Muscles by Brussels Radio

In this episode, Alice and Giacomo take a deep dive into vegan protein powders: past, present, and future. They break down the history of plant-based proteins, compare blends vs isolates, address common concerns around amino acid profiles, digestion, heavy metals, sweeteners, and cost, and explain why perfection isn’t necessary to meet protein goals. The conversation also explores emerging yeast-b...

 In this episode of Vegan Proteins' Muscles by Brussels Radio , Giacomo and Dani dive into what it really means to find and ask for support on a fitness journey. From navigating family dynamics and romantic relationships to handling food environments, training schedules, and social pressure, they explore practical strategies for getting support without creating conflict. They also discuss the role...

In this episode of Vegan Proteins: Muscles by Brussels Radio , Alice and Sawyer unpack the complex relationship between weight gain, weight loss, muscle building, and modern culture. They explore how lifestyle structure, calorie density, and societal norms make long-term weight management difficult, and why many people are unknowingly under-muscled rather than “overweight.” The conversation breaks...

In this episode, Ben and Alice explore what competitive bodybuilders and lifestyle athletes can learn from each other. They discuss stress management, consistency, expectations, training intensity, nutrition structure, and balance, highlighting how blending discipline with flexibility can lead to better long-term fitness, health, and sustainability. 🌱 Coaching Application Take your fitness and nu...

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Melanie, a vegan powerlifter whose past year has been marked by massive life changes, personal growth, and record-setting strength. She opens up about navigating divorce, rebuilding her life, discovering the power of community, and transforming her approach to training and mindset. With coaching insights from Sawyer and thoughtful questions from Giacomo,...

In this episode, Ben and Sawyer break down the art of time efficient training. They explore how to get the most muscle building stimulus with the least time investment by dialing in exercise selection, intensity, and smart programming. You’ll learn the difference between maintenance and growth volume, how to strategically use supersets, circuits, myo-reps, and drop sets, and when pre-exhaust techn...

In this episode, Alice and Giacomo dive deep into the real key to fitness success: habits. From overcoming negative self-talk and embracing the long game to celebrating small wins and building supportive community, they unpack what it truly takes to keep momentum on your health and strength journey. Whether you’re brand-new to training or working toward your next big goal, this conversation offers...

In this inspiring conversation, Ben, Dani, and Ellie dive into what it’s really like to pursue natural bodybuilding as a teenager—while balancing school, mental health, veganism, and a first competition prep. Ellie shares her athletic background, her transition from running to strength training, how veganism became part of her identity, and how bodybuilding became a stabilizing force during a diff...

In this episode, Alice and Sawyer take a deep dive into one of the most common questions in vegan fitness: how much protein do you really need? They break down evidence-based ranges for total body weight and lean mass, explain how needs shift during cutting, bulking, maintenance, aging, or recovery, and clear up common misconceptions in the vegan community. The conversation also covers satiety, mu...

In this episode of Muscles by Brussels Radio , Ben and Giacomo dive deep into how life transitions, from new relationships to career shifts, can reshape your fitness goals. They explore how to adjust expectations with compassion, find balance between ambition and sustainability, and redefine what progress means in every phase of life. Whether you’re a vegan athlete or someone just trying to stay c...

 In this episode of Vegan Proteins Muscles by Brussels Radio, Ben and Alice dive into the topic of peri-workout nutrition: what to eat before, during, and after your workouts to maximize energy, performance, and recovery. They discuss the pros and cons of training fasted, how carbohydrates and glycogen protect your muscles, the importance of hydration and electrolytes, and practical strategies for...

Giacomo and Sawyer explore the complexities of personal growth in fitness, discussing the importance of coaching, navigating ambivalence, and the emotional investment required for success. They reflect on their own experiences in competition and the challenges faced by clients in achieving their goals. The conversation emphasizes the need for self-discovery, setting realistic expectations, and the...

Alice and Giacomo dive deep into the world’s favorite stimulant. They explore how it impacts training, recovery, hydration, and sleep, and share personal experiences with dependence, withdrawal, and mindful moderation. You’ll learn how to use caffeine strategically for better workouts without burning out, the benefits of pairing it with L-theanine and L-tyrosine, and why switching to decaf or cycl...

Learn how to stay consistent with fitness when life gets hectic. Coaches Ben & Sawyer share mindset, nutrition, and training tips to stay resilient throughout. From traveling and schedule changes to shifting priorities, they explore practical strategies that don't demand perfection. This includes how to develop adaptability, nutrition habits, emotional resilience, and realistic training expect...

🌱 Coaching Application Take your fitness and nutrition goals to the next level with one-on-one coaching: http://www.veganproteins.com/personal-training   📖 Free 7-Day High-Protein Meal Plan: https://bit.ly/4kab1Ll   💪 Muscles by Brussels Membership: Try it free for one month: https://www.veganproteins.com/muscles-by-brussels-membership-free-trial/   ✅ Membership Includes: 4 live coaching calls...

🌱 Coaching Application Take your fitness and nutrition goals to the next level with one-on-one coaching: http://www.veganproteins.com/personal-training   📖 Free 7-Day High-Protein Meal Plan: https://bit.ly/4kab1Ll Plant Fit Meg's Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PlantFitMeg Coach Ben's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benji_prodigy   💪 Muscles by Brussels Membership: Try it free fo...

In this week's episode of Muscles by Brussels Radio , we’re talking about something most people don’t expect: what happens when you hit your weight loss goal... and it still doesn’t feel like “enough.” We also dive into: • Why weight loss can sometimes trigger new insecurities • The mental and emotional work most people don’t expect • What comes after the goal weight, and how to prepare • Body ima...

This week’s episode of Muscles by Brussels Radio is a good one—and a real peek behind the curtain of what actually happens when we’re coaching clients through body comp goals. We’re digging into: Why some clients need free meals—and others need to be told to chill with them What to do if tracking everything you eat is starting to make you miserable How we use meal plans strategically (even though...

What does a cross-country vegan strong-person party bus have to do with burnout? Absolutely nothing. But it did come up in this week’s episode, and honestly, we kind of love the idea. Once we got back on track, Sawyer and Giacomo dug into the messy, exhausting, and all-too-familiar topic of burnout —what it looks like, how to recognize it, and what to do when you realize you're running on fumes. S...

Let’s talk about what happens after the glitter and tan fade. You know—that time between shows when the real work begins. Whether you call it an improvement season, build phase, or just “eating more and lifting heavy,” it’s where champions are made. In this week’s episode, Alice opens up about her shift from bikini to a more muscular division, the psychological rollercoaster of gaining weight inte...

Most of us didn't go vegan and instantly become nutrition wizards. Whether you went full “lentils and brown rice” or lived off potato chips and Oreos (no judgment), there are some common pitfalls that almost every new vegan stumbles into. In this episode, Sawyer and Giacomo break down the top 10 mistakes we’ve made ourselves—and that we see all the time in our clients. You’ll learn what to look ou...

After a bit of a break, Ben and Alice are back on the mic to catch up and get real about a topic that doesn’t get talked about enough: privilege in vegan bodybuilding . From post-competition recovery and rediscovering the joy of training, to promoting bodybuilding shows and launching businesses, there's a lot going on behind the scenes—and it's not lost on either of them that even having the optio...

Are you all in or all out when it comes to your fitness and nutrition? In this episode, Giacomo and Coach Ben unpack the sneaky ways black-and-white thinking shows up in routines, training plans, and even your meal prep. We’re talking perfectionism, fear of change, identity attachment, and why you might be too loyal to your oatmeal and tofu scramble. We explore how being a creature of habit can be...

In this episode, Dani and Giacomo sit down to unpack the striking similarities among some of the most well-known vegan doctors out there—think Greger, Esselstyn, Barnard, McDougall, and the like. While their personalities and branding might differ, there’s a surprising amount of overlap in their core messages. We’re talking about what they all agree on, where they diverge, and how this impacts eve...

In this special (and slightly jet-lagged) episode, Dani and Giacomo record straight from Brussels, Belgium—and no, the podcast name Muscles by Brussels wasn’t inspired by Jean-Claude Van Damme.  They reflect on their European travels through Amsterdam, Heidelberg, and now Brussels, sharing real talk on what it’s like to stay plant-based while abroad. They discuss the difference between travel for...