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
May 17, 2025 • 53min
Ep 287: Hula Hoops, Boating and Mindset w/ Amy Guerrier
Welcome to the Strength Connection!I true renaissance woman is the best way to describe Amy Guerrier.Professional Hula-Hooper, clown, top tier high performance coach, and lives full-time on a boat documenting her experiences on her Youtube Channel AbsoBOATely fabulous, Amy is a wealth of knowledge and insight into the power of play, breath, and mindset.Check out more of Amy at:IG: absoboatelyfabulousYT: https://www.youtube.com/@absoboatlyfabulous
May 3, 2025 • 55min
Ep 286: Dear Coach w/ Dr. Sara Erdner
Welcome to the Strength Connection!This was one of the most insightful and interesting conversations about communication I’ve had on the show.Dr. Sara Erdner is Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CPMC), and PhD in Sports Psychology and Motor behavior, and the Author of Dear Coach: What I wish I could have told you.Dr. Erdner asked athletes one question: What do you wish you could have told your coach but, for whatever reason, never did? Athletes responded to this question via confidential letters, providing a wealth of knowledge for coaches, sport administrators, and all who care for athletes. From heartfelt thank-you letters to painful accusations and everything in between, Dear Coach gives athletes a rare platform in the sports reform debate, beginning a much-needed conversation between athletes and coaches directly.Check out more from Dr. Sara at:https://www.dearcoachbook.com/about
8 snips
Apr 19, 2025 • 48min
Ep 285: An Invincible Mindset w/ Howard Falco
Howard Falco, a spiritual teacher and mental strength coach, shares insights from his writings, including 'I AM' and his latest book 'Invincible.' He delves into the crucial traits that distinguish successful athletes and discusses the power of mental resilience and self-belief. Falco emphasizes the importance of humility for growth, the value of an intentional mindset, and the transformative potential of reframing beliefs. Listeners will find inspiration in his approach to personal growth, overcoming self-limits, and embracing the journey.
Apr 5, 2025 • 46min
Ep 284: Breaking through Addiction w/ Zara Gemilyan
Welcome to the Strength Connection!Zara Gemilyan, co-founder of West Valley Detox and Celebrated Consulting, and Mrs. California Globe and Mrs. Armenia Globe joins me on the show.Coming from an addiction driving relationship, her time in pageantry where she began telling her story, and creating a customized facility to help those recovering from addiction, Zara goes into all details in this episode.Check out more from Zara at:https://westvalleydetox.com/about/IG: https://www.instagram.com/zarkana11/?hl=en
Mar 25, 2025 • 49min
Ep 283: Creating Massive Clarity in Your Vision w/ Carrie Campbell
Welcome to the Strength Connection!Truly one of the most insightful, passionate and powerful people I’ve ever met, Carrie Campbell is back on the podcast.A 25+ year coach and clinical counselor, Carrie is one of the premier minds in the mindset performance space, and she has been on a mission in her program Her-dentity over the past year to “leave no woman behind”, and create the biggest impact she ever has before.Every time I speak with Carrie, I feel like I could run through a wall afterwards, and this conversation was no different.Check out more from Carrie at:https://thecarriecampbellexperience.com/IG: https://www.instagram.com/thecarriecampbell_experience/
Mar 18, 2025 • 1h 3min
Ep 282 Aleks Salkin: The Insider's Guide to Kettlebell Complexes
Welcome to the Strength Connection!One of my favorite people comes back on the show to talk strength and Kettlebell complexes.Aleks Salkin has been one of the premier coaches in hardstyle strength for years, and has been a guest on the Strength Connection numerous times.In this new episode, we dive into Aleks’ most recent book, The Kick-Ass Insider’s Guide to Kettlebell Complexes, as well as talking all matters of strength and conditioning.Check out more from Aleks at:https://alekssalkin.com/9-minute-challenge-old-school-strong-fortify/Grab Aleks’ new book at:https://www.amazon.com/Kick-Ass-Insiders-Guide-Kettlebell-Complexes-ebook/dp/B0DTPL6CWR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1M4SRDCBXJJT9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.E-n0ReNXRtwsYaMHo_HWd4Qv0w9HjDMUB3k-n1PcoRbGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.Qf_RFq2HaMuhNnxHV1nmuaS515WeMdr6qGNkREta4HY&dib_tag=se&keywords=aleks+salkin&qid=1742246465&sprefix=aleks+salkin%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-1
Mar 12, 2025 • 49min
Ep 281 Brian Hite: Flow under Fire
Welcome to the Strength Connection!Brian Hite, Ph.D., is "The High-Stakes Performance Whisperer," blending over 30 years as a professional stuntman with advanced expertise in performance psychology. With a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology and a Master’s in Sport Psychology, Brian helps leaders, athletes, first responders, and creatives see through the illusions of stress and pressure to unlock clarity and achieve extraordinary results.Brian’s career includes over 100 film and television credits, a Screen Actors Guild Award for 24, and a decade coaching soldiers as a Master Resilience Trainer for the U.S. Army. Today, he shares his expertise through programs like PressureX, PhaseX, and FACTs; his podcast Flow Under Fire; and keynotes that inspire audiences to rethink their potential.Check out more from Brian at:https://BrianHiteGlobal.com
Feb 22, 2025 • 57min
Ep 280 Jeremy Strawn: Confident vs. Comfortable
Welcome to the Strength Connection!This was truly one of the most enjoyable conversations.Jeremy Strawn is a fantastic coach from Ralston Creek Crossfit, and tremendously insightful in connecting physical and mental performance.His breakdown of confident vs. comfortable was one I hadn’t heard before, and left me thinking quite a bit.So many great insights of wisdom in this conversation.Check out more from Jeremy at:ralstoncreekcf.comIG: https://www.instagram.com/coach.jeremy.strawn/
Feb 15, 2025 • 1h 6min
Ep 279 Kimberly Kesting: Change Your Story, Change Your Life
Welcome to the Strength Connection Podcast!Kimberly Kesting is a Mindset Performance Coach, and co-host of Get Enlifted.Her experience in personal transformation, eliminating self-doubt and storywork is truly inspiring, and she shares all the details of her experience in changing her body and mind, the early days of coaching, to specifically helping women in changing their story to achieve lasting and life-changing results.Check out more from Kim at:IG: https://www.instagram.com/kimberly.kesting/Podcast: https://www.enlifted.me/
Feb 8, 2025 • 52min
Ep 278 Eric Fasciani: Build Unstoppable Resilience
Welcome to the Strength Connection!How things evolve throughout life when aiming up in your physical and mental strength was the major focus in this great conversation with Eric Fasciani.Eric is the owner/founder of Crossfit Souhegan, and Level 3 Enlifted Mindset coach, recently celebrating 10 years of operation at CFS.From early struggles and lessons, to his evolution of coaching methods over a decade; some great insights throughout this chat.Check out more from Eric at:IG: https://www.instagram.com/raisethebarmethod/
