Barbell Shrugged - Talking Training W/ Crossfit Games Athletes, Strength Coaches & More

Dr. Andy Galpin is the Director of Education: Andy is a tenured Professor in the Center for Sport Performance at CSU Fullerton. He was born and raised in beautiful Rochester, WA and is a die-hard Seahawks, Huskies, & Mariner fan. RIP Sonics. As a youth, Andy played every sport at his disposal, excelling at Football, Basketball, Baseball, and Track & Field. While not playing, he worked at grocery stores, gas stations, hay fields, blueberry farms, and in the road construction business. It was during this time he discovered Strength & Conditioning. Andy took his limited talents to Linfield College to join their Football team and pursue a degree in Exercise Science. While he experienced great success in both (2004 National Championship and 2x Captain and immediate inductee into the "All Ugly" Team), the true reward of this time was the meeting of lifelong friend (Doug Larson). The two fed each other's pursuit of knowledge of human performance and led them to attend the University of Memphis for the Ma

Ben Pakulski (@bpakfitness) is an IFBB bodybuilding pro who’s competed in the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia, and now runs a successful muscle building program and gym in Tampa Florida called Mi40. He also offers business mentorship coaching, hosts the popular Muscle Intelligence Podcast, and travels the world speaking about the practical, scientific, and mental aspects of living a healthy, happy, and fit life.   Ashleigh sits down with IFBB pro bodybuilder, podcast host, and owner of a successful gym and coaching business, the bodybuilding yogi, Ben Pakulski for a deep dive about Ben’s work to change the paradigm of muscle building: to encourage fitness enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds to approach their goals with as much introspection, mindfulness, and strategic thinking as possible. We cover topics like encouraging young people to find their own personalized approach to fitness; practical ways to reverse-engineer your goals in order to establish clear steps to achieve them; how pain and empathy hel

Born in Santa Monica, Logan feels right at home coaching at DEUCE Gym. With a background in collegiate (University of San Diego) and professional (San Diego Padres) baseball, Logan is used to high performance, heavy workloads, and accountability. Luckily, Logan was blessed enough to work with world renowned strength and conditioning coaches, sports psychologists, and nutritionists during his career. It’s during this time that the seeds were sown for the belief system that guides his coaching today. Forever a “student of the game,” Logan is always looking to strengthen and question his understanding of human movement and nutrition.   In this episode of Barbell Shrugged we talk with Logan about making conscious decisions, the difference between those who are still in the game in their 30’s and those who burn out at 25, the pursuit of truth, why you need to balance out the positive with the negative, a deep dive into depression, building something that will transcend yourself, finding environments that you can c

In this weeks episode Claire Thomas (@clairepthomas) and I discuss our favorite tips for people who travel a lot (like us). How to pick your spot when choosing a hotel, what to drink when the time comes, workout tips, and what snacks to pack in a pinch.  It’s a quick informative listen that just may just change the way you travel forever. At least I hope it does. Enjoy! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Show notes: http://www.shruggedcollective.com/rc-thomas ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ► Subscribe to Shrugged Collective's Channel Here http://bit.ly/BarbellShruggedSubscribe

Aleks Rybchinskiy is a Neurosomatic Therapist with nearly a decade in the field working to heal clients by applying integrative and holistic therapies and methodologies mastered through accelerated completion of the prestigious practitioner programs at CHEK Institute in California, and Neurosomatic Educators Institute  in Clearwater, FL. As a CHEK certified Holistic Lifestyle Coach and Level IV CHEK Practitioner, he combines his expert knowledge of metaphysical correlations with physical symptoms, as well as holistic nutrition and the sociocultural influences on lifestyle to help his clients make positive and permanent changes to their health, weight, and pain symptoms.  He applies the science of mindfulness to access values and determine specific, attainable goals through a comprehensive system of health assessments, and 1-1 counseling. Aleks splits his time between Austin & Chicago, where he operates his private practice, Fusion Health.  He works with clients from all ages to address weight loss, muscle

From the age of nine when he received a copy of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding as a gift, Dr. Grayson Wickham has been fascinated with movement. He earned a Bachelors of Science, majoring in exercise science and kinesiology, and received a Doctorate of Physical Therapy at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. He is a physical therapist and a certified strength and conditioning specialist, working with everyone from NFL, MLB, professional tennis players and professional CrossFit athletes, to those that are just touching a barbell for the first time. Grayson is known to experiment with different types of systems and movement philosophies, trying to find the most effective ways to optimize movement, while decreasing pain, and increasing performance. He’s based in New York City where he runs his online mobility coaching practice Movement Vault, and teaches mobility and movement workshops all over the world.   In this episode Ashleigh talks with Dr. Grayson Wickham, a physical therapis

Gabby Reece (@gabbyreece) the Co Creator of XPT, world renowned athlete, New York Times bestselling author, wife, mother.  At 6’ 3” the former professional beach volleyball player and Nike's first female spokeswoman, Gabrielle Reece, is the true definition of both athleticism and feminine beauty. Gabby’s commanding presence, passion for healthy living, and fitness expertise makes her a popular leader in the world of health and wellness. Gabrielle Reece has recently been named host of NBC’s upcoming transformation competition series “STRONG”airing in April of 2016. From executive producer Dave Broome (“The Biggest Loser”) and Oscar-nominated iconic film star Sylvester Stallone, the 10-episode series “STRONG” matches everyday women with the world’s most elite trainers to help realize their natural greatness and conquer obstacles that were once unfathomable.   In this episode we talk with Gabby about what it’s like being married to Laird, the challenges of raising a family,  the current transition Gabby is going

Mr. Flutters (@flutters77) is the official chef for more famous people then he can even remember. From big time hip hop super stars, the top names in CrissFit, professional athletes, to his current country singing super stars — (he’s not allowed disclose names) you can rest assure that he has experience making some top quality food. Not only that but he personally visits each farm that he buys products from and he drops the names of the best quality places all over this episode.   I ask a few questions about quality of products that you’re getting at restaurants, what to look for and ask for, we talk a little bit about his struggles, and we just have a fun flowing entertaining conversation that keeps your attention the whole time. It’s a little longer than usual, but the time will fly by. Enjoy!   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Show notes: http://www.shruggedcollective.com/rc-fultz ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ @v

Saturday Bro Show of Barbell Shrugged coming in hot! Today is a special episode where Doug, Anders, Alex, and Kurt sit down and talk training, nutrition and radnom bro stuff. At the end of the day, this is the thing that unites us all: a love for the barbell and a desire to be better humans.  In this episode of Barbell Shrugged, we talk about Doug’s life when he lived out of a gym, the definition of Crossfit, contact sports, making intensity relative, why expectations are the cockblocker of happiness, the importance of telling your clients the cold hard truth, and much more.   Enjoy! - Anders and Doug   Episode Breakdown   ⚡️0-10: Professional wrestling, real estate agents, Doug’s life living out of his gym, how Alex and Kurt met Doug, and where Kurt and Alex are now ⚡️11-20: The definition of Crossfit and how we can improve it, how their fitness has evolved over time, and why new people love high intensity ⚡️21-30: The need for a new approach to fitness, making intensity relative, the psychological “holy shi

In this episode we talk about with Joovv (@joovvsocial) about importance of recovery and how to get full recovery hat are recover tactics besides food and sleep, red light therapy for recovery and healing, what happens while the red light is on you, the harmful effects of too much Blue light, why natural light is important to your health and eyes, how the right lights can help you get more done and be more healthy, why sleep is number one benefit of red lights and monitoring your body, and much more   Enjoy! -Mike --------------------------------------------------- Show notes: https://shruggedcollective.com/tbs-joovv --------------------------------------------------- Please support our sponors: @organifi - www.organifi.com/shrugged to save 20% @sunlighten:www.sunlighten.com "ShruggedCollective" for $200 off + free shipping ► Travel thru Europe with us on the  Shrugged Voyage, more info here: https://www.theshruggedvoyage.com/ ► What is the Shrugged Collective?  Click below for more info: https://youtu.be/i

Rob Wilson (@preparetoperform) is a coach with Power Speed Endurance which is a programming, coaching and educational platform for developing sports performance, fitness and health—and it’s not only for high level endurance athletes but anyone looking to improve their health and fitness through increased movement efficiency and better mechanics. Rob travels the country teaching the Art of Breath clinic, covering the theory and practical applications of oxygen and c02 efficiency, proper body and breathing mechanics for increased movement efficiency, and much more.  Rob has 15 years of experience in manual therapy, he co-owns CrossFit Virginia Beach with his wife, and he's worked with Kelly Starrett on the Mobility WOD staff before he helped develop the Art of Breath seminar for Power Speed Endurance.   In this episode Ashleigh talks with Rob Wilson, a CrossFit gym owner and movement and breath specialist about the course he developed with Brian Mackenzie for Power Speed Endurance called The Art of Breath – it’

Inaugural CrossFit Games Champion and industry-leading educator, James FitzGerald, has dedicated his life to bringing honor to the coaching profession. As Founder of OPEX Fitness his Coaching Education and Gyms Licensing Programs have provided thousands of coaches with the tools needed to professionalize their passion. James’ flagship program, The OPEX Coaching Certificate Program reflects his 20 + years of coaching expertise and is set apart by the breadth of coaching theory and practical application taught. In early 2019, James achieved another career milestone with the release of Mixed Modal, a groundbreaking course specifically designed to educate coaches on the long-term development of competitive Functional Fitness athletes   In this episode of Barbell Shrugged, we talk about James’ background, what the system is selling vs. what you actually need, the key components of OPEX gyms, basic lifestyles guidelines, how to fix broken gym culture, creating alignment, fitness for teens,why you are not an athlete

Social media is more than just a place to post photos and videos. You can utilize it to grow a brand, business, platform and expand your market to insane levels.   If you do it the right way, the potential is endless.   In this podcast we touch on some of the most important parts of creating an authentic brand on social media. We go in depth on how to stand out, and show the F up for your brand and your audience in a way that makes a true impact.   Authenticity, marketing, influencer marketing, Facebook ads, and how to create success from nothing using an I-phone is all covered as we go through the BS of the social media world and tell you how it really is.   Transparency on social media makes the biggest difference in growing a loyal following, before marketing to the masses and growing a business.   There is strategy, ethics and WORK behind what you need to do on social media to create long lasting success, but all the tools are there if you are willing to work for it.   Listen up because the next business

Empowering the body-mind connection is an absolute must in Mike’s (@mike_bledsoe) world. A lifetime of athletics and training, along with being a coach and entrepreneur for the last decade, he has tapped into parts of himself that were once unknown.Simultaneously competing in the sport of weightlifting, coaching national caliber athletes, running a 7 figure business with 20+ employees, and hosting the #1 rated Fitness & Nutrition podcast on iTunes (Barbell Shrugged) took a lot personal growth just to keep up.After hitting the ceiling of capacity many times over he discovered and distilled the processes that create the greatest expansion for capacity and growth.In the last year Mike launched The Strong Coach, a program for personal professional development for coaches, which has already begun transforming the way coaches interact with their clients and build their businesses. He is also in the process of building a new brand called Enlifted. It is a mindset program for athletes and coaches.Mike is a US Nav

Brian Muka (@brian_muka) helps people turn fear into a superpower. Brian believes that this overlooked powerful source of energy is the key to getting more done, saying yes to the right things and no to the wrong, and when harnessed can result in more impact and income. Brian teaches the tools of masters to keep fear small and manageable and helps people get to know fear to turn into fuel, focus and ultimately a friend.   Advice from Brian: Do something every day that scares you because your life expands proportionally to your ability to harness fear.   In this episode we talk about how Brian harnesses fear, his experience working as an EOD, night skydiving, Whim Hof breathing, how utilizing breath saved Brian’s life, why you should start your day with a challenge, Brian’s relationship with fear, the need for self care, Brian’s upcoming book, the most terrifying thing Brian has ever done, and much more.   Enjoy! -Mike   Episode Breakdown:   ⚡️0-10: Mike and Brian’s friendship, the health benefits of kombo, ho

Will Lanier (@truebluewill) has worked for the past decade as a CrossFit Coach and general manager for Brick New York, and has spent time working for other fitness organizations like Barry’s Bootcamp and 24 Hour Fitness. He’s now the founder of The Out Foundation, a non-profit organization that works to remove the barriers that block LGBTQ+ individuals access and participation in health, wellness and fitness to ensure their success through fun, inclusive fundraising events like OUTWOD and by providing health and fitness-related scholarships to LGBTQ youth.   Today is a fun walk down CrossFit memory lane, as well as peering into the future of the sport: Ashleigh chats with fellow CrossFit NYC OG Will Lanier about the early days of CrossFit in New York City, his work as a trainer who helped bring the Brick fitness franchise to the city, his experience as a gay man in CrossFit, and his current work as founder of The Out Foundation/ OUTWOD fundraising events, with a goal to increase inclusiveness and access to Cr

Jen Widerstrom (@jenwiderstrom) is a personal trainer and fitness model. She is well known for her role of a trainer in the NBC’s long-running and hit series The Biggest Loser, replacing Jillian Michaels where she worked as a body coach and guided the participants through a well-planned exercise regime and also provided the required emotional support to them during their journey to a fitter body. Jen worked with the popular faces including Bob Harper and Jessie Pavelka.   Kenny Santucci (@kennysantucci) is Program Director & Creator of Body by Solace, a total conditioning program using bodyweight movements, kettlebells, Assault Bikes, rowers, and more. Kenny is a dynamic leader, who encourages clients through his no-bull approach to training. When training with Kenny, expect plenty of tough-love. He nicknames his class and clients ‘Team Beautiful’ because he encourages members to exude positivity in all facets of life.   In this episode of Barbell Shrugged, we talk about having a sanctioned event without

This week's episode is all about programming.   Picking the right goal, manipulating frequency, volume, intensity, planning for adaptation, choosing mass or strength, making your exercises match your goals, how many days per week, sets and reps, tempo movements, rest breaks, gym programming, and much more...   This is probably one of my most passionate subjects and it’s what I’m known for around the world as an individual and a gym owner. It’s a lot of info to cram into 1 podcast, but I cover each point just enough to make you dangerous and understand what’s most important. No fluff, just the meat and potatoes. I hope you love it.   Enjoy! -Ryan ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Show notes: http://www.shruggedcollective.com/rc-fischer ------------------------------------------------------------------------------► Subscribe to Shrugged Collective's Channel Here http://bit.ly/BarbellShruggedSubscribe

Mark England (@markengland2020) has professionally coached thousands of clients worldwide using the power of words and stories for over a decade. He holds an BA in business and a Master’s in Education. Mark is the co-founder of Procabulary and is a lifelong personal development enthusiast.   In this episode of The Strong Coach we discuss Mark’s start in coaching, what’s held Mark’s attention throughout his career, why the best coaches are the best breathers, the secret to creating opportunities (hint: it’s not that complicated), the power of putting pen to paper, the biggest opportunity you can take advantage of right now, Mike and Mark’s new course, Enlifted, and much more.   Come join us at www.thestrongcoach.com   -Mike   Episode Breakdown:   ⚡️0-10: How Mark got his start in coaching, facing his fears to pursue his passion, how to overcome insecurities, opening yourself up to constructive criticism, what makes a coach great, and the experience of coaching a circus (kids swim class) ⚡️11-20: Focused conver

This week on The Bledsoe Show Mike talks with old-school Barbell Business podcast host and two-time world-record-setting powerlifter AJ Roberts. He’s one of the few people in the industry with a very solid perspective on both business and training, and he’s one of our favorite speakers of all time. He gets it, and he’s great at helping other people get it, too.   In this episode we talk about the practice of making things unimportant, how cognitive dissonance is hijacking your life, why mediation without action is limiting your capacity, the new wave of intelligence, why people fill their spaces with stuff, how globalization is waking people up, how you can experience the greatest joy and sadness all at once, and much more.   Enjoy! -Mike   Episode Breakdown:   ⚡️0-10: The practice of making things unimportant, distracting ourselves from the reality of our lives, and re-evaluating what you’ve deemed as important ⚡️11-20: Be the example of what could be possible in this world, don’t exist in the system, build