

Muscle Intelligence
Ben Pakulski
The Muscle Intelligence Podcast empowers men with the skills, habits, beliefs and processes to lead from the front. After spending more than 25 years in the health and fitness industry, Ben has done the research, coached, worked with or spoken to the best in class, and distilled it down into actionable items for you to take away and implement.
If you're an executive, entrepreneur or high-performer who wants to work smarter, not lose his edge as he ages, or just get the advice of someone who has been in the trenches for the last 25 years, this podcast is for you.
If you're an executive, entrepreneur or high-performer who wants to work smarter, not lose his edge as he ages, or just get the advice of someone who has been in the trenches for the last 25 years, this podcast is for you.
Episodes
Mentioned books

59 snips
Feb 20, 2023 • 1h 18min
Biohacking and Human Optimization with Matt Gallant #303
Most men I talk to are obsessed with high-impact output. They always want the best results possible for their body, business, and family. They want to do the right things (effectiveness), do those in the right way (efficiency), and do it with intensity (the multiplier of the output). And if you value these things… you MUST check out this interview I did with Matt Gallant. Matt is one of those people that begins where everyone ends. He's a true optimizer, brilliant biohacker, leader of his tribe, and one of my favorite people of all time. We'll go really in-depth into human optimization as we discuss: What to Optimize for from Morning to Night, for Maximum Effectiveness Meal Timing for Fat Loss, Athletic Performance, and Quality Sleep How Just 10 Grams of THIS Food Can Stop Middle-of-the Night Wake-Ups A Simple Evening Trick to Prevent Morning Sleepiness and Fatigue The ONE Genetic Variation that Might be Causing Sleep Issues Don't forget to check out the amazing product we discuss at sleepbreakthrough.com/muscle (save with code MUSCLE10). This incredible product helps you get your deepest sleep ever by targeting five different sleep pathways. Get your copy of the episode guide at muscleintelligence.com/learn Muscle Intelligence has opened the doors temporarily for new members ready to start in January 2023. We train Champions. If you're interested, click here to see if you qualify.

Feb 16, 2023 • 40min
The 16 Essential Health Targets for Men #302
Most men who come to me for guidance don't have huge bodybuilding goals. They're usually successful, well established men seeking new levels of potential and performance; wanting more fulfillment and purpose out of life. Building an impenetrable body, even if it's not to compete on stage, allows you to live your greatest life. Not just for yourself, but to lead your family, team and community. Just like your finances, little deposits into your health compound over time - so knowing what these high-impact levers are could give you back 10, 20 or even 30 good years. If you want to optimize your health, performance and longevity, today's episode is exactly what you need. You'll learn: The MOST Important Targets to Hit on Your High Performance Journey How to Lay the Foundation for Future Health in the Next 3-6 Months Top Proven Ways to Optimize Testosterone, Brain & Cardiac Function How to Control Appetite, Blood Sugar, and Body Composition The #1 Organ to Focus on for Longevity (This One Might Surprise you!) Invest just a little time now, and learn the skills to improve your training, nutrition, lifestyle and mindset for years to come. Don't forget to pick up your copy of the episode guide at muscleintelligence.com/learn Support our sponsors: Organifi - get 20% off ALL products with code MUSCLE at organifi.com/muscle Muscle Intelligence has opened the doors temporarily for new members ready to start in January 2023. We train Champions. If you're interested, click here to see if you qualify.

Feb 13, 2023 • 20min
How to Regulate your Nervous System #301
If you ever find yourself running out of energy by the end of the day, unable to quiet your racing mind, having a hard time getting and staying focused before a meeting or workout… I recorded this quick episode to teach you the Three Primary Intervention Techniques to regulate the nervous system. This is one of the most important tools I teach my clients, because it's imperative for ambitious men like us to master. I share my secret breathing, visual, and muscular practices that work better than any pre-workout, and the tools I've learned to help improve your focus, boost your energy, and relieve anxiety. You'll also learn: The Three Primary Points of Nervous System Regulation How Just Six Breaths Can Completely Change your Body Breathing, Visual Practices that Work Better than any Pre-Workout How to Immediately Improve Focus, Boost your Energy, and Relieve Anxiety And much more. Enjoy! Don't forget to pick up your copy of the episode guide at muscleintelligence.com/learn. Muscle Intelligence has opened the doors temporarily for new members ready to start in January 2023. We train Champions. If you're interested, click here to see if you qualify.

Feb 9, 2023 • 32min
Master this 3-Phase Training Framework #300
I recently simplified our training framework into just three, easy-to-follow steps. If you're looking to upgrade your programming or execution, you'll want to take notes. I share the limitations, symptoms and how you can succeed in each phase to become more effective. In this episode, you'll learn: The #1 Thing you MUST Eliminate for Optimal Health Top High-Impact Habits to Burn Fat and Build Muscle Six Ways to Overcome the Most Common Transformation Roadblocks The ONE Marker to Track when Increasing Physical Endurance How to Alter your Routine to Avoid Progress-Killing Mistakes Don't forget - the more wins you stack up, the easier it is to believe in yourself and the more confident you become as a result. Get the full episode guide at muscleintelligence.com/learn Muscle Intelligence has opened the doors temporarily for new members ready to start in January 2023. We train Champions. If you're interested, click here to see if you qualify.

Feb 6, 2023 • 30min
A Commitment to Confidence and Character #299
Building a lean, healthy and muscular body isn't hard. Nor is becoming a better man, husband, dad and leader. What's hard for most men is committing to things for a long period of time. Relationships, workout programs, diets, jobs, businesses… We're surrounded by shiny objects and our culture has made it easy and acceptable to change directions all the time, without penalty. So I recorded this solocast to guide you through the process I use with my clients to build confidence and character through commitment. You'll also learn: A Leader vs. Failure Approach to Commitment The Negativity Diet to Hack your System and Balance your Mind How to Turn Rage from a Curse into a Gift to Fuel your Success A Reverse-Engineering Process for Goal Attainment Don't forget - the more wins you stack up, the easier it is to believe in yourself and the more confident you become as a result. Get the full episode guide at muscleintelligence.com/learn Muscle Intelligence has opened the doors temporarily for new members ready to start in January 2023. We train Champions. If you're interested, click here to see if you qualify.

Feb 2, 2023 • 32min
Tailored Nutrition for Elite Performers #298
Want a chance to take a LIVE class with me? Apply for a ticket to the FREE Muscle Intelligence Training on February 4th, to 10x upgrade your nutrition plan effectiveness, at muscleintelligence.com/tickets - seats are limited, so act now! [**See more information at the bottom of the show notes] As high-achievers, we know that nutrition, like pursuing any goal at a high level, is nuanced. So it won't be surprising to hear that the ideal nutrition plan doesn't exist, or at least not an ongoing plan. Your nutrition plan is only optimal in as much as it matches your current circumstance and goal… So an ideal nutrition plan is an adaptive process. As your stress, sleep, workouts, even the seasons, or anything else changes... you should adapt your nutrition based on what your body needs at that moment. It sounds complicated… but it's easier than you probably think. And I explain it all in today's podcast. You'll learn: How to Assess Your Body's Daily Nutritional Needs The Key to Optimal and Maximum Absorption The Two MOST Important Things to Invest in Nutritionally Minimizing Inflammation: Which Foods to Avoid The TOP Brain Foods to Improve Cognitive Function Get the full-length episode guide at muscleintelligence.com/learn ** More information on February 4th's Masterclass: Because we only have a few tickets to give out, we have to be quite selective to ensure we're represented well in this session. Here's a description of who will be in the room, and ultimately for us - a great addition to this group: Established executive men 35+ who are hard working, financially secure (and generous), results oriented, and serious about investing the time and resources into improving their current training and nutrition protocols. They have all committed to a specific health, fitness or longevity goal in the next 90 days, and value learning from a world-class expert with 25+ years of experience and over 1000+ hours of conversations logged with experts in the health industry. If that's you, here's the link to grab a ticket. We'll start right on time at 10am EST and ask that you put your video on so we can get started with intros right from the start.

15 snips
Jan 30, 2023 • 1h 23min
The Six-Pillar Framework for Peak Performance and Health #297
Want a chance to take a LIVE class with me? Get tickets to FREE Muscle Intelligence Trainings on January 26th and February 4th, to 10x upgrade your effectiveness in the gym, and with your nutrition at muscleintelligence.com/tickets - seats are limited, so act now! Save 10% on ALL BiOptimizers products at bioptimizers.com/muscle10 Today's episode is a new Six Pillar Series episode, where I talk with some amazing experts in their fields about the 6 Pillars of Human Optimization… Sleep, breath, nutrition, training, environment, and mindset. In this series I discuss the following topics with these experts: Sleep with Tara Youngblood: the impact of today's overstressed world on sleep, how to optimize your bedroom for high quality sleep, and how to optimize the primary physiological factors impacting sleep. Listen to the full interview with Tara Youngblood. Breathing with Patrick McKeown: we address the power of breathing for health, focus and concentration, what happens when breathing patterns change, and the biochemistry of breath. Listen to the full interview with Patrick McKeown. Nutrition with Dr. Mike T. Nelson: we talk about the utilization of fat as fuel and how to burn the greatest amount of fat at rest, fasting, and HRV and metabolic flexibility. Listen to the full interview with Dr. Mike T. Nelson. Training with Sal DiStefano: the pros and cons of cardio, why resistance training should be the foundation of your exercise routine, and the different adaptations caused by resistance training. Listen to the full interview with Sal DiStefano. Environment with Dr. Michael Twyman: why circadian biology is so closely correlated with cardiovascular health, what to do with negative cardio or endothelial function, and supplements for cardiovascular and endothelial function. Listen to the full interview with Dr. Michael Twyman. Mindset with Ido Portal: we talked about focus, movement as a gateway to an optimized mind, and how to begin with intentional movement practice. Listen to the full interview with Ido Portal. Get today's full episode guide for free at muscleintelligence.com/learn

6 snips
Jan 26, 2023 • 47min
The 16 Areas of Human Optimization Pt. 1 #296
Want a chance to take a LIVE class with me? Get tickets to FREE Muscle Intelligence Trainings on January 26th and February 4th, to 10x upgrade your effectiveness in the gym, and with your nutrition at muscleintelligence.com/tickets - seats are limited, so act now! Save 10% on ALL BiOptimizers products at bioptimizers.com/muscle10 In today's episode, I take a deep dive into the first three categories of my 16 Areas of Human Optimization framework. I cover the effectiveness of training, mobility, and cardiovascular fitness and conditioning. I also dissect the high-impact habits, skills, and processes that you can use to show up at your energy best, cognitive best, and - ultimately - your mood best. If you're willing to invest a little bit of time and effort, and endure some temporary discomfort, this process will get you compounding benefits for the rest of your life. In this episode, you'll learn: How to 10x Your Training Effectiveness The #1 Action Item to Completely Transform your Body in 90 Days My TOP Tools to Get Results AND Make them Sustainable Two Primary Approaches to Optimize EVERY Exercise A Simple Commitment to Put you Ahead of 97% of People Get today's full episode guide for free at muscleintelligence.com/learn Muscle Intelligence has opened the doors temporarily for new members ready to start in January 2023. We train Champions. If you're interested, click here to see if you qualify.

5 snips
Jan 23, 2023 • 43min
High-Leverage Habits to Become Exceptional #295
Want a chance to take a LIVE class with me? Get tickets to FREE Muscle Intelligence Trainings on January 26th and February 4th, to 10x upgrade your effectiveness in the gym, and with your nutrition at muscleintelligence.com/tickets - seats are limited, so act now! On today's episode, I discuss the key to improving all aspects of life... EFFECTIVENESS. Not just effectiveness in the gym, but also with your nutrition, your scheduling, and your communication skills. Maximizing effectiveness is the key to being EXCEPTIONAL in everything you do. Improving effectiveness, combined with a few other skills and processes, will take you to new levels in life… In this episode, you'll learn: The #1 Simple Lever for Highly Effective Workouts, and More Success in Less Time How to Optimize the Six Pillars of a Lean, Healthy and Muscular Body My 5C's Framework for Masculinity, Strong Relationships, & Magnetic Leadership The Top Four Things you Ultimately Can and SHOULD Control A System-by-System Approach to Building Resiliency With most things in life the key is NOT to do more… It's to do BETTER with the limited time you have! So spend your time wisely, check out today's episode, and apply these tactics to become more effective immediately. Get today's full episode guide for free at muscleintelligence.com/learn Muscle Intelligence has opened the doors temporarily for new members ready to start in January 2023. We train Champions. If you're interested, click here to see if you qualify.

6 snips
Jan 19, 2023 • 21min
The Hypertrophy Process for Maximum Muscle Growth #294
Muscle Intelligence has opened the doors temporarily for new members ready to start in January 2023. We train Champions. If you're interested, click here to see if you qualify. The single most effective tip for making every exercise more effective and maximizing progress is… Become able to see and understand the overlap of the direction of applied force relative to the path of travel of the insertion point. Once you understand this, you can get EVERY MUSCLE to grow. In today's episode you'll learn: How to Correctly Apply Force in ANY Exercise The #1 Reason Why Most People Fail to Build Muscle This Simple Trick that will Improve Weak Body Parts Within Weeks The 'USE IT or LOSE IT' Principle to Overcome Tightness An Antagonistic Approach to Balanced Strength and Mobility And much more. If you've been training for some time and feel like some muscles just don't grow, or if you just want to optimize your training overall… this is 100% for you! Don't forget to pick up your free copy of the episode guide.


