The Dark Reality of Bodybuilding: Doctor Said "You're Dying"

Nov 20, 2025

Ray Minger, a former competitive bodybuilder and entrepreneur behind The Max Screen Printing, shares his journey from obsession with gains to a near-fatal heart attack. He reveals the dark side of bodybuilding, including steroid risks and the toll on health. Ray discusses his mission with Age Better, focusing on longevity and discipline over quick fixes. He emphasizes the importance of building a supportive company culture and the lessons discipline brings to both fitness and business success. This candid conversation inspires resilience and proactive living.

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ANECDOTE

From Broken Group To Bodybuilding Obsession

Ray Minger left a self-destructive friend group and transformed himself through obsessive bodybuilding in high school.
He gained ~48 pounds over a summer, went from 160 to 208 lbs, and quickly got noticed for his size.

ANECDOTE

Alcohol, Dehydration And Injury

Ray tore a tendon performing a heavy flip while dehydrated from drinking the night before.
He links alcohol to injuries and says it dehydrates the body, increasing injury risk during training.

ADVICE

Advertise To Unlock Growth

If a business has no advertising spend, add ads to grow revenue; you must be able to handle the demand.
Ray warns to only advertise when you can scale and fulfill the increased orders reliably.

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This episode sponsored by The Max Screen Printing LightSpeed VT: https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Dropping Bombs Podcast: https://www.droppingbombs.com/

Ray Minger hits Dropping Bombs with a raw masterclass on resilience, discipline, and building a million-dollar empire from scratch. Starting as a teen bodybuilder obsessed with gains, Ray shares how tragedy sparked his passion, pushing him to championships, and learning the hard way about bodies, booze and bad decisions. At his peak, a massive heart attack nearly ended it all—until he walked out on that dire prognosis and rebuilt stronger.

After building The Max Screen Printing into a 7-figure company, Ray reveals his new mission: "Age Better," a movement beyond apparel into discipline, stoicism, and longevity—because quality of life beats quick fixes. He warns about the "dark side" of bodybuilding (steroids, heart risks) and shares tactics for dark seasons, the reality of injuries, plus tips on scaling businesses. If you're bored at your current level or rebuilding after setbacks, this conversation will push you past excuses and into action. Watch now and age better—in business and in life.

[Insert Timestamps here]

📲 Guest Socials:

Ray Minger Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rminger2020

🌐 Company Sites:

Age Better Apparel — https://agebetter-apparel.com/

The Max Screen Printing — https://themaxsp.com/

👍 Company Socials:

Age Better (FB) — https://www.facebook.com/p/Age-Better-61554328397277/

The Max SCR (IG) — https://www.instagram.com/themax_scr/

The Max Screen Printing (FB) — https://www.facebook.com/TheMaxScreenPrinting/

Watch the full-length video version of any Dropping Bombs episode here on YouTube.

Brad Lea is a self-made entrepreneur who turned small-town grit into a multi-million-dollar empire. With over 25 years dominating sales and leadership, he's mentored thousands to outsmart, outwork, and out win their competition. His top-rated podcast, Dropping Bombs, brings raw, game-changing insights from the biggest names in business.

LightSpeed VT is Brad's brainchild—the world's leading interactive training platform. It's built to make your team sharper, faster, and more effective, without wasting time or money. Whether you're a startup or a Fortune 500, LightSpeed VT is how you scale success and dominate your industry. Curious? Check it out:

https://www.lightspeedvt.com/

Brad's also behind Closer School, the go-to program for mastering sales and closing deals like a pro. Want to 10x your income? This is where you start. His book, The Hard Way, lays out the brutal, honest lessons he learned building his empire—your blueprint to winning the game. Get it here: https://bradlea.com/product/the-hard-way/

This isn't just a video. It's a wake-up call. Watch it. Share it. Act on it.

Closer School: https://www.closerschool.com/cs