Episode 153 is spent talking with Louisa Nicola to discuss various factors that influence our brain health. We cover all areas of health and performance as it relates to exercise, sleep and nutrition and the impact – both good and bad – on the brain. Louisa Nicola is a neurophysiologist and human performance coach, as well as the founder and head performance advisor of Neuro Athletics - a consulting firm that boasts the best athletes in the world. By using science driven data from EEG scans, labs tests and cognitive assessments, Louisa has a first class ticket inside the brain of elite NBA and MLB stars. Louisa graduated from the University of Sydney medical school with a master of medicine in neurophysiology and is currently completing her doctorate under the guidance of Dr Tommy Wood at UW, studying the effects of resistance exercise on the brain. You can find out more information on Louisa Nicola below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/ Website: https://www.neuroathletics.com.au/ The D&D Fitness Radio podcast is available at the following locations for downloadable audio, including: iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/d-d-fitness-radio-podcast/id1331724217 iHeart Radio – https://www.iheart.com/podcast/dd-fitness-radio-28797988/ Spreaker.com – https://www.spreaker.com/show/d-and-d-fitness-radios-show Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/5Py2SSPA4mntNwYRm0Opri You can reach both Don and Derek at the following locations: Don Saladino: http://www.DonSaladino.comTwitter and Instagram - @DonSaladinoYouTube - http://www.youtube.com/donsaladino Derek M. Hansen: http://www.SprintCoach.comTwitter and Instagram - @DerekMHansenYouTube - http://youtube.com/derekmhansen

In Episode 152, we sit down with Dr. Ralph Esposito to discuss various issues around human nutrition and how it impacts both our quality of life and longevity. We cover numerous areas of health and nutrition including daily protein requirements, micronutrient consumption, calorie counting, body composition, body-fat versus visceral fat, food costs and energy drinks. It was the kind of conversation that could just keep going on and on, but we had to be mindful of Dr. Esposito’s time.Ralph Esposito is a naturopathic physician focused on optimizing health-span and lifespan through nutrition, exercise, sleep, mental/emotional health and precision supplementation. Dr. Esposito believes in a personalized approach to preventive medicine by using evidence-lead tactics to teach people how to perform and feel their best while reducing the risk for chronic disease. With additional degrees in Acupuncture and Chinese medicine and as a certified Functional Medicine doctor (IFMCP), Ralph provides a unique integrative approach to help solve clinically complex classes while optimizing health-span and lifespan. He is currently based out of New York City/Connecticut, where he practices what he preaches when it comes to everything health and medicine.You can find out more information on Dr. Esposito below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.ralphesposito/ Website: https://www.drralphesposito.com/The D&D Fitness Radio podcast is available at the following locations for downloadable audio, including: iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/d-d-fitness-radio-podcast/id1331724217 iHeart Radio – https://www.iheart.com/podcast/dd-fitness-radio-28797988/ Spreaker.com – https://www.spreaker.com/show/d-and-d-fitness-radios-show Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/5Py2SSPA4mntNwYRm0Opri You can reach both Don and Derek at the following locations: Don Saladino: http://www.DonSaladino.comTwitter and Instagram - @DonSaladinoYouTube - http://www.youtube.com/donsaladino Derek M. Hansen: http://www.SprintCoach.comTwitter and Instagram - @DerekMHansenYouTube - http://youtube.com/derekmhansen

In Episode 151, we talk with Geena Martinez about her foray into a golf influencer role, bringing very little previous experience to the table. A late adopter to the sport, Geena learned relatively quickly that golf was a valuable tool for cementing business relationships and broadening her corporate network. But she also grew to love everything about the sport to a point where she is now known as a golf ambassador and a positive role model for people who are encouraged to take up the sport later in life.When Geena isn’t golfing, she works as an executive sales business leader with over 15 years of experience driving a high sales performance from small-to-medium sized businesses to large national accounts. She excels in coaching, managing expectations, and presenting to internal and external audiences, helping clients and colleagues identify, understand, and resolve issues as well as build long term plans for success. You can find out more information on Geena Martinez below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/golfergirl_gmoney/ The D&D Fitness Radio podcast is available at the following locations for downloadable audio, including: iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/d-d-fitness-radio-podcast/id1331724217 iHeart Radio – https://www.iheart.com/podcast/dd-fitness-radio-28797988/ Spreaker.com – https://www.spreaker.com/show/d-and-d-fitness-radios-show Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/5Py2SSPA4mntNwYRm0Opri You can reach both Don and Derek at the following locations: Don Saladino: http://www.DonSaladino.comTwitter and Instagram - @DonSaladinoYouTube - http://www.youtube.com/donsaladino Derek M. Hansen: http://www.SprintCoach.comTwitter and Instagram - @DerekMHansenYouTube - http://youtube.com/derekmhansen

Episode 150, we get the opportunity to interview Dr. Ricardo Komotar in between his numerous appointments. Ricardo tells us that he always wanted to be a brain surgeon from a very early age. The brain has always fascinated him. He explains that assessments and imaging can be useful in identifying potential problems in the brain, but too much screening can also be problematic. We also discuss various risk factors for tumor formation in the brain, with an emphasis on the role of nutrition, exercise and sleep for optimal brain function, health and longevity. The conversation also touches on the topics of traumatic brain injuries, dementia and new developments in the field of neurology. Dr. Komotar is Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine. He graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in neuroscience from Duke University, spending a year at Oxford University in England to focus on neuropharmacology. He received his medical degree from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine with highest honors and completed his internship and neurosurgical residency at Columbia University Medical Center/The Neurological Institute of New York, followed by a surgical neurooncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center to specialize in brain tumors. As Director of the University of Miami Brain Tumor Initiative, Director of Surgical Neurooncology at the University of Miami, Director of the UM Neurosurgery Residency Program, and Director of the UM Surgical Neurooncology Fellowship Program, Dr. Komotar’s main clinical interests are surgical and radiosurgical (Gamma Knife) treatment of primary and metastatic brain tumors, as well as meningiomas and pituitary lesions. Dr. Komotar is an internationally recognized leader in the field of brain tumors and performs nearly 800 procedures for these conditions each year using advanced cutting-edge surgical/radiosurgical techniques, making him one of the highest volume brain tumor surgeons in the world. You can find out more information on Dr. Ricardo Komotar below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ricardokomotar/ Website: https://www.ricardokomotar.com/ The D&D Fitness Radio podcast is available at the following locations for downloadable audio, including: iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/d-d-fitness-radio-podcast/id1331724217 iHeart Radio – https://www.iheart.com/podcast/dd-fitness-radio-28797988/ Spreaker.com – https://www.spreaker.com/show/d-and-d-fitness-radios-show Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/5Py2SSPA4mntNwYRm0Opri You can reach both Don and Derek at the following locations: Don Saladino: http://www.DonSaladino.comTwitter and Instagram - @DonSaladinoYouTube - http://www.youtube.com/donsaladino Derek M. Hansen: http://www.SprintCoach.comTwitter and Instagram - @DerekMHansenYouTube - http://youtube.com/derekmhansen

Episode 149, we get an opportunity to talk with Chris Duffin about his lifelong journey of improving the strength, performance and wellness of individuals and teams through his innovations in both equipment and programming. Chris begins our conversation with a discussion of his development as a human being from a very young age, and how it drove him to constantly improve physically, mentally and professionally. Our discussion quickly moves into his innovations in the strength equipment field, discussing the intricacies of his modifications to weightlifting bars to ensure that different populations were able to get the most out of their workouts despite having range-of-motion restrictions, muscle and joint injuries, and/or ergonomic challenges. The strides Chris has made with his equipment innovations are incredibly impressive. Chris Duffin is an inventor, thought leader, and serial entrepreneur in Health and Fitness. He has Co-Founded multiple prominent brands the largest of which, Kabuki Strength where he serves as Chief Visionary Officer, is a globally recognized brand. Chris has invented multiple ‘game-changing’ products improving human biomechanics under load, as well as systemized approaches to assessing and correcting human movement dysfunctions. These tools and methods are used by nearly every top professional and collegiate team penetrating over 90% of those markets alone. His other companies including Bearfoot Shoes focusing on foot mechanics, Build Fast Formula in nutraceuticals, Kabuki Strength Lab a gym and performance center, as well as his Best-Selling motivational book detailing his incredible upbringing. In addition to being one of the most respected strength educators in the industry he has an extensive track record of success in business. With an MBA and Engineering in his background he spent nearly two decades running or turning around manufacturing companies in Aerospace, Automotive, Hi-Tech, and Heavy Equipment fields. Now retired from competing, he is known for his industry-changing innovations and education in the strength and clinical worlds. He’s a leading speaker on topics related to strength, human movement, rehab, mindset, goal setting, leadership, and motivation. You can find out more information on Chris Duffin below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mad_scientist_duffin/ Website: https://chrisduffin.com/ The D&D Fitness Radio podcast is available at the following locations for downloadable audio, including: iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/d-d-fitness-radio-podcast/id1331724217 iHeart Radio – https://www.iheart.com/podcast/dd-fitness-radio-28797988/ Spreaker.com – https://www.spreaker.com/show/d-and-d-fitness-radios-show Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/5Py2SSPA4mntNwYRm0Opri You can reach both Don and Derek at the following locations: Don Saladino:http://www.DonSaladino.comTwitter and Instagram - @DonSaladinoYouTube - http://www.youtube.com/donsaladino Derek M. Hansen:http://www.SprintCoach.comTwitter and Instagram - @DerekMHansenYouTube - http://youtube.com/derekmhansen

Frank Sepe joins us in Episode 148 to talk about his commitment to bodybuilding from a very young age, as well as the career development he has experienced for well over 30 years. Frank’s career has spanned several generations and he provides us with some great stories about the people he has worked with along the way. At age 51, Frank continues to lead by example in the art and science of bodybuilding, but also other areas of health and fitness through his social media, publishing and many other events. Frank Sepe is a nationally renowned Fitness celebrity & master trainer who is a leader and innovator in the fitness industry. Frank has been involved in every aspect of fitness and he has dedicated his life to creating programs that advise people on how to live a healthier lifestyle. His programs have been utilized by a countless amount of people around the world. He has created and sold his own line of fitness products globally on the Home Shopping Network (HSN). Frank is also the author of eight books about health and fitness and has worked extensively in the publishing world. He has held the title of Group Editor, or Editor in Chief for five women’s and men’s fitness and health publications and held the position of Editor in Chief of the MET-Rx® magazine print and online for its entire 11-year duration. His company also does advertising, social media content and management for some of the biggest brands in the industry Frank has been a fitness source for some of the largest magazines and websites in the world, he has also appeared on hundreds of TV and radio shows regarding fitness and training, such as GMA, NBC and FOX. You can find out more information on Frank Sepe below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frank_sepe/ Website: https://franksepe.com/ The D&D Fitness Radio podcast is available at the following locations for downloadable audio, including: iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/d-d-fitness-radio-podcast/id1331724217 iHeart Radio – https://www.iheart.com/podcast/dd-fitness-radio-28797988/ Spreaker.com – https://www.spreaker.com/show/d-and-d-fitness-radios-show Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/5Py2SSPA4mntNwYRm0Opri You can reach both Don and Derek at the following locations: Don Saladino: http://www.DonSaladino.comTwitter and Instagram - @DonSaladinoYouTube - http://www.youtube.com/donsaladino Derek M. Hansen: http://www.SprintCoach.comTwitter and Instagram - @DerekMHansenYouTube - http://youtube.com/derekmhansen

Episode 147 of the podcast was recorded with a group of coaching professionals attending a coaching leadership event at Vigor Ground Fitness & Performance in Renton, Washington. The group included Luka Hocevar, Kelsey Heenan, Dennis Heenan, Andrew Coates and our very own Don Saladino. The focus of the discussion was on nurturing the business side of the fitness industry and connecting with potential followers and clients. Each contributor has their own individual method of connecting with their audience and offer his or her thoughts on the best ways to create engagement and long term relationships that move their business forward. Another commonality is the ability to reach out to others for help, particularly in areas where a known deficiency may exist. Identifying both the constraints and opportunities facing a business is an essential step for developing an overall strategic plan and following through on the implementation side. We hope this discussion helps to motivate and guide others to making enhancements to their business. Contributors can be reached via the following Instagram links: - Luka Hocevar - https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/- Kelsey Heenan - https://www.instagram.com/thedailykelsey/- Dennis Heenan - https://www.instagram.com/denheen/- Andrew Coates - https://www.instagram.com/andrewcoatesfitness/The D&D Fitness Radio podcast is available at the following locations for downloadable audio, including: iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/d-d-fitness-radio-podcast/id1331724217 iHeart Radio – https://www.iheart.com/podcast/dd-fitness-radio-28797988/ Spreaker.com – https://www.spreaker.com/show/d-and-d-fitness-radios-show Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/5Py2SSPA4mntNwYRm0Opri You can reach both Don and Derek at the following locations: Don Saladino: http://www.DonSaladino.comTwitter and Instagram - @DonSaladinoYouTube - http://www.youtube.com/donsaladino Derek M. Hansen: http://www.SprintCoach.comTwitter and Instagram - @DerekMHansenYouTube - http://youtube.com/derekmhansen

In Episode 146, Don and Derek have a serious talk about how their training has evolved as they have aged, particularly as it relates to weightlifting and resistance training. Younger athletes and individuals are able to lift heavy weight more frequently for many reasons. Not only do they tend to have more time available to dedicate to exercise, they also have more supple and resilient bodies that can handle just about any training load and intensity. As you age, you find that you have to be more careful about both exercise selection, but also how much and how often you place a load on your body. While many of us have been brought up in a culture of lifting free weights with barbells and dumbbells, there are good reasons for shifting your exercise selection to alternative methods of training muscle and building hypertrophy. We discuss use of weight machines, banded exercises, plyometrics, throws and explosive running activities. Many of these alternative methods of training can provide the same benefits without the same wear-and-tear on the body as traditional weightlifting. Understanding how to choose the right exercises for the right time of your life can have a beneficial effect on your overall health and wellness in later life. The D&D Fitness Radio podcast is available at the following locations for downloadable audio, including: iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/d-d-fitness-radio-podcast/id1331724217 iHeart Radio – https://www.iheart.com/podcast/dd-fitness-radio-28797988/ Spreaker.com – https://www.spreaker.com/show/d-and-d-fitness-radios-show Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/5Py2SSPA4mntNwYRm0Opri You can reach both Don and Derek at the following locations: Don Saladino: http://www.DonSaladino.comTwitter and Instagram - @DonSaladinoYouTube - http://www.youtube.com/donsaladino Derek M. Hansen: http://www.SprintCoach.comTwitter and Instagram - @DerekMHansenYouTube - http://youtube.com/derekmhansen

In Episode 145, we are fortunate to be joined once again by John Callery, who has since retired from the DEA and is now working in the field of school safety. John is the Director of School Safety Operations for Surefox North America and will be presenting at an upcoming International School Safety Institute Symposium on April 19-20, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. In our interview with John, he discusses all of the major steps required to make our schools safer. This includes comprehensive education initiatives for all key stakeholders, site evaluations using Hazardous Vulnerability Assessments, and a review of digital leakages to ensure that all potential threats via social media platforms have been monitored to determine possible offenders. John maintains that school shootings are a problem that is not isolated to any one socio-economic group or geographic location and that everyone needs to take measures to prevent them from occurring. Mr. John W. Callery has over 35 years of law enforcement experience and began his law enforcement career in 1984 as a Police Officer in the United States Air Force (USAF) for six years. For four of those years, he was detailed to the prestigious USAF Presidential Honor Guard at Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C., serving then President Ronald Reagan. Mr. Callery continued his law enforcement career as a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in 1992, initially assigned to the DEA Los Angeles Field Division (LAFD). Mr. Callery received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from the University of Maryland and a Master’s of Science in Counterterrorism-WMD from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in 2007. He also holds a Master Certificate in Conflict Management from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza School of Business. More recently, as the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the San Diego Field Division (SDFD), John led the men and woman of the SDFD in concentrating on the opioid overdose death investigations, fentanyl laced drugs, Mexican Cartel operations and the enduring scourge of methamphetamine trafficking in the region.Mr. Callery is a professional public speaker and has conducted hundreds of lectures around the world on a myriad law enforcement and counter terrorism topics. Between 2005-2011 Mr. Callery conducted over 70 DEA International Training seminars on professional law enforcement best practices in over 50 nations around the globe. You can find out more information on the work done by John Callery, as well as the upcoming International School Safety Institute Symposium, below: Websites: https://saferschoolstogether.com/our-team/john-callery/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jwcallery/ Conference Info: https://internationalschoolsafety.org/ The D&D Fitness Radio podcast is available at the following locations for downloadable audio, including: iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/d-d-fitness-radio-podcast/id1331724217 iHeart Radio – https://www.iheart.com/podcast/dd-fitness-radio-28797988/ Spreaker.com – https://www.spreaker.com/show/d-and-d-fitness-radios-show Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/5Py2SSPA4mntNwYRm0Opri You can reach both Don and Derek at the following locations: Don Saladino: http://www.DonSaladino.comTwitter and Instagram - @DonSaladinoYouTube - http://www.youtube.com/donsaladino Derek M. Hansen: http://www.SprintCoach.comTwitter and Instagram - @DerekMHansenYouTube - http://youtube.com/derekmhansen

In Episode 144, Don and Derek begin their visit by discussing the recent medical incident that occurred in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills player, Damar Hamlin. Hamlin went into cardiac arrest immediately after making a tackle and had to be resuscitated by medical staff using CPR and an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Fortunately, Hamlin has made a fabulous recovery from the event and is gradually returning to normal life. However, it does lead into a greater discussion of the health and welfare of professional athletes, who are being paid to provide a service to an organization. Should the owners of professional sports teams monitor the activities of paid athletes on an ongoing basis to not only ensure that performance is maintained, but also the health and safety of athletes is maximized? If an owner is paying over $100 million for a player’s contract, does that give them a right to restrict harmful activities away from the training facility and competition arena, as well as promote positive choices for that athlete? These are all pertinent questions in this age of high-speed, high risk and high stakes pro sport.The D&D Fitness Radio podcast is available at the following locations for downloadable audio, including: iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/d-d-fitness-radio-podcast/id1331724217 iHeart Radio – https://www.iheart.com/podcast/dd-fitness-radio-28797988/ Spreaker.com – https://www.spreaker.com/show/d-and-d-fitness-radios-show Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/5Py2SSPA4mntNwYRm0Opri You can reach both Don and Derek at the following locations: Don Saladino: http://www.DonSaladino.comTwitter and Instagram - @DonSaladinoYouTube - http://www.youtube.com/donsaladino Derek M. Hansen: http://www.SprintCoach.comTwitter and Instagram - @DerekMHansenYouTube - http://youtube.com/derekmhansen