The Strength Connection

In the 114th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, Host of Success Profiles Radio, and publisher of Success Profiles Magazine, Brian K Wright, will talk about his writing and podcasting process, his writing coaching style, common writing problems and their solutions, a tip for writer’s block, and more.Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(1:05) Introducing our special guest Host of Success Profiles Radio, and publisher of Success Profiles Magazine, Brian K Wright @wright.briank(2:35) Brian’s origin story(2:50) Public speaking(3:30) Reasons behind choosing radio speaking as a career(4:25) Why does Brian like radio speaking(5:00) About writing coaching (5:45) “It is not just about money-freedom, it is about time-freedom.” - Brian K Wright @wright.briank(6:15) Evolution of Brian’s daily routine(8:10) Practicing for the first speaking(8:35) Impromptu speaking(9:40) “When you plan the pause, it is for effect.” - Brian K Wright @wright.briank(9:45) Planning a pause in writing(10:45) Brian’s writing coaching process(11:40) Common writing problems and their solutions(13:15) “There are a million and a half stories out there.” Michael Kurkowski @mike_strength_connection(13:20) Shout out to Jack Canfield @jackcanfield_official(14:00) The problem with overwriting and its solution(14:55) A tip for writer’s block(16:00) Brian’s #1 tip for his students(17:20) Writing “out of order”(18:10) Brian’s usual writing process(19:00) Self-limiting beliefs(21:30) Self-censoring and the solution(23:00) Shout out to Dave Whitley @irontamer(23:10) Superhuman You by Dave Whitley @irontamerhttps://www.amazon.com/Superhuman-Iron-Tamer-Dave-Whitley/dp/132993881X (24:00) Podcasting vs. Writing(25:00) Brian’s interviewing process(26:15) Shout out to Brad Sugars @bradleysugars(28:00) Hooking up with people for podcasting(29:00) About interviewing Kevin Harrington @realkevinharrington(30:45) Evolution of Brian’s writing process(31:55) About niching down(32:15) The assessment process for writing coaching(35:30) Know your why!(36:45) Where to find Brian K Wright? @wright.briankSuccess Profiles Radio: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/success-profiles-radio/id495954973 

In the 113th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, IFBB Pro, Nutrition Coach, Jeff Later, will talk about his experience with bodybuilding competitions, discipline & mindset, developing a sustainable program, and more.Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(1:00) Introducing our special guest IFBB Pro, Nutrition Coach, Jeff later @jefflater(2:10) “Everything in this world is about timing.” - Michael Kurkowski @mike_strength_connection(2:50) “Repetition is all we need.” - Jeff later @jefflater(3:50) Shout out to Pavel Tsatsouline @strongfirst(4:05) The definition of wisdom(4:25) The book reading analogy(6:10) Jeff’s origin story(6:20) Passion for fitness from a young age(7:05) Starting competing in bodybuilding competitions(7:20) Coaching a dear friend in 2011(8:05) Coaching for free before charging(8:50) Working with his wife(9:45) Did Jeff think his friend would win the competition?(10:45) Jeff’s day job before coaching(11:40) Coaching as the primary job(13:55) Origin of Jeff’s competing journey(14:35) Jeff’s fitness level in high school(14:50) Getting on stage in his 30s(15:25) Reason behind competing(16:00) Jeff’s breakfast routine after his divorce(18:10) First competition experience(18:55) The most challenging part of the competition(19:10) Jeff’s old training routine for competition(20:50) Shout out to Danny Casey @ny_weightlifting_academy(21:40) “You are a lot more capable than you probably realize.” - Michael Kurkowski @mike_strength_connection(22:25) Jeff’s way of encouraging people(24:10) What brings people to bodybuilding?(25:15) Jeff’s coaching process(26:50) The assessment process(27:45) “If your “why” isn’t strong enough, you will collapse.” - Jeff later @jefflater(28:35) The 5 “why” formula(29:00) www.7levelsdeep.com (31:40) Our natural evolution(34:00) About mindset coaching(36:00) Where to find nutritional tips?(36:50) Shout out to Brett Jones @brettjonessfg(38:00) “Doing something physical change your mental state.” - Jeff later @jefflater(38:25) “Don’t wait until you have the mindset.” - Jeff later @jefflater(42:05) Movie montages vs. training in real life(43:00) What’s next?(45:50) About Jeff’s support system(48:20) Mike’s client story(49:30) Psychology behind tempting others(52:00) Workplace temptation(54:30) Where to find Jeff Later? @jefflater

In the 112th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, StrongFirst Team Leader, Os Aponte, will talk about reasons to get your kids into skateboarding, taekwondo vs. kung fu, the evolution of Os’ training routine, sustainability, and more.Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(1:00) Introducing our special guest StrongFirst Team Leader, Os Aponte @ironcoreway(2:10) Iron Cardio by Brett Jones @brettjonessfghttps://strongandfit.com/products/iron-cardio-by-brett-jones (2:45) Os’ origin story(3:00) Skating with two uncles(3:45) Martial arts(4:30) What fascinated Os?(5:10) Getting in Army(7:40) Reasons to get your kids into skateboarding(8:00) “It's about falling in love with the process.” - Os Aponte @ironcoreway(9:10) “Don't practice until you get it right. Practice until you can't get it wrong.” - Michael Kurkowski @mike_strength_connection(11:35) More about martial arts(13:00) Taekwondo vs. kung fu(16:40) Shout out to Pavel Tsatsouline @strongfirst(16:58) Shout out to Marty Gallagher(17:40) Enter the kettlebell book(17:50) Getting RKC certificate(18:05) “If you're going to become certified, the goal for you should be to go show up and have fun.” - Os Aponte @ironcoreway(19:45) The reason behind liking RKC(21:00) Modern contemporary dance lessons(24:00) “Creativity is bred from foundational work.” - Michael Kurkowski @mike_strength_connection(27:50) Movement is a language(29:35) Movement learning theory(31:10) Shout out to John Engelmann(32:00) Shout out to  Brett Jones @brettjonessfg(32:35) What’s next?(35:35) Evolution of Os’ training routine(37:40) Os’ current training routine(39:50) About sustainability(47:30) The beauty of StrongFirst @strongfirst(48:05) Shout out to Karen Smith @_coach_karen_(51:10) Shout out to  Tim Almond(52:10) Tips for high intermediate students(54:05) Shout out to Brian Grasso(55:10) “We're not just searching for the right answer, which is searching for another possible answer.” - Michael Kurkowski @mike_strength_connection(56:00) Being in the slow lane(57:25) Where to find Os Aponte? @ironcorewayhttps://www.ironcoreway.com/ 

In the 111th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, Yoga Instructor, Healing Practitioner, and Author of Healing Happens, Avital Miller will talk about working at Microsoft, a life changing trip, getting diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, practices to recharges your body and more.Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(1:05) Introducing our special guest Yoga Instructor, Healing Practitioner, and Author of Healing Happens, Avital Miller @avital.love(2:35) Avital’s origin story(3:10) “We should naturally have the energy we need in order to live.” - Avital Miller @avital.love(3:15) Childhood and moral values(3:35) Gymnastic and dance(4:00) Avital’s family’s mindset about education(4:35) Academic life(4:45) Being a program manager at Microsoft(5:20) Life changing trip to Chile(5:40) Getting a psychology degree(6:00) Being a yoga instructor(6:45) Fitness director and teacher trainer(7:00) Autoimmune disorder and healing(7:30) From medication to meditation(7:50) Activating system(8:40) Origin of Healing Happenshttps://www.amazon.com/Healing-Happens-Stories-Against-Odds-ebook/dp/B07B1ZVZ1H (10:05) Avital’s secret(10:50) More about working at Microsoft(12:05) The potluck analogy(12:30) A pivotal moment in Avital’s life(15:20) More about Avital’s health issues(15:45) Nap times(18:15) Mindset after her diagnosis(19:00) Starting her research(20:40) Shout out to Dr. Hank Lynette(21:30) More about Healing Happens(22:25) Shout out to Paramahansa Yogananda (23:30) Shout out to Dr. Bernie Siegel Twitter: @BernieSiegelMD(25:50) Full body success stories(27:05) Two sides of full body success strategy(28:00) Dance to get energized(29:10) Maureen Belle’s story(32:45) “We don’t need to listen to everything.” - Avital Miller @avital.love(35:15) “If it's not part of us, then it's just another program.” - Michael Kurkowski @mike_strength_connection(36:25) Shout out to Sifu Harinder Singh @sifusingh(37:25) Let's do some recharging practices(38:00) Check out www.unlockunlimitedenergy.com (42:35) Atomic Habits by James Clear @jamesclearhttps://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299 (43:00) Embodied Vibrant Health course(44:40) Where to find Avital Miller? @avital.loveWebsite: www.avitalmiller.comHealing Happens Book: https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Happens-Stories-Against-Odds-ebook/dp/B07B1ZVZ1H 

In the 110th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, Author of 14 Days in Beijing and Author Coach, Chancellor Jackson, will talk about spending 14 days incarcerated in China, mental & spiritual challenges during that time, his outlook toward life afterward, the writing process for 14 Days in Beijing, and more.Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(1:00) Introducing our special guest, Author of 14 Days in Beijing and Author Coach, Chancellor Jackson @korlehj(2:20) Chancellor’s origin story(3:20) Teaching English in China(3:45) How easy is it to teach English abroad?(4:15) Watching schoolmates work out(4:40) Coaching football and life skills(5:00) Collabing with another coach(5:55) Reason for wanting to go to China at a young age(7:20) Introduction to 14 Days in Beijing(7:30) Getting arrested in China(8:20) Daily meals in prison in China(9:00) Talking to cellmates(9:35) Chancellor’s mindset during this time(11:35) About accountability(11:55) “Accountability always plays a factor in the equation.” - Chancellor Jackson @korlehj(13:00) Learning about the jail operation process(13:40) Making contact with the family(14:20) Talking with the US embassy(14:40) A happy surprise(15:10) 3 spiritual signs(16:30) Chancellor’s “That’s-So-Raven” moment(18:50) Pinpointing the signs afterward(20:35) The inspiration to write the book(21:15) The duration between his jail release and writing the book(22:20) Did the Chancellor want to be a writer at all?(23:25) Chancellor’s emotional state while recalling the situation(24:55) Writing romance after non-fic(27:05) Your work is yours!(27:40) The War of Art  by Steven Pressfield @steven_pressfieldhttps://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Winning-Creative-Battle-audio-cd/dp/1501260626 (28:35) Chancellor’s process of coaching writers(30:45) Editing is real work!(32:00) The studio album analogy(32:45) The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron @juliacameronlive(33:35) “We only see as consumers these finished products, not realizing that all the art is just all comes from the editing.” - Michael Kurkowski @mike_strength_connection(34:00) Creative vs. Non-fic writing(37:10) Working with at-risk teens(37:45) Why is 14 Days in Beijing a great book for at-risk teens(41:40) “Adversity introduces a man to himself.” - Chancellor Jackson @korlehj(41:55) Chancellor’s future plan(43:40) Where to find Chancellor Jackson? @korlehjhttps://www.chancellorkjackson.com/https://www.amazon.com/Chancellor-K.-Jackson/e/B086YGY4BM%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share 

In the 109th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, StrongFirst Director of Education and Functional Movement Systems Advisory Board member, Brett Jones, will talk about this program, how Iron Cardio helped him regain his strength, the ins and outs of intuitive training, the traps beginners get into, intuitive training, and more.Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(1:10) Introducing our special guest, StrongFirst Director of Education and Functional Movement Systems Advisory Board member, Brett Jones @brettjonessfg(2:10) Books are never finished, they are just abandoned - unknown(2:30) Shout out to Martine Kerr @kult_fitness(2:55) Shout out to Pavel Tsatsouline @strongfirst(3:45) “I am concerned with getting things right, not getting it quickly.” - Brett Jones @brettjonessfg(4:10) Brett’s answer to every project(6:05) Brett’s inspiration for Iron Cardio(6:40) Getting diagnosed with cancer(7:20) Training after cancer treatment(7:50) The problems that Brett faced(8:40) “Power punishes, speed kills in athletics.” - Brett Jones @brettjonessfg(9:05) Timeless strategy while doing strength aerobics(11:20) One thing that Brett found out (11:50) Shout out to Antonio Squillante @antonio_squillantecscs(13:25) Why Brett wrote Iron Cardio(16:55) “Minimalism means I'm gonna get the most effect and the most results out of the least amount that I need to do.” - Michael Kurkowski @mike_strength_connection(17:35) Two reasons Brett started intuitive training(19:10) Intuitive training according to Brett(21:30) Shout out to Fabio Zonin @x_fab_69(22:05) Artist vs. Scientist mindset during intuitive training(23:30) Dancing analogy(27:10) “I train to train.” - Brett Jones @brettjonessfg(27:30) The reason behind lack of exercise in USA(29:00) Shout out to Fraser Quelch @fraserquelch(31:00) Trainers’ struggle with ownership(32:35) Victim’s choice(34:55) Linear vs. exponential progression(39:10) Shout out to Victor(42:50) Record keeping(45:40) Muscle recovery and resting(47:15) Using a heart rate monitor(48:45) Brett’s biomarkers for readiness(50:20) Light vs. heavy days experience(53:00) What did Mike love about Iron Cardio?(54:25) Years and years of workout log(55:50) Shooting an authentic workout video(57:40) Brett’s advice for getting started(1:03:40) Where to find Iron Cardio?https://appliedstrength.com/ https://www.strongfirst.com/avoid-the-traps-of-intuitive-training/ https://strongandfit.com/products/iron-cardio-by-brett-jones https://strongandfit.com/products/iron-cardio-e-book-by-brett-jones Where to find Brett Jones? @brettjonessfg

In the 108th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, Coach, Mentor, and the creator of Authentic Conversion, Nicole Spencer, will talk about the secret of Nicole’s quick success, the best approach toward her business, Nicole’s training process, take on online ads, and more.Join us in this insightful and captivating talk!In this chapter, you will discover:(1:00) Introducing our special guest, Coach, Mentor, and the creator of Authentic Conversion, Nicole Spencer @nicole.authentic.conversion(1:20) Business mastermind(1:50) Meeting at CK FMS(3:00) Competitive dancing and choreography(3:20) Becoming a high school teacher(3:40) Getting into a graduate program(4:10) Getting married(4:30) Going to New York City(5:20) Introduction to personal training(5:50) Getting hired at Equinox(6:50) Evolution at Equinox(7:15) Moving to SouthEast Georgia(8:20) The idea of opening a fitness studio(9:20) The secret to Nicole’s quick success(12:15) Nicole’s best approach to her business(14:45) Should I?(16:00) Experience with working at another company(17:15) The reason behind starting her own business(18:05) Difference between working with clients vs. trainers(19:10) Reason behind shutting down online training(20:40) Nicole’s training process(21:45) “If you don't learn the business skills, you don't have the clients to help.” - Nicole Spencer @nicole.authentic.conversion(22:50) Mindset of Nicole’s average clientele(23:30) More about Nicole’s training process(26:15) Nicole’s take on online ads(27:50) “If you don't know how to convert and connect with people organically, you will not ever convert anyone from ads.” - Nicole Spencer @nicole.authentic.conversion(29:00) Gradual change in online ad conversion(30:55) “In any area of life or business, it's only 5% of people who say they want to do something extraordinary, who will actually do it.” - Nicole Spencer @nicole.authentic.conversion(32:25) Parallels between business and fitness(33:40) Mastery by Robert Greenehttps://www.amazon.com/Mastery-Robert-Greene/dp/014312417X (34:15) Consistency over creativity(35:15) Nicole’s #1 key to success(39:00) Shout out to Leila Hormoz @LeilaHormozi(39:10) Train Track vs. Highway analogy(39:55) About intuition(45:25) Where to find Nicole Spencer? @nicole.authentic.conversionFacebook: AuthenticConversion

In the 107th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, Author of Dinosaur Training and Champion Wrestler, Brooks Kubik, will talk about his childhood asthma, becoming an academic, drug-free powerlifting contests, the beginning of dinosaur training, and more.Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(1:00) Introducing our special guest, Author of Dinosaur Training and Champion Wrestler, Brooks Kubik @brooks_kubik(1:20) Dinosaur Training by Brooks Kubik @brooks_kubikhttps://www.amazon.com/Dinosaur-Training-Secrets-Strength-Development/dp/B0006RAMBO (2:35) Brooks’ origin story(2:45) Childhood asthma(3:40) A lover of biographies(4:00) Reading about Theodore Roosevelt(4:40) The only exercise Brooks did at the age of 9(5:50) Introduction to wrestling(7:35) Getting into weight and strength training(8:40) Goal behind training(9:15) Wrestle training in the high school gym(12:00) Why wrestling?(13:00) The miniature class(14:00) Wrestling with a blindfold on(15:10) Brooks’s initial focus(16:10) Shout out to Jeff Blatnick(18:45) Severe shoulder injury(19:20) Becoming an academic(19:50) Drug-free powerlifting contests(22:10) Winning championships in the bench press(22:50) Looking for something new(23:30) Exploring new modalities and techniques(24:10) The beginning of dinosaur training(25:10) How to publish a book 101!(26:40) The wall of books(28:55) The reason behind the success of dinosaur training(31:45) Ancient techniques of strongmen (34:40) Research behind hand strength(35:40) Shout out to Adam Glass @adamtglass_(35:40) Shout out to Frankie Faires @frankiefaires(37:30) The Dinosaur Business: a phenomenon(38:55) 54 years of strength training(42:20) “Life is short to be boring.” - Brooks Kubik @brooks_kubik(44:00) The secrets of strength by Earle Liederman(44:25) Why do people overlook old training methods?(47:45) “As the world grows more complex, people are saying, I want the sheer simplicity of going back to basics.” - Brooks Kubik @brooks_kubik(48:10) Shout out to Dan John @coachdanjohn(49:15) “If you want to develop strength and really build mastery, you're going to be doing it over and over again.” - Michael Kurkowski @mike_strength_connection(49:40) The benefit of playing organized sports(50:40) “You always keep practicing the basic skills, you never outgrow them.” - Brooks Kubik @brooks_kubik(53:15) Do it slowly!(55:15) Shout out to Brett Jones @brettjonessfg(57:00) “You don't achieve success in anything overnight. And you shouldn't expect to.” - Brooks Kubik @brooks_kubik(57:10) “Progress is never linear. It's an ever upward angle.” - Brooks Kubik @brooks_kubik(1:00:25) Importance of longevity(1:02:50) Where to find Brooks Kubik? @brooks_kubikhttps://www.dinosaurtraining.com/ 

In the 106th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, Strength Coach, Kettlebell Coach, Steel Mace & Stick Mobility Coach, Kelly Manzone, will talk about being the only woman in the weight room, vintage strength, Kelly’s best investment, Kelly’s love for “un-structureness”, and more.Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(1:00) Introducing our special guest, Strength Coach, Kettlebell Coach, Steel Mace & Stick Mobility Coach, Kelly Manzone @kellsbells88(2:15) Kelly’s origin story(2:30) Being the only woman in the weight room(3:20) Kelly’s love for history and english(3:35) Implementing historial training techniques(4:05) Kelly’s background with different sports and movement(4:40) Reconnecting with movement(6:35) “Movement itself is ageless.” - Kelly Manzone @kellsbells88(8:35) “Movement is language.” - Michael Kurkowski @mike_strength_connection(9:30) Respect for seniors(10:15) People who push the boundaries (11:40) Kelly’s current training routine(12:20) Shout out to Anthony DiLuglio @anthonydiluglio(13:10) Vintage strength(15:25) Art of Strength(15:30) Shout out to Steve Cotter @stevecotter_ikff(15:45) Shout out to Stefanie Tropea @dr.strong.chiro.stef(17:10) Kelly’s best investment(18:25) Hypermobility(19:50) About Kelly’s mother’s illness(20:40) Reason behind getting in circular training(22:00) Kelly’s background with kettlebell sports(23:10) Creating her new course(23:30) Getting hired to work with Hartford Wolfpack hockey team(23:50) Shout out to John Sardos @jsardos(26:15) Benefits of club swinging(27:05) Start with the basics!(29:15) More about circular training(30:45) “We got more connected to aesthetics vs. the reasons behind why we move.” - Kelly Manzone @kellsbells88(31:00) Getting feedback from the tool(34:10) Shout out to Sifu Harinder Singh @sifusingh(34:45) “One tool could probably speak to you a little bit more depending on what you're looking for.” - Michael Kurkowski @mike_strength_connection(36:15) Kelly’s teaching process(41:15) Kelly’s general clientele(44:05) “Real relationship with movement in our bodies, it doesn't always have to be scheduled.” - Kelly Manzone @kellsbells88(44:40) Kelly’s love for “un-structureness”(45:55) Kelly’s personal training sessions(51:40) Where to find Kelly Manzone? @kellsbells88www.kellymanzone.com 

In the 105th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, Author, Psychologist, Renowned Speaker, and Coach, Simon Maryan will talk about Simon’s Royal Marine background, training vs. real hostage situations, the experience that changed Simon, AIR - 3 steps to get emotional and mental resilience, and more.Join us in this insightful and captivating talk!In this chapter, you will discover:(1:15) Introducing our special guest, Author, Psychologist, Renowned Speaker, and Coach, Simon Maryan, @simonleemaryan(1:20) Shout out to Kirsten Tulloch @kirstentullochcoaching(3:20) Simon’s Royal Marine background(4:05) The reason behind joining Royal Marine(4:50) Royal Marine admission standards (6:40) Simon’s Royal Marine career(6:50) Being medically discharged from the Royal Marine(8:45) Training vs. real hostage situations(9:40) Being kidnapped(17:20) Finally feeling safe(18:15) Being kidnaped in Nigeria(21:45) Being kidnapped again!(24:45) Was talking about being a hostage ever difficult?(26:00) The reason behind talking about being kidnapped(26:30) The experience that changed Simon(28:40) Connection with other ex-hostages(29:30) Shout out to Craig Marker(30:05) Content-free work(30:35) “Everything has its place in the right order for each person.” - Simon Maryan @simonleemaryan(31:00) Mike’s analogy for speaking out too soon(31:45) Resettlement programs(32:55) Simon’s interest in mindset training(33:55) Emotional hostage(34:55) AIR - 3 steps to get emotional and mental resilience(36:05) Emotional maturity(36:35) Men vs. women’s emotional maturity levels(38:20) How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain by Lisa Feldman Barrett @LFeldmanBarretthttps://www.amazon.com/How-Emotions-Are-Made-Secret-ebook/dp/B00QPHURT6 (38:25) Emotional cocktail(40:35) Simon’s emotional maturity training process(41:50) Mike’s tips for feeling better(43:00) The empty chair method(44:40) Stress addiction(45:55) Sort your emotions first!(48:50) Simon’s thoughts about journaling(52:40) “We're in this productive state where we think like, if we're awake, we have to constantly be doing something every second of the day.” - Michael Kurkowski @mike_strength_connection(53:00) Down time for brain(55:00) Mental health awareness in the west(57:25) Mental health system in UK(1:00:20) Male suicide stats in UK and USA(1:02:00) Where to find Simon Maryan? @simonleemaryanhttps://simonmaryan.com/