Strong Ambition Podcast

Jim Logan was 59 years old, extremely fit, and had no symptoms when he was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic colorectal cancer. The doctors gave him six months to two years. He spent the first six months preparing to die. Closed his bank accounts. Shut down his home inspection business of 30 years. Got his family ready. Then treatment started shrinking his tumors. Surgery became possible. And Jim...

100 days ago, I started a challenge. Every single day, I ate some form of  fun food while trying to lose body fat. Cookies. Chocolate bars. Pizza. Burgers. Ice cream. Crispers. And yes... even more cookies. Now the challenge is over. In this episode, I review my final  body weight, body fat percentage, DEXA scan results,  and we assess how my training impacted my results. I also break down some of...

Rachael Schwartz coaches women through fat loss without making any of them track calories. None  of them. Not her 1:1 clients. Not her group coaching (which sometimes runs 300 people deep). That probably sounds like the opposite of what I usually say. Because it is. I think calorie tracking is one of the best tools out there for fat loss. Rachael disagrees because she believes tracking creates pro...

Jeffry Hannah weighed 315 lbs when he graduated high school. Then he spent the next nine years trying to lose it. He tried keto. Carnivore. Paleo. He even tried what he calls the "hospital food diet" — canned everything. Some of the diets worked for a bit, but nothing stuck because nothing felt like a sustainable lifestyle. And while he was trying to fix his body, Jeff felt like his mind...

This was one of the most fun debates I've had. Mike Collins doesn't believe calorie deficits exist. Not "are hard to sustain." Don't exist. As in, the framework itself is wrong. That's where we ended up about 20 minutes into this episode, and  it turned into of the more interesting debates I've had on the show. Mike runs SugarDetox.com. He's worked with around 60,000 people. And his whole approach...

Do you ever wonder why or how you developed your emotional eating habits? Do you think about how you’d want to raise your kids so they don’t struggle with the same issues? That’s exactly what Megan and I discussed this week. Megan has been on the show before (Episode 127), and we realized we needed to go deeper into emotional eating and how it’s impacted both of our lives. We didn’t even get to ev...

I’m 42 days into eating “fun food” every day… and still losing weight. Which sounds simple when you say it like that. It’s not. This episode is basically me walking through what’s actually making it work this time — because I’ve done versions of this before where it  didn’t  work. And the difference isn’t motivation. It’s the details. Here are my 6 biggest lessons so far: 1. “I overeat” isn’t spec...

We broke down the most overrated and underrated exercises for boxing—and ranked them from S tier to F tier. Because the reality is… most boxers are strength training completely wrong. Not based on trends. Not based on what looks cool. Based on what actually carries over into the ring. We talk about: • What exercises actually build punching power • What most fighters are wasting time on • Why stren...

If you've been avoiding going to the gym, it's probably not because you're lazy. Most people don’t avoid the gym because they’re lazy. They avoid it because they feel like they don’t belong there. That was Amy. She didn't have a sports background. Didn't like showing up to the gym. Tried all the diets. Fell off. Started over. Same loop. Now she coaches women (a lot of moms) who...

You don’t need to suffer to lose fat. I know that’s controversial. Because most people think if it doesn’t feel miserable, it’s not working. But allow me to prove that those people are wrong. In this solo episode, I’m doing something a little different. I’m committing to  100 days of eating some form of “fun food” every single day  while still losing fat. Oreos. Pizza. Burgers. Candy. Whatever fit...

The USDA updated its food pyramid — and most people missed what actually matters. So before you panic about carbs or seed oils... read this. The USDA increased protein recommendations.  That’s a good thing. The saturated fat guidance stayed about the same. Whole foods are still prioritized over processed ones. Fruits and vegetables are still a must. But what most people missed is this: The average...

If your mindset runs the show… this episode hands you the remote. This is for anyone who's ever thought, "I know what to do — so why can't I do it?" This sit-down with Anna Murphey is  one of the best conversations I’ve had about mindset  — not just around food or fitness, but the deeper stuff: How you think, how you react, and how you talk to yourself when things go sideways. We...

This is a really common misunderstanding people have about powerlifting: They think it's all about "maxing out" and chasing medals. But the best powerlifters I know train to be better in  life  — not just for meets. In this  in-person episode of  Whiskey and Barbells , I sat down with my own coach, Kurtis Tallaire — a national-level powerlifter  who's been in the game for over a...

This episode is for anyone who’s made the same resolution five years in a row. Most “year-in-review” episodes are a highlight reel. This one isn’t. I recorded this episode with no voice, no sleep, low energy — but full honesty. Instead of shouting out guest names or surface-level takeaways, I focused on  the patterns that kept repeating across coaches, therapists, athletes, and everyday people  ac...

Kevin Driscoll spent years gaining and losing the same 40 pounds. ​ Hard training. Hard partying. Restriction. Bingeing. Repeat. But it wasn’t because of a lack of discipline —  it was a lack of identity. In this episode, Kevin and I unpack how he finally stepped off the dieting roller coaster and into what he calls  The Goldilocks Zone  — that sweet, sustainable middle ground where  fitness suppo...

Megan Grimord grew up in a house where dieting was the norm and food was loaded with shame. ​ By 14, she was stuck in a cycle of restriction, bingeing, and purging — a pattern that followed her into adulthood. But now she finds herself, after having her first child,  in the best shape of her life. In this episode, Megan and I talk about what it takes to heal your relationship with food — especiall...

Nancy Griffin spent decades helping women build wealth — not just in dollars, but in confidence, literacy, and legacy. She founded  Women Worth and Wellness  in 1994, running financial seminars at golf courses, partnering with hospitals, and helping women understand how their net worth and self-worth are deeply connected. But over the years, she realized that  wealth without well-being  wasn’t eno...

Becky Kiado gained 80 lbs during her first pregnancy — and spent years trying every diet, challenge, and “clean eating” rule out there. Eventually, her body couldn’t keep up. She was sore all the time, exhausted, and constantly hungry. So she did something different: she stopped listening to the noise and learned the science. Now, she helps women over 40 lose fat and build muscle — without starvin...

Cameron Sparks lost 60 pounds by the time he was 14 — from 220 to 150. Most people would call that a success. But he didn't feel successful. Or stronger. Or more confident. In this episode, Cameron and I unpack what happens after the weight loss — especially when it happens young, and without strength training, support, or a deeper sense of "why." He shares how his body changed, his...

Most people think willpower is like a superpower — you're either born with it, or not. But that exact thinking might be exactly what keeps you from doing big, exciting things. Will treats willpower like a muscle. One that's built through repetitions like breakups, long runs, awkward conversations, and the guts to record your first podcast episode when your voice is shaking. William Mulvane...

If you think you need to gas yourself out to get good cardio, great news... It's easier than you think You don't need to feel wrecked after a workout. And you don't need to be an athlete to train like one. That's what Patrick—former sales guy turned trainer—figured out after years of pushing hard, getting nowhere, and realizing "no pain no gain" wasn't really the goal...

If you’ve ever stared at your phone, felt your neck crack, and wondered why you feel 87 at 38 — this one’s for you. Especially if you're trying to make sense of inflammation, aging, or why your gut seems to hate you lately. Dr. Kavin Mistry isn’t your typical neuroradiologist. (A neuroradiologist is like a detective for your brain and spine. But instead of using a magnifying glass, they use ma...

This episode is for anyone who's ever looked at their life and thought, Is this really it? (Especially if you’re a woman navigating midlife, menopause, chronic pain, or the rage of being dismissed by your doctor). Joanne Peters spent decades in a high-pressure corporate job before it broke her down. When the depression hit and her joints gave out, she didn't get answers — she got brushed off. Thro...

This episode was built straight from your DMs and poll replies — I asked what bugs you most in the gym or on social media, and you did not hold back. From people hogging machines and not re-racking their weights, to influencers pushing overpriced supplements and fear-based diets, I unpack the most common topics that came up — and give you my honest take on all of it. I also open up about what’s be...

Back in the studio with one of my favorite returning guests—Rich Girardin, an Athletic Therapist with a no-nonsense approach to rehab and performance. You might remember Rich from Episode 71 (our Whiskey & Barbells night) and Episode 78 (his deep dive into injury recovery). This time, we sit down in person to go even deeper into the real-world application of therapy, mobility, and movement — w...