

The Strength Connection
Michael Kurkowski
Connecting with the top minds in strength to share stories, insights and experiences to help the world get stronger everyday!I'm Michael Kurkowski, strength coach, Kettlebell Instructor and everyday strength seeker for over 13 years. The world of strength is riddled with so much information and marketing that it can be downright impossible to know what is best for you. From reading, studying, and practicing over the years, I've found how impactful being strong is to everything we do in our lives. But the thing that helped me more than anything is connection.Connecting with others and hearing about their experiences, their stories in life has given me a better education and understanding of living a strong life than anything. After co-hosting the very popular Breakthrough Secrets Podcast, I created The Strength Connection to speak with the best of the best to help the audience live stronger, healthier and happier lives.Strength has different meanings for all of us, whether it be physical, mental, or spiritual. But being stronger and knowing how helps all of us. Enjoy the show!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 8, 2025 • 55min
How to FLIP your mental script w/ Mitchell Osmond
Welcome to The Strength Connection!Mitchell Osmond is founder of Dad Nation and a performance coach for men looking to maximize their relationships, health and vitality along with their high performing careers. Mitchell shares his personal journey of transformation from a place of burnout and disconnection to a life of purpose and fulfillment, the importance of community, accountability, and mindset in achieving personal growth. Mitchell introduces his frameworks, including the CLEAR Thinking Process and the Iron Five, which help men navigate their challenges and build meaningful connections. A great conversation on the need for modern masculinity that balances strength with emotional intelligence, ultimately guiding men to live lives worthy of imitation.Check out more from Mitchell at:https://www.dadnationco.com/And a FREE gift of “The Connection Code” herehttps://www.dadnationco.com/codeChapters00:00 Introduction to Mitchell Osmond and His Work01:47 Mitchell's Personal Transformation Journey09:29 The Importance of Community and Accountability14:24 Mindset and Mental Performance20:27 The CLEAR Thinking Process30:17 The Iron Five Framework43:15 Resonating Messages for Modern Men

Sep 1, 2025 • 53min
The Art of Coaching w/ Dan John
Welcome to the Strength Connection!Dan John, Legendary Coach and Author, joins me again on the podcast to go into his latest book, The Art of Coaching.In this engaging conversation, Coach Dan John shares insights from his extensive coaching career and how he began and ultimately completed The Art of Coaching. Emphasizing the importance of values, the relationship between goals and assessments, and the role of storytelling in coaching, Dan reflects on the writing process, the challenges of simplifying complex concepts, and the significance of mentorship and preparation in effective coaching.Grab your copy of The Art of Coaching exclusively on Amazon Now.00:00 Reconnecting and Introduction to Coaching01:28 The Genesis of 'The Art of Coaching'04:21 Values and Coaching Philosophy07:18 Goals, Assessments, and the Coaching Journey10:13 Writing Process and Challenges13:25 The Importance of Storytelling in Coaching16:21 Simplifying Complex Concepts19:12 The Art of Coaching Explained22:08 Dunning-Kruger Effect and Mastery24:50 Learning from Experience and Mentorship27:51 The Role of Preparation in Coaching30:49 Subtraction vs. Addition in Coaching33:42 Final Thoughts and Book Promotion

Jul 26, 2025 • 49min
The Path to Optimal Health and Vitality w/ Mike Salemi
Welcome to the Strength Connection!Mike Salemi is a men’s performance coach, creator of the Vital Man Collective, and host of The Path podcast.In this conversation, Mike Salemi shares his journey from a competitive athlete to a holistic coach focusing on men's vitality and strength. He discusses the importance of personal experiences in shaping his understanding of health, the significance of men's work, and the balance between discipline and play. The dialogue emphasizes the need for connection, the power of solitude versus isolation, and the role of devotion in personal growth.Check out more from Mike at:https://coaching.mikesalemi.io/

Jul 19, 2025 • 55min
Primal Foundations w/ Tony Pascolla
Welcome to the Strength Connection.Tony Pascolla is a Physical Education teacher (Chicago,IL), strength coach, StrongFirst Kettlebell & Barbell Instructor, personal trainer, and carnivore/fasting coach.He is also the host of the Primal Foundations Podcast, where he explores topics related to strength training, nutrition, and lifestyle optimization (which I’ve had the privilege of being a guest on.)In this episode, Tony dives into early days of endurance training, what wrestling taught him about mindset for competition, completing the IronMan, and his evolution of teaching in Strength.Follow Tony at:Website: https://www.primalfoundations.com/Instagram: @tony_primalfoundationsPodcast: Primal Foundations Podcast

Jul 7, 2025 • 55min
The Science of Strength after 40 w/ Geoff Neupert
Welcome to the Strength Connection!One of the most popular guests ever to come on the show, Geoff Neupert of Chasing Strength is back for the 3rd time on the podcast.Geoff’s ability to refine, and articulate the principles of strengths is top shelf, and has been a huge help to me and many others in strength, health and fitness.In this episode, I wanted to take some of the lessons he’s given on his Youtube channel, and dive deeper into them, specifically with staying healthy and strong over 40 years old and entering this new season of life.Check out more from Geoff on his IG and Youtube ChannelIG: https://www.instagram.com/geoff.neupert/#Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GeoffNeupert

Jun 28, 2025 • 50min
The 5 Fundamentals of Optimal Health w/ Jim Laird
Welcome to the Strength Connection!Jim Laird is a dedicated strength and conditioning coach with a career spanning back to 1997. He has helped everyone from casual fitness enthusiasts to professional athletes in the NFL, CFL, LPGA, and MLB achieve their goals.Jim's unique approach focuses on getting results efficiently. His motto, "Training Smarter, Not Harder," has resonated with both clients and industry experts. In recent years, he has teamed up with Dr. Leland Stillman to combine fitness coaching with medical insights, promoting a holistic approach to health through fitness and outdoor activities.Now living in beautiful Nicaragua, Jim works with a local professional baseball team while focusing on helping men over 40 improve their health and fitness. He also supports women in finding a balanced approach to wellness.Check out more from Jim at:https://www.vitalitybrotherhood.comhttps://www.vitalitysisterhood.com

Jun 21, 2025 • 46min
Strength, Body Image, and Empathy w/ James Cappola
Welcome to the Strength Connection!I’ve been a fan of the message and insights that James Cappola has created for a while, so it was truly special to have him come on the podcast.James is the owner of Zero Shortcuts Training, and a coach dedicated to the truth and principles of the client/coach relationship and the power of kindness and empathy.Check out James at:zeroshortcutstraining.comIG: @james_cappola

Jun 17, 2025 • 60min
Win Your Next Hour w/ Danny Lehr
Welcome to the Strength Connection!Danny Lehr is a speaker, entrepreneur, author, and former competitive athlete who’s obsessed with helping people accomplish their biggest dreams… one hour at a time.He’s the author of Win Your Next Hour, a high-impact guide for getting unstuck and taking bold action when life feels overwhelming.As the co-founder of the lifestyle brand Caffeine & Kilos, Danny has built a multimillion-dollar business, coached elite athletes and high performers, and shared stages with leaders across business and sport.Check out more from Danny at: HTTPS://WinYourNextHour.comIG: @danny_lehr

May 30, 2025 • 49min
How to Live in Total Abundance w/ Frank Parisi
Welcome to the Strength Connection!One of the most anticipated episodes of the show, Frank Parisi joins me to talk faith, abundance, and coming back from the dead to live on purpose.A motivational keynote speaker and networking mogul, Frank brings his expertise to life by giving the blueprint from recovery to fulfillment. Alongside his storytelling of personal hardship as a recovered addict and growing up in the streets of New York City, he continues to offer private, nationwide consulting as a self-made entrepreneur. As a young adult heart transplant survivor, his passion and dedication to helping others achieve their goals has changed thousands of lives within the past 13 years.I wanted to run through a wall from the energy of this conversation.Check out more from Frank at:https://frank-parisi.com/IG: @frankparisi2011

May 23, 2025 • 54min
Ep 288: Built to Last w/ David Amerland
Welcome to the Strength Connection!David Amerland is a writer focused on how human behavior is shaped by modern forces, especially technology, and how that shift impacts our health, culture, and stories. After building a career in marketing and publishing several successful business books, he expanded into the wellness space with Built to Last, a practical guide to health, longevity, and intentional living.Check out more of David’s work at:https://davidamerland.com/