Side Quest Podcast

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 with his wife. Mitch continues to train clients in-person but has also built an online coaching business.   On his blog, The Jacked Hipster, Mitch writes about more than fitness. He writes about how to set goals and conquer the day by setting up powerful morning routines.   Beyond that, Mitch is a huge fan of hip-hop, poutine, and conquering his largest fears.   In this episode we discuss:   Mitch’s first episode The Jacked Hipster Digging himself into a hole in his 20s Why he got into meditation Life is a series of games we play Snapchat vs Instagram Video vs writing What he loves about Twitter Bringing back the 90s Building off the past in music Kanye uses voi

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 graduating college, Scott headed back to the gym he'd worked at all through High School and worked as a personal trainer while opening a brand new location. It was at this location that he launched ScottHermanFitness.com. And months later, won a contest for Men’s Health magazine and was given the title, “Best Abs on The East Coast.” From that magazine press, Scott entered the fitness modeling realm. And at the behest of one of his clients sent in an audition tape for The Real World.    After his season on The Real World: Brooklyn, Scott headed back to Massacheutes where he launched his YouTube channel and quickly gained recognition online.   In 2015, Scott relaun

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 is your primary objective, how often should you weigh yourself? What's the significance having 30g of protein in the morning? Is it appropriate to use pictures as inspiration for succeeding goals?

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 their fitness goals. When he's not writing about fitness and coaching clients, you can likely find him deadlifting or watching the Packers. Jorden enjoys the simpler things, like Game of Thrones, Star Wars, yoga pants, and of course, Ben and Jerry's.   In this episode we discuss: John Romaniello Mass Made Easy Time flies What he’s learned in two years as a business owner 2016 Books of the Year Staying focused on your why His side job as a financial advisor What his day looks like His creative process Testosterone (101, 201, 301, 401) Stress and it’s effect on our health Fun Questions First time paint balling What he’s nerding out on His favorite Ron Swanson quote Hi

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 afford to do. Not if you want to reach your goals.   Don't worry. They're not huge things that would require you to drastically change your life. But small tweaks that can help you realign your goals and get back on track.    

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, so when his client who had a neck injury couldn't do a simple crunch without pain, Don knew he needed to create a solution. After some thought, Don had a eureka moment when he bent a paper clip into a "funny" shape and he knew in that moment how to create his first fitness equipment idea. He left work, went to a Home Depot, and built the first prototype for the Ab Roller that day. In its first 3 years on the market, The Ab Roller exceeded 100 million dollars in sales. Well over 15 million people have purchased AB Rollers making it one of the most successful consumer fitness products ever. Twelve years after he invented the Ab Roller, he co-invented the AB COASTER w

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 you need.   The above should be done before you ever buy anything on a shelf. Always. Always. Check with your physician first.   When it comes to increasing your knowledge on supplements Examine.com is the go-to resource for questions or concerns on supplementation.   They cover everything I talk about in this episode and much much more.   In this episode I discuss:   Creatine Vitamin D Fish Oil Protein Pre-workout Caffeine Labdoor.com  

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 dedicated his life to helping hardgainers slap on slabs of sexy, lean muscle. His transformation gave him massive amounts of confidence to accomplish even the most daunting of tasks.   Alain doesn't consider himself a bodybuilder. At least not in the traditional sense. He attributes his muscle-gaining success to what he calls The Three D’s: Dedication, Desire, and Drive.   Through his coaching, writing, and videos, he wants to show every naturally skinny guy that it IS possible to gain muscle.    In this episode, we discuss:   The story behind the name Muscle Monsters Changes in the internet fitness industry Hardgainers Why he doesn't consider himself a bodybuilder

**NOTE: This is a two-part episode. Please make sure to listen to Part 1 first or you'll be lost.**   In Part 1 of this episode, we discussed how myths, and the structure of myths, still influence some of the greatest movies and books in pop culture.   And that these myths show us how to live a more virtuous life.   Part 1 saw Tanner Baze, Nick Sorrell, Aadam Ali, and I breaking down and introducing people to The Hero's Journey. Why you need to face your dragon and what pieces of wisdom we've received from Dr. Jordan Peterson.   Here're a few bullet points for what we covered in Part 1:   Dr. Jordan B. Peterson (Podcast, Joe Rogan Podcast) John Romaniello (His book Man 2.0 is based off The Hero’s Journey) Ancient myths and modern day applications Why myths are road maps Superman is a God and why we can’t relate to him Why The Joker is Batman’s most formidable enemy Both sides of evil within ourselves Harvey Dent’s transformation into Two-Face Why you need to face our dragon Why Aadam loves the Anti-Hero Suff

**NOTE: This is a two-part episode. Please make sure to listen to Part 1 first or you'll be lost.**   Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Buddha, Christ, Gilgamesh, they all follow the same story line archetype. What Joseph Campbell came to call The Hero's Journey.       According to Dr. Jordan Peterson, myths are a road map for how to live a virtuous life. They show us how to live a good life, what is right and wrong, connect us with our humanity, and teach us lessons that science cannot.   In this episode, Tanner Baze, Nick Sorrell, Aadam Ali, and I break down The Hero's Journey, how it applies to life, and how it can guide you to live a more virtuous and moral life.   But this episode is more than that. We talk about facing your dragon (or demons) and why this is the most important thing you can do in life, period.   We break down thoughts from Dr. Jordan Peterson about why myths show us that, “Getting to where you want to go is not what you want, it’s to make sure the voyage is worth it.”   First

With every new year, there are millions of New Year's Resolutions.   But, two weeks into the year, 25% of those resolutions are dead.   The towel has been thrown in.   Why?   The biggest reasons:   1. You set your goal TOO high 2. You didn't realize how much work it would be 3. You didn't actually give a fuck 2. You didn't realize how much work it would be 3. You didn't actually give a fuck 3. You didn't actually give a fuck   In this episode, I cover a couple of things on resolutions. And I also answer a question on whether you should bulk or cut and when you should move from one to the other.   Enjoy this episode & Happy New Year.

Dean Somerset is a personal trainer, public speaker, and author who specializes in helping those with injuries or medical dysfunctions find a way to use exercise to improve their lives. Though he considers his specialty, "super cool," Dean's main goal is to help people become stronger, faster, leaner, and more fit no matter their history. Dean Somerset is one of the most intelligent men in the fitness industry and when it comes to improving or "un-fucking" your hips, Dean is your man. He's taught seminars all across the world. Touching on topics like: Post Rehab for the Personal Trainer Psychology and Motivation for Optimal Training The Complete Hip and Shoulder Workshop Because Dean believes in a hands on approach to fixing issues, he's also found that he has a warm sense of humor that helps put his clients at ease. Humor is a huge key to helping a client catch on to what they will be doing. And it allows them to feel less intimidated. Dean Somerset has written for T-Nation, Bodybuilding.com, Men's Health,

I want to talk about my friend, and client, Jon.   Normally, I'd write up a huge post and tell you the story of how Jon overcame his struggles, became stronger, and more kickass, and about how he crushed his goals.   But, I want you to hear it from Jon himself.   Jon’s been an online coaching client of mine for a few months, so I asked him a few questions after he achieved one of his biggest goals: seeing abs in the mirror.    So I invited Jon to come on the podcast and chat about his experience, what goals he accomplished, and what he learned during the process.   Jon didn’t kill himself and try and achieve 6 pack abs in 6 weeks. He took it one quest at a time.   But the big difference this time: Jon had someone in his corner, me. His own personal Gandalf if you will, who helped guide him and provide him support on his journey.   In this episode, you'll the inside scoop on what Jon did and how he accomplished his goals.   If you want to achieve your fitness goals in 2017, head here and apply today.

JC Deen is one of the most intelligent guys in the fitness industry. He first came on the podcast in 2015. (listen here) Beyond helping you nail your fitness and nutrition goals, JC also introduces his clients to practices like meditation and mindfulness because these ideas, he knows, will stretch and better his clients outside of the gym. He believes fitness should be fun, challenging, and exciting. Fitness for JC is a journey and it's this journey that he embarks on with his clients and readers. Detailing his process, what works, what doesn't, and what you need to know to make it all less of a headache. We dive into a ton of amazing content in this episode. Some deep and others not so much.   In this episode we discuss:   Time zone differences How he conquers fear Getting caught in his own head The zone of discomfort Struggling with perfectionism as a coach JC’s Complete Macro Guide Perfect is in the eye of the beholder Most important value he displays to readers or clients Getting caught up in the outcome

Twas the night before Gainsmas, when all through the gym Bulkers were crushing supersets, as the lights went dim Their reps must be finished, no set went undone Because gains must be made before the next summer’s sun   Dreams of massive shoulders and quads that rip seams Are all nestled deep in the coldest winter dreams The mirror reflects our amazing mystique Our eyes soak up the glory of our god-like physique   You spend Sunday morning in the kitchen making clatter Chicken, rice, sweet potatoes, you are the nutrition master All nestled in Tupperware to be ready in a flash For you consume it all, nothing goes in the trash   Your mood becomes somber as the winter descends Seasonal moods change when the warm summer ends Your mind will crave carbs on the long winter’s night Serotonin will flow and keep you sleeping tight     Rested and ready you’ll turn up the volume Carving out muscles like a modern day golem Your chest, back, and shoulders often will swell And trust me your legs will feel hotter than hell T

Maddy Moom is a former bodybuilding/bikini competitor who from a young age, dealt with the crushing issues of control. She thought control over her diet and lifestyle would lead to freedom but it left her feeling more out of control than ever. Maddy say's it's this reason why she couldn’t find herself. Her addiction to control was the sole reason she could not find true happiness and purpose. Through soul searching and travel, Maddy finally bucked the trends and found Maddy Moon. Her work has been featured on The Huffington Post, Teen Vogue, The Daily Mail, and Vice. She also hosts the hugely popular and successful podcast, Mind Body Musings.   In this episode we discuss: Early message of women and health and body images Orthorexia Struggling with being enough Manifesting goodness in life Failure and protectionism How you see something: did you really fail? Finding intuition Mark Manson’s book “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck” Defining the values in your life How to Win Friends and Influence Others Neil

I don't think I'll ever be able to put into words how or what I felt the first time I saw Star Wars.   Since that first viewing, I've seen the movies maybe a thousand times. And each time I watch them, the world feels right. Something feels perfect.   The mythology that is ingrained in Star Wars is important. It tells a story that we've been telling for centuries. Wrapped in myth, Star Wars is a story of human struggle. Not only physical but mental and spiritual.   I knew I wanted to release this episode the week of Rogue One. What I didn't know is that I would hear a podcast that would send my mind into a world of contemplation.   Star Wars is The Hero's Journey in every aspect. But that journey isn't about taking down an evil Empire. It's an internal journey; the metaphysical journey of an individual from an old life to a new, more powerful existence.   The Greeks called it apotheosis --- man becoming divine. And that's the story that the Hero's Journey tells: man descending into Hell (his inner Hell), defe

Star Wars: it's more than a cultural phenomenon. It's the retelling of ancient myths in a new and profound way. For a majority of nerds and geeks, it's often what made us realize that we were nerds. Raise your hand if you ever picked up a broomstick, a mop handle, anything that resembled a sword, and imagined it was a lightsaber. I did it. And I know you did, too. Star Wars, for me, is sacred. The stories it tells, the images it provokes, the characters in that world all provide meaning and lessons during the toughest times of my life. After Revenge of the Sith, I thought that was it. No more Star Wars. But now with Disney at the helm, we have a whole new set of stories that are opening up to us as fans. With the release of Rogue One this week, I wanted to change up coaches corner and turn it into a giant geek out on Star Wars. I'm not all fitness all the time. And this episode is a whole lot of fun.   In this episode we discuss:   Darth Vader The first time we saw or were introduced to Star Wars The pronunc