In the 186th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, author of Kettlebell Catalyst, Colleen Conlon will talk about Colleen’s early fascination for magic, the problem of being a “boundary queen,” always falling asleep at church, and what is a “Manifesting Generator” and “Splenic Authority?”Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(0:30) Mike introducing our special guest, author of Kettlebell Catalyst, Colleen Conlon@iamcolleenconlon(2:00) Remembering Colleen’s last interview https://www.buzzsprout.com/1860981/11287174 (2:45) Show that you’re aiming up in life(3:10) Trying to find out more about life(3:40) Find yourself(4:10) Colleen’s fight with her dad made her realize she should discover more about herself(6:00) “The recipe for feeling amazing is doing the simple little things. But you have to find the desire to dedicate time to them to make a big impact on yourself.” - Colleen Conlon @iamcolleenconlon(6:20) Go to Nabosotechnology.com Use the code CONNECTION for 10% of your purchase https://bit.ly/3PUZC6G (8:20) “The key that we're all looking for is to be consistently good, not occasionally great.” - The Strength Connection(9:50) Fascination for magic(10:10) Being always a “good girl”(11:40) Burn out. You have been a “boundary queen” for a while (12:50) “You get one life, and you can either live your life for other people, or yourself.” - Colleen Conlon @iamcolleenconlon(13:20) Always falling asleep at church(14:00) Colleen’s husband found God on his own(14:10) Exploring tarot cards for the first time(15:00) The journey of self-exploration is such personal(15:30) “Everybody gets two lives. The second one starts when you realize you only have one.” - Old proverb(16:10) God reveals himself in a million different ways(16:50) The power of saying no(18:00) “Life feels so much better being able to say no when you're not worried about pleasing people” - Colleen Conlon @iamcolleenconlon(19:40) I have the most incredible clients(21:00) COVID weight is back?(22:45) I am the one who runs my show(24:00) You are your biggest priority(26:30) Coming home to myself(26:40) Being a fortune teller for Halloween(28:30) How Colleen’s relationships have changed since being more tuned with herself(30:20) What is a “Manifesting Generator” and “Splenic Authority?”(32:10) “Just because something's the right call for you doesn't mean it's easy.” - Colleen Conlon @iamcolleenconlon(33:20) Shout out to Sifu Singh @sifusingh(33:30) Shout out to Dr. Chris Holder @drholder(34:00) The body is a crazy place to live(34:45) Shadow self(36:00) The power of authenticity(36:30) Feeling like a pioneer(37:40) “Sometimes is not about finding the right answer, but asking the right question.” - Michael Kurkowski(43:30) The Dark Side of the Light Chasers by Debbie Ford https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Side-Light-Chasers-Reclaiming/dp/1594485259 (43:35) Shout out to Luka Hocevar @lukahocevar(47:30) Visualizing your shadow self and your sacred self(49:45) We don’t want to explore our darkness(54:30) Where to find more abou

In the 185th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike will talk about Complex vs Complicated, parkour and gymnastics, the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, and a catalyst of Mike’s strength training.Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(1:30) Remembering our interview with Rafe Kelley @rafekelley(1:50) Complex vs Complicated(2:00) Who is Rafe Kelley @rafekelley(2:30) Rafe Kelley was in Jordan Peterson’s podcast(3:10) Parkour and gymnastics(4:00)  “Anything about human movement is a complex problem, not a complicated problem. So the optimal way to think about it is more like a gardener, less like an engineer.” - Rafe Kelley @rafekelley(4:45) Go to Nabosotechnology.com Use the code CONNECTION for 10% of your purchase https://bit.ly/3PUZC6G (6:00) Complicated is sending a rocket into space(6:20) Complex is more like chess(8:20) Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu https://www.amazon.com/Tao-Te-Ching-Laozi/dp/1535229330 (10:00) Theology and Religion(10:40) Lao Tzu came out with 81 verses, using nature as an example(11:20) Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Thoughts-Living-Wisdom/dp/140191750X (13:30) A catalyst of my strength training13:40 “The more you can combine your physical, mental, and spiritual practices, the more they're going to carry over into helping you in all different aspects.” - Michael Kurkowski(14:50) Let me know your thoughts about Tao Te Ching

In the 184th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, founder of EVOLVE MOVE PLAY, Rafe Kelley will talk about the power of dance and music, the connectability of Parkour, the freedom and creativity of Parkour, German gymnastics, the difference between a complicated problem and a complex problem, and more!Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(0:30) Mike introducing our special guest, founder of EVOLVE MOVE PLAY, Rafe Kelley @rafekelley(1:30) Happy 4th of July! (3:00) Rafe Kelley’s son learning new disciplines(5:30) The power of dance and music(7:20) The essence of playing and creativity(7:20) “Playing has this incredible power to drive progress.” - Rafe Kelley @rafekelley(7:40) Rafe Kelley was a gymnastics teacher before practicing Parkour(9:00) Rafe’s brother and sister also were into gymnastics(10:00) Love for coaching(10:30) Parkour, in a lot of ways, it's quite similar to gymnastics(12:00) Triple backflip(13:00) Double twisting, double backflip(14:10) Parkour is not about running fast(15:00) Upper body pulling power is really important in parkour(17:40) The connectability of Parkour(19:30) Shout out to Dominic Di Tommaso @domtomato(21:20) Shout out to Elis Torhall @elis_torhall(21:30) What was it about Parkour that felt different for Rafe Kelley?(23:10) Parkour had everything that gymnastics had, but it was more real(23:40) The freedom and creativity of Parkour(25:20) “Parkour is basically motivated by play, by the desire to take on challenges.” - Rafe Kelley @rafekelley(28:55) “Parkour is just exploratory locomotor play. Gymnastics is locomotion.” - Rafe Kelley @rafekelley(29:30) Gymnastics comes from the Greek word “gumnasía” which refers to being naked(33:30) Kong Vault Parkour(35:00) What we do in parkour is actually a reflection of what gymnastics was at its origins. But gymnastics has become extremely aesthetically driven, the competitive format has sort of lost its connection to what the purpose of it was to develop in an athlete(35:50) German gymnastics(36:40) The difference between a complicated problem and a complex problem(37:00) Why Chess is a complex problem(38:30) “Anything about human movement is a complex problem, not a complicated problem. So the optimal way to think about it is more like a gardener, less like an engineer.” - Rafe Kelley @rafekelley(47:40) Shout out to Matt Thornton @ aliveness_ape(49:40) Shout out to Gray Cook @functionalmvmt(50:00) Started a non-profit parkour organization(52:20) If you want to master every tool, start by being the master at one tool(58:00) The Monkey Vault in Toronto, a parkour gym(59:00) Parkour retreats and workshops(1:08:00) What makes your life feel meaningful?(1:09:50) Creating depth and sophistication across our relationships(1:10:30) I think therefore I am(1:11:00) “The only justification that we have that we are real is that we experience consciousness.” - Rafe Kelley @rafekelley(1:15:00) Shout out to Sifu Singh @sifusingh(1:16:00) Where to find more about Rafe Kelley @rafekelley https://www.evolvemoveplay.com/workshops 

In the 183rd episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike will talk about lessons about Intuitive Training, Remembering the interview with Peter Nieman, Nick Motycka, and Joel Jamieson, Rafe Kelley and Parkour, and structure before intuition with Pat Flynn.Join us in this insightful and captivating episode! In this chapter, you will discover:(1:00) Lessons about Intuitive Training(1:40) It takes many failures to get a success(2:00) Remembering the interview with Peter Nieman @icebox_kettlebell https://www.buzzsprout.com/1860981/13118393 (3:20) “I treat training as an opportunity to have a conversation with my body every day.” - Peter Nieman @icebox_kettlebell(4:30) Remembering the interview with Nick Motycka @flow.state.designs https://www.buzzsprout.com/1860981/13143927 (5:00) Plant medicine therapy(7:10) Remembering the interview with Joel Jamieson @coachjoeljamieson https://www.buzzsprout.com/1860981/13159425 (7:40) Dynamic energy control(8:40) Rafe Kelley @rafekelley and Parkour(9:20) Shout out to Alex Honnold with Free Solo(10:40) “There’s a difference between something being complicated and something being complex.” - Rafe Kelley @rafekelley(11:40) The Chess analogy(12:00) Shout out to Pat Flynn @chroniclesofstrength(13:00) Structure vs Intuition(16:00) You need both Structure and Intuition

In the 182nd episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, Founder of 8Weeksout & Morpheus, Joel Jamieson, will talk about 80 pages of articles about conditioning (8weeksout.com), Joel’s brother was bigger and stronger, HRV Heart Rate Variability, Dynamic Energy Control, recovery tips, and more!Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(0:40) Mike introducing our special guest, Founder of 8Weeksout & Morpheus, Joel Jamieson @coachjoeljamieson(1:30) Making complex things very simple(1:50) 80 pages of articles about conditioning. Visit 8weeksout.com https://8weeksout.com/ (2:20) What got Joel Jamieson into coaching?(2:25) Started as an athlete(2:30) Joel’s brother was bigger and stronger(3:40) Joel Jamieson meets his first mentor, Bill Gillespie @master_strength_(4:20) The first exposure to a strength and conditioning program(5:40) Doing Clean and Press, and Jerks (7:50) Choose the right exercise for your goals(9:20) Joel opened his gym at 2003(9:30) Training other people for MMA(11:00) Conditioning training vs weightlifting(13:30) What were the early resources about strength and conditioning training(14:15) Shout out to coach Martin Rooney @themartinrooney(14:50) HRV Heart Rate Variability(18:00) Speed training(20:30) One of the common misconceptions of conditioning is it needs to be really challenging. Like you need to be going like super hard and maxing out.(21:20) The power of measuring everything(23:00) The current problem with the fitness industry(24:00) Get back to the basics, sleep, hydration, nutrition, and stress management(25:00) How to start improving conditioning as a beginner(25:20) “I look at fitness as things that we can measure within some sort of semblance of an objective measure.” - Joel Jamieson @coachjoeljamieson(28:20) “Conditioning is using fitness to accomplish whatever it is you want to accomplish.” - Joel Jamieson @coachjoeljamieson(28:40) What is Dynamic Energy Control(30:30) I control my own energy expenditure(31:30) It’s important to know when to go 100% and when not(32:50) Heart rate training(33:40) Shout out to Derek Toshner @tnt_adventure_fit(34:00) How to measure Dynamic Energy Control?(37:20) Adrenaline dumps(37:40) Controlling your psychological response and stress response(39:00) Mental Performance vs Mental Toughness(43:00) Stress management(47:00) Recovery tips(48:40) What new things is Joel Jamieson learning?(51:30) Shout out to Dr. Pat Davidson @dr.patdavidson(52:30) We are all different and our body responds in different ways. So learn about your own body(55:00) Where to find more about Joel Jamieson @coachjoeljamieson https://8weeksout.com/ 

In the 181st episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, the owner of Flow State Designs, Nick Motycka, will talk about the importance of receiving love when we are children, the masculinization of everyone as a police officer, the drug undercover street team, crying for the first time as an adult, getting back to yourself, and more!Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(0:30) Mike introducing our special guest, Owner of Flow State Designs, Nick Motycka @flow.state.designs(1:30) Psilocybin(2:00) Nick’s origin story(4:20) The importance of receiving love when we are children(5:30) Understanding your inner child(6:00) Working as a security guard and then studying criminology(9:40) Working in loss prevention(11:00) Working in court security(15:00) Everybody lies to the police(18:20) 120 Open investigations(24:40) The masculinization of everyone as a police officer(27:40) Writing pros and cons before making a decision(29:40) The drug undercover street team(31:20) “The energy of working undercover is all lies.” - Nick Motycka @flow.state.designs(34:40) Alcohol is significant in the undercover world(35:50) Transition from undercover work to gang suppression team(39:30) Sleep problems because of the shifts(41:20) The murder of George Floyd(45:10) Crying for the first time as an adult(46:00) The trauma of the career(47:00) “I wasn't going to go back to work until I was back to myself.” - Nick Motycka @flow.state.designs(48:00) Doing all kinds of therapy to get back to myself(53:20) Having time to process traumas(57:40) Compassion for other people and compassion for myself(1:00:40) PTSD diagnosis and healing(1:04:20) The decision of resigning from his career(1:05:40) Detachment and surrender(1:06:10) We are a different person every day(1:09:30) Detach Yourself From Your Past Traumas(1:11:00) There are always options(1:14:40) Where to follow Nick Motycka @flow.state.designs https://flowstatedesigns.ca/ 

In the 180th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, Owner of Icebox Kettlebell, Peter Nieman, will talk about Mobility and joint health, the true foundation, transitioning dance to lifting, Weaponized Hypermobility, and more!Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(0:30) Introducing our special guest, Owner of Icebox Kettlebell, Peter Nieman @icebox_kettlebell(1:50) Mobility and joint health work(2:40) Build your foundations(3:45) The true foundation(4:20) Dancing since 5 years old(4:20) Did Peter Nieman enjoy dancing?(5:20) Being a dancer for 12 years(6:00) What motivated Peter to become a trainer?(6:50) When did Peter open Icebox Kettlebell?(7:30) How was the transition from dance to lifting(12:40) Peter’s hidden power(13:40) “Kettlebell training makes training your weaknesses feel good” - Michael Kurkowski (14:50) Weaponized Hypermobility(15:40) How did Peter find out about FRC(17:10) What is FRC?(17:30) Workspace is everything(18:10) FRC, strength from the inside out(21:00) “Your spine's natural function is flexion” - Peter Nieman @icebox_kettlebell(23:00) Unexplored ideas and conventional training(24:10) Total body exercise?(24:30) Injuries when doing total body exercise?(25:30) Mobility is hard to sell(27:20) Blend kettlebell training with joint function and mobility(28:40) “Before we can press a kettlebell, we have to make a good shoulder. Before we can do a goblet squat, we have to make a good hip.” - Peter Nieman @icebox_kettlebell(30:00) Doing this, avoided injuries(32:00) About FMS(39:30) What does Peter Nieman do for training now?(46:00) What is true good programming?(48:00) The acquisition of wisdom(49:00) Do anything

In the 179th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike will talk about obsessively looking inside the box, improving everything, passion and love for what you do, and how you can help yourself by helping others.Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(0:50) A Lesson of Strength from Mike’s sister.(1:20) Remembering Dr. Patt Davidson’s @dr.patdavidson interview. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1860981/13083185 (1:45) Shout out to Tyler Wall @tylerjameswall(2:40) “I obsessively look inside the box.” - Dr. Patt Davidson’s @dr.patdavidson(3:20) “I'm gonna ask two questions, and the answer to both is yes. Does the movement look good? Yes. Can we make it better? Yes.” - Fabio Zonin @x_fab_69(4:00) If something isn’t broken, should you fix it?(5:00) The Secrets of The Snatch Seminar is Live. https://www.facebook.com/groups/246922387454298 (6:10) Mike’s and his sister childhood’s story.(6:40) Mike’s sister is awesome.(7:50) She loves music.(9:00) Mike’s sister starting a DJ business.(10:20) Passion for music as a business.(12:00) Excited to talk to people.(13:10) How do I help others be more successful?(13:40) How can you be the best service to everything around you?(14:40) How do I bring the best out of the people around me? 

In the 178th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, Phd. in Exercise Physiology, Dr. Pat Davidson will talk about Ideas vs Execution, Excitement is a good direction for ideas, Use science to find the truth, Why is so beautiful to watch Michael Jordan playing basketball? You cannot define good, and therefore you cannot begin to explore it, and much more!Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(0:30) Introducing our special guest Phd. in Exercise Physiology, Dr. Pat Davidson @dr.patdavidson(1:30) Shout out to Tyler Wall @tylerjameswall(1:40) Athletic weapon.(2:00) So people can do what I do.(3:20) I care about my training more than anything.(4:40) The better I do physically the better the program does financially.(6:30) I detail every single thing I do daily. (7:50) I kind of accidentally got into good enough shape.(9:40) Ideas vs Execution.(10:30) Artists don’t like when you ask: “Where do ideas come from?”(11:10) The creation process.(11:30) “Anytime you're thinking about what would other people want, actually, what you're thinking about is how do I get money out of other people?” - Dr. Pat Davidson @dr.patdavidson(12:20) “Excitement is a good direction for ideas” - Dr. Pat Davidson @dr.patdavidson(12:50) Persona vs Person.(14:30) “Most of the things that I create are based on solving problems - Dr. Pat Davidson @dr.patdavidson(14:45) “If you want to find problems, the fitness industry is a great place to go” - Dr. Pat Davidson @dr.patdavidson(19:30) What you don’t want to do if you are lifting weights.(20:30) Use science to find the truth.(21:40) Science is a self-aware religion.(23:00) What drives the actual origins of movement.(23:50) Why is so beautiful to watch Michael Jordan playing basketball?(24:45) You cannot define good, and therefore you cannot begin to explore it.(25:00) “Good” is subjective.(28:50) The integration of concepts into a holistic presentation.(34:20) Growth happens when you realize you’re wrong(36:40) The McDonald's cashier analogy(37:20) Directing movement towards accomplishing goals(37:30) I have a classification system that's based on 13 fundamental motor patterns that are the big trainable motor patterns, and it's, locomotion, change of direction, throwing, triple extension, breathing, core exercises for the pelvis, core exercises, squatting, hinging press, horizontal pressing, horizontal pulling, vertical pressing, vertical pulling.(38:50) You’re dancing to dance, to be a better dancer.(40:00) Squat pattern with moderate loads.(40:30) The power of standardization.(46:20) “Anything that you do hard enough ceases to be fun” - Dr. Pat Davidson @dr.patdavidson(50:00) Eliminate the bias.(50:40) Every person is guilty of subconscious bias.(51:00) I trust algorithms more than I trust my own mind.(57:30) Emotions out, let’s use a system.(59:50) Start from the beginning of everything(1:02:10) The skill of thinking(1:03:20) The power of being self-critical(1:04:10) Where to follow Dr. Pat Davidson @dr.patdavidson https://www.instagram.com/dr.patdavidson/ 

In the 177th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike will talk about how Akshay Nanavati is currently training for an expedition through the Arctic. It's 110 days, 1700-mile, solo trek through the Arctic, The 4 Pillars of Mastery, don’t forget to recover from your self-limiting beliefs, and how to register for free for the Secrets of The Snatch Seminar on June 22nd.Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(1:20) Register for Free for the Secrets of The Snatch Seminar. June 22nd. https://www.facebook.com/groups/246922387454298 (2:00) All attendees will receive a free copy of the Secrets of the Snatch Playbook.(2:00) To Register go to my Facebook group or email me at mike@breakthroughsecrets.net(3:10) Shout out to Akshay Nanavati @fearvana(3:20) Akshay Nanavati is currently training for an expedition through the Arctic. It's 110 day, 1700-mile, solo trek through the Arctic.(4:20) “If you don’t find a worthy struggle, struggle will find you anyway.” - Akshay Nanavati @fearvana(5:00) Mike’s evolution and Intuitive training.(5:30) The 4 Pillars of Mastery: RecoveryDiscovery creation and mastery.(6:20) Don’t forget to recover from your self-limiting beliefs.(7:00) Creation is Intuitive Training.(7:40) Using intuition to find your own way.(8:30) Is it ok to blindly follow the next program?(8:40) Ask yourself what is valuable to you.(9:30) Wanting vs Needing a coach.(10:00) Shout out to Peter Nieman @icebox_kettlebell(10:20) Hybrid model of mobility and strength using principles of FRC as well as Strongfirst and putting them together. (10:45) “Training is the opportunity to have a conversation with my body.” - Peter Nieman @icebox_kettlebell(10:55) “You should go to your session with a question to your body, not an answer.” - Frankie Faires @frankiefaires(12:00) Can everyone benefit from Intuitive Training?(12:20) Shout out to Joel Jamieson @coachjoeljamieson(12:30) Morpheus. First-ever recovery app.(12:50) Dynamic energy control.(13:30) Building confidence in understanding your body.(14:10) Understanding what your body is asking you to do.(15:10) Intuitive Training For Everybody