Who will win in this Star Wars nerd out with Mike Sweetman and I.

The Force Within Us All We all grew up watching star wars, and for most those childhood memories are fondly remembered. Whether you wanted to be the smooth talking Han Solo, or the Lightsaber wielding Luke Skywalker, it was fun to reenact the movies on the playground. But now as overworked and stressed out adults, many of us don’t make enough time …

The first question that I ask any of my clients is: “Who is your favorite Hero?” Whether from a movie, comic book, novel, or video game we've all had a fictional, or historical, Hero that we admire. These mythic Heroes provide hope, guidance, and inspiration in our darkest of times. It's their actions that we look to emulate when we are tested. Los…

Jordan Grahm, once topped out at over 400-pounds. After the sudden death of his mother as a teen, Jordan gave up on life. He stopped caring about his health, used food as an emotional coping mechanism, and, until a car accident that could have killed him, he ignored everything his doctors told him. Now, Jordan Grahm is a weight loss specialist, per…

After a month away from Coaches Corner, the segment returns to the podcast. And this time, I bring back some of my fellow nerds to talk about how comics, video games, and all the nerdy stuff we love, has helped us succeed during trying times. Kenneth Rotter from Dumbbells and Dragons and Ches Hall of Live Like You Game, join me and we dive DEEP int…

Fallout 3 was my favorite game released on the Xbox 360. I put in damn near 100 hours of gameplay, including all of the DLC. As I think back to all the hours I put into the game, I realize I skipped over an aspect that would have greatly benefitted my character’s development: resting. Never once did I rest in a bed while playing Fallout 3. Resting …

Carter is an online fitness and weight loss coach who helps others achieve their goals of getting lean—and more importantly—staying healthy for life. What makes Carter unique is his personal experience of overcoming obesity and losing 140+ pounds. What's more, he's been able to keep it off. Carter writes about and teaches his clients about prioriti…

There is nothing I love more than answering questions from readers or social media followers. And every 1st Thursday of the month, I do just that. Community Questions is a chance for me to answer YOUR questions. They don't have to be fitness related, either. (Though most are.) So this month, I have four excellent questions come in: Sunday meal prep…

Martijn Koevoets was bitten by the iron bug after an embarrassing moment in high school where he couldn't bench the 45lbs bar. Since then Martijn has been building strength and gaining muscle and can now deadlift 3x his bodyweight. Martijn writes for his website, Powerlifting University. But has also been featured on websites like Strengtheory, Eli…

Texas. It's a state rich with history, Diverse in its landscape, and filled with a sense of pride that only those from Texas truly understand. Texas was once at the bottom of the ocean. An ancient ocean that separated the eastern United States from the west. Known as Western Interior Seaway, this ancient sea teemed with animals and fauna. Ancient l…

Adam Fisher has been lifting for over ten years, and working as a trainer and powerlifting coach for the last five. Making clients stronger is his passion, and he's worked with clients in over ten countries and counting. Adam Fisher believes the deadlift is the best lift. And, yes, he says "you can fight me on that point." Aside from lifting, Adam …

Fat loss. Let's be honest. It sucks. But if you have a goal that you want to accomplish, should you go hardcore and live in a cave like Obi-Wan, shut off from society, to finish your cut? Or should you be more moderate with your approach? This question came to me from a listener and Twitter follower. And I answer it in this episode.…

Mitch Heaslip aka The Jacked Hipster has been coaching clients online and in-person for a few years. Before he became a trainer, Mitch was a firefighter in rural Canada. And it was while he spent time fighting fires that he discovered the secret power of meditation. Since his days in the wilds of Canada, Mitch has moved to Texas and now lives there…

You don't need to be a rocket scientist to understand how to determine your calories. With one simple rule, you can calculate a baseline of calories to consume for fat loss, muscle gain, or maintenance. Men and women are a bit different, however. But in general, this works for everyone.

Scott Herman has been working in the fitness industry since he was 14. And it's his love of helping people change their bodies and lives that led Scott to start a YouTube channel that now has over 1.3 million subscribers. If you've ever Googled or searched for an exercise on YouTube, I guarantee you that you've seen or learned from Scott. After gra…

There is nothing I love more than answering questions from readers or social media followers. And every 1st Thursday of the month, I do just that. Community Questions is a chance for me to answer YOUR questions. They don't have to be fitness related, either. (Though most are.) So this month, I had three excellent questions come in: If weight loss i…

Jorden Pagel returns to the podcast after damn near two years. Jorden and I catch up on everything he's been up to with his business, his personal development, and what side hustle he has now. You can check out episode one here. Jorden is a Wisconsin-based writer and coach. He uses his experience of losing over 80-pounds to help people dominate the…

They say it's the little things that matter. And as cliche as that sounds, it's pretty true when it comes to fat loss. The big things you need to handle are maintaining a calorie deficit and exercise. But there are small things that you could be doing that keep tripping you up on your journey. And ignoring these trip-ups isn't something you can aff…

Don Brown has been inventing fitness equipment since the 1990s. He fell in love with fitness in no small part thanks to fitness icon, Jack LaLanne. His first chain of fitness centers was called XERCISE,Inc in Northern NJ. And it was in this gym that one day he ran into a problem with one of his clients. Don Brown had always been a problem solver, s…

This is a subject we've covered before on Coaches Corner. But that was almost 18 months ago and it's still one of the most asked questions I receive. So I decided to cover the supplements I take, why I take them, and what they do and don't do. First and foremost: before you buy any supplement, first check with your doctor to see if it is something …

On this episode of the podcast, I'm joined by Alain Gonzalez of MuscleMonsters.com. Pronounced, "a lane," Alain considers himself an average guy from Florida who at 23-years-old, wasn't living in what looked like the body of an adult. He looked more like he was stuck in a pre-teens scraggly framed body. For the last few years, Alain Gonzalez has de…