The Strength Connection

In the 159th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike will talk about his experience with his last seminar (The 3 P’s Strength Seminar), showing each bell love, “unlocking” your strength, and the 3 questions that will help you make a great decision.Join us in this insightful and captivating episode! In this chapter, you will discover:(0:30) Remembering Nichole Gallagher @kettlebellqueen_(1:20) “Show each bell love” - Nichole Gallagher @kettlebellqueen_(1:40) You don’t always have to go heavy(2:00) Put your effort into the lightweights(2:50) Remembering our 47th episode with Tim Anderson https://www.buzzsprout.com/1860981/10161505 (2:40) “Unlock your strength” - Tim Anderson @original_strength(3:10) Unveiling vs Creating with Adam Rodriguez @adamrodriguez.one (EP 152)(3:30) Be Naked by Tim Anderson https://www.amazon.com/Be-Naked-Tim-Anderson/dp/B0C12B7Z3W (4:20) The 3 P’s of Strength Seminar(5:20) The benefits of Microdosing and psychedelics, Tim Ferris @timferriss(6:20) Join the Strength Connection Facebook group to watch the recording of the seminar https://www.facebook.com/groups/246922387454298 (8:10) Plant medicine and Microdosing(9:00) The 3 questions that will help you make a great decision (9:00) Where am I at?(9:45) What am I seeking?(10:15) Is this the right time?(11:20) Benefits of Microdosing: Reduced anxiety, creative flow, focus, creativity(12:50) An anxiety attack(13:20) A new program is not a GPS system, a new program is a Turbocharger(13:40) It is an enhancer(14:50) The power of playful curiosity(16:50) The problem of forcing an outcome and looking for shortcuts(17:00) Focus on the foundations

In the 158th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, Kettlebell Instructor, Nichole Gallagher, will talk about how did Nichole get into strength and kettlebell training, the power of working on your aesthetics, and reminding women how strong they can be.Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(0:50) Introducing our special guest, Kettlebell Instructor, Nichole Gallagher @kettlebellqueen_(1:20) Shout out to Rebecca Rouse @rebecca.rouse and Colleen Conlon @iamcolleenconlon(3:30) How did Nichole get into strength and kettlebell training?(4:20) Nichole enters Crossfit(5:50) Nichole enters Olympic lifting, powerlifting, and kettlebells(7:00) Nichole starts coaching(7:30) Turn your passion into your income(9:00) What about kettlebell training was impactful for Nichole the first time?(12:50) Try different things(13:10) Having a barbell background helped Nichole with kettlebell training(14:20) Nichole is really strong(15:00) “I like being the underestimated athlete” - Nichole Gallagher @kettlebellqueen_(16:20) The power of working on your aesthetics(17:00) “Leverage motivation” - Dr. Lisa Lewis @drlewisconsulting(21:00) The power of speaking with enthusiasm(21:10) The 90-year-old woman with arthritis and the peanut butter jar(22:40) Who does Nichole primarily work with?(23:10) “I really like reminding women that they can be as strong as I am” - Nichole Gallagher @kettlebellqueen_(25:50) Strength is a skill(28:00) About the perfect movement(28:20) “Don’t focus on being perfect, focus on being better than your last rep” - Nichole Gallagher @kettlebellqueen_(30:00) “If you aim for perfection, you’re gonna drive yourself crazy” - Nichole Gallagher @kettlebellqueen_(31:50) The breakthrough is coming today(33:30) The pros and cons of group training(36:20) A powerful mind is a powerful body(39:00) Choosing the right weights, improving your form, and improving your technique(40:40) Shout out to Tim Almond and Derek Toshner @tnt_adventure_fit(42:00) The study of Antonio Squillante @antonio_squillantecscs(43:00) Train according to your intention(45:00) “Show every bell love” - Nichole Gallagher @kettlebellqueen_(47:10) Shout out to Pavel Tsatsouline @strongfirst(48:10) Personal Nichole’s fav exercises and underestimated movements(51:00) Shout out to Gray Cook @functionalmvmt(52:00) The “broccoli” of Kettlebell training?(52:40) Where to follow Nichole Gallagher @kettlebellqueen_ https://www.instagram.com/kettlebellqueen_/ 

In the 157th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike will talk about The 3 P’s Strength Seminar! Thursday, April 13th, 5 pm EST, 15 years of being a strength coach, how to drive on a highway of strength, and why you should imagine the outcome.Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(0:35) The 3 P’s Strength Seminar! Thursday, April 13th, 5 pm EST. Register here https://forms.gle/UrBQyJ9YcXm9ftMU7   (1:00) 15 years of being a strength coach(1:30) Physical, psychological, and psychedelics(2:30) Shout out to Dustin Bogle @dustin.bogle(2:50) Reinforce Your Gym: The Firepower You Need To Build A Million Dollar Fitness Business by Dustin Bogle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BW2MZ87Y?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_XKSA46VGZMJW4GJ8HFE9 (2:50) The Many Versions of Strength with Michael Kurkowski https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/105-the-many-versions-of-strength-with-michael-kurkowski/id1549675487?i=1000604311554 (3:00) I love to see how people prepare for their podcasts(3:40) Dustin Bogle was a professional wrestler for 10 years(4:00) Shout out to Nichole Gallagher(4:10) “Show each bell some love” - Nichole Gallagher(4:20) Why are light bells important?(5:20) Shout out to Tim Anderson @original_strength(6:20) Ep 47 episode https://www.buzzsprout.com/1860981/10161505 (6:50) Shout out to Jason Phillips @nci_ceo_jason(7:00) How to drive on a highway of strength?(7:30) The Nutrition Coaching Institute(8:40) Mike weighted more in 7th grade than he did when he graduated high school(9:40) Building the skill of nutrition(9:50) Mike was under 5% BF!(11:00) The body fights back with every change(13:10) “Take any external goals you have, and go internal” - Michael Kurkowski (13:15) Start with why(15:00) “Imagine the outcome” - Michael Kurkowski (16:20) Join me for The 3 P’s Strength Seminar! https://forms.gle/UrBQyJ9YcXm9ftMU7 

In the 156th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, CEO of Gym Reinforcements, Dustin Bogle, will talk about how Dustin got started in professional wrestling, bad money lessons we learn from our family, Dustin Bogle fighting Rey Mysterio, and strategies to make more sales in your fitness business.(1:00) Introducing our special guest CEO of Gym Reinforcements, Dustin Bogle(1:40) How did Dustin get started in professional wrestling?(2:10) Everything started as an overweight teenager(2:50) The first time in the gym(3:30) Committed to transforming his body(3:30) Losing 60 lbs of body fat(3:50) “Fitness is the best gift I gave myself, and I want to give this to other people” - Dustin Bogle @dustin.bogle(4:30) Did this father build a wrestling ring for his son?(6:00) The power of being in the ring(8:30) Mike watching Stone Cold @steveaustinbsr and The Rock @therock in WWE(9:40) How was the transition from wrestling to personal training for Dustin Bogle(10:20) Get momentum in your 20s(10:40) Dustin Bogle fighting Rey Mysterio @619iamlucha(13:50) The decision to fix the money first(15:00) What was the relationship Dustin Bogle had with money?(15:30) Bad money lessons we learn from our family(16:40) “People are very white and black with successful people” - Dustin Bogle @dustin.bogle(17:10) Alex Rodriguez @arod and the Texas Rangers(19:30) The beauty of becoming better(20:10) How did Dustin Bogle start his own business?(20:20) “Revisit your hustle muscle” - Dustin Bogle @dustin.bogle(20:50) Posting every night on Craigslist and putting flyers all over town(21:00) Focus on how my client feels(22:20) Get people very active to get them receptive to your information(23:30) Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne(24:00) The power of storytelling as a coach(25:10) Roger Bannister and the 4-minute mile story(27:00) Collect great stories(27:20) What is your 4-minute mile?(30:50) Dustin Bogle going through leadership school(32:20) Opening 1 new gym location per year from 2011 - 2017(35:45) The problem of obesity in America(36:30) What is the most common problem with gyms?(37:00) Retention and follow-up are kings(37:25) “The squeaky wheel gets the grease”(38:40) How long should you follow up with your leads(40:30) “Trust equals transactions” - Dustin Bogle(41:10) Build a “trust campaign” for 7 days, no sales pitch(43:15) Reinforce Your Gym: The Firepower You Need To Build A Million Dollar Fitness Business by Dustin Bogle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BW2MZ87Y?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_XKSA46VGZMJW4GJ8HFE9 (44:00) How to get an endless flow of marketing(44:10) Little ways that you can double up the amount of sales with very little effort(44:15) Assembling a dream team and becoming a better leader(46:40) Would you pay for speed?(46:50) If you want to get your time back, you’re gonna need to spend some money(48:10) How long did it take Dustin Bogle to write his book?(49:20) Why you should test your ideas on social media(50:15) How to get Dustin’s book? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BW2MZ87Y?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_XKSA46VGZMJW4GJ8HFE9 (50:20) Follow Dustin Bogle on IG @dustin.bogle https://www.instagram.com/dustin.bogle/ (50:20) Join the Gym Reinforcements Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/gymreinforcements 

In the 155th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike will talk about his experience being 15 years in the fitness industry, the 3 P’s of Strength Seminar, how to eliminate distractions, intuitive training, and the power of knowing yourself.Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(0:40) 15 years since being a fitness coach(1:50) The 3 P’s of Strength Seminar: Physical training, psychological insights, and psychedelics(2:10) Microdosing(3:20) Register for the 3 P’s of Strength Seminar now (it will be live on April 13th at 5 PM EST)(4:00) Knowing yourself and doing what’s best for you(4:20) “If you feel lost one of the best questions you should ask yourself is: Do I need to know more or do I know to use what I know better?” - Michael Kurkowski (5:30) “Success takes time” - Michael Kurkowski (5:50) “Everything we need to succeed is already within us, we just need to unveil it” - Michael Kurkowski (6:00) Eliminate distractions(6:30) How do you learn to know yourself?(7:20) The power of intuitive training(9:10) Mastery Paperback by Robert Greene (Author)https://www.amazon.com/Mastery-Robert-Greene/dp/014312417X (9:50) If you feel like you need to learn more, start with knowing your core values(10:30) How often do you commit to your core values?(11:00) Do your values give you fulfillment(12:20) Join the Strength Connection Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/246922387454298 

In the 154th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, Executive & Intimacy Coach, Dr. Amy Baker, will talk about her story, how she got into the pharmaceutical industry, the power of dancing, the dream of becoming a ballerina, what is “disease state management”, and why you should live according to your values.(0:50) Introducing our special guest, Executive & Intimacy Coach, Dr. Amy Baker @amyrxbaker (1:30) Where did Mike meet Dr. Amy Baker(2:00) What inspired Dr. Amy Baker to get into the medical field(2:40) The dream of becoming a ballerina(2:50) The dream of getting a terminal degree(3:30) Getting into the pharmaceutical industry(4:40) The power of dancing(5:50) The backpacking trip(6:50) Slowling realized that this was not the path(8:30) The realization when working remotely(9:50) Giving up your freedom?(10:20) “How we do one thing is how we do everything” - Dr. Amy Baker @amyrxbaker (11:40) Live according to your values(13:00) A good thing came out of extreme pain(13:50) What is disease state management(14:10) “Health and health care are not synonymous”, here is why(14:30) Healthcare is not designed to care for our health(15:00) Let’s keep their symptoms under control(16:00) If we are in “Dis-ease”, we are not at ease, we are not being ourselves(16:50) “When we're living according to our values, we're more in flow, we're more in ease, and we're healthier” - Dr. Amy Baker @amyrxbaker (18:00) Things that try to put power out of ourselves(18:40) Shout out to Sifu Singh @sifusingh(19:00) “Our default pattern is a healthy person” - The Strength Connection(20:20) Do you “need” to do anything?(21:00) Notice the imperatives in your language(21:30) How we disempower ourselves, is a pattern usually from our childhood(22:30) Dr. Amy Baker hates this word(23:40) Wherever your awareness starts, that’s where you start(24:50) Is there a process to find awareness?(26:20) The Present Centered Relationship Coaching(26:20) “We have language, behaviors, and actions that pull us away from feeling our emotions” - Dr. Amy Baker @amyrxbaker (27:30) “Once you think you’re in flow you’re not in flow anymore” - The Strength Connection(29:10) Invested 10 years in college(29:40) To be a good pharmacist, you need to follow the guidelines and not question the authority(30:00) In this world you have to be a puppet(32:00) Are we re-traumatizing everyone?(35:00) Normalizing “the squeeze”(35:30) “When you conclude who you are, you stop seeling” - Carrie Campbell @carrie_campbell_wbffpro(36:30 Looking at what’s wrong vs looking at what’s working(37:30) “A symptom is a beautiful sign that our body's speaking to us” - Dr. Amy Baker @amyrxbaker (39:10) The importance of the nervous system in health(41:10) Let’s unburden the system(41:40 Lost Connections: Why You’re Depressed and How to Find Hope by Johann Hari (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Connections-Uncovering-Depression-Unexpected/dp/163286830X (43:10) Do we want to search for confirmation of our fears, or for confirmation of our dreams(43:30) Does Dr. Amy Baker practices intuitive training?(44:40) Can my discipline come from joy?(45:50) Is there joy in your training? Shout out to Tim Almond(46:20) Shout out to Dr. John Demartini @drjohndemartini(47:20) Where to follow Dr. Amy Baker @amyrxbaker(47:50) Join The Strength Connection Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/246922387454298 

In the153rd episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike will talk about when he started his career in fitness, his introduction to sales, how the Strength Connection podcast started and the labor of love.Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(0:25) Our previous solo episode:The more you prepare the more you can wing it(0:45) 2008 is when Mike started his fitness career(2:40) 40 clients as a personal trainer(2:50) Mike as a manager(3:00) Mike’s introduction to sales(4:10) Shout out to Chris Abbott @chrisabbott232 and “The Breakthrough Secrets Podcast” https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-breakthrough-secrets-podcast/id1551573443 (4:40) How the Strength Connection podcast started(5:00) Shout out to Fabio Zonin @x_fab_69(5:20) Mike in the restaurant business(6:00) I love talking to people(6:20) “Be curious, not judgmental” - Michael Kurkowski (7:00) Shout out to Carrie Campbell @carrie_campbell_wbffpro(7:30) When we grow we eventually get to a point where we can’t even recognize the person we were before(9:10) The process of getting into something new(9:40) I love strength and connection(11:20) “Work is a labor of love” - Michael Kurkowski (12:20) Join the Strength Connection Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/246922387454298 

In the 152nd episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, Founder and CVO of Metaplexus, Adam Rodriguez, will talk about the story of Metaplexus, the power of having avatars, with great power comes great responsibility, and using your darkness to shine.Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(1:20) Mike introducing our special guest, Founder and CVO of Metaplexus, Adam Rodriguez(1:30) How did Mike and Adam meet?(3:30) The spiritual side is a big part of the success(5:00) The Metasummit felt different for this(6:20) “There are an infinite amount of ways to get to the end of the path” - Adam Rodriguez(7:50) Shout out to Brian Grasso(8:00) The daily devotion exercise(12:20) What leadership means(16:40) The story of Metaplexus(17:30) With great power comes great responsibility(18:40) The power of having avatars(19:50) Using your darkness to shine(20:50) Drinking 10 bears a night and trying to be an MMA fighter(24:00) The ignition after depression(25:10) Being reborn for the first time(26:40) Anxiety attack(29:20) The 30 game plan(29:50) “Do the top 1% of activities no one else is willing to do” - Adam Rodriguez(30:15) Adam starts a coffee company(31:00) Selling 500 - 800 bags of coffee in the first 30 days(32:10) The power of building systems(32:30) Start With Why by Simon Sinek https://www.amazon.com/Start-Why-Leaders-Inspire-Everyone/dp/1591846447 (36:30) The limitations of the brain injury(39:00) Show me my gift(42:30) The power of having the right team(44:35) “If you never argue with your spouse, you’re probably hiding a bunch of shit” - The Strength Connection(45:00) Unveiling vs Creating(46:30) What you can learn from Ayahuasca ceremonies(48:10) Bruce Wayne analogy(49:20) The first ego belief(49:40) Getting attached to outcomes(50:00) Believing we can control everything(51:00) “Being nothing allows you to be anything” - Adam Rodriguez(51:40) Infinity on Netflix(52:30) “I will be betrayed a thousand times, but I will trust a thousand and one”(53:40) “The gift is not your talent, but your willingness to use it”(56:00) Where to find more about Metaplexus https://earn.metaplexus.io/?fbclid=IwAR38JgNhDqSSHFPj85zwU53MA9TQ-DPgMRWjVhjJ9uYifO5BUBkVUO0KYd4&mibextid=ykz3hl 

In the 151st episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike will talk about what to do when we fall off track, Iron Cardio, double kettlebell training for maximizing your strength, and the more you prepare the more you can wing it.Join us in this insightful and captivating episode! In this chapter, you will discover:(0:50) “We take our health for granted until it’s not there anymore” - Michael Kurkowski(1:10) Lessons of connection(2:00) What to do when we fall off track?(2:50) How do we react when we fall off track?(4:00) Feeling drained in the middle of the day(4:20) Even if you plan for everything, there will always be things you don’t anticipate(5:20) Iron Cardio(6:00) Double Kettlebell training for maximizing your strength(8:00) Shout out to Adam Rodriguez, Founder and CVO of Metaplexus https://www.facebook.com/metaplexus (9:20) Adam is a former martial artist and marine(10:00) Every couple of months he would crush(12:40) The gift of injury(13:20) Kettlebells allow you to do a lot in a short period of time(14:20) The power of focus(15:20) “The more you prepare the more you can wing it” - Michael Kurkowski(19:10) Intuitive training(21:00) What truly is discipline?(21:50) Overprepare

In the 150th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, Public Speaking Coach, Founder of MasterTalk, Brenden Kumarasamy, will talk about professional sports for “nerds”, the power of delivery, audience obsessiveness, and the 4 daily exercises to improve your communication.Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(1:00) Introducing our special guest Public Speaking Coach, Founder of MasterTalk, Brenden Kumarasamy @masteryourtalk(1:20) MasterTalk(1:30) Communication is a skill(2:30) Professional sports for “nerds”(2:40) Competitive presentations(3:00) How do these “competitions for nerds” work?(5:00) What about speaking interested Brenden?(7:30) How did Brenden find his first students?(8:50) What were the wrong messages that Brenden was hearing about public speaking tips?(11:10) A lot of communication is fear-based.(11:30) How would your life change if you would be an exceptional communicator? - Brenden Kumarasamy @masteryourtalk(12:40) “Communication is the accelerant of dreams” - Brenden Kumarasamy @masteryourtalk(16:00) The power of delivery(17:20) Listen to the difference here(18:40) Energy and enthusiasm(19:00) The authenticity in your delivery matters(19:50) Audience obsessiveness(20:35) Balance vs harmony(20:50) Using silence in your speech(21:30) The pause helps us emphasize key ideas in our speech(22:10) How do we practice pausing?(25:00) The big missing piece in communication in most people(27:00) How do we get conditioning to believe that communication is a chore and not a choice(32:00) Focus on the reps(33:40) “If we can make sense out of nonsense, we can make sense out of everything” - Brenden Kumarasamy @masteryourtalk(35:20) In this game, we don’t get points for doing it well, we get points for doing it a lot(36:00) Exercise 1 - Example of exercise for improving your speaking skills(39:00) Exercise 2 - Everyday practice 5 mins of answering questions of what the world will ask you about your business or something else(42:20) Exercise 3(44:00) Exercise 4(46:30) Authenticity in communication(46:50) Don’t worry about the fear but attach it to some motivation(47:30) Where to find more about Brenden Kumarasamy @masteryourtalk https://www.youtube.com/@MasterTalks