On this episode of the Strong New York Podcast, host Kenny Santucci sits down with Steve White—founder of Brae 100, HomeTeams, and The Pacific Clinic—to share a story of resilience that redefines what recovery can look like.

After years of football-related head trauma, Steve faced severe neurological decline, including seizures, cognitive loss, lupus, and APS. Told his condition would only worsen, everything changed when a mentor challenged him to “fight”—sparking a shift from passive treatment to radical personal responsibility.

At 64, Steve began training for extreme physical goals while rebuilding his brain and body through unconventional methods: cold-water exposure, high-intensity exercise paired with cognitive “brain hits,” grounding, disciplined sleep, nutrition, and daily gratitude.

In this conversation, he breaks down the mindset that fueled his recovery—belief, finishing what you start, and showing up for others—and how those principles connect directly to healing and neuroplasticity.

Steve also shares how he rebuilt his life and mission, acquiring and expanding a major health facility and launching HomeTeams, an app designed to simplify caregiving—organizing support networks, reducing costs, tracking appointments, and delivering personalized care at home.

This episode is a powerful reminder that limits aren’t always what they seem—and that transformation is possible at any stage of life.

00:00 Bootstraps And Hope

01:06 Podcast Intro Steve White

01:50 First Knockout At 17

03:08 Basketball To Football Pivot

05:00 UNLV And Playing Both

05:55 Symptoms And Decline

07:23 Sprinkler Head Concussion

08:55 Emotional Fallout And Lupus

10:43 Belief Over Magic Pills

14:20 Misogi And Four Rules

17:10 Finish What You Start

21:29 Caring And Neuroplasticity

23:51 Cynicism Blocks Change

25:43 All In At 212

26:06 Wim Hof And Manifestation

27:21 Cold Water Reset

29:15 Brain Hits Training

31:44 No Passive Fixes

33:02 Grounding Gratitude Basics

36:13 Movement Sleep Rhythm

37:55 Clinic Mission Access

39:34 Building Pacific Campus

43:26 Health Is Team Sport

47:00 Home Teams Platform

50:13 AI Companion Care

52:19 Where To Find Steve

This week, Kenny Santucci sits down with NYC based strength and conditioning coach, Dr. Pat Davidson for a candid conversation about his transformation from a “soft 235” to bodybuilding shape through renewed training, nutrition, and eventually PED use. They break down performance-enhancing drugs, SARMs, bloodwork, testosterone, and the importance of coaching—while also addressing the real health risks tied to lifestyle, cardiovascular health, and misuse.

The episode also covers supplements that actually matter, genetics, training fundamentals, fasting, mental health, and Dr. Pat’s pursuit of his bodybuilding pro card. A raw, honest discussion on fitness, performance, and longevity.

00:00 Welcome and Intro

00:38 Pat’s Fitness Journey

03:04 COVID Cut and Bodybuilding

04:42 Arnold Expo Reality Check

05:44 First Cycle Basics

09:18 SARMs Explained Simply

11:20 Finding Real Guidance

13:31 Health Risks Beyond Gear

19:42 Longevity and Purpose

26:48 Muscle Building Fundamentals

36:03 Genetics of Aesthetics

38:49 Appreciation vs Attraction

40:49 Gay Spectrum Debate

41:40 Bumstead Movement Shift

43:37 Hair Loss Steroids Link

44:47 Supplements That Matter

46:49 Nicotine Appetite Control

47:42 GLP Drugs Hunger Genetics

50:11 Coaches Worth Following

51:56 Fitness Culture Boom

54:32 Trust Built In Training

57:11 Training Through Dark Times

01:01:08 Mood Cycles And Expectations

01:02:58 Fasting Myths And Tools

01:04:31 Steroid Stack Breakdown

01:07:49 Drugs Shape Culture

01:09:33 Wrap Up And Where To Find

01:10:49 Upcoming Shows And Goals

01:11:37 Favorite Gyms Road Trip

01:15:26 Final Thanks And Sign Off

This week, Kenny Santui sits down with former MLB pitcher Noah Syndergaard—better known as “Thor”—for a candid conversation on the Strong New York podcast. From his early days as a quiet kid in Texas to becoming a breakout star with the New York Mets, Syndergaard reflects on his journey through the majors, including being drafted by the Blue Jays in 2010, his pivotal trade in the R.A. Dickey deal, and his highly anticipated rookie debut in 2015.

He opens up about life in New York City, the mindset behind maintaining peak physical performance, and what it really takes to throw 98 mph at the highest level. The conversation also dives into the realities of media scrutiny, the pressure athletes face in the public eye, and the physical and mental toll of his 2020 Tommy John surgery—followed by a grueling rehab during the COVID era.

Syndergaard shares insight into his return to the mound with the Angels in 2022, the challenges of regaining elite velocity, and how his approach to health has evolved through clean eating, biohacking, and even stem cell treatments.

This week on the Strong New York Podcast, Kenny sits down with Ashley Madsen, a double board-certified clinician and expert in functional medicine, longevity, and performance optimization. Trained at Stanford, the Institute for Functional Medicine, and the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine, Ashley specializes in helping people extend their healthspan through personalized, science-backed care.

They unpack peptides and GLP-1s—what works, what’s risky, and why personalization and proper sourcing matter—along with the importance of addressing foundational health first. The conversation also explores obesity, long-term GLP-1 use, and the balance between lifespan and healthspan.

Ashley also shares her integrative approach to sexual wellness, breaking down libido, hormones, and cardiovascular health as key drivers of overall vitality.

This week on the Strong New York Podcast, host Kenny Santucci interviews David Watumull, co-founder and CEO of AX3 Life, a longevity company focused on helping people perform at their best for longer. Dave explains the science behind inflammaging — chronic inflammation linked to aging — and how AX3’s bio-pure astaxanthin is designed to address it at the source.

Kenny and Dave discuss why astaxanthin is emerging as a foundational daily nutrient for longevity, supporting cognition, heart health, endurance, recovery, and skin and eye health. Dave also breaks down how it works in the body, the growth of research in this space, and clinical findings related to oxidative stress and LDL.

They also explore the history of astaxanthin, the challenges of building awareness in the longevity category, and practical details including dosing, packaging, and pricing. A thoughtful conversation on performance, recovery, and the future of longevity science.

00:00 Podcast intro and guest

00:25 First look at astaxanthin

00:52 How to take it and feel it

01:21 Why the pouch packaging

02:16 Cellular benefits explained

04:00 Research and safety proof

05:45 Origin story and setbacks

08:10 Marketing and investor hurdles

10:51 Elevator pitch and daily stack

13:30 Where it comes from and extraction

16:41 Awareness and education challenge

19:24 Growth channels and target users

24:03 Advocates and NIH lifespan study

27:23 Where the brand goes next

27:48 Astaxanthin with Omega-3s

28:53 LDL and Heart Risk

31:03 Inflammation and hsCRP

32:00 Origin Story and Mission

35:55 Dosing and Expectations

37:28 Cost and Value Debate

39:34 Bioavailability Comparison

40:35 Vision for Mass Adoption

42:02 Workout Routine and Community

46:05 Skin and Exercise Benefits

48:26 NAD and Mitochondria

50:11 How to Take It Daily

51:09 Travel and Fitness in Hawaii

53:32 Wrap Up and Where to Buy

This week on the Strong New York Podcast, Kenny Santucci is joined by comedian, impressionist, actress, and media host Andrea Lopez. Andrea gained national recognition as a semi-finalist on NBC’s Bring The Funny and has built a following of over 700K fans, with her viral Kourtney Kardashian TikTok surpassing 15 million views. She also co-hosts the Big Wigs Podcast.

Kenny and Andrea discuss why more comedians are turning to fitness to manage anxiety, depression, and the mental grind of stand-up, as well as the importance of real community and connection in a post-pandemic world. Andrea also shares how her multicultural background and social media presence helped shape her career, her evolving goals from SNL to writing and producing, and what it takes to navigate internet fame.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:28 Comedians and Fitness

01:52 Nicole and Community

04:55 Pandemic Connection

06:29 Roots and Culture

10:17 Comedy Dark Side

13:00 Fitness Journey and Cities

14:34 Mexican Food Debate

16:50 Impressions Origin Story

20:22 Career Goals and Writing

24:25 Comedian Rankings Game

29:31 Conspiracies and Comedy

32:11 Social Media Hustle

33:48 Legos to Content

34:29 Vulnerability Sells

35:30 Viral Fitness Absurdity

37:21 Comedy Grind Stories

40:34 Political Correctness

45:00 Offense and DMs

46:23 Skipping the Super Bowl

48:17 NYC Restaurants Rant

50:15 Where Else to Live

55:38 Sunshine vs Winter

56:44 Impressions Showcase

01:01:24 Names and Identity

01:04:42 Italian Identity Wrap

This week on the Strong New York Podcast, host Kenny Santucci is joined by Daria Berenato — actress, former WWE Champion, MMA fighter, and media host. After a groundbreaking WWE career that included championship success and leadership roles as Raw and SmackDown General Manager, Daria returned to wrestling television with TNA Wrestling on AMC as authority figure The S.U.I.T., Daria Rae. She also serves as an executive partner and commentator with Invicta FC and co-hosts the podcast Unwrapped.

Kenny and Daria discuss her journey from a competitive multi-sport athlete in South Jersey to discovering MMA, training at a time when women’s combat sports were far less mainstream, and her experience on Tough Enough, which led to her signing with WWE despite early elimination. She shares lessons learned from other talents in the industry, reflects on leaving WWE after 10 years to pursue acting and producing, and opens up about embracing her sexuality and the support she’s received from the LGBTQ+ community.

00:00 Women in Combat Sports

00:53 Podcast Intro and Guest

01:23 Daria Name Origins

02:36 South Jersey Roots

03:31 Wild Gyms and Money Talk

05:04 Philly Food and Cheesesteaks

06:10 Jersey Shore Life and Real Estate

10:07 From Team Sports to Fighting

11:01 Inspired by Gina Carano

12:41 First MMA Gym Initiation

14:35 Proving Herself in Tournament

16:07 Wrestling Roots

16:48 Women Rising

18:39 Jiu Jitsu Proof

19:23 Divas Revolution

20:39 Tough Enough

22:10 Money Reality

24:17 Raw Debut

25:33 Backstage Mentors

27:31 Character Evolution

28:55 WWE To TNA

30:41 Coming Out Story

34:48 Fans And Kids

36:24 Pump Session Wrap

On this episode of the Strong New York Podcast, Kenny Santucci sits down with NYC-based health coach Hunter Stoler (@healthwithhunter) to unpack why so many people struggle with fitness—often falling into the trap of extremes instead of committing to small, sustainable habits.

Hunter opens up about his personal turning point after reaching 227 lbs in college, and the Thanksgiving moment that pushed him to make a lasting change. By mastering the fundamentals—like maintaining a calorie deficit, improving nutrition, and staying consistent—he transformed not just his body, but his energy levels and even healed years of cystic acne.

The conversation dives into the importance of patience, accountability, and the role of group fitness, as well as the reality that nutrition fuels fat loss while exercise supports mindset. Hunter also shares practical, no-BS strategies you can implement immediately—from prioritizing protein, fiber, and healthy fats to hitting daily step goals and incorporating resistance training. Plus, he drops some of his favorite healthy NYC food spots and go-to grocery staples.

If you’re ready to move past the all-or-nothing mindset and build habits that actually stick, this episode is for you.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:11 Why People Fail at Health

03:25 Sustainable Training Mindset

05:14 Hunter’s Turning Point

07:26 Motivation and Discomfort

09:01 Weight Watchers and Food Swaps

10:13 Acne and Lifestyle Fixes

11:45 Support Systems and Your Circle

13:10 Breaking Vices Diet Soda

16:55 Fruit Sugar and Cravings

18:21 Kenny’s Weight Loss Story

22:12 Family Transformation and Exercise

23:34 Gym Mindset Shift

24:06 Accountability Beats Excuses

26:12 Early Mornings No Excuse

27:31 Three Tips For Plateaus

30:32 Healthy NYC Food Spots

33:58 Best Bars And Electrolytes

36:55 Alcohol And The 80 20 Rule

38:49 Dexa Scan Body Recomp

41:05 Self Advocacy And Ownership

42:57 Treat Your Body Like Gold

44:50 Wrap Up And Where To Follow