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 didn’t just touch on macros or training programs — we dug into the internal patterns that shape everything.

Because your mindset is the program.

And if you’re constantly stuck in all-or-nothing thinking, guilt spirals, or identity labels like “I’m broken” or “I always screw this up”... it doesn’t matter what plan you follow. You’ll sabotage it.

This is about how to stop doing that — with more compassion, better tools, and way less shame.

We get into:

• Why mindset is the missing link in sustainable fat loss
• How emotional eating can be healthy when it’s structured (donuts included)
• The “pause” — what it is, and how it builds self-trust fast
• Identity work: how to stop calling yourself broken and start building someone new
• The link between emotional maturity and long-term success
• Strength training as therapy — and what it teaches you about discomfort
• How to stop moralizing food and start using it for fuel and joy
• What most diets miss about real-life consistency
• Why 80% effort wins over 100% pressure
• What to do when the old version of you won’t let go

This episode will be MASSIVELY helpful for anyone stuck in a mental loop of “why can’t I just get it together?”
​It’s not about working harder — it’s about thinking differently.

Find Anna on Instagram: @commonsense.health

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 decade, both as an athlete and a coach.

Today, he trains athletes who are crushing international meets.

Kurtis and I take a deeper, practical look at powerlifting principles — not just for competitors, but for the everyday lifter who wants strength that supports their life, their body, and their longevity.

We get into:

• Why powerlifting is a mindset, not just a sport
• How a strong squat looks different from a “textbook” squat
• The right way (and wrong way) to use a weight belt
• Strength training vs. bodybuilding — and why they feel so different
• Progressive overload and why it still works
• How to build strength without obsessing over your 1RM
• Training principles that make workouts feel easier over time
• The importance of sleep and recovery for strength gains
• Specific cues for improving bench, squat, and deadlift
• Core strength tips to protect your back
• My recent competition recap — what I’d do differently

This episode is great if you care about getting stronger for real life — whether you train for performance, health, or just to feel powerful in your body.

Find more from Kurtis on Instagram:​
​@kurtis.t

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 actually trying to change their lives.

We get into the real stuff:
Why resolutions fail, how identity shapes consistency, and what shame-free reflection actually looks like.

It’s also the kickoff to my Real Resolution Challenge — built to help you follow through without burning out.

We get into:

• Why your identity shapes your consistency (more than motivation ever could)
• The problem with vague goals
• How “failure” is actually just information
• Tangible takeaways from 15 expert guests this year
• Details on the Real Resolution Transformation Challenge (with over $1,500 in prizes)