The Strength Connection

In the 199th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Mike and our special guest, mindset performance coach, Mark England, will talk about the power of words spoken out loud and internally, I didn't laugh for an entire year, emotional detoxification, Atelophobia: The fear of not being good enough, the victim mentality, you can’t trust men, learn to think about your thinking, and more!Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(0:40) Michael introduces our special guest, mindset performance coach, Mark England @enliftedcoaches(1:50) The power of words, spoken out loud and internally.(2:30) Mark began his journey in MMA.(3:40) Mark's college girlfriend.(4:20) Relocating to Thailand to teach.(4:50) Second knee surgery at 26 years old(5:00) Your fighting career is over(6:00) I didn't laugh for an entire year.(6:30) Deep into the victim mentality.(7:10) Lived in Thailand for 10 years.(8:00) Are you going to complain about this at 55 years old?(9:10) Shout out to Barry Musgrave(9:15) Go to Nabosotechnology.com Use the code CONNECTION for 10% of your purchase https://bit.ly/3PUZC6G (10:40) Emotional detoxification.(10:50) Is there anybody who's stuck in their story?(12:00) We remember 30% of what we hear, 50% of what we write, 80% of what we teach(12:10) "A spell is a word or a combination of words of great influence.” - Mark England @enliftedcoaches(12:50) From "He did that to me" to "He did that to himself."(15:00) Atelophobia: The fear of not being good enough.(15:40) The story I had in my head.(16:10) "The victim mentality is an acquired personality trait where a person tends to regard himself or herself as the victim of the negative actions of others, even in the absence of clear evidence.” - Mark England @enliftedcoaches(16:50) “The victim mentality depends on a habitual thought process.” - Mark England @enliftedcoaches(20:00) Transforming a problem into a personal hell.(20:20) You can't trust men.(23:00) Be cautious when selecting your peer group.(24:00) It's hard to hide from the truth when it's right in front of your face.(25:40) "The real pre-workout in the fitness industry is the victim mentality."(28:00) I'm sorry, I'm leaving.(30:50) You can change your own stories.(31:20) An applicable definition of mindset.(31:40) "Mindset is the story you tell yourself." - Mark England @enliftedcoaches(34:50) Physical versus mental strength.(35:20) Everyone knows when they're procrastinating because we know what procrastination feels like.(37:00) “If you're using your words better and you're telling yourself better stories, you're going to feel better and your relationships will improve.” - Mark England @enliftedcoaches(37:20) Language games.(38:20) "How can I ever get over this?"(39:00) Observe you're thinking.(39:20) "When we learn to think about our thinking, we become alive in a new way.” - Alan Watts(40:50) From "How can I EVER get over this?" to "How can I get over this?"(43:40) Without words, mindset is not practical.(45:50) “Soft talk is the gateway drug to the rest of your language.” - Mark England @enliftedcoaches(46:50) Pick-up lines(47:00) Example of soft talk words: Possibly, perhaps, could, might, probably, sort of, kind of, hopefully.(50:30) Confidence and articulation.(52:20) “When you get control of your word choice, you get control of your story.” - Mark England @enliftedcoaches(54:00 Simplicity is the answer.(55:20) I can't stand the word mindset.(57:00) Where to find more about Mark England @enliftedcoaches(58:10) Join the Strength Connection Facebook Group 

Kettlebell expert Aleks Salkin discusses his new book 'Tamers of the Lost Arc', the Dark Knight trilogy, and the importance of the upper back muscles in kettlebell swings. They also talk about foot care, the writing process, and finding the right means of transportation. Plus, they share details about a free kettlebell challenge and how listeners can purchase Aleks' book.

Experienced in various forms of exercise and knowledgeable about the power of wisdom, Michael Kurkowski discusses the best definition of wisdom, the journey from dance to pilates to yoga, the importance of repetition for mastery, and the power of reading a book for the second time.

In The 196th Episode Of The Strength Connection Podcast, Michael And Our Special Guest, The Owner Of NeXa Studios, Anna Clark, Will Talk About Mixing Strength Training With Pilates And Yoga, Michael’s First Rkc, The 4’s Of Pilates: Strength, Stretch, Stamina, And Stability. The Joffrey Ballet School And Its Incredibly Structure Methodology, Auditioning For The Rockettes, The Byzantine Emperor Who Loved His 100-Kilo Kettlebell, And More!Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(0:30) Michael introduces our special guest, Owner of NeXa Studios, Anna Clark @theannaclark(0:40) Mixing Strength training with Pilates and Yoga(1:30) Shout out to John Morgan @striking_strength(2:00) John and Anna in the SFG 1 and SFG 2(2:40) Michael’s first RKC(3:50) Old school training with Pavel Tsatsouline @strongfirst(5:30) Go to Nabosotechnology.com Use the code CONNECTION for 10% of your purchase https://bit.ly/3PUZC6G (6:50) Anna comes from a Pilates and Yoga background(7:40) I love certifications!(8:20) I’d rather be fat than do cardio!(9:30) Refreshing masculine energy(9:50) Be the Savage and the Sage(11:00) Harmony vs Balance(11:20) You need both creativity and deep structure(13:50) NeXa Studios https://www.nexastudios.nyc/ (14:10) What’s Anna Clark’s background?(15:00) A Bridge from Dance to Pilates(18:30) The 4’s of Pilates: Strength, stretch, stamina, and stability(18:40) All your systems work congruently(19:30) The Joffrey Ballet School and its incredibly structure methodology(21:00) Auditioning for The Rockettes(22:30) How did Anna start coaching?(22:40) Power Pilates School(23:10) Shout out to Romanos Krasinowska and Bob Lincolns(23:20) “Learn from the source.” - Anna Clark @theannaclark(24:00) Mastery by Robert Greene(24:55) I hated the Pilates Police(25:20) “In order to help my clients, I need to be able to bend the rules a little bit.” - Anna Clark @theannaclark(26:20) Shout out o Brett Jones @brettjonessfg(27:00) Shout out to Denis Vasilev @denisvasilevkbsport (28:20) The first Kettlebell picture ever is from like 4,500 years ago(28:20) Jamie Lewis: The History of Kettlebells https://www.buzzsprout.com/1066639/8951839-152-jamie-lewis-the-history-of-kettlebells  (29:00) This Byzantine Emperor loved his 100 kilo Kettlebell(30:00) Technique, mindset, grip, and resilience(31:40) “Know the rules like a pro so you can break them like an artist.” - Carrie Campbell@carrie_campbell_wbffpro(33:20) When did Anna open her studio?(35:40) Start small(37:30) Why “IMPACT!” by Todd Durkin was initially rejected by publishers?(41:10) The power of hospitality(43:30) Why do they want to lose 20 lbs?(45:00) Asking “why” it’s uncomfortable, but as a coach, you have to ask(46:50) Transactional vs Transformational(47:50) People hire you based on trust(50:00) Is it okay to be a “jack of all trades”?(51:10) I know how much I don’t know(52:00) Creating tension only with your body weight(53:00) Check out this big contrast between ballet and kettlebell training(54:00) Learning Krav Maga(56:00) Where to find out more about Anna Clark @theannaclark https://www.instagram.com/theannaclark/ (56:50) Join the Strength Connection Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/246922387454298 

In the 195th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Michael will talk about Productive Unplug, Combining Kettlebell training with Pilates and Yoga, the power of words and stories, what the heck is mindset, and the story of Linda.Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(0:50) A story I thought I’d share with you while I was running(1:20) Listen to the interview with Todd Durkin @todddurkin(2:30) “If you want more green machine, then you need to take more mellow yellow time and more blue sky time.” - Todd Durkin @todddurkin(3:00) Productive Unplug(3:40) Shout out to Ana Clark(3:50) Combining Kettlebell training with Pilates and Yoga(4:30) Go to Nabosotechnology.com Use the code CONNECTION for 10% of your purchase https://bit.ly/3PUZC6G (6:00) Shout out to Mark England(6:10) The power of words and stories(6:40) What the heck is mindset?(7:40) The story of Linda(8:20) Linda suffered from a very severe stroke(8:50) Linda wanted to increase mobility(9:20) Linda wanted to get up out of a chair without any assistance(10:00) One day, Linda got up and did 8 reps in a row!(10:40) Linda was always early (11:10) I am here!(11:50) She knew that she had to show up for herself(13:05) “The ones that succeed, they show up.” - Michael Kurkowski (13:20) “Wisdom is learning the same lesson over and over again until it finally sticks.” - The Strength Connection(14:50) Learn from Linda. Show Up!(15:15) Join the Strength Connection Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/246922387454298 

In the 194th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Michael and our special guest, creating a theme for your year, what is the definition of “IMPACT!” for Todd Durkin, and how that definition has evolved over the years, the story of the book “The IMPACT! Body Plan,” impact sounded like a “car crash”? True Strength vs IMPACT!, the #1 lesson Todd Durkin learned from my dad, “A Father’s Love” - Todd Durkin's speech with Dr. David Jeremiah, and much more!Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(1:00) Michael introducing our special guest, world-renowned performance coach, Todd Durkin @todddurkin(2:00) Michael heard Todd speak 12 years ago(2:50) Creating a theme for your year(3:00) What is the definition of “IMPACT!” for Todd Durkin, and how that definition has evolved over the years(3:40) The story of the book “The IMPACT! Body Plan” by Todd Durkin (4:50) Go to Nabosotechnology.com Use the code CONNECTION for 10% of your purchase https://bit.ly/3PUZC6G (6:10) Impact sounded like a “car crash”?(6:40) The publishing company wouldn’t let the book out because of the name(8:40) “Sometimes you got to stick by what you firmly believe and be willing to walk away from a deal, even if you already invested a lot of time, energy and money into it.” - Todd Durkin @todddurkin(8:50) IMPACT is a way of life(10:50) Impact is a “positive” impact(11:40) True Strength vs IMPACT!(13:10) IMPACT! Now is an acronym(13:40) “My role in divine purpose is to empower others to empower others.” - Todd Durkin @todddurkin(15:10) The story of Todd Durkin’s family(16:10) Todd Durkin lost his dad at 20 years old(16:40) The #1 lesson I learned from my dad: Instill belief(18:00) A back injury that ended my football career at 25(20:00) Doing a detox for the first time(20:40) Healing, fascia, and soft tissue(21:00) Zen body therapy(22:30) The start of Fitness Quest 10(23:30) I was helping people of all ages, levels, shapes, and sizes(24:20) “The body is a crazy place to live.” - Brett Jones @brettjonessfg(25:00) Pain gets stored in the body(26:50) Shout out to John E. Sarno(28:50) Working with LaDainian Tomlinson @lt_21official, Drew Brees @drewbrees, and Vaughn Parker(32:00) Addicted to coaching(35:00) “If you want to change your psychological state, you need to change your physiological state” - Todd Durkin @todddurkin(35:50) Harmony vs balance(37:10) “You don't always have to put periods after each of your roles. You can put commas.” - Pastor TD Jakes(39:40) “If you want more green machine, then you need to take more mellow yellow time and more blue sky time.” - Wayne Cotton(40:00) The more success you create, the more time off you need(43:40) Give yourself time to be unproductive(44:40) I’d feel guilty when I took time off(52:10) “A Father’s Love” Todd Durkin’s speech with Dr. David Jeremiah @drdavidjeremiah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyEFE0PBqjc (55:30) 3 signs from God(56:10) My father. Me as a father, and God as my father(58:30) There are always opportunities for you to grow(59:50) The congruence between body, mind and soul(1:00:00) Get Your Mind Right by Todd Durkin https://www.amazon.com/Get-Your-Mind-Right-Potential/dp/0801094941 (1:02:40) Where to find out more about Todd Durkin @todddurkin (1:03:40) Join the Strength Connection Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/246922387454298 

In the 193rd episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Michael will talk about the Unplug Challenge, how to create personal affirmations, baseball and the Yankees, Andy Pettitte, and what makes a great baseball pitcher.Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(1:20) The Unplug Challenge https://www.facebook.com/groups/246922387454298 (1:50) Shout out to the Savage and the Sage, Megan Henry @thesavagemeglet(3:00) Shout out to Dr. Nate Zinsser @DocZinsser(3:00) The Confident Mind by Dr. Nate Zinsser @DocZinsser https://www.amazon.com/Confident-Mind-Battle-Tested-Unshakable-Performance/dp/0063014831 (3:30) How to create personal affirmations(4:20) Listen to Megan’s interview https://www.buzzsprout.com/1860981/13359372 (4:40) Go to Nabosotechnology.com Use the code CONNECTION for 10% of your purchase https://bit.ly/3PUZC6G (6:00) Shout out to Todd Durkin @todddurkin(6:50) Michael loves Baseball and the Yankees(7:10) Andy Pettitte. The greatest pitcher that nobody talks about in the conversation of greatest pitchers.(8:20) In baseball there’s a tiny margin of error, especially for pitchers(9:00) Mindset and letting go of your ego(9:15) When you can get guys out when you don't have your best stuff, that's when you know that you're a major league pitcher. - Andy Pettitte(10:00) What makes you a great Baseball pitcher?(10:30) Copy this philosophy for strength(11:10) Most of the days are 5/10 days, make the best out of them(11:40) What is the Unplug Challenge?(13:00) “Just be and see what comes out of it.” Michael Kurkowski (14:00) Optimal vs Practical, shout out to Aleks Salkin @aleks_salkin(14:30) Build sustainable strength(15:50) Join the Strength Connection Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/246922387454298 

In the 192nd episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Michael and our special guest, Mental Performance Coach, and former US Olympian, Megan Henry, will talk about what it means to be the savage and the sage, why your athletic performance is not translating into results? How to destroy the victim mentality, and provide yourself with evidence of success.Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(0:30) Introducing our special guest, Mental Performance Coach, and former US Olympian, Megan Henry @thesavagemeglet(1:40) What does it mean to be the savage and the sage(4:00) Introduced to sport psychology for the very first time(4:30) Skeleton. Did you know about this sport? (5:30) Go to Nabosotechnology.com Use the code CONNECTION for 10% of your purchase https://bit.ly/3PUZC6G (6:50) The problem with forcing results(8:40) Why your athletic performance is not translating into results?(9:30) Turning ice into hot water(10:00) Create tension but focus on the lift(10:40) “What meditation gave me was the ability to come back to the present moment quicker.” - Megan Henry @thesavagemeglet(12:10) Choking under pressure(13:40) Detach yourself from the outcome(14:10) How hard is it to improve your mindset?(14:20) “The victim mentality is an acquired personality trait where a person tends to regard himself or herself as the victim of the negative actions of others, even in the absence of clear evidence.” Megan Henry @thesavagemeglet(15:40) I was sick of my victim mentality(16:20) Mindset is the story you tell about yourself(17:20) “The victim mentality is an acquired mentality, and it’s built on a habit.” - Megan Henry @thesavagemeglet(19:00) How do you know you’re building towards the right mentality?(19:30) Build awareness about what you say to yourself(21:10) The power of affirmations and telling yourself who you are(23:00) Provide yourself with evidence of success(23:30) Talk to yourself more than yourself(25:20) Doing affirmations in a meditated state(27:30) Michael will do the snatch test again(30:00) How would you feel when you achieve that goal(31:20) Have a to-be list, in addition to your to-do list(34:00) You’ll take as much time as you allow yourself to finish a task(35:00) Create urgency in the accomplishment of your tasks(36:10) What do athletes need more help with? (mindset-wise)(36:50) “The greatest application of applied faith is learning the art of keeping your mind focused on what you want.” - Napoleon Hill(38:50) Confidence is an action, not a feeling(40:00) If I’m nervous that means I’m excited(40:35) “My job is to provide a perspective shift.” - Megan Henry @thesavagemeglet(42:00) Shout out to Dr. Nate Zinsser @DocZinsser(44:40) Manage your self-talk(45:00) Go to this page and ask: “Is mindset genetic?” https://answersocrates.com/ (46:40) There are so many different ways to win(47:00) Champions make their own rules(47:30) Shout out to Brian Grasso(52:30) Megan retired from Skeleton last year(59:00) The joy of challenging yourself(1:08:30) Where to follow Megan Henry @thesavagemeglet https://www.instagram.com/thesavagemeglet/?hl=en (1:08:40) Megan's seminar is coming soon!(1:09:30) Join the Strength Connection Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/246922387454298 

In the 191st episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Michael will talk about the easy day life, resilience and mental strength, the power of sharing your story, what vulnerability truly means, and the highway of strength analogy.Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(1:30) Remembering the interview with Anthony Flores @anthony.w.flores https://www.buzzsprout.com/1860981/13326026 (2:20) Living the easy day life(2:40) Anthony was 350 lbs(3:10) “The universe has a way of throwing interesting obstacles at us when we’re doing really well” - Michael Kurkowski (3:30) The day Anthony discovered he had testicular cancer(4:00) Resilience and mental strength(4:30) The power of sharing your own personal story(5:30) Inspiring other people with your story(5:50) What does vulnerability mean to you(6:10) Go to Nabosotechnology.com Use the code CONNECTION for 10% of your purchase https://bit.ly/3PUZC6G (7:40) Vulnerability as a coach(8:20) Share your story, for an “easy day life”(8:50) The Highway of Strength analogy(9:40) Intuitive training(10:30) “The best way to add more good things into your life is the process of elimination” - Michael Kurkowski (11:00) The problem of the all-or-nothing approach(12:40) Similarities between successful programs: 1) Emotional regulation 2) Trust their own word 3) They know their no negotiables(14:00) The sustainability of success(15:20) Know your no negotiables(17:00) Join the Strength Connection Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/246922387454298 

In the 190th episode of The Strength Connection Podcast, Michael and our special guest, Mindset, Sleep, and Nutrition Coach. Anthony Flores will talk about how “the easy day life” was born, how to shift to gratitude, how did Anthony go from 350 lbs to 195 lbs, how you might be sabotaging yourself, and how did Anthony mange to beat testicular cancer and even become a dad after that. Join us in this insightful and captivating talk! In this chapter, you will discover:(0:40) Introducing our special guest, Mindset, Sleep, and Nutrition Coach. Anthony Flores @anthony.w.flores(2:10) What is the easy day life?(3:10) How to shift to gratitude(4:00) Anthony started being over 350 lbs(4:30) What motivated Anthony to improve his life and his health?(5:00) Go to Nabosotechnology.com Use the code CONNECTION for 10% of your purchase https://bit.ly/3PUZC6G (6:20) Feeling like a loser(6:50) Flight of stairs(7:50) I deserve to feel healthy(9:00) The worst 9 minutes of my life(10:20) I couldn’t breathe after 14 stairs(12:00) How “The easy day mentality” was born(14:20) “Problems are complicated but solutions are very simple.” - Michael Kurkowski (15:00) “When the pain of staying where you are becomes more painful than the pain of change, that's when real change occurs.” - Michael Kurkowski (16:20) You purposely want to sabotage yourself(17:00) Embracing the hard reality(19:20) Did Anthony start to see results right away?(20:40) My name is Anthony(22:20) You see it in everything when you see the change(23:50) “Do whatever it takes to feel triumphant every day.” - Anthony Flores @anthony.w.flores(25:50) Don’t have an all-or-nothing mentality(26:30) I went from 350 lbs to 195 lbs. Then the doctor told me that I had testicular cancer(27:20) The day I discovered I had testicular cancer(31:10) I stopped believing in God after that(33:00) Flex your courage muscle in your worst times(36:20) I want my life back(37:00) I’m going to be a cancer champion(37:30) Give yourself permission to win(39:00) I dominated obesity and I dominated cancer(39:00) The day I became a dad after dominating testicular cancer (42:30) It's Not About the Bike by Lance Armstrong https://www.amazon.com/Its-Not-About-Bike-Journey/dp/1565114493 (49:30) Sharing my story(50:30) Thank you Lance Armstrong @lancearmstrong (54:20) Where to find more about Anthony Flores @anthony.w.flores https://www.instagram.com/anthony.w.flores/ (55:00) Join the Strength Connection Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/246922387454298