The Better Basics Podcast

Hot Topic: The New American Food Guidelines & Pyramid Worth It? Infinity Medium Main Course: Most fitness content trains you to treat your body like a decoration — something to judge, fix, and constantly “improve” in the mirror. In this episode, we flip that narrative and ask a better question:  what can my body do?  We break down why looks-first goals make fitness fragile (and why they’re so...

Hot Topic: Does eating bananas increase estrogen (especially in men)? Worth It? At-Home Blood Pressure Monitor Main Course: We talk about sleep, training, nutrition, discipline, and habits all the time—but that doesn’t mean we’ve mastered them. In this episode, we get real about the things we preach and still struggle with, why “knowing” doesn’t always turn into “doing,” and what we’re actually do...

Hot Topic: Is running as effective as antidepressant medication? Worth It? Bucked Up Protein Soda (Live Review!) Main Course: Most New Year’s resolutions fail because people try to change everything at once—and burn out by February. In this episode, we introduce the 4-Quarter Health Reset, a simple, evidence-based framework that replaces “new year, new you” with one habit, one quarter, and one cle...

Hot Topic: Will gyms in airports will finally Make America Healthy Again? Worth It? Top Picks from 100 Episodes Main Course: Episode 100 felt like the right time to zoom out. In this episode, we look back on what actually held up after 100 conversations about health, fitness, and real life—and what didn’t. We talk about the fundamentals that keep working, the advice we’ve repeated for a reason, th...

Hot Topic: The biggest fiber study EVER Worth It? Protein Pop-tarts Main Course: In this episode, Matt and Dylan break down 10 surprisingly effective health and fitness tips that move the needle far more than people expect. These aren’t hacks or gimmicks — they’re simple behaviors most people overlook while chasing complex solutions. Instead of following the fads or looking for the next best thing...

Hot Topic: Write a letter to yourself for better health and fitness Worth It? Raw Dogging (LOL) Main Course: Most people don’t fail in fitness because they lack information - they fail because of the intention-action gap, the psychological and environmental disconnect between what we plan to do and what we actually follow through on. In this episode, we unpack why knowing isn’t the problem: fricti...

Hot Topic: Should we tax unhealthy food? Worth It? Supergut Foundational Daily Fiber Main Course: This week we’re breaking down  hygge   - the Danish idea of coziness, calm, connection, and leaning into winter instead of fighting it. Denmark consistently ranks among the happiest countries in the world, and while hygge isn’t the whole story, it captures a powerful cultural approach to handling long...

Hot Topic: Body builder physiques shouldn’t be the ideal Worth It? LMNT (Electrolytes Revisited) Main Course: The Power of Gratitude & The Things We’re Thankful For Not another bro talking about gratitude. Please. We get it. But in the spirit of the season, we felt it appropriate to talk about it. We’re confident that our Better Basics take will offer a great way to approach gratitude. Because...

Hot Topic: Loneliness, Social Isolation, and Cardiovascular Health Worth It? Fairlife (Skim) Milk Main Course: This week we break down why chronic stress may be the most overlooked factor in aging — even more powerful than diet, exercise, or sleep. We cover how stress accelerates biological aging, why social connection and purpose matter so much, and four practical rules for lowering stress in you...

Worth It? ZBiotics Main Course: Getting this thing right is more important than ANYTHING else for building muscle consistently and sustainably. Progressive overload — it’s the backbone of any successful training program, but most people either overcomplicate it or misunderstand it completely. In this episode, we break down what progressive overload actually means (“doing more over time”), why it’s...

Hot Topic: Protein powders contain dangerous amounts of lead? Worth It? Daylight Savings Time Main Course: Too often the fitness world sells two fake extremes: guys grunting through ego lifts and women doing pink-dumbbell toning workouts. But do men and women actually need to train differently — or is it just a marketing trick? In this episode, Matt and Dylan break down the real physiological diff...

Hot Topic: Let Your Kids Eat The Candy? Worth It? ChatGPT  What Say You About [Edition Eight]: The eighth episode of the series! Matt and Dylan have a fun discussion off the cuff on a variety of health and fitness topics, including: protein coffee, the best exercises besides pressing for chest development, the best lower body unilateral exercises to compliment the squat, and bougie pizza. Q&A:...

Hot Topic: Harry Potter on HBO is Causing a Stir Worth It? Glass Containers Main Course: There’s a lot of BS out there targeted at men — usually tied to insecurity, ego, or just bad marketing. From “low T” ads to fake alpha-guru workouts, guys are getting fed a steady diet of misinformation that keeps them spinning their wheels. This week, Matt and Dylan break down seven of the biggest fitness lie...

Hot Topic: Prioritize Maintenance When Things Get Busy Worth It? iPhone 17 Main Course: Most people can lose weight, but few can keep it off. In this episode, Matt and Dylan break down the science and strategy behind building a body you love and maintaining it for life. From strength training and nutrition to recovery and mindset, this episode focuses on what actually works long-term. This episode...

Hot Topic: UK Policing Soda Consumption Worth It? Vitamin D Supplementation in the Dark Months Main Course: When the days get shorter and your motivation starts to fade, it’s not weakness — it’s biology. In this episode, Matt and Dylan break down how to  optimize your training, nutrition, and mindset for the darker months. They cover why your body naturally slows down in winter (and how to work wi...

Hot Topic: Are ultraprocessed foods really that bad for you? Worth It? Reorganizing Workouts Main Course: Every podcast has sponsors — but not every sponsor deserves your trust. In this episode, we plant our flag and share the list of products we will  never  advertise. From overpriced greens powders to sketchy detox teas, from MLM scams to “fat burners” that burn more REM sleep than fat — we’re c...

Hot Topic: Is gluten sensitivity all in your head? Worth It? Quest Protein Chips Main Course: Most people think plyometrics are only for athletes doing 40-inch box jumps on Instagram. In reality, they’re one of the most important tools for staying athletic, powerful, and injury-resistant at every age. In this episode, Matt and Dylan break down: Why explosive training isn’t just about sports—it’s a...

Hot Topic: Resistance Training & Sleep in Older Women Worth It? Warming Up Main Course: We’ve become hooked on a new drug: social media. It’s powerful, addicting, and designed to pull us away from real life. In this episode, we unpack how social media drains our time, distorts reality, fuels division, and chips away at our mental health—and what you can do to take back control. What We Cover T...

Hot Topic: Is butter a heart healthy food? Worth It? Cauliflower Rice Main Course: In this episode, Matt and Dylan dive into why our culture often celebrates the wrong markers of success in fitness, health, and life — and how to reframe what truly deserves recognition. From hustle culture’s obsession with 4 a.m. wakeups and “no days off,” to the social media glorification of extreme transformation...

Hot Topic: Creatine is for women too Worth It? Supersets Main Course: Ever wonder why your workouts leave you sore in all the wrong places or why your lifts just aren’t progressing? In this episode, we break down the science (and common sense) of exercise order. From why heavy compound lifts should come before ab rollouts to how to structure your accessories and finishers, we’ll give you a simple...

Hot Topic: Would you rather be strong or rich? Worth It? Hanging Main Course: Everyone wants the perfect workout plan, the best diet, or the latest hack—but none of it matters if you can’t stay consistent. In this episode of  The Better Basics Podcast , we break down why consistency is the single most important factor in fitness (yep, even more important than motivation or intensity) and share 10...

Hot Topic: Pro Golfer's Creatine "Overdose" Worth It? The Way (Meditation Apps) Main Course: When it comes to fitness, most of us wrestle with the same question:  Am I doing too little… or way too much? In this episode, we explore the Goldilocks Zone of Training - that sweet spot where your workouts are  not too hot, not too cold, but just right. We’ll break down: What happens when y...

Hot Topic: 10 minutes of daily exercise for better sleep and mood Worth It? Eye Mask Main Course: It's so easy to be wrong about so much in the world of health and fitness. Especially, when you find a tribe and aren't willing to challenge the things they believe. Unfortunately, incorrect certainty is the state of play in the health and fitness industry. It's often quite compelling and...

Hot Topic: Does a new study reveal that incline walking burns MORE fat than running? Worth It? Coca-Cola with Cane Sugar Main Course: Prioritizing health and fitness is a challenge for most people. And there are so many things that can get in the way of getting started and staying consistent. Ultimately, there are 3 big lies that we all tell ourselves that if addressed, can open the door to a life...

Hot Topic: Live Music Might Make You Healthier Worth It? Fiber Maxxing Main Course: If your workouts have been stuck in a rut, this episode is your friendly shove out of the machine circuit comfort zone. Today, we’re diving into 10 underrated exercises that we  rarely  see in commercial gyms but absolutely  should  be in more programs. These are moves that build real strength and muscle, improve m...