Flex Diet Podcast

In this solo episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I break down why NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis), and a simple step count, is one of the most overlooked levers for improving body composition, recovery, and performance. I explain how NEAT often drops when calories are reduced, why that can stall fat loss even when you think you’re in a deficit, and how using wearables (or even basic track...

Welcome back to the Flex Diet Podcast! In this episode, I chat with Dr. Eric Rawson about the fascinating world of creatine, not just for muscle growth and performance, but also for brain health. We review the latest research on how creatine supplementation may affect brain function, support concussion recovery, and more.  Dr. Rawson shares insights from his extensive research, highlights the amaz...

Welcome back to the Flex Diet Podcast! In this solo episode, I dive into the concept of coaching leverage, a key aspect of the Flex Diet Certification. Learn how to maximize muscle growth, improve performance, and enhance body composition through eight essential interventions, including protein intake, sleep, and more.  I discuss the practical application of metabolic flexibility and flexible diet...

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with strength coach and educator Jon Heck to explore the intricacies of carb cycling. We discuss everything from Jon's personal journey with different dietary approaches, including ketogenic diets and carb cycling, to specific strategies tailored for athletes and general fitness enthusiasts. Highlights include the timing and distribution of carb...

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Cas Fuchs from Maastricht University to dive into the science behind cold water immersion. We discuss its impact on muscle recovery, protein synthesis, and overall performance. Dr. Fuchs shares his latest research findings, debunking common myths and providing actionable insights for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Plus, we touch on t...

Welcome back to the Flex Diet Podcast! I'm your host, Dr. Mike Nelson. Today, we're diving deep into hypertrophy training with my buddy from down under, Ben Mayfield Smith. We cover a wide range of topics, including his contest prep, hypertrophy techniques, volume and frequency, stretch-based hypertrophy, and even the underrated belt squat for building muscle. Ben shares insights on how to apply d...

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I’m joined by my good friend Dr. Eric Trexler, exercise scientist, educator, and Director of Education at Stronger by Science, for a wide-ranging, no-BS conversation on what physiology actually looks like in the real world. We dig into beetroot juice, nitric oxide, and “pump” supplements, why the blood-flow story is usually oversold, and why neuromuscular...

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Jeremy Bettle, a performance director and applied sports scientist, to dig into what actually moves the needle for performance, recovery, and long-term resilience. We cover everything from high ankle sprains and injury prevention to smarter load management, and why understanding stress, recovery, and tissue capacity matters far more tha...

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I catch up with my good friend Jason Brown to dig into the intersection of strength training and aerobic development. We talk through how to implement aerobic conditioning in the real world, what zone two training actually is (and isn’t), and the pros and cons of different training methodologies.  Jason shares his thoughts on concurrent training, functiona...

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with my good friend Aram Grigorian from the Real Coaches Summit to talk shop on what actually matters in coaching today. We dig into body composition and weight loss, why consistency still beats novelty, and how to think more clearly about calorie tracking without losing the forest for the trees. We also get into industry trends, client complian...

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple to cut through the noise and tackle some of the most persistent myths in women’s fitness. We break down where misinformation shows up in popular programs, why overly complicated plans often backfire, and what the science actually says about fasted training and low energy availability.  We also get into hot topics l...

Welcome back to the Flex Diet Podcast! Today, I’m hanging out with the brilliant Katie Emerson, Senior Manager of Scientific Affairs over at Kyowa Hakko USA, aka the people behind Cognizin (CDP Choline), one of the few brain-boosting ingredients with legit research behind it. We dig into the real science of CDP Choline, how it supports memory, focus, and cognitive performance, and where it actuall...

On this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with my good buddy and lab-coat-wearing performance wizard, Dr. Andrew Koutnik. We talk about how to boost muscle performance, improve body composition, and feel like an athletic human without dumpster-firing your health . We dig into cold water immersion (and when it can kick gains in the shins), blood glucose regulation, ketogenic diets, carbs...

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with my good friend Dr. Tommy Wood to dig into his upcoming book, The Stimulated Mind — a ridiculously practical guide to building a better brain. We get into all kinds of fun rabbit holes: how technology is changing fitness, why lactate (yes, the same stuff you curse during hard intervals) is actually rocket fuel for your brain, and why a solid...

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Jeff Rouse from Shiftwave to talk about his mind-bending device that claims to reset your nervous system. I’ll be honest, when I first saw it, I was skeptical. But after trying it at the Parker University conference, I was blown away by what it did. We dig into how the tech works, why it’s so effective for both physical and mental healt...

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with my good friend Dr. John Rusin to dig into his new book, Pain-Free Performance: Move Better, Train Smarter, and Build an Unbreakable Body . We talk all things movement, strength, and longevity—how to actually perform at a high level without wrecking yourself in the process. John drops some serious wisdom from decades of training and coaching...

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast , I sit down with my good friend Dr. Dan Pardi for a deep dive into all things health, longevity, and cognitive performance. We get into the science of stem cells and aging , the real benefits (and limits) of popular supplements, and how nootropics like Ritalin and Modafinil actually work—or don’t—in the real world. We also talk about how to integrate train...

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Eila Wolf, who specializes in functional neurology and Chinese medicine. We dig into how these fields come together to help people dealing with concussions, migraines, and chronic pain — and why traditional approaches often fall short. Dr. Wolf walks us through the science behind her methods, including how acupuncture, vestibular work, an...

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast , I’m joined by Erin Silver Lee , the CEO of Flow Neuroscience . We dig into some seriously cool stuff — including Flow’s recent acquisition of the Halo device , which uses non-invasive brain stimulation (TDCS) to boost both athletic and mental performance . Erin and I talk about how this tech works, what the current research says, and how it’s being applie...

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I dive into practical ways to boost muscle growth, enhance performance, and improve body composition — all within a flexible, health-focused framework. I also talk about my Physiologic Flexibility Certification , which is closing for enrollment soon, and unpack key concepts like Human Dynamic Range (HDR) and cross-adaptation . HDR is all about building a w...

In this episode, I’m sharing a special rebroadcast of my chat with Dr. Mikki Williden all about physiologic flexibility, including how to train your body to handle stress and adapt better. We cover metabolic flexibility, heat and cold exposure, sauna and cold therapy, lactate and buffering systems, plus CO₂ and O₂ tolerance. You’ll learn how these systems connect to boost performance, recovery, an...

In this episode, I break down my Physiologic Flexibility Certification — an advanced course designed to help you build a more adaptable, resilient body. I’ll walk you through the four key pillars of human performance: temperature regulation, pH balance, fuel use, and air/CO₂ control. You’ll hear how this cert expands on my Flex Diet Certification to improve recovery, strength, and overall health u...

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I chat with Dr. Blaine Lints, a former Navy SEAL and performance physiologist, about boosting performance, muscle, and resilience through flexible strategies. We dig into his research on ketones, caffeine, and theacrine, plus his work using Ibogaine for TBI recovery. I also break down how physiologic flexibility ties it all together for next-level performa...

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I’m diving headfirst into the science of sleep with two heavy hitters—Dr. J Wiles and Dr. Jeff Dermer from Absolute Rest. We cover it all: why sleep is such a big deal from an evolutionary standpoint, how your modern lifestyle is probably trashing it, and what you can actually do to fix it. We dig into behavioral changes, the role of wearables versus legit...

On this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I’m joined once again by Dr. Phil Batterson to nerd out on one of my favorite topics: anaerobic metabolism. We dig into what’s really happening during high-intensity training, the role of lactate, and why much of the “anaerobic vs. aerobic” discussion you hear is oversimplified (or just plain wrong). We also get into the nuts and bolts of how your bioenerg...