D&D Fitness Radio Podcast

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 p...

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 bodybui...

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 pot...

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...

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 discus...

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 gr...

Episode 143 has us revisiting with Dr. Nikos Apostolopoulos on the topic of stretching and, in particular, his proprietary brand of microStretching. Stretching is an activity that has been misunderstood and, in many cases, improperly applied to physical training and rehabilitation. If performed properly, stretching can help to alleviate pain, improve range of motion and hasten recovery. Nikos take...

In Episode 142, we engage Dr. Nick Nwabueze on the issue of healthcare and fitness. Dr. Nick provides us with his thoughts on the current state of healthcare and how he provides medical care to his patients. While many in the field treat symptoms in a reactive manner, Dr. Nick is adamant that a large proportion of these medical issues could be resolved with appropriate preventative measures relate...

In Episode 141, we speak with one of Derek’s fellow Canadians, Andrew Coates. Andrew takes us through his career journey and highlights the importance of every single connection he has made over the years, expanding his network of both friends and fellow professionals. His enthusiasm for the fitness industry, as well as his persistent approach to establishing relationships is what has served him w...

Episode 140 explores all that has happened in the five years that Don and Derek have spent together since that fateful meeting back in November 2017 at Drive495 on Broadway in New York City. We now have 140 podcast episodes under our belt and a lot has changed in those five years, including the way that we communicate and work with others, as well as how we promote our respective brands and provid...

In Episode 139, we have a fun but serious discussion about movement with movement coach, Kaisa Keranen. Kaisa is known for her dynamic demonstrations of complex movement and fitness exercises. However, we take a deeper dive with Kaisa and examine the key aspects of movement instruction that she is now focusing on with her clients, followers and general audience. While Kaisa has been associated wit...

Episode 138, we explore Don’s new course, Five Steps to Monetize an Online Business, and find out his motivation for creating this educational journey for health and fitness professionals. He tells us about the series of events that led him to transition to online training delivery. Having a significant background in operating a brick and mortar business in a highly competitive market for 15 years...

Episode 137, we speak with Canadian Coach and golf performance specialist, Jason Glass. Jason discusses the time, effort and experience that went into writing and publishing his new book, “Dream Big: Overdeliver Be Undeniable.” Jason starts be identifying the key development requirements for top young golfers, emphasizing rotational power and speed, as well as key tests used to identify athleticis...

Episode 136 involves a deep dive into Don’s process of building community around his fitness challenges, online group calls and fitness retreats. The global pandemic initially created a lot of challenges for fitness professionals, with in-person gathering discouraged and online strategies in short supply. But over the past 30 months, much has changed and the majority of people have adapted. Don di...

In Episode 135, we have an inspiring conversation with Tom Morris, a Strength and Conditioning Coach at the Indiana University. Coach Morris tells us about this passion for his role as a strength coach, helping to develop athletes, motivate individuals and change attitudes on a daily basis. He also provides us with some insights into the challenges he has faced over his career, and how he has had...

In Episode 134, we sit down with Merle Liivand to talk about her recent world record swimming 26.2 miles with a silicone mono-fin in the ocean just off the coast of Miami. An amazing feat covered in just over 11 hours, we discuss the physical demands of such a long swim, but also the psychological strength needed to swim through currents, jellyfish, pollution and other sea creatures. She accepted...

In Episode 133, we have the pleasure of speaking with author and chef, Beth Lipton, about her recent book co-written with Ashleigh Vanhouten, Carnivore-ish. Beth tells us that it is okay to be a carnivore and explains all of the benefits of preparing and eating various types of animal protein in our diets that can be both healthy and enjoyable. There is no shortage of contradictory information bei...

Episode 132 explores the adoption of sprinting as a means of developing running abilities, as well as supplementing a comprehensive fitness program through the development of strength, power and elasticity. Most people associate a running-based fitness program with long distance running, where individuals are preparing for a marathon or a 10km race. While many people use long distance running as a...

In Episode 131, we turn once again to our resident expert in technology and human performance, Brandon Marcello, to figure out where we are with wearable technology. We are seeing more wearables being promoted every year with the promise of making our lives more glorious, by providing us with invaluable data about our health, wellness and performance. Famous athletes are promoting these tech produ...

In Episode 130, we talk with our own Don Saladino and what it takes to train a super hero. While we can all agree that most of this training is done with professional actors to prepare them for the aesthetics and demands of their roles, this information can be taken and applied to almost anyone from professional athletes to the general population. Don walks us through his process of working with t...

In Episode 129, we sit down with Don’s long-time training partner, Anthony Jacobs, who we affectionally refer to as “Tone”. Don and Tone discuss their complex relationship that started in the gym. As we find out, their relationship is not only about their workouts together, but all of the other ways that they ‘spot’ and help each other through the heavy lifting known as life. We also talk about To...

In Episode 128, we pepper Ray Maker with questions about wearable technologies and other products related to fitness and exercise. We start with a discussion around the efficacy of wrist worn heart rate monitoring and quickly dive into many different areas related to running, cycling, swimming and resistance training. Ray’s broad knowledge of various devices, brands and applications definitely sur...

In Episode 127, Don shares his experiences from a recent trip to the Austrian and Swiss alps. He gives us his thoughts about the environment and culture, as well as the ski and snowboard activities that he engaged in. As many people enjoy aggressive activities on their winter and summer vacations, Don talks about how is regular exercise routine and diet practices more than prepared him for the tim...

In Episode 126, we welcome Shane K. to discuss the recent invasion and war in Ukraine, and how both military personnel and civilians have been impacted by the need to serve their country in an intense environment of combat. Shane provides his own thoughts on the reasons for war and the circumstances that Ukrainian citizens have had to deal with over the past month of invasion and bombardment. He a...

In Episode 125, Don and Derek discuss the extreme scenarios where your fitness could be called into question. When you find yourself watching images of wartime conditions and citizens being displaced by battle, it makes you wonder if you are both physically and mentally fit to survive and thrive in those types of circumstances. We discuss an approach to fitness that challenges individuals well bey...