The Level Up Life: Muscle and Mindset Mastery

Guest: Jordan Eckman – Level Up Trainer & Podcast Editor In this episode, we’re joined by Jordan Eckman—trainer, podcast editor, and one of the sharpest minds behind the Level Up brand. Together, we break down one of the most overlooked but critical aspects of training: the "why" behind every movement. If you've ever copied a program off the internet or followed random workouts...

On this episode of The Level Up Life: Muscle and Mindset Mastery, we’re joined by Chris Cohen, the founder of SoberStrong Apparel; a brand that stands for more than sobriety. It’s about resilience, pride, and showing the world that your past doesn’t define your strength. Chris shares his raw journey through addiction and recovery, and how he transformed his pain into purpose, building a movement t...

In this powerful episode of The Level Up Life: Muscle and Mindset Mastery, host Adam Wittbrodt is joined by co-host Waz and special guest Jake Fink, a U.S. Army veteran whose battlefield experience now fuels his purpose at home. Jake shares what it was like navigating life-and-death decisions in Afghanistan, working alongside military K9s, and how those experiences shaped his views on leadership,...

In this episode of The Level Up Life: Muscle and Mindset Mastery, Adam sits down with three remarkable young guests—Cade Sanborn, Lola Smith, and Ryan Bettendorf—each of whom has faced major setbacks most adults would struggle with. But instead of backing down, they used fitness as fuel for their comebacks. Cade battled back after a broken wrist. Ryan rebuilt himself after a torn ACL. And Lola, bo...

In this inspiring episode of The Level Up Life: Muscle and Mindset Mastery, Adam and Waz sit down with Brandon Hillaker,  triathlete, psychology student, and founder of Tri for Hope,  to talk about the power of turning pain into purpose. Brandon opens up about his near decade-long battle with mental illness, recovery from a brain injury, and the journey that brought him from his lowest moments to...

In this powerful episode of The Level Up Life: Muscle and Mindset Mastery, Adam sits down with Chief Nicole Ford,  the Chief of Police in Midland, Michigan — to explore what true leadership looks like when life brings unimaginable pain. Chief Ford opens up about navigating personal tragedy, the weight of public service, and the importance of vulnerability in building stronger communities. From men...

In this episode of The Level Up Life: Muscle and Mindset Mastery, Adam and Waz sit down with Joel Hensel and Ashley Endline: a couple whose journey through addiction, recovery, and love is nothing short of powerful. Joel, now 8 years clean, has dedicated his career to prison diversion programs, helping people break the cycle before incarceration begins. Ashley brings 7.5 years of recovery experien...

In this powerful episode of The Level Up Life: Muscle and Mindset Mastery, Adam and Waz sit down with Dan James — a father, former MMA fighter, and coach who recently came home from prison. Dan opens up about the harsh realities of incarceration, the mental grind of reentry, and the daily battle to stay clean and focused. This is a raw, unfiltered look at what it takes to reclaim your life after h...

In this powerful episode of The Level Up Life: Muscle and Mindset Mastery, host Adam Wittbrodt sits down with Zach Brewer—a man whose story is equal parts grit, growth, and grace. Once caught in addiction, Zach is now a father, husband, and artist living a life of recovery and purpose. From tattooing to digital design, Zach has found healing through creativity, and he’s proving that redemption isn...

On this episode of The Level Up Life: Muscle & Mindset Mastery, host Adam Wittbrodt sits down with Genesee County Sheriff- and now Michigan gubernatorial candidate- Chris Swanson. Known for his boots-on-the-ground leadership and bold stance on justice reform, Sheriff Swanson shares his vision for a better Michigan. From the power of fitness to the importance of second chances, Adam and Chris d...

In this episode, Adam and co-host Dave Wazny sit down with Matt Smith, a veteran, former gym owner and trainer, and now a top real estate pro with Modern Realty. But titles only tell part of the story. Matt has always been about serving others, whether in the military, the gym, or the community. Adam reflects on how Matt played a key role in launching his own fitness journey. Together, they dive i...

In this powerful episode of The Level Up Life: Muscle & Mindset Mastery, Adam sits down with Dallas Rau for a no-fluff conversation about what it truly means to live in your truth. From recovery from injury to resilience through rehabilitation. Dallas opens up about her journey as a leader—and flips the mic to highlight Adam’s own vulnerability and leadership. They dive deep into why authentic...

In this powerful episode of The Level Up Life: Muscle and Mindset Mastery, Adam and co-host Dave Wazny sit down with Terri Cosgrove and Jolynn Lippie—two incredible women who’ve faced heartbreaking loss and found healing through fitness. From the pain of losing loved ones to the daily fight to move forward, this conversation explores how grief changes us, and how movement became a lifeline. This o...

In this episode of Level Up Life: Muscle and mindset mastery, Adam and Waz sit down with Buddy Yancer—a man who went from court-ordered recovery to contractor of second chances. After battling addiction and navigating the recovery court system, Buddy didn’t just rebuild his life—he started building others’. Buddy now runs a construction business with a higher purpose: putting people over profit. H...

In this Level Up Life: Muscle and Mindset Mastery episode, we sit down with Pat Patterson, Executive Director of the Blue Water Recovery Outreach Center. Pat opens up about his descent from a thriving career in finance to the depths of heroin addiction and homelessness. He shares the raw truth about battling prescription opioids, the stigma of addiction, and the power of recovery. Today, he leads...

In this powerful episode of Level Up Life: Muscle and Mindset Mastery, I sit down with Dave Wazny—a man whose journey is all about turning adversity into purpose. We dive deep into Dave’s transformation story, the role mindset plays in overcoming life’s hardest hits, and how fitness became his anchor in the storm. Whether you're battling your own setbacks or looking for inspiration to level u...

In this first episode of Level Up Life: Muscle and Mindset Mastery, I’m pulling back the curtain and giving you the unfiltered truth. This is my story—how I went from a life of addiction, arrests, and rock bottom moments to building a business, a brand, and a mindset that refuses to quit. I talk about the pain, the prison time, the people I lost, and the inner battles most never see. This isn’t so...

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Level Up Life: Muscle and Mindset Mastery, we sit down with Jimmy Greene as he shares his courageous journey through prostate cancer. From diagnosis to treatment and beyond, Jimmy opens up about the physical and emotional toll—and the resilient mindset that carried him through the darkest days. This episode is a testament to strength, perseverance, a...