Smarter Strength w/ Dr. David Skolnik, DPT

Dr. Kyle Gillett - Concerning Health Trends & Full Spectrum Medicine

Our guest this week is Dr. Kyle Gillett.In today’s conversation, Dr. Gillett and I talk about the concerning health trends he sees in men and women between the ages of 25 and 45 as well as the health trends that those over 50 should be aware of. We talk about the continuum of diet, exercise and pharmaceutical interventions in addressing obesity and the many downstream risk factors associated with excessively high body fat percentages. We also go deep on the topic on infertility - why rates are climbing and what we can do about it.You can LEARN MORE about Dr. Gillett's work & his new venture, GilletHealth - HEREOur Partner Today is Stronger In Motion - Whether it's 1:1 Strength Coaching, Nutrition Consultation or our new Enduring Strength Program - we can take take the guess work out of training and nutrition and guide you towards the STRONGEST version of yourself!Connect with Dr. Gillett - @kylegillettmdConnect with David - @dr.davidskolnik.dptConnect with the Show - @essential.strength.podcastAction PlanMy biggest takeaway - the the inspiration for your ACTION PLAN this week is this: while there are trends towards higher rates of certain diseases right now, especially metabolic conditions and declining fertility rates - there is also SO MUCH WE CAN DO ABOUT IT! Lifestyle changes, pharmaceutical support, dietary interventions… there is almost no problem that we cannot solve with the right team around us and the necessary tests to identify our personal risk factors.So, your action plan this week is simply to go check out Marek Health - learn more about what they do and also, if you haven’t seen a doctor in 5 years - make a freakin appointment! If you feel amazing - GREAT - go get some labs done and figure out what your internal environment looks like when you feel awesome - that way in the future you and your medical team will know what to do in the inevitable event that one day you don’t feel so awesome whether because of age, environment, stress or illness. Be an active agent of your own health!That’s it for this week. Until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Frank Benedetto - How to Avoid Burnout & Design a Life You Love

Our guest this week is Frank Benedetto.On today’s episode, Frank and I talk about why so many healthcare professionals are finding themselves burned out but scared to leave their jobs, when and how to find your niche as a practitioner and I ask Frank if it is ever too early or too late to start a side hustle. Frank is also gracious enough to offer two free tools to help everyone listening design a life they will love and to help them discover their niche - both resources typically reserved for members of The Honey Badger Project - so be sure to check today’s show notes for links!Check Out Pain Free Performance - our partner on today's show is THE BEST educational resource for trainers, coaches and allied health professionals looking to advance their skills and ensure their clients will train PAIN FREE while improving their performance!!! USE THE CODE "ESSENTIAL"  AT CHECKOUT FOR 15% OFF !!Download the Life Design WorksheetDownload the Find My Niche WorksheetConnect with Frank - @frank_benedettoConnect with David - @dr.davidskolnik.dptConnect with the Show - @essential.strength.podcastAction PlanYour action plan for the week is this - Block out the time needed to fill out the Life Design Worksheet, which is linked in the show notes for this episode. I can tell you from personal experience - the first time I did this exercise it was eye opening in a lot of ways. It gave me clarity as to what I really want my life to look like in a way I’d never experienced before, and it highlighted how my current work, income, and time management was not necessarily in alignment with what I said I wanted. And, spoiler alert - it still isn’t. I’m moving in the right direction - albeit slowly - but it’s high time I sat down and completed the Life Design Worksheet again, this time with my wife, and started taking more concrete steps towards living out my ideals. I hope you gain some valuable insight from this exercise… in fact I’m quite sure that you will.That’s it for this week - until next time, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Dr. Kristin Phillips - Women's Health, Pelvic Floors & Better Sex for All

Our guest this week is Dr. Kristin Phillips, DPT & a Re-Release of the fifth most popular episode in Essential Strength History!Check out our partner on today's episode - Barbell Rehab - and use the code "stronger25" to save $25 off any online continuing education course!Remember - if you are enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a week to week basis!Highlights - In today’s Conversation, Dr. Phillips and I discuss the pros and cons of the term “Women’s Health” in light of the fact that both men and women both have pelvic floor anatomy that can benefits from assessment and treatment. We talk about the link between pelvic health and sexual function as it relates to both men and women and we talk about some of the common misconceptions that people have about the day to day job of a pelvic health therapist.Connect with Dr. Phillips: @kristinphillips_dptConnect with David: @dr.davidskolnik.dptConnect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcastAction Plan - Your action plan this week is two fold:First - your very practical action plan is simply to hop on the good old google machine and find your local women’s health physical therapist. You might not need their services now, but maybe you know someone who recently had a child and doesn’t even know pelvic floor rehab is available, and maybe at some point in the future this will be important for you personally. It’s always good to know where the healthcare specialists are in your area.Second - your more broad action plan is to expand your professional knowledge base. Don’t assume that because you’ve been in an industry for 5 years, 10 years or longer that you have “seen it all” or that you know everything there is to know. This is part fo why I love having guests on who are fellow Physical Therapists specializing in treatment approaches I’m only peripherally familiar with, or has one lecture on in school. The best time to learn is now, and the next best time to learn is every day for the rest of your life.That’s it for this week, be sure to tune in next time for my conversation with Frank Benedetto and a conversation that initially aired on November 3rd, 2021. This one is all about professional BURNOUT, especially as it relates to health and fitness professionals. Until then - we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH!

Saad Alam - Building a Better System for Supporting Men's Health

Our guest this week is Saad Alam. Saad Alam is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hone Health (formerly known as Peak), an online clinic that treats men’s hormonal imbalances and low testosterone.Saad is a lifelong health advocate dedicated to researching new and innovative ways to improve overall well-being. Saad set out on his journey to build a next-generation men’s health clinic after experiencing testosterone imbalances firsthand, which inspired him to learn more about male hormones and to help other men. Since founding the company, Saad has devoted himself to assisting men realize that age should not dictate how one feels and to have confidence as they evolve. He believes that we can maximize human life span past 100 years and is committed to helping people understand how to cultivate a holistic approach to actually feel younger as they age.Remember - If you’re enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a week to week basis! Tag the show on Instagram - @essential.strength.podcast - and tag me, your friendly host - @dr.davidskolnik.dpt.And don’t forget to check out our partners on today’s episode:STRONG CoffeeIf coffee is one of your daily essentials, do yourself a favor - check out STRONG Coffee and save 15% of every purchase with the code ESSENTIAL at checkout.Connect with Saad: @msaadalamCheck out Hone Health: HoneHealth.comConnect with David: @dr.DavidSkolnik.dptConnect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcastAction PlanYour action plan this week is, once again, to get your blood work done and to take the results to a naturopath or hormone optimization specialist. Someone who won’t write off your results as “aging” when you’re 32 years old (or younger). I’m going to keep beating this bloodwork drum until you all understand it’s importance. I’m working on improving some health markers. My wife is working on improving some health markers. I have co-workers and friends who are taking positive action towards a better, healthier, more energized life and in a minute, you’re going to hear Saad’s story - one that inspired an entire company that is working to revolutionize men’s health. So please - get your blood work done and take the results to a professional who cares about optimizing health, not just managing sickness.What's Next?That’s a wrap for this week’s episode but make sure to tune in in two weeks for the first of our HIGHLIGHT SERIES featuring the five most popular episodes in Essential Strength history - starting with an episode featuring Dr. Kristin Phillips, DPT and a conversation about pelvic health, pelvic floor physical therapy and why women’s health isn’t actually just for women.Until then, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.

Danny Matranga - The Myth of Motivation & Other Common Fitness Mistakes to Avoid

Our guest this week is Danny Matranga.In today’s conversation, Danny and I talk about the key elements he wants every client to understand about training, the difference between the idea of a “best diet” vs. “best dietary practices”, what Danny sees as the biggest scam in the fitness industry and the potentially bleak inevitability that we will all eventually have to prioritize our health.Remember - If you’re enjoying this podcast, be sure you’re subscribed, and that you’re sharing these episodes with your friends and family who would appreciate what we’re talking about on a week to week basis! Tag the show on Instagram - @essential.strength.podcast - and tag me, your friendly host - @dr.davidskolnik.dpt.And don’t forget to check out our partners on today’s episode:STRONG CoffeeIf coffee is one of your daily essentials, do yourself a favor - check out STRONG Coffee and save 15% of every purchase with the code ESSENTIAL at checkout.The Enduring Strength Training Platform!If you are tired of doing the same workouts and getting the same results... if you are ready for a training plan that will get you Strong & Healthy now and for the long run, send me an e-mail: david@strongerinmotion.comConnect with Danny: @danny.matrangaCheck out Danny's Podcast: Dynamic Dialogue Connect with David: @dr.DavidSkolnik.dptConnect with the Show: @essential.strength.podcastAction PlanThis week I want to focus on a single statement Danny made during our conversation. The statement is:“Someone else making progress faster than you is not a personal failure.”I want you to identify 1 or 2 areas of your personal or professional life where you find yourself feeling like a failure because you aren’t where someone else is, and I want you to make time to compare more than just your current situation but instead to consider your path to where you are vs. theirs, your currently trajectory vs. theirs, your goals vs. theirs, your definition of success vs. theirs… you might actually need to have a conversation with this person or these people you think are “beating you.” I can’t guarantee what you’ll discover but I do know that you’ll be taking steps towards comparing apples to apples instead of apples or oranges and that alone will help you see that you are not a failure.What's Next?Be sure to tune in next week for a solo episode where I’ll be taking a deeper dive into the differences between personal training, group coaching and following a training plan - you’ll learn which of these three options is best for you, how to weigh both the financial and fitness sides of the decision and for the coaches and trainers listening, you’ll learn how to create offers that target all three levels of this fitness/business continuum.Until then, we wish you STRENGTH and GOOD HEALTH.