Stronger with Don Saladino

Don brings on three leaders in performance training and human movement: Derek Hansen, Veronica Zuccala, and Andrew Hauser. Together, they tackle a question that every coach and fitness enthusiast eventually faces: what does an ideal training system actually look like? The conversation explores sprinting, movement competency, general physical preparedness, skill acquisition, program design, and why...

Over the past decade, Eb Samuel has helped shape how millions of people think about strength training, muscle building, movement, and performance through his work as Fitness Director at Men's Health.  Don and Eb explore why the fitness industry continues to overcomplicate health and performance, why the fundamentals never go out of style, and how strength training principles evolve as we age. They...

On this episode of Stronger, Don speaks with legendary athletes Gabby Reece and Laird Hamilton about their recovery practices and the mindset required to continue growing and thriving through every stage of life. Gabby Reece is a former professional beach volleyball player, bestselling author, and host of the The Gabby Reece Show, while Laird Hamilton is widely regarded as one of the greatest big-...

Don sits down with longtime friend, coach, and fitness educator Kelsey Heenan, who shares her journey from developing an eating disorder in college to rebuilding a healthier relationship with food, fitness, and her body. She opens up about perfectionism, body image, consistency, and how her experiences shaped the way she now coaches thousands of people around the world. Don and Kelsey also discuss...

Host Don Saladino is joined by three of the most respected minds in the fitness industry: Luka Hocevar, Mike Boyle, and Alwyn Cosgrove. Together, they share decades of hard-earned lessons on coaching, leadership, business ownership, mentorship, and building a lasting career in fitness. The discussion covers everything from developing young coaches and managing staff to creating a winning culture,...

Don sits down with renowned coach, writer, and educator Andrew Coates for a conversation on what actually matters when it comes to fitness, health, and long-term success. Andrew shares lessons learned from decades of coaching, writing for major fitness publications like Men’s Health, and helping clients build sustainable habits. Together, he and Don break down the biggest misconceptions in strengt...

Don is joined by nutrition and wellness experts Abbey Sharp, Jaime Schehr-Robinson, and Jordan Syatt for an honest panel discussion about diet culture, fat loss, food freedom, and sustainable health habits. Together, they break down some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding nutrition, metabolism, weight loss, emotional eating, and “all-or-nothing” fitness mindsets. The conversation explores t...

Don sits down with nutritionist, wellness expert, and author Keri Glassman for a practical conversation about stress, sleep, hormones, nutrition, and building healthier daily habits. Keri shares her personal journey navigating chronic stress, burnout, perimenopause, and sleep challenges while balancing work, parenting, and wellness. Together, she and Don explore the importance of nervous system re...

Is it actually possible to prevent injuries, or is the real goal building enough strength, resilience, and capacity to better tolerate stress? Host Don Saladino is joined by an elite panel of performance experts: Jordan Shallow, Charlie Weingroff, and Jordan Jiunta. Together, they unpack one of the most misunderstood concepts in fitness and sports performance: injury prevention.  The episode cover...

Host Don Saladino sits down with psychiatrist and mental health expert Domenick ('Dom') Sportelli for a conversation on stress, motivation, dopamine, and the psychology of consistency. Dr. Sportelli breaks down why so many people struggle with burnout, distraction, and chronic stress, and how modern habits are rewiring the brain for quick dopamine hits instead of long-term resilience. Together, th...

Host Don Saladino is joined by chef and wellness expert Candice Kumai. Candice shares her journey from being the youngest female contestant on Top Chef to becoming a leading voice in the wellness industry. From the longevity secrets of Japanese culture to the discipline of professional cooking, this episode is a masterclass in resilience and finding beauty in the "golden repair" of our own lives....

Host Don Saladino is joined by the guys from the Mind Pump podcast (Sal DiStefano, Adam Schafer, and Justin Andrews). Moving beyond sets and reps, they explore the stuff behind the show: growth, identity, and the evolution of their professional and personal lives. They discuss why the "training to failure" mindset of their 20s was a mistake and how to leverage muscle memory to maintain a physique...

Strength coach and performance expert Pat Davidson joins Don for a deep dive into how the human body actually adapts to training. Pat challenges conventional fitness thinking, explaining why there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to strength, and why understanding your body’s structure, limitations, and compensations is key to making real progress. Together, they explore the relationship between mo...

Don sits down with guitarist Dave Kushner, best known for his work in Velvet Revolver alongside former Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland and members of Guns N' Roses, including Slash and Duff McKagan, and goes behind the scenes of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle to explore the physical demands of being a world-class musician. Don and Dave pivot from the stage to the gym, discussing how legendar...

Don welcomes a powerhouse panel of Hollywood’s elite stunt professionals, the athletes responsible for the most intense action you've seen on the big screen. Hayley Wright (Furiosa, Birds of Prey), George J. Cottle (Spider-Man, Black Panther), and Chris O'Hara (John Wick, Free Guy, Jurassic World) show Don the reality of "mitigating risk to create the illusion of danger," sharing stories from the...

Former NHL enforcer and Stanley Cup Champion, George Parros joins Don to share highlights of his incredible career path. From starting out on figure skates to playing Ivy League hockey at Princeton, and eventually winning the Stanley Cup with the legendary 2007 Anaheim Ducks. They dive deep into the specific role of the "enforcer," the mindset required to "answer the bell" every night, and how the...

Don is joined by physical therapist Dr. Charlie Weingroff. Charlie explains his core philosophy that training and rehab are the same thing. He challenges the traditional medical model, discusses why surgeons aren't always the best leaders for recovery, and explains why "X doesn't always mark the spot" when it comes to identifying pain on your body. From treating NFL Hall of Famers to helping the g...

Don brings together a "Nutrition Dream Team”, Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, Dr. Layne Norton, and Dr. Donald Layman, for a roundtable on the most vital (and trendy)  macronutrient: protein. This episode explores the new phenomenon of "Proteinification" - the surge of "high protein" labels appearing on everything from cereals to snacks. Is this a win for public health, or is it a marketing mask for ultra-pro...

What does it take to perform 4 to 6 brain surgeries a day? In this episode of Stronger, Don Saladino welcomes Dr. Ricardo Komotar, a world-renowned neurosurgeon based in Miami. Dr. Komotar breaks down the "grit and resilience" required for his profession and why he believes physical fitness is a non-negotiable requirement for cognitive excellence. The conversation explores brain health, the bigges...

Don sits down with one of the world's most renowned celebrity men’s groomers, Kristan Serafino. While she has prepped Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Ryan Reynolds, Kristan reveals that her work is less about vanity and more about a masterclass in confidence. Kristan shares the vulnerable story of her career pivot at age 30, leaving a secure six-figure corporate job to follow her passion. Fro...

Don is joined by three of the most influential minds in modern nutrition: Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, Dr. Layne Norton, and Dr. Donald Layman to debate the new groundbreaking (and often controversial) changes to the US Dietary Guidelines in a new "Expert Roundtable" format designed to give you credible information quickly.  Dr. Donald Layman, who helped write the current standards, explains the shift towa...

Get Stronger at negotiating with this new episode. Retired Federal Agent and interrogation expert Desmond O’Neill joins Don to discuss his 30-year career spanning the Secret Service and Homeland Security, sharing valuable tips on how to improve your own communication and negotiation skills. Desmond served as a lead instructor for the High Value Detainee Interrogation Group (HIG), a unit created to...

Former NFL quarterback and Florida State standout Christian Ponder joins Don to discuss his journey from the high-stakes world of Texas high school football to the Minnesota Vikings. Christian shares the lessons learned from the field and the challenges of identity after the game. The heart of this conversation focuses on the current state of youth sports. Christian and Don discuss the monetizatio...

Dr. Dwayne Jackson returns to the show to discuss gut health. While "microbiome" has become a wellness buzzword, Dr. Jackson explains why your gut is actually the command center for your immune system, brain health, and athletic performance. The conversation begins at the very beginning, exploring how our initial microbial colonization during birth (vaginal vs. C-section) and early-life antibiotic...

Don is joined by Dr. Brad Currier, a leading expert in muscle physiology and human performance with Timeline, for a science-backed conversation on why muscle may be the most important longevity organ in the body. They break down what the research really says about strength training, aging, and disease prevention, including why even minimal resistance training dramatically lowers the risk of mortal...