Friends & Enemies

Just got back from the Arnold Sports Festival and there's a lot to unpack. In this episode of Friends & Enemies, we break down everything from the weekend — the meetings, the industry conversations, and how the event itself has evolved over the years. The Arnold has always been one of the biggest weekends in the fitness and supplement industry, but this year felt a little different. We talk about...

Friends & Enemies Podcast – The Truth About Protein Prices, Business Costs & Arnold 2026 Protein prices are up. Raw material costs are up. Freight is up. Labor is up. Packaging is up. The cost of doing business across the board is higher than it's ever been. And yet… Protein is still selling more than it ever has. In this episode of Friends & Enemies , we break down what's actually happening in th...

Welcome back to the Friends & Enemies Podcast , presented by Axe & Sledge ! 🎙️ In Episode 8 , we're joined by Austin Clare — diving deep into the real stories behind building momentum, embracing the hustle, and what it truly takes to grow both personally and professionally. In this episode, we break down: • Austin's journey and what shaped his mindset • The challenges, lessons, and breakthroughs h...

The Snack King himself… Dean Perrone is in the building. In this episode of Friends & Enemies, we sit down with one of the longest-tenured members of the Axe & Sledge family — athlete turned sales rep, entrepreneur, and full-time dad of four girls. Dean has been with the brand longer than almost anyone, and his journey is a real look at loyalty, growth, and what it actually means to build a life w...

This episode is all about real meetings and real negotiations — the ones that actually move the needle. We break down how conversations really happen behind the scenes in business… how deals actually get done… and why most people walk into meetings completely unprepared for what really matters. We talk through: • how to control the tone of a meeting without being the loudest person in the room • h...

What you do with your 1,000 minutes every day says everything about who you really are. In this episode of Friends & Enemies, we get real about the current fitness industry drama — an influencer changing his name, doxing people online, and ultimately getting dropped by sponsors. But instead of piling on, we use it as a bigger conversation starter about something that actually matters: 👉 Authentic...

Welcome back to the Friends & Enemies Podcast. In today's episode, Shane and David sit down for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about what it really takes to build and grow a brand — without losing the culture that got you there in the first place. We dive into: • What "culture" actually means inside a growing company • Why alignment matters at every level — team, partners, and retail •...

On this episode of the Friends & Enemies Podcast presented by Axe & Sledge Supplements, Shane and David sit down with Bobby Dautrich for a raw, behind-the-scenes conversation about what it actually takes to build something meaningful. We break down Bobby's story from the beginning — where he came from, how he got into the fitness world, and the real grind behind building a successful apparel brand...

In this episode of Friends & Enemies, we kick off the new year with a real, behind-the-scenes conversation about what it actually takes to run a supplement company. We break down the realities of leadership—setting new goals, building and protecting company culture, and making tough decisions that don't always feel good but are necessary for long-term growth. From managing employees to navigating...

Axe & Sledge Year in Review | Innovation, Launches & Favorite Moments In this episode, Shane, President of Axe & Sledge Supplements, and David, VP of Sales, sit down to recap an absolutely insane year for the brand. From game-changing innovation and reformulations to some of our biggest product launches yet, we break down what went into building, evolving, and scaling Axe & Sledge over the past ye...