Strong By Design Podcast

Send us a textMenopause hmmm…. You cannot avoid it ladies, however, what you can do is start doing things now that will carry over into your transition through menopause to support you having the best experience possible. It is often the case that we wait for things to happen before we “do something about it,” or make changes in our life to make a situation better.  Well here is some really good news… you know that menopause is something you will experience in your lifetime and you don’t have to wait to do things that will help you navigate this transition.  In this podcast, Coach Tonya Fines and Samantha Harrison talk about what women can maybe expect as part of their menopause experience, and also what are some of the things women can start doing, even well before those “change of life” years, to support a better menopause experience.      "You have a genetic blueprint, I have a genetic blueprint, your daughters have a genetic blueprint so while we are all going to experience menopause, how we experience it is going to be very different from one woman to the next…" -Tonya Fines     2:09 – Menopause: What it is and what to expect 5:35 – Signs and symptoms to look out for 9:18 – Premenopause vs. Perimenopause 11:35 – Open up to your partner about what you're going through during menopause 14:28 – Menopause symptoms can last up to 10 years 18:01 – Key things to do to have a better menopause experience 24:09 – How exercise can help during menopause 29:51 – Stress management: Identify your triggers 32:20 – How to deal with menopause symptoms 35:33 – Find your tribe and surround yourself with the right people 36:48 – Talking to your doctor about menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Does it help? 41:52 – Menopause is a normal phase   Connect w/ CriticalBench:  Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com Start the New Year with more Focus, Clarity & Mental Energy!Grab some Neuro-Thrive at a Discount - Use Code: SBD2026 🧠 Your Brain will Love you 💙Support the showConnect w/ CriticalBench: Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com

Send us a textFrom Slovenia to Seattle and from teenage defiance to professional basketball, Luka Hocevar has an amazing story of growth, passion and perseverance. His profound love of sports and fitness truly saved him from the “wrong” path, bad decisions and a dead end… Now a best-selling author, strength & fitness entrepreneur, gym owner and world traveler, Luka is leading other hopefuls from around the world to live a life of purpose, pleasure and being fully present. Get ready for some huge A-HA moments and mic drops as Luka pulls back the curtain and shares his personal story on Strong By Design with Coach Chris.     "Really really choose carefully, intentionally, who you surround yourself with as far as environments and people..that could be the most important decision of your life." -Luka Hocevar     2:16 – Luka Hocevar shares the struggles of holding big LIVE events 9:14 – Why being different is more important than being better 14:31 – Importance of building a great and healthy culture 19:22 – Finding your tribe 23:44 – Luka reveals what attracted him into the fitness/sports world 28:53 – Luka recounts his past… a life as a drug seller 32:10 – Why he moved to the United States 39:20 – How he became a strength and conditioning coach 48:45 – Use the chip on your shoulder to drive greatness… but don’t let it o 52:30 – 3 drivers of intrinsic motivation – Competence, Contribution and Connection 58:40 – Learning to cherish each moment          1:03:31 – Give your best in everything you do 1:06:09 – Reprogram your belief system and change your life 1:16:42 – Luka Hocevar’s official website, podcasts and social media channels 1:21:26 – The importance of giving back to the community   Resources: LukaHocevar Vigor Ground Fitness Connect w/ Luka YouTube Instagram Facebook Connect w/ CriticalBench:  Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com Start the New Year with more Focus, Clarity & Mental Energy!Grab some Neuro-Thrive at a Discount - Use Code: SBD2026 🧠 Your Brain will Love you 💙Support the showConnect w/ CriticalBench: Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com

Send us a textTake control of your health like never before… People often underestimate how much their day to day living impacts their overall health and wellness. The small and large lifestyle decisions made every single day directly affect the two brains of the body. Scientist, Doctor and Researcher Gordon Pedersen has dedicated his life to finding out how the body functions, survives and thrives. In this episode Dr Gordon shares his personal interest in health, how the gut and brain work together, the importance of alkalinity and the unbelievable effects of his structured Silver product on chronic illness and disease.   "There are shortcuts but the human body is ultimately in charge here and down the long road it's important to do the things that are really good for the body, not just the short-term shortcuts." -Dr Gordon Pedersen     0:35 – Get to know Dr. Gordon Pedersen 2:57 – What inspired him to become a doctor 5:52 – Crohn's disease: symptoms, causes, prevention 10:44 – Meet your second brain and its connection to the main brain 14:28 - What you need to know about Alkaline Structured Silver 17:36 – What does the pH scale refer to? 19:25 – Alkaline Structured Silver to the rescue 23:27 – Dr. Gordon recounts double blind placebo-controlled study on the benefits of protein supplementation 30:12 – Big changes start with small shifts 34:00 – Importance of regular blood testing 39:31 – Benefits of deep breathing 41:15 – Dr. Gordon’s Silver products – liquids, gels, soaps, lozenges, and more 45:02 – Taking control of your health 46:37 – Where you can go to find Dr. Gordon’s products and books (www.mydoctorsuggests.com)   Resources: My Doctor Suggests Official Website Connect w/ Dr. Gordon  Instagram Facebook Connect w/ CriticalBench:  Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com Start the New Year with more Focus, Clarity & Mental Energy!Grab some Neuro-Thrive at a Discount - Use Code: SBD2026 🧠 Your Brain will Love you 💙Support the showConnect w/ CriticalBench: Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com

Send us a textOur lowest moments in life can be used to inspire change and victory in others. Justin Feldman found his strength in his darkest times and now uses his struggles to help others overcome all odds. Performing at your best in any area of life requires not only a healthy mind but also a physically active lifestyle. This is typically referred to as the Mind-Body Connection. By using his passion for fitness and his red-hot entrepreneurial spirit, Justin is unlocking greatness in his clients. These laptop warriors are excelling in business and in the gym and transforming their lives with the Wealthy Body Academy. Get ready to hear a very personal and inspiring story from Justin as Mike Westerdal and Chris Wilson co-host.     "With a lot of people... they will neglect the one thing that they can control which is their health and their body.." -Justin Feldman     Time Stamps 1:22 – Justin Feldman’s backstory and how he got into fitness 3:30 - His weight gain story and how it took a toll on him mentally 6:40 – How he got himself back on track 9:21 – His body transformation, and how fitness changed his life 11:15 – What inspires him to go deeper into health and fitness 17:14 – Everything happens for a reason 19:18 – Things start shifting in a good direction 20:12 – How Justin started the Wealthy Body Academy 22:49 – Importance of having a mentor, and surrounding yourself with the right people 29:00 – Taking a leap of faith and making your own timing work 38:06 – Why he created the Wealthy Body Academy 41:43 – Why putting your health first should be a priority 45:35 – Mental health is the biggest issue individuals face today 50:12 – Trusting God’s timing 56:09 – The power of working with passion 1:00:49 – How Justin can help you boost your energy and productivity 1:09:24 – Where you can go to find Justin (Instagram: @thejustinfeldman)   Resources: Wealthy Body Academy   Connect w/ Justin:  Instagram Facebook   Connect w/ CriticalBench:  Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com Start the New Year with more Focus, Clarity & Mental Energy!Grab some Neuro-Thrive at a Discount - Use Code: SBD2026 🧠 Your Brain will Love you 💙Support the showConnect w/ CriticalBench: Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com

Send us a text“All big changes come from the tiny leaps you take every day.” This one sentence defines how Gregg Clunis is transforming the world… His philosophy has become a hit podcast show heard by millions of people all over the world, a book and a thriving digital community that spans more than 170 countries! Sitting on a subway one day with his girlfriend reading a book, Gregg had had enough and felt compelled to share his personal story and his belief about taking action in life. On his podcast he tackles topics like how to get motivated to do anything and that following your passion doesn’t always mean that if you find the work you love that you will always feel motivated and happy to do that work. In today’s interview with Chris Wilson, Gregg talks about his Dad and how being a hardworking, humble immigrant taught him so much at an early age. Gregg talks about the many kinds of mentors in our lives and how by surrounding yourself with the right people you can Take Massive Action and accomplish extraordinary things.    "There's so many factors that you don't control but you can control something and that something will get you from Point A to something that is not Point A." and "What if I'm successful and I can't sustain it... which is the thing that stops people from taking action." -Gregg Clunis   Time Stamps 2:12 – Get to know Gregg Clunis, his ambition and drive 5:12 – How “Tiny Leaps, Big Changes” podcast came to life 10:05 – Family and friends are vital to one’s growth 12:10 – Importance of a mentor and value of mentorship 16:48 – The ‘types’ of mentors in our lives 19:00 – Spend more time with the right people 21:30 – Why context matters 25:00 – What it means to take massive action 31:15 – Failure is necessary for growth and success 34:30 – Learning to ride the waves of life 38:15 – Where they can go to listen Gregg Clunis’ personal development podcast, “Tiny Leaps, Big Changes” 39:40 – Grow your podcast with Gregg’s Sparkology (www.sparkology.co)   Resources: Tiny Leaps, Big Changes Podcast Tiny Leaps, Big Changes – Apple Podcast Connect w/ Gregg:  Instagram Facebook   Connect w/ CriticalBench:  Youtube Facebook Instagram Start the New Year with more Focus, Clarity & Mental Energy!Grab some Neuro-Thrive at a Discount - Use Code: SBD2026 🧠 Your Brain will Love you 💙Support the showConnect w/ CriticalBench: Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com

Send us a textWhere do you get your ‘willpower’ from? Is willpower something you can truly harness from within or is it something grounded in something bigger and greater than you? In today’s episode, Mike Westerdal and Chris Wilson are honored to discuss this subject with Bob Brubaker and John Trebino, hosts of The Powerbreak Podcast. Life is filled with tests, temptations and struggles every single day. If we think we are capable of handling the burdens of life on our own terms, we are certainly doomed to fail. Get ready to hear some serious wisdom from 19x Ironman and Pastor Bob Brubaker along with close friend and co-host John Trebino who is a 20-year veteran in Law Enforcement. Both men are committed to helping others succeed in the race of life.   "Power comes from God and if you're not tapping into the power of God, you're relying upon yourself and when you rely upon yourself... the arm of the flesh will fail you." -Bob Brubaker   Timestamps 1:25 – Bob as the Spamman and how it all started 4:38 – Bob and JT’s friendship and how they grew in faith together 9:02 – What you need to know about Willpower 11:40 – The power of positive thinking and being grateful 14:45 – ‘Christ IN me’ and not ‘Christ and Me’ 16:26 – A state of helplessness is where we find most strength 17:39 – The battle is the Lord's 20:17 – Small steps make big changes 22:10 – Hitting the reset button on life 26:04 – Importance of a community 33:08 – Where is it all coming from and who is it for? 37:34 – Key takeaways from the episode 41:16 – Bob Brubaker’s official website and podcast 46:09 – Where they can go to find Bob Brubaker’s books (www.bobbrubaker.com) 47:08 – Nothing is better than meditating on the Word of the Lord   Connect w/ Bob and John:  The Powerbreak Podcast Bob Brubaker   Connect w/ CriticalBench:  Youtube FacebookStart the New Year with more Focus, Clarity & Mental Energy!Grab some Neuro-Thrive at a Discount - Use Code: SBD2026 🧠 Your Brain will Love you 💙Support the showConnect w/ CriticalBench: Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com

Send us a textTo look at Michelle Klepacki what you see is a beautiful, strong, vibrant woman full of life and with a MEGAWATT smile.  What you don’t see and what you would never guess is her incredible story of beating insurmountable odds TWICE!  Michelle Klepacki was twice diagnosed with 2 of the rarest forms of cancer at very pivotal points in a young woman life.  Not only did she beat both cancers, but she is a true and authentic example of what Hope and Courage are.  Michelle’s inspiring story sends a very poignant message about how God is always guiding us, even when we are not necessarily listening … He IS guiding us all the time and carrying us through our biggest storms so that we may live our purpose.     “It’s amazing looking back, how God has his hand over me even though we weren’t totally connected.” ~Michelle Klepacki     Timestamps 9:12 A life altering diagnosis 11:37 An aggressive & “first of its kind” treatment protocol 12:44 Remission after a month of treatment 13:41 Resuming normal teenage life after the storm 15:55 How this trauma impacted the family dynamic 16:59 The support of a small town coming together 18:29 March 2001 … life changed again 21:41 “The angriest I that I could be at that time.” 24:56 College life comes to an abrupt halt 27:57 “You just have bad luck” … her doctor’s words 29:43 “Now what are we doing?  What’s next?” 32:38 Michelle wakes up towards the end of her surgery before they are done!!! 33:19 The first thing Michelle says to her doctors after her kidney surgery 35:50 What her 21st year looked like 40:18 “In the midst of it I knew I was going to be fine.” 44:48 “It’s amazing looking back how God has his hand over me even though we weren’t totally connected.” 46:23 How Michelle knew God was guiding her 46:45 Michelle meets Adam Sandler & spends 1/2 day with him on the set of Mr. Deeds 55:22 “I actually got SAVED in college & it was kind of a rare moment.” 56:36 Michelle’s vision for the kind of husband she wanted … NASHVILLE!!! 59:12 Michelle finds her southern gentleman in the north 1:02:12 “… they are little nuggets, they’re little downloads from God.”  *Tonya's FAVE quote from the whole interview*   1:02:47 Michelle’s incredible perspective on her cancer, God, Hope and your purpose 1:03:59 Tribe Essentials – where they can go to find Tribe Essentials products. www.tribebodyessentials.com 1:08:29 What words does Michelle have for parents with children who are very sick 1:11:25 What words would Michelle have for a young girl getting the same diagnosis that she had at 14   Resources: The International Bible Society (NIV) Confronting Cancer with Faith Connect w/ Michelle:  Start the New Year with more Focus, Clarity & Mental Energy!Grab some Neuro-Thrive at a Discount - Use Code: SBD2026 🧠 Your Brain will Love you 💙Support the showConnect w/ CriticalBench: Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com

Send us a textEver have that feeling of, “Ugh, I’m SO stressed out… I don’t think I can do this anymore!”? Most of us get caught up in life’s dead ends and we feel trapped and helpless. We want great things for ourselves but our day to day living doesn’t quite match our dreams. Worse, this misaligned way of life leads to anxiety, overwhelm and frustration that we can’t break out of... In these moments we need guidance and direction from someone who has been there and overcome the crippling effects of anxiety attacks to achieve monster success. Now touted as the “World’s Most Disciplined Man,” Craig Ballantyne helps millions of people all over the world beat this frustration cycle and rise to greatness. Craig is a best-selling author and CEO of Early to Rise Publishing. He is living proof of what structure can do to beat anxiety, get back on your feet and become UNSTOPPABLE in business and in life! Coach Chris Wilson has the great pleasure of speaking to one of his mentors as Craig uncovers what holds most people back from their BEST selves and from a winning mindset to live an extraordinary life.   "Just make sure you have accountability because we have all of the information we need to be successful, we're just not using it properly because we don't have accountability." and "I hear from so many entrepreneurs who are really frustrated, 'I got a baby and I'm not getting all my work done..' How can you expect to get all of your work done when you have a baby that depends on you 24-7, you have just set bad expectations in your head..." -Craig Ballantyne   Time Stamps 3:15 Craig’s narrative and the incident that changed his life forever 7:00 Craig shares his honest experiences with anxiety 9:23 Make the most of your time 13:14 Why it takes more discipline to be a night owl 16:20 Season of life - your own life cycle has its seasons 19:28 Become smarter with your time 22:26 Follow Craig Ballantyne on Instagram for daily inspiration 23:47 Free up your time by taking advantage of other resources 27:01 Craig’s “Unstoppable” book and where to purchase it 28:42 How important it is to be blessed by the presence of kind souls who not only journey with us, but also help and hold us accountable 30:30 Craig’s advice to those who are looking for a new job 34:10 Natural approaches for easing anxiety 40:03 It's the little habits that can change your life   Resources: Get Your FREE COPY of UNSTOPPABLE Connect w/ Craig:  Instagram Facebook   Connect w/ CriticalBench:  Youtube Start the New Year with more Focus, Clarity & Mental Energy!Grab some Neuro-Thrive at a Discount - Use Code: SBD2026 🧠 Your Brain will Love you 💙Support the showConnect w/ CriticalBench: Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com

Send us a textNational Human Trafficking Hotline: 1(888) 373-7888 === Although slavery is commonly thought to be a thing of the past, human traffickers generate hundreds of billions of dollars in profits by trapping millions of people in horrific situations around the world, including here in the U.S. Traffickers use violence, threats, deception, debt bondage, and other manipulative tactics to force people to engage in commercial sex or to provide labor or services against their will. Recognizing the local need (in Tampa, Florida) to develop advocacy on behalf of children without a voice, became the catalyst for South African Natasha Nascimento, to tackle what has evolved into a modern version of slavery head-on. While working as a Financial Adviser with Anti-Trafficking Advocate Brian Robinson, Natasha was shocked by the formerly apathetic response and failure to address Human Trafficking that takes place domestically, with research estimating that up to 300,000 American children are at risk each year to be trafficked within the borders of the United States alone. The launch of her foundation, Redefining Refuge in 2010, has since sparked a contagious willingness from participants around the world who contribute to confronting and ultimately preventing Human Trafficking. Natasha’s dream of opening a local Safe House for trafficked youth became a reality in 2013, and is the first home of its kind in the Tampa Bay area that provides a therapeutic safe haven for girls that rescued from this depravity. On this powerful and eye-opening episode, host Brian Klepacki sat down with Natasha & Brian. Everything, the good, the bad, and the ugly, was discussed about this fight against human-trafficking.  Listen in to this heartbreaking yet inspiring conversation that will compel you to take action today! This is one episode that will change lives. Natasha Nascimento Founder & Executive Director of Redefining Refuge Brian Robinson Advocate of Anti-Trafficking   "In the US, less than 1% of sex trafficking cases of children are abduction cases.. so if you think it's looking like the movie Taken, it's not, it's absolutely not. and "The awareness is so much different today than it was just 5 years ago, than just 2 years ago, it's because of organizations like yours (CriticalBench) that are willing to have the discussion that the truth is now getting out." -Natasha Nascimento & Brian Robinson Time Stamps: 2:35 Familiarize oneself with Natasha’s narrative and how her advocacy about Human Trafficking started 4:20 Human Trafficking and its misconceptions 5:56 Organizations advocating against Human Trafficking, starting from mere two (2) to 7,000 organizations in the United States 7:00 How Brian got in to this fight against Human Trafficking 8:30 Why pStart the New Year with more Focus, Clarity & Mental Energy!Grab some Neuro-Thrive at a Discount - Use Code: SBD2026 🧠 Your Brain will Love you 💙Support the showConnect w/ CriticalBench: Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com

Send us a textWe Believe that you are Strong By Design, Made in God's image to have a Strong Body, Mind & Spirit. This "Teaser" episode gives you a brief look at what's coming NEXT Wednesday in the full episode. We are so excited to deliver you outstanding information and inspiring guests that we just have to spill the beans ahead of time........plus a lot of other random chit chat about living Strong By Design. Thank you so much for listening to the SBD podcast show, we feel truly honored to have amazing listeners like you!   Subscribe to iTunes, Love the podcast? Leave a review on iTunes! What do you want to hear from the Critical Bench Podcast? Tell us here!   Resources: The 7 Worst Testosterone Killers Why Stretching Won't Make You Flexible The 5-Minute Glute Workout The 5 Best Core Killer Exercises 5 Ways to Become Tough as Nails   Connect w/ CriticalBench: Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com Support the showConnect w/ CriticalBench: Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com StrongByDesignPodcast.com