

The Strength Connection
Michael Kurkowski
Exploring Strength: Body, Mind and Spirit. The Strength Connection goes beyond the gym to uncover the lessons, stories, and wisdom that build resilience and purpose in every area of life. Join host Michael Kurkowski as he connects with world-class coaches, athletes, and leaders to reveal what true strength really means.
Episodes
Mentioned books

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/

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


