Why Strength Might Matter More Than Cardio as You Age ft. Michael Joseph Gross

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Jan 9, 2026

Michael Joseph Gross, a journalist and author of "Stronger," dives into the powerful role of muscle strength in health and longevity. He shares how society's understanding of strength has evolved and debunks myths surrounding weight training. The conversation touches on the benefits of resistance training for mental health, including its effectiveness in combating depression. Gross emphasizes the importance of strength for all ages, particularly in maintaining independence as we age, and discusses its surprisingly positive impact on sexual health.

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INSIGHT

Muscle Is Central To Lifelong Health

Maintaining muscle mass boosts sex drive, mental health, and longevity.
Michael Joseph Gross argues muscle preservation is central to disease prevention and independence.

ANECDOTE

Author's Personal Transformation

Michael Joseph Gross learned weight training to prepare for whitewater kayaking and noticed wide-ranging life changes.
His personal transformation sparked curiosity that led to writing Stronger.

INSIGHT

Strength As Connection

Strength is fundamentally about connection: nerves to muscle create motor units.
Viewing strength as connection reframes training as social and biological.

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In this episode, Dr. Rena Malik, MD is joined by journalist and author Michael Gross to explore the often-overlooked importance of muscle strength for overall health, longevity, and mental well-being. They discuss the fascinating history of how society has understood and valued muscular strength, debunk longstanding myths, and share practical advice for integrating strength training at any age. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the science and culture of strength, the benefits of muscle for disease prevention, and actionable steps for building a healthier future.

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▶️Chapters:

00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:32 Why Muscle Matters for Longevity

00:01:58 Why He Wrote “Stronger”

00:04:44 Strength as Connection

00:07:21 Historical Views on Muscle

00:12:25 Medicine’s Approach to Exercise

00:33:09 Strength Training and Depression

00:42:45 Elderly Resistance Training

00:50:26 Muscle, Attraction, Confidence & Sexual Health

01:01:29 Overcoming Gym Intimidation + Prescribing Exercise

01:18:13 Final Takeaways

Stay connected with Michael Joseph Gross on social media for daily insights and updates. Don’t miss out—follow him now and check out these links! INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/michaeljosephgross/ X - https://x.com/m_j_gross?lang=en WEBSITE - https://www.michaeljosephgross.com

Dr. Gross’s book: STRONGER: The Untold Story of Muscle in Our Lives - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/319063/stronger-by-michael-joseph-gross/

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/0-387-29798-7_10https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article/284/1869/20171819/78768/Cues-of-upper-body-strength-account-for-most-of

https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/fulltext/2019/08000/resistance_training_for_older_adults__position.1.aspx

https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/projects/resistance-traininghttps://strongmindshomecare.org.au/exercise/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1279770724004895https://www.strongmedicine.org.auhttps://www.jstor.org/stable/26362664

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DISCLAIMER: This podcast is purely educational and does not constitute medical advice. The content of this podcast is my personal opinion, and not that of my employer(s). Use of this information is at your own risk. Rena Malik, M.D. will not assume any liability for any direct or indirect losses or damages that may result from the use of information contained in this podcast including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.

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