Flex Diet Podcast

On this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with Dan Hunter to talk all things “corporate athlete.” If you’re trying to crush it at work and not feel like a melted quesadilla by 3 p.m., this one’s for you. We dig into the real-world challenges of staying sharp under stress, from building sustainable habits to fueling your brain with tools like creatine, ketones, and amino acids. We also e...

On this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I’m joined by award-winning journalist and food nerd David Page, the guy who created Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives . We get into the wild evolution of American cuisine, the social role of food, and how to balance eating what you love with not tanking your health. David also shares his personal story with diabetes and weight loss, plus some practical cooking...

On this week’s Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with Angelo Keely, co-founder of Kion, to geek out on all things essential amino acids (EAAs). We’ll dig into the nitty-gritty science and—more importantly—what that means for you in the real world. Want to pack on more muscle? Drop some fat without feeling wrecked? Stay strong and sharp as the years tick by? EAAs can help—if you know how to use them. W...

In this week’s Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with fitness expert Bryan Boorstein to dig into the idea of “Meathead Cardio.” Brian has been in the lifting world for years, but over time, he began adding more cardio into his routine—and not only did it stick, it actually improved his performance and health.  We talk about why hybrid training isn’t the enemy of muscle, how to balance lifting and card...

Welcome back to the Flex Diet Podcast. I’m Dr. Mike T Nelson, and today I’ve got a great conversation lined up with Coach Troy Beauregard from Canada. We dig into one of my favorite rabbit holes: performance tracking for athletes. We cover why it’s so important to keep tabs on what’s happening in the gym and how you don’t need super-fancy gear to start collecting meaningful data. Of course, we als...

Join me on The Flex Diet Podcast as I break down the iconic 1996 Tabata study that’s been hyped for its fat-burning benefits. Tabata training has become a fitness staple, but is it really all it’s cracked up to be? I’ll uncover the myths, dive into the science, and explain why true Tabata isn’t exactly beginner-friendly. Learn about its real effects on body composition and how you can modify it fo...

On this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I chat with Dr. Mike Roberts, a full professor at Auburn University and head of the Nutri Bolt Applied and Molecular Physiology Lab. Mike’s one of the sharpest minds in muscle science, and we go deep into the nitty-gritty of hypertrophy, including everything from rodent studies to human trials to the molecular pathways that drive muscle growth. We get into...

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I break down how to train your cardio without wrecking your strength gains. We’re digging into the real roles of your aerobic and anaerobic systems—why most lifters skip the boring base work, and why that’s a big mistake if you want better performance and recovery. I also share a sneak peek at the upcoming Flexible Meathead Cardio Level 2 course, which cov...

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I’m joined by the always-interesting Levi Earl, who's tuning in all the way from Finland, to nerd out on all things  aerobic training, grip strength , and how to make your meathead conditioning actually work  for  you, not against you. We dive into why strength athletes need better aerobic systems (no, it’s not just for skinny endurance types), how mountai...

On this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Antonella Schwarz to geek out over her recent study on myo-reps, which she presented at the International Society of Sports Nutrition. We break down what myo-reps are, where the concept came from, and how they stack up against more traditional hypertrophy protocols. We also dive into some broader topics, including muscle growth principles...

Welcome back to the Flex Diet Podcast. I’m Dr. Mike T. Nelson, and in this episode, I’m joined by the legendary Coach Cal Dietz from the University of Minnesota. This was originally a bonus call for the Phasic 2 book, but it was packed with so much gold, I had to bring it to the podcast. We dig into a wide range of performance topics, including everything from the surprising benefits of using wate...

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Doug Goldstein for a deep dive into biomechanics, performance, and recovery. We get into the weeds on muscle performance, body comp, and how to reduce injury risk—stuff that matters whether you're an elite athlete or just trying to move and feel better. We also explore some cutting-edge tools like Springbok Analytics and dive into how i...

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I’m diving into the nitty-gritty of blood work and why it matters for your health, performance, and longevity, especially if you're an athlete, bodybuilder, or serious about your training. Fresh off the ISSN (International Society of Sports Nutrition) conference, I’m joined by Michael Warner, a sharp coach at Marek Health and the owner of Set the Standard....

Flex Diet Certification Enrollment Deadline   (click here ) & Optimal Weight Loss Strategies In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, Dr. Mike Nelson discusses the closing of the Flex Diet Certification enrollment, emphasizing its comprehensive program for improving body composition, muscle gain, and performance through nutrition and recovery. Dr. Nelson provides a key tip for weight loss. Listen...

Hey there, Dr. Mike T Nelson here. In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I’m excited to announce that the Flex Diet Certification is officially open! I’m recording this one from Europe, and I’ll walk you through what the cert is all about. The Flex Diet Cert is my comprehensive program that dives deep into the worlds of nutrition and recovery, all built around the concepts of metabolic flexibi...

Welcome back to the Flex Diet Podcast! I'm Dr. Mike T Nelson, and in this episode, I’m joined by Ben Mayfield Smith, a coach, researcher, and all-around grit expert from Australia, for a deep dive into what it really means to build resilience in both training and life. We unpack the science and psychology behind grit, perseverance, and stress adaptation and how you can strategically apply these pr...

Welcome back to the Flex Diet Podcast! I’m your host, Dr. Mike T. Nelson, and today’s episode is a special rebroadcast of a conversation I had on the Barbell Shrugged podcast with Anders Varner. We dive deep into what I call the Flexible Meathead Cardio Approach — a method designed specifically for strength athletes and lifters who know they need cardio but don’t want it to kill their gains. In th...

Welcome back to the Flex Diet Podcast! I’m your host, Dr. Mike T. Nelson, and in this episode, I sit down with my good friend Dr. Kenneth Jay, a PhD in Physiology and Biomechanics, coach to Olympic-level athletes, and creator of the Row Forge app. We go deep on all things cardiovascular performance, especially how to improve aerobic capacity without losing your hard-earned strength. You’ll hear us...

Welcome back to the Flex Diet Podcast. I'm Dr. Mike T. Nelson, and today I’m diving into the frigid but fascinating world of cold water immersion with Dr. Thomas P. Seeger — a true pioneer in sustainable engineering and a leading voice on cold exposure. We break down the latest science behind cold plunges, including how they impact brown fat, metabolism, HRV, testosterone and overall resilience. T...

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with Dr. James Fadiman and Jordan Gruber to talk all things microdosing—what it is, what it isn’t, and why it’s gaining so much traction in health, performance and even mental clarity. We dig into their new book, Microdosing for Healing, Health, and Enhanced Performance , and cover everything from the history of psychedelics to the latest resear...

In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with Aaron Straker for a deep dive into his journey from natural bodybuilding to the enhanced side of the sport. We talk openly about the trade-offs, risks, and insights he's gained along the way—including the use of compounds like testosterone and growth hormone. We also get into the mental and physical shifts that come with that transition, an...

In this episode of Iron Radio, hosts Coach Phil Stevens, Dr. Mike Nelson, Coach Jerell, and Dr. Lonnie Lowery discuss recent studies on the impact of cold water immersion on muscle protein synthesis and recovery. Dr. Nelson shares insights from a study published in March 2025, examining how post-exercise cooling affects blood flow and amino acid incorporation into muscle tissue.  The team debates...

Welcome back to the Flex Diet Podcast. I’m Dr. Mike T. Nelson, and today I’m joined by my good friend and colleague, Dr. Mike Ormsbee. We’re digging deep into how to optimize metabolism using strategies from the Flex Diet Certification, as well as why both aerobic and resistance training are crucial for long-term success. We also delve into some advanced topics, such as how growth hormone and lipo...

Welcome back to the Flex Diet Podcast! I’m Dr. Mike T. Nelson, and in this episode, I sit down with Dr. Hemal Patel, Chief Scientific Advisor to Discovery and the brilliant mind behind the ME screen blood test for mitochondrial function. We dive into Dr. Patel’s fascinating journey into the world of mitochondrial research, how mitochondria impact everything from metabolism to resilience, and why h...

Join me, Dr. Mike T. Nelson, on this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast as I sit down with peptide expert Anthony Castore for a deep dive into the world of peptides and performance. We cover everything from what peptides actually are to how they may support recovery, muscle growth, and immune function. We also explore the difference between standard peptides and bioregulators—plus how I’ve personall...